Chapter 10 – Meeting

BPOV

I spoke with who I hoped was truly Edward. "Could you meet me at your house? I need to talk to you." Looking out the window, the Volvo was still here and it was whisper quiet. Charlie wouldn't wake up from the engine turning over. "Of course. I'll meet you there." I nodded, "Alright." With that, I hung up the phone. My heart was pounding in my ears. What am I doing? I was getting myself involved in a ridiculous matter or I was going to get myself killed.

If he were Edward, he wouldn't hurt me. But if he wasn't, I might be seeing Edward very soon. Either way, I was going to be with Edward. I went to my room and changed into Edward's favorite pair of jeans and a pair of sneakers. I was seeing Edward either way, so let him see me in one of his favorite outfits.

Looking the black window, I reminded myself that I've done this before. Opening the window, I climbed out onto the slopping roof and leaped onto the grass. It was a bit of a jump, but I was used to it, when I used sneak out to see Edward. I smiled at the memory; he was a bad influence on me. The night air was a little warm as the summer got closer. I got into the Volvo, turned the engine and drove to his house. The headlights shined across the empty living room windows.

I could barely breathe as I turned off the engine. Was he here? "Ok, you can do this." The car door opened and everything was pitch-black in the night as I ran into the house. Once inside, I turned on the lamp and waited. I couldn't sit still. This was stupid. I could be getting myself killed. What if this really was a vampire? I could making myself his midnight snack.

To calm myself down, I put on some music and sat on the couch. My foot tapped impatiently while I waited. The clock seemed to be moving backwards as it ticked off the seconds. This was insane. I should leave before he gets here. Fear was taking a tight grasp on me. I got up from the couch, but my body refused to move. I had to know if this was Edward.

It wasn't long before I wasn't alone. A gentle breeze blew at my hair. I turned towards the door. My teeth chattered quietly as the stranger moved across the room. He looked as though he was gliding over the floor, rather than walking. When he came into the light, my heart stopped.

It started again when I saw his eyes; they were more golden, with a red undertone. My teeth sank into my lip, trying to keep them from chattering. I forgot how much he looked like Edward. "Bella?" I exhaled as he said my name. The single word was wrapped up in the gentle caress of his voice. "Edward? It that really you?"

He smirked the same crooked smile that made my blood boil, "Yes, it is. Trust me." He took a step closer to me and I didn't move. His movements were so fluid that it was hard to ignore.

My breath staggered a bit, "How do I know? I'm sorry, but how do I know you're m..." I stuttered the word, "my Edward?" The stranger stared at me, "Besides the fact that I know you're wearing my grandmother's ring, which I wrote that I wanted you to have it. That I wanted to marry you. Ok, something else then." He paced the room, then looked at me, "You were born here in Forks, but you're mom took you and moved to California. You're a Virgo and love sapphires instead of diamonds. When we met, you thought I was the most arrogant person you've ever met."

I smiled at the memory, "Well, so far so good." Ok, so he knew a few facts about me. Not enough proof. I looked at him, "Now, some things about you?" He sighed, "I'm from Chicago. I was named after my father, who died from a drunk driver. The reason my mom and I moved to Forks was because her parents were from here." Right again. He continued, "And some things of the things I love about you. The way your eyes change in the sunlight, they look hazel. The way red shines in your hair in the sun. Or the way you blush when I say your name. And the night I spent at your place when Charlie was gone. For me, it was perfect, because you told me you love me for the first time."

I gasped as I listened. This had to be Edward. "Bella, even now, you're tempting me beyond all reason." He eyed the jeans I was wearing. Edward, if this really was Edward moved closer to me and placed his hands on my waist. The feel of his hands were hard. He looked into my eyes, "I love your body, mind and soul. I've told you this and I'll say it again, you are the most beautiful person I know."

My mouth fell open; Edward told me that hundreds of times. I bit my lip hard. The way his hands cupped around my waist was the same way Edward held me. My body wanted to lean into his badly, to close the space between us. This was Edward. He wasn't dead. He was alive and waiting for me. I knew it in my heart that this was Edward, but I had to be sure and now I am.

