Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay in posting this next chapter, life happens you know? I was debating whether or not to split it in to two smaller chapters then said, "screw it," so now it's one LONG chapter. I hope you continue to enjoy the story and know that I will try and get the next chapter up asap! Please review if you can! Your thoughts encourage me and brighten my day!
I'm half awake... standing anxiously in the wind at the Harvard Ave. T stop... at 7:45 in the morning!
Why are we starting our bonding day this early in the morning? Alice couldn't possibly come up with that many activities for us to do for an entire day. But then again, this is Alice I'm talking about, I should never underestimate her ability to plan and organize after what she did for us at the apartment.
Alice set the alarm clock this morning for 7 AM so I could get up to meet Edward and Harry at the T stop. She put herself in charge of waking everyone else up. Truthfully, I think I have the better end of the deal. I'd really like to see her try dragging Emmett out of bed... it would be like watching a squirrel try to move a bear. I should have given Jasper a camera.
Ugh, I want my bed!
I hardly slept last night. I felt so anxious to see Edward again, especially after enduring a full day of placement exam hell! I know I aced my IPA test. I know that alphabet like the back of my hand. I happen to use it all the time.
For those who don't know how opera singers prepare for a role, here's how we do it. First, we must learn the diction for English, Italian, French, and German because those are the languages most commonly sung in opera. We accomplish this by studying the international phonetic alphabet; learning the sounds of each symbol, so when we look up a word in a dictionary (which has IPA before the definition), we are able pronounce it properly. Of course we are also expected to learn the languages we sing in too... or else we would still sound like foreigners singing a foreign language.
Opera singers are expected to strive for perfection... we can't afford to make mistakes with today's competition. It's common knowledge that the whole classical world has a stick up its butt, they know when you make a mistake. It's easy when the same songs and arias have been sung for centuries. If I don't do all the work before the actual singing, they would say to me, "You haven't done your homework... come back next time when you don't sound ridiculous."
"Why would you sound ridiculous?"
"AH! Jesus, you scared me!"
"I'm sorry."
My goodness he's stealthy... and really looks hot today! He's wearing a black button down shirt and dark blue jeans. Wow!
"Do you wear moccasins? How are you so quiet when you walk?"
"I practice the art of ninja. Close your eyes and I'll disappear."
"I'll take your word for it. Hi, Harry!" I bend down and give Harry kiss on the head.
"Oh sure, Harry get's a kiss and a 'hello', but I'm chop..."
I don't give him a chance to finish his sentence as I grab his collar pulling his face lower to crash my lips to his.
I've wanted to do that since I met him!
Edward recovers from the surprise within two seconds, then drops Harry's harness and his backpack on the ground. He gently grabs my waist with both of his hands pulling me closer to his tall firm body. Eventually, Edward takes control of the kiss. He turns his head to the side opening his mouth to capture my bottom lip between his and sucks lightly.
This man definitely knows how to kiss a girl!
A burning sensation starts to consume my chest. I realize after this moment, that I will never tire of feeling Edward's lips on mine. He pulls away slowly with a deep sigh, still holding me close in a tight embrace with his forehead to mine. I hear the T start moving behind us then pick up speed. Just as the train clears, a gust of wind blows my hair in a whirl around our faces. Edward releases me as we both laugh from my efforts to untangling my hair from his face and mine.
"Sorry." I sheepishly look up at Edward as he's helping me with my crazy long hair.
"For what? That was the best 'good morning' kiss I've ever had." He holds his hand out for me after I move away to fix myself, and I gladly grasp his right hand with my left. He places his left hand on my cheek, then tenderly whispers after kissing my forehead, "I missed you."
Yup... I could definitely get used to this.
My blush is probably giving me away again. "Me too. Shall we?" I look up at his face and smile. Edward then picks up his backpack and grabs Harry's harness. While turning his head to me and holding his arm out, he cheerfully says,
"Lead the way!
