Out of Choices - Chapter 26
Title: Out Of Choices
Chapter 26: Extracurriculars (Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.1, 19.2, 20, 21, 22.1, 22.2, 23, 24, 25)
Author:JCAddict/picklewinkle/Sher
Fandom: Twilight
Word Count:5,406
Rating: R/M, for sex and language
Story Summary: An angry young woman is forced to move to the town of Forks, Washington and decides that alone is the best way to be. She buries her heart under her anger and puts on a tough façade that very few people are able to break through. Can the love of a teenage vampire get through to the lost girl inside, even when his true nature is revealed? AU (alternative universe) and OOC (out of character). Bella is uber OOC. Edward, not so much.
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all of its characters. I'm just manipulating them like imaginary playdoh so I feel like I have some power over them **snorts**
26. Extracurriculars
A/N: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all of it’s characters in English, Spanish, French, German, Greek and every other language I might have used along the way to say it.
I have nothing important to add about the chapter really. It’s just some yummy delicious Edward/Bella interaction. Enjoy!
From Edward’s POV…
I watched Bella carefully during gym to make sure Mike Newton left her alone. She was easy to find; Mike’s eyes rarely left her. Her broken leg had relegated her to the station of spectator, a by-product of her injury that pleased her more than probably any other. For whatever reason her teacher had required her to dress for gym even though she never got off the bleachers. The fact that she seemed content eased my mind a small amount.
Mike’s thoughts ranged from jealousy to embarrassment and remorse over how he’d treated her earlier in the day. He hadn’t picked the exact meaning out of Bella’s words about me, but he was on the verge of it. I was sure it was his inability to believe that he wasn’t her choice that held him back from complete comprehension that Bella was with me now. If there were any balance in the universe, the job of dealing the final fatal blow to Mike’s irritating covetiveness of Bella would be mine. Unlike Bella, I was more than eager to spend as much time as it took with Mike to get him to see the truth. I’d heard every disrespectful word he’d spoken to Bella earlier and my patience was gone. He needed to understand that he had less that zero claim on her, and he needed to understand it now.
I waited outside on the picnic tables for Bella. She asked that I meet her in the parking lot, and I allowed her to believe that she fooled me. She was simply trying to keep me away from having a run in with Mike. I thought it was rather sweet that she was worried about me, however unnecessary it was. I knew I didn’t have to chase a discussion with Mike. It was inevitable that he would make another mistake. Mistakes were all he ever seemed to make. In fact, he was thinking about how to handle me at that very moment, on his way to find me. Opportunity was on my doorstep and I waited for it to knock.
Mike marched over to me and wasted no time giving me his opinion. “I don’t like you hanging around with Bella,” he remarked angrily. He was all bravado in his mind, but it didn’t translate to his demeanour as successfully as he thought it did.
“Noted,” I affirmed. “However, since the company Bella keeps is not your concern, it’s a moot point. In fact Mike, Bella is not your concern. At all. I understand that you have a childish fantasy that you and she are a couple, and believe me when I say it provides me with a great deal of drollery as well as irritation, but that fantasy will never materialize beyond your ignoble and paltry mind.”
“Huh?”
I snickered at his stupidity. “Let me lower myself to your level,” I offered. “She is with me, Mike. She has not ever and does not currently like you. You are irritating and bothersome to her, and I would very much like you to move on to some other unsuspecting girl. Bella is off the market.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about Cullen. Bella would have told me if she was…dating you or whatever.”
“She did, Fool. This morning she told you that I was the one looking after her and that you had to take it up with me if you didn’t like it. Are you?” I wondered. His mind was running through this morning’s conversation with Bella, searching for a way to reinterpret her words to suit his desires.
“Am I what?” he sputtered defensively.
“Are you taking up your dislike of my relationship with Bella with me?” I spoke slowly so as not to confuse the poor boy.
“You have no right to her Cullen.”
“That’s true, and neither do you. Bella is free to be with whoever she chooses, although I have it from a fairly confident source that even if I was not her choice, that you never would be.”
“You’re so full of yourself Cullen. You…” I interrupted him before he went too far. I was a controlled man, but even I was not above provocation.
“As Bella would say, ‘it takes one to know one.’ You are no less arrogant than I am. The difference that separates us is that my importance in Bella’s life has been confirmed by Bella herself.”
He took a swing at me and I dodged his fist effortlessly, but got to my feet anyway as his stance widened, his mind wavering between backing off and trying to hit me again. He was trying to decide what his chances were if he took things to an even more physical level. The breeze carried Bella’s scent to my nose. She was nearby, likely looking for me. I had hoped I would be finished with Mike before she had to witness his idiocy.
“I’m not backing off Bella to make room for a dick like you Cullen,” Mike seethed. His voice was loud enough that Bella probably heard him.
“Well at least you can’t say you weren’t warned.” I offered my caveat sincerely. It was in Mike’s best interest to back off, and the immediate danger wasn’t coming from my direction. Bella was not the sort of girl to put up with the disrespectful behaviour he brandished her with earlier in the morning.
Bella appeared from around the corner of the hedges. “What’s going on guys?” she asked worriedly, awkwardly shuffling the last of the distance to where we were standing.
“Nothing, Bella,” I assured her. “Mike was just letting me know he doesn’t like us hanging around together.”
“Yeah, and this asshole was trying to lay claim to you. I told him he was full of shit.”
“Nice Mike,” Bella fumed, rolling her eyes at him. “You’re never going to get this through that fucking thick head of yours, are you?” She leaned toward me and accidentally threw her balance off. My hands came out to catch her.
“See? Just like I said you need someone to look after you,” Mike announced. In his mind Bella’s falter was just the proof he needed to convince Bella that she needed him. To him, there really was no other option.
“Are you all right?” I murmured softly, bending towards her ear. I was worried she might have hurt herself when she stumbled. She looked upset and angry.
“I’m fine,” she assured me. “But poor Mike over here needs a brain transplant.” I snickered. I couldn’t help myself. Bella had a way of putting everything into perspective with her swift wit.
“Come here Bella,” Mike demanded, holding his hand out to her. I froze. I wanted nothing more than to smite him down, but it was Bella’s choice. I kept my hands on her shoulders loosely and fought the urge to pull her to me. She was perfectly capable of handling Newton, and if I forced my will on her it made me no better than him.
