A/N: Hello again. Thanks for coming back.

I finished Chapter 7 a few hours ago and am now in the process of writing Chapter 8. So I hope to have it ready for you some time tomorrow.

I lost track of time whilst writing Chapter 8 so that's why this upload is a few hours later then I had wanted. I was on a roll, so can you blame me?

Anyway, here it is. Hope you enjoy!

KS.reader

Chapter 7: The Risk

I wake before my alarm again. My spine throbs and my collarbones feel bruised. I lay as still as a corpse; afraid to make the pain any worse. Don't do this today. Please don't do this today. I beg my own body. Let me have today. PLEASE!

At 8am, my alarm drones next to me and I try turning my head to the left. Immediately I have to stop. The pain in my neck and collarbones increases. It feels like the ends of my spine are being pushed towards each other. I blindly reach out with my left hand to turn off the alarm, crippling my shoulder in the process.

Charlie comes into my room, immediately detecting the pain I'm in due to the grimace on my face. "Right, that's it. I'm calling off today Bella. You're in too much p-" he begins, but I interrupt him. He's not stopping me from going to the Cullens' house.

"No! Dad, please. I'm fine, just a little sore. I'm sure once I'm up and have had my medication, I'll be alright." I assure him. I'm not so confident, but I need to at least try. I can't let this illness beat me... no matter how hard it tries. Charlie looks at me with unease, but finally agrees.

He slides his hand, fingers splayed, under my shoulder blades and slowly starts to help me sit up. I close my eyes as a constant throb runs up and down my spine. Charlie has to keep a hand on my back the whole time, as I won't be strong enough to support myself. Once I'm sat facing him, legs round and feet on the floor, he picks me up bridal style.

It hurts more then I can explain, but I manage to stay silent. As usual, Charlie knows what I want without me having to ask; I'm not in the mood to use the stair lift. He carries me down and puts me onto my dining chair. I have my medication as well as some extra pain meds, keeping my fingers crossed that they ease this horrible throb a bit.

He makes me some bacon and egg, hoping that some extra energy will help as well. I don't usually eat foods like bacon very often. I have to be careful with what I eat and drink. Too much sugar and stimulants can cause a 'boom' in energy, which is effectively followed by a 'bust'.

A 'boom and bust' cycle is very common for ME/CFS patients. When the person is feeling a little better, they can do more activity. This overactive period of time is the 'boom'. Without a doubt it will be followed by a 'bust', which is in other words, a crash. 'Boom and bust' can also be related to the effect sugar has on sufferers. They'll feel energised for a small amount of time after consuming it, then feel worse then they did before.

Once I've finished eating, Charlie lifts me from the dining chair and into my wheelchair. I wheel myself to the Beauty room. My collarbone hurts with the movement of my arm but the pain in my neck seems to have moved to my thighs. They throb, pulsing frequently, like a siren. I can't say it's a relief, as the pain still remains, but at least it's gone from my neck. It'll make today more manageable.

Choosing an outfit has never been so difficult. I want to be comfy but I also want to give a good first impression to Mr and Mrs. Cullen. And your appearance is the initial impression someone gets of you.

Finally, I decide on a lilac cable-knitted sweater, black leggings and a pair of beige Timberland's. Sue arrives at 9am to help me. It takes us an hour today; we're being extra cautious because of my pain. As we're leaving the room, Sue thanks me.

"I just wanted to say thank you for today Bella. Seth isn't feeling too well, so I'm glad I get to spend the day with him now." she says. I know that she wouldn't have told me this if the plans hadn't changed.

So it's true, sometimes, everything happens for a reason. I don't agree with the statement for everything though; I can't see there being a reason I am ill. I just can't.

"It's okay Sue. No need to thank me. I'm glad you're able to spend the day with him. I hope he feels better soon. Send him and Leah my love." I tell her. She assures me she will, kisses my dad on the cheek and says goodbye. I spend the next hour resting.

Reading, watching TV, etc isn't classed as resting completely. When I'm doing this, I'm still exerting energy: Cognitive energy. So for the hour, I lie with my eyes closed and my 'Rest' playlist playing through my headphones.

Just after 11am, me and Charlie are turning down the street for the Cullens house. It was a bit confusing to get here. If Edward hadn't given such good directions, I'm sure we would have missed the turn in.

