Hi all! Thanks for finding your way here to this GIANT chapter, it's about three times the length of the others but I had quite a bit that I wanted to cover and due to the nature of the song, I've only got one more Chapter left for you after this so it needed to be a little long! I hope you like it and please, please let me know what you think, good and bad reviews are always massively appreciated.
All characters, Twilight and this amazing world belong enteirely to Stephenie Meyer, I don't pretend otherwise! I'm trying to keep this fairly realistic as to what may have happened had Bella not jumped and so there are a lot of allusions to Twilight/New Moon and their events. Enjoy!
and I will walk on water
you will catch me if I fall
and I will get lost into your eyes
and everything will be alright
It was light when I awoke and it took a short while for my eyes to adjust. The room was unfamiliar, too white and empty besides a scattering of flowers in vases and Jake, asleep in a chair against the wall. I looked down at foreign, clean white clothes and sheets and it dawned on me that I was in a hospital bed. There were wires attached to my wrist and bandages covered my left arm. Memories of Victoria and Sam came crashing back and I gasped audibly. It wasn't the first time that I'd found myself in this position, gaining consciousness in a hospital room, but it wasn't really something that anyone could get used to. Last time my left wrist had been bandaged in the same way as it was now, the small, silver scar on my palm hidden underneath. This time I was bandaged due to Victoria, last time it was her lover James. Maybe Edward had been right; I should stay away from all Vampires, it only ended up the same way and if there was a next time it was likely I wouldn't be waking up in a hospital; I might not be waking up at all. The thought scared me; I had only recently started to live again.
I looked across to Jake, still sleeping peacefully, his head was nestled against his chest and the hood of his jacket was up yet it barely covered his hairline. It felt wrong to wake him and I spent a few minutes just watching him breathe, his chest slowly rising and falling. He looked beautiful. He was my saviour and my protector and I absentmindedly wondered whether he would replace my previous protector in other ways too before I shook the thought from my mind. I remembered the beach, Jake declaring his love for me, it still felt strange just thinking the words. I remembered I had told him no, that I couldn't. However, the more I allowed myself to think about it, the less I was able to deny that I didn't feel anything for him. He was too good to me and even after everything that I'd said to him, here he still was, saving and protecting me just as he promised that he always would.
I still couldn't quite fathom just why he cared about me, what could I offer him? Who was I to deserve to have someone who said he loved me, someone who had saved my life in many more ways than the most recent occurrence, someone I had rejected. I was just me, Bella, clumsy and ordinary. Well, ordinary apart from the fact that I'd just been attacked by a vampire and now I was staring at a sleeping werewolf, not even to mention my previous relationship. How could anyone love someone who caused so much trouble? I've always hated the fact that I couldn't escape being the damsel in distress. When everyone around me had speed and claws and so much strength in their supernatural beings, the little human that I was seemed pathetic and vulnerable, I always needed saving. No more, I decided. I could no longer put others in danger for me; I needed to learn to protect myself. I had always been proud of my independence but somewhere amidst all this mess I seemed to have forgotten that very important fact. I couldn't selfishly rely on having someone to save me every five minutes when I found myself in some sort of trouble, supernatural or not. Maybe my number was well and truly up and prolonging it was only going to do so much. Maybe it was time to accept the hand fate gave me.
Jake stirred slightly, disturbing me from my train of thought. I called out his name with a voice that sounded a lot more gravely than I remembered mine to be. He woke with a jolt and his eyes immediately found my face. He was by my side in an instant, his face relieved.
"Hi" he said feebly and he wiped at his eyes. He was too quiet and his face was a mask of concern, lacking any of his usual jovial spirit.
"Jake…" I reached out for his hand with mine, the one that wasn't encased in bandages. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"You're asking how I am?" Jake smiled slightly and it warmed my heart, he took my hand, swamping it with both of his. "I'm fine, totally and completely – I'm indestructible remember?" he laughed, shakily, "Gees…Bella, it's been a hell of a few days, you've gotta stop scaring me like that. It's becoming a habit for you".
"…Days?" I quizzed him, "wait, how long have I been out exactly? What's happened? Oh god that means Charlie knows about all this, right?" I groaned.
