Chapter 14

Statement

I can't believe my eyes: I have Edward's trust. What have I done to deserve this? The stream of water before my eyes dries up and I finally make out his perfect features. I lift my hand and place it on her cool cheek. I blow :

" THANKS. »

I add in my head: "for believing in me". He smiles at me, but I see his look sad.

"What happened to you?" he asks.

I fell into the hole and couldn't get back up, I panicked and passed out.

Why didn't you call me before? Or even Charlie? He is very worried. He came home late from work, he realized you were gone, only half an hour ago.

I just woke up. I had forgotten that I had a mobile phone, I explain. As I was only using it to call you… I came across it by chance putting my hands in my pockets. I was going to call Charlie… And then I saw those glowing eyes… and I chose to call you instead.

I could have not arrived in time. It was less than…he points out.

Actually… "

I hesitate a little, then add in a small voice: "I just wanted the chance to tell you how I felt before I died. And… your voice comforted me and gave me strength to face it."

A silence greets my words. He opens his mouth several times before whispering, almost to himself:

"You had really lost all hope of survival…

Since that morning when you last spoke to me, my dream visions have gone entirely dark and bloodier and bloodier. I saw myself dying countless times and in so many different ways that I knew I was going to pass soon. I accepted this fact a few days ago…"

He looks at me, amazed.

"You weren't going to tell us about it… he hisses between his teeth.

You all made it very clear to me that you no longer trusted me and that I should no longer contact you.

It was to protect you! The less contact you would have with the supernatural, the safer you would be… he exclaims… At least, that's what I thought, he adds further down.

You lost faith in me because of my decisions, I just took responsibility for it. Assuming comes down to facing the consequences alone, whatever they may be… I wasn't going to ask you for help again until I had regained your trust.

Thirty-five… he breathes, laughing nervously.

Hmmm…"

I look at him without understanding.

"You know I really thought I was losing you," he told me with emotion.

I don't understand why you are so demonstrative. I thought you didn't want to deal with me anymore, that I was a danger. My death should have settled your family.

No, you actually don't understand me, he said grimacing and shaking his head. We have a lot to talk about, but first I have to get you back to your father. Do you know his phone number?

I know the one from the police station.

Let's go for that one. »

I give it to him and he immediately calls, explaining that he found me in the forest in a natural trap and was taking me home. He then carries me to his car, then walks me home. As I get into his car, a blue window appears.

"Unlucky Collector: You have just escaped imminent death for the 4th time. Your luck increased by 5. Current luck: 15"

My father arrives at the same time as us at the house, runs to me and hugs me very tightly. He is shaking. I'm petrified, I don't know what to feel, feeling like an impostor. I tell her that everything is fine thanks to Edward.

Charlie realizes his presence and thanks him several times with a trembling voice. Edward replies that he was delighted to have been able to help and that he will leave us. I raise my head, alarmed. He sends me a reassuring look and his eyes stare at my room for a split second. I understand that he wants to see me later, up there. I nod my head and he smiles at me.

After Edward's temporary departure, I take a shower and tell Charlie, while eating the pizzas he had ordered, what happened to me, omitting of course the episode of the puma. He then encourages me to recharge my mobile phone immediately and decides to take one on Monday. I end up telling him that I am tired and that I want to rest. After another hug which earns me an additional complicity point, I go upstairs, brush my teeth, put on my pajamas and go back to my room, where Edward is waiting for me, sitting on the rocking chair. He's reading a book that I borrowed from the library and am reading over and over right now.

"You like poetry," he says.

Baudelaire is one of my favorite authors.

Not the happiest...

But the fairest in the emotions that I can feel when everything goes wrong.

The blossoming of the « Fleurs du Mal *» …(*in French in the text)

That's it. »

I take a deep breath and invite her to sit next to me on the bed. He hesitates for a second, then runs. He has trouble speaking, I decide to help him.

"You know, I really didn't expect you to ever talk to me again. I thought you hated me for withholding information from you.

Bella, there seems to be a misunderstanding. I don't hate you and neither do any of the family. »

I raise an eyebrow.

"Okay, maybe Rosalie doesn't have you in her heart, but not for the reasons you imagine."

She is jealous of me… I declare.

How you… Ah… Your visions. »

He sighs :

"Bella, we just figured you must have met his wandering vampires because you were in our company and not dating would save you from being chased."

Except that my blood will interest them as much as you… He told me… He will tell me that I smelled like Alice…

Pardon ? Edward asks, taken aback.

