Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Thanks to my fans who have been so supportive, and of course, to my beta icrodriguez, who's been instrumental in helping me work out the kinks to this story. :D

Chapter 3 - Getting To Know You

Edward's voice was gentle as he spoke to her so as not to startle her too much. He was holding out his hand for her to take but had yet to feel anything. If anyone passed at that exact moment, he would look ridiculous, holding his hand out to thin air. Thankfully, Adele was the only one there, and she was all the way up front.

There was complete silence. Only the sound of Bella's heartbeat and uneven breathing could be heard. She did not speak, and he could not, for the life of him, hear her thoughts. Try as he might, he came to the same dead end that he had encountered in the hall. He assumed that she was thinking. But how could it be that her mind was closed off to him?

No one had ever managed to block Edward out before, and it bothered him that he was shielded from her mind. As much as he loathed his ability, he had come to rely on it, and not being able to read the one mind that he wanted to hear the most was the cruelest form of torture. But…the silence was strangely peaceful. Edward had not known such serenity in so long, and he found himself elated at the prospect of figuring Bella Swan out the good old-fashioned way. He had not been on an even playing field with another person since he was human, and the prospect of it excited him immensely.

Edward could easily hear Bella's heart beating frantically in her chest, her blood pumping through her veins, and the sigh that escaped her lips when he said her name. A few seconds passed, and Edward was certain that she would not make her presence known. But then he felt something small, soft, and warm slide into his hand. He smiled as her hand found his, his heart leaping to his throat with the feel of her. He couldn't help but marvel at the still ever present electricity that seemed to flow between them. If it all possible, it was even stronger than before.

It was amazing how nicely Bella's hand seemed to fit into his. It was as if they were made to always be together. And it didn't escape Edward's notice that she did not seem to flinch or shy away from his cold touch. This pleased him more than he thought it would, and he squeezed her hand affectionately, wishing he didn't have to let go.

"H-how can you hear me?" she asked.

Edward could only imagine what her face must look like at that moment. For some odd reason he pictured dark eyes under thick black lashes, shining brightly with interest and confusion. He imagined creamy, soft skin, which would undoubtedly set on fire with a red blush the instant he touched her cheek. The need to touch her startled and excited Edward all at the same time, but he couldn't deny that he liked the idea of it very much.

Edward did not know where these thoughts had come from, but decided to dwell on the consequences of them at a later date. He knew he was becoming infatuated with this girl, but he told himself it was because he was concerned for her welfare and that was all.

He did not shake her hand as he should have, but merely held it in his, rubbing the back of it gently with is thumb as he answered her question. "I don't know. But I think the more important question is why can't I see you?"

He caught a strong wave of her scent and stiffened. Edward imagined she was shaking her head in answer to his question, causing that fresh wave to hit him dead on, stunning him for a brief second. But it was nothing that he couldn't handle. Edward was growing more amazed at his control by the second.

"I'm not sure," she answered.

"Are you...dead?" he asked, barely able to get the sentence out. Though Edward did not know this girl, he felt a strange pull toward her, and he knew he could not bear it if she were deceased. It would tear him apart.

Bella laughed and removed her hand from his. He frowned at the emptiness he now felt with the absence of her hand, and hoped she had not noticed, but he found a smile soon replacing it at the sound of her beautiful laughter.

"No, I'm not dead," she assured him.

Edward let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He had never been more relieved in his life. "Well, that's good, but it still doesn't answer the question of why I can't see you."

She sighed softly. "I don't know why you can't, or why anyone can't, for that matter. Everyone could see me up until six months ago." Her voice faded into a sullen whisper, and not a moment later he could make out her soft sobs.

With no permission from his mind to do so, Edward inched closer, and once again reached out to her. It was an instinctual reaction to want to comfort her for some reason; he just couldn't seem to help himself.

"Please don't cry," he begged softly. He couldn't bear to hear her weeping. It tore at his cold, dead heart.

She sniffled quietly, and he could just picture her now, trying desperately to wipe away her tears. "I'm sorry," she said sadly.

