Thank you for all the recent buzz over this fic and all the reviews so far! Thankies to Stratan for the beta work.

I think some people will probably want to shoot me for the lack of E/B-ness in this chapter, but I swear, chapters 6, 7, & 8 make up for it.

Chapter 5

Bella

3 months ago

I wasn't sure how long I sat in my truck and stared at the immaculate, red brick ranch perched on top of the hill in front of me. The drive from Phoenix to Amarillo had been a blur, which I had spontaneously decided to make the second I found out how close Maggie's parents actually were to me. I was just starting to get back to my life again and was achy all over from my most recent session in the gym, but I'd pushed through it and come anyway. I had to, even though I knew this trip was probably a mistake. I needed to meet the couple that lost their daughter and chose to honor her wishes by donating her organs. I needed tangible evidence to show that her life had mattered and see that their reaction to my existence meant that I wasn't just a waste of space. I needed something to prove to me that fate had chosen me for a reason, even if I left this town still not knowing the whys.

I just needed some sense of purpose again.

I couldn't pinpoint when exactly all this self-doubt started to appear. It seemed like one day shortly after the transplant something inside me shifted. Maybe it was because I was feeling more like myself again. Strange, considering I was missing a vital piece of the anatomy I'd originally been born with now, but I'd stopped being me the day my condition finally made itself known. From the second I blacked out and collapsed on the gymnasium floor, everything I was before was tossed away. The focus was no longer on inconsequential things like bad hair days, zits and boys. It was on surviving.

Funny how trying to stay alive made you feel as if you were already dead.

I'd resigned myself to die the day they put me on the transplant list, though I'd never really stopped fighting to live; I was stubborn that way. I was simply pragmatic about the whole situation. By being at such an advanced state when I finally learned what hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was, the odds were stacked high against me. I'd been mostly asymptomatic all my life. When symptoms finally started to appear, I was misdiagnosed with everything from athletically induced asthma to anxiety attacks, though I'd vehemently refused to believe that one, and all were cloaking the real reason why I was so clumsy. My heart was slowly failing on me. Every fall, every strange dizzy spell had been an ignored cry for help, so I was never really sure I'd make it long enough to get to the top of that list.

Acceptance was key. I didn't want to be afraid if I did, in fact, die before I was matched with a donor.

I wanted to be ready.

I tried to stay positive, though. If not for me, then at least for my parents. I tried to keep focused on school so that I'd actually have a future if I ever made it back out into the real world. The day I got Maggie's heart, I honestly believed that I'd wake up from the surgery, do my time healing, and then walk out a new person. I never thought that all the residual issues from my previous life would be able to take root and bloom. It'd taken me a long time to reconcile this new life with my old, countless therapy sessions, and even then, I always got hung up on one part.

Maggie.

Every day, I thought about the girl whose heart now beat in my chest. Every day, I wondered what had happened to her. Every day, I wondered what she looked like and how her family was coping. Until one day, I finally understood that I wouldn't be satisfied until I knew her, as well as anyone could know the deceased, that is.

I sighed when I heard the phone ring on the seat next to me. I didn't even have to look at it to know who it was. Only one person would be calling me right now; everyone else knew exactly what I was doing and where I was.

I didn't bother answering it. I was sure I'd catch hell for it when I got back to Phoenix, but placating my mother's need to fawn over me was not high on my list of priorities.

I still needed to force myself to the door.

I was starting to look like a creeper, so I stiffly made my way out of my truck and toward the house. I clutched the file folder in my hand, knowing it was the only proof I had to support my claim. I was going to look like a raving lunatic no matter how I spun it, but at least I knew I wouldn't be hauled off to the local county jail cell before I could say my piece.

God, I was terrified. I could barely raise my hand up enough to knock on the solid oak door. I was on the brink of discovering everything I'd longed to find, but had this sudden urge to turn around and head back the way I came. I had no idea how these people would react or if finding out about Maggie's life would make things even harder for me. Once heard, I could never undo the knowledge.

Maybe now I'd finally know what an anxiety attack truly felt like.

