I’m sobbing! FUCK YOU CARLISLE!

Well
That’s a big start for both Edward and Victoria, but now I don’t fully understand Carlisle’s Charlie comments. I guess it doesn’t matter being it’s almost over. Good thing Carlisle has a heart and a conscience, but I’m still a tad unsatisfied how at the end there’s a part of him that still doesn’t seem to get the whole picture.

And I was right about one thing though wrong about the reason - Char couldn’t be bought by him. He should’ve carried that with him instead of leaning heavily on “everyone wants the money.” He could’ve been so different.

“Maybe I should make myself available. I've got to fill this void. This hole. But I can't be available to anyone at this school. Not in front of Isabella.”

Why is this such a common thought (at least in ffn) for the reformed playboy type who’s hurting? It just causes more problems and a quick release with a person you care nothing for doesn’t make feelings go away. I’m incredibly angry he even had this thought at all, let alone this quickly. What? He’s able to honor his dead mother by going straight and narrow, but two weeks without his girl and he’s ready to fuck his feelings? If this happens I’ll be livid. But I’m livid that he even thought it. That’s like a major character regression.

I am trying to understand her, but I still think she’s wrong. Bella knows it’s fucked up. She knows Carlisle is wrong. She KNOWS Edward chose HER, not money. So what if she’s the reason? Isn’t the best revenge proving Carlisle wrong? Making it? It lasting? Money not mattering?

She wanted a choice in this (I see your canon nod), but she’d be doing the same thing she’s doing now, so it’s a false argument. She would have felt in the loop, of course, but she’d probably still have left him. Yeah - I don’t agree with her reasoning. She’s wrong.

That could’ve been sooooo much worse. Glad Heidi found some decency and dignity in there somewhere.

Oh, Edward. There were so many other ways to lead-in that might not have led to where you landed with Carlisle, but maybe it’ll be good to see how life can be. But you have to talk to Bella, ding-dong! I wish he could’ve told Carlisle that just because that was his experience doesn’t mean everyone fits in that box. And I really kind of want him to be pressed on Esme - is she love, or money, hmmmm? Since it can’t be both apparently. Ugh. I hope he gets knocked down . I hope he’s Victoria’s dad and has to acknowledge that a “have-not” did NOT try to take him for his money.

It’s funny Carlisle just comes out with “you’re spending too much time with Isabella, the paramedic’s daughter,” as if she’s a bad influence, a hell-raiser. Maybe it’s that the paramedic’s daughter isn’t special enough in his eyes? Just a way to try to get Edward to react? Either way, it’s almost laughable.

But, go Edward! Not sure why you wasted Friday and Saturday after hearing from Victoria about Bella’s interest…

I’ve been rereading and reacquainting myself with a lot of the Twific lately. There is something so familiar about this story, and yet I still can’t be sure that I’ve already read it. Sometimes I swear I have, and other times I am just on pins and needles worrying about Isabella falling in with any of these other guys besides Edward.

Like Edward, I’m wondering what the heck is up with her – why is she so different with him and so stereotypical teenager girl with everyone else? There are a lot of chapters yet to go, and I’m getting impatient to know what her deal is and how quickly she will realize what Edward could be instead of Jasper, James, Mike, or anyone else. And Edward kissed Victoria…yikes.

I’m hopeful that I’m worrying for nothing… :-)

This was AMAZING! I don't know how I haven't seen this before now. I'm so glad I stumbled upon it!

I really appreciate the layers your characters had. They were interesting, imperfect, and I grew to care about each of them. Even Carlisle. Thank you for sharing your story.

I'm glad that Edward has come to the realization that perhaps he has been unfair to Esme. He's never given her a chance. Never attempted to get to know her. Likewise, maybe Carlisle remarried too soon. Even if he had been unhappy in marriage to Elizabeth -it seems her heart was with another man, Carlisle knew his kids were still deeply mourning their mother. That automatically made introducing his new bride to them like rubbing salt in an open wound.
Bella taking photos of Edward at his trackers and giving them to Carlisle was pretty great. I hate that Bella has to duck and dodge just to be with Edward. Being discreet so Carlisle doesn't find out is one thing, but all of this is touch. They'll start to feel bad about their relationship. I suspected Carlisle was Victoria's father. Through me off of Phil's scent for a hot minute.

Whew that was an emotional chapter. It was beautiful in its agony and it's compassion. I love the friendships you've crafted. And I really, really like that once the initial pangs of jealousy were dispensed with, Edward and Victoria's friendship was permitted to grow and deepen without James or Isabella being envious or insecure. And I love the bond that the two girls have developed.

