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This is a collaborative work I did with my lovely beta, Sunflower Fran. I hope you all enjoy it and look forward to hearing what you think. Thanks so much for reading.
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BPOV
Bella was trying to study, yet her gaze kept floating to the picture of Edward on her desk. For the life of her, she couldn't fathom what was going on with him. Over the past week, he'd been acting so weird. Not only was he randomly disappearing without explanation, but when she'd happen upon him unexpectedly, he'd jump right out of his skin. When she asked what he was doing, he made a point of avoiding her gaze and coming up with some lame-ass excuse.
Twirling a tendril of hair around her finger, Bella's brow drew tight as she contemplated the possibilities. Had he met someone else? Was he cheating on her? There was a part of her that denied the likelihood, yet what other possibility was there?
The sneaking around, his lackluster excuses, and his many, many disappearances. If he had met someone else, why didn't Edward just tell her that? Chewing her full bottom lip, she shook her head. He wouldn't do that to her. No way … Something undeniable was going on, but she highly doubted it was another woman—yet?
Focusing on the Psych book in her lap, she read a few sentences before her attention shifted back to the picture on her desk. She was about to reach for her phone when a knock on the door stopped her movements. Bella tossed the book she held to the cushion beside her and jumped from the couch.
The second she pulled the door open, a bouquet of roses was thrust in her face, and she had to sidestep the fragrant blooms. Instantly, her gaze dropped into a glare at the person holding the flowers.
Edward fucking Cullen looked guilty as shit.
Suspicion filled her as the blooms tempted her to forgive him. Unable to ignore the delicate blossoms, she took the bouquet, and her nose dropped to flowers, breathing in their sweet scent. While a part of her turned to mush at such a beautiful gift, another part remained skeptical. Even now, he shifted awkwardly in front of her, and Edward would barely meet her gaze. Still, she rocked back on her heels admitting him inside. "Hey, I was starting to wonder where you were."
Edward adjusted the strap of his bag over his shoulder. Fleetingly, he thought of the containers he'd stuffed under the clothes inside. Bella just had this look on her face indicating she knew—especially when her brown eyes honed in on his bag. Holy shit … Did she know? All of a sudden, his nerves prickled to life, the enticing tingle of anxiety began to grip his chest. Holy shit … she knew. Trying to alleviate some of the questions in her eyes, he said, "I just wanted to buy you some flowers. Geez—Bella, can't a guy just buy his chick some roses?"
Bella suddenly felt like the worst girlfriend. She had no right to accuse him of anything. What other guy would go out of his way to buy her flowers? It's okay—she would find a way to make it up to him. "Sorry, babe, you've been acting a little different lately. No biggie. Want to help me study?"
"Sure," he nodded, dancing to the side when she would've closed the distance between them. Damn, he should've bought some breath mints. Even now, he could taste the lingering traces of salt on his tongue. "Just got done eating … need a squirt of toothpaste."
He noticed her gaze drop into a glare as she regarded him. Yeah, she definitely didn't believe him. Hoping to take her mind off whatever she was thinking, he grabbed her books from the couch and started up the stairs toward her room. Without comment, Bella simply trailed him, ducking into her room behind him. Dumping her books onto her bed, he circled back to the door. "I just have to get some toothpaste …."
Bella stood in the middle of her bedroom at a complete loss. What the hell was going on? Her head shifted to glance into the hall when Edward disappeared into the bathroom. She was even further intrigued when the door promptly closed behind him. Then the fucking lock clicked into place. Totally blown away by his actions, she tiptoed to her doorway and listened intently.
Edward fell back against the door as he pushed in the lock. This was the stupidest thing he'd ever done. What was he doing? For a long minute, he contemplated this ridiculous—sick obsession. Even as he cursed himself, he rooted through his duffle bag and withdrew the radiant redliquid singing to him. Instantly, his fangs protruded as he studied the bottle gripped in his hand. Unable—or unwilling to withstand this overwhelming craving, he bit into the bottle, utterly oblivious of the liquid dripping from the corner of his mouth.
