It had just begun to drizzle when I turned onto Bella's street. I had been looking forward to spending a few more hours alone with her at her house, but my plans had to quickly change
"Ridiculous, over-bearing, old fool." I muttered harshly as I glared at the black, weathered Sedan parked in the driveway of the Swan residence.
Bella's with Edyth Cullen again… Damn…The thoughts of the skinny girl standing behind Billy Black's wheelchair were the first I heard.I'm not thrilled that Bella seems serious about this girl… but the Cullens seem cool, I don't get why Billy is being so weird about it. Man, this is so embarrassing.
Naïve child. At least Billy kept his reasons to himself.
"This is crossing the line." I growled.
"He came to warn Charlie?" Bella guessed, her tone slightly horrified.
I could only nod as I met Billy Black's gaze through the rain and narrowed my eyes.
Bella seemed to contemplate something for a moment, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Let me deal with this," She suggested, sounding anxious.
"That's probably best." I agreed, which seemed to surprise her. "Be careful, though. The girl has no idea."
"Girl? Her name is Julie." Shee scolded me.
Something about her vaguely… protective tone bothered me for some reason, but I couldn't understand why so I simply shrugged.
She sighed and put her hand on the door handle.
"Get them inside," I instructed, "so I can leave. I'll be back around dusk."
"Do you want my truck?" she offered.
I rolled my eyes. "I couldwalkhome faster than this truck moves."
"You don't have to leave," she said, hopeful.
I smiled at the wistfulness in her expression. "Actually, I do. After you get rid of them"—I threw an angry glare in the Black's general direction—"you still have to prepare Charlie to meet your new girlfriend." I grinned widely at this, showing all my teeth.
She groaned, comically. "Thanks."
I smiled fondly at her. "I'll be back soon," I promised.
That feeling of reckless impulsiveness surged through me again. I glanced only briefly at the porch, disregarding the superstitious old fool completely. I swiftly leaned in and planted a gentle kiss just under the edge of Bella's jaw. Bella's heart started pounding in an panic and her eyes darted to the porch.
Billy's thoughts were unavoidably loud, but largely unintelligible. Just a mess of panic and anger. I ignored him as best I could, feeling slightly smug.
"Soon," Bella stressed as she opened the door and stepped out into the rain.
I watched her as she half-ran through the light rain toward the porch. It felt like a part of me was leaving with her. It was an excruciating ache.
I guess it's pretty serious…The disappointed thoughts of the girl—Julie—surprised me. I felt the same strange feeling I felt after Bella had scolded me. It confused me.
"Hey, Billy. Hi, Jules." Bella greeted them with an overly cheerful tone. I was going to need to help her work on her acting skills. "Charlie's gone for the day—I hope you haven't been wating long."
"Not long," Billy Black's tone was low and subdued. His dark eyes bore into Bella. I felt a fresh pain of anger. He continued. "I just wanted to bring this up." He indicated a brown paper sack resting in his lap.
"Oh, thanks," Bella said, glancing briefly at it. "Why don't you come in for a minute and dry off?"
Well done, Bella, well done.
The Elder Black continued to scrutinize Bella's every movement as she unlocked the door and indicated that they should enter first.
"Here, let me take that," Bella offered, turning to shut the door. Shee glanced back up at me one last time. I hoped my expression wasn't terribly unpleasant.
As soon as the door clicked shut, I swiftly opened the door and dashed out of the cab. I should have hurried straight home, but I felt the need to stay close—to protect Bella. I quietly rounded the little house and hid myself among the dense foliage, listening intently. I couldn't see them through the small kitchen window.
"You'll want to put it in the fridge," I heard Billy say, "It's some of Harry Clearwater's homemade fish fry—Charlie's favorite. The fridge keeps it drier."
"Thanks," Bella said again, but with genuine feeling this time. "I was running out of new ways to fix fish, and he's bound to bring home more tonight."
"Fishing again?" Billy asked. "Down at the usual spot? Maybe I'll run by and see him."
I grabbed a branch from the nearest bush and pulverized it in my hand to try and calm myself. Billy Black was going to be a real problem, I could tell. I watched Bella through Billy's eyes.
"No," Bella said quickly, her expression hardening. "He was headed someplace new… but he didn't tell me where."
Hm. She could be lying.Billy mused. "Jules," he said, his eyes still on Bella. "Why don't you go get that new picture of Rebecca out of the car? I'll leave that for Charlie, too."
Are you kidding me?"Where is it?" The girl asked, her voice morose as her thoughts.
"I think I saw it in the trunk," Billy answered. "You may have to dig for it."
The girl begrudgingly slouched back out into the mounting rain. She couldn't see me from my hiding spot, so I remained still in the bushes, carefully watching Bella through Billy's scrutinizing gaze.
