Rachel Love

Three Days

What could you accomplish in three days?

Chapter 3

The Truth Will Set You Free, but First It Will Piss You Off

**Special thanks to PTB for great comments and their expertise.

**Very special thanks to Chattgirl4 who gives awesome advice!

**Please Review. This is my first fanfic and all helpful comments are appreciated!

**Twilight = Stephenie Meyer. Twilight ≠ Me.

Day 23

February 21

Charlie and I sat at our old dining room table for dinner. Wednesday nights were pretty quiet – nothing good on t.v. This was usually my reading night and I had a great book to read by Jane Evanovich.

"You're still seeing that Edward guy, right?" Charlie asked, completely out of the blue.

"Yeah, I am," I said, carefully examining my vegetable soup.

Yep, this is the most interesting vegetable soup I've ever seen.

"You never bring him over; invite him to dinner tomorrow night. We'll order pizza." Charlie scooped up big spoonful of soup in his mouth, followed by a chunk of cheesy, delicious, fattening garlic bread.

Hey, at least he's eating the vegetable soup.

"Edward has a very specific diet he has to follow. I doubt he can have pizza, but I could ask him to bring something he can eat. I've offered to make him food, but he always refuses." I shook my head. I guess Edward felt like he was putting me out to make him dinner.

"Yeah, do that. Maybe you guys can eat dinner with me and then go to a movie or something," he mumbled.

"Yeah, I'll ask him. Sounds fun." I got up and put my bowl in the sink. I don't know if I'd call it "fun," but it was nice that Charlie wanted to get to know him.

After I cleaned up the kitchen, I drudged up the stairs for a hot shower and a nap before Edward came. The hot water felt like heaven on my shoulders and neck. I carried most of my stress there, and the shower was my haven; I could relax.

I slipped into my towel and crossed the hallway to my room. After throwing on my sweat pants and a t-shirt, I set the alarm on my phone for eleven forty-five p.m., got under my grandmother's quilt, and fell asleep quickly.

My alarm woke me out of a dead sleep. I didn't dream, which was really nice. My dreams had gotten really weird recently. Light from the full moon shone into my window like daylight almost. A storm was coming in – my favorite kind of night.

I opened the window and waited for Edward...and watched the clouds. Suddenly, he appeared under my window.

"Good evening, Bella," he whispered.

"Hi! I'll be right down." I opened my door and quietly tiptoed downstairs.

I opened the porch door for him and we sat on the old wicker couch. He sat down close to me.

"May I?" he asked, gesturing he wanted to put his arm around me.

"Yeah." I smiled. God, he makes me feel good. "So, what did you do today?"

"I had class, of course, and then headed down here to the hospital to see the kids," he answered. "How about you?"

"What kids?" I asked, confused. He never said anything about children.

"I volunteer at my Dad's hospital," he said quietly. "I visit the sick and dying kids, especially if there are orphans on the floor. We play cards, tell jokes, and laugh a lot." His eyes brightened up as he spoke about the kids. "I can relate to them."

I sat awestruck. What a smart, beautiful, kind and sincere person. How on earth did I deserve him? "I'd like to go with you sometime... if you don't mind the company, that is." I bit my lower lip and took a deep breath. "That's amazing."

"Shucks, not really. I can relate is all."

I wanted to laugh at his use of shucks, but the topic didn't give me much room for humor. "It's just so sad," I whispered.

He sighed. "Ain't that the truth? One boy I had gotten close to died last week. His parents died in a car accident coming to get him from a Seattle hospital six months ago. I spent a lot of time with him. I think he died because he lost hope." His face fell as he took a deep breath in and held it. "So let's get off this topic."

"Okay. Um, Charlie invited you over for dinner tomorrow night. I told him about your diet and I told him you would never let me cook for you," I said, playfully. "Maybe you could bring something and at least eat with us?" I sat, eyes wide, hopeful he would say okay.

"Yes, that sounds like fun," he said and nodded. Then he smiled and I lost all cohesive thought.

"Great." I smiled.

