Bella's POV

When I woke up the next morning I was dead tired.
Then I remembered the previous night's events and a deep blush began to form on my cheeks.
I sat up further, looking around the room eagerly. When I found that he wasn't in the room, my slow building smile vanished.
I got up and sighed. I should have known better than to trust him. I should have known that the second I did what he was waiting for, he would be gone.
I walked down the stairs, still kicking myself for being so naïve, when the most attractive smell reached me.
I breathed it in.
It was like vanilla…and cinnamon.
I followed the scent into the kitchen and giggled at the sight before me.
It was Edward…in an apron…cooking!
I placed my hand over my mouth to hide the smile of relief. How could I ever doubt him.
He heard me and looked up. "Morning, Sunshine."
He put a plate of pancakes, cinnamon rolls, eggs and bacon on the table in front of me. "Eat up."
I gasped, taking it all in. It looked delicious.
Then I looked at the clock and sighed. "This is nice, Edward, but there is no way I'll be able to finish it before school."
He took off the apron and took my hand, leading me to the chair.
"I think we both deserve a break from that hellhole," he whispered into my ear, causing me to shiver.
"Edward," I started, "we can't skip school. Well, I can't."
If Charlie had to find out about it, well, let's just say it wouldn't be pretty.
"Why not?" he asked innocently, pulling out the chair for me and sitting me down.
"My dad," I answered vaguely.
He groaned. "I'm sure he wouldn't kill you for missing one day, Kitten."
"Wanna bet?" I whispered, looking at my feet. My head shot up when I realised what I'd said.
His expression was confused. I laughed, trying to pull it off as a joke. It took a while but eventually his face relaxed. "We ARE skipping school, Kitten."
It was an order, not a question.
I sighed, nodding. I found it was a lot easier if I didn't test him.
I didn't get up until I had finished every crumb on my plate. He could really cook! And he felt content to just sit and watch me eat.
"What are we even going to do?"
"There's this place," he said, grabbing his car keys. "In the woods. A meadow. I would like for you to enjoy it with me."
I nodded. It didn't sound too horrible.
"It's a great place for talking," he continued. Great.
I headed to the stairs, about to change, when he stopped me.
"You're fine. We're not going out to dinner, Kitten. No need to dress up."
I looked down at my pyjamas. I was wearing boxer shorts and a tank top.
"I need to change." I kept walking towards the stairs.
He grabbed my wrist harshly, making last night's cut sting terribly.
"OW!"
"I said you're fine. Let's go."
As he drove us down the freeway, I thought about what was happening.
I'd only known him a few days, and already I felt as though I knew him.
That I was his.
I hated him. I still hate him.
I looked over at his horribly perfect face.
So how is it that I love him so much?
I thought about last night. There was no denying that the kiss was intense.
But what if it was just the heat of the moment? The overwhelming passion might have been instantaneous, but was it real?
I thought about our actions. The way he kissed me like there was no tomorrow. The way he held my waist and knotted his hand in my hair. The way he kept me in place, wanting me close. The way he moaned my name out of sheer bliss.
My name…Wait a second! I'd just realised something.
"Hey, Edward?" I asked.
"Yes, Kitten?"
I smiled. "Yesterday was the first time you called me by my name."
He thought for a moment. "Yes, I suppose you're right."
I smiled wider, satisfied with this. I hated to admit it, but I had been beginning to think that he had forgotten my name.
We stopped at the beginning of a trail. I walked up to it, ready to hike.
"Kitten, we're not using the trail," Edward said, walking up to a small break in the trees.
I groaned. I should have known it wouldn't be that easy.
We had hiked about a quarter of a mile when I felt a sharp, stabbing pain in my foot.
"Ouch!" I screamed, collapsing on the ground.
Edward, who was a few feet ahead of me, turned around and ran up to me instantly. "What's happened? What's wrong? What hurts? Are you alright?"
If it weren't for the pain, I would have laughed at his frenzied, worried eyes.
"I'm fine. I think I just stepped on something sharp, that's all."
He didn't seem to calm down at my reassurance at all.
"I'm fine," I repeated, looking into his eyes. His concern was actually quite sweet.
"Can you walk?" he asked hurriedly.
I nodded but as soon as I was on my feet, I screamed out in pain and fell into Edward's ready arms.
"Must be a bad bruise," Edward said, deep in thought.
He stood, with me hanging onto him for dear life, contemplating something.
Probably whether we should turn back or keep going.
And after a short minute, he seemed to have reached a decision.
"Up you go," he said, lifting me up bridal style.
"What are you doing?" I asked, trying to resist him.
He groaned. "We can't turn back now, Kitten. We're almost there. It will only be for five minutes, I promise."
"I'm too heavy!" I argued.
Then he stared into my eyes so intently, that I had to give in. So I let him carry me.
For the next ten minutes, we walked in silence.
All I could focus on was him. His hands on my legs and back, lifting me gently. The light stubble on his chin. The concentration in his eyes that were set forward. How his messy hair blew in the slight breeze…
It was all I could do not to drool.
Then he stopped, and I looked away from his face, straight into heaven itself.
I gasped. The meadow was beautiful. Lush and green with wild flowers dotting the grass.
It was just…heaven.
"How did you find this place?" I asked as he walked us towards the centre.
"Hiking with my brothers. I lost them but stumbled upon this." He looked down at me. "No one knows about this but us."
He stopped, gently laying me on the soft greenery, dropping down afer me.
For a moment we just stared at everything. I figured he was giving me some time to take it all in.
"So," he started after a while, "let's talk."
I sighed and looked up at him. "Ask me anything." I was determined to be completely honest with him today.
"Well, why don't we start with recent events?"
I looked at him, a little puzzled. Many things had happened recently. "What exactly are you referring to?" I asked.
As an answer, he gently lifted up my left arm, turning it so the cut was visible.
"Oh."
He sighed, his eyes glazing over. "Why in the hell would you want to do this to yourself, Kitten?"
I looked down. I could tell that his voice was angry, and I was afraid to look up at his face.
I knew he was waiting for a response and I groaned. "It was just a one-time thing!"
"Why did you do it?"
I looked up. "Why do you care?" I countered.
This time he looked down. "Please?"
I sighed loudly, but didn't answer him.
"Kitten, each time I see you there's something wrong with you. If you're not doing it to yourself, then someone is doing it to you. Either way, I WILL find out."
I was looking into his eyes now and my breath hitched. I heard him chuckle.

Then he seemed to ponder something for a second.
"Kitten, how would you like to meet my family?"

X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X

A/N If you review, I might just let Edward find out who's hurting his Kitten… :D

(By the way the last review under my name is from my teacher. She reads the stories on my account. Just so there's no confusion! :D)