"Bring Me to Life" Chapter 3~Light in Paradise
Title: Bring Me to Life
Author: Lindseyfair
Characters/Pairings: Edward/Bella mostly, some Alice/Jasper, some Emmett/Rosalie
Rating: Overall M for Mature, will designate chapters with more graphic content.
Category: Hurt/Comfort, Romance
Spoilers: None really, would be nice if you've at least read “Twilight” to get the basic character content.
This is Alternate Universe and is All Human.
Summary: 17 year old Edward has returned to Forks after spending six years at an exclusive boarding school. He's not the same Edward that his childhood best friend, Bella, remembers. He's changed and closed himself to almost everyone. Can Bella bring him back to life?
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. They all belong to Stephenie Meyer. She is the goddess, so thank her.
A/N: Thanks so much for all the wonderful comments and reviews. I love that all of you want to know where this story is going. I just want to warn you, this story is not all fluffy bunnies and unicorns. There is a dark secret looming on the horizon. I love writing all the mushy stuff, but if you've read my other stories, I've always got sometime up my sleeve. He he he!
Or read it HERE at ff.net
Chapter 3-Light in Paradise
EPOV
I couldn't believe I was being that... well, forward. I was kissing Bella, very passionately. Not only that, we were standing right in front of our families. Then I did it again. Hell, I thought it felt good to just be in her arms, but that felt so much better.
I heard Emmett clear his throat, loudly. I pulled back and found her eyes. I just held her hand and stared into her magnificent brown eyes.
“I think it's getting hot in here.”
“Yes, I'm getting pretty hot.” She was blushing terribly at that point.
“How 'bout we go to the kitchen and get some drinks?” I needed to talk to her without an audience.
“Sounds good.”
I started to lead her out of the living room when I heard, “Take your time!” Alice. If she only knew the millions of fears and possibilities running through my head at that moment.
We made our way to the kitchen and Bella took a seat at a stool beside the kitchen island. I started digging in the fridge. “Soda okay?”
“Fine with me.”
I pulled out two cans of soda. I put one in front of her as I opened my own on the opposite side of the island. She stayed quite. She was waiting for me. I put my can down then gripped the edge of the island between my thumbs and fingers. I put my head down as I composed myself.
“I just want you to know, I've... I've never done anything like that before. I'm sorry.”
I looked up to see her teeth tugging at that bottom lip of hers. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”
I sighed in relief. “I just got really caught up in the moment and everything.”
“Oh, was that all?” Her eyes dipped, like she was disappointed.
“No, no. Shit. This isn't coming out right.” I ran my hand through my hair several times before I could speak again. “I wanted to do it. It's just not how I would've planned it. I mean, not in front of everybody like that.”
“You were planning on kissing me like that?”
She eyed me over her can as she sipped her soda. “We'll... I... I wanted to. It's just... like I said, this is uncharted territory for me.”
“Oh.” She put her can down in front of her then looked up at me confused. “Wait. So, you're telling me, you've never kissed a girl before?”
“No, I've kissed girls, just never like that.” I kissed my mom and Alice and Rose, a few random girls at school, but never like that. Never with that much passion. I don't think I'd felt passion like that for anything except my music.
“Then, you've never had a girlfriend?”
“Girls that were friends, but not anyone I really dated.” Which was true. A date here and there, but it never felt right. I was beginning to wonder if it ever would.
“'Kay.” She took another sip of her soda.
“Really... I'm dying here. I've gotta know what your thinking.” I smiled hoping she would understand my attempt at vague desperation.
“I've never really dated anyone either and believe me, you are the first person to ever kiss me like that.”
She cocked her head to the side as her fingers began twirling a piece of her deep brown locks.
“Good.” At that moment, I was terribly proud of myself. By the look on her face, I could tell she was remembering it the same way I was.
“So?” She looked to me for an answer to a question she hadn't even asked.
“So... you're wondering what this means?”
“Yep.”
“I guess it means... now you have a real reason to turn down Mike Newton every weekend.”
