A/N: I'm so sorry…again. I know it's been way too long. I got caught up in writing a few short scenes from Jake's perspective for my best friend's birthday and honestly after that I got into a huge writing slump. I've been reading for sure but I had no idea what Jake was going to do for her, so I'm sorry if it's not what you expected. Also, I did change a few sentences from the ending of the last chapter to make it flow better. Just to let you guy know, I'm super happy to finally say that we're getting to parts that I've pre-written. I'm a sucker for writing things out of order. So yeah, I definitely wrote parts of this scene months ago, but had no clue how to connect it. Hope you enjoy! :)


CHAPTER 8:

His hand gently grasped mine as he pulled me through the kitchen and into a hallway. My eyes shifted from the pictures that hung on the walls to the books on his shelf to the small trinkets he picked up somewhere. So when he stopped, I wasn't expecting it, and my body collided with his.

"Are you alright?" Wrapping me tighter to his body, he stabilized me momentarily before giving me a kiss on top of my hair.

"Yeah, sorry. I guess I got a little distracted." I stared up at him as he released me from his hold. Sliding down to intertwine our fingers, his hand heated mine. His eyes became fixed on me as if he were waiting for something. The activity of the day had muddled my brain. Oh, the surprise. I forgot.

Glancing up, the cheesy cliche of "he knows more about me, maybe even more than I know about myself" slid into my mind. I always thought it was exaggerated, because who could read me better than myself, who knows what I need more than my own brain? But apparently Jake knew what I needed much more than I did.

Looking around his living room, I was bombarded by a fort-type looking structure. Covered by blankets the majority of the ceiling was concealed. Fairy lights hung from the top of the tent-like structure; they illuminated the area just enough for me to see Jake's smile slowly growing.

Pulling me forward, his head ducked as we walked through the mini-entrance. Inside, the ground was covered in blankets of different shapes and colors. A blue blanket lay neatly folded, which confused me considering the layout of the rest of the blankets. My eyes traveled to the brown blanket beside the blue one. Oh, one for him, one for me. My mind tumbled through our conversations to find out how he knew I loved blue.

Boxes of Chinese food lined the area near the blankets. We walked closer and the logo was oddly familiar... the same restaurant from when I brought him food in the hospital.

A soft, subtle melody played in the background begging my attention. I would have picked the song up from anywhere, so when I looked up toward the screen I wasn't surprised. A montage of England in the late 1700s took my concentration. God, I loved this movie. How did I not notice when I walked in? Pride and Prejudice—one of my escapism, comfort-type movies as a teenager—had been displayed on Jake's television. My head tilted, how did he know?

Tears budded in my eyes as I turned to him. He took me in an embrace.

"I didn't know you would react like this. I would have done this much earlier if I had," he chuckled.

I don't think he understood what it meant to me. He listened. Not just every once in a while, but to every word that I had said to him. Somehow he had managed to get everything right from the fairy lights that I commented on back at the restaurant to the movie to the dark blue blanket in front of me. And the smell, there was so much going on that I had yet to comment on the scent of the room. Lavender.

No one had ever paid attention to me that often. Edward did his best, but even he forgot things occasionally. My smile grew until it hurt. Still held against his chest, he let me go briefly, just enough to tilt my head up.

"Did I do something wrong?" With a gentle touch, he wiped away a falling tear.

"Of course not," pushing up on my toes, my lips met his. The kiss was short but sweet.

Bringing me to the floor, where there were piles of blankets. He instantly wrapped the dark blue blanket around my shoulders.

I watched as Keira Knightly walked elegantly through the sprawling hills of England. The more the movie continued the further I was entranced. Jake had to remind me to eat before the food got cold. Handing me the box with one hand, his other stroked my hair.

The two hours passed faster than I imagined. Throughout the movie, I could feel Jake's eyes on me. Every time something went wrong and I tensed, he quickly put his arm around me and gave a reassuring squeeze.

"Bells?"

"Yeah." I turned my head and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Sorry honey, but it's getting kind of late and I don't want to impede on your sleep."

"Oh, yeah, okay." I pushed myself up. Still slightly lightheaded, I took a moment to reorient myself. Taking my hand once again, he led me back through his apartment and then out the door.

Once we arrived at his car, he came around to my side and opened the door for me. Before I stepped in, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my body up against his. Thank you. He held me there for a moment, silently, until his lips made their way down to mine. He held onto my waist more fervently as I tousled with his hair.

It could have been a minute or an hour, I had no idea, but eventually we ran out of breath. He helped me into the car with a wide smile still on his lips.

