The Transfer
A/N: I'm not Stephenie Meyer and she's not me. I do enjoy frittering my time away with this universe she has created, though.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. They spend a little time apart and can't wait to be back together. ;)
Chapter 29: Mood Lighting and Ambiance
BPOV
It was still Sunday afternoon. After lunch Edward had invited me to go downtown with him because he needed to buy a birthday gift for his mom for the coming weekend. Unfortunately I needed to go to the library to do some reading and reviewing for a British Literature test tomorrow, so Alice went with him in my place. She probably wanted to compare notes with him much as she had done with me earlier today, when I'd been held hostage in my dorm room.
I had been sitting in the library and studying for a while now. I had come here because it was so easy to get distracted in the dorm. There was always something fun to do. Like hang out with Edward. There was always something interesting going on. Like whatever Edward was doing. There was always someone entertaining and enjoyable to hang out with. Like Edward. I thought that if I went to the library I'd have an easier time concentrating on academics. It helped a little at first. Now my mind was elsewhere. Edward.
After studying for a while I had begun thinking about being invited to the Cullens' home for the weekend. At first I hadn't realized that Edward was inviting me when he spoke about it. I was a little sad when I thought that both he and Alice would be gone for the whole weekend. It was a bit depressing to contemplate a weekend without both my roommate and my...my…my what?
What was Edward? My friend? More than that. My boyfriend? Maybe not quite yet. A little early for that label. My love interest? Did I love him? Way too soon to tell; we were still getting to know each other. We had just kissed for the first time last night. So what was he to me? Maybe for now he was just the guy that I wanted to spend most of my time with because I thought he was wonderful and thoughtful and entertaining and heartbreakingly beautiful to look at and drool over. There we go. The perfect title for Edward. Crown him King of All That.
When I realized that Edward was inviting me to spend the weekend at his parents' house, and that I wouldn't be left behind by him and Alice, I was happy. Initially. But then I realized I was going to meet...the parents. I'd be silly if I didn't have at least some feelings of trepidation. What did they know of me, other than the fact that I had inflicted pepper spray on the eyes of their beautiful, kind and protective son? What did they expect? Both Alice and Emmett had told them something about me and him. What had they said to their parents? Were his parents concerned? Curious? What else had Edward said to them? I wondered what his parents were now thinking; what kind of a girl they were expecting to show up at their doorstep. This was actually beginning to feel quite daunting.
And it had been explained to me that we were all responsible for the preparation of dinner. It looked like dessert was going to be on Edward and me. Or maybe on me and Edward, would be more accurate. It sounded like he was hopeful that I would concoct something wonderful and he would be my little helper. So whatever we made had to be really, really good. After all, we were baking birthday dessert for the Queen Mother of All That.
I suddenly got the image in my mind of Edward in an apron, with a dusting of flour across his nose, maybe a smudge of chocolate on his lip and oven mitts on his hands. I couldn't suppress my smile. I would so lick that chocolate right off of him!
I wondered if I should bring Esme some type of gift. I certainly wanted to. It seemed like the right thing to do. What would be appropriate if you were a first-time weekend guest? And the first girl your son had brought home in three years? And specifically, maybe not quite the girlfriend, but more than just a friend? What would be the right birthday gift for the mother of the guy that I wanted to spend most of my time with because I thought he was wonderful and thoughtful and entertaining and heartbreakingly beautiful to look at and drool over?
I would have to think about that. I definitely wanted to bring something to the Queen Mum.
As far as things to pack and take along, I wondered what I should bring other than the basics. I guess Alice and Edward would fill me in on clothing needs. Probably Alice more than Edward. Definitely Alice. She'd make sure I brought way too much of what I needed. But I had the entire school week to get organized and pack a few things. We would only be gone two nights so there was no reason to start thinking about that yet.
Coming to the library to study had been a really brilliant decision, because I was just really able to stay focused and I was getting all kinds of schoolwork accomplished. Sheesh!
I looked back down at my book and read a little while longer, highlighting key parts as I went, trying to stay actively focused. At least I was trying. I wasn't succeeding much, but I was trying.
…that jaw, the stubble, those lips…
I decided to leave a little while later. I'd been here for several hours and I guess I had actually gotten a little work done. It wasn't a total joke that I had been here. But nearly.
