I awoke at dawn as I always did, and was disoriented from my rousing when the settings before my eyes were vastly unfamiliar.
Where is my usual dirt floor?
Where did all this furniture come from?
I sat up in a bed, and rubbed my eyes. I'd slept so deeply. I was afraid for what I'd missed while sleeping. Panic ensued. My heart began racing, and out of habit, I patted down my body for injuries, and only felt one. The stitches in my arm. My hand lingered there as I slowly remembered and let the memories catch up to my conscious state.
That's right.
I had a surgery to remove the tracker.
It's gone, now.
I... don't need to worry about Volt ever again.
I touched the stitches ever so gently, barely skimming my fingers over the indentations as if to prove to myself it really happened.
Volt is gone.
I silently kept my fingertips on the stitches and focused on decreasing my rapid heartrate. I could hear my pulse in my ear.
I focused on taking in a slow, deep breath.
Surely that's all you need...
I nearly choked on the air that set my throat aflame.
An uncomfortable itching that wouldn't go away immediately called its presence in my throat, and I was instantly reminded of my surroundings. My eyes snapped open.
The unfamiliar ceilings, adorned with intricate mouldings the corner couldn't have brought me to my senses any faster.
Edward.
I am sleeping at Edward's house, and Edward is in the same room as me.
I inched forward on the large bed on my hands and knees and peered over the foot of the bed. Sure enough, Edward's sleeping figure lay, sprawled across his leather couch. His body was only half covered by a throw blanket, he had one leg sticking out and an arm under his head.
Even in such an uncomfortable position, he looked peaceful in his sleep. His shapely lips were parted as he snored softly. I lay on my stomach gazing at him, knowing he wouldn't be awake for at least a few more hours, he was in deep slumber.
I scrutinized his sleeping face from above, laying on the bed.
His strong jaw had a darker shadow from hair growth, I noticed for the first time he had a slight cleft in his angular chin. Edward's prominent cheekbones sat high on his face, and offered leading lines down from his cheeks down to his dimples.
With his eyelids closed, his eyebrows at last sat evenly on his face without his consciousness to give him expression.
What an oddly symmetrical face... I could now finally start to comprehend why the girls at our school were obsessed with him... He is nearly inhumanly handsome.
Is that why the girls were saying something about modeling...?
I found myself again, staring at his lips, and was reminded of the touch we'd shared last night.
The warmth of his lips against mine were astounding. They were so soft...
I had a sudden urge to feel that, again.
Well, he is asleep, right? Oh yu
What's stopping you?
I forced myself to breathe in the sweetness of his skin first, as a test. It was getting a little easier, each day, and I found myself breathing out as I normally would. Venom trickled into my mouth as a side effect. I would likely never be immune to his scent, but the frenzy that I felt the first day was gone.
I felt I could almost trust myself to be near him.
To touch him.
The thought emboldened me with the armor of a single second of ambition. I bent down and brushed a single kiss onto his lips.
The stinging I felt in my throat from his scent was inevitable, but tolerable. I nearly forgot about it when I touched his lips to mine. The electric thrill was dominant to the pain, at even the slightest touch.
I pulled away carefully, and to my relief, he continued to breathe evenly in his sleep, still as stone.
The reward for resisting the temptation of his blood was well worth it.
I felt myself grin stupidly in the dimly lit room.
I truly do have a chance at a normal life.
I walked into the bathroom with a slight bounce in my step. I found my uniform dry and folded on the counter top. I brought the fabric to my nose, and sighed at the clean scent of linen.
I dressed into my uniform, and brushed my teeth.
In the reflection of the large mirror, I could see my eyes had lightened even more since I'd fed on Edward. A strange amber color.
Interesting.
I silently straightened the covers on the bed and looked to the bedside clock. It was still 6 am.
We had hours left until school began.
How pleasant it is to wake in leisure, warm, without worrying about walking to school...
I chose to pull up a seat at the desk beside the window to do our social studies essay that we hadn't even thought to start yesterday.
It was due today, after all.
Writing out an essay is the least I could do for him, I thought with a hint of guilt.
Edward
I woke from my repose, with Bella on my mind. I looked straightaway to my bed and felt disappointed when I saw the bed was empty, the blankets were even neatly tucked back into place.
Did she leave?
I felt disappointment flood my chest for half a second, until my ears detected the faint scratching of a pen against paper. I turned towards the soft noise. Bella was sitting at my desk, already dressed in uniform.
She looks amazing in even a simple, oversized button down shirt and a pleated skirt.
