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Bella
"What's this, Bella?" Daisy asks.
"It's mascara, sweetie. Ladies put it on their eyelashes to make them look longer."
"Can I have some?"
"No, it's only for grown up ladies."
"How old you got to be?"
"Much older."
"Why you putting 'scara on, Bella?"
"Well, as your going out with your Grandma tonight, I'm going to go out with one of my friends."
"What's her name?" I sign in exasperation and turn to face her.
"Daisy, sweetheart, what's with all the questions? Why aren't you getting ready? Do you not like the dress that I've laid out for you?"
"It's a pretty dress. Nanna got it for me."
"Ok, so go put it on then. Your Grandma Didyme will be here soon."
"Fine." She slams the mascara down and stomps towards the door.
"Daisy, you stop right there young lady!" I turn to glare in her direction as she stops dead in her tracks. "Look at me."
She slowly turns around, flicking her hair and putting her little hands on her hips, before meeting my gaze.
"Yes, Bella. What do you want?" Her sarcastic tone is not lost on me.
"Please don't speak to me like that, Daisy. I haven't done anything to you and I don't deserve this attitude." A slight blush covers her cheeks and she looks suitably reproached. "Now, do you want to tell me what's going on here?"
Her hands drop from her hips one by one, hanging limp by her sides, and our stare is broken, as her head drops down and her hair falls around her face like heavy curtains.
The sounds of her sniffing fill the room and she starts furiously swiping at her eyes. I'm across the room in less than a heartbeat to reach her.
"Come on, now, baby. There's no need to be sad. Tell me what's going on? I'm sure that whatever's wrong isn't worth these tears." I scope her up on to my lap and gently run my fingers through her hair, as I remember Edward doing when he picked her up from my house the day she got lost.
"I'm sorry, Bella. I was rude and I didn't mean it. It was an accident and I love you." She looks up and grabs my face with her chubby, little hands, "are you gonna leave now? Please don't leave me." Her bright green orbs are focused on me, and I can see the fear in her eyes.
"Hush now, I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going anywhere." My words seem to wash over her bringing with them a wave of comfort and reassurance, and she rests her head on my shoulder. Her arms lock around my neck.
Once her cries subside completely, I pick her up and move us to my bed. She clings to me, like a limpet to a rock, and I have to literally pry her arms from around my neck to place her down on the bed. I take both her hands in mine before speaking.
"Daisy, I need you to listen to me and listen good, ok? I'm not going anywhere. It would take a lot more than that to get rid of me. In fact, I can't actually think of anything you could do that would be bad enough to make me leave. I'm here for the long haul, Daisy. Do you understand?"
"I understand. I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing, sweetie. Everyone gets a bit angry sometimes, what's important is that we sort out what made you angry in the first place. If there's a problem, we need to resolve it."
"Ok, I understand. It's just I was nasty to Angela and then she left. It was all my fault she left 'cause I was mean, and I don't want you to leave."
Angela, who's that?
I delve into my memory trying to find some recollection of this Angela character, but I don't think I have ever heard her name before. Whoever she is, she has obviously had a large impact on Daisy's life, and I can't curb my curiosity.
"Who's Angela?"
"She was one of my old nannies, before Tanya, Sophie and Heidi. She was my bestest nanny, except for you, but then I was mean and she left."
"I'm sure that's not true. I can't imagine anyone ever leaving you because you were mean to them. I hate to break this to you, kid, but you're not that mean. You're too cute and adorable to be mean; you're like a little kitten who sometimes just roars like a lioness, and everybody loves kittens." Her giggling is like music to my ears.
"You're so crazy, Bella," she says whilst leaning up to ruffle my hair.
"Yep, that's me, Crazy Bella. Watch out, who knows what I'll do next!" I wave my arms in the air, trying to be dramatic, before lunging towards Daisy and tickling her sides.
"Oh no, Bella! Stop! Stop! I'm gonna pee myself if you don't stop! It's too tickly."
I ease off with the tickling, knowing that we don't have much time left, and we still need to get down to the bottom of what caused her earlier outburst.
"So, Daisy, back to business. What caused all of this? What's going on?"
All humor drops from her face, and she starts to nervously twirl her hair around her fingers.
"I'm waiting, Daisy."
