24

-----------Eight months later ----------

"Edward, would you please hold still?", Alice complained, "This is how guys are doing it now."

"No!", he flinched, she poked him in the eye with the red pencil, "Men DO NOT WEAR EYELINER and mascara!"

"They do NOW!", she informed, "Just watch MTV once in awhile!"

"OWWW", he rubbed his eye, the makeup stinging it now.

"Alright, I think I have enough of it on you now.", she muttered, taking out another plastic tube, opening it.

"What's that now?", he flinched, trying to see it.

"Lip gloss.", she informed, forcing his chin up, "Hold still and open your mouth a little."

"EMMETT!!", Edward roared, knocking Alice over and running as fast as he could to the other end of the house, in a corner now as she pursued him.

"BACK!", Edward made a cross with his fingers, trying to keep Alice away.

"What's your problem, Edwina?", Emmett came in, laughing right away at Edward's eyes, "You look like a Vegas whore."

"Hey!", Alice slapped Emmett on the back of the head, "He does not! He looks SO CUTE !! But you need lip gloss now."

"OWWWWW!", a little girl's squeal tore through the noise of Alice and Emmett, freezing Edward cold instantly. He could hear her crying.

"It's alright, Sammi.", a male voice tried to soothe her, "Try to relax. I know it hurts."

"Edward, just let me finish this and you'll see it looks good.", Alice compromised, but he wasn't listening.

"Dr. Bryant.", an older woman's voice sounded distraught but controlled, Sammi's mother, Edward recognized her voice. "Her pain is getting worse, I want her to have more painkillers or something, NOW. I don't want her suffering like this."

"No.", Sammi said in a weak little voice, sounding exhausted, "No, no more painkillers…just let me lay here, Mom."

"Edward, your face is green.", Emmett started to laugh but then stopped, seeing something was very wrong with him, and asked, "What's the matter?"

"SHUT UP!", he roared, trying to listen to more of what he was hearing.

He shut out images, he had promised Sammi he would not let himself see her sick, but he could still hear it all.

The doctor was talking to the parents out in the hallway, away from Sammi. "I will order more medicine to ease your daughter's discomfort. It should be over soon. No sense in having her in all this pain."

"She doesn't seem to want it, though.", her father said, confused, "It's like, she's hanging on, maybe she still has a chance."

"Her will is very strong, but her body is failing, I'm sorry.", the doctor informed, coldly, "It may be just a matter of hours now."

"I have to go.", Edward moved away from the corner, seeing a reflection of his face in the mirror as he passed. He came back to it fast, looking at his made up eyes.

"ALICE!", he roared, wiping it off as best he could, "I don't have time for this!"

"What is it, Edward?", she reached to touch his shoulder but he flinched her off angrily, going to his room to grab his guitar, slinging it onto his back, and then running out to the garage, getting on his Harley and jumping down to start the engine with his boot.

In a flash, he was gone, racing at top speed.

"Nice going Alice.", Emmett blamed her, walking away.

He was inside her mind now, as he flew down the highway on his motorcycle, moving around cars in his way.

"I hate to be the one to break it to you that, we're only human after all.", he heard himself singing that song to her in her memory now, "I can mend a broken wing, I'll give you everything I have…Don't walk away…"

He could see his face in her mind, in the dark, playing guitar to her. He could see his face everywhere inside her. She was thinking of him, she was going to call him. Part of him wanted to be happy but he couldn't. He could almost feel her pain in his own skin. She was suffering and he hated that. And she didn't want painkillers because they would fog her memory, and make Edward's face vanish out of her head, and his voice became too low for her to hear. They had done that once before and she had loathed it.

"Please take the painkillers, you crazy little girl.", he said aloud as he drove, knowing she couldn't hear him, wishing she could.

A flash in her mind switched and now she was tied to his table, feeling his soft sweet first kiss on her thirsty lips.

