Author's Note:
Ok, before we start, I have to get two things out of my system.
1. The other day I had to take my car in to get it repaired and this guy walked in the mechanic's shop and all I could see were his eyes. His eyes were exactly how I imagined Edward's to be. I was speechless, I must have looked like an idiot but oh well.
2. I am so jealous of my sister who got her edition of Twilight signed by Stephenie Meyer the other day. She actually met Stephenie Meyer. I was supposed to go with her, but I had to work. Unfortunately, I am cursed with an irrepressible sense of responsibility. I wish I had called in sick.
Anyways, on to another chapter!
Disclaimer: In a perfect world, Twilight would still belong to Stephenie Meyer. Who else could come up with something so brilliant? Not me.
Chapter 8: For Eternity
"Talk to me." Emmett finally answered the phone. Bella had gotten anxious when she saw the phone flash '72 Missed Calls' as Emmett turned it on and it rang incessantly.
"I'm quite well. Thank you Edward, and yourself?" Emmett asked over Edward's cursing, that was loud enough to reach Bella, who was eating breakfast at the other end of the suite.
"I'll let you talk to her if you ask nicely and say the magic word." he chuckled.
"You forgot to specify when..." he trailed off enjoying this way too much in Bella's opinion. She gave him a disapproving look as Edward's cursing got louder and held out her hand for the phone. Emmett surrendered it reluctantly and turned on the tv.
"Hey Edward."
"Bella, what were you thinking? I've been worried sick! You didn't leave a note, or call..."
"Edward, please calm down. I'm with Emmett, how much safer can I get." she reassured him.
"You're not as safe as you can be unless I'm there with you. Now, where are you?"
"I'm sorry, I can't tell you that." she replied and winced, waiting for the growl.
"Why not?" he asked impatiently, obviously suppressing the growl Bella expected.
"Because, it's Emmett's gift and I don't want to ruin it. You should see him, he's like a kid in a candy store." she giggled, "I love you Edward, I'll be home soon."
"I love you too, now let me talk to Emmett." he conceded and Bella handed a grinning Emmett the phone.
"So now you want to talk to me?"
"Emmett, if she gets hurt, I swear I will rip you apart and..."
"Your threats are useless Edward. Just save your energy for your gift to Bella and stop trying to ruin mine. Bella is perfectly safe. If anything happens I'll call you, scout's honor. Ciao for now." he chuckled and hung up before Edward could respond. "That husband of yours has a bad temper."
"Tell me about it." she giggled finishing off her blueberry pancakes.
Bella looked down as the cart teetered over the edge. She gasped as it jerked suddenly and plummeted, coming to a sudden stop, dangling further off the edge, and causing her stomach to lurch violently.
Her heartbeat sped up as she began to panic. She couldn't make out any sound but the yelling in her head.
Oh my God! It screamed, over and over.
She shook her head and closed her eyes, bracing for the next, and what she was sure would be final, drop. After what seemed like many agonizing minutes, she opened her eyes to see the Vegas strip slowly getting smaller. Her heartbeat slowed and she remained stock still as the cart reversed.
"Welcome back, when the X-Scream comes to a complete and final stop, please exit to your right and enjoy the rest of your day at Stratosphere Tower." an automated message brought her back to reality and the cart stopped.
The restraints released her and she stumbled out of the cart. "Bella, that was awesome! I bought pictures!" Emmett bellowed as relief washed over her and she began to laugh.
Emmett laughed with her but began to worry when she couldn't stop. "Bella, are you okay? Bella say something, Edward will kill me if I bring you home with brain damage!" he pleaded but she only laughed harder.
He took her face in his hands and her eyes began to water as she clutched her sides and laughed between gasps of air.
"Bella?"
Her laughing began to slow, "Again." she managed to say amidst giggles.
Emmett's face grew into a relieved smile, "I've created a monster."
"I'm not a monster, yet." she laughed harder and he chuckled as he led her to the next ride, The Big Shot.
Bella's confidence wavered as she looked upon it. Stratosphere Tower was already 100 stories high, but this ride was probably another terrifying 150 feet. The familiar fluttering of butterflies in her stomach warned her not to go.
Be impulsive, Bella. You survived the last one right? She reminded herself.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to." Emmett said, "I mean, if you're too scared..."
"I'm not scared." Bella replied nervously, "Are you?"
