(A/N)

I've resigned myself to the completely erratic schedule that I have when updating my fan fictions. I'm really sorry about that. I will be continuing all of them. However, if anyone wants to continue one (any of them. Not just this one) for me, I'd be happy to discuss it with you. Otherwise, I'll see you next time I update.


Disclaimer: I'm not Stephenie Meyer, so I don't own Twilight.


EPOV

Why was I sitting in the park again? I probably looked like an idiot, sitting here by myself and it had just started raining. Big surprise.

I got up hastily. As much as it rained in Forks, I hadn't ever gotten used to being in the rain. It was kind of horrible. I checked the time on my phone and then considered running all the way back. It had somehow gotten really late. Like it's-6-o'clock-and-I'm-going-to-be-late-for-dinner late. Whoops.

I didn't run. I did, however, walk quite hastily, my hands in my pockets.

My phone rang and I groaned, knowing who it was. I answered, not bothering to look at the screen first.

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm on my way now."

My mom was silent on the other end.

"Hello?" I asked. I pulled the phone from my ear and looked at my phone. Not my mom. It was a number; not restricted, just not one I'd seen before. "Er...who is this?"

The caller cleared their throat on the other side. "Hi."

That wasn't my mom. I stopped walking and looked around. Were there cameras? Was I on Punk'd?

"Bella?" I asked, incredulous.

She made a surprised sound. "How'd you know it was me?"

"I know what your voice sounds like," I said. No, that didn't sound creepy at all. I felt my cheeks burn and I was glad no one, let alone she, could see me.

"Right," she said. She sounded embarrassed. What was she embarrassed for?

I cleared my throat and my head. "How'd you get my number?"

"Um Leah," she said, dragging her name out. I nodded though she couldn't hear me. Seth's sister. I'd known Leah forever, but I'd never really talked to her. it was kind of hard to make conversation with someone that hated you. I should have guessed it was her. Of course. She'd have no problem giving out numbers willy-nilly.

"Right," I said. I started walking again, slower now. The hand that wasn't holding my phone was buried deep in my pocket. I waited for her to say something, anything, with phone pressed against my face.

I ended up breaking the silence. "So, you called?"

"Yeah," she said in a hurried voice. "I just um... was bored, I guess."

"So you called Leah and asked her to ask Seth for my phone number?" I asked.

Why had' she just talked to Leah? Or Tanya? They were friends, weren't they? Was this some sort of complicated girl drama?

"Yeah," she said. "So what are you dong?"

I looked around the neighborhood. "Walking home."

There was a pause. "It's getting dark."

"Yup."

"And it's raining."

"Stunning observation. You must be new to Forks," I blurted. Crap. What was wrong with me?

Before I could apologize, she let out a surprised bark of laughter. God, that laugh. It made my knees weak.

"I'm sorry," I said hastily. "That was rude. I don't know where that came from."

"No, no. It's fine," she assured, still giggling. "It was funny."

Me? Funny? Right. "Thanks."

Silences always had different feelings to them. This one seemed awkward, seemed to drag... just like all the other silences between us.

"This is weird," she said and my heart sunk, even though it was true.

"Yeah," I said, swallowing. "I guess talking on IM is just easier."

"We could text," Bella suggested.

"We could," I agreed, but I kind of like talking. I liked her voice. I liked her laugh. I liked it more than I hated the awkward pauses. I didn't want it to stop, especially not so soon.

"You don't sound very excited," Bella said.

"I mean if it makes you more comfortable..." I trailed off.

"Edward," Bella said. "You have nice voice."

If I'd been eating something, I'd have choked. I nearly choked now. I imagined I looked like I was in a funhouse mirror, my eyes comically huge.

"What?"

"Sorry that was weird," she said immediately.

She was sorry? No. She shouldn't be sorry. I was slightly worried for her sense of hearing but she shouldn't be sorry.

"No," I said. I was my turn to assure her now. "I just... don't believe you."

"What?"

"Nice voice?" I asked skeptically. My voice had lowered of its own accord.

