Hey guys, just as an early warning, there's a really suuuuuper long flashback in here, and it might get a little bit confusing, but just bear with it.
A special thanks goes to Twilgiht-obsessed-2 for being my only reviewer. So guys, if you want the chapters up faster, review and tell me how you like it or what you really want in it and I'll see if I can fit it in.
Hope you enjoy it!!! :D
Edward, Edward, Edward.
That was the only thing on my mind as I started unloading my stuff from the plane. In fact, I was so preoccupied that I tripped going through the walkway, almost falling on my face before catching myself.
I heard a few chuckles from behind me and I felt my face growing hot. Why did I have to be so clumsy? I'd almost gotten kicked out of school twice for being so careless. Once, I'd even accidentally knocked bowl of oil into an open flame, almost burning down the entire kitchen. We had to evacuate and couldn't go back in for a week. Now I was known as 'that clumsy girl,' or 'the girl that got us out of school for a week.' I think only two people in the whole school, including my teachers, knew my real name.
Angela Weber and I had met on the first day. Or really, I guess we had collided on the first day. I was running late and had my head down, watching my treacherous feet, and I didn't notice her walking towards me, so we had run head first into each other, books and papers flying everywhere. After that embarrassing meeting, I realized that we had most of the same classes together. Angela was really sweet and didn't gossip and never pushed me for information about anything. It was nice. Recently Angela had started dating this really sweet guy, Ben Cheney. He was as short as Angela was tall, and they made an adorable couple. Ben was also really lovable, and I could see that he was falling for Angela.
I sighed as I thought about Angela and Ben. I was going to miss them, but I had promised to stay in touch. Still, no matter how much I liked Angela and Ben, and how much I would miss them, I had missed Edward so much more.
Edward who stole the breath from lungs. Edward who was more god than man. Edward with his gorgeous sex hair and mossy green eyes. Although I'd never told him, his eyes were my favorite part about him. They weren't that fake emerald green of contact lenses, and they weren't a muddy green-gray like a swamp. They were right in between. His eyes made me think of moss growing up a young oak tree, of soft grass running through my toes, of leaves caressing my face gently as they blew past.
I sighed softly, catching myself as I stumbled for the umpteenth time. I could feel eyes on me as I walked towards Terminal C with my baggage. I wondered what they were all staring at.
Did I have toilet paper on my shoe?
No.
Was my shirt inside out?
Negatory.
Did I do something weird, like putting my underwear on over my pants?
Nope.
Then what the hell were they all staring at? I wasn't interesting at all. All I could see was brown and white. Boring brown eyes, boring brown hair, boring albino-like skin. I was just some regular girl, standing in a sea of stranger's faces, looking for the one that I knew and loved. And I knew that was one of the reasons I loved him so much. When I was around him, he made me feel special, like I was important to him; like I meant something to him.
Don't get the wrong impression; I'm not an emo-bitch who thinks her life sucks and believes that no ones loves her and that the evil leprechauns will get her in the night and take her to their club where they have gay orgies. No, I'm not like that. Except for the leprechaun thing. But that was only once and totally not my fault. I blame Edward and copious amounts of vodka.
No, I mean, I love people. And that seems to be my one big problem. I love people too easily, too readily. I can't hold a grudge worth anything and it's almost completely impossible for me to get pissed off at someone.
When I'm around Edward, I didn't have to worry about what I said or how I acted because he was always there for me. I could call him if something especially bad happened at school and he would threaten to come down and beat every guy that harassed me with his piano. It was reassuring, but also very funny. And he always told me I looked beautiful, even when I spent the night with Alice and he saw me with my morning rat's nest of hair. In fact, that's kind of how it was the first day I knew for sure that I loved him.
(Here's another flashback. Hopefully it'll be better than the first one, and it's a LOT longer)
I can remember everything that happened the day I realized I loved him. I had just had a dream about something, but I couldn't, for the life of me, remember what it was. I lay in bed for almost thirty minutes, trying to figure out what it was that was nagging at me so badly. I huffed, frustrated that I couldn't remember and went downstairs, following the delectable scent of freshly made coffee.
When I walked in the kitchen, I was greeted with the sight of Edward, bending down to pick something up off the ground.
Mmm, he had a great ass.
