Fan Fiction ❯ Everything You Want ❯ Shape Up or Ship Out ( Chapter 9 )

Everything You Want

Chapter 9:

Shape Up or Ship Out

 

 

 

Cole watched Bella as she exited from the bathroom adjoined with her bedroom wrapped in a gargantuan, fluffy pink bathrobe covered in huge, tacky purple flowers.

 

“That has got to be the ugliest thing I have ever seen. Who in the hell got you that?” Cole asked in abject disgust as Bella laughed and shook her head.

 

“You,” she replied with a chuckle as she squeezed the water out of her long blond strands with a towel.

 

“I got you that? Holy shit, what the hell was I thinking?!” Openly laughing at the horrified expression on Cole's face, Bella dropped the bath towel and strode over to where Cole was lounging on her bed. Stretching out beside him, she propped her head against his shoulder and gave him a soft kiss on the side of his neck.

 

“I happen to love this ugly robe, because you got it for me. Don't you remember? Last year when I was sick with that killer flu, you came over and gave this to me because `you didn't want me getting cold.' You seemed so happy with yourself, I didn't have the heart to tell you it was hideous,” Bella laughed as Cole snorted.

 

“Now I remember, mom picked that out for you. She said that the bright colors and the flowers would cheer you up.” Raising an eyebrow at the muffled grunt from the girl beside him, Cole sat up and glared down at Bella's barely concealed amused expression.

 

“What's with the laughing? I'm serious, wench! I would never buy you something that ugly!”

 

Nodding her head in mock concurrence, Bella agreed, “No, never.”

 

Cole narrowed his eyes dangerously and leaned a little closer. “Are you mocking me, little girl?” Giggling madly, Bella attempted to scoot away from his intimidating stare, but Cole trapped her beneath him with his arms on either side of her head.

 

“Mock you? I would never do that…” Bella murmured breathily as she lifted her chin in anticipation of Cole's descending lips. Bypassing her upturned mouth, Cole nudged her head to the side with his nose, and nuzzled against her neck.

 

Sighing a little as he trailed wet, open mouthed kisses against her skin, Bella shifted causing her robe to part a little in the front. Cole groaned softly at the skin exposed by her movement, and trailed his kisses to the cleavage left bare for his perusal.

 

Bella shivered and moaned at the feelings his kisses elicited from her bare skin. She felt herself growing warmer by the second as an unidentifiable ache began in the apex between her thighs.

 

“Oh, Cole…” she sighed as he ran a hand up her smooth calf and up her thigh. Stopping suddenly, Cole removed his hand from her leg and sat up.

 

Meeting her confused gaze with his own suspicious one, Cole ran trembling fingers through his silky, black hair and made a wide sweeping motion with his other hand.

 

“What are you wearing under that thing?”

 

Bella smiled slyly and pushed herself up onto her elbows.

 

“Nothing,” she whispered seductively as she slid her hand beneath his black t-shirt to stroke his well developed chest.

 

Cole groaned loudly and stood up. “You're evil. Did you know that?”

 

Bella threw her back and laughed. “I know, I know. I'm a naughty, naughty girl… What are you going to do about it, Mr. Hastings?”

 

Turning his heated gaze back to Bella, Cole muttered, “Don't tempt me…”

 

Her body shuddering under his intense stare, Bella pulled her robe a little closer.

 

“How do you do that?” she asked.

 

“How do I do what?” Cole questioned as he sat down and pulled her into his lap. Bella snuggled into his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist.

 

“How do you always know exactly what to do and say to make me forget about all the shit going on in my life?”

 

Cole sighed and pressed a affectionate kiss to her hair, breathing in the sweet scent that was all her own.

 

“Because I know you better than I know myself,” he answered simply. The silence following his statement was broken by a loud rumbling sound coming from the small form in his embrace.

 

Cole chuckled. “Hungry, Bell?”

 

Grinning sheepishly up at him through her lashes, Bella held up her thumb and pointer finger. “Just a little.”

 

“Well, come on then loser, and let's get you something to eat,” Cole laughed as he dragged Bella off the bed and pushed her out the door towards the kitchen.

 

After seeing her dad at the hospital, Cole had taken her back to her house so she could take a shower and get some personal items together. Cole insisted that until her father was released, she would stay with him and his parents.

 

Passing by the living room, Bella took a cautious peek inside expecting to see the mess her father had made in his drunken state, but was shocked to fnd the room neat and clean.

 

“Did you do this?” Bella asked with tears in her eyes.

 

“Yeah, while you were in the shower. I didn't figure-“ Cole's answer was cut off by a loud OOOF as Bella threw herself into his chest.

 

“Thank you,” Bella whispered as she soaked his shirt with the tears streaming down her cheeks.

 

Cole sighed and hugged her tightly. `I think it's about time I had a talk with Mr. Campbell,' Cole thought with an angry scowl.

 

`I'm sick of standing by idly, watching him break her heart day after day. Either he quits being a selfish bastard and starts giving her the love she deserves, or I will take her away from here.'

 

`It's time to shape up or ship out.'

 

 

 

 

 

Cole closed the door to the Mr. Campbell's room quietly and strode over to where he was laying, staring out the window.

 

Lowering himself into a chair beside the bed, Cole waited for the man to acknowledge him.

 

“What are you doing here, Cole? Come to tell me that I'm a bastard for doing this to her? There's really no need; I already know what a horrible father I am.”

 

The broken looking man turned his gaze from the window and watched as Cole stood up and stalked to the other side of the room.

 

“If you know, then that just makes you that much more of a bastard,” Cole pointed out angrily, “How can you do this to her? She needs you and you don't even fucking care!”

 

Wincing a little at his harsh words, Mr. Campbell sighed. “It's not that I don't care, Cole. I love Bella more than life itself. She's all I have left of her mother. Of Kathy.”

 

Tears streaming freely down his cheeks, he continued, “I hurt. All the time. It feels like my heart was ripped from my chest and every time I see Bella, I see Kathy. Alcohol is the only thing that dulls my pain and sometimes I think I might be going crazy…” He trailed off when he noticed Cole glaring at him.

 

“You're pathetic. And weak,” Cole gritted out through clenched teeth, “Suck it up, man, because you are this close to losing another member of your family. I refuse to stand by and watch you tear Bella apart with your selfishness. So, either you pull yourself together or I will take her from you,” he finished as Mr. Campbell stared blankly at him.

 

Softening his gaze a little at the stricken expression gracing the other's man's features, Cole closed the space between them and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

 

“You can do this. You can pull yourself out of this hole you've lost yourself in. For Bella, you can be strong.”

 

Mr. Campbell let out a choked sob. “Will you help me, Cole? Will you take care of her while I take care of myself?”

 

Cole nodded and smiled reassuringly, “Do you even have to ask?”

 

 

 

 

 

*~~~~A/N~~~~*

 

 

 

One review? That's it? I think I might cry. :o( Where have all my readers gone? WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME??!! Oops, sorry about that. lol I tend to be a little overdramatic at times. But seriously guys, one review? Don't you love me anymore? *sniffles*

 

 

 

 

*~~Media Miner Reviewer(s)~~*

 

 

 

Amaria2012: Always happy to hear that people are enjoying my story, thanks so much to my ONE REVIEWER! lol (But I'm not bitter) You're awesome. *hugz* You get a cookie and a gold star.

 

 

 

 

Next Chapter: Stay With Me