Thaw-chapter 10
AN: These characters are not mine.
I was going to find Vesuvius and throw it in, just like Frodo, Edward mumbled.
He held the ring up, letting the flourescent light twinkle off its brilliant facets.
It was made from my grandmother’s heirloom pendant. The diamond was cut to her specific wishes by the jeweller to Henry the 8th.
And it was to be yours, Bella, he sighed.
Bella found the will to clamp her mouth shut, finally, after gaping at the rock.
They’d discussed marriage, of course, but the ring was a physical manifestation of what might have been. Something dazzling, eternal, epic.
Jake cleared his throat to break the awkward silence. He shifted his weight from boot to boot, plunging his hands deeper into his jeans pockets.
Oh, now it’s a bit gaudy for little Bells, Edward, that’s plain to see, Alice joked. Her style is more simple. Now me, I got my taste from Grandmother, she laughed, tossing her fuschia silk scarf over her shoulder.
You are wearing my hoodie, Bells, Jake whispered, to emphasize Alice’s point.
She looked down. The grey, fleece-lined sweatshirt, spotted with motor grease, was hanging down below Bella’s butt, and the sleeves dangled four inches past her fingertips.
She started to giggle at the absurdity of the situation, covering her mouth.
It grew into a full-fledged uncontrollable laugh, the kind that you just can’t stop, no matter what. It infected Jake, who muffled a laugh.
The TSA man, confused, looked at everyone. Is there something going on here that I should know about?, he said.
Tears were now streaming down Bella’s cheeks from the laughter. ‘Scuse me, she choked out, running to the door. I’ll be outsi… Jake ran after her, shrugging to the others.
After a minutes more of irrepressible laughter, she calmed down.
Jesus, that was embarassing, she said.
And kinda funny, you gotta admit, Jake added. You okay?
Oh, other than going around wrecking peoples’ lives, I’m just peachy, she said, her face now somber.
I mean, how could I do that to Edward? What’s worse, that’s twice now that an immortal has tried to make himself mortal over me. I am so totally not worth it, she said softly.
Jake gathered her in his arms. C’mere, Bells, he whispered, pulling her head against his shoulder and nuzzling her with his nose. He hugged her tight for a moment, his warmth spreading across where they met.
He could feel her imperceptibly sobbing.
Hey, hey, kid… he pulled away a bit and lifted her chin up to look in her eyes. You are so worth it, Bells. You are this amazing person and you just don’t realize it. Even when you’re mopey and bratty, there’s something so incredible in there…
He kissed her forehead, catching her eyes with his, then kissed her lips slowly and stroked her hair.
The door opened and Alice came out. They’ve decided he’s no threat to national security, but now there’s not another flight open for a couple days. So he’s coming home til then.
Edward emerged from the room, moving as if in a trance. His eyes passed slowly over Jake, then Alice, and rested on Bella, finally. They glistened with sadness and lethargy.
Bella suddenly felt faint. She realized the implications of her every move. And yet she felt she had to live her life as she wanted to, not how others did.
And she suddenly felt very uncomfortable next to Jake with Edward there. So she walked ahead, dragging Alice with her, leaving the boys to walk behind them.
Jake took the initiative. Listen, Edward, I’m really sorry about the way things have turned out. Sorry for you.
Edward looked at him darkly. I must’ve been out of my mind to let you two be together in the tent that day, he snapped.
I think it was only a matter of time before Bells and I got together, Jake said quietly. We’ve been friends for a really long time, and there was always something special about it. That just proved it.
They got in the Mercedes, the boys shunted awkardly in the back seat. But before Alice got going, Bella stopped her and got out, opening the rear door.
Jake, could you ride shotgun?, she said. She looked at him pleadingly, and he nodded reluctantly.
Edward, looking completely miserable, stared out the window.
She was aware that Alice and Jake could hear every word she said.
That ring… it’s so beautiful, she began.
Well it ought to be, I’ve had the jeweler working on it for months now, Edward said.
Now it’s nothing but volcano food, he added. She bit her lip and crooked her finger by her mouth, squelching an oh.
She took his cold hand. Please don’t go to Italy, Edward, she said.
He jutted his chin and said nothing.
Bella, please don’t. Don’t talk about this here, he implored her. He was nothing if not private, and it galled him that Jake was there listening.
She motioned to Jacob. Whatever I tell you Jake will eventually know anyway, she said. I’m just so emotionally spent over this that I think it’s about time we just be open about it.
Well that’s not how I am, Edward snapped. Maybe it’s an indication that we were never meant to be together after all, if you can’t even honor my dignity.
She pulled her hand away. They rode in silence back to Forks. Alice dropped them off at her truck, still parked by the movie theater. It was well past midnight, but it felt like days had passed since they’d seen Fantastic Mr. Fox.
She managed to pull Edward aside as he was switching seats. We will talk tomorrow, in person, she whispered. We can’t leave it like this.
As Alice drove away, Edward gave her a look that chilled her heart. It was a mix of regret, sorrow, and love.
As they got in her truck, Jake looked worried. He could sense her confusion, and the responsibility she felt for Edward’s fate now.
All he could do was pull her close in his arms and kiss her temple, but he could feel her indifference at that moment.
A restless sleep lay ahead for her that night.
