I want to thank everyone for the support! I'm real glad you like my story and will try to make you happy with this chapter. I am not sure what direction I want things to go. Please review if you have advice, if you love it, or if you hate it (I hope you don't hate it).
Disclaimer: SM created Twilight and the characters.
Chapter 9
B POV
I went to bed Friday night blissfully happy. I quickly flipped through my wardrobe, wondering what I should wear on a date with a vampire. I decide that can wait, sleep is definitely more important. Edward Cullen likes me! He kissed me! I had great dreams, all involving the two of us.
Saturday morning after I woke up, I wondered if I should have told the Cullens anything at all. Mother was always very serious about keeping our abilities a secret. I took a walk in the woods, to try and make up my mind, figure out if I did the right thing. After a few minutes of walking, I sat down on a fallen tree near a clearing.
Sitting there, I started to think about my options. First, I healed Angela in a public place, a very foolish thing to do. Alice is very observant, and of course she would have noticed what I did is abnormal. Second, she seemed to realize there was something wrong, and had all of her family waiting for me. Third, I wanted them to know. Well, I wanted Edward and Alice to know, it was like I could trust them more than anyone else in Forks.
I sat there for a while, finally deciding that I would have told Edward or Alice eventually. So it is best if I told the whole family, they seem like they are close enough to never keep secrets from each other. I moved on to the news they gave me. Vampires? Can that be possible? I have no idea if I believed them at first, but I did what they said. When I mentioned a knife the whole room froze for a second, so I guess they must be. Alice and Edward's explanations seemed to make sense, and it fits with what I saw in my pond that day. How else could two teenagers survive taunting a mother Grizzly bear, without a scratch?
Hours later, I decided that no matter what Edward and his family are, it does not matter. They are not normal, and neither am I. We both are special, and I think I always knew that. When I healed Edward's bloodlust, the heat startled me. I suppose that has something to do with the way 'thirst' feels to a vampire.
Edward wants to date me! My life can end now and I will be happy. No, that is a lie, I would regret not kissing Edward ever again if I died, but the knowledge that he cares for me makes me so joyful. He seemed so happy when I agreed to go out with him, there is no way anyone could fake that elation. His whole face changed, he became softer, like a new side of him was being revealed. I have no idea what we are going to be doing on our date, the witch and the vampire. Maybe we will ransack the village, torture the poor innocent townsfolk? I tried to drop a hint with the 'nice restaurant' bit, but I don't know if Edward caught it. I really wish I would have gotten his number and feel like a fool for not asking.
I spent most of Sunday studying Physics, we have a test Monday and I really don't understand this topic. Maybe I would have a chance if Edward wouldn't distract me constantly with his good looks and crooked grins.
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It is Monday morning and I am getting ready for school. I put on a nice blue blouse and khaki pants, hoping Edward likes it. Odd, I have NEVER dressed specifically for a guy before. Not even in ninth grade when I had a huge crush on the football quarterback. I guess I really must be falling for Edward. I hurry through my breakfast and grab my thick parka it looks like it might snow today.
I grab my Physics book for some last minute studying, hoping that I can focus today during the test. I study for a bit too long and when I look up, it is almost 8 o'clock. I rush to my truck, hoping I won't be late.
I pull into the lot in the last available space, beside Edward's Volvo. I run to English and pray Mr. Mason isn't early this morning. He normally shows up two or three minutes after the bell, allowing us time to talk. I slip in the door right in front of him, blushing. Alice looks giddy, smiling from ear to ear. I sit down, bracing for the bombardment of questions I know are waiting me.
"Bella!! A date with Edward, how lucky!" Alice whispers, almost bouncing in her seat.
"I know! He is so amazing. I cannot believe my luck." I whisper back, placing my notebook on my desk like I always do, even if I rarely take any notes.
"So, you like him?" Alice gossips, like a normal teenager. It seems odd, now that I know what she is, to see her doing an ordinary human act like this.
"Of course I do. I wouldn't have let him take me home if I didn't." I blush, remembering what happened when he brought me home.
"He kissed you?" She shrilly whispers, hyper. I don't know if the question is: did he kiss me, or did I like that he kissed me.
"Yes, it was great. I cannot believe my luck. It's like a dream and I will have to wake up eventually." I confide, glad that I can talk to her about it. I was hoping I could because I definitely didn't want to tell Jessica. I don't know anyone else well enough to confide in them about kissing or crushes (if that is what this is).
"So sweet! You will tell me details, keep me posted, right? Edward is a bit of a prude, or gentleman as he calls it, refusing to comment other than you agreed on a date."
