Hello, I hope everyone is doing okay this weekend. I have finally had time, in almost two weeks to write, so yah! I am sorry for not updating sooner, but here it is now. Now this is Edward's POV for the last chapter. We get to figure out why he suddenly disappeared, and on my opinion, it's quite funny. I hope you enjoy it!!!
Music: Lips of an Angel- Hinder, CrushCrushCrush- Paramour, Carousel- Buckcherry, and Language Lessons- Hawthorne Heights.
The sun was shining through the passageways in-between the buildings of downtown Seattle. The sidewalks bustling with people, hands filled with bags. A young man passed me in an army uniform, you didn't see to many of those anymore, since teh war had just ended a few weeks ago. Other men in suits, looking important, walked into tall building with colleagues. I always enjoyed the sight of the town area, somehow, it relaxed me.
I was heading to the bookstore a few blocks away. Lately I was saving up money from my chores or duties for people in my neighborhood to buy books or records. It was my two passions or hobbies. I love to compose songs and hearing it from the vast collections of music I possess. My family had a small library in my house, a place I loved spending my days in.
I arrived at the small, brick building on Third Street. The small gold bell rang as I walked through the front door. Mr. Burnt was counting money in the register. I gave a small wave to him before I turned around- he too knew me far too well.
My feet skipped up the few stairs to my favorite section of books. The rows of mahogany bookcases lined the aisles and filled up most of the top floor. I took in a deep breath, letting the smell of old and new books fill my nose. It was my sanctuary.
My eyes searched for the row where I found the book I wanted. I had read it too many times to count, never quite understanding it, but that's why I kept reading it. I picked up my book that I wanted to continue to read.
There was an arrangement of chairs and conches on the other side of the store that I constantly sat at while reading. I grabbed the book and headed in the direction.
As I walked, I flipped open to the last page I left off from and started to read. It was extremely quiet here today, so I figure I had the store to myself, but when I rounded the corner I found the one person I had been desiring to see.
Isabella Swan was curled up in my favorite blue chair in the far corner, her back to me. I stopped dead in my tracks and a joyful, but nervous smile spread across my face.
I couldn't resist going to talk to her and I figured she hadn't heard me approach or she would have turned around. I could sneak up on her.
My feet silently tip-toed over to the chair. I leaned down to whisper in my dear Isabella's ear. She was relaxed on my favorite chair in the library, intently reading.
I whispered a barely audible hello in her left ear. My breath blew in her face and I got closer than I ever had, so close I could have buried my nose in her brown locks to inhale her delicious scent.
I heard her sharp intake of breath and I realized quickly that I startled her. Before my actions even registered to my thoughts, my hand flew to her mouth to smother the yelp I was sure would come.
But then what if she thought I was some murder come to kidnap her. I leaned into her ear once more to reassure her I meant no harm.
"It's just me. I didn't mean to startle you" I whispered in her ear. I automatically released her mouth, hoping to god that she didn't start screaming that a mass murder was stalking her.
Instead her head whipped around and I was met by her curious, wandering brown orbs. The one and only ones that seemed to haunt my mind these days, not that I minded a bit.
I smiled sweetly at her and settled on my knees behind her chair. I held on tightly to the back of the clothed chair and I felt the tiniest bit of her warm skin touching mine. I waited as she shifted considerably as she found a comfortable spot so she could see me. As she did, her scent wafted around me, intoxicating me.
It was then I realized our small distance from one another. Our faces barely apart, so little space I wanted to close and how quickly I could do it. To make contact with her luscious, full lips, which her sweet words fabricated from. But not here, not now! I told the improper raging thoughts in my head.
I automatically leaned away a little, trying to think of something more appropriate. She too, looked away from my face, her brown eyes wandering around the leather backs of the nearby books. The silence between us was… annoying. Did she not want to speak to me? I began to worry if she didn't find my visit as… an enjoyment, as I did.
"Hello, Edward," I finally muttered and then turned back around, her eyes following the small print from her books, held delicately in her hands.
I continued to watch her, studying her every feature, as I was so close. Then I noticed an inconspicuous smirk and a vivid blush scroll across her face. Without thinking of my actions, once more today, I brushed my index finger across her flushed cheek. Another red blush rushed across her cheeks, following my finger. I chuckled at her reaction to my touch.
"What are you reading?" I asked, highly interested, as I directed my thumb towards the flimsy book, that had seen better days, in her hands.
Instead of her voice answering me, she briefly held up the book cover, showing me the title. Then she quickly opened it back up and continued reading, although her eyes seemed to skim over the words. I seemed to be interrupting her. I replied with a simple word of knowing.
"What are you?" she asked, glancing over the back of the chair, searching for the title of mine.
"Wuthering Heights," I replied simply.
"I have read that," she nodded, her focus turned back to her closed book that rested in her twiddling hands. I saw her eyes glance towards mine every so often, trying to study my features, it seemed.
