Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight, I just like playing 'what if' …
Special thanks to Sassygirl for her help …
Songlines Ch11
Bella had moved about in the bed for a few hours before settling into true sleep. I watched her eyelids begin their telltale flutter moments later and leaned forward in my seat. It wouldn't be long now. I don't know what I expected her to say. For Bella the evening had contained one shock after another. For me there had been just as many.
The encounter with James had been unwelcome but not entirely unexpected. Our initial encounter had piqued his interest. The notion that a family of vampires such as ourselves would willingly interact with humans and then go so far as to protect one now meant that he was fascinated. He was not going to rest until he had discovered – and in all likelihood destroyed – all that he could. He knew of my interest in Bella, although how much he knew of my fascination was still unknown.
I sighed as I watched Bella sleep. Her lips parted as her breathing quickened as she frowned, her legs kicking the blankets aside. The situation was growing increasingly complicated. Had I never become aware of Bella's existence her life would have continued on its predetermined path. Now it was my turn to frown as I realised that same destiny would have concluded beneath the wheels of Tyler's poor driving skills. Bella's eyes flickered again and I watched as her hand flexed and clenched at her pillow.
As long as I remained in Bella's life the danger to her would remain. Perhaps it would be better if I removed myself from the situation, from the temptation. I blinked as I realised my gaze had strayed to the steady beat I would see pulsing on her neck. Immediately my thirst ripped and tore at my throat, making me close my eyes and cease breathing in a desperate bid to maintain a semblance of control. The danger to Bella existed within her immediate surroundings as well as without, and I was a fool if I tried to convince myself otherwise.
Getting up from the chair I paced soundlessly towards the window, hands clenched as I stared out into the night. Angela was dreaming, as were the people in the apartment downstairs. Dreams of others in the vicinity were a blurred murmur in my head that I knew I could hear clearly if I chose to. I turned back to the bed and made myself focus on the only things I knew that could calm me: the sound of Bella's heartbeat and the rhythm of her breath. I shut out all other distractions and focussed on Bella until the sounds around me fell away and I felt cocooned in her silence.
And then the silence was broken.
"Edward," Bella breathed. Her lips moved soundlessly as I watched but she said nothing more.
She had only said one word but it was enough, and after the revelations of the evening more than I had ever hoped for.
The little pulse point in her throat kept beating and her heartbeat was a loud counterpoint to my own internal silence. My thirst burned again and I opened my mouth to draw in a rasping breath. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I smiled as I fished it out, already anticipating whom the message would be from.
U need to hunt. She wont wake. A.
I looked at the sleeping form on the bed as I hesitated but Alice had a point, I wasn't going to be much good if my thirst was going to be a continued distraction. I sat down again. I'd hunt, but I wasn't going to leave until I knew someone else would watch over Bella. Another message.
Go. Em will watch.
It didn't take long, twenty minutes at best before I caught a familiar thought pattern: Reporting in, get going.
I exited Bella's room after another regretful look back and reached ground level to see Emmett grinning at me from the shadows.
"Look at you," Emmett said admiringly, "you look like shit. When did you last eat?"
"Good to see you too, Emmett," I replied in a caustic tone, "and thanks for stopping by."
"Anytime," he gave with an expansive smile, "Alice got me on my way back."
"Where's it good?"
"Six miles due east," he replied promptly, "I saw a couple of good ones for you," he grinned, "kinda feisty by the looks of things so you'll have your work cut out for you." His enthusiasm was contagious and I found myself grinning as Emmett all but licked his lips.
"Thanks, see you soon."
"No rush," Emmett waved me off, "from what everyone tells me she seems like a good kid."
That stopped me in my tracks.
"Emmett," I gave him a long look, "she's not a kid."
"Well yeah I know that," he spread his hands in a placatory gesture, "I just meant compared to us-," he stopped when he saw the look on my face.
"She's nothing like us, Emmett," I stated in a quiet voice.
"I know," Emmett nodded at me, his face blank with innocence. He blinked and looked up at the darkened window of Bella's room. "She's different."
I nodded. "She is," I agreed as I followed his gaze.
"Different is good," Emmett said as he shot me another quick smile. "Always figured it'd take someone out of the ordinary to get your attention. I'm glad you found her."
