While I slept, it had been oddly comforting knowing that he was in the next room, not miles away at a hotel or at his parents’ house.
I slipped into the kitchen and started the coffee pot. I took some headache meds and a bottle of water. Before leaving the apartment, I touched his cheek with my hand. Edward stirred awake, smiling up at me.
“Morning.” I smiled back.
“Morning beautiful.”
“I’m just heading out to class and then to work for a little while. I’ll be back by 4:30 at the latest. I’ve started a pot of coffee.”
“Thanks. I’m supposed to have some clothes and toiletries delivered shortly, I left L.A. without anything. Alice knew I’d need them of course.” He smiled. “After that, I was going to see about checking into a hotel.”
My face fell. “Edward, you don’t have to. I mean, were you comfortable last night?.”
“Yes, very comfortable, especially knowing that you were so close. I just didn’t want to impose…” He trailed off.
“Edward, I want you here. I don’t know, it just feels better with you here.”
He smiled. “Then I’ll stay, if you’re sure it’s not any trouble?”
“Edward, I love you, I’ll always want you here.” I smiled back.
I kissed him goodbye, and headed out.
On my way to class I thought about last night. I was still having a hard time absorbing all the new information. In the end I decided it didn’t matter how long it took to finally accept and understand everything. For the moment, it was enough to know that Edward had never lied to me. It was more than I had ever dared hope for.
I couldn’t seem to wipe the silly smile from my face, truthfully I didn‘t even try. The smirks, whispers and pointing continued, but meant nothing. I knew the truth. I also knew that eventually the media would get bored and move on.
Edward texted me throughout the day.
B-
Hope your day is going well. I miss you. Can’t wait until you come home to me. Love you.
-E
That sounded nice. Edward calling my apartment home felt right.
After class I headed to WIRI. I didn’t intend to stay long. I texted Edward to let him know that I’d arrived at work, and wouldn’t be too much longer.
Rose was relaxed and smiling when she saw me. “Well hello there Bells. You look quite happy, maybe even a little giddy today. I wonder what could be the reason for that?”
“You know very well Rose. I’ve never been so happy.” I returned her smile. “Rose, in the midst of all the eye-opening events of yesterday, I forgot to ask you about New York?”
“Oh gosh. Bella, they’re still working out the details, but it looks like I’m really going to get my own show! I’m waiting to see what their offer will be, and they’re aware that my contract with WIRI doesn’t run out until June, so right now it’s just ‘wait and see’, but I’m pretty excited.”
“That’s great Rose.”
“Anyway, get out of here, go home. You only get a couple of days with Edward, then you won’t see him for a while.” She said as she started pushing me toward the door.
“Are you sure? Don’t you need help with anything?” I asked.
“If I do, I’ll get someone else. I want you to go.”
I laughed. “Okay! See you later then.”
I thought I’d made a clean get-away as I headed out, but then I heard the voice of that jack-ass Mike Newton.
“Bella, I’m so glad you made it in.” He said as he looked me up and down. “You look good. Decided to take me up on my offer?”
I gave him an arched glare. “What offer would that be Mike?”
“Remember, I told you that when he dumped you I’d be around.”
“Mike, Edward didn’t dump me. Now leave me alone, I’m going home.” I tried to push past him to leave. He blocked my way.
“Don’t be delusional Bella, he’s done with you. He uses women. You‘re just the latest in a long line.”
“Mike, first of all you don’t know what you’re talking about, and secondly you shouldn’t be the one to accuse anyone of that. Or do I need to go ask Jessica’s opinion of what kind of a person you are?”
It was well-known throughout the station that Jessica, one of our newest reporters, had been seeing Mike when he unceremoniously dumped her to chase a new skirt. Jessica was devastated.
Mike narrowed his eyes at me. “I don’t get you Bella. You play hard to get for months, then you meet Masen and are all too willing to become his whore.”
I didn’t have a chance to respond, because just as Mike said those words Edward appeared around the corner, walking toward us.
His reaction was immediate. He grabbed Mike and pushed him against the wall, holding him by the throat. “Who the hell do you think you are? You will never speak to Bella in that manner again. She’s the most wonderful person I’ve ever known, you’d do well to show respect when speaking to her.”
I could tell that Mike was having a little trouble breathing. I didn’t give a shit.
Just then Rose walked up behind me, watching the display, her expression admiring.
“If I hear that you’ve been speaking to her or about her in that manner again, I will drop whatever I’m doing, come back here, and rip your fucking head off. Are we clear?”
Mike couldn’t answer, but was able to nod his stupid head. Edward released him. Mike started coughing, Edward wasn’t finished. “Apologize to Miss Swan.” He directed.
Mike turned to me then. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
Mike’s eyes grew wide with fear and he turned and fled back toward his office.
“Well done Edward.” Rose congratulated.
