A/N Hello lovelies!
MissAlex writes the man who shall not be named and Larin20 writes Bella and her aversion to Top Forty Pop Music.
SM owns, we play.
Chapter Nine: Lost in the Green of His Eyes
Bella
Pulling into my driveway, my truck sputtered to a stop and I breathed a sigh of relief that I made it home in one piece. I was exhausted and the last thing I needed was to push this hunk of junk down the road. I shifted into park and placed my head against the headrest, rubbing my tired eyes, a soft moan escaping from my lips.
Hey
Who says hey to a hot guy?
I hadn't seen Edward since first period but he still saturated every one of my thoughts. I couldn't get over my embarrassing greeting. I could've whispered seductively, in my best smoky sex voice, 'Nice to meet you, Edward.'
I could've purred his name and flashed him a dazzling smile, but no, instead of coming across as a confident woman, I said hey. I might as well have said wassup, or something stupid like that.
I hit my forehead with my palm in an attempt to try to shake away my lameness, but I had a hunch it was embedded into my brain permanently. Why couldn't I be confident when speaking with Edward Cullen like I was with all the other guys I'd spoken to in my life before he waltzed into my Biology class? In his midst, I felt like a bumbling moron with marbles in my mouth.
Even when I said his name to myself, I got goosebumps, and my heart had a hard time beating within the confines of my rib cage.
A crush? Was that what it was? It felt strange to say that, like I should call it more than a crush.
Hmm....
Maybe Angela was right. Maybe Edward was interested in me. Maybe he was The One. I wouldn't have any more information until the party tonight, if he decided to show up.
Up until this point, I was fine not being pinned down to a guy. I was more than satisfied with my life. I didn't have the dating drama that Jessica always talked about and I didn't have to a reason to roll my eyes at my boyfriend's goofiness like Angela did with Ben. I was an okay looking girl, not gorgeous like the Cullen sisters, but I made up for it with my biting wit. I thought I had my head on straight but the moment Edward walked into class today, I second-guessed that confidence and my biting wit turned into word vomit.
I'd seen one of his brothers, Emmett, in my fourth period class and his sister Rosalie asked me for a pen in third period, and their confidence and grace made me even more insecure.
I had to cut this out.
"Ahh! So stupid! " I chastised myself, holding back a frustrated scream. "North Face…"
I rested my forehead against the steering wheel and I rolled it from side to side, trying to rub the lameness away, yet again, to no avail.
"Of course, he wears Armani," I mumbled. "He's Edward freaking Cullen, the most perfect man alive. It's obvious he's more Neiman Marcus than Sears."
The problem was I was definitely more of a Sears type of gal, maybe Macy's on a good day. But never Neiman Marcus. Hell, who was I kidding - Target or TJ Maxx was more my style. Discount, but not too cheap. Definitely very wearable.
Wow, I just made myself sound incredibly slutty. Great.
Speaking of low priced wonderlands, I hoped that Angela picked up my costume from the store like I asked. She was heading over to the shop to buy a last minute addition to her own costume so she offered to grab mine too. I gave her specific instructions on which one I wanted. I'd selected it over two weeks ago, choosing the safest bet they had. A witch.
This year, I didn't feel like going overboard with a costume. It was black, obviously, complete with a tall pointy hat, a long black tattered dress, and striped socks. I decided to forgo the green face paint and nose warts, just in case you-know-who decided to show up.
I wondered what Alice would wear tonight. Something amazing, I was sure. Even though she was perfect like the other Cullens, there was something about her that made me feel at ease. I didn't know much about her but she made me feel welcome with her cheery disposition and willingness to want to help me with my 'guy troubles' when we'd only just met.
Just think - the new girl was making me feel welcome. Talk about a role reversal.
But what really intrigued and concerned me was that Edward told her about me. The nonchalant way she mentioned it before she left the restroom gave me no reason to think it was something bad but maybe she was just trying to be nice.
Hopefully, I would find out more tonight.
I was glad that I planted that note in Edward's locker but at the same time, I was scared shitless that I was too forward.
With my luck, Edward probably told Alice that I was a sputtering fool who blushed too much and didn't know department store clothing from designer duds. Or maybe, he told her how he couldn't take his eyes off me because of my alluring beauty and captivating scent. Ha!
The least I wished for was that Edward told her I was sweet for offering to photocopy my notes for him and I hoped that was enough of a boost to get Alice to encourage him to come the party along with her other brother, Jasper.
Still, I wondered if Edward got my invite in the first place or if he just threw it away without seeing my note on the back. Those flyers were plastered everywhere around town so it was possible that he thought some random person put it in there.
"Oh, shut up, Bella," I muttered to myself. I had to stop putting myself down and thinking the worst when it came to him. Wasn't it proven somewhere, in some study, that guys liked girls with confidence? I had to remember who I was before Edward showed up - a strong, secure woman who didn't need affirmation from a gorgeous guy to feel self-assured.
A breathtakingly gorgeous guy...
A devastatingly gorgeous guy...
A perfect, gorgeous...
"Ugh!" I moaned to myself again, allowing the steering wheel to hold up my fragile ego.
I opened my eyes, sat up straight and placated myself. I wasn't going to be like the others girls in school. I overheard many of them talking today about how hot Edward was and how he carried himself so mysteriously. I saw the lust in their eyes and I was jealous that they dared to say such things out loud without fear.
I mean, I made Angela and Jessica promise not to use his name in public so that he wouldn't think I was just another sheep in his flock, just in case he overheard our conversations, while the other girls were so open about it.
I didn't want to be that girl. I didn't want to be included in the brothel of women that followed his every move just so they could get him into bed. I wanted more from him than that. So much more.
I just had to stay true to myself and be Bella, or in his words, Isabella.