As I was walking out the door, I heard someone calling my name. I looked back over my shoulder to see Angela, waving and smiling at me as she hurried to catch up. She had apparently also been studying somewhere within the library. I waited for her just at the main entrance.
"Hey Bella! I didn't know you were here. Have you been here long?"
"Yeah, about twice as long as I should have been. I've been trying to study. But I just can't seem to stay focused; my mind keeps drifting."
"Well, I can imagine why you're struggling." She was stifling her laughter. Her eyes sparkled and her eyebrows were arched high above her glasses. She was clutching her books tightly to her chest, otherwise I think she would have pulled an Alice and hugged herself at me in celebration.
I smiled and I felt the mild heat of embarrassment creeping over my face. "Yeah, I guess it's pretty obvious isn't it? I can't stop thinking about him. It's beginning to eat into my study time."
She smiled. "I would bet it's much easier to study Edward Cullen than it is to study…" she glanced down at the books in my arm, "…British Literature."
I blushed a little and smiled. "You've got that right, Angela. Classics in literature have nothing on Edward Cullen. British Lit just can't compete with that whole package." I sighed in defeat.
She giggled. "Do you want to hang out for a few and go get a coffee?" she asked as she juggled her books into her other arm and reached for the door.
"Sure! That sounds great, Angela."
We left the library and headed over to the student center.
We walked over to the coffee shop chatting about what we'd been working on in the library. It wasn't until we were walking in the door that I suddenly thought about creepy James and wondered if he was working today. I looked around quickly as we entered, but James was nowhere to be seen. Thank goodness. I didn't need him to spoil my mood. We ordered our coffees and I paid as Angela grabbed us a free table.
We sat together for quite a while. I really liked Angela. She was not the gossip fiend that Jessica was. Angela was friendly and honest, straightforward and she seemed really down-to-earth. She was curious about the shower story, but I didn't think it was for gossip's sake. She was just wondering what had actually taken place.
I told her what had happened with the pepper spray and the reason for the resulting shower. I didn't go into detail, but I might have mentioned shower kissing a little. She told me how the story had spread like wildfire once we'd been spotted by Mike and Tyler. There were currently four or five versions of reality circulating in the dorm. I laughed, begging her not to tell anyone the true story. It was more fun to let them wonder and look at us speculatively and create competing stories. She snickered and agreed, saying she'd let me know if she heard any new variations.
I asked about her and Ben. They were an actual item now, and she seemed very happy. I didn't really know him that well, but from what she said, and the way she spoke of him, he seemed to be a really nice guy. It was obvious from things she told me how much he cared about her. They were spending quite a bit of their free time together.
I knew what that felt like. My free time was beginning to center around Edward. I was really enjoying my free time.
She asked about Jake and wondered what had happened with him last weekend, because she had known about him coming for a visit and had apparently seen him. She had also heard rumors of a fight involving Edward. I told her the short version of the story and she was sad for both me and Jake. She knew that hadn't been easy and wished that kind of experience on no one. "Those things do happen sometimes and as painful as they are at the time, things do get better and life does go on," she had said.
Then she asked about me and Edward and I told her that we were just starting to figure things out, but that I really enjoyed myself with him and it seemed he felt the same way about me.
"He 'seems' to feel the same way about you? You've got to be kidding, Bella! Obviously he feels the same way about you. I've never seen Edward look as happy as he does when you two are together. Even when you're not around, I can see that he's content and relaxed. He's a totally different Edward. If you don't mind my saying so, I always thought he was stuck up and moody. But I guess I just didn't know him. He didn't really let anyone know him. Now he seems so happy and so much friendlier than I would have ever expected. He really seems to be quite a great guy. I'm sure it has everything to do with you. You've changed him."
I couldn't keep the smile from my face. I know I hadn't been this happy for a while; I'd been constantly stressed out over how Jake was viewing my goals and plans; I'd weighed my every word and deed. And that had only been for a few months. Now there was really nothing that worried or bothered me. I didn't have to second-guess my immediate future or worry about the things I chose to do or say. I felt no stress; I only felt happy.
