Big thanks to Brooke for all her wonderful ideas and contributions to this story, Arrow # 3!
Disclaimer: The characters of Twilight are owned by Stephenie Meyer. The original content and ideas of this story are those of TheGirlNtheYellowShoes.
The Wishing Well
"Love give me strength and strength will help me through." ~ William Shakespeare
A week later I was standing out back, just inside the woods by the well. Maggie had brought me here to fetch water a few days prior and I just thought it was so serene and beautiful. I'd come out here multiple times since.
It was now open knowledge in the household that I was definitely not from here and none of us had any idea how to get me home. I was having a particular hard time with the fact that I hadn't at least called dad to tell him I loved him the night I got to the hotel. He'd been through so much already, me being missing would be the last straw. It would kill him and I couldn't bare the thought of going home to find him six feet under because of me.
I sighed and sunk to the ground beside the well, staring at the small stone wall surrounding the area that was keeping out the encroaching forest.
My mind also kept wandering to him. I had asked Maggie who had saved Isabella and I in the market place. I had tried to be nonchalant about it. She told me his name was Edward and that he kept to himself, not wandering into town very often. She seemed almost surprised that he'd been there, much less saved us.
I momentarily wondered again if perhaps I was asleep, in a coma somewhere in a hospital and having read Twilight recently maybe my head was making up some twisted version of that story. I mean, really? Isabella, Rosey, Edward? Hello.
I shook my head and was brought out of my trance when I heard a branch snap. I gasped, bracing myself against the well and looking in the direction of the sound, I was met by Edward's intense gaze as he stood just on the other side of the small stone wall.
"I apologize. I didn't mean to frighten you," He stood especially still. I momentarily wondered if he'd snapped the branch on purpose so I would know he was there.
I took in a jagged breath before nodding. I looked him over, thinking maybe I had mistakenly saw some similarities last time that had made me think he was someone else, but no such luck... I was staring at him.... the man who would become my savior.
I relaxed against the wall before moving to stand.
"Perhaps I should go," He nodded and started to turn.
"Wait," I blurted out, my hand shot to my mouth and I realized I was half standing with all my body weight into the side of the well. I finished standing as he slowly turned back to face me.
"Thank you." I said after a moment, as he was clearly waiting for me to say something, "Thank you... for the other day. I apologize for the way I acted."
"No need to."
We stood there and stared at each other.
"Why...." I asked and he looked at me confused. "Why did you do it?" I shrugged. I just wanted to understand why this beautiful stranger was compelled to save me of all people.
He stared at the ground narrowing his eyes, "I don't really know."
At least he was honest.
"Do you come here often?" He asked looking at me again as he put a leg up over the wall and stepped into the circle closer to me.
I shrugged. "Well, I only just got here, so often... not exactly... not yet." I laughed lightly at my words before turning to look into the well nervously. My words made my stomach queasy.
He walked around to stand on the other side and I could feel his eyes on me.
"You're sad...." He leaned over the well, tilting his head so he could see my face.
I drew in another jagged breath before letting it back out and looked up to meet his face.
"I know you... you know..." I said finally. I didn't mean to say it, it just sort of came out. I brushed my hair from my face and pulled at one of the strands, twisting it with my fingers.
His brow furrowed and he narrowed his eyes at me, "What do you mean you know me?"
"I almost drowned, but you saved me..." I paused, wondering if this was safe before deciding I didn't care, "when I was 17.... granted... that's hundreds of years from now, but you pulled me out of the ice." I said looking back into the water, waiting for him to bust out laughing or call me crazy. He didn't. He didn't say anything, in fact he was so quiet I would have almost thought he'd left if I hadn't felt his eyes boring into me like I had felt that night at the club.
"Bella?!?!" I heard Maggie call.
I panicked and looked up, but he was already gone...
"Bella?" Maggie called again. I swung around to face the woods where he'd come from to find no trace that he'd ever even really been there.
I sighed, leaning into the wall for a moment and looking at the ground. I inhaled deeply, the light scent of lilac reaching my nose as started for the path, "Coming."
Maggie met me at the edge of the woods by the garden, "Hey there you are. Wow, you can't get enough of the well, huh?" She laughed. I smiled.
