Uhh... This chapter is NOT edited either. I got really carried away, and I couldn't stop writing. This chapter took me not very long. The grocery scene is pretty random, but I had a lot of fun writing it, and I was cracking up like the whole time I was writing it... Plus: you get to enjoy Edward's (there really isn't another word for it...) amazing perfection. :) I hope you enjoy the second chapter!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters in this story, all are owned by Stephenie Meyer!
Chapter Two
I dreamed peacefully, that night. I was asleep during my dream, too. But instead of being alone in the dream, Edward held me while I slept, he guarded me as my protector... I was upset to wake up in the morning, it meant I was alone again.
I went downstairs to make myself breakfast. For about five minutes, I debated on what cereal to eat, Cheerios or Frosted Flakes? I decided to go with Cheerios, it was healthier than Frosted Flakes are anyway. For a few minutes, I wondered why the house was so quiet, then I remembered that Charlie had work. So I would have Saturday all to myself, and I couldn't really go anywhere, it was raining very hard.
I chose to go upstairs to my computer and check my email. The computer was extremely slow, and I got a little impatient, but I put on some music and sang along with it while I waited for my computer to boot up. When it finally did, I clicked on the internet icon and went to my yahoo account. I logged in and tapped my fingers to the beat of the music while I waited. I had two new emails, both from Renée, I sighed before reading.
One from last week, and one from two days ago.
The one from last week said: Bella, why haven't you emailed me yet? I know it's been only a couple of days, but I'm surprised you haven't emailed me to talk about what's been going on... Well, I hope you're doing alright. Email me back soon, sweetheart. Love, Mom.
The email from the other day was a bit longer: Bella, you still haven't emailed back. Is everything okay? You need to email me back or I will go crazy. Oh, I miss you so much. Have you made any friends that you can be with? I'd hate to imagine you there all by yourself in that old house... I know what you must be thinking... She sent me here, she is just torturing me... Well, I spaced out that Charlie wouldn't be around so much. I'm so sorry Bella. I really miss you. Phil says hello, too. I love you with all my heart. Tell me about everything you've been doing lately! Love you tons, Mom.
I smiled to myself and decided to reply before she could report my kidnapping.
Hey Mom, Sorry it took so long to reply. You know the ancient computer that Dad put in this room, it's so slow, I lose my patience with it sometimes... Everything is going pretty smoothly, I guess. Charlie is being cool, when he's actually around... Yeah, I made a friend. We've hung out a couple times... I've been reading a lot, too. Not books from a library around here, the ones I brought with me. The stock here is pretty small. Just like the town. Haha. Tell Phil I said hey back. How are you doing? You must be celebrating with me not around. I miss you and love you, too. La Push beach is beautiful, whenever you visit again (if ever), you should go there. It's like a fairy tale. Much Love, Bella.
I cleared out all my junk mail, and was immediately bored. There wasn't really anything else to go except try to cook something. Evidently, Charlie didn't really go shopping much, there were only a few things that were possible to cook, and those were months past their expiration dates. I grabbed a jar from the cabinet that was labeled FOOD MONEY, and ran to my truck.
When I arrived at the supermarket, I found that it was very well stocked for such a small town. I walked up and down every aisle to make sure I didn't miss anything important. On the way to the check out, I was so wrapped up in what I was going to make for Charlie and I tonight (Chicken Alfredo), that I accidentally ran into someone's cart. I blushed and kept looking down.
"I'm really sorry." I mumbled to my feet, and then started walking again. The person grabbed my shoulder. Oh no, please don't let them yell at me in front of everyone. Wide-eyed, I turned to the person. A big, tall man was glaring at me relentlessly. Yeah... He looks like a yeller.
"Are you blind, lady?" he said, his voice too loud for normal conversation.
"I'm so sorry, sir. I was thinking about the food I'm buying, and I just lost my concentration..." Tears began welling up in my eyes.
