Stolen Heart

Maybe ... or maybe not.

EPOV

Ever since my little 'breakdown', I had started to receive more attention, and I can tell you, I despise attention of any sort. Jasper began to think and speak certain thoughts about Alice, only when I wasn't in the room. Alice tried to not check up on Bella every five minutes. Even Emmett made the effort to try and be slightly more tactful. But as they should know, attention does not make me feel at all better. It in fact makes me feel a whole lot worse. All of the attention was becoming tedious, so I shut myself into my room and listened to Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring' at full blast. I gazed forlornly out of the window. Rain splattered against the glass in a repetitive manor. Unwanted remorse washed over me. I disliked being harsh to anyone, even when necessary. My thoughts seemed to be unable to be diverted from Isabella Swan. Her enchanting eyes, ivory skin.

Her vulnerable soul.

Her delicious scent.

I shook myself with disgust. My description had turned into one of a feast not beauty. I sobbed with fury. My mind created invisible tears, which skulked silently down my cheeks. I would see Bella Swan tonight. I had to see Bella Swan tonight. But I mustn't. I knew I would be unable to prevent myself from paying her a visit. It felt impossible to stay away from her now. But it had felt so easy being unfriendly to her today. Now the entire memory was just shameful.

Whoever did that to Bella may do it again, and I wasn't prepared to let them do that.

Several hours later…

I made no sound as I slipped down the stairs and edged towards the door. But even with their heads turned, facing the TV, they could sense I was there. Esme fluttered up to me nervously.

"Going out Edward?" She asked tentatively. I clenched my fist.

"So what if I am?" I hissed. Carlisle suddenly appeared protectively by his wife's side.

"She was only wondering where you were going" He whispered. My voice rose to a shout.

"Do I not have a single fragment of privacy?"

"Edward wait…" Began Esme, pausing mid-sentence after seeing my thunderous expression. Everyone was standing now, huddled in a little crescent in front of me. I glared at them all, waiting for them to say something. When no one spoke. I turned to leave. I punched the door frame, and slammed the door hard.

Their thoughts made me regret every stupid action I had just made. I managed to block all of them out apart from Rosalie's. Hers was as clear as crystal, and it repeated like a siren.

He's no brother of mine.

I leaped across the lake and plunged into the forest, with lightening speed. Eventually her thought swirled away into the darkness, and my head was finally clear. I focused on Bella's face for the journey. I allowed my legs to carry me to Chief Swan's household. I arrived in less than five minutes. I realised I hadn't a clue what the time was, so I glanced down at my Rolex wristwatch. My eyes could see clearly through the dark and my watch told me it was midnight. All the lights were off in the house except for one. I couldn't tell weather this was Bella's room so I would just have to use my initiative to find out. My eyes wandered around, deciding weather to break into the house, or climb up to the window. My eyes suddenly noticed a sturdy looking apple tree reaching right up to the window ledge. It looked easy to climb. I swung myself up to the top of the tree. Then I saw her.

She looked like an angel.

Her hair spilled onto her white pillow, her eyes were closed, with a tiny fringe of eyelashes. Her cheeks had no blood in them, and her features were abnormally pale. I lifted myself into the room, and perched on a rocking chair, which was situated conveniently in the corner of the room. I gazed at her intently. She was still wearing the bloody clothes which I'd found her in. She seemed to be having a vivid dream, she tossed and turned violently. Her duvet tangled itself around her body. I got off the rocking chair and darted to her side. She was mumbling something.

She talks in her sleep!

Maybe this would help me unlock her thoughts. Suddenly, she screamed.

"Edward!" I darted back into the shadowed corner, praying she would not awaken.

"Edward, my angel. Help me!" She murmured. If I were human, my heart beat would've caused an earthquake. She thought of me as her angel! She needed my help. Bella rolled over again, whispering this time.

"Edward." Then she sat bolt upright. The movement startled me, it was so...unexpected. I carefully peered out of the shadows, praying once again, that she was not conscious.

"Edward!" She gasped.

My prayers had gone unanswered.

"What are you doing here?" She whispered. She started to tremble.

"Don't be afraid Bella. I won't hurt you."

"I am not afraid." She sniffed indignantly. I let loose a small chuckle, a smile played on my lips. Her heart took off like helicopter blades.

"Oh really? Well what are you then?" I pressed. she blushed deeply.

"…Cautious…and worried." She replied, annoyance layered thickly in her tone.

"What are you worried about?" I demanded my voice deadly serious now.

"Him finding out." She whispered. As I puzzled over this reply, I noticed tears leaked out of her eyes. They looked like tiny crystals.

"Bella?" I murmured. Forgetting her delightful scent, I shot over to her, and crouched beside the bed. She gazed down at me earnestly.

"What's the matter?" I pressed softly. I hardly noticed my hand slipping into hers. But she did. She withdrew it sharply and stood up.

"Will you tell me what you want and then leave please?" She snapped. I felt my anger rise up my throat.

"I came to see if you alright. But it looks as if I'm wasting my time." I returned bitterly. She folded her arms across her chest.

"Obviously."

"Well I'll go then." I said curtly.

"Good. I had things to do anyway." She nodded. I snorted.

"At midnight? Right ok."

"As a matter of fact I do. I need to go and watch some paint dry, it is far more important than you." My anger drained from my body, and I burst into fits of laughter. She shook her head stubbornly.

"You are so immature Edward Cullen." An amazing sensation overcame me when she said my name, but I tried desperately to ignored it.

"Coming from the user of a 17th century comeback." I could see her biting back a laugh.

"Go away." She muttered crossly. I held my hands up in defeat.

"I'm going, I'm going. Jeez!" I realised that teasing her was a good way of stopping my saying all the things I yearned to tell her.

"Wait! Edward, do you still…hate me?" She whispered. She didn't notice the fact she'd taken a step towards me and our bodies were touching. Electric currents streamed through my body. I stopped breathing to prevent myself from smelling her. I could feel the heat of her blood. I tried to answer her question, but I couldn't. I just stared deeply into her beautiful eyes. I knew I had to leave now, so in a blur, I leaped out of the window, landing diligently on the balls of my feet. I could hear her footsteps coming towards the window, so I darted into the forest before she could catch a glimpse of me.

What had I just done?