*by Stephenie Meyer*
TWILIGHT - chapter 24 - AN IMPASSE
"Charlie?" he asked curtly "Renee?"
Minutes passed in silence as I struggled to answer his question. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I closed it again. He waited, and his expression became triumphant because he knew I had no true answer.
"Look, that's not the issue either," I finally muttered; my voice was as unconvincing as it always was when I lied. "Renee has always made the choices that work for her - she'd want me to do the same. And Charlie's resilient, he's used to being on his own. i can't take care of them forever. I have my own life to live."
"Exactly," he snapped. "And I won't end it for you."
"If you're waiting for me to be on my deathbed, I've got news for you! I was just there!"
"You're going to recover," he reminded me.
I took a deep breath to calm myself, ignoring the spasm of pain it triggered. I stared at him, and he stared back. There was no compromise in his face.
"No," I said slowly. "I'm not."
His forehead creased. "Of course you are. You may have a scar or two...."
"You're wrong," I insisted. "I'm going to die."
"Really, Bella." He was anxious now. "You'll be out of here in a few days. Two weeks at the most."
I glared at him. "I may not die now... but I'm going to die sometime. Every minute of the day, I get closer. And I'm going to get old."
He frowned as what I was saying sunk in, pressing his long fingers to his temples and closing his eyes. "That's how it's supposed to happen. How it should happen. How it would have happened if I didn't exist - and I shouldn't exist."
I snorted. He opened his eyes in surprise. "That's stupid. That's like going to someone who's just won the lottery, taking their money, and saying, 'Look, let's just go back to how things should be. It's better that way.' And I'm not buying it."
"I'm hardly a lottery prize," he growled.
"That's right. You're much better."
He rolled his eyes and set his lips. "Bella, we're not having this discussion anymore. I refuse to damn you to an eternity of night and that's the end of it."
"If you think that's the end, then you don't know me very well," I warned him. "You're not the only vampire I know."
His eyes went black again. "Alice wouldn't dare."
And for a moment he looked so frightened that I couldn't help but believe it - I couldn't imagine someone brave enough to cross him.
"Alice already saw it, didn't she?" I guessed. "That's why the things she says upset you. She knows I'm going to be like you... someday."
"She's wrong. She also saw you dead, but that didn't happen, either."
"You'll never catch me betting against Alice."
We stared at each other for a very long time. It was quiet except for the wirring of the machines, the beeping, the dripping, the ticking of the big clock on the wall. Finally, his expression softened.
"So where does that leave us?" I wondered.
He chuckled humorously. "I believe it's called an impasse."
I sighed. "Ouch," I muttered.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, eyeing the button for the nurse.
"I'm fine," I lied.
"I don't believe you," he said gently.
"I'm not going back to sleep."
"You need rest. All this arguing isn't good for you."
"So give in," I hinted.
"Nice try." He reached for the button.
"No!"
He ignored me.
"Yes?" the speaker on the wall squawked.
"I think we're ready for more pain medication," he said calmly, ignoring my furious expression.
"I'll send in the nurse." The voice sounded very bored.
"I won't take it," I promised.
He looked toward the sack of fluids hanging beside my bed. "I don't think they're going to ask you to swallow anything."
My heart rate started to climb. He read the fear in my eyes, and sighed in frustration.
"Bella, you're in pain. You need to relax so you can heal. Why are you being so difficult? They're not going to put any more needles in you now."
"I'm not afraid of the needles," I mumbled. "I'm afraid to close my eyes."
Then he smiled his crooked smile, and took my face between his hands. "I told you I'm not going anywhere. Don't be afraid. As long as it makes you happy, I'll be here."
I smiled back, ignoring the ache in my cheeks. "You're talking about forever, you know."
"Oh, you'll get over it - it's just a crush."
I shook my head in disbelief - it made me dizzy. "I was shocked when Renee swallowed that one. I know you know better."
"That's the beautiful thing about being human," he told me. "Things change."
My eyes narrowed. "Don't hold your breath."
He was laughing when the nurse came in, brandishing a syringe.
"Excuse me," she said brusquely to Edward.
He got up and crossed to the end of the small room, leaning against the wall. He fodled his arms and waited. I kept my eyes on him, still apprehensive. He met my gaze calmly.
"Here you go, honey." The nurse smiled as she injected the medicine into my tube. "You'll feel better now."
"Thanks," I mumbled, unenthusiastic. It didn't take long. I could feel the drowsiness trickling through my bloodstream almost immediately.
"That ought to do it," she muttered as my eyelids drooped.
She must have left the room, because something cold and smooth touched my face.
"Stay." The word was slurred.
"I will," he promised. His voice was beautiful, like a lullaby. "Like I said, as long as it makes you happy... as long as it's what's best for you."
I tried to shake my head, but it was too heavy. "'S not the same thing," I mumbled.
He laughed. "Don't worry about that now, Bella. You can argue with me when you wake up."
I think I smiled. "'Kay."
I could feel his lips at my ear.
"I love you," he whispered.
"Me, too."
"I know," he laughed quietly.