I was glad to think that I was having a positive effect on Edward. Not just because of what it meant for me, but because of what it was doing for him. Edward had been in an unhappy and subdued state for far longer than I. If these beginnings, of whatever we were beginning, made him feel as content as I felt, I was incredibly glad for him. It seemed he was due some happy and he deserved to live a little.
I found myself telling Angela about being invited to the Cullens' home for the weekend.
"This sounds pretty serious if you're going to Mama Cullen's birthday party and staying for the weekend as their houseguest." She smiled as she looked at me somewhat speculatively. "Somehow you broke through the Edward Cullen barrier. I've got to tell you that you're already a legend in the residence halls. There are a lot of dejected, rejected, skanky girls out there that were all over that poor guy the past two years, ready and willing to jump his bones at the least little indication that he was at all interested. Edward must finally be pretty smitten to bring a girl home to Mom and Dad."
I blushed, realizing how true her last statement must be. "I guess he is. I think this is kind of a big deal. Edward hasn't said that, but I think that's the case." I knew that Angela had no idea about Edward's past and the fact that there was such a serious reason behind Edward's cool demeanor and apparent lack of interest in being with someone all this time.
"I just can't decide what to do about going to a birthday party for Edward's mom. I don't want to show up empty-handed. I'm just not sure what kind of a gift would be appropriate, coming from a complete stranger and also because I don't know her, I don't know what she would like."
"What about a really pretty mixed bouquet of flowers? That's always appropriate if you're being invited to someone's home. It would be a nice gesture, but not too presumptuous. You could even look into flower symbolism and find some that have a special message. Besides, what woman doesn't like flowers as a gift?"
"Oh, Angela, that's a great idea! Thank goodness I ran into you. You've solved my dilemma! Flowers would be the perfect gift!"
She smiled. "I'm sure you'll have a lovely time and I'm sure she'll like whatever you decide to get for her. I'm happy for you, Bella. I'm happy for both of you."
I had gotten back to my room and dropped my books in a pile on my desk. I wondered where Alice was and if she and Edward had come back for dinner or had decided to stay in town and get something to eat there. I was starting to get hungry and wondered if I should call them.
Just then my phone suddenly buzzed and I took it out, looking at the screen. Speak of the devil. Or at least a guy with a devilishly sexy grin. It was a text from Edward. I flipped my phone open and read it.
Will you be my dinner non-date?
That put a seriously big smile on my face. I texted him back.
No, I'll be your dinner date.
EPOV
I wasn't sure if Bella was back from the library yet. Alice was with Jasper in Emmett's room, hanging out with him and Rosalie. She told me earlier that she hadn't seen Bella when we had gotten back from our true confessions shopping trip where I'd been forced to spill my guts about my feelings for Bella.
I decided to text Bella and see if she wanted to go to dinner with me.
Will you be my dinner non-date?
I smiled as I pressed 'send', hoping I'd see her shortly.
I opened my closet to grab a sweatshirt and my phone buzzed. I took it out, looking at the screen. It was a text from Bella. I flipped my phone open.
No, but I'll be your dinner date.
I stood there staring at that little screen for a few seconds. I was dumbfounded.
What? What is she saying? Is she saying what I think she's saying?
I grabbed my sweatshirt, slammed my door shut and rushed upstairs, taking the steps two at a time. I had gotten to her room just as the door was opening. I think she was surprised to see me so quickly. She smiled. I don't think I returned her smile. I was so confused. I needed answers and I wanted them now. I spun her around and with my hands on her shoulders walked her back into her room, shutting the door once we were inside, and finally turning her back around to face me.
Her smile was gone and she just looked confused. "What…? What's up, Edward? What's going on?"
That's precisely what I want to know.
"Bella, why did you..? I, uh… I mean, what did you…? What were you…? No, wait... When you said...well, you didn't actually say...what I mean is... " I shook my head then I ran my hand through my hair. Why couldn't I get my words out suddenly? "Let me start over." I took my cell phone out of my pocket, flipping it open and pointing to the message. "What is this? I mean, what did you mean by this?"
"Why?" She looked wary, suddenly. The little pucker between her brows had appeared.
Oh no, don't make her worry, you fool. She thinks something's wrong.
