BELLA'S POV

I awoke the next morning as I always did with my alarm clock announcing to me that it was 7:30. I sighed, flipping my sheets off me and reaching out toward my nightstand. I was desperate to kill the dreaded sound. When my hand landed atop it, I turned it off and then reached beside it for my sunglasses. They weren't placed perfectly so my hand swatted at them, brushing them over the edge, and I listened as they slipped off the table and hit my wooden floors. Groaning, I extricated myself from my bed carefully and knelt on the floor, my hand reaching around for the glasses which Rose had deemed stylish yet practical for my needs.

My hands finally tapped against the frames before I grabbed them, made sure they were right side up, and put them in place on my face. I'd still need to shower and get dressed and whatnot, but it was much easier for me when I kept them with me wherever I was. Picking up the clothes which I had asked Rosalie to set out for me last night, a simple pair of jeans and a comfortable long sleeved t-shirt, I went into my bathroom and turned on the shower, pulling back quickly because I'd been hit unexpectedly with water too many times in this apartment.

I slid my glasses off again and placed them on the bathroom counter atop the clothing I placed there. I took my shower after stripping from my pajamas and placing them in the hamper in my bathroom. My clothes were nearing the top; I'd need to do the laundry soon. Actually, I would need to ask Rose to help me do my laundry again soon. I groaned, hating asking for help, but I knew I couldn't do it myself. How was I supposed to separate my clothing? I couldn't see the colors.

Colors. I stepped into the shower as I once again began my day thinking of the illusive idea. That was the problem, it was an idea. Something you could only understand by seeing. I couldn't reach out to something and tell its color by the way it felt. No. Colors were a dream to me. Something only I could imagine, but how was I supposed to imagine something that couldn't even be described to me? How would you describe the color red? It's the color that a fire engine is. Well, what is the color of a fire engine? I wouldn't know the answer.

Sure, one could say light was an enigma to the blind as well, but I could feel the heat coming from the lights no matter where I was, and even if I couldn't, I could hear the hum of the electricity running through them. It was what drove me crazy in school all through high school as the fluorescent lights hummed loudly nonstop.

Today was not going to be a good day, I could already feel it. The days where I started off with thoughts like these were the days I wished for my eyesight. And the days which I wished for something I couldn't have were the days I had the rug ripped out from under me. I allowed the warmth of the water that surrounded me to sooth my muscles and let my mind drift to better things, happier topics.

I could hear the faintest sound of piano music being played on a keyboard somewhere in the building. I wanted to hurry through my shower, suddenly, so I might have been able to listen more closely, the sound of the running water falling over my ears blocking the sound away. I'd heard this keyboard being played on countless mornings in the past month, but I'd never seen – or I should say met – the pianist. The music was beautiful, and I could only assume this person was a fairly experienced player.

I'd always admired music. It was truly the one thing I could enjoy without my sight. There was nothing to see. Simply listen, which was what I loved to do. I loved to cook, too, because of the wonderful smells, but I wasn't allowed to do that by myself, and I supposed I couldn't fault my family for that, because it was entirely dangerous when I couldn't truly see what I was doing. But music was always perfect for me.

I reminisced to my younger years when I was just becoming a teenager. I had truly fallen in love with music, and despite my inability to see the score itself, I was determined to learn to play the piano. Renee and Charlie bought me a keyboard and we put Braille stickers on the keys so I could tell which notes were which. They paid a teacher for lessons, but the teacher was entirely frustrated when she realized she'd have to dictate which notes I'd play and for how long I'd play them.

It went well, for the year, until she decided it was a waste of her time because I had to memorize it through a perfect dictation and I continually made mistakes that bothered her to no end. And while it was true that my playing wasn't at the level of most first year students, the progress I'd been able to make was incredible. Still, I'd given up when she did, and most days I regretted that.

There were a lot of things I'd worked hard to achieve through overcoming my disability. My favorite, I think, was learning to play baseball. Beep Baseball, to be exact. The best part was that it was something which Emmett was able to teach me. He would throw the ball underhand, and I would listen to the beeping and swing when it was close enough. It took a long time and a lot more work than I'd thought it would, but I was successful. Of course, it was after Rosalie provided some help. Basically, Emmett would pitch, Rose would stand behind me, and she'd help me swing through at the right time. That was how I learned exactly when to hit the ball at the right time. Now, I could probably play in one of the leagues if I wanted.

I stepped out of my shower carefully because I was soaking wet. I dried off as quickly as possible and put my sunglasses in place after dressing. I didn't do much else, because my appearance hardly mattered to me. Why would it? I couldn't even see myself.

Emmett would be arriving any minute to ask if I'd want him to walk me to my classes, and I'd quickly answer him saying no, because I enjoyed walking.

I knew my way so well that truthfully, I didn't even need my cane to get to my morning classes. But, there was always a chance something would change or I'd get pushed off my usual path and I'd need my cane if there was even one bump in the walkway that I didn't know was there.