She was writing something into a notebook. Though I couldn't see her expression from here, it was clear in her hunched posture that she was focused. I ran a hand through my hair hoping it wasn't too disheveled before I caught her attention.
"Good morning," I rasped through a dry throat. She stopped writing. I looked at the clock, it wasn't even 7 am yet. "You're up early." She turned from the desk, offered me a soft smile.
"I always wake with the sun." She said.
Her upper lip is fuller on top... it made her smile so beautiful.
"Half vampire thing?" I teased her with a grin, standing with a stretch. "No need for coffins?" It earned me a notebook being thrown at my head, which I easily dodged and caught in my hand instead. I looked at the title of the notebook which she'd chosen to throw.
My social studies notebook?
"No. I just wake up early before the cops can kick me out." She desponded matter of factly.
Cops?
Wait a minute...
Her eyes had widened, she knew her tongue had slipped. She hurriedly stuffed her notebook into her messenger bag as if to leave the room before I could ask the question. I walked a couple of steps to lean on the door instead, and looked at her in the eyes. Her eyes were even lighter today, a soft, autumnal brown.
So fearful, yet so beautiful. Like a doe in headlights..
"Bella... you've given me hints, but where exactly do you sleep at night?" She looked away, as she always did when she didn't want to tell the truth. She bit down on her lip before she made her confession.
"Do you know the corner at south 58th and 59th avenue?"
I'd lived here all my life. Of course I knew.
"Yeah, but I wasn't aware there were any houses there. It's pretty industrial, that area." She sighed, as if cursing herself for relinquishing the truth.
"You never let anything slip, do you?" She said with a sigh.
"Not when it comes to you." I reminded her softly. Her eyes widened a little at the comment, before she continued on.
"Do you know the abandoned building there?"
Oh no... Bella, no...
"Bella, have you been sleeping there every night?"
Jesus. After our date I had let her sleep there?
What kind of inattentive asshole was I?
That area was far, too. At least a few miles to the school. Was that also why she woke up so early?
She was silent at my question, and replied with a nonchalant shrug and looked to the floor. Her face reflected an expression I'd seen before.
Was it shame?
"Bella. Look at me." Her eyes slowly inched up to mine.
How could I show her that I would never judge her for that?
"I've been there myself, when I was young. I'm never letting anyone go through that. Do you understand? You can stay here for as long as you need to."
"But your parents--"
"Won't let a young woman sleep outside either." I clarified for her. "I promise you. We can take care of you here." I cautiously took her hand.
She let me.
"I will take care of you here."
I'll pay rent for her if I have to. I'll do whatever I have to. I'm not letting her sleep outside.
"Now come on," I said, trying to change the stupor I put her in. "Lets have breakfast."
Bella
We went to school together that day. Edward seemed to think nothing of it, he listened to his usual piano music, his fingers danced along on his steering wheel.
The population at our small school was alarmed when Edward was in the hospital for a couple of hours. What would they think, now, that we were coming to school together?
While we were driving, Edward must've noticed my sullen mood. He took my hand and rubbed circles into the pressure point in my thumb and forefinger. When my hand finally relaxed in his, he intertwined our fingers, and left it like this.
I gazed at our hands, his graceful and tanned one, and my pallid one, making a meandering twist of colors together.
His hand fits perfectly in mine.
"What will everyone think?" I murmured in a gravelly voice. He seemed calm.
"About what?" He said lightly. I squeezed his hand in mine as evidence in my chain of thinking.
"Us. Going to school together. Being seen in that light, I suppose." I asked in a small voice. He grinned.
"They'll know I snagged the hottest girl in school."
"Edward!" I hissed even though my face turned warm at the thought of him thinking I was attractive, even if he was joking about it. "I was trying to blend in--"
"Because of Volt." He clarified. "You have no need to hide anymore. And what anyone else thinks of us is frankly, none of our business. Let them think what they want." I knew he was right. But I couldn't turn off my fear, like that.
What if there were spies in the school? Moles?
He parked neatly in a stall and turned off the engine to his car.
"You ready?" I nodded and he stepped out of the car to open the door for me. He took my hand and we went to school like that.
"Are your ribs feeling better?" I asked conversationally. He nodded, as if just noticing them.
"Yeah. Surprisingly. Although I've always been a quick healer, even Carlisle is surprised."
When we reached social studies, he let go of my hand only to pull out my chair. We were getting lots of looks. I did my best to keep my eyes on the ground.
The only way Volt would know is through my eyes.
Damn it. I did it again.
