The Twilight Saga Twist

Chapter 15. The Meadow

When I woke up, I felt good. I felt my face automatically smile when I sat up. It was as if something good was going to happen today. If there really is something good, I wanted it to be a surprise, so I didn't search for the future.

I found myself humming a tune I didn't know as I descended the stairs. I realized Lisa wasn't home, so I made breakfast for myself—while still humming. It was like the things that happened before never happened. I was almost finished frying the bacon when my phone in my pocket rang. It was Aunt Katrina.

Then, it dawned on me.

She was going to get us today; I had totally forgotten. There goes my good day.

"Hello?" I answered her call.

"Hey, Sweetie. Sorry, but I won't be able to pick you up this morning, so maybe later evening. Jason's a little busy now," she said.

For some reason I felt relief. I was obviously not ready to go yet.

"Oh, I guess that's fine. We can just go there ourselves. You don't need to pick us up." I finished cooking the bacon as I replied. I couldn't help my happy tone. I wonder what was really going to happen today. Aunt Katrina heard it, though.

"Bella, do you really want to go?"

I paused. I didn't know the answer to that question.  Part of me wanted to go, but another part didn't want to. I wanted to confess the truth to him, but I didn't know if I could. I wanted to confess my love too, but I was afraid of his reaction. I already knew he didn't return the feelings but…I was confused. Every decision I had had a bad consequence—if that's what it's called. Should I or should I not leave? Was I really ready?

I just told the truth to Aunt Katrina when I said, "I don't know."

I heard her sigh. "Bella, just follow your heart. What does it say? Yes or no? I can't let you make a decision that you might regret."

"I really don't know," I repeated.

Then I thought of what she said. The decision she was talking about didn't sound like the decision about leaving Forks. It was different.

"Wait, did Lisa tell you…?" I trailed off.

I heard her scoffing tone. "Do you honestly think Lisa can keep a secret?"

I sighed. Of course, Lisa would be Lisa.

"Bella, as I said. Just follow your heart. If you have made your decision, then call me again. I'm not picking you up today."

"Thanks," I said, half-knowing that I did say it. I just heard her smile then I ended the call. It was good that she gave me time to think. I needed it.

I ate my breakfast slowly, daydreaming. I was surprised that I took twenty minutes to eat a slice of bacon and an egg. It was already fifteen minutes past eleven and Lisa wasn't back. Where could she be?

It was a good day in Forks--not the usual gloom. Some heat of the sun remained in the air. I decided to go for a walk in the forest. The breeze was so relaxing, and the scent of nature was so nice. Then, I felt like running, so I did.

I ran up to the mountain, smiling all the way. Whoa, I thought, what’s going to happen? I felt so excited, but I fought the urge to search. I was like this sometimes when I felt that something good will happen, and the opposite when it was going to be something bad. Randomly, I suddenly remembered the legend Jacob told me about. About the Cullens and the treaty. I didn't know why it suddenly came to me, though. The Cullens sure have an interesting story….

Then, I stopped running when I reached an open space up on the mountain. It looked so amazing.

The meadow was small, perfectly round, and filled with wildflowers—the color of violets, yellow and soft white. Somewhere nearby, I could hear the bubbling music of stream. The sun was almost directly overhead, filling only a quarter part of the middle of the circle with a haze of golden sunshine. I walked slowly—awestruck, through the soft grass, swaying flowers, and warm, gilded air—towards the light.

I absent-mindedly put my arm under the light and of course, it sparkled. Lisa and I sparkled differently from other vampires, but I was even more different than she was. Other vampires sparkled like thousands of tiny diamonds embedded in the surface. I, on the other hand, sparkled like I was covered with a pale sheen of glitter. Lisa sparkled was mixed between both: with thousands of tiny diamonds and with glitter.

I liked seeing myself sparkle. It just felt so relaxing. I stepped into the light, smiling, as the sun heated my body. It'd been a while since I'd been in the sun, sparkling like this. Lisa and I would sometimes play under the sun. But as time moved on, we couldn't do it anymore. People started hiking in the woods, where we hid, more frequently. And we had stayed with Jenks pretty long.

I stepped out of the light immediately when I heard someone coming. I heard someone running, then slowed down when they reached the meadow. I froze. I knew that scent. I wanted to run back, but my feet stayed rooted to the ground. I closed my eyes as he came closer.

Go, Bella. Go away unless you want to be hurt. A voice inside my head cried. I wanted to obey it, but I couldn't. I stayed.

"Bella?" A musical voice I had dreaded--but still wanted to hear--called, and my eyes flung open. There Edward Cullen stood, staring at me, looking a little surprised. He stood opposite me; the sunlight was like a river that separated us. I couldn't say anything. I just looked at him, at his face...the face I had wanted to see for the past few days. But when I suddenly remembered that night when I saw him with that Tanya, I broke my stare at him, hurt.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. I bit my lip, my cheeks flaming a little when I realized I had said the question rudely and coldly. "I mean... I didn't mean... To be rude....” I struggled to find the right words. Why did I even feel embarrassed?

"Oh, no, it's fine. I was going to ask you the same thing." I could still feel him looking at me, and it felt like he was compelling me to look at him. I couldn't help it, so I looked at him. He seemed a little...confused?

I was dazzled, just by looking at his perfect features. I loved this vampire, and I had to escape it. I didn't want to be hurt.

I excused myself. "Sorry I have to...go....” I was already backing away.

"No, wait..." he said, walking towards me but he forgot about the "river" of sunlight between us. When he sparkled, he immediately went back to where he was standing and looked down to the ground in front of him. I stopped walking. His expression became nervous and anxious, but I felt calm. I was already used to seeing other vampires sparkle, but it felt different when I saw him sparkle. It made me love him…more. I didn’t know why or how. But I didn’t want it….

"I-I can explain...," he said nervously, but stopped to look at me when I hadn't said a thing. He probably saw my calm face.

To him, I should be terrified to see him like that. To him, I should be running away. To him, I shouldn't be calm and unsurprised. To him, I was a human, a human who didn't know about vampires. Why wasn't I faking? Why wasn't I pretending to be human? Why wasn't I escaping?

"You...don't...seem… surprised...or scared," he said, a little suspiciously and confused.

Then I lost it. I couldn't lie anymore. I couldn't cover up my expression. I couldn't escape. This was the time. I had to tell him the truth, regardless of what his reaction might be. That was the plan, tell and go. Go away forever.... I loved him, but I didn't want to be hurt whenever I see him; he reminded me of hurt. Love hurts. Always...

I only hope that he would be happy with Tanya....

He was still looking at me, but I didn't say anything. I took a deep breath, and then, as if on their own, my feet walked towards the light dividing us. I stopped when I was an inch away from the light. My unbeating heart felt like it wanted to pound out of my chest. I closed my eyes and stepped into the light. I didn't need to open my eyes to see his reaction. I could hear diamonds tinkling; the sound of me whenever I sparkle. I opened my eyes, which met his wide surprised eyes.

Then, I told him the four words I should have told him a long time ago.

"I'm a vampire, Edward."