Some of you are concerned with Edward's dating Tia, again all we can say is have faith that this is a needed part of the story in our opinion, or it wouldn't be a part of it. Bella is not an undercover cop in the school, nor is she an orphan - though it may seem that way.
Chapter 8
Waking with a jolt, I sit up in my bed panting. Turning, and switching on my light, before looking around my room. Everything seems normal and I rub my face swinging my legs out of bed. Feeling on edge, with no idea why or what woke me, I head for my bedroom door.
Walking out, I head downstairs only to see everything is clear and looks just the way it was, before I went to bed. Shaking off the feeling I make my way back up to my room, but stop hearing whispered talking.
"Emmett, you said he doesn't want us to share," Bella says and I look around the wall to see Emmett pulling Bella toward his room.
"Bella, it's my duty to look after you. Now I know there's no way you'll get back to sleep unless you feel relaxed and you don't in that room alone. So let me help you and we both can sleep," Emmett pleads.
"What if he finds me in there Em, we just started to get along, I don't want to lose that or do something for him to dislike me again."
Looking to the floor I feel bad, hearing the hurt and worry in her voice.
"He likes you, Bella, believe me, when I say he likes you. It'll be all right. I'll take the blame if he does get mad. Just come on and let me help you out, you know you want to cuddle up with the bear," Emmett says lightly.
Bella giggles walking with him into his room. When the door closes I feel my heart break just a little bit more.
~*MSG*~
"Emmett, this is your party, so get down here and help set up," I yell for the umpteenth time.
All I hear is a muffled reply, but before I can go up the stairs and pull him down, the doorbell starts to go off.
Grumbling as I make my way to the door, opening it to find Bella standing there smiling with a bag over her shoulder.
"Hi," she smiles and I move to let her in.
"Isn't the party starting at seven?" Bella asks looking around.
"Yep," I say in a frustrated tone.
Bella turns looking at me and sighs. "Emmett, you've got one minute to get down here, before I tell your dad all about sex education health class and the question you asked?"
I look at her as she blushes, but before I can say anything, Emmett is standing in front of me.
"Now that's something I would like to hear," I state, looking between them.
Bella just shakes her head.
"Let just get this place looking like a haunted house." Emmett nods and moves off.
"I'll start making the dip and food if that's okay, Edward?"
"Yeah we don't want you on anything high, hell even standing on the floor you'll more than likely fall and get hurt," Emmett says jokingly.
"Just remember, Em, I've got a load of dirt on you and I know for a fact you don't want your dad, or more specifically your dad's friend Rose finding out."
Emmett turns to Bella and just looks at her with his mouth open.
"Emmett?" I say turning to him, only to find he has turned a deep red color.
Bella backs out of the room laughing and turns to run. Just as I open my mouth I hear a crash from the kitchen.
"Bella, you all right?" Emmett and I both yell, right away.
"Yep, just knocked over the stack of bowls," Bella yells back sounding out of breath.
"We need to baby proof this place for her," Emmett says and I just look at him, still wanting to know what she has on him.
"Believe me, Dad, you don't want to know, and I have no idea why the hell I told her to begin with."
Nodding at him, I let it go, for now. "Come on, let's get this place ready for a party."
It takes the best part of three hours, but we are done and the place looks great. Already downstairs, I'm dressed as James Bond, while I do last minute things. Emmett and Bella are both upstairs, getting ready.
"Wow you look great, Edward," Bella says and I turn to her.
Quietly laughing as I look her up and down, I bow to her.
"You do too, Jane Austen," I say bowing my head.
"Hi, Eddie."
Frowning right away when I hear Rose's voice and my back stiffens.
"Rose," I say with a sigh. Turning to see her, Jasper, and Alice walk over to me.
"Hello guys, this is Emmett's girl, Bella. Bella, these are my friends, Rose, Alice, and Jasper," I say pointing to them, but Bella seems to just be looking at Rose.
"What?" Rose snaps.
"Oh, I am sorry for staring. Its just Emmett told me about you and how pretty you are. I really didn't think you'd be as beautiful as he claimed you to be, but ... yeah, I can see why ..." Bella stops talking and goes so red I worry she'll pass out.
"Excuse me, I have to go bang my head until my mouth to brain filter comes back on. Right ... um, bye."
"Don't run, Bella—" I am cut off by a thud.
"I'm okay," Bella yells making me chuckle.
"That's the girlfriend? I would say she's more your taste than Emmett's," Jasper says.
"Hey, Edward's mine, besides I like her."
My head snaps around to Rose who gives me her standard bitch brow mixed with a questioning look.
