The Way We Was
Chapter 1: Calming Waters
BPOV
July 1917 - Chicago
The river flowed gently past me as I made my way over to the shade of the only tree along the bank line. I carefully avoided the rocks that jutted out, waiting for me to fall. I made it safely to the tree and sat at the river's edge on one of the many large, flat rocks.
I began to let my mind wander. I gazed at the sky as the river continued to churn past me. It was a cloudless day, a perfect blue sky. It was a good day to sit and relax without the bustle of everyday life.
I was quickly pulled out of my reverie when I saw him.
He was beautiful. His bronze coloured hair was tossled thanks to the light wind. His movements were graceful, precise. As he came closer I could see the intensity of his green eyes. They were calm and thoughtful.
"Hello, Miss," he greeted. "Do you mind if I sit with you?"
How could I possibly say no? It felt like he was dazzling me. His eyes met mine and held my gaze for a seemingly immeasurable amount of time.
"Of course," was my genius response.
He kept a little space between us to be polite. He was quite the gentleman and he had barely uttered a word. I could only imagine exactly how much of a gentleman he was. Even with the space between us I felt a strange electric current flowing between the two of us. I had the urge to touch him, but I had to resist the urge. I didn't want to get into trouble or offend him before I even knew him. We didn't say anything for a while. We just watched the flowing river and stared at the endlessly blue sky.
I got impatient and broke the silence. He obviously far surpassed me with his patience. "What brings you down to the river today?" I so deserpately wanted to say his name over and over again, but I still didn't know what it was. I would just have to wait.
"My mother sent me to run some errands which were easily finished. I decided that it was a good day to relax by the river." He turned and gave me the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. "I never did you your name, Miss."
That meant he was interested, right? Or maybe it was just the gentleman in him that made him so polite. Either way, it didn't matter. It gave me an excuse to get his name in return.
"Isabella Swan." Shortening my name to Bella was considered to be socially unexceptable. Only my father called me Bella. My mother thought I was hacking my name up and refused to call me anything other than Isabella. It drove me wild with anger, but I did my best to not let it show.
"Edward Mason." The wind ruffled his hair slightly as he spoke. It was deeply distracting. I could just stare at his face all day, but that would be rude. I wondered if lots of girls looked at him the same way I did.
"Edward..." I didn't actually have anything to say. I just wanted to know the feeling on my tongue of saying his name. It was fantastic. I could very well repeat it over and over again.
"Yes?" Oh, I didn't realize that he'd respond to his name. I had said it as quietly as I could.
I was at a loss for words. His voice was smooth, like velvet. I could listen to it all day. But I had to get my mind back on track. I had to come up with something somewhat intelligent to say.
"What do you do in your spare time?" It wasn't the greatest thing I'd ever come up with, but it would do.
He thought my question over for a moment. "I like to play the piano. Mostly my own compositions. My father doesn't approve, but my mother is supportive."
His parents sounded like the opposite of my own. Well, almost. My mother didn't encourage anything. She just wanted a man to propose to me by my sixteenth birthday, which was quickly approaching. I only had a couple more months. As silly as it sounds, I wanted to get married out of love, not because I had to. But I wasn't sure I would get that wish. My father, Charles, never knew what to say so my mother was in charge of everything.
"I'd like to hear you play." I didn't even think, I just spoke. I sure hoped that I wouldn't regret that one.
He looked surprised. Even surprised he was beautiful. "I can arrange that." He paused. "When are you available?"
When was I available? With Renee I was available to try to find a husband anytime. "Anytime is good." What was I thinking?
"I'm free right now. Would you like to go?" His voice was so alluring. How was I to resist? My parents weren't expecting me home anytime soon. As long as I made it back for dinner I was sure it would be fine.
"Um...okay." It was like Edward took all of my words out of my mouth and left my speechless. He probably didn't even know that he was doing that.
He stood up gracefully and held his hand out for me. I took it with slight grace, but never as much as he had, and he pulled me up. I was startled at the contact. The electrical feeling came back tenfold now that I had finally had my skin touch his skin, even in the simplest of ways. I blushed as the electric current finally started to settle down a little as we walked side by side. I could still feel it, but it was less intense. I continued to want to reach out and touch him to satiate my need, to let the current flow freely, but I restrained myself. Now was not the time. At least that's what I kept telling myself.
The walk was short. It didn't last long enough, not for me. But the house we stood in front of was magnificent. It was a beautiful brick house with two floors. The windows were white and had simple, yet elegant white lace curtains. The black iron gate was ornate, yet simple.
"Do you like it?" Edward lightly jested.
"It's beautiful." I continued to stare at it, amazed that it stole my attention away from Edward.
"The inside is even better." I couldn't believe it. Could the inside possibly be more beautiful? I was going to find out.
AN: I could have possibly added more to this chapter, but...no. Read, review, all that good stuff. Any questions? Just PM me. I'm also available on Myspace.