A/N: I just reread the chapter where Edward takes Lia out, and it made me so sad. Because I loved that chapter and I'm sad that things are heading in completely different directions, I kind of don't want them to anymore, but this must happen. Maybe not, these characters have a mind of their own, and I'm simply telling their story. This chapter is rather long, but very important.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any recognizable names.
"you walk the surface of this town
the high heels above the ground
and high horses that we know
keep us safe until the night
you know them all, i know it all
stay put and play along
'cause i'm looking for my friend
now i got you, got you
don't you let me go, let me go tonight"
- Tonight, Lykke Li
It had been eight days since I had arrived in Forks, been pleasantly surprised by the fact that I didn't have to share a room with Bella after all, and met the Cullen family.
It had been eight days days and two pounds.
108.
I felt sneaky, I felt proud, I felt accomplished, ifeltitwasgoingfastenough, I felt…….. Guilty.
Because Edward knew.
Edward, who had been supportive of my recovery, Edward who had put up with my tantrums, Edward, who had kept me company for two nights in a row. My insomnia kicking back into gear after all the food was out of my system.
It was amazing how I hard it was to sneak past Bella. I thanked my lucky stars that Bella knew how health conscience I had been, and had made it her duty to cook fat-free and such.
Bless her.
But she monitored my bathroom breaks for chrissake, had hearing like a dog. The only time I got away with my purging habits was when I took a shower, after dinner.
And even then, I would receive a disapproving stare from you-know-who.
Valentines day, the beautiful little joy.
Most single people got depressed when it came to the day of lovers, me? Not so much. To tell you the truth, I didn't give two shits about Valentine's Day.
It wasn't that big a deal. It didn't bother me when I was the only one without a date, not because I hadn't been asked, but because I couldn't handle dating.
I know it's crazy, but I just couldn't handle it, not when I wasn't into the person, he could be nice as hell, I just couldn't do it. The only Valentine I had ever had was in freshmen year. A nice boy from the debate team had asked me, he was pretty cute too, sweet as pie.
He bought me roses and chocolates, and a big old balloon that song every time you touched it.
He had invited me to spend lunch with him, but I had chickened out. Spending lunch with him was the last thing I wanted to to do, second only to swallowing a cup of saliva.
I told him I had detention from forgetting my physics book again, which was believable, I was always forgetting that stupid book.
I took my gifts without as much as a second glance and left as fast as my gross legs could carry me.
I threw the annoying balloon in the bushes next to the South Building and gave the roses to Chris as we snorted cocaine in the middle of the soccer field after school.
Yes, you heard me right. I was a bad, bad girl, a bad girl with a 4.0 gpa. No one would've guessed, about my infrequent drug use I mean.
Sigh, Valentines day.
Me, Alice and Rose (I was actually allowed to call her that now.) were going shopping today in Seattle. They were mostly going to buy their dresses for tonight's rendezvous. I was going for appropriate school clothing, and Bella was spending the afternoon with Edward in their meadow.
I had gotten up with a huge yawn, Last night, Edward had been here until four in the morning. The stupid alarm was still buzzing loudly, usually set at 8:00 in the morning (Bella's strict feeding schedule messing with my sleeping hours.) was blinking 11:00 rapidly.
I had to meet Rose and Alice by 12:30.
I turned my head lazily to the side, scratching the back of my hair, only to find a note laying beside me.
I picked it up, opening the tiny thing,
Changed your alarm clock so you can have sometime to sleep in. You have a big day ahead of you with my two psychotic sisters.
Love, Edward.
I couldn't stop the foolish smile that entered my features. Idiot. I probably looked as stupid as Bella by now.
Not that I was in love with him or anything, just, it was those tiny things that people did for me that made my heart flutter.
Those things he did.
I distinctly smelled the tempting odor of strawberry pancakes wafting through the cracks in my bedroom door. That and fresh coffee.
I lazily went down the stairs, putting on a light pink sweater for good measure.
I stared at my hair, a little more volumous than usual, it definitely looked like I had just woken up.
I quickly stuffed my feet into some cozy white slippers, as I trudged down the stairs, chastising my stomach for responding to the delicious, disgusting odor.
As I stepped on the last, creaky step, the odor hit me even harder.
I grudgingly said a muttered "morning." to the two lovebirds in front of me.
And, god, it was a sight to behold.
Rather than Bella cooking as assumed, it was Edward. He was feeding Bella little bits of strawberries as she laughed along with him.
The perfect little picture of a couple. You could probably snap a photo of the moment and use it as next year's Valentine's card.
A yawn suddenly escaped my breath, as I stretched my arms waaaaaaaay above my head, my Calvin Klein v-neck riding up slightly, exposing my stomach to the cold.
I was already shivering.
"Why is it so damn cold in this house all the time?" I muttered,
"Because lower middle-class people don't see the need to crank up a heater and waste several of their hard-earned dollars when a light sweatshirt will do." I heard a velvet voice respond, I looked up to where he was standing, still smiling, looking, at Bella.
"Yeah, well.." I trailed off, not knowing what to say to that.
"Just a little something you will never experience in your life Ms. Dupont." Edward continued.
I looked sharply to him,
"Why did you call me that?"
"Call you what?" He was still looking at Bella,
At least look at me when your talking to me!
"My last name, is Swan." I had a hard time saying it out loud, I hated it so much. "Not, Du Pont."
He was still not looking at me.
"You'll see," He muttered,
Still having only eyes for Bella.
"Whatever." I almost snapped, is this why people hated Valentine's day? Because I was seeing their point, for once in my life.
I sat down on the dinner table, they didn't have a breakfast counter or anything.
I tried to gulp down the discomfort, being around these two always made you feel like the third wheel.
For example, if I where to double date them, my date and I would still feel like we were intruding.
I wrapped my arms around myself, rubbing them up and down against each other.
"Don't Edward, you'll make me burn myself!" Bella giggled, as Edward tried to tickle her while she was flipping the pancakes,
He didn't stop,
"Edward!" more giggles, ugh. "Aren't you supposed to be doing this?"
He laughed, ugh.
"This is a lot more fun."
Ugh!
Just be glad a gun isn't at arm's length Lia, your head would've surely be blasted off by now.
And then, like a calling from Jesus Christ himself, the doorbell rang.
Alice, I was sure.
"I'll get it!" I yelled a lot more cheerfully, as I bounced off to open the door and end my torture.
I was ready to jump the small thing as I opened the door.
"Happy Valentines day sweetheart."
I stood there, shell shocked. It couldn't, was it really?
I distinctly felt both Bella and Edward behind me, as they came closer to see who it was at the door.
