*****
EDWARD POV
She held the little silver terrier in her hands, and I remembered back to the time we were twelve, and had engraved our names on the board.
"I got the car again Bella!" I said triumphantly. She was tucked under my arm as usual, even though we were only twelve at the time, it was a comfortable position for us, it worked. The game was on my lap, and my bandaged leg stuck out at a raised angle.
"No fair, you always get it!" She said, frowning.
"Sorry Bells, snooze you lose." I said. Carlisle poked his head around the corner.
"You guys okay?" He asked us. We nodded, and he left us alone.
"Fine." Bella sighed, her breath tickling me. "I'll be the dog."
"It suits you." I said, thinking of our earlier days, when we had pretended she was a puppy. She groaned, and smiled despite herself, opening up the game board. I glanced to my side, and impulsively grabbed Esme's keys that were sitting on the bedside table. I flipped the board over, and began to write.
"Edward wha-" Bella began, before she saw what I was doing. I carved my name slowly and neatly, in block print. She smiled as I added a plus sign beneath it. I passed the keys to her, and she giggled. "We'll get in trouble." She said.
"No we won't, trust me. And besides, what are they going to do, call the police because we wrote on a board? I don't think so." I said, smiling. She shrugged, and began to carve her name beneath mine. Her writing was messy but readable, embroidered with curls and loops along the way. She finished, and began to write something else. I had intended it just to be our names, and craned my neck to see what else she was writing, curious. She was writing "Best Friends Forever" underneath our names. I smiled as she passed the board back to me. I carved a neat "2004" underneath. She grinned.
"Now everyone will know that this is our board." I said, happily.
"Best Friends." She said.
"Forever and ever." I added, and we proceeded to play the game...
It was one of the many memories I had with Bella, who was now organizing the cards into their piles onto the board. I sighed, and stared at her, since she wasn't looking in my direction. Her deep mahogany hair fell in soft curls around her face, and her slender waist was bent over the table, trying to get the piles perfectly aligned. She knew I thought she was beautiful, since I had taken up calling her that when we had turned 14, and she had told me she felt ugly. I didn't know how anyone could think of her as ugly. She was the most gorgeous creature ever to walk this earth, and I intended to make sure she knew it. She was used to the nickname by now, but I still saw her cheeks turn a beautiful shade of light pink when I said it. I knew she was my best friend, and she always would be, no matter what, but lately, I had been feeling strange. My heart lurched when she did the smallest things, like tuck her hair behind her ear, or bite her lip. It was weird, and I wasn't quite sure how to place it yet. I would not fall in love with Bella. With that thought, another memory came to mind.
We were 14, and sitting at the top of the ferris wheel. Bella held a melting ice cream in her hand, and was staring out into the sunset. I was looking at her, wondering what was wrong, I could always tell when something was wrong. The workers below were trying to fix the bug that had caused the ferris wheel to stop, and I hoped they would take their time.
"What's wrong Bells?" I asked softly.
"I got a letter from my mom today." She said, still staring forwards. Her mother had always been a touchy subject.
"What did it say?" I asked her.
"She said she wasn't coming back for Christmas this year, like she did last year, and that she didn't want us to contact her. She said we shouldn't have tried." She said, looking down.
"Oh Bella." I said, and she leaned against me, sighing.
"Love sucks, Edward." She said, sniffling as a tear rolled down her cheek. I couldn't stand seeing her sad. We were connected unexplainably, and her pain caused me pain. I wiped the tear away.
"Yeah it does, beautiful." I said quietly.
"I'm never going to fall in love. Ever." She said sadly.
"Me neither." I agreed, quite certain.
"Pinky promise?" She asked, holding out her thin finger. I locked it with mine, and she smiled, leaning back into me as the ferris wheel started to move again...
I was shaken out of my memories by Bella waving her hand in front of my face.
"Edward? Is zoning out a side effect of pneumonia?" She asked, giggling. I shook my head to get back to the present.
"Sorry Bells." I smiled.
"Ready to play?" She asked me, holding out the dice for me to take. I nodded, and rolled a 5. She rolled a 6.
