Usual warnings. This is a Zombie story people.

Four days until graduation and it was the furthest thing from my mind.

I woke up drenched in sweat and dark black eyes from a foggy nightmare following me everywhere. I gave Charlie an excuse and ditched school. I was done with my exams and the last days were just for waiting until it was over anyway.

Charlie didn't even bat an eye. He told me he'd take care of it and to think about the conversation we had.

From the time I went to my room, until I woke up, it was all I thought about. Charlie would never lie to me, but how was I supposed to accept what he said?

I turned to the Internet as soon as I heard the cruiser back out and did a search for vampires.

Apparently there is a thing called Live Action Role Play and vampires are huge in it. As fascinating as it was to see how creepy people could be, it wasn't exactly what I was looking for.

I found a few more entries, all a little less creepy and a lot more confusing. Obviously, the Cullen's didn't wear capes, at least not from what I saw, and they didn't drink blood from the human tap, not like the sites suggested.

I looked a little more, typing in a search for vampires and glitter, but Adam Lambert popped up. Charlie said they didn't burn in the sunlight, but there wasn't a single lore that said otherwise. There were plenty of role players to talk to, but even they only played at night.

I tried WebMD, typing in all their symptoms, but I doubted they were dying from syphilis.

Although Edward did seem like the type to get around. Still, I couldn't deny his strength or speed. I had witnessed both and as much as I wanted to blame shock, I knew it was a lie.

Instead, I did what any sane person would. I prepared myself. I did a little more research online, gathered supplies, and set out for answers.

Outbreak

I didn't have to look far.

The asshole in question was leaning against the trim of the door when I opened it.

His sex hair was stratigically in place, and I wanted to run my fingers through it. His clothes hugged every inch of him and his skin looked even paler against the all black emo look he had going on. Even his dirty boots made him look irresistible.

I imagined he could dress any way he felt and I'd still want to touch him.

I hated him for it. No one should look as good as he did and be such a douche. Even the small dimple in his cheek made me want to smack him.

"Sweet as always aren't you, Bella?" Edward hesitated at the door, his broad smile and bright white teeth stunning me for a moment. I spent a little too much time staring at them, wondering if he was hiding fangs beneath those inviting lips.

"Charlie told me everything," I sputtered and adjusted my turtle neck.

"Did he now?" He smirked down at me, making his devilish good looks even more striking.

"He said you wouldn't kill me." I should have been scared of Edward, but something told me Charlie was right, and that he would never actually kill me. Hurt me maybe, but I doubt he wanted me dead.

"Did he tell you that sometimes we slip?" Edward locked his lips as his eyes drifted to my neck, making my heart race and my pulse quicken.

I grabbed my sore arm, remembering the pain he had caused. It was already starting to feel better, I could move my wrist without too much pain, but the ache that lingered was enough to force me to see the reality of the situation.

Edward was dangerous. Regardless of his charms or good looks, if Charlie was right, he was deadly.

"You can't come in unless I invite you." I took a step back, gripping the handle with my sore arm, letting the pain drive me as I got ready to slam it in his face.

I swallowed the fear that was building, trying to stay calm and focused.

"Says who?" Amusement danced in his black eyes as he watched me and I knew I was wrong.

"Um... True Blood?" You watch one episode with Eric Northman and all the sudden you're a god damn vampire genius.

"I wouldn't let Alice hear you compare her to some trashy unrealistic vampire." Edward laughed as his dirty boot stepped over the line of the door. "See? No invitation needed."

"Why are you here?" My mind raced as I tried to figure out if any of the Wikipedia answers I found were even true.

"You wanted proof, did you not?" Edward hovered inside the doorway looking around the house as I shifted nervously, waiting for whatever bull he was gonna pull next. "What in the hell is that smell?" His nose wrinkled and he gagged before stepping back.

"Garlic." I grabbed the string of garlic from around my neck, along with the cross I made out of Popsicle sticks. The smell was horrible, but the look on his face was worth it.

"Oh this is priceless. What exactly did Charlie tell you?" He asked, his fingers reaching for the necklace. His footsteps matched mine as my back came in contact with the wall. "You really shouldn't try to cover up your scent, Bella. It's one of the few things I like about you."

