Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight
Ch5
Alice pulled the Volvo smoothly into a vacant car space, flicking the keys to me as she got out. It was rare for me to let anyone else drive my car, but giving in to her on occasion made her happy, so who was I to deny that? Besides, a happy Alice meant that she may be a little more forthcoming about Bella, a situation where she and I both knew that she had the upper hand.
"She works in the campus bookstore," Alice informed me as we began to walk across the car park towards the cluster of buildings.
"You've seen?"
"I've shopped," she replied, reaching for Jasper's hand, "we did need textbooks after all."
"I thought you'd gotten them online," I mused as I matched her pace. It was like being an Olympic athlete condemned to compete in a sack race. Walking at human speed was barely tolerable at the best of times and today seemed even more difficult.
"Nope," she was looking decidedly pleased with herself now, "I decided to go to the bookstore a while ago."
I looked at her as suspicions began to form, "Really? When, exactly?"
She gave me a sidelong look as she moved closer to Jasper who shook his head in amusement and kept walking. "When we made the decision to transfer here," she admitted at last.
That had the effect of stopping me in my tracks. "You've known for months and you didn't tell me?"
"Well what would you have done if you'd known?" she challenged, "Enrolled at another college? I didn't want that, Edward," she said, reaching out and putting her arm through mine, towing Jasper and I along like a determined tugboat. "I wanted us together, like a family."
"Yeah, but-," I didn't quite know what to say. She had known about Bella all that time and hadn't breathed a word, hadn't let a single thought slip. My admiration for her increased; the control she had just revealed was astonishing.
"Think about it," she went on, "Emmett and Rosalie get to play newlyweds; if you had gone somewhere else Jasper and I would have been lonely." Jasper gave a quiet grunt at this statement, although his amusement was cut off as Alice elbowed him for quiet. "She's working this morning and then you'll see her again at the lecture," Alice stated as she gave me a gentle shove. "Jasper and I will be in the library. We'll see you there afterwards so you can tell us all about it."
Jasper shot me a grin as he and Alice began to walk away in a direction different to mine. I kept walking without really considering what I was about to do, although as my thoughts caught up my pace began to slow. Watching her sleep had been one thing but engaging her in conversation seemed to be quite daunting by comparison. Could I really do this? I thought about her unconscious plea. She had asked me to stay. At the time I had convinced myself that she was referring to me, but she could have been dreaming about anyone. I shook my head. This was a foolish venture.
Edward, Alice's voice in my head held a distinct warning tone. Don't you dare back out. Sighing, I turned back to the path that would lead me to the bookstore knowing full well that I desperately wanted to see her again, and hating myself for it all the same.
* * * * *
It was mid-morning and already the bookstore was a hive of activity as I stepped through the metal detector at the entrance. There were no warning sirens or alarm bells to tell the humans inside that a predator had just entered their midst, but the crowds parted all the same. Without even looking up from their browsing people stepped aside to let me pass, shifting out of my way seamlessly in unconscious avoidance, whilst denying the humans around them the same ease of passage. I could not see her, but I knew she was here. Her scent wove around the bookshelves, pooling here and there as she had traversed the store. I stopped at a bookshelf and selected a title at random staring blindly at the page as I allowed my mental barrier to soften as I listened in to the people around me.
Another fifty bucks just because it's the revised edition?
Stanley ... Stansfield ... Stansford ... out of stock ... dammit!
'Textual Poachers' offers an ethnographic account of a particular group of media fans ...
Hot from the back I wonder if ...
I looked up and saw a woman who had been eyeing me off suddenly away break her gaze and look flustered. She smiled and glanced back at me with what she obviously hoped a 'come hither' smile which faltered when I refused to take the bait. She loitered a few minutes more before giving up and moving on, her thoughts going back to the book she had originally been seeking.
"Hi there, can I help you?" the voice appeared at my elbow with no prior warning and I turned in surprise. It was Bella.
"Uh," I stared at her, completely unprepared for this encounter. I had thought to watch her in her work environment for a while, never dreaming that she would seek me out. She was even more delicate than I had remembered; her head barely reached my shoulder, pale ivory skin with a light dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks. Her eyes crinkled as she gave me an engaging smile. I watched as colour bloomed in her cheeks, and realised that her reaction was because I was staring.
I reminded myself to blink.
"I'm just looking so far, thanks." I felt unaccountably relieved that the words had come easily, banal as they were.
"No problem," a carefree wave of the hand. "Just let me know if you need a hand finding anything." Another smile and she was gone, moving on to the next customer. I slid the book back onto the shelf as I watched her stroll around the store, completely at ease in her environment as she answered questions. She spoke with the kind of friendly banter that I envied, and she seemed to openly share everything that was hers to offer, and perhaps because of this there was always someone in need. She couldn't seem to walk more than a few feet before someone else stopped her, and yet she had a smile for everyone.
