TIME PASSED BY PRETTY QUICKLY, and soon it was the morning of graduation. Dressed in a robe of deep blue silk that felt like naught but her skin, a matching negligee that was made of the same silk, too, underneath, her hair down, Bella stood on the porch of their home, Edwards arms coming about her from behind, a steaming mug of her favorite tea in one of her hands, the taste of it sweet and delicious on her tongue.
They radiated excitement, both of them, and while Bella was mostly excited because this meant their wedding day was getting closer and closer, she had to admit a very small part of her, a part that was still a teenager, was excited to get her high school diploma, too. Why Edward was so excited, matched her joy, she didn't know, perhaps it was because this meant their wedding day was getting closer and closer. Still, she found herself asking, "Why are you so excited, my beautiful fiance and future husband? I know it is probably because this means our wedding day is getting closer and closer, but is there another reason, this, it is not the first time you graduate high school, after all?"
He turned her to face him, his hand coming up to cup her cheek, his skin sparkling like thousands of diamonds, causing her cheek to sparkle, too—as they were watching the sunrise, the sky painted with shades of pink, purple, orange, and gold, light blue bleeding in more and more with every passing second, the sun not yet hidden behind the clouds, though it was only a matter of time before it became so, this tiny town almost always cloudy and gray. "Ah, but, mon coeur, this is the only time that it actually matters to me, for it is the first time my beloved mother, Elizabeth, is watching me do it in the flesh, so to speak—that I actually care and I am not only going through the motions for the sake of keeping up with a charade."
His phone began to ring, and he held up a finger, pulled it out of the pocket of his pants, checked the caller ID, mouthed, "Alice," before picking up, putting it on speaker so Bella could hear, too. "Yes, Alice?"
Not even a moment of hesitation, Alice speaking right away, her words coming almost too fast for Bella to catch, understand. "Edward, you need to wake Bella now, bring her here, to the house, soon as possible so I can help her get ready . . ." Alice trailed off out of nowhere, meaning she was probably having a vision, and when she spoke again, her voice was angry, frustrated. "Just what are you doing, Edward Anthony Masen? I cannot see myself and Esme helping Bella get dressed, ready for graduation, anymore. Whatever it is, stop it, I need to see, need to know what is going to happen so I can help Bella get ready for graduation, know how to persuade her to let me do whatever I wish, make her perfect."
"She already is perfect." It was an angry hiss said through gritted teeth.
"And there is no reason to fret so, as I will help her get ready." Elizabeth's voice even as she appeared, already becoming corporeal. "Come, Bella, beautiful, darling girl, I brought a chemise, corset, and corset cover just as we spoke of, though these, they are not the ones you will be wearing on your wedding day, some homemade, organic makeup, too."
Edward's head snapped up, mouth dropping open, the fact that Alice was still on the phone, his anger at her, forgotten. "This is what you have been keeping from me, ma belle reine?"
Bella patted affectionately, possessively, at his arm. "Think of this as a little prelude to after our wedding nuptials, as though you will not help me take my outfit off this time, for we are not married yet, you will get to see what I look like with a corset on, my silhouette."
A soft groan, a honey-sweet, cold kiss pressed to her shoulder. "You," another kiss, this one accompanied by the light graze of very sharp teeth against her soft, fragile skin, "ma belle sirène, are trying to kill me."
A huff on the other side of the phone, drawing their attention back to Alice. "Fine, Edward, your mother, Elizabeth, can help her get ready, but bring her here still. We all need to take off from the same place, at the same time, arrive at the school around the same time, so Charlie, Renee, and Phil don't get suspicious."
Bella winced, she hated driving slow when she was with Edward, when Edward had to slow down because of anyone, and while he wouldn't have to slow down as much as he would have if they had to keep up with humans, he still would have to slow down somewhat, as the Cullens, though they drove fast, they didn't drive as fast as Edward did, and there was no way she, Edward, and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, were going in the same car as Rosalie and Emmett. Thankfully, she was worrying about nothing, as Elizabeth, Edward's beloved mother, quickly took charge of the situation. "All right, Alice, this is the only compromise we are willing to offer, you can take it or leave it, it is up to you. I will help Bella get ready here, in her and my beloved son's home, as everything we need, all the supplies, is already here, and I do not want to carry everything over there, as it is unnecessary, will only place the finishing touches on Bella over there."
Alice let out an exasperated breath, probably not being use to not getting her own way. "All right, fine, but, Edward, I get to ride with you, Bella, and your mother, to school."
They hung up after that, Bella turning to Edward, into his embrace, burying her face against his chest, Edward, too, rapping his arms about her, holding her close. After what must have been a couple of minutes, they felt Elizabeth's arms, warm, loving, and motherly, come around them, too, and it didn't feel as if she was intruding, the maternal warmth and pride exuding from her so very powerful.
Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, was the first to pull away. "Right, Bella, beautiful, darling girl, let us start getting you ready, as we have a lot of work to do, and, fret not, as I will not keep you and my beautiful boy, my beloved son, apart for too long, and you can have breakfast while we wait for the face mask to take effect and I paint your nails."
Edward pulled away next, pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, her lips. "Go with my beloved mother, I will get started on your breakfast in the meantime so when you come out of the shower and bath it is ready for you to eat. Is an omelette with spinach and mushrooms, along with some more of your favorite tea all right?"
"Yes, of course, it is perfect, thank you." Bella bit her lip, looked up at him through her lashes. Perhaps she shouldn't, not today, at least not until they were back home, graduation and the celebrations that would no doubt follow over with, but she couldn't help it, she wanted it too much, craved it too much, and she wasn't even a vampire yet, was fully human. "Can I have some of your blood for dessert, too?"
