So, here's chapter 2. I hope you like it. Thanks to the people who commented or added me. I wasn't expecting anything, so that was a pleasant surprise.
I still don't own Twilight or the characters.
When we had finished putting the newly purchased books in the trunk of the Volvo, I turned to Edward. "So, where to?" I questioned. "We're very close to the market right here. Let's just walk down to that area and take in the sights," he said, slipping his arm around my waist and throwing me one of those brilliant smiles. I nodded and grinned back at him as we made our way through the streets of Seattle down to the market area. He stopped us a few times to show me different little nuances in the architecture and interesting little buildings of historical significance. My own personal tour guide. I was guessing he could give tours in nearly every major city on the globe. It got me thinking about where he had been and the different places he had seen. I wondered if there were cities he had not had the opportunity to travel to yet.
"So, this is a nice break from the wedding planning," I commented as we approached the market area.
Alice was getting manic. I was fairly sure she was possessed. We had planned, and re-planned and tweaked every tiny detail to death – and that was just the parts she let me in on. Apparently, the real surprise would be happening at the wedding, and I wasn't allowed to be in on the full wedding day plans. Naturally, the lack of detail did not bother me the way it would have bothered other brides. I was happy to be in the dark on as many details as possible. I was well prepared for the details I had say in though, like the cake for example. The cake-tasting was a day to remember. Since I was the only one in the room who would actually be eating the cake, it was up to me to taste everything and make all the decisions. Even thinking about cake now makes me a bit queasy.
"Yes, I thought it would be nice to get away for the weekend." Ah, so, we were going to be here for the weekend, apparently.
"The weekend?" I questioned.
"Yes, is that okay? I've arranged a place for us to stay for the evening, unless you would like to go home," he said, knowing full well I would want to stay.
"Where is it? It's a surprise, isn't it?" I asked, trying to hide the distain in my voice, but not totally succeeding.
"Naturally," he replied with a smirk. I rolled my eyes as we headed into the market to see the various goods available.
Pike's Market is incredible. There are so many things going on, it gets hard to narrow down to one activity. There is fresh fish and other foods available everywhere, the biggest bouquets of flowers I have ever seen, and vendors selling handmade crafts. We decided to wander through the crafts first, looking at the various paintings and jewelry available for sale. When my stomach suddenly growled, Edward looked down and sighed, "You should tell me when you get hungry."
"I didn't realize I was hungry until now, " I replied quickly. "Honestly Edward, I'm just having a good time looking around. Now that I'm thinking about it, I do believe it is time to grab some food." Edward directed me to the nearest sandwich shop and I got a meal that would keep me going for awhile longer. We moved out of the tent area and sat down on a park bench overlooking the ocean.
"I like it here," I commented before diving into my sandwich and chips.
"I'm glad," Edward replied back, putting his arm around my shoulders and pulling me closer to his side. I looked up and smiled between bites and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"So, are you going to tell me about tonight yet, or am I going to be left in the dark until the moment arrives?" I asked.
"Well, I am going to have to let you in on some of it before tonight rolls around. Alice has some very specific instructions on how she would like this evening to play out. You know what happens when you choose to go against what Alice says." He chuckled a bit, and then shrugged at me. "I have an overnight bag for you in the car. Alice said she packed everything you would need."
That was a scary thought. Alice's idea of appropriate evening wear had not rubbed off on me even remotely. I chewed on my sandwich and continued to flip through the different possibilities of what the evening could possibly hold in my head.
"What's wrong?" Edward asked, cocking his head to the side and obviously trying to figure out the inner workings of my brain.
"Nothing's wrong, I am just thinking of the different possibilities for what this weekend away from home could entail, and why it would become necessary for Alice to pack for me. Alice's shopping always makes me a bit anxious," I said grinning at him, trying to make him more comfortable. I got a half-smile in return.
"She wouldn't allow me to see what she had purchased for you, but she told me we would both be appreciative of her choices." He replied back. He looked a bit nervous himself, which wasn't a promising sign, but if I had to be in the dark, I was glad he was too.
I sighed, resigned to the fact that Alice was going to do whatever Alice wanted to do. It was something I loved about her, even when it annoyed me. She wouldn't be Alice without that quality. Edward began to rub small circles on my back and neck as I finished up the last couple of bites of my food. We sat in silence for a few minutes, me leaning into him, him rubbing my back, both of us staring out over the ocean. It was one of those moments I was trying to burn into my memory. There was nothing terribly significant about the moment, I just wanted to remember the peace and calm I felt sitting with him on this park bench overlooking the ocean in Seattle. A mental picture of the moment to remember right now.
I was broken out of my reverie by an all too familiar question from Edward, "What are you thinking?" he asked.
I turned to him and chuckled before craning my neck up to kiss him softly on the lips. He sighed appreciatively and smiled down at me, clearly pleased with my reaction to his question. "I was thinking about how content I am right now, right here in this moment with you. These are the things I want to remember forever. You're lucky you don't forget anything."