As the last drop coated his tongue, he swiped the back of his hand across his lips, hoping to wipe away any lingering trace. While his enhanced senses were hypnotized by the drink in his hand, he picked up on the sound of footsteps coming down the hall. Nervously, he shoved the empty container deep into his bag just as her knuckles connected with wood.
"Edward? Is everything okay?"
"Yep," Edward nodded, pushing away from the door. As luck would have it, toothpaste rested on the sink a few steps away, and he grabbed the tube. With quick movements, he unscrewed the cap and squirted the pasty substance on his tongue. The heavy foam covering his tastebuds caused him to gag. As it turned out, his addition did not mix well withthe minty cream, and he almost choked as he tried to swallow. Remembering Bella at the door, he spit into the sink, "Be right out."
Bella staggered back when the door was ripped open. The hinges creaked as they protested the force he'd used, and her gaze narrowed as she studied him. What was that on his collar? The inquiry getting the better of her, she reached out to touch the collar of his shirt, yet he moved slightly, avoiding her touch. "Edward, you have something on your shirt. What's going on?"
"Nothing," he mumbled, his head ducking. If it were at all possible, he could swear the blood rushed to his face, highlighting his humiliation. "We should go study."
Bella thought it looked red … could it be? No, it couldn't. Oh, crap, could it be lipstick? Had Edward been with someone else?
If there were a higher power of any kind in the heavens, Bella would just drop it already, he thought. Tucking the strap of his bag over his shoulder, he held it close as he attempted to dart around her. However, luck, or the heavenly father, was not on his side because she caught him by the arm and forced him to look at her.
"Edward, I'm not sure what is going on, but I know something is. You will barely let me touch you, and you keep disappearing. Is there anything I should know?" Bella hated this feeling of uncertainty swirling within her. Once again, a niggling of suspicion took root, and she couldn't shake the possibility of another girl being with Edward. Her gaze never wavered from his as she dared ask. "Edward, are you seeing someone else?"
"Bella, I would never …" Edward could hardly believe his ears. Had she really just asked him in a roundabout way if he was cheating on her? He'd waited hundreds of years for her to come along, and he'd never once looked at another woman. Realizing this is what she thought, his fingers closed around her arm, and he urged her closer. Dropping what he hoped was a minty kiss to the tip of her nose, he whispered, "You are the only one for me."
Edward's mouth hovered above hers with the intent of pressing a kiss on her lips when she pushed slightly back, and her brow knitted together as she studied him. "Why are your lips so red?"
Damn, he'd forgotten all about that. Subconsciously, he rubbed at his mouth. How could he forget to wipe it? Even while Edward contemplated the drink's effects on his skin, a thirst like no other was born.
This was so stupid.
X
Bella was finally asleep, he noted. Slowly, he pushed back the blanket wrapped around him and shifted toward the edge of the mattress. When the springs moved under his weight, he grimaced, hesitating briefly. Watching her closely, he ensured she still slept peacefully before pushing to his feet and inching closer to his bag. He was only inches away when he heard Bella shuffle in the bed, her head lifting as she sought him out. "Edward, what are you doing?"
"I thought I heard something. Just gonna take a quick look around." Edward swallowed the guilt choking him when she merely grunted, and her head fell back to the pillow. Faltering only a moment longer, he grabbed his bag and darted soundlessly from the room. Once he was in the hallway, he looked quickly around for a place of privacy. Spotting the linen closet a few doors down, he crept his way through the hall, making sure to walk on tiptoes in case of creaking floorboards.
An eternity seemed to pass before his fingers connected with the knob. If it were possible for him to be sweating, he was sure he'd be soaked, every cell in his body popping with anticipation. Just a second longer—just a second, and he'd have the nectar he craved. His thirst was like no other. The weight of Edward's bag reminded him of what was lingering inside as he slipped into the closet and closed the door behind him. Unfortunately, there wasn't much space, and he shuffled around to create enough room. Finally satisfied, he slowly sat on his haunches and pulled the zipper on his bag.
