Flashes of gold and navy swirled through the hallway, the breeze ruffled my clothes as I stared down at a heavy chestnut-colored door. It mocked me. It was telling me that I wouldn't have the strength, or the will to open it. To see what was behind it.

But not this time.

My muscles felt like stones and my head swam as I moved forward. The hallway swayed and vibrated but that could have been my head lopping from side to side. I felt like a rag doll, trying to make my way across the room when my joints were made up of jello.

Grimacing, I reached out and my hand wrapped around the cool metal of the doorknob. I pushed with all of my might and watched as light poured in, warming my face. I squinted against the light, letting my eyes burn to finally see what was beyond the door.

A beautiful room with 3 glass walls stood before me. An orange-purple sunset colored the room. The last wall in the corner was lined with books. I walked in, feeling vertigo pass.

Craning my neck, I allowed myself to peer at the titles.

There were mostly classic authors: Tolstoy, Dickens, Twain, and Hemmingway. There were even some that were my personal favorites: Mansfield Park, Romeo and Juliet, and even Sense and Sensibility. Records and CD's were stacked across the floor. Stepping into the room more, I saw that each pile had its organization tactic, but I couldn't follow each pile's specific rhyme or reason.

I didn't understand what was going on. Why was this room here?

A combination of surprised shuffle and a thud resonated behind me. I jumped a mile in the air and turned to come face to face with the angelic face I had seen all my life.

His jaw tightened, his eyes raking over me up and down. A shudder went down my spine as I met his emerald eyes. They no longer held surprise and bewilderment, but anger.

"How the hell did you get in here?" He snarled.

My mouth went dry. His voice echoed like a tenor trombone. Sweet and low. I knew it was going to be a sound I would never forget. Focus, Bella, focus!

"Where...where am I?"

Smooth, Bella. So, so smooth.

The lines in his face softened. "You...don't know?"

I shook my head vehemently. I bit my lip, opting to stare at his left ear instead of meeting his piercing eyes. "Who are you?"

He manages to hear me over my embarrassing meekness. He tilts his head to the side, leaning against the door. "You don't have any theories?" He asked bemused.

"Err...a couple."

"Tell me one."

I felt heat rush to my cheeks. "I'd rather not."

He gave me a lazy, lopsided grin. "Just one theory- I won't laugh."

I didn't answer, my gaze lowering to the floor. He made me uncomfortable in ways I didn't know about. I was hot and cold, all at the same time. I itched to get closer to him, but my body knew better than to get too close. I also didn't want to get the answer to his question wrong.

He leaned forward, the door groaning at the shift in weight. "Please?"

His voice was low. He glanced up at me through his long black lashes, his emerald eyes looking right through me.

I felt my breath catch in my throat. "Um, well, y-you're Death. Right?"

He continued to stare at me, his expression suddenly losing all amusement. He pushed himself off the wall, walking towards me. He stopped short a couple of inches in front of my face. My skin was electric, begging for me to move in closer, to close the gap between us.

His breath smelled sweet. Almost floral, like azaleas. I felt my head begin to spin and my knees go weak.

"I go by many names, but that's definitely one of them."

I felt light-headed as his breath wafted over me, the room starting to spin too. "Then, what would you like me to call you?"

He looked at something over my shoulder, his forehead creasing. Instead of answering my question, he sighed heavily. He reached up, his index finger ghosting the skin of my cheek. His cold skin burned the surface, though he wasn't touching me.

My vision began to darken on the edges, his eyes glowing brighter. He leaned forward until his lips were next to my ear. "Until next time, my angel."

I gasped, sitting up in bed. My hair matted to my scalp, soaked in sweat. I put my hand to my chest, feeling my heart thunder against my ribcage.

Flopping back against my pillows, I smoothed my hair back. Did that actually just happen? Was it all real?

I thought back to the searing green eyes, feeling the chill go through me. I reached up and touched my cheek.

No. Definitely wasn't a dream.

I licked my strawberry cone, twisting my arm to get all of it before it dribbled down my wrist.

"What does it mean, when a boy doesn't follow up after you were sick for a week?"

"Mike doesn't care about you, Ang." I told her between licks.

"Ow." Angela clutched at her chest mockingly. "Tell me how you really feel."

I shrugged, a twinge of regret going through me. "I could lie to you."

Angela scoffed. "No, I appreciate it. Just...ow."

I leaned my head on Angela's shoulder. She didn't deserve my crabby side. I hadn't slept well since that night. Ang knew that I wasn't sleeping and that something was stressing me out. She never pushed for details, and I appreciated her more than I could say. But even still. She didn't deserve to have me snap at her.

"You don't need guys like Mike. Find someone who likes you for you."

"Oh, you're one to talk."

My eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean?"

Angela flipped her black ponytail. "No guy can get your attention. And it's not like they haven't tried."

"You're ridiculous."

"Am I? Remember Bathroom Guy? He went to the bathroom seven times."

"He might have had a stomach problem!" I laughed, knowing that my defense didn't really stand up.

"Right." Ang rolled her eyes. "He probably waited by the bathroom door before going back. Admit it! There's no one up to your standards."

Vivid green eyes burned behind my eyelids, giving me a wonderful chill even under the warm sun.

I shrugged noncommittally, taking another lick. "It's not really high standards. I just...know."

"Ugh, you're such a romantic." Ang spat, throwing her hands up. "Newsflash Bella. All boys suck."

I bit my lip to not lash out at her. In Ang's defense, she had a bad record with boys. Tyler had treated her like she was disposable and Mike had wasted her time. But I didn't like that she held 'all boys' under the same umbrella.

"I'm sure that's not true," I muttered.

Angela heard me all the same, winding up her argument again. "Nope. All of them. All boys such and are inconsiderate jerks and-"

I sighed, rolling my eyes and looked away. Sometimes Ang just needed a good rant to get her back to zen. I didn't want to be mad at her, it was a beautiful day after all. There was not a cloud in the sky, and it was the brightest blue you could have ever imagined. The breeze was cool and crisp to complement the sun's warmth.

I opened my eyes and froze as I saw him standing in front of the picnic table.

His copper hair was flopped over his forehead, framing the familiar emerald eyes. His shoulders were draped in a black cloak. But he wasn't looking at me this time.

His eyes were focused on Angela. Extending his arm out, his hand started to glow in her face.

"No!" I yelled, standing up.

The glowing stopped, his eyes were wide with alarm. Slowly, he shook his head.

I didn't care about his warning. "Get away from her! It's not her turn."

With a blink, he disappeared.

My heart thundered in my chest and I froze, suddenly realizing what it looked like.

I looked down to see Angela looking up at me with wide eyes. "Bella," she said slowly, "are you okay?"

I looked around to see other park patrons staring too, murmuring to themselves. I must have looked insane to them. I felt numb, all the stress of the past couple of days began to pile in: the intense dreams, Angela's near death, the lack of sleep and those eyes...HIS eyes.

I plopped back onto the bench, my face falling into my hands. I shook my head as tears fell, soaking my hands.

"Okay, okay." Angela murmured, wrapping me in a hug as my shoulders shook from weeping.

A/N: Just a little throwback to the book. Leave a review! Let me know all thy thoughts xoxo ~NNN