The door opened, and an older woman with beautiful, ivory skin and glossy black hair welcomed me with a smile. Recognition flashed in her deep blue eyes; her smile faltered and her brows knit. With a blink, her eyes welled with tears just as a mangled sob came bursting out of my chest. She knew who I was without a single word being said between us. I didn't care how or why, because it only showed that I wasn't insane. That I was supposed to have come.

"I'm so sorry," I cried. "So, so sorry."

She shook her head and wiped at her eyes, her hand shaking visibly as she did. "There's nothing to be sorry for, sweetie. Seeing you here on my porch would have made her happier than you can imagine."

This only made me sob harder. My free hand came up to cover my mouth, like it could stifle the horrifying sounds I was making. With every scenario I'd pictured on the drive here, I never imagined I'd have such an intense, emotional reaction when I saw Mrs. Carr for the first time.

She patiently gave me a few moments to compose myself. When she was sure I wasn't going to break down again, she stared down at the file I was holding in my hand and deduced, "I take it you know my name."

I nodded. "Siobhan Carr. Your husband's name is Liam."

"That's right." She smiled sadly. "You're Isabella Swan."

"Bella," I sniffled and hiccupped softly, "I go by Bella."

"You want to know about Maggie?"

"Yes. Please," I whispered.

The smile widened slightly. "Well, come in, Bella Swan. I've got plenty of things to tell you about our girl."

xxxxx

Present Day

My laptop chimed from the desk in the corner, alerting me to a new email. I decided to get up and stop wasting my entire Saturday morning reminiscing like I was, but as I sat the journal down on my bed, the pages flipped back to the entry I'd written that day and caused emotions to crash over me and practically suffocate me. That entry… It was the first time I'd ever written in this journal. I'd left their house, stopped at the store just up the road, and unthinkingly pulled the first one I saw off the shelf. After I bought it, I sat in the parking lot and jotted it all down, not wanting to forget a single moment of that day, or everything I'd thought and felt since leaving the hospital. Seeing how full it was with my musings and letters now was amazing to me. I hadn't even realized that I'd written that much. Not until today.

Maggie's parents had been so gracious about it all, which I always assumed was because they'd wanted to know just as much about me as I did about them. They'd given me pictures and newspaper clippings, and eventually sent me copies of Maggie's adoption paperwork and her high school yearbooks, feeding into the frenetic drive I had to follow up on every scrap of information that came my way.

My persistence paid off, eventually, and led me here.

I hopped up from the bed and went over to my computer, grinning as I saw whom the email was from.

Alice.

She was my best friend—my only friend, actually—since I'd known her. Her parents divorced when we were fourteen, and her mother had moved her to Scottsdale before the ink was even dry on the paperwork. She'd come into my life when I needed it the most, when I was nearly drowning in my loneliness. My own mother moved us from place to place for as long as I could remember, and because of this, I learned at a very young age not to get attached. Ever.

But Alice, with her cheerfulness and her boundless energy, hadn't given me the choice of disassociation. From the very first time I stepped foot on the Chaparral campus, she'd been right there to make me feel… less like the outcast I was and more like someone who had grown up here. It was odd how we'd just connected from the beginning. We were such polar opposites. But she was just… Alice.

Go tomorrow—no rain. Take this and your cell with you (because I think it may work up there if I did my research right). And don't call me trying to weasel your way out of it. I'll just hang up the phone, take the first flight out of Phoenix, and come up there and bug you. Actually, maybe you should. I need an excuse to see your pretty face before school starts, anyway.

So yeah. Call me tonight. Pretend like you don't want to go hiking tomorrow so I can make flight arrangements. I miss you.

Ali

I opened the attachment and clicked to print it, laughing as the first section of a topographical map of Forks came inching its way out of my printer. When all the pieces had finished printing, I laid them out on my desk to see what exactly it was I was supposed to do with it. A red line was drawn from where I assumed I would begin, connecting the trailhead to a part of the forest that coincided with a stream. A waterfall. Alice wanted me to hike to one of the many waterfalls around here.

