I look over at the clock for the fifth time this morning.
Edward's awake - making breakfast - in my kitchen - after what he said.
Am I sure that wasn't a dream?
I laid in bed last night for hours, replaying his words over and over.
Edward said he thinks about kissing my mouth. My perfect mouth.
I shake my head and cover my face with my pillow. Ugh! I don't want the inevitable awkward conversation. I just want to keep things fun and light.
I'll just have to distract him if things get too serious. I don't do serious.
Crap. I've got to put my big girl panties on (literally) and go face him.
.
.
.
"Save some for me?" I ask as I walk into the kitchen.
Edward turns around wearing smeared batter and a smile.
"You're just in time," he says as he flips the pancake in the air.
He seems to be in a really good mood. I guess the awkward conversation won't have to happen.
I open the fridge and grab the orange juice. "They smell really good, but I'll warn you, I'm sort of a pancake connoisseur."
Edward smirks as he turns towards me. "A connoisseur, huh? And how does one become a pancake connoisseur?"
I shrug my shoulders and pour a glass of juice. "Kind of by accident, I guess. Some people around here still call me the Pancake Whisperer."
He lets out a loud laugh. "Okay, I need details."
I sit down at the bar. "Well, it all started when I was sixteen. I got a job at this real classy joint called IHOP."
Edward refrains from laughing and pours the last of the batter onto the griddle.
"It had just opened up in town and practically everyone I knew either worked there or wanted to."
"You wanted to work at IHOP?" he asks.
"It was that or Mike's parent's hardware store."
Edward narrows his eyes at Mike's name. I pretend not to notice.
"All the girls wanted to be waitresses because that's how you made the most money. But on our first day of training, they told us we had to ask the customers if they wanted a carafe of orange juice and if they wanted to try the Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity."
I shudder as I say the words.
"You had to say that?" He laughs as he sits down beside me.
"No. They wanted me to say it but I told them there was no way in Hell I'd ever say that to anyone, so I ended up in the kitchen, as a cook."
"You were a cook at IHOP?" Edward laughs as he smothers his pancakes with butter and syrup.
"Yes. What's so funny about that?" I pretend to be annoyed.
"Um. Just never would have guessed that." Edward leans over his plate and takes a big bite, licking the sticky syrup from his lips.
Gah! He's so yummy. Even Mrs. Butterworth is turned on.
"So are you going to tell me how you got that name?" Edward asks, breaking me from my pervy stare.
"Oh, yeah, so anyway," I continue, "on the nights I worked, there would be a line out of the door, waiting to eat my pancakes. I was somewhat of a local celebrity. I made the best pancakes around." I shrug nonchalantly as I stuff my mouth full of my first bite.
Damn. These are good. The boy can cook.
I look up and he's staring at me, not saying a word.
"Fhat? Shomefing on my fashe?"
Talking with my mouth full. So attractive.
"No, nothing is on your fashe." He laughs and stabs another bite with is fork. "So, do you like them?"
I take a drink of my orange juice, smiling at his need for my approval.
"Yes. They are amazing. As I suspected they would be."
"Glad I've impressed the queen of hotcakes." He chuckles.
"One day, I'll impress you with my hotcakes, Mr. Cullen."
I have no idea why I said his name like that. It just came out. I feel like I'm in a weird food fetish movie.
Edward's eyes turn dark. He's looking at me like he did last night. Like he wants to gobble me up.
Or taste my perfect mouth.
Shit. We can't go there. Bad idea. Abort mission!
"What do you call a deer with no eyes?" I blurt out from nowhere.
Edward scrubs his hands down his face, laughing as he shakes his head.
"What?" He pushes his plate away and rests his elbows on the bar.
"I have no eye-deer." I poke him in the shoulder, laughing at my corny joke.
"Bella Swan." He runs his fingers through his hair and smiles. "What in the world am I going to do with you?"
I smile back, my brain hesitantly thinking, whatever you want.
.
.
.
.
That afternoon, Edward tells me he's decided to go ahead and stay at the Cullen's house. They were coming back into town and he thought it was best to get there before they did.
I tried my best to hide my disappointment. I knew he eventually had to go, but it didn't make him leaving any easier.
That was a week ago and since then something happened that I didn't expect.
I missed him.
Edward Cullen has turned my life upside down. I never saw him coming. My life was finally starting to make sense and then he showed up, and nothing's been the same.
I don't even know what I'm doing anymore. He has issues, he told me so himself. And I have issues. Issues plus issues equals clusterfuck.
And I don't want clusterfuck.
.
.
.
.
Alice is late, as usual. I haven't seen her since the movies. We've talked a little here and there but she's been preoccupied with Jasper.
"Sorry I'm late!" Alice hurries in and flops down in the booth.
"No worries. I went ahead and ordered for us."
"Oh good. I'm starved."
