Chapter 14
Bella approached the window cautiously. Who on earth would be in the tree outside her window? As she got closer though, she saw none other than Edward Cullen balancing precariously on the branch that reached across to her window.
"Open up?" He asked in a whisper.
His voice jolted Bella from her daze. She reached forward to open the window and with more grace then she thought possible, Edward slid through the open window.
"Hi," Bella said breathlessly. Even though he was the one doing the physical exertion.
"Hey." Edward responded quietly with a soft smile, unsurprisingly he wasn't showing any signs of physical exertion.
The pair gazed at each other for a quiet moment, taking each other in. They'd never been in Bella's room like this before. It took them both a moment to take the situation in, and what it might mean.
"You know, most people would be out of breath after doing something like that. Or sweating, or shaking from the adrenaline." She paused. "But not you, Edward."
He simply shrugged. But Bella could see the conflict in his green eyes. He wanted her to know something. But he wasn't ready to tell her.
"How come you're here?" She asked, inviting him to sit on her bed.
Briefly, Bella thought about Jessica and how jealous she would be if she knew Edward Cullen was currently in her room and on her bed.
Edward took a moment before he responded to Bella's question.
"I'm having a hard time staying away from you." He said softly. "It's like… My body is drawn to you. And when we're apart, the feeling is constantly there."
Bella placed her hand on Edward's. It was clenched in a tight fist on his leg, but he immediately relaxed at her touch.
"I've felt it too, Edward." Bella informed him. "When you leave, I can't wait for it to be morning again. For me to open my door and let you inside. I miss you."
At her admission, Edward turned his body so he could see her better. He took her small hands in his and looked into her eyes.
"It's not just me then." He responded, relieved. "My dad…" Edward started, before trailing off. "Let's just say we had an uncomfortable conversation tonight about some things and…"
Bella cut him off with a giggle. "My Dad and I had one too." She explained.
Edward chuckled in response.
Bella looked down, trying to hide her red cheeks.
"You know." Edward said, running a long finger down Bella's cheek. "I love your blush. It's one of my favorite things about you."
His admission caused Bella to turn a darker shade of red.
"I just couldn't stay away anymore. I had to tell you that… that I…" he said, his voice growing softer. "…that I really like you. I want to be with you. I already know you so well, but I know there's more. I want more than just your friendship. And the conversation with my dad made me realize what I've been longing for without realizing it."
Bella waited quietly for him to finish his thoughts before she too admitted her feelings. How she wanted to be more than just his friend.
"You've become so important to me." Bella told him. "But I was afraid to say something. I wanted you as my friend no matter what though. Even if they feelings weren't returned."
Edward nodded his head in understanding.
"There's something about you, Edward Cullen." Bella said softly. "There's more to you than meets the eye. And I have this desperate need to figure it out."
Edward looked down when Bella finished. He watched their joined hands.
"I wish you wouldn't." He whispered softly.
"Why?"
"Because when you figure it out, you'll run screaming."
Bella paused for a moment before responding.
"It's not in my nature to run screaming. I like to face things head on."
Edward sighed. "What if it's too much?"
"Edward, I've noticed enough already and that hasn't scared me off."
"What have you noticed?" He asked curiously.
"You're stronger than normal." Bella stated confidently. "You don't get tired when you have to exert yourself, and your skin… I've never seen anything like it. It's so smooth and pale. Like someone painted it one with perfect precision. And the way you talk sometimes… It's like you're from another time. You seem to know more that the average teenager. It's like you've lived through history, when you talk about it."
Edward cleared his throat. "You've noticed a lot about me… Have you been watching me Ms. Swan?" He asked cheekily, breaking the tension.
"You're hard to miss, Mr. Cullen." She returned. "You and your dad, you're so physically alike. It's uncanny. The way you speak, the sound of your voice… it's almost identical. He's your father, so somethings might simply be learned behavior. But it's more than that. Genetically… it's like you're closer than that."
Edward let out a soft sigh. "I have a confession to make." He said after a few moments of quiet between the couple.
"Yes?"
"I've been here, before… before tonight I mean… like this."
"You've been in my room? When?"
"Not in your room, but in the tree by the window."
Bella swallowed thickly before asking him why he felt the need to spy on her.
"When it became too much to be away, watching while you slept, it comforted me."
"How long would you stay?"
"I haven't terrified you?" Edward asked incredulously.
"You're not… human Edward. I think there are different rules that apply to you. To us." Bella explained.
Edward sighed, pushing a tendril of hair behind Bella's ear that hand come loose.
"I don't need very much sleep." He admitted.
"When you say not very much… what do you mean?" Bella responded.
"A few hours at most. Carlisle, he's older than me. So, he needs even less than I do."
Lost for words, Bella simply sat and mulled over this new information. She also thought about how he didn't correct her when she'd said he wasn't human. He was something more, just like she suspected all along.
"So, you just sit and watch me sleep? What about when I… you know… change…" She asked bashfully.
"I would never betray your trust in that way." Edward vehemently responded. "You have to know, all I watched was when you were sleeping. I don't come until you're well and truly in asleep, and I'd leave before the sun would rise."
Bella let out a breath of relief. "You don't have to do that anymore… I mean, I can leave the window open for you… next time."
Edward smiled. "You'd welcome me in, at your most vulnerable?"
"Will I regret it?"
"Never." Edward said. The word hanging between them.
"Then I'll leave the window open for you."
"You said…" Bella started, before trailing off.
"Yes? Ask me anything sweet girl."
"You said that you only watch me sleep and never when I'm… undressed. Is that because you're being a gentleman or…" She trailed off again.
Edward knew what she was getting at.
"I might be a gentleman, but I'm still a man, Bella. I would never betray your trust but that doesn't mean I don't want to see you… that way." Edward finished with a deep swallow.
Bella blushed again. But she was glad he found her attractive. She worried though, considering how beautiful he was, that she wouldn't be enough. Before she could think too much of it though, Bella let out a deep yawn.
"Tired, love?" He asked.
Bella nodded her head, smiling at the term of endearment.
"Sleep."
"You'll stay?" She asked eagerly.
"If you want me to."
"I do."
"Then I'll stay." Edward replied, kicking off his shoes.
For a moment he wondered where he should lay, but Bella answered for him. She scooted over to the other-side of her queen bed and patted the now vacant spot.
Edward reclined back against the pillows and took in a deep breath when Bella rolled over and cuddled up next to him.
"Is this okay?"
"More than okay."
"What about Charlie?" Bella asked worried after a moment. Suddenly realizing that her father wouldn't approve of the situation.
Edward paused before he responded. "I'll hear him." He stated. "Go to sleep."
And so, she did. But not before adding good hearing to her list of things that she'd noticed about the mysterious Edward Cullen.
