Blockbuster Teaser

 I rubbed my chest as I stared out the window of the airplane. My heart was shattering, knowing that I left Bella in San Francisco. I wanted to be next to her. I needed to have her by my side. Now that I’d been with her, being away from her broke my heart.

“We’re making our final approach to Los Angeles Airport where the temperature is …”

I sighed, stuffing my phone into my carryon bag, and clicked up my tray table. I finished my gin and tonic as the earth got closer. I sighed as the plane landed smoothly, slowing down and taxiing to the gate. After the fight attendants made a few announcements, the door was opened, and I followed the herd of humanity out of the plane. I tugged out my cell phone, dialing Bella.

“Hello?” she answered.

“I’m back in Los Angeles,” I replied glumly. “I’m tempted to get on the next flight to San Francisco.”

“As much as I’d love that, you have a job to do, Edward. I love you and we’ll see each other soon,” she cooed.

“I love you so much, gorgeous,” I whispered, leaning against a wall, and rubbed chest. “Where are you?”

“I’m at the publishing house, working on some publicity for my latest novel along with finalizing travel plans for the book conventions I’m attending this year,” Bella answered. “Once I’m done with that, I’m going to work my latest book. I hope I can finish it by the end of the week. Fingers are crossed.”

“Keeping yourself busy?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she chuckled humorlessly. “Have you spoken to your sister?”

“I’m calling her next,” I answered, wrinkling my nose. I was more than willing to get a car, but my sister all but insisted that she pick me from the airport. “Can we Skype tonight?”

“Rose and Emmett are adamant that I spend time with them tonight since it’s been so long,” Bella quipped. “So, we’re having a family meal with them, along with Jasper and Caius. We can have a Skype date tomorrow. Okay?”

“Ugh, fine,” I sighed, rolling my eyes as I pushed off the wall. “I love you, gorgeous.”

“I love you, too,” she whispered. “I miss you so much.”

“I miss you more,” I breathed. “If you want, call me when you get home from dinner. I’ll be unpacking, doing laundry, and pining over your absence.”

“We’re pathetic,” she laughed. “Have fun with Alice and I’ll talk to you tonight before bed.”

I ended the call, slipping my messenger bag over my head and checked my messages. There were a few texts from Alec, Elliott, and my parents. I found a message from Alice, reading it as I walked through the airport. I’m at baggage claim. I’ve missed you, Little Brother ~ Ali

I tapped out a response. I’m heading to the baggage claim now. See you in a bit, Alice ~ Edward

Blockbuster Update

Blockbuster Ch. 13 on FFn

Blockbuster Ch. 13 on AO3

Blockbuster Ch. 13 on Stars

Blockbuster Ch. 13 on fanfiction.online

Blockbuster Ch. 13 on Wattpad

Edward

When I finally woke up, I was alone in the bed. I sat up, scrubbing my face, and searching for Bella. She was curled up on the couch, huddled underneath the robe from the room. She was holding a steaming cup of coffee and looking out the window. However, her eyes were unseeing, empty. “Bella?”

“You need to know,” she whispered.

“I need to know what?” I asked, getting up and dragging my exhausted body to the couch.

“The truth. My story. The nightmare,” she said emotionlessly. She looked at me. Her espresso-colored eyes were vacant, and her face was drawn. “You need to know everything. It all began when I was a junior in high school …”

Bella

“… I lived with my dad. He was the police chief of Forks, Washington,” I explained. “My mom took off, not caring about me or Charlie. So, for as long as I could remember, it was the two of us. Occasionally, we’d hang out at the nearby reservation since my dad was close to the tribal leader of the Quileute Nation, Billy Black. He had a son who was about my age. We were friends from the moment we met.”

“Jacob?” Edward asked.

“Yeah. He had two older sisters. They used to babysit us when I was younger until they went away to college or to get married. Rebecca lives in Hawaii with some Samoan surfer. Rachel lives in Vancouver, working on getting her doctorate in sociology. They’re not close with Jacob or Billy. The tribe doesn’t think highly of women,” I sneered. “Both of Jake’s sisters were sexually assaulted by members of the tribe. Jake, at first, was appalled. It was before he was brainwashed by the tribal elders. Billy, however, condoned it. He said that it was a rite of passage for the boys who wanted to become men and the girls just needed to submit. Rachel and Rebecca both left within weeks of their attacks.”

