If you recognize it, then I probably don't own it.

Chapter ten: Question

"One more, please?" I asked Edward as he accelerated to quickly down the quiet street. He didn't seem to be paying attention to the road.

He sighed dejectedly, "One more."

"You said you knew I had gone to UPS and then went the wrong way… so how did you know that?"

He turned to check his mirrors and didn't answer me.

"I thought we were past all this?"

"Fine, I followed your scent." He turned the wheel slightly as the road curved.

"Stalker." I muttered.

"Smeller," He corrected.

"Ew. So how does your mind read-y thing work?" I asked, "Can your family do it? Can you read anyone's mind; you were evasive in the restaurant."

"That's more than one question." He said pointedly.

"That was more than one kiss at dinner."

"You kissed me."

"Once!" I pointed out, "So you owe me."

"Since when?"

"Since I asked more than one question and you deflected."

"It's just me, and I can't hear anyone, anywhere. I have to be fairly close. The more familiar someone's voice is, the more distance there can be between us. But I still have to be within a few miles of the person." He paused thoughtfully, "It's more like having a conversation in the cafeteria. You can hear the person next to you, the person you're talking next too, but there's background noise.

"Most of the time I can tune it all out – it's distracting, unless I'm taking a test. Then it's very useful," He frowned, "It gets hard like when I answer someone's question before they ask it."

"Then why can't you hear me?"

"Sometimes I can… sometimes its snippets. Like I heard you in the restaurant and you were thinking about me… kissing me."

My throat burned, "You heard that."

"Yeah, that's why I kissed you," He admitted, "Which brings us back to you."

"Me?" Why is he so interested in me? I'm boring.

"Aren't we past all the evasiveness now?" He asked.

"On your end."

I looked away from him, and happened to notice the speedometer.

"Holy fuck," I yelped. "Slow the hell down!"

"What? Are going to throw up?" He jumped and slowed the car down.

"Not yet! But you're going too fast."

"Peach, relax."

"A hundred miles an hour, I won't relax." I snarled, "And don't call me Peach."

"Are you trying to kill us?" I growled.

"We're not going to crash."

"Why are you in such a hurry, then?"

"I always drive like this." He turned and smiled crookedly at me.

"Eyes on the road. You didn't drive like this when you drove me home that one time."

"You were sick then." He shrugged. "I've never been in an accident, never even gotten a ticket." He tapped his forehead, "Built-in radar."

"Very funny," I fumed, "My dad's a cop, remember? And if you crashed the car you'd walk out unscathed, I wouldn't!"

"Probably," He agreed with a laugh, and I watched with relief as the speedometer slowed to the corrected speed limit. "Happy?"

"Yes."

"I hate driving slow." He muttered.

"Me too, but it's the law."

"Enough backseat driving," He bitched, "I'm still waiting on your last question."

I frowned. He looked down at me for a second, his eyes gentle, and then looked back at the road.

"I won't laugh." He promised.

"You won't laugh at this question, you'll be mad though."

"No I won't."

"I don't know how to start…"

"Try the beginning."

"Okay... Saturday at the beach, I ran into an old family friend… Jacob Black. His dad and my dad are friends."

He looked confused, "Is this about the Cold Ones thing because I already responded to that."

"His dad is one of the Quileute elders," I watched Edward carefully, his expression frozen. "We went for a walk, and he was telling some old legends. Too scare me, I think, and he told me one about vampires…"

"And you thought of me?" He asked, his expression now stony.

"No, he mentioned your family."

He was silent, staring at the road.

"He thought it was a superstition," I said quickly, "He didn't expect me to think anything of it. I practically forced him to tell me."

"Why?"

"Lauren said something that got me thinking. And then one of the kids from the reservation said your family didn't come to reservation, but he was insinuating something else. So I got Jacob alone and I tricked it out of him."

He startled me by laughing. I looked at him. He was laughing, but his eyes were hard.

"Tricked him how?"

"I tried to flirt with him."

"I would have liked to seen that." He chuckled, "Poor Jacob Black."

"I was just nice to him."

"Then what did you do?"

"I did whatever person does when faced with a problem they don't understand." I told him, "I Googled it."

"And did that convince you?"

"It made me think, I wanted you confirmation."