As I lead him down Commonwealth Avenue towards our apartment, I tell him all about my placement exams yesterday. I decide to explain how I felt about each language test creatively to make the story more entertaining. I say each sentence with an exaggerated accent, and I do a little Lumier impersonation from Disney's Beauty and the Beast, to emphasize my bad french.
"Mein Deutsch ist sehr gut. Il mio italiano è così così. Unfortunately, my French is horrible."*
Edward laughs at my silliness and says with amazing perfection, "Je pourrais vous aider avec votre français, si vous voulez."
My mouth drops as he seductively continues, "Mais il me faudrait une récompense après..."
I try not to smirk and keep my voice steady as I reply, "What kind of reward?"
"You little liar! You said your French was horrible." Edward starts to dig his fingers into my side grinning devilishly, and I yelp while laughing and trying to fend him off.
"Really? Perhaps I should I have said it was mildly horrible instead! AH! I've never taken a French class. I'm self-taught." Edward stops his attack to listen to me holding both of my wrists in his hands,
"Seriously, I've looked in a French dictionary enough times to translate arias to comprehend the language, but I have horrible grammar. So I'll probably have to take French this semester because I could only say to the teacher correctly, "Salut, quel est ton nom?"
"You are pretty remarkable, Bella." He looks at me with an awed expression then leans over and tenderly kisses my mouth. He pulls away all too soon saying breathlessly, "How much farther to your apartment?"
"We're close. We just need to turn here at Spofford Rd. then make a quick left onto Glenville Ave. and we're there."
"Okay. Let's go before I'm unable to restrain myself because of the distracting temptress walking beside me."
"Psh, I'm not distracting!"
"Sure... I just lost count, and that never happens."
"Lost count of what?"
"How many steps and turns from the T stop your apartment is."
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry! I didn't know you were—"
"Hey, it's okay. It's not the end of the world, love. I'll count later. Let's go, before Alice comes out looking for us."
"You know her so well... and after only one meting and talking to her on the phone."
"I know her type."
"Okay. We're here, and it's on the fourth floor. There's unfortunately no elevator, so we're going to have to climb a lot of stairs now. OH! I forgot to ask before... will Harry be alright?"
"You're worried about Harry? He's the one walking on four legs!"
I laugh out loud in the stairwell, then cover my mouth because it's early... I'm sure normal people are still asleep in their warm beds.
"Besides, at BoCo we take the stairs all the time. The practice rooms are on the sixth floor and we take the stairs every time we're too impatient to wait for the small elevator that only holds only four people comfortably. Or one person, if they have a double bass with them."
"I know what you mean! They take up so much space! I almost crashed into several of them at my audition 'cause they were blocking the hallway."
"Why, doesn't that surprise me."
"Hush, you! I had to pee! And they were in my way!"
"The bloody fools!"
"Damn straight!"
We finally get to the top of the stairs and I'm completely out of breath. Harry is panting very hard while his tongue is sticking out making a puddle on the floor. I look back at Edward, and the man looks like he just went for a relaxing stroll instead of climbing Mr. Everest.
ARR! He's so sexy! It's going to be a hard keeping my hands to myself!
"I'm with you Harry! I hate those stairs." Edward laughs as Alice swings the door open.
"About time you guys got here! Come inside. Welcome to our humble abode, Edward! Make yourself at home. Bells, are you still cooking breakfast?"
I whisper into Edwards ear, "How she has so much energy this early in the morning, I'll never understand." Edward smiles, and I turn my head to Alice, "Yes, Ali... I'm still making breakfast."
I hear Jasper's voice down the hall. "That definitely makes waking up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday worthwhile. I love Bella food!"
Edward squeezes my hand, grinning widely next to me, "So do I."
Jasper walks into the kitchen. "How's it goin' man! Jasper Hale. Rose's older brother."
Edward holds out his hand for Jasper who kindly grabs it giving him a firm shake. "Edward Cullen, pleasure to meet you."
Rosalie sits plops down on the sofa, "You were born a minute before me, doofus. That hardly qualifies as older!"
