Bella

As soon as I opened my bedroom door the next morning, the rose fell to the ground with a soft thud. I leaned over and tucked an errant strand of my hair behind my ear before I picked it up. I twirled it between my fingers and brought it to my nose. It smelled divine. Jasper must have brought it for me. I thought I saw someone in the greenhouse last night. I couldn't make out any details, but I saw his shadow behind the frosted glass.

Jasper had become my saving grace these last few days. I was about to go stir crazy in this place and he was at least someone to talk showed me around a lot of the property and talked about its history. We avoided Edward for the most part, except for a few random seemed like one of the only elements of light in this dark place. He was extremely handsome, but I guess I just didn't see him that way. Actually, he seemed like he'd be perfect for Alice. Maybe after this whole experience is over I should introduce them.

I skipped down the steps and found Jasper in the kitchen. I quickly thanked him for the rose. His brow furrowed a moment before Edward bounced into the room. His eyes went straight to the red rose I held in my hands.

"Look. Jasper left this on my door this morning." I'd decided I wasn't going to avoid talking to Edward even though he seemed content on making every interaction stressful.

Edward turned to Jasper, almost like he was waiting for him to say something. Jasper stared right back at him and raised his eyebrows.

"How lovely," Edward snapped. He turned around and left. I shrugged and brushed off his cold reception since I'd grown relatively used to his antics. Or at least I'd told myself I had. For some reason, his attitude still hurt even if I'd never admit it.

I didn't see him the rest of the day. I tried to find more boxes of Lucky Charms for my nightly snack that night, but he must have hidden them all. Greedy bastard. I settled for crackers or leftovers.

We got another big snowstorm that completely blanketed the mansion and its grounds in a fresh blanket of snow. The next morning I woke up late, pulled back the curtains and smiled. It looked like a sea of diamonds all around. Even the trees were covered, occassionally showcasing a beautiful icicle cascading from their branches. It never got this way in town. And even if it did, it was quickly tarnished by slush and dirt. This was absolutely pure. It made me happy knowing that it was going to stay this way for the most part. The only thing I noticed was one set of footprints leading back into the woods. Edward must be out there walking or doing his brooding man routine.

I skipped downstairs and almost ran into Jasper on the stairs.

"Good morning," I said.

"Good afternoon is more like it." He raised his eyebrow.

"I guess I slept a little late." I shrugged. "What are you doing today?"

"I plan on creaming you in a snowball fight."

"Oh really?" I crossed my arms. "Loser makes dinner. Winner's choice?"

"Deal."

Jasper helped me find some better outdoor wear than what I had with me. Most of it was his so the coat was a little big, but the hat and gloves were nice.

I opened the backdoor and ran out into the snow. It's sad how you never really play when you get older. It was almost like it made me forget the world, like we were in this giant snow globe and everything was perfect. Jasper and I laid down in the snow and made snow angels until he whipped a snowball at my face. I leaped up and ran behind a tree while I gathered my ammo. I peeked out from the tree and launched it at him. It just missed his shoulder and landed in the snow behind him.

I squinted out into the yard and noticed a small speck stepping out from the woods a moment before the snowball hit me. I shivered and screamed as the ice cold moisture slipped down the back of my neck.

"Get a little distracted?" Jasper asked.

"No," I said as I launched another one at him and hit him in the leg.

I was losing severely and I'd become so engrossed in our little game that I didn't notice Edward approaching until he was there. I looked up and found him watching us. He was leaned up against one of the snow covered statues and I could have sworn I saw something. Like the very beginning of a smile started to play on his lips. Almost.

I gave up my assault for a moment and stomped towards him. His scowl instantly returned to his face as soon as he saw me.

"Can I help you?" He asked.

"Don't let a silly smile ruin your terrible life Edward," I joked.

"I didn't," he snapped.

"Come play with us." I gestured back to Jasper, who was rolling a huge snowball.

"We're not kids Bella, don't be ridiculous..." he said softly, diverting his eyes to the ground. I don't know why, but that pissed me off.

"God forbid you feel anything but miserable!" A moment after I spoke, a flash of white flew by me and smashed right into Edward's face.

"Jasper," Edward breathed. His nostrils flared as he wiped the snow from his face.

"Whoops." Jasper shrugged. "I missed."

