Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or the universe S Meyer created. There may (or may not) be strong language or subjects in this chapter...

AN: Happy SNOW Day to all of my Southern (US) readers! It's so exciting! and for up there in the North, try to stay warm i guess. I cant even imagine that much snow.

My Beautiful Nightmare
Chapter 6

I was running so fast – too fast, but I kept running, scared from something horrifying behind me. The trees were beginning to blur together creating a wooded curtain around me. I somehow hadn't hit any trees yet; it seemed like they were moving on their own out of my way. My legs were sore and my lungs were on fire, but my head was clear and light and not heavy with thoughts. Finally I came to a halt toppling over in the high grass landing next to someone sleeping. I recognized the area as my meadow but it was filled with hundreds of flowers like it had years ago when Tilde tended to it. When I looked up at the sky, it wasn't the usual cloudy gray. It was white with the sun shining so bright that I couldn't even see the blue. The figure next to me stirred and leaned over me blocking the sun from my view. My eyes squinted adjusting to the darkness and focused on the person's face. Perfect cheekbones. Perfect jaw. Perfect nose. Perfect white teeth. Perfect green eyes.

I jolted awake in my bed panting heavily wincing from the daylight coming through the window. Burning up, I threw the covers off of me only to discover that my body was drenched in sweat. I stumbled into the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face at the sink looking in the mirror at my appearance, red puffy eyes and flushed skin. I instantly felt better as I stepped in the shower – at least my body did.

My head still felt heavy as I tried to comprehend everything. It had only been a bad dream. Or was it a nightmare? What constituted a nightmare? Horror? Death? Monsters? I had been running from something, yet it didn't explain the Edward part… Edward, himself, was a confusing subject. Why was he being so friendly now when just days ago he was being harsh and aggravating? What were his motives? Did he even have motives or was I just making things too complicated? All of this would have been easier if I could just read him.

My stomach growled painfully reminding me that I hadn't eaten anything since lunchtime yesterday. Last night Rose dropped me off dragging me up the stairs and helping me into my bed. I didn't even remember if Dad had been home or not. I pulled the knob to turn the water off, but somehow I yanked it off the wall, the water turning cold. I jumped out of the shower and ducked back under the cold spray to jam the knob back on. Failing miserably, I wrapped myself in a large, yellow towel and left the bathroom leaving the water running.

"Dad!" I coughed clearing my groggy voice. "The knob came off; I can't get it back on," I said walking down the stairs dripping water everywhere.

"I'll ruin you. Trust me, I know how." Dad's voice sounded from the kitchen.

"Da-" I froze tightening my grip on the towel.

In the living room, Dad wasn't alone. My teeth chattered as I stood on the bottom stair staring at Emmett and Edward. Emmett was talking to Dad, but Edward noticed me gaping with wide eyes and his mouth parted open. I stood still pretending that standing in just a towel wasn't a big deal. If I pretended that I was fully dressed then… I would still be half-naked in front of beautiful people. Panicking I tossed the knob at Edward and hurried back up the stairs locking my door. I was wearing at least three layers when I came out of my room again, Dad standing by the bathroom shuffling his feet.

"Sorry, I forgot to warn you about the shower knob. I need to fix it this weekend," he told me.

"What are they doing here?" I asked ignoring the shower knob.

"Checking up on you; they were worried," he said wrinkling his nose as his earlier words registered.

"What did you say? What did you tell them?" I whispered harshly. "Edward doesn't know about anything."

"You mean the big one didn't tell him?"

"No, the big one, Emmett, promised he wouldn't tell a soul. YOU, on the other hand, probably just did!" I covered my face aggravated. Edward couldn't know anything. He'd… he would… do something that I wouldn't like. I didn't know what he would do. Tell everyone? Call me a freak? Hold it over me? Use it for blackmail?

"It'll be okay. I didn't say too much… I think," he tried to reassure me.

I found Edward and Emmett muttering to each other in harsh whispers in the kitchen, and I kicked myself for not thinking of it sooner to use my curse to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Hi," I mumbled staring down at the floor silencing them.

"We brought you soup," Emmett spouted trying to fill the awkward silence.

"Thanks," I nodded. "Please tell your parents I'm sorry for my rude behavior." Even if they were psychos, I didn't want the Cullens to think that Charlie Swan raised a rude kid. I might not have cared what people thought of me, but I sure gave a damn about what they thought about my father.

"No, they understand," Emmett said. He doesn't know, but he suspects something…

"Thanks for coming over anyway and for the soup," I said finally looking up at them. Emmett stared at me with wide eyes, and compared to my dream, Edward looked at me differently, watching me carefully with a curious expression that really irritated me.

"No problem, we should get going though," Emmett suggested shuffling his feet toward the living room.

"Yeah okay," I nodded leading them to the front door.

"See you on Monday," Emmett waved walking down the porch steps.