Another familiar scent entered the store and I raised my head again as I tasted the air; it was her flatmate, Angela. I watched as she stood near the doorway scanning the store before spotting Bella and walking towards her. Bella looked over and waved as she kept talking to the customer she was dealing with. When she was free, she gave Angela a quick hug of greeting.
She was a tactile person. That could be a problem.
"It's the dating girl," Bella was teasing, "how was your breakfast with Ben?"
"Wonderful," Angela admitted with a smile as she dropped her bag at her feet and leaned against the large bookshelf beside her, "he's a really nice guy."
"Good to hear," Bella nodded in approval, "you deserve nothing but the best."
"Now we just have to find someone for you," Angela continued, ignoring Bella's groan.
Although I could hear them perfectly well from across the store, I found myself edging closer to their conversation all the same. I stood an aisle away with nothing but a couple of bookshelves separating us, luxuriating in the scent that surrounded Bella in a delicious cloud. I dipped into Angela's thoughts and found myself regarding Bella through her eyes. Angela's entire demeanour even her thoughts, were kind. She truly wanted to see the best in people and right now she wanted her friend to be happy.
Bella wasn't seeing anyone. I felt a surge of hope as I realised she was available, which I promptly quashed. Ridiculous to think of a human in that way, and yet I couldn't stop listening; couldn't make myself leave the store just yet.
"Angela, I beg of you, no set-ups," Bella said, and I could hear the warning in her voice.
"I'd never do that to you," Angela protested, "but you have to at least put yourself into different environments now and then."
"Whatever." Bella sounded resigned now, and so Angela pressed on.
"We're all going out for drinks tonight to get the weekend started, why don't you come along?"
"I don't know-," Bella sounded like she was hesitating, and Angela was quick to take advantage.
"Oh come on … it won't be any fun without you." Angela pleaded. "You never know, Bells, you might even enjoy yourself." A face flashed into Angela's mind, someone she thought might be good for Bella. A low growl rumbled in my chest before I could stop myself.
Mine.
"If I say yes, will you stop looking at me like that?"
Angela squealed and gave her a hug. "You won't regret it. We're going to have a great time."
"Okay," Bella was laughing at Angela's enthusiasm now, "you know it's just drinks, right? It's not a life changing event."
"You never know," Angela replied. "Listen, I've got to get to class, I'll see you at lunch?"
"Will do," Bella answered, reaching up to fluff her hair off the back of her neck. The movement sent a wave of her scent towards me, and I swallowed hard. I watched Angela leave the store with a smile on her face and then strolled towards the end of the aisle. The lure of her scent aside, I wanted to be closer to her. The thoughts of the customers around me were an irritation and I mentally swatted them aside, listening to the only element of Bella that I could hear and the others couldn't: her heartbeat. The steady beat of it was a soothing rhythm that I could listen to all day. The more I watched her, the more her idiosyncrasies became apparent, the details of which I committed to memory. The way she interacted with people, friends and customers alike told me more about her than her friends would ever know. How could it be that no-one seemed to notice how different she was? I traced a finger along the book spines on the shelf in front of me in keeping with my charade as a customer, watching from my peripheral vision as she saw me and to my astonishment, stepped closer.
"Still here I see," she said with another smile. I listened to her heartbeat increase as she looked at me. "Is there something in particular you're looking for?"
If only she knew. Had I ever known that a scent like hers could have existed I would have combed the world until I'd found it. Instead the fates – with the assistance of Alice - had drawn us together.
"Oh I've found it," I assured her, watching her blink as my breath washed over her face. Her features slackened infinitesimally and she leaned closer, turning to look at the book I had paused at and reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear at the same time. I clenched my jaw. Her movement had bared her neck to me and I could see a vein throbbing behind her ear, taste the scent of her blood on the air as her heartbeat beckoned me. I was so fixated by the sight of it that for once I didn't hear a word she said.
It took the space of a second to consider my options. There were twenty-five people in the store, innocent bystanders that I would have to kill if I gave into my thirst. They would not be allowed to live, having seen what they would see if I drank from Bella. I mentally flinched away from this. Even at my worst, I had never killed on such a scale, and yet here I was almost considering the scenario. And yet …
If I grabbed Bella, I would have perhaps fifteen seconds at best before others in the vicinity reacted as they realised what was happening. Bella wouldn't make a sound. I could kill her quickly before the fact she was going to die even had a chance to register in her mind. Still, I would have to leave her, let her body drop to the ground while I blocked the exit. Valuable seconds would be lost as I chased down the other humans in the store, trapping and killing them. It would be chaos; there would be screaming, a lot of noise, and someone would be bound to hear. In the meantime, Bella would be on the floor, her blood cooling. That was unacceptable. So the witnesses would have to be killed first then.
