Helloooo everyone! Fancy seeing you here! How is your summer going?

Here is chapter seven even though it says over there - that it is eight, confusing me every time lol…but there was a prologue! Anyways thank you SO much for reading, reviewing and adding to favourites, it means a lot! I hope you will enjoy the rest of the story!

I own nothing Twilight but enjoy this anyway!

Chapter Seven
Three Minutes

I found myself in a familiar place, but I couldn't have been there, it was in a completely different state than Forks. The sound of the gentle ocean waves caught my attention. I turned around to see the waves pull up then drawback, leaving white bubbles behind.

I smiled, walking through the soft white sand that sifted through my toes. The sun was hot on my back, beating down on my bare skin. As I stood at the water's edge, I looked around the empty beach. It struck me as odd that there was no one else there as normally it was packed with people, families, teenagers, all fighting for a spot to relax in the sun. I turned to look back at the horizon, looking as far as I could see, remembering when my mom used to joke that that was where the world ended. She said beyond the horizon you would fall off the earth. I used to believe her when I was little; I would always worry about sailors, in case they fell off the earth.

"Hello Isabella," a soft gentle voice interrupted the peace of the beautiful small beach. I turned around slowly, my face fell and tears gathered in my eyes.

"Mom," I choked. I must of died, I thought to myself, but it was so quick, what happened? At least it was painless. But I had left my dad to fend for himself, he just got me back, what would he do now?

"Hello baby," mom said, walking through the edge of the water towards me. She was wearing what she died in; a sundress, light blue, with lace frills at the bottom. She had colour in her cheeks, though, she looked healthier than the last time I saw her the day she died.

She had insisted in going outside, she wanted to feel the sun on her skin one last time, she knew she didn't have long, she had a raging infection but she was adamant on going out. Just an hour after she came back in doors she slipped away, she looked so peaceful but now she looked much better, she looked like my old mom again. Her hair wisped in the breeze, her laugh lines touched her eyes as she smiled at me.

"Is this it then? The Light?" I asked her, wiping the tears from my face. I shouldn't be sad, if anything this was more than I could ever have hoped for. I had always been slightly afraid of The Light. I helped so many people prepare for going through the unknown, through The Light that brings peace but never knowing what was behind it.

If this was what it is like then I was happy, it was so peaceful, and my mother was there to greet me - what else can I ask for?

Mom reached me and held out her hand. I took it and held on to her tightly. I had missed her so much.

"No baby, this is not it," she told me softly.

"Then what is this place?"

Mom stroke my face lovingly. "It's the in-between. It's not your time though, just hang in there."

The in-between? As in, in between life and death? I had never heard such thing.

"What is happening to me, if I am not dead then how did I get so sick?" I asked.

"I can't tell you, you have to work it out on your own but don't worry it will all be okay, you're going to be fine you just need to find the answers."

"Find the answers to why I am sick?"

Mom nodded. "They don't mean to hurt you; sometimes it's the only way to get attention."

"Attention? Why can't they just tell me what they want?"

Mom opened her mouth to reply but instead she shook her head. "Baby listen to me, it's important. There is someone you have to help, helping them will help you. You will understand everything that you have wanted to know for a long time when you help this person." She smiled. "You see things that others don't but you are not alone, find the connection, you will understand."

I raised my eyebrows. "Mom, that doesn't make sense, why can't you tell me? Who wants my help, what do I have to do?"

Mom shook her head. "Sorry, Bella, I am just here to reassure you, I can't tell you anything."

I sighed, I knew that life…death - whatever - was never easy, I knew that answers wouldn't be paraded in front of me; it wouldn't be easy to work out what these unanswered question are as it never has been.

"Okay, I understand. Are you okay? What has…wherever you are been like?" I asked as the water soaked me, making something stick to me. I looked down to see a pale blue silk gown floating around my knees. What on earth was I wearing?

"I am at peace baby, don't worry about me," she replied. I had never spoken to ghosts that had already crossed over, and I would have thought they would be a little more helpful since I did a lot of 'work' to help others out.

"As long as you're okay." I didn't know what else to say. I had so much to say after I saw her go, but the words never came and now they were even more stuck, I just couldn't think of anything to say. I guessed it was because I knew she was at peace so there is nothing I could say, because there was nothing to say.

