Disclaimer: I dont own anything but the plot
Chapter 6 Questions
Edward POV
When we arrived home both Alice and Emmett were very quick to start telling Esme about the day's Events. Jasper watched from the sideline, only making small comments here and there. Rosalie went to the garage to fiddle with her M3. I didn't really know what to do with myself. I decided to sit down on our living room couch and just listen to the conversation. That didn't really happen though as my mind got so preoccupied with everything I had learned about Bella today, that I for once actually managed to tune the others out.
Bella's face and eyes, like so many other times, were once again all I could picture in my head. Unlike the other times though when I hadn't known more than her name and face, this time her smile and the sound of her voice, especially her laughter, occupied my mind as well. Whenever she spoke my name, it sent a thrill through my body. My name on her lips sounded so different then when anyone else had ever spoken it.
When she had defended me against that vile Mike Newton, I had thought I knew what she had meant earlier, by stating that she was a very protective person. I was wrong though. Only when Rosalie had given me the play by play in her head of Bella's last comments, did I understand. Her first comment was of protective stands, yes. But when she had insinuated that he wasn't even a real man, she did more damage then I think even she realized. She was right. Hitting his pride was the best course of action. He had understood that message clear as day. It would seem that when Bella got angry, her claws came out to play. And they were sharp. I smiled at the thought.
The conversation we had afterwards came to mind then. Bella didn't have a phone and barely any money. She had used what she had to buy a house and car. I suppose money is a superficial thing to vampires. We didn't need to buy food since we didn't eat, so that made saving up a lot easier. But clothes, electric bills and gas for her truck, which didn't seem like it had very great mileage, would take a good chunk out of her savings. "I wonder how much she has left. A phone isn't actually that expensive. So if she doesn't even have enough for that, maybe she's already close to running out."
I didn't notice that I had company on the couch before I heard my father's voice loudly say my name. I looked over at him.
"Carlisle. I'm sorry, what did you say?" When had he arrived home?
Mild shock crossed his face and he blinked a couple of times before responding. "Well that's a first." He chuckled.
"What is?" My eyebrows knit together.
"Edward, sweetheart." My mother said behind me. I turned my head to see her from the corner of my eye. "He said your name out loud three times before you even noticed he was beside you. Are you alright?"
"What has stolen your attention so completely son? Is something wrong?" Carlisle added.
My eyes drifted to the side. Had I really been that deep in thought? "Bella." I answered them.
They looked at each other in worry. Esme sat down next to Carlisle. "You were frowning before I caught your attention. What's troubling you?" Carlisle inquired.
"I was just thinking about our conversations earlier."
Esme spoke next. "Alice told me that you spoke more to her than the others did. Did you get into an argument?"
"No mom." I laughed a little at that. "We didn't arbue. I mean she did throw an apple at my head, but I think that was really more of a message to me that I shouldn't try to sneak up on her, rather than her being hostile." I smiled at the memory of catching the apple and realizing at once that that had been another one of Alice's predictions coming true.
"She threw an apple at your head?" Carlisle asked in amusement.
"Yeah. She's got a good throwing arm. She could possibly be a good pitcher for our next game." We all laughed.
"That still doesn't explain why you were frowning though." Carlisle added.
I sighed. "I was just thinking about when she told us about her financial situation. She apparently used most of her money to buy a house and car to move here. Now she doesn't even have enough to buy a phone, which isn't a very expensive item. She wants a job, but we all know how hard it is to actually get one, not to mention keeping it. So that made me think about what else she'll be needing the money for. Electric bills, clothes, gas for her car, buying food at school to pretend to be human, the list goes on. I've never thought much of it, because we have more money than we know what to do with, but she's still young to this life. So, I was wondering if I could do something to help her out."
They both thought about what I had just said. "Could it be that she didn't realize how expensive it would be to live in a house alone?" Esme thought.
"She seems like the type of person who thinks everything through carefully before she takes action. So I don't think she hadn't considered the expenses."
"You said she is new to this life." Carlisle said. "How old is she?"
"She looks to be around 17, and she told me that she was turned eight years ago."
They were both surprised. "Only eight years old and she is already controlled enough to enter High School?" Said Carlisle.
"Alice didn't mention if she was struggling to keep calm. What did you think, Edward?" Esme asked.
I hadn't thought of that. But then thinking back to the incident with Newton, I had my answer. "Not only did she seem in complete control of her thirst, but she got into an argument with another student, and didn't even try to attack him. She only made verbal comments and then walked away smiling. Her composure was perfect." "Unlike mine." I thought.
"Incredible." Carlisle stated. Truer words couldn't be said. "Alright, back to her financial situation. What were you thinking? Offering to help her with her bills?"
"I don't know. I hadn't gotten that far yet. I don't know if she would take it, but I suppose it's worth a try."
I suddenly realized that the three of us were alone in the house. "Where are the others?"
"They went hunting a while ago." Esme answered. "Jasper asked you to come, but you were too deep in thought to hear him."
I looked out the window. The sky was dark. Just how long had I been sitting here thinking about her? I stood up. "I think I'll go too."