"Come here, Bella," he said, and patted his lap.

What?

"I'm not going to sit on your lap, Edward." My brows furrowed as a frown crossed my face.

"No, that's not what I meant," he laughed, "just rest your head on my lap."

"Um, o-kay." I felt unsure about what his motives were, but I trusted Edward.

Completely.

As I lay my head on his lap, facing outward, I felt his cold fingers gently massage my scalp and play softly with my hair. All the anxiety and stress of the day – hell, the month, even – melted away in his cold, strong but gentle hands.

"I love you," I whispered.

"I love you, too, my Bella."

MY Bella.

Lost in thought, I jumped when Edward did. "Sit up!" he whispered sternly.

I sat up and thirty seconds later, the back door opened.

"What the hell is going on here?" Charlie didn't usually raise his voice. I jumped when he shouted and all that Edward had accomplished vanished.

"Dad! Nothing!" I yelled back.

Edward stood up. "Nothing, sir, we are just talking. I realize it's inappropriate and I apologize. But I give you my word that this is completely innocent."

"Yeah? So why aren't you inside?" Clearly suspicious, Charlie widened his stance and crossed his arms, glaring at Edward in the moonlight.

"We simply didn't want to wake you, Chief Swan." Edward spoke gently.

Charlie's eyes shifted between Edward and me. My hands began to shake violently and all I could do was to sit on them so Charlie wouldn't notice.

"Fine," Charlie answered. "Just talk inside. I don't care if you wake me up. It's too damn cold for you two to be out here all hours of the night."

"Yes, sir." Edward nodded once.

"Alright, so get in here." Charlie turned around, resigned, and went in. I think he still felt suspicious, but he didn't say anything.

Edward held the door open for me and followed me in, his hand on the small of my back. My insides still shook from Charlie's outburst.

"You okay?" Edward whispered.

I nodded and knew I would be soon.

"Try not to be such a bundle of nerves. Whatever happens, Bella, I will take care of you," he whispered. I really didn't know how to take that, so I just nodded. "Come on, let's sit on the couch. Put your head back on my lap."

I did as he said and rested my head back on his lap. He massaged my head and shoulders tenderly until I fell asleep.

Day 24

February 22

I woke up in my bed as my alarm blared. I didn't remember going to bed, and as I pulled the quilt off, I realized I lay there completely dressed.

Did Edward put me in here?

He must have.

The idea felt both romantic and creepy, all at the same time. I got out of bed and hurried to the cold bathroom. The pipes rattled as I turned the hot water on full force and began to get out of my clothes.

I stepped into the dated mint green shower and let my mind go blank. It felt good to be in the shower and relax into the water. After soaping up my hair, I cleaned every inch of me meticulously. I guess if my mind is blank, the anxiety has to go somewhere. Shampooed, soaped, scrubbed and loofahed, I stepped out from the shower into the steamy bathroom. Then I brushed my teeth quickly and slipped quietly into my room to get dressed for school.

I pulled into the school parking lot early that morning. The school day passed quickly since my mind was elsewhere.

The doorbell rang at exactly six o'clock. I quickly walked, stumbling as I went, to open the door. I tried to act natural, but I pretty much looked like I was having a seizure.

"Good evening, Bella." Edward's eyes softened and he grinned wide.

Dear God, help me.

"Hi, Edward. Come in." He kissed my forehead and came inside carrying flowers.

"For you, Bella," he murmured. A shy, crooked smile crossed his face. I beamed at him. I knew that he was trying to impress Charlie...and I loved it.

"Thank you, Edward!" I took the flowers gratefully and headed to the kitchen with Edward following me. "Oh," I turned around, "where's your dinner?"

"I was in such a hurry to get here on time and really wanted to get you flowers, I ran out of the house without it," he said, laughing.

"Edward, we can wait. Why don't you and Bella run by your house and get it?" Charlie offered, wiping off his hands with a towel.

