AN: Thanks for reading! I posted this up now because I don't know when I'll be able to update again.

Margaux

"I have a hunch you'll see her again."

Alice's voice rang through my head for the rest of the evening. She doesn't know how much I wanted that to happen.

I saw Bella's smile on my head again and dashed to my piano.

I had inspiration now, definitely.

Bella.

Chapter 3: Something about Silence

Rrriiiinnngggg

I sat upright with a jolt that I fell off my bed with a thud.

I rubbed my backside, damn that hurt. Talk about a morning start. I rubbed my eyes and dragged myself to my bed and lay down on my back for a while.

I grabbed my blaring alarm clock and checked the time, 11:00 am. I groaned. I only had thirty minutes before I meet with Angela. Angela is my musical consultant and the owner of the studio I record my compositions with. She's also a co-director of a well-known orchestra here. She always had the last say about your music.

I blinked and slapped my cheeks and jumped out of my bed and hopped for a bit to keep awake. I overslept again. I was about to bend and pick up the blanket that I accidentally pulled down with me when I saw a flash of green.

I smiled as I remembered what kept me up all night. I brought the green scarf to my face and inhaled Bella's floral scent. I walked over to my piano and admired my work. I placed my music sheets inside a black folder and into my bag then hummed the melody I composed as I took my clothes off and walked over to my bathroom.

I hummed her song… Bella's song…

I had a great feeling about this day.

"What do you mean something's missing?" I asked perplexed about Angela's assessment after I played my composition.

She scrunched up her face and looked at me and shrugged.

"I don't know Edward, it's beautiful, really…"

"But?" I asked impatiently. This was Bella's song! How can it not pass her standards?

She sighed. "It's… too raw… the melody is wonderful, the timing's perfect, all in all, very well written but there's something lacking… I just can't quite put my finger on it. It needs something more. If you were to compare it from your previous work, it has more soul in it but how do I put it… okay, it has the soul but the body is lacking."

I ran my hands through my hair and sighed. I put my all into it last night. I've heard of works that had no soul whatsoever, but having no body? That was new.

She looked at me apologetically and placed a hand on my arm.

"I'm sorry but I had to be honest with you. And I could tell you put a lot of work in here but I know if I push you some more, you can make this even more beautiful. You can do it. Work on it some more, it has promise."

I sighed again and managed a smile. "It's okay, Angela. I understand and I value your opinion. I'll work on it. I guess it made sense that it needs something more since I just wrote this last night." I chuckled.

She rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Edward Anthony Cullen. You call me in the wee hours of the morning because you said you finished your piece. I thought, wow, he works fast, faster than ever! But I didn't think you would work this fast."

I chuckled again, "I'm sorry. I guess I was just excited."

She looked at me like I grew three heads - I was getting a lot of that lately.

"What's with you, Edward? I've never seen you like this before!"

I just smiled.

"Don't tell me, you're in love aren't you! Don't deny – the smile says it all!"

I chuckled. Angela was so perceptive as usual. Or was I really brooding and all doom and gloom with my lack of dating history? I cringed. Ugh. I was so pathetic.

"Oh my God! It's true!"

I had to change the subject now. "How's Ben?"

That stopped her and I smiled triumphantly.

She blushed and smiled. "He's okay, He actually asked me to…" she looked down and smiled shyly.

"Congratulations to you both. It's about time." Ben must've proposed and she of course said yes.

She looked up and smacked my arm playfully. "Why thank you, you big cheater." Then she looked at her watch. "I have to go. I have another talent to meet, but promise me you'll keep me updated."

I laughed. "I promise. I'll let you know if I'm done with the piece."

"The piece? Oh of course, update me on that too." She teased. Yikes, she meant the 'me dating' thing.

I shook my head, "See you, Angela."

Then she left. I followed soon after and when I went out the studio, my phone rang. It was Alice.

"Hey Alice."

"Hi bro!"

"Where are you? Do you want to have coffee with me?"

"Gee, you must be pretty lonely. Haha."