"You could've died…again. This is serious Bella, of course he does. You've been out for 26 hours…nearly. It feels so much longer. You hit your head pretty hard and you lost a lot of blood," he pointed to my arm. "Actually, I better get the nurse" he mumbled and half-ran out of the room without another word. He returned in under a minute with a happy looking woman who checked all the machines around me and asked me questions on how I was feeling and where it hurt. She read off the machines and registered my temperature and blood pressure as normal. A doctor arrived a few minutes later and introduced himself as Dr. Carvel. He shined a torch in my eyes and I blinked the light away.
"Do you know where you are?" He asked me.
"The hospital" I answered, I felt like a six year old and wanted to tell him that I remembered everything but then I realised that it would sound crazy, although it would probably fit with a head injury. I didn't know what to say if he asked, Jake hadn't told me any story which I assumed, hopefully, that they'd come up with.
"Good, Isabella and what year is it?"
"Bella." Jake interrupted, seemingly pissed off and the Doctor smiled at me as I rolled my eyes at him.
"2011" I said, Dr Carvel was making notes on his clipboard although it was obvious to everyone, particularly to me, that my brain was just fine. It ached a little but it wasn't too bad. Then again, according to the nurse I was on a lot of pain relief.
"Okay," he scribbled on the paper, "that's good. Do you remember what happened, Bella?" he emphasised my name with a small, friendly smile.
I looked at Jake quickly, his eyebrows were furrowed together and he looked at me slightly concerned but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes, wondering what I'd say. "I…er," I began, "I went to the beach with Jake and apart from that I don't know…I can't remember what I did" I smiled at him hesitantly, lying through my teeth.
"Do you remember a tree?" he asked and I looked at him puzzled. I heard Jake clear his throat and I pretended as if I'd suddenly had a brainwave.
"Oh…Yes, I do…sorry its all a bit muddled, I thought that that may have been a dream" I lied.
"The confusion is natural, Bella, it should sort its self out in time but everything seems to be okay right now. We're going to keep you here for a little while, make sure that everything is working alright. Just try to rest." He smiled at me and put his clipboard under his arm, speaking to the nurse about some medication of which I needed less. I looked over at Jake and he grinned at me, it seemed that I'd done okay. A career in theatre could be for me after all. "I'm sure if you've got any questions about the incident your boyfriend can let you know what you've missed out on." I nodded at him, said my thanks and he left with the nurse, who stated she'd be back soon and forcibly reminded me to rest, smiling all the while.
"Boyfriend?" I couldn't resist asking the question as Jake came towards me after the nurse had left the room. He looked down, smiling slightly.
"It was the only way they'd let me stay in here" he said quietly and sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed, "sorry, don't be mad or anything."
"I'm not, don't worry" I smiled, "I thought I'd had it a little when he asked what happened, what did you guys say?"
"We had to make something up; we didn't have much time either so Sam said the first thing he could think of." Jake trailed off but with a quiet voice he spoke, "they said that you'd be okay, but it was hard to believe them. I am so sorry Bella, I should've smelt her sooner, should've been faster, should've-"
I interrupted; "Stop Jake, you weren't to know at all. Please don't blame yourself. Anyway none of any of that matters now, I owe my life to you."
"Sam and the others did that, I was sprawling on the floor. I nearly lost you and I feel like I've been saying that a lot lately… you're a magnet for trouble." He sighed at me.
I sighed, the phrase was familiar. "I've been told that before….you did save me Jake, without you there she would've…would've…" I couldn't finish the sentence.
"Bella," Jake took my hand again and looked concerned, "I should get Charlie, he went back home to rest and grab some things for you and I told him I'd call as soon as you woke up"
"First, please can you just fill me in with all that I've missed? What happened and what's supposed to have 'happened'? I can't just scrape my way through it when Charlie asks"
Jake looked around the room and then spoke quietly in case we were being overheard. As far as everyone else was concerned I had fallen off a branch of a tree we had climbed and onto a rock embedded in the ground. I laughed when Jake told me - it was the most unbelievable lie ever, except that it didn't appear to be as the hospital staff had completely eaten it up. Even Charlie hadn't yet questioned Jake as to why his completely uncoordinated and easily injured daughter had suddenly taken up the urge to climb trees.
