*by Stephenie Meyer*



TWILIGHT - chapter 24 - AN IMPASSE


"Charlie?" he asked curtly "Renee?"
minutes passed in silence as I struggled to answer his question. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I closed it again. He waited, and his expression became triumphant because he knew I had no true answer.
"Look, that's not the issue either," I finally muttered; my voice was as unconvincing as it always was when I lied. "Renee has always made the choices that work for her - she'd want me to do the same. And Charlie's resilient, he's used to being on his own. i can't take care of them forever. I have my own life to live."
"Exactly," he snapped. "And I won't end it for you."
"If you're waiting for me to be on my deathbed, I've got news for you! I was just there!"
"You're going to recover," he reminded me.
I took a deep breath to calm myself, ignoring the spasm of pain it triggered. I stared at him, and he stared back. There was no compromise in his face.
"No," I a dit slowly. "I'm not."
His forehead creased. "Of course toi are. toi may have a scar ou two...."
"You're wrong," I insisted. "I'm going to die."
"Really, Bella." He was anxious now. "You'll be out of here in a few days. Two weeks at the most."
I glared at him. "I may not die now... but I'm going to die sometime. Every minute of the day, I get closer. And I'm going to get old."
He frowned as what I was saying sunk in, pressing his long fingers to his temples and closing his eyes. "That's how it's supposed to happen. How it should happen. How it would have happened if I didn't exist - and I shouldn't exist."
I snorted. He opened his eyes in surprise. "That's stupid. That's like going to someone who's just won the lottery, taking their money, and saying, 'Look, let's just go back to how things should be. It's better that way.' And I'm not buying it."
"I'm hardly a lottery prize," he growled.
"That's right. You're much better."
He rolled his eyes and set his lips. "Bella, we're not having this discussion anymore. I refuse to damn toi to an eternity of night and that's the end of it."
"If toi think that's the end, then toi don't know me very well," I warned him. "You're not the only vampire I know."
His eyes went black again. "Alice wouldn't dare."
And for a moment he looked so frightened that I couldn't help but believe it - I couldn't imagine someone Rebelle enough to traverser, croix him.
"Alice already saw it, didn't she?" I guessed. "That's why the things she says upset you. She knows I'm going to be like you... someday."
"She's wrong. She also saw toi dead, but that didn't happen, either."
"You'll never catch me betting against Alice."
We stared at each other for a very long time. It was quiet except for the wirring of the machines, the beeping, the dripping, the ticking of the big clock on the wall. Finally, his expression softened.
"So where does that leave us?" I wondered.
He chuckled humorously. "I believe it's called an impasse."
I sighed. "Ouch," I muttered.
"How are toi feeling?" he asked, eyeing the button for the nurse.
"I'm fine," I lied.
"I don't believe you," he a dit gently.
"I'm not going back to sleep."
"You need rest. All this arguing isn't good for you."
"So give in," I hinted.
"Nice try." He reached for the button.
"No!"
He ignored me.
"Yes?" the speaker on the mur squawked.
"I think we're ready for plus pain medication," he a dit calmly, ignoring my furious expression.
"I'll send in the nurse." The voice sounded very bored.
"I won't take it," I promised.
He looked toward the sack of fluids hanging beside my bed. "I don't think they're going to ask toi to avaler, hirondelle anything."
My cœur, coeur rate started to climb. He read the fear in my eyes, and sighed in frustration.
"Bella, you're in pain. toi need to relax so toi can heal. Why are toi being so difficult? They're not going to put any plus needles in toi now."
"I'm not afraid of the needles," I mumbled. "I'm afraid to close my eyes."
Then he smiled his crooked smile, and took my face between his hands. "I told toi I'm not going anywhere. Don't be afraid. As long as it makes toi happy, I'll be here."
I smiled back, ignoring the ache in my cheeks. "You're talking about forever, toi know."
"Oh, you'll get over it - it's just a crush."
I shook my head in disbelief - it made me dizzy. "I was shocked when Renee swallowed that one. I know you know better."
"That's the beautiful thing about being human," he told me. "Things change."
My eyes narrowed. "Don't hold your breath."
He was laughing when the nurse came in, brandishing a syringe.
"Excuse me," she a dit brusquely to Edward.
He got up and crossed to the end of the small room, leaning against the wall. He fodled his arms and waited. I kept my eyes on him, still apprehensive. He met my gaze calmly.
"Here toi go, honey." The nurse smiled as she injected the medicine into my tube. "You'll feel better now."
"Thanks," I mumbled, unenthusiastic. It didn't take long. I could feel the drowsiness trickling through my bloodstream almost immediately.
"That ought to do it," she muttered as my eyelids drooped.
She must have left the room, because something cold and smooth touched my face.
"Stay." The word was slurred.
"I will," he promised. His voice was beautiful, like a lullaby. "Like I said, as long as it makes toi happy... as long as it's what's best for you."
I tried to shake my head, but it was too heavy. "'S not the same thing," I mumbled.
He laughed. "Don't worry about that now, Bella. toi can argue with me when toi wake up."
I think I smiled. "'Kay."
I could feel his lips at my ear.
"I l’amour you," he whispered.
"Me, too."
"I know," he laughed quietly.
I turned my head slightly... searching. He knew what I was after. His lips touched mine gently.
"Thanks," I sighed.
"Anytime."
I wasn't really there at all anymore. But I fought against the stupor weakly. There was just one plus thing I wanted to tell him.
"Edward?" I struggled to pronounce his name clearly.
"Yes?"
"I'm betting on Alice," I mumbled.
And then the night closed over me.