"Well, you got it." He mumbled, in a louder he asked, "Does it matter to you?"

"I don't know, I haven't decided yet."

"You haven't decided yet!"

"No." I said softly, "I haven't decided if it matters to me what you are."

"You're not sure if you care that I'm a monster? If I'm not human?" He growled.

"I told you I don't know." I sighed, "I shouldn't have said anything."

"No," He disagreed, his tone hard, "I like knowing what you're thinking, no matter how ridiculous."

"So I'm wrong again?" I countered, "Because I can't read your mind either!"

"That's not what I mean. 'It doesn't matter'." He quoted wrong, gritting his teeth together.

"So I'm right?"

"Does it matter?"

I took a deep breath, "I guess… it doesn't for the moment. But I am curious."

"What are curious about?"

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen," He answered quickly.

"And how long have you been seventeen?"

His lips twitched as he stared at the road, "A while."

"See was that so hard?" I smiled, pleased with myself. He glanced at me for a few seconds then he looked back at the road.

"Don't laugh," I asked, "But how can you come out in the day time?"

"Myth." He laughed anyway. That bastard.

"Burned by the sun?"

"True, but it's different then you think. It kind of ties into the sun thing."

"I thought the sun thing was a myth? You just told me it was a myth?"

"Well part of it is a myth," He admitted, "I'll tell you more sometime."

"Sleeping in coffins?"

"Oh that's a myth, I think Hollywood started that one. We sleep but it's more superficial. Like you're half awake, but also dreaming kind of. But we can go a long time without sleep, we just do because it helps. Though I don't know why."

I took me second to process, "So Hollywood got it wrong. One would think they did a lot of research."

He chuckled "You still haven't asked the most important question."

"I've been avoiding it."

"You don't want to know the answer?"

"I think it might be the determining factor about your humanity; of whether it matters to me." I admitted. "Jacob Black did say something about it."

"What'd he say?"

"He said you didn't hunt people… that you and your family drank the blood of animals. He said your family signed a treaty. That you weren't supposed to be dangerous."

"He said we weren't dangerous?"

"Not in so many words. He said you weren't allowed to be dangerous; and that the Quileutes still don't want you on their land, just in case."

He glanced at his mirrors.

"The Quileutes have a long memory." He admitted.

I took it as a confirmation.

"Don't take it as me saying I'm complacent, though." He warned, "They're right to keep their distance from us. We're dangerous."

"I don't understand."

"We try," He said sadly, "We're usually very good at what we do. Sometimes we make mistakes. Me, for example, allowing myself to be alone with you."

"This is a mistake? Was kissing me at the restaurant a mistake?"

"Yes, a very dangerous one."

I said nothing then. I watched the headlights twist with the curve of the road. His car gained speed. Time slipped away so quickly, it was a little after nine. And I kind of didn't want to go home, I wanted to spend more time with him… as fucking insane as it sounds. Except for the blood drinking part, I liked learning about him and his… defect, which is not the right word. He hinted he wanted to stop talking about it, stop talking to me.

"I have one more question."

"What more do you want to know!" He whined.

"Are you going to kiss me goodnight?"

"You want me to do that?"

"Well, kinda… You said you drank animals instead of people, and I'm people. Ergo off limits."

"You're not even gonna ask why I drink animal blood instead of human." He cocked his head slightly. "I wouldn't even have to try hard for human blood. I could hang out with a new girl every month if I wanted a thirty-one flavors kind of deal."

"Now I don't want you to kiss me." Fucking gross.

"I didn't say I did it." He laughed, "I drink animal blood remember?"

"Okay, tell me why you only drink animal blood."

"I don't want to be a monster." He said. His voice very low.

"Are animals enough?"

"I'm not too sure. I think it's like living vegetarian and being lactose intolerant. Living only on soy milk and tofu; we call ourselves vegetarians, our little inside joke. It doesn't completely satiate the hunger, but it keeps us strong and healthy. It's just not as filling. Most of time it works." His tone turned ominous, "Sometimes, it's more difficult than others."

"Is it difficult for you now?"

"Yes."

"But you're not hungry now are you?"

"What do you think?"

"No, because of your eyes. I have a theory about it." I told him, "I've noticed that when your eyes are darker your bitchier. Some people are bitchier when they get hungry, like my mom for example. Your eyes give it away. When you're a bitch your eyes are darker."