In reality, when Victoria dropped me onto the ground Sam and three other wolves had appeared and Victoria, no match for the pack, fled. Sam sent Quil and Paul after her to make sure she had left the territory. It turned out that by chance Paul had been in wolf form and had heard Jacob's calls for help, he had run off immediately to help us and the others followed. Billy had been called to take care of Jake and my truck and Sam had bandaged my arm with scraps of what had been Jacob's T-Shirt and brought me to the Emergency Room. I couldn't help but still be worried; she was out there somewhere. Jake promised that they'd get her – they were on full alert now. It was hard to relax. I half wished I had claws just so I could get her myself and I completely hated having to rely on them to fight my battles. I tried to tell Jacob to stop, to just let whatever was supposed to happen take its course but he growled at me before I'd even finished getting the words out.
"Stop being so stupid Bella, you really think I'm going to let you walk out there to be killed? Whatever your feelings towards me they're not going to stop mine, not like that." He looked hurt, like he had at La Push.
I tried to explain, "It's nothing to do with that, I just can't keep allowing you to put all your lives on the line just to protect mine. I'm not worth it."
"Don't ever say that!" he snapped, growling at me. "I couldn't live with myself if I just let people die because I was too selfish to protect our land, especially you. It's not our way. Besides, we don't want a crazy Vamp running around anyway, we just managed to get rid of some and we're not looking for more". There was a steely determination in his eyes. What had I really expected? "I can't believe you were even thinking that Bella!"
"I'm…just a burden" I admitted my thoughts, tears forming in my eyes and I looked away from Jake. He began to speak more calmly but a gruffness remained in his voice. He was interrupted by the kind-sounding but firm voice of the nurse, shooing him out of the room, insisting I needed rest and some peace. Jake refused to leave at first but he had little choice as she ushered him out before he could say goodbye properly. His eyes seemed a little calmer when they found me and he mouthed "sorry" through the window outside the room. I smiled at him as he slowly left the window and found that I was a lot more tired than I'd thought, considering I'd slept for what felt like forever.
The nurse re-entered, smiling and checked all of the machines once more.
"You really should rest, honey" she said warmly, sitting on the bed gently and I smiled back at her. "You know, he was here all night, your boyfriend. He was worried, that's probably why he got a little pent up just then, but you just see – I'm sure he'll be back with flowers in a few hours for you" she winked and I smiled back at her, uttering my thanks. She tapped my hand and rose, shutting the blinds and pulling the room into a hazy twilight.
My thoughts about what Jacob and I had spoke about resided in my thoughts, my humanity meant that I was completely vulnerable compared to Victoria and Jake and I hated it, but I should have known that their innate hatred against the Vampires and the desire to protect their own would never have been abandoned. Closing my eyes and embracing sleep I only wished that Jake didn't have to get put in the firing line for me to live.
"I'm nearly there Alice, please say she's okay?" I begged, I had been driving for several hours, racing through the traffic. It was fortunate I wasn't human – I didn't need to stop for food or rest breaks. I had just passed Toledo, Washington and at the rate I had been driving I'd be with her in no more than two hours.
"She's going to be fine Edward, you can relax a little. I just saw her with the nurse. She's sleeping now" Relief flooded me, Alice had uttered magic words.
"Thank you. Really, thank you. I'm a few hours away I think, I've just hit rush hour." I'd been listening to the radio and was preparing to leave the interstate due to an accident on the I-5 and even with working the diversion into my timescale I'd be there within two hours. I didn't plan to drive slowly.
"Be careful. Edward…there's a couple of things you need to know. I didn't know how to tell you, I wanted you to know but I didn't know how you'd take them. Rose has been trying to call you and Esme thought it best if I didn't say anything" Alice said quickly, I was confused.
"What are you talking about? You've baited me now so just tell me."
"I haven't stopped watching her, I couldn't – she's my friend Edward and we never should have left her. She was so good for you and for all of us because of that." Alice admitted what I already knew.
"I know, it was a mistake but I'm going back now. I can't keep away from her, it's been…hard. I don't know how it's going to work but I'm not asking you to keep away anymore."