“What is with you?” she blurted angrily. “Don’t you get it? How many times are you going to force me to say it? I don’t enjoy being mean, well not this repeatedly. If you’d just get it through your head that I am not the least bit interested in you it would make things so much fucking easier on everyone.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” Mike accused. “You’re just listening to the bullshit that Cullen has been spewing about me. He doesn’t deserve a girl like you Bella. He’s a freak.”
“He’s no more a freak than I am. Just because he’s different than you doesn’t mean he’s defective, you small-minded asshole! And I know exactly what I’m saying. Edward’s never called you a single name or said anything against you out loud, although I'm sure he's thought it, you fuckhead. Unlike you he keeps his opinions to himself.”
“Look at him Bella! He’s got you convinced that he’s this perfect guy but you know that he’s treated you like dirt. He doesn’t deserve your loyalty and he sure as hell doesn’t deserve to put his hands on you.”
“Ugh, you’re fucking impossible. Forget Edward. I don’t want you Mike. Hear me!” she growled, frustrated.
I bent to Bella’s ear again and whispered, “Let me take you out of here, please? You shouldn’t be dealing with Mike right now. You’ve been on your feet all day. Let me take you home to rest.”
“No, it’s fine,” she reassured me, adjusting her tone to a casual confidence. She turned back to Mike. “We’re done here Mike. I really don’t want to have this conversation with you again.”
“I’m not going to stop fighting for you Bella. Once Cullen stops influencing you, you’ll change your mind. I can see what he’s doing to you.”
“Fine Mike. It’s your funeral.” When Bella turned and started walking towards the parking lot, Mike’s mind scrambled and he made the decision to physically stop her. He knew so little of her likes and dislikes, or ignored them, but either way I wasn’t going to allow him to grab her.
“I wouldn’t touch her Mike, not unless you’re looking for a problem,” I warned.
He ignored me and as Bella turned back to me, he laid his hand overtop of hers. “Get your fucking hand off me Newton,” she hissed. He stared back at her, startled by her reaction, and his mind went completely blank from shock. When he did not remove his hand, Bella went rigid for a moment, and then let her right crutch drop to the ground. I was waiting, wondering why Mike wasn’t reacting to her movements. It was almost as if he couldn’t see what was coming for him, even though I could clearly see what Bella was doing, one very well aimed and powerful right cross to his mouth. It sent him stumbling backwards, but it gave Bella exactly what she was after. Mike’s hand flew off of hers and up to cover his now bleeding lip.
I shrugged and bit my lip to keep from laughing. “I warned you.” I took a step towards Bella, picked up her crutch and handed it to her. “Nice shot,” I whispered, curling my arm around the small of her back to will her forward. I allowed her take a few steps before I asked her if she was okay. She growled a bit and I let her be, following behind her and chuckling under my breath. I would have preferred to hit the cretin myself, but there was poetic justice in Bella’s vice since she had to deal with the halfwit.
She stopped in front of her truck and her body was so rigid from agitation that I could see the tension in her shoulders. I stayed behind her, but moved my hand to her neck, sliding it under her hair and lightly rubbed her skin trying to soothe her. “I’m sorry that you have to put up with him,” I whispered. “I would have been glad to take care of him, but I know you didn’t want that. Tell me one thing though? Did it feel as good to hit him as you thought it would?” She laughed so hard her shoulders shook, and then she turned to face me. Her expression was a mixture of remorse and joy. “Don’t feel badly for striking him,” I pleaded. “He had it coming.”
“I don’t get him Edward. Why does he have to be such a prick? Why does he have to push so damn hard that I land up punching the motherfucker? Why can’t he just be happy for me?”
“He has feelings for you,” I murmured softly, “and he can’t comprehend how you could feel differently than he does. Would you really expect him to be happy that you’ve given your heart away to someone?”
“Oh come on Edward! I’ve never given him any fucking encouragement.”
“You can’t expect him to see the situation from anyone’s point of view but his own. I understand the desire behind his feelings. He sees a beautiful brunette that is full of fire and life. Why would he ever want to give up the dream of making you his?” She rolled her eyes, trying to disguise the embarrassment she felt from my compliment, but I could see a tiny amount of colour rise to her cheeks. I changed the subject so she wouldn’t feel more uncomfortable. “How are you feeling?” I wondered. “Are you up to some company or did you want to go home and rest?”
“You’re not getting out of things that easily buddy,” she warned me. “You promised me extracurriculars. I haven’t forgotten.”
My hand came up to cup her face. I didn’t feel conspicuous. The parking lot was deserted. “Bella,” I cautioned, “you’ve had a long day. You should rest.” My desire to continue our kiss from earlier seemed entirely selfish.
“Edward, it’s a broken leg, not the end of the world. I’m fine,” she assured me with the tiniest hint of a pout. She really wasn’t playing fair. She knew I couldn’t resist that expression.
“Okay,” I agreed, tracing her pouting lips with my thumb, “on one condition. Allow me to drive. I can bring you back here to pick up your truck later, but as long as you’re with me I want to drive.”
“Done,” she allowed, with no resistance. She gave in much more easily than I expected. Perhaps I should have demanded more, an entire evening with her, or maybe half the night. I would love to hold her all night again. I never felt more centered and peaceful than I had the night I held her. I knew she was safe. I could feel her heart beating against my body, keeping time like a clock. Her warmth made me feel alive again. It was heaven.
“That was too easy,” I teased. “You’re not usually so agreeable.”
“I was wrong today,” she admitted quietly.
“About what?”
“I should have let you walk me to class. I don’t really know what I’m doing here…I’ve never been this close to anyone before, and I’m pretty sure I’m screwing up the proper reaction six ways from Sunday.”
“Did something happen?” I asked. I’d watched her carefully. I hadn’t seen her fall or hurt herself. Her crutches had made her late for class once, but that was all I noticed.
“No, not really. It was just a long morning without you.” I got the feeling she was holding something back from me, but I let it drop for the moment, leading her to my car and helping her in. “So where are you taking us?”
“I’m taking you home.”
“Edward!” she complained.
“I’m only kidding. I really just wanted to take you somewhere we could be alone, where you would be comfortable. I thought about the beach, but I wasn’t sure the sand was a good idea for your cast. And the only other place I wondered about was the forest, to our little clearing.”
“That sounds perfect.”
