A.N.: Ok, I know the title is a Grease song-lol! Just had to say that. But, hey, my other fanfic's title is a Kingdom Hearts song!
Speaking of Kingdom Hearts, isn't KH-2 the best game EVER: )
Anyway, this is told in Bella's perspective. I probably got some facts wrong and messed up her personality. Heh. I'm really not happy with this. But my sister likes it, and she's perfect, so it might not be as bad as I'm thinking. You decide!
The lake was gorgeous.
Immediately all thoughts of not wanting to come fled from my mind like the gentle summer breeze. Edward had said this spot would be perfect –his favorite lake, but who was I to show any early excitement whatsoever for a fishing trip, or anything that included having to hike through a neglected forest for that matter, having lived in Phoenix for most of my life and still, in all my seventeen years, never quite accomplishing what some would call a necessity –every summer's must-have item, a tan.
Still, anywhere with Edward would be heaven. Even fishing on an abandoned lake in the middle of a forest. I had to admit, it was definitely worth the small hike through the woods to get here. Definitely.
The lake was a giant oval, surrounded by towering trees on all sides. A beautiful clearing was made, probably thanks to the erosion of the river banks over the years. The water was a crisp, clear translucent blue, tempting enough to swim in. Well, almost.
On the edge of the water was a boat small enough for two.
"Is it yours, Edward," I asked, wondering if I had just discovered another hidden hobby of his. He shook his head.
"No. Carlisle's and Esme's," he said, and then continued, "Well, mostly Esme's. She likes the water." He thought for a moment before continuing. "They come here together a lot. Like a retreat for them, or something to that effect. We always wonder why they don't get something bigger," he added, shaking his head slightly, "but it seems to work for them." He paused, laughing before he continued, "One time we didn't see them for days."
"Their love must be deep," I replied, already knowing that the aforementioned was true.
"Very much so," he confirmed.
Then, in another sudden act of unparalleled grace, he lifted me up in his arms until my head was resting on the nook of his neck and held me close, walking slowly toward the boat. "And so is ours." He paused, gauging my reaction. "In fact, sometimes I don't want to let you go," he said, looking so incredibly handsome, I once again found myself questioning his reality. "But don't worry," he continued, his topaz eyes devouring my own, "I'll let you go home by nightfall." I laughed, secretly wishing to not make it home that soon. Besides, Edward had promised to take me to his favorite book store.
Turns out, he knew of many. Most of them scattered throughout Washington and some as far away as New York, because, as he reminds me often, there is no place too far for a vampire. And, he had promised to take me to each of his favorite spots –all in one summer.
I prayed he didn't mean Alaska. Though I suppose the Northern Lights would be something nice to experience. But, still. I'd probably die from the cold before I could even get a good look.
"In we go," Edward said, as he placed me gently in the seat across from him. The boat felt larger than it looked. Thank God for that, too. I would need as much room as possible if I didn't want to completely pass out in his presence.
Again.
I never really liked fishing. Perhaps it was due to my indifference to fish or water in general, but who really knows. I mean, I guess I've never seen the point of getting up before dawn to sit for countless hours in a boat small enough to jeopardize any claustrophobic, waiting for some small fish to come and bite your line, and then hoping it would be enough for dinner that evening.
As my mother had reminded me before as a child, obviously referring to Charlie's bleak obsession, fishing didn't save any money. Take the amount of money spent on the rod and bait, not to mention the charge of renting the boat itself, and you'd probably find yourself in a truckload of debt. Nor did it consistently provide food for an entire meal, Mom would point out -no doubt remembering the times she waited all day not bothering to go to the market, for Charlie to come home from fishing, empty-handed as usual.
But none of that really mattered, because I was fishing with Edward. And that made all the difference. Doing anything with Edward is beyond description. It's like soaking in the first rays of the sun on the first day of summer in Phoenix, like eating a gigantic slice of red velvet cake, each bite tasting just as strong and fresh as the first, like that elated mystical feeling one gets as gentle ocean waves collide with your feet for the first time in ages.
Yes, Edward is just that, well, good.
Hours had gone by like seconds just listening to the sound of his voice as he asked me question upon question about everything from the most insignificant, like if I preferred maple or blueberry syrup on my pancakes, to what I was thinking this very second, all the while blurring my thoughts with his indescribable aroma.
"Bella," he called, waking me from my haze. "I asked what you are thinking about right now." He smiled, waiting eagerly for my answer.
"I was thinking that you smell good," I said, blushing immediately after realizing what I had just said.
"I smell good," he questioned, obviously playing with me. "Well, I'm glad you think so, but if there is one of us with –let's call it "the scent appeal", it would surely be you, Bella." I laughed.
"Only to you, though! You attract people, lots of people, believe me," I said, "You may not know this, but your, well, "scent appeal" is much stronger than mine." His eyes narrowed, unconvinced.
"Then, tell me, Bella. What do I smell like?"
His question caught me off guard. I had never really thought about it before, what Edward smelled like. Well, that wasn't entirely true. I'd thought endlessly about it. Even dreamt of it. But, it was different trying to put it into words.
"You smell like…," I began, watching his eyes rise expectantly. He leaned in closer, and I could feel myself losing my breath.
