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This chapter is a longer one, theres a short flashback. Hopefully this chapter clears up a few things for people.
I like when you get your own interpretation of whats going on instead of word for word the author tells you this happened then this happened because of this.
Hope you enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: These characters belong to Stephanie Meyers
Edward Pov
Daylight shown through my apartment through my balcony, practically blinding me. I feel the heat of the sunrays as well as the heat of the body laying next to me.I stretch slightly abd glance one-eyed at the curtains wide. Bella didn't know to draw the curtain last night.
I throw my arm across my eyes with a huff. Damn my head hurts.
'I've got to get to work', I think.
Then it hits me.
Fuck!
Bella?
I glance out of the corner of my eye over at Bella, head on the pillow near my own, body curled in with a hand on my chest.
I smile, and close my eyes again, pulling her closer into my arms.
Did I really think that I could live with out Bella? God, I have waited so long for this. Ive waited so long for me to wake up with my Bella laying next to me curled up to my side. I reach and kiss her pouty lips, touching the side of her head knotted in her hair.
Her eyes slowly blink open, eyebrows furrowed, mouth in the form of an 'o'. She's so beautiful, I lean down and kiss her face. She stirs.
Glancing at the clock, I stop all movement.
Fuck, I'm late again. It's Sunday morning, we are usually busy for breakfast. I move to the edge of the bed, tossing the covers slightly I stand careful not to wake Bella. I catch a peek at her body, smiling as I turn away from her slightly, only to catch another look at a mark on Bella. A slight bruise right under the curve of her breast. I turn back look at the mark I'd first glanced at along her hip.
What the fuck? I toss the cover slightly, and goose bumb rage her body, she shivers but doesn't wake. I see finger like bruises on the backs of her thighs.
Had I hurt her last night?
I stretch my midsection, running a hand through my hair. She's got to hate me for marking her. I'm no better than James.
That thought fills me with anger. My first night with her and this is what I do? I fucking batter and bruise her. I marked her while heavily intoxicated. Our first night together, and I go and do this.
I grab boxers and throw a shirt on walking to the bathroom, I brush my teeth, fully waking up. When I'm done I walk across the floor and out of the bedroom door. I glance over at her as I exit, walking down the stairs to the kitchen. I grab the orange juice, and pour a glass, leaning against the counter I drink staring off into space.
Alice is right! I hang my head.
I do always manage to fuck up when it comes to Bella. What if when Bella decided to come to Emmett's party last minute she really came to tell me that I was wrong and that we should be together. That's why I was moping that night in the first place. I had to tell her that she had to date Jake, and that they made a great couple. I remember it like it was yesterday.
2006
"Really?", She turns to me, index fingers twiddling. "Because I kind of thought that you hated him",She looks up at me from across the room. Her by my dresser, me laying back on my bed looking through my cell, arm behind my head.
"I don't know Bella, I do hate him, but-", I start.
"-so then why do think that it's a good idea? You must have some reason right", She raises her voice slightly and I sigh.
I get a text from Emmett.
This party is going to be crazy. Em.
I roll my eyes.
"Yes, B, listen", I close my eyes putting my phone on the bed, sitting up on my elbows. "Would you really expect me not to date someone, based on the fact that you disliked them?"
Her eyes snap to mines and she takes a step forward. "Are you asking because you're secretly dating someone that I dislike", I lul my head back rolling it.
"Bells we've been over this. Victoria and I are friends like you and me.", she scuffs. I roll my eyes. "Not like you and me. Like I don't know, we have fun together", I shrug.
"And you and Tanya? You and Chelsea", My eyes widen.
"We are both friends with Chelsea, B, what the fuck?", I say with widen arms.
She nods with pursed lips. "I just don't want people like them or Jake getting in the way of our friendship", she tries to say nonchalantly but I see that she's bothered.
"We made a pact right", I look up to see her roll her eyes.
"Stupid fucking pact. We were kids", she chuckles. I nod reaching for my phone. I reply to Emmett.
Mom and Dad are going to kill you. -E.
