The Twilight Twenty-Five

thetwilight25[dot]com

Prompt: Movie Theater

Pen Name: Mcgt

Pairing/Main Character(s): Bella

Rating: M

This will be a multi-chaptered story.

Photo prompts can be viewed here: thetwilight25[dot]com/round-six/prompts

A/N

Thanks to LittleRedScientist for helping beta this for me and Jenequilter for her prereader skills.

SOMEONE nominated this story to be one of the fics of the week over on the lemonade stand!

THANK you to whomever did – and PLEASE if you like this story, go and vote for it on their poll.- Tehlemonadestand(dot)blogspot(dot)com

Chapter 15 – Movie Theater – Long Way to Happy

I'd locked myself in my office for the last two days. Angela and Esme had both tried to talk to me but I had only given them the briefest of time, usually just long enough to tell them it wasn't any of their business. The wall I'd built so carefully around my heart that had briefly been taken down after the accident was back up and virtually impenetrable.

By the time Saturday rolled around, I was ready for a break from the eight by four room I'd sequestered myself in. When Emmett called asking if I'd wanted to go see a movie with him and my god-daughter I jumped at the chance.

I quickly told Esme I'd be back in a few hours and wandered down to the Cineplex to wait for Elyse and Emmett. I'd just walked up to the ticket window when I heard my name being shouted through the streets.

"Auntie Bella!" Elyse was dragging her poor dad behind her as she crossed the street. Stooping down I lifted her tiny body up and swung her around in a circle before placing her back on the ground. I'd forgotten how much I loved that little girl.

"Hi Bells," Emmett said, pulling me into a bear hug. "You okay?" His dark brown eyes stared intently down at me waiting for my response.

After my breakdown the other day, I'd called him up and vented all of my frustrations. I'd been there for him often over the years and for the first time in my adult life, I'd broken down and told him about my fragile financial state and everything that had happened after the accident. And like the wonderful friend he was, he just let me talk. He didn't try to give me words of advice or to tell me everything was going to be okay. Instead he listened, made the occasional humorous comment to lighten my mood and then told me I could always count on him. No matter what.

I had finally relinquished some of the burdens I'd been carrying around and it felt like I could breathe again. Of course I should have known he would only let me wallow in my private pity party for so long.

Which was apparently two days.

After buying a bag of popcorn and a Sprite, we found our seats. I should have put Elyse between us because once we sat down his pep talk began.

"Did you even listen to his ideas?" Emmett asked his mouth full of popcorn.

I glanced sideways, a look that I only wished shot actual daggers instead of the proverbial kind. "Why should I? He was butting his nose in to where it doesn't belong. I can handle this myself. I'll figure something out." I huffed, shoving a handful of the buttery goodness into my mouth to signal an end to the conversation.

"I love you like a sister Bella, but really. Is it so bad to have people looking out for you? Trying to find ways to help? I understand your embarrassment and how you like to keep things close to your chest but maybe you should look at the big picture." He smiled his huge 'you know I'm right' grin and waited for it all to sink in.

Flopping my head back against the chair I groaned not wanting to listen to reason. Even though I'd thought the same thing numerous times when my brain would grow calm and I could actually see though the haze of my vacillating emotions. One minute, I'd feel resolved to go ahead and talk about my problems, thinking perhaps others might be able to help. Then after a while the sinking feeling of defeat would creep into the recesses of my mind, like I'd failed by not being strong or independent enough to handle it all on my own.

Then it dawned on me, it wasn't so much the prospect of Edward or anyone else wanting to help me that bothered me so much, but the fact that no one asked me if I even wanted it.

Our chat was cut short when the previews began but Emmett wasn't to be derailed and whispered that we would be talking about this later. It seems Elyse had other things in mind because once the movie was over she chattered continuously about the movie and how cute she thought the Lorax was with his fuzzy mustache and how much she liked a couple of the songs. Her enthusiasm was infectious, one of the reasons I loved hanging out with the pair, they always could lift my spirits.

We went our separate ways but Emmett had to make his point known, whispering in my ear during the hug to just give everyone a chance. To listen to their thoughts and ideas. Because who knows perhaps one would help lead me out of the darkness.

"Fine, I'll listen. But I'm not promising you anything," I huffed, without any real emotion behind it. I knew he was right and it was time for me to allow myself to be vulnerable and permit someone else to help me. Emmett made me see that it didn't really matter how many walls I put up, I'd eventually have to let someone in. It was only a matter of time. I'd just need to do a better job about whom I trusted and who I didn't.

"That's all I ask. Call me later." In a flash they'd turned the corner to go get his car and I continued my walk back to the shop.

I knew I still needed to figure out some way to thank Esme and Angela for not only helping me out when I was recuperating but also a way to make up for my abhorrent behavior the last few days. My thoughts whirred with so many possibilities that I almost walked right past my shop.

Pulling the heavy door open I forced a smile on my face and a sincere apology on my lips. But when I looked up to deliver my soliloquy I stood nose to nose with Edward who was holding a coffee in one hand and a notebook in the other.

"Ed-Edward?" My mind reeled trying to come up with something to say to the man who I'd focused all of my anger towards for the last few days.

"Isabella," he whispered taking a step back to put space between us.

My head shot up at his use of my name, the formalized version no one really used and it was only now that I realized he'd been calling me that the whole time.

"Why do you call me that?"

Confusion littered his face, "Call you what? Isabella?" He glanced around as if this was a trick question. "Because that's your name?"

I let out a frustrated sigh, "I know that's my name but who told you to call me that? I never told it to you."

His eyes grew wide and he looked a bit like a fish out of water with his mouth gaping open and shut repeatedly. "Um, because that's the name that was on your chart?" he muttered. His eyes left mine and lingered on the floor by me feet.

"You didn't know my name until you looked at my chart?" I asked dumbfounded by his admission of basically breaking every HIPPA Law known to man.

"Nnn- no," he stammered showing his shy blush and I was once again fascinated by his response. The man oozed confidence sometimes and other times looked like he wished the world would swallow him whole. His confusing behavior piqued my interest and I knew I'd forgiven him when I let his snooping go by without any extra snide commentary.

Instead, I leaned up to his ear and said, "Just call me Bella then. All my other friends do." With a swish of my hair I sauntered back behind the counter, genuinely smiling for the first time in days.

A/N

Okay –see, I have a plan. HONEST!

Leave me some love & if you like this story, go vote for it at Tehlemonadestand(dot)blogspot(dot)com (And yes, it is spelled correctly)

Thanks again, I'm so freaking humbled. This is the first time EVER anyone's nominated a fic of mine for the Lemonade Stand! And I've been doing this for about 3 years now. Thank you!