Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

A/N: The president of my university is an asinine idiot. She wants everyone to come back on campus after hurricane Ike, but not hold us responsible for any of the material presented during this week. So, what's the point of even coming? Most of my professors can't even make it to class. Why can't we just stay home and take care of what really matters? Like say, our homes? Sorry, I had to get that off my chest.

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Enjoy.

Chapter 7: Emotions

"Slow down," Bella complained as I weaved too fast through the cars.

I stepped harder on the gas petal and she cringed against her seat.

"Are you worried we're going to crash?" I smirked picking up her hand to kiss her knuckles.

She didn't pay any attention to it as if my kissing her was the most natural thing in the world.

"I'm worried you're going to get a speeding ticket," She retorted eyeing the speedometer.

I playfully tugged on a strand of her hair, "As good as you look. You can get us out of anything."

"Is that why I'm so important to you? I'm just an asset?" Bella questioned with a sly smile.

"No, baby doll. You are so much more," I informed holding her gaze.

Ten minutes later, I pulled into my subdivision where I lived since I left my family. It was a very static neighborhood. Everyone moved at the same urban pace. They either drove a Mercedes, BMW, or a Lexus and they either worked as a doctor, lawyer or stockbroker. Yes, it was one of those neighborhoods.

I decided to settle here for the convenience of quick dinners about five minutes away on foot. The hostile neighborhood had criminals ranging from robbers to murderers and it was easy picking. Although, that won't be necessary anymore.

Bella shifted in her seat to watch the homes go by. I caught her eyes in the reflection from the glass and thought that they were filled with longing. It suddenly occurred to me that Bella never had a chance to live in homes like these and the idea fascinated her.

"You know, I never had my own room before," Bella gave a small laugh.

I made a left turn into my white brick home and cut the engine in the driveway.

"You live here?" Bella asked with wide eyes.

"Mm-mm," I answered opening my car door.

She hopped out without waiting for me to get her passenger door.

"All by yourself?" Bella exclaimed.

"Mm-hmm," I replied guiding her back up my walkway.

Her bottom lip jutted out in a pout, "It hardly seems fair."

I hugged her tighter, "We can always come back and visit."

Bella nodded thoughtfully.

I turned the lock on my door, and the crystal chandelier illuminated the foyer with it's twinkling lights.

"It's beautiful," Bella said in awe.

"Edward, is that you?" A familiar voice ran out as clear as the crystals hanging from my ceiling.

Bella raised her eyebrow when my housemaid glided over to us from the living room. I completely forgot Whitney came over on Fridays to clean up. Bella's stance suddenly tensed when she realized Whitney was also female vampire.

"Whitney, I like you to meet Bella. Bella, this is Whitney," I introduced a bit uneasy.

Whitney kept her thoughts guarded from me and plastered on a pleasant smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Whitney greeted without extending a hand. That was not her usual style.

"Likewise," Bella said sounding bored.

"You haven't been home all day. Something interesting going on?" Whitney asked me.

I opened my mouth to speak, but Bella beat me to it.

"Yes, that would be me. We had some personal business to take care of," Bella trailed her fingers along the length of my chest.

I laughed nervously when Whitney gnashed her teeth together. Bella smiled mischievously up at me for a split second before turning her attention back to Whitney. This has got to be some female vampire territoriality thing because both girls were not acting like themselves.

I grabbed my checkbook on the foyer table and wrote out Whitney's last paycheck while I watched them stare each other down.

"Here's your paycheck for the week. I won't be requiring your services anymore," I said handing her the check.

Whitney frowned when she took it, but otherwise, said nothing.

"Thank you, Whitney. Take care," I bid my farewell.

Whitney pecked my cheek to Bella's dismay and grabbed her coat on the way out.

She stopped at the door and said, "Call me sometime, Edward."

"Hmph," Bella breathed.

I tilted her chin up, "Let's go hunt."

