Chapter 19 - The Truth

Bella

A finger appears out of nowhere and lands on Todd's left shoulder. It taps twice. Both he and I freeze mid-struggle.

"May I cut in?"

Every molecule of air is expelled from my lungs. I never thought I would hear that voice again. My face tilts up and meets the same steady gaze which has been haunting my dreams these last two weeks.

Edward.

He's back.

Now that we are no longer alone, Todd assumes a more innocent stance and pretends he hasn't been trying to squeeze my ass like a stress ball. He even has the gall to snort a laugh. "No way," he says without bothering to look at who is standing behind him. "You wanna dance? Get your own date."

Edward's eyes flick to the back of Todd's head and briefly narrows into razor-thin slits. Then, they return to my face. "May I?" He makes it clear this time that he's speaking to me and me alone.

There's a communication problem lying somewhere between my brain and my tongue, leaving me unable to speak. All I can do is move my head up and down in response to his question.

The next thing I know, Edward uses one of his long arms to reach behind my back. Todd's eyeballs bulge. A startled cry slices through the night air. The iron grip that had been surrounding my waist suddenly unclasps.

"Fuck! My hand!" Todd gapes at Edward while cradling his wrist like a baby.

"Better go put some ice on that." Edward says this in the most disinterested tone he can possibly muster. Then he bumps shoulders with Todd, sending the boy stumbling to the side. Todd just barely keeps himself from face-planting into the dirt. After that, all thoughts of him are banished from my mind. I'm much too busy staring at Edward like he's a mirage in the Saharan desert. If I even stop to blink, he might vanish into thin air.

"Dance with me?" he says.

In a half daze, I move forward and wrap both arms around his neck. His hands circle my waist. Unlike Todd's clinging grip, Edward's hold on me is loose. I could step away from him right now if that's what I wanted. Obviously, that's not going to happen anytime soon if I have anything to say about it.

"Are you OK?" Edward asks as we sway back and forth to the music.

I nod my head.

"Did he hurt you?"

"No," I answer in a tiny, hoarse voice.

The hard set of his mouth says he doesn't quite believe me. He looks up and down until that rigid posture of his relaxes. Then his interest switches to my dress and he studies it instead. His eyes travel languidly up my body until they land back on my face. Both his voice and expression softens. "You look divine."

I suddenly feel shy and unworthy of such a compliment. I end up saying the very first thing that pops into my head. "Thanks. You look great too."

He cocks an eyebrow. "I'm in plain jeans and a t-shirt, Bella."

"Well...don't forget about your jean jacket," I murmur while playing with the denim collar.

That jacket...sigh.

"I still believe you have me beat. That dress was made for you," he croons. His eyes start roaming over me again. They're open flames caressing my bare skin. It's intimate and overwhelming my senses. My heart flutters rapidly in my chest, like a miniature version of Ricky Ricardo's bongo drums.

Is it possible that I'm having a heart attack at seventeen just because Edward is checking me out?

The short answer: Yes. Yes I am.

While I'm trying not to die or similarly embarrass myself, his wandering eyes dart back to my face at lightning speed. There's a touch of concern written in them, which clears surprisingly fast. He must find something funny because now his lips have curled into a crooked smile.

I'm grateful that Edward is holding me up. That smile of his is lethal.

We rock gently to the music leaking from the party. I swallow once, hoping that my ability to speak is still functional. "So...you came back."

He opens his mouth but snaps it shut almost immediately. A series of expressions crosses his face, none of which I can pinpoint what they might mean. The one he eventually settles on makes him appear exhausted, and much older than a junior in high school.

"I never left," he replies.

I blink hard and give my head a little shake. There's no way I heard that right. "What?"

"I said I never left."

My eyebrows attach themselves to my forehead. "Never left what? Are you saying you never left Forks?"

He nods his head.

"You didn't move back to Boston?"

"That's correct," he says gently.

My face crumbles, the sting of his confession almost too much to take. I've been missing him and fighting the unrelenting loneliness ever since he walked out of my life. And here he's telling me he's been here this whole time!

