Alice had taken the week off of work, sort of. She was on the phone a lot, and did work on her computer part of the morning. The rest of the time she spent rummaging through my clothing, and shaking her head and ’tsk tsking’, before informing me that I couldn’t be seen in public in some of those things that I called clothes.
Great, another Rose.
At least I could forgive Alice, fashion was her life after all.
Edward spent a good part of the morning with Jasper, arranging and re-arranging his schedule for the next few days. Since Edward would be in England for several weeks, Jasper decided to set up a couple of interviews with some entertainment magazines that had been begging for months.
Alice informed me that I had a fitting scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, while Edward was away giving one of those interviews. The fitting was for the clothing I would wear during the photo shoot scheduled for Saturday.
I cringed thinking about that, but didn’t dare defy her. I’m an expert at ‘picking my battles’, and this one just wasn’t worth it, especially knowing I wouldn’t win.
Then there were the phone calls. First Rose and Emmett called. Rose was ecstatic that Tanya ’got her head out of her ass’ and stepped up. She went on about how she never saw that one coming. Emmett inquired about ’Andy’. Then laughed at his own joke. Idiot. They both told me to have fun, and Rose said she’d see me Friday.
Charlie called to make sure I was okay and having fun. I really think he was fishing to see if I was staying at Edward‘s. He didn’t seem to worry when Edward stayed with me.
Probably because your big brother lives right across the hall Bella. The possibility of Emmett barging through the door guarantees abstinence better than wearing a chastity belt.
Wendy called to let Edward know that she’d be flying down to try and settle his little incident out of court.
The most important call of the day however came from the Cullen house. Esme had heard about Edward’s misbehavior at the airport. Edward was speaking to her on his cell phone, and I could hear Esme’s voice from all the way across the room as she tore into her son.
Edward’s response was a constant stream of ‘yes Mother’, ‘no Mother’, ‘I’m sorry Mother’, and ‘it will never happen again’s.
It was the difference between night and day when she spoke with me however. “Bella dear, I was so happy to hear what Tanya had to say. Although I wish my son had resolved this issue a long time ago. He tends to be cynical about the world, but then quite naïve sometimes when dealing with other people. He thinks if he ignores something or runs away he can solve his problems.“
Did Esme know that Edward left me?
“He should listen to his sister more.” She sighed in exasperation.
“I’m beginning to realize that.” I chuckled.
“Be that as it may, have a wonderful stay. Relax and let my children show you a good time.”
I thanked her and assured her that I would do my best to enjoy myself, before saying our goodbyes.
After lunch, I’d worked up the courage to go on the internet. It was already after 4 o’clock on the east coast so I figured enough time had elapsed to get an inkling of the public reaction to Tanya’s statement.
Edward was on the phone with his agent. Jasper left to go to his office. Alice was on the phone with Christopher. Knowing that everyone was otherwise occupied, I went to my room.
First, I did a google search on Edward’s name, reading only the articles dated today.
To say I was shocked by what I read would be an understatement. Edward had suddenly become Hollywood’s fair haired boy. Site after site went on about his selflessness in not betraying Tanya’s deceit.
There were a couple of sites that faulted him for not coming out with the truth sooner, despite what it would have done to Tanya’s career. But, for the most part, everyone supported Edward. The ’bad boy’ image still existed to some extent, but he was no longer considered a cheater, just a womanizer.
Eh, I’ll take it.
All these sites only mentioned my name in passing, and they did not have many nice things to say about Tanya.
The internet had exploded with lurid stories about her past.
How the hell did they find out all that stuff so fast?
I suppose that once the cat was out of the bag, everyone who had a story about her was of sudden interest to the media. What they couldn’t find out with actual facts, they made up through conjecture.
A small part of me began to actually feel sorry for her. I didn’t want to, especially after the recent weeks of hell that Edward and I had endured, but I couldn’t help it. I really couldn’t bring myself to be mean or vindictive, I was so deliriously happy to have Edward back that there was no room in my heart for animosity toward anyone. Except maybe Geri Chance, Ranger asswipe, and whoever messed up my car.
Hey, I never claimed I was Mother Teresa.
After I’d read everything I could stomach about Tanya, I hesitated for a good two minutes, my hands on the keys, before I typed my own name in the search box and hit enter.
I was even more shocked by what I read about myself. It seemed that almost everyone I knew as a child had been contacted and interviewed.
