Chapter 17

It was a rabbit who, had a gun…*

"Continued from Chantal Goya's "Le lapin" excerpt"

Thursday morning, I was telling Jessica about my date with Edward. She made me promise to tell her everything before an evil pixie grabbed my arm and made me swear to tell her too. Alice sulked part of the morning after that. Oh oh ! Possessive Alice! I ended up finding favor in her eyes by telling her that she was my best friend. After that, aside from Mike's insistent stares at my cleavage, I was having a nice day.

Edward dropped me off at my house, and I had barely finished taking my shower when I was surprised to find Alice in my room.

"You know I have a door, I ask him sarcastically.

It's much faster that way.

Obviously… considering the number of times it is used. »

Alice laughs, then helps me get ready, doing my hair in an elegant side braid. She wishes me good luck and runs away. When the doorbell rings, I hear my father open it and I go downstairs. Edward stands in the doorway, elegant in his white shirt and suit jacket. He smiles as I approach. I feel my father's gaze. Edward hands me a blue rose.

"You are beautiful, Bella.

Thank you, I say, blushing at his devastating smile. You're not that bad yourself.

Hmmm, Charlie coughs.

Oh sorry dad. I'm going to put the rose in a vase and be right back. »

I add as I pass by him, "Don't kill him before my first date." It is important to me. »

I whispered my words, not that Edward didn't hear, but that would have had less impact on Charlie. I hear Charlie asking my boyfriend to take care of me and get me back before 10 p.m. When I walk back into the hallway and grab my coat, I see Charlie slip something into my pocket. When we're in the car on the way to the restaurant, I laugh when I see a pepper spray surrounded by a note: "I'm sorry, but with your luck, you'll end up shocking yourself with a taser. . So I opted for a less risky solution. I love you. Dad. Ps: Don't try it to see if it works!

"He likes you a lot," Edward remarks.

I know. I'm lucky. Where are we going ?

I hope you like Italian food. »

I smile guessing where we were going. Indeed, a short time later, thanks to Edward's quick and efficient driving, we had arrived in front of the Bella Italia. At first, Edward was careful not to drive too fast, but now that he knew speed didn't scare me, he had dropped his filters. Hopefully that would just be the start.

A slight air of deja vu runs through me when I see the restaurant hostess ogling Edward. My annoyance goes up a notch when she offers us a table right in the center of the restaurant. Doesn't she see that we are two lovers? I grab Edward's arm and ask him:

"Sweetheart, we can have a more intimate table. I don't like being around a lot of people when I eat.

Of course my love, Edward replies, playing my game.

Then he addresses the hostess, slipping a note into her hand:

"I'm sure you have a table further away from the crowd.

O...Of course, she stammers. »

She accompanies us to a table in the corner of the room and tells us that our waitress will be arriving soon. When I see the woman walking towards us, I recognize the description of the waitress.

"Main quest: outrun your rival… Reward: Upshift successful… Penalty for failure: Upshift delayed by 6 months… Duration: Meal time. Developer Tip: Bring out your animal side."

Damn it ! These developers are crazy! Well, I'll think about that later, for now I have to take care of the most pressing problem.

"And Amber walks in…I whisper. »

Edward looks at me, curious. I tell him:

"Don't worry, I'm taking matters into my own hands. »

He starts laughing. This is when Miss "I flirt at work" comes to us.

"Hello, my name is Amber and I will be your waitress tonight. »

She hands him a menu. Of course, like in the book, she is addressing Edward exclusively, simpering as she tucks her hair behind her ears.

"And me, Bella," I snap back, reaching for the second menu, receiving his offended look. »

You, you will quickly understand that it is better not to ignore me.

"My boyfriend and I would like two cokes, please, to start.

I'll get them for you right away, she replies, looking again at Edward, who doesn't even calculate it. »

I roll my eyes and look at the menu. Ohhhhh carbonara pasta! Yum ! The waitress comes back and I tell her directly that Edward and I will be sharing a pasta dish. She leaves looking annoyed and I roll my eyes.

"Can I ask you if you have seen this scene before my love?