I close my phone tossing it in the air catching it. "Yeah, well, now it's a promise. B, I'm not going anywhere. We are going to start our restaurant, grow old together with our families, travel, do stupid shit together", I look over at her. "Me and you against the world remember", I go back to tossing my phone. "Even with Jake in the picture, Bella, I personally promise you that our friendship is solid. You have to trust me. Give him a chance, that's all that he's asking for. You don't like him, fine, dump his sorry ass", she giggles.
"I knew you hated him", I don't respond. "Okay, you and Charlie win", she raises her hands in surrender. "You two are the people that I trust the most in the world. I will-", She inhales. "-I will give him a chance", I say nothing. I think I secretly hoped that she would keep fighting me on it.
My phone dings.
Yea if they find out. Which they wont. I invited Vickie. Is that going to be weird -Em
I roll my eyes and my phone dings again. "You should", she nods. I look down at my phone.
She sent me this. (The picture loads, its a picture of her breast laying on her pillow, her pouty lips right above it). I can't say no -Em
"I'm going to go okay.", I nod glancing up as her hand touches the handle. She turns back. "Won't be at Emmett's party tonight. My grandmother is in town, so I have to stay home. You should stop by and say hi. She asked about you when I told her that I was coming here", I smile texting Emmett back.
I could really care less -E
"I'll definitely come by and listen to her tell me old stories about her and her husband's wild days", she laughs. I see my front screen light up.
Oh yea, you have Tanya -Em
"Bye Edward", she opens the door.
"See you tomorrow B", I wave at her.
Everyone thought that I was dating Tanya, it was almost expected. Tanya's mom and my mom are friends, so our families are sort of always together.
I think that I continued to fuck around with her and only her all of this time was because she understands what we are.
Well she used to.
Only in the past two years she's started the really clingy shit, thinking we are dating. But before that, she knew. She knew that I was using her, she accepted it. She allowed it.
Tanya is familiar. That's why I continued. I could have sex whenever I wanted without having to do the whole dating, or couples shit. I could work seventy hours a week, and not have a girlfriend hounding me about how much I worked, and how I wasn't spending enough time with them. I didn't need that.
I didn't need a distraction. I only needed a release. Nothing could distract me from bettering my restaurants.
I had to be better for Bella.
But that's all that Tanya was for me. She didn't care for the lovey shit, and I didn't have to supply her with it.
I'm pulled out of my thoughts by foot steps down the stairs. I clear my throat.
"You didn't wake me", She has on my shirt from last night, nothing underneath. She walks up to me and grabs my cup of juice takes a swig looking up at me as she swallows.
"Somethings never change", I take the cup back from her. "You don't know where my lips have been", she makes a kissy face, and I lean down and peck her lips making a smaking noise she giggles.
"If I remember correctly, they were all over my body last night", she whispers like its a secret. That wipes my smile away.
I take her into my arms, holding her around her waist looking down at her. I kiss the tip of her nose. "Have you seen your body", her eyebrows raise and she looks away.
She waves her hand dismissively not looking at into my eyes. "That happens", she says before sighing.
"That happens?", I say in shock. "Baby did I hurt you lastnight", my head falls to her shoulder.
She pulls my head up kissing my lips. "Last night was great Edward, it was amazing. Everything that I imagined", I furrow my eyebrows.
"Minus the bruises.", she rolls her eyes. "Bella raise the shirt", she stands still, staring me in the eyes. "Can you please, raise the shirt", I say again. She hooks her hands under the shirt and lifts. I see the same bruises from last night, but a few more are visible. The ones on her hips look to be the most brutal. I rub my hands in a circular motion on her hips. I lean down and kiss her neck. She wraps her hands around my neck.
"Can't believe that I did this to you", I whisper. She reaches for my hair, knotting her hands in it. She changes the subject.
"You have always had the sexiest hair", I lean back looking at her grin on my face. "Seriously all in high school I had to endure hearing about your amazing sex hair", she rolls her eyes. "You look a bit different from high school to me though", I raise an eyebrow.
