Short AN, Sorry: I'm usually relatively good about spell checking and grammatical errors, but no body is perfect; so, I apologize before hand for any mistakes (throughout the entire story). Also, my disclaimer is on my profile.
Eternal Night
3. Two Faced
I woke up to Edward's soft tentative kisses being placed all over my face.
"School, again." Was all he said as I opened my eyes. We sat there for a moment gazing at each other before his eyes flashed to the clock and he announced we would be late if I didn't get moving.
"Like we could ever be late with you driving." I commented while getting out of bed and walking over to my bathroom bag.
"Anything is possible with you tripping all the time." He replied back, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. I scowled at him with as much anger as I could manage, and grabbed my bag. I proceeded to storm out of the room. Of course before I could reach the bathroom door his arms were restraining me and he was looking pleadingly into my eyes.
"I didn't mean to insult you, I love your tripping." The topaz eyes that were boring into mine began to smolder and beg; they were filled with nothing but love and sadness. When I still had control over my actions I pushed his arms off of me and walked carefully into the bathroom. I shut the door and got into the shower, there was no way I was going to give in this time to those beautiful eyes. I needed to prove to myself that I was capable of restraining against melting in his arms every time he looked at me, even if I wasn't completely.
When I emerged from the bathroom, dressed and ready to withstand my angel, Edward was sitting dejectedly on my bed with his hands under his chin. His face was so drawn with regret, his pout made it practically impossible not to run over to him and jump into his embrace. I clenched my hands into fists at my side, my fingernails digging into my palms, to restrain myself.
I walked over to my closet and retrieved my shoes, feeling his eyes on me the entire time. I swooped down with as much grace as I could muster and grabbed my backpack out of the corner. Turning, I walked through the doorway and started to slowly descend the steps. Not once did I hear Edward move but I could still feel his gaze on me as I continued downward. I smiled smugly to myself as I reached the bottom safely. As I turned the corner to enter the kitchen I tripped on that tackle box, again.
My face was one of complete shock when I actually made contact with the ground. In a second I was in Edward's arms and he was smoothing down my hair.
"I'm sorry Bella. I honestly thought you were in the clear so I went back into your room to get your Trig book for you. If it's any consolation, I think you proved your point." He spoke quickly.
I didn't know what to say. I was still in shock and his heart wrenchingly beautiful face was making incredibly difficult to think let alone breathe.
"Bella… are you alright?"
I found the strength to nod my head slightly in assurance. That crooked smile took my breath back again. He slowly leaned down and brushed his lips along my jaw line, he trailed small kisses up and down my neck. My heart was thundering louder than any storm I had ever heard in Forks, my eyes were closed in bliss. It took everything I had in me not to throw myself at him.
After torturing me for a moment longer he placed his sweet lips on mine and pushed my own lips apart slightly. He breathed into my mouth. I was so light headed at this point I was gasping for air, pushing my own breath into Edward's mouth in return.
In one of his impossibly quick movements his tongue flashed out and licked my trembling bottom lip. I stopped breathing all together, my heart stuttered for a few seconds and then picked up in double time when my brain finally made the connection of what just happened.
On hearing my heart fail me for that brief moment he pulled away and looked at me. I could see his lips moving as he attempted to regain my attention but I was long gone.
♦
Cool water dripped down my forehead as some far off sound mumbled incoherently. I opened my eyes and saw nothing but blurriness. I blinked several times and my vision returned to me as the colors melded back into their true forms.
I saw the television set on the table near the window. I must be on the couch. I could hear some more mumbling coming from the kitchen. I breathed deeply for a minute and then lifted myself up onto my elbows and swung my legs down towards the floor. A wet cloth dropped down onto the floor from my head. When I looked up Edward and Carlisle were looking at me with worried expressions. The sudden appearance of two beautiful people threw me off balance again. I wobbled where I sat and Edward stretched out his hands to steady me.
"Too close, too fast." I said in a low tone. Carlisle immediately backed off and apologized but Edward lifted me up slowly and positioned me on his lap. I slumped back against him and concentrated on matching my air intake to his. Now relaxed and level headed I turned my head to look him in the eye.
