Author's Note: I have no idea how to play chess so uh, ignore my ignorance. Lmao!

Chapter 19 – Healthy Ditching

Of course, on my first real day of being Edward's girlfriend, I would faint. How embarrassing. And then to have him carry me, Mike's insistence to butt his nose where it didn't belong and the nurse's pitying looks...

I was glad, though, that Edward was able to get me out of school for the day, there was only about an hour left of it but still. I sat in his car as he began to pull out of the lot. I glanced at him in the drivers seat and he looked back, smiling slightly.

"Now, what shall we do with the rest of our day, Ms. Swan?"

I thought for a moment, there was so much I'd like to do. I was extremely curious of his family, their dynamics, what was their home like? But I felt like they weren't quite ready to have me come prodding into their lives, so I went with the more safe route. Charlie wouldn't be home till later, repeating the mantra I'd adopted recently: what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

"We could, go back to my place?" I said slowly, not sure how he'd take this. "I could, show you some magical stuff?" I smiled encouragingly.

He looked to be curious, but there was a tightness in his face that I couldn't place. "Will your father be there?" He asked finally.

"He's at work." I said simply, catching onto what was holding him back, "I'm not scared to be alone with you, Edward."

We were still in the school parking lot, at the inlet to pull off onto the main road. Thankfully everyone was either in class or at work. We just sat staring at each other. Edwards face switching through emotions rapidly, I waited for him to break the silence. What he settled on was exactly what I didn't want to hear though, "You really should – "

"I swear to God if you say 'I really should be' one more time," I cut him off, his lip twitches up, "Edward, I have my wand – if you really think you're a danger to me. I could always stun you or something. I'm not worried so please, can you stop, too?"

He nodded after another beat, "Your place then." I nodded and he pulled out finally, speeding towards my house.

With our hands still clasped together, I squeezed his tighter; hoping that maybe, this strange, broody boy would let me ease some of his torment. Because I desperately wanted to

I dropped my backpack and toed my shoes off, "Make yourself at home," I said over my shoulder as Edward closed the door softly. "I'm gonna grab a drink and a snack. I'd ask if you want anything, but I'm afraid we're all out of squirrels right now."

He chuckled, leaning against the door frame, "I don't think I'm ever going to get used to this," he breathed, shaking his head at me.

"What?" I asked as I snagged another granola bar, these things were addictive.

"Talking so casually about what I am."

I nodded, "I could say the same." I smiled and then took his hand as I tugged him towards the stairs, "Come on, sad boy."

Once in my room Edward began looking around eagerly. Even though I knew he'd been in here before I figured he'd not had a very good look. I laughed to myself at the memory of Hareton's tantrum, he was a wonderful bird. Better than any attack dog, that was for sure. I thought for a moment and then decided to voice my concerns about that intrusion now. I had to set some boundaries. "Hey, uh, I don't want to ruin the mood but..." He looked towards me as I hesitated.

"What is it, Bella?" He asked, coming forward and tentatively perching on the edge of my bed near where I sat.

"Can you not come in my room, unless I ask you to?" I finally got out, feeling nervous. I suspected he'd respect my choice once I asked but still...

He cringed, "I'm so sorry about that. Yes, of course. I haven't been back here – well, I have come to watch in the woods." He said uncertainly.

I tilted my head, "You have?" I asked, "Why?"

"Vampires, we're extremely protective – it pains me not knowing if you're safe."

I nodded, that didn't bother me, really. What did bother me was his anxiety about my safety. I understood our physical differences and my mortality must be a constant torture but I didn't want him to feel like he was my keeper. I mean, he had his own life to live, didn't he? "I understand," I pulled his hand into mine, "but if you ever feel like you need to... watch over me, just text me or call, okay?"

He smiled, "Okay." and he pulled my hand up, pressing a soft kiss to my fingers. "But if I have trouble contacting you, I can't promise I won't come looking for you."

I laughed, "Just... try not too worry too much." I patted his hand, "Now, wanna see some fun stuff?"

I reached under my bed and pulled out a box, as I placed it on my bed Edward reached past me and snagged a frame from my bedside table. He stared at it before looking up at me, "Is this a picture, moving?" He asked confused and with a hint of wonder.

"Yeah," I smiled, "Our pictures move, you have to develop them in a special solution."

