Chapter 24:

Again, for false affection.

"I thought you were staying here tonight?" Danny grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. He was sitting on the couch in his living room, staring up at me as I pulled on my coat. "I talked to Edward about it. He was at the funeral, apparently. Funny, I hadn't noticed him until I was in the parking lot."

I snickered to myself. That's what he gets for being so fast. "I know, but I just feel like staying at my house, you know?" I heard Danny mumble something beneath his breath. Kissing the top of his head lightly, I buttoned up my jacket. "I miss the smell of her."

"But, are you sure you'll be okay?" He blinked, adjusting his glasses. My heart began to do flip-flops at his cuteness. "I mean, my dad can send cops over there, if he needs to-"

"Danny, she died by an animal attack," I lied willingly. "It's not likely the same animal will attack the same place, right?" He shrugged, nodding. "You know I love it when you freak out about things?"

He grinned, rising to his feet. "Freak out? I'm genuinely worried. I would think that's what you would want in a boyfriend." My eyes grew wide at the word. Boyfriend. I hadn't had one of those in… ever. Strangely, it felt comforting.

I kissed his cheek, and headed towards the door. "Yes, that is what I want in a boyfriend." He smiled when I said the word too. "But the boyfriend needs to know when the girl is dead serious about doing something and whether or not he should interfere."

His face suddenly fell to a frown. "Just tell me you're not going to see Jasper."

My eyes grew wide. Oh, great. Ever since I mentioned that kiss, he's been stressing about me and Jasper having a thing. He goes to Forks, he should know that him and Alice are inseparable. I blankly stared into his eyes, confused, and somewhat at a loss of words. How could he think that? Sure, Jasper was… a confusing topic, but he should know… "I think I'm falling in love with you."

He froze, his brows scrunched together in puzzlement. "W-what?" He took of his glasses and began to rub his eyes. Then he scratched his ears. His voice grew to a whisper. "What did you just say?"

I felt my hands begin to sweat. How could I tell him that I loved him so soon? We had spent a lot of close time together though, so was it really that weird? I couldn't love him after only being here for a few months, could I? But, I did. "I said I loved you."

"You love me."

"I love you."

"You said you thought you loved me."

"I know I love you."

"Why?"

"Because," I sighed, a bit embarrassed. "You comfort me when no one else is, or even when I don't really need it. You're always there to hold my hand, and to wrap your arms around me. You don't talk when I don't want you to talk, and even when you do, I instantly forgive you. You're over protective, which isn't a bad thing all the time." He glanced away, his cheeks red. "You're beautiful, with or without your glasses." I smiled at that. "Yet, I don't think I could care if you weren't beautiful at all, because you're you. And call me crazy, but I don't think every normal guy would sneak into my room just to ask me to the dance."

He half-smiled at this. "I actually came so you could ask me."

"Nonetheless, you ended up staying the whole night with me. At that point, I just knew you were some cute, exciting boy who was friends with Marlena."

His face suddenly became serious. "And look at us now." I nodded. I was waiting for him to say something else. I just confused my love for him, or what I was pretty certain felt like love, and all he could respond with was; 'And look at us now' ? I felt my face get hot with embarrassment. I probably looked and sounded like a fool. "Do you like Elvis?"

My jaw felt tight. Did he just ask if I liked Elvis? I felt like smacking him and walking out. I really felt like my hand was going to fly out and whack him across the cheek. It probably would have if he wouldn't have headed over to a record player in the living room. "What do you mean, 'Do you like Elvis'?" I spat at him, now angry.

He could sense the edge of bitter in my voice, but he simply responded with a smile. "Not only is he The King, but he's also The Romantic. I mean, if you listen to him, practically every song he sings about is love." He placed the needle on one of the records. I recognized the tune instantly.

Hold me close… Hold me tight, make me thrill with delight.

Let me know where I stand from the start.

I want you, I need you, I love you, with all my heart.

I felt like a huge weight was being lifted off of my shoulders. A confession through Elvis. That would certainly call for an interesting story. Danny clicked the record off. "Sorry," he shrugged, winking. "I just felt like listening to thirty-one seconds of Elvis for not real reason at all."

A huge smile spread across my face, and once again, with Danny, I couldn't have felt happier.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

By the time I left Danny's house it was dark. I checked my watch, and noted that the time was 11:45. I couldn't see any Cullens by my house, and thankfully I couldn't see any when I left Danny's. I hope they didn't notice me leaving. The Cullens were sneaky. I couldn't quite decide if that was good or bad.

As I snuck into the woods by my house, my heart began to beat faster and faster. Was I making the right decision? I had just told someone I loved them, and I meant it too. I wasn't head over heels for him, but he made me happy. He had said the same to me. So, if I were to get hurt, or killed- what would happen to him? There was the issue of Jasper, however. I felt love for him, even though I know I shouldn't. He would blame himself. Yet, it was a risk I was willing to take. At least I got to show them that I cared for them, in case anything did happen.

