Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
Just as a note, the vampires in this story do not sparkle in the sunlight. In fact, the sun doesn't do anything to them, except extremely irritate their eyes.
...
Let me introduce you to your nightmare.
Ughhh. What's yelling at me...shit, my phone. Who's calling me at...well, nine.
Jet black a sparkle in her eyes.
Neither girl nor woman but a demon in the flesh now.
Alright, alright, I'm coming. I have to remember not to have my phone so goddamn loud.
Blood red her lips are homicide.
I flipped over still under the covers, half way on the bed, half out reaching for my phone.
"..H'llo?"
"Did I wake you, sleeping beauty? I can never tell since you always sound grumpy when you pick up the phone."
"Fool, why are you calling me this early?"
"It's nine am, it's not that early. Plus, I miss you! I don't know when I'm ever going to see my best friend ever again, now that she's gone back to living in the suicide capitol of the world."
"Lena, we both know that's not true." I guess I should get up, this conversation might take a while. I stood up, a few bones popping back into place.
"Yea, well, whatever. So, how've things been? How's the mother figure?"
"Bleh. Same. Bitchy. As for things...they've been alright. I went to the doctor yesterday."
"How'd that go? Did you tell him your...future plans?" I met Alena two years ago at a frat party, and we've been best friends ever since. She's from Germany but spent most of her life in New York, she fell in love with LA and decided to stay as long as she could, hence her still being there. She knows all about my condition, and what I've decided to do because of it.
"It went fine. He respected my decision, and even said that there might be a different way to treat it besides what I've been doing."
"Oh no way. Well, if there's another way for you to live long enough to see me procreate then I'm glad."
"Oh god, you should not be able to have children."
"Why not? I'd be a good mother!"
"You can't even care for a hamster! I miss Goldie too... he was so fluffy."
"Alright, I get it, scheiß.. So, what else? I know that's not all you have been doing." Yawning, I ran a hand through my hair, walking into the kitchen.
"Uh, I met someone."
"What? Already? Fuck, I've been single for six months and you find someone in a day. Moving on quick from 4B, huh?" 4B was the name she gave to this girl in my apartment I had been talking to. Well, I was thinking about talking to her but I never grew the balls to do it, so I was left in the friend zone.
"Let's not bring her up. And hey, relax, I just met this chick! It's not like we're doing anything..."
"But you'd like to." My cheeks grew hot.
"I just met her!"
"But you don't deny it! Ha! So, what's her name?" I could imagine Lena sitting, twirling the ends of her mohawked hair, waiting for me to spill. We're the kind of friends that, even though we're hundreds of miles apart, I can still tell you how she would react, or how she felt by the inflection of her voice.
"..Her name's Alice."
"Ohh, and...?"
"And she's nice."
I could practically hear her eyes rolling at me,"You're horrible at this. Details?"
"Alright! She's hot! She's like this little bundle of...sunshine. I don't know, we only spent like, fifteen minutes together but I felt..content. We talked all the way to her car and it was easy. You know I have trouble opening up, but I just felt comfortable with her, it was weird." After our little exchange yesterday, I took half of Alice's shopping bags back to her car. If you could call them shopping bags, they felt like bricks! And I have to admit, I was a little disappointed when we made it back to her car, which was a weird feeling for me. I don't think I've ever felt depressed like that to leave someone I just met.
During the walk to her car we easily talked about everything and yet nothing at the same time. I learned that she was a vegetarian and had a secret obsession with first person shooters, and in turn I told her how I don't understand people's love for Hello Kitty and that I think accordions are amazing and not recognized as they should be. Don't even ask me how we started talking about it, I don't even know.
I thought that'd be it, you know, just a 'Hey, thanks for the help. Now, I'll get on with my life, see ya!' but for the second time that day I was surprised. She said she'd like to hang out sometime, and we exchanged names and numbers.
"You sound flustered. You got it bad!" Ugh, like I haven't realized that.
"I don't know, I can't have a relationship right now. What kind of person wants someone with as much baggage as I have?"
"Well, whatever happens, happens. Are you going to see her again?"
I finished pouring fresh coffee into a mug. "We're supposed to meet sometime later today."
"For someone that just said they don't want a relationship, you're acting like you do. Anyway," she took a breath. I think I know where this is going... "Are you going to see your father?"
"...Yea. Saturday." I took a sip.
"Is he still living there?"
"As far as I know he is. If he wasn't that'd just make my life easier now wouldn't it?" I felt my fingers begin to lightly twitch. Gritting my teeth I fought to not think about him, or what happened. Stupid fucking brain. I don't understand why your brain always remembers the things you don't want it to.
