3

It was finally Saturday and Bella could not be more anxious. Her stomach did a flip each and every time she thought of Edward's beautiful green eyes and dazzling smile. She couldn't believe that the gorgeous Greek God of Forks High would actually be coming to her house. Her friend's, Jessica and Alice, were calling her non-stop to give her pointers on her hair and clothes. She finally just turned her phone off so she could finish getting ready without their relentless "help".

She looked into the mirror once more, second guessing her choice of shirt again. Damn, would he like the green one or the blue one with tiny buttons up the front. She pulled up her skinny jeans, wishing she had some cuter shoes to wear. Just then the doorbell rang and her heart just about exploded in her chest.

She stumbled as she ran down the steps, relieved that she hadn't actually fell down the stairs that time. She took a moment to catch her breath and to smooth down her hair before opening the front door. Get it together, Swan!

Holy cow, he was cute! He was wearing a pair of dark jeans and a nicely fitted black t-shirt with a messenger bag strapped across his chest. His messy wavy bronze hair was so sexy that it took her a moment to actually have enough breath in her lungs to speak.

"Uh, hi. Come in," Bella opened the screen door, stepping back when Edward started to walk in. Holy Moses, he smelled good too. Spearmint with a little bit of a soap.

"Hi., Bella," Edward said, "That color looks nice on you."

"Oh, thanks," she said, so damn glad to have decided on the blue shirt.

. "I brought some music books for you to practice with." He followed her into the living room, checking out her perfect little figure. She suddenly turned around to talk with him and caught him checking out her butt.

She turned a bright red, making her even more appealing to him.

"D-do you want something to drink?" Bella asked, mortified that she had caught him checking her out.

"No thanks," Edward replied. He liked looking into her beautiful chocolate brown eyes.

He smiled and gestured to the upright piano against the far wall. "Could you show me a little of what you've learned so far. Then I'll be able to get an idea as to where we should start." He'd never wasted time when it came to someone paying for lessons.

"Uh, s-sure, " Bella stammered, suddenly rethinking this idea of lessons. She was so mortified as she sat down on the piano bench, cursing her mom for passing on her tone deaf ear. She was sorely disappointed when she saw him bring over a wooden chair and sit down on it. Damn, she had thought he would sit next to her on the bench! She placed her hands on the piano keys, wishing that she had practiced some this week.

She started out with Yankee Doodle, then went right into chopsticks. He didn't make any comment so she worked up the nerve to look over at him, then cringed at his amused look.

"I told you I was bad," she said defensively.

He shook his head, "You just have to relax a bit … maybe stop thinking about everything else but the music."

Yeah right! Like she could do that with him sitting in her living room. Bella took in a deep breath, willing her nerves to calm down. "Okay," she said lamely.

"Take some deep breaths and try to play Yankee Doodle once more, this time focus on your finger placement." Edward immediately saw her shoulders tense as she turned to play the song. Half way through she stopped and turned to look at him.

"I don't think it's working," Bella claimed, feeling foolish.

He could see that she needed help, "What makes you feel most at peace?"

Fantasies of you. "I guess I like to listen to music or take long walks in the woods," Bella said, turning on the bench so their knees were almost touching as they faced each other.

"Okay, that's a good place to start," Edward said, leaning forward a bit. He could smell her freshly washed hair and breathed in deeper. "Close your eyes," he waited until she did, finding this to be an opportune time to really look at her beautiful face. He cleared his throat, and forced his thoughts back to the lesson, "Now imagine you're walking through the tall pine trees. The cool air washes over your face and makes you feel calm. You're not thinking of anything but the beautiful tall trees as you walk through a deep grove of redwoods. The only sound you hear is the running stream as it runs over the river rocks."

Her heart melted at the sound of his amazingly sexy voice. She could listen to him talk for a hundred years and never get tired of hearing that voice. She could feel the electricity between them as he leaned in closer. She had such a strong desire to lean in closer and to kiss him. Oh what she would give to press her lips onto those full beautiful lips. Her eyes flicked open and up to his eyes. She suddenly realized he had stopped talking and was staring at her.

Something stirred deep inside him as she leaned in closer to him. Oh shit, now was not the time for him to become aroused. He sat up straighter, and leaned back. "Uh, okay. You're probably relaxed enough, right?"

Relaxed? Hell no, try hot and bothered. Suddenly a genius idea popped into her head, "Why don't you play a few songs? It'll give me a chance to hear what real music is supposed to sound like."

