Author's Note

Hehehehe...I'm getting high on Powerade! Just kidding. I'm am drinking Powerade though (and getting very hyper from it). But in other news, it's so frikin pretty outside today! We haven't had 65 degree weather since October! And by the way, thanks to all of you that have reviewed. You rule! As for the rest of you...tsk tsk. Get reviewing! Oh, and also start working on those contest entries. We've only had one so far (and only the first 2 chapters of it), so PICK UP THE PACE! That's all.

...Actually I have one more thing to say: this is the first chapter that I'm putting the representative song on! It's the song I think goes best with this chapter. And the song is...

Pain by Three Days Grace

Disclaimer: I wish I'd written Twilight. Then I'd know the guys were all mine. ;-)

By the way: Any names with * by them mean their name has been changed. (And my name is changed but we're gonna pretend it doesn't need stars...and btw...don't stalk me and my friends if you're like that...it's just weird)

I heard the door quietly shut and turned to fully look at Courtney. Again she was looking at the floor, probably seeking answers she would never get. I sighed, understanding. "Courtney?"

Carefully she looked up. "Yeah?" she said weakly.

"You know I'll miss you," I said, smiling sadly.

Smiling a bit, she said, "You better!"

We both laughed but abruptly stopped when we suddenly caught eye of each other. Boy, this talk was going to be fun. It was almost as tense as the 'Birds and the Bees' conversation with my mom. "Hey, Courtney?"

She looked my direction but didn't give me any other acknowledgment. So, hoping she'd heard me, I continued. "Thanks."

"For what?" she asked dejectedly. "All I've ever done is bothered you or been obnoxious. What could you possibly thank me for?"

I was taken aback. Yes she was both of those things, but not all the time. "Courtney, friends are supposed to be bothersome and obnoxious. Those traits are ones we all have! I wanted to thank you...for everything. You've been my friend for seven years now. And you never, in that expanse of time, weren't my friend. How could I possibly ask for more than that?"

She shrugged, obviously not getting the point. I was about to continue when she said, "You could ask for a lot more. And you have a lot more. You have Qguyen* who I found too obnoxious. But she can dish out money whenever a friend needs it. You have Katy who's...well...more like you. You have siblings that I coudln't possibly have."

"Step-siblings that live with my dad," I reminded her.

She suddenly stood up, so fast I couldn't even see it happen. Then she pointed a finger in my face and yelled, "Whatever! Just because I always used to tell you that doesn't mean you have to remind me right this instant! I mean, you just aren't getting it!"

"What am I not getting?" I said angrily, swatting her finger away.

Her hands balled into fists and she started shaking so much I thought she might burst into a werewolf in front of me. Then, suddenly, she screamed, "You just don't get how much we're gonna miss you!"

She gasped, realizing she'd just said exactly what she hadn't wanted to say. Aloud at least. Sighing, she sat down again and stared at the floor for about the millionth time since she got to the hospital. And then, what I least expected happened. Courtney burst into tears.

I sat up, stunned, and ignored the throbbing pain for long enough to wrap my arms around Courtney's shaking shoulders. Through her tears I managed to hear a little bit that she said.

"I 'spect this was inevitable," she sobbed. "You always had bad luck."

Tears started streaming down my face and I laughed a bit at her joke. It was true. I do have bad luck. But inevitable? I never thought I would 'die' at 16! But instead of saying this aloud, I just let her cry on my shoulder. It's what friends are for.

Eventually her tears subsided and I smiled as she wiped her hand under her eyes in an attempt to remove all the evidence of her breakdown. "Sorry," she mumbled, blushing a bit, "I just got...well...I don't know. I never know these days."

I laughed as I slowly laid back down. "And you say I'm the oblivious one!"

We both laughed for a few minutes before returning to the tense silence again. It stayed like this for a few minutes but was quickly interrupted by a brisk knocking at the door. Katy's voice carried an impatient tone. "If you two aren't going to talk can I come in? It's boring out here and I want to talk to Kat too! So hurry up!"

Courtney scowled which made me laugh. Her expression softened when she looked back at me. She leaned over to hug me and said, "I really will miss you. And I hope to see you soon."

"But not too soon," I said briskly as she started walking to the door.

She stopped to turn around and smile. "Right."

And as soon as her foot was out the door, Katy was by my bed. Once she had my full attention, she started to ramble. Quickly. "I saw this really hot doctor walk by in the hallway and when he saw me he stopped and smiled at me (only I got dazzled and couldn't stop staring at him so he gave me a strange look and walked away quickly) and then I thought about who he could be and the first thought I had was 'that must be Kat's doctor since her board said-"

"Shhh!" I shushed her quickly. "Don't let anyone else hear you or you could get me in serious trouble!"