I mapped it out in my head. Starting from the furthest point in the store I could approach people from the right, which would mean I was coming up on their blind side. Five seconds would see twenty of the humans dead with minimal sound. The remaining five customers were in the same aisle as Bella. I would have to work my way towards her. I could do it in a matter of seconds, but it would be long enough for her to perhaps sense what was happening, to turn her head and see her death coming towards her. The spike of adrenaline in her system would add a sweetener to her taste as I sank my teeth into that warm pulse in her neck, feeling her human nectar spill down my throat.
Someone dropped a book on the floor, and the noise was enough to bring me back to the present. She was staring at me, her warm smile beginning to falter.
"I'm sorry," I said, snapping back to attention, "what?"
She blushed and it was all I could do not to groan. This was getting worse by the second. "I was complimenting you on your choice, "Twenty love poems and a song of despair by Pablo Neruda. It's a beautiful book." She glanced back at me, her eyes going wide as she saw the hunger that was no doubt etched on my face. At last her survival instinct kicked in and she took a step back. "I'm sorry," she stammered, "you probably don't need more interruptions while you're browsing, I'll leave you to it."
Ducking her head she turned and walked away. I took a deep breath, taking as much of her scent in to me as I could before she was gone. She reached the end of the aisle and shot me a curious look over her shoulder, blushing and looking away when she saw that my gaze had followed her. I closed my eyes and consciously unclenched my first, raking my hand through my hair in a bid to relax.
That could have gone better. It could also have gone a lot worse.
I glanced down at the book I was still clutching and realised that I had left permanent finger indentations on it. With a sigh of resignation I turned to head towards the checkout; it wouldn't do to leave the book behind for someone to puzzle over. Alice and Jasper were going to see me at the library sooner than they thought.
* * * * *
They were sitting at a remote study table, books and laptops artfully arranged to give the impression of academic industry. I noticed however, that Alice's hair was a little more mussed than it had been this morning, and Jasper wore a preoccupied expression.
"Studying hard?" I said as I pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Something like that," Alice allowed with a demure smile, "we had to do some research."
"Oh really?"
"Mm-hmm, up in the stacks," Alice nodded in the direction of the archival area of the library located on the mezzanine floor upstairs.
I raised an eyebrow at this and considered Jasper's expression. Had he been capable, I could swear he would have been blushing.
"How did it go?" he asked, gamely changing the subject.
I shrugged and glanced at Alice.
"Not bad," Alice supplied. She reached across the table to squeeze my wrist in a show of excitement, "Can I talk to her now?"
"It's early days," I cautioned, and then stopped. "What the hell am I saying? No, you can't."
"Why not?" Alice's brow creased as she stared at me, "you won't do anything wrong."
Jasper was frowning slightly as well now, no doubt picking up on my inner conflict. I desired Bella more than I had ever desired any human – and there had been a few – and yet I wanted to protect her and see her safe, even at the cost of protecting her from myself.
"I'm a vampire, she's a human. You know it can't end well, you know the deal. We have a tendency to bite."
"Some women like it," Jasper mused with a reminiscent smile as he took Alice's hands and gazed up at the library stacks.
I stared at him.
"Just sayin'," he shrugged.
Alice giggled.
I slouched in my chair as I grinned and shook my head at them. "No need to elaborate."
"Bet you're glad I can block you now, huh?" Alice taunted.
"You have no idea," I replied. Shielding myself from the thoughts of others was no easy task, and one that I wasn't able to do for very long at all. By a very prolonged process of trial and error, Alice and I had managed to form a tentative shield between us. A shield alas, that Emmett had no interest in acquiring. Emmett was the youngest of our family ad delighted in his existence, particularly the time he spent with his mate, Rosalie. I would never deny them the joy of each other simply because I couldn't help but read their thoughts, but a shield, any type of shield, would be a welcome relief from some of their more, shall we say, enthusiastic encounters.
I looked at my watch and slumped further still in my chair, looking up as Alice gave a gurgle of laughter.
"Oh, Edward," she shook her head at me, "look at you. Over a hundred years old and yet you play the sulky teenager to perfection."
"We're 22 years old this time around, Babe, remember?" Jasper nudged her without looking up from his laptop.
"Of course I do," Alice said lightly, "but look at our boy." She put her chin in her hands and regarded me with a fond smile. "He's growing up and falling in love."
"I don't remember using that word," I replied in what I hoped was a mild tone.
"You didn't," Alice said, "but I just did." She tapped her temple with one finger and winked at me with a knowing smile. "Any questions?"
"I'll pass."
Alice pouted.
"For now," I added, and watched her smile.
We had sat in the library for the next couple of hours making idle chit cat and playing on our computers. Jasper had suggested leaving campus at one point and going for a run, and while I had explored the option I realised that I couldn't find it in me to leave.
"I just don't feel like going too far today," I explained, feeling foolish.
"He doesn't want to leave Bella," Alice translated.
Jasper gave me a considering look and then nodded.
And so we had stayed.
