Disclaimer: Enough said.
Chapter 21
BPOV
"Oh my, Bella are you okay?"
"Mama what happened?"
"Bells you have got to be more careful, what has you in such a frenzy today?"
If you guessed I fell down the stairs, you would be right. I am in such a daze this morning because I have lunch with Edward I am stumbling all over myself. "I'm fine everybody." I try to push myself up off the steps and a pain shoots through my wrist causing me to instantly drop back to my butt. "SON OF A…I mean… ouch crap. Seth why don't you go make sure you brother is okay." He walks past me up the stairs. "Dad give me a hand please."
"Oh Bella, you are such a klutz." He takes my other hand and helps me up.
My mom looks at my wrist, "Bella I think you need a doctor."
You couldn't be any more right mother. Oh bad Bella, stop it. You need to control yourself. Perv. I smile and shake my head.
"Charlie, will you take the boys to school so I can take Bella to the ER?"
"No, mom, I will drop them off then go, okay." I say. The last thing I need right now is my mother to see me ogling over a guy, I would never live it down. The boys come down and head right to the kitchen.
"Bella, please, you need a doctor." More oh-so-good thoughts run through my head about making a certain doctor all mine. I know what you are thinking and I can't even begin to tell you where these thoughts are coming from but they are bombarding everything. Ever since meeting him I have had such a warped mind.
"Mom I will go, call work for me please and just tell them I had to go to see the doctor and I will explain when I come in, I will just be a little late is all."
"Bella you shouldn't drive…"
"Dad, please I drove my car just fine while I was in labor. So please give me a brake. Besides, it's probably just a sprain."
"Fine, I will be telling the guys if they see you so much a swerve they are to stop you and take you in themselves." I roll my eyes. "I mean it young lady."
"Fine." I snap back.
I drop the boys off and scan the drop off area for a certain silver Volvo, no such luck. On my way to the hospital the butterflies are coming back. Huh, I wonder if that only happens when he is close. I was fine before, just a little excited to see him that's why I fell. I wonder… red and blue lights and a siren break me from my mental guessing. I look in the review mirror. SHIT. I am going to kill my father. I pull over and wait.
Eric walks up to the driver's door. "Morning Bella." Oh this is cake, Eric- freekin –Yorkie, oh the smell of victory. Eric has had a thing for me since high school. I know this will be easy to get out of.
"Hey, Eric… Was I speeding?" I bat my lashes at him.
He shakes his head, "Uh… no but I was told that if you where swerving I was to take you in to the hospital on the spot."
I look up at him as innocently as possible. "Really, I am only a mile away, cant you let me go, please, dad will never have to know." I smile sweetly. I know it is totally mean to do this to any man but hey I can't exactly walk in to the hospital escorted by another man. What would Edward think?
"Umm… but…but…I don't want you to get hurt."
"Oh that's so sweet, but I will be fine. It's just right there. Please Eric." I can smell him caving.
"Okay, hey why don't I lead you there, just so I know you will be okay?"
Damn it. "As long as you let me have a little pride and I get to walk in alone." I try to do that shy thing that gets you out of a ticket. Oh man does it work.
"O…O…Okay." He nods slowly. No I am not a mean horrible bitch; I just can't have him coming in with me.
"Good, lead away then," I smile at him. He turns a bright shade of red as he walks way. I wait for him to pull around me before I pull out and follow him to the hospital.
As I walk in he yells out his window, "I hope you are okay Bella." I nod and wave.
Of all the luck in the world, I walk in and Edward Cullen is at the front desk. So being me I put my not so wonderful acting skills into play.
"Dr. Cullen, I didn't know you where working today." I smile all innocent like.
"Bella, what are you doing here?" he looks shocked but pleased.
"Well see, I took a spill on my parents steps, I think I might need it looked at." Pathetic I know.
"Oh, well here let me help you, come this way." He rests his hand on my lower back. If I wasn't having hormonal problems before, I am surely having them now.
"Dr. Cullen she has not been checked in" I shoot a glare to the receptionist. Damn woman.
