Disclaimer: I dont own anything but the plot
Chapter 15 Infatuation
Bella POV
When I had tugged Luke into bed I went downstairs to do some laundry. While sorting the clothes I thought back over the afternoon's events. I kept thinking about that moment when I thought Edward might have wanted to kiss me. But I also kept telling myself that I must have been wrong. "There's no way he likes me in that way. Sure he takes an interest in me and he does go out of his way to make sure Luke is safe and happy. But does that mean he's doing it because he wants my affections? He's certainly getting it. But what if he only sees me as a friend? I can't tell him that I like him and then lose whatever friendship we have. I need his protection for Luke. Aaand now I feel like I'm just using him. Great! Good job Bells."
I was reminded of what I had thought earlier about Edward being raised in the start of the 1900s. I had concluded that he must have been raised to be the sort of gentleman that every woman today secretly wants, but I had no idea what that actually entailed. I decided to do a bit of research on the internet and went to my old room to start up my ancient computer. It took a while for it to turn on.
I searched google for any article about raising a boy in the said time period, but it wasn't until I found a blog that talked about some of my favorite books and authors, that I got anything worthwhile. It talked about Jane Austin, the Brontë sisters and a few others. A bit into the blog the author answered a question from a reader that asked about the ways of a courtship vs modern dating.
"Courtship is about getting to know each other and developing a deep relationship before getting married. Whereas dating is mostly physical with no strings attached and no emotional intimacy. There are four stages to a courtship, as follows: 1. Initial meeting and attraction. 2. Curiosity, interest and infatuation. 3. "Enlightenment" and becoming a couple. 4. Commitment or engagement."
I immediately shut the computer off. There was no way. Just no way that this is what was happening. I'm reading far too much into this. But then again.
Initial meeting and attraction. We had met and I for one was certainly attracted to him.
Curiosity, interest and infatuation. We had just spent the past week asking each other every question we could think of to get to know everything there was to know about the other. That showed both curiosity and interest. Infatuation? I had to admit to myself that I was in fact infatuated with the beautiful and caring man.
"Enlightenment" and becoming a couple. If a courtship really was Edwards goal, then this would be the next stage in our relationship. The question was just, when would he act on it? Or would he ever?
Commitment or engagement. Engagement? Was that what he wanted? To be engaged to me and get married?
"No. There, you see? Reading WAAAY too much into this. Stop yourself now, and get your head out of the gutter! You're just gonna end up with a broken heart, because this is not what is going on."
And I realized that I would end up with a broken heart if I did give it to him and then have him tell me that I was being a fool, and he didn't like me that way. I sighed heavily.
"What am I supposed to do now? I can't just ask him outright about it. That would be too embarrassing. And I shouldn't change the way I act around him, that would just be weird."
I came to a decision. I would act as if I didn't know anything about any of this and just be naturally myself. If he was trying to court me, he would eventually act on it. And if he wasn't, then no harm done. Right?
The snow had melted by the time morning came around. Edward picked us up Like he promised and the days just flew by as though they were in a rush. Or maybe I was. I don't know. Alice asked me on the following Friday to go shopping with her and I agreed even though I hate shopping. I needed some new shoes and clothes for Luke, and I wouldn't mind having some girl time. And of course despite all my protests that I did have the money, she insisted on paying and wouldn't hear a word against it.
Edward took Luke to his house and they apparently had a really good time. Edward tried to teach Luke how to play the piano (is there anything he can't do?), and Luke was actually pretty good. He showed me when Alice and I returned how he had learnt to play the first part of Für elise by Bethoven. Then Edward played for the rest of the night while everyone just talked. I sat by his side on the bench for a while. He was truly incredible, and I sometimes had trouble following the movement of his clever fingers.
While sitting next to him as he played, I contemplated my findings from monday. "Infatuation. Defined in Webster's dictionary as a short-lived and foolish passion for someone. I don't like that definition. I don't think this is foolish. And were this genuine on both sides, I do not believe it would be short lived. So then, how would I define my feelings if not with the word 'infatuation'? The only word I can think of is love. Am I in love with Edward? The beautiful and kind man sitting beside me? Yes, I think I might just be. I'm in love with Edward Cullen."
I didn't say anything. Just sat beside the man who had captured my heart and watched as he played a lovely piece he had apparently written for his parents. Describing the love he had seen grow between them. "Love."
Another week later, on Saturday february the 5th, was when my world was turned upside down.
None of us had been to school for the past two days. The sun had been shining, so there was no way we could go out in public. Luke and I spent a lot of time at the Cullens, but this evening we were at home. Angela had been so kind to contact me and give me the homework I had missed, as well as Luke's that she had gotten from her little brothers. We were currently sitting at the kitchen table doing said homework. Or at least Luke was. I was thinking about Edward, and couldn't concentrate at all. I decided to go out into the backyard and get some fresh air. Maybe do a perimeter check. I probably didn't need to as Edward had done it every night. "Ugh. There I go again. Thinking about Edward."
I was just standing in the middle of the yard when I heard slow footsteps and a heartbeat from the side of the house.
"Hello? Who's there?" I started walking over to where I heard the sounds coming from. And then stopped when I recognized the scent. "No way!"
He's form came around the house and I halted.
"Hi Bella." He was smiling in a weird way. I didn't like it.
"What are you doing here Mike?" I crossed my arms defensively.
"You haven't been to school. I was going to bring over your homework that you missed." I looked at his hands. He wasn't carrying anything.
"I already got it from Angela."
"Oh, okay. Good too, I kinda forgot to bring it."
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "Okay, well thank you for the thought. You can go now."
"Arh, come on Bella. Don't be like that." He walked closer to stand just a few feet from me. "You're the one who said to learn some civility before speaking to you again. Well, I've thought about it, and decided to let you teach me that civility."
