Prohibited Activity

by Foenix2phorks

Complete. Forks in the 1980s was a place where music was outlawed. The police chief's sheltered daughter dreams of self-expression and freedom. The new boy in town can't dream at all. Yes, this was partially inspired by the movie Footloose - but has the addition of Vampward to spice it up. Slow burn. AU. No wolves. HEA... eventually.

21. The Question

Chapter 21 - The Question

Bella

I sleep like the dead until the chirping birds outside let me know morning has arrived. They're so inconsiderate. It's Sunday. Don't they know you're supposed to sleep in? I groan and shove my pillow on top of my head to drown out the noise.

A musical laugh filters through anyway.

I shoot up into a sitting position on the bed. Then, I rub the sleep from my eyes, not believing what I see. Edward is sitting at my desk, reading one of my old paperback novels, and smiling my favorite smile.

"You're here," I blurt out.

"That I am," he says with a hint of amusement in his tone.

The tenseness in my body disappears. "Good. I was beginning to think that last night was only a dream."

"Shouldn't it be considered more of a nightmare? That's what most people would think after being kissed by a monster."

I throw one of my pillows at his head. It bounces off my target like it hit a brick wall. "Shut it, you. You're ruining the moment," I grumble.

"Sorry. How can I make it up to you?"

I twist my mouth, pretending I need time to think. "Hmm. Well... I guess I wouldn't complain if you kissed me again."

He walks to the side of my bed and bends at the waist. Puckering my lips out like a fish wouldn't be attractive, so I keep my cool and only close my eyes in anticipation. He ends up kissing my cheek instead. It's a sweet gesture, but I can't help but pout.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

I stare down at my polka dot bedspread, embarrassed that I have to explain my disappointment. "I was hoping we'd do something better than that. You know...like how we kissed last night?"

"As tempting as that sounds, we shouldn't risk it at the moment."

My eyes dart to his face. "Why not?"

"Because your father is right down the hallway. If I were to kiss you properly again, he might walk in here to find you passed out on your bed. And how would you explain that to him?"

I scowl at his stupid, beautiful grin. It's just my luck that Edward would remember the fainting part of last night more than our actual kiss.

"Are you always this annoying in the morning?" I snap back.

"Not normally. You must bring it out of me."

I'm seriously contemplating flipping him off for teasing me so early. Before I can make up my mind, he swoops in and wipes that scowl from my face by giving me a real kiss. It's electric. I feel it all the way down to my toes. I swear, if I were to die right now... I would die super pissed off. I don't want this feeling to ever end.

In spite of my wish, the kiss does, in fact, end eventually.

"Better?" he asks.

I only hum in response. I'm a little lightheaded but enormously happy. I scoot back and recline against the headboard. "So," I drawl out, "did everything go OK last night while you were out on patrol?"

"It went fine."

"That's good." I tilt my head as something occurs to me. "It's weird how I never heard you come or go."

"I was careful about staying quiet. I didn't want to wake you."

"Oh. Thanks then, I guess." I begin finger combing the tangles from my hair. "See anything interesting while you were out?"

"Nothing that I cared to see in particular. Most of the interesting things happened while I was here guarding you."

This grabs my attention. "Really? Like what?"

He perches on the very edge of my bed, seeming apprehensive for some reason. "I don't know if I should tell you. You might get upset."

"Why? Is it bad?" Visions of James creep into my head. It isn't a comforting thought.

"No..." Edward replies, sounding almost hesitant. "At least not from my perspective it isn't bad."

The heavy weight of worry lifts from my shoulders. "Then just tell me what happened," I say impatiently.

"Well, you were very...vocal last night."

My eyelids stretch open in horror. "Please tell me I didn't snore."

He attempts to conceal a smile by pursing his lips and shaking his head. "No. You don't snore, Bella. Though, I can't say the same about your father..."

"Just tell me what I did," I interrupt.

He aims his eyes downward. Light as a feather, one of his fingers traces a blue blood vein on my hand. "Were you aware that you talk in your sleep?"

Although his voice is gentle, I grimace as though someone just slapped my face. Mom told me years ago that I talked in my sleep. I thought I grew out of it since then. But of course not. Why would I have it that easy? So, to summarize my miserable life: I have a father who banned all things fun in Forks, everyone under twenty-one hates me because my last name is Swan, there's a vampire out to kill me, and I still broadcast in my unconscious state the events going on in my dreams - just like a sports announcer giving a play-by-play of a football game.

It's official. I have the worst luck on the planet.

My body slumps with dread. "What did I say?"

"As much as I'd like to tell you, it's best if we save this conversation for later. Your father is waking up now. I should go before he catches me in here," Edward replies. Even when Charles Swan works the night shift, he doesn't sleep for hours on end afterwards. I guess you could say he's an extreme morning person. He rests for two, three hours and then he's awake for the rest of the day.

"When will I see you again?" I ask.

"Tonight. After dark. I need to hunt today."

I nod casually. "Cool. Hunting. So, what's on the menu? I hear the grizzlies are delicious this time of year."

He stares long and hard at me. "You are far too at ease with what I am," he says with disapproval. "Should I worry about your mental health?"

"Don't throw stones, Edward. Aren't I the person that makes you the most thirsty? And look where you are. At my house, sitting a foot away from me. You're willingly torturing yourself. So if I'm crazy, you are too."

