Like I said, after this chapter thing are gonna move forward really fast. I really want to put in some New Moon, and after that I think I'll tie it up with some Eclipse, but I don't know anything for sure yet. I'm not happy with the way I've written so far, except for chapter twenty-one. So I might be writing in a somewhat different style. After this week my fourth year of High School starts, so I hope you can keep your patience with me. Thank you, love you! REVIEW!
Bpov
If I had been told my decision to move to Forks would be the best decision I would ever get to make in my life two months ago, I would have laughed. Not because I thought that comment funny, but because back then I would have thought the person telling me that to be flat out mad!
If an outsider would have seen me in the years I spent in Phoenix, and the last couple of weeks I spent in Forks they would say I was a completely different person. A look-alike perhaps, but definitely not the same girl.
Nearly two months have gone by since my move to Forks, and I too can see the changes within me. But it isn't just the inside appearance that has changed. Since meeting Alice and Leah my wardrobe had been through countless inspections, and I had gotten very clear instructions on how to match things. But to be honest, I cared more for Leah's opinion on the matter than Alice's, due to some of the clothes she had bought me, which weren't exactly my style or deemed appropriate for twelve-year-olds. But I let Alice have her fun during Bella Barbie so she let it go for the better part. Another change, is the fact that I smile a genuine smile. I don't have to fake it anymore. I'm sincerely happy with the current relationship I have with my dad, and the fact that I actually managed to make friends in the short while I've been here. Of course I still ain't used to the vampires around me, nor am I accustomed with the mating, but I was okay with it and still am, and I know that eventually I will grow into it.
A month has passed since I met the Clearwaters, had my reunion with the Blacks, and met some other people at the reservation. Especially meeting Leah had caused the most obvious changes in my demeanour. I walked with my nose in the air, a sincere smile on my face, and showed pride and joy. She managed to improve my klutziness with the lessons she had prepared for me. But I won't lie; we did practice for hours at a time. From this Sunday on we are even going to try and take a run to get me in a healthy shape.
Also, I don't blush as much, and don't mumble or mutter in shyness either. I didn't copy Leah in her behaviour at all, though. Leah is still way more spontaneous than me, uses cuss words regularly, and still barely knows the feeling of shame, whereas I manage to keep my manners.
I can't exactly tell what others think of my change. When all of this started I didn't really realize it was happening, except with the lessons I took from Leah. I didn't expect them to have this much effect at all, though. It's not like I didn't believe in Leah's ways, but I just couldn't picture myself not tripping every day, or being awkward all the time. I don't say she has worked miracles either. It's not like I'm screaming for attention now, or act different to others around me much, I just have a bit more confidence and self-esteem and that makes a world of difference to me especially.
No one has mentioned anything so far, besides my dad and Leah, though I have been getting winks and smiles lately. All my dad said was: "So, I guess you and Leah are getting along, huh? That's good. You're changing, but it's a good change. Well, I'm off to work." After that he quickly gulped down his coffee, awkwardly put on his belt in which his gun hung, and then left with a small wave. I had giggled a little at his behaviour, because until recently I had been just as bad. Emotions are still hard for me to show, but with little steps I walk the road to becoming better with them.
All Leah has said so far without cussing was: "Well, didn't I do fantastic with my training methods? You can thank me later. If there's gonna be a thank you gift I'll give you a hint on what to get; Sam Uley." Then followed a squeak of adoration, before she pulled it together again and went back to work with me, me with a grin on my face and shaking my head at her silliness.
Epov
Warmth. That was the first thing I felt this Saturday when Bella jumped into my arms. By the look on her face and her unabashed enthusiasm I could tell she had been looking forward to seeing me too, today. I span her around in a circle, before reluctantly lowering her to the ground, still holding her close to me.
"How did you sleep?" I ask, guiding her into the house and picking her up to carry her up the stairs.
"I slept okay. I just had a some difficulty with falling asleep and I woke kind of early. I guess I was just very eager to see you again." I smile down softly at her small face with the doe brown trusting eyes I love so much. Ah, yes… I sigh. She had told me a while ago that she felt uneasy when I wasn't near, mostly when I needed to leave for a hunt. Mating. It made it hard for mated pairs to leave each other's side for a long period of time. I too, couldn't keep up my calm façade for long when I couldn't be with Bella.