He made contact with her body, and closed his eyes in soft relief as he did. His hand found her elbow, and when their bodies touched again, she breathed in a quick breath at the contact. She did not make to move away like he feared she would. Edward waited for a moment, but when she still had not moved, he let his hand travel up her arm and over her shoulder. His fingers sailed along the base of her neck, moving slowly upward. He felt her pulse quicken as he continued upward to cup her face in his strong hand, his other hand coming to rest on the other cheek. Her skin was so soft and so warm. Her warmth invaded him, crashing into him like a tidal wave. He bathed in it.

"Don't apologize," Edward breathed, his voice low and slightly unsteady from touching her – feeling her. "I just don't want you to be sad."

Bella's sobs had stopped the moment Edward touched her, and that fire once again coursed through her entire body - even with his icy touch. She felt it the first time he made physical contact with her, and now it was only stronger - growing in intensity. Bella didn't know why he could hear her or feel her. After so long, she thought no one ever would again. But for some unknown reason, she found herself grateful that it was he who could.

"Why do you care?" Bella asked. Her voice was not harsh or accusing, she merely wanted to know why a complete stranger would worry about her emotional state.

Edward thought for a moment, not entirely sure himself why he cared so much, but something deep inside him did indeed care very much. Something pulled him to her, and damned if he was going to ignore it.

He glanced at the floor, shaking his head softly. "I don't know," he whispered, and then looking back up at where he assumed her face was, he said, "But I do, very much so."

Bella felt the tears fall from her eyes yet again, and she could not help the wave of bliss that coursed through her. Someone cared. No one had in such a long time, but now, someone did. She smiled at him, though she knew he could not see it.

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Edward Cullen," he said in his smooth velvety voice that Bella was growing to love. He dropped his hand from her face to grasp her hand, which rested at her side.

She squeezed his hand gently, enjoying the coolness of his skin, reveling in the contact with another person. "Thank you, Edward."

Edward walked with Bella out of the library, keeping silent so as not to draw attention. Edward would not be able to explain to anyone why he was talking to thin air, so they thought it pertinent to wait until they were safely out of the building before resuming their conversation. He smiled and waved to Adele as he passed, and she readily returned it. Bella smiled to herself at Edward's polite manners. Not many boys his age were so cordial.

Once they had reached the outside and realized that they were in fact alone, Edward turned to her. "Where do you live?" he asked, wondering how she took care of herself.

"I still live in my house. No one ever came by, so no one knows what happened to me."

"You're all alone over there?" He did not like the sound of that, though he had already known her parents had left her to fend for herself.

"Yes," she said quietly.

He looked around at the empty parking lot and didn't notice any cars. He knew it was silly, of course Bella wouldn't be driving, but he couldn't help but wonder how she got around? "How are you going to get home?"

"I usually walk. It's not very far," she replied.

Edward wasn't happy with the idea, but couldn't understand why her safety seemed to matter to him so much. "May I walk you home, then?" He hoped she would not refuse him.

What was this hold she had over him?

"If you'd like," she answered after a pause, and Edward thought he detected a smile in her voice.

He held his hand out to her. "May I hold your hand, Bella? I, um…I don't want to lose track of you," he tacked on quickly at the end, realizing that he sounded very much like a pathetic schoolboy with a crush.

And perhaps he was.

She smiled to herself, and slid her hand into his, tugging on his arm so as to lead him in the right direction. They began to walk. It was a quiet, nearly empty road that they wandered down hand in hand. Edward couldn't help noticing just how perfect it felt to be walking like this with Bella. How her hand in his seemed to fill a void that no one and nothing else ever had. Not his family, not his music. Nothing had ever made him feel this content.

He looked down at his hand and wished desperately that he could see hers; see her fingers twined through is. "Bella," Edward started.

"Mhm?" she answered, looking up at him.

He cleared his throat nervously. "You said that, up until six months ago, everyone could see you," he mused, glancing in her direction. "What happened?"

