Bella:

It was late at night, the ending of the first weeks Christmas holiday vacation. Christmas was just a few days away, Esme even had a real Christmas tree set up near the piano already fully decorated and showing the true spirit of Christmas Eve and Day. I was mighty grateful she put up the holiday decorations; they were huge reminders of the presents I was going to have to give. (I was still just getting use to the time difference now that I was a vampire) I still hadn't decided what to get everyone, but, figured, I'd ask Alice later on. She always had the answers to these sort of things. Not to mention, I wasn't the only one who did it around these special occasions.

At the moment, we were all spread out in the living-room watching the late night news by Leslie's choice. It was clear-besides Leslie-no one was enjoying themselves watching this program; as far as we knew, it was a complete waste of time considering we already had our own little news forecaster, Alice. She could simply predict all of these things appearing on the screen: weather updates, final football scores, plans in economics, hell even the lottery numbers; and months ahead, too!The only thing that could glitch her visions was the appearance of a werewolf. And Leslie. It was still a mystery why, in Leslie's case, but we soon just gave up and figured she was always changing her mind.

Speaking of Leslie, the girl wasn't feeling too well. Even at this moment, my family could sense it. She was trying to hold back the desire of laying down while still sitting in an upright position on the couch. Her throat was dying to cough and relieve itself of the irritating feeling inside. She even looked sick; her tired expression, the water threatening to fall from her eyes which we caught her rubbing every few minutes, and the sweat rippling down her forehead. She had tried hiding it many times, but we found out eventually thanks to Edward. Esme was a wreck when she heard about it; she asked the girl relentlessly if she needed anything or would like something to eat. She turned Esme down each time, and amazingly food too. We weren't sure if it was simply because Esme was asking or if she really wasn't hungry. I found it kind of hard to believe she wasn't hungry considering her insane eating habits, but she also liked Esme. From what Edward's told me, Esme was one and possibly the only person in this house she found liking.

And not only was the poor girl being ill a problem, she was also depressed. Anybody who's been living in this house could tell you that. For over a week, Seth hasn't come back to see her or in the least bit called her. Jacob had called once, not just to hear from Nessie, but also to let us know that a few vampires were still on the loose roaming around on their land, and that we should be cautious in case they decided to cross on over to ours by any chance. He and the others were on the upper-hand of victory, but still there were two or three out there needing to be rid of. And the last thing he mentioned before needing to return to the forest, was to tell us of Seth's quick thinking that helped him get rid of two vampires at the same time. He gave us this heroic, good-deed story, he thought Leslie would have loved to hear, until remembered she still didn't know. . .

No one knew how long the pack would be out there executing whatever was left of the trespassers. It could be as lucky as tonight, tomorrow or as far as next week or even a month. That was the big, most important part about being friends or in love with werewolves. When they were out fighting and destroying the vampires crossing their territory, there was no way to predict if they would ever return home alive or badly hurt. It was like being in a war, but a more deadly one close to home.

I could almost relate to how Leslie was feeling. Almost. My memory back to when Edward was gone, and I had depended my time entirely around Jacob was vague. But, I can still recall the deep emptiness I felt when Jacob was gone for so long. And going even more crazy without someone I loved with me.

That's exactly what Leslie was feeling. And the fact that I was letting it happen was starting to bother me. Why should I let her go through the same thing I did? She's already lost enough people in her life, she shouldn't have to feel the same way again. But, as much as I would have liked to have gone right up to her and comfort her, I just didn't have the guts to do it. In a way, she-as embarrassing as it is to admit-still frightened me. I wasn't sure why, I thought I had gotten over the small argument we had last week when we were alone in the kitchen.

Maybe, I wasn't.

No, I shook my head briefly not wanting Edward or anyone to notice. She didn't frighten me, she couldn't; she was only a girl. I was a vampire, I beat her in the food chain. How could she even be scary; she was sick and depressed, I told myself.

"Here," I heard the tall girl say, handing the remote over to the Jasper who sat next to her on the couch. "I'm going to bed." Rubbing her eyes, she got up, making her way toward the stairs. All of us watched as she walked, sleepily, out of the room. It was clear, she was exhausted from a day of doing nothing, but being sick, and walked unsteadily.

After just a few steps of making it out of the living-room, she collapsed onto the ceramic flooring.

"Leslie!" Esme exclaimed, running to her in a heartbeat. She, along with Edward and a few others, ran to her side. Esme was already kneeling down, checking to see if she was still awake. When she saw that Leslie was still half-awake, she said, "Someone call Carlisle."

I joined in the crowd, trying to get a better view of what was going on. It seemed everyone was now animated and in panic. Alice was calling Carlisle, Esme and Edward were trying to check Leslie as best they could, while the others, including me, stood around simply watching, dumbstruck by the cause. "He's coming, right away," Alice informed, squeezing herself a spot around Leslie's still body. Her body might had been still, but her heartbeat was pumping dramatically. This was the fastest I ever heard it go.

"Leslie?" Esme said, lightly touching her face. "Leslie, wake up. Wake up, sweetheart." Her tone flowed through with clear anxiety. "Edward? Jasper? What's happening?"

