Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

Chapter 11 - Questions and Answers

School morning blues; the bed is toasty and cozy but the rest of the room is not. I ponder the incredible night I had yesterday. I had dinner with Lynn, who was looking for me, worried I might end up in trouble. She cares about me. But she's, well, not your typical high school student.

What do I really know for sure?

After a few minutes of brainstorming I realize I'm not really sure of anything, aside from the fact that the Cullens are vampires and my childhood friends are werewolves. My world has been given a spin while I wasn't looking and now I don't know which way is up or which way is down. I don't really care. I just want to be with her. That seems my only other certainty.

I end up leaving my shelter at the last minute and then I have to save time by eating a couple of granola bars and stashing a third in my pocket. It will have to do for breakfast. Outside, drapes of mist cling to the maples that line the road, the grass of our freshly trimmed lawn, the cold tarmac, and my beat up truck. It's so foggy it takes me a few more steps to realize that there is a lump of foreign darkness in the driveway. A black car. Lynn's car. She steps outside while I'm still staring at it and wondering if I'm truly awake.

"Morning, Brandon." She attempts a cheery smile but soon turns serious.

"I was hoping you'd like to ride with me this morning. It's up to you, of course….."

She bites her lip and looks torn, hoping I will accept her invitation and yet hoping I will not. Fat chance of that.

"I'll be happy to." I regale her with my best smile and she beams with delight as I enter the car. On the way to school, we are quiet at first. It feels natural though, like this is a normal routine for us, even though it's just the second time I meet her outside the school.

"I suppose, being the man, you should give me a ride." Her impish smile resurfaces and I know she's teasing me. "But I'd like to get to school before the sun sets."

I laugh.

"Yeah, I guess you live outside the town. It might take a while if I drive the beast."

"So this role reversal doesn't bother you?"

"Not at all. Our…." I hesitate, "our relationship is far from ordinary anyways. Does it bother you? Would you prefer to date a rich kid with a Ferrari?"

"No." She says, chuckling, "They tend to be obnoxious and I like to drive."

"I see. And of course if there was any trouble you'd have to protect me. Another role reversal… I'm okay with that; I was never the macho type anyways…. Doesn't it bother you that I belong to an inferior species?"

"No…" She says softly. "In a way it makes it more special. You want to be close to me despite the danger; it tells me a lot about the strength of your feelings…. But I thought you'd have more questions about me… Don't you?" She asks me, lightly amused.

"I have lots but I don't know where to start. So, the sun doesn't hurt you. Are you afraid of crosses?"

"Myth. A dumb myth actually." She says with a silver rill laugh.

"I thought so. Do you sleep in coffins?"

"Myth."

"Do you… I mean, can you…."

"What, Brandon? You can ask."

"Er," I decide to ask a different question instead.

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen." She responds automatically, her expression neutral now.

"Okay. How long have you been seventeen?"

"For a while…" She smiles wryly.

I wonder how long a 'while' really is, but I'm happy she's still being honest and decide not to press her.

"Actually," She says, remembering a previous question. "We don't sleep at all. Not like humans. We can kind of go into a trance, be completely still and save energy, but we are still aware and we don't dream. It's just a way to while away some time."

"By the way, where is your family?" I'm happy we are alone, of course, but I'm curious.

"Rosalie took her car. They'll ride with her. We normally prefer not to use it because it's rather showy…. We try to blend in." She pouts a little.

I laugh.

"Blend in? You really do not succeed. But tell me something, you and Rosalie don't get along?"

She fidgets a little with her hair, maybe stalling.

"Not at the moment. In general we do, but we have always been very different."

We arrive at school and she parks next to an empty spot. Most of my friends are hanging out in the lot, next to Tyler's van. They all turn to look as Lynn and I get out and meet in front of the car. Angela and Jessica gasp audibly. The guys are speechless. Lynn and I stand close to each other, only an inch of air between our bodies. My friends are stunned, a television on mute, their jaws collectively hanging open.

"Morning guys," Lynn tells them with a radiant smile.

"Hi guys." I add, smiling at Lynn. We walk toward the school.

"It's like my first day, again. Everybody's staring."

"Is that bad for you?" She asks, genuinely curious, but also a little hesitant.

"It was on the first day, when I was just the new guy. Today I couldn't be happier." I blush when I say it, and she makes my morning with a moonlight smile.

"I'm sure your friends will have many questions for you." She trills, pretend demure. I have a sudden brainstorm.

"You're reading their minds, aren't you?"

An impish smile is the response.

"What will they ask me?"

"Many questions I would like to ask you myself," she murmurs coyly. "I'll be listening carefully. I'm really looking forward to hearing your answers."

"That's cheating." I mumble, sulking.

"Not at all." She laughs. "Enjoy your classes." She concludes before turning and sauntering off.