Edward straightened back up and reached towards the ceiling, stretching. Did he want me to jump his bones in the kitchen? 'Cause I was about to.
I coughed a little, so he knew I was there, and he turned around, giving me a half-smile, and handing me a cup of coffee.
"Well good morning beautiful." He said, and I could feel a blush spreading across my cheeks. To distract myself, I breathed deeply, letting the delicious aroma settle around me until I took a sip.
Black, two sugars, just the way I liked it. I smiled at him, and he cocked his head to the side as if asking me why I was smiling.
"It's just the way I like it." I said, taking another sip.
"Of course." He shrugged like it was no big deal, but it was a big deal to me. Even Alice didn't remember what kind of coffee I drank. She just poured a bunch of creamer and sugar in mine, like she drank hers.
We stood in companionable silence for a while just sipping our coffee, when I came to a realization.
Maybe it was dumb to realize this in the kitchen, while drinking coffee right beside him, but still, I had no control over it.
I was in love with this amazing guy who remembered what kind of coffee I drank and complimented me, even when I knew I looked like crap.
He was my best friend, second only to Alice.
I had never absolutely no idea what to say.
So many thoughts were running through my head that I just froze on the spot, letting my mind run rampant while I kept my muscles locked.
When I finally had control over my body, I managed to stammer out, "Um…thanks for the coffee Edward." I then proceeded to walk out of the room, trying to look natural, but probably looking like I was constipated or had a stick up my ass.
When I deemed I was out of earshot of the kitchen, I sprinted up the stairs, stumbling only twice. I raced to Alice's room, threw the door open, then immediately turned around and slammed it shut at the horrific, nightmare inducing scene on the other side.
I clawed at my eyes, trying to get the image that would forever be burned into my retinas out of my head. Alice and Jasper were tangled up in the sheets together. I knew they had sex but for God's sake, couldn't she lock the damn door?
"Alice?" I called through the door. "Could you wake up please? I really need to talk to you about something."
I heard her high pitched grumbling on the other side of the door, and I tried desperately to think of something besides a barely covered Alice and butt naked Jasper. Emphasis on butt. Although Jasper's butt did look pretty good, I'm sure it had nothing on Edwards…
I tried to get that image out of my head before I started drooling by singing under my breath the words to Hotel California, one of my favorite songs by the Eagles.
"Hotel California Bella?" Oh shit. "I didn't know you liked the Eagles."
I gulped and turned around and there he was in all his glory; too tight t-shirt, low-slung flannel pajama pants that I constantly made fun of even though they looked fucking sexy on him. His hair was in complete disarray, the way I liked it best and his gorgeous green eyes were full of humor and interest and intensity.
I felt my heart stop and then sputter back to life as I gasped weakly. Instantly, Edward took a step towards me, his eyes now showing me nothing but concern and, still, that same intensity.
"Bella, are you all right?" His voice was deep and laced with worry.
God, he was so hot.
"Uh," I said oh-so coherently. "Yeah, I'm fine, just a little bit of vertigo. Plus, I think I'm still in shock after seeing Alice and Jasper…" I shuddered and he chuckled, his voice sounding low and rough and…sexy.
"You didn't catch them in the act, did you?"
I stared at him in horror.
"No! No, of course not! I just…well…I walked in and they were still asleep and I saw Jasper…naked."
He laughed again at my horrified expression.
"Well, I've seen worse. Let me just say that they decided they wanted to do it in my room…without telling me. That's definitely not something I'll forget anytime soon, although I wish I could."
I stared at him incredulously and he raised an eyebrow comically, then I was laughing and laughing and I couldn't stop because it was hysterical and he was laughing too and then he was leaning up against me, and all I could feel was him, all heat and skin and muscle and we were laughing together and I couldn't breathe at all.
When Alice came out of her room with an annoyed expression on her face, I couldn't help but laugh harder, if that was even possible. Now Edward and I were leaning against each other, helping one another stand, as if drunk, until I finally collapsed, bringing Edward down with me.
When we fell, Edward twisted quickly, still laughing, so that he would land under me. What a gentlemen. Then I had my head on his chest and I could feel his laughter now and it was vibrating through my body and it was the best feeling in the world.
