Thank you to my beta cdunbar...she wrestles my commas under control!
To EclipseoftheTwilightMoon...MWAH!
To all the ladies on the Twilighted Forum, thank you so much for your support of this story, I love you all!
The chapter is the first half of a much longer one that was getting out of control...the good news?...More EPOV is up next ;-)
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, they belong to Stephenie Meyer.
CHAPTER 6
Making Plans
EPOV
Waking up with Bella in my arms was both glorious and mortifying. My body had taken advantage of the fact that my mind was still caught in that place between sleep and awake, confusing dreams with reality.
In my dream, Bella and I were lying naked and entwined, her delicious scent engulfing every one of my senses as I held her tightly to me. When she whispered my name and reached out to caress my chest it felt so right…so real. I responded by pressing her body into mine as I ground myself into her, making her aware of exactly how much I wanted her.
A low growl escaped from my gut as she reached out again and starting slapping me on my pec.
Wait…why is my dream Bella hitting me?
Trying to find the answer, my brain began its ascent into consciousness. Sleepily, my eyes flickered open and my heart leapt for joy when I found myself staring into those deep, chocolate pools.
Maybe I hadn't been dreaming?
Still disorientated, I began to piece things together. Dream Bella was naked, this one was not. Dream Bella looked at me with love and passion, this one appeared to be uneasy and waiting for something to happen, what, I wasn't sure.
Suddenly everything fell into place and a wave of sheer embarrassment washed over me as blood rushed to my face and I released my hold on her, running my fingers nervously through my hair.
Please God, tell me I wasn't dry humping Bella in my sleep! I silently prayed.
Judging by her demeanor I deduced, to my horror, that my prayer had received a negative response. I waited for the lightning bolt to come and mercifully strike me down for trying to take advantage of this sweet, beautiful woman sitting before me, who was wringing the stitching out of the hem of her shirt.
I almost jumped out of my skin when my cell phone started to chirp out its ringtone.
Jasper, your timing is impeccable.
Our identical responses to our friends' inquiries served to break the ice, my earlier indiscretion seemed to be forgiven, if not forgotten, as we laughed heartily at the current situation.
When Jasper informed me that Bella had agreed to spend the day with us I was elated, not wanting the way we woke up this morning to be Bella's final impression of me.
Fully aware that I was grinning like an idiot, I was grateful for the opportunity to redeem myself. I would show her that I could be the charming gentleman that Esme had always insisted I was, and not the horny, bumbling moron she had been exposed to thus far.
When Bella opened her kitchen to me, I was excited to start setting my plan in motion right away by cooking breakfast for her, while she was busy getting ready for the day.
The hormonal teenager that I had been possessed by almost made his reappearance, when I turned around, to find Bella standing in front of me wearing shorts and a tank top. I nearly passed out from the effort to remain in control; my fingers itched to touch all the newly exposed, creamy skin, but I managed to make a quick recovery, and I hoped that Bella hadn't noticed my momentary lapse.
Breakfast was a success and after a futile attempt to wrestle my hair under control, I swiftly got dressed, eager for us to be on our way.
On our way down to the parking garage, I realized that Bella would be the first woman I had entertained in my home, and I was amazed to find that I was excited to show her that piece of myself.
Ever since we had moved into it, the house had been my sanctuary, a place where I could feel completely comfortable, and I had never felt relaxed enough with anyone, other than my family members, to want to share it with them. Until now. I was anxious for Bella to see it, her opinion of it, and of me, was suddenly of great importance.
My enthusiasm waned slightly when we reached Bella's hideous, rust bucket of a truck, in the underground garage. I never would have imagined her driving something so…ugly…and my disdain must have been clearly written on my face. She, of course, ignored my sour expression and proceeded to introduce me to 'Bertha'.
The fact that she had named the eyesore, and looked at it with such fondness, was in equal parts unsettling and endearing.
The drive home took longer than I had anticipated, as Bertha was clearly not in any rush to get there. Bella had spent the journey deep in thought, chewing relentlessly on her bottom lip.