"Yeah," she said. I imagined her saying that with a shrug. She said it in that kind of tone, flippant, as if it were as simple a fact as "I like blue" or "I have a dog". But it wasn't a fact. It was matter of opinion and I happened to think her opinion was wrong.

But I didn't say that. "Thanks," I said, though it sounded kind of like a question.

"You don't sound like you believe me," Bella said.

Well yeah. That's because I don't, I wanted to say. Instead I shrugged. Then I closed my eyes in embarrassment.

"I just shrugged but obviously you couldn't see so..."

Bella giggled. "I do that sometimes. Actions tend to speak louder than words."

"I don't know about that," I said. I kicked a rock.

"What?"

"I don't know about actions speaking louder than words," I said. "I think words mean a lot."

"Words don't always mean that much," she said quietly.

I frowned. "I disagree," I said.

"You've never heard that thing about a picture equalling a thousand words?"

"It might equal a thousand words," I said, "but actually having thousand words means more. It takes effort to string words together in a coherent sentence, you know? It's like... we don't really think about it but you'll see if you're tired. Your words slur together and they don't always make sense."

"So you're saying words take more work?"

"Basically."

"Well," Bella said, "you're not wrong."

After a beat she said, "Hey Edward?"

I jumped, hearing her say my name. I thought I liked that.

"Yeah?"

"I was playing devil's advocate before," she sounded sheepish. She was, I thought, probably blushing. "I do think words have meaning. I'm a big reader, actually."

"Really?" I asked. "What kind of books?"

"Fantasies. Romances," she said. I nodded. I'd expected that. After a beat she tacked on, "I'm trying my hand at classics."

"Really?" I asked. "You don't..."

I trailed off. I didn't want to stereotype.

"-Strike you as the type?" she asked, finishing my sentence for me.

"Yeah," I said. That was kind of embarrassing.

"Don't tell Tanya," Bella said. "She'll think I'm a nerd."

I breath caught in my throat. Was she trusting me with information? At the same time, I felt something weigh own in my chest. It was an unwelcome reminder to me. She was so out of my league.

I didn't air any of my anxieties. Instead I said, "So what have you read so far?"

And then she was of, gushing about this book and that one. I wasn't sure I'd ever heard her talk so much in my life. As she spoke, I took not of some of the books she mentioned. Maybe I'd give them a try.

"I'm sorry," she finally said. "I've been rambling this whole time."

"It's fine," I assured her. "Which book would you recommend I try first?"

"What?" she asked.

"Well," I said. "I figured I could read one and then we could talk about it."

"Really?" Bella asked. She sounded kind of awed. "You'd do that?"

She seemed to think it was some kind of giant sacrifice. How selfish my motivation really was. "Yeah."

"That's really sweet of you, Edward," she said. My face flared red again.

"What book?" she muttered, then she was silent again for a moment. "I don't think you'd actually like any of these. Most of them are romances."

"That's okay," I said. Really it was. I'd read the entirety the dictionary if she wanted me to.

"Really?" she asked again. "Okay then... Can you give me some time to think about it? I'll text you the name of one."

"Sure," I said.

"Are you reading anything interesting?" she asked.

I smiled and launched into my own mini-tiraid about a fantasy novel I was in the middle of.

"Wow," she said. "I think that's the most I've every heard you talk."

It was.

"What was it called again?"

"Why?" I asked, reaching my street. I slowed drastically. I didn't really want to say good-bye. it was quite dark now and my clothes were soaked, my hair matted to my face. I brushed some of it out of my face.

"I wanna give it a shot."

"Are you sure?"

"Edward, you're likely going to be reading a sappy romance. I think I can power through a fantasy."

Slow though I tried to be, my house came into view. Damn my house for being so close. I leaned against the giant tree in the front yard, hidden from the view of the kitchen window.

"Okay," I said, giving her the tittle of the book.

"Awesome," she said.

My tone apologetic, I said, "Hey, Bella?"

"Hm?"

"I have to go," I said. "I just got home."

"Oh," she said. "No problem. I'll text you with the name of that book."

"Thanks," I said. "Bye."

"Bye," she said. Just as I was about to hang up, she said. "Oh, and Edward?"

"Yeah?"

"Nice talking to you."