I count on nap times for writing, and my baby hasn't been cooperating with nap time. Hence why this is late getting out. Also, for those of you who also read my other story, Candy Striping, I haven't been able to start on my next chapter of that story. It won't be out until this weekend at the earliest.


Chapter 12

Previously: I nodded my head and followed them back toward the house. Sounds of thunder accompanied our trek back through the forest.

"So much for Baseball." I heard Emmett mutter under his breath, earning him a slap on the arm from Rosalie.

The trek back to the home was silent. I preferred it that way.

When we entered the house, Carlisle looked relieved.

"I got your text, Alice. I was worried. Is everything alright? What happened?" Damn, he was good at faking concern. Then again, maybe his love for his "family" was genuine, even though his regard for human life was not.

"Everything is alright. I'm afraid we did have to put an end to another vampire though. He tried to attack Abby." Edward confirmed, speaking with emphasis on the last part. He tried to attack me? No, Lily answered, he's just covering for you. I let that realization sink in – the thought that Edward would lie to his own father to protect me. Or maybe it was just to protect himself and his siblings?

Carlisle brought his hand to rest under his chin as he stared at the floor. Slowly, he nodded and sighed. "I lament the loss of any life, but this was an act of self-defense. Was the vampire alone?"

"No, there were two others with him. A male and a female." Jasper answered Carlisle's question.

"And is there reason to believe that they will choose to retaliate?"

"The female believed herself to be the vampire's mate, though he didn't share the same sentiment. The other male was just journeying with the pair for convenience sake. I don't see him retaliating, but the female is a different story. Nevertheless, we have their scents know, and Alice can keep an eye out for them if they chose to return." Isn't he just so special.

Carlisle nodded his head, still deep in thought.

"Well, now that we've got that out of the way. There's still the issue of explaining your "mind reading"." I crossed my hands over my chest and stared pointedly at Edward. I also noticed the hint of a smile that Jasper was trying to hide.

"That goes for you too, Jasper." At my words, Jasper immediately straightened and the smile vanished from his face.

"Well let me begin by saying what I should have said in the first place." Edward began. "I can't read your mind."

"Bullshit." I answered immediately. I heard Esme's gasp, but continued. "You read those nomads' minds, and you clearly were reading the minds of the students in the cafeteria."

"Yes, I can read their minds, just not yours. In fact, you are the first person that I have not been able to read – ever. And you can't imagine how – how frustrating that is."

I snorted. "So I'm supposed to believe that miraculously, I'm the only one your little gift doesn't work on?" I then turned my attention on Jasper. "And you? So if he can't hear my thoughts, then you surely can." Jasper puts his hands up in a motion of surrender.

"Jasper can't read your mind, Abby. He can feel your emotions." Alice clarified. Oh, well isn't that just peachy, I thought.

"Oh – great." I throw my hands up.

"Like right now, your…for a lack of a better word: pissed." Jasper announced.

I'm not impressed. "Really, that's the best you can do?"

"Do you really want me going into more detail?" He hedged, shifting his eyes towards Edward's direction. Edward's mouth turns up, and I caught a glimpse of his characteristic smirk. It nearly took my breath away.

"No. That won't be necessary." I tried to maintain composer, but on the inside, I was hyperventilating. I needed to change the subject.

"So Edward, how can you prove to me that you can't read my mind?" He brought his hand to his forehead, resting it there as he pondered my question; his eyebrow upturned in a perfect arch.

"I have no clue."

Emmett piped up at this point. "I've got it. Think of something that's so funny, it's guaranteed to get a reaction out of Eddie." Emmett's face held a broad dimpled smile.

"Um, I can try it, but I'm not really sure what will guarantee a laugh."

"Humor me." Edward answered, and damnit if there's that same smirk on his face.

I want to lick your hair, was the first thought that came to mind. Funny? Who knew, but it should definitely get a reaction. Still, Edward remained stoic, no flinch or any inkling of emotion crossed his features.

"Nothing?" I asked.

"Not a peep." He confirmed.

"I'm still not convinced… What's my favorite color?"

"Purple."

Oh crap. "You're right!" I fumed.

Edward held his hands up and backed away from me as my eyes narrowed on him. "It was just a guess fueled by evidence. Your backpack, it's purple. I just guessed."

