Edwards Point of View
I quickly crept up Bella's wall and into her bedroom window to face her sitting on her bed; legs crossed seemingly awaiting my arrival.
"This is why I wait to come here now, love. You have already lost," I glanced over to her alarm clock for just an instant and continued, "three hours of much needed sleep."
"No. I don't need sleep. I need you. Besides, how do you think I am supposed to get any sleep worrying that if I have a nightmare, you won't be here when I wake up?"
She had me there. I strode over to her bedside and slipped my arms around her, scooping her up to cradle her in my arms. I slipped her underneath the covers and lay facing her. Usually, I would lay her so that I could smell her hair while she slept, but tonight, she wouldn't have it. She sat up instantly, as did I, but only as a reflex. She grabbed the sides of her head and looked kind of dizzy.
"Bella, what's wrong? You're not yourself. Are you feeling alright?" I hoped she couldn't sense too much worry in my voice. I knew she hated that.
"No... no, I'm fine. Really." Only, she didn't sound too convincing. I knew something bad would come of this. "I just sat up too quickly. Anyway, I just think that no matter what Charlie says, you shouldn't have to avoid my house. You're perfectly welcome here. Charlie knows that." She paused for a moment and continued, "I mean that as in, I hope you will start coming in earlier, like as soon as Charlie is out. I hate having to stay up to wait for you. And you know as well as I do that I can't simply fall asleep without you with me. I've grown too accustomed to it." With that, she snuggled into my chest as we sat listening to the quiet for just a moment.
"I know Bella. It's just-" Charlie's station radio went off, ever so quietly, just loud enough to wake Charlie, but not quite loud enough for Bella to hear. Then Charlie's snoring stopped. I wasn't sure if Bella noticed, but I sat on her bed listening intently for my queue to speak again.
Dammit! What now? The force can't handle a simple car accident without me? It's not even within city limits. It's almost two in the morning. Humph... I hope Bella's sleeping alright. I hate that I worry so much. I just... and Edward just... my little girl's heart... I swear if he even pretends to make a sign of leaving again...
I simply let the rest of Charlie's thoughts fade as I listened to him crawl out of bed and put on his uniform. Bella started to encourage me to continue, but I quickly put my finger over her soft lips to shush her and when she heard Charlie's bedroom door open, she stared at her door, almost afraid. I instantly hid in her closet at Charlie's thoughts and Bella quickly laid down pulling her comforter over herself right as Charlie peeked in the door.
My sweet Bella. What on earth did I do to deserve such a beautiful angel? I thought the same thing everyday. Would it be too ridiculous to call Renee and thank her for giving me such a beautiful daughter.
Charlie slipped out Bella's door and down the stairs. I waited, not moving, until I heard him pull out of the driveway. As soon as Bella sat up, I was laying her back down to face me so that maybe, she would fall asleep. Maybe she didn't notice, but we did have school the next day and cranky Bella is no fun for anyone.
"Bella. I love you. I'm here. I just want to give your dad some space. It's hard for him, you know? You can't even imagine what he was thinking when he poked his head in here just a minute ago. He's just worried about you. And with good reason, too."
Bella didn't even have to ask. The question was written all over her face. But I felt like telling her was like invading in her relationship with Charlie. I mean, if he wanted to tell her, that's fine. But my telling her felt kind of wrong. Then again, how could I not give in to those big chocolate eyes, refusing to shut without an answer?
"He thought, and I quote this, 'What on earth did I do to deserve such a beautiful angel?' Which I tend to ask myself all the time."
"You're lying! You're just trying to get me to be all soft with him." She blushed probably because of the forcefulness she'd used when she said it. In a more calm voice, she continued, "Edward. Charlie and I are on good terms. He knows that we're together for good. He knows that I love you and that I trust you. He will accept it, eventually. He just needs a little time. He's still recovering from the last time..." She trailed off and I could see the pain in her eyes just before she squeezed them shut.
"I know now that nothing I did then was rational. I could never let myself do it again, as I have told you multiple times." I pulled her into a tight hug squeezing her face into my chest, "I love you too much and I am much too selfish. Please, Bella, I know you haven't totally forgiven me and you have every right not to, but I..." I realized that she didn't want to hear any of this right now as soon as she tensed up so I instead cupped her face and pressed my lips to hers. I instantly heard her heart rate skyrocket, which made me smile, which, in turn, made Bella smile. Smiling while kissing makes the kiss a hundred times better. It just feels so right, to be happy so close. After Bella threw her arms around my neck, a human trait that I would love to continue, but couldn't let under the circumstances, she proceeded to press her body to mine and I pulled our faces apart and pressed our foreheads together, for the sake of her breathing, mostly. I rolled her over on her back and lay my head on her chest to listen to her heart pound as I started to hum her lullaby so that she would rest. She did just that about two minutes later.
