Edward watched Bella speak softly to the horse. He smiled as she climbed unto it's grey back. It took his breath away to watch her gallop across the field. She was so elegant, her body one with the horses', as it moved forward. There was a smile on her face, and her head was tilted slightly towards the sky. Her long brunette hair was no longer tied in a ponytail, and it blew loosely in the wind, just like the mane of the horse. She was nearly perfect. Edward had to have her. He wasn't even sure why, as he had only met her earlier in the day. She was feisty, and it was clear that she disliked him. He had acted like a prick, but he couldn't help it. It was his personality; it was the way he had been acting for the past 10 years. Maybe he had just developed a big ego as he excelled at riding, and as his looks changed. He knew he was talented and attractive, and he tended to flaunt it.
He wanted her, though. He wanted her more than he wanted to go to the Olympics. He wanted her more than he wanted fame and fortune. He wanted her more than anything else he had wanted. But, he had managed to drive her away in just a few hours. He hated himself because of that.
Bella suddenly turned the horse in a large circle, and she looked straight at Edward, with a look of disgust on her face. He felt himself blush; he had just been caught staring. He quickly shut the curtain of the small window, and turned away. Now he was sure he never had a chance with her. Frustrated, he groaned aloud and ran his hand through his hair. He was quickly getting mad at himself, so he couldn't help but whack the vase of flowers that sit on the table onto the floor. The glass shattered everywhere, and Edward found himself with a mess to pick up. While picking up the glass, he felt a tear run down his face. He sometimes couldn't stand the way he acted, or the way he was. The person he hated most was himself.
Bella finished work promptly at nine o' clock, and she walked to her cottage. She noticed Edward thought the front window of his place, sitting on the sofa, watching T.V. He looked distraught, and he was obviously not paying attention to whatever he was watching. Before he noticed her, Bella went inside. Her small temporary home was completely dark when she walked in, so she flipped the living room light switch. Sitting back on her couch, she pulled her boots off, flinging them somewhere in the room. Her stomach growled as she wandered into her kitchen. She made herself a grilled cheese sandwich, devouring it as soon it was done. An overwhelming wave of tiredness hit her, and she barely managed to take a short shower before going to bed.
As she lay in her bed, covered in her thick purple comforter, she thought about the events of the day. Meeting Edward, fighting with Alice, and Carlisle paying for her college education. The last thing she thought of before she drifted off to sleep, was Edward watching her through the window, never breaking his stare.
Edward groggily got out of bed the next morning. He wanted nothing more than to sleep past noon, but unfortunately he actually had to ride today. Bella was doing the same thing just a house away, but she had other priorities to attend to. She pulled on a pair denim shorts, and a t-shirt, realizing that it would be just as hot as it was yesterday. Her hair was a mess as usual, so she ran a brush through it, trying to make herself look somewhat presentable.
Edward was in his bathroom as well, brushing his teeth, when he noticed movement in the house next door. He looked over to see who his neighbor was, and he was stunned to see Bella frowning at herself in a mirror. He didn't know why she was frowning, though. She was absolutely beautiful.
Bella felt a pair of eyes on her. She quickly turned her head towards the window, and saw the one person she wished she did't have to look at. Edward was staring again, but this time, the curtain didn't close. This time, she stared back. She tried to glare, but her gaze softened. She was amazed that the green of his eyes was still piercing her through two layers of glass, and over ten feet away.
He was the one to break the stare, even though he really didn't want to.
She had been looking back at him; he couldn't help the cocky smile that spread across his face. Maybe he did have a chance with her. Maybe…
Bella was disgusted with herself. She didn't like him, she was sure of it, but she wasn't able to control her staring. He was nice to look at, there was no doubt about it, but he was arrogant and cocky. She quickly left her house, making sure to switch off all the lights on the way out. She jumped off of her porch steps only to run right into someone's chest. Someone's well-muscled chest… Bella looked up, seeing green eyes peering back into hers. Her hand was pressed unto his chest, and her body was aligned with his.
"Hi." Edward said, his face turning into a breathtaking crooked smile. He had clearly noticed the position of there bodies, and he would be happy to stand with Bella all day. She wasn't going to have that, though. Stepping away from him, Bella tripped over a stick that was lying across the path, and she felt herself falling quickly. Only to land right in Edward's arms.