"So am I," I admitted. Unfortunately, others had found her as well.
* * * * *
By the time I eased myself back into her bedroom the sky was tinged with the pink of early dawn. Bella was curled into a relaxed crescent shape on the bed with one foot sticking out of the covers and pale with cold. I tugged the blanket over her and made sure she was covered and warm before I took my seat again, and didn't move again until she did.
It was nearly 7am before Bella stirred moments before her alarm clock began a static buzzing and I watched as she reached out and flailed at the digital sentinel without even opening her eyes. She subsided into bed with a sigh before sitting upright with a hoarse gasp. Blinking she saw me sitting precisely where I had been when she had gone to sleep.
"You're here," she stared at me, heedless of her tousled hair and eyes that were still puffy with sleep.
"I am," I nodded, somehow contriving to bow although I was still sitting down.
"I know, I mean, you're here," Bella went on.
"Right," I replied a little less assuredly now.
"So I didn't dream it," Bella continued as she pushed and punched her pillows into a comfortable position behind her before turning back to regard me with fascination. "Last night really happened."
"I did," I nodded.
Bella narrowed her eyes and looked at me for a long time.
"Come here," she said suddenly, patting the mattress beside her.
I stood up and had taken a couple of steps towards her when she held up a hand to halt me, an odd look on her face.
"Hold on," she looked a little uncomfortable now. "I'll be right back," she threw back the covers and got out of bed with an apologetic smile. "Bathroom break," she explained as she excused herself and left the room.
I remained standing, unsure what to do. Bella arrived a few minutes later having brushed her teeth and gotten her hair back until control, smiling as she eased herself around me and got back into bed.
"C'mere," She invited.
I sat down cautiously and watched as Bella cocked her head and smiled at me.
"You know, if I didn't know better I'd think you were even more uncomfortable now than you were last night at the restaurant."
"This is a little different for me," I admitted. Bella raised an eyebrow at this and I continued. "Bear in mind I'm old fashioned at heart."
"Oh," Bella's face lit up with understanding as she nodded before her smile turned teasing, "and here you are in my boudoir, am I right?"
"Something like that," I admitted, trying not to squirm. I was a vampire and over one hundred years old. Squirming was no longer in my nature, and yet now I felt the need to.
"Edward," Bella leaned forward to cup my chin in her hand and turn my face towards hers. "For a guy that doesn't have a pulse, I could swear you were blushing."
I blinked and moistened dry lips. "Bella, I-," I began. It was time to confess my nocturnal visitations.
"What have you done?" Bella's gaze was intense now and I was about to speak when she raised a hand to trace beneath my eyes. "Your eyes, they're a different colour."
"You noticed?" I was staring and reminded myself to blink more often.
"Uh-huh, they were black last night, now they're golden," Bella considered me with a thoughtful air and I allowed her to tilt my chin this way and that as she studied me. "Why is that?"
"Let's just say it's diet related and leave it at that," I suggested, smiling as she released my chin and sat back.
"So while I was sleeping you left to get yourself a-,"
"Midnight snack?" I suggested, and at her nod continued, "Yes I did. And before you can ask, mountain lion is my favourite."
"Right," Bella nodded, "I'm more a savoury muffin girl myself."
We exchanged a small smile of mutual understanding and the mood in the room lightened.
Bella jumped as she heard a door in the apartment close and looked at me with mild panic.
"Angela," I clarified, "she's in the bathroom now and doesn't know I'm here."
"And are we going to keep it that way?" Bella asked.
"If that's what you want," I shrugged.
"It is," Bella admitted after a considered pause, "for now. We'll deal with more later."
"Agreed," I got to my feet. "I'll leave you to get ready."
"You're going?" Bella was surprised and I gave her a smile. I wanted to stay. If I was honest with myself I never wanted to leave her side again, but we had many miles to go.
"I'll see you downstairs. I'm driving you to college today and I have to go before Angela gets out of the bathroom."
"Right," Bella nodded distractedly. "I'll see you soon."
* * * * *
"Are the others going to be there?" Bella asked as she got into my car and buckled herself in.
"Alice and Jasper? Yes, they've both got lectures," I said as I gunned the car and manoeuvred us into traffic.