God, the way my name rolled off his tongue sounded so beautiful. He made simple words sound like symphonies. I heard one girl say that his voice reminded her of velvet, smooth and charismatic, and she was right. I wanted to hear it again and again. Heck, he could recite the alphabet and I'd melt.
I wondered how it would feel like to have him whisper in my ear or to feel his cool touch against my skin again, which oddly enough, ignited a burning sensation inside me. It was so familiar yet so foreign to me at the same time because I'd never been touched that way by any boy before and had that kind of involuntary reaction.
Unfortunately, as much as I enjoyed his touch, I noticed he recoiled pretty darn fast. That alone worried me. But it wouldn't be too far-fetched to believe that he felt the strong static shock emitting from my arm that I did. Monday, I would have to remember to wear my running shoes instead of hard soles, just for fun, in case our skin happened to meet again.
The big if.
If it didn't happen, maybe I could purposely brush against him.
I sighed to myself for the umpteenth time today. I was truly losing it.
Today was supposed to be a fun day, not a nerve-racking one, full of second guesses and embarrassing situations. I had to get myself together. Edward aside, I had the party to get ready for and Angela's company to look forward to. I was going to continue on and be happy with or without Edward Cullen.
However, before I knew what I was doing, I tented my hands in front of me in prayer, only I didn't know if God was going to listen to such idiocy.
"Please…" I whispered. "If by any small miracle, Edward Cullen happens to show up tonight, will you please, Lord, let me not fall on my face or sputter like a fool in front of him." I squeezed my eyes closed. "Also, if there is a remote chance that he wants to be friends with me, I would like that very much. Or more than friends would be cool too. But, I know you work in mysterious ways so I guess I'll let you surprise me." I raised my hands to my lips. "And God, just one more thing - forgive me for any impure thoughts I have of him because let's face, it's gonna happen."
A knock on my driver's side window made me jump. I opened one eye, and then the other, looking at my visitor in my peripheral.
It was my father.
Perfect freakin' timing.
Sheepishly, I lowered my hands and forced a smile.
"Bells, are you praying?" he asked, squinting through the window as he scratched his mustache.
How the heck was I going to explain this one?
Yeah, um, dad, I was praying. Not for World Peace or the stop of global warming, but for the new kid, Edward Cullen, to like me.
Yeah, that wouldn't go over well.
"Um, hold on dad."
Gathering my bag, I opened the door and slid out of my seat. I threw my backpack over my shoulder and looked shyly up into my father's eyes as he towered over me, slamming the rickety car door behind me.
My family wasn't very religious. We only went to church on Christmas with my Gran when I was a kid and although my mom always preached that she was in touch with her inner goddess, I highly doubted that she meant the same thing as most people did when they referred themselves as spiritual.
Nevertheless, I believed in a higher power, fate, the whole shebang, if you will. For some reason, deep in my heart, I felt that there was something greater at work, guiding what happened to me in my life. But there was no way I could ever try and explain that to my father.
My faith was established in the last year so I was kind of late in the game, but still, I guess it was better late than never. It all started after my dad had his heart attack. When the Seattle doctors told my mother and me that there was a chance he wouldn't make it, I felt numb and in my shocked state, I wandered into the hospital chapel.
The place was vacant except for me, but strangely enough, I didn't feel alone. There was some sort of unseen presence that blanketed me with the comfort that I was missing at the time. For the first time in my life, I kneeled and asked God, or whoever listened up there, to help my father. I cried and let my tears cascade freely down my face, knowing that if my dad died, my mother and I would fall apart.
I felt hopeless that I couldn't do more to save him except talk to myself and hope that someone else was hearing my pleas. The doctors gave up on my father but I wouldn't.
As I sobbed in my hands, I felt a gentle touch upon my shoulder. I looked up and saw a woman staring down at me with kindness in her eyes. Her cross dangled in my face as she bent down and hugged me.
"My dear, things aren't always what they seem," she whispered, releasing me and pointing toward the front of the chapel. "You are not alone. Don't be afraid, because He isn't. A prayer can go a long way. You just have to believe in what you're praying for and He will listen."
The saintly woman, with her gray hair pulled back into a bun and a warm smile on her wrinkled face, sat next to me and took my hand in hers, stroking my knuckles.
"What if he doesn't make it? What if I lose him?" I cried softly.
"Child, life is about love and loss. You have to lose in order to gain what's most dear. It might not be an easy thing to accept at the time, but just know that He has a plan for us all. You just have to have faith that He knows what's best for you."
"What do you mean lose? Lose what?"
"Whatever happens, don't be afraid, my dear," she smiled. "Love always shows us the way. It's planted in us before we're born, our destiny. We're fated for it and what the future holds is out of our hands. You just have to accept that and allow it to happen. Have faith, child. Faith will help guide you."
The soft spoken woman rose and placed one last re-affirming touch to my shoulder before exiting the chapel. Her words rang clear in my head as I attempted to decipher her speech.
The message I deduced from her words was this: Faith means not just believing in God, but about believing in myself as well and accepting my destiny, no matter how life-altering it may be.
After the woman left, I prayed not only for my for my father's health but for my future and my soul as well.
My father didn't die like they assumed he would. He recovered, his illness cementing my mother's decision for us to leave Seattle, and we moved to Forks. Ever since then, I always wondered what fate held for me because it still wasn't clear yet. The woman from the chapel, my fleeting angel, perhaps, instilled that idea in me. I still wasn't sure if it was deeply rooted in me before I was born or if certain events changed my destiny on a daily basis, but I'd learned to accept what came to me. It was the only way to live in peace and feel fulfilled. Complete.
