Hello all! I'm still new to this process, and that's why I didn't have one of these on the first chapter. But, I figured I should have a disclaimer. I DO NOT OWN THESE CHARACTERS. All rights belong to the lovely Stephanie Meyer. Also, I wanted to thank you for the reviews and likes so far. As I said before, I'm still quite new to this. So I hope I don't disappoint. I'm just looking for a way to improve my writing while also having some fun :) SO please be nice. I beg of you. I'm quite sensitive XD
Chapter 2: The Walk Home
Mary Alice was the first to get home, as her house was only a few blocks away from the fair. Mr. Masen and I bid her goodnight as she went inside,
"It was a privilege to meet you Ms. Brandon," Mr. Masen had said as she walked up the stairs.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Mary Alice," was my farewell as she looked back at me with eyes that screamed, "Tell me everything tomorrow!" I gave her a small nod and smiled as she closed the door behind her, looking satisfied. I couldn't help the chuckle that followed her departure, as Mr. Masen and I began walking again.
"May I ask what is amusing you," Mr. Masen said with a slight glint in his eye that I couldn't identify.
I smiled broader, "Mary Alice is my favorite person in the world, and sometimes I forget how much I love having her around," Mr. Masen seemed confused still, so I continued, "I guess it was just one of those moments where I realized how much I appreciate her nosiness," I laughed and he chuckled finally understanding.
"So, she is intrusive?" He asked, wanting to know more.
"Oh no, well yes, but only in the best ways," I answered, determined to keep her reputation untarnished, "She is curious as much as any close friend would be, perhaps even more so. But never to the point where it is a problem."
"Well what was she curious about just now?" He inquired, probably wondering how I had come to the conclusion. I froze, I had laughed because of her nosiness with Mr. Masen, however I didn't want him to think there was anything for her to be nosy about between us. However, I was never good at coming up with cover stories, so I opted for the truth.
"You," I said simply, "You're only the talk of the whole town, and we never expected to run into you,"
He laughed, louder than I had ever heard someone laugh in public. That fact alone made me smile from ear to ear. However, his laugh was musical, and soon I found myself entranced by it. It seemed everything about this man entranced me to the point of not being able to speak.
"Yes, well, it is a curse, trust me," was his simple reply.
I smiled again, "I can't see how. It can't be too terrible to have admirers," I said, thinking of the fan clubs for Edward Masen around the town. And yes, there were multiple.
"Admirers? I didn't know I had any. I thought you were talking about my father's business," He smiled down at me, as if he was laughing at a private joke.
"Uh, well yes, that too," I was flustered. I didn't know what to say to this man.
"I'm sure you have admirers as well, Ms. Swan," He stated, out of the blue, I found myself resisting the urge to laugh.
"No, I do not think so," was my attempt at a lady-like response. However, it was difficult when I was trying to cover up my laughing with small coughs.
He looked amused at this, "No? Really? Well they're probably there, you just haven't noticed them yet,"
I didn't answer, instead I let it drop and moved on, "What do you like to do for entertainment, Mr. Masen?"
"Call me Edward, please. Mr. Masen is my father." He implored
"Very well then. What do you like to do for fun, Edward?" I asked, pleased at being able to talk freely with him, like we were friends instead of strangers.
"Well Ms. Swan-" he began, but I didn't let him finish
"Pardon me, I don't mean to interrupt, but if I am to call you Edward, you may call me Isabella, or Bella if you wish," I declared, silently hoping he would call me by the name I've been trying to get people to use all my life.
"Very well then, Ms. Bella," he smiled at me, and my insides turned to jelly as he spoke my name. His voice made it sound like a beautiful ballad, "I enjoy playing the piano in my free time, I also enjoy reading," He looked to me, as a sign he was finished. My interest was piqued.
"Reading? What do you like to read?" I questioned, reviewing all of the books that sat on my bookshelf at that moment.
"Well, I find my interests are quite eclectic when it comes to books. However, recently, I've found Charles Dickens work to be quite fascinating,"
"Really? Which one is your favorite?" I inquired, curious beyond belief.
"I find Nicholas Nickleby quite thought provoking," He answered, seeming almost lost in his thoughts.
"I imagine so," Knowing that book to be about a young man whose father passes away, and leaves nothing for his son, I couldn't help but to be nosy still and ask, "Do you ever worry about such a thing happening to you?" I almost regretted asking, but he didn't seem to mind.
"No, my father is well off, and he's spoken many times of leaving everything to me after he's gone," His voice almost sounded bored, like he was wanting anything else to happen instead of that.
"Pardon me, it seems Mary Alice has rubbed off on me some, but, you do not seem like that is what you desire…" I trailed off, hoping not to offend him or let my curiosity become too wild.
He chuckled humorously, "Yes, well, I suppose it's that obvious, isn't it?" I nodded slightly, unable to help myself. He continued, "Well I suppose it's not exactly what I dream of doing, I honestly don't know what I would do if I were given a choice, but I can say with certainty it wouldn't be taking over an oil business,"
"May I ask why?"
"You're full of questions, Ms. Bella, are you always this inquisitive?" He asked, smiling and effectively moving the conversation elsewhere. I took that as a sign to not say anymore on the subject.
"Well, I suppose Mary Alice isn't the only one who is nosy. I believe we share that characteristic. I am sorry if I offended you in any way," I let him take the lead for the next part of the conversation, wishing to not offend him any further.
"Of course not. What do you like to do then, Bella? I imagine you are also a lover of the written word based off of your interest earlier," he probed in a subtle manner
"Well you imagine correctly. My favorite book is Wuthering Heights, I read it quite often. However I am also a fan of Jane Austen's works," I lingered there, hoping he would continue speaking. I sure loved to listen to him speak, his voice was like melting honey.
"Really? Wuthering Heights? I never would've guessed," He smiled at me and my insides felt like jelly again.
We came upon my house then, and I stopped walking, looking to him I found his eyes almost looked disappointed. This knowledge made my stomach do flips.
"It was wonderful to meet you Mr. Mas-" Whoops. Force of habit, "Uh, I mean Edward. I hope we will get to meet again," I couldn't stop the broad smile that graced my lips.
"I hope so too, Ms. Swa-… Bella." He chuckled softly and took my hand one last time and placed a kiss upon it. "Goodbye Bella," and with that he turned around and began to walk the way we had come.
I walked inside and closed the door behind me, the events of today racing to the forefront of my mind. I was giddy.
"Mother! I'm home," I called, I walked to the kitchen to find her sitting at the table and reading a book. Her hair was tied up in a bun, with strands falling around her face. Her eyes were sunken in, because she hadn't gotten much rest these past couple of days. She worked late in the evening, and very early in the morning, which was necessary ever since Father left to join the army, and left us to fend for ourselves. My mother was a lot like me, except more beautiful, and a little harebrained. However, she never seemed less like a mother to me, she was still authoritative despite that. She looked up at me as I walked in,
"Ah, Isabella, there you are. How was the fair today?" She asked while looking back down at her book.
"It was … quite pleasant," I said, surprised that I hadn't even wanted to go in the first place.
