AN: Sup folks? I've got a crazy few weeks ahead of me and I have no idea when I'll be able to write, so I'm jamming some in ASAP while I still can.
I woke the next morning feeling almost worse than when I'd run the marathon on the weekend. It definitely happened then. I was attacked, and then miraculously saved, again, by Edward Cullen. We'd had an entire car ride together full of questions and admissions. I was absolutely certain of a few things now. First of all, he was a vampire. He was a strong, fast, pale, thirsting after blood, actual vampire. Secondly, he seemed to be attracted to my blood, although since he could have already killed me a million times over, I wasn't overly concerned about that part. And third of all, we seemed to be sort of approaching dating. At least that was my take on it. We seemed to be sharing, spending time together, and being worried about each other. That was sort of dating right? I'd had little to no experience in the matter so I wasn't overly sure. I looked towards my desk. In the daylight I could actually study this new office chair I'd acquired. It was a black leather, with a purple stitch. It actually did match what little décor I had in my room. I shook my head, wondering which of his siblings I'd have to pay for this expensive looking gem. When I got dressed and hauled myself downstairs I was surprised to see Charlie still there.
"Hey dad, what are you still doing here?" I asked. "Not that it's not good to see you."
"Morning Bella." he grumbled. "Did you hear what happened last night in Port Angeles?"
I turned around slowly, hoping my confusion would be attributed to tiredness.
"No?" I said slowly. "But I don't hear much these days." I tried to joke.
"Four guys were assaulted, and dropped unconscious on the steps of the police building. All of them had outstanding warrants for arrest." he shook his head in amazement. It took me a second to come up with an appropriately 'Bella' response.
"So what you're telling me is Batman moved to Port Angeles?"
"Funny Bella. Hilarious." He grumbled, signing 'funny' in a very sarcastic way. I was actually proud of him for that. He suddenly stood up and grabbed me into a hug, a tight one which squeezed my sore ribs and I made sure not to make a noise of pain. Charlie rarely did show outward bursts of emotion. This must have gotten him really upset. "You were there last night. If this guy who rounded these men up wasn't there... I mean, you're a trouble magnet Bella. You could have easily been attacked, or worse. I never thought your luck would be so bad and so strong." I heard every word he had to say, as his mouth was at my ear. I hugged back, breathing through the pain.
"Dad, I'm okay. I promise you. The only scrapes I've got to show are from the acquisition of a chair." Not a lie. "Besides, I was with Angela and Jess, shopping, not fighting crime in a dark alleyway. I'm good." Still not a lie in sight. I was doing pretty well.
He straightened up, nodding, grabbing his jacket from the back of the chair.
"I'll probably be out late tonight Bells, Billy invited me over for a pre-game dinner. You're welcome to come of course."
"Football and fish? No thanks. I'll be fine. I'll spend the evening with Angela again or something." I said, waving at him as he made his way to the door. After he left I ate my cereal, staring out of the kitchen window at the foggy green trees, thinking about my crime-fighting duo. A model-like doctor and his model-like 4.0 GPA son. Not the most likely candidates for the next Bruce and Dick combo. Still, thinking about Edward in superhero get-up was sort of hilarious, and yet kind of sexy somehow. I shook my head at my own musings and checked my watch. I was going to be late for school. I grabbed my school bag, jacket, and keys, and then headed outside. The fog surrounding the house was so thick that I almost missed the person resting on the hood of my truck. For a second it truly scared me, and then I relaxed when I recognised the tan jacket and bronze hair.
"Edward?" I asked, in more of a surprised acknowledgment than a question. He smiled, signing a 'good morning' in return.
"I forgot you do that now." I squinted my eyes at him, semi-disapproving at how quickly he'd picked up ASL, and half honoured that he'd done it for me. I unlocked my truck, and he opened the cab door for me. "Did you run here?"
"Yes. Could I catch a ride with you this morning Miss Swan?" he asked, grinning.
"Coulda texted me a heads up." I grumbled, then changed tact. "So we're definitely officially beyond the ignoring each other for fun then?" I asked with a cheeky grin. He rolled his eyes at me, as if that should have been obvious. "Sure you can ride with me. Is the Bat-mobile in for cleaning?"
After I had climbed in, and closed my door, he had whipped around the truck and situated himself into the passenger seat. His door slammed only seconds after mine.
"Can I clarify something?" he asked, looking amused. I flashed a 'go ahead' at him, as I turned on the truck and began backing out. "Is it the bat-mobile because of last night's escapade, or because you believe I can turn into a bat?"
I laughed aloud. I hadn't even considered that. "Well can you?"
"It isn't one of my talents, no." he chuckled. Then his face grew serious. "The Volvo is fine. Being driven in by my siblings today."
I was causing discord in his family. I could sense that. The once solid unit of the Cullen household had fractured, and I was the cause. We were quiet for a few moments as I drove, thinking, and then he spoke up again.
"No twenty questions today?"