"I'm here to teach you though," Edward replied. He hadn't touched a piano since his mom had died and he didn't think he wanted anyone around when he played again.

"Maybe you can't even play?" Bella teased, "Maybe you're as bad as I am?" She saw his eyebrows go up, and for a moment it looked as if he might refuse, but then he gave a curt nod.

In a spur of the moment decision, he decided not to make such a big deal out of playing again. Besides, Carlisle didn't have a piano and he might not get another chance to play for a while.

She stood up and stepped back as he moved to sit down on the piano bench. Without hesitating, he began to play the most exquisite rendition of Clare De Lune that Bella had ever heard. If there wasn't reason enough for her to be madly infatuated with the guy, then this certainly would do it! His fingers glided over the keys effortlessly, as the music filled the room, resonating off the walls of the small living room.

He went right into Minute Waltz by Chopin. His fingers flew across the keys, never once missing a note as his thoughts slipped back to his life in New York. He didn't just hear the music, he heard an echo of his past life with every note. His new life would soon overshadow his memories and help him to forget, or at least he hoped that would be true.

Bella stepped closer until she could see his face, gasping at the beauty in his expression. She could see how much the music took him away as his eyes closed. Holy Moses, but he was beautiful! She stepped closer until she was leaning on the piano.

Edward felt the music drift through his soul, eventually bringing him the peace that he so very desperately desired. Music had always had that effect on him, helping him to get away from everything awful in his life. As the song was coming to an end, he opened his eyes, his fingers fumbling on the keys as he looked into intense chocolate brown eyes. He immediately yanked his hands from the piano, feeling like she had seen a part of him that he never wanted to expose.

She stepped back, embarrassed to have been caught gazing at him like a love sick puppy!

He sat with his shoulders hunched, looking down at his hands as he tried to get past this moment. He felt an intense humiliation for having let his guard slip.

She didn't know what to say. The room remained quiet until the front door banged shut.

"Hey, Bells, I'm home," Charlie yelled from the entryway.

Edward immediately stood up and turned around, catching a red faced Bella as she looked away from him again.

Charlie walked into the living room, stopping at the doorway. "Oh, that's right," Charlie said as he walked into the room, "I forgot you were having your first lesson today. You must be doctor Cullen's boy?" Charlie stuck out his hand.

Edward stepped forward and shook the chief's hand, "Yes, sir. I'm Edward Masen."

"Was that you playing a minute ago, Edward? I sure as heck know that it wasn't Bella!" Charlie said, shooting a look to Bella and wondering why she looked like the cat that swallowed the canary.

"Uh, yes sir," Edward answered, hoping the chief wasn't planning on staying for the rest or the lesson.

"Wow! I guess you're worth the twenty five bucks a week then," Charlie said, reaching for his wallet.

Bella wanted to melt into the floor, this was all too much. "Dad, we're right in the middle of a lesson!"

Charlie put his wallet back in his pocket, "Okay, okay, I can take a hint. I just needed to pick something up and then I'll be out of here." He looked from one teen to the next, feeling as if there was more to this lesson then just piano. "See ya then," he said.

Bella waited until the front door closed before speaking.

"Edward, I'm sorry," Bella said, wanting to say more but not finding the words.

Edward shrugged, "Sorry for what?"

Bella frowned, "For- for, you know, staring at you."

Edward shrugged again as if it wasn't a big deal. He gestured to the piano bench, "Should we continue?" Inside, he shored up the brick walls holding his emotions in check. James had never allowed him to show any pain, whether it be physical, or emotional, and he certainly didn't want to start now.

From that point forward, the lesson continued in a very methodical way. Bella tried not to admit to herself how hurt she felt to see Edward become so detached as the lesson went on.

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It had been over two weeks since Edward had last given Bella a piano lesson. Since then he had decided that he needed to get a job that didn't have anything to do with piano or anything to do with his old life. He had to put all that stuff behind him now. He wouldn't let himself think about Jake, piano, his mom or James, any longer.

He hated to end his time with Bella but knew it was for the best. He found Bella by the back stairs at lunch the Monday following the lesson and told her that he would not be giving her lessons anymore. He did his best to ignore the hurt he saw in her eyes as she turned away from him. Since then, they had only seen each other in science class and had barely even spoken to each other.

