The Game 2

A/N: Here it is! The sequel to The Game.

Edward's POV

I was waiting for my angel to finish changing from gym. Alice had run home, of course, no one else knew that. She had reserved the use of her vampire speed for when she wasn't in the sight of the humans.

Emmett, Jasper, and Rosalie were all waiting at home for us. I was glad I could pass as one of the 'younger Cullens.' I would be bored out of my mind if I had to be home all day. Emmett and Rosalie kept themselves 'occupied,' I shuddered at the thought, but Jasper didn't have anyone. Alice was here all day with us. And if I stayed home, I would be without Bella. What would I do with myself if I wasn't with my precious Bella? Well, I admitted sheepishly, I knew exactly what I would do. I would sneak to school and spy on her. As Emmett would say, I was whipped.

Then I broke out of my reverie as I saw her emerge from the gym doors along with our fellow school mates. Immediately, I noticed that there was something wrong. Bella's face was ashen and she was walking unsteadily, almost staggering. When I got closer, I could see that her face was red from exertion and she was breathing heavily. What had happened?

I got out of the car and rushed over to her.

"Bella, Bella are you okay?"

I held her at arm's distance, my eyes frantically checking her over. I couldn't spot any visible damage or injury.

She just looked at me and shook her head dazedly. I grimly set my mouth into a firm line and swept her up into my arms. If she couldn't talk, she was in no condition to be walking. Swiftly, I carried her back to the car and deposited her in the passenger seat.

She was still inanimate as I started the car and pulled onto the road. I stole a tense glance at her pale, heated complexion. I resisted the urge to yank the car right back into the school parking lot and demand someone explain why a happy, healthy Bella had entered the school this morning, and a withdrawn, horrorstruck, overexerted Bella had been returned to me.

"Bella," I asked as softly as I could, "what's wrong?"

No response. She just kept taking deep, smooth breaths, as though she was trying to keep herself calm.

"Do we need to go see Carlisle?"

At that, she shook her head wordlessly.

"That's it Bella, we're going."

She responded with a sound that could only be described as a whimper.

My face softened. If she really didn't want to go . . .

I pursed my lips. "Okay," I said reluctantly, "if you promise to tell me what happened, I won't make you go get checked out by Carlisle."

She looked relieved.

"Do you agree?"

She nodded gratefully.

Grimly, I rerouted the direction of the car and headed for Bella's home.

Pulling the car to a stop, I ran around the side to pick Bella up and take her inside. She protested and that relieved me minimally. That meant she was becoming a tiny bit more normal.

Once inside, I set her down on the couch and smoothed her hair back from her face.

"Come on sweetie, just tell me what happened. I promise I won't be mad. Is that what you're worried about? That I'll be mad?"

She shook her head.

"Then what's wrong?"

She took another calming breath and looked at me, horror in her eyes.

"Field and Track Year."

I was slightly confused. What was she talking about? Well, at least she was talking. That was something.

"What is that?"

"We have to have field and track for gym for the rest of the year. We had to run until we threw up today."

Now the horror had transferred to my face and I had lied, I was very angry. They had made Bella sick. How dare they mess with her? That had to be illegal.

"What inspired this?"

She rolled her eyes pitifully. "Mike made the comment that Coach Clapp was short very loudly, within Coach Clapp's vicinity. Basically, we all were punished. You know how sensitive Coach is about that stuff."

Yes, I did know. Coach Clapp was very short and had been teased as a small boy, constantly tormented with midget comments. His mind was constantly revolving around the old days when he had been picked on.

"So, you ran today?"

"Yes," she shuddered delicately, "we ran for twenty minutes straight. He put out trash cans around the corner for those who couldn't make it to the bathroom."

My rage increased slightly. "Newton will pay."

"Edward," she said carefully, "I would not object right now to you torturing Mike, but I have a more pressing problem. Coach said that we would be doing hurdles tomorrow, in the freezing temperatures outside, hurdles Edward." Her voice trembled and my resolve softened. I would deal with Newton later, right now I needed to focus on Bella's predicament.

And there was absolutely no way she would be outside doing hurdles tomorrow. That I knew with certainty.

"Bella, I think I have the solution to your problem."

Hope filled her doe-like eyes and she tightened her clutch on me. "What?" It was not the normal voice of my angel it was small and full of desperation.

"I think that Carlisle should write a note excusing you from gym for the rest of the school year."

"He would do that?"

"Of course Bella. In fact, it sort of makes sense, it would be truthful, if he wouldn't excuse you, then in a couple of days, and then you would be too incapacitated to do gym anyway."

"Oh thanks."

"Hey," I said with a grin as I absently ran my hand over her hair, "do you want the note, or not?"

She gave me her most beatific smile. "I will be indebted to you for the rest of my life if you would do this for me."

"Okay then, it's settled, let's go."

"Wait, where is Carlisle?"

She seemed hesitant to leave.

"At the hospital, he's covering for an ER doctor tonight? Why?"

"Would you mind terribly if I didn't come with you. You know I'm really not that fond of hospitals . . ."

Oh, that was all.

"Of course, that's fine Bella, are you sure you'll be okay until I come back?"

"Yes, I'll manage for a whole twenty minutes alone by myself," she teased.

I, however, was not amused.

"Fifteen minutes," I corrected.

