Edward opened the door to his place when he heard Alec knocking and he went over to let him in. The kid looked like he usually did, wrinkled button up shirt, blazer, torn jeans, hair hanging in his face.
"Hey, kid," Edward said, standing aside to let him in.
Alec came in, hands in the pockets of his jeans. "Hey, man."
"Everything all right?" Edward asked, looking the kid over as he closed the door.
Alec lifted his head, tossing his head to the side a bit to get his long black bangs out of his face and he nodded. "Yeah, just…heavy at home, you know?"
Edward nodded. It wasn't the first time that Alec had shown up at his place just to hang out if things got a bit intense at home. He walked towards the kitchen. "Make yourself at home. You hungry?"
When Alec didn't answer, Edward looked his way the kid shrugged and nodded slightly, before he sat down at the dining room table near the kitchen.
Edward worked quietly. He never pushed Alec to talk and he wasn't about to start.
Alec just sat there quietly looking around the place. He jumped up though when Bella came into the room dressed in a t-shirt and yoga pants.
"Hi, you must be Alec," she said with a big smile as she held her hand out to greet him.
Alec shifted around uncomfortably with his hands his pockets for a moment before he finally took Bella's hand and muttered a soft, "Hey," before he stuck his hands in his pockets again. Bella almost felt a sense of animosity radiating off the boy, but she knew that Edward cared for Alec so she just smiled and turned towards the kitchen, asking Edward if he needed any help.
Edward had noticed the way that Alec had greeted Bella and he frowned a bit, but said nothing when Bella just gave him a reassuring wink. "Why don't I get the drinks ready?" She turned towards the fridge while Edward continued to work on the omelets.
Bella perused the contents of the fridge and called out, "We have apple juice, orange juice, grapefruit juice…What would you like, Alec?"
When the boy didn't answer, she looked over her shoulder and noticed Alec sitting at the table, fidgeting uncomfortably. "Alec?"
When she said his name again, the kid jumped up, looking startled. "What! Uh, I mean…pardon me?"
Edward looked over at Alec and frowned a bit at how antsy the kid seemed to be. "You all right, man?"
Alec nodded nervously and then said, "You know, I think I should just be going. I'll see you later." Without even giving them a chance to say goodbye or walk him out, Alec rushed out the front door.
Edward frowned and Bella asked with concern, "He all right?"
Shaking his head, Edward sighed, "I don't know, sometimes it's really hard to read that kid."
"You don't think I ran him off, do you?" Bella asked in concern.
Edward smiled and shook his head. "Nah, I'm sure it wasn't that." He honestly wasn't sure, but he didn't want her to worry. Kissing the tip of her nose he smiled. "I'll have orange juice by the way."
)( )( )( )(
Later that afternoon, Bella was getting ready to go drop the hard copy of the speech she'd been working on at Senator Cullen's place. When she looked to the printer and saw nothing she cursed under her breath. She could have sworn she printed out a copy. Getting on her laptop, she printed out the speech and tucked it in a file folder before she called out, "Edward! I'm leaving! I'll be back after I drop this off. Do you still want me to pick up Chinese on the way home?"
Edward came out of the bedroom. "You bringing a potted palm back with you?"
She laughed and looked at him with an arched brow. "Do I have anything to apologize for?"
Edward went up and kissed her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. "You're leaving me. I think that qualifies as something you need to apologize for."
Bella giggled as Edward started kissing along her neck. "I won't be gone long." Smiling, she took his face between her hands and kissed him softly. "Besides, the love fern might get jealous," she whispered as she glanced over to the potted palm that was now near the windows in his living room. They were better able to care for it here so Edward had brought it over several weeks ago.
He sighed and dropped his forehead to her shoulder. "All right. Fine. Just come home soon." He turned his head and kissed her neck once more before he let her go.
She smiled and kissed him gently before she turned to run out. "See you soon!"
)( )( )( )(
Bella had indeed returned quickly that evening and they had spent the rest of it eating Chinese and laughing at a movie in front of the television. It was a good night where both of them were actually relaxed and not really thinking about work.
A couple of nights later the two of them were a bit more stressed as they got ready for the party dinner where both Senators would be speaking. They were both tense knowing what this meant for their bosses, but despite the tension, Bella couldn't help throwing an admiring glance towards Edward in his tux as he finished getting ready.
Edward's eyes were also on Bella as she moved around, putting the finishing touches to her own outfit. She was wearing one of the dresses that she had brought in California when going shopping with Alice. It was a midnight blue number that went well with her coloring. The strapless dress flowed around her. When she was still it didn't reveal much, but when she moved, the sheer fabric that made up several layers of the dress clung to her every curve and the slit at the front of the dress opened to reveal long, shapely legs.
"You look gorgeous, Bella," Edward said with a smile as he watched her put on some earrings.
Bella blushed and smiled at him via his reflection in the mirror she was standing in front of. "You don't look half bad yourself, Mr. Masen."
Turning around she took his cufflinks from him and quietly put them on for him.
He watched her and then he whispered, "You realize this is our first time going to a political event as a couple?"
Bella looked up at him and smiled softly. "Yes, but I'm sure it won't be the last." She was a bit nervous wondering how tonight was going to go. They were going to be there as a couple, but they were also going to be working. They're two worlds, personal and professional, had never been so close.
Of course the world knew that they were a couple, it was all over the papers. But, they had only been seen in public at restaurants, the theater, or other social outings. Tonight would be different. She just hoped it all went well.
Sensing her nervousness, Edward kissed her and whispered, "Don't worry, everything is going to turn out fine. Well…it will if Aro and the speech writing staff finally finished. They keep changing everything around. You had your speech done the day before yesterday and I was getting revisions up until this morning."
Bella just chuckled a bit. "I'm sure it'll be fine."
He nodded and smiled. "Senator Cullen is lucky to have you."
Tiptoeing up she kissed him again and smiled. "C'mon. The car's probably downstairs already."
He nodded and waited for her as she grabbed her wrap and handbag before he escorted her out of the building.