Fan Fiction ❯ Everything You Want ❯ A Reason ( Chapter 27 )

Everything You Want

Chapter 27:

A Reason

 

 

 

“Augh… I think I'm going to die,” Bella moaned pitifully as she slid to the floor beside the toilet and rested her flushed cheek on the cool tile of the bathroom floor. `This flu is worse than the one I had last year. I feel like I haven't left the bathroom in three days.'

 

Bringing her knees up to her chest, Bella wrapped her arms around her legs and closed her eyes. “Just kill me,” she groaned as another cramp tightened the muscles of her belly. A sharp knock on the door startled Bella and she sat up.

 

“Bella? Are you ok in there?”

 

“I'm fine, Lacey. I just feel a little sick to my stomach,” Bella lied.

 

Behind the closed door, Lacey frowned. `A little sick to her stomach, huh? She's been in the bathroom all morning.' Deciding against pushing the girl into telling her what was really wrong, Lacey sighed and said, “Alright, hun, but if you feel any worse let me know, ok?”

 

“Uh-huh, I'll do that,” Bella replied as she laid back down. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate Lacey's concern; she just didn't want to depend on anyone else anymore. If she'd learned anything from the time she'd spent `discovering herself', it was that she needed to be less dependent on others.

 

On the other hand, Bella was secretly thrilled at the relationship developing between her father and her former art teacher. She knew they'd been concerned that she would be upset or even angry at them for dating, but Bella had been quick to reassure them that she was fine.

 

But, despite her happiness for them, Bella couldn't help but think bitterly in the back of her mind… `That should be Cole and I. We should be the ones cuddling on the couch, falling asleep to some corny old movie on TV. We should be the ones laughing and talking, planning our futures together. It should be us…'

 

Pushing herself up off the floor, Bella wrapped her huge pink robe tightly around her thin figure and gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She barely recognized herself these days. Fingering the ends of her stringy blond hair, Bella exhaled heavily. She was losing weight rapidly due to the fact that she never felt like eating and everything she ate made her want to throw up.

 

`It's gotta be this flu. What I need is bed rest and juice. That's what Cole always used to tell me…'

 

Opening the bathroom door, Bella fought back a wave of dizziness and put a hand out to steady herself to keep from falling.

 

“Are you ok, Bell?” Robert asked, concern softening his voice. He'd walked out of his bedroom to witness his daughter's unsteady exit and now was striding quickly over to where she stood weaving slightly side to side.

 

“Daddy, I don't feel so good,” she mumbled and with that, Bella lost the fight with her lightheadedness and fell unconscious into her father's arms.

 

 

 

 

 

Pacing nervously in the hospital waiting room, Robert scrubbed his hands over his face and gave Lacey an anxious look. “Do you think she's going to be ok?

 

“I don't know, hopefully. But, if she doesn't start eating and taking care of herself, this kind of thing is just going to keep happening,” Lacey told him gently.

 

Robert nodded grudgingly in agreement and plopped down next to her in one of the ugly plastic chairs typical to every hospital in the US. “I should've been watching her more closely. If I had, this probably wouldn't have happened.”

 

“It isn't your fault, Robert. You and your daughter both have the tendency to blame things on yourselves that really aren't under your control. What Bella is suffering from right now is something she's going to have to work through on her own. You should know that better than anyone.”

 

Putting an arm around Lacey's shoulders and pulling her close to his side, Robert murmured, “I know, and I do, but that doesn't stop me from wishing I could just kiss her hurt away, and make it all better like I used to do when she was little.”

 

Lacey smiled and nuzzled the side of his neck with her nose. “I know and that just means that you're a good father. The only thing you can give her right now is your love and compassion, because I have a feeling she's feeling very hopeless right now, very lost, like she has nothing left to live for. What Bella needs is a reason to want to be happy again, a reason to get up each morning. Until she finds that… she'll continue to feel empty and unhappy.

 

Pressing a tender kiss to his brow, Lacey smoothed the pale strands from his forehead and looked deeply into his ever changing hazel orbs. “She can do this, Robert. Even though she doesn't think so, Bella's a very strong young woman. She just needs time to discover her way in the world without the one person she's always depended on so greatly for her happiness.”

 

“Is there anything you don't know?” Robert inquired teasingly, though she could tell he appreciated her little pep talk from the slightly less apprehensive expression on his face.

 

Lacey chuckled and punched him lightly in the shoulder while she pretended to think about his question. “I'm a really horrible cook, I can barely boil water,” she answered seriously, laughter twitching the corners of her mouth.

 

“Good to know, good to know…”

 

 

 

 

 

Stripping off her rubber gloves and tossing them into the wastebasket, Dr. Deveraux turned to face the young woman currently combing her tangled hair back from her face.

