I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me for the long update!

Chapter 5

EPOV

It all seemed to be a blur to me. Alice began to scream in the seat ahead of me, telling Emmett to swerve. I was confused, trying to figure out what the hell was even going on.

Next thing I knew, even in the car, I heard a loud snap and my gaze found the eighteen wheeler truck in front of us. It was a logging truck, carrying a sum of tree trunks on the back. One of the wide straps holding the trunks down had snapped, and the trunks were beginning to come towards us. I think I heard someone scream, but it wasn't any of the girls.

"Holy shit!" Emmett shouted before he, at the last second, swerved and missed the logs. I heard a crash behind our car, meaning that the one behind us had met the fate that we had just barely missed. The hummer skid across the road, the turn too sharp to correct, and I heard a loud scraping noise and a screech. We all lurched to a stop, and I heard Emmett's breathing become very loud and shaky. Jasper was panicking in the seat in front of me. Alice was trying to calm him.

I was just sitting there in shock, beginning to shake.

The loud music from the radio was still blaring until I heard a click and it turned off. It was eerily silent in the hummer now that there was no sound.

"Is everyone all right?" I heard Bella ask as arms came around me. I shook more as she held me, thinking of just how close we had all come to dying. I rested my head against her chest, falling silent.

"I am," Rosalie said calmly, turning to place a hand on Emmett's arm, reaching over to begin prying his fingers off of his poor steering wheel.

"I am, as well," Alice said quietly as she held a nearly-sobbing Jasper to her chest, whispering gentle words to him.

"A-Alice…thank you…" I heard Emmett whisper from the front seat, and, slowly, he began to unbuckle his seat belt now that his hands were off of the steering wheel. He began to get out to inspect the damage done by what we had crashed into, and I looked. I couldn't see anything, but I knew that it was probably a guard rail. Rosalie began to get out of the car, as well.

"Edward?"

I jumped at hearing the voice above me, and I slowly lifted my shaking head. Bella was staring at me intently.

"Are you all right?" she asked me, and I nodded shakily before resting my head back against her shoulder. I tried to stop my shaking, but it wasn't exactly working all that well.

"Y-yeah," I whispered, and after a moment began to try and pull away to get out of the car, and I was almost halfway out when Bella grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"Don't worry, you don't have to get out," she told me. "The car's fine."

"How do you…?" I asked, a confused look on my face

"Whatever it is, Rose'll fix it," she assured me. I was still shaking, and I didn't even resist as she pulled me back into her arms to calm me more, and it began to work. She smelled so sweet, and welcoming. I looked up at her and she was looking out of the car after something. I assumed it was Emmett.

"How'll she fix it?" I murmured softly, listening to the sounds of Jasper's panicked sobs slowly fading into nothing.

"She's a grease monkey," Bella told me with a gentle smile.

I nodded, sniffling as Emmett got back into the hummer, Rosalie following suit. He strapped back in, and said, "Just a scratch on the paint…nothing major, thanks to Alice."

"No problem," I heard Alice say softly.

I stayed in Bella's arms as Emmett started to pull back onto the street. I could hear sirens, which meant that someone had already called the cops…probably the poor truck driver. I leaned against her chest in the silence of the hummer, and just as she began to pull away, I realized something. It was way too quiet as I leaned against her. I didn't hear the quiet thumping that was similar to the sound that had been rushing through my ears just minutes before.

Bella didn't have a heartbeat.

EMPOV

After our near-death experience, I was more on edge, more ready for something than before. I had noticed that Alice had long since ditched her seat belt in an effort to sit closer to Jasper, but I had a feeling that if something else happened, Jasper was safe with her.

She was sitting right beside him, her arms around him as she whispered softly into his ear in her musical little voice. I think I even saw her kiss his cheek a few times, but I could have been imagining it with all the adrenaline running through my system.

I felt a cold touch on my arm before I turned my head. Rosalie was watching me, her hand on my arm.

"Your hands are cold…" I whispered, concerned.

"And your hands are going to break the steering wheel," she murmured.

I looked back at it, blinking in surprise to see that my grip looked about ready to break the wheel. I loosened my grip, and whispered, "Thank you, Rosalie," before falling silent.

I saw her nod out the corner of my eye, though I didn't turn to look at her again.

The rest of the ride to the sports store was quiet, and it didn't take long for me to go in and pay for the pool table. Edward and Jasper stayed in the car, Alice and Bella staying with them. Rosalie came with me, though I think she just wanted to make sure that I was alright.

While I was picking up the table, she wondered off, coming back a few minutes with a shopping bag in her hand.

