Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
Chapter 11: Latte Lovin
Edward's POV
Emmett and I were released from work at 8:30am. Our last call had ended just fifteen minutes before. A nine-year-old boy had fallen off a slide at a local park. He not only broke his arm but hit his head hard giving himself a concussion and only God knows what else. We took him, Luke, to the hospital where he would undergo a barrage of tests to make sure there was no serious head trauma. Sometimes the worst part of the job is dropping off the patient and not getting a follow-up. We wouldn't know if he came out with just the broken arm and concussion or something more life-threatening.
I walked out of the station and got into my Volvo to wait for Emmett. He was finishing his paperwork. I leaned back against the headrest completely exhausted. We had finished this twenty four hour shift with a total of fourteen calls. It was a long day, but what was to come made the dreariness fade. Our parents were coming in to spend the day and night with us. This was our first attempt at making sure we visited them at least once a week. I really had missed Esme and Carlisle. I felt bad for going so long without seeing her a few weeks prior.
Most importantly though, a fact I wouldn't be admitting to my parents, I would be seeing Bella today. In six and a half hours, I would have her undivided attention with no interruptions and no reason to hurry. I smiled at the thought. It would be nice to see her outside of a medical setting. I wasn't lying to Alice when I said I wanted to get to know her better. Her illness had been on my mind lately, more specifically her attitude. Even though she wasn't getting answers she needed to fight whatever this was. It would be key to her recovery. I wanted to make sure there was still a fire in her. She wouldn't do what Tanya did. I wouldn't allow it. My ringing phone brought me out of my thoughts.
"Hello," I answered without opening my eyes or lifting my head.
"Hi, sweetheart," my mom's voice said cheerily. "How are you?"
"I'm okay." I sighed. "It was a tough shift. We had fourteen calls. It's looking up though. You and dad will be here soon."
"We will." I could hear her smile through the phone. She was looking forward to this visit immensely. I had thought about it the other day. This would be only their third visit to the apartment. Somehow, we had really lost touch over the years. "We are just now leaving Forks so expect us around 11:30. We figured we would meet you at whatever restaurant then let you two sleep between then and dinner. Does that sound like a plan?"
"That sounds great. We were thinking about going to Baja's. You and dad really liked it last time we ate there. Then you two will come back to the apartment and get situated while we nap. We can decide on dinner later."
"Okay. We will meet you at the restaurant at 11:30. Tell Emmett I said to get some sleep before lunch, and we'll see him soon. I love you."
"Love you too. Bye." I hung up as Emmett got into the passenger side. "That was mom on the phone. She said to get some sleep and meet them at Baja's for lunch."
"Sounds good," he said in a weary and groggy voice. "Now take me home little brother. My bed is calling me."
I pulled into Baja's parking lot around 11:15. I did not see dad's Mercedes anywhere so I went in to get us a table. They arrived at exactly 11:30 and were led to our table by our waitress. I stood and pulled mom into a tight hug. She seemed very excited and looked at me with a knowing smile. Dad followed with a quick hug and pat on the shoulder. He seemed tired but otherwise in good spirits. They greeted Emmett next and we sat down. Small talk ensued until our waitress took our order.
"So Edward said you had a long shift," mom said quietly. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"There were a lot of calls about kids," Emmett said wearily. "Those are the hardest. A little girl died today at the 405 pile up." Esme gasped.
"Oh, Sweetie. I saw that on the news. How heartbreaking! Did you two treat her?" Emmett nodded as we both hung our head.
"Look at me my sons," Carlisle's voice was laced with sympathy and authority. I looked up to meet his kind, compassionate eyes. "I have no doubt that you two did the very best that you could. Losing a patient is hard for anyone, especially when it is a child. It is not something you will get used to or get over. It is something you must learn to accept and move on from. Know that her death is in no way your fault. When it is someone's time, no amount of effort will change that. She wasn't meant for this world any longer. Please understand that." He smiled kindly, his words both comforting and helpful.
"Thanks dad," I said softly. "Now let's move onto something not so depressing. How is the new house?"