"Mmph," Bella nodded, "why bother?"
"Why not?"
"C'mon, Edward," Bella turned to look at me, "surely you guys have seen it all before, what could you have to learn at college?"
"You'd be surprised," I answered, "and anyway staying at college is an excellent way to blend in."
"Blend in?" Bella looked sceptical.
"You have to admit it's better than high school," I commented as I glanced at her and grinned at her astonishment.
"No," she breathed, "that would be hell on earth, how many times have you had to do that?"
"A few," I shrugged, "and your assessment is entirely correct.
"But," Bella grimaced with distaste, "high school?"
"Think about it," I urged her, "the younger we start out, the longer we can stay in that location."
"Right," Bella nodded at this and then looked at me with something akin to pity. "Awful."
"Yes it is," I sighed, unable to present any kind of upbeat charade, "but it's an effective one." I smiled at her, "Although having said that I daresay a high school where you were would have made the experience more endurable."
"Flatterer," she poked out her tongue at me, making me laugh.
We arrived on campus and I parked the car and held out a cautionary hand to Bella to stop her as she reached to open the door.
"Allow me," I smiled and got out. Bella may have thought my actions were civil and of course they were, but keeping her in the vehicle also gave me the opportunity to scent the air. I could sense no immediate danger, although there were two scents that had me lifting my gaze and looking over to see Alice's distinctive canary yellow Volkswagon. She and Jasper both greeted me with a wave.
All clear, Alice projected as Jasper gave a cautious nod.
Opening the door for Bella I stood back and waited as she collected her satchel. It didn't escape my notice that her eyes darted over to the area of the parking lot where the altercation had occurred last night, before she followed my gaze to see my waiting siblings.
"Looks like someone lit Alice's fuse," Bella murmured as I closed the door and we strolled across the lot towards them.
"She's excited," I answered and then looked down in surprise as Bella took my hand. She simply smiled and squeezed my hand, or at least tried to. The experience would have been akin to squeezing granite but I was touched at her gesture nonetheless.
"I think I am too," Bella confided as we drew new.
Alice was all but vibrating with eagerness as she stood beside Jasper who had his arm around her shoulders as he projected wave after wave of calm. Bella's heartbeat increased and I looked down at her concern just in time to see her draw in a long breath.
"Bella," Alice stepped forward eagerly, "I-," she hesitated and looked at me. "Can I?"
"I think you're asking the wrong person," I nodded to the woman standing beside me, clutching my hand between both of her own.
Alice looked at Bella and I was startled to see the yearning on my sister's face. Bella's heartbeat thudded in her chest before abruptly it began to calm down.
"Nothing's changed," she muttered to herself and then looked up at Alice with a broad smile of welcome. "Hey, guys."
"Oh," Alice's face puckered for a moment and had she been able I'm sure she would have been on the point of tears. "Hey, Bella."
"Hey, Alice," Bella smiled before shaking herself free of my grasp and stepping towards her with her arms outstretched. "C'mere."
Alice pitched forward into her arms and the two women shared a hug.
"Finally," Alice huffed when she released her, "you have no idea how long I've been waiting for that."
"Oh really?" Bella arched an eyebrow at that and shot me a sidelong glance, "have you been holding out me?"
"No more than usual," I shrugged.
"That much, huh?" Bella cuffed me as she leaned into my side laughing before she sobered enough to look at Jasper who was still holding back from the group. "Hi, Jasper."
"Bella," he inclined his head with a brief smile that became more genuine when Alice clasped his hand and murmured reassurances in a tone that was too low for human ears to hear. The parking lot was a hub of activity at this time of the morning and the ebb and flow of students that served as a reminded that there was still a charade to be attended to.
"Come on," I took Bella's hand, "I'll walk you to your class."
Bella allowed herself to be led towards the nearest path as Alice and Jasper followed. "Edward, I'm pretty sure I know the way."
"I'm sure you do, but I want to get you there safe and sound."
"Right," Bella snorted, "you want to come to the lecture with me and hold my hand while I try not to fall asleep?"
We walked on in silence for a few beats as I considered it.
"Edward," Bella went on, "I was joking."
"I know," I nodded, "but I'm not."
