Once again I do not own Twilight.
Hope you liked the little bonus chap. It just came to me, and was really fun to write. Emmett is the most fun!
Spoiler alert! In this chapter the film " The Forbidden Planet" will be discussed and the ending will be given away...if you haven't seen it, it's a great movie and I recommend it, sorry for spoiling it for you. Also the 3 places I mention in this chapter are real, so look them up if your want a better idea of what I am describing.
One more thing...this story is still very much dedicated to CloudNine, but I want to give a shout out to Divyicki and Cbmorefie, you two have constantly been reviewing and encouraging me to keep going, so thanks and keep your thoughts coming, I love, love, love to get feed back!
LISTEN TO:
1. "I Got Nobody Waiting for Me" : M. Craft
2. "Winter Prayers": Iron & Wine
3. "The Indie Queens Are Waiting": Dan Mangan
*****Chapter Seven*****
It was Friday and it had been exactly a week since the aquarium. I had almost sent Bella half a dozen text messages and even called her once, but hung up before it could ring through. Noah was at Tanya's this week so I didn't even have an excuse to bump into to her at the school. Besides baby sitting for Rose and Em I was pretty much avoiding my family. For some reason I just couldn't stand all the question's and the jokes. Of course Alice had called that night after I had put Noah to bed to give me the third degree.
I went over our conversation in my head again as I sat in my office now staring out the window at the sheets of rain that had been falling all day.
"Ali, I'm such an idiot. I messed it all up," my voice was taking on a desperate tone that frankly annoyed the shit out of me. I cleared my throat, "I was so sure that she felt something. I can admit it, I have no clue what I am doing."
"Edward." she said sternly. "Your not an idiot! And from everything you told me about today," she paused "She is into you. I know it, how could she not be?" she asked her self mumbling the last sentence.
"Alice you didn't see her face. Shit. Even Noah notice something was wrong."
"Well, Bella like's you. I am positive. It has to be something deeper, maybe something else was bothering her?"
"Small one, your very sweet," I interjected into her rambling,"but I think I screwed the pouch on this one."
"Just give her time. Are you going to call her? Try to see her again?"
"I don't know." I sighed heavily into th receiver, "I just feel so, dumb."
"Look," Alice started again, sometimes she was so helpful it hurt. "like I said, just stay positive and give her some space, I'm sure she will contact you."
"Well that's certainly a little too optimistic." I stated glibly.
"Trust me big brother, aren't I always right?"
I smiled sadly to my self, Alice's streak looked like it was coming to an end.
After locking my self in my office all day it was around 7:00pm when I grabbed some files I had finally finished and shuffled out of my door to pile them on my secretaries desk for Monday, only to find her still sitting there, alone in the darkening evening.
"Jes," I plunked the papers down, "What in the hell are you still doing here?"
Her eye's went large and pathetic "Well, I know you like to have things ready to go for the next week so I have just been fixing your schedule."
I shook my head in dismay and grinned, it was actually touching that she would work this hard.
"Miss Stanley, get out of here, it's Friday night, your young and free go live it up!" I encouraged.
"Your young too you know." She smiled running her hands through her hair. "Do you have big plans this weekend?"
Oh crap! Here it was, I had known enough girls like Jessica Stanley in my life to know when they were fishing.
"Noah is at his mom's this weekend so I'm just gonna work right through, get a jump on thing's you know." I shoved my hands in my pockets and took two step's away from her desk.
"Edward you should get out more, you work way to much." She was batting her lashes now and I felt a pang in my chest. Jessica was everything Bella wasn't. I knew that the comparison was unfair but, Bella was everything I hadn't known I wanted, and now I realized there was a chance no woman would ever stack up next to her.
"Miss Stanley." I raised my voice as I walked backwards to my office. She was standing expectantly now,"You have 5 minutes to clock out, get out of here and have a great weekend, or your fired!"
She laughed, but when I held up my wrist and pointed to my watch saying "tick tock," she understood that I was serious, and began haphazardly shuffling things around.
"See you Monday." I said as I walked into my office and shut the door.
The evening was a blur of words and highlighted paragraphs, and as I glanced at the clock I saw it had some how become after 10:00. I stood up to stretch to quickly, sending a rush of blood through my back and head. Reaching around to my neck I squeezed, attempting to work out the ache that was radiating there. I tidied up my desk and laid some more files on Jessica's desk and then grabbed my coat and headed for my car. As I walked I checked my phone to see if I had any messages.
One text message from Emmett.
Em: So dummy did you ask her out yet?
Damn he was pushy. I immediately felt annoyed and stupid. I was usually so confident when it came to woman but some how with Bella I just couldn't find my nerve. I texted him back even though I knew he might be asleep by now.
E: No, I haven't, and will you kindly butt out nosey Nelly!?