"If you think you need to go to church, you can always ask your mother to go with you," Charlie suggested, looking quite uncomfortable with the subject. My father always avoided the topic of religion or secular terminology in general. "You know, your mother was always more into that mystical stuff than I was," he continued. "She read Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit."
I rolled my eyes with a smile. My dad and I were more alike than I thought. Here I was, selfishly asking God to make a boy like me while he was discussing Middle Earth. We were both nuts. At least I knew where I got it from.
"Dad, that's so stupid. I wasn't praying to Frodo," I giggled.
"I know that," he smirked. "I was just poking fun there, Bells. But seriously, if you want to start going to church, saying grace before dinner, or becoming a nun, you should talk to your mother. You know how I feel about church."
My father was a devout believer that you could find your own church anywhere. His church just so happened to be out on his boat, on the open water, and his form of prayer was asking for the 'big one' to bite down on his hook.
"I'm fine, dad. Really, I don't want to become a nun," I teased as I walked around him toward the front door. "What are you doing home anyway?" I asked over my shoulder.
"I came home early to spend some time with my ladies, and then it's back out on the road again." He stepped behind me while I fished my house keys out of my bag. "There's not much action in this town, but I suspect since it's Halloween and all, I have a fun night of knicker-knocking and TP busts ahead of me," he chuckled.
"Hey, you asked for a quiet town," I reminded him. I walked into the foyer with him following close behind and deposited my book bag and keys on the hall table. When my father didn't reply, I turned around and found him rubbing the back of his neck, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Dad, what's wrong?"
He removed his uniform coat and hung it up on the pegs on the wall by the front door, locking his eyes with mine and exhaling a deep breath. "Bella, I'm sorry we brought you to this Podunk town. I know it's been hard on you to adjust to the small town way of life, worse than what it has been like for your mother and me because we're older…anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I think about that every day." He put his hands on my shoulders. "We asked a lot of you. You left your friends behind…"
I held up my hand. "Dad, stop. I don't regret coming here. It's what was best for your health, and that's all I needed to hear to want to leave Seattle. And hey, I still email and text my old friends when I want to talk to them. I've met some great people at Forks High so I don't feel like I've lost anything." I looked down at my feet. "We almost lost you and that would've been much worse. I never want to go through that again."
"Bella, can you look at me?" Charlie placed his forefinger under my chin and tilted my head up. "You're never going to feel that way again," he grinned. "Because I don't plan on kicking the bucket until I'm in my hundreds."
I couldn't help but smile back at him. "You swear?"
"I swear on my boat and I'll even cross my poor old heart." He dragged his fingers over his Forks police badge.
"Wow! Dad, that's some serious swearing." I raised my eyebrows, beaming from ear to ear. My father and I always had a very playful relationship. We could banter back and forth for hours and annoy my mother to no end. "Your boat, huh? You sure you can back that up?"
"Well, if you keep on praying to Frodo, I don't think I'll have a problem," he joked.
I rolled my eyes. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"
"Never!" he laughed as he walked down the hallway.
"Ugh, you're so infuriating!"
"That's what parents are for. I love you, Bells!" he shouted from the kitchen. "Now go do your homework so it's done before you head out to that party night."
"Right…homework…" I muttered as I made my way upstairs. I seriously needed a nap after the day I had.
Upon entering my bedroom, I took off my coat and tossed it to the floor before throwing myself onto my comfy bed. Closing my eyes, I sighed, and before I knew it, I was out, homework be damned.
***
I push my way through the dense forest, the luscious, green foliage brushing against my bare arms as my sundress floats behind me. I look down at my feet, admiring my dainty footwear and painted toes nails, wondering where I obtained such pretty clothes.
But my mind is not distracted for long. I am on a quest. I need to find him.
Who he is, I am not sure. I just know that life will be complete once we reunite.
When I try to picture his face in my mind, it is fuzzy, with no distinguishing features, but the pull he has on me is much too strong to ignore.
He possesses everything that I need to survive. I do not know how I know this but there is no doubt in my mind that our connection is rooted deep within my soul. It is programmed into my being that I belong to him. Undeniably so.
"I am here, my love," he calls through the trees.
My head snaps in the direction of his voice and I continue on my journey, his melodic message echoing throughout the woodlands, soothing me. Every movement I make is effortless. I feel graceful and it is as though I am flying.
"Where are you?" I whisper into the fog, startled by the volume of my voice. It carries over the calmness of the forest and vibrates my entire body. I speak softly but what I hear is distinctly louder, like I am shouting instead.
The stillness around me is chilling but oddly, I am not cold. I spin around in a circle, raking my eyes over the misty forest around me. It is then I realize that my eyesight is magnified.
Even on the farthest trees, I can make out the smallest details of every leaf and see every insect that crawls up the bark. I blink in rapid concession, trying to figure out what is happening to me.
"Isabella," he calls again.
I glance at my surroundings, still unable to locate him. All I see are tall oaks, scattered amongst the fog. Their leaves do not rustle because no wind blows throughout the area. However, even though the forest is calm, I can hear the minutest sounds. Acute sounds. It is quite overwhelming.
Birds flock from the treetops as I approach, chirping at octaves that are so high, I desperately want to cover my ears. I hear scratching and pawing in the distance but when I turn my head in the direction of the sound, I am met by only more trees.
"I need you," I cry softly, the words spilling effortlessly from my lips, confident that he hears me.
A steady thumping invades my ears and I use the sound as my guide, its intensity increasing with every step I take.
The tempo leads me to a clearing that is bathed in magnificent sunlight Colorful flowers of various breeds and spectacular green grass adorn the brilliant meadow, providing an awe-inspiring view.
But what dazzles me the most is him.
He stands in the middle of the meadow, our meadow, holding a single long-stemmed red rose, waiting for me. All of his features are unclear but I know without a doubt that this is the man I was searching for.
