Why do vampires always seem sick?

Because they're always coffin! AHAHAHAHAH...You get it? (-_-) anyways... (I do not own Twilight)

The days had passed slowly, like the weight of the world was pressing down on both Bella and me. Though we tried to act as if nothing had changed. But everything had changed, even if we refused to acknowledge it. It wasn't just the tension that lingered between us; it was the unspoken words, the feelings we kept buried, the things we couldn't say to each other.

At school, the rumors began. The whispers followed Bella wherever she went. People talked about the scene at Mike's party, the way I'd pushed Mike into the wall, the way I'd stormed out with Bella in tow. Gossip spread like wildfire. Some of them even claimed that Bella was cheating on me, and that's why I'd gotten so angry at the party. It was a twisted version of the truth, but then again, the truth was complicated...

I could hear everything. I could hear the snippets of conversation, the laughter, the judgment in their thoughts. And, for the first time, I didn't like the power my vampire hearing gave me.

Bella tried to set the record straight for anyone that asked. Jessica, who couldn't help herself but be in everyone's business, was the worst of them all. Bella had told her multiple times that we were never together, that I was just overprotective and that the whole thing had been blown out of proportion. She was trying so hard to protect me from the rumors, but I could hear her frustration. I knew that what she said wasn't entirely true, but it was the easiest explanation. The one that kept people from asking too many questions.

I couldn't help but feel guilty. She shouldn't have to defend herself like this. It wasn't her fault that I'd lost control. She was just there, trying to have a good time, and I had been the one to cause the scene. I had been the one who couldn't control my anger and, in doing so, caused unwanted attention.

The only positive thing to come out of all this was that Mike started avoiding her. Whenever he spotted her in the hallways, he'd glance around, trying to spot me. And I was always there; lurking in a corner or by the lockers, locking eyes with him in a way that sent him rushing the other direction. She tried to approach him once in class, to apologize for what happened the other night, but he just laughed awkwardly and mumbled something about needing to go when he spotted me at my desk. It made me feel a sort of accomplishment in his cowardness.

But even so, despite all the guilt on our strained friendship, I couldn't ignore the growing tension between us. The kiss, her soft lips against mine, her warmth in my arms, kept replaying in my mind over and over. I tried to fight it, tried to convince myself that I was doing the right thing by keeping my distance, but every time I saw her, every time she smiled at me, it only made things harder.

My feelings for her were undeniable, and I hated it. I hated how they consumed me. I hated that I couldn't be content with being just her friend. I wanted more. I needed more. But I couldn't have more. Not without her wanting to be damned to this life.

As the days went by, the tension between us only deepened. I could tell she felt it too, even if she didn't admit it. Our hands would brush just a little longer than necessary, or we'd shift closer in class without even thinking about it. But she kept up the act—joking around, exchanging playful banter, pretending like everything was the same. But the truth was, nothing was the same… I didn't want it to be...

One afternoon, as I sat at home, channeling my frustration into the harsh clamor of the piano keys, there was a sudden knock at the door. The Denali coven had arrived.

Eleazar, Carmen, and their daughters, Tanya, Kate, and Irina, had come to visit. The Denali coven was like family to the Cullens, and they were in town traveling, so they decided to stop by for a visit.

Everyone was buzzing with excitement at the unexpected visit. We didn't get guests often, and the arrival of the Denali coven was always a welcome break from the usual monotony. I greeted them with a smile that I hoped came across as genuine, but I could feel the tension coiling in my chest, making it hard to mask the anxiety that had been eating at me for days.

They stepped inside with their usual warmth, each of them offering a smile that, despite my inner turmoil, I couldn't help but return. Eleazar who I have spent time with in the past, was the first to notice the strain in my demeanor. His perceptiveness never failed.

"Edward, you look... stressed," he said, his voice tinged with concern as his sharp eyes assessed me. I wanted to respond, but words failed me. How could I explain this gnawing, overwhelming feeling inside me? How could I tell them I was spiraling, not from some external threat, but because of one human girl who had unknowingly captured my heart?

Before I could find a way to speak, Rosalie's voice cut through the silence, sharp as ever.

"He's brooding over his little human, Bella." she remarked, the disdain in her tone unmistakable. Her words struck like a slap, and I shot her a glare, my frustration boiling beneath the surface.

"A human?" Tanya's voice was calm, but there was an edge of curiosity. "Does she know?" Her gaze flickered toward me, measuring, as if she could already sense there was more to the story. I nodded to her question, not ashamed of my answer.

They knew we'd been pretending to attend school this year, and while it didn't surprise them, it was true that this was a dangerous path. The rules of the vampire world were clear: no contact with humans, no leaving traces, no exceptions. But as much as I tried to follow those rules, nothing seemed to matter when I thought about her. The way she smiled, the way she trusted me, the way she made me feel so alive.

