Chapter 11: Absurd Claims

A story by Yellow Smoke

All right's belong to their rightfull owners.

Year 1956

Willow stared at the forest in front of her, wondering what secrets it might contain. Truth to be told it wouldn't be hard to walk over there and see for herself, she would only have to cross the river between the mysterious forest and the house, but the tiny river was more than she could overcome. It was deep, so deep she would have to swim, but it shouldn't be a problem as Willow had been taught how, yet it didn't help her at all.

Willow knew it was her head that was the problem. Her body could cross the river without any difficulties, but her head just couldn't manage the task in front of her, and so she was stuck on the porch. All while her eyes rested on the forest beyond the river, wondering.

Deep down she knew there was nothing in that forest, except trees, and at some point the ground would transform itself into a mountain.

But to Willow the forest was the unknown, and very fittingly she felt as though she was staring at her own future, which was much like the forest, unknown.

She had been with the Cullens for six days, and as far as she could figure out, it had to be Monday although she wasn't sure. Because over the last few days things had turned into a blur, as very little happened, and they could tell her she had been here for a year, she wouldn't be able to tell any different.

Willow wasn't even sure what was going to happen with her, or when something was going to happen. A part of her actually wondered if she ever would be allowed to leave this place, alive at least, or she was their prisoner whom they treated as a guest.

It wasn't as though Willow had been told she couldn't leave the Cullen mansion. By all means Carlisle and Esme had more than once encouraged her to go outside, and get some fresh air, although she had been told not to leave their property. They had claimed it was for her own protection, as the whole town was searching for her at this point, but Willow was starting to doubt their words. Mostly because Willow hadn't seen any posters or heard anything, but how could she when they had isolated her in the middle of nowhere?

Willow wasn't sure any of the Cullen's actually wanted what was best for her, despite what they were saying, just like she had begun to question her freedom. Was she actually a free person? Of course one could ask if anyone was free, but was Willow free to leave this place if she wanted to? She hadn't really tried to ask anyone, as she feared the answer would be no, but she was starting to doubt their intentions.

It wasn't as though Willow had anywhere to go, which was the main reason for Willow to stay, just like she knew it would be their main argument, should she try to leave. Not that they would need any kind of arguments, as Willow knew they had far too much power over her, all because of a small white object.

A pill.

Deep down Willow knew her addiction was unhealthy, but she craved them like a maniac, and at this moment Dr. Cullen had her in his palm. If Carlisle asked her to beg, she would beg for that pill, and if he asked her to jump she would only ask how high. Willow would do anything for another pill, and another few hours of silence, although he wasn't generous with the amount she received.

Willow had been at their house since Tuesday night last week, and she could without a doubt say Saturday had been the most trying day. It still sent chills down her back as she thought of the chaotic day, and how rude she had been to Carlisle and Esme. To be honest she had been angry from the moment she woke up, knowing Carlisle had some kind of idotic plan, which meant she wouldn't be getting any pill that day. And essentially it meant she wouldn't have any peace.

And so she had snapped at Esme for literally nothing, something she had regretted deeply when the sweet woman left, yet Willow still hadn't apologized and probably wouldn't. She knew it wasn't fair, as none of it had been Esme's decision, and sole blame should be placed upon Carlisle.

Not that the blonde doctor hadn't felt her wrath that day. Willow actually wondered if he had regretted taking a day off, as nothing had been accomplished, unless being yelled at was an accomplishment. Just one hour after Esme had left her alone, Carlisle had knocked on her door, to kindly offer his assistance with her ghost problems. Willow couldn't wrap her head around just why Carlisle thought he could help her, especially when a pill could fix all of it in a second, but he was determined the pills were a bad idea.

But Carlisle's offer of help had ended in a heated discussion, at least on Willow's side, as the kind doctor had yet to show his temper. Willow was amazed just how calm he was, no matter what she yelled, and sometimes it made her think he saw her as a spoiled brat, whose words couldn't be taken too seriously.

It didn't change the fact Willow had yelled at him, badly, and at last she had claimed it wasn't his decision whenever she drugged herself with pills or not. To that Carlisle had responded calmly that she was underage, and unless she wanted to go back to Frank, he viewed himself as her guardian, and therefore it was his decision.

His words had left her furious.