"Bye Bella," Edward mumbled following behind him.

"Bye, thanks again," I mocked with fake enthusiasm closing the door.

"Well everything seemed okay," Dad said making his way for his chair.

"For now," I grumbled.

I had no clue to what Edward was thinking; I'd have to deal with that issue Monday morning, though Edward was still my main problem. Looking up "nightmare" in the dictionary, I found several definitions.

nightmare (nahyt-mair)

- noun

1. a terrifying dream in which the dreamer experiences feelings of helplessness, extreme anxiety, sorrow, etc.

2. a condition, thought, or experience suggestive of a nightmare

3. a monster or evil spirit believed to oppress persons during sleep

It seemed that my bad dream was considered to be a nightmare, yet I wondered if Dream Edward could be counted as a monster or evil spirit. I hadn't felt oppressed or terrorized during that part of the dream, but if he did then Dream Edward was a beautiful nightmare.

I didn't see the real Edward again until Monday. I sat alone in my usual seat at lunch gulfing down my homemade sandwich. Mr. Varner had let us out early so he could grade quizzes in "peace" meaning he was still hung over from last night.

I sat with my headphones in people watching as the room started to fill up. Jasper and Alice walked in with his arm resting on her shoulders. The gossip about the disaster Friday night spread like wildfire, and Jaz and Alice were officially together even though they weren't. I didn't understand the "official" concept. They liked each other but they weren't officially exclusive yet even though neither of them showed signs of liking anyone else… It was confusing, but every other guy knew to back off Alice Brandon or they'll get decked by Jasper Hale.

"Argh!" Rose slammed her tray down on the lunch table startling me and the other students around her. She glared at them as she sat down giving them whiplash.

"Wow, having an awesome day?"

"Mrs. Chea gave me a B on my oral quiz because I didn't roll my R's. I can't roll my R's. It's physically impossible for my tongue to do that," she whined pulling apart her bread roll.

"You should get Emmett to tutor you; I'm sure he can help with the tongue thing," I said taking the last bite of my sandwich. I felt a sharp jab in my ribs causing me to choke struggling to swallow my last bit of bread.

"Bella!" she whispered harshly giving me a wide-eyed, panicked look. She glanced around us, and only Edward was close and quiet enough to hear our conversation. He was sitting in a seat closer to me now that Alice moved to sit on the other side of Jasper and Jessica moved next to Edward.

"I meant the Spanish. He's fluent you know. He's really nice, and I'm sure he'd be willing to help. It'd be a nice break from my math homework," I joked softly trying to put Emmett in a good light. I knew Emmett was a good guy; it was just his adopted mother who was creepy for using all of Tilde's stuff. I guess they'd bought everything that came with the house to making the process of moving easier.

"Where is Emmett anyway?"

"I don't know maybe he's in the bathroom," Alice suggested.

Rose raised an eyebrow at me and I just shook my head. I was not checking to see if he was if the restroom. I did not need to see anything remotely related to being naked though I'd already seen enough of too many guys. I could definitely count myself as a whore from the number of dicks I've seen...

Emmett didn't show up for lunch and Edward never spoke a word, not even to Jessica or Eric who seemed to be always chattering in his ear. The bell rang for fifth period and we all departed for our own separate classes.

Bella! Can you hear me? Bella! I need your help! Bella! I'm in the restroom, the science hall one. Bella! … Emmett's voice rang loudly and continuously through my head.

I stopped, trying to make sense of his words. When I deciphered them, I made my way down the hall passed Mr. Banner's room and slipped into the boys' restroom with one eye open hoping I wasn't walking in on something gross.

"Bella?" Emmett's voice sounded weak. "Is that you?"

"Emmett? Are you okay?" I hurried into the restroom to find him leaning against the sink. His eyes were red and puffy and his curly hair was sticking up every which way.

"Ow… no! There's something in my eye; I can't get it out," he whined squinting at me.

"How long have you been in here?" I asked him setting my books down on the sink. The bell rang signaling that now I was late for bio.

"I don't know. I've been calling you forever though," he cried.

"I'm sorry I'm not a genie. Here let me look at it," I sighed as he turned swaying on his feet.

"Thank you so much Bella. Thank you," he breathed.

"Don't thank me yet. Stop moving, you're too tall," I groaned planting my palms against his cheeks bringing his face down to mine.

"Whoa," he mumbled leaning forward, his hands settling on my waist trying to keep balance.

"Emmett," I scolded him giggling. "Stop that tickles."

"Sorry, you're the one yanking on me," he muttered easing his grip.

"Just let me blow it out," I told him prying his left eye open and gently blew on his eye. After a couple of tries, I spotted a tiny dark spec in the corner of his eye. I jabbed my finger in his eye hoping to wipe it away.

"Shit shit shit! …Oh thank you Bella!" Emmett moaned loudly.

