Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Loudward
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Prompt: Stain

I was tempted to give him directions to the Thriftway, but Forks is so small you have to drive by the diner to get there, so I relented. Cringing at the thought of who I would see I plodded along behind him. He was far too happy about this and it made me extremely nervous.

Swinging the door open wide he ushered me in. I could hear him chuckle as I passed him by and came face to face with Lauren, her platinum hair in a loose knot at the base of her neck, dressed in a pink uniform with a name tag pinned to her chest. "Lauren?" I gaped, completely flabbergasted, "you're a waitress?" She had been voted 'Most likely to make it big' in high school, but that might be because she got her minions to vote for her.

"How very observant of you," she stated, her voice as cold and snide as ever as she gave me a condescending look. "It doesn't look like you've done very well for yourself either."

"I don't know," Edward said as he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and placed a kiss on my neck, simultaneously making me want to slap him and my knees weak, "I think being engaged to a surgeon while finishing her master's in literature in art is doing quite well."

That settled it, the knees were fine and slapping it would be. Lauren's eyes were wide as she took in the admittedly gorgeous man behind me, and only grew wider when I spun around and slapped him hard on the chest. "We are not engaged, Edward. We aren't even dating," I hissed quietly so she couldn't hear what I was saying to him.

"Oh, her father doesn't know yet," he said to Lauren as he grabbed my hands to keep me from hitting him, pinned them behind my back as he pulled me hard against his chest and leaned down to whisper in my ear. "I didn't like the way she was talking to you, and you said the entire town was going to have us married just because we showed up together anyway, so I just preempted it." I could hear the frustration in his voice as he said this as he faked a smile at me. I got worried when I saw it reach his eyes. "Besides, you agreed to go on a date with me, so we are dating. First date, the diner in Forks, something to tell our children about." He made sure to say the last part loud enough to be heard, causing a number of heads to turn in our direction.

Looking up he took in Lauren's shocked expression. "It looks like there are some empty tables, should we just choose one or would you prefer to seat us?"

"Oh, I'll seat you," she said, still wowed by Edward and I began to see why he felt acting like a smooth snake charmer all the time was a good thing. It obviously worked on the likes of Lauren. Then again, she was a snake.

Edward made a show of waving to everyone who was looking at us as we walked by, being sure to use the hand that was holding mine as if he were branding himself to me. I just rolled my eyes and tried to pull my hand away, but he squeezed it tighter, holding it hostage. I just gave up, figuring he would let go when we got to the booth. I was wrong. Instead of sitting across from me he sat on the same side as I did, pushing me over in the seat.

"So what's good here?" he asked me as he grabbed the menu standing at the end of the table in the holder that also contained the ketchup, salt and pepper.

"It's a diner, Edward, which means either everything is greasy and disgusting, or better than a five-star restaurant," I told him as I opened my own menu to hide behind. I knew what I would order, it wasn't like the menu had changed in the last ten years, and they served the best mushroom and swiss garlic burger I had ever eaten anywhere and their fries were in the top ten. "Luckily for you, our diner fits in with the latter. The only drawback being that they only serve comfort food. No duck confit for you." I gave him my best sarcastic smile as I put the menu flat on the table.

"Lucky for me I like comfort," he said as he perused the menu, "but given that you barely looked at yours that means there's something here that you think is better than anything else. What is it?"

"Mushroom-swiss garlic burger," I told him with a groan of longing, my eyes rolling back in my head. "It makes it worth driving to Forks just to get it." He was silent so I opened my eyes to look at him. I could see that he was staring at me with his mouth hanging open. "What?" I asked, wondering what could hold his attention and worried that I might have drooled a little.

Leaning in to whisper in my ear he said, "One day, I hope you groan that way over me."

I began to push him off the seat. "Go, get to your side of the table," I huffed as I pushed on him, causing him to laugh.

Grabbing my arms he held me still. "I'm sorry," he chuckled, "but the way you said that was probably the most erotic thing I've ever heard in my life."

I heard someone clearing their throat beside us and looked up to see Lauren standing there, rolling her eyes. "What'll it be?" she asked Edward, ignoring me completely.

"Apparently your mushroom-swiss garlic burger is a sexual experience," Edward said to her and my face flamed in mortification. I could see Deputy Mark in the next booth start to choke on his coke when he heard it, the dark liquid dripping down his chin and making a stain on his shirt. "We'll take two," Edward continued as if this were perfectly normal, "oh, and sweet potato fries with ranch dressing. I love those things." He closed the menu and smiled up at Lauren as if he hadn't said anything inappropriate while I tried to sink under the table.

"Okaaay," she said as she turned on her heel and walked away. Great, now the town slut would think I was an even bigger one.

