DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to me…they are all the creations of the wonderful Stephenie Meyer.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: None today.
Hide & Seek
Continuing on with our normalcy pretenses, I was in the shower washing up after our hunt. As soon as we were all changed, we would start another Halo tournament. I suspected it was another ploy of Edward's to keep me close to Emmett. I would not be complaining!
The hot shower felt especially exquisite after all of the tension from last night and today. And I still had all of tonight to go through. Poor Jasper! I made myself think of calming and funny memories to give my poor brother a break. I took a deep breath, enjoying the lingering smell of my strawberry shampoo. It was comforting in its familiarity.
I thought about how just yesterday morning, I was having a fit over college and a missing iPod. Now, I was dealing with eight vampires from Italy! Alice said as long as no decisions are changed, things would be okay. But that made me remember the way Felix and Demetri had looked at Edward last night. I think they were both still angry that they didn't get the chance to hurt him.
I smiled ruefully. Hurt isn't the word for what they would have done if I had been late, but I couldn't bring myself to even think that other word. I pitied them if they thought they would be allowed to lay a single finger on my Edward.
That led me to thoughts of the past year of my life. We had just celebrated our first wedding anniversary. I smiled as I thought of my week alone with Edward. He was so proud of me for all I'd accomplished.
I smiled even wider! I was free now. Well, free with restrictions. I could go among humans as long as I was accompanied by one or more of my family members. Carlisle said this was only a precaution and would only be for another year. I was so happy to be free that the mall was now thrilling to me! And of course, there was all the progress Edward and I had been making with our communication and rules. I'd never felt closer or more in-tune with him and I knew it would only get better as we kept working at it.
In two weeks, it would be the anniversary of my change. I had learned to run, to hunt, to climb, and to fall. I giggled at myself. I was still really good at falling. I had also learned to trust more and speak my mind, as well as to stand up for myself with my sisters. I had learned that there comes a point when self-sacrifice is nothing more than a way to get your entire family into big trouble. Most of all, I had learned that a life without Edward was just not possible.
I heard the bathroom door open. I smiled to myself, wondering what my husband could possibly be thinking. He knew better than to tempt me. I still hadn't learned how to control my very human hormones. Besides, he was supposed to be pretending to read while he listened to everyone.
I looked over my shoulder to see him, but the steam from the water had fogged the shower door. "What exactly are you doing in here? Aren't you supposed to be reading?" I asked.
He didn't answer and I assumed he went back into our bedroom. Maybe he had just wanted to check in on me. That made me smile. He was such a caring man and he was all mine!
I shut off the shower and reached over the door for my towel. I didn't feel it on the ring where I'd left it. I reached one more time and felt it being handed to me. "Thank you. I could have reached it on my own, though," I told my husband.
I wiped my face and started humming my lullaby to myself. "Edward, would you mind asking Alice if she feels up to doing something with my hair today?" I asked.
I waited for his response, but he never answered me.
"What is he doing?" I mumbled to myself. "He comes in, goes out, comes in, and goes out again. Silly Vampire!"
I wrapped my towel tightly around me and tucked away the corner. I opened the door, smiling happily, expecting to see my god-like husband. Instead, I was met with an evil smirk and two crimson eyes.
CLIFFY TIME … YOU KNOW YOU LOVE IT!!
