I know that I dance between viewpoints irregularly, but bare with me - some things are best told from Red's eyes, and others from Eddward's. I also have to be careful not to give too much away. And thus, Red's ignorance prevails again. Enjoy.

"Kevin, Eddward's here to see you!" was totally not what I was expecting to hear on a Saturday afternoon. I set down my book; one I was reading for class; and got up to check. I was surprised to see him standing there at all, but what he was wearing was beyond anything I pictured.

A denim jacket, blue and tidy, over a white t-shirt. Black dress pants, scuff-less black shoes. A watch over one wrist, and a 'Livestrong' band over the other. Nothing around his neck. The only thing that was the same was his hat. He looked...exhausted. How did I know that? Well, I didn't, but his eyes just looked different was all. He gave me a funny look, and I continued to walk towards him. There was a polite line on his face; not a smile, but his eyes seemed to fake it for him. Almost as though his mood was 'content.'

My mom smiled at me before she turned back to him, "Well, it was nice to meet you, Eddward."

He nodded back, "Likewise, Mrs. Barr." His tone was...lighter than usual. It was kind-of weird, actually.

But the moment my mom passed out of view, all the strangeness fell away. His lips dipped into a well-worn frown, though I realized it was no truer than the line I'd seen before. His eyes, however, returned to their calculating gaze. That felt normal.

"Mr. Barr," he barely nodded in acknowledgement, hands holding one another in front of him, almost politely. I still can't understand how his posture is so perfect, like, all the time. I tried to remember what he'd just said, and returned the greeting.

"Eddward, umm...hi, I guess. Did you need something?"

He kept his calm demeanor, not betraying his true intent no matter how much I wanted to figure it out, "I'm in need of your presence this evening." He left it at that, and the air grew stale. I felt awkward. And...a bit...rebellious?

"...and what if I said no?"

"Then that would be that," suddenly his posture shifted, becoming more submissive, the line returning to his lips, "but I could truly use your assistance with my essay. I promise I will not use up too much of your time."

That was weird...wait, his eyes just went behind me...

"Uhh, sure. Lemme just ask my-"

"That sounds fine, Kevin. When will you be going out?"

"Umm," I stumbled on my words as I turned to face my mom.

"No sooner than 5 o'clock, as my father is busy at the moment, and prefers to have the house to himself." The lightness of his faked voice was really, really unsettling.

My mom turned her head to me, "Will you be home for dinner?"

Before I could respond, Eddward cut in, "I shall not keep him for long, he should be home well before dark." I almost saw a smile there. I wondered who the hell this was that I was next to...

"That's fine. Just let me know when you're planning to go, Kevy."

"Mom..." I rolled my eyes. Eddward covered his lips with his fingers and let out a polite huff, like a laugh, but...but...there's always a 'but.' Nothing was ever straightforward with him.

"I shall see you then, Kevy," he teased, but there was no humor in his features. My mom had turned, so he only had to fake his voice right now.

Silently, I watched him as he crossed the pavement towards his not-so-empty home.

He faked so much, I sometimes had to wonder if he was even real.

I waited until 5:09 before I headed over. I was antsy, and I'd wanted to head over earlier, just to get it done with, but...I decided to heed what he'd said. 'No sooner' had to mean something more than that, and with what little I knew of his father...yeesh, I didn't wanna deal with that. I rang the doorbell, as always, and was promptly greeted by a much different, but more familiar, Eddward.

The jacket had been tossed against a far wall, shoes haphazard around it. He wore nothing but the dress pants and a white t-shirt now...and black socks.

The watch was gone, too. I saw the yellow of the band peaking out from under the jacket, and guessed the watch was under there. The scars were plainly visible, and I almost winced, looking at how many there were. The erratic slashes of the left; the long, patient carvings of the right. His eyes bored into me, pulling my own away, as I blushed from shame. I already knew he did that, I figured it out a while ago now...and it's rude to stare...but hey, he's rude! But...it's not...it's not right to stare...

