A/N: So, there is a certain way to pronounce this title... it's like... you know how you go with one of those cheesy grins: "Oh, you...!" Like that only it's tree. Oh, Tree...! Like... Oh Christmas Tree! Haha... and I wrote this a few weeks before christmas and was trying to update it quickly so that I could have it up before christmas... guess not. Next Thursday is my birthday though!
People seem to like the song's I've picked out for this so far. Theres two left that are right in the last couple of chapters, but I'm not telling you them, It'll ruin it!
If you want more songs to listen to, then I'd suggest "I Know" by Save Ferris. Mainly because the lyrics are amazingly cute. The guy who sings in it, his voice is like Edward's voice, therefore, download it! He sings: "I love you very much you're nice to see and nice to touch," And the song "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap is fun, sounds like somethign Edward would be impressed by. The lyrics are great too. "Crop circles in the carpet"
As well "La valse d'amelie" By Yann Tiersen is what I picture Bella's Lullaby as being. If you want to download it, make sure you get the piano version. I could send it to you if you ask nicely! Either that or "To Zanarkand" by Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy 10 soundtrack) It's amazingly pretty. I'd suggest asking me for that one since the version I have is different and prettier haha. And I believe Esme's song could be "Mothers Journey" by Yann Tiersen.
I think that's all the music I have for now. Thanks so much again for your reviews! really means a lot... and I just realized that I never put in a disclaimer anymore, but I think you get the idea...
Chapter Sixteen: Oh, Tree...
When Edward and I had finally broken apart he was grinning madly and whispering how much he loved me. It was only when a cool gust of air hit me that I realized he had moved out of the cafeteria. And, it was then that I began to cry. My body was heaving with sobs and I was sure that the tears were streaming down my cheeks would freeze there.
"Bella?" Edward asked, panicked. "What's wrong? Are you alright?" I gulped down another sob, my eyes grew wide as I stared up at him. I was suddenly aware of how close we were. I was backed up onto a shiny silver volvo, Edward's body was pressed against mine. His face was merely inches from my own.
My lips quivered as I smiled warmly up at him. "No, Edward," I flung my arms around his neck and whispered in his ear. "I'm just so happy to see you again." He turned his head to smile at me. It was the most handsome smile I could ever imagine and as a return I kissed him lightly.
The bell rang and people began filing out of the cafeteria towards different buildings. The kids I had sat with at lunch shot me glances. Some angry, some jealous. Alice waved madly in passing and I couldn't help but laugh.
"So, may I walk you to your next class?" he asked formally. I smiled and took the arm he offered me. "Which class do you have now?" he asked quietly.
"Biology," I murmured. I was too distracted by his face to notice where we were going. He stopped me in front of a building and looked down to me.
"May I walk you to your last class as well?" he asked with a small smile. I felt the heat rising in my cheeks. He smiled wider and I nodded at him foolishly. He took my face in his hands and kissed me softly before I turned away to enter the Biology room.
I made my way over to the teacher and he quickly signed my form, making no nonsense about introductions. Students were sprawled all over the classroom, talking to their friends. I was directed to the only available seat in the house. Next to none other than Edward Cullen.
I made my way down the row of tables towards him. He looked up, pretending to be surprised and gave me the beautiful crooked smile.
"Fancy seeing you here!" I said nonchalantly as I took my seat. He chuckled, the sound sending my heart into little palpatations. Biology passed quickly. I took notes to avoid staring at Edward any more than courtesy allowed throughout the entire class, though I was completely aware of the amount of time he spent staring at me. My heart fluttered with every movement and sound he made.
When the bell rang for my last period gym class, I was more than a little bit angry. Not only was gym my own personal hell on earth, it was taking me away from the only person I really wanted to see in Forks.
Edward stood up and held out his hand, waiting to walk me to gym. I saw Mike start to move towards us, but when I took Edward's hand he awkwardly tried to make it look like he was leaving.
I sighed at the gym doors, staring in at the mustard colored floors covered with different lines.
"What's wrong?" he whispered. Edward couldn't hear my thoughts I remembered absently. I was lucky. I was an absolute mess in Biology.
