Chapter 7
Elisha's POV
As we got back to forks my palms strangely felt clammy on the wheel. This is nuts, 'study at home?' only yesterday he was still being his usual distant self. I looked over at him in the passenger seat, gazing out the window. Every now and then a car on the other side of the road would drive past and I'd see the headlights peak through the rain. It occurred to me that Edward had left his car at college.
"how will you get home?" I asked braking the silence. This question startled him. He turned to look at me blankly with no answer to give. I took a deep breath and let it out.
"okay, I will take you back home tonight" I offered. I kept my eyes on the road but I could see his expression in the corner of my eye. He smiled softly to himself, but then it slowly melted away and became alarm. I pondered his response for a moment, puzzled by the facial expression he made, but I couldn't think of a reason for it, I was too busy driving to think over it much.
As I pulled up onto the driveway I saw Laura's car was there too. Great I forgot, no doubt she's going to make more of this study date than what it actually is. Note to self…don't mention the word date!
Without looking at Edward I grabbed my bag from the back seat and held it over my head. I ran out of the car and into the house, Edward following behind but with less haste, does he love the rain or something?! Once in the house I lead him through to the living room where thankfully Laura had the fire alight.
"take a seat" I said pointing at the couch while I dropped my bag by the arm of it.
" do you want anything to eat or drink before we start?" I asked still standing.
"erm, no thank you" he said sounding like he had something in his throat. Either way I took a seat next to him and began looking through my bag for things I would need.
"who else lives here?" his voice randomly asked. I stopped looking in my bag an sat up to see his face. He looked generally interested.
"my cousin Laura" I replied. I turned to go back through my bag but his words distracted me again.
"where are your parents?" I turned back to him, again with the same look on his face.
"my mom died a few months ago. My dad and I don't really get along that well, we don't see each other much" I could tell by the interest on his face that this conversation wasn't going to end soon.
"I'm sorry about your mom. How did she die?" his voice was softer, probably felt bad for me. I'd always repeat to myself that if I heard one more person say they were sorry about my mom once more, I'd loose my mind. Surprisingly it hasn't happened yet.
"car accident" I was caught off guard at the choke in my words, I knew Edward heard it. He knew the wounds were still fresh, thankfully I didn't have to say to him that the conversation was now closed.
"how old are you? You look too young to be in MED school" ha, that's rich coming from you. He didn't look no older than a senior in high school.
"I'm 18" immediately his face seemed shocked, he'd better not say I look older, that's not the right thing a boy should say to a girl without getting a slap.
"I don't get it, you should be in high school" so should you were the words that pierced my mind.
"we graduate high school at 16 in England, then I studied some courses for a year to help me get into MED school, then I did my first year, now I'm doing my second" I said it simply but he seemed intrigued by every word I said.
"so your 19 this year?" I wasn't used to all this talk, he's said more to me in the last 5 minutes than he has since we first meet…well accept the tutoring sessions.
"yeah, 12th of November" suddenly something distracted Edward. He froze the same way an animal would if it heard something move in the woods. A few moments later I heard footsteps come down the stairs, Laura. Damn he had good hearing.
"hey Lisha, you're…" she was cut off mid sentence when she came almost face to face with Edward. She'd swung around the corner with her hair pulled up in a messy bun, wearing a baggy t-shirt and sweat pants. I noticed her turn a few shades of pink on the cheeks but she smiled cheekily at me. I knew she'd make more of this study date than what it actually was.
"you're back, and who is this? Introduce me" she said still grinning. How embarrassing.
"Laura, this is my tutor from college, Edward. Edward, my cousin Laura" they smiled and greeted each other with hello's, nice to meet you's. I was happy to notice that Edward didn't mind the invasion, infact he was being quite a gentleman and very polite. It was a relief considering the first impression I had when I met him.
We had started studying there on the couch but at some time I'd maneuvered myself in front of the fire and Edward had tagged along with me. We lay on our fronts side by side, parallel to each other with books surrounding us. We covered many subjects but I got to a point where my mind couldn't absorb anymore. I started being reluctant and stubborn and Edward suggested we take a break. But I knew that now we've stopped, there was no way of restarting. I'd had my fill of learning about motor nerves, the olfactory system, how medical sterilizer works, if I tried to cram in anymore it would turn what I've already learnt to mush.
"come on, lets go into the kitchen, I'm hungry" I whined. He rolled his eyes and a small smile played around on his lips. I pulled myself stiffly off the floor, aching all over, with even pins and needles in some places. How long was I down there for? I stretched as I turned to look at the clock sitting on the fireplace.
"8:30!" four hours of learning, no wonder I'd had enough. I turned when I heard laughing behind me, almost a sarcastic laugh.
"well if you hadn't skipped the first two weeks, you'd know all of this by now" he mocked. I just narrowed my eyes into his but he still stood there with a soft look and smoldering eyes. I made my way into the kitchen with Edward trailing behind. I could still sense him smiling at me. I hadn't seen Laura since earlier, she said she had work to do so she stayed in her bedroom-slash-office all evening.