"I've already accepted I was crazy. I was hoping you would be spared from that same diagnosis."

I shrug. "Too late."

Edward exhales a quiet laugh. "I'll be back in a few hours," he says. His eyes are warm but his lips are cool as they brush across my mouth. The thought of him leaving for the day isn't pleasant, but the kiss serves to comfort me. It feels like a promise of more to come.

He backs away a few inches and studies my face. "Do you think you can stay out of trouble until I get back?" He sounds an awful lot like a father nervous about leaving his child at home alone for a few hours. How old does he think I am? Nine?

"Sure, Edward," I deadpan. "I can stay out of trouble just fine. I'll hold off on the chainsaw juggling and cliff diving for now. Unless I get really bored, of course."

This makes him frown. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt if I asked Esme to stop by here every now and then while I'm gone..."

I roll my eyes. "I was kidding."

"I know. But I'll feel better about leaving you if there's someone else watching your house." He strolls over to the window and pushes it open. The curtains flutter in the breeze. He turns his head until his eyes connect with mine. "Stay safe. Please," he emphasizes.

"I will." My high spirits nosedive at the sight of him about to leave. I try not to appear sad, but there's no hope. "You'll be back by tonight, right?"

"Right," he confirms. He ducks down and sticks one leg outside. While straddled across the windowsill, he pauses. "Oh. And Bella?" I raise my eyebrow in question. "Remember when you wanted to know what you said while you were asleep last night?"

"Yeah," I reply.

He smiles, looking more than just a little smug. "Well, just so you know... I love you, too."

Then he's gone.

First surprise, then realization, and finally embarrassment all make their presence known on my face. Did I really say the "L" word in my sleep? I can't believe I just... blurted it out. Isn't that something that should wait to be said - oh - until at least after the first date?!

How can I ever face him again? My cheeks will be permanently stained the brightest of red. I guess I'll have to hide my blush for the rest of my life and wear a paper bag over my head. As long as I poke a couple of eye holes (and draw a smiley face) on it, maybe he won't notice I look any different...

While I'm mentally torturing myself, I recall something important. It stuns me more than when I realized Edward wasn't human.

He said "I love you, too."

Too!

I fall back into my pile of pillows and sigh in contentment.

Maybe my luck isn't so bad after all.

00000000000000000000

Sundays at the Swan residence aren't exciting. This family has a routine, and it's bland as can be. Dad tinkers with things around the house, like fixing broken door knobs and raking the front yard. I usually stay in my room until it's time to cook our dinner. Then we gather around the table and eat.

Once upon a time, chewing and the scraping of forks across our dinner plates were usually the only sounds to be heard during dinner. But things have changed drastically within the last couple of weeks. After our fight, Dad began making it a point to talk to me. I guess it took seeing his only daughter threatening to leave his house forever to get him to finally act like he gave a damn about me. I wasn't impressed, though. In response to his newfound attention, I ignored him as much as I could without getting myself into trouble.

Last night things around here changed once again. When Dad asked what I had been up to lately, I didn't bark out "nothing" and left it at that - like I would usually do. Instead, I told him about the history report I had been working on that afternoon. And when I asked how things were going with him, his surprise was as plain as the nose on his face. Once he recovered, he spoke about what's been happening at work. Our conversation was nothing major - only small talk - but at least it was something.

The sun sunk below the horizon as I washed the dirty dishes by hand. With my chore complete, I walked into the living room and wished Dad a goodnight - something I haven't done in ages. I could tell he was confused by my sudden eagerness to talk to him, but he didn't breathe a word against it. I guess he didn't want to jinx whatever had gotten into me. Afterwards, I headed upstairs and opened my bedroom door. That's when I saw the reason for my change of heart.

Edward was waiting for me.

I walked into his welcoming arms without hesitation. He kissed the crown of my head and murmured his approval over what I had done. Evidently he had heard at least some of the conversation going on downstairs. I didn't think the fuss Edward was making was necessary. After all, I had to do it. He and I had made a deal that I would at least try to get along with Dad, and I always keep my promises.

I backed away and gazed into Edward's eyes. They had gone from the dark butterscotch brown that they were earlier to a bright honey color. He explained the change was due to the animal blood he had drunk that afternoon. If he were to consume human blood, his eyes would redden. And if he went without drinking for a while, they would turn jet black.

I was fascinated by the information. How cool would it be to have irises that change color? It would be like having mood rings for eyes. I told him as much. I could tell he wasn't thrilled with how I reacted, but at least he didn't lecture me about the negatives of being a vampire again. I had heard enough about that the night before.

I steered him away from that conversation and asked how his day went.

"My hunting trip was a success," he said. "Plus, I gave Esme something to brighten her day. So, overall, I'd say things went very well."

"What did you do? Did you bring her home a leftover deer carcass as a snack for later?" I joked.

He eyed me reproachfully. "No. Esme would kill me if I were to drag a dead animal through the house. The carpets would be ruined, and then I would never hear the end of it." His lips curved into a small smile. "What I did was simple. I told her about us."

"She wasn't mad?"

"Of course not. Why would you even ask?"

"Because I'm an insignificant human and you're... well, you're you. We're leagues apart. Wouldn't she rather see you with some drop dead gorgeous vamp woman?"