“Because I'll be spending my weekends with you?” I loved how her eyebrows raised up when she got to the end of a question and held them there in anticipation of an answer.
“Weekends, days, nights, as long as you can stand the sight of me.”
“I see.” She hopped off the stool and came around to the other side of the island where I was standing. “So, this makes you my... what?”
I smiled and shook my head. “You enjoy watching me fumble through this, don't you?”
She brought her thumb and her index finger up in front of me, just a whisper of space between them. “A little.”
“Boyfriend, alright? I'll be your boyfriend.”
She placed both of her hands on my chest as she looked up at me. “I think that's a good idea. I don't know how much longer I'd be able to hold back... I mean...”
“Now, the tables have turned. Hold back, hun?”
She tried to move her hands, but I kept them there. “I mean, like today, with Mike. I thought it was kinda like you were telling people I was yours. Marking your territory. I know I have felt like ripping about a dozen girl's hair out because of some of the looks they were giving you.”
“How very predatory of you.” I nodded. “Just so were clear, I'm your boyfriend and you are my girlfriend.”
“Yes, Edward. I'm all yours.” She slipped her hands around my neck as I brought my lips down to hers.
We could hear thunderous laughter from the next room. I sighed and nodded, perfect timing. “Ready to face the firing squad?”
“It'll be fine. I'm sure Alice will be thrilled.”
She slipped her fingers through mine as I led us back toward the living room. I stopped right before we entered and turned back to her.
“Why would Alice be thrilled?” She instantly turned a deeper shade of pink as she dipped her head.
“She won't have to listen to me anymore.”
“Listen to you what?” I was curious. I let my hands find their way to her waist.
“You're enjoying this, aren't you?” She looked up to me.
“Just a little payback.” I smiled as she squinted at me and pressed her lips together in a soft smile.
“Since you've been back, I've kinda been talking about you... a lot.”
“Just since I've been back?”
“Well... much more since you've been back.”
“Okay, then I have a confession to make too. My room mate at Masen, James, was almost positive I had made you up. It just seemed that every memory I had of home had you in it.”
“I think I'd like to meet this James. Find out what you were like all those years.”
“We'll see.” I really wouldn't mind her meeting James, but I knew when I told him that Bella and I were together, he give me the speech again.
I led her into the living room where everyone had moved on to Jasper's favorite movie, “Blazing Saddles”.
Alice grabbed for the remote when we entered the room. She shut the movie off before jumping back down on the couch.
We stood hand in hand, as the rest of them sat and stared. “What?”
“That little display... it changed things, didn't it?” Alice was so cute, like a little girl waiting for a puppy.
I turned to Bella, giving her a little wink. “We've come to a mutual decision.”
“We think...” Bella looked over at me coyly. “That we might give this dating thing a try.”
Alice jumped up so fast, I never saw her coming. She had her arms surrounding both of us as she jumped up and down. “I knew it. I just knew it.”
“Fine, Alice. You get all the credit while we do all the work.” She let us go and hit me on the arm.
“Now, I won't feel so guilty leaving you guys to go spend time with my Jazzie bear.” She plopped back down next to Jasper and nuzzled at his cheek.
“Right, cause it's all about you, Alice.” Bella was hitting my rhythm. I slipped my arm around her waist.
Alice threw a pillow at both of us. “Sit down and watch the rest of the movie.”
I sat on the floor with my back to the couch as Bella crawled in between my legs. I cradled her back into my arms as Alice turned the movie back on.
/&/
BPOV
The next few weeks were nothing less than glorious. I was beginning to believe that we were in that first month stage of the relationship that I had heard was always the best. The high I seemed to get just by being in his presence. I was learning so much about him, but I could still feel him holding back.
He made it perfectly clear to any man who looked my way that I was all his. Most of the time, he had me sitting in his lap at lunch time. He had found this little spot behind my right ear that always made me come undone.
One cool February day, he was finding his way to that spot at lunch, when Alice interrupted.
“What are you two lovebirds doing Saturday?”
“What?” She pulled me out of my Edward love fog.
