Chapter 11
I woke up the next morning on edge. My dream about Edward certainly didn't help the confused feelings I was having towards him. The more I got to know him, the more attracted to him I was becoming. I checked my email between getting ready for school, anxious to see if my mom had responded to my lengthy email from the night before. No luck. Shoot.
With a sigh, I tromped down the stairs for breakfast in a deflated mood. Charlie had finished his eggs and was cleaning up when I poured myself a simple bowl of cereal and milk. I gave him a solemn farewell when he left for work, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I'd have to be careful from here on out, I told myself. I can't be involved with a vampire. It was a ludicrous idea. Friends. Just friends. Keep it light, keep it friendly. Try not to stand so close to him so you can't smell his succulent, sweet aroma. Try not to look directly into those deep endless eyes—eyes that had seen nearly a century of history pass before them.
If I were a history buff it would be a lot harder to keep from pestering him with questions, I thought suddenly. The things he must have seen; world wars, the fight for civil rights, technological and medical advancements, the space race, the Great Depression. Hell, he was even around when the fucking Panama Canal was created.
Thoroughly distracted from my despair, I drove to school in wonder of what a life of immortality could grant you. In exchange, of course, for a constant burning thirst for human blood, I qualified to myself. I parked in the student parking lot and just like the morning before, Edward materialized at my side. It took me a little less by surprise than the day previous but it was still a little unsettling how fast he could move; faster than my human eyes could see.
"Good morning," he said in his silky voice. Damn it, I forgot about the voice. How do I keep from being attracted to him when he had a voice like that? Pray I never hear him sing—I'd be putty in his hands. "How are you today?"
"Good, thank you," I stammered trying to make it not so obvious that I was avoiding his gaze. I could stare at his nose, I mused. It was a perfectly normal nose that posed no threat, I told myself.
Edward's gaze lingered on the circles under my eyes. "You look tired."
"I didn't sleep that well," I confessed. We started off toward the school.
"Neither did I," he joked.
I laughed. "I guess that's right. I suppose I slept just a little bit better than you did."
"I'd wager you did."
"So what did you do last night?"
Edward turned to look at me with a half-smile on his face. His nose, his nose, his nose, I reminded myself when the force of his smile assaulted my eyes.
"You know, I actually thought it'd be fun if I had a chance to ask you all the questions today."
"Fun for who, you or me?" I asked with trepidation. Edward laughed in response—I died a little on the inside. I forgot about the laugh, too. "What do you want to know?"
He mused for a bit before asking me with a very serious face," What's your favorite color?" I rolled my eyes and his expression cracked. We both chuckled. "Well?"
"It changes from day to day," I replied.
"What's your favorite color today?"
"Probably brown."
He snorted. "Brown?"
"Sure. Brown is warm. I miss brown. Everything that's supposed to be brown here is green. Green, green, green. Oh, except for the sky which is a near constant steely gray," I complained gesturing to the cloud strewn sky.
Edward watched my rant without saying anything. He considered for a moment, staring at my face.
"You're right," he finally agreed. "Brown is warm."
I looked back at him. His expression was sincere and I smiled a little.
"What kinds of music do you listen to?" he asked then.
"I don't know. All kinds, I guess," I shrugged.
…
It continued like that until class started and he started up again as soon as we sat down for Biology in a hushed tone while the movie played. Edward questioned me relentlessly about every insignificant detail of my life. Movies I'd liked and hated, where I had traveled and where I hoped to travel, and books—endlessly books.
When the hour was up, Mr. Banner informed us that we still had another twenty minutes or so left on the film and that we would have to finish it on Friday.
"So, are you finished now?" I asked exasperatedly while the classroom came alive around us.
"Not even remotely," he said with a playful smile. "In fact, would you mind if I accompanied you home after school?"
"What, to ask more questions? At my house?" I tried to imagine a statuesque Edward among the shabby couch in my living room. I couldn't.
"Yes, if that's alright. I mean, if you don't already have plans or you need to work on homework or something."
"Yeah, I guess that's okay. But I do have to stop by the grocery store on my way home."
"I'd love to accompany you, if you don't mind," Edward replied in earnest.
"No, I don't mind," I said a little awkwardly. Human errands with my friend Edward the vampire. It was almost comical. "I guess I'll see you after school then."
…
Gym passed quickly as I watched Mike's one-man show. He made badminton look so easy I was halfway tempted to join in but I didn't want to risk hitting him again with friendly fire. Coach Clapp had given up on me, I noted with a sigh. He no longer barked at me for standing on the sidelines, he merely looked the other way when he made his rounds to all the badminton courts. I would have laughed about it if it were anyone else but me.
…
"So are you getting excited about the dance?" I asked Mike as we walked out to the parking lot after gym.
