Chapter 25

Chapter 25
EPOV
"Bella?" I spoke, glaring down at her, the wind shifting slightly in our direction, I could smell her strawberries, and freesia scent. It was now or never. We were alone and this was the perfect moment.
"Yes Edward?" She whispered gazing up at me. I took a deep breath, to calm my nerves and finally said.
"I think … I think I'm in love with you…"
"Wh….What did you say?" Bella gasped.
Taking in another deep breath, I breathed "I'm in love with you."
I looked down into her face to see any hint of what was going on through her face, but it remained emotionless. I could feel the rejection surging through me so I turned away, praying to God I wouldn't cry in front of her. I lost that battle when a single tear fell from my eyes.
"Hey." Bella called, but I couldn't will myself to look at her.
"Edward." She called again grabbing my chin in her hands.
I gazed down, and she wiped another stray tear that fell from my eyes.
"Edward I…." She started but I cut her off.
"Please don't, I can't bear it." I whispered.
"Let me fi.." She started again, and I covered her mouth with my hand to shush her.
"Please Bella, I really can't handle the rejection right now." I said, looking down at Bella's face until she bit down on my hand.
"Ouch! What the hell Bella?" I groaned rubbing my now red hand.
"Well that got your attention." She huffed.
"Seriously Bella, I understand if you don't fell the same way. I mean I've hurt you so much in the past, and how could I expect you to forgive me." I groaned rubbing my hands over my face.
"Edward." Bella called.
"Look let's forget this ever happened. I was stupid, I don't want to ruin it and…" I started and got up beginning to walk off.
"Edward!" Bella nearly screamed behind me. I turned around, and gazed over at her, with her hair astray, and unshed tears filling her brown doe eyes.
"What?" I said my voice raspy. And with that she closed the distance between us, crashing her lips against mine. I steadied myself against the deck and wrapped my arms around her. She pressed her tongue against my lips for entrance, and I instantly obliged. I could taste the faint traces of mango, and guava against her lips. This kiss was more aggressive, than first, and I could almost feel the love pouring from her. We both pulled away from the kiss, and I grabbed her in a tight hug.
"I'm scared." She whispered in my ear.
"Of what?" I said , my words muffled by her hair.
"I don't want to hurt you." She whispered .
"How are you going to hurt me." I asked curiously.
"I don't know how to love." She said her voice raspy.
"What do you mean you don't know how to love?" I asked.
"I just…. I mean I love you in a sense ,but the kind of love Rose, and Em have, Al, and Jazz or even Carlisle and Esme. I'm afraid I can't love you in the way I want to." She cried.
"I don't understand." I said pulling her down on the bench beside me.
" I'm scared to love you, because most things I love end up leaving me, My Dad, Phil, you guys, I even love that woman who doesn't even deserve to be loved. They all leave, and I'm afraid that when I do say it, I'll wake up and realize that this was all a dream." Bella said.
"But you didn't lose us. We came back, and we all love you." I said sincerely.
"I know. Edward I don't know what this is between us. I mean, I have this undeniable attraction to you. It's been there ever since we were kids. I mean I may act confident and all with certain aspects of my life, but I'm unsure of so many things." She answered.
"What kind of things?" I asked,
"I don't know, sometimes it can be something so trivial." Bella answered.
"And am I this something trivial?" I asked honestly.
"No. I cant help what I feel for you. I don't want to lose you, you are one of the most important people in my life. I'm just not ready to say those words yet, but when I do you'll be the first person I say it to." She said gazing into my eyes.
"So where does this leave us?" I asked.
"Baby steps." Bella breathed.
"Baby steps?" I asked.
"We'll take thing slow. I.. I mean if you want to." She stuttered looking down.
"I'll take all the time in the world." I answered sincerely.
"Really?" She smiled.
"Really. Bella when I said that I love you. I meant every word of it. Just take your time, knowing that you feel the same way towards me, is better than me not knowing when you say nothing at all." I grinned.
"I'm truly sorry Edward." She whispered.
"There's nothing to be sorry for. Just know when we get home, I'm taking you on a real first date.
"Seriously?" She smiled big, and I couldn't help but match hers with one of my own.
"Yep just the two of us." I said.
"Thank you." She breathed against my neck.
"No thank you. Just you being here, is enough for me." I smiled and kissed her forehead, as she snuggled into the crook of my neck. I closed my eyes in content.
