Chapter 10
BPOV
When I walked into my house—carrying my many bags of clothes, shoes, and accessories—sometime after nine, my ears were filled with the sounds of boys and baseball coming from the family room. I removed the Chuck's I had been wearing, placed my raincoat on its hook, and brought my backpack and bags with me as I sauntered past the family. Crowded around the flat-screen t.v. was Emmett, Jasper, Edward, and Charlie, cheering for the Mariners. They all noticed me and muttered their various greetings.
"Hey Bells! Come join us," Charlie called to me.
"Yeah, but before you do, bring more chips, Izz," Emmett added, smiling his silly bearish grin.
"Thanks guys, but I don't want to interrupt your 'boy's night'. Plus, I have to put all this stuff away and get crackin' on my homework." I replied, laughing quietly to myself.
"Did you do something to your hair?" Emmett called back to me.
"Uh, yea. Cut it, and stuff." I was mildly embarrassed that he mentioned it in front of Edward, for some odd reason I couldn't fathom.
"Lookin' good!" He called before returning his attention to the t.v. I looked at Jasper and Edward and smiled and nodded hello to them. I hadn't noticed before that Edward was staring at me with a goofy grin on his face. I faintly blushed, nodded again, and ran up the stairs to the safety of my room. Once in it, I decided to take-on the task of putting all of my new things into my organized closet. Surprisingly, for the amount of stuff I had purchased, it only took ten minutes to put away. I then started to work on homework. I didn't really have much so that only took about twenty minutes' time. I sighed, it wasn't yet ten. Getting ready for bed, I brushed my teeth and washed my face. I regarded my new hair in the bathroom mirror and a feeling of pride washed over me: I really liked my hair! Once back in my room, I decided my habitual night-cap was in order. There was no way I wanted to have nightmares tonight! I got out my flask and what about to take a swig when there was a soft knock on my door. Shit! I mentally cursed and tried to remember if I had locked my door. The knob turned and was slowly pushed open. Fuck! No, I didn't! I thought.
Edward peaked his head around the door and asked, "May I come in?"
"Sure," I replied before I realized what I was saying. He closed the door softly behind him and headed to sit on the edge of my bed, a few feet from where I was sitting. He looked at what was in my hands and chuckled.
"So, this is the mysterious Bella's room." He exclaimed while looking all around him. "I see that you not only are a lush at school, but you partake in a night-cap before bed, I presume?" So what if Edward was clever, he thought I had an alcohol problem: that made me mad! I had a nightmare-and-people problem, not a drinking problem.
"Shut up. It helps me sleep. Besides, yesterday was a first for me." I playfully pushed his shoulder, and my fingers tingled where I had touched him.
"Ok, ok. Sorry, I really didn't come in here to judge—not that I'm judging!" He attempted. What was with him today? Edward never stuttered or stumbled over words. I nodded, showing I understood, smiling as I did.
"So, why did you come in here?" I asked, placing my flask underneath my bed.
"To apologize about the Tanya thing today." I rolled my eyes. Of course, Edward just couldn't let it lie.
"I told you not to bother. It's none of my business." I huffed; I could just feel the jealousy creeping back into my system.
"But Bella, I need you to understand!" He was being so transparent with me, it was startling. "Nothing happened with Tanya." He sighed. "She and I used to date… on and off for about a year. I officially and finally ended it with her that Saturday morning of the bonfire. Ever since, she's been trying to get back with me. Bella, I have no intentions of ever dating her again. She's spoiled, superficial, and slutty. We didn't have anything real: she was a just-for-fun sort of fling."
"Ok, I believe you," I said.
"She wanted to talk about 'us' today, but there is no 'us' when it comes to her. When you walked by us in the hallway, she was trying to seduce me, but clearly it wasn't working… as you may have seen." He looked sheepish, and raked his fingers through his messy hair.
"Well, I will admit that I was curious as to what was going on. I truly was just going to the bathroom; I didn't want you to think I was stalking you or anything." I laughed and he quietly joined me.
