Bella drove her faithful old pickup truck into the hospital parking lot and parked in an empty parking space not far from the main doors to the hospital. The truck wheezed and groaned as she put it in park and the truck coughed as Bella turned off the engine. She rested her head back against the headrest for a few moments as the familiar sense of tiredness swept over her and she smiled as the last bit of the song played on the radio.
"You can do this."
Gathering up her energy Bella opened the door and slid out of her truck. Her usual peppiness and clumsiness was gone as her energy levels dipped low and Bella chuckled at that thought. She locked the truck and put her keys in her bag as she made her way over to the hospital doors. The sun peaked through the normal overcast of Forks Washington and Bella stopped to turn her face up to face the warming rays. The sunlight was fleeting though and an angry dark cloud moved in front of the shaft of sunlight. Bella shook her head and made her way into the hospital lobby. Her nose wrinkled at the plethora of smells and she made her way over to the receptionist desk.
"Oh. Hello Bella my dear. What brings you to the hospital?"
Bella smiled at the woman behind the desk and signed herself into the logbook. Ms. Grey had been a good friend to Bella after Charlie died on the hospital bed and she checked in with Bella once a week to make sure Bella was doing okay. While it was not uncommon for Bella to be at the hospital Bella had not been around for two weeks.
"Well I'll admit I don't want to be here but I'm not feeling so well and I don't seem to be getting any better even with the pills you prescribed to me at the pharmacist's office. Thought I might check it out as it's been three weeks now."
Ms. Grey's eyes narrowed and she took one of Bella's small, frail looking hands in both of her warmer ones. While not anorexic like thin Bella had lost about twenty pounds and her normal paler complexion was paler still now a days. She had hidden her feelings of uneasiness well with carefree smiles, infectious giggles and a little extra makeup but the strain was now evident.
"Oh honey you should have told me last week when I checked in on you and I could have scheduled an appointment sooner. I'll have you checked by Dr. Holmes right away and we'll figure out what's ailing you sooner than the next raindrop falls."
Bella smiled and giggled at Ms. Grey's off kilter sayings but she knew the older woman's heart was in the right place and was thankful that she didn't press or pry too much. Bella leaned more on the counter and waved her hand at Ms. Grey's curious eyes as the older woman talked on the phone. A couple minutes later Ms. Grey stood up and walked over to Bella. She looped her arm through Bella's and they started walking down the hallway to one of the many elevator's in the hospital.
"I told Dr. Holmes to expect you and I'll feel much better if I get to walk you to the examination room myself. Bella, you should have told me. Really."
Bella nodded and they exited the elevator to a typical white washed hallway dotted with various sized rooms for a multitude of purposes. They walked halfway down the hallway, turned right and entered a sterile examination room. Ms. Grey helped Bella sit on the recliner table and dropped her bag in the padded chair on the other side of the room. Dr. Holmes entered and Bella bit her lip to stifle her giggle. Dr. Holmes had wild, voluminous locks of hair that he swept back and speckles of a distinguished color of gray clashed with his ebony black locks.
"Bella Swan. Ms. Grey here tells me that you're not getting any better from the prescriptions prescribed to you at the pharmacist's office? What seems to be the matter?"
Bella titled her head to the side a little and studied Dr. Holmes some more. He wore a respectable set of glasses and his dark eyes glittered behind the lenses. Bella surmised that the good doctor didn't really need the glasses but wore them as part of his medical image. He had a knowledgeable air about him and his movements were quick and sure.
"Well I've been feeling exhausted the past two months and I know it's not for the lack of sleep as I make sure to get eight hours on average, nine on a good night. My energy is not what it used either to be and it can't be because of my eating habits as I've watched that too."
Dr. Holmes made some notes on his chart and did the basic tests on Bella that he could do with the equipment on him. He checked her temperature, took her pulse, checked her breathing and checked her blood pressure. A frown had formed when he took her pulse and the frown deepened as each test was completed. He took out a needle and got a couple of glass vials for drawing blood out.
"Bella I know you're one of the healthiest people here in Forks and you have no serious illness besides a chronic and acute case of breaking or fracturing every bone in your body."
Bella smiled at the joke and rubbed her arm. Dr. Holmes rolled up her sleeve and swabbed her shoulder with some alcohol. Bella winced a little and looked away as he drew the blood out but the procedure was done within a two minutes. Dr. Holmes packed up the vials and stopped just before he left the room.
"I'm going to put this at the top of the list for the analysts to work on down in the lab and I'll get back to you within the hour. In the mean it looks like you could use some food as your face is pale. Nurse Grey could you…?"
"Of course Dr. Holmes. Come Bella I'll get us some of the better cafeteria food."
oOoOoOo
Bella sat in a rather large, leather chair in Dr. Holmes office and clasped her hands together. Ms. Grey sat in the other chair and looked in horror at Bella's lab test results. Dr. Holmes stood facing his large window overlooking the hospital grounds and had his hands clasped behind his back. The mood in the room reminded Bella of those cheesy drama/horror movies were the lead character found out the bad guy had an ace up his sleeve or something drastic was about to befall him.
"Bella, I won't lie to you when I say the results from the lab yielded results we didn't expect but given your families medical history I shouldn't be surprised. I'm sorry Bella but you have terminal cancer in your spine and the tumor is too far gone for us to do anything to combat this."
Bella's mouth dropped open and she looked down at the rich oriental carpet as tears blurred her vision. Her world had already been turned upside down twice; the first time when her mother abandoned her by dropping her off two years ago with her father Charlie and the second when Charlie died while bringing the well known serial killer and rapist James to justice. This news shouldn't surprise her and she smiled.
"Thank you for helping me Dr. Holmes and being honest with me from the start. Can you give me a ball park estimate on how much time I have left?"
Dr. Holmes turned around and pity coupled with a deep sadness radiated in those dark glittering eyes. Bella knew she should start expecting the pity and smiled at the doctor. He handed a tissue to Ms. Grey and sat down in his high backed, black leather chair behind his maple wood desk. He picked up a second copy of the lab results and gave a heavy sigh as he re-read the results again.
"I would give you a less than six months Bella but I'm no expert and the circumstances might change."
"How could this have sprung up on me all of a sudden? I wasn't that bad of a girl and I didn't pass any black cats on my way over here."
Dr. Holmes chuckled and took off his glasses. He pulled a white silk handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his glasses. The reason behind the glasses became clear and Bella smiled as the man truly strived for the wizened doctor image. Bella took one of Ms. Grey's hands in hers and squeezed.
"My guess would be because you are so healthy to begin with, besides this newfound tumor of course. Like you told me earlier, you eat right, get plenty of sleep and take good care of yourself. The prescription drugs could have been masking the symptoms as well I imagine and we don't check for cancer cells when treating broken or fractured bones."
Bella smiled and stood up. She smoothed out her dress pants and pulled on her jacket. Her life had been decided for her and she would just have to deal with the choices as they came at her. Besides, now she was this much closer to seeing Charlie again and she smiled at the thought.
"Thank you Dr. Holmes. I'm going to head home now and…well I'll find something to do."
Bella walked out of the office, down the hallway and into one of the elevators. She pressed the button for the lobby and a moment later waved to the receptionist as she strolled out. The crisp Forks air hit her and she breathed in the chill. Bella supposed she should be weighed down with a tremendous feeling of dread and have a laundry list of regrets but instead she felt peace. She didn't have to worry about anything anymore and Bella promised herself to live to the fullest till the end of her days. She unlocked her truck, climbed into the driver's seat and started the truck. She picked up her cell phone and dialed a familiar number.
