Bite to Break Skin

Chapter Ten

Bella

Fucking vampire is fucking mocking me! I'll bet he did sleep with that… that… Tanya!

I'm livid. How dare he. Edward must think I am some kind of whore. I mean, really? I've only been living with vampires for the past four years and this bastard thinks he can swoop in and date me and drop me, just like Rose said he did with Tanya.

Oh, when I tell Emmett and Jasper… just wait, Edward Anthony! You'll be wishing you only had the Spanish Influenza with the amount of pain you're going to feel.

Aside from my anger, I'm offended that he thinks so lowly of me. I live with three perfectly mated vampire couples. I know damn well that vampires don't get crushes and they only fall in love once… with their mate. A vampire's mate is truly their other half. Carlisle has told me stories about vampires who have had themselves destroyed after they've lost their mate. I understand the connection, and I can only pray to a God I doubt exists that I have a mate out there somewhere.

A stray, nagging thought plagues me. I want to be Edward's mate. This preposterous desire of mine is only going to lead to a broken heart. Were I lucky enough to be mated with Edward, I would know. Surely my parents wouldn't have kept that from me…

Yeah, well, they didn't tell you that you're a super cool hybrid, either…

I scowl at my inner self as she shakes her fist at the whole lot of them. She always has some smart answer. I ignore her and continue to glare at Edward. Jackass.

I'm sorry, Isabella.
"Talk to me out loud, Edward and stay the hell out of my head!"

I'm sorry? Really? He's sorry. What in the hell is he sorry for? Sorry for hiding from me for all those years? Sorry for being so controlling? Sorry for lying to me about being a virgin and sorry for saying he never asked anyone out before? Vampires go through their existences fairly unchanged from their time of death… and so I suppose a leopard doesn't change his spots—Edward the vampwhore won't ever change his ways. The thought saddens me, but then I remember he was planning on using me and losing me, like he did with Tanya, and all traces of sadness I have are erased and replaced with anger.

I've been glaring at Edward, but not really looking at him; just generally scowling in his direction. I look into his eyes and see a mixture of emotions. Hurt and sorrow. He looks like a shell of a man and my shoulders slump out of guilt. He looks so broken and I want nothing more than to piece him back together—though, right now, I should want to tear him apart. Maybe I can tear him apart and then piece him back together? My mood swings are giving me whiplash where he's concerned. I might need a therapist.

Edward is fuming mad. I'm actually a little surprised there isn't steam literally coming out of his ears, and if I'm being wholly truthful with myself, I'm pretty frightened. I want to think Edward wouldn't hurt me, but he looks more monster than human, or incredibly beautiful vampire, right now. I also want to think he wouldn't toy with me emotions and use my body… or sleep with her, but it seems he is and he has; so it looks like this is all wishful thinking.

Edward stalks towards me and places his hands against the wall on either side of my head. Under any other circumstance, I would be silently begging him to kiss me, but if he tries that… the ho bag… I might have to knee him right in his jewelry box. I don't care if I shatter my knee cap in the process. I hear a rumbling in Edward's chest. It's not exactly a growl and it's definitely not a hiss. It sounds like it's coming from his gut—very primal, angry.

"You are my mate, Isabella. Is THAT what you want to hear?"

What?

I'm silent and now, so is Edward. He still looks angry, but there's something about the look on his face that tells me he's in deep emotional pain. I try to read him, to see if he's lying, but I'm really no good at this. I decide to play along and try to fish out the truth. I smile up at Edward and pick my jaw up off the floor.

"Oh, is that all? Well, then yes."

Now it's Edward's jaw that has hit the floor. He backs up slightly and appears to be in shock.

"What do you mean, is that all?"

I withhold a giggle as I take in the man before me. Only moments ago he was seething and on the verge of snapping. Now he's baffled. I still can't figure out how honest he's being. It's not that I don't want to be Edward's mate, it's more like I can't allow myself to believe it until I know it's not a joke. I won't recover from this prank if that's what this is.

There's a knock on the suite door and Edward slowly pulls away from me as the man behind the door identifies himself as Room Service. Still facing me, Edward looks as though he's pleading with me. His shoulders are slumped over and he's looking at me through his lashes. And it hits me. Edward is not fucking joking. He's being sincere.

… Edward has been alone all this time. The hiding from me, the protectiveness… the matching pink outfits.

