The moon shined across silver waters, larger and brighter than I had ever seen it. The cool night and immaculate white beaches stretched out before us. I, embraced in cold, immaculate arms, closed my eyes and let the ending of another perfect day take me in. The nights are bittersweet here. Each is as wonderful as the last, but each brings us closer to the end. In more ways than one.
He promised. It took some bargaining, but he did promise. My immortal. Tomorrow, Edward would make me a vampire. Alice would take care of Charlie for as long as she could. After I spent the last few weeks almost exclusively with him and Renee, Alice would provide enough distractions for Charlie and for all of us so that my change would go unnoticed. Parties, vacations, odd jobs, altercations with the local police force, all standard fare in Alice's arsenal. She could detain Charlie long enough so that when I saw him again at Thanksgiving, the blow would be softened. As much as discovering your daughter has joined the undead can be, I guess. My heart fluttered with sudden panic, a dull ache that touched me whenever I thought too much on the future. I had no idea how to handle Charlie. I didn't even know if I could handle myself when all I would be thinking about would be my thirst.
"You're thinking about tomorrow, aren't you?"
"I don't see the point in having my head all locked up if it's still be an open book to you." He laughed softly, not completely amused. He only tried to deter me once, on the first day we arrived here. But I'm not getting any younger. "For your information, I was also thinking about how nice this place is. I'm surprised you wanted to come here."
"Why?"
"All the sun."
"I may be new to all of this, but don't most newlyweds often go to warm places for their honeymoon?"
"Most newlyweds don't sparkle in the sunlight." He laughed again, more sincerely this time, and squeezed me in his iron embrace. His lips pressed against the back of my neck and the cool sweetness of his breath banished the muggy, tropical air. "Besides, I never intended to leave the room." I turned to face him with mock scandal, but his topaz eyes, filled with light and laughter, dared me tell him I hadn't thought the same thing. Six days of heaven. Three day of hell. And then an eternity of happily ever afters.
We sat silently watching the moon. There were few people on the beach, but more than you'd expect at two in the morning. One or two other couples and…
It's strange how you always seem to run into the people you see on the plane. And on the boat…. That man on the lounge chair only a few yards away. I had caught him staring at me, only for a second, when we boarded the plane. He sat a few rows behind us and he quickly returned to his poetry book when our eyes met. His eyes I remembered. Emerald green, but only striking in how incredibly dull they were. Ordinary. Bored. Hardened as they caught and reflected none of the light in the air.
"What are you thinking about?" Edward pleaded. His eyes all liquid light and honey. I realized I had been frowning while in my thoughts. I laughed it off.
"It's nothing. That man over there," I pointed as discreetly as I could with my chin, "he was sitting near us on the plane."
"Yes, I remember. He was embarrassed because you caught him staring at you. I believe he was staring again just a moment ago."
"Really?"
"Oh, yes. He remembers us from the plane, as well."
"Hm. That's a little strange." Edward tightened his embrace.
"Nothing to worry about. He's been reading his poetry since he sat down." I leaned back into Edward and closed my eyes, losing myself in his scent and the gentle roar of the ocean.