Edward clucked his tongue at me. "First of all, you are the opposite of insignificant. And as for Esme, you clearly underestimate her. I suspect she likes you now more than she does me. When I went home to inform her this morning that I was no longer staying away from you, she was ecstatic. She said, and I quote, 'Then why are you here?' and proceeded to push me out the door."

"And Carlisle? How does he feel?"

"He was relieved to hear that the drama is over. Trying to stay away from you affected all three of us. I was miserable, Esme was upset, and Carlisle had gotten tired of seeing me mope around the house these last couple of weeks." Edward pulled me closer. "Neither of them care that you're human, Bella. They're just happy that you exist and I found you. Coincidentally, that's exactly how I feel." Then his lips met mine, erasing any lingering doubt I had about his sincerity.

The evening went by quickly. We spoke with hushed voices so Dad wouldn't know I had an eighty-three year old teenage boy visiting me in my room. Before we knew it, it was time for me to go to bed. I fell asleep to the sound of Edward's humming voice, just like the night before. It was heaven... until I woke up at around three o'clock.

The spot beside me was empty.

I scanned my darkened room for Edward. He wasn't anywhere to be found. Although I knew he was probably out on patrol and would be back soon, I felt too on edge to go back to sleep. I was still wide awake when he slipped through my window twenty minutes later. I didn't want him to know about how worried I had been, so my eyes immediately snapped shut. I even tried slowing down my breathing to imitate sleeping.

His soft chuckles informed me that he knew I had been faking.

Stupid vampire senses.

In retaliation for laughing at me, he wasn't allowed to sit at my desk for the rest of the night. I demanded that he crawl back into my bed and hold me again.

He didn't complain.

Hours later, my alarm clock beeped from the night stand and woke me up. It's now Monday morning, and it's time to go to school.

Ugh...

I sit up in bed, groggy-eyed. Edward is standing by the window and reports that the Chief is leaving for work. That's good news. At least this morning we won't have to worry about Dad barging in on us. Clad in my pajamas, I'm looking through my closet in search of a decent shirt to wear. Edward goes to lounge on my bed and shares his future plans.

"It wouldn't make sense for me to enroll when there's less than four weeks left in the school year," he says. "I think it would be best to wait until school restarts before I reappear on campus. I can say that Boston didn't work out and I decided to move back to Forks. Besides, I prefer being a senior. There's nothing like the feeling of imminent graduation to get you through the school day."

I spin away from my closet. "You 'prefer' being a senior? How many times have you gone through high school?"

He shakes his head, a look of disgust on his face. "Too many."

Thirty minutes and a dozen follow-up questions later, I'm navigating down the streets of Forks on my bike. Edward said he'll be following me to school on foot and will be nearby just in case I need help. I find myself searching for signs of him during most of my ride.

I don't see him. Not even once. He may be a vampire, but I'm starting to believe he's part ghost too.

The parking lot is crowded with vehicles by the time I get to school. I pull up to the bike rack and secure a chain around the wheel. Then I straighten up, throw my book bag over a shoulder, and head inside the main building.

"Hi!" says a girl who has never uttered a single word to me in my whole life.

I take a look around, assuming that she must be talking to someone else. But after I check thoroughly, I realize I'm the only person in the general vicinity.

"Uh... hi?" I say in return.

She smiles as though Princess Diana just acknowledged her existence.

Weird.

After a moment's pause, I continue walking to my locker. I gradually notice that everyone's eyes are following me down the hallway. The president of the math club, the head cheerleader, and even the entire baseball team are doing it.

One time a while back, I had a nightmare. It consisted of me showing up to school in only my blue cotton panties. Worried that the horrifying dream has become reality, I check my wardrobe situation. All of my important parts are covered with clothes, thank god. If walking around sans pants isn't why I'm being stared at, what other reason could there be?

I put in the combination to my locker and begin sorting through my textbooks. Every so often I peek over my shoulder. Each time, someone either says a version of "what's up?" as they walk by, or they wave shyly at me from a distance. I've lived here for seventeen years and never have these people been friendly towards me. I'm the one they either ignored or snickered at behind my back. What's gotten into them? Did they forget they're supposed to hate me? Maybe the water supply got poisoned and their brains have been affected.

Armed with the things I will need for my next two classes, I close my locker door and turn around. What I see causes me to stumble a step backwards. I have a visitor, apparently.

My former friend, Heather Sawyer.

"Hey, Bella," she says. It's the first time she's talked to me directly since fifth grade.

"Hel-lo." I drag out the word, confusion clear in my tone. I take a quick look around. There's a sea of eyes watching our every move.

Can this day get any weirder?

"So, how's everything going?" she asks.

"Fine."

"That's great." Heather smiles with her mouth but not her eyes. It kind of gives me the creeps. I think I'd rather deal with her old glare than this new half-ass smile of hers.

"Um. OK...nice talking to you, I guess," I mutter as I try to sidestep around her.

Her hand falls on my shoulder. "Wait!"

I stop. "Yeah?"

"I wanted to ask you something. Are you dating Edward Cullen?"

I bite down hard on my bottom lip. Well, it seems I've finally solved the mystery of why everyone around here is being super nice to me today. The guy they both feared and worshipped popped out of nowhere Saturday night and started showering attention on the school outcast (AKA me) at the party. Of course everyone would wonder what's going on. They probably spent all weekend obsessing over it. And because of our past friendship, Heather was deemed the best person to get answers out of me.

