The Cullens are standing around their cars waiting for the morning bell to ring when Bella walks toward them. She makes eye contact with Edward and continues off into the woods surrounding the school.
"She knows." Noah announces and Edward follows after her.
"My family and I, we're different from others of our kind. We're not nomadic, we have a permanent home. We only hunt animals. We've learned to control our thirst...but you - your scent, it's like a drug to me... my own personal brand of heroin." Edward shakes his head at Bella.
"Oh... I thought you hated me when we met. So far as to skip town the first chance you got despite what your brothers said about a family emergency."
"I did. For making me want you so badly.I'm still not sure I can control myself."He reaches for her again but doesn't fully touch her.
"I know you can." He's utterly vulnerable as he looks at her, searching her face for a trace of doubt.
"I wish I could understand this thing you see in me. You look at me with those eyes. I can't read your mind. Tell me what you're thinking."
"I'm afraid." Stricken, he sinks gracefully to his knees in the grass.
"Good." She sinks down in front of him.
"Not of that. I'm afraid... you'll disappear. That I'll lose you."
"You don't know how long I've looked for you." They share a smile. Then he reaches toward her neck, "Be very still." She does so. Exercising great control, he places his hand on her throat. The rush between them is overwhelming but Bella doesn't move. He brushes his hand up her cheek then lowers it to her heart. They're both overwhelmed, taking each other in. "And so the lion fell for the lamb."
"Stupid lamb."
"Sick masochistic lion". The two of them lay together as close as they dare with his hand to her heart.
"Does someone have to be dying to become like you?" Their conversation continues as they walk along a stunning coastline of rugged black rocks covered in bright green moss.
"No, that's just Carlisle. He would never do... this, to someone who had another choice."
"So Carlisle's the reason why you hunt animals, instead of people."
"Not the only reason." He stops, looks down at her, serious, with emotion. "I don't want to be a monster."
She nods understandingly and he smiles. "We call ourselves vegetarians, by the way. For our kind, hunting animals is like living on tofu. It keeps you strong but isn't very satisfying." Then abruptly, he whips past Bella. She turns to see him standing on a large rock in the river.
"Show off."
"It's not that impressive, really. Anyone in my family can do this."
"Can they all read minds, too?" Bella asks curiously.
"No, that's unique to me. Jasper can feel and control emotions while Noah has visions."
"If you're all vampires then why is Noah in the special education classes?" She asks cautiously as she doesn't want to offend him by asking.
"It has to do with the strength of his gift. Jasper and I have strong gifts that make living among humans difficult, but Noah's gift is so much stronger."
"You said he gets visions?"
"Yes, visions of the past and future constantly vying for his attention so you can see why he has such a hard time focusing on the present. With the advancements in medical science we've been able to explain his behavior as a developmental disorder." Edward explains.
"Are the visions the reason why he acts younger than he is too?"
"That was choice he made himself. Even as a human his visions were strong which made his life as a slave difficult. Then as a vampire he was used as a tool in the southern vampire armies. Giving up the responsibility and stress of adulthood and trusting Jasper to take care of him is in a sense a relief for him."
Bella smiles at the loving look on Edward's face as he talked about Noah. "I'd love to hear more about your family."
Edward chuckles, "I'll introduce you properly one of these days."