39A/N: This story mostly will be Julia and her opinionated take on all things Twilight. Many points in this story are going to be borrowed from Twilight. I emphasize borrow because I do not claim to own anything, Stephenie Meyer is the genius here; I'm just the idiot writing fan fiction about it. I'm defeated. I can't stop myself from updating waiting on 7 reviews because at this rate the next update will occur in October. I am really not supposed to be updating right now anyway since I'm grounded so I apologize that this is so short. This chapter will include that of the Twilight chapter Nightmare.
Afterglow
Chapter 4: Nightmares
Charlie was really excited about some basketball game. Honestly, I don't get it how you can sit on the sofa and watch people play a sport? If you were actually there I could see that it would probably be an exciting experience sitting in the uncomfortable bleachers, getting a hot dog that probably isn't real meat, and hoping to meet the team when really there is about a one out of a billion chance that will ever happen…hmm that sounds extremely thrilling.
He asked Bella and me if we wanted anything to eat and we passed. Bella made a half-hearted excuse that she had a lot of homework; honestly Charlie swallows her excuses too easily. Bella's the worst liar on the planet, I would rank her with the five-year-old who says she didn't eat the cookie before dinner while there is incriminating evidence with her voice more high pitched than normal, she's shifting from side to side, and she avoids making eye contact, plus having the crumbs of said cookie clinging around her lips.
Bella and I exchanged words of goodnight and we both closed ourselves in our rooms. I was able to keep my mind clear while Mike started babbling Bella's – and by awful coincidence my ear as well – off, it was all filled with inconsequential things. Just light conversation that radiated his still obvious interest in Bella. The guy is still holding a torch for her, sadly Bella hasn't any interest, the only place I see sparks are when she sees, speaks, or hears of anything Edward Cullen.
That is the exact place where my mind has wandered back to. The Cullens. I can't seem to get the Quileut legends out of my head, it was impossible for Carlisle Cullen to have made the treaty with Jake's great grandfather it wasn't plausible or rational for that matter – fortunately two things I have never been. Jacob claimed that these Cullens are the same as the ones his great grandfather made the treaty with save for two new members, then there was the fact that they were inhumanly beautiful, and that Edward and perhaps the rest have super speed and strength. I have always been one to look for answers outside the box and this is as far from the box as solutions come. Perhaps these Cullens are the cold ones…vampires.
Ugh, the things add up, but it sounds insane. I grabbed a CD Phil got me for my last birthday. It was one of his favorite bands, it wasn't that bad, and they used the bass a bit more than I like, but I'm not a total music snob. I just shoved it into my CD player and dug through my bedside table drawer until I found my old earphones that weren't blown out. I plopped down onto my bed and placed the player beside me and put my headphones on, hit play, and turned the volume up until it hurt my ears.
I closed my eyes, but my mind was still churning over my suspicions and I made an effort to concentrate on the lyrics, trying to understand them. Trying to break it away from the complicated drum pattern and strip it bare until there was nothing but the meaning staring me bluntly in the face. Beyond all the noise that was this music seemed to have a purpose and not just something that one could easily sing along with. I listened to the CD quite a few times, it wearing on me more and more, soon I drifted off.
Bella was in a familiar place to both her and I. There was green light filtering from the canopy of the forest and I could hear the waves crashing and could smell the salt of the ocean permeating the air. Bella was traveling toward the sound of the waves, possibly because if there was a chance she could see the sun, she would. But why would I be dreaming about Bella simply basking in the weak sun over Washington?
But then someone else was there as well. Jacob was there, tugging on her hand, pulling her toward the blackest part of the forest. She became confused her eyebrows squeezing together as she looked at Jacob in the dim light.
"Jacob? What's wrong?" Bella asked. His face was frightened as he yanked with all his strength against her resistance.
"Run, Bella, you have to run!" He whispered, terrified.
"This way, Bella!" I recognized Mike's voice calling out of the gloomy heart of the trees, there was no seeing him in the shadows.
"Why?" Bella asked puzzled her eyebrows knitting together. She was still pulling against desperate to see a bit of the sun in the opposite direction. But soon enough Jacob let her hand go and yelped, suddenly shaking, falling to the dim forest floor. He twitched on the ground as Bella watched in horror.
