BIG thanks to everyone who reads and reviews, as well as Fran for all of her help and feedback and to Mr G and Me, for reading through these. They are AMAZING! (And if you see any mistakes, that's my fault.)
So ... here's the group date. Everyone (okay, mostly everyone) was anxious to see it. Hopefully, it won't disappoint!
SM owns everything Twilight. I just like to borrow them.
I can't help but smirk at the obvious disgust Edward is sporting. His siblings are much better controlled, sitting by completely passive, making small talk with themselves and their respective partners while Edward is looking extremely bored—and nauseated.
If it weren't possible for such a response, I would completely believe he's going to vomit all over the table.
As soon as we stepped into the Italian restaurant, a wave of warmth hit us square in the face, followed by the heady aroma of marinara, spices, and baking bread.
It was strong enough to make my mouth water and for most of the Cullens to hold their breath. Rose and Jasper immediately groaned in tandem while my stomach grumbled quite loudly. Edward smirked at me, finding enjoyment in such an involuntary action, but I wasn't embarrassed in the slightest.
Thankfully, we were quickly seated at a table and ordered as soon as the waitress asked us about drinks. She hadn't batted an eye and even looked relieved that we knew what we wanted.
Now, as we wait for food, our siblings exchange whispers and laughs, while I'm enjoying my own show.
Edward's eyes flit around the room with unnatural speed, his upper lips curling ever so slightly at whatever he hears or smells. I snicker, rearing my foot back and kicking his shin so hard my chair grates against the faux stone floor.
Five pairs of eyes shoot to me but quickly look away, back to their previous conversations once more. Only Alice lingers, casting her moody brother a side look, rolling her eyes, and resuming the conversations she's having with Jasper, Rose, and Emmett—another benefit of being a vampire.
Or maybe that's just an Alice thing.
"What?" Edward asks, his grumpy tone making me laugh.
"You're making this date an enjoyable experience."
Guilt flashes across his features. "I'm sorry. I didn't—"
"It's fine. You're uncomfortable; I get it."
He sighs, shaking his head. "No, I need to be like—I need to be better. I'm being selfish."
"Were you about to say, 'you need to be more like your awesome, extraordinary siblings?'" Emmett cuts in, his grin so wide I can see the dimples in his cheeks.
"No. Why I would ever want to be anything like the two of you is beyond me."
Rose frowns, her eyes narrowed in on Edward. Leaning forward, she points a finger at him. "You could be a little more mature, you know. I know you three don't like it here; I understand it's uncomfortable, but we can't help that we need food. I imagine if the situation were reversed, we'd be just as uncomfortable, so grow the hell up."
Emmett cheers, throwing his hands up in the air. "That's my girlfriend!"
"Shut up," she hisses, but adoration is clear in her eyes.
At his side, Alice nudges him, and the two of them engage in a stare-down, silently communicating. Whatever is being exchanged obviously isn't helping anything because Edward looks just as frustrated, if not more so.
I know he shares a connection with his siblings, and more so with Alice, thanks to their talents, but there has to be something I can do to make him more comfortable. When he glances around, clearly uncomfortable and glaring at a certain table in the back, I get an idea.
Rising from the table, I break their stare and motion toward the door.
"I'm gonna step outside for a moment; it's getting warm in here."
Rose opens her mouth but quickly closes it as Edward stands as well. "I'll go with you."
Placing his palm flat against my back, he ushers me outside, practically pushing me out the door.
Once we're alone in the quiet of the evening, his hand slides up the base of my neck, his thumb gently sweeping against the side of my throat.
"Are you okay?"
"I think the more important question is, are you okay?"
His eyebrows furrow together in confusion, and I laugh, jerking a thumb toward the restaurant. "You weren't exactly subtle back there. What's wrong?"
"I don't—" he pauses, shoving a hand through his hair and tugging at the roots. He shoots a baleful look through the window, his eyes flashing dangerously.
I try to follow his line of sight but see nothing out of the ordinary.
"Hey," I say, catching him tugging on his hair again. I uselessly tug on his wrist, narrowing my eyes until he follows my lead. "Stop that. I won't date you if you're bald."
He snorts a laugh. "Really?"
"Yup. A majority of your appeal is your hair."
Shaking his head, he sighs, pulling me into his chest. He inhales deeply, and the tension I had been feeling in his arms and torso finally relents slightly.
"Thanks."
"Anytime," I mumble, tugging on the back of his shirt. "Wanna tell me what's got you so pissed?"
"There's just … a lot. I keep … hearing someone."
"They have medications for that now, you know."
He smiles, but there's no happiness behind it, so I motion for him to continue.
"I can't tell who it is when it's crowded like this, but their thoughts aren't … nice. They're thinking of killing someone, of torturing them for hours, just to see them suffer."
I frown at this, wanting to find this person and erase them from this world. No one should want to inflict pain on others.
No one.
"And you can't tell who it is? Is that normally issue?"
He shakes his head. "No, not normally. It's strange; it's like your father's mind. It's almost as if it's full of static, going in and out. Of course, it doesn't help that there's a full building of people here and ... everywhere," he says, gesturing up and down the block. "With so many people in one area, it's hard to determine who's who."
Once more, he pauses, his eyes flashing toward the window of the restaurant, before looking wildly around his nostrils flaring.
"What?" I ask, trying to follow his line of sight, but I see nothing except smiling, happy couples and friends engaging in dinner. People are bundled up in their winter coats on the street, foggy steam releasing in short bursts as they breathe.
