Disclaimer: We all know that I don't own Twilight, just the plot line - or at least I hope that you don't think I'm Stephenie Meyer!
Note: Sorry, guys, but for the story's sake, Edward will be asleep for…a while. It has to be like that. I mean, the accident was very serious - he's not gonna come to in just a week or something! I am going to be as realistic as possible aside from the fact that this is more like a soap opera kind of FanFic (LOL). Anyway, do you guys like drama more than mystery, because not as many people seem to like my other romance/tragedy/mystery story Nothing to Lose, So Much to Gain. Personally, I think that one is a lot more deep than this one, but I like both stories equally!
BPOV (age 16, 2006)
I had finally found my silver lining…unfortunately, I can't reach it. Edward recovered physically - all of his cuts and bones were healed by now, but he is still in a coma. It's been over a year since that terrible day, and I've visited him every afternoon after school, willing him to awaken. I desperately wish for that to happen yet, at the same time, I hope it won't because I am fearful of the results. Of course I'm afraid that Edward will no longer love me (and I wouldn't blame him if he didn't), but more importantly I'm worried that he will suffer permanent after-affects. Carlisle promised me that Edward has no physical disabilities, but the doctors aren't sure how he will fare mentally. There is a possibility that he could have long-term brain damage or something just as bad.
I'm terrified that that will happen. If it does, it'll be the second awful thing that has happened because of me. Everyone, including the Cullens and Jasper, keep telling me to stop dwelling on it. I try, but it's hard.
Rosalie. Ah, Rosalie. She's…upset, to say the least. She has known Edward even longer than I have and, even though they may fight, they are like brother and sister. She and I have never been particularly close and, now, she has a reason to keep her distance. Jasper tries to talk to her, but I tell him to stop - she'll come around on her own when the time is right.
Today is my sixteenth birthday, and Alice is planning a big 'surprise' party. It's a 'surprise' because I have no clue who is invited, what is going to happen, or even what I'm wearing. No, the All-Seeing Ally has an incurable case of OCPD - Obsessive Compulsive Planning Disorder.
"I have the perfect dress for you, Bella," Alice said, grinning, as she handed me a white box with silver writing in French on the top.
Hesitatingly, I opened it. Inside was the most beautiful gown I'd ever seen: it was a deep, rich blue - simple yet elegant - exactly my taste.
"Oh, Alice. It's wonderful," I told her gratefully, hugging her round the neck. Nestled in the folds of the dress, something shimmered. I picked the object up and realized that it was a silver-chain bracelet with a sparkling heart-shaped crystal attached, casting rainbow reflections in the dim lighting.
"What's this?" I asked, holding it out.
"Edward was going to give it to you before, well…" Alice paused. I winced - she meant before I broke up with Jacob, when he told me the truth. "Any way, he wanted you to have it. This bracelet was our great-great grandmother's."
I felt tears well up in my eyes, and I quickly wiped them away before they could spoil my non-waterproof makeup that Alice had so carefully applied an hour before. "I wish that I could tell him how much he means to me," I whispered, looking away.
She put a hand on my shoulder and smiled. "I think he knows, Bella. I really do."
Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed myself for the first half of my birthday party. Normally, I hated people spending so much money on me, but I honestly needed a bit of a cheer-up. This whole ordeal had been hard on Charlie and Renee, but I tried to hold in my sadness around them. Everything was going wonderfully until a certain tan, dark-haired, tall and muscled boy showed up at the door.
"Bella," he said, relieved that I'd let him in.
"Jacob," I replied. Not too cold, but not friendly, either - my voice was flat and emotionless, mirroring my feelings for him.
"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry -" he began, but I cut him off.
"Please, Jake. I don't need your sympathy." I was not quite ready to forgive him. "I just can't take this right now."
"OK. Just let me say this, Bells - she kissed me first." And, with that, Jacob left, but not before giving me a small wrapped package. I watched him go for a few moments, and then looked down to the gift he had given me. Inside was a hand-carved wooden wolf - exactly the size of a charm that could be placed on a necklace…or bracelet. Sighing, I added it to next to Edward's heart and headed back to the crowd.
Once I'd thanked everyone for my presents and all of the guests had already left, I made my escape. I hugged the Cullens and the Hales (even Rosalie, to my surprise) and went my separate way. I caught a bus to Forks Hospital and entered, for about the millionth time, Room 107 (AN: Edward the vampire's age - haha).
I sat down in the lone chair in that half-empty white room and drew it close to his bed. I took Edward's hand and began to talk.
"Alice gave me your bracelet tonight. It's beautiful and I'm never going to take it off. I miss you so much - we all do, Carlisle and Esme especially, of course. I feel so bad that I took you away from them." I was quiet for a while, listening to the reassuring, steady beat of the heart monitor - his heart. Oddly enough, that made me feel better. I rubbed Edward's cold hand gently, trying to warm it.
"The doctors, even Carlisle, say that there's not much chance of you every waking up. But I don't care what they say - I know that, somehow, you will. Maybe not today - maybe not even in another year, but I have a feeling that you will. Alice secretly thinks so, too, and you know what they say - never bet against Alice." I laughed quietly. "I wonder what it's like to have a twin. At least you guys aren't identical - I don't think that I could take two of one of you." It was pretty ironic, actually, that Edward and Alice were twins. She was older than him by about five minutes, yet Alice was probably a foot or more shorter than him. Her hair was dark as midnight and his was as shining as bronze. The only look they had in common was their eyes - sure, Edward's were more of an emerald color and Alice's resembled jade, but they were both green nonetheless.
I looked at my watch and realized that it was late - almost midnight. I couldn't believe that I'd spent nearly two hours here and, even more so, that someone hadn't ordered me out. I rose from Edward's bedside and kissed his forehead, not daring to kiss his lips. No, I wouldn't do that without his consent. For all I knew, he may hate me.
"Goodbye," I whispered, shutting the door behind me. I turned around to see Carlisle standing in the bright hallway.
"I was just telling him about my birthday," I said, smiling.
He grinned back at me. "It's good that you talk to him - he might be able to hear you." We began to walk away from each other when I stopped.
"Carlisle?"
"Yes?"
"Do…do you think that Edward hates me?" I asked, almost too quietly to be heard.
A small smile played on his mouth. "No, Bella. I know for sure that Edward could never hate you." Reassured, I headed towards the elevator, knowing that I would sleep well that night.
Note: Kind of a filler, I know, but I hoped that it was sweet and you guys liked it. As I've said before, take a look at my play list and tell me if you think the songs fit. By the way, the girl that Edward will eventually 'fall in love with' will NOT be Tanya. I considered that, but I wanted to make up my own character - one that is sweet and innocent - everything that Tanya is not! I am sorry that my chapters are relatively short, but I cut off when I think I should. I cannot spend all day on one chapter and, this way, you guys will get updates more frequently! Does that compromise sound good? I thought so!