"What's up?" I asked, brushing off my light blue skirt and straightening it out.
She looked at me weird, "Oh, nothing much. I was just going to walk up the road and thought I'd see if you would like to join, mum made a pie for Dr Cullen and asked me to take it to him."
I froze at her words.
"Dr Cullen, huh?" I asked looking at the ground.
"Yes, he's Edward's uncle...." She said eyeing me cautiously.
"Oh, they live near here?" I asked nonchalantly.
She nodded before heading off towards the house and I followed as she continued, "Edward's parents owned the land neighboring ours, the Heronden Manor, when....." She paused and turned to look at me. "When his parents died of yellow fever... Dr Cullen came to care for them. Edward somehow survived." She shook her head and looked at the ground. "They typically don't interact in the town affairs, they keep to themselves. A bit of loners I guess you could say?" She shrugged, "Mum still makes them something on occasion, you know, to be neighborly I guess."
I just nodded as we reached the back door.
"And Dr Cullen is kind," She added turning towards me and smiling lightly. That should have thrown me for a loop, but I was so caught up in my own thoughts it didn't register.
I looked up at her, "How old is he?" I tilted my head to see her through the sun.
"Who? Dr cullen?" She asked.
"Edward..."
"Oh, I don't know, 24 maybe?" She shrugged before turning to walk into the house. "Don't worry, he rarely shows his face around here, I'm sure you won't have to be bothered by him again."
"Why do you say that?" I asked when we had reached the kitchen.
She turned to look at me after grabbing the pie. "You just seemed a little rattled the other day." She shrugged.
I looked at the floor, not commenting further. I decided the less she knew, the better. I was having a hard enough time as is figuring this all out myself.
"Come, let's go so we can make it back before the sun sets."
I grabbed my coat off the rack by the back door and put it on, sliding my hood up before following her out of the house again. As we made our way up the street I momentarily wondered what Anna was doing. It had been a good 9 days since I'd gotten here and I wondered if she was looking for another job.
"What are you thinking about?"
"My assistant," I said without thinking. My head shot up and I looked at her, sheepishly. She gave me a puzzled look and I smiled in return before laughing lightly.
"I had someone who worked personally for me, who.... who would make sure I got to appointments on time, take care of extra things I didn't have time to do and basically get my coffee, tea and meals." I laughed and shook my head when I realized how stupid and shallow it sounded. "I guess you could call her a glorified butler."
Maggie furrowed her brow at me, not completely understanding, "What exactly.... do you do?"
I sighed, looking down at the ground for a moment. "Well... I was... a model," I said trying to figure out how to explain it to make her understand. "I got paid a lot of money to have my photo taken in expensive clothes made by people who..... who basically chose beautiful women and men to campaign their brand." I hoped she understood. She was after all well educated.
She nodded, "Sounds glamorous... getting paid to have your photo taken and having someone to be your minion." I'd definitely underestimated her knowledge base.
I laughed, "It is overrated. Trust me."
"Do you think I might ever get to visit where you came from?" She asked a moment later.
I sighed, "Maggie, this life... it's so much simpler. You should be happy with this place." I hoped that made her content because I didn't even know if I was going to get home, let alone be able to have future vacation visits through a time portal.
When we finally reached the Cullens I was speechless. Their estate was breathtaking and their home was that of a small castle. It amused me that Maggie just waltz so nonchalantly up to the front and raised her hand to knock. "Not in my lifetime," I huffed.
Before her hand reached the door it flew open, "Maggie!" Came an enthusiastic voice. I stepped forward so I could see who it was. A tall blonde haired man with sparkling blue eyes stood in the doorway. He wasn't just simply handsome, he was completely beautiful. Beyond Beautiful. I bit my lip to keep my mouth from falling open.
"Hello Dr Cullen! My mum asked me to bring this by to you," She said handing out the pie, glowing. It was evident in that moment that this 17 year old girl had a crush on the town Doctor.
"Mmm, Why of course, thank you," He smiled before noticing me, "Oh, you have a friend with you."
"This is Annabella, she's visiting us for the time being." She gestured towards me and I walked forward.
"Hello," I nodded slash semi curtsied. Face palm please?
"Well, please girls, come in," He gestured towards his foyer and Maggie beamed.