"Be-lla! How's my favorite human doing? Why don't you come on down to the beach and we can do something? Nessie and I haven't seen you in forever."
Bella chuckled and wiped a tear out of her eye. Jake's palpable excitement never failed to warm her heart and she hadn't been down to the reservation since Charlie died a few months ago. A visit was long overdue and she needed someone to hang onto before she crashed.
"Hey Jake. I'll be there in twenty minutes okay?"
"This is going to be awesome. Let me go get Nessie and I'll come pick you up."
"It'll be easier if I drive Jake as I'm not at my house. Trust me I'll be fine."
"What's wrong Bella? You sound a little off. Where are you?"
Bella placed her free hand on her forehead and let her head rest back against the headrest. Her best friend in the entire world still couldn't be fooled it would seem and Bella felt exhausted. Somehow she had to tell all of them about her interesting day and she wrinkled her nose. Maybe she should bring some food and drinks to stall for a little bit once she got there.
"Nothing Jake. Better make that thirty minutes as I'm going to stop by at the convenience store and pick up some food items."
"Alright Bella. See ya soon."
"Yeah wouldn't miss it for the world Jake. Bye."
Bella hung up and sat back up in her seat. She put her truck in reverse and backed out of her parking spot. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.
oOoOoOo
Thirty five minutes later Bella stopped in the Blacks driveway and shut off her truck. Before she could open the door five big Indian boys clambered onto her truck and howled like the wolves they were. Bella laughed as Jake opened her door, unbuckled her seatbelt and pulled her into a tight hug. Bella buried her face in his muscular chest and reveled in his natural warmth.
"Bella! Man you sure do know how to make people worry. But your diplomatic skills haven't dulled as I see you've brought a snack."
Bella pulled back from Jake and wiggled until he let her stand back on her own two feet. She rolled her eyes at the mention of the word snack and then shook her head as she remembered the ravenous appetites the Quileute boys had when it came to food. Grocery bags filled the bed of her truck and there was enough to feed two Salvation Army efforts but Bella knew that the food would be gone in minutes once cooked. She placed her hands on her hips and glared at Jake. The seven foot tall Indian boy squirmed and looked like he might piss his pants.
"Why am I getting texts and messages from Nessie that you've been avoiding her?"
All laughter and talking stopped at Bella's question and the other boys had the groceries unloaded in minutes. They disappeared into Jake's house and now it was only Bella and Jake. Jake scuffed the dirt on the ground with his shoe and wouldn't meet Bella's firm gaze.
"We've been swamped in patrols as Sam got wind of some more rogue vampires in the area. We just beat back Victoria's army right before Charlie died and well, I didn't want anything else to happen to you."
Bella jabbed her pointer finger into Jake's stomach and scowled at him. It wasn't like Jake to keep news like this from her and although she could appreciate the efforts he was going through she didn't like being kept in the dark. It reminded her of how Edward made decisions and controlled the flow of information she received. She didn't need that from her best friend.
"You are not my father Jacob Black and if I recall I'm older than you so you shouldn't be disrespecting me by keeping information from me."
Bella jabbed her finger into Jake's stomach again and he took a step back with his hands raised in a peaceful gesture.
"I know I know Bella. It was a stupid thing for me to do I'll admit but it's keeping you safe and your favorite bloodsuckers didn't tell you either so don't put all the blame on me."
Bella's eyes flashed in anger at the misdirection tactics Jake utilized and she stalked towards him. She hauled back and slapped Jake as hard as she could in the face. A loud crack echoed in the small clearing and Jake's face turned from the force of Bella's blow. He turned back to her and she clenched her hands into tiny fists so not to smack him again. The boy didn't make any sense and if she didn't know any better she would have thought Edward Cullen was standing in front of her and not Jacob Black.
"You better take that back Jacob Black or so help me I'll tell them you hurt me in a fit of uncontrollable anger and then you'll have seven very angry, very powerful vampires tearing your furry butt apart. Don't you ever place blame on the Cullen's ever again. You hear me?"
Jake's facial expression softened and he wrapped Bella in a hug. Bella fell into him, her energy levels depleted for the moment at the surge of anger and she wrapped her arms around his waist. Jake rocked back and forth for a couple minutes as Bella's temper cooled and her energy returned.
"Okay that's not all of it. I've been avoiding her because I'm nervous too."
Jake pulled away and reached for something in his back pocket. He pulled out a small, black velvet jewelry box and Bella gasped. She snatched it from him and opened the box. Nestled inside was a beautiful platinum and diamond encrusted ring. She looked up at Jake who hopped back and forth on either foot and nodded.
"When you going to ask?"
"Well that's the thing. I want to ask right now but I'm too afraid what she'll say and every time I try and bring it up I phase because I'm too nervous."
Bella giggled and handed the closed box back to him. Jake frowned and put it back in his back pocket. Bella looped her arm through his and walked back to the house. They walked up the stairs and walked through the screen door into the kitchen. The wives and girlfriends of the wolf pack bustled around the kitchen preparing the food Bella brought and when they heard the front door slam and looked up to see Bella everything froze for a second time. A gorgeous young woman ran over and hugged Bella to her while crying into her shoulder. Bella smiled and hugged the woman back.
"Hey there Nessie. I see you've been keeping Jake in line while I've been absent."
Nessie pulled away and brushed the tears out of her eyes. She chuckled and rolled her eyes at Bella's comment. The other women in the kitchen came over and once all the welcomes and hugs were shared Bella sat down on a wooden stool at the large wooden table in the center of the kitchen with a cup of her favorite tea in front of her.
"So you've been here for all of half an hour and already you've straightened Jake out. Good thing you've arrived when you did or the boys would have went out on another run for those vampires again."
Bella smiled at Emily and traced the top of her mug. She didn't know how she always managed to calm the wolf pack down but one word, glare or look from her and all the ridiculous nonsense would stop in seconds. Everyone had started to call Bella "Angel" and she was always welcome on the reservation.
"Well Jake is just a little impulsive and emotional at times. Nothing too complicated about him if you can predict what his next move will be. Then again Jake is very predictable when he's all twisted up."
The women laughed and Nessie sat down next to Bella at the table. She took Bella's hands in hers and looked deep into Bella's eyes. The atmosphere of the room quieted down and Bella sighed. She pulled her hands out from Nessie's and looked down at the table.
"We got a call from Ms. Grey. You know the woman who lives down at the other end of the reservation? She called to say she wouldn't be able to make the ladies night out this week and that threw up warning flags like nothing else as the woman never misses a night out. It took some sweet talking and many tissues but she told Emily who told the rest of us. Is this the reason of your impromptu visit and welcoming feast?"
Bella smiled and traced the claw marks etched into this particular section of the table. She should've guessed Ms. Grey would've tipped off the women on the reservation somehow and she nodded.
"The doctor tells me I have six months left. I didn't want to leave with us not talking or something stupid like that."
"You look exhausted sweetie. Why don't I have one of the boys' drive you back home and we'll tell them about your newfound condition tonight at the bonfire meeting. I'm sure they'll have one of them swing by your house every so often as part of their patrols and that way we can keep checking in on you."
Bella nodded and yawned. While not a very physical day the emotional stress had taken a toll and she realized she could barely keep her eyes open. Emily called out for Jake who bounded into the kitchen like a tornado and through the haze of sleepiness she heard whispered conversations taking place. A strong pair of warm arms picked her up and in a few minutes she was nestled into a large warm body in the cabin of her truck. Someone else hopped in beside her and her truck roared to life.
"Drive slow Jake and let's get dear Bella home. She's had an exhausting day and needs her sleep."