"Oh," she mumbled. "Sorry. But is he really your doctor?"

I laughed as she smiled and bounced up and down. It made her look like a little kid whose mom was giving her ice cream (or crack by the way Katy was acting). "Yes, he's my doctor. But don't tell anyone."

"But is his name really-"

"Shhhh!" I shushed her again. She scowled.

"Well is that his name or not, Miss Bossy?"

Glaring at her, I said, "That's only for me to know and for you to never find out."

She huffed and finally sat down. That's when I suddenly remembered what I needed to ask her. "Hey, Katy?"

"Yes?" She asked sharply, probably because of my secretion (A/N: I don't know if this was the right word to use. What I was attempting to say was 'because of my keeping secrets from her' only I wanted it shorter. Sorry if it doesn't make sense)

I flinched. That did sting a bit. I was only trying to keep her safe. But I continued on like everything was perfectly normal. "Well, how do I put this?"

While I was thinking, she said, "You use words and string them together to make what's called a sentence."

"Haha," I said sarcastically. I went on. "I need you to do something really important for me though so could you listen?"

Her eyes met mine and I said, "There are some things I need you to collect for me."

When I said this her eyebrows shot up. "But you're going to...to..."

She couldn't finish her sentence so I urged her to just continue. "What are you going to need stuff for? I really don't think you'll have a use for them while in eternal life."

If only she knew what kind of eternal life I was going to. Edward was right in saying we'd go to hell. We're bypassing God's decision (which is bad) and going on to live even after he told us not to. How could we not end up in the underworld eventually?

I looked at Katy seriously, "This is just some stuff I don't want going to other people. For the time being, I want to have it here. My doctor already has instructions about what to do with the stuff once..." I swallowed, "...I'm gone."

Tears pricked my eyes. Oh how I wished I weren't so emotional. I coughed back a sob and went right on with, "Well anyway, here's a list of the things I need. So, get those, put them in a box, and take them to our hospital tomorrow. My doctor's going to be there picking up some stuff anyway so he said get my things. I just didn't want you to have to drive back up here again. Isn't it like a three hour trip or something like that?"

"Two and a half," she muttered to the ground.

I looked at her, head cocked, and said worriedly, "What's wrong?"

"It's just that you're keeping all these secrets from me! What's the harm in just telling me why all this is going on?" She was screaming. It really hurt me to see her like this but I swore to myself, no matter how much I got hurt, I would make sure my friends never were hurt because of some stupid mistake that I made.

The one thing I couldn't stop from coming though, was my silent tears. I looked at the ground before she noticed and mumbled, "I just don't want you to get hurt."

That really got her attention. She set her gaze directly on me and said, "What are you worried about? I'm not going to get hurt!"

Now I really looked her in the eye. Anger coursed through me and through my tears I yelled, "You don't even know the half of it! Why can't you just accept that I'm not going to tell you? Can't you see that there's a reason? I would never keep something like this from you if there wasn't a reason!"

She started to cry and I immediately lowered my voice. "I'm sorry, it's just that I'm really worried and scared. Scared because I'm having a hard time keeping this secret away from you and worried that I'll slip up and you'll end up hurt."

Katy sniffled and wiped the tears off her cheeks. "Okay then. I won't ask any more. But what do I need to get for you?"

I handed her a sheet of paper that was folded up, sitting on my night stand. On it, it said:

1)My keepsake box in my closet. Do not open it please.

2)'The Language of Teens' book I keep on the nightstand under my mirror.

3)My golden butterfly necklace. It's in a box on my dresser.

4)My Zune with all of it's chargers/computer cords.

5)The awesomely awesome pinstriped hat, cloud covered headband, and my XO sunglasses.

6)My wallet. NO stealing from it.

7)My digital camera in my dresser drawer.

8)The scarf Courtney made me. It's on my door.

9)All of my yearbooks.

10)Wrinkles the dog. He's on one of my shelves. Wrinkles is the more beat up looking one.

"Wow," Katy murmured. "This is a lot of stuff. You sure you want me to get all of this?"

"Yes please," I said, cracking a smile. "That would be very helpful."

Katy nodded and put the note in her pocket. "Well then, I should go and start getting all of this ready. I'll miss you."

