Disclaimer: As much I as I love the Cullens, they belong solely to Stephenie Meyer. I'm just making up my own scenarios for her characters.
Pairing: Eventual E/B
A/N: This first chapter is going to be similar to NM but I assure you my plot is very different so I hope you'll stick around.
The wet earth beneath me was moist and rich in aroma. I was hardly aware of my surroundings, the way my body was sprawled on top of the forest floor nor the icy rain that pelted my skin in an unrelenting torrent. The only thing I could focus on was the numbness spreading through my system. My mind flashed with images of the source of my pain, the pain I couldn't bare. Those beautifully haunting topaz eyes and marble perfection pierced my soul.
"Bella, I don't want you to come with me." Edward spoke the words slowly and precisely as he observed my face with cold brass eyes.
"You…don't…want…me?" I asked carefully as confusion filled my mind at the strange order the words I spoke was in.
"No."
As I replayed that memory over again in my mind, I was startled by the hoarse cry that escaped my throat. My body shook violently, as if my emotion pain was physical. It might as well been.
Time no longer held any importance or significance while I curled onto my side among the thick undergrowth. Nothing mattered anymore. My eyes fluttered closed as the setting sun dipped below the bleak horizon. It was all over.
~*~
Slowly through the thick haze of exhaustion my eyes opened as a dim light flooded beneath my eyelids. I heard twigs snapping and a sharp rustling noise in the distance. The light grew brighter as an object; I recognized as a lantern, broke through a bush in front of me. Someone I couldn't see very clearly held it up.
"Bella?" The deep husky voice called out. My eyes began to focus as I weakly lifted my head off the ground.
"My name is Sam Uley."
I didn't recognize the foreign name and my mind remained blank.
"Charlie sent me to look for you." He paused to inspect my face. "You've been missing for a while."
Charlie. If not anything, he mattered at least. Sam extended his large hand with an expectant look within his dark eyes. Confusion washed over me as I stared at his awaiting hand. Before I could do anything, he shrugged and lifted me off the ground with ease. He carried me bridal style through the dense forest. I remained limp in his arms, too drained to feel anything at the moment…or ever again. My bitter thoughts were interrupted when I heard the faint murmurs and urgent yells up ahead. As soon as we reached the clearing, a flurry of faces and voices buffeted me. My head spun as the flashes of people and bright lights came into view. The commotion was disorienting. My insides twisted causing me to groan. Right before I closed my eyes a familiar figure approached.
My voice came out in a hoarse whisper. "C-Charlie?"
His face was contorted with panic and concern. "Yeah, honey it's me." I noticed the overwhelming relief that colored his voice. Was I really gone for that long?
His hand brushed the damp hair from my forehead before he gingerly took me from Sam's arms.
"Thank you for finding her." Charlie gave Sam a weary smile who nodded in return. As he carried me through the crowd of people my voice got stuck in my throat. How was I going to explain this? Telling him the truth was not an option. It would hurt too much to say out loud. I racked my brain for a plausible explanation.
"Charlie I-
"Bella, honey you can explain later after we get home."
He carefully maneuvered my body in the backseat and shut the door. I nodded meekly and remained silent during the entire ride back. With a grunt Charlie helped me out of the cruiser and into the house. He gingerly placed me on the couch.
"Charlie." I groaned. "I'm soaking wet."
"Don't worry about it." He sighed tossing me a dry towel. As I hastily dried my damp hair, I saw a white doctor's coat from beneath my blue towel. Hope swelled within me and I flung the towel aside. Carlisle!
Instead of seeing pale white skin and kind gold eyes, I saw an elderly man with gray thinning hair.
"Hello, dear." He smiled warmly. I couldn't help the rush of disappointment that assaulted me.
"Dr. Gerandy?"
He nodded and sat on the couch beside me. "I'm going to take a look at you." He explained as he took out his stethoscope. He paused before the metal applicator made contact with my clothed chest. "Are you hurt?"
I suppressed the gasp of pain rising from my throat. It was such a simple question but the kind of agony I felt, he could never help me with. I blinked the tears away before Charlie and Dr. Gerandy could notice. I shook my head.
