The soft patter of rain against my window greeted me Thursday morning, a typical Forks wake-up call. I stretched languidly, feeling remarkably refreshed despite yesterday's emotional rollercoaster.
"Your vampire boy is already outside," Maze informed me, her tone amused. "Been there for at least twenty minutes. Talk about eager."
I smiled, taking extra care with my appearance – not that I needed much help these days. Maze's presence had blessed me with the kind of effortless beauty that made my classmates whisper behind their hands. I pulled on a deep blue sweater that brought out the warmth in my skin.
"Blue again?" Maze teased. "Someone's trying to impress the mind reader."
"You know he can't read my thoughts," I murmured, grabbing my bag.
"That's not the point." Maze chuckled
Charlie had already left for work, so I locked up and stepped out into the misty morning. Sure enough, Edward's silver Volvo waited in our driveway, its owner leaning against the passenger door with casual grace.
"Good morning," he said, opening the door for me. His golden eyes seemed lighter today, almost honey-colored.
"Fresh from a snack," Maze observed. "At least he's responsible about his eating habits."
The drive to school was comfortable, filled with questions about my childhood – though I carefully edited around the parts involving Maze's influence. Edward seemed particularly fascinated by my time in Phoenix.
"It must have been difficult, moving from somewhere so sunny to Forks," he mused as we pulled into the school parking lot.
I shrugged. "Change doesn't bother me much anymore. I've learned to be adaptable."
"That's what happens when you share headspace with a demon for seven years," Maze added proudly.
Edward's lips twitched at Maze's comment before his expression turned slightly nervous – an unusual look for him. "Speaking of change… I couldn't help but notice you haven't made plans for Saturday."
"I was wondering if you'd like to go somewhere with me?" Edward continued, his eyes carefully watching my reaction. "There's something I'd like to show you."
"I'd like that," I said. "Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise," Edward smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I won't be at school tomorrow. Alice and I are starting the weekend early."
"Hunting?" I asked, keeping my voice low despite the empty parking lot.
He nodded, his expression serious. "I want to take every precaution. What we'll be doing Saturday… it's better if I'm not… thirsty."
"Smart boy," Maze approved.
"I'll be here bright and early Saturday morning," Edward promised, his thumb brushing across my knuckles before he stepped out to open my door.
I couldn't help but wonder what he had planned – and whether Maze would do if she deemed it too dangerous. Somehow, I doubted either of them would make this simple.
The school day passed in a blur of classes and stolen glances. During lunch, Edward continued his gentle interrogation about my life, seeming genuinely fascinated by every detail I shared.
"Favorite book?" he asked, his tray of untouched food forgotten before him.
"It changes often," I replied thoughtfully. "Though I tend to revisit the classics."
"Tell him about that phase you went through with Dante's Inferno," Maze suggested, clearly amused. "His reaction should be interesting."
Edward's eyebrows rose slightly at Maze's thought. "Dante's Inferno?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of concern.
"Maze thought it was hilarious," I explained, fighting back a smile. "She spent hours correcting all the inaccuracies about Hell."
"Amateur work, really," Maze commented. "Though I'll give Dante points for creativity."
I noticed Edward's slight discomfort whenever Maze mentioned Hell or her demonic nature. For someone raised in a religious household during the early 1900s, casual conversation with a demon must be quite the adjustment.
Still, he persisted with his questions, occasionally addressing Maze directly when she posed her own queries, though his responses to her were more reserved. I could tell he was trying – for my sake at least – to accept this unusual arrangement.
After school, Edward drove me home, but instead of saying goodbye, he kept the engine idling in my driveway. We talked as the afternoon light slowly faded, our conversation flowing effortlessly from music to travel to his experiences over the decades.
"He's trying so hard to be proper," Maze observed as Edward maintained a respectful distance despite his obvious desire to be closer. "It's almost cute, in a Victorian sort of way."
The sky darkened to a deep purple, and Edward's expression turned contemplative as he watched the changing colors.
"Twilight again," he murmured, almost to himself. "Another day's end. In my existence, this has always been the safest time, the easiest time. But also the saddest, in a way… the end of another day, the return of the night."
"Dramatic much?" Maze commented, but her tone was gentler than usual.
"It's beautiful," I said softly, watching how the fading light played across his features.
