A/N:
So here's a little chapter for today, something to help with the cliff hanger of the last chapter.
I never ever, ever thought I would get the response that I'm getting from all of you reading my story =D - That's me right now!
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and/or added me to their favorites and alerts! You guys make my lips curl into a wonderful smile… lots of love to you all….
Chapter 3 – Enchanted
Edward's Point of View
God help me, I internally prayed as my family began lining up to be called. I should be used to this. I've been doing this for twenty one years and yet every time my stomach ties up in a knot and it feels like I can't breathe.
Tonight's ball will set off a series of events that eventually will lead to my actual coronation ball in two weeks, and then the coronation itself a week after. I've been preparing a year for these three weeks but nothing, prepared me for the vast number of people from all over the world here.
My sister Alice wasn't helping with her nervous twitch and talk of a girl she met today. I rolled my eyes as Jasper told her not to worry as their names were called. They walked out the double doors and soon disappeared from my sight. Thank the heavens for that...
My parents were lined up next.
"Good luck baby," my mother whispered as their names were called. My father winked and then led me mother through the double doors; the crowd cheered.
"Fuck," I cursed as I felt the sweat on my hands. I rubbed my fingers together but nothing was working to dry my hands. I knew that when my name was called I had to walk out, hands in front of me but tonight, I was going to have to make a change.
"Edward, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" Felix asked. I chuckled, bad mouthing was my worst habit, something I continuously hid from my mother who god forbid heard me talking the way I did.
My name was called and there was no turning back. Felix and Demetri, our guards stood tall behind me and there was no chance in hell I could get through them.
"Your majesty," Felix nudged his head in the direction of the doors. I chuckled as I walked out and stood at the head of the stair case. I could feel every bit of nerves running through me so I nervously stuffed my hands into my pockets and chuckled as I walked down the stairs.
I scanned the room and realized there were so many people here and I had no idea what the hell I was doing. The last year preparing completely flew out the window and left me to my own devices. I was getting more and more nervous by the second and I desperately searched the room before me for an exit until my eyes fell upon hers…
It was a pull of chocolate inviting me in. For once since I walked into the room I felt like I could breathe. She was looking back and not once did she blink. Without thinking I smiled over at her as I continued to make my way down the stairs. I made sure to greet her kindly by nodding my head as I approached and then just like I was taught, I turned and walked over towards my family.
The music began and guests began greeting my family.
"You did an excellent job," my mother said placing a kind kiss on my cheek.
"Thank you."
I looked passed her and found the brown eyed girl still standing alone by the stair case. She wasn't alone for long; Alice found her and was sweeping her away somewhere. I followed them with my eyes as they talked and laughed. And every now and then the girl would scan the room until her eyes laid on mine. She would kindly smile, blush and then look away.
I found her beautiful, fresh and breath taking, or in my case breath giver. I couldn't keep my eyes off of her, and I could barely keep up with the people greeting me or speaking to me. To be honest I don't remember anything but her. How her brown hair cascaded down her milky back. How her eyes twinkled under the light of the chandeliers, or how that blue dress looked on her pale skin. God she was gorgeous in every way and I had never seen any girl like her.
"You can stop staring, go talk to her," Alice said as she passed me by alone. I nervously chuckled embarrassed by being caught. Alice went out to the dance floor with Jasper and I searched for the brown eyed girl. She was standing by the cocktail table alone, looking right at me.
The music changed and a slow melody began as I made my way over to her. I had no idea what I would say but I'm a prince, no girl can resist a prince, right? I watched as she nervously looked around the room and back at me. She was just as unsure about me as I was about myself… this should be interesting… but I had to give it a try. She couldn't leave without once speaking to me.
'You can do this,' I told myself. Fuck... what the hell am I doing? Can she see my hesitation? 'Just be normal...'
"Prince Edward," I greeted her. "Prince Edward at your service…" I said closing my eyes from the embarrassment.
Shit, I just sounded like an old English man; she probably thinks I'm a huge joke…
I pinched the bridge of my nose and slowly opened my eyes. She was looking back at me with a smile spread across her face.
"I'm Bella, it's nice to meet you Prince Edward." She extended her hand and I willingly took it. Did I not look like a fool to her just now?
"I thought people only said things like that in fairytale books," she laughed.
Fire cursed through her hand and into mine and I snapped my hand away as she did hers. She chuckled as she wiped her hand against her dress.
"I thought people only said things like that in fairytale books," she laughed.
I stood there awkwardly looking at her and I caught her looking up at me through her long dark eye lashes. I smiled and she blushed. This was uncharted territory for me and as much as I just wanted to turn and run away, I couldn't leave unless she was leaving with me...
