A/N: Hey, all! I said I'd work on being more interactive with you guys, so here I am. I'm trying lol! One of you lovies suggested a while back that I neglected to add an EdwardxBella tag and I want to thank you, because that has worked wonders! Can't believe I missed that! Also, I've just realized that, whenever I upload, for whatever reason FF doesn't pick up on my little *'s that I normally use to represent the breaks in the chapter, so I actually read through this one and made sure that everything looks good, so hopefully the fic is a bit easier to read now.

Also, I got a lot of support from you guys last week about my family trouble and I just want to thank you all so much for reaching out, it truly means a lot. I haven't gotten a chance to write this week, but I'm going to make it a point to make some time for this fic, because I really am committed, and I feel like it's so close to being finished, yet so far away! So, I'm going to dedicate some serious time because I'm so excited to show you what I have planned. Anyway, just wanted to show y'all some love. Enjoy Chapter 16!

My hand travels slowly over his forearm. The skin underneath is as smooth and cool as a glass window. I feel the muscles move beneath the surface as he flips his hands palms up. The motion catches the rays of the sun and I half sigh, half laugh as I find myself completely entranced by the light that reflects off of him.

I'd spent the last hour or so watching the storm clouds pass, just as Edward promised they would, while he told me more about what he is. Who he is, I remind myself.

I eagerly listened as he talked more about what he and his family do to blend in with the town. To blend in with the humans. Knowing the truth now, I can't help but feel guilty for having complained about things before that now seem trivial. The sacrifices that Edward and his family make in order to be part of society are substantially greater than anything I've ever done.

Now, I sit next to him, utterly speechless as I watch him. He's telling me about my scent, but I'm having a hard time focusing with the display in front of me. I didn't even know I had a scent! At least not one without the perfume I sometimes stole from Angela.

It's a lot of information to retain, but I'm happy to finally be filled in. With everything laid out on the table—no secrets, no lies, I can fully take him in. This is the real Edward Cullen. This perfect creature sits rigidly before me, totally indestructible. Yet, his face is filled with vulnerability.

"This is what I wanted you to see," Edward says once he notices I'm not paying attention to much else. "This is why we can't be seen in the sun."

The slight movement of his mouth causes the light to refract rainbow colored diamonds onto the blades of grass beneath us. One lands on my hand, I twiddle my fingers underneath. I wonder if this is what it's like for cats when they chase around the laser pointer. "You're beautiful."

A small smile pulls at the edge of his lips and I recognize the silent laughter, even if my ears can't quite pick up on the sound. "You never cease to amaze me, Bella."

"What?"

"I tell you I'm a vampire," he begins, "an undead, blood-drinking monster—something out of a horror movie. And you respond by calling me beautiful." He laughs under his breath. "It's perplexing."

"You're not a monster," I emphasize. "Not even close."

I know he doesn't believe me, I can see it in the way he ducks his head away. Almost as if he's ashamed or embarrassed by what I've said. "Tell me more about you."

"What about me?" I wiggle uncomfortably under his gaze. "I'm not nearly as interesting."

"How long have you had your abilities?"

"Not long," I answer truthfully. "Less than a year."

"When did you first discover them?"

I bite my lip as the nerves flutter in my belly. I hadn't really talked to anyone about it except for Angela, and even then it had been hard.

"I'm sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable," he says, interrupting my train of thought.

Shaking my head, I stop him. "No, that's not it. It's just kind of a long story."

A familiar grin lifts the corner of his mouth. "I think we have time."

Matching his expression, I nod. "Okay, well, um…" I pause to take a breath in an attempt to still my now pounding heart. "About a year ago, Charlie and I were in a car accident. A bad one."

Images of my lifeless body flicker behind my eyes, but when Edward's hand finds mine, the memory fades and I'm brought back to the meadow.

"Surprisingly, I don't remember much about the crash," I continue. "I remember it was raining. There was a hurricane passing. Someone ahead of us was hydroplaning and I remember Charlie trying to swerve out of the way. Then all of a sudden, our truck had flipped. I was lying on the ground and I couldn't move. But I could smell my own blood." I swallow the bile that rises in the back of my throat and look up at him to see his reaction. I don't know what I'm expecting to find, but when I meet his gaze, the anxious butterflies in my stomach settle. He squeezes my palm gently, silently encouraging me to go on.

"I remember getting this feeling of weightlessness. Kind of like I was floating. I was watching the rain fall from the sky and I could see the drops landing on my skin, but I couldn't feel any of it. Then, I look down and I see my feet aren't on the ground. I'm in the air, floating! I thought I was dreaming, because there's no way that could've been real, you know? Except it was. I turned around, and I saw my body lying there on the pavement. Blood was coming from behind my head, pooling around me. There were EMTs on the scene, two of them talking to my dad, who was still trapped in the truck, and the other two performing CPR on me."

