Chapter Three: Investigation

With all that had come to pass, the idea of returning to school seemed quite silly. Perhaps maybe even a little amusing. He'd taken a step back for a week but now it was time to do something that could help take his mind off of things. So he flung on his school jumper and bag before running through the forest to get to campus. He heard voices, so many of them from different distances, so many that were familiar.

He tried to push them aside and concentrate on the birds tweeting in the trees before coming to a stop on the outskirts of the car park, making sure he looked presentable and not as if he'd jumped out of a plane.

Edward walked past many people just arriving and those that had been waiting some time. He figured that his change of appearance hadn't just been in his head because the whispers that came next could all be heard, people actually seemed to be more focussed on that rather than what had happened to his parents.

"-I can't believe that's him. What the hell?"

"He looks amazing!"

"Is that really Edward Cullen?"

He heard a motorcycle come to park next to the entrance, the woman taking off her helmet to reveal Leah's face who took a moment to recover after seeing him pass by without a word. When he'd first seen himself in the mirror his attention had solely been on his glowing red eyes, but after that he'd seen it too. Edward not only felt so vastly different but he looked it as well.

The structure of his face had only changed slightly, with his jaw being sharper and his nose being straighter. His skin was now flawless with all impurities covered by his new mask. It made him look so much better than he ever had before.

Attention throughout the day from girls was practically constant. They were nice to him. Polite and friendly. Maybe a little bit too friendly as their lingering hands often grabbed his arm when they chatted to him in classes. At first he wasn't sure what to do but then he gained his confidence in thinking the girl he actually wanted to get attention from seeing him like this.

Never before did he believe a romantic relationship with her would be possible. But things have changed. He had changed in a way he never believed possible.

"Edward." A voice came from behind him and he stepped away from Jessica talking to him. Emmett was watching him with a concerned gaze. There was something else in his expression as well.

"Hi." Edward replied when he said nothing more.

"I'm sorry about what happened."

"Me too."

"If you need anything then I hope you know I'm your friend."

Edward smiled. "I know." It was genuine.

Emmett was about to ask something else but couldn't when Edward caught sight of someone further down the corridor chatting with someone near her locker. This was his first chance to see her today.

"Edward?"

He ignored Emmett and carried on walking towards Bella Swan. Even if Emmett calling his name didn't stop him then the scent he picked up did. It was an odour he'd never picked up before and it was strong. It was coming from two directions; behind him and ahead of him where Bella was still.

It put him on high alert for something apparently only his body was in the know of. His muscles flexed as if bracing for attack and his sense became focussed on the threat.

"Edward." His voice was firm this time.

Edward jumped back when Emmett grabbed his shoulder and he glared at the source of the smell. The same scent that was on Bella… maybe they were closer than he'd previously thought. That didn't do anything to calm him down.

"I think we should talk." Emmett drew back his hand.

"Not now."

"Edward-"

He stormed off; unsure of himself if he'd of stayed. The last time he wasn't in control something died.

The fresh air outside was nice but it was interrupted by a certain Mike Newton who came trotting over with his back up boys casting questioning looks.

"I heard about what happened."

"Go away."

"I always felt bad for your parents having you as a child, I guess they finally put themselves out of their misery."

Edward clenched his jaw but remained still.

"Mike I don't think…" Paul looked sheepish as he avoided looking at Edward. If the world had any type of sanity left then it had gone now, was Paul feeling guilty?

Edward left as they started hissing at each other. He didn't have time for them and his restraint could only take so much before it broke. Knowing his timetable well, he headed off to Spanish class and found it amazing how easy it was to memorise the phrases he'd once found difficult.

The bell signalled lunch and he got up to be rid of his teachers sympathetic glances.

He shook his head of thoughts and then looked up to see Bella Swan again, this time she was queuing up with a tray waiting to pay for dinner. Edward sat down at a random table. She wasn't alone. She was in conversation with Rosalie and Lauren. He listened in on what they were saying but it was mostly just Lauren talking about herself.