* * * * *
At last I entered the lecture hall and padded up the stairs towards the seats in the back row, taking my usual spot against the wall. I was the first to arrive, having all but bolted from the library when it was time to leave, Alice and Jasper smiling at my eagerness. I sat for what felt like an eternity as other students began to arrive. The noise level in the hall increased exponentially as more students filtered in, laughing and talking amongst themselves. I kept my gaze on the door ignoring any arrival that wasn't Bella. A few times I had straightened a little in my seat as I had caught her scent, only to be disappointed when the doors opened and it wasn't her. Where was she? The lecture hall was one of the smaller ones, and it was nearly filled to capacity. Was she going to be kept up at work? Surely not, Alice would have told me otherwise.
The lecturer arrived and began to set up his laptop, plugging it in to the overhead projector and audio system. The students' chatter began to die down as they realised the lecture was soon to start, and so the lecture hall was quiet enough for the door bursting open to sound like a gunshot. My mouth filled with venom out of pure instinct. It was Bella hesitating in the doorway, her cheeks flushed as she realised her entrance had inadvertently drawn everyone's attention. Ducking her head, she made her way up the aisle, her eyes flicking back and forth as she looked for a vacant seat. There were a few available here and there, but I could see her cringing away from the hopeful leers. Setting her shoulders, she marched further up the stairs, walking towards – I realised with a shock – me.
I sat motionless, as she seemed to make a beeline for where I was sitting, only to watch with a surge of relief–and disappointment–as she sank into a seat a row in front of me. She dropped her bag at her feet without ceremony and hauled out her notebook, leaning towards the girl sitting beside her in response to a whispered question. I watched Bella's profile as she whispered a reply and her face lit up with suppressed laughter. I considered the blonde she was talking to, and found her thoughts were all too human. She was smiling at Bella, nodding and talking while her thoughts were altogether different.
What's all the fuss about? She's not even all that pretty. The way Mike carries on you'd think she was model material. At least Tyler isn't interested.
Jessica leaned against the man sitting on her right, whom I assumed was the Tyler. She may have felt secure about him, but Tyler's thoughts were wrapped around Bella. His mind flickered with fantasies that seemed well established with images of Bella writhing and moaning his name. I didn't like that. I took an immediate dislike to the man, the way he cheapened her; turning Bella into his plaything while she smiled and spoke to him.
Mine.
I growled, softly enough that the sound didn't register, but it was enough for Tyler to shiver suddenly and pull his attention back to the present as the lecturer dimmed the lights and the session began.
The projector screen illuminated, and there was a muted cheer as the guitar chords blasted out of the speakers. I shook my head. Of all the things to play, the lecturer had chosen to start the session with an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I could only smile at the irony.
"This episode's a good one, I've got the whole series on DVD," Jessica told Bella in an excited whisper.
I smiled, of course she did, and watched as Tyler leaned over and gently bit Jessica's neck, making her cringe in delight. Perhaps Jasper had a point after all.
* * * * *
As the lecture ended I was still shaking my head in quiet amusement at the overdone vampire myth. The lecturer had focussed on the uncharacteristically strong female protagonist in the series that had bucked the Hollywood trends when the series first went to air. He had raised some good points, although I was more interested in the other trends that still seemed to hold true as far as the humans were concerned. They still believed that vampires had no reflection, that they had an aversion to holy objects and would burst into flames in direct sunlight. I wondered then, what they would make of Rosalie's predilection for her own stunning reflection, or the ancient crucifix that Carlisle treasured. The historical stereotypes were amusing, but they at least served to offer another thin layer of protection.
"So what are you up to this weekend, Bella?"
My attention was pulled back to the row in front of me. Jessica was asking, although Tyler was listening with more attention than I liked to see. Bella seemed oblivious as she put her notebook away.
"Angela wants me to go out for some drinks tonight with her boyfriend and some of his buddies," she said carelessly.
"Ohh, which bar?" Jessica asked.
"Who's the guy?" Tyler asked in the same breath.
Bella sat up, pulling her bag up onto her lap. "Ben Cheney," she answered.
Tyler's expression cleared. "I know Ben, he's a good guy."
"Good to know," Bella nodded.
I watched Tyler's mind as Ben's face appeared, followed by a series of others. It was as if he was sifting through a mental catalogue, trying to see which of them might pose some sort of competition.
"Which bar are you going to?" he asked, looking at Jessica, "we don't have any plans do we?"
"I guess not," Jessica replied with a pout. She had plans that involved some lingerie and a set-up scene that had no doubt stemmed from a steady diet of too many romance novels. She brightened at the prospect of cheap champagne. "It sounds like fun, what time?"
"Half seven I think, they're going to be at O'Grady's," Bella said, and I offered silent thanks for the information. "See you there?"
"Sure," Jessica smiled as she seethed with indignation. Tyler knows I wanted a romantic night for the two of us. He's going to be in so much trouble.