"I hate gym. With the fiery passion of a thousand suns..." I said truthfully, glaring all around me. he grinned and tried not to laugh as he softly kissed my forehead. He must have heard my heart earlier and was trying to keep me from going into cardiac arrest by staying away from my mouth.
Lucky me, being the new student, I was not forced to take part in any of the 'fun' games one would play in a gymnasium. Maybe Renée will send them a note soon, saying that I am a hazard to myself and everyone around me. Then they'd be smart enough to take me out of gym. After class I had all the signatures I'd needed and was heading back to the office. I couldn't see Edward anywhere but I had left a little earlier than normal. I dropped off the slip to the secretary and stepped outside to into a cold gust of air that literally stole my breath away. Edward appeared at my side while I was gasping for air.
"Cold enough for you?" he asked with a wry grin. I pulled my arms close to my chest but I still began to shiver. I nodded my head violently and my teeth chattered together. Edward snorted, trying to stifle laughter, but it came out anyway, loud and hearty. I glared at him and stomped away to my truck. In the blink of an eye he was in front of me, giving me the most adorable puppy eyes and sticking out his bottom lip sadly. My heart flopped, I could tell he was trying to keep from laughing again. I glared at him. It was not fair that he could know what he could know what he did to the insides of me when I still had no clue whatsoever about him.
I hopped into my truck, slamming the door and pulling on my seatbelt.
"Bella, please don't be mad!" he begged. I turned to see him standing outside of my window, looking sad and dejected. Then I noticed the stares, we'd been getting quite an audience over the sourse fo the day. Edward looked sincerely upset and my smile made his expression change to confusion.
"I'm not mad Edward!" The roaring engine blasted to life and I flinched, still unused to the loud sound. "I'll see you later!" Then, I drove away, waggling my fingers at him through the window. I felt sick to my stomach, leaving him now after just finding him again. I hoped that this teasing would get him to come and see me wuickly.
I pulled my truck into the driveway and slumped down in the seat. I sighed and closed my eyes. I still needed to readjust my eeys to the achey white light that forced its way through the grey sky.
I wasn't sure how long I sat there listening to the eery quiet, but after a short while I decided it was time to make supper. And wait for Edward. When I turned to open the door it was his face that I saw through the window.
"Oh," I said softly as I stared at him through the glass. He was watching me angrily and I could see the corners of his mouth twitching, trying to keep from laughing at me again. I caught sight of something behind him that made my nose wrinkle in disgust. But, that action only made his expression confused and slightly hurt.
I dropped out of the cab to find myself shorter than him, unlike when I had been sitting. "I'm not making a face at you," I assured him, slipping my hand into his. "It's just..." I motioned to the white stuff falling around us.
"Snow," he said happily as we walked into the house. "Don't you like snow?"
"No, and you should know that. Snow just means its too cold for rain," I retorted. I went into the kitchen and opened the fridge to see what I could create.
"Well I haven't seen you in nearly three years, Bella. I thought maybe you'd changed on me," he answered quietly. I moved over to him slowly and picked up his face in my hands.
"I haven't changed on you, I'm still very much in love with you, too." I smiled at him and without another word he pushed against my hands and leaned over the counter to kiss me lovingly. There really was no logical reason to my actions, aside from the fact that this 'boy' is irresistable. I threw myself over the counter and wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my lips harder against his.
I could feel him grinning against me but he calmly pulled my arms down and broke the kiss, much to my dismay.
"Sorry," I murmured, blushing dark red. He smiled beautifully and went into the living room, stretching himself out on the whole length of the couch.
"We're going to have to get used to that again, aren't we?" he asked playfully. I grinned, just knowing he was staying around was good enough for me.
"Why didn't you come back, Bella?" he asked sadly after I had prepared a decent meal and set it into the oven.
I went back into the living room and sat in Charlie's armchair. He frowned and sat up, reaching over to pull me down to lie next to him. "It wasn't up to me," I whispered. Thinking about the time I had spent away from Edward was making me sad again. "Renée and Charlie had decided to have Charlie come visit me. Summer was virtually unbearable if I wasn't here..."