I lay there and listened to her sleep talk, smiling every time I heard my name. I woke her for school a few hours later, after I had gone home and showered myself. I let her get ready while I hunted through her kitchen for her breakfast. Bella stumbled in the upstairs hallway and I started to get a little worried. I quickly ran up the steps to be sure she wasn't really hurt. This didn't sound like her typical two-left feet. It sounded like she actually fell. Which, she did, sort of. She kind of fell against the wall as though she caught herself just in time.
"Bella, honey, what happened?" I asked as I helped her steady herself as we walked downstairs.
"Nothing. I'm fine. I fall all the time. You shouldn't be so worried." Even she looked skeptical as she told me not to worry. This, of course, raised my skeptics and part of me couldn't stop worrying. School happened. Just like every other day. Bella had to work after school and I needed to hunt.
Edward. Bella's not doing so well. I can't place my finger on it, but she seems out of it. Do something with her after school. Something really fun or something really personal for you two. She needs that. I don't see anything big happening anytime soon, and you'll be fine with her this afternoon. You can hunt tomorrow. There will be plenty of sun tomorrow. Alice told me at lunch. Well, she didn't exactly say anything, but I still got the message. I could tell that Bella knew there was a conversation going on between Alice and me but I had to answer Alice.
I whispered low and fast enough that Bella couldn't quite make out what I said, "Sure. If I can get her to skip work. I was thinking a picnic in our meadow. Will we be okay with that?"
Yes. You'll be fine, if she'll skip work. She keeps changing her mind. Hmm... I wonder what would happen if there was a sequel to Dracula. That would be a very interesting read. Maybe I could even be the one to write it... Alice started to let her mind wander, my queue to back out.
"Bella, would you like to accompany me on a picnic this afternoon?"
She hesitantly asked, "Is that what you two were just talking about?"
"Kind of. Would that change your mind?"
"No. But I have to work this afternoon." She turned to face me and whispered, "And you have to hunt. You're eyes are almost completely black and I can't be of much help to that."
I closed my eyes and turned back to face Alice, who pretended to not hear our conversation. I simply replied, "I just want some 'us' time."
She put her hand on the side of my face and turned my head back towards her. Her eyes filled with love and concern. For what reasons, I have no idea. Why couldn't I just read her mind like anyone else? Then again, that's part of why I love her. Not ever knowing what she'll say or do next.
She stared at me for a minute and said, "I need some 'human' time. And I don't want you pushing yourself like this. I need to work this afternoon, for the money and for Charlie, and you need to hunt. You know I'd much rather be with you than work, but I have responsibilities. Charlie has given me more freedom and I can't take that lightly. Anyway, I get off at 5. You should be home by then if you stay local, then when you come over, we can have much more 'us' time. I promise."
Where did this bold Bella come from? The one who wanted to work rather than spend more time with me? Even when I was almost uncontrollably thirsty, she still wanted to spend time with me. I didn't argue about her staying away from me while I was that thirsty. Much.
Edward. She's going somewhere. I can't tell where, but definitely not Newton's. Make her come with you. Alice pleaded.
We dropped the subject for the time being, but I wasn't going to let Alice's vision come true. Bella would be either with me or with Newton this afternoon. If she had somewhere better to go, as long as she would tell me where, she could. After all, I'm not her master. I can't tell her what to and what not to do. But I wasn't about to let her go somewhere without at least telling me where. Especially with her current status.
"Bella, are you feeling better now?" Alice asked what I was just about to.
"Oh. You saw that? This morning?" Bella looked away, embarrassed.
"Yes. But you are feeling better though, right?"
"Mostly. I mean, I keep getting dizzy for no apparent reason, but it doesn't last more than a few seconds. It's probably nothing. No need to worry." Bella seemed sure of herself, but the skepticism on Alice's face was the same as in my head.
"Don't be too sure. I don't see anything bad anytime soon, so no worrying. For now. But I just want you to be careful. Don't push yourself."
"Alice. Edward. I'm fine. I promise. It's just been tough for me lately, with Charlie and work and exams coming up. I'm just under some stress. This isn't the first time this has happened. It's just a phase and as soon as I'm done with exams and school altogether," she shot me a sideways glance, "I will be fine. I told Newton I can't work too much more over the summer than I have during school. This way, all I really have to worry about is Charlie. And my soul, of course." She didn't even try to peek at me. She stared straight across the table to Alice the whole time she said this. Probably because she didn't want our recurring argument to start here in school.
Don't say anything you'll regret, Edward. With that, I got up and stormed out of the cafeteria