MPOV
We kept to our rules and didn't touch- the most I think we ever did was an accidental brush on the arm. That was it. I was rather proud of Adam, shit I was proud of myself! It seemed the second we went on strike the more irresistible and attractive he became.
It was another night Adam and I spent together since the hotel. We were at my house, lying on the floor and I was reciting to him some lines from memory, needing him to correct me with the script if needed… a little while later I realized, as I looked up from the carpet of my room that he wasn't even following along with the script. Instead he was laying there, on his stomach like I was, propped up on his elbows and his head held up in his hand, with a half dazed sort of dreamy look in his eyes. He didn't seem to care I caught him staring.
"Adam?"
"Why don't we set more specific rules for our touching strike?" he suggested, his eyes alight with something new.
"Like?"
"How bout we can do whatever Edward and Bella can do? While Edward is rather cautious with her… they don't completely restrain from each other, do they?"
I paused, seeing his point, but knew it wouldn't work for us.
"I mean even cold, undead, blood thirsty Edward Cullen gets a little action here and there…" he smirked, chuckling softly to himself under his breath. I rolled my eyes.
"No- and besides, you forgot beautiful, dazzling, sparkling, and polite." I stated firmly.
"Why not?" he questioned, his voice soft and soothing. The atmosphere of my room was so calming, all you could hear were the fan blades spinning up above us and the sound of Adam's torso against the carpet as he reached his arm out to me. The tips of his fingers traced lazy circles over the small of my back, the patch of skin that had been exposed as my jeans rode lower and my shirt a little higher from lying on the ground. He had that same sort of relaxing look in his eyes… and yet something alluring was there. I didn't know what got into him.
I sighed, "No. we can't. We agreed, remember?"
"But it wouldn't be exactly breaking any rules… or cheating… since Edward and Bella don't do much anyway…"
"Yeah, but as soon as we bend that rule, you're going to be looking for another one, and another loophole… saying, 'Oh, well technically, Edward can cop a feel- he just doesn't- so come on, Meg!'" I exclaimed with fake enthusiasm. Adam laughed genuinely.
"No I would not! I'm offended, Meg… I see what you really think of me… some shallow, typical hormonal teenage boy?"
I snorted, "um… did you NOT just ask to break the rules? Seriously." I laughed, rolling my eyes, "really, I'm flattered but… come on now, try to stay focused."
He merely looked at me, a sly grin on his face. I knew then he was planning something, I wasn't sure what… but it would become an uphill, struggle of a battle for me from then on out. Adam stuck to the rules and never once mentioned to break them himself- merely told me I was allowed to throw in the flag whenever I wanted. It sort of reminded me in the way Edward decided he and Bella would 'try' without getting married at the end of Eclipse… and just like Bella I was tempted to take that offer- but the more noble side of me knew it wouldn't be right in the end. Adam now had the upper hand, but if I didn't let him know it, there was nothing he could do about it.
Two weeks later I flew into New Jersey to visit Adam. I arrived at the airport, feeling lost and confused, dragging along my luggage behind me. I took off my aviator sunglasses and peered around for him in the terminal. I was blinded by this great flash of testosterone induced, giant of a teenage boy with a mop of brown hair that was Adam. It was not unlike a tackle you would see on a football field- Throwing his arms tightly around my sides and pulling me in for a great bear hug that caused us both to sway a little right where we stood, stumbling back a bit at his enthusiasm and force with which he welcomed me. It was nice though. It was good to feel welcomed. We pulled away from each other with what I imagined were matching, warm smiles of endearment. I blushed as I looked down, finally looking away from him as I realized we might look like a couple separated by distance and just reunited. He kept his grin on his face and a hand on my arm as he turned and pulled me into his side as we walked away from the landing area, picking up my luggage for me.
"Come on," he said, "you can meet my mom."
I laughed but it wasn't long until I saw a woman, who looked young for having a son Adam's age, standing by the exit of the airport. She had the same facial shape as Adam and same shade of brown hair. It was so cute, he looked just like her…
"Hi!" she said, as friendly as her son. She offered her hand and I shook it, immediately feeling comfortable around her. She was so nice.
The drive to his house was a rather chatty one, rather effortless at that. It was easy to make small talk and joke around at the same time, with Adam sitting shot gun next to him mom, turning around ever so often with sunglasses of his own on now, and smiling at me or talking directly to me.
When we walked into his house- it was immediately different from my own I could tell. It was loud. Adam had explained to me he was staying with his real mom and his step dad- instead of what I expected to be his real dad and step mom, from what I had learned on the internet about him so long ago the night of the dinner…
Apparently it was close to dinner time. Two younger boys, maybe sophomores or now juniors in high school were around the table waiting for whatever the dad was making. The two boys weren't his mom's, but from the step dad's previous marriage I could tell- because they looked the complete opposite of Adam and his mother. Adam's hair was so dark in comparison to their's. They had platinum, yellow, almost white blonde hair and blue eyes- even the dad. I wondered if everyone in his family- biologically related or not- was just good looking. How very Cullen-esque. How coincidental.. Also coincidental? Adam was the most handsome- sort of in the way Edward was most beautiful out of his siblings.
Regardless, Adam's family was nice. The younger boys were funny- they and Adam often made fun of each other, but the step dad wasn't above it and often joined in with the teasing too. Adam called the dad by his first name, which wasn't awkward the way you might think it would be… but then I thought it would be even more awkward if he had called him father…. (it was all so weird, since Adam told me he called his step mom 'mom' but only because she didn't actually have any kids of her own. I thought that was nice of him…)
Eventually, when dinner was ready, Adam managed to get our plates to go- sneaking us up into his room instead of having to stay at the dining room table with everybody else. It wasn't without notice though, his stepbrothers had boomed loud cat calls as we started up the stairs- much to Adam's embarrassment.