"Okay now that this little "soap opera" moment's over. We've been on dock for 20 minutes now and I'm hungry!" Emmett boomed, then earning a smack on the back of the head from both Rosalie and Alice."Shit! That really hurt." Emmett winced.
"It should, they were having a moment you big oaf." Alice screeched.
I could feel Bella's body shake against mine in silent laughter, which brought upon my own. I pulled Bella up along with me, and she whispered loudly enough for the others to hear.
"Well that's Emmett for you, willing to ruin a moment." She laughed her voice tinkling in the warm breeze.
"Yeah but you love me for it." Emmett smiled gesturing out his arm for her to take.
"That I do Em, that I do." Bella laughed looping her arm against his, walking off the boat.
I couldn't help but feel a little hurt by her words. I understand she loved them, not just the way I wanted. She told me I'd be the first to hear the words. I just hope she'll keep her word in mind. Jasper must have seen the look on my face, because he patted me on my shoulder.
"You okay bro?" He asked.
"I'll be fine." I answered honestly, and he shook his head in acknowledgement and walked off.
"I'll be fine, repeated itself throughout my head the whole car ride home, and for the first time, I actually believed it.
BPOV
"So what was that all about?" Alice and Rose quickly questioned as soon as we had got back to the resort. The guys had went off to the arcade so us girls could go shopping.
"What do you mean?" I stuttered trying to avoid the question I knew was coming.
"You and Edward seemed mighty cuddled up over there." Rose laughed.
"Yeah well it's complicated." I huffed.
"Meaning?"
"He told me he loved me." I breathed, and Rose and Alice let out squeals of delight.
"Oh my god. I knew it was going to happen. It's like second sight." Alice beamed.
"Seriously Al?" I asked quirking an eyebrow at her.
"Yeah freaky pixie over here, has these weird dreams." Rose said.
"Hey! I am not freaky. I just dream random flashes of things and they just happen to come true." Alice said.
"Only you Al. Only you." I said.
"Okay but back to the intended question. How is Edward telling you he loves you complicated?" Alice asked.
"I…I couldn't say it back." I said shifting my head down.
"Why not?" Rose asked in a somber tone.
"I don't know, things lately have been so confusing lately. I don't even know how to explain it. It's like this. I don't know if I'm per se in love with him, but I have this deep attraction to him that draws me to him. I mean I love him as a person, but I'm scared to be in love with him. Does this even make sense?" I asked.
"Yeah it does. I mean after the whole "incident", I was afraid to say I loved Emmett despite the weird attraction I had towards him. I know how it feels. It took me months to finally acknowledge how I felt. But when I did it was the most amazing feeling, and look at where it got me now." Rose smiled turning her engagement ring around her finger.
"So where does that leave you two now?" Alice asked.
"I don't even really know. I told him baby steps. Despite the fact, that I so frustrated and deeply attracted to him. I want to take things slow. He even offered to take me on a date when we get back home." I said.
"Well if Ed, knows what's good for him he'll wait. Cause Bells honey, you're an catch!" Rose said hugging me.
"Love you Rosie!" I beamed.
"Love you too." Rose laughed.
"Hey what about me, am I chopped liver?" Alice pouted.
"We love you too Pix." We grinned hugging her.
"Okay enough of guy drama. Let's go shopping!" Alice squealed.
"No! Why do you insist on torturing me with pointless hours of shopping!" I groaned.
"I'm appalled Bella, that you think hours of shopping is pointless." She huffed, I just quirked an eyebrow at her.
"And, besides the only reason were going shopping is to buy outfits for tonight." Alice said.
"Tonight?" I questioned.
"Yep. We're going clubbing ." Alice said.
"Didn't we do that yesterday?" I asked."Nope. That was something the resort has for everyone. We're going way out. Were going to Party Bahamian style.!" Alice beamed.
"And what does this all entail?" Rose and I asked.
"You'll just have to wait and find out." Alice grinned.
EPOV
"Where are the girls man? They were supposed to be here 20 minutes ago." Emmett grumbled.
"Knowing Alice, they like to make an entrance." Jasper laughed.
"Well I would like to make it into the club. I'm hungry and I'm ready to get wasted." Emmett groaned.
"Is there ever a time, you aren't hungry." I asked.
