Again, this REPOST is a bit of a change. I'm combining TWO previously written chapters into TWO different chapters, hopefully making it easier to follow.
So once more, it's KIND OF a new chapter….kind of….
This includes the same conversation from two different POVs, so sorry for some of the repetition.
Anyway, four (including this one) more chapters before NEW CHAPTERS! Hooray! On with the story and as always…
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or DWTS. Ah, shucks!
BPOV
"So, how's the dancing coming along?" Charlie asked.
I choked on my food. I started coughing and I felt Charlie's hand hit me on the back a couple of times. I quickly snatched my beer from in front of me and took a couple chugs of the liquid. Once the food made its way down my throat and I could breathe again, I turned to face my dad.
"What?!"
"I just asked how the dancing was going. Aren't you training?" His eyes were too innocent. I'll kill Angela.
"Dammit. Why did Angela have to tell you?! I know it was her!"
"Hey, she just wanted to tell me that you wouldn't be by as much due to having to be down in California. And she may have mentioned that I would have to stop catching up on my sports on certain days so I could watch you. Aren't you having fun?" He asked as he took another bite of dinner.
"Yes…and no. The people are nice, but it's hard work. Dad, you really don't have to watch the show, I won't know."
"Were you not going to tell me? You know I'm interested in anything you do. But, are you being careful? You aren't exactly the most graceful person." He chuckled to himself.
"Oh, thanks dad. You don't need to remind me of what I know. And, yeah…I probably would have told you, eventually. Most likely right after I got voted off the first show. You know I'm not going to last that long anyway." I was pushing my food around the plate, suddenly losing my appetite.
"Bells, you can do anything you put your mind to. No, you aren't the most athletic or the most graceful, but you put everything you can into something and you go out with a bang. If you get voted off, well, you know that you did everything you could and you tried your hardest. I know you Isabella. You aren't a quitter."
I looked at my dad with shame. I felt bad as I thought about all the times this past week that I thought of quitting, but my father was right. I wasn't a quitter.
"Thanks." I blushed but I couldn't be happier that my own father had faith in me. He was a man of few words, but what words he said meant something.
We continued to eat in a comfortable silence and when our eyes would meet, my father would give me a shy smile. I truly loved my father. I know things between him and my mom were tense, especially after I moved here in high school. My mother couldn't understand why I wanted to move and honestly, my father didn't fully understand it either, but he made me feel welcome and made an effort, which was sometimes more than I could say about my mom.
I caught up on all of the small town news that was happening from Charlie and we slipped into a simple conversation, until he asked a question I didn't want to think about.
"So, are you going to tell me who your dance partner is or am I going to have to get that info from Angela as well?"
I really didn't want to talk about Edward, because it meant thinking about Edward and right now it was too hard. I could have just screwed up a blooming friendship almost 2 hours ago all because of a stupid moment of acting on impulse and it hurt me deeply to think that it could quite possibly be true.
"Bella?"
I knew I still hadn't answered him because I was trying to emotionally prepare. I didn't want to burst into tears in front of Charlie.
"My partner is Edward Masen." Keep it simple Bella.
"Ok. I feel like I've heard the name before. Does he make the news a lot?"
"Um, I think he does make the Entertainment news a bit when the show is running. You know, like recaps." But he wouldn't know about that. He only watches the sports highlights, so I can't imagine he would be caught up on his celebrity and entertainment gossip.
"Bells…you know I don't watch that stuff. Hmmm, why do I know that name?" He spoke the last part to himself. I knew I would just tell him and take the barrage of comments that were going to come my way.
"Well…he's Dr. Cullen's son," I said quickly as I picked up both plates and made my way to the sink. If I thought that would stop the conversation, I was very wrong.
"Of course! That's right. Wow, small world. He has an older sister right? Anna…Ashley…shoot, what's her name? I know it starts with an A."
"Alice, dad," I spoke over my shoulder without turning around fully.