Part of me wants to faint and the other part is still trying to pick her jaw up off the floor, but all I can do is dance. I watch Edward walk away and break out into the running man. If there was ever a time for the running man, now would be it. It occurs to me that if I don't wrap up this little celebration dance that Edward is going to see me. I stop and stand there, trying to look as innocent as possible, watching Edward as he returns with a Room Service cart, wheels it to the table and sets it up for me. The whole meal smells delicious and I eagerly sit down and begin shoveling food into my mouth.

"I'm sorry to hear that you will not accompany me out tonight…"

"No, I said I'll go."

"But," Edward begins, obviously confused. I try to swallow down my mouth full of food before reassuring him.

"That's when I thought you were some sort of vampire ho bag."

"A vampire what!"

"You know, the love 'em and leave 'em type?!"

Edward is not understanding plain old English, and I'm not sure what to do about that. Sometimes, he is such an old fart.

"Well—I didn't want to be another notch in your bedpost."

"A what?"

"God, Edward, are you even listening?"

And now he's faking a headache. Vampires don't get headaches! I roll my eyes at him. I always get a kick out of the little human mannerisms that vampires carry with them.

"So… you denied my request because you thought… you thought..."

"You were a ho bag," I say as casually as possible. Edward really needs to visit Urban Dictionary and get a clue. I mean, come on, I know he's "old fashioned" and all, but even dad knows what a ho bag is.

I finish up my breakfast and head to the restroom to clean up. When I return, Edward has cleaned off the table. I thank him and stand there awkwardly. I don't suppose that just because we're mates means that it would be okay for me to maul him.

"Isabella," he begins rather quietly, but I cut him off before he can continue.

"Bella," I say sternly, hoping he gets my drift. Thankfully he does.

"Bella. I had planned to take you out to see the city, but Alice has informed me that it's sunny…"

I nod, fully aware that sun means that Edward won't be taking me anywhere until after the sun has set—not unless he wants to be a part of the next advertising campaign for a big name jewelry store.

"If you'd like to go on without me, I'll understand. Considering the reason you're here, it would be unfair to expect you to stay cooped up in here with me."

"No, it's alright," I say coolly and shrug my shoulders, pretending to not care either way, "I'd rather stay here."

We move around one another tentatively before I decide to poke through the bags Alice brought with her last night. Apparently she had made a stop at Barnes and Noble on her way in. There's a Monopoly board game, a chess set, and two novels inside as well as a few magazines and some crossword puzzles. At the very bottom of the bag is an Urban Dictionary. I snort and toss it over my back without looking. I know he'll catch it. When I hear him groan and mutter Alice's name, I know that I predicted correctly.

I pick out Wuthering Heights and The Very Best of Edgar Allen Poe, and show them to Edward and he rubs the back of his neck and babbles incoherently about Poe before taking the book and retreating to the sofa. I clutch Wuthering Heights in my hand and sit at the opposite end of the sofa. By the time Frances dies, Edward and I have each moved a good foot towards one another, and by the time Hindley dies, we're cuddled up next to one another. Neither of us acknowledge the way I'm curled into his side nor do we draw attention to the way his arm is casually thrown up on the sofa behind me. We could have probably spent this time talking. I could have been asking Edward important questions, like why was this hidden from me, and what this means for us.

Naturally, I know what it means to have a mate, but I don't get the feeling that Edward is going to "mate" willingly. At the very least, I need answers. But I know I won't get any answers if I don't ask the right questions, so I spend most of the time that we're on the couch just thinking. Occasionally I'll catch one of Edward's errant thoughts. Every single time he's berating himself for telling me that we're mates. It seems he never had any plans to divulge that little tid bit. We will most definitely be talking about that later.

Wow. I sound like mom when she gets bossy with dad.

I try to shake off that feeling. It feels slimy and gross. I can only hope that Edward and I will be like Carlisle and Esme one day—but that doesn't mean I want to sound like my mom right now. I mean, she's like a hundred.

A few hours later and I've finished my book. I set it down on the table and stare at Edward who still has his nose stuck in The Very Best of Edgar Allen Poe. I turn my torso that I'm facing him fully and snicker. This catches his attention.

"What have you been doing for the last couple of hours?" I ask him curiously as he stares at me, baffled.

"Reading."

I snort and peek over at the clock. We've been on this couch with our noses in our respective books for four hours now.

