A/N: I would like to send out a special thanks to NewDayofFire for helping me with this chapter. You're great Mac, thanks!
Oh, by the way, the girls' dresses from last chapter are linked on my profile. At least, Rosalie's dress is, and dresses close to Alice's and Bella's are. Sorry I didn't think to do that before.
And so, here it is. Hope you like it. If you do, I expect tons of reviews.
It switches back and forth between EPOV and BPOV a lot, just to warn you, but I thought that it worked for this chapter. Sorry if you don't like it.
Disclaimer: All things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer.
BPOV
I was momentarily blinded by all the crazy flashes of cameras and the spot lights on the carpet. Everywhere people shouted to the celebrities from behind the ropes for autographs, interviews, and pictures. Edward stood up and I took my place to his right and slightly behind him. As soon as the reporters saw him, there was no room for anyone else.
A breathtaking woman with strawberry blonde hair wearing a very tight green cocktail dress slid up beside Edward and took his arm, standing right in front of me. I stepped back to give her more room, recognizing his co-star Tanya Sodocha. The Russian beauty whispered something in his ear that lit up his face in a glowing smile.
My smile stayed glued on my face as she turned slightly and barely acknowledged me. The glare in her eyes made me think that she was happy not to have to really greet me just yet. They posed for the cameras and answered questions, and I just stood there. What else could I do? Edward's agent had wanted him to escort Tanya, but he'd insisted I come instead.
That didn't seem to matter to Tanya, though. Who could blame her? He was fantastic. Hot, fine, handsome, gorgeous, cute. And that's just the surface. It became more and more of a struggle to keep my smile plastered on my face as we made our way up the carpet. It was also becoming more crowded as celebrities with larger entourages arrived and filled up the space.
I was trying not to interrupt Edward and Tanya's premier, but people were moving in between us and separating us and Edward had said I should grab his hand if I needed to. Before I could decide, though, a warm hand shot out from around the guy standing between Edward and me and grabbed my wrist. It yanked me around the bodyguard and I almost collided with its owner.
"Don't scare me like that Bella," Edward angrily whispered. "I turned my head to check on you and you weren't there! Stay right here," he said and slid his hand down to grab my wrist. My fears melted as he kept my hand in his and shifted around so that Tanya was on his other side. It was my turn to gloat, if I could have felt anything other than the fire on my skin where he touched me.
The reporters noticed him holding my hand right away, and definitely asked questions.
"She's a friend whom I did not want to get lost in the crowd," was all Edward answered. I felt the blush grow on my face with each query and really wanted to drop his hand and make a run for the theatre. But that would have left Edward and Tanya alone. That bothered me more than I wanted anyone to know. It also seemed pretty impossible to get him to let go of my hand anyway.
Edward and Tanya skillfully answered almost every question thrown at them. Some of the reporters seemed really thrown off by me since they'd all been writing for months about Edward and Tanya's secret relationship. A few of them were not satisfied with the "just friends" explanation. I didn't much like it myself.
We eventually worked our way all the way to the theatre doors and I felt massive relief. I looked around and noticed there were a lot of movie stars milling around the lobby. I hadn't expected them to be so normal, standing in line for snacks themselves, mixed in with regular people like me.
Edward left me in a corner of the lobby while he went to speak to a few cast members. I didn't miss the fact that Tanya stayed close to him throughout the resulting conversations and pictures. I felt really disappointed in myself. We were just friends, and there was no reason for him not to hang out with the cast and crew of the movie that was premiering tonight. They had all worked very hard and deserved a chance to be recognized.
It was the feelings that Tanya stirred in me that made me disappointed in myself. I had no right to want him all to myself. He was closer to dating Tanya than he was to dating me, and I felt the façade slip from my face as if it were a mask.
I stood in the corner, next to a large glass case with three creepy looking wax figures in it. The rest of the lobby was breathtaking with its Asian murals, vases, and chandelier. Wax figures just gave me the creeps. The plaque underneath them advised readers that they used to be considered good luck charms that movie stars would touch as they passed. To me they looked worn out, the flesh colored wax looking dull and transparent from too many caresses.