"It's not fair. I don't want to go tonight. I just want to stay here with you, or go out with you and your friend. I don't want to go with Grandma Didyme."
My eyebrows scrunch up in confusion. I knew that Esme and Carlisle, and I, have issues with Didyme but I wasn't aware that Daisy had negative feelings towards her.
"Why not? I'm sure your Grandma is really excited about tonight. You're Daddy said she is taking you to the theatre, which sounds like fun."
"It won't be fun. It will be so boring. I know it will. I hate doing things with her. We never do anything fun."
"I'm sure that's not true. You get to put on this pretty dress and go out and spend a nice evening watching a play. She loves you very much, Daisy, and I bet you guys have a good evening together. Have you ever been to see a play before?"
"No, but I bet it will be stupid."
"I'm not sure what play it is, but it will be a good experience for you. It's good to do new things and have new experiences. It helps us to grow as people."
Her face scrunches up, like she is really concentrating hard.
"I like my dress, but that's it."
"Come on, think positive thoughts. If you tell yourself that you're going to have a good night, then you will. Give your grandma a chance."
"She never listens to me though. I just have to follow her around and she speaks to all the men in suits and the ladies in dresses, and there isn't ever any other kids when I do stuff with her. She never speaks to me and it's just so boring."
"Ok, well how about you just give it a go for me? You never know, you could end up having a great evening. You've got to give these things a go, but I'll make a deal with you. If you go tonight, and try really hard to have a good time, then tomorrow when you get home from your ballet lesson we can do whatever you want. How does that sound?"
"Anything I want?" Her eyes are sparkling with excitement and I momentarily wonder what I'm getting myself into.
"Yeah, I guess. Nothing too wild though."
"Painting?"
Definitely much better than I expected.
"Sounds good to me. I will stop at the store tomorrow, after I drop you at school, and buy some new canvas."
"This is gonna be so much fun. I'll go get ready." She leaps from the bed and her feet barely touch the floor as she rushes to her room.
I continue to get ready for my date, although Daisy's words and doubts are niggling away in my mind.
Did Angela really leave because of Daisy? It doesn't seem very likely.
Fifteen minutes later, I'm helping Daisy pin back some of her ringlets when we hear the doorbell.
"Ok, you're up sweetheart. Let's get this show on the road." I leave her to put her shoes on and go to answer the door, expecting to see Didyme on the other side.
Instead I'm greeted by the sight of a man, smartly dressed in a crisp, black suit and a flat cap chauffeurs hat. I peer over his shoulder hoping to catch sight of Didyme, but the blacked out windows of her stretch limousine keep her well hidden.
She's not even going to come in here to get her granddaughter! Who does she think she is?
"Good evening. You must be Miss Swan. I'm David, I'll be Daisy's driver this evening. Is she ready?"
I look up the stairs, wondering what is taking her so long.
"She's actually not quite ready yet. Would you like to come in and wait while I go and see what's keeping her?"
A look of surprise and shock covers his face, obviously I've said something wrong.
"I believe that you were informed that Mrs. Volturi wished to pick Daisy up at 6:30pm."
"Umm, yes.."
"It's 6:30pm." He's deadly serious.
"I'll go and hurry her up. Wouldn't want her to be late now, would we?" The look on his face is stern and I'm suddenly feeling completely inadequate.
How rude!
I shut the door in his face and scurry up the stairs. I really don't want to give Didyme any reasons to dislike me. I get the distinct impression that if she didn't like me, my days as Daisy's nanny would be numbered.
"Daisy, you're Grandma's here. What's taking so long?"
"I'm coming. I'm coming." I wait at the top of the stairs, checking the time on my watch and sign in relief as she ambles out of her room.
Hang on a minute, what's in the bag?
"Daisy, what's in that bag?"
"What bag, Bella?" She tries her best to look confused by my questions and gives me her puppy dog stare, which I'm proud to say, I'm getting better at refusing.
"The bag on your back, Daisy."
"Oh, this bag?" She asks while swinging it off and placing it on the floor in front of her. "I just putted a few toys in here, 'cause then if I get bored I can play with them and Grandma won't be angry. She always gets mad if I complain 'bout stuff."
My heart goes out to her and I wish there was a way of keeping her here with me.
"You can't take that, sweetie. "
"How come? It's just a few toys."