"Yes, Alice. She's a bundle of energy, isn't she? I remember when they were in high school and she would be dragging Esme down the street. I guess Edward was the tall sulky kid that tended to follow behind them."
"From what I know of Edward in high school, that kind of sounds like him," I knew it was true, but I didn't want my father passing judgments. Even if Edward wasn't here, I felt the need to protect him. I turned to my father and continued.
"But he had every reason to be. And really, dad, I wasn't much different than him. I probably had a few more friends, but I tried to keep to myself. I would have liked to have passed through high school as if I were invisible." I turned back to the sink and went back to work with the dishes. It was a little difficult seeing that I was trying to keep my bandage dry.
"I never said it was a bad thing that he sulked or tagged behind. I didn't mean to hit a touchy subject. He was a good kid. Never got into trouble, which was a pleasant change from the other ruffians in this town. He was smart from what I remember because I think he graduated from high school early."
"He did and he is smart." I couldn't hold back the smile from my face.
Charlie was quiet behind me for a while as I finished the dishes in the sink. After I dried my hands off on the dish towel I turned once more to my father and I could see that he was thinking things over in his head. Never a good thing.
"Bells, how much do you know about that family? About Edward and Alice, I mean?"
"Probably as much as you, if not more. I spent most of the day with them today and I had a great time. I know that Edward and Alice have been through more than someone should go through at their age, but they have a loving family with Carlisle and Esme, which is important."
"So you know…"
"That they are adopted, yes. Edward told me today. And yes, I know why. I think they both have grown up and turned out remarkably well. I only wish I had known them both when I was here."
I couldn't hold back a feeling of longing. I would have loved to have gone to school with the two of them. I don't know if we would have been friends, but I had a weird feeling that we would have been, even though they were either a year or two older than me. I guess everything happens for a reason.
"Carlisle came to me when they first moved to Forks, just to give me a heads up," Charlie started, interrupting my thoughts. "I was happy to welcome the new doctor and his family to town, but when he told me about what had happened, I assured him that I would only mention the truth to someone if it became necessary but it never did."
"You're a good man, dad and you are a good chief. I know they appreciated your discretion." I watched the small blush grace his cheeks as I smiled at him.
"Yeah, yeah. So…how's it going with Edward?" As he asked, it was my turn to blush.
"Uh, it's fine. He's kind of a perfectionist and I feel bad because I am far from perfect. I stomp on his feet a lot and don't have good posture. He yells at me sometimes because he gets frustrated with me. He's perfect and I'm a misfit. It's a bad match dad." I slumped into my chair at the table.
"Oh come on Bells, you can't be that bad and besides, it's only the first week, right? It can only get better from here."
"Yeah, we'll see. Edward is just such a great guy and I feel bad that I'm his partner. I know he wants to win this competition and I don't see that in our future. I just want what's best for him."
I busied my hands by tracing the wood grain in the table with my fingernail.
"Well, I'm sure you'll do your best and I'm sure he will as well. Just see where it goes."
I nodded at Charlie. I just wish I could be that positive about it all.
"Thanks dad." I stood up from my seat. "I'm going to head upstairs. I've got some work I have to do or Angela will have my head. Night."
"Night kiddo," he called back to me followed by the sounds of footsteps heading to the living room. Off to watch the sports highlights no doubt.
The stairs were under my feet and I was off to my room to work on my book, but that wasn't what I was thinking about. It was about a man with reddish-brown hair, green eyes and a crooked smile. I was also thinking of a plain girl, with brown eyes and brown hair, who had definitely come into her own as she grew up, but was still nowhere as glorious as the man.
As I reached my room, I looked around taking everything in. It was just as it had been when I was in high school. I never changed it and neither had my father. It had been years since I actually lived under this roof, but it was my room. My young adulthood resided in these walls. I started walking around taking in everything that was pinned to walls or tucked into bookshelves: achievements, photos of friends and family.