"It takes you four hours to get," I peek over at his page number as he's only half way through the book, "through a hundred and thirty seven pages?"

"What? No."

Edward pulls back dismissively and sits the book on the coffee table before him. He turns himself so that he's facing me. His face is void of emotion and he says flatly "I was thinking."

"What were you thinking about?"

"I have so much to apologize for," his eyes shift downs to his lap and he shakes his head. I roll my eyes, because I'm tired of the word 'sorry'. It's honestly on my last nerve.

"You've already apologized," I state flatly. He looks like he's about to interrupt me but I shake my head and continue. "Whatever it is can wait. Please." I'm pleading with him, desperate to get him to stop. He opens his mouth once more, but I am resolved.

"In the past week I've found out that I'm not even totally human… which is super cool—but damn, not exactly an easy thing to wrap your head around. I have had multiple breakdowns thinking I'm dying… which, at this point, I still don't have the answer to!"

I'm becoming exhausted relaying all of this to him, not that he doesn't already know, "then you show up and God," I pause and change the direction of the conversation; "and now… you tell me you're my… mate." The very end of that sentence squeaks out and I blush. We haven't discussed this and I feel sort of queasy.

Edward remains stoic and motionless, almost as though he's afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing. I continue to stare him down, but in the end it's score one point for the vampire and zero for the hybrid. Damn my human half! I don't know how long we've sat there for, but the sun is setting and I realize that it's likely been hours. A quick check of the clock and it has been hours. It only felt like a few minutes.

Shocking me, Edward suddenly moves for the first time in… hours and he stands, sheepishly staring down at me.

"That happens, the losing track of time thing… You know, with your…"

He seems incapable of finishing the sentence, so I do it for him, "mate, Edward. The word is mate."

I'm going to get ready for our date.

I think to myself, my inner voice is loud and hoping he's listening. Words seem to be failing us right now, so we're going to have to rely on non-verbal communication.

I'll be waiting.

I hear his smooth voice in my head and I giggle as I stand and flutter across the room to the bedroom; picking up one of Alice's shopping bags on the way. I shut the door gently behind me and bust out with the running man again. I don't really understand where the day went and I don't know how to approach further conversation with Edward, but I have eternity to sort all of that out. Right now my sole focus is trying to look somewhat presentable for my date with Edward. My first date with Edward. I practically swoon in remembrance of his lips on mine last night.

xxx

So, what do I do when the most amazing person I've ever met tells me that I'm their mate? Apparently, I call them a ho bag.

Fuck my life.

Seriously.

I couldn't say something… else. What about silence, huh, Bella? I couldn't just have been… silent!

Oh, shut up.

You shut up.

"Bella?"

I hear Edward's voice, shaking with laughter, from the other side of the bathroom door and I flush with embarrassment. I really don't want to go out there if he's still laughing at me, so I take one last peek at myself in the mirror and smooth out the black, long sleeve dress I'm wearing. It's made of a soft cotton and falls just a few inches above my knees. Thankfully, Alice hasn't lost her damn mind and she's paired the dress with black peep toes that can barely qualify as heels. As far as dressing up goes, this isn't half bad. I check my mascara and lip gloss, the only make up I put on, despite the over-whelming choices Alice has left me with.

Ready or not, B.

I take a few deep breaths and walk shakily to the door.

I am so not ready for this.

We can cancel.

No!

The moment I hear Edward's offer to cancel our date, I fling the door open and scowl at him. I have been waiting years for my first date, he is not getting out of it now. I don't care if I have to make Emmett and Jasper drag him, kicking and screaming. They would do that, right? Hm. I might have to ask them—just in case.

Nice try, pal.

"You will not hurt my feelings if you want to cancel, Isabella."

You can handle it, Edward. If she cancels, you'll be fine.

Edward sounds confident with his spoken words, but the one he doesn't speak aloud tell another story. Clearly, the man before me is at war with himself. I am going to have to be very careful with how I proceed.

"Is it such a bad thing if I want to go on a date with you?"

His lips form a hard line and he narrows his eyes; not out of anger, but contemplation.

"Yes," he says confidently. I take this opportunity to ask him a few questions.

"Why?"

His expression remains unchanged. He looks like he's reciting text from a book he knows by heart.

"I am a vampire. There is nothing for me to offer you, Isabella. You have an entire life ahead of you. I can graduate high school with you, I can start college with you… but at some point it will become obvious that I am only seventeen. Once you've graduated college, there will be too many years between us."