I don't know how long we stayed like that, or how long Alice watched us before she stormed off, but after a while, our laughs stopped racking through us, and only an occasional giggle or chuckle would pop out unbidden.
I sighed and sat up reluctantly. His smell was overwhelming me; it was like woods and coffee and something incredibly sweet and just Edward, and it smelled so good that I wanted to lick him and see if he tasted as good as he smelled.
So instead of embarrassing myself past the point of no return, I moved away from him and leaned my head against the wall. I heard a rustling sound and looked over to see Edward scooting towards me, leaning back against the wall right beside me.
I could still feel a smile on my lips because, really, it was nearly impossible to be nervous and self-conscious around Edward.
I was staring off into space, contemplating whether or not friends were allowed to lick each other, when I felt a finger under my chin.
Edward turned my face towards his and I saw the half-smile that I was absolutely addicted to.
My train of thought was immediately de-railed as soon as I looked him in the eyes. Beautiful and sparkling, like a jungle, like a rainforest, they hypnotized me, made me want to kiss him and lick him and just be close to him.
He leaned forward, so close I could feel his breath on my lips.
"What are you thinking Bella?" he whispered staring at me with an intensity that could set my clothes on fire.
It didn't look like he was going to let me answer because he leaned forward even more, just a hairsbreadth away from me. Then, ever so lightly, I felt his lips press into mine and I felt this incredible shock go from my lips down to the tips of toes and my eyes opened wide in surprise and his were open too and he was gorgeous and I wanted to—"BELLA!"
I jerked away from him, my breathing fast and shallow, my cheeks stained red with a blush. I stared at Edward and he was the same, his chest rising and falling quickly, a tiny bit of pink on his cheekbones. The strange tingling sensation was still there, not as strong, but still there all the same. I wanted to touch his face more than ever right then, to feel those soft lips, to trace his eyebrows, to rub the blush off his cheeks.
"Bella, why did you wake me—Oh!" She must have gotten back from wherever she was and had just seen us, still staring at each other, still too close to be just talking. She smiled brightly and winked at me. Godammit.
"I'll just leave you two alone then." She grinned knowingly at me and I had to suppress a groan.
"Actually Alice, I really need to talk to you about something."
She looked disappointed for a second before she smiled at me cheerfully.
"Sure, come on Bella."
I was contemplating crawling up the wall to stand, because I was pretty sure my legs wouldn't support me, when I felt strong arms around my waist. I think I almost fainted. Edward wound his arms around me and hoisted me across his shoulder, like I weighed nothing, which, believe, me, I didn't.
I laughed at him and kicked him and cursed him but he didn't put me down, so I stopped struggling. He carried me to Alice's room and plopped me down on her bed. I was still dizzy from our not-quite-kiss and maybe it was just my imagination, but I thought I felt his lips press gently on my forehead.
Then he was gone, and all that was left was his delicious smell. I remembered the feel of his lips on mine, and I licked them, and oh my God, his taste! If Ben & Jerry ever made an Edward ice-cream flavor, that shit would be the only thing in my freezer.
And now I sounded like an obsessed stalker. Which I'm not. Well…define stalker and I'll tell you whether I am or not.
Alice walked in a few seconds later, that stupid smug knowing smile still there and I wanted to slap it off her. Stupid Alice and her stupid sexcapades with Jasper, making me go blind, and her stupid interrupting me and Edward when I was about to make out with him. I muttered to myself under my breath, calling her every bad name and in every language I knew how. I must say, it wasn't very good.
Alice trilled a laugh and I narrowed my eyes at her, giving her the death glare, but the stupid pixie was immune to it. She laughed again.
Dammit, why was everyone laughing at me today? First Edward, now Alice, who next—Jasper? Actually, it would probably be Emmett, but at least I was used to that.
"Sooo," Alice started, obviously trying to get me to explain what she had seen.
"I don't want to talk about Alice," I snapped at her, more harshly than I intended. Her small face fell a bit and she looked away, biting her lip. I sighed. I can't stay mad at Alice for long. She was so full of energy that when she wasn't bouncing around or talking a mile a minute, I felt bad, even if it wasn't my fault, because I was her best friend and I was supposed to keep her happy.
