Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

14 – Secrets

~ Edward ~

I watched as Bella slowly sat up. When she had already steadied herself, she slowly got out of the car. I reached out, and she took my hand. If she thought it was cold, she never showed it. I led her towards the front passenger seat, never letting go of her hand.

Bella sat down, and then glanced up at me. "Um, Edward?" she said shyly.

"Yes, Bella?" I stared down into her deep brown eyes. My memories did her no justice. It could never capture enough of the warmth in Bella's eyes.

She smiled teasingly. "You can let go of my hand now."

My lips began to play a smile. Bella was teasing me. "I'm sorry, Bella," I said slowly. I let go of her hand and leaned down. I gazed deep into her eyes, and she stared back at me, seeming dazed. "But you seemed like you didn't want to let go."

Bella snapped out of her daze, and her jaw dropped open. "What?" Her cheeks flushed red.

I chuckled as I sauntered over to the driver's side. "Seriously, though, are you feeling alright now?" I asked, searching her face. I was terrified, seeing her so deathly pale.

She nodded. "I am. I fainted from exhaustion. And too much tension." I looked at her, trying to see if she was just making excuses. But she looked fine now. The color had returned to her cheeks.

I sighed. "Okay, if you say so. If you do feel faint again, do tell." I gunned the engine. "Now, where to? Let's go get you some dinner?"

Bella shook her head. "I'm really not hungry."

I frowned. "You need sugar in your system, Bella. You just fainted." I drove the car towards the direction of the restaurant. I frowned again when I saw Lauren's car. "Did you know that your friends left you on purpose? You need better friends than that, Bella."

Bella frowned. "Yeah, I figured." She sighed, and I saw some hurt in her eyes.

"I don't want you hanging around those two girls anymore, okay?" I told her. "You get into enough trouble yourself, you don't need people to add to that. People like that need to be taught a lesson. Do you know how much trouble you were in, even without you fainting? I don't know what I could have done to those men if I wasn't so worried about you." I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose.

Bella took a deep breath and nodded. "Good thing you came when you did." And then she stared at me. "Wait. How did you know about Lauren and Jessica?"

Oops. "I ran into them earlier," I responded smoothly.

"Why are you in Port Angeles?" Bella demanded. Her eyes had a mischievous glint in them.

I found a parking space right in front of the restaurant. I parked and then opened my door to get out.

"Edward," Bella whined. I almost laughed. She sounded too much like a child asking for a candy.

"We'll talk in the restaurant," I said reassuringly.

"You'll tell me everything?" she asked, her eyes pleading with mine.

I sighed. I could never resist those eyes. "Yes, Bella, I will."

"Promise?" she breathed, still looking at me from under her thick lashes.

I had to smile. "I promise."

That seemed to content her. I walked around to her side and opened the door. I held out my hand and she automatically took it. When she got out of the car, she let go of it. I glanced at her and saw that she was blushing furiously. I chuckled as I held the restaurant door open for her.

Oh. My. God. Why is she with Edward Cullen? Lauren. "Bella!" she called out, waving us over.

Bella looked at me with a warning glance. "Be nice," she muttered under her breath. We walked to their table.

"Hey," Bella greeted them with a weak smile. Bella was too nice for her own good.

Wow. Edward looks g-o-r-geous. "Hello, Edward. Bella! Are you alright?" Jessica asked anxiously. "We didn't mean to lose you." She looked at Bella uncomfortably.

"Please, girls, we know you did mean to lose Bella. Pretentions are not needed," I said as politely as I could. Bella shot me a warning look, but I could see an amused twinkle.

Both Lauren's and Jessica's mouths dropped open. "I-it was just a joke," Lauren stammered. It was amazing, her thoughts were absolutely blank. So were Jessica's.

I nodded. "I understand. Do you know how much trouble Bella was in, though?" I asked in a smooth voice.

They both wordlessly shook their heads.

"She fainted," I informed them. Jessica's eyes almost popped out. "Because she was running away from men who wanted to take advantage of her."

Jessica's jaw dropped. So did Lauren's. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. "We never meant for that to happen," Jessica choked out.

