A/N As always...a huge thank you to my beta cdunbar...srsly, go read her stuff!!!
EclipseoftheTwilightMoon....here's mine...now where's yours?? ;-)
Starshinedown...I hope your question is answered in this one!
All the ladies on the Twilighted Forums...I love you all, you keep me focused and inspired (coughpwtfcough) :-D
Disclaimer: I do NOT own a Wii, but I wish I did. I do NOT own these characters, but I like to pretend I do....
CHAPTER 4
Falling
EPOV
I had thought that this evening was going to be a nightmare, that I couldn't wait for it to be over with, but it had quickly turned into a rollercoaster of a night that I never wanted to end.
As I was returning to our table with the first round of drinks, I saw Bella and Jasper in a deep conversation. He was talking animatedly and she was listening intently, carefully absorbing every word.
The look on her face was one of interest, not the shrewd and calculating look I had seen so often in the faces of other 'test administrators'. She wasn't trying to catch him out in lie or expose him as someone who was not fit for her friend; she seemed to be trying to get to know him.
Setting the drinks down, I pulled out my chair and took a seat. After my brief interruption, Jasper continued on while I settled in to join their discussion.
The dialogue, however, began to fade into the background as I found myself preoccupied with observing Bella. I was captivated by her every expression, the way her head tilted slightly to one side as she listened, and the way her eyes sparkled when she heard some piece of information that peaked her interest.
I became fixated on her voice and the way her lips moved as she spoke. I was convinced that I could listen to her indefinitely and never tire of hearing her almost musical intonation as I greedily drank in every word. It also didn't escape my notice that every time her lips curled into even the slightest smile, my heart rate rose exponentially.
"Edward, are you at school too?"
The sound of my name passing those lips jerked me from my reverie and I stuttered briefly while my brain raced to comprehend the question.
Crap, she's going to think I'm an idiot.
I answered her questions as succinctly as possible, not wanting to talk about me, but anxious to learn more about her. The attraction I felt towards her initially was purely physical and I wondered if the woman behind the face was as beautiful as her exterior.
When I asked her about college, her reaction intrigued me as she became somewhat coy about answering, claiming that the full story would bore me. Impossible. She could have read the contents of the cocktail menu to me, and I would have been enthralled.
As she recalled the circumstances behind her inability to attend college, my reaction alternated between extreme admiration and anger.
Her willingness to abandon her own hopes and dreams for the sake of her mother's happiness was not only commendable, but showed a maturity well beyond her years. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that had I been faced with a similar decision at the age of seventeen, the outcome would not have been so selfless.
Then suddenly, I was enraged with the adults in her life at the time, at Phil for forcing her to make such a decision through his actions and at Renee for, effectively, allowing Bella to make such a drastic change to the path of her life for the sake of her mother's happiness.
Bella, conversely, did not appear at all phased by the seeming injustice of her situation, to the point of making light of it to break the tension I was causing by my inappropriate response. Her apparent need to ensure the comfort of those around her even extended to those she had known for less than an hour and it only served to deepen my fascination.
When she deftly turned our discussion back to me by asking what I did for fun, I begrudgingly admitted to not often taking the time away from my studies to pursue anything that may be considered 'fun'. Before she could respond to my pathetic answer, I turned the question around to ask her what she did for fun.
That was when the evening took an unexpected turn.
The mere suggestion of karaoke filled me with resolve, I was adamant that nothing she could do or say would convince me to get up on that stage. But my determination almost crumbled as Bella looked up at me with those big doe eyes and pushed out her plump bottom lip in a pout. Almost.
"Please?" she pleaded
My immediate reaction to that word coming from her mouth was to agree to whatever she asked of me. If she had requested that I throw myself in front of a bus, I'd have been on the sidewalk waiting for the next Number 42 in a heartbeat.
How did she do that?
To my horror, our turn was called shortly afterwards and Bella practically dragged me through the Pub and up onto the stage. The song she had chosen seemed to reflect her carefree personality and, as she sang, I tried to hang back and watch this exquisite creature while she captivated the crowd.