Edward snarled and stomped into the house.

I bit down on my lip as I watched him retreat. He was running away again. Sometimes I just wish he'd take me with him so I could figure out what was really going on in that head of his. I mean besides all the hate and anger. There had to be something there. Something.

"Well Bella, I think you'll be making dinner tonight..." Jasper said. I conceded defeat. He kicked my ass and there was no disputing it.

We started back towards the house and the greenhouse caught my eye. "What were you doing in the greenhouse so late last night? Couldn't sleep?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" I stopped and turned towards him.

"I haven't been in the greenhouse since early yesterday morning Bella..." He gave me a pointed look before darting inside.

That can't be true. I saw him. He plucked a rose and left it for me. There was no other option. It had to be him...unless it wasn't. I glanced up at Edward's side of the house and debated the impossible.

I kicked Jasper out of the kitchen so I could start making dinner. Edward stayed cooped up in his room until everything was ready. I felt him the moment he walked into the kitchen. I couldn't understand how he could completely alter my world just by stepping into a room. Almost like a static charge, making every hair on my body stand on end in anticipation. It was unlike anything I'd ever known.

Our eyes met for a moment as he walked towards me, but I quickly turned back to the food.

"Making dinner?" He asked. He cleared his throat and parked himself right next to me, peeking over to see what I was making. I nodded and started mixing the salad up. "Can I...um...can I help you with anything?"

I was a little surprised at his question. He didn't strike me as the type of person to ask that. "Sure," I said softly. "Can you open the wine?" I nodded towards the bottle sitting beside me.

He cleared his throat and started fumbling around in the drawers for a corkscrew. I watched him out of the corner of my eye as he screwed it into the cork, his fingers grasping tightly around the bottle. As he twisted it deeper and deeper, I couldn't help but notice the ways his muscles flexed and constricted against his shirt. A small grunt escaped from his lips as he popped the cork off. I jumped a little at the noise and turned my attention back to the salad.

Edward reached above me and grabbed three wine glasses from the cabinet before filling two of them halfway. He set one beside me and sat down with his at the table.

Jasper eventually bounded into the kitchen just as I was taking the chicken out of the oven. He carried it over to the table so I could bring the salad and everything else. It was the first time we'd eaten at the table together. Usually we were at the bar or just on our own so I wasn't really sure how to act.

We all just kind of stared at each other for a minute before Edward reached for the salad. Jasper tried to talk to me a little throughout the meal, but for the most part we ate in silence. When Edward was finished he took his plate up to the sink, dropped it off and left.

"Thank you for dinner," Jasper said. "It was delicious."

"Thanks. I don't mind doing it, I cook for my dad most of the time. He's not really an oven afficienado."

"Most of us guys aren't." He laughed and took my plate for me. "Well I'm exhausted. I think I'm going to head to bed early, do you need anything before I go?"

"No I'm good," I mumbled. I finished my glass of wine and poured another. I finally got up from the table and made sure all the food was put away. I glanced outside and picked up my glass of wine before making my way out to the greenhouse.

This whole rose thing was still bothering me and I couldn't get it out of my head. It was a mystery, just like everything else in this damn house. Just like him. He was the ultimate puzzle and it drove me crazy that I may never solve it. He kept dropping me pieces to put together and they just never seem to fit right. Or he overturns the table completely.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside. I was immediately warm, mostly from the atmosphere and partly from the alcohol. I shrugged out of my jacket and set it on one of the chairs before idling around the rows of flowers. I took another sip of my wine and ran my fingers across the petals.

I gasped as the door swung open and Edward stepped inside, cupping his hands around his mouth. He stopped when he saw me and looked between me and the door.

"Hi," I said.

"Hi. I didn't know you were in here."

"Do you make a habit of coming in here at night?" I cocked my eyebrow. I wanted him to admit it was him.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Uh huh." I took a big sip from my glass and narrowed my eyes at him. "I know it was you Edward, why the act?"

"Why are you so fucking pushy?" He snapped.

"Why are you so fucking cold? I mean you put this wall up that no one could possibly climb. You have to let someone in. Damnit Edward you won't even let Jasper in. I know you think you do, but you don't. Why are you so afraid to let someone see you?"

"No one wants to see!" He screamed. "No one."