I hadn't been paying much attention to anything other than Jake's presence, so when the car stopped I was disoriented.

"I'll see you soon." There was a certainty in his voice, but the comment was vague. I wanted to be with him for every moment of the day, so "soon" wasn't exactly easing my nerves.

"Tomorrow?"

"I have to take a look at my schedule, but I'll see."

"Okay, well I've got to get going," my hand moved to push the door open.

"Bella, I promise, I'll see you as soon as possible." Still, the uneasiness in my stomach from the distance between us grew. Some part of me was still back sitting on the terrace, knowing that he could be gone before I could say anything.

"Be careful Jake." His eyes widened at me while his skin flushed. I didn't know what that meant, but I hope he got the point.

Sauntering up the carpeted steps, I took a deep breath and realized that I needed to work on my clinginess. After-all, I loved my alone time, but I was forcing him to be with me.

My lungs huffed out a few breaths. You're going to screw this up. I could feel it happening. None of the relationships in the past worked out, even for a year. And I only kept three friends…Edward, Ali, and Emmett. My track record was terrible, and Jacob was beyond anything I'd ever expected. Don't mess this up.

Opening the door meticulously so that it wouldn't squeak, my feet guided me into the apartment. I was overwhelmed with emotions. The dead girls never completely left my mind, but on the other end was Jacob. His smile could get me through hell.

I closed the door with as much caution as when I opened it. But the effort was useless, Edward was curled up on the couch with his eyes struggling to keep open. The second he heard my footsteps, he straightened up and turned his head.

"I'm sorry. I should have never spoken to you that way."

"It's fine," my voice barely above a whisper. His body moved to get next to me.

"No, it isn't." His earnest eyes drew me in, "I'm not your guardian. You should be able to do whatever without my judgement."

"Edward, I told you it's fine."

"Okay…," I could see the desire to continue the apology in his eyes. He looked distraught at best. It wasn't even a bad argument. Why's he like this?

"I'm going to bed. Good night."

"Sleep well, Bella." His eyes followed me before I closed my bedroom door.

Discarding all the clothes I was wearing, I scrambled into bed hoping to find some warmth beneath the sheets. The moonlight entranced my eyes, until I could no longer keep them open and the dream world took me in.


My feet shuffled against the ground as I walked into the living room finally feeling refreshed. The television, muted in the background, flashed various pictures of the news. My eyes searched for Edward. He should be up by now. Maybe he already left.

Until I found him. His body convulsed with shivers as he wrapped a blanket tighter around him.

"How are you feeling?" My hand grabbed the tea box that he had put on the counter.

"I'm doing fine. How about you?" Anyone without knowing his would assume he was being sarcastic, he wasn't. His face turned to me and I noticed how pale he had gotten overnight.

"Edward," I looked at him harshly, "you're not doing great."

"I'll be fine by the time we need to leave." Moving to stand up, his body was against him and he sank back down to the couch.

"You aren't leaving." He had to be insane to think that he was going into the office in his condition.

"Yes I am," he idiotically started to move again. With a small push, he laid back into the couch. His expressive eyes told me that that was going to be his last attempt at getting up from the couch.

"I'm going if you're going." His stubborn nature was really annoying me at this moment.

"If that's how it's going to be, then we'll both stay home." I shook my head. Sometimes he just doesn't think about his wellbeing…at all.

"No, that's not what I meant."

"Oh well— it looks like we have a day inside."

"We've got things to do Bella."

"Yes, I've got things to do. Go to sleep."

"You're just going to leave while I'm asleep." Walking towards the couch, I knew that I had to show him that I wasn't going to leave. He was dead set on going to work, but as long as I was here that wasn't happening. With his ashen face, anyone could see that he wasn't well.

"No I'm not. Now just close your eyes. I'll be here all day," I curled my legs up to rest my laptop on. Slowly opening it up, as if to exaggerate the movement, I started scrolling from the list of information that we had compiled.

He never responded, so I glanced over to find him asleep. With his constant shiver, his sleep was completely restless. So, I got up, very slowly as to not wake him, and grabbed my thick quilt from my bed.

"Don't leave." His eyes were barely open, if open at all.

"I'm not going to, just relax." Pressing the back of my hand to his head, his skin was sweltering, but I knew he was freezing. I wrapped the material around him and within minutes his breathing slowed and evened.

Researching for a few hours, I never once moved from the couch. I tried to stay focused to get the work down for the both of us, but every once in a while my eyes would travel to him unconsciously. His hair was fanned out over his eyes. I quieted the urge to fix it, worrying that it would wake him up.