However, she was not going to allow me to disappear into the shadows and pulled me forward to sing beside her. The feel of her arm around my waist and her hips swaying against mine sent a wave of warmth through my entire body and I began to relax and actually enjoy myself, all the while watching as Bella managed to capture the attention of every person in the room. She had them all, myself included, eating out of the palm of her hand.
Heading back to the table, I had to acknowledge that it had been fun despite my earlier trepidation. I felt lighter somehow and more at ease than I had been in years. Jasper's reaction was both amusing and a little insulting. He was looking at me as though he had never seen me laugh before, causing me to raise an eyebrow in a silent challenge before raising my hand for a 'high five'.
The remainder of the evening passed by in a blur of teasing and laughter, the four of us interacting like old friends rather than people who had only known each other a short while. My usually reserved nature was pushed aside and I allowed myself to just let go and enjoy the company.
Nothing could have prepared me for what happened when Bella returned to the table with the last round of drinks.
After our drinks were distributed amongst us, Jasper and I both asked what they were.
"Blowjobs," Bella said simply. My cock twitched at the connotation.
The girls quickly stopped us as we reached for the drinks, only to explain that there was a certain way that these particular shots were supposed to be consumed. Both Jasper and I probably looked confused and uncomfortable with the suggestive undertone currently running through the conversation.
Bella was biting on her bottom lip as she watched me shift around in my seat, completely at a loss for what to do. My thought process became hazy as I stared at that lip, fighting the urge to lean over and capture it in my own mouth. The vision I had conjured up of gently nipping and sucking on that full pink lip caused my jeans to get a little tighter.
"First, you should sit on your hands, to remove the temptation," she instructed. I slipped my hands under my thighs, thankful for even the smallest amount of direction at that point since my brain had ceased to fully function. "And then…"
And then…my surroundings began to fade until all I could see was Bella as she lowered her head towards the glass in front of her. When her tongue slowly snaked down and scooped the cream from the top of the drink, Little Eddie roared to life as I imagined that tongue swirling around his tip.
I gasped when my dick punched painfully into the zipper of my jeans as her lips slid down over the shot glass, they pursed slightly before she threw her head back. I watched the muscles contract and relax under the smooth, creamy skin of her neck as she swallowed before bringing the glass back down to the table.
There was a very real possibility that I was going to lose it right there at the table as her tongue reappeared to lick the inside of the glass clean. Bella raised her head and my eye caught sight of a drop of alcohol about to escape from the corner of her mouth. When her tongue shot out to catch it, I snapped my mouth shut and swallowed, in a vain attempt to push down the raging emotions pulsing through me and to regain control of my body.
That was the most erotic thing I have ever seen.
There was a continuous reel playing in my head as I sat motionless, my eyes only able to focus on Bella's lips, imagining her tongue caressing my throbbing cock before she slowly wrapped those luscious lips around my tip and took me into her mouth, her tongue producing just the right amount of pressure to the underside as she pulled back and then repeated the process over and over….
I sensed, rather than saw, movement beside me and I thought that Jasper might have left with Alice, although I couldn't say for sure. I was unable to move while my erection pressed painfully into the fabric of my jeans, and I feared that even the slightest friction against the sensitive area could cause an embarrassing accident.
"What the hell was that?" I managed to whisper. Was that little show meant for me? Was she suggesting what my body hoped she was suggesting?
With the fantasy film still rolling in my mind, I was having trouble comprehending what she was saying, catching random words and scrambling to try to make sense of them. I was thankful that I was sitting on my hands when Bella leaned across the table towards me because had they not been restrained, I might have reached out and dragged her over into my lap.
Her lips pulled into a smile as she said, "You could always come back to my place."
Holy shit! The implication contained in that one sentence caused a sharp intake of breath and I inhaled the saliva that had pooled in my mouth over the last few minutes.
Bella shot up out of her chair and ran to stand behind me as I started to choke and cough uncontrollably.