"Wouldn't miss it," Tyler waved.
Bella moved off with the other students, Jessica and Tyler slowly bringing up the rear. I remained in my seat for a moment waiting for the burn in my throat to subside before giving it up as a lost cause. As long as I was around Bella's scent, it was going to be a problem. I sighed and followed.
* * * * *
Alice and Jasper were waiting by the car as I approached.
"So," Alice said in a singsong tone, "how was it?"
"Fine," I said, digging out my keys and stopping when Jasper cleared his throat. He raised an eyebrow at me and I shrugged and tossed the keys to him.
"Edward," Alice was shocked, "seriously?"
"Why not," I shrugged, "nothing seems to be as expected these days."
"Well, yeah," Alice said, "but this is-," she paused to give the moment dramatic weight, "your car."
I opened the rear passenger door. "It's just a Volvo, Alice, and even I can take a break now and then."
"And they say the Age of Miracles has passed," Jasper said as he gave me a droll smile and started the engine.
Leaning back against the seat, I gazed out the window as Jasper drove out of the car park. To your left, Edward, Alice instructed. Looking over I saw Bella strolling along path that led off campus. I frowned, realising I hadn't seen her truck today. Was she having trouble with it? Perhaps I could get Rosalie to have a look at it during the evening this week.
"Or maybe she just decided to walk today," Alice chimed in.
"It's not very safe," I replied.
"Or very common," Jasper added. "What is it with people not wanting to walk anywhere these days?"
"C'mon," Alice chided him in a teasing tone, "you still talk about how much you loved that horse of yours when you were enlisted. That wasn't walking either."
"Maybe not," Jasper agreed, "but it was still more exercise than sitting in these things," he changed gears with a slight expression of distaste. For all that Jasper had changed the technological changes over the last two centuries, he was still a purist at heart. The posted speed limit in the car park was slow, but Jasper slowed down even more as we drove past Bella who was walking at a brisk pace. She had a slight smile on her face, her lips moving silently as she mouthed the lyrics of the song she was listening to through her ipod ear-buds.
"She's nice," Alice said, twisting in her seat so that she could keep watching Bella as we drove past, tactfully not pointing out that I was doing the same. She had a wistful tone in her voice, as if she was missing someone she didn't even know yet. "Get a move on, Edward."
Jasper smiled and kept driving.
* * * * *
Esme was waiting for me when we got home.
"Edward," she was smiling as she reached out to take my hand, "how did it go?"
I allowed myself to be led towards the sofa in the living room and sat down beside her. "Is there anyone in this house that doesn't know?" I said with a resigned smile, looking up as Alice gave a gurgle of laughter on her way upstairs.
"We're a small family that never sleeps," Alice called out, "you're the latest diversion, Edward."
"Don't listen to her," Esme advised, "you do what you feel is right."
"You make it sound so easy," I said hearing the doleful tone in my voice.
She reached up to stroke my hair. It's going to be fine, Edward. Things will work out for the best. You deserve happiness, but love isn't always convenient.
I gave a short laugh at that.
Out of all of us, you are the best equipped to deal with this situation.
Esme was overjoyed that my heart had finally been touched by love, no matter how potential there was for tragedy. After all these decades of thinking that I would always be alone …
Of course she'll love you back. If she's as bright as Alice says she is, she'll see you for the catch you are. She gave me a fond smile.
"Stop it, Mom," I teased, "are you trying to make me blush?"
Esme pulled me towards her for a hug as she laughed and dropped a kiss on my temple, and laughed louder again when Emmett appeared behind me and flicked my ear.
"I hear you've got a hot date tonight, Bro. You gonna eat before you head out?"
"That's the plan," I answered. "You want?"
Emmett gave laughed as he pretended to look hurt. "Have you ever known me not to be hungry?"
I grinned and gave Esme a quick kiss on her cheek as I stood. "Let's go."
* * * * *
"So you're really going to do it," Emmett said, dropping the mountain lion carcass at his feet, "you're going to watch the human again tonight."
"She has a name," I relied, flicking some blood off my lip with my thumb and then licking it clean. We had hunted well. I felt sated now, although I knew there was only one taste that would truly satisfy. I taste I was determined to deny myself.
"Bella," Emmett agreed. "Think you resist her? From what you've told us I don't see how you can do it."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I replied, shooting him a look of amused exasperation.
"Aw hell, you know that's not what I meant," Emmett protested. It was true. There was nothing in Emmett's mind that he wouldn't speak out loud. It was a boon of sorts, as I never felt like I was intruding on his privacy on my occasional inadvertent slips. "If there's anyone that can handle that kind of temptation it's you." He shook his head. "Man, you spent six months with the Denali clan and lived to tell the tale, so if you can resist those women than I-,"
"Who said anything about resisting them?" I interrupted.
Emmett looked at me and then gave a low whistle. "That must've been quite a time you had there, Bro."
