Restless Nights ``Open

[Isabella Swan]

{ i'm screaming 'i love you so', my thoughts you can't decode

I sighed as I glanced once more at her alarm clock. 1:15 am. And Edward still wasn't here. I sat up and looked around my room once more, just to see if Edward wasn't standing in the corner, watching me. But there was nothing. How long did it take to go hunting? I mentally kicked myself. I needed to relax, something I wasn't good at when Edward wasn't here. Edward deserved to get away for a bit, to go hunting and other things. I tried to tell myself that I didn't need to be with him every minute, but even though I tried, I wasn't capable of convincing myself of that.

I crawled out of bed and walked in a circle before going to the rocking chair in the corner of my room. I sat down with a little more enthusiasm than I expected and blinked as the breath got knocked out of me. Oof! I really needed to calm down. But you need Edward! My brain screamed. My heart, however, told me I needed to let him feed. The last thing I needed was a thirsty Edward. I stood again, rather restless, and walked to my window, leaning out into the cool night.

My chocolate eyes scanned the forest surrounding my house, searching desperately for something pale and beautiful. But there was nothing. I wasn't ever able to see him come in anyway. Always too fast. Vampire speed. Since our memorable night in the meadow, I found it even more harder to be away from him. I crossed my arms on the wooden sill and inhaled the familiar wet smell I had come to know and not mind. Edward, I whispered, Where are you?

[Alice Cullen]

I stood, leaning up against the wall next to Jasper's bed and stared at the man before me. He had been through so much, not saying that they all hadn't. I fiddled with a piece of string that was dangling from my tank top before wrapping it around one of my pale, white fingers and ripping it carefully off from the shirt and tossing it in the garbage. I heard a small and kind, yet impatient voice coming from Edward's room. "I will be right back, Jasper." I said as I walked out of the room and just down the hall and knocked delicately on the door. "I'm coming in Bella." I said as I turned the knob ever so slightly and within moments was by Bella's side.I envisioned Edward who was not far from home. Bella had to get used to the idea that possibly, Edward would not always be there, but if she absolutely needed him, he would be there in a flash. I wrapped my thin arm around her body. "Edward will be here soon. You know he is hunting because he doesn't want to harm you." She whispered in her ear. "Need something to do?" I asked in thrilled tone. I always enjoyed spending time with my sister. Being a vampire, you got bored day in and day out of countless hours of being inside one house. Although, it wasn't too bad. Just meant you did a lot of thinking or daydreaming or work set out by Carlisle and Esme or hunting. Baseball worked also, but the last time we played baseball with Bella, didn't turn out well. Edward is very protective of her and I don't think we want a repeat of that anytime soon.

[Isabella Swan]

I looked up as a soft knock sounded at the door. Alice said she was coming in and I let her. She flitted to my side and hugged me, telling me Edward didn't want to hurt me, so he needed to hunt. Deep down I knew that, but still, I hated being away from him. I hugged her back and leaned against her. The thing I loved about the Cullens was that I could lean against them and they wouldn't fall over. Now, if Alice leaned against me, it would knock me over. I know.

I sighed quietly.

I inhaled Alice's sweet scent and immediately felt better. Just as long as I could smell that, I was fine. I straightened up and tugged Alice gently. I needed to sit down. She let me walk her to the bed and I sat down, her cold arms still wrapped around me. Need something to do? She was starting to get excited. I didn't want to make her feel bad, so I pulled a smile and nodded. Sure. I'm up for anything...[/color] I cringed on the inside, hoping this new activity wouldn't have anything to do with shopping or clothes. My two least favorite things in the world.

But I wouldn't vocally complain if that's what we were going to do. I blinked a few times and tried to stay on the optimistic side of things. I looked up at her and smiled, before leaning into her again. [/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/font][/color]

[Alice Cullen]

I small, warm smile lit my lips as she wrapped her thin arms around me that emanated heat. A human's body heat was so interesting. I, myself, still wonder what it is like to be a human. I have no perception of what my past really was.