"Everything okay Nessie? Bella looks a little pale but are you sure it's not just because of her still grieving over Charlie?"
"I'm sure Jake. I'll explain everything to you on the way home."
Ten minutes later Bella felt the truck stop, her door open and Jake pick her up. She mumbled that the key was in her bag and Nessie unlocked the front door. Jake carried her upstairs and laid her down on the bed. She heard Nessie going through her dressers and whispered for Jake to leave as she would help Bella get changed. Jake left with a kiss to Bella's forehead and Nessie helped Bella sit up.
"Just a few more minutes there Bella. Let's get you into some pajamas and then you'll be able to go to sleep."
Bella nodded, too tired to argue or insist she could do this herself and raised her arms at Nessie's prompting for her to pull her shirt off. Nessie pulled off her camisole as well and then unbuckled her jeans. Bella raised her hips and Nessie pulled them off.
"Alice is still shopping for you I see. I wish I had a wealthy vampire to do my shopping for me and pick out cute lingerie."
Bella looked down and rolled her eyes as she realized she was wearing a purple lingerie set Alice had purchased for her on their last shopping spree. Nessie chuckled, slipped on Bella's pajamas and helped Bella slide into her bed underneath the covers. She pulled the blind down on the window and walked out the door.
"You have our cell numbers in case you need anything. Sleep tight Bella and we'll send someone over to check on you soon."
oOoOoOo
Bella smiled as she stretched without opening her eyes and snuggled deeper underneath her mountain of blankets. She opened her eyes a few moments later and listened to the quiet hum of her space heater. Feeling better than she had last night Bella sat up and swung her legs over to the side of her bed. She slid her feet into her slippers and walked over to her cell phone. Without looking to see if she had any messages Bella turned off her phone and set it down on her bedside table. Bella walked out of her room, down the hall and into Charlie's old room. She unplugged the landline from the wall, walked downstairs and unplugged the landline by the couch. Ten minutes later all the doors were shut and locked, the windows closed and blinds drawn down tight and Bella sat down in Charlie's favorite recliner with a thick blanket around herself and a warm cup of tea in her hands.
"Listen Bells, I know you don't want me to go after this man but if I don't too many other innocent people will be hurt. James is a disturbed individual and he's got to be arrested before he does any more damage."
Bella hugged Charlie tighter and breathed in his scent of gun leather and Budweiser. She let her father go and he kissed the top of her head before heading out the door to his police cruiser.
Bella traced the permanent indentation of where Charlie used to rest his beer bottle on the arm of the chair and let her tears fall untouched down her cheeks. The next day a young officer, fresh out of the police academy had come to the door and told her that Charlie had been shot while apprehending James. He held Charlie's gun belt, badge and gun in his hands and Bella had taken them from him. She had invited the young officer inside and he told her what had happened that night while Bella baked him some food. Losing Charlie had devastated Bella and for a solid week she had refused to leave the kitchen. She worked without stopping in baking food for the police force and no one had been able to come through to her. The Cullen's had tried along with the Quileute's but Bella had just moved past them and screamed bloody murder if they tried to physically remove her from the kitchen.
"Isabella Swan! Stop this. Stop this right fucking now!"
Bella moved without speaking past Alice and pulled a large lasagna out of the oven. Alice smashed the hot container out of Bella's hands and into the far wall. This action stopped Bella and Alice glared at Bella when she turned her deadened glare onto the small, pixy like vampire.
"You are killing yourself and not helping anyone. Now, you will leave this kitchen, go upstairs and take a shower. Then, you'll come back downstairs and talk to me."
Bella smiled at that particular memory and pulled the blanket tighter around herself. True to her usual nature Alice had cleaned up the kitchen and converted the sofa into a makeshift bed by the time Bella had come back down stairs fresh from her shower. For the next three hours Alice had held Bella while Bella cried her heart out into Alice's shoulder and hadn't moved when Bella fell asleep from pure exhaustion. For the next three days Alice stayed by Bella's side like a silent ghost and helped Bella recover from the brutal shock of Charlie's death. She had been there when Bella called Renee and Phil to inform them of Charlie's passing and she had held Bella again after Renee just asked for Bella to wire her the money Charlie had left her in his will. Renee hadn't received a single penny.
"So you've got to go over this with me again because for all my pretty smarts I can't seem to figure this out and neither can anyone else. I can't see your future out of your everyday activities and I can't hear any of the conversations you have in the visions."
Bella turned to look at Alice as they sped down a country road to the Cullen's manor and sighed. She fiddled with the hem of her shirt and rolled her eyes when Alice smacked her hands away from the fabric.
"I don't know Alice. Maybe I'm becoming immune to all of your powers one by one. Remember when I first met all of you and Edward couldn't read my mind? Maybe it's something like that."
Alice pouted and Bella giggled at how adorable the tiny vampire looked. She laced her fingers with Alice's and Alice's pout lessened a little.
"This better end soon because I don't like it."
Bella rolled her eyes and looked back out the window.
"Of course Alice. The world revolves around your needs and wants. Why should this be any different?"
Bella smiled as she remembered that week and she realized something. She was blessed with such a good network of friends even if they were taboo mythical creatures from children's fairytales. Still, she missed Charlie so much it hurt and this emotional pain was more painful and deeper than the one she experienced when the Cullen's had left her. Bella knew that when she resurfaced into her everyday life again she would have to tell the Cullen's and she knew what they would offer. For as long as she had known the Cullen's she wanted to be just like them and now she just wanted to move on. Her life had been one full of one adventure after the next and now that she was faced with certain death that she could not escape from, Bella realized that immortality wasn't all that it was cracked up to be.
"I'm sorry Alice."
Whether or not Alice heard what she said in a vision Bella didn't know and she let her head loll back into the deep, comfy cushions of Charlie's favorite recliner.
oOoOoOo
Alice Cullen stopped all movement when the vision hit her and her full, pouty lips trembled as the images flickered through her mind. Bella sat alone in Charlie's old favorite recliner with a blanket wrapped around her small body and although she had been crying, a beautiful smile rested on her thin lips. Her best friend and unrequited love was so alone right now and Alice couldn't do anything about it. She had tried to reach Bella of course but Bella had placed herself in lock down and this was the first time Alice had a vision with audio in almost a month and a half.
"What is it Alice?"
Alice looked down at the black fabric of the dress she was designing and placed the heavy duty scissors on the table. Jasper moved from his position on the couch to behind her and hugged her from behind. The two hadn't been in a romantic relationship for three decades but Alice knew Jasper would be behind whatever decision she made. Alice felt exhausted, not an easy thing for a vampire and she knew it was because of the emotional stress of whatever Bella was keeping from her. Bella didn't do things like this often and when she did Alice could always get whatever the problem was out of her within a day. Whatever this problem was though Bella had kept it hidden for a month now. All the Cullen's knew that something had broken inside of Bella but their favorite human didn't look that far off kilter so everyone assumed that it had to do with losing her father.
"I had my first vision of Bella with her speaking."
Jasper sat down on the floor and held Alice in his lap. The tiny vampire played with the hem of one his sleeves on his green button down shirt and replayed the vision in her mind again. Edward materialized by the door and Alice didn't meet his gaze.
"We need to go over there now. She isn't being rational in her thinking and she's too vulnerable."
"That is the exact reason we're not going to Edward. Bella knows she can call us if she needs help and she has the wolves too. Her human friends have also made it known that they're willing to help her."
