I Had to switch accounts, I'm afraid my old account was hacked

The Beginning of the End

BPOV

I don't understand why Mike invited me to this party. I mean, I can't dance, I don't drink and I don't enjoy the company of most people here. I think the only reason I came was because Edward needed it. I suppose you could say I dragged him along for his benefit.

Edward Cullen is my best friend. We've known each other for as long as I can remember and I've always trusted him with my life. Also, for the past six years I've been completely and irrevocably in love with him.

Before you ask, he doesn't know and sometimes I hope he never will. Romance just messes up friendships and I don't want to ruin this simply because I can't resist my own twisted feelings and temptations.

Being in love with your best friend can hurt though, especially when said best friend is as beautiful as Adonis himself with all the charisma of a well-loved politician. Add those two qualities together and you get the most popular guy in school.

It's anybody's guess why he's stuck by me, Plain-Jane Bella Swan, all these years. Every girl at Forks high has thrown herself at him at some point. And guess what, it kind of sucks when you see the guy you're desperately in love with sucking face with some slut.

That's one of the reasons why we were at the party. Not so he could find some new girl to make out with in the corner, but to help him get over the last slag. One of the downsides of being the school heartthrob: you get a lot of heartbreak. This time the dealer was Tanya Denali. After dating Edward for nearly three months she decided that it was perfect time to sleep with Tyler Crowley... and forget to lock the door.

As typical and clichéd as the situation may seem, Edward walked in and his heart pretty much broke on the spot. Even though he could have any girl he wanted, even the school secretary was crushing on him, he'll only date the ones that he actually likes. And trust me, he really liked Tanya. Their breakup was messy and for me, bittersweet: I didn't have to feel my heart break a little more every time their lips touched but I also had to live with a lifeless and depressed Edward.

I brought him to the party to see if I could cheer him up. Let's face it, I was pretty much the only teen in America who didn't enjoy parties.

Everything was going quite well until Mike brought the vodka out. Most people had drunk a few beers already, providing a merry atmosphere, and the music was bearable. Of course, one mention of vodka and everybody decides that getting completely pissed is the right thing to do. Fortunately, Edward wasn't one of those people.

Whenever I got taken to a party, he'd always be the sober one sitting at the side with me, only one or two beers in his system. Tonight was no exception, only this time he decided to remain inside the crowd of jumping teenage boys. I could see his bronze hair and the smile on his perfect face and knew that my plan had worked: he was having a good time, even if it was only for one night.

I stayed at the side, looking at my nails and tapping my feet in time with the music that was blaring from Mike's stereo system. I don't know how he got it here.

Tonight's party was in his parents' cabin which was in the middle of the woods, 10 minutes walk from a small town called Beaver. The room we were in was large and modestly decorated. There was a large step in the middle of the room leaving a divide between a living and dining area. A couple was seated on the step kissing near one of the walls. I smiled regretfully, longing for it to be Edward and me in their position.

I looked back up at the throng of jostling teens trying to relocate my best friend. I scanned every male in the crowd but there was still no sign of him anywhere.

I stood up and circled the group, craning my neck to see into the masses. I was had nearly completed a full circle when I noticed a flash of bronze on the floor a few metres from the crowd.

Edward was lying on the floor at an odd angle. His eyes were closed and his body unmoving. I screamed and ran towards him.

Someone cut the music and people started to look at me. For once, my shyness abandoned me and I didn't care. I knelt at his side and tapped his cheeks, trying to wake him up.

"Edward? Edward? Wake up! It's me, Bella!" I called to him.

I breathed a sigh of relief when his eyes began to flutter open.

"Bella, it hurts," he croaked.

"What does? Edward, are you okay?" I whispered frantically. What if he was hurt?

"My head... I fell... I must have fainted..." He must've been knocked and pushed off the step. He seemed really drowsy.

"Oh my God," I muttered, "Don't worry, Edward. You'll be fine, I promise. Just get some sleep."

At that he closed his eyes and was instantly in a deep sleep. Tears started to spill over my eyes. He must have been in pain.

I recruited the help of some guys and they helped me reposition him so he was propped up against the sofa. I couldn't leave him sprawled out in the middle of the room.

I turned to Mike, "Do you think we should call an ambulance?" I asked, almost completely overcome with worry.

"No need, he'll be fine in the morning – it's just a bang on the head. The two of you can crash here tonight."

I nodded and sat on the sofa. I leaned down and ran my fingers through his hair soothingly. I didn't want to sleep – he may become faint again. I felt my eyes become heavy when Edward stirred beneath my hand.

"Bella?" he rasped, "Bella, the room's spinning..."

"You'll be fine Edward, just get some sleep." I felt him attempt a weak nod and he drifted back into sleep.

Unwillingly, my eyelids started to droop and I fell into a restless sleep.

When I awoke, light was streaming into the room through the windows. I could see now that the floor was a mess, littered with empty drinks cans and bits of food. It took me a second to remember where I was: Mike's parents' cabin.

I sat up slowly, letting my eyes adjust to the sun's glare. My hand was pressed against something warm. I looked down and saw Edward still propped against the sofa in exactly the same position I had left him in last night.

I slid off the chair down to his level so I could check if he was okay. His chest was moving infinitesimally and he was paler than usual. I reached toward his cheek and tapped it gently.

"Come on, Edward. Wake up," I said quietly.

No response.

I grabbed his other cheek.

"Edward, wake up now." I said with a little more clarity and volume.

Still no response.