"Well, don't just stand there dear, let us in."
"Daddy! Aunt Rose!" I jumped on them, hugging them with all my might.
"Awww, there there sweetheart, just let us in, I'm freezing in this terrible weather."
"Of course, Auntie, daddy."
I let them pass, Aunt Rose was actually my Great Aunt, she had danced for Balanchine himself in the New York City Ballet, she had been his "muse" at the time. Very big deal, she was still famous to this day in the ballet world.
I saw Aunt Rose eye Edward, if she was smitten by him she definitely didn't show it.
She continued walking in her grand manner, as she took off her coat.
"My coat dear,"
She handed it to Edward, as he hung it up, not at all shocked at her expectant demeanor.
She looked towards Bella,
"Auntie, this is Edward, Edward Cullen." I gestured towards Edward, "and you know Bella, Edward is her boyfriend."
"My Bella, what a catch." She winked towards Edward. "What a handsome young men, she touched his cheek, slapping it lightly for good measure." She quickly walked away from him, sitting down dramatically on the worn out living room couch.
"Of course Bella is quite pretty isn't she? Such a lovely little face. If she only brushed her hair or added some rouge once in a while, well all I'm saying is, no one would complain."
"Aunt Rose.." Daddy warned, trying to tame her vivacious nature early.
He suddenly turned towards me as we made our way to the dinner table.
"Well this is unexpected, are you here on business?" I asked my father as I sat down on the table next to him,
"Well, I had a meeting yesterday in Seattle and seeing as my flight doesn't leave until tonight I though I would visit my favorite daughter."
He scuffed my hair as I giggled, "Your only daughter dad," I reminded him.
"You're growing up too fast hun, seems like it was just yesterday you were begging me to play the piano for you."
"You could play it now, if you'd like." I smiled, pleased, remembering all the old songs he would try to teach me when he was home, my stubby fingers struggling to reach the keys.
"How old are you now, 13?" He smiled at me, in that comforting way, reminding me of my childhood, when that smile protected me from everything.
"Very funny, dad."
"Ahhhh, 16 I mean, 16 since April. Yes that's much too old."
I looked towards Edward as he smirked slightly.
Edward POV
Rose Alessandra Du Pont was the perfect model of a 63 year old Lia.
She had danced as Balanchine's muse, he had created dozens of solos and ballets for her. She walked like the legend she knew she was.
She looked delicate, yet hard-skinned. She wore grand jewelry and stunning clothing, she smelled like Chanel no. 5, and she wasn't too fond of Bella. Possibly because Bella was quite the opposite of Lia.
She was very protective of Lia, or Lillianne, as she called her by her full name. She loved her as her own daughter.
Her father walked with the same aristocratic grace, he looked down at his viewer, talked down to his acquaintances, and when you came upon him, a sense of intruding would creep up your back, as if you were wasting his time. His tall frame not towering, but intimidating.
As much faults as he had made with his daughter, he still loved her with all his heart, and he sometimes wondered if it was a good idea if he would've just left her be with her new family.
He had not been there for his birthday, or Thanksgiving, or any other holidays, and that absence had burned guiltily in his heart. But he had been there for Christmas, because Lia had been in the hospital for Christmas.
Her aunt had been there as well.
"Lillianne."
"Aunt Rose?"
"How are you feeling sweetheart?"
She didn't respond, but rather, looked away.
Her aunt grabbed her hand, soothing it between two of her own.
"When I first danced for Mr. B, when I was 16, a young little thing in his company, god, I was so excited Lillianne, you would know all about it. Dancing for his company! I couldn't believe it! I remember the way I practically ran all the way towards my first company class."
She chuckled to herself,
"My first company class with the New York City Ballet. I was wearing my most flattering leotard and brand new pink tights."
"I remember standing in the front of the barre, trying as hard as I could to catch his attention. My leg was quivering high above my head during developpes, and… finally… he looked towards me, I was so excited, the world famous Balanchine! Paying attention to me! do you know what he said?"
"That you were perfect, the most perfect ballerina of your time, that you had the most beautiful body and face and that he would create solos after solos for you, right up until his dying day."
Her aunt's smile faltered, slowly melting off of her face.
"Not exactly," the severe look projected in the woman's eyes depicted the seriousness of the following conversation
Lia finally looked towards her aunt
"What?" the young girl whispered.
Her aunt went closer to her, tracing Lia's 92 pound ribs.
"I was, 5'4, I was 97 pounds, and what he did, while we were having company class, was, he traced my ribs, just like this, and then he tsked, a rather disapproving look in his eyes, and said "must see the bones."
"Mr. B? He did that?"
"Yes," her aunt replied,
"But, but… he loved you, your body, it was perfect, he said so himself! In his interviews! You were his muse.. Weren't you?"
Her aunt continued to shake her head sadly, as though the words she were about to speak would break any budding City Ballet dancer's heart.
"He never told me, 'eat less,' he told me, 'eat nothing'
"And what did you do?" she whispered,
"I did exactly as he said," the elder whispered back, "and, when I got to 92 pounds, the same as you are now, the same as what has gotten you on this bed, much too weak to stand much less dance, I looked in the mirror."
"Do you know what I saw Lillianne?"
The girl stayed quite, her ribs slowly moving up and down.
"I saw nothing."
"What do you mean?"
"I didn't know who I was, I was no one. I was nothing."
The older woman held on to her niece's hand even tighter than before, seeing as she wouldn't reply, Aunt Rose continue to talk.
"It was the most frightening thing I have ever experienced, Lillianne."
Lia said nothing, rather, she looked anywhere but at her aunt, her fingernails, the television, the yellow spot on the far corner of the wall.
Her aunt took out a gold locket, a small tiny thing, engraved in it where the words;
Lillianne Marie Swan Du Pont
"Whenever you feel like you don't know who you are, whenever you look in the mirror and the little voice in your head starts whispering, whenever you feel much too alone to cope, just remember;
you are Lillianne Marie Du Pont, member of one of America's most powerful families, daughter to a wonderful set of parents, my niece, and most importantly, you will overcome. And nothing can take that away from you."
Lia had been fidgeting throughout the entire conversation, she hadn't the slightest idea on how to respond.
"We all love you Lillianne, we really do. And no matter how alone you might feel, just know that you are loved. Don't you dare forget that."
The sudden memory had shocked my senses. I knew, but never really pondered, on how Lia had spent her holidays.
The more I thought about it, the guiltier it made me. About what? I didn't know, I hadn't known her then, couldn't have gone to visit her if I wanted to. But something deep inside me berated me for not being there, as if I should've been there, somehow.