"Oh," I sigh and turn away, with a sad puppy look.
"That's fine, Roxanne, bring them to Exam room two." Ha bitch. I make sure to clear the smirk I have before he turns around.
"Thank you for doing this, Dr. Cullen. I am just so clumsy."
"Bella you can still call me Edward here, call it a perk." He smiles as he looks at me out of the corner of his eye. Shit I don't have you fooled for a second do I? I bite my bottom lip. "Right through here."
I walk in and hop right up on the table. "I am sorry to bother you." I apologize, yes I mean it.
"So, you fell down the steps?" he asks.
"Yeah, I am so clumsy, and I must have missed a step." He takes a hold of my wrist.
"Dr. Cullen, her paper work." That Roxanne comes in, and interrupts again.
Edward dismisses her and says he will see that it's done. She lays it down and leaves. Edward goes back to looking at my wrist. I make small hissing noises as he pokes and hits tender spots. "Well, it look like it is just sprained, I'll wrap it in and ACE wrap. Ice it through out the day and tonight, Tylenol for the pain." He hands me the paper work. "That is your left hand, I know you are right handed, and I don't know all that about you…yet." He smiles that dazzling smile.
I take the paper work and fill it out, as he wraps my wrist. "Thank you," I say to him.
"My pleasure, trust me." He turns a little pink. Now I don't like pink but I would look at it all the time on him, like that.
"So are we still on for lunch?" I hand him back the clip board and get off the table with his help, of course.
"Of course, unless you want to…"
"No! I mean no, I would love to still meet you, here, at twelve fifteen." I look right into his eyes. Big mistake, I feel myself leaning in still holding his hand. Thoughts of him bending me over this exam table run through my head.
He must have been leaning in too because we jerk apart as that damn receptionist walks in. "Dr. Cullen, phone call."
He doesn't look at way as he asks in a clipped tone, "Who is Roxanne?"
"Your father"
"I'll be there in a minuet." He says turning his head slightly and drops it to look at the floor at the same time.
"I have to get back to work, twelve fifteen, don't be late… Doctor." I smile flirtatiously.
"Wouldn't dream of it" He opens the door for me and walks me to the front desk where he takes his call and I go to my car.
"Bella are you alright?" Bob asks.
"Yes I am fine, I just wont be able to lift for a few days." I respond as I walk to my office.
I only have a few hours till lunch but it seems like the day is just too long.
Finally it is eleven fifty nine. Yes, I was watching the clock. I walk out; pass all the guys as I am a woman on a mission. I head strait to the hospital.
I walk in to the hospital and follow the signs that lead me to the cafeteria. When I reach the cafeteria I scan the room, I spot him almost instantly. I walk over to the table he is on his phone.
"Damn it she was looking forward to seeing you, how could you do this to her. I don't care what happened, you have higher priorities. Whatever, fine, I'll clean up your mess, again." It seems like an important phone call so I turn to walk away. "Bella wait." I turn around and he pulls the phone to his mouth again. "I gatta go, bye." He shuts his phone and gives me his undivided attention. "Sorry about that." He hands me an ice pack. I graciously accept it.
"No big deal. We all have issues." I smile. "I'll go get us something to eat." I stand up.
"I'll go with you; I have an idea on what is tolerable." I giggle at his joke.
We make our order Edward insists on paying for it, using the fact that he is a doctor and gets special discounts. We go back to our table and continue where we left off. It is like I am hanging out with a really hot friend.
We laugh and joke about our kids and our parents and I tell him about my house. He looks shocked that I found a house after only a couple of months.
"Wow that was fast, have you talked to the bank yet?"
"Yeah, I am approved for the loan I just have to get in there, but I don't know when I will get to that. They close at three thirty and if I go there then I will be late for the boys. I don't want to keep asking favors from my parents, I know they don't mind but they are my kids and I need to be able to do this, especially when I am trying to move out on my own." I take a deep breath.
"Well I have to get Mandy anyway so I'll get then set up the appointment and I will cover you. I can take them to your mom…or keep them with me." He smiles at the last part of his sentence.
