Chapter 3 the park

Edward got out of the vehicle, opened my door and led me out.

"Thank you." I said blushing.

"Don't mention it." he said winking at me.

He led us out to the opening, it was beautiful. The ground beneath us was lined smoothly with pebbles. To our left was a big waterfall. It seemed to be the center piece but it was just the one area, there was plenty more sightseeing to do. There were beautiful flowers of many colors all arranged in huge flower pots around us.

"So, Edward what kind of festival is this?" I asked.

"It's a music festival where everyone around the area comes to play classical music while people dance." He looked into my eyes and kissed me on the forehead. My eyes opened wide and he chuckled at my reaction.

We walked over to where they started to play music. Edward went to grab me a rose and placed it in my hand. Lilly of the valley started to play, I loved this song. Edward wrapped his arms around me and we started dancing.

I was a good dancer and judging by his expression he was quite surprised that I could dance so well.

"Interesting," he said looking into my eyes "You are a beautiful woman as well as a beautiful dancer." He started humming the song and held me as we danced. As much as I flushed and got embarrassed and shy before, there was no way I could take my eyes off of him in this moment. The music changed and I was intrigued at the song that was playing. "It's called Are You from Heaven by W.M. Gilbert & Anatol Friedland."

"How astounding," I said "you really know your music Mr. Mason." He half smiled and then pressed into me before twirling me around. I almost fell but he caught me, he was looking closely at my face as the atmosphere of emotions around us got intense. I wasn't sure what he was doing except maybe he wanted to kiss me. He leaned me back up and continued dancing. I felt confused as I laid my face on his shoulder.

We bumped into an older man and his wife after the song ended. A new song began and I knew this one Claire de Lune by Debussy.

"Hello my name is Carlowe Widdle." said the kind man "Is this your wife?" He asked Edward.

"No" Edward said and smiled for the first time blushing himself. "She and I are only friends."

"Oh" said the man "I couldn't tell by the way you two were looking at each other while you were dancing".

The wife introduced herself while Edward was talking to the man. "My name is Amy Widdle."

I introduced myself as well. "I am Elisabeth but my closest counterparts call me Elissa."

"I apologize for my husband's intrusion but I also thought the same as my husband. You both look like you belong together."

"Oh." I replied softly so no one could hear, "I do have feelings for him but I don't think he feels the same. We are just friends."

She smiled and then sighed "I hope that you two will realize your feelings for one another because the way he looks at you it's like you're his whole world." I realized I was blushing crimson red and then noticed Edward and the men were staring at us.

"Elissa, here is our address if you ever want to make some new friends your welcome to come visit. We haven't had visitors in years." The women I barely knew gave me a hug and took her husband's hand as they walked off together.

After that Edward and I stopped at a few stores. I got my shoes and he got him a new shirt for a job interview he said he had to go see about in a month. I held my necklace with my hand softly as we walked down the pebbled street to the waterfall. We sat down and just rested in silence for a while. He seemed nervous. He kept glancing at me from the corner of his eye. We got up after a few minutes longer and he led me down the other way towards the exit. We went to eat at a little diner across the way. It was quite delicious.

Unfortunately the music started to wind down just as I wanted it to last forever. Everyone started to leave. Edward asked if I wanted to take a walk with him through the garden. I was delighted because I had never been in a garden before. It was beautiful with roses of all colors. The aromas surrounded me with each breathe and each new smell. Honey, Lilac and Roses overwhelmed my being as Edward walked closely beside me. Edward stared off into the distance as we walked seemingly deep in thought.

"What's on your mind?" I asked. I was concerned as he was looking away.

He abruptly turned to me "Elissa I am not sure I want to be friends with you." he said warily.

"Why don't you want to be my friend?" I asked feeling a pain in my emotions I couldn't describe.

"I want more." he said as he looked into my eyes. There was a burn and longing in his eyes I hadn't noticed before.

"More? What do you mean more?" I wondered aloud.

"I have feelings for you Elissa, I want you in my life." he admitted.

He went on and smiled his crooked smile shyly, "I go to sleep each night with a new excitement I've never had before because I look forward to seeing you. Your smile, your touch"….. He trailed off then spoke again "the strange electric current that I feel when I touch your skin."

"You feel it too?" I questioned.

"Yes." he said as he put my hand over his heart.

All I wanted was this moment to last forever. As I looked into his eyes I noticed the way his eyes changed colors in the sunset. "The sunset!" I yelled.

"What is it Elissa?" Edward asked looking concerned and almost frightened.

As I stared at him with wide eyes I said, "I have to get back home my father is going to be so mad!"

We walked back to the car and Edward held the car door open for me. Something seemed to be bothering him.

"Elissa, I"… Edward hesitated then said "you just want to be friends?"

I understood exactly what he was thinking, He thought I was making an excuse as he tried to pour his heart out to me and admit his feelings. Of course just as I told him I had to go home.

"Edward I do have feelings for you too. I just don't know if it's going to change anything."

"What do you mean?" he questioned.

I paused, unable to speak. I had forgotten. I hadn't told him about my father's plans to have me wed to Jamie.

"What is it?" Edward said again this time with a louder almost aggravated tone.

"I don't know how to tell you this. I mean, I meant to tell you." I said. I quickly glanced at Edward and saw his impatience growing in his eyes and his mouth creating a thin line.