"I noticed," she muttered with a rebellious expression that I had come to recognise.
I stopped walking and waited as Bella turned to face me before placing my hands on her shoulders.
"Bella, try to accept the fact that you are the most important thing in my life right now, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
"Whatever it takes? That sounds really-,' Bella began and then stopped when she saw the expression on my face, "serious," she concluded in a weak voice. "Edward, you're not going to do anything foolish are you?"
"I won't if you won't," I assured her, releasing her and stepping back to give her some space. There was a beat of silence before Bella nodded once and then resumed her walk to class. I followed.
This time entering the lecture hall was different. We entered the room and I held back letting Bella take the lead while I took a moment to adjust to the volume of everyone's thoughts. Giving me a quick glance over her shoulder, Bella set off up the aisle slowly unfurling her scarf as she went, exchanging greetings with other students she knew. I thought she would have taken a seat in her customary place but again she surprised me. She kept walking until she reached the last row of seats in the hall, moving along from the aisle until she was sitting flush against the wall. It was where I usually sat. She missed nothing. She watched me as I regarded her for a second before sitting down, keeping the seat between us vacant.
"What's the matter," she frowned at me, "do I smell?"
I grinned at her. "You do, and it's delectable."
Her eyes widened at my small joke.
"Really?" Reaching up she wound a lock of hair around her fingers and took a surreptitious sniff. "It's probably just my shampoo."
"It's more than that," I assured her, and then at her nod of encouragement I got up and shifted so that I was sitting directly beside her. "Is this okay?"
Bella smiled and leaned against me slightly. "It's good."
I was about to speak again when I hesitated and looked down the hall at the other students that were filtering in. Some of them - including Tyler and Mike - had thought that Bella wasn't attending today. I watched as they scanned the room looking for her, their eyes widening with surprise when they saw where she was sitting and with whom. I kept my face impassive as I matched their stares before glancing down at the woman beside me when she nudged me.
"Be nice," she murmured.
"I'm trying," I muttered back as I did my best to focus my attention on her rather than the whining voices I could hear.
She's with him?
When did he start tappin' that?
I felt a rumble of a growl beginning in my chest at their derogatory comments, which broke off as Bella reached over and settled her hand on mine.
"Here," she said as she turned her wrist so that my thumb rested against her pulse. "Focus on that."
Astonished, I did what she told me and found myself counting the reassuring beats as her blood pulsed through the thin membrane at her wrist, focussing on the warmth I could feel beneath my fingertips. I sighed and closed my eyes, concentrating on the metronome that sang to me in a whisper that human could ever understand. When I opened my eyes fifty two beats later it was to see Bella regarding me with a warm smile.
"Feel better?" she asked.
"I do," I replied, surprised at her understanding, "but how did you know that would-,"
"Last night," Bella explained, cutting my question short. "When we were talking, you kept looking at my neck. It took me a while to work out why, but I think I'm getting it now."
"Ah," I nodded at this and felt ashamed.
"Hey, none of that," she nudged me again, "we are what we are."
"I don't know that I deserve you," I confessed suddenly. The notion that I had found someone like Bella whose blood appealed to me on a level that nothing ever had before was astonishing. Even more wondrous was the fact that I had managed not to give in to my thirst and instead sat with the object of my desire beside me, alive and well.
"You probably don't," she gave me an impish grin, "but it goes both ways." She shrugged at my questioning gaze. "Still, there are more things on heaven and earth than are dreamed of in our philosophies," she paraphrased. She cocked her head at regarded me for a beat. "Did you know Shakespeare?"
Now it was my turn to nudge Bella in good humour, although I did so with caution as given my imperviousness to harm and her human fragility it was not unlike trying to nudge a soap bubble.
"Listen, human, I'm old but I'm not that old," I muttered.
"Sorry," she gave a snuffle of laughter soundly entirely unrepentant, "my bad."
"Carlisle may have," I went on, grinning at her look of shock. A noise at the front of the lecture hall caught my attention and I nodded for Bella to look. "Lecture's starting," I added as I settled back in my seat, only too aware that Bella was still regarding me with wide eyes. Bella remained staring at me for a long time and although I couldn't hear what she was thinking I could have made an educated guess. She knew many of my secrets now, and my family's by default. The occasional sharp tang of adrenaline in her system told me that she experienced the occasional jolt of worry or fear at my frank admissions, but it seemed that her natural curiosity was going to outweigh her survival instinct for the time being.
