Chapter 15
When Bella woke up the following morning it took her a few moments to remember why she had a bed partner. But then it all came rushing back.
"Good morning." Edward said quietly.
"You stayed?"
"You said I would." Edward responded, suddenly coming a bit nervous.
"I'm glad you did. Did you sleep some?" Bella asked suddenly.
"A few hours. They were very peaceful."
"Did you dream anything?"
Edward paused, choosing his words carefully it seemed. "It's not possible for me to dream. When we sleep, our brains don't react the same way that the human brain does. We're alert to our surrounds, even in sleep."
Bella nodded, mulling his words over in her head.
She still couldn't believe that all she'd observed was true, that he was something more. It was a relief to know she wasn't going crazy and hallucinating. It was also a relief that he wasn't trying to hide it from her. He'd obviously begun to accept the idea that she would figure out what he was, with to without his help.
"I think I need a…human moment." Bella said as she stretched along Edward's body, releasing the kinks in her body from a good nights sleep. She could feel the slime and grit on her teeth that greeted her every morning. And she could only image what her morning breath was like.
As Bella made her way to the bathroom, Edward made his way to the kitchen and started scrounging around for some food for Bella's breakfast. He settled on eggs. She ate eggs for breakfast most mornings so it was first choice.
When Bella came down stairs she was freshly showered with clean teeth and a smile. Edward was making her breakfast, she realized.
Coming up behind him, she ran her hands along his shoulders and back and gave him a soft squeeze.
"Thank you." She offered. "Do you eat eggs?"
Edward shook his head no. "Animal products are a challenge for Carlisle and I. We can eat fish but dairy doesn't really agree with outsides."
As she ate her perfectly cooked eggs at the kitchen table, Edward cleaned up the mess and munched on a carrot. She could see he was watching anxiously thought from the corner of his eye, as if expecting at any moment the information he'd shared would become too much.
"These are great." She spoke up, wanting him to know he'd done an excellent job.
Edward's face was overcome with relief and a crooked smile graced his lips.
"It's been a while since I've cooked so…" He said trailing off.
Bella stopped chewing and looked up at him. "But you said you eat fish?"
"Yes, I did." He agreed.
"You don't cook it?" She asked incredulously.
"Not usually. People eat raw meat all the time." He reminded her quietly, mulling over her response.
Bella hoped she hadn't come across as rude. It just seemed odd to her. He couldn't eat unprocessed for but he could eat raw fish. And sure, people ate raw fish all the time but only certain kinds.
Her head spun with his admission.
"You seem… different from yesterday. More… open." Bella observed, trying to find the right words.
Edward let out a soft sigh and came to join Bella at the table.
"I realized last night that if I want to be with you I have to be honest with you. You'll never be able to trust me if I lie to you or try to hide things. I can't tell you what I am, it's against the rules. In fact, you knowing as much as you do it against the rules." He explained, placing a tendril of hair behind Bella's ear that had come loose. "But there's something about you, Bella Swan. I want you to know me. Not the me that has to act human but the me that isn't human."
Bella's face was overcome with a brilliant smile. She threw her arms around Edward's neck and gave him a squeeze.
"I'm an excellent secret keeper." She told him, after pulling back from the hug.
"I hope so. Our lives might depend on it." He informed her.
"You're serious, aren't you?"
Edward nodded.
"Then when I figure out what you are I'll take it to the grave."
An odd look came over Edward's face but he quickly changed it to a smile.
"I trust you." He said simply.
