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GIFTS
Chapter 25: Once Again, Alone
They all left Edward and Bella alone. Her arms were wrapped around herself, partly as a defense mechanism, partly to try and still the shaking and spasms wracking her body.
"What do you have to tell me, Edward? Is it something you should have told me earlier? Something I might like to have known before all of this"?
"Bella, I'm so sorry". He paced her small apartment. "I'm a singer. I guess you could say I'm pretty well known. I was surprised you didn't know who I was, but I liked that I could just be Edward the regular guy with you. I was on American Idol and did pretty well for myself. The guys you saw me with at the bar were contestants also. We're on a national tour for the next six months traveling together by bus, and every now and then we get a night off to ourselves. I walked into your bar and I heard you sing Sissy...sorry...Bella...and I loved your voice. I loved that you didn't know who I was, I was enjoying the anonymity. There are a lot of girls and women who throw themselves at me because they want the fame and the attention, but you seemed to like me for me. I wanted that, I still want that. I let it go too far, though, and I'm so sorry".
"When were you going to tell me, Edward? When were you going to let me know that I never really had a chance with you because you were going to get back on that bus and drive out of my life? Was that a conversation you were going to have with me after I offered up my virginity? Was it? Was it? Tell me, Edward. I'm dying to know".
She wiped tears off her cheeks, wiped them away hard. Her tears and her breaking heart were killing him. He had never meant to hurt her, but she would never believe him.
"Bella, I told you that I got carried away. I never meant for all this to go this far. I never intended to hurt you. I meant what I said to you. I feel like my life has changed. I feel like I'm falling in love with you. I may not have been entirely honest, but I never lied".
He didn't see the hand slap coming. He felt the hard sting crack across his cheek, felt the burning on his skin.
"Get out. Go get on your tour bus and leave. Go to all of your other women. Leave me alone. I'm used to being alone". She turned her back to him so he would not see her eyes filling with tears again. She still had some pride, even if he had taken everything else: her virginity, her heart, and her trust.
He turned and left the apartment. He held in his hands their cassette tape, a precious memento of their time together. Goodbye my angel he silently said and walked the dark hallway, up the stairs, and outside to the waiting car. She heard the tires turning on the gravel drive as he left.
Goodbye she cried into her pillow. Goodbye.
Authors Note: Edward messed up, but I don't thnk it was with malicious intent. He just wanted to be liked for himself, and not his fame. And yes, Bella gave him virginity willingly...offered it up without being asked...but right now she's angry and hurt and isn't thinking clearly. We'll see how she handles things once she's calmed down...
