I do not own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
Gabby and April, thank you for prereading, and Fran, thank you for taking your time to edit. Any mistakes left are my own.
Ch. 10
It was close to ten when Alice and I arrived at the farm. I was tired from a long day of running around with the kids and then taking them trick or treating. Having Jake with us was almost like having another child.
When we left the house, the twins were crashed out in a fort made out of blankets and pillows in the living room. Jake was curled up in between them.
"Are you going to get out? I'm not sure how long I can stay here." Alice shifted the car into park.
"Why did I let the two of you talk me into this costume?" I fiddle with the fabric.
"Because it's Halloween and you should dress in a costume. Looking like Princess Anna wouldn't have worked, because if you glance around, you'll notice that everyone else is dressed scary or sexy. Looking like a sweet princess would have made you stick out like a sore thumb," she recited for the second time that night.
"Right. But I don't think I can pull this look off, and I'm going to freeze." Thinking about my exposed mid-drift, which was not suitable for the end of October in my humble opinion.
"You look great. Edward's eyes are going to pop out of his head. I'm sure he'll keep you close to keep you warm. In fact, if you want to spend more quality time with him and spend the night just send us a text." She wiggled her eyebrows.
"I don't think I'm ready to go that far yet. We've only known each other for barely three weeks and only been on a couple of dates," I reminded her.
"True." She nodded. She reached into the back seat and placed my oversize coat on my lap. "I still think you should let him see your costume, but take your coat if it makes you feel more comfortable."
"Thank you." I pulled the handle and pushed open the door. "Are you sure you don't want to come. I'm bet Jasper is around somewhere."
"I agreed to play nice, but that doesn't mean I have to like him." Alice shook her head. "I'll see you tomorrow." She shooed me from the car.
"Good-night."
As I wandered around looking for Edward, I noticed Alice was right — everyone was in costume. I was amongst a sea of darker characters; superheroes, and costumes that would warrant an R rating if not X in some cases. I would've stuck out in the princess outfit for sure.
An unfamiliar hand wrapped around my upper arm and yanked me to a stop. "Hey, pretty lady, how's about you read my future," a voice slurred in my ear. The smell of alcohol was overwhelmingly sickening.
"Sorry, but I left my crystal ball at home." I yanked my arm away.
I hurried through the crowd heading for the barn; I spotted Edward with a rope in his hands — looking uncomfortable.
Two girls were in front of him wearing costumes that would border close to the X-rated status. One girl had electric blue hair; her head was tilted back as she laughed at something. I recognized her as our waitress the other night. My frown disappeared when Edward spotted me over their heads, and the expression on his face could only be described as relief.
I skirted by them and wrapped my arms around his waist, reaching up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Sorry, I'm late. I had to wait until the kids were asleep."
"No problem, Love, I'm happy you made it. Did they give you too much trouble?" His eyes twinkled with amusement.
"No more than normal, they wore themselves out chasing that dog of yours. I think they wore him out as well." I turned to the girls who were still standing there, but now with matching scowls on their faces. "You look familiar, have we met?" I focused in on Lauren.
She huffed and walked away without a word to me. Her friend followed in her wake and cast one last confused glance at us before they disappeared into the crowd.
"Do you know her?" Edward's eyes briefly glanced in their direction.
"Not personally. Lauren was our waitress at the restaurant the other night. Perhaps you didn't recognize her without her bright pink hair," I teased.
"Oh, her." Edward shrugged. "I guess I was distracted by my beautiful date, I don't remember her much at all."
"I have to bring this rope back to the barn, come with me?"
I nodded and grabbed his hand. He didn't have to ask me twice because I wasn't about to be left behind in this crowd. As we stepped inside the dimly lit barn, it was much quieter than the outside.
He let go of my hand then walked over to a wall with pegs that held various ropes and harnesses. I left my coat on a bale of hay and went over to a stall that contained a few sheep. A small head poked over the gate. I reached out and stroked his velvety fur while I waited.
I didn't hear him approach but felt his presence moments before his arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me back against him.
"You do make a beautiful gypsy." He made me do a turn for him and then kissed my hand.
I felt my cheeks flush, and then I glanced him up and down. He was wearing jeans and flannel shirt. "Hey, how come you're not in costume?"
"I'm in costume. I'm a cowboy." He picked up his hat that was lying in the hay. He placed it on his head and held his arms open wide.
"Very creative," I teased, he still didn't look different from what he wore when he worked here.
"Well, I guess you know that I'm not perfect at everything." He sighed dramatically.
I laughed and shook my head. I guess there were worse faults that he could have. He took a couple of steps towards me and pulled me into his arms.
"I just realized that I haven't gotten to say hello to you yet." His forehead brushed against mine. His lips were a millimeter away.
"Hi."
"Hi." His lips brushed against mine.
His hands slid over my bare torso, sending a tingling sensation through my body. He lifted me, and my legs wrapped around his hips and my ankles locked. My lips parted, and he took advantage, by sliding his tongue into my mouth. The kiss grew heated, and I lost all sense of reality.
