It was noon, and we didn't go back to his house
Disclaimer: If I did own twilight, I would chain Edward Cullen to my room. Impossible, you say? Well, not for Super-Duper-Extra-Strength-Vampire-Rope it isn't. 3.24 at your local Walgreens.
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Thanks Dear Dear Dear Deer, oops I spelled it like the animal, Dear reviewers.
Toshimi: Hmmmm…pulverization would be an interesting way to die. But I think I'll just save myself the trouble and update my story. Bon Apetite!
INVX: YOU CAME BACK! YOU CAME BACK! O HAPPY DAY! The sun is shining. The bluebirds are singing. The smirfs are dancing. (don't ask). But you, being the mentally abnormal person you are, know all about those smirfs don't you, eh? (nudge, nudge). Anywho, I was wondering. Did they put you in one of those big fluffy rooms. I've always wanted to be in one, and bounce off the walls. Just a suggestion for ways to pass the time. I shall TRY to sneak in skittles through the small slit in the door. Tanya is an elephant indeed. A very small elephant…an elephantette. Awww looky, Lily just added words to the English language. Merriam Webster should really see this. And wow. Your post for chapter 18 was truly touching, you doublespacing, all caps, hilarious reviewer you. RUN INVX RUNand also, I shall try to send you my own polka dog through the slit. He answers to larry, and in his left nostril will be the asylum floor plans, and a key so that you can get out. But you didn't hear it from me…oh and enjoy the skittles.
Ellen Dean: The suspense of my story kills ME. But thanks. I appreciate the love. I didn't actually intend for it to be sooo dang suspenseful.
Melody Cullen: Yes, that was in the original storyboards. Edward dredged up the Titanic from her watery grave and hit Josius over the head with it. But then I got a letter. Something about destroying historical artifacts or something, and I had to change it. Maybe…
Em: happy easter to you too. Purple streaks are super cool. If I could change one thing about the world, I think I would make it genetically possible for people to naturally have cool hair colors, like orange and blue. Instead of just boring brown, red, and blonde. YAYMY FLYING GREEN LLAMA ARRIVED TODAY I TAUGHT IT TO DO A HANDSTAND…AND NAMED IT PHILLIP EUPHORIA COOLIO
Albnal33: lol…I deal with the mafia on a daily basis. Give me the money! No no im just joshin you. But, really. Give me the money…I thought your adjective use was quite impressive myself.
MeyaRose: OMGOMGOMG(hyperventilates) IT WAS LONGER THAN ONE WORD I CAN DIE HAPPY I LOVE YOU MEYAROSE YOU COMPLETE MEhahaha. I mean, thanks.
Thefuturemrsedwardcullen:---------------------------------------------------------
Someone who is definetily in no way thefuturemrs.edwardcullen: My real name is not lily actually. And I think Edward enjoys the pleasure of my company much more than yours. Don't you Edward? Edward: why yes, someone who isn't named lily, I do! Thank you very much Edward. And sure, let's talk books. Name one. Books are uberdy dooberdyy cool.
Vampirelove4Cullen: thanks. I think I've got the emotions down. I just need to work on plot development.
Nobodyparticular: thanks, funny you should say that tho. I thought it was one of my worst. O well. GOOD OLD ROCKY TOP WOOOO ROCKY TOP TENNESSEE!!
Emmi: ? I sat there staring at my computer screen, pondering that for HOURS! Thanks. In both the sarcastic and non sarcastic way.
Xsocialdistortionistx: There's oodles more, you know. Neways. Thanks for the review: YAYYYY NEW REVIEWERI think your initiation should be to bungee jump from mt. everest…whilst wearing a tutu.
Addicted2me: thanks
Chapter 15
It was noon, and we didn't go back to his house. "Too much emotion," Edward had said. I could imagine. I bet Jasper had blown a circuit.
Instead, Edward ran me back to Charlie's.
Once we got there, he gave me a quick kiss on the forehead and went to change.
I could see Charlie's cruiser in the drive-way. My latest exploit was yet another thing I'd have to hide from him. The list was growing larger by the minute.
Sometimes, for some unexplained, cosmically mysterious reason, I was tempted to tell him everything.
