PART-II
The End's Twilight
CHAPTER 5
Four Weeks Later…
St. Valentine's Day falls on the fourteenth day of February every year.
The whole world seems to turn into a huge ball of red, pink, and white.
Edward didn't need anyone to tell him that Bella hated this day. Even before they were together, she used to make fun of Valentine's Day. Edward remembered her words from about two years ago.
What the fuck is with chocolates and hearts? And teddy bears? How can a teddy bear be fucking cute? Nauseatingly cheesy, all this bullshit.
Edward had agreed wholeheartedly at that time. But now, after all these months, he wasn't scared of admitting that he was cheesy. Very cheesy.
Bella hated it.
So when he discovered that Carlisle had not yet said those three words to Esme, he was shocked. To say the least. What the fuck are they waiting for? He had thought. And the very next moment he had plunged into action. He had a plan for Carlisle. A plan involving numbers. He didn't tell Bella because for one, it was cheesy. And it was for his plan for her too.
Carlisle couldn't believe he was taking lessons in love from a teenager. It was embarrassing, if you don't want to hear it in exaggerated terms.
But he didn't have a choice.
Dating at medical school was a fictional concept. And he had dated just one girl in high school. The others had been flings. Very few flings.
He had reluctantly told Edward all about his pathetic dating history.
Embarrassing, all right.
"Doc, your past inexperience won't affect this. So relax. But this can't be the reason why you aren't saying it to Esme. "
Edward's deep copper eyebrow was raised in question. And he ignored the fact that he always pretended that he had a lot of experience, so to speak.
Jesus, this was getting worse, Carlisle groaned internally.
"Uh… I don't know how to say it."
"How?"
"Yeah. I mean, I can't just blurt it out to her!"
"No, you can't."
"I can't just knock at her door and say, 'Hey, Esme! Good Morning! I love you! I want you to love me back.' However much I want to."
"Thank God, you didn't act on impulse."
"Ugh. I can't figure out how to say it."
Edward chuckled.
How many times had Carlisle repeated the same thing?
"There's only one way you can say those words, Doc. Say it that way."
"Uh…I didn't get you."
"Okay, listen. I've a plan."
.
.
Esme was sitting in the hospital café skimming through the morning paper she had missed in her hurry to get to the hospital. She hated the coffee available here. So it was water and a donut for her.
From the corner of the café, Carlisle watched her caramel hair fall around her face, making her look so beautiful.
"Okay, Doc, stop with the ogling. Go, you just have fifteen minutes till the lunch break ends."
"Okay. I'll go."
Carlisle took a deep breath and walked toward Esme.
Edward stood in the corner to watch it all unfold. Esme's face lit up when she saw Carlisle at her table. He had his newspaper in his hand. He sat across from her, and they started talking. Edward knew it would be easy. Both of them were great talkers. Exactly fifteen minutes later, Carlisle got up. He picked up Esme's newspaper with a smooth sweep of his hand. Leaving his newspaper in its place.
After giving Edward a soft smile, he left the room.
Edward watched Esme's face morph into a confused expression as she saw something curious within the newspaper folds.
He grinned widely as he saw her take it out.
It was a red colored 1, which he had cut out of card paper. He saw her lips murmur the words written on it.
You're the one
I need you more than ever
it's taken too long…
taken too long to say…
She stood there frozen as many people filed out of the café.
Edward turned to go find Bella.
Step 1, done.
.
.
.
Bella was sitting under the tree with a book in her lap. She wasn't reading it. It was fucking boring. Edward had become a little too social, lately. They had had breakfast together, but then he had rushed to meet Carlisle.
Bella was having a recurring thought. He was hiding something from her. And it was something important.
She slammed her book shut and got up to leave. The walk from the backyard to her dorm was too short without Edward.
She didn't like it at all.
When she got into her room she saw a small red packet on her pillow. It was simple red craft paper.
Curious, she opened it to find one heart shaped chocolate inside.
She glared at it.
Who the fuck left it here?
What irked her more was the black colored 1, written on the paper.
But it had been some time since she had a chocolate.
She let the red paper lie crumpled at the foot of her bed, and she popped the chocolate in her mouth.
Heaven.
No one heard the deep moan she let out as she savored the melting chocolate in her mouth.
No one… except a very sneaky Edward.
Who was now trying hard to keep his erection from tearing the seam of his jeans.
Mother of fuck—sexy Bella.
.
.
From the 10th of February to the 13th of February, Bella found the same chocolates in the most unlikely places.
Two of them in her coat pocket. The red packet had the number 2 written on it.
Three of them in her socks. The red packet had the number 3 written on it.
What the hell is this person doing? Teaching me how to count?
She had devoured those chocolates, alright. But she was curious as to who was giving them to her.
She was avoiding the thought that it could be Edward, until on the third day he hung out with her and made fun of Valentine's Day and all those clichés.
