Chapter 23.
Praise be to Stephenie Meyer. She owns the characters. I love her lots.
The journey back to Seattle was decidedly different from the journey to Vegas.
Alice and Jasper remained nauseating in their courtship. They talked non stop throughout the return flight to each other. Mostly about imaginary children and their names.
Rosalie and Emmett steadfastly ignored the living shit out of each other. Two words were spoken between them during the flight. Rose told off Emmett as he jumped in the seat that should have been occupied by Alice, and in her matriarchal disapproving voice she said to him "EXCUSE ME!", to which Emmet replied rather succinctly with his middle finger.
Rose huffed and Emmett puffed, but they did not blow the plane down.
Edward looked pale and frightened, perhaps more so because he was sitting next to Jasper who was ignoring him instead of taking on wingman duties. Bella sat behind him, next to Miss Prim and Proper and the Jester and she tried to sooth him by touching his shoulder and gently rubbing his neck during take off. For the first time ever on a flight he managed to breathe and fall asleep without the aid of medications and booze.
The return to Seattle however, bought with it a reality check.
Normally, the morning after, or the one after that, or even three weeks later, can be very difficult for some people. There is the awkwardness, did he/she like it, did the person at the other end of the table like my body, are they looking weirdly at me and is it going to happen again?
In this case both parties were in all new territory. It was the morning after, but the morning after what exactly?
Bella had attended Alice's gynecologist. He confirmed that she did not appear to have had penetrative sex. That her hymen was broken, but that this was common in athletic young ladies.
It had been very embarrassing to receive a safe sex talk from a man 40 years her senior.
At least she had some comfort in the knowledge that they had not had "unforgettable sex" in the very true meaning of the words. Edward still looked amazing and smelled amazing and was amazing, but she was just far too embarrassed to even converse with him other than to quickly email him.
From: Dodgy Juliet
Subject: Appears No
She couldn't even fill in the message, just leaving it blank. She was a gutless piece of chicken shit.
In the lengthy days and weeks of mostly awkward silence between them Edward managed to complete his court ordered good behavior period. He kept his show clean, he had even done a quick stint on the talk show circuit, showing off his stitches, with the balaclava firmly covering up his face.
Bella had reported to the court that he had met all of the criteria as was required. They had tiptoed around each other, barely speaking or making eye contact. For weeks she had stayed at one end of the room and he in the other. It was altogether too embarrassing for words.
Alice and Jasper watched with quiet fascination the way both parties desperately tried to pretend that the earth had swallowed each of them up and that the other party did not exist.
"You know what they are both look like?" Alice inquired of her beau.
"Nope my fair lady, enlighten me". Jasper cooed in her general direction.
"Like two people who didn't screw but who really should have."
"Well not everyone can find their true soulmate and live happily ever after."
"True." And then more sex ensued.
Every week Bella continued to work with the children in the women's shelter, planning and organizing for how they would manage the second component of Edward's court appointed punishment. His community service. She was at the centre that morning, ready to take Edward through his orientation.
"Hey Bella baby, you know Teddy is coming tomorrow, you should show up , meet a really nice man." Zafrina one of the centre managers was trying her best at matchmaking.
The workers at the centre were relentless in their push for Bella to date one delectable male volunteer called Teddy who had worked wonders with one particularly quiet little boy who had witnessed domestic violence between his parents. Bella had spent time with him, talking and playing card games, over several months and when he finally spoke to her it was to tell her about Teddy.
"Do you know Teddy, Bella?" Little Jake inquired in a soft and unfamiliar voice.
Bella was surprised at first as this was the first utterance he had made to her.
"I haven't met him Jake. Is he your friend?" Bella spoke quietly hoping she might get some conversation out of the frail small boy.
Jake paused before answering. Probably considering for the first time in his life what the concept of friend meant.
"He is my friend. I think. He would be a good friend for you Bella. You look lonely." She smiled at his attempt at making an astute observation.
"Oh I am never alone, I am very busy with lots of people here Jake"
"Yes but if you had a friend like Teddy he could teach you how to make a paper airplane that fly's in a circle. Thats really hard to do."
"I think I would love it if you showed me how to do that."
"Teddy says it is a secret, but I can show it to you because I think you are kinda..." His voice trailed off and he returned to staring at the floor.
"Kinda what Jake?" She looked at him, trying to make eye contact.
"You are kinda special." He quickly hugged her and left the room.
Bella felt goosebumps rise on her body. It was the most conversation she had ever had with him and he had also managed to show affection. There was hope for him yet.
The front door chimed and Bella walked to check the security gate. Edward was standing at the door, looking rather uncomfortable. She guessed he was not familiar with safe houses and domestic violence and teary scared women. She had sent him a brief about the home, and now she wished she had spoken with him at length about what to expect and how to manage his time here.
But she had been a wuss and had virtually ignored him for weeks, and now she was supposed to orientate him to the service that had provided her with so much personal fulfillment. She hoped even though his time here was forced that he would at least gain an understanding of why she was so passionate about protecting and helping these women and children.
She took a deep breath and walked to the door, releasing the lock on the first and then second security gates. Edward walked in.
He looked rather nervous, his hands in his pockets.
"Bella there is something I have got to tell you, its just killing me..." He ran his hands through his hair as he walked over the threshold.
Bella suddenly felt awkward, she hoped he wasn't freaking out already. She wrapped her arms around herself preparing for the worst.
A small child came running, launching himself into the air and strangling Edward around the throat.
"Teddy! You came a day early!"
-OtA-
Authors note.
Bad Izbels...Bad, bad bad bad Izbels.
A thousand apologies. Please don't hate me.
Next chapter out in two daysish to make up for my abhorrent behaviour.
Love to my Beta and my pre-reader. Send a few prayers for Elaine67 for her hubby. He is having a few medical hiccups at present. She is a beautiful person and they deserve a long and beautiful life together.