Chapter 11 – Comforting

EPOV

I watched Bella while she slept in my arms. She slept peacefully as she did before. Her scent set my throat ablaze. Using a great deal of concentration, I ignored the burning. It was a good thing I hunted before I met with her. Knowing Bella, it took a great deal of faith to trust that I wouldn't hurt her. Her warm breath blew against my skin. In my mind, my skin should be producing goose bumps, but none came. The thin fabric of Bella's pajamas did nothing to keep her skin protected from my cold touch. She began to shiver in her sleep. I moved and tucked the quilt around her. She curled into the quilt and sighed contently.

A small smile curved her lips as she sleep. Soon, the deep sleep took over and her mumblings came. I laughed as she muttered about her dreams. "Edward," she moaned quietly. My hand touched her cheek, "I'm right here, Bell." She exhaled deeply, "Stay. Stay, I miss you." My lips lightly touched her temple, "Where else would I be?" The night passed in peace and the sun began to color the sky. Down the hall, Charlie was waking up. Hearing his thoughts, I hid in her closet as her bedroom door creaked open. Bella was still fast asleep as Charlie checked in on her.

The alarm clock went off and Bella groaned. Her hand slammed on the clock, knocking it to the floor. She moaned into her pillow, annoyed with the constant buzzing. I took up the clock and silenced it. Her eyebrows pulled together as she looked at me. I smiled as her eyebrows pulled together. She was cute in the morning when she didn't remember anything.

"Oh, right," she mumbled. She exhaled and pulled her legs out of the bed. My hand held the side of her face and she jumped a bit. My hand pulled away quickly and she looked up at me, "No, don't. I just woke up." Her body wasn't used to feeling something so cold. My eyes cast down, comparing the difference in the colors of our skin. She was a healthy pink, while I was a pale, dead white.

Bella stood up and her hand held mine, "You ok?" I shook my head, not wanting to look at her. Bella leaned against my chest, her body heat coursing through my body. Her scent attacked my very core, making the monster inside rage for blood. No, not hers. She was too good for this kind of life. Bella brushed her head against me, "I better get dressed for school." She tried to muffle her yawn. "Maybe you should stay home today. You didn't get much sleep." She smiled sweetly, "Wouldn't be the first time I stayed up all night talking to you."

Before walking out the front door, Bella was frowning, "When will I see you again?" My hand rested on hers, "Sooner than you think. Now, get going." While she drove to school, I took the opportunity to hunt. There was a small herd of deer in the trees between her house and the school. Their blood satisfied my hunger, but it did nothing to wash away the temptation of Bella's blood.

In the parking lot, cars were filling in the spots, including Alice. She looked into the trees, exactly where I was standing. She pulled out her cell phone and held it to her ear, "Edward, I hope you know what you're doing. You're still young and Bella's scent is strong. Please, please be careful." I nodded, "I will be Alice."

I watched as Bella parked next to Alice. She was smiling beautifully for the first time in a long time. Bella was happy again and I was able to hold her in my arms again. It didn't seem to bother her that my arms were cold and hard. She seemed content to be with me. Even when I held her a little too tight, she wasn't scared of me. Did she consider what I could do to her if I was careless? As I leaned in the trees, watching Bella and Alice talking, there were the faint sounds of someone's approach. Their approach was coming up fast through the trees.

Emmett and Carlisle found me in the treetops. Carlisle looked troubled, while Emmett looked angry. "What's the matter?" Had something happen? Carlisle glanced over my shoulder. He was assessing Bella. He could hear the happy tone of her voice as she laughed with Alice. "How was it last night?" It was difficult to pull together an answer as Emmett's mind bombarded mine, Are you insane? You revealed yourself to her. Do you know what that means for her now?

I looked at him, "What would it mean for her? I never told her what I really was; she figured it out for herself. I didn't tell her about any of you either." Carlisle's eyes closed in sheer relief, "That's good, but Edward, she is human and you're very young in this life. You could hurt her." I sighed, "I know this already. I held my breath for most of the night, but when I did, I suppressed the other urges. I won't hurt her, Carlisle." My mind brought of me holding her a too tightly. I could have so easily killed her then. Emmett's face was hard and impassive. He felt Carlisle was letting me off too easy.

"Edward, I know you love her and that will stay with you, but you must be careful. There are others out there who will not understand your desire to stay with her and keep her human," Carlisle explained. "Just make sure this is what you want for her." I contemplated that. Bella loving a vampire; is that a good thing for her? It was painful, but Bella didn't belong with me anymore. I was too selfish to give her up just yet. If I could have a little more time with her, then I could tell her goodbye. That was a failed mission before it even started.