The woods were pretty creepy late at night. I figured the Cullens were inside my house, or at least, in the cellar. They couldn't be seen making a scene outside. There were other houses around. Which means Gemma must have attacked really late at night. When none of the neighbors were up. I growled at the name in my head.

I slumped down by a tree and decided to wait. If I didn't see Gemma, then I would at least hear her. I had thought about bringing a gun, but I knew that would end up being a bad idea. People would hear it, and it probably wouldn't kill her. I had a knife, my fists, and my mind to work with. It turned out that wasn't enough.

"Well, well, well." I heard a whisper ring throughout my head. I looked around, but I saw no one. "Looks like Eden's all alone. You don't think she was waiting for us, do you?" I continued to look around. There was no one, but I knew it was Gemma's voice. I began to break out into a sweat. Who was she talking to?

Instantly I heard a low laugh. I looked over to my left, and there she stood. Her blonde hair was twirling around her pale, Romanesque face. Her body was so thin, but her eyes were blood red. She was beautiful. A temptress. Her dress had flowers on it, only ending at her knees. She seemed innocent, but, of course I knew the real story.

She wasn't alone though. A man was with her. He was of Indian nature, his hair long and black and pulled back in a pony tail. He was handsome too. He wasn't even wearing a shirt, and his perfectly carved muscles showed his strength. I was starting to think going home was a bad decision.

"You know... it's funny," Gemma laughed, walking closer towards me. "that I had to kill your mother to get you to come here. You're just a little girl. Why couldn't I have just caught you myself?" She tapped her chin as if pondering the situation. "Oh yeah. Those little Cullen friends of yours. Them and their golden eyes. Foolish. Do they really think they can live off of animals forever?"

I stood up, looking back between the two of them. "Obviously they can. They're good people."

"People?" She cackled, looking amusingly at her partner. "So, you think they're people? No, honey. They don't even need to breathe. They just do it out of habit. You call that people? I don't think so. You're a person." She grinned, flashing her white teeth. "Easy to get rid of."

I acted as though I wasn't intimidated. "You know what I don't get? I don't get why you decided to kill my mother, when it was so simple for you just come and get me yourself. I mean, really. I'm alone a lot of the time." Gemma's face twisted into a frown. "Were you trying to look cool, or something?" I mocked. "In all honestly you just looked pretty stupid. You looked pathetic not being able to catch a... What was it you called me? 'Little girl'?"

Her large Indian friend clenched his fists, a growl erupting in his throat. I jumped back in surprise. What kind of vampire growls? "You think I'm stupid, then." Gemma flicked her hair back. "Take a look in the mirror, darling. You can't even tell a werewolf from a vampire."

My stomach churned. I felt like I was going to hurl again. Disgustingly, I swallowed it back down. "There are… werewolves in Forks?" Gemma just smirked. "What else is there? Elves? Zombies? Lepers?"

She raised a finger to silence me. "You really are wasting my time, you know. I don't even know why I'm talking to you. Vampires and werewolves are enemies. They've always been enemies. It's common knowledge. Most likely where there are vampires, there's werewolves. They fight over each other's turf."

"I know," I shrugged. "I saw the Underworld series. Except, Markus and William were brothers. It was all kind of by accident I guess. Then they both got locked up, and…" A look of confusion was plastered on her face. "Nevermind."

"So, you know your legends, huh?" She seemed interested. I nodded. Dracula was one of my favorite books. She leaned over to the werewolf and whispered something in his ear. I heard myself silently praying; Please don't turn into a big fluffy dog, please don't turn into a big fluffy dog… "What else do you know?"

I scratched my chin, recalling. Hopefully this was a ticket to freedom. Now that I was in the situation, I probably should have stayed with Danny and let the Cullens rip her head off. "Well, of course I know Dracula…" She nodded, urging me to continue. "Then there's that southern vampire show True Blood, and of course that one book series that's always being judged with Harry Potter." I stopped myself, trying to remember the name. "I forget what that one's called."

"Shush!" She spat, stopping me. "You really do know a lot about legends, right?" Once more, I nodded. This game was getting old. "Well then. You might just be the thing I'm looking for." My eyes grew wide. I thought she was going to eat me? "Looks like you'll need to be safe if I'm going to find a use of you." The werewolf looked over at her with a smile.

"Can I ask you something?" I said, distracting her. She raised her thin brow, slowly nodding. "If vampires and werewolves are mortal enemies, then why are you two together?" Her eyes flashed even more red.

"Enough questions!" She hissed. In a flash, I felt someone on top of me, and a seeping pain through my neck.