Anxiety.
It took up my entire being.
I covered my face with my hand but I wondered if by covering my face, would body language experts conclude I'm hiding something? Am I?
"Look over here!" A man shouts. Click!
"Can you just leave me alone, please?" I asked gently.
I was walking along the shore. Unable to find my shoes, Rosalie, or a way out. The cameras were getting closer, blinding me, trying to get a good shot of me. My world has turned into a disorienting flashing mob. Every step in the wet sand felt like a sinking hole. I was desperately holding back my tears and fighting back curses.
"Is it true you've been drinking underage?" asked a woman. Flash!
Don't answer them. Where's Rosalie? I need Rosalie! We need to leave right now.
There was a voice in the back of my head judging every aspect of my body. Will these photos be front page tomorrow? I'm just a teenager who just wanted to enjoy a night out with friends for once! I felt so violated. I felt so angry.
I don't even know where I was walking. I just begged God for peace. For the monsters to leave me alone.
Suddenly, an arm wrapped around me, blocking me from the swarm of paparazzi. Edward. He pushed aside the photographers and guided me through the crowd. I hid my face in his shoulder. Thank you God, but why him? What would Jacob think?
"Isabella, who's this? Is this your new boyfriend?" Fuck off!
"No, I'm just a friend who's protecting her from you assholes," growled Edward.
I peeked up to see that Rosalie was no longer sitting in the spot I left her at. Anger rose in me. How could Rosalie just disappear and leave me like that? Did she not notice the swarm of paparazzi?! Did my mother send these cameramen over here? My thoughts swirled at a million miles per hour.
The paparazzi were relentless. I never hated a group of people more than the paparazzi. By the time we got on the sidewalk, Edward paused and spoke up "Rihannas also partying in the drum circle. Did you get a good shot of her?"
We started walking again but we heard a couple of footsteps run off back to the drum circle. Good thinking on his part.
"Where's your car?" Edward asked me.
"I came with my friend," My heart twisted, missing Rose. When we went out or vacationed together, Rosalie was always my shield whenever the big bad wolves showed up.
Edward grimaced "Alright, guess I'm taking you home then," Now, Edward is filling Rose's parts and it's not the same. He's a man and the media loved to makeup stories. This was too easy for them.
The paparazzi was the worst part of the deal when it came to my lifestyle. Sometimes it was one or two, which is bearable. But when they came in packs, treating you as if you were not just an object, but a rare desired diamond, you felt so inhuman.
People snapping photos of you without permission just does something to your soul.
Every snap just steals a bit of your spirit.
The remaining photographers waited to get a good shot of Edward opening his car door for me and us driving away.
As soon as we were out of sight a few tears rolled down. I felt frazzled.
"I'm sorry," Edward said.
"Don't!" I huffed. Don't even get started on that.
I pulled out my phone and saw a missed call from Rose. "Where do you want me to drop you off?" asked Edward.
I ignored him though and I dialed her back instantly. Probably something I shouldn't have done in my emotional state. "Hey, where ar-" Rose began
"Where am I?! Where were you! You knew where I went, but where did you go?!"
"Calm down! I went with Victoria to smoke with her friends. I texted you!"
I looked at my phone. Ugh, she did text me. But still! "Well, you texted me too late." I snapped "By then I got pounced on by the papa-nazi's!"
"Fuck!" Rose said, "I'm sorry, are you okay? Where are you now?"
I slumped in the car and glanced at Edward and watched the street lights roll off his face "I'm with my friend. He's taking me home." I sniffled loudly. The actress in me couldn't resist drama.
"I'm sorry, Bells," Rose said her voice rang with dread.
"Yeah, you should be." I snapped and hung up.
I exhaled. Ugh, how dare she just leave me like that.
"You okay?" Edward asked.
I almost laughed hysterically. No! No, I'm not. My fingers went on the hunt again, this time, I called my mother.
"Where are you?" was Renees hello.
"Did you tip off the paparazzi?!" Was my hello back.
"No, I did not," she said in a suspiciously restrained voice "This is what happens when a girl of your status goes out in public. This is exactly why a girl like yourself shouldn't go out without security."
"You're lying!" I know she did it! Why else would she send me that text? She didn't even seem fazed by what I was saying.
"How dare you accuse your mother of lying!" snapped Renee "Get back home right now! You're in big trouble, missy!"
I screamed at the phone "No! I'm staying out and you can't stop me!" I hung up and caught my face with my hands. My whole body was a tornado, though I made sure to keep my composure on the outside.
"So..." Edward trailed awkwardly "Where are we going?"
That was a good question. I'm pissed at my mom and Rosalie. Jacobs out of town. Any good friend of mine is probably busy on a Friday night.