"Very funny, Alice. I just met with Angela about my piece."

"Oh? How'd it go? I'm preparing for a meeting as well by the way."

"Well… she told me I still needed to work on it."

"Huh. That's new. But she knows music. I'd listen to her. So anyway, the reason I called is that I did a little research on your lady love."

I almost dropped the phone if I didn't freeze at her words.

"Hello? Hello? Edward? Still there? Edward!"

"Oh! I'm sorry, really, you were saying?" I struggled to say in a casual manner as best as I could but I couldn't fight off the smile that was playing on my lips.

She giggled, "You're excited. Hmmm… maybe I should prolong your agony."

I groaned. "Alice." I said warningly.

"Okay, okay! Well, you know the scarf she left? Well, it's a Ralph Lauren original so I took a chance of going to the store and check if somehow I could see if she signed on the guest list…"

I was starting to get impatient and excited. "And?" I prompted her. I was usually patient but this was Bella…

"Oh, right, right. Well, sadly, she didn't. So I took another one in a million chance and asked the store manager if he recently sold a scarf lately. Bella's scarf seemed almost brand new… and so I described the scarf and the manager said that a tall, young blond man …

A man? My heart sunk at where this was going…

…bought it as a gift and signed on the logbook. The name read Jasper Hale." She said, a grin of triumph was evident in her tone.

"Oh." Was all I could muster. Alice noticed the disappointment in my voice.

"Oh, she said. I know. But he could be a brother or a cousin or something, you never know. Anyway, I thanked the owner knowing I probably can't get the man's number so I went to a phone booth and checked the book. There were a lot of Hales listed and I called them all and finally I got the right one."

Waiting for my reaction, she paused. "I'm still listening, go on." I started walking over to a coffee shop and went in and sat down on one of the comfy armchairs.

"The one who answered was a woman's voice, Rose was her name I think and she asked who I was so I said, just a friend. I could hear the skepticism on her voice but she said that he wasn't in at the moment but was at their neighbor's house, the Swan's, she said then she asked if I wanted to leave a message but I told her I'd call again.

She was about to say something else when I heard a door open and heard a man talking, I heard him say something like, 'Bella (at the mention of her name my heart skipped a beat, way to go Alice!) seems to be in a good mood today – oh sorry you're on the phone.' Then I heard this Rose person said, Actually it's for you, she says she's a friend then she talked to me and said, 'Jasper's here now, I'll pass you on now' I said, 'Thanks' then I heard her pass the phone and oh my gosh Edward, I heard the most beautiful deep masculine voice ever!"

"Alice get back to the story please." I interrupted.

"Oh right, sorry, well he said, "Hi! Jasper Hale, here, may I know who's calling?" I have to admit I panicked at that moment because I didn't think this through, I didn't know what to say to him but luckily I ran out of time and the line was cut. What a relief."

I cringed, "That was embarrassing Alice!"

"I know tell me about it! But, the important thing here is, we know Bella's last name! Her name is Bella Swan! I'm sure this isn't merely a handful of coincidence! I mean, the scarf, the number, and the name! Am I great or what?"

She didn't get it. She missed one important detail. "Alice…"

"What? What's wrong? Aren't you excited?"

"I am it's just… aren't you forgetting something…"

"What? What are you talking about?"

I sighed. "The man's name is Jasper Hale. Her name, which we aren't even sure if it's right, is Bella Swan."

"Huh? Oh. Oh. Urgh, they're not related…"

I sighed again.

"Hey, don't be sad! We're not sure if they are together. There is a 'Rose' in the picture you know."

"Which could very much be his sister."

"Okay, I guess that's possible but we don't know anything for sure. Come on, just go up there and give her the scarf back. I'll come with you."

"How do we explain how we got the number, hmm?"

"Leave that to me. Come on, Edward, what do you say? Okay, if hypothetically, if, though I have a feeling this is false, if they are together, you're just giving back her scarf right? At least we're clearing some 'what if's' it's better than nothing right? Just think of the possibility that even if it feels like it's slim that they're both single and we'll all be happy. Hehe."