Edward nodded to Rose, then turned to me. “Are you ready to leave?” He said with a smile that melted my heart.
I took my hero’s arm and answered “Absolutely.”
Even though I was blissfully happy that Edward had defended me, I was also aware that the outside world probably viewed me the same way Mike did. To those who didn’t know the truth, I looked like the ‘other woman’, Masen’s whore. I dismissed the thought for the moment, but knew I would have to revisit it later.
--V&V--
We ordered in for dinner, and spent the rest of the evening relaxing together on my sofa, watching television. It was the down time we both needed after the stress of the last few days.
“How is it that you don’t have to be in L.A. right now?”
He looked a little sheepish. “Well, after I lashed out at everyone at that meeting, Jasper cancelled my appointments for the rest of the week. I’m free until I fly back on Sunday.”
I had suspected as much. I was just selfish enough to be happy he’d cursed out those movie execs, because it gave me more time with him.
“Speaking of flying.” Edward said as he went to pull something out of his backpack. “Here’s your flight information for Aspen. After I leave Sunday, I won’t see you again until then.” He said sadly.
After getting ready for bed, I put on my pajamas and came back out to the living room. I ended up snuggling with Edward in the sofa bed. There was no ‘funny business’ as Charlie would say. We both just felt the need to be close.
I opened my eyes to see two beautiful green ones watching me. It felt a little strange, realizing that I’d never made it back to my room. “Sorry, I must have fallen asleep, I hope I didn’t crowd you.” I said sheepishly.
“No, Bella. Truth be told, I loved having you here beside me. I don’t know how I’m going to stand it when I have to go back to California.” He whispered sadly. I reached up and stroked his cheek.
“Look, you can call me every day. You already know my schedule. We’ll make it work.“ The time will fly by, you’ll see.
He nodded.
I left for class, promising Edward that since I wasn’t going to work, I’d be back early.
At about 11am I got a curious text from him.
B-
Where are you getting lunch today?
-E
I answered.
I’ll probably pick up a sandwich from the Hub. Why?
-B
My phone chirped again.
Just curious as to where my girl is spending her time. Love you.
-E
Odd.
Love you more.
-B
Of course he responded immediately.
Impossible.
-E
Oh my, I felt warm and tingly all over. The warm and tingly feeling increased when later, as I entered the Hub, I found him standing, waiting for me, at the entrance to the cafeteria.
He had an awkward smile on his face. “I missed you. I had Sidney drop me off.”
“This is a wonderful surprise Edward.” I couldn’t help but hug him. Then I realized we were in a very public place. “Aren’t you afraid of the publicity?”
“No, Bella. I told you that I’m not hiding our relationship. Tanya is the one that has a lot to explain, not me.” He gave me a hug and a quick kiss on the lips for emphasis.
I was aware that we were drawing a crowd, no doubt our photos would be plastered all over the internet by tomorrow.
At least I won’t have a snotty nose this time.
We not only had lunch together, but Edward came and sat in on my last class of the day. I felt like flipping off all those people that had whispered and pointed all week.
Take that bitches.
I realized that we couldn’t make a habit of Edward accompanying me to class. Absolutely no work got done because so many of the students, and even the professor, were star struck. Who could blame them really?
--V&V--
“Miss Swan, I know I’ve been remiss in not asking this sooner but, would you do me the honor of going out with me tonight?”
We were riding home in my car, and Edward was smirking again.
I couldn’t keep the amused smile from my face. “Why Mr. Cullen” I decided to go with his real name since he told me Edward Masen doesn’t exist. “Am I right in assuming that you are asking me out on our first date?”
“Yes Miss Swan, you are correct.” He said with a playful smile.
“I accept your invitation, and thank you Mr. Cullen.”
“You’ve made me very happy.”
At about 5pm, Rose came to my door, and dragged me to her apartment. But not before raiding my closet and bathroom for everything she need to make me ‘drop dead gorgeous’, her words not mine, for my date.
I was seated at Rose’s vanity, while she worked on my hair, when I decided to phone my Dad.
As part of the agreement with Emmett, he promised to help ‘smooth things over’ with Charlie. It took a lot of convincing, but Emmett finally got my Dad to agree that Edward deserved a second chance. Emmett clued Charlie in on the ‘phony’ relationship with Tanya, but was forbidden from mentioning Edward’s lack of a ‘sexual’ past. That, I was afraid, was more information than even my poor Dad should be expected to handle.
“Hi Dad.” I said brightly when he answered the phone.
“Hey honey, you sound better.” He didn’t sound terribly happy.
“I am Dad. Everything is okay now, well actually more than okay.” Trying to change my Dad’s low opinion would be harder than I thought.