The article that intrigued me the most was from Saturday, so it was written before Tanya’s admission. Someone had gotten in touch with my Aunt Lola in Arizona and she had blasted Jeff’s family for their slanderous remarks, referring to them as the ‘trailer park trash’ we all knew them to be.
Kudos to Aunt Lola.
I made a note to call her and thank her sometime this week.
All of the stories written today were positive. I only scanned over them briefly, because they went into too much detail about the day my Mom died. Even so, it was easy to discern that they were all supportive of the relationship between Edward and me. Not one negative article.
I was so confused. Edward had said that the public was fickle, but this was ridiculous. The pendulum had swung in the completely opposite direction since yesterday.
Be careful Bella. It’s bound to swing back.
I heard a soft knock on the door, and Edward stuck his head in. He glanced at my computer and grinned. “Did you just google yourself Miss Swan?”
“You make that sound kind of dirty Mr. Movie Star.” I said as I laughed and walked over to him.
I put my arms around his neck as he held me to him.
“How would you like to go out for a little while? I think we’re safe from angry mobs.” His eyes were bright, his expression expectant.
“What did you have in mind?” I asked.
“Well, was there anything you wanted to do? Anything you wanted to see while here?”
I thought for a moment, then it came to me. Before the shit had hit the fan, so to speak, last week I’d looked up several ’touristy’ things I wanted to do during spring break.
I bit my lip. “You’re going to laugh.”
He smiled. “What is going through that mind of yours Isabella?”
I grinned. “Well….”
--V&V--
“I can’t believe you want me to do this Bella.” Edward said frowning. “No. I refuse. It would be too embarrassing.” He said as he defiantly crossed his arms over his chest.
“Edward please. It would make the best photo ever.” I whined. “For me.” I conjured up the most pathetically sad look I could and batted my eyelashes at him.
He pulled me close to him and looked into my eyes, arching one eyebrow. “If I agree to this Isabella. Then you can never, ever question my love for you again. Do you understand?”
“Yes Edward.” I grinned, knowing I’d won.
“Also, if there are copies of me doing this on the internet tomorrow, I will make you pay.” He said, narrowing his eyes at me.
Oh what punishment could Edward exact on me. Maybe… kiss me until I see stars and pass the fuck out. Bella please focus.
Edward then walked away from me and went to stand next to Edward. Well, not Edward per se, but a wax replica of Edward.
We were at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, and I had just convinced my boyfriend to let me photograph him standing next to himself. I gazed at the two Edward’s, the wax one in his suit and open shirt looked ready to attend some Hollywood event, whereas my Edward in a t-shirt and jeans wasn‘t out to please anyone but me. After I snapped the photo, I did a little victory dance, as Edward laughed.
At that point, I realized a small crowd was starting to form. They all seemed friendly so I didn’t fear for our safety. Although Edward had gotten Sidney to accompany us just in case.
“Sidney would you mind snapping a photo of Edward and me, and er Edward?” I asked as I handed Sidney the camera.
The next shot was of me standing between Edward and Waxward. It was kind of freaky, but I couldn’t resist.
How often would I have an opportunity like this?
I was having a lot of fun, although Edward thought I lingered a little too long with the Johnny Depp figure. “Stop it Edward. I didn’t complain when you had to get your photo taken with Marilyn Monroe.” I snarked.
“Well Bella” he explained. “Seeing that Marilyn is deceased, and I will never meet her in this lifetime, but Mr. Depp is very much alive, I have a little more reason to be jealous than you do.”
“Besides, Johnny is in town and wants to meet for lunch this week. I thought you’d like to go.”
All of a sudden I lost the ability to speak. I’d been harboring a secret crush on Johnny for years.
Bella pull yourself together and put your game face on before Edward catches you drooling.
I almost bitch slapped myself in order to snap out of it. I snuck a look at Edward.
Too late you idiot. He definitely knows.
Edward looked at me with narrowed eyes. “Is there something you’d like to tell me Isabella?”
I thought about that. Did I want to tell Edward that I’d been crushing on Johnny Depp since seeing him in Edward Scissorhands when I was about eight years old? Did I want to confide in him that aside from himself, there was no one sexier than Captain Jack Sparrow? Because I knew that if you took away the black eyeliner and nasty teeth, you would find Johnny freakin’ Depp underneath.
It was at that exact moment that I decided to take that information with me to my grave.