"Shit." Edward hissed. "I forgot we had a project due." I shook my head.
"I finished it this morning." He looked down at his notebook and flipped to the most recently written page. He found my essay I'd written about the civil rights laws. He looked up at me in amazement.
"Bella, you're a godsend." I gave him a small smile.
It's the least I can do to repay you for all of your kindness.
After two more individual classes, Edward brought me to the cafeteria. There was an array of food from pizza, to a salad bar, fruit, with small boxes of milk. Though I wasn't physically emaciated as I usually was, with half the day already passed, my appetite was increasing steadily.
"Get anything you want Bella," Edward said. I gulped at the thought of that, but knew I needed to control myself.
There is no need to steal anymore.
Or to feel the need to hoard large meals.
But you should keep up your strength. In case Volt catches up to--
Oh wait.
Old habits die hard.
I took a pizza with my salad. Edward grinned at my tray; it mirrored his.
"Good choice." He handed the cashier a card and told her it was for two. The elderly lady glanced at him for longer than she needed to, then nodded.
Even the elderly cashier woman is making eyes at him...
"Bellward!!" We heard the most atrocious name being boomed out from the center of the cafeteria and we both cringed and traced the sound to a single, very large student. When I saw a huge arm waving enthusiastically, we knew.
Emmett Brown.
Despite never personally having conversation with neither Jasper nor Emmett, I felt drawn to them, as if I could somehow trust them; like brothers.
We walked over with our trays of food, and Emmett and his girlfriend had parted at the round table so we could sit between them. My mind couldn't help but assess them, despite the fact that I knew they were not targets.
Emmett was a whopping 6'5, 275 lbs.
No wonder he was both a varsity baseball catcher and defensive-linebacker. This man is huge. The size of his hands alone were about as large as my face...
His brown eyes were kind though.
He wouldn't hurt a fly unless he had to.
Jasper Whitlock, 5'9 and 160 pounds. despite his more slender frame, he was a talented shortstop player from what I'd heard. His fast arm earned him the nickname "Jazz hands." He tipped his head cordially at me in greeting before he offered an introduction to the girls I was sitting beside. I noted his grey eyes were striking.
Actually. Both of them have striking eyes...
Again, I felt inexplicably drawn to them.
As if I could trust them.
"This is Rosalie Hale, and Mary Alice Brandon." Jasper said, tipping his curly head towards the two girls on the table.
Mary Alice and Rosalie were both in biology with me, but I never had a reason to speak with them.
Mary Alice was pixie-like, just over 4 foot 10 inches with spiked hair. She excitedly grabbed my body with her small arms to give me a squeeze. She couldn't have been more than 90 pounds, soaking wet.
"How nice to finally meet you Bella! You can call me Alice," She chimed in a high pitched voice. Rosalie, instead, opted for a gentle hug. Rosalie was taller than me and my mind targeted her as a threat. 5'11, 145 pounds.Definitely a threat--
Stop that Bella. No one is coming after you.
Volt can't find you anymore.
Her blonde hair and fair complexion probably made most girls around her feel like a threat, though. She was beautiful, intimidatingly so, and stuck out from the rest of the crowd with her flaxen locks and cornflower eyes.
"Rose. It's nice to meet you," she said. "Emmett and Jasper were obsessed with meeting you, I'm so glad to know you're real, and not just a mythical legend." Rosalie said jokingly.
I found it difficult to interact with these girls without constantly checking my surroundings, suspicions constantly clouding my mind.
What should I say? What do people our age do?
I ended up nodding.
"It's nice to meet you two, as well."
Emmett yelled for Edward's attention despite only being across the table.
"Are you guys coming?" He caught Edward mid-chew and Edward raised a brow. "To work?"
Edward looked mortified. "Shit. I completely forgot. I work tonight?" Emmett and Jasper both exchanged glances as if they were surprised.
"Yeah man. Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, remember?" He sent a pained glance towards me.
"Bella, I completely forgot. I'm so sorry. I can call an Uber for you to go home?" I shook my head.
What were these music lessons that Jessica Stanley bragged about like?
"Would it be alright if I watched?" I'd started a commotion. As soon as the words left my mouth, both of the girls turned to the boys, pleading.
"I wanna come too!" Alice exclaimed.
"I didn't even know it was allowed!" Rose pouted.
