Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight!
N/A: Hi, guys! I'm sorry for the long delay on updating. I had a bad week. Anyway, here it is the seventh chapter and I hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to review, please! Reviews make me happy and a happy writer writes faster, right?
Happy reading!
Chapter 7
Fighter
"'Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter"
Christina Aguilera – Fighter
BPOV
"Alice said she was going with some friends. I think she's taking the Hales." Edward commented, somewhere on the other side of the room. I kept silent, starring at his huge collection of CDs. I think I'd been examining the cover of the last Linkin Park CD for almost ten minutes, and I'm not even a Linkin Park fan.
"Bella?" he whispered in my ear. When did he get so close?
We were on his old bedroom in the Cullen's apartment. After passing almost two hours on the Lennox Hill House, we went to have lunch in a small restaurant in Little Italy where he received a phone call from Tanya, asking us, actually, asking the Cullen's to go to a "small party" at her flat. She's adorable, isn't she?
"Bella?" he asked again.
I turned on my heels, because now I was an independent, brave young woman in this merciless big city, and because I couldn't ignore him forever, of course. So I showed him my best, shiniest smile.
"Yes, Edward?"
I think something in my tone alerted him and an amused smile spread on his flawless lips. He took a step forward. I kept smiling, but I took a step back.
"Why are you so quiet since Tanya called?"
"Hmm. Nothing!" my voice sounded thin and high. I tried to clear my throat, "You were talking on the phone and…" he took another step and I felt the bookshelf on my back. Great, now I was cornered. He bent on me, his emerald eyes fixed on mine. My brain stopped functioned. "And…" I was stuck with "and".
He chuckled softly and his sweet breath hit me straight up. This boy doesn't play fair!
"You're a lousy liar, Bella. I think acting is really not one of your skills," he chuckled. "Anyway, don't you want to go to the party?" he asked softly.
Say some excuse! Say you're dieing to go! You're a cool person now, Bella! Do it.
"Not really." My response didn't seem to surprise him. He seemed too much busy caressing my chin with his fingertips.
"May I ask you why?"
"Hmmm." It was all I could say. He was closer. My fingers, rebelliously, reached the collar of his dark blue shirt, pulling him closer. I really don't know how to be a vixen, did I?
"Are you scared, Bella?"
I blinked, trying to clear my thoughts. Scared wasn't the right word. It doesn't even cover my feeling. I was terrified of Edward, that after seeing a gorgeous, sexy Tanya realizing the huge mistake he made choosing me, the albino, and the plain, boring, bookish girl that I am and will throw me away. But of course, he would never be rude. He would be a gentleman, but the result would be the same – me, crushed and dumped the second time in less than 72 hours.
It's going to be a record.
"No." I raised an eyebrow. Maybe my brain was functioning, after all! "Should I be?"
"Of course not." he answered, "So, if anyone asks about you, can I introduce you as my girlfriend?"
"Yes, I guess. I mean, if you want to." I said, my heart beating so fast that I bet people could hear it from New Jersey. "What about your other girlfriend?" I asked back, narrowing my eyes at him.
He frowned. "I don't have another girlfriend. I told you yesterday."
"But Tanya said…"
He didn't let me finish. He glued his lips on mine and I forgot everything about Tanya and Jacob. I forgot my name. I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him closer. I soft groan came from his lips and he pressed his strong body closer. I was breathless when he pulled me back.
"So, does it look like I'm Tanya's boyfriend?" he asked and I could see he was gasping for air as I was.
"No."
He gave me one of those lovely, crooked smiles of his. "So, I think we have an agreement, Miss Swan." His voice was husky.
"Yes, I think we do, Mr. Cullen." I muttered under my breath.
He was about to bend again when we both heard someone clearing, discreetly, their throat from the entrance door. Unwilling, we pulled away, but Edward kept his arm around my waist. It was the maid, Serena. Her cheeks were in a bright pink and she seemed like she wished to be in another place else. Any place.
"I'm very sorry, sir. But there is a phone call to Miss Swan. It's Mr. Swan."
That surprised me a bit.
"Dad?" I asked, picking the phone from her hands and I smiled at her, "Thank you, Serena." She blushed a bit more and left. Edward released me and went to see his work, to give me a bit of privacy.
"Hi Dad." I said, sitting on the black leather coach in front of the huge window, which faced Park Avenue. "What's up?"
"Bella, are you insane?" he asked, and it looked like he wasn't content, "Would you mind explaining to me what are you doing in New York?"
I bit my lip. This wasn't going to be easy. Or pretty.
"I live here now, dad." I answered.
