I'm really so happy you all are liking my story. Continuing to try and update once a week, I am so happy to give you guys chapter 5.
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Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of the Harry Potter or Twilight series.
The next day Charlie came to check on me around 8:00 before he went into work. I had already been up for a couple hours, but thankfully I was able to get about 7 hours of sleep. And my body was relishing in it.
My face however felt differently. It was sore as hell. But a couple of Tylenol and I would be fine.
For now I was finishing getting ready for shopping with Edward and Alice. It was only supposed to be for glasses, but maybe we would hang out longer than that.
While I liked my little friend group, the Cullen's were relationships that I wanted to really start to flourish. If I ever did tell them my secret, it would be nice to have their friendship in that regard as well.
I did end up eating the breakfast sandwich Charlie and I got last night, not wanting to cook anything right now.
Today I decided to wear a baggy black sweater with silver stars all over it. I had on a pair of grey skinny jeans and comfortable black boots that I could walk in. I decided, as a pop of color, to wear red gloves that went past my elbows again but I could tuck them under the sweater too. I also brought a red crossbody purse to carry my wallet, phone, keys, and more pain medication.
You never know.
I decided on no makeup today, simply because I didn't feel like it. And I wasn't good enough at it to attempt to hide the bruise on my face. But I did style my hair down and partially over part of my face. The glasses from the hospital were on my face, but I couldn't wait to get a new pair. They helped me see but things were still off for me, almost like the world was out of focus.
It was 10:59 when there was a knock on my door.
Opening it revealed Alice and Edward. Alice was practically bouncing. Edward's gaze immediately shifted to the artwork on my face that could be seen. He looked like he was in pain.
"Hi Dahlia! I'm Alice! We are going to be the bestest of friends!" She said before pulling me into a hug. I tensed up a smidge on reflex, but returned it all the same.
"Hey Alice. Nice to see you outside of classes" I greeted with a smile. She positively beamed at me.
"Are you all ready Dahlia?" Edward asked. I gave him a smile before enveloping him in a hug. In initiating contact, I had come a long way and it made me want to hug Edward. He tensed up for a moment before lightly hugging me back. It made him lose focus on my face too which I considered a win.
"Nice to see you too Edward" I quipped, pulling away and grabbing my purse from the floor.
"You have such a cute sense of style" Alice complimented, making me laugh.
"My friends back home would be shocked to hear that," I drawled. At her confused look I continued.
"Back at Avalon we mostly wore uniforms. Whenever we wore street clothes my fashion of hand-me-downs left much to be desired." I quipped, locking the door behind me as we left.
A flash in my mind reminded me that I would also have to get new bedding today. The last thing I wanted right now was a reminder of Ron and my orange bedding was exactly that.
"I'm going to need to get bedding after yesterday too if that's alright." I said as we walked to Edward's volvo. The comment made him stop in his tracks and an angry look came on his face.
"He got in your bedroom?" he almost snarled. Alice gave him a panicked look but I only smiled softly. So needlessly protective.
"To be honest I don't know what he did before I came home. But I got my bedding in a color that had reminded me of the old him. Sentiment. I don't want that right now." I admitted. Alice gave a comforting noise and patted my shoulder.
"Well we are going to the mall. So first we will get you a nice set of glasses and then that will be next on our list." she said with a smile.
"List?" I teased, causing her to laugh and Edward to finally relax. Good.
"Of course! Rose won't shop with me anymore so I NEED a new girl to shop with." Alice insisted. I tried going to the back of the car but Alice insisted I ride shotgun with Edward.
And just as I expected of vampires. They drove fast.
"Slow down Edward!" Alice said after he took off, but I brushed it off.
"No! I love going fast!" I said with a laugh. Edward turned and looked at me with this...exhilaration on his face. And there was something else there I couldn't place. But no one had ever looked at me like that before and it made my breath hitch before I faced the window.
"What are some things you like to wear, Dahlia?" Alice piped up after a moment. She sounded far too amused.
"I like patterns. I was held in a box with my clothes for so long so I like patterns and prints and textures on my clothes. I like sweaters so I'm glad I moved to a place where I can wear them a lot." I said with a laugh.
"And gloves!" Alice added in. I gave her a puzzled look.
"I've never seen you without gloves before." she explained. The realization hit me and caused me to look down at my hands.
I was so comfortable with them that I had forgotten the gloves were on. I was comfortable with them. Far faster than with anyone in a long time. Well...besides Charlie funny enough.
"Dahlia?" Edward asked gently, making me look up to him. He looked like he was trying to stare into my soul. Oh yeah. He can't read my mind.
"I'm ok. I promise. I forget I'm wearing them half the time to be honest." I said, pressing my right hand to my left to make it look like I was rubbing them together, feeling it only in the right.
"A Lot of stuff happened at the beginning of the year. I got injured and it's...quite visible.. I'm not ashamed of it, but coming here...already a foreigner and an orphan. I was going to be stared at enough, and I guess I just want to be stared at for those things before...this." I finished, quite lamely in my opinion.
