This morning I woke early. Usually, I'd roll right back over and go to sleep, but with Bella's car still needing to be fixed I decided to get into it early, so she can be on her way. After getting dressed in some sweat pants and removing my shirt, I headed across the hall and checked in on Bella. Much to my surprise, she's still here. I'm almost surprised she didn't wake up in the middle of the night, freak out over what happened and leave.
Once I'd checked she was okay, I made my way back into the garage and began work on the Mustang once more.
...
I've been working on the car for a few hours when the delicious aroma of bacon, eggs, and toast hit my nose. I put the spanner down and make my way back into the house. I follow the smell, which of course leads me to the kitchen. It's here I find Bella serving up two plates of exactly what I'd smelt; buttered toast, bacon, and eggs.
"What's all this?" I ask with a grin.
She looks up at me and smiles. "It's breakfast and I was just about to bring it to you," she pushes the plate towards me. "I wanted to say thank-you for fixing my car, so I figured I'd cook for you," she then looks around the kitchen awkwardly. "Oh, you don't mind right? I kind of just helped myself, I probably should've asked."
I take in her expression and wonder where the sudden change in confidence had come from, but assure her anyway. "No, not at all. Thank you I'm starving," I make my way over to the table with the plate, knife and fork. "Shall we sit at the table?"
"Sure," she follows after me and sits down next to me, as I begin to dig in, truly starving.
"How's it going with the car?" She asks.
"It's proving a little harder than I thought it would be, I might have to keep it for a bit longer, but I'll get it sorted."
"As long as you don't mind? I don't want you to put yourself out if you don't have the time."
"I'm happy to do it, it's already half done."
"Jex, about last night," she sighs softly.
"I know, it shouldn't have happened," I too sigh softly.
"I just wish things were different."
"So do I," I nod sadly and push my plate away, no longer feeling hungry.
"I still really want us to be friends, but I don't even know if that's possible. Not only because you can't be friends with the enemy, but because my feelings for you are already way past the friends stage," s1he admits.
"You're right, I just don't think us being friends is a possibility. I think we should end this now on good terms, and maybe we'll see each other in a turf war. I promise I won't shoot you," I attempt to make a joke.
She sighs, her eyes fill with sadness and she looks back up at me. "Same," a stray tear slides down her cheek and she wipes it away quickly, then stands to her feet, her food hardly touched. "I uh, I might go. You can keep the car as long as you need it. I'll tell my father it's being fixed by a friend. When it's done you can drop it off somewhere and I'll come and collect it."
"Okay," I nod. "I can do that."
"Thank you so much for fixing it and for letting me stay last night; and for, well, you know."
"The sex?" I smirk.
"Mmm, that," she giggles softly, finally a hint of happiness in her eyes, if only for a moment. "I'll see you," she gives me a small wave and grabs her bag off the kitchen bench, headed for the door.
"Bella wait," I call after her, as I stand to my feet and follow her. I touch her arm gently and she turns to look at me, her face streamed with tears. "Come here," in a second she's in my arms, her head on my chest, as she snuggles in close, her arms tight around me.
After a moment I pull back and hold her face in my hands. "I know you're meant to hate me, and I'm meant to hate you. But I don't," I wipes her tears. "I've never felt this way for anyone before, at least not in the way I feel about you. I'm sorry that you're a Cobra and I'm a Viper but we're just going to have to make it work, because honestly, I don't want to go back to having a life without you in it."
She sniffles gently. "W-what are you saying Jex?"
"Bella I know that this isn't going to be easy, and to be honest I don't even know how we're going to it. But I want to make this work, I want you as my girlfriend again."
"B-but I'm a Cobra Jex," she shutters confused.
"And I'm a Viper, I know," I sigh softly. "But Bella, I love you and I can't just turn that off."
"I love you too," she leans in and presses a kiss to my lips. "And I don't want a life without you in it either. So we'll make it work. I don't know how, but we will."
"We've a lot of things to talk about. So much to discuss, a bit to work through. But what if we make a deal. Once we've spoken and everything is out there, you don't talk to me about the Cobras and their business and I won't talk about the Vipers. After our talk, you're not a Cobra and I'm not a Viper, I'm just Jex and you're just Bella."
"I'd like that, just Jex," she gives me a soft smile.
"Good, now will you please come and finish your breakfast, just Bella?"
"Fine, but only because it's a long walk home," she jokes, as we make our way back into the kitchen.
...
After breakfast I head back out to the garage and begin work on Bella's car once more, as she cleans up everything in the kitchen.
"Hey man," I hear Malcolm's voice from behind me.
"Mal, what are you doing here?" I say loudly, loudly enough that Bella will hear me and not come out.
"I called a few times, but you didn't answer. I came to see if you needed help with the car."
"No, all good man, I'm fine here," I say loudly once again.
"Dude why are you yelling?" He laughs. "Who's car is this anyway?"
"I'm yelling? Oh uh, I have water in my ear," I lie. "And it's a friend's car, you don't know him."
"Right," he nods, looking at me as if he knows I'm hiding something. "Well uh, I might head in and grab a drink, do you want me to get you one."
"No," I step in front of him. "No, I don't want a drink."
"Okay, well I do, so ...," he steps to the side of me and up the stairs. He opens the door and heads into the kitchen, I follow after him quickly.
We enter the kitchen and all the dishes have been done and put away. Bella is no where to be seen. I look around, but don't see her.
"Dude? Are you okay?" Mal questions.
"Uh yes, I'm fine," I nod.
"Man you've been so weird since you and Bella broke up," he laughs softly.
Finally I mange to get Mal out the door, after what feels like hours (but has only been twenty minutes). I head up the hallway and into my room, pushing the door open. It's here I find Bella snuggled up under my sheets, reading a book she must've had in her bag.
"I take it Mal's gone?" She closes her book and smiles up at me.
"He's gone," I nod. "It should only take me a few minutes and I'll have your car done. Then I'll shower and we should really have that talk?"
"Mmm that depends," she hums, as she sits up on her knees.
"On?" I raise a brow.
"Do I get to shower with you first?"
A smirk spreads across my lips instantly. "You don't even have to ask."