Me: Hi everyone ;p I am going to try something with this chapter and I hope you all like it
Emmett: Why do you always get to speak first?
Edward: Because she is the one who writes the story so she gets first pick of who speaks when.
Emmett: That's not fair, what if I have something really important to say?
Me: Like what?
Emmett: I don't know I don't have anything important to say at the moment.
Edward: so why are you getting upset that Emmie speaks first?
Emmett: I just think we should all be given equal opportunity to go first.
Me: Not going to happen but tell yourself anything that will make you happy, on that note I do not own anything twilight: not the characters, not the story, nada. They all belong to the talented Stephenie Meyer, now on with the story ;p
Chapter 9: Tonight is going exactly how I want it…or not
(Edward pov)
I pulled up at the Swan residence right on time despite my mother taking so many pictures of me all dressed up and looking so grown up as she put it (I had a feeling Alice put her up to stalling me from trying to get here too early or something). I had been feeling nervous about tonight for the past couple of days (having Emmett threaten to hurt you will do that to a person) and when I woke up this morning the nervousness tripled, I was actually going on a date with Bella Swan, my angel. Well, I hoped it was a date…I mean I think of it as a date… but is it still a date if we are only going as friends? Would Emmett still kick my ass if I tried to kiss his sister or even try to hold her hand? Thinking of Emmett, what are his plans with my sister for tonight? For that matter what are that Jasper guys intentions with my little sister? Why am I still sitting in my car stressing about all this?
I take another deep breath before opening my door and getting out. The short walk to the front door seemed to go on forever, like in those long hallway dreams or in the scary movies when the stupid person walks right into the villain's trap. I knock on the door hoping that Bella is the one who answers (Leah scares me sometimes; I saw the after math when she got mad at Em once last year when Seth used her kitchen to make a soda geyser when Em was supposed to be keeping an eye on the kid. It wasn't pretty). Boy was I surprised when the door opened and I saw…no one? Well I thought there was no one at the door.
"Hi Edward." Seth replied happily holding a spoon full of what I think is peanut butter. "Are you the reason Bella is getting all pretty tonight?" Man this kid is so easy going; I think this is her only sibling I'm not afraid of at the moment.
"Yes, but I like to think that Bella is more then pretty on a daily bases, is she ready to go?"
Seth is about to answer my question when I hear a sound coming from around the corner, it sounded like someone falling down the stairs and I got a panicky feeling in the pit of my stomach. Without a word to each other Seth and I run over to the stairs to see Bella sitting at the bottom looking at her knee and a tear in her outfit (note to self thank Alice for picking out that dress). I take her hand and help her up only to be squeezed into a bear hug that would make Emmett proud. I was caught so off guard I had no idea what to do so I just stood there. Then she spoke.
"Edward I need you to do a really really really big favor and I promise I will make it up to you, but I don't think we will be making it to the dance." I had a million things running through my head at once. Is she hurt worse then she is letting on? Did she change her mind about going with me on our date- I mean going with me as friends to the back to school dance? I nod my head.
"Anything what's wrong?"
It only took her about fifteen seconds to tell me about Leah before I was up the stairs and then back down them helping Leah to my Volvo. Bella grabbed Seth, minus the spoon, and away we went. The car ride to the hospital was quiet, if by quiet I mean Seth singing to the radio, Bella's continuous calling of her family members and Leah yelling for everyone to shut the fuck up.
Yep tonight was going exactly how I wanted it too…not.
We pulled into the parking lot in front of the hospital thankfully only ten minutes after leaving the Swan's home, even I was impressed at how fast I drove there, we didn't even get pulled over. Bella helped Leah out of the car and brought her in as I got Seth. When the two of us made it in a nurse was putting Leah into a wheel chair and Bella was standing nervously wringing her hands.
"Bella is everything okay?" She looked on the verge of tears.
"I can't get a hold of anyone, I left another message for Jake, Mama Sue is working here somewhere but I can't remember where, and I can't leave her to go alone but I can't take Seth with me and you probably want to go meet up with the others so I can't ask you to stay and this is all just getting a bit overwhelming." I walked over and gave her a hug (a friend can give another friend a hug when they are in need and she really needed a friendly hug at the moment, that's my story and I am sticking to it!).