"I'm sorry Alice," I said gently. "It's just; I don't know what the hell is going on lately. I mean, with Edward and I just…um…well…I think I might be…"
Alice stared at me with he mouth hanging open, then she yelled at the top of her lungs, "PREGNANT!?!?!?!"
What the hell!? How did she get that from…oh.
I shook my head at her.
"No Alice, I'm not pregnant, I haven't even had sex yet for God's sake."
She looked at me incredulously.
"You haven't?"
"No, of course not."
"Oh, um, well, I thought you and Edward were…you know…"
My eyes opened wide and I shook my head furiously.
"No but, uh, I did want to talk about him with you."
She nodded her head, looking relieved that I wasn't pregnant. Crazy Alice.
"Ok…um… well… I don't really know how to say this but…uh…I think that I'm…um…in love with Edward." I said the last part really quickly, getting it over with.
I looked up and saw Alice smiling the most devilish grin that I had ever seen on her face. This couldn't be good. Usually when Alice smiled like that at me, it involved shopping, lingerie and copious amounts of money. I shuddered at just the thought.
"I KNEW IT!" Alice shrieked at me, jumping up from the bed and grabbing my hands, bouncing up and down like a damn jackhammer.
"Ohmygod Bella! I knew you two were perfect for each other the minute I saw you! And I told Edward, I told him 'you're gonna fall in love with Bella, you know that right?' and he just shrugged but I knew you'd end up together! Oh Bella, this is so romantic. Now everyone has someone else and we're all in love and I really need to buy you some new clothes so Edward's eyes will pop out of his head the next time he sees you. We can go to Victoria's Secret and get you a new bra, which you are in desperate need of, and I know a bunch of good stores and Bella, it'll be so much fun!"
I honestly don't know how she can say that much in one breath and in such a high-pitched squeal, but she's Alice, so I wasn't all that surprised.
"Alice, calm down. Edward and I aren't together." Yet, I mentally added in my head.
Her face dropped again and she sighed.
"You haven't told him yet, have you?"
I shook my head grimly, knowing that I didn't have to courage to tell him. I'm such a big wimp.
"Well then what was with you two out in the hall?"
"Alice, I honestly don't know. One second we were laughing our asses off at you and Jasper's sexcapades, and the next second he was almost kissing me."
I glared at her as I said the last part, to remind her that she was the one who interrupted us. She smiled at me apologetically, and I relented, because I'm just a big softie like that.
"Don't worry Bella, we'll figure something out."
That's why I love Alice so much. She can be a bundle of energy and an unstoppable force when shopping, but she also cares about me and loves me and will help me whenever I need.
"Thanks Alice." I could feel my eyes tearing up, whether at the fact that Edward and I weren't going out, or at Alice's promise of help. Alice got up and gave me a great big hug for someone so small and I sniffed and wiped away my tears.
I love my friends.
*End flashback* (phew, that one took awhile :D)
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
I was startled out of reverie by my phone vibrating in my pocket. I took it out, looked at the caller ID, and felt my heart beat speed up.
"Hello?" I asked, even though I knew exactly who it was.
"Bella?" Well no shit.
"Who else dumbass?" I retorted. I heard him chuckle and I couldn't help but smile in response, even if he couldn't see it.
I glanced around once, trying to see where the exit was, and froze when I saw his all too familiar shock of bronze hair. It was easy to spot him, even in this crowd. He was taller than most of the guys, and his hair gave him a couple extra inches of height. Even from the back, it looked like his shoulders had gotten broader and his waist smaller, his arms more muscular, his legs longer. I swear, I think I was drooling and I hadn't even seen his face yet.
"Well, now that I know that you ARE Bella…"
Damn, I had forgotten he was on the phone. Oh, I have an idea. Hehe, this will be funny.
"Spit it out Edward." I said, trying to keep from laughing.
"I'm in Terminal C but I don't see you anywhere. Could you tell me where you are?"
Quietly, so he wouldn't hear me, I snuck up behind him until I was only a few feet away. I could barely breathe. This was the closest I'd been to him in three years, four months, and seventeen days. Not that I was counting or anything.
Finally, deciding that I couldn't wait any longer to see him, I screamed right behind him, "I'M RIGHT HERE!"
It was probably one of the funniest things I had ever seen. He jumped almost three feet in the air and turned around fast, his head whipping towards me. I would have been worried about whiplash had I not been so freaking happy.