"Nope… I'm hungry 24/7." Emmett beamed.
"How can you be hungry 24/7. Most people are up an average of 16 hours a day. And even during that time is spent eating." Jasper said.
"I never said it had to be food." Emmett grinned wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Gross! Em that's our sister you're talking about." I said shuddering.
"Come on. Like you aren't thinking of Bella like that." Emmett grinned.
I actually felt my face heat up with that one. I can't say I hadn't felt that about her. I mean I would probably earn a slap in the face if she knew what had been going through my mind about her since I was 14. I had told them earlier about what Bella said and they agreed with her. Bella had been through a lot of her things in her life, and if they were in her position they would probably wait to say "I love you too."
"Hey Rose just sent me a text, she said they'll be here in ten, and just to go inside already." Emmett said closing his phone.
"Okay let's go then." I said showing my fake id to the bouncer. He let us three in, and went to a table, and ordered a round of shots and beer.
"To girls, and an to an amazing vacation. Maybe even Eddie over her can get lucky!" Emmett boomed chugging down his shot.
"Get lucky with what?" a feminine voice asked. I looked up and my mouth literally dropped open.
There was the girls all dressed up looking amazing, but my eyes were immediately drawn to Bella. Words couldn't even describe how amazing she looked. Bella was dressed in black leather shorts, revealing her long lean legs and a emerald green blouse that revealed her immaculate pale shoulders. Her hair was in a high ponytail revealing her smoky eyed heart shaped face. I wanted nothing more than to ravish her at that moment, but I knew I had to take things slow with her.
"Nothing. Emmett was just making a toast." I answered.
"Well lets." Alice said scooting into the booth next to Jasper, Rose trailing behind her which left Bella to sit next to me. I couldn't help but stare at the contours of neck to her back bone. It was getting hard just to make a coherent thought.
"To babes, and booze!" Emmett boomed. Of course we all knew it was coming. Rosalie smacked him on the back of the head and glared at him.
"Well excuse me. To beautiful young women,and booze." He said again. Rose gave him a nod, and we downed our shots.
"I see our little Bella, has a tolerance for alcohol now I see." Jasper said drinking his beer.
"Well when you have enough, it all seems to taste good." Bella said casually.
"That's true." We all agreed.
Pretty soon we were all kind of wasted. It seemed like all of our words were starting to slur together. The girls dragged us to the dance floor, and I was so glad to be in close capacity with her. Closer came on and I soon found myself being grinded on my Bella. I don't know if it was intentional or not since we were all drunk, or if it was just her. Either way I was enjoying it. By time we stopped dancing we were all hot with perspiration.
We all stumbled over towards our booth, and ordered another couple round of beers. It was about 1 in the morning and we were tired. We were all in heavy conversation enjoying each other's company when a nasally voice called my name coming in our direction. I automatically knew it was trouble from the start.
BPOV
Damn. Just when you're having a good time something wicked this way comes. We were all heavily drunk, and sweaty, but we were enjoying ourselves. I knew it was inevitable
that I wouldn't run into her or Renee. That was clearly hopeless.
"Hi Eddie!" Tanya squealed, but sounded like a cat dying.
"Ed-ward." We all enunciated at the same time.
"Whatever, wanna dance?" She purred.
"Uh hel-lo you do see us here right?" I said in an irritated tone.
"Ew, it's you. Nice legs, so much cellulite at a young age." Tanya snickered.
"Look who's talking. With all that botox injected in your face , I'm surprised you can actually talk." Rose grinned causing us all to laugh.
"Coming from you with your lop-sided boobs." Tanya said rolling her eyes.
"Hey her girls are better than those fake balloons." Emmett snickered.
"Oohh burn!" Jasper said in a high pitched voice giving Emmett a high-five.
"Bite me." Tanya sneered.
"No thanks, who knows what I'll catch." Alice grinned. Tanya must had ignored that last remark because she kept pestering Edward.
"About that dance." She tried to say seductively.
Okay I was clearly aggravated . I was getting down to my last straw with her. I don't know maybe it was because I was jealous. Was I jealous. Hell yeah, blame it on the alcohol but the blonde bitch was getting on my nerves.
"Don't you have a mother to go run off to. Maybe time for a new session for injections, implants the whole she-bang." I said.