"Bella," I jumped at the voice. "How long have I been out?"

"Like 3 hours I think."

"3 hours!" He immediately stood up and started walking away, slightly wobbling in the process.

I ran to catch up with him, "Where are you going?"

"To work. I've been here long enough."

"You're making it really difficult to help you."

"Then don't." I knew that he was just angry about having to stay home, but those words hurt. I backed away quickly and headed into my room with my laptop.

If he didn't want help or someone to stop him from being stupid, then I definitely wasn't going to waste my time.

Five minutes later, a faint knock echoed in my room. "What?"

Opening the door just enough to stick his head in, he started to apologize, "Bella, you know that's not what I meant."

"Sure."

"No, I really do appreciate the help. I just feel so useless."

"You know it's not healthy to always be at 100 percent. You need to take breaks. Like today. You're still burning up." I gently pressed the back of my hand to his head. Startled by the action, he jerked back, but then understood and let me check his temperature.

"But I have you to tell me when to take those breaks," his sly smile reappeared.

"You need to rest."

"Okay," finally he's complying. He sat on the edge of my bed; his body still trembling. I got up and he quickly scattered to him feet.

"Chill. I'm just getting you a blanket." My quilt was still sprawled across the couch.

I walked into my room with him leaning up against my green wire bed frame with his eyes barely open. Trying to not rock the bed, I slid next to him.

"Sorry," his eyes opened instantaneously.

"Nothing to be sorry for. Here," I wrapped the mint-colored quilt around his torso.

"You're being too nice today."

"I'm doing nothing that you wouldn't do," I gave him a warm smile. Sometimes he would forget all that he did for me. I took him for granted too often.

With a large exhale, his body relaxed into the mattress. Well, I guess while he's knocked out I should start being productive.

Sliding my computer towards myself, I criss-crossed my legs. The computer screamed at me for new ideas, but there was nothing to follow up on. How am I supposed to figure out who this girl is without any missing persons case? It surprised me that all four of the victims hadn't been inputted into the system and none of them had been filed as missing. Just in case, I scoured the site hoping to look for females found missing in the area within a few months.

Someone had to be distraught over their deaths. Unless, they moved often with little contact. If someone planned to move, a few months without a call wouldn't be that big of a deal. But, even that wasn't really something to go on.

They were all too similar, with their body shape, their clothes, and makeup to just all move here at the same time, unless they knew each other. And if they did one would have reported the rest.

My mind wrestled with the idea that they were all so similar. It was common that killers had types so to speak, but these people were similar with even their outfits.

The bed rustled beneath me.

"You okay?"

He jerked out of his sleeping position and sat up with a straight back. "I think…I think I just had a weird fever dream and the lady was in it."

"Go on."

"I was basically running a hot dog stand and I was becoming frustrated that I couldn't find the dogs, I could only find noodles," I looked at him trying to contain a laugh, "Don't laugh at me."

"I'm trying not to. Continue."

"Okay so I had a handful of noodles when the street became one of those Rockettes kick line things on Thanksgiving, but they weren't Rockettes. The were all like tango dancers and that's when the dead girl brought me a burger wearing a dancer's costume."

"Are you hungry? I can make some soup or get you a hotdog."

"Bella," he rolled his eyes, "that's not the point. I think she's a dancer. Yes, I'm awarer it's a theory based on a hotdog dream—I know—but it's a chance."

"Okay yeah we'll look into it." I turned to look at him and his adrenaline from the story wore off. "Looks like we need to get you something to eat."

"Bella, this is serious we need to look now."

I huffed out a breath, "Have you or have you not eaten today?"

"Um I haven't."

"Then it can wait five minutes. You're sick, take care of yourself before this. I can look at it later." Moving to get up, I pushed him back on the bed before he had the chance to come with me. "Rest."

Walking out the door, I was pleased to see him finally give in. With a can of soup in one hand and some vitamin C tablets in the other, I opened up the microwave. My thought were someplace else.

The dancer idea could be correct. I mean that would work right. The similar clothing and makeup—both things that dancers are accustomed to. That, and the leg. Oh and the body types align with dancers. This could work. I began mentally jumping up and down.

The obnoxious beeping of the microwave broke up my mental celebration. Taking the steaming bowl out, I carefully brought it to him.

"What's the smile for?" He chocked out.

"I'll go get you some water." A minute later with water on hand, I sat down next to him.

"You never answered my question."