It hadn't taken him long to find a job. He worked in the junk yard every day after school and on Saturdays, taking apart cars so parts could be sold. He was a fast learner, earning himself a bonus after just a few weeks of work. He had enough money to at least pay for his gas, and insurance. It was a relief to not have to use the credit card that Carlisle had given him for extras.

The work was exhausting but he didn't want his school work to fall behind. He was lucky that the Cullen's had supper so late since he barely made it home in time to eat every night. He often times stayed up late into the night finishing up all the reading and homework he was assigned but the last few days had been tougher then usual.

Sunday night, he sat in his bedroom looking at the stack of homework he had to finish. He opened up his history book and began to read but halfway through the first page he fell asleep.

Carlisle and Esme were worried about Edward. He was even more withdrawn then ever before and he hadn't been spending any time at home the past few weeks. Carlisle was troubled to see how tired the teen looked at dinner time this evening. With this thought in mind he went to check on Edward.

He knocked on the half open door before walking in. He found Edward asleep with his face on a schoolbook. He looked about the bedroom, trying to gather as much information about his son as he could since the boy was not very forthcoming about his life. The room was meticulously kept, no photos out, no personal items, not even socks on the floor. What sort of teenager kept his room like this? Truth be told, Carlisle was more then a little worried about the boy.

He gently placed a hand on Edward's shoulder, jumping back when Edward yelped and jumped to his feet!

Edward woke from a dead sleep with a rush of fear. In his disorientated state he thought he was back in New York. A quick moment later he knew exactly where he was.

With a hand to his own racing heart, Carlisle quietly said, "It's okay, Edward. I'm sorry I scared you."

At those words Edward stood straighter, pushing his hair back, "It's okay." He rubbed his tired eyes and got himself under control. "I just thought you were..." he trailed off.

Carlisle narrowed his eyes at his son, "Thought I was whom?"

Edward shook his head, "No one."

Carlisle gave him a skeptical look, something was so off in the boy, "I would like to speak with you, if you don't mind?"

Edward nodded but Carlisle could see the wary look in his son's eyes.

"Esme and I, are worried about you, Edward. You haven't been home very much and you've been looking a bit ill."

"Is there something I'm not doing? You've never told me what chores I'm supposed to do?" Edward claimed, with a hint of alarm.

Carlisle sighed in frustration. He sat down on the perfectly made bed and dropped his head into his hands, "This is not about chores, Edward. We're worried about you. You're never home and you're exhausted when you are home."

Edward turned around and opened the desk drawer. He pulled out an envelope and handed it Carlisle. "I've been working at the junk yard after school. I'm sorry, I should have asked but I wanted to help pay for the car. I plan to pay you back in full when I get my inheritance. This is not much and I know I owe you so much more but …"

He watched as Carlisle pulled the money from the envelope and then looked up at him in confusion. His heart suddenly sped up when he saw a glimmer of anger in Carlisle's eyes.

"Have I ever asked you for money, Edward?"

"No, sir," Edward could hear the underlying anger in Carlisle's voice.

"Here, take it," Carlisle tried to hand the envelope back but Edward wouldn't take hold of it. He threw the envelope on the bed.

"I don't feel right, taking something so expensive," Edward declared, "James would never have allowed me to accept something like that."

Carlisle felt his irritation rise, "So, you don't consider my opinion worth listening to? He might have raised you, but you are my son!" He was shocked at himself for having said that out loud.

"Oh, really?" Edward couldn't believe the audacity the man had, "Because last time I checked, my last name read, Masen." Carlisle had nerve saying something like that after throwing him away so easily. He'd spent many a night fantasizing about his real dad coming to save him from James.

Was the boy actually throwing the adoption back in his face? Carlisle's irritation turned to anger as the teen touched on such a sensitive issue. "Fine, I'll call my attorneys in the morning and get your name changed to Cullen."

"Yeah, you fuckin' do that," Edward snapped back, knowing that it would never happen.

"You think I'm lying?" Carlisle asked. He stood up abruptly, ignoring the way his son backed up away from him He angrily grabbed hold of his son's arm to keep him from moving away further, "I'm not going to put up with your irritable, childish attitude anymore, Edward. You need to make an effort to become a part of this family, if not for me, then do it for Esme."

"F-fine," Edward stammered out, his whole body cringing against Carlisle's touch.