"Don't worry about Seth, I will look after him." Bella looked up.
"He wont stay still for long and he gets bored really quick are you sure you don't mind watching him? I have my phone on me so you can text me if he does anything."
"No problem" I reassured her, "we can sit in the waiting room until the rest of your family gets here, I can call Rose and them and let them know where we are so they don't worry either." She nodded her head before putting it back down against my chest, I know it wasn't the right time or place but it felt so right to hold her. But all good things must come to an end and what brought on the end of my happy place was a three and a half foot tall six and a half year old.
"Um…Bella I'm hungry." At the sound of Seth's voice Bella and I jump apart and her face instantly turns a bright red and it takes a lot of my own will power to not reach over and stroke her face (I don't think that would be taken as a friend gesture for some reason). She once again looked torn between two options.
"Bella go, my dad has worked here for a while now and I know my way around. I can take Seth to get something to eat and then meet you back here for an update. I will text if there is a problem."
"Okay, could you call Rose and pass the message on to Emmett that we are here? He left his cell at home and I had to learn that the hard way." With that she left and I was stuck standing in a hallway with a hungry kid, definitely not what I had in mind for tonight but Seth isn't a bad kid and all I had to do was feed him.
I wasn't sure what foods he could eat so to be on the safe side I picked up a couple of the pre made sandwiches and some juice (I did know Seth well enough to not give him soda, he's like Alice with coffee). He seemed happy enough to sit and eat for the first five minutes, not really talking much after telling me thank you for the food. it wasn't till after his second sandwich that he spoke.
"So I noticed that you like my sister." Not what I was expecting him to say. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms trying to look intimidating but he only looked adorable instead.
"What gave you that idea?" He gave me a look that said I'm not stupid.
"I'm almost seven; I'm not stupid you look at her the same way daddy looks at mama and the same way Emmett looks at Rosie's picture in his wallet." Damn was I that obvious that a little kid was able to notice? Why am I getting the third degree from a six year old? And why does Emmett have a picture of Rosalie in his wallet? I was so lost in my mind I almost missed his next comment.
"You're fun so I am willing to help you out." Wait what?
"What do you mean by that?"
"I can tell you things about her and help you woo her like I helped Rosie with Emmett." He uncrossed his arms and reached across the table to grab his juice. While he took a couple of sips I took a moment to think about his offer. It would help to have a Swan on my side, at least one of her brothers is on my side and she has a few of them if you count her brother in law and her cousins.
"Okay I will take you up on that offer."
Seth put his juice down and happily clapped his hands (when we watched him last summer Alice was the only one willing to sit through a Disney marathon so he learned some of her bad habits, what is up with the Swan's and Disney?)
"That's great cause I gots some good information about what is coming up on Thursday that you would be the only person to know." The look in his eyes was familiar but I couldn't place where I had seen it before. "I will tell you but it's going to cost you." Yep that's the same look Emmett gets when he is up to something.
"Okay what do you want for helping me?"
"Well…just because I think your cool I will give you my discount rate of five bucks." I have hit rock bottom, I am being bribed by a little kid. I take out my wallet and give him the five but before he could tell me the info we were interrupted.
"Edward? What are you doing here?" I turn in my chair to see my dad walking to the cafeteria, with Mrs. Sue Swan. I guess she hasn't had a chance to look at her phone tonight.
"Hi mama!" Seth waved from his seat as he sipped at his juice again.
"Hello Seth honey, why are you here and not at home with Leah?" Sue looked between Seth and I. "And why aren't you at the dance with Bella Edward?"
"Well you see as I was picking up Bella when Leah went into labor. I brought them here and while Bella is with her sister I agreed to look after Seth, Bella couldn't get a hold of anyone else." I didn't even get to finish my statement before Sue was running out of the cafeteria, leaving dad, Seth and I. That's when I remembered what else I had to.
"Hey dad can you watch Seth for a minute while I call Rose and Alice to let them know we aren't going to make it tonight?" he nodded and gave Seth a smile.
"Hey kiddo lets go back to the waiting room and see if we can find something fun to do?"