"I'm here now, so I hope you feel better. If you want, you can take a nap on my couch. I know it's not optimal, but it's something." I say as I sit us both down on the aforementioned couch. "No, I shouldn't be sleeping when I'm here. That's not why I come here. I'll just go to bed early tonight." I sighed. She still felt the need to challenge nearly everything I tried to take of here. She didn't allow me to pick her up to bring her to school in the mornings. She just flat out refused to take gifts from anyone in the family. That's why Alice just put clothes she bought for Bella in her closet when she wasn't at home after ripping of the price tags, which showed a considerable amount of money paid for the item they had been attached on. Also we couldn't walk her home from school, so we waited for her halfway between her house and her school, so we wouldn't raise to much suspicion. It all infuriated me to no end, but Bella insisted on little things like that. I know she means well, and that she's right, but still…
"I don't mind, and I don't think the others will either. Just close your eyes for half an hour or so. I'll wake you up." I looked her sternly in the eyes and after a moment she gave with a sigh, defeat written in her brown pools.
"Promise?" she asks. "Promise." I vow. I shift her position on the couch into a sleeping one, before blurring through the house to get a quilt. When I find the light blue one Esme had made two winters before, I blur back upstairs, covering my cherished one with it, before kissing her forehead softly and walking to the door. "You don't need to go. I'm not gonna kick you out of your own room just because I need a nap. I can nap at home too." She made movements to sit upright, but I quickly stopped her. "It's fine, Bella. Just close your eyes for a bit. I'll be here, sweetheart. Come on, lay down." I push her back onto the couch and before she can blink her eyes lay down next to her. For a moment Bella looks startled, but quickly recovers. "Better?" I ask. She turns her body to me and lays her head on my shoulder. "Yeah, this is fine."
She probably knew I wouldn't wake her after just half an hour. She had come here at ten, so I let her sleep until it was just after noon, because Esme just announced she had lunch ready for Bella.
I try gently shaking Bella awake, but to no avail. I had to chuckle a little at the soft groan she let out. I gently rub my forehead against hers and let my breath fan over her face. "Esme has prepared lunch for you, sleepyhead. So rise and shine." I don't know what made her jump up as quickly as she did, but I suspect it was my close proximity. As she stares at me, I stare right back, unable to look away. And I dazzle her? Not even close to what she's doing to me! God no, don't start blushing too, now! Aarrrrgghh! The things she can do to me!
"Edward?" The sound of Esme's voice brings me back to reality and I shake my head for some clarity. I can see Bella do the same in the corner of my eye and a smile creeps it way up me face. There's no need to make things awkward, so I jump off the couch and pull Bella along out of my bedroom. Then I just look back at her, grin and pick her up and race downstairs with her safely in my arms. I don't know what just happened, but I know it was confusing for the both of us. Still, I won't let it change anything between the two of us. Not when we are doing so fine. I'm getting better with controlling my bloodlust around her, we've been getting a lot closer lately because of that. Everytime she went to Leah's or Jacob's, I went hunting with Alice and Jasper. So each time she had been here, we would be able to touch, hug, talk and bond with each other without me making plans to drain her when nobody was looking. No, I really wasn't going to let something get between me and Bella with the way things were now. But was it a bad thing what just happened? It didn't feel bad…
Was something changing between us? Bella has been acting differently everytime she comes back from Leah's. Maybe this is just us responding to her changes, which causes our bond to change. But what's changing then? I glance down at my beloved little one as she gratefully eats the meal Esme has prepared for her. I guess there's one way to find out…
Bpov
No matter how hard I try, I just can't stop thinking about whatever it was that occurred yesterday between Edward and me. It felt similar to the feeling of being dazzled, but then multiplied a thousand times.
Even Edward had been taken aback by the strange sensation. His behaviour was a bit off, and he seemed lost in thought the whole time, his tense stance alarming, only relaxing when we were in direct contact.
So that's how we spent our time together. With me constantly in his lap, or tucked in his side with his arm around me, my legs in his lap. We mostly sat upstairs, though, occasionally visited by Alice and Emmet, and even graced with Jasper's calming presence for a few minutes.
I let out a sigh, and finish pulling my hair up into a ponytail. Leah and I had decided to try running in the park near my house. It was located about ten minutes away by foot. As much don't look forward to it, I know I have to do this, as a part of my 'training'.
I take another look at myself in the mirror. A slim girl dressed in black sweatpants, a baggy t-shirt and grey and bleu Vans, with freckles on her ivory skin and pulled up hair looks back at me with her brown eyes. I still don't know what I think of my looks. I don't find myself ugly, but I don't believe I'm particularly pretty either. Mom still beats me with her looks. I smile at my thoughts. I have always found mom a lot prettier than me. Well, I guess it can't be helped, I rather be less pretty and have a good functioning brain, then switch places with mom. I smirk at the silly things going through my mind, but it's true. I'm grateful for the brains I thankfully got from my dad. That's probably the only thing that has kept me alive all this time with my unfortunate suckish balance.
