Chapter 2
Ferry across Channel. 8 a.m.
Funnily, I woke with a start, sitting up so quickly I smacked my head against the metal rungs holding the mattress of the bunk above me.
"Ow, Jesus." I muttered, rubbing my head with the back of my hand. I never understood why the hell these bunks were so damn low. I mean, what if someone really tall was in here? They would have to roll out of the bloody bed!
As I shifted my weight, something fell to the floor, stopping with a low thump.
Curious, I looked down.
My copy of Alibi lay splayed on the floor, the cover shining slightly from the rays of sun shining through the blinds of the small box window in the tight cabin.
I glanced in the bunk next to mine and saw Edward spread-eagled on the bed, his head pushed up against the headboard. I would have thought he looked angelic if it wasn't for the fact that his broad shoulders were tensely hunched and his hands were closed in fists.
Oh joy he was still pissed off at me.
Shrugging to myself, I grabbed a change of clothes and shuffled off into the closet sized bathroom in our cabin. I showered quickly - no hot water - and slipped on my ripped jeans and tight black vest that Edward kept saying made me look "Like a runaway Emo." and Jess said that it made me look "Bloody sexy."
Whatever they said made no difference to me. The vest was still a vest with two small printed skulls on the straps.
I grabbed my dirty clothes and stuffed them in a small bag which I pushed to the bottom of the case. As soon as we were off board, I was going to bully Edward into taking me to a Laundrette…
As I zipped up the bag as quietly as I could, Dean groaned, rubbed his eyes and looked at me.
"Oh, hey." he said groggily before yawning.
I straightened up and grinned, "Hey. Be quiet, Jess is still sleeping," I pointed at the bunk on top of mine and Edward nodded.
"OK. How about meeting me at the bar? I'll get you breakfast," I nodded and headed out as Edward stumbled out of his bed and into the bathroom.
So maybe he wasn't pissed off at me…
--
'Passengers, we are now approaching the Port of France. Please stay where you are and do not attempt to get to your cars before boarding. Remember luggage and any items you might have bought on this ferry. Any items found will be assessed and destroyed by the police. They shall not be returned. Thanks you.'
Edward grabbed mine and Jess's hands and dragged us to the window, where the port was starting to show. This morning, the water was crystal clear and it shone like thousands of diamonds in the sun.
"We're here, girls!" Edward said excitedly.
I kept looking at the sea, "It's beautiful," I breathed, taking another step forward. I had lived by the sea my whole life, but seeing it like this, so free, so beautiful well, it was something else entirely. Edward grinned at me whilst Jess giggled.
"Aw, don't tell me that dear old Bella is going all soft on the sea!" Jess giggled again and I joined in, but still my eyes were glued to the blue splendour in front of me.
We arrived at the Hotel just after twelve in the afternoon. Jess claimed to be 'utterly exhausted' and disappeared off to her room whilst Edward and I went to explore the small town we were staying at before heading to Italy.
We linked arms and went window shopping, seeing as we needed to find a bank which would accept our travellers cheque and change the pounds to euros.
"Bella, look at this," Edward called. We were standing in front of little tables lining the pebbled street. Edward was leaning over one of the benches where an assortment of necklaces, stones and gems lay.
I went obediently over to him and saw what he was pointing at. It was a sea blue gem, threaded through with a silver chain. The gem seemed to form something, but there were other little sliver threads around it, making a pattern impossible to follow.
"Oh my God, it's so beautiful. Jess would love it." I said automatically.
Edward seemed to growl under his breath, "Why do you always think about her - or rather, us - first, before thinking about yourself? Shouldn't it be the other way round?" I fidgeted with the strap on my over the shoulder bag and didn't reply. It always made me uncomfortable when Edward tried to straighten me out. He was doing this since we were kids.
"I know, but all I think is-"
"How much?" He interrupted, turning to the man smoking a pipe behind the stall.
"Dix euros," the man replied, gesturing at the necklace. Edward nodded and fished in his back pocket for his leather wallet and produced a fifty Euro banknote. I didn't even know he had one of them.
"Edward, don't be stupid," I said, taking a step back from the stall. The last thing I wanted was a gift! Edward rolled his eyes and handed the money to the man, who's eyes widened at the amount he was given. Hah, maybe he wasn't expecting an eighteen year old guy to have fifty euros tucked away in his pocket.
The man handed the change back and bagged the beautiful necklace before smiling knowingly at us.
