Hi,

sorry for the delay of this chapter; honestly, I feel like I am kind of losing myself with this.

Thanks everyone for reading :) please, review, I would really like to know if you think this is as bad as I do :/

love, winter.

Your heart, I'll carry it with me …

Bella Swan moves to Forks where she meets Edward Cullen. But this is not your typical Bella and this is not the story you know.

Twilight fanfiction; I own nothing.

CHAPTER TEN

Death seemed just as uneventful as life. One gotta wonder why we are making such a big deal out of it, really. It is a normal transition, after all. No fanfares, no flames, just ... normality.

But first impressions often lie so there might have been something more I would soon discover about death if strong, determined hands didn't pull me out of danger, back into life.

Whoever it was, they certainly weren't as graceful when it came to ballet as I was. They and consequently I lost balance and landed on out, well, you know. I am pretty sure my poor tailbone had early Halloween and had some blue make up going on. I never know what to be when Halloween comes so I guess I should thank this person that made everything so easy this year! Or … should I be upset and angry since the mask would not come without some pain?

Nah, I should be thing of the above. The backboard came crashing down, pretty much to the spot where I had been standing at moments ago. Doubtlessly that blunt trauma would kill me. And I love to live. So I should build an altar and kiss the ground my saviour walked on.

"Bella, are you ok?!" screamed Mike and his face was so close to mine I almost wanted to scream myself. I am usually very open and generous person but whatever kick he got out of having his hand on my hip, well, I felt seriously uncomfortable with it.

The door of the gym swung open and Edward came racing to Mike and I. he had panic written all over his face and despite my hatred for him, I didn't feel kind of sorry for him.

"Bella?" he knelt to me and looked like he was about to start sobbing, "please, talk to me!"

"She's fine Cullen," quickly hissed Mike and his hand still didn't move off my hip. If my mind wasn't floating in some other sphere, I would certainly move it myself. "What are you even doing here?!"

"I heard what was happening …" Edward started but quickly shut his mouth as if he had already said too much. His caring eyes made my skin feel like it had a rash on. I was so close to just scratching it off me.

"Heard where?!" exclaimed Mike, sounding angry. Of course, he pulled out of the devil's way. a devil's stepson, Edward Cullen arrived to the scene now, trying to win me back. Long live the materialism; I was basically only a polygon for them to prove their strength to each other. Turn back the clock, let's go back to middle ages; two knights were fighting over a lady – or was I only a slave?

Edward dismissed his opponent's enraged stare. Once again, I was the target of his enchanting eyes. I I guessed I would have to scratch off my face mre than just skin.

"Bella?" he asked.

I really wanted to answer him, I truly did. But apparently the wires in my brain became disconnected when I came so close to death. Looking at the broken backboard on the floor sent short cuts through my mind and left me unable to form any sentence. I felt this pressure inside my skull and it threatened to blow me into pieces.

"I …"

One vowel. Wow, such an accomplishment! I wouldn't even get pass first grade now!

Edward didn't agree with me. my mental capacity of a one-year old was clearly not making him as happy as it made me.

"She's in shock. Can somebody please call an ambulance?"

"I already have!" I heard Lauren responding somewhere in the distance. She might have stood only a few metres away but for me it seemed like she was on the other side of the Atlantic. I was only a negligible flea in the middle of an ocean, without any desert islands nearby to keep me company. I felt so isolated and the currents were dragging me away, away, even further into nothingness. There was nothing but pure water everywhere around me. I was out of strength. My muscles felt tired and were giving in. I struggled to keep my head above the water and the salt was corroding me. I was about to be a feast to the sharks; I could already see them swimming around me. I would soon join that damned backboard as a waste …

"I don't …" I managed to mumble.

The war between the Mike the King and Edward the Rebel was also decided. Edward pushed Mike away carelessly and his hands embraced my face as he leant closer to me. His touch, it felt so cold … as if indeed I was on death's doorstep …

"You're gonna be just fine, Bella," I heard him say a I saw his eyes slipping away into the darkness. I surrendered. I had no strength left; I let the currents sweep me into the unconsciousness.

a bright light brought me back into the land of fully living creatures. Or did it? I had to wonder; yes, my wandering mind was probably encouraged by the liquid that poured into my arm though the syringe invading my skin. I remembered those few sermons I had intended as a little girl; the priest one was annoying prick but he had said something about a light welcoming you when your soul crosses over into whatever is beyond … or was the reruns of Ghost Whisperer I was thinking of now?

"Good morning, Miss Swan," an upbeat voice said ad the cheerfulness made my crunch. It wasn't afterlife; this morning sun was a doc, Dr Cullen as his nametag said. He was testing the reflex of my pupils or whatever the hell he was doing. It all came back to me and knocked me down as a tsunami.

Apparently, not only I could not stand blood, I was also prone to fainting! Ok, ok, it was a stressful situation and when my emotion-deprived senses perceived just how close I was to dying, I guess my body just became overwhelmed. I don't think it was fair to be hard on myself; it was a normal reaction after all. Well, more normal than abnormal, at least.

"Yeah …"so I was lying in hospital bed, with meds being pimped into my arm. I always knew I sucked at PE and I often got injured; but I had never before been sent to a hospital – especially during my time out! Will this give me a lifelong excuse from participating in gym activities? If so, I regretted not seeing any cast on me.

