Chapter Three: Realists

Charlie was a little concerned when he got home and found out what had happened, but I managed to brush it off as nothing. That was easy, considering I didn't know what it really was.

Which reminded me that Edward was keeping something from me about today; Carlisle was probably in on it too, whatever it was.

I dislike having secrets kept from me by my boyfriend and his adoptive father. I dislike it very strongly…

Charlie lost himself in a sports game and I took that as an opportunity to pay a visit to the Cullen's house. My father advised me absently to be careful and forgot all about me, leaving me to wonder whether he was talking about driving to the Cullen's house, or being at the Cullen's house.

But I never need to be careful when I'm with Edward.

My truck grumbled a little as I turned the key in the ignition, but it soon roared to life. If it were any other truck, I'd say the muffler was probably gone, but since it happens to be this truck…

There's nothing wrong with it. This is how it normally sounds.

I studied the Cullen's house as the contraption I use for transportation rattled and moaned up the hill. It still takes my breath away when I look at it…the house, not the car. A mansion, really, a very beautiful home for a family of very, albeit unnaturally beautiful people.

I suppose people might not be the best term to use in describing them…

Fine. Vampires, then. Very beautiful vampires. Which, I've grown to observe, seems to be redundant most of the time. Most of the vampires I know are beautiful, one way or another…

Though I can hardly call myself an expert…

I've only been kidnapped and almost killed by one and rescued by several others, including the one I happen to be dating at this point. Not a huge history.

I shivered. Thoughts like that brought back thoughts of James, and there was one dead vampire that I really didn't want to think about, especially now, with this Salina Johnson and her…oddness…

Alice was bounding out the door before I had time to even turn the car off. "Bella!" she cried, pleased to see, and hugged me tightly, as if we hadn't just seen each other earlier today. "Are you feeling better?" she inquired, looping her arm through mine once I climbed out of my truck and started walking up to the front door.

"Yeah. It was nothing." The expression she wore made me wonder if she was in on the whole secret too. Perfect. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if I ended up being the last one to know about this, whatever it is…if they decide to explain it to me at all… Darn vampires and their confounded secrets…

Edward was waiting for me inside. Alice released my arm and took a step away, smiling at us as he pressed a kiss to my cheek. "How are you?" he whispered in my ear.

"Fine," I whispered back, smiling up at him. I can't help thinking how beautiful he is, even at the most random times and places. Suffice it to say, he's my favorite Cullen…

You'd agree with me if you could see him, standing in front of you and looking at you the way he's looking at me… Golden eyes sparkling down at me, bronze hair falling over his pale forehead… He likes to shake his head slightly sometimes, trying to brush it out of his way. I suspect there's more to his innocent gestures than he lets on.

He knows they're just more ways of making me melt.

"I'm glad you're feeling better, Bella," Jasper said from the foot of the stairs. Alice smiled at me and skipped gracefully over to him, snaking her arm around his waist. I couldn't help but admire the way she moved. It was so flawless. I think the day a vampire stumbles will be the day the sun sets at noon.

I sighed a little as I watched them go, holding each other. Edward raised a brow at me. "What's the matter, Bella? Should I be jealous?" He said it playfully and bent his head, pressing a kiss to my neck.

"Not likely," I said with a shake of my head. "Besides, even if I were foolish enough to consider such a thing, Alice would kill me."

He chuckled. "Not doubt. Be aware of the fact that I have no intention of letting your affections wander out of my possession." His arms slipped around my waist and pulled me closer to him. "You're mine, and forever, no matter what anyone says."

"Even me?" I queried teasingly. He growled playfully at me and kissed me again, cold lips pressed to the base of my jaw, near my ear. I shivered, very much tempted to forget about why I'd actually come here. "Edward?"

"Yes?"

"What do you know about Salina Johnson that you're not telling me?" I felt him stiffen even before he pulled away.

"Bella…" I can't tell you how sick I am of that warning voice. I've heard it far too much today.

I lifted my head stubbornly. "If you know anything, Edward, I think I should know what it is. This does have to do with me, you know. It's my business too."

He sighed and my hopes rose. He was going to tell me. I just knew it.

"We don't know about her, specifically," Edward began reluctantly. "We just know about people like her."

I frowned, confused. "People like her? What kind of person is she?"

"A realist," he said bitingly. "An blind realist, for lack of a better title. She denies the existence of anything that doesn't make sense to her, which includes legends, folklore, and all the various mystical creatures included."

"Like…vampires?" I squeaked.

"Precisely."

"So how did a realist make me faint by shaking my hand?" I demanded.

"You're connected to us, to vampires, even though you aren't one. She must have sensed your connection to us and lashed out, in a manner of speaking. Realists despise being insecure in their knowledge of the world. They hate not knowing or understanding things."

"If she could sense a connection to vampires in me, she must have known that you were a vampire," I pointed out after a moment's thought. "Why didn't she just shake your hand instead?"

He chuckled, but it sounded rather dark for my liking. "She can't do anything to me. I exist, as much as she'd like to deny it. You, however…you're a human, just like she is. The only difference between the two of you, in this situation at least, is that one of you believes in vampires, and one doesn't. It's possible she was trying to convert you, in a way."

"Convert me? You mean, make me stop believing that vampires exist?"

He laughed lightly at my shocked expression. "I'm glad you find it so ridiculous," he murmured, leaning close to me again.

"Well, it is!" I protested, trying not to lose myself in his caresses. "I don't think it's possible for me to stop believing now, not after…everything." I'd been going to say something about James, but quickly decided against it. Mention of James always made Edward angry. "You're my boyfriend! How could I possibly stop…?" I shook my head, disgusted with the illogic of it.

"She couldn't have known that we were dating," Edward whispered, his voice soft as he drew me over to the couch and pulled my gently down into his lap. "It doesn't matter, Bella. Just forget it."

I almost did. Almost.

But not quite…