“Saturday. You know for Valentine's day.”
“Oh.” I hadn't really thought about it. I was spending most of my time getting used to the idea of being a girlfriend.
“Rose and I are taking our boys to dinner in Seattle. You two wanna come?”
“I don't know.” I looked to Edward who had a devious smile on his face.
“I kinda had something else in mind, but thanks for the offer.”
“Something else?”
He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “Well... I thought since you have been having me over for dinner almost every night, I would take my chance and cook for you.”
“Alright, so what's on the menu?”
“Just a little something special. Then we can watch a movie or whatever.”
“Sounds perfect.” I brought my lips to his. I caught a glimpse of Alice as I pulled back.
“You two are just so cute.” He found his way back to that little spot behind my ear. “Just promise me one thing, okay?”
“What's that?” I tried to sound coherent, but I failed miserably as he placed a wet kiss that sent a warm shiver down my spine.
“Just use some protection. I'm not ready to be an aunt yet.”
That got my attention. “Christ, Alice.” Edward and I hadn't even talked about sex. I knew I wanted to, but I wasn't sure I was anywhere near ready. We hadn't even gotten to second base yet. Was that what Edward had been thinking about? Was he the something special on the menu? I turned to see his head had dropped, his eyes focused on his lap.
“It's not something we need to be worry about, Alice. Not for a while.” He raised his eyes to meet mine. “Right?”
“Right. We've only been dating a couple weeks and, well... we just...” Nothing was coming out right.
“I just thought since you guys can't take your hands off each other.”
“Alice, just because I'm pretty much obsessed with the feel of her skin beneath my fingertips doesn't mean that we are ready for that, yet.”
“Believe me, you'll be the first, no, the second to know if and when we do.”
“Bells, please,” Emmett groaned.
“What? You think Rose is quiet about the two of you?”
Rose grabbed my brother's shirt and pulled him closer to her. “She knows your my little hurricane.”
I turned to Edward. “Yep, a hurricane. Really exciting at first, then ends in complete disaster.”
/&/
EPOV
I had everything laid out in the kitchen, ready to go when Bella rang the doorbell. I met her with one, long stemmed, red rose. “For you, my dear.”
She accepted it, bringing it to her nose to cover her sweet smile.
I brought her into the kitchen to show her what I had in store for the evening.
“Pizza?” I couldn't tell if she was upset or just surprised.
“What's wrong with pizza?”
“Nothing. Do I get to see you toss the dough in the air and everything?”
“Of course.” I floured my hands and started kneading the dough. I flattened it then gave it my best shot. I threw it up in the air and miraculously caught it each time.
“Bravo. You might have a future if you decide to give up music.”
“Don't think that will happen anytime soon.”
She helped me spread the sauce on the dough. Then we put all of our favorite toppings on before finishing it up with about a pound of cheese.
I shoved it in the oven. When I turned back, I saw a large envelope with a big red bow.
“I thought we said no presents.”
“Hey, you gave me the rose. Plus, it hardly cost anything and it's something you need.”
I slid the bow off the envelope and proceeded to tie it around her wrist. I opened the envelope to pull out what was hiding inside.
“Bella, it's perfect.” About twenty pages of blank sheet music with my name scrolled across the bottom.
“You're always just jotting notes down on what ever is around. I thought maybe this way you'd be a little more organized.”
“I love it. Thank you.” I brought her over to me and took her in my arms, squeezing her tight. “I love you.” Oh, shit. Did I really just say that?
She pulled back from me. I wasn't sure what she was going to do. She just looked shocked and overwhelmed. A little like maybe she was going to be sick. Then she took a deep breath and brought her lips to mine. “I love you, too,” she whispered in between kisses.
Relief, but I wasn't at all expecting what came next.
“We never really talked about what Alice said the other day. I know we said we weren't ready, but I was just wondering... have you ever?”
A large lump found it's way to my throat. I chose my words carefully. “You want to know if I've ever made love before?”
“Yes. I know you said you never had a girlfriend, but...”
“No. I've never made love before.”