She wanted to say his name but didn't. He would come here and she didn't want that, either. Her fate was sealed and she accepted it , not wanting to be weak and change her mind now. But it would be so beautiful to be able to see him, one last time. No, no…she argued with herself, he would see her too, this ugly bald thing she'd become. She couldn't even look in the mirror herself anymore. She would see the anguish in his eyes. I couldn't bear that, she cried to herself in her pillow.

Edward roared out loud, nearly there, hating this, hearing everything she was thinking. Her heart was breaking. His was too.

"Sammi.", her mother's voice was back, trying to comfort her daughter, "Please don't cry. I'm here. I'll always be here."

"I'm here too.", Edward said, leaping off his bike and letting it hit the brick wall on the side of the parking lot, his feet moving quickly to the north side of the building where she was.

The sun was almost down now, but he didn't care if anyone saw him or not. He climbed up the brick wall of the building, with ease, as a spider would've. Her window was finally right above his head as he stopped. He promised not to see her when she got sick. Okay, but he didn't say he wouldn't be here.

Peeking in ever so slightly, he could see her feet under a white blanket in bed, and a window blind was blocking the rest of her from view. He could see her parents sitting there, crying as she slept, or tried to. He sat himself on a flagpole off to the right of the room, only listening again, not looking, into everyone's thoughts.

'My baby.', the mother thought, weeping even in her thoughts, 'She looks so broken, so weak. Please, God, take her now, end her pain, please. Hours of this is too long. Hasn't she suffered enough?"

"I need some air!", the mother leapt up, hysterical, running out as her husband followed her, trying to console her.

"Good.", Edward was glad to see them go, carefully reaching behind him, lifting the guitar around to the front of himself.

He began to play a made up melody, and pushed her window open a tiny crack so she could hear it in the wind outside.

"I'm here Sammi.", he whispered, closing his eyes, "I'll be here with you, to the end."

He knew she couldn't hear his voice but he said the words anyway. Her mind was listening to the music now, and her heart was beating a little bit faster, as much as it possibly could. Edward gave a weak smile at this, still playing for her. She wanted to jump up and run to the window but couldn't. Her body was useless to her, she could hardly turn her head to look towards the sound of the music.

"No.", she coughed a little, sounding afraid. No, Edward, please, she spoke to him in her thoughts, don't look in here, don't come in, you promised me!

The guitar playing stopped. She could hear his voice thru the cracked open window.

"I'm not looking or coming in, Sammi.", he said, "I wouldn't break my promise to you."

He could hear her cry this weak little sob, sniffling afterwards.

"Please don't cry.", he sounded wounded as he spoke, "Please?"

She spoke to him not with her voice now but her mind, knowing he could hear her.

'I'm crying cause I want to see you. But I can't.' she thought to him.

"Yes you can.", he said, not moving, "I can come in."

'NO.' she shouted in her brain at him, then softer, 'No Edward, please. I can't.'

"How about I come in, with my eyes closed?", he asked, "How would that be?"

She cried without a word, wanting him to.

"Yes?" he asked, waiting.

"I hate you.", she whimpered, then added, "Yes."

She couldn't even move her arms to cover herself up with her blanket. Wanting more than ever to cover her face, she shivered as the window slid all the way open, darkness outside.

He stepped a leg inside, slowly, carefully, black jeans on and black leather boots to match. His upper half bent and came inside next. She let out a little sob and breath upon seeing his face again. Keeping his eyes closed, he put his arms out, feeling his way closer to the bed.

"I see you're still ugly as ever.", she spoke with a raspy voice, struggling for breath as she did.

"Think to me, Sammi," he suggested, "You don't have to talk if it hurts."

He remembered trying to talk while he was dying. It sucked.

You are so beautiful, she thought to him, you've always been so fucking beautiful. Her thoughts sounded a tiny bit jealous almost. Edward didn't understand that.

"You're beautiful, too.", he stated as a fact, hearing her cry, getting weaker.

"I see that dirty little mind is still alive and well in there.", he commented on her using the f word. He wanted her to laugh but she still wept.