Bella was put of view for a moment but then she came back with a sandwich already in her mouth and Lauren at her side. She lingered for a while as they waited for Rosalie.

"-if they're going to charge us this much for a jacket potato then they should at least but some more cheese on it." Rosalie complained which made Bella laugh, somehow the conversation returned to Lauren not long after they'd found their seats at the back.

As he kept watch of her throughout lunch time, he found it easy to see why he'd always had such a crush on her starting from a young boy. There were many attributes, but the key was the way she smiled. It was a smile so different from everyone else's. Everything was kind in her smile. It was definitely her most charming characteristic.

"- ugh, do we have to do this again? Just let it go, Rose."

"No, I can't, Lauren. You know what she did."

"She's a moron, always has been. Moron's don't change so I wouldn't bother trying."

"She deserved worse." Rosalie flooded her arms and then threw a glare at Bella who stood up rolling her eyes and picking up her tray. Edward took this as his chance and got up to head the same way. He passed a few tables to meet her putting a couple things in the bin and he leaned a hand against the wall.

He caught her attention and in her surprise she did a double take. However unlike all the other girls who had seen him, she didn't look him up and down and whistle her appreciation but instead seemed dead focussed on his eyes – but it didn't feel like she was actually looking at him.

He noticed her body freeze up and then step back.

Edward frowned in concern over her reaction. Barely even noticing the scent had returned strong again, it wasn't like before, it didn't put him on guard this time.

"Is everything okay?" Edward asked her curiously.

Her lips parted but no words came out. Not long after her gaze was drawn elsewhere and he turned around to see Bella and Emmett sharing the same look. This was strange.

"What is it?" He demanded now.

Her eyes darted back to him. "You… Nothing. I'm sorry about what happened, my dad told me all about it."

He didn't buy into her tale of nothing. Something was definitely up and as there were many things he didn't know at the moment so he didn't want to add to that list.

"I appreciate it. Your dad was real nice." He stepped a little closer. "Was there something you'd like to say? Before when you looked at me I think I made you jump."

"No, it's just… You look different."

Edward tried to form a smile and and nodded. "Is that good?"

Her gaze flickered away and her smile returned; it wasn't as beautiful as her usual ones because this time it didn't reach her eyes. She was hiding something. She knew something as soon as she saw his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I have to go." She excused herself and she left the cafeteria without her friends.

Edward waited for her to be completely out of sight before turning around, only to see that Emmett was no longer standing there. He pursed his lips in annoyance and left the building.

If Bella wasn't going to be straight with him about what she knew then he'd have to do the investigating himself. He jumped high enough to sit in one of the trees overlooking the car park and waited for the last two hours wondering how she could know about him. No one else had that reaction.

He heard the bell ring and the students filing out the front entrance to get home. His telescopic sight searched for the face he desperately needed to find but most of the students were gone now and he hadn't seen her leave. Come to think of it he'd never seen her drive home or walk.

Luckily for him, he knew where to find her home. Not many houses had police cars on the drive and it was the same house he used to visit as a child. He could hear Charlie inside when he perched himself on their rooftop but Bella wasn't home yet. He'd be able to smell it if she was.

"Where is she?" He wondered out-loud.

He figured she'd have to return sooner or later, so he kept himself hidden and waited for her to show up.

After her reaction in the cafeteria to seeing him, he felt like this was his chance to get some answers. There was clearly more to Bella than what meets the eye because she was keeping secrets. He needed to know what secrets they were.

The longer she didn't show up, the more tempted he was to crack open her window to have a search around. So when another ten minutes passed and his resolve was getting weaker and weaker, he broke in silently and listened out for Charlie. He didn't want to get caught by the Sheriff. It sounded like Charlie was watching a baseball game.

Edward took a moment to just take in his surroundings. He was in Bella Swan's bedroom. Not in the same way he'd always fantasised about but he was still in her room. In fact, out of all the bizarre scenarios he'd contemplated in his mind, this one hadn't come up once.

The walls were a light shade of blue and the carpet navy. There was one double bed, one cupboard and one desk supporting a television. He opened the cupboard first but found it surprisingly organised. There was nothing leading him to suspect her of anything, there was just clothes and shoes.