“Nope, not a thing Edward. We could do lunch with Johnny. That’d be cool.” I said, sounding as nonchalant as possible.
“Um hum.” He said, still eyeing me suspiciously.
He fidgeted when I put my hand on Robert Downey Jr’s chest.
Silly jealous fool.
I giggled to myself.
I had to get my photo taken with Clint’s wax figure, Charlie would be thrilled. Which reminded me…
“Edward when will Clint be coming to Seattle? I know you don’t start filming until September.” I asked.
“He’ll probably be making a couple of trips before September. I know he’ll be there for a few days in August, and probably once before then. I’ll be touching base with him this week, I’ll see if I can find out.” He answered, suddenly distracted by a scene from Kill Bill.
“I would love to work with Quentin Tarantino.” He muttered quietly to himself.
“Have you ever met him?” I asked. Emmett had forced me to watch Pulp Fiction, and since then I’d become a big fan. Although I had to admit I covered my eyes whenever things got too gorey.
You’re such a girl Bella Swan.
“Actually, I met him for the first time at one of the Academy Awards after parties this year. I’ve admired his work forever though.”
I smiled at him “Something else we have in common Mr. Cullen.” I whispered.
Our next stop was Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, where we proceeded to stand in the footsteps of our favorite movie stars. This time, Edward was just as star-struck as I was, as he stepped into the footprints of John Wayne, Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart, while I compared shoe sizes with the likes of Judy Garland, Debbie Reynolds and Julie Andrews. I made sure to take a picture of Clint Eastwood’s handprints for Charlie.
As we were leaving, Edward pointed to the Kodak Theatre and said “Next year Miss Swan, I believe we have a date for the Academy Awards.”
I grinned. “I remember Mr. Movie Star.”
--V&V--
“You really know how to spoil a girl.” I smiled as I ate my dinner.
“Look, you were the one that wanted to be the stereotypical tourist today. I thought this the perfect choice.” Edward grinned while eating his fish taco.
We’d stopped at a little snack bar a couple of miles from Grauman’s where Edward splurged for dinner. We each got two fish tacos and drinks for under ten bucks. It was perfect.
Back in the car, Edward looked serious again. “Bella, I’d like to spend the evening at my house, would that be okay?“
I knew what he was asking, but couldn’t resist messing with him. “Well gosh Edward, I’ll miss you but if that’s how you want to spend your evening I won’t stop you.“ I smiled innocently.
“Bella.” He groaned and palmed his face. “I’d like you to come over and spend the evening with me.” He peered from between his fingers. After what happened on Saturday night, I knew this was hard for him. I felt like such a bitch. Then I thought about what he’d just asked.
Spending the evening in Edward’s house. Alone. Did it just get really hot in here?
“I, um” I struggled for the right answer. I wasn’t sure if my self-control would last under those circumstances, and I definitely wasn’t prepared for the next step in our relationship. At least I didn’t think I was.
I thought about how being alone with Edward set my entire body on fire, and usually turned my brain to jello.
Crap. Why is this so difficult?
Then I looked at his hopeful expression and lost all thought of refusing him.
“Okay.” I answered quietly as I looked into his piercing green eyes.
He sighed audibly and pulled me into his arms. “Thank you Bella, I was afraid you wouldn’t want to be alone with me until after I came back from England.”
I pulled away and smiled at him. “Who says we’ll be alone, I was going to invite Sidney to hang out with us.”
Edward gave me a dirty look, as I heard Sidney chuckle from the front seat.
Who knew Sidney had a sense of humor? He’s usually doing a dead-on impersonation of The Sphinx.
When we pulled up to Alice and Jasper’s house, Alice ran to the car to greet us. “Here you go Bella, everything you need is in here. Have a great night.” She said as she pushed my backpack into my hands, not allowing me to exit the car.
I turned to Edward who was smiling and shaking his head. “I guess I’m ready to go.” I said shrugging.
This would be the first time I’d been to Edward’s house. I didn’t count the visit on Saturday night because I didn’t have the chance to see anything but a maze of dark rooms and hallways, and Edward’s semi-dark bedroom.
Also, on Saturday I wasn’t sure if we would ever be together again. I had a real fear of losing Edward forever, so I wasn’t precisely aware of my surroundings.
Tonight I got to see his home with new eyes. The eyes of Edward’s ‘official’, even to the general public, girlfriend.
