Chapter nine. Kissing An Angel

Bella's POV

"Do you believe in the supernatural?" I mused aloud. Jacob played with my fingers silently. HE did not answer. I suppose he was giving me the silent treatment because I had been acting weird.

"I already apologised", I mumbled, gripping his finger hard to get his attention.

We were sat in the library, it was lunchtime and neither of us felt hungry so we wandered around. Jacob sighed heavily. I immediately felt guilty for ignoring him all day. My thoughts were clouded, and of course I was thinking about him. Edward.

The way he looked at me this morning. At first with confusion when we were so close, so very close. Then with lust, pure adulterated lust. It was the intimacy of the situation, because we were the only ones there. In our own little world, just me and my angel.

And then it had an unhappy ending because he had snatched himself away from me. Suddenly, Edward was so far away. I felt so empty without him. He had practically begged me to go to school. I didn't understand what was going on.

First, he had stepped closer to me and then he ordered me to get as far away from him as possible with the unbelievable fury in his eyes.

"...only been your best friend forever. You don't have to tell me anything. It doesn't matter. I bet you're not even listening to me now", muttered Jacob under his breath. He stared at the ground, murmuring to himself.

"Sorry, what?"

With a look of frustration and a mostly hurt, Jacob pulled himself back and stood up. He glared at me for a couple of seconds.

"What?" I asked him again.

"Did you listen to anything I had just said?" He spoke through gritted teeth.

"yeah...I was...yes, of course you said that we were best friends forever and..." I trailed off sheepishly. Jacob stared at me in confusion.

"Thanks", he said. And then walked away.

--

Of course, he shouldn't have thanked me. I didn't even understand what the 'thanks' was meant for but I knew it was obvious sarcasm. I stood up after a while, staring after my best friend as he vanished out of the library door.

I considered calling after him but I knew that would earn me nothing but a glare from the librarian.

I gathered my books, pilling them into my bag as quickly as I could and practically raced out of the way, the same way that Jake had gone through.

He shouldn't have walked away from me like that. I knew that I had been on mars, in my own thoughts all day but that didn't give him an excuse to over react. So what if I had a lot on my mind? He should be the understanding friend, not pissed off and annoyed.

I felt guilty as I skipped after him, knowing that maybe I had ignored him a little bit too much today.

"Jake!" I called out when I noticed him. He slouched against the wall near his locker, fiddling with his jacket zipper.

"What?" he said in a toneless, indifferent voice.

"Are you ok?" I asked him as I slowed down towards him. He shrugged, turning to look at me.

"Don't walk away from me like that, I get lonely", I said punching him arm. He grabbed my hand.

"And I get lonely when my best friend acts like I'm invisible", he shot back hotly. I sighed and wrapped my arms around his torso.

"I'm sorry", I said in a quiet voice.

"I understand if you're hiding something", Jacob carried on, "and I won't pressure you to speak. But why do you ignore me like that? I've been trying to get your attention all day. Is it something I said? Did I upset you?"

Here comes the guilt again. I gulped it down, forcing myself not to blurt out the truth immediately. Well you see Jacob, I've got a guardian angel and that's where my mind's been all day. I'm hopelessly attracted to him but I'm not allowed to tell anyone about his deliciousness.

"You didn't upset me", I murmured, squeezing him tightly. His lips brushed against my hair. The bell went but we made no move to go to class. I closed my eyes, happy to be in his arms.

"What is it then?" asked Jacob gently. I knew he was still curious. But I couldn't tell him. Edward had told me not to tell. Besides, he didn't seem too pleased to see Jacob's shirt in my room this morning. I didn't understand what had gotten into him but he acted like what a father would do.

"I guess it's just PMS", I said with a nervous laugh. Jacob laughed too, his chest shaking in silent laughter. I was happy he bought the lie. I hated lying to him. And I was glad that I wasn't caught because my blush had already made its appearance on my face.

"You're such a girl", he teased, ruffling my hair, "And here I thought you were dying or something."

"Shouldn't you two be in class?" Snapped a voice.

I jumped slightly, looking up to see Miss Beautiful Hale striding towards us. She was wearing a red suite today with matching high heels. I hated the fact that she was taller than me, I felt like I was in kindergarten again.