Well, of course he wouldn't do it! He knows I hate all things sappy.
She read her worn copy of Wuthering Heights to forget the feeling of hurt when she realized it wasn't Edward.
The fourth day went by uneventfully. No chocolates.
Bella was too stubborn to admit that she even searched for a red packet with the number 4. It wasn't until past midnight that she found it.
It was between the pages of her copy of Wuthering Heights.
Someone had sneaked them when she was out for a walk.
She nibbled on the four chocolates as she silently cribbed why it wasn't Edward who was doing this.
She didn't even bother to scold herself for wanting the cheesy to happen to her.
.
.
Esme was going crazy. It's one thing to have a secret admirer. It's completely another thing to have a stalker.
It was freaking her out.
After that newspaper incident, she had very smugly asked Carlisle what was up with that red card paper number 1 with sweet inscriptions on it.
Carlisle had just looked at her blankly. Shouldn't she have asked why he left his paper and took hers? She should. But she…couldn't.
Mortified, she had made up a story about the craft workshops, kids at the Home were having.
It had been a busy week for both of them.
She wondered about the card paper numbers she had received.
Number 2 was in her mailbox. The words were simple and beautiful…
Just the two of us
We can make it if we try
Just the two of us
Just the two of us
Building castles in the sky
Just the two of us
You and I
Number 3 was in between the charts of old Sam. The words made her heart skip a beat.
Three little words,
eight little letters. Which simply mean I love you.
And what I feel in my heart,
they tell sincerely.
No other words can tell it half so clearly…
She wished it was Carlisle who was doing this. She sadly hid them in the lower most drawer of her dresser.
She found number 4 in a bouquet of lilies that was lying at her doorstep. The words were reassuring. It was strange to feel that way when she didn't know who had written them for her.
I'm there for you
No matter what
I'm there for you
Never giving up
I'm there for you
for you…
-E3B-
On the Fourteenth of February, Esme was feeling very antsy. Never before, had she made a huge deal of this popular holiday.
It was just another day.
Not this year.
She saw the drizzly morning from her bedroom window. It was too gray.
Carlisle had not said anything about today. Maybe because he'd been busy, she thought… Maybe he thought of this day, the way any mature, responsible doctor would.
She concluded she was being silly and got up from her bed to get ready for work.
Carlisle couldn't believe how bizarre the café looked.
It wasn't that any of the old nurses had done a good job of decorating it.
It looked awful.
There were too many red and pink balloons, too many streamers, too many "Happy Valentine's Day" banners.
"Holy shit!" Edward shrieked from behind him.
Carlisle didn't say anything to him for cussing.
"Exactly." he mumbled dryly.
"It looks like a Valentine's Day junkyard! I hadn't pictured it like this! Shit."
"Uh… Esme is going to hate it."
"No. She won't hate anything if Step 6 is done well."
He gave Carlisle a stern look.
"Yeah. I'll try my best."
"Okay, let's go and check if this little stage has the sound system plugged right."
The next few hours were not easy on Edward and Carlisle.
Esme had not received any number yet. She wanted to smack herself for waiting to find it.
She hadn't planned on going to the café today as she was to meet Dr Marcus to discuss prospective donors' information she had.
But the excitement amongst the nurses was palpable. Something was going on in the café. Gianna was gushing about Volturi Hospital's first informal social, that was, apparently, just about to happen. Curious, she stalled the meeting with Dr. Marcus for later.
Minutes later, when Esme walked in to the cafe with Macey, her jaw hit the floor.
She was appalled.
She could deduce that the aim was to decorate the café.
Bella was munching on an apple when she walked into café. The sight of it almost made her choke on a rather large bite.
"What. The. Fuck?" she mumbled.
Edward saw her standing at the entrance and rushed to her.
"Hi, Belle." He grinned widely.
Bella stared at him with wide eyes.
"Edward, what the hell is this?"
"This is Valentine's Day in Volturi Hospital. The nurses fucked the decorations royally."
"Oh geez."
He looked at her horrified expression and laughed. He pulled her hand and started to lead her to the small, rickety stage in the farthest end of the café.
"What?" she asked, resisting.
"C'mon, let's go behind the stage."
"What? Why?"
"Because, Belle."
"Not a reason enough."
"Oh, c'mon."
She let him pull her to the backstage this time.
.
A few people sang a few songs. Dr Caius sang Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On".
It made the audience cringe.
Bella booed from behind the very pink curtain, while Edward laughed.
Jasper got on the stage and narrated some really disgusting jokes. He had to be forcibly brought down from the makeshift stage.
Things were not even the teensiest bit interesting. They were exhausting Esme.
Bella was about to tell Edward she was leaving when Edward rushed to the front to meet Carlisle.
Bella watched their exchange curiously. Carlisle looked like he was blushing. Just when everyone started filing out of the room, Edward pushed Carlisle on stage.