Finally she dragged her attention away from me and began to focus on the lecture. After a few minutes she roused herself again and dug into her satchel to pull out her notebook and pen to begin writing down some salient points for future reference. I sat back and took in the lecture although the words being recited had no hope of holding my complete attention. The occasional waft of scene from Bella had me swallowing hard against the instinctual surge of venom, and I studied some of the other students in an attempt to water down my focus.
Most of the students were following the lecture. Some of them were already trying to apply the lesson to their current essays, others were thinking about their plans for the rest of the week, and from time to time I caught a stray thought about Bella and myself. Jessica seemed to be dwelling on us more than I would consider healthy, but the citrus tang of her thoughts revealed more jealousy than any genuine curiosity on her part. I leaned a little closer to Bella, muffling my smile when Jessica turned in her seat to look at us again: Bella focussing on her notebook as she scribbled furiously with one hand while I gently cupped the other.
Bella had filled two pages of her notebook before she thought to glance over at me and saw that I hadn't unpacked my satchel at all.
"You're not taking notes?" she whispered.
"Perfect recall," I replied as I tapped my temple with one finger.
"Very convenient I'm sure," Bella said after a moment's pause, "and is there anything you can't do?"
"Tan," I deadpanned. Bella shook with silent laughter and had to clap a hand over her mouth as an irrepressible giggle slipped out, making a couple of people in the rows in front of us look over their shoulders.
"Pay attention," I admonished, suddenly realising that I was enjoying myself immensely.
* * * * *
"Oh god," Bella was rubbing her side as she took a seat in the library opposite Alice and Jasper two hours later, "it hurts."
"What hurts? What happened?" Alice looked curious as she glanced at me over Bella's shoulder. Should I have kept watch? What did I miss?
"Relax, Alice," Bella assured her, "Edward was trying to make me laugh all through the lecture," she explained as she sat down and bent over rubbing her side again, "it just hurt trying not to give in to it for a couple of hours."
"Really," Jasper drawled as he and Alice both looked at me in surprise.
"I know, ole sober sides here has quite the evil sense of humour when you get him going," Bella teased.
"Huh," Jasper ventured but said nothing more as he raised an eyebrow at me.
We had been sat making small talk for a while before Bella flipped her satchel open and began to dig through it, emerging with a small bag of trail mix. "Sorry, you don't mind do you? I'm starving."
"Not at all," Alice waved a hand, "you're just fortunate that your snacks are so portable."
"True," Bella agreed as she popped a piece of dried apricot into her mouth and chewed with obvious relish, "I don't exactly have to stash a fox in my bag," she swallowed and looked at the three of us in turn.
"Wow," Jasper said at last. Amazing.
"Tell me about it," I said with feeling, ignoring Bella's look of inquiry.
"Don't you want to get some lunch?" Alice asked as she looked over at the wall mounted clock nearby, "You're going to need more than that," she indicated the small packet of trail mix Bella was holding.
"Probably," Bella nodded, "but I just thought-," she broke off and made a wry face. "I didn't want you guys to have to sit and watch me eat what we call food when you're used to food that's ... uh," she paused and for the first time looked a little uncomfortable as she searched for the right word.
"Fresher?" Jasper supplied with a droll smile.
"Exactly," Bella smiled her relief.
"Good point," Alice nodded, "but there's no need to stand on ceremony." Reaching across the table she picked up Bella's books and slid them across the table to her. "Go eat."
"I'll come with you," I said as I stood up and waited to pull out Bella's seat as she twisted her snack bag closed and stuffed it into her pocket.
"There's no need," she murmured as I helped her on with her coat, "I'm sure my food smells awful to you."
"Small price to pay for the pleasure of your company," I assured her as I offered her my arm with a broad smile.
So happy-, Alice cut off the rest of her thought abruptly as I glanced over at her.
"Am I missing something?" Bella asked as she glanced from Alice to myself.
"Not at all," Alice assured her with a grin. Esme's going to want to meet her soon, you know that, right?