"You can't take toys with you to the theatre, honey." Her pout is adorable but she obediently hands the bag to me before heading down the stairs and out the front door, yelling a feeble "Bye Bella" behind her. Judging by Daisy's casual exit, it's obviously not unusual for Didyme to wait in the car.
I watch out of the window until the tail lights of the car disappear, before making a beeline through the kitchen to the fridge and pulling out a newly purchased bottle of merlot. I pour myself a large glass, thankful that I told Alec to pick me up at 7:00pm. I know it's strange but it doesn't feel right for Daisy to know that I'm going on a date, especially as it's only a first date. If things got serious, then I guess I would be less secretive about it.
I take a deep breath willing my heart to stop beating so fast. I can't remember the last time I was this nervous. My dating experience is seriously lacking to say the least. I have no idea where Alec is taking me. When I spoke to him yesterday he outright refused to give me any clues, even after I told him about my deep rooted hatred of surprises. I've decided to play it safe and wear one of my less formal, burgundy dress' and knee-high black boots, not to dressy but not too casual. Alice would be proud of me.
The wine is doing wonders with calming my nerves. I never realized it was possible to be so terrified yet so excited all at the same time. Dating is, without a shadow of a doubt, the biggest step forward I have taken in my life in quite some time.
Alec pulls up outside at exactly 6:55pm and I gulp down the rest of my glass of wine, before roughly pulling on my coat and making my way to the door. I open it just as he is reaching to ring the bell and I'm greeted with his cheeky smile and clear, blue eyes.
"Good evening, Bella."
"Hi Alec." He shuffles from one foot to the other as he thinks of what to say next, and it's reassuring to know that he's nervous too.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yep." I step out and pull the door shut, following him to his car. "Are you going to tell me where we're going yet?"
"Nope, you'll just have to wait and see. You're so impatient, Swan," he teases.
"Not normally, I just hate surprises. I'm horrible at lying and, if a surprise is bad, I can't hide my disappointment and end up hurting people's feelings. My dad bought me this hideous jumper one year, which cost a ridiculous amount of money, and I just couldn't lie. Bless him, he thought he had done such a good job going out and buying me something on his own, but when I opened the wrapping paper and found this bright pink sweater my face just dropped. My dad says my face is really easy to read; my expressions give everything away. Needless to say, he went back to giving me books and money after that."
"I'm worried now."
I laugh at the tense look on his face, "you don't need to be worried. We're going to have a great evening, one of my best friends, Alice, told me. She has like this sixth sense, and she get feelings about things and how they're going to go. She's rarely ever wrong."
"Well, if you psychic best friend says we're going to have a good evening, then it must be true. I guess this means I can relax a bit now. Phew!" He makes a show of expressing his relief, mockingly sweeping his hand across his brow and puffing out air.
"It's definitely a good sign."
"And at least if you hate what I have planned, your face will give you away, and I will have a chance to try and fix it!" he laughs. The ease of our banter is helping me to relax, as I push back in my seat and watch the scenery whiz by outside the window. It's dark but from what I can tell we're heading out of town.
"So, what sort of music do you like, Bella?"
"Anything and everything, generally. I have pretty varied interests. What about you?"
"Have a look for yourself." He points to the green iPod nestled in the space below the CD player.
He seems to have a good mixture of music and I hit play, letting the laid back tones of Jack Johnson filter through the car.
"Ah, a good choice."
"Yeah, you've got some pretty good music on here. I'm impressed."
"I get it from my dad. He always used to have music playing around the house when I was growing up, and I guess it stuck."
"My mum was a bit like that. She went through, still does actually, phases of obsessively liking certain things, classical music, yoga, rock climbing. She's crazy."
"Are you and your mum close?"
"We used to be a lot closer than we are now. She…um…she left when I was thirteen. She said that she wasn't in love with my dad anymore and she couldn't stay. She asked me to go with her, but I couldn't leave my dad. He was crushed enough as it was. He needed someone to look after him. I see her a couple a times a year now and we talk on the phone. She lives in Florida with her new, much younger, husband."
"I'm sorry, that must have been a lot to go through at such a young age. Wow, what a massive decision to have had to make, to choose between your parents."
"Yeah, it was. I don't regret it for a second though. I had a good life in Forks. My mum spent the first couple of years after she left travelling and moving around a lot. I liked being with Charlie and having a home and friends, being settled."