I turned my head slightly... searching. He knew what I was after. His lips touched mine gently.
"Thanks," I sighed.
"Anytime."
I wasn't really there at all anymore. But I fought against the stupor weakly. There was just one more thing I wanted to tell him.
"Edward?" I struggled to pronounce his name clearly.
"Yes?"
"I'm betting on Alice," I mumbled.
And then the night closed over me.
TWILIGHT - chapter 24 - AN IMPASSE
"Charlie?" he asked curtly "Renee?"
Minutes passed in silence as I struggled to answer his question. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I closed it again. He waited, and his expression became triumphant because he knew I had no true answer.
"Look, that's not the issue either," I finally muttered; my voice was as unconvincing as it always was when I lied. "Renee has always made the choices that work for her - she'd want me to do the same. And Charlie's resilient, he's used to being on his own. i can't take care of them forever. I have my own life to live."
"Exactly," he snapped. "And I won't end it for you."
"If you're waiting for me to be on my deathbed, I've got news for you! I was just there!"
"You're going to recover," he reminded me.
I took a deep breath to calm myself, ignoring the spasm of pain it triggered. I stared at him, and he stared back. There was no compromise in his face.
"No," I said slowly. "I'm not."
His forehead creased. "Of course you are. You may have a scar or two...."
"You're wrong," I insisted. "I'm going to die."
"Really, Bella." He was anxious now. "You'll be out of here in a few days. Two weeks at the most."
I glared at him. "I may not die now... but I'm going to die sometime. Every minute of the day, I get closer. And I'm going to get old."
He frowned as what I was saying sunk in, pressing his long fingers to his temples and closing his eyes. "That's how it's supposed to happen. How it should happen. How it would have happened if I didn't exist - and I shouldn't exist."
I snorted. He opened his eyes in surprise. "That's stupid. That's like going to someone who's just won the lottery, taking their money, and saying, 'Look, let's just go back to how things should be. It's better that way.' And I'm not buying it."
"I'm hardly a lottery prize," he growled.
"That's right. You're much better."
He rolled his eyes and set his lips. "Bella, we're not having this discussion anymore. I refuse to damn you to an eternity of night and that's the end of it."
"If you think that's the end, then you don't know me very well," I warned him. "You're not the only vampire I know."
His eyes went black again. "Alice wouldn't dare."
And for a moment he looked so frightened that I couldn't help but believe it - I couldn't imagine someone brave enough to cross him.
"Alice already saw it, didn't she?" I guessed. "That's why the things she says upset you. She knows I'm going to be like you... someday."
"She's wrong. She also saw you dead, but that didn't happen, either."
"You'll never catch me betting against Alice."
We stared at each other for a very long time. It was quiet except for the wirring of the machines, the beeping, the dripping, the ticking of the big clock on the wall. Finally, his expression softened.
"So where does that leave us?" I wondered.
He chuckled humorously. "I believe it's called an impasse."
I sighed. "Ouch," I muttered.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, eyeing the button for the nurse.
"I'm fine," I lied.
"I don't believe you," he said gently.
"I'm not going back to sleep."
"You need rest. All this arguing isn't good for you."
"So give in," I hinted.
"Nice try." He reached for the button.
"No!"
He ignored me.
"Yes?" the speaker on the wall squawked.
"I think we're ready for more pain medication," he said calmly, ignoring my furious expression.
"I'll send in the nurse." The voice sounded very bored.
"I won't take it," I promised.
He looked toward the sack of fluids hanging beside my bed. "I don't think they're going to ask you to swallow anything."
My heart rate started to climb. He read the fear in my eyes, and sighed in frustration.
"Bella, you're in pain. You need to relax so you can heal. Why are you being so difficult? They're not going to put any more needles in you now."
"I'm not afraid of the needles," I mumbled. "I'm afraid to close my eyes."
Then he smiled his crooked smile, and took my face between his hands. "I told you I'm not going anywhere. Don't be afraid. As long as it makes you happy, I'll be here."
I smiled back, ignoring the ache in my cheeks. "You're talking about forever, you know."
"Oh, you'll get over it - it's just a crush."
I shook my head in disbelief - it made me dizzy. "I was shocked when Renee swallowed that one. I know you know better."
"That's the beautiful thing about being human," he told me. "Things change."
My eyes narrowed. "Don't hold your breath."
He was laughing when the nurse came in, brandishing a syringe.
"Excuse me," she said brusquely to Edward.
He got up and crossed to the end of the small room, leaning against the wall. He fodled his arms and waited. I kept my eyes on him, still apprehensive. He met my gaze calmly.
"Here you go, honey." The nurse smiled as she injected the medicine into my tube. "You'll feel better now."
"Thanks," I mumbled, unenthusiastic. It didn't take long. I could feel the drowsiness trickling through my bloodstream almost immediately.
"That ought to do it," she muttered as my eyelids drooped.
She must have left the room, because something cold and smooth touched my face.
"Stay." The word was slurred.
"I will," he promised. His voice was beautiful, like a lullaby. "Like I said, as long as it makes you happy... as long as it's what's best for you."