After that Willow had thrown him out of her room, and had stayed there for the rest of the day, livid. Truth to be told Willow was still angry at Carlisle, and if it weren't for the pills, Willow wouldn't have left her room at all. Carlisle knew this too, and had clearly tried to give her some space, as he had laid her pill out for her each day at his desk, and Willow took it without saying a word to him. She knew he was planning for her to skip another pill on next Saturday, and the thought alone made her blood boil, although it wasn't just the pills she was angry about.

Willow was angry Carlisle had called himself her guardian.

He could just as well have proclaimed himself to be her new father, and the thought of it made her see red. Not that Carlisle was a bad father, no from what Willow had seen he would be great, but Willow didn't want a father, and had never had one. She wasn't about to begin now, as she kept telling herself she didn't need one.

But the sentence had also been a proof to Willow of her missing freedom, because she clearly had none. Carlisle had proclaimed himself her guardian, unless she wanted to go back to Frank, and on top of that he held the pills. The Cullen's wouldn't have to worry about if Willow tried to run off, because she clearly couldn't, and they thought so too.

But after her argument with Carlisle, Willow only had Esme for company, who tried to be her mother as well, and Willow didn't want any of it. None of them had ever claimed to be her parents, and Carlisle had only used the word guardian, but Willow knew what they wanted, and she wasn't about to give it. Truth to be told she didn't want another fiasco like her mother and unknown father, and so she had tried to stay away from both of them, which meant she had stayed in her room.

But today Willow had decided to sneak out of her room, and get outside for a bit, although there wasn't much sneaking involved. For some reason Willow couldn't understand, the Cullen family always knew where she was, and what she was doing. Nevertheless Willow felt as though she was hiding, as she after taking her pill from Carlisle had walked outside to sit on the porch at the river, if only to kill time.

These last few days had held little excitement, and so to Willow it was almost daring to have her feet bend over the porch, inches from touching the river. As she looked at her feet, she wondered if anyone would be mad if her brown oxford shoes got wet, but doubted it. For some reason new shoes seemed to be placed in her room each day, which Willow found odd, as she never had gotten a new pair of shoes in her life. They always had to be outworn before her mother decided to get her a new pair of second hand shoes, and so Willow had never met anyone who wore new shoes each day.

Just like Willow hadn't worn the same dress more than once. She wasn't sure how much money the Cullens owned, but it had to be a lot, or they wouldn't be able to afford such expensive clothing in such large quantities. They were probably the richest people Willow knew, although she wasn't entirely sure she knew them.

Because despite the fact she had been here for six days, she knew very little about them. She hadn't even seen the Cullen children yet, not that she complained, as Carlisle and Esme were more than enough at the moment, but they were an odd family. Willow wasn't even sure they were in the house at all, and she was starting to question whenever these people even slept, and how they could function without sleep.

Willow was living in a strange sort of bubble, because she knew these people were vampires, and she had so many unanswered questions, but she was terrified of asking them. Mostly because Willow wasn't sure whenever she would like the answer or not, and so far her curiosity had brought her nothing but pain and loss.

She felt as though there was a wall inside her head, which kept all of her questions at bay, as they couldn't get past it. All while Willow was on the other side, and tried to pretend she didn't know anything, although the truth was she knew too much.

Willow's stream of thoughts were interrupted as she heard a door open behind her. Whoever did it clearly didn't intend to scare her, as it was done carefully, although loud enough for her to hear it. Something Willow had noticed Carlisle and Esme did a lot, simply so she wouldn't be scared or get a heart attack.

For unknown reasons Willow didn't have to turn around to know who it was, yet out of curiosity she still did, and her suspicion was confirmed as Edward stepped out on the porch. Willow couldn't explain just how she knew it was him, but his mere presence sent chills through her body, although she wasn't scared of him, or at least not as scared as she had been.

"I haven't seen you for a while," Willow tried to say lightly, as she gave him a timid smile, while her blood seemed to pump faster through her veins. She wasn't really sure how to act around Edward, mostly because she had acted like a mad person the last time she saw him, and she wasn't sure just how he viewed her at this point. Thankfully Willow actually had a chance of staying calm this time, as she had taken a pill just an half hour ago, and so she didn't have to care about the ghosts that seemed to follow him down the porch.