Carlisle yanked the boy closer to him when he felt the teen try to pull away, "And let's get something else perfectly clear, I do not want any of your rich daddy's goddamn money!"

Edward could feel Carlisle's fingers digging into his skin. His own anger left him, leaving him with a debilitating fear that was reminiscent of his time spent with James. He broke out into a cold sweat and tried not to focus on those fucking fingers.

Carlisle thought he saw fright in the boy's eyes and he immediately let him go, "Just get to bed."

Edward grabbed his arm, where Carlisle had just let go, backing away from the man until he was standing next to his desk, "Yes, sir."

He turned away from Carlisle but not before Carlisle caught that look of fear in his son's eyes again.

Carlisle cursed himself. How had this conversation gotten so out of control? He'd sure as hell never meant to scare the kid. He rubbed his face, as he tried to come up with something more to say.

He stood silently, watching the boy gather his school books with shaky hands, "Uh, Edward…" He watched as his son's shoulders tensed up. Maybe they both needed time to cool down. He shook his head as he headed to the door, "Get a good night's sleep, son. We'll talk in the morning."

XXX

Carlisle paced his bedroom, looking to Esme as she stared daggers back at him as he repeated the scene that had just played out in Edward's bedroom. He hadn't dared to tell Esme about grabbing Edward so harshly though.

"I'm not sure why you feel so threatened by a dead man, Carlisle," Esme admonished, clearly annoyed with her husband. "Did it ever occur to you that Edward was just trying to help out?"

Carlisle knew he'd overreacted but he just felt as if he would never measure up to James Masen. He remembered that prick and how he had been forced into signing those adoption papers. "That's just it, Esme, I don't need him helping out. Does Edward really think I need money? Why won't he let me be a father to him? I know I screwed up by letting him go but I can't take back the past. Damn it, Esme, why won't he let me make it up to him?"

"By buying him a car worth fifty thousand dollars, Carlisle? You can't buy his love." She frowned, "I think he was just trying to be responsible and help pay what he could. Why do you have to look at his money as if it were a slap in the face?" Esme turned away and walked to her dresser. She gathered her nightgown and headed to the bathroom. At the door she turned around to say, "I think you owe Edward an apology."

Carlisle let those words sink in. He knew he had overreacted. Damn it, he was failing epically at this parenthood gig. He'd really messed up. He paced around the bedroom, too wound up to settle down. Finally he decided to just go into the hospital and check in on patients. He opened the bathroom door, watching the silhouette of Esme as she stood under the water in the shower. He almost changed his mind and joined her, but then came to the conclusion that she might be too mad at him to want to make love.

"Babe, I'm going to the hospital. I'll be back in a few hours," he called out.

"Good, get your head checked while you're there," she called back at him.

"Will do," he replied, thinking he really should.

He walked past Edward's door, almost stopping to talk, but then thinking he really needed to think things through before talking with his son. He took the long way to the hospital, driving slowly as he thought about Edward. It was so much different then he thought it would be to have a son. Before the boy showed up, he had pictured them at baseball games and fishing or just hanging out. He felt bad for being so disappointed with the teen. It wasn't fair to pin so many ideas on a boy who had just had his world turned upside down. He sighed in exasperation, thinking about how he'd totally screwed everything up. He couldn't shake the image of his son looking at him with fear. He thought of all the times his son had jumped away when he had been touched, and how fearful the boy looked on so many occasions. He needed to get to the bottom of where this fear stemmed from, even if he was afraid to hear the answers.

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Edward pulled a brand new dark blue t-shirt off a hanger, thinking that Carlisle was right when he told him to show more respect to Esme. Esme had filled his closet and drawers with new clothes without ever mentioning it to him. She'd cooked breakfast and dinner for him every day and always had a bag packed for his lunch every morning. She had been nothing but nice to him and he'd been acting like a jerk to her since he'd arrived.

Esme was nothing like his mom, never hesitating to let Carlisle have a piece of her mind. When he'd first arrived he'd been nervous to witness their little arguments, thinking that Carlisle would hit her at some point, but it never happened, Carlisle had always ended the fight by apologizing.

He pulled a comb through his wet hair, wincing as he lifted his arm. He lifted his arm up higher and looked in the mirror at the underside of his upper arm, grimacing at the deep purple finger prints. Some things would never change for him.

Breakfast started out good, with Edward making an effort to be friendlier to Esme, "Esme, I just want to thank you for all the new clothes you bought for me."