I tried to shake my head, but it was too heavy. "'S not the same thing," I mumbled.
He laughed. "Don't worry about that now, Bella. You can argue with me when you wake up."
I think I smiled. "'Kay."
I could feel his lips at my ear.
"I love you," he whispered.
"Me, too."
"I know," he laughed quietly.
I turned my head slightly... searching. He knew what I was after. His lips touched mine gently.
"Thanks," I sighed.
"Anytime."
I wasn't really there at all anymore. But I fought against the stupor weakly. There was just one more thing I wanted to tell him.
"Edward?" I struggled to pronounce his name clearly.
"Yes?"
"I'm betting on Alice," I mumbled.
And then the night closed over me.
i was in the car fast alseep. when Phil and Renee were in the front. i was going to meet my sister Bella and her husband Edward also Renessmen. i woke up "hey Karina were almost there" said Phil. I rolled my eyes. i saw a white house. i saw Bella and Edward there i got out of the car and ran to them "BELLA EDWARD!!!" i scream. i ran to them and gave them a hug. i saw a girl with brown hair "renessmen." i said "yes" she said i gave her a hug. "wow you're so grown up are you like 13 or what?" "i'm 17" she said "come one the rest are dying to see you" she said."hi hi" i said "AHHH KARINA" yelled Alice "hi" i gave them a hug
in the mood to be random again. *sighs*
I wrote a Article Last week on how Twilight found me, saying that the Cover did in fact haunt me.
but since i finally cave in and read. i realize that the Haunting is not over.
I'm Obsessed it's true, but this is turning scaryyyyy
I'm a disney fan okay, majorly and well..i was watching "101 Dalma.." you know, anyways, i was watching it to get my mind off of Twilight for once...
and something just jumped up in my face i thought i would share.
one of the Charaters is named Jasper.
the "Call" that the dogs do at night to send a message, is called
TWILIGHT Bark.
yeah...am i going insane? i think so..only i put in "21" with Jim surgess okay..and at the end of the movie he did something completely crazy he said a line from the Book.
"so, do i Dazzle you?"
I decided to turn off the TV and go to bed..sad thing is, the only thing i dream about is Edward.
should i be scared? O_______o
I wrote a Article Last week on how Twilight found me, saying that the Cover did in fact haunt me.
but since i finally cave in and read. i realize that the Haunting is not over.
I'm Obsessed it's true, but this is turning scaryyyyy
I'm a disney fan okay, majorly and well..i was watching "101 Dalma.." you know, anyways, i was watching it to get my mind off of Twilight for once...
and something just jumped up in my face i thought i would share.
one of the Charaters is named Jasper.
the "Call" that the dogs do at night to send a message, is called
TWILIGHT Bark.
yeah...am i going insane? i think so..only i put in "21" with Jim surgess okay..and at the end of the movie he did something completely crazy he said a line from the Book.
"so, do i Dazzle you?"
I decided to turn off the TV and go to bed..sad thing is, the only thing i dream about is Edward.
should i be scared? O_______o
Okay so I'm not one of those fans who wants the film to be exactly like the book-no offence to anyone- because I know thats just not going to happen.
But I was watching the new Twilight trailer and saw this:
Don't you think it's a little weird that all three cars are there, I thought the Cullens didn't want to bring any attention to themselves.Now I know all movies aren't like the books they're based on, Harry Potter is a great example of that. But I thought the Cullens wanting to keep themselves inconspicuous was an obvious fact that ran through the book.
I know other people have noticed changes in the movie too- like Bella having her jacket at the restaurant, and that they've changed the name of the restaurant.
I just wanted to know what other people felt about this. Either way I'm still going to see the movie, I can't wait. But does anyone think these changes will affect the experience?
But I was watching the new Twilight trailer and saw this:
Don't you think it's a little weird that all three cars are there, I thought the Cullens didn't want to bring any attention to themselves.Now I know all movies aren't like the books they're based on, Harry Potter is a great example of that. But I thought the Cullens wanting to keep themselves inconspicuous was an obvious fact that ran through the book.
I know other people have noticed changes in the movie too- like Bella having her jacket at the restaurant, and that they've changed the name of the restaurant.
I just wanted to know what other people felt about this. Either way I'm still going to see the movie, I can't wait. But does anyone think these changes will affect the experience?
So Like now EVERYONE in my school is reading twilight when I read it like before they even started to film the movie. So what what's my point? Well, my point is that before before Breaking Dawn came out, when some was reading the books it was like you would talk to them and you would talk like you've been friends forever when you've just meet the person. Now I see someone reading twilight and I eathier get tried of seeing them or get sick. Ok maybe not get sick but still you can't talk to the person like you used to talk to them, all enthusiastic and excited! And for me most of the time the real exciting stuff is in the movie and the people who read the books nowa days don't know alot stuff about the movie. I believe that the people on the fansites are the REAL CRAZY fans, because if you ask anybody else what Spunk Randsom means, they wouldn't know. Anyway i just feel like it's so not exciting anymore....