All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer
True to his word Edward showed up on my doorstep early the next morning. The night before I had been too wired to sleep well. I tossed and turned as I processed all the information I had learned, anxious to learn more.
His face was blank as I opened the front door greeting him with a wide grin. His eyes roamed across my face and it fell slightly as his eyes lingered on the circles under my eyes.
"You look tired." He reached out and gently traced the darkness under my right eye.
I shrugged. "I couldn't sleep."
"Me either." He smirked, his eyes a light with humor.
I laughed. "I guess I did sleep a little bit more than you."
"Yes, I'd wager you did." He smirked.
I led him down the hall and into the kitchen. I was in the middle of cleaning up from breakfast. I quickly washed and dried my bowl. I turned to find him sitting at the kitchen table staring out the window deep in thought. As soon as I sat down he turned to me. His eyes were ambivalent.
"What did you want to do today?"
"Nothing. You need to rest." He answered sternly.
"I'm not that tired." I argued.
He pursed his lips calculating. His eyes drifted to my beat up old copy of, Jane Austin Seven Novels, I had been reading that I left on the table, then back to me. "I'm willing to compromise."
I sat back in my chair as I waited for his offer.
"You take it easy for the rest of today and this weekend we'll plan a trip to Seattle. They have some really great book stores there."
I bit my lip as I considered his idea. There was no better way I would want to spend a Saturday than with Edward, but I didn't want to give in quite yet.
"What will we do today then?"
He grinned. Behind his back he pulled a small stack of paper. Upon closer inspection I saw that it was work from school. I frowned.
"You need to keep up with your studies Bella." He stated firmly.
I looked down. "It doesn't really matter anyway." I mumbled so low I was sure he couldn't hear me.
"Of course it matters." He snapped furiously. I looked up at him with wide eyes that filled with tears, and I flinched back at the livid expression on his face.
Upon taking in my expression he lowered his head and pinched the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and thumb. It was quiet for a moment.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you like that Bella. Please forgive me." His voice sounded strained.
I nodded my head, unable to form words just yet.
"Why do you insist on talking that way?" He challenged. Though he was trying to hide it, I could still see the anger in his eyes.
"Because it doesn't matter. In a few short months I won't be here. I'm dying Edward. And no matter how much I wish otherwise it's still true."
"So you're just giving up?" He demanded.
"No." I shot back harshly. I took a deep breath to calm myself. I didn't want to be harsh with him. I could feel the tears burn behind my eyes and I tried my best to hold them back. I shifted my gaze to the table. "I've come to accept my fate. It was hard at first. I was angry just as you are now, but it doesn't change anything. Angry or not, I'm still dying. Don't you think I know how unfair this all is?" I questioned as my voice grew in volume. "I'm only 17, and my life is being stolen from me. But there's not one damn thing I can do about it. So forgive me if it appears I've given up. I'm doing the best I can." My voice had turned bitter at the end, though I tried to keep it even throughout my little rant. I wiped my face with my fingers willing the tears to stop.
"I'm sorry Bella. I shouldn't have assumed. That was inexcusable of me to do so." Each word rang with sincerity it was hard not to believe him.
I looked up and caught his regretful eyes. I smiled weakly. "It's ok."
He smiled warmly at me causing me to melt inside. "If you don't want to do school work today then what would you like to do?"
I paused before answering taking a few deep breaths to compose myself.
"I'm willing to take you up on your offer. We could just sit and talk some more. And I promise to do my homework later tonight. Thank you for getting my assignments for me, that was very thoughtful of you."
He smiled sheepishly, and then the onslaught of questions began. This time he was careful to stay away from any questions dealing with my illness. He focused on things almost trivial in nature, others so thought provoking I wasn't sure how to answer.
"What kind of boys did you date in Phoenix?"
I was taken back by his question and swiftly turned a deep shade of red. His questions were so random in nature; I never knew what to expect, and I certainly did not expect this question.
"I didn't." I answered honestly.
He looked surprised. "You never dated?" He asked incredulously.
I shook my head. "Never."
"Why not?" He asked his were deeply curious.