Impatiently, he dipped his hand in the bag and sorted through the clothes inside. His tongue was on fire with thirst. Something was wrong … his thick brow snapped with instant frustration. The fucking thing was empty.
Edward shoved the empty container on a shelf of nicely folded towels. Greedily his hand dug into his backpack, only to come up empty-handed. "What the hell? Son-of-a …"
How much had he consumed? This whole debacle was getting way—way out of hand. Calculating it all in his head, he cursed—twenty since—what—three this afternoon. However, he didn't contemplate very long because right now … right now, he needed a drink, or he was going to explode. With this threat lurking within him, he hurriedly stood and slipped out of the closet—ever so gently shutting the door.
"Edward, why are you in the linen closet?"
The sound of Bella's voice behind him caused his eyes to roll closed. What was he supposed to say? How did one explain sitting in a closet in the middle of the night with an insane need for a drink? Still facing the door, almost scared in a way to face her, he stared wide-eyed at the wood. "Um… ah… I needed a towel, but I … I … just need to run home real quick for a different shirt."
A different shirt? That was the lamest excuse he'd ever heard in his entire life. This was all getting way out of control. As if he moved in slow motion, he pivoted, shame keeping his gaze downcast.
"What do you need a different shirt for?" She saw nothing wrong with his shirt. Creeping closer to examine the material, she gasped when he slipped past her toward the staircase. "Edward?"
"I'll be right back, Bella." Edward jogged down the remaining steps, only glancing back once he reached the bottom. "Won't be gone long at all … twenty minutes tops."
Bella was left glaring at an empty foyer. Miffed beyond anything she'd ever known, she stomped her way back to her room, grabbing her phone; she was on the brink of telling Edward right where he could go. Punching in his number, she held the cell to her ear only to spot Edward's forgotten phone on her nightstand. Bella crossed the room with this strong distrust beginning to gnaw at her stomach and picked it up.
Months ago, Edward had given her his code to his phone. Surely, if he were hiding anything from her, she'd find it lurking somewhere inside. After ten minutes of searching, she was suddenly very perplexed. There was nothing in here indicating he was seeing or even talking to anyone else. His actions, however, said something completely different.
He was skipping classes. He wasn't there to give her a ride home—which was totally not Edward. Then there was the way he avoided kissing her. Red lips—what was that all about? "Hmmm."
With no ready answers coming to her, she tossed the phone on the bed and went to the window. Was that Edward's car? What the hell was he looking for? From here, she could see him shuffling through the car in search of something. Baffled, Bella found her shoes and headed for the door. It was time to get to the bottom of this.
She was at the end of the walk in the front yard when his head lifted and turned toward her. If she wasn't so annoyed about being awakened in the middle of the night, she might've laughed at the startled expression on Edward's face. His eyes practically bugged out when he saw her. Bella stomped her feet when he promptly started the car and rolled down the window. "Be right back, Bella."
Before she knew what happened, he was speeding down the street, and she was left watching the taillights, disappearing around a corner.
Her arms folded over her chest as her temper rose. Something was going on, and she needed to get to the bottom of it before she went nuts. Bella turned to head back into the house when Charlie came out onto the porch. "Bella, what are you doing up so late? And why do I keep hearing doors opening and closing?"
"I don't know, Dad. You will have to ask Edward why he's taken to hiding in closets—or maybe, why he keeps disappearing for no reason."
"Problems in paradise?" Charlie questioned with a disheartened chuckle. He didn't like seeing Bells so upset. Pulling at the end of her ponytail, he said, "You have school tomorrow. Should get back to bed."
"Dad, would you do me a huge favor?" Bella popped her bottom lip out and gave him a puppy dog look.
Charlie knew that look, and something was going on. "Why do I get the feeling I'm about to be trolling the city for Edward Cullen?"
"Because you love your daughter," Bella answered with a cheesy smile. "And you want the best for her—even if you happen to dislike her boyfriend."
"To be fair, Bells," Charlie started on a yawn, sighing as he continued, "I'd hate any boy dating my daughter … Edward, or otherwise."