Although sunlight illuminates the area, as he strolls towards me, darkness follows him, immersing his face in shadow, all except one stunning detail.
His eyes.
His intense green eyes.
The stem of rose twirls between his pale fingertips while I stand frozen, his stare mesmerizing me as he approaches. His gaze is very passionate, but it does not leave me breathless because strangely enough, I do not feel the need to take any breaths, nor can I hear my own beating heart.
His, however, is louder than ever.
His emerald eyes shine like a beacon on the edge of the sea, hailing ships to shore. The captivate me, drawing me into him. They are bright and alluring, unlike any color I have ever seen. They enthrall me so greatly that I do not care that I cannot make out his face. I trust him.
He stops before me and pulls his hand through my tangled hair. His innocent gesture feels very intimate and warmth builds up in my chest, radiating out to my extremities. His beautiful eyes search my face, asking questions without words. The worry I possessed when I could not find him dissipates now that I am in his presence and my relaxed state seems to pacify him because his eyes soften from concern to tenderness.
"A rose for my love," he whispers, extending the attractive flower to me."But even the prettiest blooms pale in comparison to your stunning beauty, Isabella."
I do not feel my usual blush creep into my cheeks, but nevertheless, his charming words exhilarate me. I accept his offering readily, the delightful aroma of the petals encompassing every one of my senses. My grip on the stem is careful, as though anything more than the most delicate hold would crumble it to bits. I want to cherish it always.
I close my eyes for a moment, bathing in its sweetness and feel his soft hand cup my face, his thumb caressing my cheek. His touch sets my skin ablaze.
"Where were you?" I ask as my eyelids flutter open.
Leaning forward, he presses his lips to my forehead. "You wandered off, separating us only briefly, but enough to give me quite the scare. I missed you terribly. But do not worry, my love. We will never be apart again."
I savor our closeness as his fingers pull through my hair once again.
It feels familiar. Very familiar.
"Isabella," he whispers. "You are trembling."
He is right. I am. But I am still not cold. I tremble from his loving touch which makes me feel complete.
"You make me tremble…" I reply softly, pressing my head to his chest and closing my eyes. His heartbeat is rapid and thumps loudly in my ear while I still have yet to hear my own.
He moves his hands down my neck and rubs small circles on my back. "Let me take you out of the elements, my love."
His fingertips graze my arms, from my shoulders to my wrists, creating a remarkable tingling sensation that bores deep into my bones as I look up at him once again.
"I love you in this dress," he murmurs, his green eyes smoldering. "Exquisite…"
His compliment and the hunger in his stare arouse me greatly.
"Where are we going?" I ask, attempting to keep my wits about me.
"The house is not far from here, my love, you know that."
I concentrate hard, trying to make out his face, but still, I see nothing.
My eyebrows furrow. "You live in the forest?"
His vibrant green eyes light up in amusement. "Of course, I live here. We live here. This is where we built our home."
Our home…
I love the sound of that.
Gently, he grips my elbow, guiding me across the meadow to a path which leads into the dense trees.
"We need to move quickly before it gets too late," he advises, glancing behind us. "We do not want to be exposed too long."
"Exposed to what?"
He stops walking as we reach the perimeter of the forest and turns to me, bringing his hands to my face, his fingertips tracing the contours of my cheekbone.
"Not to what, to whom," he corrects.
Sensually, he rubs his thumb along my jaw line and my coherent thoughts and follow-up questions slip away. My eyelids grow heavy, but I am not tired. Just…happy.
His angelic voice rouses me. "I will protect you forever, Isabella."
"I had a feeling you would say that," I smile as his fingertips brush along my lower lip.
He chuckles softly, his laughter resembling a glorious hymn sung by the holiest of choirs. "You know me so well, lovely."
His continuous terms of endearment confuse me. My brain insists that I do not know him, yet my soul tells me to trust him whole-heartedly.
"I suppose I do," I reply wistfully.
He sighs and chuckles again. "You say the silliest things, my love."
I catch his stare as his hands slip from my face to the back of my neck. He leans down slowly as my lips part in anticipation of our kiss that I crave so desperately. Just as my eyelids are about to close, a clever smirk ghosts his lips, which now begin to take form in the darkness shadowing his face.
"I cannot wait to get you home, Isabella." His lips hover over mine, his intoxicating breath tickling my skin and I giggle.
The insinuation behind his words thrills me and I cannot wait to be indoors and in his arms.
"You always surprise me, lovely," he remarks, taking his hand off my neck and lightly brushing the wisps of hair away from my face. "Come, let us get you home and into our bed."
"But I am not tired," I protest.
His laughter reverberates throughout the woodland. "Of course you are not. But there are plenty of other things we can do in our bed."
"Our bed?" I step out of his embrace, shaking my head in confusion.
He takes my hand in his. "Yes, Isabella. Our bed, in our house."
The sound of thick tree branches cracking and crows' squawking violently blasts through the forest, bringing his playful mood to an end. I pull away from him and cover my ears as high pitched wails wave across the tree tops and echo all around us. A gust of wind blows, causing my dress to flutter around me and my head feels like it is about to burst.
"Do you hear that?!" I cry.
He does not answer my question as he takes my hand again.
His green eyes narrow as he inspects our meadow behind us from our vantage point on the fringe. Then his hold tightens and he pulls me forward, urging me to follow him.
"I was afraid of this. Come, my love. We must hurry," he instructs sternly, his heart rate accelerating.
Pulling me along behind him, he picks up his pace as the acute sounds assault me in surges. A high pitch screech follows a low, deafening bass.
"What is that noise?" I cry, gripping my rose tightly in one hand and him in the other.
Again, he does not answer me.