I took the map with me and rushed downstairs. I didn't want to weasel my way out of it. I wanted to go, but I was sure now that she knew I would. Alice and I tended to always be in sync. She would have never suggested—well, demanded, really—I go if she didn't think I could benefit from it in some way. On the good days, when I was out of the hospital, there were so many times I'd have a sudden craving for ice cream and take a pint over to Alice's house, finding her sad and sniffling over some boy when she answered the door. And Alice was just as intuitive about my needs, maybe even more so given my circumstances. She knew exactly what I needed—a link to reality—every time I'd been stuck in that hospital bed. She kept me informed on all the latest gossip and had held our own little, pathetic senior prom for two in that room since I'd been too weak to attend Chaparral's; she even dropped every plan for her future she'd ever had in order to come to UDub with me this fall. She was more than just a friend to me, staying with me when everyone else, other than my parents, had all but forgotten me.

And there was no way, no matter how many ways I tried, that I could ever repay her for that.

I stopped at the foot of the stairs as I saw two black figures looming at the door. The light streaming in from outside made it impossible to see their faces or any other detail, but I could see their silhouettes just fine.

One of them was in a wheelchair.

The door shut behind them, and I could finally see the smile on the man's face as he stared up at me. It was Billy Black, my father's best friend and one time fishing partner. I hadn't seen him since the accident, too busy with my pre-teenage life to come to the funeral or the hospital or…

I was such a shit, I suddenly realized. Even if I hadn't known Billy that well, or could barely remember either of his daughters, I could have at least come to support my father. I couldn't imagine how I'd feel if Alice had gone through something like that. Losing the one you love, your ability to walk…

"I'd have never guess that was your Bella," he said, twisting his head to stare at Charlie.

I tried to summon a memory of him from my childhood, but all I could see was a tall man with long black hair and a blurry face calling out to his daughters on the swing set in his backyard while I… God, I couldn't even remember what I'd been doing that day. Getting into trouble, I'd guess. I was good at that before my health had started to deteriorate. Climbing trees, swimming in streams, getting ridiculously dirty and making my mother mad, or disappearing for hours as I explored the woods and scaring Charlie to death were just the few things I could think of right then. There was no telling what else I'd forgotten about since moving to Phoenix.

"Yeah," Charlie answered gruffly as he pushed Billy further inside. "Don't remind me."

Billy laughed, a low, deep sound that warmed me. "She's pretty."

Now I warmed all over, embarrassed slightly from the compliment.

"Like I said," Charlie shook his head, "don't remind me."

"It's good to see you well," Billy said with a dip of his chin.

"Thanks. Same to you."

"Jake, you remember Bella?" Billy called out to seemingly no one.

"Nope. Not a bit," I heard from the kitchen. A couple of shuffles and the sound of heavy footsteps later, I was staring up at a russet skinned, widely smiling giant.

He towered over me, so I took a step back to get a better look at him. Broad shouldered with gorgeous eyes so dark they almost looked black staring down at me, he was like the rest of the town, feeling so familiar in a way. And yet I didn't know him at all.

He tucked a piece of long black hair behind his ear, the smile never wavering. "Hope you don't mind, but I raided your fridge. You keep way better food in there than Charlie ever did."

"Oh." I blinked a couple times and then focused on the sandwich in his other hand. Roasted chicken and avocado, with a couple slices of turkey bacon left over from the breakfast Charlie made earlier in the week. Exactly what I'd had for lunch earlier. "Uh, thanks. You put ranch on it, right? It's no good without the ranch."

How could that smile get any bigger? It seemed impossible. But now, it was blinding, showcasing all these perfect, white teeth.

"Of course. Except it's that light shit."

"So?"

"It's no good without the fat," he said, tossing my words back at me.

"Then maybe I don't keep such good food in the house."

He barked out a laugh, making me smile. "Looks like I've been proved wrong."

I liked this guy.

"You remember Jacob?" Charlie asked me. "You guys played in the mud a lot when you were little. Your mother hated that."

I almost laughed. That was probably the exact moment I was struggling to remember just a few seconds ago, playing in the mud with Jacob, instead of swinging and keeping clean with his sisters, Rachel and Rebecca.

"Can't say I do," I answered. I stole a glance at Jacob again and shook my head.

He was still smiling.

"I do know you rebuilt my truck, though," I continued, "and I hear you did a fantastic job."

I hadn't allowed myself to think of my interaction with Edward the other day or put any meaning into the fact that he had been the one to fix my truck and detail it. I knew that once I started speculating, I'd never be able to stop. I'd scrutinize every moment, every facial expression or glance away, and hear more in his words or the intonation of his voice than necessary. I'd wonder constantly what it was about me that scared him and why, and I'd drive myself crazy—crazier than I was, that is—in the process.

