Dinner dragged, especially with everyone (except for me) discussing something about the new economical power America had thanks to the recently war between Europe or something like that. I was not very good at calculating, even though I had learned it with Madame Gabrielle when I attended to school, along with sewing, cooking, history, poetry, and manners. The last one was the priority according to Madame, nothing like a lady with good manners. While they were talking about the stock market, I was remembering my horrible 8 years of education in the institute, which I could finally finish last year, when I turned 16. It was literally hell, so boring and tedious. I didn�t have many friends there, the girls always played with their dolls while I read some poetry and books. I didn�t have a lot of friends because I was really, really shy. When the flashback got interrupted by everyone standing up and me following them to the living room for some talking again, Jacob offered me a walk around the big mansion. We were walking silently, our arms linked when he decided to ask the question �Why did you run away yesterday?� I looked away �Bella, you know you can trust me� I turned to look at him and suddenly I saw my old Jacob, with the wide grin I loved �You weren�t expecting this right?, I mean the courtship�� �No,� I whispered �It took me by surprise� �I apologize for being so rude, but I really like you Bella, even when we were friends, I couldn�t stop it, and I thought you felt the same way� �I forgive you, I apologize too for running away it wasn�t polite� I could feel the emotionless tone in my voice �You have nothing to apologize for, Bella, I understand you felt awkward and I am sorry again for acting like that, scaring you� I nodded and walked towards the fountain in the middle of the house, surrounded by the balconies. He continued �But I am glad you accepted,� he said sitting next to me on the edge of the fountain �I swear we will be happy together, no matter what, I will protect you and love you always� My heart fell into pieces. Love. So he loved me, and I couldn�t even look him in the eyes. Even worse, I haven�t found my true love! According to me, I didn�t love Jacob like that, just like a brother. My cheeks turned red automatically and he misunderstood. He placed his lips over mine and kissed me lightly, moving my mouth with his in a warm uncomfortable way. Anger ran through me so fast, that I couldn�t even realize that was my first kiss. I separated quickly and without thinking it twice, I slapped him rudely and instantly regretted the action because Jake looked at me painfully, not physical but emotional. My anger began to disappear as I watched him leave with his hand on his cheek. �Jake,� I nearly shouted and quickly followed him �I didn�t mean I�m so sorry!� �You didn�t mean it?� �No really Jacob I�m sorry it was a reflex! I don�t know what�s wrong with me� He glared at me suspiciously �Yes, Bella Swan what�s wrong with you?� I guessed it was rhetorical question because he smiled a warm smile again and added �Did you trip with your own foot or something? Because you might have a concussion�� I glared at him playfully and laughed. Yes, there still was a piece of MY Jacob inside the core. �Apologize accepted� he hugged me and I hugged back, the kiss and slap were forgotten instantly. He was my friend. �I love you Bells� he put his chin over my head �I know you don�t feel exactly the same way� I was about to deny it, I didn�t want to hurt him but he cut me off �No Bella, I know you don�t, you are an open book; but, I won�t give up, I know we will end together I am sure, I will fight if necessary� Suddenly one person was stuck in my mind: Edward. His words still echoed in my head like the first time he said them. And together we will find a way� But couldn�t find any relation with Jake�s words, but I knew there was one. Now my mind was absorbed in Edward, they way he acted, such a gentleman and those soft green eyes, like emeralds making me dizzy in a funny way. Everytime I thought about him � and I have to say they were a lot � I felt something awkward in my stomach and I felt a violent shiver, tickling every part of my body. I�d never felt that way before. Could it be�? No, it couldn�t. I couldn�t� And I remembered I was still hugging Jacob. �I think we should go back� I suggested breaking the hug �Yes, It�s getting very late, you should go home� he agreed letting me go and taking my hand again. I couldn�t struggle; I was trying to make my dad and Jacob happy, like my mother wanted to. xOx Next day, I was still thinking about my conversation with Jacob during breakfast with my parents. Charlie, as always, was cheered by last night, he was excited about me and Jacob, and he wasn�t ashamed to hide it. �And the way he looks at you Bella, I think he loves you� he reassured �It wouldn�t surprise me if in a few months I receive a matrimony proposal� I tried hard not to roll my eyes, and I could see my mother glancing nervously between my father and me. �Yes, I wouldn�t be surprised either� I mumbled stabbing the eggs with the fork �I�m sure you will agree, Bella� Charlie said, it was more an advice than a statement, maybe a �you will say yes because I say so� would have worked too. Breakfast was not the best time to show any emotion, because my mom was too observant, watching me curiously, and sometimes, Charlie was like that too. So I kept my face blank of any emotion, whenever they looked at me. �I have to go now� My dad announced standing up and kissing my mom on the cheek �Today will be a busy day, so maybe I will be late for dinner� He left and instantly I stood up too and gave the dish to Caroline �I�m not hungry anymore� Both � my mom and Caroline � looked at me awkwardly but said nothing and I headed upstairs to my little room. Since I was an only child, I had one of the biggest rooms for myself. I sat on the rocking chair next to my closet with one of my favorite books and started to read. But I wasn�t relaxed, I felt claustrophobic, maybe because of my new freedom. �Mom!� I shouted when I was downstairs �May I go to the park now?� She laughed �You liked the city didn�t you? Yes, you may go, but please be careful and don�t be late!� She shouted the last part because before she could finish, I ran through the door and headed to the park. I had been there, but never alone. It was pretty, with lots of trees making shadows for the benches and the paths. In the middle was an enormous fountain with fish of all colors. I opened �Romeo and Juliet� and started to pace while reading. I was so absorbed in the book that I didn�t notice I was walking towards the big fountain. When I was in the edge, (A/n: Imagine the border of the fountain is very short) I lost my balance and before my body hit the cold water, somebody caught me and my book. I turned my head to see who my savior was and got surprised to see who it was �Edward!� I thrilled. He laughed and put me on my feet �Thank you so much, I was about to fall in there!� �Hi Bella! Yes I noticed that� I flushed I could see Schnee behind him �What are you doing here?� I probably knew the answer but his angelic face confused me �I am walking with Schnee� he patted the dog�s head �And what brings you here so early?� �I needed a walk, I�m sick of being held in my house� He handed me the book �I see you like romantic stories� �Yes, actually, this is one of my favorites� �Shakespeare is my favorite author, and my favorite book is �A Midsummer�s Nights Dreams�� �Hamlet is very good too� I suggested �But my favorite book is �Wuthering Heights�� �Emily Bronte?� He asked raising an eyebrow �Yes, this was her only novel, but I love it� His mouth became a hard line �If you want my opinion I think it�s not a love story, it�s a hate story� (a/n: Eclipse quote) I was about to argue when a voice shouted my name behind me. A very familiar voice. I froze in place closing my eyes, waiting for the hurricane �Bella, what are you doing? Who is he?�
Paula1494