Story Notes: This story has been accepted over at Twilighted. Feel free to check it out - ht tp:/ /twilighted. net/ viewstory. php? sid= 14971 (delete spaces)
Thanks to: Lulabelle98 for being such a superb beta!
Chapter 2 – Apple Blossom
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"Bella?" I called out. No answer. I tried again. Still no answer.
Sitting down against the oak tree, I began to wonder what in the world could have happened. I was only gone for a brief moment and she's disappeared. Could she have left after I did? When will she be back then? Raking my hand through my hair, I pondered on what I could do now. I was surrounded by flowers, an endless expanse of flowers. What's there to do in a meadow by yourself?
It was then that my brain conjured up an image of the mysterious person I met. She really was a beautiful girl. Her eyes held the curiosity of a toddler and the courage of a lioness, yet I know she was hiding something. I'm not exactly sure how I know, but something about her actions were…peculiar. In fact, this place was very peculiar itself.
"Do you always space out like this?" I snapped out of my thoughts and stared at the person in front of me. Bella.
"No, I don't." I patted the vacant space next to me before she sat herself down. "I didn't hear you."
She frowned. "I called your name several times."
Did she? Well, at least she remembers my name.
"Oh. Sorry then."
"Did you wait long?" She picked up a dandelion, and twirled it between her fingers.
"Not long." Getting up, she closed her eyes and blew on the white flower, just as a small breeze came and carried the little seeds away to an unknown destination. She turned to look at me, her eyes dancing.
"Do you know that if you can't see a wishing star you can pick a dandelion and make a wish on it instead?" I shook my head. "Want to know why?" She continued without waiting for my answer, "It's because when you wish, the seeds fly in different directions, carrying what you desire, and taking it all over the place until someone can grant it." She looked at the vast space in front of her, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear in the process. "Someone told me that, and I've been doing it ever since."
I didn't know what to say so I stayed quiet. Finally, I spoke after several seconds. "What did you wish for?"
She smirked at me, though it seemed a little bit forced. "That's for me to know and for you to find out."
Smiling, I asked, "What can you do here?" She sat down again before answering.
"Basically nothing. Most of the time I pick flowers and play with them."
"You sing too, huh?" Her eyes widened and I laughed. "I heard you, before I left a few minutes ago," I explained.
She squinted, remembering before grinning. "Come on, I'll show you something special." She ran and I followed suit.
Our surroundings blurred and I barely heard the crunch of the flowers we ran on. I was not sure how far or for how long we ran, but I never got tired. Catching up to Bella, I gave her a swift crooked grin before overtaking her. I heard her laugh, a small tinkle of wonderful melody. Then she stopped.
"We're here!" she called out to me, making me stop.
We were surrounded by trees. The trees didn't hold a single green leaf, but instead, it was full of a brown and red mixture. The ground was covered in brown, red, and some were an orange color. It seemed like it was autumn.
"Cool, huh?" I was stunned. "It's fall," she explained while catching her breath. "My favorite season of all." She fell to the crunchy leaves below our feet and began making a leaf angel.
"You're really just like a child." I laughed. Getting up, she pouted, which made her unbelievably cute, before showing me her pearly, white teeth.
"So what if I am? Isn't that a good thing?" She ran in circles, with me in the middle, laughing. "I can be like Peter Pan!" Before she could become dazed, I grabbed her.
She giggled.
"Bella?"
"Yes?"
"Tell me more about the meadow." Her gaze at me made shivers run throughout my body. I tried to be discreet about it. She stepped out of my clutch and grabbed some leaves.
"I'm not sure what to say, Edward," she started. "Even though I've been here before you have, I, too don't know much about this place. All I know is that most of this is a meadow, though there are times when trees just randomly appear where you run." Crouching down, she dropped the leaves and began to search for something. "All there is in this place, aside from the trees and sometimes snow, are the golden gates, the big oak tree, and a well."
"A well?" I asked, surprised. She looked up at me and nodded slowly.
"But I've never been where it is. I've only ever seen it from far away. I tried, you know, the first time I saw it, to go to where it was, but I could never quite reach it. I'm not exactly sure why."
"Can you show me where it is?"
"What for?"
I shrugged. "I'm curious."
"It's best not to," she advised. As she stood up, she grabbed a handful of leaves and pushed it in front of my face. "Smell."