Soft, husky, musical, male laughter, a sweet, cold kiss that was all too brief pressed against her lips. "Of course, mon coeur." His fingers stroked over her face, her hair. "Perhaps it is best if I feed from you even as you feed from me, too, before we take our leave, go to the Cullen household, then graduation. It is not so much that I am parched, as I drank from your blood last night as we practiced for our wedding night and honeymoon, even as you drank from mine, too, but I crave the intimacy, the pleasure, the feeling of your blood, hot and sweet, so sweet, tailor-made for me, on my tongue, going down my throat, satisfying me as only it can, a satisfaction that goes far beyond a simple satisfaction of the flesh."
The three of them went inside the cottage, Edward and Bella going their separate ways for now, Edward going to the kitchen, Bella to the washroom with his beloved mother, Elizabeth, Elizabeth not bothering to lock the door behind them, as there was no need, Edward wouldn't come in, likely part of the reason why Elizabeth had given Alice the ultimatum the way she had. "Go ahead and take a shower as you usually would, Bella, beautiful, darling girl, I will run you a bath in the meantime, add bath oils, salts, and minerals into the water so your beautiful skin can absorb it." Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, glanced quickly at the robe and negligee she wore, tiny lines marring her forehead as she thought of something. "Have you been wearing both the negligee and robe all night?"
A nod, Bella stripping off her robe, going to the shower, quite a spacious thing, turning it on.
"All right, I will go fetch a new robe for you to put on when you get out of the bath." Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, disappeared, and Bella took off her negligee, got into the shower, the water hot and the perfect temperature, hitting her skin with just the right amount of pressure. And the feeling of her skin beneath her fingers as she washed it, it was soft and smooth and perfect, healthier than it had ever been. She knew when Edward changed her, made her like him, a vampire, it would become cold and hard, nothing, save for Edward's teeth, being able to penetrate it, yet also remain soft as velvet, that was how Edward's skin felt to her.
Having rinsed off her hair and body masks, she shut off the shower, got out, got directly into the warm heat of a bath, soaked there for about half an hour, before she got out, Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, handing her a huge, fluffy, soft, white towel, allowing her to dry herself off, then slip on a silk robe, a deep pastel blue this time. Rather than applying her mask in the washroom as Alice would have done and as Bella expected, Elizabeth guided her to the kitchen, where Edward had her breakfast ready on the counter, was waiting to take her into his arms. She began to eat with Edward's arms wrapped about her, his beloved mother, Elizabeth, gathering several ingredients, raw milk yogurt, raw honey, a lime, and a vial containing what she told Bella was rose water.
She added about three tablespoons of yogurt to a bowl, then one and a half teaspoons of honey, some lime juice, and some rose water, mixed it well, then, when Bella was finished eating, likely so she didn't accidentally wipe any of it off, applied it on her skin, Edward's arms yet about her body, holding her close. She brought a small wooden table and three chairs from somewhere, likely the drawing room, indicated for Bella to sit down so she could paint her nails.
After a while, when they were waiting for the nails of her right hand to dry, Bella asked Edward to go fetch Sense and Sensibility, read to her while they were sitting together. Smiling and with eyes glowing, filled with love and contentment, he did so, going to fetch the book, fast like only he could, his voice, ebbing and flowing smoothly, beautiful, as he read, the words of Jane Austen, an author that was long dead, causing vivid images to form in her head.
Edward only got to read about three chapters before Elizabeth, his beloved mother, reluctantly interrupted. "Much as I do not want to stop this, come, Bella, beautiful, darling girl, now that your nails have dried and I have rinsed off the face mask, we should finish getting you dressed, doing your hair." She turned to Edward, her beloved son, her face that of a mother who loved her son, was very proud of him. "You should get dressed, too, my beautiful boy, my beloved son, put on your suit. What color are the cap and gown you and Bella are supposed to wear?"
"Royal blue, Mama." A wince. "I thank God they changed it, as last year, it was an ugly, hideous yellow color, akin to mustard."
Rather than letting her walk, Elizabeth, she simply picked Bella up, took her back into the washroom fast as Edward would have, set her down on a chair, began working first on her hair, plaiting it, using part of it to create an intricate crown round her head, pulling the rest of it up into a chignon, pinning it in place with yellow gold hair pins with pearls and diamonds on the ends. Then she did her makeup, applying first elder flower water, then something that worked akin to foundation, but was so light and airy, it felt like naught but her skin, the color of it matching the tone of her skin perfectly, something which the store bought makeup could not have achieved, making her skin glow, look soft and dewy, no need for highlighter or contour, her skin, according to both Edward and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, which Elizabeth repeated again, "Already perfect and flawless, without the need for much makeup at all," what she was doing only enhancing it.
She applied what seemed like thousands of shades of eyeshadow over Bella's lids, blue and silver and white, using a little bit of black at the outer corners and a little bit of white and silver in the inner corners to make her eyes pop, seem bigger, most of the shades sparkling akin to how she and Edward when they were touching, were in direct sunlight, used charcoal as her eyeliner, doing both the top of Bella's eyes and her waterline, created a wing, used mascara to make her lashes longer, thicker, darker.