His indistinct, tired eyes watched me for a moment, and he spoke calmly, "You're welcome to watch whatever you would like on the television. The bottom shelf of books is also free for you to peruse as well. Take a seat, it won't be too much longer now. You're already later than I anticipated." The way he said 'later' was noxious, and I found myself looking down. Hey, I was just trying to listen to what you told me to do...

I realized he didn't specify where I was to sit this time. I was half-tempted to just go sit on the other side, just to be a rebel, but something in his eyes...told me it wasn't worth it. I took a seat on the right side of the couch, twiddling my thumbs. He might have told me I was allowed to watch something, but something in the air just put me off. Or maybe it was the way he was dressed. Probably both. I figured I'd say something, since the silence was starting to creep up on me.

"So...uh...what's with the get-up?" I couldn't help but ask. It was weird seeing him, well, dressed-up. It's not like he was going anywhere...or was he?

He seemed to growl under his breath, his lip twitching, "These are 'proper' clothes for a young man such as myself to wear. Do you find that to be incorrect?"

Well, yeah. I decided to try and explain, "I mean...no, but it's not what you normally wear. So it's weird."

A grunt. He looked thrilled, and by that I mean, like he wanted to walk off instead of explaining. But something kept him there, standing next to the phone, so I guess that's why he responded.

"Father does not tolerate my particular taste in clothing, if you simply must know," he snarled, "now is there anything else you'd like to bother me with instead of distracting yourself with something more entertaining than myself?"

I almost wanted to say that he was entertaining, but...I stopped myself short. "So why do you have me over, then? You gotta have a reason."

"I 'must,' mind your speech, Kevin. And I do."

Silence.

"...so...what's the reason?"

He glared at me piercingly, "That is my own."

I furrowed my brow, "So you have me over, for God knows what reason, so I can just sit here and...what? What's stopping me from just leaving? I mean, you mentioned the essay earlier-"

"A mere reason for your mother to hear, and nothing more."

"-alright, so seriously, why should I stick around?"

He leaned his back against the wall, eyes flicking down to the phone as he spoke, "...I suppose you're correct. There's nothing keeping you, that much is true. But I do require your presence right now..."

Something told me he was being serious, which was strange. I decided to pry, "Why me? Why not Marie?"

"Yes, yes, why not Marie, surely she doesn't have a life and is always at my beck-and-call during the week's end."

"Don't gotta be snippy, jeeze. Still...why me?"

"Why not?" He answered immediately, and we shared a look. I found myself cowering under the intensity of his gaze.

"I...cuz..."

-ring-

-ring ring-

-ring ring-

I watched Eddward's hand clench, as it moved to the phone he'd been looking at before. His attention left me, as it felt like we were suddenly in different rooms, for how little he seemed to care about my existence. I watched him bring the phone to his face...slowly, hesitantly.

"Hello?" Is he...nervous? He totally sounds nervous.

The lull was unsettling, but I watched him, watched how he reacted.

"It is nice to speak to you again, too. It has been a while, and I've missed it."

His voice sounded soft, like it had last night, when he spoke those words...but, just who was it that he was talking to? I realized I was holding onto the edge of the couch, gripping it tightly as I tried to hear. But I only heard his voice.

"I know, and I'm proud of you for it. Don't apologize." Alright, that sounded forced. Or maybe it was just the fact I could see the broken expression on his face...wait, I can see...wow, he was actually showing an emotion for once. I had to keep myself from commenting.

The silence pervaded as whoever was on the other line continued speaking. I watched Eddward earnestly. His lips, his cheeks, his eyes...there was emotion there, fleetingly, but there.

"I...I'd love that."

My eyes almost bugged out of my head when I saw that gap-toothed smile. His lips were barely parted, but the corners of his mouth were upturned, and his eyes were so gentle. He looked...happy.

He nodded to no one, "I understand. It was nice to speak to you, even if it was only for a short time. I'll be looking forward to it." And he was, there was no force put into the smile he held. He looked genuinely hopeful for once.

"Good night."

The phone was set down. Eddward stared at the floor, the slight smile still upon his lips. It was as though he'd forgotten I was in the room. I kind-of didn't want that to change. He closed his eyes, and breathed in, placing a hand on his chest. His head fell back against the wall, and he sighed out.

