Bella Goes Grocery Shopping

Last Tuesday I found myself stuck in a crowded computer lab. I felt kind of bad being on Facebook when there were people wandering around looking for open computers. So in an effort to at least look like I was doing something academic, I opened Word and started writing. And what did I write? A Twilight story! I'm posting it in three parts, just because the whole thing would be a big old post. So, for your enjoyment, here is my story, which takes place in a kind of grey area of between New Moon and Eclipse. I guess? I don't know.

Chapter One: VICTUALS

It was a gray, drizzling day in Forks, Washington. Or to put it another way, it was a normal day in Forks, Washington. I automatically pulled the hood on my rain jacket up as I started across the parking lot to the rusted metal monster that was my truck. It was Tuesday, and that meant it was grocery shopping day. For two people, Charlie and I seemed to eat a lot of food--I only had to go grocery shopping every other week when I lived in Phoenix.

As I was putting my hand in my pocket to fish out my car keys I realized Edward had already unlocked the door and was holding it open for me. Was I ever going to get used to his amazing superhuman speed? I spent a moment thinking of how his bronze hair would look so windswept when he moved so quickly. One day, after he made me a vampire, I would be able to see it for myself and I knew that it would be more incredible than anything my weak human imagination could dream of.

"Your door, m'lady," he said chivalrously as he held the door open. There was a faint smile on his perfect marble lips and a light in his topaz--wait, his eyes were coal black today. How did I not notice sooner? Hadn't I spent all of lunch staring into them, losing myself in their depths? I had barely even noticed the taste of my chocolate cherry cheesecake. I remember thinking that I may as well have been eating dirt for how much I noticed.

"Edward!" No matter how many times I said his name, it was still like verbal magic. "Are you coming to the store with me?"

"Sadly no," he said, attempting to pull a face. It didn't work--how could it work on a face with his perfection? "I'm going hunting with Jasper. He wants something exotic today so we're going to find some buffalo in Montana." It was my turn to pull a face. "I'm sorry, my love. But if I don't eat soon, I may eat Charlie. I think we would both regret that later."

"But if it meant you could stay closer to Forks tonight..."

He shoook his head nobly and flashed one of my favorite crooked smiles, showing off his gleaming white teeth. It was amazing how his teeth could look so white, even next to the snowy whiteness of his skin. I could tell he was trying to be more optimistic for my sake as he said, "It's better this way. You take care of Charlie, and I'll be back tonight."

Taking a small section of my boring hair on his stunning hand, he twisted it around his finger lightly. It was a perfect metaphor for our relationship--he, the dazzling, beautiful one with my breakable, boring self wrapped around his little finger. If only I could be a vampire today, then we could both be beautiful and I could rid myself of my weak human body.

My expression must have turned slightly more crestfallen because he gave me another crooked smile and said soothingly, "I'll be back before you can miss me."

We both knew that was false. But he was gone before I could reach out and grab him. How was I going to face the grocery store alone? RiteAid would seem just as boring and drab as me without him walking down the paper goods aisle. Still, Charlie and I had to eat, and even if I didn't care if I ate dirt, Charlie did. So I climbed into my faithful truck and headed for the store.