Chapter 2 - Manipulation

EPOV

"Huh?" Bella said a question and a look of relief in her eyes. I wondered what the relief was for.

I watched as Edwin stepped forward and lifted Bella's hand, kissing it and then bowing. "A pleasure I'm sure." his smile dazzled Bella and she pulled her hand from his and placed it in mine.

"I'm sure." She said icily, she obviously didn't like him already.

"Edwin, what are you doing here? And when did you change?"

"All in good time my dear brother, all in good time."

I resisted to urge to snort and tightened my grip on Bella's waist.

"Well Bella and I have plans with Edward and Jasper so why don't you meet us back at the house in a few hours?" Alice asked with a polite smile

I stiffened and Alice gave me a quizzical look. I cocked my head to the left and then to the right.

You don't want him to come over? She thought, knowing I could hear.

I pretended to yawn, leaning my head back and then forward.

I'm sorry.

I smiled to acknowledge her thanks and Edwin look confused.

Why is he smiling at me? Does he want me over? Maybe he doesn't. Oh well too bad for him. I can't decline such a nice invitation on Alice's part. I heard him think with a smile.

"Yes, please do come." I said.

His look of confusion deepened. I knew he wasn't expecting that.

Bella's eyebrow shot into the air. She wasn't either.

"Maybe I will. Bella what do you think?" Edwin turned to her.

Her hand froze in mine and I knew it wasn't because of my body temperature.

I squeezed it in reassurance. "S-sure." She said, glancing at me from the corner of her eye. I wish I knew what she was thinking. That was the thing that bugged me the most. The fact that she couldn't, or wouldn't tell me things, so I had to guess, because I couldn't read her mind like I could others. When I tried to hear her thoughts all I got was static. Like a bad TV or radio signal. Like her antenna was snapped or something. The thing that bugged me even more though…

Alice smiled at Edwin. "Well we had better be going. Jasper is going to wonder where we've gone to."

"'Kay." Bella agreed, tugging impatiently on my hand.

"Farewell." Edwin said with a slight smile, leaning in to kiss Alice's hand, and then reaching for Bella's, which she reluctantly put in his own. She shook lightly, like she suddenly had shivers, or had been electrocuted, then pulled her hand back and smiled nervously.

"See ya." She said, and turned around, spinning me along with her.

"Good-Bye." I waved a hand over my shoulder.

When we were in our meadow Bella turned on me.

"What the heck?!" she shouted.

"What?" I asked innocently. She was so cute when she was angry. I tried to concentrate on what she was about to say.

"Whaddya mean what?" she shouted, throwing her hands up. "Why didn't you tell me you had a…a…a twin!"

"He's actually just my brother. I was joking because we look so much alike." I laughed lightly.

"Well ha-ha!" she said sarcastically and crossed her arms.

Alice had danced gracefully over to Jasper, who was sitting against the trunk of the tree that had grown in the middle of the field. Alice spun around in a circle, making a point for something; she was blocking me out, like she always did when she was with Jasper. Jasper too, was blocking me. Jasper laughed and pulled her down to sit with him. They emerged into a deep conversation. They unblocked their thoughts, which flooded into my own.

Edward has a brother. I heard Alice say in Jasper's thoughts.

What?! Jasper in Alice's thoughts.

"Edward! You had a damn brother!" Bella practically screamed. I had never seen her so angry with me before.

His name is Edwin. He's one of us. Alice.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't tell anyone. I didn't think it mattered. I thought he was dead." I shrugged.

"You still could have mentioned him!" she huffed, giving in slightly.

Why didn't he tell us? Jasper.

I think he thought he was dead, so it didn't matter. Which I don't think it did. But he seemed honestly surprised when he found him. Alice.

I stopped listening in and turned to face my fuming Bella. I stepped towards her.

"I'm sorry." I said. "Truly I am. I should have told you and I am eternally sorry. Please forgive me." I looked her directly in the eyes and tried not to smile when the effects of what she had let me in on took place. Bella had clued me into what things like that did to her and everybody else. When I smiled, or when I looked like I was staring directly into their souls…well minds actually, but what's the difference really? She said that no one can resist giving me what I want. Apparently her hypothesis was right.

She faltered. "Fine." She tried to stay stubborn.

"Forgiven?" I asked, stepping forward.

"You know you are you little weasel."

"Still, it's nice to hear it from you."

"You're a manipulator." She said. I stepped forward.

"So what if I am?" I smiled.

"It's not fair."

"You could manipulate me." I said truthfully, stepping forward again, only one step more to reach her. And one step more till she was done arguing and whining. Though it was so cute I didn't know if I wanted her to stop.

"Not like you do." She said.

True.

I stepped forward once more and pulled her hands into mine.

"I love you, you know." I said.

"I love you more." She said, giving up completely. Her scent was blocking my vision, making me excited. I resisted the urge to take her right there. I pushed the thought, the instinct, back and sighed.

"Now that's debatable."

I pressed her lips to mine and immediately she brought her hands up to wrap around my neck. Normally I would have gotten mad and pulled her off, but this time I let her. I wrapped my arms around her waist. She was determined to get my mouth open, but I was determined to keep it closed. And usually, when a vampire wants something like that, they are the ones that win. The thing I hated more than not hearing her thoughts.

Finally, I pulled back. She stayed wrapped up, and sighed. Then she opened her eyes and pulled her hands out of my hair.

That magnificent girl really would be the death of me.

Jasper's thoughts broke into my own.

Edward! ALICE!