Fade Into You: Chapter 3

For some reason, there had been no doubt in my mind that it was her. And she was pretty. Pretty in the most understated way. I'd even venture as far as saying she was beautiful, but God did she ever look sad. It's hard to believe that someone could look so down and alone. She needed somebody, that much was clear.

There had been a second where our eyes locked and I almost felt the very real need to run to her. Sweep her off her feet. Tell her that everything would be okay. Instead, I sat in shock. My chair anchoring me to this world, her words resting in my pocket acting as a beacon of hope.

I had no tangible proof, but if I were a betting man, I would bet a paycheck that she was my girl.

My girl.

Interesting, Cullen. What next? Are you going to throw her over your shoulder without giving her a choice? Definitely not. This had to be her choice, her pace. The next move was hers, I was anxious to see where she took it.

----------------------------------

So, here we were now at the weekend. I was on my way to the small town of Forks, Washington, Population just over three thousand, to celebrate my uncles Birthday. Birthdays just didn't feel right to me anymore. I felt like I was offending her or something.

Anyways, the three of us, Emmett, Alice and I, had lived with Carlisle and Esme after our parents passing. We had been close before then, but grew even closer in the aftermath.

Carlisle was a surgeon, and a well known one at that, so they quite the pretty penny in their bank account. This had afforded them the giant house they lived in, the one we once called home, that Esme and her team of Interior Designers had decorated. It was amazing. All windows and hardwood floors. They even had a baby grand piano in there for me.

My siblings and I, well we couldn't be more different from each other. Alice was small, the smallest of the three for sure. She stood maybe five feet tall and weighed like ninety pounds. She had green eyes, just like mine and her dark hair was cut in short layers that just sort of stood out from her head. She was an adorable little thing. I loved her with all my heart, but Jesus she could be obnoxious. Hyper as hell. It's like being related to one of the Teletubbies.

Emmett, on the other hand was big. Big muscles, big mouth, big feet, big blue eyes. Yeah, he definitely got Dads eyes, while Alice and I had Moms. I was going to say big brains, but that would be a lie. Well no, okay. Em wasn't stupid. He was just…selective with his intelligence. That's a good way to put it. If there was ever a wrong place and time to say the wrong thing, he found that time. It was ridiculous.

And then there was me. Your average middle child. Average build, weird ass hair, same eyes as my sister. I was the shyest of the three of us…I wouldn't actually call myself shy, more so reserved. Sure I had my confidence, but I was never cocky.

And I sure as shit didn't mess around with women. I had my reasons for this. My parents, when I was growing up were so much in love. They fought, sure, but they were so perfect for each other. After they died and I went to live with my aunt and uncle, I once again witnessed that same love with them. It made me see that not only was it possible, but it was probable. I wanted to hold out for that, so while I did date, it never went very far. I just didn't feel it. I knew that forever was out there, I just wasn't looking hard enough maybe.

I was also still a virgin. I know…a male virgin at twenty four years old you say? Well its due in part to what I had mentioned about finding my forever. The other part is because of 'Easy Stanley' in high school.

We dated for a bit, Jessica and me, but we never really did much. One of the times I went to her house for a 'study date', we made out and it got kind of hot and heavy, but I stopped her before it went too far. The next day at school, everyone was under the assumption that 'Easy Stanley' and 'Womanizer Edward' had done it. Many times over. I still to this day have no idea how I got that distinction. The rumor mill is a bitch, what can I say.

So, here I was at twenty four and still looking. I had wondered briefly earlier in the week if I had found it in Mystery Girl, or MG maybe we will call her, but I dismissed the idea for the time being. I mean, I hadn't even met her yet. Wasn't even sure if it had been her that I saw.

The entire family knew about her now, of course. Emmett couldn't keep his big mouth shut, but whatever. It's not like it was meant to be a big secret or anything anyways.

Upon exiting my silver Volvo, I took a deep breath and released it. This was going to be a long evening full of interrogations and questions all over the place. That I could handle. I was more upset that I hadn't had time to check the chair today.

"Edward, how's the business faring?" Carlisle asked as I entered the house without knocking, and sank unceremoniously into one of the large chairs in the sitting room.

My uncle, my Fathers brother had blonde hair and blue eyes. He looked nothing like us. I always thought we looked more like his wife Esme with her brown hair and caramel colored irises.

"It's doing really well, actually. I've been leaving it in the hands of Angela and Ben more often lately. Doing the paperwork and stuff. Free time is weird." Angela and Ben were my business associates and old friends from High School. They married at the age of nineteen and have been happy ever since.

He chuckled. Oh here it comes.

"And I hear you've been filling that free time with something very interesting indeed. How's that situation going?"

I sighed, resting my arms on my thighs and dropping my head. Not so great.

"I don't know…It's just, I feel like I could help her. I really want to get to know her. I just don't see how that could be a possibility."

He nodded and gave me an amused glance. I assume I had a confused expression on my face as he chuckled a little bit and turned, checking down the hallway before returning to face me and speaking quietly.

"You don't see it? You already have feelings for this girl. Don't let your brother catch wind of that one. He'll harass you for hours about it."

My eyes grew wide and I stared at him in shock. No fucking way that was possible. I didn't know anything about her.