“Fuck,” Edward spat. “That’s fucked up.”

“Yeah, it is,” I shrugged. “However, we didn’t know, at the time, that Billy was a misogynistic pig, a monster, really. At first, he was just my dad’s best friend and fishing buddy. Before his true colors were shown, he was a kindly, sweet uncle type who gave me hard candies.”

“Your dad didn’t know about any of that?”

“No, he didn’t. I wouldn’t have known either until it happened to me,” I whispered. I waved my hand, trying to wish my past was a horrific nightmare. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. It was a reality. A sick, twisted reality that absolutely broke me.

Blockbuster Teaser

Edward

“You need to know,” she whispered.

“I need to know what?” I asked, getting up and dragging my exhausted body to the couch.

“The truth. My story. The nightmare,” she said emotionlessly. She looked at me. Her espresso-colored eyes were vacant, and her face was drawn. “You need to know everything. It all began when I was a junior in high school …”

Bella

“… I lived with my dad. He was the police chief of Forks, Washington,” I explained. “My mom took off, not caring about me or Charlie. So, for as long as I could remember, it was the two of us. Occasionally, we’d hang out at the nearby reservation since my dad was close to the tribal leader of the Quileute Nation, Billy Black. He had a son who was about my age. We were friends from the moment we met.”

“Jacob?” Edward asked.

“Yeah. He had two older sisters. They used to babysit us when I was younger until they went away to college or to get married. Rebecca lives in Hawaii with some Samoan surfer. Rachel lives in Vancouver, working on getting her doctorate in sociology. They’re not close with Jacob or Billy. The tribe doesn’t think highly of women,” I sneered. “Both of Jake’s sisters were sexually assaulted by members of the tribe. Jake, at first, was appalled. It was before he was brainwashed by the tribal elders. Billy, however, condoned it. He said that it was a rite of passage for the boys who wanted to become men and the girls just needed to submit. Rachel and Rebecca both left within weeks of their attacks.”

“Fuck,” Edward spat. “That’s fucked up.”

“Yeah, it is,” I shrugged. “However, we didn’t know, at the time, that Billy was a misogynistic pig, a monster, really. At first, he was just my dad’s best friend and fishing buddy. Before his true colors were shown, he was a kindly, sweet uncle type who gave me hard candies.”

“Your dad didn’t know about any of that?”

“No, he didn’t. I wouldn’t have known either until it happened to me,” I whispered. I waved my hand, trying to wish my past was a horrific nightmare. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. It was a reality. A sick, twisted reality that absolutely broke me.

Blockbuster Update

Blockbuster Ch. 12 on FFn

Blockbuster Ch. 12 on AO3

Blockbuster Ch. 12 on fanfiction.online

Blockbuster Ch. 12 on Stars

Blockbuster Ch. 12 on Wattpad

Edward drove us back to his place. I’d stayed quiet during the drive and thought about the man who reminded me of my past. I was totally shaken by seeing Paul. Paul Lahote grew up in La Push, but was older than me by at least ten years. His dark skin, bright smile and rough voice reminded me so much of both Jacob and Billy. It brought me back to when I was a teenager, grieving and terrified that I was pregnant.

It brought me back to when I worked my ass off to have most of my paycheck to be taken away by Billy and Jacob for the most inane, unnecessary things, leaving me destitute, and running from Forks with the cash from my boss at Thriftway to flee from the nightmare.

Only to begin a new nightmare.

I ran my hand over my stomach as I got dressed in a blue retro-inspired dress to go The Ivy. My belly that would never hold and protect another baby because of those assholes who denied medical care because they were concerned about the cost. My eyes swept over my scarred torso, remembering each horrific moment and terrifying memory of receiving them. Cigarette burns, scrapes, mottled skin and contorted ropey scars littered my body. I blew out a breath as I slid my fingers over raised scar just beneath my left breast. I thought I was going to die when I received this scar.

There were days I wished I had died that night. It would have been better than enduring the nightmare of my life. Seth deserved so much better than me. He always would …

Flashback

The Ivy

Bella's Dress

LAX Marriott

Blockbuster Teaser

 When I woke up, the feelings I had were twisted, coiled. In the harsh light of day, the giddiness and feelings of safety, protection had dissipated. I was swept up in the entire previous day, in Edward. When I went through the motions of packing for my return to San Francisco, my underlying insecurities came rushing to the surface.

