A/N: This is only Bella's POV of meeting Edward. You will miss nothing if you skip it to read the next chapter.
Chapter 5.5 - The Meet (Bella)
BPOV
I was dreaming. An angel that looked like this didn't exist in the real world. I had to be dreaming. He was too perfect; it almost hurt to look at him.
I traced his jaw line with my eyes, the curve of his lips, the bronze tousled hair threatening to spill over his eyes at any moment and, saving the best for last, his striking emerald eyes. I could stare into those all day.
Trying to ignore the fact that I was clearly hallucinating, I struggled in vain to stop my blush from spreading any more than it had.
He did not just say 'it's you'. That's something a crazy person would imagine someone else to day. Maybe I was crazy though. I knew my brain was wired differently than other people. Maybe I had finally cracked and this absurdly beautiful man in front of me was the result of said craziness.
God, just don't let this man leave me. I'll gladly suffer insanity if I get to look at him for the rest of my life, I prayed.
The small, last rational part of my brain was trying to tell me something, but I pushed it aside, concentrating on memorizing every last detail of his face. Wait…this was real? That's what you're screaming at me?
My senses kicked back on. The cold, hard cement was firmly under my bruised butt, the wind was blowing against my face, and this was real.
He had said 'it's you'. I heard him. That explains why I answered with the always intelligent 'what?'
What was me?
My heart wanted to believe he meant 'it's you' like 'I've been looking for you and here you are', which is why it was pounding away so hard I thought it might explode from my chest at any second and kill me.
My head, however, knew it was more probable he meant 'it's you' like 'I recognize you from that night at the ATO party last semester where you knocked over the keg and then fell onto it, somehow chipping your tooth in the process'.
I had never really escaped the memory of that night. The video someone posted online the next day made it impossible for me to go outside for a week, fearful and paranoid everyone would recognize me. A full-on blush took up residence on my face that entire week.
I adamantly hoped my head was wrong. I wanted it to be my heart's explanation because that's sort of how I felt, looking at him. But I knew he couldn't mean it that way. That's something a crazy person would think a faultless, out of her league and the one above hers, beautiful man would mean when he said things like 'it's you'.
Staring into his eyes, I accepted the inevitable. I was crazy. I couldn't speak, in some sort of trance, locked into his gaze, and I was certifiably crazy.
Go me.
"Bella! Are you okay?" Angela yelled from somewhere behind me. I had completely forgotten she was behind me. Of course she would witness this. My face grew hot, bright red from embarrassment.
Holy crap, he's not looking away. That look was making me dizzy. My head swam. Not good.
I tore my eyes from his. "I'm fine, Angela," I assured her over my shoulder.
I realized then I had neglected to ask if he was okay. I was walking rather fast before colliding into him. Even though most people thought I was petite, I had it on good authority that I could pack a punch when running into someone.
I turned back to him. "Are you okay?" I asked, hoping my voice sounded less breathy out loud than it did in my head. I needed to stop looking into his eyes. The effect was dazzling.
"Isn't that my line?" he responded, smiling crookedly.
I stopped breathing. Somehow that smile made him more perfect, more irresistible. It was almost annoying.
"I guess it is," I agreed, lightly laughing at myself.
His mouth opened, closed, and then opened again.
"I'm Edward," he said softly, giving me another dazzling look.
"Bella," I responded, slightly uncomfortable under his intense gaze.
"Bella, we have to go! Dr. Mason is going to be livid that we're late again," Angela said swiftly, suddenly beside me.
Well, crap.
I didn't want this to end, but at least now I'll have a name for the angel I dream about, even though I still wasn't completely convinced this wasn't a dream.
I scrambled up from the sidewalk. Edward rose with more grace, making me look like the awkward klutz I was.
"Come on, Bella," Angela said impatiently, grabbing my arm and forcing me to leave the beautiful specimen of a man behind.
I needed one last look, just to make sure he was real and not a figment of my imagination. My toe caught on an invisible obstacle in my path, and I felt myself falling again.
This one's going to hurt, I thought, bracing myself for the impact.
Firm arms caught me, lifting me up and against an even firmer body. It was deliciously warm. I felt…safe.
I looked up, blushing again, and smiled tentatively. Edward had saved me from falling.
"I guess that makes us even," I teased, stepping away from his warm embrace, instantly missing it.
"Yeah, I guess it does," he agreed, running his hand through his hair.
"Bella! Get a move on," Angela demanded, exasperated with me. She walked through the open doorway, hurrying to class without me.
I looked up at Edward. "I've got to go," I said slowly, wanting to draw out the moment. Then turned suddenly and walked away from him, knowing I would never see him again.