"Shhh.", he wanted her to stop crying, he hated it. "Can I sit down a minute? My eyes are still closed."

'Yes.' She thought back to him.

He sat in the chair at her side, his guitar in his hands, and he started to play it.

"I've got a surprise for you, Sammi.", he smiled, "You'll like this."

He played his guitar and began to sing softly,

"Looking out
Across the night-time
The city winks a sleepless eye
Hear her voice
Shake my window
Sweet seducing sighs" he sang like an angel, so slow and sweet.

It was a Michael Jackson song, Human Nature. Now she laughed, until she started to cough. Edward stopped, almost opening his eyes to go and help her, but he didn't. He wasn't allowed.

"You learned a Michael Jackson song." She spoke with her voice again.

"See how much I love you?", he asked, then heard a dead silence.

"I miss you.", she said, hardly able to breathe.

"I miss you too.", he wanted to cry.

"It seems like a million years ago, doesn't it?" she coughed a little bit.

"Not to me.", he said sadly, "I still smell you everywhere. I keep that mattress in my room just so I can smell you. And I'm wearing your scarf right now. I wear it all the time."

He brought it to his nose and inhaled it, smiling and keeping his eyes peacefully closed.

"And I don't drink off the living anymore.", he informed, "I went home to my family. They're all helping me get used to being a vegetarian, they call it. Maybe in a year or so, I can start going to school again, once I get better control of my thirst. My eyes aren't even red anymore. They're like a goldish-red color now. Soon they'll be completely gold. Once you stop drinking human blood, the red goes away."

"That is so wonderful Edward.", she sounded so filled with pride, "I knew you could do it. You are so strong. Are you liking it there, with your family? Are you having fun, finally?"

"Oh yea.", he smiled, "It's really fun there. Just today my sister was trying to put make up on me. The house is full of light all the time, and there's always someone around to do something with. It's really great."

She laughed, sounding so happy for him He was on his way to being that better man. She felt herself relax a bit. He was in good hands. Her prayers were answered again.

"Edward.", she said weakly, "Will you do me a favor?"

"I will do anything for you.", he said without any hesitation,"If you want the sun, I'll bring it to you."

"I am wearing the necklace you gave me.", she said, "I want you to take it off my neck and I want you to have it."

"It's yours, I gave it to you.", he said, sounding a little hurt, "You don't want it anymore?"

"Silly Edward." She rolled her eyes. "I haven't taken it off since you put it on me. I just don't want anything to happen to it. It might get stolen after I…go."

"I would crush anyone who would even think of trying that.", he said with anger in his voice.

"That is very sweet of you," she said, a little sarcastically, then with a serious tone, continued, "I don't want anyone else to have it but you. This is just yours and mine. Please?"

He sighed a short sigh, saying, "Okay."

Slowly, he moved towards the bed more, reaching his hand out until he made contact with her. She wanted to reach up and touch his hand but her arms were dead at her sides. That thought killed Edward as he found her shoulder, swallowing and moving over to the neck area, feeling the chain.

"Got it." He smiled, bringing his other hand up to join it, moving carefully to the clasp, undoing it, and slipping it off her neck, taking it into his palm.

"Got it.", he repeated, finished. But he didn't want to move back to the chair.

He stayed there, waiting, his sweet eyes still closed to her. Even more than her not wanting him to see her as she looked now, she didn't know if she could stand seeing his sad eyes. She was too weak to resist them right now.

"Go back Edward.", she demanded, afraid.

"I can't.", he breathed, gripping the metal sides of her bed, "Sammi, when are you going to stop this and let me save you?"

"Edward, don't or you'll have to leave.", she begged in utter exhaustion. If he started to argue this with her now, she'd probably say yes.

"I can't just sit here and listen to you die.", he pleaded, sounding heartbroken and desperate, "Please, Sammi! I'm better now. I love you! I swear it! "

He could hear her parents coming back, but he could give a fuck right now.

"I love you Edward." She cried, "But I said no. I'm ready for this. I'll be okay. So will you."

