Loved the guesses as to where they were going! No one got it right, but that's okay. Let's just get to it and reveal the answer now!
PS- I still don't own anything, nor make a profit from my obsession in any way. ;-)
Fieldtrip...
~(~)~
The wind is sharp, making the normally baby-fine mist sting as it hits her face. The afternoon is also much colder than she's accustomed to. Fortunately for her, her gallant companion has an umbrella and his car waiting nearby with the heater on.
"Thank you," she says as she slides into the passenger seat. He nods and smiles, closing the door behind her as soon as both feet are clear.
He moves quickly around to the driver's side and gets in, grumbling playfully.
"It really needs to warm up or drop a few more degrees out there. Snow would be better than this icy rain crap."
She giggles, but shakes her head. "Bite your tongue, please. Snow is the last thing we need today."
He just chuckles and shakes a few more icy water droplets off his hair and shoulders. "All wheel drive, baby. Snow isn't a problem. This rain though..." He looks out the window, suddenly concerned. "If it starts freezing..."
She smiles softly and clicks her seatbelt into place. "We'll be careful."
He follows her example and then puts two hands on the wheel. "Yes, we will."
They're silent as he backs out of the gravel drive and points the car down the street. Bella can't help but feel a little odd. It's a lot like their first date all over again. They'd been friends for a while and knew each other pretty well, but when he finally got around to taking her out on an official date, there was some initial weirdness.
She laughs under her breath, remembering the awkward conversation they had on their way to the local bowling alley.
"What are you laughing about over there?" he asks, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
"Us. Do you remember the first time you picked me up from Charlie's?"
"For school?" She doesn't notice but his face is scrunched up slightly as he tries to recall the same memory that came so easily to her.
"No, for our first date. The bowling alley?"
He takes a moment to put the memories in the right order, but eventually smiles. "Yeah. You would barely look at me and I had no idea what to do or say. I was so nervous."
She grins, feeling her cheeks warm in remembrance. "I don't know why. I was so obviously infatuated with you."
"Well, in case you've forgotten, the feeling was completely mutual and I didn't want to mess it up or say the wrong thing."
"Me either. Feels kind of familiar, doesn't it?"
He comes to a stop at an intersection and looks at her. "Does it?"
"You're not nervous this time?" she asks in lieu of answering.
"No. Well, I mean, I am to a degree, but that's not why I was quiet."
"Oh." She looks out the side window, wondering if she should ask him what he was thinking. He makes her decision easy by elaborating on his own.
"I was trying to decide whether we'd have time to stop for coffee before we should head out of town, or if we should just get to Port Angeles and hit Starbucks if we have time left once we're there. You know... with the weather and everything?"
"Of course," she answers, feeling a little foolish.
"Why? What did you think I was thinking about?"
She shrugs. "I just wondered if it felt at all awkward to you, picking me up from my dad's place again. Like old times."
He glances at her briefly and smiles. "Not really. It feels different to me. You're different. I'm different."
She nods. "True."
"I get why it may be harder for you to separate the past from the present though. After all, you didn't have your brain scrambled like I did."
Her head whips around in an instant. It's the first time he's made light of his overdose and subsequent stroke in her presence and it's impossible to hide her shock.
He looks from the road to her and then back again quickly. "Sorry. Too soon?"
She closes her gaping mouth and then opens it again, but still fails to find voice for her thoughts.
He grows worried the longer she's silent. "Look, I'm sorry. It's just with Emmett here, and Rosalie... I mean, she's usually pretty blunt, and even though it bothers Mom, Dad tends to be the same way; just... more so with them around."
"It's okay, Edward. I just... I wasn't expecting that from you. You've been so serious about it this whole time that I was caught off guard."
"I'm really sorry if—"
"No, it's okay for you to find some levity in your situation. There's nothing wrong with that."
"Maybe not, but if it bothers you..."
"It's fine, E. Really." She takes a risk and reaches for his hand on the gearshift, squeezing it once gently.
He watches her from the corner of his eye a moment longer, then answers her squeeze with one of his own.
She takes her hand back and relaxes into her seat as she takes a slow breath.
She's had plenty of patients who like to joke, or make light of their various situations. She knows that some of them do it to avoid taking responsibility or admitting the seriousness of their problems, and some do it because they've already done the hard work and are on their way to accepting their new normal. Some of them, in the face of less than perfect circumstances, need the humor as an outlet. She's just glad she can spot the difference.
Not that Edward makes it hard to. He's so transparent now. He faces things head on and with an openness and humility she finds inspiring. He also makes a point to never let himself forget where he's been or what his addiction almost cost him—which is why they're currently on their way to Port Angeles to begin with.
