Chapter 10: Again?

EDWARD CULLEN

I can't believe I kissed her. I know I probably shouldn't have, but I could not stop myself. She looked so beautiful sitting there by the water and the wind was pulling at her hair and the sun was hitting in just right. I just lost it. And now she probably resents me for it because I'm too afraid to start dating her. I feel too strongly for her, and I need to make sure these feelings are true before I jump into anything. But then another part of me protested, wanting to be close with Bella without having to worry about the "friends" question. It didn't help that we had only known each other for a few days. How was I supposed to tell her that I was falling fast for her? I sighed and continued walking towards the restaurant with Jasper next to me and Alice and Bella behind us, whispering about something.

"Hey, Edward, what's with the thinking face?" Jasper asked me.

"I'll have to tell you later," I replied.

"That's not fair! At least give me a clue," he begged.

"I kissed Bella," I whispered.

"No way! You finally got the balls to kiss her? Awesome!" Jasper exclaimed. I heard the whispering behind us cease for a minute before it started up again in double time. I swear I heard giggling, too.

"Jasper, shut up!" I replied, my face turning red from embarrassment.

"No way, this is way too much fun!" I punched him before stalking away, hoping he'd not try to keep up with my new pace. I was always faster than everyone else, anyway.

"Hey, cool it. So, what's going to happen now?" He asked.

"Nothing."

"What? Why not?"

"Can we talk about this later?" I hissed.

"Fine, but you're not off the hook. We'll talk in the lobby tonight. We can get some soda and hash it all out. How does that sound?"

"Deal," I replied.

I heard the footsteps behind me speeding up, tapping lightly on the ground below me. I turned around to see Bella skipping towards me with a grin on her beautiful face. Suddenly, one of her feet got caught on the other in the black boots she was wearing—which looked amazing on her, I had to admit—and she fell forward. I stopped and caught her before she could fall to the ground and I quickly righted her. She smiled sheepishly at me and blushed nearly five shades darker. I returned the same smile. Alice moved to Jasper's side and we all walked towards the restaurant that was about fifty feet ahead of us.

When we walked into the restaurant, the young, blond-haired, blue-eyed hostess who was maybe a year or two older than we were appraised us with lusty eyes. She could see right away that Jasper and Alice were together, but she knew that there was nothing holding Bella to me—no matter how much I wish there were.

"Hello, a table for four?" She asked, eyeing me.

"Yes, under 'Cullen,'" Alice replied.

"Of course. Your table will be ready momentarily." She gave another quick glance at me, and then a smug glance at Bella. I could see the look in her eyes—she thought Bella was clearly plainer than she—herself—was. I could feel my anger boiling. Who did this girl think she was? Bella was probably the most beautiful girl I had ever seen and this girl knew nothing. She was only looking skin deep. Just because Bella didn't wear an inch of make-up didn't mean she wasn't the most beautiful girl who had ever existed.

I looked at Bella again with a softness in my eyes. She looked so beautiful tonight. That dress brought out the cream colors in her skin and her mahogany hair looked so beautiful as it framed her lovely, heart-shaped face. I knew I would have to save her eyes for last. They were such a deep chocolate brown that I got lost in them. I had never thought that brown eyes could be so deep, but Bella amazed me in every way.

Blushing slightly, I remembered what had occurred in the hotel room. Bella had to put on a long-sleeved shirt under her dress or else she would have frozen. I had tried to be the gentleman that Esme had always told me to be, and I looked away. But I had forgotten that the window would reflect the room like a mirror. Bella looked so beautiful in what Alice had put her into. That dark blue of the bra brought attention to her pale skin. I resisted the urge to pull Bella back into my arms and kiss her with as much passion as I could muster. I knew I shouldn't think of things like that if I wanted to be a gentleman. But I couldn't not think of her—every aspect of her, like how I could always see the intuition in her eyes as she saw everything differently from everyone else, how she was so light and delicate, and how she was so brilliant and understood things without anyone having to explain what they had meant. I wished I could be with her in every way possible. But there was something in my way: Kennedy. He always showed up, and it was obvious he wanted Bella for himself—away from me. I held back the cry that threatened to penetrate the silence as I pulled her small hand into mine. I knew I recognized something about Kennedy. I didn't know what to think of him, though. Did I believe in myths? I suppose. From what Jacob had told me, something had to make sense from something. But was Kennedy a vampire? That, I didn't know. It reminded me a bit of the night my parents died. There was a mysterious air about the killer. And he had those black eyes. They weren't very dark brown, they were flat black. I raked my memory for any other clues. I think he was pale, but I can't remember clearly enough. But I do remember that chilling laugh and that feeling of danger. It was like a sense that my body knew something was wrong, but couldn't that have been that way with any other normal killer?

