They're in quick succession.
But this one is twice as long as normal. Consider it an apology for going on hiatus for so long.
Mo Bamba- Sheck Wes
Danse Macabre- Camille Saint-Saëns
I ran, my thoughts consumed of my Edward. I wanted to know what he was doing, how he had managed to get through the day. I had left everything at school without so much as a thought, my backpack in Government class, the truck was still in the parking lot.
Edward had to go through the entire rest of the day by himself. I had abandoned him to the continued cruelty of high school, and never even thought to return to him.
Without giving it much thought, my path behind Emmett diverged. I followed my heart, crossing the 101 under the Mill Creek Bridge, getting my boots and the bottom of my jeans damp in the river water.
In seconds, I was at the front door of the Swan residence, combing down my hair to look less windblown before knocking on the door. I heard Alice's footsteps walk to the door and open it before I even had the chance to ring the doorbell.
Alice looked remarkably unlike Edward. Short, thin, with a soft jaw and heart shaped face. The only real similarity between the two of them was their bright green eyes- other than that, not even I would know they were siblings, much less twins.
"Hi, Bella! Come on in, Charlie will be home soon. Would you like to stay for dinner?" Her voice was high and sweet, and I was very tempted to accept her offer.
"I'm sorry, I can't. Emmett and I have plans tonight. I've actually just ditched him to be here now," I explained. I really did need to hunt soon.
"He's in his room," Alice nodded her head towards Edward's bedroom door. Of course, I knew this. I could hear the solid thump of his heart, I could hear his breathing, steady and even. He was sleeping, a short nap in the early evening. I wished for nothing more than to cuddle up with him and sleep as well.
I crossed the living room and rapped softly on the door. He didn't even stir, so I quietly opened the door, and closed it behind me. I had been in here before, but never when anyone else knew.
It was dark, and small, but not cramped. Besides a few books littering the floor, the room was devoid of any personalization or comfort. I knew from earlier visits that Edward had never unpacked any of his clothes into the dresser. All of his clothing was still packed in a duffel bag in the small closet.
Then there was the light of the room. Edward. My mate, my love, huddled under the covers on his bed. He was laying in fetal position and entirely covered by the duvet, but he didn't look in the least bit comfortable. His brow was pinched and his jaw was tightly clenched, as if he was upset or angry. After how I had treated him today, I wouldn't blame him.
I sat at the edge of the bed, careful to keep most of my weight off so as to not disturb him. Reaching forward, I cupped his face in my palm, feeling the sharp edge of his jaw. Immediately, his face relaxed, and he looked softer and calmer than before.
I had that effect on him, I suppose. I was always so focused on my draw to him, how I felt desperate to be near him and touch him. I had never considered that perhaps Edward experience some of the attraction of our bond.
I took only one moment to hold him and gaze into his angelic face before I moved to wake him, tapping gently on his shoulder. After all these centuries, human pressure and touch came almost naturally to me, I was hardly ever worried about harming them with my strength.
He stirred, his heartrate picking back up and his eyelids fluttering.
"Edward?" I called, trying to bring him out of his sleep. It worked.
His eyes flipped open, revealing those dazzling green eyes framed by thick, dreamy lashes. He sat up quickly, pulling the duvet to cover his entire torso.
"I just wanted to apologize for my behavior today," I told him. He was staring directly into my eyes with a confused expression on his face.
"This morning, yelling at Jessica and Mike and them, it wasn't appropriate," I explained, "And then I got mad again in Government class. But Edward, you have to know, it's just because I like you so much.
"I can't stand to see people being mean, especially not to you. I think I've gotten a good sense of you as a person. You're incredibly smart, though I disagree with you completely on da Vinci and Michelangelo," I smiled at him, and I could see his full lips twitch at the memory of our art discussion with my family, "And you're a very handsome young man. I don't understand why teenagers are the way they are.
"But I understand that attention is not something you desire," I continued. "In fact, it's something I identify with. So we can do whatever makes you the most comfortable. If you would like for me to keep my distance in school, I will. You just have to tell me what you need."
I had to breathe after my monologue, and my throat burned with thirst. I hardly ever went so long without feeding. My control was unquestionable, I wasn't even tempted by the three humans in the house, but it was still uncomfortable.
The silence lingered. Edward was still staring directly into my eyes, which was very unusual. Prolonged eye contact with humans did not often occur, they could usually sense something wrong or predatory and shifted their gaze to show subservience. That was basic nature. But Edward was not subservient, he was my equal, and in many ways, superior. I could never be as sincere, as honest, heartfelt, sweet, and completely wonderful as he, and that made him a far better person.
"I'm g-g-going to th-therapy," Edward said abruptly, his deliciously deep voice scratchy from sleep. I couldn't help the smile on my face. I was proud of my strong mate for knowing when to ask for help. "H-h-hopefully i-it'll h-h-help with the s-st-s-stutter, too." His lip twitched up into another crooked smile.
I almost didn't know what he meant. Of course, I knew he stuttered, I was dead, not deaf. But I didn't notice it, it was just a facet of Edward. But it was obviously something that stemmed from the years of abuse, and he needed to start healing.
I stood up, perceiving the natural end to the conversation, and knowing that I should probably leave. I could hear Charlie and Alice in the kitchen, unpacking takeout boxes in a comfortable silence. Alice had told him that I was in Edward's room, but he liked me enough not to mind that I was in his teenage foster son's bedroom.