"Well...are you?" she presses.

I'm not sure what I should say, so I decide to be as vague as possible. "Sorry, but it's kind of... private."

Even though my answer is minimal at best, her eyes grow huge. "Oh. Like, I totally understand. It's new, right? You guys wanna see how things work out before going public."

"Not exact-"

"So, when did he move back? Is he coming to school today?" She glances around as she fluffs up her hair.

"No. He was only visiting for the weekend. He's...back in Boston now." Hopefully, she isn't smart enough to notice that I can't look her in the eyes as I say this.

"Are you guys doing the long distance thing, then?"

"I guess?"

"Whoa," she says, raising her eyebrows. "So, are you - like - exclusive, or are you still going to see other people?"

"Still?"

"You know... will you still date Todd on the side?"

I almost barf up the Pop Tart I had this morning.

"No," I reply with a slightly curled lip. "Todd and I aren't a thing. We just went to the dance together. And I promise I won't be going anywhere with him ever again."

"Does Todd know that?"

"He should. I made it very clear to him the other night I don't like him in that way."

"Huh." Heather's eyes squint musingly. "I guess that explains why he acted like a total spaz after you left with Edward."

"What do you mean?"

She giggles. "He got completely hammered and made up the dumbest shit. Like, he claimed that while he was dancing with you, Edward swooped in and almost snapped his hand off. We asked Todd why Edward would do that, but he wouldn't give a straight answer. So, he was obviously just jealous and made up a lie to make Edward look bad. Crazy, right?"

"Yeah. Crazy," I murmur nervously. That story going around isn't too far off from the truth...

"But that's not all," Heather adds. "Todd got so drunk that night, he could barely stand on his own. His friends tried to take away his keys, but he managed to get to his truck and took off down the road." She grins like the Grinch who stole Christmas. "The next thing you know, he was doing a little 'off road exploring', if you catch my drift."

I gape at her. "Todd crashed his truck?"

"Uh-huh."

"Oh my... wow. Um, is he OK?"

"Yeah. He's fine. His truck isn't, but at least it didn't get totaled. I heard he's in deep shit with his parents, though. They took away the keys and grounded him for basically the rest of the year."

The bell rings, signaling there's less than five minutes left before classes begin. Heather glances away from me. Crystal, the girl she's practically joined at the hip with, nods encouragingly at her from across the hallway.

"Say, Bella," Heather says after whipping her head back around. "Why don't we talk some more later? You can come sit with me during lunch and we can catch up." Before I can decline the offer, she wiggles her fingers at me. "Bye. I'll see you then," she says, almost like it's a command. Within seconds, she joins her friend and walks away.

I go to first period English wearing a frown. It stays there for the next two hours. My classmates are studying me now more than their textbooks. It makes me self-conscious. No wonder Edward glared at these people so much. It was a form of defense, to get them to mind their own business. I kind of wish I was brave and intimidating enough to do it myself.

Before I head to third period, I stop by my locker again. What I find sends a thrill through me. I reach inside and pull out the delicate wild rose resting on top of my history textbook. The flower is a gorgeous coral pink. It smells wonderful too, a hint of sweetness to remind me that not everything about today is terrible. After carefully setting the rose down, I read the note that accompanies it.

Pink is becoming my new favorite color. It reminds me of your cheeks when I kiss you.

It isn't signed, but I know who left this for me.

I walk to class with a dumb smile on my face. It probably looks like I'm stoned out of my mind.

I don't care.

History class begins and the teacher gives us an easy assignment. I finish the worksheet within ten minutes. With nothing left to do, I look around the room. A few people continue to stare in my direction and whisper among themselves. I wonder if Edward is watching me through a pair of their eyes?

I glance at the clock on the wall. There's still more than half an hour left of this class. I'm bored, I'm tired of being stared at, and I miss Edward.

There's got to be a way to get some relief.

My hand shoots into the air from the front row. It doesn't take long before the teacher notices.

"Yes, Bella?"

"I'm done with my work. May I go to the bathroom?"

The teacher nods her consent. I hand her my assignment and she gives me a hall pass. I'm so eager to get out of here, I have to restrain myself to keep from running.

Instead of going to the bathroom, I slip outside through the rear door of the school. I'm pleased to see that the clouds have drifted away in the last couple of hours. The sun is beating down from a clear blue sky, its rays warming my skin. It's beautiful out here. I sneak across the school campus, hoping no one will see me as I search for some privacy. After a short walk, I reach the area behind the gymnasium. There's no windows, no doors, and no curious eyes back here.

I wet my lips in preparation for what I'm about to do.

"Edward," I whisper.

"Yes?" comes his voice not even half of a second later.

I flinch and spin around. He stands in the shadows of the building, leaning a shoulder against the red bricks. He wasn't there a moment ago.

"Jesus, Edward," I scold, on the verge of hyperventilating. "Didn't I tell you before not to creep up on me like that?"

"You did, but I enjoy seeing you surprised. Your eyes get so big and round. Your lips part open. Your face becomes flushed..." His voice drops. "It's a lovely sight to behold."

"Sure," I say, my words dripping with sarcasm. "It'll be just 'lovely' when I die from a heart attack because of you one day."

The humor lighting his face dims. "I would never let such a thing happen to you," he declares solemnly. He sounds so confident, I almost believe he's capable of bringing me back from the dead.

