Chapter 10
Day Off
Bella's POV
I chatted all night long with Edward, and I felt really content with it, too bad I couldn't introduce him to Alice and Rose. I bet he'd get bored staying in my room for the whole day. I slept quite well that day, although I was starting to trust him, I couldn't help but to stay on the safe side; locking him in my walk in closet.
I woke up pretty late, around nine AM, but hey, it's holiday, what did you expect? Besides, it was safe to come late when you were about to go shopping with Alice. I'm pretty sure that she had already aware of my tactic, but let it anyway.
I got up and without thinking, opened the walk in closet's door while rubbing my eye. To my surprise, he was already awake and was stretching.
"Good morning, Bella."
"Hey." I said sleepily. He looked at me, smiling warmly but his eyes glint in mischief.
"What?"
He didn't say anything but walked towards me and stretching out his hand. I stared at him confusedly, and blushed when I found out what was his intention. His hand was untangling my hair, which I was sure looked like a haystack. Then he leaned closer and patted the top of my head. I smacked his chest and he laughed. Being childish as I was, I grab the pillow and smacked his head. He smiled in mischief again and grabbed another pillow. We had a huge pillow fight then. It was fun, running around in my huge walk in closet with a lot of feathers floating.
As we both were tired, we lay down on my round sofa with our knees hanging on the edge. We looked at each other and burst on laughing. He had white feathers stuck on his already messy hair. And apparently, judging from his reaction, I did too.
"Gosh Edward, My stomach hurts from too much laughing!"
"Same here."
We laughed again and when our laughter finally died down, we sat up and starting to picked the feathers from each other' hair. We back and forth cracked up jokes and stupid comments about our hair. When our hair was feather-free, I picked fresh clothes from the wardrobe and headed to the bathroom. I smiled widely as I showered. It was a great way to start a day.
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I finished my showered and let him entered the bathroom, I descended downstairs and went to the kitchen, I'm in the mood of cooking something. Pancake seemed inviting. Just when I put on my apron, the bell rang. I quickly darted to the front door and opened it. Standing there were Emma and Hailey, the other maids.
"Hey, guys." I greeted them. They greeted me back and I let them in.
"What do you want for breakfast, miss?" Emma asked politely.
I shook my head. "Hmm, I was thinking of pancake, but I'd preferred to cook it myself, though."
Emma and Hailey both nodded and help me prepare the ingredients. Turned out, that today was their duty of clean up my room. I said to them to do that while I was gone shopping with Alice and Rose. They agreed and said their goodbye shortly after. I locked the door and continued my cooking. After I satisfied with the amount of pancakes I made, I went upstairs and knocked my door.
"Edward? Breakfast's ready."
The door swung opened, and there were stood Edward with all his glory, with his hair wet and his trademark smile, which was lopsided. I wonder how many hearts he had broke until now. Come to think about it, he never mentioned his history with girls, hmm, I should ask him some time, it'd be very interesting.
"You don't need to knock, Bella. It's your room." He said as we went down stairs together.
'Well, I don't wanna walked in when you're not decent." I said without thinking.
We sat across to each other like yesterday with a plate of chocolate chips pancake in front of each of us. We picked our spoon together and ate. It'd be a lie if I said I didn't wait for his reaction because I did, quite nervous I might add.
When the spoon of pancake reached his lips and he slowly (or was it just me?) opened his mouth and ate that, I was practically staring at him. He froze as he finally got the taste and I was starting to get worried, I hadn't tried to taste it myself but was it that bad?
Well, I think it wasn't taste awful since after he froze, he moaned in delight. Which I, for unknown reason, blushed at.
"Wow, Bella. This is delicious! Even that wouldn't cover how great it tastes." He said cheerfully and grinning at me. I found myself smiling back at him; his smile was contagious.
"Thanks, Edward. I'm glad you like it."
"You made these?"
"Um, yes."
He grinned again and eating happily, he looked like a little child when he was eating; his emerald green eyes were sparkling.
