Disclaimer: The characters of Twilight are owned by Stephenie Meyer. The original characters, content and ideas of this story are mine.
Chapter song: Ready or Not by After 7
I'll give the Sun the Rain the Moon the Stars and The Mountains I'll give you the world and all that you wish for
And even more girl I love you more than you could know and that's for sure I'd climb the highest hill
Cross the widest sea nothin could discourage me and I pray that you will be always there for me forever more
Ready or not I'll give you everything and more all that I've got-it's yours I'll give you everything all that you're looking for
I'll give you my heart my soul my time my love is a fountain I will be your earth and all that you need for and even more
Cause girl I love
you more than words
can show
My love is pure
I'll walk a thousand miles
Sail a thousand seas
Nothin will discourage me
And I pray that you will be
Always there for me
Forever more, Ready or Not
Chapter 14
Making Frenemies
BPOV
What'tha! Am I in Edward's bed and why is his arm around me? Oh my God I can feel his bare chest, did we…? No I would remember that wouldn't I? If what's poking me in my lower back is any indication of his assets, I would definitely remember had we done… that. Okay think Bella what do I do? I could gently try to slide from under his arm. All these thoughts were running through my head but none of them were as dominant as the desire to just stay where I was because if I was being honest I have never felt this content and secure in anyone's arms before. But this is all wrong because Edward and I are just friends and I wouldn't want to do anything to ruin that so this is a mistake. We both had a little more to drink last night than we should have and that's how we ended up like this in fact if he were woke I'd be willing to bet he would be a upset with himself for allowing this to happen.
I gently grabbed his wrist and slowly removed his hand from my stomach. I then moved his arm back to place it at his side but just as I was about to slide out of the bed Edward grabbed my midsection and again and pulled me closer and this time he spoke.
"Just a few more minutes love please I'm not ready to get up."
I froze in shock and as I turned my head to answer him I saw That Edward's eyes were still closed and realized he was still sleeping. So this would also mean he's dreaming, but about whom I wonder, maybe Tanya. I wonder if Love was his pet name for her. Okay this is definitely not good; Edward is holding me and dreaming about someone else. I waited a few more moments and then tried to escape again and this time I was successful. I quietly left his room and went to my own bedroom and just lay across the bed thinking about how good it had felt to be in Edward's arms and how I instantly missed the warmth once I was no longer in them. Eventually I fell back to sleep and this time I was dreaming about the pair of arms that I wish were holding me again.
When I finally woke up again and looked at the clock it was 2:00pm and I had slept the morning away. I sat up on my bed wondering if Edward was awake yet and feeling a little nervous about seeing him. I pushed that fear down and opened my door and when I saw that his bedroom door was open I headed for the living room but no Edward. I walked into the kitchen and found a note next to the coffee maker from Edward:
Bella,
I am at the hospital working the 11-7 shift. I will take a lunch at about 4:00pm and you are welcome to come join me or if you want to just relax for today I understand. I should be home no later than 8 0 clock, but you can call my cell anytime or call the hospital and have me paged. Hope to see you soon, Edward.
I smiled after reading his note and dialed his cell number while fixing myself a cup of coffee, but unfortunately his voicemail picked up. I then looked at the magnet on his fridge to get the number to the hospital asking for the pediatrics department when the operator answered the phone.
"Pediatrics, Jessica speaking how may I help you."
"Hi Jessica it's Bella Edward's friend."
"Oh hi Bella how are you?"
"I'm good and you?"
"Good…are you looking for Edward?"
"Yes is he around? I called his cell but I got his voicemail."
"Actually he was just called down for an emergency surgery 10 minutes ago. They had a little girl who came in and needed her appendix removed right away."
"Oh wow…well okay I was going to try to meet him for lunch but if you could just tell…."
"Hey why don't you come join me for lunch I know a great café just a couple of blocks away."
"Well… I guess I could… what time did you have in mind?"
"Let's say an hour, is that okay?"
"Yeah I can be there in an hour."
"Great I'll meet you right outside in the front of the hospital."
"Okay see you in a little while."
I hung up and quickly showered and put on a pair of dark blue skinny jeans, a white spandex tank top and a white button up cotton shirt with a pair of silver ballerina shoes to match my silver earrings and necklace. I put my hair up in a neat ponytail with a few stray hairs hanging out, grabbed my purse and keys and headed downstairs to catch a taxi.
"Bella it's so good to see you again." Jessica said giving me a light hug that took me by surprise.
"Thanks you too Jessica."
We started walking and soon came to a quaint café with seating inside and outside in which we opted to sit outside since it was such a beautiful sunny day with a nice breeze. I loved the weather in New York unlike rainy Forks.
"So how do you like New York so far?"
"I love it! It's very different from Forks where I'm from a lot more busy but so much to see and do."
"Yes I agree there is so much to get into in a big city like this. So how do you know Edward?" she asked as I took a drink of my water.
"Mmmm, we went to high school together and his sister Alice and I are best friends."
"Oh yeah I think I've seen his sister at the hospital before she lives here too right?"
"Uh, no she lives in Forks but she visits here often for her job."
"Oh I see… so have you been out since you've been here?"
"Well Edward did take me to see Central Park and we went to the Madame Tussauds wax museum, but there is still a lot I haven't seen but we are planning to do a lot of sightseeing on his off days."
"That sounds like fun and I also can take you to some places too."
"That would be great then Edward wouldn't have to worry about me sitting in the house all day."
