Disclaimer: I do own a copy of Twilight; however, I don't own the actual rights to said book.
This chapter is dedicated to nia-ox and NewMoonEpiphany and Twilight-Fan11! Oh, and a random tidbit I read yesterday that I would share with you all …. "August 1st happens to be an exciting night for all of us Twilighters… Following the usual time of Twilight, there happens to be a New Moon and a total solar Eclipse, making the morning after: Breaking Dawn! Coincidence that August 2nd was chosen? I think not." I got that from TwilightMOMS who got it from Twilight Series Theories… but isn't that AWESOME!? I thought it was … ha! Well enjoy this chapter! I have a feeling you will … -foreshadowing-
Chapter 22: The Meadow
BPOV
Edward and I talked about random things for the next hour, only being interrupted by a nurse and Edward's constant ringing of his phone. He must have received and sent out at least thirty texts in the short hour period. People must have been pretty concerned about how he was doing I guess. After the hour his IV ran out of fluid and he was released after being okayed by the doctor. We walked out of the hospital together, but when we reached the doors we were greeted by Emily.
"Hey guys!" she said excitedly.
"Hey," Edward said.
"Hey Emily," I said, "Good timing, we are just leaving."
She looked at me, "Yea, what is the chance of that? Hey, want to go shopping with me?"
I groaned and heard Edward laugh at my response, "I think I should take care of Edward, sorry."
"Bella, you heard what the doctor said, I'm fine, absolutely fine, I just can't play any contact sports for a couple days." Edward told me.
I looked up at him in surprise, why wasn't he helping me out of this? He knows how much I hate shopping! "Yes, I know that, but I would still feel bad shopping while you sat at home, in pain, all alone." I dramatically said.
At this both Emily and Edward laughed, "I'll be fine Bella." Edward assured me.
"Yea, he'll be fine," Emily repeated, "Plus he can always call us if he has any problems. We have these crazy things called cell phones now-a-days."
"I don't know…" I said, trying desperately to come up with another excuse.
"I'll call Danny over and talk to him if it makes you feel any better, that way someone will be with me and maybe we will be able to work things out." Edward told me.
I sighed, knowing that there was no way out of this shopping excursion now. I wanted Edward and Danny to make up, and if I stayed back with Edward, then they wouldn't get a chance.
Edward must have realized this too, because his smiled his brilliant half smile and looked happily over at Emily.
"Alright, well it's all settled," Emily said, clapping her hands together.
"I guess," I said meekly.
"Yay, my car is parked right over there," Emily said pointing to the left, "See you later Edward."
"Are you sure you don't want me to come?" I asked Edward, making one last desperate plea.
He nodded, "I'll be fine, Bella, I promise. We can hang out later today if that makes you feel better."
I smiled at him and said goodbye.
"Bye Bella, take care of her for me Emily," he said, and walked right, towards his car.
Emily practically dragged me towards her car, "So I was thinking we could go to the mall and get you a new cute outfit and maybe a hair cut."
"Seriously?" I asked, "I don't need a new hair cut or new clothes." I whined.
"Maybe you don't need them, but it'll be my treat, and I'm not taking no for an answer!" Emily said and drove off quickly towards the mall.
It was surprising how much Emily reminded me of Alice, her perkiness and her love of shopping, it was like the two were twins separated at birth. Alice.
"Crap," I muttered under my breath.
"What?" Emily asked, turning into the parking lot.
"I was supposed to call my friend earlier and totally spaced it," I said, pulling out my phone.
"Oh, no problem, I'll go see if they have any openings at the salon while you talk to her." Emily said getting out of the car and walking towards the building.
"Thanks," I yelled out the window and dialed Alice's number.
"Took you long enough," Alice said as soon as she picked up.
"Sorry," I said, "You wouldn't believe what happened though."
"Did you two confess your undying love for each other and then make hot, passionate love in the back of the restaurant?" Alice asked, jokingly.
"Actually it was the back of his car," I joked back.
Alice laughed "So what really happened?"
"Ok, so just as I was about to go into the restaurant and 'get my man' as you put it, Emily, my friend, comes running out and tells me that Edward and Danny are fighting! So I run in there and break them up, have this long talk with Danny and end up having to go to the hospital because that is where Edward and Danny are!"
"Are you kidding me?" Alice said.
"I wish I were," I said solemnly, "They are both fine now, bruised and pretty banged up, but they'll survive. But I didn't get to tell Edward because of it." I sighed into the phone.
"What is stopping you from telling him now?" Alice asked.
"Well, I was dragged off by your clone," I told her.
"My clone?" Alice asked.
"Yea, my friend Emily, she's just like you and she took me shopping. I guess I'm getting a hair cut and new clothes," I rolled my eyes even though she couldn't see.
"Ok, that is it, I have to meet this Emily, she managed to get you to agree to get a hair cut and new clothes willingly? What kind of power she must have. I'm very jealous." Alice said, "But you have to tell him Bella."
