Chapter eighteen. Fears conquered, lips kissed.
"Does he kill her?" asked Edward suddenly. I looked up at him, smiling to myself. He'd only read the preface. He only started the book.
"No, he loves her", I explained, "but you have to read it to find out what happens."
"But it says the hunter sauntered to kill me and stuff", Edward pointed out, "so he does kill her?"
"It might be another vampire", I hinted, "stop asking me and read the damn book, Edward!"
"Alright, I was just wondering", he muttered going back to the book. We went into quiet reading for a couple of minutes until suddenly Edward's head snapped back up.
"Does his family kill her?" he demanded, excitedly, "that would be so cool. Do they? I bet they don't like her because she's human."
"No, they like her", I said through gritted teeth, "if you wanna know who kills her, you'll have to read, Edward."
"It's a long book", he pointed, "I could read it. Or I could ask you and you could tell me."
I laughed and stared at him disbelievingly. Edward stared back with his piercing green eyes. I couldn't help thinking 'de ja vue'.
I looked back down at my book quickly and carried on reading, ignoring his last comment.
"Are you going to read the book or just stare at me?" I asked after a couple of minutes. I dropped my book and looked up at Edward. He seemed lost in thought.
"I'm going to stare at you", he decided, a smile tugging at his lips, "you're fascinating to watch, did you know that?"
"No, I didn't", I laughed, "What's so fascinating about me?"
"The way you read", he mused, "like the way you look at the page. Deep in focus and concentration. The way you bite your lips when you're reading. The way your eyes flicker from side to side across the pages. It's…amazing."
I was sure my face was crimson red by this minute. My stupid blush probably went down to my neck too. I fidgeted with my fingers and stared down. Whatever Edward had said, he said it right because I suddenly felt the weird emotion come back again.
"Thanks", I mumbled, "You're a good observer."
"Well, I only observe the best", he shrugged, smiling crookedly.
"I'm afraid there's nothing fascinating about me", I contradicted, "you just described someone reading. Everyone reads like that."
"No, you read differently", Edward disagreed, "I can't explain it. But you don't see me staring at Emmett when he's reading."
"That's because his mouth is always opened and he has the most bored expression on when he reads", I explained, half laughing.
"True", Edward agreed, chuckling with me. He removed his glasses, gently folded them and placed them on my bedside table. I picked up my book and carried on reading. After a couple of minutes, I realised that Edward was doing what he said he was going to do. He was staring.
I felt my cheeks heat up again and Edward began to silently shake in laughter. I bit my lip and tried to focus on the page. That didn't work so well.
"Staring is rude, Edward", I said, still keeping my eyes on the words in front of me.
"Would it be better if I told you I wasn't staring?" Asked Edward. I sighed and dropped my book once more.
"What are you doing then?" I asked him curiously.
"Observing", he said smiling, "I'm simply observing you."
"I feel like a lab rat", I muttered rolling my eyes.
"You're anything but. Aren't you tired of reading yet?" said Edward reaching over to take the book out of my hand. I let him have it and lay back on the back of my bed's backboard.
"Not tired", I corrected, "I can never be tired of reading. Books are cool…wow, I feel like such a book worm."
This new piece of information sent Edward into another fit of laughter. When he calmed down and reached over and tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear.
"Book worms are cute", he whispered softly, smiling ever so faintly.
It was these things that he said that would make me suddenly feel like it wasn't eh end of the world. It made me matter. It made me forget everything bad.
My stomach was melt, my palms would get sweaty and my breathing would hitch.
"I saw this cute puppy once", I said reaching over and grabbing my book again, "it had a little pink bow and everything. It was really cute. Puppies are cute too. Do you think puppies are cute? I totally do. They're very cute. Edward? Puppies?"
"Mmm? Oh yeah, puppies", said Edward nodding. I noticed the slight difference in his voice. I opened my book and tried to find the page I was on before.
"Are you going to read any of the books here?" I asked gesturing all those lying on my bed. Edward shrugged and looked around.
"I just don't have the time and patience for reading", he explained sighing heavily, "The characters never do what I want them to."
That made me laugh.
"I bet what you want them to do is really stupid then", I said half laughing. Edward shook his head.
"No, of course not", he defended, "Its just they do the silliest things which complicate their lives."
"Complications made a good book", I told him, "or else's it'll just be boring. There has to be a problem or something. It attracts the reader to want to read more."
"What's the complication in the book you're reading?" asked Edward curiously.
"There are many", I explained, "number one, the guy has left the girl. He thinks it's what's best for her. To keep her safe."
"Why didn't he do that in the first book?" Edward shot at me.
"Because he was too in love to realise what risk he was putting her in", I told him slowly, "he sort of realised it towards the end of the book. She nearly dies."
"Does he kill her?" Edward shot in. I rolled my eyes and sighed.
"No, I told you. He doesn't", I explained, "something else happens."
