The park seemed to be the best option. It was one of the few sunny days in Seattle and I wanted to soak up some vitamin d. It was not very crowded when I got off the bus and it did not take long for me to find a suitable café. I got my meal to go and found a nice sunny bench. As I ate more people seemed to appear and squeeze through the pathways.
My chicken salad sandwich was half gone when I heard a chuckle. I looked up into his eyes and I felt my stomach quiver.
"Hello Bella, are you having a nice lunch?" Edward asked sweetly standing in front of me. He was wearing normal clothing. Just a rugby shirt and faded jeans, but he looked mouth watering. The majority of his face was shadowed under the bill of a baseball hat with some unruly copper hair sticking out. He chuckled again and I was positive I was drooling.
I sat straighter and discreetly checked my face for food or drool. There was none.
"Yes thank you." My voice cracked slightly so I tried to swallow to prevent it from happening again. My throat was so dry I could barely remove my tongue from the roof of my mouth. From drooling to dry mouth, Edward definitely had some unpleasant side-effects. I took a swig of water waiting for him to state his purpose. He just stared at me.
All I could think about was his lips on my skin as his eyes raked over me. I definitely need a therapist. I could not want someone who would utterly destroy me.
"May I join you?" I was surprised but I tried not to show it. There was room on both sides of me so I couldn't lie. The only way I could stop him would be to stretch my entire body down the length of the bench since he already moved to be seated. I didn't respond and it seemed he wasn't expecting me to.
"Why are you here?" My voice sounded hostile and I regretted it. I started to apologize but he just smiled. Its perfection left me in awe.
"Well I was going to Bose to find a better stereo but I saw you sitting here all by your lonesome so I came over. Would you prefer if I left you to your thoughts?"
"No!" I answered to quickly triggering another laugh. Dammit, I was playing right into his hands. He was trying to make me compliment him, but I wouldn't give. "I mean… I don't care if you sit here. I was just leaving anyway." I invented. I inwardly sighed and bade farewell to the sun as I rolled up the remains of my meal.
He seemed genuinely surprised by my response. His emerald eyes searched my face for my bluff. Apparently he didn't find it because he countered. "Are you going back to work early?" I inwardly swore and glanced at my watch. I still had forty-five minutes to kill. I really didn't want to miss out on the sun.
"No, I was just going to walk in the sunlight. It's so rare I feel like I need to relish in it before it leaves again." He nodded.
"So, would you like to accompany me then? It's about a ten minute walk to the store." I tried to dissect the pros and cons of my actions. I could a) go with him and make an ass of myself in public b) go with him and make a wonderful impression or c) not go and argue with myself for the rest of the day about my decision.
"I guess I could." I tried to sound reluctant as I stood. He smiled took my hand to lead me off. I stuffed my water bottle and sandwich into my purse so nothing was holding me down.
The crowd seemed to unconsciously part for us as we walked. I barely noticed my surroundings as his thumb skimmed over my pulsing wrist. His mouth turned into a crooked smile and I felt my feet falter. It was not fair how beautiful he was. His arms came around my torso as my legs gave out.
As he moved a breeze caught the edge of his hat flipping it off and everything seemed to happen at once. His bronze hair shimmered in the light, any girl in a ten block radius screamed, and paparazzi materialized from thin air. To my surprise they weren't just calling his name, but mine as well.
"Isabella! Edward! Look over here!" One called. Edward's arms where still around me so when I turned I was cradled in his embrace. A very bad choice. The cameras where blinding so I turned my face into Edward's chest. This also was a bad decision. I glanced up to see Edward just staring at me. I froze caught in his gaze. We were giving them quite a show.
It all took about a minute before my brain caught up for me to push myself upright again. I grabbed Edward's hat, handed it to him, and booked it for the crowd of people. Spectators did not move for me as I tried to pass so I hip checked some random fan girl. Other stepped aside and I managed to get through. I ran for two blocks before the cameras stopped flashing but I could still hear foot falls behind me. Turning another corner I saw the door to a limousine open.
Mikhail's face was just inside. He barely saw me before I launched myself inside and shut the door.
"MOVE!" I shouted at the driver. He didn't argue and slid effortlessly back into traffic. I was panting and leaning against the leather seat trying to catch my breath. This is ridiculous. I get a new job and I can't have a normal day anymore. Reassessing the situation I glanced at Mikhail. He still looked confused, but not upset since my legs were across his lap. My skirt had risen up with my flying jump and I felt naked as him eyes studied me.
Almost rudely I yanked my legs to myself and pulled my skirt back down. He smirked and leaned back into his seat.
"It seems I always see you at the most peculiar times."
"I'm starting to think you're bad luck. You got me into this mess!" I accused gesturing back the way we came. He chuckled.
"I do not recall pouring that ice water on you. I do not recall dragging you to a club. And I do not recall sending the paparazzi after you on a random afternoon. How could these things possibly be my fault?" His logic was sound. I banged my head lightly against the window. I had no one to blame but myself. Perhaps I should be a hermit; I couldn't make a fool of myself that way. "So where do you wish to go since apparently I am not going to my meeting," he inquired as he slid his arm along the back of the seat. I hadn't even thought about why the limo door was opening. I had just thought of it as a safe haven. He was about to get out and go somewhere important.
"OH! I'm so sorry! I didn't even think… you can just pull over here and go back. I don't mean to intrude," I felt myself babbling. He dropped a finger on my lips to silence me.
"It's alright. I did not want to go any way. So, where to beautiful Miss?" his eyes sparkled in the dark.
"Um, the Seattle Sun Times? I really should go back to work." He nodded and relayed the address to the driver.
"Did you enjoy the flowers?" he played with the ends of my hair.
"They were very nice thank you. A bit showy, but a nice gesture." I couldn't be rude to him. I wanted to blame him for my day of hell but it was not his fault.
"Showy?" He obviously didn't understand the term.
"Ostentatious, unnecessary? Do you understand?"
"I know what showy means Isabella. I just never thought it would accompany one of my gifts in a sentence."
"I'm sorry. I just, I don't like drawing attention to myself like that. The whole office is covered with them right now and along with the picture in the paper everyone must think I did something to deserve such a gift. You can call me Bella by the way. Everyone does." He sat quietly for a minute.
"Bella…" he leaned towards me. I felt his breath before his lips. I could have stopped him but I felt bad for insulting him. His lips pushed gently at mine but they were not trying to take over. It was a very sweet gesture. Maybe I underestimated this guy…
My door was pulled open and I heard my name being yelled again. I pulled back from Mikhail to see photographers everywhere getting pictures of me practically in his lap, again. I looked back at him and his eyes never left me. He seemed oblivious to the outside world.
"Let me take you to dinner." I knew this was a reasonable request but tonight I had to go see Charlie. I bit my lip and said I would think about it. I tried to gracefully climb from the car and hurry into
the building but my heels caught and I ran into the door. There were still a lot of flashes but once inside the tinted glass doors I felt safer. Tomorrow's gossip pages where going to be crawling with my face and name. Stupid, stupid, stupid!