A bell rang just before sunrise. I dressed in the work clothes Angela had given me. I told no one about who I'd seen. Angela fetched us all a slice of toast and a rasher of bacon for breakfast. The royal family were still as kind as I remembered them; I knew they would not have changed. I missed them terribly, I also missed Lilia. I hoped she was ok, I'd left her for discovery maybe even punishment or…death. I stifled a gasp and ate my breakfast. Lauren begrudgingly cleared our plates away and Jessica walked off to find the rota. I just sat staring at the window remembering last night and seeing him. No wonder he sleeps all day, he must have been out for at least three hours. It was my entire fault and nothing would change that. I couldn't help but feel awful. I would have scolded him if I had still been with him but if that were true he wouldn't have walked around the gardens like we had all night. I had taught him the thing with the climbing of the vines. He was very good at it now. Jessica was almost distraught when she came back.
'First day luck,' she muttered as she threw the rota at my bed. I read where I was supposed to be. I nodded to myself. My plan might work. I was spending the whole day in his room, my old room and his sister's room.
'I warn you, the princess doesn't like her clothing touched,' Angela warned looking over my shoulder. I laughed out loud.
'I know!' I said loudly through my laughing. Angela looked at me confused.
'Er..,' had I blown my cover?
'Oops, my mistake. She is always in the gossip about her love of clothes!' Angela saved me unknowingly. 'So do you need my help finding your way?' she added as if accusingly. If she was friend she wouldn't tell anyone, would she?
'No, I'll be fine,' I told her and walked off to find his room, not a challenge.
I knew all the shortcuts so I got there very quickly. I found the maid area at the end of the corridor and picked up a mop, bucket of warm water, cloth and duster. I dragged everything to his room I stood in front of it nervously. I bit my tongue. Would he remember me? Would he still like… or love me? Would he throw me out? Would he wa-. The door opened and he stood there looking tired but still as beautiful as I remembered. Tears filled my eyes.
'Come in,' he said quietly, his velvet voice heightening all my senses. I looked at the room. I almost shuffled in before I broke down. I fell into a heap on the floor, crying. He rushed to help me up. He pulled me into his arms.
'Always…the…gentleman,' I whispered through my sobs.
'What?' he asked. I pulled away suddenly.
'Er…nothing,' I told him and trying to compose myself. He was painstakingly beautiful; it hurt to look at him after all these years. I still loved him. I threw myself into work. I could feel his eyes on me all the time.
I finished up scrubbing the windowsill, when I'd stayed here he had always complained about the state out it. I smiled to myself at it. I went to leave but he took my wrist and pulled me to sit on the lounger. I sat on the edge, nervous beyond description. Had he recognised me?
'What's your name?' he asked carefully.
'Bella,' I mumbled looking down. He took a sharp intake of breath. I looked up to see the pain in his eyes.
'I knew a Bella…once,' he whispered. 'I don't know where she is now.'
Tears filled my eyes.
'I'm sorry!' I cried and ran out of the room but I tripped over my own feet. I braced myself for impact but was caught far from the ground. I recognised the strong but gentle grip. His arms were wrapped around my waist. He pulled me up but didn't let go.
'Are you ok?' he asked his voice laced with concern. I nodded and pulled myself out of his grasp. I picked up the mop and bucket and ran into his sister's room which was around the corridor.
'Bella,' he shouted after me. 'Wait!'
I didn't stop and knocked quickly on the princess's door. She opened it and her mouth dropped open.
'Bella? I knew it!' she squealed. I bit my lip. 'Edward's going to be so pleased. He's been ridiculous lately, not leaving his room until dead of night and then sleeping the whole day. You're back. Why didn't you tell anyone? Why are you carrying a mop and why are you crying?' she finally stopped to breathe. I placed a hand over her mouth and walked in and shut the door and locked the deadbolt. I could feel the waterworks again. I burst into tears.
'I'm so sorry,' I cried. Alice pulled me over to the bed and sat me down there. She laid my head on her lap and stroked my hair. She let me cry until I'd had enough.
'Oh, Bella. I should have stopped them, I regret it everyday,' Alice whispered as she pulled loosely at one of my locks.
'It's not your fault. I didn't even know what my…f-Charlie was planning,' I told her quietly. Alice opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by knocking on the door. Alice clung to me tightly; it was too much like last time. I buried my face in the crook of her neck.
'Alice open up, its urgent!' Edward's voice thundered through the door. Alice's grip on me loosened but I shook my head at her and ran into her closet to hide.
Bella!' Alice whispered urgently. I peeked out and shook my head, my vision clouding over. I hid in the white gowns so I could listen to them talk.
'Alice, what took you so long? She's here, oh my, Alice. Bella's here and alive and breathing and working and functional and being here and beautiful and lovely and intelligent and clever and wonderful a-,' he was cut off.
'Edward! Shut up. You're becoming delusional, seeing things. Edward you've got to see someone,' Alice started worriedly.
'I'll prove it. I'll go and see Mrs Cope and I'll prove she's here. Just you wait, Alice Cullen. You mark my words!' Edward shouted at her. I had to make Alice make Mrs Cope take my name out of her book. A door slammed and Alice rushed in.
'Shortcut, back, behind red shoes,' I said quickly. She shoved her shoes out of the way and pulled the bricks out of the wall. She looked back.
'You will tell me why later!' she ordered. I smiled and nodded. She pushed herself forward and down the shaft. I hurried over to watch her go.
Yay, I got it up on time. In case you hadn't realised I like to update every two days.
Twilight is trying to break the record set by the Indiana Jones' movie that's about to be released. In the first week that the trailer was released it had 4.1 million views. Twilight had 2.2 million in its first 3 days but we need more than 4.1 million by Monday afternoon. So HELP TWILIGHT BREAK THE RECORD. To help go onto MySpace and constantly put the trailer on, you don't have to watch it but just play it over and over again. For the link go on to the Twilight Lexicon, PLEASE.
Love and kisses,
Beth 'Guitar Hero III Rocks' Cullen
xx