TUS Chapter 25 Teaser

He was nervous, yes, but I suppose I expected him to be a bit more restive than he was.

“Are you positive you want to go through with this?” I asked. It was D-day, so to speak, and I needed him to be certain.

It wasn’t that I felt he was incapable of actually going through with it, because he’d proven time and again his strength and determination to be a part of the outside world with me, but this was different from being on the other end of a Walkie-talkie where you could hit a button and make the voice piercing through the speaker disappear. That voice wouldn’t know your discomfort because they couldn’t see you, see how they affected you. One movement from your finger would make them disappear.

This time, though, he wouldn’t have that safety net. He was about to stand face-to-face with another person, a person that wasn’t me. That fact alone was significant.

Our eyes met as he nodded. He reached for my hand and guided it toward his mouth, kissing each finger tip tenderly. “Oh, meu anjo, se você pudesse entender o quanto você já curou minha alma. Você é minha esperança, lembra? Eu posso fazer isso.” His eyes scanned my face, the warmth within them illuminating the green. I could see myself, see that I was precious to him. “I’m ready.”

He placed my hand against his cheek as I leaned toward him, pressing my forehead to his while closing my eyes and breathing him in. His touch and scent always eased me. “I love you,” I whispered. It was all I could say to let him know I believed in him, to let him know how much he meant to me.

I reached for the Walkie-talkie that sat alongside my left thigh, keeping the physical connection between us as I spoke into the receiver. “Alice,” I breathed. “It’s time.”

OO-OO-OO

Oh, meu anjo, se você pudesse entender o quanto você já curou minha alma. Você é minha esperança, lembra? Eu posso fazer isso. =  Oh, my angel, if only you could understand how much you've already healed my soul. You're my hope, remember? I can do this.

Chapter 22 Teaser

Edward’s hands cupped my face as he pressed his tall frame against mine. It was like he was trying to meld our bodies together, forcing us to become one being.

This kiss was so different from any other we’d shared. They were always tender, always gentle, but this kiss, this kiss felt desperate, like he believed he was losing something. I knew I should pull away from him and explain that he had nothing to worry about, that he was the only person that would ever own my heart – I knew that without a doubt to be true - but I couldn’t bring myself to stop, so I kissed him back just as fiercely as he was me, telling him with my kiss that I was only his.

His lips pushed and pulled against mine, and I was lost to everything but him, yet the moment I felt his tongue caress my bottom lip, trying to enter my mouth, I was sure my knees would buckle. We’d only ever kissed that way once before, where our tongues briefly touched, but I had initiated. When my tongue had grazed his, he was a little startled at first – he caught on quickly, though.

This time, he was taking the lead. And the way the kiss began, needy and desperate, then morphed to his taking control in a way he’d never done before, made it quite clear what he was thinking, even if I hadn’t understood before now. He was making his claim on me. He was marking me as his.

Chapter 21 Teaser

I climbed out of Alice’s spare bed - she was still sleeping - and woke her up, telling her I was going home. She mumbled in response, then rolled back on her stomach, burying her face in her pillow. I could have stayed a bit longer, but I really just wanted to get home, shower and go to the hospital.

I closed the door softly behind me when I entered my house. I was pretty sure Emmett was still asleep, but I didn’t know about Charlie. He’d mentioned going fishing today, so I half expected him to be gone when I got home, but his car was still in the driveway.

I moved up the stairs quietly toward my room, but nearly jumped out of my skin when Emmett threw his bedroom door open, smiling widely when he saw that he’d startled me.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Sis,” he teased.

I glared at him. “Real funny, Emmett. You just scared me half to death.”

“I wasn’t trying to,” he laughed. “Why were you sneaking in, anyway?”

“I thought you were asleep,” I explained. “I didn’t want to wake you up.”

I moved around him, wanting to kick him in the leg or punch him because he stood there laughing at me. I was pushing my bedroom door open, ready to walk inside, when he spoke again.

“Don’t forget, five o’clock.”

The sounds of his heavy feet - which clearly showed there was extra pep in his step - hitting the wooden floor reverberated through the hallway, but his footing stopped short when I spun around on my heels, completely confused by what he meant, and said, “What are you talking about?”

He turned around, his forehead creased as he stared at me, apparently puzzled as to why I had no idea what he was talking about. “The concert, Bella. Remember, you’re going with Mike?

FGB Outtake Info

TeamTUS members,

You won the #FGB auction, as you well know. The votes have been tallied as to which two chapters I'll be writing in Epov. Scenes were offered and most voted for their first kiss, as well as Chapter 19. The next highest votes went to the fireworks scene. Well, their first kiss started at the end of 17, so I decided to combine that with the fireworks, which is in Chapter 18. So that means, you'll get the end of Chapter 17 and all of 18 in Epov. You'll also get Chapter 19 in Epov.

Now, here's what you didn't know. I've decided that I'm going to write a bit of the shower scene in Epov as an extra gift for being so charitable to an amazing cause, which you will get along with the two other outtakes. That also means you'll get a glimpse of the dream that led him to waking up and looking for Bella and you'll know what he was thinking when he saw her.