I touched everything, as if I was trying to absorb the memories through my fingers. As much as I wasn't a huge fan of high school, there were days that I missed it. There are days when I wished I had done something differently. Today was a day when I wish I could have come to Forks sooner. If I had been here sooner, I could have attended Forks High when Alice and Edward were there.
Things may have been exactly the same, but part of me held out hope that maybe things would have been different and the three of us would have been great friends…or maybe even more where Edward was concerned.
I sighed as I pulled myself away from my memories and I headed towards my window to open it. It was a nice night outside, for once, and I was going to make the most of it. I quickly tugged the window up, closed my eyes and took a deep breath of air.
EPOV
"So, how's the dancing coming along?"
I heard a sputtering followed by a severe cough and knew it was Bella. I was up the front steps in a flash and about to bust through the door when I realized what I was doing. Luckily for me Bella's coughing masked my footsteps on the front porch but now I was stuck.
"What?!" I was imagining Bella's face a beautiful shade of red and I was wishing I could actually see it for myself.
"I just asked how the dancing was going. Aren't you training?" His voice sounded a little too innocent for the chief of police.
"Dammit. Why did Angela have to tell you?! I know it was her!"
"Hey, she just wanted to tell me that you wouldn't be by as much due to having to be down in California. And she may have mentioned that I would have to stop catching up on my sports on certain days so I could watch you. Aren't you having fun?" I was interested in that answer myself.
"Yes…and no." She said and I was confused. 'No' she wasn't having any fun? Crap.
"The people are nice, but it's hard work. Dad, you really don't have to watch the show, I won't know."
"Were you not going to tell me? You know I'm interested in anything you do. But, are you being careful? You aren't exactly the most graceful person." I heard a small laugh and I couldn't help but smile and nod even though no one could see me.
"Oh, thanks dad. You don't need to remind me of what I know. And, yeah…I probably would have told you, eventually. Most likely right after I got voted off the first show. You know I'm not going to last that long anyway."
I was devastated. She had no confidence whatsoever in her abilities. Sure, she wasn't the most graceful thing to grace this planet, but she had the potential. Charlie spoke up and I felt my respect for him grow.
"Bells, you can do anything you put your mind to. No, you aren't the most athletic or the most graceful, but you put everything you can into something and you go out with a bang. If you get voted off, well, you know that you did everything you could and you tried your hardest. I know you Isabella. You aren't a quitter."
"Thanks." I'm sure that blush was back.
The quiet was back again and I really wanted to give them back their privacy, but I couldn't. Literally, I was stuck here on the porch and if I moved I would give myself away. I was working out my plan in my head when another question from Charlie interrupted my thoughts.
"So, are you going to tell me who your dance partner is or am I going to have to get that info from Angela as well?"
That stopped me dead in my tracks. I felt like a deer in the headlights. I couldn't move, even if I had the ability. When Charlie called Bella's name again, I couldn't help but feel that she was trying to ignore his question, thus ignoring me. I had to admit, it hurt.
"My partner is Edward Masen." She said simply.
"Ok. I feel like I've heard the name before. Does he make the news a lot?"
Come on Charlie. Can you really not remember me? I guess that was a good and bad thing about staying out of trouble.
"Um, I think he does make the Entertainment news a bit when the show is running. You know, like recaps." I really couldn't picture Charlie watching those shows to begin with, so I knew that would be a stretch for him.
"Bells…you know I don't watch that stuff. Hmmm, why do I know that name?" I knew he was wracking his brain for the answer and Bella finally helped him out.
"Well…he's Dr. Cullen's son," I think she tried to end the conversation there because I heard a chair scraping across the floor along with plates clinking together in the sink.
"Of course! That's right. Wow, small world. He has an older sister right? Anna…Ashley…shoot, what's her name? I know it starts with an A." Alice.
"Alice, dad."
"Yes, Alice. She's a bundle of energy, isn't she? I remember when they were in high school and she would be dragging Esme down the street. I guess Edward was the tall sulky kid that tended to follow behind them."
I frowned. Is that what I looked like to those outside my family?