"Sooo," Bella started with a flutter of her lashes. "Will you help me out? I just need to know what's up with him. He's been acting strange … what if he has another girlfriend?"
Charlie's expression went stony as he contemplated her confided worry. If that boy was cheating his daughter—whew-wee, he was going to pound him. His jaw working, he growled, "Did you ask him if he was seeing someone else?"
"I did … Edward swore he wasn't," Bella shrugged, her arms wrapped around her waist with a shiver. "I just need to know for sure … there is no logical reason for the way he keeps running off."
"You know I will look into it, Bells. Now, up to bed," Charlie looked around the yard as Bella turned and disappeared in the house. Scowling, he went back inside and locked the door.
EPOV
He was such an idiot—he fumed, looking through his rearview mirror. He was a fiend … an addict… Right now, he was driving twenty miles away from home like some crackhead, glancing over his shoulder every mile or so, ensuring no one followed.
Was he being ridiculous? Yes. Did he realize he was being silly? Big fat, double yes. Would Emmett shoot him shit for this stupid ass venture? Absolutely. Should he turn around and go home? Yep. Was he going to? Nope.
He was not an addict, Edward mouthed to himself, his gaze locked with an intensity on the road before him.
He was just thirsty.
Excitement pulsed through him as he spied the sign marking Clallam Bay, yet he sent a silent prayer to heaven that he ran into no one he knew. Edward's foot pressed heavily on the gas as this need; this insane craving licked through his veins. He was not an addict; he could quit any time he wanted—just so happened he didn't want to stop.
He was just thirsty.
Edward's lashes fluttered as he glanced at the time on the dash. Bella would be getting out of class in about forty minutes. If he were quick, he could be there and back with plenty of time to spare, and she'd never know he'd gone.
A movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Glancing toward the floorboard of the passenger side of his car, his pupils narrowing as he observed the empty bottle rolling in time to his Volvo's acceleration. His gums burned, and his fucking mouth began to water uncontrollably. A pang of instant guilt clouded his already tormented mind—he was such a fool, hands down—end of story.
With a significant amount of effort, he pulled his gaze away from the container, his foot nearly leaden on the gas now, and if he didn't watch his shit—he'd get pulled the fuck over. He was already doing eighty-five in a seventy, and he still didn't feel as if he were traveling fast enough. Edward felt like he was about to fly right out of his skin. Shuffling in his seat impatiently, he took the exit into Clallam Bay, his icy veins weeping for just a little taste—just a little one—just a drop. His tongue tingled with the thought.
Edward cut off two lanes of oncoming traffic to jet into the parking lot, nearly causing a car to rear-end him. Did he care? Maybe a little bit. A part of him did when the guy called him a dick as he threw the car in park and leaped from the seat. He was just too thirsty
Okay, maybe, he was an addict. He needed to find a support group. Would his family stage an intervention? How embarrassing was this? Edward didn't contemplate his anarchy any longer as he hurried inside. Immediately, his gaze connected with the back wall, nearly mowing down a lady in his rush to reach the source of this insane addiction.
His golden eyes danced from row to row as he examined all the choices calling to the thirst within him. It was almost as if he were moving in slow motion as he reached out and pulled the door open. With a quick, suspicious look around, he grabbed the container from the shelf and tucked it beneath his arm. Closing the door, he loitered for a moment longer as he considered his purchase. He should get one more—right? So, he didn't have to come out later. Decision made, he reached inside and yanked another container from the shelf.
Now, he had two—one for now and another for later.
Mildly appeased, he started up the aisle, yet his step faltered. What about tomorrow? Did he really want to come back to Clallam Bay? Maybe, he should grab a few more—so he didn't have to drive here again tomorrow.