"N-No I'm…okay."
His gray eyes bore into mine and he pursed his lips. "Are you sure?"
I sighed. "Yes, I'm sure."
"What happened to you, anyway?" He prodded casually as he checked my pulse.
"Did that Cullen boy leave you alone in the woods?" Charlie interrupted calmly, his voice tight with fury.
I didn't answer and countered with a question of my own. "How did you know where to find me?"
"By the note you left." He brought out a folded piece paper with elegant scripture explaining my whereabouts. Edward. I cringed inwardly.
"I got lost." I explained turning to face Dr. Gerandy who still had my pale wrist in his grasp.
He nodded as Charlie narrowed his eyes.
Dr. Gerandy continued the brief examination as I sat in silence. He stopped his ministrations and got up. "Well, Bella you seem fine but I advise you keep warm and rest for a couple of days." He smiled and turned to Charlie.
"So she's okay?" Charlie pushed.
"Yes, but makes sure she gets plenty of sleep tonight, it seems like a mild case of exhaustion so she should be better by tomorrow."
Dr. Gerandy headed toward the door several feet away with Charlie in toe. Charlie glanced at me warily and spoke in a hushed whisper.
"Is it true that the Cullens are really gone? Have you heard from Carlisle?" My heart ached but I pretended I couldn't hear them.
Dr. Gerandy sighed. "Yes but Carlisle didn't tell me much, he said something about a job offer which makes sense. With his skill, it was only a matter of time before he left."
Charlie nodded.
I got up and headed toward the stairs. "I'm going to bed." I announced.
"Do you need anything? Are you alright?"
"No, I'll be fine." What a lie.
Charlie glanced at me hesitantly and smiled warmly. "Goodnight Bells."
I gave a weak smile in return. "Goodnight." I trudged up the wooden stairs and ran inside my room. As soon as I shut the oak door behind me, my system flooded with raw panic. Was Edward really gone? I bolted to my CD player and looked inside. Edward's CD was missing. Realization began to sink in.
"It would be as if I had never existed."
Could he really be that cruel? I ran to my photo album and flipped through the pages with shaky hands. It fell from my limp grasp. All of the pictures of him were gone.
No, no, no! I needed to see him one more time, even if it was on a flimsy photograph. Sobs soon shook my body and I crumpled to the floor in a pathetic heap. Tears flowed from my watery eyes, leaving salty damp trails down my cheeks. Edward, why?
The pain soon overwhelmed me and I embraced the darkness of unconsciousness. I'd rather feel anything, even numbness then this pain. Anything.
~*~
I felt the numbness spread like wildfire until I was enveloped in the sensation; thrust underwater. The passing days, weeks and months became a collective blur of faces and noise. I couldn't even differentiate one person from another. I no longer was concerned with my existence or time. In the end…did it really matter? School was a perpetual and painful reminder, everyday was like pouring salt in my wounds. I made no effort to socialize and eventually everyone left me alone; alone to bask in my misery. I wouldn't have it any other way. I now hated driving my car, I hated the way his scent still clung stubbornly to the interior of my car but I loved it as well. It wasn't fair. Had I not suffered enough? Was fate not satisfied with the knowledge that I knew the excruciating truth that Edward [I cringed] had never loved me?
I didn't notice as I slipped into an unresponsive catatonic state; dull and empty. It felt like I was looking through a clouded veil, submerged in darkness. I had long accepted the fact he would never come back and because of that I would always remain engulfed. He was my only savior, my only salvation and yet he would never return. Soon I became confused when I saw somebody reach out toward me surrounded in a blinding light. I took that hand. My foolish mind wanted- no expected an icy touch; instead I felt a fiery warmth.
~*~
Yeah, I'm sorry if it sounds so similar to New Moon but I just needed to get this part out of the way then I can get on with my own unique plot. Mwhahaha, from here on out things are going to be a lot different!
I would appreciate reviews, like if you can tell me if the story flows and if I'm doing a good job with Bella's Point of View so far. =]