Place and Time
A/N: Sorry I kept you waiting. I lost a week in Seattle, helping my daughter move. Then this chapter became its own story and refused to end. Bonus: It's a long chapter!
Thank you for the noms/votes for Indelible & FFSGSG in the TwiFicFandom Awards and Rooftop Rocky and Balcony Bob in the TwiFanfictionRecs Top 10. I appreciate the love and support!
This one is a little different. I hope you like it. :)
Chapter 7: A First Crush
Edward Cullen.
A boy as memorable as the brief summer vacation that brought me to him a decade ago.
Until that summer, I'd never been very interested in boys.
Certainly, none had ever been a person of personal interest before.
Not until I met Edward Cullen…
*O*
It was late August, not long after Mom remarried, and I had only recently moved back to Forks to live with Dad. In a few weeks, I would start my freshman year of high school. One week later, I would be fourteen.
Earlier that same summer, Rose's parents had been contacted by friends from their college years. The friends lived in Chicago, but had family on Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Southern California. The friends were planning a visit there and invited the Hales to join them on vacation. They even offered the use of a family-owned condo, roomy enough for Rose to bring along a friend or two.
Maybe it was the trifecta of Mom's remarriage, moving in with Dad, and the prospect of me facing all new faces at yet another new school that led my parents to allow me to go. For whatever reason, they said yes, paid for my airfare and ferry ride, and gave me ample spending money for the week.
That's how I found myself off on an adventure with Rose, her parents, Roger and Lillian, and Alice Brandon. I had met Alice through Rose the previous summer when I had visited Dad, and I had liked her immediately. She was a bright and happy ball of energy, and I looked forward to spending the week with her and Rose.
Early on a Saturday, we drove from Forks to Seattle to catch our flight to Los Angeles. There, we caught a shuttlebus to the San Pedro Port and boarded the afternoon ferry.
As we crossed the channel to Catalina Island that day, Roger told us a few things he'd learned from his Chicago friend, Carlisle.
Catalina had been bought in 1919 by William Wrigley, Jr., of chewing gum, Wrigley Field, and Chicago Cubs baseball fame. Wrigley developed the island as a resort, and from 1921-1951, it was also the spring training home for his Chicago Cubs. Carlisle's grandfather had worked for the team back then, and Carlisle's father always remembered his boyhood visits there. Now in their sixties, Carlisle's parents had left their roots in Chicago to live out their retirement years on Catalina Island.
As the ferry drew close, we saw the city of Avalon spread out along the bay and up the hillsides and canyons. Roger pointed out a cluster of white condos off to the right, outside the city, where we would be staying in Hamilton Cove. To the right of Avalon Harbor, stood the over ninety-year-old Casino, an art-deco era cinema and ballroom. At the other end of town, atop Mt. Ada—named for Wrigley's wife—stood the old Wrigley Mansion, now a bed and breakfast.
We gathered our things to head ashore as the ferry approached the dock. Walking along the gangway, we heard voices calling Rose's parents. An attractive older couple waved from beyond the throng of disembarking passengers, and we headed in their direction. Once they had exchanged greetings and hugs, Alice and I were introduced to Carlisle and Esme Cullen. Esme apologized that their son wasn't available to greet us. He had been staying with his grandparents for the summer, working odd jobs around the marina, and had a somewhat irregular schedule.
The Cullens had come to pick us up in a golf cart, as there were few actual cars allowed on the island. Residents used golf carts to get around, and our condo even included one since it was too far outside of town to walk.
While Carlisle loaded our luggage onto his golf cart, Esme pointed out some features along the beachfront, including the Green Pleasure Pier midway across the bay—departure point for ocean tours, boat rentals, and fishing trips. While Carlisle took the golf cart and our luggage to his parents' house for safe keeping, the rest of us followed Esme along the beachfront. She was friendly and chatty, pointing out a few shops, cafes, a place to rent bicycles, and the plaza where we could book inland sightseeing trips or boat tours.