They faced each other in silence. After a few long seconds, Bella shifted suddenly and turned to head into the kitchen. Billy followed in his wheelchair.
Bella shoved the brown parcel into the refrigerator and spun around to face Billy, whose thoughts were momentarily silent.
"Charlie won't be back for a while." Bella said, an almost rude tinge to her voice.
Billy nodded in agreement but said nothing. His thoughts were suspicious, without the words.
"Thanks again for fish fry," Bella said, obviously hinting that it was time for Billy to leave.
Billy continued nodding. Bella sighed and folded her arms across her chest.
Hm. She's got fire in her. Billy thought to himself. A poor, understated assessment of Bella, to be sure.Time for light conversation is done.
"Bella," he said aloud, and then hesitated.
Bella waited. I had to keep myself from laughing at her harsh expression.
"Bella," Billy began again, "Charlie is one of my best friends."
"Yes."
He spoke each word with careful distinction. "I noticed you've been spending time with one of the Cullens."
"Yes," Bella repeated curtly.
"Maybe it's none of my business," Billy continued, feeling off-put by Bella's tone, "but I don't think that is such a good idea."
"You're right, Billy," Bella agreed, sharply. "Itisnone of your business."
Billy was thrown by Bella's reaction and I couldn't help but grin widely.
"You probably don't know this," Billy said, trying to recover, "but the Cullen family has an unpleasant reputation on the reservation."
"Actually, I did know that," Bella replied in a hard voice. This surprised Billy. His mind raced with questions. "But that reputation couldn't be deserved, could it?" Bella continued. "Because the Cullens never set foot on the reservation, do they?"
She knows about the treaty?How?Billy's mind was frustrated. "That's true," he finally acceded. "You seem… well informed about the Cullens. More informed than I expected."
Bella stared him down, unflinching. "Maybe even better informed than you are."
But if she knows…"Maybe," Billy allowed. "Is Charlie as well informed?"
This was a low blow, and it was the weakness in Bella's stance.
"Charlie likes the Cullens a lot," Bella skirted the question, too obviously.
"It's not my business," Billy said. "But it may be Charlie's."
Bella snapped back again, "Thought it would be my business, again, whether or not I think that it's Charlie's business, right?"
I rolled my eyes at the backwards way Bella rased the question, but I was impressed by the assuredness with which she carried herself.
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!The Black girl's angry thoughts raged from direction of the driveway as the rain picked up.
"Yes," Billy finally admitted from back inside the little kitchen, "I guess that's your business, too."
"And besides," Bella continued, "didn't you and Charlie have a sort of falling out the last time you said something to him about the Cullens?"
Ha! Bella was on to something now. Billy was uncomfortable now, he knew he was losing.
"And being that youaresuch good friends with my dad," Bella continued, going in for the kill, "I would hate to see you two have another falling out over something like that."
Billy's thoughts were angry and frustrated as he flipped through a dozen or so futile arguments before realizing that he had lost the upper hand.
"You're right." Billy finally sighed. Bella had won.
Bella sighed as well. "Thanks, Billy."
"Just think about what you're doing, Bella," Billy urged and, despite my own anger and frustration, I couldn't help but appreciate the genuine concern Billy had for Bella.
"I do, Billy. Every day." Was Bella's soft reply.
"What I meant to say was, don't do what you're doing."
I could see them staring at each other in heavy silence through the small window.
Suddenly, the door banged loudly, and Bella jumped a good foot at the sound.
"There's no picture anywhere in that car." The Black girl's whining voice carried through the house. I had completely forgotten she was even there. When she reached the kitchen, I could see through the window that she was drenched with rain.
"Hmm," Billy grunted, spinning around to face his daughter. "I guess I left it at home."
You've got to be kidding me. The girl rolled her eyes. "Great."
"Well, Bella, tell Charlie"—Billy paused meaningfully—"that we stopped by, I mean."
"Will do," Bella muttered in response.
Wait, what?"Are we leaving already?" The girl's voice was surprised and disappointed.
"Charlie's gonna be out late," Billy explained as he rolled himself out of the kitchen.
"Oh." The girl was visibly disappointed. "Well," she awkwardly held her hand out in a goodbye gesture, "I guess I'll see you later, then, Bella."
I decided it was probably safe to leave, I did have to prepare for the game and come back to Bella. Just as I started to move to leave, Bella reached out and grabbed the Black girl's hand and pulled her into a hug.
I uprooted one of the bushes next to me.
"See you soon, Jules." She said fondly.
Oh, man, this was worth standing in the rain…The girl's elated thoughts only added to my utter shock and irritation.
"Take care, Bella," Billy warned from the entrance hall.