"I am," Mike replied in a sultry tone, sliding his arm around my waist as we walked. "Excited to see you in your 'girly, red' dress," he whispered in my ear, brushing my lobe with his lips as he spoke the words. I blushed furiously. My attraction to Mike seemed unhindered and intact despite my confused feelings about Edward.
We stopped at his suburban as it was parked closer to the gym and we said goodbye with a long and unrestrained kiss. My face warm, I headed over to where my truck was parked and found Edward standing astride it.
"Hey," I called over to him when I spotted him. He gave a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes in response. "So, are you coming with me in my truck?" I asked, opening the driver's side door and tossing my bag in.
"If you don't mind the company," he replied in a curt tone that I didn't miss.
"No, go ahead. The door's unlocked." I motioned to the passenger door before getting in the cab. Edward followed suit, taking in the interior of the truck with distaste.
"I have a feeling that this thing doesn't go very fast, does it?" he remarked with disdain.
"No, it doesn't," I quipped. "But he's old. You gotta cut him some slack."
"Him?"
"Oh, yeah. I get a strong grandpa vibe from this truck. Don't you think?" I smirked. Edward just gave a stiff nod in reply. "Hey, what's with you?" I asked as I pulled out of the parking spot. Edward just eyed me and sighed heavily. "You know, you're awfully angsty for someone pushing a hundred," I teased.
He whipped around and gave me a sour look. "I'm sorry, I just can't help my reaction when I am forced to hear and see unpleasant things in someone's thoughts."
"What do you mean?"
"Your boyfriend—he thinks some pretty ungentlemanly things about you sometimes," Edward spat.
"Ungentlemanly!?" I repeated, annoyed now. "Listen, I sympathize with you, I do. I know you can't help hearing the things you do, but people can't help thinking the things they do either. They don't know someone is listening. Inside your own head is a safe place to think whatever you want… for all they know, that is." We slowly chugged our way out of the parking lot, pausing here and there to let students pass by.
Edward let out another sigh. "I know. You're right. I just… sometimes I wish I were normal."
I scoffed. "What's so great about being normal? Average? Mundane?"
"There are many things we missed out on, my siblings and I. Human experiences that can never be regained now that we're monsters; now that we have the abilities that we do," he said quietly from the passenger seat. I looked over at him, his expression sad and far away.
"Like what?" I asked softly.
Edward looked back at me with such sorrow and pain in his eyes that I almost gasped. Nearly a century's worth of loneliness looked out through his golden eyes. The unrequited need for acceptance and love cried out from their depths. I couldn't look away.
"Bella, stop," Edward said, breaking my trance.
"Huh?" I blinked.
"The breaks, Bella! The breaks!" he shouted.
I looked ahead in time to see I was swiftly approaching a red stop light at a busy intersection. I cried out in surprise and stomped hard on the break. The ancient truck ground to a halt with a groan.
"Woah," I breathed shakily.
"Maybe next time we have an outing, I can drive," Edward said smoothly. I looked back over at him and his expression was back to normal. He must be really good at hiding his pain, I thought remembering the pained look he gave me moments before.
I let out a shaky laugh. The light turned green and I drove through the intersection. "So, is it back to twenty questions?" I asked when it fell silent in the cab. Edward smiled in response before launching into more of his questions.
These questions were different now though, not as easily answered. He wanted to know what I missed about home, insisting on descriptions of anything he wasn't familiar with. His quiet probing questions kept me talking freely as we shopped for groceries. He started asking me about the choices I made when selecting grocery items. He seemed fascinated at the novelty of human banalities like grocery shopping and meal planning. I complied to his whims and tried to describe my thought processes as best I could all the while wondering how on Earth something se boring could interest him so much.
He helped me load the grocery bags into the bed of the truck before we climbed back into the cab.
"Charlie's going to be home soon. Did you want to stay for dinner?" I asked turning the key in the ignition.
"I'll help you bring in the groceries, but I'm afraid I can't stay for dinner," Edward replied with a sardonic smile.
"Do you want me to drive you home?" I wondered where he lived.
"No offense, but I can walk faster than you drive," he said with a chuckle.
"Oh, ha, ha. My truck is slow," I muttered pulling out of the parking spot.
Edward launched into more questions as it started to rain on the short drive home. He asked about my friends back home and about the boys I had dated. He seemed as surprised as Jessica and Angela were about my lack of abundant romances.
"Are you finished?" I asked with relief as I parked the truck in front of the house.
"Not even close!" Edward exclaimed with a throaty laugh that made my stomach flutter.
We climbed out of the cab and Edward insisted on carrying all the groceries into the house. He carried them effortlessly despite the volume of shopping bags up to the front step while I scrambled to get the house key in the lock in the dark. I was just mumbling an apology when Edward's head whipped to the east, his sharp eyes focusing on something in the distance that I couldn't see.