"Feeling better?" I asked worming out of his hands.

"Yessss," he sighed resting his eyes closed.

"Come on; I'll get you a pass," I laughed grabbing my books.

"No, just leave me here. I think I'll just take a nap here on the floor," he said leaning against the wall.

"Oh no, I can't let you do that," I grimaced. "Wait til gym, okay?"

"Okay," he grumbled grabbing his books and wrapped an arm around my neck. "You're a great friend Bella."

"Glad to be of service," I joked pulling open the door and almost bumping into someone.

"Edward?" Emmett sounded beside me. I whipped my head around to see Edward leaning against the wall with his foot propped up behind him. He didn't say a word or give us a glance as he pushed off against the wall and entered the restroom completely ignoring us.

"That was weird," I managed out confused by his attitude.

"Yeah… Bella, do me a favor? Stay out of my head for a while?" Emmett asked staring at the door.

"Yeah okay," I nodded as we continued our way to the front office.

Edward didn't come back to bio until after the bell rang and he gave Mr. Banner whispered excuses about an upset stomach. I tried to give him a friendly smile as he packed up his things but he continued to ignore me. Gym was even worse because he didn't even acknowledge Emmett.

"I think I might know what's wrong with him," Emmett said lying down on the bench in front of me.

"Well what is it?"

"It has nothing to do with you. It's all me. Don't worry about it," he shrugged.

"Then why is he ignoring me?" I asked unsure of his answer.

"Because when Edward gets mad, he bottles it all up inside and likes to let it out later."

"But-"

"No more questions," he cut me off. "I'm taking a nap. Wake me when the bell rings please."

"Sweet dreams," I scoffed. My eyes drifted off to find Edward running back and forth across the gym floor.

"Or a beautiful nightmare," Emmett sang, his words startling me.

"What did you just say?" I asked him. My heart bounced in my chest as my hands shook nervously. I hadn't ever told anyone about my nightmares… I hadn't been thinking aloud, had I?

"You know the Beyonce song?" he said before singing, "You can be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare; either way I don't wanna wake up from you…"

"No, I've never heard it before," I breathed, my body relaxing. "Go to sleep; I'll wake you."

For the rest of the period as I watched Edward, I wondered if this Beyonce guy had ever seen Edward before or maybe dreamt of him. I'd have to look up the song later… But Edward's behavior made me nervous. What if he knew something? Had he forced the information out of Emmett and now he was …scared? of me? We had been friends on Friday, yet not two days later, we're back in the same boat that we started in. Maybe he was bipolar? It would explain the weird mood swings. Or maybe he had schizophrenia; it would explain so much – the mood swings and why I couldn't read him. There were already too many people in his head.

When I got home I spent all afternoon on the computer looking up mental disorders. Turned out that I was a more likely candidate for Schizophrenia, but bipolar disorder and recurrent brief depression were still possibilities. And nothing explained the "silence". That in itself was an anomaly- a phenomenon, maybe. Remembering what Emmett had said, I typed beautiful nightmare in the search bar. I reviewed over the results nervously; it felt like I was doing something that I would get in trouble for – like looking at porn. Note to self: Beyonce was not a guy…

I quickly skimmed over the words cringing. It was a love song…

"Bells?" Dad's voice startled me. I had been caught.

"Yeah Dad?" I clicked out of the screen minimizing it. Dad stood in the doorway shuffling his feet.

"Phone for you."

"Me? Who is it?"

"I don't know. A boy," he shrugged handing me the phone.

"Hello?" I asked into the phone as Dad slowly dragged his feet out of my room.

"Hey Bella, this is Emmett."

"Oh hi." I sounded disappointed. I didn't know who I was expecting…

"Well don't sound too excited," he joked. "Yeah, so I confronted Edward, and we worked everything out… sort of."

"Oh that's good."

"Yeah well he went out to clear his head, but that was a few hours ago... And he still hasn't come back yet, so I was hoping you might know where he is. Jasper said that you knew the trails near my house really well… and honestly I'm afraid of the dark, I don't want to go out there," he rushed his words.

"Oh, okay," I smiled at his frankness. "I might actually know where he is."

"Really? Thanks so much! I'm sorry I keep bothering you with all my stuff."

"No no, it's no problem," I shook my head. "Emmett? You still there?" I asked when the line went silent.

"That answers that question."

"What?"

"You can't read my mind over the phone."

"Goodbye Emmett," I sighed loudly hanging up.

"That was quick," Dad mumbled as I walked passed him.

"Yeah, I have to go do something. Will you take out the lasagna when the timer goes off?" I asked him shrugging on my jacket and rain boots.

"Uh-huh, where are you going?"

"I'm just going to help Emmett with something. It shouldn't take me long," I told him, not telling the whole truth.