Alice was thankful that Jasper took control of the situation and Edward ran his hands through his hair. Nothing made Edward more frustrated than not getting his way and when Bella was involved in any way it doubled his frustration. The two hadn't resumed their previous romantic relationship much to Edward's chagrin but their sweet Bella still let him know she cared for him by being a good friend. Alice smiled as a more happy string of memories played out in her head and then a new vision hit her.
Bella picked up her phone and called Alice to ask for a ride to school.
"Hey Alice."
"Bella! Welcome back to the world of the living. You know, you make for an excellent vampire stereotype with all this unnecessary brooding and too much negativity is bad for your health."
Bella look pained at the mention of her health and she wiped a tear out of her eye. She gave a watery smile and a weak chuckle at Alice's stab at humor.
"Well you know me, hot and cold as of late. Anyway, I was calling to ask for a ride to school tomorrow? If you don't have to hunt or do anything else that is."
Alice giggled and twirled one of her short, spiky locks of hair around her finger.
"Of course I'll come pick you up silly Bella. I haven't seen all that much of my best friend lately and I can pick out your outfit. Hmm, let's see…I think that cute purple top and black jean jacket will go just fine with those black skinny jeans you refuse to wear. You know the pair I'm talking about?"
Bella laughed and promised to wear the outfit if Alice picked her up a blueberry muffin and caramel latte on the way.
Alice's eyes cleared and she smiled. She kissed Jasper's cheek and rose to her feet as graceful as could be. She skipped up the stairs feeling much lighter than she had been and walked into her giant closet to look for an outfit that would match Bella's down to the last stitch.
oOoOoOo
Bella giggled to herself as she licked the whipped cream off her upper lip and watched the forestry flash by as Alice sped along to the high school. The coffee felt warm in her hands and she wrinkled her nose as she saw how frail looking her hands were.
"What's that look for?"
Bella looked over at Alice and saw her favorite colored amber eyes boring into her own eyes. She would have blushed at the intensity of the gaze but the look made her feel loved and she basked in the feeling. Bella took Alice's free hand in hers and linked their fingers together. She smiled as Alice wrapped her hand up tight with her own and as usual Bella marveled at the cool sensation of Alice's colder skin.
"What? Should I be frowning and moping still?"
Bella jutted her lower lip out and batted her eyes. Alice giggled and zoomed into the parking lot. She had the Porsche parked next to Rosalie's red BMW in minutes and both girls climbed out of the low riding vehicle. Emmett hopped down from his monstrous Jeep and picked her up like a small child.
"Little Bella, so glad you came out to play. Now I have my favorite, number one video game partner back and I know you'll laugh at my jokes because you appreciate my humor."
Bella giggled and kissed Emmett's cheek. She made no motion to get down from his strong arms and he didn't set her down on the ground. They talked as Emmett walked into school and Alice tilted her head to the side with a happy sigh as she watched. Jasper handed her her bag and they followed after the two. Rosalie walked on the other side of Alice and Edward walked on the other side of Rosalie.
"Can you smell it?"
Jasper nodded and pursued his lips in deep thought at Rosalie's question. Alice knew what Rosalie was questioning and she could smell it too but as she searched through her memory she couldn't remember a time when Bella visited the hospital other than to talk to Charlie in the room he died in.
"Her blood smells different. Still delicious and sweet like Bella but something's off. Question her at lunch?"
Alice nodded to Rosalie and they all went in different directions as they headed for their first classes.
oOoOoOo
Bella walked beside Angela who held Ben's hand and smiled as they argued about who made better cookies in their cooking class last period. Bella rolled her eyes as they both turned to her and she pulled her own batch of cookies out of her bag. Angela and Ben both squealed and held out their hands for one. Bella mock clucked her tongue and shook her head.
"Children must eat their dinner before having desert. You two know that."
Angela glared at her and Ben pulled a puppy dog look but Bella's twinkling eyes remained firm. Both pouted and Angela stomped her foot. Bella knew that very few things could get the quiet, soft spoken girl to act out of character and her culinary skills were one of those things.
"That is so not fair Bella Swan. You better promise me I get the first cookie before the wolves descend."
Bella giggled and nodded at Angela's comment. She giggled again as Angela had no idea how true her statement was because the Quileute boys often phased and fought to get the first cookie whenever she brought some over to the reservation. She had baked them a separate, much larger batch and decided she would bring them over after school today.
"Okay Angela I promise but we have to get to the cafeteria as my phone just vibrated which means Alice is wondering where I am."
Angela smiled and tugged Ben in the direction of the cafeteria. A few minutes later they walked through the open double doors and Bella stepped back behind Ben as Mike Newton and Tyler skidded to a stop in front of her. They wore identical, boyish smiles and Bella rolled her eyes.
"No cookies for you until I've eaten my lunch and unless you want to deal with a very annoyed Alice Cullen I suggest you move out the way."
Both boys looked over their shoulders and saw Alice walking towards them. They parted and mock saluted to which Alice curtsied. Bella resisted the urge to roll her eyes as the two were wrapped around Alice's finger like all the boys in Forks High. Alice grabbed Bella's hand and dragged her over to the table. Jasper handed Bella her usual plate of "edible art" as they all called it now and Bella smiled at Jasper in thanks. She sat down, picked up a carrot and popped it into her mouth.
"So Bella care to share why you locked yourself away in your house for the past couple of days and didn't return any of our calls or texts?"
Bella swallowed and swirled her orange juice in her cup. She knew the Cullen's could probably smell her sickness now and from the way all five of them scrutinized her they already knew something was wrong with her health.
"I've had some things to think about and had a couple life altering decisions made for me these past couple days. If I need help with it I'll call you all or something like that."
"What's wrong Bella?"
Bella smiled as Edward turned the full magnitude of his dashing good looks on her and tilted her head to the side in a very Alice like way. At one point Bella would have been spellbound and enthralled by the look he was giving her but she shook her head. Edward looked put out but Alice smacked him in the back of the head.
"You promise you'll call me the second whatever this is becomes too much?"
Bella nodded at Alice's question and although the little vampire looked uneasy her posture relaxed and so did the other's except Edwards. Jasper looked at Bella and confusion was written in those beautiful honeys colored eyes of his.
"How can you be so sad but so peaceful at the same time?"
Bella smiled and shook her head again. She stood up, grabbed her now empty tray and turned away.
"Because my name is Bella Swan and I've already seen the impossible happen."
Bella walked away and deposited her tray on top of the trash can. As she had promised earlier Bella stopped by Angela's table and handed her two cookies and a napkin. She distributed the rest out to her "human friends" as the Cullen's called them and placed the empty container back in her side bag. She steadied herself on the edge of the table for a moment and then with a slightly sadder smile then usual she walked out of the cafeteria.
oOoOoOo
Bella studied her drawing with her nose scrunched and held her chin in her hand while the other twirled a fresh paintbrush. The sketch depicted an expansive garden from someone's back porch and had shafts of sunlight beaming down from between the clouds. Bella drew this sketch from memory as the view was a corner of the Cullen's backyard and although there were no flowers there now Bella had hoped that some day she might plant a garden there. For now, the perfect garden had been transferred to a canvas and Bella thought hard about what color she wanted to paint her "secret garden". Bella giggled as the name for her soon to be painting had come from a book turned movie and she had read the story as a child.
"Excuse me but you're Bella Swan right?"
Bella turned on her stool and smiled at the stunning beauty of the girl in front of her. The girl stood a few inches taller than Bella and had tumbling locks of dark brown hair with lighter brown highlights mixed in. The girl's eyes shone a brilliant green from underneath the locks of hair that angled across her face and her gentle facial features were proportionate to her face.
"Yup that's me. What can I do for you friend?"