I continued as I felt sick to my stomach, "My father has promised me to someone else. I have to meet with him tomorrow."

He suddenly stopped the vehicle. I was scared to look at him to see the expression on his face.

"Elissa look at me." he said. I looked over at him to see pain in his face. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.

I looked into his eyes and replied, "I didn't think about it because we were… are just friends."

"I should have told you how I felt sooner." he said. "Maybe it would have helped me not be as in love with you right now."

I looked at him with such passion I felt my eyes were burning. He smiled as he felt the same passion in my eyes mirrored.

"Your eyes can be so cruel." he said as he kissed my cheek softly.

I stared at him in shock. He continued on driving and as I was still registering what was going on he grabbed my hand and held it.

"Please don't marry him." he asked as he softly kissed my hand and then bit his lip. His voice was husky and sounded passionate with dominance unlike his gentle demeanor most of the time. I started to feel a strange tightening in my stomach from his touch.

"Edward it's not that easy." I said.

"What do you mean it's not easy?" he asked as we finally made it to my house.

I was about to say something but my father was outside waiting for me. I went to speak anyways until he pulled me out of the car and put me gently inside the house and shut the door. I saw him going out towards Edward as I watched through the window. I had a mixture of fear and bewilderment as I heard my dad yelling. Edward didn't say much and when it was all over he just drove off in a hurry.

"What did you say to him?" I demanded almost yelling.

"I told him not to come back here anymore and not see you again. What do you think you're doing parading around with a man going on dates while you're supposed to be marrying Jamie and meeting him tomorrow? How are you supposed to give Jamie a chance if you're already falling for another man?" he said.

"He was not my date father! He is my friend!" I said before I burst out crying and ran upstairs to my room. I met up with Irene upstairs.

"What happened?" Irene said. She saw the expression on my face and held onto me trying to comfort me.

"Father" … I started to say still crying "sent Edward away." I started bawling louder. Irene got into the bed with me that night to hold me to help me sleep. Sometimes she was more of a mom to me than I was to her. I am usually the one that comforts her after her heart gets broken but this being the first time I ever had anything to do with a guy it was her turn to be the comforter. I finally fell asleep but was woken up much later. I could hear my sister and father whispering down stairs.

"I don't know what to do father, we have nowhere to go if this goes badly." Irene said.

"Some things we have no control of. Hopefully she will get to know him. We can only hope that this doesn't all end badly." Charles replied.

"I can't take this!" Irene sobbed tearlessly into her hands. "She shouldn't have to do this! There has to be another way to keep the house. Maybe you can get a loan or something, we could possibly figure this out a different way. I want a home, but not at this price. She'll hate you forever for this."

"I know, I know. I am already trying to come up with an alternative but this whole situation with her friend has got to stop! It's unhealthy and will only make it harder for to comply with the marriage to Mr. Coal. I want her to at least give him a chance before she tosses him completely aside." he said.

"You over reacted, Edward is Elissa's good friend." Irene said chidingly.

Charles thought aloud, "Friend Eh, I will go to Edward tomorrow and apologize for my behavior and then I will talk to Elissa and apologize to her for everything that transpired. I will also be telling her my concerns with her spending so much time with Edward. I'll need to talk to Edward too in order to see what this is all about and what interest does he see my daughter as."

Unknowingly I had a plan of my own. I would go see Jamie alright, I almost smiled. But I won't let him touch me or kiss me or even come close to falling in love with me. He won't even want to marry me and I'll just go somewhere far away. I almost wanted to cry for a moment knowing I might not ever see my father again. Of course my sister can choose to come with me if she wanted to.

I tried to sleep that night but couldn't rest my mind. All I could think about was Edward, his smile, his electric touch, his eyes. Oh my, his sweet angelic face. Before I knew it my hands were under the covers. I started playing with my clit and imagining him inside me, making love to me and kissing and touching every part of my body. I climbed higher and higher and finally let loose it was stronger than I had ever encountered before. I finally drifted off to a peaceful dream.

That night I had a dream of Edward. We were flying through the air, jumping trees but when I saw my reflection in his eyes I looked different. It wasn't me but I had the same color eyes and hair. My lips were a bit fuller than hers and my eyes were a little farther apart and wider. "Do you trust me?" he asked.

"In theory" the dream me replied.

The next morning, I saw that Irene had returned to bed and was still holding me but she had stolen all of my covers. I yanked them from her and she fell on the floor.

"Oops" I said playfully. She got up half asleep and hit me with a few pillows. This continued until we were laughing breathlessly. We always have horse played since I can remember. Irene thinks it's because we don't have brothers to even things out. I got up and got dressed grabbing my new shoes and quickly getting them on.

Everything that happened the night before came rushing back to my head. Even though I have feelings for Edward I still had to do this for my dad. I had to try to get to know Jamie Coal even though I might be hurting Edward. I thought to myself but if he loves me as much as he says he does then he should understand what I have to do. I can't let my sister down and father will just have to suffer when Jamie doesn't want to marry me.

"Let's go." my Father said to me blandly.

"I'll see you later Irene." I said.

"Yes, let me know what happened." she said, with a worried look on her face. I could only look forward to getting it over with soon so I could see Edward.