Chapter 29: Beautiful liar
~One way, or another, I'm gonna find ya
I'm gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha
One way, or another, I'm gonna win ya
I'm gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha
-One way or another, One Direction~
In the week that followed, I carefully laid out a plan. It was common knowledge that no one was allowed inside the Eternal Cemetery. Therefore, I had to find a way to get inside without the security guards finding me.
I thought about asking Heidi's help but she had only recently found out that she was a witch, so she was kinda out of the list. Sasha would throw a fit if I told her what I was planning on doing.
With no one left, my mind lingered on Alice but I quickly shook it off. I had found her car parked in the Cullens' driveway last week and still had bitter feelings brewing inside me.
Then I realized that there was someone who I hadn't considered before.
Mr Hale - Jasper Hale.
It was pretty plain when I thought about it. He was the one who had talked to the town Mayor and somehow found a way to open the gate of the infamous Eternal Cemetery. Surely, he could do it again, right? But only with a cause...
I needed a reasonable reason to convince him to make him convince the security guard to open the huge Iron Gate again. However, my half-planned plan came to a halt when the Cullens decided to show up in school unexpectedly.
Sasha had taken it upon her to give me daily rides to school since Edward wasn't even capable of giving himself a ride to the front door of his house. I wasn't sure if he even left his room anymore.
Considering the amount of time the Cullens spent inside their house without going anywhere, fresh gossip was tossed back and forth from the school to the entire town of Forks.
Few inquisitive folks whispered that the whole family had left town over night while some suggested that the Cullens had committed suicide in their house. How morbid!
On February 18, Sasha and I had just arrived at school and had gotten out of the car when suddenly; a hush fell over the crowd in the parking lot. Sasha gasped next to me and turned pale.
"What?" I asked confused.
As quickly, as it had become silent, the chattering started and as seconds ticked by, it increased dramatically.
Sasha silently pointed at something opposite to us. My eyes followed the direction her well-manicured finger was pointing and my heart skipped a beat. A silver Volvo rolled into the parking lot at a leisure speed, like the driver had all the time in the world.
It stopped at an empty space and out came Edward.
He wore a black plaid shirt hanging open over a white T-shirt and dark washed out jeans. A leather messenger bag was slung precariously across his lean muscular body and a pair of sunglasses hid his eyes.
Overall, he oozed sexiness. Moreover, there was something very, very different about him. From what I could make of him, with his dark clothes and tight set of the jaw, he looked dangerous.
"Why did he come back?" Sasha murmured.
"I thought he left town," whispered a girl next to me.
"Where are the others?"
"Have they left without him?"
"He looks different..."
"Very dark, if you ask me..."
What was he doing here? My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest at the sight of him. Was he trying to kill me? A part of me was already dead though.
"Come on," Sasha tugged at my arm.
I took a deep breath and followed her, keeping my gaze fixed on the sky. I did not want to look at him and feel love when all he wanted with me was to leave him alone.
We blended in with the curious crowd and I managed to avoid Edward during English. It was a very difficult since every time I looked behind to talk to Alice, he was staring at me. He didn't smile or glare. He just stared and stared.
It made me nervous for some reason. Neither of us was lucky during History class. When I came inside the class after lunch, I found Edward already occupying our bench with a lazy look on his face.
I sat down reluctantly and pulled out a notepad and a pen. It was very, very painful to have him sit a foot away from me and yet not being able to talk to him. So I nearly jumped when he spoke to me.
"How much did I miss last week?" Edward's voice wrapped around me, smooth and silky like satin.
I turned to him, shocked and looked anywhere but at his eyes. Why was he talking to me?
"Not much," I was surprised that my voice sounded blank. "Most of the teachers held revision tests."
"Oh, okay." His tone faltered a little. "So, uh, how's life?"
"It sucks." I rolled my eyes and faced the front again. I didn't know why he even bothered with small talk.
"Look, Bella, I really am sorry." He said earnestly.
"Oh God, quit apologizing already. I don't know why you're even saying sorry in the first place. Is the guilt eating you up?" I snapped, anger and pain boiling inside me.
"This is not about guilt." He sounded a little mad but I didn't look at him.
"Then what is it about?" I hissed lowly. "Are you making peace with everyone you've hurt in the past?"
Edward took a sharp breath.
"I'm sorry for everything. Not for the guilt or for the sake of making peace. I'm sorry for everything." He rushed on before I could protest. "I'm sorry that you had to meet me. I'm sorry that I fell in love with you. I'm sorry that I had to hurt you in the process. I'm - "
"You can save your amends for later." I bit my lip, feeling tears burn my eyes. He was sorry for loving me?
Thankfully, Mr Hale came in and stopped Edward from further apologizing.
By the end of the day, the whole school had stopped talking about Edward and was now gossiping about the party Tanya was throwing at her house. It was not every day that her parents left the house under her care and went to Seattle for some business issue.
So, even though it was a school night, she had arranged a last minute alcohol-filled party at her huge empty house and invited everyone, including me.
We weren't exactly on good terms; as the last time I saw her, I had threatened her to stay away from Edward.
Now that everyone knew that Edward and I weren't together anymore and she was happy enough to personally invite me to the exclusive party.
"Don't forget to come." Tanya sang gleefully. But something wicked glinted in her pale blue eyes.
Later when school was over, I saw her warming up to Edward.
I decided that I needed to stop obsessing with Edward. It was unhealthy and always made me end up in unnecessary pain.
