Photograph by Ed Sheeran
"Loving can heal,
loving can mend your soul."
VIII. Theory
The ride to the museum was made through Edward's soft classical music playing in the background and simple chitchat. It was, quite frankly, the first time Abby felt so relaxed that she didn't even feel the three hours go by. She had offered if Edward wanted to switch with her halfway through the ride but when asked, he craned his neck to display his look of utter offense at her. Of course, it made her laugh and in the midst of the laughter, it made her wonder why it felt like they should've been doing this the moment they met.
Edward effortlessly parked in the parking lot and got out before Abby with an umbrella as both of them were unsurprised with the sudden rainfall. He walked over to Abby's door and opened it for her, holding the umbrella over her head as she stepped out in an almost graceful approach. She smiled at him as he held the umbrella for the two of them and he shut the door behind her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders like it was second nature and she instinctively huddled into him to avoid the rainfall as they swiftly walked to the front entrance of the museum.
His entire body was as cold as his hand, she realized. His cold body was covered by the layers he wore; she could still feel it against her own covered body. But did it matter? Did the fact that he was (maybe) cold blooded matter? It should matter. She snuck a peak at him as she felt him tighten his hold on her when a man walked by her just a bit too close.
No, no it couldn't have mattered. Because he was an angel, she thought, an actual angel sent just for her. She wondered when he'd tell her the truth - whatever the truth was. A sinking feeling in her stomach told her to be prepared for it.
Don't take him away from me, she begged to whoever would listen, I just got him.
"Thank you," she suddenly spoke, over the sound of the thunderous rainfall.
She saw his eyebrows furrow as he glanced down at her, "For what, might I ask?"
Her throat felt constricted and her heart beats were louder than crashing waves. She refused to lie to him ever again because it left a sour taste in her mouth when she did so a few days ago.
Thus, she gulped and told her truth in a few words than the ones she truly wanted to say, "For barging into my life."
He laughed, opening the door to the entrance of the museum and let her walk in first. Edward closed the umbrella and placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her to the coat check. He helped her out of her jacket and he did the same, handing it to the woman behind the counter and accepted the ticket she produced to him.
When he turned around to face Abby, she breathed in a deep breath as it felt like time had slowed. He was wearing a gray button down, dark blue jeans, and - what she was sure were - designer black boots. And, even in a simple (yet expensive outfit), Edward Cullen had managed to enrapture most of her thoughts and here she was, alone with him - truly and completely alone with him. And the only feeling that passed through her veins was complete euphoria...even if he was slightly cold blooded.
His head had a slight tilt to it as he offered his arm and asked, with his infamous smirk plastered on his face, "Shall we?"
She wrapped her hand around the crook of his arm and replied, with a large smile of her own, "We shall."
The museum had paintings that were largely from the 19th century and Edward knew it made Abby incredibly content to see how many Romantic era paintings there were. She hadn't let go of his arm throughout the variety of exhibits they had already visited and all he could think of was how whole he felt after living for over a hundred years - all because he had finally found her.
"'The Belle Poule bringing Napoleon's ashes to France'," Abby read the plaque next to the rather large painting. Her eyes widened with bright interest as she took in all the details of the rather dark and gloomy painting. She whispered, smiling slightly, "Isabey was a watercolorist. He created all of this darkness by using water colors; it's so...unbelieveable what different techniques can really create."
He looked at her in awe as she spoke about her passion and he wondered, "And is watercoloring your preferred method of creation?"
Smiling, she looked up at him and shook her head, "I love it, but I like oil painting more. Sure the drying time is ridiculous but everyday I can change something I don't like or add to something I do like." She scoffed, before her voice lowering to something softer, "My dad used to always complain about the price of the paints but he bought them anyways knowing how much I loved to paint using oils."
"You know," Edward started, shifting to conversation to something lighter after hearing her tone quiet down, "your parents must've been extremely proud to have such a gifted daughter."
She rolled her eyes, slapping him on his arm slightly with her other hand, "I'm not gifted, Edward."
"Oh, I beg to differ," Edward grinned and of course, she smiled back at him. "I've seen you in art class; you make my poor bushes quiver in shame when their next to your beautiful cherry blossoms. I would've switched seats awhile back if only your concentrated face of a quizzical brow and curled lip weren't just so damn adorable."
