Disclaimer: My name is not Stephenie Meyer, so I don't own Twilight.
Note: Nobody responded to my "Where should Bella and Edward go" question, so this is what you get. So (blows raspberry) on you.
This chapter is dedicated to NoMoreMarbles on YouTube who has kept me updated on Twilight News for…a very long time. Bailey, you're vamptastic.
Eclipse chapter 4:
I looked around the circle of vampires, all deep in thought. They all stared at Edward while Edward stared at me. We had to figure out somewhere safe for me to hide and make up a convincing story for my dad, all in ten days. I have no idea how we're going to make this work. Rosalie was the first to speak up.
"What about Paris?" she suggested in a small voice.
"No way," Edward responded instantly, "She doesn't speak the language and that just brings her closer to the Volturi, which kind of defeats the whole purpose."
"Phoenix." Jasper said, "Bella knows where everything is, so you can escape quickly if needed."
"It didn't work last time, I doubt that it'll work this time." I stated coldly. I didn't understand how he could even consider Phoenix after what happened on my last visit. Edward shot him a death glare from where he sat beside me. Jasper looked down at the hardwood floor and didn't speak again.
"Let's try to think smaller." Carlisle said, distracted. It seemed as if he were weighing the pros and cons of every city in the world.
"How about Minneapolis?" Esme suggested, "It said on TV last week that it was the best city for couples just starting out."
"Yeah, but we've never been there before. What would we do if the Volturi tracked us there?" Edward replied.
"I've got it!" Alice screamed suddenly, jumping up. "I know the perfect place for you two to go!" She jumped up and down a few times and clapped her small hand together excitedly. Rosalie and I both looked at her as if she were insane, Jasper's eyes followed her jumping movements with a look of confusion, Carlisle and Esme both looked equally amused, and Emmett seemed to be on the edge of breaking out in hysterical laughter. Edward gave his crooked smile and nodded slowly in response to her thoughts.
"Alice, that's brilliant." Edward said gratefully as soon as she calmed down.
"What? What's brilliant?" Rosalie asked, looking between the two of them, obviously annoyed.
"Well," Alice explained, "What is the one city that Edward knows better than anyone where no one would ever think to look?" She looked at me: waiting for an answer, but I had absolutely no idea. "Chicago!" she yelled happily, throwing her arms out to either side.
"Chicago is a good idea," Carlisle broke in, "The Volturi know a lot, but where we grew up before we were changed is not one of them. And Edward, you pay a visit there every summer on your own anyway. It's perfect." He and Edward both seemed to be greatly uplifted by the idea.
Edward turned back to face me and took both my hands in his iron grasp. "So, do you want to go to Chicago?" He was leaving the final decision up to me; I could say no if I wanted to.
"Chicago sounds wonderful." I replied, a faint smile playing on my lips.
"It's settled then."- He turned back to Carlisle- "If we do everything correctly, I can have her out of here before the week is out. I'll tell her dad that we're going to check out colleges. I'm sure he'll be fine with it."
"He'll be thrilled." Alice asserted.
"So… can I go home now?" I asked, glancing back to my already packed suitcase on the floor.
"Oh! Yes, I'll take you home now." I stood with Edward and grabbed my suitcase from where he'd left it on the floor. We made our way outside, leaving the rest of the Cullens in the living room of their extravagant home. Edward decided to carry me bridal-style as he ran back to my house. He felt much more at ease as he ran this time. I suppose, knowing that the people trying to kill me weren't coming yet made him feel a little bit better. I know it made me feel like a happy little munchkin compared to my emotions an hour ago. When we reached my home, Edward easily jumped through my window and set my carefully back on my feet.
"I need a human minute." I stated. I grabbed my toiletries and one of the few pairs of pajamas that was left in my drawers, and headed to the bathroom. I went through my nightly routines in a rush, stumbling often while trying to remain silent for fear of waking Charlie. When I finally managed to get out of the restroom, I found Edward on my bed, as usual. It was a miracle that somehow he was here, with me. When he had left so many months ago, I never thought that I could ever become whole again. He was-is my other half and it seemed strange to me how easily everything had fallen back into its proper place the second that he had come back to me. Everything was okay again for the first time in a long time and I would do anything to keep it that way.
I flopped down beside my angel on the bed and he wrapped my quilt around me. We lay facing each other and he rested one hand on my waist while the other played with my hair. Neither of us said a word. It was as if we were worried that if we broke the silence, the moment would shatter and be ruined. But it didn't matter much because during some moments, no words were required. I gently took his hand from my waist and twined his fingers with my own. I brought our hands in front of my face and examined how perfectly our fingers fit together. I smiled slightly to myself when I noticed that Edward was doing the exact same thing.
"Bella?" Edward asked in the darkness.
"Yes?" I asked, still staring at our hands.
"Will you marry me?"
"What?!" I exclaimed as I pushed away from him and off the bed altogether. I stood there with my hands on my hips, glaring at him. He lay stunned for a moment before standing up as well. He walked over to me and took my left hand in both of his icy cold ones. He leaned over me until his face was only an inch away from mine, his smoldering golden eyes staring deep into my own.
"I said, 'Will you marry me?'" The smell of his breath sent my head spinning in a dizzying whirl, making it hard to remember my own name, let alone….What were we talking about? I stepped back from him to try to focus. I wasn't ready for marriage, how could he even ask me that?!
"Edward, I can't marry you." I explained, "I'm just… I'm not ready. I mean, I'm only eighteen!"
"I understand that, Bella, but the thing is…" He trailed off, his face looked almost anguished. "The thing is, I don't know what's going to happen when all this is over. Even Alice says that our future is uncertain and I want to be sure that when all is said and done, that you'll still be there, right by my side." He stared at me for a long moment and his eyes portrayed nothing but love, love that was intended for me alone. I sighed.
What was I going to do?
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Bella, what are you going to do? Ooh, this is getting soooo much fun to write!
By the way guys, I'm
having a bit of a dilemma. I don't know if I should keep this rated
T and not have them DO anything, or change the rating to M and
have it be that much more romantic. What do you think?
Please review. Almost no one has done so and I feel neglected and a little depressed. Please review.