I woke up at four in the morning. Though luckily I had not a single dream all night. It took me forever to leave the warmth of my bed. I sat there reflecting on the events of the night. Edythe Cullen was a vampire. Vampires were real, it made me wonder what else there might be that goes bump in the night. I had always assumed that there could be explanations for certain phenomena, but with this new information my understanding of the world was shaking. It really wasn't that big of a shocker, after I gave it a bit to sit. Edythe popped into my mind, so my assumption that there was something special about her had been correct, though I was just far off the mark as to what that special thing was.
My alarm finally went off at five thirty. I hadn't realized I had been laying down for so long. After another ten minutes I finally got up out of the bed and went downstairs to run on my treadmill. I didn't feel like doing much else. Running would give me more time to think. Though while I was running I thought about how fast Edythe must be. It was weird to admit that her abilities were real and possible. I knew humans could achieve peak physical abilities but what she could do was next level. I could never be as strong and fast as she was. I smirked to myself. I was jealous of her abilities. Who wouldn't be. I imagined what I could do if I had her abilities, but then the thoughts went dark and those abilities in my hands would be terrifying, I would be the monster Edythe had described.
"Sir?" TAV said.
"Yes." I said, stopping the treadmill.
" is at the front door." TAV said.
I frowned and looked down at my phone. The digital clock read six twenty-seven. I had been running nonstop for almost an hour. My shirt was soaking wet. I definitely needed to shower, but that didn't mean I couldn't let Edythe in, it was quite cold out.
I walked over to the door and opened it. There Edythe stood, she was wearing lite blue faded jeans and hiking boots. She had on a beige sweater and a gray winter jacket. She stood there smiling at me, dimples and all. I froze. She was a vision to see.
"Hi." Edythe said, snapping me back to my senses.
"Hi. Come inside." I said smiling like an idiot. I moved out of the doorway so Edythe could come in.
She walked into the building and turned around and looked at me from head to toe. "You look like you've been busy." Edythe said.
"I was running." I said as I walked to the kitchen to get some water.
"I can see that. Your heart beat hasn't calmed either." She said, as she sat down on one of the barstools. I didn't know how to respond to that, so I just finished my glass of water. I laid the glass in the sink and stared at Edythe. There wasn't really anything I had to talk about yet, I really wasn't expecting her until about seven. After running for an hour I was pretty nasty and I felt the urge to shower.
"I'm going to take a shower, feel free to make yourself at home." I said.
"Okay. Would you mind if I examine your cars?" She asked.
"Go ahead." I said as I walked towards the stairs.
I took a quick shower. It felt strange with Edythe in my house. That spurred some other kinds of thoughts and I quickly pushed them from my head. I turned the faucet off and stepped out of the shower. I was met with my reflection in the mirror. I smirked at myself, I had completely forgotten that the next hurdle I faced with Edythe was to really show her the real me. The me that was hideously scarred. I looked at my chest and abdomen. There were so many scars, ranging from blades to gun shots. Every mark told a story of my crimes. I wasn't a fan of taking my shirt off in public and rarely did it. In gym I would just change shirts in the stall. I had an outstanding payment plan with photographers to photoshop my scars out. I didn't care about the tattoos, those were my choice at least. How would she react to this? It didn't matter right now we were not even close to that yet or if we would get there. I shouldn't even think of that bridge yet.
I sighed and walked into my closet and got dressed. The weather channel had said that it was going to get really cold the next couple of days, so I was definitely dressing in layers today. I put on some black jeans and combat boots, I wore a really warm long sleeve shirt and a black Armani hoodie. I walked down the stairs reading emails on my phone. Trish had sent information regarding the acquisition of BioDome.
Jaxon,
Brandon Kempt has hired a lawyer and is threatening to sue you and ST. David assured me that he has no legal ground. I just wanted to keep you in the loop. The contract he signed will prevent this action. It also gives you grounds to counter sue. If you want to counter, call David later today.
Thanks,
Trish.
Executive Assistant, STONETECH HOLDINGS
I sighed. Of course that asshole would try to sue me. The idiot could have blown up the state.
Trish,
Inform David to begin the process for the counter. Also draft a letter to the secretary of homeland security. I believe the actions made regarding the ecogenerator were too severe to keep quiet. He made his bed now it's time for him to lay in it.
Jaxon Stone
STONETECH HOLDINGS
I had walked over to the kitchen and I laid my phone down on the counter. Edythe was nowhere in sight so I walked over to the cars. I spotted her inside the Hellcat, I smiled and walked over to the door and leaned in.
"Is this what you want to take today?" I asked.
Edythe's eyes widened. "You are going to let me pick?" She asked.
I nodded. "So which will it be?" I asked.
Edythe got out of the car and looked around and then she vanished and reappeared at my huracan. She had a ridiculously cute smile at that moment.
"Okay that one." I said walking over to the cabinet that I kept all the keys in. I hadn't driven the lambo in sometime. I walked back over to the car and Edythe. I walked up to her and she was looking adorable. Her long rust hair was pulled into a bun and she looked like the goddess that I now knew that she was.
"Good morning." I said, smirking.
"Good morning to you hot stuff." She said smiling.
"Hot Stuff? Someone is in a good mood this morning." I said.
"Well I had a wonderful evening last night, though it was unexpected it was most memorable." She said.
I smiled and reached down to take her hand. She let her arm move with mine. I kissed the back of her hand and she smiled.
"Stand still." She whispered. I froze in place, though I did leaned forward slightly for her. She was rather short.
She reached up and kissed my cheek. This was sweet. It was a different kind of pace for me and I was going to cherish these moments with Edythe. She leaned back and smiled up at me.
"Are you ready to go?" Edythe asked me.
"Yeah." I paused. Her car was outside. It should be brought in out of the weather. "Let me see your keys."
Edythe looked at me confused. "Your car shouldn't be out in the weather if it doesn't have to be." I muttered.
"Oh okay. Here you go." She said, handing me the Volvo key fob.
"TAV open the garage door." I said, walking to the entrance."
"Yes sir." TAV responded.
The garage door rolled up and I walked out to Edythe's car. I had to adjust the seat, she really was vertically challenged. The car engine turned on and it was more robust than I expected. It was a sport model, it just wasn't my style. I drove into the building and parked next to my AMG.
I got out and readjusted the seat to where Edythe had it.
"Oh don't worry about the seat." Edythe said. She had appeared behind me. It was still weird that she could just appear, but it was growing on me.
"Okay." I said. I straightened and handed her key back to her.
She looked amazing right now, well she always looked amazing. I couldn't help but stare at her right now. She smiled up at me and she lifted her hand up to my face. I watched as her hand went up to my hair and she pushed my hair off of my forehead.
She didn't hesitate this time or ask me to hold still. She was getting more sure of herself around me.
"Are you ready to go to school?" Edythe asked.
I looked over at the wall clock and it was seven ten.
I nodded. We walked over to the lambo and I grabbed my backpack off my desk and I turned around and Edythe had disappeared again. I looked around and she was standing near the lambo with her backpack in her hand. I smiled and walked to her.
"I'm not making you uncomfortable moving that fast. I can slow down." Edythe asked.
I shook my head. "It's okay, just different. I don't want you to be anything but yourself around me." I said.
Edythe smiled. "Okay then." She said.
"Let me see your bag, there is little room in this car for stuff." I said, as I opened the front trunk.
"I've never been in a Lamborghini before." Edythe said.
"It's fun. We can go joyriding after school if you have nothing to do." I said, closing the trunk with our bags in it.
"I have no plans today, though at some point we should start our project." Edythe said.
"Oh yeah, very responsible ." I said.
Edythe rolled her eyes with a smirk. I chuckled and walked over to her side of the car and opened the door for her.
She walked by me and sat down in the car. She had this kid in a candy store grin. "Thank you, ." She said. I winked at her and she laughed.
I closed her door and walked to the driver's side.
"TAV lock up after I leave." I said, while I opened my door.
