Edward
It was really difficult to control myself while being in such a close proximity to the most gorgeous girl in existence. Bella was a jewel among the rock of other women. She was so amazing, how she is so helpless and shy. I could only hope that she likes me as much as I do.
She sat so close and quiet, and I wanted to reach out to her, hold her hand, and show her the affection that I knew she deserved. I was just too conservative to do something that out of line.
She spoke to me in short, direct orders as she told me the directions, no more than what she needed to tell me. She turned bright red every time I looked at her.
"Are you okay, Bella?" I asked her as she stared out of the window. She turned to look at me, her brown eyes smoldering unfairly.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Why?" She said sweetly. The soft sweet scent of her breath carried over to me. It drove me wild. Alice eyed me from the back seat.
"You're so quiet. May I ask what you're thinking?" She smiled sincerely, blushing.
"You can ask, but I don't think I want to say it out loud. I'm just lucky you can't read my mind," she said, blushing even redder. I thought it was adorable. I wish I could read her mind; I found it difficult to read her as a person. Her body language was so conservative.
Alice handed Bella her cell phone, starting a secret conversation.
Bella
You know, Edward likes you. I was taken by surprise by her message. She was so straight forward.
I know. You guys really don't know how to whisper. I handed her phone back to her, a little bit guilty.
Dang. And we though we were getting away with everything. I laughed to myself. I typed quickly.
No. But how can I like him back the right way? I don't even know him. I handed her back the phone. Now I was nervous. From here on out, I considered her my best friend. She already knew too mush, and clearly she was okay with it. A part of me was excited because of it. Alice shoved the phone in my face.
Well get to know him while I shop around. If you like him, show him. Be a flirt. I wasn't like that. How would I be able to do that around him? He was so amazing it was absolutely ridiculous.
But I don't want to come on strong. I have never liked someone this much. I blushed.
That's okay. Just show him how you feel subtly. I shrugged. I wasn't even sure I knew how to do that.
I'm not sure I know if I can do that.
It doesn't matter. Just act like Bella. He'll come around. Now sweetly suggest that you wanted to see a movie. Edward will agree, but I'll say I want to go shopping. You guys will get alone time, and you can tell me everything tonight when you sleep over.
I'm sleeping over?
You are now. It's all a part of the plan sweetie.
Okay.
"Hey, I really want to see a movie. Do you guys want to?" I looked over to Edward. He looked straight at me.
"Sure," he said smoothly, just as Alice said he would. I smiled at him.
"But I still need to go shopping," Alice whined from the backseat.
"So go by yourself. You've gone shopping a million times by yourself," Edward said. I smiled, looking out of the window. Alice had to be a premonitionist. It was way too bizarre how she knew what was going to happen.
"Oh, fine," Alice said.
"Is that okay with you Bella that we go alone?" Edward asked hopefully.
"Oh, sure. It doesn't bother me," I said nonchalantly. Alice shoved her cell phone in my face.
See a scary movie, if there's one out. It'll force you guys to get close. I nodded, taking note. I handed her the cell phone back.
"Bells, give me your number so I don't get lost," Alice said. I did, and she messaged me again.
Text me if anything goes wrong. The message read.
Okay. I saved her number and put my cell back into my pocket, looking at Edward who was looking at me as he parked. He smiled a gloriously beautiful half-smile that just about melted my heart into gold. I believe with all my heart that I blushed a vibrant red, but I can't be so sure.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us Alice?" I asked. She smiled apologetically. She was a really great actress.
"No, I really have to get out of these so-last-week jeans. I'll die, and I really don't want to hear Edward complain as I annoy. If he gets annoying, text me and I'll come get you in a heart beat. Promise." She smiled and gave me a friendly hug, then skipped off into the mall, leaving me and Edward standing together like nervous dummies.
"So, what did you have in mind? To see I mean," Edward said. I shrugged.
"Well I was planning to see Mirrors, but I don't know how you feel about scary movies. Personally, I get a little jumpy. That's why I always go with Jacob. He lets me hold his hand, and when I get really scared he put his arm around me. But if you don't to. . ." Edward straightened his posture, taking my hand in his. His skin was so warm and soft, I didn't want to let go.
"If you want to see the movie, I'm not going to stop you. We can see it if you want," I stared into his luscious green eyes and nodded, not trusting my voice. We started walking, not hand in hand, but close enough that I could feel the heat of his body on my barely dressed skin. The sun was nothing compared to the blaze that was radiating from Edward Cullen.
