Chapter 20: An Interesting End

¨What do you mean?¨ Edward asked into his phone.

I tried to hear what Carlisle was saying, but he spoke too fast for me to hear, and Edward kept mumbling ´yes´ over and over so that didn't help me either.

Stupid Carlisle, if he had called just a few minutes later, he wouldn´t have interrupted us. I felt dizzy and light-headed just thinking about that kiss, and I couldn't imagine something could ever top that.

Well, finding out why I can't remember anything from my past would have to suffice for now.

¨Yes, we´re on our way.¨

I tried to read Edward´s expression when he put his phone back into his pocket and reached out to hold my hand, but I couldn't.

¨Does Carlisle really think he knows what's going on?¨

Edward looked at the sky above our heads. ¨He has a clue, yes.¨

I shivered. Edward put his arms around me and hugged me tightly. ¨Don´t be scared,¨ he whispered into my ear. ¨We don't have to go.¨

I broke free from his grip and looked up at him. ¨No, no. I want to go.¨

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. ¨Are you sure?¨

¨Yes.¨

Edward leaned in and quickly kissed the top of my nose. ¨Alright, then we´ll go.¨

We walked quietly back to my car hand in hand. I reached in my bag to find my keys and Edward offered me his hand. I gladly gave him my car keys as I was sure I couldn´t drive at this point.

Would this really be it? I couldn't imagine.

I sat down and Edward drove. The silence was welcome as we each had our own thoughts that kept us occupied. I reached out to turn the radio on. An upbeat popular pop song filled the car with its beats.

I couldn't help but feel anxious about today, and this crappy music didn't help me either.

Edward must've felt the change in the atmosphere, as he started singing one of my favourite rock songs to calm me. I smiled and hummed to the beat.

It didn't completely help me either, but at least I kept busy during the drive.

Edward drove to his house. When we arrived, I noticed a very familiar car in the driveway. Next to me, Edward glanced in my direction, to see how I felt about it.

¨It's alright,¨ I admitted. Having my parents here wouldn't be a problem, because they also had no clue what was wrong with me.

Despite the obvious, of course.

I wanted to reach for the door handle, but in a flash, Edward stood next to me and opened my door for me.

¨You´re such a gentleman,¨ I teased him.

¨I´ll try.¨

He squeezed my hand and together, we walked towards the front door.

¨We could still leave,¨ he assured me but I squeezed his hand in return. Let's get this shit over with and face reality. And in all honesty, this answer could only be positive. I mean, it was just a matter of ripping a band-aid off instead of letting the wound rot. Quick pain, immediate release.

Before I had time to open the door, it already swung open and Renee wrapped me in a tight hug, which was rather awkward as I still held Edward´s hand and he held mine.

¨Calm down, mum.¨

She let go of me and stroked my hair with her trembling hands. ¨I´m just so nervous.¨

¨Me too,¨ I whispered.

I looked up and saw Charlie approaching me as well. He didn't speak, but judging by the constant tapping of his foot, he was just as nervous as we all were.

I nodded at him and we entered the house. Carlisle stood a few feet away from us, letting us have a moment, before he gestured us towards the living room.

In the living room, it was as if nothing had changed since the last time I was here. Which was… yesterday, damn it. Time worked differently when I was around the Cullens.

I sat down on the couch, only this time Edward sat down next to me to hold my hand. I looked at him and nodded. I don't mind if his siblings were here as well. They could probably hear everything to begin with.

Carlisle sat down and in a second, the other Cullens had arrived. I wished I could say it surprised me, but this family was so in sync with each other, nothing surprises me anymore at this point.

They all sat down and the similarities between yesterday and today were funny, even to me.

The only difference was that my parents stood behind me and held each other's hands. Renee squeezed my shoulder.

I turned to Carlisle and breathed out. ¨Give it to me straight.¨

He raised his eyebrows. He probably didn't expect me to be so blunt but I couldn't handle this anymore. Edward squeezed my hand even tighter and Renee quickly breathed in.

¨Dissociative amnesia, I think,¨ Carlisle said to us. Renee breathed out and her hand on my shoulder started trembling.

The room went quiet. I didn't know where to look. Carlisle kept studying me, to see how I took the news. Edward stroked my hand with his thumb. My parents were quiet behind me.

I looked at Esme and she smiled at me. Alice seemed lost in thought and Jasper met my gaze. He shook his head, so I knew he wasn't altering our emotions.

Rosalie seemed to be somewhere distant and Emmett looked confused. Really confused.

¨What's that, dad?¨ he asked. Everyone turned to face Carlisle, waiting for his answer that would explain everything. I held my breath and sat on the edge of the couch. I hadn't even noticed I was biting my lip, until Edward reached out and released my bottom lip from my teeth.

¨Well,¨ Carlisle started, ¨dissociative amnesia means that Bella cannot remember certain things from her past. It´s a mental illness, caused by overwhelming stress and...¨

¨Stress? Illness?¨ Renee interrupted him. ¨Bella, sweety, are you stressed?¨

I frowned and ignored her concern. ¨Let Carlisle continue, please.¨ I nodded to him. ¨Go on.¨

¨And traumatic events,¨ Carlisle added.