It's a trail hidden amongst the trees that line the main road. As we drive down it, the trees start thinning out until we can see through the gaps and further into the forest. If I didn't trust the Cullens as much as I do, I'd be asking Charlie to stop and turn around. It's like something out of a horror movie. I'm half expecting a vampire to jump from the top of a tree, or a werewolf to pounce from the shadows and attack us. I know. Ridiculous, right?

In the distance, I spot a house. No let me rephrase that... a mansion. It's a large house. The closer me and Charlie get, the more it seems to grow. Once we are parked outside, we both have to take a minute to take it all in. My dad whistles his approval.

The house is very modern, but simultaneously, has a historic look to it. I wouldn't be surprised if it has recently been restored. It's three stories tall. Some of the visual structure is made up of wooden panelling and the rest is painted white. At the front is a small, wide staircase, made up of no more then five steps leading up to the porch. It's a deep porch that wraps around the front of the house.

Charlie and me glance at each other and sigh, both thinking the same thing: bloody stairs. He gets out first and makes his way round the back of the car to get my wheelchair out. I keep my eyes on the front door, waiting for it to open. It does, as I expected. Alice comes barrelling down the stairs, but someone calls her name behind her and she stops when she reaches the bottom. Next Emmett exits, moving to lean against the porch railing, his arms crossed in front of him. I turn my attention back to the door.

Finally Edward comes into view, followed by two people I don't recognise. They must be Mr and Mrs. Cullen. Mr Cullen is rather tall from what I can see. He has blonde hair - the total opposite to his children - but he has the same shaped face as his sons; a chiseled jaw and high cheek bones. Mrs. Cullen is not much taller then Alice by the looks of it. She has gorgeous caramel hair that flows over her shoulders and glistens in the sunlight. She has an innocent look about her and the way her gaze flickers between her children, shows the motherly love inside her.

Edward makes his way down the steps to help Charlie. He calls Emmett down. Charlie thought it would be a good idea to bring my wheelchair as well as my dining chair. This way I feel more comfortable whilst working. Emmett passes the car with the dining chair, grinning at me through the window. He ascends the stairs and passes his parents as he makes his way into the house. Edward is next and he winks at me as he passes. He's holding my wheelchair. How is he carrying that thing? I mean, I know it's folded down a bit, but it's still extremely heavy.

Charlie comes round to my side and opens the door. "Ready?" he asks. I think he's secretly hoping I'll change my mind, that I'll take my last chance now and back out. I nod at him instead. He sighs before placing his arms in position and hauling me out of the car. Cautiously, he carries me up the stairs. Mr and Mrs. Cullen quickly enter ahead of us, so they don't get in the way.

When we enter, Charlie puts me onto my wheelchair that Edward must have unfolded. I look up and thank them both quietly. Edward simply nods before turning to his parents. "Mom, Dad, this is Bella and her father, Chief Charlie Swan." he introduces us. "Charlie, Bella, these are my parents. Dr Carlisle and Esme Cullen."

They both smile kindly and reach out their hands so me and my dad can shake them. "It's nice to meet you both." says Charlie. He hates meeting new people so I'm pleased that he's doing it, for me. He'd do anything for me.

"Likewise Chief Swan." says Carlisle. My father awkwardly clears his throat. He knows how I feel about this certain subject.

"I'm... eerm.. I'm no longer Chief." he admits. I look down so no one sees the guilt in my eyes. I feel my collarbone ache in protest of the movement, but I choose to try and ignore it.

"It's lovely to finally meet you Bella. We've heard so much about you." Esme says. Her voice is so kind. Up close, I can see how perfect her skin is. It's flawless. It makes me wonder how old she is because she doesn't look old enough to be any of the Cullen kids' mother. There is not one wrinkle visible to the naked eye. I see where Edward gets his green eyes from. They're the same shade as his and everything.

"It's lovely to meet you too, Mr and Mrs. Cullen. Thank you for having me. Your home is wonderful." I respond. She smiles sweetly at me. I imagine everyone that knows her, likes her. She can't possibly have a single enemy in this world. She's just too likable.

"Thank you dear. But please call us Carlisle and Esme. Mrs. Cullen is my mother-in-law after all." she tells me. I smile at her. "Why don't you kids follow me. You can do your assignment in the dining room. Your chair is already in there Bella." she says. My dad informs me that he'll be through in a minute to say goodbye, he just needs to talk to Carlisle first.

We all follow Esme. As I make my way through the house I have a good look around. The first floor is very open and bright, with only a few interior walls. The south facing wall of the house is completely glass. From floor to ceiling, it's all a window. The view is beautiful. It's the perfect place to see the Galawah river. That, plus the forest, gives the place an almost magical atmosphere.

