Thank you to 'Devil Nightmare' and 'vampyregirl86' for their reviews! :D
Here is chapter three for you.
I listened to 'Moi Lolita' by Alizee whilst writing just to get in the French mood !
*Bella*
When no one answered my knock...I was shivering very badly now as the air around me had dropped in temperature..I twisted the handle of the door with some difficulty due to both the movement of my hands but also the numbness that surrounded every pore of my skin...I managed to kick the stiff door open by using my foot a little at the bottom...I picked up my case and put that in the house first before stepping inside and closing the door so as not to let the warmer house become affected by the contrasting air temperature outside.
I looked around at what was in front of me and I couldn't help but feel a little surprised...The house from the outside looked small but I was currently in what looked like a front hall and the decor was light and warm...A beige colour, the banister to the staircase in the middle near to the far end of the hall was wooden...I do not know any wood types nor do I know the difference between them. I stumbled into the middle of the hallway leaving my case by the door..I had a door to the right of me and one to the left of me...I hesitated before picking the left one. The sight of bookshelves was the first thing to appear when I edged the door open slowly...Creaking increasing as the door opened further. I bit down on my lip and looked around to the right side of the room...There was a large armchair turned away from me looking out onto the dark French night through a large old-fashioned designed window.
I stepped across the creaky wooden flooring but stopped when the vibrations of the loudest sound in the floorboard stopped me. I heard a small bang and someone got up from the armchair...Spinning around in speed due to my once-silent entrance.
"Who are you?" It was a woman...No more than thirty studied me...I swallowed loudly and took a silent breath in.
"My name is Bella Swan. I am here to see Maureen." I stumbled on my words but they were recognisable.
"Ah...We have been expecting you." She said...A small smile appearing on her face.
"I am sorry about coming in like this...I did knock on the front door." I explained but the woman in front of me but a hand up gesturing for me to stop.
"I should apologise...A doorbell is going to be installed but the company Maureen inquired for said that they would be here within a week and that was a month ago."
"Oh" I replied...Not really knowing what to say...How was I to know about doorbells? Or owning a house for that matter.
"Yes..Anyway my name is Ellie...I am an ex-carer of Maureen...I just pop around every now and then and stay with her in the evenings until she goes to bed....You are very welcome to go upstairs and see her."
"Um...Could you please show me the way? I had a bad enough time trying to get the hang of the surroundings outside" Ellie giggled.
"How silly of me...Of course. I assume that you have brought some things with you."
"Yes my case is by the door and I have this bag" I gestured to my bag which had remained on my shoulder since I got off the plane.
"Follow me, Bella" she said walking past and ahead of me out the room...I turned and walked back into the hallway..I watched Ellie as she took my case and made her way to the bottom of the staircase..When she got there she turned to me.
"It's okay little one." She said assuringly...I nodded and followed her up the stairs..It was a small relief to be standing on carpet instead of creaking wood this time...There was only one floor and the landing had five doors that led around in a square shape. Ellie pushed the handle down on the first door we reached and I stayed still on the landing however I could hear voiced from inside.
"Bella Swan is here, Maureen" I heard Ellie say.
"Do allow her in, Ellie dear" a voice replied...I still recognised it...After all these years without seeing her and by only conversing with her through written letters. The sound of her voice sent butterflies through my stomach..I was anxious about seeing her after so long but I was also excited.
Ellie came back through the door and out in front of me on the landing...One of her hands which had been occupied with my case just moments ago was now empty..I assumed that it must be in the room where she had just come from.
"I will be downstairs if either you or Maureen needs me, Bella" she said walking past me down the stairs again.
I took another deep breath and tiptoed into the room.
There she was...My third cousin the only change in appearance being the aging of her skin and the greyness of her hair...She was wearing a pink dressing gown and fuzzy slippers as she stood at the foot of her double bed beaming.
"Bella, darling" she exclaimed...I smiled feeling the tears in my eyelids.
"Hello Maureen" I replied.
"Look at you...Come and give me a hug!" I walked over to her and as I was inches away from her she gripped my shoulders and wrapped her arms around my back..She let out a sigh of contentment as she rocked me slightly from side to side. I buried my face into her shoulder and rested my hands on her shoulder blades. "I have missed you" Maureen whispered.
