After Tonight

“Alright.” Rob plopped down on the couch next to me and I rested my legs on top of his. “I just bought the tickets. We leave on the 26th.”
Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply. The thought of meeting Rob’s parents absolutely terrified me. I could only picture his parent’s the way I’d seen British people in films—cold and snooty. I told Rob this and he just thought it was hilarious. No matter how much he assured me his family would adore me, I didn’t believe him.
“Yeah, great.”
“Seriously. Abbey, you’ll be fine.” he chuckled, rubbing my legs. “What about me? I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle your family at Christmastime.” I swatted at him with a pillow before groaning loudly and burying my head in the cushions.
“I hope they serve alcohol on that plane.”
“You drunk.”
…
The airport was stuffy at six in the morning. I hugged my arms around my chest as I waited for Rob to come back from the bathroom. Our bags were checked and I was currently waiting in a surprisingly long line for security checks.
Rob jogged back to my side, grinning foolishly. He was so excited about this torture he was putting my through. As we continued our wait, I couldn’t help but stare at him while he people-watched; his hair was perfectly disheveled as usual. His cheeks were red from the cold and his lips looked extremely kissable. Out of the corner of his eye he caught my glance, another smile stretching across his face. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side.
“Love, please stop worrying.” He kissed my forehead. This was going to be one long flight.
...
Our arrival at the London airport was gratefully appreciated—the plane did in fact serve alcohol and as Rob and I walked out of the terminal, I couldn’t even remember why we were there in the first place. Rob suppressed his laughter as I giggled, stumbling over my feet while we waited for our luggage.
“I can’t wait for you to meet my folks now.” he said sarcastically, grabbing onto my elbow before I toppled over the luggage rack.
…
The next morning I woke up in a strange, yet divinely soft bed. My head throbbed and I had to shield my eyes from the sunlight. I sat up, leaning against the headboard and tried to place my location. The walls were light blue with white trim. A large window on my left overlooked a few trees and a small yard covered in white snow. We definitely weren’t in New York anymore.
As it hit me, I slumped back down and hid underneath the fresh sheets—I had made an absolute ass of myself in front of Rob’s parents. Oi vey. Just then, the door opened and Rob peeked through.
“Please tell me I didn’t do anything stupid last night?” I groaned through the covers. It only took him a second to reach the bed and he stretched out next to me, uncovering my face and kissing it.
“You slurred a bit when I carried you in, something about knickers and have a ‘stick up your arse’.” He smiled.
“Ooooh they probably think I’m a stupid, American lush!”
“No, they don’t.” Rob said. “Now, get up and come down for lunch. It’ll be OK.” I groaned again, crawling out of the bed. “Really, let’s go.”
I cautiously entered the kitchen, trying to shrink behind Rob as his mother called out.
“Look who’s finally awake!” I smiled meekly as I tried to figure out if she was being rude or charming. Rob stepped aside, practically pushing me up to his parents.
“Hi.” I gulped, trying to smile. “Sorry about...yesterday...”
“Oh no, don’t worry about it.” His mom smiled at me. “It’s nice to meet you.”
She was a tall woman—at least taller than me—, with the same color hair as Rob, slightly graying. She looked friendly enough.
“Come. Eat!” she beckoned. I sat down next to Rob’s dad, who smiled at me and adjusted his glasses.
“Rough flight?” he asked with a sly smile. His blue eyes twinkled with amusement.
“Er. Yeah.” I smiled sheepishly.
The rest of the afternoon sailed by. There was a small holiday celebration with his parents; sadly I wouldn’t get to meet his sisters—they left the day before we arrived.
...
“They like you, you know?” Rob asked as I brushed my teeth that night. I spit and wiped my chin.
“Sure.” I smiled. I doubt they loved me just yet.
“Fine.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Be a Negative Nancy.”
The next morning, Rob wanted to take me into London. We made a day of it and his parents joined us. As childish as it sounds, my favorite part was trying to make the palace guards laugh. Rob got a kick out of it too, but he could’ve just been laughing at me. His parents wanted to take me to a pub later that night, though his dad jokingly reminded them to monitor my alcohol intake.
Rob knew a few people at the bar, all of them old school friends and whatnot. We’d been there for little over an hour when the owner announced it was open-mike night. Those who had joined the four of us in a booth started a chant for Rob to take the stand. I launched into a round of cheers, definitely a little buzzed after the five or so beers I’d downed. At first, he shook it off, saying he didn’t have his guitar.
“Oh that’s bullshit Rob.” his friend, Tommy, jeered, getting up from the table. Seconds later he appeared again, holding a guitar. The guy from the band that had been up there when we’d stopped in said that he could borrow it.
“Ooooh play me a song!” I poked Rob's arms. He shook his head. “Pllllleeeeeeeeeas?”
“Come on mate, do it for the girl!” someone else yelled. Finally having enough, he sighed and pushed his way out of the booth.
