Edwards Pov…
I sat patiently, hands resting on my lap as I smiled towards Bella sat cross legged on the floor, tucking stray strands of auburn hair behind her ear as she bit nervously against her lip. Alice sprung in front of her and sat, legs bent underneath her as she handed over a perfectly wrapped small package. Bella glanced up at me, a tinge of anger in her hazel eyes.
Holding up my hands in defence I answered her unasked question.
"Don't look at me, I had nothing to do with it. This is all Alice, I told her you didn't want a fuss"
Before she could protest any further, Alice gripped onto Bella's hands, turning her palms up as she rested the gift gently down. Gazing desperately into Bella's eyes Alice worked her innocent charm.
"Bella please accept it, I just saw it the other day and instantly thought of you. It'd be a crime for you not to have it. Pleeeeease!"
Exhaling deeply Bella leant forwards and swiftly placed a soft kiss against Alice's cheek. Her fingers working carefully against the paper…we'd had a misshape with paper cuts before, and I could tell Bella was trying to avoid this from happening again.
Gasping Bella traced her finger inside the small red velvet box before gently lifting out a silver chain, hanging from the bottom her initial B, circling it a heart.
Her eyes sparkled, I'm not sure if it were with happiness or tears, but either way I could sense that she was overwhelmed.
Throwing herself forwards once more, Bella clutched Alice tightly to her chest, whispering into her neck.
"Oh Alice its perfect, beautiful in fact, thank you I really do love it"
I smiled weakly as they continued to chatter excitedly about Bella's dorm friends, her lessons and Alice's recent adventures over her summer break in Europe. Bella seemed engrossed in conversation with Alice as I stood, making my way outside to collect Bella's bags from the truck, I hated the fact that she drove around in something so unreliable, but She had always refused whenever I broached the subject of me buying her a new car, nothing fancy…just something slightly newer then this heap of rust.
Slamming the door shut I turned to see her huddled in the doorway of the house, pulling her plaid shirt tighter across her stomach she gazed over at me, something was wrong with her stance, the flow of her blood, beating of her heart. I realized though it wasn't just her where problems lay, it was us…something was wrong with us, all this time apart and I imagined this moment so many times in my head, her coming home, the ecstatic sense of relief I'd feel as soon as she were within my sight. But instead of relief I felt nothing but confusion and anxiety.
As I drove Alice home (of course she could have run a lot quicker, but Charlie wasn't to know that) she spent the whole journey singing inside her head, singing the most frustrating song, frowning at the road ahead I growled at her.
"My god Alice enough already with the tuneless thinking I'll stay away from your mind ok! Clearly it's something you really don't want me to hear"
I speedily pulled into the drive as her slight voice drifted over my ears, her hand resting on my forearm as she looked at me, nothing but concern pouring from her eyes.
"Edward its not that I'm trying to keep anything from you because I want to, I'm just.. Uh.. Not sure how you'll take it, and to be perfectly honest I don't know how to digest it myself"
I snapped my head around, allowing my eyes to travel over her face, she was ashamed of the visions that had entered her head. Concentrating on her unspoken thoughts I allowed it all to sink in, I could feel the shocked expression spreading over my face as I swallowed deeply.
Throwing open the car door I used more force then intended as it flew off its hinges, I thundered into the house, Alice closely following behind as she reached out, gripping hold of my wrist.
" Edward we need to talk about this"
"No Alice we really don't, now please let me go, I want to be alone"
Her grip tightened as I felt every muscle in my body tense up, I didn't want to hurt her, but I knew if she didn't let me go I'd not be able to control myself.
Turning I prepared to unleash my fury on her imprisoning grasp when I looked down into her concerned face and suddenly I felt my anger disperse. She couldn't help the visions that imposed themselves on her, just as she couldn't help what was going to happen.
Looking down towards the polished marble floor I murmured despondently.
"How could it happen? Alice I don't understand why… how I'd do that to her! I love Bella, she is everything I live for" My voice was shaking now, developing into a low growl.
"I won't do that to her Alice, its not going to happen. Your wrong, you must be. Maybe your I don't know…broken!"
I'd turned away from her now, stepped towards my piano as I leant forwards onto it, my knuckles turning white from there vice like grip against the edge of the black mahogany.
Her voice lowered, almost as if she were comforting a child as I felt her hand lightly run across my back.
"Edward I don't have any explanations for you, I wish I did and I'm not broken. What I saw is correct and you know as well as I do that it will most likely happen, as much as neither of us don't want it too, there really isn't anything we can do to prevent it"
I spoke my voice low and pained as I held myself still.
"I don't want to leave her Alice, I don't want to"
I felt myself pulled towards her now, my face burred into her shoulder as I allowed the tears that had threatened my eyes to fall.
My body shaking as she soothed me, trailing her fingers through my hair.
"Sssshhh brother it's going to be ok, we'll deal with it, we will I promise"
I stayed in my room until dark, wanting to keep myself away from the rest of my family as they arrived home, the last thing I needed at the moment was their thoughts interrupting my already throbbing mind.
I changed my sweatshirt for a dark blue button down, sitting back on the leather sofa which faced my array of music and books, I rested my head back and closed my eyes as the music drifted through me, the notes touching my very core.
I waited 4 more hours, until the sun had finally set, dusk turned into twilight as I flew from my window, gliding toward the Swan residence. I'd decided in my hours of waiting, not to allow Alice's thoughts to invade my head anymore, I would prevent it from happening, somehow I'd stop it, whatever it took.
But then I wondered, was the way I had been feeling lately a build up to this tragic event that would see me walking away from her? leaving all that was good and worthwhile in my life.
There was no further time for questions or thoughts as I arrived outside Bella's bedroom window, she had left it open for me as per normal practice.
She was sat up on top of the bedcovers, my eyes drifted down over her milk white, soft legs as I noticed the grey hot pants and tank she was just about wearing.
Her breathing was heavy, not as controlled as normal as I stepped closer, closing the already little distance between us.
The closer I got, the harder It felt it to refrain from reaching out and touching her, feeling the warmth of her skin against my hands as they explored her, the softness of her lips against my own.
Something was changing, my throat tingling, body shaking lightly as I felt my every nerve ending being pulled against, I didn't like this I was usually so contained, kept myself in check. But now as she sat before me, delicate and fragile I wanted to consume her, this was stronger than the initial hunger I'd felt for her that very first day I had laid eyes on her. This was something else, something stronger and less controllable.
I took hold of the last fragments of my strength and willpower and found myself jumping from her window… racing through the expanse of trees until I could no longer taste her at the back of my throat, until I no longer craved her blood.