"My smile?" I glanced at him as he nodded with the cup at his lips, "You're a genius and you didn't even know it."

"You checked?"

"Not yet, but it fits perfectly. The body shape, outfits, and the leg thing."

"I'm glad you think so, because if this doesn't work I'm all out of ideas."

That was the last word before he became entranced with his soup and my phone started ringing. His eyes peered up at me.

"I'll be back. Okay?" He nodded.

I closed the door behind me as I pulled the phone out of my jacket pocket.

"Hello?"

"Hey babe. I was wondering if you wanted to do something later."

I mentally cursed my situation; I asked him to see him today. "Jake I'm so, so sorry. I don't think I can do anything today. Edward's super sick and he needs someone to be here for a while. He'll get better in a day or two and then we can do something." My response was more of a word vomit than anything else. I just hated the idea that he thought I was ignoring him.

"Slow down, everything's alright," his tone didn't imply that he thought that. "Call me if you want to do something any time soon. I'll let you get back to him." Jealousy flooded his voice, but it was something that most people wouldn't catch. My mind racked for what to do. I wasn't directly chasing Edward over Jacob, but at the same time I was.

But my mind was already made up. Nothing would stop me from being there for him. I let the phone call dissolve into my distant memories and headed back toward my room before I got another call.

"Yes?" I said a little too sharply.

"You sound angry."

"I'm not angry."

"Well, your tone says otherwise."

"Okay, let me start over. Hey Ali, how was your day?"

"Much better. I had a great day. My neighbor got a dog and I went over to meet it. And now I want one."

I swore that Ali was the light in the dark. She could make anyone's mood lighter with just a sentence; her tone was enough to shift your whole attitude.

"Please think before you get a dog."

"Molly."

"Molly?"

"The dog's name, obviously."

"Ali, you can't be serious. You've considered this for 5 minutes."

"Okay, okay I'll think it over, but…I do need some other advice and help."

I leaned back into the kitchen cabinets, "with what?"

"I'm hosting a charity ball and I need a second opinion. I've heard that I'm a little 'over the top' sometimes." I couldn't help but laugh.

"Sometimes? More than that Alice."

"I think I'm just right, but either way I need someone to look over things."

"Of course. What time and when are we planning."

"I'm booked for the next two days, but how about after that?"

"Sounds good, call me and give me a time."

"Okay. I'm excited."

"I've got to go, but before I do. Please don't get a dog Ali. Think about it more."

"I will I promise." The line went dead and I chuckled to myself. Ali always has something new.

Heading into my room carrying my late lunch, I watched as Edward's chest moved up and down.

I went back into the living room to give him a little space.


A hand touched my shoulder and I jumped.

"Wow calm down. It's just me." His raspy voice struggled to speak.

"Sorry."

"It's okay. Got anything new?"

"Well, I've been looking for her name, but I've only gone through a couple competition websites so far." I scrolled up the page for the latest contestants hoping to see her face. She wasn't there; I sighed.

"We'll get it."

"Yeah," we have to. My head leaned back on the couch, while my eyes screamed at me for staring at the screen so long.

"Have you gone to bed?"

"What?"

"Bella, it's 2 am." For a moment I didn't believe him. My head turned back to look at the time displayed by the microwave. Crap. I'd scoured a dozen websites looking for the girl we found today with no luck. I must have been so focused I lost track of everything.

"Please go to bed okay?"

"We can keep working on it tomorrow."

"I know, I just really want to figure this thing out."

"Come on. Off to bed." Picking up my laptop, I was still lost as to how the time could have passed that quickly.

But the second I was in my bed, I could feel the exhaustion that I had ignored an hour ago.


My eyes once again ached from the screen.

"Bella, it's been two days of searching calm down. You can take breaks. You know that right?" Sounds familiar. But, when had I ever listened to my own advice?

I pulled up another website from a competition 4 months ago in Nevada. Searching aimlessly through the contestants, I almost scrolled passed her. I stopped in my tracks and almost screamed.

"Thank god," I released a large breath. "I found her. I FOUND HER." I got up and started jumping around the room in a very unprofessional manner, but who cares I FOUND HER!

"You did?" Automatically, his arms wrapped around me. "Finally. Great job Swan." His smile beamed at me.

"So does this mean you'll finally go to bed?"

"I haven't been doing this that long."

"It's one in the morning and you did the same yesterday and the day before that."

"Okay, maybe I have been pushing myself. But it was worth it. Wouldn't you say so Miss Rita Baras?"

"I do think it was worth it, now please relax before you collapse from exhaustion."