"It had its moments," I allowed, "but compared to Bella, it was nothing."
Emmett gaped at me this time. "Damn," he said at last, "you've got a bigger pair than I thought."
"Thanks, Emmet," I winced, "that's really … gross."
"Hey," he spread his hands in a defensive gesture, "Just tryin' to give a guy a compliment." He looked around the clearing. "Where's Jasper? I thought he was going to join us?"
"He's, uh," I cleared my throat, "spending some time with Alice." I gave Emmett a meaningful look.
He laughed. "Those two have going for a lot of private time lately," he raised an eyebrow at me, "is that anything to do with you?"
I scuffed at the deer carcass at my feet, looking up as Emmett gave a low rumble of laughter.
"You must be putting out some serious vibes for him to let off the tension like that," he said. "Guess it saves him projecting onto the rest of us," he went on, "not that Rose and I need any help in that department." His thoughts took on a distinct honey flavour as he smiled, making me groan.
This evening couldn't come fast enough.
* * * * *
A vampire walks into a bar ...
I grimaced at the cheesiness of the line, but nonetheless I walked inside and regretted it a moment later. This must be what purgatory was like: to be surrounded by so many people, all hoping to talk loud enough to drown out their insecurities. Unfortunately for me I heard everything said and unsaid.
Emmett and I had returned to the house, and in a bid to block everyone else's excitement and secondhand lust I had all but locked myself away with the piano. I had worked through my favourites before moving onto a new composition that had been tickling my mind for the last week. It was a delicate melody that I couldn't quite capture, but I was not about to give up. Finally, Alice had appeared in the doorway with a knowing smile.
It's time she had announced before turning to go back to Jasper.
I took advantage of a gap in the crowd which parted further to let me through to the bar, and I ordered a drink to blend in. Glass in hand, I turned and rested my elbows on the bar, surveying the room. Bella's hair gleamed like a torch in the crowd as she moved from person to person, laughing and talking as she tried to make her way to the bar. She had nearly reached it when a light shove from behind as someone made their way past her towards the bar sent her stumbling against me. I had my arm around her waist to steady her before she even had a chance to realise she was falling.
"Thanks," she put a hand on my chest to push herself upright and it was with some effort of will that I allowed her to move away. She got her balance and blinked at me slowly. It was then I noticed she was swaying slightly. I took a step closer, pretending it was because of the loud music and dim lighting in the club. Her eyes were dilated, and her cheeks and lips were flushed with the blood that was racing through the engorged veins, making her look and smell more delectable than ever.
I clutched at my drink and shoved my other hand into my jeans pocket in a bid not to touch her again.
"How much have you had to drink?"
"A couple," she admitted, giving me a lazy smile, "why's that, are you trying to work out when I'll be a sure thing?"
"Not at all," I said in what I hoped was a neutral tone, "but you need to make sure you get home safe."
"I'll be fine," she said with a dismissive wave, "I live within walking distance."
"I'm not sure that's the best-," I began, surprised at the level of concern I felt for her. At how much I wanted her for myself.
"Plus my friends will look out for me," she went on, waving over my shoulder. I turned to see a small group of students occupying a booth, waving back. Their thoughts seemed friendly enough, which was more than could be said for some of the other men in the bar that were eyeing her with speculation. She turned back and cocked her head to one side as she considered me. "Do I know you?"
"Not really," I allowed after a brief pause, "but I've seen you at a couple of lectures."
"Got it," she snapped her fingers, having missed what I'd just said, "the bookshop, I saw you there this morning."
"That's right," I said, trying to sound surprised.
"I've got a good memory for faces," she admitted, "but names get the better of me." She extended a hand expecting me to shake it, "I'm Bella."
Now I was thankful I had a cold drink in my hand. I transferred it to my left, and shook her hand with my right, "Edward."
"Brrrrr," she laughed and gave an exaggerated shiver. I was holding my drink in my right hand again, and now I smiled and raised my glass in silent explanation. She laughed. "Oh well, you know what they say, cold hands, warm heart."
Dead heart in my case.
"Can I get you a drink?" I gestured towards the bar, watching her as she hesitated before giving me a slow smile. She opened her mouth to reply, and then turned as her name was yelled from the back of the bar. Jessica was waving her arms, animosity forgotten as she pointed at a jug of margarita on the table.
"I guess that's me taken care of," Bella turned back to me with a smile, "but thanks, Edward. Maybe I'll see you around sometime."
"Maybe," I nodded knowing full well it would be a certainty.
* * * * *
I had nursed that drink for an hour before the bar had become too much for me to bear. I'd made my way outside and had gone to the rear of the building so that I would scale it without being seen. Standing on the rooftop provided me the perfect vantage point to watch all the comings and goings and provided the illusion of distance from the thoughts below me, which were growing progressively inebriated.