"No Sammi.", he sounded like he was crying. The door was about to open.

Like a blur of wind, he was gone as her parents came back inside.

The window was open a small crack again and the guitar was gone too. He was still there, and she knew it. She knew he'd stay until her life was over, in case he could make her change her mind. It was so hard now, staying on her path, knowing he was waiting to claim her. She wanted him to come in and take her for his own. That's what was scaring her so much.

She dreamt of it, him breaking through the window with ease, grabbing her limp body up into his muscular arms, his kiss deep into her neck as he drank her completely, devouring all of her, his fingers digging into her hair and back. Then he brought her white dying face to his neck, holding her head there with one hand while she lapped at his blood.

"Drink me.", Edward's voice was deep and aroused, telling her what to do to be with him forever. She closed her eyes and almost said his name, almost called to him to do it. Edward leaned in towards the window, seeing it too, his thirst was coming back. He wanted her now. CALL ME, he almost screamed in his mind, and waited.

'No Edward!', Sammi snapped herself out of it, knowing Edward could see her mind working too, 'Please stay out, please! I can't think about this.'

An hour later, her parents had not left the room at all. Edward was still playing his guitar, every now and then one of her parents would wonder, "Where is that music coming from?" But Sammi liked it so they didn't protest.

He still had not peeked in to see her, as he promised, but he waited for his chance to come back in and plead his case one more time. But the chance never came. They stuck to her like glue, knowing she had so little time left.

Sammi, please, don't do this to us, he begged in his heart, wanting to smash in there and turn her now. Doctors had come in later and were examining her. One of them pulled her arm a bit too roughly and she screamed so loud, Edward almost came in there and killed him. But, as she and now Carlisle had taught him, he controlled it.

"Edward." Alice's voice came from below. He looked down and saw her there, on the wall, crawling up like a little fairy.

"Alice, what do you want?", he hissed, "Got my lip gloss?"

"I'm here to be with you, stupid.", she informed, frowning, "I knew something was very wrong."

"I don't need you, go away.", he sneered.

"Don't give me that macho crap Edward.", she sat next to him on the flagpole, "I'm your sister and I love you and I'm going to help you through this so shut the hell up!"

He couldn't help it, he had to laugh. She smiled a bit at him as he started playing another song, peeking at the parents…still not leaving her alone. Damn it.

"Who's in there ?" Alice asked carefully.

"The most beautiful girl in the world.", he informed, playing on.

Alice peeked inside but Edward flung her back against the wall.

"Don't look in there.", he growled under his breath, "Leave her alone."

"That's her, isn't it?", Alice was dead on accurate, as always, "The one you told me about?"

"Yes it's Samantha.", he didn't look up from his guitar, "Sammi."

"It's happening, isn't it?" she observed.

"Yes.", Edward said without emotion.

"Did you get to see her?" Alice pondered aloud.

"For a minute.", he answered with a bit of venom, feeling cheated, "She got mad at me. Told me to stay out."

"Why, what did you say?", she raised a brow, knowing him.

"I asked her when she's going to stop this and let me save her.", he replied, seeing nothing wrong in that.

"Oh Edward.", Alice frowned, "Doesn't she have enough to worry about?"

"She'd have no worries at all if she let me change her."

"Oh yea, you're right. She'd only have the thirst, the death, the loss of her family, then the fun task of learning to be satisfied with animal blood.", Alice ticked off all the worries on her fingers, "Not to mention, being trapped with YOU for all eternity. Who deserves THAT?"

Edward growled at her, not answering.

Maybe she doesn't WANT to be changed, simple as that.", Alice pointed out, "Do you want her to change, or do you like her just the way she is?"

"I love her just the way she is.", he stated.

"You're hurting her, you know.", Alice informed, "She can handle the physical pain, but you are breaking her little heart. Every note you play is you begging her to give up and go with you. You're messing up her last moments."

"Shut up Alice!", Edward played louder, wanting to tune her out.

