A/N: Thanks to all the reviews and such. I'm still sick, and am starting to get a bit worried I won't be able to update everyday. I'm only on chapter 15, but I'll do my very hardest. It's safe to say that I wasn't expecting to get sick, and it threw my whole schedule off balance.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or its characters, Stephenie Meyer owns everything.
Counting Down the Days
Chapter 12
Sunday, December 12th
"Close the door behind you," Tanya said, and I made sure it was both closed and locked. We were in one of the darkrooms, developing the photos Tanya had taken of me on Thursday.
"Do you usually use film rolls? I thought most photographers were going digital these days."
Tanya shrugged. "It depends, some kinds of pictures look better when taken with a digital camera, and vice versa."
"Oh, okay."
Tanya turned her back on me to start with the developing, so I didn't see her facial expression as she spoke. "Have you decided what to do about Edward?"
I sighed. "No. I really don't know how to tell him. I don't want to ruin anything."
"But it already is ruined." Tanya turned around to face me. "You can't act like you usually did around him because you have feelings for him, and I bet that he's noticed something's different with you. Guys may be dense, but not that dense."
"You think I should tell him?"
"Yes, and soon. Preferably today. You can't keep avoiding it, it won't help. So therefore I am officially kicking you out from my darkroom on the condition that you go straight up to Edward, tell him you love him and then kiss the hell out of him."
The serious look on her face made me chuckle, and I nodded. "I'm gonna do it. Wish me luck!"
"Break a leg," Tanya called after me as I quickly left the darkroom. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, and I tried to think of where Edward could be. As I walked back to the dorm I sent off a text.
Hey, where are you? I need to talk to you.
I found Alice in the living-area, watching a re-run of Project Runway with a freshman named Bree.
"Hey Alice, do you know where Edward is?" I asked, sitting down next to her. She was so engrossed in the show that she didn't even look at me when she answered.
"He's visiting mom and dad. He should be back later tonight."
My heart sank. He would be gone all day? What was I going to do then? My mind was on Edward, I couldn't concentrate on anything else. I needed to do something that would ensure my mind was occupied. I knew just the thing.
"Hey Alice, do you wanna start on some Christmas shopping today?"
...
"What I don't understand, is why we need to drive all the way to Schaumburg. There are plenty of malls in Chicago, you know."
"Because there's a greater chance of finding something unique if we stay away from the shops closest to home." Alice explained as we exited the highway. "Plus, it'll kill time. We probably won't be back before Edward, so you can talk to him then."
"How did you know about that?" I asked, in shock.
"Please Bella, I know you. And I know that you saw Edward and Irina on Thursday. You completely underestimate me. So, who are you buying presents for?"
I was still a bit stunned by her insight, but decided to let it go. "Uh, I was thinking for the secret Santa game, Emmett, Rose and Jasper?"
Alice nodded, looking over her shoulder before pulling into the parking lot at Woodfield Mall. I'd never been there before, and as I looked up at the mall I was impressed by the size. I was also scared to death because if it was one thing I knew about Alice, it was that she could demolish a mall.
"Where do you wanna go first?" Alice asked as we went through the entrance, and I saw her eyes light up. I looked around the crowded mall, noticing Sears on my left and Forever 21 straight ahead.
"Uh, maybe we can start by eating? It's almost two, and I haven't had any lunch yet."
"We can't eat first! Then we'll be bloated and the clothes we buy won't fit right."
"Okay, first; I wasn't planning on buying or even trying on any clothes. Second; I haven't eaten since eight this morning, I need food."
Alice grumbled, but agreed. We went to the Cheesecake Factory, and I guess Alice was pretty hungry since she devoured her pasta within ten minutes. Her energy level seemed to go up even more after eating, and she dragged me into store after store. She forced me to try on a dozen dresses at Nordstrom and I hated all but two, but they were too expensive for me to buy. I went to put back the dresses I'd tried on, and when I joined Alice outside the store, she was carrying a Nordstrom bag in her hand.
"Alice!"
"It's a Christmas present! And I'm not telling you which one I bought, so you'll be surprised when you open the gift!"
"Fine, but you're not allowed to by me anymore presents, okay!"
After that, the hours seemed to go by in a whirlwind. I found all the presents I wanted to. A 50 dollar gift card at iTunes for Edward, the Secret Santa game; a book about the Civil War for Jasper, which I knew he wanted; a gift card at Victoria's Secret for Rose and tickets to go see Monty Python's Spamalot for Emmett. Alice bought a ton of gifts and also about two bags of clothes for herself. There had never been an occasion where we went shopping and she didn't buy anything for herself, whether or not it was a pair of shoes or new earrings.
It was dark outside and my feet were hurting like crazy when we finally piled into the car and started the journey back to campus. I took out my phone from my purse and saw I had a new text from Edward, sent almost three hours ago.
I'm at mom and dad's house but I should be back around 8. Everything okay? You sounded serious.
I looked at the time. 9.17. He was probably already back. I was now happier than ever that Alice drove like a maniac.
"So, should I expect to have the room to myself tonight?" She smirked, and I chuckled.
