Edward carried me back down the hallway to the bedroom. When we were outside the door, I had him stop. "Do I really have to go back in there?" I asked. "It's like a prison in there," I explained.

"I'm not sure there is a better place. I think you'll be more comfortable in there," he said, his breath swirling in my face. I took it in, it smelled so sweet.

I nodded, and he took me into the room, setting me on the bed and propping my bad leg up.

"Thank you," I said once I was positioned on the bed. "I realize that had to have been awkward for you, talking about bathrooms with someone you've never met before."

"It's no trouble. I'm sure anyone else would have done the same."

"I doubt it," I laughed.

"May I ask you a question?"

"Ask away, no guarantees that I'll be able to answer it, though."

"I'm sure you will be able to answer," he assured me. "Where are you from?"

"Oh, that's easier than I expected. Boise, Idaho," I answered.

He looked thoughtfully at my eyes, and I met his gaze back. "Am I allowed to ask you a question, then?"

Smiling, he pointed out "It wouldn't be fair if I didn't let you."

"You wouldn't be the one who was engaged to the girl who died, would you?"

A normal person might have lost all composure, but Edward didn't. "Yes, I was. The loss of her was inevitable. I don't believe I made the right choice by proposing to her. There was many a time when I believed that she wasn't right in the head."

"I'm sorry all the same," I whispered.

"It's not your fault, in fact, I'm the one who should be sorry. After all, it was you who was nearly killed because someone thought you to be her."

"Do I look like her?" I wondered.

"No, a few features are similar, but I believe you are better looking than she was."

I felt my face get warm. I laughed at myself. I didn't remember the last time I had blushed.

"Can I ask what she did to get someone after her?"

"You can ask, but I don't think I can answer that right now."

"Is it a secret?"

"It's not something I'm supposed to alert the world to," he admitted.

"Is it up to you whether I know or not?"

"Partially," he allowed, speaking cautiously, as if he were trying to be careful about what he said.

I nodded. "I understand. Some things I don't like talking about or telling other people about either. Besides, it's none of my business," I said, smiling brightly.

"I'm sure it's something that you'll discover eventually. It's quite a story."

"The sooner you tell me, the better. I've got weeks in this cast."

He laughed, a sound more beautiful than his voice. "Why did you come from Idaho to Washington?"

"Originally because there was a Yankees and a Mariners game, and my friend and I were coming to see it. That's only part of it, though."

"What's the other part?"

"I wanted to get away from my parents. I was tired of being babied, and I wanted some independence. I wanted to live my life the way I wanted to live it, and being stuck under their roof wasn't what I wanted. When my life flashes before my eyes, I don't want it to be what anyone else wanted of me. I want it to be what I want to watch. I want my life to be memorable, not just a blink of an eye."

"That's an admirable goal to have. I don't think that you should be ashamed of the decision to leave. If you explained it to your parents like you explained it to me, they should understand."

"Thanks," I couldn't express all that I meant by that in one word, but I couldn't exactly put my feelings into words, either. I hoped for now my 'thanks' would suffice.

"Is Whitney your friend who you came with?"

"Yes, she's the most wonderful girl I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. I'm glad that she and Jacob found each other. There's nobody more deserving than she is."

"You really liked Jacob, didn't you?"

"I did, a lot. He was the kind of guy that I could see me being with for a long time, someone who I could be close to easily. He made me laugh, and like a lot of people do, eventually made me want to cry, but I know now that he's not mine to have."

"Jacob…he's different. I don't think I would have ever believed that his kind existed until I saw it with my own eyes," Edward said.

"You've seen him, as a werewolf?" I choked out.

He nodded. "It's a sight to see."

"I wish I could see it, get outside, at least. I can't tell you how much I just want to feel the raindrops on my face, watch the trees drip from a rainfall, see the gray clouds with no window in between us."

Edward said nothing, but looked out the window. I looked in that direction, too.

"How did you meet Jacob?" I asked.

"Jacob had been friends with my fiancé before she passed. They were very close. When she died…we sort of helped each other through it."

"That was…nice of him, nice of you, too. I never knew that about him. I only knew him for such a short time, I never really got to know him. It was one of those things that I hoped I would be able to do," I admitted.

"I understand, that's what I thought I would get to do with, well, you know who I'm talking about," he related.

"Won't you tell me her name?"

"I don't like to use her name, if I can avoid it, I will. Sometimes I wonder if it's a jinx on me and the people around me if I say her name."

"I'm sorry. I won't ask again."

"That's something that's been bothering me. Could you please stop apologizing when you think I'm upset? It's a little on the annoying side."

