STEPHENIE MEYER OWNS THE TWILIGHT UNIVERSE AND ALL OF THE CHARACTERS.
Bella had never been the type to curse the sun. Especially not after moving to Forks.
When she'd first arrived, the town's near-permanent blanket of clouds and drizzle had felt suffocating. She'd longed for the dry heat and brilliant skies of Phoenix. But now—today—the moment the sun dared to break through the clouds and beam down on Forks High School's modest campus, she wished for nothing more than the sky to gray over again. The sunlight felt like a personal insult.
She resisted the childish urge to glare up at it, though the idea of throwing a scowl toward the blue sky was oddly tempting.
"We usually can't get you to stop smiling on sunny days," Angela remarked as she walked alongside Bella toward the outdoor lunch tables, holding her tray with careful balance. "Did you bomb Mr. Banner's last test or something?"
Bella offered only a half-hearted shrug, trying to mask the sour mood radiating off her as they picked a spot beneath one of the picnic tables near the edge of the lot. The bright light reflecting off the table's worn wooden surface only worsened her headache.
"Come on, Angela, we both know why she's so sad," Jessica cut in, rolling her eyes as she flopped down across from them. "It's because Edward's not here today."
"That's not it," Bella mumbled, plopping down into her seat. She yanked a random sheet of calculus homework from her bag, pressing the pencil harder than necessary into the paper just to keep her hands busy.
"Ohhh, then maybe it's because none of the Cullens are here at all," Jessica continued, undeterred. She popped a grape into her mouth like she was commenting on the weather. "I'm sure you're missing Alice and Emmett too, right?"
"You're not going to let this go, are you?" Bella narrowed her eyes and looked up from her homework, her glare sharp enough that Jessica should have backed off—but of course, she didn't.
"You and Edward are always making googly eyes at each other, and now you've got the nerve to tell us you aren't dating?" Jessica pouted, crossing her arms with mock betrayal. "Are we not your friends?"
Bella let out a long sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. She had known this was coming—Jessica never could leave a bone unpicked.
"If I tell you we're dating," Bella grumbled, "will you drop it?"
Jessica nodded vigorously, her eyes wide, leaning in towards Bella.
Bella bit her lip, eyeing both of them before relenting with a sigh. "I guess… we are."
Jessica squealed, loud enough that heads turned from other tables, and before Bella could blink, Jessica had her hands clamped on Bella's shoulders, shaking her like a ragdoll.
"Tell me everything!" Jessica demanded, practically vibrating.
"You said you'd drop it," Bella reminded her flatly, batting Jessica's hands away.
"Like I'd actually keep that promise." Jessica gave an unapologetic roll of her eyes, undeterred. "Now come on—spill!"
Angela leaned her elbows onto the table and offered Bella a sympathetic smile. "Looks like I'm going to have to play good cop again. Don't feel like you owe us anything."
"That's just it," Bella muttered, frustration flickering behind her eyes as she stared down at the worksheet in front of her. "There's nothing to tell right now. And… he didn't show up today."
Jessica leaned back, frowning for the first time. "Well, that kind of makes sense," she said, tapping a polished fingernail against her soda cup. "The Cullens never show up to school on sunny days. Their parents always drag them off for camping trips or hiking or whatever."
"Jessica even tried to convince her own parents to start doing the same," Angela teased, smirking. "Didn't work out so well, obviously."
Bella gave a half-hearted smile but said nothing. She knew now why Edward couldn't be there—why none of the Cullens could. Vampires probably couldn't blend in under direct sunlight. But even with that knowledge, it didn't make the ache of missing him any less frustrating.
"But are you really sure there's nothing else?" Jessica leaned forward again, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Is he a good kisser?"
Bella's grip on her pencil tightened so hard that the lead snapped clean in two.
"He is… isn't he?" Jessica grinned wickedly, her voice triumphant.
Bella's cheeks flared crimson. "Maybe…" she muttered, dropping her gaze back down to the homework and scribbling aimlessly to avoid meeting their eyes.
"Now this I have to hear," Angela chimed in, grinning as she stole one of Jessica's fries.
"Well, you're not getting anything out of me," Bella huffed, tossing the broken pencil onto the table. "Some of us still believe in privacy, you know."