"Actually, that's exactly what it qualifies as." Jasper turns his head whispering loudly to Edward, "She's a little cranky in the morning. I'd stay clear until noon." Then Jasper ducks as Rosalie tries to hit him behind his head with a throw pillow, as if he were expecting it.
"Lucky duck, doofus! Good to see you again, Edward. You can put your bag by the sofa, if you want. Word of caution though, Bella made tacos last night and Emmett stunk up the place. Particularly on the left side of the couch, so I wouldn't put your head there if I were you."
Edward scrunched his face up in disgust, "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Where is Emmett?"
I look up at him puzzled, "How did you know he wasn't in the room?"
"It was too quiet... and now I can hear the shower going."
"Ugh, he's been in there for twenty minutes! He complained all the way into the shower and now he won't get out," Alice whines while sitting behind the counter on the bar stool.
"I'll get him out," Rosalie says getting off the sofa with an evil glint in her eyes.
"What are you going to do Rosalie... please, don't do anything rash," I plead with her hoping she doesn't cause more conflict between herself and Emmett.
The incident with the flute the other night wasn't pretty. He called her a little piggy and challenged her to do her worst. Then she literally tried to stick her flute up his ass when he bent over the sofa laughing after Jasper said something amusing. I've never seen someone so pissed before... Emmett actually turned red before she ran to her bedroom, hiding behind her door. Alice and I were able to calm him down but they haven't spoken a word to each other since.
"I'm just going to use a little trick my dad did to us when we were taking too long to get ready." She went to the faucet in the kitchen and turned on the hot water.
"Rose don't!" Jasper and I said at the same time, while Alice and Edward looked confused at our exclamation. Just then we all hear a very unmanly squeal come from the front bathroom.
"EEEEEOOOOWZA!" The shower water gets turns off abruptly, then we hear a roaring noise come from the bathroom, "ROOOOOSE!"
"I'll be in my room til breakfast!" Rosalie bolts for her bedroom right before Emmett comes out of the bathroom, dressed only in a towel sopping wet.
"WHERE IS SHE?! I'm going to murder her!"
Jasper points towards her room, and we all see him make a dash for her door while beads of water drip from his body, leaving puddles of water on the wood floors. We all hear him banging on her door and listen to them shouting back and forth at each other using all kinds of profanity and ugly names.
"Dang, now I have to mop all over again." Alice says out loud to herself. We turn our head toward her in shock, acting as if this were the norm.
I shake my head, then tell Edward, "Welcome to a typical day at the loony house. We might start charging admission for people to visit so they can watch those two chew each other out day in and day out." We all chuckle, then we hear Emmett slam his bedroom door. I turn to Alice and gently ask,
"Ali would you please give Edward the apartment tour while I get breakfast started? I think once Emmett has some food in him he will be more hospitable."
"Good idea, Bells. Right this way Edward. You can set your bag by the door. I also have a blanket for Harry to sleep on, and I bought food, and a water bowl too."
"You're too kind, Alice. You didn't have to go through so much trouble, but thank you."
"Nonsense, we're good to our guests. As Bella said, we may even start our own little dinner theater staring Rosalie and Emmett... filmed with live hidden cameras. Come on... here is the kitchen and over here is..."
Jasper approaches me while I open the fridge. "Do you need any help with breakfast? I'm not too good with a stove, but I can mix and crack eggs."
"Sounds good to me. Thanks, Jazz."
Jasper and I cook breakfast together. Just as we're finishing up, Emmett emerges from the bedroom looking refreshed and not a bit like a grumpy old bear. I will always give him credit for not holding a grudge.
"Good morning... everyone ready for Star Wars?"
"That's not until later, Em. You forget that Alice has a whole day planned."
"Aw hell, I forgot. I was hoping Star Wars would have cheered me up after the whole shower fiasco. I'm telling you Jasper, sometimes I want strangle your sister... and other times, I just wanna take her and kiss her so hard, I—"
"Woah man, too much information. That's my sister! Also I must inform you, she likes you. Never gives most guys the time of day... but you—"
"What?! No fuckin' way man. She just called me an oversized gorilla with an apple banana for a dick."
