A/N: SM owns all things Twilight. Everything else is mine.
Chapter 12
I give her the flashlight while I tuck the blanket under my arm and the basket in the same hand. Once we start walking, I take her free hand in mine, interlocking our fingers. "Did you have a good day today?" I ask, even though I probably know part of her answer.
"You mean, other than being forced to stay away until five minutes ago?" I smile wide and nod. "Yes, for the most part. I read a little, took Seth for a short walk and then we played around in the yard for a bit before I showered for our date." She frowns a little. "He's been acting weird lately, always seeming to be on alert. He took off twice towards the forest; once on our walk and the other in the yard. He didn't go past the tree line, though, but would just bark and growl while staring." She pauses, thinking, then shrugs a shoulder. "Maybe it was just another animal he didn't like."
I let this new information set in and I'm starting to wonder if Seth's behavior has anything to do with my recent dreams. I don't want it to, but it's completely possible considering last time. I'll be forever grateful for who they led me to, but this time is different. It'll be more than just Bella who gets hurt if things end badly, the way they seemed to when the first warning happened.
I must have been quiet for too long because Bella squeezes my hand to get my attention. "You okay?"
"Oh. Yeah, sorry. It's nothing, really. I was just thinking about what you said." I force a smile, hoping she won't see all the way through it. She looks at me, studying my face, then away to watch her steps before returning back to me. She knows I'm lying and I both hate and love that she can tell. Sighing, I nod and say, "Fine. I'm not that okay, but I don't want to talk about it right now. I just want our picnic to be perfect and free of worries and the outside world."
Thankfully, she lets it go with a nod, but asks that we talk as soon as we get back. I agree, knowing it might be good to finally get my dreams off my chest. I also don't want her thinking that I can't tell her anything or don't trust her enough and push her away.
I get a reprieve from any more immediate scrutiny when we enter the clearing. I found it fitting that we have a real date in the very place we met. Whether our meeting was an accident or a coincidence, I cannot find it in me to regret the walk I took that night. I let go of her hand to get things in place.