"But I feel like I could run a mile."

"That the adrenaline. Give it a moment." And I did. When my body hit the couch, my mind was finally pleased enough that I found her that I felt my eye lids threaten to close.

I walked into my bedroom without a word and like he said, "collapsed from exhaustion."


My alarm buzzed at my side and I went to go hit it before a sneeze overtook me.

Ugh. This damn sneeze. My chest began to ache after the 5th time my body decided to fold in half with each sneeze. Yawning, I grabbed my quilt and pushed it away from me. My body longed to lay back in bed; there was no way for me to fall back to sleep. Regardless, being awake was still miserable.

With only one nostril working and my eyes barely open, I walked into the kitchen to get some tea. My eyes turned to Edward. Perfectly dressed as always, he was softly humming with a slight smile.

My arm reached for the box of tea bags. My fingertips didn't even make the second shelf. Why the heck are they so high? On the tips of my toes, I sighed. My arms weren't long enough and I didn't have enough energy to find something to stand on. Putting my butt on the counter, I turned around to get up and stand. Another sneeze ripped through my body almost causing me to fall back.

"No you don't," his arm wrapped around my waist. Falling from the counter, he placed me on the floor.

"You know I could have gotten it if you gave me another second."

"You would have fallen in that second," he grabbed the box with ease, "here."

"Thanks," I muffled as I heated up the water.

"You sound different."

"Different? What's that supposed to mean?" My eyes squinted at him, still not adjusted to the light.

Looking down at me, the realization was plain as day on his face. "You're sick."

"Yeah no kidding," my throat was completely raw.

"You got what I had."

"Probably, but I don't seem to be as bad as you," I walked sluggishly to the counter.

"Regardless, why are you out of bed?"

"I can't sleep. Plus it's just a little cold, it's not like I'm dying."

He rolled his eyes at me, "Please try to get some sleep."

"No can do. We've got a list of research to cover. I mean we just found her. You can't think I'm satisfied with just a name." He rolled his eyes.

"If I couldn't go to work, you can't go to work."

"I never said I was. I'm not going to get other people sick." I was also dead beat exhausted. My eyes started to droop.

"Please take it easy today." He gave me a conflicted look, "Do you want me to stay home with you?"

"No," I spoke softly, "you'll get more done at the office. Plus what would the guys do without you."

"I can really stay home. They wouldn't miss me that much."

"Edward," I exhaled a large breath, "All I'm going to do here is research and attempt to sleep. It's not going to be interesting. I'm sure I can survive alone for a couple of hours. I'm really fine. It's not as bad as yours." The words left my mouth confidently, but I felt like I was on death's door.

"Okay, but call if you need anything."

"Sure." A tickle in my throat arose and the coughing started again. My lungs felt defeated by this motion. I looked like I was chocking on something.

Rushing over to me, he grabbed the tea and placed it in my hands, "Bella, you're not well." His hand rubbed gentle circles on my back.

"Yes—I know that." The raw feeling in my throat was only slightly soothed by the warm liquid. "I'm fine, just go."

Something in his expression changed and he lifted a hand to my head, "You're burning up."

"No, I'm cold. I probably just have a fever like you did. It'll go away. I'll call." I pushed him out the door and strolled back into my room to grab a few throw blankets.

"Call me," his voice called from the hallway.

Grabbing all my pillows and blankets off my bed, I headed for the couch. Even with wrapping myself up with numerous blankets, my body still shook. I booted my laptop up, but by the time the browser loaded, I didn't have enough energy to do anything.


EPOV:

She's sick, because of me. I should have made her stay away. And I didn't even stay with her. What am I doing? These thoughts bounced in my head as I watched the clock tick by. Every minute away from her made me nervous. I was a complete wreck the other day. How's she managing?

"Hey Eddy," Em's boisterous voice startled me.

"I told you that's not my name." I rolled my eyes but continued typing.

"Still fun to call you though." He awaited a response that I didn't care to give. Eventually noticing the uncomfortable silence, he started again, "You okay bro?"

"Yeah, Bella's sick."

"Okay and she'll get better."

"Yeah I know," I put my hand on my head. I was being ridiculous; I trusted her enough to be okay for one day. But, I couldn't get past the feeling of letting her down.

"Do you want to join me and Jasper for drinks later?"

"I would but I really should be getting back to her."

"You really do care about her man."

"I mean yeah she's my partner." He gave me a look that told me, "sure whatever you think." I knew Emmett would do the same for Jasper or me.