That comment makes me snort from trying hold in my laughter. Emmett protests, "First of all, she's never even seen my dick, because if she had, she would definitely know it's three times the size of a apple banana!"
"What's an apple banana?" Alice walks in with Edward on her arm bringing him to sit next to her at the kitchen counter.
"Emmett's dick." Jasper says with a grin.
"Aw, I'm sorry Mate... that's the breaks." Edward says with a smirk on his face.
"You all need to open your eyes! I will drop my pants right now to prove to you right now that my dick is—"
"Is the size of Rode Island compared to Texas? Yes, we know... there's no need to be defensive. Is it breakfast time yet?"
"Wench, I'm this close to—"
"Drop it, Em! And I don't mean your trousers! We're not all lucky to be blind in this room, and I would prefer to have no more fights from either of you. Alice made this whole day for us to start getting along and to get to know each other... so let's eat and start acting like adults and not like we're in preschool!" I finish my rant with my face burning red hot like a pepper. Everyone is staring at me with their mouths hanging wide open from my spontaneous little outburst, because I know it's not common for me to lose my temper.
"Well said Bella." Alice says in awe and giving me a golf clap.
Jasper nodes his head, "I concur. You both need to come to a truce or an understanding so we can all live together in peace. We don't want you down each others throats for the rest of the year. Got it, Rose?"
"I'll behave... as long as he doesn't get on my nerves." Rosalie says stubbornly crossing her arms across her chest.
"I make no guarantees that I won't get on your nerves because it appears to be what I do best without even trying... but I'll call a truce... for you all." Emmett looks to me and nods smiling.
"Good. Now that that's settled, everyone come make yourselves a plate of food in the kitchen, and let's eat at the table," I say as I walkover to Edward. I stand by him and wait for everyone to serve themselves first.
"This looks delicious, thanks for cooking Bells. You're a doll!" Emmett goes to the head of line and starts by grabbing a large amount of pancakes then places them neatly on his plate. I made sure to make extra food for him, since Emmett is notorious for consuming a mountain of food per day.
Edward finds my waist while I'm standing next to him and pulls me tightly to his side, then he whispers softly into my ear, "I found that incredibly arousing what you did just now."
"Huh... when?" I can feel my cheeks blushing from his comment about me being unconsciously sexy.
"The way you scolded them for acting like children. You're pretty sexy when you get upset and overwrought."
"Well, don't get used to it. It doesn't happen very often... I don't like doing it."
"Of course, not... I'm proud of you for taking control of the situation."
"Thank you." I look down and hide my face in his shoulder. I look up when I occurs to me, "Would you like me to make you a plate of food?"
Edward shrugs his shoulder, "If you don't mind..."
"Sure. I made scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, and toast. Would you like some of each?"
"Please."
"Earl Grey, too?"
"I knew I liked you for a reason, you seem to know me so well."
"I know the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Of course that's common knowledge." I say to him while I begin fixing his plate. Everyone else is already at the table eating and making discussion about the upcoming first week of school.
"And what exactly is the way to your heart?" I look up at him startled.
It seems my cheeks will not be getting a rest today while Edward is near.
"I'm not entirely sure. But you seem to be finding the way well enough on your own." I turn around to set his food at his place on the table, then I start making my own plate of food. Edward stands I see him feeling his way around the counter toward me. When he finds my body, he puts his hand on my shoulder.
"I was hoping that was the case, but please let me know if I start getting off track."
"Okay. Are you ready to eat?"
"Yes, ma'am. It smells incredible."
I lead him to the table to sit down, then I grab our teas from the counter, then finally sit down with everybody to eat. When everyone is settled, Alice raises her glass.
"Here's to the start of a new year and second year at BoCo, and may we all live in harmony and become best of friends."
We all raise our drinks and clink them together before starting on our breakfast. This is promising to be a very long day...hopefully full of fun and much less drama. My heart is already racing like a rabbits due to the man sitting to my left, whose foot is currently stroking mine under the table.