Just then, the waiter drops off our food and Alice dives in.
"So you want to tell me what's going on with you and Edward?"
"What do you mean, what's going on? Nothing." I answer nonchalantly. "He's at your parents house."
"I know that, Bella. I mean, what happened? Why's he there already?"
"I don't know. That night, after the movies, something changed."
"A good change?" She asks as she takes a bite.
"I honestly don't know. He seemed great the next morning, but by the afternoon, he had decided to go ahead and leave."
I'm not going to tell her what he said to me that night. That's my secret.
"Did something happen, was he upset?"
"No, when he left, he seemed fine. Almost cheery. The only time I've ever seen him not happy was after the movie, when he mentioned Mike."
Alice chuckles.
"Alice, it's not funny. He really didn't like Mike." I say, obviously annoyed.
"Of course he didn't like Mike. He's a tool." Alice giggles as I roll my eyes.
"Bella, I did you a favor. You and Edward had been cooped up in your apartment; you needed to have a night out. And as for Mike, he invited himself. Him being all flirty with you was just a bonus." She shrugs. "Admit it, Edward was jealous and you loved it."
She had me there. I don't like playing games but it was fun seeing him a little flustered.
"Alice, I need your help with Thanksgiving. It's this week. How am I supposed to fool your parents into thinking I don't know Edward? I'm the worst liar in the world. You know this."
"How am I going to help you with that? I'll be busy weaving my own set of lies to them."
"I don't know! You take acting classes! Give me some tips on how to act and what to say if they ask me something."
Alice taps her fingers on her lips then claps excitedly.
"Okay, if they ask you anything that requires you to lie, just take a sip of your drink and change the subject. I'll help you. You know my parents drink at least a bottle of wine each on Thanksgiving. They won't be suspicious."
"That's your tip? Drink and change the subject? I have a feeling this isn't going to end well."
"Bella, you're always so negative. Think positive! I mean, what's the worst that can happen? Flashing your ass on YouTube?" She giggles maniacally.
Like a demented fairy.
"I hate you sometimes." I flip her off as she continues to laugh on my behalf.
We finally stop talking about me and Edward and focus on her and Jasper. I welcome the change of subject.
"You've been with Jasper every night since the movie? Has he stayed at your place?"
"No, Bella. I'm not Angela." She smirks as she takes the last bite of the cheesecake we were sharing. "We're taking things slow. Not too slow, but slow enough to where he's dying for more."
I waggle my brows. "Hubba hubba." I laugh.
"Jasper is so sweet. I've asked him to have Thanksgiving with us too so you'll see how we are together. Oh, and he won't mention anything about Edward knowing you. I promise."
"Well this show keeps getting bigger and bigger. I hope he can act, too." I reply as hand the waiter my credit card.
.
.
.
After dinner I pass on going to play pool. Alice is meeting up with Jasper and a few of his friends but I'd rather be at home. Alone.
Alone is not so bad lately. That may or may not be because of my new favorite room in my apartment.
The guest room.
Once home I change into a t-shirt and head into Edward's old room. Even though he's gone, the room still smells like him. It's like he's everywhere.
I turn on the TV and climb onto the oversized bed. I can't help myself. I know it's ridiculous but no one will ever know that I'm in here burying myself into the covers and soaking up his scent.
It's not like I'm being all creepy and dry humping the pillows.
Yet.
I just want to be where he was. Where he said he would imagine kissing me.
The sheets and pillow smell most like him. I close my eyes and it's almost like he's beside me. Smiling down at me, making me laugh.
I miss him making me laugh.
In this room, in my imagination, I can see us together. No drama. No fiancé. No self-doubt. We are a couple. He wakes me up every morning, by kissing my stomach. I giggle as his scruffy unshaved chin rubs across my belly. I turn over and try to scramble away but he catches me, pulling me back to him. He rolls me over and brushes away the fallen hair in my face, his fingertips lightly graze my skin as he leans down and presses his lips to mine. He gently nibbles on my bottom lip, sucking on it softly as I wrap my arms around his shoulders, my fingers run through his thick hair.
With my eyes closed, everything is perfect. Everything is simple.
It's just us.
Edward and Bella.
A/N: Aww! I love Bella. She's finally letting her guard down and letting her imagination run free. I can't wait for the next chapter! Thanksgiving!
If you haven't heard, this story is up for Fic of the Week at The Lemonade Stand! If you like this story, please go vote for it over there. There are some great stories/writers nominated, too. Thank you Nicffwhisperer for rec'ing it. You're so sweet. xo
Thank you again for everyone who reads/reviews/faves/tells friends/posts etc about this story. It means more than you can imagine.
Oh, any typos you find are my own. Don't blame my awesome Beta/hubs (CrackedFic) If you haven't checked out his awesome Darkward story, do it now. It's amazing!
Until next time. xoxo ~ Mazzy
