Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or High Spirits.
I know it's been a while since I've updated any of my stories, but I have a really good excuse for that. Explanation will be at the end of the chapter.
EPOV
I sat across from my grandparents who had been silent for quite some time now. After much urging from Ben, I had rather reluctantly told them about Bella. They were shocked of course, to hear that I had fallen for a member of the living, but more than anything they seemed to be happy for me. The joyfulness of the occasion was short lived, however, when we all realized it still left me in quite a pickle.
My grandparents had never heard of such a thing happening before; a ghost falling in love with someone who was, well, not a ghost. We all began to ponder any possible scenarios in which Bella and I would end up together, but neither of us could think of a thing. It was beginning to look hopeless. The outcome was bleak, to say the least.
I finally saw my grandmother's eyes light up and she clapped her hands together excitedly. "I think I have it, Edward," she all but squealed.
I sat upright quickly, my interest piqued by my Nanna's exuberance.
Her brief excitement was soon followed by a small frown and she lowered her voice. "You may not like this, though, my dear boy."
I leaned further forward to better hear her. "What is it, Nanna? Please tell me."
She shook her head. "It requires someone to die, Edward."
I immediately shot up from my spot on the lounge. "I will not have Bella give up her life to be with me. That is out of the question." I felt the blood boil under my skin at the thought of Bella taking her life to become like me. That would never happen.
My grandfather waved a hand at me, urging me to sit down. "Calm down, boy. She is not talking about Bella."
Now I was confused. "What do you mean then?" I asked, sitting myself back down.
My grandmother rose from her spot beside my grandfather and glided daintily toward one of the large bookcases consuming the walls. She scanned one of the shelves for no more than a few seconds before finally landing on the one she wanted. She pulled out a large, worn, and tattered dark green book with gold lettering. She dropped it in my lap before I could even ask what it was.
With a pale finger pointing at the cover she said, "Read it. The chapter on Disembodied Spirits is most intriguing." She winked at me, and with that, my grandparents were gone.
Nice of them to explain.
I found myself outside wandering the east garden. It was autumn and the flowers were now gone and withered, the leaves hanging limply from branches, piles of red and gold littering the grass. The water lilies in the pond that my father had built were not longer in bloom, but floating barren across the calm surface.
The rose bushes in the far corner were nothing more than branches and thorns, the grass overgrown in most areas, with the exception of the path that had been worn down over the years. My old wooden swing creaked lightly as it swung in the soft October breeze and I smiled as I remembered Henry and I playing in this very garden with mother when we were just boys.
I sat on the old stone bench beneath the willow tree, enjoying the sunshine this fall afternoon. As I gazed up at the clouds swirling in the wind I heard the faintest sound of twigs snapping in the near distance. I looked toward the source of the sound just in time to see Bella push open the wrought iron gate entrance. She did not see me as she entered the garden, her eyes roaming shamelessly over the paradise that my mother had created so very long ago.
She lifted the large black device hanging from around her neck and fixed it over her eye, adjusting the circular nozzle on the front from left to right. She aimed it at various spots, a soft clicking sound resounding gently in the air with each push of the button.
"What is that in your hands?" I asked.
Bella was aiming the device at a tree when I called out, her back towards me, and my voice startled her. She jumped, emitting a small squeak, and began to stumble backwards over a small pile of rocks next to the pond, her arms flailing uselessly at her sides.
I quickly materialized by her side, catching her before she fell into the freezing water. Her eyes were shut tight, her hands finding purchase on my shoulders as I pulled her against my chest.
"I'm terribly sorry, Bella. I did not mean to frighten you. Are you alright?"
She peeked one eye open and then another. Her shy smile warmed my heart as she peered up at me and she nodded soundlessly as I lifted her to her feet.
"I'm fine. Just a klutz, is all," she responded sheepishly, her cheeks brightening to a healthy rouge.
I shook my head. "I shouldn't have startled you like that. I'm afraid this was my fault."
She laughed softly with a gentle shake of her head. "Trust me, I would have tripped regardless. I'm just that accident prone."
I frowned and tilted my head to the side. This news worried me. "Really? Do you fall often?"
"All the time. Luckily Carlisle's a doctor." She smiled and shifted her feet as she nervously tore her graze from mine, her brown orbs dancing over the garden.
"Well," I said, taking her hand in mine and walking her toward the bench, "I'll just have to keep an eye on you then, won't I?"
Bella did not say a word, simply smiled as I encompassed her hand in my own. We settled down on the bench, but I did not release her hand, nor did she pull away. We both sat looking at our joined hands, the heat of her body warming mine. With her, I almost felt alive again.
"So," I began, wanting to break the silence. "What is that around your neck?"
"My camera?" she asked looking down at the instrument in question.
"This is a camera?" I was shocked. They seemed to have changed so much since I last saw one.
She nodded and lifted it from around her neck, placing it my hands. "I know this is probably very different from what you're used to?"