"But, why?" I cry out. "You told me you were moving. Your parents pulled you out of school. I thought I'd never see you again!" I look deep into his eyes, searching for answers that will either heal my soul or hurt me further. "Why didn't you let me know you were still in town?"

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't tell you." He frowns to himself. "There have been a lot of things I couldn't tell you, Bella."

"Like what?"

The rich, butterscotch yellow of his irises pin me in place, his expression giving nothing away. Then he glances at the building behind me. His jaw muscle clenches before his gaze returns. "Would you mind speaking to me in a more private area?"

I nod without hesitation. I don't care where we go as long as he tells me what's going on.

He leads us into a spinning dance. I don't know what it's called, though it seems it would be more appropriate for a royal ball held in King Louis XVI's court than some backwoods teenage party in Washington state. By some miracle, I keep up with Edward even though I have no idea what I'm doing. Our spinning dance ends near the forest, in a place where the lights of the old abandoned sawmill don't quite reach our feet. We still hear the music fine, though. There's a rock song playing now, the guitars wailing along to the singer's screeching voice. We ignore the song's hectic beat and instead continue our tranquil slow dance.

"I didn't want to leave," he begins quietly. "But, I had to. It was in your best interests for me to do so. And even though I shouldn't be standing here with you now, I couldn't help myself. I find it almost impossible to stay away."

"I'm fine with that. I don't want you to disappear on me again."

He sighs out my name, like a prayer and a plea all in one. "That's exactly why I had to go. Don't you understand? I'm no good for you...you just don't realize it yet."

"What makes you say that?"

"Haven't you ever noticed most people become nervous once I walk into a room? That's no coincidence."

I squint in confusion. Then, once what he said penetrates my thick skull, I roll my eyes. "Oh my god. You're referring to those dumb rumors being spread around town, aren't you? Well, what they're saying is pure bullshit and I'll never buy it. I know you. You're not insane, and you don't go around lighting houses on fire. You are a much better person than anyone gives you credit for."

Hard, tortured eyes stare into mine. "You're wrong. I'm not what you think I am."

I lift my chin up in challenge. "OK. Tell me what you are, then."

"I can't."

"Can't, or you don't want to?"

"It's a little of both, I suppose. Though, it's mostly that I can't."

I glare at him with slanted eyebrows. "Why can't you tell me?"

"I can't answer that question either without bending the truth, and frankly I'm tired of lying to you."

"Then don't lie."

"That's easier said than done," he grumbles.

"I don't like riddles, Edward. Just give me some answers."

"I can't. All of your questions so far have been impossible for me to answer."

I huff in exasperation. "Then how about you at least give me as much of the truth as you can?"

A handful of time passes as he mulls over my idea. He eyes me warily. "It won't make much sense."

I arch my brow back at him. "Try me."

We're locked in a heated staring match. Whatever he sees on my face must convince him to give my suggestion a go.

"I'm no good for you," he repeats. His hand reaches up to twirl a strand of my hair around his finger. "I should have stayed out of your personal life, but you were too fascinating. When you stare off into space, I wonder what you're thinking about. When you smile, I want to know what put it there and how I can make it happen again. You make me feel things I've never felt before...things that I can never have. So, I convinced myself you would be better off without me." He pauses and grimaces, as though what he wants to say next has left a bad taste in his mouth. "Bella, everything about you draws me in. The way you think, the way you look, the way you smell. And that's a very, very bad thing. Because... because you are my singer."

"What do you mean I'm your singer?" I frown at his cryptic statement. "Are you talking about that time when you played the piano and I sang along?"

He sighs like a broken, dying man. I wait for him to answer my question. Instead, he silently encourages me to lay my head on his chest. I'm about to chew him out for trying to shut me up, but I discover being this close to him feels too good to move my head away. My eyes close during our slow dance. At this moment, I don't care if he has secrets he thinks he can't share. I have him back...at least for now. I'll bug him for answers after this song ends. The only weird thing about this situation is that I didn't know Edward was into weightlifting. His chest is built like a brick wall. Are Schwarzenegger's muscles as hard as this?

