The first thing he noticed the next morning was that bed was empty. The second was a little note sitting innocently on the sheets right next to his head.
Good morning, lovely. I'll be at your house to pick you up for school at 7:20.
Harry quickly glanced at his phone and saw that it was barely approaching the hour before. He leisurely rolled out of bed and pulled his clothes off, replacing them with a towel he had hanging by his bed. If he was up this early, he might as well shower.
As he stepped into the hot spray he let out a sigh of relief, tension draining from his taunt shoulders. He hadn't had a good sleep last night, even with Edward there. Or maybe because of him being there…he hadn't quite figured that one out yet. He wasn't sure what he was going to say to Edward today, and he half hoped that the vampire would have forgotten by now. He knew better though, Edward could be ridiculously stubborn and pushy.
Still, he could lie. Edward couldn't read his mind, that he had assured, and it really would be best. His dirty laundry didn't have to be aired out, especially since it really didn't matter much anyways.
He stepped out of the shower after rinsing the soap off him one last time, mind still caught up in his internal debate. He checked his phone quickly, saw he had a little over half an hour to dry off, get dressed, and make breakfast. Plenty of time then.
At least, it was supposed to be. What really happened was a post-shower rest, then a scramble to get dressed, brush his hair into something relatively manageable, and make a to-go cup of coffee.
"You look harried," Edward noted with amusement as Harry slid into his car a little out of breath and hair eschew.
"I may or may not have fallen asleep again after I took a shower," Harry laughed a little and relaxed down into his seat. Edward had been thoughtful enough to turn on the car heater and it felt fantastic. "Still got breakfast though!" he continued more cheerily.
"I'll remind you again, coffee is not food," Edward half scolded.
"Uh huh," Harry dismissed easily. "Says the one who doesn't even eat food."
"I can eat food."
Harry turned to look at Edward with a skeptical expression. "Really?"
Edward hesitated, "Actually, not really."
"Uh huh," Harry repeated more satisfied this time, a smirk playing at his lips. "That's what I thought."
He turned away and looked out the window, watching the trees pass by a little quicker than they probably should have been. They were starting to thin out now that they ere getting closer to the school, but in Forks the foliage never really went away.
"So how did the rest of your night go?" Edward asked innocently enough, but Harry caught the hidden question."Absolutely fantastic," he just smiled angelically, trying not to laugh as his answer produced a slight scowl.
"You can't put this off forever," Edward noted.
"No, but I can try," Harry responded. They were pulling up to the school now and and lightly twiddled his fingers against the door handle, fully planning on making a break for it, despite the fact that class wouldn't start for another half hour yet.
"I'm just going to lock you in," Edward laughed, catching the movement out of the corner of his eyes.
"Alright, alright," Harry conceded with a laugh of his own. "I suppose we can walk into school together. I've got to mentally prepare myself for the stares first though."
"I noticed that you did some question deflecting yesterday," Edward pulled smoothly into a parking spot and turned off his car before turning to stare at Harry.
"Oh?"
"Yes, question deflecting seems to be a specialty of yours."
"I do practice extensively," Harry said breezily as he reclined in his own chair to meet Edward's gaze. He tilted his head to the side a bit and smiled innocently, liking the way it made Edward's gaze narrow. "Though I'm curious as to what you're referring to this time."
Edward learned a bit closer, watching how his movements made Harry's pupils dilate, feeling intense satisfaction at the sight. "Cedric asked if we were together but he never got a response."
Harry blushed a bit under the scrutiny and stayed quiet, not quite sure how to respond.
It was silent in the car for a few seconds, Harry unsure of what to say and Edward waiting for Harry to speak. It was only when Harry let out a small chuckle at the awkward silence that Edward broke from his stillness. "If you're unsure, I'll clarify. We are definitely together."
"Oh…yea…yes," Harry agreed, still blushing.
"Yes," Edward echoed amusedly, watching Harry warmly for a few more seconds before moving forward to press a kiss to his forehead then his lips. Harry could feel the vampire smiling into the kiss and he couldn't help but reciprocate, feeling his earlier anxiety wash away.