"I should probably get going. I'll see you on Monday?" Edward nodded in answer, and gave me another smile. My heart warmed and melted. His smile was adorable, slightly crooked, and the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
I exited the room, planning on saying a quick goodbye to Alice and Charlie, and then running straight over to meet Emmett and quench my thirst. But the second I was within human earshot, Charlie came out to greet me.
"Bella Cullen, it's wonderful to see you," he exclaimed, his thick dark mustache obscuring a kind grin.
"It's nice to see you too, Chief Swan. Catch any bad guys today?" He laughed aloud and ushered me into the kitchen.
"We have plenty of food here, Bella. If you want, grab a plate and dig in." I was too weak to resist. Chief Swan was gruff and usually quiet, but he was so nice, and he was the caregiver for the love of my existence. Anything I could do to please him, I probably would.
"Thank you, Chief Swan," I grabbed a paper plate and added some of the mush from the takeout containers. This wasn't exactly what I wanted to eat, but under the watchful eye of Alice and Charlie, I knew I would have no choice but to eat something.
As I placed a hunk of overcooked meat on my plate, I heard Edward rustling around in his room, putting clothes on. I imagined a sweatshirt gliding over his smooth skin, the definition of his abdomen. One day, I would be the one pulling the sweaters off of him, I would be able to run my hands across his skin and hold him to me.
He shuffled out of his room and closed the door carefully behind him just as the rest of us were sitting down at the small kitchen table. He noticed me sitting between his foster father and Alice immediately, but showed no reaction other than the increase in his heartrate.
I proceeded to cut up the slab of steak into very small pieces and swallowed it whole. Alice chatted to no one in particular about the death of Azzedine Alaïa and the impact it would have on the fashion world. I almost wanted to show Alice Rosalie's closet, in which three original Alaïa's hung, though they went unworn since we were meant to be teenagers in high school and not on the red carpet of the Met Ball.
Edward sat directly in front of me, allowing me to stare at him for as long as I pleased at I forked the human food into my mouth. It tasted disgusting, and I felt it sitting heavy in my stomach, begging to be regurgitated and replaced with something sustaining.
"So, Bella, how's your dad?" Charlie asked as Alice took a breath between monologues.
"He's doing fine, thank you for asking. Him and my mom are actually going to a design expo tomorrow in Seattle because she wants to redo the kitchen," I said honestly. That's what our existences had come to. Three of us attended a human high school for the twelfth time, Esme redid the house every two months, and Carlisle worked in a small hospital. It was the cost of living our lives the way we did, we couldn't do anything outstanding or prolific.
"You should come with us tomorrow!" Alice exclaimed happily, looking to Charlie for confirmation. I didn't know what they were doing, but any excuse to spend more time with Edward and bond with his family sounded wonderful.
"What are you doing?" I had already said yes in my head, and looked made eye contact with Edward to confirm he was okay with this.
"My old friend is having a fish fry down on the Quileute reservation. We'll be goin' down there, having a bonfire and all that on the La Push beach," I pressed my lips together, knowing I would have to decline the invitation, but also worried over the implications of Edward spending time on the reservation.
"I'm sorry, Chief Swan, but I'm afraid I have plans with my brother and sister. They usually need supervision while our parents are away," I laughed, and Chief Swan followed suit, trying to dispel any suspicion over my declining the offer. I knew Chief Swan spent a fair amount of time on the reservation, and I was sure he had heard rumors of the Cullen family, though that would mean the treaty had been breached. But he had treated me so kindly and without concern that I knew he didn't believe anything he happened to hear.
By the time the meal was over and Alice was throwing the plates away and putting the leftovers in the fridge, the food I had consumed was almost unbearably heavy. I couldn't stand waiting to say goodbyes and moving around, I needed to get it out of my body.
"Could I please use the restroom?" I asked, needing an excuse to get it out of me. A human bodily function moment could only serve to humanize me more to the Swan household. Charlie pointed me to the top of the stairs, and I had to restrain myself from running too quickly up the stairs to the bathroom.
I locked the door and made sure that everyone was out of earshot. Edward was helping pack up the food and Charlie wiped the counters down. I felt bad for not being more helpful, but the combination of being incredibly thirsty and eating all that food made the need to expel the food urgent.
The food came out quickly, and I flushed the toilet and turned around, but not before catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror.
I did an actual, literal double-take, like the kind from the movies.
I could confess that I was not the most beautiful vampire in the world. By our kind's standards, I was very average. But right now, I looked exhausted. The bruises under my eyes were dark and made my eyes look sunken. My eyes were pitch black and angry looking. I looked… dangerous. Hungry. I had overstayed my time with Edward here, and I needed to return to the woods.
When I returned downstairs, Charlie and Alice were on the couch watching a football game, and Edward was sitting at the kitchen counter, waiting for me. I couldn't help but smile at that beautiful boy the second I saw him.
"Bye, Bella," Alice called out from the couch, not moving. I didn't even know she could hear me descending the stairs. Charlie turned around in his seat.
"I'll see you around, Bella," Charlie nodded at me, then turned back to watch the game.
Edward moved to walk me out. He was such a sweet gentleman, always considerate and caring. This had been such a long, strenuous day for him, and it was entirely my fault, and yet here he was, escorting me to the door. It was enough to make my dead heart flutter.
