All Twilight characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

Dollybigmomma is my amazing Beta. I know you're all in awe of her work. I know I am.

Chapter 12 – Wakeful Dreams

EDWARD

Bella thought I was crazy. I had been so stupid for telling her I could read minds. I couldn't read hers, so I couldn't prove it. If my own family hadn't believed me for years, what the hell made me think she'd believe me? She was trying to be discreet about it at least. She didn't call me a liar or crazy, she just started acting nervous around me, so I decided to spare her and leave. I went to my meadow and pulled out my recorder. Music often took my mind off of what was going on around me. I used it to soothe my tension. Music truly did soothe the savage beast in me.

BELLA

I paced back and forth in our tiny hut. I couldn't believe he was nuts. He was freaking nuts. I felt so bad for him. I didn't know if he was born that way or if something had happened to make him that way. The way he spoke about his parents made me think that it was something that had happened to him. Maybe it was the way he had been raised to believe that he was messed up; damaged goods. I was freaking scared and felt bad for him at the same time.

Jacob stirred on the bed, and I snuggled up next to him to help him settle down. I was too keyed up and freaked out to actually fall asleep, though. I slipped out of the bed and did what I always did when I couldn't sleep; I organized. I opened my trunk, and the first thing I noticed was the letter Alice had sent me. Was she real or one of his personalities? I had never seen him act any different from what he was.

He didn't seem all that unstable. I had gotten in his face, blown him off and even hit him, and he never retaliated. He had been grumpy and mildly rude, but never outright mean. I never felt threatened or unsafe. If anything, I felt safer when he was around.

How was I supposed to make sense of this!

I picked up the letter and opened it. It wouldn't make sense for this letter to be written by Edward. He didn't know I would survive. The handwriting was very curly and girly.

I skimmed over the parts I had already read. I looked a couple of paragraphs ahead and started to read.

"Jacob is cutting his one-year old molars. It's why he's been fussy the past two days. Give him some pain reliever at night, but use it sparingly during the day. Tie some small pebbles in your sock you're not using and give it to him to teeth with. Don't cut your sock; you'll need it later. Stop here."

I looked over at Jacob and saw he had his hand in his mouth, and I wondered if it was the start of his teething that caused him to stick his hand in his mouth.

I went back to read tomorrow's passage. I figured it wouldn't hurt to know what tomorrow would bring. What I read shocked me.

"Go to him, you need to believe him. You can believe that I can see the future enough to prepare all of these things for your use. You need to believe me when I say he's my best friend and has the kindest heart. He's not insane, nor is he lying. With time, you'll see the truth come out. Just please go to him. He shouldn't be alone. Listen for the recorder. It'll guide you to him in the dark. Stop here."

I got up and walked to the door. I noticed Sam look at me. "Look after Jacob," I said. This wild dog was a smart fella, because he lay down next to the bed and put his head down, as if telling me he would stay with him.

I slipped out the door and realized I didn't know where Edward was, just a general direction he had pointed to. I decided to start walking in that direction and see if I could find him. I silently hoped he was playing his recorder, like Alice had said he would be.

I followed the path that led to the field Edward had cleared for the goats, which had yet to appear. I had never had goat's milk before and, well, I was willing to try anything when they did show up. Beggars couldn't be choosers.

I had crossed to the far side of the field, when I heard it. It was faint, but I was sure it was him, because who else would be playing music on the island? There was no one else.

I followed the sound of music, as I clumsily stumbled through the dark. There was no path to where I was headed.

"Bella," I heard the music stop and him call my name.

"Edward," I called to him, "Where are you?"

"Keep talking. I'll come to you. I don't want you falling and hurting yourself in the dark," he said. He was sweet, and his words proved it. He didn't want me to get hurt.

"I'm over here, Edward. Are you close? It's kind of creepy in the dark here," I called to him.

I felt his arms wrap around me from behind. "You should've stayed on the path," he spoke quietly.

"I didn't see a path; it was too dark. I was just following the music," I explained.

He lifted me up, cradling me bridle-style before I could complain and carried me through some thick brush. He finally stepped out onto a well-beaten path I was sure I would've been able to find if the sun had been up.

He carried me over to an old log and sat me down. He sat down next to me and pulled out his recorder. He didn't play it, just looked up at the sky. The open meadow was much brighter than the rest of the forest we'd been in. It was a clear night, and the stars were shining brightly.

"It's beautiful out here. I see why you like it," I said smiling. He gave me a tight smile and nodded in agreement. I let out a sigh. I needed to apologize. "Edward, I'm sorry I reacted badly. You have to understand, it's hard to believe, but I want you to know that I do believe you, and I'm sorry I doubted you."

I wanted to reach out to him, but I knew it would make him uncomfortable. "You've been nothing but helpful and kind as of recently and definitely patient. I mean, I've gone nuts on you more than once, and I'm sorry for that, but I just want you to know that I'm sorry I ever doubted you."

He smiled a little wider and nodded. "I should've kept my mouth shut. I should've realized you'd react badly. Everyone does, don't feel guilty about it," he said trying to make me feel better.

"No, I wanted to know more about you, and you finally opened up to me, but I freaked out. I'm sorry I was such a bitch."

He laughed sadly. "You weren't a bitch, Bella. I think if anything, you reacted rather mildly. I could tell you were uncomfortable, but trying not to let on that you thought I was nuts. Unfortunately, I'm used to people thinking I'm nuts, so it was pretty easy to spot."

"I'm sorry," I said again. "I mean, if I can believe Alice can see the future, then I should be able to believe you can read minds, even if you can't read mine."

He smiled. "It is odd that I can't read yours. Maybe you hit your head," he teased.

"Oh, I've hit my head plenty of times, not just in the plane crash, either," I laughed.

"Of course, how can I forget how clumsy you are? You know, I thought you were flirting with me the first couple of times you fell into me," he said smiling.

I laughed, "Are you used to women swooning at your feet? Were you disappointed when I told you to get over yourself, and you saw me stumble into the trees as well?"

"Not disappointed, more relieved. I'm not comfortable around affectionate people."

I rolled my eye at him, but it was too dark for him to see. "Yeah, I figured that out pretty quickly."

"I don't mind you too much. Jacob is easy to be around, and you're not so bad."

"Gee, thanks again with the 'not so bad' stuff. If I die on this island, make sure you carve that into my headstone. 'Here lies Bella, she's not so bad,'" I laughed at myself. That would be a fitting phrase for me.

"I…I didn't...I wasn't...I'm…" he stumbled over his words.

I reached a hand out to him and smiled. He looked at it for a moment and then took it. To my surprise, he took it in both of his hands and let out a relieved sigh. "I'm sorry, Bella. I don't converse well. I know I tend to say the wrong things. I really don't mean to offend you."

"You didn't, Edward. I was just teasing you. I'm glad you find me not so bad. I find you not so bad, too."

The huge smile he flashed at me under the moonlight was beautiful and gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, we might learn to get along after all.

A/N: See, Bella's not so bad. Thanks for reading and please review!