Chapter 5: Where Do We Go From Here?

Bella sat in the guest bedroom with a look of sheer panic on written across her face as she wondered what to do. She kept expecting to wake up at any moment, but it just wasn't happening. With a deep sighsigh, she pushed a few dark fallen curls out of her eyes, before gathered herself off ofoff the bed, and walked to the door. She had heard every word of the conversation that had transpired downstairs, and if she had been able to crycry, she would have wept like a child. The events had already been set in motion and there was little she could do now to make things better for Edward or his mother. FinallyFinally, she mustered the courage to exit the bedroom and she let her gaze drift down the hallway and back before she headed for the stairs. As she walkedwalked, she slowly took in her surroundings, just trying to take everything in. Bella paused half way down the stairs to look at the as she looked over the pictures hanging on the wall. and as she came over When her eyes caught one of Edward as a child, she could not help the smile that crossed her face. but smile. Feeling a cloak of sadness beginning to creep back over her, she continued oncontinued down the stairs and around the corner back towards the kitchen.

Elizabeth walked back into the kitchen just before Bella and had her back turned to her as she placed the bowl she held back on the kitchen table. As she turned back around She turned around and she jumped, slightly alarmed by Bella's quiet entrance.

"Oh, my dear. I did not hear you come in," she said a little startled, as Bella continued to stand by the sink looking around the kitchen. "Have you settled in well, dear?"

Bella nodded and as she turned back around towards where Elizabeth was standing by the table. "Yes, Mrs. Masen, quite well thank you. Thank you again for inviting me to stay in your home." She looked up shyly, as she ran her hands over the front of her dress, and offered a half smile before she moved towards the table and slowly took a seat, the dress proving quite a hindrance.

Elizabeth smiled back at her, and sat down in the chair next to her. "It is no trouble dear. We are glad to have you,." she said with an enthusiastic tone. "Has Edward gotten you some extra clothes yet?"

Bella pulled on the bottom of her dress, trying to untangle it as she tried to mentally convince herself she wasn't crazy and in the middle of a break down. "No, Mrs. Masen, but he looked a bit ill so I did not want to bother him." She forced herself to look up and as she smiled again, she muttered under her breath barely audible to human ears, "I wish I had a nice pair of jeans right about now."

Elizabeth looked back at her and smiled, "Yes, he is feeling a bit under the weather today. Come with me, I'll help you find something, and we can get those washed for you., they They looked awfully dirty." She took Bella by the hand and led her to upstairs to their walk-in closet. "Take a look around, and see what fits. You are more than welcome to borrow anything in here. I'll be back in a bit to see if you have found anything,." she said, and left to check on Edward. scurried out down the hall to Edward's room.

Elizabeth pushed open Edward's door and was frightened when she saw him passed out on the edge of his bed. She rushed across the room and ran her fingers over his face, the concern visible on her face. "Edward? Honey, are you alright?" she asked frantically, as she knelt down to his side.

Bella nodded as she faked a smile and stood up, forcing herself not to yank her hand back from Elizabeth's. She kept pace with Elizabeth easily and smiled as she took a looklooked around the closet. Bella fought to keep her opinions about wanting pants and not another damn dress to herself and she nodded to nothing in particular. "I am sure I will find something suitable, thank you again for being so kind." She moved farther into the closet, and ran her fingers over a few of the dresses, and pulled pulls out one similar to what she was already wearing, only this one was white with hints of green. Pulling it out of the closetcloset, she walked walks over to the bed and laid lays it down. "Now how the heck am I supposed to get out of this one and into that one?" she muttered to herself.

Elizabeth pushed open Edward's door and was frightened when she saw him passed out on the edge of his bed. She rushed across the room and ran her fingers over his face, the concern visible on her face. "Edward? Honey, are you alright?" she asked frantically as she knelt down at his side.

Edward's near lifeless frame didn't respond to Elizabeth's touch, made no move to respond but he was still breathing. , if barely as the fever had began to take hold on his body. Pale cheeks and flushed cheeks met Elizabeth's hand as it moved over his face and though he felt itit, he could not muster the energy to assure his mother that he would be fine.

Elizabeth continued to kneel next to Edward, and her fingers stroked his cheek as she struggled internally with what to do. She could elicit no response from Edward and it was really beginning to scare her. He was alive, but she did not know how long he would continue to be. FinallyFinally, she pulled herself away from him and stood up after she adjusted Edward's body on the bed. "I'm getting a doctor; I will be back soon my dear." She turned around and hastily walked out the door and back down to the guest bedroom to check on Bella. "Bella, dear, I hate to ask you such a huge favor, you being our guest and all, but can you keep an eye on Edward? He seems to be getting worse, and I need to go find a doctor to come take a look at him,." she asked with such a worried look on her face. She headed back out of the room, but stopped at the doorway and turned back around., "I will return as soon as possible, Bella." Without another wordword, she strode from the room and made her way from the house and down the street.