She had been in the hospital for Christmas, and had spent New Years day packing to go to the Treatment Center at Edmonds. It sent tiny needles into my dead heart.
"Ok there Edward?" I turned to look into the endless chocolate pools of a concerned Bella, the small crease in her brow letting me know that we would talk about this later, for I had been repeatedly retreating into my own thoughts increasingly since the arrival of Lia.
"I'm fine love, just thinking."
"About what?" She muttered, the same crease in her face, "You've been doing this a lot lately, there must be something wrong."
"Nothing to worry about Bella, I've just had a lot on my mind." I gently traced her jaw with my lips, as her protests turned into weak stutters, I knew I had won.
"Excuse me young man, don't you know it's rather rude to be groping your girlfriend in front of guests?"
Lia let out a rather large cough, as she cleared her throat.
I looked towards Rose, the woman was staring defiantly into my eyes, with the same intensity that I had come to recognize in all the Du Pont women I had met.
"Please pardon me Madame, I didn't mean to."
"Just because my name is French doesn't mean I'll buy into your cleverly charming responses."
I could see the stern banter in her eyes, she was sophisticated, at least that was accurate.
I smiled as devastatingly as I could, "I like this boy Lillianne, he's quite charming isn't he?" She shoved Lia lightly, she smiled back as her eyes rolled way in the back of her head.
"Oh don't you start your attitude with me young lady, just because I'm an old women doesn't mean I can't catch a good man when I see him." She chastised her great niece, whom she hated when she rolled her eyes, she believed it to be completely rude.
"Speaking of charming young men.." her aunt continued.
"The Rockefeller's where having their annual Winter Charity Ball last January, such a shame you couldn't come dear, but after all your health is what's important." She reassured her with a pat of her hand, as I saw Lia. Lillianne Marie Swan Du Pont.
Blush, almost as hard as Bella. Her cheeks tinted with the softest, palest, rosy hue I had ever seen.
It was not much, but it was there. She quickly looked furiously to the floor.
"Anyway Lillianne, Victoria, you remember Victoria don't you darling?"
"Vanderbilt?" Lia responded, showing absolutely no interest. As she stared at a spot on the wall behind her aunt's head.
"Yes, dear Victoria, lovely friend. Anyway Lillianne, her grandson, Jack Haynes had just come back from Eton in Britain, isn't that lovely dear? Great school, Prince Harry attended."
Lia's eyes sharply turned to her aunt, as they looked on suspiciously.
"I'm aware of the boarding school."
"Finest boarding school in Britain it is," her father added, "no better education."
"Anyway Lillianne, he was the most charming young man you'd have ever met. Extremely educated, he knew four different languages Lily, four! He even conversed with me in French for a little while, incredibly fluent that boy."
Hah! I knew 12 different languages, and could speak them with such fluency most believed that they were my native language.
"Wow, sounds worldly." Lia said back, smiling at her aunt.
What kind of dick name is Jack? Sounds like a douche bag from just the same school he attends.
I tried my hardest not to burst out laughing, so I coughed instead.
Luckily for me, her aunt ignored me.
"Anyway, we struck up the most wonderful conversation dear!"
Oh yes, I can imagine it now! Marry my wonderful niece! Fuse the Vanderbilts and Duponts together! We'll be so rich we could take over the world!
Lia's smile was completely angelic, her smile radiant and her eyes teasing. Behind her façade, she was still wondering why on Earth anyone would name their son Jack, who she had just deemed "the dickiest name in the planet, and whoever had said name was obviously the biggest jerk/douche bag in existence."
"What about Aunt Rose?" Lia leaned in a little, enhancing her performance of interest.
"Well of you of course!"
I though the days of courting and betrothal were over, didn't you Edward?
"Is that so?"
"He's half in love with you already! I'm sure, a ballerina! He was so impressed, especially when he found out you were training at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School!"
"What a good young man he was, strong family ties, good head on that boy's shoulders." Her father approved once more. Drinking a cup of the black coffee that Bella had brewed in the morning.
He smacked his lips distastefully.
"But I'm not anymore Aunt Rose, I wasn't during January either." Lia pointed out.
"Nonsense Lillianne! You just had a bump in the road that's all, in fact, I called the school about a week before arriving in Seattle, and they'd love to have you back! You're healthy now, you can return as you wish!"
"Speaking of Seattle aunt Rose, why did you accompany daddy here?"
"Oh. I was giving a master class at PNB dear, your father and I just met this morning, we do use the same hotel after all."
"It's true Lia," her father spoke up
"Part of the reason we came down here was to re enroll you, you wouldn't be able to dorm there anymore, understandably, you need to be with family, but your close enough to drive after school. Which reminds me, I already enrolled you in Forks High School, did it this morning, seeing as there is no other source of a more sound education around here, it'll have to do."
"Forks High has a perfectly sound education." Bella spoke up, her arms crossed across her chest, the discomfort in being around such people clearly angering her. I knew at this moment how unworthy of me she felt. She tried hard not to look at Lia, her eyes displaying all the envy inside of her.
"Why yes dear, maybe for more common folk. But for my little girl, I don't think I would be very comfortable having her receive her studies there if there were other places at which she could attend. Places with higher academic standards, and more Advanced Placement classes, you understand.. Surely."
Bella looked away, grumbling to herself as she did so.
"Lia, why don't you have lunch with us today? We have some other important manners to discuss, you do want to continue with PNB don't you?"
"Of course I do." Lia responded automatically,
"Then it's settled, your aunt and I will call you when we're ready, that won't be a problem will it? You have no other plans for today?"
No dad, I don't, seeing as I don't have a love interest, Valentine's Day would certainly be of no importance.
"Well I'm going school shopping with Edward's sisters in Seattle today anyway, so it won't be a hassle."
"Good, good, listen hunny, I need to take this call, but if you could come outside for a moment, I have a surprise for you."
I had the huge urge to roll my eyes at that moment, seeing as how dysfunctional Lia's family was. The cliché of richness rolling off of their shoulders.
Lia now obviously more excited, hopped off the couch, practically bouncing outside.
Bella grudgingly followed, as I stuck out my hand for her to grab.
Such a wonderful young man, absolutely perfect for Lillianne, they would make the perfect couple, the family would be so proud.
Lia's aunt still had her thoughts on Jack Haynes Vanderbilt, a boy that was certainly starting to irk me by the way Mrs. Rose continued to admire him.
Standing outside of humble Bella's home was a cream colored 2010 Mercedes Sedan, with all optional equipment. Leather seats, and all.
Lia's smile grew wider.
She looked towards Clark, her father.
