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not beta'd
storyline - Sultry
prompt - deluxe
"Was it right after they fought? Did he leave angry or something?"
I know what Rose is thinking; I thought the same thing until I went over Edward's exact words.
"No. They had the fight, he left, and I guess it just so happened they didn't speak for a few days afterward." I shift on to my side and tuck my knees in. "The car accident was random. He was coming home from the store. It wasn't raining, he wasn't speeding. It wasn't even his fault. It just…happened."
Rose shakes her head, sighing. "That's messed up."
"I know."
"This must be so weird for you. I thought we were moving past this, and then you see his twin brother again six months later. It's like you guys are destined to be in each other's lives."
I've thought this, many times, but I've never said it out loud. "I feel that way too."
Reaching for my phone, I scroll through my contacts. Edward's name is there now; Masen's is finally gone. It took talking with Edward in to the wee hours of morning for me to finally let go of Masen's number. Actually I quit smoking that night, too.
"Are you going to call him?"
"Yes."
"Do you like him?"
She's back in front of me now, having switched from one side of my bed to the other so she can see my face when she asks me these questions.
There's little point in lying. "Yes."
"And you guys plan to hang out again." Rose rubs her hand over her face. "Slippery slope."
"I know," I whisper.
The rational part of me acknowledges that it would be best to part on friendly terms with Edward, to promise him that I'm here if he needs me, and to secure the same from him. But if I am honest with myself, and I nearly always am, there is more that I want from him.
I crave his approval, his attention, his affection. I want to be worthy of his time and his thoughts. He so effortlessly takes up residence in my mind; do I take up any in his?
Why does he fascinate me so? Is it because he looks like my past or in spite of it?
Weeks pass.
New Year's comes and goes. For the first time in years I have no one to kiss when the clock strikes midnight, but I do have a bevy of friends and we hug and toast and celebrate.
But I'm happier than I've been in a while. Caught up in the whirlwind feeling of possibility, I feel like anything could happen in the next three hundred and sixty five days if only I will let it.
Edward Cullen's phone number burns a hole in my phone. It bothers me that he hasn't tried to contact me, but I haven't tried calling him either so I can't blame him. Sometimes I worry that we would have nothing to talk about apart from the obvious, and I don't want to discuss that anymore. Is it messed up I want desperately to move on?
With him?
Yeah, there might be something wrong with me.
Yawning, I close my book and take my glasses off. It's late, and I'm exhausted. Just a couple of credits to go and I can graduate. I feel like I've been in school forever.
My phone rings. Tyler.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Bella."
We've hung out a few times since we first met at the Sky Terrace. Good times.
"Hi, Tyler. What's up?"
"Not much. About to hit the sack. You?"
"Same. I've been studying all night."
"I won't keep you then. You wanna grab dinner tomorrow night?"
I smile at his persistence. If there was any doubt he was romantically interested, it's gone now. "Maybe. I'll let you know how I feel at the end of the day. It's been a long week."
"No problem. Call me when you get out of class."
"Will do. Night, Tyler."
"Bye, Bella."
We hang up, and I'm about to toss my phone aside so I can go brush my teeth when it rings again.
"Hello?"
"Bella?"
My heart squeezes. "Edward?"
"Hey… it's not too late to be calling, is it?"
"Not really. I am going to bed soon, though…what's up? Everything okay?"
"Yeah…listen, I'm sorry I haven't called sooner. It's been hectic," he says.
"That's okay."
"Not really. I told you I'd call and I haven't. How've you been?"
"Okay. Super busy with classes…"
"Yeah, I feel you. I'm drowning in it myself."
There's a rather loaded pause and then:
"Anyway, I was wondering if you were busy tomorrow night."
"No, I'm not." Sorry Tyler.
"There's this movie in the park thing… I don't know. It seemed like the kind of thing you'd be in to. I know it's kind of chilly – "
"I'd love to go," I blurt. "We can bring blankets. Lots."
"Good. Yeah, that would be good." He sounds unsure of himself now, like he doesn't know what to say now that I've accepted.
"Yeah."
The silence crackles between us.
"Okay. So. What's your address?"
Right, he'll be picking me up. I thrill at the thought of this; it's exciting and completely uncharted territory. I rattle off my address and he promises to come around six thirty.
I'm tired, but it takes me a while to fall asleep.
I wear my favorite jeans and a brand new sweater. Boots with plush, cashmere socks I got for Christmas, and a warm, but lightweight, jacket.
When I answer the door we share an awkward hug and he asks to use the bathroom before heading out. He holds the car door open for me, and I notice him notice me. Like, really see me. I wonder if it's the first time, or if he's secretly in to me like I'm in to him. I'll take either.
We make small talk in the car, and several times I am tempted to ask him what prompted him to call me and ask me out. I never get up the nerve, though.
Union Square is already crowded by the time we get there, but we manage to find a spot for ourselves. Edward has brought the most deluxe, thick blankets to sit on, and I'm glad… it's cozier than the chairs I see some people sitting on.
"What's in the bag?" I ask, trying to peer inside.
He reaches in and pulls out sodas, subs – "Turkey and cheese or ham and cheese?" "Turkey, please" – and rather large, flat box. He grins at me. "Key lime pie."
"You brought an entire pie?"
He winks and puts it back in to the bag.
The movie starts as night falls. I'm painfully, exquisitely aware of Edward sitting next to me, the warmth of his body bleeding through his sweater and mine. He still such a gentleman, regardless of the few times I think I feel him watching, and I fret that maybe I have misread him after all.
We eat our sandwiches and then it's totally quiet, except for the movie of course.
Eventually, I can't stand it, and I sneak a peek. He's smiling faintly, totally entranced by Roman Holiday. My heart melts and I look back to the screen, right in time to catch the onscreen kiss. It's such a sweet scene, but sad because they have to separate.
Oddly, I have the urge to cry. I take a deep breath and let it out very slowly.
And then I feel Edward come closer. "Ready for pie?" he whispers, his breath very warm in my ear.
I shiver, and not from the cold.
thank you for sharing your remarks and sometimes, your stories. *hugs*
oh. yes. the Boys on Boards contest. .net/u/2956623/ please tell me some of you are writing for this?
and: along with some other fab girls, i'm going to be on the fic panel at this year's comic con. who's going to be there? would love to see you. :)