The sun had just set a little while before we pulled up in front of the house. In stark contrast to the other night when everything had been relatively dark, tonight the house was illuminated by a row of floodlights.
Sidney punched a code into the security panel, and the gate opened.
Whereas Alice and Jasper’s house was more traditional, Edward’s was ultra-modern. There were very few windows in the front, but once inside, I immediately became aware that the entire back wall of the house was made up completely of floor to ceiling glass. The other night I had been unable to see the spectacular view.
I gasped when I realized Edward’s house, positioned as it was in the hills, looked out over the entire city of Los Angeles sprawled below. The city at night was a breathtaking sight to behold.
Edward took me on a quick tour. Almost all the rooms opened to the living area. One room that didn’t, was his home theatre on the lower level. With its rows of luxurious seating and one wall equipped with a movie screen, it fast became one of my favorites. Edward had to drag me away from it.
Another favorite space had to be the pool, equipped with its very own waterfall. Every room and the pool area afforded the same dazzling view of the city.
As I stood there lost in the twinkling lights of L.A., I felt Edward come up behind me and wrap his arms around my waist.
“How do you like my preferred view of the L.A. nightlife Miss Swan?” I could hear the smile in his voice.
“It’s perfect Edward.” I murmured.
“Not as perfect as you Bella.” He turned me to face him and looked into my eyes.
“I’ll never be able to tell you enough how sorry I am for Friday.” He was still punishing himself over this. “I hope you understand that I hated seeing you hurting, knowing it was my fault.”
“So you decided to hurt me more?” I asked calmly.
“Believe me, by the time my plane touched down at LAX, I realized what a stupid mistake I’d made.“
“Why didn’t you call me? I would have listened.”
“I didn’t think I deserved you. I don’t deserve you.” He said sadly.
I placed my finger on his lips to silence him. “Edward, we’ve been through this. Today was the first day for us to be recognized as a couple, without Tanya‘s shadow looming, and it was a good day. I’m not fooled into thinking that all the days to come will be this easy. We need to be sure that we can handle the bad ones also.”
“As long as we don’t make decisions about our relationship based on the public or media reaction, everything will be fine. That was Tanya’s mistake for years, and the mistake you made on Friday.”
He looked away. His face dejected.
I put my palm on the side of his face, effectively making him look in my eyes again.
“Hey, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I don’t want to keep rehashing this incident over and over forever. I want to be able to trust that you won’t do anything so stupid again. When in doubt, listen to your sister.” I grinned at him.
He smiled. “Good advice. I hate to admit it, but every time I ignore her, it comes back to bite me in the ass.”
We both laughed.
He glanced toward the pool. “How about a swim?” He looked at me with a hopeful smile.
I hesitated, the pool looked very inviting. “Hopefully Alice packed my swimsuit in my backpack.”
I discovered that Alice packed a swimsuit alright, although it wasn’t my conservative one piece that I brought from Seattle. Alice had packed a royal blue ‘barely there’ bikini. I was changing in Edward’s elegant guest bathroom when I realized it was the bikini or nothing.
Well not nothing. I’m not swimming ‘au naturel’ no matter how much I love Edward.
That’s when I completely freaked myself out. I put on the bikini and proceeded to sit on the side of the tub, too afraid to leave the bathroom.
Edward couldn’t handle seeing you in a cute little nightgown, what the heck’s he going to do with this. I’m showing more skin than I ever have before.
I had to admit that it looked really good on me, but there was no way I was brave enough to let Edward see.
I don’t know how long I’d been sitting there vacillating between sucking it up and facing Edward, or climbing out the window and fleeing down the hillside where I’d probably be eaten by coyotes.
Do coyotes eat people? Why didn’t I pay better attention to important shit like that when I lived in Arizona?
The other option would be to leave my ass planted on the side of the tub forever.
Just then I heard a soft knock at the door.
“Bella, are you okay sweetheart? Did you still want to swim?” Edward asked in a soothing voice.
Bella snap out of your foolishness. Who cares if Edward sees you? More importantly, you get to see Edward in his swimsuit, that has to be almost as good as naked.
Before that thought even connected with my brain, and without my brain’s permission I might add, my body was in motion going toward the door and opening it.
Edward in a swimsuit Bella, move your stupid ass.
Edward’s eyes widened slightly as he looked me over, but I couldn’t be concerned with that because I almost self-combusted at the sight of the Greek god before me.
