A/N: I was initially gunna post this Monday but I can't wait any longer lol. This is a little bit of Edward's softer side. He's still an asshole forever. Don't fret XD

The Night We Met - Lord Huron

I am not the only traveler

Who has not repaid his debt

I've been searching for a trail to follow again

Take me back to the night we met

When the night was full of terrors

And your eyes were filled with tears

When you had not touched me yet

Oh, take me back to the night we met

.

.

.

I don't move for hours, not when I hear Bella hop in the shower, not when she crawls into bed, not when I hear her silent sobs, and not when her breath evens out indicating she fell asleep. I sit on that couch until the sun starts to break through the clouds. You're pathetic. Get the fuck up and clean yourself. I finally peel myself off the sofa but not without strain. My limbs feel like cement. My head is cloudy. I'm still drunk off the taste of her blood and the feel of her hot pussy.

I'm quiet as I creep into the room. She's sound asleep, her back facing the door. My shower is long, the water going cold as I borderline disassociate. When I finally escape the prison of mind I'm at a loss as to my next move. Awkwardness is a foreign feeling to me but now more than ever it's all I experience. When I open the bathroom door Bella is standing there and she startles back.

"I apologize. Did I take too long?"

She keeps her head down and nods as she pushes past me, quickly slamming the door shut. I need to keep myself busy. Give my preoccupied mind something singular to focus on. The options are limited but I do manage some eggs and toast with a glass of orange juice. We still need to go into town to stock up on supplies. How the fuck are we supposed to do that? When we can't talk to each other. Everything is weird.

"You made breakfast?" Bella's tone is full of surprise.

"Uh yea.. I needed something to keep me busy." I run my fingers through my hair anxiously.

"Thank you." She mumbles as I push the plate towards her.

The silence as she eats is deafening. My skin vibrates with restlessness. I can't take this anymore.

"We need to talk about what happened last night." I blurt.

Her body goes taut, wholly unprepared for me to even bring up the topic. Yeah I wasn't expecting it either.

"There's nothing to talk about." She mutters.

"I beg to differ. Last night was-"

"It was a mistake and it will NEVER happen again." She hisses while cutting me off.

My body goes cold. A mistake? It was the most amazing encounter of my existence. And to her it was a mistake.

"Understood." My voice is clipped.

Her wide eyes meet mine in confusion. I look away, clenching my jaw. If she thinks it was a mistake I'll make sure it never fucking happens again.

"Edward, what were you going to say?"

"Nothing. Get dressed so we can go into town to buy the shit you put on your list."

The drive to the mall is filled with unease. Neither one of us speaks. Bella seems more fidgety than usual but I don't care enough to question her.

"I think we have a mutual understanding of how you're to behave. Am I correct in my assumption?" I question as I park.

"Yes of course. I'll be on my best behavior." She huffs.

I put my shades back on to hide the blood red eyes. I don't say another word to her while I walk towards the door. She scrambles to catch up.

"First thing on the list is toiletries."

I give a sharp nod, letting her take the lead on this one. She grabs a basket and starts just loading it up. My lips twitch at her brashness.

"Ok I think I'm done." She smiles widely at me.

"You sure? There's still things on the shelf." I chuckle.

Her heartbeat stutters as she looks up at me. "Oh my god. I can put this back. I am so sorry."

"Don't be silly angel. You have zero limits. Plus you stocking up now means I don't have to make these trips as often." I say looking around the semi filled store with disdain.

The thirst is minimal,, having just fed on Bella last night, but it's still there. The impulsive itch to drain someone dry has me balling my hands into fists. I'm not feeding enough. I'll have to hunt soon.

"Why do you call me that?" Comes her soft voice as she puts her basket at the register.

"Hmm?"

"You've called me angel a handful times now. Why?"

"Cause that's what you are. An angel put here on this earth to torment me, someone who I'm unworthy of." I shrug noncommittally.

"Do you go around giving all your meals nicknames?" Her voice cracks before she clears her throat.