"What's your lesson?" she asked, her eyes fixated on me. I had no idea why she looked so angered at me. Lately, I had been picked on a lot in my English class. She acted as if I kicked her cat.

Her long blonde hair was flicked back and her odd golden eyes were cold.

"We've both got biology", said Jacob coming to my rescue.

"Get a move on then", she said icily. Jacob righted me, giving me a slight push towards our class. I felt my cheeks burn in embarrassment as I stumbled. Of course my best friend was there to steady me.

"Hurry up", she hissed as we walked down the hallway.

I felt myself shudder.

--

Edward's POV

(From the last chapter)

"The question is", Carlisle spoke, "do you trust her enough to tell her?"

"Absolutely not", shrieked Rosalie bringing her hand down to smack the unused dinning table. This time she was really catching everyone's attention. Her eyes were livid, glaring venom straight at me. Don't you dare, Edward! Don't you dare!

"Surely it's Edward's decision", murmured Esme, smiling at me faintly. If you trust her then we all do too.

"It's the whole family's decision", Rosalie pointed out. "This affects all of us here."

"Well I think he should tell her", Alice cut in before Rosalie opened her mouth again, "Or things are going to get complicated. Once Bella knows, I can meet her! Then we'll be the best of friends."

Well, son? What are you going to do? "Edward?" Carlisle was looking at me expectantly. I took in a deep breath though I didn't need it. Was I going to tell Bella? The last vision from Alice had practically scarred me. She was running away, from me. She looked terrified.

"If you love her, tell her", said Esme quietly, "she deserves to know."

"She doesn't care about him", spat out Rosalie, "he's wasting his time. Isabella Swan is human and taken. She has a boyfriend."

What? I have not seen this. Edward? Edward?! Alice turned to me, wide eyed and shocked.

"What are you talking about?" I glared at Rosalie, "She told me herself that she wasn't in a relationship."

Calm down, Jasper almost whispered in his thoughts.

I knew Bella wouldn't lie to me. Would she? No, of course not. She thought I was her guardian angel. I would protect her as one and that mean she would trust me. I knew she trusted me already. But surely she wouldn't lie?

"Really?" Rosalie smirked. Her mind flashed with pictures and images.

Bella stood in a corridor with her arms around a tall boy. The boy had long black hair and darkly tanned skin. His arms were around Bella, my Bella. His lips brushed against the top of her head, over her hair.

"I guess its just PMS", Bella laughed into his chest, burying her face against him. He laughed along with her. The picture was a perfect symbol of a couple. Boyfriend and girlfriend hugging each other, holding onto each other.

Believe me now? Rosalie started at me triumphantly.

"Who was that?" I hissed through my teeth, the image of Bella holding onto someone else was still burning through my mind.

"Jacob Black", Rose answered simply.

"She told me herself", I whispered in disbelief. Rosalie must've been talking about someone else. Surely, it must've been a mistake.

"Bella and Jacob have been close for years", Rosalie snapped at me, "She's obviously lying if she tells you otherwise. She's human, Edward, they're all the same. And you cannot tell her."

Her mind flooded with pictures, flashes of two beings. Just Bella and the boy, Jacob, always walking together, sitting together, holding hands, laughing. Always together. Always with him.

I felt my skin crawl, my instinct burning to roar out.

"Enough Rosalie", warned Jasper.

"What exactly is your relationship status with this girl, Edward?" Carlisle asked. His thoughts were based on my well being and happiness.

"She's his future wife", Alice cut in before I got to speak.

"But she's human", said Emmett looking confused.

"He's going to change her", Alice told him in an obvious tone.

"No!" I snapped, unable to contain myself, "Bella will stay human."

"You will leave her alone then", Rosalie said to me. She stared straight at me, her cold golden eyes looking right at mine. "She's human, she stays human. You're a vampire, you stay one, act like one. Stay away from her. Don't fall for a taken girl."

"She is not taken", I hissed. Rosalie took a step towards me, challenging me with her glare.

Her mind attacked me once more as she practically screamed the images of Bella with someone.

Taken.

She's taken.

the words were thrown at me.