"Damn, you get to go first." I said. She gave me an evil glare, waggling her eyebrows, and rolled again. She got a 3, sighed, and moved the spaces on the board. "Baltic Avenue. Wanna buy it?" I asked her. She shook her head no, and passed the dice to me. I rolled a 4 and moved.
"HAHA Income Tax! Pay up Edward." She said, smiling. I groaned, and paid the money. The game continued on, I stayed away from the railroads because I knew Bella liked owning them, and bought the utilities instead. We had always thought the normal properties were boring. We finished the game an hour later, and I had to tell her I was pooped. I was literally falling asleep on the board. She put it away, and giggled, helping me up, and supporting me as we walked down the hall again. I was so grateful for her being here. We reached my room, and I lay down quickly, covering myself with blankets. She lay down beside me, and snuggled into my side, closing her eyes.
"Bella? How are you getting home?" I asked, concerned.
"Emmett's coming." She said. I sighed happily, able to drift off to sleep now.
"Goodnight Bells, sleep tight." I said, yawning.
"Goodnight Edward...Don't let the bed bugs bite." She said back, smiling. With this, I drifted off into sleep, and was confronted with another memory.
We were 8 years old, and it was the middle of the night. Bella was over at my house again, to afraid to sleep in the house her mother left her in. She was a wreck these past months, almost never eating, and refusing to leave my side for a minute. She slept here every night, and wore sweaters that were down to her knees, her deep brown hair flying away. Now, we lay side by side as usual, drifting off to sleep. The trouble was her nightmares that came everynight, causing her to whimper and cry out. I would wake up in the morning and my fingers would be purple from her crushing them unconciously with hers.
"Edward?" She said softly.
"Yeah Bells?" My eight year old self asked.
"Are you asleep yet?" She asked me, sniffling.
"Not yet." I told her quietly.
"What should I dream about?" She asked.
"Far away places. Imagine what they would look like." I said, wondering myself. She was silent for a while, before talking again.
"Edward? Will we go to far away places when we're older? Like Africa?" She asked, sounding excited.
"We will I think. Together." I told her, confidently.
"Good. I thought so." She said, confirming.
"Goodnight Bella. Sleep tight." I said, smiling.
"Goodnight Edward, don't let the bed bugs bite!" She giggled, closing her eyes.
ROSALIE POV
Emmett and I walked quietly through the halls of the now darkened hospital hand in hand. Though visiting hours were now over, we had special permission from Carlisle to get Bella from Edward's room. I didn't expect her to come quietly, and leave a sick Edward alone, but she would have to, you couldn't sleep here if you weren't a patient. We passed room after room, and finally turned into the one with the correct number on it. The lamp on the bedside table was on, casting a dim glow across the room. Edward looked weak, and paler than before, wrapped in blanket after blanket. Bella was curled against him, cuddled into his side. They really did fit perfectly like that, each of their curves matching up, I couldn't remember a time when they hadn't lay like this, even when we were small. We looked at them for a while, not wanting to disturb them, their breathing was even and steady. Emmett sighed, and tip toed over to pick Bella up. He pryed her away from Edward gently, loosening her hold on him. She groaned.
"Edward.." She said sleepily.
"You can't sleep here Bells." Emmett said softly.
"Yes I can." She said dreamily. Emmett chuckled.
"No Bella, you can't." He said, smiling. Edward stirred.
"Far away places Bells." His voice came quietly from the bed.
"Right." She said, smiling and falling back asleep in Emmett's arms. Edward grinned and konked out once more. I giggled, as Emmett made his way back towards me, carrying Bella. We took her out to the car, and drove her home, not talking the whole time. I smiled at Emmett as he pulled up in front of their house, and kissed my cheek.
"Night Rosie." he said, smiling.
"Goodnight Em." I said, hugging him. He got out and opened the back door, hauling Bella back into his arms, his muscles bulging. He waved as I pulled away from the curb, and I saw him bring her up the front steps and inside the house.
EMMETT POV
I picked her up from Edward's arms, and held her against me. I had been worried about her, my little sister. I didn't like it when she was sad or in pain. She was still light as a feather, and when we arrived home, I carried her easily inside, and tucked her into bed silently. I watched her curl her knees up to her chest, and screw up her face in sleep. I knew she had wanted to stay with Edward, but I couldn't leave her there overnight. I wondered when her and Edward would stop being best friends, and become something more, we all knew it would happen at some point, but so far they had stuck it out almost all through high school, and were showing no signs of anything romantic. I really wouldn't mind if they did become something else, Edward was the one guy I knew I could trust with my baby sister, he would take care of her.