So far, there were no members of the media in the lobby, all still clamoring after interviews with the still arriving celebrities. Edward and Tanya had both disappeared. Edward and I had never really talked about her before, so I didn't know how he felt about her. I knew that he felt that the cast and crew in general were like a family to him, and Tanya was part of the cast.
I could guess where they were. Co-stars fell in love all the time. They had to portray intense emotions and were taught how to make it seem real. I was instantly over Hollywood. I wanted to go home right that moment. Forget about the movie.
I had no idea where my friends were in the dim theatre, but I decided to try to find them anyway. Alice had my cell phone in her clutch because I had refused to have to keep up with one all night. Why carry a purse that has no strap? Your hands are full all night and you have to worry about whether you will lose it or not.
I was momentarily pulled back into the awe of Hollywood by the ornate chandelier and sunburst on the ceiling. Dragons danced at the edges and small Chinese scenes dotted the outside of the dragons' circle. I turned around and saw the stairs to the private boxes in the balcony and looked up to see Alice waving frantically at me, trying to get my attention. I waved back, acknowledging her and turned towards the stairs.
An arm wrapped around my waist and a velvet voice whispered in my ear.
"Why do you keep running away from me?" Edward asked, sounding slightly wounded. The awe was gone again. I was surprised that I had been so caught up in Hollywood, actually. I hated celebrity for celebrity's sake. But I had been acting like a star struck teenager all weekend. Edward must have seen the irritation in my eyes because he stepped back when I turned to face him.
"I think it was you who left me in a corner so you could run off with your date, was it not?" I whispered/ snarled. He looked stung for a second and then narrowed his eyes.
"Are we jealous Isabella?" I just folded my arms, trying to will my anger to keep my face pale instead of red.
"You are. I told you what would happen, didn't I? I told you my agent wanted Tanya to be my date, but I explained that you were going to be my date. It wasn't my doing, Bella. I'd rather you were next to me than behind me anytime." His eyes were slightly watery as if I'd hurt his feelings.
"But we weren't on the red carpet anymore, Edward. And you stuck me in a corner while you disappeared with Tanya."
"I didn't disappear with her, Isabella. Our director wanted to talk to us about that stupid song that's been giving us so much trouble in filming. He thought he found one that could work and didn't want to wait before playing it for us. We had to go to a private room so we could hear it. We weren't alone. Five other people were there." His eyes held nothing but sincerity as he pleaded with me to believe him.
"Whatever. It doesn't matter to me what you do, or who you do it with. I just didn't like being left alone in a large group of people," I dismissed my true feelings with a wave of my hand. His eyes narrowed again and an unknown emotion darkened them at my subtle reminder of our friendship status. I looked away.
EPOV
I kind of liked jealous Bella. It gave me hope that maybe she felt the same about me that I felt about her. I didn't believe for one second that she didn't care what I did. She'd stood in that corner like a sulking brat who wasn't getting her way. I enjoyed it very much.
As much as I was enjoying it, I didn't want her mad at me, and I could tell she was close to that. It was time to stop teasing her and comfort her a bit. I smiled at her and took her hand, lacing our fingers together. They fit perfectly, but I couldn't concentrate on that. It was going to be difficult enough sitting with her in a darkened theatre for two hours.
I resisted the urge to brush her hair back from her face and pulled her face up to face me. I didn't know if I should thank Alice and Rose or curse them out for what they had done to Bella. I had to work hard to keep reacting to her as a gentleman.
I pulled her up the stairs to our private box just as the warning lights dimmed to signal the start of the previews. Even at a fancy Hollywood premier the movie had previews.
"Bella! Isn't this great?" Alice squealed. I had noticed that the three girls had the reaction spectrum covered. Alice was at one end, all excitement and giggles over everything. Rosalie was in the middle, happy to be there but acting mature about it. And then there was Bella, just sitting back and taking everything in, not impressed by anything at this premier. Unless you looked at her eyes, shining with interest.
