A/N: This is a text message conversation between Bella and Edward, Bella's words are in italics, Edward's are plain text.

Hey Edward

Hi Bella, I missed you at school today, are you ok?

Ugh, I couldn't sleep last night, I was tossing and turning till late, and when I did finally fall asleep I kept having that same damn nightmare about falling. I woke up with a horrible cold so I was too wiped to go in. I'll stay home tomorrow and come back on Wednesday probably.

Oh no! Is there anything I can bring you? Medicine? Food? Books? Do you need an IV? Should I ask Carlisle to make a house call?

Alright Nurse Cullen! Calm down! It's fine. I'm just so bored. Keep me company?

Of course! I'd be delighted to.

You're the most charming stalker I know.

Oh Bella. I'm so sorry.

Stop.

I'll never forgive myself.

S T O P. It was just a joke. I wasn't being serious.

Sorry.

Now that your meltdown for the evening is out of the way, let's talk about Halloween

Did you think about what to wear to the party yet?

I did, how about you?

I'm working on putting something together.

Tell me, what did you dress up as when you went trick or treating as a kid?

I honestly don't remember

How could you forget?

I just don't, my time with my parents is all fuzzy.

Must be the trauma. I'm sorry you don't remember much.

It's probably better to live in the present than spend all my time wishing for those days though.

That's a healthy way to look at it. So have you dressed up these last few years?

No, I don't recall ever wearing a Halloween costume. How about you?

When I was a kid I dressed up as a bookworm, I wore green and carried around some of my books, that was fun. Mom was never organised, so usually she threw something together last minute when I was in elementary school. I was a stick man, a toilet paper mummy, a clown, a ghost, all the usual suspects. The worst year was when I had to be a ballerina, I hated dance class, but mom felt like it was cute for me to wear my dance practice gear out trick or treating.

Do you have photos? It all sounds quite adorable.

Mom does. Once I was older I started making my own costumes as it was clear mom wasn't going to. That way all she had to do was take a picture of the end result! I started to quite enjoy planning and making them though. It helps me get into the spirit every year. It's like my tradition now.

Wow, that sounds fun! I wish I could see pictures.

I'll take pictures next time I visit my mom if I remember.

Will you go for Christmas?

Nah, she's going to see Phil's folks this year I think. They're getting on a bit. Besides I wouldn't want to leave Charlie alone.

Of course.

So what are you going to dress up as for the party next week?

I will probably wear a sweater and jeans. Or do you think I should wear a shirt and cardigan?

It's a costume party, silly. It's Halloween!

Oh!

Oh dear.

I don't have a costume. I'm sorry, I won't be able to come then.

Oh no you don't Cullen. We're going! We can make costumes. I haven't finished mine yet, so we can do it together. Unless you're already sick of hanging out of course.

Of course I'm not sick of spending time with you Bella. I'll never get sick of you.

Good! Because I plan on fully exploiting your creative talents.

Well, of course, anything you say! Put me to work!

What's your costume Bella?

Dracula.

A vampire?

I'm going to be Dracula specifically. I know he's a guy in the book, but I don't care.

We'd better work out what you're going to be, any ideas?

I could dress as Jean Paul Sartre, or perhaps Rachmaninov.

How would people know who you were?

I would recite quotations or hum them some music.

NOPE. Nobody we go to school with will have a clue who those people are. Next idea.

Oh. Then what about Cezanne, everybody loves Cezanne.

I have zero idea what he looks like.

Looked like.

HUH?

He's dead.

OF COURSE HE IS. Next.

Wittgenstein, he had a fight with a poker, if I carry a poker people would know I was Wittgenstein.

Only if they've heard of him, which they won't have.

Oh dear.

Camus?

No

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Who? No.

Jean Luc Goddard

I WISH people at Forks High knew who he was.

Ignatius. J. Riley

Nice idea, save it for college as our classmates won't have read it.

What about your dad?

What do you mean?

Everybody at Forks High knows Chief Swan.

That idea is totally hilarious and also super creepy for me, so I'm going to say no, sorry.

Who should I be then?

