"Peter, don't you know who you are?" ~ Wendy Darling, Hook, 1991
PAN's POV
"Ow, fuck!" I screamed as my skin was pierced for what felt like the fifth time
within twenty minutes.
She poked me on purpose!
"Don't be such a baby, Edward."
"Don't fucking poke me with those fucking long ass pins and I won't have any
reason to be."
Jesus.
I'd already been stabbed in the ankle, thigh, knee cap and buttocks for crying
out loud. That shit doesn't exactly tickle, ya know?
If she pokes my dick, I'm slapping the fuck out of her.
Alice shook her head at me and rolled her eyes. She was fitting me for my tux
while Tanya rattled off a bunch of shit I had to do and meetings I had to attend
for the day before we left for the dinner later.
I was wondering when I'd be getting to the writing part of my job in between all
of the meetings and budgets and people part of this job when I was stabbed
again.
"Shit!"
Okay that one was definitely on purpose. I could tell by the way Alice's lip
curled up when I glared at her.
"I'll uh…get you the details on today's meetings and you can review the
agendas in my office, Edward, see me when you're done."
"Will do, Tan."
It was silent for a few minutes while I checked out my reflection in one of the
many mirrors in Alice's room.
I didn't look half bad.
"Jesus, Alice! What the fuck?"
Seriously, that shit hurt!
"You're a jerk, you know that, right?"
"What?"
She didn't look at me as she explained herself. "Bella was upset all night,
wondering if you were okay, until I texted her to tell her Rose told me that
Emmett texted her to advise that you were passed out on his couch when he
got home last night."
Did you catch any of that?
I narrowed my eyes at her to try and make sense of what she'd just babbled,
then she set her pins and needles down, thank god…stood up, crossed her
arms at me, then said it again.
When I still didn't follow, she informed me, "You. Stood. Her. Up. Edward."
Oh.
Shit.
"I left her flowers."
HA!
I advised the smarty pants clothing abuser about my genius as I fixed the
collar on the white shirt Alice had put me in before slipping the tux jacket onto
me earlier.
She groaned, disgusted with me, though, which kinda took the proverbial wind
out of my sails as she waved a hand at me, walked over to her table and
picked something up from off of the edge of it.
"You mean the dozen completely typical red roses you left on
her dressing table this morning?"
She shook her head.
"I thought women liked flowers."
So confused.
"You didn't even leave a NOTE with it…"
Seriously.
I stood there, staring blankly.
'Cause…I wasn't following, again.
"Idiot," she said, opening my hand up to place cuff links into my palm.
"Do not lose these."
Okay, maaaaaaaybe I should have put a note with the roses.
"Why am I the idiot, exactly?" I asked, putting the stupid trinkets into my pants
pocket. I mean, was I not the guy who'd just been promoted from nobody to
somebody?
And why was that damn song from Hercules playing in my head now? You
know, Zero to Hero? UGH!
"It's not like I ditched her on purpose, I had shit to do…I…just, forgot."
"Bella…hates…roses, dipwad…and everything they stand for…if you
cared…REALLY cared, you would have found out that her favorites are SUN
flowers and gotten THOSE!"
Huh.
"How do you even know that? You just met her."
She didn't oblige me with bothering to answer that question.
Yeah, I guess it didn't really matter, did it?
"Well, I'll…get her sunflowers later…" I fucked with the collar on the jacket
now and Alice swatted my hand away. "Leave it alone, it's supposed to fit like
that."
Really?
I looked at it sideways and it still didn't seem right to me.
She shook her head and pulled at my pants. "It's too late anyway, you're
already an idiot."
I sighed and took the jacket off.
"Fuck," I said, sitting down. "I don't know what happened, I just…I mean
Tanya was…" I waved at the door. "And then those meetings…and James…"
I snorted.
"You're gonna need to work harder at the whole, balancing your work and
personal life, Edward."
It was obvious she was right.
"With great power, comes great responsibility, yeah yeah, I know."
"What?"
"Nothing."
She stopped fiddling with shit and asked, "You really like her, Edward? I
mean, you're not just…another James are you?"
Ouch, now that hurt.
"God I hope not," I said quietly.
Her facial expression softened some more. "Really?"
She looked me in the eyes and I answered in a highly lame Shred voice,
"Realleh, realleh."
"Bad timing on the whole, getting a stroke of genius and being promoted
then."
"No shit."
She finally stopped being a bitch all together and put an arm on my shoulder.
"You'll think of something, Edward, you're a smart guy…and even better than
that, you're resourceful."
She winked at me and then shooed me out of her work room, telling me she'd
get me the tux before dinner.
"Thanks, Alice."
"Don't thank me, Edward, just make it right."
If I was hoping for a slower day on the old set-o-rama, I was sorely mistaken,
as Tanya walked me around…a little slower that day, I gave her my take on
the writer's ideas.
"Good morning, Mr. Cullen," someone said and I looked around for Carlisle. I
hadn't really seen him since the budget meeting and even then, we hadn't
spoken.
"I don't see him," I said, stretching me neck to check down a hallway.
"They were talking to you, idiot," Tanya told me snidely, shaking her head at
me again and I made a mental eye roll at that being the second time someone
had called me an idiot in one day.
I was starting to feel like Mike Newton.
"Hello, Mr. Cullen," another someone said and I was still a little miffed at
hearing that name in reference to me.
He was immediately followed by yet another employee. "How are you today,
Mr. Cullen?"
"Uh…" I waved, but it was too late to be noticed, the girl was already entering
another room.
By the time the tenth someone said it, though, I was getting pretty good at
nodding back in the proper, Show Runner style.
Hell, I even smiled at some of them.
"I need your signature on this, if you don't mind, Mr. Cullen," I cute little blonde
number said to me, smiling at one point and I thought, see? Now THAT's how
you should greet someone, not by calling them an idiot.
Then I saw what she wanted my signature on...A one-hundred-thousand
dollar check for…
"A studio car?"