The girl looked shocked that Bella had called her a friend already and Bella's eyes shone brighter with her humor as another giggle escaped her. The girl gave a tentative smile and brushed a stray lock out of her eyes with a slender hand. Bella knew this girl had just arrived from out of state and that her name was Lilith Kerr because her friends had told Bella that Lilith was looking to talk to her.
"Um, I wanted to ask you about the Cullen's. I know what everyone says about them but they're so different around you and I'm finding it hard to believe the rumors."
Bella flipped over her sketch of her secret garden to a fresh page and motioned to a stool across from her at a slight angle. Lilith sat down and Bella pulled out a pencil. She sketched the brief outline of Lilith's face and neck before moving on to include her hair.
"The Cullen's are indifferent because they've moved so much and most of the time they don't stay long enough to make lasting friends. I hear you do some part time modeling? How is that going?"
Lilith's eyes lit up when Bella mentioned her modeling and then her eyebrows furrowed at a slight downward angle. It was obvious to Bella that the girl had a very tight control over her expressions and she surmised that the skill was necessary when in front of the camera.
"How'd you know about the modeling? I just started."
Bella smiled and finished outlining Lilith's hair. She went back to sketching Lilith's face and took great care to get the lines and angles correct. Once done she moved onto her actual face and sharpened the sketch but made sure to leave the certain gentleness that Lilith's face held.
"A friend of mine is an aspiring photographer and is looking to get into the family business."
Lilith's eyes narrowed as she thought and Bella moved onto her eyes. There were no alternate color specks in the sea of green but a brightness and sparkle shone in them and Bella made sure to capture it.
"Eric Yorkshire you mean? The goofy Chinese kid that is always seen with a camera?"
"That's the one. His photography skills are excellent and I'm fortunate enough to see them before he publishes them on his website."
Lilith's mouth formed an "o" and she gasped as a thought crashed into her.
"Hey stop distracting me! We were talking about the Cullen's."
Bella smiled and went to work on drawing the frizzles and certain messiness Lilith's hair had to it. She thought about what she should tell about the Cullen's as the nature of what they were was the whole reason they stood apart from everyone else.
"Well the Cullen's are hard to describe other than what appears on the surface. They have an unearthly beauty to them and they like their privacy. To describe them beyond that is a breach in the privacy that they've requested and I can't break their trust because it means so much to me. Sorry."
Lilith's face fell for a second but she nodded her head in understanding. Bella finished Lilith's hair and looked at her sketch. She smiled and turned it around so Lilith could see. Lilith's eyes widened and she put a hand over her mouth in surprise. She reached for the picture and Bella gave it to her as she cleaned up her art supplies.
"You drew this while talking to me just now?"
"Yeah, I like to draw and it helps me think when talking about something difficult."
Lilith traced over the sketch of her with a finger and she handed it back to Bella. Bella put it in one of her school folders along with her other drawings and smiled as she put her chin in her hand. Lilith looked uncomfortable at the intensity of Bella's gaze and Bella's smile widened as Lilith squirmed like a little girl who had just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"So which one did you fall for?"
Lilith looked surprised at Bella's question but Bella waved her free hand.
"You cannot stare at the Cullen's and be wondering about them as you are without crushing on one. It's impossible. Which one is it?"
Lilith blushed under Bella's gaze and looked down at the table.
"Edward. His eyes are so mesmerizing and I wonder if his hair is as soft as it looks."
"It is."
Bella laughed at Lilith's open mouth and gently shut it. She resumed her previous position and laughed again as Lilith's mouth fell open again. Bella blamed Alice for that particular comment as the smallest vampire had been rubbing off on Bella since they spent so much time together.
"Come on Lilith. If you've listened to the rumors and know that I'm the closest friend of the Cullen's outside of their little adopted family then you have to know that I dated Edward up until a year ago."
Lilith blushed and nodded. Bella felt a little sorry as she had enjoyed making Lilith squirm and then blamed Emmett for that. The biggest vampire loved doing that to Bella and since she hung out with Emmett the most besides Alice he must have been rubbing off on her too.
"Fair enough. Can I ask you a different question and if I've overstepped my bounds just tell me so."
"Go ahead."
"How long have you been sick?"
Bella's smile disappeared and the humorous twinkle in her eye vanished as well. The full magnitude of her present sickness crashed back in on her and the weight of it all strained her shoulders. Telling the Quileute's and then the Cullen's had alleviated the stress a little but knowing that both would offer to give her immortality in a heartbeat didn't help her all that much.
"What makes you think I'm sick?"
Lilith played with the silver bracelet on her wrist and Bella tried to be as patient as she could as she waited for the other girls answer. Lilith looked up after a moment and took a deep breath.
"My mother died of cancer about half a year ago and I recognize the signs. You're not doing anything to treat it are you?"
Bella shook her head and let a small, sad smile slip across her face. To go to sleep and make all this stress and pain go away would be a wish come true. As a vampire she couldn't do that because although she would be free of her cancer Bella wouldn't be able to go to sleep and see Charlie again…
"Why not? If you don't mind me asking."
"If you could do anything to see your mother again would you?"
Lilith nodded without hesitation and Bella smiled a real smile at the fierce glint in her eyes.
"I want to see someone I love to just as much as you want to see your mother again."
"Your dad, Charlie?"
Bella looked up in surprise this time and Lilith smiled. She took one of Bella's hands and Bella noticed how much warmer Lilith's hands were then hers.
"I'm sorry but I read about your father's heroism in the newspaper and you're the talk of the town. Everyone here at Forks admired your father and they all speak so well of you almost as if their all in love with you. I understand and I won't tell anyone."
"Thanks."
The bell rang and the girls walked out of the classroom side by side. Lilith said goodbye as they walked out of the school and she slipped into the driver's side of a black Acura TL. Bella waved and walked over to where the Cullen's were waiting in the small half circle at the back of Emmett's jeep. She smiled and waved at their curious stares but felt dizzy. Jasper held out an arm to steady her and Bella smiled with her eyes closed at his thoughtfulness. The cancer must have tainted her blood and allowed Jasper to touch her without feeling the uncontrollable urge to kill her.
"You alright Bella?"
Jasper's southern drawl and gentleman concern touched Bella like it usually did and she nodded. She opened her eyes and with great effort stood up straight. Lucky for her it was a Friday and she didn't have any homework. Bella planned on going to sleep as soon as she got home and would send Nessie or Jake a text saying she'd attend the bonfire Saturday night instead of tonight. She hoped they would understand, well more so Jake then Nessie and she felt bad as Jake loved it when she came to one of their weekend bonfires.
"Yeah I'm just tired. I'm going to go to sleep as soon as I get home. Busy week I guess."
None of the Cullen's believed her and Bella sighed. Lying was something she wasn't good at and this put anyone on guard as everyone knew Bella couldn't lie. Alice opened the passenger side door to her Porsche without a word and Bella slipped inside. In a minute Alice had them out of the parking lot and down the road to Bella's house. Bella dozed against the window and woke to Alice playing with her hair as they laid together in Bella's bed. Alice had changed Bella into her usual pajamas and wrapped Bella up in a cocoon of her blankets to keep the sharp difference in their body temperatures from making Bella uncomfortable. Bella wouldn't have this however and wriggled out of her covers to snuggle into Alice's side. Alice giggled and wrapped Bella up in her arms. Bella kissed the crook of Alice's neck in silent thanks and fell asleep as she sank into Alice.
oOoOoOo
Bella's phone rang and Alice picked it up without looking at the caller ID so Bella would stay asleep. Bella had fallen asleep three hours ago and hadn't moved at all.
