This is an interesting chapter. I remember being pissed when I wrote it and so it almost went the opposite direction than what it ended up now. Don't worry don't worry, it's okay. :D
I blinked and a week had gone by. It was New Year's Eve and I was at the Cullen household once again. Charlie went over to Billy and Jacob's earlier in the day, so I was free to do whatever I wanted. Edward and I were watching Jasper and Emmett arm wrestle once again.
"Come on Jasper, give up!" Emmett said.
"Not a chance man, you've won the last three games, I need to redeem myself otherwise Alice will make fun of me."
"Don't bring me into this," Alice said. "There's always time to redeem yourself, though it is flattering that you care so much about what I think."
"Well I won't ever give you the chance to redeem yourself, Jasper I will always win, get over it!"
"I don't think so!" All of a sudden a sharp bang hit the table and Jasper defeated Emmett. I missed it because my eyes are too slow for vampire speed. "Ha, I WIN!" Jasper was next to Alice and she kissed him.
"I let you win," Emmett said rolling his eyes.
"Not a chance," Jasper said. "I beat you fair and square!"
"Rematch!" Emmett said. And they were off again.
"What do you say Edward, how about a game of chess?" Alice said.
"Ah, okay. You know how I like playing chess with you." Within a couple seconds the game was already brought out and set up. Alice moved first, but Edward sat there thinking about his strategy. None of them moved any more pieces because Alice had visions about Edward's moves and Edward knew which move Alice would take. Finally Edward knocked down his King and Alice smiled emerging victorious. The whole time I sat there stunned and realized I would never have a chance playing against Edward or Alice. Even though Edward cannot read my mind, he's been playing chess a whole lot longer than I have.
I walked to the piano where Esme was sitting. "Esme, what are you doing?"
"Composing a song, Edward isn't the only one that does that."
"Can I see hear it?"
"Well, it's still in the works, but I can let you see the words." Esme handed me the lyrics and let me look at them. It was as though she transcribed poetry into music.
"These lyrics are beautiful Esme, will you sing them for me when you're done?"
"I was rather hoping Bella that you would sing them. Your voice gave me such an inspiration the other day that I started composing."
Her words struck me and I was tearing up inadvertently. "Wow Esme, I'm flattered really. I don't know how to read music, so I'll have to learn it by ear."
"Okay, well give me half an hour and I'll be done with the ending and we can start working on it together."
I walked down the hall and wandered into Carlisle's office. The door was open so I went inside; the number of books always amazed me and sometimes I wonder if I'm in a library.
"Oh, hello Bella!" Carlisle said looking up from his computer.
"Hello Carlisle, am I interrupting you?"
"No no not at all! Do you need me for anything?"
"Not in particular, just wanted to drop by and say hello I guess. This room is my favorite one in the house."
"It's my sanctuary, I don't know where I would hide if I didn't have it." He laughed and pulled out the book I gave him for Christmas. "This is a very interesting book Bella, thank you very much for giving it to me. I've already read it twice."
"Well you're very welcome once again. Actually, I was wondering if you have any good books I might borrow? I'm in need for something new and figured you might have something worthwhile."
"What kind of book would you like? I'm happy to lend you anything, however a lot of this pertains to medical terms and common knowledge."
"Do you have any vampire books?"
"Well, yes actually I do. I found one a few years ago that was very well done. Would you like to borrow it?"
"Sure, I'm pretty interested in the background and such of vampires. I don't know much about the history except for what Edward told me of the Volturi a couple years ago. Even then I don't know much about them."
"I have a book about them too, course it talks about vampire myths and is mostly wrong, but some of the history is fairly accurate." In a flash Carlisle found the books and placed them in my hands.
"Thanks Carlisle, I'll read these when I get time and give them back."
"No problem, hope you enjoy them."
I walked out of the room and back down to the living room. Everyone seemed to be engrossed in their activities, almost like I was never there. I set the books next to my jacket and I wandered outside. There was an arctic breeze coming from the west, however it had no effect on me. I went and sat on a log and took in the scenery; it was so beautiful I wanted to savor it in my memory forever. I decided to go on a little hike, which seemed very out of character for me. I walked into the woods and memorized certain colorful stones or odd shaped branches so I could find my way back. Everything was at peace and the wind sailed through the leaves as though it was trying to make music. After a while I headed back, fortunately unscratched.
"Ah Bella, just the woman I was looking for," she said. Finally, someone who noticed me. "I finished the song and I think you'll like it." She started playing the unfamiliar tune and immediately the melody made my senses feel calm and relaxed. It was a beautiful piece of music, just as beautiful as the lyrics.
"Well, come on let's try it," Esme said giving me the lyric sheet. "It'll be easy just follow the melody and you'll understand it." She began the tune again and cued me in after the introduction. Esme was right, following the melody was easy. We had to stop and restart a couple of times because I did not hit the right pitch, but for the first time through sounded pretty good.
"Music to my ears!" Alice said as she wandered into the room. She then started harmonizing with me, and Esme made up the trio. When Esme ended the chord we all laughed at ourselves triumphantly.
"We should record this," I said. "We could make millions!" Alice looked at me sourly and I said, "Well I at least want it recorded for my benefit!"
