Hi guys, I hope you enjoy this next chapter and tell me what you think. It's a lot longer. Excited to see the list come into motion in the next few chapters!
Chapter 2: Saving All My Summers For You
Alice spent most of the day with me discussing my list. My 21 things.
"So now that we've discussed some of the things you can add" she said, "you have to tell me what you already have."
I'd gone over to the Cullen's house for the day. Their place was much bigger to relax in and I was currently lying across my bed in Edward's room with Alice still hovering and harassing me. She'd convinced Charlie to let me sleep here tonight and of course he didn't have a problem with it. Especially knowing that Edward and the rest of the men were away. He had a big game to watch anyway so I knew he was probably happy I'd be out for the night.
"No way" I blushed "I'm not telling you that."
"Why not?" She pouted like a little schoolgirl and I had to laugh a little.
"It's private."
She sighed and flopped down on the bed next to me. She did that face she always did when she was about to say a very important emotional speech and I braced myself.
"Were friends right Bella?"
"What? Of course Alice"
"Best friends? Sisters?"
"Yes" I answered honestly. Alice was the very best friend I had in the world. Although sometimes she infuriated me to no end, I had absolutely no idea what I would do without her.
"I don't think I believe you Bella" she said sadly. "If I was truly your best friend, you'd tell me everything. You'd want to tell me these things."
"Some things are supposed to be private though Alice" I said to her gently. "I don't think you understand that."
"Bella believe me, I understand." She sounded exasperated. "I do understand the importance of privacy but I just want us to be close. I want to give you advice and help you with any concerns or worries. I don't want you to be unsure."
She looked so earnest and honest. If I was being perfectly truthful to myself, I did want to share some of my concerns with her. Maybe I would eventually. On my own time.
"You don't have to tell me just now Bella. It's okay. You can when you're ready."
I smiled, grateful that she was going to let it go for now.
It didn't take Alice too long to get excited again. She was practically bursting at the seams when I said yes to a manicure and pedicure. A few hours later, my fingers and toes sparkled and glistened a shiny emerald green while I ate my way through the most delicious Thai takeout. Esme had driven all the way to Port Angeles for me to get it. She was so sweet to me. When Alice announced that it was 'movie time' I wanted to groan. I could only imagine all of the cheesy girly rom coms and chick flicks she'd picked out. I bit my tongue however. I knew that she remembered nothing of her human life so I would be kind and let her have her fun.
We settled on letters to Juliet and I was right about it being one of the girliest movies I'd ever watched. I did however find myself enjoying it. It was extremely sweet and I thought of Edward and I walking hand in hand along the cobbled streets of Verona one day. We could visit Juliet's house and leave our own token of love there forever.
Maybe I would add a trip to Italy to my list.
"Oh Bella!" Alice gushed beside me and I knew then she had seen.
"I'd like to go there with Edward" I confessed. "Look at how romantic it is."
I daydreamed girlishly of us sightseeing and touring around the wonderful attractions Europe held by day, and then curled up together in a plush hotel during warm starry nights.
"Edward would love to take you there you know Bella" Esme said softly from the couch on the opposite side of the room. She sat next to Rosalie who was filing her nails quietly, paying nobody much mind. I was extremely glad that she'd decided to join us.
I smiled at her.
"He dreams of taking you to these sorts of places" Alice told me. I knew she was hinting. This was probably why she'd put this movie on. Sneaky little pixie.
I started to yawn around midnight and I retired to Edward's room, flopping down on the huge comfy bed. I missed him so much. I wanted him to come back so I could tell him all about Verona and Italy and travelling and stars. I fell asleep almost as soon as my head touched the plump pillows and I slept deeply.
My dream was filled with a rainbow of colours ranging from velvety ink black nights to vivid yellow hues of summer days. Edward, my love, was present throughout. I couldn't make out where we were but wherever it was, it was beautiful and we were together. That's all that mattered.
We were lying on a soft bed of grass. I could taste the summer air on the tip of my tongue and Edward was glistening like diamonds next to me in the sun. Wild flowers surrounded us and I realised that we were in our meadow. I could feel Edward reach out and his cool fingers gently brushed across my cheekbone and down to my neck before running through my hair. I sighed in contentment. His touch was everything and to feel any part of his skin on mine was heaven. I burrowed in closer to him, wrapping my legs around his own and tangling us together in an unbreakable bind.
It was only when I heard a low chuckle that my eyes started to flutter. I was thoroughly annoyed that I had been awoken from my wonderful dreams of Edward.
Darkness enveloped me and it took my brain a few seconds to figure out where I was. I felt the silky bed sheets underneath my body and my legs were indeed wrapped around a hard frame.
Oh. I was in Edward's bed and he was here with me! He must have came back from hunting a little early.
"Edward!" I cried, throwing myself fully on top of him and wrapping my arms around his neck. It was dark but I could make out his beautiful face anywhere. His heavenly scent washed through me, soothing and relaxing me. Sating me.