"That makes sense. Do you still see your Dad much?"
"Yeah, I visit him whenever I can and he comes here sometimes. His work keeps him busy, so it's hard to find time. He's the Chief of Police."
"He's the Chief of Police! That's unexpected. So, he has a gun? In his house?"
"Yep. He taught me how to shoot as well before I moved to the City."
"I'll have to remember never to upset your dad, or you. I wouldn't want to give him any reason to use it on me."
"He has been known to pull it on occasion," I giggle. "What about you? You close with your parents? Any brothers or sisters?"
"I'm an only child too. I don't have such great relationships with my mother and father though. They weren't around a lot when I growing up. My dad is CEO of Evanson Industries, the family business. My grandfather built it up from the ground. It was his life's work and it steadily became my father's. He knows more about his staff than he does about his family. My mother tried her best but being alone with a small child all the time slowly wore her down, and it just got easier and easier for her to pass me off to nannies. She's heavily involved in numerous charities now and spends the majority of her time socializing with potential investors, and our gardener, it would seem."
"Oh, right."
What am I suppose to say to that?
"Yep. My father doesn't pay her any attention so she has found someone who does. I kinda think fair play to her really. My father knows about it, and I'm sure he has his own 'special' female friends as well."
"So why don't they just divorce then?"
"Divorce! They would never do that. What would the other society people think?" He forces a humorless laugh and shakes his head, "Divorce is completely out of the question for them, they wouldn't even consider it. Appearance is everything to them."
I reach out and gently touch his hand that's tightly clenched around the stirring wheel, "I'm sorry. It must be tough."
"I've learnt to live with it. My biggest fear is ending up like them, though, in a loveless marriage of convenience. My mother is constantly trying to set me up with her friends daughters, who area all as shallow and vapid as each other. My father is insistent that I marry before I start work at the company full time."
"Is that your plan, then? To work for your father?"
"It's meant to be."
"It's not what you want?" I'm trying to understand but I don't want to pry too much.
"I don't know. It's my duty. It's what is expected of me, but whenever I try to picture my future, I just can't see myself there. I see myself married, with children running around in our big yard. I want the white picket fence and the golden Labrador. I just can't see myself in a suit working all hours of the day. I want a family and everything that comes with it."
"That's understandable."
"My father doesn't think so. He thinks I'm delusional. It's got to exist, though, hasn't? I mean it's possible, that kind off happiness."
"Yes. Yes, of course it's possible. I'm a bit of romantic at times and I truly believe that there is someone out there for everyone. Give it time and don't rush into anything. If you don't want to work for your father, then don't. I know it's hard but you've got to live life for you."
The look on his face is so resolute, so decided.
"I'll think about," he says but I know that's a lie. I can't even begin to imagine what it feels like to have the rest of your life mapped out, to feel trapped.
We ride the rest of the way in silence, but it's not awkward.
I'm surprised when he pulls up in a dark car park.
Where are we?
I squint my eyes trying to make out what's in front of me, but all I can see is the outline of shapes.
A bright light snaps on and catches me off guard. I've been so absorbed in trying to figure out where we are that I didn't even notice Alec getting out of the car, and coming round to open my door. He holds out his hand and helps me out.
Is that water? Are we by the sea? A lake?
"Bella, this is Peter. He's is going to be our Captain tonight."
An older looking gentleman has emerged although I have no idea where from.
"Captain?" I enquire, confused.
"Yes, Captain. I thought we could spend the evening on my yacht." His smile is so sincere that I know he's not joking.
"Yacht?"
"Yes, my yacht." His smile has morphed into a smirk, which is matched by the one on Peter's face. They're enjoying my reaction, my shock.
Close your mouth, Bella. It's very unbecoming for a woman to gape.
"Ok, your yacht. Sounds nice," I finally manage to squeak out.
"Right this way Sir, Miss."
We follow Peter down a winding path and on to a dock where I immediately see Alec's yacht. It's covered in little white fairy lights and the wispy sounds of classical music are drifting through the air, carried on the slightly warm, evening breeze. It's magical and I feel myself begin to choke up.
"Oh, Alec."
I'm barely aware of his fingers slipping into mine as he walks a little in front of me, leading me onboard.
