A/N - Happy Passover/Easter! I like reviews more than chocolate eggs...(hint, hint) :)

No pressure.

P.S. - in case you forgot, Bella and Edward are skipping Bio and are in the woods

Chapter Twelve: Secret

BPOV

We walked for what I guessed to be fifteen minutes. I wasn't sure what I had been expecting when Edward had asked me to skip Biology with him, but it certainly wasn't this. School seemed miles away now, and only a vague worry gnawed at my stomach over the possibility that we would end up skipping more than Biology.

I had bigger concerns, such as whether he had brought me here to make me a victim, or wanted to become more than friends. The first was unlikely – not that he couldn't do it, but because I felt safe with him, and the second was purely wishful thinking.

When I'd first arrived in Forks, I had spent weeks grumbling internally about the infernal greenness of everything. Now, I could see the beauty of it. The rain slowed to a drizzle and stopped, leaving us in a dimly lit world of subtle silvery light from the clouds. It wasn't enough to illuminate our skin, but it did set a dull sparkle streaking across the rain-flecked foliage. Walking – or more accurately, stumbling along – next to Edward, I could appreciate the loveliness of the forest.

I couldn't understand why so much walking was necessary. It irritated me – tripping over roots, and my own feet on occasion. Even if Edward did happen to keep me from sprawling on the ground, if he was going to kill me, he could have at least done it a little closer to the car. And if his intention wasn't to kill me, who skips school to go hiking?

Edward's smile came more frequently now, though we hardly spoke as I concentrated on finding safe places for my feet. I was sure he found my clumsiness amusing, though I couldn't altogether say that I minded every time his hands shot out to grab me around the waist or shoulder, keeping me from going horizontal.

"What is this place?" I finally worked up the nerve to ask.

He smiled. "I told you – someplace I like to come to be alone."

"You're not alone right now," I pointed out huffily. Not quite sure what he was trying to say, I was starting to feel defensive.

Edward said nothing, but his grin broadened. "We're here."

As if through divine intervention, the sky cleared the moment we stepped out of the woods into a broad, circular meadow. "It's beautiful," I gasped. And it was. Even without sunlight, the green grass glistened with raindrops, and the wildflowers shone.

It seemed to me to be some place from a dream, or images I'd formed in my head while reading my favorite books. I could easily understand why he would come here to think, and why he would keep such a place a secret. What I couldn't understand was why he would choose to reveal it to me.

I could think of no subtle, tactful way to ask him, so I settled for bluntness. "Why did you bring me here?"

He shrugged. "I thought you'd like it. You did say it was beautiful," he reminded me.

I swallowed my frustration, knowing that he wouldn't give me any more for now.

"Come on," he took the cuff of my sleeve and towed me toward the center of the meadow without touching me. Though the air was somewhat chilly, he whipped off his jacket and spread it on the damp ground, gesturing for me to sit.

Hesitantly, I sank down beside him. We were closer than we'd ever been, Biology class included. At our lab table, Edward usually sat as far from me as possible, but now he seemed unperturbed by my proximity. He closed his eyes, and I watched him for a moment, marveling at the pale grace of his features. I had the strangest impulse to reach out and touch him - to stroke his cheek, his eyelids, trace his lips - but I couldn't bring myself to act on it.

"Edward –"

"Shhh," he murmured. "Keep very still."

I closed my mouth in surprise, and did what he asked. I couldn't match his patience – he was like a statue. I had to remind myself that it wasn't fair to compare myself to him – he had the advantage of being supernatural. Remembering this, I was more confused by his simple serenity than ever.

Adrenaline tingled through my fingertips as I reached out my hand to touch him, questioning him in silence. I rested my hand on his arm for a moment and he sighed, shivering slightly. His eyes flickered open and charmed me into silence again, just as I was about to ask him something. Looking at him, though, I couldn't remember the question.

Wait, he implored me, and hummed a soft, musical note. I bit my lip in further confusion, wondering why I had to be so still for him to sing. A moment later, his eyes opened again, and I followed his gaze to a doe that emerged from the trees, stepping hesitantly toward us across the clearing. On the other side of the meadow, a pair of sparrows took flight, swinging in a wide arc around the circle before hovering just above our heads. I gaped at him. It was like a scene straight out of Snow White, or Cinderella.

