Edward hadn't spoken to me in three weeks.

Three weeks.

Well, aside from a brief "hello" now and then when we crossed paths.

It was starting to worry me.

Had I done something wrong?

Something to upset him?

He wouldn't even go hunting with me any more.

I would always just go with Carlisle, or Esme, or Alice.

Jasper didn't seem comfortable enough to go out alone with me, he'd just tag along when I went with Alice sometimes.

Though I could tell he was warming to me.

We were on the verge of being good friends.

We'd bonded over music after Edward started to give me the silent treatment.

Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Grateful Dead, The Beatles, Rush, KISS, Foreigner....

He has some good taste.

But though I do enjoy hanging out with him, I have to admit...

I'm missing Edward like crazy.

I know it would have to be me that makes the first move, since though he does stare at me a lot, he also seems to be doing all he can to avoid me.

But before I do anything, I should probably ask someone for help...

Advice.

So I found Alice, dragged her away from Jasper, and took a deep breath.

"I want to be friends with Edward again."

She just smiled and nodded, as if expecting this all along.

"I was waiting for you to break."

"Oh, great," I muttered sarcastically.

"Don't worry. I can help."

"You can? Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"I had to wait for you to be ready. You can't force love."

I think my eyes bugged out of my head at that.

"Love??"

She just nodded, as it were the most normal thing in the world to say.

"No. Not love. Friends. Edward and I are friends. Hell, we're not even that...."

"Not yet. But you will be."

"I don't understand, Alice. What have you seen?"

She shook her head and sighed, seemingly torn about something, something she was thinking or about to say...

"I probably shouldn't have said anything. I don't suppose you'd be willing to just forget what I've said?"

"No."

"I didn't think so."

She paused.

"We'll just start with the friend thing then, alright?"

"Yeah," I nodded, taking a deep breath, trying to clear that little four letter word from my head. "Friend. So what do I do?"

"Well, I can't give you step by step instructions, or promise that everything will go perfectly. At least, not yet. But I can give you tips, advice... Fill you in on Edward's mindset so you can help yourself."

"Okay..."

"First thing's first - Edward is a very complicated person. I've lived with him for many years, and still don't know for certain what or how he things. But I have been able to gather a very good idea, based on experience."

"So what do I do?"

"Patience," she giggled. "Now, based on the way he's been acting, I'd say he's feeling guilty about something. He's taking it out on himself by separating himself from you. He likes you, I'm sure of it. So he isn't doing this to upset you... My advice is that you should make Edward aware that you aren't mad at him. Let him know, so he'll get over himself, stop being so afraid of what you think of him."

"I... I didn't think I was giving off bad signals or anything, I just..."

"It isn't anything you've done," she assured, placing a hand on my shoulder. "It's just what he thinks. He's placing all of this unnecessary blame on himself."

"So... So that's it then, I just talk to him, tell him I'm not upset... And everything will be better?"

She closed her eyes for a minute - probably more than just a minute, it's been harder to keep track of time since I've changed.

Then she opened them and smiled, giving a slight nod.

"Yes. Things will be more normal between you two, I can feel it."

"Thank you, Alice," I said with a sigh of relief.

She pulled me in for a hug, which I probably should have been expecting, but still wasn't.

"It's my pleasure."

She pulled back and nudged me forward, towards the basement where Edward had been hiding out.

"Now go get him."

I slowly began to inch my way to the door, suddenly growing very nervous.

"You're... sure... he won't get all mad at me or anything like that? He looked upset when he first started to ignore me..."

"Yes. He was mad at himself. He wants to be your... friend... but he doesn't feel he's worthy enough."

I looked over my shoulder at her curiously.

"How do you know all of this? I mean, you can't read his mind...."

"I just know him," she stated proudly. "As I've said, after spending so many years with a person, you begin to gain a pretty good understanding of them."

"Okay... But if he really is mad at me, I'm taking it out on you."

She just giggled and rolled her eyes.

"Sure."

I slowly opened the basement door and peeked in.

No music.

So what's he doing?

I walked inside and softly shut the door behind me, careful to make as little noise as possible.

Whatever he was doing, I didn't want to interrupt.

Make him upset.

"Edward?" I whispered.

I noticed some movement at the far corner of the room.

"Is that you?"

He crept out from the shadows, looking very cautious.

"Bella," he aknowledged, giving a very brief nod.

"I... I didn't interrupt anything, did I?"

"No," he responded quickly, making me jump a little in surprise. "No. Not at all."

He took a small step forward.

So did I.