Bella mulled it over, but wasn't entirely sure herself what had happened to her. "I don't know exactly, all I do know is that one day I just vanished. It was right after gym class," she laughed softly, and Edward smiled at the sound. "I hated gym class," she added. "I'm a terrible athlete." She shook her head lightly and got back on topic. "Anyway, I was walking to my locker to get my things when all of a sudden some guy walked right through me."

Edward's eyes grew wide in horror, his mouth hanging open slightly. Even with that expression, Bella couldn't help but notice how smooth and soft his lips looked – so alluring. Bella couldn't keep from wondering what it would be like to kiss him. Swiftly banishing that thought from her head, she soldiered on with her story.

"I couldn't believe it either," she said in answer to his dumbstruck expression, remembering back on the day as she watched Edward intently. "I had my head cast low, as I always did - I liked to keep to myself - and just as I looked up, some boy, I think his name is Mike Newton, passed right through me as if I wasn't even there."

"I remember clearly, throwing my arms up to cover my face, bracing myself for the impact. People usually bumped into me," she mumbled. "But it never came. The only thing I felt was a strange tingling sensation as he passed through my body. At first, I didn't actually think that had happened, but as I turned to look after him, someone else walked through me. I began to scream as the kids kept passing through me and around me as if I wasn't even there, but no one heard me."

Bella felt the tears begin to sting her eyes again, and swallowed hard, hoping to keep her voice strong and even so that Edward would not notice her distress. But Edward had noticed, and squeezed her hand tighter in comfort. He seemed to be able to sense her emotions. It was as if he were connected to her on some deeper level.

"I began running up to people; teachers, students, anyone, trying to get their attention. But no one even so much as flinched at my presence."

Edward did not speak. He didn't think he would be able to speak even if he could find the words.

She breathed in deeply - her breath ragged from her silent crying. "After that didn't work, I walked home, trying to understand what was happening to me. You see, I didn't understand it because I could see myself, but no one else could. I mean, I don't even have a reflection; it's like I don't exist."

Edward grimaced at these words - the words that Alice had said earlier. She had to exist, how could she not? There had to be an explanation for what was happening.

"What did you do when you went home?" he asked gently.

She sighed. "I didn't know what else to do so I called my parents." She paused briefly. "But they couldn't hear me," she said in a whisper, so low that if he were human, he wouldn't have heard it at all. "I kept screaming and crying into the phone, but nothing. Eventually they hung up thinking it was a bad connection."

Edward stopped in his tracks, turning toward her. "But didn't your parents check in on you?"

"No," she said despondently. "They don't waste much time on me. They travel a lot, and never called much. Eventually the calls stopped altogether. Why would they need to look in on me when they gave me everything I needed?" She shrugged, but the gesture was lost to Edward.

After some silence, Edward asked the next important question on his list. "Bella, why don't you live with your parents?"

She sighed. "My father's an oil man from Texas. A business he inherited from his father. He and my mother never planned on having any kids, and when they had me, they used their money to buy the best nannies and tutors around so they wouldn't have to deal with me." Edward bit back the growl in his throat. "Anyway, that's just the back story. One summer they brought me here, to Forks, a place my mother used to come to as a child." Bella smiled to herself. "My mother's father, Papi, was big into hunting, and he loved Forks. After I came with them, I fell in love with the place. I begged them to let me stay behind and go to school here."

"And they let you?' Edward was shocked and appalled at her parents' lack of concern for their daughter.

"It took very little convincing, in fact," she said sadly.

"That's terrible, Bella." He squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter anymore. They are who they are."

"You loved your Grandfather,didn't you?" he asked suddenly. "I can tell by the way you talk about him."

Bella nodded again, forgetting that he could not see the gesture. "He was the only one who cared about me. When he died, I was devastated. I think that's why I really wanted to stay here." She smiled. "I feel closer to him here."

"Your family never realized you were gone?"

"No. They rarely checked in on me." She breathed in deeply. "It doesn't matter, I don't need them; never have." That was a lie if Bella ever heard one.

Edward nearly growled at her parent's insolence. "You need a family, Bella. You shouldn't be alone. No one should," he said with conviction.