"Yes Sir." TAV said.
I sat down and closed my scissor door.I hadn't been in this car since I was in New York.
"Just so you know, when we get to school we are going to draw a crowd with this car."
"I figured. Do you think it will be worse than when you drove your McClaren?" Edythe asked.
I laughed. Lambos where a staple in the car world everyone knew what it was and I was sure this would be the first time these kids had seen one.
"Probably worse. Put your seat belt on." I said
Edythe shook her head but complied with my request. I pressed the push start and the V-twelve roared to life. I loved this car. Edythe smiled at me. I revved the engine a few times. I looked over at Edythe who was grinning.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Yeah." She said sounding skeptic.
I floored the pedal and we took off out of the garage. This car handled incredibly well. We were doing sixty before we hit the road and I wasn't slowing down. I glanced at Edythe and she looked uncomfortable. I slowed down back to about fifty-five. Surely she could handle this speed and wouldn't be afraid of it.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah just a little on edge." She said.
Shit. I didn't mean to scare her. So vampires didn't like driving fast. Wait she drives like a wannabe nascar driver.
"Didn't mean to scare you, this car kinda gets me excited."
Edythe laughed. "It's not the speed. That didn't bother me. It's the fact that you were driving at that speed. It's just a little unsettling." She said.
"What, you literally drove like that the other day, actually I think you were going faster." I said.
"Yes but Jaxon, my reflexes are far superior to a humans. My reaction time allows me to make micro adjustments far before a human could comprehend." Edythe said.
So she thinks faster too. Should have figured, but how fast?
"Okay so you are able to think quickly?" I ask.
Edythe nodded. "Yes my brain is able to think so rapidly that everything else appears in slow motion." She said, she was looking down at her hands.
"So do I talk in slow motion?" I asked. This was pretty interesting.
"No and yes." She said with a frown. "It's hard to explain and it gets pretty complicated."
"I'll do my best to keep up."
Edythe smiled. "It's not that you won't be able to keep up. I don't really know how to explain it. I essentially know how my mind works but at the same time I don't."
"Who does." I said.
"Fair point. Well first my mind is able to have multiple trains of thought at a single moment. Like right now I'm having this conversation and at the same time I'm making driving predictions based on your driving and environmental factors. At the same time I'm also blocking out people's mental voices. Second one of the trains of thought perceives things in a slow motion basically. I use this for threat assessment and then send those ideas to another train that creates thousands of scenarios." Edythe said.
"So your brain is like an advanced quantum computer?"
"That would be a good comparison." Edythe said. I looked at her. She was frowning at me. "Is this getting uncomfortable?" She asked.
I shook my head. "Should it?" I asked.
"Well honestly Jaxon you need to work on your expressions of horror."
"What do you mean?" I asked. We were at one of the only stop lights in town, almost at school.
"Jaxon when someone tells you that they drink blood that should make you upset and well you know panic. Make a cross with your fingers, I don't know, throw holy water at me." She said with a weird grin.
I shook my head. If she only knew I had spent the better part of an hour processing that she was a real vampire, honestly I didn't know if that would upset her or make her happy. She wanted me to be upset that she was a vampire. But I just couldn't, she hadn't done a single thing that had scared me. I doubt she could scare me, I was definitely worse than she was.
"Trust me there isn't anything horrific about you drinking blood." I said.
"You really don't think what I am is scary do you?" She asked quietly.
"No, not really. I don't get scared anymore." I said very monotone.
Edythe nodded. Thank god she didn't push that subject. I was pulling the huracan into the student parking lot. I had noticed for the last couple of moments that people were staring the car down.
"You were right about this being an attention grabber." Edythe muttered looking out at the crowd that was slowly drawing towards my car.
I parked the car and looked at Edythe.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
She looked back at me. Her face looked a little uncomfortable.
"We can leave. I'm fine with ditching if you want to. We can go get another car or something." I said. I should have suggested another car. She didn't like attention damn I'm an idiot.
"No it's okay. Like I said last night I don't care about the attention Jaxon. That month of avoiding you was too hard. It was literally tearing my mind in half. This is a part of you and I know you didn't choose this. You accepted that I am what I am, I can accept this. It's not as bad as what you've had to accept from my part." She said and she then winced and spun her gaze out the window.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing, just some reactions I should have prepared for."
I tilted my head. I was pretty lost now. Edythe sighed.
"Royal heard me just now. He is a little eccentric about a human knowing about us."
I frowned and looked out towards the Cullens parked BMW. Royal was glaring at my car. Her family could hear us right now. Vampiric hearing is that enhanced.
Edythe looked at me. She laid her hand on mine. "Listen, nothing is going to happen. He won't come near you I promise. None of them will."
"I'm not worried about that. Trust me they don't intimidate me." I said.
Edythe smiled. "Well then why are you making your serious, brooding face?" I asked.
"He made you wince, how? Did he hurt you in someway?" I asked.
She chuckled. "Oh no, I was surprised, Royal has a loud, vulgar mental voice. It caught me off guard. I got distracted from everything else. You make me get distracted and feel normal." She said.
"Really?" I asked.
She nodded. "Anyway my family won't come near you or they will have to deal with me."
She shouldn't be fighting with her family, especially over me.
"Don't make problems with your family because of me." I whispered.
She smiled and moved her hand to my cheek. No one could see into the huracan. The window tint was too dark.
"They are the ones looking for problems." She said.
"So your family hates me?" I asked.
She shook her head. "No, actually none of them hate you. Archie and Eleanor are actually jumping to talk with you. Royal is being his typical asshole self so don't mind him I don't. Jessamine I have told to keep her distance. So her standoffness is my doing."
"Why did you tell Jessamine to keep her distance?" I asked.
"I'll tell you later we need to get to class." She said.
I looked down at my phone. The bell was gonna ring in a bit.
"Okay let's get our stuff." The time was not deterring the crowd admiring my car. I had to push through people to get to the front trunk. The students were taking photos of the car. But they moved out of my way when I got the bags out. Edythe had somehow gotten through the crowd and was standing next to me. I looked down at her as I handed her book bag to her. She made a awkward smile. I shrugged and I pushed our way through the crowd. I turned around and locked the car.
"I don't think we will be driving that again anytime soon." I said.
"Yeah I think I made a bad decision. I see why you drive a Mercedes' everyday now." Edythe said.
We walked in silence to her class. She had calculus and trig with Varner for first period
We stopped outside the door. Other students were watching us. Apparently we were as attention grabbing as my car was.
Edythe smiled up at me. I couldn't help but smile back.
"I'll see you at lunch." Edythe said. She had placed her hand on mine and squeezed lightly.
"I'll see you then." I said.
She smiled and turned and walked into class. The bell range as I watched her walk into her class.
I sighed and walked to my English class in building three. wasn't in the room yet so I was free.
The only person I knew in this class was Erica Yorke. She hardly ever talked to me. She was a rather shy girl. I pulled my notebook out and my phone buzzed. I pulled it out and it was my brother.
Yo have you asked Edythe about the football game yet? -David
She said she would love to go. Can you do me a favor and try not embarrass me. - Jaxon
Sorry kid can't do that. That's what big brothers are for. -David
I rolled my eyes in irritation.
Whatever. -Jaxon
First period flew by. I was really gunning to get to lunch. The desire to talk to Edythe had grown. It was a hard feeling to explain almost primal. I hadn't desired to be near someone like this, even with other girls I had been with. Edythe was incredible, she was funny and she was so understanding. It had to be her circumstance. I have always been self conscious about revealing Order business, though with Edythe, I couldn't stop talking about information I knew I shouldn't have. But she had revealed her own secrets. Maybe she could be the one person I didn't have to have secrets with.
The bell to dismiss the first period rang finally and I left my seat. I only had three more hours till I would see Edythe at lunch. My phone buzzed. What did David want now?