BELLA POV
I woke up and stretched my arms above my head lazily. My bed was cold and my feet were frozen, I shivered. It was monday, but I had no intention of going to school, I was going to spend the day with Edward again. I got up and shuffled over to my window. The snow from December was still resting on the ground, all icy and slick, making everything sparkle. I sighed, as a memory came to my mind.
Edward and I were 7 years old, walking home from school. It was a short walk from the elementary school to my house, and Edward's mom would pick him up later. It was snowing, thick flakes falling peacefully from the white sky. The white ground was lifting my spirits, I had been depressed lately, since my mom had left.
"Edward, snow is so pretty." I said, twirling and catching a flake on my tongue.
"I love snow." He agreed, chuckling, his bronze tousles speckled with white.
"Let's make a snowman when we get home!" I said excitedly.
"Okay!" He agreed, stomping happily in his gum boots and causing snow to splash upwards from the ground. We continued walking, stopping only to eat mouthfuls of cold snow. Just then, a black mercedes rolled up beside us on the street, coasting slowly. I got scared, my sixth sense kicking in, and grabbed Edward's arm.
"Edward...let's hurry." I said, pulling him along. The car rolled down it's front window, and a toothy man grinned at us.
"Hey kids, I lost my dog! He's fluffy and white and I can't find him in this snow. Can you help me?" He said with a Boston accent. I shook my head no.
"Sorry mister, we have to go home." I said, pulling Edward away from the car.
"You lost your dog?!" Edward said, incredulously. The man nodded. "Bella we have to help him!"
"No we don't!" I said frantically.
"Come on little girl, come help me. Your so pretty...my doggy would like you." He said, raising his eyebrows. I shook my head no again. "Come on sweetheart." The man taunted. This shook Edward out of his trance, and he went into protective mode, sensing something wrong.
"Hey! Leave her alone, she said she didn't want to go." He shouted.
"Hey, hey, hey! Let's not get upset." The man said.
"No one can bully Bella." Edward said.
"Is that so? Why?" The man said, chewing his lip.
"Because...because she has an older brother, and, and he will come beat you up!" Edward said, stuttering.
"That's right." I agreed. The man chuckled, shaking his head.
"Fine kids, I'll go find someone else to help me." He said, rolling up his window, and pulling away from the curb. I sighed in relief.
"Edward, he was scary." I said, shaking.
"I didn't like him, he tried to take you with him." Edward said, also shivering.
"I bet he was lying about losing his dog." I said, frowning. The two of us got home, and told Charlie what had happened. He wasn't on duty, so he called the station and told them to search the area for a black mercedes. We played outside, with Charlie watching us attentively from the porch, making snow angel after snow angel...
I shook my head, shaking the memory off. I pulled on one of Emmett's sweaters that was laying on the floor of my room, and headed down the stairs. Emmett was seated at the table.
"Nice sweater, Bells." He said. I smiled at him, pouring myself some orange juice. "Staying home today?" Emmett asked.
"Visiting Edward." I said, burrowing deeper into the sweater.
"Did dad say you could?" He asked, tattletale mode kicking in.
"Yes, yes." I said, rolling my eyes. He grinned, getting up and ruffling my hair.
"I gotta go, see ya Bells." He said, flinging his bag over his shoulder.