"Thanks Uncle C." Seth hopped out of his chair and started to walk out with my dad, once at the door he turned. "Oh and Edward, Thursday has only comes once a year for almost seventeen years." I shared a confused look with my dad before they left and I turned to go out the side doors to call Rose. It rang for a bit before going to voice mail, instead of leaving a message I called again, and again, and again until she actually answered.
"Edward this had better be good, I am kindof in the middle of something!" She sounded a bit out of breath and a bit pissed, I could hear someone with her in the background. At first I thought she was dancing but I heard no music. Eww I don't want to think of what my sister was doing.
"Um…please tell me I am not interrupting what I think I am interrupting! Now put Emmett on the phone!" I heard her mutter something the sounded like please would be nice before another voice came on the line.
"Cullen this better be good." He growled out, he also sounded a bit strained and I think I heard Rose giggling in the background (she doesn't giggle) so I took it they weren't at the dance.
"Well considering that I am calling from the hospital I think it's important."
"What!" It took a minute to get him to calm down enough for me to explain then he said he would be right over and that he would call his dad and Sam. After we ended the call I called Alice to let her know we weren't going to make it to only get a similar reaction from Alice that I got from Rose. Was neither of my sisters at the actual dance? I hung up with her and made my way back to the waiting room.
(Bella pov)
Shortly after Mama Sue came Jake was running into the hospital room and I had to leave because of the two person minimum of who's allowed in the room. That and they were getting the epidural ready and the size of that needle had the room spinning. When I made my way back to the waiting room I was surprised to not see Seth and Edward but Dr. Cullen and Seth playing cards, no they weren't playing go fish or anything kiddy like that, as I got closer I saw they were playing poker, using candy from the vending machine instead of money. I swear he isn't a normal kid.
"Sorry doc that you had to watch him, do you know what happened to Edward?" Dr. Carlisle looked up and smiled, and then he saw my knee. I did have the chance while I was with Leah to clean it and put on one of those large band-aid thingies.
"He had to call his sisters and let them know you weren't going to make it tonight, what did you do to your knee?"
I shrugged "I fell down the stairs a bit before we got here."
"Try to be more careful you might re sprain you ankle or something and the betting pool in the E.R. has reached a nice amount. I bet you would last at least another month before we saw you again." I was shocked; the hospital was placing bets on when I hurt myself! Carlisle apparently saw my expression. "The winnings go towards donations to the hospital and if I win the children's word gets some new toys." With that he left to go back to work while I continued to play with Seth at cards (we went back to gold fish because I suck at poker, and I think Seth has enough candy).
"Did you have fun hanging out with Edward?"
"Yeah he gave me five dollars." Awe that was so nice of Edward to do that and that hug earlier was really sweet of him too, I could still remember the way his arms felt around me…
"You like him don't you?" That brought me out of my thoughts real quick.
"What gave you that idea?"
"You turn red when he is around and you look at him the way mama looks at daddy when you think mo ones looking. You know, I can help you with getting to know him, he does used to help watch me before you came."
"How much is it going to cost me?" He is related to Emmett.
"You're my favorite sister at the moment so for you its free until you turn seventeen on Thursday then I charge five dollars."
Before I could say anything Edward himself came back to the waiting room followed by my dad. After he went to let Mama Sue know he was here the four of us sat down to a few rounds of the game B.S. Emmett and Rose came in about thirty minutes after dad did, looking like they got dressed in the dark, thankfully dad didn't notice and Seth was the one to tell Em his fly was down when Edward was talking to Rosalie. I tried to side my snickering but I think Em heard me anyway.
"You think that's funny do ya Bells?"
"Yes. Yes I do." Rose looked over and gave me a smirk.
"Well I would hate to be in your shoes when Ali shows up here at least none of our cloths are ripped." That stopped my laughter.
"Did someone say my name?" A high pitched squeak was heard from around the corner as Alice and Jasper walked around the corner followed by Uncle Peter and Aunt Charlotte. I tried to hide the rip in my dress but of course the evil pixie noticed.
