Prompt: # 19
Pairing/Character(s): Bella and Edward
Rating: T
Word Count: 500
Photo prompts can be found here:
thetwilight25 dot com/round-eight/prompts
In my eyes, Edward was still this unattainable, beautiful boy.
Knowing he was otherworldly didn't change that. Vampire — it explained some of the stranger facets of his personality and his behaviour, rather than defining him.
Edward had patiently answered all my questions and debunked myths, with one exception. I was fascinated by the fact that he never slept, and he was oddly evasive about how he spent his nights.
Eventually, he'd admitted to watching me sleep sometimes, but I still felt that he was hiding something.
I brought it up again on the drive to school.
"Did you watch me sleep last night?"
"Yes, just for a little bit," he said, glancing at me to see my reaction.
"I'm still not sure if that's creepy or sweet."
He returned his gaze to the road. "I just want to be sure you're safe. And I'm curious. I've forgotten what it's like to sleep. To let go, to dream."
"I read that the average human sleeps for a third of their life. What do you do with all that time?"
"I told you. I listen to music, read books ... go for a walk." Considering the relaxed-sounding description, his body-language was very tense, knuckles whitening as he gripped the steering wheel tighter.
"Where do you go?" I asked, despite the grim look on his face.
"To the graveyard. Is that what you wanted to hear?" He turned to me, looking almost frightening — but even then, his pale features were bewitching.
"I'm sorry, Edward. I didn't mean —"
I wanted to know more, but not to upset him, and I was a little afraid of what he might reveal.
His hands relaxed slightly. "I visit my mother's grave. I'd be noticed if I went during daylight."
"Your mother? I'm so sorry, Edward." I bit my lip, an ache gripping my heart as I thought of losing Renée.
"And graves of men I killed." I recognised the self-disgust in his voice, from the first time he'd first told me about them.
"But they were all criminals, right?"
"Rapists and murderers, yes. But they were still people ... with families."
We'd arrived at Forks High. Edward put the Volvo into park, but I had no intention of getting out. I pictured him, kneeling at a murderer's grave after he's just laid flowers at his own mother's. I couldn't summon up even a trace of anger or disgust at him.
"That's true,," I say softly. "But you feel regret, and it was a long time ago."
His features seemed to soften slightly.
"It was. And I guess I've had longer than most to repent my sins. I'd never kill another human." He paused. "Well only if they were trying to hurt you or our families. Not for food."
"I know." I put my hand on his. Maybe I should have been afraid of him, but I trusted him completely.
A/N: this was actually my first time writing vampires/canon.