"Have you read yours more than once? I saw your tattered copy while I was visiting you the last few days." I remember her book that I had caught her reading several times from my recent visits.
"Yes, more than once. I believe it was about six times now. I read almost every night and in-between my home school lessons," her eyes flickered about her surroundings but never my face, particularly my eyes.
Mine followed hers, trying to find the something or someone that had caught her attention, but where I looked I found nothing. Then a movement in the window wavered in my right eye. Mine flashed to the window, where I groaned inaudibly.
Pressed up against the glass, as far as it would let her, was Jessica Stanley, the one and only. Her warm breath left a cloud on the glass as her eyes were hooked on mine. I couldn't even tell if she blinked once as I watched her in disbelief. What in the hell (pardon my French) was she doing her, watching Bella and I?
I rubbed my eyes, blinked repetitively, reopened and closed my eyes several times, thinking it was just my imagination. She had been flocking me lately, haunting my nightmares and my thoughts. Now she had apparently taken up stalking. This was unbelievable! Doesn't she give up? I rejected her more than once, nicely each time. But Jessica Stanley doesn't take a hint, never.
I was too busy thinking of the outrageous reasons she was here, intently watching me that I had forgotten that I hadn't responded to Bella. It brought me back to reality and I tried to form words from my mouth, but my eyes were still firmly planted on the Jessica smashed against the bookstore's glass window. They would need to clean that later.
"You must really enjoy it to read it so many times," I replied, trying to not sound so distant, which I was sure I didn't succeed with.
I saw her body shift towards me again from the corner of my eye, but I didn't try to focus back on her, reassuring her it was nothing. I was too shocked, this had gone too far. It was ridiculous. Jessica and Laruen… who knew that women could be so… persistent and annoying, dare I say.
As she caught my eye, she raised a small, tanned hand to the glass and waved at me cheerfully. Her hand flew excitedly on the glass as it added a few more smudge marks for the owner to clean. She smiled so big I thought that her lips might crack, but it only grew wider and may I say, a bit creepier. I had no intention of waving back at her; all I did was stare at her with the astonished expression.
"What about Wuthering Heights? Are you enjoying it?" she asked more loudly. I expected she had noticed my attention was focused on something other than her and like most, was trying to rain my attention back in to her, which is something I would like too do myself. Though, that is unexpectedly quite difficult when you know another woman's eyes are keenly on you, especially when you wish them not to be.
"Don't even get me started on this book," I muttered. I didn't mean for it to come out harshly, I just didn't want to start a three hour discussion on one of the most… interesting, is the best word I can think of at the moment. It is supposed to be a love story, but I prefer to call it a hate story. The characters are ghastly people who ruin each others' lives. I don't know how Heathcliff and Cathy ended up being ranked with couples like Romeo and Juliet or Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Like I said, it was one discussion that was best not to start if you wished to be else where within a few hours.
I shook my head, and then thought of something I had to do. Fist of all, I had to stop ignoring Bella, become more focused on her for a second and ignore the face fixed to the window. I would never forgive myself if I screwed this up. She was… beyond perfect.
Then I had to go remove the watching eyes plastered to the glass window and hopefully knock some sense into that thick, vulgar head of hers. This meant talking to the one person in the world that I detest most, although Lauren comes disturbingly close to her status.
I concentrated on putting myself back together, not to worry Bella and then turned back to her, giving her my full attention for a few seconds. "Oh… Isabella will you excuse me for one moment, please. I will return in a few, stay put, please," I begged. I hoped that she would stay long enough for me to explain.
Plus where Jessica lurked, so did Mike. And I had seen his eyes twinkling in her direction, even though she seemed oblivious.
"Of course," she mumbled. Her brow was furrowed with confusion and I could feel her eyes watching me carefully as I weaved swiftly through the tightly filled bookcases and out the door. I hoped that her view was blocked, but it was not guaranteed.
The minute I opened the door. She flung herself at me, wrapping her weak arms around my waist and landing her head hardly on my chest. As much as I tried to release her grip on me, it was useless; she held on tightly and ignored or just didn't notice my struggles.
Suddenly a horrified thought came to my mind, what if Bella saw. She would leave me in the dust and never trust me again, let alone speak to me.
"Jessica! Jessica, please let go!" I firmly pushed back her arms and held her back from me. She looked dejected. Good! I thought. I was done giving her nice little hints and excuses, she had gone too far. What would happen next, sneak in my window? Wait that already happened, last week. She had, continually, thrown rocks at my window for two and a half hours, before I told her to go home.
"Why? Don't you want to see me Eddie?" she asked with her, what she thought was cute, bad attempt of a puppy dog face. Her lip turned in a frown and her eyes drooped.
"Jessica, I don't know how to put this too you without… hurting you, but I have found someone and I don't want to screw this up. So, please refrain from the hugging and the… stalking. I have moved on and you should too. I know that you and Mike Newton," I sneered his name. That vile man was the last thing I wanted near Bella. "Used to be in a good direction. I think that you should stop following me, and find someone else that is… more suitable. Deal?"