I huffed. "Yes, I did say that, but I also said that that was your only warning. And yet the very next day, you went ahead and got me even madder. You didn't heed my warning, so know you're out of chances. I'm only gonna say this once more Mike. Get off my property and leave me alone."
His face fell and he frowned. "So you see me purely as the bad guy, do you?"
"Yes, I do."
His heartbeat started to escalate and his eyes and mouth set in determination.
"Fine. If that is how you want it, I guess I have no choice."
I was about to sigh in relief, but then he surprised me so much with his next action that I froze in place. His left hand grabbed my right arm, his other hand forcefully took hold of my shirt and bra underneath and he tugged me towards him with the intent to crash his mouth to mine. Right as I regained my senses and was about to push him away or perhaps rip his arms off, two figures were suddenly pulling us apart before his face met mine. Jasper was holding my arms behind my back as I thrashed around trying to get free so I could kill him. Alice was holding Mike in much the same way, but he wasn't moving. He was dumbfounded.
"Let me go Jasper!" I yelled. "I need to rip his HEAD OFF HIS BODY!"
"I'm sorry Bella, but I can't let you kill him. That would unfortunately only make things worse." Jasper answered. His voice wasn't very loud but it was definitely not calm.
"You're lucky we came when we did." Alice said to Mike in an eerie tone. "If we hadn't intervened, you would have been torn apart and spread all over this yard." Mike was scared now.
Then I heard the backdoor open up and saw Luke coming to stand on the porch. He didn't sign anything, but I thought his face was screaming You hurt my sister, you jerk. He ran towards Mike and we were all so stunned that we didn't try to stop him. He lifted his small fist and punched Mike in the groin. Mike doubled over and Luke swung his arm again and clogged him in the face. Alice let go of Mike to let him fall to the ground in agony. Luke ran over to me and hugged me around the middle. Silently asking if I was okay. Jasper loosened his grip a little to see what I would do, and I slowly pulled my arms out to wrap them around my brother.
"Thank you Luke. I'm fine now." I bent down on my knees and looked him in the eyes. "That was very brave, what you did. My little hero." I wiped the tears from his eyes and hugged him again.
Alice went inside and called the police. They arrived shortly after and detained Mike.
"Why did you do that?" I asked her when they had driven away. "I seriously doubt he will ever try to do anything again."
"Definitely not. He almost souled his pants, he was so afraid." Jasper added with a snicker.
"Maybe not." Alice said. "But like you said, the most painful place to hit someone like Mike is his pride. With him being arrested for assault, the rumors and stories will not only be limited to the school, but will spread all over town. His reputation will be utterly destroyed by the end of the weekend."
"Ah. I see." I said, understanding now. "Well, thank you both for coming. Did you have a vision of what he was planning to do and then came running?"
"Yes, I did. Which reminds me. We should probably get back to the house. You two as well. I don't know how much longer they can hold Edward back."
My eyes nearly popped out of my head. "Hold him back? What happened? Is he okay?"
"When he saw the vision in Alice's mind, he all but ripped the front door off its hinges to find and kill Mike." Jasper explained. "We had to restrain him and come here instead of him, to make sure no one became a murderer tonight."
"And he's not going to calm down before he sees that you are safe Bella. Please come and show him that you are fine." Alice added.
I nodded and turned to Luke. "Stay here for a bit, okay? I'm just going to pack an overnight bag for you. Something tells me we're gonna be there for a while."
- - Edward POV - -
I was sitting at the piano toying with a new composition that had been inspired by Bella. Alice was by my side trying to help me. She was good at finding harmonizing notes with her soprano voice. Abruptly she stopped and my fingers held still in the air above the keys. A vision. Mike Newton was standing with Bella in her backyard. They were arguing as far as I could see. "How dare he?! I warned him to stay away from her!" Then he grabbed hold of her arm and her chest and pulled her towards him.
"NO!" I roared. I flew through the front door and raced towards her house. Before I could get very far, I heard Alice yelling to the others to stop me. I couldn't hear their inner voices due to the haze of white hot rage flowing through me. I felt Emmett's strong arms wrap around me and Carlisle and Jasper helped him hold me down.
"What are you doing?! He's going to hurt her!" I yelled in their faces.
It was Alice who answered as the others didn't yet know what was going on. She explained to everyone the important points of what she had seen, ordered Rosalie to take Jasper's place and then for him to come with her to save Bella before she herself ripped the vile piece of crap apart and became a murderer. Which she would surely regret after. They took off before I could object.
"Let me go!" I roared.
"Son, you need to calm down." Carlisle said in a frustratingly calm voice.
"What if it was Esme? Or Emmett, what if it was Rosalie? Wouldn't you want to protect them? To tear that pathetic excuse for a human apart?!"
"Is that how you feel?" Rose asked me. "Is that what you want her to be to you?" She already knew, but she was tired of this stupid guessing game. She wanted me to once and for all confirm it out loud.
"Yes. Alright? Yes. I love her. I love her, okay? Now LET. ME. GO!"
I could feel the joy in their minds at my confirmation, but I didn't care about that right now.
"Alice and Jasper will take care of it." Carlisle said. "They know what they are doing."
"I. DON'T. CARE! I need to get to her!"
"She will never forgive you if you hurt him." Esme spoke for the first time.
That made me stop trying to fight them off for the moment. "What?!"
"Bella is much too kind to allow it. It might be what she want's in the moment, but she would regret it after. Trust me son. The best you can do right now is stay here."
My head hung, but I was still halfheartedly trying to get free. I lifted my head and roared out my frustration and agony to the skies.
Please R&R, Thank you