Jessica groaned loudly and slumped across the table. "That is so boring."
Bella smirked and leaned back, crossing her arms. "Oh? Well then, how about we talk about you and Mike?"
Jessica shot upright like she'd been electrocuted. "No way! We're not going there."
"Why not? Didn't he ask you out this morning?" Bella raised an eyebrow, watching Jessica squirm.
"And you said yes," Angela added casually, biting the end off a carrot stick.
"Really, Angela? Traitor," Jessica shot her a glare. "I could just as easily bring up you and Ben."
"You and Ben?" Bella turned toward Angela, her smirk deepening. "Where have I been the past week?"
Angela flushed a soft pink and pushed her tray away, focusing on her fries. "There's nothing. Seriously."
"But you want it to be something," Bella guessed, her voice softening.
Angela shrugged, lips twitching into a small smile. "He's sweet. And I… think he's really cute."
"Then just ask him out already," Jessica encouraged, nudging Angela with her elbow.
"Oh, like you've ever asked out a guy?" Angela raised an eyebrow.
Jessica blinked, then laughed. "Fair point. But you gotta at least make it obvious you're interested. Drop a few hints."
"And how exactly do you suggest I do that?" Angela narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "Go run to Lauren and ask her to spread rumors about me until Ben catches on?"
"Well, it works, doesn't it?" Jessica shot back, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
"Girls…" Bella cut in before the bickering could get too heated. "Angela, if it's meant to be, Ben will come to his senses eventually. I believe that."
Angela's expression softened, and she gave a grateful nod. "Thank you, Bella."
"A little too hopeful for my taste, but sure," Jessica muttered, grabbing another fry and popping it into her mouth.
Bella smiled faintly, but the ache in her chest lingered. No matter how much her friends teased or distracted her, there was only one person she wanted to be sitting at that table with her right now—and he was nowhere to be found.
Nothing particularly eventful happened for the rest of the day.
Bella hadn't fully realized just how much of her daily routine had begun to orbit around Edward Masen—until the moment he wasn't there. It was as though someone had pressed pause on everything exciting in her life, leaving behind only the dull, gray monotony of high school. Every class seemed to drag on longer than the last, her mind wandering restlessly toward thoughts of him.
Gym, already the bane of her existence, had somehow managed to become even worse without Edward there as her quiet barrier against unwanted attention. Mike Newton, ever the opportunist, swooped in on the vacancy left behind like a vulture circling fresh roadkill. Without Edward's cool glare to keep him in check, Mike hovered relentlessly during the entire period, peppering her with awkward conversation and pointless small talk that Bella barely had the patience to entertain.
By the time the final bell rang and she trudged home, Bella's mood had sunk well below miserable. She'd been so thoroughly drained by the day's slow crawl and Edward's absence that she barely registered the weight of her backpack as she dragged it through the front door and up the stairs to her room.
She didn't even notice him right away.
It wasn't until she let her bag drop onto the floor with a dull thud and turned toward her bed that she froze in place, her breath catching in her throat.
There he was.
Edward lounged casually against the frame of her bed, one leg stretched out, the other bent, his arms folded lazily behind his head as though he belonged there—like this was the most natural place in the world for him to be. The afternoon light filtering through the window seemed to catch on the fine edges of his bronze hair, making it glow faintly like metal warmed by the sun. His trademark crooked smile was already playing on his lips.
"Tough day at school?" he asked, his voice soft but laced with amusement.
"Edward!" Bella's frustration melted away so fast it was almost embarrassing. Her face lit up instinctively, and before she could even think twice about it, she launched herself across the room, leaping onto the bed and throwing her arms tightly around him.
Edward stiffened under the sudden weight of her affection, clearly startled—but the shock only lasted a second. His cool arms wrapped gently around her in return, pulling her close as he let out a soft, breathy chuckle. He shifted slightly beneath her, then cleared his throat, tapping her lightly on the back as if to remind her of something.
"Bella," he murmured with a small smile, leaning down enough to speak near her ear. "You might want to take a moment to notice… our current arrangement."
Bella blinked, confused—until the realization hit her like a truck. In her excitement, she hadn't noticed the way she had practically straddled his waist, her legs bracketing either side of him as she clung to him.
