Disclaimer: Twilight and all its awesome characters belong to the one and only genius that is Stephenie Meyer- I OWN NOTHING.
XxXxX
I'm posting this chapter in the hope that I will receive more than 3 reviews…
Enjoy reading (which I know you will…there's fluff…need I say more?) and then please, please, please review. I know I've been slack when it comes to posting, but I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts and opinions on this chapter.
Here it is…
Chapter 17: 20 Questions:
BELLA'S POV:
I woke to the sound of someone humming the children's song 'Bingo' in my ear. I smiled softly as memories of the previous night rushed back to me.
I opened my eyes to find a pair of gorgeous ochre eyes staring back at me tenderly. As our gazes locked Edward stopped humming. I soon and quite predictably began to feel a little uncomfortable beneath his fiery gaze and began to pull away…
…but he stopped me with a simple caress on my cheek.
I looked away blushing furiously.
How could one man, one handsome, intelligent, funny and…and frustrating man have such fickle power over me? All he had to do was say my name or glance in my direction and I was reduced to an awestruck and babbling idiot. The concept was completely impractical. Impractical and absolutely confusing.
When I had finally built up enough courage to glance at Edward once more, I turned to see him smiling lightly.
I was just about to meet his teasing gaze with a sarcastic remark of my own, when he suddenly leant his forehead against mine. Instantly my breathe caught and blood began to pound in my ears.
Breathe Bella. I reminded myself. Just breathe…
Slowly, as to gauge my reaction, Edward wrapped his other arm around my waist, pulling me closer. He then began to caress my cheek once more.
Me? I simply remained where I was, in a joy inflicted silence, trying to remember exactly how to breathe.
To be truthful, I was actually a little angry. And it led back, once again, to Edwards unpredictable moods…
Though Edwards's mannerisms towards me have recently changed for the better…
A whole lot better. I thought, remembering the kiss we had shared the previous night and instantly feeling myself turn a much darker shade of red.
Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! I shook myself mentally.
But despite the sudden…improvement in the way that he acted around and towards me, I couldn't help but still find him frustrating at times.
He was treating me better, true. But, he was still disappearing for hours on end almost every day. And every time I glanced his way when I thought he wasn't looking, or stared deep into his eyes like I was now, I couldn't help but continue to think that he still seemed to be fighting some sort of internal battle.
And not only do I feel completely helpless, but I'm almost positive that the rest of his family knows what's wrong and are trying to help him. Everyone knows. Well, everyone but me.
Maybe they don't completely trust you. Just because you've kept quite about them being vampires it doesn't mean they won't hide a bigger, darker secret from you. To them you're just a human…The sinister voice inside my head whispered to me.
And for a second I believed it…Until I realised that Edward's hand had stopped caressing my cheek and I glanced up and saw…actually, I'm not too sure what I saw.
Looking into his eyes was like standing in the country side and starring up in awe at the star filled sky. Only it wasn't similar in the way that I was frozen because of the sheer beauty of the situation, no. When I looked into Edwards eyes I saw a million different emotions displayed there, in all their glory. Just like when you glance up into the night sky you see a million stars, big and small, shinning brightly for the whole world to see. And as the stars combine to create a breathtaking shinning belt that lights up the night sky, all the emotions in Edwards's eyes combined to form just one. However this sentiment was as rare in my life as a natural beauty, such as our galaxy, is to the world.
It was love.
Through the concern, and fear, and anger, and compassion, and desire, and confusion- the list is endless. But through it all, I saw love.
And for once I didn't question what I was seeing; I didn't try to convince myself otherwise. And though I sure as hell didn't know if I felt the same way and was scared more then ever, I lent forward and kissed him softly. I felt him stiffen beside me in surprise; however he soon relaxed and kissed me back in response. Unlike the kiss we had shared the previous night, this embrace was slow and gentle and utterly amazing. Edward broke away and whispering my name, bent to kiss the spot on my neck just bellow my ear. His hand that was still resting on my cheek then moved to the back of my neck, enabling him to pull me towards him once more. This time the kiss was more fervent. I lifted my hand and began to run my fingers through his tousled bronze hair. Eventually we both reluctantly pulled away, not because we wanted to, but because we had to steady our breathing. Or more aptly, I had to steady my breathing.
Of all the times I had looked into his eyes and saw multiple emotions displayed there, I always dismissed my intuition. The feeling that told me there was something more to what I was saw. That told me I was looking but not really seeing.
Honestly I felt like a big idiot for not noticing his true feelings before. And though I was unsure about how I felt, the thought that Edward loved me still sent a jolt of excitement through my body. That was if he did love me. I mean he hadn't actually said it to me yet but-
-But nothing! I thought to myself fiercely. No doubting yourself, remember? And besides he could have very well been about to tell you that he loved you before Alice interrupted you last night.
Of course! I had completely forgotten that Edward had begun to say something before Alice tapped on the restaurants glass window in encouragement.
My hopes soared high. If Edward really did feel how I thought he felt about me, he would eventually tell me. Hopefully at a time and place where Alice was no where to be seen…
Speak of the devil. At that very moment Alice bounded into the room. The instant she caught sight of us wrapped in each others arms she began squealing like a little girl whilst jumping up and down and clapping her hands.
Typical. I Thought.
And it would seem that Edward's thoughts mirrored my own as while I blushed lightly, I distinctly saw him roll his eyes at his sister.