"When a human dies, their last moments define the course of their next life.", Alice revealed, "You letting her die with this broken heart is just beyond cruel. She will have a sad life next. Do you want that? "

"No, I want her happy, like she always is.", he said softly, stopping his song.

"Then you have to let her go, Edward.", Alice petted the back of her brother's silk hair, "Do it for her. She has already decided this is where she wants to go. I know you love her in a special way but I told you, I've seen the future. The love of your life is still not even born yet."

Edward frowned, not believing her, staring at Sammi's little feet.

"I want her.", Edward said like a child.

"Do you want to see her one more time?", Alice asked sweetly, looking at his mixed reddish-gold eyes in the darkness.

He nodded without a word, knowing he had to make this right.

"Okay, I will handle everything, big brother.", she climbed up one window, slipping inside, "Wait till I give you the signal."

Edward stared at the lifeless feet under the blanket for a minute or so, then saw Alice coming into the room wearing a nurse's uniform.

"Oh Jesus.", he muttered, not believing his own eyes as she spoke to the parents, having them follow her out of the room, giving Edward a thumbs up sign.

Without a peep, Edward climbed into the window again, closing his eyes like before.

"Sammi?", he called in a whisper, "Don't worry, I have my eyes closed. I'm not going to argue with you anymore. I just want to talk for a minute. Is that alright?"

He heard her thinking to him, not speaking.

"I can't talk anymore Edward.", she thought, "I lost that about an hour ago. I have this awful plastic tube in my throat anyway. It's supposed to help me breathe."

Oh God! He wanted to scream but he didn't want to further upset her. His voice cracked a bit as he spoke again.

"You babble too much anyway.", he tried to make a joke. Her body in front of him did nothing but wheeze but her could hear her laugh in her head, still young and filled with life where it counted.

"Look who's talking!", she shot back, "Jerk."

"I like when you call me a jerk.", he grinned.

"I'm glad.", she said in sarcasm, "I so love calling you a jerk."

"Sammi.", he cleared his throat, "I'm so sorry for hurting you, yelling at you, trying to make you change who you are. I'm not doing that anymore. I love who you are and I'd never try to change a thing about you. I was just being selfish, thinking of me again. Guess I'm not all better after all."

"Well you're a man.", she sounded like she was smiling in her mind, while her body here was only a shell now, "It's not all your fault. And I told you, the road for you is long. But you'll get there."

"Does it hurt a lot?", he dared to ask.

"Yes.", she didn't lie, "You know how it is. I don't have to sugarcoat it for you. I keep holding onto our memories together, it helps a lot."

"Good.", his voice broke again.

"I'm sorry I couldn't go with you, Edward.", she sounded hurt, "I know I hurt you, too. Please don't hate me."

"I could never ever hate you.", he breathed, "And I understand. You're too beautiful to be one of us anyway."

"Edward?", she asked.

"Yes Sammi?", he kept his eyes shut, answering.

"Can you please hold my hand?", she asked mentally, "Without looking at me?"

"I would love to.", he smiled, feeling around for her tiny hand, finding it, "And I am looking at you, in my head. I see your long beautiful hair, your emerald eyes, soft, full pink lips that shine. Your ivory skin. You are forever beautiful. Don't forget that, Sammi."

Her mental voice cried, not answering.

"Your hands are as cold as mine now.", he observed, putting both his hands around hers, bringing them to his lips and giving it a tender kiss.

"It's happening, Edward." She informed, "I can feel it."

He let out a gasp, hearing her heartbeat slowing even more now. He wanted her last moments to be with him but he heard himself ask, "Do you want your parents?"

"No, just you, Edward.", she begged, "Don't let go. Stay with me."

"Always.", he promised, kissing her hands again.

"I won't ever forget you, Sammi.", he whispered, "You saved my life. Wherever you're going, I want you to go there the same happy little girl you were when I met you. You got that? Don't cry over me, I'm fine. I want you to fly now. Be the dancing wind, Sammi. Twirl. "

He still held her hands tight but he knew he was letting her go, tearing his soul from hers, so it would be light again…and soar, finding more beautiful places than this to dance in.