When I got into the car it was cold and I felt exhausted, a rumble etched its way through the pit of my stomach. I was starving. Twenty minutes later I was tucking into a sandwich and a quite booth in the back of one of my favorite cafe's. It was late and the rain had begun to let up, leaving the pavement an upside down mirror image of street lights and store fronts. There was a soft clean glow in the restaurant that invited a sence of warmth and comfort. In the front window a young guy was playing a banjo and singing as another stood playing some sort of fiddle. The melody was bitter-sweet and the sound mingled in the air with hushed conversations between groups of people. I took out my phone, checking through emails as I ate. My eye's were beginning to burn at over use, I couldn't wait to get my contacts out and give them a rest. Maybe I should wear my glasses more often I vaguely thought as I finished the last of my dinner.
Glancing at the musicians again I let my attention wander around the large space filled with patrons. As my eye's traveled over the font of the shop I saw a woman ordering, her back was to me and there was a lonely feeling in her posture. I took in her details; long wavy dark hair that stopped at the middle of her back. She had a small frame, and wore a navy coat with a bright blue hoody that stuck out, and tall brown boots that went up to her knees. As she turned slightly to grab her order recognition struck me like lightning. It was Bella.
My heart jumped into my throat and adrenaline began to pump so loud I could hear it. As she shifted to leave I stood up sharply my body responding of its own accord. Shit! Do something! My voice yelled out internally. I started to move forward but banged my knee on something hard and sharp, sending a wave of pain shooting through my leg. I cursed under my breath as I watched her walk out the door. Taking a few steps I remembered my phone on the table and my coat, grabbing them up I spun around to see that Bella had disappeared already.
I was on the pavement in seconds wrestling into my jacket and desperately scanning the streets for a blue hood, not even thinking about what I would do if I found it. Spotting her across the street and half a block up I began striding hastily towards her. Shit I panicked to my self, what are you doing idiot? What's the plan? Dumbly I began to call out her name, but then paused as I heard a familiar tune going off loudly from her direction. "Bad boy's, bad boy's, whatcha gonna do?"
As I gained on her she dug in her pocket for what I could only assume was her phone. Answering she rounded the corner and I took up my pace. I was close enough to hear that she was talking but only caught certain words.
"Relax, I'm fine." she let out slightly vext.
She was slowing now as we approached an old movie theater. I glanced above me at the brightly lit flashing sighn. It read 'Midnight Movie Madness: The Forbidden Planet.
Bella was standing at the ticket window now, where a boy who looked to be about seventeen was busy reading a comic book.
"Dad, I'm here now." I barely heard her say. Charlie the police chief, I recalled her father's name the ringtone making sence now. She moved the phone away from her mouth and plunked some money down in front of the kid.
"One please." she said sweetly.
He rolled his eye's and put a ticket out to her finally glancing up at her.
"Thanks" she shot back as his jaw visibly dropped open.
By the time he wa trying to sit up straight ad actually answer her, she was gone. I watched chuckling to my self as he hung his head and smacked his hand lamely against his forehead.
Before I understood what I was doing, I was at the ticket window waiting for him to acknowledge me.
"Relax kid" I grinned at him, "She has that effect on a lot of guy's"
"What?" he squeaked.
I laughed unable to help my self as I handed him my card. "One please."
"You know her?" He finally caught on running my card and handing me a movie stub.
"I sure do, and she is way out of both our leagues."
"What?" he said dumbly.
"Thanks." I nodded at him.
As I entered the lobby I scanned everywhere, cautiously searching for her, terrified of what I would do when I actually caught up to her. What in hell's bells was I doing anyway? This was bordering on stalking now.
She was probably in the theater already,gingerly I walked towards the open doors at the end of a dark hall just past the concession stand. As I stepped through the threshold there was a small row right next to the entrance and I slid in, quickly taking a seat trying to be invisible.
Oh shit, shit, shit, what was I doing? She was going to be completely freaked out if she caught me. Thankfully the theater was dimly lit and there were a few small groups of people scattered in clusters. I spotted a blue hood near the middle center, and my stomach squeezed in agony knowing I was this close to her. She sat by herself watching everyone around her and I waited, studying every piece of her. The way the soft pink light bounced off the red strands of her dark curls, the way she held her cup; close to her with both hands.
I reasoned with my self that she was more than likely waiting for people, maybe even someone. But the thought that it might be a man pained me. I wasn't typically a jealous person by nature, but imagining Bella with any other man, made me blind with venom.
Again, I knew I was being extremely irrational. She wasn't mine, in fact I wasn't even sure how she felt about me after what happened last week. I looked at my phone checking the time, it was about 15 till midnight, if she was meeting someone they would be here soon. What was I doing here? I shifted anxiously in my chair and ran a hand through my hair out nervous habit. Suddenly Bella looked around to the left of her and I froze, fighting the urge to flee. She repositioned her self and then pulled her hood on over her hair and sunk lower into her seat.
Possessiveness tightened it grip on me, I didn't want anyone other than me with her, and resolved in that course of action I got to my feet. My mind working on a plan as my legs carried me towards her.
