Centerfold • Edward Cullen

Cans

Viviane was not a woman of pleasantries but of hard work. She was a single mom of two kids who handled the food pantry mostly all on her own and was a middle school teacher during the week. She was a woman both Abby and her mother looked up to.

When Abby stepped into the food bank, after walking blocks away from her car since the pantry lacked a parking lot, Viviane grasped her in a tight hug. She thanked her profusely for coming and not missing tradition; it was then Abby knew she'd made the right decision to come. Her mom and her would've been doing this for five years this November. She was sure her mother was smiling at her wherever her mom was.

After handing Abby a big box of canned foods to organize, Viviane immediately went off to boss some other poor volunteer. Abby snorted at her antics knowing Viviane showed love through reprimanding and big hugs. And as she was stocking the nearly empty shelves of canned fruit, her mind turned to the week she had. It was simple, easy - of course her hatred for Calculus was endless as she remembered her C- on a quiz she had this week.

Edward decided it was officially his responsibility to help her with Calculus. And he was a constant her whole week, between classes, studying after school in the library, and lunch. And she didn't mind a single bit. He made her laugh. He made the days easier. She let herself feel completely and utterly vulnerable with him; her chest, her heart, her soul was open to only him.

And she was terrified.

Abby jumped suddenly when a hip checked her own and heard a loud laugh followed by a snort of Viviane saying, "Jeez, who would've thought fruit was so interesting?"

Embarrassed, Abby shook her head and laughed while placing another can on the shelf, "I'm sorry, Viviane."

"So," Viviane cocked a perfectly groomed eyebrow, "who is it?"

Abby shot the older woman a puzzled look, "Um...who is...?"

Viviane shook her head full of white hairs drizzled upon her thick brunette mane and wagged a finger in Abby's face with a provoking smirk, "No one smile's while looking at a fruit can, Abs. So, who is it that's got your mind all boggled up?"

Abby flinched, knowing she couldn't look into Viviane's gray eyes and lie. This woman had a bloodhound nose for trickery. Once Abby witnessed Viviane track down a vendor who schemed her of bags of produce, and managed to acquire each bag that was owned to her...with a golf club in her hands. So, lying to Viviane would prove to be a fatal mistake.

"His name's Edward," Abby breathed out, watching the taller woman smile brightly. "We went on one date, Viv, seriously it's not a big deal."

"Oh, please!" Viviane exclaimed. She clasped a hand on Abby's shoulder and asked, with a grin, "You been listening to love songs recently?"

"Uh..."

"So, that's a yes."

The young girl stayed silent, thinking of the random love pop songs that she played after her date on Saturday night. She almost danced around the room - almost. Dancing was something she hadn't done in a long time, and yet, Edward was forcing that part of her to come out as well. He was bringing her back from the dead, slowly, surely, and soon, she believed she could find Abby again.