Chapter 21

Happier

"I am so happy." Seth said.

I laughed into the receiver. "Seth, you're always happy."

"But, I'm happier than happy now." He countered.

"Mhmm."

"You made me like this." He accused me jokingly.

"As if you didn't want to. You asked for another one."

"I know. And I'm not ashamed at all." He said proudly.

I laughed again. "Mhmm." I looked at the clock on my phone. "Seth, it's past midnight."

"So?"

"We've been talking for literally three hours." I pointed out, burying myself into my sheets more.

"Soooo?"

"Soo, we need to sleep." I smiled to myself.

"But I want to keep talking to you." He said.

"And I want to keep talking to you, but this won't be healthy for either of us." I reasoned.

"Okay. Fine." He sighed. "Can I see you tomorrow?"

"You want to come over?" I asked.

"Sure. I'm up for anything." He said.

"Okay, then come tomorrow. Around five?"

"I can't wait that long." He admitted, and my heart did a somersault.

"Well, it has to wait until then, because Alice is making me have another fitting for the wedding." I said amusedly.

"You're going to make a beautiful bridesmaid. Not that you aren't spectacular already." He said, and I could pretty much hear him smirk.

"Seth, please." I bit my lip. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'll see you."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Neither of us hung up. "Oh no, don't tell me we'll be like this."

"Seems like it. Cliché number two: check!"

I rolled my eyes, but still giggled at his cheesiness. "Seth! Hang up."

"You do it."

"I have an early day tomorrow!"

"As an imprinter, it's pretty impossible for me to do so."

"Ugh, but-"

"Good night."

"Good night, Seth." I reluctantly hung up.

"How romantic!" Emmett teased from the other side of my bedroom door.

"Emmett!" Rosalie scolded, and I heard her drag him elsewhere.

I smiled to myself contentedly, and turned my bedside lamp off.

"I love it." I turned around before the mirror, making my skirt fly out a little.

"Of course you do. You designed it. And you fitted it last time." Alice rolled her eyes. "Seth's gonna love you in that, though."

"I know, I just really love this dress so much." I said, twirling again. The burgundy dress had a satin wrap-around bodice, sweetheart neckline, cap sleeves, and a light, flowing skirt that reached the top of my knees. The shade in the skirt got darker as it got closer to the hem, turning a deep wine. "The other dress was great, too, Liz."

She simply smiled at me. "Okay, step off. It's Bella's turn." She commanded, and I descended from the platform.

I stood next to Bree who smiled at me.

"You look great." She commented.

I gave her a side hug. "Thanks, love."

Bella came out of the dressing room and went up to the platform.

My eyes shot wide open at how incredible she looked.

"Bella..." I started. "You look absolutely amazing."

She faced her back to the mirror, and turned her head to look. "Isn't the back a little... much?"

"Of course not." Alice quickly dismissed the idea.

"Better than looking like a cupcake." Bree commented, and I chuckled.

"Yeah, I agree." I nodded.

She looked herself in the mirror for a few moments, and smiled.

"I'm so happy, oh my gosh." Alice jumped. "If I could cry, I would."

Bella, Bree, and I laughed.

"Now, our little newborn, don't think I forgot about you." Alice looked to Bree with her hands on her hips.

Bree looked confused.

"There's a dress waiting for you in there. Go put it on." Alice smiled, nudging her head to the second dressing room.

Bree looked surprised, then broke out into a lovely smile. She walked into the dressing room and drew the curtains to a close. We waited patiently for her to come out as we reviewed Bella's dress: the lace was so intricate and detailed, and the workmanship was stellar.

Bree opened the curtains, wearing the dress Alice and I designed for her. The dress was obviously something she was not used to, as it was more body-hugging than her usual attire.

Clad in a plum one-strap dress cinched at the waist with a wide silver band, Bree never looked more show-stopping drop-dead gorgeous. The dark tone of the dress brought out the color in her brightening eyes, and the floral accents across the strap made her look regal.

"Bree, you look stunning!" I gasped as she ascended the platform.