"No, no. I live pretty far away and I'm not hungry enough to go get it. I really do not want to hold up your dinner. Let me visit with you while you eat, if you don't mind." Of course he would be a gentleman and swoon my father. How could I pester him in front of my dad if he was going to be so damn charming? I shot him a very pissed off look, but he just winked at me.

Dad and I ate mushroom and onion pizza while Edward talked sports with my dad. You would have thought Edward knew my dad very well, the way he laughed and joked with him. He said all the right things, and asked all the right questions. I'd heard that girls chose guys to marry who, subconsciously, remind them of their father.

Maybe there's something to that...

When it was time for Edward and me to head out, my dad walked us to the door.

"Thank you for having me over, Chief Swan. I had fun," Edward said.

"You're welcome. Uh...don't be a stranger." Charlie mumbled.

"I won't, sir."

"Okay – you guys be good. Don't be out too late." Charlie warned.

Edward opened the door for me. "Okay, Dad... Bye," I called, and ducked into the Volvo. Edward closed my door, and then got in the driver's side.

"Where are we going?" I asked, adjusting the temperature on the passenger side.

"Wait and see." The glimmer in his golden eyes and the mischievous grin on his beautiful face scared the hell out of me.

"Not the best thing to say to the girl with the panic attacks..." I said, under my breath.

Edward laughed. "Maybe not. Do you trust me?" He turned his face to me with one eyebrow cocked.

"Well...yeah...in theory," I claimed.

"Okay then." With one nod, he turned his face back to the road. I sunk back into my seat and tried not to pay attention to his maniacal driving. After a few minutes, we pulled into the back of Forks High, right by the gym.

"Uh...what are we doing here?" I asked and didn't know if I really wanted the answer. He got out and quickly opened the door for me, with a black duffle bag in hand.

What. The. Hell.

I guess I eyed the bag too long. He laughed, and whispered, "It's a CD player. Relax."

Oh, yes, that makes perfect sense! On a Thursday night, next to the gym, with a CD player. I feel like I'm playing Clue... 'Colonel Mustard, in the Library, with the candlestick.'

"Sure, sure. CD player. Of course," I said, rolling my eyes.

He just chuckled and walked up to the ladies' locker room window. He opened it with just his fingers and reached out to me.

"Come on, Bella."

"Are you INSANE? I am the POLICE CHIEF'S DAUGHTER! I can't break into the gym!" I looked at him incredulously.

Seriously?

"Trust. Me." He sat there, arms held out, waiting to help me through the window.

SIGH.

"So help me God, Edward, if we get caught, I will throw you under the bus so fast –" I threatened.

"Fair enough. I promise you no one will know." I took his hand and slipped through the open window to a bench below. I stood shaking on the red-vinyl-padded, locker room bench. I couldn't move. Suddenly, I felt Edward's cold hands guide me down. He sat with me while I tried desperately to get a hold of myself.

"Bella, you will never conquer this if you don't face it head on," Edward whispered. "Life is all about making memories, and I don't want your memories to be clouded by this...by whatever has brought you to this."

He was right – I knew he was. But I didn't know the way out of it.

"Will you help me?" I whispered.

"I already am," he said as he stood up. "Come with me." He offered me his hand, and I wrapped both of my hands around his one. We walked down the dark hall of the locker room, CD player in hand, and unlocked the steel door to the gym.

The sound of the heavy door opening and closing echoed in the dark corners of the gym. Square skylights perfectly aligned along the high ceiling gave the gym just enough light to make my way around, but nothing more. What light there was shined like columns down the court.

Edward plugged in the CD player and music echoed in the gym.

River Flows In You by Yiruma. Beautiful.

I stood in the middle of the gym, careful to stay out of the columns of light. I was still sick to my stomach, but I vowed I would keep my dinner down and not let the panic in me control this moment.

One moment at a time, Bella.

"Dance with me...Bella." He walked to me and held out his hands again. I wanted to so badly, but I was a clumsy goof with barely enough coordination and balance to walk.

"I...I can't dance." I looked down. "I don't know how."