"And?"

I do my best to keep my voice steady and bored, but my gut feels like it's been punched. One time, during an overzealous shopping trip, Alice accidentally elbowed me. My stomach was so bruised and purple that I missed a week of school. Dad gave me these really cool pain meds, and Emmett and I hung around the house watching 80's movies. So really, I know all about being hit in the stomach.

"Please," he pleads, "be mature about this."

I fold my arms over my chest and huff.

"Edward Cullen! Some of us who look seventeen also happen to be seventeen. So cut a girl some slack, would ya?"

He is speechless. I am going to note this entire event, from my birthday onward in my Freaky Facts journal. Hopefully I'll be able to remember everything by the time Mr. Caveman decides to so graciously allow me to return home. September 14, 2009: The Edward Cullen is speechless. Maybe Emmett will make me a shirt with that on it.

"Can we just… go… on our date, please?" I make my voice small and I wring my hands together. I stare up at him through my lashes and allow my bottom lip to poke out. I know he wants this date as much as I do—regardless of the idiocy that spews from his mouth. Edward is hopping from foot to foot. He seems to be unsure of what to do. "Nevermind," I mutter, resisting the urge to latch onto his leg and cry and beg for him to take me out. Somehow, I feel that might be humiliating.

I think Edward notices my discomfort because he steps forward and takes both of my hands in his. I can practically feel a jolt of electricity as he cradles my hands in his. His skin is so cool and smooth. My entire body relaxes and I look up to see Edward's charming smile. He looks so sad, and so serious, but so beautiful.

"You have to tell me what you're thinking," he says softly as his thumbs make small circles on my skin, and my breath catches. "I can't always hear you, and it drives me crazy." I smile slowly and I decide to give him what he wants most.

I'm confused.

"Why are you confused?"

You ask me out, but then you act like you don't want to take me out.

"You called me a cad, Bella," he says, a smirk in his tone.

I thought...

"You thought I had a relationship with Tanya?"

No. I thought you had… relations with Tanya.

He lifts my chin so that I'm looking him in the eye. He looks disgusted, and I really want to giggle. I have always sort of thought Tanya was disgusting—despite never having met her. The only thing I've heard about her is that she's some kind of vampire whore and that Rose thinks she and Edward had an arrangement years ago.

"Why would you even think that?" I try to twist my hands out of his grasp, but it's no use. I'm hesitating and he knows it. I cast my eyes over his shoulder in an attempt to get him to politely drop the subject. "Tell me," he coos gently.

I suck in a breath and hold it for a moment before deciding that it's best just to tell him. "Rose," I begin and he abruptly pulls back and stomps toward the dresser where his cell phone has been charging. I rush after him and start flailing my hands around, begging him to stop. Being Edward, he doesn't stop. My pathetic attempts to stop him only seem to be making him more determined.

Before I can tell myself to suck it up and put on my big girl panties, I feel the tears welling in my eyes. We are never going to make it out of this hotel room. I am never going to get to go on my date with Edward. If we leave here before I get my date, I'm fairly certain that I never will. I just can't imagine "dating" Edward in Forks. It's a small town and folks there are rather tight knit and all, but damn, I just can't see that working out. I'm enough of a freak, I don't need weird rumors about dating my brother floating around.

"Really, Bella?" I look up at Edward and he's laughing. He's fucking laughing. I feel my lower lip tremble in frustrating. I have about a hundred emotions flying through me right now and he's… he's…. he's being Edward, and contrary to popular belief, that's not always something I find attractive.

"Dating your brother?" he's chuckling and quickly moving toward hysterics. I am not amused. Before I can control my temper, I stomp over to him, grab his phone and throw it against the wall. He straightens up and he's no longer laughing. Good. I'm livid. I decide that Edward is stalling. I don't know if he really is trying to avoid taking me out on this date or if he's just an overgrown idiot. Really, at the end of the day, I just don't care what his problem is. He's taking me out and I don't give a rat's patootie whether he wants to or not. Too damn bad, pal. I thrust my pointer finger into his chest, surprised that I haven't broken a bone, and I begin my tirade.