My mind was a mess, and I didn't know how to convey into words what I was feeling.

"She's... complicated," I finally muttered, not knowing how else to put it. The words seemed to make everything feel heavier, but oddly, I could sense their understanding. The Denalis had seen enough over the years to know that my kind could find attraction to humans—though they'd been known to use it in a different way.

I could hear Eleazar's thoughts then. They were loud, almost impossible to ignore.

He cares for her. He's in love with her. A human...

They didn't ask questions, but I could hear the unspoken thoughts weaving through the room like a quiet storm. Tanya's eyes lingered on me, and I could feel her gaze probing, searching. Just change her, she thought, the simplicity of the suggestion rolling off her like it was the most obvious solution in the world. It's simple. Why wait? She thought with a hint of jelousy.

If only she knew how much more complicated it was. If only she understood the weight of what she was asking, what that decision would mean for Bella. I couldn't tell them the truth. I couldn't admit that, deep down, I wanted to change her. I wanted it more than I had ever wanted anything in my life. The ache of that desire was so overwhelming, so consuming, that it left me hollow in places I didn't know existed.

I wanted to feel her skin against mine, wanted to hear her voice in my life forever, wanted to see her smile as we walked side by side through eternity. I imagined it with a clarity that burned. No aging, no loss, just her and me, walking through the years, through the centuries, forever. The thought was beautiful, intoxicating. A future I couldn't fathom being without. The idea of keeping her with me, of having her as my companion for all time, was almost too much to bear. Almost.

I could never do that to her. I couldn't condemn her to a life of emptiness, to this cold, unchanging existence. She deserved a life of warmth, of light, of experiences I could never give her...

I couldn't be the one to take that from her. I couldn't do it, not even for my own peace of mind, not for the relief of never having to watch her slip away from me. The other members of my family didn't understand that. They thought it was simpler, that the choice was obvious. But it wasn't. Not to me. It was never that simple.

As conversation continued with the family, Eleazar; ever perceptive, saw the conflict in my eyes. He could sense the storm swirling beneath my calm exterior. His voice broke the heavy silence. "You seem torn, Edward…" His gaze softened with understanding, but there was a hint of concern. "Maybe you need to clear your mind. Why don't you come hunting with us? A group hunt, just to get away and take your mind off things."

A hunt. Yes. Anything to distract me from the weight of this suffocating longing. I nodded, grateful for the distraction, even though I knew it wouldn't erase the ache inside.

My family decided to join. Tanya, however, had already hunted earlier that day, so she stayed behind at the house. As I made my way toward the door, I tried not to notice how her eyes followed me. But I couldn't ignore it. She had always thought there was something between us, some connection, some pull that we shared. It was true that our bond was different from the one I shared with the rest of my family, but it wasn't what she thought it was.

When Tanya had tried to push our relationship further, to make it into something more, I had turned her away. I had never felt the same way, and I couldn't lead her on. But now, as I caught the faintest trace of her gaze, lingering just a bit longer than necessary, I wondered if she saw something in me that I hadn't allowed myself to admit. Did she see the conflict? Did she know, on some level, what I was going through?

Maybe she did. Maybe I was fooling myself, pretending that the answer wasn't right in front of me. But I couldn't go there. I couldn't afford to.

As we stepped outside into the night, I focused on the distant sound of the forest, the rush of air, the sharp clarity that only came with the hunt. For a moment, I felt something like relief. But it was fleeting, and deep down, I knew it wouldn't last.

The night had fallen with a heavy silence as I returned home with my family after our hunt. The fresh, wild air had calmed me, to some extent, but it didn't erase the turmoil I still felt inside. My mind was a mess of confusion, guilt, and a longing for something I couldn't have.

As we drew closer to the house, I was hit by a familiar scent, Bella's. It lingered in the air, faint but unmistakable. My mind raced, wondering if I was imagining it, if my obsession with her was distorting my senses. But as I stepped through the door, the scent grew stronger, unmistakably real, filling the space with her presence.

Tanya, who had stayed behind, welcomed us back. "Edward," she greeted me with an angry tone. "Bella stopped by..."

The words struck me like a sudden blow to the chest. My body stiffened, the weight of her name immediately sending a rush of worry through me. Bella had been here? What had she wanted?

Before I could speak, Tanya's thoughts invaded my mind. I knew she couldn't hide her memories from me, and I could see everything she had experienced when Bella came to the house.

It was as if I was seeing the memory through her eyes—I was there, but only in the absence of my presence.

*Flashback*

The doorbell rang, pulling me from the comfortable quiet of the house. I could hear the faint heartbeat at the door. Why would a human be here?