I waited and watched as the Blacks got into their old car and drove away. I didn't move until the car was completely out of even my own superior sight. I briefly warred with my desires to climb into Bella's window and spend the next few hours with her, but I had to change into something more appropriate for playing baseball and, of course, I would need to arrive in some sort of vehicle if I was going to meet Charlie and take his daughter to watch a baseball game.
I forced myself away from the unending magnetic pull that was Bella and took off at a run back to my family's house. As I ran, I thought of how best to encroach the subject of Billy Black with Carlisle. No doubt, he would tell me that I was worrying for nothing, that Billy would never do anything to risk breaking the treaty, but I still had my concerns.
When I arrived home, Alice met me in the entryway.
"Alice." I nodded.
"I'm sorry, Edyth, I didn't see that Bella was going to have any visitors until after you had left," She hung her head, "I was too preoccupied with the game."
"It's fine," I assured her, "I'm just worried that Billy Black may become a problem."
She closed her eyes and tilted her head back and forth slightly, after a moment she opened her eyes. "I don't see him doing anything that would cause us any problems…" She trailed off, uncertain.
"What is it?"
"It's…" She sighed. "It's nothing. Humans are always less clear for me, but for some reason…" she trailed off again, then shook her head. "It's nothing. Billy Black's decisions are harder than most to see, but the worst he'll do is talk to the other Quileute elders. He won't say anything to Charlie."
I watched her, confused, trying to see in her mind what was bothering her. Her visions seemed the same as usual, mostly. Perhaps less clear that some.
They're far less clear than usual, even for watching a human.Alice thought, guessing what I was doing.Can't you see that? It's like there's a haze over Billy Black that I can barely see through.
"It's harder for you to see humans, and even harder when you don't know them well, Alice." I reassured her, wondering myself if that was truly the cause.
Maybe.She shrugged.I told Emmett to get the jeep ready for you, I saw you'd want to take it.
"Thanks."
She smiled and dashed up the stairs to her's and Jasper's room.
"Hey!" Emmett's voice boomed from the direction of the garage. "So how'd it go? What did I miss?" He asked as he strode into the room.
"It went fine, Em," I rolled my eyes, "thank you for letting me use your jeep."
"Nah, no problem," He tossed the keys at me, harder than was necessary. My hand shot up and caught them, being careful not to bend the fragile metal.
"You're going to ruin another set of keys," I chided him.
He grinned. "Don't put a scratch on my baby or I'll throw a baseball straight at your head."
"And what would that do, exactly?"
"Mess up your fancy hair." He crowed, ruffling my hair with his hand.
I shoved him off and headed for my room to change.
Hey, heads up, Roy still isn't happy.
"I'd expect nothing less." I sighed.
He's just worried, Edyth. He's not as awful as you think he is.
"I know, Emmett." I glanced back at him, he looked unhappy. "What is it?"
"I wanted to meet the kid!" He frowned. "If she's tough enough to handle the truthanddeal with all your crazy she's got to be one hell of a girl."
I laughed, despite myself. "She is."
"Then I already like her." Emmett grinned before dashing back to the garage.
I passed Jasper and Alice in the hallway on my way to my room, Jasper nodded once, trying to conceal a smirk.
The excitement coming off of you…
I gave him a playful shove as he walked passed me and he laughed.
"Esme and Carlisle are already on their way to the field, Emmett and Royal are leaving soon, as are we!" Alice sang. "I can't wait to see Bella there! She's going to be very impressed, I think."
"If she can keep up." Jasper chuckled from the bottom of the stairs.
"See you there!" Alice flashed a smile and hurried away.
The entire drive back to Forks was both a torture and thrill. Despite my excitement of seeing Bella again I could only go so fast in Emmett's jeep. It was far too loud and conspicuous to be racing through the streets of Forks. I wondered if Bella was as nervous as I imagined her to be about me meeting her father. I felt confident that she was. I realized as I pulled into the driveway of Chief Swan's house that even I was a touch nervous myself. How laughable. I should be afraid of nothing. Yet, I was nervous to meet my girlfriend's father. How ridiculous. How… Human.
I jumped out of the jeep and headed for the door, my eagerness and desperate need to see Bella warring with my obligation to move at a human pace.
I froze at the porch. Should I knock? Ring the doorbell? Why didn't I know? This wasn't like me at all.
"Go get ready." I heard Charlie say from inside the house.
I decided to ring the doorbell.
A scuffling of chairs followed by heavy footsteps.
"Dad, be nice." Bella's voice said with as much anxiousness as I expected.
"Oh, go on," Charlie's voice said.
A panicked rush of steps up the old staircase.
The door opened, and Charlie Swan stared me down his face went blank as he looked at me for the first time the way bellas does. He had been standing at his full height when he opened the door with a stern expression which wavered only slightly when his eyes met mine.
