HEY! It's finally a new chapter. I'm truly sorry, but I do have a life. :)
A while back, someone asked why Edward acted different in my story than in Twilight. Well, Edward is how he is because he was born in 1901. This Edward was born in the present, so naturally he will act like he's from the present.
Special thanks to my beta, TayBee!
Chapter 11
Edward stepped into the sun, and my heart stopped.
"Oh. My. God." I whispered. He was glittering. Literally glittering like diamonds. He stared at me anxiously, awaiting my reaction.
"Beautiful," I murmured.
His face broke into a relieved smile. "I can hear you, you know." He shouted. He stood in the middle of the meadow. I was on the edge. We were a good 100 yards apart. "I don't scare you?" He asked as he sat in the exact center of the meadow. I came to sit next to him, marveling over his skin.
"Nope," I tried to sound nonchalant, but it wasn't working. He chuckled over how breathy I sounded. I slowly raised my trembling hand to stroke his arm. He stayed perfectly still, not breathing. He looked like a statue- of some unknown god. "Do you mind?" I asked, pleased my voice sounded stronger.
"No, I can resist."
"Good." I smiled and took his hand. He looked to the edge of the meadow, and I pinched myself quick- just to make sure I was awake. Ouch! Yup, I was. Unbelievable. I pulled myself together yet again.
"I have a few questions." I told him.
"Obviously," he smirked. "You just found out your missing best friend is a vampire that sparkles in the sun. You don't see that every day."
"Stop with the sarcasm, I'm serious!" I started again. "So, do you like sleeping in coffins?"
"That's a myth, Bella." He hesitated.
"What now? There's nothing you say that will surprise me." I said.
"Um… I don't sleep." He mumbled. I was shocked.
"Ever?" I asked. My eyes must have been the size of plates.
He nodded.
"Okay, nothing can surprise me… except that."
He laughed. "Please continue. Let's get this 20 questions over with."
I sighed. "Okay. So, anything else you feel you should mention?"
He looked like he was thinking.
"Okay, there's one thing that is pretty freaky." He said slowly.
Oh my god, this was taking forever! Why was he hesitating? I could handle it! "Come ON!" I groaned.
"I can read minds." He said.
Wait, what? Oh crap! He heard everything I thought about him? Crap! Hey, Edward, nod if you can hear me, okay? I thought. Wait, what was I doing? This is so stupid! Oops. Sorry, Ed.
He laughed at my panicked expression. "Don't worry- you're safe."
"What?"
"I can't read your mind. It's so weird. It's the only one, actually." He said as his hand reached up to brush some hair behind my ear.
I breathed a huge sigh of relief. My secret was safe.
His expression suddenly changed. "There's something you don't want me to know." He accused.
I shook my head. He looked confused.
"It's not that I don't want you to know. Actually, I kind of wish you did. It's just… it's embarrassing. It's stupid... so stupid." I mumbled the last part.
"After what I've told you, I think you owe me one." He smiled, curious.
"Forget I mentioned it."
"Not likely. Tell me, Bella. One secret." He smirked.
"It's something I should have told you a long time ago, but it will only make things worse for you."
He jumped me. Before I knew it, I was on my back, my arms pinned above my head, and Edward sat straddling my waist. I shivered.
"I know you're cold. Tell me, and I'll get off you." He whispered in my ear. I shivered again.
I took a deep breath. "Edward, I love you." I murmured.
He looked shocked. He quickly pulled off of me, and pulled my wrists so that I was sitting again. He dropped my hands. Then he shook his head angrily. "This is wrong."
I was humiliated. Of course he didn't love me back. I was stupid for telling him. Why would he like me, with how plain I was? I sighed. "Why are you angry?" I asked, my voice flat.
"Because I enjoyed that," he motioned to the ground behind me, which still held the print of my body, "way too much. I don't know how to be with you. Your blood calls me almost more than your body. Every second you spend with me, you risk your life." He said solemnly.
"Wait…" I said slowly. "It's not that you don't love me?"
He gently took my hand. "Bella, I've never loved anyone but you."
He loved me? He loved me! "We can make it work, Edward. Please. I need you in my life." I was begging now.
"Yes." He said. "I need you, too. I should have left when I could. But now that I'm here, there's no turning back. There's no getting rid of me." He smiled.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." I whispered, then asked louder, "What do you mean, left when you could?"
"Alice told me you were coming. Everyone thought we should move just to be safe, but we were already settled in. I didn't want them to move just for me. I didn't think you'd have the guts to get close to me again. But you did, and now we both have consequences to pay."
Something stirred in my mind. "How did Alice know I was coming?"
"She has a gift, like me. She can see the future, but she can only see the path that someone is on. They change their minds, the vision changes."
"Wow. After today, nothing will surprise me ever again." I said. He laughed at my disgruntled expression. He'd been doing a lot of laughing today. The sunlight suddenly faded and Edward stopped glittering. I looked up. The sun had begun to set. "It's twilight already." I said in sorrow.
He looked up, then said, "I have to get you home."
"I should tell my dad that I'll be late," I said and reached for my phone. He stopped me.
"Don't worry, I'll get you back in plenty of time. Hop on my back." He bent forward. I stared at him. "Come on, I can carry you." I hesitantly climbed on. He grabbed my hand, pulled it to his face and inhaled deeply. "Ahh," he sighed. Then he started running.
I gasped. We were going faster than his car. We were going to hit something, I could feel it! I shut my eyes and pressed my face to his shoulder. Now, only the wind gave away our speed. Suddenly, the wind ceased. My eyes slid open to see the trail beginning and his car. "We're here." He said proudly. "Faster than hiking, huh?"
"I need to sit down," I said shakily. He carried me to the passenger seat and set me down. In a flash, he was in the driver's seat, starting the engine.
As he started driving, my phone rang. I pulled it out and checked the caller ID. Confused, I picked up. "Mom?"
"Sweetie," She started, holding back sobs, "I know there's nothing you can do, but I wanted to let you know. Mrs. Masen is dying. The doctors said she has maybe a week left, at best." She was no longer holding back her sobs.
"It'll be okay, Mom. I'll be there as soon as I can." I promised.
"How?" She sniffled.
"I'll find a way. I love you."
I snapped the phone shut and looked at Edward. "You heard." I whispered.
His eyes were locked on the road, and I could see the pain in them. His mouth was set. The muscles in his strong jaw clenched and unclenched.
The car stuttered to a stop and spun around. Edward hit the gas, going in the opposite direction. "Where are we going?" I asked.
"The airport." He answered tersely. "We're going to see my mother."
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