He then, in one blurring motion, sat up pulling me along with him. In less then a second I ended up sitting on his lap whilst locked in his embrace and facing Alice.
"Did you want something?" I heard him ask, and I could almost imagine the innocent expression on his face as he said it.
Around the time that Edward had pulled us into sitting position Alice had stopped her aerobic routine and turned to face us, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Yes." She said curtly, "I want Bella."
I felt Edward stiffen briefly but he soon relaxed and I heard him whisper, "Hold on, love." To me.
'Love'. My heart skipped a beat. Wasn't that something you called someone you actually, well, Loved?
I didn't have time to ponder on the emotion behind his tender title for me as Edward then turned to Alice and said, "Well then you will have to come and get her", and then, carrying me, he hurried down the stairs and away from his sister.
Sounding much like Alice, I squealed, out of delight or fear I wasn't to sure. The room around us was a complete blur and I squeezed my eyes shut to stop myself from getting motion sickness.
I suddenly, and as it would seem, quite impossibly, disappeared from Edward's embrace and was standing on my own two feet beside Alice who had one of my hands grasped tightly in one of her own.
Edward was standing directly in front of us, an annoyed smirk plastered on his face.
Alice growled at him and then pulled me forcefully up the stairs and into her room like her behaving like a wild animal was the most normal thing in the world.
EDWARD'S POV:
I watched in annoyance as Alice pulled Bella up the stairs and more importantly, away from me.
Sorry…her thoughts drifted towards me. But you've got her for the rest of your life. I've seen it, remember? Rose and I just want to spend some girl time with her…That's all.
That's all, she says. I chuckled. She said that with such innocence that I knew she couldn't be trusted. Not only that, but my feelings for Bella could in no way be dismissed as easily as Alice made it seem.
However, as much as I wished to save Bella from my sister's evil clutches, I knew Alice would quite truthfully slit my throat if I were to so much as stand in the hallway outside from where my Bella was being held hostage. I mean, was spending time with my ever welcoming sisters.
I sighed and sat myself heavily onto one of the sofas.
I was alone. Emmett and Jasper had gone hunting. Carlisle had gone to work and Esme had followed him shortly after. She liked to remind all the starring nurses that Carlisle was in fact a married man. However the effect of Esme's presence seemed to wear off once she left the clinic, and all the nurses went back to adoring my 'father'. I smiled softly at the thought. I knew it made Carlisle fairly uncomfortable. There was only room for one love in his life and Esme had long filled that spot.
I wonder if Bella…I thought vaguely, but shook myself before my thoughts could travel any further.
My emotions for her are very strong, there was no doubt there, but love?
At times I am almost positive that what I feel for that beautiful woman is indeed love. Like when I stare into her eyes, or when I hold her in my arms.
But every other moment I am haunted by the fact that I am practically being controlled by the person who wants her killed. Who wants her blood. It is then that I believe that I was not born to love Bella; on the contrary, I believe I was born to kill her.
Not only that, but I've known her for no more then a week, how could I possibly love her?
True, I saved her from a deliberately caused car accident when she was young…very young, merely 5 years of age. And she became quite attached. But it would seem that all memories of me have faded from her mind as she has not demonstrated any recognition towards me. And due to the fact that I haven't seen her since the accident, I would have no reason to love her…at least that is what I continue to tell myself. (A/N You guys will find out more about the 'deliberately caused accident' as the story progresses…)
I groaned in frustration and pinched the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger.
Do not forget your purpose. I heard her voice in my head; my so called 'mistress'.
You must bring the girl to me…She must remain clueless. If you or your family say one word of the situation to the one you call Bella I will dispose of you as I plan to dispose of her…You have one week…or I will then take matters into my own hands and your long life will come to a rapid and horrible end…
Her voice faded and I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting the urge to run upstairs and take Bella straight to the monster who was controlling me.
I sat quietly, fighting internally with myself and the intense anger and fear I felt.
When I had finally calmed down, I glanced up at the ceiling where Alice's bedroom was situated just above.
"Oh Bella," I whispered. "What do I do with you?"
BELLA'S POV:
I froze in the doorway to Alice's room- she wasn't serious, was she?
I rubbed my eyes fiercely for a moment and then glanced back up at Alice's, uh, bedroom. That was if it could be called that anymore; the room looked more like an art studio then an area that would house personal belongings.
White sheets covered every inch of the timber flooring beneath. The furniture and personal belongings that once cluttered the room were no where to be seen. When and how that happened I had no idea. The only stationary object in the room was a small and unfamiliar looking wooden table that stood in the middle of the white clad floor. On top of it were at least one hundred different sized darts. Yes, darts. And I eventually came to the conclusion that those very darts would be used to pop the hundreds of multicoloured balloons that were completely covering the largest wall in the room.
Why? I had absolutely no idea! I honestly thought it was some sort of practical joke… (A/N a big thank you to Mikki/FuzzyWuzzywithaBadHaircut for that idea- you are my saviour! :D)
"Uh, Alice?" I turned her questioningly.
She met my questioning gaze with a radiant smile of her own, "I'm redecorating!" she said in a sing-song voice.
"Ok, well that's great, and I suppose you want my help?" I asked. She nodded, yes. "Well then, you might want to get rid of those balloons and move those darts before someone…uh, me, hurts themselves."
