The Fic Lab Prompt: I thought nothing could keep us apart. And if something did, I didn't think it would be you.
"Why are you so frustrating?" I yell. I quickly look around the bar and see that several people staring at us. This was not how this night was supposed to go.
This is a night for celebration. Our firm had just landed one of our most influential clients yet. Angela, Tyler, myself, and Edward fucking Cullen spent the last four months working on this deal and a night out is just what we all needed.
I don't know why Edward fucking Cullen annoys me so much. He is the most smug and arrogant person I've ever met. He always looks at me as if he knows something I don't. Okay, maybe I do know why annoys me?
Angela thinks we work well together but I hate him. Edward fucking Cullen. All we do is argue. Sometimes it seems as if he is specifically looking to argue with me.
Edward fucking Cullen smirks at my outburst. Why is he always smirking at me? Did he come out of the womb with that smirk?
"Why don't step outside to talk for a minute, Bella."
I don't want to go anywhere with him. Edward fucking Cullen had been a thorn in my side since I met him. But I know when he sets his mind to something, he can be relentless and I don't want to make a scene.
"Fine, we can step outside," I huff. "But just for a minute."
Edward fucking Cullen - I've got to stop calling him that - turns and heads for the door. I guess I'm just expected to follow him. Fucker. At least he waits when I catch up to him and holds the door open for me.
I exit and walk away from the door so we don't block the foot traffic. I know I look like a petulant child as I lean against the outside wall of the bar with my arms crossed, but I can't help it. He brings it out in me.
"What do you want to talk about, Edward?"
"Bella, I think we should call a truce. Well, maybe you should call the truce since you are the one that has the problem with me."
And then he smirks again. Fucker.
"A truce? All you do is argue with me. No matter what I say, you have to make some counterpoint. It's so frustrating, Edward. This is on you, not on me."
Edward puts his hand on the wall near my head and leans in closer to me. "Arguing is the only way I get to interact with you, Bella. You ignore me otherwise."
Edward looks at me with his eyebrow raised and I know he's right. Something happened to me the first time I met him. I shook his hand and I was shook. I felt the shock down to my core. I told myself it was just the static electricity, having walked across the carpeted floor in the office to meet him. Deep down, I know I was kidding myself.
But I had my life already planned out with Mike and I wouldn't let anything change that.
Mike had been my best friend since we were 7 years old. We've been dating since we were 15. I love Mike. We'll eventually get married, have children and grow old together.
That's how it would be. I didn't need any other complications. And Edward Cullen felt like a fucking complication. So I ignored him as much as I could.
Until Edward decided the only way I would interact with him was to argue with him. And we "interacted" every day as I grew more and more frustrated.
Mike once accused me of having a crush on Edward after I complained about him for the millionth time. I told Mike he was crazy. I hated Edward fucking Cullen, I didn't have a crush on him. But I think something small changed between us that day. Not that either of us have acknowledged it.
I don't know what to say to Edward. I feel like my whole life is changing in this moment and I'm not ready for that.
"What do you want from me, Edward? We hate each other." My voice sounds timid even to my own ears.
"I don't hate you, Bella. Not at all. The complete opposite, as a matter of fact." He almost whispers that last part
"They say the opposite of hate is indifference," I sputter.
"Well, I'm definitely not indifferent to you, Bella. And I don't think you are indifferent to me. I know I affect you as much as you affect me. I just want you to finally admit it."
"I thought I hated you," I whisper.
Edward smiles and touches my cheek. "This isn't hatred Bella, this is passion. Do you feel this with Mike? If you can honestly tell me you do, I'll accept it and walk away. But I don't think you do."
Edward looks so vulnerable right now. I've never seen this side of him. As I look up into his eyes, I know he's right.
My reality has been spun on its axis tonight. The future I had planned out in my head will never happen. I don't hate Edward. I never hated Edward. I convinced myself I did to protect my plans. With that realization, my heart suddenly feels free.
"No, I don't feel this passion with Mike. I thought I did. I thought nothing could keep us apart. And if something did, I didn't think it would be you. But it is you, Edward. It is you."
Edward's smile is pure joy as he leans down and kisses me for the first time. The first of many, I'm sure.
