For Your Eyes Only
Chapter Two – When He Needed Her Help
"Bella? Oh goodness! Bella, can you hear me?"
I vaguely heard a sigh and another voice coming from somewhere. "Shall I go to the nurse?"
Ugh, no! Not the nurse, please! Anybody but her.
"Yes, you better had. Be quick, though." There was a pause. "Bella? Bella?"
I knew that I really should have replied, but I couldn't quite manage it. My head was unbelievably sore and I honestly believed that, if I moved, I'd slump to the floor into a pile of Bella jelly.
I let out an involuntary groan and registered a few more mumbles around me. At least they knew I was alive now.
There was something nagging at the back of my mind, though. Something that I knew I should remember but just couldn't. I screwed my already closed eyes harder together and thought, causing my head to ache a little bit more.
What had I forgotten? Gah, I knew there was something... It was like trying to remember a dream.
Things were coming back to me in weird jolts; I could remember Rose and I talking in Art, bumping into Jasper Whitlock (ugh, how could I forget that?) I remembered taking notes for English... staring randomly at a poster on the wall...
Then, with a sickening force, it hit me.
My head shot upwards and I swayed on the spot, suddenly feeling very ill. My stomach was light and my vision was blurred around the edges; I blinked furiously and was alarmed at how fast my heart was hammering. I could hear my pulse in my ears, but the same words were screaming at me.
The ghost. The ghost... thing.
I looked around the room frantically, ignoring the people in front me who were shamelessly staring, taking a good look at my awful appearance. It felt as though I was going to throw up at any moment and I had to use all my strength not to. It was humiliating enough thinking that I'd had some kind of turn during class, but vomiting would just be too embarrassing.
He wasn't here anymore. Well, I mean it wasn't here. Things that don't exist don't have a gender. Duh.
I felt a little wave of disappointment, but it was quickly replaced by relief. I'd obviously had some weird moment and, before I fainted, had hallucinated and seen a wonderful and beautiful ghostly figure.
That's completely... normal. Happens everyday to the best of people.
I looked up towards Miss Williams and smiled faintly, also groaning internally at the same time when I noticed the school nurse rushing into the room. I had to suppress an eye roll when she waddled over towards me, making a drama out of it all. She was the middle aged motherly type, somebody who was way too overdramatic and ridiculous.
There it was again. Motherly type. A constant reminder of what I no longer had.
"What's her name?" she asked the teacher, seeming to be completely unaware of my presence.
"I'm Bella," I muttered bluntly, looking towards the door. "Can you please go now?"
Her eyebrows furrowed together. "How are you feeling? Dizzy? Nauseous? Faint?"
"Aren't those all the same things?" I asked unhelpfully, earning a stern look. I sighed and answered, "A little dizzy, I guess, but I really am fine."
She obviously didn't believe me; I could have just told her that I was actually an alien in disguise. "I think you'd better come into my room. I'll be able to properly check you over in there."
That sounded horrific.
I grumbled once more. "Please, I really don't think it's necessary... I-"
"Bella, you'd better go," Miss Williams interjected and she looked genuinely concerned for me. "You did faint, after all, and you look awfully pale."
Aware of everybody still listening in, I nodded slowly and stood up, taking one last look around the room.
Nothing.
I really shouldn't be feeling disappointed.
The nurse busily packed away my things into my bag as though I was mentally incompetent and I resisted the urge to make a snappy comment. I stood awkwardly by my desk while she fiddled with my zip and I found myself becoming increasingly agitated. This wasn't kindergarten; I was capable of putting my flaming things into my own bag. It was hardly rocket science or brain surgery.
"All set?" she asked, putting my bag over her own shoulder. I watched her with wide eyes.
"I can carry my own bag, y'know," I grumbled.
"I'm just being cautious," she replied, grabbing my arm. Heat soon flooded to my cheeks and she pulled me out of the room. I swear I could hear snickers from the back of the class.
Perfect. Everyone loves a bit of public humiliation.
The journey towards the nurse's office was... awkward, to say the very least. For some reason, she felt the need to make conversation and I just wanted to sprint away in the opposite direction, freeing myself from the dreadful small talk.
The topic soon turned towards Charlie and I suddenly felt even more uncomfortable than before, if that was really possible.
"How's your father, Isabella?" she asked and I gave her an evil look. She knew full well that I hated being called that. Hell, everybody in the entire town knew I hated that name. Everyone called me Bella, why was that so difficult for her? Did she just want to be different?
I pulled myself away from my raging thoughts and tried to answer her as politely as possible. "He's fine, thank you."
She obviously wasn't satisfied with my answer because she soon prodded for more information like some crazed journalist. "Is it all going well at rehab?"