"Come on in, Edyth."
"Thank you, Chief Swan," I said in my most respectful voice.
"Go ahead and call me Charlie. Here, I'll take your jacket." He reached out to take it off my shoulders. I deftly removed it before he touched me. I didn't want him to feel how cold I was, it would only make him feel ill at ease.
"Thanks, sir." I smiled, handing it to him. He took it and seemed momentarily startled by how cold it felt. Damn, I should have put the heater on in the jeep. He regained his composure quickly, though, and hung it on the nearby coatrack.
Bella appeared at the top of the stairs just as Charlie rejoined me at the bottom of them. Her beauty and perfection as she rushed down the stairs surprised me, yet again, though I could perfectly remember what she looked like in my mind. I beamed at her.
"Hi," Bella breathed, sounding strangely out of breath when she reached the bottom.
"Have a seat there, Edyth." Charlie said, gesturing towards the small living room.
Bella visibly grimaced.
Aiming to be as respectful as possible, I took my place in the single chair, moving as humanly as I could manage. By choosing the chair, I forced Bella to sit next to her father on the sofa. She shot me a dirty look as she stumbled onto the couch, so I winked back at her, trying to appease her unhappiness.
"So," Charlie began, "I hear you're getting my girl to watch baseball."
Bella made a strange face, like she found something about that amusing, but I wasn't sure why beyond the obvious.
"Yes, sir," I replied, "hopefully Bella doesn't mind spending time with my family."
"I'd say it was the baseball she'd mind more." Charlie said, and we both laughed as Bella shot another dirty look, this time at her father.
"Should we be on our way?" Bella suggested, jumping up and walking to the hallway and grabbing her jacket. Charlie and I followed, with amused expressions.
"Not too late, Bella."
"Don't worry, Charlie, I'll have her home early," I promised.
"You take care of her, all right?"
"She'll be safe with me, I promise sir."
Charlie's mind was still wary, but I could sense thoughts of trust there. There was no way he could doubt my sincerity on the matter of Bella's safety; I would do anything and everything in my power to keep Bella safe, even at the cost of my own existence.
Bella hesitated for only a moment, then inched her way out the door in a strange, hilted manner. Charlie chuckled at her and I followed, smiling.
Bella stopped dead on the porch, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly ajar, as she laid eyes on Emmett's jeep. The jeep was certainly impressive; it's high tires, the metal guards over the headlights and taillights, the four large spotlights on the crash bar, the shiny red hardtop… Emmett was exceedingly proud of it.
Charlie let out a low whistle.
"Wear your seat belts," he choked out.
I followed Bella around to the passenger side and opened the door for her. Bella studied the distance to the seat and prepared herself to throw herself into the jeep. I chuckled and lifted her in with one hand, making sure that Charlie couldn't see.
Once she was in place, I slowly made my way around the front of the jeep to the driver's side, keeping the slowest human pace I could under Charlie's watchful eyes. As I took opened the door, Bella was fumbling with the various buckles and straps with an exasperated look on her face.
"What's all this?" She asked.
"It's an off-roading harness."
"Oh, god."
She kept trying to find the correct place for all the buckles, but the frustration was growing by the second on her face. I only smiled and reached over to help her. The rain surely would have obscured Charlie's vision enough from the porch that he wouldn't see the way my hand lingered at Bella's ivory neck, brushed along my collarbone… Her hands fell to her side as she took several deep breaths.
I reluctantly pulled myself away and turned the key of the jeep. It roared to life and we pulled away from the house.
"This is a… um…bigJeep you have." Bella glanced around the cab.
"It's Emmett's. I didn't think you'd want to run the whole way."
"Where do you keep this thing?"
"We remodeled one of the outbuildings into a garage." I answered simply.
"Oh, of course."
I glanced at her, grinning, catching the end of an eye-roll.
Her face changed suddenly.
"Run thewholeway? As in, we're still going to run part of the way?" Her voice wavered with mounting nerves.
My grin didn't falter. "You'renot going to run."
"I don't need to spend the evening suffering from a dizzy spell in front of your family."
"Keep your eyes closed, you should be fine."
She shook her head, sighed, then reached over and took my hand. "Hi. I missed you."
I laughed at her simple, honest declaration and interlocked my fingers with hers. "I missed you, too. Isn't that strange?"
"Strange?"
"You'd think I'd have learned more patience over the last hundred years. And here I am, finding it difficult to pass an afternoon without you."
"I'm okay with that." She smiled, exceedingly pleased.
I leaned over to kiss the top of her head and her scent hit me hard. Warring desires of a thirst… and the hunger—that strange kind of hunger that had nothing to do with a need for sustenance. I couldn't stop the long groan that escaped my lips. She looked up at me, puzzled.