"Ed… shit sorry," Jasper interrupted.
Edward placed me on my feet but refused to relinquish his hold on me. "Sorry, Jasper. What do you need?"
"The last run of the night is about to leave. Did you still want on it?" He grinned impishly.
"We'll be right there." Edward rolled his eyes at Jasper.
"Two minutes or we leave without you." He turned to leave, but I called out to stop him.
"Jasper, I was hoping to talk to you for a moment. The twins would love to get together with Lucy for a play date in the near future. They enjoyed meeting her the other day and are anxious to learn more signs so they can have their own secret language. Do you think that will be possible?"
Jasper stood there looking stunned for a moment. His shock morphed into a friendly smile. "Lucy would like that. She doesn't have many friends around here. The kids at her old school gave her a hard time until she started crying each day about having to go back. My mother began to homeschool her soon after that. Alicia and Alec seem like sweet kids; I know she likes them too. Maybe you guys can come to the barn dance we'll have here, in a couple of weeks. Then we'll go from there."
"That sounds like a plan," I agreed.
We followed a few feet behind Jasper hand in hand.
"He beat me to the punch, but I was going to ask you to the dance." Edward pouted playfully.
"You may find yourself lucky on that front. I'm not much of a dancer; I usually end up stepping on the guy's feet more than the floor." I grimaced.
"Then you must have had horrible partners. It's all in the leading." Edward swept me in front of him. He placed my left hand on his shoulder then his on my waist while holding my other hand he began to spin and dance us through the crowd.
I started to trip, and he lifted me and placed me on his feet. "When all else fails you can't keep stepping on my feet if you stay on them. " He winked.
I let out a laugh and hung on as his turns became faster. I noticed that people were starting to stare at us.
"Edward, we need to stop, people are staring at us," I begged.
He grinned wickedly and dipped me low.
"Please let me up," I pleaded through my giggles.
"Not until you say you'll be my date for the dance," he retorted with a smirk.
"I'll go. Just don't drop me or all deals are off." I tried to pull myself unsuccessfully upright.
"I'll never drop you, sweetheart," he promised, as he helped me up and kissed my nose. "We have people waiting for us."
When we got to the wagon, Edward helped me on first before getting up himself. We settled ourselves in the back corner as the wind began to whip, and I shivered.
"Shoot, I forgot my coat in the barn." I glanced behind us.
Edward's arm wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me close. "Don't worry I'll keep you warm."
"Here, lovebirds, behave yourselves." Emmett tossed a blanket at Edward's head as he passed by in the tractor.
Edward threw him an irritated look before spreading the blanket over us. I snuggled into his side then glanced around the wagon. I was relieved to see that Lauren and her friend weren't with us. There were a few couples and a group of college-age guys along for the ride. I overheard bits of the boys' conversation about other haunted rides.
"Um…Edward. Can the actors touch the guests?" I asked nervously.
"No, they're confusing us with a hayride in Hoquiam. The guests there sign a waiver stating they're aware of how interactive the ride can be. The worse it gets on this ride is the actors run and chase after the wagon. Sometimes they even jump up on the side, but they can't touch you," Edward whispered in my ear.
The tractor's engine roared to life, and we lurched forward. We weren't even in the woods yet, and I squeezed Edward's hand tightly.
"You're really scared aren't you." Edward looked amused.
"I haven't done anything like this since one of my mother's boyfriends abandoned me in a haunted house when he was supposed to be watching me — I was only six. Unfortunately, it's not something I have ever gotten over," I explained sheepishly.
"Jeesh, why didn't you tell me? I'm no better than that jerk." Edward frowned.
"I wouldn't put you in the same category. He left me there because he got terrified himself and ran. To say my mother was pissed when she found out would be an understatement, and that was the end of their relationship." I snickered, even at six, I knew that Caius was a tool.
I whipped my head around when I heard a growling noise. Through the trees was a pair of glowing yellow eyes. I shivered and shrank into Edward's arms, and he tightened them around me.
"I guess I will have to distract you." His finger tilted my chin up, and he pressed his lips against mine.
"We're not alone." I pulled back slightly.
"Its okay no one will see anything, it's too dark," Edward whispered.
He kissed my cheek and then proceeded down my neck, I glanced over his shoulder. He was right; it was so dark, I could barely make out the forms of the others in the wagon.
I shivered when his lips brushed against my collarbone. He pulled the blanket up around us, then pulled me onto his lap. His hand slid up my side and gently cupped my breast. I sucked in a breath, surprised.
"Sorry, I got carried away." His hand slid back down to my waist.
"I guess, I'm not the only one distracted," I teased.
Nearby, someone howled, and I buried my face into Edward's chest. He rubbed small circles on my back and started to hum quietly.
"Just tell me when it's all over," I mumbled, the sound of his humming and heartbeat lulled me into a sense of calm.
Before I knew it, Edward was shaking my shoulder. "Sweetheart, it's all over."