"From what I know of Edward in high school, that kind of sounds like him." Great. Thanks Bella.
"But he had every reason to be. And really dad, I wasn't much different than him. I probably had a few more friends, but I tried to keep to myself. I would have liked to have passed through high school as if I were invisible."
I was stunned. She stood up for me and she didn't even know me back then. I wish I could have changed that. Hell, she stood up for me without needing to because as far as she was aware, I wasn't there.
"I never said it was a bad thing that he sulked or tagged behind. I didn't mean to hit a touchy subject. He was a good kid. Never got into trouble, which was a pleasant change from the other ruffians in this town. He was smart from what I remember because I think he graduated from high school early."
"He did and he is smart." I wanted to scoop her up and kiss her for the things she was saying about me.
I reveled in the silence between Bella and her father now. I had so many things to process in my head. I didn't know where to start.
"Bells, how much do you know about that family? About Edward and Alice, I mean?"
I gulped loudly. How much did Charlie know? I had no idea that he knew anything about our past.
"Probably as much as you, if not more. I spent most of the day with them today and I had a great time. I know that Edward and Alice have been through more than someone should go through at their age, but they have a loving family with Carlisle and Esme, which is important."
"So you know…"
"That they are adopted, yes. Edward told me today. And yes, I know why. I think they both have grown up and turned out remarkably well. I only wish I had known them both when I was here." Me too Bella.
"Carlisle came to me when they first moved to Forks, just to give me a heads up." Carlisle did what?!
"I was happy to welcome the new doctor and his family to town, but when he told me about what had happened, I assured him that I would only mention the truth to someone if it became necessary but it never did."
"You're a good man, dad and you are a good chief. I know they appreciated your discretion." The feeling of respect just tripled. I personally appreciated the great man that is Charles Swan.
"Yeah, yeah. So…how's it going with Edward?" My ears were now burning. This was what I wanted to know…at least part of what I wanted to know.
"Uh, it's fine. He's kind of a perfectionist." I winced.
"And I feel bad because I am far from perfect. I stomp on his feet a lot and don't have good posture. He yells at me sometimes because he gets frustrated with me." Only because I know she can do better!
"He's perfect and I'm a misfit. It's a bad match dad." She's wrong. It's the perfect match except she's perfect and I'm the misfit!
"Oh come on Bells, you can't be that bad and besides, it's only the first week, right? It can only get better from here."
"Yeah, we'll see. Edward is just such a great guy and I feel bad that I'm his partner. I know he wants to win this competition and I don't see that in our future. I just want what's best for him."
"Well, I'm sure you'll do your best and I'm sure he will as well. Just see where it goes."
"Thanks dad." I stood up from my seat. "I'm going to head upstairs. I've got some work I have to do or Angela will have my head. Night."
"Night kiddo."
I heard two sets of footsteps heading off in different directions and I made my move. I quickly jumped off the porch in the hopes of making less noise and to also quickly move around the house. I didn't know which room was Bella's, but I needed to talk to her, more than ever.
I followed around the house looking for a light to come on. I had to figure out which room was Bella's. There were only a few to choose from. I figured that both Charlie and Bella's rooms were on the second floor of the house, so I just needed a sign.
As soon as I thought about it, someone answered my prayers. A light came on in two of the windows and I saw a shadow moving across one and then the other. Bella was in her room and I needed to see her. I couldn't figure out how to, though. Her father was downstairs, watching TV and I didn't need to be coming over, basically saying 'I was in the neighborhood.' How crazy is that?!
I looked up for another sign and got a crazy and probably extremely stupid idea. There was an old tree that stretched above the Swan residence, but the branches spread throughout the air, with one in particular heading over to one of Bella's windows. That was my shot.
I hadn't climbed a tree in years. I never needed to, but now I was relying on all of my limited tree-climbing experience to see me through this without falling to my death.
I walked quickly to the trunk of the tree, found a placement for my foot and reached for a lower branch to pull myself up. Not so bad. I made for the next branch and my foot slipped and I hit the ground with a dull thud.
