Little Red Riding Hood

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Chapter Three

Bella had never really been one much for parties or big social events, but the feast wasn't at all what she had expected. It seemed the entire village was out tonight, even all of the young children. There was plenty of food and music and dancing and loud, carefree laughing. Everyone seemed to be having an amazing time.

"Edward is over there next to Jasper," Alice pointed at one of the nearby tables. "I shall introduce you," she beamed as she grabbed Bella by the hand in an attempt to drag her over to the guys, but Bella resisted, trying to dig her heels into the floor.

"I don't think I can do this, Alice. All of this is just too weird," Bella said.

"Weird?" Alice asked.

"Yes, weird. It means very strange," Bella explained.

"Oh. Well, why is it we-ird?" Alice asked, still not quite saying to word correctly.

"I'm pretty sure I'm dead, Alice. I drowned! Either I'm dead…or I'm in a coma or something. I'm in a place I know nothing about with a psychic who claims I'm meant to be with a complete stranger!" Bella ranted. "How would you react?"

"There you go using those strange words of yours again," Alice scolded softly before sighing. "I know all of this must be hard to understand right now, but please trust me, Bella, when I say you will be happy. I know what I speak of here. I have seen it."

"And your visions always come true?" Bella demanded skeptically, studying Alice closely for any sign of doubt.

Alice frowned. "Not always," she began. "It can change based on what people decide."

Bella's eyes darted around the crowded place, searching for something even she didn't know what until her eyes landed on it. His emerald eyes stared at her with such intensity that it made her wonder if Alice had told him about the visions after all. He was watching her curiously and his smoldering eyes darkened as he stared unabashedly at her. Bella found she was glad she was wearing long sleeves to cover the skin of her arms as she felt goose bumps rapidly spread over her flesh like flames spreading over a gasoline doused fire after the match is lit.

His incredibly intense gaze was holding her in place. She found she couldn't move even if she had wanted to. He had her locked in place.

"Bella?" Alice interrupted the moment, smirking at her knowingly as she traced Bella's dumbfounded stare. "You fancy Edward."

"I—I do not," Bella defended pointlessly.

Alice rolled her eyes. "If you say so, Bella. Come."

Bella let Alice drag her along this time

"Jasper," Alice called, smiling brightly at her husband.

Jasper looked up, searching briefly. He smiled softly when his eyes met Alice's.

When they reached the table, Alice dropped Bella's hand and danced around the table to sit in Jasper's lap. They locked eyes and he wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned into him and his lips descended on hers. Bella looked away instantly, feeling like an intruder or a pervert for intruding on such a personal, intimate moment.

Edward stared at Bella curiously still. His eyes roamed over her boldly, and he found himself fascinated with her. She was interesting to look at which was something he was quite sure he had never thought about a girl before.

Bella noticed Edward's stare again and she had to look away before she got trapped in it again. She fidgeted with her hands, feeling uncomfortable now.

When Alice finally came up for air, she eased the uncomfortable silence. "Um, Edward, this is my friend, Bella. Bella this is Edward," Alice introduced them, glancing eagerly between the two as Jasper rolled his eyes at her.

"Bella," Edward said lowly as his eyes raked her in again from head to toe, testing the name out and liking very much how it rolled effortlessly off his tongue. His silky voice caressed her name like a beautiful melody.

"She is our guest for a while. She will stay with me and Jasper," Alice smiled at Bella and Jasper nearly gaped at Alice.

Edward finally tore intense gaze away from Bella to look at Alice. "You never mentioned Bella before," he said, sounding disappointed.

"There was never a reason to, Edward," Alice defended, almost glaring at him.

Bella could feel all three pairs of eyes on her and she felt extremely self-conscious and awkward. She wanted to sit, but the only empty seat was next to Edward and she didn't want to sit without being invited to do so.

"You can sit if you would like, Bella," Alice giggled as if she could read Bella's mind. Well, she was psychic...

Bella rounded the table and placed her hand on the back of the wooden chair next to Edward's.

"May I?" she asked him.

He nodded eagerly, smiling crookedly at her.

"Thank you," she replied. She moved the chair over a little so it wasn't so close to him, trying to be subtle about it, but it didn't escape Edward's attention as he frowned. She ignored his reaction and sat.

Out of the corner of her eye, Bella saw Alice nudge Jasper. "Jasper and I are going to fetch something to drink. Would either of you care for some?" Alice asked them.

Bella shook her head and Edward, still staring at her, replied with a low, "No."

Alice and Jasper disappeared, leaving only Bella and Edward. Bella had so many questions, but she was afraid to ask any of them. Edward did not know who she was. That meant Alice hadn't shared these visions with him. Why?

Edward turned towards Bella, his emerald eyes burning into her brown ones.

"So, where do you come from, Bella?" Edward asked her.

Bella had to think for a moment. "Salem," she replied when she remembered what Alice had come up with.

Edward nodded. "I have heard of it."

Bella gave him a small smile and nod, not really sure what to say next.

"How long have you been in Twilight?" Edward asked, studying her again.

"Um, only about a day," Bella replied honestly. It feels like the Twilight Zone.

"And do you like it so far?" he asked, licking his lips.

Bella could only nod.

"I find it strange Alice never gave word of you. Normally, no one can quiet her," he said. Bella realized Edward was suspicious of her. He knew something was up.

Her heart sped. Did he know? For the first time in her life, she had to be a good liar and a good actress. It really counted this time.

Bella shrugged. "As Alice said there was probably no reason to before. She is an old friend. I had not seen her in a while till I arrived here."

Edward leaned back in his chair, his eyes turning impossibly darker in the dim lighting set around them. His lips tugged into a smirk again.

"I think your face is an open book, Bella," he said lowly, his voice seductive and silky. Bella wondered if he was doing that on purpose. "It can be read easily."

Bella's eyes narrowed at him. "What are you saying?" she demanded.

"Jasper tells me Alice went into the forest to find you," Edward said suddenly. "Very dangerous of her. She would not risk her life for just anyone. Tell me, Bella, what were you doing in the forest?"

Bella said nothing, so he continued.

"You know about Alice's visions, yes?" he asked. He studied her expression before smirking knowingly when he found the answer he was looking for. "I should have known. She saw you coming."


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