If she came with me, I could win her heart forever.

I parked carefully and cut the ignition. It was time. Quickly, I snatched the manila envelope of Bella’s college applications from my storage compartment. As I held it and felt the thickness of the envelope, I grinned.

She would probably whine about the applications – and I would love every minute of it.

It didn’t mean she didn’t want to go, it was just a reminder of her humble college fund. There was so much she still didn't understand…

I opened the door, shut it quietly, and breathed deeply to prepare for her the force of her scent. I listened for the stutter in her heartbeat that always accompanied the realization of my arrival, but I got nothing right away. Her heart was just steady, reliable, and beautiful.

I caught the end of their conversation as I approached.

“Nothing. I was just wondering what…Edward’s plans are for next year?” Charlie asked cautiously. He was probing.

“Oh,” Bella said.

“Well?” he prodded.

I’d had enough of Charlie, but I still felt that nagging guilt. I renewed my vow to myself to show Charlie the man that I truly was, the man that was madly in love with his daughter, the man that would never hurt her again. In two quick movements, I was at her door, knocking. I heard it then. Thum-thum-Thump…

I closed my eyes for a split second to appreciate the beauty of even her most automatic features. And, just as I had experienced so many times, as she made her way from her chair in the kitchen, the floral scent of her blood and her body preceded her. The air was still cool and damp. Her scent was heavier in the air. I had a full second to both enjoy it and fight the urges it provoked in me before she cheerfully sang in response to my knock. I forcefully swallowed back a fresh coating of venom that washed through my mouth. It was worth the pain. She was worth the pain. Three down, one thousand to go.

…Of course…perfect timing…at least I got her to admit she needed others in her life…not healthy…ridiculous…

I caught the last fragments of Charlie’s thoughts before he let out an audible grumble informing me to “go away”. Not yet, Charlie.

In another second, the door flew open and she was there, her eyes alight with their sparkle and her mouth slowly carving itself into that beautiful, wistful smile meant only for me…

She was glorious. If I could have blushed, I would have. I felt even more embarrassed for reacting the way I did.

I smiled back at her as she stood there before me. She had not changed from her soft yellow shirt since this afternoon, but somehow, standing there in the light of her dining room, she beamed an elegant beauty that left me yearning to touch her, hold her, kiss her, and feel her. Fight for her.

Our eyes locked on each other and I could not look away again. I noticed her heart speeding up. She was not breathing, again!

I was about to say something to remind her, despite how that might have sounded to Charlie, but she immediately grabbed my hands and held them in her warm fingers. It was pure joy, just touching her. There was an incredible sensation in the warmth and feel of her hands that was unbelievably comforting. She exhaled a sweet, relaxing breath when our hands were fully enveloped into one another, swirling her scent.

I ignored it and the venom that I quickly discarded down the back of my throat. Four down, one thousand to go.