A/N:
Before we continue I just wanted to say a BIG thank you to everyone that's reading and reviewing this story, I love reading everyone's thoughts on each chapter. Also, I wanted to say a special thank you for all the birthday wishes last week. I really appreciated that. :))))
Now let's see how Edward is doing.
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Edward's POV
I never gave much thought to holding Bella's hand when my hand reached out for hers on its own accord. It was an innocent gesture that felt as natural as could be and I was sure it wasn't going to last long. But here we are, time has passed. Yet, she and I remain holding hands in the aisle where it all started while we talk.
Both of us are wrapped up in our own little world, not paying attention or caring about anybody who should walk down this aisle. We're caught up in our own little conversation. Which is more or less just asking each other what our favorite things are. Getting to know one another, I suppose. One might assume this is a childish conversation because we have asked each other childish questions, such as favorite cartoons, cartoon movies and favorite childhood toys.
Bella brought up the question about the childhood toys. Hers was a Sky Dancer Barbie that her Grandma from California gave her when she was ten-years-old. I wasn't really sure what that was so she gladly explained it to me. Becoming very animated, she gladly went into detail about the Barbie that had wings instead of arms and stood on a decorated flowered base that she would hold in one hand and pull the string with her other hand, then watch the Barbie fly up into the air.
I laughed along with her when she told me a story - a mishap she had with that Sky Dancer Barbie. It turns out that there was a reason that the box said to only use it outdoors. Yet, she decided to stand at the top of the staircase and let the Barbie fly down to the living room while her father was in the kitchen. Her toy ended up spiraling down, crashing into the TV and getting stuck right into the screen, which her father was none too happy about.
Listening to her was fascinating and enjoyable. I didn't want her talking to come to an end but all too soon it did and the question was turned around for me to answer. That I wasn't too thrilled about but I didn't let that be known.
Of course, I have no memories from my childhood, but since it wouldn't be very human to say that I can't remember being a child or any toys I had, and I don't want to lie to her. That's not something I feel that would be right, I feel compelled to be honest with her. Well, as honest as I'm allowed to be. So I chose a child's plaything that was my favorite in my young vampire days: a collection of toy metal soldiers with a child size canteen, army helmet and toy rifle. It was all part of a set that my parents gave to me as a present for my first Christmas holiday with them.
The toy army set was for a younger child and I should have felt a little juvenile for taking an interest in it, but I didn't. Those toys were the first items that captured my attention back then. Even though I barely noticed the change of the seasons or took little interest that it was Christmas, those toys meant a lot to me. At the time I was an unruly, three month old vampire that was still in my blood thirsty newborn phase. Yet, even though blood was always on my mind, my parents noticed that I had a love for anything having to do with the army and army toys were no exception. I loved the metal toy soldiers and the set that went along with them. I was very intrigued when my mother filled my canteen with animal blood for me. Seeing how I was so thirsty back then, it was the perfect gift. I often carried that canteen around the house and even took it on our hunting trips.
Not being able to explain all of that to her because it would sound very human. I simply said that those toys were a Christmas gift from my parents when I was really young and I would play with them a lot. I also described how my mother used to fill up the canteen with something to drink for me, I just left out what type of liquid it actually was.
"Well, those were my favorite playthings. Just a collection of army toys." I shrug, wrapping up my trip down memory lane.
"So you like army stuff?" Bella questions and I nod. "Do you plan on enlisting in the army after high school?" She frowns.
For some reason this question makes her sad and I can't figure out why that is. I wish to be able to read her mind, to know what has her troubled.
"No." I answer with complete honesty. After all, joining the army would be impossible for my kind. "When I was younger I was just really obsessed with anything and every military."
Which is true. When I was a young vampire I loved anything that had to do with the military. Though I am still fascinated by anything that has to do with soldiers, it's not as much as it used to be. I have always attributed my interest with the army as wanting to be a soldier in my last years when I was a human teenager. Of course, I have no memory of that, though I have read a few of my old journals I wrote during that time. Joining the army seemed to be my only goal when I turned eighteen, which never happened since I fell ill.
"Oh. Well, that's good." She lets out a sigh of relief.
Not knowing how to respond to that, I look at her. Silently I study her facial expression trying to figure out why me enlisting would be an unhappy situation for her. I try to penetrate her mind but that's no use. Neither is reading her facial expression. I'm not too good at that.
"You wouldn't want me to enlist in the army?" I guess. "Why is that?"
"Well," Bella exhales, leaning closer to me. "Because I wouldn't want you to get hurt."
Ah! Now I understand. She would be worried for me, worry about my safety. After all, she has no way of knowing that I'm an indestructible vampire. That thrills me in a way it probably shouldn't that she cares for my well being just as I care for hers. I can't fight the grin that appears on my face.
