I think the world stopped then started again. I didn't feel it. I didn't feel the shock, it was goodbye all over again. Sisten was holding my hand so hard her's was white.
"Do you want to call your dad?" He asks.
How could I tell my dad he was going to lose me, again. The last year and a half where horrible for him. I tried but I could tell he saw though it.
"No, not yet." My voice was shaky and I felt feverish.
I frown and he gives me a look.
"Are you o.k Bella?" I wince as he says my name
"You don't want me?"
No."
My heart takes off and he puts his hand on my arm and to stop my shaking.
"I know this is the worst new possible." His voice is distant.
I shake my head. His goodbye was. Now I was leaving and he wouldn't have to worry anymore.
Sisten is watching us and I understand what I just did.
"No. No not this way." I say. Sisten smiles, flat out grins.
"I don't want to, no. NO!" I'm close to a break down like when charlie told me to go to california. When my mom came to my room.
"I'm sorry but we can help." He says. Searching my eyes.
"No thank you." I say.
I know what he meant. What good was never ending life without someone to share it with?
"Are you sure? We have people who can help Bella." I nod and stare at the door.
Is he coming?
"Of course not. You're dying. He doesn't care remember?"
I nod and look at Sisten and jump off the bed again and she follows.
"Goodbye." I hear Sisten whisper.
"Where am I taking you?" I ask her, she shrugs.
"Anywhere." She says.
"Where are your parents." I ask.
"I don't know. Around." She shrugs and looks at the forest.
"Where do you live?" I ask.
"Around." She shrugs.
I bit my lip. "Will it be o.k with your parents if you come to my house?" I ask.
"Yeah. Want to get some lunch?" She asks.
We go to a burger place and she gets a cheeseburger and a coke. I just get a coke. She eats slowly and daintily. I watch as her thin arm reachers for the ketchup.
"How old are you." I ask.
"I'm 7." She says, dipping a fry in ketchup and popping it in her mouth.
"I'm 19." I say.
She smiles and moves her plate closer to me and we share the fries. I learn she is home schooled and she has a older brother and a younger sister who's just a baby so her mom is very busy and her dad works out of town.
"I just walk the beach then go home and eat dinner and color, I like being alone." She says.
"I do too. Maybe we can be alone together." I say.
She nods and sits back like shes done.
"Ready to go?" I ask and she nods.
We got to my house and she looks around. When she gets to my room she jumps on the bed and tells me how much she loves purple.
"I think it's the best color ever." She tells me.
"I do to." I say watching her.
She walks across the floor a couple times then frowns. She sits down and thumps the floor a few times then frowns.
"There's something under here." She says.
I lean down and pull up the floor board. I almost laugh. There's the stuff he gave me. The pictures. The CD. Sisten gives me a look and I do laugh.
"What is that stuff?" She asks, picking up the picture of us.
"Wasn't that guy at the beach?" She asks.
"Yeah. Can I tell you a secret." I ask and she smiles.
"Yeah." She nods, her hands on her chin, leaning on her crossed knees.
"I used to date him." I whisper, leaning close to her for effect.
She giggles and looks back at the picture.
"He's handsome." She mutters.
I laugh and she gives me a look.
"What, he is. What happened?" She says, going all serious.
"He decided he didn't love me anymore. I did a bad thing and he got mad at himself and almost died." I tell her.
She looks at the picture, a sad look in her eyes. The wind blows through the window and makes her thin hair flutter. Her blue gray eyes stare at the window and back at the picture.
"He made a mistake. You are a very cool person. He lost something awesome." She says, looking at me.
"I guess he couldn't see it. If you can tell that than you must be here to be my friend." I say.
She doesn't reply. A door slams down stairs and we jump. She moves closer to me.
"What was that?" She asks.
I shake my head.
"I don't know. Come on." I tell her and grab her hand and we walk down stairs.
Charlie turns on the light and we scream.