Alice had stopped smiling and was instead staring at me as if I had just grown two heads.
"What?" I asked curiously.
She sighed heavily and placed her hands on her hips. A desperate expression on her face she addressed me quietly, "Bella, please tell me you have watched The Princess Diaries?"
I was almost too scared to respond, "The Princess what?" I asked in a quiet voice.
She threw her arms up in the air in frustration, "The Princess Diaries! You know, the movie with Anne Hathaway who plays Mia, the main character, and Julie Andrews who plays her grandmother who is actually a queen? And Mia is a real nerd, who finds out she is actually a princess, and her whole life gets messed up because of it?"
"Congratulations, your talking speed just reached 100 miles per hour." I smirked having not understood a word she had just said.
She glared at me silently for a moment before continuing, this time calmer and more slowly. "Basically, the main character is Mia. Her mother is an artist, and in the movie one of her artworks is created by sticking paint filled balloons onto a canvass and then popping them with darts. I already talked to Esme about the idea and she loved it! She just said to make sure the paint coated the wall and nothing else. You know how she can be." She finished and smiled lovingly.
"So we're redecorating your room by popping balloons?' was my genius reply. But seriously, only Alice would think of something like that (and the director of the movie, it would seem).
"Uh-huh." She said. "The painted wall is going to be my feature wall and I've already ordered new furniture to match, so I'm all set! Once Rosalie has finished getting changed we can get started!"
"Well, I guess it's time to start then." Rosalie said as she entered the room.
Wow. I thought. She can make sweat pants and a t-shirt look good.
I smiled in welcome to her and then turned my attention back to Alice. She too was wearing old clothes (pink, of course!) and she too looked absolutely fantastic.
I, on the other hand, was wearing my 'pyjamas' which were really some old grey sweats and a stretched t-shirt to match. In other words, in comparison to the two sisters I looked, well, normal. As in un-beautiful. As in horrible.
Hell, if you ask me, I think I always look horrible in comparison to not only Rosalie and Alice, but the whole Cullen Family.
Alice, noticing my calculating gaze seemed to somehow read my mind and said, "Bella honestly you look fine! Our clothes are only going to get dirty anyway…oh and this is the one time that we're not going to, 'Play Barbie' with you, as you like to put it, so be grateful." She winked at me and then motioned for both Rosalie and I to begin.
Blushing what I'm sure was a very unattractive shade of red, I moved cautiously towards the table that was situated in the middle of the room.
I wasn't joking earlier about getting rid of the darts that were resting upon the wooden table. They were a very big hazard. To me at least.
As the sound of popping balloons filled the air around me I hesitantly picked up one of the small darts and turned towards the balloon covered wall.
Splatters of different shades of pink and purple paint had already begun to cover the wall, and taking a deep and shaky breathe I aimed for one of the balloons and threw the dart.
Naturally, I missed.
I narrowed my eyes at the place where my dart was wedged in the wall beside a blue balloon, and biting my lip in sudden determination I picked up another dart and without thinking, threw it at the same balloon I had been properly aiming for only moments before.
This time, I hit my target. As deep purple paint splattered onto the wall I let out a small cry of happiness and bounced on the spot in excitement. I became aware of Alice and Rosalie's quiet laughs from beside me and without looking at them I instantly stopped bouncing and picked up another dart to occupy myself.
I'm actually starting to enjoy myself. This isn't right! A second ago I was scared more then ever at the concept of throwing darts at paint filled balloons and now I'm dancing in excitement. I thought, shaking my head. I think I've been spending too much bonding time with Alice.
Aiming for another balloon, this time an orange one, I threw the dart and surprising myself, hit my target yet again. This time, however, instead of embarrassing myself by dancing I merely smiled.
Alice, Rosalie and I continued working in silence for a while, and soon we were left with many more balloons to pop and no more darts.
As we all advanced towards the wall and began to carefully pull the balloons from hard surface, I happened to make eye contact with Rosalie.
She smiled wickedly at me before throwing two of the darts in her hand towards two balloons that were stuck to the wall on either side of Alice. As the darts came into contact with the flexible surface of the balloons, they popped, covering not only the wall, but Alice with paint.
She turned around slowly, a shocked expression evident on her face, and as soon as Rosalie and I were able to see her clearly, we both burst into hysterical laughter.
One side of Alice's face was splattered with lilac paint, whilst the other was covered in magenta paint. Her paint covered face combined with her completely annoyed expression and her haughty stance, was quite a sight, as I'm sure you can imagine.
Suddenly I heard the pop of a balloon nearby and soon after felt a strange wetness spray across my face. I stopped laughing abruptly and lifted a hand to my face. Moving it in my line of vision, I noticed that my fingers were wet with pale pink paint.
I glanced back at Alice just in time to see her lowering the hand she had used to thrown the dart in my direction, and caught her eye. She poked her tongue out at me before, in one impossibly fluid motion, she picked up yet another dart and threw…only this time in the opposite direction.
"Rosalie watch out!" I called frantically, but I was too late. Rosalie was still laughing, and so she did not notice Alice throw the small dart in her direction.
Rosalie's laughter was quickly replaced by a gasp of horror as magenta paint sprayed across her perfect features.
She stood frozen for a moment before slowly picking up a strand of hair that had been brushed over her shoulder. It too, was soaked with pink paint and I had to bite my lip in order to stop myself from giggling.
