Love Knows Nothing

Chapter four: Hurt and Happy


James had been standing next to her for the last twenty minutes, rambling on about a restaurant with little tea-lights on the tables and how good the pasta was.

Bella's ears hurt.

"So I was thinking maybe you and I could go there on Saturday?" Ever the hopeful, fool.

"I have a lot of papers to catch up on." And she really did. Tutoring Edward this past week had put her behind, but even if she didn't, even if there were no papers and no school and no students, she would have declined.

James smelled like a musty old book. His face was always slightly scruffy and that ponytail- unless it was on Bella's head, she never wanted to see a ponytail.

Her tummy hurt.

"We could get to them right now. I'll be glad to help." And he most certainly was.

"I am supposed to be teaching in five minutes."

"The Cullen child? Yes, I noticed you with him yesterday and the day prior. He's one of the orphans, right?"

Bella accidently dropped the five hundred page novel from the desk, to James' foot.

She wanted him to hurt like her heart just had.

"So, sorry.' But she wasn't.

"You could make it up to me," he smiled in a way that brought the pain in her tummy, back. She had to look away and when she did, she smiled.

Edward was always so good about arriving on time.

His face didn't look very happy, and Bella's heart hurt worse. She hurried her way towards him and noted when he sat his bag down a little too hard on the desk and plopped himself into his seat, lacking his usual grace.

"What happened?"

"Nothing. What are we reading today?"

She swallowed and examined his face that wouldn't look at hers. "I was thinking maybe we could read on the patio, since it is rather nice outside today?"

"Sure." He climbed to his feet and walked out ahead of her, choosing a place.

They sat on the bench and she handed him over a book. He didn't open it.

"Are you feeling okay, Edward? We don't have to have class today if you are ill." He didn't look ill, though, he looked perfect as always- minus the attitude.

"I don't like James," he blurted out.

"Oh."

"He's an asshole."

"Oh."

"He used to pick on my friend, Jasper. I mean, what kind of teacher does that?"

"Oh," she said quietly, feeling stupid. She hadn't known. "I'm sorry. What did he do?"

"Nothing," Edward opened the book and stared at the page, but said nothing. "This is too hard." He tossed it aside and looked at his shoes.

"It's only one grade level above what we,-"

"I said it's too hard." He was too hard, too angry, too intimidating for someone as gentle and young as Bella thought him to be.

But Bella had dealt with students with bad attitudes and whiny behaviors for years. Only his sadness affected her.

"Edward, I offered to help. If you don't want it, you don't have to take it. I am a teacher and if another teacher has done something that was not appropriate, then I would appreciate it if you would tell me, as I would never want any student to be harmed, hurt or mistreated. Any student."

Edward sighed hard and sat back, rubbing at his face with the butt of his hand. She hated how upset he looked, the frustration. She grabbed his hand, lowering it from his face and he looked at her, a little surprised.

She waited.

"Do you like flowers?" His unexpected question made her smile.

"I'm a girl, yes."

"I know a place with many flowers. Could we read there today?"

"Um, where?" She lived here all her life, except her time in college. She had no idea.

"You don't trust me, do you?"

"I do….I just can't imagine anywhere during this time of year with flowers….that are actually alive." Her playfulness brought his mood back to where Bella preferred.

"Let me show you."

They walked and walked and walked and walked, until Bella was honestly a little worried and a little sore. Edward trampled on, stomping through the small amount of snow on the ground and then plopped himself down, finally.

"Sit." He took the book from his jacket and she sat beside him, looking around, but seeing nothing. "I'm going to tell you a story."

He began to read, but what he said did not reflect the words of the book. He was telling Bella why he loved this place, how he found it and why she saw no flowers.

"The boy picked the last bunch of flowers for the beautiful teacher before the snow could cover them all, and now, she will have to wait until spring to receive more."

Bella's face hurt. She smiled way too much at his story.

"You're reading has vastly improved since I last saw you. Perhaps you will gain me some awards or a raise. Ah, a raise would be so nice," she teased.

Edward was silent, simply staring at her shining next to him as the sky dimmed, turning on the stars and sparkling in Bella's warm eyes. He wanted to jump inside of them and not have to leave.

"James like you," he stated.

"Yes."

"I don't like James."

"I believe we have established this," she giggled.

"Do you like James?"

"I don't really know him. I try to only pay attention to things and people I find interest in- that are deserving of getting to know and spending such time on, Edward."

Edward was smart- he would see what she meant, right?

"Would it make you happy if I read this book?" He held it up.

"You mean you weren't?" She teased, twisting her face in false surprise. "Darn, now I won't get a raise."

Edward smiled and flipped open the book to the first page. He started reading, skipping over the words that bothered him and making sure to do his best. He wanted Bella to have prizes and raises and all things that made her happy.

She slid a little closer and the hairs on his arms began to rise; sensing her warmth and fragrance and intense staring. He chanced a peek at her and when he did- words and books and lesson were suddenly blank in his mind, for his whole mind were just that- blank.

Her lips leaned into his cold cheek and kissed softly- feeling like she had placed a mark on him that burned and touched him in places he never knew existed. She nudged him lightly with her forehead, leaving it pressed against his prominent cheekbone.

Soft, safe and sweet whispered against the quiet of night.

"You make me happy, Edward."

Bella's tummy felt full. Her small ears tingled hearing his breathing accelerate. Her heart was warm and heavy and nothing, absolutely nothing hurt, any longer.

Things get a little sweeter, a little more tingly next round. :)