This is Edward's POV of Chapter 3. I won't do both view points for any other scenes, but I wanted you to hear both Edward and Bella's first impressions of each other.

Invisible Emmett (Edward's POV)

I sank back down on the bench I where I had been sitting before I met her. Bella.

You're such an idiot, Edward. I thought to myself, as I reflected on the events of the last ten minutes. A complete and utter idiot.


I had been watching the passengers get off the bus from Port Angeles. It appeared that everyone had exited, so I was wondering why the bus hadn't pulled forward yet. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a young woman was taking a spectacular fall down the bus steps.

I rushed over immediately, concerned that she might have broken something. I was just in time to hear the bus driver's indifferent question and her reply.

I swear her simple words were imprinted on my brain: Yeah, don't worry about it. This happens all the time.

Her voice was like bells. She was on the ground, looking towards the bus as she spoke. I longed for her to turn her head my way, but I also dreaded it. I knew after that voice, her face would be a disappointment.

I was wrong.

She turned toward me a moment after the words "Are you sure you're all right?" exited my mouth.

My whole body froze. She wasn't merely all right…she was exquisite.

She wasn't showy and gorgeous, like Rosalie. She was beautiful in an entirely different way. A softer way. Her face was heart-shaped, her upper lip slightly fuller than her lower. She has a cute nose, I realized. Her brown hair fell gently around her shoulders.

But it was her eyes that caught my attention. I felt like I could see her soul through them. They were so expressive…so deep. I often found that brown eyes looked glassy, but hers were alight with warmth. For an instant, I felt like I was flying or sinking into them. It was hard to tell which.

I blinked. The sensation was so strange, yet wonderful. Strangely wonderful. I was prepared to drive back into her eyes again, but she looked down and blushed. I have never been so enamored of a blush.

And then she spoke again. "Um, what—w-what did you say?" Hearing her voice felt like sinking down into a bubble bath.

I shifted from foot to foot, trying to recall what I had said. Oh! Right. I was worried because she fell. I cleared my throat, trying to make my voice work. "I, uhm…I asked if you were okay. You took quite a fall," I said. I knelt down beside her, looking her over for any obvious signs of injury.

I rejoiced internally when she said she was all right. Her bell-like voice was still speaking about being a klutz, but I was busy looking at her hands, which were covered in blood. She began to get up.

"Let me see your hands." I said harshly, too concerned about her to be polite. Nothing should mar her soft beauty.

"What?" she asked. I realized I had all but snapped at her. Oh, wow, Edward, way to get her to like you. She must think you're a complete psycho now.

I repeated my unintentionally harsh demand in a softer tone. She looked down at her hands. Clearly she hadn't realized she was hurt. But she didn't give into my request. She put her hands determinedly behind her back and kept refusing my help.

Of course she doesn't want your help, Edward. A voice that sounded oddly like my brother Emmett's sounded in my head. You're freaking her out, man.

I softened my demand further, turning it into a request. "Please let me help?" It came out pleadingly.

Edward, what's wrong with you, man? My internal dialogue continued to sound like Emmett. Why are you being so insistent? It's not normal. She's a girl, man. You dislike most girls. I never understood why, since you do like them in principle, but…

But I like this girl. I argued back. Great. Now I was having an internal argument. Then I realized what I had said, or rather, thought.

I do like this girl, I realized. I was attracted to her, though I didn't even know her name. I wanted her to like me. Fat chance of that happening, I thought.

I noticed that this girl—or woman, rather—was biting her lip, in what looked like indecision. Then she shook her head…but she looked like she wanted to say yes to my plea. Maybe she's not freaked out, I thought hopefully. Maybe she just doesn't want to bother me. That would be a new one. Most women went out of their way to bother me.

Once again, words exited my mouth, bypassing my brain. "Don't make me play the doctor card," I said.

Come on Edward, my internal Emmett scolded. The doctor card? Really? Is that your version of a pick-up line? Dude, that's really lame.

The brunette woman raised her eyebrows. "The doctor card?" she asked teasingly.

I flushed. "I'm…I'm in my first year as a resident," I explained. "I just want to make sure you're okay. Purely for medical reasons."

My internal Emmett snorted. Yeah, sure, it's purely for medical reasons. I think it's 'cause you liiikke her. Eddie likes a girl.

Great. Now even my own brain was calling me Eddie. I ignored the voice, hoping it would go away, concentrating instead on the woman in front of me.

She looked disappointed, for some reason, but she held out her hands. Internally, I rejoiced at this development. I moved to examine her hands, but froze as I gently cradled her hands in mine.

I felt like electricity had just invaded my veins. I was warm all over. My heart started beating out of control as my breath caught. I could tell the woman was looking at me, but I gazed down at our entwined hands. Gently, I examined her hands, pondering my strange reaction to her touch.

Who are you? I wanted to ask. What are you doing to me?

Part of me wanted to high-tail it out of there, away from this beautiful woman who made me feel so strange…so alive. The other part of me wanted to keep holding her hands. That part wanted to know absolutely everything about her.

The second part was definitely winning.

