Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Twilight.
Three years ago…
"What's got you smiling at your phone like that?" Rosalie asks, leaning her head on my shoulder to peek at my screen. "Who is that?"
I glance at her before returning my attention to the picture on my phone. He was in dark wash jeans and a worn, plain white shirt under a red and black checkered flannel. Dark sunglasses covered eyes that I knew were emerald green and crinkled in the corners when he smiled. His copper colored hair looked expertly styled to look messy, though I know all he does is finger comb it in the mornings after his shower. Across his lap rested a guitar.
"Er," I hesitate. Rosalie was my best friend and I always tell her everything. Well, everything except for the man on my phone we were staring at. "Edward?"
"Edward? Who's Edward?"
"I met him online about four months ago and we've been talking." And I tell her everything, starting from the night I learned Jacob had been cheating on me and my resulting drunk escapade on chat websites. I tell her the things I've learned about him, like his favorite color, his family, his love for music, as I scroll through photos of him. At the end of it all, her baby blue eyes flit between my face and the man on my phone, her lips pursed.
"Bella, honey," Oh, here we go. "I don't think I like this very much. I mean, you've only ever met the guy online. How do you know this is who you're really talking to? It could be some fat guy in his fifties!"
"I'd be really impressed if a fat guy in his fifties can look like that on video," I tell her as I roll my eyes.
Rose copies me as she dips a fry into her mayo and barbeque sauce concoction. "Well, I still don't like it. Even if he is the guy you're showing me, you don't really know him. He could tell you anything, and you wouldn't know if it was true or not."
I let loose a deep breath, puffing out my cheeks. Then, before she can protest, I steal one of her fries, dipping it in the sauce. "You're right. He could just be telling me things I want to hear, but I don't think so. He's just so genuine when we talk, you can't fake that consistently. You might think I'm a fool for trusting him, but he's been a really good friend for me. He's really helped me after what Jake did."
"Okay," Rose sighs. She gathers her hair and throws it over her shoulder. "Just, please be careful, and don't go falling in love with him, okay?"
I nod quickly, hoping she mistakes my blush for embarrassment instead of guilt.
I was already falling for Edward Cullen.