The Twilight Twenty-Five

thetwilight25[dot]com

Prompt: Classroom

Pen Name: Mcgt

Pairing/Main Character(s): Bella/Edward

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.

Chapter 18 – Classroom – With a Little Help from My Friends

We were two cosmos down and I was surprisingly having a really good time. And the longer we sat and talked the more ideas about how to promote the store were shared.

"Ok, so what I was thinking…" Esme started, pointing her finger onto the notebook I was studiously writing all of our brainstorming ideas down in. "What about if I speak with Superintendent Chalmers about using the Drowsy Reader for ordering new textbooks and other novels that they're requiring the students to read?"

"Wait, wait, what about collaborating with the schools and creating a contest? How about a create a bookmark contest and we'll get them printed and they'll be handed out free with every book purchased. We can award prizes for the best grade school, middle school, and high school ones?"

I'd barely had time to write the ideas down when I heard Edward's voice whisper in my ear, "Why not create a frequent buyer program?" He'd snuck in behind me kissing my cheek and slipping into the chair beside me.

I watched as he leaned in and gave Esme a similar greeting and thanked us for letting him join us for our little brainstorming session.

"As I just mentioned to Bella, why not create a frequent buyer program? Like a punch card you get at Subway? One for coffee and one for books. You buy ten books and you get fifty percent off your next book? And maybe for the coffee one, you buy ten and get your next one free. Once their punch card is full, they can put their name and phone number on the back and submit it towards a drawing that maybe we'd have every month or quarter towards a free e-reader or I-pad or something? I'd be willing to buy whatever the gift is to get the program going."

He abruptly stopped when he realized all of us were looking at him with our eyes wide and our faces grinning.

"That's a great idea," Angela enthused pointing at the notebook and telling me to definitely get that one down.

We spent the next two hours going back and forth with ideas about increasing business to the store but also ways I could handle my personal financial problems.

"Have you heard back from your insurance company yet?" Edward asked as he drove me home from the bar.

"I didn't have renters insurance so my computer, TV, and everything else isn't covered but my car insurance company gave me a whopping two thousand dollars for my beater Honda. I don't know if I should buy a car with it or pay my bills."

"Why not do both? I know an old fraternity buddy who runs a used car shop in Seattle. I'm sure I can get him to give you a good deal on something and hopefully it will leave a little left in your wallet."

His comment about knowing someone in Seattle made me think that perhaps Jake could help me out too. I'd never even though about using him as a resource. He was a mechanic and I was sure he probably knew someone local who was getting rid of a car.

"I just remembered that maybe my friend can help me too. Let me check with him and if he doesn't have anything, I'll try yours. Thanks. I hadn't thought through all the possibilities yet."

He grasped my hand gently and told me he was happy to help in any way he could.

Tonight had gone well. Between the four of us we'd come up with some great ideas for the store, many that I could start implementing this week. Edward had been attentive and his ideas were intelligent and extremely well thought out. I could tell by the knowing looks that were exchanged between Angela and Esme they were not completely blind to the connection Edward and I had. Our bodies were like magnets always turning towards one another, our hands finding ways to touch the other one in even the most minute and innocent ways.

Walking up the stairs I felt my pulse rise, feeling like perhaps tonight would be the night that Edward might try to kiss me. After our date on Saturday he escorted me in but had only kissed me on the cheek and gave me a hug instead of the kiss I had been waiting for. Once he'd left promising to see me today I couldn't fall asleep, the evening playing over and over inside my mind like a broken movie projector. Every word, every action was dissected down to the minutest detail.

I always did overthink things.

"Thanks again for letting me join you guys tonight. I had fun. It's been a while since I had to use the creative part of my brain," he said brushing a strand of hair off my forehead, his eyes never straying from my own. "You guys should do that again maybe every quarter or so. Reassess what's working and what's not, you know." He shrugged, appearing a little uncomfortable with my continued stare.

But I couldn't help it. Every single interaction I had with this man surprised me. He was this enigma I couldn't figure out. Instead of letting him stand on my doorstep shuffling from one foot to the other looking unsure of himself, I did something well out of my comfort zone

I kissed him.

Leaning in I grasped the back of his head, tugging it down so my lips could meet his. I watched as his eyes grew large once he realized what I was doing but as soon as our lips met I closed mine and allowed myself to just enjoy the feeling of our lips coming together. His tongue hesitantly touched my lips as if he was unsure I'd permit it. I didn't resist, opening my mouth to the taste of him and a touch of spearmint that must have been left over from the gum he chewed earlier. Our movements were unhurried and relaxed, exactly what I had been missing from so many other rushed first kisses I'd had in my past. No this one made me feel the slow burn of lust. The kind that starts in the pit of your stomach, the flutter of butterflies that expand into the rapid beating of your heart and the swoosh of blood in your ears.

Winding our kiss down we both separated minutely, our foreheads resting on each other just enjoying the moment.

"Hmmm… that was unexpected yet extremely welcome," he murmured against my cheek, kissing it softly before standing up. "You can do that whenever you have the urge but I think I should probably go before I have the urge to do other things with you," he teased, kissing my knuckles and bidding me a good night.

Closing and locking the door behind me I rested my head against the cool metal and grinned like a love-struck fool who hoped her dreams tonight were filled with copper hair, piercing jade eyes, and lips that were the softest I'd ever felt.

Nope, not lovesick at all.

A/N

Okay- so… they finally kissed. What do you think? Let me know – and yesterday I spent a few hours writing some lemonade for these two. Hopefully that will be a welcome chapter to come, right?

Can't believe we're winding down. Only seven more chapters to go. Thanks for sticking with me and our dear volatile Bella.