This morning I deliberately parked as far away from the silver Volvo that I could manage. I didn’t want to give in to temptation and end up owing him a new car. When I was getting out of the truck, my keys fell into a puddle. I reached down to grab them but a white hand snatched them before I had the chance. I straightened up and Edward was holding my keys. He was right next to me, casually leaning on my truck.
“How do you do that?” I asked him. I was angry and amazed all at once.
“Do what?” he asked while handing me the keys.
“Appear out of thin air.” I said bluntly.
“Bella, it’s not my fault if you’re exceptionally unobservant.” he said in his velvet voice.
I scowled at his gorgeously flawless face. I had to look down for a minute to reassemble my thoughts. Then I asked him about yesterday’s traffic jam, adding that I thought he was pretending I don’t exist instead of irritating me to death. He said he did it for Tyler’s benefit: “That was for Tyler’s sake, not mine. I had to give him his chance.” and then he snickered. I was furious. I couldn’t think of a worthy insult. I felt like the heat of my anger should’ve physically burned him right there on the spot but he was amused and declared he wasn’t pretending I didn’t exist. “So are you trying to irritate me to death since Tyler’s van didn’t do the job?” I saw the anger flash in his eyes, all signs of humor left his face. “Bella, you are utterly absurd.” he said coldly.
At that moment I wanted to hit something, this surprised me because I’m a non-violent person. I guess Edward brings out the worst in me. I turned my back to him and started to walk away. “Wait!” he called. I kept walking but he was next to me, keeping his pace the same as mine, sloshing through the rain. He apologized for being rude. I grumbled “Why won’t you leave me alone?” He wanted to ask me something.
“Do you have a multiple personality disorder?” I asked severely.
“You’re doing it again.” he said. “Fine then. What do you want to ask?”
“I was wondering if a week from Saturday, you know, the day of the spring dance –”
I interrupted him. “Are you trying to be funny?”
“Will you allow me to finish?” he asked, his face was wickedly amused. I clasped my hands together and interlocked fingers, this would prevent me from doing anything rash I thought to myself.
“I heard you say you were going to Seattle and I was wondering if you wanted a ride.”
That was unexpected. I wasn’t sure what he was getting at.
“Do you want a ride to Seattle?” he asked properly.
“With who?” I asked mystified. “My-self, ob-vi-ous-ly.” he answered as if he were talking to a mentally handicapped.
“Why?” I asked him, I was too stunned.
“Well, I was planning to go to Seattle in the next few weeks and to be honest, I’m not sure your truck can make it.”
“My truck works just fine, thank you very much for your concern.” I started to walk again but I was too surprised to maintain the same level of anger.
“But can your truck make it there on one tank of gas?” he was walking right next to me again.
“I don’t see how that is any of your business.”
“The wasting of finite resources is everyone’s business.”
“Honestly Edward, I can’t keep up with you. I thought you didn’t want to be my friend.”
“I said it would better if we weren’t friends, not that I didn’t want to be.”
“Oh, thanks, now that’s all cleared up.”
“It would be more prudent for you not to be my friend, but I’m tired of staying away from you Bella.”
We were under the cafeteria roof, so I could look at his face a lot more easily. His eyes were a gloriously intense golden honey color, when he uttered the last sentence, his voice was smoldering. I forgot how to breathe. “Will you go with me to Seattle?” his voice still intense. I was utterly speechless. I nodded in response and he smiled briefly. His face turned serious and he said “You really should stay away from me.” he warned. “I’ll see you in class.” he said and walked away.