"I thought it might be best if i kept my distance for a while," Edward said, his voice smooth like silk, and it made Willow feel as though she hadn't heard his voice for a decade. "May i sit?" he asked politely, and pointed to the spot next to her, to which Willow agreed.

And even as Edward sat down he looked far more elegant than a normal human being, as he gracefully got down beside her. One leg was tucked underneath him, while the other dangled over the edge of the porch, just like her own legs. All while he stared into the forest himself, trying to see whatever it was Willow had seen.

Willow couldn't help but stare at him, and admire his physical appearance. To her he was the image of perfection itself, with his marble white skin, and tousled curly hair, who's shades couldn't be described. In some way it's reddish colors reminded her of copper, but on the other hand it also reminded her of summer and appletrees, although she couldn't explain why.

And any model would be jealous of just how perfect his body was. It seemed as though he was capable of wearing almost anything, although he was rather casually dressed in a grey pair of pants, and a white shirt. But even that looked like something that belonged on the front cover of a magazine.

Willow however quickly looked down on her hands, as she felt his golden eyes stare at her, probably because she had stared at him, and she felt herself blush.

Truth to be told she wasn't sure why she was blushing, or why she suddenly seemed to care about his opinion. To be quite honest Willow had never cared about anyone, so why did he suddenly matter? A part of her tried to tell herself it was due to her accident last week, where she had a mental breakdown in front of him, and told him and Alice she knew what they were. Willow hated to appear weak, and she had surely been weak at that moment, although she had been weak ever since.

But the mere thought of her breakdown made her blush even further, as embarrassment crept through her body, while she tried to shake the feeling away, although it was impossible. She had lost control of herself, and she still felt as though it never had been regained, leaving her as a weak insane person for everyone to see.

"What are you thinking?" Edward suddenly asked, his voice calm as ever, although he sounded slightly curious. He hadn't stopped staring at her, and as Willow looked at him, he looked as though he was trying to solve a mystery.

"I am thinking about how embarrassed i feel when i think about last week… and uhh, my breakdown," Willow muttered, and chose to look down upon her hands once more, while she tried to control her emotions. Therefore she didn't see the confusion in Edwards eyes, and his brows knitted themselves tightly together, as though her words frustrated him.

"I think you should be the last person to feel sorry for what happened," Edward told her softly, almost as though he felt some sort of guilt himself, though Willow didn't notice, far too deep in her own thoughts. "You were overwhelmed, what you experienced was a rather natural reaction," he tried to say, clearly meant as a comfort, but Willow was far too stubborn to be able to think like that.

"I shouldn't have gone to school…" Willow muttered, and once more stared up at Edward's golden eyes, while she gave him a sad smile. "I… it's my pills," Willow then added, suddenly unsure why she was sharing this at all with Edward, when she wasn't supposed to tell anyone. It was rule number one. "They, they have stopped working for some reason, and I should have known it was a bad idea to go to school," Willow sighed, and was clearly trying to be responsible for her actions, but Edward shook his head anyway.

"It still doesn't mean any of it is your fault," he said to her, his voice once more carrying some kind of guilt, although Willow never noticed. "You are probably the only one in all of this who shouldn't carry any blame," he then muttered, and for a second Willow wondered who was to blame then, but she let it slide. Because truth to be told, Willow wasn't sure she would like to know, or even cared.

Instead they sat there in silence for a few seconds, both of them thinking, while Willow played with the hem of her sleeves nervously. All of this had been inside her for a week, safely locked away in a box, but suddenly someone had found the key, and Willow couldn't control what came out. She wasn't even sure why she was confessing to Edward of all people, a person she had no relation to, as she had been scared of him since she got to Leavenworth.

But there they sat on the porch, as though they were old friends, and for a moment Willow allowed herself to think it was true. She allowed herself to get caught up in a fantasy of friendship, something she had yet to experience in her life, and it was something she knew she wouldn't experience.

And after a moment of silence, Willow looked toward Edward.

"You know what annoys me the most about that day?" she asked him, and Edward looked at Willow once more, inviting her to say what was on her mind. "I wasn't strong enough to just ignore it," Willow muttered, and stared down at her own hands in disappointment. She had tried to be strong her whole life, as she had ignored her own curse and continued with her life. But just as she really needed that strength, she failed herself and allowed her weak nature to take over.

