I own nothing! I don't own McDonald's, either! Stephenie Meyer gets credit for everything!
Author's Note:
Okay, so the fonts are Stephenie Meyer's. I don't own Chanel, or McDonald's, I just used those names. I did think up Dustin and Emily, though. :-)
And I put this on earlier but I (tried to) divide it into chapters now! :-)
Del Sol
by Rachael Stark
Change is unavoidable
Edward Cullen sighed heavily. "I'm no good for you, Bella. You deserve a human boy. Not me." He used all of his inhuman strength to say that. Now the words were out. Bella Swan sat at her living room table, horrorstruck. Was he…breaking up with her? Edward dashed out the door. "Sorry," he said quietly in her ear right before he fled. "Sorry." That word would haunt Bella for the next chapter in her life.
Edward Cullen ran for his silver Volvo that was parked on the curb. He gracefully lept in and looked back at Bella's house. She was at the door staring into his buttery golden eyes, searching for answers. "Sorry," he mouthed again and sped off.
He sniffled. Wait-was he sick? Vampires do not get sick. Something was very wrong. He pulled out his silver cell phone and dialed Carlisle's phone number at the hospital.
"Dr. Carlisle Cullen speaking."
"Yes…this is Edward," he started.
"Is everything okay?" Carlisle asked worriedly.
"I'm not sure," Edward replied honestly. "Can I come up?"
"Of course." Carlisle responded. He didn't need to tell Edward to come quickly; Edward's 120 miles per hour norm was all the Volvo could handle.
When Edward arrived at the hospital Carlisle was waiting for him at the front desk.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Edward sneezed. "I honestly don't know."
"Are you- sick?"
"I don't know," Edward repeated flatly.
"You've been spending a lot of time with Bella. That had to have some effect on you… why don't we get you back home to check you out?" Carlisle mused.
Edward didn't realize Carlisle had went in gotten his briefcase and been back in a flash. Things were getting so weird. Vampires caught everything. What was going on?
"Are you well enough to drive?" Carlisle asked.
"Yes," Edward replied. He got into his Volvo, which was parked right next to Carlisle's Mercedes. Edward pulled out of the parking lot behind him. They got to the red light right before the 110-turnoff to their house. Edward absent-mindedly put a Debussy CD into the slot. The next thing he knew, he looked up and the light was green. Mrs. Weber behind him was politely reminding him to go by honking.
"Dammit!" Edward said, exasperated. He sped ahead and finally arrived at his house. Carlisle was waiting expectantly outside his car in the garage for him. Carlisle had never waited for Edward, it was usually the other way around.
Everything is definitely not normal in Forks. Let me take this time to introduce myself to you readers and my dear Edward Cullen. Hello, I'm your worst nightmare and you need not to know more.
"I didn't see that the light had changed," Edward said, sounding like that explained all of the madness. Carlisle pretended not to be worried and no one knew if he was. You see, Edward could tell what Carlisle's thoughts were about this on any day. But not today. He walked into their living room with everyone glaring at him. He tried to shrug it off, but he was actually scared. He has never felt so vulnerable before. He didn't know what anyone was thinking so he tried to read their faces. Carlisle as trying to be calm while he was explaining the situation. Rosalie looked pissed off. Jasper looked intrigued. Alice looked shocked and Esme had a look of confusion on her Snow White face. Worst of all, Emmett looked betrayed.
"So…" Edward started.
"Edward, your future is getting less clear," Alice finally spoke. He immediately knew what that meant. It wasn't his future that was getting fuzzy; it was him.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Wow. Emmett is slow.
"Well, I've never read about or witnessed anything like this, but I think Edward is turning into a human," Carlisle breathed. Silence.
"When?" Rosalie's voice was barely a squeak.
"Any day now." Carlisle started pacing.
"Where will I live?" Edward questioned.
"Here, naturally."
"But isn't someone going to want to take a snap at me? Why is the happening?" He roared.
"No one knows. I am so sorry, Edward." The story of his life. Goodbyes and sorry's.
"Rest assured, Edward. We will find a way to stop this." Carlisle pledged.
"So what do I do now?" Edward looked at the clock. It was 2:30 in the afternoon and he was starving for the first time since 1918. "You know what? I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" Esme asked.
