The Real Mate (James) (au)

Chapter Seventeen

     Annabeth wanted to turn around and go back home by the time she pulled up outside of the Cullen home. The house was beautiful, there was no denying it, but that didn't make her feel any better. Her head was still pounding, and she just wanted to relax in the comfort of her own bedroom.

"C'mon," Edward motioned to her,"They're waiting for you both." He said, making Anna frown.

"Could I just meet them, then leave?" Anna asked,"I'm really not feeling well." She added, her eyebrows scrunched from the pain as she walked towards the house.

"Carlisle mentioned that he'd help figure out what is causing the headaches," Edward replied,"He might have some medication that could knock out the pain."

     Anna was slower to go inside than Edward and Bella. She didn't ever really want to enter the house, but she also really didn't have a choice. She had to go inside, at least to greet everyone, before she could run away. She was just doing this for Bella, but this was the last thing she was doing for Bella.

"You must be Annabeth," The older woman greeted,"I'm Esme. It's very nice to finally meet you. Emmett speaks highly of you; says you're a really good friend of his."

"Nice to meet you, too, and please call me Anna. I don't like my full name."

"Very well," Esme replied,"Oh, this is Carlisle."

"Nice to meet you, Anna," Carlisle commented,"Alice mentioned you've been having really bad headaches. If you want, we can head into my office and see what I can find."

     Anna wouldn't have agreed, if it wasn't for the fact that she wanted some kind of relief from the pain. She followed him into the office, and he closed the door behind them for some privacy. It wouldn't make much of a difference, considering most of the walls were made of glass, and everyone who lived in this house could heat everything going on in every room of the house at all times.

"How long have these headaches been going on?" Carlisle asked, as he grabbed a little bit of his supplies that he had at home.

"I had a few bad ones when I still lived with my mom, but these last two have been the worst headaches of my life. The one a few days ago, I could've believed I was dying, if it hadn't gone away a few hours later."

"Do you wake up with them, or do they just happen randomly?"

"I wake up with them," She replied,"the moment I open my eyes, I know I have them because my head starts pounding, and it feels like hell to keep my eyes open."

"So, have you come to a conclusion as to what is causing the headaches? Do you grind your teeth at night? Do you clench your jaw? Anything like that?"

"Not that I know of," She replied,"I really don't know what could be causing it. All I know is that I wake up with them, and they're horrible from the moment I wake up, it's not a gradual thing."

"Hmm," He tapped his pen against his desk,"would you be opposed to coming to the hospital for a brain scan, to see if there's something wrong?" He asked, making her sigh.

"I can do that," She replied,"but if you don't find anything, I just wanna let it go."

"Very well," He caved,"but I would also like to do some blood work as well first, if that's okay?"

"Yes," She answered,"but if it's something bad...can we keep it between us?" She asked,"I don't want to upset my sister or my dad, yknow?"

"I promise you, Anna, that if any of the tests show something serious, I will do everything in my ability to get you better." He said, making a small smile appear on her face.

"Actually, is there anything you can give me now?" She asked,"I took Tylenol before I left, but the headache is not getting any better." She explained, and he nodded.

"I've got a shot for migraines," He replied,"the shot goes in your thigh, so I can step out and you can do it yourself, but if you can't, I can do it or get Rosalie. She's been studying under me for a couple of years now."

"Do you mind getting Rosalie?" She asked, her voice low, and he nodded.

     Carlisle stepped out of the room, and a moment later, Rosalie was by his side. He told her about everything, as if she hadn't heard, and honestly, Rosalie felt bad for the girl. She knew that Anna was scared that a test was going to comeback with results that were going to devastate her.

"The medicine will burn," Rosalie told Anna,"but with the coldness of my skin, it should help the pain a little."

"What if this doesn't help?" Anna questioned, sounding almost scared.

"Then we'll find something else." Rosalie replied, not wanting to give her any false hope, but also not wanting to crush her spirit.

     After Anna slipped her pants back up, she left the office with Rosalie. The blonde lead her to the living room, where she had her sit down, just incase the medicine made her fall asleep. Esme fixed her a plate of food, and handed the plate over to her.

"Why can't I see her in my visions?" Alice asked Carlisle,"I thought getting closer to her would give me clearer visions, but I can't get anymore than I've already gotten."

"I'm not sure," He replied,"but it could have something to do with the headaches she's been getting."

"Oh my...do you think she's dying?" Alice questioned, worry evident in her eyes.

"No, but I think that whatever is going on is keeping you and Edward out; making it where you can't see her future."

"That's not a good thing." Alice murmured, causing Carlisle to frown.

"Maybe not," He voiced,"or maybe it is. She can live her life, without anyone over her shoulder, like a normal human girl." He explained, making Alice frown.

     Alice wanted answers, but she really just couldn't get anything. At this point, she wondered if she should even worry about it anymore. For all she knew, Anna's future was bright, and everything was going to be fine. She just had to leave it be, unless a vision finally came to give her the answers she wanted...