Chapter 24 - Food for Thought

Author's Notes: I love all of you dear readers, and I thank you for not staging a Richward revolt and stringing me up by my toes for the last chapter. I own nothing, save for the mistakes, the storyline, Richie, Julia, and Serena.

Thoughts and phone conversations are in italics.

He wasn't sure what the worst part was. Telling Edward to let him be and numbly watching him simply do it. Attempting to fall asleep with all of the thoughts coursing through his brain. Finally falling into a bleak and dreamless sleep, thanks to sheer exhaustion. Or waking up, tangled in his bedsheets, utterly and completely alone. If he had to hazard a guess, it would be the last one, since waking up to an empty bed is what made him finally break down and start crying.

Just another failed relationship. Another person that hurt me by keeping a secret, after he told me he wouldn't do such a thing.

It seemed to be a repeat of his parents, of Justin, or simply getting hurt again. Edward had hurt him, just like his parents had when they threw him out because of his sexuality. Or when Justin had gone out and cheated on him, simply because he wanted to wait to have sex and his ex boyfriend didn't. Except, this time, Edward didn't really leave him or toss him to the side. He told the...vampire...to leave. He even stayed after he fainted, and more than likely even carried him to bed, despite knowing his human mate wouldn't want him to.

He'd been at war with himself pretty much all morning. Torn between sticking to his guns and keeping Edward at arm's length, or between letting him in and talking to him again, letting him explain just...what he really was. After all, being a vampire wasn't something someone just springs on another person, just like being a wizard isn't something that gets sprung, either. But, then, it also raised the other question.

If Alicia knew, then did Edward know, as well? And if he did, then why not bring it up?

So many questions, so few answers. The stress of overthinking it was giving him a headache. On top of that, he had work later on tonight, as well. With Jillian, no less. Wonderful.

There was nothing more the wizard wanted to do than stay in bed all freaking day. But, he also knew that once Julia and/or Serena got word of Richie breaking up with Edward, because he had no doubt that was how the story was going to be told, they'd be nearly knocking down his door to see him. Knowing Julia, she might actually outright do it, too.

As if on cue, his phone buzzed with a call from Julia.

I don't want to do this. Don't pick up. Ignore it. Let it go. All of these thoughts went through his head as he picked up his phone and hit the green button, pressing it to his ear. "What's up?"

"You. Me. Serena. Lunch at The Kitchen. Serena's treat." The other girl's tone of voice made it clear that the request wasn't a request at all. it was a command.

Rolling his brown eyes skyward, the boy rubbed at his forehead, feeling his headache becoming worse. "Julia, I'm not really up to-"

"You're coming. Call it a girls' day, worse comes to worse, we'll tie you up, throw you in the trunk, and drive up to Port Angeles."

Like hell you will. "We're not gonna go that far, Julia."

"Oh, yeah, we will. You need to get out and feel better, since your magic's tied to your emotions. Keep this up, you'll end up firing a spell off you never knew you could do with no way to stop it."

Seriously?! Julia, too?! Gathering his thoughts after this new development, he just sighed loudly, not caring if it came off as bitchy. "I'll be at the restaurant in twenty."

"Good boy."

"Is he coming?" Serena's quiet voice asked Julia, the both of them sitting across from each other in the restaurant. It was ten minutes after she and Richie had talked, and the girls were already on their way, knowing that once the American girl mentioned knowing about Richie's magical side, he'd come running.

"He's coming." The girl remarked with a decisive nod, as she put down her menu.

The Japanese girl nodded silently, content with this knowledge. She meant Richie no harm, really, she didn't, but some things needed to be said, and he needed to listen. "Do you know what you would like?"

Julia nodded simply, as her water with lemon and Serena's Dr. Pepper were set down. "I always know what I want from here. But, I'm going to wait, because we're waiting for someone else." As soon as she spoke the words, the bell above the door rang, and then Richie ended up walking in. "And here he is. Want something?"

"An explanation." The boy replied without preamble, plopping into the seat next to Julia.

"Well, I meant food, but an explanation works just as well." Julia replied in return, sipping her soda lightly. She watched as Richie raised an eyebrow, not saying anything. "Really? You really need me to tell you that it's a surprise that three witches who've practiced magic their entire lives and a vampire and his family were able to sense you?"