Edward Cullen was a fucking vampire. He was, in Jake's words, a fucking bloodsucker. Right now—he felt like the biggest reject to walk the earth. He repeated this sentiment as he pivoted on his heel, only to find himself back where he started. His gaze dropped into a heated glare as his eyes roamed over his options. Right now, he held two—what would a few more hurt? Intrigued by the wonderment of the idea, Edward reached inside. Suddenly, he held more than he could manage to carry. Trying to act as casual as he could, he crossed through the space, ignoring the bystanders that observed him with curiosity. He cursed when he went to set his purchase on the counter, and one slipped from his grasp and bounced across the floor. His gaze never wavered from it as it spun in a tight circle before stopping.
The attendant chuckled as Edward darted toward the lost prey, snagging it as if his very life depended on it. "Damn, man, are you thirsty?"
Edward's lip curled as he attempted a smile. The laughter apparent in the guy's voice reminded him of how ludicrous this all was. His own humor dried upon his lips as a growl erupted from his dry throat. "Kind of in a hurry, if you don't mind."
Without further delay, Edward scooped his bounty up in both arms and hurried away. It took some grappling, but he managed to pull his car door open and slip inside. Eager to sample his treat, he opened his arms and dropped the bottles over the passenger side, his gaze darting from one to another.
He was a fucking junky.
Did he crave smoking crack?
No.
Did he leave town in pursuit of dope?
Definitely not.
This was his muse? How freaking embarrassing?
Did he chase countless women around the city? Nope.
Did he blow his family's fortune on gambling? He'd be damned.
Why had he traveled twenty fucking miles from home? The answer sat beside him,
Lacking self-control, Edward reached across the divide and grabbed the drink. He would've twisted the top off—really he would've, but his impatience got the better of him. Thirst as he'd never known, it engulfed his being, and Edward felt his fangs sharpen. Unable to ignore the manipulation of power the drink had on him, he bit into the container, sucking out the liquid. When it was gone, his fingers itched as the longing for another influenced his movements, golden eyes rolling as the drink coursed throughout his body. He was an endless pit when it came to this shit, he realized after downing a third. When he sucked the last drop free … the container bounced off the gear shifter and rolled to the floor.
What the hell was wrong with him?
Edward was in the middle of contemplating this very question when his phone trilled to life. Bella's number came up on the screen in his car, and he hesitated only a second before pushing the Bluetooth button to answer her call. "Hello?"
Was that his voice? Why was it so high? Instantly, his forehead beaded with sweat, and his nerves were frazzled. If he were a spectator, he would swear he sounded guilty as fuck. Attempting to calm this weird-ass sensation consuming him, he tried again. "Hello?"
"Edward, where are you? You didn't show up in Bio, and it's getting close to three. I thought you were driving me home." There was more than a question lingering in her tone. She sounded almost fucking suspicious to Edward's mind. "Should I just catch a ride with Alice?"
"I—I had to run out for a minute. Wa-wanted to get you a surprise," he lied, grimacing. What the hell was wrong with him? What kind of surprise would be logical in this situation? "I'll stop by later tonight."
Right now, he had to find some fucking flowers or jewelry. What did a guy do when he lied to his chick? He wouldn't know. He didn't make a habit of lying to Bella. He glowered at the empty bottles littering his floor when her voice, full of skepticism, filled the car. "All right … I guess I'll see you later then."
What kind of jewelry should he buy? Even as his mind sorted through the possibilities, his hand reached to the passenger seat, and before he knew it, he was slugging another fucking container. Self-disgust rolled through his belly, and he now needed to rid himself of all these containers, and worst yet, his stash was now depleted … which meant he had to go back inside.
Meanwhile … Charlie watched in horror through a set of binoculars from across the way. Now he was entirely confused … What on earth was Edward doing? Who the hell could consume that much? Over the last two days, Charlie tailed Edward to see what he was up to, and as far as he could figure, his excursions were to purchase an extraordinary amount of something?
But what?
If it was alcohol, how would he tell the Cullens and Bella? How would he go about it?
From his vantage point, he watched Edward search around his car, gathering empty containers. To Charlie's furthered amusement, Edward must've thrown two dozen containers into the recycling. When he continued to observe the show across the street, he chuckled under his breath with a shake of his head. Currently, Edward's gaze searched the parking lot, apparently determining whether or not anyone was watching.
