FanFiction.Net - unleash your imagination|
Author of 38 Stories |
Also, I really have no idea what those rooms looked like, so if my description sounds wrong in every way – just remember I made it up. Perhaps I should dig out the Titanic movie… for some inspiration. For now though. On with the show!
(Sorry, I meant to update sooner, but I’ve been caught up in other stuff, and also concentrating more on the original story by this name.)
Disclaimer: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, Titanic by whomever (I have no idea, really). Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce (a quote taken from there).
- - - - -
Bella watched Edward come slowly down the stairs at the side of the balcony, uncertain of what to do. As a First-class passenger, he was practically royalty in the eyes of the second and third classes – which obviously included herself.
Although their eyes had met at that moment, she hadn’t entirely understood the meaning in the look. She felt an emotion she couldn’t quite express. Even with all her knowledge gleaned from hungrily devouring all sorts of books, she still could not recognise the feeling.
The wind blew strands of hair across her face as she turned her head slightly – shyly. Did he… want something? She hadn’t dealt with anyone First-class before. She had no idea what to do, how to behave, how to react. And was he really coming towards her? The truth hadn’t quite sunk in yet.
“How do you do, miss?” The velvet voice was warm, friendly, yet polite.
“Very well, thank you, sir.” Bella said quickly.
She glanced at him as he leaned on his forearms on the railing, looking out over the ocean casually – or at least acting casually, she supposed. Still, if he weren’t acting, it would be offensive to presume so.
She waited for a while, hesitating, torn between trying to strike up a conversation and trying to ignore him – which was not easily done. His good looks no doubt drew many eyes in his direction, hers included. It was also not a good idea to ignore one’s superior.
“Try not to think so much of class.” He interrupted her thoughts. “Class is only determined by money and power, not by what is really important.”
Bella’s eyes widened. To hear something like that from an aristocrat like him? It wasn’t an everyday thing to hear something like that. A thought struck her though and she frowned, blinking at him.
“How… can you read minds or something?”
He looked like he was going to laugh for a moment. Bella had no idea how much she had bordered on the truth. He answered as truthfully as he could without giving anything away.
“Maybe. Not yours though, anyway.”
“But what do you mean, mister…” She paused for a minute, not knowing his name.
“How rude of me.” Edward said comfortably. “My name is Edward Cullen.” He looked over at her somewhat lazily. “You, miss?”
“Isabella Swan.” Bella replied, a little more boldly. “Sir.”
“Nevermind all the formalities. Would you walk with me?” he asked. Bella noticed he had dodged her question completely, but did not comment.
“I’d be delighted, Mr Cullen.”
- - - - -
Alice set the last item in place then set off to look for Bella, as she had promised, closing the door securely behind her, even though she did not foresee any sort of raiding of their belongings. Looking up and down the hall, she contemplated which direction to take, and after changing her mind a few times, picked the left hand way, consulting with her power.
Alice had the power of foresight. A power like hers was useful, even if highly unreliable at times. Even so, she relied on it quite a bit as it was really the only thing she could trust. She did not remember her past that much, and her first memories were already of the orphanage – where life had not been bad, but she had been certainly treated as an oddity. As soon as she was old enough to work for money, she had gone looking for a job, working diligently and as a result, finally earned enough for a ticket to a new place.
She was not only looking for a new country though, but also for something else – or someone to be exact. Someone who constantly popped up in her visions, whether it was mere images or as short movies. She had followed the path of his life for a lot of her life and knew him – surely – as well as the back of her hand, so to speak.
Alice wasn’t paying that much attention as she walked, hoping to glean up some image of the person from the recesses of her mind. Over the years, she had admittedly fallen in love with him. She had tried to deny it, as she knew there was a possibility she would never see this man, but yet, if nothing, about this she was determinedly sure at least this would happen one day or another.
She walked into someone, muttering a ‘sorry’ as she looked upwards. Then she froze.
“Sorry, ma’am.” The man said in his quiet tones as he backed a little away from her. “Are you alright?”
“Oh, it was my fault.” Alice replied instinctively, eyes still on him.
The man she knew to be Jasper Whitlock met her steady and awed gaze with a frowning look, not understanding, but feeling that Alice was very affected – or at least he could tell from her completely dazed emotions. That was an ability of his, being able to tell what people were thinking, and even change people’s emotions if he so felt inclined to.
“Um, sorry again. I’ll be on my way now, ma’am.” He dipped his hat at her, gentleman-like and made to move past.
Alice caught hold of his coat immediately as he began to brush past.
“Jasper.” She said one single word which stopped him in his tracks.
Jasper turned with a confused look, though she saw he was not angry or annoyed.
“How do you know my name?”
- - - - -
“The breeze here is lovely.” Bella said unthinkingly as they sat at one of the benches which gave a brilliant view over the ocean.
Edward glanced over at her and smiled as he took in her contented and slightly dreamy expression. Although he had just met this girl, he felt an attraction to her, something different he had never before experienced.
Bella moved suddenly, turning to look at something and her scent hit him forcefully. Although he had been able to control himself while talking to her and on her walk, this suddenness was almost too much. Edward stopped breathing and he clenched his jaw to keep himself from doing something rash.
“Is something wrong, Mr Cullen?” Bella asked, worry showing transparently in her eyes, even as she tried to sound casual and polite. The girl would never be much of an actor.
