Hope Chapter 4 New Beginnings, a twilight fanfic

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, from the Twilight series are the property of their respective owners, mainly Stephanie Meyer. The original characters and plot are the property of the authors. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope

Chapter 4 – New Beginnings

I wasn't quite sure how so much time could pass without me realising it but I woke from my shocked state to see the beginnings of a sun rise from behind the blinds. I had spent all night fighting the internal battle within myself as to whether or not to go to my own funeral. I knew in some ways it was foolish to tempt fate but in others I needed to see my parents, one last time.

Just that thought had my breath hitching, tearless sobs wracking my frame. I knew then that there was no way I couldn't go. I had to see for myself that Charlie and Renee would eventually be ok. I pushed myself up off the bed, knowing that if I was going to attempt this then I needed to go and hunt, to be on the safe side.

It was then I realised that I had no clothes here, and the ones I was wearing were a little too dirty to be walking around in, especially being covered in blood. The only place I would get clothes without drawing attention to myself would be to get some of my clothes, but could I do that? Knowing that Charlie and Renee were just downstairs could I sneak into my house and grab some clothes and leave them? I knew it was my only option but still it hurt too much to think about how close I would be to them but not be allowed to go to them.

I stepped onto the porch of the house, trying to prepare myself, before setting off at a run. I don't think I would ever get fed up of this, running as a vampire. I could see everything I passed as clear as day and yet I was running faster than a car. I could see each individual leaf and the veins on them as I passed and it took me literally thirty seconds to get to my house. I let a small laugh of excitement escape my lips before turning and studying the house before me.

It looked different with my enhanced vision. It looked more worn around the edges; I could see all of the cracks in the wood, all the paint falling away. Yet it was still my home, it still held the ability to invoke that warm feeling of coming home within me every time I saw it.

I turned my attention to the occupants within the house, Charlie, Renee and Phil. From their conversation I could hear they were all getting ready to go. To my funeral. From their voices alone I could hear the sadness creeping into the tones, all of them too afraid to mention my name in case it set the others off. They seemed to be having breakfast in the kitchen so I knew I could risk climbing the wall into my bedroom. I knew if they came upstairs I could be gone in seconds.

I climbed the tree next to my window and then silently leapt to the window ledge, pulling it open as quietly as I could manage. I gracefully leapt into my room and stood for a moment, taking it all in.

Nothing had changed. Renee and Charlie had obviously not touched anything within the room as everything was how I imagined I had left it that morning. It filled me with sadness knowing that Charlie would probably live with this room how it was forever, especially taking into account how the house had not changed since my mother had left.

I broke myself out of my musings and walked over to my closet. I pulled it open and took the comfiest clothes I could find, quickly changing them. I padded over to the window intent on leaving when a creak of a floorboard distracted me. I hadn't realised as a human that I had a loose floorboard, and I bent down to look at it.

As I pulled the floorboard, I could feel something sharp catch against my hand. If I had been human it would have more than likely drawn blood. I pulled the object from the small hole that had appeared and realised it was the wallet containing my plane tickets that had been a gift from Carlisle and Esme. I moved them aside and realised there was one more item inside the hole.

My chest hitched as I realised what the image before me. It was the photo I had taken in the front room in this house. Me and Edward, smiling to the camera looking so much happier. It hurt to see it but at the same time I knew I needed to. I had started to panic at the thought that I could forget him. I knew he had probably moved on but I knew it would never be as easy for me. I didn't think I could ever forget him. As I moved to put the photo on top of the plane tickets I realised there was writing on the back of the photo. With trembling fingers I turned it over and read the inscription, 'Look after my heart'.

Before I could even begin to contemplate that that meant I heard footsteps approaching up the stairs. I picked up the documents, slid the floorboard back down and leapt out of the window before the person had even taken another step.

I took off into the trees at the back of the house, still in shock about the things I had found. The last promise, even if it was the stupidest promise he'd ever made, was to make sure it was as if he'd never existed. If he had truly intended to carry out this promise then why had he hidden the photo there, and wrote that on the back of it.

A doubtful thought then entered my head. Was it possible that he did still love me? I shook my head, telling myself not to be stupid but I couldn't shake the thought from my head. If it was the case then he was going to have a surprise in store when I found him.

I turned my thoughts to more pressing matters as I heard the door at Charlie's slam shut. I heard them set of and followed at a moderate pace, stopping just inside of the woods near the front of the church. There were a few people there, a couple of teachers, Jessica, Ben, Angela and Mike. It was a small gathering, but then I'd never really had many friends.

Something awful hit my nose then, it smelt like rotting garbage that had been left in the sun too long, and it made my nose crinkle up in disgust. I spotted Jacob in the same instant, and knew that he had sensed my presence. I heard him mumble "remember the letter" toward me, knowing I would hear. It hurt to realise that he still wanted me to leave, and a small whimper left my lips before I could let it. I saw his shoulders fall at this and he whispered to the wind "I'm so sorry".

They all moved inside, the ceremony obviously started, and as I pondered Jacob's words I moved round to the back of the church, where I knew they would come to bury my 'body'. I understood completely why Jacob had to ask me to leave. I was a newborn and I was too unpredictable to stay around here. I knew this and yet I couldn't understand why the Cullen's thought that it would be hard for me to resist blood. Of course it burned my throat whenever I was near humans but it was nothing I could not control.

People started to flow out of the church then, and started to make their way to where they were going to 'bury me'. As the weather became slightly overcast I spotted three more people join the mourners, coming from the direction of the woods opposite me.

If I had still had a heart it would have stopped beating in the moment that I took in who had joined my mother and Charlie. They were currently shaking their hands, offering their condolences. I could recognise their faces from a mile away and it made my heart ache to see them again. Alice, Carlisle and Esme took a place opposite my view behind Jessica and Mike as the minister began to say his last words. Their heads were bowed in respect but in that moment the wind blew from behind me and towards them, and their heads shot up. They all had looks of shock on their faces and I knew that they had caught my scent.

I couldn't move. I closed my eyes and tried to sort through my thoughts. They were all over the place, I had thought of nothing but finding them since I had awoken but now they were here it was different. All my thoughts were filled with how they had left me, how they had claimed to love me as a sister and a daughter but they had left. It tore me into two. Yet, just seeing their beautiful faces had immediately sent feelings of relief through my body. I wasn't alone anymore, they all knew what I was going through and they could help.

The relief won out over the anger and I could feel a smile spread across my face. My eyes were still closed when I heard a breathless "Bella?" from in front of me. My eyes slowly came open and I smiled at the person in front of me "Hello Alice".

There's the next chapter. Sorry it's been a while, I've had a few assessments in so been busy! I don't think it's going to be too many chapters left before the end, this was only ever planned as a short fic, but I'll try to have the next chapter up soon.

Please Review