The fact of the matter was that Edward Cullen, no matter how privileged he seemed or beautiful on the outside he was, was broken. Maybe beyond repair. In all likelihood, getting attached to him would, ironically, shatter my own heart.

On cue, pain flared in my chest. Rational thought seemed to have absolutely no bearing on what I felt. My choice had been made for me. Walking away from him still wasn't an option.

It'd never be an option.

"Hear?"

I blinked a couple times to focus on the word Jacob had said. "I wouldn't actually know since I don't know anything about cars," I explained.

"Who'd you hear it from?"

"The Cullens. I… Thank you for putting so much work into it. I love that old truck."

A flash of pink colored his cheeks but he was nonchalant when he answered. "It's what I do."

"Then why don't you work in Emmett's garage?"

His brows shot up in surprise. "Why should I?"

"Why shouldn't you?" I countered.

Jacob shrugged and took a bite of his sandwich, chewing for just a second before answering around his food. "It's kind of far away."

"It's not. It takes like fifteen minutes or something."

"Okay, let me put it this way: it is when you don't have a vehicle."

"Oh." My face dropped. I felt like such an idiot. If I understood everything that had been said between Charlie and Sam the other day, I had his vehicle. "Sorry. I didn't know."

"It is what it is."

I wasn't sure how to respond, so I cleared my throat and focused on Charlie. "Alice recommended a trail for me to hike on tomorrow. Know where I can get a pair of boots?"

"Um, Newton's up the road. You're going alone?"

"Yeah." I expected him to argue like Renee always did, so I quickly barreled ahead. "I'll have my phone in case it has signal up there, I'll leave a copy of the map with the trail I plan to take highlighted on the kitchen table, and I'll make sure you know what time I expect to be back so you can send the search party out if I don't show. Okay?"

He ran his hand over his mustache and grinned as he waited for me to shut up.

"I'm used to Mom," I mumbled. I could hear Jacob snickering beside me but ignored it.

"I trust you, Bella. You tell me where you'll be, like you just did, and I won't have a problem with you hiking alone."

"Seriously?" I asked dubiously.

He nodded. "Just have fun this summer. Responsible fun. That's all I ask."

"Thanks." I stood there for a second, debating on whether or not to ask Jacob along before finally blowing caution to the wind. "Wanna come, Jake?"

He looked surprised by my question, but managed a nod. "Sure. I could use a trip into town."

I ignored my father's massive grin and darted out the door, Jacob right behind me. We each took to the appropriate side of the truck and got in, not speaking again until I'd backed out of the driveway and put the truck into first gear.

"She shifts a little rough," Jacob murmured, staring down at my feet.

"I like it. It makes me try harder." I pressed down on the clutch and shifted to second. "See? Not so bad."

"I guess not. I could check it out sometime if you want," he replied.

For some reason, the thought of anyone's hands on my truck other than Edward Cullen's or my own displeased me.

"If it gets worse, I'll let you know," I hedged.

"No, you won't," he laughed.

"What? I… Why wouldn't I?" I sputtered in shock. I couldn't understand how he'd managed to figure me out so quickly.

He shrugged and stared out the window. "Doesn't matter. But if something happens and you need a good mechanic, I'm sure you'll be able to find me."

"At Billy's."

"At Billy's," he said, turning back around to look at me. "Because I am just that awesome."

"Well, I live with my dad too," I replied.

"It's not the same. You're going to college. You're not stuck like I am."

"You're not stuck."

"Who'd take care of him, huh, Bella?" he retorted. "My sisters sure as hell aren't going to come back for him. And I can only dream of the cash required to hire someone."

"You're not stuck," I repeated firmly. "If you want out bad enough, you'll get out. Be free, Jake. Go fly with the birds or whatever."

A quiet laugh rumbled in his chest. "Like you?"

"I would hardly consider myself free," I answered honestly.

He gave me a funny look.

"It's… It's a long story. Let's just leave it at that."

"Suit yourself."

Soon after, I pulled into the parking lot at Newton's and stepped out of the truck.