"Alice…"

"Oh come on! What's with the negativities? It couldn't hurt…" actually, it could hurt. If they were together, I'll be crushed. But the thought that I could see her again…

"Okay, okay! I'll do it." I'll take the risk.

"Really? Yes! Let's go now! I'm so excited!"

"Now?" I started getting nervous.

"Yeah? Why not? Better to find out as soon as possible."

"Don't you have a meeting?"

"I'll cancel, this is more important! I'm guessing you're in that coffee shop near the studio right? I'm getting a cab and heading straight there."

"Wait, Alice – "

"Running out of minutes, see you soon, Bye!"

"Alice wait – " click.

I flipped my phone and put it back in my pocket. The prospect of meeting Bella… wow, I couldn't believe it! I wanted to see her so bad… see her smile again… but the thought that she was taken already… I cringed….

I chuckled without humor, only one way to find out I guess.

I walked over to the counter and the barrister, a pretty blond girl smiled at me and greeted, "Good afternoon, sir. What can I get you?"

I smiled back, "I'll have an espresso to go please."

"Coming right up."

Coffee was probably a bad idea for my nerves but I had to keep awake… I was up all night after all. Alice would be here soon. Oh my God, we're really doing this?

….

"That's the address. Jasper Hale's and the house next to it is Bella Swan's. You nervous?"

I didn't look at her. I just clutched on the wheel of my silver Volvo. My heart beating rapidly.

"Edward? You can do this. Come on, get the scarf." She got out of the car and opened my door and tugged at me. I just sat frozen.

"Come on, Edward."

"Alice, I don't think this is such a good idea…" I pleaded with my eyes to leave.

She rolled hers, "We're this close, don't chicken out now! I mean, what would Emmett say?"

Usually, the "Emmett card" would work any normal day, as I hate being embarrassed by my big burly brother but this wasn't any other day, it was the day.

She sighed. "Fine." She grabbed the scarf then started walking briskly at Bella Swan's front door.

She was only a few steps from ringing the doorbell when I bolted over to her and grabbed her by the jacket.

"What?"

"Alice, let's just go, please…" I begged.

She shook her head, "No dice."

Then she did the unthinkable. She somehow quickly maneuvered away from my hold, skipped towards the door and rang the bell I just looked at her horrifically.

Then she pranced in front of me and smiled smugly as she placed the scarf on my shoulder and gave me a push.

I glared at her and took the scarf.

"Ooh, someone's coming."

Then the door opened and in front of us was a tall muscular but not that burly man with fair skin like me and Alice and had blond hair that was messy and he was looking at us with piercing grey eyes. What was unnerving was that he was only wearing a large green shirt and boxers.

I didn't know why but rage was creeping.

Eyeing us, he spoke politely, "Hello. Can I help you?"

"I…" I couldn't say anything or do anything but I kept my eyes on him.

He cocked an eyebrow puzzled then smiled a little when he saw Alice – oh Alice was here, I glanced at her, oh my goodness, is she blushing?

He asked again, "Um, can I ask why you're here? And who are you?"

Alice gained her composure and smiled at him.

"Hi, I'm Alice Cullen and this is my brother Edward. We came to see… if Bella Swan was here?"

He raised his eyebrows. "Oh. I didn't know Bella was expecting company." Then he smiled warmly at us. "Hi, I'm Jasper Hale, I'm Bella's neighbor." Then he blushed. "I'm sorry if I look… indecent but I kind of crashed here last night, escaping my dad's wrath… but anyway, I'll go get her."

He crashed here last night? I was starting to hate this guy even more. He looked at me and smiled. Alice nudged at me so I smiled back at him politely.

"Thanks." Alice said sweetly. Jasper smiled widely at her.

He was about to turn around when I heard footsteps coming up and below Jasper's elbow, was her, peeking at us surprised.

I blushed when I saw what she was wearing but my blood boiled even more. She was wearing an oversized college sweat shirt that I shuddered to think that it was Jasper's and very short, shorts. But she was so beautiful.