"I love you, Bella, more than the world. Take care of yourself, follow your heart, I will be happy for you whatever you decide. You are going to make decisions in time to come, but I know you will do the right thing, it won't be easy but whatever you chose then it's the right choice, don't let anyone else sway you. You do what's best for yourself, even if it seems impossible. You just have to have faith, if you believe then it will work out okay, trust your instincts, you have always been good at that." She squeezed my hand. "Amongst death there is life, you just have to want it bad enough." She stopped, then turned, as if she is being called on from far away. "There isn't much time baby, I just want to say that I love you so much, take care of yourself and be careful, you are going to have your eyes opened more than ever but be patient, things might seem hard or difficult to understand but I know you will do what is right. Whatever you chose, I am happy, remember that," she told me urgently. "Be safe my darling, you will work it all out soon, you will understand..." Her voice was fading.

"Mom, what is happening, where are you going? I don't understand what you mean, what are you telling me?" My voice sounded distant too. "Mom, I don't want to leave you, what is happening to me?" I called, as I felt as if I am being pulled by a strong gust of wind.

"You have to go, I told you - it's not your time."

"But, I…" I sobbed. "Love you so much mom!" I called as she faded from the beach, leaving me standing, sobbing on my own.

_x_

"…she is coming around. Bella? Bella can you hear me?" a strange voice called my name. I tried to open my eyes but they were heavy.

"Bella, try to open your eyes if you can hear me," the same voice said. I tried to open my mouth instead but something was blocking my airway, something was stuck. "It's okay, that's the ventilator, it has been helping you breathe -we will take it out, just a moment."

I struggled to lift my hand to pull out the tube in my mouth, but a cool hand stopped me. Finally I opened my eyes, seeing nothing but blurry shapes at first but eventually I managed to see properly.

"Oh Bella, we have been so worried!" said a familiar voice. I tried to speak but the darn tube was in my way, choking me.

Then I was free, the tube was pulled out, leaving an odd feeling in my mouth. My mouth was dry and my throat hurt.

"Dad?" I croaked my voice raspy.

"Yeah honey it's me honey," said Charlie, bending over me. "You gave us a scare kiddo!" He tried to smile but failed.

"Bella? My name is Dr Warren, how do you feel?" said the first voice I heard.

I took a moment to think, my mind still foggy. "Um, I…tired but much better than before," I said, thinking about to earlier in school. What on earth happened? Why was I sick? Oh no, I vomited in front of Edward. Now he could add disguising to his list of what I was; a freak and disgusting vomit girl. It kept getting better for me.

"What happened?" I managed to ask, but it hurt, my throat still felt like someone scratched it with razors.

There was a long silence. I looked around the room, to the doctor, to Charlie then to my right where a new figure stood by my bed. Edward.

I flushed red. He was still with me. I didn't know what to make of that but pure happiness flooded through me, even though I didn't understand why.

"The honest answer is, well, there is no answer. We have no real reason as to why you got so ill, we have run every test we could think of, giving you several different scans but everything has been inconclusive. You deteriorated so quickly, then got better just as quick but we kept in the vent just in case," said Dr Warren.

"What do you remember last?" my dad asked softly. I closed my eyes to try and remember. I remembered being ill at school, I remembered Alice and Edward being there, I remembered Ryan telling me that they were taking me to their father, I remembered vomiting while in someone's arms and I remembered noise, lots of noise, all shouting above me. I couldn't breathe, it was as if someone was sucking all the air out the room, I felt as if I was suffocating. Then it went black.

"I... um, well not too much, I remember being at school, I was feeling ill, Edward was going to take me home but everything hurt and I just felt worse and worse as the minutes went by. There are a lot of holes, then the last thing I remember was trying to breathe until it went black," I whispered, wincing at the thought.

"You were sedated; you couldn't breathe on your own so they helped you with the ventilator. You got worse overnight, your heart gave out, they had to resuscitate you," said Edward gravely, looking just as bad as I felt.

"I…I…died?" I breathed shakily.

"I am afraid so, you're heart stopped for three whole minutes," said Dr Warren.

I looked up to my dad; he fear in his eyes. "I have never been so worried, Bells. I thought I was going to lose you too."

"It will take more than a mystery illness to get rid of me," I joked.

"You should get some rest Bella, you're body has been through so much," said Dr Warren, writing something in a chart.