"So-" he cut me off with a look that could only be describe as happiness. He wore a large smile on his face, his eyes shined. I stopped my apology short, laughing. "My bad," I laughed.

I sighed, glaring down at my cast. I was in a good enough mood now that if I wasn't stuck with my bad leg, I would be dancing. I traced the cast's patterns.

"Not enjoying the cast?" Edward guessed.

"Definitely not. I feel so helpless. I'm used to running when I want to run, dancing when I want to dance, and jumping when I want to jump. Not being able to do that is really getting on my nerves."

"Is there anything that you usually do sitting? Maybe that will help you pass the time," Edward suggested.

I beamed. I didn't think of what I could do, only what I couldn't do. "I love to write, I love to read, and I love listening to music," I said. "I would play music, but I don't have my instrument," I laughed.

"What instrument do you play?"

"Flute and piccolo," I replied. "I started playing on my mom's flute. I still play that instrument today."

He nodded. "What music do you like?"

"I am in love with Owl City, but I listen to more than that. I enjoy everything except country and hardcore rap."

"How about favorite books?"

"Too many to choose from. Particularly I would have to say Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, or maybe Dracula by Bram Stoker."

"Classics," he noted.

"I guess," I smiled. "The way they wrote then is so much more elegant than the styles now. I can actually call their writing beautiful, when now all you see is constant slang and text talk."

"It is a real shame how human vocabulary has diminished," Edward agreed. Then, his eyes lit up. "I have an idea that will get you out of this room AND doing something you'll enjoy."

"What's that?" I asked, curious at the source of his excitement.

Without answering me, he scooped me up so effortlessly that I had to question my weight and his strength. He carried me out the room and down the hallway to a closed door.

"What's in there?" I asked, hoping that this time he would answer my question.

"You'll see." He opened the door with ease, though I was in his arms. What was inside made my jaw drop.

He sat me on a black couch, making sure my leg was elevated. I looked at the walls, the source for my awe. CD's, tapes, and even records lined them. It was more stocked than a music store, and I could hardly believe it.

"Name an artist," he said proudly.

I thought about it for a moment before exclaiming "The Black Eyed Peas!"

He went to one wall and pulled down every one of their CD's, including Fergie's solo projects. "Oh my goodness," I gasped.

He put the music back on the shelf. "Name another."

"Muse."

Just as he had done with the Black Eyed Peas, he pulled down every piece of Muse music ever known. My eyes widened.

"Just how much music do you have in here?"

"Not sure, a lot. I've been collecting for a while."

"How long is a while? I want to start something like this!"

He laughed. "It will probably take more than a few months, don't get so eager."

"I don't care! This is fantastic! Have you ever had this collection appraised?" I was bouncing up and down on the couch. "And they're all yours?"

He nodded, smiling. "All mine, and no, I haven't had them appraised."

"Wonderful," I breathed.

He walked over to me and sat on the floor in front of me. "I wouldn't recommend that bouncing. Your leg won't heal," he warned.

I calmed myself down before looking about the room. Besides music, there were a few books scattered here and there, and an amazing sound system.

"Is this your room?" I wondered aloud.

"Yes," he answered.

"It's incredible, but where's your bed?"

"The couch is a pull-out."

"Oh."

Conversation died for a moment, but it wasn't an awkward silence. For some reason, it was comfortable to just sit there. His presence was a comforting one, and though the pain in my leg was acting up again, he made it better.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Yes," I lied, but only partly. The pain wasn't unbearable.

He stood up and went to his stereo, where he put on Meteor Shower by Owl City. By natural instinct, I began forming my words to the lyrics. And then he did something which made me gape.

He lifted me up again, this time holding me upright, but so my bare foot was resting gently on his. "Um, what are you doing?"

"You want to dance, you're going to dance. Is there any pressure on your shin?"

I shook my head.

"Good," he grinned. He held me in his arms and gently began spinning us in a slow, careful circle.

I am not my own, for I have been made new. Please don't let me go, I desperately need you, the song played.

Being upright was a feeling that made my heart do little flips…but I wasn't sure if that was because Edward was holding me or it was that I was standing.

I couldn't help but smile.

"Enjoying yourself?" Edward asked, smiling.

I laughed. "If I said yes, it might just be the biggest understatement of the year."

He laughed quietly, joining mine. We moved carefully and gently through the rest of the Ocean Eyes CD.

Alice

I sat outside the doorway to Edward's room. His door had been left open, so I pressed myself up against the wall, hidden by the shadows. I listened to their soft conversation as the music played. I didn't care if Edward knew I was there. I was excited because I was right. Danielle WAS the one for him.