"There, beautiful, darling girl, your makeup is all done for now, and I will apply some homemade cream lipstick later, after you and my beautiful boy have finished feeding off of each other, at the Cullen household. Now, let us put on your chemise, corset, corset cover, and beautiful frock for this day, so very special." Elizabeth tapped her lip, her eyes, so much like that of her beloved son, lighting up. "I know you are loathed to take your betrothal ring off, but, I assume, as you do not wish for your private lives to become the gossip of this tiny town, you will be taking it off so long as we remain at school, hence why I am asking you this and not dismissing it all together, do you wish to wear gloves? It could keep your father, Charlie, from asking why you are not wearing your betrothal ring, thinking the wrong thing, as he will think the gloves an accessory, part of your beautiful outfit, will probably assume you are wearing your ring underneath."
Oh, thank God she had a mother-in-law who thought of everything, just like her beloved son, and the fact that it would drive Edward mad, the fact that she would be wearing gloves, be dressed exactly as she would have been in 1918, it wasn't exactly a hardship. "Yes."
"All right, then." Then Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, helped her get dressed, Bella's undergarments simple, nothing special, custom made, as they wouldn't be the ones she'd wear on her wedding day, but it was her frock, beautiful, delicate, and feminine, old-fashioned—that stole the show.
Made of ice blue silk and velvet, overlaid with sheer lace, it was long, so long, floor-length, gown-like, people wouldn't notice, whether or not she was wearing a brace, a very good thing, considering she didn't want to wear one. It also had an empire waist, was embroidered with a pattern of flowers, lilies, with white gold thread at the bodice. The sleeves were short, made of sheer lace, and there was a pattern of lilies about her waist embroidered with white gold thread, acting akin to a belt, the motifs at the bottom of the skirts, made of white gold thread, too, matching them.
Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, handed Bella a pair of elbow-length gloves, the color of them matching that of her frock perfectly, the feeling of them soft as velvet. "These are authentic kid-skin gloves, very popular when my beautiful boy, my beloved son, was a youngling."
They went out of the washroom, to the drawing room, where Edward was pacing back and forth, too fast for Bella to make out clearly, but not quite at his full speed. He stopped when he heard them coming into the room, his emerald green eyes, so beautiful, they were in human, lighting up when he saw Bella, but he didn't say anything, walked to his beloved mother instead, hugged and kissed her on both cheeks. "I thank you, Mama."
His beloved mother, Elizabeth, reached up even as Edward bent down to make it easier for her, caressed his cheek. "You are most welcome, my beautiful boy. I will now take my leave, wait for the two of you outside, give you some privacy."
Then she was gone, was likely some distance away from the cottage, leaving them alone once more. His arms came about her, gathered her to him. "You look lovely, my Bella, so beautiful, mon doux ange, I reckon Rosalie will be ravenously envious of you, for though you are not a vampire yet, your beauty outshines hers, is a thousand times brighter." He finally seemed to notice she was holding something crushed in her right hand, his eyes lighting up with curiosity. "What is that you are holding?"
She pulled back slightly, held up the gloves. "These?" An innocent look as she looked at him through her lashes, dark, long, and thick from the mascara she was wearing. "Oh, nothing, my love, my beautiful fiance and future husband, only authentic kid-skin gloves. your beloved mother, Elizabeth, had the brilliant idea of me wearing them, as we do not wish for Charlie, Renee, and Phil to become suspicious, as I will be taking my betrothal ring off temporarily, for you and I wish not to become the gossip of this tiny town."
He groaned, began kissing her neck and throat, teeth grazing gently, not hard enough to draw blood, just hard enough to drive her mad, over her skin. "You, ma belle sirène," he spoke even as his lips continued to move over her skin, "are really, truly trying to kill me." He ran his hands, cold, gentle, but strong, so beautifully strong, he could pulverize metal and rock without much effort at all, from her shoulders, down her back, to her waist, in a slow, smooth glide that was a languorous caress. "Your beautiful frock, it is so soft, I can feel your corset through it."
Taking the gloves from her, he placed them in the pocket of his pants, and that was when Bella noticed, despite his beloved mother's words, he hadn't changed yet. Odd, considering he always listened to his beloved mother. "Edward, my love, you have not changed—"
He pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. "Hush, I know, mon trésor, but this I have done on purpose, for I wish to delay this, our leaving, remain alone with you, without having to hear other people's thoughts, as we will be around Rosalie and Emmett, along with the rest of the Cullens, soon enough—for as long as possible." He guided her to the chaise longue, sat down, or, more accurately, laid down, brought Bella over his thighs, her legs on either side of his hips so she was effectively straddling him. The intimate position, it should have made her beautiful frock ride up, left her exposed and vulnerable in a way that Edward shouldn't see her yet, for he was not yet her husband, but it didn't. "Come, ma belle reine, feed from me even as I, too, feed from you."
When he offered her his wrist, she didn't hesitate, bit into his skin, blood, hot and sweet and tailor-made for her, gushing into her mouth, making her want to rub up against him, kiss him everywhere she could, forget about graduation, the fact they had to leave this beautiful cottage of theirs at all. The pleasure, it only increased when Edward bit softly, delicately, at her wrist, careful not to inject any venom with his teeth, his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, flicking out to lovingly lick at her blood—heat pooling low in her body, to the hot, aching place between her thighs, tiny internal muscles clenching. She felt his cold, free hand, strong, but gentle, loving, oh-so‐familiar, glide from her shoulders, over her back, to her waist, and back again, back and forth, his caresses slow, languorous, tender, loving.