I smile broadly, all teeth. "No, you'd be the only one."

The cashier finally pops up before she can say anything else.

"Did you guys find everything ok?"

"Yes thank you." Bella responds politely.

Just then the cashiers eyes find me. Her heart explodes, beating fast.

"I..err…are you two together?"

"Please say no"

"Yes." I say silkily.

"Damn"

Let them both take that however they wish. Bella's body sag slightly with, what I can only assume, is relief. Guess she doesn't want a Lauren repeat. My mind focuses again on the fact that her mind is silent to me. What I wouldn't give to know what she was thinking at this very moment.

"Your total will be 250.49." The cashier states despondently.

"Oh no! That can't be correct. I'll put things back." Bella's voice goes up an octave.

"Relax, I got it. I told you that already."

"She doesn't even know how lucky she is."

I slide my card toward the cashier smoothly. Her hand brushes against mine purposely, that delicious heart pumping faster before she jerks her hand away. I smirk but say nothing.

"He..here you go." She stutters.

"Thank you Carla. You have a wonderful day."

"The things I would do to him. That voice, ugh."

She just bobs her head erratically. I grab Bella's arm and pull her from the store before she can protest again.

"That's not fair you know."

"What's not fair?" My head whips in her direction.

"You just dazzled that poor woman." She accuses.

"Dazzle? I don't dazzle." I question.

"Edward theres no way you're that dense. Do you not realize how attractive you are?" She rolls her eyes.

"You think I'm attractive? Do I dazzle you?"

"I never said that!"

I chuckle at her defensive tone. I'll take that as a yes.

"I'm going to put these in the car before we continue. I'm trusting you to be by yourself. Don't wander off."

With that I leave her. So she's attracted to me. The feeling is mutual, but is it worth it to cross that line with my…food. Can our relationship even move past kidnapper and hostage? I'm unhinged but I'm not delusional. I know what this is. I also know that last night disgusted her. She said it was a mistake that would never happen again. With that thought my mood sours. I'm still going back and forth when I find Bella again. She did move but only to look at a directory.

"I think I know where I wanna go next!" She bounces towards me excitedly.

I soften at her demeanor. My fucking emotions are all over the place.

"Oh yea? Lead the way."

We hit a linens shop next where Bella picks a bunch of warm blankets for the bed and the couch.

"I'm not letting you get that." I snarl.

"It's got little flamingoes on it. Look how cute! Please, please, please." She begs.

I sigh which makes her smile triumphantly. This stupid human girl has me wrapped around her fingers.

She drags me to a few clothing stores where she picks up all sorts of coats. She argues unnecessarily about how she needs to be warm. I would've let her get whatever she wanted anyway. This time I break with her and get myself some things too. She balks at every total but stops putting up a fight.

"I am starving." Just then her stomach grumbles loudly.

I look at my watch laughing. "It's getting late. We can pick up lunch and then pick up your groceries." I wrinkle my nose.

"Like the shit you eat is appealing." She sneers.

"I think you're very appealing."

Her face erupts into a deep blush. I inhale deeply, thanking whatever foul god that I just fed last night. I'm relatively in control.

"You don't know how hungry you make me." My voice comes out deep.

I tilt my head as I lean close. She's gasping as I brush my lips softly over hers. I'm acting solely on impulse. My body out of my control.

"LETS GO EAT!" She practically yells, wrenching herself away from me.

"Do I make you nervous?" I whisper conspiratorially as we finally take a seat in the food court.

"Depends on which way you mean. For the most part yes. I'm still waiting for you to kill me and I don't understand why you haven't." She munches on her pizza.

"I truly don't understand it myself if I'm being honest. I don't usually get..attached. I am pretty confident that I won't kill you though."

She continues to chew thoughtfully. I lean forward on the table rubbing my temples at the onslaught of thoughts. It's overwhelming to deal with crowds after being nomadic for this long.

"Are you getting a headache? Wait, can you even get a headache?" She changes the subject.

