*My days are off I know but bear with me. I'm very, very new at this.

Chapter 7

Everything was fuzzy on the edges. I kept trying to focus the view but couldn't. I finally settled for trying to decipher my surroundings. There were trees all around me, and things were sheathed in shadows, the ground was uneven and it smelled wet.

"Hello there." A seductive tone whispered into my ear.

I tried to turn but couldn't. I was being held tightly from behind.

"Don't be scared, your safe." He said it in a way that made my head swirl, or maybe it was just the scent doing that to me. I simply nodded. I couldn't speak.

"You're still scared." The voice acknowledged.

"Tell me what you're thinking, what you're feeling." He was running his fingers through my hair.

"I... I can't see well." Is all I could manage.

"What do you feel?" He blew into my ear again.

I surveyed every feeling closely, slowly thinking through every part of my brain and body.

"You are very, very close to me."

He had one arm around my waist, holding my entire body against his own the other was playing with my hair. His lips moved from whispering in my ear to running down the side of my neck, slowly, softly, leaving a cold but burning trail on my skin.

"Does it bother you?" He asked very amused. He kept moving his lips down the length of my neck.

"I... don't. I don't know."

"That's... Curious." He said inhaling the scent of my hair. "You know, you smell lovely in the rain, do you mind if I have a taste?" he chuckled.

Before I knew it I was facing Edward. He ran his marble lips across mine, barely touching at all. I gasped.

"Edward." I breathed.

I woke up then, when I spoke his name out loud. His familiar scent enveloped me. This should have startled me but I realized I fell asleep with his jacket still on. I was having a drug induced dream, his scent being the drug. I snuggled in closer and took a deeper whiff. I didn't fall asleep again but I didn't need to. I could remember his cold lips rubbing against mine very clearly.

~*~

I got to school still dazed from my delusions. I kept touching my lips and smiling as if Edward had really kissed me. I moved through my day just waiting for lunch and Biology to see him again and soon enough I did. I sat at my usual table with Jessica, Angela, Mike, Tyler and Lauren. I tried to focus on the conversation around me but found myself longing to see his beautiful face.

"Are you ok Bella? You seem... Distracted."

"I'm fine Jessica, thanks. I guess I am distracted."

"By what?" Asked Angela.

"More like, 'by whom?'" Jessica giggled as she saw the trajectory of my gaze.

I let my hair fall across the side of my face so it would act as a curtain.

"Thank you, Jessica. So, so much." I said sarcastically.

"No wonder you are so distracted, you're in love." She said in a gushy tone then laughed.

"I'm just kidding Bella. God, you don't have to freak out."

I peeked through my curtain of hair as I bit on the end of a celery stick, it tasted like grass. Edward was gone but his siblings were looking away, at something else. I followed their eyes and saw that Edward was sitting alone at a different table. I was very curious so I forgot to hide my face and looked at him directly. He was looking at me too. He gestured for me to join him with a playful grin. I could never deny anything to that face.

"Hello Edward."

"Hi Bella, how are you today?"

"Very well thank you. And how are you?"

"Just perfect now." His smile was wider now. I tried to ignore this.

"Interesting seating choice."

The bell rang at that second.

"Yes, I think our peers are appreciating that as well." He tried to get my attention successfully. I looked back at the rest of the cafeteria and saw that everyone had their attention fixed in our direction. We sat silently now, staring at each other. When I looked up again the lunchroom was almost empty. Time just slipped away when I was near him.

"We should get to class, I don't want to be late." I said reluctantly.

"Oh, I'm not going to class today."

"Really? Why?"

"It's healthy to ditch sometimes. But on second thought, maybe I should come with you. Let me just get my things together, come with me?"

"Ok, I'm glad I convinced you."

"Yeah, right. Me too."

I didn't understand what he meant but I followed his scent out the cafeteria to the parking lot.

"My books are in the car." He explained.

I heard the second bell, we were going to be late. We headed back towards the buildings after he retrieved his notebook and eventually we were in front of the heavy wooden door. He opened the door slowly and I saw Mike sticking his finger. The board read "Blood Typing" in big red letters.