She didn't know how much of his sweet, sweet blood her body could take and process at once, nor how much time they spent like that, though, of course, they weren't always feeding from each other, Edward, her beautiful fiance and future husband, being seriously protective, quite panicky of hurting her, not wanting to take too much of her blood at one time, pulling away, kissing her throat and neck, her lips, at times, only returning to feeding when he was certain the blood he'd taken had been replaced. Eventually, though, Edward let out a deep sigh, pulled away, stopped feeding for the final time, but only after making sure her skin was completely healed, soft and smooth. "Much as I wish we could continue this for hours and hours on end, forget and shut out the rest of the world, we must take our leave soon, ma belle, séduisant sirène, else, if we keep this up, as you and I wish to, we will not make it to graduation."
She lowered her lashes as she looked at him, made her voice feather-soft in that way she learnt made it impossible for him to deny her what she wanted. "Please, Edward, my love, can we not do this, feed from each other, kiss each other, delay our leaving, for just a little while longer?"
He clenched his teeth, growled softly, buried his face against the crook of her neck, careful not to stain any of her skin with her heart's-blood. "You, mon beau trésor, are the most dangerous, sensual creature on the planet, siren that you are. Unfortunately, I cannot oblige your request this time, no matter how much I want to, it is killing me inside, but I promise you this, tonight, when we practice for our wedding night and honeymoon and I kiss and hold you close, I will keep you up all night, kiss and feed from you, caress you, even as you kiss and feed from me, caress me, too."
That settled, both of them happy and content with the agreement they had come to, Edward shifted, taking Bella into his arms, like how a groom carried his new bride, carried her to the washroom, fast like only he could, where he cleaned first her mouth, then his, left her on top of the sink, telling her he just needed to get changed, would return shortly, his speed breathtaking. When he did return naught but a second later, he looked handsome as ever, the colors of his suit, black and white, light and dark, throwing his beautiful, inhuman features into sharp relief, darkening his hair, bringing out the gold and red filaments of it, his beautiful eyes, eyes of such a hue, no human, nor any other creature, would ever possess them, brighter. As he helped her off the sink, Bella slid off her betrothal ring, reminding herself it was only temporary, while they were at school, her heart and soul screaming, telling her to never, ever take it off—handed it to Edward. "Take care of this for me until I can put it back on, my beautiful fiance and future husband, it is one of my most precious possessions."
He kissed each of her fingers, her lips, then her ring, placing it inside its black, velvet box, then placed the box in the left inner pocket of his suit jacket, where it would lie close to his heart. "I will, mon précieux trésor."
She shivered, something else occurring to her, and Edward, he must have discerned this wasn't from cold, for he wrapped his arms about her, pulled her close so she was pressed up against him, her left hand rising to lie over the still organ that was his heart. "Did you speak to Mr Green?"
A kiss pressed to the crown of her head, hands running soothingly over her back. "Yes, I did. He will hand us our diplomas consecutively, one after the other, though the first letter of our surnames is completely different for now. I also sent him an email, pretending to be my beloved mother, informing him that 'I' had returned, expected 'my son's' diploma to have our family surname, thus, for the first time ever, at least in the United States, I will be graduating as Edward Masen." A caress of her cheek, his thumb brushing over her lips, causing a small fire to erupt there despite the cold temperature of his skin. "There is no reason to fret so, mon amour, nothing and no one will take you from me even while we are at school, I will not let you go even for a second, this I promise, mon coeur."
"Good." Smile deep and eyes dancing, she stepped back, lifted her beautiful frock just enough so he could see the blue pumps she wore.
He shook his head, laughing quietly, produced her kid-skin gloves, slipped them on one by one, then kissed her gloved hands, his fingers, cold as ice, gentle, brushing over her wrists. "Come, mon doux, seul amour, let us go to the car, my Aston Martin, where, I have no doubt, my beloved mother, Elizabeth, will appear shortly thereafter."
He carried her to the car, fast like only he could, and soon enough, Bella was securely in, sitting beside Edward in the front passenger seat, her left hand held in his, his fingers caressing her through her glove, his beloved mother, Elizabeth, appearing in the backseat shortly thereafter, and they began driving quietly, but very, very fast, to the Cullen household. At one point before they got there, Edward reached over, turned on the stereo, and Bella was surprised to hear not the radio, music from the '50's, but the song he'd composed for her shortly after they became betrothed, filling the car. All too soon, however, Edward was parking outside the Cullen household, and the contentment and happiness in the car was replaced by tension, not because any of them were tense with one another, but because of where they were. Not even a second after he turned off the ignition, Edward gritted his teeth, the sound audible even to Bella's ears, and it was a sound that had both Bella and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, asking, "What is it?"
Edward didn't say anything, speak, looked as if he wanted to feed, kiss Bella deep, so deep, deep as he was willing to without fear of hurting her, but didn't, likely out of respect for his beloved mother, Elizabeth, for she was in the car with them and they weren't alone, buried his face against Bella's neck and throat instead, inhaling the scent of her skin, her sweet, sweet blood, and Bella reached up to thread her fingers through his hair, pulling at the soft silk strands in just the way he liked. Bella didn't know how much time had passed, but, eventually, she heard him murmur, "Rosalie," under his breath.
He didn't say anything else, but Bella and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, didn't need him to, both of them capable of surmising what Rosalie was thinking about, what was bothering him so much. She saw Elizabeth's eyes flash with anger, deep, motherly love, and protectiveness, but before she could do anything, Edward moved, fast, carried Bella with him, in his arms, and less than a second later, she was sitting on the passenger front seat of his Volvo, Edward's head buried against her neck again. Bella, she didn't question why he had done what he had, simply stroked his hair soothingly, Elizabeth appearing in one of the back seats of the car soon after, stroking his shoulder as a mother did her child.