"Jacob!" She screamed in her surprise. But he was gone. In his place was a russet wolf with Jacob's kind, intelligent black eyes. It wasn't just a wolf since Jacob had been in its place a minute prior, he is a werewolf. Then he faced away from her pointing toward the shore, the hair on the back of his shoulders bristling, and low growls issuing from between his exposed fangs.
"Bella, run!" Mike cried out from behind her. But she didn't turn. She was entranced, wondering, utterly curious and she was looking to quench it. She was watching the light coming toward her from the beach, a light unlike the sun; it was more of a soul warming shimmer it somehow, making her feel safe. And Edward stepped out from the trees, his skin faintly glowing, his eyes black and dangerous. He held out one hand and beckoned her – in a better performance than one of those crappy vampire movies – to come to him. She wasn't frightened, more enthralled, and drawn to Edward more than ever. The wolf growled at her feet. She took a step, toward Edward. He smiled and then, and his teeth were sharp, pointed.
"Trust me," he purred. And she took another step. The wolf launched himself across the space between her and the vampire, fangs aiming for the jugular.
"Bella," I screamed, but I didn't wake up in my bed I was in my old house – in the living room – in Phoenix. It was like everything was preset and I already knew exactly what to do, when I have no idea why I'm in Phoenix when the last thing I remembered was falling asleep listening to music back in Forks. I looked around frantically and I seemed to know Bella wasn't here already. I played the messages on the answering machine and heard my sister's voice. She dictated a number and I quickly punched it into my cell phone. I don't have much time.
I dialed the number and Alice picked up immediately. "Alice, Bella's in a Ballet Studio in Scottsdale. I'm heading there now." I told her not bothering with pleasantries I stumbled out the door. I don't have time…Bella doesn't have the time. "Julia, we're already on our way. Stay away from the studio." Alice demanded and I scoffed not breaking my brisk clumsy pace under the hot Arizona sun. Sweat was already working its way onto my forehead. My breathing was shallower as I stumbled my way down the sidewalk that was glaring the light into my eyes.
"Alice, I really couldn't care less if this is as dangerous as walking in front of a target at a firing range." I told her and she groaned. "Julia think of what you're doing, you could get seriously hurt and more than likely die. You're smarter than this." Alice told me. "She's my sister. My only one. If I have to die for her, to give her a better chance at living, I will. Not everyone lives forever. This is all I can do for her. Just hurry up and get here." I said in a deadly tone and hung up and turned off the phone and shoved it into my back pocket.
My feet pounded achingly on the pavement. The sun beating on my bare shoulders and my hair feeling incredibly hot like it's going to set on fire any minute now. I finally saw the building that was not at all offending. It wouldn't betray the sinister being inside that thinks it's amusing to toy with humans and kill them as easily as one would take a breath; it appeared to be nothing but a small private dance studio, appearances can be quite deceiving.
I ran across the street and made it to the door twisting the handle. I opened it a crack and heard glass splintering and a voice. The kind of fake friendly voice that any car salesman would use, but this one I could tell had a dangerous undertone. The lightness was less of a façade and more of an element of the game he's playing. "That's a very nice effect. I thought this room would be visually dramatic for my little film. It's perfect isn't it?" He asked.
There was scrambling and then I heard Bella's high pitched scream. She was in pain; I could feel it like someone had snapped the bone of my own leg, that's new I have always been perceptive, but this is a little overboard. And this psycho is the cause of her pain. Without even seeing her, I knew she was in great pain and hoping for this all to end soon. She wants to prevent Edward from facing him…she seriously needs to think before she does something this stupid. I mentally weighed the options a very breakable Bella meeting the vampire that was intent on killing her…slowly or rock hard, practically invincible Edward and family – that one's a no brainer. This monster's outnumbered by a heck of a lot. So instead of being logical she runs off to meet him.