“The forest it is then,” I smiled, pleased that she seemed as happy about going there as I was. We were in our own little world there, alone and in the place where we first connected. It was special to me.
We drove in silence for a while. Bella seemed preoccupied, always gazing out the window, and I wondered if perhaps she was still trying to keep something from me.
“You’re sure the forest will be okay with your leg?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“Mmm-huh,” she pledged.
“A penny for your thoughts?”
“Pardon?” she asked.
“What are you thinking about?” I petitioned softly.
“Nothing really.” I could tell that she was putting me off. I moved my hand from the gearshift and slid it along her seat, stopping a couple of inches from her hand. I turned my hand palm up and stretched my fingers out, opening my hand for her. I knew she’d sense it beside hers because the closer I moved it to her body, the stronger I felt her pull. Her hand moved towards mine slowly, and when her palm connected with my skin, her fingers fanned out along my hand and she sighed softly. She finally turned to look at me.
“Are you still thinking about earlier?”
“Yes.”
“About what the kids at school might be saying?”
“Not so much,” she admitted.
“Then what?” I asked. I couldn’t imagine where her mind was.
“It’s silly, really,” she complained. Her eyes fell to her lap and I knew it wasn’t silly at all. Whatever Bella was thinking about was making her uncomfortable, and whatever it was, it was important to her.
“I doubt it’s silly Bella, and even if it is, you can tell me. I want you to know that everything important to you is important to me too.” I pulled the car over to the edge of the road and parked it. “Do you want to walk, or would you like me to carry you?”
“Carry me please,” she whispered in the softest voice I’d ever heard her use. She was feeling vulnerable. I was beginning to think that this outing was a bad idea. I should have just taken her home. She’d had a long emotional day. It was selfish of me to bring her out here, even if she did want to come. I went around to her side of the car and opened the door. She looked up at me with expectant eyes and I knew I couldn’t deny her the forest now that we were here. I would have to be more careful with my decisions next time. I bent in and lifted her carefully into my arms. Her tiny hands came up to hold my neck, and just like every other time I’d held her like that, the action brought such love and longing in me. It was like she was meant to be in my arms like this, holding on to me, and connected to me.
“Are you sure about this?” I murmured softly in her ear.
“Please?” she requested in a whisper. She knew I wouldn’t deny her what she wanted.
I walked the distance to the clearing with Bella resting comfortably in my arms, her head nestled into my shoulder. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked again, worried. She nodded, tipping her chin up to look at me. She was so beautiful, almost angelic, with her deep brown eyes wide and wistful. I went to put her down on a fallen tree trunk and she complained.
“Please don’t,” she begged, holding on to me a little more tightly. I sat down instead, pulling her into my lap. I left my arms around her, moving my hand from beneath her knees up to encircle her waist, cradling her to my body. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re so quiet. Are you sure there’s nothing bothering you?” I questioned.
“It’s not bothering me…it’s just silly.”
“Please tell me,” I implored her quietly, tangling my hand into the ends of her hair. Her eyes came to mine and she stared intensely back at me.
“I missed you today,” she whispered. “I just feel better when you’re nearby.” Her admission was a difficult thing for her to say to me because she was acknowledging that she needed me. It couldn’t be less silly if she tried. I was so overcome with emotion; I couldn’t find the words to answer her. Instead I pressed my lips to hers, probably harder than I should have, but only because I was lost in my love for her. All of this quiet contemplation of hers, her vulnerability and discomfort, were because her feelings for me were so strong.
I pulled back a little, murmuring I love yous between kisses. I needed to say it to her as much as I wanted her to hear it. She kissed me back each time with building intensity, echoing my words in an almost desperate, inconsolable voice. Each time I pressed my lips to hers I willed my love to soothe her. I held her close to me and kissed her sweetly, patiently waiting for some sign that she was back in the present with me, instead of drowning in her fears and emotions, as I feared. Finally, her hand knit into my hair and I knew she was back in the moment with me.
“I missed you too,” I admitted softly, stroking her cheek with my fingertips. “It’s very…difficult for me to be away from you. I feel so much more peaceful when you’re with me, in my arms.” I didn’t give her a chance to answer me, pressing my lips back into hers as my own emotions crashed down on me again. Her yielding mouth came back at mine with perfect pressure, and her tiny hand pulled my face closer to hers. I felt as if I couldn’t get her close enough to me, my arms snaking around her and pulling her body even tighter against mine, eliciting a soft moan from her that further electrified the air around us.
I parted my lips and offered her my tongue, which she willingly accepted, twirling and pressing against me with all of her sweetness. Her taste made my tongue tingle and stirred something deep within my core. I let one of my hands drift up her back a small amount until I felt her soft hair tickling my skin. She chuckled against my lips. I’d given myself away too many times with how much I liked her hair. She had every right to chuckle. I wasn’t ashamed of how much her hair turned me on, and she’d just given me carte blanche to touch it at my will. I shamelessly plunged my hand into it, bunching it in my palm and letting it cascade over the sides, twisting and tangling the ends around my fingers and groaning softly. Her hair was so sexy.
I let my other hand deviate to her waist. They way I’d tilted her body in my arms caused her jacket to ride up, exposing a small amount of her creamy warm skin. My fingers instinctively found it. I fingered it with a feathery touch, following the line of her waistband as I traced where the fabric met her skin. When I could resist no longer, I allowed my hand to sweep across it, aching to feel its warmth on my palm, and tunnelled my fingers up under her shirt. Her body tensed for a moment as she gasped at the sensation, and then relaxed into my touch. I was right there with her, so overcome by the feeling of her bare skin that I could scarcely think straight. In fact, I could hardly think at all.
Her tiny hand came out of my hair and she forced it between our bodies, slowly and awkwardly unzipping my coat. Her hands burrowed between my shirt and coat, and I wished I had more warmth to offer her. She didn’t seem to miss it though, as her fingers pushed into my back and she pulled herself into my chest. I didn’t realize at first what she was doing, too caught up in the sensation of her fingers kneading my back. She was pulling at my shirt, untucking it from my jeans and searching out my skin the way I did hers. She’d felt my skin once before and seemed unbothered by its hardness and temperature. It was another reaction opposite to what I would expect. Then again, that night she had been so angry with me for being late for our date that perhaps her emotions distracted her from the sensations. I tensed a little, worried that it would turn her off, feeling the shame of what I was and that I was keeping it from Bella.