"Dad! You didn't have to buy me a new car! I mean, I could've just gotten a ride with Bella."
In fact, Lia, believed she would never get another car, seeing as what had happened to her old one. She had crashed. Crashed?
"Nonsense Lia," Her father glowered disdainfully at the putrid rotting truck next to the shiny new Mercedes.
"Besides," her aunt added "you'll need a way to get to Seattle everyday won't you?"
"Yeah, I suppose so." Lia ran to the car, opening up the seats, taking a deep breath.
"I love the smell of new car,"
She also loved the smell of Banana Boat sunblock, coconuts, the casinos inside Las Vegas, and the water used in the boat rides at Disneyland; the smell of chlorine.
She sat on the driver's seat, fidgeting around as she looked for Sunglasses, funny, there was no sun out here. She would never need them.
"Where are the keys?" She asked distractedly.
"Right her sweetie." Her father said, dangling them above his chest.
She rushed to grab them as he handed them to her.
"I know who's driving to Seattle today."
"You still carry your license in your wallet right?"
"Of course daddy." He went to her as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Have a wonderful Valentine's day hun, I love you."
"I love you too dad."
"See you later?"
"Of course."
As her Aunt said goodbye to her, she turned to look at me, in her stern manner.
They waved her off, and sped on to the streets in their Cadillac.
"Well, that was unexpected." Bella muttered, as she went to stand next to Lia, who was still in her car.
"Oh yeah, sorry about that Bella. I know they can be kind of…"
"Overbearing?" She finished for her.
"Yeah, anyway sorry about that."
Bella shrugged her off.
I came to stand next to them.
"Just to let you know Lia, Alice and Rose are going to be here in exactly 10 minutes, and you aren't even dressed."
She looked down to see herself still in PJ's.
"Crap." she muttered, as she rushed back into the house.
Bella and I looked towards her car.
She had left the door open, with the keys in the ignition.
"Wow." Bella replied.
I chuckled good naturedly.
"She's so predictable, this car is going to get stolen before she gets to drive it to Forks High."
Bella smiled again, shaking her head.
"She can be so scatterbrained sometimes. Well, more like all the time."
I nodded silently, thinking of that Jack fellow and what her aunt had said.
"So, where are you taking me today Mr. Cullen?"
I turned to look towards Bella, surprised at her flirtatiousness, usually it was Lia who called me that, it sounded so much like her that I almost told Bella to never call me that again.
But that was foolish, she would be calling me that very often after she found out what I had in store for her tonight.
I was getting increasingly more nervous as I lightly traced the ring in my pocket.
I smiled deviously back at her.
"But that would ruin the surprise Ms. Swan, I can't tell you yet."
She pouted, as she crossed her arms against her chest once more.
"I hate surprises."
I come towards her and slowly swept my lips across her jaw.
I heard her heart thumping wildly.
"But I love giving them to you, so you'll just have to humor me."
"mhm."
She muttered incoherently,
I stepped back as I gave her a kiss on the skin at the back of her ear.
I smiled at her shutter, I loved the effect I had on her.
"I win." I whispered
She blindly stumbled back.
"Cheater." She muttered as she grabbed my hand and we walked together back to the house.
Upstairs we heard Lia's frantic pulling of clothes and her loud steps taken between the bathroom and her bedroom.
Bella groaned and put her head between her hands.
"She's making such a mess up there, I just know it."
Clark POV
That Cullen boy.
He had a strong family name, I had seen it in many of the uprising stocks.
A quiet family with a lot of money. I immediately knew it would be him, they lived in Washington.
Not many people as astoundingly successful in the stock markets chose to reside in Washington.
But that wasn't what bothered me, no. What really bothered me was the way he would look at my daughter. And the way she would sneak glances at him.
I had known my daughter long enough to know when she was keeping a secret.
Before I left, I had the urge to tell her. Warn her more like it, about this Cullen boy.
This Cullen who was currently dating her cousin, her sweet, good natured cousin.
I knew exactly how Lia would've reacted to my warning, and I knew that it would thus be useless.
One special trait we both shared was our impenetrable stubbornness.
Maybe nothing had happened between the two of them, in fact, the more I though about it, the more it seemed as though I was overreacting.
But there was this nudging feeling that the two were somehow linked in a way that crossed the lines of friendship.
And this feeling worried me.
I also though of Jack, and his apparent attraction to my daughter.
I though of the great prestige that would come should the two unite, and what me and my family could do to get this union to happen.
After all, he was a gentleman, with an excellent education and strong family ties. He would be an excellent choice for my daughter, should she accept him.
I knew that Lia would as well, how could she not? With all the connections and money in the world, I could not find a better man suited for her interests and needs.
He was the best choice for my daughter, and I would make sure they would meet, and meet soon.
Lia POV
1:00 pm.
By the time we had actually left the house, left Edward and Bella to their lovely Valentine's day rendezvous, by the time Rose stopped talking about my new engine and such, and by the time Alice stopped squealing at how Edward and Bella had gotten back together, "as it should be." she said, (she still wasn't over it.)
By the time I had finished digging through my suitcase for my wallet, and then confirming with my dad that my card had been activated, it was already time for lunch.
I had eaten Bella's stupid strawberry pancakes (340) topped with gross strawberry syrup (50) and a glass of 2 percent milk (130) not three hours ago.
I had been forced to keep it down (vampires in the room), and now… I would be further forced to eat once more. I could feel the sinking desperation taking me down.
I hated this. I had no control, I had vultures watching me.
Rose and Alice sensed my physical discomfort as they walked me to Café Campagne.
Rosalie smiled unsurely at me, offering a reassuring squeeze.
Alice did the same, her usual perky nature diminishing, she hadn't the right words to say, for once.
"So we'll pick you up in an hour?" Alice asked
"How long does it take humans to eat?" Rosalie countered, surely an hour seemed too long.
"Humans don't just eat when they go out Rosalie, there are some important things they need to discuss."
I gasped lightly.
"You know something I don't."
Alice tapped her head, her all-knowing, skinny little head.
"Of course I do, but don't worry, it's nothing you need to stress about."
I laughed lightly, as she hugged me, followed by Rosalie.
"Have fun you two."
"Oh, we will," Rosalie smirked.
"We're heading towards La Perla" Alice filled me in.
I gasped in apparent shock.
"And without me?" I tsked at them,
"No fair."
"Hey!" Alice replied, "You have no business going in there, not until your married!"
I rolled my eyes, "I though you were fun, Alice, Rose? Back me up on this."
She laughed as well,
"It's not like we're getting anything for us, Bella won't come in here willingly though.."