His hands slip into his front pockets. "So...how are you liking the prestige of being the most popular girl at Forks High?"

"I hate it."

"Why? Most people in your shoes would at least take advantage of the situation and enjoy the limelight. Why not you too?"

"Because they don't really care about me. They saw me with the infamous Edward Cullen, and now I'm suddenly good enough for them?" I snort. "Well, no thanks. They just want to squeeze information about you out of me. I'd rather have no friends here at all than a bunch of fake ones."

Edward smiles. "Integrity. I like it."

"Don't you think we should worry, though?"

"About what?'

"That so many people saw you the other night. My dad might find out you're in Forks."

He shakes his head. "I doubt any of your classmates would be stupid enough to let it slip to an adult that I was seen here. What would they say? 'I saw Edward Cullen at the annual dance we're not supposed to throw'? Highly unlikely. And even if the Chief did find out about me being in town, all I would need to do is say I've moved back to Forks. It would be sooner than I would have liked, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. Just a few changes to my story, and everything would work out fine."

I nod in agreement. Then I notice that Edward is standing more than a dozen feet away. He hasn't made any attempt to come closer to me. "Why are you way over there?" I ask.

His smile fades but doesn't go away completely. "I normally stay in the shadows on days like this."

"How come?" Right as I say those words, it hits me. My hand covers my mouth in fear. "Oh! The sun came out! Maybe you should go inside today, Edward. I don't want you bursting into flames."

"Myth," he dismisses lightly.

"If that's the case, why-"

"I'll meet you at the meadow after school," he cuts in. "You'll see why then."

Although my worry has been assuaged somewhat, him not revealing the reason why he's hiding from the sun right away bugs the hell out of me. I want to know now.

"Fine," I grumble.

"Impatient, are we?"

"Yes."

He laughs softly. The sound draws me closer to him. Before I know it, I've joined him in the shadow of the gymnasium. His arms wrap around me. After dealing with two hours of constant stress, I finally relax.

"Thanks for the gift you left me," I murmur into his shirt.

"Did you like it?"

I hum my approval. "Where'd you find it?"

He points across the campus. "There's a bunch of them just in those woods over there."

"Oh. That reminds me." I raise my face from his chest. "That flower you gave me in the meadow last month... I put it in your mother's locket and Todd saw it the other night. He claimed that you can't find that type of flower in the lowlands. Only up on the mountains. Is that true?"

Edward nods once.

"Then how did you bring it to me that day?" I ask in a rush. "It looked fresh, like you had just picked it."

"I'll tell you that later today, too."

"Promise?"

He places a light kiss on my forehead. "Of course."

"Um. Speaking of Todd," I begin awkwardly. "Did you hear what Heather had to say about him?"

"I did."

"It's terrible, isn't it? But I wonder if he really got wasted and crashed his truck, or if it's just some dumb rumor going around about him."

"Oh, it's true." Edward smirks like the cat who ate the canary.

I squint suspiciously at him. "What's got you looking so smug?"

His eyes dance with mischief. "I may have... coordinated that accident."

"How can someone 'coordinate' an accident, Edward?"

"Well, on Saturday night while I was on patrol, I happened to run into Todd. It was easy to see the idiot was drunk driving. He was swerving all over the place. It's a good thing it was so late and traffic was almost nonexistent, otherwise he might have already crashed into another vehicle and killed someone. It was my duty to stop that boy before it could happen."

"And you did what exactly?"

"Nothing much," he replies casually. "I just eased his truck off the road, damaged the front grill and its tires so he couldn't drive anymore, and then made it look like he hit a tree. He was so out of it, he never saw me once. It was simple really."

I scowl up at him. "Why didn't you tell me all this before now? I asked you yesterday morning how your patrol went, and you said nothing interesting happened."

Edward raises a finger in the air. "Ah, but those were not my exact words. I said there had been nothing 'I cared to see' that night. And I can assure you Todd is someone I wouldn't care to give two cents to see."

I cross my arms. "You still should have told me," I huff.

"I was planning on it, but I wanted to wait and see what the consequences of his actions would be before I shared everything with you." Edward's expression turns downright jubilant.

"And I'm guessing by that look on your face, you have additional news to tell me?"

"Correct." I roll my hand, silently encouraging him to spill what he knows. "I've been listening to Todd's parents this morning," he begins. "Evidently, their son has a tendency of getting himself into trouble: Constantly breaking curfew, drunken fights that were broken up by law enforcement, immature pranks which often result in the destruction of property. You name it, he's probably done it. Well, Saturday night became the final straw for them. He had been warned that any other major incidents would earn him a one-way ticket out of their house. His parents now firmly believe Todd needs to be surrounded by authority figures who won't tolerate insubordination of any kind. So, as we speak, Todd is packing his bags in preparation for his new life at the military academy his parents are arranging for him to attend." A faint smile appears on Edward's lips. "Yes. It's been an interesting morning, indeed."

"You sound pleased with the outcome," I reply sharply. I don't know if I like how he seems almost giddy over someone else's downfall.

Edward cocks his head to the side, staring at me in disbelief. "Bella, after what Todd tried to do to you the other night - in my opinion - military school isn't punishment enough. I considered killing him, but then I recalled that 'you are what you eat' and decided against it."