"Look, girl. I don't really care if you meant to or not. But, you broke my eggs. MY WIFE WAS EXPECTING UNBROKEN EGGS, AND I'M REALLY NOT IN THE MOOD TO WALK ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE EGG SECTION!" he grabbed the eggs that I had, and threw his broken eggs at me, causing the eggs to pelt my skin, hair, and clothes. My tear ducts began overflowing, tears spilling down my face.
"I'm sorry..."
People were stopping to watch the scene. My face was burning.
"What's going on here?" a smooth voice asked, walking out from the crowd to my side. Please let me be imagining that voice. Let it be anyone but him.
Edward took my hand, pulling me into his chest, causing me to ruin his shirt with tears and egg yoke and shells.
"What gives you the right to yell at this girl?" he asked angrily of the man.
"She broke my eggs," he spat back. Edward began laughing. This man was not exactly small, and I was completely terrified of him... While Edward held me, laughing. This moment seemed like a mockery of my dream last night.
"Look, buddy, you are overreacting about this situation, it was an honest mistake, and--" The big man grabbed Edward from me, causing me to fall to the ground because I was leaning on him for support, and grabbed a handful of his shirt and began shaking him.
"I don't CARE if it was a mistake or not! I don't CARE what should have happened. She is a--" I don't know what he thought of me because before he could continue, Edward punched him straight in the face. There was a loud crunch as the man's nose broke. It began pouring out blood. I was getting really nauseated. What is going on here? A grown man picking a fight with someone over broken eggs? I ran out of the store as quickly as I possibly could, abandoning the crowd, Edward, and my groceries. I slammed the door behind me once I was in my truck, and cried.
The rain was so heavy and so noisy, and I was crying so loud, that I didn't hear the sound of Edward knocking on my truck window, holding an umbrella. I opened my door, trying to tell him to go away, but he pulled me out of the car, and walked me back to his Volvo. I saw there were a lot of groceries in the back of his seat, my groceries.
"Oh, Edward, you didn't need to pay for my groceries," I pulled out my wallet that had all the money from the jar. "How much do I owe you?" Edward put his hand over mine before I could pull out any bills, and shook his head. For the first time I looked up to his face. He was fuming.
"Edward, are you alright?" I asked timidly, not wanting to set him off.
"No, I'm not. I really feel like doing a whole lot worse than just breaking that man's nose. It's absurdly rude to yell at a lady in general, but over eggs? What kind of a man is he? I feel like ripping his throat out for raising his voice with you and breaking his arms off for throwing--" I couldn't help myself. I leaned across to his seat and gave him a quick peck on his cheek.
"Thank you for standing up for me," His face began to relax, and his fists loosened their grip on the steering wheel. He started his engine, and began driving.
"Where do you live? We need to get your groceries home..." I gave him the directions back to my house, and he followed them at ease.
We were silent until we pulled up in front of my house, and he began picking up the brown paper sacks to carry into the house. I unlocked the door for him and showed him the kitchen. We went back and forth from his car and to the kitchen to get the groceries in before they could get too wet. Right when I was about to head back up the stairs, one of my feet landed in a puddle, slipped backward a little to the edge of the stair, and then, trying to land my footing, I fell backward and into a mud puddle. That was gonna bruise. I started picking myself up and brushing off the butt of my jeans, when Edward ran out of the house to see if I was alright.
When he saw that I was, he began chuckling to himself. I don't really know why this made me so mad, after all he was the only friend I had in Forks, but this day seemed to just be dragging on.
"I'm gonna go take a shower, I really need to relax. Make yourself at home," I walked up the stairs and went into the bathroom. I turned on the hot water and let it relax my muscles, and then used my favorite strawberry shampoo, letting the scent fill my lungs as I massaged it into my scalp. I scrubbed off all the egg yoke and mud from my skin and out of my hair, thankful to get the stick off of me. After I was finished, I blow dried my hair until it was straight, got dressed, and brushed my teeth.
Edward was sitting in the living room, looking at my copy of Pride and Prejudice. When I walked in, he looked at me, with one eyebrow raised.