There's a lone beat-up two-door car parked at the very end of the street. The paint is tarnished on the hood and along the driver's side, a clear sign of an accident. Inside, there's a faint outline of a person within, sitting eerily still. Every so often, a small cherry-red glow from a cigarette can be seen as they inhale before it dies out, disappearing from view.
My eyes narrow on the car, trying to see into the darkened interior, but with the fading sun and the tinted windows, it's too difficult.
"They're close," Edward says then, breaking my concentration. "Whoever this shithead is, they're close."
I glance around, looking for anyone that seems odd or off, but everyone looks normal.
Then again, most psychopaths do.
"I think …" he starts, his eyes narrowed in on someone within. "Maybe there."
Following his glance, I spot a normal-looking couple in the corner. The man is tucked into the corner, his shoulders hunched inward while the woman sitting on his right talks animatedly, her hands widely gesturing as she speaks.
Upon a fleeting glance, it would appear that he seems bored by her tale, but I notice that when he goes to speak, he quickly closes his mouth and looks down when his partner shoots him a look.
"Her? Really?"
Edward nods once, a troubled expression on his face. "Not all monsters are supernatural, Bella … or men, for that matter."
I murmur an agreement, still watching him carefully. "You don't seem very sure."
"I'm not; something doesn't add up … but she's—"
"Yeah," I agree, watching as her eyes narrow when her partner speaks and how she subsequently leans forward, her nails digging into his hand. He winces in pain, trying to pull away, but she never lets go.
Bitch.
"So go take care of it," I suggest.
Edward blinks rapidly in surprise, his mouth wordlessly opening and closing as he tries—and fails—to come up with something to say.
"Bella, I—if I do that, I … I don't know what I'd do. I think I might lose control."
There's an underlying note of desire in his tone and eyes as he glares at the woman through the window. In any other circumstance, I'd think he's lusting after her. However, the way the golden hue of his irises darken into dark honey and the way he swallows thickly tells me he's lusting over what she possesses.
Blood.
"Is it that difficult for you?" My voice is low and quiet to avoid us being overheard by the people walking about and his siblings that sit inside.
"Sometimes," he answers honestly. "Like right now. I want nothing more than to go in there and drain her dry … and you know what? I wouldn't even bat an eye over it. She's a monster, and she would deserve every bit of pain I gave her."
A shiver that has nothing to do with the cold rips through me. To hear Edward speak so bluntly over killing someone without remorse makes the hair on the back of my neck rise and my heart race in my chest.
At this moment, I can clearly see the vampire in him.
He wants nothing more than to kill and destroy … and it's definitely terrifying.
On the other hand, I can't say I blame him. I wouldn't take it so far as to wish her dead, but I want this nameless stranger to feel the pain she's putting her partner through. I want her to know what he's feeling and be truly remorseful over what she's inflicted.
But I doubt she'll ever feel guilt over her actions.
People like that never do.
"If that's what you want," I start, only pausing to clear my throat when my voice shakes.
Edward shakes his head. "No. I won't lie; I want it. Badly. But I made a promise to Carlisle, to James and Victoria, to my siblings … to you."
Rearing back, my eyes widen. "Me? I don't remember you saying anything like that to me."
"Well, you are unobservant," he jokes. "But no, it was a silent vow to you when we started hanging out, and we grew closer. I can't … get that bad again, Bella. Not around you. When we first met, I was … thirsty—all the time. I was coming off human blood, and you were the first person I had been around longer than a few seconds, and you smelled good. I almost lost control multiple times; it's why I took your tie-dye shirt. To get myself used to your scent so I wouldn't lose control."
My haze of shock wears off once his last statement sinks into my brain. Reaching up, I flick his ear, growling with frustration when he shows no reaction to my action.
Oh, well. It's a job for Alice.
"I knew you took my shirt, asshole!"
"You know, if you call me anything else, I won't know what to do," he drawls, chuckling lightly.
"Jerk."
"And," he continues, ignoring my remark. "As I recall, I did admit to being in your house, sneaking around."
"Obviously, you omitted some things."
Slipping his arms around my waist, he pulls me to him, his lips dancing over my cheek to my ear. "To be fair, I was distracted."
I hum, winding my own arms around him. I'm not going to fall into his tricks, but I can use a few of my own.
"And what a distraction it was."
He hums in response, moving toward my lips, but before he can make contact, I turn my face, so he makes contact with my cheek.
Pulling back with a deep frown, he sighs heavily. "You're such a pain."
"That's why we're perfect for one another."
This makes him grin brightly, and in a quick movement, he plants his lips on mine, his tongue gently caressing my lower lip. Wanting more, I open my mouth, and the next few seconds pass with low moans, sliding tongues, and tight embraces.
When breathing becomes an issue, I pull away, feeling my lips pulse from the abuse.
"My sentiments exactly." After a moment, he looks toward the window once more.
Indecision wars on his features and I know he wants to do something, but his first reaction is what comes naturally to him.
I suppose this is where I step in.
… With reason and whatnot.
"Don't lay a hand on her," I tell him. "Just scare the shit out of her, so she'll leave him alone. And maybe get him to seek help."
Eyes wide, he stares at me unblinkingly for a moment, still as a statue. After a moment, he slowly nods, an evil grin pulling at his lips.
"I know just the thing. Go inside."