The problem in my pants dissipated almost immediately as the blood that had pooled in that area rushed to my face, the lack of oxygen currently making its way into my circulatory system undoubtedly gave my skin a bluish hue.
Way to make an impression, Edward. One statement from her and suddenly you're drowning in your own drool!
She leaned down and spoke softly in my ear, presumably to avoid drawing any more attention to us than my coughing fit already had.
"Calm down, Casanova." Her palm rubbed up and down my spine in an attempt to soothe me. "I was thinking of grabbing some pizza on my way home and then maybe watching a movie. Since I'm sure you would rather not go home right now, I thought you might like to join me?"
Still unable to fully catch my breath as the choking subsided, I nodded my head to indicate that I not only understood her offer, but also would gladly accept it.
She left me there for a few moments while I recovered and a wave of embarrassment ran through me. Of course her suggestion was an innocent one, borne from her need to ensure others comfort. It was my overactive imagination that had turned it into a lewd proposition. My only hope was that she wouldn't associate her proposal with my loss of control.
Wait. She called me Casanova, I groaned internally. Ah hell, she thinks I'm a pervert.
Just as I was about to crawl under the table and hopefully disappear, Bella returned with a glass of water.
"Here, drink this." She placed the glass in front of me and resumed rubbing my back.
I winced slightly when the cold liquid hit my raw throat, but the pain lessened as I drank the whole glass in one gulp.
"Better?" Bella inquired as her hand ceased its comforting trail and rested on my shoulder.
"Much, thank you," I croaked, my voice was still a little rough. "I…um…I'm sorry about that."
"Why are you apologizing, Edward? It couldn't be helped, I'm just glad you're ok." She seemed incredulous, no hint of the ridicule I deserved under the circumstances. "Are you ready to go?"
Feeling more at ease, once again thanks to her response, I stood up and reached for the jacket that was hanging on the back of her chair. Holding it open in front of me so that Bella could slip it on, I smiled. "Sure, lead the way."
I stepped back, sweeping my hand in front of me to indicate the path I wished her to take and Bella slipped by me, heading for the exit while I followed closely behind. Once we made it outside, she turned to the right and I fell into step beside her.
"Do you live far from here?" I asked, wondering if we needed to find a cab.
"No, just a couple of blocks away, and my favorite pizza place is just down the street."
We walked in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Bella gently grabbed my elbow and lead me into a small Italian restaurant.
Volterra was actually more of a bistro, with only a few round tables covered in red and white checkered tablecloths. Each one was decorated with a single white pillar candle and a small posy of wildflowers. The atmosphere was relaxed and the aromas permeating from the kitchen were absolutely mouthwatering.
"Ah, Bella!" The middle aged man from behind the small counter housing a cash register exclaimed in an Italian accent.
"Rico! How are you this evening?" Bella smiled widely.
"My evening has greatly improved upon seeing you." Rico reached out and took Bella's hand in his, lifting it to his lips to place a kiss on the back of it.
Bella blushed wildly as she turned to usher me forward with her free hand. "Rico this is my friend, Edward. Edward, Rico makes the best pizza in Washington State!"
Rico released Bella's hand and held his out to me in greeting. "It's an honor to meet the lucky gentleman who gets to spend the evening with such a beautiful lady."
"I'm not sure what I did to deserve the privilege, but I'm not going to question my good fortune," I said as I shook his hand and flashed a smile at Bella.
"Ok, stop it you two. You're embarrassing me!" Bella's cheeks were practically glowing with the crimson blush that washed over her face.
"Ah Bella, you truly have no idea of your effect on the men you come into contact with. We speak only the truth!" Rico chuckled. "Now, what can I get you? Your usual?"
Bella glanced up at me, her face still red. "Edward?"
"Whatever you want is fine with me," I replied.
"Good answer," Rico whispered to me under his breath, low enough that Bella couldn't hear him. Then, looking directly at Bella he asked, "So, pepperoni with extra cheese?"