"Warn me next time." My voice was stern but there was definitely a humorous undertone that I hadn't been able to ebb. He looked at me sheepishly, obviously embarrassed, and he looked up to Carlisle and nodded.
"Bella, I'm going to write you both a note to school, you aren't that late but they will want to know why. You tripped of course…" He trailed of sweetly a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He winked at us and then walked out of the room into the kitchen to get paper.
My cheeks instantly went scarlet, my mouth hung open in shock. Edward chuckled beneath me.
"Come on, we have to go." He picked me up and refused to let me back down despite my protests. On the way out the door he picked my backpack up. After locking the door he turned to Carlisle and thanked him for the notes, he placed me in the passenger seat and then was turning the car from his seat before I had even reached around for my buckle.
I stared out the window as we pulled out of the driveway and began to drive at about twice the speed limit down the street. I was thinking about what had just happened. A ridiculous grin snuck onto my face and I couldn't control it. My fingers went up to my lips to where I could still feel the tinkling sensation from his kiss. My grin widened and I heard the melodic voice that was like velvet on my nerves.
"It was well worth the worry over your reaction, you know." I looked over to him in surprise as the ruby red blush crept up onto my face. I hid my face in my hands, my grin transforming into a grimace of embarrassment. His fingers gently pried my hands away from my face and he leaned over and kissed the backs of them before leaning over further to plant a chaste kiss on my lips.
Our gazes locked and as the color slunk back out of my face my mind caught up with my body.
"Edward! Road, eyes, now!" He grinned and pulled into his parking space adroitly without taking his eyes away from mine.
"Silly Bella."
"Show off." I muttered in retort.
The rest of the morning classes passed in the same fashion as they had yesterday. When I arrived at lunch I took smug notice that Mike was doing everything possible not to meet Edward's eyes. The feeling of triumph was practically rolling off him; even I could sense it without connecting it to the look Jasper was giving him right now.
We sat down and I ate while they talked quietly amongst themselves. Edward's hand never left my back which he was rubbing instead of my hand. Alice trailed off in the middle of her sentence. I looked up noticing the loss of her twinkling voice. Her eyes were distant. Jasper held onto her and sent out calming waves.
Within a minute she was back with us. She turned to me and said,
"Bella, we aren't going to be in school tomorrow. You know, a rare sunny day, and I think you should put on your blue top instead of the red one when you get up."
"Why?" Edward and I asked at the same time. Jasper and Alice smiled at us.
"I just think it matches your jeans better. We really should go shopping this weekend."
"I can't Alice, I'm grounded for life, remember?" She seemed to contemplate this for a minute and then looked at me with an evil glint in her topaz eyes.
"Sure." My head whipped around as I pleaded him with my eyes to save me from another trip to the mall. I would rather clean the entire Cullen mansion everyday for the rest of the month (not that it needed it) then go shopping with Alice.
He however, shrugged and looked apologetically back at me. I didn't reach his eyes; there was a clear hint amusement. I glared at him and got up to throw out my tray. I stepped on the hem of my pants and started falling forward when his arms caught me and pulled me to him.
"You can't get away from me that easily you know." He smiled against my ear. I blushed and he released me only to grab onto my hand.
Classes were boring as usual. As seniors we were really just going through the motions now rather than learning anything life changing; not that we did much of that before.
We would be graduating in two months. I had some major choices to make and sitting in class next to the picture of perfection made me realize this. I could have Carlisle change me after graduation, which would avoid another nasty run in with the Volturi.
But no matter how much I feared for the Cullen's lives, and to some extent my own, I couldn't do that. Now that another option had been opened up to me, I wanted to be selfish and take it. I couldn't' marry Edward though.
It had been drilled into my mind since I could talk never to get married young. I know that this is something that Edward didn't understand. In his time, divorce didn't really exist, and he has always seen Carlisle and Esmé happy together. I honestly don't think he has a full grasp of how much could go wrong, and how big of a step it is.
Yet, if I was willing to give him me life, which I am and always have been (as proven by my going to Italy) then maybe I should marry him. In a lot of ways being changed is a larger commitment than marrying him. I would be in existence forever if I, we, went through with this. Forever is an incredibly long time, and I truly believe that any amount of pain in the world was worth it to be with him that long.