"That seems to please you." She says in a mock sassy tone. "Why is that?"
I chuckle.
She is funny and kind. Warm and soft. Of course, I already knew that about her from my time spent at school with her. But we're not at school now and everything seems different, brighter somehow.
Inhaling her heady scent while my eyes darted from her face to her collarbone, right to where a loose strand of her hair that's resting right there, out of place is. I can't take my eyes off of this part of her body and I'm not sure why. I don't know why but looking at her collarbone makes me feel something in my core that I have no label to put on the emotion. It's such an alluring and distracting sight.
All too quickly I get the idea that I can't seem to shake. As gently as I can, my hand goes right to that strand of hair. Her heart picks up speed as I tuck it behind her ear where it belongs. Now I have no excuse to look at her collarbone any longer. Nothing to distract me.
"I like you a lot, Bella." I admit, brushing my index and middle finger lightly across her check. That seems to make her heart race even faster. Interesting.
She smiles. "I like you a lot too." She says breathlessly.
Without meaning to, I let those words go right to my head.
I am quiet and so is she. Only the rapid beating of her heart is heard. I feel very giddy and for some reason I want to lean down and kiss her. But I don't think that's the response to have right now. Besides, I don't want my first kiss, or hers for that matter, to be in a supermarket between greeting cards and medicine.
I know it would be her first kiss too, if I pressed my lips to hers. Since one of our earlier questions was about romantic relationships. It seems her dating history matches mine, both of us are strangers to having a past love life. That makes me very happy.
Suddenly I hear footsteps headed our way and catch the overwhelming smell of cheap perfume along with a female's thoughts about buying pads with wings. Whatever those are. Since the scent belongs to no one I know I tune out her pointless thoughts.
"So, who's turn is it to ask a question?" Bella wonders, running her tongue over her bottom lip.
"Yours." I suck in a breath, mesmerized by the sight of her tongue and lower lip. Quickly I look away from her ruby red lips and into her deep chocolate brown eyes.
It's actually my turn to ask a question but I find it impossible to form words that are coherent to ask her anything right now. All I can think about are her ruby red lips and how much I want to kiss her. How is it that this human girl makes me feel things I have never felt before? I have no answer to offer myself.
"Okay. My favorite candy is Sour Patch Kids and Black Licorice. What's yours?" She wonders as the clopping of high heels becomes louder.
I'm interested in the fact that she brought up and volunteered what her favorite candies are. That could come in handy if I want to surprise her with a sweet treat. Though, now she's waiting for my answer. Rapidly I think of something acceptable to say that won't raise any red flags.
"I don't eat candy." I say with honesty.
"You don't eat candy?" Bella sounds and looks so disbelieving it makes me laugh. She scowls at me and I stop my laughter as quickly as it started.
"No. It's bad for your teeth, right?" I grin.
Bella eyes me suspiciously as the smell of cheap perfume envelopes us like a thick cloud. The aroma is suffocating but her gaze on me has me worried. What is she thinking? What is going through her mind? Does she accept my answer, or think I'm strange for saying it? Over all, I get the unmistakable feeling that she knows there's something wrong with me. After all, she can feel that I'm not the same temperature and my skin isn't soft like hers. Yet, she's still holding my hand. So maybe there's nothing to worry about.
"Excuse me, kids." The woman with the overwhelming aroma of perfume says.
Immediately Bella and I break eye contact with each other and look at the woman who stands in front of us. She appears to be in her mid twenties, her thoughts are a bit annoyed with us.
"Yes?" I ask in a soft tone.
'Oh my gosh, his voice is so smooth. So sexy.' Her thoughts come at me in a rush and her heart beat speeds up. 'He's so handsome, the things I could teach this young buck would drive him wild and have him begging for more.' She seems to be in some type of trance as her thoughts focus only on sex.
I'm not interested in what's going through this woman's mind. The things she's thinking are rather strange and I'm not sure if half of it is even humanly possible. However, it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. She's not the first female to think of me in such ways, of course. But I don't care for it. I also wonder why grown women and some men too, find me attractive and their thoughts immediately turn to sex when they look at my face. It doesn't make much sense to me, after all I'm clearly younger than they are.
"Um, are we in your way?" Bella wonders when the lady does not utter a word.
'Oh, yeah. I came here for pads' The woman with too much perfume shakes her head. "I just need an item on the shelf that you two are standing in front of. Could I please get by you guys?"
"Yeah. Of course, ma'am." I answer as I move, gently scooting Bella with me so we're no longer in the way.
"Sorry for being in your way." Bella tone is apologetic.