Her face flushed a furious red as she scrambled off him so quickly that she nearly tumbled backward off the edge of the bed.
"Oh my God—I, uh—I didn't mean to—" She stammered, biting her lip and refusing to meet his gaze as she tried to compose herself.
Edward's grin only widened. He leaned back comfortably against the headboard once more, entirely at ease. "Don't worry," he said smoothly, eyes glittering with amusement. "I missed you too. And… by all means, if you ever feel like repeating that welcome, I wouldn't dream of stopping you."
Bella let out a half-laugh, half-sigh and slapped his chest lightly in mock scolding, her blush deepening to an almost painful degree.
Instead of pulling away entirely, she let herself flop down beside him on the small bed, lying on her back with a sigh of resignation. Her shoulder brushed lightly against his arm, and for a moment neither of them spoke—the silence between them warm, not awkward.
"So," Edward began at last, his voice softer now, his grin fading into something gentler, more serious. "How was school?"
Bella gave a one-shouldered shrug, staring up at the ceiling. "Boring. I mean… it's high school. What else is new?"
Edward nodded slowly, his eyes distant, thoughtful. "I suppose we should talk," he murmured, his tone heavy with something unspoken.
Bella offered a weak smile, turning her head slightly to look at him. "That would be putting it lightly… but I honestly don't even know where to start."
Edward's gaze shifted to meet hers fully, his expression darkening with concern. "Well, for starters—what happened to your rocking chair?"
Bella winced. She'd almost forgotten about that. She propped herself up on one elbow, grimacing. "Jacob broke it. Last night. He… kind of lost his temper."
The shift in Edward's demeanor was immediate. His body tensed, the playful spark in his eyes replaced by a cold, protective glare.
"Did he hurt you?" His voice was low, calm—but there was a dangerous edge beneath it, something tightly controlled and quietly furious.
"No!" Bella shook her head quickly, waving her hands as if to push the idea away. "No, he didn't. But… something was definitely off about him. He wasn't himself. It was like… he couldn't control whatever was going on inside."
Edward's jaw clenched hard enough that Bella could see the tension in the muscles along his cheek. His hands curled into loose fists in his lap as he exhaled sharply through his nose.
"I knew I shouldn't have left you alone with him," he muttered, almost too quietly for her to hear.
Bella frowned, leaning closer. "Why? I mean, yeah, Jacob was acting weird, but… he's Jacob. I don't think he'd actually hurt me. Maybe he's just dealing with… I don't know, some kind of hormonal freakout or roid rage or whatever it is you were warning me about before."
Edward gave a bitter, humorless laugh, shaking his head. "You'd be surprised."
Bella's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means," Edward sighed, dragging a hand through his hair, "that explaining Jacob Black's… condition… is going to make a lot more sense once you know the full story about me first."
Bella's suspicion deepened, but she nodded slowly. "Okay… that's fair. So what is this? Twenty questions?"
"I was actually hoping to give you my entire life story," Edward replied with a soft smile. "Wouldn't want to deprive you of all the colorful details."
Bella couldn't help but laugh, despite the weight of the conversation. "That works too."
Edward's expression softened again, though there was still a faint trace of nervousness beneath it. "But… before I start, I should warn you," he said, his voice lowering, "you know I don't age… right?"
Bella rolled her eyes and nudged him playfully. "Yeah, obviously. Vampire. We've been over this."
"Right…" Edward nodded, his smile flickering. "I just figured I should prepare you. I'm… well, let's just say I'm a bit of a fossil compared to you."
Bella raised an eyebrow, curious. "Okay… how old are we talking here?"
Edward's lips twitched faintly at the corners. "I'm twenty."
Bella narrowed her eyes, not missing the careful way he'd phrased it. "And how long have you been twenty?"
Edward held her gaze, his own eyes serious now, no trace of teasing. "I was born in 1898. In Chicago."
Bella's mouth parted slightly as she processed that—but instead of horror or fear, her expression softened into a grin. She leaned back on her elbows and gave a little laugh.
"Wow," she teased. "You're such a cradle robber."
Edward scoffed, though the tension in his shoulders eased just a little. "And here I was worried you'd be horrified."
Bella shrugged, still smiling. "Honestly? I kind of expected you to be older than me. If I was going to run screaming, I would have done it already. So… don't worry."