“No,” Edward said, relaxing his jaw just a little bit and taking a cautious breath again. “Please call me Edward, Isabella.”
“Edward, then.” She complied with good grace, then blanched. “But you have to call me Bella.” She shuddered. “Isabella makes me sound…”
Edward waited for a while for her to continue. When it was obvious she wasn’t going to finish the sentence, he offered. “Old?”
Bella gave him an incredulous look, “Old?!”
“I suppose not then.” Edward said quickly, trying to look nonchalant.
“I suppose too.” Bella said darkly, tsk-ing and looking away again.
Edward watched her with amusement. For someone so timid a while ago, she was treating him as an equal right now, not someone only to be looked up to. He only made himself first-class as it was easier to get what he wanted that way, not because he enjoyed the attention.
“Would you accept something if I gave it to you, Bella?” He asked in an offhand way.
Bella gave him a suspicious glare, still a bit miffed by his last comment, no doubt.
“I don’t want any presents.”
“Well… not a present, exactly, I guess.”
“What is it then?” Bella asked snappishly.
Edward raised an eyebrow at her tone. “I would call it a form of… payment, then.” He smiled.
“For..?” Bella asked warily.
“I don’t know yet.” Edward replied with another short smile. “I suppose I shall find out in the near future.”
“Hmm.” Bella made a noncommittal noise and stared out over the ocean again for a while. The breeze ruffled her hair again.
Edward turned to her and stared at her for a long moment before seeming to decide something.
“Come with me.” He told her.
- - - - -
“You’re doing what?” Bella asked nervously.
Edward gestured to the items of clothing he had brought for her to try on.
“I explained to you. I want to take you to the dining hall.”
“But that’s only for – ” she stammered.
“First-class, yes.” Edward replied. “But I want to take you to, well, dinner now, I suppose.”
“But, but – ”
Edward frowned at her. “You were treating me as an equal before. Don’t switch back now. Who is to say you do not have the right to be in there as much as everyone else?”
Bella was flabbergasted.
“Well, thank you.” She said, blushing slightly.
“Choose one of those dresses to wear, and I’ll be waiting for you outside.” Edward told her as he left the bedroom for her to get dressed in private.
There was a knock on the door as he sat down and, annoyed, he got up again to answer it, having not wanted a maid or anyone else to help him. As he opened it, he saw the strawberry blonde head he had seen before, only narrowly keeping himself from groaning.
“Tanya.” He greeted her warily. He’d had enough of her in one afternoon for a whole lifetime – or eternity, in his case, really.
“Edward.” She smiled at him but the smile faltered when he did not smile back. Her face hardened a little and her voice grew cold.
“I have heard that you were seen coming in with a woman shortly before.”
Edward raised both eyebrows. Only minutes ago, it had been. At least one thing could be said, she had a very good spy system, if that was what it is. He wouldn’t be surprised at all if she was watching and waiting for a chance to pounce on him.
“Edward?” Bella called from inside the bedroom.
Edward grimaced as Tanya looked towards the bedroom door, looking contemptuous. The door opened and the expression rearranged itself subtly and swiftly. Bella came out dressed in an elegant gown that fitted her rather well. She stopped as she spied Tanya.
“Well, hello, my dear.” Tanya said sweetly, though it sounded ominous in Edward’s ears. Her thoughts were likewise.
It seemed like it was that way to Bella too. She took a step back uncertainly, nervous and intimidated again, looking towards Edward for help. Without hesitation, Edward strolled to her and put an arm around her shoulders comfortingly as Tanya’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the couple.
“She is only second-class, Mr Cullen.” She said softly and menacingly. “Like should wed like.”
“Then I’m afraid I’m no good for you,” Edward replied, the hostility very clear in the room now. “You should go find some other git to get married to.”
Tanya’s eyes widened and she glared at Bella with such loathing Bella cowered back again. Edward kept his arms around her consolingly.
“If that’s the way you wish to play, Mr Cullen.” She replied coldly, though the look she gave him was scorching. “But I will have you know some way or another, I will get what I want.” She swished out of the room, making a dramatic escape.
“Meaning she’ll figure out some other way to get me.” Edward said with a bitter laugh.
Bella looked up at him, worried and confused. She wasn’t used to this world. Strangely enough also, although she had known him for only a short time, she felt utterly safe in the arms of Edward – although he was still a stranger to her.
She shivered slightly though. His body was cold, to the point that it seemed unnatural, but she didn’t believe in the supernatural, and she would ignore this for now. Perhaps it was only her.
“Come.” Edward said softly, releasing her and taking her hand now.
“Yes.” Bella said contentedly as she followed him to the dining hall.
But three doors down, a furious face watched the couple run happily down the corridor, eyes glittering with jealousy.
“I will win you back, Edward Cullen.” She vowed as she slipped back into her room.
- - - - -
Grr, parents. They want me to do some self-study, start doing calculus. What sort of sane person would want to study in their… holidays? (not that we have it yet, but close enough. Not doing anything anyway.)
I didn’t like this chapter as much and I wish I could have used some better words in place of the ones I use way too much, but oh well. ;) Review?
And yes, Tanya wants Edward nomatter what. Whatever the reason, could be either of the Ls if you know what I mean… She might do something drastic…
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