I did in fact have another version of this story, but it was deleted by FanFic, for reasons unknown. Since I've uploaded it again, I've changed it considerably, although it's the same principle.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, nor any of it's characters. All rights belong to Stephenie Meyer.
Bella
Death; not something I would recommend. Of course, I'd experienced pain before, but being mauled by a giant wolf can't be compared to a broken leg. As I had sat on the forest floor, staring at my own mangled body, I inwardly cursed myself for being so careless. Charlie had warned me about the dangers of the forest, yet I had insisted I'd be fine. As soon as the thought of Charlie entered my mind, I was overwhelmed by grief. Just a month before, he'd been elated when his only daughter moved back to the town she detested so much, and now she was gone. Frantically, I had tried to wake myself up, screaming in frustration and pain when my hands went right through my lifeless body. It had been my own personal torture, accompanying the officer that was informing chief Swan of my death. If hearts could shatter, I'm sure his did in that moment.
Now, six months on, I wandered aimlessly through the forest, the image of Charlie's heartbroken face haunting me as it replayed in my mind. I yearned to see him, to make sure he was coping, but I couldn't seem to find my way around the mass of trees that surrounded me. Often, I came across stray hikers and I attempted to follow them back to the trail, however, I always managed to lose them. Needless to say, after my death, the threat of wolves was thoroughly advertised, warning hikers to enter at their own risk. Naturally, I haven't came across any wolves since, which was evidence of my bad luck in action. Just call me Danger Magnet.
My life, or perhaps existence would be more appropriate, had become incredibly tedious; life in a forest does has its limitations. When I wasn't in the forest, I wasn't entirely sure where I was, which scared me. Each day, I would try, and fail, to change my appearance; wild hair, shredded clothes and skin covered by dry blood and dirt wasn't very becoming. The wild beast had also decided to take off with my boots, which, although I had no need for them, annoyed me to no end. I would then try and convince myself that there was no reason for my attempts, although I knew it was merely to give myself the look of a living person. My looks were a constant reminder of what had happened to Charlie, and whenever I caught sight of myself, I became nauseous. The rest of my time was spent either keeping a watchful eye over the hikers, or playing with the animals that resided here as well as myself.
To say I'd been surprised that the animals could see me would be an understatement, but I'd developed an unlikely friendship with some of them. I wandered with them through the forest, and when a threat loomed, I warned them to run. Unknown to Charlie and the forest wardens, hunters seemed to be a regular occurrence; I'd already been tormented with the sounds of gun shots echoing through the air and again, I felt helpless, unable to inform them of the dangers to the animals. Helplessness was a feeling I'd regularly become acquainted with, and I'd guessed it was due to the fact my hands went through everything I tried to touch. When I had been alive, I'd believed in some form of life after death, but my vision had consisted of a white light, my gran waiting for me at the other end with nothing but love. I'd never imagined it would be like this; stuck on earth, guilt ridden and alone.
***
Today had strayed a little from the regular routine. My half-hearted attempts to at least tame my wild and tangled hair had been wasted. I saved the trouble of lying to myself, and gave up the hopes of looking normal. A group of four teenagers were walking in circles around the same huddle of trees, oblivious, and out of sheer boredom, I walked along behind them, saddened that I couldn't give them directions to the right path. A new family were their topic of gossip; the five adopted children were said to be attending the local high school, and the town could barely contain their excitement. The towns reaction of new-comers seemed to be reflex, my mind wandering back to the welcome I'd received.
Every person in town had known my name. On the first day of my short lived time at Forks High School, I'd been bombarded with invitations and offers of a tour by complete strangers. I'd politely declined, stating that I could find my own way and crestfallen, the majority of the students had let it be. A few of the male population had refused to take no as an answer however, and every day I would become increasingly irate, my answers becoming curt and my polite expressions morphing into glares. Occasionally, I would feel slightly guilty, knowing I should have tried harder to make friends for Charlie's sake, and possibly my own, but I reminded myself of the extra anguish I would feel over leaving them behind as well.
I guessed that the teenagers I wandered with in the present attended Forks High School, and my suspicions were confirmed when a girl with wild, curly hair told the others how excited she was to meet the new students. They all nodded in agreement, and I wished I were able to join in the conversation, not necessarily with this specific group of people, but with a group of people nonetheless.
After an hour or so, I'd been driven to insanity with the infernal chatter of the one I'd learned was Jessica, a girl I remembered befriending me in school, no doubt using my popularity with the males to her own advantage. A boy with blond hair and a baby face was again someone I recognized as one of the stubborn males who had forced his company on my on numerous occasions. He'd evidently moved on however, his infatuation with Jessica written all over his face. Leaving them had left me feeling slightly wistful, and I knew that I could only hope that someday this seemingly eternal punishment could one day cease to be.
Of course, Edward and his family will be introduced soon. I have a few ideas on how to introduce them, but I'm not certain about any yet. :) Should Bella go to them? Or should they go to Bella?