Tainted Love chapter 19 - Future Plans
EPOV
“Oh God, Edward, I think I’m about to-”
She was suddenly at a loss for words as her breathing became ragged. I could feel her walls clamp down on me as she tumbled over the edge. Finally, I’d gotten her off without the use of my fingers. She had assured me several times that it would take some practice before it happened, but it was hard to shake the feeling of disappointment when it didn’t.
The sound of her riding out the waves of pleasure was music to my ears. As I felt her warm juices cover me, I found my own release. Gripping her hips tightly, I slammed into her one last time with as much force as I could without hurting her.
“Bella, ungh, so good!”
It was very good-good enough that it felt like our first time all over again. The snow was long gone, but we’d hardly even noticed. For the past few weeks, we had been almost unable to keep our pants on, and I never grew tired of being with her. She seemed unable to get her fill as well. If anything, her need grew with each time we were together.
Once her body became still, I let her go. She collapsed against my chest, her hair almost choking me as it spilled over my face and into my mouth. We lay there for a moment before she finally broke the silence.
“Hey, Edward, I forgot to tell you good morning,” she mumbled as I tried to work her hair out of my face.
“Well, that makes sense, seeing as how you savagely attacked me at your door,” I chuckled, my mouth finally free from the entanglement of her luscious brown mane.
She raised her head and propped herself up on her elbows. “You seemed like you were enjoying it.”
“Oh, I’m not complaining-but shit, what time is it?” My eyes darted around the room, searching for her alarm clock.
She rolled her eyes and pulled at my arm, looking down at the watch I’d forgotten I was wearing. “We have about ten minutes to get to first period.”
I nervously ran my hands through my hair. “Not good. We are so late.”
She climbed off me and began gathering up our clothes, tossing each article onto the bed. “Yeah, but it was so worth it.”
I jumped to my feet, grabbed my jeans, and began the task of putting them on. “Even if we get detention?”
“I’m sure we’ll find some way to pass the time,” she said suggestively, as she fastened her bra over her magnificent breasts. I felt my dick twitch slightly.
Fuck, I must be part rabbit or something.
I grabbed her blouse and helped her into it. “Bella, I love you,” I stated, carefully buttoning each tiny gem on her top. They were so sparkly that they looked like tiny diamonds. “How about we attempt to make it to our first class?”
She nodded, quickly breaking away from me to find her shoes. “I think we can make it.”
“I wish I had your optimism,” I mused as I rushed to throw my shirt on. As soon as we were both presentable, I grabbed my keys and reached for Bella’s hand. “Come on, let’s get this show on the road.”
*~*
As we rushed through the halls, I silently prayed that we would be met with little to no resistance. We turned the corner, approaching Bella’s locker, where I saw a familiar plump figure. I froze, urging Bella to continue on while I tried to diffuse the situation.
“Edward, I need to see you in my office,” Mrs. Cope, the school guidance counselor, said matter-of-factly.
Bella made it to her locker but turned to look at me with curiosity, her brow furrowed as she waited for the exchange.
I can handle this. Mrs. Cope loves me. I just need to keep my cool.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?”
She stood in the middle of the hall, her arms folded firmly across her chest with a sense of authority. “Just follow me, please.”
“Oh, why not,” I said lightheartedly as I took one last look at Bella.
I followed her into her a tiny room at the end of a row of offices. As I took a seat in the dull beige chair, she closed the door behind me and made her way behind the desk. She sat down and looked over the contents of a manila folder before letting out a sigh and raising her eyes to meet mine.
“Mr. Cullen, it seems that graduation day is fast approaching. In fact, it’s a week away. I thought we could take a few moments and discuss your plans for the future.”
“With all due respect, didn’t we already go over this at the beginning of the year?”
“Well, yes we did. However, I spoke with your mother last week, and it seems as if your situation has changed.”
“Situation?” I asked, feigning ignorance as I silently prayed for her not to go where I thought she might be going.
“She told me what has been going on with your father, and I’m very sorry to hear that things have gotten so out of control.”
I shrugged, attempting to downplay things. “Really, it’s fine. My mom tends to exaggerate.” Her face confirmed that she wasn’t really buying into my performance, but at least I’d tried.