"Okay." Stepping away, I head for the entrance, but something within me compels me to stop and look back. I can't help recalling the struggle he had told me about when he had stopped hunting humans and how the vampire within came out in full force.
In his eyes, he was the monster and had no problem embracing that side of himself.
I'm sure he'd never hurt me, but the fact remains that he's much stronger and faster than I am. Emmett and Alice could subdue him if needed, but I don't want to see that happen … and I don't want Edward to go down that path if he doesn't have to.
"Are you going to be all right?"
It's a silly question to ask, but I need to do it. If he's not going to be okay doing this, then I'll go over there and take care of it myself.
It wouldn't be the first time I've dealt with a bully.
His features soften, and he steps toward me, leaning forward, resting forehead against mine. "You do care."
I snort a laugh, pushing at his unmoving shoulders.
"Yes," he breathes, his voice only audible to me. "I'll be fine. I'll be in control, I promise. There won't be any blood spilled. As much as I want it … I don't want to be that way around you."
There seems to be more that he wants to say, but he's holding back … and now really isn't the time.
"Okay," I say again, stepping back and waving a hand. "Go do what you need to."
He nods once, heading toward the back of the building, no doubt to sneak up on the piece of filth in the back of the restaurant. It's a perfect way to talk to them without being seen by an entire building of people.
Briefly, I glance back toward the car, narrowing my eyes as I spot it still in position, the person within still as a statue … or a vampire.
Quickly, I negate that thought because if it were a vampire, then Edward would have sensed it and said something.
Just to cover my bases; however, I'll ask Alice and Emmett.
Inside, I near the table, and Alice immediately jumps up, pulling me into a hug. Emmett beams, pride and happiness shining in his eyes.
"Oh, Bella," Alice says softly. "Thank you. You … you helped him do what he wanted to do without hurting anyone."
Glancing to the far back corner, I note the man the woman had been sitting with is noticeably absent, and in his place, Edward is there. He's leaning toward her, his face stony and murderous. Tendons stick out in his neck, and his eyes are dark as night, glittering with hate and rage. He's fighting the vampire within him, not wanting to kill her, simply because he doesn't want me to be put in the path of rage.
My respect went up for him so much … and if I have any say in it, he'll be rewarded very well later on tonight.
The woman with him is pale, frozen stiff, and her mouth opened in horror.
She wants to scream; I know it but refrains because then there will be too many questions, and she'll have to answer as to why she's being threatened.
I smirk because she deserves it and so much more for hurting someone else just because she can.
My attention back to Alice, I shrug. "It's no big deal. Something had to be done."
Alice nods in approval, starting back for her seat, but there's something else I have to know.
"Alice," I start, placing my hand on her arm. "Does it bother you? What he did?"
Her lips purse and her eyes shrewdly narrow and seemingly unfocused, and lost in her thoughts. Behind her, Emmett does a combination of a shrug and a nod, not giving me a firm answer on whether Edward's choices to feed on humans bothered him.
"In a way, yes," she truthfully replies. "I hated that it took him away from us. I missed him; it never bothered me too much that he was hunting humans; they needed to be stopped, and it was frustrating when they simply walked away without punishment. But I hated that he felt he should hide."
"He said your parents—"
"I know. And he's not wrong. They didn't fully approve of his decisions to kill them, but not for the reasons you think. Their reasoning was the same as mine and Emmett's."
I tilt my head to the side, waiting for her answer. "Which was?"
"We didn't want their blood in his system. He's too good to have a monster's blood in his body."
This, I immediately understand. I had never thought about it before, but their blood did sustain him, and I don't really like that thought. He's too good for that being within him.
Then again, I can also see Edward's side.
Watching monsters roam free due to technicalities or simply because they 'get lucky' is frustrating and shouldn't happen. If someone doesn't take care of them and stop them, who will?
It's a double-edged sword that brings no victory.
And Edward has been stuck in the middle of it.
"What is he doing?" Rose snarls, catching my attention as she rises from her chair.
Her eyes dart to mine, flashing with fury and sadness, before she looks over my shoulder, pressing her lips in a thin line. I follow her line of sight, still finding Edward instilling terror in the woman, who has shrunk herself into the corner, trying to make herself as small as possible.
I smirk before turning back to Rose, stepping in her path as she starts for him. "Don't."
She tries to step around me, but I place a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. "Bella, did you not see him?"
"I did."
Her eyes bulge at my nonchalant attitude. "And? You're not the least bit upset he's with someone else?"
"If I were truly worried, would I be this calm?" I counter, raising an eyebrow. "Think about it for a minute, Rose. Take a step back and release the mama bear attitude and look at the situation behind us. Really look."
Taking a deep breath, she closes her eyes, opening them a few seconds later. When she opens them, her eyebrows come together in confusion.
"What is going on over there?"
Leaning toward her, I whisper in her ear, giving her a quick rundown of the situation. Her eyes bulge before they narrow in on the woman, her top lip curling in a snarl.
"Bitch," she seethes, returning to her seat with a dramatic twirl.
Rolling my eyes, I look toward Alice, who giggles, shaking her head.
"Don't worry," Alice tells her, sliding underneath Jasper's arm and snuggling into his side. His face flushes pink, but it quickly fades as he hugs her closer, his body relaxing. "She's scared shitless at the moment," Alice continues, humor dancing across her face. "She's so close to crapping herself right now. As soon as Edward steps away, she's going to book it out of here and hole herself up in her apartment."
"And her boyfriend?"
