Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or the characters. Thanks a million to my beta, CrystalRaindrop!

: - Dedication - :

Firstly, I'd like to dedicate this to NicoleMarinCullen for making me believe I have a chance in the Awards. Secondly, I'd like to dedicate this chapter toJIRDST4eva for having the longest review for Ch. 8 and finally ... to everyone who said they'd vote for me! YOU MAKE ME SOOO HAPPY!


A Child of the Night — Chapter Nine

Previously ...

"Stay with me?" I asked, and he caught my hand in his, pressing his lips softly to my knuckles.

"Yes," he said, and he laid down on top of the quilt beside me. I curled into his embrace, and I laid my head on his chest, completely comfortable. And as I began to fall asleep, I remembered something.

"Charlie will find you here in the morning," I mumbled sleepily. "He always checks on me before he goes to work. And don't you have school tomorrow?"

"Three day weekend," he explained. "And don't worry. I'll stay awake until he leaves. Sleep now, my Bella. Dream sweet dreams."

But I was already drifting away.

February 15th, Friday - 1:00 PM — Edward POV

When my eyes first opened, the first thing I wanted to do was shut them again. I was exhausted; I had stayed awake for hours after Bella had fallen asleep, simply watching her. As she slept, her worries were gone. Everything disappeared. She seemed so care-free in sleep. Unafraid. Unworried. Unbroken. I smiled, and kissed her forehead as she began to stir.

"Morning, Bella," I whispered, and she blinked sleepily, her eyes illuminated softly by the light that flowed in through her tinted window.

"Morning," she breathed, and she curled closer to me. Somehow, in the middle of the night, I had moved under the quilt, and we were pressed so close together it was hard to find where one ended and the other began. I laughed, and tickled her sides lightly.

"Wake up, sleepy head!" I sang, and she glared at me, possibly for being so cheery so early. Oh, right. It wasn't early. "It's one in the afternoon," I said, and I winced, imagining the lecture that I was most likely going to get from my parents when I got home.

Bella bolted upright in bed.

"Oh, shoot! Wow, it's late!"

I laughed at her as she frantically tried to smooth down her messy hair. She turned to me, and her blind eyes were laced with sleepiness.

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier? Oh, boy. Late, late, late," she chanted, and she stumbled around the room, her hands running over everything as she searched. I wasn't sure what she was searching for until her hands landed upon a small, blue toothbrush. She picked it up into her hands, and stumbled out of her room and down the hall. A muffled, "ouch" followed her, and I bolted up in concern, running down the hall to find her. But she was already on her feet again, shuffling inside the bathroom.

I waited until she was finished with her teeth and was running a brush through her to speak.

"I have to leave for a little while."

I tried to ignore the way her hands begin trembling on the brush. I had to, and watching her pain would only make it that much harder.

"I have to go home and change, and talk with my parents. Oh! And if you're still willing — and if I'm not grounded for life — would you like to come over for dinner tonight?"

I could see her nervousness grow and expand, but she nodded bravely.

"If it means I can stay with you longer, yes."

I smiled, and moved until I was standing behind her. I placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, and she smiled softly, though still frightened.

"I'll be back in an hour. One hour. No more, I promise."

"One hour?" she asked, as if confirming my statement. I nodded against her shoulder, and closed my eyes, breathing in her scent in before moving away from her.

"One hour. I promise, Bella. Are you all right being alone?"

She gave me a look as if to say "I've been alone for seventeen years" and I smiled sadly, brushing my fingers across her cheek before walking from the bathroom.

"I'll be back soon," I promised, and she smiled and nodded, turning away and closing her eyes, as if she couldn't bear, though she couldn't see, to watch me walk away.

I ran the whole way home, briefly thankful that I'd driven to her house before and therefore knew the way. But when I stood outside of the door of the place I'd called home for over seventeen years, my hand gripping the cold, wet knob, I paused, taking a deep breath in. I had been gone all night, and I was sure that no one in my family had slept well. Or at all.

And then the I opened the door, and I closed my eyes, waiting.

The shouting never came.

"Edward."

It was a soft, quiet voice. It was my mother. I looked into her eyes, and my heart clenched painfully at the grief and sorrow I saw shining in them.

"Oh, Edward!"

She threw herself into my arms, and sobbed. And then Dad, Emmett and Alice, hearing my name, came quickly into the room. Alice and Emmett were excited; Dad's expression was shining in disappointment.

"I'm sorry, Mum," I whispered, holding her. "Sorry, guys."

"Where were you?" my mother demanded tearfully. "You scared me so much, running away like that! You … you … you just ran! And you didn't come back, and you didn't call, and … and …"

She began sobbing again, and I could look anyone in the eye; I was too ashamed to meet their concerned gazes. So instead, I closed my eyes, and held my mom close.

"I'm sorry," I whispered again, and I wished that those two, small, meaningless words would make everything all right. But they didn't, and when I finally opened my eyes, my mother was still crying and my father had his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze cast toward the floor.

