What would Twilight have been like if Bella was hiding a secret at the same time that Edward was? What if her secret was a part of the reason for her leaving Phoenix? What if that secret was the real reason why Edward couldn't read her mind?

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own Twilight or any of its characters, which is solely the property of the totally awesome Stephenie Meyer. I just really liked the story so much that I figured I'd try this on for size.

Phoenix to Forks

The events of the past few weeks were beginning to wear me out. Renee was constantly trying to figure out what was wrong with me and if I knew I would tell her but even I wasn't sure exactly what I could do about it. The move to the Olympic Peninsula of northwest Washington State seemed the only logical next step. Strange things were happening to me here in Phoenix and with Phil's contract issues; I knew that I couldn't put my mom through too much more. I hated to burden Charlie with it but where else was I going to go with only $4,000 saved up.

The drive to the airport was long, but I tried to occupy my time by soaking in the last bits of sun that I could catch before heading to dreary Washington State. I didn't necessarily hate the idea but I knew that if I stayed life would get pretty crazy and I needed more quiet from all the hotties and the jocks in Phoenix. Plus it would be nice not to be called a freak when passing in the hallways at school. Forks would give me anonymity, a clean slate to figure out what was wrong and to find a way to deal with it. Then there was Renee, with Phil traveling so much how could I make her choose. It's not like I don't know that she loves me. I do, but I much rather see her happy and Phil makes her happy. Who am I to stop it?

The airport proved to be a huge challenge for me. One I didn't expect. All the chatter and random thoughts swirling around only seemed to intensify with each step.

"I wonder if we should stop at the duty free shop before we board"

"I hope those dogs don't smell what in my bag"

"I am so fat…are those chocolate cupcakes?"

I was getting a headache and I was only waiting in the terminal. Renee's thoughts were just as hard to deal with as ever. She kept flipping back and forth from being a horrible mom for letting her baby girl leave her to thinking it was the right thing to do and that it might help with all the bizarre things that had been going on. I couldn't take it anymore.

"Mom, stop" I grabbed her by the shoulders.

"What honey?"

"Stop, I know that you love me. I do, this is more for me to figure out what's wrong." At least I hoped it would fix things. Most writers go to some wooded area to clear their heads, that's pretty much what this would be.

"I know, but do you have to go now? It's the middle of the school year and things aren't that bad…are they" Tears were welling up in her eyes.

"Mom" I sighed, pulling her into a hug, I silently hoped that she would get over this or at least ok with it.

Gate announcement: Final boarding call for Northwest flight 423 to Washington

"I love you Bella. You know that don't you?" She said. "Mom of course I know that, and I love you too. I have to get on the plane." I figured grabbing my bags would help move things along. "I gotta go". Renee gave me one last squeeze as I pulled away to board the plane.

I turned around one last time. I mouthed the words "I love you, Mom" and then hurried on.

I couldn't seem to shake my headache the entire flight. People's random thoughts were looming around and it made my head hurt, babies crying and some of the vilest thoughts you would imagine coming from an old lady. If I hadn't heard it myself I wouldn't have believed it. The flight felt as if it might never end. I just needed quiet and peace so I could think this through. I barely noticed when the plane began its decent. If it weren't for my ears popping, I might not have noticed til we were on the ground. I tried for the umpteenth time to clear my head of all the noise, focusing instead on what I would do to figure this out. I made a list in my head of things to try

Register for school

Hit the library for some research

Internet search

If that fails, there is always the nearby University library

Learn to control it!!!

I had a lot to think about, the best part of it is that Charlie is loner. It makes sorting through this mess much easier without him breathing down my neck. I'm far from looking forward to the bad weather in Forks, but I need real answers and there were far too many distractions in Phoenix to make any progress there. I had to come up with a strategy. As it stood, this thing caused some pretty major headaches literally and figuratively. Somehow, I was hearing the thoughts of those around me and somehow it played in stereophonic sound in my head. It started out so subtle that I thought I was just imagining it. My teacher Ms. Bilus had just asked a question about Romeo's loyalty to Juliet, when I could have sworn the guy sitting next to me blurted out that Ms. Bilus had a great rack. I was so appalled that I actually whipped my head around and looked at him with raised eyebrows. He just stared back at me like I had fourteen heads. That same day, I was on the way home and stopped at a red light when a car pulled up next to me, with the music blaring. I was busy trying to avoid eye contact when I heard clear as day over the music "Yea cutie come on look this way!" I couldn't resist looking over at the car; of course it was a gross middle aged, half balding guy. The whole thing was getting to be too much. As the days went on, I found myself answering people's questions without them having even asked them. I knew that things were off but I couldn't make it stop. If I walked into the cafeteria, I had to deal with the noise and the actual thoughts behind the noise. Forks was a chance for me to hide out at least for a little while.

All that was left was enduring the drive with Charlie. It's harder than it sounds, especially when you know what he's thinking.