A/N – Hello everyone. I hope you are all well, and are ready for Chapter 38. I know I keep apologising for the delay in posting – but, well, sorry again! Please review if you have the chance, your comments not only motivate me but often inspire me too, so thank you! ES x
Chapter 38 – Myths and Legends
I watched as Alice's nimble fingers flicked through the pages of the Myths and Legends book. I didn't realise how quickly she could read, until she stopped and looked up at me with a smile on her face.
I smiled back, it was impossible not to.
I watched as she lent forward and raised a delicate eyebrow.
"So…."
I waited for her to continue, as she tapped one of the pages with her index finger. My eyes moved to the location her finger was tapping.
It was the page on vampires; the one that had the image I had likened to Alice days earlier.
"So?" I continued, with a similar smile Alice had shown.
I watched as Alice picked up the book, and held it to the side of her face so the image was now next to her own.
"Think we look alike?" she asked, winking.
"Mmm…" my voice trailed off as I looked at Alice, then at the image, and then back at Alice.
"She may have the edge…." I answered, trying not to laugh.
Alice pouted, "Bella – be nice…."
I looked back at the image. The vampire certainly was attractive.
But she wasn't Alice.
"Okay, you win…"
Before I could blink, Alice had lent across the table and was kissing my lips.
A familiar heat ran along my body.
All too soon, Alice was back on her seat, smiling.
"One of these days, I'll get used to that" I softly spoke, as Alice licked her lips.
"The kiss, Bella? Or my supreme speed?" she answered, licking her bottom lip again.
"Both take my breath away" I answered truthfully, as Alice cocked her head to one side and smiled again.
That smile did amazing things to me.
"Did you read this?" she gestured to the text that followed on from the image.
I nodded; I was still trying to get my heartbeat back to its usual rhythm after that smile.
"And you believe in what it says?" she asked again, as her eyes darted back to the page, and then back to me.
I shrugged my shoulders, "some of it, I guess… I mean, you are pretty strong Alice, and you're quick…and pale… and beautiful… and…"
Alice cut me off.
"You really think I am beautiful?" she asked, a slight wave appearing in her voice.
"Alice – have you looked at yourself in a mirror lately? You're…. amazing… in fact, a word has yet to be created that could describe how utterly stunning you are."
Alice raised her eyebrow again and did that cute little pout that made my breath catch in my throat "Well, according to this book, vampires don't have a reflection…."
I lent in closer to her, "Then you'll have to take my word for it" I whispered, as she lent in further too.
I could feel her breath caress my face, so sweet and warm…
"Bella, you are beautiful… I was smitten right from the very start – when you looked across the school canteen and smiled at me".
Slowly, her lips brushed across my own.
The kiss was gentle.
Slowly she moved back, and smiled again.
"We're not going to get very far with this, are we" she jested, as I smiled.
"I don't care about Jake's secret anymore; I want to know more about you Alice…."
Alice literally beamed.
"Really. What would you like to know?"
I smiled, "Well, one thing has been bugging me for a while now…"
I watched as Alice tilted her head to one side. She really was adorable when she did that.
"Go on…." She murmured.
"Well…. Are you…. Or rather, do you… really have an aversion to garlic?"
I couldn't hold back the bubble of laughter that rose from my throat.
Alice dramatically placed her hands on her hips… "Bella Swan" she whispered, and before I realised what was happening, she had scooped me up into her arms and was looking down at me with her usual radiant smile.
I giggled again; the look on Alice's face was comical.
"Play fair" I asked, rather breathlessly.
"Vampires play to win" she whispered in my ear, adding "And there's nothing we like more than tasting human flesh…"
I shivered in her embrace as she ran her tongue down my neck.
I didn't want her to stop, as a groan escaped my lips.
My eyes closed naturally as she kissed me again, and when they finally opened, we were in my bedroom.
"Did I forget to mention we really can move faster than the speed of light" she continued to whisper in my ear, as she placed me gently on the end of my bed.
"And before I met you, I never had a bed…." Her voice trailed off, as she sat next to me and smiled.
"Any more questions, Bella?" she asked, as she ran her index finger across my cheek, down my neck and onto my collar bone.
Questions.
I had so many….
But only one screamed out at me…
Will you turn me, Alice....
I gulped.
"Bella?"
Alice's voice was soft. I looked into her eyes.
"Alice, I want you to…."
"Bella?"
It was Charlie's voice, booming from downstairs.
I swallowed hard. Okay, perhaps this time it was a blessing that Charlie had interrupted; I was about to ask Alice to turn me into a vampire….
Yet, deep down, I knew I wouldn't have harboured any regrets if I had asked her…
But what would she have said?
"Yeah dad, I'm just upstairs with Alice".
Alice smiled.
"I heard him pull into the drive, but you seemed so focused on something Bella, I didn't want to interrupt your thoughts… is everything okay? What do you want me to do?"
I looked at Alice, "I… I just want you to…"
My voice trailed off.