A soft tap against glass distracted them, and when Bella looked up, she saw Alice, who was dressed in a frock of soft pink, one hand holding two cap and gowns, standing by Edward's car door, Jasper, dressed in a suit, already wearing his gown, his cap in his hand, standing beside her.
He reluctantly pulled away from Bella's neck, unlocked the car so Alice and Jasper could get in, however, he didn't even wait for them to sit properly before he was driving away, so fast, it would have made Bella scream and hold on to her seat once, but no longer, for she was a different person now, loved when Edward drove fast, so fast. Instead, she stayed quiet, didn't speak, in fact, no one spoke, not until Edward relaxed less than two minutes later, likely meaning they were far enough away that he couldn't hear Rosalie's thoughts anymore, he himself breaking the silence to tell Bella, "Stay close to me or, if I leave you for some reason, my beloved mother, I do not want Rosalie anywhere near you right now. She does not plan to kill you, else, she would not be alive right now, but there are worse things than death, ways to scar a person so deep, they become naught but a shell of themselves."
Shivering with a cold that was bone deep, a cold that had nothing to do with the temperature of the environment around her, she leaned over, pressed herself closer to Edward as much as her seat belt would allow. That, however, it wasn't enough, she wanted to crawl into his lap, wrap herself around him, create their own, private bubble. He, too, must have been thinking the same thing, because he pulled over in the middle of the forest, turned on the heating system to the maximum, took off her seatbelt, brought her into his lap, then began to drive again, repeatedly kissing her hair and neck, trying to soothe her as much as himself.
After sometime, when Edward had relaxed even more, Bella, too, relaxing more, Alice decided to speak. "Ed—"
He growled, gritted his teeth. "Not now, Alice."
"But—"
Edward made his voice soft as velvet, his tone calm yet iced with frost and fire. "Do you wish to run to school with Jasper? Because I will not hesitate, will stop the car, wait for the two of you to get out if you continue with your train of thought."
Hearing Alice let out a huff, Bella turned slightly, saw she had her arms crossed over her chest, her nose wrinkled, meaning what she was thinking about had nothing to do with comforting him and everything to do with complaints, likely because of Bella's outfit, the way she was dressed.
There were several minutes of silence, at least for Bella, as it was clear Edward was silently communicating with his beloved mother, Elizabeth, for Edward's lips curved, his body relaxing further, affording her the chance to think, and it wasn't long before Bella was tilting her head back, asking, "At what time, do you reckon, my love, graduation will be over? At what time do you think we will be back home, in our own, little cottage?"
Edward didn't question her, though the desire to know what she was thinking must have been killing him, her mind impenetrable to him as it was. "The ceremony should conclude at 2:00, so, adding into consideration that Charlie, Renee, and Phil will probably wish to take pictures with you, we should be back home at around 2:30, 2:45. Of course, Charlie, Renee, and Phil will probably wish to take you out somewhere to celebrate afterwards, but I am certain we can come up with an excuse to get away right after they are finished taking photos with you, especially with our wedding getting closer and closer. Why are you asking, mon bel, doux ange?"
Her lips curved, for what she had been thinking, wanted to do, it wasn't off the mark, was actually perfect. "Can we have some afternoon tea to celebrate our graduation when we get home? You know me, I would rather have a nice, home cooked meal than go to a restaurant. Besides, I am already dressed for it, including the gloves, and do you not wish to take advantage, after all, it is not very often that you will get to see me wearing gloves, for I loathe taking my betrothal ring off, as I will loathe taking off my wedding band?"
Soft laughter, both from mother and son, both of them answering at once. "Of course."
Alice let out an angry huff, then an exasperated breath. "Edward, the party—"
Edward cut her off, his voice a growl as he spoke through gritted teeth. "No, Alice, Bella and I will not be attending your party."
Bella flinched, all the color draining from her face. "What is she speaking of, my beautiful fiance and future husband, what party, my love?" Bella hated huge social events, especially when they were unnecessary, wasted precious time, time she could spend alone with Edward.
A kiss pressed to her temple. "It is nothing you need to fret over, mon doux, only a party Alice likes to throw each time we are on the cusp of moving to a new place, inviting all of our former High School, as I was never around when we pretended to go to University, was always in England—classmates. Though they will not be going anywhere yet, as Alice has yet to graduate High School, will do so next year, she decided to throw the party now to make it 'more fun." A caress of her cheek, his fingers creating a fire on her skin though they were cold as ice. "Again, though, you have no reason to fret, as, even had we not had my beloved mother, Elizabeth, here with us to celebrate, we would have not attended the party, I would have whisked you away somewhere else, somewhere private, made you a home cooked meal."
He turned off the ignition, making Bella realize they'd gotten to school, waited for Alice to hand his beloved mother, Elizabeth, his and Bella's cap and gown, for her and Jasper to get out, Alice muttering exasperatedly, incoherently, at least to Bella's ears, before he shifted Bella to face him, took a kiss so deep, so very possessive, she knew his beloved mother was no longer in the car, had gone somewhere else, else, he'd have never kissed her like that. It made her womb clench, heat pooling low in her body, to the hot, aching place between her thighs—his kiss. "I love you, Isabella Marie Masen, you are the most beautiful woman in the world, no matter what Rosalie reckons or does."
Her mind, it was fuzzy and incoherent from his kiss, but at hearing Rosalie's name, she turned her head this way and that, and sure enough, Rosalie, who had a snare on her face, was just arriving in her BMW, a car Edward had called ostentatious, Emmett sitting beside her, Carlisle and Esme in the back. Before she could dwell on that for too long, ask Edward what Rosalie was thinking that had made him kiss her thus, the car door was being opened, Elizabeth helping her out, supporting her as if she still had a broken leg, sliding on her cap and gown, then flawlessly putting on her homemade, cream lipstick, the color of it a deep rose that had a slight pink undertone.
