QUICK A.U (If you even care lawl): I'm sorry that this took so long to update, but right after chapter five, I had to start cramming for last work to go in before grades closed, finals, and some stupid state tests. After two months, I passed with solid A's and B's, school is out, and I can finally drive! So… hopefully, I'll be able to update regularly. This is going to be a short and sweet chapter so I hope you like it...

Enjoy!

Chapter Six - Falling

(Inspired by: Silver Ecstasy- nevershoutnever!)

I wake up before Kylie even begins to stir and the urge to run overwhelms me. Squinting through the darkness, the blurry blue numbers on my alarm clock come in to focus and I realize, with a startling warmth building in my chest, I'm losing sleep. With a heavy breath, I push my fingers through my hair and contemplate what to do. At four in the morning, there isn't much to do.

I toss and turn as the numbers on the clock move tremendously slower than I ever thought possible. As my body grows restless and the muscles in my legs begin to tremble, I decide to burn off some of this pent up energy. I grab my running gear and make my way in to the bathroom as silently as I can. Once I'm dressed, I stealth my way to window and leap over balcony. The balls of my feet vibrate upon contact, dew splashes against my ankles, and the grass appears longer in the darkness of early morning. I jog toward the edge of the trees, taking in all the smells and sounds that surround me. As I step in to the brush, I contemplate whether or not my parents would approve of me going for a run, alone, this early.

Then I decide, I don't care.

The sun is creeping up by the time I return. I notice my dad in the kitchen, watching me emerge from the trees. Our gazes lock and I can see the silent disapproval in his golden eyes. It stirs something in my gut, perhaps akin to guilt, but it never takes full form. He looks away first and when he looks back, I've already lept up to my balcony. I pause for a moment, staring at the door and reliving that night so many weeks ago, but when a shiver of ignorance tickles my neck, I decide I prefer bliss.

Pushing through the threshold, I let out a sigh and glance to Kylie just as she lazily rolls on to her side. Her eyebrows crush together in confusion as she stretches out on the mattress with a big yawn. I assume I might of stirred her from sleep, but her eyes, the color so bright, appear too vivid to have just woken up. "Where'd you go? I blink and you're gone."

"I went for a run this morning."

"Oh," She says, then nods. "Cool."

Kylie turns back over and I stretch my legs for a second as silence spreads through the air. I sigh, cracking my knuckles. "I'm going to shower… you should probably start getting dressed if we're going to make it to school on time." I tell her as I make my way to the bathroom. "I'll see who we can get a ride with when I get out."
"Oh! Your dad wanted me to tell you that you gotta talk to him before we leave; it's urgent." She says, attempting to mimic my father as she forms a scowl on her face. Twisted up like that, she resembles more of an angry chipmunk than a century-old vampire.

I grin at her, "Alright, I'll check in with him."

The routine from yesterday commences after my shower and I straighten my curls, loving the effortless shine the soft waves exude in their pin-straight form. I apply some subtle eye makeup to make the crimson in the chocolate depths appear more vivid before I slink around my closet. I settle on a pair of stone-washed jeans and a long-sleeve, black V-neck that clings to my form like a second skin. I slip in to my converse sneakers just as Kylie emerges from the bathroom.

The girl looks amazing and she doesn't even try. Her blonde waves are gathered in to a wispy braid, stray strands dangling around her smooth jaw. Eyes, wide and vivid, are outlined in naturally thick, dark lashes. She wears an off-white tone cami with a tawny-colored sweater that's a few sizes too big, but it works with her frame. A pair of dark green jeans cling to her shapely legs, ending in a pair of brown pointed-toe boots.

"How do I look?" she asks, looking over herself with disdain. "Because, honestly, I hate clothes. I rather be naked."
I scoff, "That wouldn't go over so well at public school, but you look great. C'mon, let's see what my dad wants from me today."

Scooping up my backpack, I slip out the door. Kylie tugs at her shirt, annoyed with the material. As we emerge downstairs, I can't smell anyone, but my dad. We enter the kitchen to find him sitting at the table with a book in his hand. Kylie grips my wrist, a slight shock tingling over my skin.