I looked at the girl, who now looked…guilty, then I eyed Tanya who was busy
reading something from her clip board.
"That's a little steep, don't you think?" I asked, smiling down at the blonde.
She didn't answer, she just shrugged and smiled, so I took the check from her
and said, "I think we could probably find something more interesting to spend
money on then cars in NYC, don't you suppose, Tanya?"
"If you say so, Mr. Cullen," she answered, still looking down at her clip board.
I gave the blonde a playful scowl and shook my head at her.
She giggled and left us alone and I handed the check to Tanya.
"Nicely done," she said to me.
"That was a test?"
She nodded.
"Why? I don't get it."
She finally looked at me and said, "Because, Edward, Carlisle might have a
sixth sense about you, but I like to make sure that the Show Runner is here to
watch out for the station and not just for his own career boost."
She shredded the check.
"No offense."
"None taken."
I guess.
She looked at her watch and then she told me, "Time for lunch," then had me
follow her back to her office.
"Bella," I said, finally catching up with her that day. I hadn't had the chance to
talk to her like, at all, since Alice had reamed me that morning and I got the
distinct impression that it was because she was avoiding me.
Bella stopped, but didn't exactly look at me. "I'll be right there, Mike."
I smiled. She looked great in the tight Periwinkle colored sweater she was
wearing that day.
Yes, I know what Periwinkle is, okay?
"That sweater is…"
Wow.
"What can I do for you, Edward?" she asked, impatiently.
Ouch.
I scowled a little. "I just…I wanted to say I was sorry for…"
She made this noise that sounded a little too much like something James
would make and then told me, "No big deal."
She started to walk away and asked, "Was that it?"
"No…wait," I stopped her and she seemed like I was annoying her now.
"I…Bella, I'm sorry."
The look on her face told a much different answer than what she gave me but
she wasn't opening up on a verbal level for me.
I didn't deserve it, anyway.
"I get it, Edward, really, but right now, I have a lot of script reviewing to do if I
want to deliver the new lines you gave us for next week."
And with that, she left me.
And man, did I feel like an ass.
Sulky McSulkster didn't have time to stay long though, because that was when
I ran smack into James, who was wearing his stupid man purse over his
shoulder, along with a newly dry cleaned tux to wear later.
Jerk.
"How's that pay raise and boyish charm workin' for ya, Eddie?" he asked but
it's not like he was really asking me because he didn't stay long enough for
me to tell him to fuck off or anything…
I watched Bella as she disappeared and heard Alice again, in my head this
time, telling me to make it right.
How the hell was I gonna do that?
…
Later I looked for her again, after I got dressed and looked all spiffified and
what not, thinking maybe she'd be blown away and all would be forgotten, you
know, kinda like the way I feel whenever I see her?
But, yeah...negatory.
Nothing.
I had no idea that she was even going until I arrived at the dinner with Tanya
and Bella was already seated, talking with Mike again.
Insert heavy sigh here.
There was certainly something to be said for being a clueless idiot at that
point.
She looked flawless, wearing a deep red silky number of a dress that showed
just enough cleavage to make my dick slap me in the face for being such an
ass...I mean really, would a text have killed me? It would have taken me,
what? About ten seconds?
It was assigned seating and I just happened to be directly across from her,
thank god. I was figuring on making some small talk or something throughout
the night, warm her up to me again maybe.
Tanya took her seat next to Bella on the other side of her and next to Tanya,
was James.
Hellooooo...nemesis.
I looked around me as I sat down next to Laurent, who was next to Carlisle,
who either didn't see me, or didn't have anything to say to me as I tried getting
his attention once or twice in the few moments that I was in his direct line of
vision.
I felt very much like Harry when Dumbledoore was ignoring him in that fifth
book…like he was avoiding him for his own good, only Harry didn't know that
so he was starting to feel like maybe he was doing something wrong, or that,
Dumbledoore was pissed at him or something.
I tried to distract myself by taking in our environment for the evening. It was an
overwhelmingly nice place, posh chairs, plush carpeting, I couldn't tell you the
name of the place, though, I don't speak Italian.
People in black and white outfits came out and immediately started pouring
wine into our glasses for us.
Liquid courage certainly never hurt anyone, especially me...so...down the
hatch!
Then Carlisle spoke.
Without looking at me, again.
"I know we're all here as a congratulations to Edward, but really, this dinner is
for all of you, you've done a great job and I'm proud to call you my family."
That was also about when a soft, shoeless foot found its way between my
legs.
I jerked, sitting up a little straighter and banging my knee on the table, looking
around to see if anyone had noticed, which, I am happy to report, they didn't.
My eyes immediately caught an eye full of Bella, across the table and she was
still talking to Mike, but she was smiling.
Her toes did a little wriggling and my thighs reacted in accordance.
Maybe she wasn't all that mad after all, I thought as her toes continued to do
things to my dick that made it stand at perfect attention.
She had to notice it, but she didn't give anything away.
It was a good thing the table cloth covered me from the waist down, too,
because that wasn't exactly something I wanted to share with the entire table.
"Thank you, thank you all," Carlilse finished saying and with that toast, I
downed my entire glass of…red...zin...something or other that the waiter had
poured me.
I had to close my eyes as Bella's toes made their way under my balls, lightly
tickling them, making me squirm a little to get just…a
little….bit….more….friction.
"Mmmmmm."
"Are you okay?" Rose asked me from a few people down and my eyes
snapped open to Bella.
Still playing it off, ey?
"Fine, Rose, I just…have a head ache."
She arched an eyebrow, but went back to chatting with Emmett and I couldn't
help but have a serious up, "what would Emmett do" moment, which told me
to just...wing it.
so I did.
I slipped my hands under the table and started massaging her foot a little,
letting my hand slide up her calf just a tad and she responded.
Her foot twitched and I watched Bella's face for any sign of enjoyment but she
was good.
She was really good.
I smirked at Alice, who was watching me carefully because it appeared folks,
that she didn't know Bella so well after all.