Cold, familiar, strong, gentle arms coming around her, Edward not afraid to hold her close, her undergarments designed for warmth as they were, that he'd turned on the heating system to the maximum while they were in the car only a precaution on his part, her beautiful fiance and future husband loving and fiercely protective. She went to turn, kiss him soft and honey-sweet, when she saw Mr Green walking towards them, holding what seemed to be two pairs of honor cords, their color golden.
He was flushed, Mr Green, likely because this was the most important day of the year, his cheeks red with an inflow of blood, and Bella really hoped Jasper was nowhere in the vicinity, couldn't see the blood on Mr Green's face. He was clearly distracted, didn't notice Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, standing beside them, spoke directly to Edward and Bella. "Edward, Bella, I know when we spoke when I called Dr Cullen to inform you that you had both passed your final with perfect scores, you both told me you didn't want to be Valedictorian, as you weren't suppose to graduate until next year, don't want to steal the limelight from your fellow graduates, though you both have a 4.0 GPA, are the best students not only of your class, but of this whole school, so put these on. Also, I know it's a bit late and I should have asked you both this earlier, when you and Dr Cullen came to see me at my office, but what college will you be attending so I can put it in the system for record keeping?"
Edward smiled charismatically, shifted so he and Bella were standing side by side, his arm about her waist, taking most of her weight though it was unnecessary, but Bella wasn't about to complain, not when she loved how close he was holding her. "Cambridge University," he lied easily, though it wasn't a complete and total lie, as they would be going to both Cambridge and Oxford University soon enough, just not to study.
Bella could see Mr Green fighting really hard not to let his mouth drop open, his eyes nearly bugging out of his head, shocked. "I see, congratulations." He handed Bella the honor cords, both for herself and Edward. "There is an extra honor cord for each of you, one that is specifically designed for the two of you, as though you didn't wish to be Valedictorian, we had to find a way to distinguish the two of you from the rest of the graduating class because of your academic achievements. Go join your fellow graduates, to the very front, as the two of you will be the first ones to receive your diploma, then the ceremony will continue as it usually would. I will go get the cords now, bring them to you."
As Mr Green walked away, likely to his office, Edward turned Bella to face him, draped two of the honor cords around her shoulders, allowed her to do the same for him, guided her to the back entrance of the gym, where Miss Cope and Mr Banner were busy organizing everyone in alphabetical order, all the way to the front of the line, then, and why he did this, she didn't know—he lifted her into his arms, like how a groom carried his new bride, something that if he'd done in public not very long ago would have made her blush, but no longer. She could hear the whispers around them, guessed that for Edward it was a thousand times worse, a cacophony of voices inside his head, not all of the thoughts polite.
". . . what are they doing here . . .?"
" . . . they are juniors, are not suppose to graduate until next year . . ."
". . . great, more Cullens . . ."
". . . they probably think they're so smart . . ."
" . . . I hope they don't steal all the spotlight . . ."
Cold fingers against her cheek, lips against her ear, his cold, sweet, addictive, intoxicating breath washing over her skin as he spoke, his voice a whisper so they wouldn't be overheard, their life a private matter, not one of gossip. "Will you dance with me later, Mrs Masen, to celebrate our graduation, practice for our wedding day?"
A nod, and despite the fact that all of their fellow graduates were probably staring at them, she tilted her head back, took a sweet, chased kiss that was, nonetheless, polite for the public, because this was Edward, her beautiful fiance and future husband, and she wouldn't stop kissing him for anyone.
Mr Green came back, was holding two additional cords, their color a brilliant silver, blinked several times, taken aback by the way Edward was holding Bella, handed Bella both of the cords. "Can she walk on her own at all?"
A slow, lazy smile that made all of the female graduates, save, of course, for Rosalie, who was probably busy thinking obscenities or sexual things, things to bother Edward—sigh with want. Bella pressed a small, butterfly, discreet kiss to his throat, possessive about a man whose love for her was inhuman. "Yes, but it's better, safer, if I help her." They weren't a lie, Edward's words, were the complete and absolute truth, though not because of her broken leg, as her leg was no longer broken, but Mr Green didn't need to know that.
A quick nod. "Okay, then, rather than the two of you walking in on a single file, following the line of graduates, you will walk Inside by side, your arm around Bella's waist to support her, and I will hand you each your diploma." A wince. "I know your last names start with an S and M respectively, as I got an email from your mother a couple of days ago, informing me that she was back, so I've changed your last name to Masen on your diploma, but I don't want to make you guys walk all the way to the back, jeopardize Bella's leg, so you'll sit in the very first row, where no one else will sit, two rows ahead of Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper, after I hand you your diplomas."
Not even a second after Mr Green left, Edward tensed, body becoming rigid, and one second they were at the school, the other, deep, deep in the forest, their meadow. "Edward, wha—"
He kissed her, and his kiss, it held a desperate edge, as if he wanted to keep out the rest of the world, protect her, though from what, she didn't know. He bit tenderly at her lower lip, careful not to inject any venom with his teeth, drawing blood, his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, flicking out to taste it, drink it. She groaned, arched into the intimacy of the kiss, grabbing a handful of his shirt beneath his graduation robes, unable to imagine going back to a world where they didn't feed off each other and he fed off animal blood, was so very afraid to touch and hold her close, didn't feel this intimacy, this pleasure. "Billy and the dog," he pressed his forehead to hers, "they are here, Charlie invited them."