Jax why didn't you tell me you have a girlfriend. I have to get this from David. Is she nice, she better be kind to you. She'll have to deal with me if she's a jerk. Anyway love ya. -Lexi
That motherfucker told Lexi that Edythe and I are in a relationship. It's none of their god damn business. I stopped walking for a moment. Was Edythe my girlfriend? I was pretty sure there had to be a verbal exchange, well what were we. She had been kissing my cheek and I her hand. She was old school so maybe this was like a courtship period. I shrugged and continued walking. I responded to Lexi.
She's not my girlfriend Lex. We are just friends. You know not to believe anything Dave says. He's a lawyer for god sakes. Love ya too. -Jaxon
I finally made it to building six and took my seat in 's class. It seemed like all the teachers where relaxing today, hadn't even assigned any busy work yet.
I pulled my phone out. If Lex knew about Edythe I wondered if she would be her usual self and Insta stalk Edythe. I should probably warn her.
Hey I'm warning you for your own good. My asshole of a brother told my sister about us and well she is crazy. If she follows you on any social media. Do not accept and let me know I'll handle Lexi. -Jaxon
I put my phone up right as started class.
"Okay class. Today I want you to get into groups of threes and research British Governments in the text books. I want you to also create a study guide for the next test."
I sighed. I really hated group work, well except group work that wasn't with one person. I smiled to myself.
Mikayla walked up to me. "Jaxon do you want to be in a group with Taylor and I?" Mikayla asked.
I thought for a second. They really were the only two people in this class that I could talk to normally. Everyone else in this class avoided me for some reason.
"Yeah sure." I said. I stood up and moved my desk to were Taylor and Mikayla had pushed theirs together. I sat down and got my notebook and textbook out.
We each started reading about the British Parliament and how it was established after the Magna Carta. Though for some reason Mikayla and Taylor where giving me some weird vibes. I could swear it seemed like they wanted to ask me something but I couldn't guess what it was.
My phone buzzed. It was Edythe.
Okay. Don't worry about your sister, she can't be as crazy as my brother Archie. -Edythe
I laughed under my breath.
I think Lexi dwarfs everyone in craziness. -Jaxon
I put my phone up and looked up to Mikayla and Taylor staring at me.
"What's up?" I asked. They were being weird.
"Nothing." I responded.
"Oh nothing, you just seem a little distracted today." Mikayla answered.
I tilted my head. "Nah I'm good. Just a little tired, been pretty busy lately." I said.
They both smiled at each other. They were definitely being weird.
"Yeah you've been busy with Cullen right." Taylor said.
"Excuse me?" I said. These girls had some nerve.
Taylor smiled. "Well Jaxon it's pretty obvious that you and Cullen have something going on between the both of you."
"I don't know what you are talking about." I replied.
Mikayla scoffed. "Seriously Jaxon. We all saw you two yesterday. Literally you didn't even talk to anyone else the other day. Or how about how you beat the shit out of Ryder on Tuesday for catcalling her?"
How dare she. "First off. Ryder is a dick and if I'm not mistaken didn't he try to get with the both of you?" I nodded at both of them. "Edythe and I are just friends." I said.
"Then why did she ride with you today, in your car?" Taylor asked snuggly.
"We have to work on our presentation for Biology. It's easier for us to drive one car since we are going to the same place." I said.
"Sure that's the only reason." Mikayla said.
I rolled my eyes. What is with everyone meddling in my business? I wondered if Edythe was having the same problems as I was. God she hates attention. Hopefully this wouldn't change her feelings about me. Despite what anyone said, I did want Edythe, she was incredible. I was falling for this girl and I was falling quickly but I could care less.
I didn't talk to Mikayla or Taylor for the rest of class. They had really pissed me off. I didn't like how they spoke about Edythe. I could hear the attitude they emphasized when they said her last name. It wasn't cool. The good mood I had this morning was definitely eroding away. It would appear Edythe was like a happy drug for me and I was going to need another dose soon. I finished my study guide and handed it into . I didn't really feel like helping Mikayla and Taylor anymore. It couldn't hurt to see if I could leave class early and class was already almost over.
" , would you mind if I went ahead to my trig class? I need to get some help with a question l had."
looked up at me. She smiled and blushed at me.
"That would be fine Jaxon. You can go ahead." said.
"Thank you." I said with a smile. My charm still worked.
I grabbed my stuff from my desk. Mikayla and Taylor glared at me. I nodded at them and left the classroom. I walked towards building five. Why did everyone want to know about Edythe and I? Did they have nothing going on in their own lives that they would search for drama. I knew for a fact that Dave and Lex had shit to do. Why were they so involved in my social life? I didn't want them to scare Edythe off. I didn't think she could be scared off, I mean she was a vampire and she was however old she was. How old is she? She definitely isn't seventeen mentally. I shrugged. This was so strange. She was older than me. Would I be immature to her? I'm mature for my age but I've been known to do shit. God I had to worry about me doing something stupid, that was more of a problem then my family being intrusive. What would she think if she knew what dumb shit I had to do for the Order, like hits or kidnappings. My head was staring to hurt from all the overthinking I was doing. I pinched the bridge of my nose as I leaned against the wall of my trig class.
I sighed. First things first. I needed to deal with my family and get them off of our backs. I pulled my phone out and started to text Lexi.
Lex it would be a huge favor to me if you don't go all Lexi on Edythe. She doesn't like attention and well you know our whole family is targets for tabloids and gossip. So please just give her a little room okay? -Jaxon
It didn't take long for a response from her.
I understand. She's normal. I'll do my best to be normal. I just meant that if she hurts you like that last one did she is answering to me. That's what big sisters are for. -Lexi
Okay. Thanks. -Jaxon
Next was Dave. He would do everything in his power to embarrass me in front of her this Sunday at the game. I had to persuade him not to and I had an idea.
Dave it would be an amazing favor if you wouldn't embarrass me in front of Edythe this Sunday. Please and if you don't embarrass me I'll get you a new Prada suit. Whatever you want please just don't do anything, okay I really like her. -Jaxon
I would never go out of my way to embarrass you. But since you are offering a new suit I guess I won't pay to have your baby photos displayed on the Jumbotron at the stadium. -David
How the fuck does he have my baby photos and why does he. Whatever he agreed to the deal I don't have to worry about those photos yet.
Thanks bro I appreciate it. -Jaxon
I put my phone up. The bell to dismiss the second period was going to go off any second. I was going to be early to probably my least favorite class. Math was easily my best class but this level of math was so beneath me that it was like reading a preschoolers book the whole hour. I got so bored. At least in my other classes I had busy work to do, but in this class just gives a forty-five minute lecture and then gives out examples for the last thirty minutes of class. It only takes me on average ten minutes to do the examples and that's including showing my work. I closed my eyes and just tried to relax.
The bell rang and I opened my eyes. The students started to file out of their classes. Then something streaked past me. It was a blur. I looked around and I swear I heard a laugh. I shook my head. Must be losing it. 's class was empty as I walked in and took my usual seat in the back. I laid my bag down and to my surprise there was a post it note attached to it. I removed the note and read it.
See you at lunch hot stuff.
Love Edythe
XOXO
I smiled. So she had streaked by me and she had laughed at me. I shook my head in amusement. Then it clicked that she could be watching me right now, with her telepathy. Did that make her a stalker? Maybe I don't know. I wonder how often she uses her abilities like this in public. Obviously no one saw her and if they had seen the blur they would have written it off like I had originally before I had this proof. I liked this new side of Edythe, a playful side. She must really be seventeen at heart I guess or she just finds it amusing. Yeah I definitely had some questions I needed answered, not that her being older than me by however many years mattered. She technically is seventeen. The logic behind this was starting to make my head hurt. I took the note and kissed it quickly, then placed it in my hoodie pocket for safe keeping. With any luck she had seen my actions and it pleased her. God this class couldn't get over quick enough and then I had Spanish class. Damn this school.