"You were astral projecting?" he asks curiously.

"Yeah, but it was different somehow. I think I was dying," I told him candidly. "The next thing I know, I'm waking up in the hospital with doctors surrounding me, but they're all facing my dad. They're telling him that I'd be feeling dazed and may not be able to hear him. But I'd never felt more awake in my life. I was terrified."

"Why? What were you afraid of?"

Rolling my eyes at myself, I groan internally. "It's hard to explain."

"Will you try?" Edward lifts my chin and I find myself momentarily lost in his golden eyes.

"Um…" I clear my throat and search for the right words. "Before the crash, I'd been struggling with epilepsy for most of my life. I always felt tired and my body constantly ached. I knew that I was sick and that I'd always be sick. My parents, mostly Charlie, always hovered. I could never be left alone for more than a few minutes. A lot of their arguing was centered around my well-being. Would I ever be able to live on my own, was I getting the best care, blah, blah blah." I huffed another sigh, squeezing my eyes shut.

"When I woke up in that hospital bed, I was still hurting, but it felt different. It wasn't the same kind of muscle aches you feel with epilepsy. l almost felt healthy, despite everything. I felt normal. And I was afraid that it wasn't real. Turns out, I was wrong. I'm not epilieptic anymore, now I'm something even more bizarre. I'm…" It's only then that I realize I don't know what I am. Is there even a word to describe it?

Renee calls it sensitive. Angela calls it psychic, but I absolutely refuse to use that one. I'm not psychic, I can't pull random facts from thin air. "I don't know."

What am I?

"Bella."

I look up at him expectantly. "Yes?"

Edward smiles and seems to find my face amusing. "You're just Bella."

I laugh, despite myself. Renee's words resound in the back of my mind. Just Bella. "You sound like my mom."

"Well, your mother sounds like a very wise woman." Edward's glistening fingers play with the ends of my hair, the light bringing out the naturally red highlights that are normally only seen in the summer sun. "How long has it been since your last seizure?"

"Since October of last year."

"Do you think your epilepsy has something to do with the abilities you have now?" he questions.

Shrugging, I say, "I used to think so, but now I think it runs in the family. My grandmother was known to have some kind of extra sensory whatever-the-hell. My mom thinks she's passed it down to me. But, she died when I was little, so it's not like I can ask her."

"It's an extraordinary gift."

"It's a pain in the ass," I correct. "It's been almost a year and I have absolutely no control over whatever this is. I can't touch people without getting overwhelmed, I can't get angry without risking the safety of others—I just want to be normal! That's all I've ever wanted."

Edward is silent for a moment and I worry that I've offended him. I'm about to apologize when he says, "What if we can help? My family, I mean."

Curiously, I lift a brow. "Help how?"

"Alice and Jasper have gifts as well," he explains. "Jasper can control emotions and Alice can see the future."

Balking, I sit up straight. "Seriously?"

"I could ask them to teach you—"

"Whoa, whoa," I stop him before he can go any further. "You're not about to breeze past that, are you? Alice can see the future? Damn, that's useful."

"It's a bit more complicated than you imagine," Edward starts. "The future is subjective. People change their minds all the time, thus changing the course of action."

"Kind of like the butterfly effect," I add.

"Exactly."

"Wow," I sigh. "That must be exhausting. You really think she could help?"

"It's worth a try," he offers.

I open my mouth to ask more about Jasper when a yawn escapes me. It's only then that I remember how tired I am. I feel Edward's hand rubbing up and down my back and I shoo him away, knowing the motion will only make me sleepier.

"Let me take you home," he says. "You look exhausted."

"That's probably a good idea." I let Edward help me to my feet. I know he plans on carrying me the rest of the way and while my feet are grateful, my stomach turns at the idea. "Just give me some warning next—"

Edward's already running. I should've known better. But this time, I close my eyes and rest my head on his shoulder. I pretend that I'm in the passenger seat of a car and it seems to help keep the nausea at bay.

We stop moving and I don't open my eyes until I feel my feet are firmly on the ground. Edward is watching me with a tiny smirk, while I breathe through a small wave of vertigo.

"Do you always get motion sick?" He opens the car door for me, motioning for me to get in.

I shake my head as I sit. "No, but I think I get sea sick."

"You think?" he repeats.

"I've never actually been on a boat," I clarify. "It's more of a deductive reasoning. Long story, don't ask."

Edward shuts the door and sits in the driver's seat faster than I can blink. I'm not sure I'll ever get used to that.

The drive home is quiet. Edward lets me close my eyes and I don't remember falling asleep, but what only feels like a second later, he's patting my leg and I open my eyes to see he's right outside my house.

"Thanks for the ride," I yawn.

Edward offers a small smile in return. "Let me take you to school on Monday."

Too tired to argue, I shrug. "Okay."

