Okay guys!
Sorry for not updating for sooooo long – but hey, high schools busy! And also, this chappie is mainly just fluff and introducing characters etc, etc. Enjoy!
Chapter 10
BPOV
I paced restlessly around my room, kicking at the carpet and finally coming to rest with my palms pressed down hard on the windowsill. Closing my eyes, I breathed in deeply and rolled my shoulders backwards and forwards. Everything from the last few days of my life was going round and round in my head, a hurricane of confusion. I spun round, planning to go and flop dejectedly onto my bed, but something was in front of me and I tripped over it. I prepared to hit the softish floor with my eyes winced shut, but instead I was caught by something cold, hard and… definitely not carpet. I glanced up to see Edward, the most beautiful of the Cullens' by far, righting me with one side of his mouth pulled up in a strange kind of smile that was quickly replaced by a look of sympathy.
"Hello Bella." I stared up at him questioningly for a while. Then I realized I hadn't thanked him.
"Oh! Hello. Thanks for um… catching me," I half smiled at him and went over and sat on my bed. He joined me.
"We haven't really been acquainted yet," he said. I couldn't help but be a little afraid of him but I smiled nervously back.
"No, not really." He took hold of my hand.
"Well Isabella Swan. I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance," he said with mock formality, his voice accentuating each syllable in a surprisingly pleasurable way. He kept his eyes on mine as he leant forward and kissed my hand lightly. I giggled.
"And you Mr. Cullen," I said in the same gracious tone. He smiled and leant back. We both sat there in silence for a minute.
"It's very strange you know," he mused, "To actually be able to talk to a human, to be friends with them. We've never been able to socialize properly, just in case something… err… went wrong." I nodded, understanding the unsaid words.
"Well I'm glad you have this experience then. I just hope it doesn't 'go wrong'." He stared at the floor.
"So." I said, trying for conversation. "What can you tell me about vampires? About yourself?"
"Well… what do you want to know?" he asked. I considered his question.
"Okay – are you allergic to garlic?" He shook his head smiling.
"Nope. And before you continue – we don't burn in the sunlight, sleep in coffins, aren't killed with stakes through the heart, don't turn into bats…" he marked them off on his fingers as he went. I cussed good naturedly.
"Well damn." I pouted. "What do you do then?" He grinned mischievously.
"Sorry not to meet up to your expectations," he teased, "But I'll have you know I don't have to breathe, I can't sleep, I am very strong, very fast and…" he paused to emphasize his final quality, "I play the piano." He waggled his eyebrows in a you-should-be-very-impressed way. I humphed.
"Well… well I… um… I can…" I grappled round my mind for something I could claim to fame, "I can… Oh! Yes, I can make a mean lasagna." I leant back, crossing my arms across my chest and nodding seriously, very pleased with myself. I was shocked by how comfortable I felt around him with the knowledge that he was a vampire and some random stranger who I really only just met.
"Oh really? Well, next time we see a lasagna, you tell me if it's better than yours or not. Agreed?" We shook on it, giggling.
We stayed in my room talking and getting to know each other for hours, until Esme called me down to say she'd cooked me dinner – lasagna. Edward and I both cracked up, laughing like loonies. The rest of his family just looked on. I have no idea how, but the mornings events were forgotten, packed in the deep, dark depths of the bottom of my mind, somehow deemed unimportant by the strange inner workings of my brain. I shrugged mentally. Did it really matter?
Did ya like it?? Did ya? Did ya?? Reviews please!
kris