"I know, I know," I said, "I will, I promise. And I will tell you as soon as I do, okay?"
"Sounds good to me," and then she giggled.
"So what are you doing?" I asked.
"Oh, nothing, just hanging out." Alice said casually.
"How's Jasper?"
"He's great, why?" Alice questioned.
"Isn't he sick?" I asked.
"Oh," Alice paused, "Right, yea he is doing a lot better. I have to go, sorry, bye!"
"Um, alright," I said, "Talk to you later Alice, love you!"
"Love you too," she said and hung up the phone.
I got out of the car and walked slowly towards the salon where I saw Emily enter.
"Bella! They have an opening now" Emily said eagerly and pushed me towards a middle-aged women.
"Hello, my name is Chloe, I'll be your hairdresser today." She said, shaking my hand.
"Nice to meet you," I told her, "I'm Bella."
"Oh, I know," she said, leading me towards the seats where I would get my hair washed, "Your friend told me a lot about you while we were waiting for you."
"Really?" I asked.
"Yep, head back please," she said and I did so.
After my hair was shampooed and conditioned we walked over towards the cutting area and I sat in a large chair.
Emily was instantly at my side, instructing Chloe how to cut my hair and style it quietly so I couldn't hear.
"Alright, we are just going to turn you around," Chloe told me and spun my chair around.
"But then I can't see the mirrors," I commented.
"Exactly the point," Emily said, winking at me and taking a seat next to me.
I grew worried, "Um, what are you doing to my hair?"
"It'll be perfect," Chloe told me.
I looked at Emily warily but didn't say anything.
After my hair was cut and blown dry Chloe pulled out the hair spray.
This is not the usual hair cut package, I thought.
Emily, seeming to read my thoughts, said, "Don't worry Bella, it looks great."
I smiled at her, not wanting to nod for fear that it'd cause my hair to get cut unnecessarily.
After what seemed like hours, my hair was deemed finished by both Emily and Chloe and I was allowed to turn around.
I looked in the mirror and what I saw astounded me. My hair was parted on the side, and was curled perfectly, with a small portion of it up.
"Like it?" Chloe asked me.
"I love it," I told her. "Where is Emily?" I asked, noticing that she was gone.
"Oh, I believe she's gone to pay." She said, "Have fun tonight."
"Thanks, I will," I told Chloe while I walked over towards Emily. "You really don't have to pay Emily, I can pay." I told her.
"I forced you into this shopping trip, and I promised I'd pay," she told me, "So please let me pay."
I nodded and waited for her to finish paying. Once she did we walked out of the salon and towards the slew of stores.
We were walking along when something dawned on me, "What are we doing tonight?" I asked Emily.
She stopped and looked at me, "What do you mean?"
"It's just that Chloe said for me to have fun tonight," I told her, "I didn't think anything of it when she said it, but doesn't that seem strange?"
Emily looked at me nervously and looked at the ground, "I have no idea what she means."
"You're lying," I told her.
"Maybe," she said, winking at me, "Come on, let's go! So much shopping to do, so little time."
"Ugh," I said but followed her.
We went to numerous stores, but eventually ended up agreeing on an outfit. We bought the white shorts and navy blue flowing top and left to go back to Emily's house.
"Why are we going back to your house?" I asked her.
"Because you have to change into your new clothes, of course." She said, as if it were obvious.
"But why do I have to wear them now?" I asked.
She sighed, "Must you ask so many questions?"
"I guess not…" I told her.
"Good!" she said and walked into her house, directly into her room. "Go change!" she said, pointing to the bathroom down the hall.
I did quickly and walked back into her room, spinning around for her once I entered, "Ta dah?"
"Bella, you look beautiful!" she told me.
"Thanks," I told her, and then looked at what she had in her hand and groaned, "Make up time?"
"Just a little bit," she promised.
I sat down and waited patiently until she finished, "So still not going to tell me what this is all about?" I asked.
"Nope!" she told me, "Hmmm … what size shoe are you?"
"Eight" I told her.
"Okay, perfect!" she said walking into her closet and pulling out a pair of white tennis shoes, "Put these on"
"Alright," I told her, not asking a question as to why because I knew she wouldn't answer. "Anything else?"
She looked me up and down and shook her head, "Nope, perfect!"
Emily then pulled out her phone and texted someone.
A minute later my phone rung, "Hello?"
"Bella, hi," a nervous Edward said into the phone.
"Hi Edward," I said into the phone, and smiled.
"What are you doing right now?" he asked.
"At Emily's, she felt the need to randomly give me a makeover." I stuck out my tongue at her, "Why?"
"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go on a walk with me." He said.
"A walk?" I repeated and looked over at Emily who was bouncing up and down.
"Yea, is that ok? You don't have to if you don't want to." He said quickly.
"No, no, I want to, that'd be great." I told him.
