Something Old [1]

Three

She wasn't at school for the rest of the week. She wasn't at the hospital where his dad worked either. He'd go by her house everyday to drop off her missing assignments and a copy of his notes.

He went by again at night to check if she'd come back and didn't find her. But he found out she had a twin sister, who opted to live with their mother instead. Noting that they didn't look very much alike.

It wasn't until Sunday night that he saw her sleeping peacefully in her bed once again.

Wendy had gotten terribly sick after being in the rain so long. Not to mention she fell in a rather large puddle. But she also had a regular doctors appointment in Seattle.

Chemo therapy.

Though Wendy had gotten a normal flu, it aggravated her cancer and she stayed the week until she felt better.

No one but Charlie knows of her sickness. Not her mother, not her sister, not Billy or Jacob or anyone at her school. Just her and her dad.

She didn't wand her mom to know because there was nothing she could do. Except feel sorry for the girl who wanted to live with her father the day she chose to leave.

It took Wendy two years of tantrums, fits, and constant begging to finally move back. And she didn't want her sister to know because despite being twins, the two couldn't hate each other more.

"Nice to see you are better." Edward said as he sat next to her in English.

"How'd you know I was sick? Maybe I died and came back to life. Like a zombie." She wiggled her fingers in front of him. This got a chuckle from the boy.

"I stopped by your house to drop of your missed school work but-" he was cut off

"How cute. You were worried." She gave him a charmed smile, "Weak immune system. My doctor is in Seattle." she patted her chest as if to prove to him how weak her immune system really was.

Edward continued to look down at her, while she listens to the lecture. Her handwriting was neat and cursive and he liked the way she crossed her 'T's in a diagonal slant and never dotted her 'I's. Her hair was pinned to the side a little with a bobby pin that had a little bow on it.

"We shouldn't be friends." Edward said as he leaned against the piano.

"I didn't think we were." She continued to play not missing a beat.

She noted how flippant the boy was. He was as friendly the same way he wanted distance. He showed that he cared but refused to acknowledge it himself.

"What?" He asked.

"People talk to me here and there. But everyone leaves. So I don't consider people friends until I know they will stay." She never finished her song, as she stood up with her bag making her way out of the empty music  class. "That's why I don't have any."

She noted the contemplation written all over his face. Did he feel sorry for her? Did he understand her views? Was he really going to leave? He took her arm gently leading her back to the piano seat.

Edward sat down next to the girl as he began to play Flight of the Bumblebee by Rimsky - Korsakov.

Wendy, in all her life, couldn't play that song as fast, as perfect, or as melodious the way Edward had done so, so effortlessly. He didn't even flinch.

This confirmed his speed.

He is fast.

He is cold.

He is strong.

He didn't eat.

His skin is pale.

His eyes, his eyes are black.

What she remembered as a brilliant honey gold color was as black as the night sky.

It's been a month now, and Edward is still flippant on whether or not he'd like to be her friend. One day she was left alone, the next he was by her side playing the piano.

"I'll be your friend." He said suddenly, sitting down next her, as he placed a can of soda and a bag of gummy candy. A peace offering of sorts.

Wendy smiled at him.

A pretty smile with pearly white teeth and rosy cheeks kind of smile.

"I was hoping you would say that." She whispered, as she took the bag of candy.