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This is it, the talk! I hope you enjoy...

Chapter 15 – Confessions of a Vampire and a Witch

The silence that permeated the air around us was thick, we both seemed to be questioning our decision; apprehensive of it's outcome.

Edward cleared his throat, "After you, then?" He extended his hand towards the restaurant with a small smile on his face.

I bit my lip, considering what I was about to say. Charlie would kill me if he knew.

Not that I was ever going to tell him, what he didn't know didn't hurt.

"Why don't we grab something on our way?" I began, "And we could hang out at my house while we eat? Much better than a stuffy restaurant..." Looking up hopefully at Edward, this was not a conversation to be had in public.

Edwards eyebrows shot up, "Uh, alright then... if you're sure?" He asked.

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Your father wouldn't mind?"

I looked away and sighed, "He's on a trip for the weekend."

I glanced up and a look of shock washed over his face before he masked it quickly, "I don't know, Bella, I don't think-"

"Look, we need to talk, clearly," I interrupted, waving my hands between us, "and I'd prefer to do that in private. What my dad doesn't know won't hurt him."

He clenched his jaw and then sighed, "It's not really your dad I'm worried about." giving me a pointed look.

I arched an eyebrow, "I'm not worried about being alone with you, Edward, if that's what you're getting at."

He stared at me and I stared back, after a beat he didn't answer so I finally asked, "I thought we were friends now?"

"We are." He said instantly.

My heart fluttered, "Okay, then let's go, this is a very normal friend thing to do." I smirked up at him.

He nodded reluctantly and turned, walking back to his car but he didn't go to the drivers side, instead, he went to the passenger door and opened it. "M'lady." he said, flourishing his hand dramatically.

I snorted, did an awkward curtsy and slipped into the seat. He chuckled, shutting the door and swiftly walking around the car before jumping into the drivers seat.

"And what would the lady like to eat?" He asked as he started the car with a very handsome smirk.

.

The conversation during the drive to my house was very superficial, one you'd have with a stranger you just met and eventually Edward turned up the radio, allowing us both to sit in silence for the remainder of the ride. I was sure it was for both his and my own sake.

"I like this band." I said as we pulled into the driveway of my house, nodding towards the radio.

"Oh yeah?" he asked, sounding surprised.

"Yeah, Phil, uh, my Moms husband, gave me some music he wanted me to try. This was one of them."

"Hm." He smiled as he got out of the car, bag of food clutched in his hands. He'd snagged it before I could even think to touch it. "And what do you say about his taste in music?"

"A little whiny but the lyrics are compelling." I smirked as I slide the key into the lock and opened the door.

He chuckled, looking around the house as we made our way to the living room. Thank god I cleaned yesterday. "I'd like to see that."

"See what?"

"Your music collection." He said turning to me after glancing at the pictures on the mantle.

Was this his way of asking to go to my room? I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

"Uh, sure, maybe one day. Granted, I don't have much. Besides what Phil gave me, I never really had time to get into any popular music." I said plopping down on the couch. He sat slowly, a full seat cushion away from me.

He handed me my food, he didn't get anything but insisted I did and even persisted I get a dessert as well. "And why is that?" He asked curiously.

"Being away at a boarding school most the year can really cut into your ability to develop a unique taste in anything."

"And not having access to the internet or TV probably didn't help." He said as his eyes widen slightly and looked surprised at what he'd said.

I looked up in surprise, "How did you know that?" I took a bite of the burger I had, instantly feeling better. I really did need to eat.

"You mentioned that it didn't have electricity."

I did? I was pretty sure I'd only said that to my group of friends.

"I did?"

"Yes."

I hummed, plopping a fry in my mouth after dipping it into my chocolate shake.

He watched me, smirking at the movement, "You don't believe me." It wasn't a question and he didn't sound offended.

"No, I know I didn't tell you... just like I know you weren't next to me that day with the van."

He hummed, staring at me, not challenging my statement.

I bit my lip, feeling suddenly nervous, trying to compose myself to keep up this line of questioning.

He waited, seeming to know I needed a minute but finally said, "What do you think happened, Bella?"

I looked at him from under my lashes, "I think that your hiding something." I finally settled on.

"What do you think I'm hiding?"

Hm, he didn't challenge that either.

I suddenly felt braver, took a deep breath and blurted out, "I think, that your a vampire." If I wasn't so confident on my answer, I'd be blushing saying it.

Can you imagine saying this to a normal person? They'd laugh in my face. I would laugh in my face.

His face stayed the same, not flinching or changing in the slightest. But when he spoke, he sounded strained and a little... anxious? "You sound very sure."

I nodded, waiting for him to confirm my statement.

"And not scared."

"I'm not scared of you."

His face finally moved, pain pulling all his features inward. "You should be."

"Why?"

"Why?!" He asked exasperated, his eyebrows shot up to his hairline.