Alice tried unsuccessfully to shush Rose,
"What?!" Rosalie countered, "It's true, no sense in hiding anything from her, Edward already knows no matter how hard he tries to deny it.
"TMI, Rosalie, TMI." Alice replied,
She looked towards me.
"Edward and Bella are getting married" Alice explained.
I stood there, shell-shocked. Edward. Bella. Marriage.
WHAT?!
"What, but.. She.. I.." I continued stuttering like an idiot, having no idea what to say.
"Oh not like soon or anything." Alice soothed, "But I have seen it happen."
"And Edward knows this?" I returned, still stuttering somewhat.
"I've seen her turned as well, not as much as the marriage, especially not recently, but it'll happen eventually. I'm sure of it." Alice further explained, a little forcefully.
"Don't you think it's a little early for them to be thinking of such things since she just left that other guy?"
"Who? Jacob?"
I nodded.
Rosalie looked sympathetically towards me.
"Well, like I said, it's not going to happen tomorrow or anything, but, it will happen."
"Besides, Jacob was just a bump in the road that's all!" Alice replied, a little too cheerfully.
"Anyway, we're keeping you from eating, and we don't want that!" She pushed me towards the café, as she and Rosalie hurriedly left in the other direction.
I had an irking feeling that Alice had said too much, and she knew it.
I visibly gulped as the door closed behind me.
From the moment my eyes had set on Edward, I knew he would be forbidden.
From the moment I learned about him and Bella, I knew he was forbidden,
And when I saw them together, well that was just the nail in the coffin.
It was a good idea that I had shut off any disillusionment early on. Perhaps not early enough.
But the thought of him and Bella getting married, no matter how far into the future, or how close, made me positively sick. I wanted to run away from here as fast as I could, because I knew that I was in no state to speak to anyone, let alone my family.
My mind could simply not process Edward, a teenage boy in so many ways, settling into the responsibility of marriage.
Technically he was more than 100 years old. But still, he was so young, in a way I couldn't really explain. He was wise, but still… it just didn't fit. Him, a husband.
Maybe Bella didn't see that.
Maybe he didn't see that.
Maybe I was just delusional.
I went to the restroom as I saw the table where both my father and aunt where impatiently waiting.
I looked in the mirror, making sure I didn't look as flustered as I felt.
I took a few deep breaths before I walked confidently back out in the Parisian café.
"Lillianne, sweetheart!" I heard Aunt Rose call me over….
The past hour had not been the casual, loving conversation one would expect from reuniting with a family you hadn't seen for months.
But, in true Du Pont style, it had been all business.
We had discussed my reenrolling to PNB School, which had already been done. About my enrollment in Forks High, which had already been done. And, lastly, if I would like to change my last name back to Du Pont.
I acquiesced to changing my last name back. I was old enough to do so, at 16, and I had never felt like a Swan.
Bella was a Swan, my annoying stepfather was a Swan. I was a Du Pont. And I would be so once again, officially. In a very short time.
I had eaten a mandarin chicken salad (130) with fat free Asian vinaigrette dressing (45)
And water.
The good thing about my family, my father's family? They didn't hover.
I walked out of the café, saying my last goodbyes to my family as they hurriedly left, needing to catch a plane back to the estate in Delaware.
I was mentally exhausted, and more than a little anxious at all my newfound revelations.
I would start at Forks High and PNB this coming Monday.
Two days! Two freaking days!
None of my pointe shoes were usable, and all of my dance clothes had been, that I knew of, back home in Santa Barbara.
I smiled widely at the thought. If Alice thought she could shop, she had never seen me in a dance store.
I though back to the things I had gotten with Edward while I was still in treatment.
I had bought black leotards because I didn't think I was going back to PNB, where their dress code was different. At PNB, their highest level had to wear navy, not black. Not that I was at their highest level yet, that level was filled with 18 year olds, and some very talented 17 year olds, who were just about to get an apprenticeship with the company.
I was a level 7, only a level away, and my dress code called for a chocolate colored leotard, not black, and then I had to buy a new rehearsal tutu and white leotards and skirts for variations classes, and some new ballet flats, and some black pants for modern, etc.. etc..
The though of having to buy so much dance clothes brought the biggest smile to my face as I explained to both Alice and Rose of my situation.
Alice looked on thoughtfully, "I've never been in a dance store before."
Rosalie smiled at me as Alice continued to ponder this.
"How exciting!" She eventually decided on, her eyes glowing.
"I know right?!" I gushed back, but my eyes weren't just glowing, I was bouncing, vibrating with excitement.
Alice laughed at my apparent enthusiasm.
"But after this we have to go to Barneys and Marc Jacobs!" Alice made sure,
"Of course!" I replied back, as the three of us set out together.
"So where is this store anyway?" Rose asked
"Not far from here, we did pass some closer ones but PNB has very specific requirements concerning dancewear, so we have to go to their boutique. And not just that, I have to get refitted for pointe shoes, and our fitters are the best of the best." I explained, a little too fast but it was nothing they couldn't catch.
Rosalie's eyes shined at my apparent amusement.
"So we're going to get to see your school?"
"Oh yes, it's gorgeous of course, it's in a different location than where the company actually performs, but the company members take class at the location."
"Where is it?" Alice added enthusiastically.
"At the Phelps Center."
"Really?" Rose commented, "That's a beautiful building, it's huge!"
"Well," I replied, a little proud "It is considered one of the best ballet schools in America."
"We've never seen Pacific Northwest perform," Alice thought, "We saw the Paris Opera and American Ballet Theatre before but never Pacific Northwest."
I physically sighed as she mentioned the Paris Opera Ballet.
"Aren't they the most beautiful ballerinas you've ever seen?"
"Which ones" Rosalie asked
"The Paris Opera girls of course!" I responded,
"We saw them perform Sleeping Beauty,"
"That's the best in their repertoire!" I admonished,
"Sylvie Guillem is the best Aurora of our age!" I continued, "Well, my age, I guess." I added, remembering they had been born decades before
Both Rosalie and Alice laughed, forgiving me for my slip up.
We entered the small boutique, the women standing behind the counter lazily looked up at our entrance.
"Lillianne!" She smiled, coming up to envelope me in a fierce hug.
Mrs. Nakatani was one of the administrators at the school, that and the pointe shoe mistress.
"I'm so glad you've decided to return dear," She held my cheeks in her hand,
"You look beautiful!" I knew what she was trying to say, I looked "healthy" No. I wanted to tell her, I looked disgusting, I looked fat.
She held my cheek for good measure as she turned to look at the two stunning girls flanking me.
"My my, and who are these lovely ladies?"
