Before Bella

I could feel the warmth of the sun on my face, glistening off of my white teeth and sending a tingling sensation all the way to my toes. The year is 1918, and my life couldn't be any better than it is right now. For one thing, my 17th birthday would arrive in one more day and my friends and family were all planning to celebrate it with me. The biggest thing, my best friend, Edward Masen Jr. would be celebrating his own with me.

I cannot picture my life without him in it, we'd been neighbours for our entire life, and the best of friends that you could find around the vast city of Chicago. Bathing in the sunlight, I turned my blue eyes to Edward's green. He grinned as we lay sprawled on the soft grass in my backyard and then his eyebrows knitted together.

"So," he sarcastically murmured going up on one elbow and creating a grass stain on his white blouse, "what crazy scheme are you getting me into today, Constance? Shall I suggest harassing the Mrs. Wolff's cat? Maybe even frightening the boy at the newspaper stand?"

I rolled my eyes and smoothed my apron and dress as I stood up gracefully saying, "Those are all good ideas, but don't you think we're getting a bit old for that, Edward?" My friend chuckled and smiled crookedly as he rose to his feet taking my hand, "I was just joking, Constance, but for once do we honestly have nothing to do?"

I sighed, and gazing into the patient green eyes, I answered, "I know! How about we split up and find each other gifts to give on our birthday, then, I probably will think of a scheme by then."

With his grin widening mischievously, he confirmed, "That is a deal. Meet me on my back porch after my milk bottles have been taken tomorrow, all right?"

"Okay, see you then, Edward!" I called as he loped away with his black pants and white blouse spattered with mud.

Edward sprinted on the side of the road past the intoxicating fumes issuing from the factories, the bustling new stands crowded with people wearing masks (protection from the flu), and the bakery shop in earnest of reaching his destination: the jewelers.

When the store came into view, Edward raced through the door and straight toward the counter where Mr. Humphrey sat smoking his wooden pipe with puffs of grey smoke billowing like storm clouds during a downpour of rain.

"Mr. Humphreys." Edward politely greeted shaking hands with the broadly smiling jeweler whose shiny bald head and small, beady eyes sparkled in the lamp light.

"Ah ha! Edward my boy! I am guessing you want to see how it is coming along?"

Edward nodded enthusiastically as the jeweler revealed a small velvet box holding Constance's gift. Pushing the soft, blue lid from keeping the trinket hidden, a small, dainty ring with heart shaped diamonds embedded in the gold itself was revealed to his curious eyes.

"She'll love it." He murmured thoughtfully, "It is absolutely perfect sir, well done!"

"Oh it was nothing, anything for you Eddy, my boy! Did you see the engraving there, on the back, now?"

Twirling the ring around so he could view the back, he read the words he had chosen to be written there:

I love you farther than the stars to the sea, your love is my life, your laugh my symphony

"C'mon..." I muttered scanning the shop for something that Edward would enjoy for his birthday. After the many years I'd known him, how could I not discover a gift for him? Then, I found it! Sitting lonely on a dusty shelf was a collection of Debussy's most famous compositions meant to be played on a piano.

After purchasing it, I imagined Edward playing for me again, a tune he had created all by himself. It was pure, smooth, and brought tears to my eyes while his fingers pounded on chords to hear the melody they possessed.

Stowing it in my trunk at home, I gazed out my window to wait for the signal that Edward was there: 1 flash of light: 'I'm here' , 2 flashes: 'I love you', and 3 flashes: 'Goodnight.'

In earnest my eyes combed through the darkness, yet nothing changed in his bedroom. Crestfallen and hurt that he'd forgotten what we'd been doing since we were children, I muttered softly, "Yeah, I love you too. Goodnight, Edward."

"Thank you Constance, I feel the same way."

Spinning around in shock, I saw Edward grinning crookedly from my four poster bed, his arms folded and eyes sparkling like emeralds.

"Edward why in the world are you here?!" I fumed as I walked over to where he was comfortably sitting, pleased at my explosion.

He held in a smile and said with his eyes boring into mine, "I decided that I have to tell you something, Constance...even before your birthday."

Suddenly curious, I plopped down beside him and asked as I leaned my head on his shoulder, "What is it? Did you think of a crazy scheme?" His face hardened seriously and I watched his jaw clench slightly as he took my hand and brought it up to his cheek sighing.

"Constance, I love you."

My mouth went dry in disbelief and I tried to choke out in surprise, "And this couldn't wait until tomorrow because....?"

I was cut off and all of a sudden, his lips were on mine, tenderly moving along my own and then, I was kissing him back. I couldn't understand why I abruptly realized he was more than the silly playmate I'd grown up with: I loved him even more than I believed possible.

His hands gingerly cupped my face and I wrapped my arms around his neck pulling me even closer to his body when his lips stopped, and his own, burly arms wrapped around my waist so that we were in a loving stayed that way for a long period of time, and then we broke apart, and merely breathed in happiness.

"He turned his stare onto me and whispered, "So? It took me all day to think of that wicked, crazy scheme Constance, so how did I do?"

I exhaled deeply and held out my hand praising, "Very well Mr. Masen, very well indeed!" Shaking my hand in a mock business-like way, he said as he pressed his soft, warm lips to my forehead, "Until tomorrow my love." With that, he carefully climbed out of my window and even as my eyelids became droopier and heavier with sleep, I swore that I could see 2 blinking lights from his window across the street.

