A/N: Hey guys, so this week to celebrate Thursday being my last day of school I'm going camping with some friends. While I'm camping I don't plan to work on this fanfiction at all so I hope you guys understand my reasoning behind not updating for the next few days. I tried to make this chapter a little longer so I hope that it doesn't seem too rushed. I know that this chapter is confusing, but that is because it is mostly from Lizzie's point of view while she is sick, and when I'm sick things don't make much sense to me either.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, I only own my OC's.
I was in my parent's old house, yet somehow it was different.
It was sadder than before, if that was possible. Lonelier too. There wasn't a sign of life anywhere to be seen.
I was in my old room, but it was devoid of furniture and color. The only reason I recognized it was because of its odd, slightly triangular shape. Then suddenly I wasn't.
I was in the field where Carlisle and Esme had found me. Except I wasn't the current me. I was an eight-year-old child again.
I shivered as I looked down and saw the blood coating my hands and dress.
Then I felt a stabbing pain in my chest. I looked up to see my father grinning maniacally as he wedged a sharp knife deeper into my chest.
They had never used weapons to hurt me as far back as I could remember. Only their hands and words.
He twisted the knife one final time before yanking it out and disappearing into the forest.
Then my family was there. I was relieved at first until I remembered exactly what they were.
They were vampires and I was a small, defenseless child covered in her own blood.
They all looked the same as real life except for one thing. They all had bright, blood red eyes. And their eyes were all focused on me.
I screamed out as they all stalked closer, Jasper in the lead.
Apparently I screamed myself awake because when I opened my eyes I could see Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper all standing in front of me.
I quickly scrambled backward across the bed until my head hit the wall. I heard the thud, but all I felt was numbness. I curled my arms around my legs and watched as Jasper tried to move towards me.
"No!" I screamed out and tried to move back further on the bed.
Jasper pulled away from me like he had been burned and I felt a slight wave of guilt wash over me. But the feeling was quickly suppressed by fear.
"Shh, you're okay," Emmett soothed as he walked towards me slowly his hands held out t in a placating manner. "It was just a nightmare, I'm not going to hurt you."
He sat down on the edge of the bed before slowing reaching out towards me. I didn't move away.
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled gently on me until I was leaning against his side.
"See, you're completely safe," I heard him whisper in my ear as I felt Rosalie and Jasper sit down on the bed as well.
I stayed like that for almost ten minutes. Just leaning against his side focusing on dispelling my nightmare and evening out my rapid breathing. I could feel Jasper's waves of calmness helping me to settle down and relax.
Eventually, my breathing returned to normal and although the nightmare was still fresh in my mind I sat up and looked at Jasper. "Sorry Jazz, I didn't mean to hurt you," I apologized sincerely, knowing that this wasn't the first time I had reacted badly to my family trying to calm me down after a particularly bad nightmare.
"It's okay," he stated evenly, "it wasn't your fault. You were confused."
"I still feel really bad about it though," I said hanging my head.
A second later I felt a cold hand lifting my chin. I looked up into Jasper's eyes and saw that he wasn't hurt or angry. "It wasn't your fault," he stated again.
"I know, I just…" I trailed off as he dropped his hand.
I felt Emmett and Rosalie move off the bed before the door gently shut behind them.
"Little one, I know that It wasn't your fault that you were scared, you don't need to feel bad," Jasper spoke up never breaking eye contact with me.
"But I…"
"No," Jasper cut me off, "I'm okay, now come on or you're going to be late for school."
"Are you sure?" I asked hesitantly, searching his face.
"I'm sure," he said before smiling, "Now come on little monkey, you need to get ready for school."
"Okay," I nodded accepting his offered hand.
I quickly disappeared into the bathroom to shower and get ready for school.
I emerged ten minutes and one extremely hot shower later, dressed in only a towel.
I quickly strode over to my closet and flung the sliding door open. My closet was mostly filled with dresses -fancy and every day- courtesy of my sisters, Rosalie and Alice, who were always more worried about what I was wearing then I was.
I grabbed a white blouse and a light pair of jeans before placing the hangers in the back of the closet and changing quickly.
After I had changed stumbled down the stairs and into Rosalie.
"Sorry, Rosie," I apologized laughing as she made a face at my long-time nickname for her.
"It's fine, are you okay from this morning?" she asked, concerned.
"Mmhm, I'm fine. Jazz helped me."
