OMG! BIGGEST PIECE OF NEWS IN THE HISTORY OF FOREVER!

Ok... that might be exaggerating a tiny bit, but... STILL! So, I was speaking to my mother on the train today, when we landed on the subject of my rewrites. That's when she said that it was possible for me to publish all four of these – as serious parodies! Completely legal, and very profitable! However, I won't have much to work with if I just send in a plain proposal. That is where YOU come in!

Normally, I don't ask you guys to do anything other then reviews, but this is SERIOUS BUSINESS (stern face). Here is what you do. Write a letter. It doesn't have to be long at all. Just a paragraph or so. All you have to do is talk about this book on the internet that you absolutely love and would adore seeing in print. You don't have to use those words, but it would help. I'm giving a call to all of my fans and readers and reviewers! Here's where you send the letters to:

Writers House
3368 Governor Drive, #224F
San Diego, CA 92122

Just tell them about how they MUST get this book in print and about how awesome it is! I know I'm asking you to kiss my ass a bit, but it will all be worth it (Not to mention, I'll actually have a professional editor XD). So please, send your letters by December 5th. (i'm serious about the deadline, people. You've got three weeks.) And should this plan work, be on the look out for the book title: Dimlight. Now, on with the story!

Twenty One: Vampire Dreams

After Jacob and Sam's throw down, things got a bit quiet through the house. Emily made a point of taking Sam off into a room somewhere to calm him down. The usually cool headed native seemed to be on edge, even after Billy's interruption. Bella was actually glad that he had been taken off by the girl, as his temper was frightening, even to someone who had stared death in the face multiple times. For a few hours, Bella spent her time wandering the house or the land surrounding it. She had forgotten just how large the Black estate really was. It sat on a secluded plot encased with trees, over looking all the other homes below. She spotted a few familiar faces. Obviously hearing about their friend's tantrum, Paul and Jerad decided to come over to try and help with his temper. Bella knew of them vaguely, but never really had many words to them. As a child, they along with Sam all sort of unnerved her with how large they were. Paul wasn't nearly as big as Sam was, but he was a stout young man, with hair that went down to his shoulders. Jerad was a head taller then his friend, his long hair in several pony tail ties running down his back. He had a much sleeker build then most of the others, his eyes much thinner as well. She stayed back a bit as they passed her, a short nod coming from each of them.

Bella watched the two vanish into Sam's room, faint voices heard after that. She stared at the door, rubbing her arm as though nervous. She couldn't help but feel responsible for all of this. She knew that the hunters weren't her fault, but her strong feeling of guilt couldn't be doused with logic. Perhaps it was her still muddled thoughts that caused her to feel this way. Perhaps it was Edward's arrival that made her feel so responsible. Trudging into the living room, she collapsed into the couch and looked out the window. The pack was having a good time. She could see them conversing with a few other shifters outside, including Jacob. They seemed to get along well... so at least it wasn't all bad.

From above her, Bella detected a creak. Looking to the ceiling, she saw nothing but the deep red of the wood. Her eyes traced the faint trails of grain within the planks, her mind reeling. Edward was probably sleeping right above her. What would his family do to him when they got there? She clutched her hands to her chest, remembering how vicious Carlisle had been. Would he be hurt? That was something she just couldn't live with. In a way, she felt as though he had returned for nothing. He must have felt that way too... And really, that was what was eating at her the most.

Things couldn't possibly go back to the way they were. Not after she and Jacob had... done whatever it is they did. It was all so confusing, and all so painful to think about. Laying down, she stared up at that ceiling for at least an hour. She could hear the vibrations of voices, and the echoing thuds of the footsteps throughout the house. Once and a while, one of the shifters, or one of the wolves, would come over and ask her how she was doing. She would just smile or shrug or say she was fine. Was she hungry? No, not really. Would she like to play some video games? Maybe another time. She also started to assess Jacob's situation as well.

What was this thing that everyone expected him to be? It obviously wasn't what he wanted. Was he some sort of prodigal son? Sam mentioned something about a leader... was he supposed to follow in his father's footsteps? It had to be the reason why he didn't want to come back in the first place. But Billy didn't seem to be putting any pressure on him specifically. Maybe it was just everyone else – or the people like Sam. She rubbed her face, still deep in thought. It wasn't until her back began to grow stiff that she actually moved. She stood in front of the couch, stretching and cracking a little bit in her back. A voice behind her made her jump.

"Everything all right?" Bella spun to see Emily smiling at her from the door frame. She said she was fine, the mustang walking towards her. Emily had always had a graceful way of moving. Perhaps it was her personal god that attributed to this.

"How's Sam?" she asked.

Emily scratched her shoulder a bit, shrugging. "Same as always, I guess. He's always had trouble controlling himself. He's gotten better at it. Though, sometimes he tries a little too hard." Bella nodded in agreement. Though she didn't know Sam all that well, rumors of his temper were not difficult to find, in vast contrast to his usual, stoic features. More then likely, it was him doing everything he could to abstain from anger. Emily turned to look out the window. "Jacob seems to be better."

"He is," said Bella, her hands behind her back. They were silent for a moment, looking at the scene outside. Currently, Tommy was trying to coax Jacob into trying his motorcycle. Some how, Bella could tell what Emily was going to want to talk about next.

"That vampire upstairs..." Bella snapped her head towards her. She gave the human a polite look. "He's one of the Cullens, isn't he." Wordlessly, she affirmed her question. Emily put a mindless hand to her hair, smoothing it out over the right side of her face. "I figured as much... Edward, right?" Again, she nodded. "Right..." They grew silent a second time. "He your friend at all?"