"I know it's hard for you to move back so quickly, and having to deal with all that...shit from before...You know you can call me whenever. I don't care that you're not living here anymore, you're still my girl."
"Thanks, Lena."
"No problem. Now, don't have too much fun on your date today! Don't do anything I wouldn't do! Well, never mind I think you've done it all..."
...
I reflexively stretched in the winter's sun. Sunlight is a rare occurrence, especially in the winter months. But because it's rare it is something to look forward to. When it's sunny or hot people flock to the parks, to the beach, or even just decide to walk instead of drive. It's a time where the weather becomes something to participate in, unlike in SoCal where everyone seems to not care that it's a beautiful day because it happens all the time.
After I had gotten off the phone with Lena I noticed I had a new text from a certain shopaholic. She said that since it was going to be a nice day out we should meet up at Gasworks Park around one and hang out. I waited a minute to reply back, not wanting to seem like I was expecting a message from her...
I laid back into the soft grass surrounding me, staring up at the blue sky above. From my position on this huge hill at Gasworks, you could see Lake Union and Downtown Seattle, this was definitely a good place to chill. I could feel myself fading into that relaxed asleep-but-awake state.
"Looks like you're having enough fun without me."
"Oh, h-hey." I sat up so quickly it took a second for my brain to comprehend that I was no longer laying down. Smooth.
"Easy, tiger. I wouldn't want you getting hurt over little ol' me."
My eyes focused on the small figure before me. She was dressed simply, but that didn't mean that it wasn't stylish. No, it was the kind of style that looks effortless. It was all her own. Don't ask me details about what she was wearing, I don't know jack shit about fashion.
She had a pair of expensive looking sunglasses on her face. I frowned.
"What's with the face?"
Oh it's nothing, it's just that I can't see your beautiful eyes. Ugh, since when did I turn into a sap?
"Uh, nothing."
Cue awkward silence. Why am I so nervous? Maybe because you don't want to fuck this up. Shut up. Great, I'm talking to myself. Atleast it's not aloud.
"Um, care to join me?" I nodded to the spot next to me.
She graced me with a smile, "Well, don't mind if I do." Picking up on my nervousness she began the conversation as she sat beside me.
"So, Bella," There goes my heart again, "what's your favorite time of day?"
"What? Is that a for real question?"
She repeated, "What's your favorite time of day?" She turned to me, I could see the makings of a smirk on her lips. They were full...and red..and..okay getting distracted here.
I bit my bottom lip, thinking, "Uh, I guess late afternoon."
"Why's that?" Her face was directed toward me, but I couldn't tell where her eyes were looking. I've never hated sunglasses in my life more than I do right now.
"Well, it feels like the world is taking a relaxed sigh." She giggled.
"I've never heard that one before, and that's saying something."
I pulled my arms around my legs, trying to warm them up. Just because the sun's out doesn't mean it's warm.
"What about you?"
"You can't ask me the same question."
"What? Why not?"
"Because that's against the rules."
I raised a brow, "Rules?"
She nodded, the little spikes of her hair swaying along with the movement of her head.
"Since when does talking have rules?"
"Since now. So, ask me another question."
And that's how it went for the next hour. It would have kept going if it weren't for my stomach yelling at me, jumping into our light hearted conversation.
"Looks like someone's hungry." She poked my side, causing a giggle to fall out of my own mouth. She laughed and I think I found my new favorite sound.
"I didn't take you for a giggler."
"I'm not. That was a one time thing." Another poke. Another giggle. Goddamn it.
I furrowed my brows in a pout, "That's not fair! I'm hungry, you're taking advantage of my lack of nutrients."
"Oh really?" The sun had finally become hidden in wandering clouds. She took off her sunglasses and I could finally see her bright honey eyes, glowing with mischief. "So, if you had all your energy you would be able to fend me off?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."
"Well, we should get you fed." She paused, "Then we'll see how long you can resist." Oh god. The way she said that last part caused not only my face to flush but my entire body as well. What the hell! I'm supposed to be the smooth talker here! I've never had a problem flirting, or even just speaking for that matter. What's this girl doing to me?
"U-uh...yea..." Wow. Once sentence has turned me into a drooling idiot.
She laughed as she got up, giving me her hand, "Come on, Shakespeare, let's find you something to eat."
...
We ended up eating at a little Thai restaurant. Well, I ended up eating. She said she had to save her appetite for a big family dinner this evening.
"So what? It's not like it'll make much of a difference." She's so small! She looks like she needs to eat a cheeseburger. Or five.
