End of Chapter 17
I bent over and kissed him on his head, and bounded up the stairs. I sat down at my desk and looked through my list of things to do. I had finished everything on my list yesterday when I was home, except for my reading for English. I picked up Tom Sawyer, and flopped back onto my bed. I slowly ran my hand over the cover of my book and a smile spread over my face as I thought of last night. I flipped through the pages trying to find the point I remembered before falling asleep. I snuggled into my mattress trying to find the same warmth and security I had felt in Edward's arms. I eventually found the last thing I remembered, and started reading, but it was Edward's voice I heard in my head.
Chapter 18: These Are The Days (EPOV)
The next three weeks passed quickly in a blur of school, activities, and Bella. We would meet in the parking lot every morning before the start of school. Our little circle of Bella, my siblings, the Hales, and myself talking together oblivious to the rest of the world that shuffled around us. We all ate lunch together pairing off, two of them officially so, and Bella and I. I loved lunch time. I would watch everyone interacting with each other. We all fell together so easily. Everyone was open and honest, teasing and true. One subject, they thankfully didn't tease too much on was Bella and I's friendship. When we were apart, everyone liked to point out to me that I wasn't seeing what was there. I knew what I felt. I didn't need them pointing it out. Every time I got close to telling her how I felt, or to ask her what she might be feeling, something always stopped me.
Bella was so full of life these days. Charlie had made remarkable improvements with the increased distance between himself and chemotherapy. On the nights that I didn't have my practice with the symphony, I would find time to go to Bella's after school to study together. Charlie, thankfully, always welcomed me, but he always had that suspicious eye on me for any sign that I might be having any untoward thoughts for his daughter. Thank God, he couldn't read my mind. Thank God SHE couldn't. Bella would make us all dinner, and then I would leave as Bella and Charlie set off on their nightly walk. Carlisle suggested that Charlie get as much exercise as he could stand leading up to the surgery, because it could only help make him stronger for the recovery.
Bella and Charlie had both offered for me to join them, but I always made my excuses and declined. Bella over the last three weeks had confided in me about the emotional wasteland that had been her life while taking care of Charlie since September. She would never call it that, but I was witness to it. After hearing about what she had to do, her worries, and the emotional isolation she felt from everyone, and even Charlie, I knew these walks were perfect opportunities for the two of them to reconnect, and enjoy a little time as just father and daughter.
Bella's confession of what she had been through was also why I hadn't told her of my emotional revelation that night I realized that I loved her. Bella had been carrying enough emotional burden for so long. I was so afraid that if she didn't reciprocate my feelings, that my rejection would be just one more thing she would have to add to her already heavy load.
So here we were the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving driving to Sea-Tac airport. Bella's flight left at 5:25pm from Seattle. She was flying into Bolder, Colorado to catch her connecting flight, and then flying to the Casper/Natrona County International Airport from there. She wasn't going to get to Wyoming until just after midnight. Renee and Phil assured her that it was no problem and how excited they were that she was coming. I could tell Bella was happy to be going to see her mother as well, and I couldn't help but be infected by the smile on her face.
Alice and I were driving Bella to the airport, because Charlie had to work. Our parents had arranged with the school officials for Bella, Alice, and I to get out of school early that day, so we would have plenty of time to drive to Seattle to get Bella to her flight on time. We decided that we would just grab a quick dinner with Bella in the airport before she headed out. We decided on Kathy Casey Dish D'Lish for our meal.
"So, this is your first Thanksgiving away from home," Bella said as she took a bite of the soup she had gotten.
"Yes," Alice and I said together.
"What did you do for Thanksgiving back in Chicago?" Bella asked.
"Mom usually cooked up a big meal, and we would have the few aunts, uncles, and cousins that live in the city come over," Alice explained. "We'd go all out with the table cloths, good china, and the silver."
"Fancy!" Bella replied.
"Then, after the meal," I added, "we would watch football and play cards."
"The same thing every year?" Bella asked.
"Yes," I answered quizzically.
"Huh," Bella said as she suddenly became quiet and pensive.
"What do you usually do for Thanksgiving, Bella?" Alice asked. I was curious now, also.
"Would you believe me if I told you that I have never had turkey for Thanksgiving?" Bella asked.
"WHAT?!" Alice and I both shouted together horrified.
"How can you not have turkey on Thanksgiving?" I asked. "I live for Thanksgiving turkey."
"Don't exaggerate, Edward," Alice chided.
"Alice lives for the Macy's Parade," I said laughing. Bella snickered too.
"What's so funny about that?" Alice quipped.
"Nothing," Bella and I said together, and then turned and laughed at one another.
"Fine," Alice said with a pout. "What do you do on Thanksgiving, Bella?"
"It's something different every year," Bella said. "Last year it was Cinco de Mayo in November."
Both Alice and made contorted faces. Bella shrugged.
"Renee is not very traditional," Bella said as an explanation.