"Oh, it's wonderful," mom said as she clapped her hands together. Her eyes were alight and excitement contagious. "I've decided to try something a little out of my comfort zone. I've been doing some research lately and come across a few articles that have talked about handicap accessible homes. Right now there are a lot of businesses having to update their buildings to meet ADA codes. It hasn't quite hit the residential side of architecture yet. I'm learning that a lot of houses are not equipped for such a thing. I want to make sure that those who need it have it available to them without having to buy a house then pay for renovations. It should already be an option."
"That's great."
Conversation flowed from there. Mom and dad updated us on their week and asked if we had plans for Valentine's Day. We told them about picking up an extra shift to allow those with significant others the time off. It wasn't much of a sacrifice when you were single. They told us about their planned trip to Denali to see Carlisle's sister and brother-in-law Kate and Garrett and their daughter Corrine the next week. It had been a few months since their last visit, and Corrine was turning nine on Wednesday. One of the things she asked for as a present was a visit from her 'Uncle Carly and Aunt Essy'.
"So, no plans for Valentine's Day," mom said while fighting to hold in a smile. "Does that mean there's no woman in your life, or just no one significant enough yet?" Emmett bellowed in laughter.
"There's actually some headway on that subject," he said as he nudged me. I could feel my cheeks heat up as I fought my own smile. They were ganging up on me; this had to be orchestrated. "Go ahead Edward. Tell them now that you're ditching them later."
"I'm not ditching you," I said quickly as I looked up, imploring them to believe me. "I'm just going for coffee with her. I'll be back before dinner. I promise."
"No need to apologize, Sweetheart," my mom said with a gleam in her eyes. "Would this coffee happen to be with Bella?"
"It is." I smiled brightly, unable to contain it. "Well, not just Bella." They all looked at me curiously. "I'm having coffee with Brown Eyes." Mom and dad looked at each other then down at their plates.
"What do you mean, Edward?" Dad asked as he ate a spoonful of rice, trying to avoid my gaze.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. You both figured it out last week. Then you decided not to tell me. I could have gotten a hold of her quicker if you had told me." Mom had a large grin on her face.
"Sweetheart," she began calmly. "You know your father couldn't have said anything. That would have been a breach of doctor/patient confidentiality. I'm really glad you found her though. She's a wonderful girl. We've always thought she was special. We have a bit of a soft spot for her."
"Oh, who are you kidding? You would have adopted her on the spot if given the chance." I watched as her cheeks tinged pink.
"Son, I think you couldn't find a better person than Isabella. She's very special.
"I must caution you though. She's very fragile, and you need to take care with her. She's dealing with a lot." He hesitated. I looked at him, willing him to continue his thought. "Well, she's dealing with a lot more than Tanya did. Please, be careful.
"You are my son. I love you with everything I am, and you can never do anything to change that. However, if you hurt her, I won't go easy on you." It may have been said in a teasing tone, but I could see the seriousness in his eyes. He wasn't kidding around, and that told me there was more going on than I was aware of. I nodded in agreement.
We spent the remainder of lunch talking about mom's new remodeling project, Emmett's research, and dad's new hobby. Apparently, he had recently taken a liking to restoring cars. He was currently working on a 1968 Mustang. I was shocked. I had never known he even liked old cars, much less wanted to restore them. It was an interesting nugget of information to tuck away for later. It would help immensely when thinking of birthday and Christmas gifts. After a wonderful lunch, we drove back to the apartment.
I met Carlisle and Esme in the driveway and retrieved their bags from the trunk before they stepped out of the car. I dropped their bags in my room as mom gave a disapproving look. I gave my 'don't argue with me' look that I had learned from her. She huffed and fought a smile, unable to contain it. We had argued a few days ago about sleeping arrangements. I told her it was unnecessary to pay for a hotel when we had plenty of room in the apartment. I had insisted on taking the couch. It was only one night. She had said she was 'putting me out.' I had only laughed. After everything they had done for me, this was the least I could do in return.
I looked at the clock as we settled down on the couch. Only two hours before I could go see Bella again. I smiled at the thought. She had been in my thoughts since the accident, but since seeing her again, she became a permanent fixture. Mom patted my knee in a mothering way. I looked over to see a very smug smile on her face.
"What?" I asked, trying to sound oblivious.