I made my way to English in a daze. I didn’t even realize that class had already started. Stupid Edward, making me late for class. “Thank you for joining us Miss Swan.” Mr. Mason said in a disparaging tone. I flushed and hurried to my seat. It wasn’t until class was over that I noticed Mike wasn’t in his usual seat next to me, but he and Eric met me at the door as usual so I guess I wasn’t completely unforgiven. Mike went back to his usual self while we walked, he talked about the weather report for this weekend. The beach trip he’s been planning might be possible but rain or no rain, it’ll still be in the high forties. The rest of the morning was a blur. I found it hard to believe that Edward’s conversation really took place. It seemed more probable that it was all my invention. That he seemed genuinely interested in me, might have been a day dream. When Jessica and I entered the cafeteria, I was frightened and anxious. I wanted to see if he had gone back to the cold and indifferent personna I’ve known for several weeks or if what happened this morning was real and he really did talk to me. Jessica babbled away about her plans for the spring dance. Lauren and Angela asked the other boys and they were all going together. That much I absorbed since I wasn’t paying attention to a word she said. A shock of dissapointment went through me when I saw only 4 of 5 Cullens at their usual table. I quickly lost my appetite and opted for a bottle of lemonade. Jessica babbled all through the line, I just wanted to sit down and sulk. “Edward Cullen is staring at you again. I wonder why he’s sitting alone today.” Jessica said, breaking through my abstraction with his name. I followed her gaze to see Edward staring at me from an empty table across the cafeteria from where he usually sat. When our eyes met he raised his index finger and motioned for me to join him, wearing his crooked smile I’ve grown to adore. As I stared in disbelief, he winked. “Does he mean you?” Jessica asked, insult and astonishment in her voice. “Maybe he needs help with his Biology homework.” I muttered for her benefit. I could feel her staring at me as I walked away. When I reached his table I stood behind the chair across from him, unsure of the situation. “Why don’t you sit with me today?” he asked, smiling. I sat down automatically and watched him with caution. I almost expected him to vanish in a poof of smoke. Someone that beautiful couldn’t possibly be real, much less want to sit with me. He waited for me to say something, he was still smiling.
“This is different.” I managed to say.
“Well… I decided as long as I was going to hell I might as well do it thoroughly.” he said in a rush.
I waited for him to say something that made more sense but the seconds passed. “You know I don’t have any idea what you mean.” I pointed out.
“I know.” he said smiling. “I think your friends are angry with me for stealing you.” he said, changing the subject.
“They’ll survive.” I could feel their stares burning the back of my head.
“I may not want to give you back though.” he said with a wicked face.
I gulped.
He laughed. “You look worried.” he said.
“No.” I said, but my voice broke. “Surprised actually, what brought all this on?”
“I told you, I got tired of staying away from you. So I’m giving up.” He was still smiling but his ocher eyes were very serious.
I was confused. “Giving up?” I repeated.
“Yes, giving up trying to be good. I’m just going to do what I want now and let the chips fall where they may.”
“You lost me again.” I said with a sigh.
His crooked smile appeared again. “I always say too much when I’m talking to you, that’s one of the problems.”
“Don’t worry about it, I don’t understand any of it.” I said wryly.
“I’m counting on that.”
“So, in plain English, are we friends now?”
“Friends.” he said dubious.
“Or not.” I muttered.
“Well we can try, I suppose. But I’m warning you now that I’m not a good friend you.”
Behind his smile the threat was real.
“You say that a lot.” I noted.
“Yes, because you’re not listening to me. I’m still waiting for you to believe it. If you’re smart you’ll avoid me.”
“I think you’ve made your opinion on the subject of my intellect clear, too.” I narrowed my eyes at him and he smiled apologetically. “So as long as I’m being not smart, we’ll try to be friends?”
“That sounds about right.”
After we settled that I didn’t know what to do. I fiddled with my lemonade bottle.
“What are you thinking?” he asked curiously.
I looked deep into his eyes and got lost. “I’m trying to figure out what you are.” I blurted out.
His jaw tightened but he held his smile. “Are you having any luck with that?”
“Not really.” I admitted.
He chuckled. “What are your theories?”
There was no way I was going to expose my lame idea of comparing him to Bruce Wayne or Peter Parker.
“Won’t you tell me?” he tilted his head to one side with a shockingly tempting smile.