He turned to me then, his topaz eyes intense. "It's the safest time for us, but also the most difficult." His hand reached out, hovering just above mine. "The time when we become most ourselves."
"Poetic," Maze mused. "Though he's not wrong about creatures being most themselves in the darkness. Trust me on that one, little human."
I felt the weight of both their words, supernatural beings who understood the duality of existence far better than I could. Yet here I was, somehow bridging their worlds.
Suddenly, Edward tensed, his head turning slightly toward the road. "You're about to have company," he said, starting the engine. "I should go."
Before I could ask what he meant, Edward was already backing out of the driveway. As his Volvo disappeared around the corner, an old black Ford pulled up, Billy Black's weathered face visible through the windshield. His son Jacob sat behind the wheel, his young face bright with excitement.
"Well, well… the plot thickens," Maze mused as I noticed Billy's dark eyes following Edward's car with unmistakable suspicion.
"Billy! Jacob!" I called out, walking over to help with Billy's wheelchair. "Come on in. Charlie should be home soon."
Jacob grinned as he helped his father, his long black hair glistening in the remaining daylight. "Hey, Bella! Dad brought some of Harry Clearwater's famous fish fry."
While I moved around the kitchen preparing dinner, Billy watched me with an intensity that made even Maze take notice.
"The old man knows something," she observed. "He reeks of suspicion."
"Jacob," Billy's voice carried a forced casualness. "Would you mind getting that photo album from the car? Charlie might want to see those old fishing pictures."
"Subtle," Maze snorted. "About as subtle as a hellhound in a china shop."
Once Jacob was out of earshot, Billy wheeled closer to where I stood at the counter. "You've been spending time with one of the Cullens."
It wasn't a question. I turned to face him, keeping my expression neutral. "Edward Cullen, yes."
"Maybe it's none of my business—"
"You're right," I interrupted politely but firmly. "It isn't."
"That's my girl," Maze approved.
Billy's eyes widened slightly at my directness, but I continued before he could speak. "I've read about your tribes' legends, Billy. All of them. Especially those about the Cold Ones." I met his gaze steadily. "I know what they are. I also know what they're not."
"Careful, little sister," Maze warned. "Don't show all our cards."
"Everyone has their secrets," I added softly, "secretes that need to stay away from Charlie. If you have concerns about the Cullens, you can bring them to me directly. I can handle myself better than you might think."
The weight of unspoken knowledge hung between us. Billy studied my face, perhaps seeing something there that made him pause.
"You're seem different," Billy finally said, his voice careful.
I smiled. "More than you know."
The front door opened, saving us from further conversation as Jacob returned with the photos and Charlie's cruiser pulled into the driveway.
"Well played," Maze commented as we moved to greet Charlie. "Though something tells me this won't be the last we hear from the reservation's natives."
Dinner was a pleasantly chaotic affair, with Charlie and Billy falling into their usual easy friendship. Jacob sat next to me, filling the air with cheerful chatter about his latest project – rebuilding a Volkswagen Rabbit.
"This kid's got potential," Maze commented as Jacob enthusiastically explained the engine modifications he was planning. "Young, but there's something… about him. Can't quite put my finger on it."
"You should come down to La Push sometime," Jacob suggested, his dark eyes bright with hope. "I could show you the car."
"Careful there, hes crushing hard," Maze teased.
I smiled politely at Jacob, noting how Billy's expression tightened slightly at the invitation. "Maybe sometime," I replied noncommittally, serving another helping of Harry's fish fry.
The evening wore on until Billy checked his watch and announced it was time to head home. As Jacob helped his father into the truck, Billy gave me one last meaningful look.
"Remember what we discussed, Bella," he said quietly.
After they left, I cleaned up while Charlie settled in front of the TV for his usual evening routine. The normalcy of it all felt almost surreal after the day's events.
Upstairs in my room, I got ready for bed, my mind spinning with vampires, tribal elders, and tomorrow's empty seat in Biology class.
"You're not really going to miss him tomorrow, are you?" Maze asked, though her tone suggested she already knew the answer.
"Maybe a little," I admitted, climbing under the covers.
"Get some rest," she said, her presence a familiar comfort in the darkness. "Saturday's coming, and we have to be at our best for whatever vampire boy has planned."
I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of golden eyes and ancient secrets, while my demon guardian kept her silent vigil in the night.