Chapter 25: Cross my heart


~"Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation." - Kahlil Gibran~


ZZZZZZZ

ZZZZZZ

I stepped back from my computer desk and frowned. What was that vibrating sound? I strained my eyes and heard it again.

ZZZZZ

ZZZZZ

ZZZZZ

My eyes fell on the window and I found myself shuddering involuntarily. Ever since the whole finding-the-stalker-outside-my-window debacle, even the slightest chirp of an insect frightened the hell out of me.

I followed the source of the sound and stopped before my olive green leather satchel. When I opened the zip, my cell phone vibrated again with the ZZZZZ sound. Rolling my eyes, I leaned against the window sill and punched in a few buttons.

The screen opened and a new text from Edward beamed.

Come outside - E

I leaned forward and glanced suspiciously around the street. However, I failed to spot a tall attractive boy with tousled hair anywhere. I wondered what he was up to as I changed from my baby tee to a pretty pink top that had ruffles.

I dialed his number. "Why?"

"No greeting?" Edward grumbled.

"Uh, not unless you tell why you want me to come outside when I cannot see you anywhere on the street." I fell backward onto the bed and struggled to fasten my white Juicy Couture skinny pants.

"It's a surprise and I know you once mentioned to me that you hate surprises. But you're gonna love this, Bella, trust me." He said gaily.

"I don't." I deadpanned. I sounded like I had been punched in the stomach until I finally put the button of my pants.

He chuckled radiantly. "Come on, little coward."

"Fine. But if you're trying to fool me just because you're bored, you are a dead meat." I threatened as I hastily tried to change my bird's nest hair into a presentable one.

"I don't even have time to be bored. Did you forget about the English and History tests tomorrow?" He asked, disgruntled.

"Okay, okay! I'm coming out." I informed him and slipped the cell back into my satchel.

I went downstairs and happily skipped outside. I had no need to explain where I was going to my parents because they were gone for a wedding and they would be returning only tomorrow.

I locked the home's main door behind me and stepped into the road. A rare ray of sunlight hit my skin. It was a miracle that the first week of January in Forks was sunny.

I had woken up late as usual since it was Sunday and was surprised to find my room filled with a hazy yellow glow.

One look at the sky and it told me that it wasn't going to rain, at least for now. So I opted to take a suede leather jacket on the way from my closet. I didn't find Edward outside on the street and I was a little peeved.

I decided to go to his house. As I made my way to the Cullens' house, someone beeped their horn at me. I glanced behind me absent-mindedly and at first, I didn't recognize the car model.

The car was expensive-looking, with glossy silver exterior and a set of tinted windows. It was newest model Volvo had released. I was able to identify it only because dad had been fawning over it ever since he got his hand on the month's Cars & Bikes issue from his friend.

He had made me order that issue in the internet just because he wanted a picture of that Volvo car to himself. Mom had simply shaken her head at him.

Suddenly it dawned on me that the car had stopped moving. Then the tinted window of the driver's side rolled down smoothly.

"Need a ride, my lady?" A rich and velvety voice asked politely.

"No!" I gasped. I stared and gaped and gawked at the driver.

"I know I look good. You don't have to stare at me to prove that." Edward snickered.

He leaned across the seat and opened the door for me. I took a deep breath and walked around the car. I sat inside and closed the door. All of this was done in a trance.

"So, I take it you like the car." He said, tapping his long fingers nervously on the leather bound steering wheel.

I opened my mouth and closed it. My dad would kill to be in my position.

"Oh, you don't?" He frowned.

I inched closer and gave him an unexpected rap on the head. His hair felt soft under my fingers.

"Ow," he muttered in surprise. "What was that for?"

"That was for not telling me that you were going to buy a new car."

"But I -"

"There's more." I said and then gave him another rap.

"Bella, okay, okay! I get it!" He got a hold of my wrist before I could do anything rash.

"And that was for not taking me with you for car shopping." I met his amused stare evenly.

"Do you know that you are full of surprises? It is an irony that you hate them. First you kiss me on the cafeteria day before yesterday and now you hit me." Edward shook his head with a disturbing smile.

"Give me reasons," I protested, "why did you do all of this without me?"

Edward smiled fondly and played with my hands. "I deny all the accuses you have thrown at me. This car was a surprise. I was not aware that Carlisle had bought this car as a surprise for me. He said that it was a gift for learning to drive very quickly and smoothly, might I add."

I rolled my eyes playfully and waited for him to go on.

"Apparently, Carlisle saw me appreciating it when we visited Seattle the other day. I spotted it when we were walking down the street and I kept on asking him questions about it. Hence, Carlisle decided to buy it as a well deserved gift for me."

"Said Edward." I added and we laughed.

"So, where to now, captain?" I asked, relaxing against the leather seat.

I glanced at him and my chest contracted painfully. He was just so perfect. He smiled at me, looking more like he was holding the reins of a horse from the front portion of an old-fashioned carriage rather than holding the steering wheel of a Volvo.

"Wherever you wish to go, love." He grinned playfully. And there it was. The word 'love' again.

I thoughtfully stared outside. "It's sunny which is very rare, so...I know! Edward, turn over! Take the highway."