"Yes, Alice, I will tell you everything. He took me home and kissed me. It was amazing. Then he came in and I had dinner while we talked. He asked me out. I said yes. He kissed me again. My heart nearly stopped with joy. He left, and I dreamt about him all night long." I tell Alice in a rush, blushing deeply when I admit to dreaming about Edward.
"Aww, I think you two are destiny, the way you get when you talk about him proves it." Alice comments and she looks out the window, eyes unfocused for a second. "I know you two are good for each other. You've made him so happy already."
"Thanks Alice. I think he makes me happy too, but it is early to tell." I admit. Why do I always say what I am feeling around this family? It's like they make me want to be completely honest all the time.
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As Jessica and I walk to lunch from Spanish, we chat about our weekends. I completely forgot that there was a dance this weekend, and Jessica had a great time, with Mike. Apparently he asked her after I turned him down. I don't think she knows he asked me, because she asked me if no one wanted to go with me.
"No, Jessica, I just had too much to do with the house. It is hard to take care of a house by yourself." I lie to her. I hadn't done any housework over the weekend, but I really must do that soon, or else stuff is bound to fall apart.
"Oh. If you ever need help with that, I am sure we could get a group together and all do something. Or we could hire someone?" Jessica offers, paying for her food as we head to the table.
"Thanks Jess. I'll remember that if I ever need anything." I tell her, Angela is behind us, "Angela, how is your wrist?" I ask sitting at our table.
"It's perfectly fine, Bella. You must really know what you are doing. When I told the doctor how I hurt myself, he was surprised I didn't break anything." She replies, looking grateful.
"No problem. Like I said Friday, Mother taught me some things at home." I lie, looking over to the Cullens table, eager to see Edward again.
As I make eye contact with Edward, he wiggles a finger to me, indicating that he wants me to come over.
Jessica didn't miss this detail. "Does he want YOU?" She demands.
"I suppose. We have a Physics test next hour, I guess he wants last minute study tips." I lie, instantly heading over to his table. It is hard to hide the grin on my face. As I sit down beside him at the small round table with Jasper and Alice, I feel all eyes of the student body on me.
"Hello." I say, blushing deeply.
"This is nice, isn't it?" Edward says, taking my hand.
"Very nice. I missed you this weekend." I reveal.
"I missed you too." Edward replies, smiling that crooked grin.
"Why did you call me over here?" I ask, nibbling at my pizza. I am really glad to be sitting next to Edward, no matter the reason. Unless he is going to tell me the date is off. I don't think I can let him do that. Alice would probably force us to go out, the way she was in English this morning…
"Because I wanted to be near to you." Edward informs me, rubbing circles into my hand with his thumb.
"AND we have a date to plan." Alice jumps in, toying with her drink.
"WE?" Edward questions looking harshly at Alice who stops smiling almost at once.
"Yes, you didn't think you could do this without my help, did you?" She replies.
"I was planning on this being a bit of a surprise, if you don't mind." Edward tensely tells his sister.
"Either way, I need to know what to wear. I was recently informed on how essential the correct outfit is to any date." I glance at Alice, "Please tell me something about OUR date. Alice doesn't need to help plan, but she should at least hear the plans." I add, hoping to please both people. Jasper looks bored sitting beside Alice. He clearly is a typical guy, not bothered with dates and fashion.
"When you put it that way, how can I deny you, my Bella?" Edward tells me, looking into my eyes so adoringly.
"So? What are we doing? Where do you plan on taking me?" I ask, loosing myself in his gorgeous eyes.
"I said I want it to be a surprise, but wear something nice, not too formal." Edward kisses the hand he is holding and I practically hyperventilate from the joy.
Where is he taking me? A fancy restaurant? "I love surprises Edward."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, dear." He tells me, kissing my hand once more. "You should probably eat more, humans tend to need more than two nibbles of pizza for a meal." Edward whispers, letting my hand go to carefully tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
"I am glad you care so much about my diet." I reply, loving the way he touches me so delicately.
The conversation turns to Jasper and his history project. He is in the Honors History class, they have a special project about American Wars, or something. I enjoy just listening to them talk, being in their company. It is so different sitting with the Cullens compared to Jessica and her friends. Not once was a gossipy rumor mentioned, nor hair dye. I don't know why I sat with her every day, we are so different.
"Ready for this test?" Edward asks as we walk to Physics.
"I hope so. It was real hard to pay attention in class. Some guy I'm crazy about kept distracting me from the lesson." I laugh.
"Oh, who could distract you from Physics? This subject is gravitating," Edward says with a smile, pulling out my chair for me before sitting down himself.