I settled myself on the aisle, leaving the seat next to me empty while the girls gathered in the corner, talking, ignoring the previews. Finally, the lights dimmed again, ready to start the movie, and Bella stumbled and kicked her way over to her seat.
The instant she sat down the air between us was filled with the electricity that had only been hinted at each time we'd touched. The few inches between us felt solid with it, making us seem much closer. Her arm was resting on the armrest, her hand clinched around the end, holding on for dear life. Was she feeling what I felt?
Before I could think about it, I reached out and grabbed her hand. The electricity now flowed like a connected plug and I could not concentrate on anything else. I should have been watching my movie, paying attention to the audience's reactions, but all there was in that room was Bella Swan.
I made up my mind then and there. Nothing else mattered in my life. I wanted, no needed, Bella in my life. Tanya's face inexplicably flashed in my mind, but was then obliterated by Bella's smile.
The movie finally ended, amidst thunderous applause, and I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I caught Jasper's eye and nodded to the secret exit. Screw the reporters wanting an interview. We had planned to all go to dinner and then the three couples would go their own ways for the night. Bella and I weren't a couple, yet. But I was losing my fight against the long distance relationship fairy that kept whispering to me in Bella's voice.
I whipped out my cell phone and texted Tanya to let her know I had to leave early and would not be giving any interviews tonight. I told her to tell them that my publicist would let them know when I would be giving them on Monday. After Bella left. My phone beeped her immediate response of a simple "whatever". She was not happy with me at all for bringing a date when she hadn't brought one.
She said it made her seem desperate and like she was pushing Bella out of the way so she could stand in front of her. Which was what happened.
BPOV
Okay, I really hoped Edward never asked me what I thought about that movie, because I didn't see one second of it. I really wouldn't have realized it was over if Alice hadn't sighed her satisfaction from next to me. I slipped my hand from Edward's finding relief from the burning electricity that had swum between us for the past two hours. But the action also brought an unsettled feeling at the same time.
I didn't look at his eyes as I turned to follow our friends out of a back exit to the box. I didn't look at him when I spoke, either, my voice shaking a little from left-over emotion.
"Don't you have some interviews or something to do?" I asked him over my shoulder.
"Naw, Tanya's got it covered. I'll schedule some for Monday," he said, his voice low and deep. I glanced back at him, tripping over something while I was distracted. His arms caught me, again.
"Bella, if you really want to meet a new floor, I could introduce you to one, you don't have to fall all over yourself in your eagerness," he chuckled. The sarcastic reply died on my lips.
"Stupid shoes," was all I could whisper. He took my elbow, gently guiding me down the hall and to the stairwell to catch up to our friends.
Our heels clacking on the cement stairs was the only sound in the echoing stairwell. Even Emmett was quiet, perhaps sensing some changes in the air. Or our silence could have been because of the movie. Or because four of us were thinking that tomorrow we'd be separated for who knows how long, once again.
I put that thought out of my head as we all six piled into Edward's white limo.
"Wow," Emmett breathed, once we were driving off towards the restaurant.
"Understatement," Rose agreed. The rest of us nodded while Edward's face lit up in his crooked smile.
"That movie was excellent, Edward," Jasper said. "Much better than the first one."
"Thanks, man. We tried," Edward said, reaching across me to bump fists with Jasper. My heart sped up as he leaned into me.
I was going to hyperventilate before the night was over. Who knows what he has planned for after dinner?
His arm stretched across the seat behind me, brushing my hair across my neck and sending shivers down my back. I hoped Edward didn't notice my embarrassing reactions to his proximity, but a sly glance from the corner of his eye made me think he might have.
I was going insane. I was dying. I was hyperventilating. Something was happening to me. I'd never felt all this emotion and physical feeling before and had no clue what was going on.
I was given temporary relief when we finally reached the restaurant. I say temporary because we were sat at a table with a round booth seat and Edward scooted up close enough to touch me.
We bumped elbows every time one of us went to eat or drink. It would have been annoying if I hadn't guessed Edward was doing it on purpose. Was he flirting with me? Our careful no-contact space had completely disappeared, and he was touching me every few seconds now. It even looked like he was doing it on purpose.
