ConSeQuences Chapter 22, a twilight fanfic

Thank you to two AWESOME ladies Mel C and SassyNoles! They help me make my words pretty.

Chapter 21: Growing Pains

Edward

A thick blanket of gray clouds concealed the sun, threatening to rain.

I used to love days like this because she did. I'd grab a blanket, her favorite popcorn shop, Garrett's cheese and caramel, and a movie we'd half-watch while I cuddled with her.

I would love to—to just breathe her in. Bury my nose in her dark brown hair as I held her close to me.

I was taken with the way her chocolate brown eyes stared into mine as if she were looking directly into my soul—like she saw the real me—flaws and all, but still loved me.

Those were the best days—

But the only thing that dreary, bleak weather represented was the gloom that had begun to settle within.

Unable to drive away immediately, I sat and watched Bella and Grayson a little longer from a distance. He looked at her as if the sun rose and fell on her. And the part that gutted me the most was she looked at him the same way.

Maybe Garrett was right…

I couldn't fix it.

She wouldn't come back to me.

The better man had won.

I smiled wistfully when Bella threw a bunch of orange and gold leaves at Grayson before she laughed and ran away.

She was always fun to be with.

She loved to laugh.

Bella had the sweetest laugh.

I would find crazy things to say or do just so I could hear it. But now—now someone else was getting the part of her that I used to have. I exhaled as I ran my fingers through my hair. My shoulders hunched. I cleared the painful lumps that formed in my throat as I started my car.

I studied her for a few agonizing seconds longer.

I knew I was only making it worse, but I couldn't help it.

When Grayson leaned in to kiss her that's when I put the gear into drive and pulled off.

It was time to go back home.

This was a mistake.

I shouldn't have come.

Seeing the two of them together will forever be ingrained in my mind.

Now I'd have to try to forget what I saw.

I'd have to try to move on.

…without Bella.

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The drive home was much longer than it was going. I had nowhere to rush to, no purpose.

I didn't even bother to play any music. It would have been more of a distraction anyway.

I barely drove the speed limit, so it took me three hours before I finally pulled up in front of the house.

I was glad to see all the lights were out in the house. I wasn't up for much talking.

I definitely wasn't up for another run-in with Alice.

I quietly walked into the house and instantly smelled the steak and au gratin potatoes they had for dinner earlier and I was sure there was a side salad too.

My mouth watered as realized the last time I'd eaten was at breakfast. But I decided against it because I didn't want to alarm anyone about my presence and headed up the stairs to my bedroom.

I toed out of my shoes and threw my jacket on the chair in the corner.

In a few steps, I stood in front of my dresser and pulled the top drawer open, fishing all the way to the back of it and pulled out my bud.

The pain was too much.

I was tired of feeling.

I needed to be numb, even if it was just for a few hours.

I grabbed my hoodie, slipped on my Nike flip-flops, and soundlessly went out the back door in the pitch-black backyard.

The fallen leaves crushed under my feet as I walked to the corner of the yard where two lounge chairs sat.

I got comfortable, and moments later lit up, puffed, and inhaled until I couldn't feel anymore.

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Before I knew it, two weeks had passed since I'd driven down to see Bella.

As hard as it was, I didn't text or call her like I usually did. She never called or texted back anyway, so I was sure she didn't care one way or the other.

I found different things to keep my mind off of her. I focused more on work and school. I had even added more drawings for my tat catalog.

My clientele had picked more so I had less free time to go out or date anyone new. To be honest, that wasn't necessarily true—I just didn't want to.

Piper was still sending crazy text messages or leaving nasty voicemail messages on my phone about her losing her job, but the excitement of making her angrier had lost its luster.

I'd even dropped looking for dirt on Bria for her part in the whole social media mess.

None of it mattered anymore.

Neither one of them was worth the energy.

A low knock on the door brought me out of my inner musing. "Hi, Edward?" The guy stepped into my work area.

"Yes." I stood up from my chair and walked toward him. "Atticus, right?"

"Yeah." He nodded.

"Good to meet you." I smiled and shook his hand.

"Likewise."

I stepped aside. "Well, come on in and get comfortable over there" –I pointed to the client chair—. "while I set everything up."

"Cool." He sat down and started looking at the football game on the TV.

I didn't really need to set anything up; I'd prepared for him after my previous client left. I just needed to grab everything that was on the counter, along with the picture of the blackout tattoo picture he'd sent me. His picture was pretty good, but I took the liberty of drawing another one, adding my own twist to it. If he liked it, cool, we'd use it—if not, I'd catalog it and save it for someone else.

"I know you sent me over your picture, but I drew something kind of similar but different." I handed him the piece of paper. "If you don't like it, we can use what you originally wanted." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Wow! This is—" He looked up at me with a wide grin. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure." I nodded with a lopsided grin.

"For the same price you quoted."

"Same price," I agreed.

"I appreciate it, man."

"It's no problem at all."

For the next six hours, I worked on his full sleeve, yelled at the games, and got a chance to learn more about my new client.

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I had gotten into the full swing of things, finding my new normal. My grades were better because I'd started studying more. If I didn't have my head in the books, I was at the shop working. There were times I was still working long after Jimmy had left for the night.

I had taken a marketing class and liked it. When my instructor told me she was impressed with my papers and fresh ideas during our class discussions, it helped me to finally declare my major.