"You listen to me and you listen good, buddy. You are not calling Rose and harassing her right now. You are not going to mock me, judge me, look down on me, nor are you going to treat me like I am a child. I am your mate, damn it, not your daughter!" The expression on Edward's face is priceless. I wish I could frame it. He looks… embarrassed; and really, if I had put more thought into the daughter comment, I'd be pretty embarrassed, too. "You are not going to tell me what to eat or how to act, and you most certainly are not going to ruin this night for me. This is my first date and we are going to enjoy ourselves!"

When I finish yelling, I'm shocked to find Edward being rather agreeable. He offers his arm and leads me out of the hotel room. I feel pretty smug for all of two minutes before I trip on my shoes getting out of the elevator and he has to right me. Smug moment over, I suppose. Now, in hindsight, I can't believe I yelled at him like I did. I'm not really sure he deserved to be yelled at like that, but hey, it got us on our date, and that's what really matters. Our date.

Edward leads me into ART, the restaurant inside the hotel. The décor is very modern, not like what I'm used to at home. All beige and clean, straight lines, highlighted by purple accent lights for a splash of color; the restaurant is very well put together, but not terribly inviting. I'll take our large eat-in kitchen and dinner table back home over this sterile and impersonal space. But we're at a hotel—not back home… I sigh with the realization that Edward and I still have to talk about that… the whole going back home thing.

We're seated at a small square table in the corner of the restaurant. A purple light shines on us overhead, making Edward look even more dead and pale. I giggle at the thought. Imagine that, Bella. The vampire looks dead! Edward chuckles softly and shakes his head, apparently having heard my running commentary. I look up into his eyes and we smile stupidly at one another. I guess this is how all young couples in love look.

Woah. Love? I mean, dude, I know we're mated… but love makes it seem so much deeper. I don't really know how to untangle the mess inside my head so I give up and just stare at him. We're interrupted by our waitress, a woman about Grandma Marie's age, who can't stop ogling Edward. My mate, back off. I narrow my eyes at her until she smiles sweetly at me. But I know better. Women like Edward. They want Edward, and this old bitty is no different. She's probably waiting until I go to the ladies room to steal him for herself.

"Bella, calm down," Edward says, smirking. I give Miss Daisy the stink eye as she goes to fetch my coke and Edward's water. He reaches across the table and caresses my hand, soothing my nerves somewhat. I sigh.

"You're right, Edward. I'm being silly. It would be like you dating Grandma Marie." The second the words are out of my mouth, he freezes and stares at the wall beside us. I eye his curiously for a good moment and he relaxes and turns to me once again.

"Isabella," he begins, but I hold up my hand.

"Bella," I clarify.

"I gave you the name Isabella, and I will use it if I like." My eyes go wide and I've forgotten what we had been talking about.

"What?" I try to keep my voice low, but I'm definitely shrieking, just at a very hushed volume. Edward leans in with a shy, crooked smile.

"I was the first person to hold you. You were beautiful even then. Your tiny little lungs worked just as well then as they do now." He smirks, but I'm too surprised by this influx of information to protest. "Alice was there. She tried to dress you, but I wouldn't have it. I couldn't let go of you. Imagine my fear… holding the most precious thing in this world to me, and trying to wiggle you into those little contraptions they call baby clothes. If I had left even a bruise on you I would have ended myself then there."

I'm flabbergasted by what he's told me. Edward was the first person to hold me? Really? Where was my mom and dad? Why didn't Charlie hold me first? Why did Edward name me? I am so far beyond confused, but I need to pull it together. Edward is actually sharing information, and he's so damned tight-lipped all of the time. I just have to get him to continue talking.

"Where were my mom and dad?"

"The delivery was… difficult for Renee. She was in no position to hold you. Charlie got there with Marie and once he convinced her to hand you over, he held you."

"What about everybody else? And why were you and Alice there? Where was Carlisle?" Edward seemed open enough to answering questions, so I was going full throttle for answers.

"Carlisle and the others showed up slightly after your birth. Alice played… nursemaid. Seeing the future and all, she came in quite handy when it was time to push."

"So where were you during all of this?" I had a feeling that he'd already given me the answer and I was just too slow to put it all together. I really needed him to spell it out for me.

"Isabella, I am the first person who ever held you…" I stared at him blankly, taking in his words. He didn't mean… he couldn't mean... Oh my God, gross! I must look horrified because Edward is quick to soothe me. "Please, believe me... delivering anything into this world was not something I had been looking forward to. Carlisle was supposed to be there, but everyone was out hunting and they didn't make it back in time. So, between me and Alice… me being the unlucky bastard who went to medical school... it became my job to… um… you know."