With that thought, Bella looks out the windshield to see how much longer it will be until they get where they're going.
"So..." she says, once she sees they have at least a half hour left. "Tell me the names of your friends at the rehab center again. I may not have had my brain scrambled, but I was born with some sort of defect when it comes to remembering names."
This time, it's Edward's turn to look gobsmacked. His shock quickly turns to humor, however, and he starts laughing. Bella joins him; her softer, more feminine laughter telling him that she really is okay with his earlier slip. Relieved, he launches into a list of his acquaintances at Crestwood Rehabilitation Center. He's been a volunteer there even longer than he's been volunteering to help feed the homeless on major holidays.
"I don't get up there as often as I should anymore. I've just gotten so busy lately. I'm lucky enough not to have to have to worry too much about the size of my paycheck, but I still have to work. You know?"
"Oh, I know," she laughs. "You are lucky though. I mean, I don't know that I'd want to trade places with you, but it would be nice not to have to worry about rent every month."
"I bet," he says, his face growing pensive. "You know..." He trails off and then sighs before shaking his head. "Never mind."
Bella regards him in surprise. It's not like him to hold back. At least, not in the recent past.
"What is it?"
"Nothing. Never mind."
She huffs delicately. "Whatever it is, I'm sure you can tell me."
He grins at her tone. "That's not the problem. I know I can tell you, I just don't want to make you mad."
A single eyebrow arches. "Why would I be mad?"
He shakes his head, still smiling. "Forget it."
She purses her lips and turns in her seat a little to face him. "Tell me."
"You won't like it," he says tauntingly.
She crosses her arms over her chest. "Now you have to tell me."
He laughs. "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you."
She waits, her mouth curving into a victorious smile—until he begins speaking again, anyway.
"I was thinking that you never asked for anything when we divorced, and I— I always felt like..." He takes a deep breath and rushes the rest of it out before she can react. "I always felt guilty about that. You left your car, all the furniture and appliances, your jewelry... just... everything."
He glances at her and seeing that she's still stunned, he continues.
"I was going to say that if, you know, if you ever need anything, that I'm sure I owe you—"
"Don't," she stops him. "You were right. I don't really want to hear that."
They're both quiet a moment, each taking note of the fact that they're nearing civilization once more.
"Are you mad?" he asks, somewhat hesitantly.
She feels her lips curve into a small smile and shakes her head. "No. You did warn me."
"I tried."
Her smile grows some. "It's okay. I appreciate the thought, as I appreciate your concern about my financial situation, but I think it's best to leave the past in the past."
He nods, letting out a relieved breath. That's just what he'd been thinking when he stopped himself from saying anything to her about their divorce.
"I'm sorry I pushed it," she says softly.
His face fills with affection. "I have a feeling you wouldn't be you if you didn't."
She starts nodding in agreement without even thinking about it. "Yeah, I guess."
The car slows as they approach the city limits and the first of a string of traffic lights. When they stop at a red one, they both turn to look at each other. He speaks first.
"Does that count as our first fight?"
"Fight?" she asks, amused. "No, that was more of a... disagreement I think, and not a very big one at that. It was more of an uncomfortable topic, really."
He nods. "Good point."
She watches him just sitting there watching her and feels a swell of emotion rise up inside her. She knows they'll have to figure out how they'll deal with their shared past in light a possible shared future, but for now she's more than content with small victories like this one. For her, just listening to each other and respecting each other's limits is a very big deal.
Smiling, she brushes a loose thread off of his shoulder. "Thank you."
"For what?"
She shrugs. "For listening to me. For bringing with you today to meet your friends. For trying as hard as you are. Take your pick."
He grins, that lopsided grin, and his cheeks turn a very subtle shade of pink. "You're welcome, but... really, thank you for coming with me today."
"I'm honored you asked."
He turns back to the road and smiles wider, shaking his head. "Don't give me too much credit. I'm being selfish. I wanted to spend time with you and figured I needed a damn good excuse to get us both away from our families the day after Christmas."
"So you don't want me to meet your friends then? See what it is you do for fun?" she asks, knowing that's not at all what he meant.
"That's just a bonus."
"Oh, well, then that's okay."
They make the rest of the drive in comfortable silence, and when they finally arrive at the rehabilitation hospital, he helps her out of the car and keeps her tucked close under his umbrella as he escorts her inside.
Bella can't help but think this is so much better than the bowling alley.
~(~)~
So... it may be a day or two before we get to the rest of their pseudo-date. It is a holiday weekend here in the states after all, so I may be too busy with my kids to play with these two. Anyway, where ever you are, here, Cannes, everywhere, I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you for reading.
~Ginnie