"The others went East, if you wanted to know." Carlisle informed me silently as I made my way to the door. That was good to know. I went west. Not because I didn't want to be with my family, but because I apparently had some things to figure out. Like why the heck this girl that I hadn't even known for a full day was affecting me so much.
… … … …
Four hours, One bobcat and a deer later, and I still hadn't come to any conclusions. My thoughts just kept going in circles around the same topics as they had had the house. I wasn't going to be able to resolve any of this before I spoke to her again. Before I knew it, I had pulled the slip of paper she had given me out of my pocket, and was staring at it. This wasn't the first time tonight I had done this. I once again admired her handwriting. It wasn't perfect caligrafi or anything, but it was small and neat. Like her. Confident too. The address was that of the recently deceased police chief Swan. When I had realized this, I thought I knew why she chose to buy that house. They had the same last name, so they were probably related somehow. It must have some sentimental value. But that just raised even more questions.
I debated with myself once more if I should pay her a visit tonight. It's not like she would be sleeping, and she did give me the address in case I needed something. "I need answers." But would she not think it strange for me to arrive in the middle of the night uninvited? Certainly she would. I sighed as I lost the battle. If she didn't want to talk to me tonight she could send me away. I would apologize when I arrived to let her know that I knew it wasn't good decorum to come knocking so late at night, even if she didn't sleep.
I ran for about 15 min before I reached her street. As I got closer to the house I instinctively listened to the inside. Only realizing the stupidity of it after I had already started to. But I was surprised to realize that there actually was something to listen to. Both of the things I heard were very interesting and one extremely puzzling. There was a heartbeat inside. Steady and slow like that of a sleeping person. I knew that couldn't be Bella since vampires didn't sleep, nor have we a heartbeat. So who could it belong to? Why was there even a living person in the house with a vampire? I groaned as I stopped myself from coming up with more questions. I already had more than enough of those.
The other thing I heard was Bella's voice. It took me a second of listening to that more closely, before I realized that she wasn't talking like I had thought at first. No, she was singing. Soft and slow like a mother singing her child to sleep.
"Did you go out into the world but get too far from home?
Do you miss your bed and the summer rain?
Then I would jump on a plane and pick you up
So just get ready,
And I know that you would do the same for me
Do you wake up every day and doubt yourself a little bit?
Do you stare at the slightest mistake until you're blind?
Then I'll say: You're absolutely perfect just the way you are
And I know that you would say the same to me.
Yes, you would lie, but you would say the same to me
And if we crashed on a desert island
If we had only each other til the day we were to die,
Then I would just be happy, and not even try,
To call for help or sail home,
I would not even miss anyone
I know the two of us can go through anything
And I will love you to the end of the world
They said it would go wrong for us,
It was against all odds,
But here we stand, baby, at long last
We'll make it, you and I
Hm hm hmmmm hm hmmm
Yeah, we'll make it, you and I. "
I had thought earlier that the harmony of bells I heard in her voice when she spoke was perfect, but I had been wrong. Bella singing was a completely different symphony. It had stopped me dead in my tracks, and I could do nothing but just stand there and listen as her notes dragged my mind to the place it usually only goes when I play the piano.
I didn't want to interrupt her, but I also couldn't keep standing here eavesdropping, so I decided to step up to her front door and finally make the knock I had been wanting to make all evening. As soon as I stepped onto the first step of the porch all sounds inside the house halted. All except the heartbeat and breathing of the sleeping person.
I knocked on the door softly and waited. Silence. I was about to call out in a low voice when she spoke.
"Who's there?" Bella's voice was calm, yet I thought I heard a twinge of fear in the notes.
"Bella. It's Edward Cullen." I heard her sigh with relief. Then the sound of soft footsteps coming towards the door before it opened just enough to show half of her form.
"Edward." She gave another small sigh. "Geez, you scared me half to , well… You know what I mean." A shy smile.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you."
"No, that's alright. I'm just a little paranoid I guess. What do I owe the pleasure?"
"I was wondering if we could talk. I realize that it's very late and I don't want to disturb your night, so If this is unwelcome, I can go." She quickly opened the door wider and stepped back a little.
"No no, it's fine. I don't have a lot to do at night, so I'd be happy to have some company. Come on in."
"Thank you." I said as I entered the house. She closed the door and then put her finger to her lips before walking ahead. "Come on." She whispered. She led the way into a small living room and the sight that I was met with made me yet again stop and stare. The boy from earlier, whom she had inquired about at the Elementary School, was laying on the couch sleeping soundly. "I'm just going to take Luke upstairs, then we can talk."
She gingerly lifted the boy's sleeping form and it amazed me that, instead of cringing away from her cold touch even in his sleep, he nestled closer to her until his head was lying comfortably in the crook of her neck. She noticed my expression of shock and confusion and gave me that shy smile again. "I'll explain. Wait here please. I'll just be a moment." She then carried the boy upstairs and into one of the rooms. She came quickly down again.
"I know you probably have a thousand questions. But please know that he is in no danger from me. It's been a long time since I grew desensitized to him."
"I'm guessing that he's the reason why you've gained so much control in just a few short years."
"Yes, he is."
"Who is he?"
A moment of hesitation.
"My little brother."
Please R&R, Thank you