It was nice to see someone appreciate my cooking, aside from Alice and Rose. I never cooked for someone else before.
My diet, or should I said, Jacob's idea to, was forgotten. Eating with Edward was fun. I didn't need to think how much I ate (which was still not much anyway), or how I should act. It was carefree, yet comforting at the same time.
As I poured Orange Juice to both of us, I remembered something.
'Edward, do you mind staying in the library today?"
"No, but mind if I asked the reason why?"
"Well, I planned to go shopping with Alice and Rose today."
"Oh, the best friends you've telling me before?"
"Yep, and the maids will come and clean my room. I hope that's OK. Oh, there's mini fridge too, but I'll make sure you won't die of hunger." I said lightly and jokingly at the end. I drank my juice and looked up at him; Edward had stopped eating, his face looked kinda gloomy.
"Edward? Are you OK?"
He avoided looking at my eyes and muttered, "Fine…it's just…"He put down his spoon and stared down at his lap. Then it dawned to me.
"Ed, you aren't feeling guilty, are you?"
He didn't say anything but I'm sure that was his problem. I leaned forward and placed my hand on top of his.
"Don't be, it's my pleasure, Edward. I, um, glad actually."
He raised one eyebrow.
"I mean, uh, you're a nice person and uh…comfortable to talk to." I admitted shyly. After a while, I gathered my courage and looked up, he was smiling his dazzling crooked smile.
"I'm glad it's you." This of course, made me blushed.
After our little confessing scene, we finished our breakfast and I led Edward to the library. Soon, I found my self driving to the mall.
"Bella! Finally!" Alice shouted from somewhere as I looked around to search for her and Rose. I spotted her as she and Rose walked towards me with empty hands, huh, that's weird.
"Wow, Alice. No tons of bag?" I teased her.
"Shut up, I've place them in my car, it's getting in the way."
I didn't make any comment after that because Alice dragged me (literally) and Rose just giggled at the sight of us. When I realized where Alice dragged me to, I shuddered in horror. Victoria's Secret.
"Alice, No! Lingerie isn't my thing! I've told you that over and over!"
Alice only winked and continued to drag me by wrist, for someone so small; she sure had a deadly grip. I shoot Rose a pleading look but she only grinned at me and even help Alice by pushing my shoulder.
"Just enjoy it, Bella."
I narrowed my eyes at her, "I hate you, Rose."
Well, as usual, Alice picked a lot of different kind of lingerie and pushed me to try it by unleashing her undeniable puppy face. Ugh, I could never say no to that face.
"You have to buy that one, Bella!" Alice said brightly towards me as I showed up for the twentieth times. This time with midnight-blue babydoll that reached just above my knees, the material clung nicely to my curve.
"Yeah, that's so hot!" Rose backed her up.
I looked down at my body, it was quite nice actually. Not bad compared the previous lingerie I had tried.
"You'll make men lost their minds with that on you." Rose added again. A certain guy with bronze hair popped in my mind, which caused me to blush as red as tomato.
In the end, Alice and Rose ended up buying me several lingerie and matching underwear. Which I was sure I'd never wear anyway, but I'd just left them had their fun.
"Hey, B. What do ya think of this?" Alice held up very revealing black lingerie.
"I hope that's not for me, because the answer is a big no."
"Lucky for you, it's for me. So, what do you think?"
Both me and Rose stared at it and said at the same time, "No comment."
"You guys are no fun." She pouted, "Do you think Jazzy'll like it if I wear it for our next night together?"
"Eww, thanks for the mental image, Alice." I said sarcastically as Rose flinched.
"No prob, B." Alice said nonchalantly, "Hmm…This matches Jazz's; I think I'll buy this."
She looked thoughtful while looking at the lingerie which caused me to fake a gag.
"I never take my brother as a guy who likes to wear lingerie." Rose said in serious but mocking tone. This makes both me and Rose burst out laughing.
"Of course not, Rose! I'm talking about his under-"
Alice never got the chance to finish her sentence because Rose had clapped her hands over Alice's lips.