"That's because it isn't." Emmett retorted back at her. "The holy temple isn't just for anyone to see. Only musicians that make music are invited. Besides, playing the recorder in the third grade doesn't count as playing a real instrument." He said puffing his cheeks, crossing his eyes and making a mocking gesture as if he were blowing into a recorder. It earned him a tinkling laugh from Alice, a small giggle from me and a slap in the back of the head from Jasper.
"Maybe old man Mac will make an exception for Bella since she's new to town and she hasn't broken anything," Jasper said, squinting towards Alice in a pointed way. Edward agreed with him and snickered towards Alice.
"He's still mad because I dropped his guitar last time I visited." Alice whispered to me, covering her mouth with a tiny hand.
"I can still hear you ma'am." Jasper retorted, with narrows eyes toward his girlfriend. I found myself giggling at that too.
These people were nice... the easiest part of my transition to "normalcy."
After school, Edward did let me come to his music lesson. Jasper came along too. "I have a guitar lesson, same time." He told me with a smile. I nodded, and was able to smile back at him, with more ease than I had the girls at lunch.
Edward held open the door to the magic shop, the bell tinkled delicately as we walked in. An old man wearing a beret sat behind a counter, doing a crossword puzzle. If he had heard the bell, he made no effort to show his acknowledgment.
"Hey Mac," Edward greeted him. Jasper tilted his head at him. "Sir."
He offered an indifferent grunt in response. Edward showed me to a room in the back, labeled "practice room."
There was a piano against the wall, a drum kit in the corner and an acoustic guitar on a stand. Jasper picked up the guitar with ease and a familiarity. Only after he picked it up, I noticed the back had a huge scratch in it. An endearing curly arrow pointed to the scratch, and the word "Alice" was written in with a permanent marker. I smiled at that.
"I'm going to practice room 2." Jasper said to Edward. He turned back to me, charmingly.
"Edward can tell you where to sit, Bella." He smiled politely at me and stepped out of the room.
All three of the boys had such similar personalities. They were all exceptional at making others feel comfortable.
Although my mind had scanned them earlier for dangers, I somehow could sense they weren't a danger to me at all.
Strange how easily I adjusted to their presence, and how hard it was for me to get used to others...
Edward was tuning the piano when he called for my attention.
"Bella?" I turned and saw him smile as my eyes met his.
"My only client today is a young kid, he's only been learning for a few weeks. He's kind of shy. Do you mind sitting near Mac? I don't want to distract him. He's nervous as is, you know."
I nodded.
Believe me. I know how that feels.
"Yes. Of course." I found barstools behind Mac's messy counter top. I asked the old man if he minded but he didn't respond. I took it as a good sign and pulled up a chair.
Soon enough, a young boy entered the store, holding a folder of sheet music and a tablet. He did indeed look nervous, even his knees were trembling. His older brother had a guitar strapped to his back, and pushed the young man towards Edward as he made his way towards the practice room Jasper was in.
I watched Edward as he stood from his seat to greet the small child. He gestured for him to sit on the piano bench and he sat beside the young boy.
"What did we talk about last week?" He reminded him chidingly and waited for the boy to straighten his posture before they began.
He was a surprising disciplinarian when he taught.
The boy was playing a simple tune, there were a few chords that sounded dissonant, but Edward urged him on.
"Keep going," he said. "Don't worry about the mistakes." He said generously.
If only life were as easy as Edward's persuasive musical philosophy.
'Don't worry about the mistakes. Keep going.'
I found myself losing myself in the background tune of the piano, finding myself conscious of my frustration.
Despite the "education" I'd received, I obviously did not understand the basic social constructs that entailed in existing in a normal society.
I hoped that I'd eventually learn to transition into this new life.
One life that offered me hope of a future without my past.
One that offered me a kinship with Edward, and possibly even an exploration at a romance with him.
One that didn't send my paranoia running. One that didn't make me fear my future... or demise.
The song must've come to an end, a final chord was struck. Edward smiled encouragingly at his student.
"That was really good, Jeremy. I can tell you've been practicing."
He gently swept his hand across the keyboard and began playing the same song, from memory with his left hand. It sounded completely different, even being on the same piano, yet Edward didn't look at the keys as he played flawlessly. His music made me feel most remorseful when it ended.
"I know it's hard, but let's try to make sure that we get used to our chords with the left hand, even if it's not our dominant hand." He played three chords with his left hand, smiling at him with confidence.
"Just like that. Not too hard, right?" He waited for a nod from the young Jeremy before he continued. "Do you want me to play it a second time, so you can record it?"
Watching Edward teach made me appreciate him more.
His hands were so strong yet he used them so gently, especially toward his students and the piano. His long fingers were graceful as they skimmed across the black and white keys.
