So sorry it took so long for an update! I've been swamped with homework, church, and work! But anywho, here it is!
Chapter Nine: Practice Date
Bella
I loved my sketching class. Where else but Paris could I have three art classes, each one of them so incredibly different, yet each teaching me fundamentals that eased over into the other classes?
I got high marks for my Eiffel Tower sketch. I glanced across the room at Edward. I couldn't understand why he hadn't turned in his sketch. I wondered if he'd become self-conscious when I'd shown him my sketch.
It's been three days since our kiss, and I still couldn't get that kiss out of my mind. Whenever the teacher swept their hands and said to put more passion into my work, I thought of that kiss. Its warmth, its power. The sunset. It was so amazing the way everything had woven together like a perfect painting to create a lifelong memory.
Yet all of it, particularly the kiss, had meant absolutely nothing to him. He probably didn't even remember how incredible the sensations created by our mouths touching. He'd certainly rushed over to my house fast enough to make sure I knew that the kiss meant nothing. And that really hurt. More than I'd expected it to.
I knew it shouldn't have. I mean, he'd been upfront before he even touched his mouth to mine. It was the artist demanding the kiss.
Not the guy.
And I was glad. I really was, because the last thing I wanted was to fill this year with memories of kisses given by a guy from Forks High.
I had to drag my attention away from Edward when the teacher was talking. It was easier to understand what my teachers were saying. I figured by the time this year was over, I'd be fluent in French.
Madame Trudi explained that she was going to pair us up for a special project. She began calling out names. Girl, boy, girl, boy. I listened intently for my name.
"Bella! Edward!"
It would just be my luck that I was paired with him! I groaned and slid my gaze to Edward. He had buried his head in his hands. I figured he was just as thrilled that we were paired, that I was.
When Madame Trudi finished calling out the names, she told us to sit next to our partners. Why would she pair the two Americans!
I watched as Edward made his way over to where I was sitting. The glower on his face was almost comical.
"Can you believe our damn luck?" he asked in a low voice. "I hoping she'd pair me up with Tanya."
"I wanted Luc," I whispered back.
"Nous allons passer à la forme humaine," We are going to move on to the human form. Madame Trudi explained. "D'abord, les dames esquisser les messieurs puis à la fin de la semaine prochaine les messieurs esquisser les dames. Messieurs, vous vous tiendrez devant vos partenaires et retirez vos chemises." First the ladies will sketch the gentlemen and then at the end of next week the gentlemen will sketch the ladies. Gentlemen, you will stand before your partners and remove your shirts.
My mouth dropped open, and Edward's eyes went as wide as saucers.
"She's kidding, right?" he asked in a low voice.
I heard chairs scraping across the floor and girls giggling. "I don't think so." I smiled. "After all, this is Paris."
Edward slowly stood. He jerked off his Gladiator t-shirt, depicting Russell Crowe in full armor. In stunned fascination, I watched Edward's muscles ripple.
Wow ! His cycling clothes has given me an idea of his shape, but seeing the actual hardened muscles was something else. This guy obviously works out! Who would have thought that a cyclist could look so powerful? An artistic cyclist at that. Edward was a contradiction to everything I believed.
And he wore an adorable yet sexy at the same time blush. It started at his neck and went right up into his hair.
"Will you start sketching?" he ordered. "The sooner you finish, the sooner I can put my shirt back on."
"Oh, right," was my genius reply as I sat up straighter, and put my feet on his chair. Then I set my notepad against my legs.
Like all the girls in class, I took a quick glance around the room, comparing the models. I had definitely, much to my surprise, gotten the best. Even Luc didn't have the muscles as defined as Edward's.
With Edward glaring at the far corner of the room, I settled back to slowly, ever so slowly, sketch that amazing torso.
~/ /YB\ \~
"In a million years, I never would have guessed that Edward Cullen had a great body!" I told Alice as we wondered through a very chic clothing store.
I wanted something special to wear for my practice date. I'd purposely saved all my money from my after-school job back in Forks, so I could buy something in Paris.
Because who could come to Paris, and not shop for clothes! This city had set the fashion trends for hundreds of years, and I absolutely could not come here without buying at least one designer dress.
"Maybe he is your destiny," Alive said.
I almost tripped over my feet. "What?"
"Fate keeps putting you together," she explained.
"No, the teachers keep putting us together," I mumbled as I lifted a straight black lace one shoulder dress off the rack. I imagined it with a colorful scarf tied at the waist.
"I think he's cute!" Alice offered.
I wouldn't admit that in a thousand years. It somehow seemed a betrayal to myself. "He's okay," I muttered.
I didn't want to think about him. So, instead I focused on finding an outfit for my special date tonight. My first real date with a Frenchie.
"With the right accessories, it would be perfect," Alice commented on the black dress I took off the rack.
The right accessories ended up being a necklace that was a wide band of silver. It looked something like what Cleopatra would have worn. Little silver studs for my ears, and a silver belt that looped around my waist, and draped down one side. And silver three-inch peep-toe heels. It was so classy.
~ / /YB\ \~
As I stared in the mirror, I didn't recognize myself. I looked sophisticated, sexy even. My makeup was flawless, thanks to Alice. And my hair was swept back into a French braid.
I turned slowly in front of the three-way mirror, and wondered what Edward would think of the outfit.
Why would you care what Edward thinks? I thought to myself. I rolled my eyes, I could care less what he thought. I really could. Still… I wondered.
~/YB\\~
During dinner with my host family, I could hardly contain my excitement about the evening. I was going on my first date with a French guy: François Merlot.
His name even sounded romantic! Even though this was a practice date, I had hopes that it might end up being more. My first week in Paris was nearing an end, and I didn't want to spend much more time looking for Mr. Romantic. Every day that passed was one day less that I'd have with him.
"How are you enjoying school?" Monsieur Trouvel asked.
"It's a lot different from Forks, that's for sure!" I enthused. "Especially the art classes."
"In what way? Monsieur Trouvel asked.
"Well, for one thing, I can't imagine any art teacher back home telling the guys to take their shirts off," I explained.
"It's important for an artist to understand the human form," Madame Trouvel told me. "Someone once told me that da Vinci studied cadavers.:
A chill went through me. "I'd rather use live people, thank you very much!" I admitted. "Although, I'm not sure how I'm going to gather up the courage to remove my shirt during class."
Everyone at the table burst out laughing. Causing me to turn as red as a tomato.
"French schools aren't that risqué! You'll be instructed to wear a bathing suit that day under your clothes." Alice explained.
Relief spread through me. "Thank God for that!"
As soon as we were finished eating, Alice and I were excused. We raced upstairs to get ready for our dates.
I really loved how the black dress looked on me. It was a simple one shoulder dress that had a layer of black lace, but it hung perfectly over my short frame. It actually made me look taller.
I put on my accessories. And noticed compared to the black I was so pale!
How was it that Edward was so bronzed—
Stop that thought right now! I ordered myself.
I couldn't figure out why Edward tripped through my mind every five seconds.
I was about to go on a date with a real French guy!
So why wasn't I excited? And why did I keep thinking about Edward, boring Edward from Forks, Washington?
Chapter Notes:
I wish I went to a high school like the one Bella is going to! Darn! Ohhhh! I think our little Bella is starting to realize that kiss meant more than she wanted to let on! Next chapter is Edward's side!
You can see Bell's dress, shoes and necklace here: http:/ / edwardcullenslo. livejournal. com/ (just remove the spaces!)
I also posted the banner that I made for the story there as well!
Now please review! I know that there's people out there reading, I just want to hear from you guys!