"Yes, that's what your mother said" he replied, irritated, "When did you decide this?"
"Yesterday." I was feeling uncomfortable now. Somehow, my fantastic plan of rebuilding my life in a new town with my friends and my new boyfriend didn't seem so fantastic.
"Oh, really?" I could just see him smirking, "Fascinating, honey. Now, if you stopped playing adult, you can take the first plane back home and we'll not discuss this again. I'm sure Jacob will take you back."
I wasn't listening to this.
"You are unbelievable, dad!" I hissed into the phone and I saw Edward looking at me, surprised. "Do you think that I'll get back with Jacob? After all he made me go through?"
My father sighed. "Bella, Jake is young and impulsive. Of course he has some… needs. I'm sure you two will make this work, if you talk about it. Maybe you two could see some specialist. Everyone goes to this… what is it the name for it? Oh, yes, therapist. Sex therapist. It's Very common nowadays. "
I was gasping with distress, with disgust. My hand squeezed the phone. I wanted to crush it in a million of pieces. My whole body was trembling with anger. Jake taking me back? Sex therapist? Is he accusing me of being the problem?! I can't believe this! How dare he?!
"Listen to me, dad, because I'm not saying this again. I'm not coming back. Not to Seattle and especially, not to Jacob. The marriage is CANCELLED, okay? You can say this yourself to Billy. I don't care!"
"Now, listen to me, young lady! You don't have any idea what you are losing!" he yelled. "Jacob Black is the best bachelor of the city! There are dozens of girls dying to marry him and you're throwing everything away because of pride!"
I saw Alice entering the room with a pile of dresses in her arms, followed, closely, by Emmett. Both their eyes wide at me, but I couldn't bring myself to care.
"I DON'T FUCKING CARE ABOUT JACOB'S FANS, DAD!" I shouted, "I wouldn't take that cheater back even wrapped in gold! So, if you love him so much, you can marry him instead of me!"
With this, I turned off the phone and was about to throw at the wall, but Edward held my wrist, to stop me.
"Give me this phone, Bella." He whispered and I noticed I was trembling. I passed him the phone and he put on his desk. I started sobbing, compulsively. His eyes were warm and comprehensive, "Come here."
He opened his arms and I went to him, crying like a baby. He stroked my hair, muttering to the others to leave. They closed the door behind them and Edward sat on the couch, pulling me onto his lap. I don't know how much time I spent crying, but it seemed like a long time. I guess I slept in his arms, because when I realized, I was in his bed. He was still holding me and muttering a song under his breath.
"Edward?" He looked at me, and took a lock of hair off my cheek.
"Hey, beautiful." He whispered, "Are you feeling better?"
I nodded, my head was hurting a bit, but I was glad because he stayed with me all the time.
"Sorry you had to see that." I remembered Alice and Emmett, "I guess I scared everyone, didn't I?" I smiled, ashamed, starting to pull away, but he stopped me.
"Hey, don't feel bad about that. You looked pretty angry with Charlie."
I sobbed, and then I controlled myself. "It was awful. But I don't regret leaving Jacob, Edward." I sniffed and sat up straight, "I'm not going back. I swear to you, Edward. I'll make this work. The house and the job." I made a pause and looked at him, a strange feeling making me feel warm inside. "And us. I can do this."
I kept babbling until he held my face between his hands and said, "Bella, it's okay. We're all are going to make it work. You are not the only one who needs this." I blinked at him, confused. "Look at us. We are all stuck in our parent's house. Do you think we are happy about this?" he seemed as troubled as I was. "You are not the only one who is starting over. But the good part it's we are not alone. I'm on your side. We all are."
I couldn't talk, so I nodded.
"So, how about we pick a DVD and order some pizza…" he began.
"No" I said, "Let's go to Tanya's."
He seemed surprised "Are you sure?"
I nodded. "They are your friends, so, they are in the package." I smiled at him, "So, I think it's time to meet them, right?"
What the hell was I saying?
#
Three hours, a silk, dark blue dress and a couple of margaritas later, I was dancing with Edward on the dance floor, with Alice and Rosalie with us. Rosalie was surprisingly nice after you actually talk to her. She seemed immediately attracted to Emmett, and him to her, but, there was a pretty little problem. And she was tall, gorgeous, with short bright red hair, blue eyes and a sexy, husky voice. And, oh, yes, her name was Kate.
Emmett had chosen today to announce to the world he wasn't a loser in relationships because he was dating Kate. Rosalie seemed disappointed, but not surprised.
"I think the best men are already taken." She sighed, after Edward left to pick up more drinks. I gave her a sympathetic look.