Carlisle met us at a restaurant overlooking the water, and we ate dinner as the sky changed colors with the sunset.
Afterward, Esme walked us to the grocery store to pick up essentials for the condo while Carlisle retrieved the golf cart with our luggage. When he returned, we said goodnight to Esme, piled onto the golf cart, and Carlisle drove us out to the condo in Hamilton Cove.
*O*
On Sunday morning, we took the condo's golf cart to meet the Cullens in town for brunch.
Once again, their son was missing in action.
We went sightseeing in the golf carts after we ate—Roger and Lillian with Carlisle, and Rose, Alice, and I with Esme. We stopped and took photos at the Casino on our way out to Descanso Beach. Then we turned around and rode up to Wrigley Mansion and took photos of Avalon Harbor from high up on Mt. Ada. At the end of our tour, Esme dropped us girls off at the beach, and the adults went on to spend the afternoon visiting Carlisle's parents.
Rose, Alice, and I were ready to hit the beach. We had brought our beach bags and already had our bathing suits on beneath our sundresses. We found a spot near the Green Pier, stretched out on our towels in the sun, and reveled in the sights and sounds around us.
Music and laughter drifted out from beachfront bars and cafes. Children played by the shore of the sheltered beach, and people of all ages swam or soaked up the sun on a crazy quilt of beach towels. A group of teenaged boys dove and did flips off a dock at the pier. And boats motored in and out of the marina, occasionally docking to load or unload passengers and crew.
After a while, Rose and Alice left to get us ice cream cones, and I stayed behind to keep an eye on our things. While waiting for them to return, I went for a quick dip in the bay. The water wasn't nearly as cold as the frigid surf of the Pacific Northwest, so I waded out until I was waist-deep.
A sudden whoop of laughter caught my attention. One of the teenaged boys on the dock was trying to wrestle a taller boy off the side and into the water. The taller boy hadn't been there earlier. I would have noticed him. As he resisted his friend, his head was thrown back in laughter, and the late afternoon sun caught his wild reddish-blond hair as if setting it aflame. He shifted suddenly, gaining the upper hand, and propelled the shorter boy into the water as the others cheered.
I didn't realize I'd just been standing there, smiling at their antics, until the tall boy turned, his gaze landing directly on mine. I blushed at having been caught staring, then blushed even more as I saw just how good-looking he was. With a crooked smile, he tugged his T-shirt over his head and dropped it on the dock. Turning, he launched himself into the air and off the dock, joining his friend in the water, cannonball-style.
That evening, the Hales invited the Cullens out to dinner in Avalon. Even Carlisle's parents, Ed and Liz, joined us. The only one missing was the Cullens' elusive son, seventeen-year-old Edward. Esme apologized again, saying he was crewing on an evening Flying Fish Boat Tour and wouldn't be back until late.
Hours later, as we were getting ready for bed, I jokingly asked Rose and Alice if they thought Edward Cullen might be a mythical creature and not a real boy. They both laughed, and then Alice suggested he might be a figment of his mother's imagination. Rose said she had only ever met Carlisle and Esme before, and that was years ago, so she couldn't vouch for a son…or Esme's mental health.
Once we were done giggling, we chastised ourselves for making fun of Esme because she was such a sweet lady. Edward was obviously a hard worker, we decided, but at seventeen, he might not be very interested in spending time with fifteen-year-old Alice, nearly-fifteen-year-old Rose, and not-quite-fourteen-year-old me. Or else he just didn't want to meet us because of rumors he'd heard. With that, we dissolved into laughter again, making up ridiculous rumors about each other.
*O*
On Monday, Roger and Lillian took us on a semi-submersible boat trip to Lovers' Cove. Looking at all the colorful sea life below the surface was amazing, but it also creeped me out a little. Lillian reminded me how much farther out in the ocean we were than anywhere we would probably swim.