He chuckled, "You're observant aren't you?"

"I have my moments, usually when I have my contacts in." I joked.

"You were hunting this weekend, weren't you, with your brother?" I asked.

"Yes." He paused for a second, like he was decided whether or not to say anything. "I didn't want to leave you, but it was necessary. I bet you'd really hate me if I accidentally drank your blood, especially during –" He raised his eyebrows cockily.

"Fuck off, that's disgusting!" I barked, "Wrong time of the month too."

"You mean you don't want to be flavor of the month?"

"Fucking Christ, that's disgusting! Stop!" I laughed despite myself.

"Why didn't you want to leave?" I asked.

"It make me anxious being away from you." He said gently. "I wasn't joking when I asked you to be careful on the trip last Thursday. I was distracted all weekend, worrying about you. Emmett told me I was being bitchy too. But after tonight, I'm surprised you made it through the weekend."

"That's not fair, I have bad spatial recognition!"

"That's an excuse, and you know it!"

"It's a real thing. I suppose my weekend could have been worse, every possibility of you breaking your neck kept occurring to me;" He sighed, "It was a very long three days."

"Three days? I thought you got back today?"

"No, we got back together Sunday."

"Then why weren't you in school?"

"Well you asked about the sun, it does something very obvious which is why we can't be seen in public."

"Why?"

"I'll show you sometime," He promised.

"You could have called me," I told him.

"But I knew you were safe," He looked puzzled, "Up until now."

"But I didn't like not seeing you either." I said quickly.

"What?"

"I… missed… you… too." I admitted slowly.

"This is so wrong," He mumbled.

"What did I say?"

"Don't you see, Miri? It is one thing for me to obsessed with you, but a whole 'nother thing for you to like me too."

"It's unacceptable for you to be obsessed with me, too."

He glanced at me for a second, then looked back at the road. "I don't want here that you fell the same way." He said urgently, "It's wrong, I'm dangerous. Miri, please, grasp that."

"But it's okay for you to be obsessed with me? My dad's a cop, that's pretty dangerous of you, grasp that."

"I'm serious," He growled petulantly.

"I am too," I shot.

I looked out at the road, we should be close to my house now; we were going so fast. Not as fast as before but definitely faster than the speed limit.

"What are you thinking?" He asked, his voice raw.

I shook my head, I could see him glancing at me every few seconds out of the corner of my eye.

"Are you crying?" He sounded appalled. I hadn't realized that my cheeks were wet.

"No."

"Yes you are, are you going into shock?" He reached for me, he'd stopped holding my hand early on, and took my hand again.

"Not yet."

"I'm sorry I upset you. I shouldn't bitched, not tonight anyway."

…

He spoke again after a few minutes, he still held my hand as he drove though.

"Tell me something," He asked.

"Sure."

"What were you thinking tonight, just before I came around the corner? I couldn't read your expression, you looked scared but also determined. Like you were concentrating on something."

"I was thinking about throwing the box at them and running."

"That's smart of you." He nodded, "Though I still am fighting fate trying to keep you alive."

I sighed, we were passing the boundaries of Forks, it had taken close to half an hour, since he drove so fast.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" I asked.

"Yeah, I have a paper due." He smiled, "I'll save you a seat at lunch."

It was fucking insane. After everything I went through tonight, how his little promise made me smile.

…

We were in front of my dad's house in no time. The lights were on, my truck was in its place on the on the driveway. My dad's car next to it, and Prissy's car parked on the street. It looked so normal, like I was waking up from a dream. I let go of his hand.

"Do you promise to be in school tomorrow?" I asked.

"Yes, I promise."

I nodded, then began to shrug his leather jacket off.

"No you keep it, you don't have a jacket for tomorrow." He reminded me.

I handed it to him, "I don't want to explain it to my dad."

"Oh, right." He took his jacket back.

I hesitated, my hand on the door handle, trying to… prolong our time together. I can't believe I said this, it's so stupid. Being attracted to a boy who shouldn't mean anything to me. Also having him be a vampire, is pretty bad.

"Miri," He said strangely.

"Yeah?"

"Promise me something?"

"Tell me what it is first, then I'll decide."

