I do not own The Twilight Saga and its characters!
In this story, the odds are stacked against Edward and Bella. They must prove to each other and to themselves that their love is real and true by fighting for it.
This story is based on the lyrics of the famous song "Love Story."
Remember: This chapter is still in the past.
Enjoy!
LOVE STORY: CHAPTER 4
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes is my pixie best friend wearing a hot pink pair of pajamas and my other to-be-envied-because-she-looks-like-a-freaking-super-model best friend. The appearance of these two tag team girls very early in the morning signals a calamity more dangerous than the most destructive one ever recorded in history. I already knew what they have planned for me this morning. This is going to be torture.
Couldn't a girl get a break?
"Bella, get up! We have so much to talk about and do today," exclaimed that annoying, though sometimes very helpful, little pixie. I swear it's as if she never runs out of energy.
"Good morning to you, too, Alice," I manage to say.
"Oh, give her a few minutes to breathe, Alice. She's not going anywhere and we have time," my other best friend said, somewhere from my left.
I looked over and saw that she was also wearing matching pajamas, like Alice. Today is going to be an interesting all-day-matching-pajamas slumber party – which I wasn't informed of.
"Thanks, Rosalie. You're a life-saver," I mumbled.
Rosalie Lillian Hale is the other one of my two best friends. However, unlike Alice, we didn't hit it off the first few months we started hanging out together. Rosalie and I met through Alice. She's a cousin of Alice who moved from New York to Forks, Washington. She is a tall girl with the longest legs. She has a long mane of beautiful blond hair. She dresses like she has someone professional hired to pick the clothes she would wear everyday. She's always easily mistaken for a model and all the boys at school simply adore her. I tried my best to befriend her but it's as if she was the one who was distancing herself from me. It seemed as if we had some sort of unsaid agreement to leave each other alone – that is until I did her a great favor. I helped her through a tight spot with the rude jocks in school once. After that day, we were also inseparable.
"No problem," she chuckled. But of course, Alice couldn't be deterred.
"No! We need to get started now! I have so muchto ask you Bella," she shrieked into my ear so loudly that I wouldn't have doubted it if I become deaf. I cringed – both physically and mentally – and resigned. I just know I couldn't win this fight in a million years even if I have Rosalie and the whole world by my side. There is just no force in this universe that is strong enough to counter the barreling descent of the wrecking ball which is my dear Alice.
"Well, thanks for trying anyway, Rosalie," I said. She laughed and waved me off. I sat up quickly on my small bed. I stretched my arms up high, trying to shake of the influence of sleep. I looked down to myself and silently assessed my appearance. I am wearing my favorite pair of night wear – a matching pair of purple and green polka-dotted, Victoria's Secret silk pajamas. I love this particular pair because it really makes me comfortable and I feel absolutely beautiful whenever I wear it to bed at night. I know that my hair must closely resemble a haystack right now. I tended to move restlessly too much in my sleep and I slept with my hair wet after my shower last night – or this morning, I guess.
My father and I returned straight home after the ball has ended sometime around two in the morning. Once we stepped inside our humble abode and locked up for the night, he immediately headed to his room and jumped into bed – with his clothes and shoes and all – and immediately fell into a deep sleep. I, however, took my time to remove my shoes, head upstairs to the decent bathroom I have to share with my dad, hang my dress up at the back of the door and step under the showerhead. I let my sore and stiff muscles loosen with the aid of the hot and steaming water from the shower and with the fragrant smell of strawberry from my favorite shampoo and body wash. After, I headed to my bed. I remember that I couldn't sleep. My brain was still running. I was thinking of my encounter with the most gorgeous boy – Edward. I couldn't take him out of my mind. I continued to replay and replay again in my mind the feel of his touch against my skin, the sound of his voice and his laugh and the looks he gave me all night long. When sleep finally did overcome me, I found out that Edward also dominated my subconscious mind. There is really no getting over this boy and forgetting him too quickly – not that I want to. I dreamt about him in all possible situations. While some situations are too embarrassing to tell, I found out that dreams of Edward are really something to look forward to every night. I dreamt that he and I are having a picnic out in the sun. I dreamt that he took me to prom. i dreamt that I got to meet his parents. Suffice to say, I dreamt a lot about him. And suffice to say, I had a good sleep.
I miss him already.
I am jolted out of my thoughts by Alice – who is sitting next to me in the bed – demanding that I get up now. I sighed quietly and stretched my arms above my head one last time before jumping out of bed. At the same time, Alice stood up gracefully and went to stand by the open bedroom door beside Rosalie – who I suppose transferred there while I was having my daydreaming thoughts. I walked over to them and together, in a single file, we headed downstairs. I continued straight to the small yellow kitchen to start preparing breakfast while Alice and Rosalie headed straight to the small dining table at the corner of the room. I started to take out ingredients for cheese omelet and potato pancakes from the refrigerator.
"We're going to have a slumber party bash today," Alice announced. "I have everything planned! We're going to have a movie marathon – scary and romance movies; we're going to give each other manicures and pedicures; Bella's going to cook us delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner; we're going to interrogate Bella; and we're going to play Bella Barbie!"