The forest didn't hold the same intrigue for Bella at night like it did during the day, or maybe she was still thinking about Whitney. I wondered what it was that bothered her. Whitney and I had absolutely nothing going on, and even if we did, why would it matter to her? Bella never hinted at any genuine interest in me. If anything, I'm the one that is too interested in her.

We were trying to herd a deer, but Bella moved nosily through the trees making it impossible to attack. I abruptly stopped and Bella gave up, too.

"What seems to be the problem? I thought you were hungry," I sighed running a hand through my hair.

"Tell me something. Do you hire her because she's a maid or do you keep her for…other reasons?" Bella questioned struggling for the right words.

"Does it matter?" I asked.

"Yes, it matters," Bella answered quickly.

"Why does it matter?" I pressed.

Bella glanced at me briefly and said, "Never mind. Forget it."

Her lithe movements barely disturbed the snow covered ground now as she walked ahead in irritation. I caught up with her and swung her around to face me.

"Tell me why," I insisted.

Bella peered up at me debating whether or not she should tell me. Her eyes sparkled like rubies in the moonlight taking my breath away in the process.

"I'm hungry," Bella said looking away from me.

I let her go knowing I wasn't going to get an answer from her anytime soon. She sprinted away from me in a successful attempt at catching a fox and quickly consumed it. Bella drained another deer before she was full, and she sat watching me with a discouraged look on her ethereal face while I hunted.

By the time I was done, Bella was lying on the snow with her eyes closed looking like an angel sent from heaven. I quietly laid down next to her. The snow covered ground felt soft and squishy instead of cold and wet.

"Bella?" I called softly.

She turned and buried her face into my chest. My arm automatically wrapped around her lower back.

"I don't know how I can survive this constant thirst, Edward," She said.

"It will pass," I insisted stroking her hair.

She shifted in my arm to gaze up at me. Dozens of snowflakes lingered in her hair making several strands glisten like the stars. Her face wasn't discouraged or sad anymore. I wondered what cause the sudden change.

"I-Umm…You-" She sputtered.

Vampires are usually more eloquent than that.

"What is it, Bella? You can say anything," I encouraged.

She laughed nervously, "You're going to think I'm silly or laugh at me."

"I'm not going to laugh at you," I promised.

"You know you really are a heart-stopping, completely gorgeous looking guy, right?" Bella asked shyly.

I chuckled, "So they tell me."

I've ran across many, many women who were willing to do anything for my attention, but having Bella call me heart-stopping and completely gorgeous was like a dream come true.

She hit my chest lightly and complained, "I thought you said you weren't going to laugh."

"Okay, okay," I reassured her.

"I don't want you to feel like I'm not attracted to you. I am, I just- I can't get over my blood lust long enough to tap into any other emotion right now," Bella said this while looking down at my chest.

She had nothing to be shy about or ashamed of. My emotions for her were probably more embarrassing if I said all of it out loud.

"I know that laying here next to you, I should feel butterflies in my stomach or like I'm flying on a cloud or something. But I don't, I only feel my hunger and my thirst. It's all I can think about. And I should feel something besides my thirst, because I've never been close to a boy like this before," Bella admitted.

"Then, when I see Vivian or Whitney looking at you with the desire I feel inside but can't express, it makes me angry. So, I'm sorry if my behavior earlier this evening offended you," Bella finished with an apology.

My throat was tight with emotion like a rock was wedged there. She was so utterly perfect, and she did have feelings for me! I wanted to break out and do a little dance, but that would've been quite inappropriate right now. So, I held her tighter wishing I could take the pain and frustration she felt away.

"It's okay, Bella," I spoke up once I suppressed the lump in my throat long enough to speak a coherent sentence.

"I understand that you need time and I don't expect you to get the hang of this anytime soon. You can take all the time in the world and I'll still be here waiting," I promised.

There was no way I could leave her now. It would cause me physical pain to be separated from her.

"We should go back to the house," I suggested.

Bella shook her head, "Can we stay awhile longer? I want to watch the snowflakes fall."

I kissed the top of her head, "Anything you want."

To be continued…

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