Hi all. I have a new story I'm hoping you'll give a chance to. It's definitely not for the younger crowd. There's abuse, and a high tissue warning. I've never written anyone other than Edward or Bella point of view, so this was a new turn for me. Please if you read, let me know what you thought. There will be three short parts, already completed. Thanks so much.
Disclaimer: SM owns all. I just twist the characters around a bit.
If someone had told me, three years from now….
We were the best of friends. You were quiet and mellow, while I was one Ritalin away from bouncing off the walls. We balanced each other out, you could say.
I remember the first time we met. You were lost, looking for your history class. I felt so bad, watching you stumble through our tiny high school that I had to talk to you. Turned out, we had the same class. You said your name was Bella Swan, and that you hated being the center of attention. I knew from that moment on we'd be best friends for life. You were a little more hesitant, and I don't blame you. I can be quite a force to be reckoned with, and you had only known me for five seconds. But you smiled your appreciation for my help, and the rest is history, as the say.
Well, not quite. It still took some time for you to get used to everything, especially coming from a big city to one so small. I grew up in Forks so I already had friends I hung out with. I remember watching you at that first lunch, trying to act comfortable around the people I grew up with. Emmett was a very intimidating figure, even at fifteen, and Rosalie was too beautiful for her own good. You had this look at on your face that screamed panic at what they would think of you. But they accepted you immediately, and without question. As did my love, Jasper. He always said you were good for me. He said you helped keep me from driving everyone crazy with my hyper personality.
"Baby Bell, I'm so glad you're here to keep watch on the munchkin. I mean I can handle her, but it's always nice to have back-up," he'd laughed a couple months into our friendship.
"I do what I can. But as you can see, she really is a two person job." Our whole table laughed at that, and even though I was the subject of the humor, I laughed as well. You were my best friend, after such a short amount of time knowing one another.
Everything was perfect. At least it was in my own mind. I never really questioned much back then. I never thought to think too far outside my own zone of comfort. As long as everything looked good, that was all that mattered. But looks can be very deceiving. I wish I would have known that better.
I never questioned why we always hung out at my house because the one time we did go to your house, I felt bad for how meek you lived. Your room was pretty bare, just the purple comforter over your small twin bed, and the aging computer on that rickety desk. The only thing I could really see as you was all the books you had on your little bookcase. But even those were old and tattered. You didn't even have pictures. I should have asked why you didn't have a television like most people. I should have asked why you didn't even have a real radio, instead depending on an old alarm clock for music. But I was so busy inside my own head, that none of that mattered.
So my house was always where we went. I had fun. I can't be sure if you did, since you were always so quiet. I'd like to think you did, since you smiled and laughed nearly every time you came over. We'd watch movies, surf the internet, gossip (well, I would) about boys-mostly Jasper-or who wanted to hook up with who in our sophomore class. You would even let me braid your hair and put make-up on you. You let me dress you up, though you always made sure to scrub completely clean before you headed home. I should've asked you why.
"That shade looks so good on you, it's a shame you always wash before you leave." I had handed you a towel and soap, pouting at my handy work being wiped away.
"Yeah well, I didn't look like this when I left for school this morning," you replied cryptically. At fifteen, the implications behind your words meant little to me. "But tomorrow, we can try that new purple you bought last weekend. I'll even wear my purple top my mom left." I didn't hear the sorrow in your voice when you spoke of your mom, all I heard was you were going to let me dazzle you up again. I was so excited by that, I started imagining right then and there how to do your hair. You never did wear that top over. In fact, you didn't come back over the next couple days. I guess your dad had a couple days off.
I knew your mom had left just before you and your dad moved to town, but I never thought to question anything about it. I never thought to ask why you weren't allowed to go to sleepovers, or to the movies like everyone else. I never thought to ask why you only did stuff with me when your dad was on duty and not home. I never questioned why you always wore long sleeves and despised shorts so much. I was so selfish back then.
I remember when Edward showed up. Just before the end of tenth grade, around the beginning of April, another new face joined Forks High. The attention was finally off of you and onto someone new. I remember how relieved you were to no longer be in that bubble and spotlight. It makes so much more sense now, but back then I just thought you were extremely shy. I also remember how much female interest Edward garnered. He was a very attractive guy, nothing compared to Jasper, but almost every girl was immediately vying for his attention. We'd laugh about it at lunch and at my house while I gave you a pedicure.
"Did you see Tanya trying to drape herself all over him in the cafeteria? I thought she was gonna fall splat on her face when he stepped away from her to get his lunch." I'd laughed so hard I could feel tears forming.
"And then after seeing that strikeout, Lauren decided she could get him and was all fondling her boobs hoping he'd notice her," Rosalie had chimed in, mimicking the action.
You'd laughed, slapping your knee. "She looked like she had a really bad itch with how much she was going for it."
"The best part was when he walked by all of them without even a glance," I'd said with a sigh, trying to calm my laughing to give my lungs a break.
He was a loner at first. He had that cool, rebel without a cause thing going for him. Of course that made him all the more desirable to all those brain-dead girls in our grade. But then Emmett ended up having gym with him and they started up a friendship. While you'd moved from Phoenix so your dad could start over after his "split" with your mom, Edward and his parents had moved from Chicago so his father could become the head of our tiny hospital. Dr. Carlisle Cullen was almost as dreamy as his son. Who knew how many bored housewives could suddenly come down with something once a new doctor moved in? It was terribly pathetic in a way that made us all laugh.