Well, I'm going to be Dracula, so how about you be Renfield?

With the flies?

Exactly! It'll be perfect. You can follow me around all evening and you don't have to eat or drink, which you don't like doing in public anyway. We can make you a plate of flies! It'll be incredible.

I'm not sure about this Bella.

Well I am. My costume is half made. Unless you want to be a zombie or a mummy or something like that. I just thought it'd be fun to do together. Only if you want to, of course.

Of course I'd rather do it together. OK, I'll be your humble servant Renfield!

Well you could be Van Helsing, or Jonathan Harker I suppose.

I think my personality is probably more like Renfield!

it might be difficult to wear a straight jacket all night, I'm not sure I can drive in one.

It would solve the problem of what to do with my hands though.

Well, we would leave it open so you could still use your hands and move your arms.

Where can we buy one though? I can go to Seattle if you like?

We'll make one.

It seems easier to buy one. Money is no object, I can take care of it.

[money flying away emojis]

Slow your roll Mr. Moneybags?ￂﾠ

For a start it's a total waste of money for something you won't even wear a full day. Secondly I'm not looking like hot garbage in my diy costume while you upstage me!

I've worked hard on mine so far, I want to show it off, even if it looks homemade. I missed out on all the fun by being stressed all those years mom forgot to sort me out a costume, then had no choice in what I was, as everything was last minute with whatever we had to hand. So, this is emotionally significant to me! Anyway, DIY costumes are super fun to make, it's half the fun of the holiday.

Oh yes, quite right! Well in that case, Alice has a sewing machine. I'm sure we can make something marvelous together.

Could Alice help?

She can help you. I don't want to ask her to help me.

Why not?

I think it might upset her. I'll make it by myself.

Ok. I don't see why she'd be upset though.

It's just better for me to make it myself this time.

Cool, well, I'll look up tutorials on YouTube and tell you what to buy ok? We're going to the Goodwill in PA after school on Wednesday ok?

What about your cold? You should really be on bedrest until you feel better Bella.

I'm 18, not 80, a cold isn't going to kill me.

The flu could.

Stop being such a grandma. I'll be fine. You can drive if it makes you feel better.

I'd feel better if you would rest more.

You are such a worrywart. I'm going to rest tomorrow and if I feel bad I promise I won't come to PA, I'll just give you the shopping list ok?

That sounds safer. Are you sure you have the strength to go to a party?

It's not for another five days, I'll be fine by then.

I'm keeping an eye on you. If you experience any worsening of symptoms please contact your physician.

You mean your dad?

Yes.

Sure thing surgeon general. Will it help you calm down if I let you drive me to and from the party?

A tiny bit.

Ok, then you can drive, your car is warmer anyway.

So, for a Renfield costume you'll need:

A straightjacket

Flies- we can buy plastic ones in the halloween section of the dollar store I think

You can just wear black pants and shoes

Baby powder to make your hair look dusty and grey

I can do your makeup.

MAKEUP?

Yeah, it's Halloween! We need to make you look spooky.

I look plenty spooky.

You look like a hair gel ad, we need to spook you up Cullen.

Whatever you say Bella.

That's more like it Renfield!

I'm going to make dinner now.

Please make sure it is nutritious! And rest well. Oh and drink plenty of fluids Bella.

Yes Nurse Cullen. Thanks for giving a crap. Talk to you later.

Take care! Feel better!

Oh and Bella?

Yes

I'm bringing a thermometer to school on Wednesday and to the party.

If you have a fever we are not going and I shall insist you stay home and rest in bed.

[eyeroll emojis] will you bring a priest in case I need last rites?

Should I?! I'm most tempted to call 911 right now.

DON'T YOU DARE CULLEN

I'm going to make spaghetti and then get an early night, now shoo! You're keeping me from my dinner.

Of course, you should eat, I'm sorry. I'll check in with you in the morning. Please sleep well.

A/N: Please leave a review! Thanks so much to my wonderful beta wh1teow1, please show some love and read Moirai, a reimagining of Twilight for the new decade! Will this plan to be Dracula and Renfield end in disaster?