Edward kept his eyes attached to Leslie's blank expression; she looked awake, but not entirely. Her dark eyes were slit open, but there was no life in them. "I don't know," Edward finally admitted, ashamed of himself. "Her thoughts are completely blank."

I glimpsed Jasper moving closer to the scene. He walked slowly, seeming also engrossed upon Leslie. But his expression showed nothing of good to come. Edward snapped his head in his direction, appearing mortified. "What is it?" he demanded.

Below a whisper, Jasper confessed, "She's in pain."

Instantly, as if Jasper's answer was a sign, things got even more insane. Leslie woke up from whatever she was passed out in, and was now screaming. Her frozen body jolted alive, shaking uncontrollably, and kicking her feet into nothing. Her hands grasped the side of her head, as if the pain was coming from there.

"Edward, what's happening?" I found myself, along with Esme, asking.

He knelt down next to her, ignoring her jerking movements, and with no trouble put his hand on her head. "She's having a nightmare." He answered gloomily.

A nightmare. She had been having those since the day she came here. She would toss and turn, hyperventilate, even speak words. But, it never seemed too serious, it was just a regular nightmare she had a lot of the time, we figured. But this. . .This didn't seem like any usual nightmare.

"About what?" I heard Alice ask, sounding terrified.

Leslie's screaming got louder, her forearms clasped over ears. But, her question never was answered, because the moment she asked it Carlisle had finally arrived.

"She's been sick, and I don't know. She just got up and said she was going to bed, then fell," Esme explained hurriedly to Carlisle, as he examined Leslie. We had moved her back to the couch, where her screaming had calmed down into sunken groans.

Turns out, Alice did get an answer. "A lot of things," Edward had replied bleakly. "Her parents, Seth. . .the woods. . .That's all I can make out for now." I could've swore, I heard a different pitch to his tone the moment he said 'the woods'. It was like he was trying to skip something. . .

Meanwhile, Carlisle was doing his best to see what was wrong with Leslie. He had heard her accelerated heartbeat, felt, from what I had heard, her awfully warm skin. What was he going to make of her condition? From how Edward and Esme reacted, this was a completely unknown disorder she was having.

Finally, my second father took his pale hand off her forehead, frowning. "How long has she been in this state?" He asked, lifelessly.

"Less than ten minutes." Edward replied. "And after she collapsed."

He made it difficult for me to make out what he was thinking after he answered Carlisle's question. It was either good or bad news. And I had slim hopes that there was any good news.

"Her temperature is over a hundred degrees," Carlise told us all, standing back up, while keeping his eye on Leslie. "Her heart beat is over its limit. It's at a speed that should've killed her by now." He took a moment to think, before sighing, "Honestly, I have no idea what is wrong with her. Other than the side effects, she's perfectly fine. As for the nightmares. . .All I can say is it's a natural nightmare."

"Could this have been because of her illness?" Esme asked him. "She's been sick all day, and hasn't eaten a thing."

Carlisle kept his gaze on Leslie's upsetting groans. "Possibly. But this kind of condition is very unnatural in all my years of experience. Especially over something as common as the cold."

"So you don't know when it will end?" Edward asked.

He shook his head. "I'm afraid not. It could end as soon as this very minute, or far from an hour. Have you tried waking her?"

"Yes." Several voices answered.

He said nothing.

Leslie:

Snapping out of the supernatural scene, my eyes shot back open. I found myself breathing heavily, my heart pumping extremely fast and pounding hard against my chest. Feeling slightly stiff, I sat up rubbing my head from the insane phase I was going through. What was that? I asked myself, unable to remember the nightmare itself, but the unbelievable feeling it left.

I didn't even notice the crowd of people watching over me intently.

"Leslie!" A familiar voice called, clearly relieved. I looked to the side to see Esme coming to kneel by my side overwhelmingly relieved and happy. "Leslie, are you okay?" She asked, hurriedly.

"Uh, yeah." I answered, hoping she would calm down and relax some.

As hard as I tried, my eyes still wandered off to see everyone in the Cullen family looking directly at me, stunned. Okay. . .What happened? I even spotted Dr. Cullen here, watching me amazed.

"What?" I asked, sitting up. And then it hit me; what happened after I went to my room? Did I even make it to my room?

"You don't remember?" Carlisle asked me, curiously.

I held my breath. Remember what? All I can remember was going to my room then blacking out. What-did something happen in between? "No." I told him.

He was speechless. The reaction these people were giving me was starting to worry me. They acted like something had happened.

"Look, I don't know what you're talking about," I said, standing up. I felt fine, sure my heart was still beating really fast, and I felt awfully warm, but that was because I was still sick. Nothing harmful. Without thinking, I started making my way through all of the people surrounding me, and went straight up the stairs and to my room. On the way, I kept trying to convince myself that everything was all right.

It's just me.I told myself, calmly. It's just me. Nothing is wrong.

Well what do you think??? It took me a while to write all of it, but I enjoyed doing it so I hope you liked it:) Things will get even more intense next chapter so be warned. LoL.

And thanks goes to the people who've reviewed, and especially those who reviewed my last chapter! I really appreaciate your support, and that you're enjoying the story. I'm also glad some of the people who've reviewed have said this was my best chapter on my last one. It makes me feel really good, cause I'm trying to be a better writer. It also made me want to keep it up so I hope this suited your standards.