At that I opened the door fully and stepped into the air conditioned room and slammed the door behind me. His head snapped my way, as did Bella's – I could see the physical pain in her eyes, just as I had felt it before, from where she was on the floor – and she looked like she was about to have a nervous breakdown when she saw me. She was content to just simply die at his hand and she was riddled with guilt already, I almost wanted to roll my eyes, but I stopped myself. My eyes collided on the form of the hunter and unlike the Cullens he was nothing special to look at, the difference I could detect immediately; his stance was not as casual as his speech it held that predatory aspect and his irises were reddish black. He was surprised and then he had a smirk placed on his lips that told how utterly stupid I was. That may be so, but I believe a distraction may give maybe five more minutes' time.
I chanced a glance to Bella and she was staring up at me in horror from where she was a heap on the floor. My gaze directed back to the form of a man before her, standing in a relaxed nonchalant manor, but he was no man…he was a predator and both Bella and I are weak prey. Five minutes, a distraction for five minutes may just save Bella. My arms were by my sides my hands balled into fists as I glared at the murderer – sick twisted bastard.
"Don't you think this game is a bit too dangerous?" I inquired in a loud voice. Fear was absent; it was replaced by searing rage and adrenaline, as I stared into his black orbs, my glared boring into them with a great intensity.
"I live for it." He said like I was some naïve child talking to the big bad wolf, about to be eaten. Funnily, I may just be eaten.
"I don't think that's quite right you live for the hunt, the chase, and the thrill of the fight. You have no idea what you have done. Perhaps, she," I refrained from saying Bella's name it would only bring it all into focus and the anger would get the better of me and make me do something stupid, "may smell intoxicating – the way your kind put it – but I find it rather idiotic that you're practically setting yourself up for suicide. Centuries will be thrown away for one person you had to toy with, because she was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, she smelled so good, and the love of her life defended her." I said quirking my eyebrow mocking him.
"That's very foolish of you…James." How did I know his name? I didn't let this unbalance me, I just stood there waiting.
His glare was penetrating; it would make me fear if I hadn't come here with resolve that I may die. I just gave him a cocky smirk, I didn't move at all save for the blinking and the slight rise and fall of my chest. Whatever may come, I'll endure to take the focus off Bells.
—
My eyes flashed open. I sat straight up in a sitting position and blinked furiously. My heart was racing, I was trying to catch my breath, and a film of cold sweat covered my skin.
The first part of my dream was a little fuzzy, set with the usual haze of a dream. The kind that you feel like you're just gonna forget it before you even have the chance to even tell your sister about the wild dream you just had about her and how crazy it was.
But the second dream, the one that I felt I was just about to wake up and was in Phoenix instead of Forks was so…so…so real. It was incredibly vivid and I can still feel the hot sun pounding on my bare shoulders and glaring into my eyes. I pulled my knees up to my chest and even when I blinked I could see the horror in Bella's face when she saw me, mixed with the pain of the injury the hunter caused.
But what the hell is a hunter? Why the hell did I tell Alice, Not everyone lives forever? Because the last time I checked no one lives forever, except vampires, and perhaps if I said that to Alice my speculation was correct about the Cullens that they are vampires, but not bad ones. I can't believe they are bad, intimidating, yeah; but bad, no. Of course they could cause damage if they wanted to, but what's more is that they don't. That hunter on the other hand was bad and from the strength and the ferocity of his strength, and the obvious predatory hints in his stance and that unnatural hunger in his reddish black irises, he had to be a creature of the same persuasion.
Could a dream really tell me all that? Perhaps, but to make myself feel less insane I am going to add research to my incredibly long to-do list. What the Cullens are is none of my business, but when my sister is clearly falling for Edward Cullen, I really would like to get my facts straight. I want to be a doctor, not be checked into an insane asylum.
My alarm went off scaring me right off the bed and I reached up and slapped my hand over the off button and began to get ready for the day. I have a lot of things to figure out and I have a feeling little time to come to a proper conclusion until this all goes to hell. Until danger in a deadly form graces my sister with its sinister presence and beckons to take her life. And of course she rises to the occasion.
I just have to keep her away from that damned dance studio. And keep her from sacrificing herself...Oh goodie!
I really wish I could cross my fingers and say that the dream was just that a meaningless dream and hope for the best, but I've never had the best luck and this occasion will not be the time to test it.