My freaky foot pulled away a little and then readjusted itself back into my dick
and I grunted a little at the absolute wonderful feeling she was generating and
suddenly really wanted to leave…like, badly with her and go pay a visit to the
apartment she owned that really wasn't so far away from where we were.
Rose's whispered voice was in my ear then. "If you're doing what I think you're
doing under that table, Edward, I'm getting my seat moved….immediately."
If she only knew.
I cleared my throat a little and pulled a hand out to accept a menu from
the men in black and then suddenly, had a bit of a panic attack.
I had absolutely no idea what half of the stuff was listed on the thing. Not to
mention there wasn't a huge selection.
Shit.
The wine glasses were refilled and I downed that sucker again.
Bella's foot…or, toes that is, were doing wonders under the table and I did my
best not to lose all control whatsoever and just rub up against her like a
maniac for some epic relief.
I just wished she would give me a hint as to what in the hell to order above the
table.
All the while she ordered, her foot never left my groin area and I gently
scraped my fingers along the top of it to try and convey I really was very sorry
for being an ass the night before as I desperately looked over that damn menu
for SOMETHING I could recognize as edible.
God, it felt so good…her foot was…truly talented.
AH!
Just in time for the waiter to get to me, I ordered the one thing that looked
safe.
As the wine at my plate was refilled and I took another huge swig and then
looked at the glass after I finished it off.
"This is…REALLY good," I said and Emmett leaned forward a little, giving me
his Emmett McCarty warning look and told me, "Pace yourself, Edward…it's
gonna be a long night."
No shit.
I toasted my empty glass to him and it was refilled, yet again.
I noticed an odd look that I was getting from Bella and realized I'd stopped
tickling her foot, so I began again as she asked, "You like sweetbreads?"
It was the first time she'd spoken to me all night and she seemed surprised at
my order but I figured maybe she was just trying to open the doors of
communication again, so I smiled and answered the woman.
"Oh, yeah, love em…they're my favorite."
"Nice choice, Cullen," James piped in, smiling, which was weird.
Bella made a kind of a happy yet, confused look and went back to chatting up
Newton and I went back to enjoying the hell out of my foot job, looking forward
to the end of the evening when it could possibly be turned into something
much more.
Then Bella got up and excused herself to go use the ladies room and I was
confused for a second or two, wondering how in the world her foot could still
be on my dick when she was standing…
Up.
My eyes darted to Tanya, inadvertently, who was smiling like the Cheshire cat
at me and all of a sudden, things clicked.
Bella still wasn't talking to me.
And Tanya wanted to grope my dick.
"Shit," I choked as her foot pushed forward just a little more, as though she
was measuring the length of my shaft or something.
Glass number four of wine was downed.
"What is wrong with you?" Alice chirped but I didn't have time to mess with her
accusations, I had to figure out a way to get Tanya's foot off of my dick before
Bella saw what was going on and REALLY hated me.
Bathroom, kill two birds with one stone…got it!
I stood up and Tanya's face became questioning.
"I'll um…I have to…" I pointed and just walked away.
Or rather, bumbled my way passed the black and whites bringing out our food,
chasing after Bella.
"Bella," I called out, following her through the restaurant, but she either didn't
hear me, or was ignoring me.
She probably just didn't hear me.
Right?
"Bella!" I screamed, a little louder then I really planned on doing, but she was
already into the ladies room and the door was closing.
I debated going in there, cornering her, making her listen, but…I was a little
tipsy, and didn't really wanna embarrass her or me.
Yet.
I turned to head back to the table and was met by…yep, you guessed it.
Tanya.
"Oh, hey…there…Tanya…" I said, hesitantly as she backed me up against
the corner wall.
"Edward," she said, licking her lips. "I have to say, I'm quite…" she looked
down. "Impressed with you tonight."
"Tanya, look, I'm really sorry...I didn't know that was your foot…" I laughed,
edging her away from me. "See, I thought you were…"
Then Bella walked out of the bathroom, luckily not when Tanya was practically
grinding me in the corner of the hallway. She didn't say anything, she just
passed us and made her way back to the group.
"Shit."
"Well," Tanya said, tickling me under the chin with one hand, while the other
one was busy feeling me up.
I'm not gonna lie, folks, the woman scared me just a little bit.
Was she drunk or something? Because this was not the Tanya I worked with
at the station.
"If you change your mind, Cullen…" she said, then winked at me as she
entered the ladies room.
I let out a long…heavy sigh and then figured…I was pretty much fucked, then
went back to the table as well. People were eating and Carlisle finally made
some much over due eye contact with me, silently questioning if I was in my
right mind.
I don't know why he needed to know that, but I nodded politely and took my
seat again anyway.
"Mmmm, mmm! I'm hungry," I said as I looked at the food on my plate.
Sweet! Another glass of wine!
I downed that one and had put a fork full of dinner into my mouth before I was
even seated and started to say something to Bella as I enjoyed the chewey
goodness of my…
Wait.
Chewey…?
Really chewey…
This isn't bread.
I wasn't really sure what to do, I mean spitting that shit out into my napkin
would be gross….but fuck it was awful.
James covered his mouth a little with his own fork and watched me from
under his eye brow.
He was really starting to piss me off.
Something told me, he knew that shit wasn't bread, too.
"Anything wrong, Edward?" Carlisle asked and I told him, "I fink vere's
fomefing wong wif my food."
Like maybe they undercooked it or something.
"Idiot," I heard James say and I scowled at him.
I swallowed.
Oh…god It was…so gross.
"Excuse me?" I asked, taking another long drag of my wine to wash it down
with.
He put his fork down, wiped his mouth with his napkin, and then said, "It's just
that I love how Uncle Warbucks promotes you, puts you in a position of power
and you try to live up to that status, not even understanding…an INKLING of
what it's all about, then order sweetbreads like it's…nachos or something, only
to be surprised when it fills your mouth with the delectable goodness that it
truly is."
I lowered my fork.
Was he insinuating he wanted some of my meal?