"How much longer?" She asked as she giggled. I sighed and rolled my eyes, knowing I was caught.
"Two hours. We're meeting at the Starbucks by the station. I figured coffee was casual enough."
"So when did you two reconnect?" Dad was looking at me now, that same gleam in his eyes from last week's dinner.
"Yesterday. It was bizarre really. Her best friend Alice found us at the station. Bella didn't know she was looking for us. She interrogated me then told me Bella would be at Mason Medical for an appointment. We went there and stopped by Dr. Denali's office so Emmett could pick up some research. They got off into their own little world, and he asked me to treat his next appointment. It happened to be Bella."
"How is she?" Dad asked. "Is she following my instructions?"
"It's still weird that she was your patient," I said absently. "Well, she's showing up to all of her appointments. The burn is healing well, no infection. She will be getting it dressed for about another week then will leave it exposed."
"That's great. How is she with everything else though?" I frowned.
"I'm not sure. She seemed fine, very upbeat. I'll ask when I see her today. It's been on my mind lately."
"Sweetheart, why don't you go lie down for a while? Take a nap. That way you will be feeling refreshed for your coffee date." I smiled and kissed her on the cheek before walking to my room to do just that.
I arrived at the Starbucks at 2:45, eager to see her again. I took a seat at a small table outside to take advantage of the rare sunny day. I positioned myself with my back to the wall so I could see in both directions. I was wearing a pair of dark wash jeans, a plain black t-shirt, and grey pea coat; it was my third outfit change. I'm such a girl! I didn't want to look like I was trying hard, even if I was. I had told her casual, but I still wanted to look good for her.
I heard the tones at the station down the street go off. I looked to my left and watched as an engine, ladder truck, and two ambulances pulled out and turned north. I said a small prayer for my coworkers and all those involved. I pulled my phone from my back pocket to look at the time. 2:53. I still had a few minutes.
"Hello," came a tentative voice. I looked up to see her standing to my right.
"Hi," I said enthusiastically as I stood. I leaned forward and pulled her into a hug surprising myself. That hadn't been part of my plan. I did enjoy it though. I felt that spark again, and it also felt right. Just like at the accident she felt like she fit there. I pulled back reluctantly. "Have a seat. I'll go get drinks. What would you like?"
"Can I have a tall vanilla bean frappachino?"
"Sure. I'll be right back." I smiled before heading inside.
There were three people in front of me. I finally placed our order and stood back to wait. It was taking longer than I would like. I looked out the window at Bella only to see her staring at me. When she realized she'd been caught she blushed and looked away. I could only smile. Her blush was lovely. After what felt like five minutes, our orders were ready. I went back out to the table at sat next to her.
"Here you go," I said as I pushed her drink in front of her. "I hope you don't mind sitting outside. It's rarely this sunny."
"Not at all," she smiled then took a sip of her drink. "Thank you. I love sunny weather. It may not be Phoenix sunny but sun none the less."
"Oh, I almost forgot." I dug in my pocket to pull out the keychain and laid it in her hand. She opened her mouth and closed it, repeating that action a few times. "You left it at the scene. I figured you would want it back. I wouldn't have guessed you to be into mystics." She furrowed her brow and looked at me confused. "The Phoenix." I pointed to the bird on the keychain.
"Oh!" She giggled which caused me to smile. "I'm not. I'm originally from Phoenix. My stepdad, Phil, gave it to me as a joke. I thought I had lost it. Thank you for giving it back; it means a lot to me."
"When did you come to Seattle then?"
"I've been in Seattle for six years. I moved to Forks to live with my dad at age 17 and started at Seattle U when I was 18."
"Where was your favorite place to live?"
"Seattle." She didn't hesitate and her voice took on a harsh tone. She shook her head and started talking again before I could ponder on the change. "How about you? Are you from Seattle?"
"No. I was born in Chicago and lived there for nine years. After that I lived in a group home for a year in Alaska." I smiled inwardly and tried not to laugh at what I was about to say. "Then Carlisle and Esme adopted me and we moved to-" She began coughing. I patted her back. "Are you okay?"
