An In-Hospital Chat Leads to More Chatting

Looking down at the rubix cube in my hands, I gave another sigh. I loved puzzles. The act of thinking solely about one thing, trying to figure it out, was nice to me. You could even say it was a coping mechanism.

I wasn't academically talented, sure, but that didn't mean I was dumb as a bag of bricks. I was actually pretty good at problem solving stuff.

But right now...these rubix cubes were too easy. An advantage of my Phasing would be that my perception of time was being improved upon. Meaning my reaction time and ability to process information was becoming better and faster - the latter having a direct impact on my puzzle solving skills.

It made the puzzles too easy.

Before the Phasing, a few minutes could be spent at a decent, calm pace before I figured out the rubix cube. I didn't do it competitively and nor was I trying to break any records - I just did it when I wanted to think about something while absentmindedly doing something.

Smiling to myself, a rare occurrence nowadays, I thought back to why I started puzzle solving when I was little. I even began chuckling a little when I thought about it.

You see, my older sister, Jess, has always been intelligent. I'd even go as far as to call her a genius.

Growing up, I was athletic and I always took pride in that. But...well, throwing a ball far or being able to run a certain amount of time was a lot less impressive than my sister's consistent A* Grades. Especially opposed to my C's and the rare B I'd get.

I won't lie, I did become jealous of her. So jealous, in fact, that I vowed to do something intellectual and do it better than her.

I guess you could say I was competitive back then, huh?

But my talents simply weren't for academics or intellectual games. Chess beat my mind's ass and the sciences kicked it when it was down.

When I was just coming to the realization that I was the brawn and my sister was the brain, I discovered puzzles. I wasn't too good at them either, honestly. But, well, something kept me trying them. All sorts of puzzles, puzzle magazines, little toy puzzles like the rubix cube.

I tried it all.

In the end, I realized I wasn't even doing it to beat my sister anymore. I was just doing it because I enjoyed it. As I grew up, I lost that jealousy of my sister and began to feel pride for her - though, I never did let her live it down that she struggled so much with a rubix cube. I guess I did have something I was better than her at? Her problem solving skills sucked ass...

"I never did understand how you could be so clever yet suck so hard at solving problems like a rubix cube," I spoke into the room in front of me, or more specifically, at my sister who I was sitting next to.

I kept looking down at the rubix cube and got back to my earlier thought - my new body was making puzzles too easy. The puzzles just unfolded in my mind when I looked at them.

A rubix cube, for example, is all about figuring out the amount of ways you needed to twist and rotate the sides until you could match all the colors up. You also needed to make sure you were aware of what each of your actions did. For example, you may have completed the yellow side but in doing so, you made it impossible to do the blue side.

Solving a rubix cube is all about making moves that benefit the bigger picture, not just one side.

But with my new mind, the right moves easily came to mind. I didn't make a single mistake nor did I need to backtrack to sort out any bad moves. I just did everything right.

It was an odd feeling. Having such a quick mind, I mean.

My main thought, however, was that I needed to get harder rubix cubes. With a similarly small smile that I had when thinking about my past as an overly jealous little brother, I put the completed rubix cube down on the table before looking at Jess.

That vision earlier...it frightened the hell out of me, I won't even try to lie. Seeing it all happen again in that clarity was horrible. It made me feel cold just thinking about it.

Then there's the fact I left Bella behind...and my argument with Edythe.

Putting my head in my hands, I sighed, shaking my head, "I'm an idiot of all idiots, Jess," I said to the only person I wanted to or could talk to about all this type of stuff. Sadly for me, and for the rest of the world in my opinion, she could reply as she was still in a coma just like every other day. She's got bad puzzle solving skills but she gives good advice on problems. And boy do I need some advice right about now.

A scent I was quickly realizing was the Cullens' Vampire scent, wafted into my nose, making me wince somewhat.

It was a harsh smell. Sweet like refined sugar and overwhelming as hell. Unlike Edythe's, at least.

Looking to the curtain, I saw it get pulled to the side and Carlisle walked in. I instantly felt awkward - I'd just had an argument with his daughter. Had she told him yet? Would he bring it up to me? God, I hope not.

"Hello, Will," he politely smiled before doing his rounds and checking over Jess.

"Uh, yeah, hey Doc," I said, trying my best to not tense in my chair. Ever since I knew Carlisle was a Vampire, to say I was uneasy when he was around my sister would be an understatement.

I know it was ungrateful and awfully judgemental of me but my sister's health and well-being wasn't something to be messed around with. Unless I had the utmost confidence to fend off a Vampire, I wouldn't simply let them near my sister just because 'they'd been nice to us so far'. I'd stay tense at the very least.

I'd failed Jess once before...

Never again.

Carlisle continued checking over Jess, but his golden eyes turned to me, "You seem tense, Will. Are you okay?" he asked, seeming genuinely curious but also like he was fishing for an answer to something.

I just gave a nod, "Yeah...yeah, I'm fine, Doc. Just tense because of what happend earlier," I deflected and said that I was like this because of the accident with Bella. It wasn't a lie - I was pretty drained from that whole thing and what it made me feel.