"Jane Austen fan?" he asked. I smiled and nodded. He didn't know this, but I had most of her collection, and I liked a lot of other classical authors like Edward (I can't even get the guy out of my head for a few seconds, just to simply name off my favorite authors...) Morgan Forster and Margaret Mitchell... Edward must have noticed my cheeks beginning to flush, but he didn't ask, he only continue to smile at me.
I stood up, and crossed into the kitchen, about to put all the groceries away, but it had already been done. Edward followed me in, I turned to him.
"You didn't need to put them away. You've already helped me enough today..." I felt as though there was a fire burning beneath the skin underneath my cheekbones.
"It's really not a problem at all Bella," he strode toward me, and touched my cheek with the back of his hand. I couldn't breathe, my heart was racing, and my face must be crimson by now. "You're worth any trouble with anyone or anything. I'll be here whenever you need me." I smiled at him. He was a very good friend to me.
I threw my arms around his neck, and hugged him tightly. "Thank you," I whispered.
"My pleasure, Bella," he chuckled.
I turned out of the hug, and began making dinner. "Can you stay for dinner?" I asked over my shoulder.
"Yes, I'd love to," I could hear a smile in his voice. "Can I help you with anything?"
I shook my head. "No, you can sit wherever, you can watch TV if you want."
I began taking out the chicken, pasta, and vegetables. I put the chicken in a pan with some oil and let it sit. While I waited, I took out two pots, filled them with water and waited for them to boil. Once they did, I put the pasta in one, and broccoli in the other. I flipped the chicken over and then went to sit down next to Edward at the table.
"It smells delicious." he smiled a crooked smile that made my heart pound violently in my chest. I couldn't help but smile back at him widely. I stood up, my throat was suddenly very dry.
"Are you thirsty?" I asked him while I turned to the cabinet and pulled out two glasses.
"Sure, could I have a glass of water?" (A/N: Hahaha. This really made me laugh. Of course Edward was thirsty. When he's a vampire, he's always thirsting for Bella's blood... No matter how satiated he is.)
I poured us both water with ice, and put his glass in front of him. I sipped it slowly, the cool water slid down my throat and felt amazing, soothing my dehydration. I closed my eyes as I took a second, longer pull of water. Ahh! It was wonderful. Before I knew it, my water was completely gone. Edward pushed his cup toward me, laughing. I drank that quickly, too, then I refilled both glasses. Huh, it seemed that the excessive water outside wasn't enough for my body. I giggled quietly to myself at the thought.
The chicken was smelling ready, I went to check it. I flipped the chicken strips over again to check that they were well-cooked on both sides, then I pulled the chicken out onto a plate and cut them up into small cubes of chicken. The vegetables and pasta were ready, too. I poured the water from the pans, then poured all the food into a large pot, added the Alfredo sauce to it, and mixed everything together.
Edward came to stand at my side. He deeply inhaled the scent of the food and sighed. His stomach grumbled.
"Do you want to eat a little really quick?" I giggled, filling the wooden spoon with the meal, and held it out for him. He nodded and ate it from the spoon.
"That's delicious. I don't think I've ever had better Chicken Alfredo."
I smiled. "My mom taught me everything I know when it comes to the kitchen."
"I really don't know if I can wait for your father--"
Right on cue, Charlie walked through the door noisily. "Bella?" he called.
"I'm in the kitchen, Dad." I said back. He jogged in, smelling the Alfredo I guess, but when he caught sight of Edward, his eyes narrowed, then danced between Edward and I, taking note of how close we were. I immediately took a step a way, and continued stirring the pasta.
Edward walked up to Charlie and held out his hand. Charlie shook it apprehensively, as if he thought Edward had a deadly disease that was passed through a handshake.
"Hello, sir. My name is Edward. Bella invited me for dinner," Edward explained calmly.
"Oh, so you're the Edward that Bella went out with last night?" he said. Was it really only last night we had been on that date? It seemed so long ago...
"Yes, sir, I am," Edward beamed.
Charlie looked him up and down, as if expecting Edward to be carrying a gun. I laughed. "Dad, it's alright. He's just a friend," Even though I wish he were more... "I invited him for dinner. I made enough for all of us to eat." Charlie hmphed and sat down at his seat. I noticed he hadn't taken off his gun, yet.