"Yes, thank you. We'll take a large one tonight, to go."
"Why don't you take a seat and I'll bring it over when it's ready." He indicated toward a free table before heading off to the kitchen.
Holding out a chair for Bella, I waited for her to be seated before sitting down directly opposite her. The glow from her blush had started to subside as her eyes appeared to dance in the candlelight.
"He really is too much sometimes." She rolled her eyes self consciously. "You should see him when Alice is here! He can even make her blush.
So, how long have you and Jasper known each other?"
I laughed at her obvious attempt to deflect the attention that had been bestowed upon her for the last few minutes. She truly was uncomfortable receiving compliments, which ironically, made her even more attractive.
I relayed the story of how our parents met before either of us was even born, that we had grown up together and that I considered him a brother. She laughed when I told her exactly how Jasper had persuaded me to come out this evening.
"It must be nice to have someone, besides your parents, looking out for you. I sometimes used to wish I had a brother or sister as I was growing up, but then I met Alice and she has filled that role ever since." Her eyes softened as she spoke about her friend, her affection for Alice obvious as a smile slowly spread across her face.
"Well, it can be a blessing and a curse," I chuckled. "He doesn't let me get away with anything, but at least I know he's always got my back." I grinned, making a mental note to thank Jasper for inviting me tonight.
Just as I finished my sentence, Rico appeared at the table with the pizza. I quickly grabbed the bill from the top of the box, pulled out my wallet and handed the bill and a credit card back to him.
"Edward," Bella hissed. "You shouldn't have done that. I invited you here so I should pay, it's only fair." She actually did look a bit angry and I worried that I had offended her.
"Bella," I tried to appease her. "You are saving me from what promised to be a very uncomfortable evening at home. The least I can do is buy you dinner."
"Well, ok," she conceded. "But next time, I'm buying. Deal?"
"Deal." I grinned. The prospect of there being a 'next time' caused my heart to flutter around in my chest.
After signing the credit card slip and leaving Rico a generous tip, we said our goodbyes and I picked up the pizza as we headed out into the warm summer night. We hadn't been walking for more than a few minutes when we stopped outside a small apartment complex. It was an older building, only four stories high and the stucco cladding it was a faded pink color. Each suite appeared to have a small balcony jutting out and the ground floor tenants had small fenced gardens leading off from their sliding glass doors.
"Here we are," Bella announced as she fished her keys out of her jacket pocket and unlocked the door.
She led the way into the clean, brightly lit lobby area. There was a bank of mailboxes lining the wall to the right and on left wall a generic painting of a country landscape hung in a large wooden frame, a small upholstered bench centered on the floor beneath it.
Directly ahead of us was the elevator and as Bella pressed the 'up' button I noticed a large, well used bulletin board situated above the lighted panel. I was scanning a notice about some upcoming building maintenance when I heard a 'ding' as the elevator doors opened.
Once we were both inside, Bella hit the number four and the doors slid closed. While we stood in silence waiting for the car to make its ascent, I began to feel uneasy for the first time since we had left the pub. I wasn't sure what to do or say.
Should I be making small talk? Should I tell a joke? Should I push her up against the mirrored wall and…wait, where the hell did that come from?
I was beginning to feel claustrophobic, shifting my weight nervously from foot to foot, silently cursing the slow moving contraption. It would have been quicker to take the stairs!
Just then, Bella looked up at me and smiled shyly. I was selfishly relieved to find that she too was somewhat unnerved by the suddenly awkward silence.
"God, I hate elevators," I chuckled, hoping to ease the tension that had filled the small space.
"Me, too," she laughed as the 'ding' signified that we had reached our destination and the doors slid open.
We both sighed in relief as the tense atmosphere dissipated as soon as we stepped out into the hallway, walking just a few steps to stop in front of Bella's apartment door. The shiny brass numbers indicated it was number 414.
Unlocking the door, she led me into a small entryway, throwing her keys on the tiny table just inside the door.