"Okay good, " she smiled ever so slightly before pulling me into the kitchen.
She pointed to a stool in front of the counter without a word before she sped over to the pantry. She sat a bowl of cereal and a glass of orange juice in front of me before she walked out of the room, probably to go find Emmett.
I quickly devoured the cereal and was washing out the bowl when my mom and dad came down the stairs.
"You're up early," Carlisle remarked lightly.
"I couldn't sleep," I responded and I didn't miss the worried look that passed between my two parents before dad leaned down and kissed my forehead.
"I'm off to work now, behave at school okay?"
"Okay," I nodded, "I love you."
"I love you too sweetie," he replied as he kissed Esme on the cheek.
I finished washing out the bowl before grabbing my book bag and heading out to the garage. I climbed into Edward's Volvo which was always unlocked planning to surprise everyone, or at least Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper when they came outside.
However, I couldn't keep my eyes open and soon enough I had drifted off on the back seat.
What seemed like seconds later I felt a cold pair of hands gently shaking me awake.
"Rise and shine," Alice whispered in my ear before she gently pushed me into one of the window seats.
I was still somehow exhausted, so as soon as Edward started driving I shut my eyes and leaned my head against Alice's shoulder.
The last thing I remember is her cold hands brushing a strand of my incredibly blonde hair away from my face.
ALICE'S POV
"Edward, she's unnaturally hot," I said with worry as soon as Elizabeth drifted off to sleep.
I felt her forehead for what was probably the millionth time in the last five minutes or so. She had a thin layer of sweat coating her forehead and I'm surprised that Carlisle didn't notice, him being a doctor and all.
Edward slowed the car down slightly and look back at Lizzie.
"I'm sure Carlisle would have noticed if she was sick," Edward pointed out, yet he also looked worried.
"Maybe we shouldn't take her to school?" Jasper spoke up from the seat beside Edward.
"I agree with Jasper," Rosalie said from beside me.
I also nodded in agreement. With that settled Edward was about to turn the car around when I felt Lizzie stiffen beside me.
"Hey," I soothed quietly, "We think you're sick, okay? We are going to take you back home," I tried to explain the situation.
"No," her voice was barely above a whisper, yet it sounded strained, "I'm okay. I want to go to school."
I quickly looked into the future and saw that so far she would make it through the day okay, even if she went to school. Although, that could change at any given time.
"Are you sure you want to go?" I asked as the car stopped moving and I felt four other pairs of eyes on us.
She nodded slightly once and I looked up at Edward.
Go ahead and take us to school. I think she'll be fine.
He nodded and started driving much slower than he normally did for Lizzie's sake.
Eventually, we made it to school and I helped as Lizzie stumbled out of the car nearly tripping over her own feet more than once.
"Are you sure you don't want to go home?" I whispered in her ear hoping that she had changed her mind.
"I'm sure," she replied softly her voice stronger than before.
I thought that she would be okay at school. After all, she would be surrounded by her friends and people who cared about her, but I couldn't have been more wrong.
(I could be really mean and leave you guys with a cliffhanger and a super short chapter right here, but I won't).
ELIZABETH'S POV
I awoke to the gentle swaying of the car as I noticed that Edward was driving ever so slightly slower than he normally did. That's when I became aware of the conversation around me as the car slowed to a stop.
"Hey," Alice's voice sounded from somewhere above me. It felt like I was trying to hear her from underwater. "we think you're sick, okay? We are going to take you back home."
Home. Where I had people who would sit there worrying about me all day. No, I would be fine at least until the end of school. I could tell that Edward liked Isabella and I didn't want to ruin that for him by making him come home or taking his mind off of her.
"No," I whispered to Alice although I knew everyone could probably hear me. "I'm okay, I want to go to school."
It took way too much effort to say those few words.
"Are you sure you want to go?" Alice asked, but it still sounded like I was underwater.
I nodded slightly before stopping since that caused me to nearly throw up.
The car resumed moving and I leaned even farther into Alice's shoulder.
As much as I wanted to fall back asleep my body had other plans because I was aware of the whole car ride and I was pretty sure that I looked like hell.
Finally, we made it to school and I opened my eyes.
My vision swam and I would have fallen out of the car if Alice hadn't of caught me, multiple times.
"Are you sure you don't want to go home?" Alice asked again and this time, I forced my voice not to strain or give out while I replied.
"I'm sure."