Bella angled her head further and pushed her tongue into my mouth commandingly. I tried to concentrate on her kiss as I felt her fingers inch slowly down my back. It was like waiting for a bomb to go off, each agonizing second ticking haltingly and taunting me as I waited for her rejection. The warmth of her fingertips was striking against my skin but it was me that gasped, not her. She pulled back from our kiss with guilty eyes.
“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” she asked quietly.
“Not at all…it’s just…” I didn’t know what to say to explain my thoughts.
“What?” she smiled knowingly. Did she not feel the temperature difference?
“My skin…”
“Did you not want me to touch it?” she wondered innocently.
“Quite the contrary actually, it’s just…well it’s…” My verbal circumvention was getting me nowhere. I didn’t want to outright lie to her, but I also didn’t want to avoid speaking about something that could very well bother her.
“Is it because it’s so cool?”
“Doesn’t it bother you?” I asked, surprised.
“No, does it bother you that mine is always so damn hot all the time?”
“Of course not,” I laughed. “I love how warm you are.”
“Then it should make sense to you that I love how cool you are.” It made no sense to me at all.
“You’re unbelievable. You really were sent here for me, weren’t you?” I whispered, smiling. It was unfathomable to me that she could look past the morbidly cold temperature of my skin, yet she was entirely unfazed by it.
“Where was I?” she mumbled, purposely dragging her fingers along the bare skin of my lower back. “Right there I think.”
I pressed my lips back into hers, dipping her body further back with my arms, showering her with love and adoration. She was a wonder, my wonder. My tongue tangled into her mouth, pushing and pressing against hers until she was panting. I slid my hand to the bare skin of her lower back again and revelled in its warmth, forcing the fabric aside so I could feel even more than what was already exposed. She moaned against my kiss, apparently revelling a little herself.
Time ceased to mean anything. It was just her and me and the affection that existed between us. I could have kissed her for hours, just sitting there with her in my lap, happy, warming me, showering me with love I didn’t even know I needed a few weeks ago. It was her shiver that brought me back down to Earth. I slowed down our kiss, smiling as she whimpered her complaints, lingering at her lips longingly and taking the last bit of contact I could.
“I should get you home,” I murmured.
“I’m happy here.”
“I am too,” I sighed, “but you’re cold and it’s getting late.”
“And your point would be?” she snarked.
“That you’re cold, and it’s getting late,” I laughed. “There’s always tomorrow Bella.”
“I hate that saying.”
“Why’s that?” I wondered.
“Because there isn’t always a tomorrow.” Her expression was suddenly glum.
“There is for us. I promise.” My words didn’t seem to soothe her. I got to my feet and let Bella’s weight rest in my arms, waiting for her to grab my neck. “Aren’t you going to hold on?”
“If I don’t, will you let us stay here?”
“Charlie will worry, and you have homework to do. You don’t want to fall behind in your school work or your Uncle will give you trouble.”
“I think you’re channelling him.”
“I just want what’s best for you.”
“Don’t you want to stay here with me?”
“More than anything, Bella. I was thinking earlier how much easier the ski trip was because there were no goodbyes. That was the best night of my life.”
“Really?” She was having trouble believing me. I could tell by the way her nose wrinkled and the one side of her mouth turned up. It was such an adorable expression, very child-like and innocent.
“Really,” I assured her. She moved her hands to my neck, resigning to the idea that our afternoon was over. I understood her reluctance.
She was quiet on the drive home. She held my hand between both of hers, playing with my fingers and tracing patterns on my palm. When I had to downshift as we approached town, she dropped my hand and wove her fingers into hair and softly rubbed my scalp. Something else was still bothering her, but she wasn’t going to tell me what it was today. That much was clear. I hated leaving her to drive home by herself, but she made me promise not to follow her. I think my protective nature bothered her at times. I let her climb into her truck and when she turned to face me, I pushed myself between her legs and pulled her body towards mine, kissing her softly.
“I’ll miss you,” I whispered. “I miss you already.” She slipped her arms around my shoulders and nuzzled her face into my neck. The soft sigh she thought she hid from me did not go unnoticed. I turned my head and kissed the side of her face, running my hand along the back of her head lovingly, wishing I could ease her distress and knowing I couldn’t.
“Me too,” she murmured wistfully.
“You can tell me anything you know?” I informed her thoughtfully.
“I know. Stop worrying so fucking much.”
I pulled back from her to look her in the eyes. “I can’t. You’re my whole world.” Her eyes lit up with understanding and she smiled happily. Her tiny hands came away from my neck and rested on my cheeks softly, and she stared into my eyes with a new intensity.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Now get the fuck out of here,” she laughed.
“Not until you kiss me one more time,” I demanded, grinning. She pulled my face to hers, kissing me sweetly for a moment, then she pushed her tongue into my mouth, wrapping her arms around the back of my head and pulling me as tightly to her as she could. There was a new keenness in her kiss, an extravagance or extremeness in the way she touched me that had been absent earlier. She was in the moment with me, but driven by something, almost undone by it. I pulled her even closer with my arms and her breasts where pressed so solidly against my body that I could feel her erect nipples against my chest and groaned softly. It seemed to spur her on, her kiss becoming more ardent and her right leg curling around the back of my thighs. She had no idea how deeply she was affecting me, or maybe she did? I could feel my control slipping. She was everywhere, overtaking all of my senses, my tactility, my sense of smell, taste, and sight, even my hearing. I was acutely aware of each change in her - every movement, every whimper, every hormonal fluctuation, her rapid heartbeat, her panting - as I fought against taking more of her than I had a right too.
“How’s that?” she teased breathily as she pulled back from my lips. My chest was heaving and I was stuck in my head, trying to convince myself not to ask her for another kiss. It would be like self-inflicted torture, but every sexual instinct in my body was screaming for it.
“Well you know how to leave a man wanting more,” I razzed, grinning widely at her, trying to hide my desperation.
“I’ve got to give you something to ensure you’ll be waiting for me tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll be there, incredible kiss, or no kiss at all.”
“See you tomorrow,” she smiled.
“Tomorrow,” I agreed breathlessly. I watched her drive out of the parking lot before I moved. It was definitely time to talk to Carlisle. I had to have the answers about what kind of physical contact was even possible between Bella and me, if for no other reason than to protect her. I owed her that much.