"So dating then. How does it compare now to when you were born?" Harry asked in when they pulled away.
"If we were in the early 1900s, I'm afraid I would be doing this completely wrong. For one, your father should always be present. Such conduct unchaperoned would surely earn me a rebuke. Then, of course, there would be the small issue of being sentenced to hard labor for homosexual behavior."
"Oh," Harry grimaced, "I would not do well in a hard labor camp."
Edward laughed but didn't refute the claim.
"I would also, naturally, have to make my intentions clear and warn away any other potential suitors."
"Naturally," Harry agreed, noticing as more cars began to pull up to the parking lot.
"Oh good, so you won't mind then when I make sure Cedric understands the situation later today."
Harry unbuckled his seat belt, realizing that he had forgotten to earlier. Edward followed the movement then quickly raised his eyes to meet Harry's again. "I'll just take your silence as a yes then."
"You be nice," Harry scolded. "Cedric is innocent."
"There is absolutely nothing innocent about Cedric, that I can assure you," Edward said wryly, thinking of all the times he'd overheard Cedric's thoughts. Remembering of them made his skin crawl with the urge of violence, venom filling his mouth, but he tapered it down quicker than he thought possible. His self control was improving, slowly but steadily, with his refusal to feel those urges around his mate. He never wanted his mate to feel fear, either directly or indirectly. He was sure Carlisle would be pleased with the discovery, though it likely wouldn't be much help to anymore else. Falling in love with a human likely wasn't a good solution for the majority of vampires out there.
Harry grimaced at that. "Ew, things I'd rather not hear…"
"You and me both," Edward agreed. He felt better knowing he was able to monitor thoughts to make sure no one was a threat to his family, Harry included, but there were definitely drawbacks. Murderous rage at the thought of someone harming or touching Harry just happened to be the main one. Which reminded him…
"Speaking of things I'd rather not hear, what was your nightmare about last night?"
"If you'd rather not hear, you probably shouldn't ask," Harry responded mulishly, looking longingly out at the rapidly filling parking lot. He had hoped first bell would have rung before their morning conversation had come full circle.
"Harry," Edward laughed. He was torn between being amused by the sheer stubbornness of the boy sitting across from him and frustrated at the lack of answer.
"You can't read my mind?" Harry confirmed after a half second of silence.
"I can't," Edward promised, but he mentally added that he would be able to tell if Harry lied. His mate didn't need to know that though, and while he wouldn't lie if Harry asked, he also wasn't going to volunteer that information.
"It's not a big deal, really," Harry assured.
Edward was satisfied to hear his heart remain steady, but that still begged the question of why Harry was hesitating if it wasn't a big deal.
"I -"
Harry was about to speak when the first bell rang clearly in the air. He gave a slight sigh of relief, mentally rejoiced at the cliche saving of the bell, and then turned to look at Edward sheepishly.
"Don't think you're so lucky as to have escaped," Edward warned. "I am very curious, and I find curiosity to be an insatiable beast."
"I'm sure you do," Harry shook his head fondly. "You're definitely the type, you unapologetic dictator."
"If I were a dictator, I would have demanded instead of asked for your permission to taunt Cedric," Edward pointed out with a smirk. He opened up his door, took a quick glance to make sure no one was around, then ran to Harry's door to open it. He always delighted in the look on Harry's face when he did that. The bright blush paired perfectly with the glint of irritation in his emerald eyes.
"Oh, was that you asking earlier?" Harry questioned in a sarcastic tone as he took to proffered hand and stepped out of the car, unable to suppress the blush growing across his cheeks as the gentlemanly action. Half of him wanted to protest that he could do it himself, but the other half told him to shut his mouth and be grateful. Besides, it was a massive improvement from his last boyfriend, who wouldn't even wait for him to unlock his seatbelt before leaving him behind in the dust.
"Indeed."
Edward kept hold of the Harry's hand after he had climbed out of the passenger seat, making sure to tuck their intertwined hands into his pocket to make sure Harry's didn't get too chilled.