Maybe that was the clue. Maybe my parents' killer had been a vampire—a cold one. It sounded far-fetched, but it made sense. It seemed to fit, how I had never heard a gunshot, or the scream of a stab, and how the whispers seemed to quiet and fast to have been human. Maybe that was it. But I don't know how there could have been a connection between Kennedy and my parents' killer besides the fact that they could have both been vampires—if that was even possible. I was probably losing my mind, and that's what Bella would have told me. She would have laughed that beautiful laugh and told me, "You've been listening to Jacob too much. He's just supersticious. Those Quileutes are always superstitious."

Maybe I was superstitious. But it all made sense—in a way, I suppose—and now the question was, what was I supposed to do with this new theory? I couldn't just go up to Kennedy and call him out on it, and accuse him of being a vampire. He would deny it, and probably kill me later. I would just have to protect Bella from him.

But that was the other question. If Kennedy is a vampire, then shouldn't he be blood-thirsty? Maybe he wants Bella as his next meal. My mind shuddered at the possibility of Bella lying on floor, cold and white—completely dry of blood, never to blush again and smile and laugh. Just the though alone made me shudder.

I had to chase these thoughts away for the time-being. I couldn't let them take over my being. I was here, in Seattle, with Bella for the next couple of days. I should enjoy it. Maybe I can sort my feelings out better before we return to Forks. Then, I can deal with Kennedy after go home.

Not even noticing that we had already arrived at the table and were seated, I turned my eyes to the menu in front of me. Bella was seated to my right with Jasper to my left. We were in a circular booth covered with a white table cloth and a small, elegant gold candle adorning the center. I looked around and smelled the warm food being delivered to the tables around us. Shaking my head briefly to clear the thoughts, I returned my eyes to the matter at hand: my menu. I needed to stop spacing out. Maybe it's just the Seattle air. I'm just getting used to being away from my current home.

"Hello, my name is Evan, and I'll be your server for tonight," a girl with fake blond hair and pale green eyes said. I couldn't help but notice the look she gave me when she arrived at our table.

Alice smiled briefly before glancing at me and questioning me with her eyes. I knew what she wanted to know: had I noticed our server giving me "the look." I nodded briefly in return before looking at Bella and then back up to our server.

"What may I get you to drink?" She asked us, looking mainly at me.

"Just water, thank you," I replied.

"I'll have a Coke," Bella added. Jasper and Alice rattled off their orders: sprites. Evan sent one more smile in my direction before she returned to the kitchen to pull our drinks for us. As soon as she was gone, the table erupted in conversation.

"Did you see the way she looked at you, Edward?" Alice asked with a laugh.

"Ugh, yes. She's at least 21, though. She can't be a waitress and be under 21 because minors can't serve alcohol," I replied.

"Doesn't stop her from blatantly wanting you. I think it's kind of cute, in an odd way," Jasper added.

"Too bad she annoys me," I said.

"You sure?" Jasper asked just to annoy me.

"Very sure," I replied.

"Guys be nice," Bella stated, coming to my rescue. I reminded myself to kiss her for that next time I got the chance.

"Bella, he's our brother. We're never nice," Alice explained.

"Very true. Like that time you just stood by and let Emmett get me drunk," I replied with a sneer, shuddering at the memory.

"That was very funny! Your streaking through Denali was priceless. Besides, I wasn't the one who got you drunk. I didn't even know Emmett had given you beer. But I can't blame him for it. That event made my entire life worth it!" Alice replied.

"Do not remind me," I replied.

"But you looked so funny, and I'm sure Bella would love to hear about how Esme thought your little butt was so cute!" Alice explained.

"ALICE!" Edward exclaimed.

"What?" She pretended to look confused.

"Forget it."

Finally, the waitress brought our drink and we ordered our food. I couldn't keep my mind on the table in front of me. My mind kept wandering away and I was fighting to keep it focused. It helped when I felt Bella's hand brush my own and I remembered that here I was, sitting next to the most beautiful girl whom my eyes had ever seen. I looked over to her and saw her smiling kindly at me. Pulling myself together, I returned the same smile and pulled her hand into mine.

We all sat quietly and ate our food once it came. The silence was not uncomfortable, though. I actually reveled in it. It was as if I had just left a loud room and entered into a secluded forest.

It stayed silent until the waitress came for our bill, as we had already refused dessert. She placed the bill container at the center of the table, blatantly unsure of whom to give the bill to, because we were all teenagers eating in a nice restaurant. I could see it in her eyes, she believed us to be "trust-fund babies" of sorts. She was very wrong, though. Our father's wealth had no effect on us. We would appreciate everything he had ever given us even if we were poor.

Alice, Jasper, and I looked at each other, betting who would reach for the bill first. Bella reached her small hand up to grasp the bill but Alice quickly slapped it down.