"Enough talking of my brother's love life, especially that part. Eww…That's so gross."
Instead of laughing like I usually did whenever they argued about Alice and Jasper 'intimate' relationship, I found myself realizing something. I had given Edward fresh; ok, maybe not entirely new but decent clothes. But it never crossed my mind at all that there was another thing that men usually wear beneath outer clothes.
Oh, damn.
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Should I tell Alice and Rose that I wanna go to a male clothing store? They'll follow me and demanding answer as soon as they found out what I'll buy. I gotta do this by myself and unknown by the two of them.
I kept my face calm and feigning exciting face to each store we checked out, even though I kept searching for chances to sneak out. Soon, our hands were full of shopping bags. As we move on to the next store which happened to be shoe store, I knew I had found the right time to sneak out. Alice and Rose were crazy about shoes; they would be too distracted to care about my disappearance.
Well, my prediction hit home, Alice and Rose waved at me without even looking up from their shoes as I excused myself.
I dashed out there quickly whilst holding the bags securely on my left arm. I'm sure it left red marks on my hands, since I held so many bags just in one hand.
I entered the first store that caught my attention and walked in, ignoring the stare from another customer that mostly were men.
I picked all kinds of clothes that were necessary, from T shirt, button up shirt, sleeveless shirt, pants, jeans, pajama and even swimming trunks. I choosed the clothes that would fit both Edward's appearance and personality. Well, it was quite of fun, actually. Too bad Edward wasn't here; I could force him to try these all.
All those clothes were being held by two salesladies that stick with me, they looked quite amused with the amount of clothes I bought.
Now, with the hardest part. Underwear. I groaned at the sight, there was so much to choose. Thank God that the salesladies were gone off so I could spare myself from more embarrassment. I was sure that my cheeks were in the darkest shade of red now. Those whispering people didn't help much either. After a minute or so, i hadn't got any desicion and was starting to get panic. Quick Bella, just grab one kind and go!
Oh, this is so embarrassing; here i was, standing in this most sensitive section of male clothing store. I could feel the staring from people and some giggles. I gotta choose one, now. I wonder how he managed it for the last few days. It wasn't like I had male's underwear lying around for him to wear. Maybe he was gone commando? Eww, Bella. What were you thinking?
Snap out of it and just pick one!
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Well, needless to say, I somehow managed to find something on the last section, now both of my hands were full of bags of shopping. I should put this away to avoid Alice's question, so I went to my car and put those bags.
Oww, my hands felt so sore. I blew on my both hands that were so red with marks. Then my cellphone rang.
"Hello?"
"Bella? Where are you?" Came Rose's voice.
"I'm on the parking lot, I was putting those bags."
"Okay, met us on the café near the fountain, you know where, right?"
'Ok, I'll meet you guys there."
We spent the rest of the afternoon chatting. It felt so carefree and comforting, yet somehow I felt different feel when I talked to Rose and Alice to when I was talking to Edward. My heart didn't feeling the same flutter it felt whenever I talked with Edward. Huh, I wonder why.
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"I'm home!" I shouted as I entered my house. I ran quickly to the library with the whole shopping bags on my hands. I refused Ben's polite offer to bring them for me. I throw those bags without warning to the floor and quickly unlocked the library's room.
I opened the door slowly, despite my unexplained eagerness.
"Edward?" I whispered. No answer.
Frowning, I stepped into the dark library. Wait, why it was dark? I switch on the light and looked around. Maybe he was on the reading corner. It was hidden from the view, after all. I was right, Edward was there, but he was sleeping, that's why he didn't answer me. He was sleeping on the couch, holding a book on his stomach. I stared at his sleeping form, he looked so innocent. Looking at his face, aside from his gorgeousness, someone like him couldn't kill someone, even when he was very much capable to. And from all those conversation we shared, I knew that he's a good man.
After a while I was starting to felt uneasy, I'm such a creep, staring when he was sleeping, I shook my head and gently took the book from his hand; he could sleep for another hour.
