Howdy peeps! Sorry again for the wait. Just before I continue, thanks to those of you that took the time out to read and review; I really appreciate it, particularly as I wasn't overly thrilled with the last chapter (But I think Sabluvslogan hit the nail on the head with that one – it was probably due to the lack of lemon zest lol ... I do love a bit of lemon =P), (Rolange, thanks for the constructive criticism! Always a good thing! Helps me to improve =D) . And everyone else, you're just plain awesome xD!
I think someone might have asked me awhile back if Bella and Edward have been using protection, yes they have, I know I rarely (if ever) mention it, but I feel it would drag out the scene too much. So, no, sorry, no little kiddies in this fic! Lol.
Hope you enjoy anyway =D Looong chapter coming your way!
Chapter 20:
"It feels kind of weird, doesn't it? Sitting here in the garden, in broad daylight, holding hands. Its so unlike us" Bella mused light-heartedly to Edward, a small lazy smile on her face as she peered at him through her brown tinted shades. The sun had once again graced Forks with its presence, and not one to miss out on an opportunity, Bella and Edward decided to take a break. They were currently lying down on a plaid picnic rug which sat in the centre of the back garden, side by side; hands entwined.
"Yeah, I guess it is pretty weird. It feels… right though; easy. Like I've just woke up from a coma or something".
"Yeah," she exhaled a sigh of contentment, "I feel like I've just stepped out from a dark tunnel. I was trapped in there for months…" she spoke dreamily, a combination of her body relaxing in the summer's heat, and the heavy weight surrounding her father being lifted from her shoulders. "Thank you, for talking to him for me" Bella's tone remained soft but took a serious turn. "I know it was what you said that changed his mind. Well, that and…" the diary, she thought silently to herself. "I'm not saying we should go around flaunting ourselves in front of him, but, at least now we don't have to hide".
Edward silently nodded back, his eyes falling shut as her voice hummed him to near slumber.
"You know, I never realised how afraid of life Charlie was. You don't think do you, that your parents are scared of things. I guess when my mom walked out on him, she really did just, break him… I guess I'm pretty lucky in that sense. That I was so young at the time that it happened, I didn't have to deal with it".
"Yeah" he squeezed her hand in his, and even such a small gesture radiated so much support. "We'll never know what they really went through…" added Edward, as his head shifted towards the side his girlfriend lay. "But I like to think that everything happens for a reason, that some people are meant to be, and some, just aren't. If they'd stayed together, my mom wouldn't have met your dad and we'd be total strangers. I don't know about you, but I prefer the way things worked out" his voice turned light at the end, and Bella's grin extended from cheek to cheek.
"Absolutely" she emphasised with conviction, before a small unavoidable yawn escaped her mouth.
"Someone's tired" Edward pointed out, his one eyebrow cocking up at an angle, as he glanced at her through the corner of his eye.
"No, just relaxed" she stretched out a little; the nervousness she often felt no longer niggled at her stomach. For once she felt good about life. The feeling was long overdue.
After a moment of silence, the only sound heard being the rustling of leaves, as the wind gently wafted through the trees, Edward spoke up. "I'm having a thought".
"O oh, should I be scared?" she smirked at him.
"Be serious" he chuckled back at her, tugging on her arm as he did.
"Alright" she easily relented. "So what's your thought?"
"Well, I was thinking, do you know what we've never done?" Edward asked as he flipped onto his side to face her. She looked back at him oddly, certain there couldn't be many answers to that question. She shrugged back anyway, amusing thoughts and fantasies flowing through her head. One in particular involving a truck came to mind. It didnt take much to think of that.
"We haven't gone on a date. A first official date" he told her, much to Bella's surprise.
"Edward, I think we're kind of passed that now, don't you?" Bella giggled back; now fully awakened by his intriguing thought.