I couldn't help smiling at her and getting lost in her eyes again. When she smiled back at me, my heart flipped over.

I definitely wanted to get to know her better, I decided. With that in mind, I offered to help make sure her cuts were okay. I hoped I didn't look or sound too much like a begging puppy dog. I certainly felt like one. Already, I was half prepared to follow her anywhere.

I was surprised when she said yes. She seemed so self-sufficient, I thought she would refuse. But her response was enthusiastic. It made me happy.

"Let's go see if we can find a restroom," she said.

My internal Emmett waggled his eyebrows as my mind started conjuring up things we could do once we found it. Stop it, Edward, I chastised myself. What's wrong with you? You don't even know her name. Or anything about her, for that matter.

"I think I saw the signs for them over that way." I pointed. I hope I didn't sound too excited when I said that. I need to find out more about her, I thought.

It was with that thought in mind that I asked, "Are you on the bus to Portland?"

I couldn't help grinning when she said yes. Maybe I can sit next to her, I thought.

She asked if I was on the bus too, and looked happy when I replied in the affirmative.

"Looks like we have a few minutes, then," I said happily. "Let's go." I grabbed her bag for her. I could tell she was about to protest, but she wisely closed her mouth. I wouldn't have let her carry it anyway. I'd happily carry twenty bags for her, if she had them.

Whoa, Eddie. Great. Emmett was back. Slow down there, bud. That's kind of a big commitment, carrying twenty bags. I couldn't even tell if he was being sarcastic or not.

Suddenly, I realized I was trying to figure out if a voice in my own head--which sounded oddly like my brother--was being sarcastic. Okay. I had officially gone insane. Off the rocker. It was a really good thing the woman beside me couldn't see inside my brain.

I glanced down at her. She appeared to be giving me a once over. I couldn't help doing the same.

She was fairly short—at least compared to me. About 5'4'' would be my estimate. Her beautiful hair fell gracefully past her shoulders. She was wearing jeans and sneakers—clearly dressed for comfort, not fashion—and not an ounce of make-up. I liked that. Most of the girls I knew seemed to think short skirts and loads of make-up were attractive. They were wrong, or I at least thought so. I guess I went for a more natural look. I hadn't realized that until I'd met her.

Her. I was tired of referring to this woman as her. I wanted to know a name. Well, I wanted to know everything about her, but I was willing to start with a name.

I decided to introduce myself first, hoping it would seem more polite.

When she said, "It's nice to meet you, Dr. Cullen." I couldn't help shivering. I'd never much liked being referred to as "Dr." outside of the hospital, but it sounded lovely coming from her.

Invisible Emmett waggled his eyebrows even more furiously. I tried to shove him out of my head.

I still wanted her to call me Edward though, so I told her that Dr. Cullen was my father.

"Your father is a doctor, too?" She sounded curious about me.

"Yep," I laughed lightly. "It's a family affair."

I remembered my original intention in starting this conversation. Mission: find out her name. I looked at her expectantly.

"I'm Bella," she said, seeming to realize what I wanted. I smiled to myself. Bella. A beautiful name to go with a beautiful girl.

Come on, now, Eddie. That was one cheesy line. You can do better than that, man. It was the Emmett-voice, yet again.

Bella was holding out her hand for me to shake, but then she realized it was bloody. We laughed nervously. I felt like a teenage boy with his first crush.

Recalling the original purpose of this journey, I noticed we had reached the restroom doors. I debated briefly which restroom to enter, deciding on the female one. I didn't want to make Bella uncomfortable.

"Let's get you cleaned up." I said as I opened the door. Luckily, the bathrooms were single stalls, so no one else would come in and wonder what I was doing in here. That would be awkward.

Clearly, Bella seemed to be thinking the same thing. "You're sure you won't get in trouble, coming in here? People are going to wonder what you're up to," she teased.

She's so cute. I thought. Just adorable. My thoughts were consumed by Bella—that's the only excuse I can give for the next words that exited my mouth.

"They'll probably just assume we're having sex."

I choked, realizing what I had just said. Wow, Eddie, real smooth. Way to get a girl, Emmett chortled.

Bella turned bright red. I was fairly sure that my face was a similar shade. I wanted to slowly and repeatedly bang my head against the nearest wall.

I tried to repair the damage I had done, although it seemed fairly catastrophic. I was quite surprised Bella hadn't run away screaming.

"Oh, god, I'm so sorry," I choked out. You have no idea how sorry I am. "I--I can't believe I said that…we can prop the door open if you want…I honestly—I didn't mean to imply anything." Well, at least not intentionally.

I was a stuttering, blundering, sorry mess. Just please don't make me leave. I wanted to beg. I'll do anything.

Wow, Eddie. You're whipped, man. So whipped. I really wished this Emmett-voice would shut up.

Strangely, Bella laughed. "It's fine, Edward. Don't worry about it. I don't mind…although we might need to leave the door open because it looks like the light's broken. We won't be able to see," she said, pointing to the empty socket.

Bella was the most intriguing girl I had ever met. She took my comment completely calmly, as though it wasn't a big deal. She hadn't come on to me and she didn't seem to think I was a creep!