"Do my questions bother you?" I countered, glancing quickly to the side. He was studying me. I looked hurriedly ahead again; glad to have the road to focus on.
"Not as much as your reactions."
"I react badly?"
"The opposite. You take everything so -" he said, quieting down for the last word. I wouldn't press him on it. I knew what he had intended.
"Well what do you expect me to do? Throw holy water and get out the garlic press?" I glanced over to see his scowl.
"Miss."
"Did you say 'miss'?" I asked, looking back at the road, and signing an 's' with my left hand.
"Legend." He re-stated louder. Ah, myth.
"So no bats, no garlic, no holy water, I'm guessing crosses and silver don't do any good either. Obviously you come out in the daytime... They didn't get much right at all did they?"
He signed a simple 'no' within my field of view, and the rest of the short trip was silent. As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw Angela getting out of her car, and looking over at me, and then the shock registering on her face as she realised I was not alone. She smiled to herself, and continued getting her things together, leaning on her car, and no doubt waiting for me. I blushed, thinking about how I was supposed to explain this.
"So what exactly should I be telling people about why you're in my truck this morning?" I asked as I pulled into a space a few cars down from Angela. Edward stared at me, looking slightly confused, as if he hadn't thought this all the way through.
"You could say that my siblings and I fought. They left me on the side of the road, and you took pity." He smiled at me, though his smile was dark.
"That isn't overly far from the truth is it?" I asked him, looking straight into his amber eyes. He looked calm, and distant, and he only broke my stare as he began to get out of the truck.
"Can I ask one more before you go?" I chimed, hoping to lighten the suddenly dark mood. He looked back at me, cautious, but optimistic.
"Do you spy on me through others at school?" I had thought back to him laughing at Tyler's proposal to go to the dance, and the strange circumstances which had led to Tyler's ability to ask me at all. Edward's face suddenly lit up in a shameless grin.
"I'll see you at lunch." He evaded, and walked away from the truck, towards the cafeteria. I glared at his retreating form for a few seconds as I got out of my truck and made my way to Angela. We walked through the fog together to our first class.
"So, you found a chair you like?" She started.
"Yeah. It's surprisingly nice. Even matches my limited décor," I laughed. Which reminded me, I still needed to fork out some money for that. I frowned slightly, wondering how to broach that subject with Edward at lunch, and then Angela nudged me.
"Okay, I'm not normally pushy, but I am kind of curious…" she said gently, leaving her sentence open-ended. I chuckled, and repeated Edward's story about being kicked out of his car by his family. I tried not to enjoy it, but it did bring up some funny mental images. Angela smiled, and hoped aloud that they wouldn't fight for long. My mood darkened slightly then.
"I have a feeling it'll be a long and drawn out fight. I think they're fighting about me." I confided. If Edward was listening, then he'd hear my fears. If not, at least Angela could console me.
"Why would you think that?" she asked as we neared the building.
"I don't think his family likes change much, and I'm introducing a lot of it." I said, forlornly. Understatement of the year. I was adding uncertainty, some good old fashioned danger, exposure risk and most of all, potential for murder into their lives. Excellent start.
"I think it's worth it." Angela said, and then stopped, to hug me. "I think you're worth it." She gave me her usual binder of school notes that I could copy in the morning, and we parted ways.
My morning went smoothly enough after that, until Trigonometry. Apparently Jessica had noticed me with Edward Cullen this morning as well, which I was less prepared for. As soon as I entered the classroom I saw her curly hair bobbing in anxiousness, waiting to get the scoop. I'd miss everything she said unless I did this right. I winked at her conspiratorially and held up a 'be patient' finger. She settled down a little, and I got out a piece of paper, writing the word 'Go' in messy script at the top, and sliding it back to her. I also took out an identical sheet and began copying equations from Angela's notes.
When she slid it back to me, it said:
You and Edward Cullen ate lunch together last week, and now show up together for school this morning? What is going on? Are you two dating?
I smiled, and wondered how mad Edward could possibly get if I elaborated a little.
I suppose so. Apparently he was kicked out of his car this morning by his siblings. I pulled over and picked him up cause he looked mad walking to school.
Why would they be fighting?
Why would I know?
I thought I did, but I wasn't going to admit that. Apparently this wasn't enough of a diversion for her.
So are you two DATING?
She asked bluntly. I put my pen on the paper, and then folded it under the other one, writing another equation as Mr. Varner turned around again. When he was looking back at the board, writing his lesson down again, I answered Jessica's question.
I think we're having lunch together today. And he offered to drive me to Seattle Saturday. Does that count?
YES! 3 W.O.W. Edward Cullen.
Tell me about it.
I shook my head in disbelief. Other than the absolutely impossible bad luck, and my apparent skill of mental silence, I couldn't figure out the attraction. I was average, even a little on the overweight side since my months of bed rest. My hair was brown, eyes were brown, skin was just as pale as everyone else in this sunless town. I had – in the words of Jane Austen – no money and no prospects. And he was… well… everything else.