"Hello?"
"Alice? Is Bella alright?"
Alice scrunched her nose in frustration as she wished Nessie wasn't attached to that mutt Jacob so much because she couldn't see the girl's future. The girl's worry let Alice know that Nessie knew what was going on with Bella and the suspense and worry was going to kill Alice a second time if she didn't find out soon.
"Yes. Bella's fine. She's sleeping. What's wrong with her Nessie?"
Alice heard Nessie sigh in relief and tell the rest of the people listening in that Bella was fine. A soft chorus of affirmatives and thankful words met this and Alice's frustration with the situation grew larger.
"I guess Bella hasn't told you anything yet?"
"No. We know something is wrong with her but she won't tell us. You know, I know you know so don't deny it. Tell me. Please."
Alice's hated that she was begging a werewolf's lover to tell her what was wrong with Bella but Alice would sacrifice her pride to find out what was wrong with her love and then she could fix it. Nessie sighed into the phone and Alice sighed too as she knew the other girl wouldn't tell her.
"I'm sorry Alice. I know how much Bella means to you all and I wish I could tell you but this is something Bella needs to tell you for herself. When she wakes up tell her not to worry about the bonfire tonight and that she needs to keep her strength up. We'll send someone by soon when the boys do their patrols again."
Nessie hung up before Alice could get in another word and Alice suspected this was because Nessie was about to break down into tears which could lead to her spilling Bella's secret. Alice placed the phone back onto Bella's bedside table and pulled Bella tighter against her. Bella didn't even move, a rarity for a restless sleeper like Bella and unshed tears misted in Alice's eyes.
"What's wrong with you my sweet sweet Bella?"
oOoOoOo
Bella awoke, buried deep beneath her covers and smiled as she saw Emmett cursing under his breath as he played Monopoly with Rosalie on the other side of her room. Rosalie smirked and scooted a large portion of Emmett's play money over to her much larger stack. Bella sat up back against her headboard and both vampires looked up at her at the same time.
"Hey."
In a flash Emmett knelt by her side and smiled at her. Bella scooted over on her bed and patted the empty space beside her. Emmett with slow, careful movements laid down next to her and made sure there was plenty of covers wrapped around Bella before he wrapped one of his strong arms back around her headboard.
"Little Bella. Glad to see you're awake and now maybe you can teach me another board game as I'm tired of losing against Rosie in dumb Monopoly. I swear she's cheating."
Bella laughed under her breath and nodded. The tiredness that came with her sickness didn't weigh down so much on her right now and she stretched. Alice leaped through the open window Bella left open most of the time for her vampire and werewolf visitors and smiled as she saw that Bella was awake.
"Sorry I wasn't here when you woke up. I wanted to hunt so I wouldn't have to when you were awake."
Bella nodded and Alice sat down in the rocking chair in the corner of Bella's room. Rosalie cleaned up the monopoly board and sat down on the foot of Bella's bed. A warm, happy smile crossed Bella's face at the scene in her room and she rolled her eyes as her stomach gurgled. Alice's watch beeped and she stood up from the rocking chair. Bella giggled as Alice had timed her watch for every six hours and when the watch went off she would make Bella eat something.
"Food time for the human. What do you feel like eating Bella?"
Bella scrunched her nose in thought and then smiled. Alice rolled her eyes as Bella's food choice became clear when the vision hit her and she flickered away to the kitchen. Bella wriggled out of her cocoon of blankets and stood up. She looked down at herself to see that Alice had dressed her in red silk pajama pants and button up top. Bella snagged a lighter blanket from off her bed and walked to her door.
"I'm going downstairs to eat. You two can stay or go if you want to."
Rosalie and Emmett said they would stay and all three walked downstairs. A loud knock sounded on her front door and Bella opened it to reveal a very serious Seth. He nudged her aside as the three Cullen's scents became stronger and a low rumble came out of his chest when he saw them. Rosalie and Alice growled back and Emmett looked ecstatic to be able to beat on a werewolf. Bella rolled her eyes and stood between them. She leveled her glare at Seth who straightened up in an instant and took two steps back with his hands raised. Bella raised an eyebrow at the Cullen's and Alice grumbled about something under her breath but went back to making Bella's mac and cheese.
"Now that the crisis has been averted what are you here for Seth?"
Seth smiled down at Bella and hugged her tight. Bella patted his shoulder (the highest spot she could reach on the werewolf teen) and stepped into the living room where Emmett had turned on the T.V to a baseball game. Seth followed and sat on the arm of Charlie's recliner which Bella had settled in.
"We're out doing our patrols and since I was the closest I ran by here to see how you were doing. You look better than you did the last time you visited the rez."
"I just woke up from a very nice nap. Thank you Alice."
Bella smiled at Alice when the vampire handed her a bowl of mac and cheese and she closed her eyes with a childish smile as she took a bite.
"Nessie says not to worry about coming to the bonfire tonight. You need to build your strength back up or something like that. Will you be able to come tomorrow night though?"
"Oh! I forgot to send you a text saying I wouldn't be able to make it tonight. I'm so sorry Seth but I fell asleep as soon as Alice drove me home."
Seth waved one of his large hands and to dismiss Bella's apology and stood up. Bella blew a kiss at him and he smiled once more before walking out the door.
oOoOoOo
Bella climbed out of Alice's Porsche and sat on its hood with Alice. They were a couple minutes earlier than planned for Bella to go to the bonfire but werewolf and vampire had both agreed that Bella could not drive herself because of her sickness. The Cullen's didn't know what ailed Bella but they had been with her the past few days and saw how weak she had become. Jake and some of the other boys were supposed to arrive soon and pick up Bella on the other side of the treaty line. Edward had wanted to drop Bella off but given his past history with Jake everyone had considered that unwise even though he said he would control himself.
"So what time should I be here to pick you up?"
Bella looked sideways at Alice and laughed as Alice tried to look into the future but she knew wouldn't be able to see anything as werewolves were involved. Bella reached down and took Alice's hand in hers. Alice held Bella's hand in a tight weave and scooted closer to Bella.
"I don't know Alice. Given my track record the past two or three days I might fall asleep while their all talking still and Nessie will put me up in a guest room at her or Jake's house."
Alice growled at the mention of that but Bella rolled her eyes and squeezed Alice's hands. Alice huffed but stopped growling and Bella smiled.
"Come on Alice, it won't be that bad. I'll be back tomorrow by noon at the latest if that happens and I might come home tonight. All depends on how tired I am."
A loud roar rumbled up the street and four motorcycles came to a stop on the other side of the invisible treaty line. Jake, Seth, Quil and Sam all got off their bikes and stood across from Bella and Alice. Alice eyed them all with slight distaste and raised an eyebrow at the bikes. Jake grinned and crossed his arms as if daring Alice to say something. Alice chose not to and kissed Bella's cheek before sliding back into her Porsche. Bella walked over the treaty line and hugged all the werewolf boys. She sat down in front of Jake and he kicked his bike to life. Bella still had the bike that they built for her but she kept it down at Jake's house. With a small yip from Sam they all rode away from Alice and down to the reservation. Bella hopped up off the bike and hugged Nessie who sat on the porch of Jake's house waiting for them.
"You're still in one piece and you look a little better than the last time I saw you a few days ago."
Bella rolled her eyes but smiled and turned away when Jake stooped down to kiss his girlfriend. She nudged him in the ribs when they broke apart and raised an eyebrow to which he shook his head. He looked a little paler for a few seconds and Bella laughed under her breath. Jake scooped Nessie up onto his back in the classic piggy back style and Quil offered to carry Bella. Bella agreed as she didn't think the night would last if they all allowed Bella to walk the half a mile to the bonfire. Quil, one of the newer werewolf's was of a slenderer build than Jake or Sam but he still looked the part at six foot four and one hundred and eighty pounds.