Alice closes her eyes to hide the sudden milky film coming them. When she opens them, she bites her bottom lip, looking a bit sad. "He'll be gone for a while, but—"
"He'll go back," Rose finishes, her tone sad.
Alice nods once. "Edward gave him plenty of resources to get help, but well … you can only help those who want it."
Rose nods once, looking extremely displeased with my friend's words. "Yeah, I know."
Emmett, sensing her upset, pulls her to him, gently kissing her temple and whispering in her ear. Softly, she smiles and leans into him, taking his hand in hers and entwining their fingers together while they exchange whispers.
Not wanting to impose on their private moment, I turn away, focusing on Alice. "What about the bitch over there? Will she flap her lips about Edward's threats?"
Alice laughs while Jasper reaches over to pat my hand. "Down, tiger. You don't need to attack."
I'm confused about what he's talking about, but it becomes clear when I feel an ache in my hands and shoulders. Glancing down, I see my hands are balled into fists, and my body is tense, ready, and coiled to spring—I'm even turned toward the woman's direction.
"No, she won't say a word," Alice continues. "She'd have too much to explain for, and she doesn't want that."
Blowing out a breath, I flip everyone off when they laugh again.
"Great," Emmett bemoans, though he doesn't look as put out as his tone sounds. "Another hot-head like Eddie. I don't have enough to worry about with him? Now you? What happened?"
"It's your curse," Edward says, sliding smoothly into the seat next to me, his arm draping around my shoulders. His lips press against my temple, his nose buried in my hair as he breathes deeply, his exhale causing my skin to erupt in gooseflesh. "So, you're protective of me, huh?"
"Please," I scoff, pulling back slightly so I can see his face. "If anyone is going to out you, it's going to be me, you stalking pervert."
His eyes narrow, and his lips twist in annoyance. "Right."
"Right," I reply, kissing him once, lowering my voice in an unnecessary whisper … but it makes me feel better, so I do it anyway. "And yes, I feel protective of you. You've gotten under my skin, jerk."
Softly, he smiles, his hand rubbing softly against my upper arm. "You know what's weird? It's the same for me."
"How about that?"
"Yeah, weird. It's almost like we're in a relationship or something."
He chuckles, shaking his head as Emmett groans, his head falling forward. "You two are amazingly nauseating. Jeez. I won't survive watching you two," he says, one hand scrubbing at his face.
Rose lightly smacks him, clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "Stop. I think it's sweet."
Turning to Edward, I raise my eyebrows in question, inclining my head toward my cousin. "You hear that? We're sweet. When did that happen?"
"I don't know, but I'm disappointed in us."
"Me too. I blame you," I reply, pointing at him.
Edward sputters, and I loudly laugh, falling against his side.
"Me? How am I the problem?"
I could name a few different reasons just off the tip of my tongue, but I don't want to. To be honest, I like the fact that he wants to be close to me. I feel the same way about him, and while the idea scares the absolute shit out of me, it feels right.
Which scares me in a totally different way, but for now, I'm just going to roll with it.
"Okay, fine. How about you take sixty percent of the blame, and I'll take forty?"
"Fifty-fifty."
"No."
We engage in a stare down, neither one of us blinking or moving while the others around us chuckle quietly, their laughter growing louder the longer we're silent.
He may be supernatural and can sit for long periods without blinking like a statue, but I'm more stubborn than he is, and I'll sit here until I petrify.
After a long moment, Edward sighs, slouching toward the table, resting his head in his hand. "Fine. You win."
"I win, how? By you taking a majority of the blame?"
Ever so slightly, his eyes narrow, and I smirk because I so have him figured out.
"Fine. I will take a majority of the blame." He leans forward, his nose skimming across my cheek to my ear, his cool breath making me shiver. "But you owe me."
My heart starts to thunder in my ears, my body leaning toward him, needing to feel more of him. My hand drifts toward his thigh, my nails scratching along the denim of his jeans. He shifts, and I don't know whether it's because he's uncomfortable doing this in front of our siblings or because he wants more.
I just know that while I love teasing him, I feel the strongest urge to be closer to him … and for the millionth time since I met him, I curse Edward Cullen and his voodoo ways.
A loud cackle of a child at a nearby table breaks me away from my plans, and finally, the table around us erupts in laughter; Emmett looks awed, Alice looks tickled, and Rose and Jasper have a combination of disgust and amusement.
Shrugging a shoulder, I don't move away from Edward but rather lean into his side, finishing my now cold food. In my periphery, Edward looks especially pleased, his arm sliding around my shoulders and pulling me closer.
"What?"
"You're disgusting," Rose teases, lightly kicking my foot underneath the table.
Again, I shrug, pointing a finger at her. "Let's not forget what I've seen. That was disgusting." Her cheek flame with color, darkening when Emmett laughs. Next, I turn to Jasper and Alice, gesturing between them. "And you two. You're just as bad; you're all lovey-dovey-teenage-star-crossed lovers thing."
Like his twin, his cheeks flood with color, but he still shrugs, clearing his throat. "Hopefully, we'll have a happier ending than regular star-crossed lovers."
Alice beams, though I see a spark of uncertainty in her eyes that has me worried. Jasper must sense it too because he stiffens, his eyebrows coming together in confusion. "Alice?"
She shakes her head once, her hand cradling his cheek. "We'll make it work somehow."
Softly, he smiles down at her, and instead of kissing her like I thought he would, he rests his forehead against her, staring into her eyes for a long moment before closing them, sitting just as still as her.