"Let's go," I said smoothly and let Bella out of the library as a very smug Alice and amused Jasper waved us off.
We made our way to the nearby food outlets on campus and after brief deliberation Bella settled on sushi for lunch.
"You eat everything raw," she winked at me in jest, "I'll try it too."
I shook my head at her, amused, as I carried her tray towards a vacant table.
"You know," Bella commented later as she helped herself to another piece of sushi, "maybe I could watch you hunt some time."
"What?" I was shocked, "No, absolutely not. That's out of the question."
Bella regarded me as she chewed. "And that's your final answer?"
"It's just that-," I broke off and ran a hand through my hair before returning my attention to Bella who was placidly finishing off her lunch. "Jesus, woman, have you no self preservation at all?"
"What are you talking about? It's not as if I'm offering myself up on a bed of salad greens to you and your family," she shrugged, "I was just curious is all."
A quick scan of our vicinity revealed that no-one was paying us any attention.
"Bella," I began in a gentler tone, "you need to understand that we don't just feed, we hunt."
"Uh-huh," she sipped at her green tea and nodded for me to continue.
"Our food isn't served up in neat little portion sizes," I went on, "we have to actively track and hunt it down. Just because I'm sitting here in public with you doesn't mean that we're nice and polite all the time. We have to give ourselves over to our baser instincts."
Bella set down her cup and gave me her full attention. "Go on," she said in a quiet voice.
"We hunt entirely on instinct," I swallowed down the venom that had surged at the mere thought of hunting, licking my lips before speaking again. "There are times when I'm around you that I can barely hold myself in check, if I were to catch your scent while I was hunting-," I broke off and shook my head as my hands clenched into fists. "No guarantees," I whispered after a long pause. Moving very deliberately I uncurled my fists and laid my palms flat on the table.
"I'm sorry," Bella offered. She shifted in her seat and then very slowly reached out to run her forefinger over mine, "I didn't think."
"You shouldn't have to," I admitted. "This is all wrong."
"What do you mean?" Bella's expression shifted from contrite sympathy to confusion in the space of a heartbeat.
"This," I indicated the table where her plate and cup sat waiting for collection; I hadn't bothered with the charade of eating. "You're a human and I'm-," a grimace as I recalled the tone of our conversation. "It's all wrong. You should be doing other things." I was feeling increasingly morose as I warmed to my subject. "Human things."
"Right, because that's so noble and exciting," Bella replied as she swigged back the last of her tea. "Sorry, Edward, I appreciate your concern but it's too late for that now."
"Too late for what?" I asked as I began to sift through possibilities. I could maintain a distance between us, socialise less, perhaps I could even leave town. My phone vibrated and I got it out with a small sigh already knowing whom it would be from.
Don't even think about it. U promised.
I put the phone back in my pocket and looked up to see Bella regarding me with a rebellious expression.
"This isn't up for negotiation, Edward."
"Oh really," I raised an eyebrow at her tone, "don't I have some say in this?"
"Of course," she graciously inclined her head, "as long as we have the understanding that I have a say in things too." She crumpled her paper napkin and tossed it onto her plate before gathering her things with a determined air. I rose to my feet automatically as Bella stood, my mother's lessons still an ingrained habit even though the teacher was decades gone. "Come on," she said in a softer voice now, "the others will be waiting."
Bella set a casual pace as we made our way back to the library, her arm linked through mine. She was quiet for a long time and so I kept my peace.
"Last night," Bella ventured, "when you stayed in my room,"
"Mmm," I nodded.
"I keep, uh-," a slight flush crept into Bella's cheeks, "forget it," she said at last.
"What were you going to say?" I was curious now.
"I said forget it," Bella snapped, and I realised she was embarrassed, "we'll talk about it later."
"Do I get a say in it?" I asked as I gave her a quiet smile.
Bella shot me a glance as she tried and failed to repress a smile of her own. "Of course," she nodded, "I'll ask the questions and you can provide the answers."
"Sounds like fun," I muttered.
"I think so," Bella's smile was broader as her humour returned. "In the meantime, I've got another lecture in half an hour and it's one I know you don't take. How are you going to get around that Mr Protective?"