"But are we really?" he asked her, a crease lining his forehead as he questioned her. "There's so much we've missed out on Bella. Sure we know each other well, but there isnt much, aside from the obvious, that we've actually shared... I haven't taken you for a meal for one. I haven't walked you home and held your hand, I haven't kissed you goodnight on the porch before bed time, if you think about it, the list is endless" he went on with what he considered the necessities of a first date.
"But we live together" she informed him, trying to stifle her amusement, although it pretty much showed on her face. "It'd be weird, wouldn't it?" she scrunched up her face in nervous excitement; the idea quickly enticing her. Truthfully, she thought it was a fantastic idea.
"Weird? Hell no, in fact as far as I'm concerned, we've only just met…" he broke their hands at that, and she looked at him as if he'd grown another head. Her face was a mask for her inner enthusiasm however, in fact, secretly, Bella was two seconds away from giggling like a little school girl and jumping around the garden. Suddenly, she was 16 all over again. About to venture on her first ever date.
"So what do you say Swan? Will you go out with me tonight?"
"Hmmm" she pondered playfully, her nose twitching in a way that Edward found utterly adorable. "I'll have to get back to you on that one" she grinned as she pushed herself up and waltzed off into the opposite direction. Entering the house she paused at the door, turning back to him with flushed pink cheeks. He rose into a seated position as he watched her.
"8 sound good?" Bella bit on her lip as she asked. And he nodded back with that crooked half smile of his. "Perfect."
…
8pm ticked by and a knock sounded at the front door. Too occupied with getting herself ready, Bella let her father see to it, thinking nothing of it.
But as her dad called her down, "Bellz, you have a visitor!" her brow twitched; bewildered at the possibility that she could have a visitor at this time of night. Surely Alice wouldn't randomly choose to show up now, of all times?
Walking down the stairs and towards the opened front door, confusion shifted to amusement. Her smile grew wide as she laughed at the sight of Edward (a very smartly dressed Edward) standing in the doorway outside, as if it was a real first date.
"Edward, what are you…?" she went to laugh. But he put his hand up to silence her, presenting her with a small bunch of flowers.
"I hope I'm not late" he said like a true gentleman, and she could tell he was already in 'character mode'. The flowers looked beautiful - a bouquet of white and pink lilies - so much so, that a tear crept at the corner of her eye. Never in a million years did she see this moment coming.
"Of course not" she swallowed away her emotions and pulled herself together. "These are beautiful" she admired the delicate petals as she brought her nose towards them, smelling their exquisite sweet scent. No one had ever bought her flowers before.
"Beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady" he crooned, his eyes moving up and down her body admiringly. Bella's heart turned light and fluttery in her chest, she swore it could take flight at any minute. "Shall we?" he waved his arm towards the car at the bottom of the driveway. He'd borrowed his mom's car, opting for the classier option over that of the truck. Not that Bella minded either way, it was the company that meant the most to her. But of course, Edward wanted to do things right.
"Dad?" she called into the living room and her father who held onto the remote (the TV being one of the few remaining items left in the house) reappeared not long after. "Will you put these in water for me, please?"
"Sure love" he took the flowers with mild interest, lingering at the doorway before leaving. "Now listen son, I want her back at a reasonable hour, got it? No funny business!" Charlie warned him, putting on his overly-protective parental voice to play along, and Bella giggled to herself at how surreal it all was.
"You got it sir" Edward gave a determined nod Charlie's way, before taking Bella's arm and leading her down towards the car…
…
A 30 minute drive across town led them to the heart of Forks City, to a quaint little restaurant which sat down a side street, un-discovered by many, but once found was like lost treasure to the prosperous and avid eater. The place reeked of class, no other restaurant Bella had set foot in, had had a black carpeted runway upon entry, and tiny white tea lights (albeit artificial) scattered either side of it, like it was an entrance to a Palace or an Oscar Ceremony.