A grimace spread across my face. "I don't mean any offence or anything..." (Well, I did, but I wasn't gonna say that out loud...) "But I don't recall it ever being any of your business."
"I do know your father well, Isabella," she said patronisingly. "He was a friend of mine."
"Yeah? Well, he never mentioned you."
"Hmm," she murmured. "He probably wasn't in the state to remember."
I very nearly snapped and earned myself a detention or maybe even an expulsion, but just about managed to calm down in time. This person was really bringing out the worst in me. "If that's what you think."
We walked through into her room and I reluctantly sat down on the bed, feeling completely ridiculous.
"I really do feel fine," I told her. "You shouldn't waste your time on me."
"Drink this," she said, handing me a glass of water. I ground my teeth together and sipped away, still feeling a little ill. The water was tasteless and seemed to move sluggishly down my throat, making everything worse.
Once I'd finished the drink, I stood up, reaching for my bag. "Can I please go now?" I seriously considered getting down to my knees and begging.
"Hang on." She placed her hand across my forehead and I closed my eyes, really feeling annoyed now. "You're a little hot," she pondered. "Maybe I should-"
"No," I interrupted. "No, I'm fine. I just want to get back to my lesson." And see if the ghost ever turns up again.
After a long look and a sigh, she nodded. "Go on, then. But if you have another turn, don't blame me."
"I won't," I grumbled, slamming the door behind me. What an experience.
With another groan, I slowly made my way down the stairs, trudging back to English.
When the bell finally rang for the end of the day, I breathed out a very heavy sigh of relief. I practically leapt out of my seat and rushed towards the doors. I knew I'd have to face Rosalie's questions, but at least she was somebody who genuinely cared for me and didn't just want the latest on my alcoholic father.
I stepped outside and saw her almost straight away. She was more or less attached to Emmett with superglue but, when I stood behind her and cleared my throat, they pulled apart, turning to face me.
"Hi, Bells," she smiled, soon frowning. "Hey, you look a bit pale..."
"Hey Bella," Emmett added and I smiled weakly up at him. "I'll leave you two alone to talk for a minute."
He kissed Rose on the cheek before heading towards a group of his own friends to talk. I really did like Emmett; he knew that we needed time together sometimes and respected that. Most people think that he's just an idiot, always joking around but, when you bother to get to know him, he's really just a big softie.
"So, Bells, has something happened?" Rose asked, leaning back against her car. "You really don't look well. It's like you've seen a ghost or something, you're so pale."
An hysterical giggle escaped my lips, earning me a strange look.
I cleared my throat to compose myself and ran my fingers through my hair in discomfort. "Well, I... um. I kind of, er..." With a shrug, my words came out in a rush, "fainted in English."
Her eyes widened and she leapt up, placing a hand on each of my shoulders. "Oh my God! Bells, are you feeling OK? That type of stuff doesn't happen to you normally, does it?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," I sighed, shaking my head. "It really was nothing. Everyone's been making a big deal out of something stupid. It's the only drama around here so everybody has to latch onto it."
She didn't look convinced. "Do you still feel unwell?"
"Ugh, Rose, you sound just like the nurse," I moaned.
"Answer my question."
I blew out a long breath. "Yes, I'm fine. I just want to go home now, really."
"You're not driving!" she yelled. "You can't be serious!"
"Rose, it happened nearly two hours ago. I am honestly fine now. And besides, there's no chance of it happening again."
"How do you know that?" she countered.
Because a beautiful ghost thing isn't going to turn up to see me again.
"I just know," I sighed. "Please, I want to go home."
She looked at me for a long time before finally exhaling. "I guess you don't live too far away... But you have to promise to ring me when you get back home. Straight away. I want to know that you get back safely."
I nodded a little absently. It was really nice knowing that she cared, but I just felt drained and longed to see my bed.
"Alright then," she said, a little uncertainly. "Speak to you later. Don't forget!"
"I won't!"
I walked across the parking lot, feeling a few random stares in my direction, but kept my head down all the way. When I finally reached my car door and began unlocking it, I suddenly felt another hand pressing lightly on my shoulder. I turned slowly around, expecting to see somebody I didn't even know after some gossip, but was surprised to see that it was Jasper Whitlock. My heart had a dramatic reaction, mostly from the fact that I was startled, and I urged myself to calm down. He was only a human being, after all.
"Hi?" I asked, a little confused at seeing him.
"Hey," he smiled easily. "I don't mean to bother you... I just heard that you fainted in your English lesson."
So the news had spread around. Brilliant, just as I expected.
"Yeah," I sighed. "It really was nothing."
"I just wanted to check that you were okay, really," he said, frowning a little. I felt unbelievably warm and fuzzy and had to focus on my breathing. Stop it, Bella. He just wants the inside information... he's not interested.