"Not good," he muttered.
"What is it?" I was surprised to see that his jaw was clenched and his eyes disturbed.
He glanced at me for a brief second. "Another complication," he said glumly. I could see headlights in the distance coming our way. "I'm sorry I can't help you bring these inside, but I think it's best if I go now before your guests arrive," Edward said, placing the bags on the step at his feet.
"My guests?" I asked, bewildered.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Bella," was all he said before vanishing in a blur.
I stood dumbly on the front step staring in the direction he ran off at lightning speed in before the approaching car's headlights swept across me breaking my trance. The car parked behind my truck on the street and I tried to make out the shapes in the front seat, but it was too dark.
"Hey, Bella!" a familiar, husky voice called from the driver's side of the little black car.
"Jacob?" I asked, squinting through the rain.
Just then, Charlie's police cruiser swung around the corner, his lights shining on the occupants of the car. Jacob was already climbing out, his wide grin visible through the darkness. In the passenger seat was an older heavy set man with a wide memorable face—an overflowing face with high cheekbones and creases running through his russet skin like an old leather jacket; with black eyes that were both too young and too old. I knew him immediately: Billy Black. I smiled tentatively and waved at him through the rain and he returned the greeting easily.
I realized then what Edward had said about this being a complication. Did Billy believe in the impossible legends his son scoffed at? I could only hope he did not and I was grateful Edward had escaped before being spotted. Let's not open up that can of worms, I thought to myself as Charlie parked the cruiser in the driveway.
"Billy!" Charlie called as he got out of his car.
I finally unlocked the door and flicked on the porchlight, flooding the front lawn in yellow light.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't see you behind the wheel, Jake," Charlie said disapprovingly.
"We get our driver's permits early on the rez," Jacob said, going around to the passenger side door and opening it.
"Sure you do," Charlie laughed.
"I have to get around somehow." I recognized Billy's resonant voice despite the five or so years since I had last seen him. The sound of it made me feel like a child again.
I grabbed a few bags and headed inside, leaving the front door open, turning on lights as I made my way to the kitchen. I came back for the last of the grocery bags as Charlie and Jacob were easing Billy into his wheelchair. The three hurried into the house, shaking off the rain.
"This is a surprise," I head Charlie say as I unpacked the groceries.
"It's been too long," Billy answered. "I hope it's not a bad time."
"No, it's great. I Hope you can stay for the game." I peeked out of the kitchen in time to see Jacob grin.
"I think that was the plan—our TV broke last week."
Billy made a face at his son. "And of course, Jacob was eager to see Bella again," he added. Jacob scowled and ducked his head as I fought back a surge of remorse. Maybe I had been too convincing at the beach.
"Are you guys hungry?" I called out from the kitchen, pretending not to have seen the display.
"Naw, we ate before we came," Jacob answered, walking toward the kitchen.
"How about you, dad?"
"Sure," he replied, his voice moving in the direction of the living room. I heard Billy's chair follow.
I smiled at Jacob when he came into the kitchen and sat at the small table.
"So how are things?" Jacob asked.
"Pretty good," I replied cheerily. His enthusiasm was hard to resist. I started to assemble ingredients for some sandwiches on the kitchen counter. "How about you? Did you finish your car yet?"
"No," he frowned. "I still need parts. We borrowed that one." He jerked his thumb in the direction of the front yard.
"Oh. I'm sorry. I haven't seen any… what was it you were looking for?"
"Master cylinder." He grinned.
"Right." I busied myself with making a couple of sandwiches for a few moments. "So, it's been a while since Charlie and Billy have gotten together?" I asked Jacob suddenly.
"Yeah. It's been a while. I guess they had some fight a while back, so tonight is sort of a reunion, I think."
"What do two old guys have to fight about?" I chuckled, grabbing a few plates from the cupboard.
"About the Cullens, remember?" I paused in my actions, remembering the conversation we had at First Beach. "Billy didn't want our people on the reservation going to the hospital where Dr. Cullen worked, remember? Charlie got all upset saying that Dr. Cullen was a damn fine surgeon," Jacob began imitating Charlie's official sounding voice. "…who could work anywhere in the world making ten times what he makes here and we were all damn lucky to have him—lucky his wife wanted to live in a small town. Blah, blah, blah…" he trailed off.
"Oh yeah," I laughed shakily. "I forgot about that."
"Superstitious old man," Jacob muttered under his breath.
"You know," I said in a conspiratory tone, turning to him with a plate of sandwiches in each hand. "I sit next to Edward Cullen in Biology."
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Is he scary?" He smirked.
"If by scary you mean polite and completely normal, then yes, he's downright terrifying." I offered Jacob a sandwich.
"No thanks, I'm really not hungry," he replied politely.