'Cause I could arrange that.
"It's pancreas, monkey."
Bella stopped talking to Mike when she heard the word. She looked over at
James and confirmed he was talking to me, then looked to me.
I was about to look like a fucking idiot.
Again.
"Sometimes it's the thymus, too…usually from lambs."
Oh fuck I think I'm gonna puke.
I dry heaved a little and he laughed again.
"James," Bella said, but let's face it, we all knew at that table that it wasn't
about to actually STOP him from being a dick.
So I took a nice deep breath of fresh non-panceatic air and said, "You know
what you are, James?"
I put just a smidgen of calf intestines onto my spoon.
I mean, hell, I didn't wanna waste that shit, right?
He looked at my pancreas filled spoon, and then me. "You wouldn't in a
million years, monkey."
"Edward…" I heard Carlisle say under his breath, but screw that. James had
me at monkey.
I didn't even bother answering except to say, "You're a lewd, crude, rude, bag
of pre-chewed food dude."
"What?" he asked and I snorted because who in the hell doesn't know a quote
from Steven Spielberg's genius rendition of Peter Pan?
Seriously.
I flicked it and it hit him right in the nose.
Bulls eye!
I couldn't help it.
I smiled at the fucker.
There were a few gasps but I definitely heard Emmett's chuckle and Carlisle's
second warning.
"Edward."
"Edward, I don't think…" Rose started nonchalantly from beside me, but it was
too late anyway. I was buzzed and this guy needed some stone cold notch
knockin'.
"That's very mature, Cullen, I'm sure Bella's going to be banging your door
down, now."
It wasn't so much what he said, as the way he said it that torqued me.
"Oh oym sorray, would you loik anuthah?" I asked him in my best orphan
Oliver voice as I re-ammo'd mah fork and flicked it again.
Right in the forehead!
I was in the middle of debating another shot at him when mashed potatoes
hit me in the eye.
"Fuck."
I thought it was James fighting back until I saw him wiping his head off with his
pristine napkin, that's when I realized...It was Bella.
I looked over at her and she wasn't smiling.
She was glaring.
I was under the distinct impression that she was having a true to life bagel
throwing moment.
And I was the Newton.
Hey, I deserved it, I'm not denying that, but I didn't think Bella was in the mood
for another lame ass apology. So...I did what she'd asked Mike to do the
morning that she was having that particular bagel breakdown.
I fought back.
I scooped up the green mushy shit that was next to my calf intestines,
eyeballed her for just a short moment before tossing them at her.
It covered her face and I just about choked in reaction to just how hilarious
she looked as she gasped, surprised I actually did it maybe?
Then laughter started erupting from all around the table.
"Okay, I think that's…" Carlisle started to say, but it fell on deaf ears.
All the way around.
Next thing I knew, shit was flying everywhere. I grabbed what was left of my
wine and downed it, then yelled, "BANGARANNNNNNNNG!" as I raised my
empty glass up into the air.
I don't know how everything got so out of control but at some point, people
were jumping over the table and falling all over each other. The black and
whites that had previously been serving us had run for cover and it was every
man...or woman, for themselves.
Rose caught Emmett in the ear with snap peas coated in butter and he let out
his own battle cry just before he grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder,
making a mad dash for the exit.
Alice screamed and hid under the table, but that didn't stop Mike from joining
in the fun and smashing some of the finely whipped cream for our deserts into
her hair.
I laughed my ass off and fist bumped Newton but oh man, he was gonnna pay
for that later.
Bella, who had started out walking on top of the table to try and make her way
to the onion loaf sitting in the middle of it, laughing her ass off as she threw
some black eyed peas at Newton, tripped over a center piece and fell.
Right on top of yours truly.
We were on the floor and everyone else was running around like mad people.
"Ow," I said, having a de ja vu moment of when I'd fallen on top of her at her
place that night…the one when I told her who I was, and she wanted me
anyway.
The night I realized, she didn't give a shit if I was penniless or had a shit load
of money, or Carlisle's nephew or a homeless dude from St. Nowhere.
She just wanted….me.
I smiled at her as my hands found her waist.
They liked it there and I liked her right where she was.
With me.
"There you are," she said, wiping tomato sauce off of my face, looking at me
like she'd just found her favorite pair of earrings or something.
I pulled the matted hair away from her face and found the smiling brown eyes
I'd come to appreciate, shining back down at me and I suddenly just, couldn't
help myself.
I kissed her.
And for a minute or two, it seemed like nothing had happened, like she wasn't
mad, and I wasn't an asshole, and we didn't have James undermining our
every move.
Her tongue found mine and all was right with the world of Edward Cullen
again.
Including how hot she felt under that dress that she had on.
But then, she pulled away a little abruptly and I tried to follow her lips, but they
were too far away and that was when she started to get up.
"Wait, Bella…" I said, standing up right after her.
"Don't' go."
"I really should, I…" she stuttered out and I thought, something was off about
her.
Something I wasn't catching onto.
"Listen," I stopped her.
Everyone was running out of food and I probably didn't have all that long to
think, which is why I blurted out the first thing I thought of.
"I'm throwing a party this weekend, new place, new job," trying to sound
humble but seriously, even I had a hard time seeing the humble in what I'd
said.
"Come, please?"
I lifted my eyebrows and attempted to look as pitiful as possible.
Hey, don't underestimate the power of the pity card.
And anyway, it kinda worked.
She smiled at least.
"I'll try," she said and I told her I'd get her the address the next day. She got
her purse and left and I felt hopeful that I could actually make my mistake
right.
Until I realized…I didn't have a new place…
That wouldn't stop me though, I knew Alice would help, as much as she
thought I was an idiot, she was still on my side…and Emmett, and Rose too.
So I started to make a plan in my head as I caught Carlisle winging a handful
of crab dip at someone's head and he stopped short as he caught my eyes
staring at him, amused to the hilt at his complete and utter childishness.
Then he just shrugged and I laughed at him, because he was definitely my
role model.