I hear the door bell ring and hurry downstairs to open the door. Dad went away early this morning to go fishing with Billy and Harry. It had taken a lot of convincing that Leah and I would be fine on our own, without parental supervision. That we would just go running in the park, probably watch movies afterwards, and then we would come and eat dinner with the Clearwaters and the Blacks at La Push.
"Hey. Wanna go immediately and get it over with?" Leah embraced me briefly and I returned the sentiment. I briefly consider it and then agree.
line while running in the park, and still walk away all casual?" I ask with a pokerface. Leah chuckles as I lock up.
"Sorry, not really. But if I do remember then you'll be the first to know." We walk in silence for a few minutes. "So how was yesterday? Did you and Edward kiss already?" She looks at me with a knowing smirk. Why did I tell her again? Oh, yeah, because we get along so great, even when we're each other's exact opposites. I give my best death glare at Leah, but she only smirks wider, causing my lips to tremble a little after a few seconds, and a blush to spread over my face when I shake my head no.
"Why not?" Leah shouts to me. I flinch embarrassed. "From what I've heard, the two of you practically drift towards each other the whole time. He obviously likes you, seeing as he doesn't hang out with anyone outside his family, except for you. So….Where's. The. Damn. Freakin'. Problem?" Before I can answer, she huffs in annoyance and disapproval. "I know I would take any chance given to me, if Sam were to pay an interest in me." We turn around a corner and see the signs pointing out where the park was.
"Leah, I'm twelve, he's se-, fifteen." I caught myself. Leah didn't notice and I continue. "Besides, he doesn't see me like that at all. If anything at all I'm just a good friend, or a little sister. Probably the latter. And how do you know with whom the Cullens hang out? Have you been listening in on conversations between our parents, again?" I accuse her.
She hangs her head like an enfant who is being scolded. "Sorry, but I just can't help it. I really didn't mean to. But, seriously, take your chance girl. I haven't been practising with you for hours at a time to have you cower at every challenge, still." With that said we closed the subject of Edward. We had arrived at the park anyways, so there wouldn't be much talking from this point on anyways. Leah grabs her phone from the pocket of her vest and puts on 'As long as you love me' by Justin Bieber and Big Sean. ( A/N: NO! I'm not a Bieber fan! But this song is actually pretty good.)
.
The running actually went pretty good. Like I thought, I did trip, but only about four times, one of which wasn't my fault, but I had to dodge a little boy who suddenly ran in front of me, chasing his ball. All in all, that's a lot of improvement in comparison to an imaginary attempt a few weeks ago.
Right now, Leah and I are waiting for Sue to come pick us up for dinner. When we had come back to the house we had showered and watched some Vampire Diaries episodes afterward. I had fallen completely in love with the show after Alice told me about how much she loathed it, and I looked it up, finding that I did enjoy it.
Jasper and Emmet had laughed when I told Alice that the next time I saw her, and Alice just simply shook her head in fake disapproval.
.
During dinner Jacob and I forced ourselves to keep Leah and Seth out of each other's hair, cause the two of them just couldn't live together in harmony. It was a tough job, but it had to be done or the whole thing would have turned into a massacre with Leah's temper. I hadn't been a successful in changing Leah's way as she had been with me, but when I gave her a few subtle kicks underneath the table she wisely kept her mouth shut, and chose to just glare at her little brother instead.
This to the immense relieve of the parents, who became sick and tired of the everlasting fighting between their children.
I feel someone poking me and look up to find Embry and Quil grinning at me. They met up with us right after dinner, to see Jacob.
"Hi, guys." I say cautiously. I know now, from experience that those two can't be trusted when they look at someone like that.
"Hey, Bella."
"Hi."
I raise one eyebrow at them.
"Quil wouldn't believe me when I told him you actually hung out with the Cullens. But Jacob and Leah told me you did. It's true right?" Embry asks with gleaming eyes.
"Yes." I respond nervously. "So?" They sit down as Quil's eyes widen to the size of plates.
"No way! You actually hang out with them? I was told they never talk to anyone, not even the palefaces!" I raise my other eyebrow too at his remark. Embry understands my reaction and quickly nudges Quil in the ribs. Quil, having caught on to what he just said, quickly apologizes.
"Sorry, I didn't mean that the way it sounded. It's just that I was surprised. I mean, a lot of people here in La Push don't come to the hospital, because the Cullens aren't trusted and still everyone here likes you, even when they know you hang out with the Cullens." He nervously fidgets in his seat.
"It's okay. And I assure you that the Cullens are not at all untrustworthy. They're kind people, really." I assure them.
"So the doctor doesn't use his tools to kill people?" Embry asks interested. I freeze for a moment in utter shock, before I realize he meant what he said, but in a completely innocent way.