He led us into a large sitting area and disappeared only to return with three slices of pie.
"Thank you," I said as he handed one to me. I eyed it skeptically, trying to remember the last time I'd had pie, much less a homemade one.
"Your very welcome." He said enthusiastically.
"So Annabella," He said smiling as he sat in a large chair opposite Maggie and I.
"Bella." I blurted out, I looked up shocked at my outburst. "I mean, I prefer Bella."
"Right," He smiled, "Bella.... how do you like Tenterden so far?"
"Well...." I smiled, "It's definitely something a little dreamy." Knowing it wasn't far from the truth.
"mhmm," He nodded taking a bite of his pie. I eyed him curiously, something was different about him.... very similar to Edward. He had the light circles under his eyes that complimented his delicate opposing complexion. One just wanted to reach out and touch him to see if he was real. He looked up to see me staring causing me to blush and looked back at my own slice of pie.
"Maggie, darling, this pie is something else. You will have to send my most sincere thank you to your mother," He said turning to smile at her. She blushed and looked down too. I smirked, he'd just managed to make us both go tomato in point, zero, five seconds.
"Will do, Dr Cullen."
I heard a door shut and Maggie and I looked towards the foyer.
"Hello Edward," Dr Cullen said without turning to see who it was.
Edward rounded the corner cautiously and his eyes widened when he saw the two of us sitting there.
"Carlise." He nodded. I looked back at my pie nervously as he stood there and stared in our direction.
"You should try a piece," I saw Dr Cullen hold up his slice of pie, "It's absolutely amazing."
There was a long silence and it grew increasingly uncomfortable.
"So, Dr Cullen, will you be in town for the spring festival party?" Maggie asked suddenly. I turned to look at her. I had no idea what she was talking about, but I think I was more shocked she'd broken the silence than anything else.
"Actually I will. I was planning to attend." He nodded, "How about you and Bella?"
Edward disappeared from the doorway, "Actually, I hadn't gotten around to talking to Bella about it yet. We have a fitting for our costumes tomorrow though." I looked at Maggie in shock.
Dr Cullen nodded, "She should quite enjoy it."
"I thought you said the king was coming?" I said looking between Maggie and Dr Cullen. I didn't think just anyone would be able to attend such events where there would be royalty. Surely they had to do some sort of background check?
"Yes, it's one of the event's he'll attend," She said nonchalantly.
"You know... I'm not really one for costume parties," I said after a moment of silence, eyeing Maggie skeptically. Honestly, I had no desire to meet Henry the eighth. He was after all, according to the history books I'd grown up with anyways, a year away from murdering his wife.
Maggie laughed lightly, "Don't be silly Bella. The gowns are beautiful, colorful, and extravagant and the masks are exciting. The party itself is quite a lot of fun too." Dr Cullen smiled at her words, nodding in agreement.
I looked between her and Dr Cullen again for a moment before I smiled, cocking my eyebrow at Maggie and shaking my head. She furrowed her brow in return, curious as to what I was thinking.
I ate a piece of my pie, the first piece actually and looked up to see Dr Cullen was now eyeing me curiously.
"Not much of a fan?" He sounded surprised.
"I'm just.... I haven't had much of an appetite lately I guess." I said setting the plate down on the table in front of me.
He nodded, "You look a little thin. Are you feeling alright?"
I blushed, "I'm fine," I assured him and smiled a little embarrassed. It wasn't as if I purposely starved myself. I was about to counter heartbreak as the reason, when I realized Jake hadn't even crossed my mind in days.
"That's just Bella, the perfect body to go with the perfect face and all." Maggie joked.
I looked at her glaring before we both busted out laughing. Dr Cullen smiled.
"Well, we should go, Mum won't like it if we aren't home before dark." She sighed, clearly disappointed, "Thank you Dr Cullen." She stood and curtsied. I stood slowly.
"Right, well thank you for your visit and thank your mother for the wonderful pie, for me?" He said standing as well. "It was very nice to meet you Bella." He gestured towards me as we walked towards the foyer.
"You as well Dr Cullen. Take care and have a great evening." I said following Maggie out the front door.
I turned to look back over my shoulder and saw Edward standing by the staircase looking as if he was internally fuming. I immediately turned around and caught up to Maggie.