He stared down at the photo. It was from Ilvermorny, after my 5th year Christmas Feast. I sat in our common room, laughing in the middle on a large fluffy couch. Cole to my right, his head was thrown back in a laugh, arm slung across the back of the couch. Amelia sat to my left, her long black hair fluttering as she sprang back in surprise. Her sister, Maya, sat on the floor in front of the coffee table. She was scrunching her hands through her hair with a pained look and the ghost of a 'no' on her lips. Nicholas sat across from her, springing up into a victory punch. Between them on the table was a game of Exploding Snaps, the final cards exploding into smoke.

I pointed out everyone to him as the scene played out over and over, "This was Christmas night, after the feast. They're playing Exploding Snaps and my friend, Bronwyn, she's behind the camera." I reached over to grab another framed photo, "Here," I said handing him the new photo.

It was one taken in front of Ilvermorny before we all headed home for Christmas last year; my last day at Ilvermorny. In the middle was me, Amelia and Bronwyn at my sides. Cole and Nicholas stood flaking us. "Wyn is the one to my right." I said, pointing her out.

"You guys don't look too happy, even though you're smiling."

"It was my last day," I said sadly, "a bittersweet day."

He hummed, looking between the two photos before replacing them on my table. "I feel like I'll never learn everything to do with magic."

"Don't worry, I don't know everything either." I laughed.

He smiled crookedly at me, I swooned a bit. "So what's this?" he asked, pointing at the box between us.

"Oh!" I forgot I had planned to show him something, "These are some Wizarding games, Exploding Snaps, like in the photograph." I pull out the deck and put them beside the box. "And then this is Wizard's Chess, I thought we could play?" I asked.

"Sure, how do you play?"

I began spreading out the board and pieces, "It's the same as regular chess," I handed him his pieces and he began to place them on the board, "but much more exciting." I said smiling.

He quirked an eyebrow, "Let's play a round, you'll see." I smiled wickedly, I was excited for him to see what happened.

And so we played. I wasn't very good at chess, to be honest, but Wizard's Chess was much more fun than regular Chess. I went first, commanding my first piece into position and Edward watched in surprise as the piece moved on it's own accord. He caught on from there, awkwardly asking his pieces to move and I giggled when one of my knights attacked his rook. His eyes went wide at the brutal scene but he quickly took revenge commanding his knight to take out my bishop.

We ended up not taking the game too seriously, our pieces shouting advice at us but we'd command them to do outlandish things. Eventually, they revolted, throwing the broken pieces of their comrades at us in an orchestrated attack. We decided to call a draw at that point. Frantically trying to stuff the pieces back into the box, falling into a fit of laughter.

"That was delightfully barbaric," He laughed, "Emmett would love it."

"I can bring it to your house one day," I smiled, sliding the box back under my bed.

He sobered up, looking timid all of a sudden, "Actually, I was meaning to ask you," He glanced up at me before continuing, "my parents would love it if you could come for dinner Sunday?"

I grinned at how wary he was acting, it was rather cute. "Of course, as long as I'm not the dinner?" I joked.

He frowned, "We'll be on our best behavior, I promise."

I shook my head, "I'm not worried, Edward, I was kidding." He smiled a little at that, "But you guys don't eat..."

"Well, yes, you'd be the only one eating but it would make my mother incredibly happy to cook for you."

I felt a warmth in my chest. My mother was anything but 'motherly' and when I was home, I often took up that mantle. The closest I had to a motherly figure in my life was Cole's mother, who always enjoyed coddling anyone she could get her hands on. I suddenly very much wanted to allow his mother this opportunity. She didn't even know me and she wanted to care for me? I couldn't say no at such a sweet gesture.

"I'd love to." I said quietly.

His face split into a wide smile and my heart squeezed at the pure bliss I saw in his eyes at my acceptance. I hesitated before closing the distance between us. He seemed surprised but responded in fervor after a moment. The night of Port Angeles our kiss had been chaste, barely even a touch. Since then, he'd only kissed me when we were alone and even then; they were quick and ghosting. In public, he only pressed his lips to my forehead or hand. I suspected he did it as a courtesy of me, not wanting to draw too much attention but it also always felt like there was a wall between us. Now that we were in private, I wanted to break that wall down.

