Chapter 2. Pain

A bright light showed ahead as I opened my eyes. Everything was a white blur. It was quiet, except for the soft beeping and murmurs of people. Pale sheets covered me, and as I tried to move, something caught my arm.

"Edward?" My throat felt raw and sore.

"No…it's me." Alice's voice said.

I slowly turned my neck to her. I focused hard to see her clearly. Once my vision was clear I saw her. She was there, her hand holding my arm. "Oh, Alice!" I cried. I moved to hug her, but the pain and soreness held me back. Instead, she leaned over and gently kiss me on the cheek. "Try not to move too much…"

"Right." I sighed, "Where am I?" I blinked a few times looking at the room around me.

"The hospital. Out of all people you should be able to recognize one." She smiled.

I weakly laughed.

"Carlisle is taking care of you. Though, you really can't be treated, we couldn't just tell your dad about your…condition. So, we took you here."

"What does Charlie think I have?"

"A virus. I don't remember what Carlisle told him."

"So…what's going to happen?" I gulped.

"There's nothing that can be done. Edward was upset…you should've seen him."

"Edward? Where is he?" I gasped.

"He went to talk to Carlisle. He left a little while before you woke up. I came here to keep you company."

I smiled at her in thanks. Wait…how long have I been knocked out? "What's today? How long have I been here?"

"You've been asleep for two days. It hasn't been that long."

"How long will this…" I paused, "…go on. The pain."

"Carlisle can't tell. None of us know what to do…nothing like this has happened to us before. How do you feel now?"

"Sore. It hurts to breathe too." I said, hearing the rattling sound in my chest.

"You seem better than last night."

"What happened?"

"You screamed the whole night. Scared the crap out of the doctors. You cried and hollered. Edward held you the entire time. No one knew what to do. Your temperature also went out of control. Everyone was scared."

"And…I never woke up?"

"Well, at first Edward thought you were dreaming, but then he said he's never seen you act like that in your sleep before."

"Did I stop?"

"Yes…Edward held you the whole time, he wouldn't leave you. I guess after the pain went away…you broke down and cried."

I stared at her. First off, that was embarrassing. Second, everyone was worried over the tiniest thing. Okay, so maybe it wasn't so 'tiny'.

"How is everyone taking this?"

"Edward…not too well. Everyone else just seems worried about you. You know we all already think of you as part of the family, Bella."

"Same here." I sighed. She smiled at me, hugging me gently. The door opened as soon as she got up. She heard whoever was coming.

"Edward." I said, trying to sit up.

"Bella…You're awake." He seemed relieved. He was next to me before I knew it and he kissed me softly. "Hi." I smiled. Alice smiled and waved bye to me. I mouthed 'good bye' back.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Fine…now."

"Does anything hurt?" he asked, touching my hand slightly.

"No…I'm just sore." I said, trying to change my position to sit up again. He held me back.

"You're weak."

"I feel fine, Edward."

"No, you're not. Please rest."

I sighed in frustration. The only thing I felt was soreness. Nothing I couldn't handle. Carlisle came in a few minutes later. Edward went over to him as they rapidly talked in their conversation. Carlisle smiled at me when they were done. "Morning Bella." He said, and then left quickly.

Edward walked to me; he looked sunken. "He said…he thinks it will take a few more weeks for you to…" He stopped. "…change." I nodded. "He also said that in a while I should take you out and get fresh air. So you won't have to stay in bed the whole time."

"Okay." I defiantly wanted to get out. Hospitals weren't my favorite place for hanging out.

"I'm thirsty." I said. Edward's eyes widened.

"Thirsty…?"

I laughed. "Water."

There was a glass on the table next to my bed. He reached for it and handed it to me. I grasped it. It popped in my hand, shards of glass and water fell to the ground. My mouth hung open. What just happened? My hand burned as I felt blood drip off my palm. There was a small cut. Edward leaned back looking worried. "Are you okay?" he asked quickly.

"Y-yeah…"

He cleaned up the mess and found something to wrap my hand in.

"What…what happened?" I asked.

"You broke the glass…"

"No…I mean. How did that happened?"

"Remember…we're strong. You'll learn how to control it." He smiled slightly.

"I barely held it! How-"

"I can lift you without an effort…you broke that glass the same way."

I don't know why it came as such a shock to me. I knew how strong they all were. Alice, small and slender, could lift me as if I weighed nothing. I sat up on my bed dumbfounded. "I'm gonna have to get use to all of this…" I sighed.

Edward nodded but didn't smile.

"I think I can get up now." I said, knowing this conversation made Edward feel uncomfortable. I moved my feet over the edge of the bed and set them on the floor. He held my arm as I unsteadily got to my feet.

"Can you walk?" He asked.

"Yeah…" I stepped forward as he kept his arms around me.

We walked around the hospital, wondering around the halls together. Though, things seemed tense between us. Neither of us talked. Edward seemed upset.

"Do I have to stay here for the rest of the time?" I asked.

"No. Carlisle actually said he wanted to you stay with us once you woke up. But not for long, remember your dad can't know about you…"

I sighed. That was defiantly going to be a problem.

"Would you like to stay with us tonight?" Edward asked, seeming hopeful.

I smiled. "Of course." He kept me steady with his hand on my hip. He smiled slightly. I could tell he was torn. He wanted to keep me from becoming this "monster" so badly…

He looked down at me. "Bella…you know what's going to happen. What you'll be able to do as a vampire."

I nodded.

"Your strength has already shown, your hearing should become very good, speed…" he paused and smirked at me, "…and you won't be as big of a klutz as you are."

That was a definite up for me. Gracefulness. To be able to walk on a flat surface without hurting myself. Wow, what a dream come true…

"Just be expecting these things so show…" Edward said. He pulled me over to the side of the hallway as a doctor rushed a patient around the corner. The patient had a head injury…I could see the blood seep through the bandages wrapped around his forehead. Before I knew it, Edward threw his hand to my mouth, holding my nose and mouth so I couldn't breathe.

After they were out of sight, I threw his hand off me, gasping for air.

"I'm still human here! I have to breathe!" I choked.

"I'm sorry…but-" The look on his face was terrified.

I waited for a reply.

"You're sense of smell…we're going to have to teach you to hunt."

I gulped. Edward had always said how tempting it was. How hard it is to resist the scent of blood.

"And also on how to control yourself…Like how we're helping Jasper."

"How long until I have to start…hunting?"

"We don't even know how long until you'll be fully changed…we wouldn't know. But when the time comes, we'll be able to tell when you'll need to hunt."

We found a white bench and sat down for a while. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Fine…" Truthfully, I felt lost. I couldn't just change like a normal vampire would…It had to be this rare occurrence. Well, that's what I hate about me…it's always my luck.

He walked me back to my room and I felt dizzy again. Though, I felt tired too. After Edward and I talked for an hour my dad came in to visit. Edward left…but I was sure he could hear us. My dad looked terrible-worn out, tired, and he was sick with worry. He wasn't doing so well.

"Dad, don't worry. Dr. Cullen's doing the best he can. I should be better in know time." I said, trying to make him relax.

"You looked horrible when they told me what happened. When he told me what was wrong I didn't know what to do. I can't lose you Bella!" he said. Trying not to upset me, he held back tears. This made me feel like crap.

"Dad…please. Please, stop worrying. I'm feeling better already! Trust me…"

He nodded slowly…the look of worry still upon his face.

He left. Through our conversation I had practically fallen asleep. So, he left me here to rest. I felt heartbroken that he was worried over nothing…well, maybe not nothing to him (he thought I was really sick) but still, I don't want to cause anyone anymore pain than I had already with my ways of getting hurt…