"McDonald's. I'm starved." Edward didn't care that there were six sets of vampire eyes staring at him dumbfoundedly as he left.
Edward went down the street to Forks' only McDonald's. Actually, Forks' only fast food restaurant, period. He needed to sort things out. He sat at a booth with his chicken Caesar salad and a Coke. He hesitantly took a bite of his salad.
"Not too bad," he muttered. He was contemplating the pros and cons of telling Bell. As he took the final sip of the Coke, he went up to the counter.
"One chocolate milkshake." Why not try new things? It's not like this human thing was going to be permanent.
"Wait- make that two," he said with a smile.
Bella was on the porch reading Wuthering Heights again. As soon as she heard the familiar purr of the Volvo, her head snapped up.
"I thought you said I deserved better," she quipped.
Edward sighed, "I do think that but I think I might have a way to fix it. May I?" He gestured towards the porch step beside Bella.
"Sure." Her face flushed with relief.
"Milkshake?" He asked, handing it to her.
"Yeah! You know I love chocolate! Edward, why do you have two? Are you trying to fatten me up?" She laughed, visibly less upset.
"No, it's for me," Edward replied calmly. Bella looked confused. "Bella? Something happened to me today…and well…I think I'm turning human again," he said bluntly. Why not get to the point? Bella stood up.
"This is some kind of sick joke, right?"
"No," was all Edward managed to choke out. Bella stared into his eyes.
"Holy Crow!!" she jumped back.
"What is it?"
"I swear this morning your eyes were golden!" she said.
"Bella, we've been through this before-"
Bella broke Edward off. "Yes! I know! But now they are so green!"
Edward held one finger up to Bella's mouth to silence her.
"You aren't cold!" She whisper-yelled. She pushed him off the porch and into the sunlight. "You aren't strong and you don't glitter!" She was freaking out now, if not past that. "But shouldn't you be 107 years old?"
"Hm," Edward said. He wasn't sure what would happen once he was fully human. Shouldn't he be a pile of ashes under a gravestone? There was also the Cullen's cover story to think about. Since now Edward was aging again, he'd eventually be older than Carlisle, who was pretending to be the adoptive father. Edward couldn't go on like this. His world, the one he'd been living in for over eight decades was suddenly caving in on him. Once he was sure that he was completely human, he could have Carlisle change him into a vampire. Again. The burning and bloodlust of being a newborn was almost unbearable. And worst of all, he might not get his gift back.
Poor Edward.
The sun was setting on the worst day of Edward's entire existence. He was tired. Edward looked at his wrist to check his watch. His skin had a baked gold tint to it, instead of the white marble vampire skin. Why was the change happening so quickly? At the very least, Edward wanted to have something from his past world. The only reminder now was his last name. Cullen. He was only seventeen and didn't have enough patience for college round seven, so he'd have to deal with his current sleeping arrangements for now.
"I'll see you later." Edward kissed Bella with crushing force. He didn't have to hold back anymore. Bella was worried. Was he saying goodbye for a third time? The Cullen's are known for their goodbyes….
It felt like just yesterday to Bella that Edward had killed Victoria with his bare hands but now it looked like he was the one who need to be protected.
"I promised I would stay for eternity but obviously I don't have eternity to stay." Bella wanted to cry for him but he already was.
"Oh, Edward!" She used her thumb to smear the tear off his cheek. She'd never seen him cry because believe it or not, vampires don't cry. Edward started to walk away towards his Volvo. Remarkably, Bella was able to pull him to a stop by tugging on the back of his shirt.
"Don't go. Carlisle will find a way! He'll-he'll change you again!"'
"No, Bella. I'm done." She instantly remembered him talking last September about how easy it would be to kill himself if he was human. That was the same birthday she rescued him from a suicide mission when he thought she was dead… Now the if and come true.
"NO!" she fell to her knees and started sobbing. Edward smiled but she could tell it took a lot of energy to put it on.
"It's just me, Edward Anthony Masen, Bella. I'm hardly a reason to get so melodramatic. Now go to Charlie at the station or Angela or somewhere. Just not Alice."
Hmm…Wonder why? Maybe it was because Alice had a plan brewing of her own? Or because he could tell Alice was going to be the one who would eventually end her life once and for all?