I looked around at everyone again, looking at Edward for an extra second longer before I closed my eyes.

-x-

"Did she say anything?"

"No, just what she remembers. Do you think she, you know, saw anything?"

"Maybe but she might not remember it. Thank God she is okay though."

"Yeah, I don't know what I would do if I lost her, I don't think I would be able to cope."

I opened my eyes, putting faces to the voices. My dad and Alex were talking by my bedside.

"Bells, you're awake. How do you feel?" asked Charlie. I tried to sit but gave up when my body rejected me moving as it hurt so much.

"Yeah, a lot better, thanks," I replied honestly. I felt much, much better than before. My throat wasn't even that sore anymore.

"You trying to scare us all to death, Bell?" Alex grinned but his smile faded quickly. "Whoops, sorry, not the best thing to joke about."

I laughed gently. "Don't worry about it, Alex; I have heard pretty much every death joke around."

Charlie shifted uncomfortably in his chair. I rolled my eyes. "It was just a joke," I sighed. "You look worse than I do dad, so go home, I bet you haven't left my side since I have been here….speaking of which, how long have I been here?"

"You got here lunch time yesterday, it's now Wednesday morning. And I have left your side, which is more than I can say for the Cullen boy," Charlie said, running his fingers through his matted hair. He was still wearing his uniform except his shirt was slack and creased.

Then Charlie's words sunk in. "Edward was here all night?" I asked quickly, feeling the heat run through my cheeks.

Charlie nodded. "Yeah, he wouldn't leave until I practically kicked him out this morning, told him to go rest and I would phone his father when you woke up again." Charlie got up, stretching. "He seems like a good kid, you and he, uh, you know….?"

"Of course not…I mean, no, I just met him yesterday…well Monday. Do you know much about the Cullen's?" I asked curiously. Charlie knew everyone in town; he heard all the gossip, even if he doesn't pay attention to any of it.

"Yeah, but they keep themselves to themselves. Not a peep for any of the kids and Dr Cullen and his wife are good people, they are an asset to this town," said Charlie and yawned. "Maybe I will go home get some sleep and will be back later." He bent down and kissed me gently on the forehead. "Get some rest Bella. Bye Alex!"

Charlie left, walking slowly from exhaustion. At least he was singing the Cullen's praises, but I was still not sure about them. I knew they are good people otherwise they would have eaten me for lunch yesterday. I remembered being at the Cullen home, they could have killed me there and then but they never. I still couldn't be sure they were vampires; I don't really have much proof except the word of a ghost. I needed to hear it from Edward or one of his family. But it was not really a conversation I wanted to have; "Hi, thanks for helping me the other day, it was really good of you to sit with me all night…oh by the way, are you a vampire?" but how else do you ask someone if they are un-dead?

I realised Alex was speaking to me so I turned my thoughts back to the present to listen. "So did you see anything when, you know, died?" he asked me.

It took me a second to realise what he meant. "Oh, you mean The Light? No, I didn't see anything." I could hear the disappointment in my voice. It would have been good to see what The Light looked like, what was beyond it. It would be helpful when crossing over earthbound spirits, I could reassure them that it was going to be okay.

"Shame, would have been good to know what the other side is, what happens and things. But it doesn't matter, as long as your safe," said Alex. "So what do you reckon happened to you?"

I shrugged. "I was hoping you could tell me that. You always have answers."

Alex smirked. "True, but not this time I am afraid. Your doctors have tested you for everything and I mean everything, but nothing was conclusive. You appear to be healthy as a horse; your blood count is fine, your heart is perfect or it is now as last night it was not so good, but they couldn't figure out why you went into cardiac arrest, or respiratory failure. Nothing made sense…do you think it is just some odd mysterious illness or…?"

"Or something supernatural?" I added to his hanging sentence. "I don't know, I have not been able to think about it. I have had visions of people's death, I have dreams of myself being hurt the way they were hurt but I have never actually lived it, not really, not like that." I bit my lip, thinking fast. Could a ghost really have made me ill like that? It would explain why the doctors can't figure out what was wrong, as I am just getting symptoms, not the actual cause.

"It could be that kid, we thought that he might have died in the hospital, or at home, maybe he got really sick and had the same symptoms as you. Do you want me to poke around?" said Alex grinning widely.

