Author's note: Thank you to the reviewers of chapter one. Now, would asking for at least 15 reviews for this chapter be too much? :)

Death Has Green Eyes
Chapter 2

I awoke the next morning with a queasy feeling in my stomach. I scanned the room for him. He wasn't there. As I prepared for school, I couldn't help but think that it was all a dream. Certainly, there is no such thing as the God of Death. Just because people die doesn't mean he takes their souls.

Right?

Upon entering the kitchen, I found a note on the table.

Hey Bells. I got a call from Billy saying Harry Clearwater had a heart attack early this morning. I'm gonna be at the hospital. I think he's gonna be fine though. Strong fella. Don't wait up for me; I won't be home till late.

Charlie

Suddenly, I felt my blood run cold. Chills crept up my arms as a voice resonated in my mind.

He's going to have a heart attack tomorrow. And I'm going to take him.

Charlie's letter:

I think he's gonna be fine though.

I think he's gonna be fine though.

No. No. No.

No!

I'm going to take him.

He won't be fine. Because he's going to take him. Harry won't be fine…

In my head, I can already see Charlie coming home tonight, head bowed down and shoulders slumped. His eyes desolate as he aimlessly walks into the living room.

Because Harry Clearwater is dead.

I felt cold. Scared. I gripped the table, trying to steady my shaking knees. The room started spinning as I clutched my stomach with my other hand, trying hard to concentrate on my breathing.

And then another thought hit me.

If only she knew she only had one month to live.

To die at seventeen. So tragic.

I gasped as I felt my stomach twist into a sickening knot. My breaths came out in heavy pants. A tremor ripped through my body as I brought a shaking hand to my mouth. A month to live.

I only had a month to live.

A warm liquid fell on my hand. I examined it and brought it back to my eyes, finding that they were spilling tears.

I don't know how long I sat there on the kitchen floor, quiet sobs racking my body. But eventually, I made my way to school.

"Bella? Are you okay? You seem really down today," a familiar voice said.

I met a pair of soft, brown eyes.

"Yeah, I guess so," I mumbled and set my head back on the table.

"I wonder why Jacob's not in school today."

Because he's at the hospital. "Because Harry Clearwater is going to die." Or maybe he was already dead.

She gasped. "Bella, that's horrible. Why would you say that?"

"The God of Death told me," I replied. I continued staring at the board, but really seeing nothing. "He told me that Harry would have a heart attack. And then he'd take him."

"Don't joke around, Bella," Angela said slowly. But she didn't try to tell me that there was no such thing as a Death God.

If only she knew she only had one month to live.

She only had one month to live.

You should try your best to live it to the fullest.

--

It was Biology and Mr. Banner hadn't arrived yet, so I took a seat next to Mike.

"Hey, Mike. Thanks for today," I said. "In gym class. Thanks for volunteering to be my partner for badminton again." I felt a slight blush color my cheeks.

Without warning, he reached out and took a lock of my hair into his hands. Mike moved closer and flashed his thousand dollar smile. "Anything for you, Bella."

My heart instantly went into overdrive.

"Yeah! That's the spirit!" A voice cheered. I looked past Mike and saw him again.

I bolted out of my chair and pointed my finger at him. "What are you doing here?!"

Mike looked behind him and then turned back around with a confused expression. "Bella?"

"Mike! Don't you see him? He's right there!"

"Who's there? Eric? Who are you talking to?"

Oh yeah, only I can see him…

"Oops, I got caught again," the Death God muttered. "Well, keep up the good work, Bella. You only have 29 days left."

He waved and then walked through the wall.

"Bella? Hey, Bella!" Mike shook my shoulders. "What's wrong with you?"

I stared at him through teary eyes. Ever since yesterday, I've been sent on this emotional roller coaster. It was very agitating. "I might die soon."

He hesitated before speaking. "What?"

"The God of Death told me yesterday that I only had a month to live." The tears streamed down my cheeks as I explained to him.

"What did you say?"

"It's the God of Death! Only I can see him. According to him, I only have a month to live. He has this magic scroll that appears from thin air and he can walk through walls. He even prophesized Harry Clearwater's death!"