It's an impressive feat, considering I've never seen him sit so still in all my life.
I guess Alice just brings out a calm in him I've never seen … which is why I'm so concerned over the look I saw in her eyes.
What's going on with her? Is she doubting her relationship with Jasper? Does she not like him as well as she thought she would?
I highly doubt she'd take that much time to go after what she wants and just drop it once she has it, but how would I know? Maybe Alice is flighty and wants a whirlwind, spur-of-the-moment romance rather than one that lasts.
"What movie are we seeing?" Edward asks, breaking my attention away from my cousin and friend. He gives me a pointed, concerned glance.
Nodding back toward the pair at my right, I raise an eyebrow in question, wondering if he knows what's going on with his sister.
His face goes blank and impassive, revealing nothing … which tells me he knows something.
"There's an action flick I wanted to see," Emmett supplies, wearing the same mask as his brother. "It has car chases and hot girls."
"And hot guys," Rose quickly says, fanning herself. "They're shirtless. Woo! And that one car looks so fine—"
Briefly, I tune her out as she starts to ramble about the cars she's seen from the trailer, not caring either way whether we see it or not. I'm more concerned with my friend, wondering if she's going to break my cousin's heart … and there are no good horror movies out now, anyway.
"Alice," I begin, but I'm interrupted by Emmett, his eyes guarded.
"That's my woman, right here!" He proudly boasts, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in for a smacking kiss. When he pulls back, there's no sign of apprehension anywhere.
"Jackass," she hisses, but her grin takes the sting of her insult away. "Any objections?"
No one argues, and while Rose and Jasper eat their food and talk with Emmett and Alice, I turn toward Edward, who's sitting back, one arm slung around the back of my chair, while the other rests in his lap.
"Edward?"
"Hmm?"
"Who do I have to smack? Alice or Jasper?"
I know my friend can hear me, but I don't really care. I don't want either one of them to get hurt.
Edward chuckles, shaking his head once. "Neither one of them. They're fine."
"Are they?"
He stares at me for a long moment before nodding slowly. "They will be. They'll be fine."
"So, what's the issue?"
He leans toward me, his lips ghosting over the shell of my ear. "They're both being tentative. Give them time. It'll work out."
Glancing back toward them, I see Alice glancing at me from the corner of her eye, a tight, nervous smile on her face. I return it, wondering what's going on and how I can help.
"You can't help."
Swinging my gaze around, I glare at Edward through narrowed eyes. "I thought you couldn't read my mind."
"I can't. But I know you, Bella. Let it go; it's their issue to get through, not yours."
I suppress a sigh, recalling my mother's words not too long ago when Rose was dealing with the aftermath of the asshole, Royce King.
Even when she's not here and doesn't know about the issue, she's right.
"Fine," I grumble, sitting back with a frown.
"Hey," Edward says, tugging a lock of my hair. "It's great you're so protective. Would you be that protective of me? I mean, I already know the answer because of your willingness to attack someone for me, but I'd like to hear it."
His tone is teasing, but I know his question is serious. I want to tell him that yes, I would be that protective if I thought he was going to get hurt. I care deeply about him, and if I could, I do whatever I was able to do to make sure he didn't get hurt.
Since that's always inevitable, I would also make sure I was there to pick up the pieces.
Internally, I roll my eyes at my dramatics, wondering if I need Carlisle to perform a scan of my head. There must be something lose up there.
Even though I want to relay this to Edward, I know it'll sound stupid, so I do what I do best.
"Don't be stupid."
He smiles as if I had told him the best news in the world. Leaning forward, he kisses me, soft and slowly, before pulling back.
"I would do the same for you."
"If I need it, I should hope you would."
A huffing laugh escapes him, and he shakes his head, his eyes rolling upward. "You're not invincible, Bella."
"I'm tougher than you think."
"True," he muses, his fingers playing with the ends of my hair. "But even the greatest warriors cry and sometimes need protecting."
Something about his words resonates with me, but I don't know why. I'm not on the same playing field as a warrior, let alone a great one. Still, my eyes burn with the threat of oncoming tearing, and I quickly blink them away.
I must be PMS'ing. That's the only explanation I have.
"You're a walking inspirational quote," I joke.
"I am when my girlfriend says she's protective of me."
"Ugh. I knew that was going to come back and bite me in the ass."
Astonished, he shakes his head, looking like the perfect combination of baffled and amused. "You just said it a few seconds ago!"
"And I knew you'd hold it against me," I argue, trying like hell to keep my lips from twitching.
After a moment, he heavily sighs, holding his hands up in surrender. "You're a pain."
"Ditto."
He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. Instead, there's a knowing gleam there, as if he knows something I don't.
Instead of continuing down this path, I stuff a forkful of pasta into my mouth, grinning when his face screws up in disgust.
"There you are," I tease after I swallow it down. "There's the sullen, angsty brooder I know."
Around us, our siblings laugh, obviously enjoying the show. Edward rolls his eyes, and I lean against his side, glancing at him with an eyebrow raised. He rolls his eyes once more, but one side of his mouth lifts into a crooked smirk, for my eyes only.
I grin back, flipping off the chorus of "awes" that resonates from our audience.
"It's a damn shame what we're doing is more interesting than your own dates," I tell them.
"This is a group date," Rose says, reinforcing her point with a meaningless jab at the table with her index finger. "We're supposed to be interacting with each other … even if some people ruined it by doing their own thing."
