When I First... [E.C.]

Home Visitation

4

When I first went to Edward's house, it was because we needed to finish our English project. Mike and Angela had been very intrigued by what it could look like or where it was located because if one kid had seen it, then everyone could know what contained these exotic kids. Of course I wasn't going to tell anyone else but knowing I had this power over knowledge was almost empowering. It was my first secret to keep regarding the Cullens.

My mom had gotten lost but we eventually found our way towards the Cullen's huge mansion in the middle of the forest. I was agitated for being a few minutes late but regretted my anger when I realized how obscure the location was. That's probably why no one knew where they lived.

I had gotten out, greeted by Edward's father, Dr. Carlisle Cullen. He was wearing a perfect sweater and jeans, a scarf wrapped around his neck. Of course he was gorgeous. But, it was strange, the way he still held the same features as the others and yet he was their adoptive parent? Odd.

My mother told me she'd be back around seven. I was then alone with the Cullen parents, Esme coming in next also holding the similar features, (even matching Dr. Cullen's golden eyes perfectly) and giving me some green tea which seemed to calm my nerves. They asked me questions about school and my mother, very polite and extremely encouraging. I didn't feel like a stranger for long.

Edward waltzed down the stairs and politely took me to his room upstairs after a few minutes and I followed — almost eagerly — wanting to have more time to spend with the mysterious boy. His bedroom was lacking the bed aspect of it, I noticed.

When I asked, he just simply said, "My mom likes to renovate so she's redoing the room right now." I nodded, not knowing what else to say. "Shall we get to the poem?"

"Yeah, sure."

We finished it in an hour but it was four. So what the hell else were we going to do?

"Do you play any instruments?" he asked me.

I flinched slightly, having been lost in the captivating outside. The rain sloshing against the clear window and the trees rustling. A storm outside. A desert inside.A fascinating contrast.

I replied, "I play guitar and a really bad recorder."

He chuckled. "When did you learn?"

"I was twelve, so three years ago. And I also learned the recorder at twelve but that didn't go as well." We both laughed. "What about you?"

Edward gave me an oddly beauteous crooked smile. "I'll show you."

He led me to his piano where a guitar sat in the corner of the room. I immediately went over and picked it up. "It's so pretty," I whispered, noticing that it was an expensive Epiphone, the color a dusty tan color with the big teardrop holding a white gray E in a cursive font. The neck long and black, the strings golden and silver. A true beauty.

"You play?" I asked, turning to him.

He had a soft smile on his lips. "I play...quite a lot of instruments."

I looked at him in awe. "I love instruments. They just know how to heal you like no one else can even imagine of trying." I turned and ran my fingers down the strings delicately. "They know how to sing your pain." Edward smiled softly when I said that, eyes holding emotions I couldn't decipher.

"You can keep the guitar if you'd like," he said quietly.

I stood up and looked over at him again. "I couldn't—"

He held up a hand. "Don't worry. It's yours if you want it. I have plenty more." I shook my head. "Really, Alison, take it."

When he said my name, I felt an entire wave of tranquility run through me and I understood myself better, but more prominently him. Giving, never asking for anything and return except for respect. Strange boy.

I snorted. "No, Edward, I'm not taking an Epiphone." He looked puzzled so I added, "I have three guitars at home."

He grinned. "I should have guessed, I apologize." He sat down at the piano and began the most beautiful melody I've heard. I watched him with my bottom lip tucked under my teeth. Who was this boy, just willing to give me a guitar without even truly knowing me?