"That wasn't what I needed to say, it's been so blurry lately when I've been watching Bella. Only the past couple of months but I didn't connect it all. I think whatever stops you from reading her mind may be working against me now. I'm worried Edward, it's never been like this before. I don't know if it's me…" she sighed, her voice tense. I wanted her to just say what it was she needed to but with Alice it was never that simple. We rarely spoke on the phone; it was easier when we were in person as we could have silent conversations, taking what I needed to see or know from her thoughts. "Anyway, as you're going back I have to do this now. You might not find her the same Bella that you left".
"Alice, what-" I interrupted, but she continued through my words.
"It was tough for her when you left…it was too hard to watch. I don't know how to say all this…" I didn't want her to, I wanted to screw my eyes up and block my ears. The thought of hurting her tore me apart but I couldn't tell Alice to stop, the words wouldn't form in my mouth. Alice continued, determined to say her piece, "I saw her standing at the edge of a cliff in a raging thunderstorm Edward; I thought she was going to jump". Alice spoke quickly but my mind zoned out completely. I had to stop the car, I wasn't thinking right. The words made me feel number inside than I already was, how she even could think of doing something like that? That wasn't Bella. It was worrying.
Leaving was meant to make it all better for her, not worse! The injuries were one thing; the emotional pain Alice had described shattered me. I deserved the pain, not her. I left to protect her from that, from my dangerous world and from any lasting psychological effects. I thought I'd left just in time, before it was too late for her. I should have realised, figured from her reaction in the forest. I was a complete fool. I punched the steering wheel until it no longer resembled a circle. I wanted to hurt myself, I wanted the physical pain, something to take away the hurt inside, anything.
"Edward!" Alice was shouting my name down the phone, "That's a rental, and don't you dare!" My thoughts were racing as I thought of ways to destroy the car with me still in it, I needed punishment and I deserved it. "Stop, Edward, stop! You're going to be no good to her like this at all. I had to tell you, you have to be prepared and be gentle with her. Use some tact. First, stop being stupid and this self-pity crap has to end, caspiche?"
"Stop doing that!"
"You know I can see everything you are planning, fool…just calm down Edward!" she shouted. I could hear Jasper in the background, echoing her message to me in a very different tone. Whatever he did must have worked as the next time she spoke, her voice was controlled.
"There's more Edward. I don't want to tell you now but I don't have much time and I can't get there before you…"
"What is it? How much more?" I panicked, "How bad is she?"
"Right now? She seems better when I can see her but a lot of the time it's blank, like she's not there. I have no idea what happened to her, I must've missed it somehow. I'm so sorry Edward. She doesn't look good, prepare yourself, it's like Phoenix all over again." Alice warned.
"You said she was alright!"
"Internally, it seems so. I heard the doctor talking to the nurse and it seems like they think she'll be okay, just bed rest and medication."
I slightly relaxed again, Alice was right – I wouldn't be any good to her like this.
"I still have to go; I still have to see her." I admitted to my sister and to myself. That part was suddenly clear to me, I couldn't keep away anymore. I had to watch over her, be her Guardian Angel, for lack of better words. Angel was too far from the truth but Guardian Devil or Vampire didn't really have the same appeal.
"Wait a second, there's something else. I just saw the nurse with her and she, something was said that you need to know-"
"Alice, what?" I impatiently asked, "Say it" I demanded.
"She has a boyfriend" Alice almost shouted, too fast. I heard, however and the words hit me like knives. It was always an option, a logical conclusion but what I hadn't concluded was how I'd feel. Pure anger. I was jealous, completely and utterly jealous to the point of insanity. It made sense, Alice had said she was better now and I knew first hand that there were guys forming a line behind me, waiting for her. The two things went together a little too well.
"Say something Edward" Alice said softly as I was debating with myself on my next move. Should I return, selfishly and check on her and disrupt her life again? The best thing to do would be to leave her alone, allow her to get on with her life just as I had originally planned. I couldn't cause her any more pain and even though I didn't know how she'd react if she saw me, I couldn't take the chance of hurting her even a little bit. For her sake I had to leave her well alone. I was going to suffer and the masochistic part of me took some small pleasure in that, I was finally receiving my true punishment, the pain I deserved.
