A/N: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I know I haven't updated in ages, but the internet connection's been stubborn. And, not only is the connection bsted, but I had to move houses...I had to settle with a neighbor's dial up connection so that I can use the internet (not just for , but for my homework research and stuff). So please, don't kill me.
I've worked hard with this chapter, but it doesn't seem to come out the way I want it. I proomise though, that I'll revise the whole story when it's done, and after that, I can work on the sequel. (Yes, there will be a sequel. For all four books, I hope.)
Without further ado, here it is...
Bella Montana – Chapter 36
Wonderful colors. Very pretty colors. Ooh, look at that. Swirls. Wonderful colors. I wonder where they came from.
"…Mind, then?" a voice, a girl's voice, said. I racked my brains for the owner of the voice, but I can't get a clear picture. My brain is slow on early mornings, and judging from my groggy disposition, it's very early in the morning.
I tried to open my eyes, but they were so heavy. Besides, I like the colors. They are so pretty.
"…I don't mind…happy about it…should've known, really…absences…" another voice, this time a deeper one, was talking. I tried to match this voice with a picture, and luckily, I came up with bronze hair. Now, who do I know has bronze hair? Well, Lindsay had bronze hair, but it's more reddish, and didn't she recently dye her hair? No, it can't be Lindsay; this voice is deeper than a girl's anyway.
"I'm so…for her…worrying about it," said the first voice.
The second voice was very quick in replying, "She was? Silly, girl…I'll never…"
I pictured the person with that voice again, and I saw topaz colored eyes, or was it black? I don't really know…perhaps he's wearing contacts. Does he have an eye problem? I don't think so.
'Argh,' I groaned, 'I really shouldn't be thinking this hard. I'm not even fully awake yet. I don't even know my name.'
"Bella…" I heard the deep voice say. Yes, Bella's my name! And that voice! That's Edward's voice, yes… I fell asleep last night, after I told him…I told him…oh no. I told him my secret. He hates me now. He's probably only here to gloat, or worse, break up with me. No, no, please.
"Bella, wake up. It's just a dream."
"H-huh?" I opened my eyes, finally, and a burst of sunlight overwhelmed my vision. Edward though, thankfully, was quick to shadow it. The brief thought of Edward being an angel flashed through my mind. He sure looked it, what with his tussled brown hair and the sunlight around his head. Wait, why is his hair brown and not bronze?
"Good morning, Isabella," he smiled and kissed me on the forehead. The coldness of his lips rushed through my body and I instantly felt fully awake. "Brunch is waiting," he smiled, "I cooked."
"Good morning to you, too, Edward," I yawned, and I hastily moved my hand to cover it. Blushing, I looked around the room, feeling a bit lost. "Umm," I blushed even deeper, "where am I? This isn't the living room…" 'Obviously,' my brain said, and did the equivalent of rolling its eyes. "…Nor is it my bedroom."
"You're in the room next to where Angela is staying," he explained, "she came down at around midnight and told me to transfer you. I decided on that, the moment you fell asleep, but I didn't want to snoop around your house."
I couldn't contain the smile that was threatening to burst out. Edward is so sweet.
"That still doesn't explain why I'm not in my bedroom," I said, sitting up and running a hand through my hair. I looked down at myself and noticed that I'm not wearing the dress I wore last night, but a pair of light blue pajamas. I don't recollect ever putting these on. "And whose pajamas are these? I don't think –"
"I found it under the pillows, I hope you don't mind." He planted a kiss on my forehead again, and I leaned in to his touch. It's been a long time since I've woken up like this, a week at most. I sighed in content.
But then, my smile dropped, and a trickle of something akin to dread seeped into my mind. Did he change me? Because of he did, then that means… Seeing the look on my face, Edward, being as smart as he was, immediately explained. Oh, how I love the guy.
"Don't worry, Bella. Angela changed you while I waited outside."
I sighed in relief. Of course Edward wouldn't take advantage of me. He's too much a gentleman for that, and, I trust him not to. He does spend most of his nights watching me sleep back in Forks. "Thanks," I muttered, and in a louder voice, I said, "but that still doesn't explain why I'm in not in my room."