"Two left feet, hmm? Please don't be offended. No worries." He stood there, still with his arms out, and waited for me to take them.

I stepped in and put my hands in their proper place. At least I knew that much. He laughed and picked me up and set me down on top of his feet. "Oh good grief, doesn't that hurt?"

"Not at all. In fact, this is heaven," he murmured.

Heaven. Dancing with me.

We danced quietly, for I don't know how long. My left hand rested on his shoulder, he held my right up and off to our side. When my left hand slid to where his neck and his shoulder met, I was shocked; his neck was freezing cold, too. I understood about his hands and feet, but his neck too?

I said nothing about it. It didn't matter, and besides, he was right; this was heaven.

"Bella?" he whispered.

"Hmm?" I looked up from resting my head on his chest.

"May I kiss you?" he asked.

I couldn't help but smile. "Do you always ask?" I whispered.

"I don't know. I mean, I've never been in this situation, but I assume the answer would be no... I just wasn't sure." He bit his lower lip.

"Yes," I whispered and stood still in the column of light from the skylight.

I kept my eyes locked with his until he got so close and I closed them. I didn't want to look cross-eyed at him; that wouldn't be romantic at all.

His kiss was gentle, but I couldn't call it warm. In fact, it was ice cold. His mouth was hard, like wood or stone. He let go of my right hand and wrapped it, too, around my waist, pulling me toward him. The energy between us felt overwhelming – mind-numbing, even. They say in books that knees get weak. I always thought it was a metaphor.

It wasn't.

My hands rested on his shoulders, stuck in that one place. I thought sure my legs were going to give out. I wanted to run my fingers through his hair. I wanted to feel the hard, chiseled muscles of his chest and back that were hinted at through his shirt. But I couldn't move. I just couldn't.

He broke our kiss and left me panting, putting his forehead to mine. "Wow," he whispered.

"You felt that, too?" I asked between breaths.

"Most definitely."

Suddenly, my stomach fell and my shoulders hunched over slightly. I felt exposed. Edward must have sensed my crash because he held on to my arms and whispered, "Fight it, Bella. Don't let it control you. Fight it."

"I...I can't, Edward."

"Bella...this isn't just because of your mother passing, is it?" he whispered. "Someone hurt you, didn't they?" He gazed into my face, searching my soul. But that was tucked away, far away, hidden in the depths of a dungeon.

I nodded once. He wrapped his arms around me, ever so gently.

"Let's go," he whispered as he guided me to the door.

Day 25

February 23

Friday was my favorite day of the week; the weekend was coming and so was sleeping in, goofing off and maybe even a date with Edward. Most of my classes were just going through the motions. Seniors had "senioritis" and were too excited for spring break to focus on anything in particular.

The day dragged on, like a bad movie or a day in a doctor's office. I thought I would lose my mind in American government and by anatomy, I seriously thought about crossing my eyes and strumming my lips while humming. I guess I had senioritis, too.

Please, please, please get on with it!

Writing was the only class that didn't bore me to pieces that day. It was February 23rd and my "Pacific-Northwest Legends" paper was due. Mr. Beauregard walked from desk to desk collecting papers and talking to each of us about our chosen topics. My feet bounced and my chest tightened as he came closer to my desk. As tall and lanky as he was, he glided gracefully in between the tight rows of desks.

"Miss Swan," he began, picking up my paper. "'The Cold Ones'. I don't remember that on our lists of topics." His voice sounded almost as if he was teasing, but the look he had on his face was clearly stern and suspicious.

My hands fidgeted underneath the desk. "I chose 'Pacific-Northwest Legends' but that was too broad, so I narrowed it down to the evil legends and then, specifically, 'The Cold Ones.'" My insides shook as I felt his eyes scrutinizing me.

"I see. I look forward to reading your paper, Miss Swan. See me after class." Mr. Beauregard moved on to the girl behind me, but my mind raced about what he wanted after class.

Did I do something wrong? Was he going to keep me from graduating?

Don't get sick. Don't get sick.

Class ended and I crossed the dreary classroom with frazzled, fear-stricken nerves.

