Chapter 20 – Tea Time

BELLA

Edward was adorable. I couldn't stop smiling. We were courting. The smile he wore when we held hands was just beaming, and I was not talking about his sparkly nature in the sun, though he was beautiful in the sunlight.

I didn't know what Edward was, but I truly didn't care at this point. He was just so sweet and doting by nature. I knew he couldn't be anything bad. I had a feeling the key to knowing what he was lay in what he ate. Once he realized I had seen the thermos, he sat nervously but quietly, slurping down whatever it was. He never offered me any, and I was tempted to ask for a drink, just to see if he would share and if I could drink whatever it was he was hoarding to himself.

Our walk back to the house was playful, as I talked him into playing leapfrog home. I did tease him for showing off. I'd swear he had to be part frog!

When we got back, Violet came out wearing a huge floppy hat and had a feather boa in her hands. I noticed Edward looked nervous, and then Alice stepped out on the back porch. She smiled and nodded at him and then waved to me.

Violet jumped up, and Edward caught her easily in his arms. I couldn't help but smile, as she hooked the boa around his neck and kissed his cheek. She pulled off her floppy hat and handed it to me. I put it on, smiling.

"We've been invited for tea," Edward informed me.

I followed him to the kitchen, and he seemed to shift nervously. I watched his brow furrow, as Alice poured the tea.

"What is this?" he asked.

I giggled a little. "Tea," I answered for Alice.

Edward raised his eyebrow in question at Alice. He made a small hissing noise.

"Oh, quit your whining, you big baby; it won't kill you to drink it."

Edward was full-on pouting now, and I thought it was hilarious.

Violet sipped her tea, and I noticed Alice didn't pour herself a cup. I quickly chugged mine down and traded cups with Edward. I gave him a wink, and I was rewarded with a crooked smile. "So, Alice," I addressed her, smiling, "Will you be having some tea as well?"

"Nope," she said easily. "Edward and I are on the same diet." She patted his shoulder and went to the counter to fetch the cookies.

"What kind of diet is that?" I asked.

She looked at Edward and smirked, "A special diet."

"I gathered that. I assume you and your siblings are all on the same diet, along with your parents?"

She pushed the plate of cookies so it rested between Violet and I. "Yes. I'm sure Edward will tell you soon why, exactly, we have a special diet."

"Well, I assume it's because you're different. Your body probably metabolizes thing differently, and so, it'd make sense that you couldn't eat normal foods."

Alice smiled at Edward and then patted his shoulder. He scowled at her, and she giggled in return. I had a feeling I was missing something. "Violet, dear, it's time for your nap, come along," Alice called, and her daughter followed her, leaving me sitting at a small children's table, drinking tea in a floppy hat across from Edward, who was sitting in the tiny chair, a little too comfortable in his pink feather boa.

"Nice feathers," I said, smiling.

I think he suddenly realized he still had it on and quickly whipped it off, hooking it on my neck. "I think it looks better on you."

I chuckled. "No, Sir, I definitely think you look much cuter in feathers."

"Hell yeah!" I heard a voice, who I assumed was Emmett, shout in agreement. "Edward rocks the boa!"

Edward looked down at his hands. I think the poor boy was embarrassed.

"You know, I think it's really sweet that you have tea with your niece. Not a lot of guys would be willing to do that."

He shrugged.

"I definitely think pink is your color, though."

He rolled his burgundy eyes at me.

"So, Edward, are you going to tell me what you eat or drink? Obviously not tea," I said, motioning to the cup.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Bella, it isn't that simple, and I'd rather not tell you right now."

"TELL HER!" Alice yelled from somewhere in the house.

"See, you're supposed to tell me," I said, crossing my arms defensively.

"Bella, please..."

Alice came huffing in and opened the fridge, and then she poured something into Edward's cup. It was a dark, thick drink, similar to the color of his eyes, and I wondered if that was why his eyes were that color.

I leaned over to get a better look at it, but Edward slid the cup away and hissed in Alice's direction.

"Oh, just get it over with, Edward!" she snapped and set the jug she had in front of me. Before I had a chance to inspect it, though, Edward snatched it and quickly put it back in the fridge. But while he was busy doing that, I grabbed his cup.

I brought it to my nose and sniffed. It smelled weird, like blood. Why would Edward want to drink something so gross? It wasn't a prank, though, because they had a huge jug of it in the fridge.

"Blood?" I asked.

Edward seemed to cringe when I said the word.

"Animal blood, to be more specific," Alice answered and took the cup from me and drank the contents smoothly.

I looked at Edward, who was now holding his head in his hands and looked to be in despair.

"Edward, are you alright? Do you need me to get you some of your drink?"

He looked up at me, shocked. "Aren't you disgusted with me?"

I shrugged. "I know a recipe for blood pudding."

His brow furrowed. "Blood pudding? Bella, you realize that's all I can ingest?" he said, pointing to the cup.

"Well, at least it's not going to waste. I mean, humans have to drain the animal before we can eat it, anyway, but you know; same thing, really, blood or meat, consumption of animals and all that. Everybody's got to eat. I'm not a vegetarian, so I'm cool with it."

Alice rinsed her cup in the sink and then walked over and hugged my shoulder. "See, I told you," she sang at Edward.

"So," I said, clapping my hands together, "Now that that's over, shall we shake up the Boggle game, so I can whip you and your eighteenth century vocabulary?"

Alice burst out laughing.

Edward looked stunned.

I handed my hat and boa to Alice to give back to her daughter and took Edward's hand. I had plenty of time to figure out what he was. I had a major clue, but right now, I needed to settle my boy down. He needed to know that nothing he revealed to me would scare me away.

I was in this for good.