Author's Note: Here is the next chapter. I bet you didn't think it'd be this soon.
I let all my worries get swept away by Edward and couldn't help smiling as he approached me. His walk was fluid and smooth even for a vampire. It looked like he glided an inch of the floor instead of walking along it.
"Hello, Bella," he said, stepping onto the platform. "What made you rush home?"
I searched my brain trying to find a way to put this. I wasn't going to lie, but I didn't have to be specific either. He doesn't need to know everything just yet. I looked down at the piano to make sure my eyes didn't give away anything.
"We had an unexpected guest," I said as calmly as I can manage.
I waited for more questions, but they never came. He just stayed silent and sat down next to me. I let out an internal sigh of relief, but couldn't help wondering why he hadn't asked me for more details.
"Do you play, Bella?" he asked softly. I shook my head.
"Why do you ask?"
He didn't answer. He kept his eyes on the piano and lifted the cover revealing the black and white keys. He placed his fingers on them and the music began to flow through the room. I didn't recognize what he was playing, but it gave me a cold, lonely feeling.
Edward didn't look at the keys once while he was playing. He stared at the wall but it didn't seem like he was really seeing it. He seemed to be thinking something he couldn't put into words, something that he could only transform into the tune he was playing for me now.
I wanted to take away his sadness and comfort him. I wanted to show him he wasn't alone. I looked at the keys as he replayed the tune and memorized it. The melody was simple; it didn't require a lot of notes and it wasn't too fast, so I was able to remember it. Edward pressed let the last note linger in the air and the brought his hands back to his lap, his gaze still locked on the opposite wall.
"That was very sad," I commented, trying to bring his attention back to the present. He slowly turned to meet my eyes and his golden eyes bored into mine.
"Why are you so lonely?" I blurted out. He stayed silent as he continued to stare at me. "You aren't alone," I whispered.
I smiled shyly and turned to the piano. Placing my fingers on the keys, I began to play his song from memory. I grinned when I realized that I was actually playing it well. I nudged Edward with my elbow, trying to get him to join me. He smiled and placed his hands on the other side of the piano, beginning to play in sync with me. The tune felt less depressing when it was played as a duet and I was delighted to see him smile again. When the song ended, we were both beaming.
"I thought you didn't play," Edward said.
"I didn't until now," I assured him, not really sure how I had pulled that off.
I wanted to freeze this moment and see him smile like that forever. I never wanted to see that devastatingly sad expression on his face again. I reached over and placed my hand on the corners of his mouth. He flinched away at first, surprised by my touch, but stopped when he saw my reassuring smile.
"Keep this smile. I like it. You look very handsome when you smile," I said. He laughed and I slowly pulled away. There was silence for a moment while we smiled at each other.
"We should probably practice the song now," Edward reminded me. I nodded in agreement and he pulled out the sheet music and a pen.
"How do you want to split the parts up?" he asked me, handing me the music and the pen. I thought for a moment before I began to underline the sections that I would sing. I left his lines alone. When I was finished, I handed them back to him. Edward glanced at it and nodded.
"Shall we start?" he asked, placing the paper on top of the piano and getting in position to play. I nodded and the music began. Edward's line came first and I listened to his beautiful tenor begin to sing.
If I say I have never loved,
Then, in truth, I am lying to myself.
And if I say I have already loved you,
Then, it seems like I am lying to you.
If I say I have never loved,
Then, in truth, I am lying to myself.
And if I say I have already loved you,
Then, it seems like I am lying to you.
Then, everyday when you are not here,
There are lonely footsteps.
Then one day when I miss you,
My heart is restless.
Please, let us just be the way we were the first day we met.
Please, let us be as if we are already apart.
If I say I want to leave you,
Then, in truth, I hope to be very close.
If I say I want to forget you,
Then, in my heart, I'll always miss you.
If I say I want to leave you,
Then, in truth, I hope to be very close.
If I say I have already loved you,
Then, it seems like I am lying to you.
Then, everyday when you are not here,
There are lonely footsteps.
Then one day when I miss you,
My heart is restless.
Please, let us just be the way we were the first day we met.
Please, let us be as if we are already apart.
If I say I want to leave you,
Then, in truth, I hope to be very close.
If I say I want to forget you,
Then, in my heart, I'll always miss you.
If I say I have already loved you,
Then, it seems like I am lying to you.
If I say I want to forget you,
Then, in my heart, I'll always miss you.
My voice and his blended very well together. Yet, I still couldn't figure out the meaning behind the lyrics. There were so many "if's" and they seemed to contradict each other. Kind of like my heart and my head right now.
"I think you've got it, Bella," Edward complimented once we finished.
"You are a very good teacher," I replied. I looked at him and suddenly had to know why he didn't ask me questions about the 'guest' I rushed home for and why I hadn't wanted to meet him in the garden.
"Edward," I whispered.
"Hm?"
"Why did you not ask me more questions?"
"About what?" he asked.
"About the unexpected guest and why I didn't meet you in the garden like we planned," I replied. It was very difficult to keep my voice indifferent. When he didn't answer after a minute, I looked up at him. He was studying me with an intense focus, like he wasn't sure how to reply.
"Why should I force you to say the things that you don't want to tell me? I'm sure you have your reasons and I'm not going to make it difficult for you," he murmured.
That is strangely sweet, I thought. He knew I was lying, but he didn't push me for an answer. I grinned and quickly kissed his cheek as I rose from the piano bench.
"Thank you, Edward," I said.
I strode out of the room, not wanting to face an awkward moment one that was so magical. I'd noticed the stunned expression on his face and he still hadn't moved when I left the ballroom. I brushed my fingers against my lips; they still tingled. I felt like I'd taken one more step towards an actual decision.
Edward Cullen, are you really real?
Author's Note: Thank you Seraphyn for your wonderful editing and reviewers for you wonderful reviews.