She sounded so relieved and so full of joy when she responded in her thoughts.

"God, how much I love you Edward!", she squealed in happiness, "I love you SOOOO much, my sexy little vamp boy!!"

He laughed, the heartbeats were so far apart now…coming to a horrid crawl.

His eyes clenched closed now, tense, feeling her slipping out of his reach.

"I love you too, my naughty catholic school girl.", he made her laugh again. He bent down, without looking, and laid a moist deep kiss on her cheek, thinking heaven will never be the same now, Sammi's coming. She will truly make the place beautiful…and wild.

"Do you see anyone?", Edward asked, curious, jealous, "Like your guardian angel or something?"

He wanted to make sure she was going somewhere wonderful, even if it meant some other lucky being was getting to escort her there, away from him. If there was even a hint that there was nothing after her death, he would jump in at the last moment and take her as his, whether she liked it or not.

"Yes I do.", she sounded in awe, "He is so beautiful, Edward."

"Good.", Edward was truly jealous, hating him.

"He is holding my hands.", she informed, "He has the most gorgeous reddish brown hair, white skin, cute little nose, sexy, masculine lips, and closed reddish gold eyes. And a cute little dent in his chin. He is perfect."

"Sammi.", he smiled, keeping his eyes closed, tears in them now.

"He has a nice ass, too.", she added, from her mind, roaring with laughter. The bad little girl was back.

"SAMMI !", he felt himself blush as much as a vampire could.

"I feel something." She said suddenly, sounding serious now, "I see light. Oh God, so much light. It's so warm. I can hear music, too."

"That's your ride.", Edward informed, relieved there was an Eden calling to her, "Go towards it, Sammi. Let it take you home."

"I'm scared.", her voice echoed a little in Edward's head, "I'm afraid to let you go."

"No, don't be scared.", Edward soothed her, "All the scary things are gone now. They can never touch you again. Go to it, let go of me. You can move now and leave this poor worn out body behind. You're stronger than me now and faster, and you can fly. Reach up and float to it. You won't fall. It's alright. I promise. Try."

"You are my guardian angel.", she sounded so strong now, "You give me so much strength. Thanks Edward."

"Thank you.", Edward shook a little, "For everything. Goodbye my beautiful angel. Be happy.", he repeated her last words to him in the woods that day.

"I'm doing it. I'm floating! This is wild ! Bye Edward….", her voice was fading, as if she were soaring up and away from him, her laughter was mixed into the words, like music, "Bye, bye bye!! I love you, I love you !! Wooooooo !!!!! OH GOD !! I'm flying, Edward! Edwarrrddddd!!!!"

She went toward heaven saying his name, a vampire. And God still let her inside, openly, without judgment or anger. Maybe she was a good God after all.

The heart monitor went flat, the dull beep drawing out like a blade. His breath came out in one long sob, his eyes red and wet as nurses and doctors came charging inside, pushing him out of the way. He nearly opened his eyes but didn't. Crawling blindly out the window, he climbed up to the roof, sobbing, like a dumb animal.

He couldn't wait to get to the top, and as soon as he did, he let out the most gut wrenching, inhuman scream he could muster, it made the birds above fly away in terror. Even the moon seemed to jump and look at him with a frown.

Collapsing into a heap on the wet rooftop, Edward just wanted to die, too. He cried, not caring who knew or saw. Finally, a little hand touched his arm.

With a jerk, he turned, seeing Alice there, looking sadly back at him, stroking his hair.

"Go ahead and cry.", she allowed him, not saying anything more. He cried louder, crawling over and burying his head in her lap, holding her, feeling her arms curl around him lovingly. At that moment, he knew how much he needed his family, like Sammi had told him. Alice rocked him gently, kissing his hair, closing her eyes.