"Edward?" I whispered his name and tears well in my eyes. He was here. His white thumb brushed along my cheekbone, brushing away the tears. This finger left a cool trail on my skin, "Yes, Bell?" My body wanted to collapse into his. I could hold back my tears. This was so unreal. This past few months seemed like hell on Earth and, all the while, Edward was here. My heart slammed in my chest, why did this happen to us? We were so happy together.

"What happened to you? Why are you like this?" I gestured to his body. He looked down, "It's too weird for you to understand." "Try me," I shrugged. He stared at me, "I'm not supposed to talk about it. If anything, you're supposed to figure it out on your own." A vampire would say that. I stared at him, "Well, you're in lucky because I have a theory. Are you a cold one, like the ones from Jacob's legends?" Edward stared silently, "If you are, then are you restricted from going to La Push?"

A smile grew across his face, "That's my little detective." I smiled wryly, "So, I'm right." Edward was a vampire. His skin was cold and hard and he had no heartbeat. He wasn't human. "I was attacked by other vampires. They were nomads." His eyes closed, "I remember the one who killed Mom. When we leave..." He trailed off suddenly. My eyes narrowed for a moment, "We? There are more of you?"

My mind automatically thought of Alice. He looked at me with a pleading expression, "I can't talk about that. Please Bell, don't worry about that." We stared at each other and more tears fell. Edward brushed my cheek again, "You know I hate it when you cry." I shuttered from the cold touch but didn't flinch away from him. His cool breath blew against my face and the smell of it was irresistibly sweet. In my mind, I knew I should be running away, but I didn't want to. This was Edward, my Edward.

Instinctively, I leaned closer to him and felt the cold coming off of his skin. What has happened to Edward couldn't be as bad as it seemed. He was standing right here in front of me. I must be foolish, I was standing here with a vampire for goodness sake. He may be Edward, but he might be hungry. His body stiffened and his hands fell from my waist, "Bella. I shouldn't be this close to you. I could hurt you." My eyes cast down for a moment, "You could never hurt me."

A cold finger tilted my head upward to look him in the face. We stared into each other's eyes, like we always did. Edward was here, he wasn't dead. Vampires were considered the undead, an unholy being that walked the Earth, hunting for helpless prey. That was what was standing before me. This was someone I loved more than anything in the world. We stared as our faces moved closer together. His lips lightly pressed mine. This kiss was different; my lips shaped themselves to his.

His lips were hard and cold, but they still showed passion. His tongue was cold as ice as it touched mine. My old habits took over as my fingers twined in his hair. One arm curved under his. His arms came around me and held me closer to him. They were cold and hard, but to me, they were just as strong as I remembered. He pulled me closer to him, his hold was too tight, but I didn't say anything.

Our kiss deepened as other urges took over. Edward slowly walked over to the couch taking me with him. He laid back on the couch, pulling me on top of him. My body was on his, feeling him. His chest was harder than a boulder, but that didn't stop me. I've missed him terribly, wishing for something like this. Edward's cold hands drifted under my shirt and I flinched. My mouth was hot against his, devouring the delicious flavor of him. His hands pulled opened the front of my shirt, sending the buttons flying across the room.

Edward's fingers drifted over my skin, grazing over my ribs. He pressed kisses into my neck and his thumb drifted over the lace of my bra. My back arced, pushing my chest into his. Edward pulled me roughly into his hold and I groaned. His hold became too much. His fingers were pressing too much into my skin.

Edward released me. He let me stand up as he looked away from me, "Bella, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have done that. It's just that…. Well, that's no excuse." I was trying to catch my breath. My body was screaming for his, but things were different now. Edward and I were different and he was stronger than me. I smiled at him, "Edward, it's fine. I'm not hurt. Please don't be upset." My hand reached out to touch his shoulder, but he stepped away from me, "Bella, I can't touch you. I may hurt you. I'm still too strong." He wouldn't even look at me. I sat on the couch, waiting for him to calm down. Finally, he looked back at me. My hands closed my shirt, "Please, don't go."

Edward and I sat in the living room for several hours, just talking. He went to his room and returned with one of his shirts. He looked away as I quickly changed. He told me about what he is able to do as a vampire. There were times he had to backtrack, as if he was hiding something from me.