I shook my head. “Too embarassing.”
“That’s really frustrating you know.”
“No. I can’t imagine why that would be frustrating at all, just because someone refuses to tell you what they’re thinking, even if all the while they’re making cryptic little remarks, specifically designed to keep you up at night wondering what they could possibly mean, now why would that be frustrating?” He grimaced. “Or better, say that person also did a wide range of bizzare things, from saving your life under impossible circumstances one day to treating you like a pariah the next, and he never explained any of that either even after he promised. That also would also be very non-frustrating.”
“You’ve got a bit of a temper don’t you?”
“I don’t like double standards.” We stared at each other in silence. Edward looked over my shoulder and snickered. “What?”
“You’re boyfriend seems to think I’m being unpleasant to you, he’s debating whether or not he should come and break our fight.” he snickered again.
“I don’t know who you’re talking about but I’m sure you’re wrong anyway.” I said icyly.
“I’m not. I told you, most people are easy to read.”
“Except me of course.”
“Yes. Except for you. I wonder why that is.” His mood shifted to a brooding one.
I looked away from his intense eyes and took a swig of my lemonade.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“No.” I wasn’t going to admit that my stomache was full of butterflies. “And you?”
“No.” he said, enjoying a private joke.
I asked him if he could do me a favor. He was suddenly wary but answered depends on what. I told him it wasn’t much. I wanted a warning before he decided to ignore me for my own good. He stifled a laugh but said that was reasonable enough. He wanted something in return though. He wanted one theory. I fought back saying that wasn’t fair but he promised he wouldn’t laugh. I told him he’s broken promises himself but he insisted. His ocher eyes were scorching with pleading. I was completely dazed and started stuttering. Just one theory he begged with his smoldering gaze. “Umm, well, bitten by a radioactive spider?” I answered. “Not very creative.” he said, disappointed. “That’s all I’ve got.” I said, miffed. “You’re not even close.” he teased. No spiders, no radioactivity, not affected by kryptonite. He wanted me to try harder. I really didn’t know what to think and then he said, “What if I’m not a superhero? What if I’m the bad guy?”. “Oh. I see.” Several things he hinted fell into place. “Do you?” his face was severe as if he’d said too much. He was dangerous. He was trying to tell me that all along, but he wasn’t bad. “You’re wrong.” he said to my spoken thoughts. It was obvious that he meant what he said but I simply couldn’t believe it. Next thing I knew, the cafeteria was empty. I told him him we were going to be late for Biology but he said that sometimes it’s healthy to skip class. I wasn’t going to ruin my perfect attendace so I hurried, leaving him there looking miserable.
When I got to class Mike was looking at me slightly annoyed and Angela was awed. Mr. Banner meant to conduct a blood typing test today and that just didn’t sit well with me. He conducted the first example with Mike and my stomache started flipping. He announced that the Red Cross is having a blood drive this weekend and that we should all know our blood type. I couldn’t take it. I put my head down and could listen to everything that was happening around me. “Bella? Are you alright?” Mr. Banner sounded alarmed. I told him I already knew my blood type. Next thing I knew Mike was taking me to the nurse’s office. He towed me slowly across campus until we reached the cafeteria. I told him I needed to sit down and warned him to put his hand in his pocket. I slumped over on my side and let my cheek touch the freezing damp cement of the sidewalk, it felt pleasant. Mike said something about me looking green and then I heard a familiar voice calling me and asking if I was alright. I thought I was dreaming. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried my best not to throw up. He was there, worrying about me and Mike tried to explain that I fainted and that he tried to take me to the nurse’s office. “Bella? Can you hear me?” Edward’s voice was right next to me. “No. Go away.” I complained. I heard Edward tell Mike that he was going to take me to the nurse’s office and Mike tried to resist him but then the sidewalk disappeared under me. Edward had taken me in his arms effortlessly as if I weighed ten pounds. “Put me down.” I complained. I tried to hold off vomiting. He said I looked awful, I’m sure I did. Mike called behind us but Edward ignored him. “Put me down on the sidewalk.” I said. He simply carried me away, holding me with only his arms and he never flinched. “So you faint at the sight of blood.” he was amused. “And not even your own blood.” he continued. I shut my eyes again and got a hold on my nausea. When we made it to the office Edward explained that I had fainted in Biology. I lied down and I could feel the nausea fading. I could hear Edward’s chuckles as the nurse asked me if this happened a lot. Only sometimes, I admitted. The nurse told him he could go back to class but Edward expressed himself with such authority that he was told to stay, the nurse said nothing more with pursed lips. She left to get some ice for my head. I didn’t need it but I said nothing about it.