"what do you want?" I asked yanking open the fridge eagerly.
"I'm not hungry, but thanks" of course he's not hungry Elisha, stupid question to ask.
I reached in to grab a snack size bag of cookies and a diet coke.
"are you sure, when was the last time you ate, I didn't see you eat at lunch today?" his constant none eating habits were beginning to make me wonder if he had some kind of eating disorder.
His face looked slightly agitated but kept a hint of a smile.
"I grabbed something after class today" lies. But either way I couldn't pin him down onto my kitchen floor and force food into his mouth. I placed myself happily into one of the chairs at the kitchen table and Edward copied. I noticed he was just sat there staring at me as I ate it made me feel abit uneasy but I didn't dwell on it much.
Once my cookies were consumed, I decided to break the silence that formed while I ate.
"who do you live with then?" the question seemed to break him from his thoughts as he still stared. Clicking back to normal he replied.
"erm, my foster farther Carlisle, his wife Esme, my bother Emmett and sister Alice, they have partners, Jasper and Rosalie" he made it sound so casual, but to me that sounded like one big family. All they needed was musical abilities and they could be the Von trapp family. Although I honestly couldn't imagine Edward in 'the sound of music'.
"do you all live in the same house?" I noted the doubt and astonishment in my voice, that would be one big house. He slightly snorted as he laugh, probably laughing at how simple I sounded at the thought and he nodded.
"you say foster dad?" I asked wanting to know more.
"we're all fostered really, none of us are related, but Jasper and Rosalie joined our family later on and became involved with Emmett and Alice" he didn't seem to mind me asking questions about his family, he smiled as he spoke about them.
"where are you parents then?" I poured my coke into a glass and took a sip. Confused by my choice not to just drink it out of the can.
"they died many years ago, I can't even remember them" he shrugged.
"as long as Carlisle and Esme love you then it's all good" I stated with a smile. A grin broke out over his face.
"it's not always that good, living in a house full of siblings is sometimes dangerous to my health" he joked. I giggled and realized that for the first time since moving to Forks, I actually felt at ease, and what made it more shocking to my system was that it was because of Edward. I looked up at the clock that read 8:45pm. It wasn't late but still late enough and I had no intention to study anymore, it was home time
"you ready to go home?" I sighed, tracing the top of my glass. His eyes were expressionless but I could tell by the silence that neither of us were looking forward to this part.
"yeah sure, I'll just go pack my books up" as he stood up and walked out I could see he was also unenthusiastic about leaving. I got up grabbing my keys and headed through the front room where I was met by Edward. He stood there with a soft discontented look on his face. On the inside, I felt the same. In silence we made our way out to the car, it was misty but not raining, to which I was glad.
I drove carefully just reacting to Edwards directions, we'd been driving for 10 minutes but I still had more questions to ask.
"how come you decided to go to MED school?" I asked after turning left down yet another long road.
"isn't that obvious, to save peoples lives" he said mockingly. I rolled my eyes, I shock have known he'd use sarcasm.
"no, I mean, what reason do you have to want to save lives" I corrected, certain there was no chance for sarcasm in his next answer.
"Carlisle is a doctor, I admire him for it, also I think it's a way of self redemption" he said staring out the window as he normally does. Redemption? That wasn't what I was expecting to hear. But before I had chance to question him about it he cut me off.
"what about you? Turn right up that country road" he pointed ahead.
"I've always wanted to be a doctor, all my pets would die and I wanted to understand why, people die of all kinds of things and it interests me. I've always wanted to help people who needed it, being a doctor and saving lives, it's the best form of help you can give" I turned up the road and it was surrounded by tall trees, so tall I felt claustrophobic. But eventually up ahead I saw a small light that formed into the shape of a house, a beautiful house, that was all open and made of glass.
"that's exactly the reason I want to be a doctor, your explanation sounds so much better than mine" he chuckled. I pulled up outside the front door looking up at the house, I swore for a minute I saw someone at one on the windows but suddenly they were gone.
"well hopefully I will be a doctor, if I magically pass this year" I said trying to disguise the doubt and disappointment in my voice. Edwards face softened, his expression was kind. Which was what I least expected. I was waiting for him to mock me for skipping the first 2 weeks of college like he always does, but he didn't say anything like that.
"of course you will, I'm going to make sure of it" his voice was so warm it could melt chocolate. It swooned me and I couldn't force away my small smile of hope.
"if anyone can help me, I know it will be you" I stated. His expression went blank but a smile appeared on his mouth, and smile as big as his last. I cant believe I said that out loud! Again I waited for him to mock me. To my surprise he didn't, he just continued to smile more.
"I wont let you down, I wont let you down on anything, I promise" he said sternly. Before u had chance to reply he had grabbed his bag and was beginning to get out the car.
"8:30am Cullen!" I shouted with a playful smile on my face. He turned around grinning, walking backwards in the direction of his front door.
"I'll be waiting Valentine!" and with that I turned my car around and drove away leaving him behind to enter his house.