The sun's rays were bright through the lace curtains as I looked around, finding some way to block the intrusion of my peaceful rest. A gourmet smell, unlike what I was used to, was wafting into my room. I was somewhat perked to find out, yet the tiring muscles of my legs were straining to stand. Fighting back the screams they yelled out at me, I opened the door to hear the most enchanting sounds of singing. It was velvet smooth and crystal clear, piercing right through my soul. It struck my heart as being a voice like none other.
"Hello?" I called out, momentarily remembering everything that had happen since yesterday. Oh, I wasn't living in my own house anymore. I was also living with another being: Edward.
"In the kitchen." A reply answered, the singing stopped.
Edward was looming over the kitchen, his eyes soft and smile evident as I strolled over to peer at what he was cooking. It was a toast dipped with egg and being fried with butter. I'd never truly encountered such a mix of ingredients...I'd been too used to eating healthy with the maids and my family. My heart lurched into the acids of my stomach as I remembered the situation I was in. I was a runaway and should just forget about going back. I needed determination to get past this phase and follow through with my dreams.
"What is that?" I asked, taking a poke at the toast with the egg flipper when Edward turned around to pour a glass of milk.
"Drink this." He handed me the glass and flipped the toast. "It's a French toast. My mother used to make it for me, but now I just make it for myself, and now you." He leaned back on one side of the kitchen counter and smirked.
"Do you always look like you've finished wrestling a mountain lion when you wake up?"
"No!" I yelled out, placing the glass down and combing my hair down with my fingers. It was a haystack, but not that bad, was it?
He chuckled and ran a hand through his own messy hair. An urge to run my own fingers through his hair was strong, like a child's interest in playing with a new toy. What would it feel like, the individual strands of hair like silk, smooth and waiting for someone to touch and massage. It would feel good, I comforted with my mind, suddenly realizing how weird I was behaving. I crossed my arms and waited for Edward to stop with a stern look.
He shrugged and turned back to the toast. Gah! Stupid handsome looking jerk!
"Any plans today? Or are you going to sit around in the bedroom doing nothing?" Edward inquired, flipping the toast once more before placing it on the plate.
"Well I was thinking of either getting a job, or acquiring some application forms for Julliard. Which one should I do first?" I sat down at the high-stool beside the kitchen island and waited with a growling stomach.
"Know what your priority is? Eating. I can hear that beast of a stomach of yours from here." Edward snickered and placed the toast, with some maple syrup in front of me.
It was hot, but I ignored that as I ate. The batter was smooth, the toast was like eating a cloud. His cooking, which I was quite surprised, is amazing. I never imagined someone could make something so divine with such ...simple ingredients. Maybe having a famous French chef cooking your breakfast every morning wasn't the best, considering they used all these ridiculous names for ingredients like a truffle or herbs like fleur de sel.
"By any chance you know what's the easiest way to get to Julliard? I kind of want to get some application forms first to look through the criteria and when to audition for this year's semester." I poked another piece of toast into my mouth and waited for Edward to scrutinize the possible route in his mind.
"I guess you can take the route 21 bus just outside the alleyway and then walk for about five minutes to Julliard? It'll probably your fastest bet unless you're going to get a chauffeur or a taxi." He poured himself a glass of orange juice and sat down beside me.
"Will you be cooking dinner tonight? Or will you take me out to the diner again?" I made a sour face at that and gulped down the last of my glass of milk.
"I'm sure I can pull a dinner together tonight, unless you want to go to the diner?" I practically yelled out the answer, "No! Please no. I do not need to watch a woman try and seduce you with her horrible innuendo's and obvious attempts at flirting. Please."
He chuckled and picked up my empty plate and glass to wash. "She's a pretty cool person once you know her. She's a bit more...open to other people. You should see her talk to the other customers that she classifies as "Hot men". Don't want to get near that list..."
"Oh, trust me, she's way more dangerous than a hit man who intends to kill you in the slowest, most painful way." I rolled my eyes and picked up my bag and slung it over my shoulders. "I'll see you later, bye." I called, opening the door.