My eyes fluttered closed as his cold fingers pulled at the string around my neck, lifting it off me and tossing it to the floor. When I felt a rush of air blow past my face, I opened my eyes and caught him as he made himself comfortable at my kitchen table.

I took one look at the garlic string on the floor, my fingers brushing my neck against the spot he'd touched. As cold as he felt, as sure as I was that his touch would freeze me, I felt nothing but a burning tingle as I pulled the turtleneck up.

"It's getting lonely over here all by myself, Bella." His words were playful, but even this far away, I could see eyes staring at me. There was something there, something that scared me, making a chill run up my spine and my stomach fill with butterflies.

Blinking, I broke the whatever trance he had me under and made my way to the table.

I explained everything. I told him they'd convinced Charlie they were good vampires here to protect us all. I told him I knew about Alice and I was positive he could read my mind.

I asked him about what Carlisle had said, about zombies, but he was tight lipped.

Instead, I told him how ridiculous being a vampire sounded, but that I couldn't explain what I had seen. What he had done in front of me. I don't know why I told him about some of the things I said. There was something about him, something that made me comfortable as his hand sat inches from mine on the table. My heart raced every time he tapped a finger, or drew a design in the wood as he listened to me.

He made my stomach flip and my words fumble as I talked. He seemed so interested in what I had to say, making me fidget under his penetrating gaze.

When I told him how I thought they had an addiction to body glitter, he lost it.

He was so busy laughing at me, that he didn't even notice I got up from the table.

I tried as hard as I could to put up a wall in my mind as I reached for my water bottle on the counter. I didn't even think as I sat back down across from Edward at the table. I unscrewed the top, pretending to be thirsty, and squeezed the bottle as hard as I could, right in his face.

"Jesus Christ, Bella! What the hell is that?" Edward was frantically wiping at his face, but there was no smoke or fire.

"Shit!" I hissed at myself. Of course it wouldn't work.

"You tried to kill me with water?" His hair was hanging over his eyes and a smile played on his lips.

"Holy water." I laughed at just how ridiculous I was being with all this. Seeing Edward soaking wet was worth it.

"Blessed by whom?" He stood and grabbed a dish towel to dry his face and hair.

"An online priest." I was in a fit of giggles as he continued to dry himself.

"Anything else?" I knew he was hoping for more just to embarrass me. I gave him what he wanted. Knowing I was gonna fail, I walked over to the cabinet over the stove and grabbed the jar full of freshly sharpened pencils.

"You were going to try to stab me?" He was laughing with me now as he eyed the pencils.

"Would they work if I did?" I grabbed one of the pencils and aimed in for were his heart should be. I wouldn't really do it, but the fantasy was amazing.

"No, but I'd like to see you try anyway." He put both his arm behind his head and leaned back, taunting me.

I swallowed and aimed. If I was wrong, he could laugh all he wanted.

I watched as the pencil went flying in the air, hitting him square in the chest. The look of shock replacing his usual smirk as the led broke off.

My eyes followed the pencil as it fell harmlessly to the floor. We stood in silence, no doubt both fighting back laughter at what I'd just done.

My smile faltered as the truth of what they were finally sunk in. "I wanted proof," I finally whispered, not liking the tension that was building between us. It felt like electricity in the air, crackling and buzzing just above us. If proof was what I needed, that's what I should have said.

"What kind of proof? Do you want to see me eat an animal?"

"Eww, no. I just... I need to believe my dad. I need to know you guys aren't hurting him."

Edward stared at me as he raked a hand through his wet hair. It was truly sad what looking at him all wet did to me. The chills up my back and the butterflies in my stomach could go to hell. There was a huge possibility, that standing in front of me, was a nightmare I was sure never existed. And yet I couldn't stop wishing he would have worn a white shirt instead of black.

"Stand up." He demanded breaking my wet t-shirt contest fantasy in two.

"What?" It took me a minute to shake my confusion and realize what he wanted. What the hell did standing have to do with proof?

"I said stand up. You want proof, well, I'm giving it to you." His phone started ringing then. He slipped it out of pocket, took one look at the screen, and cut it off.

"Was that important?" I stared at the phone wondering if maybe he had a girlfriend waiting somewhere.

"No." He smiled before he was across the table and standing right in front of me. "You smell horrible."

"You can smell me?" I gulped. He was so damn close.