"Why don't you go on into the living room with the pizza and I'll get us some plates." Bella nodded her head in the direction she wished me to take before stepping to the right into a small, galley style kitchen.
I made my way into the living area and placed the pizza box down onto the coffee table that was situated in the center of the room, in front of a large, overstuffed dark brown couch. My eyes scanned the space, taking in my surroundings.
The room was neat and cozy, the soft taupe walls filled with pictures arranged in clusters of mismatched frames, each collection following a particular theme. In the far right corner, next to the patio doors that led out on to the balcony, was a small entertainment center, housing a stereo, a TV, and a DVD player; on the adjoining wall there stood a small bookshelf stuffed with CDs and movies.
The rich hardwood floor had a large area rug on it that served as a focal point in the room, its rich pattern of blues and browns seemed to anchor the space, tying together the minimal furniture arrangement consisting of the sofa, coffee table, and a navy club chair that had a floor lamp placed behind it in such a way that it suggested it functioned as a 'reading chair'.
My gazed wandered to a small hallway with only two doors leading off from it, which I assumed were the bedroom and bathroom, before falling on the most remarkable feature of the entire apartment. Located behind the sofa, which was set far enough into the room to allow for walking space to the rear of it, was a built in bookcase that spanned the length and height of the wall separating the living area from the kitchen.
The shelves were stuffed full of hundreds of books. I stepped closer and began to run my finger along the well worn spines, reading the titles and pausing from time to time to pull one from its spot and scan the summary because it had peaked my interest. All genres were represented, from classic literature to trashy romance; horror and sci-fi to drama and suspense. There was even series of books written for young adults.
Clearly, Bella was a voracious reader and I felt a tightening in my chest as I recalled the circumstances around her not being able to attend college and pursue her dreams of one day becoming an author herself.
"Would you like something to drink, Edward?" Bella called from the kitchen, bringing me back to the present. "Juice or soda?"
"I'd love a soda, thank you," I answered as a question came to my mind. "Bella? I hope you don't mind me asking, but did you ever look into financial aid for college? I mean there are plenty of options available, as I understand it, for students in…ah…difficult situations." I was having trouble wording the inquiry and I hoped I didn't sound condescending.
There was a short pause and I sat down on the sofa, praying that I hadn't just outstayed my welcome.
"No, not really," Bella replied as she came into the room, balancing two glasses of soda on a couple of plates.
"Why not?"
"Well, I just didn't think that my situation warranted a hand out," she reasoned as she sat down and handed me my soda and a plate. "The way I see it, I put myself in the position I was in. I knew before I had packed my first bag that I wouldn't be able to afford college if I followed through with my plan and I came to terms with it before I moved out."
She opened the pizza box and offered me a slice before taking one for herself and plopped it on her plate. "The Brandon's, Alice's parents, encouraged me to look into it. They even brought me a bunch of information and application forms, but I couldn't help thinking that I could be taking money away from families who truly needed it.
It just didn't feel right, you know?" she shrugged her shoulders and moaned in appreciation as she took a bite of her pizza.
"I guess I can see your point," I lied. The self-sacrifice displayed by this woman was astonishing. It seemed as though she was content to forgo her own goals in life in order to ensure everyone else around her, strangers included, had theirs met.
Part of me admired the selflessness and the strength of character she possessed. But the other part wanted to shake some sense into her, make her see her own worth and show her that she deserved the things she wanted in life. She truly was infuriating and I was completely, fully, and unapologetically infatuated with her.
There was a lull in the conversation as we both ate. I hadn't realized, until I had taken the first bite, just how hungry I was. And Bella was right, it was delicious.
Halfway through my third slice, I noticed a small white box in the floor next to the TV that I hadn't seen initially.
"What's that?" I wondered, flicking the hand holding my food towards the device, causing a piece of cheese to fly across and land on the table. "Oops, sorry!"
"It's a Wii," Bella giggled, plopping the errant cheese into the empty side of the cardboard container.