When I opened it, I was met with a small brunette teenager. I could see the hesitation in her posture, her slight nervousness, and I wondered what had brought her to a house of vampires.

"Hello," I greeted, my voice light, as I studied her. I could see she was trying to figure me out, uncertain of who I was and what she might be walking into.

"Umm...Hi," She said, her voice unsure but polite. "Is Edward here?"

I raised an eyebrow and looked at her for a moment. She was clearly trying to hold it together, but there was something about her that seemed off... "Edward's not here right now," I said, studying her intently. "Can I help you with something?"

I could practically see her heart rate speed up as I gave her a long, curious look. I'm not sure if it was my presence or something else. I know the Cullens interacted with humans but how close did they actually get to them?

"I'm Tanya," I said after a beat, sensing that introducing myself might calm her down. "I'm... a distant relative of the Cullens, in case you were wondering." I tried to make my tone light.

Her posture seemed more fidgety; I could see the fear in her eyes. The uneasiness was impossible to miss. She was afraid. She knew what I was.

"Oh, well, I'll come back later, then," she said quickly, her words rushed as if she were about to flee.

Without thinking, I reached out and grabbed her arm, halting her retreat. There was something in her hesitation, a flicker of uncertainty that intrigued me, something that made me wonder.

"You're Bella?" I asked, my voice trying to remain calm so she wouldn't be more afraid.

Bella froze, her eyes widening as if the question had caught her completely off guard.

"You know me?" Her voice trembled, and she paused, the tension easing ever so slightly as she took in my words.

It all started to make sense. "Yeah, you're the human that Edward's hopelessly in love with." I said, humor lacing my tone. I scanned her up and down, what's so special about her?

Her breath caught in her throat, and I could see her grappling with the bluntness of my words. The shock was written all over her face.

"I—I don't know about hopelessly," she stammered, still recovering from the directness of my statement. "But yes..."

That made me curious. I had never seen a human and a vampire in such an intense, tangled relationship before. Most humans knew to stay away from us, or at least didn't get close enough to question our differences. Yet, she chose to come here. She chose to interact with creatures that feed off her life. I get that was unusual, but what made her so interesting that Edward would fall for her? I wanted to know more.

"Why don't you come in, I'm sure Edward will be back soon." I had lied, I knew they were going to be out for a while, but I was desperate to know more about this strange relationship between her and Edward.

Bella hesitated, standing in the doorway, her fingers nervously twisting together as she glanced past me into the house. I could sense her hesitation. I smiled again and stepped aside, inviting her into the large, pristine foyer of the house.

"Come on," I said, my voice warm and welcoming. "I won't bite."

Bella stared at me for a moment, her eyes widened by my statement, giving a forced smile. But then finally nodded, stepping hesitantly across the threshold, her shoes quiet against the hardwood floor.

I closed the door gently behind her, and I gestured toward one of the comfortable chairs. "Please, have a seat. I don't get to talk to many humans, especially ones as… interesting as you," I added with a playful glint in my eyes. I could tell she was nervous, still weary of me.

I pressed on, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"Tell me, Bella," I said, keeping my voice casual as to not scare her. "How did you and Edward meet?"

I didn't care about the little details but knew I needed to warm her up. Bella's face softened a little, as though she were considering my question more carefully than I'd expected. She sat down, her posture still stiff with uncertainty but more willing to talk now.

"Well, we met when I moved to Forks," she began, her voice quiet but steady. "I didn't know what he was at first. But the more I got to know him, the more... I wanted to be around him."

"Even knowing what he is?" I asked, curious.

She sounded carful, almost like she was choosing what words to say. "When I found out what he was… I decided it didn't change anything. I've already made my judgement off him and his family, and they were genuinely kind to me... Vampire or not, he was my first real friend."

I was surprised by her answer; she seemed to trust him in a way that went beyond just the ordinary human curiosity about the supernatural.

"Even so," I pressed, "being in a relationship with a vampire is unusual. There are a lot of complications that come with knowing our secret. Has Edward explained this to you?"

The question hung in the air, and Bella looked at me as if the answer was simple. "Yes," she said softly. "He has... I know the dangers. I know what it means to be around him. He's a vampire. I'm... human. There's always going to be that difference." Her voice faltered, just for a second, and I noticed the way she lowered her gaze. "But I'm willing to take the risk."

I leaned back in my chair, studying her closely. She was so certain, so willing to risk her life to be around him. I couldn't help but wonder, why? "But why put yourself through all that?" I asked, genuinely perplexed. "It's not just the risk of him losing control, there are others like us. Others that would kill you in an instant if you knew about us."

Bella's shoulders slumped, and her voice softened even more as she spoke. "To be honest, I wasn't sure myself. It took me a while to realize the truth about how I felt. I like him… a lot." She shook her head, and her eyebrows scrunched up. "No, I love him…"

My eyes grew wider, she loved him. I could tell by the way she talked about him but nothing still made sense.