She leaned over to hug me and I hugged her back as tight as I could without causing myself major pain. So basically, my arms probably felt like paper as I hugged her. Gently, she stepped back and whispered, "Bye."

She was out of the room in a flash. I hadn't even had the chance to whisper my good-byes before the door shut and I was alone. That's when I sank back down into the pillows and sobbed.

Just my luck, that was when I heard the door quietly open and my Crazy-Hell-Angel stepped in. Silently he went to the chair that my friends sat in and sat down himself as if asking, 'Do you want some company?' He took my lack-of-answer as a yes and gently smoothed back my hair while I cried.

*********

I was aimlessly looking out the window the next day when I heard a small knock. A nurse stepped in. She was probably 5'2'' and had long caramel hair that flowed down to the small of her back. Upon further inspection, I noticed she wore no make up. Coming over to my bed, she checked on all of my stats and charts, checked off a few things on her clip board, then finally turned to me and asked, "Is there anything you need my dear?"

"Nope," I said sighing. Too bad none of my friends were here now. I was bored to death.

The nurse nodding at me, smiling and started to walk out of the room when I suddenly remembered something I wanted to ask her. "Ma'am?"

She turned around, a fake smile on her face. "Yes miss?"

"When is Dr. Cullen getting back?" It worried me that he wasn't here yet. I mean with the speed that he drives it shocked me that he hadn't returned hours ago.

"Oh, he should return by this evening at the earliest," she chirped.

The earliest?! What the hell could he be doing? I swallowed hard. "Okay then," I said putting on my best smile. The nurse kindly smiled and left. Picking up a pillow, I put it to my face and screamed. Loud.

Once my frustration was out, I replaced the pillow where it was and sighed heavily. What could I do until he returned? I looked around the room for something to do. I guess I could watch tv but that's all I'd done since I'd gotten here. That's when I noticed a little radio. Carlisle must have left it for me because I'd never seen the thing before.

Picking it up, I turned it every which way to make sure there was nothing wrong with it. Then I turned it to my favorite radio station. They were playing Dead and Gone by T.I. and Justin Timberlake. I sang along with the chorus and bridge. I had been singing with my eyes closed and I quickly opened my eyes at the end of the song when I heard Carlisle applauding me. Blushing, I looked away.

"You have a very nice voice, Kat."

"Thanks," I mumbled incoherently to anyone without an acute hearing sense.

Carlisle smiled and walked over to my bed. He set a box at the foot of my bed. "Here's your stuff."

In my excitement to have something to do, I sat up too fast for my own good. Pain seared in my stomach and I laid back down, huffing and puffing. Carlisle chuckled. "Excited?" he asked curiously.

"Yes! You don't know how bored I've been all day!" This time, I sat up more carefully. I looked in my box and pulled out a silver glasses case. Opening it, I revealed my Zune. I put the right earbud in and turned to Scars by Papa Roach. I was singing along while Carlisle checked all the machines in the room. He got me to do a couple things for him (like that eye test where he shined a light on my eye while I stared at his finger) then he turned to the door and said something that I couldn't quite make out.

I cocked my head to the side and asked him quizzically, "What's going on?"

He turned back to me, beaming. "I brought my daughter Alice with me. She wanted to meet you. And she's going to help us with..." he trailed off. Then he came and sat next to me on my bed.

"Carlisle, what's going on?" He sighed.

"Well...today is the day, Kat. Your transformation." I felt my face pale out.

"What?" I was totally shocked. How come he didn't tell me this before? "But then why is Alice here? Aren't you changing me?"

A slight smile formed on his lips but didn't last long. "Yes, I am. But she's...going to make you look dead. I already know what I'm going to say to be able to get you home. But once we get in my car, Alice is going to bring in a wax model of you."

I was numb with shock, sadness, and worry. Slowly, I took out my earbuds and put my Zune away. Then, looking out the window once more, I whispered, "I didn't get to say goodbye."

Carlisle sighed next to me then ushered someone in quickly. I looked over to see a short, pixie-like girl. She had short black hair and a huge smile. Oh, and she had about 10 pounds worth of makeup with her. Literally. She spoke to me while she happily bounced up and down. Well, that made one of us. "Hi, Kat! I'm Alice and Carlisle wanted me to help you with your hair and makeup."

"Um, Alice?"

"Yes?" Her smile faltered for a second. She stared off into space and once she was looking at me again she said, "Well of course dead people's hair is messy. But I can't do your makeup without making your hair look nice too."