I felt his hold around my waist tighten. My lips unconciously formed a smile and my stomach wa turning over from all the butterflies inside.
"How is it going for you," I said as light-heartedly as possible. "You know, with the me smelling so edible and all that jazz." He laughed darkly and I saw him curling a lock of my hair around his finger.
"It was hard, in Biology especially," he began. "I wanted nothing more than to sweep you off your feet and leave just to have your for myself. Now, I think I'm starting to better... desensitize myself, like that summer." He paused for a moment, like he was trying to recollect happy memories. I turned to face him, and his golden eyes were smouldering my own.
"You have no idea," he began quietly. "How hard it was for me not to rip apart most of the boys in school. Their thoughts... ugh. Mike Newton hardly even remembers you. He just thinks you're pretty." His face was wrinkled in disgust. I was guessing by his expression that I was very much the opposite of pretty. If that was so, then was I kissing myself in coming here? I should've known better. Edward must be doing this just ot make me feel good, or as a bet like in one of those stupid teen movies. I always knew that he was far too good for me, I never deserved him.
But, Edward's face lightened and he grinned, leaning hi head down farther so that our noses were touching. "You are so much more than just pretty," he whispered. The color rose in my cheeks and he chuckled before softly brushing his lips against mine.
I heard a car door slam shut and both of our eyes shot open.
"I'm assuming it is much to soon for you to bring any friends home, especially one like me?" I nodded, my face grim. He smiled and kissed my cheek. "I'll see you later then." In a flash he was gone. I rushed into the kitchen, expecting to see a body shaped hole in the wall, like in cartoons. Charlie stumbled in the door when I turned off the timer on the oven.
"Bells!" he yelled. "I have a surprise!" I stuck my head around the corner and found myself staring at a big, full, evergreen tree."
"Oh! ...A tree..." I said, trying to sound impressed. It was only then that I realized there were no Christmas decorations out.
"Yeah!" Charlie's face appeared from behind the mass of needles. "I got off work early to cut it down!"
"You cut it down yourself?!" I was impressed. Charlie looked at me like I had missed something that was blatantly obvious. Or I was just really stupid.
"Yeah... what do you and Renée usually do? Buy one?"
"No," I replied. "We have a fake tree." Never, not once in my life had I had a real tree for Christmas. Charlie scoffed and hobbled into the living room. He lent the tree in a corner by the window and ten disappeared, coming back with boxes labeled 'christmas stuff'.
Charlie tied the tree to the wall and stood it up in its stand. He sat down and turned on a sports program while I tried to untangle a massive mess of lights. Charlie seemed impressed by my ability to string lights. I was too, seeing as it was my first time even attempting it. It was lucky for me that Charlie took good care of his. Half of Renée's were burnt out.
Charlie helped me hang ornaments, most of which were quite old and fragile. When everything was finished I was pleased by our genuine Christmas tree.
It was barely ten o'clock but I found myself anxious to go to bed. Edward had said he'd see me later. I could only hope that I'd be lucky enough to enjoy his company tonight, like I had years ago.
"I'm going to go to bed now, Dad," I said, quickly kissing him on the cheek. "I've got to get up early tomorrow!"
"Goodnight, Bells. Good job on the tree!" I grinned back to him as I climbed the stairs, maybe a little too quickly. I burst into the dark room, murmuring Edward's name over and over. I stumbled over and flicked on my bedside light, nearly screaming when I saw Edward sitting up in my bed. I jumped back and clutched my heart, he just smiled, sitting there like a supermodel; shirt rumpled, hair askew.
"Hello," he said in a husky voice after laughing at me a alightly. My heart was going a hundred miles per hour in my chest. "I missed you," he whispered as he stood up and walked over to me. I backed away, finding myself pressed against the open window. I had that sick feeling in my stomach, where you know you're falling but it feels worse than it actually is. Edward put his hands on either side of the sill beside me and leaned in, slowly.
