Sexy Shell's blog: "Stories"

Time alone with Bella

The next morning I was at Bella’s house, waiting patiently for her.  She threw open the door and locked it quickly, almost running to my side.  I chuckled as I watch her; she almost tripped over her own feet.  “Good morning” I said still laughing.  “What’s wrong?” she asked.  “Well…you rushed to me so quickly you almost tripped, and we match.” I said.  She glanced over me and then herself and giggled.  “Yeah how funny, we do match.”

I stood by the passenger’s side of her truck, waiting for her to unlock the door.  She climbed into the driver’s side and unlocked the door for me.  “Where to?” she asked.  “Put your seatbelt on…I’m nervous already” I replied.  She gave me a dirty look, but she complied.

“So where to?” she asked again.  “Take the one-oh-two north,” I ordered.  We drove in silence for a bit.  “Were you planning on making it out of Forks before nightfall?” I laughed breaking the silence.  “This truck is old enough to be your car’s grandfather…have some respect.” She retorted.

We were soon out of the towns limits.  “Turn right on the one-ten” I instructed just as she was about to ask.  She obeyed silently.  “Now drive until the pavement ends.”  “And what’s where the pavement ends?” she wondered out loud.  “A trail” I replied.  “We’re hiking?” she said quickly.  “Is that a problem?” I said expecting as much.  “No.” she lied.  “Don’t worry it’s only five miles or so, and we aren’t in a hurry.” I smiled.

She didn’t reply back, and I had no clue what she was thinking at this moment.  “What are you thinking?” I finally asked her.  She lied again.  “Just wondering where we’re going.”  “It’s a place I like to go when the weather is nice.” I said looking out the window.

“Charlie said it will be warm today.” She quipped.  “And did you tell Charlie what you were up to?” I asked.  “Nope.”  “But Jessica thinks we’re going to Seattle together?” and it made me feel a bit better.

“No I told her you canceled on me…which is true.”  “So what you’re telling me…is that no one knows you’re with me?” I said angrily now.  “That depends…I assume you told Alice?” she said with a smirk on her face.  “That’s very helpful Bella,” I snapped.  But she pretended she didn’t hear that.

“Are you so depressed by Forks, that it’s made you suicidal?” I demanded when she ignored me.  “You said it might cause trouble for you…us being together publicly,” she reminded me.  “So you’re worried about the trouble it might cause me…if you don’t come home?” I said with anger and sarcasm.  She nodded, but kept her eyes on the road.  I muttered something under my breath, so quick that she couldn’t understand.

We were silent for the rest of the drive.  I’m sure she could feel the waves of disapproval coming off of me.  The road ended, constricting to a thin foot trail with a small wooden marker.  She parked the truck on the narrow shoulder and got out.

It was warm now, warmer then the first day she arrived in Forks.  She pulled off her sweater and knotted it around her waist.  I got out of the truck and slammed the door.

“This way,” I said glancing over my shoulder at her, I was still annoyed.  I started into the dark forest.  “What about the trail?” she said nervously.  “I won’t let you get lost.” I promised, with a mocking smile.  I had my shirt unbuttoned and she gasped.  I stared at her bewildered at her tortured expression.

“Do you want to go home?” I asked her quietly.  “No.” she said and walked forward until she was close beside me.  “What’s wrong?” I asked in a gentle voice.  “I’m not a very good hiker,” she answered dully.  “You’ll have to be very patient with me.”  “I can be patient…if I make a great effort.” I smiled, holding her glance.  She smiled back, but it looked unconvincing.  “I’ll take you home,” I promised.  I turned back and started walking towards the truck.  “No, I don’t want to go home, but if you want me to hack through a jungle for five miles before sundown, you better start leading the way.” She said.  I frowned at her trying to understand her tone and expression.

I gave up after a moment and led the way into the forest.  When the path took us over fallen trees, I would help her, by lifting her over them.  For the most part we walked in silence.  Occasionally I would ask a random question that I hadn’t gotten to in the past two days.  I asked about her birthdays, her grade school teachers, her childhood pets.  She admitted that after killing three fish in a row that she had given up on having a pet, I laughed at that.

The hike took us most of the morning, but not once did I show any signs of being impatient.  I was perfectly at ease in the forest, never once doubting our direction.

After several hours, the light filtered through the canopy.  The day had turned sunny, just like I told Bella it would.  “Are we there yet?” she teased.  “Nearly.” I replied and smiled at the change in her mood.  “Do you see the brightness ahead?” I asked her.  She peered into the thick forest. “Um, should I?”  I smirked.  “Maybe it’s a bit too soon for your eyes.”  “Time to visit an optometrist,” she muttered.