"So… are you coming in or going elsewhere?" I asked Jacob.

He glanced over his shoulder before answering me. "I'll meet you inside. Give me ten minutes?"

"Okay."

I walked into the store and went directly to the shoe department in the back. I picked up boot after boot, putting every last one of them back as I examined the price tags. Boots had been such a bad idea. I really couldn't afford any of them, which meant my hiking trip was probably canceled, at least until I got my first paycheck from Emmett. There was no way my Nikes would hold up in all that shit, and I didn't know how long it would take for me to save up the money to replace them if I ended up wearing and ruining them, anyway.

Like pretty much everything in my life so far, it'd just have to wait.

"Bella?"

I was so busy trying to decide if they'd be worth the cost of eating Ramen for the first few weeks at UDub that the sound of the familiar voice startled me. I whirled around, causing Dr. Cullen to give me a quizzical smile in return.

"Dr. Cullen!" I pressed my lips together as I realized my slip. "I mean, Carlisle. Hi."

"Hello." His smile brightened. "I didn't mean to surprise you."

"It's okay," I stared over at the display of camping gear behind him. Looking at him was… Well, no need to repeat that. "I was just thinking. Sorry."

"So we noticed," he said pleasantly. "Going hiking?"

He had his arm wrapped around the waist of a caramel haired woman. My God, the whole family was beautiful. Her skin was dewy and smattered with freckles and her eyes were the prettiest color brown I'd ever seen on a person, flecked with honey and amber and were so much nicer than my own. As I stood there staring at her, I realized she was waiting expectantly for a response. Just like I assumed Dr. Cullen would be if I were to look over at him again.

Only I had none. This was Edward's mother. They were Edward's parents. And they had no idea why I'd come to Forks.

I fumbled for something appropriate to say as I stuck the boot I had in my hand back on the shelf. The need to divulge my secret weight heavily on my tongue, and my stomach twisted in knots just thinking of what their reaction would be when they found out who I really was.

Not everyone was as understanding as Maggie's parents had been.

"Um, I wanted to…" I finally answered, rubbing at my chest hard.

The movement didn't go unnoticed by Dr. Cullen. "But?" he prompted, watching me closely.

"I kind of have to wait for my first paycheck." My cheeks flamed with the admission. "Thank you for the job, by the way. Emmett's great. They all are, actually."

"Edward's being nice to you?" the woman said suddenly, as if the thought of Edward being rude to anyone was appalling to her. And I supposed if I were his mother, I'd be appalled with his behavior too. "You be honest with me. Don't lie for that boy."

"He's… getting used to me," I said with an awkward laugh.

She smiled warmly. "Good enough. I'm Esme, by the way. The mom."

"So I gathered. It's very nice to meet you," I told her. And it was. Despite it all, I was glad to meet the other person who pulled Edward out of whatever shitty life he'd been living in Chicago.

"You too, Bella. You like those?" she questioned, grabbing the boot I'd just been holding and examining it.

"Uh, yeah."

"They're great." She flipped them over to see the price on the sole and frowned. "Ooh, maybe not."

I let out a little laugh. "That was my first thought."

"You wear a seven, right?"

I pursed my lips a little. "How'd you guess?"

Dr. Cullen laughed, gazing over at his wife with so much emotion, my throat constricted. I'd never seen anything like it before. "She has a knack for that kind of thing. Comes with being an architect, I suppose. She's very observant."

I spotted Jacob coming through the door, his black head barely visible above the shelves between us and offered the Cullens a small smile.

"My friend just got back. I should go."

Carlilse nodded. "Quick question, Bella."

"Yeah?" I asked, allowing myself to fully gaze at him. Yep, still just as pretty as the last time.

"Where were you planning to hike to?"

"Oh," I glanced down at my feet, a little taken aback by his question, "my best friend is kind of a know-it-all. She'd been researching the area and found a spot accessible just off the highway. Third Beach trail, I think? There's a pretty decent-sized waterfall not too far from the trailhead, I guess. It sounded nice, so I thought I'd try to go before the weather turns again."

Something flashed in Carlisle's eyes. Not pity but something… "Well, I hope you get to go soon. I know the spot, and your friend was right to direct you to it. It's beautiful this time of year."

