Chapter Four: The Change

Nine hours. Nine hours until midnight. Nine hours until I would be a vampire.

——

I carried the final boxes to my truck and closed the tail gait. Charlie stood at the front door watching me. I walked up to him, trying to act really sad. In a way I was, I would be leaving Charlie. My father.

"Call me as soon as you get to the border. Be careful."

"Thank you for everything, dad. Ill be safe, I promise." I hugged him one last time before I climbed into my truck. I turned the key and its engine roared to life.

I felt bad about leaving Charlie, and about lying to him. I wasn't starting collage for another year.

At the Cullen's, Emmet and Edward helped me carry my stuff up to Edward's room. My new room.

"Are you ready for tonight?" Edward asked me. His face was so serious, it scared me.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Edward Cullen, you better not be regretting your promise. I set down the last box in the corner.

"I just wanted to remind you about the last time you were bitten." Of course I remembered. James. Edward saved me before James could kill me. I remember the fire. I remember how it spread throughout my body.

"I remember, and im not afraid to do it again. Do you ever think I would miss the opportunity to be with you forever?"

"Forever? Ah man!" Edward said jokingly. I glared at him. "Hey, I was joking." He kissed me on the forehead. "I love you. Ill be with you forever." Edward kissed my lips. Emmet watched as we grew more passionate, then he left, closing the door behind him. It was the last time I would really be with Edward as a human.

——

I watched as the clock in Esme's closet turned to eleven-thirty. Just thirty minutes. Esme had been helping me get into my dress. I looked at my reflection in the full length mirror. The dress was astonishing, wearing it brought out the auburn color of my hair.

"You look beautiful." Esme pulled the last lace tight. I gasped. Does she know how much that hurts?

"Does the dress have to be this tight?" I said, trying to get air in my lungs. Of course that wouldn't matter after I was changed. Vampires don't have to breathe, but Esme still didn't answer my question.

"Edward is waiting for you." She pushed me out the door, and then disappeared down the hall. Everyone had gone out hunting that night, so Edward and I were now the only ones in the house.

——

"You do know this will hurt." Edward's soft velvet voice whispered in my ear.

"Yes." Get on with it. No second thoughts. No regrets.

"I love you Isabella… Cullen." He advanced towards my neck, I grabbed his hand. "I love you." He whispered one last time. Edward's glittering white teeth sank into my skin. They didn't stay long. Edward had kept himself in control.

Then there was the fire. Fire was all I felt. I wanted to scream as it spread throughout my body, but I didn't, for Edward's sake.

I cant explain the fire. All I can tell you was that it wasn't the kind that kept you from freezing, or that lit up a room when it was dark. This fire didn't have any characteristics except pain. The fire was pain. But it was a good pain, and now I would be with Edward forever.

I tried to concentrate on something other than the pain, so I started to recite Romeo and Juliet in my head.

Romeo, Romeo, where art thou Romeo? He's right in front of me. My non-pain approach only worked for a while. Then the fire hit my heart.

It felt like I was being held under piercing cold water. My lungs wanted to burst. Like my heart was being stabbed by dozens of needles. It didn't feel as if it was going to stop. But then I remembered. Three days, three days for the change. The last thing I heard was the sweet sound of Edward playing my lullaby. Then there was nothing.

NTR: I know, short chapter. I'll try and make them longer. This is the first okay story I've ever written.