Chapter 3: Puzzle

Chapter 3: Puzzle

"What seems to be the problem, Ms. Swan?" the doctor asked. Uncle Charlie had heard about my little 'episode' during Biology class that day, so he had me go to the hospital to get checked. He was ridiculously worried about me.

"Call me Bella," I informed him, "I think I might have just twisted my leg in the wrong direction."

"Well, there doesn't seem to be anything serious. It will recover in a few days' time," he smiled. His smile was warm and friendly. A kind of smile that I would have wished to be greeted with when I was living in Phoenix.

"I'm sorry for wasting your time, doctor…" my mind struggled to remember the kind doctor's name. "Cullen. But you can call me Carlisle," a smile reappeared on his face. "Cullen…" I repeated absentmindedly. Wasn't that the name of…?

"They're the Cullens: Rosalie, Alice, Emmett, Jasper, and Edward. They were all adopted by Dr. Cullen and his wife."

I remembered the conversation that I had had with Jessica at lunch.

"Does my name sound familiar?" he asked. "Umm… well, I think my seatmate had that name," I lied. "You must be referring to my youngest son, Edward. He's about you age," Carlisle thought aloud, "Have you met?" "No," I replied, "I left the classroom before class even started so…"

I became curious. But I thought it improper to ask a complete stranger about his family.

"You adopted them?" I asked. "Yes," he answered. "That's very kind of you," I remarked. "They're wonderful children, especially Edward," he smiled. Suddenly, a man came in.

"Excuse me, Dr. Cullen, someone is asking for you," he said.

"Does he have an appointment?" Carlisle asked. "It's your son, Edward," the man informed, "He needs to speak to you." Edward? What was he doing here? I didn't want to see his eyes again. I really didn't think I could handle it. "Speak of the devil," I wanted to say, but it would offend Carlisle, I guessed.

"Excuse me," Carlisle said, slipping out of the room. My curiosity overpowered my fear. I found myself standing near the door, listening and watching carefully.

"Edward?" Carlisle asked, concern showing in his voice.

"I have to go, Carlisle. I have to go now." There was urgency in his soft, velvety tone.

"What's happened?" Carlisle asked.

"Nothing. Yet. But it will, if I stay." I wasn't getting anything from this conversation. But my mind's irrational need to solve mysteries kept my body from moving away. I saw Carlisle reach to touch Edward, but he cringed away from his hand.

"I don't understand." "Neither do I," I wanted to say aloud. But it would blow my cover.

"Have you ever… Has there ever been a time…" he couldn't finish his sentence. I could sense Carlisle's concern, and Edward's desperation. I saw the wild light in his eyes. "Has any one person ever smelled better to you than the rest of them? Much better?" What did he mean by that? Was he crazy, or was I losing it?

"Oh," was all Carlisle said. He understood what he meant… What was going on? Edward's face fell in… shame? Carlisle reached out again, ignoring it when Edward recoiled again. He put his hand on his shoulder.

"Do what you must to resist, son. I will miss you. Here, take my car. It's faster," Carlisle offered. Resist? Resist what? Suddenly, I felt the direction of the air-con face me. Edward suddenly stiffened. Carlisle became even more worried.

"It's Bella, isn't it?" Carlisle asked. Edward nodded. I smelled good to him? Was that what he meant? But earlier, he moved away from me, not closer. Wait… he was trying to resist my scent? What kind of screwed up conversation topic was this?

Suddenly, Carlisle was right in front of me. I jumped. How did he…? I didn't even see him!

"What did you hear?" he asked. "What do you mean?" I lied, "I just wanted to ask you where the bathroom was." He pointed to a door right beside Edward. I walked there. I felt Edward stiffen even more as I passed him. The moment I closed the door to the bathroom, I pressed my ear against the door. I was desperate to understand. The sounds were muffled, but still understandable.

"What is she thinking?" I heard Carlisle ask. "That's another part of the problem," Edward replied, "For some reason, I can't hear anything." What were they talking about now? First, they talk about scents. Now, they talk about hearing. What's next, sight?

"Alice saw me leaving," Edward said. Ha-hah. Very funny. This was getting extremely irritating. "She also saw me… I was…" he couldn't finish, "It's one or the other. And Carlisle, I don't think I can control myself any longer."

"Then go now," Carlisle said urgently, "I'll tell everyone else the situation. Take my car."

"Thank you," Edward said, and I heard his footsteps slowly fade in the distance. I waited a few minutes before I got out of the bathroom, to play my role correctly. With an innocent look on my face, I returned to Carlisle.

"Is something wrong, Carlisle?" I asked. "Edward just has to leave for a while," he replied. "What's wrong?" I asked. "Oh, he just came to say goodbye," he answered. "Goodbye? Where is he going?" I pretended to be interested. "Visiting some old friends of his, and he isn't quite sure when he'll be back," Carlisle remained calm.

"OK, thank you for your time, Carlisle," I smiled. "Come back anytime, Bella," he smiled back. I left and reconvened with Uncle Charlie in the waiting room. But I was barely aware of him. My mind was tackling one of the most puzzling mysteries it had ever encountered: the Cullens.

Who were they? … Or what were they?