Chapter 3. Signs

I opened my eyes to see an empty room. I knew right away where I was…Edward's bedroom.

My body wasn't sore anymore…I felt normal again. Though, it had felt like I had slept for a lifetime. How long had I really been out?

I gripped the sofa's armrests as I tried to pull my self up to stand. As I put pressure on my palm of my scarred hand, a sharp, searing pain shot up my fingertips. That was still sore…and it still burned.

I got up and wandered the halls. Where was everyone? The house was completely vacant. Edward wasn't even there when I woke up. There was almost never a time where I wouldn't wake up and see his face. How I wanted to look at his angelic feature right now…I didn't know what day it was and I felt more alone than ever. I needed him now…

I walked into a bathroom, it was just as clean as the rest of the house, but they never used it. I sat down on the edge of the toilet seat and stared at the floor. The tile reflected a small bit of blurred red off my face. I slowly turned around to see myself in a mirror. I jumped at the sight of my reflection.

My hair shone a reddish copper instead of my normal brunette color. My skin…more fair than ever! But it didn't look sickly…Against my face, my hair seemed brilliant. My eyes were still the same, but as I stared at myself closely in the mirror…I looked almost like one of them.

I then thought of something…

I bolted out of the restroom with speed I never had. I defiantly wasn't as fast as Edward or the rest of them. But to me…it was fast. I smiled in spite of myself. I knew why Edward liked running so much. It was exhilarating! I shot back into Edward's room and stared curiously at the sofa. I took both of my hands and grasped the arms of it. I slowly lifted it with ease. I laughed. I was having way too much fun.

Putting the couch down softly, I ran back out of the room and practically floated down the stairs. I ran in circles laughing and thinking how wonderful this felt. I flew around the house without falling over anything. Until I heard my name…

"Bella?!"

My head jerked to where the voice came from. I lost focus on what I was doing and crashed into a wall, falling backwards onto the floor. My head hit the ground as I landed on my back.

"Shit…" I muttered as I lay sprawled out on the floor. My head pounded from the impact. Damn whoever made me lose my concentration.

"Bella!" I heard Edward call again. "Wha- What the hell were you doing?!" He said picking me up.

"I was running."

"So I saw…" He sighed.

"Yeah…so where were you anyways?"

"Um…hunting. Yesterday you coughed a little blood and Esme and Jasper had to leave. Alice did too…we thought we should go before something serious happened."

"Oh, okay…wait…Yesterday?! How long was I out this time?"

"You fell asleep in the hospital Tuesday…its Friday now."

"THREE DAYS!"

"Yeah…remember as a vampire we don't sleep. Your just getting as much rest as you can."

I sighed. "But I don't get to see you for days…that's not fair."

"You'll survive…" He tone seemed hopeful and I knew he wasn't talking me not seeing him. He was hoping I would actually live throughout this process.

He stared at me and grinned. "You look nice." He whispered. "But I'm glad your eyes are still the same…I don't want you to change too much."

He touched my face and kissed me. God, did I miss that. He didn't have to hold me as gently…pulled me close to him with more force than usual. I defiantly wasn't as fragile as I was. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pushed him down. He pulled away with a smirk on his face. "You're strong…" I just smiled proudly at him and pressed my lips up against his once more. He held my face in his hands and I mine tangled in his hair.

I heard someone giggle in the corner.

"Alice…" Edward growled.

"Oh, Edward…Its not like I haven't seen that before…"

Edward picked me up and I smiled shyly at Alice. She laughed.

"I can tell your feeling better, Bella."

"Yeah…"

Alice came to my side and hugged me. She left the room, a smile still upon her face.

"She's been really annoying today…" Edward grumbled. I chuckled.

Edward drove me home the next day. My dad was the happiest I had seen him since my graduation.

"I'm glad you're feeling better kiddo!" Charlie said, squeezing me.

"Yeah, me too Dad." I coughed.

We sat on the sofa all day watching the TV. It felt good to just be lazy…

Days still went by…the pain was there, but it wasn't as bad as it had been. Carlisle came by everyday to check up on me and Edward stayed here every night. My dad seemed to get on my nerves though. 'Are you okay?' or 'How ya feeling?' he'd always ask. I know he was concerned about me. I knew he cared.

Later, my dad called me down from the kitchen.

"Bella!" He said.

"Coming." I yelled back. I could smell that he made dinner, which made me sort of happy because I felt tired. I didn't feel like cooking today.

"Smells good, Dad." I said as I sat down at the table.

"Go on and eat. I'll be right back."

I stared down at my plate. I didn't have an appetite lately…and I knew why. No matter what I ate or drank, nothing was satisfying. …And that started to scare me. I didn't want my dad ending up hurt…or worse.

Charlie came back and looked at me curiously.

"Bella…you're not eating."

"I'm not hungry…" I sighed, pushing the plate away. This argument had been going on for the past few days now.

"You need to eat something, Bells. You haven't touched your food for days." He said. I didn't look at him. "Are you sure you're feeling well? You haven't really been yourself lately."

"Dad, I'm fine! I just haven't been really hungry…" I knew I sounded angry…I didn't want to argue again.

"Bella…" he started.