"I can read your mind, too." He winked as he lifted me up.

"Well, thats not creepy at all." Maybe I was in shock. The feeling of his arms around me, once again, did horrible things to my body. The chills that covered me were replaced by heat. His touch burned and caused my skin to prickle.

It felt as though his touch covered every inch of me, even though his arms were barely touching my exposed skin.

When I snapped out of my haze I was being set down in the woods.

"Where are we?" I asked, looking around. Everything was green and wet.

"A few miles behind your house." You couldn't see a trail or even a broken path as he pointed behind us.

"I don't think I want you to touch me again." I stared at the trees trying to process what was going on.

"Are you afraid of me, Isabella?" He asked, smiling at me mischievously as I fought the urge to run. I could see the concern in his eyes as they raked over me, confusing me about him once again.

"I... I don't know." I shook my head, and looked up at him. "Should I be?"

"Yes." he said, his tone flat and his gold eyes shining as he watched me flinch.

"Are you going to kill me?" I asked, suddenly very nervous being out here alone with Edward. The only time anyone came out this far into the woods was to have sex, or hunt.

Edward seemed like the sexual deviant kind, so he could be planning both.

"Can you stop yourself from bleeding out here?" He eyed me and then my throat.

Asshole.

"I don't know... maybe." I looked around for anything sticking up out of the ground, but found nothing.

"Then maybe you'll be fine." He shrugged as he rolled the now dry shirt sleeves up to his elbows.

"Very reassuring."

He laughed at me before grabbing my hand, causing my breath to catch and making my heart race in my chest.

I closed my eyes, wishing like hell that sensation would stop.

"You'll need to stop that if you want me to maintain control." He gave a nervous chuckle. "Now. Pick a tree."

"What do you mean pick a tree?"

"A tree. You know the brown tall things that have small green things attached." He rolled his eyes and easily dodged my slap.

"Fine," I turned and looked at all the trees surrounding us. "That one." I pointed to the only one I could just make out the top of.

"Good choice. Now hold on." He grabbed my thigh, the touch making me dizzy before he lifted me to his back. "Put your arms around my neck and don't let go."

"Holy shit! Put me down!" I cried as he jumped onto a high branch without warning, opposite of the tree I had picked.

"Not yet, just hold on." He laughed maniacally as he jumped from tree to tree until we were on the one I'd picked. I could hear the cracks every time we landed and each time I prayed he wouldn't let me fall.

"NO!" I screamed right in his ear. "Put me down, put me down, put me down!"

"Okay," he leapt to a final branch and shrugged me off.

I had enough time to glance below us before I felt the air whipping through my hair. My lungs burned as I struggled to scream and breathe at the same time.

"Edward!" I screamed for him with wide eyes and tears running down my face. I could just make him out far above me. He waved down as if he didn't have a care in the world while I was falling to my death.

The wind whipped through my hair, stinging my skin, and I hoped like hell that if I screamed enough I'd pass out before I died.

Just as I accepted I was about to smack the ground, I felt his arms around me once more. All of his gentleness from before was gone. His grip was tighter as we changed directions, causing the air to rush out of my lungs and my head to spin. The biting chill of his arms felt like heaven instead of hell as my feet touched the ground.

"Proof enough?"

"You psychotic asshole! You could have killed me!" I screamed in his face, ready to beat him with my cast.

"I didn't though, and that should earn me a kiss." He gave me a wink before leaning down and puckering his lips.

Maybe he saw it coming. Maybe he didn't. But I picked up a branch with my good arm, and hit him right on the side of his face.I turned without a word and began the trip back to my house.

Without Edward.

I owe the biggest thank you to PandorasFF for talking me off the ledge with this chapter. She's just amazing at kicking my ass. Sushibrat and LivieLiv are just the best ladies ever as well. I seriously have the best fic support in this fandom. Thank you so much you three.

I read all the reviews for this last chapter, but because I was writing like a maniac to get a few chapters ahead I didn't respond. I hope having so many in the bag makes up for that. It means no waiting long periods for updates! YAY! Thank you btw, your reviews are what bring me back each week.

We have one more chapter before the ride really begins and the gore starts flying. I'm excited as hell so I might just post 6 this weekend.

Love it? Hate it? Do you wish a zombie would eat Edward?