Disclaimer- all characters sadly belongs to the one and only Stephanie Meyer!
Chapter 3
Bella twirled her long chocolate locks into a bun, and stuck a pencil into it, eyes scrunching as she focused on the section she was reading.
It had been two hours since Edward had arrived at the library. Two hours of trying to concentrate on the first page of his textbook which talked about cells, and anaphases and prophases and all that shit. Two hours of trying to remove his eyes from his beautiful partner, who was highlighting like a pro, speeding through the work without one glance in his direction.
He had thought about trying to interrupt her precarious studying; excited to see that raging fire in her chocolate eyes… but he found that all her emotions would play across her face, kind of like an open book; and it was extremely entertaining.
Whenever she would find a particularly interesting piece of information, the skin around her eyes would relax, and a satisfied smile would take over her features. When she rubbed her forehead in frustration, Edward got the feeling that she had read something confusing. Or when she she'd quickly scan the text and huff, there was a suggestion that what she had just looked at was completely useless. He had never found a girl so fascinating; it made him wonder what her face would be like if she read a thriller novel, or watched an episode of Sherlock.
Suddenly she looked up, annoyance replacing the concentrated look in her eyes, "did your mother ever tell you staring is rude?"
"What's your favourite colour?" Edward replied, ignoring her question.
"Is that your best catch up line?" she scoffed, looking down again.
He rolled her eyes, and closed his textbook, knowing that it was a fruitless effort; "you promised me that you'd answer my questions if I came to the library," he gestured around him "well, here I am".
Forks Public Library was lucky to be open in his opinion- there were only three computers at the far end of the room, probably from the nineties, gathering dust, and the only other people there was the sixty old librarian who was snoring at the front desk, cat eyed glasses sliding down her crooked nose, and a couple making out in the corner. His room was definitely the better option.
Bella huffed, copying Edward by closing her book; "We have been here two hours and you've only highlighted two sentences… please tell me you're not one of those people who take credit for something but never contributed in the first place."
Edward couldn't help but feel hurt at this- "My GPA is nearly as high as yours Swan."
A flash of regret flickered in her eyes, "Look I'm sorry, but can we just work… please?"
Edward nodded reluctantly, but he couldn't let it go that easily. He waited several moments, before he tried again.
"So…"
"God"
"It's Edward actually"
"Are you always so inquisitive?"
"I just want to know more about you!" he defended.
"Well just ask around! There's plenty of gossip circulating anyway."
"And why would I listen to that bullshit?"
She paused, and looked at him confused "isn't that what all small town hicks do? Find out all about the fresh meat? Shouldn't you know what my star sign and middle name is by now?"
"All I know is that you're crazy intelligent and really fucking talented"
A gorgeous rosy pink spread across her cheeks, "Flattery won't get you anywhere Cullen" she said in a hopeless attempt to hide her blush.
"Humour Me," he whispered. His right hand rose without his accord, gently stroking the apple of her cheek. He could feel the heat through her silky skin… it was mesmerising. They stayed silent for a moment.
"Green."
He raised an eyebrow.
"That's my favourite colour" she clarified.
Edward awarded her with a small smile, fingers still caressing her, "Like my eyes?"
She snorted, and pushed him away from her "you wish."
Edward's smile grew, "Well my favourite colour is deep blue…"
Bella looked up at him questionably.
"You wore a deep blue blouse the other day," Edward swallowed, feeling slightly uncomfortable about saying this aloud "it made your skin glow… you looked… beautiful." God, I sound like a pussy.
Another delightful blush warmed Bella's cheek, but this time Edward didn't' raise his hand, hoping he wouldn't totally scare her off.
"Um…" she stuttered, looking for something adequate to say.
"What's your favourite film?"
And instead of arguing, Bella pushed her notes away, and divulged.
…
An hour later, Bella and Edward still found themselves at the library, lost in conversation.
"Favourite book?"
Bella's face scrunched up adorably, pursing her lips, eyes flashing as she tried to form an answer, "That's like asking a parent who is their favourite child."
Edward thought for a second, "okay… what book would you take to a desert island, but never get sick of?"
"Isn't that the same question?" she reasoned.
"It's less direct… just answer Swan."
"Okay, okay! God, your pushy…" she teased, making him smile again "Probably 'Pride and Prejudice' … No… 'Gatsby'… No! 'Wuthering Heights'! I can't choose!"
