Edward POV
As soon as I pulled out of Bella's driveway and drove away I regretted my decision. As much as Bella might love me, as much I am discovering I love her, I could not damn her to this life. I might be grateful of Carlisle's decision to change me, my life was ending anyway. Bella is only seventeen. I reminded myself, you can not end her life, and you can not take her soul from her.
As I pulled into the long driveway that led to my home I heard many shouting voices. Alice, who must have seen me coming, thought out to me.
Edward, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tell them all. I just told Jasper, then Rosalie heard and well... you know Rosalie.
I parked my car outside of the garage and ran inside, where Rosalie and Alice were glaring at each other, Carlisle and Esme were whispering to each other, Emmett was rubbing Rosalie's shoulders, and Jasper was trying to calm everyone.
As I walked inside, Rosalie turned to glare at me, pushing Emmett away.
"How could you?" she asked, disgusted. She's an insignificant human girl and you are going to unsettle us all for her?
I turned away from my insensitive sister. She could only ever think of herself.
"Alice, were you able to explain anything?" I asked her calmly.
"No, Rosalie wouldn't let me." she answered.
"What is there to explain? You have compromised us. We are no longer secret!" she defended, still shouting.
"Edward?" Carlisle asked, looking up from Esme. "What have you done?"
"Don't look at me like that." I almost growled. "What Alice has seen, I deserve this, all of you do, and all of you have it."
"What are you talking about, Edward?" Rosalie asked.
"I saw Bella." Alice cut in. "I saw a lot about her. I saw her, telling Edward that being a vampire didn't matter. I saw her as one of us. I convinced him to tell her, I kind of set him up." She admitted, unrepentant.
Across the room, expressions varied. Jasper looked calm; Alice had already told him. Emmett had a look of pure innocent shock on his face, while Rosalie had a look of defiance on, as if Alice's visions meant nothing. Carlisle, my father in all the ways that matter, had a look of sadness- because of another person doomed to our fate- and composed surprise. Esme looked surprised, until a thought registered, and she smiled.
Love can do things to a person; they will overlook all flaws, just because it means they can keep the good parts.
Alice POV
Before Edward left, he asked if he could talk to me. He walked down the second story hallway and turned into Carlisle's study, one of the most private places in the house.
I blinked and quick vision flashed past my eyes.
"Alice, I won't kill her. I won't do this to her, no matter what you've seen!" Edward shouted at me.
Oh-no. Edward couldn't doubt his decision, it was already made.
I stopped him, grabbing his army and turning him around.
She loves you Edward, you can't leave now. And I know that you don't want to and that it won't last. I thought bluntly.
It was as much a demand as it was true. Then again, Edward wasn't known to follow orders.
"You don't control me!" he growled. "Alice, I won't kill her. I won't do this to her, no matter what you've seen!"
I felt a wave of calm coming from Jazz. Edward seemed to notice it to, because he stalked off, muttering something that sounded like "Eternal Damnation".
Once Edward and his Volvo were out of hearing distance I went over to Jazz and leaned my head against his chest.
"It's only because he loves her that he's doing it." He reassured me. "I would recognize that feeling anywhere. You are right Alice, he love her, that's why he doesn't want this for her."
I sighed. Of course Jasper was right, I just didn't like it when Edward thought he could defy my visions, it just didn't' happen. Right?
I felt another wave of calm from my love, sensing my distress, so I decided t focus on what exactly what time Edward would bring Bella over the next day.
Bella POV
I wasn't sure what to do until Edward got back. I decided on homework. I was able to finish taking notes for history when I heard a familiar rumble.
I jumped up and ran to the door. I grabbed my raincoat and walked outside. Edward was slowly walking to my porch.
His eyes were cautious; he wasn't sure what to expect.
"Would you still like to talk, Bella?" He asked in a muted voice.
"Yes, I would." I answered, trying to sound calm and strong, not sure if it worked.
I turned around I started walking back into my house. After Edward came in I locked the door out of habit, not because I felt any real need to. I felt very safe around him.
A small part of my mind was still curious as to way he told me his family's secret. What made me special? He had said he couldn't read my mind, but wouldn't that be another reason not to tell me?
I led him to the kitchen, where he sat in Charlie's yellow chair and I sat down on a light blue one.
"So, Bella, what more would you like to know?" He asked calmly.
"Why did you decide to tell me?" I asked, it was the simplest question, the easiest, I could think of.
"Next question." He said, not even looking at me.
"Why? That's the easiest, you know?" I warned him.
"Next question." He repeated.
"So do you sleep in a bed then," I asked, just because I wanted to hear him talk, "if you don't sleep in a coffin?"
I wanted to hear him talk? I felt safe around him? What was happening to me?
He chuckled before he answered. "I don't sleep, ever."
I stared at him with blank eyes. "Could you explain more about... being a... vampire then? So I don't have to ask so many questions? Do you," I gulped, which didn't go unnoticed, "drink blood?"
Edward frowned a little, but f\decided to tell me after all.
"Yes," he sighed, "we do drink blood, but my family and I are... unique. We choose to feed off of animals rather than humans. We may be monsters, but we don't want to be." He paused, assessing the look of slight relief on my face.
"As vampires, all of our senses are enhanced. We also have enhanced strength and speed. Along with that, some of our most powerful traits carry over from our human lives; that is most likely why Alice is psychic, and Jasper and I can do what we do." Edward continued to explain. "Do you have any other questions?" he asked.
"Only the first one."
"Why don't I tell you later, Charlie's on his way home." He suggested.
"Oh." I said, checking the clock. He was right; it was already 9:30. "I guess that's ok."
Edward stood up, silently and gracefully, and headed for the door. As he was putting on his coat, he seemed to hesitate. He turned to me as I opened the door.
"I was wondering... if there was something I might be able to try?" He questioned, his golden eyes were filled with an unfamiliar emotion as they held mine.
"Anything." I answered simply, leaning forward.
Edward took a step closer to me. He raised his hand and brushed his icy fingertips across my cheekbone. He leaned in, his cool breath- with the most amazing smell, though one I didn't recognize- blew across my face. I leaned in further, tilting my head upward, breathing more quickly and shallowly. He brought his hand back up to my face, where it caressed my cheek as he leaned in and place his cold lips onto mine.
I'm sure that my heart stopped beating then, and I'm sure that he heard it, too.
He brought his face from mine and I took a deep, ragged breathe. He leaned his face back in, and I stepped onto my tip-toes to reach his lips sooner. This time, our kiss deepened. I brought my arms around his cold neck, running my fingers through his beautiful bronze hair. One of his hands slid down to my waste, where it pushed me to him, pressing our bodies together. His other hand was behind my neck, holding my face to his.
And suddenly, he pulled away.
"I'm sorry, love, your father is around the corner."
With that he disappeared, leaving my breathless and confused by my door. That was when something clicked in my mind. One of the words that Edward had used: Love.
Edward POV
No matter what my original intentions had been, I couldn't turn back now. After feeling Bella's warm mouth on mine, it was all I wanted. Just because I would stay with her, wouldn't mean I would change her. I shuddered at the thought.