"No worries." The woman with too much perfume says. She takes one long look at me before turning to the item on the shelf that she needs. 'He's fine as hell. But so young. He's definitely jailbait. But I bet he would be more than willing. No. Control yourself, Janet.'
"Edward, maybe we should get out of this aisle." Bella suggests as she glances at the woman.
"Sounds like a plan." I agree. "Come on."
Hand and hand we walk away, leaving the woman who reeks of cheap perfume behind. Walking through the store I'm thrilled that Bella is still holding my hand. Being with Bella, talking to her and holding her hand made me forget everything else. I wonder how that's possible as my mind tunes into the most familiar mind in the market, my mother's. I can tell from her thoughts that she and Alice are already in line.
"Where are you taking me?" Bella questions as we walk to the front of the store.
I look down at her and smile. "To meet my mother."
Bella gulps but doesn't say anything.
Without being able to read her mind, I have no idea if she's upset by what I said. At least she keeps on walking by my side with her hand in mine.
"Does that upset you?" I question as we approach the rolls of cash registers.
"I'm not sure." She replies, sounding nervous.
A simple yes or no would have been fine but Bella isn't exactly simple. I can't imagine what her answer means. Sensing something isn't right I stop walking and so does she. From a distance I see my mother with a full shopping cart of eggs, Goo Gone and various spreadable foods. Before my eyes fall back on the girl that means a lot to me I notice that my small sister stands next to our mother, excitedly talking her ear off.
"Can you please elaborate on that?" I ask Bella in a smooth tone.
Her eyes dilate and her heartbeat races. With her silent mind I can only guess all these markers mean fear. Is she afraid of me? I am a vampire after all, though she does not know that fact. That makes me feel sad to even consider that I might frighten her. I don't want her to be afraid of me.
"I wasn't expecting to meet your family." She explains in a small voice.
Relief washes over me. I believe I now understand why she seems to be frightened. It's not about me per se. It's about meeting people she doesn't know. She's a bit shy and I should have guessed she might feel a little insecure about that.
"Not my whole family." I begin slowly. "Just my mom since you already met Alice." I grin my crooked smile. "So what do you say?"
"I say your sister is waving at us." She points out, looking away from me.
I turn around and sure enough Alice is in fact waving at us. I shake my head. Of all the times she has to be so hyper, I wish right now was not one of those times. But it could be worse. Thank god it's only my hyper spiky hair sister and not my snarky blonde hair sister or my brothers that would no doubt embarrass me to no end.
"Yeah, she seems to have spotted us." I say with a nervous laugh. "So, would you like to meet my mother?"
For some reason I pray that she'll say yes. It's her choice after all and if she says no, I'll have to be fine with that. I wish Alice would give me a hint of the future but her mind is on Jasper playing an accordion next to Emmett who has bagpipes. I have no idea what that's about. Though clearly she's no help at all.
"Um, okay." Bella's words are breathless and her face is a beautiful shade of pink.
"Yes?" I ask, a little too eagerly.
"Sure." She says, sounding a bit more sure of herself. "But only if you meet my dad in return."
"Of course." I say with a smile.
"Alright, then. Why are we still standing around?" Bella questions as she takes a step forward. "Can we make this quick? I think my dad was expecting me at the meat counter and I just disappeared. He's probably thinking I lost my way inside this store."
"Of course." I reply as we begin to walk.
A chuckle escapes my lips as I start to imagine someone actually getting lost inside this small market. A small child might, but Bella is anything but a small child. With a raised eyebrow, Bella turns to me. She doesn't say anything but if I had to guess, she's probably wondering what I find funny. Ending my chuckling, I give her a smile that she returns.
Approaching my mother who's loading the items on the conveyor belt with Alice's help I hear the sound of a squeaky shopping cart wheel headed our way along with very slow, cloudy thoughts that make no sense to me since those thoughts have no words, just images. The mental images that creep into my mind are on a closed door, a yoga DVD, spring rolls and a door knob in a package with a lock and key. Having no idea who the thoughts actually belong to, ignore them. I focus on my overwhelming feeling of happiness. I've never felt more content than I do walking with Bella, feeling her warmth embrace my cold skin along with her hand in mine.
"Hey, mom," I say.
"Yes?" My mother turns around to us, with a jar of Marshmallow Fluff in her hand. At once her joyful thoughts register that I am holding Bella's hand. "Well, hi." She smiles a warm smile at Bella.
"Hi." Bella replies shyly.
Alice doesn't say anything. She's only trying not to bounce in excitement as she removes the carton of two dozen eggs (Emmett's lunch props) from the cart.
"Mom," I begin. "This is Bella, my...um…um…" I stammer, trying to figure out what to say.