A hard look is given to Edward, but I know Rose; she's not upset in the slightest, and I plan to call her out on it.
"And are you really upset?"
She huffs. "No." This time, her look of irritation changes into one of acceptance and a little bit of pride. She nods once, and Edward nods in return, meeting my gaze once more.
"Aw! You guys are bonding!" I release a fake squeal before clapping my hands, making everyone erupt into laughter once more.
"Are we done?" Jasper asks, looking between his twin and me.
We nod in unison, placing our wadded-up napkins on the table and signaling for the check. When the Cullens try to pay for it, we protest.
"You don't even eat," I hiss, not wanting anyone to overhear. "We," I continue, gesturing between Rose, Jasper, and myself. "Will split this between us. You can help pay for the movie tickets."
Rose and Jasper murmur agreements, fishing their money from their pockets and placing it in the billfold.
Jasper wriggles his fingers at me, a sign that he wants me to hand over my share of the bill.
"I seem to have forgotten my wallet," I tell him, feigning innocence and embarrassment. "My bad. I guess you'll have to cover for me."
His eyes narrow, and he shakes his head once. "You're a damned liar. I saw you check to make sure you had it before we left."
Still continuing with my act, I widen my eyes and try to appear distraught. "I know, that's what's weird! I made sure I had it, but it seems to have disappeared."
"Disappeared, my ass," he grumbles. "Fork it over, or I'll be forced to take it from you."
I snort a laugh. "One, you could never. I'll beat you up with my eyes closed. And two, I have a bodyguard." I jerk my thumb toward Edward, who gazes at me reluctantly with a pensive expression on his face.
"All right. I guess I have no choice."
"Good answer."
Emmett thumps his hands on the table, gesturing wildly in Edward's direction. "What? Why? Why do you take her side, but not mine?"
He rolls his eyes while Alice laughs. "Not true. He takes mine."
"Yeah, because you two have that weird supernatural connection. It sucks." Emmett falls back; his lips pulled down in a pout as he sulks. "Why not me, huh?"
Rose's hand rubs at his shoulder, trying to put on a sympathetic face, but she fails miserably.
"I'm sure you can think of a few reasons," Edward tells him pointedly, raising an eyebrow.
Glaring, I toss a piece of dressing-covered lettuce at him, smirking when he jumps back as if it's a poisonous spider.
"Child."
"Jackass," I say with a sneer.
Without warning, he leans forward, planting his lips on mine. I pull away, rolling my eyes, but I'm unable to stop the smile threatening me. Rose raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment, looking away with her own secret grin.
"Yeah, true," Emmett finally says, conceding. "But still, dude, not fair." He points a finger at him, his sulking resuming with intensity.
After a minute of this, Edward sighs heavily. "I'll be on your side next time, Emmett."
The big guy cheers, throwing his hands up in the air as if he had scored a touchdown. "Yes! I want two times where you side with me."
"One," Edward counters.
"Two."
"One."
"Three."
Edward sputters. "Wha—How did you go from two to three?"
"Easy," Emmett says with a nonchalant shrug. "You go one, two, three. I thought this was universal knowledge as to how counting works."
"Asshole. One."
Emmett shakes his head, firm. "Two. You owe me."
He gives his brother a knowing look, and Edward's shoulders straighten as he goes completely still. Alice shifts in her chair, her worried eyes glancing between her two brothers, while she shoots a glare at Emmett.
Reaching over, I grab Edward's hand unthinkingly, squeezing him tightly with all of my might. It's not as strong as a vampire, but at least he knows I'm here.
And the responding squeeze he gives me alerts me to this fact.
It seems that Emmett is unperturbed by his sibling's hostile looks, meeting Edward's gaze unblinkingly.
The tension grows so thick that Jasper, Rose, and I shift, looking for an escape from this uncomfortableness. Our movement brings more attention to the fact that there are three vampires at the table, locked in a stare-down as they sit completely still.
Edward's nostril's flare, and I hear his teeth click together as his jaw flexes when he grinds his teeth. I'm not sure why Edward is having such a strong reaction to his brother's words, and if Alice is upset with Edward, then this must be serious.
Edward leans forward, his body coiled and poised to strike like a snake. I feel myself lean with him, though I'm not sure how much good it'll do against two quarreling vampires.
On my other side, I feel Jasper's hand curl around my forearm, ready to pull me back. I shake him off, keeping my attention on Edward.
"Fine," Edward grits out through clenched teeth. "I'll be on your side. Once."
Without another word, Edward releases my hand, stalking outside. I follow him with my eyes until he's no longer in sight and whip around toward Emmett, who is looking repentant now that Rose and Alice are both glaring at him.
"What do you have over him? And more importantly, why would you use something against him that clearly is upsetting?"
My brain immediately goes to Edward's human drinking days, but I waver on that idea.
Edward has shown no remorse over the fact that he's killed humans. In fact, he seemed rather indifferent about it, as if he had been stating a well-known fact. The only reason he separated from his family was because of his annoyance about their lectures and disapproval of his actions.
So, what could it be to evoke such a reaction in him?
Has he slipped while he's been here, and that's what Emmett is blackmailing him about?
I try to think back, wondering if I had ever seen his eyes the same color as Laurent's, but I can't recall. They've always been some varied shade of gold or onyx, but never red.
Emmett sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face. "I have photos of him in hippy clothes," he finally admits.
