Official Description: One day, Bella wandered into the woods and came across a mysterious creature. Captivated by it, she begins her long association with it. But where will it take her? A short fantasy fairytale story.

Word Count: 30,151

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This story was recommended to me by way of a Livejournal comm. I was intrigued by the summary right away, and of the possibility of something different.

I wasn’t disappointed. I can honestly say I haven’t read too many stories as unique as this one. For one thing it’s written like a dark fairytale, in both style and substance. Some aspects feel canon, like Bella’s clumsiness and her intrinsic attraction to The Creature living in the woods behind her house (who we suspect is probably Edward). Also, her inability to see him (literally; he’s blurry to her. Obviously canon Bella can see Edward physically but his true nature is kept from her at first “for her safety”.)

Another interesting element is Annabelle, whom we can assume is Bella’s imaginary friend. They interact in every chapter, with Annabelle often encouraging Bella –among other things—to foster her relationship with the Creature.

Annabelle reassured her that the Creature and Bella had a love story. Love stories never ended tragically or unhappily, especially the one of Bella and the Creature. He could not abandon her and expect it to turn out happily. There was no other way.

As the years go by both the Creature and Annabelle remain steadfast companions to Bella. Even though Bella’s relationship with the Creature stays platonic on the surface, it definitely has subtle romantic undertones. You feel yourself wanting them to become closer, for him to stop hiding himself to her.

I loved this story. It’s written well, in kind of a fantastical, lilting tone, and it’s not long, clocking in at just seven chapters. The best part is that it kept me guessing. The twists and turns are anything but formulaic and the ending was… completely unexpected.

Only Little Girls is unlike anything I’ve ever read. Not just in the fanfic world, but EVER. gangsterdorothy has created her very own world, and it’s beautiful.*

Bella jetted like a racing horse out of the starting gate and into the woods to see the creature. Her dress, newly christened from her mothers hands and hair freshly trimmed, caressed the wind as her feet flew beneath her; oh how she wished she were a bird in that moment.

Dodging shallow puddles and potentially dangerous rocks, she regaled herself with previous memories of him. Their first encounter, the one occasion where her arm brushed against his long sleeve shirt. The day earlier than the horrific accident when she finally identified the scent of him (a pine woodsy musk that reminded her of the lumber her father set aside for the winter months). She couldn’t stand to wait any longer without him. The weight of her dreadful two months away from him dissipated the closer she came to her destination.

Out of breath from her overexerted excitement, she placed herself on her rock. She knew him not too far behind her. She never knew a more gallant day or a time when she had not been happier to have her vision blur when he stepped into the clearing.

This story is not what it seems, I learned that the hard way. It has an ending that left me gaping at my computer screen wondering wtf just happened.

It’s complete, and a quick read, but something that is definitely worth your time. Read it, and then come and discuss the ending with me. You know you want to.

In this modern fairytale of sorts, gangsterdorothy creates a world where answers and explanation are seldom and cryptic, but the intrigue high. Beginning with a very young – but extremely gifted – Bella, Only Little Girls follows Bella through her adolescent and teenage years as she interacts with the Creature in the woods, getting drawn deeper and deeper into his mysterious world, and never knowing what will become of either of them. No matter how many questions she has, she is continuously drawn back to him, and over time, her feelings develop in ways she can’t really explain.

Along the way, other moments of mystery take place, making readers question what is real in this story, if anything at all, and what will become of Bella.

I enjoyed reading this story because it was unique, and certainly unlike anything I’d ever read in fanfiction. To be completely honest, I think it’s more up to par with Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark than the Twiverse. The story itself isn’t necessarily scary, but the unknown blended with the supernatural and fantasy elements of the tale definitely place this story in a unique category.

If you’re looking for something that will take you out of the monotony of broken-Bellas who can only be healed by jaded-past-Edwards and contrived fluff, this might be a story for you. Happy reading!