"That's the second time you've run into me today. Are you doing this on purpose?" he asked grinning.
"Don't flatter yourself, horse boy." Bella felt her face turn red as she quickly turned away from Edward. Her wrist was grabbed before she could run away. She turned back to him, a glare now situated happily on her face.
"Wait, Bella!" Edward was concentrating hard on something. "I'm really sorry about how I treated you yesterday. I…I d-didn't mean to be such a jerk. I should've been more respectful of you," she could tell her wasn't used to apologizing for himself, and he had to give up a lot of his pride just to tell her this. She felt her face soften, as she looked at the ground
"It's okay, Edward. I was kind of mean right back at you," she mumbled.
"But I deserved it," he said pointedly. "Don't apologize for yourself." Bella looked him in the eye, a slight smile breaking.
"Yeah. You sort of did deserve it. I have to head to the barn now,"
"That's where I'm going too. Do you want to walk there together?" Bella took this time to notice he was dressed in riding attire. He wore loosely fitting riding pants, tucked into tall, black boots. His blue polo was tucked into his pants, a brown belt securing it in place. She couldn't deny that he looked amazing.
"Do I really have a choice?" she asked.
"Not really." His eyes sparkled.
They walked in silence to the barn. It was early so neither one of them really wanted to talk. Bella opened the barn door, only to find her second best friend waiting on the other side.
"Jacob!" Bella immediately jumped into his arms. She hadn't seen him since the summer before. She enjoyed the feeling of his arms around her.
"It's nice to see you too, Bella," he laughed. She stepped back smiling brightly back at him.
"You're huge!" she commented. He had certainly grown since last summer, and Bella had to look up to see his face.
"I finally got my growth spurt. Even though it did take 21 years." Jacob smiled.
"I told you that you'd be taller than me next time we met. You owe me twenty bucks," she remembered the bet they had made last summer.
"Yeah, remind me later after I get my first paycheck of the summer…" Jacob had noticed Edward standing behind Bella.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Jacob, this is Edward Masen, he's boarding his horse here for the summer," Bella introduced while they shook hands.
"Edward Masen? Hey, you're the guy whose supposed to bring the US gold medals next summer at the Olympics! That's pretty cool," Jacob told Edward, only slightly impressed.
"Yes. That's me." He replied flatly. The barn grew quiet, and Bella remembered she actually had to work.
"Hey, Jake. Maybe we can catch up later when I'm done with my shift." Bella suggested.
"That sounds good. I'll meet you here at one?" he asked.
"Perfect!" she said smiling.
After Jake left, Bella turned her attention back to Edward.
"Before I do anything, do you want me to get your horse ready?" she asked, knowing he would mention something.
"That's your job, isn't it?" Edward was back to being a jerk.
Bella grabbed Jack's tack off of the saddle stand, and Edward followed her to the stall. She brushed him, then began working on getting the saddle on his back.
"Who was that?" Edward almost snapped at Bella. "A boyfriend, perhaps?" Edward hadn't considered that Bella might already be taken, and he was repulsed by the thought. Bella had to be the girl for him.
"He's not my boyfriend. He's never been anything more than my best friend," she said defensively. She was sliding the bridle over Jack's head, and he took the bit immediately.
"It seemed like he was more than your best friend, though," he commented.
"Well he's not. Quit asking about it." Bella knew that Jacob felt something more for her. She couldn't help but feel a little guilty that she didn't like him that way.
"Fine." Edward stopped talking.
Bella led Jack into the indoor arena, handing the reins over to Edward.
"I'm pretty sure you can ride him without my help," Bella snapped. Edward rolled his eyes, while adjusting the stirrups. He mounted his horse, and circled the arena at a walking pace.
Bella occasionally stole glances at Edward riding as she cleaned the barn. He was an excellent rider and he was surprisingly gentle with his horse. He made jumping 6 feet look easy as he flew effortlessly over the jumps. For a second, Bella believed they were one being, instead of a horse and it's rider.
Edward knew that she was watching him ride. She wasn't very good at being inconspicuous. The roles were suddenly reversed. He was no longer the observer as he had been the day before. He was now the observed.
AN: I think this story is going good so far, and I hope you guys are enjoying it. If you have any questions of comments just press the review button! I enjoy reviews as much as Jane the horse enjoys peppermints! :)
-Katy