A minute or so passes. He continues playing with my hair as we dance. His touch soothes me. I've never felt more at peace in my whole life. He smells like the meadow after a rain shower, one of my favorite scents. I half open my eyes and notice where my head has landed. It's on his left side. With a sly smile, I place my ear against his chest. I'm eager to see if his heart is as fluttery as mine right now.

I listen closely. And I don't hear anything.

My first thought is that the music must be affecting my sense of hearing. I press deeper into his charcoal black t-shirt until the side of my face goes pancake flat.

Nothing. There's not a sound. There's no movement against my cheek either. I can feel my own heart galloping through the fabric of my dress, like a horse during the Kentucky Derby. So, why can't I feel his?

Still playing with my hair, the tip of Edward's finger brushes across the nape of my neck. It sends an icy, electric chill through my body. With a gasp, I jerk my face away from his chest. My cautious eyes zero in on the golden ones gazing down at me.

"What's the matter?" he asks.

I don't say a word. A thousand questions are swirling inside my head. I examine Edward with renewed interest. I once again compare him to a statue you might find in a city park, but with skin the same color as the pale silver moon hanging above us.

A voice from the recent past begins whispering in my ear, reminding me that I've heard of these traits before.

"The Cold Ones are like walking blocks of stone," Ms. Linda said only last week. "Their skin is as cold as ice and the color of winter's snow."

I pull an arm from around Edward's neck. He silently watches my finger inch towards his face. Swallowing back the anxiety building up inside of me, I press my finger into his cheek. I inhale sharply. I'm experiencing a serious case of déjà vu. The last time I saw my mom, she was laying in a white coffin at the funeral home. She looked beautiful, like she was only taking a nap. Seven year old me reached out to wake her up. Her face was cold to the touch and abnormally stiff.

Just like Edward is right now.

"Their chests are silent and empty," Ms. Linda's voice recites within my mind.

My wide-eyed gaze moves downward. I cup my hand over Edward's chest. While he continues to blink, breathe, and do everything else you would expect from a living thing, his heart remains silent and deathly still.

"...With faces more beautiful than a sunset."

I examine his face again. There's no denying that Edward is handsome. Every part of him looks to have been sculpted by a master artist's hand. But teenage boys aren't flawless. They have zits. They have freckles, lopsided noses, and usually one scraggly hair sprouting from their chin. They're supposed to look gangly and awkward until puberty finally gives them a break. What a teenage boy isn't supposed to have is a perfect face.

But Edward sure does.

Goosebumps envelop my body, from head to toe. This can't be happening. Ms. Linda said they were a legend. They can't be real.

So, how is it possible that the guy I'm slow dancing with matches a creature who supposedly only exists in some old Native American myth?

"Cold One," I exhale.

Edward goes rock still, eyes enlarging to almost golf ball size before quickly reverting back to normal.

His reaction reveals something important.

He knows exactly what Cold One means.

"Where did you hear that from?" His voice is suddenly as controlled as the expression on his face.

I gulp down the lump lodged in my throat. "From a story I heard once."

"Quileute?"

I give a shaky nod of my head. "S-so, it's true then? You're a..." The next word comes out as a whisper. "Vampire?"

The spark in his eyes dies out. His head hangs low, avoiding my direct stare. "I'm sorry," he murmurs.

The agony in his voice causes my heart to ache, which honestly confuses me. Edward basically just confirmed that he's a vampire, and here I am worried that I've hurt his feelings. I don't know what to think about that.

While I'm absorbing what I have learned, his arms release their hold from around my waist. It occurs to me that he's allowing me to go. Common sense says that I should leave the vampire alone and join my peers inside of that sawmill.

But something else - something much deeper and more vocal - says I shouldn't move a muscle.

Egged on by this same inner voice, I move in closer. There's no fear holding me back. I'm steeped in curiosity. His eyelids fly open as soon as my fingertip comes into contact with his furrowed forehead. Pure surprise spreads across his face. I trace his brow ridge, his nose, and smooth cheekbones. It doesn't feel like I'm touching some ferocious creature. There's a humming energy flowing between my finger and his skin. It's kind of exhilarating...

"Why are you still here?"

My finger goes immobile. His question feels like a sucker punch to the gut. I drop my hand from its exploration of his face. "I...don't know. Do you want me to leave?"