I pulled my hair in front of my face to hide. I knew better than to think the people in town wouldn't know it was me, but I just couldn't bear to face them. Edward was frighteningly quiet and still next to me so I peeked out from the curtain of my hair to see him smiling at me. "There you are," he said when our eyes met. "I didn't embarrass you, did I?"

"Yes," I hissed at him. "You can't just say things like that!"

He sat and looked at me for a few minutes, just staring into my eyes as if they held the answer to the meaning of life, and I was just as taken with his. I could feel the energy build between us, a tugging sensation like a strong magnet dragging me closer to him. The clank of our cokes being slammed on the table by Lauren pulled us both out of our daze. Edward turned slightly to thank her before returning his gaze to me. "You're not like anyone else I've dated," he whispered so quietly I could barely hear him. "Why is that?"

I wasn't sure whether I should be flattered or offended and thought it best, while the tugging remained, to ask rather than presume the worst. "What do you mean?" My hands were clenched in my lap, ready for the inevitable comments of how I was too brainy, too driven or too focused.

"You're smart, you have goals that you work hard to obtain, and you don't allow minutia to distract you." His voice was still soft and quiet as he said this, and if he hadn't just spoken my fears out loud I would have thought them a compliment.

Sitting up straight I threw my hair back knowing I wouldn't have to be bothered by him again. "See? One quasi-date and you've already nailed every bad thing every guy has ever said about me. I guess coming here was worth something after all," I retorted, using sarcasm to cover my wounded pride and grabbing for my drink as a way to keep my focus off of him.

"Bad? What do you mean bad?" Out of the corner of my eye I could see his jaw was clenched and his eyes were narrowed. "Why do you take everything I say or do and turn it into something negative?"

I turned in my seat so I could face him. "First, when I met you I was told to suck up the fact that you were playing your music too loud for the umpteenth time, which never ended, by the way. Then, you hang out in my apartment like a stalker and scare me to death while making a crude comment about my sleeping apparel. That was followed by a back-handed offer of help on my thesis, being forced into your car when I came up here, tormenting me by telling people we're engaged when I've only just agreed to go out on one date with you, and now I'm too brainy, too driven and too focused, the same things guys have complained about each and every time they've told me they were no longer interested. At least you got sick of me fast, before I could grow attached."

I had ticked off the three things on my fingers but now just slumped in my seat with my hands in my lap, hanging my head as I tried to keep back the tears of my wounded pride. "I'm not hungry anymore. Would you please let me out? I'll just walk home. It's only a couple of miles."

Tilting my head up to look at him with one finger I could see shock on his face. "That's what you think of the things I've said and done?" Anger started to replace the shock.

Placing both hands on the sides of my head he forced my attention onto him as he turned in his seat to face me. "First, when we met I had no idea who you were, only that I opened the door and was hit in the nose after having the worst day of my life. Second, I wasn't stalking you, I was worried. The way you fainted from fatigue right in front of me wasn't healthy, and as a doctor, who has sworn an oath to give aid, I couldn't leave without making sure you were all right and checking on you. Third, the offer wasn't back-handed, it was hopeful. I wanted you to ask because I didn't want to force myself on you. Fourth, of course I wouldn't let you drive, because I had seen you pass out and was terrified of losing you, even if all I got was friendship." He took a deep breath and leaned in closer. "Yes, you're brainy, driven and focused; so am I. You're the first girl who didn't fall at my feet, well, other than with exhaustion, but that doesn't count, and you can keep up with me. I like that, I want that," he paused again, this time his lips barely over mine, "I want you."

I sat, looking for all the world like a deer in the headlights, and I could tell he was waiting for me to close the distance to kiss him. I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. I just sat there, looking back and forth between his eyes, finding sincerity but fearing the lie. I knew I had to make a decision; he was waiting for me to.

"If you're waiting for the ice princess to make a move you'll be tying up my booth for hours," Lauren's snide voice broke through my daze. "Here's your food."

Amusement came into Edward's eyes as I heard our plates being set down, or rather slammed down since it was Lauren. "Thank you, Lauren," he said and made the decision for us both as his lips claimed mine. I'm fairly sure I heard the other patrons in the diner clapping but my focus was on something else.

It's true about diners, their food is either completely disgusting or the best you've ever eaten. There's a cafe about half a mile from my house that serves the best mushroom-swiss garlic burger you will ever eat. They also have pancakes bigger than the plate that are full of blueberries (or chocolate chips, or you could have them plain, but why?), home fries that are their own food group, and omelets that can fill up an eighteen year old boy and make you give thanks to God for your taste buds. There are only about fifteen tables in the entire place, they are only open for breakfast and lunch, and there is almost always a line.