"I beg your pardon?" she turned her ferocious glare on my brother.
He was unfazed. "You heard me."
"And how do you plan on doing that?" she asked. It seemed she's decided to entertain him for a while.
"I'll take you to court."
"You will, huh?" she teased him.
"Yes," his monotone voice replied.
"And say what? Fifty odd years ago, I fucked my girlfriend, dumped her the next day and left town? Oh, and, I'm a vampire!" her tone was now, put simply, amused.
"Edward what is she talking about?" Esme asked her son. What Bella has just said did not coincide with what Edward had told them all that long ago.
Bella chose not to let Edward answer. She wasn't there to be caught up in family. What Edward told them was no concern of hers. So she decided to add on: "And suppose you get them to take you seriously for half second, I'll ask for a paternity test; they'll want some DNA – blood, semen, saliva –can you provide that?"
Realising that bullying Bella wasn't going to work, Edward opted for a different angle. "Can we try again? If not for us, then for Emma and Aidan, give then the family they deserve?"
At this, Bella laughed long and hard. Once she's composed herself, she said: "Stay together for the kids? Really, Edward, that's your genius plan? Wow, guess I over estimated you. Anyway, to answer your question: no. My children have never been short of any "family they deserve": I am there to be their mother; my husband was there to be their father – they need not want for anything, so don't you dare try guilt trip me into doing your bidding!"
"Bella," he said softly. "Please, you know I've never loved another like I did you. I can't. I couldn't, wouldn't. Please, give me one more chance. Give us one more chance at being happy and I promise to make you happier than any man ever could.
Before Bella could throw another rude remark at my brother, a soft voice interrupted.
"So why am I here?" all heads turned to find a tearful Alexis perched at the top of the stairs.
Not feeling up to her antics, Edward brushed her off and prepared to turn his attention back to Bella: "Not now, Alexis."
"Yes, now, Edward. If you've never been capable of loving another girl, then why am I here? Don't you dare brush me aside: I have given you three years of my life and you're only just telling me I've been nothing more than a life size pocket pussy?" everyone in the room, with the exception of Alexis and Bella, flinched at her chosen terminology.
Bella swelled with pride after having heard Alexis' speech. Good for her, she thought. She wished she'd had the courage to stand up to Edward when she was in Alexis' position rather than just nodding her head to everything he said.
Alexis? Alexis was… numb. That's the only way to put it. Hearing that a relationship which you've dedicated so much time, love and care into was nothing but a decoy was more numbing that any anaesthesia.
Edward was furious. He didn't need this. He didn't need this drama that was so typical of Alexis. All he wanted then was his Bella and the children he never knew he had to be together, like a family should be. Alexis could go jump off a cliff, for all her cared! And he wasn't quick to hide his opinions, either.
"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" a cockney accent asked. It belonged to a man. A furious man. A very furious man. One who was now torn between glaring at Edward and watching at the crying figure at the top of the stairs.
"And you are?" demanded Edward at the man blocking the door that had been left open by Bella.
He smirked an evil smile. "Jack Middleton," he said. "I don't believe we've met. That, up there," he said gesturing to Alexis. "Is my sister and I believe you owe her an apology." He poked Edward in the chest to punctuate himself. If he noticed the hardness of my brother's chest, then he didn't react.
We'd all been too distracted to remember Alexis asking if her brother could join us for Christmas. Apparently, he'd arrived now, and what great timing he had!
Edward, being Edward, refused to apologise.
"Grab your stuff and let's go, 'Lex'." Jack said to his sister.
Wordlessly, she went up to her and Edwards bedroom, returning only with her coat and handbag. She seemed to look longingly at Edward, who's attention was focused on Bella.
"Go, hun';" Bella said softly. "You deserve better. Much better."
Before she left, Alexis quickly gave Esme and Carlisle a warm hug and jumped into the waiting taxi with her brother and drove off.
"You," Bella addressed my brother, are a royal asshole." She stepped out of the house, shutting the door behind her and effectively ending the conversation.
Omg. I know. Real short; less than a thousand words, but I've written 3 chapters today, it's gone 1 am, I am tired and I deserve to sleep!
As always, reviews are greatly appreciated!
Song rec: Be Alone by the one and only!
*Going to summer camp - I know, I'm strange – in two weeks, so I probably won't update again til late August
Love,
Arnoldis