The Way Back Home15/02/2009 18:05:00
Chapter 4: A Night to Remember (Edwards POV)
I sat there watching a man on stage singing Baby Got Back, and he was hilarious. He had stuffed his pants with something and was shaking his rear like he was a woman. I stared at Bella most of the night. "Bella" I thought, how appropriate was it that her name meant beautiful. Bella and Edward, that sounds good actually. I had a couple of shots of Patron, nothing I couldn't handle thought, I could drink my brothers under the table, that included my hulk of a brother Emmett. I didn't want to drink too much, as I wanted to remember every moment of this night.
I decided to sing again due to the coaxing of the crowd.
I sang U2's With or Without You and I got a standing ovation. Bella was jumping up and down and clapping. The party had begun to die down and I saw Bella saying her goodbyes. I told her that I would wait for her outside. I didn't want to intrude on her private goodbyes. I waited outside and leaned up against the window of the store and remembered the events of the evening.
I was remembering Bella's slip of her saying that she wanted to kiss me and laughing to myself when she came out of the store. Her eyes were full of tears and one was falling down her cheek.
She was sad. I ran to her and embraced her as she cried. I held her tightly and let her cry.
"Its okay Bella, its okay" I tried to soothe her. I didn't like to see her hurt, for some reason it hurt me too. I smelled her hair and it smelled like strawberries. She felt so right in my arms, like she was meant to be there. Her crying slowed and I picked up her chin too look at her.
"Better?" I asked. She nodded and pulled away. I missed her touch immediately.
"Yes much better, Thank you"
"Anytime Bella, I know its hard to say goodbye to friends."
We began walking and talking. Bella told me about her family and her hopes and dreams of becoming a writer. She was open to me and I soaked up all of her information. Before I knew it we were at the silver bean. Wow, it really was a big silver bean. Bella explained that it was actually called Cloud Gate and was supposed the reflect the city's skyline, but that it had been dubbed the bean by most Chicagoans. I asked Bella to take my picture and handed her my digital camera. I wanted a picture with Bella in it as well and I immediately saw a couple walking by and asked the man if he wouldn't mind taking out photo. I grabbed Bella and she looked surprised. I needed something to remember her. I wrapped my arms around her shoulder and we both smiled for the camera. I looked down at Bella and smiled. I thanked the man for taking the photo and he want back to his date. I watched Bella as she watched him kiss his date.
My stomach growled at me and I realized that I was hungry. Good, another opportunity to spend more time with her.
"So I was kind of hoping to do one more thing tonight if you don't mind."
"Sure, as your tour guide I can offer you a large array of sights to see."
"Well actually I want some real Chicago Pizza." she laughed.
"Your wish is my command" We left the park and grabbed a taxi.
"Ginos, please" she told the driver. We drove in silence but it was not uncomfortable. We were there within minutes. I paid the driver and we walked inside.
A very excited girl ran up to Bella and hugged her. She was introduced as Jessica and she gave me a once over. She seated us and Bella smiled and shook her head. I looked at her and smiled
" I see your quite well known in these parts little lady." she laughed.
"Well I have been here for four years and most of my friends work downtown."
A man walked up the to the table and Bella started laughing.
"What is so funny Bella" the man asked,
"Eric why are you wearing the fake mustache again? Bella laughed, he grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
"You like, the ladies dig it." I was tryng very hard not to laugh, but it wasn't working too well.
"You know you like it Bella, its like animal magnetism, you cant help but be attracted to a man with a moooostache." At this pint the guy started to display his fake mustache like Vanna White.
"Oh Eric, you really have a way with women." Bella could not stop laughing, and it was such a beautiful sound.
"Enough about me." He reached his hand to me, "I am Eric and I already know Ms. Insensitive over there, you are?"
"Edward" I shook his hand.
"Nice to meet a ladies man like myself, what brings you two here tonight?"
