Love Story- Chapter Six

A/N: Thanks again for all the reviews. I just wanted to thank everyone who's been reading, and I hope you guys will continue to do stuff! I'm sorry it took so long to update, but I had a motorcycle class this weekend that had me pretty well tied up. And not to brag or anything, but I finally got my motorcycle license, so go me!

Anyway, I apologize for any typos you may see. I wrote this chapter last night while working the midnight shift, and I wanted to get it typed up and posted before I went to bed for those of you that have been waiting! I hope you enjoy, and as always, reviews are love!

Love Story

Chapter Six

Though the sunlight streamed in through my bedroom window illuminating everything it touched, i did not have a good feeling about today.

I had not slept well, despite the ample medication that coursed through my system, as my conversation with the Cullen siblings continuously replayed through my mind.

From the first moment I had laid my eyes on Alice Cullen in that wonderful little gallery, I had known something was different; something I couldn't quite put my finger on. I was further convinced upon meeting the rest of her family, but truth be told, it really didn't matter. I had known Alice just a few short weeks, but there was one thing I knew for certain: she was the best friend I had ever had.

Yesterday, during our intense conversation, there had been a longing in Alice's eyes, as if she had been pleading with me to understand her "secret". She had looked worried as she explained to me that she had had visions. Perhaps she had been waiting for me to run screaming in the opposite direction? Of course, not that it would have been possible for me to do so in my present condition. Had anyone else informed me that they had had these so called "visions", I probably would have screamed for Charlie to get an emergency petition form and have them committed to the nearest loony bin.

But how else would I still be alive had she been making the whole thing up? The fact that I was still alive and (mostly) well was a testament to the fact that she must be speaking the truth, no matter how strange or hard to swallow the truth was. Because really, the fact remained that I should have been dead. I had seen what the tanker truck had done to my old rusted piece of tin. In my opinion, Alice Cullen could have been the freakin' boogeyman and it wouldn't change the fact that she had saved my life.

"Hey Bells?" I jumped slightly at the sound of Charlie's voice. I had been so wrapped up in my thoughts, I had not heard his heavy footsteps on the stairs. "How are you feeling today?"

"Like I was almost run over by a truck?" I attempted to joke feebly, offering a weak smile. "No, I'm okay. Still hurting pretty bad, but much better than yesterday."

He hesitated slightly. "I just got a call from the station. They're going to need me to come in for a few hours. You think you'll be okay here alone or…?" He trailed off.

"I'll be okay," I assured him. "Alice is supposed to come over though, so leave the front door unlocked, okay?"

"Sure thing kiddo," he crossed the floor to my bed, where I laid propped up against my pillows. He removed the cordless phone from his back pocket, pressing it into my hand. "I shouldn't be too long. Call me if you need anything and I can be here in five."

"I will dad."

"Oh… and Bells?"

"Hm?"

Another hesitation. "Do me a favor and call your mom. She swore if she hadn't heard from you today, she was on the next flight out here to give you a piece of her mind for scaring her."

I allowed a groan to escape from my lips. "Daaad," I whined, "did you really have to call mom?"

"Sorry kiddo. We parents have to stick together like that."

"Ugh," I responded with a roll of my eyes. "Get out of here before I find something to throw at you." As he headed out of my room and back down the stairs, I heard the distinct sound of him chuckling. With a shake of my head and a resigned sigh, I punched the "on" button and dialed the familiar number, preparing myself for Renee's hysterics.

xoxoxoxox

It took me well over an hour and a half of pleading before I had been able to convince Renee that yes, I was fine and no, she didn't need to fly out. Though I missed my something terribly, I knew how much she detested Forks, and really, I was making out just fine. There was no need to her to make herself miserable at my expense.

With a glance towards my clock, I scowled when I realized just how late it was getting. Alice had promised me that she would be over, as there were still a million questions I had for her. Morning was nearly over, and I had yet to hear from her. What the hell was the deal?

My scowl deepened as I turned the phone on once more and dialed the number that Alice had given me. I was prepared to hang up the phone after the third ring when a vaguely familiar voice answered the phone. Though clearly feminine, it was slightly deeper than Alice's voice and much gruffer than dear, sweet Esme's.

"Hello?"

"Er…Rosalie? Hi… this is Bella Swan. It uh… is Alice around?" I could just picture the leggy blonde rolling her eyes.

"No," she responded curtly.

"Oh…" I faltered slightly. "Do you know when she might be back?"

"Yes."

Okay. This wasn't exactly going as planned. "Okay. Do you think you could have her call me when she gets in?"

"Maybe," was the clipped reply. There was a pause before she spoke once more, her melodic voice transformed into a fierce growl. "Do us all a favor and leave us alone. Don't call here again."

My mouth opened and closed dumbly, unable to form a coherent response before the line was disconnected. I felt the tears well up behind my eyelids, my face stinging as though I'd just been slapped. I lowered the phone, and settled back on my bed, pulling the covers up, feeling more than I had since coming to Forks.

xoxoxoxox

It was with Charlie's help, much to my embarrassment, that I was able to wash my greasy hair in the kitchen sink. True, he'd gotten more shampoo on his shirt than in my hair, but it was the thought that counted. I knew that with my injured shoulder, there would be no way I'd be able to lift my arm to even wash my own hair, so I was grateful for the help… even if it came in the form of my father.

