Just when I thought I was okay, just as I tried to get up, I froze completely and everything went black. It was like I was underwater; I heard a muffled voice. It could've lasted seconds, it could have lasted minutes, but eventually the voice became clear. "Mari honey, Mari," the voice called. I came to with my head in my mom's lap and her gently rubbing my forehead. "Hi Mama," I croaked, my voice catching in my throat along with the air I tried to suck in. I started to cough and she sat me up, rubbing my back. "How about you go change and take your night meds and I'll order pizza? We can stay down here tonight," she suggested. I agreed because I was too tired to argue. She helped me up and went to the kitchen to use the phone while I went to my room. I changed into my old dance academy sweatshirt and a pair of shorts before grabbing two out of the five prescription bottles off of my nightstand. I let my hair down and shook it out, taking a pill from each bottle then heading back downstairs. I grabbed a bottled water from the fridge and opened it, taking my medicine and chugging half the bottle. Mama was just getting off the phone with the pizza place when I settled back down in my spot on the couch. I turned on the TV and flipped through the stations, settling on a game show.

She came back with a couple pillows and a blanket from her room. "Do you want to go to school tomorrow?" she asked as she laid on the opposite end of the couch. I shook my head, burrowing under the covers. "Do you want me to stay home with you?" I shook my head again. "I just need rest. I'll be fine," I whimpered. "Okay sweetie," she sighed, patting my leg. We were in the middle of Wheel of Fortune when the doorbell rang. "That's the pizza," she grinned, getting up and running to get the door. I stared at the letters on the screen. A, E, A, T, I, L, M, I, D, with five letters missing. It was supposed to be a movie title. "A Beautiful Mind," I mumbled to myself, grinning when the answer was revealed and I turned out to be right. Mama came back with a pizza box in one arm and a two-liter of Dr. Pepper and two wine glasses in the other. "Dinner for queens," she giggled, handing me a glass. We sat cross-legged and facing each other, the large meat lover's pizza in between us. She filled our glasses with soda before clanking her glass against mine. I rolled my eyes and laughed at the goofy woman that had birthed me. "Let's see what's on," she said, taking the remote from me and pulling up the guide. We ended up watching Dracula. "Bela Lugosi is a legend, and you can fight me if you don't agree!" I proclaimed, puffing my chest out. Mama plucked a piece of bacon from her slice of pizza and threw it at me. "Fight this," she scoffed. My head still hurt, though not as bad as before. The static was now a soft buzz in the back of my head. "Mama?" She looked up at me mid-bite, her mouth full of cheesy greasy goodness. "Hm?" she grunted as she continued to tear into her food. "Having seizures sucks," I pouted, picking at the toppings on my pizza. She swallowed and took a big gulp from her glass before looking at me sadly. "I know it does Mari, I know. Your grandmother used to have seizures and I had to take care of her. It's just another obstacle life throws at people, but I know you're strong. Nothing can stop you," she assured me. I smiled softly and we ate in silence as we finished our movie.

I woke up the next morning to the sound of rain pouring outside. It was dark throughout the house and I was alone. I got up and went to the kitchen with the blanket draped around me. I started the coffee pot and grabbed a doughnut from the box on the counter before heading upstairs. The first thing I did every morning was take my medicine, and today was no different. After dry-swallowing the pills, I pulled a small notebook from my nightstand and flipped it open. It was filled with dates and short notes. I took the pen from inside and added to its almost-full pages.

March 14th
1st seizure in a month
Duration: 1-3 minutes

I put the notebook down and set my phone on charge, which was dead now. Finally, I made my way back downstairs. The coffee was done by the time I re-entered the kitchen, and I fixed myself a mug. I took a sip and sighed happily as I watched the rain. I turned my attention away from the window to grab another doughnut, and that's when I noticed the letter on the counter.

Mari,
I'll be home around 4 today. If at any time you aren't feeling alright, call me and I'll be home immediately. Get some rest. Love you!
-Mama

I smiled and set the note aside before making my way back to the living room. I turned on the DVD player and popped in Beauty and the Beast, my favorite stay-home-on-a-sick-day movie, and crawled back onto the couch with my warm cup of coffee. I sang the opening song, and every song that followed. I went through the entire pot of coffee by the time the movie was over. I decided to start another Disney movie, but I fell asleep before the end of the opening credits. I woke up to a rapid and repetitive tapping. The time on the cable box said 3:15, and I bolted up off of the couch. I didn't realize I had slept all day. The noise continued. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" I yelled as I made my way to the front door. I swung it open, surprised to find Edward standing there and looking very displeased. "You weren't in school today," he stated. I nodded and opened the door wider, turning around and walking back to the living room. I turned on the light and cut the TV off, busying myself with folding up the blanket that I had been using and cleaning up the living room. Edward sat on the couch as I took the dishes to the kitchen. I came back and sat at the far end of the couch. He handed me a small stack of papers. "I got your homework for you," he said. "Thank you," I murmured. There was another long stretch of silence between us. "Why weren't you at school?" he asked. "Why does it matter?" I snapped, immediately regretting it. "I was worried about you. You weren't feeling well yesterday and I wanted to be sure you were alright," he sighed.