"Okay be careful," he told me as I grabbed the purse and headed out the back door.

The walk for me was a little eerie and awkward. I hadn't visited the meadow in… only a week, but knowing I couldn't go there made it feel like it had been forever. Part of me hoped that Edward wouldn't be there, that he was at the park or sitting in the diner or maybe reading at the library. But then the other hoped that he wasn't lost in the woods or something... because that would be a pain in the ass especially in the dark.

When I got to the edge of the clearing, I could see him lying in the middle of the high grass in my usual spot with his arms were crossed behind his head. I cleared my throat walking closer, but he didn't move an inch. When I was standing beside him, I could see the small ipod tucked in his jacket pocket and his white earphones that almost glowed in the darkness. I debated on how to wake him. A swift kick in the ribs was my first idea, but not even I was that cruel… even though he had been a jerk today. I knelt down beside him and finally, really looked at him. Sleeping Edward was definitely a sleeping beauty. I smiled at my joke, but it was wiped off as soon as I realized how Princess Aurora was woken up. I would NOT be kissing Edward in any way for any reason. I grabbed his elbow and shook him awake. He flinched back and gave me a long look blinking his eyes.

"Am I still dreaming?" he asked his voice still thick with sleep.

"You know, falling asleep out here is not the greatest idea," I told him ignoring his strange question.

"What time is it?" he asked sitting up.

"After seven… you know Emmett's really worried."

"You and Emmett sure seem friendly," he said nonchalantly resting his arms on his knees.

"Yeah well Emmett's a nice guy… too nice I think," I mumbled.

"Is that why you told him your secret?"

"What secret?" I half-heartedly tried being casual.

"The big secret that your father would make someone disappear to cover up?"

"He exaggerates."

"So there is a secret?"

"Everyone's got a secret. I'm sure you've got a few," I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Yes, would you like to know them? Unless Emmett's already told you…"

"No, Emmett only tells me things about himself… and I didn't tell him. He figured it out on his own," I shook my head still embarrassed that I let someone know about my curse.

"Oh, so if I guess, will you tell me if I'm right?" he asked hopeful.

"Sure," I lied.

"Okay um, were you - uh...wait, never mind," he shook his head rubbing the back of his neck.

"No, you can ask me anything. I just won't answer if I don't want to." I'd take anything to get into his head, even if it's just a glimpse.

"Were you born a guy?" he looked back up at me with a serious expression.

"What?"

"Were you born with a penis?" he smirked.

"No," I blushed.

"Can I ask you something serious?"

"Yeah," I nodded, my stomach felt light and full at the same time. He thought for a moment before shaking his head.

"Uh never mind, he mumbled.

"No tell me." I had the urge to stomp my foot.

"Why did you ask me if I was born a girl?

"I told you, Turrets," I looked away.

"No you don't. You're lying, and also you don't have any kind of tic," he shook his head. "Unless you count biting your lip..."

"Um," I stammered releasing my lip from my teeth. "Nervous habit."

"Do I make you nervous?"

"Your questions make me nervous," I told him standing up.

"So it has to deal with your secret then?"

"You know Emmett's probably going out of his mind right now. I think it's time to head home," I said shuffling my feet. I wanted to run away wishing he wouldn't think about it anymore, but his presence kept me rooted.

"I'll take that as a yes," he smiled.

"Here, it really is late," I held out my hand to help him up. It was the first time I was offering him to touch me.

"Sorry you had to come all the way out here," he apologized taking my hand.

"No problem, maybe I'll be able to fall asleep earlier tonight." I pulled my hand away reluctant. The "silence" hadn't made a difference, but the contact was ... nice.

"Are you having trouble sleeping?"

"Sometimes," I nodded. When I dreamed of you...

"You know... You can still come here whenever. I mean if you needed to get away; no one would mind."

"Alright... Good night," I told him turning away from him. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to come back to this place. It never really belonged to me anyway…

"Sweet dreams," he waved watching me walk down the path to my house.

Or a beautiful nightmare... I smiled inwardly.

AN: I've been gone for two weeks and all I had was this lousy chapter?! i know im terribly sorry about that. School really kicked my rear end and I discovered a new love... Xbox Live. yeah i know, but my brother got me this year subscription thing and its kind of exciting. the other day i talked to these Australian guys, but they were a little mean because I totally suck at modern warfare 2, and also these French girls tried talking to me but I couldnt understand them. I dont know a word of French! but honestly i dont play much.

Song lyrics: Beautiful Nightmare - Beyonce
This was a total accident. When I was rereading what I had written so far, I saw the words "beautiful nightmare" and i just had to put it in there. :)

We're going to La Push next chapter - so be excited for that...

*Tilde is Matilda Masen - a woman who took care of Bella when she was little and they were very close. she passed away when Bella was around 8ish and the Cullens moved in her house.

THANKS FOR READING!!