A wide, wooden staircase is the first thing you see when you enter the house, and it turns to the left a third of the way up. In the center (a bit to the right) is a raised area, displaying a grand piano. I wonder who plays? Through the living room, in the right side of the house, is the kitchen and dining room. You have to pass through the kitchen to get to the dining room.

We arrive at the dining table and I decide to wait in my wheelchair until Charlie comes to help me. "Bella. I haven't had a chance to say hello yet." Alice says excitedly as she bounces up to me. She leans over to give me a gentle hug. Emmett is next - he seems to be in a better mood today - and finally Edward. When he leans down to hug me, he kisses me subtly on the cheek. My face flames red and I look away from everyone in hopes no one will notice. Of course I don't have any luck and I hear Edward chuckle quietly, him being the only one who truly knows what caused it. Esme is looking between us with a twinkle in her eye.

"I'm going to start preparing lunch. Is pasta okay with you Bella?" she asks. I answer with a "yes" and she leaves the room. All four of us begin talking, catching up since we last saw each other. It was only yesterday, but for some reason it feels like a lifetime. Alice begins telling me about all the shops she wants to visit and how one day, when I'm feeling up to it, she'd like me to go with her.

Shopping sounds fun, but I haven't been in so long that I'd be scared to try. Worried that I'll disappoint Alice if I get too tired and we have to come home. Worried about the stares I'll undoubtedly receive. There are too many factors to be concerned about. It's going to take a lot of persuading from her, before I even consider going.

Not too long later, Carlisle and Charlie enter the room. "Right Bells. I'm off. I've spoken to Carlisle about everything. Don't hesitate to call me and please be careful." he says. I know he's worried about leaving. This will be the first time since my diagnosis that I'm away from either him or Sue and not in school. To be honest, I'm a little wary myself, though I'll never let him know that.

He comes over to me and slowly helps me stand. He assists me in shuffling to my dining chair. Once I'm settled, he kisses me on the top of my head and says goodbye to everyone. Carlisle walks him out.

Alice and Emmett leave the room moments later, so Edward and I can begin. Edward starts telling me all that he's done already. He's done a really good job; the skeletal model is coming along really well and the circuitry for the LED lights works perfectly so far.

We work for a solid three hours.

Edward carries on with the model, asking for approval and critisism every now and then. I write out our speeches for the presentation, doing research for functions and names of parts of the system. I didn't realise how complex the skeleton was. It's incredible how your body parts work together. To keep a constant flow of conversation between us, I start to supply some of the facts I find out to Edward.

"Did you know that you have 206 bones in your body and more then half of them are in your hands and feet?" I ask him. This is news to me. He stops what he's doing and looks at his hands in astonishment. The look on his face is priceless and I can't help but laugh out loud. He's acting like he's seeing the world for the first time. He holds his right hand up in front of his face and analyses it, as if he has x-ray vision and can count them all.

"Unbelievable." he mutters, then smirks at me and carries on with the work.

Several minutes later I speak up again. "Listen to this. The shortest bone in your body is in your ear and it measures to no more than 0.11 inches." I inform him. He pauses for a moment when I tell him this, before he picks up the ruler he's been using, and makes his way over to me. He kneels beside me and lines up the ruler next to my hand that is resting on the tables surface. He marks off 0.11 inches in from the end of my pinky finger with a black marker.

Wow! That is really small. He stares at the marking for a few seconds and then stands up, making his way over to his previous place. He resumes as if nothing happened. After a couple moments he stops again, shakes his head and places his finger on his ear. "Woah." is all he says. I laugh out loud again, amused by his antics. He seems genuinely stumped by the things I'm telling him. I'm not sure if it's all an act to entertain me or not, but I don't care. I'm loving every moment I spend with him.

We continue on like this for a long time. So long, I loose track. It's so easy to forget my illness and to forget my worries when I'm around him. He makes everything okay again. Nothings been okay with me for a long time.

At some point in the three hours, Esme brought each of us a bowl of pasta. We were on such a roll, that we ate as we worked. My collarbone gave me a bit of bother but I tried to ignore it. I want to make the most of my time here. Who knows when I'll be able to come back.

About two hours in, I start to look into broken bones. I mention to Edward some things I find out; the healing process, averages, etc. Then he starts telling me a story about how he broke his arm when he was 9. He was climbing trees with Emmett and wanting to be as cool as his older brother, he went one step too far and fell from it. Apparently it was a bad break and he needed to keep a cast on for 2 months.