"Edward," she laughed, slapping him on the arm again a bit harder this time but realizing it only hurt her hand since his body was rock solid. Abby looked to the floor, shaking her head and feeling the rush of blood surface to her cheeks.
She hadn't been aware that he saw her while she was painting; she was always deeply focused, and she could only assume what an 'adorable' face it really was.
He released her hand that was attached to his arm when he whispered in his velvety voice, "Abigail," he used his crisp hand to tilt her chin up so that she was staring into his guileless topaz eyes. "You must know, you're not like anyone I've ever known. It's too easy to forget who I am when I'm with you."
"And who are you, Edward?" She asked, gently and trying not to probe while simultaneously tried not to blush her cheeks away.
"Someone entirely undeserving of you, love."
Abby had never truly swooned before; she'd read about it in romance novels and she remembered her mother telling her stories about how Abby's father had won her over. But she never experienced it - not until now. Her eyes were engaged with his stunningly sincere butterscotch orbs and she thought she'd faint with the vehement emotion she felt building between the two of them. She watched as he leaned toward her, the fingers that entrapped her chin were now resting upon the back of her neck pressing her to inch forward. Then, Edward placed a tender albeit cold kiss with his smooth lips on her forehead and she exhaled softly, falling apart in his arms.
She didn't voice her disappointment when he wrapped his arms around her that she wished his lips fell upon her own.
"Hm," Abby huffed, "are you trying to get lucky, Edward?" She wondered as he closed the passenger door for her. Edward handed his keys off to the valet and Abby couldn't believe where he had brought her for lunch...lunch. An Italian restaurant with a name that she couldn't pronounce nor would she even try to, for fear of completely butchering it, with a gorgeous overlook view of Lake Union.
"Depends," he laughed, guiding her to the restaurant's entrance with an arm around her waist, "is it working?"
"Sadly," she pouted and he released another chuckle. They, once again, handed off their coats to the man at coat check and Edward was given another ticket before the duo made their way to the hostess.
The pretty blonde with a gorgeous smile looked up and completely disregarded Abby's existence when she locked eyes with Edward. She also disregarded the arm that was already wrapped firmly around Abby's waist before breathlessly asking, "How can I help you, sir?"
Sir? Abby fought the urge to stick out her tongue at the hostess. Edward was not a sir - he was 17 (maybe). She was still dodgy about his real age because if he was an Adonis reincarnated or bit by a radioactive spider or Superman - the age was questionable. Of course, his entire existence was deemed questionable.
"Cullen, table for two," Edward replied, with a small smile of his own as he glanced down at the girl who fully owned his heart.
The hostess finally acknowledged Abby's presence and, in true Abby fashion, she presented a sickly sweet smile at the blonde who only grimaced in return.
Yeah, that's right, Abby thought, he's mine. Whoa, take a step back, Abby retrieved, subtly shaking away the little green goblin in her thoughts. Even the musings in her head were possessive of a man who wasn't hers.
"Of course, window seat with a view, right this way," the hostess said begrudgingly, looking down at her book of reservations and taking out two menus. Abby didn't blame the girl; Edward was an irresistible being in his own right, and any gender would have to double look at him. He lit up any room he was in.
Edward managed to light up the dark room that Abby was in.
The two followed the girl, with Abby leading and Edward not too far behind her to an almost secluded booth in the restaurant that faced tinted windows which showcased the many boats that were docked. The seat was far away from any roaming ears. He gestured Abby to scoot in first - rather recklessly and Edward followed, making sitting in a booth somehow effortless and graceful. The hostess left with the menus placed upright on the table, but not without throwing Edward a prize-winning smile that he didn't even acknowledge.
"You know," Abby started after Edward handed her a menu, "that wasn't entirely fair."
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"That poor girl did not stand a chance against you," she made vague gestures toward his face, "and your dazzling qualities," Abby giggled behind her menu.
Edward grinned devilishly and leaned to her ear to whisper through the strands of her delicious smelling locks, "On the contrary, she did not stand a chance against you."