"No."

A heavy weight lifts off my lungs, allowing me to breathe easier. "Then why the question?"

"Because you probably should leave. You know what I am." He pauses, eyes piercing through the darkness. "Yet here you are."

"Yes. Here I am," I trail off.

"Why?"

"I guess it's because... I can't stay away from you either."

His gaze sharpens like a knife. "I'm dangerous, Bella."

"I don't believe that."

"Is that so? And what are your instincts telling you?"

"That you won't hurt me."

He shakes his head. "Sorry to break it to you, but your instincts are too optimistic."

"So...you do want to hurt me?"

"No!" He pinches the bridge of his nose and heaves a sigh before continuing on. "I don't want to hurt you. But just because I don't want to hurt you doesn't mean you're completely safe around me. You have to understand that."

During the ensuing break in conversation, an important question pops into my head. "Do you like...I mean, do you really drink...?"

"Blood, Bella," he growls through his teeth. "Just say it."

"OK," I whisper. "Do you? Drink blood?"

"Yes."

My heart races, its beat pounding my eardrums. I should have expected that answer, but it still came as a shock to my system. My next question comes out so low in volume, I'm not sure if he'll even hear it. "Do you want to drink from me?"

His frown deepens. I guess he did hear me. "I don't know how to answer that," he says.

"But it's a simple question."

"It is. And sometimes the simplest questions are the most difficult to answer."

"Then start at the truth and let's see where it takes you."

He chews on the inside of his cheek while looking me over. It feels as though he's sizing me up. I don't want to look weak or intimidated, so I stare him dead in the eyes. "The truth, huh?"

I nod encouragingly.

"All right, Bella," he says, not sounding at all pleased. "I suppose there's no point in holding back since you've already guessed my most important secret. So, here it goes: I've walked this earth for a very long time, and never have I come across anyone who smells as good as you. On my first day at Forks High, I walked into Chemistry class and was hit by your scent. It drove me mad. I was lost to the craving. I became a beast - a monster - with no moral compass. In that moment, there was nothing more that I wanted than to sink my teeth into your neck and drink every last drop of your blood. Do you remember when I ran out of that classroom?"

Almost breathless, I nod once again.

His eyes squint hard as he recounts what happened that day. "Well, I ran out of the room because of you. If I hadn't, I almost certainly would have killed you right then and there. You were this close to dying in front of almost twenty people. Now do you see why I said I was no good for you? Do I sound like someone you should associate with? Hmm? A man who had to fight himself to keep you alive?"

I swallow to redistribute the saliva inside my bone dry mouth. "Are you trying to scare me?"

"No. I'm giving you what you asked for. The truth. I can't help that it's ugly, Bella."

I nibble at my lip as I take what he said into consideration. He's right, I guess. I clear my throat and put my line of questioning back on course.

"OK. So...why did you hold yourself back?"

"Are you asking why I didn't kill you?" His tone is incredulous. I move my head up and down in confirmation. He drags a hand through his hair while grumbling under his breath. I'm pretty sure he's using some creative curse words. "My god. What a question to ask."

"Just answer me," I plead.

He looks to the side, avoiding my eye. "I held myself back because... I didn't want to live out the rest of my existence knowing I took the life of a young, innocent girl."

"What made me different from any of the others?"

"I'm not following you. Explain."

"You know. The others. The people you normally can't resist drinking from?"

For a moment, he continues to look confused. Then he shakes his head. "Bella, tonight marks the first time in over fifty years that I've harmed a human being in any way, and he's currently icing down his swollen hand. Todd will survive... unfortunately."

My eyes stretch open. "You've gone fifty years without drinking anything?"

"Now, I didn't say that. I said that I haven't harmed a human in that amount of time, not that I've starved myself."

"Then where do you get the blood you need? Who do you feed from?"

"I don't know. The animals I normally come into contact with were never given proper names. I avoid feeding from pets or farm animals. It brings a lot of unwanted attention when they come up missing."

"Animals?"

"Yes. Deer, elk, and mountain goat are my normal fair. If I'm lucky, I might snag a predator every now and then. They generally taste better."

