HA! That was quick writing!

Disclaimer: blaalaabla because of my comment above you'll notice i'm not in mood of writing too many A/ns, so just READ!

Sophie was standing at the Cullen's house's doorstep, a small, red handbag in hand. Edward stopped the Volvo in front of her.

'Good morning, Edward!' she exclaimed when she saw him, and walked down the stairs hurriedly to get into the back seats of the car.

'You don't have to go behind,' Edward muttered, and Sophie stopped. She closed the back door and crouched by Edward's opened window to see his face.

'Where's Bella?' she asked sadly.

'She… Her father wasn't feeling alright,' Edward explained under his breath, 'so she wanted to stay home with him.'

He didn't care in hiding his pain. It was too much to bear. Sophie bit her lip and gazed at the floor.

'Well, I guess it's alright,' she said, 'I think she did well in not leaving her father alone. I would have done the same thing if I still had one.'

Edward turned his face to her.

Don't be stupid, Sophie, don't start crying now.

'I'm sorry,' he muttered, and Sophie smiled forcedly.

'It was too long ago for me to remember him anyway. I guess he wasn't a great father after all.'

She stood up and walked around the car to the seat beside Edward's.

'Edward, we can do this another day. With Bella with us,' she said brightly. He just stared ahead and shook his head slightly.

'No, let's go. If we're lucky, I can show you the most interesting places of Forks in, let's say, half an hour.'

Sophie laughed, 'I bet this place has more interesting events that you think.'

'I've been living here for around five years,' Edward informed her with his crooked smile, 'I can assure you this place is even more boring than… No. Nothing is more boring than this place.'

If you don't have Bella Swan with you, he thought sadly.

'Oh, come on, be hopeful,' Sophie smiled, 'Interesting things will start to happen soon. I promise.'

'How can you be so sure?'

'I'm not. I just hope.'

Edward smiled, but not out of happiness. He was just glad there was someone in the world who could still live forever without love, without a family, and still be happy – except for the fact that she didn't want to accept she couldn't do human things anymore. He almost pitied Sophie. For around three hundred and fifty years, she had tried to fight against her condition – he had found her sleeping in the floor of his room last night, or at least, pretending to do so, and she had even had human breakfast that morning.

'Sophie, if you don't mind me asking…' he started, and as the girl didn't interrupt him, he went on, 'how did you...?'

'I have absolutely no idea,' Sophie replied, unperturbed and cheerful, 'I can't remember a thing about my human life. Only my mother – she was the best mother of all times. She died when I was fourteen. I can't remember her name, though. Anyway, I know I woke up at an uninhabited beach being a vampire, having no idea about who had transformed me, when, or why.'

'That must be irritating.'

'Not much. I was more… miserable, let's say. Terribly sad. I enjoyed being human a lot. Of course, as I can't remember my human life, I can't tell you what was so interesting about it. I just know I tried to do everything possible to become human again. When I realized it was impossible, I went on with my feeble imitation of a human life. It's not as good, but being a vampire wholly doesn't make me happy either. I know you saw me sleeping last night.'

'Yeah,' Edward chuckled, 'I wondered.'

'You must think I'm stupid.'

'I don't.'

There was a pause.

'You know,' Sophie said, pensive, turning to him, 'Sleeping is really good. Even for us, the ones who cannot sleep. Just closing your eyes for hours makes you feel relaxed, peaceful… You should try it out.'

'Well, what I do with my nights is very similar,' Edward laughed humourless.

'So what about you?' Sophie asked curiously.

'My parents died from Spanish influenza, and Carlisle saved me from their fate,' Edward explained, remembering the moment in which he had told Bella all of this, sitting in her truck, coming back from the beautiful meadow…

'I'm so sorry,' Sophie murmured.

'But I like being what I am. It's had its disadvantages, yes, but also its good things.'

'I can't imagine good things. Except that I'll get to 'live' to see the Harry Potter Theme Park opened in 2010.'

Edward laughed, now more relieved, and a little happier than fifteen minutes ago.

'Well, my good side is better than a Universal park,' he told her, 'If it hadn't been because Carlisle made me a vampire, I would have never lived long enough to meet Bella. Not even if I had survived the influenza.'