Back in town afterward, we had lunch and then the Hales rode off to the market before meeting up with Carlisle and Esme at our condo. The view from the condo's patio was incredible and they planned to sit out there and play cards while enjoying a few of Lillian's signature Margaritas.
Rose, Alice, and I checked out a few shops before winding up back at the beach near the pier once again.
Sitting on our towels in the sand, we began playing a covert game of our own invention. Since we had not yet seen Edward Cullen, and had no idea what he looked like, we would point out random males between the ages of about 10 and 30, and say, "Look! There's Edward." Anyone was fair game, but the less likely to be him, the better. Eventually, we tired of our silly game, and when Rose and Alice dozed off, I grew restless and decided to go for a swim.
I waded out and then dove in to swim along the pier. Checking out the docks along the green pier as I swam, I looked for the attractive sun-halo-haired boy from yesterday, but I didn't see him or his friends.
I had almost reached the end of the pier when something brushed my leg. I yelped and kicked, and when I felt it again, I shrieked even louder and kicked all the harder. My leg suddenly cramped up and I was so busy flailing and floundering, that I never heard the splash. All I knew was that some hideous sea creature was suddenly snaking around my waist, and I started screaming bloody murder.
"Relax, before we both need rescuing!" a voice sputtered behind me.
I jerked around to see who had spoken.
I thought maybe I saw a spark of recognition in his eyes as I saw that my would-be rescuer was the attractive sun-halo-haired boy.
His hair was slicked back, darker now that it was wet, but it was clearly him. It was also clearly his arm around my waist. Not some hideous sea creature. Sun-halo-haired boy was unquestionably the least hideous creature in the sea. Dark brows framed his sea-green eyes, long, spikey lashes sparkled with drops of water, a smattering of tiny freckles dotted a slightly sunburned nose and cheekbones…
"What happened?" his perfect mouth asked, jolting me out of my gawk-stupor. His brows pulled into a frown as he treaded water, supporting me.
"Nothing. Sorry. I'm fine."
I wasn't really; I was beyond embarrassed. More so because it was him, of all people. I couldn't seem to help being an idiot around him.
"You didn't sound fine," he countered as he began swimming, one-armed, pulling me toward the nearest dock with his arm wrapped around me.
"Seriously, I'm fine! You can let me go. Something touched me in the water, and then my leg cramped up."
"You know, this isn't a pool; things live in the ocean…"
"Oh my god, I'm not stupid! Just let me go! I'm fi—" I got a sudden mouthful of water as he released me and I submerged.
"What is wrong with you?!" I snapped upon resurfacing, swiping my hair out of my face.
He looked at me wide-eyed, but there was a flicker of mirth in those sea-green eyes. "Nothing's wrong with me. You said to let you go, so I did. Besides, we're here." He nodded to a ladder on the dock. "Climb up, head up the ramp, and walk back to shore on the pier."
"What?! Why can't I just swim back?"
"You'd probably cramp up again, and I can't stick around to save you. I have work to do."
I rolled my eyes in irritation. "Fine. Whatever." He might have been incredibly good-looking, but he was also rude. And bossy.
He followed me up the ladder, and I was certain he was looking at my butt. At this point, I just wanted to be away from him and his face and his annoying rescue-technique. I felt his eyes on me as I hurried toward the pier. Turning up the ramp, I looked back, and sure enough, he was watching me. And smirking! Like a big, unnaturally-attractive, rescue-jerk!
"You're welcome!" he called, smiling crookedly, tauntingly. "Drink some water so you don't cramp up. And enjoy the rest of your afternoon!" He waved.
I wanted to flip him off but refrained.
I also refrained from mentioning him or anything that had transpired between my dip in the ocean and walk along the pier once I re-joined Rose and Alice on the beach.
When Rose's dad picked us up a while later, he told us that our dinner plans with the Cullens had changed. Lillian and Esme had overdone it with the Margaritas, so the Cullens had left and he would be making us hot dogs, baked beans, and salad for dinner at the condo instead.