Edward watched her for a moment longer, as if still unsure whether to believe how easily she accepted all of this—but the warmth in his eyes slowly returned.
And he couldn't help but feel amazed by her all over again.
Edward began slowly, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it. He spoke of his childhood, his upbringing in the bustling heart of Chicago, and how quickly he'd grown to despise the life his father had carved out for him. The more he talked, the more the weight of those memories seemed to anchor him down—each word strained, as though pulling teeth.
Bella listened quietly, the space between them closing every time she noticed him hesitate or avert his eyes. She reached out, threading her fingers gently through his, giving his hand a soft squeeze whenever he faltered. She didn't rush him. She didn't press for more. She simply held on.
"I spent most of my youth living in the shadow of Edward Masen Senior," Edward said at last, his jaw tightening as though the name alone left a bitter taste on his tongue. "Every decision I could have made for myself—taken from me before I even had the chance. Everything was about appearances. About control. About his plans… never mine."
Bella's thumb traced slow, reassuring circles across the back of his hand. She didn't need to ask how difficult it must have been—she could hear it in the way his voice tightened, could feel it in the tension of his grip.
But when Edward spoke of his mother, Bella noticed how the hardness in his eyes melted, replaced by something far gentler. A kind of reverence.
"My mother… Elizabeth," Edward smiled faintly, the name soft on his lips. "She was the only light in that house. The only person who ever truly saw me."
Bella couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips as she listened to him talk about her. There was so much warmth in his voice when he spoke of his mother, it almost felt like she could see Elizabeth through his memories—a woman kind and full of grace, one who loved her son with her whole heart.
A part of Bella ached at the thought. She wished she could have met this woman. Wished she could have told her just how much her son meant to her now.
But Edward's smile faded as the story turned darker.
"Then the influenza came." His words dropped heavy between them, his eyes casting downward. "For the first time in my life… I had decided something for myself. I was going to enlist. I wanted to fight for my country, to make my own path."
His lips curled into a bitter smile.
"But of course, my father had other plans. He had arranged a marriage for me. One of his friend's daughters—an alliance of wealth, status, and control."
Edward glanced at Bella then, perhaps expecting a reaction. And there it was—subtle, but unmistakable. Her lips tightened, her eyes narrowing slightly. She looked away, biting the inside of her cheek. The rational part of her reminded herself the woman was long dead. But another, less reasonable part of her felt the sharp sting of jealousy anyway, imagining Edward promised to another.
"I fought it," Edward went on, "with everything I had at the time, but then the virus struck."
His shoulders sagged under the weight of the memory.
"My mother was the first to fall sick. Then my father. I—I watched them both waste away right before my eyes. And before she died… my mother begged me to live. To marry the girl my father had chosen. To make a life. And how could I deny her that wish on her deathbed?"
Bella reached for him again, her hand sliding into his. She squeezed it tightly this time. Edward's eyes softened at the gesture, and he offered a faint smile of gratitude before continuing.
"I was going to go through with it. I'd given my word. But then… I fell ill myself."
Bella's breath caught.
"So then… how did you…" She gestured toward him, trailing off as if afraid to fully voice the question.
Edward gave a sad chuckle. "I suppose I left out an important detail. Do you know who my attending doctor was?"
Bella's eyes widened in realization. "Don't tell me—"
"Carlisle Cullen," Edward confirmed with a nod. "He was working at the hospital. Alone, back then. No family, no one. And when he saw me—the only son of a family that was all but gone—he made a choice. He changed me."
There was a silence between them for a moment, until Edward's gaze grew distant again.
"But there's more…" His expression shifted into something troubled. "The girl. The one I was arranged to marry. She came to see me before the end. She didn't have to—but she did. She… she seemed genuinely devastated. Concerned for me. As though I wasn't just a business deal."
Bella swallowed hard, a knot tightening in her chest.
"I imagine she would've made a great wife," Edward admitted quietly, looking away.
Bella couldn't stop the sour twist in her stomach, the resentment that crawled beneath her skin. She hated that thought. Hated the image of some beautiful, prim girl standing at Edward's side—loved, cherished.
Sensing the shift in her mood, Edward reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out an old, worn wallet. From it, he carefully slid out a folded photograph and held it out to her.
