Noonday Sun: A Post-Breaking Dawn Twilight Fanfiction

Chapter 7, Eating Crow

Chapter 7, Eating Crow

I pushed away from the table, a little uncertain of my next move. Nahuel pushed away as well, and we both carried our plates to the sink.

Wordlessly, I filled the sink with soapy water and washed our plates and then started in on the cooking utensils. I was out of practice. Eating raw meant no dishes, but I'd rather wash up dishes any day than eat raw.

Nahuel rinsed and dried, and it felt pleasant working quietly next to him. My burning need for him was abated in his presence. Just being with him was enough to quench my thirst. I was surprised that I could feel so comfortable with him, so natural, like family.

Huilen's scent hung heavy in the air, and I knew I would have to adjust to the burning in my nose. Her topaz-colored eyes meant she didn't prey on humans. I hoped that Seth had been correct and that I wouldn't have imprinted on a vampire that was currently dining on humans. I suppressed a shudder. I don't know what I would've done in that case. I shut the door on that thought.

Still silent, I drained the sink and moved back to the table. Nahuel joined me, and he seemed just as reluctant to break the silence. I absently began to trace patterns with my fingertip on the table, then looked up at Nahuel to find his eyes on me. His warm brown eyes were filled with questions, and I didn't know how to answer them.

Finally, I broke the silence. "I heard you're attending the University of Washington here in Seattle..."

"Yes, I'm majoring in history."

My eyes widened. I hadn't taken him for a history buff. "Were you planning to teach?"

"Actually, I hadn't thought that far ahead," Nahuel admitted.

My eyebrows raised in a question.

"I've been kind of... lost. I'm not quite sure what I've been searching for," Nahuel continued, then looked deep into my eyes, "but I think I might have found it."

"What do you mean?" I breathed.

"Do you remember your mom's wedding?"

I nodded, dumbstruck. How can I ever forget it?

"When I first saw you," Nahuel reached over and stroked my face again, a wondering look passing over his divine features, "my whole world came apart, and it was as if I'd never seen a female before..." He paused, and I waited, my breath frozen so I could hear every word. "It was as if our destinies were intertwined..."

I took a breath and smiled gloriously at my sun, "I had the same reaction..."

Nahuel's brows furrowed, "Then why did you leave?"

I swallowed, trying to think how I could phrase my reaction without hurting him. I looked down at the table, my finger once again nervously tracing over invisible patterns. I whispered, "I just couldn't accept that I could feel such overwhelming attraction for a... vampire." Wow. I said it without a shudder. I looked up at him and read the pain in his eyes. "I'm so sorry." Is that me talking? When do I ever say sorry to anybody? My deepest desire was to smooth off my edges and make Nahuel happy.

"H-how are you feeling now?" Nahuel tripped over the words, fear evident in his voice and in his glorious eyes.

I looked down again, breaking from his tortured gaze. "I'm thinking it doesn't matter." I looked up and met his gaze, seeing the hope resurrect in them. "I can't fight the universe." I sighed, then smiled brilliantly at him. "And I don't want to fight it." Suddenly, we were standing in each other's arms.