It takes a moment for the words to register, but once they do, I bust out into laughter, not expecting this admission.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, he's serious," Alice admits, her tone slightly guilty. "It was during the sixties when he tried staying with us for a while, in between his … troubled period."
I nod because I know what she's referring to, but I also know this time he spent with his family during this era wasn't long.
"He was … struggling with some things," Alice hedges, being mindful that not everyone at the table knows Edward's history, and I'm thankful for that. If he wants them to know, it'll be his choice to tell them, not me. "And I wanted to go to a concert, so I convinced him to go with me. I thought it would take his mind off things. Of course, his clothes were all wrong, so I bought him some," she pauses, her face twisting with remorse and a slight dash of humor. "I thought they looked nice, but he didn't. And that night didn't end very well, as I recall, Emmett," she hisses. "I told you to burn those pictures!"
If vampires could go ashen in the face, Emmett certainly accomplished it tonight. "Oh, shit. I forgot."
"Yeah, you forgot. Idiot!"
"What, what are we missing?" Rose asks, looking between all of us.
Jasper nods in agreement, his eyebrows furrowed together in concern and dread as if he wants to know the full story, but at the same time, he's dreading it.
Shaking my head, I rise from the chair, jerking a thumb behind me before placing some money down on the table. "I'm going to find Edward. Meet you outside."
"I knew you had money with you!" Jasper calls after me.
Flipping him off behind my back, I head outside, looking around for the angsty vampire I'm rather fond of. He's nowhere in sight, but that weird car is still parked down the street, the headlights on and the engine idle.
As soon as I look over, the headlights cut off, shrouding the area in darkness. My eyes narrow, and I step toward the car, walking briskly toward it.
Whoever it is, they take off, revving their engine and racing down the street, their tires screeching as they turn the corner.
"Son of a bitch," I hiss, wishing I had been able to get a good look at the person driving.
"Bella?" Edward asks from the opposite direction. He looks as if he wants to use vampire speed to come over, but there are too many people around. "Something wrong?"
I gesture toward the parking spot before jerking a thumb toward the corner where the car went. "There was a car—"
"Edward!" Emmett calls, his voice booming through the night.
The people who had been near him startle, jumping in the air and placing a hand over their hearts as their eyes bulge. In response, Emmett grins, his dimples on display.
"Sorry 'bout that."
Nervously, they laugh and edge away from him before speed-walking away like frightened animals.
Alice shoots him a disgruntled look, shaking her head as if she's disappointed. "Why can you never behave?"
"Wha—what? All I did was call for Edward."
"And scare everyone around you!"
Rose steps in between the quarreling siblings. "Inside voices, Em. Even when we're outside."
He sighs. "Fine. Edward, come 'ere!"
Edward shakes his head, scowling at his brother as he scoffs. "Not a chance." Throwing an arm around my shoulder, he leads me down the street toward the movie theater.
"Come on!" he begs, jogging up behind us. "Talk to me for a second."
"No."
"Please? I swear I had forgotten about everything that happened that night."
I raise a questioning eyebrow at Edward. "What did happen that night? Did you … mess up?"
Edward shakes his head, annoyance flashing across his features. "Alice told you about the hippy clothes?"
Unable to help myself, I laugh, picturing him wearing a flowing white shirt with a tan vest, bell-bottoms, and a ring of flowers around his head. It's completely stereotypical and probably exaggerated to a small extent, but not by much from the pictures I've seen.
He rolls his eyes, muttering a curse while pointing at me. "You'll never see those pictures, so don't get ideas."
I cackle. "We'll see."
"I'm sure."
"So? What happened? Why didn't the night end well?"
"I couldn't stand to be at the concert for long; there were too many people, and their thoughts were loud. I had promised to … refrain from my usual diet because Esme and Carlisle had missed me, so it was especially difficult to be around so many people. I was just easing my way back into their lifestyle, but it was still hard, especially when I heard a few thoughts."
"Like when we met?"
Nodding once, he continues. "Yes. The situation with you was a little more difficult, though. You bring that out in me … among other things."
I roll my eyes, waving for him to continue.
He snickers but goes on. "Alice was following me back, apologizing profusely—both in her head and out loud. With that and the recent onslaught of noise and chaos from the concert, I was a mess. I was heading back home, and … stumbled … across Carlisle and Esme."
His face twists in disgust, and immediately I know what he stumbled upon. I can't help but laugh—a little bit in relief and the other in pure delight because at least I'm not alone when it comes to embarrassing parents.
"Yeah, yeah," he complains, pulling me tighter to his side as I stumble alongside him, unable to remain upright.
"I'm sorry. It's just—I thought you had slipped or something."
He pauses, the hard look on his face stopping my laughter cold. At this moment, he looks like he did when we first met—inhuman and monstrous.
"I know this callous, but I've never regretted what I've done, Bella." He lowers his voice, mindful of the people around us. "The people I killed were monsters. I was careful when I picked my victims, except for a few times. But they needed to be taken care of, to protect their victims."
Swallowing harshly, I nod. One side of me is completely frightened by his lack of remorse, and it only serves to remind me of what he is. The other side is cheering because at least these people were taken care of, and their victims are now safe.
"I get it. Kind of."
He stares at me for a long moment before nodding. "Anyway, Alice and Emmett weren't far behind, and they were so busy apologizing and making sure I was okay that they, too, walked upon what I discovered. It was very traumatizing."