"No way in hell are you paying, Bella! This is a family thing. I love you, but you need to let us pay and stop worrying so much," Alice explained to make Bella feel better. It didn't work.

"But Alice, you are treating me to a weekend in Seattle and we are staying in a beautiful hotel and taking me shopping while we are here. Please let me pay for this one dinner," Bella argued.

"No," Jasper retorted.

"Jasper, you're in this too? Come on, someone be on my side," Bella begged.

"I agree with Alice. Bella, you are basically family. Let us pay. Don't make me strap your hands down," Jasper replied.

"Bella, put the credit card down," I commanded.

"Ugh, fine. But I'm not happy," she stated.

"That's your own stubbornness, and not my problem," I told her.

"Jasper, you pay. It will make Bella be quiet," Alice said.

"Okay," he replied, placing his credit card smoothly into the bill container.

"You people are impossible," Bella stated.

"And yet you still love us!" Alice replied.

"How I manage is still a mystery to me."

It took us less than 5 seconds to burst out laughing. I laughed until my sides hurt. Our enjoyment was interrupted by Evan, our waitress, coming to collect the bill. She slipped a wink at me before turning away. Ignoring the urge to throw up, I turned to Bella to talk to her. We had hardly talked since our walk in the park before the faithful kiss.

"Well that is irritating," I said.

"I think it's cute. She obviously likes you," Bella replied.

"But I don't feel the same way for her," I protested.

"You hardly know her, you need to at least talk to her," Bella explained. I was almost hurt that she was so keen on protecting Evan. Shouldn't Bella want me to not like Evan because it would prove that I like her more? It wasn't like I loved her, right? I mean, I've only known Bella for a few days. But my heart beats faster whenever I'm near her and it's almost painful to be away from her for any length of time. Could it be the early stages of love? I never really believed in soul mates and love at first sight before, but this current episode made me rethink my original beliefs.

"I'm not sure, but I would feel an attraction, like rapidly beating heart or something."

"Well, I suppose it's good you don't want her like that."

"Why would that be?" I asked, confused. Did she or did she not want me to like Evan?

"Because it would make this trip more awkward than it already is."

"How is it awkward?" I asked again.

"Because Alice is forcing me to let you all spend money on me when I'd much rather you didn't. Obviously," Bella replied.

"So you are basically saying we are conspiring against you?" I questioned with a grin.

"Yes."

By the time Bella issued her final thought the waitress had returned the bill and Jasper signed his name and we were getting up and preparing to leave to walk back to the hotel. I took Bella's hand and led her towards the exit with Alice and Jasper in tow. Bella must have been getting tired because her steps began to slow a bit and I saw her yawn.

"Are you going to be able to make it to the hotel room?" I asked her.

"I hope so," she replied, yawning again.

"Do you need me to carry you?"

"No. I think I'll make it." Her reply was cut short when she tripped over a bit of exposed cement in the sidewalk. I jumped to catch her before pulling her into my arms so she could rest against my chest. She tried to protest but I refused to listen, knowing that her reason for not wanting to be carried was ridiculous anyway. I'd prefer her in my arms rather than lying on the sidewalk after tripping over her own legs. Anyway, she would be tired because she only got a little amount of sleep the night before.

I walked us back to the hotel and told Jasper that I'd meet him in the lobby soon so we could talk. On our way up to the room I noticed that Bella had not spoken at all so I looked down and realized that she had fallen asleep. The looked so beautiful lying in my arms, so young and small.

I managed to get the door to our hotel room open without dropping my sleeping angel and I set her softly on the bed nearest the window. She barely shuffled as I took her shoes off. I knew she would want to undress herself so I unwillingly woke her up because I figured she didn't want me to undress her.

"Hm?" She asked as I brushed her hair out of her face and tried to wake her.

"Bella, you need to get into your pajamas," I told her.

"Too tired…" she responded.

"You won't want to sleep in that. Alice will kill you." It was a fact, the minute she got that silk shirt wrinkled, Alice would have her head.

"Ugh, fine. Close your eyes. Let me get my clothes," she replied, getting up and pulling out her dark blue light cotton shorts, pale grey leggings, and light blue long sleeve shirt. About ten minutes later she had brushed her teeth, washed her face, and gotten into her pajamas. I helped her get back into bed and tucked her in softly. I knew she was tired.

"I'm going to go down and talk to Jasper. I have my cell with me if you need me. Will you be okay?" I asked, worried about her for some odd reason.

"Yes, of course I'll be okay. You worry too much about me," she replied, pushing herself up to kiss my forehead. I was taken aback, surprised by her gesture. My surprise didn't last long because I leaned down and kissed her back. I whispered her another goodnight before I stood back up and exited the room. I knew I needed to talk to Jasper now. He knew more about this more than I did. Maybe he would help me sort out my feelings. I could only hope Bella felt the same way that I thought I did.