Well, this isn't the baseball game...sorry. I started writing and this chapter really exploded--it was too long to have the game included, so you're getting the first part today. This is one of my favorite parts though. ;)

Many thanks to BB and to those of you who are reviewing--keep it up! Enjoy! --Raca

Chapter 25: Eyes

The next few days followed the same path as Monday. Edward sat with us during lunch and the electricity picked up and buzzed between us. Will seemed to be accepting Edward's attempts to heal the ill feelings between them. They were at least able to hold civil conversations without too much strain. After school, we'd fly to a new clearing and practice our 'magic' baseball techniques. Will insisted on changing our practice location to keep them secret. He also forbade Addy and me to talk to Edward or any Cullen about our growing abilities. Thursday afternoon we ended early to give our minds plenty of rest. Addy and Will remained down the street at their house so I could talk to Charlie about tomorrow's baseball game. I had to let him know he'd be on his own for dinner.

I threw together a quick meal, chicken soft tacos, and practically inhaled them once Charlie arrived home. He was skeptical of my baseball game plans, but seemed to relax a bit when I told him that Addy and Will were going too. He shrugged his shoulders and said he could manage dinner for a night. I finished the dishes quickly and said good night to Charlie. Staggering up the stairs, I changed into my favorite worn-out sweats and brushed my hair. My head barely hit the pillow before I feel asleep.

A scream exploded from my mouth as my eyes flew open. "Shhhh, Bella." Edward said, placing a cool hand across my sweaty forehead and down my cheek. My eyes focused in the moonlight at Edward's concerned face, hovering inches above mine.

"Oh Edward!" I cried, throwing my arms around his neck and pulling myself into him. His back stiffened and I released him. "Sorry, it was just such a… a horrid dream, and finding you here lessens the fear."

"I make you more comfortable?" Edward asked with disbelieving eyes. I nodded and cupped his cheek up in my hand. I felt his jaw flex beneath my fingers.

"You wouldn't let anything happen to me," I whispered. In one of his quick movements, Edward scooped me into his arms. A small cry escaped my mouth, but I quickly relaxed and nuzzled into his stone chest while his arms wrapped around my legs and body, enveloping me in his body.

"No one will ever touch you," he growled softly, pulling me closer into him. We sat there quietly, listening to the rain beat against my window.

"What was your dream about?" Edward asked cautiously.

"The voice," I whispered. Edward pulled me closer to him.

"Do you think it is coming?"

I shrugged my shoulders as the fear from my dream crept back into my soul, making me feel numb to the world. Edward startled me as his hand moved up to my hair. His fingers idly wove my hair around and through.

"Will you tell me something?" I asked softly. "I have a question."

"What would you like to know?"

"Why aren't your eyes red?" Edward's fingers stopped moving and his body stiffened again.

"How do you know what color they're supposed to be?" he asked rather roughly, still struggling to regain his composure.

"The voice was accompanied by a pair of red eyes… I couldn't see the rest of his face, just glowing eyes."

Edward took a deep breath. "It's the blood. Our diet makes our eyes different."

"The darker the shade, the hungrier you are, right?"

"Yes," he whispered flatly. I shuddered unconsciously and Edward tightened his grip around me.

I shook my head, "It was just a dream. And I'm not going to be wandering around alone, so it won't happen."

"Bella," Edward said with pain in his voice. "I believe this dream is a little more significant than you're making it. You drew it."

"That doesn't mean anything." I said defensively.

"I'm almost certain you've never done anything like this before." Edward slowly leaned towards my nightstand, still clutching me to his chest. The room flooded with a soft yellow light once the light was flicked on. My eyes squinted and slowly adjusted. I slowly scanned the room for my journal when my saw them. The red eyes.

There, drawn on my wall were the dark, deadly eyes of my dream. Edward was right; I had never done this before. The eyes were more like a mural, stretching a good four feet across my pale blue wall. Their gaze was almost as intimidating as my dream. Two thick blondish-brown eyebrows scowled and crushed down on the wide, penetrating eyes. The small black orbs of his pupils were almost indecipherable from the black of his irises. A thin ring of scarlet laced the edge of the black eyes. He's hungry.

I shuddered again and shut my eyes, turning my face back into Edward's chest. He growled softly, "Now will you tell me what the dream was about?"

I sighed and pressed me face further into his chest. "I was running through a fog. I was running from something, but really didn't feel like I was making any progress… It felt like I couldn't escape. The eyes appeared and he talked to me."

Edward's hand returned to my hair, running his fingers down the length of my hair. He nuzzled his cheek in the top of my head. "What did he say?"

"Running would help and fighting would only… only make his victory sweeter."

A growl rumbled in Edward's chest. "Do you know where you were?"

I shook my head weakly. The fog was too thick and completely disorienting, I didn't recognize anything around me. But I smelt something… what was that familiar smell? I felt the stare from the eyes from the wall. Reaching through the blanket, I pulled a poster from my wall and plastered it over the dark eyes. I had to rotate the poster to its side to cover the width of the eyes, but I didn't care. I don't want those staring at me anymore.

"It is still very early. Do you think you can go back to sleep?" Edward asked, reaching to turn off the lamp.

"Not here, least not till I can get out some paint," I shuddered again.

"I think you should try. You need your rest." Before I could object, Edward lifted me off his lap and covered me with my blankets. I grasped his wrist as he turned.

"Don't go," I pleaded.

