A/N - Summer Vacation has been favorited by over 100 readers and alerted by over 80! You are all so amazing! This has exceeded my expectations by miles! Thanks for the reviews, as well. It's such a rush to hear that someone likes the inner ramblings of my mind. Here's the next chapter. Edward with a guitar...swoon!
Chapter 35 - Captivated and Captives
Paul and I sat down and watched as Edward, strummed a couple chords, making sure his guitar was in tune. "What did he say? Is he okay?" I asked Paul nervously.
Paul just chuckled and leaned over to me. "He just told me not to leave your side." Paul shook his head. "That boy sure loves you, Bella."
I blushed and laughed with him. "The feeling is mutual."
I heard Edward start strumming, and my head snapped to the stage. He was smiling at me, as he started singing. He was playing one of the songs he played for me last night that I hadn't heard before. It sounded like folk rock. Edward's voice portrayed so much feeling. When he sang, it was like I could see into his soul. He played three more songs, all slow, folk type songs. He never took his eyes off of me. Despite the fact that he was singing to a crowded room, now full with about fifty people, it was as if it was just Edward and I, alone on his porch again.
"Okay, um, this is last song tonight." Edward said to the crowd. "It's called 'Captivated,' a song I wrote for my beautiful girlfriend. I love you, baby." He looked into my eyes and smiled at me, winking, as he started playing. He hadn't played this song for me last night. I would have to ask him when he wrote it.
The song was beautiful, and somehow captured all of the love we shared with each other. It had warmth and depth and the lower notes pulled me in. I didn't know how everyone else reacted to the beauty of the song, as I was hypnotized by it, by him. The depth of the connection Edward and I shared was intense. But instead of feeling scared and overwhelmed by my emotions, I felt safe and secure in them.
Unfortunately, the song ended after a few minutes. I wiped a tear from my eye, as Edward thanked the crowd, hurried off of the stage and came back over to our table.
"Great job, buddy." Paul said, standing up and patting Edward on the shoulder.
"Thanks, man. It's not too bad once your up there." Edward replied with a shrug.
Edward walked up to me and I immediate pulled his face down to mine for kiss. "I love you, Edward. That was incredible." I said, after I had finally pulled away from his lips.
Edward chuckled. "So, you liked it?" He asked, his cheeks a little pink.
"I loved it. When did you write it?" I asked, as he shrugged out of his guitar strap, and set it back in its case.
"Oh, uh, I've been working on the lyrics and melody, since I first saw you in class, but I just played it for the first time last night after I took you home and bought the plane tickets, and I practiced it again all morning before I came to pick you up." He said, sitting back down. I sat beside him, reaching out and taking his hand.
"Thank you so much, baby. I can't believe you did all that for me." I said, leaning over to kiss him, again.
"Well, I just want to make you as happy as you make me." He said quietly.
"Edward. Just being here with you makes me happy. I have never been happier, or felt more loved than I have since I met you."
"Good." He said with a smirk, lightening the mood a little. "Then I'm doing my job."
I laughed at him. "Hey, lovebirds. Do you want some chicken wings or something? We have to celebrate." Paul said, looking longingly at the bar.
"Yeah, sure." Edward said, as I giggled at them. Only guys would celebrate with chicken wings.
"Maybe some sweet potatoes fries?" I added.
"Sure." Paul said, getting up and walking to the bar to place our order.
Edward let out a deep breath. "That was a rush, babe." He took my hand in his and brought it to his lips. "I was so nervous, but once I started playing, I felt like it was just you and me, like last night."
I smiled. "I felt the same way, Edward."
Paul came back with a basket of hot wings and another basket of sweet potato fries. We spent the next hour eating, laughing and sharing stories. I had a great time with Paul, and Edward seemed to enjoy reconnecting with his friend.
At around nine-thirty, Paul decided to leave. He figured it might take him twice as long to get home with all the rain, and he had to work tomorrow morning. Edward and I decided to stay a little longer and listen to a couple more performers. We were both really enjoying ourselves.
At about quarter after ten, Edward's phone vibrated with a text message. "It's from Paul." Edward said. "He said the conditions on the highway are really bad. He can hardly see, the rain is coming down so hard."
"I hope he gets home, alright." I sighed, worried about Paul, and driving home ourselves. "Let's go out to the car. I want to call my dad."
"Okay, babe. Come on." Edward said, picking up his guitar and taking my hand in his. I waved at Rachel, who was at the bar, as we left. I opened the umbrella and Edward and I ran out into the rain.
After we put Edward's guitar in the trunk, I got in to my side and Edward ran around to his. "I'm worried about driving home, Edward." I said, as I looked outside. The rain was still coming down in sheets and the wind was picking up.
"I am, too, babe. I didn't think it would get this bad." Edward said, reaching up to stroke my cheek.
I took my phone from my purse and called my dad. "Hello?"
"Hey, dad. We're still in Port Angeles and the rain is coming down really hard." I told him, hearing the concern in my own voice.
"It's pretty bad here, too, Bells. There have been a couple of accidents out on the highway tonight." he said, sounding tense. "Bella. I don't think you two should risk it. Can you get a room for the night?"
"Um, okay. Just a minute." I turned to Edward, who was looking at me, waiting to see what my dad said. I lowered the phone to tell Edward what my dad said. "He said we should stay here tonight. There have been a few accidents."
Edward nodded. "Okay."
I brought the phone back up to my ear. "Okay, dad. We'll stay here. I'll call you in the morning."
"Okay, Bells. Be careful. I love you." My dad said, still sounding really worried.
"I love you, too, dad. Goodnight." I said, before hanging up. I looked at Edward, a little teary eyed. I was upset that my dad was worried, and I was worried about Paul on the highway. "Well, I guess we're stranded."
"It's okay, honey. Don't look so worried. We'll be fine." He said leaning over to kiss my forehead. "Let's stop a the gas station and get some snacks and toothbrushes, and then we'll go find a room, okay." He sounded so calm. I was glad that one of us was.
He pulled out of the parking lot and drove up the street until we saw the lights of a gas station through the wall of rain and darkness of night. We parked by the door and ran in. We walked up and down the aisles, and found some toothbrushes and toothpaste. Edward walked over to a rack with touristy Washington t-shirts. He pulled out a large, green shirt and held it up to me. "Pyjamas?" He asked, with a cute smirk on his face.
I laughed. Leave it to Edward to make me feel better about our situation. "Sure." He draped the shirt over his arm and took my hand, walking to the next aisle. "Oh, peanut butter." I said, picking up a jar. It was my comfort food. Edward smiled at me and picked up a package of plastic spoons.
"Anything else, babe?" He asked. He was doing this all for me. I could see it in his face. He knew I was nervous and upset, and he was trying to distract me. It was working.
"No, I'm good. Thank you, Edward. For everything." I said, smiling up at him. "Do you want anything?"
"Hmm. Maybe a slushee?" He said, looking like a kid in a candy store. I laughed at him. About fifteen minutes, and thirty dollars, later, we ran back to the car, through the rain.