Edward suddenly sat up very fast and shoved my hand off him. I landed on my butt to the floor.
"oof!"
'Who the he—Bella?" He got off the couch and on his knee before me. "I'm so sorry, Bella. It was very foolish of me, but I swear I didn't mean it."
I smiled at him, "It's ok, I'm sorry I woke you up."
"Oh, Bella. It's me who should be apologizing." He offered his hand which I took and we both got up from the floor. We both smiled to each other, and when I realized that I had the stupid smile at my face, I quickly looked down to hide my blush. Oh man, I was too attached with his crooked smile.
"Bella, what happened to your hand?" Edward suddenly asked, my hand that he was holding was held to his eye level, palm up. He took my other hand, and examining it too.
"Shopping bags" I said while grinning sheepishly.
"Miss Bella?"
We was interrupted by one of the maid, Edward quickly dashed to hide behind the coach.
"O-oh, hey, Hailey. What's up?"
"Miss, dinner's ready. I apologized on my rude behavior to enter the house without your knowledge but the front door was open. I thought you were in shower and I didn't want to interrupt. So we cooked without asking your-"
"It's ok! Yeah, no problem, Hailey." I cut her, Hailey was a sweet girl, she was a year or two younger than me. But she was always nervous around me, huh, I'm not that scary or cruel like those Cinderella stories.
We chatted a bit and yes, I'm very aware of the fact that Edward was still hiding behind the couch. But I couldn't just shooing Hailey away, could I? First of all, it was rude, second, well, I didn't want that girl get wrong impression of her employer.
We was still chatting on our way downstairs, she was attending the local high school and was very happy and grateful about that. We, as in the employer did pay for it. It wasn't a big deal though. Well, maybe. From what I've heard, that most of the employee was passed by generation. Don't ask my why, it was their owner, they said. Huh, it was like our family was like a noble family, blue-blood or something. Now come to think about it, I never asked about our family's history.
The rest of the day was followed by dinner and shower. As I walked out freshly after shower and found Edward sitting on the couch near the bed. He was looking amused.
"What?"
He didn't say anything but when I followed his gaze, he was staring the shopping bags I just put carelessly on the bed. He looked amused, maybe from the amount of the bags. It wasn't all for me, I wanted to say. Then I remember about the newest clothes.
"I bought you clothes, too."
"Excuse me?" He looked quite shocked, it was something I didn't expect.
I climb to the bed and went to the pile of bags that was scatter everywhere on the middle of the bed. I sort them all and set aside the bags that were mine.
"Here, these all are yours."
He stared at the amount of bags I was holding to me and to the bags again.
"Bella, are you sure?"
I counted the bags and check the logos on the bags, "Yeah, these are yours."
"But there were, like, ten bags. Are you sure they were for me?"
"Actually, there are only eight bags, Edward. And I am absolutely sure that these all for you."
He looked at me in disbelief written all over his face.
"What? I'm sure that all the clothes are nice! Take a look for yourself." I said defensively. When he didn't make any move, I sighed and jumped off the bed, well, my clumsiness strike again and I slipped when I landed. Edward shot off the couch so fast and caught me before I hit the floor.
"You should be careful, Bella." He said while chuckling. He had right arm snaked around my waist and the other on my shoulder. I looked up and stuck out my tongue at him. Then I grabbed his right hand and twirled around in order face the bed. He chuckled again on my stupid action that was done to just do a simple turn around. What I didn't realize was when I twirled around; I unconsciously still holding his hand when I did it. Now our position was like Edward hugged me from behind. He was tense in instant. Oops.
The pleasant electricity running through my body again and I lost myself in them for second, His body and my body relaxed the same time and I leaned onto Edward's strong body behind me, with my both hands over his on my stomach.
The spell was broken as fast as it came; his hand was on his side the same time as I step forward. I couldn't believe I let myself lost on that kind of feeling. I never let my self act like that around Jake and he was my boyfriend!