The sun had set over Forks, blanketing the town in darkness. Due to the fact that it had been a sunny day, the night seemed even darker than usual.

I had managed to sit through dinner with Charlie, a particularly painful affair, given that he'd decided to try his hand at cooking. It wasn't long afterwards, however, before the painkillers in my system began to work their magic and I escaped to my room.

I wasn't sure how long I had been asleep when I heard it. There was a faint tapping sound coming from my window. I forced my tired eyes open, trying to focus on the sound.

I glanced int he direction of the window, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I did so. From my position on the bed, I could see the tree limbs swaying, scraping against the side of the house as the wind danced through them. The stupid street light was shining directly in my room, bathing my bed in it's pale white light. With a sigh, I pushed myself up carefully.

I crossed the room slowly, stumbling slightly. I grabbed a hold of the curtains, intent on pulling them closed when I noticed the pale face staring back at me and the long nimble fingers poised at the window, as if ready to strike.

"Oh!" I moaned, my breath catching in my throat as my best friend's brother stared back at me, perched gracefully on a tree limb outside my window. My uninjured hand shook slightly as I fumbled with the latch, before managing to force the stupid thing open. "Edward?" I asked dumbly. Perhaps I had overdosed on those painkillers and was having a wonderful hallucination.

He motioned for me to step back and in one swift motion, he'd leapt from the tree limb into my room, landing as gracefully as a cat. I cringed slightly at the soft thump, afraid the noise had woken Charlie. Almost as if reading my mind, a smile crossed his beautiful face before he spoke.

"Relax. He's still asleep."

Per his instructions, I relaxed visibly before I moved to shut the window. The chilly night air swept over me, causing me to shiver. It wasn't until the window was firmly latched that I realized it was his cool breath on the back of my neck that was giving me chills.

Whirling to face him, I tried to keep my voice light. "What are you doing lurking outside my window, Edward?" I asked, trying to ignore the goosebumps that dotted my bare arms. "You could have broken your neck climbing up that stupid tree!"

Though I knew it was strange that he had come, I couldn't bring myself to feel anything but relief. I had been afraid, especially after the strange phone call with Rosalie, that the two siblings that regretted in sharing their secret with me. It relieved me to see him standing here, confirming that there had been no second thoughts.

"I wanted to see you," he said casually.

The declaration sent my heart into uncomfortable spasms. I tried desperately to keep my voice from wavering. "As touched as I am by that, you could have come by today like Alice said you would. You know… like a normal person?"

"Ah," he said, his grin widening. "But I already told you. I'm. Not. Normal." As he punctuated each word, he moved even closer.

"What are you doing here Edward?" I repeated, my voice trembling under his intense gaze.

"I can't seem to stay away from you Bella."

"You did a pretty good job of it today." Oh God. Was I whining? It sure sounded like it. Perhaps even pouting, too.

He allowed a chuckle to rumble from his chest. "Circumstances completely out of my control."

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't you happen to notice the weather today?"

"What are you talking about? It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and–"

"Exactly. Like I said, not normal."

"Oh… do you have a weird skin condition or something? There was a boy back in Arizona who had that. He was allergic to the sun or something."

Another laugh rumbled from deep within him. "Something that like."

I shivered as his cold hands gripped my arms gently, pushing me into a sitting position on the bed, before he took a seat beside me. "You're so cold."

He offered a shrug. "It's a chilly evening."

I sat for a moment, staring at my hands before I spoke again. "I uh… I called your house today," I informed him, cringing slightly at the memory.

His eyes darkened, his mouth twisted down into a frown. "I heard about that. That's another reason why I'm here," he responded through gritted teeth.

My eyes widened. Had I offended him by doing so? What that why he was here? To give me a telling off? Oh crap. "I'm really, really sorry for calling Edward. Alice gave me the number so I thought it would be okay if–"

He held his pale, white hand up to silence me. "I'm not mad with you, you silly girl. On the contrary, I'm quite sorry that Rosalie spoke to you like she did. I assure you, it will not happen again."

The silence enveloped us once mored. I could feel his gaze, studying my face. A blush crept onto my cheeks. I shivered as his ice cold finger grazed my cheekbone, my heart thumping painfully in my chest.

"I should go," he said softly. "You need your rest. I hope you'll be able to forgive me for intruding like this Isabella. I…" he paused, "I just couldn't wait until morning."

I stood as he did, watching as he made his way across the room to the window. I followed after him, grabbing his solid arm in my hand. "Wait!" I faltered as he turned his topaz eyes on me. "Um… at least use the front door!"

Another laugh. He reached out, stroking my cheek gently. "Sleep well, Isabella," he said quietly, all traces of amusement gone from his eyes. I watched helplessly as he opened the window, willing him silently to stay, just a little longer.

My breath caught in my throat once more as he leapt, disappearing from sight. I ran to the window, my eyes searching the ground below.

"Edward?" I called. "Edward?" There was a hint of desperation in my voice. I opened my mouth to call for him once more when I heard his musical laughter in the distance. Suddenly overcome with exhaustion, I shut the window and moved to close the curtains before I decided better of it. Just in case, I thought, making sure to leave the window unlatched as well. I stumbled wearily over to the bed and sank down on the soft mattress.

My eyes wandered over to the nightstand where my pain pills rested, seemingly taunting me.

Wow, I thought with a shake of the head. If I'm going to have these interactive hallucinations, I don't think I ever want to come off of this medication.