"You don't...drink from people?" My once heavy heart is now light as a feather. It's incredible how one piece of information can change everything.

"Not anymore."

"Why not?"

"Just because I'm a monster doesn't mean I want to live like one," he frowns.

I step forward. I raise my hand and cup his cheek. "You're no monster."

He grabs my wrist and holds it in place. His expression is almost as hard as his skin. "Yes I am. Don't let my face fool you. It's there to distract you, to keep you from realizing the enormity of the threat standing before you. There are any number of ways I could hurt or kill you. Not to mention, just associating with the likes of me could jeopardize your entire life."

"But you said you don't want to hurt me. And you've even kept yourself from doing that."

"Just barely!"

"No. That's not true. How many times have we been alone together, Edward? We hung out at the meadow and listened to your boombox lots of times. I've been to your house and watched MTV with you. Hell, look at us now! I've been in your arms for the past ten minutes. If you were going to hurt me, you've had plenty of chances to do it. I'm living proof that you're stronger mentally than you realize."

I can tell by the expression on his face he isn't completely on board with my theory. "Bella... I am a vampire."

"Yeah. I kind of figured that out already," I say acerbically.

"Doesn't that make you uncomfortable?"

"Not really. I mean...just because you're a little different doesn't bother me."

"A little different? I'm not human!"

"I don't care."

His eyes blaze like lit sticks of dynamite. "You very much should care. A normal person would understand how dangerous I am. For heaven's sake, why don't you?"

"Because I'm safe with you. I can feel it. I'm safer here with you than I was earlier with my so-called 'date'. You won't ever hurt me... at least not physically. And, I like you too much to ever walk away."

He snorts without humor. "I can guarantee there are things about me you wouldn't like if you only knew."

"Oh? Give me an example then."

It takes him a few beats of time to come up with something. "Remember when you asked me why I never ate in the school cafeteria? Well, it's because my body can't digest anything except blood. I don't eat... at all."

"Really?" He nods. Amid my excitement, I form another question. "So, what do you do every day? Carry a flask of blood around and chug it down when no one's looking?"

"No. I hunt bi-weekly. A little more if a certain scent is tempting my control more than usual," he grumbles.

"Wow. That's amazing," I breathe out.

He flashes a glare. "Amazing? No. Horrifying? Yes."

"It is amazing, Edward. Drinking once every two weeks must give you lots of free time. I was wondering why your bedroom looked spotless."

He rolls his eyes. "Yes. It gives me loads of time to obsess over things which should be best left alone."

"You obsess over stuff?"

"Yes."

"Like what?"

"You." He takes me by the elbows and stares into the depths of my soul. "You want to know what I did for the past two weeks? I spent every second of every day obsessing over you. In the mornings, I hid in the forest outside your house and watched you bike to school. In the afternoons, I followed you home. In the evenings, I waited until your father arrived for dinner before backing off for a short while. But I could never stay away for long. I would get pulled back to your house and I'd camp outside until it was time for you to go back to school the next day. And do you know why I did that? Because the very idea of you being alone and unprotected for even a second was enough to drive me up the wall. What I did was a disgusting invasion of your privacy. I knew that, but I couldn't resist. Seeing your face every day - even though it was distant and often only a brief glimpse - was the only thing that kept me from losing my last remaining speck of sanity." He allows for a moment of silence. "So, what do you think about that?"

I gaze back with unblinking eyes. "You... followed me around?"

"Yes."

A fat tear falls down my cheek. It serves to break the spell. I wipe the wetness away and laugh, my first real one in ages. "I can't believe you went out of your way for me like that."

He does a double take. "Pardon? Did you even hear what I said?"

"Yeah. And thanks for telling me."

He shakes his head. His hand slides down his face before casting me another look of disbelief. "I shadowed you like a god damn psychopath, Bella. Are you saying you're fine with what I did?"

"Uh-huh," I say with a decisive nod.

His eyebrows smash together. A look of absolute bewilderment consumes his face. "What a strange girl," he mutters to himself.