"And obviously you're fine if you have it in you to be rude." I looked down at the papers I had in my lap. He sure had a way of making me feel bad. "I'm sorry. I'm fine, really, today was just a day to rest and relax. I had a seizure last night," I confessed, looking up at him warily. In his eyes was what looked to be pity. "If all you're going to do is feel bad for me, you can go. I'd rather be alone than be pitied," I said softly, biting my lip and trying my hardest not to cry. "I'm not here to pity you," he sighed, cautiously scooting closer to me. "You're epileptic?" I nodded. "How long have you had seizures?" he continued. "As long as I can remember. They started when I was maybe six or seven. Just a malfunction in my brain I guess," I chuckled darkly. He looked like he wanted to comfort me or do something, but he remained still. I couldn't bring my gaze to meet his; I looked around at everything but never met his eyes. "Can I hear those theories now?" he asked, changing the subject. I looked up to see a warm smile gracing his gorgeous face. "Demigod? Superhero? Fallen angel? I don't know, when I look at you all I can picture is some all-powerful being or the victim of experimentation, maybe even someone who should be part of the X-Men," I giggled. "They're all stupid, but it's all I can think of." He chuckled and leaned back, laying his arm over the back of the couch. "Demigod? Interesting, but no. Superhero, not even close," he snorted. "Mutant? That's a funny one. Angel is even funnier. Why do you insist on making me out to be the good guy? What if I'm not?" His voice was low and serious, and he was just inches from my face. His scent made my head spin, but in the best possible way. He made it too easy to lose focus of the world and get lost in him.

"You mean to tell me you're the bad guy? Nah, I don't believe that. Dangerous, maybe. But definitely not bad. Whatever the hell you are, you're not the bad guy," I insisted. "You don't know that. You said it yourself, you hardly know me," he responded, his voice thick with self-loathing. "But I want to know you. Tell me," I begged. "Fine," he gave in. "Ask away." I eagerly jumped up and tucked my feet under me. "Really? Okay, you told me to hold onto this question the other day. Why are you so cold?" I asked eagerly. His brows furrowed and he looked confused. "You remember that? Out of all the questions you could- I just am cold, and yes I'm cold all the time," he answered with a small smile. "Tell me about your family," I implored. He looked reluctant to speak, so I put on my saddest pout and whined, "I told you all about mine!" He put his hands up, letting out a husky laugh. "No need to guilt trip me, I will tell you," he sighed. I sat perfectly still, enraptured by the way he spoke of his adopted family. He spoke most fondly of his dad, Carlisle. "Carlisle has taken care of you for a long time, hasn't he?" I asked. He nodded, fidgeting with his jacket. "For as long as I can remember," he answered. From what he said, I realized he was closer with his sister Alice than he was the rest of his siblings. I looked at the little clock on the cable box and got up reluctantly. It was almost 4:30. "I'll be right back," I said before darting up the stairs. I grabbed my phone and turned it on. Two missed calls and four unread messages. One of the calls was from Bella and the other from my dad. Three of the texts were from Bella and one was from my mom.

Hey sweetie, I hope you're doing alright. I'm gonna be a little late. xoxo

I quickly typed out a response and sent it to Mama before calling Daddy. He answered on the third ring "Hey mija," he said. I could almost see his broad smile. "Hey Daddy," I chirped, tucking the phone against my ear as I made my way back downstairs. I went into the kitchen and started taking out food for dinner. "Your mother told me you had a seizure last night." It wasn't a question, and there was no point trying to lie to him because he always knew when I was lying. "Yeah, but I'm fine. I stayed out of school today to rest," I explained, walking back to the living room and sitting down next to Edward again. "As long as you're feeling alright," he sighed happily. "Daddy, I'll call you back later tonight. I've got a friend over and I'm fixin' to start dinner. Tell StepMonster I said hi," I said, looking up at Edward who was watching me intently. "Tamara," he scolded. "Bye Daddy," I giggled. "Bye mija," he mumbled. I hung up and set my phone next to me. "Your father is alright with the animosity you have toward your stepmother?" he asked, looking at me incredulously. "He knows I don't like her, and he knows nothing is going to change that, but he's happy," I replied with a shrug. "Did you ever have a boyfriend when you lived with your dad?" he asked suddenly. It was my turn to be surprised. "That's an odd question...but no, I didn't," I sighed. "What about you? Have you ever had a girlfriend?" He looked at me with an amused expression and shook his head.

"I never really saw the point in dating and high school sweethearts. Call me old fashioned, but the goal in a relationship is to spend your life with one person, and high school romances are fleeting," he confessed. I nodded slowly, tearing my gaze away from him and staring at the floor. "I like that, waiting for someone you want to be with forever; it's why I've never had a relationship. No one has ever really captured my attention, or my heart...until you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I really wish you wouldn't say that," he grimaced. "Why?" I pressed on, anxious for his response.  It was quiet for a long time, and finally, he spoke. "Would it be cliché to say I feel the same about you?" he breathed, letting out a small laugh. I closed the few inches between us and laid my forehead against his shoulder. His whole body tensed, and he hesitantly wrapped his arm around me. "Are you still going to the beach tomorrow?" he asked. I nodded slowly. "Although I'm going to worry about you anyway, promise me you'll be safe," he whispered, one of his hands running gently through my hair. "Of course I'll be safe," I vowed. He let go of me and stood, a warm smile on his face. "I'll see you Monday," he said. I got up to walk him to the front door, but the back door swung open followed by Mama's voice. "Mari, I'm home!" Edward just smiled again before quietly slipping out the front door.

I stood in the middle of the living room, blushing and grinning like a fool. What he said, how he felt- I couldn't believe it! Mama coughed loudly, gaining my attention. I turned around to see her leaning against the wall. "Do you want to cook dinner or do you want me to? We could always go out," she suggested. I started making my way to the kitchen, kissing her cheek softly as I walked by. "I'll cook," I insisted. "Dinner will be done in thirty minutes tops." She took her briefcase with her to the couch as I started washing and dicing vegetables. Edward's words stuck with me the rest of the evening until bedtime. Would it be cliché to say I feel the same way about you? He had to be teasing, but I desperately hoped that he wasn't.