"Oh no. I have to leave, now."

My knees buckled and Edward was there to catch me. He swiftly carried me out of the building into the fresh air. I had been so close to killing.

"Please put me down Edward."

When it didn't look like he would budge I tried a different approach.

"I don't want to throw up on you. Please, I would be mortified."

He looked at me doubtfully but set me on my feet.

"I'm sorry, the sight or smell of blood makes me sick. I get a ringing in my ears and I pass out and throw up."

"I told you ditching was healthy. Now let me take you to the nurses office and I can spring us from here. Don't worry, it will be legit, just sit there and look pale."

"Whatever you say."

We moved into the warm office space and were met with more curious eyes. I slumped down on the chair as Edward began the charade.

"Bella isn't feeling well, we were blood typing in Biology and she got violently sick. Would it be okif I droveher home? I'm afraid she simply wont be able to drive herself."

"Oh, poor thing. Yes of course, go ahead. I'll make sure to fix your attendance."

"Thank you so much Ms. Cope, we'll be on our way."

He helped me out of the office in order to maintain the appearance of my illness. When we were in the parking lot I decided to support my own weight, even though I hated to break the embrace. I started to walk away from him towards my truck.

"I really can't thank you enough. Its like you're never quite done saving me." I said as I riffled through my bag for my keys.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm looking for my keys."

The rain started pelting us.

"You aren't going anywhere on your own. Not in this state anyway."

I stared incredulously.

"Didn't you hear me when I said you got violently sick and weren't well enough to drive yourself home?"

"I thought..."

"No, I am driving you home. I'll drive back before school is out and I'll pick up my family. I'll give your keys to my sister Alice and she'll drive your truck home. Now, if you would please, we're getting soaked." He motioned towards his car.

Without another word he dragged my by my hood towards his car. He stopped when we reached the passenger door, opened it and moved to the drivers side. I figured I had a good chance of making it to my truck if I ran for it but his expression told me not to try it. I sighed and got in, defeated.

I sat there with a pout. As juvenile as it was I just wanted to stick my tongue out at him.

"Moonlight Sonata?"

"Yes, its one of my favorites."

"Mine too, I usually fall asleep to this song. I used to anyway, every night."

"What rocks you to sleep these days?"

"Well I've been favoring Chopins Nocturnes lately. And you? What is your lullaby?"

"Yours" he whispered quietly.

"What?"

"Beethoven" He amended.

"Really? I mean, he's just fine but he's a little too heavy, too thick for my taste."

"Yes, maybe your right."

His eyes burned with raging curiosity but he reined it in. He looked ahead and just accelerated. Nothing like the purr of a Volvo.

I sunk into the seat then and listened to the quiet melancholy notes. This was perfect, except for the wet clothes. But as always, we arrived too quickly.

"Would you like to come inside? Let me rephrase, please come inside."

"I... I should go. I have to pick up my family. They'll be very upset if they have to stand in the rain."

"Right. I'm sorry. Thank you for dropping me off."

I didn't wait for a response as I walked through the mush to my front door. When I got inside I remembered what he said about Alice driving my truck home. I dumped my bag out on the table and didn't find my keys. Oh well, walking would have to work.

I took a hot shower and put on my favorite pj's. I settled into my comfy couch, poked at the fire until it was just right and picked up a thick volume from the table. Jane Austin, perfect. Three knocks on the door startled me. I hurried to open up.

Edward stood, dripping wet in my doorway.

"Edward, I wasn't expecting you. My gosh you must be freezing, come in please."

"No, I need to get home. I just came to drop this off." He held the my truck key up.

He lowered his hand to put the key in mine and slowly, as if not to frighten me he leaned in and pressed his cold wet lips to my cheek.

"Have a good night Bella."

I stood stunned, my hand to my cheek as he disappeared into the darkness.

*Please let me know what you guys think! Also, I know that they werent listening to Moonlight Sonata in the car but it is one of my favorites.