I walked to the cupboard and pulled down three plates and three new glasses. Charlie was interrogating Edward at the table, but I didn't pay much attention. I put generous helpings on each of the plates and poured milk into the glasses. I brought them back to the table and began to eat.
Edward and Charlie followed quickly, but still carried on their conversation between bites. I finished first, I wasn't really involved in the conversation, so I just hurried through so I could curl up on the couch and continue reading Pride and Prejudice. When I finished I took my plate and glass, washed them both quickly, and skipped into the living room to continue reading. I completely absorbed in my book. Mr. Darcy was at the cottage Elizabeth was staying in, and he was about to reveal his true feelings to her.
"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." a soft voice whispered in my ear.
I jumped from the surprise of Edward's voice reading the line I was just about to read in my head. I turned my head to face him, and was surprised by how close his face was. He smelled amazing. It took all the strength in my body to not close the distance between the two of us and kiss him.
"It seems you are having the same reaction as Elizabeth," he joked. "Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, colored, doubted, and was silent." he recited, not needing the book that was clutched firmly in my hand.
"You just surprised me. I didn't know you were already finished eating... It was weird that you were reading the same line as I was at the same time, and I wasn't expecting it..." I stumbled over my words, trying to sound nonchalant, trying to pretend that my heart wasn't racing at the sound of the words "I love you" escaping his perfect lips.
"Thank you for dinner, Bella. I really should be getting home. My parents are probably wondering where I am," I chuckled. He reached for my hand. I stared at it questioningly. "You don't have your truck, remember? We left it in the parking lot. Now come on."'
I took his outstretched hand and walked outside with him. He helped me into the car, then turned on his stereo. Quiet instrumental music filled the car, and we sat in silence, listening.
We pulled into the lot a few minutes later, and Edward parked next to my truck. I frowned when I noticed my keys still in the ignition... Well, it's not like anyone would we wanting to steal this old pile of tin anyway. It was pretty much worthless. I hopped in the truck, waved to Edward, and went back to the house.
My phone vibrated in my pocket just as I walked through my front door. A new text message. I opened my phone, but it was an unknown number.
Hey Bella. It's Edward. Do you want to hang out with me tomorrow? It's cool if you don't want to, but I was thinking of going to this really cool meadow. You're welcome to come.
I pushed the reply button quickly. Sure, Edward. I'd love to see it. When should we meet?
A couple of minutes later, Edward texted back. I can pick you up. Haha. How is noon?
Okay. See you then.
I snapped my phone shut then went to my room. I changed for bed and brushed my teeth, then ran to the living room to say goodnight to Charlie.
I kissed him on his forehead. "'Night Dad."
"Hey, Bells? Before you go to bed, I wanted to talk to you about something."
I turned back toward him. "What's up, Dad?"
"Well, I was just watching you and Edwin--"
"His name is Edward, Dad."
"Yes, uh... Edward. Well, I was watching the two of you during dinner..." He looked very uncomfortable. "I know this is summertime, and there is a lot of... temptation that you feel at this age... And I want you to know that I will support whatever decisions you make in your life, but I'm begging you, if you do anything... physical with that young man, please use protection. I don't want my daughter getting pregnant from a stranger she met over the summer..." I stared at him. Mortified. I have known Edward for what? A little bit less than a week, and Charlie was already giving me the sex speech? I guess I could understand it better if he was actually my boyfriend for God's sakes, but I've known him for a few days! Both of our cheeks were hot.
I shook my head. "Dad, I'm not planning on having sex with Edward. The two of us are just friends, remember? Besides... I'm not looking for a commitment this summer, just a way to survive it," I laughed dryly. This was so embarrassing. "Well... I'm going to bed, now I guess." I turned back to the staircase and sprinted to my room, and closed the door behind me. I laid down in my bed, and thought of one word, one face, one soul. Edward.
I drifted off to sleep in seconds. Today had been a very long day.
Please review! I will read them all, and I can always use suggestions you have, and I will take any/all criticism into consideration! Thanks for reading!