My fingers absently traced the small crescent scar where James bit me on my hand. Edward noticed the small motion and looked over to me. His features were smooth but I could see the faint trace of guilt in his eyes. I raised our interlocked hands and kissed his hand gently.
He smiled his crooked smile at me and I know he was itching to ask me what I was thinking. That's it. I know my decision. Being changed would not be a stipulation of us getting married; it would be a bi product. Now I just had to think of a way to tell him.
I blushed and turned my attention back to the teacher, biting my lip in anticipation.
When we left class Alice was instantly by my side.
"Edward, I'm driving Bella home today, we need to plan our shopping trip." Her tone was light and airy as usual but there was a distinct ring of authority. Edward glared at her and turned to give me a kiss goodbye when she added,
"And we are leaving in an hour to hunt so say goodbye now. Don't look at me like that! Carlisle decided a few hours ago and he's about to call your cell."
Sure enough just when she finished, Edward's cell began to vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out only to have Alice's information repeated to him. The entire time he was on the phone Alice was looking at me with so much happiness I thought she was going to explode, she began bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Bella, I have to leave. I'm coming back though! Don't worry about that. Carlisle asked the La Push pack to keep an eye on you when we are gone. I'll be back by tomorrow afternoon for sure. I love you." I nodded and told him I know he was going to come back. "Alice, can you go wait in your car for Bella, I'll drive with Jasper back when we're done talking here." He requested smoothly.
She turned on her heel and happily skipped down the hallway out towards the parking lot.
"What's gotten into her?" He asked me. I had an idea, but I shrugged in response. He stared at me for a second before his speculative gaze turned lustful and teasing. He leaned forward and the full power of his irresistible breath hit me right in the face as I inhaled. I was instantly loopy.
"Hey Bella?"
"Hmm…?"
"I'm warning you." With that he leaned in and proceeded to part my lips with his just as he had done this morning. His strong arms wrapped around my back to support me. After a minute of breathing together he slowly moved slightly closer. He waited, finally my heart beat leveled out again. Then he moved his lips against mine and ran his tongue across the length of my bottom lip and then my top one.
My knees went weak beneath me and I would have fallen over had it not been for him. He pulled back a few inches to look at me in the eyes. His had gone a few shades darker, but not with thirst.
"I love you."
"I love you too." My reply was rushed, my breath still fighting to return to my struggling lungs. He smiled and then swooped me up in his arms and brought me out to Alice's car. He put me into the passenger seat and lay one last tender kiss on my forehead before turning towards his car. I watched him glide to his Volvo from the side view mirror, biting my lip in appreciation of his perfection. Alice burst out laughing causing me to turn bright red again.
"Shush Alice." She continued to giggle as we reached the road. When we pulled up to my house and turned off the car. She angled herself so her back was facing the door and tucked her legs up underneath her. I mirrored her position.
"So…" I began.
"Oh my god, Bella! I'm so happy right now I feel like… I don't even know! This is amazing; you have no idea how happy this is going to make him!" I smiled at the thought.
"That's all I want to do, that, and be with him forever." She squealed in delight and then threw herself across the small distance between us to capture me in a bone crushing hug.
"I have to go Bella but this conversation is so far from over. We have so much to plan. How are you going to tell him? Well of course you don't know yet because I would have… oh never mind. Just think about it while we're gone. I'll be keeping my thoughts locked up tight so he'll have no idea. And by the by, Jacob will not be joining the wolves in their watch tonight so you don't have to worry about dealing with him quite yet because I know you aren't ready to." I agreed and gave her a kiss on the cheek before exiting the car.
The whir of the power windows made me turn my head back towards the car.
"Seriously, about that top Bella, don't wear it tomorrow." With one last gleaming smile she pulled out of the driveway and was gone before I could blink.
I walked inside the house and already felt my day slow down. This was going to be a long stint of time. I went upstairs and did my homework. I came downstairs to begin making dinner for Charlie when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Bella, I just wanted to call you and tell you that I love you, again." His angelic voice wafted to my ears, still beautiful, even over a telephone line. I smiled hugely despite myself.
