I had been having the same nightmares for months, a strange vampire staring through my bedroom window. Edward standing in the corner, his spectacular topaz eyes dark, almost black, with hunger. Alice perched on the faded quilt that coved the foot of my bed, staring at me with dead looking eyes, Rosalie mocking me with her beauty.
The faint echo of my name brought me back to consciousness. The instant I realized Edward's voice I sat up the panic plain on my face. Before my mind could register what was happening Edward was next to me his cold marble frame wrapped around me.
" What's wrong Bella?" I looked up at his worry stricken face. Would I ever get used to his breathtaking beauty.
" It's nothing just another nightmare," I muttered as I felt the panic draining from my body. "Just give me a minute, I'll be fine." I leaned a little closer to him, inhaling his sweet scent. He gently placed his perfect marble lips on mine. The coolness of them calmed me.
" You should probably get ready for school." He said, his voice still sounded concerned.
"Oh my god, I forgot today was Friday," I said in a rush as I jumped up off my bed. I managed to make it to the bathroom without tripping, a miracle.
I must have been moving slower than I thought because I soon heard Edward gently knocking on the door.
"What," I spat harshly.
" Are you ready yet, I'm getting impatient." I could hear the hurt weaving in and out of his words.
"Oh…" I was caught off guard by his melancholy tone, " Umm… yeah." I opened the door just in time to see him roll his enchanting topaz eyes. I noticed his eyes were lighter today. He must have gone hunting last night.
" Come on, let's go," I said in an annoyed voice as I stepped around him and started down the stairs. I heard him chuckle under his breath as he followed not even two steps behind.
"Aren't you forgetting something," he asked not even bothering to the amusement that was now playing across his face.
" I don't think so." I looked at him, puzzled. He handed me my raincoat. I couldn't believe that I had forgotten something that obvious. I could feel the blush rising to my cheeks.
"Thanks." I mumbled
" No need to thank me, it's my job to protect you, remember," he proclaimed with a wink.
"Even from the rain," I said teasingly. I didn't expect him to answer.
I climbed into his silver Volvo. We were running late, well ok I was running late, and Edward being the gentleman he was had waited for me.
In minutes we were parked next to Rosalie's BMW. Edward had gotten out of the car and was opening my door before I could even take off my seat belt. He grabbed my hand and led me to the front of the school.
"I'll see you at lunch, ok?" it was more of a statement than a question.
"Of course." He answered lightly. I turned and headed for my first class, Spanish,.
The morning passed by quickly, and before I knew it I heard the nasal buzzing sound of the bell dismissing us for lunch. I couldn't help but smile when I saw Edward leaning against the wall. We went through the line, and went to sit down with the rest of the Cullen clan.
" You two are getting slower everyday, I've already finished eating," Jasper said jokingly, motioning toward his full tray. Emmett chuckled darkly under his breath.
Ha, ha," I said rolling my eyes. Beside me Edward froze.
"What is she doing here," Edward muttered angrily. I shot a questioning glance toward Alice, but she didn't seem to notice. She was staring at something over my shoulder. Before I could ask what was wrong I heard a voice that caused an involuntary shiver to run down my spine.
" Hello, Cullen family." I could tell from the musical voice that it was another vampire, and I didn't dare turn around.
" I can't believe the mighty Cullen family has fallen so far. I mean spending time with a human." Her voice was layered with disgust when she said this. I heard Edward snarl under his breath.
"Go away Lillie," Emmett growled viciously. Rosalie shot a furious glance in my direction; she was jealous that Emmett had defended me.
"Fine, but I'll be seeing you soon old friends." She said with a hint of annoyance. I turned to see a tall lean vampire, who had long ebony hair down to the middle of her back, sauntering away. She glanced back at the table. I quickly realized that her eyes were blue, which confused me.
Edward glanced in my direction. I must have looked puzzled because he quickly said, "Don't ask, I'll tell you later." My eyes met his, pleading eyes and I couldn't help but to nod in agreement.
I hurried off to gym. Much to my embarrassment we were doing basketball, and I managed to trip three people including myself. I exited the gym to see Edward, amusement playing across his face.