"Please, tell me!" I beg as I tug at his arm, forcibly trying to get him to stop running.
He breathes in deeply and he shoots a fleeting glance at me over his shoulder. "Isabella, we do not have much time. I do not know if I can keep you safe from him here, without assistance, although you know I would do anything in my power to protect you. Even if it means sacrificing myself."
"If we are in danger I will help you," I offer. "I cannot bear to be apart from you."
"No," he states firmly.
His grave his tone tells me not to press the issue any further.
Willingly, I continue to follow him, his footsteps leaving deep imprints in the mud. My sandal-covered feet crunch the small twigs and dry leaves beneath me as we travel the beaten path, dodging various obstacles along the way. His authority and faultless sense of direction soothes me and I know that as long as I am with him, I am safe.
Unexpectedly, my foot catches a fallen log as we leap over it. I feel myself barreling towards the ground and I place my hands out in front of me to break my fall, eliminating the only physical connection I have with him and losing my rose in the process. The horrific noises around me continue to blast into my brain.
Just before my body hits the moss-covered forest floor, I finally hear the thumping of my rapid heart in my chest, the erratic rhythm resembling staccato beats as the air rushes out of my lungs and two strong hands reach out to steady me.
He catches me easily and I feel embarrassed by my clumsiness.
"I am sorry," I stammer, trying to catch my breath which I now so desperately need. Suddenly, I feel the effects of the fall elements around me, the cold air of the forest causing goosebumps to erupt on my flesh.
The acute sounds of the forest cease, no longer overwhelming me, and when I focus on the trees in the distance, their minute details are gone.
Prying my gaze away from my surroundings, I look to my savior and gasp as his face begins to materialize before me. Like plumes of smoke dancing in the wind, the darkness lifts and his features became extremely clear.
His chiseled jaw line, high cheek bones, perfectly sculpted nose, every detail of his gorgeous face, slowly come into focus and I stare wide-eyed up at him, attempting to regain my footing and stand upright on my own.
My mysterious companion is Edward Cullen.
My Edward.
But his eyes are no longer the intense green from before, but the all familiar amber color that I am accustomed to. His attire, which I now see very clearly, is impeccable. He wears a crisp white dress shirt with the top two buttons unfastened and charcoal trousers, both of which enhance his astonishing beauty.
"Edward," I whisper as my heart rhythm slows to a steady beat and I regain control of my breathing. "I-I am sorry."
He smiles, his tantalizing lips parting ever so slightly, lighting up his face as the sunlight reflects off of his flawless skin and wild copper hair. "I told you, Isabella, my love. I will never let you fall."
His face inches closer to mine and he grazes his nose down my cheek toward my neck. My head tilts back and he presses his lips to the column of my throat, causing me to moan softly. His movements are slow, patient, as though we have all the time in the world to savor every moment and the steady pace at which he touches me drives me wild. My body throbs for him, needing him. Desperately so.
"You have no idea what you do to me, Isabella," he whispers against my skin. His tone is husky, needy, and my knees grow weak. I would fall to the floor if not for his arm around my waist.
He pulls me closer to him and I go willingly, pressing my head to his chest as his strong arms wrap around me. This time, however, his heart does not beat loudly in my ear. His chest is completely still and there is only…silence.
My teeth begin chattering as intense coldness radiates between us. He pulls away slowly. "Come, lovely, I must get you warm."
He reaches his hand out for me to take, his penetrating gold stare reaching into the depths of my being, and my eyes close from the peacefulness he provides me.
"Yes, of course, Edward. Anything," I murmur, a small smile playing upon my lips. "Let us go home to our house."
I extend my hand to meet his but I feel nothing but air. Confused, I open my eyes and find that the space in front of me is empty.
He is gone.
I am all alone again.
"Edward?" I call. "Edward!"
Spinning around slowly, I search my surroundings for him, but he is nowhere to be found. The fog is thick, disorienting me as I look for anything that can connect me to him.
The only memento I find is the red rose I lost when I fell. I pick it up off of the ground and twirl the stem between my fingertips, watching the petals wilt and fall to the floor.
My cries for him grow increasingly shrill as I watch the stem fall from my hand and with it, my last remaining bond to the man that holds the key to my everlasting happiness disintegrates.
His absence leaves a gaping hole in my chest and I find myself descending to the forest floor, my legs giving out beneath me. The ground feels soft as I lay on my side and pull my knees toward my body, rocking back and forth, devastated by the loss of the love of my life.
My eternal love.
"Edward…"I whisper.
The sunlight no longer peeks through the trees and the woodland is now immersed in a moonlit glow. The dense fog blankets me but it is unable to provide me the sense of security I felt when I was in his presence. My body soon grows tired, my shaking ceases, and I no longer have the strength to move. I allow the haze to envelop me and usher me into sleep.
"Edward…"
"Bella."
My eyes shot open and disoriented, I looked around. When my vision cleared, I realized I was no longer in a forest, but in my bedroom instead.
Wow, what a crazy dream. It seemed so real.
I extended my legs and realized that I was not alone. But unfortunately, it wasn't Edward that was with me.
Angela peered over me with a concerned expression on her face. "Bella, are you alright?"
Startled, I sat up in my bed and backed away from her. "Ang, what are you doing here?"
"It's almost five o'clock. It's time to get ready for Mike's party. Your dad let us in and told us to wake you. So get up, sleepy head! Or do you need a moment to recover from that dream you were having?"
"What are you talking about?" I played dumb.
Angela put her hand on her hip and tilted her head to the side, flashing me a knowing grin. "You said Edward in your sleepa couple of times."
Shit.
"So don't tell me you weren't having some crazy sex dream about him," she giggled.
"It wasn't a sex dream," I hissed.