Edward laughed at her distress loudly, leading the old librarian to harshly "shhh" him from across the room.
Bella covered her mouth, in an attempt to hide her giggles. She tipped her head towards the door, silently asking whether he wanted to get out of there.
He nodded, eager to continue their conversation.
They gathered their 'project', before making a hasty escape.
"So you're a closet romantic then?" Edward enquired, as they walked down the library steps towards the car park.
Bella rolled her eyes, "I believe there is love, of course" they came to a stop, in front of the Volvo "but there is also infatuation and lust… the line is very thin these days."
"So you don't think Jessica Stanley and Mike Newton are soul mates?" Edward joked.
She snorted, "No one at our age are in love… it's merely a passing fancy."
"Wasn't Daisy Buchanan eighteen when she met Jay Gatsby?"
The petite brunette looked at him startled, "You read 'Gatsby'?"
"'Reserving judgements is a matter of infinite hope.'" He quoted, "it's one of my favourites as well."
Again, they had one of those moments. The moments that Edward had come to crave; where they'd just look at one another, green into brown, trying to figure the other one out.
She coughed, "Well, Daisy didn't love Gatsby. She was a manipulative, self righteous bitch, who only cared about wealth and status."
"I always felt she was simply misunderstood. She was trapped between two men, between drama and passion, and stability and certainty… she was just lost."
Bella looked at him, but there was no ounce of revulsion or hate in her gaze, but simple surprise and admiration. "I never thought about it that way."
Edward shrugged, happy that he had finally proved her wrong.
"I better get going." She stated suddenly.
"Where's your car?" he looked around for the bright red car, but all was left was a rusty Clio.
"I walked."
"Let me drive you home" Edward said immediately.
"Rose is picking me up."
Edward wobbled at that… Rosalie kind of scared the shit out of him… not as much as the girl in front of him though.
"Okay, I'll wait with you."
"Edward," she sighed, "You don't need to act all gentlemanly on me."
"I don't mind" he insisted.
"Okay."
"Cool."
A minute of silence passed, which made Edward feel completely befuddled. Ten minutes before they had been chatting like long lost friends. He knew that she loved the classic movie era- Audrey Hepburn, Capucine, Claudia Cardinale.
He knew that the Beatles were her favourite band of all time, but she held a certain fascination for Paul McCartney. 'Live and Let Die', was her 'epic' song.
She had been taught the piano by her mother Renee when she was ten years old. Renee was always learning new stuff, from pottery to wind surfing. The piano was just another one of those spontaneous adventures, but her daughter took to it much more than she did.
Bella was self-taught on the guitar.
Her guilty pleasure was 'Friends', and she could quote a whole episode without the flash of an eyelid.
She once binge watched the whole first season of 'House of Cards' in one day.
Her mother's mother Marie was Italian, and taught Bella how to cook and even speak fluently the beautiful language.
Rosalie was her best friend, but she sometimes found it difficult talking to her… particularly when it came to reminiscing about their life in Phoenix.
All these wonderful things he had found out about her, did come at a price however. In return, he told her all about himself. His desires to go to Dartmouth; his aspirations to become a doctor, and helping people get better; his passions for sport and music; his weaknesses for his mother's homemade ravioli; his worries about just becoming that jock 'has been'.
Some things he told her were things he hadn't even told Jasper.
So how could things get so awkward, so damn quickly?
"When shall we meet next?"
"Tomorrow, after school?"
"I have football practise." He said regretfully, but then an idea popped into his head "but I can pick you up afterwards… we can go to my house?"
"What did I say about that?" she reminded him.
This time he rolled his eyes, "I think we both know Bella, that if I tried anything, you'd rip my balls off… c'mon, please?"
He stared deeply into her eyes, sticking his bottom lip out a little.
Bella stared entranced for a moment, then the honk of a horn brought her back into reality. "Fine, but don't be late!"
She ran to the BMW, where Rosalie sat, staring suspiciously at him.
But only one thing really stuck in his mind…
Did he just dazzle Bella Swan?
…
When Edward walked into his house, he knew something was up. The hairs on his neck stood up, and he could tell he was being watched. He walked slowly into the hallway, closing the door quickly behind him.
"Hello?" he called uncertainly.
He walked towards the kitchen, eyes scanning the familiar environment. Nothing was out of place… all was…
"SURPRISE!"
Edward leapt into the air; hand on heart "FUCKING HELL!"