She took a long pause before continuing, "I want to be with him...human or not. I know a future with him is impossible but I've come to realize, I... I don't care. I just wanted to come here and tell him that…" She said softly. "But if being his friend is the only way I can be with him… then…" she trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.

Her words hung in the air between us, and for a moment, I was speechless. She was clearly in love with him and it was obvious he felt the same about her. So what's so complicated about this?

I couldn't hold it in anymore. "If you feel this way, why haven't… you know, asked him to change you?"

Her eyes turned sad at my question, a flicker of something that looked like annoyance crossing her face. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, clearly caught off guard by my simple question. "I would if I could… But I'm not dying…" she looked out the window. "I'm not sick, I don't have some kind of cancer, and I doubt Edward would let anything happen to me that would get me remotely close to death… I was never to keen on attempting suicide so… this... this is how it has to be."

I stared at Bella, my mind whirling. Dying? The word hit me like a sudden, sharp jab of disbelief. Cancer? Suicide? What in the world was she talking about? I couldn't suppress a soft chuckle that bubbled up, despite knowing it was wrong. But I couldn't help myself. I would have assumed she was joking with me but the way her eyes narrowed, a mixture of confusion and rising anger flashing across her face, told me she was serious.

I cleared my throat, attempting to hide the laughter. "Dying? I'm not sure what you being on the verge of death has anything to do with it. I know the Cullens have had simular situations, but that doesn't mean it's the same for everyone." my voice, a mix of amusement and confusion.

Bella's brow furrowed, her gaze now more focused on me, as if trying to make sense of the contradiction. "What do you mean? That's… that's what I was told?" She looked like she was searching my face for any sign that I was joking, but I could see the doubt creeping in.

I shook my head, frustration creeping in on how Edward could let her believe this, this whole time... "That's not true, Bella. You don't have to be dying to be turned into a vampire. You just have to be bitten. We have venom in our saliva that begins the change." I leaned forward, looking her straight in the eyes, trying to make sure she understood. "I don't know why Edward hasn't told you this, but it's completely wrong. There's no condition like that. You can become one of us anytime, as long as you're willing, of course. You could be healthy as a horse, our venom would still change you."

Bella stared at me, her expression unreadable at first, but as the realization slowly sank in, her eyes widened in shock. She looked... betrayed. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out. She blinked rapidly, as though trying to process the flood of information she'd just been given. Her face grew pale, and I could see the weight of my words settling in on her shoulders.

"But..." she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "He said…"

Her words hung in the air between us, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond. Why would Edward lie to her about something so simple? Something so crucial? I had no answers for her, but I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. The more I thought about it, the more it didn't make sense. Edward had always been... careful, evasive, but this? This felt like something much deeper.

Bella's lips trembled, and for a moment, it seemed like she was on the verge of crying. I wanted to reach out to her, to reassure this human for some reason, but I knew there was nothing I could say that would undo the damage. She had been living under a false assumption. It was all too much for her to process at once. I may have revealed something that Edward kept secret for a reason. I almost regretted telling her the truth… Almost.

"I don't understand..." Bella whispered, her voice hollow. "Why would he lie to me about something like that? Why didn't he just... tell me the truth?"

I didn't have an answer for her, but I could feel my frustration bubbling up. Why? That was the million-dollar question, wasn't it? Why had Edward allowed her to believe that, when he obviously wanted to be with her.

I took a deep breath, trying to collect my thoughts. "I don't know, Bella. Maybe he thought it was for the best, or maybe he was trying to protect you from... the reality of what it would mean to be turned." I looked at her, my expression softening. "But in the end, The choice should always be yours." And that was the truth. I don't know why Edward would lie to her like that, but he has no right to take away her choices. I may be from a time where women didn't have many rights, but this… Anyone should have a choice over their own lives.

I could see her processing my words, anger started to form on her features. Finally, she stood up, the motion quick and almost frantic. She glanced at me, her face pale, her eyes wide with confusion and pain. "I need to go," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I don't know what... How I could..." she shuddered as she shook with anger.

I stood as well, but she was already moving toward the door, her steps quick, as though she needed to escape, to run away from all the chaos in her mind. I opened my mouth to say something, but I didn't have the words. Instead, I just watched as she left, the door closing behind her with a soft click.

The room felt eerily quiet in the wake of her departure. I stood there for a long time, staring at the space where she'd been, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. Bella had come here to tell Edward how she felt, but instead, she'd left with more confusion than ever before. And Edward? Well, he was going to have a lot of explaining to do…

Uh oh, Bella's not happy. When will guys learn? You can't lie to a woman, she will always find out. Hope you enjoyed!