Chapter 11 Depth

Edward's POV

"I don't want to go in just yet, sit with me awhile?" I asked Bella when we got home, motioning to the swinging bench she'd been reading on earlier. The porch light was off, leaving us in a dim glow provided by the lights from the driveway.

She nodded and sat, I sat too, sitting close to her, "Bella," I started, wanting to finally broach the subject I'd been curious about since work, "What happened to your parents?"

She turned to meet my gaze wearily, "What makes you think something happened to them?" she asked.

"You never speak of them and a friend mentioned a Chief Swan around here, I'm curious."

She chuckled nervously, "Observant." Then she sighed "My dad was the chief of police here." She nodded, looking away for a brief second before looking back again.

"Was?" I pressed gently.

Sadness, pain and another intense emotion I didn't recognise clouded her gaze and I decided not to press anymore if she told me, whatever it was obviously went deep and I wanted her to tell me when she was ready. When she trusted me.

"My parents died last year in a car accident." She said so softly that I almost didn't hear her. There was definite pain in her voice.

"I'm so sorry Bella. I shouldn't have asked, I didn't mean to upset you. " I said, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and pulling her close again like I did in the movie house. Her pain was obviously still quite fresh and I could only ever imagine how devastated I would feel if I lost Carlisle and Esme. I didn't want Bella to hurt- she was an angel and I had this intense need to protect her from all the pain the world had to offer.

"It's okay." She smiled timidly."Edward?"

"Hmm?"

"While we're sharing. Alice mentioned something about a girl that hurt you? Will you tell me about it? If you want to of course."

I stiffened and Bella pulled away slightly so she could see my face. It was only fair to tell her, she'd told me about her parents and she deserved to know if I was going to be with her. I found myself wanting this girl to know everything about me but also terrified that knowing me would send her running into the arms of some one that actually deserved her.

She noticed my silence, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want."

"No I want to tell you." I paused, wondering where to begin, "Jessica and I went out for a little less than a year. It was okay at first but then she started wanting to get more physical. Eventually she gave up trying to get me to sleep with her and I thought she'd finally understood how seriously I regarded sex and we were okay again." I drew in a deep breath, "The one night at a party Alice was having, I went up to my room to use the bathroom and I found Jessica, topless, making out with an older guy, one that I knew was married at the time." I scoffed bitterly, "Then she had the audacity to say that she thought he was me. I ended it then and there."

"Oh Edward!" she gasped when I finally looked at her. Her eyes were filled with horror and anger.

"She cheated on you in your room?" she said in disbelief.

"In my room." I confirmed.

"I can't believe it, she hugged me closer to her, "You're such a great guy- you didn't deserve that just for sticking to what you believe is right. The world needs more guys like you, in my opinion."

I felt warmth spread through me at her compliment, "Thank you," I murmured.

"Did you love her?" Bella asked me seriously. I thought about it for a moment, I had thought I did, but now with Bella I was feeling things I'd never imagined feeling before. That I never felt with Jessica.

"No." I told her honestly, "I think I was in love with the idea of her. You're the first girl that's managed to capture my attention so thoroughly since then. Thank you Bella."

I gazed into her eyes, both of us drinking in the emotions in the other's, I wanted to kiss her then more than I wanted to do anything right now. So with my heart racing in my chest, I leaned in towards her slowly, hesitantly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted to. She didn't. She leaned closer to me instead, also wanting this. I smiled and just before our lips were about to touch, there was a loud crash from inside followed by a curse. Bella and I jumped apart as the door opened a few moments later. I rolled my eyes as I saw Emmett holding a box- trust my big goof of a brother to ruin the moment.

"What did you drop Emmett?" I asked him wearily, sending Bella an apologetic smile and standing up to grab the box from him before he managed to seriously damage something.

"What makes you think I dropped something?" he asked, feigning hurt. I snorted.

"Oh hey Bella." He smiled spotting her still seated.

She smiled, "Hi Emmett."

"Okay okay," he said, "I dropped Rosalie's pots and pans, they aren't breakable are they?"