Alice was still waiting for me to speak, "Edward, you're coming home?"
"I can't go back there, I can't do that to her again" I replied quietly.
"Would you be okay with me seeing her? I don't want to stay away, Edward, not any longer."
"No! We have to leave her alone, let her live her human existence without any interference" I growled, angry at that fact.
"This isn't what you want, you know it" she replied, annoyance resonating in her voice.
"It is what is best" I closed my eyes and laid my head against the steering wheel's newly-damaged surface.
"This conversation isn't over Edward" Alice demanded, "We will talk when you get here, I'll let Carlisle and Esme know." She hung up, stubborn as ever. It took me a while to figure my thoughts out and I started up the car slowly, driving away from the place I felt the most natural to be drawn to. The last few signs that I saw pointing in the direction of Forks, willing me to go to Port Angeles and Seattle and to her felt like daggers. Every single letter seemed to be taunting me, the cravings of my addiction. The feeling didn't lessen as I crossed the border into Canada but I drove on nethertheless, ignoring my still heart and its wishes, welcoming the world of pain that had only just begun.
Hearing my name awoke me. Charlie's concerned face hovered beside my bed and he smiled.
"Hey Dad" I smiled back at him, hoping I wasn't going to be questioned on my 'tree-climbing' antics.
"How you feeling Bells?" He asked.
"Been better, but I'm okay – just this really" I said, indicating my arm.
"24 stitches; that has to be some sort of record for you" he laughed quietly but it was true, Victoria had ripped into the muscle in my upper arm and near my arm pit and it had been sewn back together whilst I was unconscious. Victoria knew how to do some damage. I could move my fingers, thankfully, but Charlie noted that they had said that it'd take some time for it to heal completely. We made small talk and he avoided the topic of how it all happened, it appeared my accident-prone nature was a good enough answer.
"Oh and I brought you this" Charlie said, presenting me with a bag containing some pyjamas and toiletries. "I just grabbed a handful, I didn't really know what to bring". I thanked him as I looked through the bag, he'd manage to pick up most of the things I needed and I told him I was grateful as I found 3 bottles of facial toner, could never have enough I figured. A Jane Austen book I hadn't read in a few years was at the bottom of the bag and I opened it immediately.
"This is perfect, thank you Dad" I admitted honestly and he seemed genuinely pleased with himself. We sat and talked for a short while before I told him to go to work; I would be fine on my own. He resisted at first but he said that he'd call Jacob over to keep me company. I agreed and he left as the nurse arrived, ensuring first that everything was all right with me as far as she was concerned. She said that if everything continued to heal as it was then I could be released the day after the next now that there was no sign of a concussion.
I settled into reading the book, undisturbed for a while until I heard someone walking into the room. I assumed it was the nurse but as I looked up I found myself not facing her friendly face, instead staring at two pale red irises and a head of flame-red hair.
She stood with her hands on her hips and a menacing smile playing on her lips.
"Isabella, how good to see you again. Ahhh…I can smell you from here, well worth the wait I'm sure" She said as she walked closer to the bed. I held the book up protectively but there was very little I could do. I was completely defenceless. The only thing I had on my side was that there were people around, human people with CCTV and a distinct ignorance of the existence of Vampires. Although I knew Vampire laws forbade anyone revealing their existence, I wasn't sure just how committed to the laws Victoria was. I was betting on the Vampire trying to kill me having an ethical conscience.
"These places are brilliant aren't they?" She said, looking around the room, "keeping you alive so that I can have the pleasure of finishing you off myself"
"If you're going to kill me, just do it now" I said, willing every bit of courage into my being as I closed my eyes in undeniable defeat. There was no way out.
"Oh not now human, but in four hours you will meet me in the trees across the road. If you don't then your father will be slaughtered and left on that tree, right there, the one you can see from your window. I know exactly where he lives and where he works. I don't make empty threats; you should know that by now."
What could I do? I was trying to work out a way of getting to Jake in time as she interrupted me, as if she read my thoughts.