"A what?" The sentence made no sense to me.
"A Nintendo Wii!" she exclaimed, rolling her eyes at my confusion.
"You play video games?" Will the surprises never end?
"Don't you?" She quirked an eyebrow and grinned, obviously amused by my confusion. "Alice and I grew up in Redmond, home of Microsoft and Nintendo America," she explained. "And while I'm strictly a Mac girl when it comes to computers, I did fall prey to the evils of the great video game empire."
"Really?" My shock was evident in my tone.
"We still have friends from school whose parents are bigwigs at the corporate offices, so we get the latest consoles and accessories for next to nothing. Alice and I play at least once a week, we're both pretty good."
The same expression spread across her face that I had seen in the pub, right before she eyed that damned karaoke machine. She wore a mischievous grin and her eyes shone with excitement; I knew I was in serious trouble.
"Wanna play with me?"
Little Eddie sprang to life once again in an attempt to answer for me. I had to shift a bit in my seat trying to muffle his shouts of 'Yes! Yes! I wanna play!' while simultaneously resisting the compulsion to pin Bella beneath me and ravish her right there on her sofa.
"Um…sure," I mumbled nervously.
"Cool." She stood up and began moving towards the hallway. "Just give me a minute, ok? I'll be right back," she stated before disappearing behind the door to the right.
Groaning aloud, I leaned back, my head sinking into the soft cushion. The fact that my body had reacted that way to the double entendre, even though I was fully aware of its context this time, was mortifying.
What was it about this woman that had my body responding without the permission of my brain? Reacting before I was able to analyze each detail of the situation. My usually unwavering self-control was almost all but destroyed with her every word or action.
Of course I had been attracted to women before, but there had always been a 'certain something' that had caught my attention in the past. Often it was an obvious feature or trait that I could single out and scrutinize to within an inch of its life until, ultimately, it would be that very thing that would spell the demise of any relationship.
With Bella, it would seem, everything about her served to intensify the invisible pull I felt drawing me to her. The fact that I was unable to pinpoint and evaluate the exact reason for her lure, left me anxious and expectant. The conflict coursing through me only added to the rush of emotions I'd been experiencing since the moment I first laid eyes on her only a few hours ago.
I heard the door open and I glanced over to see Bella approaching me. I gave up trying to prevent the painful tightening of my jeans as I took in her appearance.
She had changed her clothes and was now wearing a pair of red and black, plaid flannel pajama bottoms and a black t-shirt. The red lettering on the front of the shirt read 'I'd play with the boys…but where's the challenge?' and the Nintendo logo was centered below the slogan. It was loose fitting and comfortable looking and yet my dick was still trying to break through my zipper.
Man, if I ever see her in anything remotely 'sexy,' I'm going to spontaneously combust!
Her hair had been released from its elastic and the glossy, chestnut locks cascaded down her back. For the second time tonight I had to sit on my hands and will myself to remain seated, fighting the overwhelming urge to launch myself across the room and tangle my fingers in those silky strands.
Oh God, I'm doomed…
Something soft landed in my lap at that moment, causing me to sit up abruptly and my eyes popped wide open in surprise. Bella laughed at my reaction.
"Jeez, you need to warn a guy when you're going to throw something at his crotch!" I shouted playfully, thankful for the cover the item provided as it hid my obvious arousal.
"Sorry," she smiled. "I thought you might want to get more comfortable. Trust me, you'll need to have full range of movement to play this."
Don't go there, Edward. She's talking about the Wii, I chastised myself.
"Those were Mike's, they should fit you." She motioned towards the sweat pants and t-shirt in my lap. "The bathroom's down the hall on the left, if you want to change."
"Thanks," I said, taking the clothes and making my way to the bathroom. I wasn't particularly keen on wearing her ex-boyfriend's cast offs, but the thought of wearing something that would accommodate my constant…uh…mood swings more comfortably was appealing.
After changing and spending a few extra moments calming down, I took a deep breath, vowing to keep myself under control for the rest of the night, before walking back down the hall to rejoin Bella.