"No, Alice. Even if he by some miracle feels the same way about me, it's too early for that."
"Whatever floats your boat,"
By the time we had reached the dorm, I was more nervous than I'd probably ever been in my entire life. Alice grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly as we waited for the elevator, and I squeezed back. It felt like it took hours to get up to our floor, but when we finally walked out of the elevator it was too soon. I stopped, and turned to Alice.
"I can't do this!" I gasped.
"Yes, you can. Now go in there and talk to him." Alice took my bags from my hands and pushed me in the direction of Edward's door. "I'll see you later." She went down the hallway, and I waited until I heard her enter our room before staring at the door in front of me.
I took a deep breath, and raised my hand to knock three times rapidly, the sound of my knuckles against the wood echoing in my ears. Edward opened the door, and he grinned when he saw me, the lopsided grin where the left corner of his mouth rose higher than the right.
"Bella, hi!"
"Can I come in?"
"Sure," Edward stepped aside, and I entered. His room looked the same as it did the last time I was in there, and I walked over to the couch. "Is everything okay? Your text sounded pretty serious."
"Everything's fine," I tried to convince him, but I probably failed. In my head I went over the million different ways I could start this conversation, and with each passing second I grew more and more scared.
"You sure? You look pretty nervous." Edward was leaning against the closed door, and there was a strand of hair that kept falling over his forehead, and I suddenly had the urge to push it back from his face.
I didn't have the guts to look directly at him, so I started pacing back and forwards, my eyes on my shoes. "I'm really bad with words, which is kind of a laugh since I'm an English major, and I don't really know how to say this because, as I said, I'm really bad with words so I'm just gonna try to spit it out." I stopped and looked up at him, and seeing the confusion on his face was the final thing that made me find the courage to say what I had to say. "I like you. More than like you. I have been in love with you since this summer, and I've tried to find the courage to tell you but I've been too scared. Up until now. I don't expect you to feel anything for me in return, but I thought you should know."
The room became silent. So silent I could hear the faint noises from the TV in the living area, the sound of people walking and laughing in the hallway, and the buzz from the air conditioning. Edward's face read of shock. His eyes were large, and his mouth was open in shock.
I wanted him to say something. I needed him to say something. Anything. Not just stand there and look at me like I was crazy. He closed his mouth, his right hand came up to run through his hair, and he wet his lips. I saw him take in a deep breath. This was it. He was going to tell me he didn't feel anything for me, and our easy going friendship would be ruined. If only he wasn't blocking my only escape route! Unless you count me jumping out through the window, but that was a tad too dramatic.
"Please say something," my voice was meek, and I felt the need to raise my arms and hug my midsection. A protection from the harsh words that was sure to come.
It took what seemed like a fraction of a second, and then suddenly Edward was in front of me. Close enough so I could hear the sound of his rapid breathing, close enough that I could see the outline of his muscles underneath the threadbare t-shirt he was wearing. Then he reached out and grasped my hands in his, pulling them away from my waist. He grasped my hands tightly in his own, and pulled me to him so that our bodies were almost touching. I could feel the heat from his body, and I tipped my head back so I could look at him.
"I don't remember when I realized I was in love with you, but it was a long time ago. I have been trying so hard to show you with my actions how I feel, but obviously I was too subtle." His grin this time was large, and I felt a similar one come on to my face.
"Are you serious?"
He nodded. "As a heart attack."
"What do we do now?"
"Can I have your phone?"
I frowned. What did he want with my phone? Deciding not to question him I reluctantly let go of his hand to take out my phone from my pocket. I saw Edward turn it off before throwing it on the couch and wrapping his free arm around my waist, pulling me so close that our bodies were pressed together.
"No interruptions." He said before lowering his head and pressing his lips against mine. My eyes fell shut involuntarily, and a shiver went up my spine. His grip around my waist tightened and my hand reached out to his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heartbeat as I fisted my hand in his shirt. His lips were soft against mine and I pressed myself harder against him.
A moan opened my mouth to him, and I sighed in pleasure when I felt his tongue enter my mouth. The second his tongue caressed mine I was glad he was holding me up, because my knees buckled. Our joined hands parted, and while mine went up to grab his hair his cupped my neck, his thumb stroking small circles on my overheated skin. Over and over our tongues met, and I started to feel a throbbing between my legs. If I had my way we would keep on kissing for hours, but it wasn't too long before Edward moved back, placing a soft kiss on my lips before pulling away.
I felt out of breath, and I saw Edward's chest rising and falling as rapidly as mine. "That was…" I searched for the right word, but Edward beat me to it.
"Perfect." He leaned in and planted another gentle kiss on my lips, but pulled back before I could deepen in. "I'm glad you decided to tell me tonight."
"I nearly chickened out," I confessed. "I was so scared."
Edward chuckled and caressed my face. "Why? You must have known how I felt. I thought I was making it obvious, I could feel it in my face every time I looked at you. And when we were at Sliver last weekend…"
"That was some good times," I smiled. "And I hope there'll be many occasions like that in the future."
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