The moment she laid eyes on her reflection, she smiled. I took the shoes we bought for her to pair it with and set it by her feet, and she put the silver heels on.

Alice and I high-fived, satisfied with our work.

"What about Rose?" I asked, pulling the dress bag off the rack.

"She doesn't need to fit it, it's perfect." Alice waved, so we changed and packed up.

"Seth's coming." I announced when we arrived home. "So everyone, please mind your own business."

"So now that you've got a boyfriend, you're just going to throw us aside?" Emmett joked, flipping through channels in the living room with Rosalie.

"If duct tape could keep your mouth shut, believe me, I'd use it." I muttered, going up the stairs with my bags.

I went into my room and locked the door, and changed from my shirt and sweatpants into khaki shorts and a sleeveless blue button-down. I stowed the dress in my closet, and put the shoes in my shoe drawers. I took a good look around for any mess, and I unlocked the door and went downstairs to wait.

"It's five o'clock and your boyfriend is late." Rose teased.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed the book I've been reading from the living room coffee table then walked out to the front porch.

Tying my hair up carelessly into a messy bun, I sat on the front steps and opened my book, waiting. As the minutes passed, I grew more and more immersed in my novel.

"Boo." Seth's voice popped up before me, and I jumped in surprise.

"Oh, my God, I seriously did not hear you." I said, standing and dusting rear off.

He smiled at me and I kissed his cheek.

"Well, come on in." I invited and I could not be any more awkward.

We walked into the house and I brought him straight upstairs.

"We're not going to stay in the living room?" Seth asked, confused.

"Oh, no, Rose and Emmett are in there and Alice and Jasper are in the den." I said. "So we're just going to go to my room."

Seth nodded reluctantly.

"Oh yeah, this is going to be your first time in my room." I realized, opening the door.

"Uh-yeah." He fumbled.

"Seth, we've been over this." I said, looking up at him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just..." He shook his head.

I sighed and turned anyway, and led him into my room. "Hey, Seth TV, welcome to my crib." I joked, waiting for his reaction.

He looked around and moved closer to my packed bookshelves. "You read all of these? There's gotta be like, a hundred or so."

"Yeah. There are more in my dad's office downstairs." I said, following him.

He looked at my DVD collection and my random stuff from past lives on another, special bookshelf, and then to my framed signed posters hanging on one wall. Then he took a closer look at my Polaroid collage, covering a small area of the wall near my bed.

"Bathroom and closet." I explained, when he pointed at the two doors adjacent at the corner of my room.

"It's nice." He said to me. "Really nice."

I smiled, relieved. "So... what do you want to do?" I asked, rocking on the balls of my feet.

He shrugged. "What do you want to do?"

"We could watch stuff again. But, I'm not in the mood for doing anything passive, really." I shrugged, playing with the leaves of my plant nervously.

He nodded. "Yeah, neither am I."

I walked to the bed. "Sit." I said, getting on the far end.

He gulped and moved forward, then sat on the edge of the other side.

"Kick off your shoes and come here, for heaven's sake." I said, frustrated.

He removed his worn out Chucks and Indian-sat across me.

"You wanna talk?" I asked innocently, looking at him.

"How was your fitting?" He asked, giving me a small smile.

"It was great. I love my dress." I said excitedly. "You're coming to the wedding, right?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "With Billy and my mom."

I frowned. "Any word from Jake?" I asked, aware of his disappearance. He was infuriated by the engagement, to say the least.

He shook his head sadly. "No. But he'll turn up."

"Yeah, of course." I agreed hopefully. I waited for him to say something else — anything, for that matter, but he kept quiet.

I moved myself closer to him, and he looked up at me.

"Seth, don't think you're some monster that needs to keep to yourself. I invited you here, and I trust you, so can you ease up please?" I pleaded sincerely, looking into his eyes.

He nodded, and looked back at me with the guiltiest expression. "It's taking all of me not to just... kiss you. I swear, I don't think I can get enough." He said innocently, as if I would abandon him if he said so.

I shook my head, grinning. "Don't think it's just you who feels that way." I chuckled.

