A/N - Hi! Danke, gracias, merci, much obliged and thanks to everyone for continuing to read/review/alert/fave this story!
Chapter 60 - Reverie
You're not real, you can't be real…this is just a dream…
Reuben smiled, his eyes glowing a dark crimson.
"My dear Isabella, even in sleep you think of me! I really do feel flattered..."
This couldn't be happening.
"You can't be here" I heard myself whisper, as he stepped in closer to me.
"Yet, here I am! Called into your dream, as if my magic… called by you! I am gratified Isabella, you play upon my vanity exceedingly well…."
He isn't real, he's a figment of my imagination… yes, that's all he is… all I need to do is wake up and he'll vanish…
"Ah, and now… now you are wondering if I am real? Yes? Am I merely a part of your thought process, or have I somehow managed to infiltrate your dream as easily as I penetrated your waking world?"
Count to three, Bella.
Count to three, and open your eyes…
"I suppose I could tell you. I seemingly have the upper hand in our little game. Honestly Isabella, it really is no fun when the finishing line approaches, and I am in the lead…with no competition whatsoever near me…"
One…
"I am in your thoughts Bella, awake or asleep…"
Two…
"You've placed me here, now. But when you awake, I shall be waiting…"
Three…
"Farewell for now, Isabella. I'll be seeing you, very soon…"
"No"
I felt myself sit bolt upright in bed, covers thrown back as my hands wrestled with the sheets.
I was perspiring.
I was also shaking uncontrollably.
"Bella, it's okay, it was just a dream…"
Alice's hand was on the small of my back as she reached out to take one of my hands in hers.
Just a dream.
Perhaps, but it had felt so very real…
"I… he… I had a dream about him" I mumbled as I brought my loose hand to my forehead.
"Shh, it's alright Bella" Alice whispered as I turned to face her, still shaking. Without another word Alice pulled me close, her embrace soothing and cooling.
I felt myself merge into her, as I burrowed my face into her neck.
I'll be seeing you very soon…
His words made me shudder into Alice. It may have been my own subconscious that fed those words into my dream, but somehow I just knew they were merely echoes of the truth.
"I hate this Alice, I hate feeling so powerless" I murmured into her neck as her hands started to stroke the strands of my hair away from my face and down my neck. I felt her lips graze the top of my head as she continued with her soothing caress.
"I know" she simply answered, as she shifted on the bed, pulling me into her side.
"But I promise, he won't harm you Bella" her voice was thick with emotion as she wrapped her strong arms around me, "ever" she finished, as I lent up to face her amber eyes.
Placing my hand on her cheek, I lent in and grazed her forehead with my lips.
"I know" I replied, adding "I love you Alice".
Alice smiled. Leaning down her lips were on mine. Strong, yet soft, I could feel every ounce of her very being pass between our lips. Everything Alice Cullen was, and everything she would ever be, she gave to me that night in one simple kiss.
"I love you Bella" she answered as our lips finally broke.
And I knew, no matter what doubts or fears I had careering around my head, of one thing I could always be certain of…
Alice's love.
"I really hate field trips" Mike sighed, as the teacher started to split us up into groups.
I wasn't a fan of them either, more so because this field trip happened to be taking place in the woods that surrounded the school.
The woods that probably harboured Reuben…
"Groups of three, come on everyone, if you don't split yourselves up, I'll do it for you…"
He wasn't joking.
Alice and Angela both appeared at my side, each one linking their arms through mine.
"That makes three" Angela smiled, as Mike frowned.
"I'll go find myself another group then, shall I?" he asked, as Alice smiled sweetly.
"One, two… three… you're out of luck Mike" Alice replied, as she counted out with her finger.
"Fine" he almost spat, as he walked away, definitely in a huff.
Poor Mike.
I wasn't really paying any attention to the teacher, so when he started to blow on his whistle, I practically jumped out of my skin.
"Bella, are you okay?" Angela asked, looking concerned.
Alice squeezed my arm, "Day dreaming again Bella?" she asked softly.
"Yeah, something like that" I answered, as Angela walked towards the teacher and collected a clip board.
"We're going to be fine, Bella, I promise" Alice whispered in my ear.
I turned to face her.
"I know, it's just… those woods…"
Alice nodded; "I know" she interrupted, as she quickly lent in and kissed my cheek.
Angela walked back.
"Here's what we have to record our findings on" she motioned to the paper that was clipped to the board, "next whistle blow, and we're good to go"
Angela then handed Alice three plastic dishes.
I hoped we could find what we were looking for, and soon.
"That's the second one"
I looked at Angela, who was placing a plant specimen in the dish.
Alice was beside me, writing on the paper. She had been beside me since we had ventured into the woods.
"Great, one left and we can head back" I whispered, as Angela placed the dish in her pocket.
"Are you sure you're okay Bella? You seem… on edge? I thought you'd like leaving the classroom for a bit?"
I shrugged my shoulders, "Yeah, honestly, I'm fine Angela. Just a slight headache, that's all"
And it was true, I did have one. Constantly looking out for a tall, auburn haired psychopath had made me so tense, I was having trouble seeing straight, and thinking straight. I hadn't helped Angela or Alice once…
I felt guilty.
"I'm sorry, guys. Here, hand me the dish and I'll look for the last specimen"
Angela handed me the empty dish, as she started to walk towards a tree stump.
"Bella"
I turned to face Alice.
