Chapter Twelve: Balancing

"This seems to be becoming routine," I commented as a way of greeting before sliding into the passenger seat. Edward looked at me, smiling.

"I like your hair," he said. I glanced in the mirror, completely forgetting what had changed. Then I remembered that I had coerced my dad into dyeing it again. My now bright orange hair was pulled into two pigtails, with a stripy clip on one side.

"Thanks," I said, grinning. It's nice to be complimented.

Even by a creepy, century-old paedophile?

Okay, maybe not then…

Then the questions started again, and my thoughts vanished. He asked about people this time, mostly my friends. They were…interesting…to talk about, to say the least. I found myself describing their personalities, their eccentricities, and even what they looked like.

Then Edward asked about my love life, and the good conversation went out the window.

"Well, I've only ever gone out with one person, but there are a couple of people I've really really liked…" I trailed off, not wanting to take this conversation any further.

"You've dated before? What was he like?" Edward asked. I gulped nervously, but then realised that I had nothing to be ashamed about.

"Umm, it wasn't a he…"

Edward's eyes widened in shock, his mouth gaping open.

"What?!"

I shrank back in the seat, intimidated by his explosive reaction.

"I'm bisexual. The only person I've ever dated was a girl. Deal with it," I muttered, not meeting his eyes.

Edward calmed down after that. I think he was relieved more than anything.

"What about the people you've had a crush on? What were they like?"

I grimaced; it was a bad subject to talk about, but at the same time I didn't really mind that much.

"Well, first off there was Sam. Morgana introduced me to him, and I think I liked him more or less immediately. We got along well, or at least I think so, and he wasn't bad looking either. He didn't go to our school, though. I tried to get Morgs to have him and me over again, but she always forgot, so in the end I just left it at that.

"Then there was Lauren. I think I liked her ever since I met her and just didn't realise it. I admitted I liked her, got rejected 'cause she's straight, hurt for a while, and then moved on. We're still friends though," I said, grinning.

We were in the cafeteria by this point, surrounded by the noisy rabble that was teenagers.

"I should have let you drive yourself today," Edward muttered suddenly, banishing my other thoughts in the process.

"Yeah, you're going hunting aren't you? So you can stand being around me tomorrow?" I asked, though it was more a statement of fact. Edward grinned sheepishly, nodding.

"I'll walk home; it'll do me good. I don't get enough exercise as it is. Just don't absolutely decimate the animal population and it'll be fine," I teased. Edward smiled winningly at me as I turned back to my book. Call me a nerd, but it was a damn good story. I didn't even notice when Alice skipped up to our table.

"Kate, Alice; Alice, Kate," Edward introduced. I perked up upon seeing the pixie-like girl, smiling cheerily at her. She grinned back, holding her hand out in front of her, indicating I should shake it.

"Nice to meet you," she said, "I'm sure we'll be great friends." There was a certainty to Alice's words that was almost unnatural, but I smiled anyway.

"Oh, I'm sure we will too."

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That night I asked my father if I could go hiking with Edward tomorrow. I got a yes, and grinning to myself, slipped into sleep easily.

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Edward showed up at about nine the next day, and I let him in just as I was finishing my breakfast. He made a face, showing his evident dislike for toast, and I teased him about his animal eating habits.

Seeing as we were hiking, I dressed in my cargo pants and sneakers, but also wore a t-shirt with odd pictures on it, and a denim vest over the top of that. I loved my vest.

We drove in peaceful silence to the end of the road where the trail started, and I hopped merrily out of the car, Edward grinning at my exuberance.

Aren't you a little too happy?

I blame it on teenage mood-swings.

You're just in denial, and I think you know that.

Yeah, yeah, that's what you want me to think.

Edward asked me more questions as we bounded through the forest, me jumping from rocks and branches and anything I could. I happen to have a pretty good sense of balance, and I love to climb things, so this was a great trip for me.

"So, do I get to see you sparkle today?" I asked, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen. Edward chuckled behind me as I gently shifted a fern aside.

"I suppose so," he agreed, and I grinned.

"Awesome."

We walked along for another ten or so minutes before I asked another question.

"So how far away are we?"

"It's only a little further. Do you see the light up ahead?"

I squinted through the murky light of the forest, straining my eyes in an effort to see the glow he spoke of.

"Why yes, I do believe I do."

"Then you must have excellent eyesight."

"I seem to have gotten my entire family's share of good vision," I stated dryly, causing Edward to chuckle.

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The meadow was even more beautiful than I had imagined. It was a perfect circle, surrounded on all sides by towering trees. The wildflowers added vibrant spots of colour, and small droplets of water glinted in the midday sunshine. The warmth was glorious, and I found myself gravitating towards the centre of the beautiful circle.

Then I remembered Edward. He was standing behind me, just outside the fringe of light. I beckoned him over with a wave of my hand, and he drew a deep, visible breath.

Then he stepped into the sunlight.

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A/N: Ah, I am evil, am I not? You shall have to wait, dear reader, for the next chapter, which shall come soon enough. Anyway, I'm all written out. Still, two chapters in a day is pretty damn good in my opinion.