A/N: Reviews are gratefully accepted.
Chapter 26: Extracurriculars (Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.1, 19.2, 20, 21, 22.1, 22.2, 23, 24, 25)
Author:JCAddict/picklewinkle/Sher
Fandom: Twilight
Word Count:5,406
Rating: R/M, for sex and language
Story Summary: An angry young woman is forced to move to the town of Forks, Washington and decides that alone is the best way to be. She buries her heart under her anger and puts on a tough façade that very few people are able to break through. Can the love of a teenage vampire get through to the lost girl inside, even when his true nature is revealed? AU (alternative universe) and OOC (out of character). Bella is uber OOC. Edward, not so much.
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all of its characters. I'm just manipulating them like imaginary playdoh so I feel like I have some power over them **snorts**
26. Extracurriculars
A/N: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all of it’s characters in English, Spanish, French, German, Greek and every other language I might have used along the way to say it.
I have nothing important to add about the chapter really. It’s just some yummy delicious Edward/Bella interaction. Enjoy!
From Edward’s POV…
I watched Bella carefully during gym to make sure Mike Newton left her alone. She was easy to find; Mike’s eyes rarely left her. Her broken leg had relegated her to the station of spectator, a by-product of her injury that pleased her more than probably any other. For whatever reason her teacher had required her to dress for gym even though she never got off the bleachers. The fact that she seemed content eased my mind a small amount.
Mike’s thoughts ranged from jealousy to embarrassment and remorse over how he’d treated her earlier in the day. He hadn’t picked the exact meaning out of Bella’s words about me, but he was on the verge of it. I was sure it was his inability to believe that he wasn’t her choice that held him back from complete comprehension that Bella was with me now. If there were any balance in the universe, the job of dealing the final fatal blow to Mike’s irritating covetiveness of Bella would be mine. Unlike Bella, I was more than eager to spend as much time as it took with Mike to get him to see the truth. I’d heard every disrespectful word he’d spoken to Bella earlier and my patience was gone. He needed to understand that he had less that zero claim on her, and he needed to understand it now.
I waited outside on the picnic tables for Bella. She asked that I meet her in the parking lot, and I allowed her to believe that she fooled me. She was simply trying to keep me away from having a run in with Mike. I thought it was rather sweet that she was worried about me, however unnecessary it was. I knew I didn’t have to chase a discussion with Mike. It was inevitable that he would make another mistake. Mistakes were all he ever seemed to make. In fact, he was thinking about how to handle me at that very moment, on his way to find me. Opportunity was on my doorstep and I waited for it to knock.
Mike marched over to me and wasted no time giving me his opinion. “I don’t like you hanging around with Bella,” he remarked angrily. He was all bravado in his mind, but it didn’t translate to his demeanour as successfully as he thought it did.
“Noted,” I affirmed. “However, since the company Bella keeps is not your concern, it’s a moot point. In fact Mike, Bella is not your concern. At all. I understand that you have a childish fantasy that you and she are a couple, and believe me when I say it provides me with a great deal of drollery as well as irritation, but that fantasy will never materialize beyond your ignoble and paltry mind.”
“Huh?”
I snickered at his stupidity. “Let me lower myself to your level,” I offered. “She is with me, Mike. She has not ever and does not currently like you. You are irritating and bothersome to her, and I would very much like you to move on to some other unsuspecting girl. Bella is off the market.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about Cullen. Bella would have told me if she was…dating you or whatever.”
“She did, Fool. This morning she told you that I was the one looking after her and that you had to take it up with me if you didn’t like it. Are you?” I wondered. His mind was running through this morning’s conversation with Bella, searching for a way to reinterpret her words to suit his desires.
“Am I what?” he sputtered defensively.
“Are you taking up your dislike of my relationship with Bella with me?” I spoke slowly so as not to confuse the poor boy.
“You have no right to her Cullen.”
“That’s true, and neither do you. Bella is free to be with whoever she chooses, although I have it from a fairly confident source that even if I was not her choice, that you never would be.”
“You’re so full of yourself Cullen. You…” I interrupted him before he went too far. I was a controlled man, but even I was not above provocation.
“As Bella would say, ‘it takes one to know one.’ You are no less arrogant than I am. The difference that separates us is that my importance in Bella’s life has been confirmed by Bella herself.”
He took a swing at me and I dodged his fist effortlessly, but got to my feet anyway as his stance widened, his mind wavering between backing off and trying to hit me again. He was trying to decide what his chances were if he took things to an even more physical level. The breeze carried Bella’s scent to my nose. She was nearby, likely looking for me. I had hoped I would be finished with Mike before she had to witness his idiocy.
“I’m not backing off Bella to make room for a dick like you Cullen,” Mike seethed. His voice was loud enough that Bella probably heard him.
“Well at least you can’t say you weren’t warned.” I offered my caveat sincerely. It was in Mike’s best interest to back off, and the immediate danger wasn’t coming from my direction. Bella was not the sort of girl to put up with the disrespectful behaviour he brandished her with earlier in the morning.
Bella appeared from around the corner of the hedges. “What’s going on guys?” she asked worriedly, awkwardly shuffling the last of the distance to where we were standing.
“Nothing, Bella,” I assured her. “Mike was just letting me know he doesn’t like us hanging around together.”
“Yeah, and this asshole was trying to lay claim to you. I told him he was full of shit.”
“Nice Mike,” Bella fumed, rolling her eyes at him. “You’re never going to get this through that fucking thick head of yours, are you?” She leaned toward me and accidentally threw her balance off. My hands came out to catch her.
“See? Just like I said you need someone to look after you,” Mike announced. In his mind Bella’s falter was just the proof he needed to convince Bella that she needed him. To him, there really was no other option.
“Are you all right?” I murmured softly, bending towards her ear. I was worried she might have hurt herself when she stumbled. She looked upset and angry.
“I’m fine,” she assured me. “But poor Mike over here needs a brain transplant.” I snickered. I couldn’t help myself. Bella had a way of putting everything into perspective with her swift wit.
“Come here Bella,” Mike demanded, holding his hand out to her. I froze. I wanted nothing more than to smite him down, but it was Bella’s choice. I kept my hands on her shoulders loosely and fought the urge to pull her to me. She was perfectly capable of handling Newton, and if I forced my will on her it made me no better than him.
