AN; Reviewers, as always, I lovee you :] sorry it took so long to come outt – again. I guess I really suck at the whole getting chapters out quickly thing. Well, last week I managed to get 2 out in two days, so I'll hopefully be able to get a lot more out; especially now that its half term :DD
So my excuses range from my mum being ill , to pathetic ones like it being a nice day and me wanting to sit outside, and even me not being able to find a font that I like. I know, but I have this big issue about writing in fonts that I hate; I'm a freak, w/e. Sorry :[ Jasper can come and bite me.
Right, so, without any more delay, here's chapter eight (:
Disclaimer; Yep, all these characters are miiiine. – gets book thrown at me – as I was saying, there all STEPHENIE MEYER'S. Ouch, books HURT.
Recap
It was just as I'd turned into the parking lot that it happened; a boy that I recognised as Tyler, from my lunch table, turned a corner and started speeding straight for me.
Tyler was coming straight for me… and something, someone maybe, had pushed me out the way… I'd seen Edward Cullen standing beside my van afterwards… he had been standing a few car spaces away just the second before…
He looked even paler than normal, if that was possible, "I need answers Edward. And you're going to give me them."
Chapter 8; Answers
He left soon after that. But not before I made him swear that I was going to get answers. I know, I know; why should I trust him? It was just something about his face, almost like he was in pain, when he told me 'that it wasn't really the right place for this' – okay, I'll give him that one. I didn't really want any old person listening in to that particular conversation – and 'he had to speak to his family first' that made me believe him, and let him go.
Thankfully, he also agreed to helping me get out of there too, and within another hour or so, I was back at home, with the week off school and some pain killers for my head.
It was when I got home, later that evening, that I began having second thoughts. I mean, if I was stuck at home all week, how was I going to speak to Edward? He didn't promise me a time that he'd give me answers, he just said he'd give me them. Was he bluffing? Was it all just one big practical joke on me, and he wasn't a vampire at all? Had he told all his family, and they were now worried for my mental health and laughing up my idiocy?
I was going over various excuses in my head to make up for my absurd behaviour when I heard a tap at the window.
I was sitting on my bed, in old sweats and a baggy t-shirt, with my wet hair dripping down my back. It was just past ten o'clock at night. Who, in their right mind would climb up to my window at night just to say hi?
Oh, I had a pretty good idea who. My suspicions were confirmed as soon as I looked out the window, and I saw Edward Cullen, hanging on to the frame, anxiousness clear on his face, looking like a fallen angel… how ironic.
I hurried over and shoved it open, whispering furiously "What the heck do you think you're doing?!"
"Exactly what you want," he said, a little amused it seemed, at my shock and embarrassment at him being in my room. He was inside in a second, and I forgot all my worries about going crazy and imagining everything. He was clearly anything but human. I can't really see how anyone could believe he was. "I'm giving you answers."
"Oh," I replied, unsure of what else to say. What do you do when there's a boy – okay, hardly boy. Vampire god is probably more appropriate – in your room? I certainly didn't have a clue, not really having much experience.
Sinking back down onto my bed, I added, "Go on," and motioned for him to sit at my desk chair in the corner of the room.
Instead, he started pacing the length of my room, a little faster than should be possible for a human. The room wasn't all that huge, and if I weren't so impatient, annoyed and, I have to admit, scared, I would have probably found the sight comical. As it was, I just watched with anxious eyes.
After about two more minutes of pacing, he finally spoke, "I don't know where to start," he admitted, a frown on his face, "Well, I suppose I should just make it clear. You were right." He stopped pacing and looked me right in the eye. "My family and I, we are vampires."
It seemed to make the situation a lot more real when he said it out loud like that. I took in a shaky breath and nodded. Now would not be the time to run from the room screaming.
"Okay. Secondly, we did hear about the massacre-" I flinched slightly and he sent me an apologetic look, "Sorry. We did hear about the, uh, incident, in Phoenix. But we never imagined that that's where you lived, that that's why you moved… I'm sorry. We should have realised sooner." He seemed extremely sincere.
I simply nodded again. Edward, or any of the Cullens, actually, seemed to often have the same effect on me; the effect being where I suddenly became mute.
"So I want you to know, my family and I, we're not like that." My face slipped into a slight frown, which he saw, "Let me explain. What I mean is, we don't, do that."
My frown grew more pronounced and he sighed. "We don't kill people," he said quickly.
"Oh," again, showing my brilliant eloquence.
"We hunt animals," he explained, this time at a more normal speed.
"Oh," I said, with more understanding. "Is that why your eyes…?" I trailed off, not wanting to sound stupid.
"You noticed that," I nodded, there seemed to be a pattern forming here. He talked, I nodded, or formed one word responses, "Yes, that's why our eyes are golden, not red."