"Not the hair…"I heard her murmur to herself softly. "Anything but the hair…"
Not taking her eyes of the strand of hair she was holding in front of her face, Rosalie slowly angled her body towards Alice.
"Mary Alice Brandon…"She began menacingly. However before Alice could so much as grimace at the formal title in which Rose had addressed her, Rosalie finally managed to look away from her precious paint streaked hair and up at Alice and me.
Her body stiffened as she looked between us for a few seconds, a humorous glint evident in her eyes. Suddenly, she snorted loudly. Then, releasing her hair, Rosalie cupped her hands tightly over her mouth, trying to suppress her laughter.
As Alice and I watched her shoulders shake violently with her unheard giggles, our annoyance at the situation slowly began to fade and we both began to smile softly.
Finally, when Rosalie removed her hands from her mouth, and looking up at us said, "You both look ridiculous!", Alice and I could not hold it back any longer and also began to laugh hysterically.
Why? I suppose because Rosalie was right; we did look ridiculous.
That is, in a wearing-old-clothes-and-spattered-with-pink-paint kind of way.
However, I honestly think that we found the situation more ridiculously amusing rather than plain old strange. But frankly, how did you expect us to react? I mean, it's not everyday you see Alice covered in pink and purple paint, now is it?
Anyway, Alice was the first of us to eventually calm down, and Rosalie and I followed suit.
We sat there in silence. The quiet atmosphere wasn't so much as awkward as it was out of place. It was a lot like the calm after a storm. After all the loud havoc the storm brings, the silence seems abnormal, like you expect the storm to start up again at the slightest sound. Only this time the storm was the humour of the just passed situation, and the so called sound could be one of us beginning to laugh again. If one person were to laugh we would all follow as surely as lightning follows thunder.
After a while of simply sitting in silence and starring up at the paint splattered wall (which actually looked quite good), Alice as usual was the first to break the silence.
"Well the wall looks great…" she said looking up at our very own, very large, 'masterpiece'. "But…"She continued with a sigh, "I guess I should go and apologise to Esme."
"Huh?"
"What?" Rosalie and I asked at the same time.
"Well," Alice glanced up and smiled at us cheekily, "She did say not to get paint on anything other than the wall, and looking at you guys I think we failed."
"Miserably." I agreed nodding, while Rosalie threw back her head and laughed heartily.
"I told you that those darts were a major hazard." I said to Alice who simply rolled her eyes in reply.
"So it would seem" I heard an all too familiar velvety voice say from behind me.
I didn't need to glance up to know that Edward was standing in the doorway to Alice's room, no doubt starring at us all with a sort of surprised fascination. I could only imagine that to him, the situation was something like watching a wild animal hunt its prey; horrid yet captivating. (A/N yes, I know that that analogy is quite similar to how vampire's would hunt their prey, and Edward would be familiar with hunting, but I couldn't think of another correlation…?)
So, instead of looking up at him I hid my face behind a thick veil of my hair as I felt heat flood my cheeks.
"What are you doing here Edward?" I heard Alice ask in a flat voice.
"I've come to join in with all the fun!" he replied.
I heard her snort in disbelief.
"Fine," Edward said, "I've come in search of my ego. It seemed to have disappeared when you lead Bella upstairs and left me sitting downstairs alone this morning."
"Uh-huh, sure." Alice said, and I glanced up to see her rolling her eyes at Rosalie and me
"I've come in search of hidden treasure!" Edward said. This time, Alice did not react at all.
"I've come to pay my rent?" He tried. Alice just continued to look up at him in complete silence.
"I've come to slay the fierce dragon and rescue my beautiful princess?"
Still nothing.
Edward sighed heavily and ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "Ally come on, you know what I'm here for. Even you're not that naïve." He murmured, glancing back at Alice with eyes that were almost pleading.
Naturally being her ever so stubborn self (though who was I to talk?) Alice simply replied, "I have no idea what you're talking about Edward. So again I ask, what are you doing here?"
"I've come to steal Bella away from your evil clutches…" He replied in a flat tone, whilst crossing his lean arms against his chest.
"Oh!" Alice's eyes lit up with what was quite noticeably false realisation. "Well in that case you might want to try looking downstairs for you already bruised ego, because Bella is not going anywhere with you" She said in an overly perky voice, that was a complete contrast to her previous blunt tone.
"And Edward? In case you weren't aware, you are not in the least bit funny." I heard Rosalie say and glanced up to see her smirking sarcastically at Edward.
"And you're just hilarious aren't you Rosalie?" Edward replied back in a calm yet cold voice. Then, he was standing in front of me, and before anyone could stop him, he picked me up, cradled me to his chest, and left the room.
However, it would seem that his movements were not swift enough, as we still managed to hear Alice's departing message follow us down the hall, "Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, you will pay for this! No one calls me Ally and ruins my fun and still gets away with it! And you Isabella…Next time I'm strapping you to a chair and we are watching the Princess Diaries, not just referring to it…" She paused for a moment before adding, "While I give you a full makeover, damn-it! I'm through with trying to be nice!"
I felt more than heard Edward chuckle as I buried my head in his chest.
"Don't worry," he said softly, "Alice may try to act cruel but it's not in her nature. She'll come around…I hope".
I groaned. I had known Alice for a fair number of years, so I knew more than anyone that she sure as hell did know how to act cruel. I'd been victim to her sadistic acts countless times. But ignoring the logic of the situation I had begun to find Edward's comment somewhat consoling. That was until he uttered those last two words.