As we pulled apart she caressed one of my cheeks with her hands. "I always said to your parents you were going to be a beauty" she soothed..I scoffed adding a smile.
"Thank you for doing this." I said.
"Oh darling...I have never agreed with my cousin's decisions as a parent..When both your parents expressed that they required you to learn new things and maybe gain a new perspective on life I jumped at the chance to have you live here with me." She explained...If only my parents were as nice as her! My life would be a whole lot easier.
"France is beautiful" I stated.
"Did you have a hard time getting here?" she asked releasing her hand on my face and turning away from me to walk back around her bed to sit on it.
"No..I had some help" I answered. Maureen tapped the foot of her bed in the empty duvet space and I sat down on one side...Both my feet firmly on the ground.
"Help?"
"Yes...It was someone...A new friend." I stammered.
"It seems I shall have to meet this friend."
"Maybe" I said laughing off the nervousness of having to invite Edward in to see my cousin when I barely knew anything about him myself.
"Well...I think we shall have to leave all the details for tomorrow...Your room is the last door at the end...There is another door directly opposite your bedroom door on the other side of the banister railing..That is your bathroom. I would accompany you but I have had a busy day...I am also not as young as I once was." Maureen explained.
"Of course...I understand. Thank you" I said appreciatively getting up from the bed and taking my case.
"It is nice to have you here at last, Bella" Maureen said to my back...I turned stepping out into the corridor clutching the door handle with my free hand.
"I look forward to being here, too" I replied genuinely as I closed the door hiding her from view. I then tiptoed across the landing and reached the door that I had been directed to. I opened the door by the handle.
I sighed happily at what was going to be my new room...There was a large double bed in the middle with cream duvet sheets and pillows...A large net trailed along the back and the sides of the bed as it hung above the bed on the ceiling. There were two bedside tables with matching lamps on and a white wardrobe in front of me to the left of the room. There was a small chest with a television and a small collection of books pulled together by white bookends. I picked up my case and put it down on the bed opening up the zip.
I used the free time I had left of the night to unpack all of my things and putting them into the storage places assigned to me for the duration of my stay here. I was clearly being made to feel comfortable by my third cousin and I was very happy for it.
*(Next morning)*
I ate my breakfast on my own as Maureen had to run a few errands with Ellie..She had left before I had hunted for my own breakfast and made it. The French bread was too delicious and far too tempting..I had two slices but immediately wanted seven. I washed away my plate and put the lid back on the jam jar and placed that back in its original place in the cupboard.
As I was about to walk back upstairs to my room there was a very faint knock coming from the direction of the front door. I walked across the wood and opened the handle having to pull harder on it because of the stiffness. Edward was standing on the doorstep smiling at me.
"I think it is time for another day of fun, don't you?" he said.
"My cousin will be back soon. Anyway I do not want to say that I will be out gallivanting around another country all day without anything helpful to do." I explained.
"Nice to see that you LIKE spending time with me!" Edward teased..I rolled my eyes.
"Edward..I didn't mean that" I replied.
"What if I was to say to you that I already have a job lined up for you."
"Edward...You have done enough-" I protested.
"I wanted to do it...Anyway you do not have to take it..It is there if you want it" Edward broke me off..I sighed.
"So..What exactly are we doing? I have no money...Only English pounds which here are useless." I finished.
"There is a place where you can exchange money...For now, leave everything to me." Edward replied.
"Edward-"
"Bella just stop...I would never have come back here to see you if I didn't want to spend time with you...Anyway Sebastian forced me."
"Sebastian forced you?!" I repeated attempting to fight off a laugh.
"Yes...He has his reasons." Edward replied...He grinned cheekily the whiteness of his teeth starling me slightly.
"Oh well...I suppose that is alright, then" I shot back sarcastically.
"Like I said...Take risks,Bella." He stated...I thought for a moment.
