Edward Cullen had made many mistakes in his long undead life.Charging into World War I? That was Carlisle's idea.Dating in the 1910s? Catastrophic.Trying to read Annabelle Swan's mind? Possibly the greatest disaster of them all.
So today, he decided: no more spying.
He would confront her. Like a man. Like a vampire. Like a very confused, possibly attracted, existentially spiraling immortal being.
Forks High – The Courtyard Showdown
It was lunchtime.
Annabelle was sitting at an outdoor bench, sipping a strawberry smoothie and trying to teach herself French on Duolingo.
"Je suis une menace. That's 'I am a threat.' Useful."
Suddenly, the weather got ten degrees colder and fifty percent broodier.
Edward Cullen stood across the table, eyes blazing with the intensity of someone who just got defeated by a gym bro's subconscious again.
"You," he said.
Annabelle looked up. "Me?"
"Yes. We need to talk."
She sipped her smoothie. "Sure. About how you keep trying to read my mind like it's a Netflix preview?"
Edward flinched.
How does she KNOW?
"I don't know what you are," he muttered, sitting across from her. "But I know you're not normal."
Annabelle blinked. "Because I drink creatine and use lavender body spray? Or because I caught a van like it was a beach ball?"
"Both."
Edward Tries Logic (Fails)
"I've been alive for over a century," he said. "I've seen wars, plagues, the Great Depression—"
"Yeah, and yet you're still out here rocking the 'sad boy in beige' aesthetic. That's dedication."
Edward scowled. "You're not afraid of me."
"Nope."
"Why?"
"Because you look like you cry to Chopin and collect antique books. You're a cinnamon roll with fangs."
Edward opened his mouth. Closed it. Tried again.
"I could kill you," he hissed. "I want your blood."
Annabelle raised an eyebrow. "Buddy, I'm 70% protein shake and spite. You'd bite me and get flashbacks to a football locker room."
Tension… or Something Like It
Edward leaned in, fangs just slightly peeking.
Annabelle didn't flinch. She leaned back, smirking.
"You think you're the only predator here, Cullen?" she whispered. "I've been a gym bro, a teenage girl, and now I'm both. I am every man's confusion and every lesbian's panic."
Edward's pupils dilated.
"I don't even know if I want to kiss you or fight you," he muttered.
Annabelle shrugged. "Same."
For a long moment, they just stared at each other, tension thicker than Bella's eyeliner.
Bella: Confused Observer #1
From a nearby bench, Bella watched with mild horror as her twin flirted (?) with a vampire (?).
"What the hell is going on," she mumbled into her lunch bag.
Mike Newton, next to her, muttered, "I think they're gonna kiss or arm wrestle."
Back to the Drama
Edward stood suddenly, flustered.
"I can't do this."
"Do what?"
"Be around you. Think near you. Exist with you. Your brain is… it's like reading Sun Tzu rewritten by Hulk Hogan."
Annabelle grinned. "You say the nicest things."
"I don't trust you."
"Good. Keep it that way."
He vanished into the trees in a blur of overdramatic super speed.
Annabelle, Later: Debriefing with Bella
"So Edward cornered you?" Bella asked, pacing the room. "What did he want?"
Annabelle, lying on her bed doing bicep curls with her school backpack, replied: "Answers. Or therapy. Maybe both."
"He's dangerous."
"So am I," Annabelle said, now curling a can of dry shampoo.
"You are not normal."
"Neither is he. Look, if things get spicy, I'll do what I always do."
"What's that?"
"Outlift. Outwit. Out-sass."
Bella groaned.