It was also a temporary relief because Edward rushed me through dinner, not even giving me the option of getting desert. I was okay with that since I hadn't really been able to eat much anyway.
We were the first to leave, earning raised eyebrows from Alice and Rosalie for me. Emmett and Jasper directed theirs to Edward.
"We have plans to be somewhere soon. Got to get there before the guard leaves," Edward explained.
We'd barely talked the whole night, but we seemed to be headed towards a cliff. Things couldn't always stay the same, because I thought that I had seen a little bit of my own feelings reflected back to me in his eyes.
Edward handed a slip of paper to the valet outside the restaurant and we stood on the curb. I couldn't keep my eyes from his face for long, though I tried very hard. He stared up at the stars or down at the sidewalk, changing each time I looked at him.
The valet returned driving a sleek black car which I had no idea the name of. Edward opened the passenger door for me and closed it behind me. It seemed like he ran to get to the driver's side and then we were off, speeding way too fast in the busy LA traffic.
"Edward, slow down! Where are we going that you're so rushed to get to?"
"It's a surprise. We have to get there before the guard leaves, as I told the guys. He said he'd let me through, but he makes rounds once every hour. If we aren't there soon, we'll have to wait another hour." He glanced at the clock and sped up even faster.
I avoided the windows and the speedometer and looked at him instead, not wanting to get motion sickness. His jaw was clenched as he glanced at the clock every few seconds and I was waiting for him to relax.
We were driving up into hills now, a steep precipice on my side of the road. It made me nervous so I slid closer towards Edward and calmed down when his arm went around my shoulder. I glanced up at him and he smiled down at me, only slightly relaxed.
I could feel that his whole body seemed tight with tension, the muscles in his arm hard as a rock. He stayed like that until we came to a gate off the road to the left. He parked the car and leaped out to open my door.
I stepped out and looked around at the wooded area. Edward let out a frustrated sigh as he scanned the area for the security guard.
EPOV
She fits in so perfectly in this world. Bella, a girl from a small town at a Hollywood premier. Never would have thought of that one. She is so beautiful. My dreams, my perfect dreams never prepared me for Bella Swan.
I drove in silence, the hum of the engine harmonizing serenely with her quite, yet defined presence. I could feel her eyes on me the whole time, probably too afraid to look out the window. I didn't want to scare her, but I needed to get there in time. Sam said he'd try to wait for us, but he did have to log in at each of his stops.
He could justify a few minutes, claiming he thought he saw something, but more than that would require a full written report. If I wasn't there on time, we'd have to sit in this car for a whole hour. Not that there weren't things to do in a car, even if you did stay in the front seat.
We finally entered the hills, and I felt my body relax just a little. We were almost there and would probably make it in time. The road opened up on the right, falling down a few hundred feet. Bella's face seemed to pale and she shrunk towards me. I knew she didn't like my normal speed and 105 mph was probably freaking her out. At least she never looked at the speedometer.
She was so close yet so far away still, so I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her to me. She relaxed completely while I felt the added tension of her closeness.
We finally reached the gate, but Sam wasn't there. Heck. I did not want to wait a whole hour! It was bad enough we had to miss the sunset, but sitting in a car was not romantic, no matter what you were doing.
I got out, opened Bella's door, and looked for Sam. Finally, his headlights showed around the bend in the road back the way we'd come from. He smiled sheepishly at me, looked appreciatively at Bella, and opened the gate to let us in.
"You have one hour, Cullen. Make it good," he whispered as I got into the Vanquish. I looked at Bella, getting in on her side, and thankfully she hadn't heard anything. I got in and drove through the gate, watching in the rearview mirror as Sam closed the gate.
Fifteen minutes later, we arrived. The Hollywood Hills. Beautiful, silent, and intimidating, a lot like love. I parked a little ways from the Hollywood sign, planning on walking to it.
"Wow," Bella breathed, stepping out of the car. Even at night the city was beautiful from the hills. "I've never seen anything so beautiful." I agreed, but the beauty was her, not the artificial lights in the valley below us.