I took his shoulders and shook him gently.

"Edward, please! It's time to wake up now!" I was nearly wailing. I was feeling desperate and anxious. Why wouldn't he wake up?

I took his hand and shook his arm. When I let go, it dropped to the floor limply.

I started sobbing and pressed my palm against his chest. His heart was beating but it was very faint and very slow.

I moved closer to him and swung my knee over his lap so I was straddling him. I cupped his cheeks in my hands and shook him, still gently but with slightly more force.

"Edward! Please! Wake up!" I choked out that estranged cry in-between sobs.

I leaned forwards, completely at a loss for something to do, and leant my head against his chest letting his shirt soak up my tears.

I was gripping his shoulders tightly and every few seconds I would shake my hands, begging for him to stand up and smile crookedly at me before laughing and saying "ha, I really got you there Bells!"

I remained in that position for a while before I felt a hand touch my shoulder. I screamed and turned round to see Mike standing over me.

"Bella? What's wrong? Is Edward OK?" he asked, concern lacing his usually nonchalant tone.

"He won't wake up!" I howled, "Something's wrong!"

Mike carefully grabbed my arm and pulled me onto my feet. Once I was upright, he took his phone from his pocket and told me to call an ambulance. I slid the phone open and dropped it in horror. There was no battery left.

Mike turned away from Edward who he was busy trying to wake up.

"What?" he asked.

"N...no battery," I uttered almost silently.

He looked to the floor, apparently trying to decide what to do. After a moment, he exhaled slowly then looked up at me.

"Bella, I want you to go outside and run to the town and find a payphone, we haven't got a landline here. Unless you or Edward have a phone?" I shook my head, we'd left them at home, "Okay then, the first thing you see when you hit the town is a payphone but if you can find somebody sooner then get them to call an ambulance from their cell. I think Edward is really sick."

At that, the sobs that were wracking my body came harder with unbelievable brute force. Mike touched my shoulder again and I glanced up at him through my tears. I sniffed and swallowed, regaining control myself and then I ran, as fast as I could, from the little cabin and along the road to the village.

I lost count of how many times I tripped over the rocky track but I made it to the village within five minutes. I saw a police officer on the corner of the street and ran to him, carefully dodging the cars. I stopped right next to him and tried to regain my breath.

"Are you okay?" he asked me, his eyes filled with confusion.

"No... It's my friend, he's sick. We don't want to move him but we have no cell phone or landline. Please help!"

"What's wrong with him? Where is he?"

I told him everything that had happened and the address of the cabin.

He pulled out his radio.

"Control, we have an unconscious boy in the cabin along the track heading into the forest northwest out of Beaver. Hurry, I think the kid's really ill."

At that, he took me towards his cruiser and I sat in the passenger seat. He drove us back to the cabin and waited with us for the ambulance to come.

When the paramedics came, they looked very worried. Edward's condition was rapidly deteriorating.

Luckily, I was allowed to accompany him in the ambulance. The police officer lent me his phone so I could call mine and Edward's parents. I didn't let go of my best friend's hand the whole way there.

"It'll be okay, you're going to be fine," I kept repeating those words. They became a sort of mantra to me, a never-ending repetition. It was a funny feeling, I didn't know who I was talking to more: the dying beauty beside me or myself: the aggrieved best friend.

When we pulled up at the hospital, Edward was raced out of the ambulance and into the hospital. I ran along behind the paramedics, dying to keep up with them. They pushed through a set of double doors but wouldn't let me through.

I stood and pounded my fists against the wood until I broke the skin. I sank to the floor, wailing and crying out Edward's name. When the nurses tried to move me I pushed them away. I knew I looked a mess, I knew people were staring but nothing mattered; Edward was on the other side of those doors fighting for his life and it was my fault.

If I hadn't dragged him to that party he wouldn't have gotten hurt. If I'd have called an ambulance straight away rather than just telling myself he was alright he may have been walking around and smiling by now.

I didn't move until I saw two familiar faces sprint into the waiting room. Esme and Carlisle. Esme's usually beautiful face was lined with worry and, like me, she had tears streaming down her face. Carlisle was more composed but he was still frantic; his usually calm persona was nowhere to be seen. I buried my face in my hands and started to sob even harder: it was my fault they were in this state.

"Bella!" Esme cried as she saw me.

I didn't bother to look up, I just sat there curled up on the floor.

I felt her slender arm wrap around my shaking shoulders and squeeze me lovingly.

"Ssh, Bella, it'll be okay," she murmured, kissing my hair.

"E-Esme... C-C-Carlisle, I... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry," I continued to apologise but my words became impossible to decipher as I became more and more overcome with grief and guilt.

The couple helped me up and over to some seat. Esme and I held each other and cried whilst Carlisle went to speak to the doctor.

When he returned, he looked stunned and distant.

"They've taken him to a private room in intensive care," he breathed, almost inaudibly, "he's in a c... he's in a coma."

On the last word his collected pretence cracked and he sank to the floor in tears. His body shook as the sobs came to him. The tears were spilling from my eyes so rapidly that I was sure there wouldn't be any left soon.

The three of us stayed like that for a long time and I wondered if I was ever going to feel whole again.

I knew people sometimes didn't wake from comas. I also knew that until the day Edward woke up, part of me would be dormant as well.

The next time I saw my best friend he was hooked up to a life support machine unable to even keep himself alive. The sight and thought of that almost completely ripped me apart.

Please R&R. Reviews support Edward's life machine.