Next he tried the desk drawers. In one there were old essays she'd written in her neat signature style, they were all history based but he shared those lessons with her and he didn't recognise these assignments. One was about medieval beliefs and rituals, another on superstition and punishments for those accused.

He opened the drawer below it and found the books she must have used to write up those essays. He'd never seen any of them at the school library, and there were no stamps. He thought it was quite an unusual purchase for a teenage girl to make these days.

He tried the other but found he couldn't get in.

"Locked." He frowned.

That was odd. There wasn't any key hole even if he had a key to try opening it. Maybe it was just stuck, he wanted to find out but if he used too much force then he might break it and that was sure to make a loud noise. It would be best to leave it for now.

He heard a weird noise outside, almost like a cracking sound, so he peeked out the window to see Bella on her front garden but she wasn't alone. Emmett was there and also someone he hadn't seen for a long time; Alice Brandon. She was back in Forks? Bella was about to open the front door and the other two were on her tail muttering amongst themselves.

Knowing that they'd be coming to her room, he waited for them to be in the house before escaping through the window and keeping out of sight to listen in.

He heard them enter her room and Emmett sit on her bed with a loud huff.

"Make yourself at home."

"Screw you she's my best friend."

Alice laughed. "Wow. You really think you can replace me?"

"Umm, I already have so-"

"Have you two forgotten about everything already?" Bella raised her arms.

"No but you haven't set up the charms yet." Alice pointed out.

"What charms?" Asked Emmett.

"We can't take risks, not with the state the world is in right now."

"I guess extra security can't hurt."

"No, it can't. Honestly it's like you never even listened to a word."

"Alright, alright." He heard Emmett stand up. "I'll do it. If it'll make you shut up. Helvia Hexia, protegio maxima." The noises he could once hear from her room was now nothing but empty silence. It was like there was nothing there. What were those words Emmett had been sprouting out? How had they blocked him from eavesdropping?

Confused and mostly frustrated, he stayed put on her roof to wait for them to disperse and maybe catch a glimpse of what they were saying. It had been hours now. But seeing as he couldn't actually sleep or feel tired, it wasn't a problem. The only thing was that he wanted desperately to hear them.

In time he came to risk exposure when he came by her window again to try stealing a glimpse of them. However to his surprise there was only Bella and she was tucked away in bed fast asleep. But he'd never seen anyone leave? Once again he found himself breaking in and he stood at the foot of her bed.

She truly was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen before. It's crazy that this was once the room all of them used to play hide and seek in. Now he was here watching her sleep like a creepy stalker. If she woke up now then he'd be done for. But he couldn't help but linger around for a while.

Then when he did move back his eyes caught onto something laid down on her counter.

Instead of heading for the window again he came to her side to look at the counter where he looked at what could only be described as the fanciest stick he'd ever seen. It was thick yet elegant, approximately 15 inches long and the dark wood had some sort of carvings that began at the base to the half way point. He couldn't tell what those carvings were because they were symbols he didn't recognise.

Edward was in a state of unbelievable curiosity. What was she doing with this? It hadn't been here the first time he'd searched so it must be something that she keeps on her person. What did it do?

He was weary about picking it up but in the end did so quietly. It had more weight to it than he'd expected. He wasn't sure what to make of it. This was just all so strange and there were many unanswered questions. He had half a mind to shake her awake and demand them from her. That wasn't about to happen however.

He was about to place it back down on the counter but as his hand moved her phone began to ring.

Crap, crap, crap. Edward dropped the strange item back down quicker this time and reached for her phone to put it on silent; not before noticing that it was Rosalie calling. It was a it late for a friendly catch up, he thought. Maybe it was something important. Edward moved to the window and brought the phones ringing back to life at the same time he threw it to her bed and escaped.

Of course he never did find out if it worked or not because he was still unable to capture any audible sound from her room once he'd left. He could only hope. And plan his interrogation tomorrow to discover the secrets Bella Swan was keeping.