But Alice reached from the back and put a hand on my shoulder.
"I get it." she said with a comforting smile. I could only smile back, emotions bubbling in me I didn't understand.
"Besides you rock a gloved look." she finished, lightening the mood and letting me laugh. Edward smiled at the driver's seat but I could see the conflict in his eyes. And he would glance over to me more often than before while he drove.
It took a good bit to get to Seattle, but it didn't feel like it. Especially when Alice and I chatted the whole way with Edward interjecting now and then.
When we got to the mall, Alice dragged me into an eyeglass store that was on the outside of it.
"What's your prescription? Edward can give it to the optometrist while I help you find the perfect frames." Alice suggested, stopping at the front. I found a scrap piece of paper at the front desk and wrote it down before handing it to Edward.
The look on his face when he read it made me laugh.
"You are blind!" he said with a smile on his face, seeming to enjoy the air around him.
"I know! It isn't news to me, ``I teased.
"I'll make sure they get their toughest lenses. Waterproof and Shock resistant. Maybe capable of surviving a nuclear war while we're at it." he started listing and it just made me laugh harder. I ended up grabbing his arm for support.
"Ok Mister. You take care of that and leave us girls to do what we do best. Shop" Alice said, finishing with a dreamy sigh and leading me to the women's frames.
Alice quickly took my face in her hands and it caused me to flinch. Not from the cold, but from the habit of reacting to touch itself. She instantly ripped her hands away apologizing but I shook it off.
"I've never been touched much. Just got to get used to it. Go ahead." I insisted, taking the hospital glasses off too. I'd just have to be ok with the extra blurriness for a few minutes. She glanced to the side behind me before gently taking me face again and turning it ever so often.
"You had a cat eye frame before. And while they look lovely, the red distracted from your absolutely gorgeous eyes. I think maybe a wider frame, but thin so there's more space to see your eyes." she finished with a smile.
I could only blink as a response. Well guess they didn't make my eyes pop like I thought.
"You're good," I finally said, causing her to smile. "I like your eyes too," I added. She looked like she was smiling.
"Thanks. Everyone kind of thinks they are weird. Especially because we all aren't related but have the same eyes. It's this really weird medical condition. Our dad tried to explain it to me but I was completely lost." she said but it caused me to laugh in my mind.
I knew their eyes were amber because of their diet. But that was a nice tactic and story to tell those who didn't have the same knowledge as a witch did.
"Well I think it's cool. I get my eyes from my mom. Everything else from dad. Although a family friend used to say I had my mom's nose.`` I explained.
"Cute!" Alice gushed before she began looking at the shelves upon shelves of frames.
"And now we've lost her," Edward said from behind me. I turned with a smile, placing the temporary glasses back on to see even a little.
"Care to keep me company then?" I asked. He gave me a small smile back. Then his eyes got drawn to the side of my head where the stitches were. He got that dark look on his face. He also looked guilty.
I couldn't begin to describe how my magic was acting right now. It felt like it was almost purring under my skin.
"What's wrong?" I asked. He looked me in the eyes and he softened again under my gaze.
"I don't...I don't like that this happened to you." He quietly explained. Without thinking, I grabbed his hand and made him jump. Not breaking eye contact, I let his hand rest softly on my face where the bruising was. And it felt good. Not just because of the cold, but because it was Edward.
"I didn't like that it happened either. But it did. And I'm still standing. Nothing of what Ron did is permanent." I soothed.
"Are you in pain?" he asked, ready to take his hand away but I pressed it more on my face.
"No. Plus I have you. Your hands are so cold but it feels really good right now.`` I said with a laugh. He got that funny look on his face again. I couldn't describe it. But I liked it.
"I'm glad," he replied. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Alice turn and look at us. Whatever she must have been thinking made Edward take his hand away and give her a withering look. She looked all too pleased with herself.
"I have options!" she said in her sing-song voice before holding out two pairs of glasses. One pair was more rectangular and black with a little design etched into the sides in silver. They were lovely, but they didn't strike me as much as the second pair did. They were rectangular but the edges were rounded. They were very thin, but a simple pretty rose gold color. I really liked them.
"These." I said, taking the rose gold pair.
"I knew it! I simply grabbed the other pair to not be too cocky." she said before taking them from me and practically skipping to the worker to get the glasses all done.
"I can tell Alice is in a big shopping mood today. And she's definitely trying to pay for your glasses." Edward said, making me whirl back to the tiny vampire.
"Alice don't you dare!" I shouted, running over to her. She turned to me with a pout.
"I want to pay for your glasses! As a welcome gift! You didn't even break them, why should you pay for them?" she tried to reason.
"If we go by that logic Ron should be paying for them and I can't exactly send him a bill now can I?" I said, hands on my hips.
"Exactly! So we can do it for you just as easily." She tried to negotiate.
"I have plenty of my own money to buy glasses Alice. You don't need to." I insisted.
"Just because you have money doesn't mean we can't spoil you with a simple pair of glasses." Alice said with a smirk.