"Anywhere, where we can have some privacy."
~*~~*~ Ms. Perfect ~*~~*~
I couldn't believe my night ended up being stuck with Edward Cullen, the supposed schizo. I was in a bad mood. I hated being in a bad mood. Even worse, I hate being in a bad mood with a stranger rumored to be unstable. Have I mentioned I'm in a bad mood?
"This is a pretty relaxing spot," Edward turned off the car. I looked outside and saw nothing but pitch black. Oh god, is he gonna murder me?
"Where are we?"
"We're at my favorite park. It's sorta my spot." Edward got out of the car while I sulked in the seat. This mans "spot" is a park? Kill me now.
Edward opened the door for me. I got out with my phone gripped on my hand as if it were a weapon. Edward turned on his flashlight on his phone and we followed the trail. I looked around at every corner. Did any of the paparazzi people follow us?
It was colder here than at the beach. My arms were crossed, eyes narrowed. I kept a safe distance from Edward, just in case he tried something.
"What's on your mind?" he asked me.
Be honest or be casual? "I'm wondering if I'm walking to my death," I muttered.
That made in him laugh "What? You don't trust me?"
"Should I?" I huffed.
"Of course, Carlisle is my dad. I'll protect the star at all costs."
There's the word. Star. I'm a star, that's why my life is so hellish. "Sometimes I wish I wasn't a star. I wish I could just act and not have my identity and life stolen from me." Did I say too much? Did I even say the truth? Would I still love acting if I didn't have the spotlight?
"I know it must be tough, but you're a strong girl," he said. Which made me sad. Sometimes I didn't want to be this strong. I feel like an alien. "We're safe now. Don't worry, no one really goes to the parks at night. You have all the space here to be who you want. Strong or small. Star or not."
The night lamp had a haunting green color that cast over the lake. It was the solitude and darkness that somehow brought me a sense of peace.
"There's a swing set, too." He told me. I looked at him and we smiled.
I felt like a child. We swung on the swings trying to catch a star and played hide and go seek in the dark playground. I felt alive and somehow, felt more myself than ever before.
We rested on a bench by the water. Edward was telling me what having Carlisle as a father was like "I swear growing up he acted like a director at home. Planning the 'scenes' aka the plan for the weekend." he joked.
"Onset, Carlisle is like the father I always wanted. My parents divorced when I was a child. My dad was an alcoholic so my mom got custody and I never really got to know him. All I know is his name. Charlie."
"Charlie's my cat's name," said Edward. We laughed.
"You named your cat, Charlie? Oh gosh. That's a human name!"
"Hey, don't judge. Charlie has a lot of personality," he defended.
"Right," I chuckled.
"Do you have any pets?" he asked me.
"Nope, my mom hates animals," I said
"You're mom sounds like an interesting person. I mean, who hates animals?"
I looked down "My mom is interesting alright. Sometimes I swear I hate her but most times, I realize I owe my career to her. She cares about me, she just shows it differently than most moms." Edward said nothing to that. I wondered if I said too much. "It's beautiful out here," I commented.
"Yeah, to me nature is more beautiful than going out to clubs. If we just had a picnic blanket and some snacks, it would be perfect." And like a date? I finished in my head. I haven't really been to any real nightclubs here in Los Angeles. I'm still 17, I forgot Edward's a bit older than me. I find his love for nature to be endearing.
This park with its talk, strong trees and lights that casted a green glow was simply magical. The full moon hung right over us, reflecting in the lake with its smug smile as it gazed over our half of the Earth.
"I see why you like coming here, it's so beautiful," I sighed taking in the scene "I swear there are even little sparkles all around the lake."
Edward visibly froze "You see them, too?" he whispered in a serious tone.
Now I froze "See what? The sparkles? Yeah... what are they, light bugs, or something?"
"Or something," he murmured.
Edward refused to look at me. Question marks hung in the air. "Edward, what's going on?"
"So," he coughed "About your mom, i-"
"No, no," I see what he was doing "You're not gonna change the subject on me like that."
He kept denying anything so I hopped off the bench and went to investigate myself. I stood by the edge of the lake, ignoring his calls, and focused on a beautiful white light float onto a nearby flower.
My breath caught as I saw the wings.
"Is that... is that a fairy?"
Edward was by my side now "You see them, too?"
The light grew to the size of my palm and floated in front of us.
"Oh, Edward! I'm so glad you're back and you brought a friend!" The pixie smiled at me before floating up to my wide eyes.
"Hi, my name is Alice! I can tell we're gonna be best friends!"
She giggled as I screamed.
AN: Sooo, Alice as an actual pixie! Yey or nay?
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