The convenient thing about this mall in Phoenix was that there was a theater right inside. Edward and I walked up to the booth, and the short brunette eyed him like he was candy at a candy store. She paid no mind to me, even if she was in three of my classes.
"Hey Bella," Jessica Stanley said from behind the counter, "who's your friend?" She was clearly asking me the question, but she stared, almost rudely, at Edward. He was completely oblivious as he smiled politely at her.
"Oh, this is Edward. He just moved into the house next door to mine, with his sister." She nodded at my words like she didn't hear anything I was saying.
"Oh, that's nice," she said, with a sharp edge to it. "That will be fifteen dollars," she said, eyeing us both, watching us to see who was going to pay. Both of us, Edward and I, acted quickly, but he beat me to it.
"Don't worry about it Bella," Edward said, using a sweet but sexy tone. I shivered. I let him pay for me this once, but I promised not to let it happen again. Jessica eyed me devilishly.
"Enjoy the movie," she said through clenched teeth. I smiled at her, letting Edward take my hand. I was sure I heard some sort of use of profanity as we walked away.
Even out of the sight of Jessica, Edward didn't let go of my hand, and frankly, I was really happy. "Since you paid for the tickets, I'll get the candy and other things for the movie," I said to him. Edward looked at me weirdly.
Edward
"Why?" I asked her. I was more than willing to buy her whatever she wanted. But I guess I'd have to settle for holding her hand. Did that mean something?
"Because, we're going together, and I don't like people to spend money on me." I chuckled at her shyness.
"I think my father would love to have you as a daughter," I told her truthfully. Not that it was a problem, but Alice spent too much time shopping and worrying about how many pairs of jeans she had.
"Really? My mother thinks that I'm so different from other girls. I'm supposed to accept expensive gifts and such, but I personally think they're useless. I don't need a diamond necklace," she said with an accompanying shrug. Something in her total and complete detestation for over-the-top gifts made my interest in her spark much more wildly. "So where are you and Alice from?"
"We're from a little town in Washington. Forks is the rainiest place in the entire United States." Bella gasped.
"You lived in the rainiest place ever, too? That should be an absolute crime. I don't know how you could have endured such terrible weather for seventeen years. It's utterly impossible for me." I smiled at her, observing the way she walked, how my holding her hand didn't bother her in the least bit. It was like she was perfect for me. It made me smile wider. I was going to ask her what she meant by "too", but she interrupted my thought process. "Why are you smiling?"
"Because you aren't the least bit tan. You are as paler than I am, and I come from a place where there is no sunshine."
"Yeah, well that's just how I roll," Bella said with a big smile. I stared into her bottomless brown eyes, admiring their beauty. Brown eyes were always flat and predictable, but hers held unfathomable secrets. "You know that's kind of funny though. My father lives in Forks. He's the sheriff of the little place. I hate it there." So that's what she meant.
"You're Chief Swan's daughter?" I asked noticing the resemblance. The brown eyes, the chocolate hair, the unexplainable paleness were all Chief Swan.
"Yes, but my mother took me to live here when I was a baby. I stopped visiting him a few years ago. He visits me now." I nodded. She turned away from me for a few seconds to look at the teenaged boy who was standing at the register of the concessions stand. Jealousy surge through me at the way he looked at her, like she was a diamond in a jewelry store.
"Hey Mike," she said with a polite smile.
"Hey Bells," he said back. Bells? Was he that close to her? He eyed me rudely, like I was some sort of . . . competition. "Who's your friend?" She looked at me with a longing smile. I smiled brighter at her.
"Oh, this is Edward Cullen. His family moved next door to me. Oh, can I have the, umm, the sour Skittles, and the Sour Patch Kids. Edward do you want anything?" Her eyes glimmered so brightly, her lips pulled into a small unintentional pout. I shook my head. "Sure?" I nodded. "'Kay, give me a medium Coke, too, please."
"You got it Bells. Anything else?" both Mike and Bella looked at me.
"I'm good, Bella," I told her. Mike almost growled.
"Well, then, no. That's good."
"All right. That will be twelve twenty-five." Bella handed him the money, and took the things from the counter.
"See you in science," mike called after us, as we turned to leave.
"Sure thing," Bella said. When we were far enough away from Mike, I stopped her from walking.
"Are you and Mike . . . . involved?" I asked her. She looked up at me, her innocent eyes blazing.
"No, and we never will be." She paused, biting her lip. It almost knocked me over on how sexy she looked when she did that. "Is it that obvious that he likes me?" I nodded.
"And to tell you the truth, I don't like the way he looks at you," I said before I could stop myself. That was mistake number one. Bella's lips curled up at the corners, but she tried to suppress a smile I knew she wanted to unleash.