 

Observing the dark circles under her eyes and the half hearted way she carried herself, Dr. Deveraux concluded the girl probably wasn't aware of the news she was about to reveal. Either that or she did know, and that's why she seemed so depressed. `Only one way to find out,' she thought as she took a seat next to the bed the miserable, tired looking woman sat cross legged on.

 

“Miss Campbell, you are severely malnourished and dehydrated. When was the last time you ate a decent meal?”

 

Bella shrugged and fiddled with the edge of the sheet covering the hard mattress. “I'm not sure. I've felt so sick the last week or so that everything I've even attempted to eat has made me want to throw up. I think I have the flu or something.”

 

Dr. Deveraux shook her head and sighed. “You really don't know do you?” she asked softly.

 

“Know what?”

 

“The tests I ran on you came up with some very interesting and unexpected results,” pausing, the kind older woman took Bella's hand in her own and gave it gentle squeeze, “Miss Campbell, you're three months pregnant.”

 

Disbelief and surprise warred with each other as Bella gasped. “Excuse me, but did you say that I'm pregnant? Are you sure?”

 

The doctor chuckled and nodded. “Yes, Miss Campbell, I am. These tests are very rarely wrong. Of course, if you'd like me to run another one, I'd be more than happy to…”

 

Bella shook her head. “No, no… That won't be necessary,” she mumbled. She could still hear the doctor talking faintly in the back round, but Bella couldn't focus on her words.

 

`Pregnant. I'm pregnant. I'm pregnant with Cole's baby,' she thought dazedly as the doctor continued to ramble. Shocked expression fading into a determined one, Bella smiled faintly and placed both of her hands on her still flat abdomen in wonder.

 

Knowing that a fragile life was growing inside of her, a life that had been formed from the love she and Cole shared; somehow lessened the intense pain of his absence. It made Bella feel almost… whole. Even though he wouldn't be there with her to help raise their child, she knew he would be watching over them in death just like he'd always watched over her in life.

 

With the part of him he had left behind with her, Bella had found a reason to go on living.

 

`Forever, Cole. I'll love you forever and there will never be a day that goes by that our baby won't feel our love. I promise.'

 

 

 

 

 

*~~~~A/N~~~~*

 

 

 

Well, folks, Bella and Cole's story is quickly drawing to an end. I'll be posting the epilogue probably sometime tomorrow, along with a preview of my next story which is already in the works for your reading pleasure. :o) On another note, I just want to take a moment and explain something to some of my readers who might still be a little peeved at me for Cole's death.

 

Everything You Want is, and always has been, a love story. But, I never planned for it to be the typical boy meets girl, they fall in love and live happily ever after fairy tale. This story was my clumsy attempt at conveying, I think, a very important message. Life is not a fairy tale. Life is cruel and mean, and people don't always get what they want handed to them. Lessons must be learned in order to survive. Unfortunately for Bella, she had to learn to be strong the hard way, through hardships and loss.

 

Most importantly, the adversities in our lives are what shape us, what mold us into capable, responsible adults. Know what I mean? That was my reason for putting Bella through so much shit. Life sucks and then you get a helmet. (I learned that little pearl of wisdom from Boy Meets World lol) I hope that I've clarified myself a little better for everyone who was wondering why I was being such a cold heartless bitch and taking Cole away from her. :o) I always have a reason for why I do things in my stories, which if you continue to read (which I hope you do, because not all of my stories will be sad, I promise) you'll find out. As always, thank you to all of my readers for your reviews and support. I love you guys! *hugz*

 

 

*~~Media Miner Reviewers~~*

 

 

Amaria: I know, I'm sorry. *hugz* I hope my author's note helps explain my reasoning behind his death a little better for you. Thanks a lot for you review! :o)

 

Darkfire Storm: Nope, I don't do suicide fics. They ick me out. lol Not that I have anything against people who do (they're a very real part of life and shouldn't be hidden away or glossed over), but they're just not for me. Plus, if Bella committed suicide it completely defeat the point I'm trying to convey, know what I mean? :o) Good insight though. Thanks for the continuous support and your review. Hope I didn't disappoint you.

 

quirkyslayer: Shocked ya, huh? YES! lol I was wondering if anyone suspected what I was going to do.

 

 

*~~Anime Spiral Reviewers~~*

 

 

LT Stryffe: See? Things are looking up, just like I promised. :o) *hugz* Thank you so much for your praise about my last chapter. I know the songs are kind of obscure, but I like that. Makes them more original, know what I mean? And there's the added benefit of me LOVING to base a chapter around a song. It's so much fun. lol Expect a lot more of that.

 

Rain Liqueur: Yup, you're right. Bella's going to be ok. :o)

 

 

nay-nay: Sorry for the `depressing aspect.' I hope you understand a little better now why I did that. *hugz* Thanks for continuing to read and review. It really means a lot to me. :o)