"Just a bit taller", I touch my unshaved face. "A little scruff thats all"
"Yea, you shouldn't shave. I likethat", she touches my facial hair leaning up to kiss me.
"You like that huh", she giggles as I lift her, she eraps her legs around my waist, I place her on the counter so that we are eye level. I kiss her lips as she slowly moves her hands into my hair.
She pulls back from kiss but rest her head on my chest. "Emmett said that you have something to tell me", she says into my shirt. I lean back.
"Can we talk about it tonight", she nods. "I'm going to get in a few hours at the gym, then head into work.", she looks up at me.
"Can I come to the gym", she asks me. I raise an eyebrow.
"Sure, yea. Get ready", I kiss her lips backing up as she hops off of the counter. I go up stairs to change into my workout clothes. When I come back down stairs Bella is already dressed, sitting on the bar stoll going through her phone. I walk up kiss the back of her neck and continue to the fridge, grabbing a water.
"Grab me one too", she says not looking up from her phone. I nod grabbing another.
"You ready.", I ask taking a swig from the water bottle. She nods hopping off of the stool. We head out the door, and over to the gym that I frequently attend.
"Do I need like a guest pass", She asked when we walk in.
"No, I know the owner.", she nods.
I look over at her pursed lips. "Of course you do.", We continue walking.
"If it makes you feel better, I'll get you a guest badge", she says nothing. I roll my eyes grabbing her hand practically dragging her to the front desk.
"Hi Edward", Amanda purs. I look over at Bella who has an eyebrow raised.
"Amanda", I say shortly with a head nod. "Where's Jason today", she glances at Bella but quickly puts her attention back on me.
"He should be in the back.", she looks back. "Check the weights"
"Thank you", I push off of the counter. "I'll be needing a guest badge", she smiles.
"Why would you need that", she tilts her head in deep thought.
"It's for me", Amanda's face falls. "His girlfriend", Bella tilts her head like Amanda, arms folded on the counter with a smile.
Amanda looks over at me. "Oh, well, Edward I didn't know that you had a girlfriend", I nod.
I have to get her back on track, or we'll be standing here forever. "That guest pass please", I look over the counter.
"Oh, yeah. Here ya go", She holds it out in front of me but Bella snatches it.
"Thank you, Amy", Bella says with squinted eyes. I chuckle backing away. I look over at Amanda's stunned face.
We walk away from the counter. "God, she's a dits. Is that why you tried to avoid the front desk", she asks looking over at me, I nod.
"Pretty much", I glance at her leaning to her ear. "Jealousy is not a good look on you Bella", she scuffs.
"I'm not jealous. For godsakes Edward, I just couldn't stand to hear her say another word.", I nod as we stop in the entry way. "So, take me through your work out routine", I raise an eyebrow.
"Sure you don't want to hit the treadmills or something. I think my workout would be too much for you", she deadpans.
"Don't insult me Edward", She starts walking towards the weights. "You must have hit the gym alot, cause before I left you were tall and lanky. Now you're taller, and buff"
"I had a trainer. I let off some steam boxing", she nods in understanding.
"Boxing?",she looks inpressed. "I thought I knew you, but I have a lot to learn", I nod as we stop in front of a weight bench.
I look up and see Jason. He smiles when he stops in front of us. "Where's Emmett", Jason asks looking around.
"I don't know man, I'm here with my girl today.", I look over and Bella. "Can you spot me. He nods. "Seriously B, go hit the treadmills, I don't want you to hurt yourself. ", she folds her arms across her chest but relents walking away. I smile at her retreating form.
"She's hot, Edward. Where'd you meet her", Jason asks me.
"She uh, actually, we've been friends since we were kids", he nods.
"And now you're dating", He asks me. I sit my bottle down by the bench.
"Yeah, we-", I stop as I lay back. "-we were, uh, kind of separated for a few years, but now-", He interrupts me.
"But now you're together? That's great man. I've known you three years and never seen you with a woman. She must be special.", I smile.
"She is",I lift the bar and begin my workout. "Where's Riley", I grunt out.