BPOV
"Neither have I," Edward replied.
I took my eyes away from the valley. He was staring at me as he made his comment. I realized that it held a double meaning. He cleared his throat suddenly and looked away back towards the lights below, effectively ruining the moment.
"Well, um, I thought since you're here, you might as well get the full Hollywood experience. The Hills are probably one of the best places to see since they are everywhere. I thought we might walk to the famous sign, if you're up to it. I don't believe there is a prettier view than this for miles."
Again with the double meanings.
"Well, I don't know. If I ruin these heels, Alice would have my head."
"Hold on," he said. He walked over to me, bent down, and grabbed my ankle.
"Ed-." He shushed me and yanked off the shoes, and sprinted back to the car.
"Don't worry, there's nothing but grass here, and your feet will be fine," he said.
EPOV
"Follow me", I said, almost an octave higher than what my voice should have been. It was left over from grabbing her perfect ankle and seeing the butterfly tattoo there. It brought back memories and I was fighting back a blush. I hoped my hand wasn't too sweaty as I grabbed hers to pull her in the right direction.
Why am I so nervous? I'm Edward-freaking'- Cullen! Major movie star for crying out loud! I've been with plenty of girls before. Why is Bella so different? Not different, but unique and full of depth. She was not caught on what I am, but showed genuine interest in who I am.
"Wow, Edward. I never thought that I would ever be here. I'm feeling very blessed right now. And overwhelmed."
"Yeah, great place, Hollywood. Really no other place like it."
"No", she said."That's not what I meant."
She looked down, and began to stare at her feet. Was SHE nervous? Please don't hide your eyes Bella. Look at me. She lifted her head and spoke. Words flowed from her mouth as if she couldn't stop them, a tide that no levee would hold back.
BPOV
I took a deep breath and decided to go for it. What could happen? I was leaving to go back to Forks tomorrow and if things went badly, we could just go on with our lives, as if none of this ever happened. Though I hoped that wouldn't happen.
I knew Rosalie would think I was taking a cop out, saying this when there was no real risk. But to me, this was extremely risky. I was in love with Edward, and if he didn't feel the same, then no words cold describe the way I would feel.
I took another deep breath and clarified my earlier statement.
"No, I didn't mean here as in physically. I meant here here. I'm here with you, you of all people. A movie star, yes, but one who has proved me wrong on every level. You've really changed the way I see a lot of things. I no longer think that all movie stars are stuck up snobs. I really like the you that I've gotten to know these past few months." I turned to look at him, meeting his eye only after I'd finished.
He just stared at me, a surprised look on his face. Slowly the corner of his mouth began to twitch, and quite suddenly, I found myself standing in front of a blushing, smiling Edward.
"Why Bella, I do believe that, that was the nicest thing you've ever said to me." Well, it wasn't a kiss, but at least he hadn't turned me away in embarrassment.
"That was probably the nicest thing I've ever said." Well it was.
EPOV
We continued our walk in silence for the next few minutes. I was still processing what she'd said. I wondered, again, if she could possibly feel the same love for me that I had for her. The wind blew through the trees, turning colder. I felt Bella's shudder through our clasped hands and mentally kicked myself.
Of course it would be colder out here, close to the cliff face. And I had left her barefoot.
"It's s-so cold", she gasped out. I slipped my arm around her shoulders, and gently pulled her to my side.
"I'm sorry Bella, I should have thought about that. Your dress is too thin and I left you without shoes. I'm sorry." I pulled her closer, and rubbed her arms, trying to warm her up with friction.
"Thanks", she whispered, looking up. Our eyes locked, and the air between us crackled with electricity as the mood slowly changed. I saw deep into her eyes and was amazed by what I saw.
I saw there, buried beneath all of her pride, her prejudices, her strength, the facade breaking, revealing the soul of one being, smoldering, burning, in my arms. This one look stopped me in my tracks. My heart sped up, and I pulled her closer so I could feel hers speed up as well. Every place that her skin touched mine burned, but it didn't matter. Her eyes held every question imaginable, but I held this one moment in my hands.