Puzzled, I did as I was told.
"What does it smell like?"
I sniffed again.
"Cinnamon?" She threw her hands up in the air, letting the leaves slowly fall to the others.
"Someone once told me that when you catch the scent of cinnamon on fallen leaves, it means that you have a great sense of smell and you will 'smell' your life partner." I laughed, but stopped when she looked at me with a hurt expression.
"Sorry. It just seemed like this person is very-"
"Superstitious? Odd? A dreamer?" she finished. Her laughter filled the air. "It's all right. I suppose she is a bit strange."
"Who is she anyway?" For a second, she froze, but I'd probably imagined it as she grinned at me without skipping a beat.
"Do you really want to know or are you just making small talk?"
"I really," I stepped closer to her, "Want to know." Our noses were almost touching.
She whispered, "Je promets de vous dire à temps."
"What?"
Stepping back, she dropped the leaves and smiled shyly at me. "I promise to tell you in time."
I laughed.
"Very secretive." She giggled. "Will you really tell me or are you just saying that?"
"Are you asking me that question because you really want to know or are you just testing me?"
"Touché."
We dropped the subject, and I had a feeling that she wasn't going to say anything further about the topic. I came up with the idea of playing tag, a childish yet fun game, after we finished making leaf angels everywhere. She was hesitant at first, but agreed after I said I would be the chaser. We weren't sure how long we played it for, but we never tired. Our energy was never drained from our bodies, nor did we become dehydrated or hungry.
The meadow was really an odd destination. Its main function was something I was confused about. Was this place created for just Bella and I or was it us that was trespassing on someone else's land? How on earth could we not have any idea of what we had done before entering this sanctuary?
Vaguely, I can recall a hazy memory of a book and its main topic. I think it was stated that there is a place where souls who are ready to be sent up – up meaning Heaven – must wait for a short amount of time in a place called purgatory.
Was it possible that Bella and I were dead, and currently waiting to be placed in Heaven?
So many questions yet answers are rarely given.
"Goodbye," Bella said, surprising me. I looked towards my body and saw it fading.
"I'll come back soon. I promise."
She smiled.
"I'd like that," was the last thing I heard.
[x]-[x]-[x]-[x]-[x]-[x]-[x]-[x]-[x]
Bella's POV
He was gone. I was alone, again.
Sighing, I walked back towards the oak tree. It was still visible to my eyes, so I knew it wouldn't take me long to reach it. As I got closer and closer, I could see my basket nestled against the roots. I smiled, ruefully.
Even if Edward had magically showed up, it didn't mean I'm allowed to wander off from my responsibility. My responsibility was plucking flowers that are ready and making a bouquet before placing it, as near as I could get, to the well. It's not exactly my obligation, but it had become my daily routine before Edward entered the scenery.
You are not alone.
I ignored the voice as I picked up the basket and began wandering around, looking for flowers that were ready. Minutes, or perhaps seconds, later, I finished selecting the plants for the bouquet. After making the assortment of flowers, I decided to make a flower crown to wear. It wasn't long before I finished the floral crown that contained baby's breath and apple blossom.
I put it on my head, and was satisfied that it didn't fall apart like it had previously. It was then, when I had started to walk to the well, that I remembered Edward's question.
"Who is she anyway?" She. She is someone very important to me. At least, that's what I wanted to say but couldn't, or maybe, didn't want to. The mere thought of saying her name aloud would have broken the dam I had built up. Crying in front of Edward was the last thing I wanted to do. Besides, it wasn't his business to know anyway.
"Je promets de vous dire à temps."
I groaned. Why did I have to promise I will tell him?
It's for the best.
Unlikely. I would rather not cry. I was tired of crying. Besides, he might not even care. It wasn't his business after all.
You never know.
I became silent as I approached the well, standing a few feet away from it. Taking the bouquet from my basket I placed it on the ground as a small breeze passed by.
I'll see you soon.
Hearing the tingle of the familiar melody, I didn't need to look at my body to know it was time for me to leave as well. Normally I wouldn't mind leaving but this time I wished I didn't have to. I didn't want Edward to arrive before I did, but I knew I had no choice.
"Goodbye," I whispered to the air.
Just before the light embraced me, I thought of Edward.
So? Did you like it...hate it...enjoyed it? Lemme know by reviewing!
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Next update should be...two weeks from now.
xx
Antevorte