"I can promise you that you're safer with doctor Cullen than with any other doctor in the world." I say and get up quickly to go find Leah and have some fun, instead of sweating bullets during an interrogation.
"See you guys later!" I yell over my shoulder as I race up the stairs to Leah's room.
.
School was boring, and I found myself happy by the end of the day when the bell rang. I quickly sling my bag over my shoulder and make my way out of the building.
About five minutes later I find myself in the arms of Edward, after he snuck up on me. "Hi." I mumble shyly, embarrassed by how I felt in his presence. I look around for Alice, but am left disappointed.
"Alice didn't come with me today. She needed to hunt. So I thought that if you wouldn't mind I could take you to the meadow. Your dad will be home late anyways. We could spend about an hour and a half there, and then I'll bring you home." His topaz eyes don't leave me much of a choice, and I smile widely in agreement.
.
I hear Edward's sigh of contentment when he lies down in the grass in our almost perfectly round meadow. I sit down next to his creepily still form and pick up his arm to draw patterns on his cold, marble skin.
His eyes flutter open and watch me as I doodle silly nothings on his skin, the same mysterious look in his eyes as he had this Saturday.
"What are you thinking?" In a flash he sits upright and lifts my head to meet his warm gaze. I nibble on my lip.
"It's just… Did I do something? You have been acting a bit…different ever since I woke up Saturday with what happened." I confess.
A cherish. A soft brush on my cheek.
"Bella, Bella, Bella. My sweet, loving, caring Bella, you can't possibly do anything wrong in my eyes. Remind that, sweetheart." The look in his eyes leaves no room for discussion, so I nod my head, waiting for him to continue. "And I'm sorry about my behaviour. I haven't acted very gentlemanly." I open my mouth to argue with him, only to feel his finger on my lips, cutting me off with a shake of his head.
"I'm sorry for confusing you and worrying you. I didn't mean to hover. It's just that I think our bond is strengthening for some reason. Not that I complain, but it just caught me off guard. It's normal for vampires to be protective of their mates and always keep an eye out for them, but it's even worse with you being human and thus a lot more vulnerable. Next to that, you're also quite the accident prone. So I guess that's why I acted the way I did, and still do."
I nod, showing that I understand. Edward opens his arms for me and I place myself in his lap. We stay like that for a few moments, until Edward gently pulls us down in a laying position.
We chose to enjoy each other's company in silence with the beauty of our meadow surrounding us.
Both of us were reluctant to leave, but at some point Edward just had to be responsible and carry me through the forest so he could bring me back to my dad.
"Will you come tonight?" I ask him as we near my house, knowing we had to say goodbye for now, because my dad doesn't really approve of Edward's constant presence around me.
For a moment I thought Edward was going to say no, but then he beames at me and nods.
A kiss on the forehead and a "I'll see you tonight, sweetheart", and he was gone.
I continue the way home on my own and not much later, after I put on the stove, dad comes in.
"Bells?" He calls out as he walks into the kitchen. He frowns when he sees me getting the ingredients for our dinner out of the fridge.
"Sweetie, you don't have to cook. I was held up at work. We can just order some pizza or take-out or something." He walks over to me and gives me an awkward hug and a kiss on the cheek, while petting my hair.
"It's fine, dad. I really don't mind. I love cooking, so don't worry about it. Why don't you just relax." I smile at him, while grabbing the pans out of a cupboard.
"Oh, okay. How was your day?" He ask, taking his jacket and belt off and hanging them up and walking back in the kitchen, plopping down on his chair.
I hand him a beer over with a grin, knowing his routine by heart. He ruffles my hair and takes a sip from his drink.
"Pretty boring. School is sort of repetitive, but other than that it was fine. I had some fun with Angela and Mike during lunch time. Mike tried to show off, by holding three balls up in the air, but failing miserably, so one ended up smacking him in his face, with a second one following shortly afterwards. Quite a rewarding sight, for all the bragging about his talents, I would say."
We ate dinner in our usual quite way, with dad telling me about his own day and the occasional remark. My mind kept drifting off to Edward, though, and what could have possibly changed in our bond.
Could it be that Leah was right all along? Nahh… Don't get you're hopes up.
Still my mind kept wondering to that possibility, even as Edward showed up in my room and smiled brightly at me, his arms holding my tightly to him, his lips pressed to the crown of my head.
No, definitely not possible.
REVIEW!
Okay, sweeties, that was enough for now. I stayed up till two in the morning for this and worked quite some hours on this chapter, so wether you like it or not, you REVIEW!
After this I'm gonna move forward A LOT. So prepare for some action, even though I'm not prepared yet, because practically everything in this story is improvised…. Teehee…oops. : )