Holy shit. I can’t believe some Hollywood bimbo hasn’t slipped Edward ruffies and jumped his bones. Gah.
For the next few seconds, all my energy and concentration was channeled into schooling my facial features into an unaffected expression, otherwise I would be in serious danger of embarrassing myself irreparably.
When I looked at Edward’s face, he seemed to be doing the same thing. I suddenly laughed, and he smiled shaking his head.
He didn’t say a word, just grabbed my hand as we headed for the pool.
The night air was cool, but the water was warm. We paddled around in the water talking about unimportant things. I noticed that Edward made sure to keep his distance the entire time.
Hmm, could it be that I affect him just as much as he affects me?
Growing tired of the distance between us, I decided to test my theory. I swam over to him and tentatively placed my arms around his neck.
“Hi.” I looked into his eyes as his arms snaked around me.
“Hi.” He breathed. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea Bella.”
“Why’s that Edward?” I whispered.
“Because my self-control is waning.” He almost whimpered as he tightened his hold on me.
This time I initiated the kiss. It started slow, soft, and sweet, but as soon as the electric charge that always existed between us zinged, I lost complete control over my body’s actions.
I wrapped my legs around Edward as his lips traveled down my neck, and his hands moved down holding my bottom.
Oh my. This was new.
I decided to be brave, and let my hands move down across the muscled plain of Edward’s back, down further still until they were placed just above the waistband of his swimsuit.
Edward moved his hands so that one still cupped my bottom, but the other grasped my waist, moving northward very slowly until his thumb was gently moving back and forth against the side of my breast.
I moved one hand to his hair, and one hand lower until I could feel Edward’s perfect butt through his swimsuit. When Edward’s thumb grazed my cloth covered nipple, I decided to ’go for the gusto’ and grabbed a handful of ass cheek.
Just as I did this, a thought came unbidden to my sick mind. An image of Grandma Moses and her inappropriate groping of my boyfriend in church. I tried to stifle the giggle that was trying to escape. I tried to think of anything to keep myself from laughing. Nothing was working, and God help me, I started to chuckle.
Edward broke away from worshipping my body with kisses to look at me, a stunned expression on his face. “Bella, what could you possibly find to laugh about at this moment? I have to say that it doesn‘t do a lot for my ego.” He said quietly.
I was suddenly very remorseful, and realized there was nothing amusing about what had just happened. “Oh my gosh, Edward, I’m so sorry. I’m just really nervous about this and my mind copes in the most twisted ways.” I admitted.
He thought about that for a minute, then he smiled. “I like how your mind works Bella. But you have to tell me what you were thinking or it will bother me for the rest of the night.”
Edward feeling insecure was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen…or at least one of the top ten.
“It was stupid.” I admitted. When he still looked at me questioningly, I decided to confess. “I just remembered that crazy old lady groping you in church, that’s all.”
He tried to hide his smile, but did a crap job of it, then gave up. He shook his head grinning at me. “You are so strange Isabella Swan.”
He pulled me close again, taking my chin in his hand, he gently pulled my face up to look him in the eyes. “I said I wouldn’t push, and I meant it. No more than you are comfortable with, okay?”
I nodded. “I liked what you were doing, it felt nice.“ I whispered.
“I’m glad.” He smiled. “Bella, I definitely don’t want our first time to be in my swimming pool. I want it to be special, especially for you. I love you so much beautiful Bella.” He said as he kissed me again.
“I love you too.” I whispered.
“Edward.”
“Yes Bella.”
Knowing that my grip on my self-control was tenuous at best, and knowing that I wasn’t ready for more than what we’d already done, I decided a change of scenery was in order. “We should probably go watch a movie.” I sighed.
“That may be best.“ He grinned. “What movie did you have in mind?”
“Anything except September Ends.”
He looked at me, quizzically. “Bella, I’m not in the habit of watching my own movies, but what specifically is it about September Ends that you dislike?”
“Um, I don’t dislike it. As a matter of fact, I probably like it too much.”
All those steamy love scenes between Edward and what’s-her-face, the stupid bitch co-star. Whom I hate. What was I saying again? Oh yeah.
I continued. “I just don’t think I can handle Sexward Masen twice in one evening.”
Edward blurted out a laugh and then hugged me. Still laughing he said “Bella, I don’t know how I’ve lived without you all these years.”
“Me neither Edward.” I said grinning. “Me neither.”
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