AN: Hello, everyone. I know its been a while but here's Chapter 3.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. Plot is mine.

Chapter 3

"Because I know your father."

I squint at her, trying to keep my cool. My hand clenching and unclenching at my side, I size her up. She may be a girl, a woman but I still need to be careful. I cross my arms over my chest, stilling my restless hands as I continue to look at her. Her hesitance is back in her eyes but with another look of something I can't quite pinpoint. A sense of maybe fear or trepidation. I'm trying to call her bluff because I for fucking sure know that she can't possibly know my father, my mother didn't even know him. I remember as a little boy, asking her where my father was and her explaining to me and Alice how our father was away but she never said how. She never talked bad about him, what little she did say about him. I often imagined what he was like, if I looked like him or not. My penny colored hair and green eyes were a sharp contrast to my mother's warm hazel eyes and curly brown hair.

I slowly step forward, not taking my eyes away from hers as I try to find the words carefully without scaring her away. Her form shrinks back slightly, enough for me to know that she sees the look in my eyes, the menacing look that I show people when they get too close. I peer into her soul, wanting her to understand this.

"You don't know shit." My voice is quiet but it's loud in its meaning for her to fuck off while she still can.

"I know enough." Her once almost fearful eyes are now challenging me, her mocha mirth swirling knowingly as she still holds my gaze.

I can't help but step closer, my jaw twitching with irritation. When she holds my gaze, my steps falter and I gasp out-

"Alice draw another picture for Mommy, please?"

"Mom, she's scared.."

"Sweetheart, I know but.. I have to know.."-

"Stop it." I cut her off before she gets into too deep. I haven't been able to do that in years. I made sure of it every night with my buddy Jack. The nightmares and the thoughts had to stop or I was gonna go crazy, if I haven't already.

Her eyes widen a bit, her surprise quickly leaving them. "Stop what?"

"You know what the fuck I'm talking about. Get out of my head."

I had to get away from her. Whoever or whatever she was I didn't want to talk to. It was something about her, good or bad, I didn't want to find out. I swallow hard, feeling the panic rising in my throat as I back away from her slowly. She seemed to sense my anxiety, moving closer but I didn't give her a chance to do anything as I had dashed off to my car. I sat there for a minute, calming my breathing before I turned the key in the ignition, revving the engine before pulling off hard onto the highway and away from the cafe.

Ever since I was little I was able to read people's minds. It's something I only told Alice and my mother about and somehow she knows somehow. I could feel her fucking around in my head, bringing up old memories. Memories I buried deep inside my brain to never be brought out, to anyone. I curse as I speed down the freeway, knowing that I'm getting no sleep tonight. I park and storm into the house, panting as I try to calm my damn nerves. What's the matter with me, running away from some girl. Just then my phone alerts me of a Skype call coming through. I pull my phone out of my pocket, knowing it's Alice. I answer and am met with her wide eyes and more fucking papers than last time.

What the fuck, Alice? I ask, concerned and confused.

I've been having more pictures!

I curse again to myself. There is something going on and I have to figure this shit out, for Alice's sake. I tell Alice that I'm on my way over before hanging up and leave out again. I speed over, my thoughts racing as I watch the trees become green blurs. I think again about what happened years ago with my mom. It took me forever to get that out of my head, I thought it was over until now. Her pale face and lifeless eyes staring back at me as I held her cold hand, calling out for her. I can't leave Alice by herself in good conscience so I'm thinking of having her stay with me for a while already. I can't lose anyone else again.

I arrive to Alice's place in good time, climbing the stairs two at a time. I ring her doorbell, seeing the lights flicker before she throws open the door and flings her arms around me. I can't help but smile a bit at her enthusiastic hug, wrapping my arms tight around her small frame. I have to admit that I missed this a lot but she insists on living on her own.

She pulls away, pulling me inside as she closes the door behind her.

What did you see? I ask; no sense in beating around the bush.

I saw her again. She smiles wide. You did, too, didn't you?

Yes, that's why I'm thinking about moving you in with me for a while.

Her smile turns into a frown, her head shaking already. No, no Edward it's not like that..

Then what is it then? Some girl following me around, talking shit about knowing my father and you don't think I'm going to be a little freaked the fuck out?

She's putting her hands up for me to wait and I sigh, nodding before she dashes off in the direction of her room. I run my hand through my hair as I wait in the foyer when she comes back with a folder in her hand. She opens it up, showing it to me and it's the same girl she drew the first time, it's her. I can't shake the anxiety I get from her, shaking my head at Alice. She sighs and shows me picture after picture of her in different places that look like local areas; the café, the school campus, the night club I frequent.

What does all of this mean, Alice?

She shakes her head, shrugging. I know she's not from here but she's not bad like.. I'm not entirely sure what she wants but I know that. You'll never know if you don't talk to her..

Why would I talk to her?

Because if you don't, you won't able to sleep.

I look at her pointedly. She nods, rolling her eyes as she notices her mistake. She looks at me seriously, slowly signing. Ok, well.. I won't go with you then.

I look at her and she just looks back, her hands on her hips. She is not going to let this go.

I clench my jaw. Alright, Alice. But if I think you are in the slightest danger then I'm getting you the fuck out of here.

She just gives me this all knowing smile. We're not in danger, Edward. I can feel it. I do wonder though, I can't see exactly what she wants.. I get little hints like where she's been or thinking about going but some things are cut off, like I'm being blocked from something.

Well I'm getting to the bottom of this shit before it goes too far. How will I even find her? She just pops up like a ninja all the time.

She smirks that smile that looks like mine. I'm sure you'll be able to find her.

