Chapter 12

"What are you talking about?" Edward asked.

"'Falling into a vase'? Really?" I went to cross my arms, but that was impossible with all the damages.

"Bella, don't you remember? We were going downstairs to go to Twilight, and you tripped over your heels. You feel right into the glass vase."

"No, Edward," I said in a surprisingly angry voice. "You told me that you were a vampire. And I want to be one, too. You refused, so I cut my arms…" I glared at him. "Make me a vampire."

"Don't tempt me."

"I'm not tempting enough by myself?" I asked, sitting up. But it was hard to be flirty in a hospital gown. What time was it anyway? I glanced at the clock on my side table. It read 3:20 AM. Well that's great. Carlisle probably sent Charlie home, and Charlie's probably pacing around the kitchen worried sick.

Edward smiled. "Same old Bella."

I knit my eyebrows, feeling a little indent between my eyebrows form. "Why can't you, Edward? Why?"

"You don't want to be a vampire, Bella," Edward insisted in a slightly raspy voice.

"I want to be one if you are," I told him.

"No, Bella," he said again. "I'm done discussing this. I'm not making you a vampire, and that's final."

"Edward," I called him. If I had bendable arms, I would have pulled him down to the bed. "Come here."

Edward took one step towards me, then stopped. He stood there looking at me.

"Come here," I repeated, hitting the bed sheets.

"If you're trying to temp me to make you a vampire again, I won't let you."

"Sit at the foot of the bed if you want," I said with a shrug. "I just want you here."

Edward sighed and obeyed. He sat by my feet on top of the pristine white comforter. "Okay. I'm here."

"Edward, what are you gonna do when we're older? If we want to get married, how can a human marry a vampire? And how can a human and a vampire…" I didn't continue.

Edward stared up at the lights. "I was hoping we'd never have this discussion."

"Never have this discussion?! We are practically boyfriend and girlfriend, you tell me you're a vampire, and you hope I don't ask those kind of questions?!" I exclaimed. "Even when I kissed you, I felt this weird cold… feeling on your lips…"

Edward's head whipped toward me. "Did you swallow any?"

"What? I don't think so…?"

Edward grabbed my bandaged hand. "What did it taste like?"

"It was strange. Icy. It didn't really have a distinct taste. But it was really sharp and strong. Like mint almost, but that wasn't exactly it…"

"Do you know what that is?"

"That's a dumb question. Obviously not." I laughed.

Edward smiled. "That was vampire venom," he explained. "Usually once it touches human cells, it morphs them into vampire cells."

"And what's that like?" I asked.

"The cells harden. They become almost indestructible. The venom spreads throughout the body, and that's how you become a vampire."

"But don't vampires have to suck the blood first?" I asked.

"It can happen simultaneously. When fangs penetrate skin, venom is instantly put into the bloodstream to spread. The venom doesn't touch blood cells, though, so the vampire can drink it."

"You said vampire cells were almost indestructible…"

"There is only one thing in the universe that can destroy vampire venom – and therefore, vampire cells."

"What's that?"

"Fire."

I nodded. "So… were Esme and Carlisle born vampires, or did they change?"

"Carlisle was born a vampire in England. Then he moved to Italy for a little, which is where he met Esme. He changed Esme, they got married, and moved to Forks. Then they had me."

"So vampires can have children."

"Yes. But they have no blood to lose, so they operate similar to a dog or other animals."

I crossed my legs. "So they have like, nine children at once?"

Edward laughed. "No. Usually one, but like humans, they can have twins or triplets on rare occasions."

"So… is it possible to have a baby with you being a vampire and me being human?" I asked.

"I don't know," Edward admitted. "But Bella, we're in 8th grade. Isn't it a little early to be thinking about this?"

I looked down. "Still."

"Bella, there's time to make you a vampire. We have all the time in the world."

"We're 14. Our lives are 1/8 over," I said back.

"Oh no! 12.5% of our lives spent not having sex!"

I got red. "Shut up!" I hit him with my foot from under the blanket.

Edward laughed. He no longer seemed like that scary vampire. He was still the Edward I loved.

"Can you sleep here tonight?" I asked.

"You mean the remainder of the morning?" he said, glancing at the clock.

"Yeah."

"I suppose." Edward started shifting up toward me, and I shrunk into the surprisingly welcoming covers of the bed. He didn't get under the covers, but he still lay next to me. I stayed on my back because of my arms, and closed my heavy eyelids while Edward turned out the light.