¨Traumatic events?¨ Renee squeaked. She was almost hyperventilating at this point, so Charlie had to calm her down.

¨Let Carlisle continue, please,¨ he mimicked my earlier words. ¨After all, we don´t know for sure what causes Bell's amnesia.¨

Renee closed her eyes and slowly breathed out. ¨Okay.¨

Carlisle frowned but he quickly recovered. Edward and he looked at each other, and I wondered if this is how they communicated as Edward could read his mind.

¨As I said, it´s a theory so I don't know for sure,¨ Carlisle assured me. ¨But it makes the most sense, from what I see.¨

I cocked my head to the side and asked the one thing that was left on my mind. ¨What would cause the trauma?¨

¨It could be anything. The mind works in mysterious ways,¨ he smiled apologetically at me. ¨It could be due to moving around a lot, but it could be anything.¨

¨Why would that traumatize her?¨ Charlie asked.

¨Changing scenery, maybe even changing whole identities every few months might put a lot of stress on the body. And she has some venom in her, which might worsen it. But I don't know, it's a possibility I´ve come up with.¨

I closed my eyes as I thought about that possibility. I almost couldn't believe it could be something so small, so human, that caused this. So insignificant. So tiny.

¨What can we do to help her get her memories back?¨ Edward said. He squeezed my hand again.

¨Sometimes they come back all on their own. Sometimes, it needs to be triggered by something, anything from her surroundings or her past,¨ Carlisle explained.

I quickly opened my eyes and gasped. That could only mean one thing. ¨Do you mean I need to move again?¨

Edward´s eyes narrowed. ¨Tell me she doesn't have to.¨

A wave of calmth surprised me and took my breath away. I looked up and saw Jasper. I shook my head, I didn't want this. I needed to think straight and he wasn't helping at all.

The fear I felt just moments before came crashing back to me.

¨It might help you, Bella.¨ Renee squeezed my shoulder again but I shoved her hand away.

¨I am not moving again, you hear me!¨

I tried to find another way. Something had to trigger my memories. Anything. But what?

The one thing I did know was that I am not moving again! Not now, not after this.

¨You don't have to, Bella,¨ Alice said calmly. She still had her eyes fixated somewhere in the distance. We were all watching her, expecting her to elaborate but she kept quiet. This was so frustrating! I guess everyone else was used to this by now, but my god, it was annoying.

I tried to read Edward´s expression but I couldn't. I couldn't name the emotions that were shown on his face. Suddenly, a smile broke through and his face lit up.

¨Alice sees it,¨ Edward explained to me.

¨Sees what?¨

I turned around to face my parents. They truly had no clue what was going on! ¨She can see the future,¨ I explained to them.

Renee became even paler than she originally was.

I turned to Edward again. His smile was contagious and I put my hand on his neck, to feel his coldness on my skin and to be closer to him. He turned his face slightly to press a kiss on my wrist.

I giggled. ¨Tell me. What does she see?¨

He smiled at me and his eyes sparkled with hope. ¨That you´ll get your memories back eventually.

Here in Forks.

Three months from now.

On Christmas Day.

After I've wished you a merry Christmas.¨

I didn't care that we were surrounded by both of our families. Call it raging, stupid, teenage hormones. Or vampire hormones. Hybrid hormones. Whatever.

I only cared for this promise. I would be here in Forks for Christmas. I would be here, in Forks, with Edward, for Christmas. We would be together.

So I did the only thing I could think of. I leaned in and pressed my lips on his. He was hesitant at first, probably surprised and most definitely shy, but he kissed me back.

I heard some mumbling in the background so I hoped that meant our families left us alone for a bit.

Feeling brave, I opened my mouth to deepen our kiss and sighed when I noticed he gladly followed my lead. I wrapped my hands in his hair and pressed him closer to me, if that were even possible.

Edward pulled back and softly kissed my mouth while he smiled.

¨I´m sorry,¨ I mumbled, because when I opened my eyes, I noticed our families left us alone.

¨No, you´re not,¨ he whispered in between kisses.

¨No, I´m not,¨ I admitted sheepishly when I pulled him into my embrace again.

A/N: I am SO scared to post this chapter! You have no idea! When I was writing this, you guys send me the most interesting theories and I thought: oh no, everyone will HATE my take on it, it´s so incredibly boring.

I mean; imagine Bella had a brain tumour and everything she faced regarding vampires is part of a mental disorder. That would´ve been amazing!

But, I´ve wanted this to be the outcome from the start, so I wrote it as I intended to. I thought it would be so cool to ´marry´ something magical (like vampire venom) with something that´s a real-life mystery (like amnesia). And I´ve studied psychology, so that was my take on it.

Oh god, I really hope you all like it.

If you don´t: I´m sorry! Let´s end this story here and forget it ever happened XD

If you do; thank you! And hopefully, you like the next few things in this universe as well.