"I know. But I'd really appreciate it if you stayed away from Bella. I don't want her to have friends that only cause trouble. We'll be going now, do enjoy the rest of your meal." I smiled. And then I grabbed Bella's hand and led her to an empty table in the corner. I wanted as much privacy as possible, I was going to be telling her everything.

I suddenly realized as we neared the table that Bella was shaking. I turned to her in alarm, but smiled in relief to see that she was shaking in laughter. "Why are you laughing?" I asked, pulling out a chair for her.

"You were a perfect gentleman," she said in amusement. "Even though you were telling them off." She giggled.

I smiled. "I didn't want to start a scene. Besides, being with you made me a lot calmer." I winked at her.

Sure enough, Bella's cheeks turned scarlet. I wondered what she thought whenever she blushed.

The waitress arrived. W-o-w. Is he a movie star? Is this his girlfriend? No. Couldn't be. I'm prettier than her. "Hi," she said flirtatiously. "What would you like to have?" You can have me.

I chuckled at the waitress's thought of me having her. Because I could very well have her—for dinner. "We'd like two Cokes, please. Bella? What do you feel like having?"

The waitress turned to her with disinterest. "Um, I'll have the mushroom ravioli," Bella told the waitress.

Ugh. Why do I have to serve her? I'd rather serve the movie star. "And you, sir?" the waitress turned to me with a big smile.

"None, thank you," I said, keeping my eyes on Bella.

Hmph, she thought while walking away. She's not that pretty.

"So," Bella said as soon as the waitress was out of earshot. "Let's start with something fairly easy. Why are you in Port Angeles?"

I sighed dramatically. "You're never gonna let this go, are you?" I couldn't help it. I enjoyed teasing her.

Bella pouted.

I laughed, resisting the urge to touch my fingertips to her lips. Not to mention the urge to kiss her. "I'm just teasing, Bella."

She smiled a little.

"Fine. I followed you," I admitted. Did she think I was a stalker?

Probably not, because her smile widened and her eyes twinkled. "How did you know I was here?"

"I overheard your friends talking about it during lunch," I said. I didn't really need to mention the fact that I was about fifteen or twenty tables away.

She frowned. "Hmmm. And how did you know that I was in trouble?"

"I bumped into Lauren and Jessica when I got here," I answered with ease. This wasn't so bad.

"So they told you that they left me on purpose?" she asked incredulously. Her eyebrows furrowed.

Oops. Looks like I spoke too soon. "Well, I kind of heard their minds."

"Kind of heard their minds?" Bella asked in awe. "You can read minds?"

I hesitated. What would she think of me?

Bella looked at me intently. "You know you can trust me, Edward."

I looked at her, and immediately knew that I could. I sighed. "Yes, I can read minds. Excluding yours."

Bella stared at me in surprise. "Why?"

"Why can I read minds, or why can't I read yours?"

"Why can't you read mine?" she asked. She looked positively puzzled.

"I have no idea, Bella. It's the first time I've encountered a mind I can't read." Or endless brown eyes I can't resist.

"So how did you find me?"

"I followed your scent," I answered. "And read the minds of the people I passed, hoping that maybe someone had seen you. And then I passed by that bar. I heard what the two men outside were thinking. They were waiting for the others to bring you to them. Their heads filled with so many lustful thoughts about you. I wanted to teach them a lesson, but I had to find you."

Bella gazed at me for the longest time. She reached out and touched my hand. "Thank you for saving my life, Edward" she whispered.

I gazed back into her deep eyes, happily drowning in them.

Bella cleared her throat self-consciously. "You followed my scent," Bella repeated to herself. She took a bite of her ravioli and sipped her Coke. She looked at me thoughtfully.

"Do be careful, Bella. It's not that I don't like saving you," I started. "But you do scare the hell out of me, getting in too much trouble like that."

"Okay, Dad," she teased, rolling her eyes. And then she frowned. "Aren't you going to eat anything?"

I shook my head. I had hunted this morning before going to school. "I already had my meal," I said with a smile.

To my surprise, Bella returned the smile with a glint in her eyes. I noticed she had only taken one bite of her ravioli.

"Finish your meal, Bella," I told her, gesturing towards her meal.