Time moved so slowly for the next two hours. I almost fell asleep in trig. I kept my hand on the note Edythe had written for me. My Spanish class was actually okay today. We were watching a telenovela. It was a good change of pace. I had no clue what class Edythe was in right now. I made a vow to learn her class schedule. When the bell to dismiss fourth period for lunch, I quickly raced to get out the door. But the universe had other plans for me. I was trapped by the rest of the class trying to escape the room. Something was off though, all the students kept looking back at me as they exited the classroom. For the life of me I had no clue why and I only made the desire to leave intensify. Finally I got my break and I was out the door and waiting for me was Edythe.
I beamed at her. She looked like a cover girl. She was resting against a wall. Her dimples were on full display. I swear my heart skipped. For the life of me I couldn't remember the last time I was this happy to see someone. I walked up to her.
"Hi." I said.
"Hello. Ready for lunch?" She asked.
"Yeah." I said. She turned and we started walking towards the cafeteria building. Edythe draped her right arm over my left as we walked. We were in our own little bubble.
"How was your classes?" I asked.
"Okay I guess. I didn't really pay much attention to them, not that it matters really." She said.
I frowned down at her. "What had you so distracted?" I asked. I had a hunch.
She leaned closer to me. "Everyone kept thinking our names today. It was incredibly distracting. It's like being called on in class unprepared a hundred times."
"I can see how that can keep your attention from class." I said.
She shrugged. "Well remember I have multiple trains of thought so really I was paying attention, just not really in the moment. It can be confusing." She said, smiling at me awkwardly.
It wasn't that confusing. Maybe it was just me, but it felt natural and easy to talk about what Edythe was. The longer we talked about her the less I would have to reveal about myself. I should be more forthcoming with myself to her, if I had any hopes of progressing whatever this is between us.
We walked into the cafeteria and I followed Edythe to the line. Everyone was still watching us, I hated being the center of attention when I wasn't even doing something that called for it. I could handle it when I actually was prepared for it. I sighed and looked down, Edythe had a tray full of food. I smiled because I now knew it was a prop for her, but then I realized she had way more food then she would normally get. I thought I had made it clear I didn't eat school food. We were getting close to the checkout and she was still putting food on the little tray.
"I think we have enough food on this tray to feed a small village." I whispered at her.
She looked up at me. "I didn't know what you liked so I got a little bit of everything." She said with a smile.
I shook my head. I pulled my Amex to pay the cashier.
"That will be twenty-four seventy-eight sweetie." The elderly cafeteria lady said.
I handed her my card. Edythe glared at me. Was she upset that I was paying? I was still the richest man in the building.
"Here you go hun." The cashier lady said, handing me my card back. I picked up the tray and Edythe led the way. Were we going to be sitting with the rest of the Cullens? I didn't really want to bring her to the table I usually sat at. Luckily Edythe layed her bag down at an abandoned table by the windows. We now had everyone's attention, to hell with them anyway. I sat the tray of food down and slid my bag off my shoulder.
I looked at what Edythe had picked. She had a burger, a piece of pizza, what looked like a chef's salad, and some miscellaneous fruit. I took an apple off the tray.
"So you are going to eat." Edythe mumbled.
I rolled my eyes and smirked at her and then I took a bite from my apple. Edythe squinted her eyes at me and she sighed.
"Everything okay?" I asked.
"Just trying to read your mind. Still nothing, not even radio static." She muttered.
"That really annoys you doesn't it?" I asked.
She nodded. "I've had this extra sense for so long it feels unnatural not to rely on it. I would dare say it's similar to wearing a blindfold." She said.
"So do you have any hunches why I can block out your ability?" I asked.
She smiled. "Well I think it might be the genetic makeup of your brain. Yesterday when I met your brother, I was expecting his brain to be silent like yours, though I heard his thoughts. But they were quiet and I had to concentrate to pick up his mental presence." She said.
I nodded. What could my brain be doing that would cause this. I was resigned to get a brain scan later. I took another bite of my apple.
Edythe watched me eat. She hadn't touched any of the food on the tray.
"You know you are going to have to actually make an effort to eat some of this." I said.
She frowned at me. "I never have before, I'll just move the food around. It always tricks humans." She said.
"Well I noticed." I said.
She smirked. "You are more observant than others." She said.
"Okay that might be true but what if someone dared you to eat something?" I asked.
She rolled her eyes and reached for the piece of pizza. She raised it to her mouth and took a bite. She chewed and swallowed the bite.
"See it just tastes like dirt to me." She said, sliding the pizza in front of me. I picked it up and took a bite. It definitely wasn't any prize winning slice but it tasted better than dirt.
"Is it hard not being able to enjoy foods that you liked when you were a human?" I asked.
She shook her head. "No. I would have to remember what my favorites were." She said.
I tilted my head to the side.
"I have very few memories from my human life. I certainly have no recollection of any foods I enjoyed." She said, as she looked down at her thumbs.
She looked sad. I laid my hand out to her. She looked up at me and smiled. She took my hand and curled her cool fingers around mine.
"I didn't mean to pry to much." I said.
"You can ask me anything Jaxon. I don't want to keep secrets from you. Not anymore." She said.
That hit me. She was completely forthcoming about everything. I was running away from telling her anything about me that I felt was tainted. I looked down at our hands. I need to show her the real me, the devil's true skin.
I felt her hand tighten around mine. I looked up at her eyes. They saw right through me, she somehow knew not to press the subject and I was grateful for it. Though I was the one person she couldn't know what I was thinking, she could tell my triggers.
"So how were your classes this morning?" She asked.
I shrugged. "Pretty boring honestly." I mumbled.
"Really now? I would dare to say your conversation with Mikayla and Taylor was humerus." She said smiling.
My mouth dropped. She had been watching me.
"Don't be mad at me. I can't help it. Those two in particular have the loudest minds in the town and well they were thinking about us so I couldn't help be proxy to the conversation."
I sighed. "I'm not mad. I just didn't expect you to pay attention to it."
She looked shocked. "Why wouldn't I?"
"I don't know." I asked.
"Jaxon, haven't I made it clear, my feelings for you?"
I smiled. "You did. But still I wouldn't have expected you to listen to those two's minds." I said, as I was getting pissed again. Those two had really pissed me off with their comments about Edythe.
And as if she could read my mind she guessed what I had meant "Oh. I'm well aware of what they think of me. Trust me it doesn't really affect me. They are immature and juvenile Jaxon. I can't take much offense from their thoughts, they are still so young." She said.
"That's very noble of you." I mumbled. Did she think of me like that, immature and juvenile?
"Well Jaxon I have been around a while and I'm an expert on social behaviors." She said.
"An expert?" I said.
"I have a doctorate in psychology." She said, grinning smugly.
I felt my eyes widen. So she had a degree. That wasn't that surprising, I had already known she was smart, now I knew it was mainly because of the advanced computer she had for a brain.
"Do you have other degrees?" I asked.
Edythe smiled. "I have that doctorate, a bachelors in biology, a bachelors in arts, an MD though I have never practiced for obvious reasons." She said.
I just stared at her. All of my degrees where honorary for my accomplishments. I was more impressed with hers, she had actually worked towards her education.
"So if you have all of that education, why are you in high school?"
She frowned. "Camouflage. We can't stay in one place for too long. People start to ask questions when you don't noticeably age after a few years." She said.
I nodded. So this whole high school thing was a faśade for her as it was for me. Oh the irony, two people with checkered pasta would meet undercover. I chuckled.
"What is it?" She asked.
"We both don't belong in this building. Just using it as a cover." I said in between laughs.
Edythe laughed. It was such a beautiful sound.
"I guess you have a point." She finally said.
We sat in silence for a bit.
"You really have them fuming." Edythe said.
"What?" I asked.
"Mikayla and Taylor, they took offense at you leaving class early. They didn't believe you when you told them nothing was going on between us." She said. Though her voice sounded slight resigned.
"Well then I guess I'm not as good of a liar as I thought I was. Though they did piss me off, they were pretty annoying" I muttered.
"Well in your defense, teenage girls are the best liars I have ever met. They can see through most lies." She said.
I smiled. "Does that apply to you?" I asked.
