"What?" he asked innocently, looking down at me, his eyes smoldering. I stood on my toes to reach him and a shock of warmth ran through me as soon as our lips met.
And then my feet left the ground, swept up in less than a second. I was in his arms, our lips still locked in the kiss. I was on the couch before I could even register moving. Just as always though, the kiss soon broke and we sat in silence.
"Can I ask you something?" I asked finally, looking at my shoes.
"Anything love"
"What were you and your family talking about yesterday?" I was still looking at the floor, afraid of what his eyes might hold.
"Nothing" he answered in a low, flat tone.
I gathered the courage to look up at him and focused all my mental strength into gazing at his eyes.
"You can tell me" I pleaded, still not breaking our gaze.
"Bella" he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"This isn't that hard," I said, getting up from the couch to stand in front of him, "I ask a question and you answer"
"you think everything's so easy!" he raged, standing up from the couch and towering over me," you don't understand Bella, you can't understand!" His eyes were pained, but I tried my best to ignore it so I could continue to argue.
"Then make me!' I retorted, grabbing his hand and holding it to the side of my face. I would not let him use my being human as an excuse for withholding the truth, since it was largely his fault that my heart was still beating.
He ripped his hand away and stood with his eyes locked on mine, just as much like a statue as he looked. His expression scared me and my voice quivered as I spoke,
"It's okay Edward, whatever it is, it's okay"
This sent him over the edge,
"No Bella this, right here, right now, is not okay!"
I recoiled as if he had hit me and I could instantly see the guilt in his eyes. Ever since last year when he left, he hated to give me any sense of the impression that we would not be together.
"I'll see you tomorrow" he said, kissing my forehead, and I knew it was the truth. Even still it didn't stop the fear from entering my voice as I said,
"You won't be here tonight?"
Edward sighed and combed his hand through his hair,
"Tomorrow" he said again, with such finality that I was afraid to question it, and without another word, he was out the door.
My mind was spinning and I was afraid to probe deeper into my emotions, so I busied myself with Charlie's dinner. When he came home I was more prepared than usual, more than eager for the distraction.
"Bella?" he asked, scrutinizing me as I stood by the table with my perfect hostess expression.
"Hi dad" I said with a too cheery smile. Charlie sat down shaking his head, perplexed. In typical Charlie fashion though, he didn't say anything and I continued my happy façade until it got too dark to ignore. I slumped up the stairs, knowing that I would not sleep well tonight.
I dreamt I was at the Cullen's, with their hushed conversations going on around me. I perked up my ears to try to listen, but I couldn't hear a thing. In a flash, Edward's angry face was in front of me, eyes darker than I had ever seen them,
"You shouldn't be here Bella!" he snarled, baring his teeth.
"Edward!" sweat poured off of me as I sat up in bed, it was light outside my window and my eyes darted anxiously.
"Bella?"
My heart instantly relaxed as I heard the soft, melodic voice of the man I loved. There Edward sat in the chair at the corner of my room, hands folded and eyes unfocused.
He got up and moved toward me, a confused expression on his face. In that moment I forgot that we had been fighting, ignored that he was confused, and clung to him.
"Bella," he gently pushed me away and held me at arms length, "you were right"
"Yeah I know," I answered, laughing "about what?"
He was very serious as he answered,
"You deserve to know"
I went rigid, waiting.
"The Volturi are tired of waiting"
A/N: Hope you like it! I tried a bit of a cliff hanger... The pinching of the bridge of the nose was for my friend Steph (if she ever reads this). Please review!