Two: Grave

Should they kiss? A harmonic kiss which would leave them breathless-or just reminisce? Should they merge into an embrace? It seemed like years since Kim had last seen Edward. What to do without rushing it and startling him? They peered into each others eyes. Behind both was pure desolation, they had seen too much.

Kim could hardly contain herself. She tossed her arms around the gaunt man, staring wistfully into his eyes. He carefully enfolded his arms around her shoulders, making sure his scissors were far from wounding her, he had learned the hard way, from experience.

"Keeping up your sculptures?" She smiled warmly, he nodded. Edward never said much, but when he did his words had a substantial effect on Kim.

They talked for a few moments. She told him of the haunting effects Jim's death had upon her school, and how she found herself not longing for him nor missing his life.

Edward listened. He too did not feel guilty for murdering the teenage boy, but didn't know what he felt on the matter. In any other case, he would have mentally tormented himself. Jim had tried to put an end to Kim-and Edward himself, that had been the final provoking.

"I could talk to you forever, you're such a good listener, Edward." She glanced down at her watch and frowned. Where had the time gone? It had flew while she was in Edward's arms.

"I have to go..." She trailed off, aware of the hurt in Edward's soft eyes. He hated to see her go and she hated to leave.

"You do?"

She nodded hastily. "I'll come again though-soon!" She promised him. They stood there, without contemplating.

Finally, Kim stood on the tip of her toes and planted a quick kiss on his moist lips.

Blushing furiously, she turned and fled from the crumbling attic. She could still feel his body warmth on her skin. Next time she hoped, the kiss would last longer.

It was the family dinner time when Kim brought up the subject of Edward. She didn't really intend to, it just sort of...happened.

"Do you guys ever miss Edward?" She asked. The room silenced, the tension crackled like burning electricity. It was far worse then she had predicted. Edward's leaving had left a hole the size of a crater in Peg's heart, and the Boggs family.

"Of course I miss Edward." Peg replied faintly, hardly above a whisper.

"Don't we all Kim?" Bill Boggs announced, buttering his French bread. "Edward was a good guy. We cared for him, he just wasn't meant to live down here."

Peg nodded. "I'd rather not talk about Edward honey, being the case that he is dead." She cleared her throat and to Kim's surprise, she saw tears shadowing her mother's woebegone eyes. Her mother had sought a special bond between herself and Edward. For a second, Kim wanted to confide in her that Edward was alive and that she was sneaking off to accompany him, their forbidden rendezvous. She almost smiled.

"Darling I expect you will show courtesy to Jim's family by attending his funeral?"

Kim nodded briefly in reply. Although she shared no compassion for the now deceased Jim, it still seemed best she should go. She had spent months dating him, his steady girlfriend and possession.

Peg watched every crevice of Kim's face. If she wasn't crazy, it looked as if Kim had her old glow back.

At the funeral, Kim Boggs brought her apologizes and paid her respect. She purchased a crimson carnation, set it upon the moist soil of his grave. She wore black, a veil shading her delicate face, and she gave his parents her sympathy. They were glad to see her.

The couple were frank with their utmost loathing for Edward. As far as they saw him, he was the corrupt criminal who attempted to rob their house of its goods and slayed their only son, shedding no mercy.

She examined the fresh dirt under Jim's looming headstone. She was practically in a trance, scenes replaying in her head of Edward murdering a human for her safety and benefit. There were few times Edward lost his cool.

"Oh Kim." Jim's mother wracked with sobs. The two women embraced, Kim gently stroking the back of her chic Chanel suit-clad form. "I miss him so much. You know," She hiccupped mournfully in between her weeps. "Jim loved you Kim, more than any girl he's ever dated. He wanted to propose to you after graduation."

Kim went rigid in his mother's embrace, subdued. Yet this woman could no longer uphold the title of 'mother'. Her only child was dead and buried.

She and Jim had split in a hurry, Kim simply telling him she didn't love him anymore, and to let her be.

"I swear, if that Scissorhands character was still alive I'd kill him myself." She hissed and slowly parted from Kim, aloof with a glacial briskness.

Kim's body felt numb. Edward was still alive, probably an eternal being unless murdered. Rather than a human, he had been the mysterious creation of an imaginative inventor.

"I swear." Jim's mother repeated, almost under her breath.

"I went to Jim's funeral." Kim told Edward late into the dusk of that chilled night. She was reluctant about causing late night visits, but Edward indicated he had adjusted to the pleasantries of company back in the days he resided with the Boggs. Edward would be lonely, and long for human companionship, he needed her now.

"You did?"

"Mm hmm." Kim nodded slowly.

"How, was it?"

"It was…"She thought of the word, "morbid, basically like any funeral."

"I'm sorry." Edward cast his eyes down.

"Whatever for?"

"For killing your boyfriend."

Kim grabbed Edward by the shoulders and shook him, hoping to knock some sense into him."

"He was not my boyfriend Edward. I didn't love him, I don't love him. I love you."

Was that a blush under the pale exterior?

At night, excuses were harder to concoct to her curious parents. She no longer had a steady boyfriend she would spend quality time with. She couldn't find herself able to date other boys...not after she had painstakingly fallen in love with Edward. But yet, did he love her?