"What's that?" I asked her curiously.

"Car paint," she replied, smiling. "There's a car repair shop just next door."

I nodded. "You're really going to fix my hummer?"

Rosalie chuckled. "I did say I was going to, didn't I?" she asked, lightly shoving my shoulder as I put my wallet back into my pocket. I walked with her back outside, a couple of the workers from the store carrying the boxed pool table out to the hummer.

I just smiled as I opened the back hatch for them, and afterwards closed it. I thanked them as I headed for the drivers side, getting inside. As I did, I looked back to see Edward and Jasper both asleep.

I chuckled. "Did you lull them to sleep, or did they just conk out themselves?"

Alice smiled. "Themselves," she replied softly.

"That's good," I whispered as Rosalie climbed into the car. I drove out of the parking lot as quietly as I could, trying not to wake up my brothers. We did stop to get us all something to eat, though we did just go through a drive-through so we didn't have to wake them up.

When we got back, Bella just picked Edward up and brought him up to his room with his food so that he could eat and then go right back to sleep, I assumed.

Alice woke up Jasper and the two of them went off with their food, and as I ate, I watched Rosalie as she began to fix up the nasty scratch on my car, buffing it at and then watched her work.

"You're amazing," I said around a bite of hamburger.

"Oh?" she asked, not looking up at me as she worked.

"Yeah…I mean, what kind of girl fixes the paint on a car?" I asked, smiling sweetly at her as I worked on a few of my fries.

"Ah," Rosalie said, and, though her back was to me, I could tell there was at least a slight smile on her face.

"My car, nonetheless," I said, smiling, as I stood to go over to her. "So, uh…where'd you learn to work on cars so well?" I asked, leaning against the side of my hummer as I watched her.

"My dad was a grease monkey," she said softly. "My mom had to work all the time, and he had to work, too…and my mom was too busy to get me a babysitter, and dad always couldn't get me one, so sometimes he would bring me along. He taught me how the engine of a car works, how to take out dents, scratches, scuffs, wax a car, take it apart completely, down to the last screw, and then be able to clean it and put it back together…his company was a hot shot one, so…he earned a lot of money."

I listened, nodding. This was really the first insight I had on any of these three girl's lives…but really, this was the only one I was really interested in.

"So, what do you like to do?" I asked her.

"Work on cars," she said, turning finally to toss a dazzling smile my way.

"Other than working on cars," I laughed.

"I'd have to say gardening, or cooking," she smiled. "Well, what about you?"

"Protecting my brothers," I said, watching her as she giggled. "What? It's true!"

"Nothing, Em," she said, the shortened nickname making my heart swell, "nothing at all."

EPOV

As I began to wake up, I groaned. I was hot, but I was still shivering. I sat up, clutching a blanket around me. I looked out my window, and could tell it was close to noon without even looking at my clock.

I tried to bury my face into my pillow again as I fell back, whimpering quietly. I felt horrible, again. I just wanted to sleep…

"Edward!"

I grunted, though it was muffled from the pillow.

I heard my door open, and then someone walking further into the room. The steps stopped a few feet from my bed.

"Edward, it's time for lunch…" It was Jasper. His voice was quiet and slightly insecure as he stood there, sounding sorry that he was waking me up for this. He probably thought I looked bad enough.

"I'm not hungry…" I mumbled quietly, my voice once again muffled by the feathery pillow. I heard the footsteps come closer to the bed, and then felt him sit on the side of the mattress, a hand carefully running up and down my back.

"Edward…you need to eat…you haven't eaten since lunch yesterday," Jasper told me. "I can tell, you're feeling horrible…I know…I've been there." He sighed. "Please. Come eat."

I knew he wasn't going to give up. I sighed, sitting up slightly to look over at him. The nausea in my stomach suddenly spiked and I could just feel myself turning green. I clenched my jaws together, closing my eyes for a moment as I fought for control. Jasper's hand never stopped moving up and down my back, even as I leaned over and began to wretch into my waste basket beside the bed, getting rid of what little was messing with my stomach.

When I managed to get past the wave of dizziness and weakness that assailed my body after the episode, I wiped at the corners of my mouth with the back my hand, looking over at Jasper with slightly watery eyes. They weren't tears, per se; they were just from an automatic gag reaction. Well…they weren't tears yet. I could feel them coming, though.

He shook his head gently, still rubbing my back. "Edward, it's fine," he whispered. "I don't mind doing this for you. I'm not embarrassed or disgusted, and you shouldn't feel humiliated. So you're sick, you can't keep yourself from it. It shouldn't make you feel bad that you can't be strong all the time in front of you family. I, of all people, know what it feels like."