"I was out with Bella," I murmured, explaining though they hadn't yet asked. "She … she's the girl I've been seeing. She's the one Dr. Snow was talking about. I was … so surprised, and I felt so betrayed, and angry, because she didn't trust me enough to tell me. And then I found her, and we talked for so long. And when I tried to leave, she began crying. She's so scared that I'll leave her now that I know the truth. I couldn't … I couldn't have just left. I couldn't have, Dad. It hurt too much."

Though I was holding my mother, and staring at my siblings, my words were meant for my father alone, because I needed him to understand. I needed him to understand, because I couldn't bare it if he was disappointed in me.

"You could have called," he said, and though he was still calm, his voice was laced with the anger I'd feared. "One call, Edward. We were all so worried. You could have called."

"I know. I know. I'm sorry," I whispered, and then Alice ran over to me, and she grabbed onto me, and buried her head in my jeans as she, too, began to sob. I looked up, and met Emmett's eyes for one brief moment. And then he, too, walked over and enveloped me in a hug.

My father, though, simply walked away.

3:00 PM —Bella POV

Edward had been back for over an hour now. When he'd first pulled me into his arms, he had been so stiff, and though I couldn't see his face, his voice as he greeted me betrayed all the emotions he was feeling. But then he'd laughed, and told me that his mother had simply insisted that I come over for dinner. And, he informed me, when his mother wanted something she, more often than not, got it.

I smiled, and I moved silently around the kitchen, humming tunelessly.

"Whatcha doing?" Edward asked, and my heart began hammering in my chest once more.

"I'm making food."

"We're going to my parent's in a few hours for dinner," he reminded me, and I could almost see his eyebrows scrunched in confusion, his lips turned down. I laughed, and poked his nose with my finger as I twirled in circles, moving from one counter to the other as I worked on my masterpiece.

"I know. I have to make dinner for Charlie, though. It'll be cold, but he can heat it up. He won't be home until late tonight, and I can't leave him without anything."

I was sure Edward had nodded, but I paid him little attention as I went back to work. When I was finished, I topped the Stroganoff and placed it in the refrigerator. I clasped my hands together, and turned in Edward's direction. He came to me, and I smiled in thanks. When he was close, I could almost see him, because I could feel him. It made me more comfortable. I reached out and took his hand.

"So. We have a couple hours until we have to go," he said, and I could tell he was hesitant to return home again. "What should we do?"

I was just about bouncing with excitement. "Will you watch a movie with me?"

"A movie?" he asked, and he sounded surprised. I could tell he wanted very badly to ask why a blind girl would watch anything, but he didn't. He was a perfect gentlemen. So, instead, he said, "Sure. What movie?"

"Romeo and Juliet."

I don't know many guys that would willingly watch Romeo and Juliet with a girl, much less happily, but Edward did. He wrapped me up in a warm cocoon of blankets, and then started the movie for us. And as it continued on, I listened intently, painting a picture in my mind of how I imagined tings to be. I lost my concentration, however, the moment Edward began to recite Romeo's lines in my ear. I shivered as his cool breath tickled my skin, and tried to concentrate again. It was very, very hard.

"Edward," I gasped breathlessly. "I'm blind, not deaf."

He grinned against my neck, where he'd rested his head only minutes ago.

"I know."

He didn't say anything else, but continued to whisper in my ear. And though it annoyed me slightly that I could no longer concentrate on my favorite movie, I couldn't think past the fact that Edward was here, beside me, holding me, content in simply being with me.

"What do you suppose Juliet would have done if Romeo didn't love her as she loved him?" I questioned at one point, trying not to cry as the scene with Romeo in the tomb played across the screen that I couldn't see. I could hear, though, and it made everything that much more real. I could hear his sorrow, and his pain.

"Well," Edward said, and he shifted on the couch until I was leaning against him. "I suppose she would have gone to Paris. He loved her, and she could have learned to love him, too. "

"But if she loved Romeo, how could she do that? If you love a person so much that nothing else in the world matters, how could you move on?"

"If he didn't love her, she would have had no choice," he whispered, and his voice was very quiet.

"I suppose," I said, and I leaned into him, closing my eyes as the words of Romeo washed over me once more. "This movie is so sad. If I ever died, I wouldn't want anyone to kill themselves over me. See? Romeo couldn't move on, either. He didn't want to live because she didn't live. I wonder if love like that is actually possible. Love so deep that you would rather die than continue living without the person that means so much to you."

"I'm sure it does," Edward said softly, and then silence fell. I didn't speak again as the movie continued on, but Edward continued to whisper Romeo's lines in my ear. I could concentrate only on him, so I missed a good portion of the movie.

When the credits began to roll across the screen, I turned to Edward and smiled.

"Thank you," I breathed, and he chuckled lightly against my skin, burying his head in the blankets that surrounded me still.

"For what? Ruining the movie for you?"

"I rather liked it, actually. I prefer your voice over the actor that plays Romeo any day. His voice is far too deep. Yours is soft, and gentle. Like velvet," I informed him.

"You think I would make a good Romeo?" he asked, and amusement laced his voice now. "Really?"

