I don't own Twilight. What I own is my character's behavior, personality, background, and the plot of the story.
Author's note at the end of the chapter.
"You know I have to do this," she tells him once Charlie and Marco close the door behind them.
Edward just twists his hands across his chest and shakes his head. "Come and sit here," Bella tells him gently patting the edge of the bed.
Edward sighs loudly and walks reluctantly toward her. "Tell me what I should do instead."
Edward raises an eyebrow thinking that she is being sarcastic. "I am being serious. If you have a better option, I will do it."
Edward looks down at his hands and tells her, "I don't have a solution to everything, but I know what is right and what is wrong, and letting her get away with attempting to murder you isn't right."
Bella shrugs her shoulders and tells him, "I know that everything you are saying is true but I don't have any other option to protect Cece."
Edward is silent for a moment then tells her, "I can move in with you and Cece."
"No, no, no," Bella cuts him off but Edward is on a roll and continues, "We move in together. You know how to use a gun, and I will learn. Two people is better than one. It might not be the safest option, but it's an option that makes sure that Cece is as protected as possible and she has two parents around her."
Edward looks expectantly hoping that his idea is good. "Until when?" Bella asks him.
Edward looks at her in confusion which pushes her to clarify, "Until when will we continue living with Cece? Till she turns 18 and leaves for college?"
"Until Eleazar's men are caught," he answers her simply.
"What if they are never caught?" she asks him. "Will we move with Cece for college?"
"Dont be ridiculous. The authorities will figure out a way to get them before that," Edward tells her like it's obvious.
"What if it takes a year, or five, or ten? Will we live together till then?" Bella asks him sarcastically.
Edward nods his head and tells her, "If you don't have a problem with that, sure."
"What if you have a problem with that?" She asks him.
"I don't," he tells her simply.
"What if you have a problem with that down the line?" She clarifies. She can't imagine any future girlfriend being okay with her boyfriend living with his ex, even if it has been years since they broke up.
"I won't," he states firmly.
Bella shakes her head and tells him, "How do you know that? What if you meet someone? What will you do then?"
Edward is quiet for a second then he sighs, "I won't. That's something we will never have to worry about."
"How do you know?" Bella demands in frustration. Edward is a charming guy who knows how to play the room. She doesn't for one second believe that he won't have a girlfriend in a couple of months. Just cause he is putting all of his energy into Cece doesn't mean that it will be the case forever.
"I just do."
"How?"
"I just do."
"How?"
"I just do," Edward replies in frustration stubbornly refusing to give her more than those three words.
"I just do isn't an answer. How do you know for a fact that you won't get into a relationship down the line?" Bella demands her voice having gotten gradually louder till she is yelling.
Edward gets off the bed and starts pacing in front of her and muttering to himself in frustration.
He suddenly turns to her and angrily tells her, "Because falling in love with someone implies that I am not in love with someone already."
Bella stares at him for a second not sure what to say. A small voice in her head whispers that he is talking about him, but she dismisses that voice quickly. She knows that Edward moved on from her a long time ago. From what she knows, Edward hasn't been with anyone since Tanya, and he hasn't told her that he met anyone recently, so it's safe to assume that it's Tanya he hasn't moved on from.
Bella reached for the glass of water and drinks it slowly as she thinks of what she will tell him next. It's a delicate thing, and she isn't sure how to be delicate with Edward. It can't be easy knowing that her father is the one potentially endangering his child. Maybe even his obsession with Victoria being held accountable has nothing to do with Bella and everything to do with his want to escape reality and run away from Tanya's involvement. If he can blame and punish Victoria for what she did, he doesn't need to remember that it's the father of his love behind this.
"I am sorry. I sometimes forget how the entire Tanya thing is hard on you," Bella tells him remorsefully.
Edward does a double take. "Are you obtuse Bella?"
"I don't understand," Bella stutters in confusion taken aback by his aggressive tone. What is wrong with him? Why is he hell-bent on scaring the crap out of her every time she thinks they made progress.
"Are you being intentionally obtuse?" Edward demands.
Bella shakes her head and tells him with a confused expression, "Of course not. What are you talking about?" Which is the truth. What is he even talking about. First, they were talking about Tanya, then all of a sudden he decides to become aggressive and treat her like his enemy.
Edward stares at her trying to decipher if she is telling the truth or shitting him, and once he realizes that Bella is completely clueless about his feeling, he sighs in disappointment and tells her in a gruff voice, "That you are completely clueless."
He goes to the door and twists the handle. Before he crosses the door, he turns to face her hoping that he will find on her face something to make him stay, but he finds nothing, so he turns around and leaves her room.
He walks straight to Marco until they are nose to nose and tells him, "If you go through with this fucking plan, it will be your job to teach me how to shoot and suggest that I stay with Bella and Cece till they are safe."
Hello lovely people,
I didn't update this chapter in 24 hours like I promised because my grandma is coming to visit us and my mum has declared the next two days a state of Emergency. No, I am not joking. That is exactly what my mum said. When I say a state of emergency, I mean all hands on deck to clean the house kind of emergency.
Usually, cleaning our house when guests are coming isn't that difficult or a long process but since my grandma will stay for weeks everything needs to be ideal.
Will Bella figure things out? Will Edward crack and confess his undying love to her? Tell me your thoughts.
Until my next update,
Stay safe.