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storyline - "informant"

prompt - face

I don't know what woke me, but now that I was up I couldn't go back to sleep. Maybe that was a good thing. The room was slowly starting to lighten and soon it would be morning. I had to go; Esme usually dropped me off to the Hale's around eight thirty.

Yawning, I sat up and stretched, careful not to jostle Edward.

He was sleeping so peacefully. I wished I didn't have to go. My tummy was in all sorts of knots after what we'd done together, but they weren't all bad knots. I felt anxious but also a little hopeful.

After using the bathroom and getting dressed I tiptoed back over to the bed. I wanted so badly to touch his face, to kiss him again before I had to go. This was awful. I felt like Romeo, muttering to himself about parting being such sweet sorrow.

I decided not to wake him. He needed his rest and I'd be seeing him later on in the day.

At least, that's what I told myself. There was also a part of me that was afraid the look in Edward's eyes from the night before would be gone in the daylight.

It was a busy day at the nursery. We'd gotten in a truck load of chili and tomato saplings and we needed to sort them, price them and put them away.

By the time lunch rolled around I was exhausted. I shot Edward a quick text, asking him how his day was going. He never responded, but I knew he was often really busy while at work. By the time we were starting to shut things down for the day I still hadn't heard from him, so I texted again…against my better judgment. Last thing he needed was me being clingy.

Suddenly my phone chirped, notifying me of a new text. I wiped my hands down the front of my shorts and plucked the phone from my pocket.

Do you need a ride?

My heart skipped now that he was acknowledging me.

Yes, please. See you soon

"Edward called earlier today," Rose said when I swung through the doors and into the kitchen.

A bit surprised, I looked at her. "Oh, okay?"

She frowned, shrugging. . "He wanted to make sure you were at work today."

"That's odd."

"Yeah, I don't know." She shrugged again, returning to her task.

I cleaned up as best as I could and then went outside to wait. Edward's SUV pulled up soon after and I practically ran over.

"Hi!" I said, unable to believe I had access to this beautiful man.

"Hey," he said, hardly even looking at me.

Wait, what?

Unlike yesterday's silence, this was majorly uncomfortable. I didn't know what to say – it was like all of my fears and insecurities were coming true.

We were in Esme's driveway before he cleared his throat. I released the door handle and turned back to him, my stomach clenching in apprehension.

"You were gone when I woke up."

My brain skidded to a halt, all of my theories on what he might say flying out the window.

"Uh… yeah. I had work early, so – "

"You could have woken me up."

All right, that was true, but I didn't get why he was so serious about it.

"I thought you could use the sleep," I mumbled. "What's this about, Edward? Why are you being so pissy with me?"

"Because I don't do that, B- Liz. I don't play games, I don't bring girls to my house, and I sure as hell don't do one night stands. This might be some casual thing for you but it isn't for me. You could've at least left me a note; I didn't know if you regretted last night and wanted to escape, or...."

Being on the receiving end of Edward's disappointment and anger was awful and I needed to make it right as soon as I could. Even if I felt like he was over reacting, I suspected that if the situation was reversed I might feel similarly.

"I'm sorry," I said, trying to keep the shake from my voice."I don't ever do that kind of thing either."

"Really? Cuz it didn't look like that last night."

It was as if all of the air had been punched out of me.

Hands trembling I shoved the door open and jumped out, hurrying up the driveway.

He did not get to see me cry. Jerk.

"Liz, I….Liz? What's wrong, sweetheart?" Esme greeted me as I rushed past, trying to get to the stairs. Edward must have been right behind because I heard her snap "What did you do to her?"

I shut my door only to have him open it again.

"How dare you speak to me like that!"I cried, balling my hands into fists. "How dare you throw what I did in my face, Edward! You know I like you, way more than I should…"

"I shouldn't have said that – "

"No, you shouldn't have."

"I'm sorry." He walked swiftly over, hands out. "I just… it's been on my mind all day. I asked you last night not to leave and then I wake up and you're gone," he said.

"Yeah, gone to work. What did you think I was gonna do?" I crossed over to the window and looked out.

"I don't know," he groaned, pulling my belt loop and turning me around to face him. "And then you didn't pick up when I called…"

I checked my phone; sure enough there was a missed call.

"I can't believe you're upset about this," I said quietly, wiping my face with the back of my hand. Edward wiped at my cheeks too, bending so we were eye to eye.

"I should never have said those things, okay? You … you've turned me inside out. Last night you were incredible, and sexy, and I loved that you wanted me as much as I wanted you," he said, his voice pleading. "My job is first and foremost to take care of you. But as… someone more... I just want to know we're on the same page. I didn't like waking up and not knowing where you were. I take this kind of stuff seriously."

"I didn't want to leave this morning," I admitted, sniffling pathetically. "I wanted to stay so bad. But I also didn't want to wake you up. I knew I'd be seeing you later on…"

He took me in his arms and held me close, chuckling. "I feel like a real asshole. You're driving me crazy… the last time I felt like this I was in high school."

"Well, I've never felt quite like this," I countered, hugging him back.

"Do you want to come over?" he whispered, his lips tickling my ear.

"Are you gonna be nice to me?" I asked, only half kidding.

"Scout's honor."