"Your're making too big a deal about this," I told my best friend, Alice, as she sat bouncing on my bed. It was summer and school was out, but clearly Alice wasn't enjoying her vacation doing nothing like I was. She was trying to persuade me to go shopping with her. But I was stubborn.
"Aw, c'mon, Bella, please?" she asked, suddenly jutting her lower lip out- she had an advantage there- I was a sucker for the puppy dog face. I sighed and sat up, looking at her with my eyebrows raised. She knew I hated to be seen in public. Cancer had left my face deformed when I was twelve, and I hated when everyone stared.
"Fine. But we're roller skating first," I stated. Alice pouted, but otherwise didn't argue. I threw back my covers and headed for my closet. I heard my door open.
"I'll be downstairs!" Alice called as she closed my door. I ignored her as I reached up to get my skates; I fastened them on. They were a bit tight. I glided to the top of the stairs.
"Hey Alice, I think I need some new ska - Whoa!" I shouted as my foot slipped off the step and I tumbled down the stairs. I heard a deafening crack- but I heard it before I felt it. I screamed in pain. Alice blurred to my side.
"Oh my gosh, Bellaa, are you alright?" she asked as she knelt over me. Her face paled as she took in my leg, now turning blue, and fast.
"I -I think my leg is broken!" I managed to choke out between sobs. The tears in my eyes blurred my vision; I couldn't see Alice's face.
"I'll drive you to the hospital!" she shouted, and scooped me up easily in her cold hard arms. She ran to the car and placed me carefully on the seat. She smiled a forced smile at me as she jammed the key into the ignition.
"Don't worry, Bella," she said breathlessly. " I'll drive through all the red lights for you!". I laughed a weak laugh. Then I winced and was surprised that we didn't get pulled over; she really did run through all those lights.
We arrived at the hospital in no time at all, thanks to Alice's errartic driving. As soon as we were inside, she helped me sit in a low, plastic pink chair. Then she rushed to the counter.
"Excuse me, but I think my friend's leg is broken!" she whispered loudly to the receptionist. The receptionist looked up, obviously bored.
"Which one?" she asked in an uninterested tone. I saw her eyes flicker to me and away.
"Um, the one WRITHING IN PAIN!" Alice shouted at her. The receptionist jumped, then her eyes narrowed.
"Someone will be with you shortly," she replied icily.
"THANK YOU!" Alice shouted. She took a deep breath, and forced a smile on her face as she walked back to me.
"Someone will come shortly," she said through her teeth. I placed my hand on her shoulder.
"I'm fine, Alice," I said calmly. She nodded. Then we waited a full ten minutes. I could tell Alice was about to go talk some sense into that nurse, when all of a sudden, the doctor appeared through one of the double doors. His gray hair was smooth, his eyes a bright blue.
"Isabella Swan?" he asked, his eyes searching. Then they settled on me. His eyes widened. Then he controlled his expression before looking back at the clipboard. He glanced at Alice, then at the nurse. His neck flushed red. The nurse looked up, confused.
"What?" she said. He shook his head and smiled at me. Then he saw my blue leg."Oh my! We must get a cast on that leg," he said urgently. "As for you, I'll deal with you later," he replied icily to the nurse. She looked away. The doctor then placed me in a wheelchair and got my leg X-Rayed and then I was snug in bed in no time at all. The rest of the day was maddening. The cast irritated me. I shifted uncomfortably on the bulky bed.
"What's wrong, Bella?" Alice asked. I glared at her. "Sorry, standard question," she muttered, and looked away. "Anywho, I have to get going-Jasper will be home tonight- I haven't told him about your leg yet. You don't mind do you?" she asked innocently. I sighed. I should have guessed.
"Go ahead and go, Alice," I told her as I patted her hand. " Tell Jazzy I said hi." She smiled and ran to the door, only to pause to turn around to wave at me. Then she was gone.
I looked around my small and depressing rooom. The walls were a biege color, the floor a shiny linenolium. The was a side table by my bed, a vase of flowers in the center. They didn't brighten the room at all. I listened quietly to the silence. It was unbearable. So I decided to explore the hall; at least that was something.
