Poco a Poco Chapter 3

-Lianna-

I was almost disappointed when I woke up the next morning. I thought for sure that I would not survive the night, and neither would Helen. But my morning went similar to yesterdays, except I didn't view the memory in my dream in its entirety, just the part where Maria threatened to hunt me down. I left early for school and went straight to the orchestra room. I wanted to play on my own before I had to deal with Edward again.

Instead of playing the music, I stared at it for a few minutes, unable to clear my head enough to focus on it. Edward's appearance had messed me up, and nothing seemed to be going right. Anger for him and others like him started to build, and I swiftly picked up my violin and hesitated for a moment, stiff, glaring at the music I refused to play. I could feel the ghost of Maria's cold hard fingers on my lips, her words like whispers around my head, and to drown them out, the anger made my fingers fly, the bow coming down harshly across the strings. The music that came out was fast, angry and aggressive. Chord after chord formed on their own, played strongly, echoed around as runs and scales raced from my fingers, making melodies.

Eventually, I dropped the bow and curled around my violin and stared lifelessly at the floor, anger gone, replaced by sadness. I missed them all, every second of every day, even if I convinced myself that I hadn't thought about it. I heard the door to Ms. Sanyer's office open, and she walked calmly across the room and picked up my bow, then sat next to me. She didn't pressure me, ask me any questions. She just sat with me until the bell rang, and I got up robotically, took my bow when she handed it to me, packed up and left. The day seemed to snail by, but then suddenly, I was entering the orchestra room again, unpacking, and when I turned around, Edward was unexpectedly there. I narrowed my eyes at his calm expression and walked past him to get my music folder.

"That was striking, what you played this morning." His words were like a whip, hitting me with enough force to make me freeze. I squeezed my eyes shut, dispelled the memory, then continued to get my folder, then went and sat down on a chair and tuned. Edward sat across from me, persistent. "You have such passion, Lianna." He said bravely as I continued to coldly ignore him.

That was none of you business, and it never will be. I signed without emotion, forcing my poker face to stay, even though I wanted to throw my bow at him like a javelin. I could just imagine a bow going right through his head.

"Lianna-" He tried to start, but I started tuning again, making each pitch perfect. He looked at me with an annoyed expression as I rosined my bow innocently, acting like he didn't exist. "Lianna, listen to me." His voice was suddenly hard and slashing, like he had embedded the words into my head. I closed my eyes, took a breath, then met his gaze with a cold stare. If Maria had sent him, he was being an ass for drawing it out. If she didn't send him, then I would still hate, and unfortunately fear him until he finally left.

"How are we doing?" Ms. Sanyer asked cheerfully, coming out of her office before he could say anything, and I shrugged to answer her question, testing my harmonics as she looked at Edward.

"We're doing fine, thank you." It sounded polite enough, but I could tell it was forced. I also noticed that his hair looked slightly wind-blown, like he had been in front of a fan, and that his eyes were a slightly darker color today. They weren't the harsh red-ish black as Maria's had been, but they still inspired fear in me. Ms. Sanyer made some comment and left, and the tension filled silence mounted almost exponentially.

"I don't know how to start what I want to say." Edward started slowly. I waited, looking exactly at the third line of my music, memorizing how the ink had been printed as he dithered. "I guess I would like to express condolences for your family's deaths." He said, and I stood up so fast, he looked startled. My bow creaked slightly under my furious tightened grip, glaring at him. Now I know why he was at the library. He had been at the public record computer…that bastard. How dare him! He must have done lots of snooping to even find out my real last name. The concern in his eyes seemed to double the anger in mine. "I know it's upsetting to talk about, but if you could describe-" I kicked over the stand and it hit the floor with a bang, music floating lazily through the dusty air. I was full of the strongest anger I had felt in my life.

Barely resisting the urge to throw my violin at his head, I set it on the chair and shoved another stand out of my way as I started my furious stride from the room before I started to cry in this asshole's presence. He was toying with me, and if I could kill him for that, I would. Suddenly, a cold, hard hand closed around my wrist, jerking me to a halt. I fiercely glared at him with a vicious anger, but he didn't flinch away, but stepped closer. "Lianna, I know that you know what I am, but you need to understand-" I gave up listening and decked him right in the face. I heard the crack of my knuckle breaking, but him recoiling in surprise was enough. I yanked my wrist from his disturbing grasp and turned again to go, but Ms. Sanyer was standing there in shock.