I spoke more gently, trying to relax a little; trying to calm myself down. I certainly didn't want her to think I was upset in any way and I wanted the pucker to disappear. "I just mean, what were you saying?"
"What were you asking?" she asked me. She looked even more perplexed. That made two of us.
Okay, so I had to show her my hand before she'd show me hers.
"Uh, well, I was asking you if you wanted to go to dinner. I meant the dining hall, but I would also be really very happy to take you out, you know, for dinner or whatever, if that's what you thought I meant." I wondered if she could hear the hope in my voice. I just didn't want to rush her or overwhelm her and it seemed maybe I was doing just that right now.
"Well, I didn't even really think about the destination, I was just thinking about how I don't think we need to go on any more non-dates. An actual date together would be okay."
What? Really? Yes! Yes, yes, YES!
I was fist bumping the air, internally. It was all I could do to not do it outwardly. I didn't want her to suddenly realize I was a tool and decide she'd rather not date me on second thought.
"We don't need anymore non-dates?" I asked; just to make sure. I couldn't hold in the idiotic grin that I felt spreading across my face.
"No," she shook her head, "I would be up for an actual date with you, at this point." She smiled back at me, then looked down a little shyly as her blush intensified.
Oh, you are so killing me with that blush! I would love nothing more than to date you and that blush of yours.
"Well, so…would you like to go out for dinner with me tonight, Bella? On an actual date?"
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. She smiled but then she looked a little regretful. "Edward, I would really like that, but I still need to review more tonight for my literature test tomorrow. I have to get a good grade on this."
Damn that fucking test!
"Oh, that's right, your test is tomorrow." I'll admit I felt disappointed. Could she hear it in my voice; see it in my face?
"But maybe some other night this week?" I don't have an early class on Thursday morning. Maybe we could go out on Wednesday night?"
Absofuckinglutely!
I was smiling broadly now. There was more air fist bumping going on within me. "In that case, Bella, would you like to go out on a date with me Wednesday night? Maybe I could take you to dinner and we could go see a movie afterwards?"
"I would like that a lot, Edward."
She was kind of beaming up at me, a slight blush still apparent on her face and I felt all warm and happy. If I'd known how to do a handspring I would have, although that would have brought the tool-factor back into the picture, possibly precluding the date. So I'd hold off on attempting the handspring for now.
"Well, Miss Swan, in lieu of a date out tonight, we could have a 'starter date' here at school. Would you care to be my dinner date in the dining hall?"
"I would be delighted, Mr. Cullen. Thank you for asking." She giggled.
"Shall we?" I asked, as I offered my arm to her.
"We shall." she responded, laughing as she slipped her hand through the crook of my arm. And with that we left for our dinner-date, arm in arm.
BPOV
Oh. My. God. I have an actual, real date with Edward for Wednesday night. So I guess this means we're dating. Edward Cullen is dating Bella Swan. Bella Swan is dating Edward Cullen. OhmyGod! Gah! I feel like squealing and jumping up and down. Or maybe even doing an Alice-shriek.
I had originally told him that I wanted to go slowly, but I think sometimes you just know. And I was starting to feel like I just knew. I felt so happy and good about everything I saw in him, and how he made me feel. Why would you push away something that made you feel happy, excited, and good and pleased with your life and just happy to be part of the world in general?
It was a feeling that I wore throughout the day and into the night. I would go take a shower in the morning and notice my smiling face in the bathroom mirror. I would take my shower singing to myself. And I sing so horribly! I would see him at mealtimes and no matter how distasteful the food, the company was always quite palatable and it was a lovely experience and I looked forward to the next meal because I would almost certainly see him again. Thoughts of him were sneaking up on me throughout the day, and of course I thought about him as I lay in bed at night, drifting off to sleep. He was even there in my dreams.
And now this wonderful and wonderfully silly guy was taking me for a 'starter dinner-date' in the dining hall, because it wasn't a good night to go out somewhere on a real date. But we were still going to have a real date on Wednesday, because I was ready for a date-date, not a non-date, with Edward Cullen.