"You smell so good in the rain," I explained.
"In a good way, or a bad way?" Her head tilted slightly to the side.
I let out a sigh. "Both, always both."
We continued through the gloomy downpour until I found the somewhat hidden mountain path. She tried to make conversation now and then, but the rough terrain set her bouncing up and down in her seat, so she gave up. She looked so utterly adorable and I was rather excited to show off a little during the game that I couldn't wipe the smile from my face.
We reached the end of the road where the trees formed walls of vibrant green on three sides of the jeep. The rain had slowed to a mere drizzle as the sky began to brighten through the clouds.
"Sorry, Bella, we'll have to go on foot from here."
"You know what? I'll just wait here." She sunk deeper into her seat.
"What happened to all your courage? You were extraordinary this morning." I raised an eyebrow.
"I haven't forgotten the last time yet."
I was around to her side of the car before she had time to take another breath. I started unbuckling her from the seat.
"I'll get those, you go on ahead," she protested, but I was finished before she had the chance to get the first words out.
She didn't move. She simply sat in the car, looking at me.
"You don't trust me?" I asked, feigning hurt.
"Trust really isn't really the issue. Me being a dizzy mess on the ground is the issue."
I laughed, gently pulling her from the Jeep, and set her feet on the ground. She looked up at the light mist falling from the sky, a slightly surprised expression on her face. Watching her, an idea came into my head and I fought a grin.
"Do you remember what I was saying about mind over matter?" I asked.
"Yes…"
"Maybe if you concentrated on something else." I offered.
"Like what?" She raised an eyebrow.
I smiled and placed my hands on either side of her head against the jeep, leaning slowly forward, she leaned back against the door. I leaned in closer, my face mere inches from her own.
"When we're running—and yes, that part is nonnegotiable—I want you to concentrate on this."
I mentally prepared myself for what I was about to do. I slowly moved in closer, turning my face to the side so that our cheeks met and my lips were at her ear. I let one of my hands slide down to her waist.
"Just remember us… like this…"
Being sure to use only my lips and not my teeth, I pulled softly on her earlobe, listening to her quickening heartbeat. Then I slowly moved my lips across her tensed jaw and down her ivory neck. Her breathing caught, then stopped completely and she rested her delicate hands against my chest.
"You're not breathing, Bella," I murmured.
She sucked in a loud, deliberate breath.
I kissed under the edge of her still tense jaw, then along her cheekbone. "Still worried?"
"A bit." Her voice wavered.
I chuckled, putting both my hands on her waist. I placed a gentle kiss on one of her eyelids, then the next.
"Edyth," she breathed.
Then I couldn't hold myself back any longer, my lips were on hers. I was being too rough, too urgent, but I couldn't slow myself down. Her scent was all around me; intensified by the gentle mist that still clung to the air. Her beauty intoxicated me, everything about her pulled me in. It was almost as if she were the vampire and I the prey. That deep, carnal hunger inside of me was desperate for this, desperate for her. Her arms wrapped around my neck and it only fueled my desire; my lips pressed against her soft, yielding lips. I leaned deeper into her, pinning her against the Jeep. Her heart was beating so frantically and erratically. Then she let out a soft whimper and that was nearly the end of me. I could not contain the moan that escaped my lips against her own. She sighed, blissfully, and her lips parted, deepening the kiss.
Then I panicked.
I was losing control—no, I was already out of control. I needed to stop. I staggered back from her, breaking her gentle grip on my neck.
"Dammit, Bella!" I gasped. "You'll be the death of me, I swear you will."
She took a few deep breaths as she gazed into my eyes. I could see the wildness and hunger of my eyes reflected in hers. They matched mine.
"You're indestructible," she was practically panting.
"I might have believed that before I metyou."
She laughed, but I was still serious. How close had I come to going too far? I was supposed to be stronger than this. I thought I was. How could she so easily break my willpower by simply existing?
She seemed to sense my mood because she reached her hand out and placed it gently on my cheek. The heat radiating from her palm was like air for a drowning woman, I turned my head to kiss her palm, my eyes still on her. that smile still danced on her perfect, tempting lips and her eyes were still full of desire. I groaned against her hand; my reluctance to stop and yearning for more of her fighting with my self-control.
"Let's get out of here before I do something really stupid," the words came out in a growl.
I picked her up and swung her across my back as I had before, but it took me more effort than usual to be as gentle as I needed to be. The deep yearning inside of me was making me rough and dangerous. She immediately locked her legs around my waist and secured her arms around my neck in a hold that would have choked a human.
"Don't forget to close your eyes," I warned her.