I grabbed my crutches on the side of my bed and hopped down onto the cold floor. It felt good on my bare feet. I limped out my door, and looked down the hall. Empty. I closed my door and limped down the hall. My crutches squeaked, and I froze. No one came to take me back to my room. I relaxed. Then I saw a light coming from underneath a door at the end of the hall. I limped to the door and opened it softly. The light was on, but no one in bed. I looked around the room and noticed a boy of maybe seventeen, sitting in a plastic chair, facing the wall. His bronze - colored hair waved gently upward, his shoulders big and strong.
I gasped, and his head snapped around, jerking from side to side. "Who's there? I can hear you," he said, and his voice surprised me; it was like velvet. I hesitated, frightened. My crutches squeaked, and my eyes closed in defeat. His head snapped to where I was standing. "Who are you?" he asked again, angrily this time.
"U-u-um, hello," I managed to say. "I'm sorry to wake you. I was exploring," He didn't say a word . Then he turned his head sharply away.
"You should leave." he said suddenly. I cast my eyes down. But then I stood up straighter, and spoke with a confidence that surprised me.
"My name is Isabella, but you may call me Bella," I said. I saw his head turn slightly. Then he turned all the way around, and I saw that his eyes were covered by a thin white strip. His face was a chalky pale, and his lips were set in confusion.
"Bella? That's such a lovely name. My name is Edward. How old are you Bella?" he asked. Then he stood up and extended his hand. I stifled another gasp. He was wearing an ivory sweater, and it fit him snugly, ephasizing how muscular his chest was. I calmly reached for his hand and grasped it. His hand was smooth and warm. But he didn't let go.
"Thank you, Edward. I'm seventeen," I answered with a smile. My hand was still in his. He smiled a small smile.
"As am I," he said.
I stared at him curiously. The white strip seemed to wrap around the back of his head, and his eyebrows were just beginnig to grow back.
"What happened to your eyes?" I asked. His face fell. And he dropped my hand and looked back toward the wall. I felt the sadness and worry on my face.
"Oh. A science experiment exploded in my face. I'm in the advanced placement program for Rocket Science. My friends and I were mixing up all these solutions, and I guess I was too close. I just hope I'll be able to see the sun again, but the doctor says I might never see it," he replied sadly. I felt my cheeks burn.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked..." I muttered to myself. I internally kicked myself for being nosy. I looked at my feet; well, my foot.
"It's alright. So what happened to you?" he asked, picking his head up. I froze. Could he see through that thin strip?
"W-What about me?" I stammered. Could he see my face? How ugly it was? My heart stuttered, and I hoped I wouldn't screw things up with someone who actually talks to me.
"Why are you here?"
I felt myself relax with relief.
"Oh. Well I fell down the stairs and broke my leg," I admitted sheepishly. He smiled slightly.
"I'd take that anyday than this," he said sadly. He looked down, then held out his hand again.
"May I ? " he asked with a small smile. I grinned, and placed my hand in his. His fingers stroked my hand. "I'm sorry. I've been bored in here for a while, and I hate not being able to see," he apologized. "Please forgive my thoughtlessness,".
"Of course. I understand," I spoke softly. All of a sudden, the door opened, and a nurse peeped her head in.
"Isabella? I've been looking for you, sweetie," she told me and walked toward me. I automatically covered my face with my hair, then looked at Edward. He was looking right at me, but he couldn't see me, of course. He mouth was set in a tight line.
"Oh, I'm sorry..." I murmurmed. The nurse smiled and picked up my crutches off the floor. Huh. I hadn't heard them fall.
"Come now, hon. Edward here needs his rest," she said and patted his shoulder. His face relaxed from her touch , and then he squeezed my hand.
"It was very nice you meet you, Bella. Please visit me again soon," he said softly. Then he let go of my hand, his fingers lingering softly on my palm.
"Goodbye, " I whispered as I walked away. The nurse led me back to my room and helped me lie down. She set up my Iv in my arm,then injected something in my IV and smiled again.
"There you go, hon. Nighty night," she whispered, and walked to the door and closed it softly. I felt the sedeatives trickling through my bloodstream. My eyelids drooped, and then they closed.