Sitting on the couch, holding hands and watching The Matrix, I was acutely aware of Bella's blood. The smell wasn't nearly as potent to me as it normally was, but the fact that it had escaped her body made me intensely uncomfortable. I found this time of the month the most trying, especially when I carelessly let my thirstiness coincide with Bella's 'friend' visiting.
We'd never talked about it. I suspected she was too embarrassed to address the situation, and I certainly wasn't going to bring it up. Bella shifted, and the scent of her blood wafted about the room. I closed my eyes, mustering my self-control. I felt Bella press her lips against my shoulder and I smiled.
"Good bit's coming up," she murmered. I turned my head to look at her.
"What's that?"
"'Neo's fightin' Morpheus!'" she quoted. I grinned, and we watched the movie in silence for a few minutes.
"I could take Neo," I commented. Bella snorted.
"Sure you could."
"What?" I asked, a little hurt by her lack of faith.
"Neo can, like, defy gravity. Plus he's the One." The look on her face told me these facts should be obvious.
"Yeah, well, I have superhuman strength and speed."
"So does Neo. Think about that time he takes on those million Agent Smiths in the second one! He can stop bullets in mid-flight! And he's the One."
"Neo dies in the end! I'm virtually indestructible!" I retorted.
"Yeah, so everyone else could live. Plus Trinity was dead. Anyway! Neo's the One. Are you the One, Edward?" I drew myself up to my full sitting height.
"I like to think so." Bella pulled on my shirt so that I slumped back down in the couch. I frowned at her.
"I'll give you that you're quite a nice One, in your own special way. But you're not the One." I assumed a look of mild offence.
"You know, I think you've developed a little crush on Mr. Anderson there." Bella flushed, and while it brought me satisfaction, I swallowed nervously and worked at keeping my cravings in check.
"I have not!" she cried indignantly. I laughed.
"You're very defensive about it. Must have hit the mark with that one." She laughed and hit my shoulder playfully.
"I don't get crushes on fictional characters, thank you very much," she said primly, and turned back to the TV. I chuckled low in my throat.
"Of course not," I replied. She scowled at me and I grinned back. She let go of my hand and crossed her arms. I sighed. That was the other reason this time of the month was trying on my nerves. Bella didn't suffer many grievances around this time, as far as I knew, but her abrupt mood swings were something chronic.
"Ice cream?" I asked, standing up as if I was already going to get some for myself. She looked up at me and smiled gratefully.
"Mm, yes please," she said. I smirked. She was too easy.