Stephenie has it all. I just decided to play with her characters and add some of mine.
Pictures of the characters on my web, here: http:/ newdawn-newday-newlife . webs . com/ residentadviser . htm.
As you know by now, remove the spaces. On FB you find me under the name of Cherry Bella.
THANK YOU, GUYS! I never expected so many reviews or story Alerts/Favorites or hits. You are great! This is seriously my only story to receive such feedback! I update every week.
Pre-read by TeamAllTwilight.
PS: For those that don't know, I posted outtakes for this story. It's about Edward. And I'm working on more outtakes right now.
If I missed anyone in my replies, I'm sorry, but know that I read and cherish all of them.
After leaving the restaurant, we walked around until we found a park and Edward steered me inside. Finding a somewhat secluded bench, he plopped on it and I lay down with my head on his lap.
"Are you okay?" I whispered, reaching up to cup his stubby cheek.
"I guess. I was so nervous before we met with Carmen…"
"I'm sure you were. That trip to the toilet gave you away."
He grinned, leaning his head on the back of the bench, closing his eyes. "It's really nice to be back here…but there are some memories…"
"They'll never go away."
"I know." He sighed. "I was thinking… do you have to be back on Wednesday?"
"Sorry?" I asked, surprised.
"At school. Do you have anything important on Wednesday?" He peered down at me.
"I don't think so, but…"
"Do you want to stay one more day here?" he whispered. I knew what he wanted to do and I wanted to lie and tell him I really had to be in Seattle on Wednesday, but I couldn't. He looked scared and worried, just like when he always did when let out something about his past.
I burrowed my nose in his stomach to conceal my tears. I hated to see him hurt.
"Bella?" Edward asked, stroking my hair.
"Okay, but don't do anything reckless or stupid."
"What would I do? I just want to see the house."
"We're going to see it tomorrow with Carmen," I reminded him. "We're going to choose."
We remained silent, just enjoying some time alone before we went back and he had a meeting with his coach.
In the morning, I went alone to meet Carmen because Shaw kept him for practice. I should have known. Edward had told me to choose because he trusted me. It felt like the weight of this important decision was on my shoulders. If he didn't like the house, it would be my fault.
I bought a big cup of coffee and went to meet with Carmen. She was a morning person because she kept talking and talking until I stopped her with a very stupid question.
"How do you know about Edward's past?" I blurted out.
She stopped walking momentarily, glancing at me then resumed her pace. "Don't you know Liz works with me?"
"What? No!" I almost shouted. "She hasn't told…" I closed my mouth. Had she told Edward? I was going to strangle him if he allowed me to make a fool of myself. "I didn't know," I mumbled, sipping from my coffee.
"It's okay, Bella. I don't think she told Edward. She's really proud of him."
I sighed, looking at the asphalt in front of me. "She doesn't have any right to try and play parent…" I ground my teeth.
Carmen hooked her arm around my elbow. "Let me tell you a little story." I didn't answer and she kept talking. "I'm originally from Spain. When I was little, I came on a trip to America with my parents. We got separated, I got lost…or so I thought at that time." I gasped, looking surprised and shocked at her. Her face didn't betray anything. "I went from one house to another and endured many things, some worse than what Edward's been through. As much as…they hurt him…do you really think a parent would do such a thing to their child?"
"They did," I hissed.
"Oh, Bella." She sighed. We rounded on a beautiful street that was full of houses. It looked like a little paradise. "Have you ever done something wrong? I don't know…came late home? Didn't listen to your parents…? They got angry, right?"
I nodded, biting my lip. "But that doesn't mean…"
"Did they ever slap you or punished you in some other way?"
"Oh, eh, yeah," I mumbled, realizing where she was headed.
"And it hurt."
I just nodded. "I was disappointing them when I did something wrong. But then they got divorced and I thought it was my fault…and Mom took me with her. And until I was older, I thought that she was crying because Dad was beating her. Then I found out she was just sad because he was always working and never home…"
"Oh, I'm really sorry to hear they are separated," she said, genuinely sad.
"It's okay. It's from the past. No one is hurt now. But where are you headed with this? You can't tell me they didn't hurt Edward!"
"Oh, I'm getting there. Did you know about the debt?"
"Not really. That's all Edward's mom, Esme, said."
Carmen nodded, looking to her left. "Just a few houses away," she whispered. "Elizabeth and Edward had never been wealthy and then she got pregnant. I was her friend for the longest time. She wanted an abortion but then she realized she couldn't kill a small baby. And she gave birth to the smallest baby I've ever seen."
"You knew them then?" I asked, shocked.