“I’m only doing this for her.” he yelled over the noise, grabbing me and planting one hell of a kiss on my lips. My blood thumped as I gasped for air.
Once he opened his mouth onstage, I couldn’t breathe. Jesus this guy was talented. It was a slow song, one he’d written a few years ago. Nobody in the pub moved as muscle as Rob played his song; it was silent except for his rough voice. There was nothing sexier than a musician, especially one who looked as good as he did under the spotlight.
When he finished, the entire place roared with applause. He shyly made his way back to the table, his eyes locking with mine. I was completely mesmerized.
We’d all made it back to the house—this time I’d done a much better job keeping my composure; nobody was drunk tonight. The Pattinsons said goodnight and left us alone.
Rob stretched his 6’1 frame out on the bed. Surprisingly, we were allowed to sleep together in his parents’ home; all they’d asked is that we waited to “shag” until they went out. I jumped onto the bed, turning to face him. Something about the night had really made me think about my feelings for him. Love. It was that simple. I was in love with him.
We laid next to one another in silence. The low lamplight faintly lit the room, enough so I could make out his features. Everything about him was beautiful. I studied his face, tracing his jaw line.
“What?” he asked softly, rolling onto his side. When I didn’t respond, he placed his hand over mine and brought it to his heart. I could feel it beat, I could feel his chest rise and fall and I slowly fell into pace with him.
Pushing back some hair that had fallen in my face, he let his fingers linger on my cheeks. His touch was cool and soft, my heart fluttered.
“I love you.”
Silence.
The seconds ticked on—minutes—before I could read him. Just say something dammit!
More silence. I felt so, so foolish.
“Well the cat’s out of the bag.” I muttered looking away as I rolled onto my other side. My words got caught in my throat. “I, uh, I—it was too soon. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Not wanting to sit in surreal awkwardness that closed down on us, I started for the bathroom, my breathing becoming uneven. I just told a man that I loved him and I wasn’t quite sure which was worse; the possibility of him not reciprocating or him not saying anything at all. Two months seemed appropriate, right? I hadn’t planned on saying anything, it just slipped. But the words sounded, and felt, natural once they left my mouth. What if I’d just scared him away? What if he was thinking about how fast he could get away without me seeing?
“Abbey.” I could feel a presence behind me as his voice stopped me in the doorway. Long fingers wrapped around my wrist, trying to pull me back; I looked at my toes, freshly painted and small—I would look at my toes forever if it meant not having to look into those eyes.
Suddenly something light danced on the back of my back of my neck. I wanted to keep walking but instead my eyes fluttered shut as I felt Robert’s lips on my skin. I felt his warm breath as he placed his hands on my shoulders, pulling my back into his sturdy chest. Then it was his eyelashes, flitting across my neck as he pressed a kiss to my shoulder in silence. I had never wanted to run from anyone more in my life.
“Abbey.” he murmured. “I love you.”
My feet felt like lead. Did he really have to think it over, make sure I was good enough? Or did he just finally decide to say it because he felt bad that I was stuck in a foreign country with him for another week? Unsure of what to think, I slipped out of his grasp and continued to the bathroom.
“Rob.” I sighed, stopping in the doorway. After I walked out, he'd decided to sit—clearly baffled—in the middle of the doorway. “What are you doing?” I stepped over him, just wanting the night to be over.
“I am at a loss.” he explained, jumping up and following me to the bed. “You said you loved me. And now you won’t even look at me—did I suddenly sprout a third head?” I rolled my eyes and crawled under the covers.
“Abbey Dylan Jones.” His voice got a little stronger. “What happened?”
“What happened, Robert Thomas Pattinson, is that I said it and it was a mistake. I’m tired. I’m going to bed. Goodnight.” I turned the lamp on the bedside table off with a huff.
“What?” he asked incredulously, facing my back. He waited for a few minutes before he noisily turned the opposite way, grumbling.
And they say never go to bed angry.
...
Rob was gone when I woke the next morning. I crept into the kitchen where I found his mother sitting at the table reading the paper. She told me he’d stepped out for a walk.
“Alright. Thanks.” I responded quietly, quickly turning back up the stairs to avoid her curious and disapproving stare.
While I waited for him, I showered. I brushed my teeth, changed outfits three times, checked my email and sent an update to Allie, read a magazine, filed my nails and started a book. Each creak of the wooden floors made me jump, thinking Rob was walking up the stairs. Every time I heard the downstairs door open my stomach lurched, but it was always one of his parents. Dusk had come and gone and he still wasn’t back. A part of me was worried; and a part thought he was acting like a five-year-old.
“So much for getting dressed.” I muttered, slipping into my worn out t-shirt that I slept in. Not knowing what else to do, I got under the covers and waited. Once I’d finally waited enough, I turned off the lights and pretended to sleep—so really, I was still waiting.
The floors creaked loudly and the bedroom door slowly opened. Finally. I glanced at the clock—12:30. He tip-toed around until I could hear his clothes slink to the floor. As he crawled into bed next to me, the smell of smoke hit me hard.