Bella gasped in shock.
What was Edward doing? Carlisle was going to be mortified!
Esme was sitting transfixed on her seat. Carlisle was standing there in a pale blue dress shirt and gray slacks. She wasn't breathing. Not really.
As a matter of fact, everyone in the room had stopped breathing.
The Good Doctor was on the stage.
"Um, hello." He laughed awkwardly into the mic. Someone crushed a paper cup, and the crackle was heard all across the room.
He cleared his throat twice before speaking again.
"I'm here on this stage because I don't know of any other way to do this. For the last four days I've being preparing this…song—"
Hoots and catcalls rang out in the hall.
"Please, go a little easy on me. I'm a nervous wreck."
Even Bella's chest clenched at the way his voice sounded.
Esme was unaware of everything but Carlisle.
Bella saw Edward press play for the background music.
When he started to sing, Esme wasn't sure what was overwhelming her senses the most—the words, his voice, or the way his eyes were holding hers. He sang slowly, taking all his time with the words.
Give me more loving then I've ever had.
Make it all better when I'm feelin' sad.
Tell me that I'm special even when I know I'm not.
Bella felt Edward's arm snake around her waist. He turned her to face him. Her confusion allowed him to make her circle her arms around his neck.
They were now in the cheesiest dance position. That too behind the pink curtains of the flimsiest makeshift stages ever made.
Make me feel good when I hurt so bad.
Barely getting mad,
I'm so glad I found you.
I love being around you.
You make it easy,
as easy as 1 2—1 2 3 4.
There're only one thing two do three words, for you.
I love you.
There's only one way two say those three words
and that's what I'll do.
I love you.
Edward swayed her around in the small space behind the curtain.
Her stiff body didn't deter him.
He was mouthing the words Carlisle was singing.
Give me more loving from the very start.
Piece me back together when I fall apart.
Tell me things you never even tell your closest friends.
Make me feel good when I hurt so bad.
Best that I've had.
I'm so glad that I found you.
I love being around you.
You make it easy… as easy as 1 2—1 2 3 4.
As he whispered the words in her ears, it all started falling in place.
The chocolates… 1, 2, 3 and 4… The heart shapes.
There're only one thing two do three words, for you.
I love you.
There's only one way two say those three words
and that's what I'll do.
I love you…
I love you…
I love you…
Her eyes prickled as she felt a jolt of panic run through her.
I love you.
He was whispering those words to her that she had never heard anyone say to her.
I love you.
She jerked her body away from him and turned to run.
But he was too fast.
He held her by the waist and clutched her by her shoulders.
"I love you, Bella."
Her heart plunged into her stomach. His breath was hot on her face as he said it.
"No," was all she could say.
"I love you more."
His eyes were fiery. His face was serious, insistent.
"Don't, Edward," Her tears spilled before they could cloud her vision.
"I love you even more, Bella."
He bent his face and sucked her tears off her cheeks.
"I… " Her sobs were choking her.
"Bella, give it a chance."
His words couldn't be more correct.
"They never told me that they loved me." Her voice was so small. "Not Renee. Not Charlie."
He thought he heard his heart crack.
"I love you even more, Bella."
.
Carlisle's voice, which echoed all across the café, thundered on them.
"Esme Saville, I love you. More than anything else in this world. Will you take me as yours?"
After a miniscule pause, a loud cheer ran through the room.
.
Bella's hands were wrapped around Edward's waist.
He urged her to lift her head and look into his eyes.
Her eyes were rimmed in a deep red. He wanted her to know that this was redeeming. This was life.
"I know you can't decide, Bella. I know you don't want to hurt more. But I need you to give me a chance. I need you to give us a chance. I want to taste life with you, Bella."
"I…" Bella's throat wasn't letting words escape.
He was overwhelming her.
"You don't have to say it back, Bella."
"N-No…" She managed.
"Bella—"
"I need to say it."
He froze. He didn't want to hear her say she didn't love him.
He knew that he wouldn't mind her silent response to his confession, if she gave hope a chance.
But a no would hit him hard. He knew that too.
Still scared to lose, he let her speak.
The response came.
It wasn't effortless. It wasn't a happy acquiescence. It wasn't not cracked and hoarse.
It just was…
"I love you, too."
Within seconds of those words being spoken, a broken world was set right.
Within seconds of those words being spoken, a lost glass slipper was found… an eternal sleep was broken.
Within seconds of those words being spoken, two weak bodies had found strength in a kiss.
.
-E3B-
A/N:
The Songs-
SONG NO. 1: Hoobastank- You're the ONE.
SONG NO. 2:Bill Withers-Just the TWO of Us.
SONG NO. 3: Nat King Cole-THREE Little Words.
SONG NO. 4: The Calling-FOUR/FOR You.
Carlisle's Confession Song: 1, 2, 3, 4 by Plain White Tees
Thank you for reading.
