Moonlit Meadow
Chapter Two
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the genius that is the one and only Stephenie Meyer. Warning: Spoilers for "Breaking Dawn" and rated M for future chapter/s.
"Oooh, you're good at that." Alice's bell like voice answered, I could hear the grin that she would be wearing on her face, "You remove the blind fold and you lose a finger. And if you lose a finger, Edward wont be happy."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." I humphed in annoyance, Jasper's hold was no more.
"Oh, Bella - you just don't see the whole picture." Alice sighed a little exasperatedly.
"Whatever." I retorted, going back to blindly staring out of the window - that is, if I could - I didn't really fancy losing a finger.
The ride was relatively quiet. Alice kept her thoughts to herself and I had to wish I could do what Edward could. I'd love to see what was going on in her thoughts and find out what they were doing with me. Then again, if I were Edward - Alice would probably be singing along to a particular song or jingle over and over again. I could almost imagine her singing,
"This is the song that never ends, It just goes on and on my friends, Some people started singing it not knowing what it was and they'll continue singing it forever just because this is the song..."
What seemed like forever, which would probably have spanned out to be around a thirty minute drive, the Volvo came to another stop.
"We're he-ere!" Alice sang.
"Goodie - now do I find out what the hell is going on?" My frustration merely built up over the trip.
Alice sighed, "Soon enough, you're going to love it."
"Doubt it." I responded, cynical.
"Oh don't be such a wet blanket, Bella."
With that, Alice opened the door and was gone before I could let out an unnecessary breath. In the same instant, my door opened with a little more force than I would have counted on Alice to exert. Instead, familiar hands reached in and caressed the side of my face. I stayed perfectly still. The same hands unbuckled my seat belt and lifted me from the car, placing me to stand by it, I kept one of my hands on the door.
"So beautiful, even when blind folded and close to being gagged." I heard a very familiar voice say.
I was trying to stay neutral, it wasn't working very well. I almost hated how Edward had this magical hold over me.
"I'm not happy with you." I said in his general direction, "In fact I don't really want to talk to you."
I turned towards the car. A hand darted out to catch in the crook of my arm and nearly wrenched me away from the Volvo. I stumbled into his arms. Damn him. Damn him and his loving embrace. The loving embrace that I had gone without for weeks on end recently.
"And why would that be, my beautiful Bella?" He whispered into my ear, sending shivers, contrary to the brilliantly warm weather, down my spine.
"I- I... You haven't paid me nearly as much attention as you usually do lately. I'm lonely." I couldn't lie.
I faintly heard a car door being opened again. Alice piped up,
"Well, as much as I'd love to stay and enjoy myself with you two, I must be getting back - Seeya!"
Alice shut the door behind her and started up the engine. One of Edward's hands left my side to wave towards Alice and the retreating Volvo. I sighed in frustration - I wanted this blindfold off. It was so annoying and I couldn't tell where I was. The moulded cheese smell and thickness of the cloth really did work to my expectations. Not that I was happy with it's effectiveness.
"Come with me, I want to show you something." Edward breathed into my ear, again sending shivers down my spine.
"I don't want to go anywhere with you, not when you've left me to the point of loneliness that reminded me of the first time you left me." I knew it was cruel but I had to get my point across. I felt Edward stiffen at my reminder of the past.
"What's done is done, I can't change the past. I can only weave our present and future. The past makes us who we are today and I don't know what we would have been like today if we hadn't gone through that time of being apart." I could hear the pain behind his composure. I felt guilty for bringing it up almost instantly. I berated myself for that, he should know how I feel.
I felt a light pressure against my forehead before realizing it was his lips pursed into a soft kiss. His nose skimmed my hairline, breathing in my scent. I shivered under his touch.
"I love you too much, you do know that, don't you? ... Mrs Cullen?" Edward ventured. I was losing my resolve.
"I love you too." I replied, resigned.
I felt Edward's mouth curl up into a smile at that.
"Then come with me. Much work has been put into... this you must know."
"What exactly is going on?" I asked, again curious; Edward chuckled.
"All in good time, my love." He replied, my face screwed up into a scowl.
His lips pressed against my own then, stealing a quick kiss before he tugged onto my hand. He led me around to his back and he lifted me onto him.
"We're running?" I queried.
"Yes, we're running - the most efficient way to get to where we're going." Edward answered, mystery interlaced in his tone.
Edward slung me over his back and brought my hands to clasp tightly around his neck. I was instantly tempted to see how much discomfort I could cause with a much tighter squeeze. He;ll be thankful my newborn strength had considerably lessened.
"Not too tight, Love. I may not need to breathe but you're blocking my airway, it's quite uncomfortable." Edward warned.
I grinned and muttered underneath my own breath about stupid vampires. Edward chuckled.
"Why can't I run for myself?" I had to ask, hoping he'd actually let me.
"Because, if I let you run, there's a good chance that you'd run away from me. I also need you to stay on my back as it would defeat the purpose of the surprise I have in store for you. To add to that, you'll be insulting both Alice and myself." I loosened my grip reluctantly by a couple of fractions. Edward kissed the backs of my hands lightly, the energy that shot through that touch amazed me. My body shivered uncontrollably. I inwardly berated myself.
"Ready, Bella?" I could hear the grin in his voice, I nodded almost imperceptibly, "Excellent, this wont take long - oh and don't let go unless you want to be sent careening into thick tree trunks."
I mumbled about it not hurting me regardless. Edward slid his hands beneath the crooks of my knees, shifting me up his back and prepared himself to take off.
Edward may have turned out to still run faster than me, I could still feel the barrage of air whip against the exposed areas of my skin. The light peppering of small branches hitting me would not have been felt had I not been more than a human. My sense of smell was still hindered by that stink of mouldy cheese and it was no use trying any harder at seeing through the thick fabric. My hearing was limited to the sound of Edward's breathing and his feet working as he ran. I couldn't hear anything much beyond our own personal little bubble.
Almost as quickly as it had begun, we came to a standstill. Edward let me slide off of his back easily. My feet hit the ground unsteadily and I swayed precariously, in danger of toppling over. I regained my balance in less than an instant. I heard Edward chuckle quietly to himself, then he was gone.
"Edward?" I called, did he really just leave me here? I straightened my back, my hands on my hips, my breathing steadily growing quicker as the seconds passed by. "Edward?" I called again, the uncertainty in my tone appalled me. I didn't want to appear so vulnerable to him. I didn't want to offer him that satisfaction.
He could have said something, but I couldn't hear anything. My personal space, hindered by the reeking blind fold, barely let me feel or hear the breeze blowing trees. We must have stopped in a clearing. I crouched low to the ground, prepared to strike out should anything try to attack. I growled low at the back of my throat.
What was he doing?
AN: I apologize for the short chapter, but as I've got a few assignments due in this week, I thought I'd pack this one in for you all until I can get the chance to get onto some citrus-y goodness. Please remember, this is my first attempt at writing something like this. I'd like to thank Maggi Lynn, linder08, LiTTleMiSSmOOny, FangedLeaf, mischief-maker1, Steph-DaughterOfTheNite, T.W.I.L.I.G.H.T.E.R.90639 and littlepurplemonkey for reviewing my first chapter, also the people who've already alerted my story and set it to their favourites - it's very much appreciated and flattering :D You guys rock!