"Only the guy who is taking me out tonight," I answer, smiling back, forcing myself to get out my notes for a quick cram session.
"You must be busy, with two dates tonight."
"Silly, I was talking about you." I say, quickly touching the tip of his nose before I force my eyes back to my notes. Focus! You need to study, Bella. The answers aren't written on Edwards face. Edwards face….FOCUS! What is that third law again?
"I know, Bella, I know." He chuckles and from the corner of my eye I see him touch his nose precisely where my finger did.
FOCUS! Newton's laws of motion! Gravity, force, mass, acceleration!
"Attention class. Today I will need everyone to clear their desks; placing notebooks closed and out of sight. Calculators will be available on my desk, if you do not have your own. Pencils out!" Ms. Thomson instructs.
Damn, I forgot a calculator! I start to get up, but Edward chuckles and holds out his hand, with a calculator.
"I can't take yours, it will look suspicious," I whisper.
"I have another one. Alice gave me hers when she saw your face in English," He whispers back and I notice a second one in front of him.
I start the test, feeling confident. I breezed through most of the questions this is far easier than I feared. There are only a few that I am not sure of, but it is only one test, I still feel good about it.
"Bella, I will be at your house at 6 o'clock. I hope that you can be ready by then?" Edward asks as we walk out of the classroom together.
"Yes, I will be ready at six." I tell him, I would have agreed to pretty much anything he said.
"If you could, wear something that lovely blue color." Edward adds, leaving me at the locker room door.
I just manage a quick nod, my mind so scattered that I cannot form words.
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It is almost six and I don't know if I am ready or not. I tried on pretty much everything I own, not satisfied with anything. I am wearing the blue blouse from school with a pair of black slacks Alice bought me. I tried to fix my wild hair, and it is now in a neat bun at the nape of my neck. I decided to put on a bit of makeup, something I don't normally bother with. The mascara looks a bit odd, and I debate whether or not to take it off. There is a knock on my door, causing me to jump. I quickly put on the black heels, also from Alice, and rush to the door.
"You look stunning." Edward tells me as I open the door.
"What, no hello? You look as perfect as ever, Edward." I say, blushing deeply as I smile at him.
"Hello, I thought that was enough of a greeting," He apologizes.
"No need to apologize. I understand. Let me grab my purse and we can go." I tell him, turning from the doorway. I grab my purse from the end table by the couch and as I turn, I bump into Edward's solid body. "Oh!" I manage to utter in surprise before his lips are on mine.
The kiss is powerful, but short. "I have been dying to do that all day." Edward enlightens me, releasing me from his hold. "Are you ready to go?"
I try to reel my thoughts in, and after a few moments I can compose a response, "Of course."
He leads me to his car, opening the door for me. By the time I am seated, he is sitting beside me.
"How do you do that?" I ask as we drive away.
"What? I am myself around you Bella, I feel like I can trust you. Vampires can run impossibly fast, remember?" He reminds me.
"Right. Sorry, there was so much new information on Friday I guess I forgot that detail. So, will you tell me now where we are going?"
"Not a chance. I want you to be truly surprised when you see the destination."
"Destination? We aren't flying anywhere are we? We have school tomorrow!" I warn, worried all of a sudden.
"No, silly, we are not going to fly, I meant that I want the place we are going to be a secret." Edward apologizes again, his hand finding mine in my lap and rubbing circles into the palm once again. "Here we are, the finest dining in the area." Edward walks at a human pace to open my door this time, as there are other people around now. I hardly realized that we had stopped, or even that we were driving.
We walk in and Edward whispers to the hostess about our reservations, I assume. I follow her to a booth near the back of the restaurant, in a somewhat private corner.
"Edward, this is amazing." I tell him as I sit down and look at the menu.
"Order whatever you want. Tonight is all about you, my Bella." Edward says, the soft, tender tone back in his voice. I love it when he calls me 'my Bella'. How my heart soars when he says that.
"Thank you Edward, I really am glad you asked me out. I don't know if I would have had the courage to ask you."
The waitress shows up and asks for our drinks and I order a Coke and Edward does the same. She returns a minute later with the sodas and takes our order. I ask for the mushroom ravioli and Edward declines any food. When the waitress returns, the food smells delicious, nearly as good as Edward.
Lost in a daze, I nearly grab the wrong end of my knife and cut my hand, "Bella! Be careful," Edward warns.
Blushing, I grab the correct end of the knife, "Thanks Edward, you are a lifesaver." I tell him. He might not thirst for me now, but let's not test fresh blood in the air.
"No, Bella, you saved my life." Edward replies in a serious tone.
