Something Old [1]

Five

Wendy sat on the edge of the hospital bed, her doctor going over the other possible options for treatment. Being a sick kid you were given things other kids were not.

Like visits from celebrities, hospital secrets, the first to try out a new drug, a wish before you die. Wendy's wish was free medical, so her dad didn't have to worry about money. Sure she could have gone with a trip to Disney World like every other kid, or be on a movie set with her favorite actor.

But not Wendy. No, she wanted to make sure her father didn't have to worry about any more problems she'd have to put him threw. She won't let him see her sick, so she stays in the hospital for a week while the medication works it's magic. And when she's able to fake it enough her dad picks her up. It's been like that for years.

Edward offers to take her into the city, Rosalie offers to take her into the city, Jasper offers to accompany her while she heads into the city. But the answer is always no.

"I just had to get some film supplies." "There was a mix up with a car part." "Weak immune system, got a little sick." "It was just a me and dad thing." "Allergic reaction, they're just being cautious." Wendy always had a new excuse as to why she was gone or why they couldn't go.

So they stopped pushing.

"You should come over this weekend. I've been working on a piano piece." He said nonchalantly as his fingers moved across the ivory keys.

"I didn't know you wrote music." Wendy said amused as she played a single key note repeatedly.

"Only when I'm inspired." He smiled.

"And what, may I ask, has inspired the wondrous mind that is Edward Cullen." She joked as her fingers moved to play a little melody on the deeper notes.

He gave her a little shrug. "You."

His voice was like a whisper.

She looked up to him, a gleam in her eye as a spellbound look overcame her features. She couldn't help the smile that spread over her lips.

She looks away.

"Maybe a different week?" She said as her fingers left the piano, folding elegantly on her lap. "I promised my dad I'd go with to the reservation for that Baseball game. They are having a barbecue."

She did promise, but she also didn't want to get her hopes up. It was cruel to love someone and let someone love you when it'd only bring pain later on. She couldn't do that to him.

"It's ok. Another time then." Edward continued to play the piano.

Wendy sat there, listening. She liked him. Of course she did. She'd be a fool not to. He was an absolute gentleman with grace and tenderness. She looked at him like it would be the last time she'd ever see him.

And in that moment, a small ray of sun peaked out threw the clouds, kissing the skin on his neck. It glistened like a sea of stars, that can put the Milky Way to shame by how brilliantly it sparkled.

Edward caught her staring as the sun went back into hiding. She picked up a sleeved hand pulling the soft grey fabric over her fingers and brushed his neck. "You had a bit of glitter on you." She said dropping her touch away from skin.

His eyes darted to the window then back to the girl who began to play 'The Unknown' by Muriël Bostdrop.

So he coruscates in the sun. It was nice to know that fiction got something wrong.

Edward couldn't tell what she thought. Had she really mistaken a change of exposure as glitter, or was there something more? He decided not to push.

The way she played like a monster wasn't sitting next to him spoke endlessly. It was a silly notion really.

She was calm, she was charm, and poise, and class. She reminded him a past before he changed. Always with a bow in her hair. This one matched her knitted sweater.

"Do you ever feel like you're out of your time? Like you belong in a different era?" Wendy asked as she played.

"Can't say the thoughts crossed my mind." He spoke honestly.

"I do. I feel like I have an old soul." Wendy spoke as her eyes glanced up at the music sheet. "I prefer book over movies, records over CDs, classical music over anything modern." She chuckled. "Except for cars. I prefer them fast."

Edward laughed along side her. Picking up where she was on the piano, playing it effortlessly perfect along side her.

"Ballets and drive threw movies over theme parks and carnivals?" He asked and she nodded. "Gold and diamonds over what?"

"Pearls." She hummed. "A string of pearls over a band of diamonds any day. I've always had this dream where I'm laying in a bed of red silk, and there's a short pearl necklace around my neck, with two ruby stones on one side. I've never understood what that meant." She paused to think. "But it looks beautiful. I could never pull something as elegant as that off. I'm a lot more simple."

She messed up on a key, making her stop. The school bell rang signaling the end of lunch. He walked her to her next class before biding her a farewell until their last class.