A/N: This is kind of a short chapter but I really wanted their first date/day to be its own chapter. Let me know what you think!
Chapter 3: It's a Great Life
BPOV
I've been staying with the Cullens for about a week and they have all welcomed me with open arms. Well all except for Edward. He is avoiding me like the plague. He is gone before I get up in the mornings and I hear here come home after I've gone to bed. I know this is unusual for him since Esme mentioned he was working more. I don't know why but it breaks my heart to know he's avoiding me. I shouldn't feel this way. Not only have I barely spoken to the man but there is no way he could ever be interested in me. Especially after the talk I had with Esme the first day I stayed here.
"Thank you so much for letting me stay here Esme." We were sitting in the living room waiting for Alice to arrive so we could begin our first "slumber party."
"Oh sweetheart, it's my pleasure. I'm so excited to have someone to take care of. Even with Edward staying here again, it's nice to be able to pamper one of my children." I blushed when she said she considered me her child but then I realized something she said.
"Edward is staying here?" I liked the thought of seeing him more.
"Yes, he just moved back home a couple of weeks before you did. He just finished his residency in New York and Carlisle helped him get a position at the hospital. He recently applied for a position at Johns Hopkins so he's decided to wait before looking for a house here." She had a sad look in her eye when she mentioned him moving away again. The thought made me sad too. I just met the man and I didn't want to lose him before I had him.
Edward was meant for great things and they did not involve Forks. Besides Edward would never fall for a plain, boring girl like me. His type is more of the supermodel type, like Rose. He was probably waiting to move then he'll find a perfect, tall, statuesque woman to marry and have beautiful babies with. While I will probably spend the rest of my life in Forks, pining over a man I never had.
This is crazy. I've barely spoken two words to the man and I already love him. Yes, I love him. I can't deny it anymore. I cried myself to sleep again; thinking of the man who never knew took my heart.
~*~
I was standing in the living room of the Cullen house and I knew it was a dream because my ankle was healed. I looked around but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I walked into the kitchen and it must have been morning because Esme was cooking eggs and Carlisle was sitting at the island drinking coffee and reading the paper. Neither noticed my presence so I left without a word.
I walked to the stairs and all of a sudden had this panicky feeling overcome me. Something was wrong but I didn't know what. I started up the stairs and started to panic even more. As I made up to the third floor, my panic turned into complete dread. I knew whatever was up here was going to change my life completely.
Edward's bedroom door was slightly open and I could see him moving about in there. I opened the door and whispered "Edward?"
He didn't even look at me just moving around. I noticed then he was packing everything in his room.
"I'm leaving Bella. I'm never coming back."
My heart shattered and I started crying, "What? No, you can't leave. Please don't leave me."
"I have to Bella. Did you think I would stay here for you?
~*~
I shot up out of bed and breathing heavily. I was so upset by my dream, I was still crying. I took a couple of deep breaths and got out of bed. I grabbed my crutches and went to the in suite bathroom. I splashed some water on my face then looked in the mirror. My eyes were bloodshot and my hair was a mess. I wanted to get a glass of water before I tried to fall back asleep.
When I opened my bedroom door, I heard the most beautiful music being played. I knew Esme had a baby grand piano but I've never seen anyone play it. Whoever was playing it was upset about something. The music was so full of sorrow and pain. There was longing in it too. Almost like whatever they were longing for, they couldn't have. A feeling I knew all too well lately.
I moved to the room the music was coming from and saw Edward sitting there in the moonlight. He was even more beautiful than before, sitting there with his head bowed and eyes closed. Some of his hair had fallen down into his eyes and I wanted to walk up and brush it away. He was wearing black pajama pants and a tight white t-shirt that showed all of his muscles in his arms as his hands glided across the keys. I was so jealous of those piano keys. His fingers caressed each one, lovingly and I wished it was me he was caressing.
The song changed and morphed into a new one that was full of love. The emotion was so strong it brought tears to my eyes. I stood there silently crying and watching his face intently. All of a sudden he looked up and stared straight into my eyes. The love in them almost knocked me down. He continued to look into my soul while he finished the song softly. He stood from the bench and walked to me. Standing before me, he took my face in his hands and wiped my tears away.
"I don't want you to cry love." This just made me cry more. Why would he call me love? Could he feel the same way?
He leaned closer to me and whispered, "I don't want to stay away from you anymore." Somehow, in that moment it was clear, he did feel the same way.
"Then don't."
He leaned even closer to me and I felt his soft lips brush against mine.
