Chapter 3: Elevator Reunion
I don't know how I did it, but a few hours later, I was sitting in the airport with Jessica and Angela, waiting for our flight to France. And I had to say, I was exhausted. Ever since we stepped foot out of our hotel room earlier that morning, I had done nothing but look over my shoulder. I was nervous and my friends knew it.
I was amazed when hours later, in the late afternoon, we made it to France and to our French hotel with no sign of Edward. The rest of the day went by just as smoothly: no Edward in sight. And I didn't even have my usual dream. I actually began to wonder if he'd lost track of me.
I was soon to learn that I was very much mistaken. I had a unique scent and he had strong senses. Of course he would find me.
The first few days went by just as smoothly as they had in England: shows, shopping, the Eiffel Tower, French accents. I managed to get distracted and to calm down a little, but I was always on my guard.
But on our third day there, my fears came true. I saw him again. Only this time, he saw me too.
It was getting late, maybe around ten at night, and Angela, Jess, and I had arrived back at the hotel. We made our way to our room and found a note taped to the door. I froze. Jess looked back at me and when it became obvious that I wasn't going to touch the note, she took it off the door herself and opened it.
"Isabella Swan," she read aloud. "An important message was left for you; please come down to the lobby to retrieve it. Thank you." She raised her eyebrow, handing it to me.
"I-I think I'll just wait and get it tomorrow," I stammered, stepping forward to unlock the door. I felt very uneasy. My hands shook and Angela had to take the key from me and do it herself.
"Bella, go get your message," Jess said. "Really, you don't know for sure that it's from…" She trailed off and I knew she was uncertain if she should say his name out loud.
"It could really be important," Angela added. "What if it's a message from Charlie or Renee? What if something happened?"
I sighed, realizing they were right. I turned and made my way back to the elevator.
The kind woman at the desk handed me a plain envelope and I thanked her absentmindedly, immediately opening it as I walked away. I had to know what it was, or my anxiety would surely strangle me. Once I was safely around the corner, I opened the note and felt my stomach drop at the familiar handwriting.
Bella,
I know you saw me back in England and I know you lost no time in running away. I also believe that I deserve that after leaving. All I ask is the chance to talk to you, in person, about something very important. What I have to say can't be delivered in handwriting, in case someone was to see it. Please Bella.
Love, Edward
I gaped at the note. Love, Edward? Immediately, I looked around me, expecting him to pop out of nowhere. When he didn't, I made my way to the elevator. I couldn't be sneaky and take the stairs this time, considering we were on the ninth floor of the hotel.
I joined the small crowd of people who were also waiting for the elevator to descend. I crammed the note into my pocket and tried to clear my head.
I couldn't do it. I couldn't see him face to face, at least not now, when I was still so vulnerable. What could possibly be so urgent that he couldn't write it down or have someone else tell me?
I felt a tiny bit of relief when the elevator opened and we filed in. I was so immersed in the note I had just received that I didn't realize when we stopped on the fourth floor to let people on, and I especially didn't notice who stepped on at that moment.
An exhausted businessman and his colleague stepped in, as well an obvious tourist couple on their honeymoon and a woman with her large, sun burnt family. Not to mention a vampire.
His familiar topaz-colored eyes met mine and I could not look away. Chills ran down my spine. I felt very cold. He moved forward and I couldn't help but notice the contrast between him and the sun burnt family. He was so pale, so beautifully pale.
The elevator was already crowded enough and as our new elevator-mates joined us, we stepped this way and that, trying to make enough room to fit everyone. He walked in, never taking his eyes off of me. Snap out of it, Bella! I thought. I dropped my gaze.
I was in the corner of the elevator and the lady led her sun burnt family over and lined up right next to me. The original voyagers from the lobby floor were already on my other side. I was thankful that there wasn't any room for him to come near me, and so he was stuck in the corner diagonal from me. But I could feel him watching me and I grew increasingly more uncomfortable.
I had to get out of this elevator.
And at that moment, I heard a tiny ding and a few people started to get out. I pushed my way to the front, and I saw Edward tense up when he noticed I was leaving. I looked over at him and the sight of him was so sad that I almost stopped. He looked crestfallen, his eyes pleading, as he whispered, almost inaudibly, "Bella…" I forced myself to look away and to step off of the elevator. It closed behind me.
It was only the fifth floor, but I didn't care. I could handle four flights of stairs, but I couldn't handle him. The very thought of him and even vampires now made me uncomfortable, as if it was some kind of surreal otherworld.
I stopped at the bottom of the flight of stairs going to the sixth floor and looked up. Was it really wise to use the stairs? Maybe there was a closet I could hide in…and as soon as I thought of it, I shook it off. Why was I hiding? I would not hide in hotel broom closets.
I took a deep breath and started up the stairs as fast as I could without losing my breath. Breathe, Bella, breath. I had to keep telling myself I'd be to the safe hotel room in only a matter of minutes, and then I could collapse on the ground. And stay there if I wanted to.
I was almost there, when I lost my footing. Panic hit me hard in the chest as I felt myself about to fall backwards, balancing on the tip of the stair for a few brief seconds, arms flailing. I grabbed for anything I could, but it was too late. I was falling.
And I fell into something hard and cold.