And Edward…oh my…he had looked just so happy, so excited and relieved that I would agree to really go out with him. I smiled inwardly, thinking about how confused he had looked when he had rushed up here after getting my text; how he had stumbled over his words when he normally seemed so cool and collected. He'd seemed so uncharacteristically hyper that I wondered what was wrong at first. But then I'd realized that it was excitement. That lovely lopsided grin of his emerged when I'd explained that I felt ready to just…date. Oh and that little look of disappointment when I'd told him I couldn't go out tonight because I had to study for my test! Damn that test! But I needed to get a good grade on it. Instead, I'd given him the option of a date later in the week and he'd pounced on it.
And now we were off for a date, of sorts,in the dining hall.
Holy hell!
I'm actually dating Edward Cullen!
EPOV
Holy hell!
She wants to go out with me! Officially. On a real date!
We left arm-in-arm for our "starter date" in the dining hall. Once we got downstairs I stopped by my room for a moment to pick up two things which I stuffed into the pocket of my sweatshirt. Bella waited at the door and then we proceeded, arm in arm again naturally, to dinner. In the dining hall, once we'd gotten our trays of food, I steered Bella to a different table than the one where we normally sat and ate as a group. This was not going to be a group event tonight. No one else was invited. This was a date.
Once we were seated across from each other at the table by ourselves, I reached into my pocket and took out one of the items I had grabbed from my room. It was a little votive candle in a little glass holder; something Alice had given Jasper. He wouldn't care if I borrowed it; he never used it. I put the candle in the center of the table as I looked across at Bella and watched her face. She had a confused little smile on her lips. Then I took the other item from my pocket; the lighter. Bella laughed in surprise, her eyes sparkling up at me.
"Is this mood lighting and ambiance that you're creating for our date?" She was smiling as she asked, her hands clasped and propping up her chin.
"Well, you bring a lot of the ambiance with you, just by being here with me." I grinned up at her as I lit the candle. "I'm sorry I don't have a linen tablecloth, and I'm sorry the restaurant is cafeteria-style instead of having a waiter attend to your needs. And I'm almost certain some food service personnel person will be over shortly to escort me out, for lighting a fire in the dining hall, but in answer to your question, yes, it's my best attempt at ambiance. Are you suitably impressed?" I arched my brow and gave her my best hopeful look.
She nodded. "I'm always impressed with you," she said softly, sincerely, smiling and resting her cheek in her hand.
That went straight to my heart.
We sat there, holding hands on the tabletop, eating and talking quietly for a while until Alice and Jasper came in. They walked over to us, Alice in the lead, towing Jasper along behind her.
"What are you guys doing sitting at this table?" Alice asked. "How come you didn't come get us to come to dinner? Is that the candle I gave Jasper? What are you doing with it?"
Jasper turned toward Alice, kissing her temple. "Scooter Pie, slow down; take a breath. You have to give people a chance to answer each question before you ask the next one."
"It's okay," I told Jasper. "I'm used to this and I kept track of the questions. There were only four this time."
Jasper nodded as I turned to Alice.
"Yes, it's Jasper's candle. I'm just borrowing it for a little so we have some mood lighting and ambiance." I turned and winked at Bella. "I'll return it tonight. Promise. And we're sitting at this table, and we didn't come get you, because we're on a date. I'm having a very lovely date with Miss Isabella Swan, here." I gestured across the table toward her.
Bella smiled up at them, batting her eyelashes on cue. She's just so perfect!
Jasper's eyes narrowed as he spoke up. "Oh, we see how it is, Bella comes along and you just dump us, like we never meant anything to you. Well, forget it, Edward, we're breaking up with you first. And I'm taking my damn candle. Get your own damn candle."
Bella and Alice both started giggling. Jasper reached out for the candle and I slapped his hand away. "Leave the damn candle alone! It's the only damn mood lighting in this damn place. I'll return your damn candle when I'm damn good and ready!"
"Okay, damn it! Let's go Alice. We can take a hint." He put his arm around her shoulder protectively and began to drag her away, but he spoke up over his shoulder as he left, loudly enough for us to hear, "If anyone asks, we broke up with him first. Damn Edward! And damn Bella, too, for coming between us!" Alice looked over her shoulder at us and laughed, her fluttering fingers waving goodbye to us.
Bella was grinning up at me when I looked back at her. "Thank you for standing up for our ambiance, Edward. I can't believe they were going to try to take it away."