It's now four o'clock and we all just returned from a wonderful picnic at Armory Park. We picked up some sandwiches from Kelly's on the corner of Comm Ave. and Harvard, then took the T to Armory street and walked to the park. First, we went for a stroll along the dirt paths and into the garden. Harry looked happy to be outdoors. He was watching all the other dogs playing fetch with their masters. On the way, we found a gazebo which had funky acoustics: if you stand in the middle, it sounds like your being amplified with a microphone. Alice and I sang a couple of notes and Edward got a kick out of that because the acoustics threw his hearing off. We then stopped on the grass under a tree, while Jasper and Emmett threw a Frisbee back and forth. They called over to us, and asked if Edward could catch a Frisbee using only his other senses. Edward was up for the challenge and part of me was curious how good his reflexes and hearing actually are.
After a couple of tries and good throws from Jasper, Edward actually was able to catch a Frisbee and throw it back! We all applauded his athleticism and were greatly impressed.
"How are you so fit, dude? Do you exercise?"
"I work out at home. Mainly sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, and dumb bells... stuff like that. I also do a lot of walking so I get my cardio in that way. I'm not brawny, but I can hold my own. I can bench about 100 kilos."
"Huh? How many pounds is that?" Emmett says confused.
"Around 220 lbs." Jasper says confidently.
"Exactly." Edward says assuredly. "I also took a few self defense courses when I was younger."
"So you are a ninja! No wonder you can you creep up on me so easily!" I said very proudly.
I was also very distracted this morning as well...
"You bet, love." Edward laughs while coming toward me. He doesn't make it all the way though, because Emmett stops him before he sits down,
"I wanna see your skills. Show me!"
"What? You want me to throw you or something?"
"Sure, whatever. Just show me some moves. Let's see if you can stop an attack."
"I'm kind of curious myself." I say to Edward, who then looks at me for a moment thinking about it, and then he shrugs loosely,
"Alright. I'll see what I remember. Let's find a soft patch of grass in case one of us ends up on our backs."
"You got it." Emmett looks a little smug and looks for a large patch of grass near a tree. All of us stand up, and Edward hands me his glasses,
"Will you guard these for me, please?"
"Of course." I kiss his cheek then lead hm where Emmett is. Edward feels the ground Emmett found with his hands.
"Yes, this aught to be fine. You're sure about this, Emmett?"
"Let's do it!" He says cracking his neck one way, then the other.
Jasper says close to my ear, "This will be good."
Alice and Rosalie stand watching in anticipation wondering who is going to end up on their backs. I'm worried that Edward will actually hurt himself. If Emmett breaks him, he will have to answer to me! "Please don't hurt each other. I will not be happy if you do."
"Yes, mom!" Emmett says snidely.
Edward grits his teeth and opens his stance up; he looks ready for an attack. "When you're ready, Emmett."
Emmett starts running at him abruptly without warning, and Edward quickly dodges his body. Emmett rushes past him almost hitting the tree close by. I put my hand over my mouth, and hope that that's the end of the demonstration. But sure enough, Emmett charges toward Edward again then surprisingly enough Edward accurately grabs Emmett by the waist with his right arm, then Emmett's wrist with his left hand, and swings him over his knee to the ground with a loud thud. Placing his left hand on his neck to finish the move.
All of us break into a loud applause, cheering Edward. Rosalie jumps up and down clapping at Emmett's demise for being shown up by a blind man.
"That was incredible, man. I never thought I'd see that. How did you do it?" Jasper goes to Edward patting him on the back. Edward smirks, holding his hand out for Emmett.
"Simple with a little bit of practice. I could show you, if you like."
Emmett appears to have had the wind knocked out of him, but he's too manly to admit it. "Fair play (cough), dude. Good to you know you can protect our Bella here if need be (cough)." Emmett tries to catch his breath while standing up, then stretches his back out.
"Are you okay, mate?"
He grunts out, "Yeah, sure. No big deal. I've had worse. You guys ready to head back now?"
Jasper smiles at Emmett who's trying to change the subject, "Yeah, let's go. I think it's time for some Star Wars... what do you think Rosalie?"