"Make a wish you two!" My eyes shut tightly as I prayed, I wish that Edward will really like his present, and that he'll kiss me again. Smiling mischievously at my last wish I peeked and saw Edward suspiciously narrowing his eyes at my impish grin.

With that, we both sent a whoosh of air at the tiny flickering flames that danced and burned on the waxy candles, letting them disappear and the charred wick steam. Edward's mother Elisabeth smiled and placed a hand on Edward's shoulder crooning to both of us, "Its time to exchange gifts now, come over here dears."

I received many wonderful presents including a set of shiny red hair ribbons, The Wizard of Oz, and a deep brown leather journal with a silky smooth cord to fasten it closed. However, Edward failed to present his mysterious gift to me....I am guessing that he'll want to give it to me once his milk bottles are taken. As Edward began receiving his gifts with a modest, polite smile resting on his lips, I decided to give him mine later as well.

I impatiently watched behind the bushes for the milk man to finally arrive at Edward's home, but time went by sluggishly, and i knew how unhappy my mother would be if she caught me childishly snooping and ruining my good dress.

Ready to give up in another minute or so, my heart nearly leaped from my pounding chest as I squinted in the eerie shadows of the sunset and watched the milk man change the empty bottles with ones full to the brim with creamy, white milk.

Almost too quickly, I rose from my uncomfortable position and stretched out my arms and legs so that they wouldn't cramp any farther and smoothed out the pleats of my apron. Inhaling nervously for what he'd give me or think of my own gift, I tucked a long strand of my glistening chocolate coloured hair back over my shoulder and walked forward with my deep brown eyes wandering around the small of his porch for him.

Without another despairing thought, Edward appeared grinning crookedly and in an inky black tail coat along with a neat bow tie and slacks. "You're early." He stated taking my hand thoughtfully as my breathing sped up excitedly, "How long were you behind that bush?" My eyes bulged out of their sockets and I stammered, "What? How did you know I was back there?" His smile softened and his green eyes twinkled; pure emeralds on a human.

Examining my appearance carefully, he answered, "I didn't- for the most part, actually. But you look like you've been behind there for a while; you have holly berries in your hair." He commented and plucked various plump, red berries from my hair as I blushed even deeper than the holly itself. Once They were all out of my hair, I nervously said to him, "Do you want your present now?"

Nodding, he plopped down on a bench and patted the space next to him saying dramatically, "Yes, but please sit, Constance. Its very unladylike to be standing." Sighing, I joined him and handed him the parcel wrapped in green paper, and tied off neatly with a bow. Carefully unwinding the silky ribbon, he pulled back the paper ad grinned in obvious delight.

"How did you know?" He asked with a huge smile that forced me to return one back. "I just remembered how much you loved playing, and you told me he was your favourite a while ago." He stroked my face gently with his fingertips and murmured, "Thank you, I really love it, Constance. Now," he chuckled nervously, something uncommon for Edward to do, "its your turn."

I gulped in curiosity, I could finally see the gift he'd been hiding from me without any hints. He left the bench as I watched him strangely, and as he went on one knee, I felt my breathing break off suddenly in shock as I realized what was happening.

Removing a small, blue velvet box from his pocket I could already feel tears welling up in my brown eyes, refusing to let them escape for he knew me better than that. Before revealing his gift he said seriously and romantically, "Constance, I've been your best friend for a really long time now, and I love you with every piece of my heart. So, I was wondering..." A single, glistening tear dribbled out and before I could brush it away he had removed a beautiful golden ring with heart shaped diamonds embellishing its glossy cover, and slid it onto my finger.

"Will you marry me?"

I began sobbing out of joy and even though I tried controlling myself, and putting on the brave, silly face I'd always been masked in, I hysterically kept crying and choked out in a rush as he stared at my face in horror, "Y-y-yesss!!! Of course, I-i-i'm jjjusst so hhappyyy!!!!"

Edward boomed with laughter and pulled me into his chest so that he could embrace my trembling body. I stifled the last of my sobs and closed my eyes happily as I leaned into his chest, trying to make sure this was really happening. "Constance, you really had me thinking I was being turned down with all of those unnecessary tears. Are you all right?" Edward asked me also slightly caught in a dreamy daze by the quiet, amused tone of voice.

"I'm perfect," I said, totally in control now and looking up to meet his eyes, "I just can't believe that you have always felt the.. the same way I have."

Tilting my chin up, Edward said honestly, "I loved you then," he kissed my forehead, "I love you now," he kissed my cheek, "and you will be my only love, forever." At that instant, his lips met my own, and we kissed blissfully even as the sunset completely disappeared and only the silver moon glowed down on us. At that instant, while his lips crushed my own lovingly, every piece of the confusing puzzle of my life came together for me. I would never have to be apart from my beloved friend who I'd loved deeper and deeper over time, for he'd love me forever, and we'd never part until we'd die in each other's arms.

"I love you farther than the stars to the sea, your love is my life, your laugh my symphony. Forever we shall stay together, two hearts, one song, never breaking our love, when another comes when ye pass, and I am left alone in the world, I shall never forget you, my flower, my pearl."