Only a Photograph
Chapter 1
Today was my birthday and my best friend insisted we go out and celebrate. I was officially 21. The weather was surprisingly warm and sunny for September but I was glad for the change in the cold rainy weather that was the norm for Seattle. I wore form fitting jeans, a tight blue shirt and matching ballerina shoes. My makeup was simple and it only seemed to highlight the mahogany color of my long brown hair, which had taken hours to tame into soft, tousled waves. My best friend, Alice, planned a night on the town which included a trip to the mall, a dance club, and drinking. We had already taken our trip to the mall which had Jasper, the great boyfriend of my dear Alice, carrying our bags and standing outside dressing rooms as Alice played Bella Barbie. As much as I disliked shopping and Bella Barbie, I knew I had to let her have her fun or I would never hear the end of it. She was nice enough to let me enter a bookstore for a few minutes to pick out a new read. She claimed because it was my birthday, I could pick one store.
We were now heading off to Club 41. Alice was attached to Jasper's side as we took the short walk from the parking garage to the club. I felt a little jealous of my good friend. She had undoubtedly found the man of her dreams. In our freshman year of high school no less. She spotted him on the front lawn of the school in the beginning of the year. She danced right up him and told him he had left her waiting too long. Jasper had replied in a thick southern accent at the time that he was sorry, and since that day they were never parted for long. I, on the other hand, have only had two so called boyfriends in my life; neither of which lasted very long. Mike Newton and Jacob Black. Mike and I only lasted one week before I told him it wasn't working and that maybe he could go date Jessica. She had been chasing after him for awhile and at the time, she had started to become one of my friends. I thought I owed it to her so I sent him on his way.
Jacob, the last boy I was with, was my best friend since I had moved to Forks, Washington. Jacob's father was best fishing pals with my father and shortly after arriving I joined my father on one of their fishing trips. After that day, Jacob and I had been great friends which turned into what we thought was love. But I soon realized that the love I felt for him was more of a family love then what I would call soul mate love. He was disappointed at first but after awhile, he found a girl he was head over heels for. Since the day he met Nessie, he and I returned to being best friends and I immersed myself into school and college soon after. Unfortunately, it left me as their third wheel. I sighed, turning my attention back to the side walk to help keep my unnaturally clumsy self from meeting the ground tonight.
I was looking forward to the drinking that was part of tonight's activities but the dancing was a different matter all in its own. I was a horrible dancer. I tripped over my own two feet enough without effort; never mind the idea of trying to do it on purpose. My eyes stayed focused on my feet and I was surprised when Alice grabbed my arm and stopped me in my tracks.
"Alice what the hell....." She was bouncing up and down like a sugar filled child.
"Bella! It's him! It's Edward Cullen!" The name she spoke took a few seconds to register in my brain before it hit me like a ton of bricks. Edward Cullen became a breakout star after shooting what should have been and indie film, but went on to gross over $100 million in its first weekend. Where as I enjoyed his acting, Alice had an obsession over the man; so I knew there was no point in stalking him via Internet--Alice did enough for both of us. She tracked his every move, so I could rely on her to tell me the next day when we woke up.
I took my chance and look up at the gorgeous face of Edward Cullen. The gentle breeze swept through his messy bronze hair, making it blow around his piercing emerald eyes that could make my heart melt with one look. He wore a simple black button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and dark colored jeans. I was sure that if I didn't watch myself, my jaw would hit the sidewalk and I would trip over it as he walked past. But it seemed he wasn't quite ready to walk past; not if Alice had a say in it.
"Edward!" His eyes averted from the ground to my frantic best friend waving at him. Alice began dragging me forward until we were a few feet in front of him. I felt my cheeks lighting up a bright red by from being so close to the handsome movie star. I dropped my head down to try and hide my cheeks.
"Umm yes, can I help you three?" my heart melted at the sound of his to die for British accent, and as if on cue, my cheeks turned a brighter shade of red at the thought. His accent was heat melting. It was my favorite next to the American one he pulled off in his last movie. I took a chance and raised my head up to take him in. Yep, he was still down right gorgeous and I was still down right plain. Somehow though, every time I saw a photo of him and even now, he reminded me of someone from my past that I couldn't quite place. I was sure that was the reason behind my infatuation for the star, but I vowed never to be as bad as Alice.