"You just met her and you like her?"
"Well yeah, she said I was beautiful."
Should have known, that was why she likes her, Rose is as vain as the day is long.
The party is in full swing by the time Tia arrives. Her costume is great and she makes a very alluring red riding hood. She has the body to pull off the look and I'm sure most guys would think she's a walking wet dream, but I can't help preferring the costume Bella's wearing.
"You look amazing," I say kissing her cheek.
"You do, too." Smiling at her, I show her to the kitchen to get a drink.
"Guys, this is Tia," I say as we join the others. Tia hugs Alice and Jasper as Rose eyes her up.
"Be nice, I like her," I say into Rose's ear and she turns smirking at me.
"She may be nice, but she is not your one."
"That shit takes time, Rose."
Rose shakes her head at me. "Nope, not with people like you, you are the kind of person who falls for someone just by looking in their eyes. Everything after that first glance, just adds to deepening those feelings."
Swallowing back the lump, it's almost as if she's talking about Bella and I.
It's well into the party and I'm just making sure everyone is safe as Emmett, Alice, Jasper and Rose are telling Tia stories about me.
Walking around I decide to see if anyone is outside in the yard. I move around the backyard and I'm shocked to find Bella sitting alone under the big oak tree just looking up at the night sky.
I quietly sit down next to her. "Aren't you enjoying the party?" I ask and she shrugs a little,
"It's great, just not really my thing." Bella stops and thinks for a few seconds. "I'm more of a small group get together type of person."
"Me too, but I did enjoy this kind of thing when I was your age."
"Most people do. I think there's something wrong with my brain," she says in a way which I'm certain she wants me to take as a joke.
"With the amount of time you fall and get hurt, I'm inclined to believe you," I chuckle out. "But really, you're fine, there's nothing wrong with only being who you really are."
Looking at Bella I can see she's blushing. Sliding my hand to hers, I watch her face and she winces, making me pull her hand to my face.
"When did this happen?" I ask kissing her swollen knuckles.
"Yesterday in school, I fell off my seat in health class."
Looking at her with a raised brow, she looks back at me.
"It was Emmett's fault."
Keeping my brow in place, I silently ask her to go on.
"He put his hand up in class, and said that he thought he was pregnant."
My eyes widen and my brain screams, please don't say she pregnant!
"After about half an hour the nurse realized Emmett was in fact saying he thought he was pregnant. When she told him it was impossible, he then frowned asking her how that could be since he hadn't gotten his first period yet."
Cuffing my hand over my forehead, I shake my head. "Only my son could do this," I deadpan.
"Her face was so shocked it made me burst out laughing and I fell in a heap on the floor. My hand hurt so bad, but I couldn't ask for help because I couldn't breathe. Of course the nurse was mad because I laughed at the stupid boy he is." Bella smirks a little at the end and chuckles again. "It really was funny, but the nurse and Newton didn't agree. Newton gave Emmett and I, detention at lunch time."
"Ah that must have been the letter he asked me to sign when I was trying to shower," I say knowing my son's getting sneakier. It does concern me that he's now getting Bella into trouble, not that I agree with the detention.
"I'm sorry he got you into trouble," I tell her knowing I'm more upset over that then anything else.
Bella shakes her head. "I could be wrong, but I do think he was getting me back."
"Who, Emmett?"
Bella gives me a what look. "No, Newton ... Kate doesn't like me, she was ... she ... well, she spray painted my locker and I spoke to Newton about it and what she's been calling me," Bella chuckles. "However he seems to be taking her side, of course he would she's his daughter. I'm sure the detention was pay back because he had to be seen writing her up and disciplining her."
"Bella, do your parents know about this unfair treatment?" I ask in outrage over the way Newton is treating her unjustly.
"No, they've got enough on their plates without the high school drama. Maybe I'm the one in the wrong, after all she wanted to come tonight—she has always come to every party—but Emmett said she was not welcome."
Unable to help myself, I snort loudly. "She's too young anyway, Bella. I would never have allowed her in the house," and she'll never be welcome here I say silently to myself. "Newton has a duty to do, justly and fairly, and I will be speaking to him."
Bella just looks at me. "Don't please—"
I shake my head at her interrupting her, but stop when she starts to cry.
"Please, Edward, just leave it alone. It's okay it's just detention, I'm okay."
"But it's not right," I tell her as I wipe her tears.
"It's not, but sometimes that's just life. I'll deal with it, please, I just want to get to the end of this school year, without fighting with everyone."