I open my mouth to speak and close it a few times. Sometime after this revelation, the old bird wanders back over and takes our order. I have no idea what Edward orders for me. I'm still processing what he's told me. He delivered me… so that means… Edward stared at Renee's cooch! Edward clears his throat, clearly listening in to my thoughts, which is making us both uncomfortable. I'm getting the impression that he'd rather not be reminded of it, which makes me smile. I really don't want to think about Edward's eyes on Renee like that… so I change the subject before I go yak.

"How did Renee and Charlie meet?"

"At a bookstore," Edward responds quickly, almost too quickly. I decide to inquire further. Something seems… off.

"Which bookstore?"

"Books and Baskets," he shoots out quickly. Another quick response. And this one doesn't make any sense. Books and Baskets is a store in Saranac Lake, New York—where we had been living before moving here to Forks. Carlisle and Esme said none of them had lived in New York since Rose's change in Rochester back in the 1930s… so what the hell? The look on Edward's face tells me he's not really sure of what he's doing, which seems so odd for a vampire. Edward looks innocent—too innocent. This is the same look Emmett gives mom after he's done something that will get him grounded. It's also the same look Alice gives me when she has plans to take me shopping, but won't outright say it. Long story short, this look is never good.

I nod, blocking him from my thoughts, and in an attempt to let him think I'm not suspicious, but he's definitely hiding something. I'm about to question him further when our elderly waitress brings our food. Okay, in all fairness, she's old… like forty or something… but she's not that old. She's still way too old for Edward though. He's jailbait as far as she knows... dirty old woman!

The perverted old bag sits four plates down on the table and makes a snarky comment about wishing she could eat like we kids do. I watch her walk away and gulp with the sudden realization that one day, she might really not be able to eat like I'll have to. Blood. Damn that's disgusting. I turn back to the table and my eyes light up with joy.

When Bitter Betty was hovering, I wasn't paying attention to what she had been carrying. On one plate is a huge cheeseburger, dripping with grease, and next to it is a pile of fries. Another plate has lasagna… covered in so much cheese, I think I'm actually drooling. The other two plates have a baked chicken breast and a salad. I smile up at Edward and grab a fry. Oh, damn, this tastes so… fucking… delicious. I savor each bite and then grab another. Edward is eyeing me carefully. He seems resigned to the fact that I love junk food and I'm going to pick a cheeseburger over a baked chicken breast any day. I open my mouth, full of food, in a very crude manner and begin to speak.

"Why do you want me to eat this heart smart junk any way?" Edward's expression changes from a concentrated boredom to one of delight. I think he's been waiting a while for me to ask.

"Bella, with your… particular condition… your body is very fragile. I know that sounds strange, but it's true. You are a hybrid. If you think of it like with animals and interspecies breeding... the two species' offspring typically don't come out unscathed. In some animals they'll have an extra toe or perhaps the female offspring will be barren. It is as though the two species' genetics are fighting a war with one another.

"Technically, they were never intended to have produced an heir. They lack basic genetic compatibility. As you mature, and your vampire side becomes more prominent, your human side will need to be as healthy as possible to adapt to the changes. The human body cannot handle the intense physical surges of strength that a vampire's body is built for. I just want you healthy and safe. That begins with the proper diet."

"Oh," is all I can manage to say. It seems I'm dying after all and nobody has had the balls to tell me. And even if I'm not actually dying, then I'm certainly headed for some health issues from the sound of it. Suddenly that chicken is looking better and better. Slowly, Edward pulls the cheeseburger away and he slides the chicken toward me. I have the decency to look sheepish and he has the courtesy to be a gentleman and not gloat in his victory. I should have known he was only looking out for me.

After devouring my chicken and the accompanying salad… sneaking only a few small bites of the lasagna and cheeseburger; I let out a loud and rather rude yawn. Edward smiles and pays the bill without getting the check. He assures me that he has most definitely left enough, along with a generous tip. We slip out of the restaurant and walk very slowly back up to the hotel room, hand in hand. As far as first dates go, I can't say I think this one was normal, but I wouldn't have traded my evening with Edward for anything on this planet. I have a feeling that nothing will ever be 'normal' again, and as long as Edward is holding my hand, I'm okay with that.