"You don't? What do you mean by that?" She asked in a slow whisper. She knew exactly what I meant.
"He looks at you like you're . . . just something to look at. Like he doesn't know what's inside you."
"What's to say he doesn't like the way you look at me?" Her eyes opened wide as if she hadn't meant to say those words. I was glad she did.
"Well that's too bad. He's not the one holding your hand." I took a step closer to her so we were only a few inches apart. "I am." Bella's lips were parted slightly, full and dark, her breaths shallow. She looked up at me, then away, closing her mouth and smiling.
"Yes, you are, and something in me says I'm glad for that."
Bella
I know I was totally not being myself, but I knew Edward liked me, even if it had only been so many hours and we were holding hands innocently. At that moment, I thought I was going to get my sweet first kiss from this very sweet guy. We turned and started to walk, going to the theater. It was barely noon on a Saturday, so the theater was mostly empty. We took our seats in the very middle, waiting for the previews to end so we could watch the movie. I don't know why I picked a scary movie. I was going to have nightmares forever. I was so stupid.
I sat down next to Edward, my hand still in his, putting the Coke in the cup holder and the candy in my lap. We were silent for a few moments, but it was comfortable, like the one between two friends. I admired that.
My pocket vibrated at I opened my mouth to speak, but I answered to the phone instead.
So, have you guys kissed yet? Alice wasted no time. I'm already planning your guys' wedding. I laughed out loud. Edward looked at me funny.
You're funny. We haven't even admitted that we're "in like" with each other. I typed quickly. I sent it to her, then put the phone on silent. I turned to Edward.
"Alice?" he guessed. I nodded and smiled.
"Yeah. She wanted to know where American Eagle was." He nodded. We both looked at the screen as the movie began. I let go of Edward's hand and began eating the candy I bought, taking a lot of drinks. I was beginning to think the movie was dumb when I began to scream. Raised my hands to my face, looking through the slits I made with my hands. Someone shushed me. I smiled and giggled, too embarrassed to look at Edward, who was sitting coolly with his arms crossed over his chest. I turned to him anyway.
"Edward," I whispered, "do you mind if I hold your hand?" He gave me his hand, palm up, and I laced my fingers through his. "Thank you," I whispered. He just smiled at me.
The next few times I got scared, I didn't bother with holding Edward's hand, I just leaned into him, hiding my face. He was so nice about it, too. Jacob would have called me a big baby, and told me to get off of him. He was so jack ass-y sometimes, but he was my BFF. But I think Alice was determined to change that.
Well, at least the movie didn't end in tears as they usually did, but I was still a little bit shaken, and glad the movie was over. Edward, so gentlemanly, helped me up and gave me a hug, sweetly telling me it was only a movie. I think he liked seeing me so helpless. It was like he could fix me.
"Bella, everything is going to be fine. Are you okay?" He said, he voice smooth like velvet, running over my skin and raising Goosebumps. His arm was snaked around my waist, his hand innocently resting on the small of my waist.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little shaken. I'm good though," I said, more than happy to be in Edward's arms. We walked out of the theater in to the crowded halls of the mall. My stomach growled.
"Pizza?" I asked Edward. He smiled.
"Sure." We walked close together to the food court, getting a slice of pizza each and another soda. Edward insisted on paying, so I let him. We weren't even on a date. I instantly wondered what that would have been like, holding hands because we liked each other, not because I was scared, he arms snaked around my waist, his perfect lips on mine. . .
"Bella?" Edward looked at me concerned. He snapped me out of a reverie I promised myself to continue later.
"Sorry, lost in my thoughts." I gave him an innocent smile and we sat at on of the tables, and began to eat.
"So, you're from Forks, and you're an amazing piano player." And amazingly gorgeous. I forced myself not to add the last bit. "Hmm, the thousand dollar question: what is your favorite color/" I asked, sipping my Coke.
"Blue." I sighed. He cocked his head to the side, wondering why.
"Everyone's favorite color is blue," I said. His emerald eyes sparkled at me.
"Not for the same reason mine is," he said, seduction thick in his voice. I shivered. I blushed, too.
"Would you like to share that reason?" I asked breathlessly. I cleared my throat, and leaned forward a little.
"What's your favorite color, Bella?" he asked, his tone the exact same as it had been: sexy and alluring.
"Green." He smiled wider, his teeth sparkling perfectly. I almost melted.
"Why?" He asked, leaning toward me. I smiled.
"Because today green feels like a good color to be my favorite."
"And your favorite gemstone?"