He opened the door for me. The rain was gentle and the night filled with the sounds of crickets and televisions down the block. Edward's eyes were on the ground, but I reached out to brush his hand, and he looked up at me. Then, he looked behind me.
"Y-you d-d-don't have a c-car?" He questioned. I mentally cursed myself for letting him walk me out. I had made such an impulsive decision to just run here, abandoning Emmett out there, that I hadn't even given much thought to the fact that I didn't have a car, and that would be something noticeable.
"Emmett is picking me up," I lied, "He's waiting around the corner. We didn't want to block the driveway from Charlie." Edward looked at me for a moment, but didn't question my weak explanation.
"I'll see you Monday?" I asked, sad that I couldn't have the weekend with my mate. But perhaps space was something he needed, even if it would be on the reservation, where I couldn't watch over him. But I hadn't scented any wolves, so there wasn't any real danger there, at least no more than usual.
Edward nodded in response, and squeezed my fingers with his long, elegant digits before letting me go, a nonverbal goodbye and goodnight. I smiled at him one last time before turning from him and walking very slowly down the steps and the driveway. I heard the door close after a few minutes, and once I was out of eye line, I ducked into the woods and ran.
Emmett was waiting for me minutes away from the tree line. I stopped right in front of him, sheepish. His arms were folded across his chest in a mock-scolding stance, his brow cocked and questioning.
I shrugged my shoulders in nonverbal explanation, unable to articulate the pull I felt to Edward, how completely lost I felt sometimes when I wasn't with him. I had spent over five hundred years on this planet without Edward, but somehow, I couldn't imagine spending more than a few hours without him now.
"Come on, kiddo, let's get some food into you," Emmett ran, and this time, I really did follow. I took down several deer quickly, not feeling the need to find anything bigger, and desperate to get back to Edward in time to watch him sleep on his sister's floor.
When Emmett indicated he aimed to look for some bigger game, I took off, headed towards the reservation.
I was careful not to get too close to the treaty lines, lest I was wrong and a wolf had turned. I searched for the scent of wet dog all along the treaty lines, from Taylor Point to Ellen Creek. I sensed nothing, smelled nothing. It appeared the reservation was as safe as it could be.
Once I was sure the perimeter was clear, I ran back to my heart. Without Edward by my side, the world seemed dull. I didn't even enjoy running or hunting anymore. The stars glimmering in a rare clear night, the ancient trees that I ran past, none of it mattered without him.
The breathing in the Swan house was steady, indicating that they were all asleep already, so I jumped straight up to Alice's bedroom window.
Curled up on the floor, his duvet cast aside, was my mate. I opened the window and crawled inside, careful to shut the window behind me and trap the cold air outside. I tucked Alice in, then covered Edward in the duvet and laid in front of him, gazing into his angelic face until the sun rose.
But once Charlie began to stir, I knew it was my time to leave. I leaned over and kissed Edward on the forehead very gently, so that I was hardly touching his skin. His brows pinched together, and his breathing changed, so I knew he was near waking.
I moved quickly out of the house, moving to rest in the branch of a nearby tree, waiting to follow them to the reservation.
Edward awoke soon after I left, and dragged his pillow and blanket downstairs and into his room just before Charlie got up for the morning and headed downstairs to make coffee. I loved watching their human moments, not interrupted by my presence. Edward shuffled back upstairs to shower, and returned to eat cereal with Charlie as Alice got ready for the day.
The house was quiet, but their time together was so pure and so honest. There was no angst or urgency like with me, it was just easy. I was filled with doubt and loathing. Without me in the picture, Edward could find a girl who could accompany him to spend time with family friends, who could share in his warmth and lead a simple life.
I did my best to push my negative feelings aside, knowing that at this point, I didn't have the strength to stay away. For now, all I could do was protect him and keep him safe and loved.
Charlie and Alice walked side-by-side out of the house, with Edward tripping behind them. He looked positively adorable in a cable knit grey sweater that made him look so pale, he almost matched me. His sleep-tousled bronze hair gleamed in the soft sunlight, begging to have my hands in it, scratching his scalp and brushing through his soft locks.
I loved seeing him in the sun. It served to emphasize his strong, masculine features- his sharp, lickable jaw, his Grecian nose. He looked simultaneously a young man and a teenager. The tree branch I had been gripping snapped as I tried to hold myself back from jumping down and devouring him- and not in the vampire way.
The snap was audible to human hearing, and Charlie, who was sitting in the driver's seat of the cruiser, popped his head out and looked in my direction. I jumped from branch to branch until I was sure I was obscured by the sparse foliage. Charlie's brown eyes searched the tree lines for several moments, until Edward slid into the backseat. He cast one last glance in my direction, then threw the cruiser in reverse and pulled away, hopping on the 110 headed to La Push.
I ran beside them the entire drive, and stationed myself in another tree just before the treaty line, prepared to wait for Edward to return.
I had brought a book on Byzantine architecture, a book I had seen in Edward's room. I pulled it out of my coat pocket and proceeded to read as slowly as possible, hoping to allow the time to pass more quickly.
Time never passed quickly without Edward, though. The days when we were together, walking through the park and discussing literature and art, came and went as though they were mere fleeting seconds, and not the most significant and important hours of my entire existence. Everything else seemed pale and cold in comparison to the warmth of Edward's presence.
