Disclaimer: I'm not Stephenie Meyer. Edward Cullen and the rest of the gang belongs to her. TTTT
N/A: Yes, I know. Long delay. I'm sorry; but I prefer taking longer to post a chapter, than simply posting a bad written chapter. I tried to write earlier, but the chapter looked awful.
Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 10
Ain't that Funny?
"Baby, is that you're girlfriend
I got my boyfriend
But maybe we can be friends
La da da da da da"
Jennifer Lopez Feat. Ja Rule – Ain't that Funny
BPOV
It was Wednesday afternoon and I had just come back from lunch when I noticed a huge bouquet of roses on my desk. My jaw fell when I came closer to the roses, red, luxuriant. I heard people laughing and whistling and I looked up. Half of the lab was staring at me with curiosity and sympathy. Well, everyone, except for Mike, who looked like a puppy dog that fell from the moving truck.
Well, I'm sorry for him, but I seriously don't have time for this. What the hell am I going to do with these flowers the rest of the day?
I picked the small card, expecting some lovely message from Edward, but this really isn't my lucky day because this is what I got:
"Hey, honey! I'm to NY to pick you up. I hope these flowers show you how sorry I am. Let's make things right.
Love you,
Jacob."
Slowly, I crushed the tiny card in my hand and threw it in the trashcan. Who the hell does he think he is? I quickly grabbed my cell phone to call Jacob and give him a piece of my mind when I saw the other people looking at me and, the scary quantity of work that was waiting for me since I left. Never mind, I'd deal with Jacob and his flowers later. I smiled sheepishly to the other people, as if everything was perfectly okay and sat in front of the microscope.
I kept myself concentrated on the job, which was good. Rose and Alice passed the whole lunch complaining about their love life. Rose was pretending she hated Emmett. Emmett adored Rose, but he was dating Kate. Rose didn't like Royce much, but at least, he wasn't dating anyone. And Alice was feeling completely frustrated because of Jasper, but she refused on giving in. And just God knows what it passes in Jasper's mind.
Love was never easy, except in books. Well sometimes, not even there. Maybe it's just the way it should be. I thought of Edward and everything we've been through. I was ashamed of my previous behavior and myself. How easy it was for Lauren to destroy everything we had. And now, she was here, in NY. I'd rather she be living in LA, miles away from us. Of course that was silly. This city had millions of people. However, the high society was pretty small and exclusive. So meeting her in a restaurant of a gallery was unlikely, but not impossible.
And when we meet her, I'll be ready.
Irritated with myself, I tried to concentrate on my report, making a self-note to remember to call Carmen later and ask her to buy two staircases, for my collection of books, which had increased significantly after I went to check the basement.
It didn't surprised me to know my grandma, who was an eccentric rich writer had not only left me her old townhouse and all her money, but also her giant collection of books. Her chaotic personality was all there, from the lovely and juvenile Nancy Drew novels to the dark and sensual ones from Clive Barker and classics as Madame Bovary. They were all mixed up; with no order at all and I couldn't wait to put my hand on them.
My phone rang and I looked at the screen. If it was Jacob, I wouldn't pick up.
Thank God it was Edward.
"Hey!" I said, cheerfully, but in a low voice.
"Hey, beautiful" The sound of his voice made me tremble. I loved his voice, and his eyes, and his hair. Okay, Bella, calm down. Breathe, "Listen, I can't talk much; I'm in the middle of the practice. I just wanted to say that I loved the gift."
My smile fell. I squeezed the phone, nervous.
"But Edward, I didn't send you any gift." I whispered. We kept in a nervous silence for an instant. I could tell both of us were thinking the same thing: Lauren.
"Right." He said in a calm voice, "Let's not panic, love. This may not be hers. I have received presents from fans before." I could see the smile on his face. I felt a bit better, "You wouldn't believe the things people do. So, don't worry, okay?"
I bit my lip, but I could see his point. There was no need for both of us start panicking because of Lauren.
Maybe I could panic myself. Nobody would get hurt.
"You are right." I said, trying to show a confidence that I was far from feeling, "Should I be jealous? Of your fans, I mean."
I heard his quiet laugh and I smiled.
"Of course not, Bella. Would you like that I put on the news that I'm taken? Or, maybe, I should put in my curriculum 'Edward Cullen, pianist and Bella's boyfriend'? Old ladies that evaluate my skills can be pretty insistent, you know."