"You wanted to see me, Mr. Beauregard?" I said, trying to hide my discomfort.

"Yes, Bella," he said, using my first name for the first time this year. "I'd like to know what your opinion is of the legend, 'The Cold Ones.'"

"Um," I began, "I think it was just a silly superstition, just a way to explain infant mortality back then, giving sleaze-bags an excuse to cheat." I'd never been at Mr. Beauregard's desk. It was meticulously organized, not a pencil out of place.

"That makes sense, really." He flipped his pencil over his fingers so fast I couldn't keep up with it. "Okay, Miss Swan, you are dismissed." He turned his back to me and began to write notes on the white board behind him. I still didn't really know what he wanted, but since he dismissed me, I left gladly.

Familiar clouds crept in to cover the sky as the temperature dropped. I walked out of school, hopped into Old Faithful, and went to start it up when my phone rang.

"Hi, Angela!" We didn't spend much time together anymore. She poured through brochure after brochure of colleges, mostly Ivy League universities.

"I need to get away from this crap. Want to meet somewhere?" She sounded frazzled, if not a little psychotic, like a dodo bird on speed.

"Sure, sure. Where do you want to meet?" I turned the key, and Old Faithful roared to life.

"I need chocolate ice cream, and I need it now," she replied. I almost laughed, thinking that she was being sarcastic. She wasn't.

"Oh, I have some in my freezer; come to my house."

"On my way."

I pulled up to my house with Angela right behind me. "Hi," I said. She didn't talk to anyone in class today. Even in Writing, she barely said anything to Mr. Beauregard when he approached her desk. Unlocking the door, I opened it and let Angela in first. She threw her bag in a chair and headed straight for the freezer.

"Chocolate Trinity. Oh, Bella, you're my hero." She pulled the container out of the freezer and a spoon out of the drawer. I went to grab a bowl, but when I saw she'd already dug into the half-gallon, I grabbed my own spoon out of the drawer and went to sit down with her. She ate that ice cream like it was her last meal. Gently, I set my spoon down and waited.

I might lose a finger if I try to claim any of that.

"Bella, I can't take it! My parents are obsessed about this whole college thing! My mom wants me to stay close, but my dad wants me to go to an Ivy League school. They bicker about it constantly – little jabs here and there. Mom accuses him of pushing her 'baby' out the door, and Dad accuses her of holding me back. It's insane. Like twenty years down the road, any of this will matter!" She dug back into the ice cream.

"I'm sorry, Angela," I said, unsure of what to say. I guess it was a catch-22 in any case.

You long for your freedom, but you want the security of your home, too. And you can't have it both ways.

"I don't want to disappoint my dad, but I don't want to hurt my mom. I have to choose, and it really sucks." Angela sighed and hung her head.

"Yeah, I'm sure it does." My heart fell for Angela. I didn't have to worry about choosing, but I bet it would be very hard to do.

She sighed, pushing away the container of ice cream. "It just seems so petty, so small, in the grand scheme of things."

"Sure. What do you want to do? Where do you want to go?" I asked, softly.

"I don't know. That's just it. I'm so undecided that I really could use my parents help, but it's like War of the Roses in there."

I really longed for an epiphany, some little nugget of wisdom that would help Angela.

I didn't have one. She meant a lot to me, and I wished to God I could help her; she helped me so much. But, sometimes there is nothing to say, no nugget of wisdom to make it all better. Sometimes, the greatest gift you can give someone is to physically just be there.

Dear Mom,

Things are changing quickly now. I'm still not sure what to do after high school. I applied to a few schools in Seattle, to stay near Dad. I know you would be appalled – Forks was never your favorite place, but it has become home to me.

Oh – I have a boyfriend now. His name is Edward, and he is unlike anyone I have ever met. I actually met him in the driveway, of all places! He's kind and so smart. He has a great family that he loves, and he adores his mom. I remember you told me to watch for that. Mom, he leaves me speechless. I feel a little lost in this relationship and I wish you were around to help me. Truthfully, I feel that he's too good for me. I'm terrified to say that to him for fear he hasn't realized that yet and would then say, 'Oh, sorry, Bella. I didn't see that before, but I do now. Goodbye.' Okay, that sounded lame, but you get the idea.