In one of my most recent nightmares, James will tell me in the midst of torture that I smelled like a brown vampire he recently encountered in Forks. The description left little room for doubt as he said he left her alone at the time of her transformation and she did not recognize him. Only Alice remembers nothing of her human life. Besides, I have to give you some information, in case she wants to know more about her human life…"

During my rant, Edward remained frozen. He shakes his head and asks:

"Did you dream that you were tortured night after night?

Yes… I answer in a whisper. »

He suddenly takes me in his arms, taking me by surprise.

"I hope you can forgive me one day… he whispers.

Edward, I exclaim, are you going to be this close to me? Do you have a sore throat?

I've never been so in control of my thirst, believe me Bella.

…

I thought you were dead for long minutes. The memory of that pain is enough to keep me from hurting you.

I'm…confused…I say hesitantly.

Bella… he said putting his cool hand on my cheek so that I looked at him. You are for me a star that illuminates the sad night of my life. »

My eyes widen, not believing my ears. Could it be that he fell in love with me, after all this time ignoring me and after my betrayal? He stares at me, his honey eyes shining with emotion.

"Bella, I know you must be angry with me for the deplorable attitude I adopted towards you, but if you find the strength to forgive me, I would like to prove to you the depth of the feelings I feel for you.

I've already forgiven you Edward, I answer him, feeling the tears well up. »

Hope is consuming me. Edward brings his face closer to mine gently, stopping inches from my lips, silently asking for my approval. I can't take it anymore and crush my lips to his, pouring out the happiness and the need for him that I've felt for too long. Surprised at first, he responds to my kiss and I feel his smile against my mouth. After a few minutes of tender exchanges, he walks away, letting me catch my breath.

"How do you always manage to surprise me?"

Talent, dear, talent! I chuckle. »

Suddenly, Edward sits up.

"Charlie comes in, he blows. »

In a second he's gone, but I see my cupboard ajar. I slip under my blanket and close my eyes. I hear the door open, then a few seconds later the light goes out and I feel the mattress sink next to me. A cool hand caresses my hair. I smile, move closer to Edward and wrap my hands around his right leg. I sigh and he wishes me good night.

The next day, we are still in the same position. I feel like I've had a good night's sleep for the first time in weeks. Topaz orbs greet me when I open my eyes.

"Hello, Sleeping Beauty," he said, smiling.

I slept that much?

Barely 9 a.m. But you stayed surprisingly still that night. To wonder even if you dreamed.

I didn't have a vision in any case, I answer by straightening up. »

I wrap my arms around his neck and peck his lips much to his delight, then hug him with a sigh. He wraps his arms around me, resting his chin on my shoulders. We stay like this for several minutes before the urge becomes too great. I straighten up or hold on and whisper to him:

" I love you. »

I have the impression of seeing a little boy in front of his Christmas presents. He has a big smile that reaches his golden eyes shining with happiness.

"You are my life now," he replies. »

I smile back at her, then bite my lower lip in embarrassment. He disengages the teeth from my lip with the tip of his thumb. And that's when my stomach decides to show up.

"You have to feed people...

Charlie… I ask.

He went fishing early this morning, not without leaving you a note in the kitchen, asking you to stay home and rest. He also came to check on you when he woke up.

So we're not going to worry him unnecessarily by going out today.

Let's start with breakfast.

Yes… I answer mischievously, let's hunt the bacon and sink our teeth into a good French toast.

I'll pass on both of them, Edward raises his hands. »

After a hearty breakfast, I get dressed in the bathroom and go back to Edward who is looking at my library.

"You have a lot of works by classic English and French authors," he notes, running his fingers over Bella's collection and the one I accumulated during my only shopping spree in Seattle. »

I had taken advantage of a moment of Alice's inattention to sneak off to a bookstore.

"You seem to like the French language a lot.

Yes, I admit.

You spoke to me about Baudelaire yesterday. Is there another author you like?

Appolinaire and Tolkien.

French poetry and fantasy. You also sing songs in French. »

I manage well in the language of Molière.

Yes, Alice told me.

You understand French ?

Yes. »

I bite my lip again, catching his eye, hesitate for a second, then start.

"I would like to play you a song that I really like. You do not mind.

I would like to, he said smiling. »

I grab my guitar and launch into an acoustic version of « J'envoie valser » by Zazie. I concentrate, the music is complicated, my voice is a little rusty. But when the last note gets lost in my room, I see that I've touched Edward. He doesn't say a word and takes me in his arms. The day passed slowly. We chatted in each other's arms, cuddling, smiling. I felt soothed and forgot my worries for a few hours.

Obviously, the Spanish inquisition quickly brought me down from my cloud the next day…