In every sense of the word.
PAN's POV
"Ow, fuck!" I screamed as my skin was pierced for what felt like the fifth time
within twenty minutes.
She poked me on purpose!
"Don't be such a baby, Edward."
"Don't fucking poke me with those fucking long ass pins and I won't have any
reason to be."
Jesus.
I'd already been stabbed in the ankle, thigh, knee cap and buttocks for crying
out loud. That shit doesn't exactly tickle, ya know?
If she pokes my dick, I'm slapping the fuck out of her.
Alice shook her head at me and rolled her eyes. She was fitting me for my tux
while Tanya rattled off a bunch of shit I had to do and meetings I had to attend
for the day before we left for the dinner later.
I was wondering when I'd be getting to the writing part of my job in between all
of the meetings and budgets and people part of this job when I was stabbed
again.
"Shit!"
Okay that one was definitely on purpose. I could tell by the way Alice's lip
curled up when I glared at her.
"I'll uh…get you the details on today's meetings and you can review the
agendas in my office, Edward, see me when you're done."
"Will do, Tan."
It was silent for a few minutes while I checked out my reflection in one of the
many mirrors in Alice's room.
I didn't look half bad.
"Jesus, Alice! What the fuck?"
Seriously, that shit hurt!
"You're a jerk, you know that, right?"
"What?"
She didn't look at me as she explained herself. "Bella was upset all night,
wondering if you were okay, until I texted her to tell her Rose told me that
Emmett texted her to advise that you were passed out on his couch when he
got home last night."
Did you catch any of that?
I narrowed my eyes at her to try and make sense of what she'd just babbled,
then she set her pins and needles down, thank god…stood up, crossed her
arms at me, then said it again.
When I still didn't follow, she informed me, "You. Stood. Her. Up. Edward."
Oh.
Shit.
"I left her flowers."
HA!
I advised the smarty pants clothing abuser about my genius as I fixed the
collar on the white shirt Alice had put me in before slipping the tux jacket onto
me earlier.
She groaned, disgusted with me, though, which kinda took the proverbial wind
out of my sails as she waved a hand at me, walked over to her table and
picked something up from off of the edge of it.
"You mean the dozen completely typical red roses you left on
her dressing table this morning?"
She shook her head.
"I thought women liked flowers."
So confused.
"You didn't even leave a NOTE with it…"
Seriously.
I stood there, staring blankly.
'Cause…I wasn't following, again.
"Idiot," she said, opening my hand up to place cuff links into my palm.
"Do not lose these."
Okay, maaaaaaaybe I should have put a note with the roses.
"Why am I the idiot, exactly?" I asked, putting the stupid trinkets into my pants
pocket. I mean, was I not the guy who'd just been promoted from nobody to
somebody?
And why was that damn song from Hercules playing in my head now? You
know, Zero to Hero? UGH!
"It's not like I ditched her on purpose, I had shit to do…I…just, forgot."
"Bella…hates…roses, dipwad…and everything they stand for…if you
cared…REALLY cared, you would have found out that her favorites are SUN
flowers and gotten THOSE!"
Huh.
"How do you even know that? You just met her."
She didn't oblige me with bothering to answer that question.
Yeah, I guess it didn't really matter, did it?
"Well, I'll…get her sunflowers later…" I fucked with the collar on the jacket
now and Alice swatted my hand away. "Leave it alone, it's supposed to fit like
that."
Really?
I looked at it sideways and it still didn't seem right to me.
She shook her head and pulled at my pants. "It's too late anyway, you're
already an idiot."
I sighed and took the jacket off.
"Fuck," I said, sitting down. "I don't know what happened, I just…I mean
Tanya was…" I waved at the door. "And then those meetings…and James…"
I snorted.
"You're gonna need to work harder at the whole, balancing your work and
personal life, Edward."
It was obvious she was right.
"With great power, comes great responsibility, yeah yeah, I know."
"What?"
"Nothing."
She stopped fiddling with shit and asked, "You really like her, Edward? I
mean, you're not just…another James are you?"
Ouch, now that hurt.
"God I hope not," I said quietly.
Her facial expression softened some more. "Really?"
She looked me in the eyes and I answered in a highly lame Shred voice,
"Realleh, realleh."
"Bad timing on the whole, getting a stroke of genius and being promoted
then."
"No shit."
She finally stopped being a bitch all together and put an arm on my shoulder.
"You'll think of something, Edward, you're a smart guy…and even better than
that, you're resourceful."
She winked at me and then shooed me out of her work room, telling me she'd
get me the tux before dinner.
"Thanks, Alice."
"Don't thank me, Edward, just make it right."
If I was hoping for a slower day on the old set-o-rama, I was sorely mistaken,
as Tanya walked me around…a little slower that day, I gave her my take on
the writer's ideas.
"Good morning, Mr. Cullen," someone said and I looked around for Carlisle. I
hadn't really seen him since the budget meeting and even then, we hadn't
spoken.
"I don't see him," I said, stretching me neck to check down a hallway.
"They were talking to you, idiot," Tanya told me snidely, shaking her head at
me again and I made a mental eye roll at that being the second time someone
had called me an idiot in one day.
I was starting to feel like Mike Newton.
"Hello, Mr. Cullen," another someone said and I was still a little miffed at
hearing that name in reference to me.
He was immediately followed by yet another employee. "How are you today,
Mr. Cullen?"
"Uh…" I waved, but it was too late to be noticed, the girl was already entering
another room.
By the time the tenth someone said it, though, I was getting pretty good at
nodding back in the proper, Show Runner style.
Hell, I even smiled at some of them.
"I need your signature on this, if you don't mind, Mr. Cullen," I cute little blonde
number said to me, smiling at one point and I thought, see? Now THAT's how
you should greet someone, not by calling them an idiot.
Then I saw what she wanted my signature on...A one-hundred-thousand
dollar check for…
"A studio car?"
I looked at the girl, who now looked…guilty, then I eyed Tanya who was busy
reading something from her clip board.