Too slowly for me. I'd been without him for so long, now he was just teasing me. I leaned up on the tips of my toes to push my lips into his. He paused in surprise and then kissed me back, stronger than ever before.
A cool breeze blew in the window and onto my back. It was freezing cold and my body involuntarily arched against Edward's for warmth and I whimpered.
Edward froze. Our lips broke apart and he looked down to me. My body was crushed against his, I had folds of his shirt grabbed up in my hands. "You okay?" he asked quietly as he pushed the window closed behind me. I blushed and stared into his gorgeous golden eyes.
"I'm fine now," I whispered. Edwrd grinned and scooped me into his arms to sit in my rocking chair. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he cradled me close. "I think I missed this the most," I said after a while of staring at him.
"What was that?" he asked.
"Seeing you at night like this," I tucked my head into his shoulder.
"I missed hearing you talk in your sleep," he said, and I could hear him trying to hide the laughter on his voice. My stomach lurched and my face lost its color. I groaned and stood up, flopping down onto my bed.
"Aw, Bella honey, don't worry. You're so cute when you're like that." I blushed and dropped my hands over my face.
"Don't," he said quietly, pulling at my hands with his strong grip. "I haven't seen you in so long, don't make me wait any longer." I peeked at him through my fingers and saw him pouting at me. His eyes were dazzling and I was vaguely aware of my weakening strength, my hands being pinned down next to me. At the same time, I became incresingly aware of Edward stradling me, his knees on either side of my hips.
My eyes widened and I felt my face flush, again. Edward grinned and slowly bent down to press his cool lips to my neck. I smiled, trying to wait patiently for him to travel up my neck. Just before he kissed my cheek I turned my head, forcing him to 'accidentally' kiss my lips. The two of us laughed a little, but he never stopped and I kissed him back. He kissed the top of my nose and smiled down to me, his beautiful butterscotch eyes gazing down into mine. He lay down on top of me and rolled over, letting me lie on top of him. I gladly let my head fall to his neck and closed my eyes.
"I love you so much," I whispered to him. I could feel his smile and the vibrations of a small chuckle.
"I love you so much more," he said back.
"No..." I complained. "I love you more than anything. More than... my truck."
"I love you more than all the stars in the sky... more than every mile in space," he whispered dramatically. Deep.
I pushed my head up to look into his eyes. "Okay, you win," I said simply. He smiled, the victor. I stood up suddenly. "But I still love you more." He jumped up, ready to fight with me but I grabbed my pajamas and rushed out of the room, into the bathroom.
I went back in pulling at the tanlges in my hair. When I entered it was pitch black. Edward was curled up underneath the covers. I decided to leave the light off.
"Edward?" I asked, shaking his shoulder.
"Shh..." he mumbled. "I'm sleeping." I smiled at him though he couldn't see.
"Well move over a little please, I'm tired too." With that he shifted about an inch. I could see the enormous grin on his face. My sigh of frustration turned into a yawn of fatigue as I climbed in next to him. It was difficult, to say the least. I couldn't pus hhim at all and he hogged all of the covers. My back was pressed against his uncomfortably.
When I yawned a little louder Edward turned, moving over considerably and pulling me with him. He pushed the blankets warmly around me and held me tightly. I pushed away from him and turned over to wrap my arms around him. HIs chin rested on top of my hair.
"Sweet dreams," he whispered, kissing my forehead.
"Yeah, same to you."
I could hear a staticy sound in the background when I woke up. I squinted my eyes against the daylight. Edward was leaning against me and greeted me with a smile.
"Good mornin' beautiful," I said, closing my eyes again. I did not want to go to school.
"Listen," he replied. I tried to focus on the buzzing voices which were apparently coming from my radio.
"...Forks High will be closed for the remainder of the day. I bet the kids our there are pretty happy!" My eyes opened wide.
"Why is school closed?" I asked. Edward grinned knowingly.
"Look outside."
I got up and instantly grew very cold. I pushed away the curtains and found myself staring at white. The ground was covered in snow, mounds of it. The street must have been plowed before. It wasn't as build up as the rest. The snow was still falling down hard. I found my lips curling into a smile.