At last the doors opened and the a group of people staggered out, clutching at each other in a combination of laughter and the genuine need for support. Jessica had draped herself around Tyler, her romantic thoughts forgotten as her more base instinct took over. Thoughts of cheap lace were forgotten and now she wanted to stake her claim. Angela was, I was relieved to see one of the most sober of the group, as was Ben. They were standing off to one side of the group, arms around each other as they made quiet plans for what remained of the evening. Bella broke way from the group and strolled towards them. I watched Angela's mind as Bella gave her an expansive smile.
"Great night guys, thanks for the invite," she was saying.
"See? I told you that you'd have a great time," Angela replied. Ben was right. Eric's definitely interested in her. We'll have a talk tomorrow.
I shifted my attention to Ben. He was watching Angela and Bella talk with a fond smile on his face. His thoughts towards Bella were kind, but not in any way covetous. He was amused with his friend Eric and I had a sudden vision of a man watching Bella with keen interest. A bray of laughter from the group caught his attention, and I saw his disapproval of Tyler, especially the way he had been watching Bella all evening even though he was paired with Jessica. He tolerated Tyler but didn't think he was worthy of Angela's friendship. I felt very well disposed towards Ben in that moment.
Plans were being made for the group to party on, and I caught Ben's mental wince as his nearby apartment was suggested as the venue. He had the place to himself this weekend, and he had already made plans with Angela for a quiet coffee after the bar. He had no ulterior motives other than spending some quiet time with her, and my respect for him went up another notch.
"How about you, Bella?"
I glanced down at the group to see someone approaching her. It was Eric. I watched as he offered Bella a hopeful smile as she hesitated, and in that hesitation I saw her future more clearly than Alice had.
She might say yes, she might not, but either way someday soon she would say yes to someone. That simple word would spark a chain of events: tentative dates, the first kiss, love, perhaps even marriage. I imagined her dressed in white, her face glowing with happiness as she offered herself up to someone before a circlet of gold was slipped onto her left hand. Someone human.
The pain was unlike anything I'd ever felt before. A human would have to be at the point of death to feel anything remotely like it. This was more than pain. It was rage. I clenched my hands on the brick balustrade wall that circled the roof of the building, not noticing as the bricks crumbled to dust. The very idea that some undeserving boy would be the one to claim her as his own was unthinkable. I didn't understand this emotion at all. It was all a confusing tangle of rage and despair. It was like nothing I had ever experienced, I couldn't put a name to it.
"Hey, Eric," Tyler called out, "you guys coming?"
Tyler had been watching the exchange and was annoyed that Eric had been the one to approach Bella and not himself. The envy in his thoughts suddenly put a name to how I was feeling.
"I'm going to call it a night," Bella said in a gentle, almost apologetic tone.
"You're sure?" Eric couldn't hide his disappointment.
"Yeah, I've had a really busy day, I'm beat," Bella explained with a smile. Angela nodded in understanding, but Eric wavered.
"I'm sorry to hear that," he said at last, "can I see you home?"
"That's really sweet of you, Eric, but I'll be fine," Bella explained. "It sounds like the guys have made plans though, so you have a great time. It was nice meeting you."
Eric shuffled clearly not wanting to leave just yet, but he gave in to the group heckles as they began to head off to continue their evening. As they began to depart Bella turned to Angela and Ben with a small sigh of relief.
"You didn't like him?" Angela asked.
"He's a really nice guy," Bella replied, "but seriously guys, I just want to get home and go to bed."
"Are you okay to get home?" Ben asked. It was just the three of them standing outside the bar, and it was late. "Can I get you a cab?"
"I'll be fine," Bella laughed, "I haven't got far to go. Now you two-," she made a shooing gesture "scoot, have fun."
"Bella," Angela clearly wasn't happy with the situation, and Ben shared her concern.
"Angela," Bella mimicked her tone, "I'll send you a text when I get home safe and sound. Go."
When Angela and Ben still hesitated, Bella sighed. "Guys, you know how stubborn I can be, now go, or I'll get angry, and I'm good at it, so you'd be upset for the rest of the night."
This made Angela laugh and hold her hands up in surrender. "Okay, be like that then. I'll see you later."
"Right," Bella nodded, "have fun." She gave them a cocky salute and turned to begin her walk home. After a moment's pause, Angela and Ben set off in the opposite direction.
Up on the rooftop, I started to feel anxious. This wasn't something I had considered, Bella walking alone at night. It was dangerous, didn't she realise what sort of people were out there? The streets were unsafe enough without the likes of me to compound the situation. I watched as she paused at the intersection before crossing with the lights. On the other side of the roof I checked the dark alley below before dropping over the side of the building and landing in a crouch with barely a sound. As I stood up I scanned the vicinity, flicking through one mind after another.
I'm going to throw up …
Please don't card me, please don't card me …
Have I got condoms at home?