"Don't even think about bringing the scum. If I even smell a single morsel of their scent then your father dies. Do we understand each other, Isabella?" She sneered at me and I stared back at her, trying to hide any emotion from my face. I hoped the fear wouldn't show through.
"Loud and clear, Victoria" I spat the words out. "But if you touch him at any point you will be slaughtered by the wolves, do you understand me?" I countered, feeling a little more brave due to the fact I knew she wouldn't attack me in a hospital.
She laughed.
I sat there, fear and anger coursing through my veins.
"I'll see you at 8pm little Isabella, I can not wait until we meet again" she cackled and turned quickly, leaving the room.
My heart sank, I couldn't figure out a plan to escape this fate. Perhaps I wasn't meant to, my head fell into my hands and tears fell down my cheeks and onto my palms. I suddenly remembered Jake was coming over, I wasn't ready to die but there was no way that I was allowing her to touch Charlie. I had to stop Jake. There was a phone in the room by the chair and I pulled myself out of the bed slowly. Everything ached, my legs felt weak, unable to carry me across the floor. My left arm was numb and heavy and my shoulders felt bruised. It took me a while but I pushed myself off the bed, slowly, and with each pained step I made it across the floor to the phone and into the chair. It took me a few minutes to be able to lift the phone, place it to one side and press the keys that corresponded to Jake's number with one finger.
"Hello"
"Hi Jake, it's me"
"Bells! Everything okay? I was just coming over right now"
"I'm fine but there's no need for you to come over now - Charlie's got the evening off work." I lied, screwing my eyes up. This was the last time I'd ever speak to Jake.
"Oh, I could come by anyway, I want to see that you're okay"
"Charlie would probably ask too much about what happened, best not to. You could come over in the morning if you're free?" It hurt. Too much. I tried to sound normal, he'd know if it sounded too forced and I couldn't risk him coming.
"I'll be there, you sure about tonight? I could stay all night if you want?"
"Thanks Jake, for everything you've done for me. I'll honestly be fine but thank you."
"If you're sure…"
"I am" I was resolute. Jake wasn't getting hurt either, not because of me. This was my problem, I would solve it tonight. Just me.
"Oh and Bella, I spoke to Dad and he said you could stay with us for a little while, just until she's gone. It'd be a lot safer."
I swallowed, "That's great Jake, thanks"
"I'll get it all sorted for you" I could hear the grin in his words.
"Jake, just promise me something"
"Anything"
"Look after Charlie please. No matter what, just make sure he's okay". I fought back tears, my throat ached badly but I couldn't give in.
"Er, sure Bells of course. I better get going, but look after yourself – relax! I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Jake…"
"Bella?"
"Take care too. Goodbye Jake." It didn't seem enough. I couldn't say final words, not to him, not my Jacob.
I contemplated ringing Charlie but I knew that I would fall apart. Renee too would have to be missed out, it'd be hard enough to explain the hospital without trying to subtly say goodbye to her. I made my way slowly back to my bed and picked up the book. What does someone do with a few hours, the last of their life? I found a pencil in a small drawer next to the bed and opened the book. The publishers had thankfully left several blank pages at the start and the end of the book and I began to write, letters, goodbyes to Charlie, Renee, Jake and one to Alice. Should she ever return to Forks I wanted to leave something for her. Renee's was straightforward, easier to write than I had thought. I told her to be happy with Phil and that I hoped she does never truly grow up. It annoyed me but I always loved the fact my mom had spirit. Jake's letter was a mix of jokes and honesty. I wrote that I cared about him a lot and I regretted not having the time to figure it all out properly. I truly hoped he would find the one he was destined for and that he'd have a life full of the happiness he deserved. The letter to Charlie was the hardest to write. We had spoke so little recently, our exchanges never were deep, always surface and I said that I regretted not telling him how much I loved him every day. My tears blurred some of the words as they refused to stop falling. I wrote that I was proud of him and that I would miss him. It was all true. A goodbye letter had to be.