"Yes," I said decidedly. "A very good Romeo. You're very passionate, and whoever gets to become your Juliet will be a very lucky lady."

He didn't say anything else, and we sat in silence until the credits of the movie ended and the tape began to fuzz. Edward jumped up to rewind and eject it, and as he moved, I suddenly felt cold and empty, even though I was still wrapped tightly in the blankets.

"Now what?" he asked, and I gasped, not realizing he had been so close. But then I smiled.

"Is it dark yet?"

"Almost. The sun has set, but it's still a little bit light."

I nodded, and I stood to my feet.

"I should get ready. Um … what should I wear?"

I could feel him shrug beside me. "Something nice. It doesn't really matter. My family won't care."

"I care, Edward. I … want them to like me. I've not had a friend in a very long time, and I don't want them to hate me."

He smiled, and he brushed his fingers across my cheek.

"All right, then. A skirt, perhaps, and a nice blouse."

I nodded, and moved as quickly as I could up the stairs. I made sure not to fall — a trip to the Emergency Room would surely ruin the night — and made it to my room in record time. I shuffled through my closet, and found my favorite blue blouse. It was made of the softest material I'd ever felt. Not silk, but something like it. It wasn't fancy, but it was nice. I paired it with my only khaki skirt, and ran a brush through my hair quickly before brushing my hands across my shirt to smooth it out. I smiled.

"All right, I'm ready!" I announced, bouncing down the stairs. As fate would have it, though, I tripped on the bottom one. I clenched my eyes shut and winced, waiting for the impact.

But it never came.

"Be a little more careful, Bella," a soft, beautiful, velvet voice whispered in my ear. "Please, for me."

"Uh huh," I breathed, and he helped me to my feet again. I heard a sharp intake of breath, and was confused. "What? Do I look bad? Should I change?"

"Bad?" he said, and he sounded angry. "No. Bella, you look beautiful. So beautiful."

I blushed. I couldn't help it.

And then the nervousness set in.

"Oh, they're going to hate me," I agonized, biting my lip as Edward caught my hand in his, laughing as he led me to the door. I paused there to stuff my shoes on, and as I did so, he peered anxiously out of the window.

"I think it's dark enough. C'mon, let's go. My family is dying to meet you. And no, they will not hate you. They'll love you. It's impossible not to."

My heart beat fast at his words, and I smiled as he led me from the house. We stopped halfway down the driveway, though, and I frowned. I reached out, and my fingers brushed lightly against cold metal.

"It's my Volvo. I'm actually grounded from driving right now, but I decided as long as I was breaking the rules, I might as well break them thoroughly," he clarified, sensing my confusion.

"Oh," I said, and he opened my door and helped me inside. I sat quietly in the passenger seat and smiled when the car started with a quiet purr. Edward turned the music down, and the heater up, and then we were off. I was about to ask where he lived, but I cut myself off as I recognized the music slowly, quietly, flowing from the speakers.

"Clair De Lune?" I blurted out, and surprise colored my tone.

"You know Debussy?" he asked, astonished. I nodded.

"Yeah. Not well, though. My father plays a lot of classical music around the house. I only know my favorites."

I could hear the smile in his voice. "It's one of my favorites, too."

I listened intently to the music then, letting it wash over me. Edward reached over and turned it up a bit, and I smiled, letting my eyes close. It was a beautiful song, really. Music was a big thing for me. Because I couldn't see, I only sparingly watched movies. But music ... it was beautiful. It had so much feeling, so much emotion. It meant so much.

"We're here."

A soft, sweet voice broke me from my thoughts. I smiled, and nodded, and reached for my seatbelt. But before I could unbuckle myself, Edward pushed my hands out of the way and undid it for me. I giggled a little bit, and he gently kissed my forehead.

"C'mon. I can see Alice in the window. She's vibrating across the floor."

I laughed, briefly wondering who Alice was before figuring that she was his sister. And then I was walking toward the door with Edward by my side, and all of my previous nervousness, calmed by the music that had been playing, came crashing back.

"Edward ... " I whimpered, and he held my hand tighter.

"Don't worry, Bella," he whispered, and we stopped for a moment then. I could hear the opening of the door, and I moved a step closer to Edward's side. "Like I said, they'll love you."

My heart began beating very fast. Not because of my nervousness, though, but because his words, whispered what seemed forever ago, came flooding back.

Because it's impossible not to.


I think I'm confusing people. I know Edward and Bella's feelings for each other are more than friendship. But neither of them realize it yet. Especially Bella. Imagine never even having a friend. How could you tell love from friendship, if you'd never felt either one of them?

NOTE: Well, it only took 24 hours to get through my writer's block. Know why I decided to update today even though I said I wouldn't? Because I went on an insane writing spree last night, stayed up until five in the morning, and finished 9 chapters. YAY ME! I am now back to a regular updating schedule.

Please Review! ( I also accept Anon. reviews. So you don't need an account to review. )


NEXT CHAPTER:

"I'm also quite eager to meet this girlfriend of yours."

That successfully snapped me out of the thought induced haze that had set over me.

"She's not my girlfriend," I muttered, and he laughed.