"Come here," Edward ordered, dragging me to the other side of the road and taking the necklace out.
"Edward, you're being ridiculous." If Jess found out, I was dead meat. how would I explain the fact that the guy she was in love with had bought me an expensive looking necklace? She'd think God knows what!
"Why am I being ridiculous? I want to make a gift for my best friend, and you call me ridiculous?" He spun me round and moved the hair away from my neck. The silver chain was cold against my skin and the gem seemed to throw droplets of blue blood on my pale skin.
I fingered it and then turned round, regarding Edward thoughtfully.
"It looks beautiful on you," Edward gruffed out before turning round and hurrying down the street. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Hey, wait up!" I called, jogging after him. When I caught up, I muttered thank you and linked my arm with his, dragging him to the nearest coffee shop.
"You want coffee in this weather?!" Edward asked, incredulous.
"Hah! No, but I wouldn't mind some Slush." I replied, sliding into the booth.
"Mmm, me too. But wouldn't you rather have an ice cream?" He asked, sliding into the seat opposite me.
"Nope. Ice cream makes me thirsty and I don't want you to spend too much money," I said mischievously.
"Oh, wait. So I'm the one who has to pay? That's not fair!"
"Is too. I'm paying for those lush hotel rooms, remember?" Edward was still thinking up a suitable response for that as I walked up to the bar and ordered a Strawberry and Blueberry Slush and a Chocolate and Cream Ice cream. Thank God you paid at the end when you've finished what you bought. I think I needed more time to bribe Edward into paying for it.
When I returned to the table, Edward was gazing thoughtfully at his phone. Never a good sign.
"Hey, Bella? Hadn't I dumped Tanya?" he asked, frowning down at me. I'm starting to hate tall boys.
I scanned my memory for the pretty strawberry blonde with long fake tanned legs and a hundred watt smile.
"Yes" I answered, remembering the horrid wailing coming from the girls toilets after wards. Tanya had started stalking Edward after that, bribing him with 'the best night of his life'. as I said, poor guy even though he hadn't been all that nice to Tanya.
"Then why is she texting me with possessive 'where r u?' and 'Lk, we nd 2 tlk'?" He asked, an expression of utter confusion on his face. I wanted to laugh out loud. The 'duh' went unsaid.
I rolled my eyes and sipped some of my Strawberry and Blueberry Slush and said, "Well, she still likes you and I guess she's worried about your leaving without warning her."
"Why would I warn her?" good point. Why would he warn her if they were finished? I shrugged and looked at him nervously. When he was calm like this when he shouldn't be calm, then I knew he was up to something.
I recalled a bad event consisting of the ex-jock Tyler and his girlfriend - who was Edward's girlfriend at the time, too - and a bucket of permanent paint. I guess you get the point.
Edward was left confused and irritated for the rest of out little trip.
When we got back to the hotel, the first thing I did was hide the necklace in a small leather drawstring bag I used for my creams. I know, I know. Pathetic, huh? But knowing that Jess had a crush on Edward would only make it worse if I wore the necklace. She'd think that Edward felt something for me, which by the way: ew.
--
When you see Italy - sunny, summer Italy - on a postcard, or as a example picture on your Geography class, your first thought is: wow, it's gorgeous.
But when you see it in real life, it's just breathtakingly beautiful. everything seems to have fallen from the sky, and it welcomes you with open arms. Maybe that's why it has so many people from the east, but hey, no ones perfect.
As Edward drove through the boundary between France and Italy, the first thing that hit me was the smell. it wasn't smoggy, and it certainly didn't feel as if you were smothered. Actually, you were, but in a totally different way.
We passed a small field, where an old man was lying against the hot rock, smoking a pipe and calling to three little kids, playing a little farther away.
The language is like music to your ears (A/N: That's what people tell me when I talk Italian, anyway) and it sends you into a moment of total relaxation.
"Stop the car," I ordered Edward. He stopped the vehicle and I got out, touching everything in reaching distance. Edward and Jess got out, stretching their legs and they both linked arms.
"This place is utterly amazing, Edward. How could your parents want to go somewhere else?" I asked quietly. A couple of young children ran cautiously into the field and joined the other three kids, which only made the old man smile.
Edward shrugged and looked about before saying, "Come on, we better get going. I don't want to have to explain to the neighbours why I wasn't on time."
Jess and I nodded and we climbed back into the car, leaving the paradise valley - or so I thought - behind us.
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I'm sorry if this chapter is uneventful and short! Next one will be better! Review please!
