I woke up late the next morning with a sick feeling in my stomach and I remembered that today was supposed to be the day of my wedding and apparently my sub conscious wasn't going to let me forget about that little fact either. The entire night my dreams had been plagued by nightmares and all of them involved Mike in some way shape or form and in most of them he was cheating on me, the worst was at around midnight when I woke up with my heart threatening to beat out of my chest. I was walking down the isle in the most beautiful white dress I had ever seen but it wasn't the one I had chosen with my mother, and everyone was looking back at me but no one was smiling, instead they looked at me with grim expressions on their faces. My happy smile fell when I got closer the the alter and someone was already standing in my place, and she was wearing my wedding dress. They were kissing, the priest having finished the ceremony, locking their love in marriage. I all of a sudden felt like I was sinking and I looked down to see that I was standing in a pool of dead roses and burnt pictures. When I looked up again everyone was gone and Mike and the red head was standing in front of me and they were laughing, when I woke up I was crying and my legs were tangled in the think sheet that was covering me.
If I could I would have stayed in bed all day but knowing Alice and Rose they wouldn't let me do that and knowing Emmet he would try to pretend that today was just a normal day. So I sucked it up and got out of bed, I threw a hoodie on and a pair of fluffy slippers and went down stairs were I could hear the voices of the other' already in the kitchen and someone was cooking something that smelled amazing.
Alice and Jasper were at the stove laughing at something and Rose and Emmet were setting the table. They all looked so happy and I didn't want to ruin that for them by moping around all day. Rose finally had her brother back and she was happier for it.
"Morning" I said leaning on the counter and they all turned to stare at me.
"We were just coming to wake you up" Emmet said as he put another plate on the table, his big goofy smile on his face. Definitely treating it like any other day and I didn't mind that. Alice offered me a cup of coffee and we all moved to sit down at the table. Alice passed me my cup which I was grateful for and Jasper set a plater of eggs and bacon down on the table while Emmet got the toast. I looked at Rose who had suddenly gone very pale and she brought her hand up to her mouth like she was going to throw up. I was about to say something when she got up from the table and ran for the bathroom that was hidden below the stairs. I gave Emmet a look and her shrugged his shoulders and got up to go after her, I wanted to go as well but left it. I knew Rose didn't like being sick and she didn't like it when we hovered around her.
"So Bella how did you sleep" Alice asked taking the subject away from the sick Rosalie and back to me which I didn't want. Her question brought back flashes of the dreams I had been having all night and I blinked back tears. I was tired of crying over a guy that was no longer worth my time or effort. I looked at Alice and smiled as best I could and I knew she knew that something was wrong.
"Not so great I guess" I looked down at my plate that hardly had any food on it. Normally I hate like a horse but apparently not today. Alice wanted to say something but I don't think she would in front of Jasper and as if her prayers where answered his phone started ringing and he excused himself and went go stand outside on the back patio, leaving the door wide open behind him and a cool breeze filled the room.
"I heard you screaming" she said and I looked up at her. Her eyes where sad and she had a gentle smile on her face "we all did" I didn't say anything and she come over to my side of the table and grabbed my hands in hers. "do you want to talk about it"
"I don't know, it still hurts you know, but at the same time I'm not sad that his gone. Is that right? Am I not supposed to feel like my entire world has come crashing down around me but i'm just happy that I bodged a bullet" Alice gave me sympathetic look but she didn't get a chance to say anything when loud barking come through the house along with someone shouting and someone screaming, most probably Jasper. I jumped a little when the dog stopped in front of me, his tail wagging excitedly and his tongue hanging out his mouth. It was the same dog from the beach from yesterday, Tove. I smiled at him and placed my hand on his head, Alice looked a little freaked out and I smiled at her showing her that it was ok, and that Tove was not a threat to her.
"Hey boy" I said and heard heavy foot steps coming from the kitchen door and the sound of some one who was out of breath. I looked up to see Edward in nothing more that a pair of boxers and a wife beater. He looked taler than I remember him being and was nicely toned in all the right places. I could feel the slight blush spread across my checks when I looked at him and I'm pretty sure Alice noticed it.
"Tove, come" Edward said, not even noticing me, Jasper stood next to him with a bemused smile on his face. "I'm so sorry his not normally like this" Edward said finally looking up at myself and Alice and recognition flashed in his eyes. His eyes lingered on me slightly longer than was needed and I felt like he was checking me out, I felt suddenly self concious in my short shorts, hoodie and fluffy slippers. "oh its you. At least I know why he come running in here" he gave me an easy smile and his green eyes sparkled with laughter. He was even more good looking in daylight.
"Hi" I smiled at him and thanked who ever was listening that my voice didn't crack like it did sometimes. Tove barked again and sat down next to me, it was like he was telling his owner that he was going to stay here and there was nothing he could do about it. I laughed at the dog and looked at Edward again.