He spun around, where his little cousin Alice sat on the staircase, watching him with amused silver eyes "hi there Eddie."
Edward tried to keep his glare in place, but a broad smile cracked through, and he laughed.
She grinned back, flinging herself into his embrace.
"Tinkerbell! You've finally left Pixie Hollow?" He grinned, swinging her 5'3 frame around in a circle.
"The fact that you know Tinkerbell lives in Pixie Hollow, is actually really sad Edward."
He put her down, but kept his hands on the top of her arms as he examined her.
"You cut your hair!" The last time he had seen her, her raven hair was down to her waist. Now it was in a stylish pixie cut, matching her nickname.
"Do you like it?" She questioned self consciously, running her fingers through it "mom had a heart attack when she saw it."
"I love it Tink," he assured her "speaking of Aunt Cynth, is she here too?" his emerald eyes scanned the room, but all he saw was her bright pink suitcase, sitting at the top of the stairs, "You're staying?"
"Yep!" she jumped up, clapping her hands together.
Alice lived in Biloxi, Mississippi with her single mother Cynthia Platt, his mother's little sister. Her father, Robert Brandon left them when Alice was seven, for a younger woman. His Auntie Cynth didn't take the split well, and had been battling with alcoholism up and down, for the last nine years. Last time he heard however, she had been sober.
"Mom is in rehab," Alice said quietly, sensing Edward's confusion. He looked down at her shocked "she had been doing really well. She stayed clean for a year, but last week, I found her unconscious with an empty bottle of vodka." She sniffed, and her eyes filled with tears.
"Oh Sprite" Edward took her into his arms, cradling her gently; he kind of felt like crying too. He loved his Auntie Cynthia, and wished she would be okay. She was an older version of Alice, always bouncing and full of life, never quite able to shut up. Neither of them deserved the grief that bastard had brought upon them.
She rubbed her eyes warily, "I called Auntie Esme and Uncle Carlisle, and they insisted that I stay here with you guys. I just thought she was getting better Eddie. She was smiling more often, we started spending more time together, and she even watched a whole season of Gossip Girl with me! But when I found her…" she trailed off, then a haunted look appeared in her eyes, disturbing Edward greatly. No sixteen-year-old girl should ever feel like that.
"Well I'm glad you're here Allie," Then he knew what would cheer her up "actually, I really need your advice…"
She pulled away, eyes a little puffy, but unmistakably curious.
"Oh? And what would that be?"
"Well… There's this… girl."
Alice's face lit up, before dimming slightly "I am not going the help you get into some innocent girl's pants Eddie."
"Why does everyone think I just want to sleep with her?" he threw his hands up in the air.
She cocked her head to the side, "Because you're a player Edward. I may have lived 800 miles away, but even I know that."
"I'm really not that bad" He pouted. Even his baby cousin was roasting him.
She raised both eyebrows in disbelief, "when did you last have sexual intercourse?"
Edward hesitantly thought about it. It was just after he had seen Bella at the garage, and had a monumental hard on. He couldn't do it alone, so called some brunette in his Trig class… Bree? They hadn't gone all the way: just a hand job and some oral pleasure.
"Uh… Saturday?" he replied sheepishly, running a hand through his hair.
Alice scoffed, "I rest my case." She turned around, and went to move upstairs, but Edward quickly caught her arm, "Please Tink. She's… sorta special."
"Sorta?"
"Okay… really special." He looked at his feet, feeling coy all of a sudden, "She makes me feel nervous and unsure of myself. I'm completely intrigued by what she has to say, and sometimes I just fantasise talking to her, instead of just doing stuff with her. That doesn't mean I am not attracted to her though! She's the most beautiful girl in the world Allie. She has these amazing dark eyes, which are just like windows Al. I can see every emotion she feels, just by looking into them. She has long chocolate hair, which I imagine running my hands through, and silky smooth skin that I am itching to touch. She's… fucking perfect." Did you just quote a Pink song? You are sounding more like Bruno Mars by the second, my friend.
Silence.
"Wow," Alice whispered, stunned "you are falling hard."
His head snapped up "no, no I'm not. I'm in like."
She laughed, "well if this is 'like' Edward, love is going to be pretty damn explosive." She stared at him for a moment, "fine. I'll help."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Edward nearly jumped up and down, Alice style.
"So, what do we do?"
"We are going to host a party."