"I love you too, always will. You don't have to worry about me Edward I know you're coming back. I trust you." I heard him sigh and he responded in a tone that had a mix of sadness, joy, and hope.
"I know, I just don't think I can ever tell you enough. I let you go though, I hear Charlie."
"What?" Just as I said this I heard the crunch of the cruiser's tire on the driveway.
"Even over the phone you're more alert then I am, jeez." He laughed and told me he loved me again before we hung up.
Charlie came in and kicked off his boots near the door. I went to go greet him and tripped over the tackle box. Luckily I caught myself on the doorframe.
"That's the third time!" I shrieked as I glared at the box, trying to incinerate it with my eyes.
"Sorry Bells, I'll move it. I should no better than to leave stuff anywhere near a path your feet might find." He said as he laughed at me.
"Oh sure pick on the klutz." I said sarcastically in response. I was really just glad that some of the tense atmosphere between us seemed to have dissipated.
I began to make dinner as he settled himself in front of the TV to catch the end of some game. We ate in silence but it was comfortable. Before I left to go upstairs and shower I gave him a kiss on his cheek. The shower was incredibly relaxing. I stayed under the spray until almost all the hot water was gone, allowing my muscles to loosen to the point where my limbs felt like jelly; kind of like they did when I Edward kissed me like that, but nowhere near as good.
Edward's kiss. Amazing. That's the only word I can think of to describe it. I love him so much. Every second I spend with him seems to reaffirm the decision I made this afternoon. This is by far the right thing to do.
I was in my room finishing up a quick email to Renée when I heard a few light thuds on my window. Oh no, Victoria. My thoughts instantly became frantic trying to think of a way to keep her from Charlie.
When I went over to the window however I was met by the gaze of one Sam Uley. I slid open the window and waved my hand.
"Just letting you know we're here." His rough voice called softly up to the window as to not wake Charlie. I nodded and gave him a grateful look.
"Thank you Sam, I really appreciate you doing this, I know that you don't have to."
"I'd rather her die than you Bella, no matter who you choose." His words were comforting and completely disconcerting at the same time. I gave him a small smile and shut my window. When the lights were off and I was in the bed I tossed and turned for at least two hours. Edward wasn't here with me and now my mind was on Jacob. What kind of mess had I managed to get myself into?
Sleep was evading me no matter how hard I tried to coax it. For now the third time in my life, I took unnecessary cold medicine. After ten minutes my eye lids became too heavy for me to hold open.
In my dream I was in our meadow. The moonlight was shining down through the thin wispy clouds that hung scarcely in the sky. Thousands of clustered stars twinkled together like a musical pattern. I tilted my head back down to look at the meadow itself. The thousands of flowers that coated the tall grass were closed up, protecting themselves from the chill of the night. The small stream could be heard over in the distance as I walked over towards the center, the cool breeze swaying the trees and making light green tall grass brushing up against my leg.
I looked down with a small smile at the grass and then noticed what I was wearing. A wedding gown. It was strapless and had layers of satin sheer fabric rouching horizontally at the bust with small diamonds lain under to make it glimmer. The same light satin material flowed down to my ankles filling out slightly away from me due to soft cotton layers underneath. My long hair was in loose curls down to my waist with some sort of glitter that shone in the light from the moon.
"Bella," I turned to see Edward looking stunning in a black tuxedo, contrasting amazingly with his creamy pallor. He had his hands behind his back and stood a few feet away from me. I smiled and lifted my hand so he could take it. Edward looked at me questioningly with a hint of pity in his eyes.
"Why are you here Bella?"
"What?" He opened his mouth to answer me but then whipped his head to the edge of the forest. His crooked smiling beaming he ran over to the forest a picked up a small figure. I ran over in curiosity and lost my breath when I saw who it was.
"Jessica?" My face became red and I could feel the tears spilling over my eye lids. She asked me what I was doing here but before I could answer her lips were swept into a passionate kiss from Edward. I was sobbing hopelessly now but I heard my name being called again from the woods. I looked up and saw Mike.
"Come on Bella, time to go home." He strode over to me and grabbed my hand pulling me back to the dark trees. I stumbled backwards and fell. As I got up I was wearing my red top that Alice seems to have taken a dislike to. My holey sweatpants were now caked in mud and my hair hung around my face in a mess of knots.
