Hey Everyone!
Sorry for the long time no update the reason: 1) got screwed by my exams 2) my ex-best friends are douches and 3) I had EPIC WRITERS BLOCK!
I finally got the drive to update when I got a random review from someone saying they missed the story. I'll try not to leave to long between updates again!
Except maybe over christmas when I'm in INDIA!
Without further ado, on to the story!
Chapter 10 - Sunday Afternoon
Las Vegas is...busy.
There's lots of people, movement and lights, even in the middle of the day. It's loud. I can hear the hustle and bustle even through my closed window. It's so vastly different from my little corner of Phoenix, that for the first time I feel like the bubble I've put myself in my whole life, the shelter I've built for myself, is a bad thing. Nothing could have prepared me for this.
I'm trying not to freak out. I really am trying. Edward's helping a little. He has to focus mostly on the traffic, which seems even busier and scarier than Phoenix, but his hand has not left mine and his thumb continues to draw patterns on my skin. The ride up from Blyth was quick and quiet, only taking a couple of hours. Now it's just after lunch, the peak heat of the day. I'm thankful for the airconditioning in the car. We chatted a bit on the way, about nothing and everything at the same time. Stuff that seems so inconsequential, but is more than anyone has ever wanted to know about me ever. It's deeper than what we talked about at the coffee shop too. He wants to know me more than anything, and I'm more comfortable sharing now. Because he loves me. And I love him.
Since we've gotten to Las Vegas it's been quiet in the car. Now I'm taking in the people everywhere, flooding and flowing through the streets in a wave of flesh and noise.
"Bella?"
I tear my eyes away from a street musician on the sidewalk, furiously strumming his guitar, mouth wide open as he sings. Edward's looking at me as we pull up to a red light.
"I want you to pick out a hotel. OK?" He smiles at me reassuringly, and I nod my head. I can do that. Pick a hotel. There's so many as we drive down. I just have to decide on one.
If only it were that easy.
As we drive down the strip I take my job seriously, looking from side to side and studying each one as we pass. There's every kind imaginable, each one spectacular in their own way. We pass one that has a giant pirate ship in front of it, with scantily clad pirate woman galavanting around on the deck and in the riggings. Edward says it's call Treasure Island. The thought of pirates both thrills, and scares me.
"Not that one."
Edward simply nods and we move on.
There's a circus hotel, an Eiffel tower hotel and so many others, each large and oppressive with sprawling, multi story buildings. The height of the skyscrapers scares me a bit. We pass one tall, square one that has a lake out the front or it, the name of the hotel spelt out in curvy writing on the side of the building. The Bellagio. Before I know it, we're at the end of the strip, past the hotel in the shape of a Pyramid that gives me the shivers. I don't like triangles. We begin to head into a suburban area, so Edward turns around in a side street to head back the way we came.
"I can't decide." I explain.
"Take your time, there's no hurry."
I nod and continue to study each place as we go back the way we came. The places all look the same as on the way down. Except for one.
I must of missed it. It sits directly across from Treasure Island, so I was probably just distracted by the swashbuckling women at the time. It's a magnificent building, low lying but beautifully decorated. It's seems european in style, with columns out front and filigrees around the windows and doors. There's magnificent statues out front, and the building stretches out in two wings on either side of the central domed building.
"That one."
Edward gives me a blinding smile, then flicks on his indicator to pull into the hotel. As we drive up to the front door where smartly dressed valet drivers stand in wait, I see the name of the hotel written in proud gold lettering on the building.
The Venetian.
The inside of The Venetian is even more elaborate that the outside. Everything seems to be touched with gold, from the chairs to the walls to the front desk. I can't help but stop and gaze at the ceiling. A magnificent painting spans the entire roof, depicting a pale blue sky with noble, detailed angels sitting on fluffy white clouds. It's amazing.
I feel Edward's arm wrap around me, his warm body pressed up close to me. Switch my gaze from the ceiling to his face, both of us wearing matching grins.
"Wow" I sound kind of dazed, and I guess I am in a way. I never thought I would ever see anything like this in my life. Everythings so surreal, and if I didn't have Edward standing right next to me, I would have sworn I was dreaming.
"It gets better. I promise."
We make our way to the counter, and for the first time I study the people in the lobby with us. Most people I see are tourists wearing shorts and tank tops to cope with the flaming heat of the desert, camera hanging from their necks and maps clutched in sweaty hands.
There are other people I notice too. These people are dressed differently. The women wear dresses, or skirts and nice tops. Most are in tall, towering heels, and having glittering jewelry and makeup that gives them dark eyes and bright lips. They look to me like cartoon characters, all bold and accentuated. The men either dress in fancy, pressed shorts and polo's, or even more formally in dress pants and business shirts, like Edward.