" Wow, you managed to knock over less than five people. That's a record for you isn't?" I glared at him, and walked off toward art, the only class other class besides lunch that I had with Edward.
The Art teacher Mr. Rhodes didn't seem to like me, but like every teacher in the school, he adored Edward, and Mr. Rhodes wouldn't risk insulting me in front of him. It didn't really bother me because I had the same opinion of him.
When class was over I walked through the parking lot until I reached Edward's Volvo. I climbed in the passenger side and waited for him to tell me who Lillie was. I really didn't believe he was going to, I knew I would probably have to convince Alice to tell me as soon as Edward was out of earshot.
"Are you going to tell me about Lillie," I asked innocently.
No. "Later," he seemed annoyed like I knew he would be.
"Fine." I only trusted myself with one-word answers – afraid that if I answered truly my anger would boil over, he had a way of making my temper flare unexpectedly. – And by the onyx color of his eyes, I could tell he that he was already pushed past his limit.
" Hey! Aren't you taking me home." I shouted, realizing that we had already driven past street.
"No, You're staying at my house tonight." I could tell that I had no say in this decision. The idea of sleeping in Edwards's room both frightened and exhilarated me.
" Can I ask just one question," I asked politely
" You can, but I might not answer," Edward answered with a bit of dark humor.
" Does this have anything to do with Lillie," referring to the fact that I would be spending the night in the company of seven vampires.
"Yes," he admitted.
Neither of us said anything for the rest of the ride there. The first thing I noticed when I walked into the house was Alice standing at the top of the magnificent stair case, hand resting on the satin smooth rail.
" You brought Bella here! Are you crazy, Edward?" Before my eyes could register the blur of black and white dashing down the stairs, Alice came an abrupt stop in front us.
Her words confused me. Wouldn't I be safer, here where I would have someone to protect me if Lillie showed up? If I were at home with only Charlie, who was oblivious to the fact that I spent every moment I had in the company of vampires, where I would have no one to help me if she showed up at my house.
Edward grabbed my hand and led me around a glaring Alice and up to his room. We passed Jasper, who was standing in Alice's doorway, trying to figure out what all the commotion was about.
Once in Edward's room, I made my way to his black leather couch. I hadn't been paying much attention to my expression, but I must have looked startled.
"I'm sorry, Bella," he whispered in my ear, wrapping his marble arms around me. I could feel my heart pounding at an increasingly fast pace.
" I love you, Edward," I stated automatically. He seemed pleased by that remark, and gently pressed his lips to my throat.
"You are my whole world, and I couldn't live with myself if Lillie, or anyone for that matter, harmed you in any way." His perfect lips brushed mine. I felt his hand lightly brush my hair back, so that his lips could touch the hollow beneath my ear.
I was vividly aware of his long white fingers slowly tracing my collarbone. He bent his face slowly to mine, pressing his cool marble cheek to mine. My hands lay limp against his chest. We sat without moving, watching the rain pound against the glass wall in sheets of shimmering liquid.
" Time for dinner," he whispered. I noticed that he seemed reluctant to let me go.
" I'm not hungry… yet," I assured him. He didn't believe me. He lifted me off the couch and led me down stairs to the kitchen.
I had never been in the kitchen before, and I found it slightly odd that there actually was one, do to the fact that not one of the house's residents needed to cook their food. I was surprised to find that all of the appliances were of the best quality.
Edward quickly prepared me a turkey sandwich. I scarfed it down quickly so that I barely tasted it; I already knew that it would be delicious if Edward had prepared it. I just wanted to get back up to his room.
When we got back to the room a blue stain nightdress lay on his desk next to a black laptop computer. It was skimpier than the clothes that I normally wore to bed, but it was of best quality. I had a suspicious feeling that Alice had bought them just for this occasion.
Edward laid me on the couch in front of him. He pulled me close against his muscular chest. "Good night, Bella," he whispered in my ear, stroking my cheekbone. With the voice of an archangel he started to hum my song.
I managed to say good night before my mind entered the realm of unconsciousness.