A faint smile lit up her face as we turned into my street and, it came as no surprise to me that I longed to know what was going through her mind at that moment. From the second I'd laid my eyes on her, a mere sixteen hours ago, I had been consumed by an insatiable craving to know all that there was to know about her. My body had made it painfully obvious that there was a powerful physical attraction to her, but there was so much more than that, something much deeper that I couldn't quite put a name to.
The emotional attachment I felt to her grew with each passing minute, and with each new piece of information gleaned, came a new need to fulfill. The urge to protect her from any harm, real or imagined, and the desire to take care of her, even though she had proven that she was more than capable of looking after herself, were just two of the many sensations she had unwittingly awakened in me.
My newfound yearning to defy all logic and follow my instincts, when it came to getting to know Bella, was exhilarating and liberating. It was as though a weight that I didn't know I had been carrying, was lifted from me as my vision clicked into sharp focus and my surroundings were suddenly clearer and brighter.
Pulling into the driveway, we came to a stop behind my car and I was happy to be able to get out of that truck. I made a mental note to ensure that I drove us anywhere we may need to go in the future as I made my way to the driver's side to escort Bella into the house.
I had to laugh at Alice's exuberance when she flew out of the house and dragged Bella inside to show her around. I was still chuckling when I entered the living room.
"Sorry about bailing on you last night, man," Jasper said in a tone that suggested that he wasn't really all that apologetic.
"You're forgiven," I said. "In fact, I should be thanking you for inviting me, I really had a great time." I tried to keep my voice even but I couldn't stop the huge grin that crept over my face.
Jasper quirked an eyebrow. "Really?" The word rolled from him suggestively.
I rolled my eyes at him. "Yes, Jazz. After you ditched me, Bella was kind enough to invite me to her apartment. We ate pizza, played Marion Kart and then fell asleep watching a movie." I listed the activities pointedly, trying to emphasize their innocence.
"Wait! Mr. Competitive played a video game? How did that go?" Jasper asked nervously.
"She kicked my butt!" I laughed uproariously. "You should have seen her, she was awesome!"
His dumbfounded expression made me laugh even harder. "I feel like I've stumbled into an episode of the Twilight Zone," he mumbled quietly, just as the door to the room opened and the girls breezed in and sat down.
When Bella began to gush about our bathtub, I, of course, offered for her to come over and use it any time, quickly losing myself in a vision of her soaking wet, naked and surrounded by bubbles.
I was so lost that I almost missed her say that she was leaving. Shifting my body to, yet again, accommodate my tightening jeans, I asked where she was going; a wave of disappointment passed through me at the thought of not being able to spend the entire summer getting to know her. At the mention of her visiting her father, I felt completely selfish, even I couldn't begrudge her time with her dad.
Jasper asked the question that had been on the tip of my tongue, I also needed to know how long she would be gone for.
As I was listening to her answer, I felt as though the wind had been knocked right out of me. My head began to spin from the effort of trying to make sense of the thoughts and emotions pulsing through me, I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose, willing the room to stop its constant rotations. There was an ache in my chest and my breathing was shallow, almost painful.
I vaguely heard Jasper offer our assistance but I was in no state to answer, causing Bella to assume that I was not willing to help. I tried to reassure her that that was not the case, but it came out as more of a mumble and my stiff posture caused her to worry that there was something else wrong with me.
Confusion clouded my brain as it was bombarded with a constant stream of questions. Why was this news so devastating to me? How could this woman have affected me so profoundly in such a short period of time? Why had I opened myself up in such an uncharacteristic way? What was I going to do once she was gone? All of them were questions that had no easy answers, especially under the glare of the three pairs of eyes that I could feel bearing down on me.
"Are you feeling ok?" Bella asked as she reached out to softly lay her hand on my arm. Upon her touch, I could feel the genuine concern pouring from her and I knew I had to distance myself if I was going to be able to make sense of the situation.
Scrubbing my face with my hands, I attempted to organize my thoughts. The urge to drop to my knees and beg her not to leave, to give me…us…more time, was almost too much to resist. The compulsion frightened me so I could only imagine how terrifying it would be for her if I followed through with it.
I quickly made a weak excuse and then flew up the stairs and into my room. Leaning against my closed door, my head hit the wood with a soft thud and I filled my lungs with a deep, shuddering breath.