I followed her keeping a wide distance so that she wouldn't know I was there. Just like all the other times. She had covered two blocks now, another five or ten minutes' walk at her pace and she'd be home. Perhaps this was unnecessary. Stupid vampire stalker. I felt foolish but the compulsion to make sure she was safe was overwhelming.
Here she comes, beautiful …
There. I saw her face, but any pleasure was gone in a fraction of a second, as I scanned the mind of the man who was gloating over her. He was a total stranger, but his mind was not unfamiliar to me. I had hunted others like him over the years. I snarled, the sound ripping the burn in my throat, flaring the heat.
Meanwhile Bella walked on. It was late and the streetlights were on but she was deep in shadow as she walked under shop awnings. The man was pleased with this, as the shadows would assist him. He followed at a cautious distance, his soft-soled shoes making no sound as he mapped out his plan of attack. Already he was imagining the look of terror on her face, just like the others. Bella wouldn't be his first. He wanted to chase her down. He liked the thrill of hunt. This time would be different; I wondered what he would think of my style of hunting.
There was a gap between the buildings up ahead which would mean another dark alley. Perfect. He was getting closer now, but so was I. He began to pick up his pace.
Nearly there.
Bella drew level with the alley.
He began to reach out, but I got there first.
It only took me a second to clamp my hand over his mouth and step into the shadows, pushing him into the wall to subdue any movement. Bella's footsteps faltered as she sensed movement behind her, but by the time she had turned around there was nothing to see. The man's body broke out in a sweat as he struggled for air. I had my hand clamped over his nose and mouth so that not even a whisper of sound would emerge. I scanned the area. The thoughts I could pick up seemed innocuous enough. I would have time to deal with him before seeing to Bella, and I relaxed my grip enough for him to suck in a hasty gulp of air.
What the hell?
His mind was racing with a combination of fury and terror. The hunter had become the hunted, only he hadn't realised that yet. Right now, he saw me as the man who had killed his buzz. I could do much, much worse.
"I know about you," I said in a furious whisper. My breath hit him in the face and his body responded to the pheromones automatically, even as his survival instinct was no doubt shrieking at him to run. "I know all about you, Lonnie. I know about the others too."
His struggles stopped as he stared at me in sudden confusion.
Impossible, there's no way he could …
"I know about Stacey, and Karen," I went on, plucking the names from his mind, names he had found in the purses he had kept, "and Stephanie, and Michelle-," I paused and looked deeply into his eyes. "Shall I continue?"
He shook his head. I could hear his heartbeat hammering in his chest like a bird frantically beating its wings against the bars of a cage. He returned my gaze and saw the hunger raging just beneath the surface, and at last he began to understand the danger he was in. He stood silent, still pinned by my hands as the occasional tremor wracked his body.
"You knew exactly what you were doing every single time," I said, "you need to seek out the police and hand yourself in."
I shifted my grip, restraining him with one hand in the centre of his chest as I reached out and casually rested my other hand on the brick wall beside his head. I curled my fingers a little, and he turned to look, and his eyes widened as he saw the brickwork crumbling beneath my fingers as if it was dust. I caught his gaze again.
"The slightest pressure and my hand will go straight through your chest," I rumbled, "so here's what you're going to do."
Agree to anything. Say anything. Just say yes and then maybe he'll …
"You don't know what I'll do," I interrupted his thought, and his eyes widened. "But I'm going to give you a choice." I paused to make sure he understood. "You can hand yourself in to the police, or," I gave him a slow grin and then darted in to snap my teeth at the air beside his throat, "we can take care of this situation right here."
He whimpered, and there was the sudden acrid stench of urine. His breath was coming in quick gasps as he tried to form words.
"P-p-," he stuttered in his terror.
"Police," I said. "You've made the right decision." I removed my hand and took a pace backwards, watching as he crumpled to the ground on all fours, snivelling and grovelling before me in his own filth. "I'll be watching you, Lonnie, and if you disappoint me I'll find you."
By the time he dared to look up, I was gone.
I ran out of the alley and followed the trail of Bella's scent. She hadn't gone far. Dealing with that scum had taken a couple of minutes at best, but my mind had never stopped scanning the area. There didn't seem to be any other obvious threats, and I wanted Lonnie removed for everyone's safety. For an instant I felt regret for the situation. Regret that I hadn't dealt with the matter in a more final, far more satisfying way. A quick shake to sever his spine and the problem would have been solved. Decades before I would have sunk my teeth into his neck and had my fill of him. Neither option were a consideration for me now. Carlisle had more faith in me than I perhaps deserved, and although I questioned that faith, I did not want to let him down.
I could see Bella up ahead. Relief, so exquisite that it was nearly pain, washed through me at the sight of her. I slowed my pace and followed her all the way home.
A/N: See? I told you the chapters would get longer. All I had to do was leave down and drive for 3.5 hours each way with Vampward talking to me all the way.
Hope you like the story so far, reviews = love …