Namaste

Hearts&Roses

Chapter 4

Edward POV a/n There will be chapters in Bella POV but I'm not sure when.

We spent a good half hour talking about the lecture and then I started asking Bella questions about her.

"So Bella where are from?"

"I am the daughter of David and Renee Swan of Forks, Washington." Bella stated in a mockingly formal tone.

"You're silly. Do you know that?" I asked her.

"I've been told that a few times."

"Only a few?" I teased. Bella just smiled at me.

"Alright, why did you come here to California?" I asked.

"My dad always wanted a son, but my mom died when I was nine. My dad tried to press what he wanted on me. He was a lawyer; he wanted me to be a lawyer; I wanted to go into business for myself. Dad got remarried when I was 14 to some chick named Eliza Catherine Porte," I scoffed. Just by her name I could tell that Eliza was an unpleasant person.

"Yeah, talk about pretentious names. Anyway I hated her so when I was 15 I asked my dad if I could move down here with my grandpa, and he agreed without a fight. Now I only talk to him three times a year: my birthday, his birthday, and Christmas."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's ok. Grandpa Charlie a/n yes I know that Charlie is her father but he always seemed more like the grandpa type to me, so in my story he is the grandpa is more than I could have ever asked for. He's the one who got me the car." Bella said proud.

"What about your mom's side of the family?" I asked.

"They disowned her when she married my dad. She got married young and it wasn't in their plan for her." I didn't know what to say to her, "Ok, enough of my story, what about you?"

"Well, I was born and raised in Chicago and I have a twin sister. When I was 13 my parents died in a really bad car accident. My sister and I were sent here to live with our aunt and uncle," I said.

"Sorry," Bella said with a frown.

"I was a long time ago. And even though my aunt and uncle can be a little demanding, they're great. They really just need to loosen up a little." Bella raised her eyebrows at me.

"You mean, like you?" Bella asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

I chuckled, "Yeah, I guess like me. I imagine that if I'm going to be spending any kind of time with you I'm going to have to." I saw Bella's eyes brighten up even more than they usually do when I mentioned that I wanted to spend time with her.

"Don't worry about that. I'll help you."

We spent another hour talking about everything and nothing at all. I figured out that Bella practiced yoga, played the guitar and loved Thai food. Her favorite ice cream was rocky road – which in my opinion makes no sense. Why would you need to add anything to the already perfect chocolate ice cream? – surfed, and was actually only nineteen years old. Apparently she and two of her friends took a placement test before their freshman year of college and so they were able to skip their freshman year because their scores were so high. She lived off campus, but close to the school, with her two dogs and cat. She has a German shepherd, her grandfather insisted, named Toby, a Scottish terrier named Pepper, and her cat's name is Nala.

"Nala," I said laughing, "As in the lioness from the Lion King?"

"Yes. Nala, has a very powerful presence about her," Bella said getting defensive.

"I'm sorry for laughing. It's just that I have a cat named Simba," I said, and it was true. I couldn't even begin to fathom the irony and sheer impossibility of the current situation.

"Are you serious?" Bella said laughing as well. I was laughing too hard. I couldn't speak so I just nodded my head. Bella stopped laughing and sighed.

"I'm hungry." She said

"Well, would you like me to treat you for dinner?" I asked, praying that she'd say yes.

"Sure. Do you want to pick or should I?"

"Well, you haven't let me down in your choices just yet, so I think I'll let you pick."

"Cool. I know this great Indian restaurant not far from here." Bella said. I gulped. Indian food. I had never had it before, but I wasn't sure if I could handle something that exotic. Coming here was pretty far out of my comfort zone and I wasn't sure how much farther I could go without exploding. Bella must have seen my apprehension.

"Aw, come on Edward. I told you I'd help you loosen up and now I'm going to. Besides, Indian food isn't going to kill you, and if you started to feel uncomfortable I have some Mylanta in my car." Bella said with a smirk.

"I'm not scared," Bella didn't look convinced.

"Just come on," I said and took Bella's hand as we left Nirvana. I gulped again and had a feeling I was in for a long night.