~ Chapter 2 ~

I woke up the next morning with a heavy headache. I had woken up several times during the night with sweat pouring down my face because my dreams had been so vivid. Edward appeared in every one of them, some of them had been quite frightening, and after waking up I had to check for myself whether or not he was really there. Every time I turned on my lamp – as expected – he wasn’t there. Of course I knew it already before I flipped on the light, but the dreams had made me paranoid.

After showering and dressing I went downstairs. I instantly noticed the bright yellow note on the fridge. It was from Charlie.

Good morning, Bells! Gone fishing, will be back noonish. There is rice in the fridge. Help yourself! Charlie

After seeing the rice I wasn’t that hungry anymore – it was almost burned black and dripped of cooking oil. Did he really expect me to eat that? The rice was a clear sign of what hadn’t changed: he still couldn’t cook. This was okay, though, I was used to cooking. Back in Arizona my mom and I were great kitchen-buddies.

I threw the rice away and also emptied the fridge from products that were expired. The bad food nearly filled the whole garbage bin. Mental note – go shopping. Fortunately, I was able to find some noodles. Wasn’t my idea of a perfect breakfast, but it was better than nothing. I gulped the noodle soup down quickly and after this my mind was filled with thoughts of Edward again. I remembered his amazing eyes, his velvety voice and his silver laughter. I felt a need to see him again.

‘What the hell is wrong with me???’

I lowered my head in the table with a thud and because of the frustration I felt I didn’t count the pain for anything. “Why…? Why…? Why…?” I mumbled and stressed each question with a head-smack on the smooth table. “Why doesn’t he leave me alone…?”

“Because you’re too fun to be around,” the voice said quietly yet clearly.

My head snapped up straight away to search for the source of the voice. When I didn’t see anyone I called out for an answer. “W-Who’s there?” I pushed myself up from my chair and went to see if I could find the owner of the voice. There wasn’t anybody in the living room, there wasn’t anybody in the hallway, there wasn’t anybody upstairs: I was completely alone in the house. But I was sure I had heard someone… I was so sure… it had been his voice.