CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

We didn’t get a chance to test Edward’s tutoring, as Mr. Banner decided to pull out a heavy, outdated TV and VCR out to play a boring tape that I struggled to follow, and left me frustrated.

“It’s horrible!” I groan to Edward, as Mr. Banner switches the lights back on at the end of class. Edward gives me a sympathetic smile.

“We’ve got tutoring tonight, don’t worry, you’ll understand it in no time.” He walked me to my next class, ever the gentleman, and paused outside the locker room. His face startled me- his expression was torn, almost pained, and so fiercely beautiful that I just about ached to touch him.

My goodbye stuck in my throat as he raised his hand, hesitant, and swiftly brushed the length of my cheekbone with his fingertips. His skin was as icy as ever, but the trail his fingers left on my skin was just the opposite. He then smiled, a small smile, turned and left without a word, striding quickly away from me.

I sucked in a few deep breaths, before drifting into the locker room to change, feeling embarrassingly light-headed and wobbly.

As I entered the gym, a racket was shoved into my hand and Coach Clapp ordered us all to pair up into teams. Unfortunately, I got stuck with the Mike boy.

I managed to avoid conversation for most of the game, until the coach blew the whistle ending the class, and he stuck himself to my side as we walked off the court. “So,” he said, “you and Cullen, huh?” His tone was rebellious, and I felt my hackles rise up.

“Exactly how is it any of your business?” I asked, in my iciest voice possible.

“I don’t like it.” He states. I look at him incredulously.

“You don’t bloody well have to!” I snap. “Look, I barely know you. What I do is none of your business.” The idiotic, stubborn boy continues on, however.

“He looks at you like… like you’re something to eat,” he states. I actually laugh at that, unable to completely choke back the hysteria that threatened to explode. He glowered at me, but I couldn’t give a damn, and kept laughing as I half-jogged into the locker room.

By the time I walked out of the gym, into the car park, it was mostly empty, and I was surprised to see Edward leaning against my truck, even as butterflies erupted in my stomach. “Your siblings ditch you?” I ask.

“Tutoring.” He reminds me.

“Right.” I mumble, sheepishly.

As I start up the engine, he starts talking. “I’ve had a thought.” I pull a fake-worried expression on my face.

“Did it hurt?” He rolls his eyes.

“Very funny Bella.”

“I thought so.” I snicker. He rolls his eyes again.

“You have a very quick mind.” I can’t help but feel buffered by his comment, until my smile falls, and my mood plummets.

“Except I’m going to fail Biology.”

“You won’t fail- I won’t let you.” He promises, before shaking his head slightly. “Where were we?”

“You had a thought.” I remind him.

“Ah. Yes, well, about this Saturday. I was wondering whether you were intending to tell your father where you’re going.”

“With Charlie less is usually more.” I tell him, lips twitching into a half smile, half grimace. “I don’t really want to have that conversation with him yet.” Edward’s eyes narrowed infinitesimally, his expression growing guarded.

“Does Charlie know what I am?” This time I don’t even try to hold back the wave of hysteria, and I actually have to stop the car so I don’t swerve and crash.

“God no!” I manage to choke out between giggles, “he wouldn’t even let me step foot outside the house if he knew your kind existed!” Edward’s mouth quirks back into a smile, as his expression relaxes.

“You should tell Charlie, though. About where you’ll be.” I shake my head.

“Why in the world would I do that?” His eyes are suddenly fierce.

“To give me some small incentive to bring you back.”

“Homicidal is not an attractive look.” I inform him, “and don’t worry, I think I’ll take my chances.” He exhales, half exasperated, half angry. Still smiling, I start the car back up again and finish driving to the house.

Once we’re there, I help myself to a granola bar, while Edward sets up at the kitchen table. Around two hours of intense studying later, I throw down my pen with a groan.

“Okay, I need a break. My brain is fried.” Edward laughs, and settles down his pen, and leans back slightly.