"What?" I murmur as quietly as possible, sensing a serious topic coming up.
"I don't think I have ever felt this alive." He tells me, and then lowers his voice too, "even when I was human."
"I am flattered, honestly, that means a lot to me." I whisper, feeling extremely happy about this confession. I make Edward Cullen feel alive.
We sit in silence for a few minutes, smiling at each other like two fools. After a bit of time, the waitress returns.
"Everything alright?" She asks, looking at my plate of practically untouched ravioli.
"Yes, everything is wonderful," I mutter.
"Changed your mind, sir?" She asks Edward, and again he shakes his head.
"Are you hungry, or thirsty, at all?" I ask after she walks away.
"No, you seemed to have taken it away for good. I just wonder, will we get weak without the blood and that will make us thirsty?" Edward muses, lost in thought for a minute.
"Time will tell." I offer, not sure about this at all. "Tell me more about what it's like, being a vampire."
"It is dreadful, boring. Unless there is someone in your life who makes it worth living forever with. Then it is fascinating, absolutely wonderful." Edward informs me, smiling again.
"So I make it worthwhile?" I ask, smiling too.
"Yes, you definitely make it worth it. If I died in 1918, like I would have if Carlisle didn't change me, I would have never experienced such amazing emotions."
"1918?" I choke out.
"Oh, yes. I was born human in 1901, in Chicago. I was dying of the Spanish Influenza when Carlisle found me and saved me."
"You are over a hundred years old?" I ask, not believing my ears.
"Yes, but physically 17." Edward stresses, looking worried.
"So you stay the age you are when you are changed?" I ask.
"We are frozen in the state we are when we are bitten, yes. I will be 17 forever."
"How old is Carlisle?" I ask, trying to straighten things out in my head.
"He is 23, physically. He was changed in the 1660's. Carlisle is over 350 years old. The rest of us are much younger, mostly around 100." Edward tells me, trying to soothe me.
"Okay, give me a minute." I tell him and shoot up the wall. I needed to think this over in relative solitude, so I close my eyes as well. Edward is 108. He likes me. A lot. I like him. A lot. Age, ain't nothing but a number, after all. We care about each other, I don't see how his age changes anything, if I can be fine with him being a vampire, age should not be a problem.
"Bella, are you alright?" I hear Edward ask after a minute or so.
"Yes, Edward, everything is alright." I tell him with a smile as I open my eyes and my mind once again there are a few more questions you need to answer though, mister.
Edward smiles and I cannot tell what he is smiling about, what I said or what I thought.
"I have a question. I think I know the answer, but I still need to hear it from you." I start, nervous once again.
"Yes, Bella, I can read minds. No will you answer one of my questions?" Edward tells me, and I am relieved.
"What? What else is there to know about me?" I ask.
"Can you block me from your mind?" He asks, nervous and anxious for once.
"Yes. My aunt, the one that reads minds and can force you into doing what she wishes, is sort of vicious. I found that if I tried hard, I could keep her from reading my mind or willing me to do something. When I am nervous or threatened, it's an instant response now. Why?"
"You are the only person I have ever encountered that could keep me out of their mind. Could all your family do this?" He asks, taking my hand across the table.
"No, Mother couldn't do it, and I do not know if any of the others could, I was never close to them." I reveal, saddening at the memory of Mother.
"Sorry Bella, I did not intend to make you sad. I was just curious. How insensitive of me," Edward apologizes again, tightening the hold on my hand.
"Stop apologizing. I understand. Really, I do." I rub his hand. "This has been a wonderful date. I enjoyed everything."
"I am glad you are enjoying this. I am having a great time with you. Honestly, we could be sitting on the couch and watching re-runs on TV and I would be having a great time." Edward tells me.
Then why don't we do THAT next time? I think, leading me to other thoughts of what can be done on a couch…
"Next time?" Edward asks, grinning very broadly, I obviously made him happy somewhere in my train of thought.
"All of that makes me happy, Bella. You and I are together in those thoughts, and that is all I need to be happy." He confesses, smiling wider still, and he takes my other hand in his, holding them both atop the table.
"I am glad you like the way I think, Mr. Cullen." I tell him, squeezing his hands, never wanting to let go.
The waitress gives Edward the bill and he pays before we leave, walking hand-in-hand out to his car.
What a perfect first date! He drives me home and we exchange numbers (finally!). He kisses me goodnight before driving away in the shiny Volvo.
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Sorry the chapter is so long, I just didn't want to stop writing. I had a much longer draft, but I had to cut things out. I hope you like this chapter as much as I do.
Review!