I'm starving. Her thoughts are a primal growl. I meet her gaze, seeing the raw hunger within the chartreuse depths and I wonder what brought on the sudden desire for food. I guess the kitchen? I smirk as I take in her contorted features and jut my chin toward the fridge. Help yourself.

Kylie scurries behind the counter and immediately gets to work preparing herself breakfast. I flash by her for a glass bottle of O negative, my favorite as it's my own blood type, and get out of her way just as fast. I twist the cap off, take a swig, and meet my dad's gaze. His book rest before him, closed with no marked page; I realize it was just a prop. The corner of his mouth twitches as I hold on his stare. He expects me to bow before him and when I don't, Edward's mouth settles in to a crooked smile. He breaks first.

"We have something to discuss."

"So, I've heard." I murmur as I close my lips around the bottle. Edward stands, ignoring my comment, and motions for me to follow him. I glance back at Kylie, finding her eyes were already on me. I reach my mind toward hers, imagining our hands brushing just for a moment and I tap in to her thought frequency the next second. Will you be okay in here for a minute? Her eyes widen in surprise before a small smirk slips over her lips and she nods, turning back to her breakfast.

I turn out of the kitchen and follow my father in to the front yard. He paces back and forth before meeting my eyes. I see the annoyance and the indecision as he internally debates over something. Ultimately, he plants his hands on his hips as his body tenses. "I need to apologize to you."

"What'd you mean?" I blurt, eyes squinted in suspicion.

"I'm sorry." he says. I don't budge, not buying in to what he was trying to sell. With a small, crooked smirk, he lets out a breath to explain, "Your mother and I have been tuff on you lately. It hasn't been fair of us to punish you over petty things. I apologize."

"Thank you." The words tumble out on their own command, however, they fall off my tongue in a tone of question. I don't know if I should be thanking him. A part of me, a very large part, feels like this is some sort of act of guilt; guilt for me to do right. By right, I mean everything they tell me to do. Edward studies me, puzzled and somewhat conflicted before he huffs and nod.

"You're welcome," he mutters. "Why can't I hear your thoughts?"

I snap my eyes to his, "You can't?"

"Not lately… they've gotten more and more quiet as the weeks have gone on. I can't pinpoint exactly when I stopped hearing them completely, but I noticed you're mind had gone silent. Are you doing something to keep me out?" he asks with a small grin, but there's not an inch of humor in his expression.

Kylie comes stumbling out of the house at that point and he redirects the conversation.

"Are you ready for school?" He asks, eyeing me with a look that says our discussion isn't over. "Yup." I say, withholding the eye roll as he nods. "I'll take you; let me get my keys."

He flashes away in to the garage and my gaze meets Kylie's. She lifts an eyebrow, crossing over to touch my wrist. I show her what just happened and the expression she makes is priceless. Her face pinches together as if she sucked on a lemon before she huffs, "Well, that's damn near the suckiest apology I've ever heard."

Tell me about it…

News of another new student in the Cullen family spreads like wild fire throughout the tiny town, but we pass it off like she's Carlisle's niece. People don't bother her, even Ana doesn't attempt to speak to her; even when Ana walks with Kylie and I to class, she doesn't even attempt to appear interested in her. At lunch, Alec is a no show which sort of disappoints me. Kylie picks up on it, but I tell her the stale smell of chicken is twisting my stomach the wrong way.

I'm pleasantly surprised when I arrive in seventh period to find my partner already at our desk, waiting patiently for me to arrive. Those eyes light up like a Christmas tree when they find me and a smirk slips across his full lips, those lips that touched mine just a few days ago. I take my seat, making it a pointed effort not to look at him. He scoots closer, draping his arm around the back of my chair. My heart picks up its pace. Suddenly breathless, I wonder how he can have such a traumatic effect on me.

"You left yesterday," he states, feigning hurt. "I was forced to work with Ana because her partner ditched and I'll have you know, I've never met a girl so forward with her intentions. Would I make a complete fool of myself if I were to beg you to never leave me again?"

