Dear Edward - Heather Parsons (smart books to read .TXT) 📗

louder this time, Brianna jumped up to quickly and ended up on the floor. Knowing if she made to much noise she'd never be able to leave so she scrambled to get her footing and edged her way to the wall.
There in the corner she saw Mia, smiling faintly Brianna moved closer and followed her out. A side door she didn't know was there was hidden behind stacks of books, school books to be exact. After moving them to the side Brianna opened the door and had to squint. She wasn't used to being out in the open and almost immediately turned back around and went inside. Scared to death of what was lurking in the woods that surrounded the house Brianna took a slow step and then another before clinging to the first tree she could. Her head spun restlessly and her eyes lost focus but the urgency in her sister's voice kept her going.
Only a few more steps. Someone's coming to help you, I sent for them but you have to get away from here.
Every step she took caused her muscles to spasm, unused to moving so much. And the last step she took her legs buckled under her and she fell on the grassy surface. Breathing in deep breaths of fresh air should have been soothing but panic had risen inside her and it terrified her to think what would happen when John came back and found her not there. Would he look for you?
At this thought Brianna's eyes opened and she looked back behind her just in time to see the house that she's been kept in go up in flames. The explosion rocked the ground underneath her but she couldn't move fast enough to escape the bits of woods flying towards her.
Waking up with the damp grass beneath her face, her clothes in shreds and the night's sky staring down at her, Brianna thought that this could be heaven. This could be the only reason she was no longer in pain. Her heart felt whole again as she breathed in the fresh, crisp air. A smile creep on her face as she looked at her sister, felt her arms around her and cried.
Never did she want to wake from this, being here with Mia was better than anywhere she'd ever been. Finally she had her sister back with her, a sister she never knew about but always longed to have.
Soon the image disappeared when she heard voices, one's she knew and thought she'd never hear again brought joy to her fast beating heart. The sound so sweet it brought with it tears of overdue happiness. Her father's voice was among the many she was hearing.
But all too soon those sounds turned into muffled screams. Some of them yelling and some crying loud enough to break her heart. What did they find? Was she dead?
Opening her eyes caused pain to shot through her temples and a scream to escape her throat. Why was this simple action so difficult? she thought, searching in the depth of her mind for answers. Something happened but she couldn't remember. Someone was brought to her, someone she knew but couldn't for the life of her put a face on that person.
“No!” She cried.

TWENTY-SEVEN

'Giving Back' was a simple project. The only requirement was to write back to those who didn't have anyone else. A letter of friendship, hope and love sent from one person to another. Simple, really? But it wasn't.
To those who took the project as just another assignment never saw what was really happening. Never saw that because of it, fate would intervene trapping a young life turmoil. Drifting between life and death. And dreaming for the latter.
That day was much the same as any other, although for Brianna it was more important than just another day. It was the last day she had to turn in her assignment that she'd worked so hard to make everything just perfect in. Adding touches here and there, to show she really did care about them and it wasn't just something she was told to do. Giving her heart to the faceless names and sending all her prayers with it.
As the sun slipped from the sky adding color to the mix she quickly gathered her things and hurried down the stairs. Desperate to make it back to school before Mr. Thomas left so her hard earned work would be sent with the rest of them.
“Mom, I need to go. I need to turn these in.” Brianna said as calmly as she could while holding the letters firmly in her grasp. “I promise I'll come straight back afterward but I really need to leave now.”
Ella was sitting causally on the couch watching what little news was on TV when Brianna came in the room. Looking up at her daughter's face and seeing the tears that had yet to fall caused her throat to close up. She couldn't say no to her but Ella also knew leaving Brianna to drive alone wouldn't be wise either. Not in her state of mind.
“Okay well then, let's go.” Ella smiled and pushed off of the couch.
“Mom you don't have to. I'm perfectly fine driving myself there and back, plus you need your rest.” Brianna pleaded, trying hard not to blink. She knew the tears were there and if they fell she'd lose her argument.
“Don't be silly. I'd love to drive you and you can tell me on the way there all about this project and why it's gotten you teary eyed all the time.” Ella walked by her, placing her hand on Brianna arm, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek.
“Thanks...” Brianna mumbled. She'd tried days to figure out why she teared up every time she put pen to paper and attempted to write these letter. Something about reading the ones sent tore through her heart making it ache but she didn't know the reason why.
With a quick wipe of her eyes to rid herself of the tears Brianna turned towards the front door and walked out. Ella was standing by the drivers side waiting for her and looking more tired than she did inside, causing Brianna's heart to ache that much more. Her mother worked so hard as it was that she didn't need to work that much harder with her concerns for her daughter. But the thought of having someone to talk to about this and having her next to Brianna was enough to push everything back. Especially the pain.
“Mom, mom wait. Can you drop me off at the mall?” Mia asked running outside in desperation to catch Ella before she drove off. Relief hit her the second she saw the car still in the driveway.
“Sure why not. But first your sister needs to drop something off at school and then I take you to the mall.”
Mia was ecstatic, running for the front passengers seat. Claiming shotgun before Brianna could. With a huge smile on her face, she climbed in and buckled her seat belt.
As two twins can ever be, Brianna and Mia was complete opposites. Where Brianna thought of only school and making it through, Mia thought of only shopping and her friends. But they were both loving and caring about everything else. But adamant to leave their mark in this world just in different ways.
Shrugging her shoulder's Brianna walked to the back door and was about to open it when she heard his voice. “Hey baby. Where you headed off to?”
“School.” She smiled feeling her heart race forward.
He'd always felt an instant pull to her and whenever he could, he'd be with her, protecting her. Walking up to her now caused his heart to leap forward, putting a hitch in his throat as he leaned down to kiss her lips. “Can I come?” He asked after releasing his hold.
“Sure, Edward. Now get in, daylight's burning.” Mia yelled through her opened window. She saw him coming before Brianna had and knew he'd ask first and then demand to come. And never did she understand why he always had to be around her until she met someone else too. But if they didn't get a move on she would miss seeing him again.
Opening the back door Brianna climbed in and slid over to make room for him. As he closed the door, instantly he put his arm around her and pulled her close. Kissing her forehand, he lowered his voice and asked, “is something wrong?”
Closing her eyes, Brianna took a deep breath and answered, “no of course not. Now that you're here everything is perfect.” She leaned her head against the crook in his shoulder and sighed deeply.
“I'm here to please.” He smiled his devilish grin.
“If that's true would you two please stop, you're making me ill.” Mia groaned and bent forward to prove the fact. But instead of being sick she was smiling, trying to hide her own devilish grin.
“She's just jealous.” Edward whispered in Brianna's ear. Making her giggle and hide her face further. Closing what little gap there was between them. He pulled her closer and tilted her chin up planting a kiss on her lips that silenced the entire car.
When all there was was silence in the car Ella looked back in the rear view mirror to see what had caused it. And seeing Brianna in the arms of a man that loved her as deeply as he did made her heart swell. They were the perfect couple, she thought. He never let Brianna do anything remotely stupid (not that she would) but he loved her so much to look after her and help her through everything.
Tears escaped her eyes and Ella wiped furiously at them while trying to make it look like she had something in her eyes. At that moment things turned tragic. It happened so fast that no one inside the car could do anything to stop it.
One minute Brianna was happily in the arms of the man she'd pledged her undying love to then the next she was ripped away from him and thrown from the vehicle. Squinting her eyes from the pain she felt, she looked to where the car was. Sitting crumpled on it's hood with gasoline leaking from the tank. Knowing full well that if she didn't get help or help out her family they'd die. But her legs wouldn't move and when she looked down at them she cried out.
The dew covered grass glistening red