Chapter 3

The Date

EPOV

I can't believe that young woman! She just shows up on my doorstep dressed the way she is! I mean, she is beautiful, but she could've cleaned herself up. She may have been ill, but she was covered in mud and other debris. And the way she speaks! Sometimes I can't even understand what she's saying. I wonder if everybody talks like that where she is from. How did she even end up here? I hope she's not too ill. At least she is unharmed. I don't even know her but I feel like I should spend time with her. When she gets down here I will see if she wants to accompany me on a date tonight. Alice can't take too long, could she? I wonder what dress she will loan Ms. Swan…

BPOV

"Well Ms. Swan we will have to find something other than that for you to wear," Alice said in a disgusted tone.

"Oh, call me Bella. Than you very much, but I don't want to be a burden."

"Don't worry Bella, it wont be a problem. We just have to find the right dress," she reassured me. She looked me up and down for a long moment before saying, "I think a deep blue will look very flattering on you. Hold on one moment please,' She added before scurrying into what I presume to be the closet. She was in there for what seemed to be a long time before reappearing with a beautiful deep blue gown, much like the one she had on. It looked like it would hug my hips and upper body tightly, and fluff out at the legs, until it hit the floor. It was definitely beautiful, but not at all my style. I am more of a jeans-and-a-t-shirt type girl.

"Yes, this would definitely flatter you very well," she said while holding up the dress to my body. "Okay, now Catalina will help you while I go fetch some things to do your hair with."

"Yes Ms. Mason," she replied respectfully, but sounded kind of robotic.

She was obviously a housemaid, and she looked exhausted. The Masons must have been paying her a lot to have her stay here. I started to feel bad for her but then she started to put the corset on. The CORSET?! They were definitely taking this old fashioned thing a little too far! She strapped it so tight I could only take half breaths before the fabric and constricting straps stopped me.

She then continued to put on the dress. It felt so heavy and bulky I thought I would lose ten pounds before the day was over. Once she was done she spun me around to look at myself in the mirror and I forgot my worries. It was almost like looking at a totally different person. The dress hugged my curves perfectly, and it actually looked like I had a figure. I would have to thank Alice the next time I see her

"Now to do your hair," Alice said while walking into the room with her hands filled with hair supplies. "Don't worry Cat, I will take it from here," Alice added in a dismissive tone.

"Thank you Ms. Mason," Catalina muttered before shuffling out the door.

Alice then proceeded to set me in a chair in front of a very old looking vanity mirror. She then pulled out the most ancient looking curling iron I have ever seen, but I decided not to say anything a bout it because I was afraid it would hurt her feelings.

After a half an hour of brushing, curling, primping, and spraying my hair she spun me around to look at myself again. I was shocked for the second time today at what I saw. My hair hung in perfect ringlets stopping in the middle of my back. It shone more than I have ever seen, and gave off that reddish tint in the sun. I couldn't believe my eyes. Alice must be some kind of miracle worker.

"Alice…I…it's…thank you," I stuttered, looking for the right words to convey my gratitude. "thank you" didn't quite cover it.

"You're very welcome. If you don't mind me asking, where do you live? I have had a lot of fun today and was wondering if we could to it again sometime."

"Cherry Tree Way."

"Oh, I have never heard of that place before." I was about to say something, but she cut me off, "It's okay, maybe you could come here some other time. It would be so much fun to have some girl time."

"Yeah," I replied thoughtfully. To be perfectly honest I don't even know how I got here. The last thing I remember was making spaghetti for Charlie, and…. Oh no! Charlie! He must be worried sick about me. How long have I been out?

"Well what are we waiting on?! We should go downstairs and show Edward your new attire!" Alice squealed, pulling me out of my thoughts. For some reason hearing Edward's name made me forget my worries.

"Okay."

She led me down the long hallway that leads to the stairs and foyer, where we left Edward. The beauty of the house still shocked. It made me feel a lot worse about myself, but so did being around any of the Masons that I have met so far. I still want to meet their mother, and see how she decorates so well.

When we got to the bottom of the stairs I saw Edward standing by a window lost in his thoughts. "Wow," he murmured turning to look at me. "You look beautiful." Of coarse this made me blush scarlet red, and I tried to hide it by looking away. It obviously didn't work, because I heard him chuckle beside me.

"Thanks."

It was quiet for a while before Edward asked "Hey, do you want to go on a walk on the beach with me?"

"Sure, that sounds like fun," I answered, while grinning like a fool.

"All right then, lets go," he said while leading the way out the door and to the beach.

We walked for what felt like miles, but I never got tired. We spent the whole time talking about nothing and everything, including his parents, my parents, his favorite foods, my favorite restaurants, sports, and even school. He seemed surprised that I was doing so well in school. H also gritted his teeth when I told him about Mike, Eric, and Tyler on that first day, but loosened up when I told him how I felt about them.

"So, what do you want to do when you graduate?" I asked him at one point.

"I really don't have a choice. I am to take over my father's business and keep it running. When I am to old to continue the business I am to pass it on to my son, and so on."

"That sounds kind of miserable. What do you want to do?"

"Well, I have always wanted to go into the medicine field, but like I said, it doesn't matter. It's not a big deal." I was about to say something but he cut me off. "We are nearing the end of the beach. Would you like to accompany me to dinner?"

"Yes, that sounds like fun."

"Okay, its not a long walk from here. Actually it's just down the road."

"Alright, lets go."

We walked the whole way just taking about the most random things in our lives. I never thought I could talk so much without boring the person I was talking to, or getting bored. Edward seem to find everything I said extremely interesting, and I couldn't be farther from bored if I tried.

I thought we were getting close because I started seeing civilization. There was some shops, a fruit stand, and a news-stand. As we passed I read the title, "Forks Today 1918"

I couldn't believe my eyes. I stopped in my tracks while my breathing and heart rate accelerated. How could it be 1918?! That cant be right! The last newspaper I saw said 2009! Am I going crazy?! How is this possible?!

"Bella?" Edward asked in a rough-if velvet can be rough-with anxiety.

I couldn't feel anything around me "I feel faint," I finally chocked out. "I need to lie down."

"Okay," he replied lifting me up. I felt myself smile despite myself. It was the first time he had touched me.

He let me down gently on a near by bench and sat beside me stroking my hair. While that did wonders for my tension I still needed a few minutes to collect my thoughts. There was a lot I needed to think about before I could even think about speaking to Edward again.