As soon as the fist that had been clutching my chest loosened its grip, my brain defaulted to logical thought, replaying the events that had led up to this moment.
What was it about Bella that had my body and emotions in such turmoil? Obviously, she was beautiful, her every movement, her scent, her voice, called out to me, causing my body to react in ways that no other had done before. I concluded that this was a purely physical enticement and, given enough exposure to her presence, the intensity of these reactions would most likely lessen over time.
I likened her to a breathtaking work of art, one that you are immediately drawn to at first sight. The overwhelming need to have it in your life compels you to buy it and hang it in pride of place in your home. Hours are spent gazing upon it, memorizing every brushstroke, all the subtle shadowing and textures, until the image is burned into your mind's eye. As time passes, however, whilst an admiration for the piece remains, it loses its intense draw, garnering no more than the occasional glance from day to day, as you pass by it.
Her most remarkable trait was not something that could be explained logically, but I endeavored to define it, nonetheless.
From the moment we first met I felt as though I had found a piece of myself that I was never aware was missing. As this piece was slotted into place I became a different person, a better, more complete version of myself; laughing more freely and relaxing more fully with each smile and look she graced me with. I realized that I enjoyed being that Edward and that I desperately wanted to hold onto the way that being around Bella made me feel, even if it was only for the next two weeks.
It was then that I had an epiphany.
When Bella had said the word 'if' when referring to her return, I had immediately taken that one, small word to mean that she was unlikely to come back. With newfound hope, I grasped at the idea that it could also mean that she may, in fact, return.
Perhaps if she thought that there was something, someone, to come back for, then her departure might not be permanent? A new plan began to form in my mind as I readied myself to return to Jasper and our guests.
Spending time with Bella over the next two weeks could work to my advantage in a number of ways. If the way I felt about her was truly just an intense infatuation, then surely the fascination would subside in that timeframe; making it easier to wish her 'bon voyage' on the 30th while still exploring this newly discovered side of my self that Bella had managed to reveal.
Conversely, if the connection remained, I would spend these valuable days subtly convincing her that there was more than just Alice and her job to come back to.
Either way, I needed to get back downstairs and pretend that I hadn't just had a pathetic breakdown.
With renewed confidence now that I had a clear plan of action, I made my way back down to the living room. The quiet conversation stopped as I reentered the room. Jasper and Bella looked at me with concern but Alice, strangely, looked a little bit smug. Weird.
"Sorry about that, guys," I apologized, thankful that my voice remained even. "Last night must have caught up with me. I just had a bit of a headache, but I'm fine now."
Smiling, I flopped back down on the couch. "So, what's the plan for today?"
"Well, the girls and I have been talking," Jasper said, still eyeing me warily. "And, did you know that not one of us has ever been to the Space Needle?"
"Really?" I was genuinely surprised. "And we call ourselves Seattlites? So, are we going to fix that today?"
Bella visibly relaxed and a wide, beautiful smile spread across her face. "I'd love to." She beamed, and my heart, once again, raced in my chest.
Bertha was moved onto the street as Jasper, Alice, and I piled into my car. I threw a scowl at Jasper when he slid into the passenger seat, as I had wanted Bella to sit up front with me. He just shot a smirk back at me as he stretched out his legs and fastened his seatbelt.
Bella folded herself into the small space behind Jasper and I waited until I heard the click of her seatbelt before pulling out of the driveway and making the short trip downtown.
The view from the Observation Deck of the Needle was truly awe inspiring, from the aerial view of Safeco Field to the Seattle skyline in the bright summer sunshine. From the clear blue of the water in the harbor, with the snow capped Mt. Rainier rising in the distance, to the blissful expression on Bella's face as she watched the ferries and cargo ships cutting their way through the still waters.
I had wasted no time in enacting my plan, taking every available opportunity to be close to Bella; casually touching her whenever possible in an effort to maintain a connection, without making her uncomfortable. Like gently resting my hand on the small of her back as we walked around the deck, or standing beside her, close enough that our arms brushed against each other as we stopped to take in the view.