"Really? Maybe next weekend then," I answered, hiding my dejection as best as I could. "Anyway, it was nice meeting you, Mrs. Cullen-"

"Esme," she interrupted, exchanging some kind of look with her husband.

"Esme," I corrected myself. "I'll see you guys later."

It took everything I had not to flee the scene and walk over to where Jacob was. I was so humiliated, all I wanted to do was crawl under a rock and not come out until I was certain that the Cullens had forgotten about the pathetic transplant recipient who couldn't even afford to buy the cheapest hiking boots in the store, much less a pair that would actually hold up and be worth her while.

"Find something?" Jacob asked before he looked my way. He frowned. "Stupid question, I guess."

"They didn't have my size," I lied. "I'm not feeling so hot. I'm going back out to the truck."

"You…" His eyes shifted to my chest. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Just tired. It's been a long couple of weeks. Moving, new job and all…"

He nodded in understanding. "I'll be out in a sec."

The ride back to the house was filled with plenty of jokes from Jacob and giggling from me. I knew what he was doing, and I was just selfish enough to let him. Having him distract me with some of the most ridiculous jokes I'd ever heard was a wonderful change from the normal, angsty thoughts I'd been having lately.

But even if he hadn't been trying to get me to laugh, I was sure a smile would have been on my face from just his presence. It was exceedingly hard to keep a straight face around this guy. His energy was just so… infectious.

He reminded me of Alice. Maybe that was why I felt so at ease with him.

Jacob and his father didn't stick around long after we got back, so I spent the majority of my late afternoon in the kitchen cooking. Homemade lasagna, to be exact. Once it was assembled and put in the oven, I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and scrolled down until I found Alice's number.

My face lit up when she answered.

"Bella!" she nearly squealed. "You got my email!"

"I did," I started pulling the ingredients out of the refrigerator to make a salad later, "and I've been dying to call you ever since."

This time, she actually did squeal. "I'm so glad you did. I miss you so much."

"I miss you too. I haven't gone this long without seeing you since…"

"Summer before our junior year when my mom planned that horrible fucking vacation in Mexico," she finished for me. "God, the size of those flies… And I swear they were all wasted on tequila. Her boyfriend could just reach his hand out and catch them."

I put my hand over my mouth to cover up my giggles. I could only imagine Alice's face or the shudder that ran through her as she talked about it. "Prissy" might definitely be the best word to describe her at times.

"So anyway," she said excitedly, "have you met the brother yet?"

"Yeah," I breathed.

"And?"

"And… I… Alice, he looks nothing like her," I said as I clung to the phone.

"No?"

"No," I confirmed. "I had no idea it was him until Charlie told me."

"But it's him? For sure?"

I made a little sound of agreement. "It's so weird, though. I mean, I know not all siblings have to resemble each other. But I thought I'd have some kind of recognition when I saw him. All I could think about was how much of a dick he is."

Alice giggled, a high-pitched tinkling sound that made me long to see her again. "Well, how different is different?" she asked. "Maggie was blonde, right?"

"With freckles," I said.

"Let me guess. The brother has none?"

"Not a single one."

She huffed. "It wouldn't kill you to be a little more forthcoming, Bells."

"I'm sorry," I laughed. "I'm just tired."

"It's fine. So the brother's not blonde either, huh?"

"No. Edward…" I said, wanting her to stop referring to him as 'he brother'. "His hair is so dark and has this funny red hue to it."

"Well, blonde and red-headed siblings aren't too strange," she said gently.

"I know, but…" I didn't know how to explain it. "I just thought I'd instantly recognize him. I've gone off of my gut this entire time, and-"

I instantly thought of the strange pull I'd felt outside the garage.

"What?"

"I'm lying," I replied. "I knew he was there. I just didn't know that the asshole inside was him until I came home that night."

"But you knew you were supposed to be there."

"Yeah."

"Freaky," she teased.

"Shut up!" I shot back with a laugh.

Alice was silent for a few moments. "Bella," she said hesitantly. "Physically speaking, do they have anything in common at all? I just… I don't want you to think it's him and it wind up being the wrong guy. I know your dad did the research and all, but what if those people at the adoption agency Maggie's parents used mixed up the files or something crazy?"