"Dance with me," I asked. She shook her head and nervously laughed. "You're rejecting me."
"No, I…" she stuttered, "I don't dance, I don't know how." She wiped her forehead and closed her eyes.
"Lucky for you I'm a great teacher," I flirted and lied because truth was I didn't dance. But I wanted too, for the first time I wanted to dance and it had to be with her… "Please, I promise not to let you fall," I said adding my crooked smile.
"Well with that smile, how could I say no?" She flirted back taking my hand, not pulling away when the shock of fire cursed through us again. I pulled her to the dance floor; every eye in the room on us. The few people dancing walked away as we made it to the center of the floor.
"Everyone's starring," she commented, shyly avoiding the eyes upon us.
"Just focus on me Bella, it's just you and me," I whispered in her ear as I brought her close. She placed one hand on my shoulder and her other hand in mine. I placed my free hand on her waist and brought her closer to me as I spun her around and danced.
"You're a great dancer," she murmured into my chest.
"As you."
She chuckled and at the sound my body awoke and urges I never knew crept in. Her laughter was musical and free as I spun her around. Her head would fall back and her eyes were closed as she mumbled the lyrics to the song playing.
"Where have you been all of my life?" I blurted out. Her eyes snapped open and she looked surprised at my words. I wished I could kick myself. But as I danced wildly around the open dancer floor she closed her eyes once again, pulling herself closer to me and as she swayed with me back and forth. The song came to an end and she pulled away. I ran my hands nervously through hair as she began to walk away from me…
"Did I do something wrong?" I asked running behind her.
"No Prince Edward, not at all, on the contrary. It was very nice dancing with you," she laughed. "For once tonight I didn't have to fake a laugh or a smile. But you asked for a dance, and I gave you just that. I'll go now...," she rambled.
"It's Edward," I cut her off pinching the bridge of my nose.
"What?" she asked confused.
"You can call me Edward," I smiled at her running my hands through my hair. "Are you leaving?" I asked afraid of her saying yes.
"Would you like me to stay longer?" she asked blushing.
"I would very much like that." I held my hand out her and she thought about it… then she placed her hand in mine and I brought her out to the dance once again.
"Another dance?" she asked.
"With you, I'd dance all night..."
The music playing changed and a ball room song came on as I brought her to the dance floor. She smiled as she gazed into my eyes. I couldn't help but smile back, something about her made me feel like I had a hundred butterflies in my stomach.
I stretched my arm and pulled her in, spinning her in the process. Once in my arms I dipped her back and she closed her eyes as her head fell back. The way her neck was lengthened was memorizing and if I were a vampire I would have had a ball biting down. But I'm human, a fragile human boy who couldn't resist, so I reached up and ran my fingers from under her ear, down her neck and over her collarbone, leaving a trail of goose bumps all the way...
Slowly she pulled up and as her eyes weakly opened I realized her eyes were no longer brown but a dark brown, almost black. Her entire face was flushed and I found her more beautiful then five minutes ago.
I paused and stood there as she brought her hand up to my face... I fucking she was going to slap me but instead she ran her fingers from my temple over my cheekbone and down to my jaw. There was nothing I wanted more than to lower my head and allow our lips to touched... god she had me falling, something between us has sparked and I barely knew her...
She lowered her head and rested against my chest as I began moving side to side with her. I closed my eyes and made a promise to never forget this night or this beautiful girl in my arms.
We danced as everyone in the room stood and watched.
"You're Alice's friend she met today?" I asked
"Yes, yes I am."
"God, how I love my sister," I whispered quietly.
"Me too…"
Bella agreed to dance another song with me. I could dance a thousand songs if it meant I would be dancing with her.
I was absorbed in the dance with Bella that I barely felt the light tapping on my leg.
"Excuse me," a little voice rang between Bella and I. Bella pulled away and chuckled as a little princess dressed in a golden dress stood between us.
"Little Jane," I greeted her.
"Don't little Jane me Edward," she huffed placing her hands on her waist. She was fucking six years old and she had one attitude... Bella's laugh caught me off guard and I looked up at her. She tried to still her laugh but failed miserably. She turned around and walked off the dance floor leaving me there alone with Jane.
"Can I help you Jane?" I asked.
"At my birthday party you wouldn't dance with me because you said you didn't know how," she informed me. "But tonight you're dancing, dance with me," she asked extending her hand towards me. I nervously chuckled as I felt not only her mother's eyes on me but my own mother's eyes as well.
"How about I dance while I hold you in my arms?" I asked. She was way to short for me to dance properly with.