"He'll be back a little later.", I continue pushing myself, as my arms and shoulders protest. "Hey don't push too hard. He's done renovating the room",
"Not today Jason, I'm going in to work when I leave here. Really I should've just went for a run this morning", I lift the bar and he helps to put it back in place. I stretch my arms. Laying back to continue my reps.
After an hour of different weight training with Jason, I go on search of Bella. I find her on a stepper. I look up, eyes trained on her perfect ass. I reach up and grab a handful, she swats my hand away. "You almost done baby", I ask her coming around to her face.
She stops the machine and hops down. She wipes her face, then reaches up to kiss me. "Are you finished", she asks wiping her face again. I nod. I reach for her hand, as we walk to the exit.
"See you later Edward", Amanda shouts to me. I raise my hand in a slight wave.
"You should ignore her", Bella says to me as we approach the car. I walk her to the passenger side reluctant to release her hand. I open the door, but hold her hand to my chest.
"She's just being nice", I explain.
"Yeah, because she wants your dick", I look away laughing. She swats my chest. "It's not funny.", she snatches her hand away. "If she's just being friendly then why didn't she speak to me", I look to the sky, leaning back on my heels.
"There's so many possibilities, B-", She folds her arms across her chest.
"Bullshit. Don't make excuses for other people", I nod with pursed lips. She looks down shaking her head. "What do you have planned for the day"
"Get home, shower, go to work-", I start.
"You're not working today", she says and I chuckle. Try and stop me baby. "You're tired, you're recovering with a hangover", I laugh harder.
"Does it look like I have a hangover baby", she looks at me with scrutiny. "I feel great, okay. We launch the specials tomorrow. I have so much that I need to get done today.", she takes a step closer to me.
"Then I'm coming too", I shake my head.
"Enjoy your day off, B. I'm serious. When you're running all four restaurants you'll be wishing you had time to take off", she grins.
"I can't believe that you trust me enough to take your job", she looks down. I reach for her hand kissing it, she looks up at me. "If I never came back, would you ever have gone back to what you loved. You know? Being a chef.", I look away but quickly look back.
"Probably not. I mean-", I shrug. "-I like managing too, so I would be okay. When I found out that you were who they hired, I knew that I had a chance to do what I love"
"Rose or Angie couldn't run it", I shrug again.
"Rose doesn't want the job, we've talked about it, and Angela likes hoping around, filling in where she fits in. She gets bored easily. Not a trait that you want as a manager. She's basically HR on crack. She does everything. I can't loose that, by giving her a title", Bella laughs.
"Angela is a one in a million employee.", I agree. I reach in pecking her lips.
"Get in", I point to the sit. She raises an eyebrow. "Get in please", she smiles, sliding into the car as I roll my eyes.
I walk around to the other side hopping in heading to the apartment. "You think Alice and I can go back to our apartment?", Bella asks when we walk in. I turn to her.
"Tired of me already", she shakes her head.
"No, it's just that we would be paying rent at a place that we aren't living in", She explains.
"I'll take care of it. Don't worry.", I turn to walk away. She grabs my shirt.
"I don't want you to take care of it.", I turn back.
"B, let me do this okay. You have enough to worry about", I take her face into my hands holding it up for her to look me in the eyes.
"Like what", she raises her hands. "Just, forget it. I'll talk to Alice about it", I drop my hands.
"So Alice can do something about it, but I can't", I ask confused.
"Yes, Edward, because Alice actually lives there. God, what were you going to do Edward, tell the landlord that since we aren't living there we aren't paying rent? That'll go over well"
I huff. "No, I was going to buy out of your lease, and move you here", her face stills and her eyes widen.
"You think that's a good idea? What about Alice", she asks.
"She has Jasper.", Bella nods.
"I don't know, Edward. It's kind of soon", I furrow my eyebrows.
"Hows it too soon baby I've known you for damn near eighteen years", she smiles.
"Yea, but-", she starts.
"-none of that, okay. Look, talk to Alice about it. She's understanding. Then I'm going to take it from there", I kiss her forehead, walking away and up the stairs.
Thanks for reading. Please review! :)