I found myself leaning forward, inch by inch, closer, closer. I could feel her breath, moist and warm, on my face.
BPOV
How many times I must have dreamed of this moment. His face so close to mine, our breathing deep in perfect synchronization. My heart raced, almost hurting in anticipation. God I hoped there were no police cars anywhere near.
I could feel the familiar flush race across my skin, making me impervious to the cold air around me. He looked into my eyes; I looked into his, both of us closing them nearly at the same time. The final plunge, a moment of truth.
My heart rate sped up impossibly faster and stopped momentarily as our lips made contact. We moved together as one being. His light pressure leading the direction of this kiss, and my responding pressure continuing the moment. Sweet. Innocent. Perfect. A subtle flow of butterflies filled my stomach with excitement, and a feeling I had never had before consumed me.
I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. To remain solid, and stand here with Edward, and to melt into his arms at the all at once. Then, quite suddenly, his lips parted. The kiss deepened, and I, poor Bella, lost it.
Passion, an onslaught of pure passion, took me over. Weeks and weeks of built up anxiety, loneliness, and only hearing his voice and never seeing his face broke through like a flood. The defenses I had built up over the years were destroyed. Years of building up, only seconds to tear them down.
EPOV
Kissing Bella was like nothing I had ever experienced before in my life. We fit perfectly in each other's arms. Her lips were like that missing puzzle piece you could never find in a whole stack of them. Our light embrace pure and simple, filled with me an emotion that I had never really experienced. No other girl had ever felt like this before.
I parted my lips willing to take this kiss to the next level. I pulled her closer to me, tightening my arms securely around her waist. She pulled me even closer, pressing her body tightly against mine. I felt her raw emotion pouring out through her lips. My blood pressure spiked, willing this to go on.
This was dangerous. I had to stop, to breathe, to think.
BPOV
Heat, nothing but heat. Passion showed no mercy. It was like I was trying to communicate "I love you" with every movement, every breath. Oh how I had fallen in love with him, and oh how I wanted him to feel that.
He pulled away from me gently, looking at me with those beautiful green eyes. It was time for us to breathe, and I hadn't realized before that I was nearly out of breath. I knew I had to be blushing heavily, but I didn't expect him to be tomato red.
"I think we need to stop", he said breathlessly.
"No.", I moaned, as I pulled myself closer to him.
"Don't be silly, Bella," he began. "This is not the place to get caught up in the moment."
And with that, he kissed me lightly on the lips, and we continued on walking, hand in hand, closer than before.
0000000000000000
I was spent, emotionally and physically, by the time we got back to the hotel. We had spent the hour, walking around the Hollywood Hills, talking, enjoying each other's company.
We didn't talk about what had happened, but we didn't act like nothing happened, either. It just wasn't the time to discuss what we were, when we both knew we were definitely more than friends. The reality of my flight back to Forks the next night and his flight back to Iowa and his film set sometime Tuesday made things like that not a priority for now.
I really wanted to just flop down in bed and sleep for twelve hours or so. But that was nixed when we reached my hotel room door.
Alice had hung out the "Do Not Disturb" sign. That wouldn't have been something to sorry about, except that Jasper was not in his room and had left a note for Edward. Guess the mystery of his and Alice's physical relationship was now answered.
Jasper's note advised that he would not be over there all night, and that Edward should amuse himself for a few hours. Yeah, right. I had just had my very first kiss; no way was I going to jump into bed with Edward that soon.
So we curled up on the couch, sort of watching a rerun of an old TV show, Alf. It was a classic and one easily ignored as we avoided the topic of relationships and just enjoyed being together for a few more hours.
I fell asleep sometime after the fifth Alf episode, Edward's warm arms wrapped tightly around me.
A/N: My longest chapter yet! So, are you a little happy now? By the way, I have been in many hotels where they show random reruns of Alf. Have you ever seen it? Maybe I'm showing my age here, 25, by the way, but I loved it when I was younger.
Okay, show me some love by clicking the button and reviewing. Hope this satisfies you for a little while, because this story ain't over yet.
Love ya.