Soon enough, the sun sunk below the trees and the owls began to hunt, signaling the beginning of the night. Edward would be back soon, and my life could continue.
The hours passed, and eventually the cruiser rolled back onto the 110 with Edward sitting in the front seat and Alice sleeping in the back, her head of black hair pressed against the cold glass. They looked so peaceful, so familial.
That night, Edward followed his usual routine of sleeping beside Alice on the floor once Charlie was in bed. But he never slept. I stayed on the tree outside of their window, waiting for his breath to slow and his heartbeat to even out, but they never did. He lay, flat on his back, staring at the ceiling the entire night.
Humans needed sleep. I had learned of the necessity of sleep throughout my experiences in medical school, and it was incredibly important for someone still growing to have a full night's sleep. But alas, the sun rose again, and Edward had yet to fall asleep. Something was occupying his thoughts and preventing him from resting.
The family followed their usual morning routine, and once I heard Edward in the shower, I ran home with the purpose of changing quickly and returning to watch over my mate.
"Incoming!" Emmett yelled with a laugh, leaving Rose in their room to come out and greet me with a smile and a thump on the back as I ran to my room to change.
"Leaving so soon?" Esme asked with a warm smile. I shrugged in response. She wasn't judging me, nor was she upset that I was always gone, but I knew that I was neglecting my family. I knew that, in the very least, Rose missed me. We had gone from spending every day together, running through the woods, laughing and reveling in the hunt together, to me being basically nonexistent in our home.
I stopped short of running out of the house, turning and going back upstairs, to Rose. She was lounging on her bed, flipping through a magazine and looking absolutely fabulous. When she saw me in her doorway, her eyebrow cocked up questioningly.
"Do you want to do something today?" I asked. I had never had to actually make plans with my family, we just always had all the time in the world, so quality time manifested organically. Rose knew this, and smiled in response.
"Of course. What did you have in mind?" Emmett bound in the room just then, looking and acting like a puppy, his curly dark hair falling in his eyes.
"Are you gracing us with your presence today, Bella?" Emmett bumped into my shoulder, making a loud crack sound before he jumped on the bed, jostling Rose so she was forced to fix her perfect hair.
"There's a reason you weren't included in the invitation, you big oaf," she pushed him off the bed so that he fell loudly, creating small cracks in the dark wood floor. Emmett and Rose grinned at each other, and I felt a surge of jealously at the ease of their relationship. I had never thought I would find Rose and Emmett's relationship easy, but when I had spent the better part of two months pining and bipolar, their tumultuous marriage paled in comparison.
Their grins eventually turned into a more intense, meaningful gaze, and I took that as my cue to get out before I bore witness to a real life porn.
"I'm going to check on Edward. I'll be back soon, okay?" Rose just nodded, not breaking eye contact with Emmett as he slowly got up. I ran out of the house and toward Edward just in time to hear Rose trying to wrestle Emmett, a key aspect of their foreplay.
Back through the forest I ran, through my usual route that was very well travelled, just in time to see that rusty red truck pull away, with Alice in the driver's seat and Edward sitting next to her. She looked so small in that bag truck, I wasn't even sure she should be allowed to drive something like that since she could barely see over the steering wheel.
They got on the 101, driving straight through Forks, past the surprisingly busy intersection and onto the highway. It was Sunday, meaning churchgoers had clogged up the streets, but traffic was never really a problem in the Pacific Northwest, and they drove with ease through Olympic National Forest and to Port Angeles.
I knew I had plenty of time. Rose and Emmett would be occupied for at least another hour, so I followed in the trees as Alice pulled into the parking lot of a plain, three story building on the outskirts of Port Angeles.
Edward looked exhausted as he jumped out of the cab and walked into the building behind Alice. The bruising under his eyes was almost as bad as mine had been last night, and his slouch was worse than usual. I wanted to hold him, lay his head in my lap and stroke his hair as he fell asleep, finally at rest.
My curiosity as to why they were in Port Angeles at 10am on a Sunday was quenched when I heard Alice in the lobby of the office they were in.
"My name is Alice, this is my brother Edward. We have appointments with Dr. Crowley," I understood, then, that they were at their therapy appointment. They were finally going to get some of the help they both so desperately needed, and I could not have been prouder.
It did mean, though, that I had an afternoon free. I didn't want to sit in the trees and listen to Edward and Alice in therapy, where they thought they had the freedom of privacy and confidentiality. There were some things that were sacred, and I could respect that.
I ran into the park, far enough that I was out of earshot, and flipped open my cellphone to call Rose.
"Hmm?" she answered, still semi-preoccupied with Emmett.
"Shopping?" It was an excuse to stay in Port Angeles, still close to Edward in case he needed me, but also far enough away to give him the space he needed.
I thought I heard Rose actually drop the phone in surprise, as I had never been one for shopping or fashion, and she usually had to drag me to a store if she wanted to go.
"Seattle?" Rose asked. I could hear her changing her clothes already, Emmett in the background begging her to let him come. I wasn't sure which definition of "come" Emmett had meant, and I didn't want to know.
"Edward is in Port Angeles," I heard her stop in her rush to her car. Then, she laughed.
"Of course he is. I'll pick you up at the lake," She hung up, and I headed to Lake Crescent to wait for Rose.