I shake my head at her and she sprints off to her room, I assume to pack her things. Plopping down on the couch, I wait for her in the living room and think about what shit I'm getting myself into. Come to think of it, we probably never got out of it all those years ago. I don't know what my mom was involved in but I'm pretty sure what we went through wasn't considered normal.

Alice always had an active imagination so it didn't strike her teachers at school that was crazy or something when she told them about her pictures. They would tell us that she had beautiful "dreams", that is until she told a kid at school that his dog was going to get hit by a car. So when it happened an investigation opened and Alice was their number one suspect. When she was proved to be innocent, Mom decided to move us to a new place because of all of the attention.

My freaky as fuck power was just what we needed to make a fucking circus. My teacher recommended that my mother take me to a therapist because I could "hear voices in my head". At first I could listen in on a thought or two for a few minutes and then I got strong enough to where I can listen in dozens of people's mind at a time. The massive headaches are a bitch though so I gladly drown in Jack to take care of it. If it wasn't for Alice and Tanya, I think I would have been shipped off to the nut house by now.

Alice comes out with a couple of bags packed and she tells me she's ready. I let her take her car because I didn't want to keep her captive in my house. She follows me back to my place and I mull over the shit happening lately. I'm putting pieces of a puzzle together that don't make any sense. But like Alice mentioned, I'm not getting any sleep over this. When we get to the driveway, I park my car and Alice parks hers not far behind as I get out. She pops her trunk and I pull out her things, chuckling a bit as she skips over to the door and opens it with her key. We have each other's keys for emergencies but I know she likes to use it whenever she wants anyway. She doesn't take advantage of it though, not that I'm really doing anything worth hiding. I take her bags to the room that sits downstairs that she usually occupies when she comes over, heading back out to see what she's up to. I hear music from upstairs, my piano that sits on the other side pf my room. The large loft-like room is where my bed is and my baby, a black sleek grand piano with a bench for two. I used to sit there for hours playing music before mom died. I haven't touched it in 5 years. Alice touches the keys, pinging random keys as she does before looking up at me with a hopeful expression. I shake my head, my throat tightening.

Alice, not now, not tonight.

Please, Edward? Damn it, the puppy eyes.

I sigh, reluctantly moving toward the piano as she does a little bounce on her toes in excitement. I stand next to her and hold out my hands for her as she takes hold of them and steps up on the bench, crawling carefully up onto the lid. She turns to me, smiling at me expectantly and I smile a little as I shake my head at her enthusiasm. I sit down on the bench, the sturdy but seasoned wood creaking under my solid weight. I breathe out as I stroke the keys gently, as if they would break under my touch, when I notice my hands shaking. I feel Alice's hand touch my shoulder and I look up at her, her eyes shining with adoration as she looks at me.

Please? You know it always makes me feel better to hear you play.

I nod, swallowing hard as I close my eyes for a bit. I know this instrument like the back of my hand, my hands at my home position taking another breather. I start with a familiar melody, something mom would play for us. It was a light tune that always made us laugh because of the faces she made as she played, even in jest she played with the finesse of a veteran at her young age. I look up to see Alice smiling, knowing that she remembers too. I smirk, playing more as I soak in the nostalgic feeling of mom's smile and laughter. I play and play, letting my heart into my hands as I do. I play the classics, the easy stuff but as I play more and more I feel more and more. I glance up every now and again at Alice, her perched position moved to her starfish one and it's just like old times. She would lay on top of the piano when I played to feel the vibrations of my music better. I could imagine it would be like when I stand close the speaker at a concert; I can't get close enough.

The tune turns into a darker one, my mind eventually always going there. I just play, I play like my life fucking depended on it. The easy-going notes turn into complicated combinations of sharp and loud, my hands flying over the keys until you can't tell what's ivory and what's mine. It's all mine and I'm laying it all out, the only way I know how. My heart pounds as the crescendo of notes clash together in a symphony of beatifically tragic madness, my mind racing. I can feel Alice still with me, her presence the only thing keeping from slipping deeper into the darkness. I struggle to calm down this ongoing flow of too-much-shit, the descent of the long ballad of my hate and my despair finally ends and I sit there as the resounding last note echoes, clinging to me and the walls to remind me of all the empty left behind in its wake.

I sit there, staring at the blurry keys when my hands fall from them. I blink, water running down my face as I wipe the tears away swiftly. I look up to see Alice staring at me, still in her starfish position but her head turned to me. We look at each other, not saying anything because we don't have to. After a while, her stomach grumbles loudly and she grins with a silent laughter.

I hope you have dinner; did you plan that when you kidnapped me? Her eyes are full of mischief.

As a matter of a fact, I did. I retort with our smirk.

She licks her tongue out at me and I do the same before turning to offer her a piggy back ride to the kitchen. She happily hops on, letting out a squeaky squeal and clutching my neck tightly when I start to jog. She helps me prepare a nice dinner of chicken and rice and a salad to go with it. I change into my running gear for after dinner while the food cooks and afterward we sit at the kitchen island and I watch her relay her experience so far with design school. We eat and clean up and say our goodnights, me reminding her that I'm going on my run before I go to bed. She promises to keep her cell on and I lock up the house, pocketing my keys before I start my stretches. I'm stretching my hamstring when I see a flash of mahogany and ivory in the distance of the woods next to my house. I squint, knowing who it is anyway but not feeling the least bit surprised. Our eyes meet and she looks at me for a minute before walking into the woods and I start jogging to catch up with her.

AN: Yeah, so real life. That's it. Lol Thanks so much to all the people reading this and I'm really sorry for the long gap but you know the deal.

Until next time.

~TwilightVirtuosa~