I covered her hand with mine. "Some people have a lot of nerve, don't they? It just goes to show you that we may sometimes have to fight for our ambiance."
We finished our dinner and I blew out the candle. We'd gotten lucky; no one had come by and requested that my candle and I vacate the premises. I picked up our trays and dumped the trash as Bella picked up the votive. We waved goodbye across the hall to Jasper and Alice. Emmett and Rose had joined them, had probably gotten the story from them, and waved at us as well. Emmett was giving me a thumbs' up and I just rolled my eyes. We headed back to the dorm. I walked her up to her room and she pulled me inside, closing the door. We stood in her room, kissing and talking quietly against her door for a while before I finally managed to peel myself off of her and drag myself very unwillingly downstairs and away from her. She needed to study and I needed a cold shower ASAP.
Holy shit! I could hardly see straight!
BPOV
Holy shit! How am I supposed to study after that?
I closed the door, leaning my forehead against it after Edward left. I walked unsteadily across the room and I dropped down onto the cushions of the swanky fort. I looked up to where the little twinkle lights were strung above me. I plugged them in and lay there watching the lights twinkle, thinking about my evening and Edward, and life in general.
It was amazing how lovely a dinner date in the UW dining hall could be; especially afterwards, when your dream date brings you home from your date, walks you to your room and kisses you goodnight quite thoroughly. My heart did little leaps and jumps and flips and flops every time we kissed. How does he do that? I found myself wondering if he felt the same way. Was he shaky, as he walked back to his room downstairs? Had he flopped down on his bed, looking up at the ceiling, thinking about me? I smiled thinking that we might even at this moment be on the same wavelength, doing or feeling the same thing.
We were spending time together every day and it only made me feel like I wanted to spend more time with him the next day. And at night I would go to bed, lying there thinking of him and the things he had said or done that day, and I couldn't wait to see him the next day to see what he would say or do that day.
I knew I didn't want to be rebounding after Jake. I didn't think that I was. I hadn't come here looking for any kind of relationship, yet somehow one had sneaked up on me. And certainly on him. And as I sat there, thinking, mulling over the whole situation, I found that there was nothing at all that made me hesitant about Edward or about being with him. There was nothing there that concerned me. Nothing in his personality that worried me or gave me pause. If anything, I was only impressed further each day with his kindness, thoughtfulness, attentiveness, playfulness and sincerity. I knew that I wasn't rebounding from Jake.
I was falling in love with Edward Cullen.
And on top of all of his endearing personality traits, which made him such a wonderful human being, his physical beauty was staggering. He didn't see it, and that just made him all the more gorgeous to me. His face was one of the most expressive I think I had ever seen. Each of his features alone was lovely, but in combination they were almost otherworldly; verging on the ethereal.
His hair was such an unusual color, nearly always riotously disheveled, and begging to be touched and stroked. His smooth, clear skin was almost a fine porcelain. His eyes were the color of the sea, neither green nor blue, but a lovely combination, and the depth of the color varied with the depth of his emotions. I saw that when we would kiss. I would look up into his eyes and they were the color of a much deeper sea, the sort you could drown in. His nearly straight nose had a slight bump, but if anything, that made it more aesthetically appealing and gave his face character. His lips went from a delicious pout to a rakish lopsided grin to a devilish smile. And they were very capable lips, I had found; and I suspected they were capable of even more. His jaw was a feature that I don't think I had ever really noticed in men before, but on him, it was as compelling as his other features. It was strong and square and often covered with a soft stubble that only served to shade and emphasize the singularity of that particular feature. I wanted to run my fingertips along the curve of his jaw from his ear to his chin.
The little twinkle lights came back into focus and I realized that I had to get up and go sit at my desk and study for my test tomorrow. Edward would be there tomorrow, too. And the next day. And the day after that. Which would be Wednesday. Which would be our first actual date night out.
I sighed. And I smiled. And I just couldn't stop smiling as I sat down to study.
EPOV
By the time I had reached my room after kissing Bella goodnight, I no longer needed that cold shower as desperately. I had run into Emmett as I came back down the stairs. He'd returned from dinner and was in the main living room, posting an announcement on a bulletin board. He looked up as he heard my footsteps. I should probably have tried to be quieter, but I hadn't thought about that at the time when I spotted him near the foot of the stairs.