"So it's mostly romance then?"
"Sort of", I shrugged, "romance and fantasy."
"Ok", said Edward nodding. He kept silent for a while and I wondered whether he was staring at me again. Great disappointment filled me when I glanced up and realised he wasn't staring. He was fidgeting with his fingers or something. But not staring at me.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked without looking at me.
"I'm wondering…wondering what you're thinking", I said slowly. Edward turned to me. "So what are you thinking about?"
"You", he breathed.
Rosalie's POV.
I could see that Emmett wasn't enjoying himself. Something was wrong. It was the way he was acting. He didn't look too into coming to the beach after all. I could guess what was on his mind.
Bella.
He told me about his last conversation with her. He explained what had happened. He told me about how attached she seemed to that necklace. I sighed as I looked over to jasper and Alice who were flicking water at eachother. Emmett ran his fingers through his hair and sighed once more.
I walked over to him and sat beside him.
"She needs help", he muttered as soon as I realised he was next to me. I knew exactly what he was talking about. And I knew that I agreed. Bella had changed. Something had troubled her and it wasn't good. She was too lifeless and almost comatose. Nearly everyone had noticed now.
"Don't you think maybe she needs to work this out herself?" I suggested to him. Emmett shook his head as soon as the words left my mouth.
"She can't deal with it, rose", he explained turning to face me. He grabbed my hand and squeezed it. I squeezed it back reassuringly. "I just…I don't know if I should tell my parents or not. I need to help her though…but she won't let me."
"Try one more time", I advised, "I'll be there with you. We'll talk to her. If she doesn't…sort out then we'll tell Carlisle and Esme. Ok?"
Emmett smiled softly and nodded.
Alice's POV.
"No…Jazz…no, no, no, DON'T!"
I was thrown into the water as I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Jasper was suddenly next to me grabbing my legs and pulling me down. I giggled and scooped up some water and splashed it on his face.
"Em and rose are going already?" he asked pointing over to the beach. Emmett was packing away his stuff and Rosalie was helping him. They made their way off the beach.
"I guess Emmett didn't want to stay", I said staring after them, "and Rosalie went with him, huh…"
"Or they're going to do stuff we don't even want to think about?" laughed jasper snaking his arm around me under the water.
"Ewww, that's brother", I groaned. He chuckled and shook his head.
"Yeah, with my sister", jasper added, "change the subject!"
"I wonder why Edward didn't come", I mused looking around the beach. We had waited for him but then Emmett got slightly impatient. So we thought he would join us here at the beach instead.
"Probably tired or he forgot", suggested jasper. I shrugged.
"Is it me or does Edward seem…fond of Bella lately?" I asked looking over to jasper. He suddenly looked panicked and looked away.
'"Fond? In…what way?" he asked uncomfortably. I grinned and swam towards him.
"You know something that I don't, so you're going to tell me", I informed him politely. If anything, jasper looked scared.
"What are you talking about?" he asked innocently, "Edward hasn't said anything about Bella to me."
"Jazz?" I pleaded looking up at him through my eyelashes. I pulled the corner of my lips down. "Bella's my sister, if Edward likes her I should know."
"Why should you know?" he asked looking confused, "isn't it Bella and Edward's business?"
Ah, he got me there.
"No, of course not", I huffed rolling my eyes, "Bella's my sister. So her business is my business. Now, what do you know?"
Jasper sighed in defeat.
"Well…Edward said that…"
Edward's POV.
I couldn't believe what I had just said. Bella blinked and stared at me. I moved closer to her, positioning myself so that I was right next to her. Our arms and hips touched. I felt a volt of electricity run up and down my spine.
"Me?" said Bella. A soft rosy colour filled her cheeks. A smile appeared on her lips.
"Yeah…you", I said staring straight into her beautiful eyes. I felt her warm breath on my skin as I leaned closer to her. I wouldn't back out this time. I wanted to do it. I wanted to kiss her. To finally grow some balls, and tell her how she affects me.
"Bella", I whispered pulling her black little book out of her hands. She looked up at me, perfectly knowing what I was about to do. Our breaths sped up and heart rate quickened.
"Yes…Edward?" she replied softly. I leaned in closer and my eyes automatically closed. I wanted to do it. I was going to.
I was going to kiss Bella.
It was weird to have her lips touch mine. So very weird. But in a good way. In the best possible way I could ever imagine. Our lips gently pressed closer for a couple of seconds. I thought she would pull away but she didn't. I felt eh best emotions dance around in my stomach and my whole body reacted.
I softly grazed my tongue on Bella's bottom lip and she opened her mouth. My tongue slipped inside and I pressed myself closer to her.
The feeling was amazing and I didn't want to stop. I was kissing Bella Cullen, it was better than I could ever imagine. All those stupid fantasies I had didn't compare. I was kissing her. Holding her.
And she kissed and held me back.