oOo
Edward watched as Bella frolicked in the small park near her place. She was like a little girl, skipping around, her breath showing in the air, her cheeks getting rosy.
"Here." She opened his hand. "I got you this."
It was a chestnut, polished and perfect.
"Thanks." He looked up from his hand and into her eyes, and they looked like that chestnut in the late-afternoon light. Round and brown and shiny.
She smiled, and Edward realized that, with such a simple gesture, Bella had turned what might have been a potentially horrible afternoon, into something unique, simple and sweet.
"Are you cold?" she asked.
"No." He shook his head.
"Oh, it's so good to be moving!" She stretched her arms. "I'm always inside with my nose in a book, or in front of that damn laptop." She bounced up and down. "I guess you're the same, aren't you? Inside and painting?"
"I guess so," he shrugged.
"You know what?" she suddenly asked and smiled. "You," she said and touched his chest, "are it!"
And with that, she took off and ran away.
"Bella, come on! I'm way too old to play tag…"
But after two seconds of resistance, he followed her. Anyone watching would think they were mad, two grown-ups running through the little park, chasing after each other, but if he was honest, it was the best he'd felt in a long time. Bella caught him in the end, having hidden behind a tree, and pounding on him from behind with a squeal. He was so surprised that she tackled him down, managing to fall on top of him and shouting, "Yay!"
She was squatting above him, raising her fist in the air.
Edward let out a breathless laugh.
"You take this very seriously, do you?"
"Of course I do!" She was fighting for breath as well. "What's the point of it if you don't?"
And then, she jumped up, brushing dried leaves off her coat.
"Give me a hand, why don't you?" he said from his place on the ground.
"Aww, poor old man," she chuckled.
Okay, that was so not how he wanted to be seen by her. Edward got up and gave his own coat a brush-over.
"Do you want to have a cup of cocoa? There's this cute little place, and they make the best cookies, as well!"
This time, Edward knew better than to comment on her not seeming to eat that many cookies. He just nodded, and followed her lead.
The chestnut, round and smooth, was in his hand inside his coat pocket.
oOo