I hurried along beside Alice though she was barely paying any attention to me. She had gone back to talking to the blonde guy. I felt like a third wheel but anything felt better... well not exactly better. He made me feel as good as it gets. But it was better than having to constantly watch myself. I had to make sure I didn't let my guard down, I didn't want a boyfriend. I could feel his footsteps getting closer to me and Alice. He was talking to the dark haired guy. Well, the dark haired guy was talking to him. I hadn't heard his voice yet.
"Hey dude! Where are you going?" The dark haired guy called. I felt his footsteps gaining on me. Great. Edward took my wrist and pulled me away from everyone. We were now standing under a big oak tree. I stared at him. I didn't know what else to do. Was someone meant to look this beautiful? The moon that was now out shone directly on him. The wind was rustling the leaves of the tree.
"Hey" he said staring at me. I stared at him too, but not in the way he stared at me. He stared at me waiting to tell me something, he stared at me warily. I stared at him confused, wondering why he was staring at me. Wondering why we were standing underneath a tree. Why I was so happy about this? "I kind of get that you're not going to tell me the answer to my question are you?" He stared at me. I looked down. "Thought not. But we don't need to let this ruin the night. We're here to sight-see and so far all I've seen is the fountain and you. Though I'm not complaining." he said looking at me, his eyes glistening from the shine of the moon. I noticed his hand was still holding my wrist, I felt myself blushing. Then I realized I was letting my guard down. But I found myself wondering, would that really be so bad? This could be something great and if it wasn't then that would be fine too. But if it ended badly... I don't think I could handle that. Not again. So no. I wouldn't do it. I lightly pulled my hand away and laughed half heartedly.
"So? Let's go. You still haven't seen the main attraction. The pizzeria here is awesome." I said, leaving the tree. I heard him laugh but I didn't stop to see why. I just kept walking until I was back beside Alice. I felt dizzy.
"Bella? Are you ok? You look really pale. The pizzeria's just around the corner, you can sit down." Alice said looking at me. How bad did I look? I didn't think about it, I just nodded.
We turned the corner toward the pizzeria and saw that it was really packed. I could see a table for two sitting on the outside of the restaurant, but there were five of us so that didn't help. "Maybe they'll have some tables inside." Alice said. We walked up to were a waitress was standing beside the door. "Five please?" Alice said smiling kindly at the waitress.
"I'm sorry we've only got one table for two outside and a booth for three inside." said the waitress flashing a cheesy grin.
"Could we pull chairs over to the booth?" Alice asked, sounding reluctant.
"I'm sorry, I'm afraid we just don't have the room for that." said the waitress smiling cheesy smile again.
"Hey!" Alice said snapping her fingers. Oh no. What was she doing now? "Bella! Why don't you and Edward take the two person table outside? And we can go inside. Jasper was just telling me a fascinating story and I really don't want to miss the ending." She said smiling. I should have known Alice would have tried to stick me and Edward alone. She probably thought she was helping me. It wouldn't surprise me if she had arranged for the restaurant to be this busy.
"Um... sure." I was really going to regret this and Alice was going to be the person I would be taking out my fury at.
"Edward?" she asked. Waiting for his approval.
"Alice what are you doing?" He asked playfully. He obviously knew Alice as well as I did.
"Me? Nothing!" Alice asked in mock horror. Then she turned to the waitress. "So we'll do that? Thank you" She said and the waitress led them to their seats while me and Edward walked over to the ones outside. This was going to be awkward. I knew that much.
"Alice" Edward muttered shaking his head and laughing as he pulled out a chair for me.
"Um, thanks." Why was I so nervous? I was never like this. But I saw as he took his seat he looked a bit nervous too. This made me a feel a little bit better. "I'm actually not that hungry" I said. I really wasn't. One of the many things that Edward had done tonight was make me lose my appetite. I wasn't hungry in the slightest.
" Yeah me either, but I was just dying to see this amazing pizzeria." He joked. I laughed. Why was he so charming?
" So what are we going to do when the waitress comes over if neither of us want anything?" I smirked. It would be pretty embarrassing for us to have come to a pizzeria and not order anything.
" Well..." He looked nervous now. Good, I was tired of being the awkward one. "We could go on a walk while we wait on the others. Just a normal walk. You can tell me about the city and stuff"
" The city is what you've seen. It's not big at all." I said, looking down, I wanted to think for a minute and that wasn't going to happen looking at him. A walk could be less awkward then sitting at a table inches away from each other. It didn't have to mean anything. "But yeah ok." I said. He smiled widely. He looked so happy. Like a schoolboy finding out he got to go home early.
"After you Madame." he said gesturing his hand towards the gate that allowed us to leave the restaurant. I smiled. I liked him. It was definite. Whether I wanted to or not. It was inevitable. I had fallen and right now I couldn't care less if my parachute broke while I was with him. Somehow I knew he would be there to catch me. So for these few minutes tonight we were going to have together I was going to let down my shield. Just for tonight. Nothing had to happen, and nothing was going to. He would be back in Seattle soon. He had no chance to hurt me. So what had I got to lose?
" So, do you want to play twenty questions?" he asked smiling. I laughed.
"Are we ten again?" I asked playfully.
"No I just think it's a good way for us to get to know each other." He smiled.
"Ok." I said. I knew I would regret this. "You first."
" Alright." He said stroking an imaginary beard on his chin. I laughed. He was really funny, and smart. " You seem very protective, of yourself I mean. Why is that?" He asked, his face was serious now and his eyes were searching mine.
"Oh..." I said. I was already regretting this. But for some reason I felt I could trust him. I already felt I could tell him anything even though I'd not even known him for more than a few hours. I found myself wanting to tell him everything. "This guy, Jacob" I looked up at him, there was a hint of emotion on his face that he quickly covered up once i looked at him. "We used to date but then..." I felt tears come up in my eyes, but I fought them back. I should be stronger than this. "I found out he was with someone else, while he was with me. I wasn't even his main girl. I was the girl he was cheating on the other girl with." I felt the tears rolling down my face. I put my head down and wiped them away. "He told me he loved me..." I whispered. "Anyway," I said looking up and wiping away the tears. "That hurt me a lot. I just don't want it to happen again." I looked at Edward. He seemed genuinely hurt. He seemed almost angry even.
"No-one deserves that." He said shaking his head, and he pulled me into a hug. Without thinking I let it happen. I let myself collapse into him. I wasn't fighting anymore. My heart had won. Like I knew it would. " If I ever saw him I swear I would..." He paused. I looked up at him. He was really upset. But why? I had barely know him. Our friendship had lasted around two hours.
"It's fine" I said pulling away from the hug, though I desperately didn't want to. I knew though if I kept letting myself go I would get hurt when he left. I felt myself getting annoyed, I wished I could make up my mind. "I'm fine." I sighed, I wished I was fine. "So next question?" I asked.
" It's you're turn." He said.
"Ok, " I said, I tried to think of something I desperately wanted to know but something that wasn't too pushy. "How long are you staying with Alice?" I asked. I found myself hoping it was going to be long. Though I knew I shouldn't be.
"For the rest of the summer." He answered. I smiled. Why was I so relieved to hear him say that? To find out he would be here for the next three months? I shouldn't be. I wouldn't be. Three months could lead to three months of me being hurt again.
"Cool." was my brilliant reply. I glanced at my watch. "We need to get back. They'll be waiting for us." I said looking at him. He frowned and sighed.
" Right." he said and we walked back to the restaurant as I tried to figure out how I would be able to stand avoiding this boy for the whole summer. It would be impossible. And it will be even more impossible to watch him leave at the end.