Taken.

Human.

Jacob Black.

"Edward?" We're your family, we can help you. "Edward? What are you going to do?" asked Esme, staring at me with concern.

"She's mine", I whispered, before running straight out of the door and towards Bella's house.

--

It was too late. Whatever Rosalie wanted me to do, it was too late for that. Maybe if I had turned away from Bella on the first day I saw her. Nine years old and innocent. Maybe then I would be able to rip myself away from her.

But now, it was too late. I had touched her and my skin craved the moment when I could touch her again. I wanted my lips and hers to make contact. I wanted her. Not her blood, though the monster inside of me craved that too. I wanted Bella.

Alice was right. I had fallen for the fragile human girl. Seeing her in someone else's mind made me understand what I needed to know.

My body had changed for her. I had built up an amount of self control already. The physical attraction was there. She was a woman and I was man. She was beautiful and now, I loved her.

My feet pounded softly on the forest floor as I dodge the trees, running, racing towards my destination. I didn't care that Bella was holding someone else earlier. She was mine. My wild instinct had already adapted for that. I wouldn't be letting go. I couldn't. Not without knowing if she didn't want me either.

I scaled the walls of the house easily; listening out for the minds that I knew would be there. There were two snoring minds which I understood as her adopted parents. And then there was Bella with her soft, even breathing.

I reached her window and landed inside with a gentle thud.

She was awake, though it was half past midnight. She lay on her back, staring at the white blank ceiling. Her hands were fisting the sheets as she rested on it. She was covered with small black shorts and a white vest top.

"Who is Jacob Black?" I didn't mean for my words to come out in a growl but they did. Bella flinched back, startled and slowly sat up. I was momentarily mesmerized by her beauty, soft and innocent yet powerful enough to intoxicate the opposite sex. A vampire of the opposite sex.

"I...Jake? Jacob's my friend", Bella stuttered, seeming surprised. I walked towards her and she watched my movements closely. "I told you about him this morning. Remember? The shirt and the..."

"Your friend?" I asked her carefully. Bella blushed bringing her knees to her chest. She smiled faintly, her eyes tracing over me. I so wanted to know what she was thinking at that moment, staring at me and paint colouring her cheeks.

"I...Are you jealous?" she blurted out suddenly, then reddened the blood darkening.

I was taken back by her conclusion. Her precise and correct conclusion. Was I truly that see-through? I calmed myself down, wondering how Bella predicted where I was going with this

"Why would you think that?" I asked her, sitting at the end of the bed. Bella crossed her legs, resting her hands on the lap as she looked at me nervously.

"Well...I...don't...I just presumed by the way...you're acting..." she trailed off in a quieter voice.

"I have certain resources tell me that you're close with Jacob." I couldn't stop myself from sounding sour and bitter. It reminded me of a hormonal teenager who had gotten scowled from his parents.

"Of course we're close", Bella informed me, "We're best friends, Edward. And I didn't tell him. About you, I mean. I'm keeping you a secret. But I hate lying to my friend, it's hard."

"So you're close with him..."

"close in a friend way", Bella finished off for me. She narrowed her eyes at me for a couple of seconds. "You told me that it isn't wise for me to be in a relationship and I'm not. I don't think I will be for a while."

She smiled at me, content with her explanation and I couldn't help but smile back at her. The air buzzed with certain electricity. Bella reached out, placing her warm soft hands on mine. It was a small human gesture that appeared amazingly huge to me.

"Bella, do you trust me?" I whispered, Alice's words playing in my head. Tell her Edward. You have to tell her.

I hated the last vision that Alice had shown me. It had ruined everything that I hoped to happen. I couldn't tell Bella that I was a vampire, not now. Could I? She was only human after all, she'd run, scared and panicked.

But I wanted to her know who I truly was.

"Yes", she murmured back.

I took her hand, holding it in my cold lifeless ones. She did not protest from the cool temperature. Bella closed her eyes, a small faint smile displayed on her lips. I leaned in close, inhaling gently, controlling myself.

Her skin and scent was fragranced and mouth watering. Her blood flushed from her neck and cheek burned my throat. I leaned closer slowly until our lips touched. Just a light feather skim.