As they entered the building and joined the trickle of students walking, Harry playfully tugged Edwards hand. "I'm pretty sure you have a different first period, partner."
"I suppose you wont just let me be late then?"
"I'm sure I'll be fine finding my classroom all alone," Harry shook his head fondly as he untangled his fingers from Edward's and pulled his hand away. "I'll see you at lunch?"
"I'll look forward to continuing our conversation," Edward murmured just loud enough for Harry to hear before reluctantly turning away and making his way to his own first period.
Harry watched him for a second longer than was strictly necessary before rushing off to his own class, noting on his phone that he barely had a minute to spare. Edward always distracted him in such enjoyable ways though that he hardly would have minded if he was late himself.
In fact, being late was becoming more and more appealing. He entertained the thought of accidentally being late to lunch, but he quickly threw out the idea as he entered the classroom and set his bag down just in time for the bell. He spied Hermione in the front of the classroom, and when she turned around, he sent her a friendly smile and a wave. He had really been neglecting his first friends…maybe he would sit with them this lunch.
He smiled to himself at the thought of what Edward would do if he just completely avoided their usual table and instead sat with Hermione and Neville and the others. Knowing him though, he would just take it in stride and sit there too. Probably terrify poor Neville in the process, too. It was understandable though, Edward could be quite an imposing figure when he wanted.
"Harry!"
Harry startled when he heard his name being whispered in a loud voice. Shamefully he looked around to see the whole class watching him, some with clear sympathy painted while others just looked amused.
"I instructed everyone to pull out last night's reading," Mr. Flitwick said casually, his voice still high and excited despite Harry clearly not having been paying attention. "If you would please just get it out now so we can discuss."
Harry scrambled in his bag and pulled out the book quickly, dodging the reproachful look Hermione sent back to him. Everyone else turned their gazes back to the front of the classroom but this time Harry made sure to stay attentive and out of his head. By the half hour mark, he was bored out of his mind though. Paying attention was so much more tedious, and while he normally appreciated Flitwick's excitable personality, today it was just grating on him. Lack of sleep really did make him grumpy, something that Neville noted immediately when he next saw him.
"Are you okay?" the boy questioned innocently as he kept pace with Harry's long strides.
"Fine," Harry grumbled then gave a sigh and stopped in his tracks, turning to face Neville. "Sorry about being such a chit today, I'm just tired I guess."
"Oh, that's okay!" Neville rushed to assure. "You look tired. Did you not get a lot of sleep last night?"
"Not really," Harry ruefully admitted, starting up walking again though this time a bit slower. "I didn't wake up in this mood, but after sitting through class all day I think it's wearing on me."
"At least it's lunch though, that will be a nice break," Neville continued.
Harry grimaced a bit and hid it in his mug under the guise of taking a sip, mentally reminding himself to get some more coffee at lunch.
"Yea…."
Neville stepped up to the door leading outside, holding it open for Harry to go through. "Are you going to sit with Edward again today?"
Poor Neville, Harry really had been inconsiderate by ignoring him. "I am," he agreed but passed in the doorway. "Lets hang out something this week though. I'll text you later?"
Neville immediately seemed to brighten up, making Harry's mood brighten too. "I'd like that! We can study for that test in history later, if you'd like?"
"Sounds great," Harry smiled at his friend and they walked in comfortable silence the rest of the way to the cafeteria, where Harry spied Edward sitting in the corner at their established table.
"See you!" Neville waved and Harry offered him up a smile before walking over and mentally bracing himself for the inevitable string of questions.
Instead of immediately being assaulted by their continued conversation, however, Edward just offered him up a smile and questioned, "lunch?"
"Mhh, coffee," Harry agreed. "I'll just get some before class though."
"Harry," Edward groaned, "you need to actually eat food, not just coffee."
"I eat food!" Harry defended. "Just not at the same time as coffee usually…"
Edward looked at him critically for a few seconds before shaking his head slightly. "You do look like you need coffee. Tired?"
"A bit," Harry admitted, blinking when his coffee mug was snatched out of his hand before he could blink. "Hey!" he gave a half-hearted protest.
