Young Writers Society

What if she smelled as good to him as I once had?

Maya wrote:Chapter 1

'Happy Birthday Bella!' my husband said, coming into the room balancing a breakfast tray in one hand and our daughter in the other. He handed me the tray and then slipped into bed beside me, still cradling our little girl.
'Thirty, eh?' he laughed. I smiled but inside I was wondering what my life might have been like if Edward Cullen hadn't left just after my eighteenth birthday.

Would I have married him?
Probably
Would I have become a vampire?
Maybe.
Did I still love him?
Definitely.

Now, here I was, thirty and married to a man I could never love. Mike Newton, the golden retriever boy from high school. He and Jessica drifted apart and then he latched on to me like a bloodsucking leech. Sure, I loved him but not as much as I could have. It was as if my heart had been working on overdrive, producing way too much love whenever I was with Edward and when he left, my heart just sort of...died.
I felt bad for Mike, we had created a life for ourselves, we had a daughter for goodness sake but I still woke up every morning hoping to see the perfect, pale white face of my dreams and each morning I was disappointed when plain old Mike was still sleeping beside me.

'I think I'll pop to the shop, we've run out of eggs,' Mike said, scooping Lily up into his arms.
'Oh, ok,' I replied, aware that I probably sounded distant and sad. I always felt a little down on my birthday though, Mike knew that because he had spent several birthdays with me over the years. He always got me the most wonderful presents, things like heart shaped lockets and beautiful charm bracelets. It made me wonder what Edward would have given me if he was here today.

When Mike returned, eighteen month old Lily was screaming so I jumped out of bed and threw a sweater on over my pajamas. Before I could go downstairs though, Mike rushed up them to meet me and then led me back into the bedroom.
'There's someone downstairs for you,' he whispered while bouncing Lily up and down in his arms.
'Who?' I asked, curious.
When we had moved to Hawaii, we hadn't bothered to make friends with many of our neighbors and Charlie and Sue's flight had been delayed. Renee was due to arrive next week because Phil had a big coaching conference to attend.
'I'll wait up here with Lily, maybe she'll go back to sleep.'

I moved slowly down the steps toward the hallway, worried and excited at the same time. The person's back was to me but there was something about the colour of his hair that made my heart flutter.
'You're still the same then,' he said, his voice smooth like velvet.
'E-E-Edward? Is it really you?' I asked.
He turned around to face me and I saw that he had stuck on a fake mustache and was wearing small, trendy glasses.
'What's with the facial hair?' I laughed, my old self bubbling back to the surface.
'Have to look older, Bella. I am thirty, after all,' he smirked, his face lifting into that breathtaking crooked smile that sent my heart into overdrive once more.
I ran to him and hugged him, even though I was hurt and angry that he had left me. All was forgiven in that one short moment but Edward took a step back and held his breath.
'Sorry, Bella, I haven't been around you for so long. Your scent is...overwhelming.'
'Oh, sorry,' I mumbled, backing away. He smiled at me from across the room and then sat himself down in Mike's chair.
'I came back for you Bella, a few months after I left but Charlie said you were away on holidays, enjoying yourself in England. I went looking for you there but I couldn't find you. I went back to talk to Charlie and he sent me off on a wild goose chase. You have no idea how hard it is to track you. Then I heard that you had married Newton and I was sure that you had moved on. I was devastated but glad that you had forgotten me and found yourself a nice, human husband. Then when you had your daughter, I knew about it. I missed you so much but I thought it was better for you to be safe,' he told me.
Edward's face was as perfect as always, frozen at seventeen.
'I'm married Edward, but it was nice to see you,' I said coldly, turning away. I couldn't do this. Not now, not ever. I was married. Edward had had his chance and he had blown it. I was determined to be loyal to Mike no matter how much it hurt me.
By the time I had taken a step in the opposite direction, Edward was already there, in front of me. His topaz eyes were troubled and his brow furrowed in confusion.
'But Bella, wait. I haven't come here to annoy you or make you choose. I'm happy with the way things turned out,' there was a long pause and then he sighed, 'Ok, so I'm not really happy at all. I thought you'd be waiting when I got back, Bella. And then I chased you all over the place but you seemed so happy and I decided it would be better if I left you alone. You're thirty now, Bella and I know it's too late for you and me but please, accept this,' he said. In his palm was a dainty charm bracelet with just two charms hanging from the links. One was a wooden wolf carved with such intricate detail it took my breath away. The other was a crystal heart that glittered in the sunlight pouring through the window. Edward moved towards me with his hand outstretched and as he passed through the beam of sun, light erupted from his skin and danced on the walls. I had to look away before he could see me crying.
He clipped the bracelet around my wrist and then started backing away towards the door.
'Jacob sends his love,' he murmured before disappearing just like he had done on my birthday all those years ago. I felt my heart tearing and that's when I knew I couldn't live out my life with Mike Newton. I scrawled a note on the pad of paper by the phone and then walked out into the crisp, morning air. I would miss Mike, I would miss my baby but I could live without my possessions and my clothes. Edward would take care of me, of that I was certain.

Will write more if desired...