I looked up at him, swallowing the bile that was still in my throat. I nodded, but I could still feel the tears falling as I looked to the side. I felt so embarrassed. The last time I was ever sick was when I was six, and the only person who ever saw me get sick was Esme.

He kept one hand going up and down my back, which continued to soothe my stomach, and reached up with the other to wipe the tears from my face.

"Edward, I promise you," he whispered before he carefully pulled me into a hug, where I slowly began to calm in his arms, "I don't mind doing this."

I nodded meekly against his shoulder as I rested against him, closing my green eyes. He held me gently, and soon I was relaxed, my shaking the last to go.

"You think you could handle some crackers?" he asked me, and I slowly nodded, trying not to upset my stomach again. "Come on, I'll help you down the stairs."

"Ugh…stairs…" I groaned as he got off the bed, pulling the covers off of me before he held out a hand and took my arm, helping me up. He put one of my arms around his shoulders and put an arm around my waist.

He smiled grimly. "Only disadvantage to our home," he agreed with a nod as he began to help me downstairs.

JPOV

I looked my younger brother over as I got off of the bed, taking his appearance in really for the first time since I came in a few minutes ago. His eyes were dull, dark bags hanging heavy under his eyes, his eyelids darkened, too. He looked exhausted. He looked pale and a little green, and he was shaking with weakness. I could feel it radiating off of him.

Even though he was pale, his face was flushed slightly with fever, and his hair was slightly plastered to his neck and forehead with sweat. But, like I had said, I didn't mind at all.

I pulled back the covers for Edward so he wouldn't get tangled in them, taking one of his hands to help him up. He shook like a leaf against me, but I held him steady next to me. I put an arm around my shoulders, holding it there with one hand while I put my other around his waist.

I helped him walk out of the room and down the hall, and when we reached the stairs I helped him down them, one by one. I would go down first, and then I'd hold him steady as he went down after me.

It took us a few minutes to make it down to the kitchen, and as we walked in, conversation stopped. By this time, he was shaking with fatigue against me, but I held him up firmly, yet gently. I didn't wait to see what Carlisle and Esme were doing, just headed straight for the kitchen. I knew that Emmett and the girls were all in here, but I was going to ignore them for now. Edward, in my book, came first. He had been the one to rescue me…he always came first, and this wasn't an exception.

When we got there, I led him over to a stool and sat him down. After he sat down, he let out a shaky breath of relief. I could almost feel his discomfort and knew he was downright miserable. I felt that way at the moment, as well, because every time someone close to me felt as bad as Edward was now, I was able to feel what they felt…it was odd, as though I could almost sense their emotions. I was always told I was a sensitive person…I guess I never believed it until now.

As Edward sat down, I went to dig in the pantry, pulling out a box of crackers. I covered the pots on the stove to prevent the smell of food from messing with Edward more.

I held out the saltines to him, and he looked at me pitifully as he took them. I was confused for a moment as to the reason of his look, but then he began to try and weakly pull the plastic apart to open the package. With a sympathetic look, I took it from his hands and opened it after a moment of struggle. I pulled a few out for him, holding them out for him.

"You should be eating…" he whispered quietly. He was beginning to feel guilty, I could tell from his tone.

I shook my head. "I'll eat later, Edward. You come first. You're the one who's sick, not me."

"But if you don't eat, you'll get sick…" he tried to reason with me, and I just shook my head.

"Don't worry about it, Edward. I will eat. I don't mind doing this, not one bit." I smiled gently at him, reaching over to ruffle my little brother's hair a bit, though I was careful not to jostle his head and make him feel sick again.

I watched him in silence as he nibbled slowly at the crackers, and when he finished the ones I had in my hand, I got one more and held it in front of his nose. He grimaced and whimpered, looking at me with a miserable expression. "Last one, Edward," I told him.

"Jazz…I feel sick already…" he muttered, eyeing the cracker with deep disdain. "Are you trying to make me barf all over you?"

I chuckled at his half-joke, though after a moment it subsided. "Eat this, and I'll leave you alone."

He nodded after a moment and took the cracker, and took another couple minutes to finish it off.

"There," I said. "Want to go back up to your room?" I could tell there was concern in my voice, but I didn't care. I hated seeing Edward so sick.

"No," he grumbled meekly. I looked at him, confused. "It's too much work…" he clarified after a moment, looking to the side. I could hear the humiliation in his tone as he whispered, "I'm too weak to make it up the stairs again…"

"That's fine," I said, coming around the bar again to look down at him. "I'll carry you. Where do you want to go?"