"Get some rest." He unlocks the doors for me and I move sluggishly out of the car. "I'll see you soon."

With a small wave, I turn toward the house and make my way up the driveway. I hear Charlie in the living room and brace myself to open the door.

"Hey, Bells."

I'm yawning again before I can stop myself. "Hi, Dad."

Charlie stands from his seat on the couch and moves toward me. "You don't look well, are you alright?"

Nodding, I wave away his concern. "I just need to sleep."

"Have you been taking your medicine?"

Guess old habits die hard, I think to myself. "Yes, Dad. I'm okay, I promise. Just exhausted."

I can hear him worrying in his head, but I've already started up the steps, ending the conversation. I shut my door and fall into my bed, not bothering to undress. Within seconds, I'm asleep.

I only remember to tell Angela when we begin our run the next morning.

"Damn, B!" she sings through pants. She's pushing us a bit harder today. "He's really making the moves on you!"

"No, it's not like that," I object. "We're just friends."

She groans dramatically, but I think it has more to do with the small incline of the hill than what I've said. "I thought you liked him."

"I do!"

"Then why are you friend-zoning him?" Angela demands.

"I'm not!" I slow down to a brisk walk to catch my breath once we get to the top of the hill. "Damn this sucks, my thighs are burning!"

She laughs huskily. "Mine too."

"You really think I'm friend-zoning him?" I ask her.

"The way you're brushing him off?" She nods and picks her pace back up to a light jog. "C'mon, let's keep going."

I struggle to keep up with her. "What should I do then?"

"Well, for starters, stop calling him a friend."

If my lungs weren't burning, I'd scoff. "But that's what he is!"

"Yeah, but when a girl calls a guy a friend, it's code for, 'She's not into you.'"

We come to the ends of the cul de sac and circle around to finish our route. "I don't think that applies with Edward. He's different."

"Does he have a penis?"

I give her a pointed look. "What is wrong with you?"

"I'm being real with you, B." I can hear the smile in her voice. "All men are the same. Trust me. You need to give him something. Let him know you like him."

My stomach turns and I have to slow down to inhale the cool morning air. I didn't think recently losing your virginity to your high school boyfriend made someone a sex guru, but between the two of us, she'd done it way more than I had, considering I'd never even looked at someone that way. "You're saying I need to make the first move?"

"Relax, Bella." Angela stops running to stay close to me. "You're freaking out over nothing."

"Over nothing?!" I repeat incredulously. "I'm confused, are you telling me to fuck him or do nothing?"

"Just keep doing what you're doing," she assures me. "And don't call him your friend. At least not to his face. The fucking will come later."

"You suck."

We make it back to my house not too long after that. Angela sends me off with a wish of good luck and I start up the stairs, wondering if I'm reading too much into this. I hadn't told Angela the truth about Edward, and I didn't plan to until he tells me it's okay. Maybe he just wants someone to confide in. I can be that for him. I can be a friend without letting my hormonal, girly emotions get in the way.

Still, I can't deny my heart is beating in my throat and my whole body feels like I'm vibrating with the anticipation. God, what's the matter with me? What is it about Edward Cullen that makes me feel like I'm catching fire?

Get your shit together, I chastise myself. You're running behind and you stink.

"Shower first." I say it aloud in fear that it will get lost in the swarm of thoughts that are fumbling around in my head.

It's hard not to think about a million things while standing under the spray of water. What do I wear? Should I try to look nice? Should I just throw on an old pair of jeans? Should I do my hair?

I roll my eyes hard at that thought. Not much to do with it, especially living with Charlie. He never allowed me to have a straightener or a curling iron with my epilepsy. He always worried I'd have an episode and burn myself.

I guess I could try some of those heatless curls Angela raves about sometimes, I think to myself. What did she say she used? Socks?

There's a startling knock on the bathroom door that makes me lose my balance on the slippery porcelain.

"Bells?"

I'm still trying to steady my footing and make the mistake of gripping onto the shower curtain. My weight rips the plastic off of the rings and I fall hard onto the tub, my leg turning in an awkward angle in the process.

"Bella!" I must've been so lost in my head, I hadn't even heard Charlie wake up. He runs into the room and I scramble to cover myself with the destroyed curtain. "Are you hurt? What's happened?"

"What are you doing?!" I don't mean to explode at him, but at this moment I'm so angry and embarrassed I don't know what else to do but yell. "Jesus, Dad!"

He doesn't acknowledge my frustration and instead turns the water off before kneeling down beside the tub. "Are you feeling dizzy? I'm calling you out of school today."

"Dad, I'm fine, you just scared me." I try to sit up and pull my knees up, shivering slightly as the water dries on my skin. "I just twisted my ankle, I think."

"Are you sure, Bella?" He takes my chin gently and I prepare myself for his touch. He's worried I'm lying about how I'm feeling, but won't call me out on it. "You look flushed."

