"Edward, I am so sorry!"

Bella looked up at me with pleading eyes, a distressed expression on her face. Why was she begging? "Please, please don't be mad at me."

I chuckled, confused, pulling her in my arms. She responded by burying her face in my chest, hiding her face from me. Still smiling-though I was more than a bit curious-I stroked her long, brown hair. Brown was definitely my favorite hair color.

But then again, everythingabout her was my favorite when it came to my Bella. Her warm, depthless chocolate eyes, her surprising statements, her irresistible blush...even her clumsiness. How could I not love her? How could anyone not love her? Even more, how could she possibly be right for me? I was a monster, an abomination to humans, and she still treated me like a spoiled king just by loving me. It was wrong, I knew it, but I was far too selfish to leave again-it was physically impossible. My existence was useless without her in it.

Which was why I found it ridiculous that she thought I could ever be mad at her. "Bella, you know I won't never be angry with you. What could possibly lead you to even fathom it?"

She looked up at me, her face growing red. "Well, do you remember the plans we made to go to the meadow tomorrow?"

Did she not want to go? Is that the reason why she was having such a hard time telling me this-afraid to hurt my feelings? My forehead wrinkled in confusion-had it not seemed like she enjoyed the other countless times we visited? "Yes...?" I replied, caution in my voice.

"Well, I can't go. I promised that I would baby-sit Charlie's friend's son, and I forgot all about it until now! I can't cancel!"

So she was just worried that I would be mad at her because she forgot something. What would make her believe that I'd be angry over something as…absurd as that? I laughed. That was it? "Bella, you are so strange."

All guilt washed from her face as she realized I wasn't angry with her. The guilt, however, was replaced with an annoyed look. "What? What makes me silly now? Everybody forgets things, Edward. Even a perfect, gorgeous vampire. I mean, take the other day for instance! Remember, when you forgot that Charlie was home and you shut the window hard? Remember?"

I grinned. "I didn't really forget, Bella. I just did that to see your face when you heard Charlie asking if someone was there."

"Nuh-uh! You said you forgot!"

"Well, I was lying."

"That wasn't very nice. Anyways, why am I being so silly now?" She pouted, her wide chocolate-brown eyes innocently peering through her eyelashes.

I shook my head, still chuckling. Instead of answering, though, I just held her, rocking her gently as I marveled at her gorgeous eyes. What had I done to deserve such a creature? Surely I had broken every rule imaginable-in both the Bible and the rules of my existence. So what had I done to be able to sit here with her now?

For the moment, she just forgot. She sighed happily and closed her eyes, smiling. I just watched her, taking in her intoxicating scent as if it were the last thing I would ever smell. I wanted to be able to do this without going insane by the wanting, the desire, although I refused the option of making it permanent.

But I knew there was no way I would harm her-not now, not ever. I learned to control that hunger long ago, after I realized it was crucial to control myself. I knew I never would be able to live with hurting her in any way, shape or form-no, absolutely not.

Bella murmured one soft sentence before she drifted off into her dreams-a place I could never go, no matter how much I wished it.

"Edward, I am not silly..."

The next morning we were in her kitchen, Bella eating a bowl of cereal and me...well, watching her.

She ate slowly, cautiously watching me as I stared at her, seeming uncomfortable being the only one eating. She still hadn't gotten used to eating alone while someone studied her, observing her every single move like she was some specimen. I laughed at that thought-she was so cute sometimes.

Suddenly, I remembered our conversation the night before and decided I'd help her to do what she needed to do (even though I was a bit disappointed that we weren't going to spend the day together, like we had planned). "Oh, Bella, what time do you have to baby-sit? I can drop you off." She'd make much faster time than if she drove that absurd, poor excuse for a vehicle that she called her car.

I didn't understand why she wouldn't let me just get her a new one. It was such a strange attachment, her and that car; one that I couldn't possibly comprehend. She would do so much better if she would just allow me to buy her another faster, better car that wouldn't just eat up gas. But she wouldn't budge on that topic, so I usually (grudgingly) let it go.

But she actually looked genuinely surprised by my comment, that I would bring her. "Oh-well, I have to be there..." She paused, looking for a clock, I guessed. I reached into my pocket and gave her my cell phone.

Blushing, she flipped up the screen, looking for the glowing numbers that would indicate what time she should be leaving. I waited patiently, watching her as her eyes flitted across the main page, blinking a few times to make sure her eyes weren't still blurred from her sleep. She sighed as she saw the numbers, settling back into her chair.

Only to shriek suddenly, causing me to stiffen.

"Oh my God!"

Without saying anything else, she got up and ran up the stairs-really ran, full speed. I followed, concerned about the safety of her combined with running up stairs. You never truly knew when it came to Bella.

To my great surprise, she never tripped. Not once. I imagine it was just in her haste, the adrenaline giving her enough willpower and unthinking force that her body didn't even think to stumble. Shaking my head, I laughed. What a strange girl this was-one minute the kultziest person in the universe, the next able to sprint up a rough surface without falling flat on her face once. This was an even more abnormal case of mind over matter than my own.

She turned around sharply. "What could you possibly be laughing at? I have to be there at 11:30 and it's already 11:26! Oh god, how could this have slipped my mind? It's more than twenty minutes away and I still don't even have all of the dishes in the dishwasher, and I'm not fully dressed, and I have to call my dad and..." She continued to run around, pulling any clothes she could find over her head and proceeding to drag me back down the stairs. I was baffled by her nervous haste-had I ever seen her this worried about such a trivial thing?

Bella was in the car in a matter of minutes. I purposefully put the key in the ignition in an extremely slow manner and pulled out of the driveway with extra caution, getting me an anxious glare from my passenger. I chuckled and ignored it, saying cheerfully, "So, where to my lovely lady? Are you done worrying your little head off?"

She just glared at me another time.

I continued, glancing at her red face with a smile. "Really, Bella, I have never seen you go so fast! Last you checked the time it was 11:26. Go ahead and look at the time now, and you'll see the exact speed at which you went."

I grinned as her anger was washed away by disbelief. It was 11:28.

"Well...I guess we do have time to spare...if it's your driving we're talking about." She sat back in her seat, closing her eyes as she prepared for what she knew was sure to come with my driving. But what did she expect? An excruciatingly slow drive when she had to be at her destination promptly and quickly? Surely not. Not with me around.

But I didn't say that to her. I simply smiled.

She continued, her eyes still shut and her hands wrapped tightly around her stomach, in preparation. "Anyway, Mr. Maniacal Driver, we will be headed to 3862 Mayflower Road. Go ahead. Go and speed your little head off-I'm giving you permission to break the law this one time, I guess." She sighed, finally opening her eyes. Looking at me, she gave a small nod.

I grinned.

"Your wish is my command." And then I accelerated.