"This… is my mother," he said softly. "I almost never look at it. It's too hard."
Bella took the photo gently, her fingers brushing over the fragile paper. Despite the faded color, she could still make out the features of the woman. The soft shape of her face, the striking green eyes, the copper-burnished hair. She was beautiful.
It was easy to see Edward in her.
But then Bella noticed the photo was folded. Curious, she unfolded the other half, expecting perhaps a stern-faced man—his father.
What she found instead made her heart drop into her stomach.
Standing beside Elizabeth was a girl.
A girl who looked exactly like Bella.
Same soft waves of chestnut hair. Same eyes. Same dusting of freckles across the nose and cheeks. The resemblance was so perfect it was unsettling.
Her hand tightened on the photo.
"What is this, Edward?" Her voice was sharp now, demanding. She could feel the heat rushing to her face, her chest tightening painfully. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Edward's eyes were pained, his expression pleading as he sat up straighter.
"I know what you're thinking," he started gently, "I know how this must look—"
"How this must look?" Bella snapped, standing up abruptly. "Edward, I don't just look a little like her—I look exactly like her."
She moved toward the door, heart hammering in her chest, but Edward was faster. In the blink of an eye, he was there, blocking her way.
"Bella, please—just let me explain," he begged. "If you still want to leave after, I won't stop you."
Bella glared at him, her fists clenched at her sides, but after a long moment, she exhaled sharply and crossed her arms. She leaned back against the wall, waiting.
"Her name…" Edward's voice softened, almost ashamed, "was Isabella Marie."
Bella let out a low, bitter laugh, shaking her head.
"Of course it was," she muttered darkly. "Perfect. Her name was Isabella Marie. I suppose next you'll tell me she went by Bella too?"
Edward winced. He knew this wasn't going to be easy. But Bella deserved the truth.
"I hated her, you know," Edward said quietly, his voice low as his gaze dropped to the floor, hands clasped tightly in his lap.
Bella's jaw clenched, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She wasn't buying that for a second. "I'm not getting that impression," she shot back, her tone sharper than she intended. "It sure sounds like the only reason you even want me is because I look like her!"
Edward's head snapped up, his eyes wide with a flicker of panic. "It's the truth," he said firmly, leaning forward, his voice almost desperate. "I had never met her, Bella. Not once. Our fathers arranged the marriage. My mother adored her, the families approved—but she and I were strangers."
Bella's lips pressed into a hard line. She didn't respond. She didn't trust herself to.
"I hated her for it," Edward went on, his hands tightening into fists. "Not because of anything she did, but because she represented another choice stolen from me. My life had been nothing but decisions made by other people—my education, my future, my marriage—all dictated by my father. And there she was, another piece of the cage I was trapped in."
He exhaled slowly, visibly working to keep his composure. "Even on my deathbed… I felt nothing for her. Not anger. Not love. Not even resentment. Just emptiness."
The conviction in his voice, the honesty behind the words, softened Bella's glare—but only slightly.
Edward met her eyes fully now, holding her gaze with painful sincerity. "But you…you are not her, Bella. You may look like her, but you're not her. And that is why I love you."
The words struck her like lightning.
Her breath caught in her throat. She had known, deep down, that she loved him—she had admitted that to herself. But hearing it come from him, hearing him say the words so plainly, so certainly, shattered whatever defenses she had left.
Without even thinking, Bella surged forward and threw herself into his arms, pressing her lips against his in a kiss so fierce, so sudden, that Edward barely had time to react. His hands instinctively cupped her face, holding her gently, but returning the kiss with the same urgency.
When they finally parted, both of them slightly breathless, Bella looked down shyly, biting her lip.
"I love you too," she whispered, her voice shaky but certain. "But I'm still not exactly thrilled about you being engaged to, like… my great-great-grandmother or whatever."
Edward gave a soft laugh, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face. "She wasn't related to you, Bella."
Bella frowned, confused. "But… we look exactly alike."
"Come here," Edward said gently, shifting them both back onto the bed. Bella allowed herself to be pulled into his arms, curling into his side, her head resting against his chest as his fingers traced slow circles along her shoulder.
"Apparently," Edward continued quietly, "she died the same day I woke up as… this."