Shee quickly tucked her face into my neck, her hot breath washing over me. It sent an electric feeling down my spine and I groaned again.
"Damn…" Another growl. I swear I could feel her smirking against my neck.
I started running before I lost any semblance of control. I was careful to avoid any branches that might hit her. She was tense the entire time, seeming to try and match her breathing to my own. I dashed through the thick forest, letting the cold air clear my head. I would need to be evenmorecareful in the future if she was going to continue to be so outrageously tempting. I was angry with myself for being so weak and it fueled my running. We made it to our destination in record time.
When I stopped, she didn't move so I reached back to touch her hair.
"It's over, Bella."
She lifted her head, then stiffly released her arms from my body, sliding down to the ground, but somehow, she lost her footing and fell completely down on her backside.
"Oh!" She huffed as she hit the wet ground.
I stared in disbelief at her adorable clumsiness for a second, but the sight of her bewildered expression broke through my anger at myself and I erupted into uncontrollable laughter.
She slowly rose to her feet and brushed the mud and weeds off the back of her jeans, the bewildered expression replaced by righteous indignation. It only made me laugh harder. She rolled her eyes and began to stride off defiantly into the forest.
I caught her waist in my arms.
"Where are you going, Bella?"
"To watch the baseball game?" She raised an eyebrow.
"It's the other way."
She pivoted in my arms. "Okay."
I caught her again and pulled her into my chest and I softly kissed her ear.
"Don't be mad at me for laughing, I couldn't help myself. You should have seen your face." I couldn't stop myself from chuckling again just remembering her face.
"What, you can be mad but I can't?" She asked incredulously, raising her eyebrows. "I thought you were getting better about your temper."
"I wasn't mad at you."
"I believe you said I would be the death of you." She said, flatly.
"Thatwas simply a statement of face." I spun her around to face me. "I wasn't mad atyou." The intensity of my emotions broke through my teasing.
"Then why did you get upset?" She tilted her head in the most adorably tempting way. "I know it's not because it was a bad kiss. Because that was one of my better ones, I think."
I laughed again, loudly. She had a remarkable way of understating the facts. "Oh, but that was the problem." I gazed down at her, my eyes full of adoration. "I could never be mad at you, Bella." I explained. "So kind, so patient, and brave…" I sighed. "I infuriate myself," I said softly. "The way I can't seem to keep from putting you in danger. The way you kissed me back at the Jeep was…" I closed my eyes, recalling every delicious moment, and took a deep breath, "beyond anything I had experienced thus far."
"That's saying something," she smugly quipped, "we've been doing a lot of kissing the last couple of days."
I smiled, but I couldn't ignore the sadness mounting within me. "Yes," I placed my hand on her face, rubbing her cheek with my thumb, "but what if I lose control? What if I hurt you? Sometimes I truly hate myself. I should be stronger, I should be able to—"
She stopped me short with a kiss, and I froze in surprise; still as a statue for a moment before my hands found their way to her waist and I allowed myself to relax and enjoy the moment. She pulled away all too soon for me, but I was still serenely content.
"You're doing a fantastic job," she smiled. "And I trust you. Completely. So give yourself a little credit."
"I love you," I said. "It's a poor excuse for what I'm doing, but it's still true."
Her heart thudding against her chest, and she looked at me strangely for a moment. Her eyes full of joy. I didn't understand why, but I liked when she looked at me that way.
"Now, where were we," I continued, leaning forward to softly brush my lips against hers. Any more than that and we would never make it to the game.
She sighed a long, content sigh. "You promised Chief Swan that you would have me home early, remember? We'd better get going."
I could only nod.
"And, as long as you don't losecompletecontrol," She grinned, "I don't mind if you lose a little more control next time we kiss."
The thought of another kiss like the one at the jeep, or even something better than that—if such a thing was possible—was more than I could hope for from this existence. I sighed, reveling in the utter bliss I was feeling. "I think I can manage that." I smiled.
"Let's go." She smiled back at me.
"Mmmm," I sighed again, "Yes, mam."
I smiled and released all of her from my arms but one hand. I laced my fingers through hers and led her a few feet through the tall, wet ferns and draping moss, around the massive hemlock tree to the open field that rested in the Olympic peaks. She looked around, her eyes wide.
Her eyes found Esme, Emmett, and Royal sitting on the bare outcropping of rocks on the edge of the field. Jasper and Alice were further out in the field tossing the ball back and forth while Carlisle marked the bases.
As we drew closer, I could hear their minds snap into focus as they caught Bella's scent. Royal, Emmett, and Esme all rose from the rocks and Esme began walking towards us.
Hm. Count me out.Royal's thoughts were venomous, and entirely for my benefit. He stalked off toward the field without looking towards Bella again. Emmett watched him for a moment, then turned to approach us. I could feel Bella tense behind me.