We reach the counter and Edward starts talking to the lady. I'm glad I don't have to talk to her. With nothing to do, I keep looking around the lobby. That's when I see them.
There are two girls, Women. They're at the counter next to us being served by the different person. They look older than me, probably around Edward's age or older, and they are part of the second group of people in the lobby, the group with fancy, expensive looking clothing and miles of makeup. One is wearing a green wrap dress and black high heels, the other in strappy top with gaudy jewels on it, with floaty white pants and heels as well. Their identical blonde hair and orange tinged skin makes it hard for me to distinguish where one stops and the other starts. And worst of all, their red lipstick and blinding white teeth reminds me of the scary clowns from childhood.
However, what I notice about them most is that they're looking at me.
Well, that's not exactly true. They're looking at both of us. Me and Edward. While the worker is busy on the computer they lean towards each other, talking too quiet for me to hear. I have a feeling I wouldn't want to hear them anyway. I can't help but stare at them. I'm used to people talking about me in public, so I usually just ignore it. But this is different. They look at Edward and smile weirdly, smirking. Then they look at me and their expressions change. Their noses wrinkle, they sneer at me. One of them studies me from head to toe, the displeasure on her face obvious, and then turns but to her friend to whisper.
"Bella?"
I turn away from them and back to Edward, feeling upset. I don't like how those women looked at me, how they made me feel. They judged me by how I look, by my clothes. It makes me feel unworthy of Edward.
I hear them laugh behind me, and Edwards head shoots up to stare at them. Immediately his expression turns stony, and her seems to get angry. The laughter stops. Edward gently untangles our hands, making me panic for a second. I calm down again when he wraps his arm around me firmly, pulling me close to his side.
"Come on, Bella. Our room is ready." I rest my head on his chest and nod. I let him lead me away, not even looking back at the women. I don't like them treating me that way, and it's clear Edward doesn't either. I know where I belong, and that's right here in his arms.
We leave the lobby and enter the main building of the hotel. For a confusing second it seems like we're outside, but then I realise that the room we've stepped into has ceilings painted like a summers day, light blue with puffs of clouds. There's lots of store fronts made to look like the outside as well, with cobbled pathways and plants growing under the windows. However, there was something even more amazing.
"There's a river inside!" I exclaimed in excitement.
The river flows through the middle of the room. It's big, big enough for boat to float on it. Some boats have people in them, and each one has someone standing at the back in a striped t-shirt, holding a large stick.
I look up at Edward to see him smiling at me, all traces of his previous anger gone. I can't help but laugh as I look back at the amazing sight.
"Welcome to Venice, my Bella." I looked at him, confused.
"But we're not in Italy." Edward smiles.
"The Venetian is made to look like Venice. Come on." He leads me down some steps to a platform next to the river where a boat is waiting for us, or 'Gondola' as the sign says. Edward jumps in first and helps me in, his firm grasp keeping me from falling. Once inside we settle on a bench seat and he drags me into his arms. I snuggle closer, and we push off as soon as the hotel workers stash our bags on the back of our Gondola.
As we float gently, we look at the shops as we pass. Cafes, clothing stores, they have everything in this indoor street. Every now and then we pass under an arched bridge that goes from one side to the other, people wandering back and forth. The man at the back steers with his long stick. I love it. I love it all.
"Look at that shop there." Edward whispers in my ear, his chest moving against my back gently. I look where he's pointing to see a shop with large glass windows and bright lights. Above it read's Tiffany & Co.
I look back at him and smile, a little bashfully.
"Really?" Edward nods and I lean up and press my lips to his. It makes my heart stop, the feeling of his lips on mine. I hope it never changes. I never want to lose this feeling.
But I still can't shake old habits.
"Are you sure?" I want to kick myself when I see his smile disappear.
"Stop saying that Bella. I love you and I want to marry you. Please believe me."
I can't answer him. I believe him, but it's still so hard for me to understand.
I stay silent, turning to watch the shops and the people as we pass by. The sound of the water and the rocking of the boat is so relaxing, and I abandon my thoughts and snuggle into Edward. He's basically encasing me at this point, his arms wrapped around me firmly, my back to his chest. My eyes close and I drift in this safe, comforting feeling, letting it flow through me. I've gotten better at handling my emotions, at listening to them instead of pushing them away and locking them up. It might be because I've been having so many good emotions lately that it's easier for me to experience them than before.
I jump slightly as the boat bumps something. We've pulled into another dock and more hotel workers are waiting to carry our bags and help us out. Once we're on land again Edward grabs my hand.
"Our room's this way" he says, leading me down a hallway. After traversing the whole corridor, we finally come to the door at the end. One of the workers opens the door for us and takes our bags in, while the other turns to us.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cullen. Welcome to the Venetian Romance suit. Please enjoy your stay."
Holy...cow.
It's amazing.