I laughed, imagining the grannies wishing they were forty years younger. But not all of them could be old, right? I stopped breathing for a second and them I told myself I was being stupid. Again.
"I like that idea." I said, still playing. "So, see you at six?"
"I'll be there. And, Bella?" he asked, "Let's have dinner in some nice place and then go to the cinema."
"Sure." I said, grinning, "And Edward?"
"Yes, love?" he asked.
"Thanks for not making this a surprise."
He chuckled, "Maybe you can surprise yourself, after all."
This shut me up. He just chuckled and turned off the call.
APOV
"Beatrice, if Keith calls me, tell him I'll be arriving in Paris at 9:00pm sharp." Said Kelly, coldly, passing fast by my table without shooting me a single glance and calling me by the wrong name.
Somehow, every time she asked me something, she was able to find another name with 'A'. That wasn't Alice. Like:
"Amanda, where is my coffee?"
"Alex, make reservations for that restaurant."
"Andrea, buy tickets for the concert which had nice reviews.'
The list of names was so big that I wonder if she doesn't have a book of names on her desk, so she always has a new and creative name to call me. The good part was she called everyone that she didn't consider as "someone" by the wrong name. The bad part was she wasn't happy with me because of happened two days ago, so she passed to the letter B, instead of A, a clear sign I shouldn't expect her to get my name right in near future.
Whatever.
"Yes, Kelly." I said, smiling. Always smile, even when you are pissed. Especially when you are pissed.
The vibe on the whole floor seemed electrified as she passed by the tables on her way to the door. The reporters, all well dressed kept their frantic typing, talking on the phone, keeping themselves busy with so many important articles. I looked at my column of the week - Ten things to not say on the first date. It wasn't exactly the type of article I would like to write, but it was better than nothing.
The elevator's doors shut and everybody, including myself, breathed again.
"Oh, thank God!" sighed the other assistant taking off her fantastic Gucci scapins. I smiled at her with a knowing look and turned on the music from my IPod. Beyoncé's voice filled the big room and everybody cheered; I happily returned to my chronicle.
And then, the unexpected happened. The elevator rang. Everybody froze. Our little rebellion was crushed before it even started. I cursed Lindsay, the receptionist of the building for not warning us earlier. I turned off the IPod while the doors opened silently and glued my eyes on the screen.
It wasn't Kelly, but her stepson, Jasper. My heart jumped, excitedly, while he crossed the room and went directly to my desk. I saw Lauren spying from over her computer's monitor. He smiled at me.
"Hey." He said in his deep and calming voice. He seemed a bit uncomfortable with all those ladies looking at him, as if he was a new pair of shoes. Funny that such a beautiful man is also shy. "Where is Kelly?"
"Hey you," I said, grinning at him, "You probably missed her at the entrance. She just left."
"Oh." He seemed confused, and then he smirked, "That's why I heard music from the elevators."
I smiled sheepishly at him "Music? Here? I don't know what you are talking about." I battled my eyelashes at him and he laughed.
"So, it seems I came here for nothing."
I had an idea. "Well, not for nothing." I said, "How about a coffee?"
He looked at me, surprised. I bet he didn't even notice I had a thing for him. Okay, so I fall on my fourth because of him, so what? Just because I'm not Bella it doesn't mean I can't have a crush on a guy. The fact this guy is particularly slow just make the game better.
"Sure." He said, looking at my screen. "This won't hold you up, right?"
"Nope," I said, saving my work and picking up my coat, "I needed a break, anyway. Shall we?"
He took me to a small café on the corner. We sat on the love seat in the corner. He gave me my strawberry frapuccino and sat beside me. He asked me about my brothers and Bella and I told him everyone was fine.
"So, have you found the apartment?" I asked.
"Not yet and I haven't had too much time to look for one." He rolled his silver eyes, " And I'm going to travel tomorrow to Barcelona for some photos, so… that is going to have to wait."
"So, you aren't going to be here for the party?" I pouted.
Kate had insisted on preparing us dinner on the day of the moving. I wanted a party, but Bella preferred ordering pizza and, in the end, Emmett convinced everyone that his girlfriend was to please us preparing us dinner on our second day in Lenox Hill. The problem was she was one of those… how should I put it? She was one of those New Age girls; you know what I mean? It doesn't seem she eats food like people. So, just God knows what she's going to do with our place. I bet Bella will freak out.
