Sunlight slipped between the leaves of the trees around, as Bella stumbled behind Edward, an easy target for his teasing. Leading the way, he finally moved a branch to reveal a sprawling golden meadow. Bella clambered out of the evergreen forest, stopping for a moment to take in the full unobstructed sunlight, lukewarm as it was. Edward gently took her sleeve, holding his breath as she stepped towards him, and weaving through the high grass towards a fallen tree. He didn't mention that he was the one to push it down, or snap off the annoying branches with his bare hands.
"Wow. This is really pretty." Bella commented, her fingers brushing against the wildflowers as she settled down. Moss adorned the fallen trunk, glowing lime in the afternoon sun. "I can see myself reading a lot here." Edward held out a cigarette, which she accepted gratefully. "Ever try weed?"
Edward choked as she cupped the cigarette and lit it, peeking at him from the corner of her eye.
"Can't say I have," he chuckled truthfully, taking the lighter back and lighting his own cigarette, trying to shake off nis surprise. "In all my years, it has never crossed my mind." He thought for a moment. "I wonder how it would affect me."
"Find me someone and we can find out, oh, wise one." Bella smirked.
Edward blinked, startled again at her boldness. This was so random.
"Sorry." Bella dipped her head, pulling her knees to her chest. "It's the lack of people and… something else. I don't know what it is, but something about you makes me feel comfortable. It's like…" She tilted her head at him, meeting his gaze, and flicking the ash of her cigarette. "Like my brain feels like it's known you forever, like it's been waiting to talk to you for so long. Oh, god." Her face fell back to her knees, eyes squeezed shut. "That sounds so weird!"
Edward was silent for a moment, the weight of this confession washing over him. It wasn't weird. It was exactly what he was engineered to do; it was in his DNA. Most people found ease in his presence. A calm would wash over them, if he was good enough at pretending to be human. He didn't want to think about why that was.
It suddenly came to Edward's attention that he had said nothing to reassure the girl sitting beside him.
"It's fine, it just sounds like anxiety. And most people are pretty calm around me, don't worry." Bella just lifted her head, eyes still closed as the breeze whipped strands of hair around her face, and she breathed in deeply, as if it was giving her strength. "Why weed?" Edward added with curiosity.
She released her breath as she spoke, a fleeting smile on her face "I just want my brain to shut up sometimes, you know?" She opened her eyes and grinned towards the end of her sentence, a playful look in her eyes, but a brief flash of deep pain settled behind it. Edward tried to smile back and just nodded, not wanting to pry. "Plus, y'know, this field just had the right vibes for it."
"Alright, we'll give it a go," Edward let out a soft chuckle. "I'll sort it." Somehow.
"Thanks."
They chatted for a while about other things, discussing their classes, the quiet town they lived in and the boring people in it. Edward listened intently as Bella spoke of her father, Chief Swan, and how their relationship was mostly just awkward banter, absorbing each word and feeling deeply for her. Edward described what it was like to have four siblings, finding humour in Bella's reaction.
"Wait, all five of you are siblings?" Bella asked doubtfully, a mild look of alarm on her face. Edward laughed.
"Kinda," Edward laughed. "We're all adopted, but Emmet and Rose are together, Alice and Jasper too." Bella didn't look convinced, and the way she raised an eyebrow was comically adorable. "I know, it's weird, but we were all adopted at very different times so it's not like we grew up together. I don't know…" Edward trailed off, feeling awkwardness wash over him, but Bella just returned her gaze to the meadow. In the far, far distance, Edward heard the bell for the final period of the day. Bella, of course, didn't hear a thing.
He didn't bother reminding her about class as they continued to talk until it was dark.
"You really didn't have to walk me home, Edward." Bella muttered, kicking the ground as they made their way through the dark streets.
"Well, you made the mistake of getting Charlie to take you to school." He replied teasingly.
"I didn't think I'd be walking home this late. You kidnapped me," she retorted, a playful smile spreading across her lips.
"How dare you?" Edward exclaimed dryly in mock offence. "I would never do such a thing."
"I literally have rope burn, Edward, don't act innocent," Bella teased. Edward laughed, instinctually taking a deep breath after. Instant regret followed as a burning sensation scorched his throat, and he froze, holding onto a nearby tree for support.