"Hmm…" Edward said thoughtful, and made Willow lift her head once more, and he stared at her with a kind look in his eyes. "I think you were rather strong and brave that day," he told her, his eyes and voice so honest Willow wanted it to be true, but she knew it wasn't.

"I disagree," she protested and shook her head, while she brushed a few strands of hair away from her face. "There is nothing strong and brave about breaking down first at school, and then at home," she tried to convince Edward, but as she was about to realize the marble god wasn't easy to convince.

"Yet you remained strong enough to get away from me, and you were brave enough to trust Carlisle later," he tried to point out, and Willow raised a sceptical eyebrow. She had run out of fear, not because of strength, and she had only trusted Carlisle because she had no choice. "A weak person would have stayed in that hallway, until someone moved them and hospitalized them," Edward tried to convince her, and quickly held his hand up, as he saw Willow was about to protest. "I know this may sound strange to you, but i know how it feels to hear something no one else can hear. And i know just how chaotic it can be, when you aren't able to sort out what's real, and what's in your head," he told her, and Willow almost wanted to believe him.

But how could he understand, how could he think he knew how she felt, when he hadn't tried to walk a mile in her shoes? Truth to be told no one would ever understand her pain, just like no one ever would be able to understand her, despite what Edward was trying to say.

"I doubt it," Willow simply said, and wasn't going to listen to whatever he thought was worth comparing with her experience. "And none of it really excuses anything," she pointed out, and crushed all of his words in one sentence. "If i had simply composed myself and used my head, none of this would have happened…" Willow muttered, and took a deep breath in frustration, before she buried her head in her hands. "Why am i even telling you any of this," she groaned, and the question was valid enough.

Never before had Willow confessed so much to another person, and Edward Cullen was literally a stranger, who so far had scared the shit out of her. Edward Cullen was actually a murder, and a part of her began to wonder if it were the pills that had kept her this calm? Because truth be told, she should have tried to run away from him by now. Yet there she was, sitting beside him as though they were friends.

"Maybe you need to get all of it out?" Edward suggested softly, and Willow lifted her head to stare at him with disbelief. Never before had Willow felt the need to talk with anybody about her problems, and she surely didn't feel like it now. "To be fair," Edward continued, clearly trying to protect his statement. "You have been here for almost a week, and you haven't spoken a word about what happened that day.. i mean, you must have some questions," he tried to press her, but Willow didn't buy it.

"Knowledge leads to no good… i have learned that much," she told him honestly, and her voice had a hard edge to it, as she tried to make it clear she was serious. She didn't want to know anything. Although Edward didn't seem to take her request too seriously.

"Carlisle thinks you are in a state of shock, and is trying to repress everything that has happened," Edward chose to inform her suddenly, and the mere mention of the doctor's name made Willow's blood boil. Carlisle had no right to think she was in a state of anything, unless it would result in more pills.

"I don't think you are supposed to tell someone they are in shock," Willow snapped at Edward instead, and couldn't hide her temper, how dare they think she was so weak? She was maybe a little stressed, but she was sure as hell not some mental person in shock.

And Edward clearly sensed his words weren't well received, as he raised his arms in defense, and placed a charming small smile on his lips.

"Willow, you have to admit it makes sense in a way…" he tried to convince her, not that he actually thought Willow was going to agree with him. But he still had to try. "Most people in your position would have a thousand questions, if they knew we were vampires, yet you haven't asked a single one since you got here… isn't that a bit strange?" he tried to ask her kindly, and a part of Willow couldn't deny it, as there was some logic to it. But she was never going to admit it.

"That doesn't mean i am in shock, or even stressed," Willow argued back, and although her eyes consisted of cold tones, they could have been on fire. "Maybe i just don't want to know," she told him firmly, as her blood pulsed through her body, while she tried to tame her anger for once. "Curiosity killed the cat you know…" she then muttered, and had to look down to get her temper under control. Her mother had always warned her about her temper, saying no argument was won by getting angry. And for once Jane Quinn might be right.