"Bella, is that a rip up the leg of your dress?" But I was saved from having to answer by the arrival of Sam and Emily. Alice got distracted from my fashion disaster by something sparkly on Emily's hand. Us girls spent the next two and a half hours talking about weddings and dresses (mostly Alice and Emily talked about weddings, Rose and I took turns holding a sleeping Seth while the boys played paper football, I thought about joining but I didn't want to get a paper cut and ruin Carlisle's chances of winning the E.R. bet).
Around 11 o'clock a woman showed up carrying a picnic basket for our little group along with Carlisle. It confused me for a bit of who this woman was till Alice jumped up and hugged her calling her mommy. Emmett took the basket from Mrs. Cullen, whom dad greeted as Esme, and stated to hand out the sandwiches and other goodies from the basket. We were all thankful because other then Seth, Sam and Emily, none of us had eaten for a good while and the thought of the hospital's cafeteria food was not appealing. When everyone was up and running around to get some of the food, Edward ended up sitting next to me alone by the playing cards as I held a sleeping Seth in my lap.
"So…" he started to say running his hand through his hair.
"So…" I prompted
"Tonight hasn't gone exactly as I thought it would, but I think I had more fun." He turned on that smirk of his that made my insides melt to mush. I found myself blushing and adding a small smile of my own.
"You know what after everything I think I did too, at least I didn't have to dance and injure myself or anyone within a mile radius." We were quiet again for a few moments.
"You know its all in the leading." Edward said suddenly.
"What is?" I asked looking up into his eyes that were looking into mine.
"Dancing. Its all in the person leading. Trust me, you dance with me and you will have nothing to worry about." And he winked. (note to self must remember to breath).
"Well then you owe me a dance after all this is done." Edward looked at me with an odd look on his face, like he was debating with himself. I was trying to ask him about it when we heard a cry from down the hall. Five minutes later Jake came running down the hall over to our, well not little group considering how many people were actually here. When all eyes were on him he pulled down the mask from his face and he had a huge grin.
"It's a boy!" He yelled and then the wolves were on him so to speak. Sam, dad, and Em walked over and gave him those man hug things while us women folk ran to him and gave him real hugs (after I handed Seth over to Edward first, that kid is heavy).
"So what's my grandson's name?" Dad asked after we all settled down.
"Christopher Anthony Black!" Jake said proudly. Then Emmett opened his big mouth.
"Hehe his initials are C A and B." And he started to full out laugh. The sane people in the room just continued to stare at him. "Don't you get it? His initials spell out Cab as in cab driver as in I can call him Cabby!" We all continue to stare when Rose reaches out and smacks him on the back of the head. Jake goes back to check on Leah muttering about how Leah was going to kill Emmett. Dad follows muttering about waiting at least till later to make jokes and Esme and the Cullen girls pack up the picnic stuff to take home.
As the Cullens were getting ready to leave I noticed that I hadn't thanked Edward yet for helping out earlier and for giving up his night to hang with Seth and I.
"Hey Edward, is it alright if I talk to you for a second?" He looked between his family and me, glaring a little bit at a bouncy Alice. After a sigh he turns and walks back over to me.
"Is everything okay?" I could feel my hands start to sweat a little at how nervous I was feeling.
"Um…I just wanted to say thank you for earlier, for helping out and for watching Seth, you didn't have to and it was really nice and sweet of you. I promise that I will make it up to you about missing the dance." During my little speech I ended up staring at the floor. I felt a hand on my cheek, then on my chin lifting my head back up to look t him.
"It was so problem Bella. I had more fun tonight then if I would have gone to that stupid dance in the gym." He tilted his head to the side and he gave me that damn smirk. I swear that I was so muddled because of that smirk that I didn't know what I was doing. Before I could stop myself I stood on my tip toes and placed a kiss on his cheek. It was a quick little kiss and I could feel my face turn into a tomato before I smiled at him.
"It may not have gone as planned but tonight was much better then expected." I gave him a little wink before I turned back around to join the rest of my family still in the waiting room. As I turned I saw a jumping and squealing Alice and I knew I was going to have to talk to her, but she could be Edward's headache tonight.
Me: I hope you all liked this chapter ;p I would love to hear form you all to see what you think bye till next time