--------Chapter Nine-------

My mother gave me a look of shock. I was surprised the botox in her face allowed her to show emotion at all. She shook her head and walked out of the room. Derek sighed and headed after her. Good, let him. No one else in the house wanted to anyways. I looked back at everyone and smiled.

"I am going to go get Heather and I settled into my room." I said and took Heather up the stairs. She was still hounding me about liking Edward, and finally, I turned on her and snapped.

"Heather! Look. My little brother is in the hospital, possibly dying and all you care about is goddamn Edward Cullen?! Lay off it, Heather! I do not need this right now!"

She stared at me, blinking at my sudden harshness. Heather nodded at me once, then turned and left the room. I growled and began to throw my clothes into my drawers. A few moments later, a knock came on my open door, and Edward was standing there.

"Can I come in?"

"Whatever." I said, still angry with Heather. He came in, and sat on my bed. How a vampire can look so nonchalant sitting on a bed, watching the girl who puts him in agony throw clothes around in an angry huff is beyond me. I turned around, looking at him, and he just stared back, his honey colored eyes smoldering. I wanted to chuck something at him. Something heavy…and maybe glass. Yes, something that would hurt like a bitch no matter what the person was; vampire, human, or otherwise. He sighed and patted the spot next to him, willing me to sit there with him. I raised an eyebrow, simply stating that I wasn't going to be sitting anytime soon.

"Alex, please. Can we talk? You really hurt Heather's feelings just now with that."

"Do not tell me how to run my life Cullen. Especially since—"

"Since what? Since you're an emotional wreck over your brother, or since you've become a total bitch to your friend? Alex, look at you. This isn't the Alex I know. This is not the Alex I—" he paused, willing himself not to continue with that thought. Like hell he wasn't. I looked at him, narrowed my eyes, and crossed my arms over my stomach.

"Not the Alex you what, Edward?" I said, looking at him, awaiting my answer.

"Nothing, Forget it, Alex. It's not important." He said, and stood up. "You can treat your life however you want. I'm just going to go." And he slowly walked to the door. I sighed and called to him to stop, because deep down, I knew he was right. This wasn't me. This was more…my mother. Oh my Lord and Lady, I was becoming my mother. I walked to him, and threw myself into his arms. I felt his shock, and then his arms slowly wrap around my back. I began to cry then. Cry about Tristan, cry about the terrible way I had treated Heather, and cry about how much I wanted Edward to be in my life. Nothing in my life was going right. None of those things were good, and to top it all off, I was becoming my mother.

"Alex, shh…it's going to be alright." He soothed, rubbing slowly up and down my back, a very human like gesture. I turned my face up to look at him, and let a small smile twitch along the edges of my lips. I couldn't believe that Edward was being just…well, human. He was playing human for me, and I liked it. Granted, I liked Edward the vampire more, but still. It was nice of him to do that just for me. I pulled back, not quite out of his arms, but so our torsos were not plastered together anymore.

"Thank you, Edward. That means more to me that you realize." I said, looking up at him. It was then it occurred to me that, right then, it was almost as if it was fate playing with me. It was the perfect timing to try and kiss him, like I had wanted to for the longest time. It was the perfect timing, but bad circumstances. I shook my head no, because I would not take advantage of his kindness. People are only so kind for so long, after all. I pulled completely out of his arms, and he smiled at my seemingly better mood.

"Come on now, Alex. Heather is downstairs. Go on and apologize."

"There you are, trying to tell me what to do again." I said, shaking my head. Why was it that I had to pick at every little good thing in my life? I don't know, but it probably had something to do with genetics. Probably. I sighed and looked at him, not wanting to truly ruin the moment by my stupidity.

"Edward, I'm sorry. It's just that….this whole trip has got me wound up, you know?" I said, sitting on the edge of my bed as he had but a moment ago. He looked at me, telling me to continue without saying a word.

"I really like that you came along with me, to be with me during all of this. And I like how you don't want me to throw my friendship away over something stupid like I was. I like that you care about me." I sighed, and shut my mouth. That was all I was going to say before I buried myself. I had always been told to quit while I was ahead. It's funny how it took me seventeen years to finally listen to that. Edward looked at me, and let a crooked smiled come upon his face. The first time he had ever really smiled at me. I smiled back and stood up.

"If you'll excuse me, I have a brother to see." I said, and walked out to go to the hospital.

-------End Chapter Nine------