"That's a little steep, don't you think?" I asked, smiling down at the blonde.
She didn't answer, she just shrugged and smiled, so I took the check from her
and said, "I think we could probably find something more interesting to spend
money on then cars in NYC, don't you suppose, Tanya?"
"If you say so, Mr. Cullen," she answered, still looking down at her clip board.
I gave the blonde a playful scowl and shook my head at her.
She giggled and left us alone and I handed the check to Tanya.
"Nicely done," she said to me.
"That was a test?"
She nodded.
"Why? I don't get it."
She finally looked at me and said, "Because, Edward, Carlisle might have a
sixth sense about you, but I like to make sure that the Show Runner is here to
watch out for the station and not just for his own career boost."
She shredded the check.
"No offense."
"None taken."
I guess.
She looked at her watch and then she told me, "Time for lunch," then had me
follow her back to her office.
"Bella," I said, finally catching up with her that day. I hadn't had the chance to
talk to her like, at all, since Alice had reamed me that morning and I got the
distinct impression that it was because she was avoiding me.
Bella stopped, but didn't exactly look at me. "I'll be right there, Mike."
I smiled. She looked great in the tight Periwinkle colored sweater she was
wearing that day.
Yes, I know what Periwinkle is, okay?
"That sweater is…"
Wow.
"What can I do for you, Edward?" she asked, impatiently.
Ouch.
I scowled a little. "I just…I wanted to say I was sorry for…"
She made this noise that sounded a little too much like something James
would make and then told me, "No big deal."
She started to walk away and asked, "Was that it?"
"No…wait," I stopped her and she seemed like I was annoying her now.
"I…Bella, I'm sorry."
The look on her face told a much different answer than what she gave me but
she wasn't opening up on a verbal level for me.
I didn't deserve it, anyway.
"I get it, Edward, really, but right now, I have a lot of script reviewing to do if I
want to deliver the new lines you gave us for next week."
And with that, she left me.
And man, did I feel like an ass.
Sulky McSulkster didn't have time to stay long though, because that was when
I ran smack into James, who was wearing his stupid man purse over his
shoulder, along with a newly dry cleaned tux to wear later.
Jerk.
"How's that pay raise and boyish charm workin' for ya, Eddie?" he asked but
it's not like he was really asking me because he didn't stay long enough for
me to tell him to fuck off or anything…
I watched Bella as she disappeared and heard Alice again, in my head this
time, telling me to make it right.
How the hell was I gonna do that?
…
Later I looked for her again, after I got dressed and looked all spiffified and
what not, thinking maybe she'd be blown away and all would be forgotten, you
know, kinda like the way I feel whenever I see her?
But, yeah...negatory.
Nothing.
I had no idea that she was even going until I arrived at the dinner with Tanya
and Bella was already seated, talking with Mike again.
Insert heavy sigh here.
There was certainly something to be said for being a clueless idiot at that
point.
She looked flawless, wearing a deep red silky number of a dress that showed
just enough cleavage to make my dick slap me in the face for being such an
ass...I mean really, would a text have killed me? It would have taken me,
what? About ten seconds?
It was assigned seating and I just happened to be directly across from her,
thank god. I was figuring on making some small talk or something throughout
the night, warm her up to me again maybe.
Tanya took her seat next to Bella on the other side of her and next to Tanya,
was James.
Hellooooo...nemesis.
I looked around me as I sat down next to Laurent, who was next to Carlisle,
who either didn't see me, or didn't have anything to say to me as I tried getting
his attention once or twice in the few moments that I was in his direct line of
vision.
I felt very much like Harry when Dumbledoore was ignoring him in that fifth
book…like he was avoiding him for his own good, only Harry didn't know that
so he was starting to feel like maybe he was doing something wrong, or that,
Dumbledoore was pissed at him or something.
I tried to distract myself by taking in our environment for the evening. It was an
overwhelmingly nice place, posh chairs, plush carpeting, I couldn't tell you the
name of the place, though, I don't speak Italian.
People in black and white outfits came out and immediately started pouring
wine into our glasses for us.
Liquid courage certainly never hurt anyone, especially me...so...down the
hatch!
Then Carlisle spoke.
Without looking at me, again.
"I know we're all here as a congratulations to Edward, but really, this dinner is
for all of you, you've done a great job and I'm proud to call you my family."
That was also about when a soft, shoeless foot found its way between my
legs.
I jerked, sitting up a little straighter and banging my knee on the table, looking
around to see if anyone had noticed, which, I am happy to report, they didn't.
My eyes immediately caught an eye full of Bella, across the table and she was
still talking to Mike, but she was smiling.
Her toes did a little wriggling and my thighs reacted in accordance.
Maybe she wasn't all that mad after all, I thought as her toes continued to do
things to my dick that made it stand at perfect attention.
She had to notice it, but she didn't give anything away.
It was a good thing the table cloth covered me from the waist down, too,
because that wasn't exactly something I wanted to share with the entire table.
"Thank you, thank you all," Carlilse finished saying and with that toast, I
downed my entire glass of…red...zin...something or other that the waiter had
poured me.
I had to close my eyes as Bella's toes made their way under my balls, lightly
tickling them, making me squirm a little to get just…a
little….bit….more….friction.
"Mmmmmm."
"Are you okay?" Rose asked me from a few people down and my eyes
snapped open to Bella.
Still playing it off, ey?
"Fine, Rose, I just…have a head ache."
She arched an eyebrow, but went back to chatting with Emmett and I couldn't
help but have a serious up, "what would Emmett do" moment, which told me
to just...wing it.
so I did.
I slipped my hands under the table and started massaging her foot a little,
letting my hand slide up her calf just a tad and she responded.
Her foot twitched and I watched Bella's face for any sign of enjoyment but she
was good.
She was really good.
I smirked at Alice, who was watching me carefully because it appeared folks,
that she didn't know Bella so well after all.