I stumbled off to class not bother to go looking for my friends as I probably couldn't find them anyway. The sun made my vision that much worse.
As soon as I made it to my English class I sat down at my desk, took out my homework, and then laid my head down on the cool desk.
"Liz, Hey, come one wake up," Jordan was shaking me and whispering in my ear.
"Jeez, Lizzie, you're burning!"
"I know," I mumbled into my hand not moving at all.
"Come on you need to go to the nurse," Jordan said pulling on my arm lightly.
"No, please no Jor," I said looking up at her.
"You need to," she argued back.
"Please?" It sounded more like a question than a statement.
"Okay, but only if you promise to go if you feel any worse," she relented sitting down next to me.
"I promise," I don't think that it is possible to feel worse than I do right now.
My next four classes passed in a blur and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't focus on anything. I'm pretty sure that if I didn't have Jordan in all my classes I would have fallen asleep or missed the bell. Or both.
I was currently leaning heavily on Jordan as we walked to lunch. I was trying to focus on what she was saying, but the feeling of being underwater had been getting worse all day.
"Jordan! Elizabeth!" It was Emmett.
Jordan wrapped one arm around me before turning around to face my brother.
I smiled weakly at him as he walked over and simply lifted me up bridal style.
"It's okay Jordan, I can take care of her from here."
Jordan nodded before whispering "Get better soon. we're still going camping this weekend if you feel better," before bounding off towards the cafeteria.
I felt Emmett start walking and I buried my head in his chest to try and stop the nausea. It didn't really work that well and it was all I could do not to throw up.
"No nurse," I mumbled and he nodded. "No nurse."
About three minutes later we reached Edward's car and Emmett ever so gently set me down in one of the seats before promising to be right back.
And true to his promise he was back a minute later with Edward and Alice.
"Hey honey," Alice said sliding gracefully into the seat beside me.
"Do you feel worse or better than before?" She asked while she placed a cold hand on my forehead
I didn't answer. I didn't want to lie, but I didn't want her to know that I felt a lot worse.
"Worse," Edward said from the drivers seat as he backed out of the parking place, "A lot worse."
Dang it Edward. You're a traitor.
I could practically feel him rolling his eyes.
"Elizabeth Amelia Cullen, you should have told us that you felt worse," Alice lectured using my full name, anger and worry obvious in her tone.
"Sorry, I didn't want to make you worry, like you are now," I mumbled as I felt tears come to my eyes. I didn't deserve to cry, but I hated when my family was mad at me.
"Alice," Edward warned softly after reading my mind if he ever actually stopped reading it.
It only took Alice one look at my face for her to realize what he was talking about.
"Hey, don't cry, okay? I'm not mad at you. I'm just worried," Alice said her voice a lot calmer now as she began rubbing calming circles on my back.
"I'm not crying," I protested as I wiped angrily at the tears, "I just don't want anyone to worry about me."
"Well, we are all going to be worried about you no matter what because we all love you," Alice said as she hugged me gently against her chest.
I shivered. Even with how hot I felt she was still as cold as ice.
A few minutes later Edward pulled into the garage and I was vaguely aware of Alice lifting me up and carrying me inside.
My skin came in contact with a cool fabric which I identified as the sheets on my bed.
"She needs to eat and drink something."
That was Rosalie. When did she get here?
A weight lifted off the bed and a second later Edward was helping me sit up as Emmett handed me a bowl of soup and a glass of water.
I drank the water slowly even though it felt like it was burning my throat, but I left the soup untouched. I don't think I could suffer through that as well.
"Please eat Lizzie." Edward.
"You can't get better if you don't eat." Still Edward.
I defiantly shook my head and I felt him sigh before he helped me lay back down.
"Just say one of our names if you need anything. The soup is on the bedside table and dad will be home soon." Jasper.
The light switched off and I rolled over before drifting off into a restless sleep.
I woke up as I heard what I thought was the door opening.
"Hello?" I called out tentatively my voice low and coarse.
When no one answered I opened my eyes. The room was still pitch black.
Then suddenly I was staring into a pair of blood red eyes.
So, turns out it still ended in a cliffhanger either way. I hate to leave the chapter like this, but as I said I'm going camping and I won't be able to upload to fanfiction while I'm away. Hopefully, I will be able to upload relatively soon after I get back. I hope you guys liked this chapter. Please favorite, follow, and review! Constructive criticism is always welcome!
-Shadows