Her eyes had glazed over, her mouth in apparent shock.
"This is Rosalie and Alice, they came shopping with me today."
"Pleasure to meet you," She held out her hand, but quickly put it down as she saw neither of the two would hold out theirs.
Alice smiled brightly, "Pleasure to meet you as well,"
Rose smiled politely.
She curtly turned towards the shoe section, sitting down wearily on one of the leather seats.
"Getting fitted today dear?" She asked, her voice still a little shaky
I shook my head at Alice and Rose, leave it to them to fluster a poor old woman
She knew my feet like the back of her hand, she knew all of the PNB student's feet that way.
The woman was a genius.
"Yes Ms."
I replied coming to sit next to her as she asked me to take off my flats.
"Well dear, your feet don't look very different, I'd suggest you stick with your Russian Pointe Almaz's, unless you'd like to try a wider box for more stability? It has been a while."
"I think I can manage with the Almaz, but if you'd like me to try a Rubin…" I suggested,
She though for a while, "Come to think of it, a wider box might just swallow your toes dear, your feet are quite tapered."
She reached for the Almaz's, width three, size 37.5, shank strength: hard, vamp length: two.
I put on the sample junior ouch pouches and slipped on the shoes, I went to the mirror.
"up on pointe please. First position." Mrs. Nakatani asked me.
"Oh yes, still have those ridiculous arches I see, we might need a longer vamp…."
The fitting continued on for several minutes, after alternating between a Russian pointe Almaz, Suffolk Solos, and Grishko 2007's, we finally decided on Russian Pointe Saphirs. Which were just like my previous pair, but preached, so that they didn't die as quickly, and the shank could hold up longer.
Any Ballerina could vent to you about how much she hated how quickly her pointe shoes died, I was no exception, and I simply refused to wear Gaynor Mindens.
I spent an extra hour buying six different chocolate colored leotards, all Degas and Wear Moi brand. The first time I had tried both brands, I had simply refused to wear anything else.
Along with the leotards, I also bough two different chocolate tunics from Degas, and then three Degas white leotards, one white tunic, and then a matching skirt for both colored leotards.
Along with some new ballet flats, leg warmers, shrugs, jumpers, tights, toe pads, toe tape, pointe shoe scruffer, and some other knitwear.
I grabbed a huge dance bag along with my purchases, and then some different colored leotards for my free dress code days.
Rosalie and Alice were shocked at the ghastly amount of money I had spent.
The Degas leotards had been about 85 dollars a piece, with the tunics being 98, but that was because of their brand, and you couldn't get them anywhere. It was either here, they're boutique in New York, or their main store in Paris. I had to order them back in California.
My pointe shoes had cost 85.00, and with all the acessories, and knitwear, the total had come out to a little over 3000 dollars.
We walked out with five bags filled to the brim with dance clothes.
"I never thought ballet was so expensive." Rosalie grumbled.
"Degas is the best, I simply refuse to wear another brand."
Alice looked back at the tags.
"Lia, these tags clearly indicate that the color of your leotard is grenat, not chocolate."
"It just has to look like a chocolate leotard Alice"
"I know, Lia, but grenat is hardly chocolate colored, it has a slightly reddish tint to the brown!"
I looked incredulously at Alice, the leotard looked brown.
"It looks like the right color,"
"Of course to your human eye, but upon further inspection, this color has a vastly different hue than a true chocolate."
Rosalie nodded in agreement.
I rolled my eyes,
"Well, it's a good thing that my instructors are human, or else they'd bite my head off!"
At that moment, we all burst out laughing.
Bella POV
Edward 's surprise had been… very surprising..
It had been nothing I was expecting.
He had took me to our meadow during twilight, except for it looked vastly different.
There where candles lit all around the circumference, and in the middle, surrounded by scattered rose petals, was a blanket, a blanket filled with a variety of different foods. Expensive looking foods, and a bottle of wine.
I was speechless, in awe of the beauty who had gone to such far lengths to make me happy.
"Do you like it?" Edward muttered in my ear.
"I…. well…. Wow." He chuckled, as I took in a sharp breath.
""I'll take that as a yes." He quickly appeared in front of me, as he slowly led me toward the middle.
"It's too much." I mumbled, feeling a blush creep upon my cheeks,
His face fell.
"I mean it's wonderful, but you didn't have to do this for me."
"Can't you see I wanted to?" Edward asked, and I knew he did.
For his sake, I tried my best to hide my shock and actually enjoy this moment.
But what I didn't know, was the astounding decision I had to make, the decision that would seal my future forever.
One that I wasn't too sure I wanted to make.
Because, although I was more than positive that I was ready for a forever with Edward, I knew I wasn't ready for the only thing he had ever asked of me.
Marriage.
Lia POV
I absolutely hated this day.
Hated it with all my might.
Alice and Rose had dropped me off at around six.
Charlie wasn't home, but when was he ever?
I had seen him about four times in the week I had been here. In fact. No one was home.
My stomach hurt from the lack of food I had eaten during lunch. I cursed it, cursed myself for being so damn fat, I couldn't even last a fucking day.
Rose and Alice were off to spend a wonderful evening with their respective others and Edward and Bella were doing something hideously romantic as we spoke.
Edward and Bella where, would.. Get married.
Married.
Bella, married.. With. Edward.
Edward who had gotten so mad when I told him I couldn't even finish Pride and Prejudice because it was so boring, Edward who had adamantly defended Austen's most famous novel, and chastised me when I explained that Sense and Sensibility had been far better than Pride and Prejudice.
The Edward who had teased me for watching South Park every night, telling me that it was rotting my brain. Edward who had groaned and moaned all night as I forced him to watch the vampire/ginger episode of said show, and how I laughed at the parallels of him and the daywalkers.
Edward, whom I had teased about being a 108 year old virgin,
Edward, who was the only living person who knew about my secret obsession with Harry Potter fan fiction.
Edward, who played the piano and fought with me about which composers where the best.
Edward who stayed up all night with me, whom I'd had made the deepest connection with.
Edward, who I couldn't stay away from anymore because it felt like something was missing.
He was my little secret, a friendship only known fully by the two of us. A little connection, I had a part of him and he had a part of me.
He had seen me more vulnerable than I had ever wanted anyone to see, he had stripped off my layers and saw me naked. There, standing. He didn't care about what I had done or who I was. He cared about me, at least I hoped he did.
And I was too selfish. I didn't care that Bella had known him and had him first. In my eyes, she was still taking something away from me.
She didn't know him the way I did, I knew she didn't. I didn't know how, I didn't know what they did alone or how their connection was made, but there was this little voice in my head the told me I knew him far more than she ever hoped to know him.