"Don't talk about her like that. She clearly didn't want you. She wanted the better obviously prettier child. Beside she looks ten times as better than that old hag you guys call as a mother." Tanya laughed.
Boy…..did she struck a nerve. How dare she insult one of the best mother figures in my life. Renee was all artificial beauty, and Esme was all natural. Before Rosalie or Alice could even lunge at her, I snapped my arm back and whacked her in her pretty little nose. She instantly fell on the floor holding her nose. I felt warm arms grab me around the waist , but all I was seeing was red.
"I swear to god. If you ever insult my mom again. I will beat your ass so bad, the doctors will need to replace that too." I screeched. I didn't know where this aggressive Bella came from. I blame it on the alcohol, because I was wasted. Or maybe not, I had so much pent-up anger that it was bound to happen.
"Just wait you little bitch. This is not over. I always get what I want." Tanya screamed, as a bouncer escorted her out.
"I'll like to see you try." I screamed back. I felt Edward's velvet voice in my ears, and it instantly calmed me.
"Calm down love.." I couldn't explain what went through my body when he called me love. He settled me in the booth, and then got in next to me. Probably to reassure himself that I wouldn't go after her. I mean alcohol did crazy things to me.
"Thanks Bella." They all said.
"Thanks for what?" I asked trying to make a coherent sentence. It's really distracting when I had Edward hands rubbing up and down my arm.
"For standing up for mom. I swear if Jasper weren't holding me back she would have more than a broken nose." Alice said still apparently seething with anger."Ditto." Rose huffed.
"No problem. I just can't stand the thought of someone insulting her like that." I said rubbing my temples.
"Me either." All the guys agreed.
"I don't know about you guys but I could really use a drink." I breathed.
"Yeah let's order one more round and head out." Emmett said going over to the bar to order 6 more mugs of beer. Of course that wasn't enough so we ordered 2 more rounds. I
Our drinks quickly came, and we all felt that buzz again. It was 4:30 when we finally decided to leave. Only 30 minutes before closing and the club was still packed with people. We all got up nearly tumbling over one another. We hailed a taxi, and almost nearly fell asleep in the process. We all decided to sleep over in Rose and Em's room since it was closer, that and Jasper, Al, Edward ,and I couldn't even remember what floor or room we were in. Em, and Rose went straight to the bed, and passed out as soon as they hit the pillow, the same as Al, and Jas. I don't even remember where I slept. The rest of that night or rather morning was pretty much a blur. But what I did get in detail was the one thing I never expected.
APOV
I feel refreshed. Strangely enough I could consume insane amounts of alcohol and not experience an bad hangover. I pulled myself away from Jasper who was snoring soundly on the floor. Emmett was hanging off the bed, and Rose was spread eagle across the bed dressed in her clothes from last night. I looked around to see they weren't in the room. I figured they must had woken up and went to their room to sleep. It was about 12:30 in the afternoon so we had been asleep for roughly 8 hours. I decided to use the bathroom before waking up Jas to go to our room.
When I opened the door to the bathroom, what I saw shocked the hell out of me.
"Oh My GOD!"
JPOV
I was sleeping soundly until I heard my little pixie's voice scream. I shot up and saw she standing in front of the bathroom door. I got behind her to see what she was looking at, and I couldn't help the large gasp that escaped from my mouth. Emmett, and Rose must have heard us because they came bounding in almost crashing into us. Emmett's face broke out into a grin, and Rose stood there wide-eyed and her mouth agape. I just couldn't believe it.
EMPOV
Well…Well…Well… Someone's got some splaining to do. I said in my best Ricky voice from I Love Lucy.
RPOV
"Oh my god…." Was all I could get out.
BPOV
Damn…. My head's pounding. Wait…why do I feel a draft, and what is the warm thing around my waist. My back is killing me. Apparently I slept on the bathroom floor. Suddenly the door opens and I hear numerous gasps. I look up to see Rose, Al, Jas, and Em gaping at me with astounded expressions on their faces. I look down.
Oh shit….
EPOV
I'm having the most amazing dream. My dream started out great, until I kept getting flashes of me and Bella doing something, But I don't know what. I awaken to something warm pressed against my chest, I can feel an awkward draft blowing against my skin and it seems a little too close for comfort. I feel a slight shift against me. I groggily open my eyes and look to see what's laying against my chest. All I can say is….
"What the hell did we do?"