The restaurant also required a dress code; no trainers, sports wear or baggy jeans were allowed, chewing of gum was strictly forbidden and outside food and drink was to be disposed prior to arrival. It was the kind of place you went to when you really had something to celebrate, and you weren't afraid of splashing out over tiny portions. Truthfully, it would be totally out of their league on an average day, say Nando's times 5 in price, but today called for a celebration. Fast food just wasn't an option.
"This place is amazing" Bella tried to keep her voice down as her inquisitive eyes took a scan of the room around her. It wasn't packed, but almost half of the tables were occupied, mostly by business men and women, whose pockets were undoubtedly bursting to the brim with money.
There was a definite black and white theme going on, with the subtle hint of purple thrown in. There were white and purple candles dotted everywhere, and the table's centre pieces consisted of real-life flowers for once. There was none of that fake plastic rubbish.
"I know, pretty swish huh" his eyes shone at her; he too was amazed. "And you don't have to whisper. This isn't a library" Edward mocked her, hushing his voice down to mimic Bella's level of projection, before he snickered.
"Sorry, I just… can we even afford this place?" she flashed him a look of unease. "I bet you wouldn't get much change out of a hundred, at least".
"That's not my concern, and it shouldn't be yours either. Don't worry about the money" his eyebrows raised as he gave her a knowing look. "Just worry about what you're going to eat" he said as the waiter approached the table with two large menu's, and not the usual flimsy plastic ones, these were bounded in black suede, very posh. They liked their suede.
"Your menu's; Monsieur, mademoiselle" he presented each one individually, "Would you like a minute to decide on your drinks?"
"Yes, that'd be great, thank you" Edward smiled back.
As the waiter walked away Bella leant forward. "Is this a French restaurant?" she asked, lowering her voice once again.
"No, continental, why?"
"Oh, no reason. The guy sounded French, that's all". She brushed it off, as she turned back to her menu.
"French you say. What gave it away?" Edward felt the need to smirk back, causing Bella to roll her eyes at him. Smartass. "Why do you ask anyway? Do you have something against French people?" he looked at her oddly.
"No, of course not. I was just wondering" she gave a shrug, as she turned back to face the menu, and of course it was all in a foreign language. She briefly skimmed what looked like the main courses section, with difficulty. In fact she felt like she was getting eye strain from just trying to decipher the menu. But she grew thankful for the pictures. It meant she was at a lesser risk of accidently ordering something slug like. Snails just weren't an option for Bella, no matter how much of a French delicacy they were.
"Yeah well, don't be too fooled by it all. They're probably French by night, but American by day I'm sure" Edward went on. "You know, more often than not the accents put on" he told her, almost sincerely.
"What?" she asked bewildered, holding the menu a fraction to the side as she glanced at her boyfriend. "That's not true."
"Sure it is, they're just trying to make it seem more genuine, create the mood or whatever. But mostly it's just a big con. A little tan, the fake accent, throw on a beret and wollah. It totally transforms the place. Everybody knows that Bella" he gave her a look which said, don't you know?
She pulled an awkward face, her eyes turning shifty. "You don't seriously believe that, do you?" she questioned, starting to doubt the restaurants authenticity.
He flashed her a crooked smile back, like he could tell she was buying it. "Who knows what to believe these days," humour danced in his eyes. "Oh and, the English translation's on the back page" he informed her with a broad smile; feeling pleased with himself. "You seemed like you were having trouble" he lightly mused aloud.
A glare flashed through her eyes. "Thanks for that" she forced a grin, before throwing the Menu up in front of her.
"May I take your orders?" that French accent appeared once again, and Bella sheepishly pulled down her menu, to find the waiter now standing there before her.
"Oh, hi. Yeah, sorry, I'll have… the tropical fruit juice please" she smiled, pointing to the one she wanted.
"Bon" The waiter acknowledged. "And, Monsieur?"
"I'll just take a coke, thanks".
"Excellent! Any starters?"