God help us.
"Hmm, well, I should be back, yes." Then he hesitated for a second and said, "I'm not sure if I should go."
I frowned. "Why? You are our friends. Of course you must be there!"
He blushed, "It's because of Irina."
"Oh." What else should I say? "I see. Well, you should come, anyway."
He was looking at me with those gray, sad eyes and I forgot completely where we were. I forgot he had just broken up with Irina. My brain had just fallen in the screensaver mode. So, this is my best excuse for what I've done.
"Listen, Jasper. Would you like to go on a date with me? I mean, just the two of us?" I asked.
To my distress, he gasped and blushed a bright pink.
"What?" he asked, coughing. I frowned.
"A date." I repeated, patiently.
He blushed more. "You are not serious, are you?"
God, this was worse if he had slapped me!
"Well, yes! What's the problem?" I asked. I just invited the man to a date; I didn't offer my sexual favors. Yet.
"Because that is not right, Alice!" he said, looking positively outraged." You can't just invite a guy with that look and… batting your eyelashes like that."
I forgot the coffee, "It's just a date, Jasper!" Why this was happening? Do I look like a monster? What's wrong with him?
"Yeah, but… " He trailed and blushed more, "I just don't see you like that, I'm sorry"
Wow. Being rejected like that sucks.
"I can see that. Crystal clear." I said, smiling, despite of the feeling of humiliation. I got up. I just had to get out of here. Now. "I'll see you around, Jasper."
He got up too, seeming awkward. "Alice."
"It's okay, Jasper. Seriously. Thanks for the coffee. I should get back to work."
I started walking on my way to the exit, when something crossed my mind. I turned on my heels and walked back. He had sat again, and wide his eyes looked at me, probably expecting some yelling.
"Alice, I'm-" I didn't let him finish the sentence; I put my hand on his neck and pulled him into a kiss.
I felt him gasping in surprise and after hesitating for an instant he started kissing me back. Willingly. He wrapped his arms around me and slowly, licked my lower lip with the tip of his tongue. I opened slightly my mouth, to let him in. Our tongues tangled together and, when he was pulling me closer, I pulled away and fixed my hair, with a calm movement.
"Well, this is what you just rejected. Have a nice trip, Jazz," I said, smirking at him and heading back to the door. He just stayed there, with his coffee getting colder and his face red as a tomato.
I'm such a bad girl.
#
BPOV
I turned down Mike latest invitation to dinner and considered my day finished. I put on my coat and left, happy because Edward was waiting for me outside and because we would have the night just for the two of us. I love hanging out with the Cullen's and the Hale's, but I needed sometime with him too, and after receiving those flowers, I needed him more than ever.
I grinned when I saw Edward leaning against the door of his silver Volvo. The cold wind of the autumn was blowing his hair. His lovely green eyes lit up like flames, with love and lust. I felt the thrill of the night in my veins. I loved him.
I slowly climbed down the stairs, in order to not trip and made my way to his loving arms.
"Hi," I said when he embraced me and buried his face in my hair. I was home.
"Hey, beautiful." He whispered.
I raised my face to him, arching for his kiss, and his hot, sweet breath and he didn't disappointed me. He brushed his lips on mine and gave a small, soft bite on my lower lip. I stood there, completely hypnotized. Then he pressed his lips on mine and the rest of the world ceased to exist.
"Bella?" a shocked voice asked close to us.
I froze in Edward's arms and, like I was underwater, I saw Jacob Black standing there, just a few feet of distance. The bouquet he was holding fell on the ground and I could see he was shaking.
"Jacob." I said and all the happiness of a few seconds ago faded away in the cold, like smoke. "I can't believe you had the guts to show up here."
He stepped on the flowers, crushing them. His eyes were fixed on Edward. I felt my boyfriend stiffening and his eyes, so loving and warm, had become cold and dangerous, like two emeralds.
"Who the hell are you?" he growled.
"My name is Edward. You?" asked Edward, in a calm voice.
"I'm Bella's fiancée and I think it's better if you release her."
Edward smirked at him. "And if I don't? Are you going to hit me, just in front of the police station?"
Jacob took another step. "I'll take my chances."
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N/A: Sorry about the cliff, but the rest of the chapter wasn't getting right. Well, I hope you have enjoyed this chapter and sorry about the long delay. See you guys on the next chapter!
Please, review!