The rest of the day was spent working on Esme's song. At about five-thirty I drove home to eat and spend a little time with Charlie. At eight I drove back to the Cullen household where Esme, Alice, and I practiced on Esme's song again. I still did not see Edward and I started to worry.
"Oh Bella I forgot to tell you to wear something nice!" Alice said. "It's a tradition that we dress up nice on New Year's Eve, well I guess you'll just have to borrow something of mine then." Before I could complain Alice took my wrist and led me into her room. She looked in her closet and pulled out a scarlet red spaghetti-strap dress. I awed at the dress thinking I could never pull that off in my wildest dreams. I put on the dress, however when I was done Alice was nowhere to be found. I looked outside of her room and noticed she was in the bathroom. Oh great, dress-up doll again.
"In here Bella!" Alice said in her sing-song voice. I followed her into the bathroom and she said, "My, my! Don't we look lovely!" I noticed she changed into a sequin-silver dress that went well with her pale skin. Alice could wear any color of the rainbow and make it look good. She started putting makeup on my face and kept saying, "hold still!" Finally after what seemed like eternity, she was done. She spun me around and let me look in the mirror, and she did a pretty good job. Though I was petty compared to her.
"Not bad Alice," I finally sad. We walked out of the room and down the stairs to where everyone else was waiting. Rosalie had changed into a plum sleeveless dress and Esme was wearing a dark blue dress. All the males were gone I noticed, what were they doing? I looked at the clock and it was ten at night. Was my New Year's Eve going to be spent with just the females of the family?
Alice, Esme, Rosalie, and I sat in silence for a while. Finally we heard a sound outside, then the males came back inside. Everyone, except Edward.
"Where is Edward? I'm really getting worried about him."
"He's just hunting," Jasper said calming my feeling of worry.
"Why did he have to do it now, I thought we were going to spend the whole day together? It seems like this morning he came and picked me up and then came here and ignored me." Alice and Jasper looked at each other like they knew something. "What's going on you guys? This isn't funny."
"Nothing's going on Bella, we just want you to have a good New Year's Eve."
My mind jumped to conclusions and I started to panic. My breathing became short and my heart raced at one hundred miles an hour. "Alice, has Edward left me again?"
"No Bella, no that's not it." Alice said. She looked like she was trying to hide something.
I started sobbing and ran outside. Alice came outside and put her hand on my shoulder.
"Bella, Edward isn't leaving, he'll be back later tonight. He just needed to hunt, that's all. You know how careful he has to be around you. I'm sorry to have frightened you, but believe me, Edward will never leave you ever again. Now please quit your crying, you'll ruin your face!"
I looked up at Alice who looked sincere. She must be right, she would not lie to me like this. I wiped my tears and followed her back in the house. It was nearing ten thirty and I put on a happy smile for the Cullens. I wondered why I immediately jumped to conclusions; I guess I am just so afraid of losing Edward again.
Finally at eleven the atmosphere changed. We were watching the Tonight Show and I had forgotten about my previous mood change. I heard the door open and close again and I wandered to the front door to see who it was. To my great fortune, it was Edward. He had a bouquet mix of red and yellow roses. He wrapped me in a giant hug and rocked me back and forth.
"I'm so sorry Bella," he began. "I heard Alice's thoughts while I was hunting, I shouldn't have frightened you by leaving so suddenly."
I looked into his honey eyes and knew he was telling the truth. He handed my bouquet with a crooked grin and kissed my cheek. I noticed he had changed into nice clothes; he was wearing slacks and a nice long sleeved shirt. Edward took my hand and lead me back into the room with the rest of his family. He pulled me onto his lap and wrapped his arms around my waist. The countdown had started toward the New Year.
"Some day, will you take me to Times Square to watch the ball drop?" I asked.
"But there are so many people, what if I make a mistake?"
"Well I'll be there, I could distract you. It's always been my dream to go watch the ball drop in Times Square. Please?"
"Sure, some year you tell me a few months in advance and we'll go."
"Yay!" I said giddily. I tilted my head toward him and kissed him briefly. The countdown said two minutes now.
"Bella, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about..." Edward began.
With my eyes glued to the television I said, "Sure, what is it?"
"There's something I want to tell you, and I can't wait until later."
"Well, okay, make it quick the New Year is almost here!" I wanted Edward focused completely on me when it was midnight.
"I love you Bella," He began again.
"I love you too Edward," I said, wondering where he was taking this conversation. I turned and looked into his eyes.
"I want to spend eternity with you, I can't live in a world where you don't exist."
My eyes would flicker to the tv and the countdown on the screen said forty-five seconds.
"I completely agree, I don't want to live without you either."
"So...I was thinking..." He was struggling for words.
The ball was flashing all sorts of colors, and it was almost at the bottom of the pole.
"Edward, spit it out already, look it's almost midnight."
Twenty seconds on the clock. Each second seemed to pound in my heart as I waited to hear what Edward had to say. It was silent for a while.
"Isabella Marie Swan," He began again.
I turned and looked at him again because it was rare when he used my full name, this had to be serious.
"Five....Four.....Three....Two...." I heard the rest of the Cullens shout along with the people on the television.
"Will you marry me?" Edward said finally.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!" The Cullens said. I stared in disbelief and almost asked if I heard correctly.