He gave me a genuine smile now, as if saying so lifted the world off his shoulders. He took my hands and kissed my knuckles.

I blushed and kneeled before him and placed my hands behind his neck, and he put his hands on my waist to steady me. We stared at each other for a moment, and I stroked his hair, pushing it back.

I slowly leaned in and closed my eyes, but he eagerly reached up to meet me and ruined the momentum, but not the moment. That same fire from last night blazed through me, coursing through every space in me.

I felt my knees give, and I sat on my calves. He had to lean forward in order to not break the connection at which I giggled, smiling at him.

He fluttered his eyes open and looked at me in a daze, then smiled widely.

"You look so freaking adorable right now." I laughed, falling to my side and lying down.

He chuckled and observed me.

I took his hand and tugged on it, and he finally agreed to lay by my side. I moved closer to him and rested my head on his chest, and he wrapped his arms around me protectively. I hugged his torso.

"I like being this close to you." He whispered, stroking my arm lazily with the tips of his fingers.

"Mmmm." I agreed, unable to wipe the grin off my face.

"Like I said before, I don't know how this works." Seth said.

"It's okay." I said contentedly, listening to his heartbeat.

"Well, I want to do something right." He chuckled.

I looked up at him in confusion.

He looked down at me, smiling. "Callidora Cullen, would you be my awesome hybrid girlfriend?" He asked. "I don't really know if I'm supposed to ask you or if it's implied."

I smiled at his cuteness. "Yes Seth, I would very much like to." I giggled and kissed his jaw.

"Alright!" He joked, making me laugh. "So do we just lay like this for the rest of the day?"

I laughed, sitting up. "Was that a serious question?"

He shrugged with a clueless look on his face.

I shook my head and lay myself beside him, facing him. He faced me as well, with a happy look on his face.

I leaned in once more and lay my lips on his smile, and he soon kissed me back. I pressed harder and harder, kicking myself farther up so I could get as close as possible. He wrapped his arms around me again, and I climbed on top of him.

He was surprised with the urgency of the kiss, backing up against my pillows. I just reached down and snaked my arms around his neck.

This close, I was nearly overwhelmed with his individual scent. It filled my lungs and only made me want him so much more, so much so. His lips were incredibly soft, moving with mine in tandem.

I felt light-headed. I felt like I was on fire. I felt loved, I felt wanted. I felt complete.

And that feeling of completeness drove me over the top, making my lips part.

I sat up, straddling him, and he followed. Lost in the moment, he began trailing simple kisses on my cheek, down to the side of my neck, and to my exposed shoulder.

My brain went haywire and I pulled him by the back of his head to look at me again. We stared into each other's eyes, breathing heavily, the heat of the moment making us like this.

I gulped down and closed my eyes, nestling my head in the crook of his neck. "You know, for being new to this, you're awfully terrific." I said in between breaths.

"Thanks." He chuckled, moving his head down so it could rest against mine.

"I'm amazed at how you get me to feel this way with a simple thing as this." I chuckled.

He looked down at me. "Will you tell me the truth?"

I stilled. "About what?"

"How far have you gone?" He asked, looking at me.

"What?" I asked, sitting up.

"How far have you gone?" He asked again.

"With a guy?" I clarified.

He nodded.

"Seth, I'm no saint, but I'm still a virgin if that's what you're asking. I'm like a little girl version of Edward." I said.

He seemed to be appreciative of the fact, but was clearly still curious. "So how far?"

"First base. Honest." I told him directly. "Never past that... Believe me though, it wasn't by my decision."

He grinned at me. "I'm really glad to hear that."

"I'm glad that we think the same way." I chuckled, placing my hand on the side of his face and leaning my forehead against his. "I waited very patiently for you, Seth Clearwater."

His smile seemed like it couldn't get any wider, but it did. "And I would have waited forever for you, Callidora Cullen."

I felt like my heart was ready to just burst out of my chest and take to the sky.

I pecked him on the nose and he lay me down next to him in his arms. I memorized his face: every eyelash, every nook and cranny, the shape of his lips, his eyes, his hairline. Everything. And after some time had passed, I fell asleep in his hold.