The scowl on my face dies. Because of everything that's happened to me in the last couple of days, I had mostly blocked out my memories of Todd's wandering hands and his refusal to accept "no" as an answer. So, I guess Edward does have a point.

"Good call," I breathe out.

Edward hugs me then steps back. "You better get back to class. Ms. Stringer is beginning to worry about you. She's thinking of sending out a search party."

"OK," I say reluctantly.

"But before you go, I do have a question to ask."

"Hmm?"

"Will you be sitting with Heather today in the cafeteria?"

My nose wrinkles. "Hell no. I'll be eating my lunch in the school library. Sure, Heather was playing nice today, but she isn't above stabbing me in the back if there's a possibility it could help her in some way."

"Very perceptive of you."

I shake my head slowly. "I don't have some great insight. I know that's what she would do based on personal experience."

There's a long pause. "She's hurt you a lot over the years." This isn't a question. He says it as fact.

"Yes," I confess in a whisper.

He stares down at me, eyes blazing hot. It makes him look like some avenging angel. "Would you like to see her having car problems again?"

I suck in a breath. There was a day weeks ago when Heather relentlessly taunted me about my bike, making jokes about how I didn't have "decent" transportation. She only shut up when her own car refused to crank. The entire student body had a good laugh at her expense.

"That was because of you?!" I screech at Edward.

Judging by his sly smile, I'm going to say... yes, yes it was.

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When the final bell rings in the afternoon, I'm one of the very first students to burst out of the exit doors. There's a chorus of "Bella!" coming from behind me. I don't stop walking. I have a gut feeling I'm about to be invited to "hang out" with people who just last week treated me as though I was invisible. I rush over to my bike and pedal away to freedom. Thank god school is over.

My ride through town and then the countryside is uneventful. I reach the trailhead and hike down the familiar, winding dirt path. Within a handful of minutes, I step out onto a carpet of thick, green grass. I squint through the sunlight until I locate the dogwood tree which stands in the middle of the meadow. It's impossible to miss. And there, sitting in the shade of the dogwood, is Edward.

"Why do you stay out of the sun?" I ask the moment I arrive at his feet.

"Well, good afternoon to you, too," he says dryly.

I roll my eyes. "Hello, Edward. How are you doing today? There. Is that a better greeting?"

"Much. Thank you."

"Great. Now will you tell me? I've been wondering for hours."

He sighs, sounding more resigned than happy. "I suppose so." He rises from the ground and begins unbuttoning his long-sleeved shirt. His nimble fingers make quick work of it.

"W-w-what are you doing?" I stutter. Is he stripping for me? I'm trying hard not to stare at the lean muscle of his arms, his broad shoulders, his flat stomach... but who can blame me? You don't see that stuff every day.

He tosses the button-up shirt on the grass. He's left standing in a white sleeveless undershirt that leaves little to the imagination. "I thought showing you why I stay in the shadows on clear days would be simpler than trying to explain it."

Then, he takes two steps forward into the sunlight.

My mouth drops open like a trap door.

"You... sparkle," I blurt out.

Edward frowns. "I do, but I would appreciate it if you would use another term besides 'sparkle', Bella. My masculinity is at stake here."

I ignore the comment and walk closer. "Does it hurt?" I ask worriedly.

"No. I don't feel a thing."

I move to touch him, but I stop myself first. "Would it be all right if I...?" I nod towards his exposed bicep.

"You may," he says gently.

First one finger, then my entire hand brushes over his rock-hard arm. Every inch of it shimmers in the afternoon light, almost blinding me with its brilliance. "It's like there's glitter embedded in your skin," I breathe in awe. "No. More like diamonds..."

A dark expression passes over his face. "I suppose next you'll be telling me that my skin looks to be comprised of pixie dust," he grumbles sarcastically.

"No I won't. It looks like diamonds and that's it."

The frown on his face doesn't budge.

"It's amazing, Edward," I say softly. "Your skin... I like the way it looks."

His brow furrows incredulously.

I realize I'll need to try harder to convince him that I'm telling the truth. I stand on the tips of my toes and whisper into his ear. "Of course I would like it. Don't you know? Diamonds are a girl's best friend."

He pulls back at inch to look me in the face. His eyes search mine for answers, clearly bewildered that I would know the phrase.

I smile. "Mom was a fan of Marilyn Monroe. I remember every song from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."

Edward hums in the back of his throat and nods. "I agree it was an amusing film... but personally, I like the sequel more."

"There's a sequel?"

"Yes. It's called Gentlemen Marry Brunettes." He puts great emphasis on that second word in the title.

My posture stiffens at the piercing look he's giving me. "Not at seventeen they don't."

"I'm not really seventeen," he counters breezily.

"But I am. I can't get married yet. I'm too young!"

He smirks. "I know. I just wanted to see what you would do if I brought it up. And I can assure you that your reaction did not disappoint."

I fold my arms. "Not funny," I mutter. Unfortunately, the smile tugging at my lips keeps him from feeling guilty for tricking me.

He grabs my hand and flips it to the underside. His eyes close as he proceeds to raise my wrist to his nose and breathe me in. I've noticed he likes doing this to me a lot.

"Hungry?" I tease.

I expect for him to be annoyed at how I'm joking around about his attraction to my blood. Instead, he doesn't say anything against it. Cold marble lips pepper the inside of my wrist with kisses. It feels good...too good, maybe. My eyes are glazing over as his lips slowly work their way up my arm.