Her face lit up, "Do they fit you alright? I kind of just guessed your size."

Edward put a hand to the front of his shirt, "Perfect. And …I also wanted to thank you for all of your delicious cooking. I'm so used to eating cafeteria food that I forgot how home cooked food tasted." He smiled at her pleased look, and wished he had been more friendly from the get go since it seemed to make her so happy.

"You must have had home cooking at night, after school though, right," Esme asked.

Edward shook his head, "No, I boarded at my old school. I was only home for the summers."

Both Esme and Carlisle stopped eating to look at him. Carlisle hated knowing so little about his own son.

"I didn't know that," Carlisle stated, "What sort of school was it that you went to?"

Edward ate another bite of the delicious omelet before answering, "A music conservatory."

"Oh, my" Esme exclaimed, shooting a look to her husband. "We had no idea you were musically inclined. What instrument do you play?"

"Piano," Edward said, wiping his mouth with the linen napkin, then placing it back in his lap. He pretended not to see the incredulous look on Carlisle's face.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know," Carlisle repeated, feeling like an inadequate parent. He should have been offering this child so much more. The only piano teacher he knew of in Forks was the elderly lady living in the old folks home by the supermarket.

"I'll look into getting a piano today," Esme stated, captivated by the idea of piano music in her house.

"Please don't do it on my behalf," Edward quickly replied, "I'm not sure I want to play anymore."

He could feel both the adults looking at him, so he kept his gaze on his plate.

Carlisle and Esme both figured that Edward's desire to cease his piano playing had something to do with his parent's death. They ate in silence for the rest of the meal.

When Carlisle noticed that Edward was finished, he said, "Edward, could you spare a few moments before school? I'd like to talk with you in my office."

Edward followed Carlisle into the office, not knowing why the idea of speaking with Carlisle in private made him so nervous. He sat down in the chair across the desk.

Carlisle sat down, gathering his nerve to admit his mistakes, "I'm sorry for reacting that way to the money you earned at the junk yard. It was actually very responsible of you to try to pay for your car, Edward. I still don't want the money but I understand now how thoughtless of me it was to reject it so-uh, so intensely."

Edward shrugged. He'd heard a thousand apologies from his mom after receiving punishments from James. They never meant much to him.

He pushed the hair out of his eyes, unexpectedly wincing at the pain in his arm. He froze in place when he saw Carlisle's shocked expression. He followed Carlisle's line of site back to the underside of his own arm. He quickly put his arm down.

They looked at each other in silence, Carlisle with his eyes wide and his stomach on the verge of vomiting. How could he have done that to his own son? He'd never been a violent man, he'd never hurt anyone before. He'd actually left marks on his son! The moment Carlisle stood up, Edward flew out of his chair, moving closer to the door.

Carlisle stopped moving, realizing that the boy thought he was coming after him. It killed him to see that his son was afraid of him.

Edward looked to the door. He didn't want to just stand there and take another punishment, he wouldn't let Carlisle hurt him again. He kept his eyes on Carlisle but slowly made his way to the door.

Carlisle heard his son running up the stairs. He dropped down in the chair that Edward had just vacated and grabbed his own hair. Holy fuck! What had he done? He'd let his own insecurities cloud his judgment enough to lose control while handling his son. He'd actually harmed his own son, leaving bruises on him like some animal! A few minutes later he heard Edward coming down the stairs.

He walked out to the foyer, hoping to at least offer an apology, as feeble as it was. He couldn't manage to speak when he saw his son. The boy had changed into a long sleeved shirt. Carlisle knew it was to hide the bruises.

Edward fished his keys from the bowl on the entry table, avoiding eye contact with Carlisle.

Carlisle managed to speak around the lump that had formed in his throat, "Edward, what I did to your arm…"

Edward held his hands up, interrupting Carlisle, "It was a stupid mistake, I shouldn't have worn a short sleeve shirt. I promise, no one will ever find out." With those words he walked out the door.

Carlisle felt his breakfast rise up in his throat. He barely managed to make it to the bathroom before losing his breakfast as understanding took hold. The reality crashed down on him like a tidal wave. Why had he denied it to himself, all the signs had always been there! He should have realized…

This was not the first time Edward had hid bruises.

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Okay, so who's reading this shit? Anyone???

Don't worry, Carlisle will not become a child abuser. I had to put that part in. It's pivotal to the story.