Author's Note: Please review! I'm sorry it took me so long to update!

"I wish you didn't have to go," I admitted wistfully. I was seeing him off for his weekend trip to Forks.

"I know," he said smugly, a satisfied smirk appearing on his face.

I raised an eyebrow in amusement, repressing a smile.

"I mean," he said quickly, his eyes twinkling and his mouth turning into a grin, "I wish I didn't have to go either."

"Better," I acknowledged, rolling my eyes and letting a smile slip onto my face.

"Seriously," he said, his grin vanishing and demeanor changing to sincerity as quickly as it had initially appeared, "I will miss you. And even though I do want to see everyone, I would rather be here, with you."

"I'll miss you too," I answered softly, taken aback by his sudden seriousness.

"Don't do anything reckless while I'm gone," he said teased, snapping back into his playful persona, "I won't be here to save you."

I sighed exaggeratedly.

"Well," I started sarcastically, "That will be really hard... but I suppose I could try to stave off my daily dose of danger while you're away."

"Good," he laughed.

He put his hands on either side of my face and tilted it upward. He leaned down and our lips met. I closed my eyes and kissed him back briefly before pulling away.

"Your parents," I whispered, nodding in their direction.

"Can hear you," he whispered back, chuckling softly, "And it's fine. They're happy that I'm happy." His arms found their way around me and pulled me close in a hug.

"Maybe next time, you'll come with me," he said softly into my ear.

"To Forks?" I asked.

"Yeah. And meet everyone."

"I'd like that," I answered.

He pulled away, grinning.

"Lorraine is anxious to leave. But I'd love that, too."

I glanced at Lorraine in the backseat of Renesme's fancy car. Her expression was beyond impatient. But Matthew's back was to her.

"How - " I started.

"You forget I have better hearing than you," he explained.

He kissed the top of my head.

"Goodbye," he whispered.

"Bye."

I watched wistfully as he got into the back of the car.

He shut the door and looked back at me. Our eyes met, and the message exchanged between us was one of mutual longing.

I stared at the car until it was no longer visible.

I sighed, and got into my aunt's car. She had the day off and had let me borrow her car.

I didn't have the heart to turn on the radio the way back to the house. It was kind of pathetic; I couldn't believe the effect a temporary absence had on me.

It started to rain, and I thought back to the abrupt end our picnic had come to the weekend previous.

We'd been having an enchanting time eating our fancy picnic and chatting when the sky had gotten very cloudy very quickly. Matthew had heard the rain start before it reached us, and in a flash the picnic had disappeared and he'd scooped me up in his hot arms. The next thing I knew, I was under the shelter of the trees, staring at the rain falling into the meadow.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I had no idea it was going to rain today. The weatherman predicted sun all day."

"Well, that doesn't mean anything. They're wrong pretty often," I answered cheerfully, grinning up at him, "This is just a rainy place. Good thing you don't turn into a cat."

He laughed, his eyes sparkling.

"Yeah, it is. I didn't notice the clouds coming - you were too distracting."

It was my turn to laugh, " I don't think I'll ever understand how you can find me that interesting. I'm really not."

He just shook his head.

"Isn't the sound of rain absolutely exquisite?" I asked, closing my eyes and admiring the sounds it made as it landed on the various surfaces around me.

"You aren't used to it by now?" He asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"Nah." I'd always liked the sound of the rain - I'd always thought of it as sort of a romantic sound - but I'd never realized it's full potential among romantic sounds until I was listening to it with Matthew. I breathed deeply, feeling the delightfully earthy smell penetrate my lungs.

"It's one of my favorite sounds," I admitted, "And smells."

"You never stop surprising me,"he said softly, "They're my favorite too."

Our eyes met. His brow furrowed, his stare intensified.

I swallowed, feeling his passion and stirring my own.

Then his lips were against mine, his arm around my shoulder, the other in my hair, pulling me closer to him. My arms found their way around him, my hands tangled themselves in his hair. I gasped, feeling my blood boiling.

My lips pressed harder against his, I pulled on him to bring him closer. Our bodies pressed against each other.

His lips left mine and made their way along my jaw.

Feelings I'd never experienced were awakening inside me.

I pulled his head, trying to bring his lips back to mine.