I'm on time for my first period; unfortunately the teacher is not. Mike and Jeff pounce on me and begin their third degree.

"Man, you better spill." Mike, affecting a tough detective stance.

"Yeah, dude, what's going on? What happened last night?"

"It's really like I told Mike… We had dinner and then she took me home."

"Yeah, but come on. Now she drives you to school? There must be something there. Did you kiss her?"

"You lucky bastard." Jeff is assuming the answer will be positive.

"Yeah, I wish. But no, it's not like that."

"So, you were just talking?" Jeff again. "Come on? Fess' up buster."

"We really just talked… I hope she likes me, but it's hard to tell."

"Will you see her again? Are you dating?"

"We have plans for the weekend. She wants to go to Seattle with me. Does that count?"

"Yeah. Okay, that sounds good. She must be into you." Mike looks thoughtful. Our teacher enters our class and busies herself sorting out papers.

"So man, do you like her?" Jeff starts.

"Yes, of course."

"Do you really like her?" Mike joins in.

"Yes, I do," blushing, of course.

"Man, getting something from you is like pulling teeth. I'll never be a dentist." Jeff grumbles, exasperated. "So how much do you like her?"

I sigh. She's letting my friends do all the dirty work for her. Not fair.

"I'm crazy about her. I'm a goner. But I really don't know how she feels. I doubt she feels the same way. She will probably break my heart."

I wonder what she will make of that.

Finally the teacher remembers we are supposed to have class and Mike and Jeff have to turn to her and, for now at least, give up on their interrogation. Whenever they get a chance they ask me more questions, but I really don't have much else I can share. We have talked a lot, but I can't mention most of the details so I just say we talked about music and our families. I finally evade their questions by steering the conversation to their girls.

When the bell rings I tell them I have to hurry to my next class, where I'm cornered by Jessica. Angela and Eric hover in the background.

"Brandon. Why didn't you tell us you were dating Lynn Cullen? You like to keep secrets from your friends?" She seems curious and gossipy rather than upset at my refusal to go with her to the dance. I'm thankful for that. It could have been a lot worse.

"Honestly, I don't really know whether we are dating. I was about to ask you about that….. I can't figure out women."

"Well, you had dinner with her last night, right? After she rescued us."

"Please thank her again for us, Brandon." Angela pipes in from behind us.

"Had you arranged to meet in Port Angeles?" Jessica looks suggestively at me.

"No, not at all." I'm visibly sincere and she seems taken aback.

"But she gave you a ride this morning. That's very…. considerate of her. Your truck doesn't look that comfortable."

"So you really think she likes me?"

"Will you see her again?" Inquisitive now.

"We are going to Seattle together." Blush time. Jessica snickers. Angela and Eric sigh.

"You are definitely dating then. Have you kissed her yet?"

"I wish." The dejected look on my face once again indicates I'm telling the truth.

Class starts. As we gather our stuff, Angela finds the courage to ask me a question.

"You're not eating with us today, are you?" She smiles a little.

My own smile tells her everything she needs to know, but for Eric and Jessica's benefit I add:

"Probably not."

We walk outside together, and there is Lynn, leaning against the wall. A waterfall of dark bronze hair frames her beautiful face. She smiles. Jessica rolls her eyes and they leave us alone.

"Hi." I say, smiling back. Our bodies are only separated by an inch of space again. We seem to be orbiting each other, but the orbits are getting tighter and tighter. Sooner or later we will have to collide, or spin out of touch on completely different trajectories.

"Hello." She says, her smile tempered by some kind of inner turmoil.

We walk in silence to the cafeteria, never far apart, never actually touching. It seems like she's worried about something, but by now she should know I want to be even closer to her, despite how different she is. When we collect our food all eyes are, once again, on the couple of the hour.

"So, did you enjoy your eavesdropping?" I say, blushing once more. My cheeks feel physically exhausted. But I'm sitting with Lynn, and we are leaning toward each other, in our little corner of the multiverse, and her eyes are all I need. I occasionally shovel food in my mouth but I won't remember for long what it is. She still seems to fluctuate between unbridled joy and amused anger.

"Brandon. I'm glad I did, and I'll admit I liked your answers. But I'm also a little… confused, maybe even upset. Do you really think I will break your heart? Isn't it obvious that I only want the very opposite?"

I mumble some nonsense and rip my gaze from her eyes to glance at her family. Alice smiles and winks at me. Rosalie glares with iceberg-cold fury. Emmet, the big guy, shakes with barely repressed laughter. Jasper appears indifferent. His casual smile is tight at the edges.

"Brandon, please, tell me what you think."

I look into her eyes again. Big mistake. The room tilts for a second.