*O*
On Tuesday, Rose's parents took us to Descanso Beach and we went snorkeling. Rose was a natural, but Alice and I were rather inept. We were also creeped out by anything that touched us in the water. By anything, I mean primarily Rose, who thought she was hilarious each time she stealth-touched us and made us screech into our snorkels. But at least my leg didn't cramp up. And at least there was no big, unnaturally-attractive, sun-halo-haired, rescue-jerk around to hear me scream. Or rescue me. Or taunt me with his half-smile.
That evening, we met the Cullens for dinner.
And this time, their son was finally with them.
Of course, my big, unnaturally-attractive, rescue-jerk would turn out to be Edward Cullen.
When Esme introduced us, he didn't say a word about our encounter the previous day or acknowledge that he knew me in any way.
I began to relax, thinking maybe he didn't recognize me.
That feeling only lasted until we were seated, and the waitress brought us glasses of water. Edward, sitting directly across from me, picked up his glass, remarking how important it was to stay hydrated on a hot day to avoid cramping up while swimming. His eyes flickered to mine as he took a sip from his glass.
"Has that happened to you?" Alice asked him.
"No, but I had to dive off the pier once to rescue a girl who was cramping up, thrashing in the water, and screaming like a banshee."
I wanted to slide under the table and wait out the meal there. Fortunately, he never let on that he was talking about me, no matter how many stupid follow-up questions Alice asked.
Later, outside the restaurant, we were finishing conversations and saying our goodbyes, when someone poked me in the back. I turned to see Edward raking a hand through his hair, a somewhat subdued half-smile on his lips.
"Sorry," he murmured. I knew he meant the veiled story he'd told about me.
"No. I'm sorry," I replied quietly. "I should have thanked you yesterday."
He shrugged. "It's okay." His smile deepened, crookedly, like he was holding back laughter. "I enjoyed myself."
I felt my face heat up with a blush, doubtful he was serious, certain he was making fun of me yet again. "You're so weird," I told him in a low voice.
He laughed. "And you're cute when you're grouchy," he whispered back.
My mouth dropped open, but no smart retort came out. Rose was suddenly calling me, the Hales were heading to the golf cart, the Cullens were waving, and Edward was already sauntering away to join them.
I spent the rest of the night wondering what his deal was, why he was always picking on me, and how I was supposed to take what he'd said.
*O*
On Wednesday, we split into three groups and went our separate ways. Roger went golfing with Carlisle, Edward, and Ed; Esme took Liz to a day spa; and Rose, Alice, and I went on a day trip with Lillian.
The four of us boarded a power boat at the Green Pleasure Pier and rode along the coast to Two Harbors, near the western end of the island. Once the boat docked, we walked through the little town and hiked up a hill where we could see both harbors at once, one on either side of Catalina's narrow isthmus. Hiking back into town, we picked up some lunch and had a picnic on the beach. We swam afterwards and walked along the beach, looking for shells, until it was time to return to the dock for the trip back to Avalon.
Back at the condo later that day, we headed down to the pool and soaked in the hot tub until we were sufficiently waterlogged. Rose's dad picked up pizzas for dinner, and we hung out at the condo, watching TV and making an early night of it.
I hadn't seen Edward that day. Not in the real world, at least, though I saw him plenty in my own thoughts. I pondered each and every time I'd seen him the past few days, every interaction, every word, every physical aspect of him, and every single facial expression.
Including his maddening smirk-smile.
That smile ruined everything, yet I couldn't stop thinking about it.
*O*
Thursday morning after breakfast, we met all the Cullens at the Green Pier in Avalon. Even Edward.
Ed and Liz Cullen used to go boating on Lake Michigan when they lived in Chicago. Now they were ocean-going sailors and had invited everyone out for a day on their sailboat.
It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm, though much cooler out on the water. We sailed along the coast to Seal Rock at the eastern end of the island and stopped to watch the sea lions lounging, barking, and wrestling for position on the rocks and sand. Out on the open water afterward, we were joined by a passing pod of dolphins. We sailed alongside them, watching and waiting for them to jump out of the water, and cheering when they did.