He hoped? Hoped? I've hoped and I continue to hope for many things.
When I was little I used to hope that Charlie and Rene would finally find peace so we could be a family again.
I soon gave up on that and instead I now hope that one day Charlie will find someone new to love and look after him again.
However the most recent and dominant hope of mine is that who ever wants me dead will miraculously change their mind, come clean and become my new best friend.
If there's one thing I've discovered about hopes, it's that they are incontrollable. No matter how much people pray for something to happen, they can never be sure that it will actually come true.
That's why I know Alice will most likely find the time to strap me to a chair, force me to watch The Princess Diaries and give me a head to toe make over.
That's why I know that Charlie will quite possibly spend the rest of his life without the warmth of another's body lying beside his at night.
That's why I know that who ever wants me dead is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that I die.
Yet, not only I, but all human beings, continue to hope. It part of our nature.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Edwards's soft voice distracted me from my somewhat depressing reverie.
"Hmm?" I glanced up at him. "Oh, I'm just thinking about hopes. How pointless they are. How they never seem to come true."
He raised an eyebrow at my statement but did not reply. At the same moment we passed through the doorway to his room and with the heel of his foot he lightly kicked the door shut.
Walking over to his bed he placed me on it tenderly and then walked around to seat himself beside me on the soft surface.
We sat quietly for a moment. Me staring at the calluses on my hands intensely and Edward staring at me with clear interest. The situation had suddenly grown immensely awkward.
I heaved a sigh, bit my lip and then lifted my gaze to meet Edward's curious one.
"What?" I asked quietly.
"Nothing, it's just…you are truly the most beautiful woman I have ever met. Inside and out."
I opened my mouth, closed it and then opened it again, completely lost for words.
Edward, upon lacing his finger through mine, continued what he had been saying, "I never meant to upset you when I added that I merely hoped that Alice wouldn't treat you the way she said she would. However I realise that though you may sometimes have a tendency to overreact," He paused for a moment and lifted my chin so he could look at me properly. My eyes were beginning to fill with unshed tears and as my they locked with his I let out a short, desperate laugh as I remembered the many moments we had shared the previous day. Edward continued, "Everyone overreacts. Including me it would seem. I never meant to hurt you Bella. I was often blinded by arrogance and my refusal to see things as they truly were, but now I realise I wasn't only harming myself in doing so but also my friends, family and most importantly you. I have feelings for you that are too complex for you to understand, but please trust me when I say I am doing all I can to change myself and our relationship…I-"
"-stop." I cut him off in one short whisper.
Pain shot through his eyes and I instantly felt guilty for the wrong impression I had given him.
"Did I say something wrong?" he questioned quietly.
I shook my head back and forth, back and forth, unable to form the right words. Finally as I saw pain and confusion become more distinctive in Edwards's expression, I was finally able to tell him what I had been trying to say for the past few moments.
"No, No." I chocked out. "You said something right; you said everything right!" And with that said I kissed him.
I lifted my hands from where they lay on the bed and brought them up to cup Edward's face. Then slowly I ran them down his neck and following the curve of his shoulders, traced my hands tenderly down his arms. Edward then laced the fingers of one of his hands with mine and lifted the other to twine through my hair.
Tugging on my hair lightly he then broke away from me and leaned down to trail kisses along my jaw. His hand that wasn't tangled in my hair, played idly with my fingers; turning my hand this way and that and tracing patterns on my palm. I shivered under his touch and felt more than heard him chuckle quietly at my 'all too human' reaction.
I was practically reduced to nothing whenever in Edward's presence, so under his touch my mind refused to function in the least. That's why when he began to trail his nose lightly on my cheek, all the smart comments I had instantaneously conjured in response to his teasing chuckle, vanished.
Instead I reached back to release his fingers from my hair and laced his hand with mine. Then turning my head to the side slightly, I met his lips with mine once more.
Our lips moved in perfect harmony with each other and as Edward angled his head slightly to deepen our kiss, he lifted one of his hands; our fingers still interlaced, and cupped my cheek softly.
The kiss, like his previous words, was soft and sweet and full of heart felt sentiment..
We had shared stories, stolen glances and sweet kisses, and with every new moment not only did I feel my own emotions towards Edward grow, but I've noticed a change in him also. And through this unbelievable kiss, I was, for the fist time, not the one baring my heart, but Edward was baring his. And through this I was allowed a quick, stolen glance at what lies underneath the surface. His feelings….His personality…him. The true Edward Cullen. The one that I unfortunately knew nothing about. But I'm adamant to learn more.
Finally, we broke away from each other, more from the need of oxygen than anything else. As Edward stroked my cheek nonchalantly I glanced up and unsurprisingly found myself lost in Edward's intense gaze.
I noticed that the red strip in Edward's eyes that I had become aware of merely days before had lessened slightly, and instantly wondered if this was a good or bad thing (A/N what do you think?).
A sudden loud noise from downstairs startled me and I consequently broke my gaze with Edward. I glanced back up at him with a questioning gaze to which he answered with one word, "Emmett."
I smiled knowingly at him to which he winked at me. His expression turned unexpectedly serious and reaching out slowly, placed his hand over my heart.
"Are you ok? Your hearts beating really fast…" he asked, a look of concern on his face.