"School gets closed for snow?!" I asked, incredulous. Edward nodded and stood up next to me.
"Bet you don't hate snow now." I smiled. This was pretty cool. I'd never seen any weather as bad as this before.
"Now what?" He seemed to pause to think.
"We can do whatever we want today, no school , no homework." I grinned and left the room. "Where are you going?" he called.
"I'm making breakfast!" I yelled. Edward was in the kitchen before me.
"What are you making?" he asked innocently. It reminded me of a little boy towards his mother. I shrugged. "Can I help?"
"Can you cook?" Edward frowned.
"No... but I can try!" He looked at me so hopefully that it nearly broke my heart. My lip quivered. He looked so cute!
"Okay! You can help. Beat some eggs for me." I turned to put oil in the pan and when I turned back around, Edward was handing me a bowl of scrambled eggs. The frying pan was nowhere near hot.
"I-I think I can take it from here," I said quietly. He just laughed and went into the living room to turn on the television. I finished my french toast listening to the trivial conversations of lead characters in God knows what he was watching. I was flicking the toast onto my plate when I heard something behind me.
"You're actually going to eat that?" he asked. I jumped and spun around, baring my spatula in self defence.
"Of course! It's yummy!" I smiled at him and he couldn't help but smile back at me. "It's my favourite food." He grimaced at the egg soaked bread that had cooked a lovely golden brown and was now sitting greasily on my plate. "What's yours?" I asked. His expression turned blank.
"Mountain lion," he murmured, walking away from me. I grinned and quickly kissed his cheek before I smothered my breakfast in syrup.
"Where did I get you?" he asked. I knew he wasn't expecting an answer.
"A secondhand store," I said matter-of-factly. I heard him laugh and then felt his cool breath on my neck.
"You, my dear, are one of a kind. Much too good for a secondhand store." His breath on my ear sent shivers down my spine.
Edward and I sat in the living room. He watched the forecast while I stared out the widow, fascinated by the weather and shoving vast amounts of french toast into my mouth. The snow was lessening a little, there was still a lot piled up in the nearly empty driveway.
I got up and dropped my dishes in the sink. I could feel Edwards eyes watching me as I climbed over the stairs. I came back shortly after to see him staring up at me. I'd changed into a pair of jeans and a heavy knit sweater.
"And what are you planning on doing?" he asked curiously. I smiled and pushed past him. I was pulling on my coat and boots when he came up to me again.
"I've got to shovel the snow!" I said innocently. Edward rolled his eyes and put on his jacket as well. I pulled on a hat that reached my eyebrows and threw a pair of mittens at him.
"You don't want to catch cold!" he grimaced and put them on anyway.
He looked absolutely adorable with mittens, especially when he stuck his hands out for me to tuck them into his jacket. There were two shovels outside the door. One big, one small. IT was still snowing and bone-chillingly cold. Edward grabbed the largest shovel and jumped off the front steps, falling into a seoft bed of snow.
"I'll start out front, you start here and we'll meet in the middle," he called as he pushed his way out.
Scraping off the front steps wassn't so bad. Especially for my first time in snow. When I reached the driveway I had to take small scoops of snow for the large amout that was there. I looked up and Edward was nearly halfway down the driveway, throwing piles of snow over his shoulder like it was nothing.
I decided to try something I'd seen in many an afterschool special. I quietly set down the shovel and kept my eyes fixed on Edward (which wasn't hard to not do). I bent down and scooped up a handful of the wet stuff, moulding it into a perfect ball. I watched as Edward continued to grow closer to me. I took aim and threw as hard as I could. Oh please, don't let it miss and make me look like a fool. I'd probably say some lame excuse like; Whoo, I guess its snowing harder now! I was amazed to watch it hit Edward directly on his head. I let out a loud laugh and picked up my shovel, quickly pretending to be working again.
Edward froze as soon as I'd hit him. I tried my hardest not to laugh but I couldn't help it. I was nearly doubled over, clutching my stomach in pain from laughing at him. He looked up slowly, that crooked smile displayed on his lips. He dropped his shovel and I immediately stopped laughing. He was going to do something, and I knew I was going to be on the receiveing end of it.