"Fine. But this isn't over. I still have more tests for you, Mister." I emphasized my point by jabbing my finger in his direction. Turning my attention away from Edward back to Alice and Jasper. "But you too, how do your gifts' work?"

"I can feel your emotions, and I can also make you feel emotions." Jasper piped up.

"Alright, hit me with what you've got. I'll name the emotion." I shook out my shoulders, limbering myself for Jasper's little "show".

"Alright, but you asked for it." He cocked his head to the side and studied me with a huge shit-eating grin on his face.

Fuck! The emotion he sent my way made my knees buckle. Heat flooded my body, making every nerve ending spring to life. The heat traveled from my arms and legs to my core, finally resting between my legs. I squeezed them shut; hoping that no one would notice the small shudders of desire that now wracked my body. The lust was so overpowering that I didn't have the sense enough to feel embarrassed.

"You…can…stop now." I half-panted. Jasper nodded his head, and soon I regained my composure.

"Don't you ever do that to me again." I threatened in a low voice, straightening the hem of my shirt.

"Yes Ma' am." He saluted me.

I glared at him in return. "You getting my message, Jasper?"

"Loud and clear, honey." He chuckled. I didn't find it amusing at all.

"And Alice, Edward explained to me how your gift works. You see the future based on the decisions that have already been made?"

"Yes. There are things that are clearer for me, like the weather. Decisions don't affect the weather. And I can also see the futures of people I am more familiar with more clearly."

"What about me? Can you see my future clearly?" I asked, anxiety plaguing my voice.

She smiled a broad smile. "I'm fairly certain of your future, regardless of what…other people might think. So yes, I can see your future, but it's hazy. There's not too much detail."

"And as my decisions change, it changes what you see in my future."

"Yes." She nodded her head.

"Can I speak to you then…about my future? Privately?" I had to know what she already knew about me. And why would you believe her? Anything she tells you can't be trusted. Remember, the only motives they serve are their own.

"I would be happy to – but some people, don't want me to." She bobbed her little head back and forth, crossing her arms over her chest. Her eyes darted momentarily in Edward's direction.

"You know, I think that's enough talk for one night. We have plenty of time." Edward interjected.

"You're right, Edward. We'll have plenty of time to get to know each other, Abby. That is of course, if you would like to stay?" Esme questioned with her large honey eyes. How could I say no to that look?

"She's staying." Alice answered, tapping her temple with a smug little smile.

"Yes, I'll stay." For now. My answer earned me a tight hug from Esme, and a tentative pat on the shoulder from Carlisle. He was keeping his distance from me. Maybe he was still afraid of what I'd find out.

I didn't have much time to think about Carlisle's aloofness because Emmett snatched me up in another bear-sized hug and squeezed the life out of me. Good thing I was already dead.

"My newest little sister!" He exclaimed, while nuzzling my shoulder. Emmett was a strange mixture of child and lumberjack. I couldn't help but find the combination endearing. Don't let them pull you in.

Rosalie marched angrily up the stairs, and Jasper kept his distance from me. It was probably best; I was still pretty pissed about my very public orgasmic experience. Edward casually approached me after all the hugging and gushing had subsided. Everyone was milling about, awkwardly roaming around the great room as if they were merely biding their time.

"Walk with me?" He asked, offering me his hand.

"Okay." I answered almost breathlessly. Dear Lord, what's wrong with me? Again, I reveled in the way his skin felt against my own – soft, warm, right. He led me out the back glass door and into the forest. Night had fallen in Forks, casting the woodland in eerie blues and purples.

We continued walking at a leisurely place, and I realized that I had no idea where we were going. Edward abruptly stopped and turned towards me.

"There, that should be far enough." He announced.

"For what?" I questioned.

"For some privacy. It's a hard thing to come by in a house full of vampires." A strange feeling spurred in my stomach – knotting and bunching. He smiled down at me, his eyes aglow from the moon's light. He looked angelic, too perfect; so beautiful it made me want to cry.

"It's nearing the witching hour." Edward continued as I remained mute, staring unblinking into his eyes.

"The wha?" I sputtered.

"The witching hour. It's the time of night when the couples in our family go and…" He trailed off, moving his hand in a circle to continue his point.