I sigh audibly. "That's because I'm sitting naked in the tub with my father who doesn't seem to notice how incredibly embarrassing this is."

A small smile twitches Charlie's mustache and he clears his throat, thinking I won't know he's trying not to laugh. "As long as you're safe, that's all that matters. I'm sorry I scared you, I was just checking on you. You've been in here for nearly an hour."

"An hour?!" Groaning loudly, I roughly run my hand over my face. I'm late now, that's just great. How had that much time gone by without my knowing?

"I hope you saved some hot water for your old man." Charlie stands and chuckles proudly at his joke. "Don't be late."

When he leaves, I jump to my feet, wincing slightly at the aching in my left foot. I don't bother looking in the mirror, knowing that I probably look like a shit show, but I have no time to fix it now. I rake my fingers through my wet hair and tie it into a messy bun.

After brushing my teeth, I race back into my bedroom and shove my legs into the first pair of pants that pass the sniff test. I'm searching in my dresser when I catch a glimpse at the time. It's ten minutes past the time Edward promised he'd be here and I try not to picture him waiting outside with a smile as he listens to me fumbling around in my room.

I find a shirt that I don't hate and throw it on as I jog down the steps and into the kitchen. Easily side-stepping Charlie, who's brewing a cup of coffee, I snag a pop tart from the cabinet.

That's not a very nutritious breakfast. Charlie eyes me with that I-dare-you-to-do-it look that parents always give when they're annoyed.

Not waiting for him to speak, I say, "It's either this or be late to school to make something healthier."

Seeing my dilemma, he huffs. "Fine, but take some fruit with you."

"Will do." I grab a banana from the table and take a big bite to appease him. It seems to work as Charlie grabs his coffee cup with a nod of approval and takes it with him into the living room.

I'm two steps from the door, when his whole body stills. Before I can ask him what's wrong, he's glaring at me and pointing out the window.

"Who is that?" he demands. "I never agreed to boys."

Rolling my eyes when I realize he's referring to Edward, I shrug my bag onto my shoulder. "I don't have time to argue with you about this, Dad. I'm late as it is. Besides, he's just a—" friend. Shit, I almost said it. I technically wouldn't be saying it to Edward's face, but I think that only applies when the said guy-friend doesn't have super-vampire hearing. "Uh…"

Charlie looks at me with a confused expression, waiting for me to finish my sentence. "Bells?"

I blink a few times, trying hard and failing at finding a replacement for the word. "Um…'kay, I gotta go—bye!"

Before he can ask more questions, I race out the front door and sigh in relief when I find Edward waiting in his Volvo. I don't even care that he's probably been listening for the past fifteen minutes and that he's laughing at me when I get in. I'm just so happy when he puts the car in drive and I can put the ridiculously awkward events from this morning behind me.

Once his laughter dies down, he asks, "Rough morning?"

"You have no idea," I respond. Then correct myself. "Scratch that, you probably do. How long were you sitting out there?"

Glancing at me from the driver's seat, his lips turn up with a smirk. "How's your ankle?"

My cheeks burn and I groan. "Of course. I should've known." I reach down to grab my breakfast, more to give myself something to do other than blush and look stupid. "You don't care if I eat, do you? Or is human food, like, repulsive to you?"

"Eat, Bella," he says, dismissing my concerns. "Please, it's no bother."

Shrugging, I break off a piece of the blueberry pastry and toss it into my mouth. I'm about to ask him about his night when I see the speedometer hovering over the eighty mile-marker. "Jesus, we're not that late!"

Edward chuckles and shoots me an arrogant grin. "I'm an excellent driver. My reflexes are much faster than yours. As well as any other human's for that matter."

I mean to be firm, but I find myself giggling. "Well, I'm not! What if we crash? I'm not immune to being crushed to death, if you haven't noticed."

Suddenly, very serious, he says, "I'd never let anything happen to you."

"Okay, what about cops?" I egg him on playfully, to lighten the mood. "Are vampires exempt from speeding tickets too?"

He taps his temple with his index finger. "I've got a built-in radar detector."

"Right." I shake my head at him. "You better be a good one. I've got a reputation to uphold. You know, being the Chief's daughter and all."

Edward pulls into the school parking lot and my body tenses. I'm not used to handling the crowd without Angela and begin to search my bag for my headphones.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

"Nothing," I say tersely. Then when I feel him watching me, I add, "It's too loud."

I don't even notice Edward get out and circle around the other side of the car. He opens the door and offers his hand. "I can help."

My eyes surf over the heads of all the students, more than half of them craning their necks to stare at the two of us. "Here? With everyone staring?"

"Does it bother you?"

Climbing out of the car, I take his hand and relax when the sounds melt away into nothing. "No."

"Good." He pulls us away from the car and toward the building. "Me neither."