"What do you mean-?" Richie's surprised question was abruptly cut off, before he looked over at Serena, who simply smiled quietly and waved. "Oh my god." His head went to the table, forehead plunking against it.

"We can sense you from a mile away, Richie. We knew you were different the second you walked into school. Chances are, Edward and his family knew it, too."

"How? How did you guys see through me so easily?" The boy's head lifted off the table, looking between Julia and Serena.

"I have been practicing magic my whole life, even in Tokyo." Serena told him gently. "I could tell that you had not done a spell in a long while when you arrived."

Off of Richie's confused look, Julia added on. "Magic backs up after awhile. Makes you easier to spot if you don't do it for a long time, and more than just trying to shield your mind from dark wizards or a spell to keep rain off of you."

"I didn't know any of this!" Richie protested honestly, eyes wide. "Here I was thinking that I was protecting myself, and yet all I was doing was calling more attention to myself?"

Julia nodded simply. "Pretty much."

"But, you have me! And Alicia! And Julia!" Serena said quickly. "We will help you. Teach you so that you may protect yourself better."

"Especially from the vampires." Julia dded on.

That was something that got Richie's full attention. "How'd you know about him? And Alicia? I never would've guessed, and I was...still am, I think...dating him."

Julia shrugged. "It was just a matter of process of elimination. They'd come out in the daytime when it was cloudy, but never be seen when it was sunny. They'd never eat. Alicia and I both had cases of Edward looking at us weirdly when we'd scream thoughts at him the few times we talked to him, and yesterday, after she left you and him since you fainted, Alicia told me she said that she knew what he was, and that's what caused him to exit stage right. Just little things that we put together with some research over the past year and a half."

"None of us can figure out why he is so fixated on you." Serena said quietly, lightly sipping at her own drink. "It is...how you say...preplaxing?"

"Perplexing, dear." Richie corrected her, giving her a smile, thankful for her gentle way of breaking everything. "And I don't know, either. All I know is that I'm drawn to him. I mean, he told me all of the qualities that, as a vampire, should repulse me, but..." He hesitated. "...they don't. His scent, his appearance, everything about him..."

"But, he's a vampire, Richie! He could kill you without so much as a second thought." Julia informed him pertly.

"I have observed how he watches Richie and I do not think he will." Serena interjected quietly.

Both of the Americans turned to look at her, Julia in barely contained fury, and Richie with a smile. "Then, explain how he goes from not dating anyone to suddenly exercising great restraint around him." Julia pointed out truthfully.

"You have read the stories." Serena told her quietly. "For a vampire, they can simply lay eyes on someone else and become infatuated with them. For them, they are their mate, the one they will choose to be with for the rest of their eternal life."

"Then, it sounds like Edward's only going to get seventy years, since his 'mate' is human." Julia's tone sounded disbelieving, like she didn't believe in vampires having mates.

Richie tuned the both of them out, mulling the words over in his head. Mates. It would make sense. Everyone else seemed to find Edward and his family gorgeous, but no one really took the time to get to know them. Richie stood up and blindly defended them without even knowing them, putting him directly in their orbit by his own doing. Edward ended up taking him to their home after he'd been attacked by Mike Newton and his football friends, instead of to the school nurse. From that moment on, it was like...something...had changed between the two of them. He couldn't pinpoint why the dynamic had suddenly changed between them both, but his magic had even pulled them together when they kissed for the first time. Even this morning, even just the entire day, he was the one who sent Edward away, yet he couldn't stop thinking about him. Get him off his mind. He still had a whirlwind of questions about Edward being a vampire, as well as the rest of the Cullens.

But none of it repulsed him. He wasn't reacting like Julia was, with disbelief and a seeming bit of phobia. He still saw the Cullens as friendly, he wasn't driven away by the fact that they were vampires. Now that his head was clearing up a bit, he could see the consequences of trying to run from who...and what...he was. He'd only called more attention to himself by repressing it, and it had called the Cullens' eyes to him, as well as made him obvious to Julia, Serena, and Alicia. He was still hurt by Edward keeping his vampirism from him, while he knew of his own secret, but he could most certainly understand where he was coming from in regards to keeping it under wraps.

But, he was a naturally curious boy, and it drove him to get answers to questions he sought. And what better way to get answers than to go straight to the source?