A/N: By popular demand, I decided to do Edward's POV. I know some of you had concerns about it but I'm going to try the best I can to accommodate you. I hate rehash chapters too. Still, before I set my twitchy little fingers to work, I felt the need to address one embarrassing mess-up from last chapter that a couple of you noted so there's no confusion, Carlisle's voice description. Sorry about that. I was originally just going to describe how his lips spoke just as clearly and precisely as Edward's but my mind wandered off on its bunny trail and well… oops. Thank you to those who mentioned it. It's fixed now.

Disclaimer: I am not Stephanie Meyers. I own nothing.

An Ode to Silence

Yesterday was the first day I saw Bella since I returned from Denali, Alaska. That girl would be the end of me, I was certain of it already but she intrigued me. By now, I had thought that humans as a race were incredibly predictable to the point where I could pretty much predict a conversation with one and have it follow that line almost as accurately as if I were Alice.

The first time I saw her in the cafeteria, she was an enigma. Hearing of her in the halls from other students was boring and she had seemed like nothing out of the ordinary at all, especially to someone used to hearing the innermost thoughts of such children. About a century had passed since I came into existence and almost nothing had changed.

Once in a while, there was someone thinking a new thought but for the most part, it would be a day like all the rest. Still, as the day went on, I found two very important differences she had from other people. One, I couldn't read her thoughts. Two, she had the most delectable scent I've ever come across. She frustrated me, fascinated me, and even amused me.

Not many humans would have the courage to just glare back at vampires. Humans in general gave us a wide berth on instinct because we are their predators.

And yet, this young, sinfully delicious smelling human managed to drive me from my home. She drove me from my family just so I wouldn't drink her dry like the monster within me cried out desperately to do. I could barely risk breathing around her at all.

Then, I went back to neutrality around her. She would be like all the rest of this pathetic bunch but when I spoke to her, albeit briefly, she surprised me. She didn't shy away from confrontation or take the easy way out of a conversation. Bella persisted. Whatever she said, even if it was just to scold me for my behavior last week, drew me in. She seemed different.

Finally, today's incident happened. When she was to be hit and killed by Tyler's truck, I couldn't bare it. My puzzle, my fascination, Bella would be gone. I'd obsessed over her in my own way since I saw her. Why couldn't I read her thoughts? Why was she so bold? Why was the scent of her blood so captivating that venom filled my mouth at the very memory of it? Why, why, why?

She wasn't just that though. I wanted to find out more about her. Everyone else was so easy to read that I tired of them but she… I should've been thinking about her blood that would've been spilt and the consequences of the lack of control I would have. I should've been thinking about the consequences my saving her would have on my family and our secret but all I could think was, not her.

On the ambulance ride, I repeatedly felt like banging my head on the dashboard. Why? But that would've left a dent in it that I didn't want to explain. I finally got to talk to her while she was in the ER on the bed beside Tyler. It looked like she was completely ignoring him. I noticed that she never would make eye-contact while someone was speaking to her but her eyes would flit up to theirs to meet while she responded.

After I noted that, there were other things that were a little weird. What was with her actions in the parking lot in that split second before truck was about to hit? Isabella Swan left me with more questions then answers. On top of it all, I wasn't allowed to preview the details on her injuries. Carlisle had to me long ago and scolded me for eavesdropping on patients' records. Doctor-patient confidentiality and all that.

Now, after all my actions were done and thoroughly irreversible, I would have to face my family who would now have conveniently changed into my own personal firing squad/grilling crew. Thanks to them, I was not permitted any illusions.

Eventually, I'd finished collecting my thoughts and braced myself as I parked my silver Volvo in front of the house. Immediately after I exited my vehicle, they came out to meet me with varying expressions on their faces.

Esme had one of unhappy understanding. Alice went with passive disapproval and a hint of hyperactivity buried in her tiny frame. Jasper had many expressions flit across his face before settling with carefully calm but with a certain fire in his eyes. Emmett had apparently sided with his mate, Rosalie for he bore an expression somewhere between congratulations and taut anger. Rosalie was the token furious one of the bunch. She was still my lovely sister but she looked positively deadly.

Before I could get a word in, the verbal assault began, "Edward Anthony Masen Cullen. What were you thinking?!" Rosalie fumed at me.

"Wasn't she the one who ran you out of the house?" Emmett growled and I flinched.

"I'm sorry, Edward. I should've seen it coming or warned you in time," Alice said, disappointed mostly in herself. She didn't seem to be apologizing for anything other than not warning me of it either. She liked the outcome.

"Let him speak, he might have an explanation," Esme was as gentle as ever though she too was searching for a reason for such a public display of our species. I glanced down at the ground as I attempted to cease the rampage they were soon to be on before I completely lost any control and they just flat out yelled at me.

"What explanation could he possibly have to do that?! Aren't we important to you anymore?" Rosalie's anger only grew and what she said in her mind was much worse. She certainly could curse like a sailor. Let no one doubt that.

"Alice, what would've happened if I hadn't intervened?" I asked her quietly.

"Bella would've died. You would've lost control because of her blood and dived for her body, tossing Angela and Erik out of the way. Angela would've hit her head on contact with the concrete and remained in a coma. Erik would've died instantly when you grabbed him by his neck and his body would've hit Bethanie. Then there's the clean-up of the event…" Alice murmured.

That stopped everyone in their tracks. They all had looks of shock, surprise, resignation, and sorrow. Suddenly, their minds all poured out demands, questions, and concerns that made my head ache.

Oh Edward. I'm sure it sounds worse then it would have been. Esme was always able to put in a kind word even if she knew that it wasn't true. Just then, Carlisle pulled up and hastily moved the family inside. As we all sat down on the couches and loveseats, Carlisle folded his hands in front of him as a clear sign that he was in charge and that no one would speak until he did.

"Edward, I'm sure you know what needs to be done now and what the consequences may be," Carlisle intoned.

"Of course, I will play the lookout. I'll have to keep a closer watch on her and what she says though," I replied softly. "In the end, we may be forced to move." Carlisle nodded somberly and glanced around the group of vampires. We discussed things for a little longer before we all stood to go our separate directions before school. Rosalie scowled at me as she left with Emmett in tow.

And so began the game between Edward and Bella to discover each other's secrets before the other.

A/N: … Yes, I'm sorry it took so long and that it was awful. I was getting irritated and impatient because I want to get to a certain point in the story. More irritated at myself though because life kept getting in the way and I was unable to write. Thank you for all the reviews I got last chapter.