I miss you, Mom.

Love, Bella

I wrote to my mom pretty regularly now. I still missed her, but every entry in my journal got me one step out of the devastation. Eventually, I would just miss her and treasure the memories, rather than them crippling me.

The clock read eleven-thirty; Edward would be here soon. I quietly slipped out of my room and across the hall to listen at Charlie's door. After I heard his soft snoring, I tiptoed downstairs and quietly opened the back door to wait for Edward. Sloppy, squishy footsteps crossed my backyard, and I turned to greet my Edward. However, as he got closer, I didn't see Edward crossing my yard, I saw the man from the tree line last fall.

Or was it? Oh my God, that couldn't be!

"Bella, what's wrong?" Edward asked as he entered the porch, concern written along the chiseled features of his face.

"You're him! He's you! That...that was YOU!" I stuttered.

Edward stopped and towered in front of me, his shoulders squared and his jaw tight. "What are you talking about, Bella?" he asked. His tone was weird, as if he dared me to say it.

"You...are the guy...at the tree line...last fall," I said slowly, letting it sink in. I looked into his eyes; they were jet black. A hard black. "You...you paced at the tree line, and then as fast as lightning, you ran away. Why didn't you say anything? Why did you wait four months to come back? How did you run so fast? And what was wrong that night?"

He lowered his chin to his chest, although he kept his eyes intently focused on mine. "Bella, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh bullshit, you do so! Don't play this with me! That was you!"

"Bella, I don't know what you're talking about. No, Bella, it wasn't." He carefully over-enunciated each word.

"Yes, you it was." I enunciated right back.

"Seriously, Bella, I don't. And furthermore, if you saw a man in your yard, you should have called the police." He lowered his voice to a patronizing tone. "Didn't you say you have very vivid, strange dreams?"

I'm not crazy, jackass. I know what I saw.

"Look, Edward, I'm done playing this game. We both know that guy was you." I stomped my foot a lot like a three year old would have.

"Well, if you are going to be so obstinately and completely insane, I think I'll take leave." He turned to walk away and I grabbed his ice cold arm.

"Wait," I cried and felt desperate for him to stay. "Look, I don't care. I'm not afraid. I just wondered about you. I...I watched out my window for weeks for you to come back. I'm just...curious."

"Bella, I have to go. I'll see you later," he said as he snatched his arm out of my grasp. The sound of fast, squishy footsteps filled my back yard. Then nothing.

What the HELL was that?

What was the big deal, anyway? I mean, sure, the guy at the tree line – Edward – looked spooky, but it was just the scene: the moonlight and the leaves newly missing off the trees. Anyone would look creepy in that those circumstances.

Day 26

February 24

It was a typical Saturday morning at my house. At six a.m., I woke to hear Charlie getting ready to go fishing, but it was entirely too cold for me to set foot out of my bed. Then the door creaked quietly open before Charlie was about to leave.

"Hi, Dad," I whispered.

"Sorry, Bells, I didn't mean to wake you up. I just wanted to check on you before I left," Charlie whispered.

"Nah, you didn't really wake me up, I was just lying here," I mumbled.

He nodded. "Have a good day, Bells."

"Thanks, Dad, you too."