I shuddered slightly at the pictures that brought to mind, but continued anyway, "And they're black when you're, um… thirsty?"
"Yes." His face was a mixture of amusement and shock, "You are quite observant, aren't you?" I didn't reply and there was a few seconds of silence, in which we simply stared at each other.
"Is there anything else you'd like to know?" He asked, breaking the silence. I cleared my throat, for it had become mysteriously dry.
"Only everything," I said, and to my great surprise, he nodded and sat down at the chair I'd first motioned at. He must have seen the shock on my face as he said, "I figure I owe you some answers, considering everything."
More silence. "Well, what would you like to know?"
"Why do you do it?" I asked, before I could stop myself.
Edward look puzzled, "Do what?"
"Not hunt humans," I explained, blushing a little as I realised how stupid I sounded, "I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm completely glad that you don't. But, why? Why struggle so hard to not be what you inevitably are?"
He looked down, "We don't want to be monsters," he said with a slight frown on his face, "Just because you're dealt a certain hand doesn't mean you have to use it. Wouldn't you feel the same?"
I paused and thought for a while, "Yes, I suppose you're right."
He smiled, and I was happy to realise that I only felt a small fraction of the fear that I had before. "Next question?"
I smiled back, and proceeded to quiz him on whatever thought entered my mind.
And we continued like that, till an early hour in the morning – vampires don't need to sleep, I found out last night. I guess some of the legends we believe about them are slightly correct; but no coffins, I checked that, too.
I didn't have to go to school today, anyway, so I didn't really see the harm in only a few hours sleep.
I awoke quite late in the morning that day, making up for the lack of sleep in the night, and felt strange. Content, happy even.
Because, it wasn't just that the conversation with Edward last night had made me feel a lot less scared of the Cullens than I had since that day in the cafeteria, or even that all my questions had finally been answered – well, maybe not all, but most - but, I had to admit, I'd enjoyed talking to him.
I know, I'm being stupid – no surprise there. But I couldn't help it. As I said before, it wasn't often that I had boys in my room; okay, I NEVER had boys in my room. Especially not absurdly charming and handsome vampires.
I gasped aloud. Because I couldn't deny it any longer. I was falling for Edward Cullen. The vampire. I was falling, alright. Hard.
***
I managed to persuade Charlie that I was okay to go to school the next day, and he gave in with a mumbled "try not to end up in hospital" – which I think was a little uncalled for. It's not like it was my fault Tyler sucked at driving and I was so clumsy I was practically disabled. I was pretty sure that was partially his fault actually. Charlie wasn't too light on his feet either, and he was my father.
So, feeling idiotically happy, I skipped – I know. Skipped. Boy, I had it bad - out to my truck, resulting in me slipping on the ice that had not melted yet, and landing on my ass. Thank god no one was around to see.
I laughed aloud a little, still stupidly merry, and was shocked when I heard laughter other than my own joining in. Maybe I'd thought too soon.
I spun around quickly, nearly falling again – me and ice, really not a good combination – but just before I could, two ice cold hands shot out and caught me by the elbows.
"Thanks," I said, a little breathlessly, "Uh, what are you doing here, though?"
It was amazingly hard to think clearly when in such close proximity with him.
"I imagined you wouldn't be too happy about having to stay at home all week," Edward said with a smile, seemingly pleased that he'd guessed correct, "And thought you could use a lift to school. I mean, we wouldn't want another accident would we?" He smirked at my scowl, and continued, regardless, "And, by the way you're going, an accident involving you could just be inevitable."
I opened my mouth to protest – that was almost as bad as Charlie's comment. Couldn't they cut me just a little slack? I was alive, wasn't I? – but he put a cool finger on my lips, abruptly stopping any thoughts I had and completely messing up my breathing pattern, and started guiding me towards his car. "We're late for school."
The car ride was mostly silent, until we were almost at school.
"Today's my turn, by the way." He said, facing the road a small smile on his lips.
"Huh?" I asked, caught off guard, I'd been completely lost in my own thoughts. Why did this guy even bother with me? I mean, here he was, incredible inside and out, and here I was, probably the most intelligent thing I'd said to him yet being a question concerning his vampire diet. It didn't make sense.
"Today's my turn asking questions," he replied, the smile growing more pronounced as he turned to look at me.
Oh heck. He was going to find out what a complete and utter idiot I was and never speak to me again.
"Uh, what do you want to know?" I said in an attempt at nonchalance.
"Everything," We'd arrived at school, and he turned into a parking space before grinning at me again. It made me happy to think that that did nothing to me anymore; I could see his teeth, and not be at all worried that I was going to die any second. Probably being dumb again, but I didn't care. For some absurd reason, I trusted Edward.