She was waiting on the sofa in the now darkened room. The bright overhead light had been switched off and the only illumination came from the floor lamp and the flickering TV screen where the words 'Mario Kart' were flashing continuously. The pizza box was gone and our glasses had been refilled.
Picking up the steering wheel shaped controller that had been placed in my spot, I sat down, leaving what I hoped was a respectable distance between us.
"Are you ready?" Bella asked enthusiastically.
"As I'll ever be," I shot back, eyeing the little wheel warily.
My breath hitched when Bella scooted closer until our thighs touched, then she leaned over to explain how the piece of white plastic in my hand worked. Her hair brushed against my cheek as she pointed to the different buttons, demonstrating how and when to use them.
I struggled to pay attention as my senses were accosted by the softness of her hair against my skin and the scent of her, which had previously been masked by the strong aroma of the pizza.
Breathing in deeply, I savored the fruity smell, like freshly picked strawberries but with a hint of something floral…freesia. The combination smelled like perfection.
"Ok, first we have to pick who we are going to be and what we are going to drive," Bella announced, completely unaware that she had dazzled me yet again, with nothing more than her mere presence.
Mentally giving myself a slap across the back of my head, I focused on concentrating on the task at hand.
We played for over an hour, both of us laughing the entire time. Bella let me win a couple of races, for the sake of my battered ego, but the rest of the time she thoroughly kicked my ass.
Each time she knocked my car off the track with hers, she would lean over and nudge my arm with her shoulder, before collapsing in a fit of giggles while I would act angry and indignant.
The final race was pretty close until her car suddenly sped ahead and left mine in the dust, prompting me to throw the controller down like a two year-old. Crossing my arms over my chest, I lifted my chin and turned my head away from her.
She studied my stance and was silent for a moment before she burst out in uncontrollable laughter.
"Oh, you think that's funny, do you?" I tried to keep a serious expression on my face, but I could feel the corners of my mouth begin to twitch.
"Y…y…yes!" she stuttered breathlessly, her eyes glistening with tears as she attempted to calm herself down.
It was my face that betrayed me this time as my mouth pulled into a huge grin at the sight of her.
"Fine. But I think I've suffered enough humiliation for one night, don't you?" I reached out and shoved her shoulder teasingly.
"Lightweight." She smirked at me before getting up and moving to the TV.
"Do you want to watch a movie or something?" she asked, looking over her collection on the shelves.
I was happy that she wasn't ready for the night to be over either. Adrenalin was still pumping through my system in the aftermath of Mario Kart and I didn't think that sleep was in my future for at least a few more hours.
"Sure, what do you want to watch?" I hoped that she wouldn't make me pick something. All of her choices so far tonight had been ideal, none of them would have been anything I would normally have done, and I wasn't about to mess with her intuition now.
"Have you ever seen Empire Records?"
"No, I don't think I have," I confessed.
"Oh well, that's settled then. You have to see it," she gushed. "It's one of my favorites!"
She slid the disc into the player and then placed the remote on the coffee table next to my cell phone. Disappearing into her bedroom briefly, she came back out with two blankets.
Flicking a switch on the wall to turn off the lamp, she sat back down and handed me a throw. She reached out and hit the button on the remote to start the movie before curling up at her end of the couch and wrapping the blanket around her legs.
I followed suit, turning my body so that my back rested against the armrest and I brought my feet up to rest between us with my knees bent, flinging the throw over my legs.
About an hour into the movie I realized that I hadn't watched any of it. I'd been mesmerized again, watching Bella as she, in turn, watched her favorite movie. The way she smiled at certain scenes, mouthing the words to the lines that made her laugh.
My limbs became heavy and my head lolled into the back cushion, my neck no longer able to hold it up, as I suddenly felt drained. It had certainly been an eventful and enjoyable night full of 'firsts' for me.
The last thing I saw was Bella's smiling profile in the flickering light before I fell into a deep and contented sleep.
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