Mostly, though, I was watching Edward and trying not to get caught. By him or anyone else. I couldn't resist watching him as he helped his grandfather man the boat. Besides being impossibly good-looking, he was knowledgeable and responsible about sailing, and his self-assurance only added to his appeal.
But for all my ogling beneath the cover of my baseball cap and sunglasses, Edward seemed barely aware I was even there—or any of us girls, actually. He spoke to his parents and grandparents, and occasionally to the Hales, but paid little attention to us.
We sailed around the point and into to a small bay with a sandy beach. Ed dropped anchor and told us we could go for a swim before lunch if we wanted to brave the water. Liz was already below deck, gathering foam boards and pool noodles we could use for floating or swimming ashore.
Edward shucked off his shoes and shirt and dove right in from the side. Resurfacing with a whoop, he announced that it might be too cold for the cowardly.
"That would be me and Grandpa!" Liz laughed as Edward swam to the back of the boat.
"Challenge accepted!" Carlisle announced, removing his sweatshirt and shoes.
The rest of us followed suit while Edward gathered the boards and noodles Ed and Liz tossed to him. Then, he waited at the ladder, making sure it was steady as we climbed down.
Like Edward, the men whooped when they hit the water. Esme, Lillian, and Alice shrieked, one after the other. Rose cursed, apologized for swearing, and then cursed again. With Edward lurking at the end of the ladder, I was determined to keep my yelling to myself today. Gritting my teeth, I followed everyone in.
"Let me know if you start cramping up," Edward said as I climbed down the ladder.
Of course, he would bring it up. And of course, he was smirk-smiling. I rolled my eyes at him.
"I'm sure I'll be fine, thanks." I mentally vowed to silently accept my watery grave if I cramped up in his presence.
Lillian and Esme were happy to stay near the boat, floating on their pool noodles, until the cold water chased them back on board. The rest of us were going ashore. Alice and Rose were already paddling away on their boards, and Roger and Carlisle began swimming after them.
"Edward, stay with Bella," Carlisle called over his shoulder.
"Sure thing, Dad."
Passing me the remaining board, Edward nodded toward the beach. "Ladies first."
"What about you?"
"What about me?" He cocked an eyebrow.
Ugh! He made everything so difficult!
"Don't you need a board? Do you want this one?"
He made a face, as if I'd said something ridiculous, and I immediately felt all hot and flustered.
"I'm pretty sure I'll be able to keep up. Hop on." He patted the board. "I'll race you."
"You just told your dad you'd stay with me."
He snorted a laugh, shaking his head. "Duly noted, Grouchy. I'll even make sure you win."
I rolled my eyes at my new nickname. I don't know why he felt he had to pick on me. He didn't pick on Rose or Alice; he barely said anything to them.
At least he was true to his word and did stay with me. He was a strong swimmer and could have easily left me behind in his wake. Instead, he gave my board a push every so often, to keep me from falling behind. We caught up to everyone as they got to shore and joined them on the sand to rest. We waved to Liz and Ed on the boat and Esme and Lillian floating on their noodles nearby.
By the time we all returned to the boat, Esme and Lillian were unpacking the lunch they'd brought for everyone. We sat in the afternoon sun, drying off and enjoying our picnic.
We got back to Avalon late that afternoon and thanked the elder Cullens for a wonderful day out on their sailboat. Everyone seemed rather tired as we parted ways. Rose, Alice, and I were already yawning as we headed to the condo to clean up and help Lillian make tacos for dinner.
*O*
Friday was our last full day in Catalina. On Saturday morning, we would be taking the first ferry of the day to start our trip back to Forks. Carlisle and Esme Cullen would be heading home to Chicago on Sunday, and Edward would be returning with them.
