The moment Lilith had disappeared through the ER doors, with her brother holding her in support, the strangeness that had filled Bella's senses dissolved. Awareness of what she had witnessed and felt took over her mind. It had all happened so fast...
One moment, she was staring at Edward Cullen, who was several cars away from her own, wondering about the strange pull she had felt toward him since day one... The next she was staring at the side of a small, white pick up truck that had stopped right in front of her. It had stopped the careening path of a blue van that had skidded on the black ice. She did not realize that Edward was right beside her, asking if she was OK, not at first. Her attention had been focused on the white Nissan that had miraculously been in front of her own vehicle, stopping the blue van from crushing her.
She had noticed the strange dark shapes that had formed around the wheels of the white truck, had sensed the strange energy that had fallen away from the school nurse who had been driving the Nissan at the time. She knew at that moment in time that Ms. Holloway had saved her life. It wasn't until Alice Cullen had rushed to the side of the truck to help Lilith that Bella felt the strangeness in her senses fall away. She became aware that Edward was right beside her, holding her close against him in a protective manner. She glanced him, her chocolate brown eyes filled with confusion and concern. She knew that Edward had been nowhere near her the moment the accident had taken place and how he had gotten here so fast...
Her worry over the school nurse had set aside her concerns regarding Edward Cullen at the moment. Once Lilith had been taken away by the ambulance, Alice Cullen riding with her, Bella had pleaded with Edward to follow. It didn't take much convincing and they were in his silver Volvo following behind the ambulance.
She was relieved that by the time she was allowed into the ER, (thank goodness Edward was the son of Dr. Cullen) Lilith was awake. She rushed to the school nurse's side, feeling their connection growing strong the moment she grasped the nurse's face within her hands. Lilith was safe, the tension that had been clenching her chest disappeared. She felt such relief that Lily was OK... She was all right...
Lilith had looked so surprised at the fact that there were people who had been concerned for her. She didn't really admit to the fact that she had indeed saved Bella's life. She didn't say much at all actually. The moment she disappeared through the doors to the ER was the moment that brought Bella's focus to the strangeness of all that had happened.
It was here that she stood now, in front of the triage desk outside to the ER. Her eyes were focused on the pale boy beside her, her senses now entirely focused on him and who he was... what he could possibly be...
"I need to talk to you."
Edward glanced at her before taking a step back from her, the muscle in his jaw ticking slightly. "Your father is waiting for you."
Bella glanced around at the few nurses and doctors that moved around the desk before focusing on Edward. "I'd like to speak with you alone, if you don't mind."
He glared at the brunette beauty before turning his back to her and making his way down the long corridor. Bella rushed after him, nearly running to keep up with his long strides. As soon as he turned a corner into a smaller hallway, he turned around to face her. "What do you want?"
His coldness intimidated her, his unfriendliness piercing a part of her heart she wasn't aware of. "You owe me an explanation," she said, her words filled with less severity than she intended.
"An explanation of what?" He inquired, his golden eyes bearing into her own.
She felt her heart nearly stutter at the intense gaze in his eyes and she swallowed back the tightness in her throat. "How you had gotten to me so fast. One moment you were there across the parking lot and the next, right when Lily's car had passed in front of me, you were right there." She stared up at Edward, her heart beginning to pound in her chest. "There was no way you could have gotten to me in a split second."
Edward stared at her in an incredulous manner but his face was intense, the look in his golden eyes defensive. "You think that I moved from one place to another in the blink of an eye?" It was a perfectly delivered line from a very skilled actor.
Bella simply nodded in response, her jaw clenched tight.
"Nobody will believe that you know." His voice held an edge of derision now. Her heart nearly stuttered at the thought of it.
"I won't tell anybody," said Bella, her words coming carefully, each syllable holding a hint of her growing anger.
Surprise flitted across his face and he glanced at her as if he had never seen anything like her before. "Then why does it matter?"
She lifted her chin, a defiant stance touching her slender shoulders. "It matters to me. I don't like to lie so there's better be a good reason why I'm doing it."
"Can't you just drop it and get over it?" His golden eyes flicked between hers, his beautiful face striking a cord within Bella's young soul.
She stared up at him defiance, feeling a part of anger bubbling at the fact that this boy, this young man actually, would try to intimidate her. "No."
"In that case... I hope you enjoy disappointment." He scowled at her and Bella felt her anger waver, the sight of his glorious face was becoming to distracting. It was like trying to stare down a destroying angel, too beautiful and awe-inspiring to avoid...