Bella's brow furrowed at that, "Oh, I didn't even get that far on the menu." Her eyes searched frantically for the section that read 'Starters'.
"May I recommend the soup of the day?" the waiter informed them. "Its Caribbean Chicken with sweet vegetables and herbs... or if you're feeling a little more adventurous, there is the restaurants speciality dish, Escargot d'ail; one of our most popular starters" he emphasised, making it sound undeniably delicious.
"Oh right, well that sounds nice. What is that?" enquired Bella, as she looked up at the waiter in question. But it was Edward that answered for him.
"Snails" Edward gladly informed her, a pleased smile on his face, and Bella's leg twitched uncontrollably at the mention of it.
"Oh, right. Ok. I think I'll go with the soup today then, thanks" she forced a grin back.
"Yeah, me too" agreed Edward, as a relieved Bella sank back in her chair; Caribbean chicken was a little more to her taste. Anything that slid around her garden was definitely not going on her plate.
As the waiter walked away Bella shivered. "Snails" she reiterated as she pulled a sickened face; her tongue peeking out as she did.
"You're not down with the snails I take it?" Edward noted as he flicked his vision too and from Bella to the menu.
"And you are?" her eyebrows rose.
Edward shrugged his shoulders, his head moving from side to side suggesting he could be swayed. "Grilled with a little garlic, I could be persuaded. I'd take snails over frog's legs any day".
And gone went her appetite. "Yeah well, when that happens, I'll be sitting over there" Bella signalled to the table in the opposite corner. "Nothing that slithers, or hops, around my garden is ending up on my plate" she told him; almost diva-style.
He smirked back at her rather dramatic and flustered outburst. "So aside from your distaste for French delicacies, is there anything else I should know about you?" Edward looked at her with wide expectant eyes; seeming to flip from one character to the next.
"Well you kind of already know every…" she paused, realising they were back in character again. "Oh, we're back to first date mode, I get it." She straightened her composure.
"So tell me about yourself, Isabella," Edward prompted, as he placed his menu down to one side.
"Oh it's just Bella" she corrected him. And he gave her a nod to continue.
"Well, there's not much to tell really. I've lived here all my life, graduated high school a month ago, and I'm off to Uni in September. That's pretty much it" she shrugged.
"And, your parents?"
"My dad, Charlie, he's amazing. Best dad in the world" she proudly declared.
"That's great. And any other family members?"
"Actually, yeah. My dad recently married someone, her names Esme'. She's moving in with us actually, her son too".
"Oh yeah, and what's he like?" his eyes flared with intrigue. Now they were getting to the good stuff. The stuff where you indirectly throw compliments each others way, or so Edward hoped.
"Her son?" she asked, before releasing a sharp exhale. "Well, to be honest with you, a right pain" she emphasised conceitedly.
"Hey!" he burst back, offended, and Bella couldn't help but laugh back delightedly.
"You shouldn't care, you're in character mode, remember!" she teased him across the table.
"Yes, but I'm just… sticking up for my gender. My brotherhood" he nodded as he tapped his heart. "And I'm sure he's not that bad?" he checked, looking directly into her eyes as he tried to sway her opinion, like he had some kind of mind control over her or something, but to no avail.
"Well" she pulled an uneasy expression, "It's hard to say anything good about him really".
He glared back, before flashing her a close-lipped grin. "Oh, thank god the drinks are here" announced Edward as the waiter arrived right on cue. Bella meanwhile could hardly contain herself, finding the entire thing extremely entertaining. Edward had been right, this first date idea was not to be missed.
"Mademoiselle. Enjoy," The waiter presented the large glass of fruit juice to Bella, and the coke with ice and a slice of lemon to Edward. "Your starter will be along in a few minutes. If you need anything else, please let me know". The male waiter informed them, before heading back towards the kitchen.
Having taken a sip from her fruit juice Bella set it down. "So I've told you my story. What about yours? Any tale's to tell?"