"Ravenous," he murmurs, his voice gravelly and low.

My knees threaten to give out. Vocabulary words you'd find on the SATs shouldn't sound sexy. Though, it should come as no surprise that he has the power to make them so.

Note to self: Ask Edward to read the dictionary to me tonight.

Before I know what's happening, my back is propped against the dogwood tree. I guess Edward moved us over here to keep me from collapsing. That's very considerate of him, especially since his mouth is now attached to mine and causing me to forget how to breathe. I would have for sure fallen flat on the ground if he hadn't taken this precaution.

I'm happily lost to the kiss. After what seems like seconds but in reality is probably several minutes, he stops and pulls his face back abruptly. His golden eyes are aimed above my head.

"What... are you...smiling at?" I pant.

Without a word, he takes me by the shoulders and spins me in place. His finger points to the trunk of the tree, at a place normally hidden by the thick foliage. You have to be directly underneath to notice it.

R. H.

C. S.

"Mom and Dad," I whisper.

"Did you know about this?"

I shake my head in response and step closer to the tree. My fingers trace the carved initials in the wood and the heart shape surrounding it. My parents were together from the age of fourteen all the way until Mom's passing, so this potentially means their declaration of love has been hiding here for well over twenty-two years.

It makes me wonder, which of them did this? From what I remember, Mom was a short woman, barely five feet tall. It's hard picturing her being able to reach that high without the aid of a step ladder. And as for Dad, well...it's even more difficult to imagine him doing such a thing. I've seen him alone and emotionally ice cold for so many years, I almost can't believe he once had a romantic bone in his body.

Mom's death really screwed him up.

"What are you thinking?" Edward asks.

Frowning, I tear my eyes away from my parents' initials. "It's just weird seeing proof of how much they loved each other. They wanted forever but got only a few years together."

"Does it upset you seeing this?"

"No. I'm glad I got to see it."

Edward nods and glances at the tree again. "I think there's something missing, though," he says.

"What?"

He moves to my side and zones in on a bare spot on the trunk, about a half of a foot away from my parents' initials. His index finger functions much like a knife. It sinks into the bark and wood like butter. He's done in almost no time at all.

B. S.

E. C.

He steps back to admire his work. "So... what do you think?"

I think it's the most incredible thing I've ever seen.

I shrug a shoulder, attempting to downplay the thrill that just shot through my blood stream. "It's OK, I guess."

His arms suddenly appear on both sides of my body, trapping me against the tree. "OK?" he stresses, a hint of disbelief in the tone. "Is that all you can say about it?"

That heavy-lidded gaze of his gets my heart thumping. I have to take a large gulp of air before I can answer. "It's n-nice," I concede in a tiny voice.

His nose begins skimming over my neck and jaw. "How nice?"

"Very." His mouth presses gently into my earlobe. I shiver even though I'm definitely not cold. "I...I love it," I stammer deliriously.

He immediately stops dragging his lips across my skin. "Thank you for telling me," he purrs. Then, he steps away, a smirk of triumph now etched on his face.

I frown at my weakness. All it takes is for him to seduce me a little, and there I go babbling out my innermost thoughts. It's like he administered truth serum on me. I'm going to have to work on that. But, is it even possible to build a resistance to the sort of power Edward wields?

I hope so...

"Are you ready?" he questions. He's now standing in the grass, directly underneath the sun. I don't know what's more eye-catching. His glittering skin, or his shiny bronze hair?

I leave the tree's protection to stand with him. "Ready for what?"

"For me to show you where I found that flower of yours."

"Oh." I nod my head eagerly. "Yeah. OK. Let's go." I squint into the distance, where the mountains to the east rise. "Did you bring the Station Wagon?"

He chuckles. "We won't be needing that jalopy today. It would only slow us down." As though remembering something, his head jerks to attention. He strolls back to the shade of the dogwood and grabs his discarded shirt. "Here," he says, handing it to me. "Where we're going, you'll need the extra protection. Even in May it gets chilly sometimes up in the higher elevations."

"Won't you need it then?" That sleeveless undershirt may look good on him, but I don't want him to freeze on my account.

"Cold doesn't affect me. I'll be fine."

I slip into the shirt and button it to my collarbone. He helps roll up the long sleeves so they won't hang past my fingertips. The shirt fits big on me - not that I'm complaining. It smells like Edward. I would wear this everyday if I could.

As soon as I am dressed, he crouches on the ground and jabs a thumb behind his back. "Hop on," he says.

"Why?" I ask with narrowed eyes.

"I'm going to run us up to the mountains."

I stare at him.

Then, I burst out laughing.

"Wow. You really had me going there for a sec," I giggle with an amused shake of my head.

"This is no joke."

My laughter fades away to nothing. "You can't carry me that far. It would take forever."

"Bella, I could carry you on my back for the rest of your life without a problem. I think I'm capable of doing it for less than five minutes."

"Five minutes! There's no way you can reach those mountains in that amount of time," I retort.

"Oh ye of little faith. Come here and at least let me prove to you that I can. We'll do a test run first."

He points at his back again. I silently study him, searching for signs that he's trying to trick me. His pleading eyes coax me into believing he's telling the truth. I climb on his back, wrapping my arms around his neck. He grabs my legs and hooks them around his waist.