"Ah," he said with a look of realization, "Well, at least you're fine, right?" he said and I bit my tongue.

I'd already gone off at someone over something like this. I didn't want to get into another mood. I just wanted to rest, for now. So I just nod my head, "Mhm," I hummed with a disinterested tone, hoping he'd pick up on the tone and drop the conversation. I really didn't want to speak about it anymore, honestly.

But it would seem that wish wouldn't be met.

"Edythe told me about you storming off, William," he said and I visibly rolled my eyes, letting out a sigh as he continued, "She was quite distressed and began to speak about how she'd seemingly upset you quite a lot. She was even saying that you might hate her," he mused and my eyes snapped to him.

"Well, that would be ridiculous. Why would I hate her?" I asked in disbelief, not quite understanding whether or not he was telling the truth.

Carlisle stopped his checks on my sister and turned to look at me with a patient smile, "From what she told me, she said some very simple words and asked a question, and you became very agitated with her. She's quite good at getting a read on people and must've mistaken your anger at the situation for anger pointed at her," he said with a thoughtful look before motioning to me, "You do realize that the way you reacted was quite strong, no?"

Hearing his words, I instantly deflated into the chair I was sitting in, "...Yeah, I do," I answered with a low tone before feeling the need to defend my actions, "But there's more to it than she knows," I motioned to my sister who was a prime example of why I didn't want to talk about the whole thing. Sighing, I dropped my hand and continued, "Please...just tell her not to jump to conclusions. I don't hate her and I'm not angry at her. I'm just angry at myself..." I said, trailing off as I looked to the window.

The sky was slowly darkening and with it, the world.

"If you don't mind, William, I have a suggestion," Carlisle spoke up, a hint of worry in his voice. Taking my silence as a yes, for some reason, Carlisle continued, "Try and forgive yourself for whatever you think you did. Please," he said and I felt like instanly hitting back.

...But the sincere compassion in his voice. The way it felt like he was genuinely saying what he said for my own good. I just couldn't find it in me to say anything back.

Even the usual fire inside of me brought on by the Phasing couldn't change this.

Carlisle was just genuinely worrying for me. I guess he is a doctor as well as a Vampire, right? It would make sense if he held compassion for life. Thinking about it, the fact Forks isn't riddled with mysteriously dead patients...it speaks volumes about Carlisle's control and compassion.

I felt slightly guilty about my earlier thoughts and the actual reason behind my tension.

So, I just nodded as it was all I could really do.

Carlisle continued to look at me for a few more seconds before he turned and left the curtained off section my sister and I were in.

I stayed for a few more minutes before I myself got up an left as well.

I had something I wanted to do.

. . .

"Edward Cullen," I called from across the hospital parking lot. The bronze-haired '17-year-old' turned around and greeted me with a slightly frustrated look.

I figured that he must have had to put up with Bella's questionin and stubborn nature.

That'd make anyone on the receiving end frustrated.

"Yeah?" he asked with a somewhat impatient tone, his entire body language looking...somewhat nervous. His foot kept bouncing on the floor and his eyes looked from me to the rest of the parking lot...for some reason.

But I ignored that for now and just walked closer to him, "Thanks for saving Bella," I said and just as he was about to speak and most likely refute it, I cut him off, "I'm being serious. Thank you," I said.

Whether it was because I was being sincere or because I didn't mention that he stopped the van with his bare hands, he just robotically nodded, like he was unused to praise or something, "Yeah, sure...no worries--Is that all? I-I really need to get going," he said with some actual urgency in his tone and I looked to his eyes. A darker color than Edythe's.

He's probably hungry or something.

According to Sam and Billy, the Cullens are vegetarian Vampires. They only drink the blood of animals. Which is why I do fee somewhat safer around them but instincts are a bitch at times even if I can control them. They still like to act out every now and then.

Shaking my head with a neutral look, he turned around but I stopped him when I spoke one more time, "Try not to avoid Bella so much. It'll only make her more curious," I said before turning away.

Even as I felt his eyes on me from behind, I kept on walking.

I had another person to speak to, after all.

. . .

*Knock knock*

I knocked on her bedroom door before backing up a little. I heard some tumbling followed by some quick footsteps and then the door was open, showing Bella.

"Will? Do you need anything?" she asked, genuinely confused.

I just gave a nod before speaking, "I'm...I'm sorry about getting so annoyed with you earlier Bella. If, I don't know, you wanna speak about it again, then we can. You know, the questions you asked about why I'm usually out of the house and everything," I said with an awkward expression before averting my eyes and scratching my head uncomfortably, "I can't promise I can tell you everything but I can at least shine a little light on it," I finished.

Bella looked surprised for a second before opening her door wide open and nodding, "Y-yeah, sure, come on in. You didn't need to do this, Will, I know that I was being too nosy, that's just how I am--" she went to continue but I cut her off.

"No, I'm doing this for myself just as much as I'm doing this to sate your curiosity, Bella. I need to find the courage to speak about it otherwise it'll never get better," I said with a shake of my head before walking into Bella's room.

Well, time to speak about things I really don't want to speak about.