She sighed with relief. “Good, neither have I. It's good to know we're in the same boat.”
“Are you saying you think we're ready to...”
“No. No. I just thought, someday. Not today, but someday.”
“Someday soon?” I tried to swallow the large lump, but it didn't seem to want to go away.
“I'm not gonna lie. I've thought about it. I've dreamed about it. I know my body wants to, but...”
“But what?” My heart was racing. My palms were starting to sweat.
“I'm a little nervous. Alice says the first time is a little awkward and it kinda hurts.”
That's what I had heard too. “Wait. What?”
She nodded. “Yeah, they've been doing it for awhile now. Before they even told your parents they wanted to date.”
“Wow. I had no idea.” My little pixie sister. “That's probably why mom made Jasper move into the bedroom next to mine away from Alice's.”
“Hate to break it to you, but your sister is pretty sneaky. They still find a way.”
I tried to shake the image of Alice and Jasper going at it out of my mind when the buzzer rang. I just stood there as Bella went over to the oven and turned it off.
“Come on. Let's try some of our creation.” She pulled it from the oven and placed it on the stove.
“Just as long as there is no more talk of Jasper and Alice's late night activities, okay?”
“Fine. You cut me a couple of slices and I'll find us something to drink.”
/&/
EPOV
“Sorry, I just forgot.”
“Fine.” Bella pulled me in for a kiss. “Just call me when you get done.”
“Won't you be at my house anyway?”
“Ya, but it'll be nice to know when you're on your way home.” She gave me one more kiss before sliding into the passengers seat of Alice's Porsche.
I hopped into the Volvo and was off. I hadn't forgotten about the appointment, I just really didn't want Bella to dwell on it. I didn't want her to think there might be anything wrong.
I was at the office within a few minutes. I made my way inside and up the receptionist desk.
“Can I help you?”
“Edward Cullen. I have an appointment with Dr. Crowley.”
“Sure.” The bleach blond receptionist gave me a wink as she looked for my chart. “Just fill these out and I'll need a copy of your insurance card.”
I pulled out my insurance card from my wallet and handed it over to her. She made a copy and handed it back.
“Just have a seat. The nurse will come get you in a minute.”
“Thanks.” I took the paperwork over to the seating area and started to fill it out.
I came to the last page. It was one of those release of information sheets. I checked the box that said not to release any information to anyone but myself and signed it.
“Edward?”
I looked up to see a petite sandy blond waiting to take me back into the doctor's exam room.
She did all the usual stuff, got my weight, height, checked my blood pressure and temperature. Then she left and I waited, with all my questions for the doctor to come in.
“Edward. Nice to see you back, son. What's it been?”
“About six years, sir.”
He looked down into my chart. “Seems about right. So, were just doing a check up today? Make sure every things in working order.”
“Yep.”
“Alright then. Let me take a listen to you.” Dr. Crowley came over and put his stethoscope to my chest. “Deep breath in... and out.” He moved it above my heart. I could feel it beating wildly in my chest. “Again, in... and out.” He moved to my back. “One more time.” I took another deep breath in and slowly let it out.
“Your heart rate is a little fast. I don't hear a murmur or anything of that nature. Have you been having any problems? Dizziness, fatigue?”
“No, just nerves I guess.”
“I see, my boy too. Guess it's a son of doctors thing.”
He continued with his exam and he tried to make small talk. Then it came to the part I'd been dreading, but I knew I would have to get through.
“Everything seems to be in order. I'll want you to keep track of your heart rate for a couple days. Just give my nurse a call if you have any problems. Do you have any other questions?”
I swallowed hard. “Ya, a couple.”
“Okay.” He sat down on his chair leaving me on the exam table.
“It's just... I'm needing...”
He put up his hand. “I think I know where this is going.”
“You do?”
“You're seventeen now, right?”
“Yes.”
“I was seventeen once myself. I know what boys your age think about. It's fine. Anything you tell me is strictly confidential. I won't tell your parents anything we say.” I nodded my head as I twisted my fingers together. “Are you sexually active already?”