He turned his back on her at that moment and walked away. Bella, herself, was so angry that it took her a few moments to walk. She found herself at the exit of the corridor and in the waiting room. It seemed like every face she knew in Forks was there, staring at her. They were all curious as to what had happened with the accident, what had happened to the school nurse... Bella hated the attention and she wasn't even the one who had been hurt.
Charlie was there in heartbeat and put an arm around her back, holding her in a protective manner as they walked through the glass doors of the exit. She glanced back at her friends and gave a sheepish wave, trying to convey that there were no ill feelings regarding her abrupt departure. In all honesty, she had never been so glad to be in her father's cruiser...
…
It was the silence that had bothered her. The moment Charlie had brought them home, Bella feigned feeling tired and going to bed early. She had called her mother, out of respect of the fact that Charlie had already informed Renee of the near accident. She loved her mother dearly and stressed that nothing had happened to her. Not physically anyway. Mentally and emotionally, that was a different story.
She couldn't ignore the mystery that was Edward Cullen. She couldn't ignore the strangeness that was Lilith Holloway. Try as she might, whenever she fell asleep, Edward filled her dreams... Lilith danced just beyond the edge...
She woke up in the middle of the night, feeling completely drained and wide awake. She stared at the ceiling of her bedroom and decided to try and ease one of the mysteries that plagued her. Lilith was one of them and she already knew the nurse's address thanks to Charlie. Approaching Lily seemed a smarter venture than trying to focus on Edward at the moment.
It was twenty minutes later that Bella found herself driving out of the main part of Forks and down the road that led to La Push. There were only a few street lights that guided the way and the moment she caught sight of the small turn off that led to the old Haverton place, she had nearly missed it. The driveway was long and completely surrounded by the thick forest on either side. At one point, Bella felt as if something had washed over her, a tingling sensation that twanged on the ends of her nerves in a pleasant way.
As the final turn to the long drive emerged, she caught sight of a clearing. A simple log cabin rested, in the back a large garage and a generator could be seen. Bella parked the truck in front of the cabin and slowly got out, her fear beginning to make itself known. She took in a breath and closed the door to the old Chevy, she was here now and there was no sense in turning back.
She made her way up to the cabin, up the front porch steps and knocked on the door. The sound of a television could be heard and then Bella heard light footsteps making its away toward the door. The steps sounded muffled, as if there were carpeting. A moment later, the door opened and Lilith stood in front of her, her earthy brown eyes growing wide at the sight of the teenager.
"Bella?"
Bella was stunned to find that Lily looked fine. The bandages that had been around her head earlier in the day were gone now. In fact, Lily looked a great deal better than she had since she left the hospital. She was studying the young woman with curiosity before she sighed heavily and moved aside to let Bella in. The younger woman found herself in a well furnished living room, the sight and sound of a flat screen TV bombarding her senses.
Lily closed the door behind her and moved toward the armchair she had abandoned, taking the remote and shutting off the TV. She turned on the standing lamp that stood beside the armchair, gentle light filling the large room. She threw the remote onto the loveseat before looking at Bella, her face set in a slight, worried frown. "What's wrong?"
Bella stared at the older woman, her heart skipping in its beat, as every emotion that had transpired from the moment of her first day of school to this day erupted. She rushed forward and threw herself at Lily, burying herself against the cool crook of the woman's neck. Lily held onto her, her gentle hands moving over the soft brown waves as she shushed Bella softly.
It took a few moments to regain her composure but Bella finally pulled away, wiping away a few stray tears. "I'm sorry Lily, I just-"
"Don't apologize Bella. You did nothing wrong." Lily took her by the arm and led her to the sofa, easing her down gently before she went to grab a box of tissues. Bella smiled gratefully as she took a few tissues and blew her nose.
"I was so worried..." she continued, her chocolate brown eyes focusing on the school nurse. "You saved me today Lily. I don't know how you did but it had happened. You knew that van was going to hit me and you stopped it. Didn't you?" That last question was more of statement and Lily gently sat next to the teenager, reaching out to brush the hair from her eyes.
"What do you think? What do you honestly sensed that happened today?"
"I was going to die." Bella stared at her slender hands, her pale cheeks now flushed with emotion. "I would have died if you or Ed-" She caught herself then and looked at Lily, her eyes taking in the knowing look on the nurse's face.
"Then, be grateful that you have a few people who want to see you live." Lily smiled a little as she reached out and took the scrap tissues from Bella. She stood up and went to the kitchen, not acknowledging that Bella had stood up and followed after her. The teenager stood on the threshold to the kitchen, watching as Lily moved about in a mechanical fashion.