Damn him, and his ridiculous ability to make her redder than a tomato! She thought, as she wondered whether to fan herself in the well-lit dining area. She chose against it, refused to give him the satisfaction but from his smirk Abby knew he was well aware of what he did to her to body.
She cleared her throat, attempting to rid her cheeks of the awful rouge before asking, "So, are you eating today or did you have a 'big breakfast'?"
Edward thought of the deer he took down before meeting her as a cautionary measure and contemplated her words. He did, technically, have a big breakfast - satisfying? Certainly not. But big it was. He knew, eventually, he'd have to tell her the truth. Lying to her about his being was becoming harder and harder each moment he spent with her.
"I'm on a special diet," he replied. Not a total lie, he conceded.
"If I asked you a question, would you answer honestly?" Abby asked, with a raised eyebrow.
If Edward had a beating heart, he was sure it would've froze due to her line of inquiry. He wished to know what she'd had in mind before she asked but alas, she had the only mind in the world he wanted to read and he couldn't. Instead, he stiffly nodded.
She continued, almost cautiously but held his eye contact, "Do you ever...eat?" Abby caught a glimpse of his perfect topaz eyes alter into a slightly darker color of golden. Was it because he was about to lie? Or perhaps...tell the truth?
Edward was saved from answering when the waiter interrupted them, asking them what they'd like to start with. Abby knew to forego any appetizers so she quickly ordered the mushroom risotto with a lemon water. And he, of course, said nothing for him even though the waiter double checked.
As soon as the waiter was out of earshot, she mumbled out a, "I guess that answers my question."
"Abby," he said, practically startling her and made her look back at him, "there are some things that I can't tell you-"
She nodded, cutting him off and taking him by surprise by the next words she spoke, "I understand." Her tone became considerably lower, "It's your secret to tell. I'm guessing it's harmful to either of us if I knew?"
"Your protection is the only thing that matters to me," Edward whispered, leaning further to her to the point where their noses almost touched.
"I believe you," she licked her suddenly dry lips and watched as his eyes watched the movement of her tongue on her lips. Oh dear, God, she thought she was going to combust. "Will I ever know?"
He pulled away, much to her dismay, and nodded, "One day." Edward wasn't entirely thrilled with the idea of Abby knowing his true existence. He was so sure that she'd leave him when he had just got her. How on earth would a fragile human react to a vampire being her soulmate?
"Can I tell you some theories?" She casually laid against the cushion of the comfy booth. "You don't have to agree or disagree, but they're just musings if you will."
And his smile was back on his face, unconsciously comfortable in her presence to simply be himself, "I'm listening."
"So, I started off with the idea of reincarnation because you know, you're godly -"
Edward snorted.
Ignoring him she continued as if he didn't interrupt, "-and then I started thinking that maybe the superhero route was more likely. So, I'm going to say: dropped, with your family of course, from Themyscira - like Wonder Woman or you're from planet Krypton."
He stayed silent for a moment, wondering how an innocent beautiful human like herself believed him to be a good guy in the story and not a villain? Edward gave her, a what she can only describe as, a tormented gaze and she wondered what tortured thoughts he had in that handsome head of his.
"What if I'm not the superhero?" He swallowed back his nonexistent saliva harshly. "What if...I'm the bad guy?"
He wasn't, she fervently believed. If Edward Cullen was a villain, then she was Bigfoot cuddling the Abominable Snowman. There was no way the two could ever go together. Vampire, Leah's voice crept into her mind uninvitedly and she subtly shook away the chills that shivered up her spine.
No, he couldn't be.
"There's not a single chance in hell I'd believe you're a bad guy, Edward."
Even if he was, Abby thought, even if he was a...vampire, then...she was falling in love with a vampire and she was more than terrified.
A/N: Oh, Abby you poor, poor girl falling in love with the hottest being alive. Yes, the absolute horror of it all!
I hope you guys enjoyed their date. I know I did lol, please continue to review it really warms my heart. Also I'm glad that you guys think Charlie's a DILF. Like...the man is so fine...and for what? He was wasted in the Twilight series : (
How about this? 5 reviews and I'll have the next one up even faster? What do you think!?
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