"Nothing scares me." he puffed out his chest.
"Good, because you're coming with me." she grabbed his hand and rushed over to the ride before she lost her nerve.
How can he be so calm? Bella asked herself as she looked at Emmett, who was humming "Off We Go Into The Wild Blue Yonder". Oh yeah, because even if this ride were to crash and burn, he would walk away without a scratch. She answered herself grudgingly.
The attendants began to fasten the restraints and Emmett's face pulled back into an evil grin, "Can you believe how high we are? And how fast this thing is going to shoot us up? How long do you think it would take for this thing to crash to the strip if it malfunctions?" he teased.
Bella gulped back her fear, silently hating him as a loud voice shouted over the speaker, "You will fly in 5...4...3..."
Bella let out an ear splitting screech as the ride shot them up sooner than expected. The adrenaline coursed through her body as they dropped and were shot up again. She stole a glance at Emmett shocked that he was picking at his fingernails, like a bored kid on a Carousel.
The ride slowed to a stop and the feeling of exhilaration she had felt before set in again.
"Do we want to go on another?" Emmett asked as they walked away from the photo stand.
Bella's cheeks were beginning to hurt from the smile plastered on her face. "Maybe one more." she giggled.
"I saved the best for last." he grinned, pointing at a huge mechanical arm with six seats suspended from it. "It's called Insanity."
"I wonder why." she replied sarcastically as it moved slowly to suspend its riders over the edge of the tower. She got nervous as the riders were spun until their seats spread out and they were positioned face down towards the Vegas strip, spinning faster and faster.
"If you think it's too much for you to handle..."
"No, no. Piece of cake." she replied, damning her stubborn nature. Emmet knows just how to push my buttons. She scowled.
As the ride began to spin, she felt nausea set in. She watched as the lights of Vegas, still visible in the daytime, became a circular blur. She shut her eyes, hoping it would help, but was severely disappointed.
She thanked God as she felt the ride begin to slow, and opened her eyes only once it had stopped.
"Bella are you alright? I've never seen a human turn that shade of green." Emmett's voice, full of concern, sounded so far away.
She didn't answer, concentrating on breathing in more fresh air to ease her stomach. She let him lead and held on to his arm for support.
When the nausea finally began to lift, she realized that they were back at the hotel. "Can we not take the elevator? I don't think my stomach can handle it." she pleaded and Emmett nodded, leading her instead to the staircase.
"Never mind." she began to head back to the elevator once she remembered that the penthouse suite was on the 30th floor.
"Bella, I'll carry you." he chuckled and picked her up.
"Thank you." she replied gratefully.
"What are big brothers for?" he said and she smiled.
He carried her quickly but steadily up the stairs, never breaking a sweat.
"I'm sorry you got sick." he apologized when they entered the room, "I understand if you want to go home." he added sadly and put her down.
"I'm not done being impulsive yet." she replied, feeling a bit better.
"Well, you should rest for a little bit first. But just out of curiosity, what did you have in mind?"
"It's not impulsive if you have a plan, grandma." she reminded him and he laughed. "It'll come to me, I just need inspiration." she said laying down on the couch to get rid of the last of the nausea.
Emmett sat down opposite her and turned on the tv.
"I got in line at 4am" a girl answered the reporter on tv.
"Are you a big fan?"
"Yes!!! I couldn't get tickets to their concert tonight so I had to see them on the show today!" she replied gushing.
"Well, you won't be disappointed, Sarah. And to all you viewers at home, stay tuned! After the commercial break, The Scissors will perform their smash hit 'For Eternity' right after this." the reporter signed off and a toilet paper commercial came on.
Bella jumped up suddenly, her nausea disappearing. "The Scissors are playing tonight?! We have to go!!" she shouted excitedly.
"The tickets are sold out Bella..."
"Hello? Scalpers!"
"Bella? Are you suggesting that I break the law? I don't think Chief Swan would approve." he acted shocked.
"No limits this weekend, remember? It'll be the perfect end to the perfect weekend. I'm being impulsive, isn't that what you wanted?" she pleaded.
He flipped open his phone. "I'll make a few calls." he smiled and went into the next room, leaving Bella alone to update her journal.
"Who's your favorite vampire?" he strode out of the room after half an hour and put his phone in his pocket.
