A Different Perspective

One

The argument had been going on for two months. Every conversation somehow always ended in a yelling match between us. I was persistent, but he was just as stubborn. I could see the pain in his topaz eyes every time the subject was brought up. Still, that did not deter me from my wishes. He knew what I wanted and yet he refused to give me the gift of immortality. A curse, he had called it. How pretentious of him. But then again, what could you expect from a 137-year old vampire? He had seen the horrors of the Great War first hand. He had lived at the breaking point of the world, had watched his parents die. No amount of time could take away that sense of dread and nihilism, it seemed.

I understood his worry; he had made certain to express his grievances on multiple occasions. Edward had his life taken from him at the tender age of 17. He was dying from a terrible disease and it was Carlisle who gave him a second chance. Edward did not ask for this life. He was astonished that I would even consider it a possibility.

"You would give up a life of being human, of growing up and being with the people you love? For why? What could compel you to make such a decision?" he asked me once.

The answer was so simple that I had been outraged that he didn't understand.

"I want to spend the rest of forever with you, Edward. Nothing else matters. I love you," I replied.

That certainly had pissed him off. I think we went for a whole week without speaking to each other. I appreciated Edward's concern and his devotion to keeping me human, but this wasn't his decision. It was mine, and in the end, I always got what I wanted.

Summer vacation was nearing its end. School would start again in a few days. I would be a junior at Forks High. A future was waiting for me, one I simply did not want. There were too many expectations set by my parents. Too many eyes were watching me. Although it was my life, I simply felt as though I wasn't in control.

I told myself that this year, this age of 16 would be how I lived for the rest of eternity. Once I was immortal I would be free of those eyes. I would no longer be tormented by the thoughts of failure or letting anyone down. If I did mess up, the reminder of failure would die with my family. The guilt would decompose like the bodies of my parents. I could keep starting over. I could make a million and one mistakes. I could be truly free.

I didn't need Edward to turn me. He wasn't the only vampire in town.

I took a breath to steady my pounding heart and knocked on the polished wooden door. As expected, Edward opened it. He could have probably heard my car from a mile or so away.

The tall immortal looked down at me. His golden brown hair was messy. He wore a pair of jeans and a plain t-shirt.

"Bonnie? What are you doing here?" he asked me.

I had to tilt my head to look up at him properly. "I have an appointment with Dr. Cullen. Is he here?" I replied coolly.

Edward raised an eyebrow. One of his vampiric gifts was the ability to read minds. Luckily for me, I had gotten very skilled in the art of diversion. Alice had taught me to hide my thoughts with popular songs, images, etc. Edward would never know my real intent for being on his doorstep when he could only hear the number one track of the week playing on loop in my mind.

The gaudy pop song I was thinking of made Edward frown. He knew of my tricks but there was little he could do to stop them. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word, Carlisle appeared behind his adoptive son.

Carlisle smiled kindly to me, his teeth bright and his eyes sparkling with warmth. "Bonnie!" he said in greeting, his arms extended outwards. "Please, come in."