"So, you've been near by this whole time?" I asked. "Yes, but I couldn't come near you. Even now, you're a temptation, in more ways than one. Your scent is so sweet. I'm controlling myself from not…." he grimaced. I leaned away from him, "I'm sorry, I didn't know." He shook his head, "It doesn't matter. Even though your scent is amazing, I still care about you too much to hurt you like that."

I looked at him, "You still love me?" He stared into my eyes, "I told you I did. That's why I did what I did. When I realize what happened to me, I wanted to make sure it wouldn't happen to you. I watched you constantly." My eyebrows shot up, "You've been stalking me?" Edward made a face, "If you want to call it that." I scoffed happily at him. "When I saw Damien hit you, I wanted to…" he didn't finish his sentence, but I knew what he wanted to say.

I sniffed, "Well, if you didn't come, I would have hit him back myself and come here. I don't know what I was thinking going with him. Now, he's looking for me at school to collaborate his story. But Charlie said not go near him. He wants me to press charges on him for the assault."

Edward breathed, "I know." I looked to him, "You do?" He looked away, "Yea, I told you I watch you. By the way, is it true you punched Lauren?" I looked at him, "Yes." "In the mouth?" he asked skeptically. I grimaced and nodded. His smile grew, "Kept your thumb around your fingers?" A laugh burst out of me, "Just like you taught me." Edward's head fell back as he laughed. "And some of her blood was on my hand." I never told Charlie that. "Damn, my girl's a scrapper!" I laughed harder, hearing the pride in Edward's voice.

While we spoke, something else crossed my mind, but it was probably something he couldn't talk about. The clock chimed 4am. I looked at it, seeing the time with my own two eyes, "I need to get going. I have school in the morning." I stood and so did he, "I'll follow you."

Taking a chance, I stepped closer to him, "You don't have to do that." He exhaled and the scent of his breath made my head whirl, "Bella, I have to tell you, there were some nights I snuck into your house and watched you sleep." I huffed, "You did? No wonder…." I raised my hand to his cheek, but he pulled back. I didn't let that upset me, "There were some nights I felt you were there with me." We stared at each other and he groaned.

He leaned closer and kissed me. I controlled myself this time. I've missed this so much; having him with me. I needed Edward like I needed oxygen. Ignoring his qualms, I took his hand. He looked down seeing my hand in his. His fingers squeezed mine as we walked outside. He opened the door and helped me into the car. "Edward, you don't have to run. Get in the car." He smiled, "I prefer running. You drive too slow for my taste anyway." I scowled and started the engine.

In the night, I couldn't see anything beyond the headlights, but I knew he was out there. When I pulled into my driveway, my door was being opened and Edward was there. It was so easy to forget that I had to maintain some distance from him. "Oh no," I said looking up at the house. "What?" I looked at him, "I don't have my keys." In my haste to see him, I forgot them on my nightstand.

Edward chuckled once, "Can I try something? But you'll have to trust me." My eyebrows rose, "Ok…" He smiled and held his arms open, "Come here." I stepped closer to him and he took me up in his arms. He smiled at me, "Just hold on." My arms curved around his neck. He held my weight one arm and he scaled the house. I looked down to see the ground moving further away.

He leap into my bedroom window and sat me on the bed. "Wow," I breathed. Edward stood by the window, staring, almost studying me. "What?" I finally asked, feeling self-conscious. He shook his head, "I cannot hear you." My eyebrows furrowed, "What? We've been talking all night." He smiled, "I mean your mind. I have a special ability of hearing people's thoughts and I cannot hear anything from you. From here, I'm getting a fairly good glimpse at Charlie's dreams, but you, nothing. I don't know why that is."

Was there something wrong with me? "Wow, you can read minds?" I said, trying to lighten the mood. I yawned unwillingly, "I'm sorry. I really should get to sleep." Edward watched me as I got up and pulled out my pajamas. "I'll step out while you change."

I shook my head, "You don't have to." Edward stayed while I changed and climbed into bed. He sat in the rocking chair, moving it back and forth. "Could you come here?" I asked. Edward came and sat on the bed. I watched him timidly as I leaned my head against his chest. His arms wrapped around me. "Good night, Bella," he whispered. "Good night, Edward. I love you." He kissed my cheek, "I love you too." It was cold and hard, but I didn't care. I had Edward back and I was happy.