"I'll wait," I answered as I gave her a quiet smile of my own.
"Right, you'll wait," Bella scoffed.
"You'll see," I replied in a placid tone.
"All better?" Alice looked up with an inquiring smile as we approached the table. They had strewn a couple of workbooks and texts on the table, creating the usual student detritus to make it look like they had been a hub of activity.
"Much," Bella nodded, "it was very … enlightening."
"Thought it might be," Alice gave a serene smile as she began to pack up her things. "You've got another lecture this afternoon?"
"Yeah," Bella sighed as she perched herself on the edge of the table, "minus the amusement factor," she gave me a sidelong look. "It's going to drag."
"I'll be waiting for you when you finish," I assured her, startled when she reached up to tug at the hem of my shirt.
"I think I'd like that," she smiled.
* * * * *
True to my word I had waited outside Bella's lecture, leaning against a pillar all but motionless unless there were other humans nearby. The drone from the lecture hall was a steady hum, but I found that if I concentrated hard enough I could pick out the one steady beat out of all the others that could sustain me.
"Are you going to bring her home?" Alice appeared at my elbow grinning up at my quiet groan.
"You're not going to give up on this are you," I commented as she stood swaying from side to side, looking like a child that had a particularly delicious secret that she was longing to share.
"Nope," she grinned before her tone turned wheedling. "C'mon, Edward. I've seen it. Esme wants to meet her, and Bella already knows Carlisle from the hospital. Emmett and Rosalie are away hunting tonight and Jasper will be fine," she rattled off the family statistics, counting them off on her fingers one by one. "It'll be really good," she coaxed, "you'll have an especially nice time."
I looked at her, startled as I caught the stray edge of a vision. It had been of Bella laughing up at me, her eyes crinkling with genuine amusement. I had caught the edge of a framed picture in the background, one that I knew hung in my room back at the house. Alice caught the vision before I could see more and stuffed it back behind her eyes.
"Very good," I nodded, "I almost caught that one."
"What did you see?" Alice accused as she huffed in annoyance.
"Enough," I allowed.
"Well?" Alice pressed again.
"We'll see," was all I was willing to concede at this point. There was after all, the matter of Bella being consulted before I drew her further into the vampire nest that she had discovered.
"I already have," Alice nodded with satisfaction. "I really like her, Edward," she added.
"Really? I might never have noticed," I quipped.
Alice looked startled at my mild joke and then smiled. "I really like what she's doing for you too."
"We'll see," was all I said.
At long last the lecture disgorged its students for the afternoon and Bella appeared looking tired but thoughtful as she strolled towards Alice and I, hugging her notebook to her chest.
"Hey," she greeted and to my great astonishment leaned against the pillar beside me and rested her head on my shoulder. "I'm tired," she announced, "I think my brain is full." She looked at her watch and sighed. "I was going to put in some more study hours in the library this afternoon but I think I'll blow it off."
"Good, let's go," Alice promptly as she took Bella by the arm and began to tow her in the general direction of the parking lot. "Edward, we're taking your car."
"What?" I caught up with them and exchanged a bewildered shrug with Bella.
"Jasper's got a late lecture, and he's going to have to hunt before he gets home anyway. Let's go," Alice said, "Esme's waiting."
"Esme?"
"Carlisle's ma-," I hesitated over the word before continuing, "his wife."
"Wife," Bella narrowed her eyes at me, "right. Okay then, lead on."
"Just like that?" I gazed at her, wondering where this sudden display of bravery was going from.
"Just like that," Bella nodded. "My dad used to say that sometimes 'what the hell' was the best answer, so I'm just following his advice."
"But you don't know what you're getting yourself into," I objected.
"And there's only one way to find out," Bella replied in a complacent tone. She dug out her cell phone and began typing out a quick text message. "I'm even sending Angela a message telling her exactly who I'm with so if I don't show up back home sometime you've all got trouble," she said. She finished the message and then dropped her phone back into her pocket. "Satisfied?"
"Not really," I admitted.
"But we're going anyway?" Bella kept walking and without looking extended a hand for me to grasp. I took it and felt the familiar comfort that her warmth always imparted.
"We're going," I sighed.
Alice beamed. I really, really like her, Edward.