"Don't go into the woods alone."

"That's really fucking weird man."

He narrowed his eyes, "I'm trying to tell you I'm not the most dangerous thing out there."

"Why couldn't you say that?"

"Because I'm trying to be cryptic and sexy!"

"Well why you didn't say that!"

He leaned in and kissed me softly and then whispered, "Because then it's a non sequitur if I kiss you."

I kissed him back, "I'll see you tomorrow."

I opened the door, picked my box off the floor, and left the car. Shutting the Volvo door with my hip.

He opened the passenger window, "Tomorrow then."

"Good night." I smiled at him. "Drive safely."

He closed his window and waited in his car until I walked in my house, then he drove off.

…

"Miri?" My dad called from the living room.

"Yeah, it's me." I walked into the living room to see a Katherine Heigl movie paused, "Where's Prissy?"

"She's getting more popcorn," He took a sip of Coke, and looked at me, "Wanna join."

"No thanks, I'm going to put the close mom sent away." I shook the box, indicating that there was stuff inside.

"Oh no. Not a heart box." He groaned. "She always did that when she was pregnant with you. It drove me insane."

"Yeah, it's tacky as hell." I agreed.

"Oh, hi Peach!" Prissy bounced into the living room with a big bowl of popcorn, "Wanna join?"

"No thanks, I'm going to put my clothes away and call Jess."

"Not to late okay," My dad told me.

"Okay, good night for now."

…

I went to my room, feeling drained. As soon as I put my package on my bed my phone rang.

I answered it quickly, "Hey Jess."

"Miri! You made it home!" She sounded so relieved; like she was totally convinced he murdered me.

"Yeah." I laughed, "I left my coat in your car; can you bring it to me tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'll give it to you in Trig okay?"

"That's great."

"But you have to tell me about you're dinner date with Edward!"

"It wasn't a date!"

"Did you use the condoms they handed out in Condom-fest?"

"We didn't do it and it wasn't a date!" I insisted.

"Mm-hmm." She didn't sound convinced.

"Fine I'll tell you about tomorrow, but only if you bring my coat!"

"Deal!"

"I'll see you tomorrow!"

"Bye." She giggled excitedly.

She hung up and now I had to think of a way to get out of this.

…

I put my clothes away quickly, putting everything in a drawer without bothering to fold it.

…

I took a steamy shower, letting the hot water relax me. But honestly there was a good chance that tomorrow I would wake up extremely early in the morning and late at night and throw up, because of what happened to me this afternoon.

…

As I fell asleep in my bed, wrapping myself in a quilt my mom sent me with all my clothes and snuggling close to my dolly Molly (from the Canadian TV show The Big Comfy Couch, that I used to watch when I was little). I closed my eyes and fell closer and closer into unconsciousness, when a few thoughts became evident.

There were three things I was sure of. First, Edward was a vampire as strange and impossible as t was. Secondly, there was a part of him that thirsted for my blood, no matter how much he hunted animals. He would always want to drink human blood, and since I was close to him it only seemed logical. And thirdly, I had an essay rough draft due in English tomorrow and I completely forgot about it, so it looks like I'm going to have to bullshit my way through that too.

…

YAY! ANOTHER CHAPTER OUT SO FAST I'm DOING SO WELL! To my lovely reviewer Iamnothappy (Guest) your review made me laugh so hard! It was so nice of you to voice your opinions. If you really feel like this fic is a waste of your time, then don't read it. I don't need your passive aggressive comments. You're 12 and your grammar needs work too. I'm writing this to make a story that I feel lacks tension and character depth better, and to make myself a better writer. So Iamnothappy if you are reading this chapter despite yourself and still feel like I can't write please PM so we can have a mature conversation that you are entitled too even if you're 12. To everyone else who's been reading and enjoying thanks so much for your enjoyment, you my dear readers are the ones that are forcing creativity out of me! I'm literally using Twilight as a map to work on my fic. And you guys who are asking for plot twists and romance and wanting Miri to be a better character you are the ones that I'm being as creative for. Miri is no longer the anti-Bella to me, but her own person who tells me how she wants to act and what she wants to say, and I don't think I'd be at this point it not your praise! So thanks and enjoy this chapter I'll try and have the next one out close to Tuesday!