When he asked me what was going on in my life, sometimes I just wanted to blurt it all out. 'Oh, well my fiancée is a vampire…along with the rest of his family. And if the vampire thing isn't enough, Alice is a psychic, Edward can read minds, and Jasper can control your emotions. Speaking of Jasper, he tried to viciously kill and suck my blood one time…but that was probably the least important of my near death experiences. I have an uncanny tendency to be numbero uno on bloodthirsty vampires "Most Wanted" lists. Oh, and about Italy, so there was this crazy group of 1000 year old vampire mafia people who also almost killed me.…I think that about covers it. Just kidding. Jake's a werewolf! Have a nice day…'
Instead though, I settled on the usual. After walking upstairs and changing I approached the living room.
"Hey," I announced. "I'm home."
"Hey kiddo," I heard him call from the kitchen. It sounded like pots and pans were being moved around.
Oh, no. Kitchen plus Charlie officially equals disaster. Inedible, goopy disaster.
I could hear pots clattering to the ground.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah,." His tone suggested otherwise.
I rolled my eyes and went to help my food-inept father.
Seeing my face, he sighed with relief.
"Don't worry," I told him, "I've got it."
I went to pick up the mess of pans scattered on the tiles.
"How was Emily's?" he asked, sitting down in the dining room chair.
I froze. I wasn't prepared for an interrogation.
"Alright," I finally responded, even though that was the complete opposite of the situation. Tactfully, I decided to change the subject. "What were you making here anyways?"
Charlie averted his eyes and mumbled, "Sandwiches."
I grinned. "With pots and pans and…" I looked at the other item on the counter, "sugar?"
He shrugged. "So, did you see Jake?"
And so, my brilliant plan was foiled.
"Yeah," I replied slowly. I saw him locked in a battle to the death with Edward if that counted.
"Is Embry okay?"
This time, I could tell the truth. "His leg's broken, but Carlisle's fixing him up."
Charlie nodded. "Was Emily nice?"
I nodded.
"Leah with her?"
The skillet I had been putting away fell to the ground. My breath halted. The little bubble of normality I had been building around me abruptly burst.
Thankfully, Edward had chosen this incredibly opportune moment to knock on the front door. I flew to it.
Opening it, I knew he could see tears in my eyes, but I shook my head at him.
"Dad, I'm going out with Edward," I said.
From inside the kitchen, I could hear his harrumph. I knew he was about to protest, but I didn't care. I brushed past Edward and walked to my truck. Driving might just help take my mind off things.
I got in and slammed the door. Slowly, coolly, Edward slid in beside me.
Without a word, I pulled out of the drive, and as soon as I was out of view of the house, pushed the pedal to the floorboard.
Finally, after putting a few therapeutic miles between myself and Forks, I relaxed, slowing down to the speed limit. In my truck, it didn't take much.
Beside me, I could hear Edward chuckle. "You really are a Cullen."
I wondered at how he could laugh at a time like this, but I smiled in spite of myself.
"So," he continued, leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms behind his head, "Where to?"
"Antarctica?" I quietly suggested. "It's penguin season."
For some reason, he played it off as a joke. He made a noise like a game-show buzzer. "Wrong answer. Try again."
"I hear Nigeria's lovely, if you ignore the gunshots and malaria."
I'd play along. Kidding around with Edward was successfully removing my thoughts from anything that didn't have to do with us.
"Sounds lovely," he drawled, "I'll get you a shot and then we'll go."
Cringing, I replied, "I hate needles."
He looked at me like I was crazy. "But apparently being alone with a hungry vampire, miles away from civilization, with no one around to hear you scream is just fine and dandy."
I looked up in his eyes. Sure enough, they were pitch black. "Sorry," I muttered, before slowing down the vehicle and preparing to U-turn back to Forks.
A cold hand on mine stopped me though. "It's fine," he assured.
I checked his face. He was smiling.
"You sure?" I asked.
He nodded, before pointing out the windshield. "On to Nigeria!"
I laughed before putting the truck back into gear and resuming my escape. Ahem, I mean recreational outing.
"I still think Antarctica's an excellent idea," I mumbled.
This time, he didn't joke. This time, he gave me a hard look, but then bit his tongue and looked away.
I pressed the gas harder again.
"Bella, this road is winding, and I think you need to slow down."
I ignored him. No Antarctica, no slowing.
"Slow down" he commanded.
"Antarctica," I simply retorted.
"Don't make me stop this truck," he threatened.
I rolled my eyes. "You of all people are not allowed to complain about anyone's driving."
"Bella," he pleaded, "Please."
I was ready for this though. I didn't look him in the eye, so I didn't get the full intensity of his begging. His honey voice almost inclined me to lift my foot off the pedal, but this forgetfulness that my recklessness was inducing was just too intoxicating.
I heard him sigh angrily. "I hope you have good insurance."
