Chapter 2

PLAYLIST:

Say (All I Need) - One Republic

Edward Cullen

It felt good to be with my family again, in the comfort of our home in Forks, Washington. I knew every inch of the house like I knew how to play the piano. I didn't have to worry about stumbling into anything or anyone because the vampires in my family were very good about always leaving things in the same place.

It was very odd to be a blind vampire. The theory in itself was odd. Vampires were supposed to be perfect, but the injuries of my human life had been too severe and had carried over to this... exsistence. I always had to be on my guard, because blind and mind-reader are two very difficult things to handle when in the same body. The don't conincide. Luckily, it was usually relatively easy to decipher between what people were thinking and what they were saying out loud. Blind... but gifted. When people spoke, the air they exhaled was a signal. If they weren't saying it, no signal. I just had to keep making sure I was paying attention.

''Edward, how was the piano festival?'' Esme asked. My family was also good at speaking to me directly so I would know whether to answer them or not.

''I got a superior. Perfect 105, actually,'' I casually replied. After competing in at least 100 of these festivals, it wasn't such an accomplishment.

''That's great!'' said Esme, giving me a hug. ''What song did you use?''

''The one I wrote for you and Carlisle. Judges seem to like it.''

''That's because it's the best song that was ever written,'' she said proudly.

''Thanks, Esme.'' If vampires could have blushed, at that moment, I would have.

Carlisle embraced me next. ''It's good to have you, Alice, and Jasper back home, if only for a few weeks,'' he said.

I nodded and headed up to my room, letting my mind wander, trying to block out everyone elses' thoughts. I placed my backpack on the table, where I knew I would find it then ran my fingertips along my CD wall. I was insanely meticulous about music. Every single case and disk was labeled in Braille. When I finally found my One Republic album, I stuck it in the player and left the case on top.... where I knew I would find it. Meticulous....

I turned up the music when I'd found my favorite track on the CD.

Bless my soul

You're a lovely soul

'Cuz you won't let go

Of anything you hold.

Well, all I need

is the air I breathe

and a place to rest my head...

I laid back on my couch, thinking of Alice's room mate, Isabella...

The door to the auditorium had opened in the middle of my performance, but I ignored it, still playing Carlisle and Esme's song. It was odd... I knew there was another beating heart, but I could hear no new thoughts. When I finished, I stood, the perfect mask of attention, though inside my head, I was frantically searching for a new ''voice.'' Nothing. The female judge was a bit of a pervert, actually, it was so disgusting that... well, it was just ridiculous.

There was no wind to blow any new scents toward or away from me, so I'd had no idea who the latecomer was. I found myself wondering if whoever it was had enjoyed the performance. Maybe they had liked it so much that they weren't able to form any real, articulate thoughts. No, I realized. Egotistical me. I smiled in spite of myself. It wasn't until later that evening that I found out.

Alice and her roommate, Isabella, were having a playfully heated discussion when Jasper led me to their dormitory after dinner. We waited outside, listening.

''You didn't tell me your brother plays the piano, or that he is EXTREMELY GORGEOUS!!!'' Isabella exclaimed.

Alice sighed mentally and I had to supress a laugh. ''Well, he is my brother. That would be a little strange. So tell me, what happened?''

Isabella then explained walking into the auditorium after hearing someone play and being completely entranced. When she finished speaking, I waited to hear what she would think. There was only silence. So it was her. I wondered vaguely what she looked like.

Alice seemed a little disappointed. ''That's it? You didn't introduce yourself or anything?! Sheesh, Bella!''

''And just what was I supposed to say?'' Bella retorted. ''Umm, excuse me but I sort of walked in on you playing the piano and I think you're fabulously handsome?''

''That would have worked just fine. Edward can be a bit of a guy. He loves it when girls tell him he's hot.'' Ahh, so she must know I was listening in on her conversation. She paused, thinking, Wait until you hear what I'm about to ask her next. ''So, really, though Bells, doesn't the whole blind thing bother you?''

I'll kill you, Alice.

I waited, somewhat anxious for the answer, even though I knew there could never be anything between me and a human girl. ''Why should it?'' Isabella scoffed. ''It's the heart that counts, but I am curious. Has he always been that way or was there an accident or something?'' she asked quietly.

Thank you, Alice.

''Oh, no. That's his story to tell.''

''Well... does it hurt him?'' This question had surprised me most. I was touched that she appeared to care.

Alice sighed out loud this time. ''Honestly, I don't know. I think he's all right physically, but it was all a really traumatic experience and I think it really gets him down sometimes.''

I was jolted back to the real world by a knock on my door. Alice, of course. I pretended to be annoyed. ''Don't I get enough of you at school?'' I joked.

''Oh, please. Now, listen up. When we go back to school, you have to talk to Bella. Ask her on a date or something. You know you want to.''

I nodded, then shook my head. ''But she's a human.'' Even to my ears, this defense was weak. I had already decided to talk to her.

Alice's face brightened. ''I knew you would!''

Author's Note: Well, I hope you liked it. I know, I know, no kidnapping in this chapter, but I was still in the set-up stage. Now that some of the character's have plans, we can CRUSH THOSE PLANS. Just kiddin'. I like reviews, by the way. :)