Mike grasped my hand again and was now yanking me into the forest. The last thing I saw was Edward holding Jessica around the waist from behind her with his lips trailing kisses all over her cheek.
"No!" I screamed.
I sat bolt upright in my bed panting. Okay, absolutely no more cough medicine to sleep. I got up and showered hastily. While picking out my outfit I saw the red shirt in the back of my drawer and threw it out in disgust.
I ran down the stairs and tripped on the way down, only gaining one bruise on my shin. Scarfing down a granola bar on my way out the door I made my way to my truck. Sam was leaning against the door and when I looked up I jumped back in surprise. He stared at me for a moment and then just nodded his head once and turned to walk into the woods.
Throwing my bag in the passenger seat I made my way over to school. Classes dragged on even worse then ever since I had no hope of seeing Edward, or his family, at lunch. When I did make it into the lunch room later I noticed that everyone had stopped talking as I walked over to the end of the lunch line. I turned my head back towards the tables in hope of seeing what everyone was quiet about and realized they were all looking at me. My entire body instantly turned crimson and I searched our table for the one human I could count on.
When I made eye contact with Angela I waved my hand at her to beckon her over. As she stood in front of me she began fidgeting nervously with the zipper on her sweater.
"Ang, what's going on? Why was everyone staring at me?"
"Well… Bella. You see… everyone kind of…" She was stammering, clearly uncomfortable.
"Angela I'm not going to get mad at you or anything; just tell me what's going on. Please." I begged her.
She finally looked into my eyes and I saw a great conflict toiling within hers. She saw the pleading in mine and she sighed deeply and nodded her head.
"Jessica told a whole bunch of people you were pregnant," my face lost all its previous color and my mouth hung open but she continued. "Everyone automatically assumed it was true because he never leaves your side and you came in late yesterday with a doctor's note. I don't believe it Bella. I think she is only telling this to get people off Mike's back for missing Edward's face yesterday and hitting that pole. Of course if it is true than I'll help you out anyway you need it because you're my friend." She finished in one long breath. I was in shock.
I was finding it increasingly harder to breathe. I started towards the lunchroom and quickened my pace as I saw everyone following me with their gazes. I tripped on the door jam but I just got up and kept going, Angela loyally following close behind. I made it into the bathroom in just enough time to pitch the entire contents of my stomach into the toilet.
Angela rubbed my back and gave me her water bottle as I worked to steady my gasping breaths.
"I can't believe she would do that." I said in disbelief as Angela handed me a tissue from her purse. I took it but needed several more to mop up the rivers that had formed from my eyes. I can't stay here.
"I think I'm going to go home." I said nodding in agreement with myself. "For the record, I'm not. I haven't even ever…" I didn't finish and didn't need to when she looked at me with understanding.
She helped me over to the office to get excused for the day and then walked over to me to my truck. After confirming that I was okay to drive she said goodbye and I clambered into the cab. I rolled down the windows to get some fresh air and allow the sunlight to stream through.
When I got home I ran upstairs to my room and collapsed onto the bed in tears. After about half an hour I heard a faint knock on my door.
"Hello?"
"Bells? Are you okay? The school called and said you asked to come home and you looked really upset. Can I come in?" Charlie's ruff voice sounded worried and angry.
"Yeah dad." He entered and shuffled nervously before plopping down on the end of my bed and staring at me.
"Bella… Jessica's mom called me today…" Oh no. "And she told me something incredibly disconcerting. You know I don't like Edward, and I know this is a conversation neither of us want to have; so we're going to do it and get it over with." His face had become increasingly redder as he spoke, once again I found myself wondering about his health. He stared at me and I guess he wanted confirmation of the fact so I nodded my head.
"Are you pregnant?"
"No." I replied quickly and sternly. His relief was palpable.
"Are you…with um…?" He looked anywhere but at me.
"No dad! Jessica is just spreading rumors because she's decided she hates me. That's why I came home early by the way, school was just… horrible."