“A break, huh? Well…” he pauses for a second, thinking, before his face clears. “Twenty questions.”

“Huh?” I ask, confused.

“Let’s play twenty questions. We still only know the basics about each other.” He shrugs, “I’d like to get to know you a lot better.” An odd warmth bubbles up inside me, and my smile is slightly shy as I agree.

“Okay. Twenty questions. You can start.”

“What kind of music is in your CD player right now?” he asked. I smile sheepishly.

“None. I don’t listen to much music. When I was younger I liked classical music, though.”

“Strange choice for a kid.” He notes.

“I was always a strange girl.” I remark, dryly, thinking of all the cases of accidental magic that happened in my youth.

“You have no idea how much I’d like to read your thoughts right now.” Edward sighs, “you say the most curious things.”

“My turn. How old are you actually?” I ask, “you’ve never actually answered that. I’ve asked a few times now.” Edward pauses for a few moments, before answering, somewhat reluctantly.

“A hundred and six.” He doesn’t say anything, waiting for my reaction.

“It’s your turn to ask a question.” I remind him, not that fazed by his revelation. He shakes his head slowly, and mutters something under his breath, before he asked his next question. He was relentless, flinging question after question at me, and I found it hard to keep up the same frenetic level of questioning, to keep thinking of new things to ask him.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d talked so much. More often than not, I felt a touch on the self-conscious side, certain that I was boring him, but the look of absolute absorption on his face, and his never ending stream of queries, compelled me to continue.

A few of his questions I had to skirt around, like my school, but I was more then happy to talk about how much I missed it, missed England and Scotland, and somehow talking about it made me feel better.

I was about to ask him about his home growing up after he had me describe mine, when he raised a long-fingered hand. “Your father is in the driveway.”

“Charlie!” I suddenly recalled the existence of my father, and glanced at the window. “How late is it?”

“It’s twilight.” Edward murmured, looking at the western horizon, obscured as it was with clouds. His voice was thoughtful, as if his mind was somewhere far away. My head tilted slightly as I examined the smooth planes of his face, the curves of his cheekbones, and the flawlessness of his cheeks.

I was still staring when his eyes suddenly shifted back to mine, causing me to blush. “It’s the easiest time for us, you know. But it’s also the saddest, in a way. The end of another day, the return of the night. Darkness is so predictable, don’t you think?” his voice sounded wistful.

“I like the night,” I tell him, “without the dark we’d never see the stars, and Astronomy was one of my favorite sub-uh, things to do. You can’t see the stars here as much.” Edward smiled, his mood lightening. It then darkened, just as quickly, and his entire body stiffened.

“Not good,” he muttered.

“What is it?” I asked, surprised by the abrupt mood change, the tenseness of his jaw and tightness of his eyes. His eyes met mine, as the corners of his mouth turned down.

“A complication.” He said, glumly, as the front door swung open.

“Bells, I’m home!” Charlie called out, “and I brought guests!” I get to my feet and walk out of the kitchen, Edward following quietly. Charlie’s face is stretched in a wide smile as he stands next to a man of a similar age, a heavyset man with russet wearing an old leather jacket, who was sitting in a wheelchair. Standing just behind the older man, holding the handles of the wheelchair, was a younger boy, fifteen I’d guess.

He was nice looking, with silky russet skin, long dark hair, and a wide, beaming smile. “This is Billy and his son Jacob,” Charlie introduced them, “guys this is Bella, and you know Edward,” he adds, catching sight of Edward, standing a few feet behind me. “He’s Bella’s tutor.”

The change of expression on Billy’s face was so startling my jaw almost dropped open. His eyes went wide, in shock or fear I wasn’t sure, and his face and posture turned hostile. As those anxious, intense, hostile eyes met my own, I had absolutely no doubt in my mind- Billy Black knew exactly what Edward was.

Well, this was a complication all right.