"Do I need to ask? It will be hard to narrow the search down so could you get my laptop? If Charlie asks, just tell him it's for homework, you know what he is like," I said sighing sadly. Charlie wouldn't want to hear the "G" word, especially while I was in hospital.

Alex got up and grabbed his coat. "Okay on it, get your laptop and lie to Charlie."

I made a face. "I didn't mean it like that!" I rolled my eyes. "Just…bend the truth a little…just don't mention anything about a ghost and certainly don't mention that the ghost in question could have been the one to land me in here!"

"We can check the online obituary to see what we can find…shouldn't be too hard, I mean how many kids from Forks die every year?" Alex bent down, kissing me on the cheek.

"Not too many I hope," I said as he walked past the bed to the door. Alex turned to face me grinning. "Be back soon, Bell, just fight off those ghosties if they try and spread their disease!" Alex left before I changed my mind about getting him involved. If the ghost could make me ill then I didn't want Alex to get sick too

I was not left on my own for long, as Ryan appeared by my bedside. "So you're alive then," he said as he sat on the chair where Alex vacated.

"Yup, but only just," I said, as I sat up in the bed.

"Three minutes huh? You scared everyone, the vamp was beside himself, as if he was feeling everything you felt," said Ryan. I looked away to hide my face as I didn't want him to know that it pleased me, in a sick sort of way, that Edward was hurting because I was.

"You were there? Did you, er…see me?" I said, wondering if he saw my spirit linger until they brought me back.

To my disappointment Ryan shook his head. "Nope, didn't see your spirit, only your body. Which meant you didn't technically die. Your heart may have given up but you didn't really die."

I furrowed my eyebrows in total confusion. "Maybe I fell asleep in a few health classes but I am pretty sure that if your heart stops then you are dead, at least for the time being. If they get your heart started then you're alive again but until then…well your dead…" I said slowly, trying to wake my brain up so I could think faster to process what he was saying.

"Yes well done genius, five stars for understanding the basic biology of life and death," said Ryan sarcastically but there was a smile underneath to show he was joking. "You are right but I have been dead for five years and have learned a few things. You did technically die, or at least to the doctors eyes you died, your heart wasn't giving any output, they had to shock you back to life but…well I don't know how to explain it other than if your spirit didn't leave then you weren't dead or weren't supposed to die. People almost die every day but I have seen if for myself, their sprits rise from their body, almost moving on until they get brought back to life." Ryan rolled eyes his at my confused expression. "When their spirits hang in the balance, waiting for someone to decide their fate, then they are neither dead nor alive. But you, you were different; your spirit was still inside you. You seemed dead, your heart had stopped, but your spirit didn't budge so I am guessing you weren't really dead." Ryan finished his long explanation, leaving me even more confused.

"My heart was stopped but my spirit didn't leave my body. Do all almost- dead -people's spirits leave their body?" I asked. This was getting annoying, I was used to weird but there were just something's I couldn't wrap my head around, and my almost death was one.

"I have seen a few, and their spirits always leave their bodies, their fate gets changed when someone changes it for them by bringing them back to life," Ryan replied.

"I still don't really understand but I don't want to think about it too closely or I will go mad trying to wrap my head around it." I shook my head, trying to clear away my confusing. "I think that's how that little boy died. Alex and I think that he was making me experience what he did, so we are going to see if there were any little boys from here that died suddenly or from a terrible illness that had the same symptoms that I did."

"You might be right but why would he go to lengths to show you how he died if he won't even talk to you? No one even knows his name," said Ryan, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Well that's really what I am going to find out." And hopefully soon, I added to myself.

"So has the vamp said anything yet?" Ryan asked.

I shook my head. "No, why?"

Ryan laughed but tried to hide it. "Oh, didn't he or your dad tell you?"

I raised my eyebrow. "Tell me what?"

Ryan laughed hysterically. "Oh, you will love this one!"

I sat further up in bed, leaning towards him. "Ryan, tell me!" I demanded. I hated not knowing things that concerned me.

"Your dad has a big mouth," he replied, chocking back laughter.

"He has a big…What did he say?" I asked urgently.

"Well let's just say the half of Cullen family now knows why you have been acting strange. They knew you were, ah, different before, but now they know how different!"

I cringed, flopping back on the bed. My dad did have a big mouth! God, could this get any worse.

"Who all knows?" I grumbled, picking at the bedding.