I was reminded of how gentle they were on my face, last night, as they cupped my cheek. What if they were to--
"Bella?" I was jolted from my thoughts. "You ready to go?" I felt my face flame in the shame of being caught in my irrational thoughts. He must've read my face immediately.
"Tell me. What exactly were you thinking about, just now?" The green in his eyes pierced mine and I somehow felt my face blush deeper.
His breath had slowed when he looked at me... does he think these inappropriate thoughts about me too?
"It's nothing. You're very good at your job." I said cordially. His eyes narrowed for only a moment in suspicion but he grinned easily, changing the subject.
"Thanks. You should see me actually teach. Not just für Elise, but something harder. Tchaikovsky. La Campanella. Adolf Van Henselt." He grinned and wiggled his fingers deviously. His eyes moved toward the other side of the studio.
Through the window in the closed door, we could see Jasper was giving his student a high five, and his mouth enthusiastically formed the words "good job". The door opened, and Jasper exited. He waited for both his student, and Edward's to exit before he turned to us with a devilish grin.
"Mortal Kombat party at my house!" Jasper exclaimed.
The evening was spent at Jasper's home, with the six of us sharing two boxes of pizza and a liter of Coca Cola. The boys were playing some sort of violent video game, the girls chatted about some sort of fashion statement I didn't quite understand. It left me to my own devices, and I quietly read the book I'd borrowed from the library, Jane Austen.
I sipped from my red plastic cup, amazed at the dark liquid inside. It was my first carbonated beverage, and I nearly felt the instantaneous buzz from the amount of sugar my body was digesting.
After a half hour, Edward declared a break from the game, complaining he was tired of Emmett cheating and Jasper playing like he had no thumbs. The rambunctious banter was entertaining for all of us to watch.
Jasper was idly playing guitar in the background and Alice sang along in her pitched musical voice. Emmett quit the banter, turning his short attention span to the music. He joined along by clapping, and stomping his massive feet against the ground in time with the guitar.
Even Edward found a way to join in, by drumming with Emmett's sticks on the table. He caught my gaze, and threw me a wink. I turned away, with a blush, and spoke to Rose, who sat quietly beside me without her friend to speak to.
"Does everyone here have musical talents?" I whispered.
"I can't sing for shit." She giggled back at me. "Cheers to that." She tapped her cup of coke against the top of mine, and I laughed with her for the first time.
Emmett exclaimed he knew just what we needed, and ran into the kitchen. He quickly returned, with a box that said "Rainier". The boys whooped and the girls both shook their heads at him in disgust. I watched foreignly as the boys all cracked one open.
"What is that?" I asked quietly to Alice.
"Oh it's a local beer," she explained in her fast paced musical voice.
Oh, alcohol.
"We think it's crap." Rosalie said with a shake of her head. She grinned with a conniving look and quickly added, "I know just what we need. I'll be right back." She returned, with a few white tubes in her arms. She tossed me one of them, a cold white can.
White Claw?
"Seltzer!" Rosalie explained, tossing Alice a can and opening one for herself. I leaned over towards Alice, trying my hand in conversation after what I'd listened into for the past hour.
Practice time.
"Which one did you get?"
"Black Cherry. Wanna trade?" She said with a beaming smile, and we swapped our flavors.
I hope she liked mango, cherry sounded like a safer pick.
I took a sip at it and widened my eyes. On top of being carbonated, this was a strong flavor. I'd never had anything like it before.
"Good right?" Rosalie asked.
"Beats what they're having." I said meekly, as if I knew what that tasted like.
I'm relived they didn't force me to drink beer. After all, I don't know how I'd react to alcohol. I thought as I took another swig of the white claw.
Six white claws later, Rosalie, Alice and I were laughing at the boys playing video games. Rosalie despite her gorgeous and outwardly cold appearance, would make the most rambunctious comments and unexpected facial expressions to imitate the boys which would send Alice and I rolling across the floor.
"Oh man..." Alice wiped a tear from her face as her laughs dwindled down to a girlish giggle. "Too good, Rose."
"Okay Bella. It's your turn. Make like Emmett." I flexed my arms at the imaginary game controls in my hand, and yelled out
"COME ONN !" while raising my eyebrows as high as they could go.
It was so loud that all the boys turned back to stare at me and the girls were roaring with laughter. I felt so empowered to finally be welcomed into this circle of people.
It was only then that I wondered why my usual inhibitions were lowered, why I wasn't my more guarded self.