"You said you wanted to get me a welcome gift? Buy me a plant in a festive pot. Get me a welcome mat! Not my glasses. I don't need you to pay for that." I insisted.
"Well then it's a good thing I paid for them." Edward said from behind me. I whirled around and smacked him on the chest, not too hard so I wouldn't hurt myself, but he grabbed my wrist to stop me from doing it again.
Sure enough the receptionist was giggling in her seat and holding out the receipt.
"They should be finished in about 20 minutes." she said, before going off to help another customer who had walked in.
"You are completely-" "You're welcome" he cut me off. I was still angry though. I had the money, why would he spend his own on me?
"You're lucky you can't read my mind right now." I grumbled and stepped away from him. I ignored the look Alice and Edward shot each other in favor of pouting.
"Dahlia." Edward said, moving closer to me. Merlin, why did he have to be so much taller? Why did he make my magic all funny?
"You are...You are important to me. My friend. You got hurt and I wasn't there to...I wasn't there. So I want to do this for you. I know you have your own money to buy things. But...friends give each other presents right? This is mine...to you." he explained, softly. As if I would be angry after that. I wasn't.
I let the breath out of my chest and relaxed myself, turning to him.
"I'm not used to people wanting to do something like that for me. Not without wanting something in return. So, I'm sorry. For getting upset. Thank you very much for my glasses. I really appreciate it." I said, genuinely, before hugging him again. He hugged back much more firmly this time which made me smile.
"I'm buying my own bed sheets though and that is final." I said into his chest, making the siblings laugh.
Today is turning out to be quite the day. From the way I felt about Edward's arms around me, I knew I was in trouble.
When the optometrist was done with the glasses they were brought out to us, complete with a nice faux leather case to go with it. As I was taking off the hospital glasses Edward was inspecting the new ones with a critical eye.
"They look ok?" I asked as Alice chimed in with, "Just have her try them on already!"
Edward stepped closer to me before slowly sliding them onto my face. I had to hold in the little gasp that threatened to escape as his face was once again crystal clear in front of me. Everything was back into focus and I was staring directly into his amber eyes. They darkened under my gaze, making me blush.
"Perfect," he muttered. Merlin just kill me. I took a step back to show Alice and hopefully cool my face off.
"So cute!" she said in terms of the glasses, electing to ignore whatever the hell just happened between me and Edward.
After that we went into the mall and to the large department store inside. Alice was babbling about thread count and textures in bedding and meanwhile I was just looking at the colors. And if it was soft. Luckily I was able to find nice luscious dark green blankets that would look perfectly in the room, and match the blanket I used last night. This time I made sure neither Cullen paid for them either.
We went into some more stores, mostly to look at clothes. Alice loved trying on clothes and having me try on clothes. Even having Edward try a few things on too. He indulged her although you could tell he had a limit. She really did have impeccable taste when it came to fashion. I was able to find a couple of gorgeous pieces including a long grey coat I could wear when it got a little colder.
Halfway through our excursion Edward had us stop in the food court so I could have something to eat. They gave the excuse of still being full from breakfast. I didn't put any resistance to it and enjoyed the slice of pizza I had gotten along with a large soda. While I had been eating I noticed more people looking at us. They stared at the Cullen's for their beauty and then turned to me shocked at the bruises marring my face. Edward and Alice seemed to see it too, because after a few minutes, they positioned themselves to block me in more from the general public. Edward was so close our knees were touching.
After that, Edward took us inside the music shop that was in the mall. Alice went off to look at one section, but I just decided to follow Edward. I was interested to know more about the music he liked.
"Debussy is my favorite." he said with a smile as I watched him look at the music selections offered for classical.
"I'm really behind on my music history. Avalon, despite it's prestigious reputation, wasn't keen on music appreciation." I said, really only remembering the choir Flitwick had and that was about it.
"Well I'll just have to teach you." Edward said and just the way he said it made me flush. I wandered away from him after a moment, seemingly getting lost in the vast array of music.
There was just so much and in Hogwarts I missed all of it. I picked out a few CD's that looked interesting enough before I felt someone come up behind me.
"Need a helping hand there, gorgeous?" some guy said from behind me. It caused me to tense up. He must not have seen my patchwork face with my hair covering it.
"I'm pretty knowledgeable about all things music. I'd love to give you a little lesson." The guy continued after I didn't speak, cocky. He came up beside me and leaned in a little causing me to step away.
Whatever I was about to say died down when all of a sudden Edward's arm reached around me and draped itself over my shoulders.
"We got it from here." he told the guy firmly. I turned into him to hopefully hide just how red my cheeks were. It was very obvious how Edward was trying to make us look and it made me...excited? Happy?
The guy scoffed at us before walking away and muttering under his breath. Edward's arm seemed to tighten at his words causing me to look up at him. He was staring down at me, also seeming to be at a loss for words.
Definitely happy.
That same feeling would return when I was unpacking my shopping bags at home to find a CD I definitely didn't purchase. Debussy at Dawn.
Merlin I was in trouble.