In my letter to Alice I told her that I was sorry I never got to say a goodbye, that I had missed her in the months gone past and that I had been blessed to have her as a friend. I wrote for her to "talk to Jacob" three times in the letter and I hoped that way she'd get the real story about Victoria and all of this. At the end I told her to thank the Cullen's for their past kindness and I wrote, "And to Edward, please just tell him that I had no regrets about us, or whatever we were. Tell him I understood". I tried to stop there but I remembered that this was my last act, and it had to be truthful. "Please tell him that, although it's foolish, tell him I never stopped. I have always loved him and I know that I always will." I wanted to rub it out, take it back but I couldn't. It was complete truth and I had accepted it in my heart. I decided to leave the words on the page and I left the book on the side, waiting for Charlie.
The next few hours went painfully slow as I was at a loss of what to do. I wanted to be with people but I couldn't bring them into danger. I watched the television for a while but I became restless fast. I couldn't read knowing the letters were amongst the pages. I was counting the minutes, 145 to go…132 to go. I tried to think over my life…110 to go. I put on the Television again, 105 to go. I spoke to the nurse and they brought food which I could barely touch, 91 to go. I had a long, hot shower in the private bathroom (I wasn't sure how but the room I was in was more hotel than hospital) and put on the pyjamas, lacking any other sort of clothes. My last outfit would be powder blue silk bottoms and a matching camisole. Charlie had brought my coat and some trainers; they were a red colour and I absentmindedly though about the colour clash before I decided that it really did not matter in the grand scheme of things. 56 to go. I took my time, drying my hair with the towel, 29 to go. I pulled the final tubes out of my hands and I tried to pace the room, gathering a little strength. I ate some of the food, cold now but still edible. My last supper – 18 minutes to go.
The minutes were falling away from me as I put on my coat and trainers and slowly made my way out of my room and down the hallway, following the signs. It was dark and very few people were moving around. My coat hid the fact that I was in pyjamas fairly well and I managed to slip past the nurses station and get in the elevator with ease. Walking past the front desk the receptionist looked up to me and smiled. I was walking fairly slowly and I didn't want her to query it so I smiled back.
"Just getting some air" I explained and she nodded at me and went back to her computer screen. I sighed and went out into the cool Forks night. The stars were out and the moon was full. I looked up into the sky, not quite dark yet and drunk in the view. I stood there for a few minutes before I made my way across the road to the entrance of the forest. I stood there, early. I smiled to myself, although a little morbid, I had turned up early to be killed. I heard footsteps coming towards me and I shortly saw her face, the cruel smile playing on her lips as usual.
"Lovely to see you, Isabella" she laughed.
"Shame I can't say the same" I said, angry and defiant. I wasn't going to just meekly give in. Plans of escape were still running through my head; if I could distract her I could call for help, attack her, get to Jacob and the wolves.
She was too quick, striding towards me so that she stood only a couple of metres away.
"Take off your coat, Isabella. It's going to get in my way". I resisted, standing unmoving, looking beyond her, not at her face. "Is that how we're going to play, really?" She stepped forward quickly, ripping the buttons of the front and pulling it sharply away from me. I shouted in pain as it pulled my arm away with a jolt. It was cold without the coat, I began to shiver.
She stepped closer to me, one finger outstretched to run down my cheek. "It's a shame really" she said as her nail slowly scratched my face, but not strong enough to draw blood, "but we are the sum of our decisions, Isabella, and your choice of lover has sealed your fate with me. Even though he's fed up with you, this will please me a little" she smiled at me and my eyes found hers, full of malice. I spat on her face.
"I hope you rot in hell" I said roughly, attempting to keep my voice smooth. She was livid. I didn't even see if coming as I was brought to my knees, she'd aimed a blow to my left leg that, in my weakened state had completely brought me down to the ground. My undamaged palm found the floor and it gripped the dirt. My hair was tugged and she brought my face up to meet hers.
"You first" she whispered in my ear. I could hear the blood pumping in my ears. It felt like I had increased hearing too. I could hear the traffic roaring around me and my whole body was shaking. I was pulled by my hair onto my feet, I screamed out in agony. "Goodbye Isabella, it's been fun" she laughed again and I closed my eyes, defeated. This was it, the end.