Am I dreaming or did he really just say that? It takes me a moment to work through my muddied thoughts before I can answer him. I pull my lower lip between my teeth to keep from smiling as I glance at him, offering an apologetic shrug. "I had a family emergency. No need to beg, though. I wouldn't leave you to fend for yourself if it wasn't urgent." I say, playing along.

Alec's smile is radiant, dimples on display for me to admire. His teeth are bright, white, and impeccably straight. As I take him in, I realize he is so incredibly beautiful, maybe... maybe too beautiful. The bell rings, breaking the moment and my thought process. I half-expect him to drop his arm, but he doesn't. I have to contain a smile as Ms. Leaver lectures the class.

"Despite its fundamental role in human life, there has been very little research into the neurological control of human sexual behavior," Ms. Leaver says as she crosses the room and makes a show of looking around. "Does anyone know why? No?"

"Imagine going to your doctor and they ask you about your sex life; it's just not acceptable. We know so little about what created our species because physicians aren't trained to study their patients' sexual behaviors and many scientists focus solely on what can be measured. Although we have gained some knowledge from studying animals, it's questionable. We can't really base human behavior off of what a couple of rats do in a lab," she pauses. "When it all comes down to it, no one understands sexual behavior of any species beyond the basics."

She puts on a video, asking the class to take notes. As I scribble away, Alec simply watches me with quiet fascination and the blood pounding in my ears grows louder as my heart pumps faster. I almost sigh when I feel him tug on a lock of hair, but I contain myself. I'm amazed I don't break down right there; my only tell being the red-hot blush that warms my cheeks.

The video cuts off and the lights flicker on. Its as if the world falls apart in that moment as Alec reluctantly releases my hair. My heart settles and I realize that I've had my pen in a choke hold for the past fifteen minutes.
"Study your notes on this video for a quiz tomorrow." Ms. Leaver says and the bell's shrill call ends class. People spill out the door as I pack up. Alec and I stand at the same time, the intense darkness that has taken to his eyes doesn't match the seductive smirk on his lips. Its a cross between the glance of a panther stalking its prey and a blind man seeing the sun for the first time; how that combination even comes together as one, I don't know.

"You want a ride?" he asks.

I bite my lip, wanting so much to be alone with him, but with everything going on right now, it'd be a recipe for disaster. I shake my head, "Maybe another time." His eyes glitter with humor as I play on his words. He grins at me, shuffling his backup over one shoulder.

"Well, I'm going to walk you out anyway."

We make small talk that neither of really care about as we walk down the hallway. I'm a bit shocked to find it so empty, even more so as we reach the front of the school. Suddenly, he takes my hand and pulls me around the side of the building. I don't fight him, too shocked by his fingers entwined with mine, to really focus on the situation until I find us in a private alcove, alone. I glance up at Alec to find him already staring at me, the look from the classroom once again on his face. I try to find something to say, but I can't. I smile at him, laughing under my breath at a situation that makes me want to hide behind my mother.

"Is there something on my face?" I ask, my fingertips brushing my cheek as I feel the blush sprinkling its way over my features.

"No, I just like looking at you," He says it so easily, as if we're talking about the weather. A slow grin works its way on his face as he again takes my hand, tangling our fingers together. "And, if I'm being honest, I think you like me looking at you."

It's like a switch flipping on and off as Rebellious Renesmee comes out to play. She's calm, calculated, and smooth. My nerves turn in to adrenaline and it's as if I'm playing fire; I know I'll get burned, but I want to feel it, touch it, understand it. Throwing caution to the wind, like I've done so much since I've met him, I lean closer to him, "What if I do?"

His eyes flicker with a predatory, possessive gleam. I swear, I see crimson fight to overpower the pale aquamarine jewels as we stare at each other. Sexual tension builds in the air, builds in my body, and the temperature rises. No one can see us, but even if they could, I'm too engrossed in his incredible eyes to even care. My God, he's gorgeous. He doesn't break eye contact, "Then that's very bad."

"Why?"

