Chapter 3
Alice must have already seen our argument, because she greeted us by saying, "Oh, shut up, you two. You are each getting each other a present. That's all I'm going to say on the matter. Now, Bella, what are you going to wear?"
I rolled my eyes, and I think Edward did, too. "I need to dress up?"
"Of course you do, Bella. Don't be silly. Do you have anything? I could take you shopping tomorrow?"
When I celebrated Christmas with Reneé, I always just wore regular clothing. I turned to Edward. "Is it too late to back out?"
He laughed and said, "No, Bella, but I don't think you will." Darn, he knew me too well. He smiled. "And you don't really have to dress up. You know Alice; she's always looking for a shopping opportunity."
I sighed with relief and glared at Alice. "Oh, whatever, Edward. But she should still get some new clothes. Have you seen her wardrobe lately?" she asked him, with a horrified expression. She pretended to shudder, and then turned to me. She gave me that poor-me-I'm-your-sister-don't-you-love-me face. A face I knew all too well.
"Please, Bella?" She pouted her lower lip. "Pretty pretty please, for me?"
"Hanukkah present," I responded coolly. She smirked and turned to Jasper, leaving us alone.
Edward looked at me. "Shall we?" he asked, gesturing to the lunch line. As we walked, he took my hand again. My heart fluttered, remembering the previous day. He looked at me, and chuckled. But I could see on his face that he didn't quite know why my heart reacted the way it did.
He leaned closer to me. I inhaled the breathtaking aroma emanating from his skin, and wondered again if I could ever get used to it. I assumed no. "We will surprise each other," he whispered. He'd been this close to me before-and even closer, I remembered shyly- but my heart still thumped against my chest faster than it should. I was ashamed of myself. That was still entirely foolish.
"You don't have to decide. Alright?" he blew into my ear. I turned to him, unable to respond the way I wanted. I wanted to grunt, or show some sign of annoyance. But instead, I was left breathless. He hadn't moved his head. So when I turned my head, our lips met. And he continued to kiss me for a few more moments, right there in the lunch line. And I couldn't find it in myself to pull away. Of course, Edward did first. He grinned and grabbed a tray. I turned red.
When I fully composed myself, another question occurred to me. "What do you think everyone else will want? Carlisle and Esme, Rosalie and Emmett, Alice and Jasper?"
I could ask Alice and Jasper when I got back to our table. But the other four, I had no idea.
"Would you like to come over later and ask?"
"No thanks," I responded. I would probably just end up embarrassing myself. "But do you know? What are you getting them?"
"Well, to be completely honest, I haven't completely decided yet," he admitted. "But I have some ideas…"
I didn't ask what, because I figured they would be nothing near anything I could afford. But I realized I did have some serious thinking to do. And only a few days to do it.
When I sat down at the table, I realized Alice and Jasper had left. When I had agreed to celebrate Hanukkah with the Cullens, I had no idea how hard it would be.