The rain fell harder and started making its way through the trees. It started pounding through the trees.

We pulled apart as it drenched us.

I laughed breathlessly.

I didn't notice his lack of smile, didn't notice his brow furrow again, this time in frustration.

I stepped out of the shelter of the trees, back into the meadow. I spread my arms and threw my head backward, letting the rain course over me, opening my mouth and drinking the rain that landed inside. I spun around, enjoying the downpour more than I'd ever enjoyed a downpour before. The cold rain and the cold air felt oddly good; they served as reminders that I was indeed living in reality. They reminded me of the kisses Matthew and I had shared.

"Matthew," I said, "Come on, let's dance in the rain. I've always wanted to."

Then he was next to me, my hands in his. His hands warmed mine, sending waves of heat through my arms.

He twirled one of his hands over and around my head, spinning me, and leaving his arm around me, our bodies touching each other.

He grinned, and spun me outwards again.

I'd never danced as well as I had with Matthew, in the rain. We'd danced for a long time, danced to imaginary music. I'd never felt so alive.

I sighed, turning the windshield wipers up a notch. The weekend could never go fast enough.

Eventually the rain had slowed to a more steady rate, and I'd gotten tired out.

I stumbled to the shelter of the trees again, plopping down on a rock.

"Well that was awesome," I laughed.

He chuckled, "Yes, it was really fun."

"We should probably get back though,"he said after a moment I'd spent catching my breath.

"Already?"

He laughed, "We've been gone a long time. And don't forget; we're by Port Angeles."

"Oh yeah," I answered, remembering how impossibly far from Elma we were.

He smiled at the expression on my face.

I started to shiver, the cold getting to me, now that I wasn't attached to Matthew.

His brow furrowed in concern.

"You look freezing," he informed me, putting his arm around me.

I leaned into him, "Not as long as I'm touching you. You're like a personal heater."

"We should get you back. You don't want to get sick."

"Do you ever get sick?" I asked, the question occurring to me randomly.

"No. And I'm not practiced dealing with human issues like that; I didn't even think of it. I should get you back."

I sighed, feeling the cold seeping into my system, "I suppose so. I am pretty cold." I shivered involuntarily, suddenly wishing I was dry. But it was still raining.

Matthew glared at the sky. He scooped me up in his arms, my knees resting perfectly on one, my legs dangling off the edge, my head resting against his chest.

He pulled me as tight to his warm body as possible. His warmth felt amazing. I could fall asleep. I closed my eyes.

"Is this okay?" he asked.

The rain stopped.

I smiled and nodded.

"Then we'll go back like this."

"Don't you need to turn into a wolf?"

"No. I'm not as fast this way, but this will keep you warmer."

"But it's not raining anymore. It wouldn't make a difference."

"It's still raining."

I opened my eyes to protest properly. The forest was whizzing by in a blurry streak.

We'd already been running. The run was so smooth, I didn't even feel it, I hadn't even felt him start running beneath me.

Maybe I wouldn't stop surprising him, but he would never never stop amazing me. I watched the colors of what could only be trees and sky mix together and paint beautiful abstract art as it passed. I leaned into Matthew, reveling in his warmth and what the day had been. It definitely was the best day of my life, and the great thing about it was that it was still in progress.

We'd gotten back to his house in very little time. At speeds too fast for me to keep up, Renesme had helped me into a warm bubble bath. She'd gotten me warm clothes and plush towels, and had lent me her plush robe and slippers. When I'd put them on and stepped into the room I was staying in, she'd been there, offering me hot cocoa.

I'd thanked her for everything she was doing for me, and informed her that she really didn't need to make such a fuss over me.

"Oh, but I do," she said, her deep brown eyes - Matthew's eyes - sparkling merrily.

"You look so much like Matthew," I blurted out, "Or - well, I guess Matthew looks a lot like you."

She grinned, and I realized that Matthew had Jacob's grin.

"Well, I'm hoping that's a compliment."

"Of course!" I said, "For both of you."

"You're very sweet. Speaking of Matthew; he's downstairs, worrying like crazy that he's responsible for getting you deathly ill. He made this for you," she pressed the cup of hot chocolate into my hands and winked, tilting her head towards the door, and smiling indulgently.

"Thank you," I repeated, "For all of this." I gestured at the room and the garments I was now wearing.