"But I'm not done talking," she protested.

I laughed. "We'll talk in the car," I assured her. "As soon as you finish your meal."

That seemed to do the trick. She ate her food, finishing half of it. "I'm done," she announced after sipping her Coke.

I shook my head. "You didn't finish your food."

Bella shook her head stubbornly. "I'm full."

I sighed. "Fine," I said. "Let me get the bill." After the flirtatious waitress handed me the bill, I slipped in some money with a little tip. I stood up and held my hand out to Bella, helping her to her feet. I guided her out of the restaurant, keeping my hand on the small of her back. We got to the car and I held the passenger door open for her.

"Always a gentleman," she said softly without looking at me.

I slid into the driver's seat and brought the engine to life. I coasted through Port Angeles, glancing at Bella from time to time. Was she scared of me?

"Edward," Bella suddenly said, breaking her silence. "I think I know what you are."

I kept my face in composure. But inside, I was a mess. She knew? How did she know? Does she think I'm a monster? Is she afraid? Will this be the last I see of her?

"It doesn't matter," Bella whispered. "I don't care."

I stared at her. "Bella, I'm dangerous."

"I don't care," Bella repeated stubbornly. She stared out the window.

"Bella, look at me," I hissed. "I'm a vampire."

Bella whipped her head in my direction. "I know."

"So why—"

"Edward, I don't care, okay?" Bella insisted. "I don't!"

"Bella, do you remember the first time I met you? When you had asked me if you smelled?" I reminded her.

Bella frowned, looking puzzled. "Yes?"

"Well, you really did smell," I told her. I held up my hand as she started to speak. "You smelled incredibly like flowers. Freesia, to be exact. And I have never ever smelled something so sweet in my entire existence. We are vegetarian vampires, Bella, my family and I. It means we only drink animal blood. But that doesn't mean we don't thirst for human blood." I paused, looking at her, seeing if she was already terrified. But she looked exactly the same. "I'm very strong, Bella. I could hurt you without intending it."

Bella shook her head. "I don't care, Edward," she said, sounding stubborn.

"Why? I'm a monster."

"Because I look at you, I look at your eyes," she said, her voice shaking with emotion. "And all I could possibly see is an angel."

I sighed. I imagined hearing those words so many times. "I'm not right for you, Bella," I said.

At this, Bella fell silent. I looked at her, but she quickly looked away. Not before I saw the tear that fell from her eye.

I sighed and stopped the car. "Bella," I said gently. "Please look at me."

She shook her head.

I reached out and cupped her chin with my hand, forcing her gently to look at me. "Why are you crying?"

Bella looked down, remaining silent.

"Don't be difficult, Bella. Please work with me here," I pleaded.

Bella sighed. "I'm just really stupid. You followed me here, you saved me. But that's it. You shared your secret with me, and I thought…" She stopped, looking down at her hands. She was embarrassed. I didn't have to be a mind reader to know that. She looked out the window again, avoiding my gaze. "I was wrong to think I would ever be good enough for him," she whispered under her breath, obviously thinking I wouldn't hear her.

She thought I had rejected her. Because she wasn't good enough.

I sighed. "I wasn't going to tell you. But since we're at it, I have one more secret to tell."

Bella kept staring out the window.

"For quite some time, I have been fighting this. I kept trying to convince myself that this would pass. That I didn't need it. But now I could see that it won't, because it just keeps getting stronger every single day. I think it's about time I stop fighting."

Again, I reached out and I held her face in both of my hands, making sure to be as gentle as possible. I looked into her eyes, and she gazed back looking vulnerable. "Bella, I am in love with a girl. A girl with eternal brown eyes, who takes my breath away every time she looks into my eyes. A girl who sweeps me off my feet each time she smiles. A girl with the most selfless heart, and the bravest soul. I am in love with a girl named Bella Swan."

Bella looked at me, tears streaming down her face. "I love you too, Edward," she whispered.

My entire existence, I never thought I'd hear myself say I needed love. I had combed the entire world, seeing all kinds of beauty, never wishing for one to be mine—I didn't need love.

But now, looking into those endless eyes, I could see that I was wrong. Very wrong.

I need love.

I need Bella.