Thanks to Leanne for everything! ilu srsly. You rock so hard.

Chapter playlist: The Curse: Audioslave.

I neither own nor profit from the Twiverse.

Thanks, once again, for all the reviews, alerts, and favourites. I always enjoy knowing you enjoy my work. :)

Also, since someone asked, I want to clarify this: Edward will never hit Bella. There will be no domestic violence. It is a dark romance, but not a physically abusive 's not really anything romantic about hitting someone you claim to love.

Chapter 3: It Runs Even Deeper

Despite the strange mixture of excitement, anticipation, and gut-wrenching fear I had coursing through me, somehow I managed to fall asleep without much trouble. The state of my bed when I woke up, however, betrayed the restlessness I must have had whilst sleeping.

I didn't need to look at the time to know that it was twenty of six; I had trained myself to wake without the clock years ago when Emmett decided that changing my alarm was the height of fun and brother-torturing hilarity. Strangely enough, he didn't find my sneaking Orajel into his toothpaste in retaliation quite as amusing. Especially when he had spent the rest of the morning drooling.

Unfortunately, today I wished that I had slept in a little, as there were a good three hours and forty-five minutes before I could leave to see Bella. That was three hours and forty-five minutes too many for which there was nothing to keep me safe from my family. I wanted to delay the inevitable just a little while longer, since I was sure that forever was out of reach.

At this point, I couldn't even decide whom I wanted to see the least: Dad would embarrass me with all sorts of euphemistic talk regarding cows, milk, and the prices thereof, but Mom would insist on me bringing Bella home for a visit. Then she would start the process of picking out stationery for the wedding invitations.

I could practically hear the litany of vile and lecherous jokes that would pore from Emmett's lips. Jasper wouldn't say much, but he would smirk in a way that would let me know that he was thinking everything that Emmett was saying. Alice would simply be unbearable until she met Bella and decided whether or not she was good enough for me.

Rose would likely scowl at me, but undoubtedly leave me in peace. How she would treat Bella was another matter…

Shuddering, I hoped that my imagination was worse than reality. My new goal, along with getting Bella to like me, was to keep her away from anyone I shared genetics with for as long as possible.

I was about halfway through my morning regimen of sit-ups and push-ups when there was a knock at my door. Whoever it was didn't bother to wait for me to tell them to go away before the door opened.

It was my mother. As such, I could neither yell at her to go away nor snap at her for invading my privacy. Well, I could, but then I'd not be leaving the house to see Bella again until we were in line at Park View Villas Retirement Home, waiting for our daily meds.

"Good morning, Edward," my mother said with a cheerful grin. "Don't worry, no one will be bothering you this morning."

I resolved to bring a gift home for my mother. She was a wonderful, wonderful woman.

"Thanks?" I replied, making it sound like a question. She knew something was going on, but as I couldn't even say what, yet, and really didn't want to get into awkward discussions with her until I was at least better informed myself.

"You don't need to fret," Esme said, "It's not bad, what I have to say, I promise."

I would have to be the judge of that, but she was my mother, and I would suffer whatever she had to say with good grace. And that wasn't just because my mother was frightening when angry. Being mean to my mother when she was that happy was right up there with kicking puppies and running over old ladies.

Esme closed the door behind her and sat down on my bed. I finished my last sit-up, but stayed on the floor, giving my mother my full attention.

"Last night," she began, "when you came home. I don't know if I can describe the expression on your face. You looked both stunned and pleased at the same time."

"Really?" I asked, surprised. My brain had been too distracted with thoughts of Bella to even contemplate how I must have appeared to anyone else.

"Yes. I don't know who she is and I'm not going to ask. I'm sure you'll tell me when you're ready. I just wanted to tell you that I hope you have a good time today." With that, my mom got to her feet, kissed me on the forehead, and walked out of my room, closing the door behind her.

As soon as I was alone again, I sighed in relief. I'd have no other interruptions and I could be a nervous wreck in peace.

There were so many ways that today could go horribly, horribly wrong. The least of which could involve natural disasters and signs of the apocalypse. I had offered to show her around, and I would, but I had temporarily forgotten the downside of this little excursion: the people who lived here. Even if I managed to avoid all of those people, there was still the not-so-small issue of her father, his license to carry arms, and my inability to have bullets ricochet off my body.