"I prefer to be alone. I enjoy the solitude." But Bella knew that was another lie. She missed her parents so much it hurt, but they never paid her any mind. Being raised by nannies all her life, she never really knew her mother and father. She always felt like a burden to them, and she had always assumed that she was a mistake in their eyes; a responsibility they didn't want.

"You don't mean that," Edward pressed. "No one likes being alone," he said softly, as if to himself, his eyes on his feet.

Bella came to an abrupt stop, ignoring the longing she thought she heard in Edward's voice, assuming he did not mean for her to notice. "Well, here we are. This is my street."

Edward looked up instantly. "Which one is yours?" he asked, looking around.

There were only a few houses on the scarcely populated street and, surprisingly or not, he noticed that of the three houses on the dead end road, two of them were quite obviously abandoned.

The small windows of the homes were boarded up, the shingles hanging off the house, threatening to fall onto the overgrown lawn. Weeds had sprouted up everywhere, completely overtaking the small gardens. The driveways looked chewed up and uneven, the steps leading to the front doors completely caved in.

"My house is the one on the end," she said, bringing his attention away from the decrepit buildings.

Edward noticed that the house on the end was very well taken care of. It was a small, white, two-story house, with blue shutters, and a porch. The lawn was well kept, looking freshly mowed, and the garden was bright and vibrant with an abundance of flowers.

There were daisies and sunflowers along the sides of the house, lilac bushes in the front of the lawn, and purple roses trailing up a white trellis. Forget-Me-Nots lined the walkway leading to the porch, and various wildflowers filled the gardens in the front yard under the porch. It was breathtaking. Edward wondered how she was able to keep the house in such good condition.

They walked the rest of the street to her house and as they made their way up the porch steps, Edward voiced his thoughts aloud. "This place is lovely, Bella. But how do you keep up with it?"

"Well," she began. "My father had something worked out with a local landscaper. They come twice a month to take care of the lawn. They're under contract, so I don't need to interact with them, and…..I like to work in the garden. I'm still able to order things online, so I purchase the flowers on there. I try to tend to the garden as often as I can. It relaxes me. I find it peaceful."

Edward smiled and Bella's heart fluttered in response. Edward picked up on the change in Bella's heart rate, but he wouldn't let that go to his head. "It's truly lovely, Bella. Perhaps I could help you some time." He hoped that was not intrusive of him.

"That's sounds nice," she responded shyly, and Edward smiled, relieved.

Bella reached for the key above the front door and inserted it in the lock. It took Edward off guard for a moment to see the metal key floating gently through the air, but he kept his immediate reaction to himself. He heard her steps enter her home and Edward felt a pang in his chest where his heart lay still. He didn't want to leave her just yet. He honestly enjoyed her company and realized that he wanted to learn more about her. Not just because he needed to figure out what was going on with her but because he wanted to get to know her. Really get to know her. He had never felt that way about anyone before.

"Would you like to come in?" she asked skeptically, noticing his pained expression. Did he want to stay with her as badly as she wanted him to? She couldn't imagine he would.

Edward's lips, which were threatening to turn into an ugly looking frown, grew into a huge smile. He couldn't help the excitement that coursed through him at the prospect of spending more time with Bella Swan, but he realized that he may have been too bold in assuming she'd want the company.

Edward rubbed the back of his neck, it suddenly occurring to him that she might prefer to be left alone. "I wouldn't want to impose. If you'd rather be alone, I'd understand."

"No, please," she said quickly – too quickly in her opinion. "I've been by myself for so long. I would love some company."

Bella hoped she hadn't sounded too desperate, but she hated the idea of him leaving. What if what was happening between them was just a fluke thing? What if tomorrow he could not hear her, or touch her? Bella didn't want to risk the only chance she had at any human interaction, especially with Edward. There was just something about him that called to her.

"Then I would love to stay," Edward said sincerely.

Next chapter will hopefully be up by this weekend. After that, chapter 5 should be up by the following Tuesday. Hope you enjoyed this. Let me know what you think. :)