Still Beating

too smart for her own good

.

This was unprecedented. How could he have not seen this coming? He had assumed the wolf was just worried about a childhood friend. Gods, Edward was a clueless fool. Now, he was driving to a part of Forks he had never been to, shockingly, with a weak-kneed shapeshifter and an oblivious mute girl. Said mute girl now says she can hear said weak-kneed shapeshifter's thoughts. Impossible, except now her thoughts are twice as loud and in constant response to his.

Edward recognizes the misfortune in this development: she can understand him now more than ever, despite some confusion at some of his vernacular (see: imprint), but he still cannot understand her. She is left with the inability to communicate her thoughts to the boy that will be the center of her life from here on out. Her frustration was palpable, and Edward was feeling particularly wretched as a result. There was an ache in his own chest, throbbing in tandem with hers.

There was an undeniable connection he could feel with her. It left him spinning about as much as Jake was right now. Speaking of, that wolf was causing him his own turmoil that felt just as undeniable as the connection with Genesis. His hand was even warmer than before.

You are thinking so loudly, my guy.

Edward couldn't help but agree, Jake's thoughts were thundering in his disorientation. It was a cacophony of questioning impressions and disturbed grunts. If only he could still take pain medication. This was surely what a migraine felt like.

Not Jake, you dunderhead. You. Your thoughts are so loud.

The squeal of the brakes along with the stench of burnt rubber reached him before the realization that he had slammed them to a rapid halt. There was no way in hell.

Good thing this is Forks, then.

This was insane and impossible and Olympia be a fence, are you serious?

Deadly. Should I be panicking now?

"Let's just get you home. I'll speak to my father about all this."

Why did you call Jake a shape-shifter?

This was the last thing Edward needed. He had never had to shield his own thoughts before. He had no idea where to even begin to learn. Perhaps Alice could teach him, or Jasper, or even Carlisle. They were the best at keeping him out of their heads.

Is Carlisle your dad? If you're all adopted, why are your eyes the same?

His hands gripped the steering wheel just that much tighter, his eyes glancing up to the rearview mirror to get a glimpse of Jacob. He had to be privy to what was happening here. How could he be so unaware?

He's clearly not feeling well, Eddie-boy.

"Please do not call me that, or I will be forced to call you Genny Dearest."

Her round nose scrunched in disgust, but she conceded. It was disturbingly endearing. Something was unbelievably wrong with this whole situation. He needed Carlisle. He'd have an answer.

You can't ignore me forever. Plus, Uncle Billy knows the most about these sorts of things.

"Nobody understands me more than my father, however."

Drive faster, I need my books.

"What's a book going to tell you about this mess?"

She was silent, eyes determinedly set on the house before them. Clearly she had some hunches, and she wasn't willing to share them with him. So, he pulled into the driveway, and hoped against hope her mother was far away. He hated meeting parents, he never knew what to say to them.