Ah, the glory of things I couldn't control. They would undoubtedly mock me until I died.

Exercising, showering, and getting dressed didn't take nearly as long as I hoped it would. I still had a little over an hour and a half to imagine new and interesting ways to embarrass myself, completely.

I walked over to the bookshelf, randomly picked a title, and started to read. When I checked the time again, I was relieved to note it was time for me to go.

As soon as I got into my car, I noticed a plate on the passenger's side. There was a note attached to the top of it.

Edward,
I made some cookies for you to bring as a gift. Remember, any girl worth devoting your heart to would prefer cookies to flowers any day.

Love,
Mom.

If it ever got to that point with Bella, I'd have to ask her to forgive me for my family. They were all so weird.

When I pulled up to her house, I was grateful to note her father was not home. I would worry about winning him over if I managed to do so with Bella first.

I tucked the note from my mom in my pocket and grabbed the plate before getting out of the car. One deep breath and "you're acting like a pussy—be a real man" later, I was knocking on her door.

"Edward, you came," Bella greeted as she opened the door. She was wearing a nice brown shirt and jean shorts. I forced my eyes back on her face. She looked delighted to see me. That half-happy, half-sick feeling came back in a rush.

I smiled. "Of course, I came. I invited you, didn't I?"

"I didn't know if my dad scared you off," Bella said with a shrug. "Come in. I need to get my jacket and shoes."

"Thanks. Oh, and these are for you," I replied, handing her the plate of cookies.

The look on her face when she inhaled the scent of my mother's special cookies was terrifyingly beautiful. No girl on earth should ever look that good in such a casual setting. It was disconcerting to have to convince certain parts of my body that Bella and I were miles away from anything near what those parts were considering.

"Did you bake these? They smell heavenly," she said, taking one cookie from the plate before setting it down on the kitchen counter.

"My mother did," I replied sheepishly. Then she took a bite and thoroughly destroyed me.

"Mmmm, these are so good," Bella moaned. "I can taste a hint of orange."

Distantly, I knew she was waiting for a reply, but I froze on the spot. My mind stuttered at me and I simply waited for everything to reset and start again. "Oh...yeah? Um. Orange. Yes."

Somehow, I was going to have to convince the girl I wasn't a moron and I hadn't the slightest idea how to go about it.

"Tell your mother I said 'thank you'," said Bella with a smile. "That's the best cookie I've ever had."

"I will. She'll be pleased to hear that," I replied, pleased with the return of my brain functions. "Would you like to head out now?"

"Sure." Bella tossed on a pair of trainers and grabbed a light jacket off a chair. "The forecast said today would be nice out. Well, at least it shouldn't rain."

"Your lips to God's ears."

The second thing I had forgotten when I invited her out today was the simple fact that there really wasn't a whole lot of town to show her. The drive lasted a grand total of ten minutes and consisted of me pointing to various buildings, and saying things like, "the store, you've been there, the Lodge, don't eat there if you can help it, the school, it's…school, and the library, it's beyond pitiful."

"That wasn't quite as interesting as I'd imagined when I offered yesterday," I admitted, still driving aimlessly around the streets.

Bella laughed. "That's all right. You'll have to make it up to me next time."

Next time? There would be a next time? My heart fluttered uselessly in my chest. "I promise."

The answering smile was stunning, lighting up her entire face. "I'll make sure you do."

A little voice in the back of my head was shouting with glee that Bella was quite possibly flirting with me. "It's such a nice day that it'd be a shame to waste it. Are you up for a little walk? There's a few places around I like to go to when I want to relax. I'd like to show you one."

"I'd love that, Edward," Bella said, a slight pink tinting her cheeks. It made her even more beautiful, if possible.

The place I decided to go today was off the beaten path. I didn't want to chance running into anyone I knew. It was silly, but I wanted Bella to be mine, alone. I didn't want to share her with Forks right now. I didn't want her to realize that I was the lame kid with cool siblings, good grades, and no friends.

"Here we are," I said, pulling off to the side of the road. "It's just a little walk from here."

Bella had a wary expression on her face and I hoped it wasn't because she was nervous to be alone with me in a place with no witnesses.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, dreading the answer.

She gave me a deprecating smile and eyed the woods. "I'm not so good with the woods and hiking," she said with a short laugh. "Or walking at all, for that matter," she added as she looked down at her feet.