"I think you are just trying to pretend none of it really happened," Edward told her, his voice perfectly even and calm, as it was clear he wasn't as upset as Willow was. To be quite honest, it looked as though he enjoyed their argument, which annoyed Willow even more. "I mean, you now know what kind of monsters we are, yet you aren't that scared, which makes no sense," Edward informed her, and Willow had to give him that, it made no sense. Yet she wasn't terrified… truth to be told she should have screamed by now. "So i think Carlisle is right, you are still in some state of shock," he finished, and his point was clear.

Even Willow had a hard time arguing against it, thankfully Edward had given Willow a perfect chance to change the subject.

"Do you really have to keep talking about Carlisle?" Willow asked with a sighed, as the blonde doctor brought the worst out of her these days. It wasn't as though he had tried to harm her, but he was simply too controlling, and no one had ever tried to control the small details in Willow's life. Sure her mother had sent her off to this forsaken place, but she couldn't care less what Willow did from day to day.

"You two are still not on good terms?" Edward asked, and tried to sound as though he was surprised, but Willow knew that he knew. The whole house had to know by now.

"No… he sort of got something I want, and he thinks he can decide what's best for me…" Willow said with venom in her voice, as she for a moment turned her head to stare at Carlisle's office, as though he could hear her. Which he could.

"Maybe he is doing what's best for you?" Edward tried to suggest to her kindly, although it wasn't well received by Willow.

"You sound just like him?" Willow told him mockingly, although it was just as much a tease, as Willow tried to keep her temper under control. Not that she had succeeded much with that these last few days.

"Look," Edward said, as he turned his whole body toward her, making it clear this was serious. "This is going to sound strange to you, but you aren't the first one with a gift whom he has helped,"

"It's a curse," Willow corrected, and was never going to call her ability a gift. Because if it was a gift, it was surely the worst gift she ever had received.

"No, I mean it Willow!" Edward said with a hard edge to his voice, making it clear she had to listen for once. "I have been in your situation, I know how it feels to be surrounded by voices you never asked for," he tried to convince, just like he had tried to convince her earlier. This time however, Willow couldn't just ignore it, and she looked at him with an offensive glare.

"Oh, so now you see ghosts too huh?" she asked with a hateful smile, while her voice was dripping with sarcasm. No one could ever claim they understood her, unless Edward actually did see ghosts, but she doubted it. A person who saw ghosts would never kill so many people, that would be suicide in a way.

"No Willow…" Edward sighed, and he almost made it sound like she was the stupid one, although she would argue it was the other way around. "I…" Edward said, and clearly thought for a second, wondering if it was wise to tell her. "Since Carlisle transformed me into a vampire, i have been able to hear people's thoughts, whenever i like it or not," he tried to convince her.

And for Edward the cat was out of the bag, as he stared at her, worried what she might think of him.

But Willow had to stop herself from smiling, as she stared at him, her whole body shaking as she tried not to laugh. What Edward had told her was probably the most ridiculous thing she had heard, and she had to gasp for air as she said.

"Really… well… well then i guess i can fly as well!" Willow laughed, and couldn't keep it inside herself any longer, while Edward looked almost shocked. This was clearly not the reaction he had anticipated, although Willow couldn't understand why he had expected anything else.

"You can see ghosts, and you know we are vampires, but my ability to read minds is where you draw the line?" he asked her surprised, while Willow tried to control her laughter, although she couldn't stop smiling. Something she hadn't done for a long time, so in a way it was good.

"Sort of…" she admitted, and bit her lip to keep herself from giggling. But as she stared at Edward she realized he looked almost… offended. As though he actually meant it. "Alright," Willow sighed, and removed the smile from her face, before he got angry at her. "Then tell me what i am thinking?" Willow challenged him, and gave him a small smile, as she with all her power thought of cherry pie. The very pie they had eaten what felt like ages ago. To add to the drama she even closed her eyes, to make it clear she was thinking as hard as she could, about cherry pie.

"I can't read your mind," Edward told her with a sigh, as he clearly didn't appreciate her reaction so far.

"Oh of course," Willow said, once more with sarcasme in her voice, as she opened her eyes, and smiled at him. Clearly teasing him. "Just my mind huh?" She asked, and raised her eyebrow. "Or do you only show off on special occasions?" she laughed, and couldn't take it seriously. A part of her wondered if she should find it offensive, that he claimed he was like her, but found it far too funny.