"You know how I feel. You know I want to be with you. Maybe I'm not going about it the right way. I don't know. I've never had a girlfriend or dated much. Just being friends was never really what I wanted and it seems to me you feel the same…." I take a deep breath and a sip of water, hoping to quell the flames charring my cheeks.

"But sometimes you say things that seem to hint at a possible goodbye. If you are already thinking of leaving maybe your feelings aren't as strong as mine." I still feel like I can be honest with her. Maybe it's because I know her secrets. We can tell each other anything.

She grimaces, looks down for a second, bites her lip.

"You're perceptive. I'm just… it's hard to put into words. You must know I do want to be with you, but I'm also scared I will hurt you, or put you in danger. I never thought this would all go like this. I could never believe you'd have feelings for me even if you found out the truth…. And you still don't fully understand how different I am. Maybe you will run away when you do."

I want to hold her hand, but it's not the right time. She looks so sad. Her eyes, still golden but filled with shadows, search my own for an answer to an unspoken question.

"I won't." I shake my head to stress how serious I am. "Your eyes are lighter today… Is it because you fed recently?" Her feeding is the only variable that could affect her eyes that much.

"Yes. You are as observant as usual. But you see," she intones with a desperate, pleading smile, "my willingness to leave means I care. I would do it to protect you, even though it would hurt me." She really seems to believe all this drivel.

"You think I wouldn't do the same?"

"You will never have to make that choice."

"Okay, well, then tell me, why you are interested in my company at all? I'm just an ordinary guy. I'm not great at sports, or as a musician. Most girls don't look at me twice. I read a lot but that's never made anybody popular in high school. Here I'm the new guy so maybe I got a little more attention, but still…. How can I believe you are really attracted to me?"

"Well," she draws imaginary doodles on the table, her eyes avoiding mine. "For one thing you are different from any other human I've ever met. You surprise me all the time. You're really a lot more interesting than you think."

"This sounds like a science experiment…." I mutter, unhappy.

"No," she adds with a pleading look. The heat from her smoldering eyes could melt steel.

"There is something else. Something that is not easy to put into words. An attraction I can't explain well. Needs and desires I didn't know I had…."

"Maybe I feel that way too, then." And it is true. Of course I fantasized about girls and sex before, I'm a guy after all, but my attraction to Lynn goes well beyond that. She affects me in ways I had never imagined possible.

She hisses suddenly, looking at her family's table. I look at her quizzically.

"Rosalie's not happy." She says by way of explanation.

"What's her deal?"

"I told you too much already, about us and our family. I'm breaking all our rules. And she's upset…." She stares at me, uncertain. "But there's more to it. She likes to be at the center of attention, and she loves it when guys ogle her. Of course she loves Emmet and that will never change, but still, she enjoys the fact that all the males in the school keep sneaking glances at her. You never did, though…" A tender smile floats on her lips.

"Since I got here, I've only had eyes for you. In a sense I'm not sure I get it but…" I notice her scowl and decide to clarify. "Of course you are very beautiful, but for one thing I'm just an ordinary boy. And for another, the other guys told me you never dated and mostly spent time with your family. I was resigned to pretending I didn't care for you and eventually making my escape from Forks to go to college. The last few days have been really, really surreal." And, I think but don't say, despite how close to each other we are leaning again, and despite how much we enjoy each other's company, too many questions remain unasked and unanswered.

She suddenly laughs and my brow struggles to turn my face into a question mark.

"Jeff is really jealous of you now, Brandon. To his credit, he cares for you as a teammate and friend, but he can't figure out why I picked you. He never will. When it comes to women his mind is just full of filth."

She grimaces and makes an effort, I imagine, to stop listening to his thoughts.

"Your mind reading certainly comes in handy, but he shouldn't care about me and you, he has a girlfriend now. He hit on you in the past, didn't he?"

She smiles like a cat who has just swallowed a canary.

"He won't do that again…." Her smile then turns into a frown.

""What is it?" I ask her. I look at my hands, resting on the table now that my food has gone down the hatch.

"Nothing. Your other friend is starting to annoy me."

"Who?"

"Jessica. Actually, she's happy to be with Mike now, but she is upset with me. The way she sees it we were competing and she lost." Lynn tries, in vain, to hide how much that pleases her. I'm a little dazed. "She's studying our body language. She will report to you that I definitely like you, just in case you still don't believe me.

We suddenly realize we've inched closer and closer again, magnets desperately trying to connect. But the cafeteria is almost empty. Alice playfully reminds us we are still in high school.

"Get a room." Emmet thunders as he walks by, and then guffaws loudly. I blush, but I like him already. We haven't been introduced but I already know the Cullens better than anybody else at the school. Some people could say that's not a good thing but I cannot agree.

We head to class. Lynn's right arm's sleeve brushes my left as we walk. The undertow pulling us together is getting stronger and stronger. It's pulling us in, deeper and deeper.