"Okay...I need to be back here soon, though. Wait here and I will go and write a note." I closed the front door before he had time to answer me and ran into the house. I grabbed a piece of paper from a pad I came across as I was browsing where everything in the kitchen was kept. I found a pen tied to the wiring of the pad on a string and pushed the lid down to reveal the biro nib. I scrawled down that I had gone out and that I would be back before dark...Also that there was no need to worry as I was being looked after. I had experience from Maureen's panic and worry about the whereabouts of her family when I was a child and I do not imagine that it has changed now I am older.
I took my coat off of the coat rack that I had put it on before going to bed last night...I ran both hands through my hair making sure that it wasn't tassly or knotty...I opened the door again and stepped out to join Edward.
"So Christopher Columbus...Where are you taking me?" I asked.
"Nowhere in particular..I want you to first meet my other roommates, Jacob and Paul who are at home for the weekend."
"I really don't think-" I started to protest.
"Sebastian has expressed how much you have made an impact on him..He was on his cell all night last night talking to our roommates about it."
"Should I be worried?" I asked wearily.
"Worried about people liking you?"
"Edward!"
"Relax, Bella...Nothing is going to happen to you..I swear."
"Okay" I answered...He gestured for me to walk ahead of him across the street..Everything looked so different in the daylight it was almost like the world I had been in last night had everything different to the world now...There was one obvious exception and that was that both the worlds included Edward.
After about fifteen minutes we reached the same fountain we had made wishes upon the night before...Also the row of shops one that had belonged to Sebastian as manager. There were two men in front of us on the furthest side of the fountain circle embracing rather sweetly..I gazed upon them. I was never going to be homophobic and I believe in true love in every form and way that there is...However I had always found myself to have a curiosity about relationships within people of the same sex – not curious in a judgemental way but more of an interested way...Without wanting to search for love in the opposite sex myself.
"Hey...Smoochers!" Edward bellowed...The two guys turned..One smiled and gave him the middle finger keeping the other hand on his partner's waist, the other stuck his tongue out but kept his head firm on the side of his partners neck his arms locked around his partner's waist, also.
I bit down on my lip as we approached them...I stopped as I reached the small step of the fountain..Edward moved on ahead of me greeting the two men. I looked down at the floor and kicked one of my feet out to the side as I attempted to not feel nervous about meeting more new people.
"Bella?" I lifted my head as Edward called my name..He gestured for me to walk towards him..I obeyed minding my step on the moistness of the step from the sprinkling water. I stepped down onto the road away from where the cars came from opposite directions. The two men smiled at me. "This is Jacob and Paul...My roommates" Edward stated...I nodded at them. Jacob and Paul pulled apart and each shook my hand.
"Pleased to meet you, Bella." One of them said.
"I am sorry..Who is who?" the men smiled.
"I am Jacob" the man who just greeted me said...He was dark almost Italian looking in skin tone and hair colour..He must have had some Italian blood through heritage but nothing like that could be made definite. He was handsome...Pleasingly so with a dazzling smile..A smile that you couldn't help but return when it was given and directed to you.
"I am Paul" Jacob's partner said...Reaching his hand out to me as Jacob took his away...Paul was much lighter, he had fair colourings in both skin and colourings...He was also appealing in looks even though they both in appearance completely different. I took my hand away and tightened it to my side as I finished shaking Edward's roommates hands.
"She is a beauty...Sebastian wasn't wrong" Paul remarked..I looked down and clenched my teeth together inside my mouth. I had never seen myself as anything above average..I was self-concious in certain areas about not only my physical body but the person I am...I guess I had never been called beautiful enough to appreciate myself as I should do. However coming from strangers the compliments were not so welcoming...With Maureen it had been different as she was a member ofmy family..Everything about me had been evident to her at some point warts and all.
"Paul, don't embarrass her" Edward warned.
"She shouldn't be embarrassed...People who are embarrassed about being complimented are people who have not been told how great they are." Jacob added.
"Sebastian said he wanted us to pop in for an espresso..Whatever that is. Would you care to join us, Bella?"
I lifted my head as Paul mentioned my name...I looked at Edward hesitantly and back at Paul again.
"Um sure" I answered gaining a smile.
"Come on gorgeous...You must be bored of Edward by now" Jacob grabbed my hand and pulled me into his chest...He took his hand out of mine and wrapped it around my shoulder..I was nervous under his hold but went along with it anyway. Paul waited behind and walked along with Edward behind us.