"Well Edward here has never had real Chicago Pizza and so we come to you, Ladies Man!" Bella stated matter of factly
"Ahh of course you come to the best, Hey yo, Vinnie, we need a Chicago Classic pronto, kapiche."
Vinnie the pizza cook looked from behind the counter and looked at Eric like he was crazy. Vinnie looked at Bella and smiled,
"I'll let the crazy Asian get off this time cause it you Bella."
I couldn't help but laugh. I thought about it and I hadn't laughed this much in a long time, a very long time. We began talking and I told Bella about my parents death and about my adopted parents and how much they meant to me. I talked about how much I wanted to be a doctor and that perhaps I worked a little too much. She listened to me intently and I glanced at my watch. Wow it was midnight. I immediately thought of how late it was, while I didn't want the night to end, I wanted to make sure she got home safely.
"Bella, its midnight, maybe we should get going."
" Oh wow I didn't even notice that it was that late. She looked disappointed
"Neither did I" I said.
"So where are you staying" she asked.
"The Four Seasons"
"Well then let me get you there in one piece, its my job"
' Okay then lets go". She hugged her friends and we got another cab.
When we got back to the hotel Tyler walked up and opened the door.
"Welcome back sir"
I took my Bella's hand and helped her out. Tyler was behind the cab giving me the thumbs up sign and I smirked. I looked at Bella and she looked uncomfortable
"Are you okay Bella?"
"Sure" she said.
"Well how are you getting home tonight tour guide?"
"Oh Ill just grab the Blue Line, and Ill be home in no time."
"The what" I asked.
"Oh it's the train, it runs across the street from my house. I didn't want her taking the train this late, I didn't feel right.
"Are you sure Bella its so late and I don't want anything to happen to you". I was nervous about letting her go home alone this late and she saw my reaction.
"No Edward, I'll be fine, this is my town remember."
"Nope I cant allow that," I called Tyler and whispered to him to get another cab and told him to tell the driver to take her where ever she needed to go and gave him some money. He left and I looked at Bella.
A cab then pulled up next to her.
"Bella this cab will take you home, I don't feel safe with you taking the train at this time of night." She rolled her eyes, I knew she was annoyed but I didn't care I needed to make sure she was okay.
"Edward really its okay."
"No, I wont hear of it" I walked up to her and I wanted to hold her again, but I held back.
"Promise me that you will take this cab all the way Bella, Please." I looked into her eyes and she had agreed.
I grabbed my cell phone from and handed it to her. She smiled and handed me her phone, We both entered our numbers into each others phones and handed them back.
"Call me when you get home Bella, please, so I will know that you made it home safely."
"I will Edward I promise. I quickly embraced her and I smelled her hair again, "So beautiful" I thought to myself.
"I had so much fun with you tonight Bella, I haven't had that much fun in a very long time."
She looked at me, "Me too Edward, I haven't laughed like that in quite a while.
"Can I call you tomorrow"? I asked. She looked at me and her eyes were happy
"Of course, Bella's Tour Service has a clear calendar for the next couple of days."
I smiled and embraced her again. I didn't want to her to leave, I wanted to stay that way forever. I wanted to kiss her, but I knew it was too soon, so I compromised with myself and kissed her cheek. Her skin was so soft and she smelled so good.
"Goodnight My Bella. I guided me into the cab and closed the door. "My Bella" I laughed to myself praying for it to be true. As the cab drove off I looked watched stood there until it was gone.
I went straight to my room ignoring Irina's staring eyes and waited for Bella to call. While I waited I took out my camera and found the pictures we took by the bean. In the first I was alone. The second was of Bella and I and we were both smiling. She looked so happy. I went to turn off the camera and realized there was another picture. It was Bella and I in front of the bean. She was in my arms and we were looking at each other. I loved it, it was exactly how I felt. The man must have taken it after the first picture. I wanted to download this to my laptop immediately. Then the phone rang and relief washed through me.