"Nobody ever asked me."
Again a look of surprise crossed his features. "You never met anyone you wanted?"
My blush intensified, and I looked away, deciding to answer as honestly as I could. "Not in Phoenix."
He stopped short contemplating my answer, a small smile spreading across his face before he threw another question my way.
We continued like this for most of the afternoon. I would ask three or four questions then it would be his turn. I held nothing back, and it seemed he was being just as honest with me. It was incredibly nice to be so open and honest with him.
"Why can't you go out in the sun where people can see you?"
He smirked. "I'll show you sometime."
I frowned slightly not wanting to wait, but quickly thought of another question I wanted to ask him.
"Ok, What do you do at night? You can't sleep, so how do you fill your time?"
An emotion crossed his face, but left before I could identify it. I thought it might be embarrassment, but I couldn't be sure.
"I'd rather not say."
I pursed my lips. "I've answered all your questions."
A scheming look entered his eyes, and a small smile played on the corners of his lips. "Not all my questions."
"Yes I have."
"Yesterday you never finished telling me how I make you feel. I'll answer your question if you finish answering mine."
I crossed my arms across my chest scowling at him. A light blush crossed my face. There was no way I was brave enough to tell him how I feel. He had me, and he knew it.
"Fine."
"Fine, you're going to answer, or fine, I don't have to answer." He smirked, his eyes full of humor.
"You don't have to answer." I grumbled.
He smiled crookedly at me instantly melting all my irritation away. "What kind of books do you prefer?
I bit my lip as I considered his question. How was I to answer? I could see him growing impatient, as he always did when I took too long to answer any of his questions.
"I love the classics; anything by Shakespeare, or Jane Austin. I love impossible love stories. I'm not sure why. There is something about the impossibility of it all that gets me. How two people can come together under impossible odds…it's intriguing to me I guess."
He paused considering my answer. "What play do you like most by Shakespeare?"
I shrugged. "I guess I have always loved the story of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is one of my favorite fictional characters." I admitted shyly, as my face turned a light shade of red.
He made a face. "Romeo? I always found him to be quite…fickle."
I shrugged a little offended. I had always had a little thing for Romeo. "To each her own."
He smiled mockingly at me and I decided to quickly change the subject back to him.
"You don't really go camping when you go away with you family do you?"
"No. We go hunting." He stated offhandedly, his smile still in place, aware of what I was doing.
"Hunting? Like with weapons?" I was confused.
He flashed me a brilliant toothy smile that made me feel uneasy. "Not with any weapons a human would use."
I shiver ran down my spine as what he was saying sunk in. "Oh." I responded lamely.
"Do you have to go often then, hunting I mean?"
He shrugged. "Once every few weeks is usually enough for me. My eyes are usually a tell tale sign of when I need to go."
My eyes widened as something clicked within my head. "I new there was something about your eyes that was different. I just never put it together before."
He smiled reluctantly at my expression. "When I am…well fed my eyes are gold in color. When I am hungry, or rather thirsty, they turn black."
"And the purple under your eyes deepens as well."
"Yes."
I could tell he did not particularly enjoy talking about his eating habits with me, but everything about his life intrigued me and I had to know.
As if on cue my stomach growled signally that it was time for lunch. It had been so long since my stomach had made such noises that it took me off guard and embarrassed me. I blushed as I raised my hand to cover my stomach.
"Sorry. I guess I'm hungry."
He grinned. "I'll leave you to eat."
"You don't have to go." I stated longingly.
He smiled. "I do actually." He winked at me. "I have makeup work to do as well."
I nodded. I walked him to the door and stood in the entrance as he gracefully made his way to his car.
"I'll pick you up for school tomorrow." He smiled.
I nodded waving goodbye before I shut the door. I couldn't seem to erase the goofy smile that was plastered across my face all afternoon away. I did my homework happily humming tunelessly to myself. I even made a really nice meal for dinner. It had been a great day, but I was exhausted. Between no nap, and not sleeping well the night before, I had no problem sleeping.
Almost as soon as my head hit the pillow I was lost to the world around me.
