The Music Room:

Edward couldn't bear to look at his Songbird any longer. Every time he'd glance over to see her quietly working beside him in English; he'd know the only reason why she'd sing for him was because he manipulated her into doing so. He didn't want his Songbird to sing for him because he'd tricked her into it; he wanted her to sing because she wanted to. He wanted her to sing to him the way she would sing to her little cousin when he cried. How she would sing to comfort him or lull him to sleep. He'd never thought he'd envy such a small and insignificant human as he did to that toddler. He wanted to be that small mortal, who would curl up in her lap and be pacified by her innocent, sweet voice and to have his Songbird gently run her fingers through his hair.

He never wanted her this way but out of his own desperation and selfish need he had. What made the matter so much more heinous was that she partly aware of what he had done and still wanted to befriend him. As if she thought that her influence could cure him of his 'sadness'. He hated it, he hated himself. He wanted to apologize for his crime but he'd never be able to do the apology justice.

This is what led him to spend a great deal of his spare time in the music room. He was convinced that if spent enough time in the place were he had corrupted her, then he might find a way to rectify it. This lunch time was no different. He had resumed his normally act of pacing madly up and down the room, while ever now again furiously looking at the piano. That's when she appeared in all her sweet, innocence.

She looked nervously at him. "Are you okay?" Her heart skipped a beat when she saw his ebony coloured eyes.

"You shouldn't be here." Barked Edward angrily, still pacing madly. He could feel her defiantly step into the room, despite her obvious fears. His Songbird was determined to reach out to him. It was all she ever thought of these days. "I'm destructive. I'll destroy whether I mean to or not."

She stepped cautiously closer to him and reached out a hand to touch his shoulder, but he lanced her off.

"Edward?"

"Didn't you hear me? I said I'm no good. I'll destroy you! I'd self-destruct if I could."

Then his Songbird did something he didn't expect. He had been so set on his own thoughts that he completely lost all his senses. She through herself upon him, wrapping her arms as best she could around his broad torso. Edward continued his rapid pace, still unable to register what had just happened. Her feet began to drag along the carpet and yet she still refused to let go.

"No, you won't, because I won't let you." She whispered determinedly, tightening her grip around him.

Edward stopped to look down at the weak creature. His Songbirds eyes were shut tightly and he could see her starting to shiver with fear. He stood there and allowed his Songbird to hold him. He could feel her small frame warmth slowly warm his cold skin. He found it odd that the least likely person in Forks High to put themselves at his mercy would be the first one to do so. She'd crossed the line he'd spent is entire existence trying to guard and he couldn't say he was sorry that she had.

"I don't care if you destroy me. There's a reason why we keep finding each other and I'll be damned if I let you destroy yourself before I find out what it is."

Edward's face hardened "I'll mistreat you. Abuse your trust. I'll try to manipulate you. I've done it before."

"You can learn. I can learn not to be so easily led. You'll be better when you're older. I know you will." Replied his Songbird with conviction and tighten her weak grip around him.



Edward reached for her interlocking fingers and gently pulled her away from him. He held her easily far away from him, before walking to the other side of the room. This whole situation made him sick. She was too pure for him. He turned away from her to put his head in hands, desperately fighting any thought he had. He sat down on a chair out of exasperation. "I think liked you better when you were afraid of me."

His Songbird placed her hand on his shoulder; he immediately touched her soft, warm, innocent hand. He had obviously moved to quickly for she gasped out of shock. She slowly moved her hands around his shoulders before forming a hug. Much like the ones he'd seen his Songbird given her little cousin so many times before. She soon began to hum the same tune she would sing her little cousin, when ever he needed consoling. Edward was surprised at how very little repulsion he felt towards her shameless, attempts to reach out to him.

He immediately darted away from her. "Don't do that ever again!" He ordered angrily.

She fell forward out of shock but soon regained her balance. Her eyes widened in shock. "Why? I thought you said that 'I had no idea how much joy it gave you when I sung'? Isn't that what you want, for me to sing for you?"

Edward winced as he looked at her kind, confused face. "I don't want you to sing because I want you to. I want you to sing because you want to sing."

His Songbird mouthed an 'oh' and walked past him to unlock the cupboard, that held –what he know knew to be - her guitar. She then seated herself in the chair; Edward had been previously sitting in. She pulled the guitar nervously onto her knee and looked anxiously up at him. "You have no idea how much joy it gives me to, see you smile, really smile and if playing for is the only way then so be it." She smiled weakly and then began to finger pick the chords to the song she had been humming.

For a moment Edward stood in front of her stunned at her determination. Then after a few bars had been played, he found the urge to be apart of her musical endeavours and seated himself at the piano. He could feel his Songbirds perceptive eyes watch him intently, as he played along with her. He couldn't be sure –as he couldn't bear to look back at her – but he could have sworn he could hear her smile triumphantly.

On The Way Home:

It was odd for Angela to have Edward walk her home. She had a tremendous need to run away from him and so had to force herself to stay near. He seemed to feel the same as his usually sure eyes were cautiously watching her as if he expected her to abandon him at any moment. They said very little to each for most of the way. This whole situation was entirely foreign to Angela so she wasn't sure if there wasn't anything that really could be said. After all she was sure that very few people formed a friendship, just because one was afraid that the other would slip through the seams.