I closed my eyes and conjured up the images of all the photos I'd seen scattered around the Carr's home and had in my file upstairs. "Their eyes," I eventually answered. "They have the same green eyes." Not the same, I amended in my head. Because hers weren't as hypnotic or deep in color as his.

"Have you told him?"

"I've tried. I just can't get the words out. It's like they stick to my throat," I confessed.

"Hmm." Silence stretched out between us again.

"Have you told him anything about yourself?"

"Some stuff."

"Does he know your condition? That you had a heart transplant because of it?"

"No."

"You like him."

"Alice. He's a dick," I reminded her.

"But you have a soft spot for him," she said knowingly.

I started to deny it, but abruptly stopped myself. She was absolutely right. No matter how rude or weird Edward Cullen acted toward me, I always managed to somehow look past it.

"I'm a moron," I said as my answer.

She laughed loudly. "You're not. At all."

"Well, if I'm not stupid, then I guess that means I'm pretty fucked up. Or a masochist. Either of them is a pretty good description at the moment."

"Maybe," she agreed. "So I want pictures when you go on that hike tomorrow."

"Alice, I'm not-"

The sound of the doorbell cut me off.

"Who the hell could that be?" I wondered as I hurried into the living room.

Charlie swung the door open as I stepped into the room, revealing a guy not much older, if any, than me. His blonde hair was gelled into spikes, he was unnaturally tan for this area of the country—regardless of the fact that it was summer—and he work a pair of khaki cargo pants with a green polo shirt with the Newton's logo on it.

Weird.

"Hey, Chief Swan," he greeted pleasantly. He held up a package between them. "This is for your daughter. It's…"

I waved with my free hand, ignoring Alice's curious rambling in my ear. "I'm the daughter."

"Oh." He looked around awkwardly. "I'm Mike Newton. My parents own-"

"Yeah, Newton's," I interrupted. "I didn't buy anything today, though."

"I know, it's just…" He thrust the package at Charlie. "I was told to bring this here when I got off."

I scowled and closed the distance between us, taking the box from Charlie as soon as I was near. I fiddled with the edge of the packing tape, and then pulled in back, revealing a shoe box…

"No," I gasped. "No fucking way."

"Bella, watch your mouth," Charlie scolded.

I couldn't even open the box to see the boots inside. I just shook my head and pushed the box back at the boy on our front stoop. "I can't accept these."

"Yes, you can! Yes, you can! Don't you dare send it back!"

Charlie laughed as Alice's screeches rang out through the room. I cringed.

He thanked the Newton kid and eased the door closed as I stared down at the box in my hands.

"Alice, you don't even know what it is."

"Then tell me."

"Boots," I said softly. "Hiking boots for tomorrow."

She was quiet just long enough to process that. "You weren't going to go."

"I was, but not tomorrow. I was hoping for next weekend, though," I admitted.

"Who're they from?" Charlie asked me.

"Yeah, what he said," Alice chimed in. "Who the hell sent you hiking boots?"

"I have no idea." I glanced up at Charlie. "Dad, what should I do?"

"You keep them!" Alice screeched again.

"Okay, I love you, but the screeching has got to stop," I snapped. "Or else I'm hanging up."

"Sorry. I'm sorry. I'm just… Holy shit, someone bought you a gift. A really, really good gift. Bella, you can't return them. You need to figure out who it was and thank them. Ooh, maybe it was the brother."

I snorted. "Yeah, right. Edward would never…"

Then it hit me. Edward might not have bought me the boots, but I was betting that one of the Cullens did.

And I had a pretty good guess which one it was.

"Alice, I'll call you back."

"What? Bella-"

I didn't let her finish her sentence before ending the call. "Dad, I'll be back in a little bit. Take the lasagna out in twenty minutes and eat without me. I don't know how long I'll be."

"Where are you running off to?" he asked confusedly.

I grabbed my keys off the table next to the door, tucked the box under my arm, and started out the door.

"The Cullen's!" I called over my shoulder. "It's south, right?"

"Yeah. Right off the S curve. Why?"

"I think Esme gave me these."

I just want to give a huge thanks to the girls over at IndieFicPimp for featuring Dear Maggie as the new fic of the week (8/22). SO THANK YOU, IT WAS AMAZING! :)