I had been waiting for this day for months. Graduation. It was after today that Carlisle had agreed to change me into a blood-thirsty monster. I couldn't wait. As I stepped out of bed, I tripped over my scrapbook, the contents of which I had been working on the night before as I waited for Charlie to go to bed. As I fell to the floor I felt Edward's hard marble arms catch me.
"Good morning," he said in his angelic voice. "It's a bit early to be visiting Carlisle, wouldn't you agree?" I looked at his perfect face. He was smiling my favorite crooked smile.
"What makes you think that a little fall like that would send me to the emergency room?" He stared me with mock surprise at the question.
"Honestly, Bella. Your scrapbooking supplies are everywhere. You could have stepped on those scissors and needed stitches, or sprained your ankle trying to avoid wrecking your photos, or even gotten a concussion when you hit your head a little too hard on the floor. Just think, if I hadn't been here, you could have ended up looking like a train wreck for your graduation."
I turned my back towards him and folded my arms across my chest.
"I'm still not as fragile as you think you know." He spun me around to face him again, startling me.
"Oh, aren't you?" He pulled me closer causing my heart to flail around in my chest. Tilting my chin upwards, he smiled as he heard my heart pounding in my chest just as it did every time I was around him. As he leaned in closer, I remembered myself.
"Whoa! Wait a second! You can't kiss me yet!"
Edward looked at me with a look of confusion.
"Why in the world not?" he asked. I clamped a hand over my mouth.
"Morning breath," I said, my voice muffled from behind my hand. He chuckled and gently took my hand. He bent over and pressed his cool smooth lips to the back of it. It sent chills running up my spine.
"I'll be waiting," he whispered.
I hurriedly sifted through the clothes in my closet for something that made me look somewhat presentable. Of course with Edward and his godlike perfection at my side it really was a lost cause. I finally decided on a dark blue blouse, the one Edward had once complimented me on, and a pair of white jeans. As I made my way out, carefully avoiding all of my clothes that had been strewn about the room, I glanced back to see Edward grinning at my mess. I felt my cheeks turn red as I made my way to the restroom. After a quick shower, I brushed my teeth and made my way back to my room. As I entered the bedroom, I froze with my eyes wide in fear. I had to lean against the wall to keep myself from falling over. Edward was nowhere to be found.
Instinct told me to retreat to the numb, zombie-like trance I had submerged myself in a few months ago. I could feel the hole in my chest begin to resurface as I struggled to breathe. I tried to reason with myself that there was no reason for him to be gone, but the pain kept coming. I had finally woken up from that beautiful dream, only to find myself trapped in the nightmare in which he did not exist.
I was on the verge of tears as I said his name.
"Edward," I said my voice no louder than a whisper. The sound of his name burned my throat as it rolled off my tongue, my heart felt like it had been ripped out. The pain was growing so intense that I considered letting myself be taken by the numbness again when I heard his voice.
"Bella?" the perfect voice said. I wondered why the voice had come back. I wasn't being stupid or reckless. "Bella?" the voice asked again. This time it was closer and clearer. I slumped against the floor in denial; my eyes shut tight waiting for the pain to dissolve. "Bella!" I furrowed my eyebrows and dared to open my eyes. There was Edward crouching beside me, one eyebrow raised in question. I reached out and touched his icy white skin to make sure I wasn't hallucinating.
"Edward!" I yelped as I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his cool, smooth lips intensely. There was no possible way that I was hallucinating. Edward gently broke my grasp and put his hands on my shoulders.
"Well I can see that your morning breath has been taken care of," he said coolly. "Now if you don't mind, I have an omelet to finish." He gently kissed my forehead and returned to the kitchen. I blushed as I realized how much I had overreacted. I finished drying my hair and made my way to the kitchen. As I entered I heard Edward humming my lullaby. He looked up at me as I came in.
"I put ham and cheese in your omelet, is that alright?"
"Sounds delicious," I said as I sniffed the air. "Smells delicious, too," I added. He grinned.
"I'm glad you think so. I've never really tried to cook before. Considering my family, there was never really a need until you came along." He slid the omelet onto a plate and set it in front of me in one swift movement. "Be careful, it's hot, "he warned.
"In that case, why don't you just hold it for a few more minutes? It's bound to cool off faster that way than if I just let it sit there." He laughed at this comment, and stood there waiting for me to taste his concoction. I picked up the knife and fork he had presumably already set out for me and dug in.
"This is amazing!" I said as I wolfed down the rest of it. Then I sighed. He looked at me curiously. "What?" he asked.
"Oh nothing, it's just that once again there's something that you're better at than everyone else in the universe"
"Nonsense. Charlie's always complimenting your cooking isn't he? I'm sure you could give me some pointers." I glanced up at him doubtingly. He smiled his crooked smile again and winked. I shook my head and laughed.
