Bella fiddled with the stereo on the shelf in Edythe's room. Edythe was perched on the chaise, writing out her Biology homework in perfect cursive, never bothering to look at her textbook. Bella was adamantly refusing to do her homework, deciding instead to focus on the volumes and vinyl adorning Edythe's shelves.
Curious to know what Edythe had been listening to, Bella gently pressed play.
Florence Welch's warbled crooning filled the room.
"It reminds me of you," Edythe said, her voice impossibly close to Bella's ear. She'd moved to stand behind Bella as she perused her collection, lightning quick and deadly silent. Bella forced herself not to tense up.
She didn't think it would be prudent to mention that Bella herself had listened to this song about sixty-eight times since she'd first met Edythe, and she was grateful that the gorgeous redhead standing far too close to her wasn't able to crawl into her mind like she could with everyone else. She was having trouble keeping her thoughts to herself as the scent of jasmine and honey and Edythe assaulted her. While Bella had always appreciated Edythe's abilities and nature, it was never more apparent that she could get Bella to walk into the jaws of the beast with a smile and a song than when Edythe stood close and let her eyes cage Bella in like this.
The song picked up, and lifted one corner or Edythe's mouth with it, displaying the crooked smile that set Bella's veins on fire. Edythe took Bella's hands in her own and started to move. Perfect, graceful, and sinuous, she led Bella around the room, keeping time as they danced.
"Where did you learn to dance?" Bella asked.
"With Nanette Himmelfarb, the rabbi's daughter, at the Scarsdale Jewish Community Center."
"Did you just quote Rent?"
"I've been alive for over one hundred years. You pick up the foxtrot." Edythe spun Bella out, then quickly back into her solid embrace, before taking Bella on a two step toward the chaise.
Bella laughed softly, feeling a bit lightheaded from her closeness. "Where did you learn to lead?"
Edythe giggled this time. It sounded like music, like one of the melodies she poured out on her piano, like Bella's personal lullaby. "Who do you think taught Emmett for his wedding? I have to know how to do it to teach it." She leaned closer, her lips the only thing on which Bella could focus. "Beside that, I like to lead."
Bella barely suppressed a shiver but Edythe grinned anyway. Bella rolled her eyes. "Why Miss Edythe Cullen, was that an inappropriate joke?"
"Absolutely not. Unless, of course, you enjoyed it." Edythe winked at her, before smiling softly. She was absolutely trying to give Bella a heart attack. She had to be.
Bella took a deep breath, gathering her wits. "Well, I do love this song." She smiled at Edythe and leaned her forehead against the other girl's, basking in the moment, allowing herself to simply exist in the space where this perfect being held her close and asked her to dance.
"Are you afraid, cause I am terrified..." Bella swallowed thickly as the lyrics flooded her thoughts.
"As do I," Edythe said, before humming along softly. "It's such a wonderful thing to love," she breathed out, barely audible, her voice wrapping around the music as though embracing it.
"I do, you know?" Bella said softly, her eyes focused on Edythe's, the warm golden color barely beginning to darken with the shadow of her thirst.
"Do what?" Edythe's eyebrows arched, and Bella was unsure if there was ever a being so beautiful.
Edythe's eyes went wide, but she kept dancing. She managed not to falter a bit, and Bella began to doubt whether telling her had been a good idea. What if she was rejected? She didn't think she could ever recover if Edythe left. She loved her, fully, truly, without end or boundaries.
Edythe's lips split into a beaming smile, and Bella was left dazzled. She almost tripped over her own dancing feet, but Edythe caught her.
"Well it is a wonderful thing to love you, Bella Swan. A wonderful thing that I plan to do for the rest of my existence."
Edythe leaned closer than before, closer than she'd ever been, and Bella's breath stuck in her throat as her unyielding lips met Bella's own soft, warm ones.
Her breath came out in a huff as she kissed her back, the girl she loved with all her fragile human heart, and would until the universe ceased to exist.
Happy birthday to my wifey, @bellasredchevy! I adore you, and I hope you have a wonderful day! ❤
