Chapter One
BPOV
"I love you," I murmured, almost incoherent against Edward's chest. He had his arms wrapped around me, holding me close to his stony form.
"I love you, too," he echoed, sounding like he was off somewhere else. Edward's eyes, black from thirst, stared off at a blank wall; he was clearly lost in thought. For a moment I thought I saw his eyes flash a different color, but I must have been imagining things. Some trick of the moon light.
"I should go," he said, turning his face towards mine for a goodbye kiss. I obliged him, but he pulled away much too fast.
"Why are you going?" I asked. He had promised to spend every night, up to our wedding, with me. This was breaking the rules.
"I need to hunt. Jasper and Emmett are going tonight, and I thought I'd go, too. We'll be back tomorrow."
"Oh," I muttered, dejected at the thought of even one night alone.
Before I even had the chance to say anything else, he was gone.
The next morning my alarm clock went off earlier than I wanted it to. 8:00. Ugh. I looked around, expecting to see Edward sitting on the end of my bed or in the rocking chair by the window. Both were empty. Strange. Maybe he was running late and would be here by the time I got ready.
After I got out of the shower and dried myself off, I put on the clothes I had brought into the bathroom with me. Blue, for Edward. Quickly giving up my hair as a lost cause, I brushed my teeth and headed out of the bathroom, dirty pajamas in hand. Opening the door to my room, my face was already lit up with a smile, expecting Edward. The room was still empty. Dejectedly, I put my clothes in the hamper and went downstairs to see if Charlie had left yet.
Three hours later I found myself sitting on the couch, watching some football game. Charlie was next to me, having not had to work today. Every few seconds something would happen that I didn't understand and Charlie would cheer.
Edward hadn't come yet, and I was really starting to get worried. What if he had, somehow, gotten hurt? What if the Volturi had come for me? No, I told myself, I'd be dead if that was it. Still, there was no way I was going to sit here staring at the television until he came. Or didn't come.
"I'm going over to the Cullens'," I said, picking up my keys and heading for the door.
"Okay. Have fun!" Charlie was grinning from ear to ear, clearly thinking that Edward and I were in a fight.
To my surprise, I found the turn onto the Cullens' driveway on my first try. Driving up towards the big white house, I felt a wave of calm wash over me. Alice must've seen me coming and told Jasper to make me calm. Fighting against it, I drove the last few yards and took the keys out of the ignition. Breathe in, breathe out. So what did I do if Edward wasn't here? Ask Alice.