"I smell like…"
"Y –you smell so good, you make me confused."
His expression changed from anticipation to alarm.
"Is that bad?"
"No," I replied, truthfully. "It's just, you enchant me."
"Enchantment…," he repeated, as if trying to understand the hidden meeting behind the word. I smiled, wishing it would lessen his worries.
"Edward, what do I smell like to you," I asked, trying to divert the subject. He looked down immediately, and I wondered if I had said something wrong.
"Can you answer that?"
"Do you really want to know," he asked, warily.
"Yes," I replied strongly.
"And, it won't upset you?"
"Nothing has yet."
"Point taken," he agreed, with a small smile. "Well, first, what do you think you smell like?" I smiled.
"Well, I don't know, really. Um, chicken?" He stared blankly back at me, before his face broke into that dazzling smile of his.
"No."
I contemplated for a moment, sincerely baffled by his question.
"All right, then. Old shampoo?" He smiled and shook his head. "Heroin?" He laughed this time, but still shook his head.
"Today, you smell like a garden," he said, still smiling.
"Today?"
"Yes. Today, a garden. Overwhelmingly fresh and wild at first, full of life and splendor, but then, once accustomed to it, it turns soft and gentle like a cool summer breeze," he said.
"And that changes," I asked, feebly trying to stop blushing.
"Yes, every day," he sighed. "But, it's always perfect. Heavenly, in fact." He looked down suddenly, as if he had said too much.
"Go on," I urged, truly wanting to know his thoughts.
"To me, Bella, you are something out of reach. Something wrong. Like a sin. Sometimes I wonder if I am sane, cursing an angel with something as tainted as a demon. It's dirty. And yet," he said, finally looking up into my eyes, "It's so alluring. So appealing. Intoxicating, even. I could not live without you, Bella."
"Good, because I'd die without you, and you know it." He smiled, but the light left his eyes.
"Don't say that, Bella."
"Why? It's the truth," I stated. "Oh, and another thing," I said, folding my arms across my chest deliberately. "You're not a demon, Edward. And I'm not an angel."
"Bella –,"
"No," I persisted. "Hear me out. Sure, you're a vampire. And yes, like all vampires, you have a shady past. But, if someone asked me randomly who you were, I would say you were Edward first and a vampire second. Because I know you can't become a vampire without being a human first."
"Bella, I've killed -,"
"Yes, you killed. You killed to eat. Humans do it all the time. It's called the circle of life."
"And you're not a human?" I smirked.
"I don't have to be." He frowned.
"Bella, my decision will not stray," he said with deliverance. "Who am I to curse you for eternity? Vampires are nothing more than demons walking the earth."
"But you changed, and took an alternative path. Carlisle taught you that you didn't have to accept your fate, that you could change. And you did. It's difficult and you're faced with challenges, but you still persevere. You always make the right decision. Is having such integrity to do the right thing that demonic, Edward?"
"Bella," Edward stated, "I think you've got something." I jumped, realizing that something was indeed tugging on my line, and inavertently pulling me down with it.
"Edward!"
And in a flash Edward had me in his arms, his head nuzzling mine, as I foolishly tried to reel in the ensnared fish without success.
"My sweet, naïve Bella," he said, as he took the rod out of my hands. "What am I going to do with you," he asked, kissing my forehead gently. "No matter what you insist, you are my beautiful angel."
He was so close, his breath plaguing my thoughts, his body, solid as a rock, holding me steady as he rocked me gently. There was a moment of mid-air confusion, and then a profound splash.
I soon realized it had not been Edward rocking me after all.
"Edward," I screamed, splashing around to try and keep above water. We were sure to be out at least fifty feet deep and, by now, it was no secret that I was a terrible swimmer.
"Bella, I have you, don't worry."
And just like that, he lifted me up, over-turned the boat, and sat me inside it, gliding in across from me instantly like nothing ever happened. Breathing hard, I looked at him in awe. He put Superman to shame.
There was a silence, which I used to catch my breath, in order to keep from hyperventilating. Edward looked up at the clouds parting in the sky.
And just when I felt things were starting to get normal, just when I felt I could finally breathe steadily again -
Edward took off his shirt.
A.N.: Ok. Here's the thing with this story. I need your honest opinion on whether I should continue it or not. I know there is an abundance of "twilight summer before New Moon" fics on the site, and I don't want to plague it with another one unless people like it and want me to continue. I already have another chapter written, but it's definetely not "post-worthy" in my opinion. Well, most of my work is not really "post-worthy" in my opinion, but my sister has a poker stick just for me. I know that probably didn't make any sense, so just ignore it.
Thank you for reading: )
P.S.: I know I haven't updated 'Simple and Clean' in a while, but I've already got the next chapter written. I just don't want to overflow the front page with stuff from me, because I like to read everyone else's stuff and I'm sure everyone else does too.Plus you guys have some really good stuff. Besides, two things from me is too much for one day-lol! I just randomly decided to put this one on first to see what y'all think before updated the one with an actual plot. lol! Well, anyway, I thank you for your reviews on it.
Read and Review! It'll make my day! Much love for Twilight: )
Foxiego : )