"Hey I have an idea me and a couple of my friends are going to hang out tonight you should come. We won't keep you out too late what'd you say it'll be fun?"
"Ummm… I guess I could if we won't be out too late."
"Okay how about I pick you up at 8 0 clock that way you don't have to try to find your way and worry about getting lost, where do you stay again?"
"Oh um I'm staying with Edward until my apartment is ready next month. He stays in the West 50's, 729 7th Ave and we're in apartment 1216."
"Great so I'll pick you up at 8 0 clock sharp."
We spent the rest of lunch talking about New York, shopping and the night life which Jessica seemed to be very knowledgeable of. This will work out good and now Edward can rest when he comes in from work instead of trying to find ways to entertain me.
As I went through the clothes in my closet that Alice had shipped to me I noticed quite a few items that were new. That Alice always redoing someone's wardrobe but you gotta love her because it comes in handy on nights like this when otherwise I would have had nothing to wear. I settled on a maroon skirt with rose and cream floral designs and a rose colored short sleeve silk blouse that draped in the front showing off my collar bones. The doorbell rang and I ran to the intercom to answer.
"Yes Franklin."
"Ma'am I have a Jessica Stanley down at the front desk shall I send her up?"
Wow she was a half hour early and I wasn't quite ready yet.
"Uh sure Franklin send her up."
Two minutes later Jessica was knocking on the front door.
"Hi Jessica come in. you're early give me fifteen minutes and I should be ready."
"Wow this is a really nice building you guys live in and this apartment is breathtaking."
"Yeah I said the same thing when I first came here Esme is quite the decorator."
"Who's Esme?" Jessica said looking confused.
"Edward's mother, she decorated his apartment."
"Oh right his mother."
"Well make yourself at home and I'll be out shortly."
"Take your time no need to rush." Jessica said as she looked at some pictures of Edward and his family.
EPOV
Great, I missed a call from Bella ad now it's time for me to get off and I am starving. I know, I'll pick up some Italian food to take home for dinner I'm sure Bella will love that and she seems to be especially fond of mushroom ravioli. I feel so bad about leaving her sitting in the house all day alone and I kind of miss her too. So I'll surprise her with her favorite food and maybe we can just watch a good movie tonight since no game is coming on.
"Hi I'd like to place an order for two mushroom ravioli's for take out."
"Sure name please."
"Mr. Cullen"
"And a phone number"
"212-555-7373"
"Okay your order will be ready in about twenty minutes Mr. Cullen. Just call when you are in front and someone will come to the car to get payment and bring out your food."
"Thank you"
After picking up our dinner I headed home as fast as I could without speeding, anxious to see Bella. When I walked through my front door I received an unexpected surprise and I don't know which emotion was stronger shock or anger.
"Jessica…what…why are you in my house?" I asked trying to control my anger.
"Oh, Bella invited me after having lunch together today. She's going out with me and a couple of friends." She said with that annoying smile on her face.
What an airhead! Closing my eyes, I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a deep breath trying my best not to say the wrong thing to this dimwit of whom I still had to work with. Just then Bella spoke and I looked up.
"Oh hey Edward I didn't hear you come…"
I sat the bag with our dinner on my sofa table and quickly but gently took Bella by her arm while she was talking and pulled her into my bedroom.
"Edward what are you doing is something wrong?"
"Yes Bella a lot is wrong." I hissed.
She stood there looking at me wide eyed completely confused and then I realized her actions were totally innocent and she has no idea about the snake in the other room and I felt like a total jerk as I watched her eyes wail up with tears.
"Bella I'm… I'm sorry I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."
"What did I do wrong Edward?"
"Nothing, you did nothing wrong it's just I brought dinner home and I thought we would just hang out and watch a movie or something. Also I was just shocked to see Jessica in my living room because I have always made it a personal and professional practice to never get to personal with co-workers."
"I'm sorry Edward I didn't know and she arrived earlier than I expected so I just invited her up."
"No Bella please don't apologize again you did nothing wrong, just…I want you to have fun while you're here honestly I do but please be very careful. You're a beautiful woman and New York's not a small town, there are a lot of people who would love to take advantage of someone like you."
"Someone like me?" she said raising an eyebrow
"I mean someone with such a big heart."
"Don't worry Edward I'll be careful I promise and I'll even call when we get to where we are going how about that?"
"Sounds good, but you are going to miss out on some delicious mushroom ravioli."
"What you bought me my favorite mushroom ravioli?"
"Sure did and your ditching me to go hang out." I said feigning hurt, well actually I was but I couldn't ruin her night.
"I tell you what save those for leftovers tomorrow and we'll do dinner and movie when you get home from work then, pleeeeaase." She said giving me her best puppy dog eyes, but what she didn't know is asking was enough for her no persuasion was ever needed. I'd give her the sun, the rain, the moon, the stars and the mountains if she asked for it because what I could no longer deny to myself is the fact that I had completely fallen in love with this woman and I did not want to be without her.
"Alright, alright I guess I can wait until tomorrow." I said trying to sound as if it were nit killing me that she was going out without me.
"Thanks you're a dear." She said pecking me on the cheek and opening the door to leave my room.
"Bella."
She turned and looked at me over her shoulder.
"By the way you look beautiful."
"Thanks" she said giving me her angelic smile and then she was gone. I stayed in my room until I heard them leave not wanting to see Jessica again and then I went to the kitchen to put our dinner in the fridge. I then ordered a pizza to eat preparing to spend an evening by myself without Bella.