"That sounds even better," she flirted reaching up with her two arms. I nodded my head as I picked her up. She grabbed my free hand and held it up like we were really dancing. The music changed to the theme song from 'Beauty and the Beast,' and I laughed.
"Do you like the song? I picked it out," she whispered in my ear.
"You had all this planned out, didn't you?" I asked amazed that this six year old could do this to me.
"Of course, I even have our wedding picked out," she told me seriously; her little green eyes looking right into mine. I pulled her close to me so she couldn't see me laughing. I danced around the other guests with Jane in my arms...
"Do you like my dress Edward?" she asked. "I picked this one because it's like Bells from Beauty in the Beast, she's a princess now, she wasn't always you know," she told me.
"I know the story Jane," I answered. "And you're dress is beautiful."
"Thank you; my wedding dress will be the same only in white."
"Jane don't you think I'm a little too old for you?" I asked. I scanned the room for her mother Tanya, but I couldn't find her. Someone needed to do something about this...
"You don't like me," she pulled away looking at my face. I closed my eyes not wanting to see the hurt on her face.
"It's not like that Jane," I whispered as I halted my dance to stand still with her. I opened my eyes and caught her looking around the room.
"She's not a princess like me."
"Who?" I asked looking around to see who she was looking at. A set of beautiful coffee eyes were looking back at me...
"Her," she pointed at Bella.
"How do you know such things?" I asked looking over at her little face surrounded by blonde curls. She looked back at me.
"Alice was talking to my mom and I was standing there so I heard."
"You shouldn't be so nosy Jane," I said flicking her nose.
"Are you going to make her a princess like the beast did to Bell?" she asked with dreamy eyes. I chuckled. Where did she get these ideas from?
"I don't know her well enough to know, but she seems nice."
"And she's pretty, and she dances."
"She beautiful," I whispered more to myself then to Jane.
"Alright, put me down," she asked. I bent down and placed her on her feet. She grabbed my hand and pulled me behind her toward the table Bella sat at.
"Princess Jane," Bella greeted her smiling. I stood nervously there.
"Bella," Jane said simply. "You're a lucky girl, Edward is a great Prince. He can make you a princess like me," she said and then walked away. I nervously laughed as Bella did as well.
"She's something else," I blurted out. "Please don't mind her; she's a spoiled little princess from Isle Danali."
"It's fine Edward, she's a child. That was nice of you to dance with her, did you like the song?" she chuckled.
"She's had a crush on me since birth I think. I think Beauty and the Beast is her favorite movie right now," I told her. "Can you believe she has our wedding all planned out?"
"Oh Edward, every girl dreams of her big day from childhood."
"Did you?" I asked.
"No. I learned very early on that I would never be that lucky, so I never dreamed of it," she answered sadly. I pulled the chair next to her and sat down.
"Don't say things like that."
"You don't know me Edward; believe me when I tell you... it's never going to happen for me."
"Let me get to know you then, so I can know for myself," I told her. She looked away from me. "Please?" She tapped her fingers on the table before her and bit her lower lip.
"I'm only here two weeks," she whispered.
"That's plenty of time," I blurted out. "Beauty and the Beast were together what, one week?" I asked stupidly. Where the hell was my filter?
"My life is no fairytale."
"We'll see about that."
"Do you always say such kind things to girls, because…" she said.
"No I don't. Never had a reason too."
"Until me?" she questioned.
"That's right."
"Ok be honest with me Edward, did Alice put you up to this?"
"What do you mean?" I asked confused.
"Never mind, you have other guests you know. You don't have to stay with me all night," she whispered looking down.
"You're right, I should go and mingle with the other guests," I said getting up to my feet. "But only if you agree to meet me tomorrow?" I asked. She nodded her head. "I'll send Felix to get you early in the morning."
"Ok," she mumbled nervously. I lowered close to her ear and whispered…
"You've spark something within me that I have never felt before and I know you feel it too… I heard a song that goes something like 'This night is sparkling, don't you let it go I'm wonderstruck, I'll spend forever wondering if you knew, I was enchanted to meet you,'" I sang to her. I felt as she shivered when my breath hit her skin. "I bid you a wonderful night. I hope that when you dream tonight, you dream of me, the man who was truly enchanted by meeting you."
I placed a kiss below her ear and muttered, "Buonanotte bella ragazza."
A/N:
"Buonanotte bella ragazza' ~ Goodnight beautiful girl ( I won't use a lot of Italian but if and when I do, I will always translate it for you)
Ok everyone, so they met, they dance, sparks flew and Edward, well he's just Edward…
=O)