"Oh!" I exclaimed "Oh." Suddenly, I was a bundle of nerves again, but I couldn't blame it on Jasper this time. Did he bring me out here to…? Does he…? I couldn't even finish the thoughts in my head. They seemed so far-fetched to me. How could he…feel that way about me? I was nothing, and he was everything.

"Is—s that why we're out—t here?" I mumbled.

"Well, I didn't think you'd want to hear them."

Rejection. I felt the weight of it. Of course he didn't want to be here with me – alone. He only wanted to get away from his horny family. "Oh no, of course not. That would be –er—weird." I awkwardly ran my fingers through my hair. "Shit!"

"What?" Edward questioned.

"My wig, I threw it off in the clearing. I thought I…never mind. I need to get it." There was no way I could go back to school tomorrow without my wig. Having someone recognize me as the police chief's daughter would have untold repercussions.

"Then we'll go get it. It's a shame though." He said as he began walking in the direction of the clearing. I trotted after him.

"What's a shame?"

"Covering up your hair with that wig. It's beautiful. It reminds me of my mother's hair."

"Um, thank you." I squeaked, embarrassment flowing freely through me. "You remember your mother even after all these years?" Deflection: a great way to avoid uncomfortable subjects.

"My memory isn't perfect. In fact it has become more difficult to visualize her face in my mind. But having a picture helps." He smiled tenderly, his eyes looked as if he wasn't looking at the scenery around him, but envisioning a different image in front of his gaze.

"I wish I had thought to take a picture of my mother with me. I have nothing with me from my human life."

"No, that's not true."

I snorted. "How would you know?"

"You've managed to hold onto yourself at a very difficult stage in this new life. Not many can say that. I was a rather rebellious newborn myself. But your self-control. Well, it amazes me. It amazes Jasper, and he's seen his fair share of newborns."

"Newborn; I hate that label. I much prefer "novice". It has a nicer ring to it. And I still do struggle with this life. Every day, I have to restrain myself from killing people. It's something that's constantly at the forefront of my mind. A 'oops, almost killed that one' thought. No one should have to live like this." I pulled my jacket more tightly around myself. Edward had a way of making me feel so vulnerable. Of course it didn't help that I bared my soul to him without thinking every time we talked.

"It does get easier. But you're right, most of our kind don't chose to ignore their…baser instincts. They succumb to the blood-lust. We've all slipped up. Well, all of us except for Rosalie. Her record remains untarnished."

"Blondie? Really? I find that hard to believe. So even Esme?" Now we were getting to the good stuff. Maybe he would trust me enough to tell me the truth. The way you hang onto every word that spills from his mouth, how are you going to be able to tell the difference between what's true and what's not?

"Yes. She found her 'singer'."

"Her what?" For some reason the image of Emse draining Tina Turner dry popped into my head. Distrubing.

"Her 'singer'. It's a person who's blood calls to you more than any others. To resist it is impossible."

"So did you find your eh…singer?" I found myself hoping he would say no – hoping that Edward would remain as perfect as the image I created of him in my mind.

"No, thankfully I haven't." I let out a gust of air in relief. " But I know it's happened to both Esme and Emmett. They said that the bloodlust was so strong, that all thought and restraint escaped them. And before they knew it, they had drained the poor human dry." I couldn't help the shudder that passed through my body at his words.

"Esme went into a depression after it happened to her. It took her several years before she allowed herself to be around humans again. She still tends to avoid situations that put her close to them, whether she admits it to herself or not. She always manages to find a reason to stay home, or finds another project to keep her busy."

"And you know this because you can read her mind."

"Of course." He smiled his devilish smirk, his teeth glinting in the moonlight.

"Wait." I stopped when the thought popped into my head. "The nomads. What if they're still here?" I could see the clearing in the distance, smell the scent of pine and fir trees dissipate and give way to the open air.

"They should be long gone by now. We'll be careful. Besides, I'll be able to hear them if they're near."

"And by 'hear them' you mean read their minds."

"Of course."

"But not mine."

"You're starting to catch on." He laughed and pressed forward out into the open expanse.


Bonding time with Edward. Also, for those of you that have given me your opinion about Bella's pairing in this story. Thank you. I greatly appreciated everyone's input. I have listened to what you have said, and this will be a canon story. Bella and Edward just might have a few "detours" and rough patches on the way. I hope you join me to see how it all unfolds!