Shit I was getting close, just play it cool I told my self, don't let her know how long you've been here, or that you were being a stalker! I decided to go to the row in front of hers, close to where she was seated and then pretend to notice her. I felt like a creep, but as I made my way to her I turned it on. Picking a seat directly to the right and in front of her, I slipped my coat off then turned.
Her feet were up on the seat and she was concentrating down at her phone. I bent forward-looking at her as if I were trying to tell if it was really her, "Bella?" I let out in mock surprise.
Her head shot up and she jumped at the sudden disturbance of hearing her own name. What ever was in her cup must have spilled a little, and I smiled soundlessly as I watched her try to dry her hands on her jeans while simultaneously struggle to get over the shock of me scaring her. Crimson traveled up her cheeks her eyes becoming huge and stunned as she registered who I was.
"Edward!" She exclaimed. "wow, um, wow..." she was stammering.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." I looked away embarrassed about how underhanded and intrusive I was being.
"No. No you didn't scare me, well I mean it's okay," she breathed trying to gain composure.
"How are you?" I said at the same time she asked "What are you doing here?"
Her cheeks bloomed red again but this time she smiled.
Both of us waited for the other to answer, until finally I said, shrugging "Just out to see the movie." Shit. I was lying to her. I hated that I was lying to her, I never wanted to do that, but the alternative was humiliating and actually a little alarming.
"Oh. yeah." she nodded in understanding, "me too."
I shoved my hands in my pockets feeling awkward now that I had revealed my self.
"I'm doing well." she smiled hastily answering my question.
She sat up very straight in her chair and folded her legs under her indian style then asked "How are you? How was your week?" she caught my gaze, her brown eyes wide, filled with innocence and unfeigning generosity. It was completely disarming.
"I'm doing okay, thank's" I breathed honestly, "I'm really glad the weeks over."
She half grinned in agreement "Me too."
Out of no where I found my self prodding "So, are you meeting people here?"
She had that look of deer in the head lights again and immediately I regretted pushing my luck with her.
Moving her head and staring down at her cup she mumbled, "Oh, um, I was, but they, canceled."
I wondered silently if she was meant to be on a date but had been stood up, however I dismissed it hastily. No one could ever stand her up.
"Are you?" she flicked her eye's to mine urgently, "meeting anyone?" she added.
I shook my head no and grinned dejectedly.
We looked at each other a moment, me still standing there my hands in my pockets, and for the first time in a long while I felt vulnerable. It was uncomfortable and isolated.
"Would you like to join me?" she ventured unsure of her self.
As I searched her face I could see that she was feeling just as insecure as I was. But there was something else at work in her expression, it was hopefulness.
Feeling light and buoyed I very meaningfully answered "I'd love to Bella."
She smiled, nervously biting her lip unable to hide her own fervor. Picking up my jacket I made my way out of my row and into hers. By the time I reached her, she had her hood off and was following me with her eye's as I came and sat next to her. It was incredible to be in her presence again after a week with out her. My heart was galloping wildly and my palms were actually sweating. I had no idea how I was going to last through an entire movie with her right beside me.
It was quiet as it set in that for the fist time we were meeting each other as just adults, no kid's in toe, no distractions, no interruptions. I smiled to my self at the realization and uncertainly rubbed my hand on the back of my neck.
"What?" she asked smirking at me.
I shrugged, a big grin forming on my lips, she was just so, damn adorable.
"Do you realize this is the first time we will have seen each other without kid's?"
She thought a moment, "I suppose your right." and a look of fake honor spread across her face, "Oh no! What will we do with no kid's to interrupt us? How will we function?"
I plastered a bewildered expression on my face, "I know, I'm not sure I can even talk in complete sentences and use multiple syllabic words."
We both chuckled and I turned to her, "Speaking of kid's, how was it when you got back on Friday? Was Bree okay?"
"Oh," she flushed. "Look, Edward" her tone was small and empty, yet courageously she gave me a penetrating gaze. "I'm so sorry for the way I left on Friday."
It was my turn to shrink away. I really did not want he to bring this up, I was desperately dreading what she might say about me making a move on her.
"When I got that call from James, he was really angry. He yelled at me a lot wondering where we were, and I just felt so horrible. I hate the way I let him make me feel so small sometime's." she paused, "Anyway I was just frustrated and embarrassed, and James really wanted Riley home immediately. But I'm sorry to you, and Noah." Her deep eye's were imploring, "and I meant to call and tell you thank you again, but," she looked down at her lap, "it's been a really crazy hectic week."
"Bella," I wasn't sure where to start. I was flopping between wanting to comfort her and being completely outraged that James had hurt her. "It's totally fine," I settled on comfort."I understand crazy weeks, believe me, I've had my fair share."