I nodded and turned the camera over in my hand. There were so many buttons and latches. "The one from my time was very large, and boxy. This is amazing." I continued to eye the object in amazement. "What is this?" I asked, pointing at a smooth flat surface on the back.
"That's a screen."
I cocked an eyebrow and looked over to her. "Like a television?"
"You know about televisions?"
I nodded again and continued to examine the intricate device in my hands. "They were invented after my time, but when the manor was passed down from generation to generation, many of the families had them," I noted. "Magnificent technology, it is."
She nodded and pointed to the screen. "Well this is a digital camera."
"Digital?"
"Mhm. When you capture the picture, it shows the image on this screen, so you can see beforehand how the photo came out. It saves on film." She shrugged nonchalantly. "You can discard the image before developing."
"Amazing," I breathed, fascinated.
"I'm trying to become a professional photographer, but it's a pretty tough market," she said quietly, almost as if she were embarrassed.
I looked up at her, intrigued by this new bit of information. "How so?" I asked, giving her my undivided attention.
She shrugged, looking at her feet as she swung a leg out in the air in front of her. "It's competitive, kind of cut-throat. Everybody is out trying to prove themselves as the next big thing, getting a leg up on everyone else. It's a tough market to break into."
I shifted my body toward her, my leg brushing up against hers in the process. "What is it you want to do with your photos?"
She smiled and her eyes lit up, the brown softer than before. "I'd like to be a photo journalist, but work freelance. I want to become established enough to set my own schedule, make my own routine." Her smile widened and she moved closer to me in her excited state. "I'd like to one day publish a book of my work, maybe have a few gallery openings with my pieces."
I smiled, enjoying the sound of her voice, but more importantly, loving the way she came to life when talking about something she was so passionate about. I truly hoped her dream would come to fruition.
"That sounds lovely, Bella. I bet you're wonderful."
She shrugged again. "I'm okay."
"I hope I'm not being to bold, but may I see some of your photos?" I asked.
Bella bit her lip, a small smile lifting at the corner of her mouth. "This camera is mostly filled with photos of the manor right now, but I have a portfolio up in the room. Maybe I can show you later?"
I nodded in agreement. "I'd like that."
"For now, though, I'd like to get to know you," she said, smiling softly. "I didn't get to ask you any questions last night, since I fell asleep so quickly."
"That you did. You were exhausted from the nightmare. I wasn't surprised with how fast you went under."
"Yeah, well, it was a long flight, too," she responded.
"Ah, yes. Where did you live before this?"
She tucked some hair behind her ear and set the camera off to the side, shifting further toward me. "We all used to live in Forks, Washington. Population of a little more than 3,000."
"Did you grow up there?" I inquired.
She nodded and gave a small laugh. "Born and raised. My parents were from there, never left."
"They're still there?"
Bella's smile faltered minutely, her shoulders falling slightly. "They passed away some time ago."
I wanted to smack myself on the head for being so thoughtless. "I'm so sorry, Bella. I shouldn't have asked." I was a fool. I ducked my face into my hand, thoroughly ashamed.
Bella touched my arm lightly and I peeked at her from out of the corner of my eye. "It's fine, Edward. Really. It was a long time ago, I was very young. It doesn't bother me so much anymore to talk about them."
I grabbed her hand in my own and held it tightly. "I'm still very sorry."
She smiled and touched her other hand to my face, stroking her thumb gently against my cheek. "Thank you, Edward."
I leaned into her touch, her soft skin warm against my cheek. I sighed and her smile deepened. My eyes grazed her face unabashedly, her skin flushing with color at my perusal. But her embarrassment did not stop her own shameless search of my face. The moment was quiet and peaceful, the silence comforting. We didn't feel the need to fill it with words; we were content just being.
Rustling off in the distance broke the serene moment and brought us back to reality quickly. We both looked toward the entrance to the gate, Bella's name being called from somewhere just beyond the hedges.
"Bella, where are you?"
Bella sighed beside me and I looked to her. "It's Rosalie," she whispered.
Without another word, Bella tightened her hold on my hand and pulled me to my feet. We darted through the trees at the back of the garden just as we heard the gate open. I didn't know where we were going, but as long as I was with Bella, I didn't care.
Okay, explanation time. I've been trying to work on my stories, but I don't always have the time. I feel terrible that I can't post sooner, but I've been very busy...and very sick lately. The reason for that is, I'm pregnant. :D
I know, I know. You didn't exactly see that coming, did you? Well, that's my excuse. I've had terrible morning sickness and I've beens sleeping all the time. Between that, work, and everything else that goes along with being an adult, I just couldn't find the time.
My husband and I are very excited. This is the first for us both so we're freaking out only slightly that we're no longer kids and we actually have to raise one. ;) I mean, I'm 26 and still feel like a child. Anyway, I'm going to try and finish all my stories before the baby comes, but I don't really know if that will pan out. Let's just see how it goes.
Thanks to anyone and everyone who stuck around. Drop a review if you feel you must. :)