Silence passed between them as Lily started to make some hot chocolate. She turned around and pointed to one of the two chairs at the small table. Bella moved and sat down, her chocolate brown eyes studying Lily as the woman sat down in the chair to her right. She set the mug of hot coco in front of Bella and gently clasped her own. She looked rather snug in the fluffy white robe and her black curls were loose about her round face. "All right Bella..." She had a look of resignation on her face, as if she had been expecting this visit.
Bella gently sipped her coco and was surprised at how rich and creamy it was. She took another sip and sighed softly. "What is this pull I feel to you Lily?" She studied the simple beige mug in her hands, her slender thumb rubbing against the handle. "I feel there's something in me that recognizes you. I just don't know what..."
Lily tilted her head slightly, her black curls brushing gently against her brow. "You sense it?"
A telltale blush filled Bella's cheeks as she looked up to catch Lily's gaze. "I know I must sound crazy but I have no other way to explain it. It wasn't you alone either." She dropped her gaze and her blush grew deeper. "I felt it that first day with Edward Cullen, though it was something much more different."
"That wouldn't surprise me," said Lily, a gentle and sad smile touching her face. She took in a breath as they both sat there and drank their coco. She set her mug down and shifted slightly in her chair. "There are things in this world Bella, and beyond it, that are hardly seen by people. The majority of people tend to ignore what is strange and unusual. You, however, are not of that majority and neither is Edward or myself." She paused at this as a gentle frown touched her face, she looked as if she were trying to find the right words.
Bella finished her coco and set the mug aside. "They are different. I'm surprised at how no one ain town thinks anything more of their pale skin, their golden eyes, their beauty..." She blinked in surprise and looked at Lily. "They suffer from something don't they? Something that sets them apart from the rest of us."
Lily smiled at this but said nothing in response as she gathered the empty mugs and got up to set them in the sink. Bella continued to think of the strangeness of the Cullen's similarities despite them not being blood related. The chair beside her scraped against the linoleum as Lily sat back down and placed her chin in her hand, watching Bella. The teenager's eyes met hers and they flicked between the earthy orbs.
"You and your brother are different as well. I'm not sure how but there's something about the two of you. Some kind of energy that hovers around you. You had been injured earlier and now... well you look as if you hadn't even been in an accident." Her eyes grew wide at this and she blushed again. "I'm sorry, I must sound so silly. Seeing those dark shapes after the accident, Edward being right beside me when he had been across the lot... I feel like I've been seeing and sensing all kinds of things that aren't there."
"How do you know they aren't?"
They studied one another and Bella sighed gently. "You won't tell me, will you?"
Lily smiled again and laughed, a gentle sound that Bella liked a lot. "You're a smart young woman Bella. Trust your instincts to guide you to the answers. I'll be here when you find them."
Bella knew she wouldn't be getting any more out of the school nurse this late night but she felt as if she were on the right course. Lily did not deny what Bella had seen or sensed, though she was not forthcoming either. She had been more open towards Bella's questions than Edward had been. She had welcomed Bella to explore the strangeness that she had been witness to. Curiosity bubbled up within her as Bella got to her feet and fished her keys from the pocket of her coat.
Lily walked her to the door and Bella turned to her with a smile. Sure, she was still frustrated over the mystery of the two people she felt this strong pull to but she had a feeling that Lily's mystery would be the one she would have to unravel first. "I'll come by to visit tomorrow after school." Bella knew the school nurse would be staying home to recuperate from her ordeal though Lily looked perfectly healthy.
"I'll be here." Lily smiled a little more as she opened the door and Bella walked out to the porch. She caught sight of a tall silhouette walking from the garage to the log cabin. The light from the porch shown on frazzled black hair and a lean caramel face before Liam skipped up the steps. He stopped beside Bella and gave her a fierce grin, the white teeth set out against the darkness.
"Well, well, if it isn't Little Flower. Have a nice chat with Red?"
"Little Flower?" Bella held back against the shudder of fear that threatened to course through her and she simply stared at the man. Yes, there was something more off with Lily's brother than Lily herself. At least Lily had some semblance of humanity. Her brother though...
"Didn't anyone tell you that you smell like flowers?" A brief flash of yellow distracted her from the strange question and she glanced up at Liam, wondering what she had just seen. No, his eyes were the same earthy brown as Lily's... weren't they? She looked at Lily then, the question in her chocolate orbs. Again, Lily simply smiled at the teenager before placing a hand over her heart.
"Let your senses guide you and you'll find what you seek."
Bella relaxed at this, knowing that despite how scary Liam was, his sister wouldn't allow him to do anything in a harmful manner. She smiled at this before turning and making her way back to the old Chevy. She definitely felt better than she had before, as if some of the weight had been eased slightly. Yes, she would definitely had to keep her eyes peeled on all that went on around her from now on...