I could hear Emmett's heavy footsteps as I moved into my kitchen and I smiled, knowing that it was exactly 8:03. He always got here at exactly 8:03, no matter what. My door opened and I was glad that for once the door knob didn't bang into the wall because every time it made me cringe, whether I was expecting it or not. I went to my cabinet and got out a bowl and my box of frosted flakes, pouring a bowlful before returning the box to its place. I took the milk from my refrigerator and placed my finger atop the flakes in the bowl to be sure I didn't over-pour my milk. I could have held my hand outside the bowl and felt the line, but the sense was just more immediate. Satisfied, I returned to the milk in the fridge, ignoring the sound of Emmett's breathing as he watched me move normally through my kitchen. We had a perfect routine down every day, and we rarely strayed. So, I still didn't understand why he continued to watch in awe as I functioned relatively normally.

I took a bite and tried to continue listening to the piano music over the ever annoying noise that was created by my chewing. I swallowed and sighed. "Emmett, can you please quit staring and ask me so that I can say no already?"

His laughter bounced off my walls and when he stopped he took a heavy breath. I long ago realized everything about Emmett was heavy. I heard him leaning against my wall, partially because it groaned quietly in protest to the weight, and knew he'd crossed his arms over his chest as he sighed overdramatically. "Fine, fine. Bella, would you like to walk with me to your classes?"

"Hmmm…Let me think about that," I replied, trying to humor him before I refused him. He chuckled as I placed a finger to my chin and turned my face slightly toward the ceiling with a slim smile on my face. "No," I answered shortly and took another spoonful of cereal into my mouth.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" he asked himself. The only time I ever said yes was when there was ice on the ground, but I of course only knew for sure if there was if Emmett or Rosalie told me. But they never lied to me in high school (the buildings were separate and I'd have to walk between them to get to different classes) just so they could be sure I was safe otherwise, which I did acknowledge and was the reason I never doubted them or gave them a hard time when I did allow them, because they were only looking out for me. I hated to admit it, but I was disabled, and I couldn't always be independent.

"Because that's always my answer." The piano stopped playing seconds after I spoke and I frowned. It was rather beautiful to hear. I could hear a number of sets of footsteps faintly moving about the building by now as well as morning radios and TVs. Showers were drowning out the more pleasant sounds, but mostly I just heard people rushing to get ready. I must have been so focused on the other sounds that I'd missed Emmett's steps as he walked toward me.

I jumped when I felt his hand ruffle my wet hair. "Love you, little sis."

"Love you too, you big oaf," I grumbled as I leaned toward his large body and he placed a kiss on the top of my head.

"See you tonight."

"Smell ya later," I called as his footsteps retreated.

"I'll be sure to go to the gym right before, just so you have something real strong to smell."

"If you could refrain, it would be greatly appreciated. If not, just—" my door closed "—shower." The last word was said mainly to myself as I knew he wouldn't be able to hear it like I would.

I quickly finished my breakfast, threw the bowl and spoon into the sink, and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I left my hair down and shook it out to get rid of some of the moisture that felt cool against my skin, and left my apartment after placing my tape recorder, my cell phone, and my books into my bag and putting the bag on my back.

Cane in hand, I tapped it out in front of me as I walked the short distance to class. People were buzzing around me and I could feel their stares on me. I was used to it, because that was what people did, but it didn't stop the blush that heated my cheeks and the feeling never went away so that I didn't even notice. I could hear whispers and murmurs, and I just wanted to tell them that I'd been doing this for the past month, if they hadn't seen me often enough by now, then they were the outsider on this path.

Once I arrived at my classroom, I was grateful to be out of the autumn wind. It wasn't pleasant in the mornings when the sun hadn't been up long enough to provide any sort of warmth. I'd hugged my jacket around me tightly in one hand while I'd used my cane in the other. Now, I folded up my cane and went to my normal seat in the back row. I was fifteen minutes early, like always, because otherwise, finding a seat was incredibly…difficult without seeing if someone was sitting in it or not.

I took extra care walking up the steps to the back row and when I was sure I was there, I reached out to my usual seat and was thankful no one was sitting there. Perfect. I took my seat and leaned back in the seat listening to the few students in the room who'd arrived early as well. I sat forward again to place my cane in my bag and pull out my recorder before returning to my relaxed position. My chair creaked when I moved and I frowned. Someone hurt my seat since I last sat in it.

I heard footsteps coming toward me and the familiar click of stiletto heels against the wooden floor. If the steps weren't so quick and the sound weren't quite as faint, I would have thought it was Rose. But this girl obviously had shorter legs, because her steps were smaller and faster, and she must have been smaller, because her steps were lighter which meant she couldn't have weighed as much. I assumed it was her voice I heard as she spoke, and because there was no one speaking to her nor were there any other sets of steps, she must have been on her cell phone.