He glanced at me questioningly but did as I said. We were about to cross Kal-Key grocery store and I screamed, "Stop!"

"We have to go shopping." I declared and got out of the car before he could protest.

"Why?" Edward followed me, looking suspicious.

"There is a cliff at the opposite side of the Dark Forest. My friends and I crash there whenever it is sunny. So, we are going to have picnic there!" I explained excitedly as I loaded chocolate items in the basket.

"Okay," he grinned at my enthusiasm.

We went to the snacks section and threw whatever delicious items caught our eyes into the basket.

"What is this?" he asked, holding a spray bottle of whipped cream.

When I told him what it was, he grinned widely and dropped it in the basket. After the basket reached fifteen items, we turned and went to the billing counter.

When we placed the basket on the counter, the thin blonde cashier raised her alarmed eyes towards me in question. I could almost hear her voice in my head, Are you seriously going to eat all of this? Aren't you afraid of gaining weight?

"One second, I'll be back." I said and sprinted to the corner of the store, which sold blankets. After I selected a thick white blanket, I went back to the counter. Edward raised his eyebrow but didn't comment.

I took my credit card out of my satchel but Edward had already paid. I gave him a glare and he rolled his eyes. We kept the grocery paper bags in the back seat and started our way to the infamous cliff.

I directed Edward and he happily obliged, taking turns wherever I pointed. We reached the edge of the thick forest after what seemed to be like an hour and Edward parked in front a huge pine tree.

"We have to take the trail there." I nodded towards the thin path cleared for walking.

"Alright," he raised his eyebrows. "I assume it is safe?"

"Who's the little coward now?" I teased. Edward rolled his eyes and get out of the car to help me out.

"I was only making sure it was okay to take you there. What I mean by that is, there might be wild animals straying here and there or suddenly there might be a torrential downpour..."

"Slow down, worry wort." I laughed. "If a wild animal attacks and it starts to rain, all we have to do is run to your car without looking back."

"Lovely strategy," he rolled his forest green eyes and intertwined our fingers.

"Loosen up and live a little." I burst out laughing when he glared at me.

We took the grocery bag and blanket with us, and trekked to the other side of the forest, all the way lingering on the edge of the Dark forest where it was possible to get lost.

"Why didn't we use this way to get into the forest during that camping?" Edward asked suddenly.

"Uh, do I look like Mr Hale to you? Ask him, not me." I straightened his shirt collar.

We reached the area thick with shrubs and trees. I showed Edward how to climb through the small gaps the trees made as they coiled over each other. Sasha was always the first one to climb through when we crashed there.

After a few struggling minutes, we emerged into the top of the cliff. It was a breath taking view. The waves underneath the cliff crashed calmly against the rocks at the base. The sun beat down against our pale skin.

"How did you all find it?" Edward asked, stunned. I spread the blanket over a dry area and sat down. Edward flopped down without hesitating and laid flat against the blanket.

"Sasha had once taken her dog for walking near the trial. The inevitable thing happened. She let go of the leash for a second and it ran away. The next day, she brought me and Heidi here and made us look for the dog. That was how we came across this path to the cliff." I looked up at the sun.

Edward pulled me down next to him and I tentatively put my head against his chest. The sound of his heartbeat was a painful remainder of his numbered days.

"What's wrong?" he asked, noticing my pained expression.

"You only have two more months to live." I whispered, barely moving my lips.

"Yes, then I will be gone." Edward sighed. He started brushing his hand through my hair.

The sun suddenly seemed colder. The beauty and vibrant color of the waves and the trees faded away.

I started to cry.

"Bella," he scolded, "stop crying."

I ignored him and snuggled further into his warm chest. I didn't want him to leave me.

Suddenly I was sure of one thing. I loved him.

"It hurts me to see you in pain." He sounded wounded. "When it is time for me to go, I don't want to see you cry. I want you to move on and concentrate on your future, not on the past. Nevertheless, I do want you to think of me now and then. I will be happy if I even had a small place at the corner of your heart."

I fisted his shirt collar in my hand and stared at him. "Edward, you don't occupy a small space in my heart. It's because you are my heart."

Edward's lips pressed into a hard line and I was shocked when I saw tears glisten in his eyes.

"Then when I proposed my love to you, why didn't you reply me?" he demanded, his voice broken.

"Saying those three words seemed somewhat...inadequate to me. I'm sure you understand that even words cannot express how much I'm in love with you." I whispered shyly.

"Bella, those words sound like music to my ears." He chuckled.

"And when you're gone..."

"I will always be thinking of you, even if I'm in Hell or Heaven -Heaven, surely- and I will never leave you. My presence will always be with you." He smiled but sadness lurked behind those eyes.

"Promise?" I bit down my lips, so that I wouldn't cry. He took my face in his hand and kissed my lips.

"Cross my heart."


Hey guys!

I felt a little sad when I wrote the end of the chap. Were you all sad too? As the old saying goes, "Parting is such sweet sorrow!" Ah well, we can only hope Edward has a strong reason to keep him safe in the land of the living :(

-BellaEdwardJacobLove