"Wait, you need a cell phone. Here. The first number is my cell phone, the second is home phone. Add contacts as you'd wish. Bye." He placed a small, silver rectangular device in my hand and went into his room.
The high alleyway blocked off most of the sun but from the warm atmosphere, I could tell today would be a fabulous day. The busy sounds of cars were muffled slightly from the maze of alleyways as I made my way out into the city scene. I glanced to my left and right, cautious of my surroundings and shivered from last night. I would remember to return home earlier.
I waited at the bus stop, standing behind a couple kissing quite passionately, with hair pulling and sounds. Yuck. I made a quick barf notion to the little boy behind me with an ice cream cone. He giggled and yanked his mother's arm for a napkin as his mouth dripped with melted ice cream. I laughed and smiled at the mother as she hurriedly rummaged through her large black vintage bag for napkins. I realized I had a package and gave her them, as the little boy's hands began wiping the ice cream.
"Thanks so much." She said, smiling and wiping his mouth and jaw with the tissue.
She was in her early 20's, short and extremely beautiful. Her jet black hair was tied up in a loose ponytail with stray strands framing her angelic, pixie-like face. Her eyes were a mesmerizing green, bright and shimmering in the limited rays. Even as a mother of a toddler, she dressed sophisticated and form fitting clothing with no signs of a belly or anything else that gave her the impression of ever being pregnant.
"He's always such a messy eater." The woman commented on her son, shaking her head and smoothing his curly mahogany hair back. He lifted his arm into a shaking-hand gesture and looked up at me. I shook his hand and laughed as he shook it with exaggerated swinging. His cherubic face was happy with a radiant smile.
"My name's Bella, how about yours?" I kneed down to his height and watched him think it over in his head.
"My name is Jaslisle." He wrinkled his forehead for a bit and then continued, "Nice to meet you." He beamed up at me and I felt all bubbly inside.
"That's such a wonderful name!" I said, looking up at the woman.
"My name's Alice. Named it after his father and my father." She had a sour edge to her voice but she was obviously hiding it from her son.
"Well, nice to meet you." I extended my arm and shook hers.
"So where are you two going off to?" I looked down to watch the little boy run around his mother in circles.
"I have to drop him off to preschool and then I will be off to work. How about yourself?"
The bus came at that second and we boarded it, smiling at the enthusiastic bus driver and paying our fares. It was a smooth ride, even with the notorious potholes of New York. My mood increased exponentially when I got off the bus, waving to the mother and son with Alice's phone number. She was grounded, nice, and an extremely interesting person. I could tell the both of us we're going to become good friends
I entered the grand university and followed the visible reception's desk and waited as a woman greeted.
"Hello, how may I help you?"
"I was just wondering if I could get my hands on a few application and information sheets regarding Julliard and its admission, please?"
"Of course." She handed me a booklet and began to flip through several pages, indicating what I should know, what I should remember and ecetera. I was absorbing every detail with sharp eyes as she spoke at a quick pace to cover everything. Seemed like she had to this an awful lot.
"And that would be the tuition fees for the school. Residence is provided, and partially recommended as it allows students to arrive at classes in punctual time. If there are any other information, then you may go on our website located on the bottom right-hand corner of the booklet's front page along with our phone numbers. Thank you for coming, and we will be hoping to encorporate you into our school student body soon." The woman didn't even take a breath after that. I nodded and exited, slightly shocked at how long it took for her to introduce all the information. She was definitely a talker, and utterly bored being a receptionist.
The loud noises of New York was deafening as I walked onto the street. I was far too used to the quietness of the university front desk and the woman's voice and it took me almost by surprise. It was always quiet at home unless the occasional piano playing my mother did, or the classical music that was played in and around the house. It seemed like the world stopped, paused even, whenever I was with my parents...everything they did revolved around me, whether it be my father working and traveling to everywhere for his internet website empire, or my mother's constant suggestions of prestigous gatherings like the Sorority girls and such.
My heart ached to return home, and yet if I did, all those motivations I had for a life where it wouldn't be directed by my parents, or have interferances and priorities and...all the "easy way" to things wasn't what I wanted. I held onto the booklet in my hand tighter and walked to the bus station to return home. At least, for now, it's my home.