AN: Hello! I got 8 out of the 10 reviews I asked for. Not too bad actually.

So, I'd like to thank all the people who reviewed, asked questions, and added the story to their Favorites & Alert list. All the reviews made me smile, especially those that had questions. It's too bad that I couldn't go into detail with my answers, that would have ruined the mystery of the story.

And I'd also like to thank my Beta, David, for his help with this chapter.

Now, enjoy the chapter!

0~O~0

Vile Beauty

Chapter 10: Forgotten Memories

Edward's Point of View

0~O~0

My siblings and I walked down the school hallway towards the art room; Emmett had stayed behind to finish some final details on an art project that was due today.

We all found it humorous that the humans would clear out of the school so fast, seeing how there wasn't much to do in Forks. Yet, the empty hallways sometimes seemed to provide evidence that we could be wrong.

Emmett was just walking out of the art classroom and was about to greet us when a slow, somewhat melancholy melody filled the air. It took us by surprise and even though it lasted only a few seconds, it had our curiosity piqued. We headed for the music room as a new, much more optimistic song began.

Looking through the small glass window on the door, we were shocked to see Marie at the piano, her hands moving gracefully over the keys. Her hair was up in a messy bun with several strands framing her face. Her eyes held a deep intensity that was almost painful to look at.

Suddenly I froze.

I was playing the same notes on the piano, my hands gliding rapidly over the white keys.

I was lost in the music and yet I knew the song was coming to an end. I played the last notes and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.

"I have not heard that melody in the longest of times," I opened my eyes quickly and turned my head to find my mother looking at me with sadness in her eyes. She sighed and smiled at me. "Come now, Edward- we have to go if we are going to get to the dinner party in time." Soon I found myself in my father's automobile, a few blocks away from the Swan residence, a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach. I wanted to curse myself for reacting this way every time I neared her home. It was not as if she was living there at the moment- the last time I heard anything of her was almost a year ago.

My parents had asked hers why she had not come down to spend the holidays with them. They had only replied that she was spending the holidays with one of her friends and said friend's family in New York.

When the automobile stopped in front of their home, I immediately got out and went to help my mother out as well.

"Thank you, dear." She smiled at me before talking my father's arm. I followed them silently while they rung the bell.

"Edward, Elizabeth, it is so good to see you again. Come in, come in," Mr. Swan greeted my parents with a large smile on his face. "Ah, Edward my boy, it has felt like an eternity since I last saw you, you've grown at least another foot that's for sure. You're almost as tall as your father and I." Mr. Swan addressed me shaking my hand and clasping my shoulder with the other.

"It's good to see you again as well Mr. Swan," I replied with a nod of my head. I saw him frown slightly and I immediately thought my words over to make sure I had not said anything inappropriate.

"Edward my boy, I have told you a thousand times to call me Charlie, calling me Mr. Swan makes me feel older than I already am."

I shook my head slightly. "Forgive me Charlie, I continue to forget."

"You have no shame Charlie Swan; you give the young man no peace of mind." I couldn't help but smile at Mrs. Swan as she glared playfully at her husband before coming towards me and embracing me tightly. "My, my, Edward- you have surely grown. It feels like just yesterday you and my dear Bell were running up and down the house." She pulled back and smiled at me with a loving expression before turning to look at her husband.

"That reminds me," Mr. Swa- I mean Charlie- said before I could respond. "You three will never believe who has come to join us for the upcoming week. Bells!" I felt my heart quicken its pace as he called for her loudly. I heard a joyful, charming laugh as the people near us began to move apart.

'Edward? You okay?'

I blinked and saw Jasper looking at me with a curious expression. I nodded.

Suddenly the music stopped.

I looked up to see Marie still holding her hands out over the keys with an agonized expression. She closed her eyes and put her face in her hands, she shook her head slightly before abruptly standing up, grabbing her things and walking rapidly out the other door.

"What's her deal?" Rosalie murmured silently.

"I don't know," Jasper replied. "She was feeling everything and nothing at all. It was like she was numb."

"Hey look- she left something on the floor." Emmett opened the door and walked towards the piano, picking something up. "It's her sketch book," he whispered in amazement.

"What's the big deal, it's not like you've never seen it." Rosalie huffed out.

"I've seen her work on stuff in class, but I've never seen most of the finished results."

"How is that even possible? Don't you sit right next to her in class?" Alice asked confused.

"Yes, but she almost never lets me see the finished work."

"Why?"

"I don't know. It makes me think she's hiding something." You could definitely count on Emmett to propose the most frivolous of things.

"She could just be shy Emmett." Alice suggested tilting her head to the side.

"Isabel Marie Swan, shy? You're kidding me right?" Emmett exclaimed in his usual sarcastic and overly dramatic manner. Alice only rolled her eyes in reply.

"Emmett, behave," I said, already beginning to have enough of this particular conversation.

"Always the party-pooper huh Edward?"

"Oh shut up, Emmett," Rosalie growled out before hitting him upside the head. "Let's just get out of here already." She sighed and led the way to the parking lot. The entire time Emmett kept looking at the sketch book with reverence, and I could see that he was just itching to open the book. I could only sigh at his antics.

"Wait until we get home. I don't want you bouncing a hole through the roof," I muttered as we all got inside the car.

You're no fun, Eddie.

I glared at him through the rearview mirror and he threw a smirk my way.

One day I'm going to kill him.

When we neared the garage I began to decrease my speed and the car had not come to a complete stop before Emmett all but ran out of the car and into the house.

"Well, he's certainly excited," Jasper said in confused amazement.

"This is Emmett you're talking about Jasper," Alice sighed, then rolled her eyes.

"I know," he replied, shaking his head sadly before getting out of the car.

When we got inside we saw Emmett sitting on the couch, the sketch book open and resting on his lap. His face looked like that of a child whose mother allowed them to eat candy for breakfast.

I heard Alice sigh and saw Rosalie roll her eyes before Alice grabbed Jasper's hand and dragged him upstairs with her. Rosalie and I followed their lead.

Oh cool... Emmett thought.

I sighed as I entered my room. Emmett was such a child.

Published: Saturday February 27, 2010.

AN: Who liked Edward's flashback?

I know I enjoyed writing it. Although it gave me some trouble in the beginning and it was originally going to be way different. As in 'Edward remembers dancing with 'Bells' and watching his 'friends' flirt with her at his birthday dinner and how he gets a little jealous about it', but no want wants to read that right? :P

So, I'd like to get 10 reviews for this chapter. I think you all can do it.

And I already have half of chapter 11 done. I just have to decide how to end it and stuff.

Until next time,

~Medea (Formerly Artemis S. Cullen)