"A growing boy like you? I'm surprised," I teased and made my way toward the living room with Jacob in tow. I didn't miss the look he made when I called him a boy. It must have made him feel like he was too young for me. What a mess I've made. "How tall are you anyway?"
"6'2'' and counting," he replied, obviously pleased with himself.
"Jeez," I murmured in wonder. I was barely 5'4''.
I handed Charlie a plate and settled down on the couch beside him. Jacob sat in the armchair beside the couch. We ate and watched the basketball game while chatting happily. I asked Jacob about school and his friends. He launched into lengthy stories about his two best friends and the kind of trouble they get into on the reservation while Billy and Charlie cheered and groaned at the TV.
The game was really long and I had a lot of homework that was going undone, but the atmosphere in the cozy room was pleasant enough that I didn't mind. When was I ever going to use Trigonometry in the real world, anyway?
…
"Are you and your friends coming back to the beach?" Jacob asked as he pushed his father over the lip of the threshold when the game had finally ended.
"Um, I'm not sure," I hedged. It was such a pain in the ass getting the last trip together that I didn't think another would happen any time soon. Sunshine didn't come cheap in Forks; you had to pay for it with a lot of rain first.
"That was fun, Charlie," Billy said.
"Come up for the next game," Charlie encouraged.
"Sure, sure," Billy agreed. "We'll be here. Have a goodnight." His eyes shifted to me. "It was good seeing you again, Bella. You've grown so much!" I blushed and tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "I'll tell the girls you say hello."
"Please do," I stammered, embarrassed.
I headed for the stairs before they had driven away while Charlie was still waving goodbye.
"Wait, Bella," he said, closing the door. I paused and turned a little apprehensively to him. I knew I shouldn't be worried about the whole Billy and the Cullens thing, especially when Charlie didn't even know I was friends with Edward, but I felt a little guilty anyway. "I didn't get a chance to talk to you tonight. How was your day?"
"It was good." I hesitated with one foot on the first stair searching for details I could safely share with him. "My badminton team won all four games."
"Wow, I didn't know you could play badminton."
"Well, actually I don't. My partner's really good," I admitted.
"Who's your partner?"
"Mike," I blushed.
"Ah," Charlie said with a nod. "You guys hang out a lot," he continued in a leading tone.
"Well he's actually, uh, my boyfriend," I mumbled, blushing even harder.
"Your what, now? Boyfriend?" Charlie exclaimed, his eyebrows rising so high on his forehead I was worried they might fill in his receding hairline.
"It's no big deal, dad," I replied, praying he'd just drop it and let me escape.
"Uh-huh," Charlie said in a knowing tone. "Well maybe I'll have a little chat with Mr. Newton next time I see him."
"Please don't, dad, you'll embarrass me," I begged in a whiney teenager's voice. I hated how the words sounded but, being a teenage girl, I couldn't stem their flow from my lips.
"And I don't want him over without my permission or my supervision from now on, you hear me young lady?" he said in his official dad voice, he cheeks growing red.
"Fine!" I snapped, annoyed at the parental role he was now deciding to take. I turned to head up the stairs.
"How old is he? Is he 18 yet?" Charlie called to my retreating figure.
"No!" I hollered. "I'm going to bed now!" I shouted from the top of the stairs.
"Goodnight!" he yelled back.
I slammed the door. Ugh, stupid Charlie and his stupid dad rules. Stupid teenage hormones making me rebellious and belligerent. What was so frustrating about my emotions was that I knew why I was reacting the way I was and I knew I was being irrational, yet I was powerless to stop from feeling the way I did.
I plopped down at my computer and opened my email. Renee had written! My bad mood melted away as I clicked on the email and began to read.
"Bella," my mom wrote.
"That's so great to hear about you and Mike! I know you've had a crush on him for a long time. About Edward—I understand he was the one who gave you a dirty look on your first day and now you like him too? Tis the draw of the "Bad Boy," my dear. All young women are susceptible to its siren call, I'm afraid. My best advice to you is to not sweat it so much. You're young! Date around. Why tie yourself down to one person so soon?"
I sighed. Figures. She's worried I'm going to end up like she did when she was my age—married with a baby before the age of twenty. All my life my mother instilled in me the knowledge she wished she'd been given when she was young: don't get married!... at least not until you're good and old and you've learned a thing or two about life. I could appreciate her worry—I didn't want to plant deep roots in the town where the sun came to die, but it certainly didn't help with the dilemma I faced at the present.
I quickly read through the rest of her email and turned off the computer in a huff, my good mood gone as quickly as it had come. I guess I'd just have to navigate these uncharted waters on my own, I thought as I changed for bed.
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for the next chapter! Let me know what you think because, as I'm sure you all know by now, I always appreciate your feedback. Thanks so much! :)