"Tell you about Jake?" she finished for me.
I nodded, "Yeah… sure…."
There was a knock, as Charlie pocked his head around the door.
"Hi Bells, Alice… you girls want me to make you a sandwich?"
Alice stood and smiled, I watched as Charlie's face broke out into a smile too.
"Thank you, Chief Swan, but I have to be getting home now" Alice answered.
"Hey, call me Charlie" my dad answered, as he beamed at Alice.
"Thank you… Charlie" she answered.
My dad looked at me, still smiling.
"Sandwich, Bella?" he asked.
I nodded, "Sure, I'll see Alice out and then I'll come help".
Charlie laughed, "Bella, I don't need supervision when it comes to making sandwiches…."
I laughed, "Yeah dad, I believe you…."
Charlie shrugged is break shoulders, "Hey, lets not forget who cut themselves on a knife not that long ago eh?"
I felt myself blush.
Alice smiled, "I never did ask how that happened" she murmured, looking at me.
Before I could answer, Charlie continued.
"I guess I shouldn't have teased her about Jacob Black".
Alice raised her eyebrows, "How so" she asked, smile still on her delicate face.
"He's sweet on her" my dad answered, adding "you could do a lot worse Bells".
I watched as Charlie said goodbye to Alice and left the room.
"Alice" I began, before she placed her finger across my lips to gently silence me.
"Bella… read page 33 in your book…. It will tell you all you need to know about Jake. Then… well, then you can ask him questions only he will be able to answer".
She removed her hand. I had never seen Alice look so…. forlorn before.
"Your dad's a nice man" she continued. Her face looked preoccupied, as if she was thinking about a thousand and one things.
"My dad can be a royal pain in the butt" I answered, before taking her hands in mine.
Alice seemed to break away from her thoughts as her eyes met mine.
"Jake loves you, Bella…" she whispered.
I looked at her, "and I love you" I answered, "you, Alice. Not Jake. Only you"
Alice swallowed, "Bella… I love you… I've never felt this way before, about anyone…"
I smiled, "Good; I'm not sure I like the idea of you having feelings for somebody else, even if they were in your past".
Alice moved closer, "I'm scared, Bella. Scared he'll come between us…."
I kissed her, then.
Kissed her deeply, with all I had.
"I love you…" I whispered against her lips.
Alice broke free, "I'd better go Bella… If you kiss me like that again, you're dad will wonder what the growls are!"
I laughed,
"Read the book, Bella. And I'll come to you, tonight… if you want me to that is…."
I placed a finger on the tip of her nose and tapped it gently; "Of course I do" I answered as she brought my finger to her lips and kissed it.
"You may want to talk to Jake, you will have questions…."
I nodded, "And I want you to come with me" I continued.
Alice frowned, "They… he… may not want me on his land Bella…."
I shook my head, "I don't care what he wants; I want you with me Alice. Always".
Alice kissed me, "Then I shall go with you".
She turned to leave, but something held her back.
Turning slowly, she looked at me as if she was peering into the depths of my soul.
"We need to talk too, Bella".
I nodded.
"I love you, no matter what happens" she gently spoke.
Before I could decipher her meaning, she was gone.
Slowly I walked down the stairs, Alice's words echoing around my head - I love you, no matter what happens…
What did that mean?
What did she mean?
Suddenly Jake's image appeared in my mind, followed by my dad's words earlier.
Did Alice really fear he would come between us? I knew that would never happen, but did Alice?
By the time I had got into the kitchen, I had already decided that I would make Alice believe me when she came to see me tonight.
And I would tell her my fear… losing her as I grew old….
And I would ask her… to change me, when I didn't know, but I needed to tell her that I wanted that, eventually….because, deep down, I couldn't live a life if she wasn't going to be part of it…
"Penny for them" Charlie's voice echoed around the kitchen.
"Err, what?" I answered, as he placed a sandwich in front of me.
"Your thoughts, Bella" he continued, as she spotted the open book on the table, "You're reading about… vampires?" he asked, as he sat opposite me, taking a bite out of his sandwich.
"Mmm, school project" I answered, as my eyes wandered down to the image.
Alice.
Was she okay?
As soon as my dad had mentioned Jake and how he felt about me, she had taken a step back…
"Maybe we can get a film out tonight" Charlie continued, oblivious to the turmoil that was eating me up inside.
He continued, "How about The Lost Boys? It could help you with your homework" he laughed, as he took another bite from his sandwich.
"Yeah, dad that would be fun" I answered, a smile appearing on my lips as one thought randomly entered my head…
..Dad, I'm dating Alice…she's a vampire…
"What's so funny" he asked, catching my smile.
"Oh, nothing" I answered, as I flicked through the book to page 33.
And then my smile vanished as quickly as it had arrived as my eyes scanned the title of the chapter…
Werewolf's…
Okay.
I was dating a vampire.
And my best friend was a…
Werewolf?