“There’s something else, too. It seems that you have become quite attached to that young lady I just saw you with-a junior, I believe. Is that correct?”
Way to cut to the chase, lady.
“What does Bella have to do with me graduating?” I asked a bit defensively, my patience starting to wear thin.
“You tell me. How serious is your relationship with her?”
Tell her? Screw that! This woman has some nerve.
“With all due respect, I don’t really feel the need to discuss that with you.”
“Oh, I see. Nonetheless, your plan a few months ago was to take the next year off, work on your music in New York, and then start college the following year. Is that still a possibility for you?”
Funny, I ask myself that question daily.
I picked up a glass paperweight in the form of an apple off her desk and began fidgeting with it. “I suppose anything is possible.”
“Mr. Cullen, I’m only trying to understand what your plans are.”
“Well, I plan to live my life.”
Now, her patience was running out. “Okay, well, unless you meet some untimely demise, that shouldn’t be much of a problem. Honestly, I’m not trying to pry, but it is part of my job to help all of you seniors plan for your future. Perhaps we should move on. What colleges do you have in mind?”
I was about to lose my shit altogether. “Look, I was making plans, and then life happened. Now, I’m living that life. That’s all I know right now. I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear, but that’s all I have so far.”
She begrudgingly closed the folder on her desk and stood to dismiss me. “You are an exceptional student. Mr. Cullen. Beneath that tough exterior, I think you are also an exceptional person. Please think about what I’ve said and let me know if there is ever anything I can do to help.”
“So, can I go then?”
“Yes, you may go.”
I jumped out of my chair and headed for the door. “Umm, thanks,” I said as I exited the room. Instead of going to class, I found myself gravitating to the back entrance of the building. Mrs. Cope’s intrusion into my personal life was bad enough, but my mother’s betrayal was inexcusable.
I slipped out the doors unnoticed and made my way towards the Volvo. I was in desperate need of a cigarette and hoped I could manage one without getting caught.
I climbed inside and put the key in the ignition, turning it just enough to start the stereo. Leaning back into the seat, I put in a Metallica CD and waited for the music to carry me away. As the gentle melody of “Nothing Else Matters” filled the car, I placed a cigarette between my lips and breathed deeply as the fire ignited the end.
Why couldn’t everyone just let me be? I wasn’t stupid. I realized that I needed to figure some shit out. But for the first time in my life, I was actually happy, and I really didn’t need anyone messing that up for me. So what if I decided to stick around town for a while. Whose business was it anyway? I could stay put until Bella finished school, play the Seattle scene on the weekends, and then we could go to college together.
There. Problem solved.
It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it would have to do. My mom wouldn’t like it, but I wasn’t too pleased with some of her choices either. She would have to understand. Bella was my life now, and I wasn’t about to let anything come between us.
I leaned back in the seat, closed my eyes, and let my thoughts drift away. I reminisced about our incredible morning and eventually let myself imagine our future. I could see us living in a loft in Greenwich Village, Bella immersed in her writing and me in my music. I could see us grabbing coffee between classes by day and making love all night.
I lost track of the time while sitting in my car, and I made my appearance in the cafeteria a little later than usual. As soon as I walked through the doors, Bella was out of her seat and running towards me. Before I could even blink, she had wrapped her arms around and was pulling me into a tight hug.
“There you are!” she cried. “I was getting worried. Tell me, what happened this morning?”
I looked down at her worried expression and gave her a weak smile. “It’s nothing important. We’ll talk later.”
“Okay, but I’m going to hold you to that,” she teased.
I nodded and let Bella lead me by the hand to our table. Everyone was there, eating and actively engaging in conversation. I pulled out Bella’s chair for her and then took my usual seat at her side.
“Well, well, well,” Emmett called out with a mouthful of food. “If it isn’t our little lost Eddie. You’re just in time, actually.”
I scanned the table, taking in everyone’s waiting stares. “In time for what?”
“We’re just going over the finer details for Rosalie’s big bash. It’s gonna be so awesome!”
Rosalie rolled her eyes and jumped into the conversation. “It will be amazing, but only if your brother comes through with the keg.”