“What is with you?” she blurted angrily. “Don’t you get it? How many times are you going to force me to say it? I don’t enjoy being mean, well not this repeatedly. If you’d just get it through your head that I am not the least bit interested in you it would make things so much fucking easier on everyone.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” Mike accused. “You’re just listening to the bullshit that Cullen has been spewing about me. He doesn’t deserve a girl like you Bella. He’s a freak.”
“He’s no more a freak than I am. Just because he’s different than you doesn’t mean he’s defective, you small-minded asshole! And I know exactly what I’m saying. Edward’s never called you a single name or said anything against you out loud, although I'm sure he's thought it, you fuckhead. Unlike you he keeps his opinions to himself.”
“Look at him Bella! He’s got you convinced that he’s this perfect guy but you know that he’s treated you like dirt. He doesn’t deserve your loyalty and he sure as hell doesn’t deserve to put his hands on you.”
“Ugh, you’re fucking impossible. Forget Edward. I don’t want you Mike. Hear me!” she growled, frustrated.
I bent to Bella’s ear again and whispered, “Let me take you out of here, please? You shouldn’t be dealing with Mike right now. You’ve been on your feet all day. Let me take you home to rest.”
“No, it’s fine,” she reassured me, adjusting her tone to a casual confidence. She turned back to Mike. “We’re done here Mike. I really don’t want to have this conversation with you again.”
“I’m not going to stop fighting for you Bella. Once Cullen stops influencing you, you’ll change your mind. I can see what he’s doing to you.”
“Fine Mike. It’s your funeral.” When Bella turned and started walking towards the parking lot, Mike’s mind scrambled and he made the decision to physically stop her. He knew so little of her likes and dislikes, or ignored them, but either way I wasn’t going to allow him to grab her.
“I wouldn’t touch her Mike, not unless you’re looking for a problem,” I warned.
He ignored me and as Bella turned back to me, he laid his hand overtop of hers. “Get your fucking hand off me Newton,” she hissed. He stared back at her, startled by her reaction, and his mind went completely blank from shock. When he did not remove his hand, Bella went rigid for a moment, and then let her right crutch drop to the ground. I was waiting, wondering why Mike wasn’t reacting to her movements. It was almost as if he couldn’t see what was coming for him, even though I could clearly see what Bella was doing, one very well aimed and powerful right cross to his mouth. It sent him stumbling backwards, but it gave Bella exactly what she was after. Mike’s hand flew off of hers and up to cover his now bleeding lip.
I shrugged and bit my lip to keep from laughing. “I warned you.” I took a step towards Bella, picked up her crutch and handed it to her. “Nice shot,” I whispered, curling my arm around the small of her back to will her forward. I allowed her take a few steps before I asked her if she was okay. She growled a bit and I let her be, following behind her and chuckling under my breath. I would have preferred to hit the cretin myself, but there was poetic justice in Bella’s vice since she had to deal with the halfwit.
She stopped in front of her truck and her body was so rigid from agitation that I could see the tension in her shoulders. I stayed behind her, but moved my hand to her neck, sliding it under her hair and lightly rubbed her skin trying to soothe her. “I’m sorry that you have to put up with him,” I whispered. “I would have been glad to take care of him, but I know you didn’t want that. Tell me one thing though? Did it feel as good to hit him as you thought it would?” She laughed so hard her shoulders shook, and then she turned to face me. Her expression was a mixture of remorse and joy. “Don’t feel badly for striking him,” I pleaded. “He had it coming.”
“I don’t get him Edward. Why does he have to be such a prick? Why does he have to push so damn hard that I land up punching the motherfucker? Why can’t he just be happy for me?”
“He has feelings for you,” I murmured softly, “and he can’t comprehend how you could feel differently than he does. Would you really expect him to be happy that you’ve given your heart away to someone?”
“Oh come on Edward! I’ve never given him any fucking encouragement.”
“You can’t expect him to see the situation from anyone’s point of view but his own. I understand the desire behind his feelings. He sees a beautiful brunette that is full of fire and life. Why would he ever want to give up the dream of making you his?” She rolled her eyes, trying to disguise the embarrassment she felt from my compliment, but I could see a tiny amount of colour rise to her cheeks. I changed the subject so she wouldn’t feel more uncomfortable. “How are you feeling?” I wondered. “Are you up to some company or did you want to go home and rest?”
“You’re not getting out of things that easily buddy,” she warned me. “You promised me extracurriculars. I haven’t forgotten.”
My hand came up to cup her face. I didn’t feel conspicuous. The parking lot was deserted. “Bella,” I cautioned, “you’ve had a long day. You should rest.” My desire to continue our kiss from earlier seemed entirely selfish.
“Edward, it’s a broken leg, not the end of the world. I’m fine,” she assured me with the tiniest hint of a pout. She really wasn’t playing fair. She knew I couldn’t resist that expression.
“Okay,” I agreed, tracing her pouting lips with my thumb, “on one condition. Allow me to drive. I can bring you back here to pick up your truck later, but as long as you’re with me I want to drive.”
“Done,” she allowed, with no resistance. She gave in much more easily than I expected. Perhaps I should have demanded more, an entire evening with her, or maybe half the night. I would love to hold her all night again. I never felt more centered and peaceful than I had the night I held her. I knew she was safe. I could feel her heart beating against my body, keeping time like a clock. Her warmth made me feel alive again. It was heaven.
“That was too easy,” I teased. “You’re not usually so agreeable.”
“I was wrong today,” she admitted quietly.
“About what?”
“I should have let you walk me to class. I don’t really know what I’m doing here…I’ve never been this close to anyone before, and I’m pretty sure I’m screwing up the proper reaction six ways from Sunday.”
“Did something happen?” I asked. I’d watched her carefully. I hadn’t seen her fall or hurt herself. Her crutches had made her late for class once, but that was all I noticed.
“No, not really. It was just a long morning without you.” I got the feeling she was holding something back from me, but I let it drop for the moment, leading her to my car and helping her in. “So where are you taking us?”
“I’m taking you home.”
“Edward!” she complained.
“I’m only kidding. I really just wanted to take you somewhere we could be alone, where you would be comfortable. I thought about the beach, but I wasn’t sure the sand was a good idea for your cast. And the only other place I wondered about was the forest, to our little clearing.”
“That sounds perfect.”
“The forest it is then,” I smiled, pleased that she seemed as happy about going there as I was. We were in our own little world there, alone and in the place where we first connected. It was special to me.