"So what's the verdict, doc? Can I go home? Just lying here makes me feel sick." I really hoped he would turn around soon; I wanted to pull that syringe out of my arm. And the sheets I was lying under … just the air I had to breathe I here … hospitals were not my cup of tea although everyone I had ever met was mysteriously convinced I would go to med school. No idea why; that sentence had never ever come out of my mouth; it had never been in my mind to start with. I'm a renegade; I had never done things people wanted me to; I live for myself and I will do whatever I want. The crazy cat lady from down the block can eat the horror she'll feel once I paint my hair purple.

"Actually, dad already gave me a permission to take you home."

Looks like I will be able to tell that lady what horror tastes like. I felt like I was watching the horrorest of all horror movies ever shot. I wonder how much Edward would be paid for starring in one. I know I would most likely suffer some sort of lethal attack if he appeared on the screen. If it was 3D, there would be no way I was walking away in anything but covered with white sheet.

"How … great. Bu I can walk really."

"I wouldn't advise you that, Bella. You need plenty of rest today," quickly said dr Cullen.

Horror house, I was probably about to be chained and starved till the end of my days. Such a shame Dr Cullen is Edward's father; otherwise, I think he would be quite a likeable doctor.

"I promise I will get you home safely," Edward's eyes assured me. "Plus, that's my excuse for not being at Geography. Please, do not make me lie."

He was a thief but didn't want to be a liar? Well, what kind of morals this boy possesses! Should I be touched?

It wasn't fair, really. Me against two, one of which was an authority. I was bound to lose. Even though Dr Cullen's pager started producing some weird sounds, odds were not in my favour. As soon as his dad disappeared around the corner, Edward leant closer to me. I was about to press the emergency button as he pulled the syringe out of my arm. Man, I felt so free all of a sudden! Of course, I almost got that déjà vu fainting feeling since that thing was so deep in my vein!

As my face turned pale I was, at least in Edward's mind, unable to walk by myself. Yes, my mind was hating him but a girl in my heart almost melted when he lifted me u.

"Don't tell my dad," he winked at me and if I were an ice cube, I would most likely melt. Or not; his arms, his entire body, actually, was as cold as I was in North Pole. Sadly we didn't bump into Santa as we sneaked out of the room.

"I guess I should warn you, Bella," he said as I threw my hands around his neck, "the whole school gathered to see our school champion in fainting."

"Oh…" I am not entirely sure what made me moan – that I became Forks' biggest celebrity since … like ever, or that Edward was mocking me. but he is such a superman, he's handsome, he's … strong and … probably does possess some other great qualities I would know of if his idiocy wasn't such a big turn off for me; then of course isn't that surprising that he could even read minds; he knew what I meant even when I thought I didn't!

"Thought so," he grinned and avoided the main hall. Another plus of being doctor's son; he probably knew the map of the hospital by heart and therefore it wasn't a problem for him to find the back door. I didn't have to face anyone; thank god, even if Mike and Tyler brought chocolates with them, I preferred to avoid them. They should know what chocolate does to my hips!

It was probably whatever I was on but the drive home was such a pleasant one – not because it was the most luxurious car I had been in since I left Phoenix and the great radio didn't have much to do with it either. I grinned like crazy when I played with volume and sang terribly out of tune when my favourite song was on. I could be the next YouTube sensation at least judging from the grin on Edward's face.

I was relieved when he stopped in front of my house, coz anyone else would probably drop me of that psych ward. He rushed out of the car and opened the door for me. My state was definitely similar to the one I would be in after our date. I was still convinced I was the next Whitney Houston as I searched for the key in my bag. I pretty much dropped the whole thing and books and pencils and everything that is a must in girl's purse flew across the porch. I don't really know what was so humorous about that. But, hey, I was in shock! I almost died today! Give a girl a break!

He helped me put everything back in the back and magnificent as he is he found the key. Chivalry wasn't dead and he made sure I reached the couch without any more accidents. As I screamed at some silly lady in Jerry Springer show, he made me tea. I was slowly sipping it – it was just the right temperatures; I could spill it all over me but not suffer any major burns. Isn't he just amazing? – as he called Charlie. I could imagine his fury after he discovered the vigil the waiting room was a waste of time since someone already stole me from the hospital. THAT was definitely not funny but I still laughed.

Edward sat down next to me and the blanket I had so successfully kicked off me found its way back.

"I'll go now," he said, "your dad will be…"

"Charlie," I automatically corrected him.

"Charlie … why do you call him by his first name?"

I shrugged.

"You are really something, aren't you, Bella? I have never met anyone like you …"

"You are the only one who has ever thought so."

"Sometimes I got a feeling the whole male population of our school shares my thoughts …"

"They're annoying," I rolled my eyes.

"Does that mean I am annoying too?" he smirked.

God knows what else I would babble out. My passport for online bubbling blog?

"Most of the time."

"Would you care to give me an example?"

"Like when you steal tests and then say you only tried to help."

"I didn't lie, Bella. I have never stolen anything. Though … there's one thing I wish I could …"

"What? SATs?" I frowned.

He only smiled and since my social skills kind of suck, I don't really know if I was close.

"See you in school, Bella," he said and leant closer, kissing my forehead. I came really close to spilling my tea, I admit. There was something about Edward, I couldn't deny. No matter how much I tried to hate him … as I watched him leaving the house and slowly driving away, I realized I couldn't. I could be a hurricane of emotion in one and completely numb in the next moment, but I lacked the glands to produce the off the scale hatred for Edward Cullen.

To Be Continued.

Broughttoyouby:::winter.