Bella
I woke much too early, and was surprised to see the early morning sunlight streaming through the window. I rolled over in the bed, my arm splaying out over the empty place. Caius wasn't there. I could hear the noise of the shower in the adjoining bathroom. Groggily I heaved myself out of bed. I had fallen asleep after and was still naked. Both our clothing was still strewn about the room. I managed to find my panties, and his button down shirt. Putting them both on, I made my way down the stairs and went into the kitchen. A quick glance at the clock told me it was only 5:30. Definitely too early for anyone to be awake. I grabbed the instant pancake mix off of the top shelf and dumped it into a bowl with some water. I turned on the radio and sang along to the song that was playing. The cheap pancake mix smoked in the pan, somehow burning and still raw at the same time. I guess that's what happens when you buy dollar store instant pancakes. I hadn't heard the water shut off upstairs, or heard Caius come down the stairs either for that matter.
"Will you be needing the fire extinguisher again?"
I gave a tiny streak and jumped around.
He smiled and put his hands on my hips, "So cute," she said and kissed my forehead, "Especially when your failing at breakfast."
"To be fair, these pancakes were terrible long before I tried to make them."
"Is that so?"
"Yes...that is so," I said, straightening my back and looking at him stubbornly.
The fire alarm went off, drowning out the sound of the radio. He started laughing and went to move the smoking pan off of the element and turn on the fan.
"You really shouldn't sneak up on people like that," I said.
"I didn't sneak up on you, you were just to busy singing along to what ever that is. Is this what qualify for music nowadays?"
I stared at him incredulously.
"Honestly, what is this..."
"You sound so old."
"Well maybe you shouldn't be dating such an old man."
"How old are you anyhow?"
"Very."
"Which would be..."
"I was born in 1228."
"So the middle ages then..."
"No, 1228 BC."
I paused for a moment, "So that would make you..."
"Three thousand two hundred and twenty four. I died when I was 26."
"How did it happen," I said softly.
"Not sure it's something you would want to hear before breakfast," He said, trying to brush it off.
"Tell me."
He took a deep breath.
"The vampire who killed me attacked me and my father just after sunset while we were on the way home from the dock. He was frenzied and wild, and so hungry he didn't know what he was doing. He killed my father first, tore him apart in the process. Then he turned on me. I tried to run, but had no chance at that point. He thought he'd killed me. Left us both on the side of the path and fled before anyone could notice. I was deleterious for most of the transformation, so much so that I hadn't even noticed that they had buried me. I clawed my way out of the ground, and didn't know where I was. I tried to ask a passerby where we were, but the blood, the temptation was too much. I don't even remember it happening. I was in hiding for years to come after that, hunting on those who were stupid enough to wander into the forest. After a century or so I had the displeasure of meeting the Romanian coven.
He laughed slightly, but there was no humor in his eyes.
We had uh...fairly heated debate regarding a certain woman. Athendora, my ex wife. I actually stole her from her husband and we ended up running off together. Some time after that we met Aro and his wife, and formed a coven. Eventually we waged war on the Romanians and won. We took over rule sometime around 500 BC. I think you know most of the rest."
I definitely didn't know most of the rest. There were 25 centuries that I still didn't know about. But that would have to be another conversation, and I was assuming, equally an disturbing story.
"I've scared you haven't I?"
"No..no...I just..."
"Don't lie to me Isabella," he said softly, sounding almost hurt.
"Okay, yeah, I'm a little freaked out," I jumped up to sit on the counter, "I knew that it probably was going to be bad but...I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you and your dad died. I'm sorry that's why you didn't get to be an explorer. I guess I just don't really know what to say.
He flashed across the kitchen and stood in front of me, his half-lidded eyes looking down at me. Gently, his arms wrapped around me. I wrapped my arms, and my legs too around him, hugging him like a kola. he nestled his face into my hair, breathing in my scent.
"You should probably get ready for school," he said after several minutes went by.
"Yeah, I probably should."
The hot water from the the shower beat down on my back as I scrubbed my hair. I really didn't want to go to school today. I wanted to stay here and relax, even if there wasn't any hope of me falling back to sleep. I turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. as I dried off and began to tie my hair into its usual low bun, I noticed something. A small bruise was beginning to form low on my neck. I rooted through the drawer, looking for any kind of make-up, but it was no use. I sighed, I was never going to hear the end of it if Mike saw this. That was going to have to be later-on's problem I decided. I finished my hair, wrapped the towel around my waist, and went into the bedroom. I hadn't planned on spending the night here, so I didn't have a spare set of clothes.