I had no idea how to communicate to her the anger I was feeling inside about her boss yelling at her and the way it had obviously injured her. A base instinct in me was throbbing to punch James in the face and then take her away somehow so she would never have to deal with him again. But that wasn't the mature way to deal with things, so I fought to keep the rage at bay.
"I'm sorry James was so awful to you. That doesn't seem very fair." I said as evenly as I could.
"It is what it is." she dismissed, a vacant frown forming on her face.
She took a sip from the paper cup she held, giving the impression she wanted to change the subject. I was still seething internally but obligingly I pointed to her cup and asked "What are you drinking? It smells good."
"Clove Tea." she smiled up at me, taking on her more normal demeanor.
"Clove, that's sort of unusual."
"Well, I used to smoke clove's, in college..."
"Really?" I interrupted finding my self in a bit of shock. She was one of the last people I could ever see smoking.
"They taste like Christmas, and just everything good and comforting." there was an air of dream like wistfulness in her tone.
I chuckled incredulously.
"Really. They do." she blinked mate of factly.
"I'm sure they do." I let her know I wasn't disagreeing. "It's just that. You have this look on your face," and I smiled unable to help my self.
"What look? she asked.
"Like you're describing a dear old friend that you haven't seen in years but never stopped loving."
She smirked nibbling the corner of her lip, "Well that about sums it up."
I laughed rubbing my palms on my thy's. "So, Im judging by your longing description that you don't smoke any more?" I asked her.
"No. Jaco" she stopped her self, some color draining from her face, then finished "a friend made me quit."
She was staring at her cup again, and I perceived quite clearly that she had been about to say a man's name. Jealousy stabbed through me, but rational thought came to my rescue and reminded me she had said friend.
She didn't speak or move for a minute, and I wondered if I had said something wrong, but then she turned to me and asked,"Have you seen this movie?"
"No. Have you?"
She shook her head "No, but it's supposed to be a classic, it's one of the very first syfi films. It's got this robot character, Robby the Robot."
"Hang on," I interrupted something sparking my memory. "Robby the Robot?"
"Yeah. He's famous."
"Yes, I think I remember him. My brother-in-law love's syfi stuff. I think I have heard of this movie, maybe even seen some on TV before."
"Well," she said knowingly "supposedly it's loosely based on Shakespeare's the 'Tempest'."
"That's interesting." was all I could manage to say. Because the image of Bella that sat beside me; wall's down, completely into and excited about what she was talking about, had me utterly distracted.
"Before you came along," she explained, "I was trying to count how many movies have been made that are based on Shakespeare's work."
"Let's hear what you've got Swan." I angled my self towards her and smiled.
"Well, so far I have only about four."
"Go on," I encouraged "I'll see if I can guess the original works."
"Alright Cullen, I like this, like a game." She eyed me excitedly for a moment. "Okay I'll give you an easy one for starters."
"Bring it." I smirked competitively.
"'10 things I hate about you."
"You did start with an easy one. I'm pretty sure I would be shunned from Seattle if I didn't know this." I rolled my eye's as if I were board. "'The Taming of the Shrew'."
"Right. 'West Side Story'?"
"Bella. Come on, is that all you have?"
She glared at me playfully, her eye's narrowing and fighting a grin.
"'Romeo and Juliet'." I answered easily.
"Okay, what about 'O'?"
This one was a lot harder and took me a while to remember. Eventually I just reasoned that it had to be "Othello".
"Damn. I thought I had you on that one. Your pretty good." she admitted reluctantly. "But what about this one," she asked, mischief wiping over her features. "'My Own Private Idaho'?"
"My own private what?" I asked bewildered.
She laughed, pleased with her self. "'My Own Private Idaho'." she repeated. "I'm actually relieved that you haven't seen it, let alone even heard of it."
"What is it? It sound's dirty." I smirked suggestively.
"It sort of is actually." she laughed putting her hand to her forehead and covering her eye's in embarassment."It's based off of 'Henry the IV and Henry the V, but really its this horrible, awful River Phoenix movie."
"Never heard of it, and why is it so horrible? And better yet if it's so bad why did you watch it?" Her head was still in her hands, and I reached over, softly pulling them away; relishing the small physical contact with her. "and why are you blushing about it?" I smiled at her questioningly.
"I don't even want to go into it, but in high school my best friend Angela, she had a huge thing for River Phoenix, so we tried to watch all his movie's in one summer. I think she regrets putting it in her head just as much as I do."
She crossed her legs again straightening her posture. Her knee was almost resting on top of mine and I felt keenly aware it.
"Okay Swan, I've got one for you."
Her eye's glimmered with anticipation, "Alright Cullen we'll see if you can stump me."
She took another drag of Tea than squared her shoulders.
"The Lion King." I stated simply.
She gave me a skeptical look. "The Lion King?"
"Yep."
Judging from her silence and the perplexed look on her face I began to grin in victory.
"Give up Swan?"
"I'm inclined to say never, but in the interest of the movie about to start, I'll give. What is it?"
