Lost in Silence - Edward Cullen

Chapter 7

Third Person POV ~ Same Night

Gabby looks around the restaurant before looking over at Edward, who is watching her, trying not to read her mind. He's praying to whatever God is up there that Gabby doesn't develop PTSD as a result of what's happened in the last hour. She's a lovely and talented young lady who doesn't need things like this to happen to her.

Especially since it was her sister who prompted it. He wishes he could read the sour-smelling girl's mind at this moment, just to understand why she would want to hurt Gabby. Edward glances up from his thoughts as a hand is waved in his face, and he blinks. He glances over at the girl sitting next to him, who is pointing up at the waiter who has approached the table. To look at her, he raises his head.

"How can I assist you?" The waitress inquires, her forehead furrowed at the bizarre couple.

"Sorry for the inconvenience. She'll have..." Edward walks over to Gabby and examines the menu images she's pointing to. "Alfredo with shrimp."

Before returning his gaze, the woman writes down the order.

"How about you?"

"Nothing. I'm fine." He responds.

She walks away from the table with a single nod. Gabby folds her menu and places it on the table before raising her hands.

"Are you alright?" She inquires of him.

"Am I alright? Gabby, I should be asking you that." He signs back to her, attempting to hide his worried expression.

She nods after taking a deep breath.

"It's just..." For a brief time, she comes to a halt with her fingertips. "Just keep my focus away from it. Please tell me more about these abilities."

Despite the fact that he knows she can't hear him, he chuckles softly.

"I never did go into detail on Carlisle's theory. He claimed that I can read people's minds because I was good at it as a human." He clearly explains things a little more.

"How does it work?" She inquires, her curiosity piqued.

He sits for a few moments, trying to figure out how to explain it to her.

"It's as if they're my own ideas, but I hear them in their own voice, if that makes sense." He begins. "If someone visualizes something in their head, it will appear in my mind as an image."

Her mouth forms an O, and she nods as if she understands.

"Are you the only one in your family with an ability?" Her head is slightly cocked.

He smiles as he shakes his head. "Alice and Jasper have one as well. Jasper is an empath, while Alice has Subjective Precognition."

"How does that work?" She raises an eyebrow as she signs.

"Which one?" Edward grins as he begins to explain. "Alice reportedly always had visions, and when she was turned, her visions became stronger, allowing her to see into the future. It's subjective, as if to say, in the sense that if your mind changes, so does her vision."

"Is this what you meant when you said images? I'm talking about when you read her mind." Gabby inquires.

He nods, a grin on his face that never fades. "Miss Swan, you are correct."

She blushes a little. "How about Jasper?"

"As a human, Jasper was quite charismatic, and he could persuade others to see things his way. He can now physically feel emotions and control them."