Pairing: Laurent/Irina

Era: New Moon, during Bella's depressed stage

POV: Laurent, 1st person

Lyrics: Buzz like a bee

The meadow was empty, just like the last time I'd come. The smell of the vampire and human girl had almost faded completely, so much time had passed since they been here. I wondered why they'd stopped coming.

Despite its emptiness, there was still a certain pleasantness to the clearing. The buzzing of bees as they moved between flowers, the calls of birds hiding in the woods, the rustling of leaves as a light breeze swept across the land.

And my Irina, laying in the thick emerald grass.

Her strange golden eyes were closed, shutting me out from her sweet soul. Her face was entirely still, expressionless, keeping the thoughts that ran errant through her mind a secret from the world. Her hair was fanned out around her head, the silver-blonde tresses sparkling like jewels, matching her skin's slight glitter in the afternoon sun.

She was beautiful.

"We should go, Laurent," she said, her eyes still closed.

I glanced away from her, not wanting to refuse her, but unable to quash my curiosity. Why would the boy have stopped coming here? Victoria was so sure of his love for that human girl – sure enough that she still plotted to kill her – and yet, from what I could tell, neither vampire nor human had been to this place in months. This place was special to them, Victoria had assured me. Surely they should have been here.

"Laurent." Irina's voice was stronger this time, and she'd opened her eyes, sitting up to hold my gaze to hers. "We should go," she repeated. "There's nothing for us here, and my sisters are expecting us back home."

I nodded. She was right. There was nothing for me here. Nothing for Victoria. The human girl and her vampire had gone, just as I'd warned they would. That boy would never have left his mate here, vulnerable and unprotected. Not while knowing that Victoria was still at large.

Sighing, I moved closer to Irina, extending my hand to pull her up to me. Hopefully, I wouldn't have to be the one to break the news of her revenge's departure.

Irina's fingers touched my face, tracing my features gently, caressing my skin.

"What's on your mind?" she whispered to me, her beautiful eyes full of concern.

I circled my arm around her waist, pulling her impossibly closer and inhaling her flowery scent.

"Nothing," I promised her. "Just you."

A delicate smile crept onto her face, and I lifted my hand to trace her lips. Her gaze faltered and she looked down, embarrassed.

"We should go home," she murmured again, her tone unconvincing.

I lifted her chin up so she could see my face. "Anything for you," I vowed.