About two hours later...Paul and Jacob had to leave Edward and I at the cafe to go back home...They had offered Edward to come back with them but he declined. Standing back at the fountain I was feeling the effects of having two cakes in the cafe as well as four cups of Espresso.
"So...How is your cousin?" Edward asked as we sat on the fountain's edge looking out at the road in front of us.
"She is very welcoming...Almost too nice." I replied honestly.
"Families are supposed to be nice" he stated and I nodded.
"I guess I am not used to it that's all."
"Your parents...What do they do?"
"My mum is a scientist and my dad is an accountant" I answered.
"Oh jeez...Now I know what you meant about your parents not liking to see weakness or struggle."
"You remember that?" I asked sceptically
"Sure..I remember everything about last night...I had fun."
I smiled at his honesty. "Doesn't someone as nice as you have a girlfriend waiting for you?"
"No"
"Oh, I didn't mean-" I started nervously.
"It's fine" he replied with a smile "I did have one but that was before I moved out here" he finished.
"I see"
"What about you, beautiful?" he asked...I rolled my eyes as he finished on the word beautiful.
"Please stop saying that."
"Why should anyone stop saying that someone is beautiful?"
"Someone who gets embarrassed" I stated in reply.
"Bella...Believe me, Paul, Jacob and I...Even Sebastian would never say anything they wouldn't mean."
"Change the subject, please Edward?" I pleaded.
"Okay. What do you wanna talk about?"
"How long have Jacob and Paul been together?" I asked.
"Oh...Before they knew me. I do not remember the exact amount of time, though"
"Oh...They seem happy."
"They are...It's cool that they can be themselves and never have to worry about what other people think."
"I agree"
"Listen...This is going to sound really strange and you do not have to answer me...Have you ever had a boyfriend?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Curious, that's all." He replied.
"Yes..A long time ago"
"Bad break-up?"
"No..Bad person...Lots of emotions..All the bad things ended up weighing more than the good. That sort of thing." I explained.
"I am sorry to hear that."
"It's fine...You live and learn sometimes the hard way which is for me, becoming to be a habit."
"You have a choice now, Bella...You can stay out a bit longer with me or I can walk you home."
"What time is it?" Edward lifted up the right sleeve of his top and studied his watch for a moment.
"It is half past three" he answered.
"We have been out for THAT long?!" I exclaimed.
"Time flies when you're having fun" Edward replied and I smiled.
"You know I would stay with you given the choice but...I do not want Maureen to worry." I answered.
"It's cool, Bella...I understand" Edward stood up and held out his hand to me..I took it as he pulled me up..I shook out my legs. Edward never released my hand as we walked back the now what was starting to become familiar to me route back to Maureen's.
"Don't you think that it's weird..How two people can become friends so quickly?" Edward said as we walked through the various streets back home.
"No...It's surprising but no, I don't think it is weird. Why do you think that what WE have is weird?"
"No..I just find it strange that the very moment I walked in the park in the outside green before I had even saw you sitting on that bench...I was wondering whether I was ever going to get other friends besides my roommates. Do you believe in fate?"
"I have not had much experience in fate." I answered truthfully.
"Would you call our meeting fate...You were wondering how you were going to ever find your cousin's house and along came someone who knew."
"I guess"
"Sorry it's a weird topic."
"It's fine...It's nice to be able to feel comfortable around a person"
"I agree"
"Wait...I have told you quite a bit about myself...If you tell anyone then I will have to seriously kick your arse."
"That won't be necessary, Bella...I will never say anything." He answered.
How was I feeling a sense of security around Edward after only knowing him for a day...Could you truly believe someone after such a limited amount of time being around them?
There was something about Edward...I was not yet able to pinpoint it...He just seemed to me to be like a person who cared about people...Who had the real sense of caring in his nature and the potential to love someone with all of his heart. By losing both his parents he had gone through a real tragedy and it was heartbreaking that someone as caring as him would have to go through such a hardship in his life.
Edward looked like he was going to be a good friend, even if I went back to England I would make sure that I remained in contact with him for as long as possible.
Edward and I reached the house...I stood on the step and turned to face him.