Damnit. I looked back up and could see Bella through the break in her curtain. I had to do this. Placing my foot back where it had slipped and pulling myself up onto that first branch, I kept glancing back and forth from Bella to the tree, back to Bella, then back to the tree. Before I knew it, I was thirty feet in the air and staring into Bella's room.
It was just then I realized that she could have been changing up here and I would have become a peeping tom with no easy escape. I was so grateful that she was still fully clothed…though it wouldn't have been that bad, right? SHUT UP!
I watched her for a second before I needed to make my presence known. I was starting to lose feeling in my fingers from the death grip I had on the bark. It was now or never…
BPOV
"Pssst, Bella!"
I nearly jumped out of my skin as I opened my eyes and came practically face to face with Edward outside my window.
"Edward!" His bright eyes gleamed with the light from my room. He had a mischievous look on his face but I couldn't help but see how utterly handsome he was.
"What the hell are you doing in that tree?!" I was practically screaming through my whispers as I saw he was gripping the branch tightly with his fingers, but they didn't look secure.
"Bella," he said intensely. "Can I please come in?"
"Haven't you ever heard of a door?! This is so stupid. You could have killed yourself climbing up here!" I whispered harshly at him, though I still opened the window wider and reached out for him.
Carefully I helped as he pulled himself through my window. I felt giddy that he had come to see me, but I thought he was an idiot for doing so the way he did. He could have seriously hurt himself or worse, gotten himself killed.
"I'm sorry I startled you. It wasn't my intention." He spoke softly as if knowing he needed to be quiet. Charlie was just downstairs and while I was an adult, I was in his house and if he were to find a man alone with me in my room, even if it was Edward, I'm not sure he would be happy about it.
"You still haven't answered my question about why you are here?"
"I…uh…needed to see you." His voice was shaking slightly but he could just be out of breath from the climb.
"Ok. So you came here, to my home, climbed a tree to get to my bedroom window, at night, to see me…why?"
"I wanted to talk to you about what happened earlier this evening." Crap. Did he mean what happened when he brought me home?
Shit! I couldn't talk about this now. I didn't know what to tell him, but I was sure that if he said it was a mistake or that we would be better to just forget it, move on and me just friends I would crumble.
"You couldn't talk to me over the phone?"
"No." He gave a shy laugh. "I had to do this in person."
"And you couldn't wait until Monday?" What was he doing? He was getting closer to me, inch by inch.
"I've waited long enough." He stepped in front of me and caressed my cheek with the back of his fingers. They were slightly cool from being outside but soft and gentle.
"Waited for what?" I had to be dreaming…this really couldn't be happening.
"This."
He leaned forward and I could feel sparks between us as his face got closer to mine. My eyes closed involuntarily and I just waited. I waited for those gorgeous lips to touch mine. I knew this was a dream and I didn't want to wake up from it.
A loud knock echoed through my room and I gasped loudly and pulled away from Edward quickly. I thought I heard him curse quietly but I was in such a state of shock I don't know if I really heard or didn't hear.
"Bells?! Are you alright in there?" Charlie called out to me through the door.
I panicked and mouthed the word "hide" to Edward as I ran to the door.
"Yeah dad," I said as I opened my door. "I just stubbed my toe when you knocked. You startled me."
"Oh, sorry about that," he said sheepishly. "I just saw your light was still on and figured you were still up. Anyway, I'm heading to bed. I'll see you in the morning?"
"Yeah. Sleep well."
He nodded but I felt as if he were eying me suspiciously. Did he know someone was in my room? Was it fatherly intuition?
Once I shut my door, I quickly turned around and looked for Edward. I couldn't find him. I hoped he hadn't left but if he did, I couldn't blame him. My father had perfect timing, damn him.
"Edward?" I whispered. I was still holding out hope that he was still here. I headed back to the window and looked down. I didn't see him. I looked back up and saw a figure standing behind me in the reflection on the glass.