"Hamlet."
She rolled her eye's frustrated "Yes! Of course, I can't believe I didn't get that!"
The lights lining the wall's flashed lower and then brighter a few times and a small older man appeared close to the front of the theater and cleared his throat loudly.
I looked to Bella wondering what was happening and she leaned over to me, "You'll like this guy, he is going to tell a little bit about the film."
At that moment the man began with "Thank you all for coming tonight. Welcome to the Harvard Exit' showing of 1956's 'The Forbidden Planet' staring Leslie Nielsen, Walter Pidgeon, and Anne Francis." He chuckled to himself, "and Robby the Robot."
A few people clapped and cheered and I glanced again at Bella, "I should warn you," she whispered to me."Sometimes the crowd really get's into the movie, they can be sort of loud."
"Like 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' people?"
"Oh no!" she smiled "None of these people are anything close to that."
"Good," I said "because I have heard some petty crazy stories."
"Me too." she grinned conspiratorialy.
The man finished with his introduction and everyone including Bella applauded.
"So you seem to know the drill, do you come here a lot?" I asked her.
"Just when they show something I am interested in."
"Good to see you Isabella." the old man waved at her on his way back up the aisle.
"You too Sammy." She let out kindly.
When she turned back to me I raise my eyebrow giving her a look that said she had been found out.
She shrugged "I guess I'm just interested in a lot."
I snickered in amusement at her as the lights went down, plunging us into darkness. The screen flickered to life and a strange synthesized music began. Jasper would love this, I was going to have to bring him here sometime.
"Look how young he look's." Bella whispered in my ear, "my dad love's him, personally I never got it, I guess it's a generation thing."
"I was never an 'Airplane' fan either" I smirked in agreement.
"When I was 5, I watched 'Hot Shots' with Charlie and when it was over I told him I wanted that two hours of my life back."
I laughed a bit to loud, but no one cared. She smiled widely then moved back to her pervious position and in the process bumped my her knee on mine. "Sorry." she breathed.
"It's okay." I lied. This was going to be a long movie.
I swung my feet up and onto the chair in front of me and leaned slightly more toward her, nestling into my seat trying to get comfortable. But it was basically impossible for my mind and body to forget how close she was.
As the film went on I found I was actually getting into and enjoying it. Bella had been fairly silent, the few times I had glanced at her, I found her watching intently; a serious look on her face.
Towards a climactic scene we both turned to each other, hastily picking up on the same thing. I leaned in close to her, a bit of her hair tickling my nose. Boldly I reached up and carefully pushed it back sweeping it over her shoulder. It was so soft and smooth, that I had a hard time remembering what I was going to tell her.
"Do you think Stan Lee got adamantium from this movie?" I whispered to her.
Her smile broadened "I was just wondering the same thing."
This time I leaned my lips so close to her that they were almost grazing the part of skin just below her ear and then breathed. "I know."
She shivered and I held her gaze a moment, a brash expression on my face. Then calmly I turned back to the movie screen. I was deliberately flirting with her, and part of me hoped I was driving her just as crazy as she was driving me. Out of the corner of my eye I watched her swallow hard, then sink into her chair stretching her legs on the seat in front of her, and lean her head back again the headrest. I couldn't fight the self satisfying grin from spreading over my face, I was getting to her.
Though had never seen the movie I knew it was almost over. I glanced her one last time as the movie ended, her eye's were shinning and she looked content. The lights slowly came up and everyone including Bella and I clapped.
Neither one of us moved the two of us slouching in our seats as the credits continued and people began milling around.
"Did you like it?" I felt her eye's on me.
"I really did." I sighed folding my arms across my chest. "What about you?" I swiveled my head to her.
"I love it." she exhaled. "It was so much better than I thought it would be. I guess that's why it's a classic."
She crossed her arms over her torso and we sat in amiable silence staring, each of our postures a mirrored image of the other.
Until she smiled expectantly and bounced her legs up down as if she had been waiting for something and couldn't bare to wait any longer. "What was your favorite part?"
"Whoa. You're a little eager. What was in that Tea?" I teased her.
"I just really love hearing what other people enjoy and what their thoughts are on movies and stories, ya know?"
"I think I do," I half smiled."Um, I really loved the ending actually." I paused trying to wrap my brain around what we had just seen. "The idea that it was Dr. Morbius' fear and subconscious passions that ultimately destroyed everything he loved including him self. He was a great bad guy, lot's of complex existential conflict, I liked that it wasn't so cut and dry."
"Yeah, that was good." she smiled "His character reminds me a lot of 'Out of the Silent Planet'. Have you read it?"
I shook my head no watching her, "What was your favorite part?" I returned.
She was almost laughing "Well, besides the ending; I thought," now she was full on giggling.
"Come on." I prodded, very lightly kicking my out stretched foot against hers.