"Was that you we heard, Edyth?" Esme asked as she drew closer.
"It sounded like a bear choking," Emmett clarified.
Bella smiled at Esme. "That was her."
You loser.Emmett was grinning.
"Bella was being unintentionally funny," I explained, quickly evening the score.
Bella is here!Alice ran the distance between us in a second, stopping right at our feet. "It's time," she announced.
No sooner had she spoken then a deep rumble of the promised thunder shook the forest in the distance, and then crashed in the west towards the town.
"Eerie, isn't it?" Emmett leaned into Bella with a familiar ease, winking.
"Let's go!" Alice reached for Emmett's hand and they ran toward the field. Bella watched them with wide eyes.
She seems great, Edyth!Emmett was thinking as he ran.Hopefully she can keep up.
She can stay here with me, Edyth. Esme was watching us, smiling.
"Are you ready for some ball?" I asked Bella, eagerly.
She smiled at me. "Go team!"
I laughed and ran my fingers through his hair before running to catch up with Alice and Emmett. I met them at the pitcher's mound and Emmett clapped me hard on the back.
"Look at you, kid." He smirked. I shoved him back, laughing.
"Shall we go watch?" Esme was asking Bella. She led her to her usual place for the games, matching her stride to hers and keeping her distance.
"You don't play with them?" He asked her.
"No, I prefer to referee. I like keeping them honest."
"She thinks we cheat!" Emmett called over to Bella.
"I know you do!" Esme called back, laughing. "You should hear the arguments they get into! Actually, I hope you don't, you would think they were raised by a pack of wolves."
"You sound like my mom." Bella laughed.
Esme laughed, too. She continued speaking softly to Bella, but Jasper approached and put a hand on my shoulder, distracting me.
"You'll play left field, alright?" He smirked.If you can focus, that is.
"Don't worry about me," I grinned. "I'm completely focused."
"Sure you are," Emmett laughed, picking up the aluminum bat that was sitting at the home plate, "Completely focused on Bella."
"Can we get on with this?" Royal called, annoyed.
"Now, now," Carlisle chided, smiling as he took his place between the first and second bases. "Everyone play nice."
Alice stood on the pitcher's mound, smirking.
Jasper dashed several feet behind Emmett and readied himself to play catcher. Emmett swung the bat through the air a few times before falling into his stance.
"All right," Esme called from her position on the edge of the field. "Batter up."
Alice stood completely still for a moment, both hands at her waist, then her right hand flicked out. I could see in her mind that it would be an easy strike. Sure enough, Jasper caught the ball a fraction of a second before Emmett swung the bat.
"That was a strike, right?" Bella whispered to Esme.
"That's right." She smiled back at her. I smiled smugly at her quick eyes.
Jasper threw the ball back to Alice and she grinned briefly before throwing the ball again.
Emmett hit the ball this time with a thunderous crack and it flew into the deep forest surrounding the field. I dashed out into the forest, keeping an eye on the ball as I ran. A few miles out, I caught it and spun around back towards the field in one motion. I broke through the trees, holding it high above my head, grinning.
"Out!" Esme called out.
My eyes flickered over to Bella who was staring in disbelief at me.
"Emmett hits the hardest," Esme was explaining to her, "but Edyth runs the fastest."
I couldn't help but feel rather smug. I enjoyed showing off for Bella.
The inning continued at our usual fast pace. It was a particularly good game. I wondered how much Bella was able to keep up with. She seemed riveted, if not incredulous, as she watched us play. She only seemed worried once when Carlisle and Jasper collided at first base after Jasper had tried a ground ball. Bella had jumped up in concerned, but then watched in shock when Carlisle and Jasper stood back up, completely unharmed.
"Safe," Esme called in her calm, gentle voice. Bella glanced to her, then back at Carlisle and Jasper, somewhat bewildered.
"She's doing pretty good," Emmett clapped me on the back, "you picked a good one."
"I picked the best one." I corrected him, smiling.
"Too bad your team is still losing." He laughed, punching my shoulder.
It was true, his team was up by one point thanks to Royal tagging up one of Emmett's long flies, but I caught the third out. After I while, I couldn't stay away from Bella any longer and sprinted to her side.
"What do you think?" I asked her.
"One thing's for sure, I'll never be able to sit through dull old Major League Baseball again."
"I'm sure you're heartbroken." I laughed.
"It's a little funny."
"What is?" I asked, confused.
"Vampire baseball. It's just so funny to think about it."
I flashed a smile at her and her breath caught.
"I'm up," I said, heading for the plate and eager to show off some more.
"Stop flirting," Royal muttered, disgusted, from the outfield.