We drove in silence for a while. Bella seemed preoccupied, always gazing out the window, and I wondered if perhaps she was still trying to keep something from me.
“You’re sure the forest will be okay with your leg?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“Mmm-huh,” she pledged.
“A penny for your thoughts?”
“Pardon?” she asked.
“What are you thinking about?” I petitioned softly.
“Nothing really.” I could tell that she was putting me off. I moved my hand from the gearshift and slid it along her seat, stopping a couple of inches from her hand. I turned my hand palm up and stretched my fingers out, opening my hand for her. I knew she’d sense it beside hers because the closer I moved it to her body, the stronger I felt her pull. Her hand moved towards mine slowly, and when her palm connected with my skin, her fingers fanned out along my hand and she sighed softly. She finally turned to look at me.
“Are you still thinking about earlier?”
“Yes.”
“About what the kids at school might be saying?”
“Not so much,” she admitted.
“Then what?” I asked. I couldn’t imagine where her mind was.
“It’s silly, really,” she complained. Her eyes fell to her lap and I knew it wasn’t silly at all. Whatever Bella was thinking about was making her uncomfortable, and whatever it was, it was important to her.
“I doubt it’s silly Bella, and even if it is, you can tell me. I want you to know that everything important to you is important to me too.” I pulled the car over to the edge of the road and parked it. “Do you want to walk, or would you like me to carry you?”
“Carry me please,” she whispered in the softest voice I’d ever heard her use. She was feeling vulnerable. I was beginning to think that this outing was a bad idea. I should have just taken her home. She’d had a long emotional day. It was selfish of me to bring her out here, even if she did want to come. I went around to her side of the car and opened the door. She looked up at me with expectant eyes and I knew I couldn’t deny her the forest now that we were here. I would have to be more careful with my decisions next time. I bent in and lifted her carefully into my arms. Her tiny hands came up to hold my neck, and just like every other time I’d held her like that, the action brought such love and longing in me. It was like she was meant to be in my arms like this, holding on to me, and connected to me.
“Are you sure about this?” I murmured softly in her ear.
“Please?” she requested in a whisper. She knew I wouldn’t deny her what she wanted.
I walked the distance to the clearing with Bella resting comfortably in my arms, her head nestled into my shoulder. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked again, worried. She nodded, tipping her chin up to look at me. She was so beautiful, almost angelic, with her deep brown eyes wide and wistful. I went to put her down on a fallen tree trunk and she complained.
“Please don’t,” she begged, holding on to me a little more tightly. I sat down instead, pulling her into my lap. I left my arms around her, moving my hand from beneath her knees up to encircle her waist, cradling her to my body. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re so quiet. Are you sure there’s nothing bothering you?” I questioned.
“It’s not bothering me…it’s just silly.”
“Please tell me,” I implored her quietly, tangling my hand into the ends of her hair. Her eyes came to mine and she stared intensely back at me.
“I missed you today,” she whispered. “I just feel better when you’re nearby.” Her admission was a difficult thing for her to say to me because she was acknowledging that she needed me. It couldn’t be less silly if she tried. I was so overcome with emotion; I couldn’t find the words to answer her. Instead I pressed my lips to hers, probably harder than I should have, but only because I was lost in my love for her. All of this quiet contemplation of hers, her vulnerability and discomfort, were because her feelings for me were so strong.
I pulled back a little, murmuring I love yous between kisses. I needed to say it to her as much as I wanted her to hear it. She kissed me back each time with building intensity, echoing my words in an almost desperate, inconsolable voice. Each time I pressed my lips to hers I willed my love to soothe her. I held her close to me and kissed her sweetly, patiently waiting for some sign that she was back in the present with me, instead of drowning in her fears and emotions, as I feared. Finally, her hand knit into my hair and I knew she was back in the moment with me.
“I missed you too,” I admitted softly, stroking her cheek with my fingertips. “It’s very…difficult for me to be away from you. I feel so much more peaceful when you’re with me, in my arms.” I didn’t give her a chance to answer me, pressing my lips back into hers as my own emotions crashed down on me again. Her yielding mouth came back at mine with perfect pressure, and her tiny hand pulled my face closer to hers. I felt as if I couldn’t get her close enough to me, my arms snaking around her and pulling her body even tighter against mine, eliciting a soft moan from her that further electrified the air around us.
I parted my lips and offered her my tongue, which she willingly accepted, twirling and pressing against me with all of her sweetness. Her taste made my tongue tingle and stirred something deep within my core. I let one of my hands drift up her back a small amount until I felt her soft hair tickling my skin. She chuckled against my lips. I’d given myself away too many times with how much I liked her hair. She had every right to chuckle. I wasn’t ashamed of how much her hair turned me on, and she’d just given me carte blanche to touch it at my will. I shamelessly plunged my hand into it, bunching it in my palm and letting it cascade over the sides, twisting and tangling the ends around my fingers and groaning softly. Her hair was so sexy.
I let my other hand deviate to her waist. They way I’d tilted her body in my arms caused her jacket to ride up, exposing a small amount of her creamy warm skin. My fingers instinctively found it. I fingered it with a feathery touch, following the line of her waistband as I traced where the fabric met her skin. When I could resist no longer, I allowed my hand to sweep across it, aching to feel its warmth on my palm, and tunnelled my fingers up under her shirt. Her body tensed for a moment as she gasped at the sensation, and then relaxed into my touch. I was right there with her, so overcome by the feeling of her bare skin that I could scarcely think straight. In fact, I could hardly think at all.
Her tiny hand came out of my hair and she forced it between our bodies, slowly and awkwardly unzipping my coat. Her hands burrowed between my shirt and coat, and I wished I had more warmth to offer her. She didn’t seem to miss it though, as her fingers pushed into my back and she pulled herself into my chest. I didn’t realize at first what she was doing, too caught up in the sensation of her fingers kneading my back. She was pulling at my shirt, untucking it from my jeans and searching out my skin the way I did hers. She’d felt my skin once before and seemed unbothered by its hardness and temperature. It was another reaction opposite to what I would expect. Then again, that night she had been so angry with me for being late for our date that perhaps her emotions distracted her from the sensations. I tensed a little, worried that it would turn her off, feeling the shame of what I was and that I was keeping it from Bella.