I sighed. Not like she could do much to my hair anyways except for wash it, brush it, and dry it. When I was 14 I'd gotten my hair cut in layers. The longest ones only came down to the bottom of my neck. Plus, my hair is pretty thin and can't hold things easily. I combed my hand through my hair, realizing how oily it was. Well, washing it would be nice. Especially since that would allow me to get my side bangs out of my face for a little while. "Okay, then. Lets get this over with."

She frowned, "You're as bad as Bella."

I giggled when I remembered how Katy used to tell me I was exactly like Bella. Well, at least the Bella we knew from reading the books. I wondered if she would be any different in actuality. Shaking away my thoughts, I sat back up and offered my hands out to Alice to help me. Instead of letting me stand, she picked me up and ran to the bathroom making sure everything that was attached to me came along too. The speed shocked me and the only thing I was able to get out was, "Wow."

She laughed and replied, "Yeah, you'll get used to it soon enough." Setting me on the toilet in the bathroom, she turned on the shower. "No offense, but you probably don't want to shower in your clothes since currently, that gown is all you have. But don't worry, while you're changing into one of us I'll go buy you some clothes and accessories."

I groaned. "And why is it that I don't like the sound of that?"

Alice rolled her eyes. "Bella's gonna love you."

Instead of replying to this, I got undressed and let Alice help me into the shower. At first one of my machines started going berserk and we had to push a few things to make it shut up. Once that was over, the shower was pretty enjoyable. I felt disgusting beforehand because I hadn't had a shower in about 3 days. Ick.

When my shower was done, Alice helped me out and handed me a fuzzy robe that was splattered with different shades of blue. It was my robe! How in the world did she get this? Answering my internal question, she said, "Oh, your friend Katy brought that also. I guess she knew you'd need it."

I chuckled to myself. ASFAAWBFFE powers rule. "So what's next?" I asked, watching her pull out some boxes.

"Oh," she giggled. "It's time for your makeover."

Once again, she helped me to sit on the toilet. That's when she opened all the boxes. Each box was filled to the brim with powders, blushes, mascaras, eye shadows, and any other makeup you could think of. All I could do was stare.

The first thing she pulled out was a cream foundation that wasn't even close to my skin tone. It was actually more like hers! Putting some on her hands, she put the foundation on my face, neck, arms, and hands. She said it was so I'd look like my color had drained like a dead person's would. Then, while she worked on putting some more makeup on my face, she got me to hold bags of ice to my arms and forehead to make it seem like I'd become cold. Once she'd finished, she told me the plan.

"So when the next nurse comes in to check on you, tell her that you're feeling tired. She should be able to tell the difference in your color. While she runs to get Carlisle, he'll sneak in (obviously without her noticing) and take you to his car. When he unhooks the machine that shows your pulse it'll flat-line and they'll bring in a crash cart. Once it flat-lines, I'll quickly bring in the wax model and hook it up to the machines. They'll attempt to restart your heart but it will be 'too late.'

When you get to the car, Carlisle will hook you to the hospital machines he has out there. He'll take you to our house where he'll...well...you know."

I nodded gravely and let her carry me back to my bed. Carlisle was waiting when we got there. I decided that now was the best time to ask him the question that had been bothering me for a few hours. "Carlisle? Can I write a letter to my friend about what's going to happen to me?"

Carlisle exchanged a worried glance with Alice. She nodded and he mouthed something to her quickly. Or maybe he actually whispered it. Well, it was too low for me to hear anyway. They mouthed (or whispered) for a while and then Carlisle turned to face me. "We've decided that you can write a letter to one person of your choice. However it must be as inconspicuous as possible."

Guessing he would say this, I pulled out a piece of paper and wrote:

Dear Katy, (I picked Katy because she was the only one who'd be able to figure out the message)

I've been bitten. Please don't say anything or you could be put in grave danger. Thanks for everything.

Your ASFAAWBFFE,

Kat

Tears welled up in my eyes as I handed to letter to Carlisle. He read over it and approved, telling me he'd make sure it got mailed to her. I hoped he wasn't lying to me.

I was in a black Mercedes, flying down the road at 110 mph. The speed wasn't what bothered me though. As I kept my head rested in Alice's lap, I couldn't help but think of everything that would change.

As we neared the house, Alice injected morphine into my bloodstream. Soon after, I could feel myself flying, then being laid on something hard that smelled metallic. I heard Carlisle whisper, "Sorry."

His teeth sank into my neck and I screamed.

End Author's Note

I forgot to tell you, I'm going to try and update more often. Sorry that this chapter was so long. But I really needed to get past the hospital.