Wow, Eddie, what an accomplishment, inside-my-head-Emmett said sarcastically.

"Okay," I said. I could hear the relief in my voice as I placed a concrete block in front of the door. I didn't care if the door was opened or closed as long as I could continue to get to know her better.

I heard Bella sigh beside me. I looked at her and she answered my unspoken question. "I was...uh...I was just thinking that this bathroom doesn't look very sanitary," she said. I looked around—it was true, but somehow I didn't think that was why she had sighed. But I didn't know her well enough to interrogate her. At least not yet.

I made a face at the lack of cleanliness. What can I say? I'm a doctor. I know a germ-infested area when I see one.

"You're right," I told Bella. "But I guess this is as good as it's going to get." I beckoned her over to the sink as I turned on the water. At least the water looked clean. I was still skeptical as I began gently cleaning her cuts with a paper towel.

I noticed that she seemed to be keeping her gaze away from her hands—and the blood. I was about to ask her about that when she winced.

"I'm sorry for hurting you," I apologized softly. I hated seeing her hurt. I just wanted to wrap her up in a hug and make everything better.

I listened carefully as she replied. "No--it's okay. Thank you for taking care of me. I probably wouldn't have been this careful...I don't always take care of my injuries as well as I should." She sounded slightly regretful.

"Why not?" I couldn't help asking, then wondered if, in my curiousity, I had overstepped. "I'm sorry--I don't mean to be pushy...it's just...you seem like a fairly responsible person, and you said you're fairly used to injury..." I tried to explain. Please tell me about your life. Tell me anything.

Wow, Eddie, desperate much? Emmett's voice asked rhetorically.

Bella shrugged. "I'm better at taking care of other people, I guess. I watch out for my mom a lot. My dad too, although he's a little more responsible. I look after myself, but I concentrate more on, well, other people."

My heart fluttered at her explanation. I could hear the care in her voice as she talked about her parents. I could see how little she cared for herself by comparison. You deserve to be looked after, I wanted to say. But I couldn't, so instead I tried to find the perfect adjective to describe her. When I found it, I spoke it out loud. "You're selfless," I stated simply. Because she was.

We were silent after that, but it was a comfortable silence. The kind of silence you usually only have with people you've known forever.

I concentrated of cleaning her cuts, all the while noticing the charge of electricity that seemed to run from her body to mine.

"There," I said when I finished, reluctantly letting go of her hands. I reached into my bag, searching for my antibiotic ointment. When I found it, I eagerly reached for her hands again, and applied the ointment to her cuts.

The silence was feeling more and more electrically charged. I rambled on, attempting to fill it. "I don't think I have any bandages with me unfortunately…but if you're careful, you'll be okay until we reach Portland and then we can look for some."

I realized I had said we. I hoped that would be the case. I really hoped she lived in Portland because I desperately wanted to spend more time with this mysterious, entrancing woman.

My hopes were dashed when she asked, "Do you have a layover there, as well?"

My heart sinking, I answered. "Oh, no. I actually just moved to Portland. You don't live there?"

"No." Damn. "I live in Phoenix," she continued. "Portland's just another stop along the way."

"Oh." I was severely disappointed. We stood in silence, fidgeting. I didn't know what else to say. Of course. I would be attracted to a woman who lives in a different city.

Even Invisible Emmett didn't have any input this time.

Finally, I asked her if she wanted to go back to the waiting area with me. I really hoped she would say yes. Just because she doesn't live in Portland doesn't mean I can't sit next to her on the bus.

Bella just shook her head. "Actually, um…I kind of…I need to use the bathroom first."

Great. Clearly she's trying to get rid of you, Edward. You've been way too pushy already. Just leave her alone. Stop bugging her.

"Oh. Okay." I said. She looked at me pointedly. I realized I was standing in the women's restroom. No wonder she thinks I'm an idiot. "Umm…I'll just go then," I muttered quickly. "Can you get your bag okay?"

I was hoping she'd say no, so I would have an excuse to sit with her on the bus, but of course she said yes.

I sighed quietly in defeat. "It was nice meeting you, Bella," I said. You have no idea how nice. I left without another word. It was obvious she didn't want to talk to me any longer.

I had trudged back over to my bench, completely discouraged. And now I was sitting here, continuing to berate myself and wallow (yet again) in misery. I was getting really good at both activities.

Bella was beautiful and amazing and selfless. I'd never felt toward anyone what I felt toward her. I wanted to know everything about her. I wanted to hold her close. I wanted to take care of her. But clearly that wasn't in the cards.

She didn't like me. She must think I'm an idiot and a bit of a stalker. And if all that wasn't enough, she lived in another city.

Bad luck, man, was Invisible Emmett's contribution.

Bad luck, indeed.


Author's Note: This chapter was fun to write. I know the ending was a bit depressing, but in the next chapter things will look up. I hope you enjoyed Invisible Emmett (the voice in Edward's head). This is the first time that I understood how characters can take over the story in an unexpected way. Emmett wanted to be introduced before he formally became a part of the story, and thus he appeared. I hope you found it amusing, and not disturbing!

Please review! I appreciate the feedback.