"Emerald," I answered stupidly. He raised an eyebrow. "Yours?"
"Diamond."
"Hmm. That sounds expensive," I said. He chuckled softly. "Why?"
"Because they sparkle innocently like your eyes." I smiled at his response, then bit my lip. He groaned. "Will you stop doing that?" he whispered. "It drives me crazy," he said. At that moment, I absolutely wanted him. I wanted him to tell me how much affection he felt for me, take me in his arms and kiss me so passionately everything would disappear. "I like you Isabella." My smile fell.
"What?" I asked, my heart beating frantically against my chest. I though I was going to pass out.
"I like you. You're smart, witty, and not to mention very beautiful." I licked my lips, trying to figure out if I was imaging what he was saying. "You're kind and sweet, and I like you."
I like you. I like you. I like you. The words swam in my head, trying to sink in. I found the perfect response fro him.
Edward
"I like you, too," she said softly. I tried to figure out if I was imagining her response.
"Really?" I asked her. She nodded softly.
"Yeah. I think you're so sweet and kind and gorgeous, but you have this. . . this. . ." she struggled to find the right word. "You have something that attract me to you like a butterfly to a flower. I just don't know how to explain it, but I want-I'm glad you said you like me. I'm no that significant." She was so wrong, it wasn't even funny.
"You are very significant. To me especially." She blushed like crazy.
"So where do we go from here?" She asked. I smiled.
"I don't know, but we'll figure it out," I told her. "Are you ready to leave?" I asked her. She nodded, staring at me. She stood up, gathered her things and her trash and threw it all away. She walked back to me, and took my hand.
"Now I don't need an excuse to hold your hand," she said with a smile.
"Nope, I'm all yours." My heart fluttered as she smiled.
"Glad to hear it," she said. We walked around, not really paying attention to our surroundings as much as we paid attention to each other. We talked a lot, getting to know each other and each other's secrets. I was soon to learn Bella was a clumsy girl. She tripped again, over her own small feet, grabbing onto me to stabilize herself. I thought it was adorable.
It was almost four when Alice found us and decided to take Bella in to a dressing room, holding a few dresses in hand. I assumed it was to talk, but Bella refused to try Alice's "nonsense" on, staying with me. We walked around a little more, leaving Alice to herself when we came upon a bookstore. Bella led me inside, both of us looking around for books. We ended up in Fiction. Bella picked up a copy of Identical, looking through it. She kept it in hand.
"Are you going to buy it?" I asked her. She nodded.
"I love Ellen Hopkin's books. They're so tragic, but they're amazing." She looked around more, and I observed her, taking note on the books she kept, and the books she put back down. When I wasn't looking at her, she dropped her books, bending down to pick them up. I meant to help her, but another boy did, and they seemed to know each other.
"More books Bella?" He asked her. She smiled and nodded.
"Yes. Books are good. You should try them someday instead of motorcycling with Quil and Embry," She said pushing his shoulder. She looked at me, a wide smile on her face.
"Edward, why are you so far away?" she asked. I walked closer to her, taking her free hand in mine. The boy noticed and anger flickered in his eyes. It made me weirdly happy. "Jacob, this is Edward. He moved into the house next door to mine. Edward, this is my best friend Jacob." I held out my hand in effort to be polite to him, for Bella's sake, but like Mike, he looked at Bella like she was something shiny. He took my hand and shook it briefly, letting go quickly.
"So what are you guys up to?" Jacob asked us suspiciously. Bella smiled at me.
"We just came from watching Mirrors and eating pizza. I guess you could say we're kind of on a date," she said happily. Jacob's face fell.
"You two are dating?" Jacob sneered. I growled in return. Bella let go of my hand to take her books.
"Yes we are," I said. "Is there a problem?"
Bella
Oh. My. God. The testosterone level was way too high for my taste. It looked like Edward and Jacob were going to start fighting. It was ridiculous. I stepped in between their rigid masculine bodies, putting a hand on both of their chests. They looked down at me. They were both like six three, and here I am a short five four.
"Stop it. Now," I commanded. Edward and Jacob relaxed, but they were both still being guy-like. Edward my boyfriend and Jacob my best friend were fighting over the insignificant me. I rolled my eyes.
"Bella, you can't be serious about this guy. Are you?" Jacob said. I looked at him.
"Yes I am. I don't see the big deal."
"You don't even know him!"
"You don't know that Jacob. And be nice, I mean he's standing right here." I looked at Edward, whose eyes were dark. He just took my hand. Jacob scoffed. This was going to get ugly.
I hope you guys liked!!