She grinned. "I knew you were lying. We both admitted that there is something between us." She said.
I squeezed her hand. I wanted this.
"Though you do have a point about them being annoying. They really need to restrain their thoughts when it comes to you." She muttered.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well Taylor has a pretty crude imagination and most of her scenes involve you in some fashion." She muttered.
I felt my face warm with embarrassment. Edythe noticed.
"Oh I didn't mean to embarrass you. I can't blame them. I ugh mean look at you. Who couldn't." She said awkwardly.
Did Edythe just admit to having fantasies with me. I decided to let it go for her sake. She looked like she was about to implode with embarrassment. At least I wasn't the only one who was guilty of daydreaming.
The bell to dismiss lunch rang, making me jump. I looked around and the cafeteria was almost empty. That was one of the things I was starting to love about Edythe. She made me lose track of time.
I picked up the tray of food and my bag and walked to the nearest trash can. Edythe followed me. I wondered what we would be doing in Biology. Edythe probably already knew.
"Hey what are we doing in bio today?" I asked.
She looked smug. " is giving us the class period to start on our project." She said.
"Cool. That means we can definitely go joy riding after school." I said.
"I'm looking forward to it." She said.
"I might even let you drive." I said.
She spun on her heel and had a giant dimpled smile.
"Don't play games with me, Jaxon Stone. Are you serious?" She asked.
"As a heart attack. Actually with your driving you might give me a heart attack." I said laughing.
Edythe frowned. "Not funny." She said.
We walked into classroom. The room was halfway full. I felt some of the students watching us. I had to remind myself that this was what it was like the first couple of weeks here. This attention would die down soon. But it did make me wonder. Was it all from me being who I was or the combination of me and Edythe having never shown an interest in anyone else. I watched as Edythe sat down in her chair. I laid my bag down and sat down beside her, though I did slide my chair closer to hers.
walked in with a laptop cart. I reached into my bag and pulled out my Mac. I laid it down and watched as got ready to start class.
"Okay gang. Today I want everyone to begin working on their presentations. You will have the entire hour. If you have any questions, come to my desk." Mrs Banner said.
Edythe pulled out her notes from yesterday and I looked down at them.
"So what did we decide on yesterday that we were going to focus our presentation on?" I asked.
Edythe flipped the pages of her note book till she landed on the information on bioengineered compost and nitro injections.
I nodded and created a presentation template. We spent the next forty-five minutes organizing Edythe notes onto the slides. I found related clip art and pasted them in appropriate places. Edythe watched as I worked. It really was a one person job. I was kind of regretting not making a poster, it would have taken longer and we could have spent more time together.
"I think this is a good start so far. What do you think?" I asked Edythe.
Edythe leaned closer to me and looked at the computer. She had taken off her jacket. The sweater she was wearing hugged her body and the way she was leaning, made her incredibly seducing.
"It looks good, what do you have left to finish?" She asked.
I shrugged. There were some minor things I needed to fix but we could do that on Saturday.
"I just need to create the timing and transitions." I said.
"Okay. I don't understand any of that so I'm glad you do."
"You really don't use computers?" I asked.
She rolled her eyes. "I do. Computers are just to slow for me. Like reading I can read a book in several minutes, but a digital copy I have to wait for buffering and whatever else the computer does." She said.
It clicked finally. Because of her ability to comprehend quickly all digital devices must be slow. I wondered if there was a computer that wasn't slow compared to her brain.
"I see how that's tedious. Do you like having a smart phone?" I asked.
She shrugged. "Yes and no. The mobile cell phone is my favorite invention of the last fifty years. Smart phones not so much. I personally think they are a waste of time. But I am from a different era." She said.
"Okay but you can do so much with one of these." I said holding my phone up.
"Yes my point exactly. It is a distraction." She said, with a smirk.
"I can run my entire company from right here with this little device. Thousands of people and unholy amounts of resources at my disposal. And I can do it all while listening to music." I said.
"iPod." Edythe said.
I chucked. I couldn't win a discussion against her.
"Besides, I have a bad track record for breaking my cell phones." She said.
"Oh like dropping it?" I asked.
"More like crushing it." She mumbled.
I just stared at her. It would take all my strength to crack my phone with my hand. Edythe could take her hand and crush a phone into a ball like it were paper.
"You really do hate phones then." I teased.
Edythe smiled and pushed a strand of hair that had come loose from her bun behind her ear. The bell rang ending class.
"Okay class that's it for today. Tomorrow we are going to have a regular class, so make sure you and your partners make time to finish your presentations. We will begin presenting next week. If you all would return the laptops to the cart on your way out." said.
I sighed and put my MacBook in my bag and stood up. Edythe was already bedside me. We walked in direction of the gym. I wondered what class she had next.
"What class do you have next?" I asked.
"Spanish with Groff." She said.
"That's on the other side of the campus." I told her.
She laughed. "I know. I won't be late trust me." She said with a wink.
I shook my head. "Do you do that a lot?" I asked.
"Do what?" She asked looking up at me questioningly.
"Use your abilities in school?" I whispered. I knew she would hear me.
Edythe raised her hand and tilted it back and forth in the kind of hand gesture.
"Aren't you afraid you will get caught?" I asked.
She laughed. "Oh Jaxon. The only reason you saw me streak by earlier is because I wanted you too. I could have moved faster. It was me messing with you." She said.
I nodded. God she was incredible. We stopped outside the gym door.
"I'll see you after class." I mumbled. I didn't like leaving her. Some part of me wanted to ditch and spend more time with her.
Edythe looked up at me and sighed. "You would think I would have learned to be more patient in my long life, but this hour is going to take forever to get over."
I chuckled. "Are you ever going to tell me how old you are?" I asked. So she felt the same way about leaving each other for the next hour.
Edythe tilted her head. "I guess I will after class if you really want to know." She said.
"Okay." I said. I smiled.
Edythe grinned and reached up with her hand. She laid her hand on my cheek.
"I love that smile." She said.
I couldn't help but smile at her.
"I'll see you in four thousand and twenty seconds." She mumbled.
I sighed. "I'll see you later then." I said.
Edythe smiled and started to walk off. I watched her walk away.
Gym was actually fun today. Coach Clapp let us play basketball the entire hour. Jeremy and I made a pretty good team. We kept running plays. I found out after class that Jeremy was on the varsity basketball team.
"Jaxon man. I can pull some strings with the coach and you could try out for the team man." Jeremy said. We were in the locker room changing.
I shook my head. "Man I would, I just don't have the time. Besides, I'm not that good. You were carrying the team." I said as I latched my lock.
"Naw man you are good. You were sick out there. Just think about it. We need some good players." Jeremy said.
"Okay I'll think about it." I said. I really wouldn't have the time, but the thought was nice.
I walked to the gym door and waited for the bell. It had been a pretty good day so far. Edythe and I were enjoying one another's company. The basketball game was fun. I pulled my phone out to check my messages. Dave and Trish had sent some messages.
Hey hotshot, after the game I got us a reservation, so you need to tell Edythe's folks that it will be a late night. You might need to take a helicopter back if it gets to late. ~David
Shit. How would Edythe manage to go through a whole dinner faking eating her meal? That was something I would need to address with her.
Cool. I'll let her parents know. What restaurant did you get? ~Jaxon
Well this might work if Edythe is as good at faking as she let on. Trish had sent patents that I need to review for the new drone designs I and R and D were working on.
The bell finally rang. I opened the door but Edythe wasn't there this time. I frowned. Calm down, she's on the other side of the campus. She can't come and go as she would like. She has to at least act like a regular student. Besides, she knows where the car was parked.
I walked outside, towards the parking lot. Other students were buzzing with excitement. It was starting to snow. I paused and stared up at the sky. It had been a while since I had seen snow. It was a better alternative to the constant rain.
I felt someone take my hand. My head turned and I looked down at Edythe, who had a brilliant smile.
"Hi." I mumbled.
"You look adorable in the snow." Edythe said.
