Disclaimer: I don't own any characters, or even some ideas in this story, or any products that I may mention. Some of the sentences or phrases I even borrowed- they're all Stephenie Meyers'. Except for the products, but you know where those come from. This story takes place in-between Twilight and New Moon.
It was raining, can you imagine? The quiet pitter patter of rain on the roof would have been, a year ago, enough to drive me crazy. But now it was strangely soothing. I was at my ten-year old computer finishing up an English paper for school, although it was only Saturday afternoon. I checked the clock in the corner of the screen. The black numbers pronounced that it was 6:15. Saving the paper, I shut down my prehistoric computer.
Edward would be here soon, he said he was taking me out for a dinner tonight. He had mentioned some fancy restaurant on the river. Stepping into my closet I tried to figure out what was decent enough to wear to a fancy restaurant, I didn't have many dressy things. The only thing I could come up with was something from Alice and Jasper's trip with me to Phoenix during spring, I grimaced at the reminder but shoved those thoughts aside. I tried on a collection of different outfits before finally deciding on the light blue cotton dress. I managed to get it over my head and turned to look at myself in the mirror on the closet door.
"Hmm, not bad." I murmured to myself.
"I'd say it looks quite ravishing on you." A velvety-musical voice said from behind me. I twirled around and stared into Edward's godlike face.
"How long have you been standing there?" I whispered bewildered, hoping Charlie wouldn't hear me, a blush quickly swept up into my cheeks.
"Long enough," he smiled-the same crooked smile that always made my legs melt. I turned back to the mirror, to escape his stare.
"Are you sure this is fancy enough?" I asked.
"It's perfect." He said, looking into my eyes. I twisted to face him, "Where's your car?" I looked past him to see out the window. "Does Charlie know you're here?" I panicked.
"No, I'm parked a bit down, I came a little early so I could be with you." His breath showered my face in a sweet scent. Taking my face in his hands he kissed me. His cold lips gently pressing against mine, my heart raced. He let me go.
"Will you ever get used to me?" He asked jokingly.
"Never."
"Bella?" Charlie knocked on the door. I gasped and whipped around, but the handle didn't move. I looked over my shoulder at Edward but he was already gone, I resisted the urge to growl at him. Turning the handle I peeked around the door.
"Yeah Dad?" I asked, opening the door all the way.
"When is Edward picking you up?" He asked warily. Charlie really didn't like to press for answers, but ever since I had gotten back from Phoenix, he'd been cautious about Edward. Positive that it was his fault I left in the first place.
"Um, he should be here-" The door bell rang. "Right now." I blushed "Could you answer the door, I need to find shoes." Charlie left and I scrambled in the closet for some decent shoes. I found a pair of black sandals. Strapping them on with only a little difficulty, I heard Charlie talking to Edward. Probably about where we were going, and when we'd be home. I grabbed my purse off the hook in the closet where it always hung. Clomping down the stairs, I could see Edward standing by the door laughing with Charlie,
"Yeah, I'll have her home by nine," my eyes widened in exasperation, NINE? Charlie was getting out of hand. nine was a early for Saturday night, even for Charlie.
"NINE, Dad? Come on, it's Saturday!" I pleaded.
He contemplated it in his head, "Alright, nine-thirty. But no later," he said sternly, opening the door, "Now go, before you start asking for more."
Edward dragged me out into the dripping rain. He opened the Volvo door for me and I slid in. I'd come to be accustomed to his fancy cars now, I preferred them to my own beat up truck at times. Edward got in the other side and started driving, way too fast, somewhere.
"Where are we going?" I asked. The scenery outside the window seemed familiar, but I couldn't think of any place in Forks that would be considered 'fancy'.
"You'll see. I just hope you like it." He glanced at me, unsure of my reaction. His eyes were butterscotch, warm and inviting. He'd eaten recently.
"I'm sure I will," I whispered. Suddenly we were there, but it wasn't where I expected. We were parked in front of the ancient white house, ancient, but beautiful. I turned to face Edward a puzzled look on my face.
"I- I though we were going to a restaurant," I didn't want to add the fancy part incase I offended him.
"Well, if we went to a regular restaurant I wouldn't order anything," he reasoned.
I started to suggest that he could at least order soup, eating human food didn't really hurt him anyway. But I held it back. He saw the conflict in my face.
"What? You don't like it?" His face fell, "I'm sorry I should have taken you somewhere else, somewhere… real." He put more emphasis on the last word than was necessary. I cringed.
"No! No, this is better that any restaurant!" I leaned over and kissed his cheek, whispering, "It's perfect."
If he had put any effort in this at all it was more than perfect for me,
"Well I certainly hope Alice didn't overdo this." He glanced toward the house
My face split into an agonizing smile, but then Edward smiled that wonderfully handsome smile. It melted any thoughts I had of not getting out of the car. My door was open before I realized he was out of the car. Edward helped me out of the Volvo and set me on the gravel driveway.
"Ready?"
"Yup," I gave him my most confident smile. We headed to the front of the house, but Edward turned just before the steps to a side path that I had never noticed before.
"Aren't We?" I pointed to the house, letting my gesture finish my query.
"I didn't completely lie; we are eating by the river," he held my hand and guided me down past several large oak trees and other smaller hemlocks. There by the river was a dock, extending ten or twelve feet out into the river. But it wasn't the dock that surprised me. It was what was on it. Right at the edge of the water was a table with a sparkling white tablecloth on it, set up for our night 'out'. There was even a white candle burning between the two place settings.
"Why are there two?" I whispered.
"Just for appearance, so you can think you're on a date with a real human." Again he put more emphasis on 'real' than I could stand.
"Why would I want to be with a regular person, you're much more interesting," I gave him a sly smile.
He bent down and lifted me into his granite arms, looking into his eyes I didn't even feel us move. Suddenly we were at the dock, Edward placed me gently on the cloth-covered seat.
"Honestly, Alice spends more time on these things than necessary," I marveled at how well she'd done this, it was beautiful.
The sky was just clearing out and the stars started to sparkle above our heads. Suddenly a Alice came to the table. Alice wore the waitress outfit like a mode, in any restaurant she would have been out of place and envied.
"May I take your order?" Her voice seemed to project out across the lake, in a beautiful way.
"I don't know," I looked down, but they'd forgotten something, menus.
"Oh, whoops!" Alice handed me a professional-looking folder. "Sorry, didn't expect you so early!"
"Yeah, we had to get out of the house or Charlie was going to have a cow." Edward laughed, his voice booming across the river.
"Actually, I'll have the steak." I handed my menu to Alice "Well-done. I'd also like a Coke please," It felt weird talking to her like this. She disappeared up to the house.
"Who cooked the food?" I inquired a little nervously.
"I did, Alice helped, and Jasper got curious so he, uh, helped too."
Alice came back with our food, "I hope you enjoy it!"
"I'm sure I will Alice, thank you." She giggled and disappeared.
"Mmm, this smells wonderful!" I said aloud.
"So do you," Edward's eye sparkled jokingly in the candlelight
"Unfortunately, you can't eat me," I teased.
"Unfortunately…." He whispered, something in his butterscotch eyes flashed dangerously. Mine opened wide, "I was joking Bella!" He laughed at me.
------------------to be continued when I figure out what is going to happen next!!! -----------------