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Genevieve felt like she was floating in a sea of darkness. She didn't know where she was. She didn't know what time it was.
But she remembered the feral, crimson eyes. She remembered the burning. She remembered Edward.
Genevieve screwed her eyes shut tighter, feeling like she was suffocating. She could feel the blankets weighing on top of her, making her feel way too warm.
Finally she opened her eyes, grateful that her room was only lit up from the small lamp on her nightstand. She blinked a couple times, letting her eyes adjust to the dim lighting. She could hear someone in the kitchen, pots clamping together as the water turned on and off. She frowned faintly, before movement caused her eyes to snap towards the spot where her keyboard sat, her heart pounding at the sudden movement.
Edward was standing, his eyes a dark orange color as he slowly walked closer to her. Her chest tightened at the color, immediately knowing what caused the color change - knowing exactly what cause vampires to have red or golden eyes.
"What-" Genevieve coughed, her throat dry and hoarse. She lifted a hand to her throat, pausing midway when she noticed the bandage wrapped around her wrist. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest as she slowly lowered her arm.
"Let me help you," Edward said softly. She shivered when his cold hands grasped her shoulders, helping her sit up in the bed. He grabbed a glass of water from her nightstand and helped her drink it. "You were screaming a lot."
"Victoria?" Genevieve whispered after a moment. She tangled her fingers together, watching Edward carefully. She knew he'd been known to keep things from Bella, he thought it was keeping her safe. But ignorance doesn't keep people safe. Ignorance can kill.
"Gone. She disappeared after she bit you, we followed her scent as far as Canada."
"And you..." Genevieve took a shaky breath, a shudder raking her body as she glanced down at her bandaged wrist quickly. "What happened?"
"After Victoria took you, Seth and I chased after her. You screamed and it felt like the world shook. She must've known she couldn't get out of there with you, so she bit you and left. Carlisle was too far away; if we waited..." Genevieve didn't need Edward to finish the sentence, she knew what it meant.
If they waited she would've turned into a vampire.
"I took the venom out myself." Edward's face pinched, a pained look on it. Genevieve waited patiently, knowing there was more. "I almost didn't stop, Genevieve. I have never tasted anything like your blood before. I didn't want to stop, and I thought for a moment that I was going to drain you dry." Genevieve swallowed hard, trying to keep her face neutral as fear stung at her heart. She took a shaky breath, to try and calm herself down. Edward's voice was dangerously low, his orange colored irises watching Genevieve like a hawk. "And then you told me to stop. And I couldn't do it anymore," his face softened, crumbling. "I thought I killed you."
"But you didn't," Genevieve said softly. "You saved me, Edward. My heart is still beating because of you."
Edward looked at her, an indescribable look on his face. If Genevieve didn't know any better, she'd say that Edward wanted to cry.
Genevieve reached out, goosebumps erupting on her skin when her hand grabbed Edward's icy hand. "I'm alive, Edward. You didn't kill me."
The two sat in silence for a moment, neither needing to say anything as they took comfort in the moment.
Edward taking comfort in Genevieve's still beating heart. Genevieve taking comfort as her fear of Edward vanished.
"Your mother's in the kitchen with Seth," Edward said, breaking the silence. His lips twitched in amusement as horror crossed Genevieve's face.
"So not only do I have to deal with my mother who is probably freaking out because I was attacked and kidnapped by a vampire, but I have to deal with her getting time alone to interrogate my-" Genevieve stopped, the word begging to leave her lips.
"Your what?" Edward smirked, raising his eyebrows in amusement.
"I don't know," Genevieve admitted. "We haven't made anything official yet." Genevieve sighed, averting her gaze to her lap. "I really like him," she whispered softly.
"Scary isn't? How one person can suddenly become so important to you in no time at all," Edward replied, just as soft. Genevieve looked up at Edward, knowing immediately who he was talking about. She's noticed the way that Bella and Edward were together; like magnets, where one went, the other was close to follow. He looked at her like she painted the world in color.
"I don't want to get hurt again," Genevieve felt her hands tremble as her heart pounded in her chest.
"You and I both know Seth would never do anything to hurt you," Edward rolled his eyes. "The kid looks at you like you're the one who put the stars in the sky."
Genevieve fought the blush on her cheeks as she rolled her eyes. "Shut up, he does not."
"Genevieve, he cares about you. A lot. All you'll do by keeping him at arms length is cause yourself misery. Trust me, I learned that the hard way."
Genevieve swallowed hard as she recalled the words Jamie had told her. The words that mirrored Edward's.
"Thanks, Edward." Genevieve whispered, knowing that he was right.
Edward smiled, moving to get off the bed. As soon as he stood straight, the bedroom door bursted open.
"Genevieve!" Genevieve sighed as her mother rushed over to her, relaxing into her mother's embrace. "Seth and Edward told me what happened. Oh, my baby girl, you're okay."
Genevieve frowned as her mother squeezed her close, glaring at the amused smile on Edward's face.
"Mom, I'm fine. You're suffocating me." Lorelei released her daughter, keeping her hands on her shoulders. Genevieve glanced behind her mother, biting her lip when she saw Seth leaning against the doorframe.
He looked tired, Genevieve noticed. Like he hadn't been able to sleep. He still looked at her with the softest expression she'd ever seen on someone. But most of all, he looked relieved. Genevieve guessed she'd feel the same way if he was attacked.
The kid looks at you like you're the one who put the stars in the sky.
Genevieve felt her heart leap when she suddenly realized that Edward had perfectly described the way that Seth always looked at her. And the realization made her heart leap and her head spin. Especially when she realized that she probably had the same expression on her face whenever she looked at him.
Genevieve looked back to her mother, a sarcastic smile stretching across her lips. "Some birthday, huh?"