I didn't see any of it happening. All I knew was that Edward had left the vehicle, and was nowhere to be seen. And though I still had my foot on the gas, my truck was undoubtedly decelerating.
Glancing in my rearview mirror, I saw him. He had actually physically jumped out of a vehicle moving at 60 miles per hour, and then stopped it with his bare hands.
Giving up, I took my foot off the pedal and closed my eyes. I didn't change my position even after I'd come to a complete stop. I didn't change it even after I heard the door being wrenched open.
"Don't. Do. That. Again." Edward was livid. He picked me up and carried me over to the passenger's seat. "I'm driving," he tersely informed me.
Over my dead body. As soon as he closed the door and began to walk away, I opened the passenger's side door and got out.
This was the first time I had taken notice of my surroundings. I had driven us straight out to a place commonly referred to as The Middle of Nowhere.
We were surrounded by Olympic Peninsula rainforest, on some sort of mountain. The road was indeed winding, probably not the best place for a clumsy, accident magnet to be driving 60 mph on, but it would be a cold day in hell when I admitted it.
I started briskly walking on up the road, following the white line. I wasn't sure why I was so angry, and that only made me madder. This was better than the depression though.
I could hear his footsteps behind me. "Bella, stop. You're being absurd."
I kept walking.
He grabbed my wrist and whipped me around to face him. "What's wrong?" he demanded. "Why are you doing this? You could have gotten yourself killed!"
His eyes were black fire.
"Well, maybe if I got in a bad enough car wreck, you'd see the light and change me!" I yelled back.
He looked mortified, appalled that I could even come up with such a heinous plan. Frankly, so was I.
I averted my gaze. "I'm sorry…I'm just mad."
His eyes softened, and he removed his hand from my wrist, lifting my chin up to meet his eyes again.
That forgetful bubble broke once more, and two tears leaked out of my eyes.
Before he could, I wiped them away. "I am so sick of crying! That's one thing I am definitely not going to miss."
His features twisted in sympathy.
He grabbed both my hands and brushed his cold lips across them. "Who are you angry at?" he asked gently.
Suddenly, it hit me – the reason I was mad. I looked away again. "Myself."
His hands were playing with mine, rubbing circles into my palms and toying with my fingers. "And I thought I was masochistic. Bella, you can't blame yourself."
I begged to differ. "It was my blood. That was the reason he came. The reason Kate and Leah died. I am the reason all the werewolves are crippled now! That was me."
"Look at me," Edward demanded patiently. "Bella, look at me."
I was reluctant to do so. If I did look into his deep orbs, I was afraid that I might just believe him. Even so, I finally did as he asked.
"You didn't choose that," he said, "It isn't your fault that your blood is the way it is." He lifted a stray lock of hair out of my face, "It's just that you're entirely too special for your own good."
"But Leah…" I started.
"Died trying to protect you," he finished. "She knew what she was getting into. She wanted you to live."
I sighed. No matter what the right answer was, Edward had once again dazzled me into having his opinion.
That didn't stop the regret or grief. Muted it some, but couldn't fully eclipse it. I doubted anything ever would.
I could see some split-second decision light up Edward's orbs.
He pulled me to him. "We're getting married," he growled.
Laughing, I threw my arms around his neck. "Thank you, Captain Obvious. That would be what this ring on my finger means."
Deep in his chest, I could hear his chuckle. "No, Bella. I mean we are getting married now."
I could feel him tense. He expected me to unleash a slew of reasons why we shouldn't do such an abysmal thing. However, I only shrugged. "Black tux, white gown, say 'I do', kiss, everyone goes home happy." I moved my head back to give him a pointed look, "Very happy. Ecstatic even."
He was still tense. "I mean, with time so blatantly against us, I just think it would be…wait…you agree?!"
I nodded. "I want you to be mine."
Slowly, a smile spread across his face. "Vegas?" he asked.
I shook my head. "Alice," I replied, "I promised her. One week early shouldn't make that big of a difference."
A/N: Phew...writing like a fiend over here. And not to be picky...but...errr...this story miraculously has 34 favorites and 51 alerts...so why am i getting 11 reviews per chapter? I'll keep writing nonetheless, but it just gives me more of an incentive to write. Really kicks in the enthusiasm. Review plz. CC appreciated. Everything appreciated really, minus flames. Keep the lighters away. Neways, i thought it was high time for some edward bella light, fluff time. As stephenie meyer would put it. "heaven, right smack dab in the middle of hell", and hell is on its way guyz. Don't you fret.