"Edward, again, I understand why you couldn't stay away from her, but you must be careful. Also, I think, maybe she should at least know about Alice. If Bella was smart enough to figure out what you were, she may have realized the similarities in Alice, since they have been spending more time together." I nodded, "Alright, but I won't bring it up unless she does." Carlisle nodded, "That's fair."

Carlisle patted Emmett's shoulder, "Come on, son. This has been handled." Emmett glanced at Carlisle, "Ok, but I'm warning you now, Edward. Rosalie doesn't know anything about this. If she did, she would be handing you your head. If you want to be with Bella, we know others that can change her for you." My eyes steeled as I stared at him, "Don't even joke about that, Emmett." The words came out with a hiss. "Just keep Rosalie off my back and I'll keep Bella away from all of this."

Emmett nodded, "All right. I really do hope you know what you're doing." Emmett sped off into the trees, kicking up a trail of leaves and bracken behind him. Carlisle shook his head, "Sorry about that. You know Emmett has very little tact. I'll see you at home later." Carlisle leapt off the branch and went off into a different direction.

Turning my attention back to the school, Bella was speaking with Angela now. Angela noticed her happier mood. "Aren't you excited? You're leaving for Dartmouth in a few weeks." Bella was beaming, "Yes. I can't wait. It is going to be so great." The bell rang and the girls went off for their classes. The morning went by and I watched my lucky charm through the eyes of the students that went by her. Bella and Angela were at lunch talking, when Damien came up to the table. Bella's smile fell as he looked at her so-called prom date. "Bella, we need to talk now." I saw red, seeing him near her. Sprinklings of bark and wood fell to the forest floor as my hand dug into the tree.

Bella sighed slowly, "About what? I have nothing to say to you and you know you're not supposed to be near me." Damien stood back for a moment, "It's important." Bella shook her head, "Go away." Bella got up from the table and Damien grabbed her arm. Angela gasped and Mike and Tyler stood up from their seats. I would have to find a away to thank them for standing to help Bella. She looked down at Damien's hand on her wrist, "Get your hand off me or you'll be spending the night in jail. And remember, my dad would be more than happy to do it." Damn, this girl is a pain in the ass.

He released her and Bella left the cafeteria. Tyler and Mike still stared Damien down. Right now, Damien was all alone. Not even our friends on the basketball team were taking up for him. Bella came out in to the parking lot, standing in the brief sunlight. The subtle color of red was bright in her hair. She was breathing deeply as she turned her eyes towards the sky. Deliberately, I snapped a branch and the crack echoed through the trees

Bella looked through the forest, as if she was searching. She walked over to my car, which was parked by the forest's edge. Bella leaned against the car door and folded her arms. I ghosted to the forest's edge, "Bella?" She looked up, "Edward." She smiled at me, then waved her hand, "No, get back." "Come here," I answered her. She looked back to the school, then walked into the forest.

I leaned against a tree while as she came over to me. "Edward, this isn't safe. What are you doing?" I smiled and held my arms open for her. She happily met my embrace. I brushed her hair back, "Don't worry about Damien. He won't be bothering you much longer." She smiled up at me, "I know. Will you come by tonight?"

She looked at me with her large brown eyes and leaned her head against my chest; how could I resist? "Yes." I looked up, hearing the buzz of thoughts getting louder, "Angela is heading out to come and look for you. Get going." My hand patted her lower back, drifting downward. Bella's body jerked against mine and she tried not to laugh, "Stop it." I gestured for her to go back to the parking lot, but she lingered for a moment. Her head tilted back, looking up at me. Her lips were slightly parted and it was nearly irresistible. My lips lowered down on hers. Bella gasped lightly as I kissed her.

She inhaled deeply and her hand rested on my shoulder, moving to hold the side of my neck. My lips parted hers and her breath was on my tongue. She tasted as sweet as I imagined, but this couldn't go on. She was in danger of being near me. I ended the kiss and her eyes were dreamy as she looked at me. I exhaled slowly, trying to get my body in control, "Go Bell. I'll see you later."

BPOV

I went through the rest of my school day in a haze. Edward's kiss was flooding my mind. I wish I could have stayed with him. Not even Damien was upsetting me. Threatening him with jail was fun. If I even mention to Charlie that he touched me, cop cars would be waiting outside of his house.