“You were right.” I moaned.
“I usually am, but about what in particular this time?” Edward asked.
“Ditching is healthy.”
“You scared me for a minute there. I thought Newton was dragging your dead body to bury it in the woods.” he sounded embarassed to confess his thoughts.
“Ha ha.” I kept my eyes closed but I felt better by the minute.
“Honestly, I’ve seen corpses with better color. I was concerned that I might have to avenge your murder.”
“Poor Mike. I’ll bet he’s mad.”
“He absolutely loathes me.” he said cheerfully.
“You can’t know that.” but then I wondered if maybe he could.
“I saw his face. I could tell.”
The queasiness went away, but I wasn’t sure if skipping lunch was a good idea. Maybe if I had eaten I would’ve hurled all over Edward so I guess everything happens for a reason. I asked him how he saw me by the cafeteria, since he was ditching. He gave me such a normal response that I was surprised to hear it. He was in his car listening to a CD. The nurse came in with a cold compress in her hand and put in on my forehead. She said I looked better and I told her I was fine. I sat up and everything was in its place. No dizziness and no desire to stay there any longer. She looked at me with disapproval but Ms. Cole informed her “We’ve got another one.”. I was more than happy to leave my place for someone else that needed it. Mike staggered through the door, supporting a sallow looking Lee Stephens, another boy from our Biology class. “Oh no.” said Edward and he told me to leave the nurse’s office quickly. I looked at him bewildered “Trust me, go.” he said. I darted to the front office and then he looked at me surprised. “You actually listened to me.” He was stunned. “I could smell the blood.” I told him, wrinkling my nose. He contradicted me by saying that people can’t smell blood. I told him the smell of rust and salt is what makes me sick. He stared at me with an unfathomable expression. Humans can smell blood but only in short distances. I looked it up. When Mike joined us he gave Edward the loathing expression and then looked at me with glum eyes.
“You look better.”
“Just keep your hand in your pocket.” I warned him again.
“It’s not bleeding anymore.” He muttered. “Are you going back to class?”
“Are you kidding? I’d just have to turn around and come back.”