There was a moment of silence in the car.

'You love her more than anything, don't you?' Sophie asked quietly.

'I couldn't explain to you how much I love her,' Edward replied sadly, 'There are no words to express my love for Bella.'

'I wish someone would care for me like that,' Sophie said, lowering her gaze. Edward stared at her.

'You are a very beautiful woman,' he said, 'I'm sure you'll find someone soon.'

Oh my… Edward…No, Sophie, no. Don't.

Edward pressed his lips together. The least he wanted was Sophie falling in love with him. He would break her heart. And she wasn't on good conditions for that.

'Sophie,' he called brightly, and she gazed at him, 'Do you usually have lunch?'

The girl beamed as he stopped the Volvo in front of a nice little restaurant.

…

There was a gentle knock on the door.

'Come in,' Jasper said. He was lying down on the couch, facing upwards, his arms under his head. Alice opened the door slightly enough for her to come in, but only took a step forward.

'Hi,' she said timidly at her boyfriend. He pressed his lips together and didn't reply.

'Look, Jazz, I'm sorry,' Alice said more confidently, striding to his side so as to kneel next to him, 'I swear I am. But –'

'Leave me alone.'

Alice opened her mouth in surprise. Jasper turned his face to her.

'Please, Alice,' he begged. The pain he felt, the pain she felt.

Alice's eyes darted from one place to the other, not looking, trying to look for those inexistent tears that would be able to take part of her pain away. She swallowed.

'Well then,' she said curtly and left the room. Jasper turned around with a heavy sigh and covered his head with a pillow, while the door closed loudly.

…

Sophie stared at Edward, trying not to think. He was gazing through the window beside him, sitting opposite to his new friend while she 'ate' her salad.

'Edward?'

He turned to her, and couldn't avoid his eyes of getting filled with sadness. This reminded him so much of the time when Bella had told him about his vampire theory…

'Why are you so sad?' Sophie asked him quietly, leaving her fork on the desk and nearing her hands to his. Edward gazed at her for a moment, and then sighed.

'I'm sorry if I'm ruining this for you,' he said gently, 'I'm just worried that Bella and I are having… trouble.'

'I don't think trouble is correct,' Sophie said, frowning, 'You've been like this all night and morning – I'd rather say your heart is breaking.'

Edward said nothing. She was correct. Bella was all he cared about – his life. And if he lost her… Then why would he go on living? He had already suffered enough for around eight months, not long ago, to know that he wouldn't be able to bear it a second time.

A cold hand touched his shyly.

'Edward…' Sophie murmured, slowly, 'I'd love to help as much as I can.'

'Forget it, Sophie. Let's just let it be.'

'I can't. I hate to see you like this. It pains me.'

I can talk to Bella... or show her how much he is paining him. At least she'll go back out of pity.

'I'm sorry if I'm causing you pain, but there's no way in which you can help,' not knowing why, he felt his temper rising, and his pain grew larger, and larger… 'If Bella doesn't want to marry me, I won't question her, and I don't want anyone forcing her to love me or something!'

Sophie stared at him dryly.

'So that's the problem, isn't it? Bella won't marry you?'

Edward buried his face in his hands, pressing his lips together, and didn't answer. Yes, that was the problem… But he could sense another problem far beyond…

'If Bella won't marry you, then she can't appreciate how good you are,' Sophie said, scowling, 'And if she can't appreciate a man like you, then she doesn't deserve you.'

'Don't speak about Bella like that!'

He had risen from his chair and was glaring furiously at Sophie. The girl, taken aback, had pressed her back against her chair as far away as possible from him. She looked frightened. The people in the restaurant had turned to stare at him, some muttering under their breaths, looking horrified. He gave a deep sigh, swallowed, and sat down on his chair again. He closed his eyes. Calm down. Count to ten. One… Two… Three… He chuckled as he remembered Bella muttering under her breath, 'One Mississippi… Two Mississippis…' when she had problems containing herself with all the human scents around. Bella.

'E… Edward?' Sophie's feeble voice came from somewhere nearby.

'I'm sorry, Sophie,' he whispered as he broke into silent, tearless sobs, 'I'm so sorry.'

A/n: sobs uncontrollably