Petulantly, I wanted to slam the bathroom door as I had every time before. However, tonight was different.

I lent my head back against the door as I thought through everything I'd learnt tonight. He was different tonight. Usually he was blunt and snappy when I asked questions, but he'd been honest and finally answered them. Does that excuse anything?

I was a kidnapping victim, and he was my kidnapper. I didn't have to accept his excuses. I threw my clothes off angrily and stomped into the shower that was, to be fair, the most glorious thing about being here.

His words ran through my mind as I washed my hair thoroughly.

"Perhaps there was more than nothing after all."

He was alone. He had nothing. I froze. Had he been alone for over a 100 years? If he had, or anywhere close to that, could I blame him for acting the way he had? Would I react in the same way in his situation?

And then it hit me. Edward was lonely. Like can't-go-on-another-minute lonely. I felt a pang in my chest at how that must feel. I understood lonely. I moved away from home as soon as school was finished and started my life in the city. I was all alone and I relished the independence but I got lonely too sometimes. Not lonely enough to steal a stranger off the street, but still, lonely.

I still didn't agree with what he'd done, but maybe he wasn't a monster. Plus It was hard to hate him when his eyes lit up whenever I wasn't openly hostile towards him. I sighed. This was more confusing than ever.

Is sympathising with your captor really a good idea?!

I sighed again. I knew all about Stockholm Syndrome, I'd taken the odd Psychology class and I watched enough scary criminal programmes. I thought about the risk of befriending my captor to my mind. So far, he had done nothing but try to make me comfortable here. I had a feeling he wanted me to like it, to like him. He didn't appear to want to manipulate me, change me and mould me into something he wanted. He just wanted me to be here.

I supposed if I didn't have a choice, I could do that.

I realised that tonight was different. If I was going to be here indefinitely, I did not want to be miserable. I would make the best of it and then maybe he would let me go. Or at the very least, let my family know that I was okay. We weren't close or anything but in a few weeks, they'd notice that I hadn't called lately and eventually report me missing. I didn't want them to worry, it wasn't fair on them.

Tonight, I would start small. Extend an olive branch, I decided. I padded back to my room in my towel determined to make some progress with Edward. I pulled on a black tank top and grey pyjama pants and began to write a list. Once I was happy that I had covered everything I needed, I left my room. Since I came here, I had barely left it so this felt foreign, like I was intruding.

I descended the stairs and wandered through the large lounge and then the kitchen where he'd bared his soul on the floor earlier. Where on earth are you?

I had no clue how he spent his evenings after I escaped to my room after dinner. A flash of bronze hair caught my attention as I walked past the piano room. He was sitting on the day bed opposite the grand piano occupying the raised platform on the left.

I entered nervously, unsure whether I should knock. I decided against it. He told me to make myself at home, and the door was open.

He knew I was there. He was observant enough and I was sure that nothing I did went unnoticed by him. However, he did not raise his head from the book in his hands until I softly cleared my throat. He smiled softly and my heart thudded uncomfortably in my chest.

"Hi."

His smile widened slightly. In my hurry to get this part over with, I abandoned the olive branch momentarily.

"I don't like the food you have here. There's nothing wrong with it, but I don't like rice or porridge or toast. I need a bit more variety. Also I don't have enough clothes, just a few more outfits would do. I know I don't leave the house…that I won't leave the house but I'd like to be comfortable. I've written a list…" I placed the notepad beside him and he instantly picked it up with a curious expression. He read through it quickly and looked up at me with sad eyes.

"Bella, I'm sor-" I interrupted him, apologies didn't change anything.

"No, don't be. But I'd be really grateful if you could get these for me. I don't think its much to ask if-"

Then he interrupted me. "Done. You'll have everything on this list tomorrow, is there anything else you need?"

I shook my head slowly, not sure if I was surprised by his easy acceptance or not.

"Well, alright then. Please let me know if there is ever anything you need."

He was speaking more formally than usual and his last sentence was almost a dismissal. I spun and turned to leave, and then stopped, deciding against it. I was going to try, wasn't I?

"Do you play?"

He followed my gaze to the piano.

"I do."

"I haven't heard you."

"I usually play at night. I didn't want to wake you, you don't sleep well as it is."

I frowned at that, whilst I ignored the comment about my sleep, confirmation that nothing I did went unnoticed. Sodding vampire.

"You should play. When I do sleep, I sleep deeply. And if I'm not sleeping, then I'd like to hear you play sometime."

"Really?" He looked half suspicious, half hopeful which sent another pang through me. Was he really this starved of interaction?

"Really," I confirmed. Jesus, I really was not a master conversationalist tonight.

"I should get to bed."

Disappointment flashed across his face before he masked it. Instead of leaving, I stomped over in the direction of the piano and sat on the raised edge facing him on the day bed. He now looked bewildered. What am I doing?

"You took me because you're lonely. You didn't use that word earlier but it's the underlying theme of everything you said."

He fidgeted with a page of his book before raising his eyes to mine.

"You're right."

I took a deep breath and fixed my eyes on his. I wanted my next words to sound sincere because they absolutely were.

"I could have been your friend, you know. There were easier ways to achieve it than this"

He gasped quietly and whispered "It's too late now, right?"

I sighed at him sadly. "Maybe not. What are you reading?"

"A Song of Ice and Fire. Have you heard of it?"

"Of course. I've read it," I smiled genuinely.

He grinned back at me, which made me want to keep smiling at him. Why did I want to do that?

"I only just started it, so please no spoilers."

I smiled again. "My lips are sealed."

"Did you like it?" He questioned, shifting in his seat so that he was leaning slightly towards me. He cared about my answer, it wasn't a polite enquiry.

"Yeah. I find it hard to understand and get immersed in the whole fantasy thing, but its really well-written. It's kind of enchanting. The power, the greed, the lust...it all speaks to themes in today's world too. Plus there are some incredibly strong female characters which I loved. Books with damsels in distress aren't my thing."

He chuckled softly. His laugh!

"Well, I look forward to all of that."

I stood up quickly, inspiration hitting me. He looked chagrined, like he'd said something wrong.

"You're lonely." I repeated. "And if I stay here, you are all I have. And I don't want to be lonely. No one should have to be lonely."

Edward's wide eyes stared back at me unblinking. I decided to carry on.

"So...maybe you could read to me for a bit? Friends do that, right?" He continued to stare at me in silence. This was getting embarrassing. I'm standing here basically begging my captor to be my friend and he's not basically not interested. I bit my lip and moved my gaze to the floor in front of me.

He cleared his throat roughly sending my eyes back to his. He was shaking his head in disbelief.

"I'd love to read to you. Come sit...please."

I cocked my head to the side slightly, trying to determine if he was making fun of me. He wasn't. He looked sincere like always. So I walked over and sat down next to him.

He passed me a blanket. "Here, it's probably kind of cold for you."

"I don't really mind the cold," I replied as I smiled my thanks. The way he smiled back made me feel a lot warmer anyway.

As I rested my head against the cushions, he began to read in that melodic voice of his. It was soothing, and I had no doubt that I'd be drifting too sleep soon. What the hell am I getting myself into?