I ignored him. Nothing could bring down my mood today. Everything was perfect. My family was here, Bella was here. I had everything in the world I needed.
The score changed constantly as the game continued, but I didn't care. I was too happy to care about who won the game, because I was the true winner here. How had I ever thought things wouldn't work out? Esme had said before that it would all work out and she was right.
Carlisle was up to bat, and I crouched several feet behind him to catch. My mind was barely on the game, all I could think about was Bella.
Then Alice gasped.
My head snapped up to look at her, her eyes met mine and I saw what she had seen.
Three strangers, running through the woods towards us. All dissimilar in appearance save for their ragged, worn clothing and their bright red eyes.
I raced to Bella's side, my mind racing. I felt even colder than usual as a sense of dread washed over me. Alice was close behind me.
"Alice?" Esme's voice was tense.
"I didn't see—I couldn't tell," she whispered.
The others all closed in around us, instinctively knowing they needed to protect Bella.
"What is it, Alice?" Carlisle asked, his voice calm and authoritative.
"Others." I whispered, too quiet for Bella to hear.
"They were traveling much quicker than I thought. I can see I had the perspective wrong before," she murmured.
My eyes shot to her, she averted her gaze, guiltily.
I'm sorry, Edyth. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry. I was so sure…
Jasper saw the anger in my eyes and leaned over Alice, his posture protective. "What changed?" he asked, staring me down.
"They heard us playing, and it changed their path," she said.Edyth, I didn't think… I didn't know…
Bella was in everyone's mind as they all looked at her for brief moment, then looked away, eyes on the trees.
"How soon?" Carlisle asked, turning to me.
I concentrated on the forest, scanning for unfamiliar voices. Then I found them.
"Less than five minutes. They're running—they want to play." I scowled.
"Can you make it?" Carlisle asked, his eyes flicking toward Bella again.She shouldn't be here, Edyth.
"No, not carrying—" I cut short, my mind racing and beyond frustrated. "Besides, the last thing we need is for them to catch the scent and start hunting."
"How many?" Emmett asked Alice.
"Three," she answered tersely.
"Three!" he scoffed. "Let them come." He flexed his arms, unworried.
Everyone's eyes were on Carlisle, anxious for his decision. He deliberated for only a moment.
"Let's just continue the game," he finally decided, keeping his voice cool and level. Only I could hear the worry in his thoughts. "Alice said they were curious."
"Edyth," Esme whispered to me, so quick and quiet that Bella would be unable to hear. "Are they… Do they need to hunt?"
I shook my head slightly. The others weren't hunting now, they had fed recently. Her face looked immediately relieved, but I didn't share her feelings on the matter. I kept my mind split between the forest, listening to the others' minds, and scanning the cacophony of visions passing through Alice's mind. Nothing was set in stone. She couldn't see what would happen.
"You catch, Esme," I said. "I'll call it now." I planted myself in front of Bella.
The others returned to the field, sweeping the dark forest with wary eyes. Alice and Esme oriented themselves around Bella, tense and ready to defend. Royal didn't move at first. He glared at Bella for a long moment before moving back to the field.
I hope your happy. He thought bitterly.
"The others are coming now." Bella stated. Her voice was small and quiet.
"Yes, stay very still, keep quiet, and don't move from my side, please." I tried to hide the stress in my voice so as not to worry her, but in the back of my mind I knew Bella was too sharp to miss it. From the corner of my eye, I saw her pull the collar of her raincoat up around her neck.
"That won't help," Royal muttered back at us. "I could smell her across the field."
"I know." Frustration at Royal's attitude tinged my words.
Carlisle stood at the plate, and the others joined the game with far less enthusiasm than before. Everyone was on edge, waiting.
"What did Esme ask you?" Bella whispered.
Of course she noticed. "Whether they were thirsty," I unwillingly muttered.
The seconds seemed to tick by at a crawl; no one dared to hit the ball farther than a few yards for fear of being too far away when the others arrived. Emmett, Royal, and Jasper hovered in the infield, ready to close in at a moment's notice. I tried to concentrate on the other's minds, gauging the distance between them and us, but I was occasionally distracted by Bella's face in Royal's mind. The anger and frustration that filled Royal's mind as he watched Bella only made me more anxious.
"I'm sorry, Bella," I muttered. "It was stupid and irresponsible of me to expose you like this. I'm so sorry."
Then I heard them. My breath stopped, and my eyes snapped to the far right of the field. I took half a step, angling myself between Bella and what was coming.
Carlisle, Emmett, and the others turned in the same direction, hearing the sounds of the other's steps against the damp forest floor.
Bella held her breath behind me.
My hubris had been too great, and now I would have to pay for that folly and I knew, in that tense moment, it was going to change everything.