"Wait, wait, and wait. Did you just say something about interrogating me? What have I done? Do I have a criminal record or something?" I protested. I am used to this monthly ritual. We girls have it every first Saturday of the month. I am also used to all the activities Alice recited since she is always the one who organizes these parties. What I am not familiar of is the new addition – apparently we now have a game called 'Let's Ask Bella!'
"Well, Bella, we have a few questions for you," Alice explained – which does not really help since it doesn't really explain anything. She looked over to Rose and the both of them exchanged covertly mischievous looks and smirks that made me nervous as to what they're planning. She turned back to me and smiled as sweetly and as innocently as possible – I didn't trust it at all. "All you have to do is to answer them as truthfully as possible. And we'll know when you're lying so don't even try."
What the hell?
I set our breakfast at the table. I grabbed three plates and three pairs of utensils and placed them in front of each of us. We then continued to dig in. in the next few minutes, conversation was impossible since all of us are concentrating in eating our food. Only scrapes of metal utensils against the glass plates could be heard. After a few minutes, all the food I prepared is gone – proof that all of us is ravenous after the heavy activity last night. Alice and Rosalie helped me clear the table and wash the dishes we ate upon. After, we made our way to the living room where we sat down. They both sat in the couch with backs ramrod straight and their stares pointed at me. I took the lone armchair and faced them. Seeing them in that formation is like being in front of the inquisition.
"What would you want to do first?" Rosalie asked me.
"How about we read something nice," I suggested, knowing full well that it would never be accepted. I liked to tickle them some though.
"Ugh, I just don't really understand you and your love for books!" Alice complained.
"What's the problem with books?" I asked as sweetly and as innocently as possible.
"Nothing's the problem at all. Could you just please pick out an activity from the ones I gave a while ago?"
I gave up. "Okay, let's just get this over with. Let the inquisition begin."
As soon as I said it, they both straightened up further and they slid closer together that their shoulders are touching.
I am so going to regret this.
"So Bella, where did you disappear to last night?" Rosalie started to ask. "Alice here said that you left and was not seen until leaving time."
Do they know? Do they know about Edward?
"I was in the outdoor balcony getting some fresh air."
"You stayed in the balcony all night – for hours – all by yourself?" Alice continued.
I shrugged. "Maybe I did."
"But maybe you didn't?" They pursued. I just shrugged in response.
"Did you meet someone out there?" I just shrugged again.
"Come on, Bella. Please tell us! We're dying here. Rose and I want to know," Alice pleaded, unleashing those puppy dog eyes at me.
I want to tell them. I want to shout it at them. I want to shout it at the world. I want everyone to know about him – about us. So I told them. I told Alice and Rosalie everything that happened between us last night – from the time I first saw his eyes to the time he and I said goodbye. I them everything I learned about him and how he would react to the things I say.
"He gave me his phone number and his email address. He said he wants to talk to me more and get to know me more. He didn't want to lose contact with me. He kissed me goodbye and he left – with one last parting look," I concluded. I am aware that I seem to be saying these things in a dreamy and fantasy-induced sort of way. I am just really in an 'Edward-haze.'
Throughout my narration, Alice and Rosalie remained quiet – they were really drinking all I say in. They barely commented on the things I said. Only the part where I said that he kissed me did they really make such a noise. Alice shrieked and Rosalie did a sort of jumping dance. They managed to reign themselves in to hear the rest of my story. And now that I am finished with my story, I expected them to bombard me with all the questions. However, they just sat there, staring at me and their smiles reaching their ears. They were speechless. And I could tell that they are really happy for me.
I'm so happy for myself, too.
"Bella, we're so happy for you!" Alice finally breathed. "I knew that last night would be special. I knew it."
"Bella, it's just your luck that you found him," Rosalie said. She came over to me and embraced me tightly. "You really deserve this."
"Yeah, I'd like to think that too," I replied. "He's just so perfect; the perfect gentleman for me."
"Did you know that Edward Cullen is our cousin?" Alice asked curiously. "That must mean something. That means something good."
"Wait, Edward's your cousin?" I couldn't believe my ears. "Are you sure?"
She laughed at me. "Yes, of course I'm sure."
"Why haven't I heard of him before? Why haven't I seen him around?" I frantically asked. "I've practically met all your relatives!"
Rosalie answered me. "Remember Esme and Carlisle – our aunt and uncle who lives just outside of town in this huge white-and-glass mansion?" I nodded in assent. "Well, they're Edward's parents."
"Why haven't I seen him before – at school or at one of your family gatherings?"
"You haven't seen him at our family gatherings because he usually doesn't make it. You haven't seen him at school either because he doesn't attend school here in Forks or in any other school around the town. Esme and Carlisle sends him to this prestigious school out of the state. He lives there all school year long in a house they purchased for him and he only comes back in the summer."
"If he comes back in the summer, how come I haven't seen him at all? I usually hang out with you guys and I sometimes hang out with your families and relatives."
"When I said he comes back in the summer, I meant he only comes back for a week. He only recuperates at the big house for seven days then he, together with Carlisle and Esme, go into vacation. And their vacations usually take up all summer."
"Oh."
"Yeah, that's why."
"That's really … unexpected," I concluded. I locked eyes with both of them – my little connections to my lovely boy. At some unsaid signal, we all burst out laughing.