"I could be that I was startled by Emmet or simply that I'm sitting in the same room with you." I said slowly, biting my lip.
He smirked slightly at my answer and his hand, still on my cheek, began to caress my face again tenderly. I leaned my cheek into his hand slightly before turning back to him and asking, "How is it you know so much about me?"
He looked slightly perplexed for a moment before replying, "I'm a vampire Bella. I can see the smallest of details in a tapestry and hear sounds from miles away. It only makes sense for me to able to hear your heart beating when your in the same room as me."
I smiled softly and shook my head. "That's not what I mean. Like before when I was thinking about Alice, how did you know…" I trailed off, leaving a silent question lingering in the air between us.
"That there was something more to your thoughts?" Edward questioned.
I nodded silently. "You can't read my mind, we know that. So I'm slightly confused as to how you always seem to know what I'm thinking about."
He shrugged. "Well Carlisle thinks that I've obtained my power to read minds because I was able to read people well when I was human. I suppose I still have that ability, only advanced slightly."
"With the whole 'I can read your mind' thing right?" I asked smiling at him.
He chuckled and leaned in to give me a chaste kiss. "Something like that." He replied.
I laughed. "It weird. I haven't known you for long and thought it would seem that I know nothing about you personally, I can't help but feel like I've know you forever. Like we're old friends who are meeting again after many years spent separated."
I saw a flicker of something that looked like wariness in flicker through his expression, but dismissed it when I heard his next words, "I know exactly what you mean…" he smiled softly and leant forward to kiss my cheek. "So, let's learn some more about each other, hm?"
I leaned back to look at him more clearly my eyebrow raised in a silent question.
"I'll start." He said softly. "What's your favourite colour?"
"Oh. Uh, blue I suppose. Yours?" (A/N I wanted I break from Bella's favourite colour typically being ochre…)
He smiled slowly before answering, "Blue."
"Favourite artist?" I asked.
"Modern or classical music?"
"Both."
"Classical-"
"Debussy". I answered for him.
He nodded before continuing, "As for my favourite modern artist. Probably Justin Bieber."
I snorted slightly and let out a startled laugh (very unattractive, I know).
"Please tell me your joking!" I said in exasperation.
Edward quite obviously tried to keep a straight face but failed upon seeing the desperation in my eyes. He burst into laughter before glancing back up at me. "I am, don't worry. That kid has a voice with such a high frequency that it could damage even a newborn vampire's hearing." He said chuckling slightly. (A/N Sorry to any Justin Bieber fans…As for those of you who DON'T like him, something tells me you would have enjoyed that comment.)
I laughed along with him for a while before he finally regained his composure and said, "My favourite modern day artist would have to be Michael Jackson. If you would consider him to be of the modern era."
"I suppose that's ok. Oh, just so you know. I completely agree with both of your choices."
"I thought you would…" He said playing with a strand of my hair.
"Favourite flower?" he asked in a slightly distracted tone of voice.
"Hm? To say I was slightly distracted myself would be an understatement.
"Your favourite flower?" he questioned again.
"Freesia and…" I stopped thinking for a moment. "Roses, preferably red."
He nodded in response to my answer and when he didn't say anything else for the next few moments, as he was still playing with my hair, I decided to ask him another question. One that I had been quite curious about since the night before.
"Where on earth did you hear that arrogance was the way to a girls heart?"
His gaze shot back to mine instantly before he smiled mischievously at me. "Well I've watched enough Hollywood movies in my lifetime to understand the concept that is most commonly portrayed in almost all of them. The male protagonist almost always seems to win the heart of his female love interest through some thoughtless and inconceivable act of arrogance. And though I always viewed such scenes as unrealistic, I suppose it was the only justification I had for treating you so horribly. I realise my mistakes now and I'm sorry."
I leaned forward and touched my forehead lightly to Edward's own, "So you keep saying." I murmured. I then kissed him on each if his cheeks before kissing him tenderly on the lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him close, and when we finally broke apart, he wrapped his arms around my body and hugged me near.
Resting his chin on top of my head I heard him whisper, "Dogs or cats?"
"Does it really matter? Wouldn't you just eat them if were to get a pet?"
He sighed, "Answer the question Bella."
I pocked his side playfully before responding, "Cat's. Never really been a dogs person; they're too high maintenance." (A/N Personally, I love dogs but…)
"Interesting…" he murmured.
"What?"
I felt his body shake with silent laughter.
"What?" I pressed.
"Nothing. It's nothing."
"Edward!"
"Alright, alright! Just don't get annoyed, ok? Jacob, he-"
"-Edward!" I cut him off, sitting up and slapping him on the arm.
He raised his arms in surrender but was still sniggering when he said, "I'm sorry, I couldn't resist."
"Oh jeez! Can't you just learn to get along with one another?"
"You're the one who said it Bella, not me."
I crossed my arms and glared at him. "Edward I'm being serious."
He sighed, running his hands through his hair in clear frustration. "Isabella, we're sworn enemies. It's not a choice but more a lifestyle. Just because we've agreed to a treaty, doesn't change our natural instinct, no matter how much we may wish it does."
"Maybe not. But you have the power to decide how you react to that instinct"
"You're right. I'll try…"
"Yeah, well I'll see it when I believe it."
"Favourite film?" Edward asked, attempting to shift the conversation to a less awkward topic.