Bella angled her head further and pushed her tongue into my mouth commandingly. I tried to concentrate on her kiss as I felt her fingers inch slowly down my back. It was like waiting for a bomb to go off, each agonizing second ticking haltingly and taunting me as I waited for her rejection. The warmth of her fingertips was striking against my skin but it was me that gasped, not her. She pulled back from our kiss with guilty eyes.
“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” she asked quietly.
“Not at all…it’s just…” I didn’t know what to say to explain my thoughts.
“What?” she smiled knowingly. Did she not feel the temperature difference?
“My skin…”
“Did you not want me to touch it?” she wondered innocently.
“Quite the contrary actually, it’s just…well it’s…” My verbal circumvention was getting me nowhere. I didn’t want to outright lie to her, but I also didn’t want to avoid speaking about something that could very well bother her.
“Is it because it’s so cool?”
“Doesn’t it bother you?” I asked, surprised.
“No, does it bother you that mine is always so damn hot all the time?”
“Of course not,” I laughed. “I love how warm you are.”
“Then it should make sense to you that I love how cool you are.” It made no sense to me at all.
“You’re unbelievable. You really were sent here for me, weren’t you?” I whispered, smiling. It was unfathomable to me that she could look past the morbidly cold temperature of my skin, yet she was entirely unfazed by it.
“Where was I?” she mumbled, purposely dragging her fingers along the bare skin of my lower back. “Right there I think.”
I pressed my lips back into hers, dipping her body further back with my arms, showering her with love and adoration. She was a wonder, my wonder. My tongue tangled into her mouth, pushing and pressing against hers until she was panting. I slid my hand to the bare skin of her lower back again and revelled in its warmth, forcing the fabric aside so I could feel even more than what was already exposed. She moaned against my kiss, apparently revelling a little herself.
Time ceased to mean anything. It was just her and me and the affection that existed between us. I could have kissed her for hours, just sitting there with her in my lap, happy, warming me, showering me with love I didn’t even know I needed a few weeks ago. It was her shiver that brought me back down to Earth. I slowed down our kiss, smiling as she whimpered her complaints, lingering at her lips longingly and taking the last bit of contact I could.
“I should get you home,” I murmured.
“I’m happy here.”
“I am too,” I sighed, “but you’re cold and it’s getting late.”
“And your point would be?” she snarked.
“That you’re cold, and it’s getting late,” I laughed. “There’s always tomorrow Bella.”
“I hate that saying.”
“Why’s that?” I wondered.
“Because there isn’t always a tomorrow.” Her expression was suddenly glum.
“There is for us. I promise.” My words didn’t seem to soothe her. I got to my feet and let Bella’s weight rest in my arms, waiting for her to grab my neck. “Aren’t you going to hold on?”
“If I don’t, will you let us stay here?”
“Charlie will worry, and you have homework to do. You don’t want to fall behind in your school work or your Uncle will give you trouble.”
“I think you’re channelling him.”
“I just want what’s best for you.”
“Don’t you want to stay here with me?”
“More than anything, Bella. I was thinking earlier how much easier the ski trip was because there were no goodbyes. That was the best night of my life.”
“Really?” She was having trouble believing me. I could tell by the way her nose wrinkled and the one side of her mouth turned up. It was such an adorable expression, very child-like and innocent.
“Really,” I assured her. She moved her hands to my neck, resigning to the idea that our afternoon was over. I understood her reluctance.
She was quiet on the drive home. She held my hand between both of hers, playing with my fingers and tracing patterns on my palm. When I had to downshift as we approached town, she dropped my hand and wove her fingers into hair and softly rubbed my scalp. Something else was still bothering her, but she wasn’t going to tell me what it was today. That much was clear. I hated leaving her to drive home by herself, but she made me promise not to follow her. I think my protective nature bothered her at times. I let her climb into her truck and when she turned to face me, I pushed myself between her legs and pulled her body towards mine, kissing her softly.
“I’ll miss you,” I whispered. “I miss you already.” She slipped her arms around my shoulders and nuzzled her face into my neck. The soft sigh she thought she hid from me did not go unnoticed. I turned my head and kissed the side of her face, running my hand along the back of her head lovingly, wishing I could ease her distress and knowing I couldn’t.
“Me too,” she murmured wistfully.
“You can tell me anything you know?” I informed her thoughtfully.
“I know. Stop worrying so fucking much.”
I pulled back from her to look her in the eyes. “I can’t. You’re my whole world.” Her eyes lit up with understanding and she smiled happily. Her tiny hands came away from my neck and rested on my cheeks softly, and she stared into my eyes with a new intensity.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Now get the fuck out of here,” she laughed.
“Not until you kiss me one more time,” I demanded, grinning. She pulled my face to hers, kissing me sweetly for a moment, then she pushed her tongue into my mouth, wrapping her arms around the back of my head and pulling me as tightly to her as she could. There was a new keenness in her kiss, an extravagance or extremeness in the way she touched me that had been absent earlier. She was in the moment with me, but driven by something, almost undone by it. I pulled her even closer with my arms and her breasts where pressed so solidly against my body that I could feel her erect nipples against my chest and groaned softly. It seemed to spur her on, her kiss becoming more ardent and her right leg curling around the back of my thighs. She had no idea how deeply she was affecting me, or maybe she did? I could feel my control slipping. She was everywhere, overtaking all of my senses, my tactility, my sense of smell, taste, and sight, even my hearing. I was acutely aware of each change in her - every movement, every whimper, every hormonal fluctuation, her rapid heartbeat, her panting - as I fought against taking more of her than I had a right too.
“How’s that?” she teased breathily as she pulled back from my lips. My chest was heaving and I was stuck in my head, trying to convince myself not to ask her for another kiss. It would be like self-inflicted torture, but every sexual instinct in my body was screaming for it.
“Well you know how to leave a man wanting more,” I razzed, grinning widely at her, trying to hide my desperation.
“I’ve got to give you something to ensure you’ll be waiting for me tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll be there, incredible kiss, or no kiss at all.”
“See you tomorrow,” she smiled.
“Tomorrow,” I agreed breathlessly. I watched her drive out of the parking lot before I moved. It was definitely time to talk to Carlisle. I had to have the answers about what kind of physical contact was even possible between Bella and me, if for no other reason than to protect her. I owed her that much.
A/N: Reviews are gratefully accepted.