"So..." He started, darting his hands into his jean pockets uncomfortably.

"I'm not mad!" I blurted out.

He did a double take.

"I'm sorry?"

"I-I'm not mad. At you. Or... Anything. I'm not."

He furrowed his brow in confusion.

I wanted to reach out and touch it.

"Well, I haven't exactly been much of a gentleman," he responded bitterly, still looking confused.

He seemed to be gauging my reaction, as if testing me or something.

"On the contrary, you've been nothing but."

"No, Bella, I haven't - "

"You have. I'm not upset with you. And even if I was, it would only be because you stopped speaking to me."

He frowned and looked down at his feet.

I took another step closer.

"I'm sorry. I was only trying to do what's right."

"By ignoring me?"

He looked up, suddenly seeming frightened, and took two steps forward.

"I didn't think you would care, honestly. I never intended to harm you. Please... I know I shouldn't ask this of you, but..."

The look of pain of his face caused me to inwardly cringe.

I cleared the space between us in a few long strides.

"You don't even have to ask. I forgive you."

I could see the hope flash through his features before he managed to cover it up.

"Are you sure?"

I just nodded, and reached out to take one of his hands into my own.

I half expected him to recoil away, but, thankfully, he just looked down at our joined hands at let a little smile slip through.

"Thank you, Bella."

We spent the rest of the day down there.

Edward played me every song he could think of off the top of his head, and then asked me for suggestions.

I challenged him to try In A Gadda Da Vida, and he managed to pull it off surprisingly well.

"I had no idea you were an Iron Maiden fan," I laughed. "And the fact that you took the time to learn to play it on the piano? That's even better."

"What can I say?" He shrugged, grinning proudly while gazing down at his hands. "I can do anything."

"Anything?"

"Try me."

"Okay, you've asked for it. Can you play Puttin' On The Ritz, by - "

"Taco?" He finished with a bored sigh. "You've no idea how many times people thought they could trump me with that one."

"Damn it," I laughed, nudging him playfully with my shoulder. "So you really do know everything."

"And you had your doubts," he scoffed.

"I guess I just keep forgetting how long you've had to learn so much. I've only had nineteen years."

His gaze hardened minutely then, and he turned to face me.

"So that's how old you are..."

"I thought I'd mentioned it before."

"No. I would have remembered."

"Well... Hey, it's nothing to be upset about," I shrugged, hoping to keep things lighthearted so the 'moody silent Edward' wouldn't emerge again.

"I'm sorry, Bella," he whispered.

I began to chew on my bottom lip nervously, trying desperately to think of something to make him feel better.

After all, it's not like he did anything wrong.

Right?

I slowly reached over and wrapped my arm around his shoulder, hoping the contact would help ease his worries.

But he just shied away from my touch with a wince, as if I'd burned him.

My instincts told me to just back off, but Alice's words just kept ringing in my head.

"It isn't anything you've done. He's placing all of this unnecessary blame on himself..."

So I put on my Brave Bella face and kept my arm in place, tugging him closer to me.

He looked frightened almost, that deer in the headlights look.

"You don't have anything to be sorry for."

He stared at me for the longest time, as if having some deep internal struggle.

And that's when I noticed it.

"When was the last time you went hunting?"

"I don't remember. Why, are you thirsty? Should we go now?"

"No, it's just... Your eyes, they're so dark. Black almost. As if you haven't eaten in weeks..."

His eyes tightened and he just looked down at the keys of the piano with a shrug.

"You haven't," I hissed, glaring at him. "You haven't hunted in weeks, have you? Not since that day..."

"It doesn't matter. What would you like me to play next?"

"Edward!"

He stood up suddenly and began to pace around.

"It isn't any of your concern, Bella," he growled.

I got up and ran over, grabbing his shoulders and pushing him up against the wall.

"Yes it is! You can't do this to yourself, torture yourself for no reason, I won't let you!"

"Stop," he hissed.

I shook my head no, and continued to stare him down.

His features slowly began to soften.

"Stop," he pleaded, much quieter than before.

"We're going hunting. Now, before this gets any worse."

He took a long, deep breath and nodded in defeat.

I grinned smugly and released my grip of his shoulders.

He winced.

"What?" I asked with concern, suddenly frightened that I'd actually hurt him.

"Nothing. You're just a lot stronger than I would have expected."

"I'm sorry..."

"Oh no," he chuckled. "If I'm not allowed to be sorry for anything, than neither are you."

I just rolled my eyes and grabbed his hand, leading us upstairs.