Yes and if I'm not mistaken, it does not intend to stop there.

You're right, he nods. If you want, we're leaving.

No, I'll handle the problem. Either way, I'll have to get used to it. You're way too attractive for your own good and I have to defend my territory.

Rubbing shoulders with predators is beginning to rub off on you, my love, he sneers. All right, we stay here. I can't wait to see how you'll handle the invader.

I'll give you a hint: Sometimes it's more efficient to go through the administrative route to avoid carnage. »

He raises his eyebrows, but doesn't answer. Instead, he asks me about my professional plans.

"I would like to be a teacher for teenagers.

A bold choice when you know their character.

I'm sure I'll like it, I tell him smiling.

You risk being disappointed by the reality.

Unlikely. I already had a preview.

Obviously ! he sneers, not knowing that I'm talking about real life.

And you ? what are you planning to do for studies?

Well, I have already studied medicine twice, literature, mathematics, law, mechanics, languages, art history and international trade. I have no more ideas.

And if I ask you to go with me to Paris? I say on a whim.

Do you want to go study in France?

Why not ! Well, I will have to get a scholarship and then look at the courses of the different universities, but I would very much like to live there.

We can do whatever you want Bella. You don't even have to worry about getting a scholarship.

I know you have money Edward, but it has to be a believable minimum for Charlie.

I can always sponsor you through one of my companies. »

I block out two seconds, then "put the two ends together" with what he said earlier.

"Are you a business owner?

Yes, I manage several companies behind the scenes. This makes it easier to inherit my parents' house, every fifty years or so.

Your parents' house? Where is she ?

In Chicago, that's where I spent my human life.

I have never been there. It's pretty ?

Would you like to visit?

Yes ! I would like to see where you lived. I want to learn more about you.

Many things have changed over time.

Maybe you'll even have a hard time finding your way around, I tease.

I don't have as bad a sense of direction as you do, he replies in the same tone. You like to travel ?

I like to discover new landscapes. I would like to travel all over the world. See Asia, especially Japan, New Zealand… But you must have seen everything already.

I have the feeling that traveling with you will be like seeing these countries with new eyes. »

I smile at him, I feel happy. Of course, she has to come back then! Amber comes to our table and asks Edward if everything went well. I intervene then.

" Oh my heart ! Didn't you want to go wash your hands? »

He catches my sharp gaze and reacts immediately.

" Yes, it's true. I hurry, can you order dessert for us, my love?

Of course. »

He walks away and I command my opponent:

"We'll have a chocolate mousse for two and we won't need any extra service.

I beg your pardon ?! exclaims Amber

No coffee, I mean. »

I hope she understands the implication, but if in doubt, I'll have my back. Edward returns after Amber leaves and my dessert arrives. I ask him to let me pay. He protests, so I offer him a compromise:

"Do you have tickets? »

He then understands my intentions and casually slips pieces of paper into one of my hands. When our charming long-toothed waitress hands the bill to Edward, I grab it, pretending to lose a bet. I see Amber blanch. So my suspicions are correct. I open the bill and see a number on the note. I then get up and head straight for the counter where I spotted a middle-aged man who appears to be directing the staff.

" Excuse me sir ? Hello, would you be the manager?

Hello, yes ma'am, he replies a little suspiciously.

Is it customary to leave phone numbers on your customer notes?

Phone numbers? »

He takes the note I hand him and turns pale when he sees that it's the cell phone number and not the restaurant number. I continue in a cold voice.

"It's a shame that the service is so poor, while the food is otherwise delicious. »

I then hand him the bills Edward gave me and walk out, taking my boyfriend's arm without waiting for change. When I get to the car, I'm shaking a little. Edward opens my door, helps me into my seat, and joins me in the car where I'm doing what I just did, head down. I dare not look at it.

"How are you, Bella?"

I'm wondering what got into me.

You defended your territory, as you warned me, he chuckled.

You don't blame me for making a scene?

Blame you ? he replies surprised. »

He gently lifts my chin and kisses my lips.

"In fact, if you found it sexy to see me hunting, I also found it very sexy that you acted so possessively." »

I laugh then and we take the road to Forks.