How could one person be so thirsty?
At least he wouldn't have to tell his daughter that her boyfriend was cheating on her.
Adjusting the lenses on the binoculars, he zeroed in on the label.
OMG, he snorted with another laugh.
Stepping back from the recycling container, Edward bumped into something hard, and before he knew what was happening, one hundred and nineteen years of his life flashed before his eye in an instant. I mean, how could he, a vampire, not have realized that Charlie freakin' Swan was right behind him.
"Son, we need to talk."
And that's when Edward, a vampire who could outrun a mountain lion and hear the thoughts of everyone except Bella, fainted.
Right there in front of the recycling bins at the Quicky Mart…
In his state of unconsciousness, his mind traveled over the last several days—the last week that'd turned his life into the fiasco it'd become.
Edward was on the road, having made two trips to the only twenty-four convenience store in the area, and it was still morning. Both times, he left the clerk staring at him as if he'd grown a second head.
Once back in the car, the large number of bottles that populated his passenger seat looked like liquid diamonds to him. So many colors. Thirsty … he bit into the first one, wonderment in his eyes at the baby blue color of the liquid, slurping it greedily. The very sound disgusted him, he discovered, once the contents were gone. His head hanging heavy on his shoulders, he found his wayward gaze shifting to the seat next to him.
"I'm such a disgrace to the vampire world … first, I sparkle, and now—now I'm a fiend for this stuff. …"
With distaste rippling through every pore in his being, he reached for the container beside him. One by one, he shoved them beneath the seats in his car. When he ran out of space, Edward yanked his bag from the backseat and proceeded to hide his indulgence.
"What am I going to do with all these," he wondered, shifting to glance out the window. I can't let Bella see this mess. She would be so disgusted.
Edward was nothing if not an environmentally conscience vampire. After all, they lived forever, so they wanted their living space to be clean. So, as luck would have it, there was a recycling bin beside the gas station. Hurriedly, he grabbed the containers and leaped from the car. Making several trips, he emptied the plastic bottles into the recycling bin.
The following day progressed pretty much like the one before, his thirst never seeming to be quenched. This obsession, by the way, was all Bella's fault. Yup—really it was. Approximately a week ago, she bought one of these fucking drinks and left half of it forgotten in his car. This morbid curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he just wanted to see what all the hype was about. After that first taste—he couldn't ignore this intense need ripping through his body.
Yeah, so, if one got to the bottom of the problem—it was all her fault.
As guilt wormed its way into the center of his gut, Edward's eyes tried to open, and his gaze darted around the room. He could hear his father's voice saying things like … "Gatorade? Why would Edward do this? Charlie, how many did you say he had? Who could be that thirsty? And it's filled with so much crap. I wonder if he ever read the label. It's filled with sodium and high fructose corn syrup—not to mention the dyes. Vampires shouldn't ever drink Gatorade. And Edward consumed hundreds of bottles! His vampire insides must be so screwed up. This is one for the Cullen history books for sure. It's no wonder he went into shock and fainted."
OMG, did his dad say he fainted? Vampires don't faint.
"Well, Doc, I think I might have caused that to happen." Edward heard Charlie say with a laugh that no doubt had his mustache twitching.
"And here I thought he was cheating on me, or even worse." He heard Bella say shakily.
"Well, I, for one, will never let him live this down" … He knew that voice. Emmett.
"Carlisle, do you think we need to have an intervention?" Oh, no, that was his mom.
"Esme, I think Edward may have learned his lesson, but if not, we can try your suggestion."
Edward thought a bit more and decided he would keep his eyes closed a little while longer, wanting to crawl into a hole in order to escape his embarrassment.
But all he could see were the shimmering and glimmering bottles of the sticky, sweet stuff he had craved like an addict—the blues, yellows, purples, reds. Hell, he had even tried the white.
He couldn't believe what he had done just to quench his thirst.
He couldn't believe he had been that stupid.
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