So once more, a new face joined my group of friends. Edward fit in instantly and I was so happy to see you no longer as the "fifth wheel" in the group. We were now six. And the best part, was how much he despised all the attention those girls gave him. I remember laughing with him at their desperate attempts to get him to notice them. Those were good times. He was a great guy. I should have known why he wasn't interested.
I'm not really sure when it happened. I mean you and Edward talked all the time. You both had the same taste in music, and movies. He liked to read almost as much as you. School was important to both of you. He wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps and be a doctor or a musician if that didn't work out, and you wanted to be a writer. You were both even talking about which colleges you wanted to attend. I should have listened better when the schools started becoming the same. Either way, I still don't know the moment everything clicked. Perhaps it was because of all the times Emmett, Rose, Jasper and I were so caught up in our coupledom that you two needed some way to pass the time. Whatever the reason, I remember one day walking to our table at lunch and seeing Edward holding your hand. You had this blissful smile on your face and he was staring at you with the goofiest expression I'd ever seen that boy wear. I remember feeling my heart swell from sheer happiness. It was never intentional to try and get you two together, but it was magical to see it happen.
It also made for an entertaining last couple of weeks when every girl who still pathetically thought they had a shot with him realized he only had eyes for you.
We didn't hang out as much after that day, but I didn't mind. You still made time for me, but more and more you spent your time with Edward, whether it be hiding out in the library at school, or sneaking off to the woods behind the school. Since we didn't have cars yet, that was the best any of us could do. The pleasure I felt at seeing real joy in your eyes made up for the time we no longer spent together. Everything seemed so perfect. Maybe I was just blind to reality.
We spent our summer break hanging out at my pool or watching movies. You didn't always join in on pool days no matter how much I begged you to. I always figured you were declining because of how shy you were. I should have known better, since you had grown to be so comfortable in our group. Yet, again, I let it go, especially since you didn't turn me down every time, only some times. We spent a lot of time at Edward's house too. Esme was so amazing that I'm sure we all wished she'd adopt us. Those times were especially true when she baked her famous chocolate chip cookies and raspberry cannoli's. And his birthday party in June was a sight to behold with all those treats. I wish you could have stayed past six that day.
As the summer marched on, I did begin to notice some things though. I stopped being completely blind. But I didn't notice them on you. It was Edward. I remember one day going to Jasper's and seeing him there, head in his hands, defeat written across his face. He hadn't told Jasper anything, hadn't really said anything at all, just needed a person to be around, he'd said. Where Emmett was loud and usually liked to talk, Jasper was quiet, and didn't require much conversation. He would just let people be and Edward needed that. I remember I asked him where you were, since you guys seemed to be joined at the hip. I remember his eyes watering before he fought it off. I was so perplexed. What could possibly cause that reaction in regards to you? There was nothing I could think of. Then he answered. He said you were sick and that you were home resting. You had told him you were contagious and that was why he wasn't at your side, taking care of you. I don't know why, but I didn't believe him at the time. There was something in the way he said it that made my insides turn. But I didn't press.
I didn't know if you guys were fighting or if you really were sick. I just know I made myself let it go. Looking back, I realize how stupid that was. For the first time in my life, I wasn't butting in to other people's business when I should have. I'd always been a meddler, but when it came to the two of you, I held back. And when you finally showed up, holding tightly to Edward's hand, two days later, I could see that something was wrong, that your eyes were a little less alive. But I kept quiet. I didn't want to interfere in your business if it was between you and Edward.
While you both still smiled and laughed, the deepest smiles were only now shared between the two of you. As were the most serious of looks, and delicate touches.
As summer began to wind down, August turning into September, things seemed to be returning to normal. Well, at least as normal as everything was before. You were laughing again, though it was still hesitant, and when we celebrated your birthday at Edward's house, you even stayed until nine that night. I really thought everything was fine. I really believed whatever had happened over the summer was done and over with. We all have our moments. I couldn't tell you how many times I watched Rose and Emmett fight only to make up hours later. We were young and dumb and I was sure it was nothing to worry about.
Junior year passed much like sophomore year, just with less attention on the two of you. The girls of Forks High finally realized Edward only had eyes for you, and moved on to other boys. Halloween came, and instead of coming to my house to watch scary movies, like you'd done the year before, this time Edward went to your house. I didn't know it since you kept so much to yourself, but not only was that a night your father worked the late shift, since being the Chief of Police required him to give extra attention to such a ruckus holiday, but that was also the night you and Edward made love for the first time. I remember the glow you had about you when you guys showed up at school, the sweet smile he gave whenever you locked eyes.
You were both virgins who gave each other the most sacred gift you can offer your loved one. He took care of you. He loved you. He held you tight and took away the world while binding his soul to you. I could tell by the way he looked at you that Edward loved you so very deeply. I could tell by the way he moved around you that you were the most precious thing to him. He would die for you, kill for you, and do anything you asked him to do without a second thought. I admired his loyalty to you. I admired his undying devotion. I knew he would be the key to your future happiness. I knew together you both would be unstoppable.
I wish I could have seen the future. I wish I could have known.