EPOV
I was doing everything I could to stay away from Bella. It wasn't fair to either of us to start something then me leave. Every night I had the dream of me leaving her but it was worse now. Now that I knew how beautiful her voice was, in my dream she would scream and beg me not to go. Each time I just continued packing and loading my car then driving out of town. Every time I woke up from it, my chest would hurt so badly. Eventually I found myself sitting outside of Bella's door at night. It was like I had to be closer to her. She drew me in without even realizing it.
After about an hour of sitting outside her door, I would move to my piano. I hadn't composed anything since high school, but in the last week I composed two songs. The first was very sad. It revolved around the longing I had to be with Bella and the future I thought I could never have. I wanted that future bad and was considering pulling my application from Johns Hopkins. I wanted the white picket fence, dog and however many kids she was willing to give me. I could picture it and it was beautiful. I knew I would never be good enough for her though but I would try like hell.
The second song I composed was all about my feelings just for Bella. It was loving and worshipful. I gave myself over to my feelings and didn't question them. I didn't berate myself about hardly knowing her, I just gave in.
This week was so hard without her. I picked up extra shifts and if Alice was doing her "slumber party" I would hang out with Jasper. Speaking of Alice, I think she knows. I would call her in hopes of her spilling something about Bella without me actually asking but she never did. It was almost like she purposefully avoided any Bella topics.
Tonight was no different than any other night. I sat outside her door until my piano called to me and I went and played. I poured all of my emotions into it and it was very cleansing. I started playing Bella's song and was about halfway though when I heard someone sniffle. My head shot up and I locked eyes with Bella. Her eyes were reflecting what I knew mine shown, love. I was so entranced I couldn't look away. She cried as I played and when it was over, I walked up to her and brushed her tears away.
"I don't want you to cry love." She just cried more when I said this and I continued to try and soothe her.
I couldn't take stay away from her any longer. I loved her so much as crazy as it was and she need to know. "I don't want to stay away from you anymore."
"Then don't." With those two words, my resolve crumpled. I leaned in and softly kissed her beautiful plump lips. They were softer than I even I imagined and I imagined it a lot.
We broke away from each other and rested our foreheads together and smiled. I knew she was getting tired from standing with her crutches so I leaned down and picked her up. I tossed her crutches aside and walked her down to her room. I laid her in bed and she pulled me down with her. We didn't speak just looked at each other stealing soft kisses every now and then.
She broke the silence. "Edward, I know this is crazy and fast but I can't stop this. I want you."
I smiled widely and kissed her. "Good, because I want you. Bella I want to get everything out because it is killing me to keep in inside but I'm so scared you'll run." And I was. More like terrified really. I had to tell her though.
"I will never run. Ever." I could see the conviction in her eyes and knew it would all work out.
I took a deep breath and let it all out. "I love you Bella. I know we barely know each other but I want to change that. I loved you even before I knew you. Before you, I never want the big yard with kids and a dog but now that's all I can think about. I see how you are with my family and how you are already a part of their lives. My parents already think of you as their daughter but hopefully one day I'll make that true." There is all out there now. I closed my eyes and waited for her to tell me I'm crazy and need to be locked up.
"Edward." I still couldn't look at her. "Edward, look at me please." She held my face in her hands and I finally opened my eyes. She was crying again but smiling. "I love you too. I don't know what it is or how this came about but I do. I love you and I want that with you."
I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed her kissed her with everything I had. We continued to lay there until we eventually fell asleep.
When I woke up I felt something on my chest. I looked down and saw Bella's head on my chest her hair splayed out around her. I smiled and almost jumped for joy when I realized last night wasn't a dream. It was real. She loved me. I started to make plans for us today. I had the entire weekend off since I had worked so much and planned to make the most of it. I was thinking about things we could do together when I heard her start talking.
"Edward… love you." I smiled and kissed the top of her head and waited for her to open her eyes. When she didn't I realized she was still asleep. She mumbled some other things I couldn't make out and discovered she talked in her sleep. I fell more in love with her every day. She began to stir and I knew she was actually awake this time.
"Good morning love." She looked up at me wide eyed and blushed and tucked her head to my chest.
"It wasn't a dream?" She spoke into my chest.
I pulled her face up and looked into her eyes, "It wasn't a dream and I love you very much."
I leaned down to her lips to kiss her when she pulled away. I must have look confused because she pulled her hand up over her mouth and said "morning breath." I just rolled my eyes and pulled her hand away. I grabbed her and kissed her like none other. I thought about brushing my tongue across her lip to beg for access but thought it was too much since we hadn't even done it with fresh breath.