I laugh again. Then I take pity on him and explain my reasoning. "I'm OK with it because if you're a psychopath, I must be one too. That day you left, you made it sound like you wanted to move away. I assumed you pretty much forgot about me as soon as you crossed out of the city limits. I've...been a mess ever since. It was like you took a part of me with you and I was barely living. And no matter what I did, I couldn't stop thinking about you. It felt like I was going crazy! The worst part about it all is that I thought these feelings were entirely one-sided. If I had known you were nearby and just as miserable as me, well...it would have made me feel a whole lot better about myself." My smile fades away. "Why did you lie to me that day?"

"I wanted you to move on and live a happy, normal life. There's no way you could ever attain that with the likes of me hanging around."

"What made you think I'd ever be satisfied with normal? Maybe I'd like my life better if you're in it too."

"Bella, everyone wants at least some semblance of normalcy in their lives."

"Yeah, I get that. But I still don't understand why you believe staying out of my life is a better option than being a part of it."

He exhales through his nose. "Take a good, long look at me. Now, imagine twenty years has gone by. You'll be what? Thirty-seven years old? You'll have become a beautiful, grown woman. I'm sure you'll have a career you cherish and close friends you care for. Do you know what will have happened to me during that same time period? Nothing. I'm stuck with what you see before you now. I'll never get a wrinkle. My hair will never turn gray. I'll stay this way forever."

"Forever?" I blink rapidly. "That's...wow. Being young forever doesn't sound bad to me."

"It doesn't? Well, listen to this. Do you know what happens every few years? I have to uproot the life I've so carefully built and start fresh somewhere else. You see, if I stay in one place for too long, the people in the area would become suspicious once they notice that I never age. I'm forced to adopt a new identity each and every time I move. All ties to my past life are severed. So, if you were to choose to tie yourself to me, you would have to do the same eventually. Could you give up everything you've worked hard for and start over from scratch? Again and again and again?"

My fingers dig into his jacket. "I could if that's what it took to keep you in my life."

"Bella, I don't want to do that to you. You deserve more than I can give."

"But all I want is you."

"You're young, with a full life ahead of you. You'll change your mind one day."

"No I won't."

"How do you know?"

"I just do."

He heaves a long sigh and eyes me up and down. "Are you always this stubborn?"

"Yes."

A chuckle escapes from his throat. It comes completely unexpected and sounds heavenly. The atmosphere changes on a dime. He shakes his head in amusement. "I don't know what to think about you. I've never come across someone so unpredictable, yet also so set in their ways."

"Is that bad?"

That spark I love reappears in his eyes. "No. It's good. A very good thing."

A smile spreads across my face. Like a bolt of lightning, the air around us suddenly crackles with energy. With our gazes locked, our bodies drift closer until we crash together. We fit magnet tight. It feels natural, the way it's supposed to be. His fingertips glide over my exposed skin. They caress my shoulder, neck, and around the area where the locket he gifted me hangs. I shiver, though it isn't from the cold. Scorching heat spreads inside of me, and it's all due to his touch. My heart pumps harder. I'm sure he can feel it against his own silent chest.

"I'd really like to kiss you," he murmurs huskily.

His cool, sweet breath fans over my face, sending me further into delirium. My tongue darts across my lips in anticipation. "Then do it."

"I really shouldn't."

I gaze up at him with half-lidded eyes. "Why? What's stopping you?"

"The three hundred forty-three people watching our every move."

Alarmed, my head snaps towards the old sawmill. A large crowd has gathered outside the building. My jaw drops, matching their expressions of dismay. Each person is focused exclusively on Edward and me. Most of them haven't glanced my way since fifth grade, yet here they are staring like they are witnessing a once in a lifetime event - like, an alien invasion or the second coming of Christ. Even Heather, who normally only glares at me from a distance, looks intrigued. But I guess I can't blame them for their curiosity. Seeing a gorgeous specimen of a boy like Edward willingly talk, dance, and almost make out with the school nobody probably is a once in a lifetime event.

"Well, I suppose our secret is out," Edward says casually. He turns my stunned face away from our crowd of onlookers. I'm relieved to see that he doesn't appear annoyed. "Would you like to leave now?"

I slowly nod my head.

Yes. Leave. Please. I'm not used to being the center of attention.

