My Midnight Sun- Balancing- Part 1

I didn’t go back to hear the conversations in Bella’s house. I didn’t lurk in the shadows, waiting to see how the elder would slander me. In truth, I was afraid of what I might do. And what I might do would not to help my standing with Charlie.
Why Charlie’s intentions bothered me so much was a mystery, even to me. I turned it over and over again in my mind all the way home. Because honestly, I’d come close to doing things to Bella that some people would say is even worse than using her. Killing her… for example.
Which reminded me… I had other things to worry about. Like Saturday. Like being alone with Bella, knowing that no one in the entire universe knew where she would be. No one human, anyway.
Another reminder… I needed to see Alice. I needed to see her visions of Saturday. To tell the truth, I wasn’t entirely sure I wouldn’t just snap if I were alone with Bella for that long. And I didn’t want to risk it if there was any chance I might slip.
Dead. Or a vampire. Alice’s two, very unacceptable endings. Neither would happen to Bella. Ever. Unwilling to look too far into the future, however—as doing so did nothing for me but bring up far too many troubling questions—I would just be sure that, in the very least, neither of them would happen on Saturday.

My Midnight Sun- Complications- Part 5

This one is a bit bigger than the last few, because it finishes off the chapter:

I cursed internally. I mentally slapped myself. I was so focused on Charlie’s thoughts that I missed the Quileute’s, even though he was the closer of the two. And it seemed he was not alone, either.
Right now he was focused on telling his son which house was Charlie’s, as the son seemed to be the one driving (and brimming with excitement to the point of distraction). The elder hadn’t seen me yet. And hopefully when he did, he wouldn’t recognize me.
“Not good.”
“What is it?” Bella asked, alarm in her voice.
“Another complication.”
I swung the door open abruptly and moved back to my own seat, likely too fast for a human movement.
I tried to ignore the thoughts from the kid, so that I could say goodbye to Bella. It was a little difficult, though… he was practically screaming them.
So glad I get to see Bella again. Can’t believe she thought I was sixteen. I think she likes me. Really seemed interested in my stories… can’t believe someone so pretty likes me so much. I wonder who she’s with, though. Probably just a friend. He sure has a nice car…
Ah, yes. The young Quileute. Didn’t Bella say his name was Jacob? Jacob Black. Ephraim Black’s descendant. Obviously the unfortunate soul who had the force of Bella unleashed upon him.
Then, to my utter dismay, I heard not only the father’s words, but regrettably, his thoughts.
“What’s he doing here?” He mumbled darkly, whether to himself or his son, I didn’t know or care. Presently, I was a bit more preoccupied by his thoughts.
A Cullen. How do they think they blend in? Dangerous. Even look dangerous. Wonder what the hell he wants with the Swans. Wait, is that Bella in the car, with him? Could have killed her! Must be waiting for the right moment. No, they haven’t broken the treaty yet, but I’ve never seen any of them associate with humans before, either. One can never be too safe, especially with Charlie’s own daughter. Course I can’t tell Charlie. Have to make up some story. A rumor or something. Tell him that the Cullen kid is interested in his daughter and has no good intentions…that’s true enough. Maybe some kind of bet… that he’ll take advantage of her and move on. No matter, I’ll make sure Charlie keeps his daughter away.
I’d heard enough. And our time was very brief now, besides.
“Charlie’s around the corner,” I said.
She gave me a quick smile of goodbye and jumped out. I could hear the conflicting emotions coming from the car at the sight of her. One of pure exultation, one of even greater fury.
I composed my face in hopes that Bella would not see the anger I struggled to restrain. Anger… because I could handle the truth better than those made-up lies. I could even handle the warning that I was dangerous. Probably safer for Bella if Charlie did worry about her. But I would not be content with him believing I would use Bella in that way. I would not be content with lies.
The moment Bella shut the door, I sped away.

My Midnight Sun- Complications- Part 4

“I like the night,” she responded, off-handedly. “Without the dark, we’d never see the stars.” That little pucker returned between her eyebrows as it did when she put some thought into something. “Not that you see them here much.”
I couldn’t help my answering laughter. She was like a breath of fresh air; in some ways above her years, in others as innocent as a child. Where did she get such faith? I couldn’t get over the way she was always so sure it would all work out. And yet, I felt the need to give balance to that view. Practical matters must always be considered.
“Charlie will be here in a few minutes… so, unless you want to tell him that you’ll be with me Saturday…” I threw out, doubtful.
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
If it wasn’t for the time of day, I knew my temper would have taken over. But right now I only thought it was sweet, her overdose of faith… even if misplaced faith.
She gathered her things and met my gaze again. “So is it my turn tomorrow, then?”
For a moment I couldn’t think what she was referring to, and then I remembered… of course, the questions. “Certainly not!” I retorted with mock fury, “I told you I wasn’t done, didn’t I?”
“What more is there?” she asked, genuinely perplexed.
I smiled. “You’ll find out tomorrow.”
I reached across her for the door handle, admittedly a shameful excuse to get close to her and feel the energy climb, my arm nearly brushing against her. But as I grasped it, I suddenly realized why the friend in Charlie’s thoughts was so strong, magnified.
He was coming home with Charlie now. Or, more accurately, he was in his own car and would be here before Charlie, before I had any hope of being gone. And, what’s worse, I figured out, too late, who the friend was.