There he was, the most gorgeous, nice, caring, funny, amazing guy in the whole entire world and he was looking at me like I was the only woman on the planet and I felt like flying. A huge grin broke out across my face, and I could see his eyes light up. Then he did something that I really didn't expect.
He sprinted towards me, a look of pure joy on his face and he yelled, "BELLA!" before picking me up and twirling me around like you always see in those cheesy romance movies. But this wasn't cheesy at all. This was fantastic and wonderful and I didn't want him to put me down ever. But of course, he's only so strong, so after too short a time, he stopped spinning me around and put me down. I was dizzy and happy and—dare I say?—giddy.
He hugged me to his body and, even through the layers of clothes, I could feel his warmth and I didn't want to be anywhere else in the world because this one moment was so perfect.
I pushed my face into his chest and could smell his mouthwatering Edward-smell and I, once again, wanted to lick him. Man, I am such a freak.
I pulled back from him, and could feel my cheeks blushing. Damn you cheeks, I thought to myself, why must you betray me like this?
Edward looked a little hurt when I looked up at him, and that just tore at my heart, but I couldn't very well tell him, 'Hey Edward, I had to pull away because you smell so delicious and I want to lick you and see if you taste as good as smell'?
Um, no. I'd rather not be sent to the loony bin, thanks.
Suddenly, I felt what must have been all the eyes in the Terminal on us. We must have made a big scene.
Ah, the perfect excuse.
I stood on my tiptoes and leaned in towards his ear.
"Everyone's looking at us," I whispered in his ear. When I let out my breath, I saw him shiver slightly. Which made me want to do something else to make him shiver.
Dammit Bella, you're in the middle of an airport Terminal. What are you gonna do, rape him in the bathroom? I thought to myself a moment, pondering the pros and cons of rape and wondering if I could actually pull it off.
Oh my god, I just considered raping Edward. That just shows you how desperate I am.
Suddenly, I noticed how very close he had gotten. How hot his breath on my face was. How his eyes had bits of gold in them. How he had the tiniest bit of stubble on his face. How a lock of hair had fallen in front of one of his eyes. How he had a teeny tiny mole at inside the corner of his right eye.
He leaned in even closer, and I held my breath, praying that he would kiss me. He could do anything he wanted to me—hell, he could even take me in an airport bathroom, I didn't give a damn—and I would willingly comply, if he would Just.
Kiss.
Me.
His gorgeous face loomed closer, until he was all I could see. My breathing was ragged and my heart was beating a mile a minute.
Then he leaned down and…kissed me on the cheek. A sweet chaste kiss that a brother gives his sister when he hasn't seen her in a while.
I felt my face turn into a mask of disappointment, but quickly tried to fix it, thinking that maybe, just maybe, his lips had lingered a little longer than they should have.
But really, it didn't matter, because he was here now and even if he didn't love me, I loved him and everything would be OK as long as he was here with me. I felt my throat start closing, and I managed to say, "Edward, I've missed you," before I started sobbing into his shirt.
God, I'm such a damn crybaby.
I felt Edward hesitate for a second, then, slowly, his arms cam around me and I felt his cheek press into my hair. I could feel the electricity zinging through my body and it was amazing.
"Shh, it's all right," he said comfortingly. "I'm here now." He hesitated for a second before he continued.
"I've missed you Bella. You have no idea how much I've missed you."
I couldn't breathe for a second. Although there was no possible way that he had missed me as much as I had missed him, it still lifted my spirits, just knowing that he, in fact, had missed me.
I looked up from his chest and smiled at him shyly.
I was so in love with this man it was scary.
*whistling innocently*
OK, I know that this didn't really get us anywhere, but I really wanted to do the flashback from Bella's POV. And sorry about how long it is. In fact, this is the longest chapter in all of my stories. GO ME! :D
Any-who, please review and tell me what you think; whether you liked Bella's POV, or how many grammatical errors there are (and I'm sure there are a lot. I don't have a beta yet :( *hint hint), or if you think I'm a horrible fanfiction writer and shoulder go die in a ditch somewhere, please tell me. I really do want to know. Soooo, thanks for reading, and REVIEW!!!! :D