Edward laughed and darted forward to give him a quick kiss before sliding away from the table, still holding his coffee mug. "I'll go get you some," he promised.
He was back in half a minute and Harry accepted to warm mug with a warm smile and a thanks, taking a quick sip of it before putting it down on the table.
"I'd ask why you're so tired, but we both know why," Edward started leading into the discussion at hand.
"Yea," Harry smiled a bit ruefully. "I guess we do." It was silent after his statement and he looked up, unintentionally meeting Edward's gaze dead on. "I just really don't know what to say," he confessed. "I don't know what you want from me."
"I want you to answer my question."
"It's not as easy as that," Harry sighed. He learned back in his chair and look a longer drink of the coffee. It was a little too hot, but the slight burn was a good distraction from Edward's unwavering gaze.
"Why not?" Edward pressed on, eyes narrowing at the clear reluctance. Puzzle pieces started to fit together in his mind, memories of previous conversations flashing in his brain. Harry's reluctance to talk about London, his references to bruises and injuries…
Harry hesitated once more, bitting his lip and looking down, making Edward's eyes darken.
He learned forward, pressing a single finger to Harry's chin to force him to look up. "Did someone hurt you?"
Edward's voice was silky, a clear threat sounding in the tone. Harry didn't know how to respond, but Edward didn't need his response to continue on this path. "Was that what your nightmare was about? Someone hurting you?"
Harry looked for an out, indecision swirling in his mind. The rest of the Cullen's were at their own table, minus Rosalie and Emmett, but they were all looking the other way. Traitors…he had thought Alice at the least might be sympathetic.
"Harry?"
"Yes," Harry finally blurted out, realizing that no one was coming to save him now and Edward was only getting more frustrated and determined by his silence. "It was just a nightmare though, please stop pushing."
"I believe you," Edward learned forward, but he darted forward and gently grasped on of Harry's hand before the other male could pull away. He gently traced the delicate fingers, feeling more than seeing the slight tremor that ran through the palm. "But there's something more. What are you hiding?"
Harry's eyes widened and he blinked up at Edward in silence. What else had Edward's noticed? He tried to pull his hand away but Edward just folded their fingers together, making Harrys heart jump in his chest in fear for a brief second. Edward seemed to hear it though, because the light gold eyes softened and Harry's hand was quickly released, a soft apology at Edward's lips.
"That's what I mean," Edward continued softly. "Why do you react like that? Are you afraid of me?"
The sudden fragility in the normally strong tone made Harry's heart hurt a bit. He never wanted Edward to think that he was afraid of him; he would trust the Vampire with his life. "I'm not afraid of you. I've never been afraid, maybe just a little frustrated sometimes," Harry laughed a little and reached forward so he could grab Edward's previously abandoned hand, trying to brighten the dulled mood.
Edward's concerned expression smoothed out and he offered Harry a crooked smile in return. "Will you tell me?" And this time, Harry knew Edward was asking for more than just a recap.
"I'm not sure you really want to know."
Harry also wasn't sure he really wanted to tell. Part of him wanted the release of someone else knowing. He wanted to stop being afraid of being discovered, and to stop worrying about his reaction. He also didn't want Edward to leave him once he realized just how damaged he was though. He had lost his first love, or at least what he thought was love, and he didn't want to lose Edward too. He was falling - had already fallen - in love with the Vampire.
"There is nothing about you that you could tell me that I wouldn't want to know," Edward promised. He loved the little human, more than he first believed he could. His emerald eyed creature had permeated every fiber of his existence, filling his thoughts constantly.
Harry sighed deeply and took a nervous drink of his coffee, knee jittering underneath the table. He steeled himself before he could talk himself out of it and nodded. "Okay. After school?"
"My house?"
Harry hesitated but Edward could understand why. "Everyone will leave if I tell them, and they should all be gone anyways."
"Alright," Harry agreed, looking a little green. His stomach swirled around in his stomach and he mentally berated himself for his nervousness. "I think I'm going to need more coffee though."