"Okay, awesome, I'll come get you in a couple minutes." He said and hung up the phone.
"So you and Edward are going on a walk?" Emily said, acting casual.
"Yep," I told her, suspiciously, "What is the chance that I'd already have on tennis shoes?"
She looked down, "I don't know, talk about coincidence"
"Uhhu," I said, and then heard the doorbell ring. "That was fast," I said, walking out of the room.
"No wait!" Emily said, "I'll get it, you walk down when I call for you."
"Um, alright?" I told her and walked back into her room.
I listened as she opened the door and told Edward I would be down in a minute, and then I heard her shout my name.
I walked out of the room, and looked at my feet while I walked down the stairs, concentrating on not tripping. When I reached the bottom of the stairs I looked up to see a gorgeous Edward staring at me wide-eyed.
"Hi," I said, blushing.
"Hello Bella, ready to go?" he asked formally.
I nodded and saw a flash go off.
I turned around and glared at Emily, "Are you seriously taking pictures right now?"
She shrugged at me, "One more?"
I looked up at Edward who smiled at me, "I don't mind"
"Fine," I told her and turned around and posed for her.
Edward draped his arm around my back and I smiled broadly into the camera. The flash went off "Perfect" Emily said and then shooed us out the door. "Have fun you two"
I glared back at her; she was worse then my mom! And looked meekly at Edward, "Isn't it a little late to be taking a walk?" I asked, noticing the sky was getting darker, it was nearly twilight.
"We should be fine," he assured me and took my hand and squeezed it gently. "You look beautiful tonight."
I was glad it was getting dark now, it hid my blush, "Thanks, you clean up pretty well yourself Masen." I told him.
I saw him flash me a smile as he led me towards the forest, "Do you trust me?" he asked.
"Of course," I answered immediately.
"Okay, we have to walk through the forest for a little bit, is that ok?" he asked, worried about my answer.
I looked at the dark forest in front of us, and then at the man beside me, "That's fine."
"Good," He said, letting out a breath he must have been holding.
We walked quickly through the forest, and I managed to only stumble across a couple tree roots. "What are they doing above ground anyway?" I muttered to myself after one particular fall.
Edward must have heard because he laughed and shook his head, "We should be getting close now."
"Close to what?" I asked.
"You'll see." He told me.
We kept walking for another minute when I started to see a bright light straight in front of us, "What's that?" I asked, pointing to it.
"Your surprise," he told me, "Cover your eyes please."
"What?" I asked.
"Just close your eyes, it wont be a surprise if you see it right away," he told me as I closed my eyes. "Eyes closed?" he asked.
"Yes," I said, "Please don't let me run into a tree or something."
"Would I let a tree hurt you?" he joked and walked slowly forward, leading me gently.
A couple of steps later we stopped and Edward let go of my hand, "Okay," he said slowly, "Open your eyes."
I did and gasped. All around me were candles, lighting the area where we stood in a meadow. The meadow was more beautiful then anything I'd ever seen before, flowers were growing everywhere and the thick soft grass ticked my bare legs. In the middle of the meadow was a blanket and a picnic basket, with two tall candles in the center. I was speechless.
"Bella?" he asked.
"You did this?" I asked him, amazed.
"With a little help, yes," he told me, "Do you like it?"
"Do I like it?" I repeated, shocked, "I love it Edward, it's beautiful."
He smiled and led me towards the blanket where we both sat down, staring at each other over the candle light.
He pulled out two glasses and poured sparking cider into them, handing one to me. "To the beautiful woman in front of me, may her life be filled with joy and happiness."
"And to the man in front of me, may his life be filled with just as much joy and happiness," I added and we clinked glasses.
Edward then pulled out the food from the basket and we ate it silently, enjoying the serene surroundings and each others company.
Once we finish I laid down next to the blanket, staring up at the stars which were now prominent in the sky. I felt Edward lie next to me, and he took my hand. I started tracing random symbols on his hand, a star, a circle, a heart.
"Bella," he said huskily.
"Sorry," I said, quickly withdrawing my hand, "I'll stop."
"Don't," he told me, pulling my hand back towards his, "You have no idea how magnificent that feels."
I smiled and continued drawing shapes on his soft hand. I did this for a while when I felt Edward sit up next to me so I sat up too.
He took my hand into his, and intertwined our fingers, "Bella" he said, "I-" he paused.
"Yes?" I asked him.
He took a deep breath and looked directly into my eyes, "I love you Isabella Swan."
My heart started beating erratically as I looked deep in his eyes. I looked down at our interjoined hands and then back up at Edward, "I love you Edward Masen," I whispered.
"What was that?" he asked, eyes gleaming.
"You heard me," I said just as quietly.
"Maybe so, but I want to hear it again," he said, smiling his perfect half smile at me.
"I love you Edward," I told him again. I didn't have time to say anything else though because his lips instantly found mine, kissing me deeply.
A/N: EEK? Review please!