I spun around quickly to see Edward and I had a huge smile. He hadn't left. He just hid very well.
"Well, that was close," he smirked as he spoke and took a step toward me.
"Too close. You should probably go. I don't think Charlie would take kindly to finding you here with me."
"I'll take my chances."
"Your funeral," I said under my breath.
"Bella, I can't leave yet. I came here for a reason and I'm going to say and do what I said I would."
"So…what did you want to say?" I was afraid of what he was planning on telling me.
"Um, I guess….I….uh…thank you." He let out a huff of breath.
"You came just to thank me?"
"Yes, I mean no. Ugh! This is…I'm having trouble finding the words…" He was getting all flustered and for once I'm glad it wasn't me. He gathered himself and tried again.
"Bella, there is something about you that fascinates me. You can be a little sarcastic at times and definitely stubborn and obviously clumsy," he said as he picked up my bandaged hand. Why was he pointing out my flaws? Before I could question him he continued.
"But you are the gentlest and most caring person I've ever met. You cared about me and what happened in my life, even after only knowing me for a week. You worried about me when you didn't have to. You comforted me after you knew and didn't run away. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are an amazing person Isabella Swan and I'm lucky that you are mine."
I flushed. His?
"Yours?" I questioned.
"Uh, yeah, um, mine. You know, my partner…and my friend."
"Oh. Yeah, of course I'm your dance partner and …friend." My heart fell as I said that word, but I better get used to it. "Thanks for thinking that about me."
I watched Edward as his eyes cloud over. He seemed to be confused and then upset. He growled to himself and started pacing. I couldn't figure out what was going on with him.
"Edward? Are you ok?" He stopped pacing but grabbed his hair with his hands before rubbing them down his face.
"No. This shouldn't be this difficult." At his words I panicked. I hoped he didn't mean trying to be friends with me, but he just said I was his friend. Maybe he didn't mean it.
"Edward, I'm really confused." I kept my voice soft.
"Me too! It doesn't make sense. I've known you for a week but I can't get you out of my head!" He kept his voice in a whisper, but it was harsh and if he wasn't trying to be quiet he would have been yelling. I felt the tears well up in my eyes.
"I'm…um, sorry," I said as I tried to swallow my tears.
Edward heard my voice break and looked over to me. I saw panic in his eyes now and I tried to turn away so he wouldn't have to look at me.
EPOV
Fuck. I looked up at Bella to see tears starting to form.
"Oh. Shit Bella! That didn't come out right. It's just so confusing to me that someone I've only known for a week would have this kind of impact on me, but I don't want you to get out of my head." I tried to get her to look at me but she wouldn't budge.
"Why?" she asked as I felt like I was starting to get somewhere when she turned towards me.
"Silly girl. Please look at me." I tugged at her chin softly and she tilted her head back to look me in the eyes. "This sounds really juvenile to say this, but I like you, Bella Swan. I mean I like you like you. You've turned my whole world upside down in just one week and honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way."
There. I said it. I couldn't help the smile that stretched across my face. I told Bella that I liked her, and even though it sounded so juvenile, it was how I felt.
"Uh…I really don't know what to say." Her words faltered my smile and broke my heart. I knew it would be a risk to say anything. I started to backtrack a little.
"You don't have to say anything Bella if you don't want to. I just, I needed to tell you. I've been battling with telling you or not but I came to a decision after I left you earlier that I needed to tell you. I needed to show you, whether you felt the same way or not."
I kept inching my way closer to her. I really wanted to show her how I felt, but maybe I would only be able to tell her.
"But Edward, I do…" Before I could hear her finished thought, a loud snore ripped through the air from Charlie's room and it jolted us apart. Something in me snapped and I couldn't hold back anymore. She may hate me for what I was about to do and if she did I would understand, but I needed to try.
"NO! No interruptions. Not this time." And I kissed her. I mean, I really kissed her. I put everything into that kiss. It was kind of forceful, which I regretted slightly, but the desire was there and I couldn't stop it. It was amazing. I started to pull back slightly to try to turn the kiss into something tender and I felt her lips move along with mine. When that happened, I went to the moon.