We're greeted onboard by a woman who introduces herself as Charlotte, and hands us both a glass of champagne in tall crystal flutes.
We weave around the outside of the boat, to the back deck, where a candle lit table is set up, with one single stem red rose standing tall in the middle. Under the candle light and the fairy lights, the polished silver on the table seems to shine and catches my eye. Everything is perfect as he pulls out my chair, and I sit.
I can't contain the huge smile covering my face, or the blush that is slowly creeping across my cheeks and neck. I don't think anyone has ever done something so nice for me.
"Bella? Bella? Are you ok?"
I'm shaken out of my momentary trance by Alec calling my name and the warmth of his hand covering mine. I look up and meet his eyes, nervousness etched all over his face.
"It's perfect, so perfect." I'm fighting the urge to cry.
"You have no idea how good it is to hear that. I've been so worried."
"You had no need. This is without a shadow of a doubt the best first date ever, and it's only just begun."
"The best date ever! You must have had some pretty bad dates then or just been out with men who are totally unworthy of you?" he teases.
"A bit of both I think. To be honest Alec, I don't really have much experience with this whole dating thing."
"Really? I don't believe that, a pretty girl like you." He fakes shock before laughing and I smile with him.
"I was in a relationship for a couple of years actually, but it didn't work out, obviously." I shrug my shoulders.
Alec just looks at me, waiting for me to continue.
"He was my first boyfriend. I had only ever dated one guy before him, Tyler Crowley, which was a complete disaster. He took me on my first ever date back in high school. He almost put me off men for good." I laugh trying to lighten the edgy atmosphere that has descended. "We had agreed to meet outside his favorite restaurant at 7:15pm. He was too scared to pick me up from my house, what with my dad being the Chief of Police and all. I got all dressed up, did my nails and my hair, which was a big deal for me back then. I was never a very 'girly' girl…"
"You're beautiful." He says and I blush slightly.
"Anyway, he kept me waiting for over forty-five minutes, in the cold might I add. When he did finally show up, he made some feeble excuse about having to help his mum, and it all went downhill from there. Dinner seemed to go on forever. He talked incessantly about himself, ate like an animal and even had the audacity to belch right in front of me after our main course."
"He didn't?" Alec looks genuinely affronted.
"Oh, yes, he did. Needless to say, we didn't go out again after that."
"I'm pleased to hear it. What a dick!"
"He wasn't all that bad. We were just kids, who didn't know any different. He's in a long term relationship now, and apparently they're very happy, so he must have learnt something over the years!"
"Well, that's a relief for women everywhere."
I giggle, lighted-headed from the champagne. I feel all warm and tingly, closing my eyes to enjoy the sensation of his fingers gently stroking mine.
"Dinner is served, Sir."
"Thanks, Peter. Bella, I hope you like pasta. It's mushroom ravioli with home-made garlic bread."
"It sounds delicious and smells mouth-watering."
Peter gives us our dinner whilst Charlotte fills up our drinks and then we're left alone again. I pick up my fork and start to eat. The food is even more delicious than it smells. I take a minute to look out at the sea, barely even aware that we're moving. I don't even know when exactly we left the dock.
Really, Bella! Observant much?
"So, I've heard about you calamity of a first date. What came next? I find it hard to accept that you haven't been inundated with requests and male admiration since then, especially during college."
"I haven't really been available to be honest." I take a big breathe before continue. "Alec, I know it's only our first date and we're on pretty heavy conversation topic already and I don't want to dampen the evening, but I really like you. I want you to know me, which is why I think I need to tell you something."
"You can tell me anything, Bella. I feel this weird pull to you that I can't even begin to describe. I want to know you too because I feel the same. I like you."
"Ok. Ok…his name is Jacob Black. We dated for over two years and we…we had a baby together."
There's no going back now, Bella.
Ok, I just want to get this out there…. I know there are going to be a lot of people who are unhappy with the developments in this chapter between Alec and Bella, and I'm sorry to say that their date continues into the next chapter.
However, I want to reassure everyone that this is an Edward and Bella story. I'm a firm believer that E/B belong together (although I do occasionally enjoy the odd Bella/Carlisle fic), so please stick with me! I promise E/B will get there eventually.
So…despite the fact that Alec isn't Edward, what do you guys think of their date so far?
Let me know what you think!
Thanks for reading.