"Thank you for today, Edward" I said smiling.
"You're always welcome, Bella" he answered.
I was about to say goodbye to him when the door opened startling me and almost causing me to fall off the step completely. I looked into the eyes of Ellie.
"Bella...I heard voices...Do come inside and bring your friend with you" she said...Ellie had that glint in her eye that surged panic through my stomach..I shot her a glare but she turned on her feet and left the door open. I sighed and turned around to Edward.
"I am sorry, Edward" I said...He shook his head.
"Don't be..I would like to meet your cousin" he stated honestly...I turned around and walked into the house holding the door with both hands as Edward walked in kicking off his shoes and putting them neatly to the side...I closed the front door and did the same with my own. I then walked into the kitchen to the right and found Ellie and Maureen sitting down at the table opposite one another. I bit down on my lip and heard Edward come in behind me.
"Hello darling...Did you have a good day?" Maureen asked me.
"Yes...Thank you" I answered my voice shaky from nerves.
"Don't just stand there, Bella...Introduce us to your friend" Ellie said...I clenched my teeth...I wanted to run away right then and there...Or at least hide my face.
"My name is Edward...Edward Masen" Edward said before I could even open my mouth let alone speak. Ellie stood up from the chair and pulled Edward over to the table...All three of them were now in front of me...I stood there gawking at them unable to move.
"It's a pleasure, Edward" Ellie said shaking his hand in hers...She then looked over at Maureen. Edward lent over the table slightly and held his hand out...Maureen smiled at took it firmly.
"Thank you for looking after Bella, Edward." My cousin said.
"It was my pleasure" Edward replied...I smiled inwardly at the genuine and honest voice of my new friend..Everything he said, he said it from his heart and those kinds of people were extremely hard to find.
*(Later)*
After watching Edward getting to know my cousin and Maureen knowing more about Edward...I walked him out of the kitchen and to the front door...He climbed back into his shoes and turned to face me as he stood on the doorstep.
"Your cousin is great, Bella" he said.
"Thank you...You seem to have made a large impression of your own..I will be hearing a lot about it after you have gone."
"You will have to tell me all about it" Edward teased.
"Why...Are you planning on seeing me AGAIN?!" I shot back...If Edward was going to tease me then I will give it back.
"That hurts, Bella" Edward added sarcastically.
"Good"
"Seriously...Are you free on Sunday? I have to work tomorrow and I am on an all-day shift"
"What do you do? I never realised you had a job"
"I am a waiter...Of a restaurant away from the town square. It's only certain days but it helps with rent." Edward answered.
"Oh. Sunday should be fine...I will have to check on what Maureen is doing but otherwise sure I would like to spend the day with you."
"Great..I will see you Sunday, then Bella."
"Bye, Edward" I said watching him walk across the street and away round a corner to the left. I closed the door and saw Ellie staring at me.
"He is a good one...Don't let him go, Bella" she said reaching behind me to open the door...I walked away from her and back down the hall ignoring her comment and hearing the door close as I walked into the kitchen. Maureen smiled.
"If you are going to say that I have been lucky in finding him...Don't. We are just friends" I stated putting that possible topic to rest.
"I wasn't going to say anything...He is very nice, a gentleman...They are hard to find."
"I know. He has been a good help to me...I hope one day to return the favour." I replied.
"Yes...You were always good like that." I sat down and put my head in my hands sighing deeply. "I don't know what I have supposed to have done to my parents...I am not what they say I am."
"I know you're not. You were always trying to please them and you shouldn't need to. You have everything going for you, Bella."
"I wish people could see it that way, as well as myself" I took my hands away and leant on my arms crossing them on the table in front of me.
"You will...One day, you just need time to adapt."
"Being here...I never asked to be sent here."
"No one would ask to be sent to another country unless they were going on holiday...I understand, Bella"
"I don't mean that I am not grateful, Maureen...Really I am to you but...Is it wrong to want to be at home right now even if my parents don't want me?"
"Your parents want you, Bella...They just don't think that you fit into their successful worlds...I can see both their sides and yours what I don't agree with is the way that they have decided to change you."
"Do I really have to change? Must I change?" I asked.