I ran, more like hopped, through the snow into the backyard. I was laughing so hard again I was almost screaming. I could hear Edward running up behind me, but Ididn't care. I kept going. I was up to my thighs in snow, barely wading through it.
In about two seconds flat I was flying through the air, landing on my back in the snow. Edward was next to me, laughing loudly. I tried to sit up but the weight of my jacket and all the snow wouldn't let me. Instead I looked to Edward. He was still laughing, rolling from side to side.
I turned onto my side and grinned at him. I threw my hat in the air, completely aware of how my hair was standing on end. But, I closed my eyes and kissed him instead of worrying about it. He rolled me over and stood up, walking towards the half unshoveled driveway. I sighed loudly and flailed my arms and legs, a tired attempt to make a first snow angel.
"Help me!" I yelled to Edward. I couldn't get up and I didn't want to ruin a potentially perfect angel. He rushed back over to me and pulled me swiftly to my feet. We looked at my not-so perfect but rather deformed angel and smiled before stumbling back to the driveway.
Edward finished the rest while I supervised. Entering the house again, we realized how wet we'd gotten. Edward and I hung up out coats in the shower and left the mitten and boots on a heater. I ran upstairs to quickly change my clothes.
"Oh, your shirt is completely soakened," I said. "And your pants..."
"I'm sorry," he said playfully. I smiled.
"You can't sit in wet clothes," I mumbled.
"Bella, it's not like I'm going to catch cold," he disagreed. "I could go home and change, I guess."
"But I don't want you to leave!" I retorted. He grinned.
"And I don't want to go. How about we just let my shirt dry out?" I threw a towel at him.
"You better cover up, mister! I don't want you parading around here!" he laughed and turned around, quickly pulling the blue shirt over his head. My eyes nearly popped out of my face. His body was perfectly toned and I could not take my eyes off him. I thought it strange I'd never noticed before. He ruffled his wet hair with the towel and then draped it over his shoulders. He took my hand and we went back downstairs, watching movies the rest of the afternoon. The snow lessened but didn't stop.
Charlie came home early again. Lucky me, Edawrd had left to change. Charlie was impressed with my supposed one-man-driveway-shoveling-act. I let him believe what he wanted.
When the time was right I said goodnight and hurried up the stairs. I quickly slipped into my pajamas while Edward wasn't around and slipped into bed. I assumed there would be school again tomorrow, but I couldn't care less. As long as Edward was there, I'd go anywhere.
I heard my window opening and looked over to see him climbing in, snow clinging onto his perfect hair.
"Oh!" he said when he saw me. "You're looking awfully nice this evening!" I smiled and patted the spot on the bed next to me. Edward lay there, flicking off the lights. I immediately felt sleepy in the dark.
"Bella?" Edward asked gently. "There's a dance tomorrow night... would you go with me, please? It's just to celebrate the Christmas holidays."
"Umm... I can't dance," I said simply. It was the truth. I would probably kill him. "And I don't have anything to wear."
"Alice does, and I can dance," he said. I sighed. I was much too tired to fight with him.
"Okay."
A/N: BAM! How was that??!! yeah. I thought it was whoa long... :S I'm liking the whole, I've got everything written by hand so now I don't have to think too much deal. haha.
I hope you like it! And there WILL be dancin' in the next chapitre. Thats french for chapter! I'm very tired as I'm up late to do this for you all and I may be developing carpal tunnel, but definately developing a cold. Theres preview pictures of Bella and Alice's dresses in my profile where lots of Bella's other clothes are because I'm a dork and liked them lots :3
I'm very tired but I'd like to sat that you all should check out BroodyBrathan23's fic "When we Meet and Collide". It's really interesting, and it's got a refreshing take on things.
Now, If you'll excuse me, I'm going to bed 3 (my bum hurst from sitting here writing, and I jsut finished babysitting:C)
I hope to have an update for you soon! tomorrow, maybe. By wednesday definately. One exam down, four to go.
Review!