Rosalie grabs Alice's arm, and nudges her. "I'm down for some Han Solo time. Let's go!"
Now we're all gathered in the living room. Alice and Rosalie are on the floor with pillows. Emmett is in the rocking chair while Jasper, Edward and myself are on the couch. I'm in between the two boys, but I can't get past the electric waves that are emanating from Edwards skin into mine.
I wonder if he feels it too.
We get through the first movie, and then break for dinner. We order Italian take-out from Sabatino's. Even though I offered to cook, Alice put her foot down saying she didn't want me in the kitchen the entire day. The food is amazing and the portions are big enough for two people to share. I get the chicken and vegetables, while Edward gets the steak and vegetables. We end up sharing our meat, and they both taste so delicious.
I need to know how they make the sauce... and the rolls, ugh. They make my mouth water!
By the time we make it to Return of the Jedi, people are starting to get sleepy from the long day. Harry is already passed out after eating his dinner, and is sleeping on the blanket Alice set out for him. Emmett is snoring in the rocking chair while the girls are sleeping stretched out on the floor.
Jasper taps me on the shoulder, "I think I'm gonna hit the hay. I'll see you guys in the morning. It was great hanging with you, Edward. We should do it again soon, and you can teach me some throws."
"Sure thing, mate. See you in the morning." They shake hands before Jasper wakes up Emmett to tell him to go to sleep in his bed so his neck doesn't get all messed up in the morning. Emmett roars while stretching out his scrunched up muscles, then says 'good night' in a mumble before he closes their door down the hall. The girls wake up a little while later and both get ready for bed. Rosalie says 'good night' then Alice comes back in the room to check on me.
"Are you staying up, Bells?"
"Just for a little while longer."
"Okay, g'nite Edward. See you in the morning."
Edward says 'good night' and we're left alone watching the movie by ourselves in the dark. Luke enters Jabba the Hutt's palace, and starts controlling the guards with his Jedi mind powers. I feel something soft on my cheek and notice it's Edward's fingers caressing my skin. I turn my face to look at him and I realized that his glasses are no longer on his face, and he's not paying attention to the film. Edward gives me a apologetic half a smile, and his eye look down softly in my direction as he says,
"I'm sorry, I can't wait anymore."
I gasp just before he unexpectedly crashes his lips to mine in a firm and desperate kiss. I respond immediately and turn my body to face his holding his face to mine. Edward response to my movement and grabs my waist pulling me to sit on top of his lap. Once I'm comfortably in place, Edward delicately cups my cheek and pulls my body closer to his with his right arm, he controls my lips alternating between hard and soft passionate kisses.
I wrap my arms about his neck; he moans low deep into my mouth, then pulls away breathing heavily while kissing around my face,
"Please, forgive me... I've... wanted to do that all day. I—I can't... help myself around you, Bella. Look what you've done to me."
I can definitely see what I've done to him, because he's doing the exact same thing to me. I can feel him getting harder against my leg. Everything about him draws me in. I can't help myself, and fall forward kissing him again with a moan that sounds like a sigh. I speak against his mouth as I kiss him softly and repeatedly,
"Is it strange... to miss someone, even... when they are near you for the entire day?"
He groans as I kiss down his neck, "I know what you mean. God... I seem to be struggling with my control being so close to you when others are around. I can't get enough of you." I look up and stare into his eyes. He holds my face with both of his hands. "Please, Bella... don't stop. Just kiss me."
I do as he asks and kiss him harder, pulling his face forward to meet my mouth. After a few minutes of making out, he scoots to the edge of the couch and scoops his hands under my knees picking me up bridal style from his seated position. While kissing me, he turns us around and places me back on the couch. Gently, he pushes me back to lie down, then release my mouth and lies down beside me. Edward pulls my waist closer to his hard body, and I my head feels light from the lack of oxygen, and my heart feels full, pulsating inside my chest like a bass drum. I whisper and tenderly bump his nose with mine and ask playfully,
"What do you think are you doing, Edward?"
"I just want to hold you for a while. Would that be alright? I don't want to make you uncomfortable..."