"Hello love" he murmured, bringing us up into a more comfortable seating position. I was straddling his lap and I refused to remove my hands from my vice like grip around him. One hand started to run through my hair softly and the other rested on the small of my back. I nuzzled into his neck and felt unexpected tears start to prick my eyes. I could not hold back the low cry that left me. I was so overwhelmed.
"Bella sweetheart what's wrong?" His velvety voice washed through me and he gently pryed my arms from his neck. I tried to stay holding on but Edward wanted to look into my eyes.
"Why are you crying?" He asked, moving to swipe a finger underneath my eye.
The unfallen tear fell onto it.
"I missed you" I breathed. "And I was having the best dream about us."
He looked bemused and anxious at the same time. He looked at me for a long moment before gathering me into his arms and holding me tightly against his chest.
"I missed you so much Bella. Each time I'm away from you it's like half of me has been left with you."
I lifted up so that I could kiss him and I tried to find his lips in the dark. He met mine with his own and I melted into his touch kissing him back fervently. His marble lips moulded with mine like they were made just for me and I sighed at the feeling of us being joined together.
"I love you Bella" he whispered as he pulled away.
The kiss was over entirely way too soon and I didn't want it to be.
"I love you Edward. Kiss me again."
"Bella it's almost 3:30" he chuckled, rubbing my back soothingly. "You need to get some more sleep love."
I gave up because I knew that if there was a time to pursue this conversation, it wasn't going to be at 3:30 in the morning.
Edward helped me lay back down and he placed the blankets around me.
"Get underneath with me" I insisted, trying to pull him under the covers.
"I don't want to make you cold" he said with a sad smile on his face. My eyes were adjusting to the dark and I could see him more clearly now.
"Please? I won't be. Just for a little while."
He relented and slid underneath with me and I easily burrowed my way back into his side. He wrapped his arms around me and I'd never felt more loved, safe and cared for.
"I watched this film with Alice" I told him, closing my eyes and locking my leg over his hip. "I think I want to go to Verona with you."
"Verona? Italy?"
"Mhmm. It's so romantic Edward." My voice was barely a whisper and I was feeling sleepy now.
"I would love to go there with you Bella" he whispered quietly into my hair. I felt his lips graze the top of my forehead and the last words I heard before I drifted off into slumber, were the sweet declarations of his undying love.
oo
I awoke to the sunlight playing across my skin and my hands eagerly searched the sheets of their own accord. I fumbled about trying to find Edward but I found paper instead. I opened my eyes and found a note left by my pillow with a pink rose. A smile grew on my face as I sat up and read the note, holding the soft petals against my face to smell the sweet scent.
My ring sparkled like the diamond it was as the light reflected against it and I felt so warm and happy inside. I wanted to bottle this feeling right now and carry it with me into eternity. I turned the note around so that I could read it.
To my Dearest Bella
I will be waiting downstairs when you wake and your breakfast will be ready. I am busy discussing and sorting arrangements for our trip to Verona.
All my love
Edward
I closed my eyes and savoured the sweet moment. My fiancé had to be the sweetest kindest most beautiful...there were just no words. No words would ever do justice to how flawless Edward was.
I hopped in the shower quickly and washed thoroughly before putting on an outfit Alice had left out for me. Thankfully it was jeans and a tank top and so for that I was grateful. The dark blue tank fitted my frame nicely and as I looked in the mirror, I thought maybe a little too nicely. It showed off my figure in a delicate way and you could see just a hint of moderate cleavage. It made me blush, wondering if she'd seen something in a vision.
After I brushed my hair I made my way down to Edward. He was seated at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, talking to Esme who was bustling about making coffee. He heard my approach and held his arms out for me, a wide smile on his beautiful face. I climbed into his lap and curled up there throwing my arms around his neck. I heard him inhale the subtle strawberry scent of my hair and felt him kiss the top of my head. There didn't need to be any words right now. This close contact was all that was needed. I held him and he held me until inevitably my stomach started to grumble. I laughed quietly to myself.
Human moments.
"Breakfast time for the human" Edward grinned, pulling me away slightly so that he could look into my eyes. In the soft light of the early morning I could see him much more clearly. I lifted my hand to gently trace just underneath his own eyes. They were a warm liquid gold again and as much as I had missed him, he had needed to hunt. His face was even brighter and more radiant. I leaned in to kiss his lips and he indulged me, kissing back softly for a few seconds before we broke away. I turned away from him to face the table, still seated on his lap and he wrapped his arms around my waist. Esme placed a steaming cup of vanilla flavoured coffee in front of me and a plate of eggs and toast.
"Thank you Esme" I smiled warmly. I had tried to tell her she didn't have to go to any trouble for me many times but she wouldn't have it. She said it was nice to be able to do something human that would be greatly appreciated. I let her. Plus, she was an incredible cook.