Not more than thirty minutes went by before the apple red M3 came peeling around the corner, screeching to a stop in front of me. The top was down, and Rose was in the driver's seat, a floral scarf over her perfectly coiffed hair.
"Get in, loser, we're going shopping," Rose said in her best Valley Girl accent, an uncanny impression of her favorite character in Emmett's favorite movie. I hopped in the front seat and Rose stepped on it, speeding to Port Angeles.
In the chicer shops along the coast was where we spent most of our afternoon. And I actually enjoyed myself, having fun with my alone time with my sister.
Rose was unhappy with our existence, that much I knew. Many times, she just wished that Carlisle and I had left her to die in the streets, and I knew there were moments that she resented me for doing what I thought saved her. But then, when we were together, laughing and being silly and drawing attention to ourselves, we were really family.
Rosalie and I walked, arm-in-arm, into the next store, one filled with lacy underwear that Rose always wanted more of. She rifled through the racks of velvet and lace, but I just stood beside her, watching.
"I think I'm going to go hit the bookstore," I excused myself from lingerie shopping, knowing it wouldn't be something I'd need for quite some time. Rose barely cast a glance in my direction, as a sales girl had started helping her, and was in the middle of telling her how beautiful her skin was. Rose would never be distracted from compliments.
I exited the shop and made my way down the streets, finding the bookstore with ease.
I so loved the smell of books. It was like history. They reminded me of home, of my childhood, surrounded by learning and pages. Around books, I was my most human, moving slowly and deliberately, flipping through every title and enjoying the feeling of canvas and leather underneath my fingertips.
I wandered the bookstore for over an hour, selecting a few titles that seemed interesting, that perhaps I could share with Edward soon. Once I heard the M3 outside, I stopped perusing and purchased the books I was holding.
Rose smiled from the car, dressed in an entirely new outfit with a new scarf. The back seat was packed with shopping bags and tissue paper, though not nearly as much had we been in Seattle, patronizing the couture shops.
"Let's get back to our boys," She said, peeling out of the parking lot the moment I was in the car. The radio was blasting as we cruised through Port Angeles, enjoying the breeze and the lack of rain during an overcast twilight. But as we were on the outskirts of town, ready to get on the highway and head home, I smelled blood. Not just any blood.
Edward's precious, delectable blood had been spilled near us.
Before Rose even had time to pull over, before I could even explain that it was Edward's scent that lingered in the air, I jumped out of the car, running as fast as I could towards the source of the blood.
The sun sunk even further, obscuring my rapid movements in the shadows as I darted through the alleys of the warehouse district, weaving my way through, following the scent of blood. I heard the engine of the M3 following me through the streets, tracking the blood same as I was.
I heard voices, yelling, before they came into sight. Eight hearts pounding, one of them my Edward's, thumping. The air was thick with adrenaline and sweat. Rosalie was right behind me, screeching through the streets, but I was there first.
There were seven men, standing in a circle with Edward in the middle. One guy was going through his backpack, tossing out a book and some papers. Edward was pushed from one guy to another, then onto the ground, where his soft palms scraped the pavement, creating more blood.
It wasn't the blood that stopped me in my tracks, kept me in the shadows and out of their sight. I wasn't even tempted by it, it was such an inconsequential amount of blood that even Emmett wouldn't have a problem. It was how we had survived so long in schools, with children gets cuts and such all day long. But Edward's blood especially wasn't tempting. I knew what it would mean for me to be tempted by Edward's blood, the consequences I would have to pay, and I would never risk losing him.
I heard the metal of the knife and knew I needed to act. Rosalie was too far away to pull in in time to scare them away. My footsteps were silent on the wet pavement as I walked quickly, keeping in the shadows, appearing behind one of the men at the last possible moment. The first man to spot me, the one who had been going through Edward's bag, jumped back, but then a smile creeped on his face.
"Well what do we have here?" He asked, causing the circle of men to open and face me. One even whistled. Edward was still on the ground, and he looked up to me with a terrified expression on his beautiful face.
"Want to come and play, baby?" The first man asked, stepping forward, towards me. He gave Edward a slight kick in the ribs, and it was all I could do not to jump and snap his leg off.
Rosalie was close, only two blocks away, but I was their distraction for the moment. One of the men to my left pulled a knife out of his pocket, and I could smell the blood on it. These were very bad men, men who had killed before, and would again. But first, I had to get Edward away from them, I had to protect what innocence he had left.
I stood entirely still, letting the man come closer to me as he slowly approached, and waited for Rosalie. Edward jumped off the ground and threw his body at the man with the knife. I couldn't move humanly fast enough to stop him.
"R-r-run!" Edward yelled, giving me a pleading stare. My heart grew three sizes that day. Edward cared enough about me to sacrifice himself to protect me. He literally threw himself in harm's way, risking his own life, to try and save me. I loved him more than could be articulated.
Before the man could even comprehend my movements, I rushed forward, gently knocking the knife out of his hand and into mine. He fell backwards, but the rest of the group of men were getting riled up and ready for a fight, especially now that I had a visible weapon.
It was then that headlights were visible, and Rosalie screeched to a halt in front of us.
"Edward, get in the car," I growled. I was ready to rip these men apart. I wanted to destroy them for trying to hurt my mate. But Edward was hurt and bleeding, and needed more immediate attention.