All the color drained from her face, her heartbeat picking up speed, beating akin to that of a trapped bird's, and now it was Bella's turn to take a kiss. She bit desperately at his bottom lip, licked at the blood, hot and sweet and tailor-made for her, that oozed out. She opened her mouth beneath his, wanting Edward to stroke his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, into her mouth, to drown in his kisses, the way it felt when they fed off of one another even as they kissed, forget about that dog, his father, the rest of the world.
A strong, gentle, cold, familiar hand on her face, prying her away from him. "Calm down, Bella, mon doux amour, I will not permit that filthy, wretched, rabid, immature, teenage dog to harm you, and can you please warn me next time you decide to kiss me like that?"
She licked at her lips, wiping his heart's-blood away, buried her burning face against his neck. She'd gotten carried away, had forgotten . . .
He shifted, laid them down over the grass, body coming over hers, stroked her face. "I am not cross with you, mon précieux trésor, though, I admit, once not so long ago, I might have been, but no longer, we have come too far for that, you and I, and I know our love, a love so strong and pure, it is an entity of its own, will keep me from causing you harm, though, of course, I will not stop being overly cautious, will take every precaution that I can. I just wish for a little warning so I can be better prepared."
"How did you—"
He traced her lips with his forefinger, causing a small fire to erupt there. "The guilt is writ all over your beautiful face. I," he said, getting back to the subject of the dog and his father, "will not leave your side for a second, and Billy and that dog will not be able to touch you, get their filthy, disgusting scent all over you. They will not attempt anything here, as it is too public, will draw too much attention, but, still, we should get out of school soon as possible. Come, mon coeur," he got to his feet, his arms sliding around her, lifting her, "let us get back before anyone notices we are gone." Shifting her weight so he held her with naught but one arm, he ran his finger over her lips. "And before you ask, mon doux ange, no, no one noticed we left, as our fellow graduates were all on their phones."
Then they were running, got back to the school fast, so fast, just in time, too, because Edward only had time to set her down, drape the extra honor cord around her shoulders, Bella, too, doing the same for him, before Mr Green was calling their names and they were walking into the gym, Edward's arm firmly about her waist, taking most of her weight though it was unnecessary—receiving their diplomas, shaking Mr Green's hand, who mouthed, "congratulations."
As Edward guided her to sit down, she looked around the gym, at the audience, spotted first Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, who had soft tears trickling down her face, was wiping them away with a handkerchief, the deep, motherly love and pride exuding off her unmistakable, then Carlisle and Esme, Alice sitting in between them, smiles on all of their faces, then Charlie, Renee, and Phil, the last two people she spotted being Billy and the dog. The hatred in those onyx black eyes, so dark they were akin to obsidian, it made her shiver in a way that had nothing to do with the cold temperature of Edward's skin, press herself closer to him, Edward, too, cradling her to him.
She sat down in a chair beside Edward, but that, it wasn't enough, she wanted to crawl into his lap, no matter that they were at school, wrap herself about him so she could feel loved and protected. He must have sensed this, her beautiful fiance and future husband, her love, because though he couldn't read her mind, he put his arm about her, pulled her close to his side. Mr Green proceeded to call the names of all their fellow graduates one by one, handing them their diplomas, Jasper, Emmet, and Rosalie coming to sit two rows behind Edward and Bella, with all the C's, which were very few, this graduating class very small, about a hundred and fifty students. Once all the graduates were seated, a girl named Kylie Brown, the valedictorian, gave her speech, going on and on about how this wasn't the end, was only the beginning, that they could achieve great things, get out of this tiny, rainy town, chase their dreams, but Bella didn't care, wasn't paying very much attention, all she wanted to do was get out of there, go somewhere safe, far, far away from Billy and that dog.
Soon, though, Kylie's speech concluded, and Mr Green was telling everyone to stand up, move their tassels to the side, announcing, "Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the graduating class of 2005," then all of their fellow graduates cheered, threw off their caps.
Cold, familiar lips moving softly, lovingly, against her own, the roaring crowd fading away. "Congratulations, Bella, Amour, you are officially a High School graduate."
She took a kiss of her own, couldn't keep herself from biting gently at his lower lip, she was so nervous, so jittery. "I Thank you, my love, and congratulations to you, too, though this is not the first time for you." She glanced around the gym nervously. "Can we take our leave now, go home?" She knew it was wrong, to be in such a hurry to leave, that she should probably enjoy this, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, after all, not only because it was the first time she was graduating High School, but also because if she had her way, got her wish, which was, in all probability, very likely, as she and Edward were planning to have children, she and Edward wouldn't pretend to go to high school again.
He didn't chastise her, her beautiful fiance and future husband, tell her she should enjoy her human experiences, that each milestone was a gift, as he once might have, knowing, exactly, where her desire to leave soon as possible, get this over with, was coming from, as she wanted to be somewhere safe, not in the same vicinity of a possible werewolf. Instead, he pressed a kiss to her temple, his lips, cold as ice, brushing over her skin, coming to rest over her ear, his words a soft murmur so only she could hear. "Soon, mon doux, but we must give Charlie, Renee, and Phil a chance to congratulate you first, take some photos with you. Come, ma belle reine," he turned her so they were standing side by side, slid his arm about her waist, began guiding her out of the pandemonium that was the gym, everyone trying to find their loved ones, "we can get out of the gym, go somewhere less crowded, more private, though."
Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, was the first person they saw when they found a quiet, private alcove, her warm, loving, motherly arms coming round them both as she drew them into her chest, close to her heart. "Congratulations, I am so very proud of you, both of you." She caressed each of their cheeks respectively, their hair, kissed each of their foreheads, her touch warm, loving, and motherly, then drew back, glanced around to make sure no one was looking, produced two things seemingly out of thin air. From what Bella could see from this angle, one of them was a photo in a delicate frame of gold, though who or what was in the photo, she didn't know, couldn't see from her current vintage point, the other a journal bound in soft white leather, whose style was that of old, yet she knew it was brand new, this precious journal. "I have several gifts for the two of you, but these will have to do for now, as the rest must wait until we are in private, alone, just the three of us."
She handed Bella the leather bound journal, Edward the photo. Opening the beautiful journal and ruffling through the pages, she saw it was filled with Elizabeth's handwriting, beautiful and neat, in script, just like that of her beloved son. She flipped back to the first page, saw this beautiful journal was addressed to her.
Bella, beautiful, darling girl, I congratulate you on this joyous occasion.
Now you are a young woman ready to confront the world in the eyes of society, though you have already been so for a long time in my eyes, for I have known you for a long time, even before your parents knew you, long before you were a speck on this earth. I know you have a lot of questions when it comes to my beloved son, thus in this journal I have compiled a list of things I think you would wish to know. They are not what my beautiful boy will tell you himself, as I would not steal that chance from him, just things a mother notices about her son which he himself may not notice.
With love,
Elizabeth.
Tears pricking at her eyes, Bella hugged this woman who loved her with such fierce tenderness, as if she was her own daughter, her own flesh and blood. "I thank you, Elizabeth."
Warm, motherly hands carefully stroking her hair, a kiss pressed to her forehead. "You are most welcome, Bella, beautiful, darling girl."
"How did you manage this, Mama?" Edward's voice sounded scraped raw, filled with a mixture of emotions, love and happiness.
Elizabeth drew him into the circle of her arms even as she kept Bella in her arms, too, stroked his hair, pressed a kiss to his forehead as a mother did her child. "I have my ways, my beautiful boy, and they are so very proud of you, too, your grandparents and Papa."
A startled blink. "So they know what I am, the man I have become?"
Elizabeth continued to stroke Edward's hair lovingly. "Of course, they were always with you during your most important moments, you were never alone, in company of only the Cullens."
Bella could see the hope on his beautiful, perfect, angel's face, his beautiful eyes, unlike any other, glowing. "Are they here right now.?"
A nod, Elizabeth still stroking Edward's hair. "Though you and your beautiful bride cannot see them as I can."
A hard swallow, the movement of his Adam's apple visible. "Tell them I love them, Mama."
Soft, female laughter, that of an English Rose. "They love you and Bella, too, my beautiful boy, and your grandpapa James says to hurry up and teach Bella swordplay as he taught you, the reason why I am laughing."
Then there was no more time to talk, the Cullens, Charlie, Renee, Phil, Billy, and the dog quickly approaching them.
Bella shifted into Edward's embrace, Edward pulling her close to his side, his arm coming about her waist, cradling her to him, pressing a kiss to her temple, the crown of her head. Carlisle and Esme were the first to reach them, followed by Alice and Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett coming close, too, but staying some distance away. Carlisle and Esme, who had not yet seen them in private, blinked, taking aback by the way Bella was dressed, exactly as she would have been in 1918, including the gloves, and it was Carlisle who spoke, his words coming from both him and Esme. ""Wow, Bella, you look beautiful, congratulations.
Blushing, Bella lifted a hand, set it on Edward's chest, over the still organ that was his heart. "Thank you."
Alice looked like she wanted to say something, was silently communicating with Edward, because he hissed at her, not so loud that Charlie, Renee, Phil, Billy and the dog, who were a short distance away now, would overhear, but just loud enough so their little group would hear, shook his head.
Then Charlie, Renee, and Phil reached them, Bella's mother and father taking turns taking her into their arms, though Edward kept an arm around her waist. Then came the pictures, so many pictures, Bella felt as if she was in a photo shoot, Edward insisting he couldn't let her go, had to hold her because of her broken leg. The reality, however, it was a lot more Sinister and Insidious, for Edward, her beautiful fiance and future husband, he wouldn't let her go for a second, leave her unprotected in the same vcicinity as a possible werewolf. The dog's eyes, so dark they were akin to obsidian, stared at them with such hatred, it made Bella's skin crawl and itch, made her want to get out of there soon as possible.
Thankfully, her parents soon took the last picture and Bella was able to step more fully into Edward's embrace, his beloved mother, Elizabeth, coming to stand beside them, putting an arm around them both. Charlie's scratched his head awkwardly, clearly sensing something was going on, but not quite what. "Listen, Bella, Alice told us about the graduation party the Cullens are throwing, and we know you'll be there soon enough, but before you do that, we want you to come to La Push. Since none of us can cook and we don't want you to have to do it, want to celebrate you, I told Billy, and he told Sue, so she cooked a meal for you, for all of us."
Charlie looked thoughtful, like he wanted to say more, perhaps invite Edward and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, as it was not polite for him to do otherwise, especially as Edward and Bella were betrothed, were to be married and just a couple of weeks time, but the dog spoke before he could, a smug smile on his face. "Come on, Bells, when was the last time you got some proper sun? We could go to the beach, hang out, Just the two of us . . . "
She knew the dog was still speaking, but she couldn't hear him anymore, not with the ringing in her ears. She felt her body and knees grow weak before the world turned into darkness, knowing, even in her state of unconsciousness, Edward would keep her safe, wouldn't let anything happen to her.