"When were you going to tell us Bella?"
Bella picked her head up from Quil's shoulder and looked at Jake. He looked sad with his boyish features drawn tight in anguish and Bella gave him a sad smile in return.
"I guess Nessie told you?"
Jake nodded and Bella sighed. She poked Quil in his side and looked at Sam. Both nodded and Bella resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Leave it to Nessie to tell the whole reservation that their "Angel" was sick and might die.
"Have you told the bloodsuckers yet?"
Nessie smacked Jake in the back of the head and the rest of the boys laughed but stopped when Bella smacked the back of Quil's head and raised an eyebrow along with her hand again. Nessie giggled and muttered "whipped" to which the boys beamed and nodded.
"No I haven't told the Cullen's yet but they already know something's up with me. They're already treating me even more like a porcelain doll and it's starting to get annoying."
Nessie and the boys sighed as they reached the bonfire and Bella grit her teeth as she knew what was coming.
"Bella, sweetie you're sick and from the doctor's reports and tests Ms. Grey gave to us from the hospital you're not going to get any better but worse. It's not so wrong that we worry about you more so than usual now but we're trying our best to treat you as we did before."
Bella nodded and held her hands out to the open flames of the bonfire. Seth slipped one of his jackets around her shoulders and she smiled at him in thanks as she curled into the side of Jake that Nessie wasn't. Billy Black smiled at her as he stood up from his seat on the log and soon Bella was spellbound by his voice as he spoke of the legends of the werewolves. Once he was done with his stories he touched on more recent events but Bella felt her eyes droop and Jake wrapped his arm tighter around her.
"Go to sleep Bella. We'll make sure you're safe in a bed when this is all over."
Bella nodded and yawned. She fell asleep and dreamed of the legends Billy Black had spoken of.
oOoOoOo
After school let out on Monday, Bella was walking with Angela and giggling as Angela regaled Bella with details of her date with Ben over the weekend when Bella felt the most severe dizzy spell hit her so far. Little black dots swam in Bella's vision and Angela grabbed Bella's arm. The dizziness didn't go away however but instead grew stronger and Bella felt her eyes roll back into her head as she fainted.
"Alice…"
oOoOoOo
Alice watched with a smile as Bella walked with Angela and the two whispered in conspiratorial tones as the other human girl Angela told Bella the dirty details of her date with her boyfriend Ben. Alice was thankful for Angela Weber as she was one of Bella's few friends outside of werewolves or vampires. Fear paralyzed her though when Bella stumbled, Angela steadied her and then Bella fainted. Jasper had his phone out within seconds and called Carlisle at the hospital even as the Cullen's ran at human speed en masse over to the fallen Bella. Angela knelt by Bella's side and was crying for Bella to wake up but Alice knew Bella was out cold.
"Let us through kids. Come on back up so we can do our job."
The paramedics arrived moments after Jasper's call and Alice saw Carlisle waiting for Bella in the back of the ambulance. Angela was herded into the back of the ambulance and Bella was lifted in on a stretcher. Carlisle nodded to Alice's Porsche before the doors shut and Alice ran to her car. Jasper slid into the passenger's seat and everyone else piled into Edward's Volvo.
"Go Alice. Go."
Jasper's worried tone unglued Alice's paralysis and she sped out of the school's parking lot. The drive to the hospital took fifteen minutes if you followed the speed limit but Alice made it in five as she had weaved through traffic and ran red lights. Edward had pulled in a moment behind her and all five of the Cullen children ran into the hospital. As she passed through the sliding glass doors Alice heard other students from the school pulling into the parking lot and Alice hurried that much faster. No one would see Bella before Alice, she would make sure of that and she ignored the masses of people at the elevator, instead pushing into the stairwell. At vampire speeds Alice ran up seven flights of stairs as Jasper followed Carlisle's instruction via cell phone and Alice burst onto the seventh floor.
"Alice she's in the emergency room right now. You need to stop and think."
Carlisle blocked Alice from going any further and caught her in his arms when she tried to flash by. She struggled but Carlisle was stronger and Alice buried her face in his doctor's coat as she cried without tears. Carlisle sat down in a hard, plastic chair in the hallway and motioned for his children to do the same. He rocked Alice back and forth and kissed the top of her head.
"It will be alright Alice. Bella's just going through normal emergency procedures and then when she's put in a room you'll be the first to see her. I promise."
A nurse came for Carlisle five minutes later and he transferred a still crying Alice into Jasper's arms. Jasper tried to send her calming vibes but his own emotions were too haywire to help her out. Edward stalked up and down the hallway and Emmett held Rosalie who had sunk her razor sharp teeth into his neck to keep from screaming or crying like Alice. It was an odd movement for sure but it calmed Rosalie down a great deal in times of stress and Emmett didn't mind as it didn't hurt him. Carlisle reappeared with his face drawn and closed half an hour later and Alice ran to Bella's room. She slipped inside and shut the door behind her. Bella lay tucked in tight to a standard white linen hospital bed and her different monitors beeped, whistled and flashed.
"Bella…"
Alice sank into the chair at Bella's bedside and grabbed one of Bella's pale, cold hands in both of hers. Bella looked peaceful and all traces of the pain she carried throughout the past couple of days were absent from her face. The door opened and the rest of the Cullen family entered the room. Edward stood on the other side of Bella's bed and Emmett and Rosalie sat down together in a chair in the corner of the room. Esme gave a soft cry and held a hand over her mouth as she stared at her human daughter.
"She has a very late stage of terminal cancer. Her body is riddled with tumors and her doctor has given her six months."
Carlisle's soft, heart wrenching statement made Alice's un-beating heart clench in her chest and all the unnecessary air she held in her lungs exploded out in one painful exhale. Esme cried out again just as quiet as before and turned her face into Carlisle's shoulder when he wrapped an arm around her. Edward stroked Bella's cheek with one cold finger and Alice kissed Bella's hand.
oOoOoOo
Bella's eye fluttered opened and she squinted against the bright lights of her hospital room. She recognized the beeping of the different monitors and the hospital smell from her time spent in the hospital with Charlie's abrupt death and she sighed. Her fears had come to be realized and she frowned.
"Glad to see you're awake."
Bella turned her head and saw Angela sitting by her bedside. She grimaced as she tried to smile but the pain was too much and Angela nodded her head.
"The doctor said that you'd be feeling sore. You sent your body into a massive shock in the last twenty four hours. Your cancerous cells are eating away at your body and that's why you fainted."
Angela looked ready to burst into tears and she had already been crying with how red her eyes were. She sniffled and blew her nose.
"The Cullen's are outside. Carlisle made them leave as they've had a near constant vigil over your bedside. Don't they ever sleep?"
Bella laughed but she bit her lip as a swell of pain hit her chest from laughing. Angela grabbed her hand and Bella looked at the door. Angela nodded and walked over to the door. She opened it and stepped back as all the Cullen's hurried into her room. Alice's hair while still mussed to perfection had an even messier look to it and Bella could feel Edward's gloominess from all the way across the room. Alice bent over and gave Bella a light hug and Bella could feel Alice shaking. She patted her bed and lifted up the covers. Alice wasted no time and slipped under the bed. Bella rested her head on Alice's shoulder, Alice pulled her closer and the cool temperature felt good to Bella's sweaty skin.
"When were you going to tell us Bella?"
