Frustrated beginnings, Bella and Damon

Summary: Bella has begun to get frustrated and hurt by Edward's constant rejection, whereas Damon is looking for a distraction from all the drama in Mystic Falls. Read as Damon makes an offer Bella cannot refuse, as they find each other.

A/N. I am very sorry for the long wait, hopefully, I will not let updates be so late this time. I'm not promising anything as I do start college in September…

Chapter 6

Bella's POV

I woke up that morning hearing laughter downstairs. It was Damon and my Father. It felt awkward at times because of the situation I have with Damon, my Father's best friend. As long as he doesn't find out, it should be all right.

I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth and clean myself before walking back into my room to get dressed. I didn't have much planned today but there wasn't a doubt in my mind that Edward or Alice would soon change that. Sigh.

When I'd gotten dressed and done my hair I began to walk down the stairs when all of a sudden I stopped. I didn't mean to listen but I couldn't help myself.

"I just don't want to see her getting hurt again," My Dad said.

"She can look out for herself, Charlie. Don't worry about it too much," Damon replied.

I bit my lip. No laughter now then. They were talking about me, I didn't know what to think. Did they usually talk about me? Had they ever spoken about her wellbeing before?

"You didn't see her Damon, how he left her. I can't help but worry about her. I don't want him to hurt her again. It nearly killed her last time." Charlie explained.

I'd heard laughter only five minutes ago and now they were having a serious conversation about me. I will never understand men.

"I understand what you're saying Charlie, but you have to let Bella make her own mistakes. It's the only way she'll learn from them, I speak from plenty of experience." Damon explained.

Charlie didn't say anything then, I didn't know whether to make my entrance yet. I was glad in a way that Damon was talking about me, I had no idea that my Father worried about me getting hurt from Edward again.

"You're right, I guess. Is it Elena you're talking about from experience?"

"And don't forget Katherine." Damon laughed but I could sense that it wasn't a laugh of a joke. Something we may have in common.

I walked down the last bit of the stairs before joining them in the living room.

"Good morning guys," I sat on the chair across from my Father and Damon.

"Don't you mean afternoon, Bells?" Dad laughed.

"Is it really the afternoon? I thought it was morning." I gasped shocked.

"It's afternoon, you must have gone to sleep late last night. You're usually up early in the morning." Charlie said

I looked straight at Damon without even thinking. How had he got up so early? I will never know.

"I couldn't sleep." I shrugged.

Damon smiled, "I was going to go out for a little something to eat with Charlie, and do you want to come?" At the mention of food my stomach growled.

"Of course, that'd be nice," I grinned, "Food is just what I need right now."

Charlie grinned, "Well, I'll get my stuff and meet you out the front in five, shall I?"

I smiled to agree with him before walking out the door myself with Damon beside me. I looked up at him and whispered, "How were you up so early after last night?"

Damon shrugged and nudged my shoulder, "Guess I'm just a light sleeper."

I raised my eyebrows,"I guess you are," I found myself unable to stop staring at him as our eyes met until Charlie joined us.

"Hey guys," He said as we both got into Charlie's car, Damon in the front and myself in the back. I found it much better this way.

"So, Charlie tells me this café we're going to makes the best burgers." Damon said turning around to me as we drove by through town.

I nodded, "Well, he always took me there when I used to visit. It was the best place, I always loved coming here just for the food at the coffee shop, and Dad knew that, didn't you?"

Charlie nodded, "It's the best damn place in town. Bella always loved the milkshakes from there."

I laughed at the small memories I had of me and my Dad when I was little, I didn't visit often after Renee and Dad split. To be honest, I partly blamed my mother for that because she'd wanted me all to herself I guess. Until she'd met Phil. Then, when I moved here to live with Dad, I didn't pay enough attention to him instead focusing on Edward. I will never forgive myself for that. I used to call him Charlie, rather than my Dad, and I still do, but Dad feels more right than calling him Charlie all the time.

"I'm thinking I need a coffee urgently," I chuckled, "But the milkshakes were the best. Chocolate especially." Just at that moment, my phone bleeped. I took my Iphone out of my back pocket and looked to see whom it could be from.

Edward.

"Hello, Edward."

"Hello, Bella, how are you today?" He asked

"I'm fine, why? Has something happened?" I frowned.

"No, everything's fine. None of us have heard from you all morning is all. Are we still up for this evening?" Edward asked.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, this evening?

"Sorry, I woke up late," I started as I glanced over at Damon and Dad. They were trying not to listen, "But you're going to have to remind me what's happening this evening, I totally forgot."

Edward sighed, "We're having a little gathering at mine for Alice's birthday, and how did you forget?"

I shrugged and then realised he couldn't see me, "I have had a lot of things on my mind lately. But I will definitely be there. Pick me up at 6?" I offered.

"Of course," Edward said, "I'll see you later, Bella. I love you."

"Love you too," I replied but as I said it I didn't know, I didn't feel like I truly meant it. It was just a habit to say.

After we'd ended the call, I turned to Dad and Damon but the mood had gone. Instead, we drove in silence until we got to the café.

….

At the café

Damon's POV

The guilt started to come as we were eating our food at the café. Was I right in doing what I was doing with Bella? Yes, Edward was a cold one, and I hated cold ones but still, if I was in Edward shoes and it was Elena I wouldn't like it. I'd hate it. And here's me starting to care…

I tried not to look at Bella when we got to café. Instead, I'd spoke to Charlie and tried to limit talking to Bella as much as I could.

"So," Bella began, "I was thinking maybe we should go on a holiday next year."