"It's noting, I just thought the part about Altaira not knowing how to kiss and the men having to teach her was sort of ridiculous and hilarious." I smiled listening carefully. "Every man's fantasy; Go to a strange new world, discover innocent virginal human female and then teach her the way's of the world." she looked me in the eye, " is that about the gist of it?" her eyebrows raised and for once she wasn't blushing.
"I can't believe you just said 'virginal'" I cringed in mock discomfort.
When I turned to her there was a moment of concentration that passed between us, as we tried to keep straight faces.
We cracked at the same time and burst into laughter.
A man cleared his throat from behind us and I saw that te greasy teenager from the ticket booth was staring at us. He was actually glaring at me, but as he turned his attention to Bella his eyes became soft and doughy.
"The theater is closing, I'm sorry." He said warmly to her. "You'll have to leave now!" He stuck out his chin and ordered directly to me.
I smirked at him as Bella looked between the two of us.
"Hey ya know?" I sat up plastering an alarmed expression on my face, "I think the theater might be closing, maybe we should go."
Bella grinned at me and then went along, "Yeah, I think your right, we should go. Good call Edward." She said loud enough for the teen to hear.
He grimaced at me and then went back to picking up trash.
I was on my feet now and swinging around, I offered my hand to Bella. She took it tentatively, lightly gripping onto me for balance as she rose. She reached for her coat but I had it in my hands, already holding it out for, "Here," I smiled "I got it."
She slipped into it and intuitively i gathered her hair in one hand and pulled the blue hood out and over the back of her jacket fixing it the way I'd seen her wear it earlier.
"Thank you." she let out tremulously.
"My pleasure." I answered with an assertive tone.
I followed her out of the aisle and when we go to the lobby she leaned in close to me almost brushing her self against the side of me.
"So they say this place in hunted you know."
"Oh yeah?" I smiled questionably leaning over her to open the door.
I eyed her longingly as she slowly moved past me walking backwards out the exit a smirk taking over her features.
"It was built in 1925 by a woman's group, and was sold in the sixties but only on the condition that the lobby would never be altered, and it hasn't been. But the same year it was converted to a theater people stated to say they saw a woman in 1920's clothing roaming through the building."
Her eyes flashed mysteriously waiting for a response from me.
"Do you believe that?" I cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Do you?" she shot back.
"I asked you first" I bounced surreptitiously.
She stared me down with determination, "No." her lip twitched.
I leaned forward making out eye's on the same level. "Me either." I shrugged.
We laughed softly in unison as a cool wind whipped past us pushing her hair into her face.
"Im starving," I announced as she pulled on her hood. "How do you feel about pie?"
"Well we have never defined our relationship, I guess I just alway's assumed pie knew my feelings towards it by the way I love to eat it." She grinned smartly, pleased with her own wittyness.
"Well since your relationship seem's to be in a positive place, what do you say to spending a little quality time together?"
Her eye's bulged nervously and I realized quickly the way she had misunderstood me. "Obviously I mean quality time between you and your pie."
"Obviously," she let out covering her own confusion.
I chuckled, amused at how skittish she was about anything pertaining to things between the two of us.
"I know a place not to far from here." I directed.
"Walking or driving?"
"Driving." I breathed already heading towards my car, when suddenly I realized where my car was parked and how awkward it might be when she saw it was in front of the café where she had gotten a drink.
Edging on her hastily I uttered "why don't you drive. I'm curious about this truck of your's." I attempted to play it off.
"Okay." she smiled slightly taken back. "I'm this way." she pointed in the opposite direction of the café and I silently took a deep releaving breath.
She laughed to her self deep in thought as we got closer to her car. "I also loved that the cook taught Robby how to synthesis alcohol."
"Yeah that was some nice comic relief." I agreed.
"You know what I hate?" She asked.
I shook my head no, happy that she was opening up.
"I can't stand it when inanimate objects are given personalities or souls, ya know?" she looked to me, "Like when I am meant to get attached to and care about what happen's to a toy or a toaster, or something like that."
I laughed."What?"
"No really," she was trying not to giggle, "you remember the Velvatine Rabbit?"
"Vaguely." I followed her to the driver's side. She dug for her key's and then unlocked the door.
"Well you know how he had thought's and feelings and then in the end the little boy loved him real?"
I opened the door for her, "Yeah."
I waited for her to get in, then slammed the door shut and ran arround the back of the truck quickly. She had unlatched my door and was trying to push it open as I caught it and jumped in the cab.
"Anyway," she started the truck, "I just don't like getting so wrapped up emotionally to thing's that aren't really human, it just," she looked over at me biting her lip "Kills me, I loose it."
I smiled at her sympathetically. "So Toy Story, not a great movie for you."
As she backed out she breathed a frustrated huff. "Toy Story is the worst!'
I put my seat belt on and looked out the window biting my cheek trying not to completely laugh my ass off at the ridiculous conversation we were having.