Edward's tone matched the smoldering color of his frustrated eyes and Bella looked down at the covers as Alice had taken hold of both of my hands with one of hers. Her other hand played with Bella's hair as one arm was wrapped around Bella and the other rested on Bella's lap. Even though Bella no longer dated Edward, Bella knew how to read him and his frustration with the new details on Bella's situation made his composed façade break. Bella knew Alice just as well and her sickness had pushed Alice over the edge as her body still trembled as the news of Bella's mortality struck home. Alice wouldn't meet Bella's gaze whenever Bella looked at her and Bella gave up trying to catch her eyes knowing that she'd get a breakdown or lecture the next time she had Bella alone.
"It doesn't matter Edward. Even if you had never found out there is nothing you can do to change my situation. I am sick and I am going to die before the year ends."
Bella didn't mean to sound so frigid or annoyed but Edward's subtle and not so subtle controlling techniques were getting on her nerves. Carlisle looked at Bella with sympathy in his golden eyes and the rest of the Cullen's looked broken as well.
"How long have you known Bella?"
Bella looked at Carlisle and smiled. She stroked the back of Alice's hands with her thumbs and looked back at their joined hands.
"I've known for almost a week and a half now."
Bella looked over at Angela and frowned as the other human girl had been forgotten ever since Bella woke up. She knew that the Cullen's weren't ignoring her out of spite as they were more focused on Bella but they shouldn't just ignore the other girl.
"You alright Angela?"
Angela smiled and shook her head.
"Don't worry about me Bella. I'm fine, well as fine as I can be when I find out my best girlfriend has terminal cancer but you know what I mean."
Bella went to answer but the door opened and Dr. Holmes strode in. He looked surprised to see how full Bella's room was but smiled at everyone in the room. He looked at Bella over his half moon spectacles and raised his eyebrows. Bella shrugged as best she could and rolled her eyes.
"I'm glad to see you're awake now Bella. You put your body and your friends through quite an ordeal."
Dr. Holmes made some notes when he looked at Bella's monitors and then showed them to Carlisle. Carlisle and Dr. Holmes talked in low whispers about "treatments" and "untested breakthroughs" that made Bella's head spin but Bella ignored them as she laid her head on Alice's shoulder. Alice pulled her a little closer and kissed the top of Bella's head. The two doctors finished talking and Dr. Holmes smiled at Bella.
"Dr. Cullen here has convinced me to let you go as you'll be under his personal care and under the promise that you check in with him at least twice a week. Otherwise, you'll stay here in the hospital for a couple days and other terminal patient procedures will be put in place for you."
Bella wrinkled her nose at that but decided that letting the Cullen's help her out a little would be better than staying in the hospital for an indefinite period of time. She nodded and Dr. Holmes asked Carlisle to come with him so he could receive Bella's medical records. Alice stood up and pulled Bella up until she sat upright.
"I'll drive you home and make sure you're set for the night. If you want I can spend the night so you won't be alone."
Bella nodded, glad that Alice took the initiative and scowled when Edward set up a wheel chair. Alice rolled her eyes and giggled. Even Esme and Angela laughed at Bella's stubbornness and Alice with a gentle tug pulled Bella to her feet. The vampire looked over her shoulder at Emmett and nodded to Bella. Emmett set Rosalie on her feet and stood up next to Bella.
"Come on little tyke I'll carry you so you won't have to ride in that nasty wheelchair. Don't be stubborn or Alice will make you ride in the wheelchair."
Bella huffed but didn't resist when Emmett cradled her in his arms and with a sigh let her head fall against his chest. Alice opened the door and everyone walked out of the room. Ten minutes later Bella sat in the passenger seat to Alice's Porsche, Edward was taking Angela home and the rest of the Cullen's went back to their house in Carlisle's Mercedes. Alice didn't say anything during the entire drive to Bella's house but Bella knew the vampire would crack soon. Without a word she handed Alice the key to the front door when they walked up the front steps and didn't protest when Alice set her down on the couch. In a blur of movement that Bella couldn't see Alice flitted around the house making sure everything would be in easy reach for Bella.
"Alice."
The blur of movement stopped and Alice sat down next to Bella on the couch a second later. The sudden move made Bella close her eyes to ward off the sense of vertigo and she smiled. She pulled the tiny vampire into her arms and without much resistance coaxed Alice to let out all the pent up emotions she was holding at bay. Alice never did anything by halves and tonight was no exception. She buried her face into Bella's neck, wrapped up Bella as tight as she dared in her strong arms and poured her heart out into Bella's shoulder with heart wrenching tearless sobs. Bella never said anything during this ordeal and stroked a frail hand down Alice's back. Sometime later Alice managed to collect herself and squeezed Bella a little tighter.
"This is why I didn't want anyone to know. Everyone will treat me like a cripple now. The boys at the rez already are and now you all will too."
Alice didn't respond as she could feel Bella sag against her so both girls were leaning against each other. Alice stood up and carried Bella to her room. Once she had Bella changed and after a little scuffle of whether Alice could convince Bella to lie under the covers Alice held Bella in her arms underneath a sheet. Bella fell asleep within minutes and Alice let her mind go blank as the night deepened.
"Can I hold her Alice?"
Alice opened her eyes and frowned at Edward who stood at the foot of Bella's bed. At least her brother had the manners to ask this time instead of demanding he get his way but Alice shook her head in refusal. Bella might not know of Alice's feelings for her but Bella had made it clear that she no longer wanted a romantic relationship with Edward when they got back from Italy. The two of them had gone for a walk in the woods and Bella had Jasper trail along out of Edward's mind reading range. In halting but firm tones Bella had told Edward that she was no longer captive to his inhuman beauty, smoldering eyes and musical voice…in short the relationship in the romantic sense between them was over. Edward had not taken it well but with Jasper sending Bella confidence she had remained resolute in her decision and Jasper had leaped between the two when Edward started yelling.
"No you may not Edward."
Edward's eyes narrowed and his eyebrows slanted in harsh downward angles but both vampires froze when Bella let out a deep sigh. The human girl didn't wake up but inhaled deeply into Alice's neck and smiled.
"See? If I were to let go of her right now she would wake up and if she saw you holding her we know she would freak out."
"Alice you don't know that."
"The answer is still no Edward. Either shut up and sit down somewhere or leave."
Edward's frown deepened but he didn't say anything else and sat down in the rocking chair in the darkened corner of Bella's room.
oOoOoOo
The next day at school friends, teachers and students Bella didn't know swamped her with a range of emotions and questions. Bella stuck with a simple version of the truth and smiled at the pain in everyone's eyes when the truth dawned on them. Many students pledged they would help Bella any way that they could and even some of the jealous girls that envied Bella couldn't find anything mean to say.
"I wish they would all just stop. All this new popularity and friends is getting a little overwhelming."
Alice rolled her eyes and bumped her hip into Bella's. Bella looked at Alice and Alice shook her head.
"I know you don't believe us when we say that you're well liked here in Forks Bella my dear but it's true. No one wants you to die and your death will have a devastating effect. Lucky for me the date of you becoming one of us just got moved up quite a bit."
Bella frowned and looked down at the ground. So far she had managed to avoid the topic of immortality with both vampire and werewolf but she knew that at some point she would have to tell her immortal friends she didn't want it anymore. Alice took Bella's hands and looked up into Bella's eyes. Bella tried to smile but she knew it looked fake.
"What is it Bella? I know you might be afraid of the pain involved in the transformation but I promise it will be worth it in the end."
"Maybe…maybe I don't want to be….what you are anymore Alice. I don't want to live forever like I…used to."