Chapter 11
I was going to find Vesuvius and throw it in, just like Frodo, Edward mumbled.
He held the ring up, letting the flourescent light twinkle off its brilliant facets.
It was made from my grandmother’s heirloom pendant. The diamond was cut to her specific wishes by the jeweller to Henry the 8th.
And it was to be yours, Bella, he sighed.
Bella found the will to clamp her mouth shut, finally, after gaping at the rock.
They’d discussed marriage, of course, but the ring was a physical manifestation of what might have been. Something dazzling, eternal, epic.
Jake cleared his throat to break the awkward silence. He shifted his weight from boot to boot, plunging his hands deeper into his jeans pockets.
Oh, now it’s a bit gaudy for little Bells, Edward, that’s plain to see, Alice joked. Her style is more simple. Now me, I got my taste from Grandmother, she laughed, tossing her fuschia silk scarf over her shoulder.
You are wearing my hoodie, Bells, Jake whispered, to emphasize Alice’s point.
She looked down. The grey, fleece-lined sweatshirt, spotted with motor grease, was hanging down below Bella’s butt, and the sleeves dangled four inches past her fingertips.
She started to giggle at the absurdity of the situation, covering her mouth.
It grew into a full-fledged uncontrollable laugh, the kind that you just can’t stop, no matter what. It infected Jake, who muffled a laugh.
The TSA man, confused, looked at everyone. Is there something going on here that I should know about?, he said.
Tears were now streaming down Bella’s cheeks from the laughter. ‘Scuse me, she choked out, running to the door. I’ll be outsi… Jake ran after her, shrugging to the others.
After a minutes more of irrepressible laughter, she calmed down.
Jesus, that was embarassing, she said.
And kinda funny, you gotta admit, Jake added. You okay?
Oh, other than going around wrecking peoples’ lives, I’m just peachy, she said, her face now somber.
I mean, how could I do that to Edward? What’s worse, that’s twice now that an immortal has tried to make himself mortal over me. I am so totally not worth it, she said softly.
Jake gathered her in his arms. C’mere, Bells, he whispered, pulling her head against his shoulder and nuzzling her with his nose. He hugged her tight for a moment, his warmth spreading across where they met.
He could feel her imperceptibly sobbing.
Hey, hey, kid… he pulled away a bit and lifted her chin up to look in her eyes. You are so worth it, Bells. You are this amazing person and you just don’t realize it. Even when you’re mopey and bratty, there’s something so incredible in there…
He kissed her forehead, catching her eyes with his, then kissed her lips slowly and stroked her hair.
The door opened and Alice came out. They’ve decided he’s no threat to national security, but now there’s not another flight open for a couple days. So he’s coming home til then.
Edward emerged from the room, moving as if in a trance. His eyes passed slowly over Jake, then Alice, and rested on Bella, finally. They glistened with sadness and lethargy.
Bella suddenly felt faint. She realized the implications of her every move. And yet she felt she had to live her life as she wanted to, not how others did.
And she suddenly felt very uncomfortable next to Jake with Edward there. So she walked ahead, dragging Alice with her, leaving the boys to walk behind them.
Jake took the initiative. Listen, Edward, I’m really sorry about the way things have turned out. Sorry for you.
Edward looked at him darkly. I must’ve been out of my mind to let you two be together in the tent that day, he snapped.
I think it was only a matter of time before Bells and I got together, Jake said quietly. We’ve been friends for a really long time, and there was always something special about it. That just proved it.
They got in the Mercedes, the boys shunted awkardly in the back seat. But before Alice got going, Bella stopped her and got out, opening the rear door.
Jake, could you ride shotgun?, she said. She looked at him pleadingly, and he nodded reluctantly.
Edward, looking completely miserable, stared out the window.
She was aware that Alice and Jake could hear every word she said.
That ring… it’s so beautiful, she began.
Well it ought to be, I’ve had the jeweler working on it for months now, Edward said.
Now it’s nothing but volcano food, he added. She bit her lip and crooked her finger by her mouth, squelching an oh.
She took his cold hand. Please don’t go to Italy, Edward, she said.
He jutted his chin and said nothing.
Bella, please don’t. Don’t talk about this here, he implored her. He was nothing if not private, and it galled him that Jake was there listening.
She motioned to Jacob. Whatever I tell you Jake will eventually know anyway, she said. I’m just so emotionally spent over this that I think it’s about time we just be open about it.
Well that’s not how I am, Edward snapped. Maybe it’s an indication that we were never meant to be together after all, if you can’t even honor my dignity.
She pulled her hand away. They rode in silence back to Forks. Alice dropped them off at her truck, still parked by the movie theater. It was well past midnight, but it felt like days had passed since they’d seen Fantastic Mr. Fox.
She managed to pull Edward aside as he was switching seats. We will talk tomorrow, in person, she whispered. We can’t leave it like this.
As Alice drove away, Edward gave her a look that chilled her heart. It was a mix of regret, sorrow, and love.
As they got in her truck, Jake looked worried. He could sense her confusion, and the responsibility she felt for Edward’s fate now.
All he could do was pull her close in his arms and kiss her temple, but he could feel her indifference at that moment.
A restless sleep lay ahead for her that night.
Chapter 11