I had no idea what kind it was. It was so odd. Clearly, in my dream, Edward and I were together, but I felt so strange. So unlike myself. It didn't feel wrong, just different.
Angela rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever."
"Can we just drop it?" I pleaded.
Angela sighed. "Bella, it's alright to like him. No one says it's a crime to like an incredibly hot, polite, too-good-to-be-true guy. Don't you think it's time to branch out a little bit and possibly explore the other sex. Maybe get some sex?"
Now it was my turn to roll my eyes.
A loud, clomping noise came from the hallway and I looked at Angela.
Then I realized what she said earlier.
You're dad let us in…
And I knew exactly who the other part of us was.
"Come on, you better get up quick," Angela advised. "I didn't have a chance to warn you, but-"
Too late.
My bedroom door burst open and Jessica stood in the doorway with a large smile on her face as she scanned me up and down.
"You look like shit," she remarked with a smirk as she walked into my room, looking around, toeing a pile of clothes I had shoved up against my dresser. "I've never been in here before - you're kind of messy."
Her high-pitched voice was the worst wakeup call ever. "What are you doing here, Jess?" I asked. "I thought you were helping Mike get ready for the party."
She pouted. "Can you believe that he blew me off?" She walked over to my bed and plopped down next to me making the mattress bounce. "Well, not completely. He asked me to buy the food while he picked up a keg in Port Angeles from his friend."
I looked at her in disbelief. "He asked you to buy the food for his party? And you did it?"
"Of course she did," Angela piped up while rifling through some plastic bags she brought with her. "Because he promised her she could be his official date tonight and he'll introduce her that way to everyone."
"Really, Jess?" I cocked an eyebrow. "You're letting him walk all over you."
She shrugged. "I can't help it. I think I love him."
I placed my hand on her knee. "I hope that he knows this. I don't want you to get your heart broken."
"Yes, I know," she sighed. She turned to Angela, changing the topic. "So Angie, show Bella her costume."
I didn't like the way she said that.
Sliding off the bed, my eyes locked with Angela's and she gave me a small smile.
"Ang…?"
She exchanged a knowing glance with Jessica before looking back at me. "Well, there was a little problem at the costume shop," she began slowly. "When Jessica and I got there, they were all sold out of your witch costume."
My mouth dropped open. "Sold out? But that can't be. They had tons of them last week when I was there!"
"Don't worry," she assured. "We picked out a replacement costume that I know you're going to love!"
"Yeah, you're gonna look hot!" Jessica added, popping a stick of gum into her mouth.
My eyes shot open and I looked at Angela. "Oh my god! Did you let her pick it out?" I asked, pointing to Jessica.
"Well…"
"Oh no." I swallowed slowly, fearing the worst.
No good could come of this, I was certain.
Jessica rolled her eyes, stood up from the bed and walked to my stereo. She pressed a couple of buttons and the music came on.
Angela giggled. "Actually, she didn't do a bad job."
"It's slutty, isn't it?" I whispered.
"Hey, just be glad I vetoed the naughty nurse costume she originally wanted. She was really pulling for that one. I think her second choice was much more you."
"Oh jeez," I mumbled, burying my face in my hands.
Jessica selected a radio station and squealed. "Oh, I love these girls! They're my idols!"
The Pussycat Dolls
Case and point.
I was definitely screwed.
"Don't leave me asking for more," she sang along. "I'm a sexy mama, who knows just how to get what I wanna…"
Jessica shook her ass and danced provocatively as she belted out the words off key, oblivious to the fact that Angela and I were staring at her in disbelief.
"Angela," I hissed. "Do you realize that she's singing and dancing to a song by a group of woman, who she refers to as her idols, who wear next to nothing, shake their butts all over the place and named themselves after pussies? And you think I should feel comfortable with what she picked out for me to wear tonight?!"
I was going to be sick.
"Oh, please!" Angela protested. "I had my say too. It's not bad. Trust me. Plus, I like the Pussycat Dolls."
I cringed. "Ahhh! Angela, do you see this face?" I asked, pointing to myself. "This is a face of disgust!"
I wasn't really a fan of contemporary music. I felt that there were so many great artists and bands in the last fifty years that needed to be appreciated, which were much better than the crap out there today.
She pointed to herself. "Do you see my face?" she mocked. "This is a face that says I don't care, you're wearing what we got for you!"
"Fine," I grumbled, holding out my hand for my costume. "I give up."
With a triumphant smile, she bent over and picked one of her plastic bags off the floor, "Now when you put this on, just keep an open mind. The shop was really picked clean so it was either this or Sponge Bob."
"At this point, I would have rather had Sponge Bob or Patrick, for that matter," I muttered. I opened the bag and saw a bunch of red fabric.
"Alright, hurry up!" she ordered as Jessica started dancing to the next song. "I got Princess Leia hair buns to mold."
I held up my hands in surrender "Okay, okay."
"Oh, and you'll need a strapless bra," Jess winked.
Letting out a frustrated groan, I walked over to my bureau and dug one out of the top drawer and headed across the hall to change.
Ten minutes later, after I freshly scrubbed a day's worth of embarrassment away from my face, I was slapped with an additional helping of it when I put on my costume. I cringed as I looked at myself in the full length mirror in my bathroom.
"There is no way I'm leaving the house in this!" I yelled through the door.
"Oh, yes you are," Angela and Jessica called out in unison.
"What am I supposed to be anyway?"
"A 1940s cigarette girl," Angela explained. "The costume came with a slim fake gold-plated cigarette case which you can carry around with you. There's a secret pocket for it in the dress part of the outfit."
I sighed, analyzing my appearance. "But I don't smoke. Also, I'm the police chief's daughter so I really don't think it's wise for me to be handing out cigarettes to underage kids.