I sighed, willing myself to forgive him for his previous statement and continue our preceding conversation. "The Notebook." I replied.
"Mines the Shawshank Redemption." He said.
"What?" I asked, completely confused.
He looked at me with pure surprise evident in his expression, "Please tell me you've heard of that film?"
"I'd be lying if I said I have."
"Well I haven't heard of The Notebook either so I suppose that-"
"-wait." I interrupted him. "You haven't heard of The Notebook? How have you not heard of The Notebook?" I asked exasperated.
He laughed heartily before reaching out to hold one of my hands in two of his. "As I was saying…" He said looking at me sternly and I blushed lightly. "You haven't seen The Shawshank Redemption and I haven't seen The Notebook so we have to organise to watch them together."
I bit my lip in embarrassment and nodded my head silently.
He bent down and kissed the base of my neck from where my blush had spread and this only made me blush more. As my flush deepened he trailed his nose up my neck whilst inhaling deeply. After a few moments he pulled sat up, kissed me on the forehead adoringly, and wrapped his arms around me not for the first time that day.
It was then that if felt his body stiffen abruptly and heard him gasp in apparent shock and pain.
"Bella," he managed to breath, "Bathroom…now."
"Edward?" I questioned, leaning back to look at him properly. But before I could so much as glance at him, he had abruptly lifted me off the bed, placed me back on my own two feet and pushed me roughly in the direction of his bathroom.
Stumbling towards the open door I barely managed to stay upright.
"Bella!" Edward bellowed.
Ignoring the desperation in his voice I glanced back to a sight that I knew I would never forget. Edward, doubled over and gasping for breath, clutched the iron frame at the end of his bed so tightly that it began to groan under the force of his hands. He was shaking violently, though I had no I idea why. I felt helpless and entirely confused and when his eyes rose to meet mine my hand automatically rose to cover my mouth. His eyes burned with pain, sorrow and anger, however as well as burning with strong emotions, his eyes also burned with colour. Previously a honey tone, his eyes had turned to a red so deep they were almost black.
"I'm so sorry." He whispered. And it was then that I knew that I had to do what he told me. I had to go into his bathroom, lock the door and wait. I didn't know why but I knew if was for both my own good and for his. So, my mind filled with pure disorder, I took one last fleeting glance in Edward's direction, and practically ran into his bathroom.
That's when things slowly began to make sense…
EDWARD'S POV:
I heard the door of my bathroom slam shut and was able to recognise the sound of Bella's shaking hands locking the door. I knew that if I really wanted to hurt her a simple lock would not stop me, but all the same it put both me and Bella at a little more ease.
You Fool! My supposed mistress's voice blasted through my mind again. That girl was there, right there in front of you. You were kissing her for goodness sake! It has been that way for days now; you and her continuously alone, and still you continue to fail to complete your task.
My grip on the iron frame of my bed tightened significantly and I knew that my fist was bending the frame quite severely. I had only just managed to keep control when Bella was near and I feared that soon I was going to have no hold left on my self control. Before long I would not be able to be in the same house as Bella, let alone embrace her, and I knew that if my 'mistress' controlled me when this happened, I would almost certainly succumb to her power.
I should have disposed of you and your pathetic family when I had the chance! Her voice hissed through my mind once more. I would destroy you now if I could, but it would seem, to my disappointment, that you are far to valuable. An important link in my chain of events, if you like. Bella knows you, you know me. If only you would succumb to me, then I would have more of a chance of finally capturing her!
"Shut up!" I gasped. My breathing ragged I just managed to walk over to my desk and find a small piece of paper and a pen. Scrawling a message on the paper I folded it once and laid it on a pillow on my bed. Meanwhile, the female continued to talk openly.
You got in my way once before and I was almost certain that now, as you are under my control, history would not have repeated itself in the slightest. I was wrong…But, your control is ultimately slipping and soon it will be easier to control you.
"Shut up!" I said again. Still she continued to talk.
I can not kill you or your family, at least not yet. But I can punish you Edward, and through your pain your family will also suffer! Her sadistic laughter then filled my mind and I broke.
"SHUT UP!" I roared. I heard Bella flinch at my sudden yell and I heard the thoughts of Alice and my family reach me in a wave of fear and concern. All the while my mistress laughed, and laughed, and laughed.
Come to me, Eddie. She all but purred. She truly was a monster. This is going to be fun! Then my shaking began to ease, my breathing began to steady and my body, with a literal mind of its own, turned to walk from the room.
I moved stiffly down the stairs, past the questioning gazes of my family and out the front door of my home.
"Alice," I managed to murmur through my numbness. "Don't follow me…Look after Bella…and I'm-I'm sorry… for everything."
"I'll wait for you until come back." I heard her pained response follow behind me, and I sent up a silent prayer thanking for my family and for Bella.
They were the only sanity I had left.
BELLA'S POV:
I don't know how long I stayed in the bathroom. Thinking, just thinking.
After the previous situation with Edward, things started to make a little more sense. Don't get me wrong, I was still left in the dark about a lot of things, but I could now see that all of those things were somehow connected.
Edward's random disappearances and strange behaviour had something to do with each other. But as usual, I had no idea what. And truth be told, it scared me more than the look in Edward's eyes or the fact that someone wanted me dead. It scared me that the man I cared so much about was in obvious trouble and that not only was I helpless, but was also clueless. I could only just make out the light at the end of any incredibly dark tunnel, and even then I didn't feel any more at ease.