"Jazz…you don't have to do that," he whispered quietly, sounding embarrassed now that I was offering to carry him somewhere. His cheeks blushed a light pink with his embarrassment, and I knelt down, looking up at him. I lifted his chin just barely so he was looking into my eyes.

"Edward, I will do anything for you. You are my savior, and I want you to be happy," I whispered, shoving back painful memories as I looked up at him. "Where do you want me to take you?"

BPOV

I sat back in my chair, watching the humans eat. Rose, Alice and I told the other humans that we had eaten already, and they nodded without further question. Watching them eat was an interesting experience, watching them chew up the food and then swallow it. It was strange to watch people being…well, people, when I was a monster in disguise. I knew our beauty was just a mask to make our prey easier to catch.

Esme would make comments, and Carlisle would agree and make another. I had met him that first night we moved in…he was nice. I learned from Esme that he was a surgeon, very good at his work. He was young; he would be a perfect candidate to become what I was, though I was not willing to offer him that 'gift.' No human should have to be turned into a monster such as me.

I was, however, curious as to why Jasper and Edward weren't down yet. I wondered how Edward was feeling…he had seemed to be doing better yesterday after he'd gotten to bed, though he hadn't really slept all that well…

I heard two sets of slow footsteps on the stairs and I lifted my head slightly. Rose and Alice did the same, though just barely. The door opened and Jasper walked in slowly, supporting Edward as he went. My eyes went wide, a feeling of dread slipping into my stomach. I swallowed, turning to look at Rose and Alice.

Rose didn't seem as troubled about it as I was, but Alice, I knew, was frantically searching the future for any information on what was going on. She looked at me after a moment and shrugged helplessly, mouthing, 'Sorry,' as she did.

I heard Esme drop her fork and the three Cullens in the room suddenly became very quiet, watching Jasper help Edward towards the kitchen.

When they were gone, I looked over at Esme. "Is Edward sick like this often?" I questioned, trying to get a few answers.

Esme shook her head as she slowly picked up the fork. "No, he hasn't been sick since he was six, and when that happened his brothers and Carlisle were out camping," she told me. "I was the only one here with him."

I nodded, biting my lip as I looked down at the table cloth in front of me. I wasn't sure how long I sat there, but I felt a hand on my arm and I lifted my head, seeing Rose giving me a sympathetic look.

"What's with the look?" I asked, confused.

"Does he still smell so good?" she asked me quietly.

I sniffed, trying to tell. "It's…sort of dulled, but it's still there."

She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment before she turned to whisper in Alice's ear so I couldn't hear.

I was feeling left out, and I hated it.

APOV

"Edward is dying, Alice."

My eyes widened at the words, and I began to furiously search ahead into the future for something, anything that could clarify what Rose had just said or deny it completely. Suddenly, it came to me.

Bella was sitting on Edward's bed, and he was sleeping in her lap. He was comfortable, for the time being, in her arms, his forehead resting against the bare cool skin of her neck. Esme and Carlisle were standing by the edge of the bed, watching the two of them with saddened eyes. They looked at each other, then looked at Edward and nodded up to Bella.

Slowly, Bella leaned down, placing her lips gently against Edward's neck before she quickly bit into it.

"NO!" I yelled, shooting up from my chair, my eyes wide and frantic. I looked over at Bella, who was looking up at me in shock. Carlisle, Esme and Emmett stopped talking, looking up at me wildly in alarm and confusion.

Rose had clenched her jaw, her hands balled into fists on her lap. She was looking down at her hands, trying desperately not to look up at me.

"I'm sorry," I breathed quickly before I stood, breezing out of the room, probably a bit faster than I thought I should. I went straight for the kitchen sink, almost pushing Jasper out of the way. I realized after I'd passed him, his wondrous scent filling my nostrils, that he was carrying Edward in his arms, but I really didn't stop.

As soon as I reached the sink I turned on the cold water and splashed it over my face. It felt nice, the water dripping over my skin. I continued to search the future, but that was the only vision that I could see.

I didn't want to think of what Bella was going to do…and I'd have to stay away from her, too…because I couldn't lie to her.

Lying to Bella was about as bad as a human waving a piece of raw meat in front of a ravenous wolf.

I must have been in my own little world at the sink, splashing my face with water, because I didn't hear the near silent footsteps behind me.

"Alice?"

That's it! Please review to let me know what you think!

Who is it that's in the kitchen now with Alice? What do they want? Please give me your thoughts!

By the way, I'm sorry for the late chapter!