She tugged at Jasper and gave him a questioning look.

Jasper shrugged, "I don't know. They're here for you."

Bella's forehead creased and she looked genuinely surprised.

Jasper looked puzzled now, "Don't you know them? They were looking for you, this is Alice and Edward Cullen…"

Bella jumped back a little on the mention of my name. Was it from recognition?

She ducked behind Jasper's elbow, brushed her hair, and smiled at me.

I looked at her but remembering what she was wearing, I ducked down. But I discreetly looked at her.

She looked confused again, then she looked at herself, then made an "Oh" with her mouth and blushed crimson then she tugged at Jasper's sleeve and made a motion of her clothes.

Jasper looked confused as ever. Then he said, "Oh!" then he blushed.

"Oh! I'm sorry," he laughed, "This isn't what you think! Bella would like to apologize for being… as decent looking as I am, as she overslept again doing her stuff. We're not… eww, I can't even think that! Ha-ha. Well, being the best friend that she is, Bella let me crash on her couch to escape punishment from going home late."

I lit up at once. Best friend? So they weren't involved! Yes! I felt hope fill my system.

Bella smiled at me.

"So what brings you here anyway, I take it Bella knows you." Jasper said to me.

"Oh, oh right. Well, I met Bella yesterday at the park and she left her scarf so…here it is." I handed Bella her scarf. She smiled widely and her face lit up as she smacked her forehead.

She giggled soundlessly, or at least that's what it looked like then she took the scarf blushingly. She took my hand as well and squeezed it, thanking me wordlessly. So she was still being silent.

Jasper shook her head disapprovingly at Bella and frowned at her. Bella pouted apologetically at him. "Bella, that's the scarf I just got you and already you lost it."

Bella took Jasper's hand with her free hand and looked at him sincerely sorry. Jasper sighed, "Ah, okay, okay. Enough with the Bambi eyes. I forgive you." Then he looked at me and frowned when he saw my hand still in Bella's.

Bella seemed to follow his gaze because she blushed and let go of my hand quickly and I felt a loss in my body.

"So how'd you find us anyway?" Jasper asked suspiciously.

I eyed Alice.

"You see, er, I can explain." She said panicking.

I rolled my eyes. Oh, Alice.

Bella tugged at Jasper again. Jasper nodded at her.

"Why don't we all come inside? It's freezing out here and we'll geo fix you guys something warm and dress into something more decent."

Bella tapped Jasper and raised an eyebrow but her lips were quivering.

Jasper smacked his head. "Oh right. Duh. I live next door. Okay, I think my dad's not home yet so I'll go inside, maybe get Rose – my twin by the way and head back here quickly and hear this story of yours."

He messed up Bella's hair and kissed her forehead affectionately. "I'll be back," then he looked at me, "No funny stuff." Then he smiled at Alice. Alice smiled back. Figures.

So he ran to his house and Bella stepped inside and let us through.

"Hi Bella, I'm Alice, Edward's brother. It's nice to meet you." Alice said warmly. Bella grinned at her then motioned for us to follow her into her living room and she gestured for us to sit down on the sofa.

She gave us a "give-me-a-minute-look" which we both nodded at then she dashed upstairs, probably to her room.

"You're right Ed, she's silent as a ghost." Alice commented. "I wonder why…" she trailed off.

Then she smiled and clapped my back.

"Anytime you want to thank me. You know my digits." She said smugly. I chuckled.

"I think you have been thanked enough. I mean, really, Alice, ogling the blond best friend?"

She sniffed but I could see her blush. "Yeah, well."

I chuckled. I have never been happier in my life today.

She laughed with me as well. Things were looking up.

I smiled as I heard her coming down the stairs.

So this was Bella…

Bella Swan.

AN: If i reach 20 reviews I'll be encouraged to update sooner. It's not that hard right? If not, well, I'll update in two to three days. i have so much to do that if i'll squeeze this in my schedule if it's really worth the trouble. So what do you think guys? Is it worth it? :)