"Yes, do you mind taking a picture with us? I have to say I'm a huge fan of your work and so is my friend here." After Alice had directed some attention to me I wanted to shove her in a closet without name brand cloths. I saw his gazed shift over to me only causing my blush to deepen into what I thought would be a new shade of red. I dropped my face hiding behind a curtain of my hair once again. I felt a sharp pain in my side telling me Alice had jabbed me with her elbow. I opened my mouth to greet him.
"Yes, well it's nice to meet you Edward, I'm sorry if we are bothering you. We were just on our way to a club." At first I didn't hear a reply back so I looked up at him as saw his jaw a bit slacked as he stared at me. My eyes widened before looking at Alice who was in turn looking at Edward, with a confused look on her own face. I took one last look Edward's face before lowering my own. After what seemed like years he spoke.
"No,......no, it's not a big deal." I heard Alice squeal next to me causing a chain reaction. I jumped in surprise and lost my footing falling backwards. I braced myself for impact with the ground. But it never came. Instead, I felt a pair of warm arms wrapped around me, saving me from a trip to the hospital. During the fall my eyes had slid closed so I wasn't sure who it was; all I knew was this person smelled incredible and from what I could tell they were slim but well built underneath the clothes they wore. I opened my eyes to be greeted with those green eyes. Edward Cullen had saved me from an almost certain trip to the emergency room. Carefully, he pulled me back up into a standing position and all the while I was focused on his eyes. It was like I could see straight into his soul; and the soul I saw was beautiful. If there was such a thing at love at first sight then I was sure that was what just happened.
When I was finally standing I lost sight of his face. I was awfully close to him, actually I was pressed to his chest so tightly, I was sure that if left like this I could never fall again. For the first time, I felt safe. I tilted my head up to look at him. The top of my head barely made it past his shoulder and if I wanted to look into his eyes I would need a step stool. But lucky for me, his eyes were cast down so that he was peering into my eyes and across his face was a soft smile. It seems my blushing fairy appeared once more, as my cheeks heated up but when I tried to pull away he only held me tighter. I looked at him with a confused expression trying to figure him out when he smiled a very crooked smile and I went limp smiling back at him. I was lost in my own little world ,smiling up at a very famous, very sexy movie star when I heard a click and a flash.
"Aww that is going to be a great picture to frame! Bella can you get one of me and Edward now?" I had completely forgotten that Alice was even there or the fact that Jasper was behind her shaking his head. Edward's arms finally relaxed around me as Alice handed me her camera and took a spot next to him. I took a few steps back and quickly took a shot of the two before handing the camera off to Alice.
"Well, ah thanks again Mr. Cullen sorry to have bothered you. Have a good night." I quickly grabbed Alice's arm dragging her forward with me. I didn't get far before I heard his velvety voice call out to us.
"Hey!" I stopped but decided to save myself more blushing by keeping my eyes down and away from his prefect face. He caught back up to us quickly before continuing to speak.
"If you guys don't mind, I would like to accompany the three of you to the club. If it's Club 41 I hold a private booth there." I my jaw dropped an inch; Edward Cullen wanted to hang out with me. I then heard him chuckle and it was as if the angels had created the sound. I heard his voice in my ear.
"You might want to breathe before you pass out." I exhaled a breath I didn't even know I was holding before dragging in another one to refill my lungs. Blushing, I looked at Alice who was jumping so high she was now as tall as Jasper. I counted down from three and as I reached one she shouted out that she would love to have him join us and we were indeed heading to Club 41 for my birthday.
"Well happy birthday Bella." I looked at him strangely,
"How do you know my name?" He seemed to look uncomfortable for a split second before smiling.
"Your friend said it when she spotted me." Quite surprised that he could have heard that from so far away, I nodded and started taking steps towards the club. He quickly followed in step behind us. Something kept itching in the back of my mind. I just couldn't quite figure out what it was.
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Hey there, thanks for reading. This story was a little plot kitty of mine that was wanting to come out. I like to give out a great Thanks to theotherbella, she is my beta and co-writer to this story cause I know that if I didn't have her this great story wouldn't go anywhere. Thanks Chica!
Stay tuned the next chapter will be around shortly!