Again his relief was enough that it would have made Jasper break out in unstoppable grins. He nodded then left without another word. I got up changing into shorts and a long t-shirt. Grabbing a spare quilt I headed outside with a book. I had an entire afternoon to spend in the sun and think of ways to fix Jessica's big mouth, and how to tell Edward I want to marry him.
I can't stand how Charlie hates Edward. I need him to trust our love for each other, and he doesn't even know that we are in love. How could he not see that? I fell apart when he left, that's all Charlie sees. Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear. He came out into the driveway and yelled to me that he was going back to work. I told him I'd see him at dinner and I returned to my ponderings.
I lay on my stomach on the quilt and tied my hair back into a loose bun. The sun splayed across my legs making them warm and tingle, hmm the bliss of Vitamin D. I stared without seeing into the forest in front of me. Thoughts of when he left came flooding into my mind despite my efforts to keep them away.
He wouldn't do it again. I told this to myself over and over again. The look in his eyes when he told me he loved me was stronger than it ever had been before, the conviction in his voice made it impossible not to believe. But how could I really be sure? I am gambling with my heart again, last time didn't turn out so well. Just thinking about it brought the ghost of the pain creeping back into my chest. I unconsciously wrapped an arm around my torso.
I was marrying him, he wasn't going to leave. Any moment that I spent with him, even if it was only a second, would be worth the pain. It would be to know I had more time with him than I had before. I don't think I would survive the pain this time, but at least I would know now that he cared even if it was for a brief moment in time.
Why was Jessica out to get me anyway? The drugged up dream from last night assaulted my mind now. That was horrible and it was only a dream. Is that what she's trying to do, and if so, did she really think that would work?
I just can't believe everyone bought her story. The feeling of all those people staring at me this afternoon washed over me. The entire school was there talking about me, spreading false accusations left and right. My eyes started to well up again. I rolled onto my side and tried to concentrate on the sun rays becoming liquid and washing over me, washing this entire day away.
♦
When I woke up I was in my bed. I don't remember leaving the yard, what's going on? I was completely disoriented, when I went to stand up my legs tangled in my sheets and the floor was vaulting towards me. Edward's chuckle was in my ear in an instant, breathing his mouthwatering scent all over my face, relaxing me immediately.
"Edward!" I threw my arms around his neck and crushed my body to his. When I realized what I had done I began to pull away but he brought me back with his strong arms even closer than before. I tucked my head into the crook of his neck and breathed him in. The coolness of his body made me feel at home. I sighed in contentment and when he pulled me back to look into me eyes he asked,
"What's wrong?" I then felt the small tears dribbling down my face. His fingers rose to brush them away and he dried my face with the cuff of his shirt.
"I'm just so happy to see you; I had a horrible day…" I trailed off suddenly not sure if I wanted to tell him what happened.
"Yeah about that, Alice told me what happened and it took Emmett and Jasper holding me down to stop me from coming back here and seriously harming Jessica." I looked at him in shock. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that Bella. I don't know what else to say…"
"You don't have to say anything. I just want to forget about it. I'm lucky Charlie didn't have a heart attack or drive me to some cabin in the woods where I would be home schooled from now on, away from any boys until I was thirty." I said with a small chuckle. Edward looked at me in appreciation.
"How did I get up here anyway?" Now he laughed.
"Silly Bella, I brought up when I found you in the yard with grass stuck in your hair and your quilt twisted around you." He was straining to suppress chuckling at my inadvertent clumsiness in my sleep. "Also, how did you get that huge bruise?" I looked down at my exposed shin, wow; that is a lot bigger than it had been when it first happened. When I looked back up he was frowning at my lack of response.
"Tripped." I stated and shrugged. I huffed and brought myself back into his embrace. He stroked my hair and hummed to me for a few moments before saying,
"By the way, Alice called Charlie this afternoon and asked if since you had such a horrible day today you would be able to go shopping this Friday and have a sleepover with her. He said yes."
I pushed away from him and he looked alarmed and vulnerable.
"Shopping!" I exclaimed in a desperate tone as I flopped onto my bed. I saw his crooked smile lighten up my dim room before the shrill phone ring echoed throughout the house.
Songs (3):
'Hands Down' Dashboard Confessional
'Tangled up in me' Skye Sweetnam
'BYOB' System of a Down