"Hey, hey you okay?" Bella stepped closer, an arm going to rest on his shoulder.
As she made contact, Edward jolted backwards, as if she had electrocuted him. Bella's eyes widened with a flash of fear, as the colour of his irises shifted from a honey brown to almost black. She shook her head, as if dismissing it as an illusion of the night.
"Just… give me a moment…" Edward grunted through gritted teeth. He hoped she hadn't noticed he had grown particularly still.
Edward was trying hard not to breathe, hoping the burning would die back down again. At least if the burning was constant he would be more aware, and on guard; so far it seemed to come at random, but especially when Bella got close to him. He felt the weight of her gaze as he studied him. As he looked up, seeing the concern in her eyes, he slowly exhaled, exaggerating his shoulder movements a little.
"I'm fine… I'm fine, sorry. Just like… some random panic attack or something…" His weak explanation made him cringe, wishing he had a more convincing excuse or, at least, had the forethought to make it look like a panic attack of some sort. "I'm fine, really," he reassured her firmly.
Bella studied him for a moment, searching his expression until her gaze softened and she nodded. "Let's get out of here then."
Don't do that. It's weird.
Alice's looping thoughts travelled through the quiet house to Edward's room, all playfulness absent from their movement. Ignoring her, Edward slipped through the glass doors to his bedroom balcony, and ran.
Bella looked entirely peaceful as she slept. Edward, balanced on a sturdy tree branch outside her window, couldn't bring himself to tear his eyes away from her. He watched the steady rise and fall of her chest, imagining the rhythm of her heartbeat. He leaned forward, resting his palm on the windowsill, still drawn to her as she lay soundly. He didn't know why he was there- only that he felt an overwhelming need to be around her… and especially since he couldn't catch her scent from here. Deciding she was probably safe, Edward reluctantly returned to his own room.
Alice was waiting on his bed when he returned home, arms folded, her lips tight in a line as Edward plopped down onto a bean bag.
"What the fuck Edward?"
"What?" Edward muttered, kicking off his shoes lazily. Alice leaned forward, eyes narrowed.
"I know you know I saw what you did- or decided to do!"
"Maybe keep your nose out of my mind then."
"You're one to talk!" Alice snapped, standing her ground. Her frustration was evident, but Edward only stared back, holding her gaze. He felt the electric tension in the air, and her thoughts were more uniformed than they'd ever been. Alice sighed, her stature shrinking as her shoulders dropped. "I've seen where this is going, Edward. Believe me, you don't want to go down this path. Why are you even doing stuff like this? Watching her sleep…"
With a heavy sigh, Edward sank deeper into the beanbag , the fabric swallowing him as guilt, shame and confusion danced around his stomach. He knew he felt overly protective of Bella in some way, and an obsession with the smell of her blood. He knew what Carlisle said but was still doubtful.
"Is it a power thing?" Alice's words sliced through his thoughts, cutting him with her next words. "You want to have power over her?"
"No! Definitely not that." Edward shook his head frantically, then paused. "Well, no more than a vampire usually wants power over a human… rather I've been trying not to think of that." He glanced down, fidgeting with a stray thread on his jeans "I just feel like I must protect her from… something. I just can't stay away from her."
Alice's eyes softened momentarily, before determination settled once again. As she stepped closer and knelt down, she placed a hand on Edward's.
"Well, you need to." Her voice was softer now, almost pleading." If she's awake and allowing it, fine. But humans are not fond of being watched while they sleep, Edward. It puts them in a more vulnerable position." She searched his eyes for a glimpse of understanding. "You might not like to think about it, but at that moment you have immense power over her."
A heavy silence settled between them as Edward finally met her eyes again.
"You'll end up becoming the monster you're supposedly trying to protect her from." Her voice held an edge of urgency as she stood and left Edward to the echoes of her warning. His eyes lingered on the door as her footsteps faded long after she was gone.
With yet another sigh he rose to his feet, and threw himself down on his bed, gazing up at the ceiling pattern as his thoughts raced.
A/N: Sorry, time is barely real to me so keeping a schedule is not proving easy. Thanks for patience and reviews from the few people following my story! I'm not the most confident writer but I'm trying my best and I hope you guys enjoy this chapter as this is the last of my pre-written chapters… Also still looking for beta readers so please PM me if you'd like to help out!
