Chapter Eight

"I was adopted, actually."

"Oh. Seriously?" Kelsey sighed over now empty plate. She'd made some crack about Edward's good breeding. My face was bright red.

Edward gave me a quick half smile before returning to his story. "Seriously."

"What happened to your parents?" she asked.

"Kelsey," I reprimanded quietly.

"No, it's all right," Edward said. "They died a long time ago. I don't really remember them all that well."

Rachel was sitting quietly at Kelsey's side, picking at her leftover food and glaring at me. She had not looked too pleased when we showed up with Edward and had not said more than two words to him for the entire meal. I was hoping Edward had been too distracted to be looking into her thoughts, which were undoubtedly filled with Jacob. Edward's demeanor did not seem to change, but he was such a master at creating a façade or normalcy, it was hard to tell. "That's incredible," Kelsey was saying. "You've gone through so much tragedy and yet you still give back to others."

Edward looked to me with the slightest hint of confusion. "Hm, yes," I nodded, "I told them about how you took some time off after high school to join the Peace Corps."

"Ah, yes," he said, looking amused. "It was very rewarding work. I recommend it."

"Where did you go?" Kelsey asked.

"Gulu, Uganda," he said in an instant. "We worked at a school there. We read and played with the kids there, helped them with their studies in any way we could."

"Wow," Kelsey said.

"I've read about Gulu," Rachel said, looking directly at Edward for the first time since we'd sat down. "In high school, we tried to raise enough money to build a clean water pump there."

Edward smiled appreciatively. "That's fantastic. You don't realize how much we all take water for granted until you've been in a place where there isn't any."

"Yeah," she said, obviously disliking that she shared empathy with my indiscretion. "We didn't actually raise enough, but we got pretty close. They needed something like $3,000 dollars."

Edward nodded. "Every little bit helps. Especially in places like Gulu."

"I guess," she said, looking at me. I gave her a little smile.

"So, Bella told me you're a Sociology major, Rachel. That sounds interesting," Edward said.

"Yeah," she answered. "It's pretty cool."

"What made you decide on Sociology?"

"I don't know," she said. "I mean, I find psychology really interesting, too, but I've always been fascinated with the big picture of things, so I guess it felt like the right path."

"Yeah," Kelsey said. "And all the cool classes are in Sociology. Like, what was that class called? Sex and something?"

"Sex and Power, yeah," Rachel nodded, "It's all about the cultural trend of using sex as a weapon and, you know, a political tool. Yeah, that's a cool class."

Edward nodded. "It sounds it."

"And Youth and Youth Culture," I reminded her.

"Yeah, that's a good one, too. It's all about teen mentality and cliché formations as coping mechanisms and stuff."

"And I'm stuck with Integrated Marketing Communication," Kelsey groaned.

"What's your major?" Edward asked.

"Business," she sighed.

"Well, that's practical," he said.

"Yes, practical. And mind-numbingly boring," she said. "I may switch out to something more exciting. Like Philosophy. Or English."

I shook my head. "Kelsey, you can barely finish reading the backs of cereal boxes."

We all laughed lightly, and Kelsey narrowed her eyes at me playfully, "Okay, maybe not. But you know what I can read? Ice cream flavors. Anyone up for ice cream?"

I nervously scanned Edward's clean plate. If I hadn't known any better, I would have thought he had enjoyed every bite. "Oh, no, not for me. I'm stuffed."

Edward looked gratefully over at me. "Agreed."

"I'll go with you, Kels," Rachel shrugged, and they both got up to go get ice cream.

"Are you okay?" I asked when they were out of earshot.

He swallowed hard. "I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." He paused and looked at me. "Bella?"

My eyes drifted to the table. "Yeah?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

My heart sank, and the chill of dread ran through me. "Tell you what?"

"About Jacob Black," his voice remained even.

"I did," I squeaked out. He stayed silent, and I felt like I was about to cry. "I'm sorry. I meant to tell you, I just—"

"That looks delicious," Edward smiled up at Kelsey and Rachel as they returned and sat down. I looked away quickly and took a deep breath. "Unfortunately, though, I should be going. My parents are expecting me."

I shot him a look. "You're leaving? Right now?"

He gave me a tight smile. "I really should. I don't want to take up any more of your time."

"Edward," I said, almost scolding.

"Well, it was really nice meeting you," Kelsey said. "If you have any questions about the campus or anything, I'd be happy to answer them."

"Thank you, Kelsey. It was nice meeting you, too. And Rachel. Nice meeting you," he said cordially.

"You too," Rachel muttered.

He stood, and I watched him. "So to get out of here, I just turn left and go through the double doors, right?"

"And that should bring you to the main walkway, yeah," Kelsey said. "Do you know where you parked?"

"I can show him," I said, nearly hysterically clinging onto my time with Edward. "I'll walk you out, Edward. After all, what kind of tour guide would I be if I just let you fend for yourself?"

Rachel shrugged. "It's really pretty easy. I'm sure he could figure it out."

"No, really," I stood next to Edward. "I insist. See you guys later." Edward and I took our plates, and he followed me to the conveyor belt that took them back into the kitchen to be cleaned. We were outside before either of us said anything. "I'm really sorry I didn't tell you."

"Yes," he said. "It certainly complicates things. Is it serious?"

I considered lying but knew I would blush through it. "Yes. It's serious. Our two year anniversary is in two weeks."

"Two years," he echoed.

"It was—hard," I gulped. "After you left. I was incapable of—anything—everything—and Jacob helped me. And he loved me. And I didn't have a reason to say no."

"He loves you," he noted.

"He does," I said, bracing myself for the inevitable follow-up question.

"And you? After two years? Is it safe to assume you love him as well?" his tone was unbearably calm.

"Edward," I sighed.

"That's fair," he said, taking that as an affirmative. "That was what I hoped for you. To move on, to live your life."

"No, Edward," I said desperately. "I mean, yes, I love him. I—I can't hurt him. I can't, but…I never…I could never forget. Not really. I guess I convinced myself I could, and I really tried, but I never—" I felt years of anguish slip from my shoulders in an instant. "I never stopped loving you, Edward. Not for a second."

And then there was no thought. There was no intelligent analysis of ethics. There was no intentional behavior as I leaned up against him and kissed his ice-cold lips.

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