"I won't let anything happen to you," I said. I meant to assure her, but it came out far more seriously than I intended. A well of protectiveness flared up within me and it scared me how fierce it was.

"I know you wouldn't," she replied, voice shy. We stood there for a moment, silent, the air charged around us. I busied myself with opening the trunk for no good reason to lighten the mood and was surprised to find a small wicker basket inside of it.

"Oh, my mother made us lunch," I said, a bit embarrassed. My mother had somehow turned this casual outing into a pseudo-date without Bella and me knowing about it.

"That was nice of her," Bella commented, not seeming bothered at all. "If lunch tastes as good as her cookies, I'll have to write her a thank you note myself."

"Come on," I said after I grabbed the basket and closed the trunk. "We can eat when we get there."

Bella hadn't lied when she said she was clumsy. Two steps into the woods, she tripped over a fern and I jutted quickly over to her to prevent her from falling.

A few feet later, we came to a fallen tree trunk. I offered her my hand to help her step over it. The moment her skin touched mine, something shot through my arm, and then my entire body.

We moved past the trunk, and continued down the path, neither of us dared to talk.

She didn't let go of my hand.

After I managed to not spontaneously combust, I led her over to the stream. There was a long, flat rock close to the edge of the water. It was only about four inches from the ground, so you could sit on it without getting damp.

"Here we are," I said, setting the basket next to rock. "I know it's nothing great, but it's peaceful."

"I like it." She sat down next to me and gave me a reassuring smile. "So, what do you do when you come out here, alone?"

"I do this," I replied, taking off my shoes and socks, putting my feet in the stream of gently flowing water. "And I think. Sometimes I read."

Bella grinned at me and repeated my actions. "It feels nice. The water isn't as cold as I thought it'd be. So, Edward, tell me about yourself. All I know is that you're speed demon and a closet Good Samaritan."

"Well," I began, cheered that she was curious about me, "I'm eighteen years old. My father, Carlisle, is a doctor at the hospital. If you're as clumsy as you claim to be, you'll probably meet him sooner rather than later. My mother is a full-time volunteer for various causes. She also does a few things free-lance. I have a twin sister, Alice, and a younger brother, Emmett. And then there're Jasper and Rosalie Hale, twins; they came to live with us last year"

"Wow," Bella said, eyes wide. "It's just me and my dad up here. My mother, Renée, recently remarried a minor league baseball player, Phil."

I don't know what made me do it, but I felt like I could trust Bella with everything. "You'll hear all sorts of weird rumours at school about this, but the truth is Alice and Jasper are married as are Emmett and Rosalie. We don't want it spread around, so we let everyone assume we adopted them."

Bella looked surprised. "Married so young?"

"Well, I don't want to tell their stories, but suffice to say that Rose and Jasper's parents were not suited to such a role. Marrying under the age of eighteen in this state fully emancipates you from your parents. Maria and Royce were all too willing to not support them any longer. They're Cullens now, regardless of how they sign their names."

"That's so sad, but so good of your brother and sister to do," Bella commented, flicking her foot in the water. There was a hint of pity in her voice, as if she thought it a sacrifice my siblings had made.

"They love each other," I added, feeling the need to make it clear. "It would have happened eventually anyhow. It was only the timing that changed, due to necessity."

Bella nodded, but said nothing more on the topic. Marriage seemed to be a sensitive one for her. I cast about for something else to discuss. "What else do you want to know about me? The only catch is you have to answer the same questions about yourself. Deal?"

"Deal," she affirmed. "Favourite food?"

"Steak. Medium rare. You?"

She played with a lock of her hair. "Lasagna. Movie?"

I ran my hand through my hair. That wasn't easy. I didn't watch many movies. "Titus," I replied finally, and at the curious expression on Bella's face, added, "The imagery in that film was stunning. Julie Taymor is one of the only people to ever bring out the essence Shakespeare on film."

Bella's face lit up at my mention of Shakespeare. "Zeferelli's version of Romeo and Juliet," she stated happily. "Olivia Hussey was excellent."

"Books next?" I guessed, and correctly, by the nod Bella gave in reply. "I have to say my favourite is Goethe's Faust. Yours?"

"Wuthering Heights," she said at once. I must have made a face because she slapped my arm lightly with the back of her hand. "There's nothing wrong with that book."