"Y-you know," he looked at me as I spoke, still in some sort of strange stupor, "I've never seen you smile before."

And it fell.

I could have forgotten I'd even seen it, so intense was the frown that replaced it. He underwent a transformation, and the mask he always wore came back on.

"That is because I do not," he stated matter-of-factly.

"But you just-"

"For Her alone, mon amour." And he blushed. I wondered what he said. What he meant. But mostly, what he said.

"...I don't understand what you're saying."

His eyes flicked to mine, his lips parting for a moment, before he looked down in thought. He finally spoke, meeting my eyes again, "Forgive me, I...have a fondness for a language I am not permitted to speak." His voice was quiet, almost like he was barely able to say what he did. I still had no clue what he meant, though.

"Well, you speak it just fine. I mean, like, I think. I don't know...French, is it?"

"Oui. And I shouldn't know it, either, mon ami. I should not speak Father's language...my grandfather's. I," he looked down again, looking back at me, analyzing how I was taking this. I did my best to appear neutral, and genuinely curious, "I have no reason to learn it. And Father learned to stop speaking it around me. It flows from my tongue and feels natural, but...but, 'what use have I to learn it'...he says..."

I could hear the bitterness in his tone. I was surprised he was telling me anything like this, but I wasn't complaining. I was seeing him in a different light, after that smile, and...and I really wanted to see more.

"You shouldn't listen to him."

"Ah...were it that easy, mon chéri."

He sounded...resigned. I wanted to tell him he could totally do whatever he wanted, seeing as he always does at school; but something kept me quiet. Maybe it was the slack way his shoulders fell, or the way his eyes couldn't meet mine anymore. Either way, I didn't correct him. And eventually, he sighed, closing his eyes and leaning back against the wall, sliding down until he sat on the floor. His arms curled around his knees.

"I envy you, you know," he said so quietly, I had to turn my head to hear him, "would that I could smile when I felt content, speak back against the word of a God. However fearful you are, it is nothing compared to the fear of knowing..."

His words ceased.

"Knowing...?"

"Just knowing."

Our eyes met again, and I looked at him with just the tiniest sliver of empathy. Because he really did look broken, right then. The scars, the way his eyes were sunken, his arms holding himself together as though he would fall apart. Where was the wolf? All I saw was a broken boy...

"Now, go."

"Huh?"

He pushed himself up, dusting his pants off as he looked coldly in my direction, "You've served your purpose, now go."

"Hey, what'd I do?"

"Enough. Now go, before I escort you out," he said, crossing his arms, fingernails digging into them. I just glared at him, challengingly.

"Make me."

He rolled his eyes, before walking towards me. Elegant as before, but I noticed the way he walked on the balls of his feet, virtually silent as he stalked towards me. I held tight to the couch, still staring him down. The wolf stared back, but I was unmoved.

Tilting his head, he took a step, pressing it between my legs. I was surprised NS didn't fight back as he knelt down against the couch with his knee, hand lifting to my chin. Frightened, I sat stock still, staring into those threatening eyes that knew so much; and told so little. I couldn't focus on anything except for the scent of fabric softener lingering off him. I tried to tune into it, distract myself from whatever he was going to...

"Mon Petit Rouge, mon naïve sweet...you tempt the Devil with your defiance."

The smooth way his words poured forth gave me chills, and I felt my cheeks redden. The way he was looking at me was unsettling, but I didn't understand...I didn't think I did, at least.

"S-s-so? Lay it on me, I can take it," I thought, this false bravado pushing me forward. Face my fears, alright, just...just do this. He can't hurt you. You know too much.

He looked ponderous, blinking slowly, "Do you understand that of which you speak?...you are giving me permission to do unto you as I desire. Do you acknowledge this?"

I stuttered, "Y...yeah."

His eyes narrowed, "Are you certain you would rather not leave? This is what you want, mon ami...?"

"Cut the crap, speak English, Eddward."

He backed up a little, and...I swear I saw the tiniest smirk crawl onto the corner of his lip, as he leaned in closer. I felt his breath upon my lips.