Crap.
I settled with yesterday's jeans and Caius's white button-up. It would be good enough for school. Besides, it wasn't like I was trying to compete with Jessica or anything.
Caius was in the kitchen giving the pancakes another go. He didn't say anything to acknowledge my arrival, though he must have heard me come in. I walked up behind him and hugged him from the back, standing up on my tip-toes made it so I could just see over his shoulder.
"How's the breakfast going?"
"Hopefully eatable. Human food honestly doesn't smell all that great to me."
"Just in general?"
"Pretty much. It has mostly the same appeal as wet sand. It's not inherently disgusting to me, but I definitely wouldn't want to eat it myself. it's probably similar to how you feel about blood."
"I don't think so. Blood totally grosses me out. Just the smell of it makes me really nauseous. I actually fainted last year in Biology when we did blood typing," I said blushing slightly.
"Really? You find it that bad?"
"Yeah. I've always been like that too. Not really sure why. I guess it's the same reason that some people are scared of spiders. I'm just like that."
I let go of his waist as he turned off the stove and reached for a plate.
"You have a very odd choice of mate then," he said, putting the pancakes on the counter and passing me a fork.
"I think we'll be fine, so long as you don't eat in front of me." I said, taking a fork-full of pancake and stuffing it into my mouth. I finished my pancake quickly and took a look at the clock.
"I've got to get going," I said
He gave a light sigh and pulled me in for a kiss.
"Are you coming back after school?"
"I can't today. I told Charlie that I would make him dinner tonight. I'll text you later though."
"Okay, sure. Just text me later then."
He sounded a little disappointed, but there was nothing I could do right now to fix that, I had to go or I would be late. I gave him one more goodbye peck, and went out to my truck.
It was finally lunch. My morning classes had been so slow. Not even English had been able to keep my attention today. Besides, I had finished the book we were supposed to be reading last week, and it definitely hadn't been the first time I'd read it either. I grabbed a soda from the lunch line. I wasn't really all that hungry, and I would be having a big dinner in a few hours anyhow. I sat down our regular table next to Angela.
"Hey Bella!" Mike said cheerfully.
Uh-oh, here we go.
"Are you going to the dance next Friday?"
Whew!
"No, I'm not."
"Are you sure? I think Crowley is going to ask you."
"What is with him. Does he ever give up?"
"Crowly?!" Eric jumped in, "I don't think so. He never gives up. You could probably wear a bucket on your head and he'd still think you were hot. Though, honestly, I think you could pull of wearing anything," he added in an over exaggerated wink.
"Oh come on Eric, some of us are trying to eat," Angela said.
"Hey...when it's real it's real," Eric said, but he couldn't make it through the sentence without laughing.
"Oh yeah Eric," I said smiling sarcastically, "It's just so real, you should really go for it," I gave him the same wink.
"Seriously though Bella," Mike said, " I bet if you just gave Tyler one pity date he'd probably back off."
"I don't think so," I said
"It'd just be one dinner at the diner. I know he's annoying, but wouldn't it be worth it to get him off your back?" Mike said.
"I just don't think it would be a good idea," I said.
"Why not?"
I blushed.
"Wait, are you seeing someone?" said Mike.
Eric, who had been in deep conversation with Angela stopped and whipped his head around.
"Wait, what?" Eric said, "Your seeing someone? Who is it? It's totally that guy from La Push isn't it?"
"What? No, it's not Jacob."
"Well who is it then?"
"You wouldn't know him. He's from out of town."
"Is he going to come to school with us?" Angela asked quietly.
"No, he's finished school."
"Well...what does he do?"
"He's in law."
The bell rang, saving me from any more questions. I had never been so happy to pack up for Biology. I threw my bag over my shoulder and got up from the table.
"I'll see you guys later," I said.
School was finally over. I pulled into the driveway. It had been a long day, and I was starting to crash. I unlocked the door with the key from the eve and dropped my bag at the side of the door. I knew I needed to start on dinner soon, but a quick nap couldn't hurt. I went to my room and flopped gracelessly onto the bed. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