"Sorry, Rose."
"No problem, there are others fish in the sea," she looked around "But nobody so hot." She growled. "Whatever."
"Hmmm?" asked Alice completely distracted. She's been like this all evening because, even tough she was fantastic, in black pants and a see through white blouse, the lovely and shy Jasper didn't seem interested in her. "What do you think he sees in her?" she asked, frustrated, looking at Jasper, who was dancing with the other one of Tanya's sisters, Irina.
"Nothing, my brother is an idiot." Said Rosalie, loyally.
I was about to say something supportive and nice, when a very familiar voice came from behind us.
"Ladies," said Tanya, "Are you having a good time?" she asked, batting her long eyelashes.
She was, of course, splendid, in a micro icy blue dress and high silver heels. She looked like she was born with a glass of champagne in her hands, and I have to add, her 'little reunion' was a frickin' big party, with a DJ, a complete bar with hot barmen to prepare Cosmo, some ice statues and dry ice covering the floor of her huge palace, two floors down from the Cullen's. Apparently, the reunion also had a theme that she chose and prepared in last than 24 hours – Alaska. I could swear I saw some celebrities circulating, because a couple of them came to say hello- they were Renée's friends.
"Yeah, definitely," said Alice, still dancing.
"Sweet. If you girls need anything, please, let me know." She added, politely; with a bright smile, "Oh, Bella, may I borrow your boyfriend for a song?"
NO!!
I smiled, "Sure. He went to get some drinks and he'll be right back"
Edward chose this time to come back. He just shot me a worried glance when Tanya invited him to dance with her. I just stayed there, looking at him dance with her. Dancing to "Please don't Stop the music" by Rihanna, like an idiot. The three of us, sitting on the white couches in the corner, like a band of girls who was never invited to dance. It was worse than High School. Why the hell did I agree to come?
"That's enough!" growled Alice, putting her glass of wine – the fifth; I counted, down -"Let's dance! " I was about to protest, but she hissed to me, "Now, Bella Swan!"
"I was expecting you to say that," said Rosalie. And, I don't know what she did, but, in a couple of seconds, we were dancing with a bunch of hot guys around us (Magic? Maybe she hired all of them). I was quite uncomfortable now, because I didn't want to dance with those guys, but, at the same time, I saw Tanya putting Edward's hands on her hips. That bitch! I grabbed the first guy I saw and started dancing with him too. Edward looked pissed. More than that, he looked murderous. He pulled away from Tanya and was coming towards us.
"This girl is taken." He hissed at the guy who was dancing with me.
"But I'm dancing with her." The idiot complained.
"Get off her. Now!" Edward roared at him. Wow. He was scary and I have to say, hot. The guy quickly released me and left and Edward put his hands on my hips. "What the hell was that?" he asked, looking furious.
"Nothing. You were dancing with her and…"
"Bella," he sighed, "How many times do I have to repeat this? Tanya and I are not dating. Why did you let her dance with me?" He seemed hurt.
I sighed too." Because I'm an idiot."
"Stop being an easy target, please?" He said, "These girls love that kind of thing. Competition. And you are far too adorable to be considered a threat."
"And if I don't deal with this, they'll crush me pretty fast, is that what you're saying?" I asked, anxiously.
"Not us, Bella." He pulled me closer "I'm not letting you go; now you're here, now that I have you in my arms. But I wished you could trust me a bit more. That guy was drooling all over you. How do you think I felt, seeing you dancing with him in revenge because I was dancing with Tanya because you said it was okay?"
I thought for a second on our situation. I let myself act stupid and jealous. But the thing is, Edward and me had a long history of misunderstandings and lack of trust. It was something we should work with, but these things take time. I told him that.
"Okay, so I'll gain your trust again, Bella. I promise you." He whispered in my ear and I hugged him tightly. I was so lost in our embrace that I forgot how to be a klutz actually.
A little commotion a couple of steps from us, called my attention. I almost stepped on Edward's foot when I saw Rose and Alice making out with the same guy in the middle of the dance floor!
"Oh, my God." I said and Edward shot them a glance and groaned.
"Oh, crap. Bella let me take care of this." He pulled away and was about to go to drag her very drunk sister away from the hot, athletic guy who was now with his tongue on her throat – and his hand in her thigh - when something stronger, bigger, jumped in front of him, like a huge grizzled bear, roaring something about "Take your hands off my sister your bastard!"
Uh-oh.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
N/A: Don't worry about JxA and EmxR. They'll have their happy endings too. I just didn't want to rush things because, most of the time, they aren't right? There are lot more to come.
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