I won't sit in another room with this…monster again. I signed angrily, ignoring the second crack my left hand made in response as the knuckle broke further, but stormed out of the room, kicking the door to the orchestra room open with a bang, and when I was far enough away, I ran out of the school and grabbed my bike.

-Edward-

"Mr. Cullen, are you alright?! Never in my life have I seen a student, never mind Lianna hit a teacher!" Ms. Sanyer made me sit, even though it had hurt Lianna more than it had me.

"No harm done." I said kindly, standing up, despite her protests. I was more surprised than anything. Her punch had been unexpected, or I would have caught her hand.

"Then what could you have possibly done to make her so angry at you?" Ms. Sanyer asked, looking pale. "I've never seen Lianna act that way, not ever. She never has been that…emotional."

"I made the mistake of expressing condolences for her family." I said quietly, and Ms. Sanyer looked surprised.

"I did the same thing, and she just became very withdrawn, she didn't punch me. That's very odd…and worrying. I think I'll call her guardian. Do you want to press charges?" She asked rather reluctantly.

"Of course not," I said hastily.

"Well then, please, go home and ice your face. She will apologize to you." Ms. Sanyer looked incredibly determined as she nodded briskly and strode purposefully to her office. When I knew she had gone, I tracked Lianna to a wood, found her bike, then followed her through the woods, until I was on a small prairie. Sprawled out on the sweet, fragrant grass was Lianna, her black hair making a dark streak in the flowers.

I could see the tears on her face. Guilt rose up inside me; I had gone at this in the worst way possible, and I had 'messed her up' as Alice had so tactfully warned me about. Slowly but silently, I crossed the meadow until I was standing beside her, watching her frown deeper and deeper. I know you are there. She signed suddenly, making me stiffen in surprise. Before I could say anything, she continued. I'm sorry for how I acted towards you, but it's really sick what you are doing. Why don't you just kill me already? That must be why she sent you.

"Nobody sent me here, Lianna. I'm not here to kill you. Who is 'she'?" I spoke quietly, and stayed still when she opened her eyes slowly to study me critically. Do you drink blood like they did? Your eyes are different, but you are exactly the same otherwise. She signed, ignoring my comment completely. "I'm a vampire, yes, but I don't drink human blood. Animal blood is what I live off of." She sighed and closed her eyes again.

How do I know if I can trust you? She still could have told you to come. If you're willing, go back and tell her I haven't said a word. My confusion spiked. "Lianna, I don't know what you're talking about. And you can trust me. But who is 'she'?" I asked again, sinking to a sitting position. But you're wrong. I shouldn't trust you. I don't even know you. "Lianna, if I hurt you, I will kill myself. I feed off of animals for exactly that reason, to protect humans. So does my family." But surely you just told a secret you normally wouldn't tell. I can't really believe it, because if I was in your position, it wouldn't be my secret to tell.

I sighed. "You're right, it's not mine to tell. But if I had wanted to kill you, I would have already. But I need you to explain to me what happened that day." I said it strongly, moving silently closer, at vampire speed. Lianna stiffened, holding her breath for a good two minutes before letting it go. Then she sat up with surprising speed and precision, and analyzed me carefully, seeming not at all surprised that I was sitting right next to her, almost touching her. Then, she stood up, and turned to go, not saying a word, her face a mask. Instantly, I stood up and had both of her wrists in one of mine. She didn't flinch, but the glare was back.

"Lianna, I won't let go until you agree to talk to me. I know that you won't scream, you won't call for help." I felt like a jerk for giving her this harsh ultimatum, but she had kept this all inside her for 7 years, that was more than enough. After a second, she tried to jerk free without success. For awhile, she looked at the ground, tears falling from her eyes, but I still didn't release her. Only when she nodded jerkily did I gently let go, so she could sign.

It was a Sunday, a family day. We were having a barbecue. She started, trembling. I waited patiently as she hugged herself, looking petrified with terror, and then unwillingly continued. Dad asked me to get some burgers from inside the house. That's when I heard- She spun to run away, but I took her by the shoulders and sat her down, even when she punched me again. Why are you doing this to me? She signed slowly, miserably.

"Because I want to help you." I insisted.

"Haven't you found a trail yet?" Those words made him tremble with fear as he stood in front of me.

"She isn't in this state anymore. We're f-following a trail northward." He stammered, averting his eyes as I hissed softly.

"Make sure you find her at the end of that trail, or it will be the last thing you ever do."