"Good," he says. He takes my hand and begins leading me away from the hundreds of eyes still trailing after us. Trapped in a daze, I have a bit of trouble getting my feet to cooperate. I clutch his hand tighter and hold on for dear life. "There are some things I need to tell you," he continues as we disappear around the side of the building, "but I felt it wasn't advisable to say any more while we were being watched so closely."

This wakes me right up. I tug his hand to get him to stop walking. "Wait. There's more?"

"Yes. I'll tell you the rest once I take you home. Your father won't be back until morning, right?"

"Yeah." I stare at him in wonder. "How did you know?"

"I'll have to tell you that later too." He looks uneasy again. I don't see why. He's already admitted that he's a vampire. What could be bigger news than that?

We walk a few more steps. I yank at his hand again. "I just remembered. We can't go yet. I left my stuff in Todd's truck. I - uh - need to ask him to give it back."

Edward's face scrunches, like he's picked up on the scent of something nasty. "There's no need for you to get Todd involved. We'll get your things back by ourselves."

"But how? His doors are locked."

"I have my ways,' he says mysteriously.

I follow Edward to the front of the building. Row after row of vehicles are parked haphazardly everywhere you look. It's one enormous maze. Somehow, Edward leads me straight to where we need to go. I eye him suspiciously. "How did you know this was Todd's truck?"

He cocks his head. "I've been following you. Remember?"

"Oh, yeah. So...how are we going to get in?"

He purses his lips as he studies the truck. A mischievous glint appears in his eyes. "I could smash a window or two."

"Yeah. And then Todd might decide to press charges on you. Got any other ideas?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." He holds out a hand, palm up. "May I borrow a couple of bobby pins?"

I reach into my hair and pull out two. He takes one and bends it into an "L" shape. He sticks it into the driver side keyhole. The second bobby pin is bent at a different angle. Edward wiggles it around in the lock, and in an eye blink, the door swings open.

I stare at him as though he just performed a magic trick. "How did you do that?"

He shrugs. "It's just something I picked up a long time ago."

"Who taught you how to pick locks? Houdini?" I mutter as a joke.

"Yes, but it was indirectly. I attended one of his shows and watched him escape from handcuffs while he was submerged in a water tank. I can promise you, it's a handy skill to have." Edward ducks into the truck and pulls out my jacket and book bag. "This is all, I presume?"

I try to blink my surprise away. I fail miserably. "Um. Yeah. This is it."

He takes my hand again and easily guides us through the labyrinth of vehicles blocking our path. Once we reach the dirt road, he dips his head to the left. "I'm parked around fifty yards that way." I nod in understanding. We walk side by side until he suddenly moves off-road. There's a vague outline of a car behind some bushes. He lifts a branch and I pass underneath it. My feet come to a screeching halt, in the same manner as Fred Flintstone when it's time to brake at a red light in Bedrock. I was expecting his sleek and sporty black Jaguar. All I see is an ancient Station Wagon. It's puke green and has polka dots of rust all over its body. A mother might drive her kids to soccer practice in it... but only if she's desperate for transportation. Most people would call this a clunker, something you'd drive until you could afford a more reliable vehicle.

"Is this Esme's?" I blurt out.

Edward chuckles. "Certainly not. She wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near this thing. The car's mine."

"You got rid of your Jag for this?"

"Not exactly. The Jaguar is parked safely in the garage at home. I bought this car so I wouldn't get recognized while out driving around town."

"Oh..." My face falls. "You really went all out to keep people from knowing you were still in Forks."

Edward lifts my chin. He stares back with somber eyes. "I didn't want to leave you, Bella. It was something I felt I had to do."

"What about now? Do you still feel that way?"

"How I feel doesn't matter. What happens after tonight will depend entirely on what you want."

"I can already tell you what I want. I want you to stay."

"You may change your mind about that once you hear the rest of what I have to say. But first, I must get you home." He opens the creaking passenger door and does a sweeping motion with his hand. "Your chariot awaits."

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A/N-

Next Chapter- Bella gets a ride home in the Crap-mobile. More vampire secrets are revealed. And, Edward shows off a little bit...or a lot, depending on your perspective.

Thanks for reading! :-)