Yeah, Bella. The boyfriend that never cares to called you properly, let alone hugs you.
Shut up, he's still my boyfriend! He cares about me.
You sure?
I didn't answer. My mind was really messed up. Now I was talking internally with myself, again.
I coughed nervously and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"So, uh, Edward, these are your clothes." I patted the bags awkwardly.
"Eh, uh, yeah, thanks Bella." He coughed once and ran his hand through his already messy hair.
The silence filled the room after that, and I didn't like it. I enjoyed the silence but not this one.
"You should try them!" I blurted out.
His hand froze on his hair, "Huh?"
I laughed at his innocent confused face and this seemed somehow brightened the awkward silence between us.
"I mean, I really wanted to see these clothes on you. I picked them myself and I wanted to make sure they fit you."
He grinned in mischief and said, "Are you saying that you are going to make me your personal dressing doll?"
"Yeah, that exactly it. Now try them!"
He crossed his arms over his chest and pretended to thinking hard about it. This caused a pillow flying towards his direction. And by the way, he caught the pillow. Damn him and his stupid reflex.
He laughed on my pouting face and walked towards me. I patted the bed beside me and he sat down.
"Sit here. And take a look at your clothes."
"You really don't need to do this. The clothes you gave me were enough."
I scoffed, "No way, they're only old t shirts and training."
"You're too kind."
He smiled a breathtaking smile and said thank you over and over again that I had to literally shut him up by covering his lips by my hands. I excitedly watching him went through the clothes. He complimented my choice which caused me to blush pink.
"What is this…Swimming trunks? Bella, why did you buy it?"
"Dunno, just in case."
"Just add a suit and you have officially bought me a whole wardrobe."
I knew that he was only joking but then, that wasn't such a bad idea.
"Bella, I knew what you are thinking. I was only joking."
I grinned at him and he continued to dig into the shopping bags. Then, there was only one bag left. I nervously waited for his reaction, cause I fully aware what were inside. I bit my lip, my cheeks were already starting to heated. He looked somehow alert because of my nervous glance at him.
He didn't pull out the content like other previous bags. Instead he peaked and his cheeks were painted pink after he saw them.
"Err, uh, thanks, Bella." He said nervously. "You're so, eh, thoughtful." His cheeks were still pink as he said these and my cheeks felt like burning. I only nodded and looked down.
Then he reached over and squeezed my hand. "Thank you, I really mean it. Thank you, Bella. For this, for everything."
"You're welcome, Edward."
"If there's anything I can do, please let me know. You've done so much for me already. I didn't know how I can return the favor, but I swear, when I get things under control, I'll return your kindness."
"No, it's fine, Edward. You don't need to."
But his firm squeeze on my hand and his determination face told me that he would do it anyway.
"Fine."
"Name it Bella, and I'll do it."
"Really?" I grinned, "Ok then, try all these clothes, please"
He groaned but did it anyway. He scooped all those clothes to his arm and walk to my closet to change his clothes.
We laughed together on his stupid poses every time he changed clothes, I laughed but also feeling mesmerize, he looked like a runaway model, he was so gorgeous. And before you asked, he tried all the clothes except the swimming trunks and those boxers, because honestly, I got enough temptation from his face already, I felt betraying Jacob with my closeness with Edward. Besides, it would be so wrong to have a man bare chest in my room.
After my constant yawning that I was trying to hide; he forced me to go to sleep, promising another dress-up moment after I had my sleep. He entered the walk in closet with me following him. We said goodnight and I closed the door. I always locked the door every time he slept there, to prevent him from hurting me when I was asleep, either straggle me in the middle of the night, kidnap me or rape me. But I knew after all those conversations, all that laughs, the way he speaks, the way he acts, the way he behaves, I knew that I can trust him enough.
For the first time of all those night he slept there, I did something different.
This time, I didn't lock it.
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A/N
Sorry if I kept you waiting.
Bella is starting to gain more trust at Edward, what do you think'll happen next?
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