It seemed like I was aimlessly going to school because I thought that was what I was supposed to do since everyone else in my family went, but now I knew what I wanted, and I planned to share the good news with my parents.

In between my clients, I called both my parents and told them I needed to talk to them about something important. They were both very curious about what I had to say but I was able to stall them until after dinner.

Immediately after dinner, Alice left to go to one of her classmates' houses to do something to her hair. I half listened because I wasn't really interested. The main thing was she was gone, and I could talk to Mom and Dad without her interruptions or trying to eavesdrop.

Once the table was cleared and the dishes were put in the dishwasher, we all gathered in the family room.

"All right, Edward, you've had me anxious all day about your news." Mom rubbed the back of her neck.

"Yeah, son, I have to admit, I'm intrigued too." Dad cleared his throat as he sat next to Mom.

I bounced from foot to foot and handed them a black folder with my business plan in it. "I have something I'd like you all to take a look at."

"Oh wow." Dad smiled. "He has it written down, Es."

Mom scooted closer to Dad as he opened the folder.

I began to pace back and forth.

Mom looked up from the paper. "Honey, please calm down. Have a seat." She pointed to the chair behind me.

"Sorry," I mumbled as I sat down. "Just a little edgy."

My leg bounced up and down as my hands continued to run through my hair.

I'd gone through my plan too many times to count because it had to be just right. I wanted my parents to take my proposal and me seriously.

I even let my marketing instructor; Professor Caroline Barns, review it. She said it needed some minor tweaks but overall, it was great.

I briefly watched them, trying to get a read of what they thought but I couldn't. So, I glanced around the room, trying to find anything to distract me before they finally closed the folder and looked up at me.

"Well…" I smiled nervously.

"Son, you did this by yourself?" Dad asked.

"Yes." I nodded. "I had my marketing professor look at it and she suggested a few minor changes, but for the most part, yes I did it."

"You did an awesome job." Mom smiled at me.

"I agree with your mother," Dad interjected. "You were quite thorough."

"Thank you." I breathed a sigh of relief. "So, what do you think? Can you all loan me the money?"

Dad moved to the edge of the couch. "First of all, Edward, I want you to know how impressed and proud we are of you." He smiled. "But your mother and I will need more time to talk this over."

I lowered my chin to my chest. "Sure."

"Edward, that doesn't mean no." Mom paused, searching my face. "We just need to look at our finances and then reach out to our accountant; that's all, honey."

"Okay." I exhaled as I met her gaze.

"This is a solid business plan you've created, and I do like the numbers, and more than anything, I think I can speak for your mother as well" –he glanced at Mom— "we're happy to see you excited about your career and how you've set new goals."

I nodded along as he spoke. "Thanks, Dad."

"Now I know we haven't talked about your savings in a while but how much do you have saved, especially since you're home now?" Dad asked.

When I was sixteen years old, I was able to land a part-time job International Tattoo Supply. My parents allowed me to work there as long as my grades didn't slip. I didn't need the job, but I knew when I turned eighteen, I was going to be a tattoo artist, so working there made perfect sense. Plus, I wanted to save up the money for the tools I knew I needed.

"I have over seventeen thousand dollars now," I said with a little bit of pride.

When I first opened the account, I made a vow to myself that I wouldn't touch it. That I would just put money in and let it grow until I decided to invest it in something that made sense.

"That's great!" Mom smiled. "I didn't have that saved when I was your age. But that's why your father and I have made the sacrifices we've made, so you all could have better."

"I know you all have, Mom, and I know I haven't always acted as if I appreciated it, but I think I'm finally beginning to pull my head out of my a—" I cleared my throat, momentarily forgetting I was talking to my parents. Dad smirked and shook his head. "—I mean, I'm finally getting my act together."

"As your dad already said, we've noticed. Sweetheart, we knew you had it in you, but you just had to realize it." Mom winked at me. "Anyway, we'll talk everything over again by the end of this week, okay?"

They didn't say yes but it wasn't a straight no either, so all in all it was good.

"Sounds like a plan to me." I smiled as I got up and hugged my parents. "I'll be in my room for the rest of the evening if anyone needs me."

"All right, son," they said in unison.

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When I walked away from my parents, I felt encouraged, hopeful.

Although I wasn't sure if they would give me the loan or not, I didn't feel like they were either.

Jimmy had mentioned to a few of us at the shop that he wouldn't mind partnering with us but at the time I hadn't considered it. You know how they say you usually meet at least one professor in college who will be your turning point, giving you that aha moment, that was who Professor Barns was to me.

With what I was learning in class and the experience I had gained throughout the years, we could definitely put Kode of Konduct on the map. Maybe even open more parlors within the surrounding areas in Chicago and other states too.

I grabbed the remote from my dresser and turned on the TV. I was in the mood for a good suspense movie. I surfed through the channels and finally settled to watch The Drop.

I walked into my closet, to my hiding place, and pulled out some of my favorite snacks that I didn't like to share with anyone and then finally got comfortable in my reclining chair.

All those late nights of staying up working on my business plan had caught up to me, so I fell asleep and hadn't realized it until I was awakened by a loud breaking news report on the ten o'clock news.

Anchorwoman, Rachel Brown reported, "Libertyville College Preparatory High School's Vice Principal, Katherine Davis has been arrested…"

The rest of the story seemed to fade out as I sat blinking rapidly, trying to shake off the grogginess, as the police walked her out of the school in handcuffs.

A/N: What are your thoughts? Can't wait to hear them!

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