I felt my cheeks heat up. There were many words to describe me but adorable wasn't one I would use.
"Thank you I guess." I said.
Edythe laughed and started walking. She dragged me with her. She was an unstoppable force. I almost fell to get back into stride with her.
"How was gym?" She asked.
I grinned. "I'm sure you already know." I said.
She shook her head. "I know that you like basketball now."
I nodded. "Yeah I used to play regularly at my gym in New York."
We walked up to the crowd surrounding my car. We had to push our way through. I finally made it to the frunk of the car. Edythe handed me her bag and put it with mine in the compartment. Once we were in the car the crowd began to disperse.
I smirked. Everyone would love this. I revved the engine a few times. The pops of the engine were loud. I looked at Edythe, she was grinning.
"I'll let you drive after I get us out of town." I said.
"Okay." She said.
I pulled the car out onto the main road leaving the school.
"So do you not have to go to Seattle today?" Edythe asked.
I looked at her. "Oh today is Thursday isn't it?" I asked.
Edythe nodded.
I frowned. Could Alexi go in my place? Was it prudent that I be there?
I pulled my phone out to call Alexi. I switch the phone to the car's hands-free.
"Hey kid, what's up?" Alexi asked.
"Hey something has come up. I can't make it to Seattle today. Can you go in my place?" I asked.
"Yes I can. It might be good to give those poor bastards a little break from you." He said.
"Thanks. Let me know how it goes." I said.
"Will do." Alexi said. The line went dead.
I turned to Edythe. "All yours." I said.
Edythe smiled. "I like the sound of that." She said.
"Same here." I said, pulling the car over. "Alright your turn."
I opened my door and Edythe was already standing next to it. I walked over to the passenger's side. Strapping into the car I mumbled a prayer. Surely Edythe wouldn't give me a heart attack.
"Really a prayer, I didn't take you one for religion." Edythe said, as she strapped herself into the car.
"I don't normally do, but your driving scares me honestly." I said. I wished I had installed harnesses in this thing.
Edythe glared at me. "Of all the things about me, my driving should be the least of your concern."
I inhaled sharply.
"Seriously Jaxon, this is probably the safest you've ever been in a car."
"I'll be the judge of that." I mumbled.
Edythe revved the engine as I had. We drove around for a few hours. We had talked about all kinds of things. She had asked me questions about my childhood, my favorite books, movies, and games. She was amazed that I enjoyed plays, and collecting art. She even said that I was an old man.
I hated to admit it but she wasn't that bad of a driver. She kept the speed reasonable. It was obvious she loved the car. It was about six-twenty when we pulled into the garage of my place. She parked the car and I got out. She was already out of the car.
"What is your top speed that you can run?" I asked.
Edythe tilted her head. "In the seventies I believed I clocked three hundred fifty-eight. I haven't beaten that since."
I shook my head in amazement. My max speed I could run was probably fourteen miles an hour, that would just about kill me.
I got our bags out of the trunk and carried them to the kitchen island. We still had homework to do, well I did. Edythe probably had hers done already.
"Do you have homework?" I asked.
"Yes. Some trigonometry, and I have to finish a paper for Spanish. What about you?" She asked.
"Just Trig. That pretest packet." I said, walking to the fridge. I was hungry, so I decided to make something for dinner. I now knew not to offer Edythe food. It felt weird but I knew better.
I pulled out a container of sliced steak, some spinach and premade rice. I dished some rice into a bowl and added several pieces of steak and some spinach to the bowl. I put it in the microwave for a few minutes. I turned around and Edythe had her homework out on the island. She was sitting on the stool watching me with a look of I think amusement.
"What." I asked.
"Nothing, just watching you do human things." She said.
"Just normal things." I said.
"Normal to you, not my normal. You have to work hard for your food." She said.
I shrugged. "No, that was pretty easy. All the food was prepared and just needed to be heated."
"But think about all the time it took you to prepare the food. You probably spent close to I'd say an hour and half preparing the food, from start to finish."
I tilted my head from side to side. "Okay you have a point. But it's just something a human has to do. How long would it take you to eat?" I asked.
Edythe frowned, but she answered my question.
"Eight, maybe ten minutes." She said.
"Does that include finding the animal?" I asked.
She rolled her eyes. "Yes. It includes tracking, killing and drinking." She said.
I nodded. The microwave went off. I turned around to get my food out. I laid it down on the counter and I grabbed a fork.
Edythe had her homework out on the table. She was writing a poem in Spanish. Of course it was in her neat calligraphy script.
"Have you always written like that?" I asked.
Edythe's head snapped up and then looked down at her poem.
"Yes." She said.
"It's impressive. I can't write neatly if my life depended on it." I joked.
"Alas it's not natural. Another minor ability of me being a." She said cutting her sentence off.
At this second I realized Edythe didn't like that word. I quickly changed the subject. She hadn't revealed her age yet like she said she would.
"So it's way after class. Ready to tell me how old you are?" I asked, playing with a piece of steak with my fork.
Edythe's head turned to the side.
"Do you really want to know?" She asked.
I nodded.
She sighed and closed her eyes. "I was born in June of 1901."
I stared at her. I honestly thought she would be older like at least seven hundred ballpark.
Edythe was watching my face. "Does that freak you out."
"Hmm, no I was wrong. I thought you were older like seven fifties, area."
Edythe laughed. "No. In my world I am actually incredibly young. Barely a century under my belt. But this doesn't freak you out?" She asked.
"Why would it?" I countered.
"Well finding out I'm ninety-nine years older than you might cause you to rethink your feelings." She muttered.
I took her hand and squeezed it.
"There is nothing to rethink. I'm in this." I said.
Edythe smiled.
"I'm happy that I don't have to keep things from you anymore. It's such a relief having you on the inside."
I felt my smile start to fade. She revealed her skeletons to me. Maybe I could reveal some of my own.
"I ugh. Don't want to keep anything from you either." I mumble.
Edythe looked questioningly at me. I let go of her hand and walked around the island to stand in front of her.
"With that said. I need you to see the real me." I said. I took my hoodie off and then started to take my shirt off. But Edythe put her hand on my wrist, restraining me.
"Jaxon you don't have to do this. I know." She said. I stared at her. Her eyes looked heavy, with what I could only imagine was sorrow. I knew that she was telling the truth. She knew about my scars
I let go of my shirt. "What do you mean, how can you possibly know about this?" I said. My anger was growing. Not at her, but the fact she knew about them.
Edythe sighed. "At the hospital, when my mom examined you. I saw them second hand from Carine's mind." She muttered.
I froze. Of course this was how she knew about my scars. I should have figured that out. I didn't know what to feel right now. Should I be angry. No it wasn't her fault. She would have found out sooner. If anything this shows her character, not that it needed boosting. She could have revealed this to people. She hadn't even let the information change how she treated me.
"Jaxon I'm sorry I knew about this. I took away your right to tell me this. I can't help it." She pointed to her head. "I can't turn it off, and trust me I would love to sometimes. But they don't matter." She said.
I looked down. I breathed in deeply. "They do matter." I said bitterly. "Each represents one of the terrible acts I have committed. I need you to see for yourself. It's the only way." I said. I reached for my shirt and Edythe didn't stop me.
I laid the shirt down on the counter and I stood still. Edythe's face was impassive. She gave nothing away.
Her eyes finally moved and felt her gaze take in my body and the horrifying marks that it was covered in. She remained silent.
"Please say something." I whispered.
Edythe looked back at my face. I could see the emotions in her eyes. She looked sad. I took her hand again.
"What happened to you?" She finally asked.
I looked down at my body. There were so many.
"I don't know where to start." I mumbled.
"This one." She said as her finger touched right under one of the scars.
I took her hand and led her to the sofa. She came willingly. We sat down and I took her hand and rested it on my pectoral, where the scar was.
This scar was a long slash shape from a knife.