My last class ended and I walked out to the parking lot. "Hey, Bella." Tyler was half-running toward me. I smiled, "Hey Tyler." He paused in front of me, "Hey, you ok?" My eyebrows pulled together for a moment, not knowing what he was talking about. Edward's kiss washed away every angry thought from my mind. "Oh," I said, finally realizing, "yea, I'm fine. And thank you for standing up for me. I really appreciate you and Mike doing that." Tyler shook his head, "Hey, I was hoping he would do something. I've wanted to knock that guy out for a long time."

A loud laugh escaped and Tyler joined me. "Don't worry, I got him pretty good on prom night. That's why he's got a bruise on his cheek." Tyler half-hugged me, "Ok, see you later, slugger." Mike waved from his car and I waved back. Despite these past few months, I was going to miss Forks when I leave.

At home, I began to work on Charlie's dinner. Closing the broiler, cool hands were holding my waist. My body straightened up quickly and spun around, looking into blood-orange eyes. A smile grew on my face. My fingers lightly touched his face, "Are your eyes changing color?" I noticed they were different from the first night I saw him. Before, they were a bloody gold, but now they're different.

Edward smiled, "Yes. The blood from the animals is changing them. Soon, they'll be gold." I huffed for a moment; his eyes will be gold. Gold like Alice. I turned away from him to set the table, "Edward? Umm? I just want to know…" I hesitated. He brushed my cheek, "Yes?"

I exhaled, afraid to ask the question. Would he tell me the truth? "Well, umm. That first night, you mentioned "we'd be leaving." I was wondering, whose we? I mean are there other vampires that feed on the blood of animals? Like, umm, did you choose to drink animal's blood on your own?" His hand fell from my face, "Bella…" He turned his head quickly, "Charlie's home. Later." He kissed my forehead, then he was suddenly gone. Saved by the bell, I thought to myself.

Charlie and I ate dinner in silence as we had before. I read my Jane Austen, while he read the newspaper. After cleaning, I went straight to my room. Charlie didn't really bother me after dinner since Edward's memorial. He could see I was getting better, but he still kept a distance. I sat on my bed, staring at the floor. My foot swung just an inch over the floor.

I must have scared Edward off. The thought of Edward gone again brought back my depression. Wanting to distract myself, I got my bag of toiletries and took a long shower. The warm water cascaded down my skin. It soaked through my hair, leaving it almost black. After changing and brushing my teeth, I went back into my room. In my room, I turned and Edward was sitting in my rocking chair. My bag fell out of my hand when I jumped.

"Edward," I said breathlessly. He held out his arms for me again. I guess he wasn't that mad. I sat in his lap, "I thought you were mad at me." He rocked us back and forth, "No. It's just that I was waiting for you to ask. You figured everything else out so fast." He kissed my hair as we sat together. Edward groaned lightly. His arms didn't let me move away from his chest. I wanted to see why he made that noise.

"So…" He exhaled and his cold breath saturated my hair, "Well, I think you may know this as well." I bit my lip; this was going to be hard to word. And so, I said one thing, "Alice?" He chuckled, "No wonder you got into Dartmouth." I pulled back, ignoring his hold and looked at in the face, "She is?" He nodded, "For a long time now."

My eyes fell from his face. My hand covered my mouth in shock. Thinking of other thing from school, I continued, "Jasper & Rosalie Hale?" He stared at me and I read it in his face. "Emmett Cullen?" my voice got higher. He sighed, "Yes." I huffed loudly, "Does that include Dr. & Mrs. Cullen?" He hugged me closer, "You got them all, honey." My eyes blinked wildly, seeing the truth in front of me and never realizing it. "That's why they kept to themselves in school. And why all of them were so attractive."

My head tilted so I would face him, "Yes. We look more attractive to lure in our prey." My eyes fell, "Your prey?" I questioned. He stroked my cheek, "Yes. Vampires are beautiful to lure in humans so that we can…. " he trailed off. I nodded, "Ohh, I get it." I huffed, "Wow. What kind of town is this?"

He laughed once and it rumbled through his chest, "Tell me about it." I leaned my head against his chest again and he rocked us in the chair. I listened to him breathing and felt his finger moving along the contours of my spine. I could stay here all night, but more questions were coming to mind.

A yawn escaped and Edward lifted me in his arms, "You should get some rest." Before I could protest, Edward was placing me in my bed. "No, I want to talk." He patted my hair and his fingers grazed my lips, "Tomorrow, you were up late last night." He kissed my forehead and turned for the window.

My hand tugged his wrist, "Don't go, please." He smiled his crooked smile and got in to bed, pulling me into his arms, "Sleep, Bell. I won't leave you." I smiled in the dark, "You promise?" We stared into each other's eyes. His lips pressed into my temple, "I promise. I won't leave you again." With that, I fell asleep in his cold arms, happier than I've ever been.