"Hey, Edward! Nice dining-hall-date-action you had going there. I liked the candle. Nice touch."
"Thanks, Emmett. She said she liked it too."
His eyes took in the fact that I was coming back downstairs from the direction of Bella's suite. "So what have you been doing?" he asked, without really seeming to consider his words.
"Uh, I uh...walked her back to her room and we were just, uh...hanging out and uh...talking, just now."
He looked at me critically for a second or two, his eyes raking quickly over me. Then his eyes lit up a little and his mouth curled up into his usual dimpled smile.
It was the smile of an asshole.
Fanfuckingtastic. Here it comes.
"Well, I think that candle agreed with both of you. I can see that in the flush on your face, the riotous state of your hair, and the vestiges of the party in your pants that you've still got going on there as well. You weren't just talking, now, were you, Baby Bro?" He pursed his lips, trying to contain his laughter.
I couldn't believe he was truly expecting a verbal response, so I just flipped him off with both hands, spun around and headed to my room.
"Edward!" his voice boomed after me, "As your brother and your Resident Advisor, I assure you there's nothing to be concerned about; it's a normal reaction to the circumstances!"
I had the pleasure of listening to his guffaw as I exited the living room. Emmett could be a real buzzkill.
Jasper was nowhere to be seen. I stood inside my room for a moment, wondering what to do with myself, before I finally sat down at my desk, contemplating work I could maybe do, to get ahead for this weekend. I couldn't really concentrate, though. I kept thinking of her.
I stretched my body out, leaning back in my chair and clasping my hands together behind my head. I watched the lava lamp; the bubbly goo inside oozing up slowly and rolling back on itself. As I sat there, sort of mesmerized, my mind wandered to Bella and this evening.
I think that she had enjoyed my impromptu attempt at a date tonight. She had a great sense of humor and I know she got a kick out of the candle. Our 'mood lighting and ambiance,' she had called it. As we stood together saying goodnight, she had mentioned it. I had kissed her then, and it had turned into a series of kisses. It was hard to stop, once we started. And it wasn't just me. I was finding that this girl definitely knew how to kiss me; she did it so well and she would get all wound up kissing me, with one or both of her hands raking through and tugging on my hair in such a freakishly sexy way I felt like I could possibly explode.
I had been afraid with the whole Jake thing that she would be reluctant about being in any kind of relationship again anytime soon. And I had already told myself that I could and would wait; that I didn't want to make her feel pushed or pressured to enter into a relationship with me. I didn't want to quash it before it even started. But I just so loved being with her. It was a good feeling to put a smile on her face. I loved making her laugh and she made me feel so happy.
And now she was more ready to let something develop between us. I had actually already been feeling ready. I think I was ready again to have someone special to care about and with whom I would want to be affectionate. I honestly hadn't wanted that again until I met Bella. And I felt like Bella was bringing out the best in me; making me a better, happier person. She wasn't needy like Tanya had been. She was self-possessed and happy. It wouldn't be my job to fix her up or mend any damages. We would both get to be ourselves, with each other, and for each other.
I was looking forward to Wednesday and then the weekend at home. It would be nice to spend time together in a different situation; a different location. I hoped she would enjoy herself. What she thought and how she felt, mattered an awful lot to me. She was becoming extremely important to me.
Was I falling in love with her? There was a very strong possibility.
I stared unseeing at the lava lamp, and I imagined her soft face looking up at me. I thought about the loveliness that was Bella Swan. It was impossible to determine my favorite feature of her face. Her thick dark hair framed her beautiful face. Her deep chocolate brown eyes and lush lashes always seemed to convey so much of her feelings. She couldn't hide much behind those eyes. They showed concern, relief, sadness, happiness, humor, but overwhelmingly they showed me affection. There was something so very soft and delicate about those eyes. I loved her little upturned nose. When she was confused it was her most charming feature and it begged to be kissed. And her mouth, her lips, her tongue, dear God, they were inspiring, stirring, arousing.
Well, fuck!
Now I needed that cold shower after all.
A/N: If you're happy and you know it, write a review.