My freaky foot pulled away a little and then readjusted itself back into my dick
and I grunted a little at the absolute wonderful feeling she was generating and
suddenly really wanted to leave…like, badly with her and go pay a visit to the
apartment she owned that really wasn't so far away from where we were.
Rose's whispered voice was in my ear then. "If you're doing what I think you're
doing under that table, Edward, I'm getting my seat moved….immediately."
If she only knew.
I cleared my throat a little and pulled a hand out to accept a menu from
the men in black and then suddenly, had a bit of a panic attack.
I had absolutely no idea what half of the stuff was listed on the thing. Not to
mention there wasn't a huge selection.
Shit.
The wine glasses were refilled and I downed that sucker again.
Bella's foot…or, toes that is, were doing wonders under the table and I did my
best not to lose all control whatsoever and just rub up against her like a
maniac for some epic relief.
I just wished she would give me a hint as to what in the hell to order above the
table.
All the while she ordered, her foot never left my groin area and I gently
scraped my fingers along the top of it to try and convey I really was very sorry
for being an ass the night before as I desperately looked over that damn menu
for SOMETHING I could recognize as edible.
God, it felt so good…her foot was…truly talented.
AH!
Just in time for the waiter to get to me, I ordered the one thing that looked
safe.
As the wine at my plate was refilled and I took another huge swig and then
looked at the glass after I finished it off.
"This is…REALLY good," I said and Emmett leaned forward a little, giving me
his Emmett McCarty warning look and told me, "Pace yourself, Edward…it's
gonna be a long night."
No shit.
I toasted my empty glass to him and it was refilled, yet again.
I noticed an odd look that I was getting from Bella and realized I'd stopped
tickling her foot, so I began again as she asked, "You like sweetbreads?"
It was the first time she'd spoken to me all night and she seemed surprised at
my order but I figured maybe she was just trying to open the doors of
communication again, so I smiled and answered the woman.
"Oh, yeah, love em…they're my favorite."
"Nice choice, Cullen," James piped in, smiling, which was weird.
Bella made a kind of a happy yet, confused look and went back to chatting up
Newton and I went back to enjoying the hell out of my foot job, looking forward
to the end of the evening when it could possibly be turned into something
much more.
Then Bella got up and excused herself to go use the ladies room and I was
confused for a second or two, wondering how in the world her foot could still
be on my dick when she was standing…
Up.
My eyes darted to Tanya, inadvertently, who was smiling like the Cheshire cat
at me and all of a sudden, things clicked.
Bella still wasn't talking to me.
And Tanya wanted to grope my dick.
"Shit," I choked as her foot pushed forward just a little more, as though she
was measuring the length of my shaft or something.
Glass number four of wine was downed.
"What is wrong with you?" Alice chirped but I didn't have time to mess with her
accusations, I had to figure out a way to get Tanya's foot off of my dick before
Bella saw what was going on and REALLY hated me.
Bathroom, kill two birds with one stone…got it!
I stood up and Tanya's face became questioning.
"I'll um…I have to…" I pointed and just walked away.
Or rather, bumbled my way passed the black and whites bringing out our food,
chasing after Bella.
"Bella," I called out, following her through the restaurant, but she either didn't
hear me, or was ignoring me.
She probably just didn't hear me.
Right?
"Bella!" I screamed, a little louder then I really planned on doing, but she was
already into the ladies room and the door was closing.
I debated going in there, cornering her, making her listen, but…I was a little
tipsy, and didn't really wanna embarrass her or me.
Yet.
I turned to head back to the table and was met by…yep, you guessed it.
Tanya.
"Oh, hey…there…Tanya…" I said, hesitantly as she backed me up against
the corner wall.
"Edward," she said, licking her lips. "I have to say, I'm quite…" she looked
down. "Impressed with you tonight."
"Tanya, look, I'm really sorry...I didn't know that was your foot…" I laughed,
edging her away from me. "See, I thought you were…"
Then Bella walked out of the bathroom, luckily not when Tanya was practically
grinding me in the corner of the hallway. She didn't say anything, she just
passed us and made her way back to the group.
"Shit."
"Well," Tanya said, tickling me under the chin with one hand, while the other
one was busy feeling me up.
I'm not gonna lie, folks, the woman scared me just a little bit.
Was she drunk or something? Because this was not the Tanya I worked with
at the station.
"If you change your mind, Cullen…" she said, then winked at me as she
entered the ladies room.
I let out a long…heavy sigh and then figured…I was pretty much fucked, then
went back to the table as well. People were eating and Carlisle finally made
some much over due eye contact with me, silently questioning if I was in my
right mind.
I don't know why he needed to know that, but I nodded politely and took my
seat again anyway.
"Mmmm, mmm! I'm hungry," I said as I looked at the food on my plate.
Sweet! Another glass of wine!
I downed that one and had put a fork full of dinner into my mouth before I was
even seated and started to say something to Bella as I enjoyed the chewey
goodness of my…
Wait.
Chewey…?
Really chewey…
This isn't bread.
I wasn't really sure what to do, I mean spitting that shit out into my napkin
would be gross….but fuck it was awful.
James covered his mouth a little with his own fork and watched me from
under his eye brow.
He was really starting to piss me off.
Something told me, he knew that shit wasn't bread, too.
"Anything wrong, Edward?" Carlisle asked and I told him, "I fink vere's
fomefing wong wif my food."
Like maybe they undercooked it or something.
"Idiot," I heard James say and I scowled at him.
I swallowed.
Oh…god It was…so gross.
"Excuse me?" I asked, taking another long drag of my wine to wash it down
with.
He put his fork down, wiped his mouth with his napkin, and then said, "It's just
that I love how Uncle Warbucks promotes you, puts you in a position of power
and you try to live up to that status, not even understanding…an INKLING of
what it's all about, then order sweetbreads like it's…nachos or something, only
to be surprised when it fills your mouth with the delectable goodness that it
truly is."
I lowered my fork.
Was he insinuating he wanted some of my meal?
'Cause I could arrange that.