That's when the lump came up again. “Yes.”
“I see, and how many partner's have you had?”
I took a few deep breaths. I felt like I might hyperventilate. “Just one, but it's over now.”
“How long ago?”
“December.”
“And you'd like to get tested, just to make sure everything checks out okay?”
“Yes.” I was so relieved he was getting what I couldn't say.
“I'll have to do a prostate exam and get a swab and some blood. Are you okay with that?”
“Ya, I just want to make sure that I can't pass on anything.”
“Got a new girlfriend?”
“Something like that.”
“Sure. I'll go get the supplies I need and I'll have you get into this gown.” He pulled out a gown and handed it to me before leaving the room.
Dr. Crowley was very understanding at my nervous behavior. He said he had dealt with it many times before.
“When do you think you'll have the results back?”
“I'll give you a call. Shouldn't be more than a couple of days.”
“Will you be sure to call my cell phone and not the house. My parents don't know about any of this.”
“I told you, everything is confidential. I'm sure everything will be fine.”
/&/
EPOV
It had been two days and still no call from Dr. Crowley. I practically jumped every time the phone rang. I tried to distract myself by throwing everything into a new piece I was writing. Bella seemed content just to lay on the couch and listen to me fumble with each note.
I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and I abruptly stopped. I answered it before even looking at the caller id.
“Hey, buddy.”
“James, how's it going?” Bella perked up when she heard who I was talking to.
“Going good. Just wanted to check and see if your family was planning on coming down on Spring Break.”
“I don't know.” Bella sat on the bench next to me. “I was kinda hoping to spend Spring Break with Bella.”
“Bring her. I'd love to finally meet her.”
“What's he talking about?”
“James' wants us to come down for Spring Break.”
“Is that Bella? Let me talk to her. I'll make her convince you.”
It might have been a huge mistake, but I put James on speaker phone.
“James?”
“Aw, Bella. Nice to finally put a voice to the face.”
“You too. So, what's this I hear about Spring Break?”
“Edward's family usually comes down to my parent's house for the week. It's right on the beach. I'm sure it will be much more fun than hanging out all week in the rain.”
“That's for sure,” she responded.
“I don't think it's a good idea.” I wasn't sure meeting James was the best thing yet. Bella and I were still so new, in the honeymoon stage. I wasn't ready to let her in on those years of my life. Then she did it. Those big, brown, puppy dog eyes that I couldn't resist.
“Please. It sounds like so much fun.”
“Come on, Edward. You can teach her how to surf and I promise no lectures.”
I knew what he meant. “No one else from Masen will be around?”
“No.”
“Please. Our first boyfriend/girlfriend vacation. We can lay on the beach. You can rub sunscreen on me. I'll even wear a bikini.”
“Oh, man. You've gotta come. I totally gotta see that bikini.”
“As long as you remember she's my girlfriend.”
“So, is that a yes?” James' was pleading as I got the puppy dog look again.
“Alright, I'll check with the parents about it. I'm not making any promises though.” Bella's arms surrounded me as her lips met mine. I loved it when she pressed her smile to my lips.
“I'll have my mom call your mom. I know it will be fine. Hey, are you guys making out?”
Bella pulled her lips from mine. “Just a little thank you.”
“I gotta meet this girl, Edward.”
“Fine, I'll call you tomorrow.”
“O.” I didn't give him a chance to finish. I shut the phone off and got back to something much more important.
“Bikini, you say?”
She nodded. “A blue one.”
I nodded while picturing it. “Might have to make the trip just for that.”
/&/
A/N: Whew! The longest chapter I've ever written for a fan fic! So totally worth it though. I know. I know. You're screaming at me about leaving you with more questions. I'm sorry. I promise, the spring break chapter, then the secret chapter. Hopefully I'll be able to post them at the same time, because I've got most of the secret chapter already written. Please don't hate me, but I swear, not much longer.
Comment, review, and ask questions. I love questions, plus you might get some answers and maybe a sneak peak.
Leaving you stunned, Lindsey