Bella didn't know how to answer that. She glanced at her reflection in the glass, as if to read her own face. Pulling her hands in front of her, she fiddled with her own fingers. "I don't know," was all she could come up with. Emily seemed to understand. She reached over and rubbed her arm in a sisterly way. Bella smiled in thanks, but said nothing else. Another pause ensued, Emily finally leaving without much of an exit. Bella stood were she was, slightly swaying on her feet. Finally, she forced herself to move.

Her footsteps were heavy, making unnecessary sound as she walked. She made her way up the creaking, attic stairs, her heart pounding heavily in her chest. What was she doing? He was asleep, so why bother him? He'd just be mad at her for disrupting his slumber. It would probably just aggravate him more then he already was. But something inside her edged Bella on, pushing her up, and up, and up...

Finally, she landed at the top step of the stairway. The door sat in front of her, closed and ancient. The hinges were rusted, and paint was pealing from the front and around the knob, which was practically falling off itself. She took a breath, and then reached forward, pushing open the door. Inside was a thin layer of dust, a few dragging tracks implying that things had been moved around recently. There was a thick carpet over one window, and a shower curtain over the other. In the center and near the back, Bella could see the outline of a mountain of boxes. She could almost hear the faint breathing of the vampire that lay within.

Bella stood there for she didn't know how long. She just teetered atop the front step, as though trying to push herself inside. Finally, after her eyes got used to the dark, she walked inside, shutting the door behind her. Why was she so terrified? It wasn't as though Edward would ever hurt her... would he? She took a few steps forward, her tracks left in the dust like foot prints on thin snow. Getting herself closer to the mound of boxes, she realized that Edward was laying beneath a table with a long blanket over it, the boxes surrounding him for extra protection. With timid hands, she reached out and slid a few out of the way. She paused before continuing, but there was no sound that came from beneath the table. Reaching for the blanket, Bella realized how cold it was up in the attic, a chill shooting through her spine. She took hold of the blanket and gently pulled it up, tucking it beneath the box atop the table.

There Edward lay, sound asleep. He was curled up in a nest of old blankets, a tiny spider escaping out of sight as she observed the creature. He had his hands beneath his cheek for a pillow of sorts, his knees curled up to his stomach. His face was peaceful, if not a little gaunt. Edward's circles were even deeper then they were the night before, his sunken cheeks much more prominent. Bella reached forward, gently touching his face. He winced in his sleep, but did nothing else. With a deep sigh, she crossed her legs and put her hands in her lap.

"Can you hear me?" she asked softly.

For a moment, nothing happened. But then, a muffled "yes" came from his throat. A tiny smile made it to Bella's face and she scooted forward. Reaching out, she touched his face again.

"Do you know who I am?" she asked.

Edward turned onto his back, another "yes" coming from his lips.

Bella leaned forward, hope starting to flood through her. Her hand was becoming very cold, but she ignored it. She let her thumb rest beneath his lower lip. "Do you love me...?"

He turned his head in his sleep against his palm. "Yes," he mumbled again.

Her heart once more picked up a rapped pace as she sat on her knees. Leaning over, a bit of hair fell from her neck, getting ready to kiss him. "Who am I...?" Edward's eye lids shifted, but a word once more fell from his voice.

"Anna..."

In an instant, Bella's appending warmth and growing forgiveness came to a screeching halt. She stared at him, her hand retracting and her lips parting. That couldn't have been right... Had she heard it right? She shook her head in disbelief. But she had heard it correctly. As she stared at him, he turned away from her, rolling over on his side.

ME, you idiot! came a raging voice in her head. You were supposed to say MY name! She wanted to cry. Carlisle's words ruthlessly came to mind, replaying again and again. She was a substitute. How could she deny this theory now? Whenever he looked at her, he saw Annabell Susan McCleary, not Isabella Swan. Did he think of her when they kissed? When they embraced? When they made love? She put a hand to her mouth, rearing back a bit. She couldn't stand it. Shooting up, she wiped away the furious tears that spilled to her face. It was too upsetting to think about. But she couldn't block this out! She couldn't go on blindly, pretending that he cared for her... It was too hurtful, to devastating. The truth was simply too unbearable for her at that moment. Standing, she pulled down the blanket, blocking Edward from sight, and left the attic.

Turning on the second floor, she hurried into the guest room and fell to the bed, sobbing into her pillow. She wanted to scream, but she couldn't risk doing that in Jacob's house. The last thing she wanted was attention. After a good cry, she curled up into a ball, staring out the window. The sun had gone down by now. The twilight of the final hours was always so beautiful in Forks, especially La Push. But now, all that time did for her was make her spiteful, make her angry. Above her, she could hear him shuffling around. He was probably starving. Let him starve. What did she care? His entire love for her had been nothing more then a sham. Why should she care what he was doing? She could detect the sounds of his window sliding open, a few old pieces of paint falling past her window. Then, after a moment's pause, he leapt from his own ledge and into the woods, where he vanished into the darkness of the night.

With an angry sneer, Bella shot out of bed and yanked down the shade so hard, it fell from its holder.

Well, that's the end of the chapter. I'm serious about this letter stuff! I want this to be a real thing! Just think about it! X3 anyway, have a happy Thanksgiving, and i'll see you all later!

Leave those lovely reviews!

~T.