"Relax, Bella," Angela replied. "Fake cigarettes came with the case."
"But I got real booze you can hand out if you want," Jessica added. "Mike got a bunch of little bottles of Jack and Absolute from his friend as well."
"I'm not handing those out either," I snapped.
"Fine, I'll hold them," Jessica replied.
Whatever.
That meant that Jessica was going to get piss drunk tonight. I wasn't a big drinker myself so I would have to remember to keep my eye on her as the night wore on. I learned from past parties that Jessica could be a very messy drunk.
I readjusted the sweetheart neckline of my costume to see if I could cover up more skin but it was no use. It dipped way too low, exposing too much cleavage, which looked extra busty thanks to my strapless bra, and the bottom of the dress was way too short, reaching only to my upper thighs.
The costume was made from a satin material that darted in at the waist, showing off my curvy hips. It would have been a little more decent if it had a few more inches added to the skirt portion, at least. Bending over tonight was clearly not an option because my ass would certainly show.
Boy shorts it is.
"Let me in so I can see," Jessica ordered as she knocked on the door. "I'm sure it's not that bad."
"Not that bad?" I cried. "Hookers wear more clothes than I am right now."
But as much as I felt uncomfortable, I knew there was no way out of this.
Reluctantly, I opened the door and my eyes nearly bugged out of my head. Jessica stood on the other side dressed in a vinyl skirt, - that believe it or not, was way shorter than my dress - a leopard print hot pink tube top, fish nets, and heels that were at least four inches high.
I looked her up and down in shock. Compared to her costume, mine was quite demure.
"What the hell are you wearing?" I asked.
She looked down at herself and shrugged "What? It's my costume. I'm going as Julia Roberts' character in Pretty Woman."
"I was wrong; hookers wear more clothes than you!" I sputtered as I stepped closer to her. "Are you old enough to even buy those clothes? You know that vinyl isn't meant to be worn, it's meant to be seat covers in my truck."
"Oh jeez, Bella!" she huffed. "Live a little!"
She dragged me back into my bedroom and I found a proper pair of underwear to put on under my costume.
Using the curling iron Angela brought with her, I styled my hair into loose ringlets and applied some mascara and foundation. I wanted to keep my makeup to a minimum tonight.
Jessica stuffed her bra, the two of us helped Angela with her Leia buns, and I slipped the cigarette holder into my hidden pocket before turning off the stereo. With one last look in the mirror, we were off.
Angela looked pretty close to Leia. She wore a long white robe with white patent leather boots. The look on her face reflected her excitement and I couldn't wait for Ben to see her. He was going to love her costume.
Jessica had purchased a short wig and a hat like the ones Julia Roberts wore in the movie and after she put them on, she kept posing in the mirror, clearly loving her look a little too much.
I had to admit, I actually didn't look too bad. The small dress felt more comfortable after I put on my underwear and some pantyhose, and the heels I wore made my legs look long and slim. I felt sexy, very old Hollywood, channeling my inner Rita Hayworth, and I couldn't help but hope that Edward would be at the party and like my costume too.
I recalled my dream and the remarkable sensation that burned within me in his presence and I got even more excited.
As the three of us walked into the hallway, I sighed and reminded myself not to get my hopes up too much. Just as we were about to head downstairs, Jessica said something about fixing her stocking and retreated back into my room, leaving Angela and I alone.
"What's wrong, Bella? You look amazing and I promise, only a little slutty," she smirked.
I rolled my eyes. "Very funny."
"No really, what's wrong?" she pressed, resting her hand on my forearm.
I sucked in a huge breath and leaned in close to her so Jessica wouldn't hear me.
"I kind of, um…invited Edward Cullen tonight."
Angela's eye grew wide and a huge grin graced her mouth. "Bella Swan, you didn't?! I thought you only invited Alice, not her brother too!"
"Shut up, you're making me even more nervous," I replied, glancing over her shoulder at Jessica, who was inspecting her lipstick in the mirror in my bedroom. "I left him a note in his locker when I dropped his Bio notes off." I dropped my gaze to the floor. "Do you think that was stupid?"
"No way!" she hissed. She pushed me into the bathroom so Jessica wouldn't hear our conversation. "What did it say?"
I bit my lip. "I just said something like - I know how it feels to be the new kid and he should come to the party to meet people. Not specifically, to hang out with me, just a general invitation."
Angela smile widened "Bella, I'm so proud of you!" she exclaimed, jumping up and down a little. "Do you know what this means?!"
I shook my head.
"This means that you're ready to get out of your granny panties and dust the cobwebs off your big girl lingerie."
"Oh jeez!" I waved my hand at her. "That's something Jessica would say."
"I'm not talking about sex, Bella." She put her hands on my shoulders. "I'm talking about embracing your inner vixen and showing Edward the real you – the sassy, smart, incredibly sweet woman I've known since August. Since we met, I've never seen you give any guy the time of day, but what I saw today between you and Edward was definitely something very special. Tonight's gonna be life-altering for you, I can tell."
"Nothing happened in class that would indicate that tonight is going to be life-altering. We just talked, that's all."
Angela placed her hands on my shoulders and shook me. "Will you stop that?! If it was only a regular conversation, you never would've taken the initiative to invite him tonight. As an objective observer, I can tell you what you shared in class was way more intimate than that. The way he looked at you was borderline possessive and I've never seen you blush so much in such a short period of time. And that's saying a lot!"
I sighed. "I don't know what to think anymore. I've been going back and forth all day, obsessing over it. I'm scared."
"Why's that?"
"I'm scared of feeling so strongly for someone and losing my identity. Today, in class, was nerve-racking but thrilling at the same time. And since then he's all I can think about. Charlie even caught me praying in my truck!"