In their drunken stupor, the men were too dumb and distracted by the car to notice me backing away and jumping into the backseat of the car. The second I was in, Rosalie pulled away quickly, vindictively almost running into one of them.
"Easy, Rose," I whispered far too quietly for Edward to hear. Rose nodded her head slightly and slowed to a more human speed. I leaned so I could face Edward, almost sitting on the center console.
"Let me see your hands," Edward gave me his hands. I grabbed an antiseptic wipe that I had stashed in the glove box and wiped his hands clean of blood. The scrapes were superficial, I was surprised I could smell it from as far away as we had been. I relished in the feeling of his soft hands under mine, pliable and warm. He didn't seem to even notice my cold skin, yet alone be bothered by it.
"Are you hurt anywhere else?" I asked. Edward shook his head. Rose slowed to a stop at a red light, and turned to look at us.
"Where am I going?" She asked, looking to Edward. His gaze was cast down, fixed on our entwined hands. I softly stroked the underside of his palm, careful to avoid aggravating the scrapes.
"I-I w-w-was s-supposed t-to m-m-meet Alice," his voice was soft and shaky, so soft that a human wouldn't have heard.
"Where?" Rose prompted gently, wanting to know where to take him before the light changed.
"Bella I-I-Italia," Edward replied, squeezing my hand softly and letting go, turning to face forward. Rose nodded and headed towards the restaurant. Edward's heart was still pounding, but Rose made sure to drive carefully and smoothly. We pulled into a parking spot right in front, Rosalie ever the lucky driver.
Standing out front was Alice and, surprisingly, Jessica and Angela, who were holding shopping bags and laughing with Alice. Edward also looked confused, so I assumed that this was not a part of their plan. I jumped out of the backseat and opened the passenger door for Edward. He tripped on his way out, still a little shaky, but caught himself by grabbing my shoulder. Naturally, almost as if we had done it a thousand times, his arm moved across my shoulder until I was tucked into his side. I reached out and put an arm around his waist, reveling in the feeling of being so close to his warm body. He was so soft but so strong, and his heartbeat felt like mine.
Rosalie followed next to us as we approached the group of teenage girls. Alice was the first to see us, and did not look at all surprised. She just smiled her toothy, knowing smile and turned back to her conversation. Angela also looked happy to see us. I had felt bad for yelling at her a few days ago, as she had never done anything malicious, and had never treated Edward or Alice poorly. Jessica looked nervous when she saw us, though.
"Bella! Hi! Good to see you!" She moved forward as though she wanted to hug me, but then stopped, so she was awkwardly standing between Alice and Angela, and me, Edward, and Rose.
"It's nice to see you too," I nodded cordially.
"I wanted to wait for you, Edward, but I ran into Jessica and Angela and they were kind enough to invite me to join them," Alice explained.
"I'm sorry I kept Edward from dinner. We just ran into each other and kinda got talking," I shrugged, beaming up at Edward from my place at his side. I had never felt more at home than in the embrace of the darling, beautiful boy I called my mate.
"I totally understand. That happens, right?" Alice wasn't breaking eye contact with me. She was more like her brother than I had realized, so brave, with no sense of self-preservation.
"We were, yeah, we were just leaving," Angela explained, walking past us to head to their car.
"I think I should make sure Edward gets something to eat," I said, hoping that some food and calm would help Edward's erratic heartbeat stabilize. "If you'd like?" I looked back up to him to confirm. I didn't want to make him do anything he was uncomfortable or not happy with. But he just gently squeezed my shoulder and nodded, not making eye contact with me.
"Alice, we can drive you home if you want," Jessica offered, looking to me instead of Alice. She was clearly trying to make amends with me. I didn't mind if the charity wasn't sincere, as long as she wasn't mean or rude to Edward or Alice again.
"That would be great," Rose said, never one to be quiet or not the center of attention in a conversation. "I need to get home, too. So Edward can drive Bella home after dinner." Edward shrugged in response, his grey pea coat moving so that I was a layer closer to his skin, now just his sweater and my thin coat separating us. I wanted to tear off his sweater gently, like unwrapping a present, and look down on the gorgeous body of my perfect mate before I devoured him. And not in a food source way of devouring.
"Okay, well, we'll see you tomorrow," Jessica said, smiling at me nervously again.
"Yeah, see you," Angela parroted, walking next to Jessica to their car.
Alice snapped me out of my fantasy by pressing the keys in Edwards free hand. He placed them in his coat, and we turned towards to restaurant to head inside.
I heard the exchange from behind us. Angela and Jessica were already in their car, and Rose had already started the M3 up and was getting ready to pull out when Alice stopped her.
"You'll find what you're looking for where you left them," Alice called to Rose, then she turned around and got into the backseat of Angela's car. I wanted to turn and look at that strange exchange, but I was following Edward's lead, and I didn't want to leave the comfort of his embrace.
I knew where Rose was going, and who she was looking for. She was going to find those men and take care of them for me. They were murderers, muggers, and rapists, and there was nothing Rose despised more than those who preyed on the weak. But Alice seemed to know more than any human should. She always seemed to know more than any human should.
Bella Italia was busy for a Sunday evening, and the hostess wanted to show us to a table in the middle of the restaurant, where it would be loud and crowded.