His face flushed pink as he lead me upstairs with a hand on my back, eager to push me onward, as if stepping into the stairway would mute out their calls. He seemed to want to keep me to himself, even when everyone else was around, he seemed to make sure he always got a word in with me, always an ear in the conversation, no matter who I was talking to- especially around the two boys our age. I thought it was kind of cute. He almost seemed as if… he had dibs on me first, that the only reason why I was there was because of him, and so I was his first and foremost before visiting or conversing with everybody else.
One of the blonde brothers, Scott, had asked if when we were done in Adam's room if I'd like to go down to the basement and hear him play the guitar. Before I could answer Adam answered saying he was pretty sure whatever we were doing would take up most if not all of my visit. I kept my mouth shut, just silently taking note of everything.
As I left, Adam walked me out to the car- I'd see him the next day, since I was staying for a week and then it would be back home and then everyone would be flying out to start production- starting directly with costume and makeup. I could hear his step-brothers shouting out to him from the doorway as Adam leaned in on the open window of the car where I sat. They made fun of him for something I couldn't quite catch…
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight." I answered with a smile. He smiled back, remembering our little joke we had started the first night we met.
"Oh… I see you're actually well wishing me now."
"Yeah, well, what can I say? You've grown on me." I winked, and with that the car pulled away…
The exact week we arrived on location for the start of filming, we were whisked off to the dressing rooms- everyone with their own and a sort of vanity station for everything you could imagine to transform us into our characters- makeup and hair dye and grooming products…
It was early morning. My hair was pulled up into a thick pony tail, I didn't bother to do anything to it, knowing they'd start from scratch with my hair and just dye it, straighten it, curl it whatever it was they were trying to do with "Bella's" look.
They lightened up my hair just a bit, more of a chocolate or crayon brown with red highlights that shone in the light, but not much anywhere else. They had gotten specially made movie contacts to make my green eyes brown. I was powdered to bring my skin tone down a bit, for Bella's pale complexion. I wore no makeup except for the lightest of blushes and mascara. Going through the 'makeover' made it all feel more real to me… it was real.
The fans waiting for this movie- real. Having to act out the scenes from the book that even I fell in love with- real. Having to bring Bella to life- real. It was all real. I had forgotten about the real responsibility at hand, being more distracted with Adam himself rather than the parts of Edward and Bella, I'm ashamed to say. I decided it was time to focus, as I stared at my newly brunette, brown eyed, pale self. They could make me look like Bella and dress me up- but in the end it was my job to make it real, believable… I wouldn't be pegged a failure. I kept that in mind with every step forward…
I heard a low, cat call whistle as soon as I stepped out of the hair and makeup trailer. I whipped around on my heel, and it took me a second to even register who it was at first- even though I had already seen him earlier. Adam was leaning against the wall, a huge smile on his face.
"Excuse me!" I pretended to be offended, my expression a mix of shock and horror.
He laughed walking over to me, and I swear I don't know what it is, but he seemed instantly so much taller and bigger than I ever realized. I don't know if it just really hit me now, or if because he was really turning into 'Edward Cullen.' He did look rather vampish…
Once he got closer to me, he leaned down and took a better look, his eyes squinting right in front of my face, nearing closer and closer and closer…
"What are you doing?!" I stumbled back.
"Trying to get a look at your eyes." he shook his head, "I wish they didn't make you have to wear contacts."
"Bella has brown eyes…"
"But your eyes are so much more prettier. I think they could've made an exception." he said as if it was a matter of fact.
"Oh… well.." once again I didn't know how to respond to that, to his random, seemingly out of nowhere perfect compliments that were sweet, but never cheesy.
"I gotta say, Meg, this whole Bella look is a downgrade for you," he chuckled, an amused grin on his face- I was stunned cold. So much for his compliments!!
"WELL THANKS ADAM!" I shouted and walked away as fast as I could, angry and offended.
'No! really that's a good thing!" he exclaimed, following me on my heels.
"you're basically saying I look plain right now… nothing. Not pretty."
"No…. I never said that. It's a compliment. Really. When you think about it and look deep down it was nice."
I only glared at him, he took my silence as a way to continue.
"They dyed and changed your hair, gave you different colored eyes… this 'Bella' look isn't natural to you. You were altered for this film, correct?" he asked, his voice remaining calm as if he were discussing night and day.
"Yeah…."
"So it's a downgrade, because naturally the way you are, the way you were born is beautiful. Your green eyes, your thick wavy hair…but they went and changed all that for the movie so you could be Bella." he shrugged.
"Yeah.. Whatever." I mumbled, looking straight ahead, not completely mad at him, but I still wasn't sure with what that left me with now. Currently did I look plain? No. I convinced myself. Bella wasn't plain- just in her own eyes… maybe that's my problem…
"So how do I look?" he piped up, keeping pace with me at my side even though I was nearly running along.
"HA!" I rolled my eyes, "Honestly, let's face it, you'll never be Edward Cullen handsome, but we're getting somewhere… just a little more work and I think you can get it."
He laughed lightly under his breath.
"You know you're not fooling anyone when you put me down that way."
"What??"
"Nothing" he shook his head and looked forward, fighting a smile that wanted to form on his beautiful face. I felt my own face get hot with embarrassment.
To be continued… Sorry, guys, I have to stop it here. It's thunder and lightning outside and I'm going to get off the computer and stop typing now for fear I'll be struck by lightning, ha :) but please review if you guys want this to be continued, it'll help tremendously. Thank you so much for all the great reviews so far though!! Really. I hope this chapter doesn't disapoint, I don't really feel like something was accomplished in this chapter- but I think that's because of the thunderstorm haha. Hope you pardon this one and review!!