"Wow," I breathed, breaking the spell. The birds wheeled away at my sudden noise, and the doe scampered back into the darkness. I clamped a hand over my mouth and blushed. "Sorry," I whispered.

Edward chuckled. "You're not really patient, are you?"

"Not really, no. I don't like secrets, either," I hinted. He was no longer smiling, but his expression was composed as he looked at me.

"Most people don't. Not unless they know, anyway."

"Why me?"

He looked down at his hands, and I reached out again, bolder this time, enfolding my fingers in his. He started to pull away, but I didn't let him. I held his one hand firmly between my two smaller ones.

"Your skin's not as cold when you're outside," I noted. A bird called from the trees, reminding me of his amazing feat. "How did you do that, anyway?" I wondered. Edward looked confused, so I clarified. "The feat with the animals."

"I can be compelling. World's best predator," he teased lightly. He seemed more comfortable now, and he reached up with his free hand to push some of my loose hair behind my ear. "I find…" he hesitated. "You are easier to be with than I thought."

Thanks so much, I wanted to grumble, but I was too worried that he would stop talking if I did.

"You're not like the others," Edward told me. "You're not so easy to understand, and yet…" he trailed off, and no amount of waiting could get him to finish his thought.

"You're unlike anyone I've ever known either," I told him, blushing profusely. "but I don't pretend to understand you in the slightest."

"thank goodness for that," he laughed. "You're a terrible liar – I imagine it woukd be quite amusing to watch you pretend anything."

The grayness of the air lightened considerably as a warmer breeze picked up, pushing the clouds into motion. If I wasn't just hoping, the sun would peek through in seconds.

Edward was suddenly on his feet.

"We should go, Bella."

"Why? It's just getting nice out."

"It's getting late," he corrected. "Besides, isn't Alice waiting to work on your project?"

I frowned. "Five more minutes?"

He didn't answer; he merely stood and glided gracefully into the shade of the trees. I followed him as we began our trek back to the car.

"You can't stand the sun?" I demanded, before I remembered that an aversion to sun was one of the hallmarks of vampirism. Forks must be the perfect place for him.

"I'm sensitive to sun."

"What do you mean?" I played dumb, wondering if he would lie to me. "Like a skin condition or something?"

He gave a grateful, perfunctory nod.

"No, I don't think that's it."

Edward stared at me incredulously as I gazed levelly back. This time, I was going to have my answer. "I know what you are."

He turned away, the muscles of his shoulders and back contorted with tension. "A bad lab partner? A truant?" His voice was light and joking, but I could feel the subtle strain.

We reached the edge of the woods, hesitating as we surveyed the Volvo, unstoppably drenched in sunlight. My breath caught as I waited for him to take the first step, waited to see what secrets the sun would reveal. Still in the shade of the trees, he paused, but the shift of his weight threw him in the line of a brilliant shaft of light thrown from the car's silver body. It shattered off his skin, sparkling in a thousand diamond facets.

My gasp broke into the silence of the forest, loud enough in the stillness to startle a pair of perched birds into flight.

"This was a mistake," he whispered.

"No, it wasn't," I disagreed. "Even if you kill me now, I don't regret this."

His face flashed from shock to fury.

"I'm taking you home. Now." He grabbed my arm and all but pushed me into the car. Though he hadn't been rough, I of course stumbled and sprawled across the seat. He paused, looking pained, but evidently thought better of making any apology as he moved swiftly into the driver's seat.

"See?" I told him "You could kill me, easily, I bet. But you won't. I trust you not to. Why can't you trust me to keep your secret?"

Edward's eyes flashed to my face and away again. We sped down the highway much faster than the speed limit, but I never said a word of protest, I was so mad.

"It's not mine to share," he muttered darkly. I had to strain to hear him over the crunch of Charlie's gravel drive. Alice was standing on my porch with her arms crossed, her posture oddly foreboding for such a diminutive figure.

I got out of the Volvo as soon as the wheels stopped rolling, slamming the door behind me. Of course, the hanging end of my shirt got caught. Gently, Edward reached over and opened the door for me, not looking at my face.

"Goodbye, Bella."