The room looks like something out of a fairytale. We walk into a sitting room with plush couches, antique looking floral wallpaper and beautiful satin drapes. The only modern accessory is the television and sound system. I can see a kitchen through the door a the far end to the right. I turn away from there for now and go to the left.
To the bedroom.
All I can focus on is the bed. The king-sized, canopied, covered-in-a-hundred-cushions bed.
I want to live in it...with Edward of course.
I flip my shoes and socks off and dig my toes into the plush carpet. Looking back at Edward who's waiting patiently behind me, I give him a smirk, before running and dive bombing onto the bed. Cushions fly everywhere, and the duvet billows out around me. Laughter bubbles from me and before I know it I'm in a fit of giggles. Edward is laughing with me from across the room and I look up at him.
"What are you waiting for?" I pat the mattress next to me. Edward grins and kicks off his shoes before jumping on next to me. The mattress bounces, sending me rolling on top of Edward.
Neither of us are complaining.
We don't stay in the room for long. Before I know it Edward is dragging me off the bed (and away from his delicious lips) to head back to the inside-outside street. I follow along happily, my hand and my heart in his hands.
We walk this time, instead of taking a Gondola. Before long we're back to the shop Edward pointed out on our way. I can see inside the windows now, all the sparkling rings, necklaces and bracelets glinting in the light. I'm stuck in place, mesmerised, but Edward drags me inside instead.
It's very fancy in here. It's very modern, contrasting with the outside, and the people are all dressed in suits. It makes me a bit nervous. I stick close to Edward now, trying not to show how intimidated I feel.
It doesn't last for long. Edward drags me to the first display case. I'm soon caught up in all the sparkling rings, my wonder and awe overshadowing my discomfort from earlier. An overeager shop assisting makes her way over and although she makes me a bit uncomfortable, she does try her best to help.
"Would you like to look at the diamonds?" she asks, the smile stretched wide, leading us to a specific display case.
One look at the case full of perfect, white, shimmering Diamonds and I freeze, shaking my head.
...pulling out a tissue from her pocket and wiping bright red smears of blood off her pristine diamond...
"No, no diamonds."
Edwards at my side in an instant. I looking up at him, pleading.
"Mother had a diamond ring." My hand comes up to cup my cheek, feeling the small thin line across my bruised check. I've been avoiding mirrors. Edward grabs my hand from my face, interlacing our fingers.
"No diamonds." He places a quick kiss on my cheek before turning back to the assistant.
"What else do you have?" The request sends her into a flurry of activity. Ring after ring is paraded in front of me, in a rainbow of different colours, shapes, cut, styles...after a while I just shake my head as soon as I see them, not even bothering to really study them. Until finally...
"Wait!"
The lady freezes, her hand in mid air, a ring in her hand. She hands it to me and I stare at it.
It's perfect.
A square stone, so square and perfect that I want to jump around. There's three small diamonds on either side, but they're overshadowed by the Emerald. It so square, not too big, and the color almost exactly matches Edwards eyes. I love it.
"This one." I still can't look away from it. Edward is talking to the assistant in the background, and moves towards the cash register. I'm broken from my staring when he comes back to me. He takes the ring from my grasp and gently slides it on the ring finger on my left hand.
"I hope it always stays there." He kisses the ring gently, looking me in the eyes. I answer truthfully.
"Me too."
And we're off again.
Edward seems to know where he's taking me. I have no idea. I just tag along, completely preoccupied with taking in everything around me. There isn't too many people, luckily. I'm still not used to crowds...or any sort of people at all. Then Edward comes to a stop.
In front of a wedding dress shop.
We stand there, staring at the shop for a moment. I'm scared. I don't want to do this by myself. I know that usually the groom doesn't see the dress before the wedding, that the bride usually chooses with her bridesmaids, but I don't have those. I want Edward.
"You have to help me." My voice is strong and certain. "I can't do this without you."
"Together," he answers.
I nod and hold his hand tighter. "Together."
Dress shopping takes longer than ring shopping, but we find it eventually. After passing off dozens of dresses, and trying on a handful that I immediately decline, we find my dress. It was hiding in the back, but as soon as Edward pulls it out I know it's the one. I walk out of the changing room, the white fabric bunched and draped artfully around me, falling to the floor in a full skirt, anchored to my shoulders by delicate straps. It's beautiful but simple, and makes me feel like a princess in a fairytale. Edward immediately scoops me up and spins me around, my dress fanning out behind me. While I was in the changing room Edward has changed into a tux. Together, we're finally ready.
When I see myself in the mirror, I'm different. I don't see the small, mousy, nervous girl that I've been most of my life. I don't see the small white bandage on my arm, or the fading yellowish bruises on my face with angry red scratch across my cheek. Instead I see me and Edward together; strong, confident and happy.
I see where I belong.
Thanks guys, the next chapter's important.
Goodnight!