CHAPTER 1

"Bella" came a soft, velvet voice. "Wake up."

I peeked through my groggy lids and glanced into the face an angel, my angel.

"Why?" I muttered. "School's over." I turned back over onto my side. "I don't have to wake up early anymore."

"We're going to my house, Alice has a surprise for you."

I groaned out loud. A surprise from Alice was never a good thing. Sometimes it involved shopping, other times it involved make up, but either way, it was never something I looked foreward to. "Do I have to?"

"Don't be that way," Edward said, trying to hide his laughter. "Besides, I made her swear not to do anything to bad."

He saw the look on my face and continued. "I promise, this is something you will like."

I sat up groggily and rubbed my eyes. The soft light was pouring through my window and filling the room. Edward gleamed in the light. I smiled and he gave me a soft kiss on the lips. "Take your human moment. I'm going to the house, I'll be back before you're done."

"Promise?" I asked him.

"Swear." He stood up and climed through the window. "Charlie went up to La Push early this morning. He's going to Billy's to help build a ramp in front of their house, the old one is wearing out. He left a note downstairs."

I walked across the room and had my hand on the door knob, but his voice stopped me. "I love you, Bella."

I turned back towards the window, but he was already gone, the curtains ruffled from his quick disappearance.

The water in the shower was hot, and it felt good on my back. I hadn't been sleeping well lately, and Edward knew that. He felt was responsible for the terrifing dreams I was having every other night. Every dream started differently, but always ended up the same way, with Edward's death. Sometimes he was alone, never realizing that I was alive, and sometimes I was with him and he died in my arms. But every time, I wake up with the horrifying image of Edward Cullen dead, and every time, my heart rips in half. But I am soon thrown back into reality and the pieces of my broken heart are slowly sewn back together by my angel.

I got out of the shower and dressed silently. I avoided looking in the mirror lately. My appearance wasn't normally amazing, but here recently it was more than a little under par.

There were dark bags under my eyes and every day was a bad hair day. I was always tired and my muscles ached for sleep. Edward was beating himself up over my sleepiness. Begging him to give himself a break was useless. After all, if I thought he had died, I'd probably be on a suicidal path as well. Luckily I saved him from crashing at the dead end of his.

Edward was in the driveway by the time I had finished eating breakfeast. I had begun to worry, usually Edward was waiting for me in my room after I got out of the shower.

I climbed into his shiny silver volvo, the familiar smell easing my worry a little. He pulled out of the driveway and drove down the road at his usuall unusuall speed. The silence slowly filled every crevice in the car until it was too much to bear.

"Where were you this morning?" I aske him with a worried tone I hadn't meant for him to hear.

He gripped my hand and turned onto the road that lead to the house I love. "I was no where of any great inportance. Now," he smiled a mischevious smile, "be nice to Alice."

I groaned and laid my head on his shoulder, inhaling his wonderful scent. I couldn't begin to imagine what the surprise could be. Usually, whenever Alice wanted to use me as her own human barbie doll, Edward jumped to my aid and tried to persuade her to leave me alone. Sometimes he'd save me, but most of the time Alice got her way. That's why it was so unlike Edward to thrust me into the hands of his lovely sister.

We pulled up to the house and I got out of the car. I hadn't even taken a step before Edward was at my side, gripping my hand in his iron grasp. We were half way to the house when Alice suddenly appeared at the front door. Her face looked scarred and her voice was panicked.

"Edward! Catch her!"

I had no idea what she was talking about. Then, out of no where, there was a sharp stabbing pain in my side and I recognized the familiar feel of falling.