"Dr. C is your dad? Why didn't I make that connection earlier?" I just smiled and laughed. I was hoping she wouldn't be mad. "Did you know I knew them?"
"No. I just made the connection a couple of hours ago while we were talking. Isn't it ironic?" She just nodded. "We moved to Seattle after I was adopted. Emmett and I stayed here when they moved to Forks."
"Oh." She looked deep in thought.
"Are you mad?" That was my fear. If she were mad and thought I had betrayed her, there wouldn't be a chance to move this relationship, whatever it was, forward.
"No. If you say you didn't know, I believe you. I was just thinking about how it's such a small world sometimes. Anyway, tell me more about yourself Edward Cullen."
"Um. I don't know what to tell you. I received my Bachelor's in Biology from Seattle U three years ago, contemplated med school, and then started worked as an EMT with Emmett. I enjoy camping, hiking, baseball, reading, and playing the piano."
"What made you choose this career?"
"Well, my dad is a doctor. That's why I considered med school. There were things that happened in my life that steered me away from it." I lightly shuddered as I thought of Tanya. "I decided to work with Emmett. He had been a paramedic for a while; I loved listening to stories from his day and thought I would try it. I love my job. Some days are harder than others are. Some calls are worse than the last, but overall I still love my job." I couldn't get that little girl's face out of my mind.
"Did you have a bad call yesterday?" she asked softly. I looked up to see her giving me an encouraging look.
"I don't want to be a Debbie Downer." I looked down hoping she would drop the subject. I didn't want to see pity in her eyes.
"Please Edward. You shouldn't hold things in. All it does is eat at you until you can't take it anymore and you can't control it. I've learned from experience how damaging bottling things up can be. I don't mind if you talk about it. Everyone needs someone to listen." She sounded so sincere that I couldn't deny her.
"Kids are the worst calls. They tear at your heart. Emmett and I responded to the pile up on the 405 yesterday. Our patient, a seven-year-old girl, died."
"Oh Edward. I'm so sorry." She placed her hand on mine that was lying on the table. She squeezed then rubbed it with her thumb. It felt nice to be comforted by her. I looked up into her eyes. I was expecting to see pity, but there was none. I could see sadness, concern, and worry. Was that for me? I didn't allow myself to dwell on it. "I can't imagine what you must be feeling. Is there anything I can do for you?" I just smiled.
"You already are." I squeezed her hand that was on mine. "Thank you." She smiled back, her face glowing. "Enough about me. Let's play twenty questions. Favorite color?"
"Green." She blushed and looked down. "Same question."
"Blue. Favorite musician?"
"What genre?"
"Favorite of all time." She looked affronted and dropped my hand to place hers in her lap. "What?"
"There's no way to choose. I have quite a few and been told I have a very 'eclectic' taste. Etta James, Louis Armstrong, Styx, Rolling Stones, Bach, Debussy-"
"You know Debussy?"
"Claire de Lune is my favorite." She had a wistful look in her unfocused eyes. I could hear the notes flowing through my mind.
"Mine too." I smiled, realizing she was sitting very close and we were leaning into each other. I could smell her. It was a mixture of freesias and strawberries. The whole situation felt so comfortable.
"Bella?" I heard from beside me and looked up at a curly blond-haired man. He was looking between the two of us curiously.
"Jasper!" she said in surprise and hopped out of her chair. "What are you doing here?" She shifted uncomfortable from one foot to the other looking guilty. "I thought you were working today."
"I was. My last appointment was cancelled. I figured I needed a caffeine fix before tonight's adventure. We're not supposed to be back until after midnight." I felt my heart sink as they stood there planning a date, a very late date. Of course she has a boyfriend. Why would someone as wonderful as her not be snatched up?
"It should be fun though." She paused and glanced at me. "I'm sorry. I'm being rude. This is Edward." She waved towards me. "Edward, this is Jasper…my friend." I heard the hesitation, only confirming my suspicion.
"Edward! Oh, it's a pleasure to meet you. I've wanted to thank you since the accident. You'll never know how much we appreciate you taking care of Bella. Really." I plastered a fake pleasant look on my face as I shook his hand, I couldn't muster a smile; it probably would have come across as a grimace. I wanted to not like him, but he was so genuine.