She smiled. "We were friends up until it happened. They both adored Edward. But a baby eats a lot of money so they started loaning. I told them God only knows how many times to be careful, but they said it was okay and that Ed would someday become a good lawyer and they'll pay the debt. I'm sure Edward was spoiled and it was difficult for him to adjust from that to…absolutely nothing when the bank took things out of their house. Ed was an unknown lawyer but the few cases he had…let's say his clients gave him bottles of strong stuff along with money."
"I've always wondered how they had money for that," I mumbled to myself.
We stopped in front of a house. It was a one-story house. And I was suddenly in love.
"It's so beautiful," I whispered, going closer. It had a garage and a driveway and the most beautiful lawn and I wanted it. This was everything I needed. "It's the one in the photo?" I asked, turning to Carmen who was watching me smirking.
"Yes." She nodded. "You have no idea how happy it makes me when a client falls in love with a house. And it's for sale."
We wanted to rent, it was cheaper. After countless hours on the phone with my Mom, she had finally agreed I was mature enough to move to my own house. Like I was going to live on campus for the rest of my life or back with Dad! What was she thinking? This was the next step. Dad had agreed to help me, knowing how serious I was with Edward. It was probably time to visit Renee and have her officially meet Edward.
"Let's go inside. Do you want to see the other house, too?" Carmen asked, stirring me toward the front door.
"Is it stupid that I don't even care what the other one looks like? It can be nice, but I'd still choose this one."
"That means you found the one," she whispered, offering me a set of keys. "Why don't you open the door?"
My hands trembled when I stuck the key in the lock and turned. This was it. A new phase of my life. I stepped inside with my heart hammering in my chest. It was bare.
"Can I call Edward?"
"Of course you can."
I dialed his number, hoping he was on a break and would answer as I went to the window. The back yard was breathtaking. I could see myself living here.
"Yes?" he asked in an out of breath voice.
"Hey, I'm here…" I whispered.
"Where?"
"In the house. I found the one."
"Really? That's great Bella!" he exclaimed.
"It's the one you chose. It's so beautiful. You have to see it."
"Monday."
"Monday," I agreed. "Are you on a break?"
"Not really, but I heard the phone and came to answer. Coach's glaring at me. I guess I should go."
"You probably should. I love you."
"Love you too."
I went to find Carmen and she was in the kitchen, on the phone. I decided not to disturb her and started exploring. There was a small stairway and I realized there was another story, but the eight stairs didn't make much difference. Three bedrooms. It was more than we needed. We could invite our friends over, I was sure. The only places that were furnished were the bathrooms and the kitchen, although I was sure I'd change stuff in the kitchen. I loved to cook.
"Do you like it?" Carmen asked from behind me.
I was looking at the backyard from one of the bedrooms. "It's amazing. Thank you so much." I turned to her and hugged her. "Uhh, will you continue your story?"
"Oh, I almost forgot. Of course I will. Let's sit somewhere."
We took a seat on the stairs, leaning against the wall.
"Where was I? Edward being paid in drinks?"
"Yeah."
"That meant they were stocked. I don't think they bought alcohol, but who knows? They had stopped talking to me, to everyone they knew. It happened so suddenly. One day we were friends and talking and the other, they distanced from everyone."
"How come Edward doesn't know you?" I asked, realizing they should have met at some point.
"Oh, he was so little, I'm sure he doesn't remember me. I saw him only once or twice. I only heard about the Masens, never saw them once they started becoming buried in their debts. Then I heard bits and pieces from people. When his new family took him and how Liz and Ed were accused of molesting their own child. I didn't believe it. I knew them." She looked away, sighing. "Then about two years later, Liz was ringing my doorbell looking like some homeless, crazy person. When I opened the door, she fell in my arms and started sobbing. I invited her inside and she told me everything. I hated her for about five minutes then, I remembered my own story. And it was so much more horrible."
"Oh, right. You never finished that," I said, looking worried at her.
"They abandoned me here. They never wanted me. Edward was unplanned, just like I was, but they loved him and spoiled him until it slapped them in the face. Liz told me that Ed blamed Edward for the debt. If he hadn't been there, they wouldn't be in debt. She always tried to be on Edward's side, but sometimes, the grief got the best of her. Liz always tried to keep Ed away but she didn't succeed very well."
I looked in my lap, my eyes watering. She was trying to make some monsters look like saints and it was mind-bogging. I started shaking my head. "No, you can't make them look good."
"I guess, I'll always take their side. They are my friends, but it's not fair what they've done to Edward."
"Of course it's not!" I shouted, turning my head to her. "I'm really sorry to hear what happened to you, but…if they loved Edward as much as you say…why would they suddenly hurt him so bad?"
"No one knows how people can turn when it's about money. They could have saved themselves somehow, but they chose the worst way out."
I sighed, leaning my head against the wall. "I'm going to say something really stupid…" I mumbled. "I'm kinda happy it happened. It brought Edward to me."