I really like how James is taking steps to be the man he wants to be. He was always a good and true friend to Victoria, up until he let her believe the lie. But he was taking care of home and his mother best way he knew how, and then he took the harder step to decide that wasn't the right way to do it. He went to see his father for his friend, even though it was the last thing he wanted to do. He also took the quiet nudging from Edward to show a bit of softness, just a bit, in his good bye. But then, he processed all of that and decided that he would join his mother when she visited. A huge step for him, and even if he didn't say much, it meant the world to both of his parents. He's wonderful with Victoria. He's a special young man. Edward is a spoiled rich boy. He is. He hates that people view him that way, but he has no respect for money or how hard it is for others. It's not his fault. It's how his dad raised him. He is rich enough to feel independent and yet resent money and how his father uses it for power over him. He is rude and disrespectful to Carlisle and Esme. Now he may have cause, but if he can't stand him that much, Carlisle is right to cut off the stacks of cash. I just think it's disgusting why he did it and his attitudes about class, and staying in one's place. It's repugnant that he's turned his son's first love into some cheap experiment. And I'm disappointed that Edward hasn't confided in Isabella. I mean I wouldn't really expect him to tell her all the dad said because it's awful,but just that his dad gave him a choice break it off, or cut cut off financially. I think Bella could handle that much. She'd be very upset, but I think he could smooth things out with her. But to say nothing, all while brooding and doubting her strength of devotion...when she finds out, because she WILL find out (probably from Carlisle himself, in some backward compliment) she's going to be apoplectic. I've been feeling for a while that Victoria has misjudged Phil. At first I thought he was being creepy with her. But more and more, I think, I think *BEWARE, POTENTIAL SPOILER* that Phil is her dad. I think as she got older and he started looking at her weird, he was recognizing himself, OR he was seeing so much of her mother in her. If he loved her mother, he could be thinking of her mother-and yes, that could certainly veer into creepyland, but it could also just be him sort of remembering about a lot love. Now the question is does Cheri know. I think she just might. It might explain why she seems so resentful. Not that she needs any more of a reason. I felt that conversation between aunt Cheri and Victoria viscerally. I was on the receiving end of a similar talk after my parents divorced. My dad got flaky, but he promised the moon. I remember waiting and waiting and starring out the window on his visit days waiting for him to come get me. Waiting, clinging to hope, and getting angry with my mom and stepdad when they finally got him on the phone and would be so angry at him. I'm a mom now and I couldn't bear to ever see my kids experience that kind of hurt, disappointment and betrayal of trust. So I do understand Aunt Cheri, but I also understand Victoria. But he digging up secrets could very well destroy the only mother she really ever had. Phil going into her room while she sleeps sounds predatory, but he doesn't touch her, he doesn't stay. It's like he's just looking in on her. She avoids him all the time so he pops his head in once in a while. I think he is her dad. I think he doesn't have predatory thoughts or feelings towards her, at least I hope. I will say that as much as I loath Carlisle's attitude and sense of superiority, I think Elizabeth broke his heart. Or wounded his sense of worth. He uses his money and status to find 'love' and validation. He was hurt, but he became cynical and elitist on the basis of his wife marrying him despite not getting over the love of another. But he married her KNOWING that she didn't love him. So what is the story there? I guess her love was Garrett.

James sure knows a lot about drugs and the types of highs one may experience under their influence. I suppose it's his job to know these things, but he's only claiming yo sell weed. He took wonderful care of Victoria. I wondered if maybe he was gay, but I think he just doesn't saint to taint her with dating the local drug dealer with her personal history. It can't just be weed. Edward throwing big parties is bad enough. To have folks he doesn't even know, outsiders come into his father's mansion? With drugs and alcohol being served to underage partiers... Laurent was at least 21, so I assume there were others in his group who may have been older as well. Having strangers in your home is bad enough, but they could get ideas of coming back to burglarize the place, or try to extort from Edward. Maybe not, but if nothing else, Edward (his parents) would be liable if any harm were to befall those minors while at their home or on the way home from the party. Edward should have been made to clean up the house, not the housekeeper. And Edward doesn't have to like Esme, but she's right to call him out. But I love the progression of Edward and Bella's budding friendship/relationship. There's is a more honest one. She lets him see more of true self. And Edward now is more true to himself than he used to be with all of the drinking and partying.

Hmm I wonder what the relationship is between Bella and James. For a second I wondered if she was the cousin he mentioned. My reading time has dwindled to stolen moments of 'solitude' -there's no actual solitude in my life anymore, or in the wee hours after everyone is asleep, which means, I too am sleepy. I hate that for me, but I am so thankful that I still manage to find stories like your to enjoy when, and as I am able. The down side is that I may sometimes forget small details. I couldn't recall Bella's physical description.I can't ever recall a blonde Isabella and brunette Edward.