"Maybe somewhere a little more quiet?" I asked, looking her right in the eyes and hoping that would be enough to convince her. I was on my first dinner date with the love of my existence, and we needed quiet if we were going to discuss what had just happened. The hostess capitulated easily and lead us to a booth on the quiet side of the restaurant.
We slid in, and I couldn't help but stare at Edward's gorgeous face under the soft, romantic light. How could a human look so absolutely perfect. Even among vampires, there were flaws, but Edward… he was just perfect. I wanted to lean over the table and kiss him on the mouth, feel his soft, warm, full lips yield under mine.
The waitress interrupted my fantasy with menus and a drink order. I asked for two Cokes, hoping the sugar and caffeine would get Edward jump started. He was completely still sitting across from me, his hands folded on the table and his spine straight.
The waitress returned quickly with our drink order, and Edward ordered the fettuccine alfredo without even looking at the menu. I declined to order, and I noticed the waitress smirk in my direction.
"Y-y-you're not g-going to eat?" Edward questioned, the first words out of his mouth since the car. Normally, I would order, but I really just didn't want to eat food, especially when the watchful eye of Edward Masen would be noticing if I was just pushing food around on the plate.
"I'm not hungry," I explained, pushing the Coke towards him. He took a sip, but looked to the waitress, who was at the counter placing his order.
"She thinks y-y-you h-have an e-eating d-d-disorder," my brows knitted together. How could he possibly know that? He didn't even give me time to response before pressing forward, looking me in the eyes and saying, "I-I n-need a-a-answers."
"This sculpture is an unfinished horse, started in 1495 by the great Leonardo da Vinci," I replied smartly, phrasing it like a Jeopardy question. Edward cocked his eyebrow at me and his mouth pulled up, and I gleaned from his body language that he was not exactly amused.
"What i-is G-Gran C-C-Cavallo," I was stunned, "B-but th-that's not what I-I m-meant. H-How d-did y-you know wh-were I-I-I was?"
I was even more stunned. I couldn't very well tell him that I followed the faint scent of his blood for well over a mile to find him. He was searching my face, waiting for an explanation, but I couldn't give him one, not without outright telling him what I was.
The waitress came back with Edward's pasta, giving me a break from his verdant, piercing stare. I watched as he expertly twirled some creamy noodles on a spoon, bringing the fork up to his delectable mouth. His jaw clenched as he chewed, accentuating the definition. I wanted to lick him there, follow the path from his ear, down to his throat, and kiss him right on his jugular, where warm lifeblood pounded, keeping him alive and with me.
"I don't have an answer for you," I told him honestly, looking down. If I outright told him what I was, right here, in the middle of a crowded restaurant, not only would he not believe me, but I would have no way to prove myself to him.
"I-I was in L-La P-Push y-y-yesterday," Edward abruptly changed the subject, following his next bite with a sip of Coke. His heart had slowed to a steady pulse, and his voice was no longer shaky.
"I w-went t-t-to a b-bonfire with Alice and Charlie's f-f-friend's s-son, Jacob," He continued, "A-and I-I-I h-heard some in-interesting things." If I had a heart, it would have been pounding. The dogs had broken the treaty without even knowing it. Edward calmly took another bite of his dinner, though, and pulled out his bag, which he had collected before jumping in Rose's car. He pulled out a small, leather-bound book and slid it across the table. The title read "Quileute Legends and Stories". I looked up at Edward, who was once again studying me.
"Native legends are always fascinating. Please let me know what you think of the book," I replied calmly. He left the book on the table and continued eating, swirling his pasta. For once, he wasn't slouched over and looking uncomfortable. For some reason, after such a traumatic experience, he was the most open and expressive he had ever been with me.
"I've a-already read s-s-some. Th-That's what I-I-I w-was d-doing when th-those m-m-men f-found me. I-I w-w-was r-reading," I was almost mad at him. He had wandered out, alone, and was reading at dusk in a bad part of town. He was just asking for trouble. I didn't even want to think of what would have happened to him had I not followed him to Port Angeles, had we not been on the road at that exact moment in time. I didn't even know why he was there so late if they were only in Port Angeles for therapy in the morning. What had he and Alice been doing for those several unaccounted for hours?
We remained silent for the rest of his meal. He quickly finished his pasta and drank his entire Coke, plus some of mine. It seemed he had dropped the subject of Quileute legends for the time.
I paid the bill, despite Edward's silent objection, and we left Bella Italia, walking in step to the big, rusty truck. Edward pulled out the keys and fumbled with unlocking the passenger door, then walked over to the driver's side and slid in. I hated the truck. It was so slow and old, and I had never seen Edward drive before.
I slid into the cab and sat as close as I could to Edward without touching him, not wanting to push it. I moved his backpack to the other side of me so there would be nothing separating us. He started the car and turned the heat on, placing his hands over the vents. The cuts on his palms had clotted and scabbed by now, and I wished I could hold his hands in mine and warm them.
"H-how old a-are y-y-you?" He asked abruptly, turning his body so his right foot was tucked under his left knee. It was clear that we wouldn't be leaving any time soon.
Edward knew. He had heard the stories of the 'cold ones', had read up on it, and put two and two together. He had felt my skin, seen what my family and I looked like.
I couldn't lie to him.
"I'm twenty-one," It was the honest truth. When I was turned, I was 21 human years, though I had always looked younger. It served me well in going to high school, everyone always thought Emmett was far older than a teenager.