"Edward, of course! But you're the runner up!!! Thank you!!!" she squealed and hugged him.
"Well, the doors open in an hour so you better get ready, the tickets will be waiting at the front desk." he smiled.
She grabbed her stuff and ran to the bathroom to shower. Ready in record time, they picked up their tickets at the front desk and made their way to the venue. It was packed but Emmett's size was more than enough to get them through the crowd.
They had amazing seats, they were so close to the stage and Bella could barely contain her excitement as the lights dimmed and the sound of the lead guitar echoed through the arena. She swayed to the music, forgetting everyone else in the room, but being careful not to trip as the people around her began to jump up and down.
A body floated past them as it surfed the crowd and Bella turned to face Emmett. "You're okay with all these people around, right?" she asked him suddenly aware of the position she had put him in.
"Bella, I'm fine. I'll let you know if it gets to be too much." he reassured her, "Hey, isn't that a human experience worth having?" he asked motioning to the crowd surfer.
"I don't think so." she shook her head but couldn't hide the curiosity in her eyes.
"I think you do." he smiled wryly.
"It's all your fault you know. Making me think I can do anything, I'm starting to see things differently." she giggled and Emmett took it as permission to lift her up and over the crowd.
She was terrified as she felt herself moving over a sea of people towards the stage. The lead singer smiled and winked at her as she approached and then backed away, the crowd pulling her back in the opposite direction. She felt her shirt begin to pull up and struggled to pull it back over her stomach. Finally, Emmett interceded, laughing as her whole body seemed to flush. She glared at him and, not being able to stay mad at him for too long, returned to swaying to the music of her favorite band.
"Well, I'll never go crowd surfing again." she said as they walked into their suite.
"But at least you can say that you did it." he replied as she got her stuff and made her way to the bathroom.
"Yeah, and I have the bruises to prove it." she groaned as she looked in the mirror and discovered several fingerprint-sized bruises on her arms, back and legs.
She changed into her pyjamas and then walked toward Emmett, who was on the couch watching pay-per-view. She sat down next to him and yawned.
"Thank you Emmett, for this weekend. I had lots of fun, I hope you did too."
"Of course I did, little sis. You're the funnest human I ever met." he chuckled and ruffled her hair playfully.
"So we're going home tomorrow, what do you think Edward will do to us?" she smiled, and closed her eyes.
"Oh, you know, the usual. He'll run to you and make sure you're okay, then he'll wrestle me to the ground...it's getting kind of old." he replied bored as he watched the boxing match that had been advertised all over the strip.
"Well, it was worth it." she said and feeling sleep begin to grip her, she got up and walked to one of the bedrooms. "Goodnight." she added, and walked into the room.
"Don't let the bed bugs bite!" Emmett called after her as she closed the door and slid into bed. She smiled and thought of Edward as she began to drift slowly to sleep.
Author's Note: Okay, how cool does Stratosphere Tower sound? It's an actual place, and those are actual rides. There are videos of them on YouTube. My sister and I want to go to Vegas for our 21st Birthday this December (we're twins). If we end up going, I am definitely gonna go to Stratosphere Tower!
I hope, you guys didn't think Bella was too OOC near the end, but I thought that this weekend with Emmett would change her slightly, make her loosen up a little. Victoria's gone, she's married to the love of her life, and she doesn't have to be the parent to Renee, or Charlie's cook. She has almost no responsibilities right now (in the story), so why not have a little fun, right? Especially before school starts, and before she has to start worrying about killing any human she comes across when she's changed.
Oh, and The Scissors aren't a real band, by the way (as far as I know). I was gonna put in The Kooks (they're my favorite) but then I decided that I didn't want to put an existing band in the story, it makes everything too complicated. You have to go into music descriptions and then if people know the band, they might not think Bella would like them, or if they don't know the band, they wouldn't get some of the references, etc.
Anyways, sorry it's taking so long for me to update lately. It's midterm season! Plus I have a bit of writer's block when it comes to Jasper. If anyone has any ideas as to what his gift could be send me a message. I had an idea initially but I changed my mind. I mean, we don't know too much about Jasper's character, do we? We know some of his history from Eclipse, and we know that he's an empath. But his interactions with Bella are kind of limited since he has the least control. So if you have any ideas, or if you think I missed something about Jasper's character/history in the books that may help, let me know. In the meantime, please review!!