I allowed her to tug me to the bed and I wrapped my arms around her, cradling her slightly in my lap. I stared at her for a moment as her lips curled up and it seemed almost sort of a forced smile. "Bella, honey, it's alright. We can just stay here." I whispered in a delicate tone and set Bella down for a moment.

I turned and made my way to the wall of cds Edward had collected over the years of both his human and vampire life. I slid my hands along the collection and found the lullaby he had very carefully put together for Bella. I pulled it out by the tips of my finger nails and gently placed it in the cd player. I hit play and twirled around and walked back down to sit next to Bella on Edward's couch.

As I took my seat, I wrapped my small arms around this small, warm human I knew to be Bella. I wondered if there was anything we could do besides sit here and watch every muscle of her body frame to sulk that Edward was not here. I can't imagine how much he loves her. Bella was a human and he loved her dearly. Rosalie came to hate him for it and I believe she has every right to. I just wonder how she's going to get over it in the long run. Even Emmett doesn't seem to fully replace Edward in Rosalie's heart and mind.

I stared blankly for a moment and then lowered my gaze to Bella. "How's my dear sister?" I asked in a kind tone.

[Edward Cullen]

The dark night seemed hollow and empty to me. The shell remained untouched, hollow in it's beautiful white washed splendor, but part of it was missing. "No..." I corrected myself. Nothing around me was missing. It was entirely internal. I felt it each and every time I left Bella's side. Felt the spot next to me cold and empty, the spaces between my fingers missed hers.

I implored myself to see reason, to understand that this was of vital importance. I needed to hunt, to feed, to feel full, lest I hurt her. But it was simply impossible for me to get her off my mind, even as the monster in me awoke to find it's feast. Stepping through the woods, I tried to make my steps inhumanly light, to not leave much track in the newly fallen snow.

Lifting my face to the wind, I caught the faint smell of a deer, probably scavaging for water that wasn't frozen, or any sort of food that hadn't died. The doe wouldn't have to worry about that for long. Not with it's unknown and impending death. I didn't have to worry about the deer hearing or smelling me, that was never a concern, so I took my time getting there. It wasn't until I hit the clearing near the animal that I took off running, launching myself at it.

It was clean, not a drop of blood anywhere but inside me. I figured the falling snow would sufficiently cover the beast before the hour was out, though the first layer was already melting against the warmth that the carcass still held. That wouldn't last long, laying in nature's natural freezer. As for me, I could finally go see my Bella, though I knew Alice was already with her. There was no way she would allow Bella to be lonely, even though I could somehow guess that my absence was not one my sister could so easily fill.

[Isabella Swan]

I felt a few unnecessary tears spring to my eyes as my lullaby started playing. Alice came back to the bed and sat next to me, cradling me against her tiny frame. I inhaled her sweet scent and sighed. That made me feel better. How's my dear sister? She asked. I looked up at gave her a small smile.

"I'm better. Thank you, Alice. You?"

I said politely, lying a little. It was partially the truth. I was a little better, now that my lullaby was playing and that Alice smelled so much like my dear Edward. But I was still rather sad. There was only one set of arms I craved at that moment, and sadly he wasn't here. I snuggled deeper into Alice, grateful for her company. My gaze wandered to the window and I almost expected Edward to through it. I smiled at her imagination, wishing it would come true. I sat up and looked at Alice, unable to wait for her answer.

Alice, do you know when he's going to be back?[/color] I asked, not bothering to specify who I was talking about. Alice would have to be crazy to not know. I paused to listen to the sweet notes that floated out of the stereo beside the couch. I felt a dull ache in my heart, like I normally did when Edward wasn't with me. It never failed to return to me each time. I found myself frowning and I leaned into Alice again, welcoming her sweet scent. It was the only thing keeping me sane right now.[/blockquote]
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[Alice Cullen]

A small smile tugged at my lips as she told me she felt better. Although, at times I doubted that sometimes maybe she actually felt that way. "I'm well. Thank you." I said in a soft tone and I listened to the monotone thumb of her heart beat as her small and fragile body curled into my petite body.

