Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or High Spirits.
A/N: I'm not really pleased with this chapter, so I won't blame you if you don't like it.
"I'm so sorry for intruding, Edward," Bella said apologetically as she began to inch backwards toward the entrance. "I'm just going to leave now."
I frowned slightly at her words. Intruding? "Don't be ridiculous. You're not intruding. Please, stay."
She shook her head fervently. "No, no. I just got drawn in by the music. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation. It was very rude of me. I'm sorry."
She turned for the door but I quickly appeared by her side, grabbing her hand gently and turning her toward me. "Bella, you don't have to leave. You weren't eavesdropping. I'm sure anything I've said, you already know. Besides," I said softly, my smile reticent as I gazed at her. I suddenly felt vulnerable, completely transparent. "I don't have any secrets from you."
I pulled her close and carefully brushed my fingers along her cheek. A faint blush pooled in their wake and I could have sworn my heart stuttered at the sight of just how utterly breathtaking she was. I was overcome with the sudden urge to kiss her, but as I began to lean down to touch my lips to hers, the sound of my Grandfather's voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Well, Bella, Edward has told all of us so much about you." His voice was loud to my ears, and for the first time ever, I cursed my Grandfather's presence. I had a mind to just kiss her anyway, audience be damned, but found Bella pulling away from my grasp at the intrusion.
She hastily pulled away from me and a great sense of discontent swept through me at the missed opportunity. We had so few chances to be together that it felt wrong not to kiss her every chance I could. My whole body ached when I was not near her, and at this very moment, my fingers twitched to grab her and hold her close. I shook my head and sighed. Turning to my Grandfather, I caught a knowing smile etched across his face, the whiskers of his white mustache twitching with his held in laughter. The old fool was enjoying this.
"Bella, this is my Grandfather, Anthony Masen."
Bella smiled innocently and offered a hand, brushing some hair from her face with the other. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Masen. Edward speaks very highly of you."
"Please, call me Anthony," he offered kindly. My Grandfather reached out to take her hand, but as he went to clasp her fingers in his, his hand passed right through her as if she weren't even there. We all frowned.
"That's odd," Bella began, staring at her hand. "Why did that happen?" She looked up at me for an answer.
I shook my head and felt my brow purse together in thought. "I don't know." I frowned again and looked to my grandfather. He had to know more than I did.
"We cannot touch the living, Edward. You know this." He said it so matter-of-factly I felt silly for looking to him for an answer. I knew this was the case, but I thought perhaps I was mistaken about our circumstances given mine and Bella's current situation. He shrugged at me nonchalantly. "But I thought I would give it shot, seeing as how you and Bella do not have that problem. But I see now that it is just something you two possess."
My frown deepened as I looked at him and he could see that I was confused. "If we can't touch the living, then how come I can touch Bella? It doesn't make any sense."
He shrugged again. He did not seem as concerned or agitated by this as I was. "Maybe you two are meant for each other, and your souls are connecting?" Bella and I looked at each other and I watched her skin flush once more. She ducked her eyes away from mine and looked to my grandfather. "It's just a theory you two, but a damn good one if I do say so myself." He smiled, sticking his thumbs under his suspenders and rocking on his heels. He was pleased with himself.
"Our souls are connecting?" Bella asked softly, her voice squeaking slightly. "So do you mean…." Her voice trailed off and I felt my lips turn up on one side as I realized the meaning of his words.
He nodded. "Yes, you two are soul mates."
We were meant to be together.
Deep down I had always known this, but hearing my grandfather say the words only made the belief that much stronger. I smiled and looked down at Bella, only to see her lip caught between her teeth and her eyebrows scrunched together. This news did not seem to excite her as it did me.
I took her hand. "Bella, love, are you alright?" She didn't say anything, so I pressed again. "Bella….what's wrong?"
She looked up from the floor, which seemed to have captivated all her attention a moment ago, and looked up at me. Her eyes were glassy and her cheeks flushing an even deeper red than before. She looked back over to my grandfather.
"I'm sorry," she said to him, her tone apologetic; her voice choking on the words. She looked back up at me and I could just make out the faintest tear brimming on her lid. "I have to go, Edward."
Her hand slipped from mine and she ran for the hall. Before I could race after her, my grandfather grabbed a hold of my arm, holding me back. I looked over at him and he shook his head.
"Let her go."
"But she's upset," I argued. "She needs me."
He shook his head again, more fervidly this time, and his hold on me tightened. I could have just as easily disappeared from the room and materialized wherever Bella was, but the look in my grandfather's eyes told me to listen to him.
"Do you have any idea why she might be upset?" I asked. He clearly seemed to be reading the situation differently than I was. I couldn't help but be consumed with worry over her. She was all I thought about, all I spoke about any more, all that mattered to me, and my entire being screamed at me to go to her.
"Edward," he started, dropping his hand from my upper arm. "I just told you that you and Bella could possibly be soul mates. Think about how that might upset her."
I shook my head softly. "I don't see how that could be upsetting in any way. I'm ecstatic over the news." I smiled, my heart soaring at the thought. "This means we're meant to be together."
He closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them again he said, "And you two have no possible way of being together." He implored me with his eyes to understand. And, in that moment, I did.
My smile faded and as I looked at my grandfather's sorrowful expression, all the happiness that I was feeling had left me. Bella realized quicker than I did that no matter if we were destined to be together, it could never actually be.
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EPOV
