Chapter 18: Sophisticated yet homeless
~No bad deed goes unpunished~
"The world is ours if you want it, we can take it, if you just take my hand. There's no turning back now, baby try to understand. Don't wanna break your heart, wanna give your heart a break. I know you're scared it's wrong, like you might make a mistake. There's just one life to live and there's no time to waste, to waste. So let me give your heart a break..."
I sang along with the song as it played in low volume from my iPod speakers. I got out of the bathroom and dried off after my fifteen-minutes long steaming hot shower. I was about to wrap my favorite white fluffy towel around my body when the doorbell rang downstairs.
I shot a bewildered look at my watch. It read 7:30 PM. I had more of an hour to get ready for the party. Dad and mom had already left for the Cullens house twenty minutes ago.
I didn't know what I would do there that early, my friends informed me that they were going to be late, and I was also worried if it would be awkward between Edward and me. So I was crashing the party late -fashionably late- I hoped.
I hurriedly slipped into my purple satin bathrobe and flew down the stairs. It was probably dad or mom, or it was Heidi, since she lived next door. I pushed my wet hair back and opened the door.
Imagine my surprise when I encountered Edward Cullen on my porch.
"Good evening, Bella." Edward said politely.
"Edward?" I blinked at him in shock. "What are you doing here?"
"Where are your manners, Bella?" He cocked an eyebrow disapprovingly.
"Well, good evening, Edward," I even dropped into a mock-bow. "Would you like to come in?"
"Very much," he replied.
I opened the door wide and let him in. I locked the door behind me and turned to face him.
"Did I interrupt you?" He asked, his eyes focusing on my wet hair and my bathrobe, which was drenched with water droplets.
"You did. I was drying off." I pulled at the wet material, which was clinging to my chest. "So, what's up?"
"Nothing, can't I just come to see you without any purpose?" Edward laced our fingers together and it pleased me immensely.
"Okay then. Come up to my room."
He did not comment as I dragged him up the stairs to my room. Edward shut the door close behind us.
"Did your mom ask about what happened to your face?" I asked, genuinely curious and concerned.
"Rosalie tried to hide it with all sorts of make up things. Something like, um, foundation." Edward wrinkled his nose and shrugged.
The cut on his cheek was in a Z-shape and purple in color. His lips were back to normal but swollen a little. It only made him look more attractive.
"And you didn't get caught?" I snorted.
"Dad kept on staring at my cheek and he muttered something like 'Kids these days, don't even want to know'. How highly embarrassing!"
We laughed and I flopped down on my pink ottoman.
"Aren't you going to switch off that?" He asked, referring to the song that was still playing in the background.
"Do you want me to?" I tilted my head and stared at him.
I was pretty sure he was dressed from head to toe in Calvin Klein. He wore a dark blue blazer on top of his white satin shirt and he had paired it with black pants. His hair was a usual auburn mess on top of his head.
How adorable and drool-worthy!
"No," He waved his hand and finally noticed that I was ogling him. "What?"
"Nothing." I stood up and stretched. "I should get ready. Will you choose an outfit for me?"
"Okay." He said carefully and eyed me dubiously but nodded.
Edward followed me and waited as I opened my closet and switched on the light inside. Four brand new glossy dresses dangled neatly from the hangers in the front.
"Choose," I pointed at the four different outfits.
"Who got you these?" He asked, trying hard not to chuckle.
"My friends and mom," I said sheepishly. "We exchange the gifts before Christmas itself if the gift consists of clothes."
He pressed his lips together and ran his hands through the smooth materials. Sasha, Heidi and mom, gave three of the dresses to me. I chose the other one during the shopping trip to Seattle with Sasha.
"Give me a minute." He suggested and his lips shook, as if he was suppressing a laugh.
"Okay." I giggled. I went to my dressing table and started blow-drying my wet hair.
"Did you choose it yourself?" I asked suddenly, pointing at his clothes.
"I did," he blushed slightly. "What do you think of them? Esme tried to help but she also had to buy Carlisle a shirt, he had been talking about it the entire week. So...it was all by myself."
"It's classic and tasteful," I commented honestly. "Your designer clothes say you are sophisticated. But your hair says otherwise."
He snorted. "Carlisle said this was the new trend. I combed my hair and then messed it up."
I burst out laughing and clutched my stomach from toppling forward. Edward grinned cheekily and turned back to the hard task of choosing a dress for me.
After my hair was smoother and shinier than Frederic Fekkai extensions, I switched off the hair dryer and brushed my hair.
"I have chosen but I don't know if you would agree." Edward said after a minute.
"Show me." I walked to the closet and raised an eyebrow.
"This one." He pointed at the outfit hanging at the end. My closet was jammed with clothes and few of them fell out.
"Really?" I asked with wide eyes. I quickly bent down, picked up the fallen clothes and stashed it back.
"Yes. But if you don't want to wear it then - "
"I bought that." I smiled widely. "It was my selection."
"Oh," he chuckled in surprise. "At least we share the same dressing sense."
It was a sleeveless thin-strapped DVF white satin dress, which had lace workings all over it. The only thing I disliked about it was the small useless buttons from the chest to the torso portion. Apparently, that was in fashion now.
I had also bought a matching crisp whiteblazer with it.