-----------------------------------------------------------

At Sammi's funeral, a million people showed up. The cemetery was an ocean filled with humans under umbrellas. Everyone seemed to notice the tall pale stranger watching from a few feet away, getting soaked from standing out in the rain with no umbrella at all. His stare was blank and lethal. No one dared to approach him.

That one pale stranger always came back to the quiet grave. One day he gave a gift to Sammi's mother there, a beautiful headstone made of black marble, almost as large as a dining room table top.

Sammi's mother almost said no to the boy, but when she saw the face of the stone, she was breathless.

Sammi's name was carved into it with flawless precision, no other lettering she'd seen from other stone cutters was more beautiful than this, she had observed aloud to the boy that day. It looked like something a princess would have carved on her grave. So much detail, it looked like it took weeks to design and create.

There was a poem carved in it, She Walks in Beauty, one of Sammi's favorites, the mother had said. There was also a gorgeous pencil sketch trapped in the marble, a picture of Sammi's face asleep, her arms curled around her smiling mouth, and a pair of little wings sat on her back.

The boy had told her he'd sketched that of Sammi a short time ago, while she slept in class. Not sure she believed that one, Sammi's mother decided not to pry into it any further. The boy looked so nervous in that moment.

There was no mention on the stone of what year she was born and what year she died. The boy told her that it didn't really matter, because she was never really born, just as the sun and ocean were never really born, and her life would never really end, so he left that out of the stone. She has always been alive, and is still alive, he told her, and she nearly cried right in front of the teenager.

One more thing stood out at the bottom of the stone, in giant letters, under her name, two words: F O R E V E R B E A U T I F U L

She had to accept this gift. It was perfect and the biggest stone in the whole cemetery. Sammi loved doing things big, her mother knew already.

"You did this?", she asked him, amazed.

"Yes.", he lowered his eyes a bit.

"How did you? It's exquisite and it looks like it took forever to make." She was almost speechless.

"I have a lot of time on my hands.", he smiled slightly, "It's not as good as she deserves, but I think she'd like it."

He looked so pleased when she accepted it, and after loading it into her car, he began to walk away.

She asked him his name and he just said, "I'm a friend."

Felix was with her that day, and she had asked the teenager to watch over him for a moment. For some reason, she instantly trusted him. When she came back from the ladies' room, Felix was in the back seat, locked in the car, shaking all over, saying something silly about the teenage boy had glowing red eyes, and how he was going to eat him if he wasn't good to his parents from now on. Boys, Sammi's mother rolled her eyes and ignored it.

"Hi Sammi.", Edward sat Indian style on the grass beside the new headstone, wiping it off a bit with a towel he'd brought. He had a duffel bag filled with cleaners and towels, brushes. He took the dead flowers out of the holder at the base, and put gorgeous red roses in its place.

"I know, I'm cleaning too much.", he picked the couple weeds out of the green grass around her stone, "Neat freak Cullen, here."

"I brought you back your necklace.", he opened the velvet box and laid the necklace gently over the top of the headstone, the cross part dangling right beside her name, her picture a bit underneath it.

He stroked the face of the picture in the marble, glad he drew that picture of her while she slept that night. He didn't want anyone to ever forget that lovely face. He never would.

"Don't worry, little girl.", he smiled, "No one is going to take this necklace away from you, ever."

And he tapped his fist down once over the necklace, embedding it into the marble stone, locked out of anyone's reach. It still sparkled in the sun, like him.

"I know you're not really HERE.", he looked around, "This place is too dead and cold and boring for you to hang out in. I'm sure you're bungee jumping or flying over the rapids right now, somewhere warm and sunny. I wish I were with you. I am with you. I'm going back to school tomorrow. I'll be a junior again. I hope I don't fall asleep in the middle of class…and I have to pretend to eat during lunch period."

He talked on and on that way all the time, for hours, just hanging out with his best friend.

See next chapter !

One left !!

Hope you guys are liking it!

Thanks for sticking with me through all these chapters !

Love

WinndSinger