"Yeah." I said simply.

He laughed darkly, "You know what we eat." He looked intently at me.

"Of course, but you don't."

"How could you possibly know that?"

I shrugged, "A guess, you aren't like most vampires I've seen." I said before pausing and cringing inwardly, I was so wrapped up in this very magical conversation I forgot I had a secret too.

Edward started ever so slightly and then we stared at each other for a very long time before he finally broke the silence, "I wasn't sure." he finally said quietly.

"Wasn't sure of what?" I asked cautiously.

"That you are different, something more?" He asked, unsure.

My eyebrows shot up, "You know, then?" I whispered.

"I don't know anything, I just..." He groaned and rubbed his hands over his face, "This is going to sound horrible and it is. I couldn't control myself, I was so curious! Your mind is silent, you intrigue me in a way no other human has even captured my attention...Bella, I'm so sorry, truly. I kind of broke into your room."

I blinked, I was not expecting that. "When?" I didn't know what else to say.

"The day I started talking to you again."

I thought back, that was about a week ago... then it clicked, Hareton. "My owl, that's why he was acting weird."

"Uh, probably... animals tend to steer clear of us."

I nodded, that made sense.

He looked down at his hands, almost shyly, "So it's true? You're a witch?" He asked, unsure of the word.

I swallowed, "Yes." He looked up then, eyes even more curious. "What exactly did you do in my room?"

He cringed, looking extremely ashamed.

Good, I thought. While I didn't think he'd do anything to me, I was uncomfortable with the idea of someone being in my personal space without my knowledge... especially while I slept.

"I just looked around, I wanted to see what you were like, make sense of you. I'd... heard things that made me wonder."

I tilted my head, "Heard things?" I asked confused.

"Uh, we have really good hearing and I can read minds... it's pretty hard for me not to know everything happening around me." He actually looked annoyed at this.

"You can read minds?"

"Yes."

Huh, never heard that. Did all vampires have this ability? It made sense why I felt like my brain was always being prodded...

"Can all vampires do that?"

"No, just me, as far as I know."

I nodded, "You said my mind is silent... you can't read mine?" I asked, feeling a little awkward.

"No, I can't." he whispered, "It's actually really nice... and frustrating."

I smirked, "Why?"

He sat up, leaning forward with his forearms on his thighs, "It's suffocating hearing thoughts all the time, almost painful and then actually hearing everything people are thinking. It's annoying, often disgusting... I hate it."

I felt a stab of sympathy, it was painful? I guess it would be, you could never have true silence, always knew what people truly thought. "And why is it frustrating."

He smiled wryly, "Well, because I actually want to know what you're thinking, it drives me insane... which is why I couldn't stop myself with the B&E..." He frowned.

"How did you know Angela and I were in trouble? Were, were you following us?" I asked suddenly, realizing that must had been what happened.

He looked guilty again, "Yes, I can't explain it, Bella. Ever since I met you, I've felt so drawn to you... God that sounds creepy, doesn't it? I-I feel so protective, it pains me to be away from you." His eyes pleaded for me to understand.

I felt myself blush under his intensity, "Why me?" I whispered.

He looked away and sat for a few seconds, staring off into the middle distance before turning and facing me. He tentatively reached out for my hand and I let him grasp it in his own. "I like you, Bella and I have no right to but I can't help my feelings. I will always be drawn to you... forever." He scooted closer and pulled my other hand into his. My food sat awkwardly in between us, forgotten. "For vampires, when we find our... one, that's it, we're connected forever. B-but that doesn't mean you have to feel the same way, I don't expect you to but I don't know if I would be able to stay away... unless, you asked me to."

Wow, I thought. Not exactly where I thought this conversation was going...

"You... like me?" I asked surprised, "Like, like like?" I felt myself blush deeper, He sounded so eloquent and here I am, talking like a middle schooler.

He chuckled, "Yes, I do, like like you." Smirking as my blush deepened impossibly more.

He leaned in ever so slightly, I gasped as he closed the distance between us with a soft, ghosting kiss.

He pulled back much sooner than I'd have liked, "I think, I should leave you to your food and let you sleep. I don't think Charlie would appreciate me keeping you up."

"What he doesn't know doesn't hurt."

"I feel like I've heard that before."

We both laughed, "But seriously, I should get home, I'm sure Alice is buzzing." Shaking his head.

I tilted my head, "Alice?"

He smiled, "Alice is gifted as well, she can see the future." He said it like he had more to say, but left it at that.

"Huh, she's a Seer?" I asked, curious.

He pursed his lips, "Maybe?" And then smiled, leaning in to place a kiss to my forehead. "Goodnight, Ms. Swan." And then he was gone.

I smiled, sitting in the darkened living room staring at the spot he'd just vacated, wishing he'd come back but begrudgingly finished my food and made my way upstairs to prepare for bed.