"That's—that's not… You—you should calm down first." Even he can't say that it's not true.

"How can you be so sure Harry's dead? You haven't heard anything about it, have you?" I shook my head.

"See? It was probably just a coincidence."

Although I felt a bit more hopeful at his words, I still couldn't get that eerie feeling out of my system.

"You're crying so much," he whispers as he wipes at my eyes with the back of his fingers.

"Still pretty freaked out, aren't you?" He sighs. "Well, don't worry. I'll help you figure this out. You won't be alone."

I couldn't help but smile. Through tear-filled eyes, I could see how his eyebrows scrunched together and the corners of his lips pulled into a frown. Mike's truly worried about me.

--

"Call me if anything happens," he says as I got into my truck.

I waved goodbye, feeling a bit lightheaded about the new course our friendship has taken. I never knew Mike Newton cared so much about me.

But all happy thoughts and feelings disappeared as soon as I stepped into my house. Charlie was in the living room with his face buried in his hands. The TV was on, but it was muted.

"Hi Dad, I didn't think you'd be home so early." I walked over to him and sat on the one seater couch.

I had to suppress a gasp as he looked up at me. There were dark circles under his eyes and his face looked weary. His eyes seemed distant and forlorn.

"Hey, Bells," he greeted tiredly. His voice was laden with the sorrow of a hundred years.

"Dad, is something wrong?" A part of me knew. A part of me expected it, but just didn't want to believe it. "Did something happen to Harry?"

He sighed. "After his heart attack, he never woke up again."

Tears pricked at my eyes. So it's true. He is real.

"I-I'm sorry, Dad." There was a big lump in my throat.

Once again, I felt the chills that have been haunting me ever since yesterday. All of a sudden, I felt very lonesome. And the world seemed a mighty stranger.

--

I slowed to a stop as I neared a familiar car on the side of the road. It was Tyler Crowley.

I stepped out of my truck and walked over to see what was wrong. Upon reaching the front of his car, I gasped.

"I hit it. It was an accident," Tyler whimpered. "That poor thing."

There, lying on the ground was a puppy. Its limp body rested in a pool of blood. I felt my insides twist at the sight. There's nothing we can do for it now.

Then, a white, slender hand reached out to it and tapped it on the head. Unexpectedly, a bright orb floated out of the puppy's body. I watched asthe Death God raised the shining orb to the sky. It flew upwards until it gradually dissipated.

What I saw next shocked me even more. Tears. He was crying.

"You're crying even though you're the God of Death?" I asked as we got back in the truck. I continued making my way to school.

"I've always liked dogs," he replied meekly.

"Cheer up." I dug into my bag and pulled out a pack of Skittles. "Here, have some Skittles."

He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Unlike humans, I don't get hungry or sleepy."

"Oh," I breathed. "Um, what's your name?"

"I don't have one."

"Why not? Isn't it a bit inconvenient? What do you call your friends then?"

"When you're a God of Death, when your only sole purpose in this world is to take people's lives, you don't need friends." I couldn't help but feel bad for him. He must've been lonely all his life.

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen."

"And how long have you been seventeen?"

He looked at me from the corner of his eye. "A while."

After a few minutes of silence, he continued. "I don't have parents. I was created like this, just to do my job. I won't ever age or die."

So he has never played with friends, never known the love of parents or tasted good food? And he's going to stay like that forever? Until the end of time?

But isn't that painful?

"I'll give you a name." He stared at me with his wide emerald eyes again.

"Why would you do that?" He grunted. "Have you forgotten that I'm going to kill you?"

I shrieked as realization dawned on me. I had completely forgotten. Just now, speaking to him like that… he sounded so… human. Vulnerable. I had an urge to be his friend.

I jumped out of the car and slammed the door shut, swiftly walking towards the school doors.

Now, now, Bella. Don't start getting friendly with the God of Death!

"Bella Swan!"

I turned around. He was already outside and was leaning against the side of my truck.

He gave me a crooked grin. "I'll be looking forward to that name."