Wait-he was going to leave the Cullen's? Just like that? Bella tried to imagine Rosalie staring at herself in the full-length mirror, Emmett bellowing at the football game on the flat screen, Carlisle and Esme chatting on the sofa, and Jasper and Alice out hunting. No one would be playing her favorite lullaby on the piano. It hurt just to think of that. But eventually, may it be seventy or eighty years from now, the Cullen's would be reduced to six. Edward was only human, right? The pain of emptiness returned. It had gone away as soon as Edward had come back into her life but with the thought of him leaving again there was nothing to fill the void. What was to blame for the fateful day? More like who?
Eeny, meeny, miney, moe. Catch a Cullen by the toe. My mother told me to say who was to blame and you are not…IT!
Bella stumbled out of her old Chevy the next morning at school. She doubted any of the Cullen's would be there. Surprisingly, Emmett and Jasper were emerging from Emmett's Jeep. Emmett was grinning hugely.
"Hey Bella!" He said, like it was any other day. She didn't have to ask about the whereabouts of the other Cullen siblings and Edward who, as far as she knew, wasn't part of that family anymore. Unless, that is, he changed his mind. Just ask Alice, but the future isn't set in stone. But where were they? Not hunting this time, obviously. Bella was left pondering this question at the front her truck when the bell rang.
When Bella finally got to lunch, she wasn't sure where he should sit. Would it be weird to sit with just Emmett and Jasper? Would it be rude if she didn't? She settled on the safe choice; sitting with the Cullen's. To see where on the table she should set her tray, she looked into Emmett's and then Jasper's eyes to gauge their thirst. Emmett's were liquid butterscotch and Jasper's were a shade slightly darker. He was already suffering with her that close so she set her tray next to Emmett's and across from Jasper's. She pulled her purple turtleneck up higher to her face. She knew she was being ainal about it but her policy was the less neck exposure, the better. Royal blue, Edward's favorite color on her was strictly forbidden lately since she didn't know how long he would be in her life. The thought of losing him again sent a shiver through her spine. Emmett thought she was reacting to the seating arrangement, so he added:
"It's okay, Bella. We're not thirsty." And smiled.
Too bad. One snap is all I'm asking for…
Jasper let out a small chuckle.
"You are confused," Jasper said, phrasing it so it wasn't a question.
"Aren't we all?" Emmett replied acidly.
"Hm," was all Jasper replied and gave a small nod abruptly ending that conversation.
"Okay…so any weekend plans?" Bella asked, trying to end the awkward silence.
"Stop while you're ahead," A velvet voice warned jokingly. That velvet voice could only belong to one person; Edward!! Bella turned around to take in the transformation that had probably progressed since she had seen him yesterday. He was blushing! It was most beautiful thing Bella had ever seen and it took her breath away.
"Why are you here?" Bella asked, surprised.
"Would you rather I leave?" Edward was obviously avoiding the question.
"No… but I thought you had enough to think about-"
"Or lack of," Edward interjected. His face made a big pout. Since his gift was gone, his mind had been eerily quiet.
"Well, you do have to pay attention to the teacher in class now," Bella pointed out.
Edward chuckled darkly. He set is tray of food down next to Jasper and picked up a piece of pizza. He tore a bite off then chewed and swallowed it. Trying to lighten the mood, Edward a cookie out to Emmett.
"Try it. I bet you are too chicken to take one teeny, tiny bite," he challenged playfully. He knew Emmett couldn't resist a good bet. Emmett snatched the cookie and, being the man he is, shoved the whole sphere into his mouth and swallowed audibly.
"Ew!" He gagged. "Be right back."
"What, are vampires bulimic or something?" Bella joked.
"No, Bella." Alice laughed her high soprano laugh, which sounded like singing. She sat down at the table in the spot next to Bella.
"Has Carlisle found out anything yet?" Jasper asked, changing the subject.
"He's not entirely sure." Alice flashed Jasper the 'I'll-fill-you-in-when-we-aren't-in-front-of-Bella' look. Bella felt out of the loop.
Ha, but I knew what had happened. After all, who do you think the cause was? Little ole' moi, per chance?
