Cupid's Bow

Chapter 10

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Back on Earth, I'd never really experienced too much of anything. Everything was already pre-set for us – our body temperature, our food intake, our time spent asleep, and so on. That's not to say that no one ever surpassed the limits of what was for our own good. Some people went off the beaten track for a bit, but most of the time they came back. I don't really know what happened to the rest – they were probably the ones that filled Hush.

So I have never been too full, too awake or too tired. I had never felt thirst. I had never sweated.

It didn't even take me a day away from monitoring to realise them. And what an uncomfortable realisation it was.

As I trudge along with Edward, under day-burn that seems to last forever, it's impossible to fight the persistent cringe at the feeling of my clothes sticking to my skin. You would think, or I would anyway, that the heat would dry me – that's the way it works, right? – but with each step, I only grow wetter.

Sticky and clammy and uncomfortable but I will not stop.

To distract myself, I mentally but not actually glance to the side of me. I let myself ruminate on one of the aspects of Edward – maybe Them in general – that is curious but not horror-shocking.

His speech.

I think about his clear tone on some words, and then his stiltedness on others – how much he might understand, and what he doesn't, but also his capacity to learn, and so quickly, too.

"No… no sleep… slept."

Without permission, I realise my mouth has parted to… to ask.

I quickly snap it closed again.

To the side of me, Edward turns. Lifting a hand, he pulls back some green that looks thick and heavy, and, after a quick second of looking at his unveiling, dips his head to catch my glance.

He smile-sparkles, nodding inwards.

I hesitantly turn my gaze away from his and look to where he's gesturing. "The Thing's in there?"

His head shakes. "No Thing," he replies, voice coloured sure. "Sh…shade… water…" His gaze runs down me, landing on my feet with a frown. "Rest."

I peek into the opening once again, wondering if I should argue and persist, but…

I sigh, not even meaning it, and accept Edward's offering.

OoOoOo

OoOoOoOo

OoOoOo

I don't know if this water is different to the water on Earth, or if it's just the fact that my throat keeps running dry, but in any case, it's never tasted so good.

Vaguely my mind hums out a question of too much… and I start to worry about the after effects of drinking so much so I –

I stop.

Eyeing the cool water distrustfully, I slowly lower it back into the little pool and scoot away a little bit. I'm tempted to let it rain icy-relief onto my head, but realise it will probably just mix with the sticky-heat coating me and make me even more uncomfortable when we start walking again.

So I just stare at it sparkling, sullen.

I jolt when a splash sounds from the other end, and peer up just in time to see Edward rise out of the water, dripping and shining, just like he did yesterday.

Yesterday. The thought seems so strange – the duration seems longer.

I quickly duck my head when my eyes won't move away, and a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach starts to bloom.

Too much bloody water!

I hear the gentle swish of the pool as he moves through it, but I just stare at my shoe, fiddle with the sole like it's really very interesting.

Something pink and ripe and round appears in front of my dipped-down gaze.

"Bel-la?"

I stare at the offering, my eyes wide. "What's that?"

"F-food," he says-stammers, pushing his hand a little closer. "Eat?"

I hadn't even noticed I was hungry up until that point. But even at the feeling of empty in my stomach, I don't make a move to take it. It's so… well just… so. Like with everything else here: I've never seen anything like it before… and certainly not anything that I'd put in my mouth.

"Um," I say hesitantly, tugging on my sole. "I don't think – "

"Food safe," he says quietly, his tone… hurt?

Then I do glance up, and his expression matches his voice.

"Oh no." I quickly try to fix my mistake, my hands flapping about. "That's not what I – I didn't mean to suggest that – "

But his head dips at my rambling, and his shoulders slump. Slowly, he starts to pull his hand back.

Oh, it can't be that bad!

So thinking not at all, I quickly reach out and pluck the round-pink from his palm.

I take a bite.

And it's… well.

I thought the water tasted good.

A noise leaves my lips before I can stop it, and his head snaps up. I don't even know why I do it, it just sort of… spills out.

His eyes shimmer-spark, heightened by the dazzling sheen of his skin, and then he's gone and back so quickly, the only evidence I can see of his moving sits in his palm – because there's suddenly more of the pink-round-ripe.

I eat until I feel full.

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A/N: Thanks for all your birthday wishes! I had a lovely day. :)