Ed and Liz had invited us to join the family for dinner at their house. Rose's parents were bringing wine and an appetizer, and Rose, Alice, and I had offered to make a dessert. So, after dropping us off in Avalon to do some last-minute souvenir shopping, Roger and Lillian rode over to the grocery store to pick up our dinner contributions and take them back to the condo for later.
After nosing around in the shops one last time, we walked along the bay, soaking up the familiar sights of main beach. I spotted a familiar tall figure tying up a boat at one of the docks but kept the observation to myself. Behind the cover of my sunglasses, I watched him, wondering if he would show up for dinner or if this was the last I would ever see of him.
Continuing past the Casino, we met Rose's parents out at Descanso Beach to go kayaking. Rose and her parents had kayaked before, but Alice and I were first-timers, and it showed. We spent more time floundering, laughing, and yelling at each other than we actually did paddling and getting anywhere. We finally gave up, deciding we were better suited to lying on the beach, listening to music, and people-watching.
Back at the condo that afternoon, Rose, Alice, and I made a double-batch of brownies to take to the Cullens. And since we had an early departure the next morning, we began packing what we could and helped Rose's parents straighten up the condo.
It was Edward who greeted us at the door when we arrived at the elder Cullens' home. He told us his parents and grandparents were out on the patio, and we followed him through the house to join them. Just as we were about to step outside, Rose remembered the bag she was carrying and handed it off to Edward to put in the kitchen. I had the baking dish of brownies in my hands, so I did an about-face and followed him, setting it next to the bag he placed on the counter.
"What did you bring me, Grouchy?" He smiled hopefully. Crookedly. Annoyingly.
"Oh my god, stop calling me Grouchy! You'd be grouchy too if someone constantly teased you."
The look in his eyes softened. "Okay, I'll stop. Sorry. So, what did you bring me, Bella?"
"I didn't bring you anything, Edward. This is dessert."
He stepped closer, lifting a corner of the aluminum foil covering the dish, and peeked inside. "Brownies?"
"Even better..." I opened the bag Rose had brought and set the vanilla ice cream, hot fudge sauce, and whipped cream on the counter. "Hot Fudge Brownie Sundaes."
"Yum. Definitely better." He looked at me, nodding in agreement. "I'm thinking we take all this and sprint down to the beach to watch the sunset and pig out. Are you with me?"
I couldn't help laughing at his eager face and stupid idea. "No! How mean!"
"Oh, come on. They'll never notice." His pretty sea-green eyes sparkled with humor.
"Yes, they would. It's a terrible idea. You can't even see the sunset on this side of the island."
He laughed as he opened the freezer, placing the ice cream inside. "Good point. Well then, I guess we'd better head out back before they think we've run off with dessert."
Lillian's platter of shrimp with cocktail sauce was a hit, the perfect appetizer for the surf and turf dinner Liz and Ed served up afterward.
The adults gathered for dinner at the patio table, while Rose, Alice, and I joined Edward at a couch and side chairs surrounding a low table.
Though I'd had a few embarrassing interactions of my own with him, we'd never really had a chance to have a real conversation with him before. He had been at only one other dinner, but all ten of us had been seated together in a noisy restaurant. And even though we'd spent a day out sailing together, he had been busy helping his grandfather. So, as we ate, we talked, asking and answering questions about ourselves.
He wanted to know how we knew each other, so we explained our connections. Then he asked if we'd ever lived anywhere other than Forks. I felt awkward explaining my parents' divorce, multiple moves with Mom, visits to Dad, Mom remarrying, and my return to Forks. Especially since Edward had a normal family, like Rose and Alice.
The conversation moved to high school, but I had nothing to contribute. It was embarrassing to admit I was still only thirteen and hadn't started high school yet. Rose and Alice would be sophomores, and Edward would be a senior. He was an athlete, like Rose, and played baseball for his school's varsity team, following in the footsteps of the Cullen men. I wasn't good at sports, nor was Alice, but at least she was creative and involved in multiple fine arts activities. When Edward asked what I planned to get involved with in school, I had no clue. All I had was a knot forming in my stomach.