Bella's POV

I was putting away the dishes that I had just washed when the phone rang. It was probably just Edward, checking on me again. He was way too overprotective. I wasn't that accident prone. I could safely spend a half an hour alone by myself. Shaking my head, I pressed the talk button.

"Hello?"

"Oh hey, I'm glad I caught you Bella. I was wondering if you had my CD that I gave you a couple of weeks ago?" It was Angela.

"Um, I'm not sure, hold on one second and I'll check."

Taking the phone out with me, I checked in my truck, it was in there. I still had the phone with me as I walked up the steps.

"Yes, Ang, I have it. I'll bring it to school tomorrow."

"Okay thanks, bye."

"Bye."

I looked down at the phone to press end. When I did, I felt my foot get caught in something and I tripped. I fell, but didn't stop; I kept falling down the stairs and landed on top of one of my legs. The pain was immense and I couldn't hold back a shrill scream. Tears rolled down my face. I just needed to get up and get inside. I tried to stand up. That was a mistake; I fell back down and gripped my left leg. The pain was white hot and throbbing. Looking around, I caught sight of the phone and grabbed it, dialing the emergency number. We weren't populated enough in Forks to have a 911.

Edward's POV

I had Carlisle sign the slip even if I could forge his handwriting perfectly. It made me feel a little dishonest to do that when I knew he wouldn't mind doing it himself.

"Hold on a second Edward, I need to talk to you-"

Carlisle was cut off by the shrill ring of his cell phone.

He walked into his office and then came out a few minutes later.

He looked at me grimly; his mind was shut off from me.

"What?"

"Was Bella home alone?"

I closed my eyes. "Yes," I said tersely.

"She's on her way here."

"She knew that I was only going to be a minute, why would she-?"

"She's had an accident Edward."

Bella's POV

The stretcher hit a bump as they wheeled me into the emergency room. I bit back a groan.

As soon as we got past the doors, Edward was there at my side with Carlisle beside him. They put me in a room and gave me an IV. I tried to concentrate on Edward's beautiful, yet very worried face.

The pain started to recede as Carlisle started checking over my leg.

"I guess I won't need that excuse after all," I joked lamely.

Edward attempted a smile.

"And you were right," I continued. "I guess I can't go twenty minutes without you."

"I'm sorry Bella."

"Sorry, whatever for?"

"I should have never left you by yourself."

He was blaming himself again. He always blamed himself.

"Edward, this is my fault, I should have known better than to try and talk on the phone and walk at the same time. I did this. You can leave me for small periods of time. You are absolutely not to blame."

He rolled his eyes and turned to Carlisle anxiously.

"It's broken," he confirmed.

"Again?" I asked sadly.

I could not believe this.

"I have to call Charlie now Bella."

I nodded, he would freak when he found out too. At least he couldn't blame Edward for this injury.

Carlisle left to make the call.

Edward gently took my hand in his.

"Is there any pain?"

"No, I can't feel . . . anything actually. What did they give me?"

"Your basic pain killers."

"Oh, okay."

I sat lay there for a moment, and then I started laughing.

Edward looked at me curiously. "What's funny?"

"Well," I said in between laughs, "I wanted to stay home so I didn't have to go to the hospital, and because I stayed home, I had to go to the hospital."

I laughed more.

Edward was looking at me like I was slightly crazy. I probably was.

"Maybe I should check the dosage they gave you."

Bella's POV

Two days later

Charlie had insisted that I stay home from school Thursday and Friday. I was totally bored because he took time off from work and stayed home with me. As much as I appreciated the gesture, that meant no Edward.

Edward of course came to visit me in the afternoons and evenings after school.

On Friday, Charlie came in while Edward was with me, arranging the pillow under my hot pink cast. Alice had gone with me to get my leg casted.

"Bella, how would you like to come to the opening basketball game on next Friday?"

I stared at him in horror. How many times did I need to prove to him that sports or physical activity and I just did not mix?

"I think that sounds wonderful Bella," Edward put in evilly, shooting me a sideways look that had 'human experience' written all over it.

"I'm not sure, I mean I would have to deal with bleachers and I have this bum leg and all . . ." I tried to sound disappointed.

"Nonsense Bella," Charlie interjected, "Edward here could help you with that, couldn't you Edward?"

"Of course Charlie; Bella, I would help you out."

"See Bella, there'd be no problem."

"Yes Bella, you should go, it would be a good, experience for you. I'm sure Alice will want to come as well. Emmett, Jasper, and Rosalie might want to join us as well."

Charlie beamed at Edward. "There, you see Bella; all of your friends will be going."

"Okay dad, I'll go," I said in surrender.

After Charlie went to the kitchen, I mock hit Edward in the shoulder. "Don't you remember what happened the last time I went to a school function?" I hissed at him.

"Bella, most of that happened afterward, and I'll make sure that I never leave your side the entire night, and trust me, you are not going to an after party, though I doubt there'll be one."

At that, I grinned. "Are they as bad as our football team?"

"Worse."

A/N: Once again, I hope you liked it, currently, I'm working on nine stories right now, so I'll update as soon as possible, but I have to be honest, currently, Homebound is top priority right now, it's reaching it's climatic stage. And if you have read that story, I totally suggest you do. But, like I said, I will try to update accordingly. And yes, in my elementary school, in the third grade that really did happen, except I didn't break my leg and we had it for the whole year. It sucked. Anyway, please review and tell me what you thought!