Bella:
My parents try to ask me what's wrong, but I just ask them if we can go home. Thankfully, they drop it, but I can tell they'll continue their questioning tomorrow.
Once we're back home, I run straight to my room and sob into my pillow. It hurts to think about my real parents. Every so often they try to get in contact, but I don't want to know them. A couple of years ago was the last time they tried to contact me, it seems as though they've given up now.
When I finally do get to sleep, I'm restless and full of nightmares. My parents told me when they first adopted me, I would never sleep through the night as I'd scream about the nightmares I was having. And, my mum took drugs a couple of times while pregnant with me, but thankfully there were no major side-effects.
In the morning, my mum wakes me up, again asking if I'm ok.
"What happened last night?" She asks, clearly worried.
"It was nothing…Edward and I had a bit of a fight," I tell her, not wishing to bring up my birth parents.
"What about? I haven't seen you that upset in ages, honey?" My mum asks.
"Like I said before, it was nothing. I'm fine now," I smile at her to show her I'm fine before getting out of bed.
Alice picks me up again for school, so I reluctantly sit in next to Edward. I look forward instead of at him, remaining silent.
"You didn't say bye to me when you left yesterday, Bell!" Alice tells me.
"Oh, sorry," I mutter.
"B-Bella…c-can we, um, t-t-talk?" Edward asks quietly.
"I…alright," I sigh. I feel bad being such a bitch to him; it's not as if he hasn't had enough of people being harsh to him. And…I guess it wasn't his fault, how was he to know? Only Alice, her parents and my parents know the truth.
"I'm r-really sorry…that m-must have be-been tough," Edward mutters, fiddling with the bandage on his hand instead of looking at me.
"I'm really sorry, too, for getting so mad at you. It wasn't your fault, it's more them I'm angry than you," I now feel really bad, since I went totally crazy at him for no reason. He most probably hates me. I hate me.
"Are w-we still o-on f-for…for tonight? A-after school?" Edward asks timidly.
"Yes, of course! It'll be great!" I tell him, feeling happier now. This will be my way of repaying Edward. Edward always seems to make me happier.
"G-good." Edward smiles, slowly reaching over to take my hand. I blush as he does so, casting him a sly glance. He just shrugs a little, smiling.
Once we arrive at school, Edward lets go of my hand since we have to get out of different sides of the car. After we're out, Alice and Cowboy walk off to their lesson, leaving just Edward and I standing awkwardly by the car.
"I've, uh, got to go to my first lesson now," I smile and give him an awkward wave before walking off, tripping a couple of times. Smooth, Bella.
At the end of the day, I go the Alice and Edward's house, since our after-school stutter lessons are beginning.
"So, I don't really know what to do, I mean, I'm no speech therapist, but I think if you just try to get comfortable, and think about exactly what you're going to say," I tell him. I Googled it a bit at lunch, though that's probably not the most reliable source for information.
"O-ok. First, t-though," Edward leans across to give me a short and sweet peck on the lips.
"Ok, right, well, how about we start with you saying something like, 'Hello, my name is Edward'," I suggest.
"Hello, my n-name is E-Edward…dammit! H-Hello, m-m…my…"
"Edward, stop. Remember, think about what you are going to say, and try to keep calm. Next time, I'll bring calming music," I tease, trying to lighten the mood.
"Hello, my…my name is E-Edward," Edward says slowly.
"Well done!" I praise him.
"Was t-that good?" Edward asks.
"Most definitely," I grin, quickly pecking his lips. What, I couldn't resist. "How about we try to find out when you began stuttering, and then we can see if we can help solve that problem," Another Google suggestion.
"Um…I t-think I was, uh, a-around 11?" Edward says, thinking deeply.
"Do you know why?" I ask carefully.
"N-no," Edward states firmly.
"Edward, I think it might be easier if you speak to someone more professional about this. I'm just basing my suggestions on Google! I think a speech therapist or someone like that would really help you," I suggest to him, hoping he'll take my advice. It's not that I mind helping him; it's just that I don't think I'm the best person to help him.
"B-But I fe-feel comfortable t-t-talking…talking with y-you," Edward insists.
"I know, but soon you'll get comfortable speaking with a speech therapist," I tell him, trying to convince him.
"I'll t-think about, uh, it," Edward huffs.
"Really?" I ask, smiling.
"F-fine. But o-only because I c-can't s-s-say no t-to you," Edward says, rolling his eyes at me.
"Good, I really believe it would help," I smile at him.
After hanging out with him for a bit longer, I reluctantly have to go; only I leave today on a lighter note. And with a kiss from Edward.
"I'm starting to think you're replacing me with my brother," Alice says as soon as I step out of the room.
"Shit…you scared me!" I hope she didn't see me kiss Edward, she'd be pissed.
"Whatever, dude, do I get a goodbye this time?" Alice grins.
"Yeah, goodbye!" I shout before beginning to run off.
"Hey!" Alice literally jumps on me and tackles me into a hug, before letting me go.
Once I finally made to get the oil-hair-coloured pixie off me, I walk the short distance home.
*******LLB*******
When I wake up the next morning, I stretch and stumble out of bed, making a beeline for the bathroom. I take a quick shower, washing my hair, and then get out and dry myself. I pull my hair up into a ponytail while it dries and wrap the towel around my body.
I walk back into my room to choose some clothes to wear, but then decide to open the curtains to see what the weathers like. It's probably raining, but on the off chance that it's not it's good to check.
"AH! WHAT THE HELL!" I shriek when I open the curtains.
"Are you alright up there?" My mum shouts up.
"Yes! I'm fine!" I shout back, still peering in wonder out the window.
Just outside my window is Edward, on a ladder. What. The. Hell. I open the window to speak to Edward, to ask him what's happening.
"Edward, why are you outside my window before school?" I ask him in a hushed tone so that my mother doesn't hear.
"Y-you t-t-towel needs, um, p-pulling up," Edward mutters. Shit. I look down and see that amidst all my shrieking I hadn't realised the fact my towel had slightly slipped down, revealing more of my chest that I'd like Edward to see. I quickly pull it up; making sure it's more secure this time.
"Edward, why are you on a ladder?" I question again, hoping there won't be any more distractions.
"I d-dropped my sponge…I'm a-a wi-window cleaner," Edward mumbles, pointing to the ground where I presume his sponge fell.
"Oh. I didn't even know there was a window cleaning business in Forks," I comment, for lack of anything else to say.
"There isn't…I s-set on-one up," I'm impressed, he's set up his own business! That's pretty impressive for someone who's only 17 years old.
"Ok, well, I'm going to get dressed now," I smile at him.
"I'll g-go cl-clean the windows down-downstairs, t-then," Edward says, walking down the creaky steps of his ladder.
"See you later at school, Edward!" I shout out the window down to him.
When I go back into my room to get change, I make sure to close the curtains when I get undressed.
Edward will never stop surprising me.
A/N: What do you think of Edward as a window cleaner? :P
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