When we pulled apart, her eyes were glazed and she breathed out, "wow." I just grinned cockily at her said, "Angel, it's only going to get better."
I hugged her to me and we just enjoyed being snuggled up to each other in bed. I had never been so happy in my life and all we were doing was lying in bed.
After a couple of minutes I asked her, "Love, do you have any plans for today? Well actually the whole weekend?"
She looked up at me and grinned, "That depends, I was kinda hoping to have a hot date."
I growled and started tickling her. "Really? And who were you hoping would be your hot date?"
She was laughing so hard she could barely answer me, "It was you!"
I laughed and kissed her on the nose, "Good to know. I was thinking we could spend some time together. I think mom mentioned she was going to Seattle today so we should have the house to ourselves today. Would you like to do the traditional, dinner and movie tonight?" I was really hoping to just relax with her today and talk, and then maybe woo her tonight.
"That sounds perfect."
"Good, how about I go and let you get ready but I want you in pajamas all day. Today is a lazy day where we get to know each other." I gave her a quick kiss and got out of bed while I could.
I left her room and went into the kitchen and saw mom. I didn't know if I should really tell her anything but I wanted her to know we would be gone for dinner. "Hey mom, umm Bella and I aren't going to be here for dinner tonight."
Mom eyes filled with tears and she grabbed my hand, "Did you finally tell her?"
I guess there was no hiding it any longer. "Yea, last night. We're going to relax around the house today and get to know each other better and then go to dinner and a movie tonight." It seemed I couldn't stop smiling today.
"Oh Edward, I'm so happy. She is a wonderful girl." Mom hugged me and it felt so good to know she approved. The one girlfriend I brought home, Tanya Denali, mom hated. I met Tanya at college and I should have known something wasn't right with her when she practically forced me to buy her everything she wanted. I brought Tanya home for Christmas one year; not because I wanted to but because she said her parents were vacationing and she didn't have anywhere to go. As soon as mom met Tanya, she knew Tanya was a gold digger. I knew Tanya wasn't the one for me and planned to break up with her when we went back to school but when mom told me how she felt about Tanya it just solidified my plan. I broke up with her as soon as our plane touched the ground. I thankfully never heard from her again.
Mom pulled back from me and wiped a tear from her face. "I hope you two have a wonderful day. Call me if you want me to pick something up. Oh and be a gentleman." I think mom thought she was talking to Emmett with that last comment but I humored her anyways.
"I promise mom. You raised one of your sons well." I grinned at her and walked up to my room. I took a shower and changed my pajamas. I was serious about this being a lazy day.
When I got back downstairs, it was very quiet. I wondered if Bella was still getting ready but then I heard some noise from the kitchen. When I walked in, I saw Bella hobbling around trying to make breakfast.
"Bella what are you doing?" I grabbed the eggs from her and put them on the counter. "You go sit and I'll make us breakfast."
She looked up at me and pouted. Her bottom lip was stuck out so adorably that I couldn't resist and reached down to kiss it. When I pulled back she smirked and I noticed she had the eggs again. Damn woman, she knew that would happen. I was going to have to watch her. I grabbed the eggs and picked her up.
"I don't think so missy. You are going to sit here and watch me make breakfast. You are going to get used to this also, because my darling I am going to make you breakfast everyday for the rest of our lives." She watched my eyes and knew I was serious.
"Thank you but you don't have to do it for the rest of our lives." She was acting shy but I knew she wanted it, at least the rest of our lives part.
"Angel, you will learn soon that I can't cook to save my life. Except for breakfast. I think it's from all of the mornings I would sit in the kitchen with mom while she made our breakfast. I never sat in here while she made dinner so I guess it never rubbed off on me." I started to scramble the eggs and then found the rest of the ingredients for my special omelets.
"Well I guess you are perfect for each other. I can't make any type of decent breakfast except plain boring scrambled eggs but I excel at dinner. So I guess I'll be making dinner for the rest of our lives." It felt so good to hear her say that.
I finished up our omelets and gave her the plate with a glass of orange juice. I sat beside her and watched her take the first bite.
"Holy crap Edward. This is amazing." She eagerly took another bite and moaned. I had to turn my attention to my own food to keep from throwing her across the table. Once we finished breakfast, I cleaned up ignoring her protests. I picked her up and carried her up to my room and laid her gently on my bed. When I looked down at her, all I could think was "this is going to be a great life."
A/N: Please review and let me know what you think!