"My pleasure Bella."
She left me to eat and Edward kept kissing my neck and stroking my hair.
"Edward, I'm trying to eat" I giggled
"Mmm but you smell so delicious Bella" he breathed against the underside of my jaw.
"And you look absolutely ravishing in this outfit."
My breath hitched as he placed fluttering kisses on my shoulders.
Heaven.
Which was quickly distrupted by a tiny little pixie who was dancing around in glee.
"Edward, if you would mind refraining from pawing Bella for a moment – I'd like to discuss the travel plans."
I frowned at her and stabbed at the last of the eggs as she sat down opposite me, a big binder in her hand. Edward chuckled behind me and whispered "later love" in my ear.
I almost died.
"So Bella, it's June the 5th today. We thought that you and Edward could take your trip somewhere in the middle of this month, is that okay?"
You only had to mention an idea in the Cullen house before it was set in stone an hour later.
"June?" I turned to face Edward. "We can go for your birthday right?"
"If that's what you'd like love"
"I do" I turned to face Alice again. "Edward's birthday" I grinned. "I want to go then."
I didn't want this trip to be all about me. I wanted it to be about Edward too.
"That would be perfect" Alice agreed.
Yes perfect.
I stayed at the Cullen's house for the rest of the day. Alice was in her element planning and arranging. This was my trip though, with my fiancé from my list. I didn't want Alice completely taking control so I made Edward take control instead after a while. He thanked Alice generously for her ideas and suggestions but he told her he would take it from there. I wanted Edward to be the one to sort the tickets and the hotel and everything else out. Alice's face fell profusely and a part of me felt a little bad but I decided that she couldn't always have her way. The things from my list were just something I wanted to be between Edward and I really.
It was dark when Edward drove me home and we kissed goodbye with him promising to come into my room later when Charlie was asleep. Once we were married and off to college, we wouldn't get to have this sneaky little side of our relationship anymore. Everything would be allowed so I treasured it while I could. In many ways, it still made me feel like the teenager I was.
Charlie and I had dinner together and he asked me about my day and plans for the summer. He seemed surprised when I told him I was going on vacation with Edward.
"Really? All the way to Europe?" he said through a forkful of pasta
"Yes"
"That will be expensive. I'll try and give you some money."
"Dad, you don't have to do that," I told him.
"Flights alone cost huge amounts Bells"
"Dad, I don't want your money" I insisted.
"Is Edward going to pay for everything for you?"
"Dad" I flushed, getting up to wash my plate. I hated the talk of money and Edward in the same sentence enough already. I was still touchy about it, even though I was mostly used to it by now. I didn't need Charlie to start mentioning it. I knew he'd be worried though, after all I was his daughter.
"I'm just looking out for you Bella" he said, coming up beside me.
"I know" I sighed. "Don't worry about anything okay? Edward got a pretty big inheritance from his parents."
It wasn't a lie. He actually had and I didn't want to imagine the amount of interest he'd accumulated over the century in addition to all the other money he had.
Charlie nodded, effectively dropping the subject and I declared I was going up to my room. I still had some time to kill before Edward came so I decided to work on my list for a little while longer. I opened my notebook and read through my others before adding my number 4.
1 – Make love with Edward
2- Try every new food I can possibly think of
3- Make love with Edward in every way possible
4- Visit Verona Italy
I chewed the end of my pen as I sat on my bed in comfy sweats and thought about what else I could do. I decided that since we were going to be all the way in Europe, it wouldn't hurt to visit a few more places there. There were actually quite a few places I wanted to go it seemed. Edward would be absolutely thrilled. It was his dream to take me places and I was finally giving it to him. I'd decided a few weeks ago that the whole point of me loving Edward was to bring him happiness and joy and by constantly denying his affection – I wasn't fulfilling my duty. Giving me things that I'd never be able to do for myself was a way of showing his love and gratitude and it had took me a while to realise that. I wasn't going to keep refusing him anymore. If it made him happy to give me things, I guess I would let him. I wanted to give him everything I could too and that's why I needed him to make love to me. It was a part of myself that only he would have forever.
By the time Charlie had succumbed to sleep I had ten things on my list and I was proud of myself.
I'd scrapped number 4 and changed it to:
4- Visit Europe with Edward
I'd also added other things, some of which we could probably do on our vacation like stargazing and I also wanted to see the Northern Lights. I put my notebook away quickly when Edward text me to tell me he was on his way. I would show him eventually but I wanted to wait until it was completed. Plus, I didn't exactly know what his reaction would be to the sex parts. We hadn't had that conversation for a while. I would probably wait to bring it up while we were lying on a deluxe hotel bed with candles flickering their soft light in Rome. I smirked to myself at the thought.
I loved Edward with all my heart and I didn't care that he was a vampire who could crush me with a single flick of his hand. I trusted him; he needed to learn to trust himself. I was going to get my way one way or another.