"What about when you are with Charlie for Thanksgiving?" I asked.
"I've never spent Thanksgiving with Charlie," Bella said non-chalantly.
"Never?" Alice asked.
"Nope," Bella said. "Until this fall, I only ever saw Charlie two weeks each summer."
Both Alice and I stared at Bella shocked. We had only known Bella since we moved to Forks this fall, and I sometimes forgot that she was a "new kid" as well. It amazed me even more, that she had the type of dedication to her father whom she only saw two weeks a year. In that moment, I fell in love with her even more.
We continued on through our meal discussing memories of Thanksgivings past. Mostly, Bella talked and Alice and I listened. I sat fascinated as I listened to her talk about camping in the desert, going to Vegas, and even serving meals to the homeless. I suddenly felt very small and sheltered in my life. I had travelled around the world, yet I felt that Bella, in her corner of the world, had seen so much more.
Once we were done with our dinner, Bella still had twenty minutes until she needed to check in, so we grabbed coffees. We were about to sit down, when Alice's cell phone rang. It was Jasper. After handing the phone to Bella, so Jasper could say one more quick good-bye, she took her coffee across the aisle way from us to have her conversation.
"So, Ms. Swan," I said taking a sip of my coffee, "what are you going to miss most about Forks?"
"You know," she said with a smile, "I never thought I would ever say I was going to miss Forks, but I will. I will miss my friends, and for the first time, I am really going to miss Charlie."
She looked sad in that moment, and I reached over and put my arm around her shoulders. She leaned into me and sighed.
"We are going to miss you too, Bella," I said kissing the top of her head. I noticed Alice look up at me from where she was sitting and gave me a small smile. I rolled my eyes at her.
"Will you email and text me while I am gone?" Bella asked.
"Of course," I agreed. "I can even call you, if you would like."
"I would like that," she said softly looking up at me.
"I can even read to you, if you have trouble sleeping," I said getting lost in the beautiful brown eyes staring back at me.
"Promise?" She said smiling, now.
"Cross my heart," I said motioning across my chest. She giggled, and snuggled back into my chest, and then looked thoughtful as she started absent-mindedly running her finger along the zipper of my coat.
"Edward..." Bella started.
"Yes," I said looking down at her.
"Thank-you for showing up at my door," she said softly.
"When?" I asked.
"The night Charlie came home from the hospital," she answered. "I really needed a friend that night. Thank-you for being there without me having to ask."
"I'll always be there, Bella," I confessed to her in the only way I could.
She looked up at me then, and I met her gaze. We stat there just lost in each others eyes. I reached up and brushed the hair off of her forehead, and brought my hand around and let it rest on her cheek. I saw her eyes drift from my eyes to my mouth, and back again. My eyes made a similar path. This was it. I was going to kiss her. Unconsciously, we were leaning into each other, when...
"Bella, it's time for you to check-in," Alice said, now standing in front of us.
Fucking, cock-blocking sister!
Bella came out of the haze that we were caught up in.
"Oh, OK," she said as I released her unwillingly from my arms, and she gathered up her bag.
She got up then, and she and Alice wrapped their arms around each other, hugging. As they said their good-byes, I remained lost in my thoughts about the moment that almost happened. I could feel the charge between us in that moment, and I could swear that I saw in her eyes the same feelings that I held for her. I barely registered her saying good-bye to me, and turning towards the gates.
As I saw her walking away, I found myself calling out to her.
"Bella, wait!" I called.
She turned around, and I made up the distance between us in a few short strides. I looked into her eyes, and then gathered her up in my arms holding her close to me. Breathing heavily, I buried my nose into her hair memorizing her scent to hold onto for the next four days. I wrapped myself in this moment. Bella began to loosen her hold around me, and as I lifted my face from her shoulder, I slowly let my cheek graze down the soft length of hers. Her breath hitched at the contact. Breathing deeply, myself, I dragged my nose back up her cheek and placed a soft, lingering kiss on the corner of her jaw next to her ear. She let out the breath she had been holding.
"I'll miss you, Edward," she whispered.
"I already miss you, Bella," I said looking into her eyes, and then hugged her once more. "Time to go, sweetheart."
She stepped away from me and picked up her bag that I wasn't even aware had fallen to her feet. I watched her walk through the gate. She turned once more and waved. I waved back, and she turned and headed away from me to her terminal. I felt a small hand on my shoulder, then. I reached up without looking, and placed my hand on top of Alice's.
"Four days," she said to me like a promise.
"Four days," I repeated.
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A/N: Sorry this is late. I have strep throat, so I was a feverish mess Thursday night. I'm giving you this slightly shorter chapter for now, and hopefully will be back on track once I am feeling better. Thanks to the Word Challenge girls for getting me to the finish line on this chapter!
You guys are awesome! I am thankful to all of you who read, and especially thank those of you who take a moment to let me know how you are enjoying the story!
Reviews equal soft kisses from Edward!