I had originally said that the two outtakes wouldn't be more than 5000 words, but if they end up being more than that, I don't think you'd be opposed, would you? Lol. The shower scene in Epov will only be between 1000-5000 words.

I had also stated that I would not post these on FF'n, my blog or any other site, but I will post them on these sites ONLY if the team wants them posted at a later date. I leave that decision to the team. Majority vote decides. Sophy and I will get your answer to that through email once I've finished and given her the outtakes to send to the members.

Anyway, that's what you'll be receiving. I'll be working on them shortly, and as soon as they are finished, Sophy will send them out to you.

Lastly, I'd like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your donations. Every dollar makes a difference, and because of your generosity, you've helped open that door a little bit wider in furthering the ability to find a cure for all children with cancer.

Chapter 19 Teaser

My body reacted to what he said immediately, because the words Edward spoke, the conviction within them, sparked an acute longing to be even closer to him than I already was.

The sensation was heady as it traveled through me, causing goosebumps to break out across my flesh. It wasn’t just about the physical closeness, though I realized how much I’d honestly grown to need the warmth of his touch in whatever capacity he gave it, even if it was just a mere look from his eyes, it was also about the emotional closeness I’d found with him.

I had never experienced a connection to someone like the undeniable connection I felt toward Edward. I wasn’t positive as to whether or not my particular feelings were shared, but regardless of the answer, my heart and soul didn’t seem to care either way. Every minute, every second, I was falling deeper, his mark indefinite upon me. I swear it felt as if I was always meant to belong to him.

I’d always been the one to give something, to take care of someone, and though I was doing just that with Edward, it felt different from every other time - I felt like I was being given to just as equally as I was giving. I was a bit confused by that because part of me seemed to understand, yet it was on lockdown from me, other than cryptic sensations I was occasionally granted.

I guess the truth was that Edward was teaching me as much as I was teaching him. He taught me how fulfilling handing over my heart could be, even if he didn’t know he owned it, even if it ended up broken later. Loving someone meant putting their needs above your own, but I never realized how gratifying that could be until Edward. I never realized I could love this much.

TUS POEM #5

Amazing poem written by hayboo05


It used to be just me & him.
I'd keep the bad away & he'd love me so.
We made it through all the punishment, the pain, & the tears together.
Then one night, we found her.
Or maybe, she found us.
I could tell she was good, pure, warm.
She gave me a name & made him smile.
I was to be Lancelot.
She said I was brave.
And at that moment, I felt invincible.
I'd watch over them both.
Keep them safe, while they learned that love is unexpected.
That they had softness that only each other could see.
I knew even then, we were a family.
Edward, Bella, & Me.

Chapter 15: A Piece of Beautiful (teaser)

Edward’s arm twitched against my hip, then he pulled it abruptly away as he nearly flung himself upright, scooting backward, eyes darting around the room, no doubt contemplating running.  If he moved any further from me, he’d fall right off the mattress onto the floor.  His knees were immediately pressed against his chest, arms wrapped around them, and his cheeks were as flushed as mine. “I…I’m…I didn’t-” He was stammering his words and as he did so, he never looked at me.  In fact, he looked everywhere but at me. Every word carried an intonation of regret and fear, and I felt sickened that he felt that way. But more importantly, I worried what feeling that way would do to him, if it would affect what we'd gained.

Here I was reacting to the fact that my chest was practically hanging out, but I never took into consideration how my reaction would affect him. It was obvious I’d not only startled him, but made him fearful too. I hadn’t meant to do either one, I’d just never had a guy openly stare at my chest that way. I’m Bella Swan, after all; hopelessly clumsy and hopelessly plain.

I mean, I knew his thoughts weren’t the same as other guys, but his face still showed curiosity, almost to the point of fascination. And that, the look in his eyes, the way his eyes studied me, heated my skin from head to toe, making me gasp more from that then embarrassment. I could blame my actions solely on the embarrassment but I knew better.  

Him staring at me, though I’m sure on his part was innocent, affected me and I had no idea what to do with that knowledge. But right now, what I felt didn’t matter because he was sitting there afraid and fixing that, that’s what mattered.

“Edward,” I began in a soft, nonthreatening tone. I had no actual idea what I was doing here, what to say, but I had to make an attempt. “Please don’t be upset. Please don’t pull away from me. I was half asleep. I just… I was startled and-”

He frowned, voice tiny and trembling. “I shouldn’t –” He paused, shaking his head.

“It’s okay,” I told him. “Really. Edward, I’m not angry. There’s no reason to be angry, okay? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I just… wanted to know,” he whispered. His eyes finally met mine, glistening with unshed tears, but his bodily relaxed minutely.

“Know what?” I asked. My heart was aching painfully in my chest for him. He really seemed to think what he’d done was no short of depravity.

“About the softness.” He lowered his head, eyes focusing on his lap in shame. The more he revealed, the lower his voice became. “He told me about it…. the softness a girl has. He said it was beautiful. He said… he said I’d never know it - I wasn’t worthy. I didn't understand what he was saying, but I just wanted to know if I could see it… what he meant because I won’t… ever know it.”