Bella giggled and I couldn't help but crack a smile at his naivety, "No Em, but I'm going to carry them down to the cottage for you before you actually find a way to damage them."

Bella giggled again and I turned to her with a smile, "Meet me in the music room please?" I asked her, "I want to play for you."

Her eyes widened in surprise but she nodded and went inside. As I walked down to Emmett and Rosalie's cottage, I started to wonder if playing for Bella was a good idea, what if she reacted like Jessica? I decided to stop these thoughts now- I'd already told Bella I was going to play for her- I wanted her to know every part of me. Once again, I was amazed at how easy it was to trust Bella in such a short time, especially after Jessica, but I put it down to the fact that they were two very different people.

"Hey Rose." I greeted her as I walked into the cottage. She rolled her eyes and smiled as she saw the box I was holding.

"Hi Edward. What did he do?"

I laughed just as Emmett came into the room grumbling about how nobody trusted him anymore- he immediately grinned when Rosalie went to him and kissed his cheek.

"Right, I'd better go." I said, placing the box on the dining room table.

"Right." Emmett's grin was wicked, "Eddie's got a date tonight with the new sister."

Rosalie cocked her head to the side and looked thoughtful for a moment as she studied me, "Alice is already planning the wedding, let me just warn you."

"Of course she is." I grumbled under my breath, causing her to laugh. After I'd bid them a goodnight and walked up back to the main house. I entered the music room and noticed Bella standing by the piano, her hands running gently over the intricate gold carvings on the lid covering the keys. Usually I hated it when people touched my piano, but with the appreciative way Bella was touching it, it didn't really bother me.

I took a deep breath and nervously sat down in front of my piano. Bella stood behind me, her hand resting lightly on my shoulder. That's when I started to play, ignoring my nerves until I was nearly half way through the piece. I carried on playing, still a bit frightened at what her reaction would be. I hardly ever played for anyone outside my family and even though they all thought I was good, great even, I was sure they were biased. I remembered the first and only time I'd played for Jessica.

I'd played her the same composition I was playing now for Bella, a song I'd composed while watching Emmet and Rosalie's unique relationship. It was fast and choppy and eventually slowed to a romantic ending. Rosalie had loved it and I knew Emmett did too but would never admit as much.

Jessica had giggled childishly as I'd started to play and I'd barely been halfway through the song when she'd started kissing my neck and whispering in my ear, "Eddie, I really like your new hobby but we need to get to the party before it finishes."

That is why the opinion of the girl standing behind me meant so much to me now- it would hurt a lot more if she just shrugged it off like Jessica had. But Bella wasn't Jessica I argued to myself when I played the last note of the song. It was that thought that made me turn around to see her reaction before she could hide anything. Bella was standing there, her mouth agape and her eyes widened in awe- her reaction was so obviously genuine that I instantly felt relieved; okay maybe relieved was a bit of an understatement.

"That was so stunning." I heard her breathe, "How long have you been playing?"

I shrugged humbly, pleased, "I started teaching myself when I was about eight."

Her mouth again opened in shock, "You taught yourself? Wow! What song was that?"

"I wrote it myself actually." I found myself admitting almost shyly.

"Wow…You're…just wow."

I chuckled softly and watched as she shyly came and sat on the bench next to me.

"Can you play some more for me?" she asked timidly, looking at me out of the corner of her eye- she was really stunning and I found myself studying her face, her lips. It was when a faint blush covered her cheeks that I realised she was still waiting for an answer.

"Sure." I smiled at her and started to play again. I played a Debussy song and Bella smiled as she recognised it. Halfway through the next song, I saw Bella trying to stifle a yawn and I stopped playing.

"I think it's time for bed." I told her, standing up and offering her my hand. Just like last night I led her to her door and kissed her on the forehead tenderly.

"Goodnight Bella."

"'Night Edward, thanks for a wonderful night."

I chucked, "You're definitely welcome." Then with one last kiss on the cheek, we both went to bed. I fell instantly asleep, dreaming of the angel that had so suddenly captured my heart.

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