Edward stood by the counter like a statue staring off into space. Mike asked me if I was going to the beach with him and the usual crew and gave me all the details, glaring at Edward to make sure he got the hint that he wasn’t invited. “I’ll be there.” I promised. “I’ll see you in Gym then.” Mike said. He looked sad when he left. I felt guilty that I would disappoint him in Gym. Edward could hear my negative muttering about going to Gym so he arranged with Ms. Cope my excuse due to health reasons and offered to drive me home. “Go sit down and look pale.” were his instructions to me. That was easy, I still had a sheen of sweat on my face from my dizzy episode so I rested my head against the wall and closed my eyes. After everything was settled with Ms. Cope he turned his back to her and asked “Can you walk or do you want me to carry you again?” his expression was sarcastic. “I’ll walk.” I assured him. He opened the door for me, his face a mockery. I asked him if he was going to the beach. I tried my best to invite him but it seemed more than obvious that wasn’t going to happen and when I wanted to drive myself home, he didn’t let me. He insisted that he had promised to take me home safely and that he wasn’t going to have it with me driving my truck. I calculated my chances to escape from him but they were pretty slim. He warned me that he would just drag me back if I tried. Alice would drive my truck home. So I got into the Volvo with whatever dignity I had left. He was listening to Claire de Lune. I commented on it. “You know Debussy?” he asked. I explained how Renée listened to classical music and that I only knew my favorites. He confessed it was one of his favorites too. I was glad we had something in common, it made things less out of balance between us. The rain blurred everything and he drove really fast but I didn’t notice it much, it was a smooth and even ride. He suddenly asked about my mother “What is your mother like?” he was studying me with curious eyes. “She’s a lot like me, but she’s prettier.” He raised his eyebrow. I explained I have too much Charlie in me. “She’s more outgoing than I am, and braver. She’s irresponsible and slightly eccentric, and a very unpredictable cook. She’s my best friend.” Talking about her made me depressed. I miss her so much. “How old are you Bella?” he looked frustrated again. I noticed he had stopped the car. I could barely see the house, the rain was too heavy. It was like the car was submerged under a river. “Seventeen.” I answered to his question. “You don’t seem seventeen.” It sounded like a reproach. I laughed and told him about how my mother used to say I was born 35 and get more middle aged every year. I scolded him by saying he didn’t look much like a junior in high school either. He made a face and changed the subject. “Why did your mother marry Phil?” that caught me off guard. I’m surprised he remembered his name. I only mentioned it once. It took me a moment to answer.
“My mother, she’s very young for her age. I think Phil makes her feel even younger. At any rate, she’s crazy about him.” I shook my head. The attraction is a mystery to me.
“Do you approve?” he asked.
“Does it matter?” I countered. “I want her to be happy and he is who she wants.”
“That’s very generous. I wonder…” he mused.
“What?”
“Would she extend the same courtesy to you, do you think?”
“I think so.” I stuttered. “But she’s the parent after all. It’s a little bit different.”
“No one too scary then.” he teased.
I grinned. “What do you mean by scary? Multiple facial piercings and extensive tattoos?”
“That’s one definition I suppose.” A smile played on his face.
“What’s your definition?” He ignored my question and asked another.
He asked me if I thought he could be scary. I told him the truth, that he could he scary if he wanted to. I remembered that first day in Biology when he gave me the chills by just looking at his intense coal black eyes. When he asked me if I was frightened of him at that moment his face turned very serious. I quickly said no and his smile brightened his face again. So many questions about my family that I had to ask about his family. It was surely much more interesting than mine. He was quickly uptight and cautious when I broached the subject. He confirmed he was adopted. His parents died a long time ago, he said it very matter of fact. He spoke so well of Dr. Cullen and his wife that it was plain how much Edward loves them. When I asked about his siblings he reminded me that he had to pick them up at school. I didn’t want to leave. I could’ve stayed there all afternoon just talking to him. When I asked him if I was going to see him tomorrow he told me was going out camping with Emmet. I tried to hide my misery but I failed, he smiled.
“Will you do something for me this weekend?” He turned to look me straight in the face, utilizing the full power of his burning golden eyes. I nodded helplessly. “Don’t be offended, but you seem to be one of those people who just attract accidents like a magnet. So try not to fall into the ocean or get run over or anything, alright?” He smiled his crooked smile and I glared at him. “I’ll see what I can do.” I snapped back and jumped into the pouring rain. I could see him smiling as he drove away.
I rushed to the door and got in. First thing I did was take off my boots and then put my clothes in the washer. They were soaking wet. I got in the shower looking for warmth. My mind was spinning. After a long ritual of cleansing and getting dressed, I started on my homework. Macbeth just couldn’t grab my full attention. I listened for my truck. I thought that I could hear its roaring engine in the heavy rainfall but when I went to peek out the curtain again, it was suddenly there. Maybe I could get away with Charlie never knowing what happened but what are the odds? There are no secrets in Forks, yet Edward knew something I didn’t. He made it very clear.