"Already? That went faster than I thought it would." I opened my eyes and looked around at the now empty wagon.
"Hmmm…it probably seems that way since you fell asleep." Edward looked amused.
"I'm so sorry." I was mortified.
I stood up quickly, and the wagon spun and I started to sway. Edward jumped to his feet and steadied me.
"No need to apologize." He was grinning happily.
He held my hand as he led me to the edge of the wagon. He stepped down and then turned to lift me down. There were a few stragglers, but it seems that most had left as soon as the ride was over.
"There you are. I was beginning to think that you were going to sleep in the wagon all night. Maybe next year we need to make it scarier." Emmett's voice boomed across the barnyard.
"Leave her alone, Emmett." Edward rolled his eyes. "I'm going to get your coat. Wait here for me."
"You guys aren't staying for the workers' party?" Emmett asked.
"Not tonight." I shook my head.
"I was hoping to talk to you for a moment." Emmett looked a bit nervous.
"Sure. I have a few minutes." I shrugged.
"I was hoping that you would put in a good word for me with Rosie…Rose," he amended.
I sighed heavily and glanced to the barn hoping that Edward would appear. "I'm afraid that I can't do that."
"Why not? I'm a good guy. Just ask your man if you don't believe me." Emmett looked as if I kicked his puppy.
"It's not that, you're also a guy about to leave for Alaska," I hinted.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Emmett started to sound upset.
"Has a lot to do with it," I responded quietly.
"What's going on?" Edward looked back and forth between us.
"I just asked her to help a brother out that's all, and she refused." Emmett scowled.
I shifted uncomfortably in my spot; Edward wrapped an arm around my waist and held me to him protectively.
"And to get her to change her mind you've decided to yell at her?" Edward's eyes narrowed.
Emmett's head dropped. "He's right. I'm sorry, I'm just disappointed."
"I'm sorry that I had to disappoint you, but this is a discussion you should have with Rose, not me."
"I've tried, but she won't let me get in two words." Emmett sighed and rubbed his chin.
Edward reached over and patted his shoulder. "I'm going to take Bella home and grab Jake; I'll see you tomorrow."
"Have a good night. I'm sorry again for yelling at you, Bella." Emmett glanced at me apologetically.
"I understand. Goodnight, Emmett. Good luck in Alaska if I don't see you." I smiled.
He nodded distractedly before heading towards the barn.
Edward draped my coat over my shoulders. "Are you ready to go?"
I nodded, and we walked in silence to his truck. Once we were inside, Edward turned the heat up on high. Instead of sitting all the way on my side, I sat in the middle and rested my head on Edward's shoulder.
"I'm sorry about my brother. He usually doesn't get this worked up about a girl. Though no girl has ever resisted his charm, maybe that's why," Edward spoke after we got on the highway.
"Please, don't tell him this; she said she'd talk to him. Rose has closed herself off from the idea of relationships. I'm hoping she'll change her mind. She doesn't like the idea of letting someone in that's just going to leave," I explained softly.
"I can understand why she would feel that way. I'll tell him to back off," Edward promised.
"That's nice of you to offer, but Rose is insisting on handling it herself."
"Well, if she changes her mind, just say the word." Edward kissed the side of my head.
"Was Jake a good boy for Alec?" Edward seemed curious.
"As good as a dog could be. Rose might be a little mad at you. She was hoping that this would backfire, and Alec would realize that a dog is too much work. But the opposite happened. Not only is Alec more in love than ever about having a dog, but Alicia now wants one too." I smirked.
"Every boy needs a dog; he is man's best friend after all." He leaned forward and grabbed a bill from the dashboard. "Before I forget, this is for Alec."
He handed me a five-dollar bill and I looked at it confused.
"What's this for?"
"I asked him to dogsit, and he should get paid." Edward shrugged.
"That's very sweet of you." I placed the money in my pocket.
Edward tapped his hands on the wheel a few times and appeared to get slightly nervous.
"I was wondering if you might want to spend the night at my place after the dance." His voice had a thicker edge to it.
"Oh…" I thought about how to respond to him. "I'm not so sure if I'm ready for that step yet," I answered honestly.
"I don't mean to rush you. I wasn't asking to have sex. However, I thought it might be nice to have some uninterrupted alone time. You could even sleep in my guest room if you'd like." Edward looked a bit sheepish.
"Can I think about it?"
"Of course, you can answer me when I bring you home or to my place that night. But no pressure. I'll still like you even if you tell me no," he promised with a hint of humor in his voice.
"Good to know." A small giggle escaped my lips.
A/N:
Happy New Year!
I think it's safe to say that Edward distracted Bella enough or at least made her feel safe enough that she was able to tune out the hayride.
Will she spend the night? I know the answer already. But don't give the girl a hard time about thinking about it rather than just jumping in. It has been a long time since she has done something like that. I think it's only natural for her to be cautious about how fast to go. Remember she has only known the guy about a month and dated less than three weeks.
Thank you for reviewing and all the love you have given my story.