Letting out a frustrated sigh but nodding at her in agreement. "Come to me if he does anything else, promise?" Please come to me and give me a reason to kick his ass, my mind carries on as Bella nods.
Pulling her to me, I kiss the top of her head, before taking my jacket off and putting it on her. As soon as she hugs it around herself, I pull her to me holding her as close to me as I can.
"How's things going with Tia?" Bella asks me as she lays her head against my chest.
"Okay, I think, this is not really a good place for a second date," I say curtly, not wanting to talk about anyone beside her and me.
"Do you really like your job, or do you still wish you became a doctor?"
Looking down at her, I frown a little. "How did you know that I wanted to be a doctor?"
"Emmett told me. I think you would have been a great children's doctor, you have such a soft touch, and are so well spoken."
Unable to help the grin spreading across my face and normally not the one to suck up compliments, but when it comes from this girl I must say I fucking love every word she says.
"Yes and no. I know if I would've become a doctor, I would have missed more of Emmett's life as he grew up. I would've missed this," I say waving my hand between us. "But I do still love the aspect of what a doctor does. Saving someone's life, making a difference to someone, is always what I wanted to do."
Bella turns and looks at me shyly. Our eyes seem to lock sending my heart racing. "You make a huge difference to my life and you have left a lasting impact. I'm not sure if that would mean anything to you, but you have and I am sure you make a difference to other people lives too."
Moving closer to her, I feel the need and desire to kiss her. Before I can kiss her the way I want to, I reign in my desire and only touch the corner of her mouth ever so softly with my lips. In this one partial kiss, I know my feelings for her go far beyond a crush. If I didn't know any better I would say I was in love with her. The almost kiss only lasts for a few seconds, but I so much want to do it again, and this time fully.
"We should head inside," I say not looking at her.
"Yeah," Bella replies, but I can hear the sadness in her voice which tugs at my heart as my head screams at me just to tell her how I feel.
Standing up swiftly, I hold her hand to help her to her feet. Her hand stays in mine, as I'm unwilling to let it go as we walk to the house.
"Bells, there you are! I have been looking for you," Emmett belts out as we walk back through the door.
"I was outside, sorry," Bella says sheepishly.
"Come on, we can watch a movie before bed," Emmett says pulling her away from me.
"Em, we need to clean up," I tell him.
Emmett pouts and looks at me.
"Stop, Emmett, this was our party we should clean up," Bella says as she shrugs out of my jacket. "Thank you, Edward, you should spend some time with Tia."
Before I can say a word to her, she's already cleaning up.
"Dad, can't you tell her to stop for once?" Emmett whines at me.
Looking at him and the guilt of the past hour I just spent with her hits me.
"Bella, it's fine you and Emmett can go and relax, watch a movie. I've got this."
Bella turns looking at me, but just turns around and keeps cleaning up. Moving to her, I take the garbage bag and lean closer. "Please, sweetheart," I say as softly as I can, just needing her to do this for me.
"If you're sure?"
I nod at her and she hands me the bag.
"Thank you," she says.
The guilty in my heart quickly turns to pain, as I watch once again as Emmett walks away holding the hand of my life, my one and only true love.
"Eddie, sorry we can't help clean up but we just don't want too."
Sighing out but turning toward Rose who looks happier than I've seen her in a long time.
"I can stay and help if you'd like, Edward?" Tia says looking at me through her eyelashes.
"It's okay I've got this. You've done enough, but thank you for asking."
Tia nods her head as the rest walk to the front door.
"Can we meet up for a movie and dinner next week?"
I bob my head at Tia, rather shocked she asked before I could.
"I would like that," I reply.
Tia moves to me kissing my cheek, but there's nothing there. No spark, not even a small one.
Walking her out to her car, I wave as she drives away.
It takes the best part of two hours to clean up, and when I'm done I walk to Emmett's room. Pushing open the door, I find Bella asleep on his chest with his arm around her back holding her to him. Closing my eyes, I bite my lip to stop my yells from coming out. Instead of freaking out, I move back out of the room pulling the door with me.
"Edward," I hear Bella say faintly and I push open the door again.
"Edward, don't leave me."
Frowning, I move over to the bed, and look down at her to find she's asleep but appears to be talking.
She smiles broadly and her blush even appears on her face.
"I like you too," she whispers.
My hand reaches out to touch her face, but I stop before I can and quickly move back out of the room.
As I close the door, again I hear my name slip from her lips. My insides twist and turn, as it feels hurt and giddiness from hearing her words.
A/N: So Bella is dreaming of Edward, and there was a moment of almost slip of thought in the backyard between them. What are your thoughts, especially on Rose and what she had to say?