EPOV

Perplexing. I can't read her mind and she can't speak aloud, but when we touch, we can communicate. I have to tell Carlisle about this.

"Well, we don't have to worry about her talking." He said dryly.

"Yes, but she's still curious. I'm curious about her too. Perhaps we can make a trade." I pondered.

"She already knows something's up, but she doesn't need to know the specifics. She doesn't have to know about our world, just yet. Take it slow, son."

"Of course, I would never put her in the position of endangering her life."

I arrived early at her house the next morning. I didn't think she would be up for driving. It was foggy out and she had almost ran past my car when she noticed me standing there.

"Do you need a ride, Bella?"

She nodded. I opened the door to the passenger side and she smiled a wistful smile. I couldn't bear the silence in the car. It was deafening. I reached for her hand. She didn't pull away from my cold touch.

"So, what's on your mind today?"

Existentialism. That received an single eye brow raise.

"Huh. What triggered that?"

I saw something on PBS.

"You're quite intriguing Swan." That brought on some pink in the cheek area.

I was sad that Bella wasn't in any of my morning classes. So I had to watch her leave as we arrived at school. I didn't like the feeling of being away from her. Lunch came and I told my family that I would be sitting with Bella today. They didn't mind, well everyone except Rosalie. She couldn't see how Bella had become the center of my attention lately.

I waved Bella over as she got out of line and headed toward her usual desolate table. She smiled instantly and if I had a heart, it would've been beating erratically. She had only an apple and a lemonade today.

"Not hungry?" I reached for her hand once again. Good thing I went hunting, it made it easier to control myself around her delicious scent.

Not really. She shrugged.

She spun the stem of her apple and recited the alphabet and stopped when the stem broke off on the letter m.

Oh no...I'm gonna end up with Mike Newton!

I laughed at her childish antics. She got quiet for a second. As if she wanted to collect her thoughts before speaking.

"Bella, what is it? You can tell me."

I wanted to do something, but you might not like it.

"Well, why can't you do it now?" She was taken aback. What am I getting myself into?

You want me to do it in front of the whole school?

"Sure, why not?" I wonder what it could be that she'd be embarrassed to do in public.

She contemplated for a minute, then leaned in to whisper a quick thanks in my ear to which I shuddered in response to her warm breath. She gave me the sweetest peck on the cheek. The kiss seemed to last a full minute when in reality it was only a few seconds. Her soft, warm lips against my cold, hard skin left a lingering sensation as if someone had shocked me, in the best way possible. I wanted more. Being the masochistic that I am, I wanted to feel her touch once more. I wanted to kiss her and I wanted her to kiss me back. I was pulled out of my reverie when Bella started giggling uncontrollably.

"Bella, what is it?" I said half laughing. How could you not feel joy when it was radiating from this girl?

Did you not notice? She said between fits of laughter. The air just got sucked out of this room by the simultaneous gasp of the entire student body! Then I was the one who couldn't suppress my laughter. Causing another gasp and the bulging of eyes from every soul in the cafeteria. That only fueled Bella and me more. Bella was turning red from laughing without breathing and I pulled her outside so she could get a breather. The corners of her eyes were brimming with tears of joy.

Whoo! It's been a long time since I've laughed like that! My stomach got quite a work out. Bella breathed.

"How DO you do it, Ms. Swan?"

Do what, Mr. Cullen?

"Make life worth living? Make me laugh? Bring such joy into my life? No one could ever make me as happy as you have now." Bella had regained her sense of self now and stopped laughing. Whoops, too much? Keep it light!

I do ALL that? She looked at me incredulously.

"Yes, everyday." Blood rose to her face once again. I lifted my hand to touch her cheek and wipe away the remaining tears with my thumb. Almost immediately, she brought up her hand to keep mine in place.

You make me blush everyday. I smiled in response.

*AN: Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight! Sorry guys, but I'm going to have to discontinue this story. Sorry I didn't give you a heads up like in my other stories. As for the reason that Bella can't speak, she was born without vocal cords. Edward can hear her through touch because his mind reading skills are enhanced when he touches Bella. (I don't know if that can actually happen, but just go with me for this story!) Thanks for the reviews, but as always when I end one story, I start another story. Please check out my oneshot Not the Light, Anything but That!