I had no right to feel happy.

I definitely had no right to lead Edward on.

I was damaged goods. I was irrevocably broken from my past.

“Knock, knock,” Jasper said, poking his head into my room. “How was your tour of Los Angeles with Edward?” He must have noticed my jerky movements as I was packing my bags. “Hey, sweet girl, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I mumbled. I closed my suitcase and fumbled with the zipper.

Jasper’s hand found mine and easily closed my bag. “No, you’re not. You’re trembling and you look like you’re about to cry. Talk to me, Bells,” he whispered, sitting down on the bed. “Did Edward hurt you? I may like the guy and think he’s a brilliant director, but I will not hesitate to kick his ass if he did something to hurt you.”

“No, Jasper. He was a perfect gentleman,” I whispered. “He was so kind and funny and generous. I had an amazing time with him. Probably the best time I’ve had ever …”

“Then, why are you freaking out?” Jasper asked.

“Because I don’t deserve it,” I replied.

“What the hell? You deserve a good guy, Bella. You deserve to be happy!” Jasper argued. “I know you play your emotions close to the chest. I see you smile, but it never reaches your eyes. The only time I see you truly relaxed and happy is when you’re with Seth. Why?”

“Because Seth is my sole purpose for living,” I said. “I lost sight of that while I was out with Edward. It was a fun day, but it can’t happen again.” I shook my head. As much I wanted to feel more with Edward, I couldn’t. I did not deserve that happiness. It was my penance. “Are we ready to go?”

“Bella, I don’t believe that you don’t deserve happiness,” Jasper sighed. “You’re the physical embodiment of goodness.”

“Believe what you want, I know the truth,” I spat. I rubbed my chest, trying to sooth the emptiness building behind it. I moved my hand up to the necklace, knowing I probably should take it off. I just couldn’t. It would be the lone reminder of the brief glimpse of joy I allowed myself to have. “We don’t want to miss our flight, Jasper.”

He shook his head, standing up and trudging to his room. “I don’t understand you, Bells. Why are you shutting yourself away from Edward? He clearly has the hots for you,” he muttered.

“He may have the hots for me, it’s not something I can act on. Anyway, I’m worn-out. I miss my kid and I want to get back to my life,” I explained tiredly. Jasper nodded, hugging me and ducking back into his room. Ten minutes later, we were riding down to the lobby. Liam was already there and he drove us to LAX. The car ride was quiet, but unlike the trip yesterday with Edward, it was tension-filled.

Jasper clearly didn’t understand why I refused to even broach a topic of a relationship with Edward. He probably never will because he would never know my story.

“Do you want some breakfast?” Jasper asked once we got through security.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “I’m sorry, Jas.”

“I’m not going to push you, Bella. You know I love you, and I’ll respect your decision. It doesn’t mean that I have to agree with it,” he murmured. “I think you and Cullen would be a good couple. After that breakfast meeting, he could have walked away, but he came back to talk to you. He wanted to wrong his sister’s deplorable actions. Bells, I saw how he looked at you and how you looked at him. There was a connection there.” He took my hand and stared at me. “Even Alice saw it and she’s not your biggest fan.”

“I still can’t believe you had sex with her,” I snorted humorlessly.

“Me, neither, but it was the best sex I’d had. Ever,” he smirked. “I’m going to get food. I’ll be back.”

With that, he turned and left me at the gate to get food. While he was gone, I checked my cell phone and I saw a few texts from Edward. I also had an email from a studio executive from Summit. I ignored the texts from Edward, not wanting my heart to crack into million pieces and focused on opening up the email. It was the contract from the movie studio. I took a cursory look over it and was shocked at the money they were throwing at me to put my book onto the big screen. I was also surprised to see my requests had been honored, added to the contract, as per the conversation I’d had with Edward.

“Whatcha reading?” Jasper asked, handing me a blueberry bagel and a coffee.

“The contract,” I replied. “Look at what they’re offering me, Jasper.” I handed him my phone with an arched brow.

“Damn, girl,” he said, his eyes widening.