"Nice to meet you as well," I said but could hear the hardness of my voice. "Bella was relatively well at the accident. She was no problem to look after."
"It's still much appreciated. I hate to interrupt you two, but I need to speak with Bella for just a moment. May I steal her away?" I nodded, not one to stand between a couple.
"I'll be just a moment Edward. You'll wait?" I nodded.
They walked into the shop and to the line where Jasper ordered. I mentally kicked myself. I can't believe I didn't think that her being in a relationship was a possibility. I had been wondering to myself how she was single. It was an assumption, and it was obviously wrong. Like I had told Alice though, I would take friendship if that was all she was willing, or rather able, to offer. I spent the next few minutes trying to stave off the disappointment. They came back to the table. Bella looked worried while Jasper looked distracted on his phone.
"I'm sorry about that," he said to me. "I have to go get ready for tonight's date. Great to meet you again, Edward. I hope to see you around."
"You too," I stood and shook his hand. He turned to Bella and kissed her gently on the forehead.
"I'll see you later."
"Bye." She sat down after he walked away. "Sorry. Jasper had a few questions about tonight."
"No. No problem. I hope I'm not keeping you from getting ready."
"Ready for what?"
"Your date. You said he had questions." She began to laugh. That didn't help my ego any.
"No. Jasper and I aren't a couple. We're not going on a date."
"You're not? You were both talking about a late night date. He kissed you goodbye."
"No, no, no. Jasper is dating Alice. They have been for the last four years. Jasper and I are close, close like a brother and sister. I may be an only child, but he is the closest thing I have to a sibling. I swear, there's nothing going on between Jasper and I. That would just be…weird." The more she explained the more relief I felt, and the more it cemented that I did not want Bella as just a friend. That was a scary feeling. I had never felt this strong this soon about someone, not even Tanya.
"I'm sorry. That was rude of me. I shouldn't have assumed."
"Because you know what happens when you assume?" She had a smug smile on her face. I could only smirk back at her. "Don't apologize. I can only image how it looked. People have made that assumption before.
"So, I believe it was my turn. Who's your favorite musician?"
We spent the next hour talking about nothing and everything. I made sure to make her laugh as much as possible. She was so beautiful with her head thrown back, hair billowing in the wind. She was very quick witted and smart. I loved watching as she spoke of things near and dear to her heart. She would get so passionate and heated, especially about politics and the educational system. I could see her doing a better job than some of the current politicians.
Her ideas on the educational system were interesting. From my standpoint, they sounded reasonable and innovative. I could also see, however, that they were controversial at her current school and many others. She worked in a district of upper class families. They were still living in their own little bubble. She wanted to prepare the students for college and the real world, but was forced to cater towards their parent's outlandish ideals. She was slowly chipping away at their fictional world but met resistance at every turn.
"Most of my kids are wonderful," she was saying. "When they allow themselves to really get involved with the story, they have some great input.
"I actually have one student that I could see being a great writer or editor. He is able to dissect the story and deconstruct its inner workings. I love listening to him talk when he's on a roll. He often sees things hidden that even I don't pick up on. He has a brilliant mind." I couldn't pull my eyes away from her. Her face was a canvas of emotions, her every feeling lain before me.
"As does his teacher." She smiled shyly as heat rose to her cheeks.
"Thank you." She pushed her empty cup around the table absently. I looked down at my phone to check the time. "Is it late?"
"It's 4:50." I sighed, as did she. I felt a few raindrops fall from the sky. The clouds had returned during our visit; the rain was inevitable. "I really don't want to leave, but my parents and Emmett are waiting for me so we can go to dinner." She jumped slightly, gathered our empty cups, and walked away to dispose of them in the trashcan.
"I'm so sorry for monopolizing your time," she said in a rush. I placed my hand over hers in an attempt to calm her. She looked into my eyes.
"I'm not." She smiled. "Do you mind if we exchange numbers? I would like to see you again." She pulled her phone out of her purse and handed it to me as I gave her mine. "May I walk you to your vehicle?" I handed the phone back.
"I rode the bus. The bus stop is only a few blocks from here. The next one should arrive," she looked at her watch, "in about ten minutes."