I'm in the Guest House, which was situated a couple of yards away from the main house. Why would Edward carry me all the way into the Guest House, when my bedroom was just beside the living room? I'm sure Angela would've told him that. The door might not have been obvious, but it was still there.
Oh, and that reminds me. I have to thank Angela for telling Edward to move me. Thanks to her, I don't have a stiff neck, or stiff anything, really. Hmm, you gotta love her and her midnight snacks. Now I feel bad for not stocking up the Guest House pantry.
"Bella," he grinned crookedly, "You could have slept in your room, but since it was locked, and we couldn't find the keys, we have to make do with this." He cocked his head and I swept my eyes around the room. It was a nice room, and I wonder why I've never been in here before. The Guest House might not be part of the immediate house, but it's still in the property. How could I have missed this?
"Well," I stretched and threw open the covers, "I'm –" Suddenly, my stomach growled. I shared an embarrassed glance with Edward, knowing that he heard me.
"Hungry?" he asked, that gorgeous crooked smile on his face.
"Yes," I nodded, standing up and looking for some slippers, anything really, so that I don't have to walk around barefoot. "But I think I'll have a shower first," I grabbed the bathrobe and towel from the hook behind the door. "I didn't have one last night, and I stink," I grimaced.
"But in a good way," Edward said, walking out of the door and leaning on the frame. "I'll be waiting in the kitchen, and so will your food."
Shower and breakfast flew past in blur, with Angela and I filling Edward in with as much as we can. It is imperative that he does not slip up, but I doubt that he will. He has, after all, kept his vampirism a secret for goodness knows how long.
Joe picked the three of us at around eleven, and drove us to the studio. I'm quite nervous about today, seeing as, not only is it the official start of shooting the video, but also, this is the first time Edward can see me work, knowing that Yasmin is Bella.
"Yasmin!" Adam shouted in greeting as he ran across the room to hug me. I hugged him back hesitantly, not sure why he was hugging me. I'm known him for a long time, and I'm sure as sure that Adam's not the hugging type. "I'm so glad you're safe!"
"Safe?" I stammered out, "what do you mean safe? I was never in danger." What is Adam talking about?
"Didn't you know?" Adam gasped. He dropped a newspaper in my hands, "The theater you went to last night was held up for robbery." I felt my eyes widen in shock. A robbery? At the theater? "It was just a bunch of rowdy kids, but one of them had a gun."
I read over the article. It didn't look too bad, but my face was plastered on the front page. 'Yasmin Stone,' the headline read, 'held hostage in robbery.' I scoffed, I was never held hostage. I glanced at Edward, and saw a sheepish glint in his eyes. He knew about this, and never told me! I think I deserve to know when my life is in danger.
"Anything to say," I raised an eyebrow at him, "Theodore?"
He just shrugged, and I wanted to ask him more about this, but Adam snatched the paper from my hands, and then ushered us into the set. He then began babbling about the crime rate here, in Hollywood, but thankfully, Angela shut him up, countering about the good police force. I left the two of them to argue, as I entered my dressing room and changed into the costume that was picked out for me.
"Ah," Wayne gasped the moment he laid eyes on me, "there you are Yasmin. I've been looking everywhere for you. C'mere girl," he beckoned for me to come closer. "Now, this is what I want you to do…"
Five excruciating hours, and a lot of "Cut!"s and changes of clothes later, I was on the last scene for the day, which included Edward, or shall I say Theodore. We were on the hood of some convertible car, and in front of a green screen. It was kind of bright, but I can live with it.
What I can't live with is the fact that I have to kiss Edward on said car.
And not just a simple peck on the lips that I had agreen on with Cole and Wayne, but a full make out.
On a car.
Because Wayne said so.
"It'll be so romantic if you guys," he pointed at Edward and I, "would make out instead of just kiss in front of a sunset," he had said. My reaction to that was spitting out the water I was currently drinking. Me? Make out with Edward? It wasn't a half bad idea, but in front of a camera and as Yasmin? You have to be kidding me.