It was absurd anyone would try to pretend they were like her.

"No Willow, it's just your mind I can't read," Edward groaned, and clearly didn't find it as funny as Willow did. Although there would come a day where he would laugh about this, and Willow wouldn't. "But," he continued, as he had to prove himself somehow. "I can tell you Esme is in the kitchen, preparing you dinner, which is going to be a meatloaf of sorts," he told her, and Willow could swear he sounded as though he was disgusted. But then she recalled he probably didn't eat like her. "And," he continued, clearly wanting to prove himself even more. "Alice is at the moment browsing through your wardrobe, planning your outfits for the next week. She is wondering whenever you are going to like a blue floral dress she brought for you," he added.

And then he send her a charming smile, thinking he had the upper hand.

It left Willow speechless for a moment, as she stared at Edward, not entirely sure whenever she should believe it or not. Truth to be told she would find out soon, but it could just as well be a trick. Maybe he already knew Esme was making a meatloaf, and had seen the dress Alice had brought for her, which would prove his words whenever he could read minds or not.

"That does not prove anything," Willow told him honestly a few moments later, while he had stared at her, waiting.

"Then what do I have to do to prove it to you?" Edward asked with a sigh, realizing he didn't have a lot of options at the moment to prove it to her, which meant Willow would have to come up with an idea herself.

"Tell me what i am thinking?" Willow suggested, once more thinking about the cherry pie at the dinner. But it only made Edward groan, while he stared at her as though she was an idiot.

"I can't, I already told you that," he reminded her, as he frustratedly ran a hand through his hair. He clearly hadn't expected her to show this kind of disbelief, but it sort of confirmed Carlisle theory, she was in a state of shock. Truth to be told Willow just wanted everything to be normal once more, and so she wasn't going to believe Edward, unless he actually proved it.

"Then explain to me why you can't tell me what i am thinking?" Willow asked instead, as she decided to play along for a bit, curious what his excuse was going to be.

"Carlisle thinks it has something to do with your own ability… it's blocking mine in some way," Edward sighed, as Willow looked at him with skepticism.

"And he can turn invisible, or is that Esme?" she asked him, and although it was with a smile playing at her lips, Edward still looked rather sternly at her. Probably tired of all of her teasing.

"No one can turn invisible," he said with a sigh, and wasn't about to tell her what Alice and Jasper was capable of. At least not for now, although she would find out at some point. "But for some reason i just can't read your mind," he confessed, and brought the conversation back on track. "It's like… I do hear something, but it's low, far too low for me to understand. Like people who mumble, it's really just nonsense, and sometimes it's like there is more than one person," he told her.

And for a moment Willow was concerned, as she tried to put herself in his place. She herself knew what it felt like when a thousand voices tried to get her attention, and she felt sorry for Edward, although she wasn't sure what he said was the truth. Edward however seemed to have picked up on her sadness, as he added.

"It's not in a bad way though," he tried to convince. "It's more like listening to the wind, or the sound of water running down the river… it's actually rather nice," he promised her, which soothed Willow… but then she recalled it wasn't true.

But just as she was about to remind him of that, he turned his head toward the house, clearly listening for something.

"What is it?" Willow asked, as she saw Esme step out on the porch, smiling as she saw them sitting together by the river. The reasons behind her smile wasn't clear for Willow, but she nevertheless seemed happy, and Willow noticed she actually wore an apron. As though she had been cooking, just like Edward claimed.

"She is afraid you will get sick if you stay outside… and your meatloaf is ready," Edward said with a smile, as he stood up, and offered his hand to her.

An annoying smirk had appeared on his face, probably because he felt he had proved his mind reading ability was true. Even Willow had to admit she didn't see Esme's lips move, just like she hadn't heard her voice, but it didn't mean anything, or at least she tried to convince herself of that.

Nevertheless she grabbed his hand, and got up.

"That was just a lucky guess," Willow told him, as she walked inside.

But the smile didn't leave his face.

So thank you to everyone who continues to read this story, and leaves a comment! It means a lot!

Anyway i never really liked how accepting Bella was of the whole vampire and mind reading thing, so this is sort of my take on it, and i thought it was about time Willow and Edward got a chance to chat once more. Although there still is a lot they need to talk through...

Anyway, stay safe, and enjoy the story!