"I got this once in New Jersey. I was sent on an assignment to recon a suspect of a crime. It wasn't supposed to get physical but my cover was blown. One of the suspects body guards was an excellent combatant. He was proficient with blades. I got this right before I." I didn't need to finish the sentence.
Edythe moved her hand down my side. Her icy touch felt surprisingly pleasant. She stopped on my first gunshot wound.
"First gunshot." I said.
Her eyes went wide. "How many times have you been shot?" She asked.
"Five times." I mumbled.
Her hand moved across my abdomen. Above my ribs.
"Is this a burn?" She asked.
I nodded. "Part of my training. I had to learn to endure torture." I said.
Edythe's face went rigid. "Someone you know did this to you?" She said. Her voice sounded angry.
"I don't know who. They were masked and I couldn't recognize the voice." I said.
Edythe looked extremely pissed.
"They are too much aren't they?" I asked, looking down at my shoes.
Edythe's head jolted up at my face. She reached up and held my check.
"It's not that." She said. "I take great offense to people having hurt you so severely. You don't deserve these."
I looked deep into her butterscotch eyes. They welcomed me and I knew I was safe with her. We stayed like that for a bit.
"What do your tattoos represent?" Edythe asked.
This was an easier subject.
I pointed to my first tattoo. "This is the insignia of the Order."
"It's very pretty." Edythe said.
I looked at it. All I saw was legacy. But I guess it is sorta nice to look at.
"It's not my favorite. I have to have this tattoo. Every member of the order has this mark. The hex of the Order it is called." I muttered.
"So you all have it?" She asked.
I nodded. "It starts off as the base with a hexagon. It then evolves to something like mine over time. Mine has many high ranking ruins on it. Think of medals on a military uniform."
"Well the design is nice. At least it isn't like an anchor or a snake tattoo." She said, with a little laugh.
"Yes you do have a point. It definitely could have been more obnoxious."
"What about this one on your ribs?" She asks, laying her hand on my side.
"This is the Labyrinth of Crete."
Edythe nodded. "The one on your back?"
I pivoted, to show her.
This one was my favorite.
"Are these claw marks?" Edythe asked.
I chuckled. "How familiar are you with the fall of Lucifer?" I asked.
I shifted back to face her. She looked puzzled.
"Well Lucifer was God's favorite angel? But he started a rebellion and was defeated and casted out of heaven and was forced to become the ruler of hell."
I nodded. "Correct but some people believe that Lucifer was pulled down into the dimension of hell by the demons gripping his wings and that he fought against them. Ripping his wings off in his fury." I said as I studied Edythe's reaction.
"So these marks symbolize Lucifer becoming the Devil?" Edythe asked.
"Yes." I mumble.
Edythe flashed away and reappeared with my bowl of food and my shirt.
"Please eat. You haven't eaten much today." She said.
I took the bowl and the shirt. "Thanks." I said, as I slipped my shirt on.
She sat down. I took a bite of my food.
"Does that taste good?" She asked.
"It doesn't taste bad." I said.
Edythe curled up in a ball, on the sofa. She watched me as I ate. She didn't speak until I finished. I stood up to put my bowl up, but Edythe took the bowl and vanished again. I heard the water running in the kitchen.
"I can do that." I said.
"I know you can, but I can do it in seconds, why should you have to?" She replied.
"Because it's my house and you are a guest." I said.
Edythe appeared on the couch again with her note book and her Spanish homework. I should be doing mine but I didn't feel like it. It wasn't due until next Tuesday anyway.
My phone buzzed.
The Maximilian. I had the helicopter station for Sunday night at a helipad close by. You can thank me later. -David
I shook my head.
Thanks. -Jaxon
"Hey." I said.
Edythe looked up from her homework. She was now doing her trigonometry problems, and she was almost done. She really was quick.
"Yes." She said.
"After the game on Sunday, David made a reservation for dinner. I know you said your parents aren't strict about your curfew, but you might want to let them know." I said.
Edythe laughed. "I'll let them know. What restaurant did he pick?" She asked.
"A place called Maximilian. Will you be able to keep up your non-eating faśade?" I asked.
She nodded. "It won't be hard. I might actually have to consume some of my meal but, it won't be that bad." She said.
"If you say so." I mumble.
"Are you going to do your homework?" Edythe asked.
I frowned at her. "I'll do it later. I'm not a role model student like you are." I said smirkingly.
Edythe rolled her eyes. "Well what do you want to do then?" She asked.
"We can watch a movie." I said.
Edythe smiled and laid her school stuff down on the coffee table.
"That sounds nice. What do you want to watch?"
I picked up the tablet that controlled the tv and pressed the power button.
"I was gonna let you pick something." I said. Handing her the iPad.
"Okay." She took the iPad and scrolled for a bit.
"Are you in the mood for a Christmas movie?" She asked.
"Yeah that would be perfect."
"Cool." She said.
A Miracle on 34th Street loaded on the tv.
"I love this movie." Edythe said. "I saw it in theaters with Eleanor in 1947."
I nodded. "I haven't watched this movie in years." I said.
The opening of the movie started to play. I stretched my arm out on the sofa. Edythe was still curled up in a ball. She looked cold, instinctively I slid over to her. Edythe smiled and slid into my side. She rested her head on my shoulder. I was surprised how cold she was.
We sat like that for a while. Edythe did get up to get a blanket in the middle of the movie. She claimed I was getting too cold. I, on the other hand, felt perfectly comfortable. She draped the blanket over my body and then she took her spot back at my side.
We finished the movie around ten. Edythe turned her head up to me. She was smiling. I tightened my hold on her. I swear she made a purring sound. I decided to make a move. I leaned down and kissed her forehead. She giggled.
"You know I never thought I would get to have an experience like this." She said into my chest.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
She leaned back off of me. She frowned.
"Well for eighty something years I have been on my own, this is all new to me." She said.
"I know you said, you don't remember much of your life when you were human, but do you remember having any relationships then.
She shook her head. "No I don't remember having one, but I do remember some things. I know from documents that I went to an all girls boarding school so I can rule out I didn't have a boyfriend from school. Also when I was a teen." She smiled. "A real teenager, the First World War was taking place so that dominated my youth."
"The war drafted many young men, I can see why that would have put limits on your dating."
"Well yes and no." She said frowning.
I tilted my head in confusion.
"I was what you would call a tomboy, I wanted to join the war effort, the only way I could have helped from the frontlines was to join the Army Nurse Corp."
I nodded. "I can understand that." I said.
Edythe's eyes narrowed. "You have aspirations to join the military?"
I shrugged. "It's a family tradition, my great grandfather stormed Normandy. My grandfather was an airman in Vietnam. My dad was in desert storm. Even David was an Army JAG.
Edythe stared at me cautiously.
"As of right now I don't have plans of enlisting." I said, smiling.
"Okay, well anyway, most of my attention was directed towards the war and trying to enlist in the nurse corp."
"Trying?" I asked.
Edythe shrugged. "I wasn't in the best of health when I was a human. For one I had asthma and I was always sick."
"Seems like you do remember quite a bit."
Edythe smiled. "I have some memories, but Carine told me what I just told you about my health."
"Oh." I said.
"Jaxon I want to try something, but you will need to be incredibly still." She said.
"Okay."
Edythe slid closer to me and she looked nervous. She reached with her hand for my cheek. She leaned in close to my face. "Be really still." She mumbled.
She leaned in closer, locking her lips to mine. Her lips were so soft and surprisingly warm. It took every ounce of restraint to stay put. My body was fighting to deepen the kiss. But the rational part of my brain knew Edythe needed me to not move. She would kill me accidentally and it would be my fault but she would blame herself and have to live with it. So I stayed still. Edythe's lip trembled against mine. She finally pulled back and she had her eyes closed.
"Do I need to move?" I said, trying to stand. Edythe's hand moved to my arm and I was pinned to the sofa.
"No. It's tolerable. Just give me a minute."
I nodded and remained seated. Edythe finally opened her eyes. They were burning again, though this time it was hot.
"So tolerable." I teased.