"How are you feeling?" I asked Edward as he placed his arms around me. I leaned on his shoulders out of instinct, and didn't notice Wayne shout "Action!" from afar. I was too worried about what Edward was thinking about. At times like this, I wish I were the one who can read minds.
"I'm completely fine with the idea, if that's what you're asking," he answered, leaning closer. I leaned closer too, hypnotized by his burning eyes. They were full of passion and love, and I knew my eyes were the same as well. That's when I forgot about the cameras, and the other people. I didn't care that a billion and one people will see this video either; all I cared about was that Edward was with me, and I'm with him.
I closed my eyes in anticipation.
Finally, his lips touched mine. It was cold and smooth, and my first reaction was to tangle my fingers in his brown locks, locking his head in front of so that he can't pull away. He's not getting away this time, not like the other times. His hands traveled up and down my back, sending pleasant shivers throughout my body, and it has nothing to do with his extremely cold hands.
"Bella…" he groaned quietly, trying to pull away. I moaned out a no, and tightened my hold of his shirt, tugging him closer to my body. He can't stop now; this feels way too good. Unfortunately, my tug on him was too hard, and his body weight adding to the force of my pull, ended up making me fall out of the car.
And it hurt. I groaned, more at the abrupt stop of the kiss than in pain. I can't believe I just fell off a car. A car! You don't just fall off a car! It just doesn't happen! Man, I sure have one big rain cloud hovering above me.
I heard laughter around me, and I groaned again, this time, from embarrassment. I can't believe everyone saw that, and it was caught on tape, no less. I bet I'm the deepest shade of red there is right now. Not only was I enjoying the kiss, but also, I fell off a car because of it.
I am so not going to live this down.
"Are you all right?" Edward's soothing voice asked. His face hovered worriedly above mine, and I noticed an amused smirk plastered on it. I huffed and crossed my arms, not wanting to answer him. So he finds this hilarious, does he?
"Y-Yasmin!" Angela shouted over her laughter, "A-are you oh-okay? That was – was a n-nasty fall!"
"Seriously Bella," Edward whispered, his smile slipping off his face, "Are you okay? You hit the ground pretty hard." He held out his hand for me to take, and I grudgingly took it.
"I'm fine," I grumbled, sitting up, "no broken bones and no cuts. The only thing bruised is my pride," I flinched as I stood up, "and my bum."
"I'm glad your okay," Edward whispered, holding my hand longer than what was necessary between two acquaintances. We were still keeping up a façade, after all. Yasmin and Theodore, not Bella and Edward. "I'm sorry."
"What're you apologizing for?" I said, smacking his chest playfully, "It wasn't your fault."
"Yes, it was," he argued, "I should've caught you!"
"No, it wasn't," I said firmly, "it was mine. I was too…" I searched for the right word. I don't want to sound dirty, especially with so many people around. You can never know when there are stray ears or not.
"I understand," Edward sighed, running a hand through his hair. I sent him a small smile, before I turned around and approached Wayne. When he saw me coming, he immediately stopped laughing, but I can tell he was laughing on the inside. Beside him was Angela, who was clutching her sides from the pain. Serves her right for laughing.
"Wayne, Claire," I said in a clipped voice, my good mood from my short talk with Edward immediately dropping.
"Yes, Yasmin?" they said innocently; too innocently, in my opinion.
"Not a word about this. This never happened, and if the media, gets even a whiff of this," I said to Wayne, "then I'm personally going to make your life a living hell." I glared at both of them for effect. They both nodded, but I knew they didn't mean it, especially in Wayne's case. I glared at him more fully, and this time, he relented. Angela, however, would have to make do with a private talk later.
"Good," I said. When he didn't do anything, I sighed, and ordered, "So spread the word!"
"Yes, Yasmin…" he managed to say before he ran over to Adam. I watched them closely, and by the way the two were hanging off each other laughing, I'm guessing they're not taking me too seriously. I can't blame them, really. Yasmin rarely gets angry.
"I mean it!" I said through gritted teeth. The two men flinched. "I've got plenty of dirt on both of you."