"I couldn't be happier to help." She sat on the edge of the bed I'd used.

"He really cares for you," she said softly.

I sat down on the edge, a foot of awkward space between us. I wasn't used to dealing with such a maternal person, and I especially wasn't used to being taken care of by one. It was embarrassing; I was more than capable of doing everything myself. Still, it was - nice. Very nice.

"And I him," I told her.

"I'm glad to hear it," she said, "For Matthew's sake. My family is my world. Which is one of the reasons that I have to warn you to be careful."

"Careful?"

"Yes. Our world can be... dangerous, for humans. If anything ever happened to you, Matthew wouldn't be able to live with himself, and we couldn't handle losing him."

"Well - what should I be careful of?" I asked. The thought of Matthew killing himself over me was repulsive."

"Unfortunately, a lot of things. Don't push Matthew, please. If he lost control of himself for a second, it could have a tragic ending for you both. I don't know if Matthew told you about the Volturi...?"

"Yes, he did."

"Well. Then you realize how important it is that he stay unexposed. The Volturi already have an eye on me; if they knew about Matthew's existence..." Her expression turned dark, "Well, we don't need another reason for the Volturi to be interested in us. My point with that, though, is that Matthew might have to leave, eventually. He's not aging; that could become an issue."

Why was she telling me all this? I couldn't afford to think about, didn't want to feel panic. I refused to, so I refused to really take in the meaning of her words. Instead, I wondered why she was warning me. Was it just for Matthew's sake? Had she done everything for me for Matthew's sake? Of course she must have been; why would she care about me, really? Perhaps she didn't approve of me at all...

"Maybe not, but maybe so. And if the Volturi do find out about him, he'll probably not be able to maintain an average lifestyle. What I'm saying is, you could get hurt. And I don't want to be a buzzkill, but I do want to be realistic; I don't want either one of you to get hurt."

I blinked, taken aback. She didn't want either of us to get hurt?

"Um. You mean me, too?"

"Of course I do. Why - " intuition flickered in her eyes, "Oh, Matthew told me about your family. I'm sorry. But you should know that you don't need to feel alone anymore. Matthew loves you, so I love you, unconditionally."

I wasn't sure how to respond.

"Um, thanks." I cleared my throat.

She caught on to my discomfort, but she put her hand over mine.

You're not alone anymore. You can feel safe. We'll always be here for you.

I jumped as the words popped into my head. The words had formed in Renesme's voice.

She smiled at my reaction. I began to think I was calm, and accepted.

I jerked my hand away from hers.

"You - you -"

"It's a little talent I have."

"I - "

Matthew hadn't told me about this. I hadn't even known it was a possibility.

"My kind's gifts seem to reverse themselves through generations. My father and Lorraine can hear thoughts. I can give thoughts and images. My mother's talents are like Matthews; they can shield themselves and others from tricks of the mind. No mind can keep me out. But I have to be close, or touching."

"But that's so - invasive."

She shrugged, "I only use it when necessary. You were feeling awkward, weren't you?"

"Well, yes..."

"And I needed you to know that you were safe here. Regular word exchange wouldn't have done the trick."

I doubted I'd ever get used to Renesme's little gift. I resented her intrusion. When she'd given me the thought, I'd felt that they were absolute truth. Was that part of her gift? Or was what she was saying really that true? It was odd having people really care about my welfare. It would take getting used to. Still, it was - nice. Very nice.

I pulled into the driveway of my aunts house and turned the engine off.

I sighed. I needed to find something to do to distract myself from thinking about Matthew.

I hated time spent away from him.

Still, here was a lot of it, and I needed to do something with myself, like I used to.

What did I used to do, before Matthew?

I was always in a production, and was practicing for that. Now I wasn't in one, so I couldn't do that.

I could draw. I used to love to draw, but hadn't done so in years.

I got out of my car, enthusiastic about my new task at hand. I ran to my room where I proceeded to tear through my belongings to find my old sketch pad and pencils.

A strong sense of nostalgia hit me when I found them. I used to draw whenever I could. I'd lost my love of it once my parents had died, and had only occasionally drawn anything since.

I sat back on my heels and opened the cover.