She just didn't.
It frustrated me to see them together, because Edward was missing something with her.
Passion.
It was passion he was missing, and I'm not saying he would find it with me.
No I wasn't saying that, in fact, I believed that I would be the absolute worst person for him.
No, I wasn't good enough.
But the thing was that no one was. Least of all Bella.
Their relationship was so sweet and seemingly perfect that it made me want to vomit.
There was a lack of fire, a lack of infinite burning that was the fuel of all consuming love.
She was too ordinary, too plain, too general, too little.
She gave nothing, offered nothing, and wanted nothing.
She was a selfless creature who only thrived on taking care of others, but she couldn't take care of Edward. He didn't need taking care of, not the kind she could offer anyway.
In the end the only thing Bella was good for was cooking, cleaning, and reading old books.
And after that was taken away, what was left? Nothing. She was plain, boring, absolutely uninteresting and filled with hollowness.
She was the every girl who walked down the street and got randomly married to a good guy and became a housewife or teacher and then bought a single family home and raised her kids and became a good 50s style mother.
The antifeminist. Betty Friedan would be so ashamed.
What was Edward supposed to do with that?
What the hell did they even talk about? Surely not what we talked about, stuff way over Bella's head.
I didn't know anymore. But I knew one thing. I was good for no one.
I was too much a selfish bitch for anyone to want me, and that thought… it depressed the hell out of me, it really did.
You always read these books about bad things happening to good people. And in every book, during the climax, this amazing woman or man would ask themselves, "what did I do so horribly wrong to deserve this?" and it made everything so damn sad because they hadn't done anything wrong, and yet fate had still thwarted them.
When the climax of my life hit, would I be asking myself the same question? What answer could I come up with? How many horrible things had I done, thought, accomplished? How much times would fate punish me for my errant behavior?
Was I my own antagonist? If Bella had compared herself to Catherine from Wuthering Heights, would I be Emma from Madame Bovary?
Would I screw my own self over for my selfishness, would I reduce to suicide when my climax came?
Was this what would happen? Would I swallow a bottle of arsenic when fate decided to rear it's ugly head?
And. How many times had I wished to do so? Surely, I had though of suicide for years, when things got so out of hand that I had found myself sobbing uncontrollably on the bathtub floor.
I had wanted death so bad that I called out to it, begging it to take my life.
It had been one of those days that Edward had found me, it had been that day. A breakdown that had me so far off the deep end that I wanted my life to end, but he had found me. He held me so hard that my organs put themselves back together, and death never came.
I hastily opened the refrigerator door, finding anything I could and stuffed it in my mouth, gorging myself in a haze of carbs, oils, and sugar
, stuff stuff stuff.
I ate and ate and ate until my stomach hurt.
Relief came at the expense of blood.
I crawled into my bed, the shadows that had been at bay engulfed me, covering me behind their fog colored glasses. They picked me up, and put me behind their glass case again.
I welcomed the darkness, the way it murmured hello, it's serenade lulling me, binding me into a fake sense of rest.
I could not sleep tonight.
I repeated my ballet schedule in my head over and over again.
A mantra that kept me somewhat alive, a mantra that helped me overcome the sense of fear threatening to engulf me.
Mon 3:00-4:30 Tech 4:30-5:30 Modern
Tues 3:00-4:30 Tech 5:00-6:00 Pointe
Wed 3:00-4:30 Tech 5:00 - 6:00 Variations
Thur 3:00-4:30 Tech 4:30-5:30 Adagio
Fri 3:00-4:30 Tech
Sat 10:15-11:45 Tech 11:45-1:15 Modern 2:45-4:00 Contemporary
Mon 3:00-4:30 Tech 4:30-5:30 Modern
Tues 3:00-4:30 Tech 5:00-6:00 Pointe
Wed 3:00-4:30 Tech 5:00 - 6:00 Variations
Thur 3:00-4:30 Tech 4:30-5:30 Adagio
Fri 3:00-4:30 Tech
Sat 10:15-11:45 Tech 11:45-1:15 Modern 2:45-4:00 Contemporary
Mon 3:00-4:30 Tech 4:30-5:30 Modern
Tues 3:00-4:30 Tech 5:00-6:00 Pointe
Wed 3:00-4:30 Tech 5:00 - 6:00 Variations
Thur 3:00-4:30 Tech 4:30-5:30 Adagio
Fri 3:00-4:30 Tech
Sat 10:15-11:45 Tech 11:45-1:15 Modern 2:45-4:00 Contemporary
Mon 3:00-4:30 Tech 4:30-5:30 Modern
Tues 3:00-4:30 Tech 5:00-6:00 Pointe
Wed 3:00-4:30 Tech 5:00 - 6:00 Variations
Thur 3:00-4:30 Tech 4:30-5:30 Adagio
Fri 3:00-4:30 Tech
Sat 10:15-11:45 Tech 11:45-1:15 Modern 2:45-4:00 Contemporary
The classes burned into my brain, I started dissecting them, relief at my technique classes, joy at adagio and variations, hate for modern and contemporary. Hate for me hate for….
I tried to stop thinking entirely, fooling myself into a false sense of emptiness. But there was too much to stop thinking, there was just too much in my brain.
All of my thoughts about dance and school and Edward and marriage and Edward and me and Edward meshed together into a huge ball, growing in immensity as they fell on my shoulders, too thick to process through.
I squeezed my eyes tight. Hating myself for being so affected at what happened around me. Cursed my fragile mind, so weak, so broken by the slightest of movements, changes.
So unable to face the things it had to, so immature.
I heard a hesitant knock on my door. The knock stopping my thinking the way I had unsuccessfully tried on my own. The ball immediately vanished, all thoughts seemingly lifting off my shoulders as the comprehension of who was at the door dawned on me.
Edward.
I looked towards the clock, gasping at the time.
2:00 am.
Had I been here all this time? Laying in bed? Wallowing in useless, fornogoodreason pity?
"Come in" I croaked, as my voice confirmed the longevity of my silence.
The door creaked slightly as a figure flashed by.
The small night light turned on, as another flash made it's way unto my bed.
"Happy Valentine's Day."
I was still lying there, my eyes squinting from the light, and from the blindingly beautiful creature in front of me.
"Same to you." I replied, coming to a seated position, Indian style. I stretched my arms way above my head, letting out a loud yawn.
"Sorry to wake you.." Edward looked towards me, abashed at his late night appearance.
I shook my head groggily,
"I wasn't sleeping, you know that." I smiled lazily, still a bit hazy from the dark.