Adam immediately stopped laughing, his face taking on seriousness. Good, one down, one to go. Wayne, on the other hand, was half apprehensive, half amused. I glared at him meaningfully. Just because he's a private man, doesn't mean I don't have any blackmail material on him. I've spent enough time with his daughter to know all of his dirty little secrets…
"Oh?" he asked, "like what?"
"Like…" I placed a hand on my hip and blew on my nails, taking on the stance of detachment. "…The time in China…with your ex-wife. December 2003."
"You wouldn't," he let out. His eyes were narrowed, like I just said something that was not supposed to be spoken of again…oops. I think I just did. "How did you know about that? Only inside my family…" His eyes widened in realization, and said only one word to explain everything. "Meagan," he hissed.
Nodding, I flashed him a wide smile.
"You wouldn't," he said again. The expression on his face was so pitiable, he looked like a young kid whose puppy just got ran over by a truck – on Christmas. It was that bad. I mean, nothing much happened in China, only that he had insulted this guy, who happened to be very powerful in terms of status. Anyway, he and his wife had to spend some time in prison, leaving Meagan alone in the hotel room to party some.
That girl is a rebel if I ever see one.
"I wouldn't if you take me seriously."
"Wayne," Adam stage whispered, "You should. Take her seriously, I mean. You know women." He rolled his eyes as if that explained everything, which it doesn't. "You don't want to get in their wrong side. They're…" he looked at me with mock apprehension, "…evil."
"Sure, Adam," I rolled my eyes heavenwards. "I'm evil, so again, spread the word."
"That you're evil?"
"No," I groaned. "Tell everyone what I told you, Wayne," I said to Wayne, who nodded and saluted – "Ma'am, yes, ma'am," he shouted, sending spittle on my face - "And make sure the press doesn't hear of this, at all."
I heaved a weary sigh when I was out of hearing range. Them two can be so annoying at times. I am so glad I don't have to spend so much time with them anymore. Ever since I decided to take a 'sort of' break when I started at Forks High, all my 'superstar' duties have been halved. No more annoying directors and other staff, and full to the brim schedules, thank goodness.
"Bella," Angela called from behind me. I turned around, and saw her standing next to Edward, her arms flailing everywhere. Her face was red, clashing terribly with her wig. "Finally, I get your attention!" she exclaimed. "You were so out of it."
"Sorry," I apologized, taking on a guilty look. I didn't mean to ignore her.
"It's okay," she said, "I just wanted to ask you if we could leave now. This place is making me claustrophobic."
"Yes," Edward agreed, though his exact reason surely differed from Angela's. His eyes were a dark topaz, making it look cloudy, telling me that he was slightly hungry. Not enough to have to hunt, but hungry enough. "The people rushing around are making me feel out of place."
Understanding, I rushed to grab my stuff from my dressing room. As I was donning on my coat, I bid goodbye to everyone. I eyed Wayne on the way out, reminding him to do his job. He mock saluted me again, but nonetheless mouthed to me that the "mission was accomplished".
"I was surprised to find that you can be that bossy," commented Edward on the ride back to my house. Angela was busy watching the television, meaning that there's a ninety-nine percent chance that she couldn't hear this particular conversation.
"You have to be bossy to survive in show business," I explained, sipping my drink. I skipped lunch, meaning I'm quite hungry, so I can't wait until I get home. I'm sure I can cook up some pasta, or shove a pizza in the oven. Maybe, I can order take out. Will Angela mind if we have Chinese tonight?
"But not all the time though," I laughed, focusing my attention back to Edward. "You have to have the perfect balance. You need to gain their respect, and still treat them like equals…" I looked at Edward, and saw a slight look of awe and shock behind his eyes. "I just sounded like an egotistical jerk, didn't I?"
"No, of course not," he shook his head. After a while, he said, "You have some much experience about this, it's fairly frightening."
"What do you expect," I giggled, "I've been in the business since I was thirteen, I can't just let people walk over me." I sent him a winning smile before joining Angela in watching her TV show.
A/N: I'm sorry, again, and I know a review might be too much to ask, but please? Anyway, soon, I think I'll let the rest of the Cullens know, now that Edward knows...what do you guys think?
=]