"Oh Bella," Alice hugged me from the side. "Thank goodness you've joined us. It was getting lonely with just Rose and I all the time." I was surprised by her admission, but I offered her a hug, back. Rosalie joined in on the hug from the other side, making me a sandwich in the middle of the other girls.
"You know, Alice is so right. We were getting a little lonely but I'm just glad Edward has a nice girl like you. The poor boy has been alone for so long." There was a sympathetic look that glimmered in both of the girls' faces as they pulled away and I was immediately suspicious.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked.
"Emmett and I have been together for a couple years now." Rose said with a broad smile.
"Jazz and I for 4." Alice chimed in, flashing a small ring with a heart on her hand. "My, has Edward been alone for that long?" She wondered out loud.
"Why didn't he find anyone?" I asked. "From what I hear, Edward is very popular."
"He's as popular as he is particular," Rose said with a roll of her eyes. "She has to be the one!" She declared dramatically, in a low voice. Her imitations as always had us laughing. When our laughs simmered, Alice offered a quiet admission.
"I think Edward was just waiting for someone like you," Alice said with a dreamy smile. "Jasper was waiting for me, Emmett was waiting for Rose, and now Edward finally found you."
You shouldn't think so highly of me...
"Now why on earth would you say that?" Alice said with her hands on her hips, as if she was upset.
What? Did I say that out loud? I found myself fumbling at my words, trying to explain myself in the subtlest way possible.
"Edward could certainly do better--" I began.
"My god, are you trying to say you think Edward is out of your league?" Rose asked with a hearty laugh.
I don't understand that terminology, but I suppose I do.
"Yeah." I chose to respond.
Something like it, anyways.
"Nuh uh. I've known that kid since I was in a kid. Believe me, he's a good guy but definitely not out of your league." Rose retorted. Alice began clutching her stomach with a squeaking laughter.
"Remember when he used to try to give operations on bugs?" She choked out. Rose nearly spit out her seltzer.
"Or try to beat up the teacher on his first day, calling her a 'threat?'" The girls howled with laughter and I found myself laughing as loudly too, despite the fact that the last description sounded more like me, than him.
"Remember when he lectured Jasper on how to change sheets? The clean freak!" Even Alice's tinkling laughter was growing louder.
Emmett came up behind Rose, picking her up in his massive arms before throwing her onto the couch, earning a squeal from her and a shriek from the rest of us.
"Are we all shitting on Edward, and you didn't invite me? I wanna join!" He boomed, and didn't hesitate to throw in his two cents. "This guy has had beef-strokin'-off for dinner every night since he's been talking about Bella." He made a lewd hand gesture with his fist that I didn't quite understand but sent the girls crying with laughter.
What was that gesture?
And what was wrong with this beef dish?
A thud sounded as Edward knocked an unsuspecting Emmett to the ground.
"Shut the fuck up Emmett!" His cheeks and ears were turning red, as if he were embarrassed. "As if you didn't date Pamela Handerson in your dreams!"
"Oh, you wish Ed-where'd-my-tissues-go?" Jasper said with a roll of his eyes. Edward threw an empty can of Rainer at him and Jasper laughed as it narrowly missed him.
The boys wrestled with each other good naturedly, until Edward twisted Emmett's hand behind his back, and Emmett tapped on the floor in surrender.
"Are you still buzzed, B?" Jasper asked. He pointed to the can of White Claw in my hand. I added two and two together and my jaw dropped.
"Oh my god. Edward, are you trying to tell me there was alcohol in the seltzer I drank?" My hands flew up to my hair, horrified. Edward finally looked up at me. The girls exchanged nervous glances amongst each other.
Edward grinned and gave me a roll of his eyes.
"Oh, as if that's worse than kissing me while you thought I was asleep," He guffawed. My face heated in an ill-timed blush that revealed the veracity of his statement.
"You... were awake for that?" I whispered in horror.
I heard the laughter echo all around us, and yet I'd never felt more comfortable in my life, as I joined in, along with my new friends.
Friends.
That was what this word felt like...
I looked around at the five of them, and found myself smiling at their well-intended laughter.
Friends.
Laughter....
Trust.
I took in the smiling faces with appreciation, this time.
This is the first step to a normal life.
Holy moly guys. Thanks for the support for half breed.
I had this idea in my head of a reverse midnight sun for a while, and I had no idea you all would respond like this.
It really encourages me like you have no idea. Writing isn't my strong suit.
Thanks so much to those that leave little comments. It makes me smile, even under this mask.
-T