Hours came and went, and the guilt of not being there for her was growing with every minute. Lunch rolled around and I had to leave.

Walking up to Aro's office, I held my breath. He wasn't keen on leaving early.

"Cullen."

"Aro."

"What do you need?" I paused for a second trying to find the right phrasing before he cut off my trial of thought, "Oh it's Swan isn't it. She's sick right?"

"Yes sir."

"You're free to go home. Just finish the work there. I can't have my best agents slacking."

"No sir." I walked out the door a little confused by the interaction. Was I that easy to read?

Either way I accepted the gracious offer and headed home.


My keys jangled as I threw them on the kitchen counter. Searching for Bella, I found her laying on the couch in a ball of blankets trembling. She lied about my case being worse. I should have known.

Her laptop was still open on her lap with a black screen. I wish I could say she looked peaceful, but she didn't.

Her body shook causing her teeth to chatter. What do I do to fix it? I never knew how to comfort anyone, especially Bella being so independent as she was.

"Bella," my voice was low and smooth in an attempt to not scare her. Awaiting her response, I noticed the dark circles that were beginning to form under her eyes and the placid color of her skin.

"Bella," I tried again with a slight tap.

"I'm tired," she purred before burying herself into the blanket.

"That's okay. Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm doing okay." Her eyelids strained to stay open and then fell back down. Resting on the other end of the couch, I tucked the blanket around her more snuggly. She would wake up eventually and I would be there for her.

Completely distracted in my thoughts, I felt her shift to get up. Her action surprised me. She was in a much worse condition than I was yet she still wanted to go somewhere.

"Hey, where you going?"

"I promised to help Ali with something." Her hand was already on the doorknob of her door pulling it closed.

"Don't you think that you should stay in?"

"Edward, I feel a million times better than I did this morning. My sickness was nothing compared to yours." Oh Bella. She had almost become delusional.

I knocked and she allowed me in. Peering around the door, she was sitting crosslegged on her bed staring at her closet in front of her.

"What's the matter?"

"I don't know what to wear."

"How about you take a little break and we can figure it out later?"

"But I have to go."

"You're not going anywhere."

"Yes I am. I've got things to do. I'm a-okay."

"You're not going anywhere."


BPOV:

Edward was starting to get on my nerves.

"I'm leaving and that's final." Alice mentioned something really important and a few sniffles isn't going to take me away from that.

"No you're not." Taking a deep breath, I was anxious to get out. I confidently strutted past him. Alice wouldn't care what I wore. I mean she would…but I think it's more important that I show up.

"Bella you're sick," he yelled across the apartment. But my keys were already in my hand and my mind was already made up, I was going to pull through for Alice.

Before my hand could touch the door, I felt a grip around my waist and suddenly I was lifted off the ground. "Bella, you have to stay home. You look like…how do I put this nicely,…like you got run over by a truck." My motivation began to fade as I didn't have to support myself.

"But Alice."

"We can call her. Does that make you feel better?"

"Sure."

His skin was warm and comforting so I instantly became drowsy. Gently lowering me, he laid me on…somewhere. My eyes weren't willing to open for me to check. I felt the soft material of my sheets as I curled in a ball. Still, I was freezing.

"Are you going to be okay? I'm going to go and finish up some work."

"Yeah, I'm good," freezing, but okay. I brought my legs up to my chest and held tight hoping that my body heat would make me warmer, but it didn't.


EPOV:

"Edward," her worried voice called through the phone.

"Yeah it's me."

"Where's Bella?"

"She's sick," I walked into the other room and watched her struggle to get warmer. Sitting beside her, she automatically curled up next to me. At least my body heat might help her.

"Are you sure she doesn't just want to get out of planning the ball with me?"

Rolling my eyes, I took a deep exhale, "No Alice. She has a very high fever and if I hadn't stopped her, she definitely would be with you."

"Should I bring her something? Like soup?"

"I think she's okay. She's asleep right now." She inched closer to me with her body still slightly shaking.

"Edward, I'm tired," her sleepy voice was muffled my the blankets.

"I'll let you go. I can hear someone needs you. Bye." She cut the line so I flipped my phone off.

"Are you sure you don't need anything?"

"No, I'm doing great." The words left confidently, yet she still couldn't will herself to open her eyes.

Minutes passed which turned into hours. I wouldn't leave her.


A/N: I promise I have some of the next chapter written and it's Thanksgiving. Thank god. That means I'll probably get another update up next week too. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Keep reviewing and keep pestering me to write faster, I promise it is motivating me.