“Yeah, Emmett explained things to me. I just wish Edward had trusted you enough to tell you about the whole ’Tanya’ thing from the get go. Would have saved you both a lot of grief.” Yeah, he was not happy with Edward, but didn’t hate him. That was good at least.
“He just misjudged how ravenous the media can be Dad. He would never want me to get hurt, he loves me.” There. That was the bombshell that I needed to lay on Charlie.
Silence.
“Dad?”
“Yeah. Wow Bells, um, seems a little fast. I just worry about you.” He sighed.
“I love him too Dad. I know it was fast, but when we met, we both just knew somehow.”
“I’m happy for you baby. Just make it clear that he can’t hide things from you any more.”
“Right Dad. I’ll let him know that. Okay, I’d better go, Edward’s taking me out tonight.”
“Okay baby, be careful, love you.”
“Love you too Dad.”
--V&V--
I sat on Rose and Emmett’s sofa waiting. The doorbell rang. I tried to reach it before Emmett, but I wasn’t fast enough. He tore past me, and I had to do a double-take.
Is Emmett wearing a plaid flannel shirt?
My brother wasn’t dressed as he usually did. He was dressed like….like Charlie?
What the hell? Yep, he’s even got the fake moustache.
Emmett was wearing his ‘Chief Swan’ costume. He’d worn it a couple of years ago to a party, NOT a Halloween party, mind you. He did it merely to mess with the Chief, who was also in attendance.
I couldn’t figure out why he was wearing it now. “Emmett, what are you doing?”
“Well you see Bells, since Pops can’t be here for your ’first date’ he has asked me to be his surrogate on this important occasion. It’s a big responsibility and I don’t want to fuck it up.”
Oh for cripes sake.
Emmett opened the door, and I resigned myself to my fate. My life would never be dull as long as Emmett was around.
Edward stood there grinning from ear to ear. His grin turned into a confused expression within about ten seconds as he took in my brother’s appearance.
Emmett folded his arms across his chest and looked Edward up and down. “Yes? May I help you? Edgar was it?” He said in his best Charlie voice.
“Edward.” Edward and I both said at the same time. “I’m here to pick up Bella.”
“I see. Well Edward, have a seat, let’s have a little chat.”
I groaned, and flopped down on the sofa next to Rose, who just looked amused.
Edward still looked confused but took a seat in one of the arm chairs.
“I want you to take a good long look at our little girl sitting over there. Her feelings are not to be toyed with. Do you understand?”
Edward nodded.
“Good. I’ve prepared a list of questions. The way you answer will determine whether you are worthy to escort Bella tonight. Still following Edwin? You won’t find the answers written on Bella’s legs, eyes over here boy.”
Edward blinked, looked at Emmett and swallowed hard. My brother was such an ass.
If I hadn’t been so pissed, I’d have been amazed at how much Emmett sounded and acted like Charlie, it was eerie.
“Question number one. Your car runs out of gas while on your date with Bella, what do you do?”
Edward squirmed, he obviously also felt the connection Emmett had to Charlie was uncanny.
“Um, I call my roadside service to gas up the car?” Edward answered as a question.
“Wrong. You gas the vehicle up before the date, therefore there will be no chance of that happening Edmund.”
“Let’s try again.”
“Bella trips, falls and cuts her leg on the way into a restaurant. What do you do?”
“I administer first aid. If I determine she needs stitches, I take her to the emergency room?” Edward was still unsure of himself.
“Wrong. You sure are fucking this up Edwina. The correct answer is that you should have been holding her arm, so that she wouldn’t have tripped in the first place.”
“One more.”
“You take a wrong turn and end up in a dangerous neighborhood, then you discover your tire has gone flat. While waiting for roadside assistance, a hooker propositions you. How do you handle that one?”
“I stay in the car with Bella, and lock the doors.” Edward said in a defeated tone.
“Enough Emmett. You are driving me crazy.” As usual, Emmett had taken things too far.
“What am I going to tell the Chief Bells? Eddie just can‘t seem to do anything right. So far he‘s let the car run out of gas, let you fall so that you need stitches, gotten a flat tire, and paid fifty bucks for a b.j. from a hooker. I am damn disappointed in you Ed.” Emmett said while shaking his head.
“Emmett! He didn’t do any of those things. You’re just an idiot.” I shouted.
Just then Edward spoke up. “How about I just let my driver take us, as planned. I promise to protect Bella from drug-dealers, crazy fans, and even roving bands of gypsies if we come across any.” He smiled.
Emmett thought about it. “Sounds good. I guess I’ve got to let the bird leave the nest sometime.” He sighed, defeated.
“Have a great time guys.” Rose chirped as she hugged me goodbye. Emmett was still sulking. I hugged him and kissed his cheek.
Once out in the hall, Edward offered his arm. “Shall we Miss Swan?”
“Definitely Mr. Cullen.” I smiled and took his arm.
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