AN: Once again I apologize for the wait but I've been very busy with the last minute tests our teachers have been giving us.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Twilight Saga.

Chapter 10

Edward walked away from me and I heard him chuckle as he closed the door behind himself. I leaned against the wall, not needing the support, yet it felt like the right thing to do.

What had happened there? Well I knew what happened of course, perfect memory and all. Edward had kissed me and then tried to apologize his way out of it. And I'd, I'd attacked him. Why did I do that? Normally I would've felt embarrassed but it had just felt so right. I felt like there was something pulling me to him, like an invisible rubber band that made it hard for me to be away from him.

I heard him walk downstairs and close the house door behind himself.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I spent the time doing some busywork, helping Esme to perfect the garden and attempting to help her repaint a wall. Both were difficult for me to do, I still was unsure of my exact strength. In the end the wall was painted a very nice white; the only downside was that it now included a big brush sized dent. Esme reassured me that she would buy some plaster and fix later.

And then finally I could her footsteps approaching the house, I knew that they were his I had learnt to recognise them. They sounded harder than Alice's light ones, more purposeful yet still graceful. I could hear him walking up the staircase, then pausing in front of me door before knocking.

I got up from the chair, and almost ran to the door in my eagerness to see him again. When I opened it there he was. So perfect. His hair messy and tousled. His sharp features, his golden eyes.

"Hi," I said suddenly feeling shy.

"Hi," he said and smiled.

We just stood there then looking at each other.

"Shall we?" he asked.

I broke out of my dreamy haze, "Of course." He led the way back down the stairs and outside.

"Where are we going?"

I hadn't really thought about this before but my...state...eliminated many possible date venues. Cinemas, cafes, restaurants anything like that wouldn't be possible.

He smiled at me. "It's a surprise."

He led me outside and there took my hand, leading me away into the forest. And although I barely knew him I was not at all afraid of him, I had absolute faith in him. We ran together through the forest for a while until we came to a break in the trees.

He had led me to a beautiful meadow with wildflowers of every colour filling it. Birds could be heard singing in the distance and the last of the sun's rays cast a golden glow on the whole scene.

"It's beautiful," I whispered.

"I come here sometimes, when I need time to think alone."

We both sat down looking at each other still holding hands.

"This should feel strange. We really don't know each other at all. Yet it doesn't. Being together, it feels right." I had some difficulties formulating exactly what I wanted to say.

"You can ask me anything you know," he told me.

"How old are you?" This was something that had been on my mind for a while. If vampires truly lived forever he must've lived through history, seen and experienced so much more than me.

"Are you sure you want to know this? It might frighten you off." In his eyes I thought I saw a glimmer of hope, as if he still wanted to scare me away.

"I doubt that. Tell me. I can handle it."

"I was born in Chicago in 1901 and I was turned in 1918 when Carlisle saved me from the Spanish Influenza." It wasn't that old really. A lot older than me but it wasn't like he was 1000 years old or anything like that.

"What about your parents?"

"They died in the epidemic. It was so long ago. I can barely remember them." I searched my mind for some way to change the topic, tried to think of something else to talk about.

The wolf conflict came back to me. Although Alice had explained to me about the Quileute shape shifters and the treaty they had made with the Cullens to save humans I hadn't asked about much of the conversation.

"What were you talking about, with the wolves, about reading minds?" I asked him hesitantly not really sure if I wanted to know the answer to this.

"Sometimes vampires are gifted with extra powers. In my case it gives me the ability to read minds."

"You read minds," I shrieked. I was mortified, what thought could he have overheard. How attractive I found him, how sometimes I just wanted to rip his clothes off?

"Does that mean you can read my mind? Right now?" I asked him frantically.

"No. For some reason I can't read your mind. It's strange, I have never met anyone like you before."

I was incredibly relieved at hearing that. So he didn't know what I'd been thinking about him. Yet at the same time it unsettled me. Was there something wrong with me.

"No don't worry. There isn't anything wrong with you," he said smirking.

"Hey," I exclaimed, "I thought you couldn't read my mind."

"I can't but your face makes all of your thoughts blatantly obvious." I knew that my mother had always said something about every emotion appearing on my face. Although I couldn't quite remember exactly what she'd said.

"Do any of the others have extra gifts?"

"Jasper can influence people emotionally, that's how Sam came around so quickly and Alice sees they future. Although her visions aren't always certain. As soon as somebody changes there mind the vision changes."

"That is so cool. Why don't I have an awesome superpower?"

"Maybe you do have one and it just hasn't shown itself yet. But for all it counts I don't think you need a superpower. You are already stunning and completely unbelievable."

His words warmed my heart and I reached for his hand. We had both lain down and I was watching the stars blink in the sky, surprised at how quickly it had become dark. It was so easy to forget time when I was talking to him. We lay like that for a very long time until he finally sat up.

"I think it's time we go back to the house."

"I had a very nice time thank you Edward."

He reached for my hand and pulled me up and we ran through the night together until we arrived back at the house.

"Bella I'm sorry. I have to leave," he began abruptly and completely out of nowhere. I couldn't believe this was happening again. He was backing out!

"Edward please don't. You agreed to talk to-" He cut me off with a hand gesture.

"I just need some time to think. Can you give me that? I will be back. I won't leave you. I can't."

The last part was whispered so quietly I wasn't sure if I'd actually heard it. Still his words took away some of the constraints that had closed around my chest. He wasn't actually leaving; he just needed time to think. Wow that sounded cliché. But what if he came to the wrong decision? What if he decided to leave me forever. For some reason I felt I couldn't bear that.

"Will you promise me something?" I asked him.

His answer was instantaneous. "Anything."

"Whatever you decide, promise you will come back here. That you won't just send a stupid text or a letter or an email," once again he cut me off, yet this time I was glad to end my rambling.

"I promise Bella." I sighed.

I knew then he was decided and that nothing I said would change his mind. And if I objected and he might think I was trying to restrain him and really I had no right whatsoever to tell him to do anything.

"Where are you going?" I asked him.

"To Denali, we have extended family who live there."

"When will you come back?"

"I don't know yet Bella. I'd be lying to you if I'd tell you a date."

"When will you leave?"

"Today." I had expected this, he probably wouldn't have told me if his departure were days away.

"Please come back soon."

"I will try I promise. Goodbye my Bella." He leaned forward slowly and gently kissed my cheek, gave me one last smile and then turned to face the forest, looking into it for a second, before sprinting off. He was going so fast I was unsure that, even if I'd tried I'd be able to catch him.

I watched him run and felt half of me had gone with him. I raised my hand to my cheek where I could still feel the tingling remains of our electricity. "Be safe," I whispered.

AN: And that's it for now. And now please click on that button that says review. I know you want to! Every comment is appreciated so just click right there.