"Can I give you a ride?" I asked hopefully. "It's about to start raining, and you really shouldn't let that burn get wet yet." I hoped appealing to her logical side would get her to acquiesce.
"I really don't want to be a bother."
"Please. It would be no bother, and you've met my parents. They would kill me if they found out I didn't see you back safely." I smiled my crooked smile. Maybe that would work.
"Well, if you're sure it's no bother." I stood and offered her my arm.
"It's no bother at all."
She hesitantly took my arm, and I steered her towards the station. I had parked there to avoid having to fight for a spot in the tiny parking lot at the rear of the building. We only had to walk two blocks. I grinned foolishly at the joy of having her arm looped in mine. I could get used to this. When I guided her to my car behind the station, she looked at me curiously.
"Is this where you work?" She asked as she peered at the building.
"It is," I opened her door for her. Esme had insisted we act like 'proper gentlemen.' She looked taken aback before sliding into the passenger seat. I hurried to the driver's side and got in as the rain began to fall faster. I waved at Ben as he ran inside from his car, "my home away from home."
"Your job fascinates me." She buckled her seatbelt then angled to face me. "I don't understand how you can do it. It's so nerve-racking to have to think quickly under such pressure." I pulled out onto the street turning left, the direction she pointed. "You're not just thinking on your feet, you've got people's lives in your hands. I couldn't do it.
"Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm in academia." She was speaking more to herself now, deep in thought. She pointed right, and I turned. "We're taught to analyze and exhaust all possibilities before making a decisive conclusion. Pressure's not my friend but my enemy."
"Perhaps. I, however, thrive under the pressure. It's almost as if it heightens my thinking, my senses. It reminds me that I have a lot at stake and can't dwell."
"Turn left ahead and it's the third driveway on the right. Does it ever feel overwhelming?"
"Sure, especially when there are multiple patients. I don't enjoy triaging." She looked at me curiously as I pulled into the apartment complex. "It's when you decide who gets treated first, who is most likely to survive. It feels like playing God, and I am not God. I don't like it at all. Which apartment? I want to get you as close as I can."
"15. There!" She pointed at the door just outside the car. "Thank you for the coffee and the wonderful time. I really did enjoy it." I idled the car and turned towards her smiling. I couldn't remember the last time I smiled so much. My jaw felt sore.
"As did I. I'm picking up a shift for someone tomorrow so they can have the night off. May I call you sometime next week?"
"Would I have given you my number and said no?" I chuckled at her adorable teasing tone. "Yes, you may give me a call sometime next week." She giggled and unbuckled her seatbelt. I leaned toward her to pull her into a hug. It was a little awkward in the confines of the car. "Please say hello to your parents. Let Esme know she's spoilt me. No flowers look as beautiful after hers."
"I will, and she'll be thrilled. Have a nice evening. I'll talk to you in a few days."
"Bye." She said softly, sounding regretful.
I watched as she hurried toward the door. I waited until she was safely inside before heading back to the apartment. We hadn't set a time for dinner, but mom always liked to eat around 6:00 or 6:30. I drove back in a daze, mulling over the past two hours. After making a fool out of myself with the whole Jasper fiasco, things went smoothly. She started a little tense but soon relaxed. She was beautiful when she laughed. It was mesmerizing, her head flung back exposing a slender neck and perfect collar bones begging to be kissed. Her laugh itself was enticing as well.
I would call her next week as planned and ask her on a proper date. I would take her friendship, but I wanted more. I needed to make that clear. I wanted to be the one she called to share the events of her day. I wanted to be the one taking care of her. I wanted to the one she thought about, dreamed about. I wanted her in my life in a more permanent role, and I would begin making those changes next week, but I was impatient. Maybe there was something I could do before then? Tomorrow's holiday provided a perfect opportunity. I just had to be careful not to come across too strong.
AN: Late again. Sorry. My Beta is my best friend and she is in Barcelona for the next five weeks. So, the chapters till she returns will be unedited. So what does Edward have in mind? Next chapter will introduce another person? Who is it? Hint, she's going to be connected to one of the people Bella helped at the accident. Review and I'll send you a sneak peek of the next chapter.