We pulled up in front of High Five Pie's, a place Alice loved to go and thankfully it was virtually empty. I knew they would be closing soon, and we wouldn't have much time.
Bella ordered a lemon meringue, and I got a hot apple à la mode. Of course she argued with me when we got to the register, but I reminded her that I wasn't going to let her win any more and as a compromise I let her pick where we sat.
"Holly cow!" Bella let out innocently "that looks amazing!" she pointed her fork at my pie.
"It is amazing" I said eyeing her and taking a bite.
She stared at my pie, and I stared at her.
"Do you wanna bite?"
"Wow, are you reading my mind?" she asked in a mocking tone.
"Yes. I am." I answered matter of factly. "You are so hard to read. Has anyone ever told you that?" I said sarcastically.
I couldn't help the smile working it's was up my face as I pushed my plate in front of her.
"Yes, people tell me that all the time. How did you know?" she asked with counterfeit skepticism.
I tapped a finger to my temple "Mind reader."
"Oh. right."
I watched her tak a bite.
As she slid he fork from her lips I realized I had never been so turned on just by watching a girl eat pie before.
"Wow." she smirked, "That is good."
I decided to mess with her a little.
"Glad you like it." I looked her up and down pulling my plate back. "Now you have to pay the toll."
I erased all signs of joking from my face, and when she looked up at me her cheeks were already turning pink, it was one of my favorite things, especially when it was my fault.
"Toll?" she swallowed.
"Relax Bella." I smirked, eluding to the fact I knew exactly where her mind was. "A bite, for a bite."
I reached across the small table and plunged my fork into her pie.
"Yeah," she shrugged, "that seems fair."
"This is good." I mumbled licking some lemon curd from my utensil.
When I met her gaze she looked down at her pie hastily and then smiled secretly.
"So, maybe I should try just one more bite of that apple."
I watched as she took my plate from me and scooted it towards her self.
Without asking, I grabbed her plate and shoved a bite of meringue in my mouth.
"Bite for a bite?" she smirked taking a third chunk of my pie.
"I see what you're doing Swan." I narrowed my eye's at her playfully. "You think your very clever don't you?"
She was trying hard not to smile and I knew it.
"Edward." she flashed her brown eyes naïvely, "I don't know what you're talking about." and very intentionally she took a bite of ice cream and grinned with her mouth closed.
I shoved my fork into the apple pie and got a large piece of the crust. "I at least want one more bite of MY pie before you pull some american imperialism and manifest destiny it."
"So it's official then, your pie is annexed into the United States of We Are Switching and it Now Belong's to Me." she leveled a mischievous glance at me and then added, "Enjoy the lemon."
I had never been so frustrated, attracted, annoyed and completely turned on in my entire life.
"Is this a habit for you? Wanting what other people have?"
"What's that?" she held her delicate fingers up to her ear, "I can't hear you over how delicious MY pie is."
I couldn't help it, I tried not to, but an enormous grin was etching its way up my body and oto my face, she was intoxicating.
We talked a little more about her aversion to feeling things for inanimate object's, both of us laughing a little to loud for the empty pie shop.
"What time is it?" Bella asked.
I glanced at my phone "2:20ish am" I answered.
"Seriously? How did it get that late?" she tucked some hair behind her ear "I better get going, I have an early date."
She got to her feet and piled up our plates, "A date?" I repeated slightly alarmed.
I watched her hand our dishes to a woman behind the counter and then she was in front of me picking up her bag.
I felt so let down, desolate even. I looked at her trying not to show my jealousy. "A date in the morning? That's unusual."
"Well we have to have it early, because she isn't in the same time zone."
"What?" I said confused as hell.
Bella laughed as I finally got to my feet.
"Angela. I have a skype date with my friend Angela. She lives in Cambodia right now."
"Cambodia?" I wondered out loud.
We moved for the door, and I pulled it open for her.
"Yeah she work's with an organization there to stop sex trafficking."
"That is sort of amazing." I breathed.
"It is. I'm pretty proud of her."
"And how do you know Angela, wait," I recalled that name from earlier "is this the same Angela who had a thing for River Phoenix and made you watch terrible movies?"
She let a small giggle escape. "Yep, that's the one."
I opened her car door and we repeated our actions from earlier, like clock work.
"So how do you know this crusader with terrible movie taste?" I asked her again smiling and angling my self towards her in the cab of the truck.
"From home." she said quietly. By her posture and tone I thought she would stop there but she went on glancing side long at me. "We went to high school together. She lived here in Seattle before she ran off to the other side of the world."
There was a sad smile on her face now.
"How long has she been there?" I asked gently.
"About seven months, she moved almost one moth after I moved here." She turned looking me in the eye unexpectedly.
"I'm sorry," I frowned "you two are close." I inferred.
It was rare in the time that I had spent with Bella so far that she'd been this candid, and although I could tell it was a tender topic I urged her greedily to continue.