…
The month since the accident passed and the rains had come to wash away the last of the ice and snow that had fallen. Bella had found the first week since the accident to be slightly tense and embarrassing. Though she had not been the one to be hurt in the accident, she had an up close and personal view of what had happened. She had found herself to be the focus of many questions from the students around her. Apparently, they thought her to be an easier source for gossip than the school nurse, who many would not notice sitting in the cafeteria with the rest of them.
Lily had taken a couple of days off from work but by Wednesday she was back with nothing more than a simple gauze wrapped around her curls. Bella knew it was all for show, Lily was perfectly healthy. How that was, she didn't know and Lily would not tell her outright. Maybe that was why Bella would find her eyes drawn to her new friend, wondering how it was that she managed to keep people from noticing her. It must have been the same trick that Edward used as well, since many people seemed to not have noticed that Edward had been nowhere near her at the time of the accident.
She had tried to speak with him the next day after the accident, greeting him with a smile. He had turned his head a fraction and, without looking at her, nodded once before turning his attention back to the front of the class. That was the last time she tried to speak with him. If he was going to go out of his way to pretend hat she didn't exist than she would try the same. Key word being try.
While Edward continued to ignore Bella, she continued to watch him from a distance across the cafeteria or the parking lot. He continued to be a mystery and was becoming infuriating to her. Why did he deny what she had seen? He was not normal, she knew it to be true. Lily had acknowledged as much, though she did not say it verbally. The few times Bella had gone over to her home to visit, to talk with someone who would listen to her concerns, Lily's earthy brown eyes would focus on her the moment she spoke of the Cullen's strangeness. She listened and did not deny any of Bella's suspicions. Bella was becoming familiar with Lily's mannerisms by now and she knew that the lack of response to anything she said meant that she was on the right track.
It was such a good thing that Charlie rather liked the school nurse. The late nights that Bella spent at Lily's would have gotten her grounded otherwise. Thankfully, Charlie was quite all right with Bella seeing her new friend. He seemed to sense that Bella needed a responsible older sister, maybe even mother, figure in her life. Something that Renee, bless her heart, had never quite lived up to.
The weeks that passed were both stressing and annoying thanks to her strange dreams (which had began since the accident) and her strong pull toward Edward Cullen. Bella had a feeling that if Lily had not been there to listen to her woes, she would have fallen into bouts of depression. Renee even seemed to notice in Bella's emails that she seemed a great deal better than when she had left. She was glad that her daughter had such a good friend to speak to, Bella agreed. Especially since there was an event looming the third week into March, an event that one of her friends, Jessica, had reminded her of. The girl's choice spring dance. She had called to ask for her permission to ask Mike Newton to the dance. Bella urged her that she had no intention of asking Mike and that Jessica was more than welcome to.
The moment she hung up the phone, Bella picked it up again and dialed Lily's home number. The line rang a few times before a slightly husky voice answered on the other end, the unmistakable sound of a southern Mississippi accent gracing its words. Unconsciously, a relieved smile appeared on Bella's lips. Lily was always there when she needed her.
"Lily, I need your help."
"What's going on, Bella?" Lily sounded slightly concerned. It was another reason Bella liked Lily so much, she never sounded distracted. Her focus was always on the person who always addressed her, as if they were the most important thing in the world.
"There's a dance in two weeks. A girl's choice dance." She paused and sighed heavily at this. Silence greeted this statement and Bella knew that Lily knew exactly why she was calling. Her clumsiness was legendary after all.
"Well, I needed to get a few things for the guest cabin, my brother hasn't had much time to go shopping for furniture himself." Bella knew that Liam lived in the guest cabin that rested behind the main log cabin. He didn't seem the type to worry about even meager comforts. However, Lily was giving her an excuse that would work for her. "I've been meaning to head out to Seattle and I need another woman's opinion. Liam can be so clueless."
Bella's smile grew at this and she thanked her lucky stars that (and she felt slightly bad at this,) Lily threw herself into harm's way that snowy day. She would have never gotten to know the school nurse, her new friend, otherwise. "That's sounds great! We can go that Saturday, make a whole day out of it. I needed some new books anyway." She suddenly found herself excited about the trip. Lily had a brand new black, pick up that looked sleek and heavy duty. The poor little white Nissan was nothing more than scrap metal after the accident. Bella discovered that she had a thing for trucks and hoped she could convince her friend to let her drive it.
Lily laughed at the obvious relief and excitement Bella gave off. "Well then, it's all set. I'll see you tomorrow Bella."
"Sure, thanks Lily," she said before giving a friendly goodbye and hanging up the phone.
