Somewhere Between Crimson and Blue by antiaol

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5810120/1/Somewhere_Between_Crimson_and_Blue
http://twilighted.net/viewstory.php?sid=11150

Official Description: After eighteen years at home and a year in the dorms, reclusive, shy boy, Edward, is finally living on his own, prepared to enjoy his life of quiet and solitude. When his path crosses with a vibrant, vivacious and older Bella, sparks ignite and he’s immediately intrigued and drawn to her. As their relationship begins to blossom, Bella challenges Edward’s already cemented thoughts on life and love. Will opposites attract and allow them to learn and grow from each other? Or is this unexpected romance already on a collision course of destruction? Rated M for sexual situations. All-Human, OOC

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yogacat says: Okay, I admit that I am an Edward and Bella girl. I read other stories– slash, other pairings …but at heart, mine belongs to them. I’ll read them in any incarnation too, angst, fluff, supernatural, canon whatever. I’m not a junkie or anything; it’s just what I prefer. That being said, it is getting harder to find Edward/Bella fics that have a twist- -stories different enough to hold your interest and capture your imagination but still feel like your reading twi fic.

Somewhere Between Crimson and Blue by antiaol has a new and interesting take on the Edward/Bella dynamic. We first meet our Shyward as he’s getting settled into his very own first place and the solitude he craves. He’s a good boy, loves his family, even his brother Emmett, who is very different than himself. He’s a diligent student with goals and he doesn’t sleep around.

The first night in his new apartment he runs into his upstairs neighbor, Bella. There is instant intrigue on Edwards part.

“She was stunning and so unlike anyone I’d ever met before, leaving me a complete fumbling idiot in her wake. In just our short ten minute interaction, it was clear that she was fun, playful and extremely outgoing…the exact opposite of me. ”

Twist? Not only is Bella somewhat older than Edward, she is independent and “comfortable in her own skin.” She has a life. She works, she has friends, she goes out and she’s not a slut, but she is not monogamous either. She is all this before she meets Edward and continues to live her life afterward. She is a real person. And how good is that? A strong Bella, who knows who she is and what she wants and an Edward who is shy and intimidated and slightly wary of the life she leads. He is not blind to the fact that he could be hurt, but he’s not willing to give up on her either.

The story is only six chapters long so far, but we’re beginning to get a glimpse of a more complicated Bella, one that maybe doesn’t see herself in the best light…or maybe one that just sees herself realistically. We don’t know yet. But Edward thinks he does. And this may be the source of some of the angst. Yes I said angst. And I look forward to it.

The entire story will be told from Edwards’s perspective. Which, according to antiaol… “Is really going to fuck with you”. I am not entirely sure what this means yet, but I now when she wrote that in an author’s note, she was very pleased with herself. And it intrigues me even more.

If you like your Edwards’ shy and naive and your Bellas strong you will love this. And…there is mystery and some lemons of course and all the good stuff that antiaol always provides…this one is good. Go read it, now.

MF’er says: NGL, I may be a little biased about this story. I’m lucky enough to be part of what antiaol lovingly refers to as her Rainbow Sprinkle Brigade.

I’ve spent a lot of time reading about sweet, adorable, shy little Babyface and his slightly older, cute neighbor chick, Bella. They meet after Edward moves into his first apartment and poor boy is instantly… um… well, he’s interested. So is his dick. *giggle*

Opening the door, I was met with the sight of a girl directly in front of the threshold to my apartment who was bent over reaching for something, and what appeared to be a bag of groceries scattered across the floor. Once she heard my door open, she sat upright on her knees, clutching several pieces of fruit in her hands. In this position, her head was perfectly level with my dick and as quickly as the thought entered my head, it left again, but not before said dick gave a little kick in my thin pants.

Her eyebrow arched and she smirked as she peeled her eyes away from my crotch and looked up at me.

“Hiya,” she said as she moved to stand. “You the new guy?”

As we see him get settled into his new life, we also meet his older brother, Emmett (who is fucking hilarious) and we learn that this Edward is awkward, and cute and he blushes (weakness for me).

It’s very hard not to fall in love with the innocence of him.

Though he’s a bit awkward and reserved, Bella isn’t. She’s older and more experienced and since the story is written entirely in Edward’s POV, you really don’t know what’s going on in her head.

“Why won’t you ever touch me?” Her lips brushed against mine once again, her eyes open and connected to mine, before she pulled back, obviously wanting an answer this time.

“I don’t,” I paused, sighing and shaking my head in frustration while I closed my eyes. “I don’t know the rules to something like this, Bella. I never know if you want me to . . . if I’m supposed to.”

“Babyface,” she cooed softly, sweeping her lips against mine once again as her hands rested against my cheeks, her thumbs rubbing along my jaw. She didn’t continue so I eventually opened my eyes to look at her, finding her smiling back at me. “For the record, when I straddle your lap, that means I want you to touch me.”