That's a lie.

I knew so much about her. I mean I was missing vital details, like her name, her appearance, her place of birth, and quite frankly her mental capacity…but I knew so many other things, just from two letters. Two letters that had me running back to a coffee shop and kicking people out of a seat for. Two letters that had me up my intake of caffeine by like two hundred percent. Two letters that had me wondering what she sounded like when she laughed.

Holy mother of God.

I heard Carlisle's quiet chuckle beside me and was broken from my train of thought. I was perplexed.

"Don't look so shocked, you had to see that." I shook my head imperceptibly "Edward, you are a sweet kid…you're good. You deserve a good person. You know, I remember the 'Easy Stanley' ordeal. Quite clearly, actually. You were mortified. You don't need a girl like that."

"Carlisle, I don't even know her though. I still haven't met her and I think she's scared to death of me. Probably not gonna work in my favor. Just a guess."

"You need to un-scare her then, Edward. Help her see that you're the good guy. You can do it."

Jesus Christ on a freaking cracker. This was too much.

I smiled at him and sat up as I heard my Aunt making her way down the hallway to us.

"Is that my youngest nephew I hear in there?"

"Yes, Auntie it's me. How are you?" I asked as I stood to give her a hug.

"Good. How's the girl doing?" I rolled my eyes. I expected this, really I did, but still. Kill me now.

"Fine. I think I saw her the other day. I can't even explain why I think it was her, but I'm sure of it. She looked so sad." I hadn't told anyone this part yet. I don't know why I said it now either.

Carlisle and Esme shared a look with each other, before she smiled at me and wrapped her arms around me again.

I was beyond understanding what was going to come next from them at this point, so I just played along. Fuck my life.

"Ohhh Carlisle," Esme started screaming in my ear, "Our boys in love!"

"Alright guys…enough."

My aunt continued fawning over me, my uncle laughed to himself and my phone buzzed in my pocket.

My phone. I wanted to push my aunt off me so I could get y phone out. It was still buzzing. No one called me anymore. What the hell.

Once she leaned back to look at me and pat me on the face, I finally had room to pull it out. It had already stopped ringing. No message was left, and it came from an unknown number.

My heart stopped for a second. Could it have been her? I guess Id never know now. I couldn't call back an unknown number. They hadn't left a message. I had nothing to go on. I kicked the couch I was standing next to and tossed down my phone in anger. I constantly had nothing to go on. This was driving me mad.

"Edward, dear…what's the matter?" Esme implored, looking worried. I mean, I was just attacking her furniture. What was she supposed to think?

"No, I'm fine. I'm just getting frustrated."

My phone vibrated again. Only once this time. A text message. I picked it up with shaking hands and looked down to see unknown.

I opened it up and gasped.

I need help. B

Well fuck me twice.

Where are you? I'm not in Seattle?

I answered her as fast as my shaking fingers would let me. Dear God. It was her. It was her and she was in trouble. I m pretty sure my heart exploded in that instant.

Neither am I. I'm in Forks. Do you know where that is?

Did I know where that was? I was in that fucking town. This was getting weirder and weirder.

I'm in Forks too. At my Aunt and Uncles place. Where are you?


At my parents old house. Please help me.

I had a feeling that was all I was going to get. Okay. What did I know about MG? She had a truck. A really sucky truck. Her parents gave it to her. She was twenty three. She hated birthdays. She had a best friend and his bitchy sister among the people that knew her. She was in College. Her father was the police chief of the small town she grew up in.

Her father. She was at her parents' old house. BINGO.

I looked up at my very confused looking relatives. They had concern written all over their faces, and worry in their eyes.

"Okay. This is going to sound strange. I need to ask you some questions. It's very important." They nodded and kept quiet. "I need to know if the police chief died recently." Esme nodded sadly and I looked at her in shock.

Charlie Swan? This was Charlie Swans daughter? Did he even have a daughter? How did I not know her from school? Jesus Christ.

"Where did he live?"

"What's going on here, Edward?" Carlisle questioned.

"Where did Charlie live?" I asked again a little louder.

"He lived over by the school. Edward what is the meaning of this? You're scaring the hell out of your Aunt and me."

"BECAUSE. His daughter is the girl. And she's in trouble, and I have to find her. Do you have an address?"

Esmes hand came up to cover her mouth and she cried out a little bit in shock. "Isabella Swan?"

"Ill get you the address, you just sit tight." Carlisle left to go and find it for me and write it down, or at least I assumed that's what he was doing. I was too focused on the fact that MG was named Isabella.

"I'm sorry I ruined dinner. Alice and Emmett didn't even arrive yet." I put the gift I had brought for Carlisle beside my Aunt on the couch and hugged her once more. Yeah, we were huggy people. Especially when we needed it. I think we all needed it a little bit right now.

"No. You go get her. You make sure she's okay, and you tell us everything. Your Uncle understands. I guarantee it." She smiled at me and tried to tame my hair.

"Here ya go, kid. Call me if it's serious."

"Happy Birthday. Sorry I ruined the night for you." I really did feel bad, but I had to go.

"Think nothing of it. Call me" he said seriously. I nodded and opened my phone.


I'm coming. Don't be scared.