PART VI

I don't fasten my seatbelt because I don't need it and I don't want to freak out the two other occupants of the police cruiser. My dad drives and my old self sits in the front seat, an awkward silence encroaching the small cab. My dad attempts to break the stilted atmosphere my former self has set, but she has been determined to hate the place, many years before hand. I shake my head at the silly girl and beg her to appreciate the effort he is trying to put in... he had just gotten his little girl home for the first time since she threw an embarrassing tantrum about going to visit him once a year. I purse my lips and try not to smack myself in the head.

"You cut your hair?" My dad, again trying to engage, but as I said, this Bella is a snivelling whinger. Poor me, I have to live with my other parent, the good one at that. Boo hoo, pity me.

"It's longer since I saw you last," she cuts without sympathy.

"Oh," crestfallen, "it must've grew out." He doesn't bother engaging her again for at least twenty minutes, when he finally tells her that he tried his best to give her a wonderful new life and bought her a car so she can be independant. It is only then that she engages him more, and even then it's sceptical at best.

She doesn't deserve him.

I place my hand on his shoulder, and apologise internally. He deserved much more from me, and I was just an ungrateful little so-and-so.

"This is harder than I thought it was going to be," I mumble to myself feeling nothing but regret.

Seeing the Forks Hospital out the window, I stand up, my feet disappearing into the footwell, the cruiser continuing on without me. Having seen enough of myself, I walk over to the entrance, Agnus ready to recieve me.

"Oh Bella," she claps excitedly. "Did I just see the human you in that car?"

"You sure did, Agnus. I just moved here today."

"I know it's not you, you, but I'm glad I will see more of you now. What were you like when you were human?"

"Just awful, Agnus... just awful."

"I bet you still weren't as awful as Jane."

"Jane was actually really nice when she was human."

"Really, how come she changed so much then?"

"She is just a product of her environment, Agnus. We all are."

"Would you like to see the doctor again? He has been asking about you, you know."

"And what have you told him, Agnus?"

"That you're the tooth fairy, come to take everyone's teeth from their heads."

"You are one creepy child, Agnus."

"Thank you Bella. Now come, he should be in his office."

"I only have two more minutes free time, Agnus, so I can't stay too long."

"So you're not here for someone, then?"

"No, there aren't a lot of people here, you know. There's only like, two deaths a month. Though I'm certain that number will go up soon."

"I hope so, I like you visiting me."

She grabs my hand and skips through some walls and doors until we stop in the familiar office of one Dr. Cullen. Like last time, he doesn't notice our entry so we seat ourselves like last time.

"Ahem," again like last time.

"Good afternoon Agnus, Bella or Maree."

"Maree," I clarify.

"What brings you fine ladies here today?"

"Well," Agnus starts. "I have an awful pain in the neck and you may need to go to the bloodbank, I may need a transfusion."

I groan, "Agnus! enough please."

She huffs, "you're not fun today, I'll see you next time." The young girl gets up and stomps off through the wall.

"She's a ghost, isn't she?" Dr. Cullen asks.

I look to him, assessing, gauging his emotional stability. "Yes, she is."

"You are too?" he asks.

A beat.

"Yes," I lie.

"You don't stay here though, is Agnus bound here?"

"Not bound, per se, but she is connected here more than anywhere else."

"Will she ever move on?"

"There's nothing for her there," I answer.

"There's nothing for her here, either."

"That may be so, Dr. Cullen, but here is what she knows. The unknown is a scary place."

"And what of you?"

"I'm a special case."

"You are very intriguing."

My internal buzzer goes off, "I must be off. I'm needed in Tel Aviv."

I conjure my destination to the forefront of my mind, Dr. Cullen disappearing and the yellowish stone of Tel Aviv solidifying.

"Come and visit me again," Dr. Cullen says to my disappearing form.

Maybe...