Somewhere Between Crimson & Blue is nothing short of what we’ve come to expect from antiaol. The writing is fantastic, the characters are well developed and the… Oh, I can’t tell you that; I’ve been sworn to secrecy.

What the fuck are you waiting for? Go read!

tampagirl81 says: This story absolutely makes my heart melt. For once we see a vulnerable Edward and an equally vulnerable Bella, however Bella has a more outgoing facade whereas Edward doesn’t bother to hide his inexperience. So far the story has been told solely from Edward’s point of view but we are also allowed the opportunity to make observations as an observant third party. As perceptive as we see Edward is about Bella’s interactions, we also learn that Bella is just as perceptive.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” she said with a smile in her voice. “I notice things about you, too.”

I hoped those things she noticed about me didn’t have to do with the aforementioned stalking.

“Oh yeah?” I asked, my voice cracking like a twelve-year-old’s.

“M’hmm,” she answered as she finished putting her paints into the bag and stood, hitching the canvas tote up on her shoulder and looking straight at me. “I notice that you prefer silence to anything, since I rarely hear much coming from your apartment but an acoustic guitar. You get your mail every day when you come home from whereve
r it is you go during the day. You mow Mrs. Cope’s lawn for free, even though she used to have to pay a company to do it for her. You must love your brother to put up with his obnoxious ass as often as you do, and yes, I can hear him.” She laughed at my look of mortification before continuing, “And I notice that you rarely have anyone over, save for that obnoxious brother.”

Emmett, Edward’s brother, provides some insight to Edward that maybe not all women are emotional and open for relationships. That sometimes women are like men and don’t want the attachment and responsibility that comes with being with another person.

“I’m in it for the sex and . . . yeah, pretty much just the sex. I’m not looking for, like, a relationship, or whatever the fuck it is that you want. I just want to have someone I can call to hang out with for a night, or to fuck, or whatever.” He paused and reached to scratch the back of his neck. Knowing Emmett as well as I did, I knew this was him fidgeting, which was what he always did right before he said something he didn’t think the other person would want to hear.

“Maybe . . . ” he started, clearing his throat uncomfortably, “maybe she just wants that, too.” He allowed me a moment of privacy to absorb what he was saying, pretending to find the back of the Doritos bag incredibly interesting as he continued, “You need to decide if you can be with her just like that . . . nothing more, man.”

It was this scene with Emmett that I began hoping that Edward would start to see that he would be hurt if he continued on the path he wanted to go down with Bella. This fic has brought out so many emotions in me, being on both sides of the situation. I know it’s not the point of the story but I find myself torn between wanting Edward to wise up and not be Bella’s saviour, or do I want Bella to make the honest effort to bring down her defenses and try to be herself around Edward. While antiaol‘s Library Rendezvous was light on the angst, the heartfail in this story is beautiful and inevitable but I cannot wait to see what happens next.

WindyCityWonder says: Wait, Capitan Wussperv wrote what?

IS THERE ANGST IN THAT TAG?! IS THERE?

There sure is. Well I’ll be damned.

But it’s just lovely. Antiaol brings us a definite spin on the typical male/ female relationship roles in her latest endeavor. We have an Innocent Edward (affectionately referred to as “Babyface”) and an older, eccentric, upstairs artist neighbor Bella. Whether it be bumping in to each other at the mailboxes or being blacked out in an apartment, the chemistry between these two is present from the get go. Edward wants to explore the powerful feelings, and Bella is busy exploring other men. To which I say, bravo. I know we often swoon over **ahem** sexually promiscuous Edwards but I for one think it’s about time we hear about Bella getting hers. Sorry, Edward.

Although I do get Mama Bear on Babyface. He’s adorable in his awkwardness, and just as endearing in his feelings for Bella.

Not that Bella neglects Edward altogether. On the contrary, the two definitely spark some sort of line-straddling friends with benefits type deal. Edward attempts to convince himself he’s comfortable with not being the only one with Bella, but as time goes and feelings grow, we’re uncovering if he can really hold up to that.

“I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed slightly as she turned her face into my chest, her nose pressing against my collarbone. I sighed, a huge smile overtaking my face.

We sat for a short while longer, my arms wrapped around her with a goofy grin on my face while she was still buried in my chest.

Before long, Bella shifted and sighed, murmuring, “I don’t want to hurt you, Babyface.”

Her voice was so quiet, muffled by my chest and the sounds of outside, that I was almost certain she didn’t intend for me to hear it.”

::sobs::

I’m anxious to know where these two are headed and in the meantime, I’m enjoying the hell out of the ride. We only get to see through EPOV, but Antiaol has a way with words that makes it just enough. Plus, Emmett is a riot. I adore Captain Wussperv (Kcmm1, lovingly) and her stories. Somewhere Between Crimson and Blue is just the most recent delightful addition. Also, I plan on cashing in on the spanks for reviews game she’s got going on. ♥