A few more moments of the kiss and I felt that tug in my lungs reminding me that I needed air. We needed air. I pulled my lips back from hers, but kept her in my arms and my forehead to hers so I could feel her breath on my face. It was like a warm summer breeze, but better.
"Bella," I said quietly, trying not to break the spell.
"Hmm?" was all she could say and I felt my heart soar. I did that!
"Please tell me what you're thinking." I wanted to know. I didn't care if it was 'why did you do that' or 'it's about time' or even 'I never want to see you again' although that last one might kill me. She took her time formulating a response.
"I'm not really able to think at the moment. My brain is having trouble wrapping around what just happened." She looked as if she were reliving the moment in her mind. I wished I could join her.
"You know," I interjected, pressing my luck. "You sounded as if you were going to tell me something but you never finished your earlier thought, since we were interrupted yet again…" I was hedging my bets and hoping to come out on top.
"What do you mean Edward?" she asked cheekily. Really? We're going to play this game? I was done with games. I wanted the truth.
"Bella, do you have feelings for me?" I looked deep into those beautiful brown eyes and hoped for the best.
"Edward, you have to know that I like you as well. I wouldn't have kissed you back like that if I didn't." Say what?! I tried to remain blasé about the whole thing, but I don't know how well that was working out for me.
"All the same, it's nice to hear and I'm grateful you feel the same way." I was back on the moon! She felt the same way! How did I get this lucky?
"So, what happens now?" I watched her eyes close again, but the expression on her face was not what it had been before, after the kiss. It was no longer relaxed and reminiscing, but tense and worried.
"Honestly, I don't know." And it was the truth, but when her face dropped, I couldn't help but continue my thought as I pulled her face back to mine again. "But I look forward to finding out."
And we kissed again, and I daresay it was better than our previous kiss. There was more meaning behind this kiss and I loved every minute of it. After a minute, Bella pulled back and looked at me and then gestured toward the window.
"You better go out the way you came." And I knew she was right. What I found slightly amusing is that she yelled at me about climbing up, but she was fine about me climbing down? Strange girl.
I leaned in for another quick kiss and headed to the window. I chuckled at the irony of it all and I could feel Bella's eyes on me.
"I feel like I'm back in high school." I pushed myself away from the window sill and back on the branch, which may look easy but is really hard.
"Oh yeah? How many bedroom windows did you climb through in high school?" I looked back and saw the glint in her eye.
"Just one…" I said, before continuing. "Mine. I liked climbing up to the roof to think from time to time. If my mom had known, she would have killed me and sealed my window shut." The thought of Esme doing just that made me laugh again, but when I looked back at Bella I knew I would have risked it for her.
"But if I hadn't graduated early," I said, thinking of how to put it. "I think I would have climbed through another window. This one."
I saw her catch her breath as I gave her a quick wink and shimmied down the tree. PS, that does not feel good. When I made it to the ground, I headed off of the Swan property and down the street where I had left my car. When I finally made it to the car door, I looked back and could faintly see the light in Bella's window through the trees. If I squinted, I could also make out the faint shape of a small body and I knew Bella was still there.
I smiled and unlocked the door. Once inside, I buckled the seat belt and turned the ignition. Looking back, the shape was gone, but I knew she was still there and hopefully thinking about me, because lord knows I was thinking about her.
I could handle anything at this point. I knew tomorrow was Sunday and I had no plans to meet up with Bella…yet. Maybe I could finagle something with her, but Alice and Mike had to be my top priority (since Alice did make me promise). Monday was a different story. Either way, this week was the start of something new, and no one, not even that vile James would stand in my way.
BPOV
My heart had practically exploded in my chest as I watched Edward silently run through the night back to his car that must have been down the street. I couldn't see him clearly anymore so I turned back to my room with a huge smile on my face.
Edward kissed me.
And he just gave me an idea for a story…
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