"I said nothing!" I held my hands in a placating gesture. "You enjoy love stories, then?"

"I do. There's something about being so in love you're willing to sacrifice everything. That's what makes it so sad, too. Juliet goes to all these lengths to be with Romeo, but he's already killed himself, and because of her. Her story is probably the saddest of them all."

I shook my head and I caught a flash of anger in Bella's eyes. It was breathtaking, but I still wanted to make my point. "Not true. There's a figure more tragic than Juliet. Dido. She loved Aeneas beyond reason, to the point of being driven mad, and he never loved her back, not in the same way. At least Romeo and Juliet were sure of their love for one another. Dido loved Aeneas so fiercely, but he left her. That's worse. What was that bit?"

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to recall the exact words. It wasn't easy because I could feel Bella's knee touching mine. I focused harder.

"Deceiver, did you even hope to hide so harsh a crime, to leave this land of mine without a word? Can nothing hold you back—neither your love, the hand you pledged, nor even the cruel death that lies in wait for Dido?" I recited. "Being so in love and being left…that's far worse."

I opened my eyes again and found Bella eyeing me with an expression I couldn't place. "Yes," she said after a few moments. "That is worse."

After that, we pulled out the food my mother made us and ate while she told me more about her life in Arizona. It was hard to picture her in such a sunny place, as her skin was incredibly pale, flawless. Whenever she mentioned her old life, and her mother, her smiled seemed strained and I wondered whether it was because she missed it or because there was something unpleasant she had left behind. It didn't really matter, because she was here with me, now.

Since we sat down, she had shifted closer to me until we were touching. I could feel the heat of her leg next to mine and it sent my nerves on overdrive.

"So Edward," she said, and I turned to look at her, only to find our faces mere inches apart. My face felt like it was on fire as my brain processed the knowledge that it would take hardly any effort to kiss her. And she looked at me as sweet as ever, kissing, undoubtedly, the farthest thing from her thoughts. No girl as wonderful as Bella could ever want someone like me. Of that, I was sure.

"Yes?" I managed to squeak out, hating how my voice went up an octave.

Bella tilted her head to the side, the skin of her neck peeking out between locks of her hair. Without thinking, I reached over and smoothed it back over her shoulder. "I was wondering…"

"Hmm?" My fingers were still tingling from the soft feel of her hair. I was truly lost.

"Would you call me sometime?" she asked, shyly. I pulled my eyes away from her neck and back on her face. She wanted me to call her? I'd get up at three in the morning to call her, if that was what she wanted.

"Of course," I replied, almost forcefully. I wanted her to know just how much I wanted to do that without sounding like a desperate fool. I programmed her home number into my cell phone and sent my numbers to her email, since she didn't own one.

I also took a few pictures of her with my cell phone surreptitiously. I didn't think I could wait however long "next time" was before I would need to look at her face. She was an angel.

Thrilled as I was that I had her phone number, and permission to call, it was bittersweet because it signaled the time in which I had to take her back.

"Ugh!" Bella yelled with a grimace. I turned to see a highly irritated expression on her face. It was the most adorable thing I'd ever seen.

"What?" I had no idea what upset her, but was fairly certain that it wasn't my fault. Though, her anger was amusing in that it seemed so ineffectual. She couldn't scare anyone with that look. Anyone would think her too cute to take it seriously.

"I hate the feel of wet feet in dry shoes. It's gross," she complained, looking at her trainers with dismay. I hadn't thought to bring a towel and I was used to it since jogging in the rain was a pastime of mine. I had a solution to the problem, however, and it made me excited and nauseous even thinking about it.

"Come on," I said, turning my back to her. "I'll take you back."

"I'm not exactly a picnic basket," she said, tone dubious. "I'll just deal with it."

"Don't be silly," I replied, glancing over my shoulder. "I'm stronger than I look. Trust me."

Bella stared at me a moment and I couldn't look away. She held me there without effort. "I trust you," she said finally, and wrapped her arms around my neck, legs around my waist. I got to my feet, pulling her up with me easily.

I'd never complain about my father's workout regimen for me, again.

The walk back to the car was both divine and torment. I could feel her breath against my skin, electricity lighting up my veins with every step. She didn't say a word and neither did I, leaving nothing but the heady silence between us. Her hair brushed against the side of my face and I wanted nothing more than to turn and bury my face in it.