I open my mouth to tell him to stop. Instead, a bloodcurdling growl ripped from my throat. It escaped my lips before I could stop myself. The snarl scared not only him but me as well. I stood in horror as I stared at the terrified look on my dad's face. He sat there, frozen. "Dad?" My voice cracked. He didn't move. I took a step towards him, wanting to cry. He edged back on his seat, leaning away from me. He shook as he looked at me with horrified eyes. "…Dad…" I pleaded.

He still didn't budge. His face was white and he looked hurt and scared. "Please…Dad…" My eyes burned as I spoke. He did nothing and was motionless. I didn't know what to do.

I turned around, tears streaming down my face. I exited the front door and ran as soon as I shut it. I felt my shirt get soaked as I entered the rain. Gasping, losing my breath as I raced to the Cullen's, I cried. I was at their door within a minute.

"Edward!" I cried, pushing my body against the door for support. I knew he could hear me. I sank to my knees as the door opened. "Bella, Bella…shush. It's okay." He said automatically. I cried into his chest as he held me. "What happened?"

"He won't talk to me!"

"Who?"

"Charlie! I scared him!"

"What? You…?"

"I didn't mean to! I was frustrated...now he wont talk!" I could hear the hysteria in my voice and I shook in Edward's arms.

"Bella…what happened?" he asked calmly again.

I bit my lip, shaking my head. The tears were still pouring down my cheeks.

"C'mon. Lets get you inside, you're soaked."

"Alice?" Edward said, holding me as I held onto his side.

"Yeah?" Alice asked as she appeared. She stood next to me, looking down at me with a worried look.

"She needs dry clothes…" He said still holding me close to his side.

Alice nodded. She was back with a pair of jeans and a top before I knew she left. "Here, these should fit."

"Thank you." Edward said.

"What happened?" Alice whispered. I could hear her clearly. Edward shrugged, taking the clothes from her.

"I'll tell you…later." I sniffed. Her face looked shocked. I don't think she counted on me hearing her. She then smiled at me and said 'okay'.

He took me into his room and let me change. I was still sobbing. He came back into the room once I was done dressing.

"So…can you tell me what happened?" He asked softly, pulling me down to sit on his lap on the sofa.

"I-I was…He-" I didn't know how to explain it. "I growled…and…"

"What…?"

"I…" I couldn't say it. I opened my mouth to show him. Again, I snarled. The sound echoed throughout his large room. He seemed a bit surprised…I had never sounded so ferocious, even when I tired to be. "I was just so frustrated with him. I didn't mean to…" I put my face in my hands. "He wouldn't talk to me…he wouldn't move!" I cried.

Alice came in. She walked up to us and sat on the floor by the sofa. She grabbed my hand. "It's okay, Bella." She obviously heard me.

"Bella, do you mind me asking why you and your dad were arguing?" Edward asked, whipping the tears off my cheeks. I was still crying.

"Um…no…but that's another thing I need to talk to you about." I paused, trying to be more serious rather than upset. "I haven't been hungry lately…Charlie's been wanted me to eat. I just got frustrated with him nagging me. But anyway, I don't want him ending up hurt. I know for a fact that soon…" I sighed and looked up at Edward. "…I'll need to learn how to hunt."

This was defiantly not a subject he was looking forward to. He understood completely, but I knew he wasn't going to be enthusiastic about it. "I know…" He said softly. "Soon."

Alice nodded, letting go of my hand. It was time to really get serious with this.

It was quiet for a while. We were all thinking.

"So…what can we do about Charlie?" Alice asked, breaking the silence. Edward and I looked up.

"What can we do? That isn't a natural sound for humans to make…what can explain that?!" I said.

"Honestly…I don't know what to tell you…" Alice then grew silent. "I'm sorry." She then said softly. Edward looked at me, his eyes were gold but he looked worried.

"You don't look so good again." He said, touching my cheek with his hand. "You should go and sleep."

"Can I stay here for the night?" I asked. I didn't want to face my dad. It would be too painful…

"Of course, Bella!" Edward and Alice chimed.

"Thank you…" I could feel warm tears roll down my face.

Edward embraced me, stroking my hair and rocking me back and forth. Alice got up on the couch next to us and held my hand. "Everything's going to turn out just fine." She said, winking at me. I could only barely smile. "Thanks again." I whispered.

I listened to the sound of Edward's humming as he played my melody. The sweet sounding lullaby echoed through his room and it was beautiful. I wanted to sleep, but knowing that when I did, I ending up not waking for days. I didn't want to drift into a slumber again. And, I didn't want to leave Edward…not now. Thoughts ran through my head as I wondered what my father was going through, if I would wake breathing, hurting someone with my thirst…I wanted all these thoughts to leave. Leave me alone.

Edward looked at me. He looked concerned and worried. "What?" I asked.

He looked away, sighing. "Nothing." He whispered. "I really think you should get some sleep." He added. He wanted something…I knew he did.

"Edward, you want to ask me something…" I said.

He started at me; I couldn't read his expression. "The thing you said about hunting…are you sure you'll be ready?" he asked, nervously.

I nodded hesitantly.

He sighed. I knew he didn't want me hunting. I remember him telling me how he never wanted me to ever go with them. But now, I didn't have a choice. And we both knew that.

"Then soon…Really soon." He whispered.