We walked another hundred yards, and the light suddenly appeared through the canopy.  She picked up the pace as soon as she saw the light.  I let her lead now, following noiselessly.

She reached the edge of the pool of light and stepped through the last fringe of ferns.  The meadow was small, perfectly round, and filled with wildflowers.  Nearby there was a stream, that sounded like music.  The sun was directly overhead, filling the meadow with a haze of buttery sunshine.  I stayed beneath the dense shade of the canopy at the edge of the hollow, watching her with curious eyes.

She took a step towards me, her eyes lit up with curiosity.  I was wary and reluctant.  She smiled at me encouragingly and beckoned me with her hand, taking another step towards me.  I held up my hand in warning, and she hesitated, rocking back onto her heels.

I took a deep breath, and then stepped into the bright glow of the midday sun.  I stood there as she stared; singing softly to myself, so low that she couldn’t hear.  I laid down in the grass with my arms folded under my head.  She sat down and put her chin on her knees, not for one second taking her eyes off me.  The wind was gentle; and it tangled her hair and ruffled the grass that swayed around my motionless body.  She reached out one finger and stroked the back of my hand.

“I don’t scare you?” I asked playfully.  “No more than usual.” She whispered.  I smiled widely.  She inched closer, and stretched out her whole hand to trace the contours of my forearm with her finger tips.

“Do you mind?” she asked, for I had my eyes closed.  “No,” I said without opening my eyes.  “You can’t begin to imagine how that feels.” I sighed.

She lightly trailed her hand over the muscles in my arm.  With her other hand, she reached to turn my hand over.  Realizing what she wanted, I flipped my hand palm up in a blindingly fast motion.  It startled her; she froze on my arm for a brief second.

“Sorry,” I murmured, closing my eyes again. “It’s too easy to be myself with you.”  She lifted my hand, turning it this way and that.  “Tell me what you are thinking?” I asked.  “It’s still strange for me, not knowing.”  “You know the rest of us feel that way all the time.” She said.  “It’s a hard life.” I said with a bit of regret in my voice.  “But you didn’t tell me.”

“I was wishing I could know what you were thinking…” she hesitated.  “And?”  I asked.  “I was wishing that I could believe that you were real.  And I was wishing that I wasn’t afraid.”

“I don’t want you to be afraid.” I said in a soft murmur.  “Well that’s not exactly the fear I meant, though that’s certainly something to think about.”

I sat up quickly, so quickly that she missed the motion.  I was half propped up on my right arm, my left palm still in her hand.  I moved my face close to hers.  “What are you afraid of then?”  I whispered intently.  She didn’t answer, she just breathed in deeply.  Then I was gone, my hand ripped from hers.  In the time it took her eyes to focus, I was twenty feet away, standing at the edge of the small meadow, in the shade of a huge fir tree.

“I’m…sorry…Edward.” She whispered, knowing I could hear her.  “Give me a moment please,” I called, just loud enough so she could hear me.  After approximately ten seconds, I walked back towards her slowly.  I stopped several feet away, and sank gracefully to the ground, crossing my legs.  My eyes never left hers.  I took two deep breaths, and smiled in apology.

“I am very sorry.” I hesitated.  “Would you understand what I meant if I said I was only human?”  She nodded once, not able to smile at my little joke.  I could smell the fear from her, and smiled mockingly.  “I’m the world’s best predator, aren’t I? Everything about me invites you in…my voice, my face, even my smell.  As if I need any of that!”  I jumped to my feel and bounded away, instantly out of sight, only to appear beneath the same tree as before, having circled the meadow in half a second.

“As if you could out run me,” I laughed bitterly.  I reached up with one hand and, with a deafening crack, effortlessly ripping a two-foot-thick branch from the trunk of the spruce.  I balanced it in one hand for a moment, then threw it with blinding speed, shattering it against another huge tree, which shook and trembled at the blow.

Then I was in front of her again, standing two feet away, standing as still as stone.  “As if you could fight me off,” I said gently.  She sat without moving, seeming more frightened of me then she had ever been.  “Don’t be afraid,” I murmured.  “I promise…” I hesitated.  “I swear not to hurt you.” I said trying to convince myself, more than trying to convince her.

“Don’t be afraid,” I whispered again, and stepped closer with utter slowness.  I sat slowly, until our faces were on the same level, just a foot apart.  “Please forgive me,” I said formally.  “I can control myself.  You just caught me off guard.  But I’m on my best behavior now.”  I waited, but she still didn’t speak.  “I’m not thirsty today, honestly.” I winked.  She laughed at that, though the sound was shaky and breathless.