"Tales? Not so much, but I grew up in Philadelphia with my mom, that was pretty cool. Well, until she met this guy on a trip to New York. She's getting a house with him now, so we're moving to Forks permanently".
"Oh right, and is that a bad thing?"
"Nah, not really. I guess size wise it's pretty different, but I've made my peace with it".
Bella nodded back thoughtfully. "And this guy she met, you said she met him in New York?"
"Yeah, he was there with his daughter for a weekend break, this was like, 5 or 6 years ago".
"How time flies huh. And how was the holiday?"
"It was alright, I guess, New York's pretty cool, not that I got to see much of it though" he groaned, and Bella remembered it exactly. "Do you have any idea what its like to have to babysit a 12 year old girl?" He flashed a lazy look of displeasure before he overtly rolled his eyes, and Bella shifted awkwardly in her seat, sensing she was two seconds away from getting her butt whipped. But she busied herself with swivelling her straw in her drink; it was a distraction mechanism, put in place to prevent her from exploding. It was working so far. "I mean you should've seen her. She was this clumsy little thing, big red round cheeks and this long floppy hair. Always following me around to try and win my attention; kind of pathetic really".
Bella gasped melodramatically, her mouth opening wide as she smacked both hands down onto the table and leant forward.
"I did no such thing!" she hissed at him, keeping her voice to a level that wouldn't raise eyebrows or get them thrown out. Ensuring no one was looking she went on. "Excuse me for trying to be friendly. More than you could manage. Friendly for you was throwing me into the pool at night, or pulling my hair. You're lucky you didn't scar me for life!"
"Let's not be dramatic" Edward put his hands up as a calming gesture; but the curve to his lips told the world he was loving this.
"I'm not being dramatic! You actually did do those things to me!" she informed him in a huff.
"Yeah, fair enough. But you werent totally innocent yourself you know. You got your kicks in too. I had the bruises to prove it."
"Yeah well, it was self defence" she threw her hands out as she shrugged.
"Yeah. Sure, whatever. And I don't see why you're getting so flustered about it. You should feel flattered if nothing else".
"Flattered? How's that?" she asked dumbfounded.
"Well, you know what they say Bella, when a boy teases you, it means they like you" he reached over to poke her hand.
"Oh, right. Well great! I'm so sorry I didn't realise that at the time. Next time some guy throws me into the pool fully clothed, I'll remember to feel flattered by it afterwards" she forced a sarcastic grin Edward's way before scowling.
Edward couldn't help but snicker. And although mildly annoyed, Bella too found the entire conversation very humorous.
"So anyway" Bella went on to revert back to 'first date mode', as previously intended, another ploy to focus her mind and maintain some self control. "We've discussed family life, holidays" she averted her eyes as she spoke that last one, "what about education?" she asked, as if this was some kind of interview session.
"Well, high schools a distant and, somewhat exhausting memory, but I'm about to go into my 2nd year of uni soon".
"Your school was exhausting?"
"Well yeah, you see Bella, as the star student of the school, you tend to get put on a lot" he exaggerated a sigh.
"A star student!" she laughed. "You were never a star student".
"Erm, excuse me but, you've never met me before, you don't know that I'm lying. First date Edward has a lot of promise".
"A lot of promise? Or a lot of problems?" she snapped back smartly.
"The first" he sneered at her. "So yeah, I'm at uni, in my 2nd year, studying Music and English".
"Right, well I guess that's promising" her eyes widened as she looked at him, and he proudly nodded back. "And any plans for the future?"
"Well, providing I pass and all, I'm looking to be a teacher" he told her, taking Bella back a little. Never had she taken the time to ask Edward about his hopes and aspirations for the future. And it wasn't out of a lack of interest, it just never seemed the right time. The majority of their first few weeks 'together' they'd barely spoken enough words that could even constitute as a real conversation. Between that, the other thing, and arguing, life plans just hadn't come up. It was therefore a nice surprise to hear that Edward was a future-thinker.