As we continued, I tentatively let my hands roam up his torso and his neck before threading my fingers through his hair. He got more confident and carefully placed his hands at my hips, gripping slightly. And before I knew what was happening he'd pressed me back against my bed, moving his lips from mine and tracing a trail from my jaw to my neck. I gripped his shoulders, pulling him closer; I couldn't stop a soft moan escaping my lips.

Abruptly and utterly unexpectedly, his movements were no longer there, the spark that followed his lips had died at my pulse point. I snapped my eyes open, the room had darkened to a point where my eyes had to adjust and I squinted to try and find where he'd gone. "Edward?" I called, my voice sounded alien and hoarse.

"Sorry," I heard him reply after a moment, "I – that got a little too much."

"I'm sorry..." I felt my stomach turn with unease and my cheeks burn, why did I feel embarrassed? Because you've never put yourself out there like this, maybe? A voice in my head laughed, enjoying the rejection I was feeling.

He must had been able to see my blush or felt my unease because he was finally back, much further across the bed this time and he spoke softly, "You didn't do anything wrong," I could see him better now and he was staring intently at me. "we'll have to take it slow, I've never done this."

I looked at him in surprise, "You haven't?" I didn't believe that, he was so... stupidly attractive, how had he never made out with someone?

"No, I haven't." And if he could blush I think he would have been, "Not as a human or a vampire."

"I don't believe it."

He chuckled, "Well, it's true." He swallowed and then glanced towards my window, listening, it seemed, "Charlie will be here in a few minutes... I should go."

He sounded a little relieved, was this how all our make out sessions would be? Him abruptly ending things and then being relieved when he had an easy escape? Maybe I should be flattered, but for some reason it made me feel horrible and inadequate.

"And I think you'd prefer him not seeing my car in the driveway?" He asked, after I didn't say anything.

My eyes went wide and suddenly, I was also relieved he was leaving. "Oh my God!" I nearly shouted, "Yes, you should go." He laughed, "Not that I don't like you being here but I really don't want Charlie to ask."

"Of course, Bella." He stood and brushed his thumb over my cheek, "Thank you for ditching with me." I laughed and then he was gone, I barely registered the sound of his car starting and pulling away.

His leaving always left a strange emptiness in my chest and I felt as if I couldn't pull myself from my grief. I vaguely heard Charlie pull in and enter the house, him call out and then climb the stairs to my room. It wasn't until he'd opened my door that I realized where I was.

"Bells?" He asked, confused, "Why are you sitting in the dark?"

I looked around, "Oh, I didn't realize..." I muttered.

He walked in and flicked on the lamp on my dresser, "You feeling all right?" He asked with concern.

"Uh, actually, I left school early – I fainted." I said slowly, glad I had an excuse for my odd behavior, "I must have fallen asleep."

His eyes widen in worry, "You fainted? Why?" He looked uselessly around my room, "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"Dad, it's okay!" I laughed, "We had blood typing in class today."

His mouth formed a small 'o' and he nodded knowingly, "Okay, well you stay in bed," He ran a hand through his hair, "I'm gonna order a pizza, you shouldn't be up and about in the kitchen."

"Dad, I'm fine!"

"No, Bella... j-just stay in bed, okay?" He pushed me gently back onto the bed, "I'll bring some up when it arrives."

"Okay..." I grumbled, I'd had pizza for lunch too but I guess there was no fighting it. Charlie left, quietly closing my door and I looked around my room. It felt empty without Edward there and I ached for him to return. And as if he could read my mind, I heard my phone chime.

E: I hope Charlie didn't suspect anything?

B: Are you still here?

E: No, I left. My family expected me home.

E: And I need time to cool off.

B: Oh, right... sorry about that.

E: Stop apologizing. I enjoyed it, very much.

I blushed.

B: Me too.

E: I have homework I should finish so I'll leave you to your night, Ms. Swan. Sweet dreams.

B: Goodnight, Edward.

I set my phone down and grudgingly pulled myself from my bed and went to my desk, pulling out my own homework. I worked for about an hour until Charlie came in with my pizza and a can of Dr. Pepper, I thanked him and he went down to spend the rest of the night with the sports channel.

Once I finished my homework I went off to do my nighttime routine, changed into my pajamas and went downstairs to say goodnight to Charlie. He was passed out in his recliner, I nudged him awake and shooed him off to bed. Cleaned up the living room and washed the dishes before heading up stairs again, falling into a comfortable sleep.