Haha. This chapter is for AllHisKisses, since we're bargaining with each other to update, and I can't send her a PM because fanfiction is stupid. And, it's also for saranicole, because she JUST sent me a PM and I couldn't reply to it. But yes, I do love you :D
I'm glad people think that I write Edward well. Really, I just write him the way I wish all men were. -sigh-
Don't forget, there is a poll up that's going to decide the fate of the sequel to Attraction. I'd like to remind you, that if you choose not to have the sequel (coughmyfavouritechoicecough) then I'd write a detailed summary of what the sequel would have been, and I may put some of the chapters in my oneshot collection. VOTE!
Chapter Three: Mailbox
The middle of July.
I was beginning to think that instead of landing in a foreign country, my letter had sunk to the bottom of the ocean. That, or whoever had found it laughed at it straight out and threw it away. I'd done a lot of rambling, most of it I regret, especially the religion part.
"Bella," Alice called from the front door. I was sitting on my deck again, wearing a black tank top and jean shorts, feeling so healthy and, so warm inside the house. The deck was perfect with it's brisk sea breeze. "I picked up your mail on the way in. You've got quite a bit here." I jumped from my seat, knocking over the stool and falling flat on my face before jumping up and running inside to get it from her.
"Thank you so much, you're such a doll!" I said with a grin, noticing a letter with a very different adress. I poked it in the back and I looked through the flyers and bills. Alice let out a deep sigh and I looked at her curiously. "Anything wrong hon?" I asked. She looked at me and pouted.
"Jasper is upset, and he said he wanted to talk to me, so I have to meet him here, before the Johnston Bar Mitzvah tonight." I grinned to myself as I turned to through out the unnecessaries. I knew exactly what Jasper was planning, and why Rosalie was coming in with him at this very moment.
"Alice!" he yelled, stomping into the house. She jumped up, nearly frightened and Rosalie sent me a confused look. I merely winked and turned back to the display. Without warning Jasper grabbed Alice and kissed her furiously. I caught the motion as he slipped a ring on her finger. Rose giggled furiously, and as the couple pulled away they were smiling, until Alice noticed the weight on her finger. Jasper was grinning madly as she nearly screamed before jumping back into his arms, yelling a 'yes!' with all her might. Rosalie and I began dancing and yelling, the standard reaction to watching our two best friends get engaged.
"Congratulations!" I squealed, hugging her tightly.
"You knew!" she accused.
"I did, but it was worth it, to see this." Alice grinned again and squealed in delight. She couldn't be mad at me, not now.
"We have to go to dinner! To celebrate!" Jasper declared, running to call and make reservations for four. Once he finished with the phone I walked them to the door.
"I'll meet you guys there, okay? Seven, right?" With a warning from Alice to wear that one black dress in my back closet I watched them drive off and then ran back to my kitchen to find the letter.
"England," I murmured in wonder. At least I didn't need to buy a translator. I opened the envelope and found a few pages, similar to my own. There was beautiful, yet masculine writing on all the pages. I smiled. Hand written letters were far better than anything typed.
Dear Bella;
My name is Edward Anthony Cullen. I live in London, England, I'm an editor in a well known publishing house. I'm only 24 and single, but I am so happy that you wrote to me.
I found your letter on the beach near my parents' house, an hour away from London, and at first I couldn't believe it. To find a bottle on the beach, I thought it was garbage, left behind after some sort of picnic. But, I got excited when I got home and found your letter. To be honest, I'm keeping you a secret. My friend Emmett was with me at Mum and Dad's when I found this, but I even waited until he was asleep before I read this.
You, have truly and utterly amazed me. In your letter you summed up everything I have ever been feeling. Like you, I have had all the relationship experiences, I know what's to be done, when to do it, but I have yet to fall in love. Like you said, the people I interact with everyday convince themselves that love is what they have and need. Then, when it comes to an end, they are completely heart broken, because they thought it was the real thing.
It wasn't, but they managed to delude themselves into thinking it was so. Emmett can have any girl he wants, but he, like you and Rosalie, and I, hasn't found anyone yet. He's happy that way. But me? I feel like I'm missing something.