“No worries, babe, it’s already taken care of. I’m going with him to pick it up Saturday morning. He even chipped in a few bucks on it.”
“Oh my God, really?” Alice squealed. “How did you manage that?”
“Easy. I just had to agree to let him invite a few friends of his own.”
That could be a problem.
I’d been to more than one party involving his brother’s friends. College kids were great, but they partied hard. Not to mention the fact that Lauren Mallory was one of them. That girl was forever throwing herself at me. She wasn’t unattractive, but she had been with practically every guy in the state. I had made the mistake of letting her give me a blowjob last summer, and I could only hope she had moved on since then.
My thoughts were soon interrupted by the sound of Jasper’s raised voice. “Edward! Hey, Edward?”
“You don’t have to yell, you know. I’m right here.”
Jasper laughed. “No, I don’t know where you were just now, but I was asking you if this should be a goodbye party as well?”
Bella looked over at me expectantly, but I avoided eye contact. “I’ll still be around for a bit.”
I gave him a look that warned him not to push me, so he let it go. The rest of the lunch hour was spent listening to the girls go over the small details of the party that no one really cared about, such as balloons and chips. As far as the rest of us were concerned, we had the beer already, and that was all that mattered.
*~*
After school, I found myself lost in Bella’s arms on my bed, naked and happy from our afternoon tryst. I had come to the conclusion that we were both part rabbit, as neither of us could seem to keep our clothes on since the floodgate had been opened. Not that I was complaining or anything. As the saying goes, ‘practice makes perfect,’ and we were determined to master the sport.
Bella’s soft fingers began tracing circles around my belly button. “Edward, what did you mean earlier about being around for a while?”
“I meant exactly what I said,” I replied, mesmerized as I watched her fingers go around in circles. I’m going to be staying in town for now.”
Suddenly, she stopped, and her face met mine in a questioning glance. “Oh?”
“What? Were you hoping I would leave?”
“No, I just…” She looked away.
“What is it, Bella?”
She sighed and laid her head against my chest. “I’m torn here. Part of me can’t bear the thought of you leaving, but the other part of me feels guilty for making you stay.”
“No one’s making me do anything. I’m a selfish creature by nature, and I’m happy when I’m with you. Why should I go searching for something that I already have right here?”
“But what about your music?”
“What about it? I can make music anywhere. There are plenty of clubs in Port Angeles and Seattle that I can play at. Who knows? I might even find a good band to get into.”
“What about Jasper and Emmett?”
“Don’t get me wrong, they’re my best friends, and I love playing with them. However, I need a serious band if I’m ever going to make it. Neither of them have the desire to go all the way with it. This is my dream, not theirs. I would only be holding them back if I tried to take them with me.”
“I guess I can understand that.”
“New subject, please,” I begged, planting a few kisses against her throat for persuasion.
She looked deep in thought for a moment, before finally asking, “Are you nervous about graduation?”
She is determined to talk about everything I don’t want to talk about today.
“To be honest, I haven’t given it much thought.”
She seemed a little taken back by my answer. “Why not?”
I really didn’t want to have this conversation either, so I decided to bait her with my charm. “Well, I’ve kind of been distracted lately by this sexy brunette.”
Bella rolled her eyes in annoyance, but I could tell by her grin that she was eating it up.
“Is that all you think about?” she asked.
“I’m very easily distracted,” I replied as my hand traveled to her left nipple, rolling it between my fingertips and then pinching it lightly. “Especially when she’s lying naked in my bed all the time.”
A low moan escaped her lips. “What about when I’m not?” she breathed.
“Shhh. Don’t say things like that. In my mind, you always are. Well, unless you’re naked in my shower, or naked in my car, and sometimes I picture you naked in-”
She slapped me playfully on my arm. “You are so bad, Edward Cullen.”
I grabbed her hand and kissed it. “Yeah, but you love me.”
“Yes, I do love you, but graduation is next week!”
“Can we talk about something else please?”
She shook her head. “Nope, you already vetoed the conversation a few minutes ago.”
I grinned mischievously. “Fine, then we won’t talk at all.”
With that, I rolled her onto her back, and we resumed our practice routine until it was time to take her back home.