"Whoa. It's just me." He says.
"You scared us." I say.
"Sorry." He says, watching Sisten.
"Dad, this is Sisten. I met her at the beach today." I tell him and she waves.
"Hi sweetie. Nice to meet you. What do you want for dinner later? Are you staying for dinner?" He asks Sisten.
"If you don't mind." She says, her voice light as air.
"We would love yo have you. Did you two have fun today?" He asks.
We look at each other.
"Yes." We say at the same time.
Charlie smiles and then turns to some mail.
I turn to Sisten and we go upstairs. I grab paper and some crayons and we color. (I hate markers!)
She draws a house that I swear I've seen before. It's his house.
"You live there?" I ask her, pointing to the her picture.
"I used to. I like your field. I know a really cool place down by the shore." She says.
"We used to go there." I tell myself more than her.
We color some more then Charlie calls me down.
"Carlise Cullen left a message on the phone. You didn't get it?" He asks.
"No." I say stiffly.
"I have to go to a meeting tonight. There's a big storm rolling in so stay inside and make sure Sisten's parents know shes here." He tells me, a weird look on his face.
"Don't worry. Have fun." I say and almost have to push him out.
"I think fun is the last thing I'm going to be having." He mutters.
After he leaves I turn to Sisten and she smiles.
"Want to get some dinner?" I ask her.
We go to a Subway a couple miles away.
We sit by the fire place and a storm rages outside, wind shakes the house and rain pelts the windows. It's really cozy inside. We eat our sandwiches and drink apple juice.
"When did you move here?" Sisten asks.
"2 years ago." I say
"It's a boring town. I want to go to Italy." She tells me.
I shudder. I remember the one time I went there.
"I want to go to London." I decide.
"I do to." She tells me.
I look out the window and see a flash of gold.
"Can you tell me a story?" Sisten asks.
"Sure." I say and she leans against the arm chair and watches the fire from the floor.
"There once was a little girl that lived in a small town..." I tell her a story and she falls asleep.
Charlie comes home at 8.
"She fell asleep." He notes.
"Yeah, Subway and a stormy night will do that to you." I say.
"We need to talk Bell." He says.
"Sure." I say and we move to the table.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He asks.
"About what?" I fake confusion. This can not be good!
"The cancer. I've been so worried about you. Please, let me help you." He says,
"I'm fine." I promise him.
"You're going for chemo this Saturday. Did Sisten tell you where she lives or anything?" He asks
"No. I will find her parents tomorrow. It's too late tonight. Goodnight Dad." I say and pick up Sisten and lay here on my bed.
I sigh and lay down to.
I close my eyes and the next thing I know I'm on the floor and Charlie is standing next to.
"Are you o.k?" He asks, concern in his eyes.
"Yeah. Ow." I say, a bump on my forehead and bruises on my arms.
"You have to be careful. You fell out of bed. What happened?" He asks.
"I was dreaming and then I was on the floor." I say, trying to remember.
"Oh Bella." He whispers and pulls me close and I feel...safe?
"I love you Daddy." I say, tears down my cheeks.
"It's going to be o.k. You are o.k. How about we get you back to bed?" He asks.
Without waiting he picks me up like I'm 5 and gently lays me back on my bed.
"Goodnight baby girl. Try not to fall out again." He say and I laugh a little and wipe my eyes.
"Goodnight Daddy, I'll try." I whisper and he kisses my head and leaves the door open a little.
I hear him go downstairs and call someone.
"I don't know Billy. She just fell out of bed. Maybe that's from the cancer, maybe it's from them but it's not good. Maybe she could stay at your house tomorrow? Spend the day with Jake like before. She was happier then. I'm so scared I'm going to lose her again." He says.
I feel guilty. I can't here what he says next, I don't need to. It's about him. I don't want to hear it. I want to forget it. I close my eyes and don't open them till morning.
What do you think? I have good intentions for this story but I need your help, what do you think of it?