I went inside the bathroom and dressed. I braided the front part of my hair and pulled it back with a sparkling white clip.
After I had put on my white petal-shaped long earrings, some makeup and an antique grey bracelet mom had let me borrow for the night, I slipped into my brown sandals and came out of the bathroom.
"Verdict?" I asked, twirling a strand of my hair.
I felt so much free to dress, get ready in front of him and ask him how I looked better than with my friends or mom. It was as if God had sent a male version of Sasha to me.
"You look like an angel," Edward said earnestly.
"Does it mean that I can't come to the dance with you then?" I blinked innocently.
"Bella, don't test my patience." He warned and chuckled.
I walked closer to him and intertwined our fingers. "So, when are we going to get that ice-tea you promised?"
He groaned with a flushed face. "I cannot believe that I actually suggested a walk and ice-tea! A walk was something I would have asked for in 1918."
"It's funny," I giggled then paused thoughtfully. "You were born in 1900, right?"
"Yes, why...?" He trailed off and his eyes tensed. I had never thought about it but now, his age kept on ringing in my ears.
"That means...you're 18 now?" I asked, impressed.
Edward released a sigh and shifted uncomfortably. He didn't answer me.
"Wow, I'm a year younger than you." I blinked in awe.
"We should go. Our parents will be searching for us." He changed the subject.
"Okay." I agreed but his hands held me.
"Does this disturb you? That I am older than you?" Edward pouted but his eyes were serious.
"Of course not, there are great facts about you that I should consider other than your age before I date you." I teased him.
He relaxed and hugged me once.
I locked the house's front door, dropped the key in my clutch and we walked to his house. Cars were parked in a straight neat line along the pavement of the road. The Christmas party seemed to be in full swing.
I glanced at my Dior crystal studded watch and noted that it was 8:50 PM. I had taken more time to dress since Edward had been there, which meant that he was clearly a distraction.
We climbed the stones steps to the arched mahogany door and Edward was about to open the door when someone else opened it. A handsome man dressed in white tuxedo then greeted us.
As we went inside his house, I turned to him.
"Did your parents actually hire him just to open the door?"
"Esme loves to arrange parties. She doesn't miss a thing, everything has to be perfect, starting from the person who opens the door to the person who serves the drink." Edward chuckled, his face radiant.
"Wow," I nodded impressed and followed him.
The familiar party noises were comforting - carols playing in the background from huge speakers, champagne flutes clinking, air kisses smacking, people greeting each other merrily, etcetera.
The wooden banister was wrapped in red and white balloons and cozy Christmas lights. Waitresses were offering guests silver trays filled with all sort of eatables while waiters doled out champagnes and cocktails.
Hundreds of vanilla-scented candles filled the room with a warm glow. Crystal bowls filled with white roses were arranged in each corner of the room. Finally, a huge Christmas tree sat in the middle, decorated in a grand manner.
We spent some time near the buffet table, tasting all the delicious food. Then Edward took me to his parents who gushed over both of us. The professional photographer standing next to them wouldn't stop taking pictures of Edward and me.
We finally managed to escape and Edward put his arm around me, pulling me from my dreamy bubble.
"Do you like it?" He whispered in my ear.
"Are you kidding me? I want Esme to arrange my next birthday party." I said throwing my hands up and he laughed loudly.
Some female heads turned around to stare at us, possibly wondering who let out that enticing masculine laughter.
"My God, you're attracting more ladies than Ian Somheldar." I shot him a fake scowl.
"Should I even ask who that is?" He teased, his cheeks turning pink and he squeezed my shoulder.
"Don't, 'cause you can't shut me up if I start talking about him." I winked at him.
Edward frowned and opened his mouth to say something when someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around and Alice's wide even-toothed smile dazzled my eyes.
"Do you have a minute...alone?" Alice asked, her blue eyes flickering to the color of the candle lights
"Of course," I glanced at Edward with a panicked look barely concealed on my face.
"Edward too," she stared at him. "Can we go to your room?"
Edward's eyes tightened as he nodded. Alice led the way up the stairs. I considered calling someone for help but my voice was completely lost. She moved confidently along the corridor and stopped before Edward's room.
"How does she know that's your room?" I whispered with wide eyes.
"Rosalie brought Alice home one day," he said without moving his mouth. "They had become close friends...recently."
I shot him a you-got-to-be-kidding-me look and lowered my eyes when Alice glanced back.
Edward opened the door and switched on the light. Alice turned around to face us with folded arms. Her purple halter dress fit her petit figure perfectly and a designer handbag dangled from her elbow. God, why couldn't she just be pretty and dumb like she looked?
"I know this is frank and probably rude," she began, "but I have to say this. There's no other way."
"Oh," Edward said, raising an eyebrow skeptically. I stared at the four vanilla scented candles which burned peacefully on top of Edward's night table.
"I want the spell book." She stated without a change in her facial expression.
"What if we said we don't have it?" I asked boldly, though I felt anything but bold now.
"Then you have to face the consequences." She snapped her fingers.
The light went off and the window snapped shut along with the door.
Bam! And Alice is back! What do you all think of this chap? Any thoughts?
P.S. DVF as in Diane Von Furstenberg. The dress link is in my profile if ya'll want to check it out.
-BEJL