"Don't let go," he instructs.

That's all the warning I receive. Because the next thing I know, we're flying at what seems to be the speed of sound.

It lasts for only a split second. In that short period of time, Edward moved us to the far side of the meadow. It's like he teleported us here instead of running. My arms are squeezing his neck so tight, I'm thankful he doesn't need to breathe. He helps me down and observes my frozen stance. It feels as though I've been paralyzed.

"Are you all right?" he asks.

I blink a few times to clear my head. "I... I...think so?" My astonished gaze locks on him. "Why didn't you tell me before that you could run so fast?"

He cocks his head. "I told you I run multiple laps around Forks every night. I assumed you understood what that implied."

Damn it. He's right. How could I have been so oblivious? I blame his lips. They distract me too much.

"We don't have to run to the mountains, Bella," he continues, interrupting my moment of self-reproach. "If you're uncomfortable with it, we can get there some other way."

I shake my head. "No. Running is fine. I was... just surprised." My face scrunches together. "Um. I do have a question to ask before we go."

"I'm all ears."

"Well, I can't help but wonder something. You run super fast, plus you've said before that you never get tired. So...why do you even bother driving a car?"

"There's a couple of reasons why, actually. My entire family appreciates fine automobiles. We like the purr of the engine, the aerodynamic body, the luxurious interior... In a way, we think of them as fashion accessories. We don't necessarily need them, but they add more spice to our existence. Also, it's partially so we can blend in with human society. How much attention would I attract if I were to run thirty miles per hour through the middle of town? It's safer to drive." He pauses and shrugs a shoulder. "Besides, running may be fun, but it is notoriously rough on shoes."

I bite back a smile. For once he isn't making life as a vampire sound like something out of a horror novel. I wish he could see himself the way I do.

"Ready to go?" he prompts.

I crawl up his back and nuzzle close to his ear. "Ready."

He shoots off like a rocket.

The landscape zooms by in a blur of green and brown. I can't make out much of anything at this speed. However, the ride is surprisingly smooth. There's no bumps to rattle my spine, which is remarkable considering the rough terrain Edward has to cross in order to reach the mountains. And it's quiet, so quiet that I wonder if his feet ever make contact with the ground.

That proves it. He's definitely part ghost.

One moment he's moving like the wind. The next, he comes to a stop. I slide down his back and fight back a dizzy spell. It passes quickly, allowing me to finally take a look around. We're surrounded by piles of gray rocks and boulders the size of cars. I imagine the surface of the moon must look similar to this. The only difference between the moon and this mountain is that in between some of these rocks grows plant life. I find the unique flower species Edward gifted me weeks ago in its natural environment. They have sprouted up wherever a spare inch of dirt is available. I crouch down to study them. Blue flowers on leafy, grayish stems. They may be tiny, yet they do stand out - almost regally - against the almost barren landscape. Mosses in several different shades cling to the sides of rocks, refusing to budge in spite of the strong breezes occasionally barreling through. A lichen captures my curiosity, too. It looks like something you'd see growing on a barrier reef instead of high atop a mountain.

For the first time since arriving here, I straighten up and glance towards the horizon. I am awestruck by what I see. There's miles of forests, countless fields of green and gold, and the gleaming sapphire of the Pacific ocean far in the background. It's indescribably beautiful. From this elevation, Forks is barely a blip in the big scheme of things. That's strangely comforting. It's proof there's more to this world than small-town gossip and restrictive rules that hold you back.

Edward suddenly pops up next to me. "What do you think?"

I breathe in the fresh, cool air and smile. "This is amazing. I've never been up so high before."

"Why not? There are hiking trails all through these mountains."

My smile slips. "Yeah...but I never had anyone willing to take me before now. I wouldn't have felt safe going alone."

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch him nodding his head. "I see..."

We revert to a peaceful, comfortable silence. I get a sense that we're the only people for miles around. In the passing minutes, I concentrate on the view before me. I should memorize it in case I never get the chance to come to a place like this again.

"So, what now?" he asks.

My head whips away from the outstanding scenery. "Huh?"

"We can go higher if you'd like. There's snow on the summit, but I think the weather is cooperating today. The view is even better from up there. Or, we can do something else if that's what you want. It's entirely up to you."

"I have a choice?"

His expression softens. "You'll always have a choice, Bella." His voice is warm, like hot chocolate on a cold winter's day. "What do you want to do next?"

I can only gape at him in response.

As the daughter of a strict and overprotective father, I've been told what to do for most of my life. My opinion hardly mattered. I've spent so long dreaming instead of actually living, what Edward is offering is like a genie granting me a previously unattainable wish. It's unbelievable. But that eager, almost expectant gleam in his eyes tells me that I'm not imagining this. His question is real, and he wants me to answer honestly.

Shrugging off any remaining shyness holding me hostage, an answer flies off my tongue.

"I guess I want to do... everything."

His growing smile puts to shame the fantastic panorama in front of us. I stare at him, spellbound by the pure joy lighting his face.

"Oh Bella," he exhales. "I was hoping you would say that."

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A/N-

Next Chapter- With Edward's assistance, Bella finally starts living instead of just existing. It's time for her to do the things she's been missing out on! Warning: Major fluff, extreme silliness, and possible citrus flavoring up ahead. Venture forth at your own risk.

Thanks for reading. :-)