"It's pancreas, monkey."
Bella stopped talking to Mike when she heard the word. She looked over at
James and confirmed he was talking to me, then looked to me.
I was about to look like a fucking idiot.
Again.
"Sometimes it's the thymus, too…usually from lambs."
Oh fuck I think I'm gonna puke.
I dry heaved a little and he laughed again.
"James," Bella said, but let's face it, we all knew at that table that it wasn't
about to actually STOP him from being a dick.
So I took a nice deep breath of fresh non-panceatic air and said, "You know
what you are, James?"
I put just a smidgen of calf intestines onto my spoon.
I mean, hell, I didn't wanna waste that shit, right?
He looked at my pancreas filled spoon, and then me. "You wouldn't in a
million years, monkey."
"Edward…" I heard Carlisle say under his breath, but screw that. James had
me at monkey.
I didn't even bother answering except to say, "You're a lewd, crude, rude, bag
of pre-chewed food dude."
"What?" he asked and I snorted because who in the hell doesn't know a quote
from Steven Spielberg's genius rendition of Peter Pan?
Seriously.
I flicked it and it hit him right in the nose.
Bulls eye!
I couldn't help it.
I smiled at the fucker.
There were a few gasps but I definitely heard Emmett's chuckle and Carlisle's
second warning.
"Edward."
"Edward, I don't think…" Rose started nonchalantly from beside me, but it was
too late anyway. I was buzzed and this guy needed some stone cold notch
knockin'.
"That's very mature, Cullen, I'm sure Bella's going to be banging your door
down, now."
It wasn't so much what he said, as the way he said it that torqued me.
"Oh oym sorray, would you loik anuthah?" I asked him in my best orphan
Oliver voice as I re-ammo'd mah fork and flicked it again.
Right in the forehead!
I was in the middle of debating another shot at him when mashed potatoes
hit me in the eye.
"Fuck."
I thought it was James fighting back until I saw him wiping his head off with his
pristine napkin, that's when I realized...It was Bella.
I looked over at her and she wasn't smiling.
She was glaring.
I was under the distinct impression that she was having a true to life bagel
throwing moment.
And I was the Newton.
Hey, I deserved it, I'm not denying that, but I didn't think Bella was in the mood
for another lame ass apology. So...I did what she'd asked Mike to do the
morning that she was having that particular bagel breakdown.
I fought back.
I scooped up the green mushy shit that was next to my calf intestines,
eyeballed her for just a short moment before tossing them at her.
It covered her face and I just about choked in reaction to just how hilarious
she looked as she gasped, surprised I actually did it maybe?
Then laughter started erupting from all around the table.
"Okay, I think that's…" Carlisle started to say, but it fell on deaf ears.
All the way around.
Next thing I knew, shit was flying everywhere. I grabbed what was left of my
wine and downed it, then yelled, "BANGARANNNNNNNNG!" as I raised my
empty glass up into the air.
I don't know how everything got so out of control but at some point, people
were jumping over the table and falling all over each other. The black and
whites that had previously been serving us had run for cover and it was every
man...or woman, for themselves.
Rose caught Emmett in the ear with snap peas coated in butter and he let out
his own battle cry just before he grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder,
making a mad dash for the exit.
Alice screamed and hid under the table, but that didn't stop Mike from joining
in the fun and smashing some of the finely whipped cream for our deserts into
her hair.
I laughed my ass off and fist bumped Newton but oh man, he was gonnna pay
for that later.
Bella, who had started out walking on top of the table to try and make her way
to the onion loaf sitting in the middle of it, laughing her ass off as she threw
some black eyed peas at Newton, tripped over a center piece and fell.
Right on top of yours truly.
We were on the floor and everyone else was running around like mad people.
"Ow," I said, having a de ja vu moment of when I'd fallen on top of her at her
place that night…the one when I told her who I was, and she wanted me
anyway.
The night I realized, she didn't give a shit if I was penniless or had a shit load
of money, or Carlisle's nephew or a homeless dude from St. Nowhere.
She just wanted….me.
I smiled at her as my hands found her waist.
They liked it there and I liked her right where she was.
With me.
"There you are," she said, wiping tomato sauce off of my face, looking at me
like she'd just found her favorite pair of earrings or something.
I pulled the matted hair away from her face and found the smiling brown eyes
I'd come to appreciate, shining back down at me and I suddenly just, couldn't
help myself.
I kissed her.
And for a minute or two, it seemed like nothing had happened, like she wasn't
mad, and I wasn't an asshole, and we didn't have James undermining our
every move.
Her tongue found mine and all was right with the world of Edward Cullen
again.
Including how hot she felt under that dress that she had on.
But then, she pulled away a little abruptly and I tried to follow her lips, but they
were too far away and that was when she started to get up.
"Wait, Bella…" I said, standing up right after her.
"Don't' go."
"I really should, I…" she stuttered out and I thought, something was off about
her.
Something I wasn't catching onto.
"Listen," I stopped her.
Everyone was running out of food and I probably didn't have all that long to
think, which is why I blurted out the first thing I thought of.
"I'm throwing a party this weekend, new place, new job," trying to sound
humble but seriously, even I had a hard time seeing the humble in what I'd
said.
"Come, please?"
I lifted my eyebrows and attempted to look as pitiful as possible.
Hey, don't underestimate the power of the pity card.
And anyway, it kinda worked.
She smiled at least.
"I'll try," she said and I told her I'd get her the address the next day. She got
her purse and left and I felt hopeful that I could actually make my mistake
right.
Until I realized…I didn't have a new place…
That wouldn't stop me though, I knew Alice would help, as much as she
thought I was an idiot, she was still on my side…and Emmett, and Rose too.
So I started to make a plan in my head as I caught Carlisle winging a handful
of crab dip at someone's head and he stopped short as he caught my eyes
staring at him, amused to the hilt at his complete and utter childishness.
Then he just shrugged and I laughed at him, because he was definitely my
role model.
In every sense of the word.
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