"Yea, but if I eat now then I won't be that hungry later. Then, my mom will think something's wrong with me and then my sister will get all pissy because I upset mom.."
I chewed down some noodles before responding. "You have a sister?"
Her eyes light up and a grin spread on her face, "Yes. I have one sister and three brothers."
That's a hella lot of people. I couldn't imagine sharing a bathroom with more than one person.
"Wow, that's a lot of kids."
"Yea, but we were adopted around the same time and are all about the same age so we get along well."
"Your poor parents, five kids? You alone must have made them crazy."
"I'll have you know that I was an angel as a child and I still am! My brother on the other hand..."
"Tell me about your family." I smiled as her eyes glistened. I am an only child, so I always wondered what it'd be like to have a large family. I was more interested in it as a kid, since playing by yourself gets boring, even after you have finely tuned your imagination. But even now I guess I still long to be apart of a huge family.
"Well, there's my sister, Rosalie, she's this fierce blonde bombshell, she might seem like a bitch, but she's just immensely loyal to the family and what she believes. Then there's her husband, Emmett-"
"Woah, hold on. You're sister's married?" Didn't she just say they were all about the same age? She's like my age, that's kinda young to get married.
"Yup. They fell in love the moment they saw each other, and have been with together ever since."
Hmm, that's unusual, especially for this day in age. Most people just want to fool around or see how many conquests they can have before they get to be 30.
"That's cool. Actually, that's more than cool."
"Yea, my other brothers, Jasper and Edward, hope to have the same luck. You know, talking about them is one thing, you should meet them for yourself some day, I just know that you'll love them!"
At the mention of meeting her family I felt that creeping sense of dread snake its way from my spine up to the back of my head. I've always hated 'meeting the family', and not because I'm someone they wouldn't want to meet, I just get awkward for no reason. I become overly polite and a total weenie.
"Uh, yea. That'd be nice...someday."
"Oh, I'm sorry if I'm coming on too strong by already bringing up meeting my family! I didn't mean to scare you or anything, I just got so excited about it since I know you'll love them. I guess I really should take Carlisle's advice and think before I speak."
I gave her a sheepish grin, "Don't worry about it. I just- wait. Carlisle?"
I just for a second saw her eyes widen when I mentioned his name, like a child would when they were caught in a lie, but before I had a chance to ponder that her eyes were back to their normal size.
"Oh, yea that's my dad."
Curious.
"What's your last name?"
"..Cullen."
No fucking way. Just when I meet someone who's kind of amazing she just so happens to be the daughter of my doctor. This might not seem like a big deal to most, but I don't want her knowing that there's something wrong with me, especially this early in our unofficial non-relationship.
"Your father is my doctor. That's just..." I ran a hand through my dark brown hair, "god, what a small world."
"It seems that way." She offered me a small smile, "Does that bother you?"
"Yea, it kind of does."
"Why?"
Why? Maybe because I don't want you to know I'm defected. That I have to take from others to survive... That I'm practically planning my own death in a couple months.
"Getting into the tough stuff already, huh?" I placed my napkin on the table, my appetite gone. She placed her hand over mine, and I felt a sense of warmth. I felt much better.
"Look, I have a medical problem...a blood disorder. But since your dad's a blood specialist I'm guessing you got that already... I've had it my whole life, but it's only gotten worse. So, I wouldn't be that surprised, or feel that bad if you decided to leave. I get it, it's hard to be with someone who needs a lot of medical attention and-"
"Hey," She lightly tugged on my fingers which were in her hand, "what makes you think I want to stop seeing you?"
"I'm not healthy, I wouldn't want to put someone through my own problems, especially someone I just met."
"Well, that's not your decision to make. We all have our problems, babe." She took my hand in both of hers, lightly rubbing circles on my knuckles, causing butterflies to flutter in my stomach. She stared at our hands for a moment with an unreadable expression.
She brought her eyes back to mine, "I like you, a lot. As much as a person can like someone for only knowing them for about a day." Her smile made that thick, awkward air dissipate, "I want to keep seeing you, because I know that things will be alright, I want to be there when it happens."
...
As I rested my head on my pillow, Luka sprawled against me, thinking about the day's events, I realized this was the first day in years that I haven't needed a smoke.
Thanks for the reviews 'n such! I was quite surprised.
To answer some questions, you will find out what exactly Bella's illness is eventually. I'm writing this as I go, so I can't say for sure when but soon-ish.
And since I'm writing this as I go my updating will fluctuate, but I'm trying for every 3-4 days.