“Those will kill you, ya’ know?” I asked, not bothering to look at him. He chuckled gruffly.
“You’re running a pretty close race with them for that, love.” I snorted.
“Where were you?” I asked, still not looking at him.
“I was out.” he replied shortly. “For a walk.”
“You were gone all day.”
“Worried?”
“…no.” Actually, Rob, yes. Yes, I was fucking worried.
“What is going on with you? I mean honestly, love, you're acting like a complete bitch."
“Did you mean it?” I asked, ignoring his previous comment.
“Did I mean what?” he asked, turning to face me. “That you’re bitchy, yes.”
“Goodnight Rob.”
…
The morning after started out the same; Rob was gone when I woke up. This time though, instead of finding his mother in the kitchen, I found him sitting at the table. He nursed a cup of coffee while staring blankly at the folded paper, a smoldering cigarette in the ashtray his antsy hand rested by.
I busied myself getting some breakfast, subconsciously playing with the ends of my hair—my own nervous habit.
It was hard not to think how much I liked feeling him next to me in bed at night, and how seeing him in the morning—hair ruffled and eyes groggy—made my chest tighten. By now, I stopped pouring the coffee and just watched him from across the kitchen. If this were any other time, I would have told him he should stay at my place more often, but after the incident I couldn’t help but wonder if he would even want to.
“See something you like?” he asked smugly, realizing my eyes hadn’t left him once in that time since I’d come downstairs. His words jarred me from my trance; I forced myself to roll my eyes at him and started to go upstairs.
“Abbey!” he sighed, jogging after me. “C’mon.”

Rob’s P.O.V.
“I love you.” My breath caught in my chest.
The second she’d spoken, Abbey’s eyes widened, somewhat out of horror. A pink blush took over her cheeks and she took a sudden interest in the blanket she was wrapped up in. I wanted to speak, wanted to say that I knew I was in love with her the minute I stepped through the door at her parents’ house on Thanksgiving. But I couldn’t. I was completely caught up in this beautiful creature laying next to me, glowing in the lamplight.
Her hair cascaded off of her shoulders, which were now moving slightly as she inhaled deeper breaths. I watched her thin fingers twist the blanket nervously—god, if she could look through my eyes she’d be speechless too. She kept looking at me anxiously, slightly biting her lips, her eyes pleading with me to say something. But still I couldn’t. Then she muttered and it hit me that I’d been selfish by not telling her exactly how she made me feel.
Abbey walked to the door but I got up quickly to catch her. I told her I loved her and she walked away.
Fuck.
…
We still had a week left and she was ignoring me again. I knew what I’d done wrong but I really thought she was overreacting. In the kitchen that morning, I caught her stare, and for a second it was like old times. Until she fled.
“Abbey!” I jogged after her as she took off up the stairs. “C’mon.”
“Can we just forget about this?” she asked turning around abruptly, nearly smacking right into me.
“Eh?” I was taken aback.
“Let’s just forget that I said…that…and just have a good vacation. OK?”
“But Abbey—“ I argued. “I’m...glad you said...that.” She looked away for a brief second, thinking up some sharp comment.
“Really, Rob?” she asked, gesturing with her hands. “Because you sure didn’t seem like it.” Abbey talked with her hands a lot.
“What do you mean I ‘didn’t seem like it’?” I backed her into the wall now—purely because all I wanted to do was kiss her—and she didn’t cower.
“You hesitated.” She narrowed her eyes.
“Only because I couldn’t…” I couldn’t quite put into words how I felt at that moment. “You were just…beautiful.” She paused, running a hand through her hair in frustration.
“That. Is. A. Lame. Excuse.” She clearly wasn’t backing down as she enunciated each word by jabbing her finger in my face.
“Jesus Abbey!” I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed her wrist and pinned her against the wall. Her eyes were wide in fear but she just stared at me. “I wish I could describe you in that moment just so you could see what I saw. It was…ah! I dunno, it was perfect, Abbey. Your voice, your hair, the way the light hit your skin, the blush on your cheeks—it was absolutely beautiful. And yeah, alright. I know I could’ve gotten my answer out a little more quickly but give me a fucking break!”
Downstairs the front door opened-dad was home from work. I looked from the stairs to Abbey, who did the same.
“I love you.” Her voice was soft and her eyes glistened.
“What?” I asked, missing the point where this conversation had turned.
“I am so in love with you, I can’t think about anything else.”
With that, everything went out the window and Abbey’s arms were around my neck. She kissed me fiercely and I caved—it’d been almost two days and I craved her taste.
…
The rest of the week went along quite smoothly. My mother had gotten over whatever grudge she’d been holding against Abbey. My parents had really come around to Abbey before we left and were disappointed we hadn't planned a longer visit.

Abbey's P.O.V.
Everything was different now. As Rob and I stepped off of the plane back in New York, he took my hand giving it a tight squeeze. He smiled at me, his eyes crinkling. He loved me.