"Yeah we are, we have been through a lot together." she stared straight ahead, her voice wavering a little. "She said I needed a change. She was the one who convinced me to move here."
I felt a surge of curiosity spake in me at why Bella would have needed a change, but his wasnt the time.
"Well then," I said slowly "I should thank her some time." and I meant it with all of my heart.
I could already feel Bella changing my life and the tought of never meeting her was frightening. I looked away from her suddenly embarrassed for my forwardness and inspected my hands. Shit! I thought, she is probably freaking out.
"I'm sure it's hard without her; I mean you must miss her, but..." I was stumbling over my words like a moron. "I mean," I tried to save my self, "It must be nice knowing she is helping with such a noble cause."
I turned my head to look out the window, rolling my eye's at my self.
"I miss her like crazy." Bella offered releasing the silent tension. "But your right, it is comforting to know she is there for a great reason."
I chanced a look at her. There was a certain, peaceful serenity on her face now and I self slightly relieved that I hadn't unintentionally made her sad.
"Hey" she turned to me quickly "Where is your car parked by the way?"
Holy hell. I had managed to forget she was taking me to my car. We were at the theater again and I could see her eye's searching, but the lot was empty. Shit. I couldn't keep this up. The guilt was gnawing at my gut.
"Um," I stammered "Yeah, do you know Odd Fellow's Cafe?"
"Yes." she smiled surprised. "That's where I got my tea tonight."
I know, I almost blurted but caught my self.
"My car is there."
She looked at me strangely more than a little confused.
Shit, here I go.
"Bella," I looked at her beseechingly "I have to confess something to you."
No. I couldn't look at her, I didn't want to see the fear and totally creeped out look that was about to be on her face.
"Shit, I feel like and idiot." I mumbled under my breath.
"Edward." Bella let out oddly. "Are you okay?"
"Um, yeah" I tried to smile, I was so nervous. "So please don't freak out." I plunged ahead. "I was at Odd Fellows tonight, eating, dinner, and I saw you. I tried to say hello, but you left so fast, so I went out after you, just to say hi, but then you got a call and I didn't want to interrupt you, and so I just ended up following you to the movie." this sounded really bad. "I'm sorry, I promise I'm not a stalker, although it probably sound like I am." I was talking way to fast and using my hands too much. I took a deep breath. "I promise I have never done anything remotely like this, and I feel awful for lying about it, I just felt so stupid, I didn't know what to do, I just..." I looked at her my heart racing. "I wanted to check on you." I lost my nerve. "You seemed up-set when you left the aquarium." Shit! that's not what I meant to say. I should have said, I like you, I want to be with you. But I couldn't.
There was a perplexed look on her face, and then, she laughed.
My eyebrows knit together, my thoughts in a complete disarray.
"Cullen," she grinned at me, "that's actually really nice."
This is not at all what her reaction should be.
"I mean, yes, it is borderline stalkerish and sort of creepy" she smiled and looked at the steering wheel. "But really," she paused "nice, thank you for caring."
Her voice was soft and there was gentleness stirring deep in her eye's, like the first time I had seen her.
"As long as we are confessing" she tucked some hair behind her ear and I wondered if that was a nervous habit for her. "I lied tonight too."
She looked at me quickly then went back to her hands on the wheel. I felt suddenly lighter knowing that she had hidden something too.
"I told you I was waiting for people, that they canceled on me last minute."
I nodded my head.
"That wasn't true. I was there by my self. I don't actually know anyone here really. I moved because of Ange, but then she left, and I work all the time and I" She was so small looking. "I just didn't want you to think I was some lonely pathetic person."
I wanted to pull her across the cab to me and show her that she would never have to be lonely again; I wanted to tell her that if she would let me I would never let her go.
She was lonely and I could see that now, we both were.
Cautiously I reached over to get her attention and gingerly placed my hand on the back of her head, and then let it trail down to her neck.
"Bella, you're not pathetic. You could never be pathetic." I half smiled at her and rubbed my fingers in her hair reassuringly.
We were both silent for a few moment and then I added "I work all the time too."
She closed her eye's and let out a breath; the strain I had physically felt in her slowly leaving her body.
"Your tired." I said easily.
I found my fingers trailing to the side of her head and pushing more of her hair behind her ear, so that I could see her face. She leaned into my touch, energy radiating through both of us. But then she looked towards me and opened her eye's, they were filled with conflicted emotion, and I decided to get my self out of there before I pushed one us to far.
"I'll let you go. I would hate for you to miss your date." I grinned at her my heart filled with admiration.
She had parked in front of the café, and I opened my door, cool air rushing at me.
"Edward," she called warmly. "Thank you for the pie, and for tonight. I had fun." she paused and then smirked, "I'm really glad you followed me."
I am too." I breathed affectionately.
I shut the door, and she started the engine. As I walked to my car anticipation wrapped me like a warm blanket, and I knew for sure now that she was feeling it too.
Something was happening between us.