As I lay there cuddled up under my grandmother's thick quilt, I fell back to sleep. I always had these bizarre Alice-in-Wonderland dreams if I fell back to sleep. That morning was no different. I was deep in a valley of mountains made of rock and granite. A tiger chased me through the valley, into a dense, dark forest. But he slowed and didn't try to catch me in the darkness. I stumbled blindly and felt my way though, anxious to have all of my senses back when I suddenly came upon a clearing of snow and ice. My shoes slipped on the ice as I scooted and slid as fast as I could, the tiger again nipping at my heels. Suddenly, it was no longer winter, but spring. Giant lily pads covered a slow-moving river. I took a step on a lily pad, but I didn't fall into the water. I took another step, and another, when I realized the tiger wasn't following me. He lay down on the bank and buried his head into his giant, furry paws to sleep. I followed the path in the densely packed forest. Some parts I could run through but others I had to crawl or climb. Trees began to fall in front of me, one right after another. In the distance, I saw a woodcutter, cutting down the trees that blocked my path. Infuriated, I climbed over each one, determined to keep going. I woke up as I approached five gigantic granite boulders.

"God, I hate those!" I jumped up out of bed and shouted out loud to no one. I rolled out of bed around eight a.m. and stumbled to the bathroom. The bright sun sent streaks of sunshine in the windows on this side of the house. The cold, crisp air leaked through the badly insulated bathroom walls and old window, smelling fresh and clean. New.

A sunny day in Forks! I have a date with my lounger out back this afternoon.

My sock-covered feet padded down the hallway and into my room to get dressed. It was February and still bitter cold. I would never get used to this cold. Searching through my closet for something warm to wear, my phone vibrated on the nightstand, and I quickly stumbled over to get it. Oh, guess who.

"Hello, Edward. Feeling better?" I answered the phone with a sarcastic tone. After he beat feet out of here last night, I wasn't sure I would hear from him this morning; I didn't know if I wanted to.

"Um, yes, Bella. Thank you. I apologize for how I left last night. What can I do to make it up to you?" he asked softly. I guess everything is new in the morning. Especially perspective.

"Tell me what the hell happened."

"How about lunch?" he said, completely ignoring my answer.

"Oh sure. A lunch that I bet you can't eat!" I retorted, and quickly regretted the words. "I'm sorry. That wasn't fair."

"No...touché. I deserved that for last night. How about, after lunch, I take you to meet my sister, Alice?" he asked. And just like that, he dangled something shiny in front of the idiot and I couldn't help but take the bait.

He wants me to meet his family? Sure, I can do this...absolutely...no problem-o.

"Okay, that would be...nice." Instantly, I thought I was going to faint. Meeting a guy's family was a milestone in a relationship. Butterflies did kamikaze missions in my stomach; I felt giddy about the milestone yet scared enough to jump in front of a Mack truck.

"Great. I will pick you up at your house at two. Bring an umbrella." Edward-the-enchanting instructed.

"Why? It's beautiful outside. Oh, wait a minute; did God call you with the up-to-the-minute weather forecast again?" I chided behind a giggle.

"Nah, he just sent a text this time," he laughed.

"Well, alright then." I laughed. "I'll see you at two. Bye," I said and hung up the phone gently.

Alice. Alice. What did I know about Alice?

Unfortunately, not that much.

Edward arrived in his very clean and organized silver Volvo and we drove to the mall. "We're meeting Alice at the mall?" I asked.

"This is Alice in her element." He laughed.

As we crossed the parking lot, I felt the all too familiar rise of panic and the possible rise of my stomach contents. I tried to breathe deeply and silently reassure myself that I could do this...I needed to get out of these shackles if I was going to live a real life. I felt the cold touch of Edward's hand as it gripped mine and lightly squeezed. He knew. He understood.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"Of course. Was that too hard?" he asked.

"Was what too hard?"

"When I squeezed your hand. Was that too hard?" he asked again.

"No, it was fine." And he calls me weird.

"Good. I'm new at this boyfriend role. Although," he continued quietly, "I'm very much enjoying it." He lightly squeezed my hand again and shot a crooked, beautiful smile my way.

"Me too," I whispered. "Not boyfriend – the girlfriend thing, I mean"

As we walked up to the door, I caught our reflections in the glass. My heart fell as I was reminded again that he deserved better than me. Edward opened the door for me and softly put his hand on my back, guiding me as we walked through the door.

"Hello!" A musical, little voice rang out from under a wooden gazebo in the atrium.

"Alice?" I whispered.

"Alice." Edward nodded.