He suddenly seems unsure of his actions, so I try to relax him by cupping his face with my palm, and give him a soft gentle kiss.
"I want you to hold me... but I can't stay out here with you all night. I would prefer not to traumatize my roommates when they wake up in the morning." I feel Edward chuckling lightly as he holds me close to his chest tucking me under his chin.
"I know. I'm sure they appreciate you thinking of them first, even though I wish you didn't have to leave."
He gently brushes his fingers through my hair and softly strokes the small patch of exposed skin between my shirt and my jeans.
"I have to ask you Bella, even if it seems forward of me to say... but I need to know. How do you feel about me?"
My mouth goes dry. I'm not sure how to respond without sounding like I'm already falling in love with him. This whole relationship we seem to be starting has been on a fast track to somewhere, I have no idea where. But I'm hoping we want to end up in the same place... which would inevitably be us together as a couple. I clear my throat, and try to be brave. At least enough to put myself out on a limb, hoping I don't fall flat on my face.
"I feel comfortable around you, Edward... Like I've known you forever, even if it's really only been a short while."
"I feel the same way, too."
"I feel... like I can trust you, as a friend, and...maybe more..."
"I—" Edward starts, but I go on.
"I know it seems fast what we're doing, but everything up to now has felt natural. Like it's not forced or... I don't know what I'm trying to say." I hid my face embarrassed into his chest.
Edward comfortingly strokes my hair, "No, I know what you mean. I've just been going on instincts with you. Everything has felt very natural and fluid when we're together. I feel... a pull towards you that I've never felt with anyone before. I just wasn't sure if you felt it too."
"I do... all the time when you're close by... and when you're not."
We're quiet for a while, digesting everything we've just confessed to each other. Edward is still holding me, softly stroking my skin, and then looks down at me to give me my favorite crooked smile.
"It feels amazing holding you this way, but perhaps we should call it a night. I don't want to, but that's the very reason why we should. My control seems to be waning and I don't wish to overstep my boundaries."
"Okay." I'm sad to leave him, but it helps to know I will seem him tomorrow for our first date.
"By the way, what are we doing together tomorrow night?"
"Actually, I was hoping I could pick you up sooner. Closer to noon. I have a whole day planned and I wanted to spend all tomorrow with you. Would that be alright?"
Uh... YEAH!
"I'd love that. But what..."
"You'll find out tomorrow." He tells me with smirk and kiss to my forehead.
"Good night, Edward." I kiss him gently on the lips and linger for just a moment.
"Good night, love. Sweet dreams." He gives me three small kisses and holds me close to his chest before releasing me. He gets his toiletry bag from his backpack, then heads to the front bathroom. I make my way to the back bedroom and get ready for bed.
I lie awake while Alice is sound asleep. I'm amazed that I can still feel him, even though he's in the next room. It's like he's still lying down next to me.
Oh, I wish I were still lying next to him. It felt warm and comforting to have him hold me close, feeling his hands on my skin. Why does he have to be such a gentleman? I just wanted him to touch me lower than my back!
Down girl! We'll get there soon...
I finally fall asleep around 2 AM.
I dream of me and Edward sharing a picnic together at Armory Park. Just the two of us... with Harry of course, lying on the blanket. Someone loses their Frisbee and I go to return it to them. On my way back to the blanket, Alice is next to me trying to stop me from going back to Edward. I look at her frustrated and confused, then I ask her, "Alice what's wrong?" Alice doesn't reply and I see Edward in the distance holding his arm out for me to return to him. As if a magnet is pulling forward, I start to run back to him. I see him turn his hand face out for me to stop, then he abruptly yells very frightened, "BELLA, DON'T!"
I wake up gasping in a cold sweat.
Translations in English for German, Italian, and French
Mein Deutsch ist sehr gut = My German is good.
Il mio italiano è così così = My Italian is so so.
Je pourrais vous aider avec votre français, si vous voulez.= I could help you with your French if you want.
Mais il me faudrait une récompense après... = But I would require a reward afterward...