"Uhhh…" I am entranced by his smile. "L…let me talk to the boys and see what they would like to do."
"Fair enough"
"I just don't want to push then. Billy really freaked out on Jakes new friend, and I had to run there, but he seemed okay with you." He just nods in understanding.
"Bella I need to know something."
"You can always ask."
"Will you tell me the truth?"
"Edward I don't lie."
"Okay. At the fair, I asked if you had a boyfriend."
"Yes," I nod.
"You said it was complicated."
"Yes." I am playing with a napkin to avoid looking at him.
"Well, do you… have a boyfriend?"
"No." I can honestly say that now.
"Then what is so complicated?"
"Edward if you remember I said I am complicated."
"Okay what does that mean?" I look at my watch. "Bella please don't run, just talk to me."
"Edward I will be late."
"Bella, please"
Okay this is where I run. I need to warn him though. But I feel so differently about him. I need a plan. Ah got it I will tell him and then run like hell. There we go now I have a plan.
I take a deep breath and pick up my purse. "Edward, when I talked to you at the fair, I was sort of involved just not quiet sure where it was going, and I got burnt, bad. I deserve that though because when I say I am complicated I mean it. I have had two ex husbands one I learned how to be cold and selfish then I took that and burned another man who till the day I die will always be there for me and my boys. He is a good man and I was horrible to him. I want to be in love. That's what I strive for, in the process I break hearts and hurt people-I am poison. I will hurt you, I don't want to but I know I will, the only difference is you are making me feel different then they did, even Jake. I can't figure out. I think fate is laughing at me for hurting Jake so bad. I just don't know what to do. I don't want to hurt you, I want you, I really want you and my kids seem to love you and your daughter. I have to think about all of them and if your little girl was hurt because of me I would never forgive myself. I want the whole house full of kids, a dog and cat, huge back yard, cookies in the oven, and the loving husband who comes home to me. I want a traditional happily ever after. Honestly though I don't think I am wife material. There for it is complicated." The tears are falling and I think I have scared every person out of the hospital cafeteria.
I turn and just run. I how in the world I do not fall is beyond me.
"Bella…Bella…Bella!" I hear Edward yelling my name but I just can't bring myself to stop. I make it out to my car as I am unlocking the door, and kicking my self for locking it in the first place, he catches up to me. "Bella stop…wait please." I feel his hand touch my shoulder. "Bella please listen." Then his pager goes off. "Damn it." He turns me to look at him but I watch the ground. "Bella," he uses one finger to lift my face up by the chin to look at him. "Bella, I want to talk to you more, I can't chase you at this moment…I guess I sorta did." He laughs through his nose slightly, "but I would like to come by tonight…please." I shake my head no still crying. "Why not? Bella, I want you too."
"Edward, I live with my parents."
"So do I, remember."
"My dad is difficult, he is the chief."
"Bella, I would face the whole force with guns drawn to be with you. Please Bella, I'll bring Amanda." I snort a laugh, making him chuckle.
"Let me talk to my folks and I will let you know." Yeah I am weak.
"I get off at three today so I will call you."
"I need to talk to them and I don't get off till three and then I have to get the kids."
"Okay, I will call you at…" the thinks for a minuet. "Three forty five."
"Edward, give me until four. I can call you."
"Nope I will call you at four that gives me time to change too." That one throws me off a little. His beeper goes off again. "Bella I will chase you for all eternity, but right now I have to go save lives." He smiles and rushes away, and I get in my car, I am about to close the door when he turns around. "Oh Bella, did you like the flowers?" Then he darts into the hospital.
How did he kn…He did not. I will kill him. They are pretty, and my favorite. How did he know though? That is not your average flower to like…ALICE.
I pick up my phone and start to text that damn pixie friend of mine then decide to call. After I hear her voice telling me to leave a message I wait for the beep. "ALICE! You damn, annoying little pixie. You are not supposed to be helping hi m you are to be on my side. How dear you share important information with him. You are aiding him in killing me. You will pay pixie, and I mean pay." I close my phone and park. I am about twenty minuets late so I sneak in hoping and succeeding in missing the boss.