Edward looked over Harry critically. "I think you're probably done with coffee. I'm thinking we should probably get you something to soak it all up instead."
Harry laughed a bit at that, tension melting from his shoulders. "That obvious, huh?"
Edward smirked and reached froward with his leg to gently capture Harry's calf with his foot. "Your leg hasn't stopped moving since you've sat down."
The feeling of the icy limb curled around his helped him still his leg. He smiled ruefully and pushed the coffee cup away. "You might be right."
"Might?"
"That's as good as you're going to get, so you better take it," Harry laughed. "I'll get some nuts on the way to class. Care to join?"
"Of course, I'd like to ensure that my biology partner actually makes it to class," Edward smoothly pushed his chair away from the table and joined Harry, shortening his strides to walk side by side with his human. He noticed that Harry was still trying his best to avoid meeting his gaze, but he was more amused than frustrated, knowing that all would be revealed in time.
Harry turned his head and leveled a challenging gaze at him. "That's funny, coming from the one who ditched me halfway through a lab and made me complete it myself."
Edward laughed at that. He had forgotten about that in the moment, too focused on escaping before the urges became too much. "I'll make it up to you," he promised, unable to resist the urge to stop their walking and kiss the angry pout of Harry's lips.
"What's your moral stance on helping someone cheat?" Harry wondered aloud as they approached the vending machine in the hallway.
"I think you'll fine that I have very loose morals indeed."
Harry snickered and pulled the change out of his backpack, putting it in the machine quickly and punching in the code that would deliver him the snack pack of almonds. "I don't know…you seem to have a pretty inflated sense of morals."
"I suppose it would depend on who you asked," Edward looked critically at the bag of almonds in Harry's hand. "Will that be enough?" he asked doubtfully. "It might have been awhile, but I'm pretty sure humans are suppose to eat more than a handful of nuts."
"Sure will!" Harry tore opened the bag and popped a nut in his mouth, crunching happily at it as he offered Edward a cheeky smile. "And you keep your opinions on my food to yourself, thank you very much. I don't ask you about the…fur color of your choices."
"Light gold," Edward supplemented.
Harry paused at the door to their class and send him a befuddled side glance "What?
"Light gold. I prefer mountain lions. They're more fun to chase."
"Ahh," Harry nodded and threw a few more nuts in his mouth. "Makes sense. I bet you have to go far to catch those though."
"Not really," Edward shook his head and pushed open the door, finding it to be empty even of their teacher. He held the door open for Harry to enter and followed him to their table.
"…what do you mean by that?" Harry was almost afraid to hear the answer.
"There are a lot of mountain lions around here. Granted, I do try to hunt a little further out to make sure we don't dent their population too much." He took note of Harry's expression and raised an eyebrow. "Surely you knew of the native wildlife?"
Harry gave an unhumorous laugh and itched nervously at his forearm. "So I might stick to night running on roads then…"
Edward grimaced at that, "I'd very much appreciate if you didn't run in the forest." Harry would be easy prey, small, short, and relatively easy for a larger animal to carry off. "In fact, I'd actually appreciate if you didn't run at night at all."
"I'm thinking I might agree with you," Harry chewed on a few more nuts, finding they really were helping him settle his stomach. "My dad has been on my case too to stop leaving the house alone, what with the recent murders and everything, even though they've all been women."
Edward made a quick mental note to keep an eye on Harry and follow him around next time he left the house. The Sheriff was right, you never could be too careful. "I'll run with you," he grinned.
Harry quickly turned his head to glare resentfully at the smirking vampire. "Oh, I'm sure you would."
"It might be fun," Edward offered.
"For you maybe…I don't think I need that hit to my confidence. Three of my strides is like one of your pretend human ones. Don't think I haven't noticed you having to slow down and shorten your steps when we walk together."
Edward actually hadn't know that Harry had noticed that…perceptive little human.
The door to the class opened and Harry sneakily ate some more almonds, knowing that food wasn't supposed to be allowed. "If he asks, these are your almonds," he stage whispered to Edward.