"Main quest completed… A reward will be granted to you. Go for it! »

Edward stops along the way by the sea and we walk for a while in the sand, holding our shoes in our hands. Edward sits down on the sand pulling me onto his lap. My skirt goes up a little, Edward puts his but on the thighs and freezes. I whisper to her: "Do you like my stockings?

I thought you were wearing pantyhose.

Before Yes. But I stocked up on lace and frills yesterday. It was Alice who recommended these to me. Look at. »

I lift her hand and point to the self-adhesive lace strip.

"Do you like the pattern?

A lot, Edward replies too quickly, looking away.

You haven't even looked! I'm sure most high school kids would have at least taken a look!

The majority of high school students have not been educated like at the beginning of the last century, he replies a little nervous. In my time, it was degrading for a woman to show her bare ankle.

And in my day, it's being rude to look away when someone is talking to you. »

He then turns his head towards me looking only at my face.

" I am sorry my love. I'm not very comfortable with the idea of staring at you in your underwear.

Because you don't want to see me act in a degrading way or because you're not interested?

Because I don't want to behave like all those lustful teenagers who stare at women insistently and make them feel uncomfortable.

What makes me uncomfortable is that you don't want to see my body. We are alone and I do not think it is degrading to undress in front of his companion.

You think I don't want you? asks Edward stunned.

Well… I understand that you weren't brought up the same way as me, but I feel a little offended and hurt that you aren't attracted to me. »

I whisper the last part of the sentence, feeling my heart clench painfully, when I realize that his rejection affects me more than I first imagined. I knew he would be reluctant, but I didn't think it would be so hard to get a "no" from him. I feel tears welling up and my vision blurs. Edward lifts my face and begs me in his velvet voice:

" Do not Cry my love. I lacked tact and should have expressed myself better.

It doesn't change the fact that you don't want my body in your field of vision, I reply bitterly.

I'm going to have to be more direct, I think. »

He shifts me onto his lap, pulling me closer to him and I feel a bulge between him and me. I widen my eyes, then look at him.

"Convinced? he asks me with a smirk.

So you still want to watch me?

I really want to, he nods, but that's not a gentleman's way of doing it.

Even to look at his companion? I say raising an eyebrow. Because I've seen Carlisle look at Esme's cleavage before and you can't say he's uneducated.

Alright, he sighs. Maybe it's me who has a little trouble handling the situation. You have to understand that this is the first time for me that I feel something towards a woman.

Have you ever gone out with anyone?

A vampire only falls in love once.

And before ? After all, you were seventeen. At this age, hormones rule the body.

You know something about that, he sneers, as I pat his chest lightly.

Even at seventeen, girls weren't my focus. I dreamed of a military career and of participating in the First World War.

The Butcher War?! I cry out. You are crazy ! Didn't you find out about the battles of the Somme, Verdun or the Marne?! Not to mention the Chemin des Dame, this was a massacre for the allies. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of deaths there! »

He stares at me seriously for a few seconds, then speaks again:

"It's true that it was a trauma, especially for the French.

Yes, I nod. And you wanted to participate!

I idealized the war, I did not imagine the reality of it. Now I'm grateful that I didn't leave. I could have never met you. »

He kisses my hair.

"I wonder what would have happened if we had met in 1918, I whisper.

I know it, Edward replies smiling. I would have courted you, we would have taken walks under the watchful eye of our chaperones…"

I chuckle.

"I might have stolen a kiss from you, but only after getting your father's consent." I would have gotten down on one knee and asked you to be mine forever.

Hmmm, I say mischievously. It seems to me that everything is in place except for one thing…"

He raises his eyebrows. I straighten up and straddle him, taking him by surprise.

"You just have to make me yours," I whisper in his ear.

Bella… you are going to kill me…"

Author's note: I'm going on vacation for several days. In addition, I will soon have to space out my publications because of the resumption of work. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the few people who left me a comment, even if it was only at the very beginning. I don't know if it's because you don't like the story for another reason, but in any case, these 4 comments have encouraged me a lot.