Angela found it odd that Edward stopped exactly outside her house but pushed the feeling aside. She continued past her house though. Edward turned seemingly confused.

"I have to pick the twins up from school." explained Angela as she beckoned for him to follow her.

He quickly caught up with her in his usual fluid type grace. "So..." mused Edward as he casually pushed his hands into the front pocket of his jeans. "Who are the twins?"

"My younger brothers Simon and Peter." Replied Angela mechanically, although she got the feeling that Edward already knew this. Edward formed an elongated 'oh' and they were once again back to silence.



It wasn't until they'd reach the primary school gates did Edward mutter something inaudible under his breath. Angela wasn't entirely sure but she convinced there was an apology somewhere with in it. It took her awhile to register this so it wasn't until they were standing under the bid willow tree did she awkwardly mutter an acceptance of his apology. She had a strange feeling that Edward meant to say something more but her attention was soon lost to her two energetic, nine year old brothers.

Simon was the first to reach Angela, but soon stop when he saw who was standing beside her. He looked slyly from Angela then to Edward before saying. "Oh mum and dad are going to be so mad."

Peter soon joined his brother. "Yeah, dad said you're not aloud to date."

Angela rolled her eyes playfully at her brothers before enveloping them both in an overly motherly hug. "It's okay he's just a friend." She only released her brothers when their complaints over her smothering became too audible. "Aren't you two forgetting your manners? Shouldn't you two be saying hello?"

Simon and Peter crossed their arms simultaneously and replied in unison. "Dad says we're not aloud to talk to strangers."

"Fine," Snapped Angela happily. "Edward this is Simon and Peter. Simon likes to collect rocks and Peter likes to clean them. Simon, Peter this is Edward. He ergh... is a musician like me."

Simon made an 'ooo' noise and Peter added. "Oh you are in so much trouble, when we get home. Dad said you definitely can't date a musi-sian until you graduate from college."

"He says that musicians only play and write music because they know the girls will fall for them." Interrupted Simon.

"Yeah, they're only after one thing."

Simon looked at peter confused. "What is it?"

Peter returned the gaze. "I don't know. Angela what is that 'one thing'?"

Angela quickly pretended to look at her watch as a diversion. "Oh would you look at the time, if we don't hurry will miss all the cartoons."

She then quickly ushered her brothers out of the school gate. She could hear Edward quietly laughing at her and she could feel her face grow hot.

Then Simon and Peter turned to Edward and quizzed in unison. "Edward you're a mus-sican what's that one thing you want from Angela."

"PETER? SIMON?" Screamed Angela horrified at their crassness. "Edward please, just ignore them."

The rest of the walk home was spent for Angela and Edward in complete silence. Her brothers spoke animatedly to each other about what that possible one thing could be. Then Simon turned Edward, but still continued walking. "You know Ed. Can I call you Ed?"

Angela looked anxiously at him but soon smiled when she saw him nod nonchalantly.

Simon continued. "You know Ed I didn't notice before because of the tree but, you're really, really good looking."

Peter mimicked Simons previous movement so he to was know walking backwards. "Yeah, have you ever thought of making a career out of it?"

"Oh look we're home!" Exclaimed Angela rather loudly. Angela was about to turn to say her goodbye to Edward, when he mother burst excitedly out of the house. She soon stoped at the top step at the sight of Edward.

"Angela? Who is your umm... friend?" questioned her mother as she shakily walked down the front steps.

"Mum," Said Angela proudly –Edward sudden looked ashamed to be with her-. "This is Edward. He's the one who found me unconscious all those weeks ago and alerted the teachers." Angela tried to increase her exuberance, but it only made Edward smile for a little while. So she quickly shoved her hand into his own icy counterpart. "He's quite the modern day knight in shining armour."



Simon and Peter made elongated 'ooo' sounds at her hasty advance. Her mother looked from Angela and Edward sceptically.

"Angela? Will you please say goodbye to your friend –the word friend had a certain bite in her mouth- I have something important to tell you."

Angela nodded in agreement and without even thinking quickly kissed Edward on the cheek. It was the only way she could think of that might stop Edward from looking as if he was lower than dirt. When Angela pulled away Edward wore a surprised expression and tightened his grip around her small hand. Angela smiled at him slightly embarrassed. She could tell that by tomorrow Edward would do his best to avoid her.

"Angela." Growled her mother aggressively. Her mother had seen the whole event play out in front of her and was obvious not amused.

"Oh right, goodbye Edward."

Edward nodded to her curtly and muttered a somewhat apologetic goodbye. Angela's mother watched him leave while territorially stepping in front of her. Once she was sure that Edward was completely gone from sight, she turned to Angela. Angela winced, "mum I know what you're going to say, but he's just a friend and he sort of needs me right now."

Her mother frowned disapprovingly. "I bet he does." Her expression soon changed to a smile. "Oh I have some of the best news for you. You're father; brother's wife Lucy is pregnant."

Angela returned the smile. "You mean Teddy's going to have a little brother or sister?"

Her mother nodded excitedly. "I'm so glad that Lucy and Teddy are living with us; right now while her husbands away. Oh it's going to be so exciting and hopefully seeing the trials of pregnancy first hand will stop you from giving in to peer-pressure."