Though Bella and I have talked quite a bit since Alice led me to where she was. We haven't exactly made it clear what we are to each other and now I'm stuck. I'm not sure if I should say friend since it seems too formal. But, I don't know if I should say the word "girlfriend" since I don't know if Bella is thinking that way about me.
'She's your what, my sweet boy?' Esme's thoughts are full of hope.
"Um...well...Uh…" I nervously let my voice trail off. If I was a human, I know I would be sweating right about now.
"Girlfriend?" Bella says the word like a question as she rubs the back of my hand with her thumb.
Our eyes lock and I gulp. I realize she's asking me in a subtle way to be my girlfriend and for me to be her boyfriend. This is all new to me and I don't know if this is the way things usually go, though it feels right.
"Yeah?" I ask her.
"Yes." She nods her head.
Feeling like a kid in a candy store I smile at Bella and she does the same. With our eyes locked on each other the world around us disappears for a moment. I can't believe she said yes to me.
All of a sudden Alice clears her throat. A sharp, clear, impatient sound second that goes straight to my brain, snapping me back to reality. I turn to my mother and sister.
"This is Bella, my girlfriend." I announce and Bella giggles.
Simultaneously, three things happen. My mother joyfully congratulates us. Alice squeals, the kind of high pitch squeal that has the potential of breaking glass which makes the cashier cover her ears. While a man with a mustache, his unclear mind on Lo Mein noodles and a door knob, who's pushing a full grocery cart gets in line directly in back of us.
"Girlfriend?" The man questions, sounding bewildered.
At once Bella turns to the sound of his voice.
"Dad, this is Edward, my boyfriend." Bella clarifies with a gesture to me with her free hand. "Edward, this is my dad Charlie."
"Hi, sir. Nice to meet you." I say politely.
"Hello, Edward." Charlie says with a nod of his head. He seems very surprised and suspicious for some reason. "How old are you?"
Since I can't read his mind well enough to fully understand what he's thinking. My only guess behind his question is that he asked it because I'm tall and look slightly older than his daughter. After all, I am.
"Fifteen." I answer - using the age of the role I am playing - with cool reassurance.
"Okay," Seeming satisfied with my answer, Charlie nods his head. Though he appears to be calm on the outside, on the inside his thoughts are so confused I can hardly make them out. "You two kids are dating? When exactly did that happen?"
"Just right now." I feel the need to be the one to explain.
"Yeah, like five minutes ago." Bella adds.
Charlie rubs his hand over his forehead as he goes over a previous conversation he had with Bella, in the car it seems. For some reason "boy troubles" and my name comes up. What is that supposed to mean? I'm not entirely sure. Suddenly his thoughts shift, turning to a baby crawling on the floor, a toddler in a pink dress trying to walk in the sand on a beach but keeps falling down. To a little girl sitting under a tree reading a book, then his thoughts shift again to Bella who is standing next to me, holding my hand. That's when I realize he's thinking of how much his daughter has grown and that she's no longer little any more. I also sense he's thinking everything is happening too fast.
Or at least I think that's what his thoughts mean. After all, they are a bit hard to read, I've never come across someone whose mind is partially closed to me. Though, now one thing is clear that the mind of Bella's father is not as silent as his daughters but it's rather reserved. I suppose if I had met him first, I might think that he is a slow minded person. But since I met his daughter before him, I now see where she gets her mental silence from. Very interesting.
"Wow." Charlie puts both hands on the grocery cart, his eyes never leaving Bella. "We come to the market for food and you end up with a boyfriend. That's a first."
"It wasn't planned." Bella discreetly puts the box she has been holding all this time inside the cart. "It sort of just happened on the spot."
I nod in agreement. This was definitely not panned out at all but it all feels right.
"Awww! Romance can be very spontaneous." Alice blurts out in a dreamy voice. From her mind I see that she already "saw" all this, of course. This conversation is nothing new to her.
At once my mother introduced herself to Charlie and informs me that it's time to go, since she already paid for our groceries. Charlie seems mesmerized by both my mother, the way most humans are to us. So much so that he loses track of what's going on when my mother tells him that he has a very lovely and polite daughter.
Knowing that we have to part, Bella and I unlace each other's fingers and release the hold on one another. The loss of contact has me feeling empty.
"I'll call you later." I promise, giving Bella a hug.
"I'll be waiting." She says, returning my embrace.
The hug we share is our first. It's just an innocent gesture, with her body and all it's curves pressed to my solid form along with her warmth. Yet, my body clearly sees it as something more as I feel myself becoming hard very rapidly before I even part from Bella. Oh this is great. Talk about the first impressions I'm going to make on her father once our hug is through.
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