"It's just a pipe dream really. We'll just have to see how it goes" he shrugged, a glimmer of insecurity peeking through.
"Nonsense! You'll be an amazing teacher. You really suit that role. I don't know why I never thought about it actually. It's perfect for you".
A small smile of appreciation curled his mouth, "Thanks" he almost blushed at her compliment. "And what about you? Do you think about the future?"
She nodded back sheepishly, shyness beginning to consume her "Yeah, all the time".
"What do you think about?"
She swallowed hard, emotion bubbling up her throat. "You" she admitted softly, after a moment of hesitation. She knew it was soppy, but truthfully it was the first and only thing she ever thought about.
Edward's heart fluttered at her words; his love for her felt warm in his veins, while his gaze spread over her face, absorbing her every feature, like it was the first time they'd ever met. And in that moment he'd never felt so content with life. A month from now he would have everything he's ever wanted. Working towards something he cared about, and moving in with the girl of his dreams. Nothing meant more to Edward, than to have Bella Swan waking up beside him every morning, and falling asleep with her head on his chest. Maybe career wise he would strive to be a great teacher, he'd face knock backs, near-misses and dream jobs, but Bella would always come first. Jobs would come and go, but Bella was for life. She was his life now...
…
"I had an amazing time tonight. I never knew first dates could be that fun," grinned a delighted Bella as they strolled hand in hand up the Swans driveway.
"That's because you've never been on a date with me before" he told her with a smile.
"True" she nodded as they came to a stop on the porch, turning around she leant her back against the door as she faced him. "We'll definitely have to break that habit you know. But maybe next time we'll go somewhere a little cheaper" she suggested with an awkward giggle. "Not that I didn't appreciate it but, I don't think taking out a date-loan would be such a good idea" she smirked.
"Agreed".
"Are you sure I can't pay for my half?" she asked yet again, and Edward shook his head at her persistence, they'd already been through this back at the restaurant. He'd refused her money straight off, even going as far as ripping the bill right out of her hand as she'd tried to take a look at it. And thank goodness, if she'd have seen how much it had come to, she would've had a heart attack. "I can't even imagine how many O's there were on that bill back there".
"Yeah well, stop imagining it, because there weren't any" he told her directly.
"Fine, not O's, digits then".
"Bella, its fine. This was my treat. And next time, alright, we'll go for the cheaper option. Takeaway or movie or something. Whatever you want".
"Sounds great," she smiled dreamily, as his lips neared hers for a kiss. She moaned into him as she wound her arms around his neck. It was strange but it felt like ages since they'd last shared a kiss, and this one didn't disappoint.
"So, I guess its separate bedrooms then" she spoke breathlessly as they broke apart; their foreheads were practically touching.
"Afraid so... I mean I don't know about you, but I dont really fancy getting on the wrong side of Charlie again. Lets at least leave it a few more days" he smirked lightly.
"Alright" she beamed back. "Or, we could just not go to bed, and stay out here all night" she suggested brightly, excited by the prospect of doing an all-nighter with Edward beneath the stars.
He kissed her forehead as he smiled. "I don't think so. You need your sleep, and so do I. I need at least 6 hours to look this good. Seriously, you'd be horrified otherwise".
"I don't believe you" she grinned, her cheeks blushing.
"Believe it Bella". He kissed her lips once more before pulling his key out. "After you" he waved her in as he opened the door, and although reluctant, her lips starting to pout at the thought of another night in her bed alone, she headed inside.
A/N: Hope that was ok. I know it was mostly dialogue and may not have flowed in certain places, but it kind of called for some light banter. The next chapter might be the last :S I haven't decided though. There are still a couple of scenes I want to include. So we'll see how I go with the next chapter. I haven't started it yet though, so it might be awhile :(
Please stay tuned! And don't forget my other fic (I've got a few solid chapters written down for that one) and things are finally about to take action ;)