"I could...see you. I could know you, but you won't let me." I shook my head. "Those walls that you have up are going to kill you Edward. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but one day you'll have nothing."

"I already have nothing..." He mumbled.

"And that's your fucking fault!" I pointed at him, grabbed my glass and stomped out.

I found myself sitting at the bottom of the stairs finishing my wine when he finally came in. He didn't even look at me as he walked up the stairs and slammed his door. The music started moments later.

I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled my knees to my chest. I was getting nowhere with him but something inside me wouldn't stop trying. Getting this guy to actually talk was like nailing jello to a damn tree.

I finished my glass, set it in the kitchen and headed up to my room. Thankfully the wine put me right to sleep. The last thing I remember was the sound of Edward's piano echoing faintly through the hallway. And then there was screaming. Loud and piercing...and terrified. Except I wasn't dreaming. This was real.

I opened my eyes and jumped out of bed, hurling myself frantically towards the door. I stumbled down the hallway and across to Edward's side. I passed by the first room with the piano and went directly to the room farther down the hall. I hesitated for a moment outside until another scream rang out. I pushed the door open and ran into the darkness. I reached idly for the light switch, but came up with nothing.

"Edward?" I whispered. He screamed again and I knew he was dreaming. I held my breath and stepped cautiously into the room. I put my arms in front of me and kept walking. I finally hit what felt like a bed and reached forward. I felt his leg and up to his waist, finally finding his shoulders.

He screamed again and jerked away from me like I was going to hurt him. "Edward?" I said again. I brushed my fingers up his neck and to his face. I caressed his cheek, feeling the raised skin of his scars, almost trying to comfort him in some way. I could tell from the moisture on his face that he'd been crying.

I didn't know if I should wake him up or just let him ride it out. A part of me wondered if he'd be pissed I was in his room. Actually I knew he'd be pissed. I didn't want to scare him anymore than he was. And he was really fucking scared.

"It's okay," I whispered. I found one of his hands and took it in mine. "It's okay Edward."

His cries eventually started to quiet down into a soft sniffle. I decided I should probably get out of here before he really did wake up and throw one of his fits. I stood from the bed and started to pull away, but his hand tightened around mine.

I sat back down and waited until he was ready to let me go. It seemed a little ironic that he flat out refused to let me in, but he wouldn't let me go at his most vulnerable. I mean I know he wasn't conscious so he didn't know he was doing it, but I couldn't help but wonder if he secretly wanted to show someone everything. Every line. Every scar. Every broken part of him that looks irreparable to most. For some reason I wanted to be that person. And I wanted him to want me like that. It's a simple human need to be wanted. And it needed to be him. It had to be. It didn't make any sense.

I silently slipped out of his room and closed the door behind me. I stood for a long time outside his door, staring into that God-awful wallpaper that adorned the wall. Even in the dark I could make out the twists and curves of the gold vines. I needed something, anything to focus on to shut my thoughts off for one moment.

I finally took a deep breath and started back towards the stairs. I bypassed my side and shuffled down the stairs. I passed through the kitchen and went directly outside into the bitter cold. In two steps I was into the greenhouse. I picked the first rose my fingers touched and scurried back inside.

He'd know it was from me. He'd know I'd been on his side of the house, even just to place it there, and I knew it was going to upset him. But I did it anyway. I went back to Edward's room and rested the rose lightly on his doorknob.

I didn't sleep well for the rest of the night. I felt way too anxious about the next morning and his reaction. I guess if I prepared myself for a blow out, maybe I wouldn't be as offended when it happened.

When I finally made it downstairs the next morning, I froze outside the kitchen. The tone of his voice, the absolute anger in every word, completely paralyzed me.

"I'm just sick of seeing her...all the fucking time! I mean do you understand what that's like?" Edward yelled.

I cowered back into the wall and buried my head in my hands. I fucked up. I turned around, wanting to get away before they saw me, but of course I tripped over my own feet and went crashing towards the ground. I ignored the pain in my ankle and tried to get on my feet anyway.

"Bella? Are you alright?" Jasper appeared in the hallway and rushed to help me up. Edward slowly stepped behind him, his face hard and his fists clenched tightly on each side. He glared at me as he walked by and back up the stairs.

I wiped at my face, brushing away a stray tear. "I'm sorry," I stuttered. "I'm so sorry."