i m sooooooo sorry that this took so long to publish Please dont hate me

I own nothing, i just like playing with Stephenie Meyer'd toys

Enjoy

Chapter 2 – Love in the Arts

Edward's P.O.V.

Over the next few weeks, I did everything I could to catch a glimpse of Bella.

I was overly grateful that Mr. Swan was a business partner of my father's; it gave me a legitimate reason to run over to their home.

Bella was there every time. I'd begun to wonder if she felt something for me, too.

It had been two weeks of this before I'd plucked up enough courage to ask her parents for permission to court her. I'd been even more surprised when Mr. Swan had agreed to me without batting an eyelash. It was as if he'd been expecting me to do so for some time.

I asked if I could take Bella out to dinner one evening.

That night I went home in a joyous mood. Bella would be going out to dinner with me. Me. Out of all the other men who'd undoubtedly come to win over her affections, I was the one to be chosen.

I knew that my parents realized that something was different about me, something happier. I told them about asking her parents of course. They were ecstatic to hear that she'd accepted.

So that was how I ended up in her parlor, waiting for Bella to come down from her room.

I swallowed as Mr. Swan watched me with hawk-like eyes.

"Listen here, Son," he began, startling me with the term. "If I hear one thing from Bella about how you mistreated her… you will have Hell to pay."

I looked up at him, wide-eyed, and nodded. "I understand, Sir," I said, quietly.

A minute later there was a knock on the parlor door and in walked Mrs. Swan with Bella following behind.

My breath caught in my throat as I caught sight of her.

Bella was wearing a dress made of some soft, floating material in a dark blue color. The fabric hung loosely on her slender body, ending in ruffled layers around her calves. Her hair was swept up in a bun and decorated with pearls.

I strode forward and lifted her gloved hand to press it to my lips, causing a beautiful blush to rise on her cheeks.

"Hello, Bella," I said, ignoring her mother's giggle. "You look exquisite tonight."

Her cheeks darkened even more. "Thank you, Edward," she murmured.

"Shall we go then?" I asked, dropping her hand and instantly missing the contact.

She nodded and led the way towards the front door, grabbing her coat off the stand.

We bid goodbye to her parents, and walked out to the Model T my dad had bought for the family.

I cranked the engine and ran around to the driver's side, hopping in and pulling away from the curb.

We drove in companionable silence to the Art Institute. There was a new exhibit there and I thought it would be interesting to see. Of course, I didn't really care where we were going as long as I was with Bella.

We pulled up to a parking place around the corner from the grand building.

I opened Bella's door for her as any gentleman would do and we walked past the giant copper lions statues, towards the entrance.

I took her coat and hung it, along with my own in the coat closet, before going back to where she waited, extending an arm out to her. "Shall we?"

She smiled and wrapped her hand around my elbow.

I led her up the marble stairs, opening the door of the gallery for her.

Inside we were greeted by the gray hues of the new Caillebotte hanging on the wall.

Bella smiled and led the way towards it, taking in the image of people walking down a rainy Parisian drive.

"I've always misunderstood artists and their work. When I see something like this it makes me curious as to why they painted what they did." The way that Bella talked, it seemed as if she were genuinely curious about it. She didn't make idle chatter to cover a silence; she just spoke her mind.

"I don't know," I said. "Maybe he was just struck by the moment in front of him." I didn't really understand art either, but I knew that that was a poor answer. "But maybe he was trying to send a message."

"Do you really think so?" she asked.

"Yes."

And so we went on from there, talking it in turns to talk about the different pieces of art in front of us.

We dined at the restaurant inside the museum, still arguing comfortably about this and that.

By the time we had enough of the museum it was dark outside, the streetlamps were lit.

I drove with ease through the cars and carriages on the street.

Bella was looking out of the window at the passing scenery, admiring the shimmering lake as we passed by.

I took my time bring Bella back to her house. I didn't want to let her go just yet.

All too soon, however, I pulled up to her house.

I stepped out of the car and hurried around to open Bella's door, offering my hand.

"Thank you, Edward," she said turning to face me when we reached the front step. "I had fun tonight."

"Me, too," I said, somewhat lamely.

Before I could say anything else, Bella leaned up and kissed my cheek.

"Goodnight, Edward," she said, before closing the front door behind her quickly, her face coloring.

I smiled slowly, reaching up to where her delicate lips had touched me.

"Goodnight, Bella," I whispered to the closed door.

The smile plastered on my face seemed to be stuck as I walked back to the car and heading home.

Bella's P.O.V.

After I'd kissed Edward, I chickened out, slamming the door in his face.

I looked through the peephole to see a grinning Edward. He was just standing there, one hand on his cheek, grinning like he didn't have a care in the world.

After a minute or so, I saw him say something, before turning around and heading back to his car.

Once he was out of sight I turned around, hanging my coat up on the hook next to the door before walking up to my room.

"So what have you been up too?" a voice asked out of the darkness of the hallway. Mama, stepped forward smiling as if she knew exactly what had happened tonight.

"Nothing much," I said opening my door and entering my room.

"For some reason, I don't believe you," she said following me inside. "You wouldn't have that goofy grin on your face if 'nothing' had happened."

I walked over to my vanity table and began taking the pins out of my long, brown hair. Mama always made me pull it up in company because I wouldn't let her cut it. I liked it long.

I sighed. "Well, Edward took me to the new exhibit at the Art Institute." With that I began to relate the events of the evening to my mother.

When I finished talking, she smiled. "That's good…" she trailed off. It seemed like she was talking more to herself than to me. "Well, I'll leave you to your thoughts," she said as she left the room.

I brushed through my now pin-free hair once more and began getting ready for bed, all the time thinking about Edward.

I couldn't explain why, but I missed him. It was completely illogical seeing as I had just spent an entire night in his company, but it was true. I felt like something was missing when he was gone.

I couldn't explain, either, the jolting feeling I had whenever I touched him, especially when I kissed him.

I sighed as I lay down beneath the heap of blankets on my bed. I had the feeling that I was falling in love with Edward.

I fell asleep thinking about what these feelings stirring in my chest could mean.

Please review

i know this is a little bit of a filler chapter, but i need to set the stage before we get to the exciting parts

oxoxoxox

Minna

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