"I think he likes you to much"
"I think so too"
"Would anyone care to clue us in" Jasper said looking at our little exchanged with careful eyes. I could tell he was confused and he didn't like being confused or out of the loop while Alice waited patiently, waiting for either of us to offer an explanation.
"Oh sorry, Alice Jasper this is Edward, Edward this is Alice and Jasper." Edward shacked Jaspers hand and did that weird head nod thing guys did to acknowledged each other he then reached across and garbed Alice's and but actually said hi to her.
"Nice to meet you, so how do you know Bella" Alice asked curiously, a little spark in her eye.
"We meet yesterday when I went for a walk" I offered and smiled at Edward who was trying to call his dog over to his side again.
"More like Tove found you and has apparently attached his self to you" I laughed at that and Alice smiled from ear to ear, like this was some kind of big step for me. I was aloud to laugh wasn't I or was it the fact that I was laughing with someone other than my friends that made her smile.
Emmet and Rose come back from the bathroom then and stopped when they saw our little discussion, Emmet looked a little worried but held out his hand for Edward to shack.
"This is Edward, Edward meet Rosalie and Emmet" Alice said beating me to the introductions "and this is his dog, who's name I have forgotten" she looked apologetically at the dog like he knew what she was saying and he barked happily at her " he decided to come and pay Bella a visit" Rose was looking at Edward in a very approving way and when no one was looking she gave me a thumbs up and a look that said I would be telling her everything later.
"His name is Tove" I reminded Alice and looked at Edward who up until the moment my eyes meet his, had had his full attention on me.
"Nice to meet you guys, I'm sorry about Tove ruining your morning. I don't know whats gotten into him lately" Edward said, an easy smile on his face and his eyes fixed on me, I felt naked under his intense green eyes and shifted around.
"Right" Emmet said eyeing Edward after our little exchange. "nice to meet you Edward" he said, stepping forward to shack his hand. They were almost the same height with Emmet being a little taller and it looked like he was staring him down for some odd reason, I even saw Edward flinch when Emmet grabbed his hand a little to tight.
"Like wise"
"Would you like to stay for coffee" Rose offered holding up an empty cup in offering and for a second it looked like he was going to accept when he looked down at himself and laughed a little.
"I would like to but I'm not exactly dressed properly and anyway I've already ruined you morning, I wouldn't want to intrude" he said that easy smile on his face again. He had such a nice smile. "but thank you"
"Another time then" Rose smiled at him when he accepted her offer of another time and Emmet didn't look to happy about the prospects.
"iIll walk you out" I got up from the chair I had been occupying since Edward come in and Tove followed me when I did. Alice and Rose gave me a look while Emmet glared at Edward and Jasper just smiled at him.
"Sorry about Tove" Edward said when we were out the door and halfway across the porch "his not normally like this" he looked at Tove sternly but smiled when he looked back up at me. I didn't understand the feeling that coursed through my body when he looked at me and smiled, its like I wasn't in love with another guy three days ago. When Jasper broke my heart I didn't want to know anything about guys but know all I wanted to know was Edward. How his skin would feel under my hands, his lips on mine. I wanted to find out if his hair was as soft as it looked and it scared me because I couldn't understand it.
"I don't mind, his really sweet" I smiled at him and then stopped at the stairs on the porch. He took a step down and I leant against the post looking down at him.
"See you around I guess" he said with a smile that made my knees weak and I was grateful that I was leaning against something. I returned his smile but didn't say goodbye, afraid that if I did he would hear the nervousness in my voice. He was almost at the bottom of the steps when he turned around and looked back up at me, there was a nervousness in his own eyes now "this might be a hopeless question but would you like to go out with me"
I looked at him not sure what to say. Im sure my eyes would have bulged out of my head if that was at all possible. I was taken back by his question and didn't know how to answer. After a while of my silence his smile dropped and he laughed quietly at himself.
"Forget I asked, you probably have a boyfriend" he turned and left after that. I felt a sharp pain in my stomach and something was suddenly yelling at me to move forward. I touched his arm making him stop and it felt like electricity running though my hand, but it was a good feeling. His skin was warm and soft.
"I didn't say no" I smiled at him when he turned around "your question just caught me by surprise is all" he smiled when I said that and I smiled back and wished I had stopped talking. "that and the fact that I just got out of a really complicated relationship"
"Complicated how?"
"We were engaged, today was actually the day I was supposed to be getting married" I looked down at my feet frowning. Im not sure why I was telling him this. He was a perfect stranger but I felt like he needed to know.
"Then why aren't you" he asked gently taking a step's forward but I didn't look up so I wasn't able to read what his face was saying.
"He cheated on me a few days ago or I found out about it a few days ago but whatever" I gave a small smile and we stood there for a while until Tove barked which made us both jump a little. I cleared my throat and took a step away from him.
"Then he never deserved to have you" he turned to walk away but then stopped again and looked up at me "I almost forgot" he smiled "when should I pick you up".