A half-completed drawing of my parents stared back at me. I remembered then; I'd started the drawing about four years ago. I'd realized that I hardly knew what my parents had looked like anymore. In a panic, I'd gotten a picture of them out, and had begun to draw. I'd drawn as far as I could handle before my emotions got the better of me and I'd forgotten about it.

I would finish it, someday.

I flipped the page.

It was blank. The rest of the book was blank.

I felt like - because of Matthew - my life was really starting again. I could start drawing again. I wouldn't be able to make a career out of it - I hadn't taken any art classes or anything - but it would be a rekindling of a past passion.

The rest of the book was like the rest of my life.

The first page summarized my past.

The rest of the book was my future. It was up to me to start filling it.

Excitement overtook me. I would draw Matthew and his family, once they got back. But for now I wanted to draw a beautiful scene.

I thought of the woods, of the incredible time I'd had there last weekend. I was too bad I couldn't go back to that meadow on my own; I would have loved to draw it from just inside the trees.

For now, I'd have to settle for a piece of nearby woods.

I put my jacket back on. I would go for a walk in the woods. I'd walk until a patch of woods was so overwhelmingly picturesque, I had to draw it.

I stepped outside and began to walk. It was a beautiful day outside; my jacket would definitely prove to be too much.

I found myself walking in the general direction of Matthew's house, which figured.

I was so pathetic. But he loved me back, impossibly, so I'd accept my pathetic-ism and move on.

I wasn't really paying attention when a sleek, shiny, new black car pulled to the side of the road near me.

The driver window rolled down, and - before I'd met the Blacks, I would have said - the most breathtakingly beautiful girl was driving.

"Excuse me," she called out to me, her voice silkier than even Renesme's.

I stopped, and tried to prevent myself from openly gawking.

Her face was angelic. Paler than a corpse - paler, even, than Lorraine Black, her perfect, snow-white skin complemented her gorgeous, voluminous blonde hair. Her hair seemed to shimmer, even though she stayed out of the sun. It was shimmering on her own. I wondered what color her eyes were - no doubt, a gorgeous blue - but she wore rather large sunglasses, so I couldn't be certain.

"Ye- yes?" I stammered. This girl was even more perfect than the Black's. Almost too perfect. But her celestial beauty reminded me on Renesme, in an odd, implacable way.

"I'm looking for the Black's home. Can you tell me where to go?"

Her voice was so compelling. I wanted to help her. I walked over to her window.

"Yeah."

Of course she knew the Blacks. That kind of perfection didn't just randomly occur.

I paused. If she was with the Blacks, and she was that perfect, did that mean she was a werewolf, too?

I thought of Jacob. Jacob and this woman couldn't be more different. So that meant that this woman must have been related to Renesme some how. She was undoubtedly a mythical creature, and probably the kind that Matthew would never want me to find out about.

"Are you busy? Would you mind showing me too terribly much? I'll give you a ride back."

She was offering me an opportunity.

Matthew had warned me that his mother's kind was dangerous. But Matthew would never tell me how what kind of creature that side of him was. I knew his reasoning, but my curiosity was getting the better of me. This was an opportunity to learn.

"Sure," I said slowly, "No problem."

"Great!" She said enthusiastically. She nodded towards her passenger side, "It's unlocked."

I made my way around her car, my heart beating faster with each step.

I knew this could be dangerous, but I was doing it anyway. Maybe it was stupid - but if she was with the Blacks, she couldn't have been all bad, right?

I opened the door and paused for a moment. My heart was threatening to pound out of my chest; my instincts were battling each other. Half of me wanted to listen to the beautiful girl and do whatever she wanted, and half was screaming at me that this was a bad idea. But I had to know what Matthew was, now that the opportunity was in front of me.

I sat down.

"They're out of town right now, but I can still show you where they live. They'll be back on Sunday, if you want to wait."

I shut the door.

"Oh, I know they're out of town," she said softly. She hit the lock. I watched it go down and turned to ask her why she'd locked the door.

She simultaneously hit the gas and took off her sunglasses.

We were speeding through town way too fast for me to give any directions.

She turned, and met my stare.

I gasped.

There were dark, purple, bruise-like shadows under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept in weeks.

But that wasn't the oddest thing about her appearance.

My heart stopped, only to double again, as my stomach dropped.

Her eyes. They were red.