"What are you thinking?" He broke through my reverie again, surprising me with the tone of desperation and impatience in his voice. Not the kind of question I was expecting, but I suppose nothing was expected with Edward.
"Um," I looked down, battling internally with myself. Tell him the truth and face embarrassment? Or lie? I sucked at lying, so I went with the first option. "I was thinking about how I was a lot less scared of you now than before," I admitted, feeling my cheeks heating up a little.
Edward didn't say anything, so I looked up. His face was turned away from me, but I could faintly make out anger in his features. Worried that I'd said the wrong thing, I quickly changed the subject.
"Why?" It worked, Edward turned to look at me, his turn to be confused.
"Why?" He repeated.
"Why did you ask me that? I mean, no offence, but it's not exactly an incredibly normal question to ask someone…" I added, trailing off, unable to carry on as usual when I looked into his eyes.
Not breaking our gaze, he replied, "I'm not exactly an incredibly normal person," Smiling a little, he added, "Or vampire, for that matter."
I shook my head, trying to reorganise my newly scattered thoughts, "What do you mean?" God, he must think I'm slow, but everything Edward said seemed to be a riddle.
He sighed, "I can read peoples' minds," looking ahead, he added "Everyone's', except yours," before opening the door and getting out of the car. Within a second, he was at my door – the parking lot had gradually emptied during our conversation, and I was going to be late, but I couldn't seem to move.
I just sat there, trying to comprehend what I'd just heard. Edward can read minds. Everyone's mind. Except mine. Well, that I was quite glad about; could you imagine the embarrassment if he could read my mind?
"Are you planning on spending the whole day in there, or what?" He said, trying to appear casual and teasing, but I could see and hear the slight worry on his face and in his voice.
Wanting to ensure him that I wasn't about to run screaming from the area, I quickly shut my mouth and said, "Right. You, you read minds?" He nodded, and I slowly got out of the car, "Just you? Or can all vampires…?"
Slightly relieved that I'd regained a little of my composure, Edward replied, "No, it's just me."
"Oh," he waited a little, I presume to let that sink in. Good thing too, I doubt I'd have been able to form a coherent sentence just yet. Then again, no change there.
"There are others with gifts though," We began walking towards school, slowly, but I figured that at this point there was probably no point in even going to my first period class, considering how late I was anyway.
"Gifts?" He nodded again, and continued.
"Alice, my sister, she can see the future, and Jasper, he is able to manipulate the emotions of those around him," I was, once again, speechless.
"Wow," I managed to get out. "Seeing the future? So how does that-" But I was cut off.
"Nope, that's all you're getting today," He seemed to be back to his normal self, no longer worried that I was going to run away in terror. Or maybe he was, and was just good at hiding it. That wouldn't surprise me, seeing as by the things I had learnt so far, Edward seemed to be good at just about everything.
"It's my day for questions, remember?" I sighed in defeat, and motioned for him to proceed.
And he did. All day. I swear I was almost hoarse by the time he dropped me back home. I thought that maybe somewhere in the middle he would run out of questions, but nope; it had to be the most I'd talked since, well, ever. And he wasn't even done, he assured me with a smile, before driving away and leaving me standing on my porch staring after him. Probably looking very attractive with my mouth hanging open like an idiot, and possibly even some drool on my chin. I really hoped I was wrong about the drool.
But then again, I suppose I didn't really mind the questions that much, because I'd gotten to spend the whole day talking to Edward Cullen. I even got to sit with him at lunch – of course, it was only lunch for me. If the Cullens had had lunch with us, I don't think it would have gone down too well.
Jessica, and most girls it seemed, were practically green with envy. But I didn't care; I couldn't really concentrate on much else than the God sitting across from me.
The only thing that could have ruined that day, in fact, was something I saw, something I'd seen only once before – well, maybe twice. Someone, to be more precise.
A flash of black hair and a small pale body outside the window of Edwards' car was all it took for a horrible sense of dread to creep into my stomach. But it was enough to make me feel a little less happy about the day. I tried not to dwell on it too much, and instead allowed myself to think about Edward.
But at night, I couldn't keep the images away. I thought of my first day in Forks, and compared what I'd seen then to what I'd seen today. I could have easily been mistaken. I told myself I was mistaken, that it couldn't possibly be what I thought.
But I wasn't convinced. And now I was faced with a dilemma. Should I tell Edward?
Sorry sorry sorry it took soooo long to come out :( shoot me, if you like.
Hope it was okay. I don't deserve reviews… but you can always give me some anyway ;D
I promise to try and update sooner. Tomorrow, if I can.
Love Ellen
x x x x x