"Let me guess - you were praying that Edward got your note and would come tonight, right?"
"Yup," I confessed.
"Bella, I did it too, with Ben," she smiled. "I felt the same way you are feeling now. It's just how it happens when you start to get to know someone and fall in love. There is no shame in getting butterflies or losing control of how you feel when they're around. It's natural. If you and Edward are truly meant to be then you'll find he'll enrich your life and enhance your identity, not take away from it. He'll complete you."
I thought about my dream and how everything just felt so right when I was with him and nodded. "I never thought about it like that. You're right. No more foolish comments. I'm gonna show him the real me. Maybe Edward and I-"
"Edward?!" Jessica announced, stepping into the bathroom behind Angela. "Did I hear that correctly? Did you just mention the man who shall not be named?"
"Uh, it's nothing…" Angela stammered. "I just asked her if she ended up dropping off her bio notes at his locker."
Jessica's eyes widened. "Hey Bella, wouldn't it be cool if he showed up tonight?"
Angela and I exchanged amused glances. "Oh, I never thought about that," I replied, trying to hold back a smile. "Yeah, you're right, that might be fun."
The last thing I needed was to tell Jessica about my invitation. She was my friend but she had a big mouth and the news would be all over town by midnight if she found out.
"Oh my! Don't you girls look so beautiful?!"
The three of us jumped and looked to the hall. My mother stood before us, clutching her hands to her chest with a large grin on her face.
"Angela," she gushed. "You look exactly like Princess Leia. I'm a huge Star Wars fan!" She looked to me. "Bella, do you look stunning. Your hair is wonderful and you look so.....grown up! And Jessica....." Her eyebrows knitted together. "Who are you supposed to be?"
Angela and I giggled while Jessica looked shocked that my mother didn't know. "I'm Julia Roberts, Mrs. Swan…Pretty Woman…" she stated matter-of-factly.
"Uh, of course," my mom replied. I could tell she was forcing a smile.
"Oh Bella, I almost forgot," she gestured to a book in her hand. "Your father wanted me to give you this before you go. He said it might help you, whatever that means."
I looked at the cover and nearly died.
"I don't know why he thinks you would want my copy of Lord of the Rings," she continued with a shrug. "But I brought it upstairs anyway."
"Orlando Bloom is so hot!" Jessica piped in.
"Uh, thanks, mom," she replied, my face flushing from embarrassment. "Why don't you put it in my room and I'll look at it later?"
"Sure," she grinned as Jessica, Angela and I exited the bathroom. "Oh, and sweetheart…"
I stopped mid-stride. "Yeah, mom?"
"I'm sure your father would love to see your costumes before you go."
Crap.
This wasn't going to go over well. My dad wasn't as easy-going as my mom was. I'd hoped he would be gone back to work before we left for the party, but no such luck.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I had to get him back for the book incident.
This could be fun.
The four of us headed downstairs and I tried to remain as nonchalant as possible as I entered the living room where my father sat on his Lazy Boy watching TV.
"Dad, we're leaving," I announced in a sing-song voice. He looked up at me and did a double take. His mouth dropped open and his eyes grew wide.
"Where are your clothes?" he demanded as he stood up.
"What?" I played dumb as I twirled around. "Don't you like my costume? Mom does."
My father grunted. "Go put on a sweater – no, a parka – right now!"
"Sorry, dad, but a jacket just doesn't go with my little outfit." I held back a grin. "Don't worry, I'll find someone to warm me up if I get cold."
"W-wh…n-no…like hell you will!" he roared. His face was beet red and I couldn't hold back my laughter anymore.
"Oh and thanks for the book, dad, but I won't be needing it tonight," I giggled. "You see, I prayed to Frodo and he sent Aargon and Gollum here, to protect me." I pointed at Angela and Jessica. "So I'll see you later. Don't wait up."
My father was still at a loss for words as I gave him a sly smile and walked out of the living room with Jessica and Angela following close behind me.
Success!
"Oh, Bella, that was cruel," Angela laughed.
"He and I are always joking back and forth. He knows I was just trying to get a rise out of him," I explained as we walked away from my poor awestruck father.
"But still, I'm surprised he's letting you leave the house."
Actually, so was I. That was easy. A little too easy.
I shrugged. "Okay, so who's driving?"
"Well, I have the food for the party in my car, but it only seats two people," Jessica replied.
"Aren't you drinking tonight?" I asked.
"Yeah, but if I do I'll just walk home – or crash at Mike's," she giggled.
"Okay," I shrugged. "I'll follow the two of you in my truck."
Angela nodded. "Sounds good."
I picked up my keys and took my license out of my wallet, sticking them both into the secret pocket of my costume with my cigarette case.
Just as I reached for the doorknob to complete my clean getaway, I heard my mother's voice. "Charlie, doesn't Bella look beautiful? All the boys at the party will be just dying to dance with her."
I didn't have to turn around to know that my father was not going to take her comment very well. Undoubtedly, that was the final straw and my clean getaway just took an ugly turn.
I heard his heavy footsteps as he exited the living room toward the kitchen.
"Can it, Renee," he growled. "I'm calling Billy Black."
I groaned as I pulled the front door open and stepped out onto the porch under the twinkling night sky, Jessica and Angela in tow.
It looked like I was going to have to wish on a shooting star tonight as well for extra help because there was only one reason why my dad was making that call. And it wasn't going to work in my favor.
If Edward Cullen was my destiny, then fate sure had a funny way of proving it to me.
Tonight had just gotten a whole lot more complicated.
A/N Next chapter is EPOV and we are taking a little break for the holidays. Expect the next update to come after the New Year.
So who do you think is going to make Bella's night more complicated?
Leave me sugar!