I huff a laugh. "Yeah, I've been there."
"Edward, talk to me!" Emmett begs, coming up and nudging his shoulder. "Look, I'm sorry about bringing that up … and everything else."
"You better talk to him," I say. "He'll just keep bugging you until you give in."
"See?" Emmett inputs, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Your girl is smart. You should listen to her before I bring up—"
Edward glares, shooting me a quick look before shoving his brother to the side of the street for more privacy. Immediately, they begin bickering, and Alice sighs, rubbing her forehead as if she has a headache.
"What else could there be?" I ask, frustrated.
"Emmett likes to tease Edward with a mutual family friend of ours, Tanya. They tried dating many, many years ago, but it didn't work out. Their breakup was completely mutual, though," Alice rushes to explain, looking worried at me.
"Is he still dating her?"
"No."
"Does he still harbor feelings for her?"
Alice laughs as if the idea is completely amusing and not even believable. "No way; they weren't right for each other at all. They dated for a day, literally. They found they had no chemistry and couldn't stand one another romantically. They reacted like they were actually related."
"See? We're not the only ones that couldn't make it work, Jasper," I tease with a nudge.
Loudly, Alice laughs, no doubt having heard the rumors that Lauren had started about us.
He rolls his eyes, shuddering in disgust. "You're unhinged and sickening."
"Thanks."
"I better go break that up," Alice says with a sigh.
Glancing over, I see that things don't appear to be getting better. In fact, with each word Emmett utters, Edward looks angrier. I imagine if he were capable, he'd be puce, and veins would be throbbing in his forehead.
Instead, the muscles in his jaw flex as he grinds his teeth.
"He's not really pissed, is he?"
Alice shakes her head quickly, a secret smile on her lips as she places her finger against them, shooting me a wink. Gracefully, she strides over, standing beside them with her hands on her hips.
Rose snickers at the three of them, shaking her head. "When he finds out, he's going to retaliate," she murmurs.
However, it's not low enough as Emmett looks over with his eyebrows furrowed before looking back at his brother.
Understanding dawns after a moment, and he laughs. "You asshole!"
We all laugh as Emmett dives for his brother, trying to pull him in a chokehold. Edward darts out of the way with a laugh. Even without using his vampire speed, Edward still manages to dodge Emmett's attempts at grabbing him with a cocky smirk.
Frustrated, Emmett grunts in frustration, the sound coming off as a half growl and groan.
I laugh, shaking my head at the sight, my attention shifting as my cell phone goes off, as well as Rose's. Pulling it out, I see Dad's name flashing on the screen.
"Hey, Dad—"
"Bella, listen to me," he interrupts, his voice urgent and panicked. "Royce escaped from prison, and I believe he's heading your way. Get to the Cullen's house—"
Then, everything happens all at once.
Those scenes in the movies where time slows down to crawl, and the main character can see every little thing is complete and utter bullshit.
One moment, I'm upright on two feet, confused as hell at what's happening.
A rush of wind blows past me as something hard and heavy hits my back, making me stumble forward into the direct path of the car.
All I can hear is the screeching of tires, the loud groaning of metal as it collides with something, subsequently followed by a loud crunch and a trio of inhuman roars that are drowned out by the rushing in my ears.
Lazily, I turn my head, searching for the object that made such a sound.
The car that had been half a block away only moments ago races by, but not before I see the driver stick his head out of the window.
Royce's familiar smirking face comes into view as smoke billows from his nose like a dragon.
I shake my head because there's no way that scumbag can be a dragon … but what can be causing the smoke?
I try to hoist myself up to get a better look, but a sharp stabbing pain erupts from my left side, throbbing and pulsing in sync with my heart.
Looking down in the fading light of the streetlamp, I see a thick, dark liquid seeping from my side, pouring from the parted, jagged flesh. Placing my hand on it, I try in vain to stop the flow. My hand is immediately coated in the warm, sticky substance, and I jerk away in surprise.
Holding my hand up, I fall backward onto the concrete, the air being knocked from my lungs as I do so. A tingling erupts over my flesh as my vision grows dark, the familiar lull of sleep grasping at me desperately.
Multiple shouts of my name have me blinking away the darkness, looking for them, but all I can focus on is the warm liquid dripping down my arm, painting my pale flesh in red.
"Blood. Fucking fantastic," I mumble with a laugh.
Frightened and worried amber eyes enter my line of vision, hovering over me with fear painted clear across his features. His hand covers my side, prompting a shiver to erupt through me, which does nothing to help the pain.
I hiss a curse, wanting to push him away, but my arms are lead weights now, glued to the ground.
"Bella? Can you hear me?"
I laugh because his voice is distorted and warbled, and completely unlike the deep and smooth tone I'm used to hearing.
"You sound funny," I tell him, my head lolling to the side, seeing my cousins standing on the sidewalk, their pallor ashen and almost gray looking. Emmett and Alice stand beside them, both of them looking shocked and guilty.
"Bella, stay with me, okay?"
I want to tell him he sounds completely overdramatic. I want to tell him I don't even have the energy to move, let alone go anywhere.
But I don't do anything of the sort.
Instead, I give in to the darkness creeping around me because the pain I feel is too much.
The last thing I see before darkness overtakes me is Edward's face, twisted in agony and terror.
Of course, nothing can go right with this group. *sigh*
The next chapter will be posted soon (ish) and I'm kind of excited to post it. (Fran loved it!)
See you soon and stay safe!