"Why don't we talk so much to each other unless we're alone?" He suddenly asked, staring right at me.
"What?" was my clever response.
"I mean, today, when your father and aunt were here, we barely said two words to each other, and you introduced me as Bella's boyfriend, not as your friend."
I looked at him then, pondering his statement.
"Well, I'm not sure. Your always with Bella, and you two are always talking to each other, I don't want to intrude."
"I don't believe that's the real reason." He countered,
I frowned.
"Then what do you think it is?" Maybe he just didn't like that I was sort of putting the blame on Bella.
I saw his hands fidgeting
I knew there was something serious on his mind.
"Aside from that, you never really approach me."
"Sure I do! I always say good morning, or something.. But you just mutter something distractedly back, as though I'm bothering you or whatever."
"You don't bother me, it's just that…" he trailed off, looking the other way,
His hair framing his face in a way that made his profile look devastatingly handsome.
"It's just what?" I pressed, as he quickly turned back to face me.
"Well Bella, you see, she's sort of.." He trailed off, again, obviously unsure of how to word his next phrase.
"Jealous?" I added for him with a snicker.
"Not jealous per say, just, well, she worries."
"I was joking, what would she worry about?" I continued, interested in getting to the bottom of this.
I saw his jaw clenching, as he struggled to come up with the right words to describe what Bella was feeling, without putting her down.
"She's insecure, and she suspects that you.."
I suddenly found myself suspicious,
"Suspects that I what?" I continued to push, needing to hear it come out of his mouth.
"I know it's crazy, but Rosalie is under the impression that Bella thinks you might steal me away from her, and that's why she gets so worried when I stare off into space or talk to you on friendly terms. I know it's crazy, I told Rose that myself, but now, well, what if it's true?"
I scoffed at him, as I saw his tortured eyes harden at my seeming nonchalance.
"I hardly doubt she would think that, your crazy about her, surely she knows that."
"Yes. But, she can be quite insecure."
"Don't we know that?" I muttered, hating where this conversation was leading to.
"Does this mean I can't talk to you?" I asked
"Of course not! I want you to, I mean, when we go back to school I hope you don't ignore me in your usual manner." He pleaded, looking at me with those eyes.
"I won't just as long as Bella doesn't mind." I added suggestively
"Of course she won't, Rose was just overreacting."
"Alright then, if you say so."
"You don't believe me."
"How was Valentine's day?" I changed the subject, itching to know more about what he had done with Bella.
He followed along, sensing my obvious need to talk about anything other than Bella believing I would steal Edward away, and why Edward would tell me as such.
I had my own suspicions as to why she was getting so protective of him.
In one word. Jacob.
She believed that if she could leave Edward for Jacob, even just once, and even though it was a mistake on her side, that Edward could possibly leave her as well.
She believed she was hanging on thin ice because of what she had done, and the thought of losing Edward drove her out of her mind.
It made perfect sense.
"I proposed to her and she hated it." He finally answered, well more like blurted.
Now it was my time to be flustered.
"You what?!" I whisper/shouted.
"I took her to our meadow, I tried to make it as romantic as possible, I bought her the finest wine and breads and cheeses, and she refused to drink the wine, telling me she didn't drink, not even on special occasions, and then she didn't even eat very much either, claiming she wasn't hungry, and when I finally bent down on one knee and asked her for her hand, I saw it Lia, saw that confusion in her eyes."
It stayed quiet for a long time, as I saw the hurt flash across his eyes, the feeling of rejection spreading through him like a disease
"Oh Edward."
I pulled him into a hug, I knew about Bella's apprehension towards marriage, still I would've never thought that it would happen were Edward to propose.
"She did Lia, she didn't want it."
"That doesn't mean she doesn't want you" I replied, mentally smacking my head because I was defending her, her and her stupidity.
I ran my hands through his hair, the softness spreading in my fingers soothing the both of us.
"But she doesn't want to marry me Lia, I don't understand, what have I done wrong?"
And there was the magic question.
I would've drank the wine, welcomed the cheese, stuffed the bread into my mouth because it would be what he wanted, I would eat it all with a smile on my face even if my stomach was stuffed.
"I know you would've Lia. And maybe that's why it didn't work for her."
I looked at his eyes, as my arms still wrapped around his frame.
"What do you mean?"
He looked so much like a boy then, as he searched my eyes for approval.
"I kept remembering how happy you were with the surprise I gave you, remember? And I thought, well maybe Bella would enjoy it too."
I hugged him tighter remembering that night with astounding clarity.
Everything seemed lighter then, happier, it felt like it was centuries ago, rather than a month.
"I thought Bella hated surprises." I tried to respond, hoping that I sounded encouraging.
"She does, apparently everything I do for her is too much, but I don't want to not do those things for her either, she deserves them, I just wish she wouldn't fight it all the time. It would make me feel so much better, but sometimes, I feel as everything I do goes to waste with her."
"I understand." I replied, hoping that my understanding gave him some kind of comfort.
He chuckled sadly,
"You would've loved it Lia, if you saw it, you would've loved it."
Edward POV
I heard her mesmerizing laugh.
"Then maybe you should've taken me."
I knew she was trying to comfort me, she hadn't the slightest idea how to respond to my previous comment.
"Maybe.." I chuckled, remembering the way Lia had smelled the night I took her out, the way she had laughed and smiled and asked questions.
The way I had been transported back to my human times, even in the briefest of moments, a feeling I had never felt before her.
"She said, yes Lia. I gave her my mother's ring."
"You see? It wasn't wasted, she said yes."
"Yes, she did, but she didn't seem as happy as I thought she would. I pictured that moment gloriously, but all I could see was shock."
She continued to touch my hair, she couldn't stop, and I didn't want her to.
I scooted closer to her, feeling something, something
Don't know why, there's no sun up in the sky…
Stormy weather..
I found Lia thinking of the same night I was now reminiscing on.
I found myself desperately wishing we transport back to that night, a night that had been filled with endless possibilities.
I felt them now, vibrating through the room, lifting my spirit.
"Lia?"
I had no idea what I would say to her, but I needed to ask her something, that I was sure of.
"hmm?" She replied, her mind still back in El Gaucho.
"I, I wish.."
"Me too Edward, me too."
That it was back to just the two of us.
End Notes: Thanks to all my faithful reviewers! If anyone knows about ballet, then they'll know who I'm talking about when I'm talking about Lia's aunt. If you want to see a picture of her and find out who she is in real life, google Suzanne Farrell.
The Balanchine comment, "must see the bones" was actually in Gelsey Kirkland's autobiography, Dancing on my Grave, which served as a major inspiration for this fic.