Her voice was lovely, a high soprano that would be greatly appreciated in the theater. I smiled in her direction, though I don't know why, but quickly looked away and folded my hands in my lap. I heard her cell phone flip shut and smiled as my assumption was right. They usually were, but not always. You can't be right every time.

She squeezed past me and took the seat beside me gracefully, at least it seemed that way by the sound of it. I could smell the faintest lingerings of a perfume. It must have been expensive, because it wasn't overwhelming but it was still existent, as only a costly perfume could be. "Hi, I'm Alice," she said.

I smiled in the direction of her voice and held out a hand in front of me which she took. "Hi, I'm Bella."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I was just about to get up at the end of the lecture, opting out of using the cane – I knew my way around, been walking the same course for nearly two months – when I heard Alice call out my name. "Bella, hold up."

She'd transferred into my class, apparently, but was easily ahead because she'd been in a more advanced level class previously that she just couldn't handle with her other class loads. I stopped and waited for her, surprised when she linked her arm through mine and started pulling me. I wondered if she knew that at the moment she was leading me. Obviously, she didn't when she walked me into the person in front of me.

"Oh, sorry, didn't mean to push you into him."

"It's alright," I replied.

"I like your sunglasses," she complimented.

I smiled at her. "Thanks, my brother's girlfriend got them for me."

"They're Guess, you know, but I've never seen the lenses so…black."

I nodded. "She'd had them made especially for me."

"Why did you wear them the entire class, though? It wasn't exactly…sunny in the classroom." I laughed and shrugged in response. We had the next class together too, so I didn't pay close attention to where we were walking. "So, just your style, then?" I nodded. It was my style, but not the way she was thinking of it. It was my style because I wanted to cover up my vacant eyes.

"I've always done it."

"It's such a simplistic fashion statement. I like it!"

I laughed. "Only you would think of it as that, Alice."

I could tell she was smiling and nodding her head. Her hair made a distinctive sound when it hit the top of her jacket in back. Obviously, her hair was rather short. "Oh, Bella, I can tell we are going to be such great friends."

I frowned at that sudden realization she'd had, but quickly covered it up with a fake smile. "Of course we will be, Alice," I replied, choosing to leave out until you find out about my disability… then I'll simply be a charity case.

"So, tell me about this professor…"

And I began to rant about the professor's boring, monotone voice that I hated listening to at night when I had to memorize his lectures and presentations. Of course, she'd seen the tape recorder, but she probably thought nothing of it when she saw I wasn't taking notes. The only difference was that she thought I wrote out my notes at night.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I'd made it two weeks thus far without Alice knowing. She insisted we go shopping, and every time I made a terrible excuse for why I couldn't. Honestly, I couldn't even match my clothing further than just jeans and a t-shirt. Why would I want to go shopping with someone who didn't know I was blind?

I was leaving my building, walking without my cane today because the sidewalk didn't sound as crowded. It was cooling quickly and more people were taking cars around campus and the city. Sure they were crowded, but not very. Of course, the cars on the street were louder and faster than they normally were. There must have been an accident nearby, because traffic was terrible and horns were honking left and right. I adjusted my glasses and began walking carefully forward on the short trek to school. I thought nothing of the speedier steps as they came toward me, darting side to side, until the quick moving person bumped into me and brought both of us to the ground. That was probably the first time I'd ever been bumped into when my hearing made me fully aware there was someone near, even without my cane as a warning for them to stay a bit back.

EDWARD'S POV

Shit. I'd fallen asleep at Alice's apartment and now I was late. Dammit. Why didn't she wake me up? I needed to get to class on time because I had an assignment due, and if I didn't hurry back to get my things, I'd be fucking late! I ran through the sidewalk, dodging people as I went, to get back to my apartment. Could people make this any more difficult?

Just as I thought I was home free, only fifteen feet away from my building door, I bumped into someone, and the both of us went falling to the ground. I looked at the girl who'd fallen below me, her deep brown eyes looking toward me in shock and anger. I couldn't blame her. I'd be angry if someone knocked me over too. But what struck me as odd was that she was looking at me, but she wasn't looking at me.

She was beautiful, however, with her pale skin and mahogany hair. "I'm sorry," I apologized getting up and moving to help her up as well, but she quickly went to looking around for something, patting the ground with her hands. Strange. I quickly spotted a pair of sunglasses, however, lying just beside her, and picked them up, handing them to her. "Looking for these?"

"Yeah, thanks," she replied, closing her eyes immediately, hiding the beautiful brown pools from me, and sliding the way-too-dark lenses into place before nodding at me and moving on her way. I quickly shook my head and darted into my building, grabbing my paper off of my table and then grabbing my backpack before heading out of my apartment and back onto the streets. I unlocked my silver Volvo, which I hadn't taken with me when I went with Alice on one of her shopping excursions – much to my displeasure, might I add – and then drove off toward campus, even if it was such a short distance away. I wasn't taking any chances.