"I'm going to miss the ocean," she sighed, staring out across the harbor, the breeze whipping strands of hair into her face.
"It will always be here, you know." I turned to look at her, hoping she would turn to see the sincerity in my eyes. "Waiting for you to come back."
"I know," she said sadly, turning toward me. She was slightly taken aback when her eyes met mine, and a slight blush colored her cheeks before she hastily lowered her gaze to stare at our feet.
"Come on." I reached out and grabbed her hand, gently tugging her towards one of the telescopes positioned around the deck.
I motioned for her to step up onto the platform. "Why don't you take a closer look?"
Her face lit up as she scanned the harbor slowly while I, again, got lost in observing her as she enjoyed one of her favorite things.
"Wow, I can see the people on the ferry! Oh, look at the mountain!" she gushed, as she gave me a running commentary.
Suddenly, she gasped and waved her arm in my direction. "Oh, Edward!" she squealed. "Killer Whales! Quick, come and see!"
Dodging her flailing appendage, I moved closer, as she held the telescope in place and moved her head to the side.
Pressing my eye to the warmed plastic of the viewfinder, I saw the pod of whales gliding through the impossibly blue water; sea spray cascading out of their blowholes, as they took turns breeching out of the water, before splashing back down to join their family on their journey.
Unfortunately, I was unable to give the spectacular sight my full attention, due to the close proximity of Bella's body to mine. The wooden box that she stood on served to equalize our heights and our bodies were touching, overlapping slightly. The back of her left shoulder was leaning into the front of my right one, our cheeks almost in contact.
Little Eddie made a grand entrance, as her hip brushed against mine, when she turned to whisper, "Did you see them?" Her breath blew across my face and her lips were so close that I could feel their movement against my skin.
Clutching the metal support of the telescope, in an effort to remain upright, I managed to nod my head, unable to force my mouth to form actual words.
Ok, so the physical reactions haven't changed, I noted mentally.
"Are you two ready to make a move?" Jasper interrupted yet another potentially embarrassing scenario.
How does he know when I need saving from myself?
"Sure," Bella said, hopping down to join Alice.
Jasper smirked at me, taking in my dazed expression. "Come on." He clamped a hand on my shoulder, leading me off to follow the girls. "We don't want to lose them now, do we?"
I shook my head, by way of a response, and to also try to clear the haze that had settled there. Jasper laughed as I moved my hips at odd angles while taking the first few steps, trying to subtly adjust Little Eddie's position, so that I could walk straight.
"Shut up," I mumbled, which just caused him to laugh even louder.
Our visit to the gift shop in the base of the Needle was an interesting experience. Bella, Jasper, and I weaved slowly through the throng of tourists, stopping occasionally to comment on a few of the less tacky items in the store. Alice, however, had disappeared from sight almost immediately, causing Jasper to scan through the crowd consistently, searching for any sign of her.
After what could only have been about fifteen minutes, Alice reappeared with two baskets full of overpriced, plastic souvenirs.
"Alice! What's with all that stuff?" Bella asked, waving her hand between the two baskets.
"It's for you to take with you, you know, so you'll have something to remember me by when you're in Chicago," Alice replied, jutting out her bottom lip slightly and looking down at the floor.
Bella placed her hands on Alice's cheeks and forced her to make eye contact. "Alice, sweetie. I don't need a Space Needle pencil sharpener to help me remember you. You are my best friend and you always will be, no matter where I am."
Alice sighed, "I know…but…" She looked down at the baskets, conflicted, and then back up at Bella.
"I'll make you a deal," Bella bargained. "You put those down and we'll go to Pike Place next, ok?" She glanced at Jasper and me for confirmation that we were willing to go along with this impromptu change of plans, and we both nodded our consent.
"Really?" Alice bounced excitedly. "Can I buy you something there?" she begged.
"If you must," Bella laughed, rolling her eyes. "Now put down the plastic Needles and let's go."
Alice placed the items on a nearby counter before Jasper wrapped his arm around her waist and led her out of the shop. Bella and I followed after, both of us shaking our heads at the crazy exchange.
I had a feeling that I wasn't going to be the only one who would have a difficult time adjusting, once Bella had left Seattle.