"I'm worried about you" she continued, as she placed her hand on my cheek.
"My headache will subside, Alice. They always do" I answered, as I lent into her cold hand, "That does feel great though" I continued, as the coldness seemed to massage the throb that was running across my temple.
"Want me to give you both some privacy" Angela enquired, with a smile.
I quickly turned.
"What? Oh… err, no… no…"
Angela started to laugh.
"Relax Bella, I was just teasing" she continued, as she sat down on the tree stump and winked.
"Angela, I really am starting to like you" Alice replied, adding a wink of her own.
Angela stopped laughing, the smile still playing on her lips.
"Not too much I hope, otherwise Bella here may get jealous…." Angela continued, before laughing again.
I couldn't help myself as I joined in.
"There is just one thing, though" Angela asked, as she stretched out her legs and placed her hands on her lap.
"Mmm?" I replied, as Alice and I both walked up towards her, arms still linked.
"When the time comes, and you… break… the news to Mike… please, please let me be there?"
Angela started to laugh again as Alice beamed.
I smiled, "For you, anything" I answered, as Alice took the dish from my hand.
"I'll be right back with the specimen, stay here" she asked.
I nodded, before I could say anything else, Alice continued "I'm not going far, I promise"
I nodded again.
Alice, it would seem, could read my thoughts after all.
I sat down on the mossy ground next to Angela.
"Thanks for being so understanding about… me and Alice…"
My voice trailed off as I felt Angela's hand on my shoulder.
"Bella, how could I be anything but? I know we haven't known each other for very long, but I consider you a close friend"
I smiled.
Angela was, put simply, amazing.
"You care deeply for her, don't you" she gently asked, as I shifted so I was now facing her.
"Yes, I do" I answered simply, as Angela smiled.
"I didn't expect this to happen to me" I continued, as Angela continued to look at me.
"I mean, this is completely new to me… I've not… Alice is the first…."
Now I was getting a little tongue tied, as Angela squeezed at my shoulder.
"The first female you've had feelings for" she finished for me, as I nodded.
"What I feel for her is so intense and complex… I honestly can't define it…"
Angela smiled.
"Bella, what you feel is love, and I for one couldn't be happier for you"
Now I smiled, "Yes, it is… and thank you, it means a lot"
Angela lent forward and embraced me.
Love… yes, I loved Alice… yet it was more than that. Love, alone, was such a limited conception… there was such a wealth of different feelings that made me act the way I did whenever Alice was around, that made me feel the way I felt when she was near.. from passionate desire, to profound devotion… everything I was, and would ever be, was for Alice.
"Hey, now I'm the jealous one" Alice spoke from behind us.
Angela released me and stood, holding out her hand she pulled me up next to her.
"Oh, I think you're safe with this one" she pointed at me with her finger, adding "Bella's romantic attachment to you is unbreakable it would seem"
Alice smiled, as I felt my breath catch in my throat.
Honestly, the things that smile did to me.
"I've got the specimen, we can head back now" Alice continued, as she bounded up towards me and Angela.
"Everything okay" I asked.
Alice nodded.
Of course, we still didn't know why Alice and the rest of the Cullen's couldn't sense Reuben's presence, so he could be somewhere nearby… but Alice seemed relaxed, which made me feel relaxed.
As we walked towards the school, Angela was the first to speak.
"So, are you going to the Ball?"
Ball?
I frowned.
Alice clasped her hands together and gave a squeal.
"Of course we are!" she answered, as I frowned again.
"What ball?" I asked, completely confused by the announcement, and Alice's response.
"Bella, do you walk around school with your eyes closed? Eric's been putting up posters everywhere!"
Posters?
Alice giggled as I stopped dead in my tracks.
"Posters?"
Alice took hold of my hand and pulled me towards the door, as Angela opened it she gently pushed me through.
"There" she announced, with a smile.
Okay, so there was a poster, stuck on the wall….
"Autumn Ball…."
And, perhaps I had seen it…
And perhaps I had chosen to ignore it…
"I… I'm not really into that type of thing….."
In fact, I hated that type of thing. It meant dressing up, it meant swapping my comfortable jeans for a dress… and I only owned two dresses… and I hated both of them… and it meant wearing heels, because sneakers didn't really go with a dress (believe me, I had tried) and it meant make up and hair and….
I physically shuddered.
"It's okay Angela, we will both be there…. With 'Bells' on…." Alice answered, as she linked her arm through mine.
Now Angela squealed, "Excellent" as she took the dish from Alice and walked towards the classroom.
"Alice, I think we need to talk about this…" I mumbled, as Alice raised an eyebrow.
"Don't you want to go with me?" she asked, pouting a little.
Don't pout, Alice… you know I'll do anything for you when you pout like that…
"Of course I would, it's just that…"
"Good" she interrupted, as she lent in and winked at me.
"Alice, with everything that's happening do you think it's such a good idea? I mean…"
Alice placed her fingers on the side of my face.
"Bella, it is exactly what we need to take your mind off things"
She was too good at this…
"But I don't have a thing to wear! And I can't walk in heels… period… I'll end up tripping over something; I'll make a complete idiot of myself…."
Alice placed a cold finger on my lips to silence me.
"I won't let you fall" she whispered, as she lent in closer, "and I'll help you with a dress" she continued, as she removed her finger and lent her lips close to mine "and you'll never be an idiot" as her lips claimed mine for a chaste kiss.
So, you're going to the Ball then…