Where was this coming from? She didn't look at Charlie, or me, for that matter. She was trying to eat her food. Why did she want to take a holiday?

It was Charlie who'd answered first, "Well, Bella, that sounds good. But you know it's hard getting the time off work…"

Bella nodded, "Right, yeah, I didn't think of that… so, what are you guys doing tonight?"

"I have work tonight, I'm afraid. What time will you be back from Edward's?" He asked.

Bella shrugged, "I should be back for around 7 or 8. Maybe earlier." Then she turned to me, "What about you, Damon?"

I was going to sit in and watch something on TV, since there was nothing else to do in this town. And maybe go out for a feed, but I'd have to be careful about that.

"Early night for me, I guess. Why, something up?"

I could tell that she didn't want to go to this gathering she had with Edward for Alice's party. Maybe I could pop by and compel Edward to cancel on Bella… No, I told myself. I will not interfere. Bella needs to be able to stand up for herself, and she won't be able to do that if I was the one doing what she dreamed of, would it?

Bella shrugged, "I don't know, just curious. You know me."

After we had finished our dinner, which ended up being awkward than I'd first thought, probably because Charlie didn't like Edward. And probably because I'd started to feel guilty and couldn't face Bella.

My phone began to bleep as a message came through. I looked down to see it was from Elena. Since when was she in touch with me? She'd claimed she'd wanted nothing to do with me…

I opened the message…

Elena

Damon, it's me. Elena. We need your help. Please come back, we all miss you. Get in touch. E

I sighed and deleted the message, I wasn't going to bother by getting in touch with them since the last time we'd spoke she basically told me I was the reason everything bad happened in Mystic Falls, so I'd decided to leave.

The ride back was silent, as well. I found myself a couple of times glancing to Bella in the back, but she was too busy in her own world, thinking.

Bella's POV

When we'd finally got home I went straight to my room. I just wanted to think, and I needed to get ready for the gathering. I sighed, I really didn't want to go to this gathering. They always had gatherings, and it was boring. And it would be a night I would never forget, that was certain.

I got up and looked through my wardrobe for something to wear that Alice would approve. Since dating Edward, it had felt at times that I was dating Alice as well, since I'd moved here she'd changed nearly half of my wardrobe. I didn't like it. Shouldn't I be able to be myself?

I looked at a dress that I wouldn't really see myself in, but put it on the bed anyway to examine it. I had to wear it I guess…

There was a gentle knock on the door, and I knew it'd be Damon since Dad had gotten to work already.

"Come in," I said as I laid on the bed and sighed.

He laid beside me as he turned to me and said, "What's up? Is it the horrible dress that's between us?"

I turned to him, how did he know? I nodded, unable to lie to him, "I guess so. It isn't horrible is it?"

"No, it's beautiful. But it's not you, it's not what you'd wear, what you'd choose." Damon said.

I stared into his eyes thinking how the hell had he got me so right? I leaned in to kiss him, to brush my lips against his, and I thought after today that he'd reject me, but he didn't. He kissed me back and he touched my shoulder, then my breasts….

And then he stopped, "Sorry, but, you have to be somewhere remember?"

I groaned,"Ugh, I don't even want to go…"

Damon shrugged, "Then don't go. Stand up for yourself, Bella. I know you can."

I wish. They'd have a heart attack if I wasn't there, worrying for my wellbeing, wondering where I was… but I couldn't tell Damon that.

"I wish, Damon but I have to go. I haven't seen Edward in a while. He'll start to become suspicious if I don't go."

Damon nodded, "At least do not wear that dress. Wear something you'd wear, because you are beautiful Bella. Show yourself off." And with that, Damon left the room, left me on my own to think.

Maybe he was right. Maybe I should go as myself, being in a relationship meant I should be able to control what I wear at least. Right? There shouldn't be so much control and power over at the Cullen's. It was wrong…

I looked in my wardrobe and put the dress back, instead deciding on a long black midi dress.

I even decided to apply some make up, just a bit of mascara and eyeliner. Something I'd used to do but when I moved to Forks I'd neglected that part of me. Partly because of Edward and Alice, I'll admit…

…

When Edward had picked me up, he didn't say one word. Not that I looked beautiful or nice. He didn't say anything. Maybe that was because Damon was in the house, I didn't know.

But once we were in his car, he'd turned to me.

"What are you wearing, Bella?"

I didn't look at him. Was I ready to face him? Was I ready to tell him why? This was me, why shouldn't I be myself, I thought.

"This is what I dress like, Edward."

He shook his head, "I've never seen you wear anything like that, Bella." He stopped the car in an abandoned alley and got out the car. I followed him, but I didn't know what I could say.

"That's what Alice wanted me to wear, Edward," I said,"I never chose those outfits. This is me, Edward…"

When he turned to stare at me, he no longer looked like Edward. The man I'd thought I was in love with.

He looked hungry as I stepped back.

He stepped forward, "You look so much better in the clothes Alice had picked out Bella. Hadn't anyone ever told you that before?!"

I frowned, but I would not be scared, I told myself. Edward would never hurt me.

"I'm sorry," I reply, "I'm sorry I don't have Alice's fashion sense…"

He whispered something under his breath but I couldn't hear him as the next thing I know I was on the floor as Edward had lunged for me.

I guess I wouldn't be dressing like myself again, in front of Edward anyway….

End of chapter 6 –

A/N. Let me know if you like it. More of an input on what Edward is really like in this story. I look forward to reading your reviews.

Until next time

Melissa