"I'll be here," he reassured me, pointing to the rocking chair.

No. Don't go. I moved over to the far side of my bed and patted the empty space beside me. Please. Edward took several deep breaths before sitting down and then reclining against the headboard. My hand found his as I snuggled down into my blankets. Our fingers intertwined and the electricity returned. Edward seemed to notice the difference too and shifted slightly.

"What is that, Bella?" he asked me, reaching over to move my face to where he could see it.

"I… I didn't realize you felt it too." He nodded at me and the current intensified and buzzed between us. "I don't know, but it only seems to affect the threads around or between us."

"Am I feeling the blanket?" Edward asked with hope in his voice.

"Not exactly—this energy isn't anything like what the blanket produces." And as I spoke, the electricity softened and faded away. "I really have no idea what or where it's coming from."

Edward rotated his body so that he was lying on his side, staring at me with questioning eyes. I smiled reassuringly and wiggled closer until my cheek rested against his chest. He released my hand and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer to his chest. He pulled my covers tightly around my shoulders and squeezed my small frame against his hard body.

"Edward?" I whispered, tilting my head up to read his face. His face was calm and peaceful as he lay with his eyes closed on my pillow.

"Hmmm?" he responded.

"How are you doing this?" His eyes open slowly and dropped to meet my gaze. "I mean… it seemed difficult for you to be near me before…"

Edward's crooked smile stopped me and made my heart skip a few beats. "Mind over matter."

"Oh." I slowly removed my hand from under the covers and traced the strong line of his jaw. His eyes fluttered shut and a small smile stretched across his full lips. Making my way down his jaw, my fingers itched to touch his lips. I wanted nothing more than to feel their smooth skin. But I didn't want to push Edward too far, so I forced my fingers to retrace their path back up his jaw. Edward sighed softly and relaxed further into my pillow. He's so angelic.

My fingers were on their fifth pass when I couldn't stand it anymore. They moved from his jaw to the space below his lower lip. I saw Edward swallow as my index finger stretched to caress his full lower lip. My finger stroked across his lip when he took my hand in his. His eyes opened and stared at my small hand with that unnamed emotion. He slowly rotated my hand to reveal my palm and he brought it to his lips, kissing it softly.

My heart suddenly raced. He kissed me! I screamed joyously in my mind. Edward placed my hand back on his check and took my own cheek in his hand. I closed my eyes and nuzzled into its cold caress. I love you.

We laid like that for several minutes, basking in the feeling of each other's touch. I was slowly relaxing to sleep when Edward's hand moved under my chin, lifting it up. In the same moment, his face stooped down till it was inches from mine. My eyes widened at his sudden and bold move. Edward's topaz eyes were soft and fiery, passionate and pained, longing and… determined. He moved slightly closer, breathing deeply—testing himself. I wanted to close that small space and leave nothing between us, but my body lay immobile next to him, no longer responding to my commands, but to his. Edward moved closer till I could see nothing but his liquid, fiery eyes. His nose touched the tip of mine, sending fire through my body. Slowly and with the greatest care, he rotated and his nose grazed from my nose to my cheek. He took a deep breath and my flesh burned under his chilly breath. Slowly his nose circled my cheekbone. His face shifted ever so slightly and his lips touched softly to my cheek.

My body suddenly thawed and reacted instantly to Edward's kiss. My lips moved to find his while my hands tangled in his rich hair. I crushed my lips against his hard, smooth lips. My heart raced as the entire room seemed to fill with electricity. Edward stiffened and his hands move to my shoulders, gently pulling me away. I opened my eyes to see the pain flowing from his. Well, now you really pushed it too far Bella! Damn it!

I opened my mouth to apologize when Edward's finger pressed gently to my lips. "Just give me a second," he whispered, closing his eyes and taking a steadying breath. Opening his eyes, his hand shifted around to the nap of my neck and pulled my face to his again. Our lips met and I tried desperately to cling to some self-control. My body burned under his touch and the room sparked with electricity. Edward pressed further into my touch, crushing my lips against his. His fingers tangled in my hair and small chill ran down my back. Not satisfied with the innocence of his contact, my mouth opened and my tongue grazed across his lower lip. Edward growled and pulled away again. His hand shot up to his hair as he rolled away from me. The action took less than a second.

"Damn it, Bella! You're going to be the death of me!" he growled into his hands. My tongue flicked across my lips capturing the taste Edward had left. He tastes even sweeter than he smells! I moaned softly as the new information only added fuel to the fire that burned within me. Edward rolled back over at my moan and looked at me with fearful eyes.

"Did I hurt you?" he whispered apprehensively.

"What?" I blurted out, frustrated that he had pulled me from my Edward induced haze. I rolled my eyes at his question. "I'm not that fragile!"

"But you…" My fingers cupped his mouth to stop his words.

Ever consider that sound could be good? I slowly removed my hand to graze back over his full lips. Edward's eyes grew wide.

He smiled at me crookedly, "Oh." Reclining on his back, he clasped his hands behind his head. A yawn escaped my lips and Edward chuckled softly. Good night, Edward. I thought as I curled myself against his body. He placed his arm gently around my shoulder.

"Sleep well, Bella," he whispered into my hair, giving it a sweet kiss. I breathed in his scent and feel into a peaceful sleep.

*sigh* Sorry to pull you out of your Edward daydream, but I need to ask you for something-- review! Click below and pour out your soul! I'd love to hear from YOU!