In return, I tell him my own experience with a broken bone. My mother wanted me to try ballet classes when I was 6 years old. Let's just say I wasn't a natural. In my first class, I had managed to injure two other girls, smash a mirror and put my leg through a wall. The last of that list is where the broken bone comes into the story. In the process of damaging the wall, I also damaged my leg. I broke it in two places. I thought it was awesome, after I got over the initial shock of pain, because I got to wear a cast that all my friends could sign. My mother didn't feel the same. She cried when I was banned from the studio. It didn't really bother me, and I never tried dancing again. Singing was more for me anyway.

"You win!" Edward simply states at the end of my story, pouting afterwards. We both burst into laughter. He hates losing, I've learnt that already.

For the rest of the remaining hour, whilst we work, we trade stories and ask each other basic questions, trying to get to know each other better. I learn a lot about him:

His favourite colour is blue, he loves all music genres - except country music. His favourite movie is 'The Exorcist'. I learn that he is the one that plays the piano and I made him promise to play for me sometime.

In the three hours, we do a lot. I have the whole speech written and presentation planned. I make another copy of the final piece, for Edward. He just has to finish the circuits in the hands and feet - which is the hardest part, "because of all the bones that are apparently in them" he says. He'll be doing that later.

At around 3.15pm, Edward leaves the room to get us a drink. When he leaves the room and I'm sat on my own, I realise something, I haven't taken one break the whole time I've been here. Shit!

Immediately, my head feels funny. I start going light-headed. I try to call out to Edward, to Carlisle, to anyone; but I can't. It's like my mouth won't work with my brain. The sudden fog looms over me, like how steam leaves a boiling pan when the lid is removed; spreading and searching for space to invade. Woah! This brain fog is horrible.

I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. When I do, the light coming from the window burns my eyeballs. They itch and sting. This is light sensitivity. I get it a lot - usually when I'm watching TV. When that happens, I put on a pair of sunglasses and the problem isn't so much a problem anymore. But this time it's different. This time I want to scratch my eyes out. The skin surrounding my eye sockets stings and itches as well. I reach my hand up to my face and that's when I realise I'm crying.

C'mon Edward, hurry up. The pain in my body increases. My legs throb and my arms ache. My face stings and my neck stiffens. My spine pounds and my ribs feel bruised. I feel like I've been hit by a bus. Shit!

A vice like grip suddenly appears, crushing my head. Double shit! The beginning of the mother of all headaches... great. The throbbing pounds behind my eyes.

What is happening? A crash doesn't usually happen until 24 hours after the cause. Sometimes, it can begin sooner, but never this soon. I can't focus on anything other then myself right now, so I don't know if anyone has seen me yet. I'm sure I look like death. The pain has captured me. I feel like an animal trapped in a cage, with no way out. Internally, I'm screaming for help, but on the outside I'm not saying a word. This is, by far, the worst I've been with this illness.

The pain in my ribs becomes the most prominent. I feel like they're too small for my body, like my lungs are being restricted. My heart tightens. I start wheezing, trying to catch my breath. Soon I'm panting like a dog. Spots start clouding my vision.

This whole time, I've been sat at the table in my dining chair. I'm gripping the edge of the table with all my strength. My head starts to bob back and forth, I'm slowly slipping into unconsciousness, but I'm not there yet!

I hear a shatter of glass. "Oh shit, Bella! Dad! DAD! Fuck!! Dad, get in here, NOW!!!" I hear Edward scream. He sounds hysterical. I feel something, someone, touch my shoulder. I flinch and the touch is gone as quick as it appeared.

The dam finally breaks. I start crying out loud; full on sobbing. I can't hold it in, the pain too intense. I hear footsteps echoing around, the thumping getting louder. It pounds in my ears, contributing to my headache. I hear voices in the room, other than Edward's, but I can't understand them. All the words and voices merge together.

I try to fight it but I can't. All I want is to escape the pain. I'm so tired. So, so tired. Eventually, unable to combat the fatigue any longer, I pass out.

A/N: There you go. The last portion of this chapter was hard for me to right. I hope I've done a good job. Please review! I'd love to hear all your thoughts.

I'm hoping to have Chapter 8 uploaded tomorrow but I'm sorry if it's not. I'll be as quick as I can.

KS.reader

Image links:

Bella's outfit - https/school/set?id=170594442