Bella looked up at him, eyes wide. "What?"
"Carlisle thinks she may have contracted the virus from me," Edward admitted softly, his voice thick with guilt. "She visited me at the hospital when I was sick. She wasn't supposed to, but… she did. And that's likely how she caught it."
"I'm sorry…" Bella's voice softened, guilt now weighing on her for how harshly she'd reacted earlier. "I—I didn't know."
Edward shook his head. "It's fine. I mean it when I say she didn't mean much to me. But knowing I might have been the reason for her death… it's not exactly easy to forget."
Bella nodded, her hand sliding down to squeeze his again, grounding him.
"But then," she asked after a moment, "if she wasn't related to me… why do I look so much like her?"
Edward sighed, leaning his head back against the bedframe. "There's no real explanation. At least, not one that makes complete sense."
"Well, tell me anyway," Bella pressed, curious. "Even if it's far-fetched."
Edward gave a hesitant smile. "You have to understand… vampires only truly mate once in our existence. When we love, it's… different than human love. More intense. Permanent. It's obsessive, Bella. All-consuming. And we only get that bond one time."
Bella's lips parted slightly, her heart beginning to race. "So… what does that mean for us?"
"It means," Edward said, eyes locking onto hers, "that I am yours. Completely. Irrevocably. Forever. I can't love anyone else the way I love you now. Not in this life or any other."
Bella swallowed hard, her breath catching. "You're… happy with that?" she asked, the insecurity creeping into her voice. "You don't regret that it's… me?"
Edward's gaze softened, his smile turning genuine. "Are you kidding me? You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Bella. Even if fate or the universe stacked the deck in your favor." He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. "It's the only time I'm grateful I didn't have a choice."
Bella's lips curved into a smile, and she leaned up to kiss him again, slower this time, savoring it.
"A guy could get used to this," Edward teased between kisses.
"Focus, Romeo," Bella grinned, pulling back just enough to give him a playful nudge. "You still owe me the theory."
Edward laughed softly but relented, his tone growing serious again. "Carlisle's theory is that when I was changed… my mate had already been chosen for me. But she died before the bond could ever form."
Bella listened intently, hanging onto every word.
"He thinks that… somehow, your soul is her soul. Reincarnated. Brought back whether by fate or sheer cosmic chance so that the bond could finally complete itself. That's why you look the way you do."
Bella sat back, processing the words slowly. "So… I'm her reincarnation?"
Edward nodded, studying her reaction closely. "If Carlisle's theory is right… yes. But it's still you, Bella. Not her. You're not a copy. You're not a shadow of someone else. You're you."
Bella was silent for a moment, then gave him a small, thoughtful smile. "I guess our destinies were always going to be intertwined?"
"I guess we never had a choice," Edward agreed softly. "But… is that okay with you?"
She took a deep breath and nodded. "It'll take some getting used to, the idea of being a reincarnation. But… if it means I have you, then yeah. It's more than okay."
Edward's smile was soft, full of gratitude and love.
But then Bella's brow furrowed, a new question brewing. "When you said vampires only mate once… does that also mean you haven't… y'know… been with anyone?"
Edward blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "Oh… no," he said quickly, shaking his head. "No, I haven't. Not… ever."
Bella let out a relieved breath she didn't know she'd been holding. "Good. I haven't either."
"But why…?" Bella asked softly after a few moments of silence, her voice curious but hesitant. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, studying Edward's face. "I mean… it wouldn't be hard for you. You could've had… well, anyone."
Edward's expression shifted instantly, his jaw tightening as his eyes flickered away from her. For a moment, he seemed to struggle with his words, as though debating how he should tell her this.
When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter than before. "It's… complicated," he admitted, grimacing. "There's something about being able to read people's minds that makes… that kind of connection with them feel… repulsive."
Bella's brow furrowed in confusion, but then she froze, blinking. The words fully registered.
"Wait—" she shot upright, eyes wide. "You can read minds?!"
Edward winced at her sudden shriek, lifting his hands defensively. "Not yours!" he added quickly.
That seemed to catch her off guard. She stared at him, her expression softening into a confused frown. "What? What do you mean, not mine?"