Sasha and Heidi dropped by, aided in choosing an outfit for me, and did my hair. When we were finally ready, we took Sasha's car and went to Tanya's house. My heart vibrated along with the loud music inside the house.
It was a good thing that Tanya didn't have neighbors for at least two miles.
"Bellaaaa!" Tanya squealed when she spotted me. "You came!"
"Hot, hot, hot." Charlotte giggled giddily and took a sip from the white cup she was holding.
"Drunk, drunk, drunk." I snorted and Sasha snickered.
The black sleeveless silk top I wore had a see through lace material just above the chest region and sequins covered the rest of the top. I had paired it with silvery white pencil jeans and had burrowed Heidi's black peep-toe heels.
Then Sasha had straightened my hair and I had worn huge black crystal earrings to finish the look.
Heidi wanted to see what the bar had to offer and we occupied the only empty stools. Sasha ordered light drinks for us and leaned back on the counter, eyeing the dancing crowd.
"Uh-uh. Look at Tanya, being friendly with Bella one minute and sinking her claws into Edward the next second." Sasha snapped harshly.
I looked up sharply and was in for a shock when I saw Edward and Tanya sitting on a couch. Edward had the same white cup on his hand and he had even worn a stylish tie. That was why Tanya had been so happy, I realized.
Edward had accepted her offer and had come to the party.
"Who's that?" Heidi cocked her head, her red curls bouncing. It took me forever to drag my eyes away from them.
Sasha and I reluctantly followed her gaze. An amazingly attractive boy about a year older than us, stood near the corner with a drink in his hand. His pale blond hair nearly reached his shoulder and somehow it looked good on him.
Just because I loved Edward, didn't mean that I couldn't look.
I turned around bored when the bartender set the drink before us and I took a huge gulp, almost finishing it.
"He's coming here." Sasha giggled into my ear.
Right on cue, I heard throat clearing. I looked expectantly and my eyes fell on that blond guy. Up close, his eyes were a clear blue and they flickered with mischief.
"Hello, I'm James." He had a thick British accent. "May I know your beautiful names?"
"I'm Heidi and these are my friends, Bella and Sasha." Heidi shot us a wink.
"Bella," he repeated softly. "Would you like to dance?"
It was just a dance, so I accepted his hand and joined him on the dance floor. It was a slow melodious song and James spun me around. He moved and danced gracefully, reminding me very much of Edward.
Halfway through, someone decided to interrupt us.
"May I cut in?" Edward asked firmly, leaving no room for argument.
James frowned but shrugged and gently handed me to him.
"I'll see you soon, Isabella." He murmured and disappeared in the crowd.
"Thank you." Edward said as his arms wrapped around my waist.
"I'm a little drunk. " I warned. "That's why I'm not screaming at you right now."
He smirked while his hand stroked the inside of my wrist. "That's okay. I'm a little drunk too."
I glared at him as he twirled me gently and pulled me closer to him. He looked gorgeous in his dark blue button down shirt, which was open at the collar, and the black skinny tie was knotted carelessly.
"Why don't you go and play with Tanya instead, Edward?" I slurred. "I hate to lose."
"You never lost me." He whispered softly, his sweet breath mingling with mine.
"But you lost me. Period." I leaned back and closed my eyes.
"Did I?" He sounded strained. "Bella, please don't lie."
"You can't keep hurting me and then expect me to come back again, Edward."
"I know...but...I want to make things right again. Please don't tell me I'm late." I'd never heard him so frantic.
"You have to stop it. Please." He would hurt me again. It was a never-ending process.
"Let me show you how much I love you then."
My eyes flew open just as he swayed me through the crowd. Once we reached staircase, I had no choice but to go along with him. He pulled me confidently through the empty corridor and paused before a large wooden door.
"Edward, where are you taking me?"
He didn't answer and simply nudged open the door.
"If you are planning to push me off the balcony, I'd -"
The scent of vanilla hit my nose and I gasped. At least thirty candles were lit around the room and I realized that they were the source of that sweet smell. A huge canopy bed occupied the middle of the room and that wasn't the only thing.
Red petals were arranged in the shape of a heart on the bed.
"I love you." Edward whispered as his hands slid up my arm.
I shivered. "What exactly are you doing?"
He brought his lips to mine in a second and kissed me. I tried to resist him but it was so hard as his lips were evidently hungry. In a quick moment, he lifted me up and pressed me against the wall.
My legs automatically wrapped around his waist and we kissed for a long time. My whole body was shooting sparks at his fiery touch and when I broke away gasping for air, he attacked my neck with wet open-mouthed kisses.
As soon as I moaned his name, he carried me to the bed and climbed on top of me.
"What are you doing?" I repeated as I tugged at his tie.
He helped me remove his shirt and my hands were immediately on his smooth chest.
"I'm trying to make love to you." He bit my earlobe gently while his hands roamed over my body. "Isn't that obvious?"
"Hmmmm." My voice was nearly drowned out by our erratic breathing.
He wasn't hesitant in getting me out of my clothes and when his lips claimed mine again, I was certain of something.
I loved Edward and he loved me.
And it was the best night of my life.
Hey guys,
So, what do you think of this chap? Did anyone wonder how James knew Bella's full name? Well, you'll know in the coming up chapters. Oh, and this story is not ending anytime soon. There are so many ideas flooding my mind right now!
-BEJL