"My dear, my Little Red, may I kiss you?"

I parted my lips, but nothing came out. He didn't move, though. He didn't steal it, or force it upon me, he simply waited. I knew for a fact, if he'd wanted to, for whatever perverted reason he had, he could do it. Honestly, though I was still in denial about it; face-to-face with him, I couldn't just ignore the truth. I saw the way his eyes hungrily scoured my face, and my heart was rebellious in my chest. A rush of adrenaline pumped through my veins.

"Oui? No?"

"I...maybe...I don't...know why, though...you'd...want to..."

He tilted his head, and his fingertips on my face that I'd nearly forgotten, began to move, tracing the line of my jaw. It felt..it felt really, really confusing.

"Because...I want to, Little Red..." He looked like a child staring longingly at a sweet, and...I was that sweet.

"But I'm-" His fingertips fell over my lips, and I looked into the ice of his eyes.

"Hush...if you do not want this, shake your head...that is all I ask of you..."

I gulped. I was frozen and tense and confused. But the velveteen way he said it just frenzied my mind, and I felt myself unsure. I could have just shaken my head, it was so easy.

But something stopped me, as he leaned forward.

His fingertips left, and in their place, a warmth. He did not move, as I took in what was happening. His hand had frozen on my face, cradling it with a softness I had never expected from him. My eyes screwed shut. I almost felt claustrophobic for a moment, as I held my breath. It...it didn't feel bad, I just...I didn't know what to do. How to react. Or, well, ANYTHING. I was completely at his mercy. He tilted his head, and it felt...soft, as his lips moved further over mine. For just a moment, I...I felt myself enjoy it...

And then he pulled away. My eyes fluttered open and I looked at him: he was red-faced, and apparently just as breathless as I was. I heard his heavy breaths, and watched as his eyes avoided mine. He looked shy for once. I almost could have laughed at the irony of it.

He lifted himself from his awkward position, standing and putting his hands in his pockets. His feet were flat against the floor, his posture imperfect. Had I not been speechless, I'd have commented.

Instead, he stole the air, "...I think it best if you depart now. I've...I've things to do." I wasn't buying it; the blush on his face was darker now, and I wanted to comment on it.

But I also wanted to get the hell out of there before I completely lost my grip on reality.

"Uhh...sure...umm..."

He nodded, "Thank you for your presence this evening."

"N-no problem, I'll just..."

"Farewell."

I saw the faintest hint of a contented line upon his lips as I pushed myself up from the couch. I felt suffocated by the heat in my cheeks, and couldn't help pulling my cap down. I couldn't go straight home, but like hell was I gonna stick around here. I needed some time to think.

I let myself out on auto-pilot, only turning to meet Eddward's eyes before he closed the door.

He hung there for a moment, before it shut. Once it did, I took deep breath.

And completely let go of the fact he'd kissed me.

I'd remember later. For now, I was gonna go take a ride on my bike. This was all too much for me.

Holy fuck.

I dialed her number, still numb from what had occurred before he left.

"Yea'llo?"

"I..." My voice ran off, barely audible.

"...oh. Holy shit you're fucking with me. Holy crap!" A pause, the sounds of her sisters in the distance, "Oh man you've gotta tell me about it! I just thought he was gonna be there for-"

"I know. I did, too...but...my tongue was loose..."

"Yeah right it was! It was your heart speaking for you for once! Ha, this is great!"

"Marie..."

"You're coming over and telling me, and we're totally having a girl's night, girly-girl!"

I snarled, "Marie, cease that this-"

"Blah blah can't hear you gotta go now!" I heard her cackling laughter before the phone went click.

Once I'd put it down...I felt the smile I'd bitten back earlier, return. I relished its warmth. I could still feel his lips, innocent and yielding as they were. That one moment, at the end, where he'd accepted it...

And I'd remembered how terrible a fate I am to inflict upon someone.

And ended it.

I...regretted it. Regretted the kiss, regretted its end, and thoroughly regretted who I had to be.

I'd wanted to continue it, but I couldn't.

I was...too afraid.