From there, the conversation turned to what we did for fun back home. I didn't want to offer up that I was primarily a bookworm who also enjoyed learning to cook, so I just listened to their answers and nodded, as if I did the same things they did.
The knot in my stomach grew when Alice asked if Edward had a girlfriend. He laughed and evaded the question, instead turning it back on her somehow. The last thing I wanted was for the question to come around to me so I could sound even more pathetic. I was already self-conscious enough about my youth and lack of experiences compared to the three of them. So, noticing that everyone had long finished eating, I stood and began gathering our plates.
Liz noticed and said I didn't need to bother since I was a guest, but I told her I was glad to help and thought I'd start getting dessert organized too. She smiled and thanked me and said to leave the dishes by the sink. Then she asked Edward to help me find whatever dishes and utensils we would need for dessert, and as I headed to the door, I heard Lillian suggest that Rose and Alice help us.
Awesome.
So, there we were, all together again in the kitchen. But at least the conversation had been interrupted.
While they gathered everything we needed, I heated the hot fudge sauce and then warmed the brownies in the microwave.
I organized us into an assembly line, with me slicing brownies and placing them in the bowls, Edward adding scoops of ice cream, Rose drizzling hot fudge, and Alice finishing things off with whipped cream and a spoon.
When we had four desserts ready, Rose and Alice took them out to serve the Cullens while they were still warm. I kept slicing, and Edward kept scooping, but I could feel him watching me from across the kitchen counter.
"Are you okay?" His voice was soft, gentle, and I looked up at him in surprise. For once, he didn't seem to be teasing me.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I wasn't really, and he didn't look too convinced. Averting my gaze to avoid his, I began drizzling hot fudge into the four bowls we had just filled.
"You got kind of quiet out there."
I shrugged and moved on to adding whipped cream in the bowls. "I didn't have anything worthwhile to say."
Rose and Alice returned then, and Edward told them to go ahead and take them for the Hales and themselves, and we would finish making ours.
As I resumed slicing brownies, he was suddenly there next to me, so close I could smell the scent of his skin and feel the heat from his body.
"Bella…"
The knife slipped in my hand. I gasped, grabbing my thumb and squeezing it. "I just cut myself."
"How bad is it?"
"I don't know. I don't want to look. It'll make me queasy."
"Okay, let's get it washed off and let me take a look." With his hand on my back, he steered me over to the sink and ran cold water over my thumb.
"It doesn't look too deep. You don't need stitches. But it is still bleeding and—"
"Oh my god, Edward, shut up before I barf or faint."
He looked at me wide-eyed. "Seriously?"
I nodded.
"Okay, here, let's wrap it with a paper towel and you can apply pressure until the uh…you know…stops."
I nodded again.
"Do you need to sit down? Or…lie down?"
I couldn't have been more embarrassed. "No, I'm okay. I'm a complete idiot, obviously, but I'm okay."
He grinned. "You're not an idiot..." His smile softened and he seemed to be studying my face before he continued. "You shouldn't ever feel bad about who you are. Just give yourself a little time and you'll see there's more to you than you realize."
I barely had time to think about what he was saying before he leaned in, kissing me full on the lips, and I was kissing him in return. As he pulled away, I felt myself blush, and he smiled, his green eyes twinkling.
"And you're cute when you get all flustered. I'm going to miss you, Bella."
I smiled. "I'm sure you'll mostly miss teasing me."
He laughed, nodding. "Yeah, maybe a little. Wait here, I'll go get a bandage for your thumb."
I watched him as he walked away, committing everything about him to memory, including the feeling of his lips on mine—my first ever kiss from a boy.
Those were the last moments we shared alone. Rose and Alice came inside to see what had become of us just as Edward returned with a bandage for my thumb. Neither of us mentioned the kiss, nor did I ever reveal it to anyone else. But I thought about it, and him, for a long time afterward, wondering if he ever thought of me.