Alec blocks me in to the alcove, moving our hands to rest beside my head and the other snagging a finger in my belt loop. My stomach tumbles as I look in to his eyes, the desire taking a physical form on his pained expression. I watch as burgundy swirls out from his pupil, the lovely pale turquoise becoming a tainted, tortured lilac. The full force of his emotions bleed on to his face and the intensity of his despair hits my chest like a wall of stone. "Because I'm a very bad man; I might hurt you. Trust me when I say you want no part of it."

I search his eyes, recognizing his choice of words, and see the fear swirling within them. He awaits for me to speak, I realize. He'll hold on to my every word. A few moments pass before my hands tangle in to his shirt near his stomach, feeling invigorated. Something about this moment feels final; what I say now has nothing to do with the now or even the past, but everything to do with the future. I have the chance to quit while I'm ahead, drop out before the road gets too bumpy, but that's not what I want. His eyes become a darkening violet and my heart drops.

"Trust me when I say I want every part of it."

He watches me, the hint of a grin on his mouth. "Oh, really?"

I don't breath, "Really."

"Prove it." he challenges.

I don't know what comes over me or why I decided this was the best way to prove I wanted him, but I do it and I can't take it back… not that I even want to.

My lips press against his and a moment later, my back hits the wall hard. He tugs me closer, one arm winding around my waist while his hand cradles my cheek. I knot my hands in his silky locks, falling in love with the feel of his tresses around my fingers. His moist lips part, breathing me in. I nibble on his lower lip, pure lust and want overflowing as my hands wander to his strong neck and down to grip on to the collar of his shirt. Alec's lips move against mine, sending me in to a flurry of emotions.

We break apart, breathless and craving. I blink up at him, finding his eyes amidst the darkened features. The vibrant cobalt has been overtaken by a livid crimson. I brush my thumb just under his cheekbone, wondering if it's real or just my lust-induced daze. Whatever it is, I've never seen a more beautiful man. Our eyes meet and his emotions are raw, exposed. Pain, confusion, want, fear, excitement; so bright and thrilling, I lose myself within the depths. I take in the shadowed facets of his face, finding a fallen angel that I come to realize I'm falling for.

The thought alone shoves me from euphoria and in to reality. I hear my parents mumbling my name, their voices distant, but getting louder. I need to get out of here before they seem him.

"Renesmee, I need to tell you something." Alec murmurs, the guilt and regret overtaking all other emotion. My family's voice grow closer and I pull away, dancing around him as I squeeze out of the alcove. Confusion washes on to his features as he watches me.

"I have to go, but I'll see you tomorrow, right?" I ask, offering a slight smile.

"Are you kidding?" he chokes out with a dry laugh.

I bite my lip, glancing back as I hear my family again. Dammit they're persistent. "I wish I was."

Quickly, I brush a kiss across his cheek before scurrying off to meet the search party before they get too close. While annoyed, they don't push the matter. Kylie watches me carefully, sensing a disturbance in the force.

Where the hell were you? Kylie asks, our arms pressing in to one another as we cross the parking lot. I glance at her, debating what to say. I keep a blanket of emptiness over my mind as I keep Alec my secret. I can't tell anyone, especially now. I shake my head, Nowhere. My health teacher just kept me back for a minute about some stupid assignment. No biggie.

She raises a brow, Really? Her mind's voice is dripping with disdainful skepticism.

Really. I think, keeping my face stoic.

We climb in the car with Rosalie and Emmett. I can't be with gifted people right now; they'll pick up on my turbulent emotions. As we pull out of the parking lot, I glance out my window to see Alec watching us leave. Kylie sees him too and something takes to her eyes before she grips my wrist. Who is that?

My thoughts threaten to lie to her and it scares me how quick I've shifted from doting do-gooder to secretive skank who kisses boys in dark corners. He's my health partner. Why?

I have this feeling... I don't trust him. How well do you know him?

If only she knew... Not well.

Keep it that way. she thinks bitterly.

Even as Kylie's warning swirls in my head, I can't help wondering what he wanted to tell me before I left.

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