"Sassy Bella, stalk me? Never. I know better than to hope for that!" He continued to chuckle.
"I should hope so."
"So, we're ok?" He looked hopeful.
"Of course. I told you: we never weren't!"
"Good," He smiled. "I'll let you drift off into your drunken slumber now."
"I'm not drunk! I haven't had any yet!" Edward winked after my reaction and my heart started fluttering away. I swallowed, not knowing what else to do. Suddenly it made me nervous to have him in my room, sitting on my bed. I became aware of every minute movement, every breath, and every eye twitch. He was my prey and it was like I was hunting him. They way he smelled lingered in my nose, sending tingles down my spine. Did he notice the goose bumps that rose on my arms?
"Chill, Bella. I was just kidding," he said in a deeper, calm tone as he raised himself off the bed, standing up. I stood too, mirroring his action.
"I know," I responded quietly. He hesitantly took a step towards me, and if possible, I became even more aware of him all over my body. I took a smaller step towards him. I looked deeply into his emerald green eyes and became entranced. My breathing became a bit labored as I noticed his eyes raking over my tank-topped and short-shorted body. I had forgotten to worry about how much skin he was able to see. His eyes froze over my chest—eyeing the exposed tops of my breasts, creating a subtle cleavage. Edward, then, looked into my eyes and I felt at home. He reached out his hand and cupped my chin, tilting it upwards to better our gaze. I stepped forward unconsciously. Our faces were so close, merely inches apart, but I couldn't bear to tear away my eyes from his beautiful, soulful eyes. I knew of all the pain and hurt they must have been through, and how they could still be so sparkling was a mystery to me. There wasn't darkness in his eyes, like you would expect there to be. An electric tension passed between us as the rest of my body wanted to be next to his, to touch it. Our heads moved closer together, closing the small distance. I swallowed hard, nervous again. I placed my hand softly on Edward's hand that held my chin.
"I … should go." Edward said, breaking the silence.
"Uhm. Ok. Yeah." I was still under his unknowing spell. Neither of us moved a muscle. There was so much unsaid wanting and desires not acted upon. My lips were aching in their neglect from his. Neither of us had looked away: perhaps we were both cowards in this moment, because we didn't make a move either way. I cleared my throat and took a step back, looking at the floor. I unconsciously licked my lips and waited for his move.
"Sweet dreams, Bella," Edward wished, and I brought my eyes back to him. There wasn't any awkwardness between us, and I heard none in his voice.
"Thank you." I replied softly. Where had my fierceness gone? I was back to meek, quiet Bella from Phoenix in this moment.
Edward winked as he disappeared behind the door, which sent chills down my spine. I was suddenly and inexplicably aware of a void inside of me because of Edward's absence. It was odd—this feeling. Earlier in the day I became aware of the jealousy I had felt towards Tanya and her relationship with Edward but I didn't bother to thinkwhy. Now, I was. After this—what was it? A moment?, Alice's hinting, and my feelings of jealousy, I started to realize something. Was I falling for Edward Cullen?
Edward had infuriated me more than anyone else in Forks had thus far, multiple times. He was also self-important, cocky, and a smart-ass. He seemed vain, rude, and a bit of a man-whore. Yet, he was funny, kind, and cared about me—the realization of that surprised even myself. He was deep, smart, and incredibly sexy. I liked his messy, unkempt sex-hair, and I liked the way he always winked at me. Edward had, in his infinite knowledge of his sister, purposely spilled the beans about my birthday in order to make it special; he kept my secrets and truly understood complicated, like Alice had said… This was the last thing I would have thought could have happened when I moved to Forks: me falling for Edward-Fucking-Godlike-Cullen! I was beyond denial now, I liked him. I truly liked him. I wanted to steal kisses with him in secluded halls of the school; I wanted to drag my tongue across his perfectly carved lips and taste what made him smell so good. I wanted Edward more than any guy I had ever wanted before. That was the first night I went to sleep in Forks sober.