It wasn't long after I assumed Edward had left his room that I hear someone open the bathroom door and glanced up from my spot on the cold tiles to see none other then Alice. She looked down at where I sat on the bathroom floor and instead of laughing, as she usually would have, she simply gazed at me miserably before stepping out of the door frame and motioning for me to follow in her example.
Dragging myself awkwardly from the ground I walked slowly out of the bathroom, pushing my hair out of my eyes and wrapping my arms around my torso.
Alice turned to face me and forcing a smile said softly, "You should get some sleep Bells. You've had a big day; you mind needs to rest."
I nodded silently and Alice then walked up to me and pulled me into a soft hug. I wrapped my arms tightly around her and muffled a sob in her shoulder. She stroked my hair comfortingly and I heard her whisper, "Don't worry about him too much Bella. He's fine and he'll be back before you know it."
"Yeah," I said, before leaning out of her embrace, "That's what I keep telling myself."'
"Well if it will help you sleep better then-"I slapped her on the arm lightly and she laughed softly, but the smile did not reach her eyes.
Then, leaning forward to kiss my cheek she said, "Good night Bella." Then turned on her heel, and left the room.
"Goodnight Alice." I whispered.
Sighing I turned and began to prepare the bed for me to sleep in. It had seemed like only moments ago that I had woken up to the sound of Edward's voice. So much had occurred throughout the course of the day that it almost seemed like I had dreamed it all.
Reaching up to pull down the doona cover I noticed a small piece of paper laying on one of the beds pillows, and curious I reached out and picked it up. I slipped one of my fingers under one of the folds and flicked the sheet upwards. It was Edward's writing, I knew it was. So I read.
Bella,
I'm so sorry. I've made promise after promise and I can never seem to keep any of them. I can't even imagine how you're feeling now... But, if there's one thing you can be certain of, through all your confusion, it's that I care for you. Never forget that…
Be safe,
Edward.
Clutching the message to my chest I closed my eyes and let the tears fall freely down my cheeks. It was strange that every time I found myself angry with Edward, I ironically found comfort in things related to him. Yesterday it was his room, and now it's a small piece of paper with a simple message written on it in his handwriting.
I knew I couldn't be certain that he would stand by what he had said in the note, after all he quite obviously hadn't in the past, but a girl can always dream. So that's what I did.
Taking off my jacket and laying it on the beds wire frame, I crawled under the covers, too fatigued to care about getting changed out of my paint splattered clothes, and dreamed.
Although what I dreamed about was completely uncalled for.
ALICE'S POV:
"How is she?" Esme questioned as I walked down the stairs just after talking to Bella.
"As well as she can be, I suppose."
"She's brave, I'll give her that much. I know I couldn't do it." Said Rosalie quietly from where she sat beside Emmett on one of the loveseats.
"Neither could I…" Said Jasper.
"Yeah, I mean with the whole someone's trying to kill you thing and then Edward totally freaking out on her, it's pretty obvious that Bella is one gutsy chick!"
We all looked at Emmett after he said this and as Rosalie raised her hand to slap him he raised him arms in apparent surrender, "Relax, relax!" He said, "Are you telling me I'm wrong? Jeesh! Talk about being wound up real tight." Rosalie did slap him then and instead of whinging as usual he simply grinned cheekily before leaning in to kiss her on the temple tenderly before wrapping his arms around her.
"It's not that Em," I sighed as I lowered myself beside Jasper on one of the lounges, "It's that you never take anything seriously."
"Well someone has to add a little sunshine to your life!" He said cheerfully and there was a mixture of rolled eyes and chuckles throughout the room.
"Alice…" I heard Esme's soft voice call to me over the laughing of my siblings and I looked over at her to see her eyes shimmering with the tears that she was unable to allow to fall.
"Is he going to be…Uh…Will Edward be alright?" she struggled through the question before looking up at me desperately.
"I don't know," I said quietly.
I watched as my mother's face fell and as Carlisle comforted her. Then, in anxiety, I proceeded to watch the future, trying to find something, anything, which I could use to comfort Esme.
I don't know how long I sat there; fading in and out of present time whilst trying to find one good vision that involved Edward. Though I was having no such luck. Most if not all of my visions involved Edward and the fiery and manipulative female from a few nights previous, and by the look of things my brother was not enjoying himself.
It took all I had to stop myself from breaking down, so instead of telling Esme of what I saw, I simply continued to search for something other than pained screams and expressions of agony.
It was close to dawn by the time I finally had a vision of Edward returning home safe and sound later that day, and I turned to my mother in the hopes of lightening her spirits.
"Esme," I began, smiling softly, but I was never able to complete what I was saying as at that same moment I heard a sound that made the smile instantly fade from my lips, and my breathing come to a sudden halt.
From upstairs, Bella's piercing scream filled the house.
XxXxXxXxXxX
Yes, it's a cliff-hanger-I have a fetish with them, so deal with it!
So, there you have it, chapter 17!
It's officially the longest chapter I have ever written (23 pages long); I just hope ya'll like it.
Please review! I'd appreciate it heaps…
(Plus I update sooner which means not only do you get more ExB action, but you also get to find out what Emmett did to startle Bella when she was talking to Edward…Just Saying! :P)
Thanks for reading!
Love always,
Krissy
3 of Diamonds