I snuggled closer to his side and rested my head on his shoulder. He tightened his grip around me and leaned in to kiss my temple softly, then the top of my head, pausing to inhale the smell of my hair.
"I can't fully express how much I love you," he whispered into my hair before kissing my head and caressing my cheek with his hand.
"I love you too," I whispered back. "Forever."
He gazed down at me a smiled brilliantly. He was getting used to the idea of me joining him, or at least, he was complaining about my decision far less than he had before. He wasn't letting me see how much it bothered him that the day I would become a vampire was rapidly approaching. Maybe he was using reverse psychology, or something.
"We have a couple of hours before it's time to head over to final destination. Would you like to go for a walk until it's time to get ready?" he asked. I nodded and we stood to walk through the park, still right along the ocean, taking in the sights. He started with his arm around my waist, but then moved his hand down to my hip.
This was new. His hand was only about 3 inches lower than the place it usually rested, but the feeling was something different entirely. I tried to play it cool as my mind reeled at his new hand position. This was pathetic. I was getting worked up over his hand on my hip. I looked up at him, trying to place a nonchalant look on my face, but was clearly unsuccessful by the smirk plastered on Edward's face. Teasing me further, he gently squeezed my hip and slowly rubbed his hand just slightly up and down. I could feel the blush rising in my cheeks. Again, I felt embarrassed that the simple gesture of moving his hand from my waist to my hip affected me so much. The embarrassment only deepened the blush. I heard Edward chuckle slightly at my side and I looked up and shot him a dirty look, which only increased his amusement. My assumption from earlier in the morning was correct, I was dealing with "playful Edward" today. I decided to use it to my advantage.
I had to be brave! I turned on him using the most seductive, alluring look I could muster (at least, I hoped that's what it looked like), batted my eyelashes and murmured, "Why Edward Cullen, what could possibly be so amusing?"
He broke into a smile before stopping short as I pulled my trump card. I slowly ran my hand down his chest and over his stomach, stopping just over his belt. That wiped the smile off of his face immediately, satisfying me immensely. He had a shocked sort of look, not quite like a fish out of water, but close enough. He hadn't expected me to be so bold, particularly in public. Truth be told, I hadn't expected me to be that bold either. He recovered from his surprise, and very purposefully put on his best dazzling smile. I beckoned him closer with my finger, then gave him a quick peck on the lips.
"Cut it out," I said with a smirk as I turned to continue our walk. He followed behind me, and when I turned back to look at him, he had an amused look on his face. He was enjoying the playful mood of the day as much as I was. I grabbed his hand and placed it back on my hip before looking up to smile at him again.
We walked along like that for a long time, just enjoying each other's company in silence. We would only stop to steal a glance at one another, or to quickly steal a kiss. We were having the perfect afternoon. I decided to break the silence by asking him a question I had on my mind for quite awhile.
"Edward?" I asked.
"Yes Bella?" he replied, turning to face me.
"I was wondering." Hmmm… how should I phrase this… best to just lay it out there. "Is there any human experience you wish you would have had? Or, something you have never done that you have always wanted to do?" I had been curious about this for awhile. I wanted to make his dreams come true as much as he wanted to make mine come true.
He looked perplexed as he studied my face trying to get some deeper meaning in the words I had just spoken. "I was just wondering. I mean, I told you the human experience I wanted, and I guess I was just wondering what experiences I could give to you. Things we could do together." I continued, feeling slightly embarrassed now, but still too curious to stop. I opened my mouth to continue, but he put his hand over my lips to stop me.
"Bella, I have you. You have given me so many incredible experiences already, and after you marry me, I will have had every experience I ever wanted. There isn't anything else I want," he smiled down on me.
"Everything?" I questioned. There had to be something he had never done before. A place he had never visited. Anything!
"Well," he said, smiling sweetly at me, "as nervous as I am, I'm looking forward to the experience we will share on our honeymoon as well. But, I could live without that. It's you I can't exist without. The wedding means I get to call you my wife. And that is the experience I am looking forward to more than anything."
"I'm looking forward to that too, but isn't there anywhere you haven't been? Anywhere you've always wanted to go, but haven't? Or an experience? I just want to take you to do something you have never done, or somewhere you have never been. Something we can experience for the first time together." I looked up at him and he nodded at me.
"Let me think about it for awhile. I'll figure out something we can do and when I do, you'll be the first to know. Sound good?"
"Yes. That sounds fair," I replied. I hoped he was taking me seriously. He looked serious and he hated to disappoint me, so I was sure he would come up with something he had never done before. He hadn't walked the earth long enough to have every experience possible.
"Good," he said kissing me swiftly. "I believe it is time to head toward our final destination for this evening."
So that does it for this chapter. I'm hoping to update and post chapter 3 up shortly. I really do appreciate the reviews I have gotten so far. Thanks everyone, but especially Car who inspired me to actually write some of the crazy stuff in my head down on paper. PLC!