"Thanks, I'm alright now," I replied mechanically. I stared towards the floor, randomly admiring his red converse. He was always dressed so well; checked shirts, black jeans and colourful shoes.
I automatically thought back to the ghost's clothing, comparing it to Jasper's.
Stop it.
"So... yeah," he muttered awkwardly. "Have a safe trip home. Are you sure you should really be driving?"
"I've already had this lecture." I managed a smile. "But I'll try."
I knew I shouldn't have done so, but I watched him walking away towards his own car. He turned around and gave me a final wave, and I quickly sat in my truck, feeling my face flaming. I was really completely stupid for even thinking about him; it just made me seem so lame. I didn't particularly want to fall into the group of Whitlock Worshippers, but it seemed I already had.
Well darn.
I quickly started up my engine and turned on the radio at its loudest volume, trying to force my thoughts of Jasper and the ghost thing out of my mind. It really had been such an odd day and just thinking back to English made me shiver. I could still picture his hair, his eyes, the clothes he wore...
His voice...
But he wasn't real. I knew that. It was a weird hallucination.
With a final shudder and a wave towards Rose, I pulled out of the parking lot and took my usual route home.
The roads were unusually quiet as I made my way back and I found myself relaxing a little when one of my favourite songs came on. The trees passed by in blurs of green and it was a strangely soothing colour. The day seemed a horrible but distant memory and I was pleased with that. I could just file it away in my head under 'really weird experiences' and forget it for the moment. That sounded like a good plan to me. And besides, I had other worries.
I almost stopped breathing when I suddenly remembered why I liked green so much.
The road ahead was long and straight so I sat back in my seat, humming along to some of the lyrics to calm myself. After a while, it seemed to work; a million thoughts weren't whizzing around in my mind anymore and I relished in this.
The radio started playing some random adverts and I sighed heavily, moving back to reality.
"Half price right now, this is something you really can't afford to miss, Bella."
I bolted upright, frowning heavily. Had my name just been on the radio? That couldn't be possible. Or it could have just been a coincidence...
But it had sounded eerily like...
"Bella? Is that your name?"
I glanced over to the passenger seat and the familiar mixture of a thrill and fear took over me. My body froze and I felt myself instantly starting to hyperventilate.
The ghost was back.
This just wasn't real. What was happening to me?
"Bella?" His eyebrows furrowed. "You're Bella, aren't you?"
I couldn't form any words. My mouth was dry and I was in complete disbelief; I'd thought he was just a one-off, some crazy result of a chemical imbalance. Yet, here he was, messing with my mind.
The only thing I could manage was a small nod.
He met my eyes, looking as beautiful as before. His body was faced towards me and he really was just inches away from me.
I couldn't breathe.
"H-How do you know my n-name?" I stammered. After I'd said those words, I regretted it; he wasn't even real, for goodness' sake, so why the hell did it even matter?
"I've been around the school," he answered, smiling. "After you... well, fainted," I cringed, "People were calling your name."
"You were s-still there?" I whispered.
"Yes."
"But..."
"Nobody could see me, don't worry," he added, but I just stayed still.
"I'm Edward, by the way," he said calmly after a while, as though this was completely normal. "Edward Cullen. In case you're interested.."
My muscles were locked, my throat slowly constricting. Fear was flowing through my body; I was almost definitely going insane. It was finally too much for me. I thought about Dad, about school, about everything...
About Mom.
No, Bella, please don't go!
My eyes watered and a sob escaped my lips. I saw the ghost turn towards me. "Is something wrong?"
Yes, there's a weird ghost in my car and I'm slowly losing my sanity. I'm also a failure, whose father is an alcoholic and whose mother…
"Bella, please talk to me."
"W-W-What are you?" I spluttered, my voice barely a whisper.
"I don't know," he replied, still eyeing me carefully. "But I need your help."
"My h-help?" I gasped. "I-"
It was then that the car journey suddenly became jumpy. I pulled my eyes away from the ghost and screamed, realising that I was actually off the road and heading towards the forest and, most worryingly, a tree.
A scream had barely escaped my lips when there was a loud crash and glass splinters shattered around me. I felt several prickles on my face and raised my hands up instinctively to cover my eyes. The seatbelt tugged against my chest and I felt a burning pain when I lurched forwards, banging my head on something. I wailed helplessly, the sharp ache suddenly becoming overwhelming. My headache from earlier paled in significance and, opening my eyes slowly, all I could see was scarlet. Blood.
After a final deep breath, I became aware of everything blurring again. Slowly and gradually, I realised that I was losing consciousness and, with a crippling fear, I reluctantly closed my eyes. For the second time that day, everything went black and my last thoughts were of the ghost.