Now earlier the day seemed to drag on now it seems to have flown by. Why do you think that is? My theory: Fate needs entertainment and at the moment I am the fool she has chosen. I close the shipment records folder, put it away, and grab my purse. On the way out I see my boss; I quick slip into the ladies room hoping he missed me. When I waste about two or three minuets I head out.
"Bella,"
Fuck, fuck, fuck. Fuckity, fuck fuck, fuck. Okay you get me outta this and I will make sure Edward comes over TONIGHT, deal?
"Bella, I know you have to get the kids, but I wanted to know if you could come in Saturday afternoon. I have a meeting that I think you would benefit from."
"Huh…" I had to look like the biggest idiot because he chuckles. "Can I have some sort of insight on what I will be walking in on please?"
"Well short version, I would like to promote you. We are opening a supply area in here so we will be supplying things as well as still shipping. You are wonderful with people and you seem to need to have a flexible schedule. I think advertising and selling would be right up your ally. So can I count on you Saturday afternoon, it's the only time my brother has free."
"Uh huh…I mean yeah…yeah"
He chuckles again. "Good, well see you tomorrow."
I rush to my car in a dead sprint I get in and rush to the school. On the way fate and I have a little one sided chat. "You think you are so funny don't you. You scare me to death then have me promoted, really? I have only been there a couple of months; I suppose I have to honor my end of the deal. Although if my kids are standing alone at the school and waiting on me, deals off. I mean it."
I pull in to the parking lot, it is about empty. I rush up to the school and see my boys sitting with Edward and Amanda. Of course they are not alone what was I thinking?
The boys run to me and I drop down to hug them. "I am so sorry boys; my boss caught me after work."
"It's okay Edward and Mandy stayed with us." Seth says.
I look to Edward and let out a breath of relief, "Thank you"
"No problem, I figured you wouldn't be long" Edward smiles, "see you soon."
"You guys are coming over!" Seth asks excitedly.
"I have to talk to grandma and grandpa first." I reply
"Your right Edward we will see you soon." Seth looks to him and nods.
I laugh. "Let's go you two."
We walk through the door of my parent's house Seth runs right to the kitchen.
"Grandma, grandma, can Edward and Mandy come over tonight, please?" he begs.
"Well yes I will have to make more for dinner but of course, is Mandy a friend from school?"
"Yeah, and Edward is mama's friend from the store."
"Seth that's enough…" my phone then sings. "Hello?"
"Be there in ten?"
"I guess I have no choice in this matter now do I?"
"Well what did your parents say?"
"My mother says its fine and she is making more for dinner to accommodate you two."
"Great see you guys in ten." Then he hung up.
I close my phone and dash to change my clothes. As promised ten minuets later there is a light knock on the door. I follow the boys to the door.
"Who is it?" Seth asks, like I have taught him.
"Edward" you hear from the other side of the door, followed by "and Mandy."
Seth rips the door open. "Hi guys, come on Mandy, well show you our rooms." He takes Amanda's hand and all three run up the stairs as my mother walks in.
"Edward, nice to meet you," she extends her hand.
"Mrs. Swan," he nods and takes her hand, "nice to meet you, too."
"Oh no sweetie, call me Renee."
"Alright, Renee," He smiles.
"Well, please come in." she gesture to the living room. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"Water is fine thank you."
She rushes out to get him his water; she doesn't stay when she brings it back. Edward and I make small talk for about ten minuets, and then we hear my dad pull in. we both stand and head to the entry way.
My dad walks in and meets me, Edward and my mother at the door. I hear a sharp intake of breath from Edward.
I wait until he has his coat off then I make introductions.
"Dad, this is Edward. Edward this is my father."
"Chief Swan, Sir, nice to meet you." As like with my mother he extends his hand.
My father just stands there for a minuet, my mother clears her throat.
"Edward," he takes his hand, "you may as well call me Charlie."
"Yes Sir…Charlie." My dad chuckles
"So you the one that is making my daughter cry at night, causing her friends to show up to her rescue?"
Shit! Take the gun off, dad.
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