Carmen leaned into me, hugging me close to her. "He deserved to have a beautiful life. It's not his fault his parents couldn't deal with the debt they were in. And, I will never forgive them for hurting him. I just understand what happened, that's all."
My phone rang, making me jump a mile. I fumbled with it for a moment before pressing the green button.
"Yes, Edward?"
"Do you want to come to lunch with us?" he asked quietly.
"Sure. Where do we meet?"
"At the hotel. Hold on. Yes, I told you three times. Yeah, sorry. I'll see you soon?"
"Is everything okay?" I asked. He sounded a little off.
"Yes, yes. See you soon."
When I arrived at the hotel, I bumped into Emmett who was exiting the elevator. He took me to the restaurant area, telling me to convince Edward to do it. Do what? I wondered silently.
Arriving at the table, I slipped in the seat he had saved me next to him. One of his hands was in a bowl with ice.
"What did you do?" I asked worried, taking his hand.
Edward hissed, snatching it back and shoving it into the bowl. "It's nothing. Jesus, will you just chill? Everyone is acting like this is something big," he muttered.
"But it is. You're hurt. What about tomorrow?"
"I'm gonna play." He didn't say anything after that.
When I asked what had happened, Edward made sure to drop his knife then his good hand shot up. "Waiter!" It was on purpose. I had to wait until we were alone. I was sure I could make him talk.
Once in our room, he threw his body on the bed and started flipping through the channels on the TV.
"Aren't you going to tell me what happened to your hand?" I whispered, sitting next to him.
"How is the house?"
"Damn it, Edward! Did you fight or something?"
He rolled his eyes. "Who was missing at the table?" he asked, boring holes in the TV set.
"No one?" I asked, frowning. Everyone was downstairs. "Well, Shaw wasn't but how many times did he join…" My voice faded. "What happened?"
He sighed, finally meeting my eyes. "After I hung up with you…I was a bit distracted, you know? Thinking of you, of the house…then Shaw shouted at me to pay attention. When I missed three hoops in a row, he called my name." Edward cringed. "A ball was zooming toward me. He was really angry. I blocked it with my hand and I think a finger or two…turned back or something."
"Turned back?" He was scaring me.
"I'm okay. I have to play tomorrow."
"Edward, you need your hands. Those guys from the NBA know what you can do. Don't be stupid." I took his hand and his middle and ring fingers were an angry red, almost purple and a little swollen. "Can you at least call you dad and make sure they aren't broken?"
"They're not. I know that Bella. I would be hollering in pain if they were broken."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Humor me," I hissed.
"Oh, stealing my lines. So original of you, Swan."
"Don't make me resort to drastic measures!" I warned him. I didn't like at all how his fingers look. And no matter what he wanted to be – basketball player or doctor – he had to use his fingers.
"Like what? Punch me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
My left hand pinched the skin on his ribs making him squeak and squirm. I did it again until he nearly fell of the bed and his face was red from laughing.
"So? Would you call your dad now?"
"If you stop poking me."
"People call that tickling," I answered, pecking his cheek.
"Smart ass." I handed him the phone and he stayed for half an hour on it with Carlisle. He tucked it between his ear and shoulder, inspecting his fingers and doing whatever his dad was telling him.
I went to our luggage to take stuff out when I heard him shout and a string of curses came out of his mouth. Whirling around, panicked, I saw Edward clutching his hand to his chest. I grabbed the phone that had fallen on the bed.
"Edward!" Carlisle was shouting.
"Hello, Carlisle," I greeted him.
"Get him to the hospital. One of the fingers is broken."
"I told him! But he's too stubborn," I answered, looking down at Edward who seemed to have stopped breathing. Fuck. It must have hurt him really bad. "I'll get him there now."
"Okay. Call me when you know what's going on." I hung up, promising him to do so.
"We're not going anywhere," Edward hissed when I took his hand.
"Edward, you're hurt."
"I fucking know what's going on! I'm about to finish pre-med."
"You knew the whole while?" I asked, upset.
"Of course, I fucking knew, Bella! And I'm not going anywhere! Tomorrow, I'm going to play! Then we'll see if I need a cast or whatever the fuck."
"We're not waiting! I'm bringing your coach," I snapped, my anger flaring up.
"Please, bring him. He already blames himself for this."
My shoulders sagged and I put my hands on his face. "Please. Think how this will affect you in the long run. Not tomorrow. Fuck tomorrow. As I told you! Everyone knows what you can do. What do you want to prove? If something bad happens to your fingers you will never be able to play basketball or be a doctor."
His eyes widened and it was probably the only time he realized the gravity of the situation.
"Are you coming to the hospital now?"
He bit his lip, looking conflicted but nodded slowly. I kissed his forehead and grabbed the phone and wallet from the night stand.
Uh...this was quite hard to write. It lets out a lot about Edward's past. I hope everyone enjoyed it.
Review.