Author's note: Thank goodness the site is working again! I would have liked to upload this a couple of days ago, but oh well. I realized that I never specified that it was actually Bella's birthday in chapter 1. Sorry, my mistake. I made a minor change in chapter 1. I hope you enjoy the next chapter! Thank you for those of you who reviewed!
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, etc. of the book Twilight/New Moon. The original characters and plot are the property of the brilliant Stephenie Meyer.
"I'll be right back," Bella said pulling away from Edward.
"Human minute," she said, winking.
He nodded, smiling. "I'll be waiting," he told her, causing her stomach to do somersaults.
Bella grabbed a few necessities and hurried to the bathroom. In a flurry, she showered and brushed her teeth. When she was done, she pulled on a pair of faded plaid pajama pants, and an old oversized shirt of Charlie's, and half ran down the hallway to her bedroom.
When she entered her room, Edward was lying on her bed, propped up by his left arm, looking like he had been plucked straight from a magazine photo.
"Tada," she said, curtsying.
"I'm impressed by your speed," he said jokingly.
She jumped on the bed and lay down, snuggling closer to him. He slipped both arms around her body and breathed in her scent.
"You smell exquisite," he told her, while burying his face in her hair.
"Thank you," she said, smiling. "Not just for that, but for everything. Tonight, my birthday gift..." she trailed off.
"Eighteen is an important year," Edward said.
"I want to stay eighteen forever," Bella sighed.
"Why?" Edward asked.
She looked up at him. "So we can stay like this forever."
Edward wasn't sure if she was hinting towards what he thought she was or not, so he quickly changed the subject. He was not about to argue with her on her birthday about changing her.
"Alice begged me to let her throw you a big, fancy party, but I told her how you despised them," he said, grinning.
Bella laughed softly. "I appreciate the gesture, but all I wanted for my birthday was to spend it with you," she said, lazily tracing patterns on his chest with her fingers.
"Edward?" She said after a few moments of silence had passed.
"Hmm?" he responded.
"Are you happy? With us, I mean?" She asked.
"I'm in love. I believe I'm happier than I have ever been," he answered.
She looked up at the ceiling.
"Do you ever...want...more...?" She asked, shyly.
She could feel him smiling in her hair and her cheeks burned crimson.
"Bella, I've told you before. I may not be human, but I am still a man," he said.
"You didn't answer my question," she challenged. "Do you ever want more?" She sat up now and looked him in the eyes.
Edward hesitated a bit before he spoke. "Bella...I don't deny feeling things for you that I have never felt before. I just...I know that I can't...ever act upon those feelings in any other way than I do now," he said.
"I understand," she said, slightly saddened by the thought of never being able to experience things with Edward that she would one day like to.
She sighed and lay back down. Edward began twisting strands of her hair around his fingers, lightly massaging her scalp. She smiled, reveling in the sensations he was giving her.
Suddenly, she turned to him with serious eyes.
"Kiss me," she said with more courage than she ever thought she could have.
Edward denied her request, slightly concerned at the hint of desire in her voice.
"You should get some sleep, Bella," he said finally.
"No!" She said, her voice rising. "I want you to kiss me," she said, more gently.
Edward gave her a look that seemed to say, 'After what I just told you...'
"Bella, you overestimate my self-control," he mumbled.
She pulled him to her and he couldn't resist. His mouth was on hers in an instant. He kissed her slowly, gently, as usual. She maneuvered herself under him, and he rolled over on her, careful to support his weight on his arms. Her hands found their way up his shirt and inched up his back slowly. Edward squeezed his eyes shut as he savored the feeling of her warm hands roaming his cool back. Realizing what he was doing, Edward pulled away from her roughly and sat up on the bed.
"No. No, Bella," he said.
"I'm sorry," she said between ragged breaths. "I'm sorry, Edward. I should have known better," Bella said shaking her head.
Seeing Bella's defeated spirit in that moment, Edward realized that he would never be able to give her what she wanted. To him, it wasn't fair to her to be with someone who couldn't give her the kind of love she deserved to be shown.
"I should go," Edward spoke slowly.
Bella sat motionless on her bed as he walked out of her room. A split second later, she heard his Volvo tear down the street, away from her house. She threw herself back into her pillows and sighed.
Edward used the drive home to deliberate his relationship with Bella. He loved her. There was no ounce of doubt in his mind about that. Yet, he always knew in the back of his mind that someday, kissing and hugging wouldn't be enough. He knew that he had to make a decision for the sake of Bella's happiness. He turned off the car engine when he reached his house, and walked up the stairs to his bedroom. Alice was already waiting for him in the doorway of his room with troubled eyes.
"Edward," she started. "Please don't do this."
Please bear with me, I have essays looming over my head and professors on my behind. I will try to update as often as I can, that is, if you guys want me to. ;)