Chapter 7

After getting some blood inside us, Ana and I sat down across from each other in the living room. There was a pause as we just gazed at each other, then Ana smiled widely and asked, "So you find this Edward irresistible?"

I glared at her, and I knew that if I still had blood coursing through my veins, I would have blushed. "It's not like that," I insisted, but who was I kidding? It was pretty much like that. I sighed. "It's like every time I'm around him and I smell him, I just want to touch him. And it gets worse the longer I'm around him." Even then, thinking about it, I could imagine my hands all over his body and I could feel his hands on mine. I wondered how warm his flesh felt.

"Wow, you've got it bad," Ana teased, snapping me from my rather exciting thoughts.

I groaned. "Why is this happening, Ana?" I asked. "No other mortal has had that effect on me."

Ana grinned and even giggled a little. "Bella, he's your mate!"

I stared at her for a moment, trying to keep my flare of anger from coming forth. In her life as a human, Ana had been a matchmaker, and she seemed determined to continue that profession even to this day. She had never bothered me about a "mate" but I'd seen her set up friends of hers, some with other vampires and some other mortals. It looked like I was due.

"Ana, if you want to set me up with someone, wouldn't it be easier for me to meet another vampire?" I asked with a shake of my head. Why bother with mortals, anyway? They might not want to become vampires, and besides, they were so fragile.

"Because no vampire we've met has made you feel this way, have they?" she countered.

"Well," I started, but I couldn't finish. It was true. I hadn't felt this way about anyone, mortal or immortal.

She grinned. "He's perfect for you! I knew he would be. I just knew, when I saw him in that bookshop-"

"What?" I interrupted her. "What are you talking about? You've met Edward?"

Ana grinned. "I saw him, Belle. I didn't talk to him. I saw him in that little bookshop in Port Angeles a few weeks back, and I knew just then that he was absolutely perfect for you!"

I narrowed my eyes. "Is this why you had me go to Forks High?" I asked.

She grinned. "That's not the only reason, Belle! You really do need to get out more. I want you to have friends. It was just convenient that Edward also goes there."

I rolled my eyes. "But I still don't understand. He's my 'mate'?"

"Most vampires have trouble getting along with each other, as you well know," she said. "But every vampire has a few dozen individuals out there who are just the perfect match of hormones and pheromones which can somehow bypass that desire for isolation. Sex is all well and fine, but it does get boring after a few centuries. But if you find a mate? Oh, Belle, you've never felt anything quite like it."

I glanced away from Ana, a little embarrassed at this topic. I didn't care much about Ana's up-and-down sex life, but I had died a maiden. I had never really gotten the chance to explore that part of my humanity, and my life since my turning did not often allow for much in the way of sexual encounters. I had been offered, certainly, but had up until now never felt tempted to take anyone up on the offer.

"I see," I said after a few moments. "But Edward is mortal," I pointed out. "Shouldn't this be a vampire thing?"

"We were all mortal at one point," Ana said with a shrug. "You really can't help who has that special scent that gets you going. Sometimes a vampire will find out his or her mate is already a vampire, in which case, all is fine and dandy. But sometimes a vampire's mate happens to still be mortal, and there lies the challenge."

"Challenge?" My brow furrowed at her words. I wasn't liking where this conversation was going.

"Most vampires will eagerly claim their mates, but humans, especially those who don't know anything about us, will be more reluctant to go along with it. Humans tend to fear the very thought of vampires, let alone what the real deal is. For you to claim Edward, you'll have to do more than a bit of courting."

"Whoa, whoa," I said, throwing up my hands in a "stop" gesture. "I didn't even say I wanted to 'claim' him! I don't know even know him, and in case you forgot, he's already suspicious of me being a vampire."

"Don't let that concern you, dear," she told me soothingly. "I'm sure all he needs is to get to know you a little better. Then he won't be so on edge."

I looked at her dubiously. "Are you implying we tell him about us?"

Ana just smiled. "He wouldn't be the first human to know about us." I stared at her, incredulous, and was about to voice my protests when she said, "But that'll be your decision. He's your mate, after all."

I thought about that for a moment. I imagined showing Edward Masen my fangs and telling him that vampires exist, but the only outcome I could see was Edward recoiling in fear and running to rally the town against us. I shook my head. "It seems better for everyone involved if I just don't bother," I said, more to myself than to Ana, but she heard me anyway.

"Oh, you'll bother," Ana said with certainty. "You'll see. Edward is going to ignite passions in you that have long lain dormant. I can already see it happening, and I'm not just talking about the, ah, more physical passion you're experiencing right now."

"What other passions are you talking about?" I asked, and was surprised at her answer.

"I saw that copy of The Great Gatsby in your backpack." There was a glint in her eye. "That book came out after you lost interest in reading, right? You haven't read more than an article's worth of literature at a time since the turn of the twentieth century."

I shook my head at this. "Edward had recommended it, and I happened to have some free time last night. That's not an indication of anything but boredom."

Ana only laughed. "Don't be afraid of Edward, Belle. He's not a threat. Just get to know him, become friends. See what happens from there. And invite him to dinner!" I sighed at her insistence, but even I knew I was only fighting myself.

My mind was opened to the idea of Edward as my friend. Not mate yet. I wasn't sure how that would work out with a mortal, and I wasn't even sure if Edward would want me in that capacity. But friend was a good start.