"Bye Em." I said, smiling. He left, and I hear him pulling his car out of the driveway, and out onto the street. Charlie had already left for the day, so I was alone. I went upstairs and got dressed, leaving Emmett's sweater on and pulling on some jeans. I left my hair down in curls, and pinned a section of it back with a clip. I took the stairs two by two, and grabbed the Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets from underneath the TV, and stuffed it in my bag to bring to Edward, it was his favorite one out of all the movies. I also grabbed a bag of Sour Cream and Onion chips from the cupboard, also his favorite. Carlisle had brought my truck back last night, and it was outside in the cold, waiting. I walked out to it, locking the door behind me. I jumped in, breathed into my hands trying to warm them, and started the engine, putting my bag in the passengers seat beside me. A couple minutes later I was pulling up in front of the hospital, the parking lot was almost empty. I got out and shivered in the stale cold, walking quickly towards the front doors. The warm air was a relief as I got inside, and I sighed, walking in the direction of Edwards room. I peeked inside, and he was sleeping, his bronze hair in his eyes and his biceps over the covers. I decided to leave him alone for a while, and walk around the hospital hallways. I strolled lazily around, almost nobody was awake yet, and the place was quiet. Every now and then, someone would walk past me with purpose. Just then, an old man in a hospital robe crossed my path. He smelt of stale alchohol, and another memory caught me offguard.
Edward and I were 15. It was dark and cool outside, and we stood on the balcony of Mike Newton's house. He was having a party for his 15th birthday, and the house was packed. I could feel the beat of music vibrating the floor, and the dim lights inside cast an inviting glow. Edward loved parties, he loved dancing and drinking, and living life to the fullest. It didn't help that he was popular and gorgeous. Mike's parents weren't home, and so almost everyone was drinking, including Edward. He held the red plastic cup in his hands as he leant against the balcony, his elbows on the railing. He wasn't too drunk yet, and still capable of conversation.
"Bells?" He said, grinning.
"Yeah?" I asked, adjusting my dress. It was black, and came up a little too short, Alice's creation.
"Why don't you drink?" He asked. I looked at him, and rolled my eyes.
"You smell." I told him, ignoring the question. He looked confused.
"Whaaat?! I do not Bellie." He said, and I groaned. "Please have fun with me Bella? I'll keep you safe, promise." He said. I looked down. I had secretly always wanted to drink, but had been to scared.
"Can I sleep over so my Dad won't find out?" I asked him. He nodded.
"Wouldn't have it any other way." He said, smiling. I smiled back.
"What's that?" I asked, pointing to his cup.
"Just Smirgnoff and raspberry liquer I think." He said, peering into it. He offered it to me. I took a deep breath, and took a sip...
An hour and a half later, I had had too much than I should have, and was literally leaning on Edward. He had stopped drinking in order to help me.
"Edwaaard!!!" I said, giggling.
"Yeah Bells?" He asked me softly.
"Can I meet Orlando Bloom? Is he..is he here?" I asked innocently.
"Nah he couldn't make it." Edward said, grinning.
"What about that guy...Peter Faccineli! Who looks like your DAD?!" I said, tripping and falling onto my hands and knees.
"Nope he isn't here either." Edward said, helping me up. People laughed.
"Hey Bella!" Tyler called from a couch. I stumbled over, and sat on his lap. He grinned. I kissed him sloppily, not knowing what I was doing. Edward stared, shrugged, and walked away. 20 minutes later, I was starting to feel sick. I made my way through the crowds, trying to find Edward. I found him, chatting up some girl from a different school, and sighed happily. She had blonde hair cascading down her back, and was wearing short shorts. I ignored her, and fell onto Edward.
"Edward. I feel sick." I said, steadying myself on his forearm.
"Okay Bells, ready to go home?" He said, grabbing me so that I wouldn't fall over. I nodded.
"I'm sleeping at your house tonight." I yawned, and he nodded, knowing.
"Cmon Bells." He said.
"Who's this?" The blonde girl asked.
"This is Bella." He said, hoisting me up as I began to slip again. "She's my other half."
"Edward..." I whispered, pulling his earlobe, interupting his conversation with the blonde. "I kissed Tyler." I told him.
"I saw." He said, smiling.
"Do you wanna kiss blondie? I know you do!" I whispered loudly again, and giggled. She ignored me.
"So you guys are friends?" She asked us.
"Best Friends since birth." He told her, and she nodded.
"Sorry, but I really gotta go." He told her, wrapping his arm around me as I began to try to sit on the floor. He slipped her his number, and then led me towards the door. As soon as we got outside, I threw up in the garden. Edward rubbed my back, murmuring things.
"Im so sorry Bella. I was drunk when I asked you to drink." he said, shaking his head. "This is all my fault."
"I had funnnnn." I said, gripping him. He walked me home to his house, where we snuck upstairs, and I fell asleep immediately.