I felt her lean in to my neck as there was a louder screech around me. Wood snapped with the force, an engine roared. Victoria growled loudly and dropped me. I feel to the floor at her feet, drained of energy and in shock. I tried to look up at what had made the noise and eventually I could see a black car, half parked on broken branches so that the front half of the car was in the air. A figure had rushed out of the open door and ran straight at Victoria. I felt air at my back as she moved away, the figure chased her for a while and they fought for a bit. It was all so fast. I couldn't make out who was Victoria and who was the other person. It didn't look wolf-shape but it was so hard to tell in the almost-dark and at the speed they were moving. The car's headlights, I noticed, pointed off to the side and I tried to make my way towards them, to safety. I heard intense growling and then only one figure remained standing, human arms hanging at their side. It wasn't Victoria.
The figure walked slowly towards me, palms outstretched. I couldn't make out their face. I moved further towards the car, as fast as I could move but it wasn't quick enough as the figure slowly advanced on me. My back hit a fallen log and I squirmed on the floor, pinned between the figure and the wood. I had narrowly escaped my end but I was sure that my number was up this time. I closed my eyes again. Waiting for the inevitable.
When I opened my eyes the figure was crouched before me and I gasped. I knew that hair, I knew the shape. I could see his eyes, the dark amber colour displayed by the headlights. I was frozen into place, my mouth wouldn't move, my limbs stopped functioning. It didn't feel real, without the pain I would have thought it was a dream.
He was here.
"Bella" He spoke. That voice I had imagined countless times before, so much more velvety now. I had imagined it all wrong. "Bella" he repeated, I was dumbstruck. It had been so long since I had heard that voice and it defeated me completely, I was under its spell already. What could I say, why was he here? A minute before I was facing my death, I had accepted it. I had spent all evening waiting, preparing for it and now I was sat against a log, literally freezing and facing the love of my life. He had yet again saved me. I would never be able to save myself.
"Please say something," he sounded anxious and I forced my mouth to form words.
"I…I…You" I managed to say.
"Yes" he replied calmly and very slowly reached out for my non-bandaged arm. I watched the slow progress of his arm and he watched my face, it looked like he was touching a stranger, so cautious and hesitant. His hand touched my arm and his fingers wrapped around it, "you're freezing!" he exclaimed and, letting go of my arm, quickly pulled off his jacket and threw it over me. He searched around and found my coat, just metres from us and he pulled it over the top of his jacket. He quickly pulled me into him before I had time to react so that I was in his arms. It felt natural, tears sprung to my eyes and I couldn't fight them away. "It's okay Bella, it's all going to be okay" he rocked me slowly.
"Edward" I managed to say and his eyes searched mine, his hand reaching to stroke my cheek. His fingertips touched it and I pulled away, it was a little too reminiscent of Victoria's nails, scratching at my face.
"I'm going to take you back into the hospital, Bella. You'll be fine" he spoke calmly as I was pulled into his arms effortlessly. He strode into the hospital and the receptionist tried to stop him. He told her he'd found me outside and I was placed in a wheelchair, away from his arms. A nurse came and wheeled me into the elevator, admonishing me for staying outside so long. I couldn't say anything; I was just sat there staring at Edward, standing in front of the reception desk, staring at me. He was just in a jumper and I remembered I had his jacket. I could smell him around me and in his eyes I saw a look of helplessness, of worry that I knew was echoed in mine. But I was also confused, why had he come back? If it was to fight Victoria he could have come before, surely. He had made it clear that we didn't feel the same about each other, but why was he looking at me like that? He quickly stepped towards the elevator doors as they closed, blocking his face from my view.
"Going up" The robotic voice said and I sighed, shock taking over my body as I shook all over. The nurse looked at me and attempted to calm me down. But it was the image of his face that worked, a small amount of happiness seeped inside me, to my core.
So what do you think! In New Moon Edward said to Bella that he was going to come back anyway, it was only a matter of time. The question is, however, with all that has gone on here after NOT jumping (just think...no Italy, no Volturi...no complications apart from the hurt and healing caused by a break-up), is the new Bella, now happier with life, accepting of the events and owing a lot to Jake, truly going to be happy for him to be back?
Dun Dun Dun! I hope you've enjoyed this penultimate chapter, please let me know what you think and I'll be back very soon with your final chapter, Calico xo