Edythe smiled. "I remained in control."
"Really though, was it okay, I tried my best not to move."
"No you were perfect." Edythe mused.
"Mhmm perfect, that might just go to my head." I joked.
Edythe laughed. "I'm stronger than I thought I was."
"You had doubts?"
"No. I was fully assured I wouldn't hurt you, I just thought it would take longer to calm myself down." She said.
I took her hand and raised it to my mouth. I kissed the back of her hand. Edythe had this incredible grin, nothing could beat the sight of it.
My phone buzzed. I sighed. "Do you mind if I take this?" I asked.
"Go ahead."
I stood up and walked to the kitchen. It was Alexi.
"Hey, how did the meeting go?" I asked.
"It went okay, though the Russians and the Chinese are about to start a feud over some territory issues."
"Christ, why are they fighting about territory?"
"From what I understood the Chinese believe the Russians are moving mojo in their streets. There have also been a few fights."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. The NorthWest territory was such a mess.
"I want you to issue a warning. If they don't put this behind them then the territories won't be their problem, I will be."
"Understood. I'll have it sent out immediately."
The line went dead. I laid my phone down and decided to forget Order problems until tomorrow. I turned back to the living room. Edythe was curled on the sofa with her homework in her lap. A sight to behold. I could get used to this.
I walked over to her. She looked up at me.
"Your phone call sounded stressful."
I rolled my eyes. "You don't know the half of it." I said, as I plopped down on the sofa. I looked over at Edythe's lap where her papers were and then I realized it was my trig packet.
"Hey, why are you doing my homework?"
Edythe looked up. "Well you hadn't done it yet and it's getting late. Besides, do you even need the practice?"
"No, but you don't have to do it, and I'm pretty sure will tell a difference in our handwriting."
Edythe's smile became smug. "Actually I can imitate your handwriting, see." She said as she showed me the paper.
"Damn it really looks like I wrote this." I muttered.
"I'll be done with it in a second." She said.
I frowned. "Well, is there something I can do to return the favor?" I asked.
Edythe laid the pencil and paper on the coffee table.
"Jaxon you are already risking your life being with me, this is the least I can do for you." She said.
Risking my life. How was I risking anything? We were just hanging out. If she only knew how dangerous my life was, or better yet how dangerous I was. The fact that she was immortal was a godsend. My life couldn't physically hurt her.
I took her hand. "Edythe I'm not risking my life. You wouldn't hurt me. I know this, I am in all honesty the safest around you."
Edythe looked down at our hands and then up at me. She pulled my hands to her. I wrapped my arms around her. She snuggled into my side.
"You mean so much to me, and I can't explain how much I appreciate you accepting me as I am." She said into my chest.
I smiled and kissed the top of her head. I leaned us back against the sofa. We sat like this for a while.
"I'm gonna have to go soon so you can sleep." Edythe mumbled.
"What time is it?"
"Almost eleven-thirty."
I sighed. I was tired, but I hated that I couldn't spend the time with Edythe.
"I hate sleeping."
Edythe looked up at me. "I think it would be nice to sleep. Never-ending consciousness gets tiresome."
"I can see that, but I think I would rather be conscious twenty four seven. I don't sleep well."
"You have nightmares don't you?" Edythe asked. Her voice sounded pained.
I shrugged. "Kinda."
"I'm sorry." She hugged me tighter.
"It's nothing for you to apologize about. You can't control it." I rested my head on hers. She smelled fantastic. If I had to sleep I would choose falling asleep like this right now.
"I don't like things that hurt you."
I chuckled. "You wouldn't approve of any of my recreational activities."
Edythe shook her head. "I probably wouldn't."
"So what are you going to do with the rest of your night?" I asked.
"I don't really know." She sighed.
"Well what do you normally do?"
"Like in general?" She asked, normally she wouldn't dance around my question.
"Well I'll go hunt for a bit, and then well." She stopped.
"Well." I asked. She didn't want to tell me this. Why?
Edythe sighed. "I'll come back here and wait until morning."
I thought about what she just said. She comes back here, why?
"Why?" I asked.
Edythe sat up and looked at me. "Please don't be upset. I didn't mean to act like a stalker. I know it seems like that, but it helped being close to you. That sounds worse doesn't it."
I smiled. Nervous Edythe was adorable.
"I'm not mad but why and how?"
"When I realized my feelings for you, this feeling
similar to anxiety started when I was away from you for long periods of time. So I came here one night and the feeling resided. It became a part of my nightly routine. And for the how, well I have a tree near the fence that I sit in until the sun comes up."
I nodded. This was pretty weird but hell she was a vampire so to hell with it. I understood the part about that feeling. I noticed it today in class, and it would go away when I was with her. Edythe was staring at me.
"You can relax. I'm not gonna kick you out. I understand what you are saying. I realized that I have the same separation anxiety."
Edythe smiled. "You do?"
I nodded. "It's bad in the mornings at school especially."
"Oh well I guess it would be for you but I can watch you all day."
Duh her mind reading. She is a little spy.
"Anyway I can't be having you stay outside all night."
Edythe frowned.
"So I guess you will just have to stay inside from now on. I mean where would my manners be if I let a beautiful and intelligent girl sit outside all night in the freezing cold."
Edythe's smile beamed. "You want me to stay the night inside with you?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. "Only if you want to. If you prefer being outside, it's up to you."
"Well if I had it my way I would never leave." Edythe mumbled.
"Then don't." I said as I stood up, to go up to the bedroom loft. Edythe followed me. What was going to happen tonight. I was going to be on my best behavior, I didn't want this to move too fast. I also didn't know Edythe's boundaries. We walked up the stairs. The light turned on.
I stopped at the entrance of the room so Edythe could see the room without my body blocking anything. She walked past me and looked around. She walked up to the bed.
"This is a rather large bed."
I chuckled. "I like having room, I move a lot when I sleep. I used to fall off the bed when I was younger."
Edythe laughed. "Well I'll make sure that doesn't happen.
I walked over to my dresser and retrieved a pair of sweatpants.
"I'm going to change real quick."
"Okay I'm gonna run home and get some lounging clothes."
I shook my head and reached down into my dresser again and grabbed another pair of sweatpants. I then walked over to my closet and grabbed a tshirt.
I walked back to Edythe who was watching me amused.
"You can just wear these."
"That suits me." She smiled.
I dropped the clothes in her hand and then walked into the bathroom. I closed the sliding door to give Edythe some privacy. I took my shirt off and got into my sweats. Then I brushed my teeth. I walked to the door and then thought I should knock.
I knocked on the door. "You good?" I asked.
"Yes." I opened the door and walked into my bedroom. Edythe was sitting on the bed in my clothes. The clothes were oversized on her, but I liked that she was wearing my stuff.
I walked over to her. I realized just how tiny she was. Most of her forearms were exposed. They were so thin, it was insane how strong they were. I took her hand, which she allowed me to do. Her skin was hard, similar to quartz. Edythe watched me with amusement.
"Having fun there?" She asked.
I nodded. "You know you are amazing." I said.
Edythe shook her head. "I really am not. But you are." Edythe gripped my hand and pulled me into the bed next to her. I rolled onto my back, Edythe laid her head on my chest.
"Mhmm that is a beautiful sound." She muttered.
"Hmm?"
"Your heartbeat. It is so strong."
I rested my chin on her head. "I think I can get used to falling asleep this way." I mumbled into her hair.
"This is the best night I know I have ever had."
I kissed the top of her head and then I yawned.
"Sleep darling, I'll lay here with you all night. Would you like me to get the lights?"
I smirked. I raised my hand above us and snapped. The lights turned off throughout the house.
"Boys and their toys." Edythe said.
A/N After a year I am back. I might revamp this whole story. I have grown as a person and have changed some of my ideas on this and I think my new flow will help the story flow more naturally. As always I would love input. PS I will be starting a brand new fanfic still set in the Life & Death universe but I will be replacing Beau and Jaxon with someone with just a little more power. That is a hint.