"Edwardo, pixie and the doc," he replied cheerily.

I scowled at Ryan. "Don't call him that. And how do you know they are vampires anyway, maybe you just have an over active imagination…"

Ryan smirked. "If a duck looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it's must be a duck."

I turned to him as much as I can on the bed; my face was straight as I could make it. "Thought we were talking about Vampires?"

Ryan got off the chair, laughing again. "Now you're just being cute," he grinned. "Trust me; I have over heard their conversations at school and I am one hundred and one percent sure they are vampires." Ryan walked around the room to the window that looked out into the corridor.

"It's rude to eavesdrop," I said smiling.

"Well, send me to the hangman's noose because I am afraid that's all I have done for the past five years. I have overheard things that would make you cringe," his eyes flashed at me, still smirking.

"Like what?"

"It's rude to eavesdrop but even ruder to tell people's secrets."

"Oh come on, how big of secrets can they be after the one you spilled? I mean what is bigger than the Cullen's not being human?"

Ryan rolled his eyes. "Hey, I didn't tell you that, you overheard me. The cat, or should I say vampire, was already out the bag so I just filled you in on the rest. And there are more than vampires roaming among us," said Ryan as if he didn't really mean to say that out loud.

My eyes grew wide. "What do you mean?"

Ryan grinned, almost laughing again. "Your father and I have something in common; we both have big mouths."

"What do you mean Ryan? What else is there about from vampires and ghosts?"

What else could possibly live among us? I mean learning about vampires was huge, but what else could there be?

"You'll see…maybe."

Ryan walked towards the door. "Hey, you can't just leave me hanging; you can't say something like that and not tell me!" I yelled after him as he walked through the door.

He turned, sticking his head through the glass. "There are something's you have to work out for yourself, you see things that others don't so but there is a whole world that you haven't seen yet. Try and work out what secrets are still to discover, you will be shocked but it's not all that bad."

I try to get out of bed but my legs were stiff. "Wait! Ryan, don't leave! I am in no mood to read between the lines, just tell me!" I yelled after him but he was gone.

Stupid ghosts and their stupid evasiveness. Why could they never be straight with me? Why did I have to spell it all out for myself? What the heck did he mean?

What could have possibly been living among us, other than vampires? What could be bigger than them? What will I be shocked at, what does he mean another world?

I groaned loudly in frustration, sitting back in bed in a huff.

Before I could start rambling to myself, there was a knock at my door. I looked up and flushed scarlet. Again. I really needed to control my reactions every time I saw or heard about Edward Cullen.

"Is this a bad time?" Edward asked, gliding across the room, and stood against the wall.

I shook my head. "You can sit." I nodded towards one of the chairs. Edward took up my offer and sat down. It was then I realise he had flowers in his hand and my face burned brighter.

"I got these for you, I didn't know what kind was your favourite so I got a selection of them all," he said, laying the colourful flowers on the locker.

"Thank you, they are beautiful," I mumbled. "I will get the nurse to find a vase."

There was an awkward silence. I knew that he knew about my gift, but I wondered if he knew that I knew that he knows. Hmm, very confusing.

"I um, eh…" I cleared my throat. "I think it's about time we talked, I believe there is a lot of confusing in the air, so maybe I should come clean and spill the truth," I felt I should start since I was at the advantage.

Where my bravery had come from, I had no idea. Normally my thoughts were mush around Edward but I thought I should be honest, he already knows so he may as well hear it from me. Who knew, maybe he would tell me his secret. But then again maybe not.

"So I guess my dad spilled the beans on my craziness," I began when he didn't say anything.

Edward paused for a second. "Yes, he implied you had a gift but nothing about you being crazy," he smiled at me. "You can see ghosts?"

I closed my eyes then nodded. Why was it so difficult to admit it to him, when I told people all the time?

"Yep, I am permanently haunted!"

You see that button down there? It says review right? Well it's actually a magical button and if you press it a Cullen or a Quileute…or a Swan (go CHARLIE lol) will jump out and kiss you! But you have to write something for it to work!

If you have any questions, just ask…but I won't tell you what I am doing with this story. Did anyone think I was going to kill Bella off and make her a ghost? I was worried you would think that and hate me forever lol

Oh, and sorry for the medical jargon, someone said it took them awhile to figure it out so I apologise.