I chuckle. "Yes and no, not technically. I get easily overwhelmed in crowded places now. I've been alone for too long so I'm not used to the cacophony of thoughts."

"What?" She deadpans.

I sit up straight. Did I never tell her? When the fuck have the two of you actually had a real conversation. How do I breach this topic smoothly, especially in a public place.

"I can read minds Isabella." I say adopting a formal, detached tone.

"What?" This time it's a hiss.

"Although I can't read your mind, not for lack of trying." I hum offhandedly

"Oh thank god."

I roll my eyes.

"So can you read everyone's mind?"

Here come the questions.

"Well apart from yours, yes. I can read every single thought that passes through someone's mind. It's easier to focus on one mind at time. Like right now its just distorted noise but if I focus on someone-"

I trail off my eyes searching until they land on a man in a suit. Next to him is a very thin red head also dressed formally. Bella follows my line of sight.

"That is Clifford and the woman that he's actively kissing is Linda. Who by the way is NOT his wife. She's his secretary. He's thinking about how wrong it is to want her. But how he can't stop himself."

How fitting. I watch her reaction as she takes in the scene. Clifford is a very handsy man, barely able to keep his paws off his younger secretary. She would notice as he raises his hand to stroke her cheek that there is a very shiny wedding band there. Something that Linda is not sporting.

"The more familiar I am with the flavor of someone's mind the easier it is to read their thoughts. It also allows me to read them from a further distance."I turn my attention back to her.

"Thats crazy. Are you the only gifted vampire?" She whispers.

"No. My family is especially gifted. The Volturi, our version of the government, seems to have their own collection of gifted individuals as well. There's a theory in our world that you carry your gifts over from your human life."

"You have a family? What are they like? Where are they? Are they like…you?"

I stand up, suddenly not interested in this conversation anymore.

"It's really getting late. We should hit the grocery store before it closes." My voice is cold.

"I see. Very well then." She replies stiffly.

We head back to the car quietly. It seems like the jovial mood of today has gone to shit. I should have never brought up my family. It seems like when I'm around Bella I can't think straight. The drive to the store is a bit more upbeat despite ending our conversation on a negative note. Bella decides to turn on the radio and starts tapping her fingers to the beat of whatever song is playing.

"Alright there's ground rules." Bella turns to me as I put the car in park.

I raise my eyebrows at her. "And what are these illusive supermarket rules?"

"One, you're going to push my cart. Two, you are not to make any comments or wrinkle your nose at my food."

I smile widely but say nothing, making sure no one is paying attention before I fly around the car at inhuman speed to open the door for her.

"Can you act human?" She gasps clutching her pounding heart.

"Unfortunately no." I laugh.

I begrudgingly realize that she was in fact being serious when she said I was going to push the damn cart. Another groan escapes me as I follow her into the produce section. At least the smell of the fruit was sweet. Everything she had chosen so far smelled absolutely putrid.

"Edward that's enough. You're such a fucking baby." She chastises.

"It smells like shit in here." I mumble.

Her eyes narrow at me which makes my lips quirk. Such a tiny ferocious little kitten. My kitten. After my unsavory comment about how all her human food smells rotten she stopped speaking to me.

"Oops." Her voice breaks the silence.

My nostrils flare as I smell her blood. My eye search wildly for the source. There. She cut her fucking hand somehow. A low growl starts rumbling in my chest as I stalk toward her. I need to hunt fully tonight, the little amounts I'm taking from her are doing fuck all. Her blood is wreaking havoc on my senses and it's only been a few hours since I drank from her.

"Edward?"

"Mine." I rasp.

"We're in the middle of a public supermarket! Don't do anything rash." Her tone is all panic.

I snatch her bleeding hand and yank her into my chest. Without hesitation I lick her bloody palm clean, sealing the wound. A soft purr escapes me at her taste. She breathes a sigh of relief.

"You don't give me enough credit." I murmur.

"And I think I give you too much."

Edward us such a simp for Bella and he ain't even know lol