So, let's see if we can figure this out, this stupid love thing. You and I seem to be on the right track. Maybe there's a set of rules everyone has that we got gyped, we can make our own list, right? Yeah, I think so. Making a list of requirements as such for the most powerful emotion in existance isn't too too hard.
Don't get me started on God. We're strictly Easter/Christmas Christians, but since moving out on my own I don't even do that much. I suppose I share the same views as you. And, you bring up an excellent and terrifying point with that.
Bush does suck. You poor American. Come to England? Hahaha. Unless you enjoy the rain, it's no good. Ever since Santa didn't give me that bike when I was ten, I've lost all respect for the fellow. Now, instead of leaving him cookies, I leave him an angry letter and his own lump of coal. Although it's not very effective. At my office we raise money each Christmas to do one of those shoeboxes, a good few actually, to send to where ever needs them.
I, unfortunately, do not live in a beach house. I'd love to have a cottage like my parent's some day, but for now, I have a large flat in London, close to my office with tons of traffic and no vegetation until the next park. I'm going to go down to the post office tomorrow and buy some stamps, since I can't seem to find any around, and then, hopefully in a few weeks, you'll be reading this.
Bella, I think you and I could have some interesting conversations. So, on the back is my e-mail address. It'll be far more easier and tolerable if we don't have to wait weeks to hear replies from one another. Although, perhaps a letter every now and then would be nice. I, too, enjoy mail other than bills.
You can wait until the internet to get me going on music. Perhaps you and I have wasted too much paper with our rambling, but love is a touchy subject and needs detailed attention between two strangers. That's the only easy way to speak of it, with someone you don't know.
I look forward to hearing from you soon, whether in pixels or on paper, I'll be waiting.
Sincerely,
Edward, from England.
Seriously? I nearly screamed by the time I finished. This was unbelievable! England. My letter had gone all the way to England, and now some young guy with a fabulous job was waiting to hear from me. I ran to the computer and typed his address into my instant messenger, since it was from the same host, and then I opened up a new e-mail to write to him, at the same time hopping into my black dress, and requested per Alice. I rushed back to my closet to grab a pair of high heels when I heard the familiar alert sound from the messenger. Someone had spoken to me. I hopped back to the computer desk and saw one message.
Edward: Hello?
I couldn't stop the mad grin that was forming on my lips. He was there, right now, somewhere four hours in the future (hah) and he was speaking to me, from across an entire ocean. I sat down, my arms shaking, although I'm not even certain why I was so nervous.
Bella: Hello. I just got your letter.
I didn't want to overthink this so much. I didn't want to wait for the text to come up that he was writing, so I jumped back out of my chair and took a few deep breaths. I finished pulling on my shoes and straigtened out my dress before taking down my hair and brushing through it. Once I heard the alert I dropped the brush and rushed back to the computer.
Edward: Oh gosh! This is America Bella? I'm so happy you didn't find me completely creepy and used my email!
I laughed. The guy had a way with words. I was grinning so widely, my cheeks were hurting.
Bella: I'm just happy someone found my letter! I was beginning to wonder what happened to it.
Edward: I was really surprisesd to find it, but you wrote so well, and saved on postage. I couldn't not write back.
Bella: Thank you! This is really exciting. Unfortunately, I have to go. My friends that I wrote about? We're celebrating their engagement soon.
Edward: Ah, finally! I give them my best wishes, I hope you enjoy yourself tonight.
Bella: I will, and thanks. um... if you're going to be on later? I'd really like to talk to you about something worth while.
Edward: I will definietly be on. I haven't got anything to do besides some paperwork, and I'm reading this new book. It hasn't been going too well so far.
Bella: Okay, well, I'll talk to you in a few hours, I suppose, bye!
Edward: Goodbye, Bella.
I don't really want to admit it, but I was practically screaming with anticipation on the ride to the restaurant. My friends would just take it as happiness for the lovely couple.
Hehe. So, I'm going to put up the next chapter in a couple of hours. I've only been awake for an hour. Chapter four is infinitely better than this one. And, I've done a lot of brainstorming, and I'm really really excited for this story. I hope you guys like it!