"H-how l-l-long have y-you b-been t-twenty-one?" Once again, we were making meaningful, prolonged eye contact, unusual for Edward and for any human. His heart rate was even. His question was confirmation that he knew.
"Are you sure you want to have this conversation?" I needed to know, from him directly, that this is what he wanted. Once this line was crossed, we could never come back. He was still so young, had so much he was going through and so much he had been through. I didn't want to complicate his life or his thoughts with this knowledge yet.
Edward nodded, his expression earnest and confident.
"I-I t-t-told you a-about what h-happened to me a-a-and Alice. Y-you know a-a-about th-th-this," he pushed up his sleeve to show me the scars and marks across his arms, evidence of his self-harm. I wanted to kiss every mark on his body and show him that he shouldn't mar his body so because it was beautiful and glorious and deserved to be worshipped, not bloodied.
"I-I kn-know n-n-nothing about y-you," He was right. Besides my love of da Vinci, he knew nothing of substance about me. But that was for a reason. He was so fragile and innocent, and I had wanted to protect that.
But he wanted to know. And I would give Edward whatever he wanted. I nodded.
"I've been twenty-one for over five hundred years," Edward's dark, shapely eyebrows raised so high on his forehead that his tousled copper hair concealed them. Clearly, that was a surprise to him.
"T-t-tell me e-everything," His eyes were pleading, but he still seemed comfortable, relatively confident. I wondered if the adrenaline was still pumping in him, keeping him from running away screaming. But I would smell that.
"I was a lady of my time, a duchess. I was well-educated, especially for a woman, and was taught everything from art to languages to dance. But I had made a mistake when I was young, fallen in love with the wrong man, and ended up with a happy life, but a sad one all the same.
"Like so many women of my time, childbirth was my death sentence. As I bled out, a close friend I had made the last few years of my human life came to me. With him was the woman who changed me. He insisted that she turn me, preserve my life, and convinced her to perform a nearly impossible task.
"How it works, with our kind, is with a bite. One bite and the venom is inserted into the blood stream, paralyzing one for days until the transformation is complete and the heart stops. It's incredibly painful, but when I woke up, I was this," I gestured to my body. Edward nodded in understanding. He wasn't running and screaming, or yelling and crying. He was behaving as though I had just told him I liked chocolate ice cream, not that I was married, or knew Leonardo da Vinci, or had died several hundred years ago.
"W-wow," Edward finally responded. I waited for his outrage. "I-I guess th-that's why y-y-you've d-don't act l-like a n-n-normal t-teenager."
His lips twisted up into the crooked grin I loved so much. My mouth popped open in surprise. Of all the things I had expected him to say in response to my overly detailed human biography, I was not expecting him to say that.
"How are you not running and screaming?" Edward had repositioned himself, getting ready to pull out of the space and drive. He was still smiling, though.
"H-how c-c-could your story n-not be as f-f-fantastic as you," It was a rhetorical question that once again stunned me into silence. Blush crept up his neck, but he hit the clutch and pulled away.
Edward was a faster driver than I had expected, pushing the truck to its limit once we were on the 110.
"S-sunlight?" Edward asked, breaking the silence.
"It doesn't burn us, but something does happen that forces us to stay out of sight," I couldn't believe that I was telling him this.
"C-c-coffins?"
"We don't sleep."
"E-ever?" His brows knitted together.
"Never."
"Th-that must s-s-suck," he bit his bottom lip, thinking about what I had said. I laughed in disbelief. This is what he thought sucked?
"Speaking of sleep, it looks like you need some," I said, pointing at the dark bruises under his eyes. I knew he hadn't slept since Friday night, and it was Sunday night. That was too long for a human to go without rest. He just shrugged his shoulders, moving on from my concern.
"What d-d-do y-you e-e-eat?" For the first time in our entire conversation, his heartrate picked up. Finally, a normal response of fear.
"Most of our kind feed from humans," I warned, "But I've never partaken. Not that I've never been tempted." I looked to him pointedly. He needed to know that I was still dangerous, even if I didn't seem like it. Even though my control was excellent and I had the easiest time being around humans, he needed to know that I was as dangerous as any other vampire.
"Me and my family, we've found that animal blood is a sustaining source. It never fully quenches the thirst, but it keeps us strong."
Edward nodded again. Of his own volition, he reached out and grasp my hand in his. I could feel the rough scraped on his palm, a reminder of his mortality and what had almost happened just hours ago.
That was how we spent the rest of our drive, in a comfortable silence, holding hands. He knew, now, and he accepted me for what I was. I felt so lucky and blessed to have a mate that was not only gorgeous and smart, but also compassionate and accepting. He had always been so shy and unsure of himself, completely lacking in self-confidence. He didn't believe that I wanted him when he thought I was human. I couldn't help but wonder why he was so sure of himself now, when he knew I was an ethereal being. Perhaps my constant reassurance had finally gotten through to him?
Our drive was over too quickly. I pointed the turn to the Cullen house out to him, and Edward dropped me off at home, driving himself away. I turned to the house, realizing what awaited me here.
That was the first time I had to tell my family that our secret was out, and it was my fault.
I'm all over the place. This probably could have been two chapters, but whatever, what's done is done.
Next time, you'll see more of the Edward we've all come to love. There's a reason he was so different this chapter.