"No you shouldn't need to...In a normal world you shouldn't have to but then again whilst you are still living with your parents you have to live by their rules."
"So what should I do?"
"Love"
"Pardon?"
"Love...Love makes people complete, Bella...It gives one a new found confidence and the ability to love themselves as well as another."
"What if I never find love...I will always be incomplete?" I asked.
"No..Love is not a NECESSITY to be complete...It helps find out who we really are...Without even realising it."
"I don't understand."
"You have never really been in love have you, Bella...Of course you wouldn't understand yet."
"God...Everything just seems so hard."
"How about we take a little sight-seeing trip tomorrow...That is if you are not seeing Edward. I have to say it, Bella...But Edward is exactly the kind of young man that would be right for you...He would treat you kindly and love you unconditionally."
"How do you know?"
"I see things...I see these things in people, I always have done...It does not exist in EVERY member of the opposite sex but once I see it...I am never wrong."
"You want Edward and I to be together, then?"
"No...I did not say that...I said that a TYPE of person like Edward."
I sighed "Yeah..Well I am not holding out hope."
"Do you want to find someone, Bella?"
"Of course I do..What girl doesn't? I just hope that it will come to me rather than my having to wish for it to happen and making myself upset when I still end up feeling lonely."
"Your last boyfriend was an idiot, Bella...He didn't appreciate you for what you are...He didn't see you how everyone else sees you."
"I know"
"Anyway...Who am I to know about the trials of young love and relationships."
"Lots...You have more experience than I do." I replied.
"Well that is where you are wrong, sweetheart. I have only ever had one boyfriend in my life and that was the person I married."
Maureen was married to a man named Albert...They were together for thirty years when he dies unedpectedly about seven years ago of cancer. It hit her extremely hard like it would do anyone who made a commitment to someone for so long...I never got the chance to meet him but I had seen pictures and by appearance they made a very good looking couple.
"You must have seen things, though...Friends going through bad times?"
"Sure...But that doesn't mean that I have as much understanding about what it is like to have my heart broken. At least not by someone who is still living."
"Are you sure you're going to be okay to show me around tomorrow?"
"Sure I can...I may be old, Bella but I am not completely useless."
"Maureen can I ask you something?"
"Ask away" she replied.
"Why is Ellie here most of the time?"
"Oh that..She was my carer and I find myself slowly deteriorating day by day and she is there to help that is all."
"Will she be with us tomorrow?" I asked.
"No. Just us"
"I am not complaining about Ellie...I was only curious."
"I know and you have every right to be."
"Do you want me to help you to bed?" I got up from my seat.
"Would you...That would be so kind?" Maureen answered...I nodded and held out my hand...Maureen slowly got up from the seat and took my hand when she was upright. Maureen flinched as our hands made contact.
"You're cold, baby" she said.
"Sorry...I always feel the cold." I answered apologetically.
"Like your mother" she added...I led her out of the kitchen and I stepped behind her as she climbed the stairs...If she fell then I would be here to support her better than if I were to be in front of her. Maureen managed to get the top and I passed her on the landing to open her bedroom door...she was already in her nightclothes so I wouldn't have to leave her to get changed by herself. I pulled the duvet cover back and held her hand as she stepped into it...I pulled the duvet over her chest as she sunk into the pillows.
"Thank you, sweetie" she said giving me an appreciative smile. I returned it and kissed her forehead.
"Is there anything else you need..Water or anything?"
"No thank you, darling" she replied...I turned off the bedside lamp and successfully got back to the bedroom door again thanks to the moonlight from the large window.
I stepped out onto the leading and walked to my own room..Closing the door behind me...I threw my coat offof my shoulders and put it on a hanger in my wardrobe...I walked out of the room and over to my bathroom.
I washed my face and brushed my teeth in the sink adding a small dab of moisturiser to my dry skin that was now appearing on my face due to the change of the weather in my living environment.
I climbed into bed once I got back to my room...I sunk into the pillow reaching my arm over to turn off my lamp.
I fell asleep instantly before feeling a little excited that Maureen was going to be coming out with me tomorrow...Uninterrupted and peacefully with no one else there but us.
The two of us once again, just like a few times before in my childhood.
Thanks for reading!
.S.
X x