I brushed my thumb across her forehead, gently brushing the hair out of her face. I smiled softly as I knew Edward wouldn't be lingering in the forest much longer. "Soon my dear sister. Within a few moments." I said in a soft tone. I knew I was Bella's most comforting thing for the time being. I couldn't replace Edward though.

My mind stumbled to my past of my very first few memories. The first person I became acquainted with and who became the love of my life. I smiled and found myself staring at the doorframe of Edward's room. My gaze dropped to Bella who was still curled in towards my small torso. I faintly heard the sound of quick and light foot steps from a distance. My gaze shifted to the window sill.

Edward would appear within moments. I carefully cradled Bella, squeezing her very delicately and bent my head low to her ear and whispered, "Edward is going to arive in a second Bella." I lifted my head and stood easily with Bella in my arms and gently laid her down again as I waited for Edward to make an appearance.

[Edward Cullen]

The pace I trod started off slow, my mind focused entirely on listening to my sister and my love within her bedroom. Bella sounds so barren, so lonely, though I knew Alice gave every attempt to calm her. This wasn't a simple trip to the mall without me. Bella couldn't convince herself that being apart was okay because I'd be with her soon... that I'd hold her that night as she slept. Well, this time it was that night, and my absence was heart breaking to her. Looking down, I watched to world speed by my feet for a moment as I picked up my pace.

When I emerged from the woods, the air got cooler and the snow came down faster and heavier than it did under the covering of the trees, their canopy blocking out most of the harsh weather. Taking a deep and unnecessary breath, I cleared my head and listened some more to the conversations. Alice knew how close I was, and though it would still remain to be an eternity to me, it would be only seconds to Bella's human and impatient mind. Finding the side of the house, I leapt, climbing through the window faster than Bella would even be able to notice.

I appeared, to her, to have appeared out of no where in the rocking chair in the corner. "Hello Bella, love." I said in a calm and even voice. I worked to control the way my words came out, lest I sound too eager. I wouldn't want Bella knowing that I rushed through hunting just because I missed her too much to give entirely into instinct the way I should have. Alice, of course, would know this... but it was nothing Bella needed to know.

When Bella came running over, I pulled her into my arms and held her close, allowing myself to take in the smell of her. It was every bit as potent as it always had been, though the added edge was now run low in accordance to the meal I had previously drunken. I was sufficiently full, my skin returned to it's normal colour. Stroking Bella's hair, I looked over at Alice. My looking fully expressed my thanks, and I knew she knew it. Bella would go mad every time I left if it weren't for my sister, and she knew it.

[Isabella Swan]

Alice's words calmed me a bit, and for that I was glad. I still missed Edward though. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Why did I miss him so much when he was gone? Hmm... the question I had been asking myself every time he wasn't with me. Obviously because I loved him. Because I wanted to spend forever with him. The feeling that he might disappear at anytime still remained. Alice stood, me in her arms and then set me down again on the bed. I curled into a ball and watched my sister.

Then as if in a magic trick, Edward was sitting in the rocking chair in the corner. Hello Bella love. He said and heat filled my body. I felt a smile spread across my face and I jumped up from the bed, the blanket still wrapped around my small body. Edward!

I cried and ran to him. He pulled me onto his lap and I buried into his chest, inhaling his intoxicating scent. How perfect was this moment? The two of us reunited at last. I lifted my head to plant a kiss on his jaw line, then ducking back into his chest. His frozen hand stroked my hair and I sighed contently.

My gaze flew up to Alice and I smiled. I had been very grateful for her company while I waited for Edward. Thank you for staying with me, Alice.[/color] I said quietly. I blinked a few times and then closed my eyes and burrowed deeper into Edward. I missed you.[/color] I whispered to Edward, stating the obvious.[/blockquote][/size][/blockquote][/font][/color]