Edward let out a soft sigh and leaned back against the bedframe again, his eyes meeting hers steadily. "It's… a gift. Some vampires develop certain abilities when they're turned. Mine was mind-reading. I can hear the thoughts of everyone around me, as clearly as if they'd spoken aloud. Only… for whatever reason, you are the one person I can't hear."
Bella blinked, still processing. "But… why can't you hear me? Is… is there something wrong with me?" Her voice lowered, suddenly worried.
Edward smiled softly, shaking his head. "I tell you I can read minds, and your first thought is that you're broken?" he teased gently, nudging her leg with his. "No, Bella. There's nothing wrong with you."
She pouted, crossing her arms. "Well, it's a little weird."
"Maybe," Edward said, his tone thoughtful now, "but… if you ask me, it makes perfect sense."
"How?" Bella's eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"If we're meant to be… if this bond between us is real," Edward explained slowly, "then maybe it's only right that you're the one mind in the world that's silent to me. You're my… peace, Bella. The one voice I don't have to hear. You let me have quiet."
Bella's defensive posture softened immediately, her lips parting as she processed that. Her gaze fell to their hands, his fingers lightly brushing against hers.
"That must be awful," she murmured after a moment. "Hearing everyone all the time."
Edward gave a tired smile, nodding. "It is. Like being trapped in a room full of radios all playing at once—every single frequency, every single thought, every judgment and impulse people don't say out loud. I can't turn it off." His smile faded slightly. "But when I'm near you… it fades into the background. I can focus on you, and only you."
"You really weren't kidding when you said I was your peace," Bella whispered, her thumb tracing over the back of his hand.
"Glad to know you're taking it as a compliment now," Edward grinned.
Bella smiled softly back at him but then suddenly straightened, her mind racing with more questions. "There's still so much I don't know," she blurted. "Like—how are vampires even created? Why weren't you with the Cullens all along if Carlisle was the one who changed you? How strong are you, really? How fast? Do silver bullets actually kill you? Or is that just some Hollywood myth? And what about—"
Edward's laughter broke through her rambling, making her trail off mid-question. "In due time, love," he said warmly. "I'd love nothing more than to sit here all night and answer every question in that brilliant head of yours… but your father is about to come home."
Bella groaned, flopping back onto the bed dramatically and throwing an arm over her face. "But I've barely seen you today," she complained, tightening her grip on his hand like she was afraid he might vanish if she let go.
"I know," Edward replied, his expression softening. He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of her hand. "And I hate it just as much. But let's not have Charlie's first impression of me be 'the guy sneaking around in his daughter's bedroom.'"
Bella pouted but couldn't argue with that logic.
"You'll be at school tomorrow, though, right?" she asked hopefully, peeking up at him through her lashes.
Edward gave her that crooked grin that always seemed to make her breath catch. "It's supposed to be cloudy," he confirmed. "So yes—I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Bella beamed at him, but then another thought struck her, and she sat up again. "Wait! The sun—does it really… burn you?"
Edward chuckled softly and shook his head. "No, not quite. But that's a story for tomorrow. At lunch."
"In the cafeteria?" Bella raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Didn't you say you didn't want to talk about this stuff in public?"
"Who said anything about the cafeteria?" Edward winked, his smirk playful. "I have… other plans."
Before she could protest, Edward leaned down and captured her lips in one more kiss—slow, deliberate, and full of promise. When he pulled away, his eyes lingered on her face for a moment longer, like he was memorizing every detail.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he whispered, and with that, he stood gracefully, moving toward the window.
"Wait!" Bella called after him as he poised to leap. "Be careful."
Edward turned back, smiling warmly. "Always."
And then, with impossible grace, he vaulted out the window and disappeared into the night.
Bella scrambled out of bed and rushed to the window, but there was no trace of him—not even the rustle of leaves. He was gone.
Just as she was about to sigh, she heard the front door creak open downstairs, her father's familiar heavy footsteps moving through the house.
"Bells?" Charlie called out. "You home?"
"Yeah, Dad!" she answered, pulling away from the window and trying her best to keep the giddy smile off her face.
She flopped back onto the bed, her heart still racing, her mind spinning. She had learned so much from their talk—and yet somehow, it felt like it was only the beginning.
There was still so much about Edward's world that she didn't know. But one thing was certain.
They'd figure it out together.