I scolded myself for having such untoward thoughts about Bella. She probably was just being nice to me since I was the first person she met since she moved here.

But, how I wanted her to like me. How I wanted her to feel even one tenth for me as I did for her. It came back to me, that one truth that had only been hinted at earlier. I was lost. So lost on her. I knew it.

All too quickly, the car was in front me and I had opened the door. I hadn't wanted the moment to end, despite being close but not close enough. Reluctant as I was, I placed her on the passenger seat and closed the door.

The drive back was filled with more of the same charged quiet air. I turned on some music, but hardly paid attention to what was playing. She strummed her fingers against her knee and hummed along. Once we got to her house, I sped out of my seat and over to her side as fast as possible so I could carry her up to her house.

Bella's laughter rang out as I sprinted up the steps, her arms clutching my neck in a chokehold. "You're just lucky my dad's not here."

"If he tried to shoot me, I'd use your body as a shield," I joked back. Truthfully, I hadn't even checked for the cruiser. I made a mental note to do so in the future.

"I had a good time today," I said after I placed her in the relative safety of the living room. With a smile, I added, "Though, I'm sorry the tour was so boring."

"It's okay," Bella said with a laugh. "Until I was fourteen, I spent a week or two every summer here. Granted, my dad insisted that most of that was down at La Push, trying to force me to kill myself fishing."

She wasn't new to the town? The revelation stunned me and not just because I hadn't seen her before. She already knew her way around and she still accepted my invitation. Somehow, I wouldn't let the tiny voice that said she was just being polite drown out the louder one that screamed she said yes because she wanted an excuse to spend time with me.

"I'll call you," I said as I walked toward the door. I didn't want to leave, but if I didn't make myself go, I would have found a way to stay there. "Maybe we can see each other again before school starts."

"I'd really like that." Bella's cheeks had turned pink again and I wanted so badly just to touch them, to feel the heat under my fingertips. I felt my hand twitch with need. Instead, I smiled at her again, and walked back out the open door.

When I got back home, the house was empty, which was a surprise. It was hardly ever empty. I ran up to my room, not wanting to push my luck. I'd have to face everyone eventually.

As soon as I flung myself on my bed, I realized it was because of my mother that I had my solitude. There was nothing I could buy to thank her for this. Instead, I pulled out my cell phone and found the nicest picture of Bella that I had and sent it to her along with her name.

It was definitely too soon to call her, I told myself. But was it too soon to email her? I had no idea. I wasn't versed in the art of courting and the only guys I really knew were my father, Jasper, and Emmett.

Asking my father was just too horrifying a scenario to contemplate. He spent much of the universally detested sex talk making vague hand gestures and gratuitous references to the strangest euphemisms ever uttered by a man with a medical degree. One minute he was referring to farming machinery and the next footwear. He even quoted Shakespeare. This wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't Ophelia's lines he referenced.

Emmett acted like he knew everything there was about women, but in reality, he only knew Rose. And Rose, she was a special case.

I could ask Jasper, but, like Emmett, he specialized in one woman alone, and I didn't think I could listen to him talk without being forced to acknowledge that all of his wisdom was in reference to my baby sister.

So, I sat at my laptop, staring at my inbox, wondering what I should do. I noticed that Alice had emailed me the details on how to get through the backdoor to the school's system.

I figured I could change my schedule first, and then I could break down and just ask Alice how to best go about things with Bella. I was just delaying the inevitable with her anyhow.

I checked Newton's schedule after mine, noting the classes I wanted to avoid. I could deal with Mallory, but Newton was unbearable.

It was then that I found myself looking up Bella's schedule. We shared only one class. I sighed. That was too bad. I would have liked to spend more time with her in school.

Finally, I went back to mine and had only a moment of hesitation before I switched myself into Bella's classes. It wouldn't rid me of my Newton problem, but the benefits of being with Bella outweighed any annoyance Newton could provide.

I had only seen her less than an hour ago and I already missed her. I wanted her to feel the same was as me, no, I needed her to.

I would do everything in my power to make it so.

Chapter three! Um. Yeah. I spent a long time trying to decide on Edward's favourite movie and book. Each of them are significant. Especially his book choice.

How long do you think Edward lasts until he contacts Bella?