"But… But, I really like you Eddie," she whimpered. I cringed as she used her nickname for me. I detested it.
"Well, I'm sorry, Jessica, but I'm afraid I don't return those same feelings. You make a lovely friend, but nothing more. Like I said, it is time you find a new man. Speaking of which, where is Newton? I am sure he would love to hear that you are extremely," I emphasized the word. "Free." I finished.
"Oh, I don't know. He said he saw something he liked in the book store or something. I was pretty sure he was looking at the new girl in town," she mumbled unhappily. She wouldn't look at me as she pretended to look at her nails, inspecting them thoroughly.
My stomach immediately dropped to the cement sidewalk. If he was in there, trying to butter up Bella, I don't know if I would be able to refrain from punching out his face. Violence was never something I preferred to do, but to Mike Newton, I would make exception.
"Jessica, I apologize again, but I must attend by to my lady. I hope you understand." I didn't wait for her to say that she did, like gentlemen would have. I fast-walked, half ran back through the door and through the towers of books back to where I had left Bella.
"I'm sure of it, Ms. Swan." I heard his voice through a few books shelves. Sure of what?
I stopped behind one, before it broke out into an opening, where Bella and Newton sat. I watched him with furious eyes as he moved, little-by-little, towards Bella.
"What do you say to dinner one night? I have connections with some of the most extravagant places around here. What do you say?" he leaned forward more and I too move farther up, my left foot ready to run to her rescue. But I waited for her answer.
I did find it hopeful that she seemed uninterested and obviously uncomfortable. Her muscles were tensed and her shoulders were hunched forward, as if she was protecting herself from his evil. I saw one hand curled into a tiny, but sure to be powerful fist on the chair, out of his view. I also noticed that as he leaned closer, she leaned farther away, pushing against the back of the chair as far as possible.
"I think I will have to decline your offer, Mr. Newton. I apologize, but I am… already… involved with someone special to me. I'm sorry," she stammered.
And at that moment my heart tightened and my breath stopped in a wild gasp. My throat seemed to close up at her words. Did she really think of me as so much already? I had the same feelings, maybe even stronger, but I didn't want to rush her, scare her. But maybe I underestimated her feelings towards me. Or is possible that she just made it up as an excuse to Newton, to get her out of dinner.
"Oh, come on, Bella. Pretty please. He wouldn't have to know. Please Bella," he begged her, in a sad and pathetic manner. But she kept repudiating him. It was time for me to step in, before he tried something that gave me a justified reason to hurt him.
"I believe she said no, Mike. Now please, scurry along to your dear Jessica, I do think that she is still pressed up against the glass on the window outside." I flicked my hand towards the window, noticing that, just as I had expected, she was still gazing in at our rumble.
"Why would I listen to you, Cullen," he sneered. "I was asking Bella to dinner, not you."
"And thank heaven for that, but if I heard right she declined your offer, so please excuse yourself before you make a fool of yourself." I admitted truthfully, trying my hardest to get his vile self away from Bella.
"Look, she is not with you, so I don't believe you have any right of what her decision is." He hissed at me. I was tried of putting up with him, and hitting him, breaking his nose, sounded like an extremely relieving idea at the moment. I inched closer to him, getting closer to him than Bella was. I tried placing her behind me, but she still sat frozen in the chair.
"To your displeasure, I am with her. I am the special someone she spoke of before, that is if you heard that with all the vile thoughts running through your head." I scoffed. I knew by the look on his face that he indeed was thinking such things. I didn't need to be a mind reader to know such.
"Bella, is that true?" Mike's hurt eyes turned back on hers and I could already see the resentment boiling inside.
"Yes, yes it is," she whispered under Mike's intense stare. She swiftly stood and walked to my side, intertwining her small, warm hands with mine. I felt a slight tub on my hand, and I assumed it was her singling she wanted to go. I granted her wish happily.
I gave one more deathly stare to him, warning him with my eyes if he ever tried such an act again, it would not turn out pleasantly. I walked silently beside her, not taking the chance to speak till we were out side. I pushed her somewhat in front of me, blocking Mike's view of her and snaked my right arm around her waist as we continued to walk He was claiming his territory, he was claiming me.
I took her out the back door, trying to avoid Jessica as she came flooding through the door, and skipping joyfully over to Mike, who was still watching Bella with angry eyes.
I looked over at her and found that she seemed to be in deep thought and as I watched, as smile of relief spread across her face.
Was it because she was free of Mike? Maybe because I had rescued her? Or because I had claimed her as mine?
So what did you think? Did you expect it to be Jessica? Now we have to three more Twilight people in here. Who will come next? Probably no one. I think having Mike, Jessica, and Lauren is enough to drive you crazy. But Angela may appear. Not sure. Thank you for all your wonderful review and for listening to me ramble. LOL!