BPOV
Sitting at my vanity, I looked into the mirror. My pitiful reflection staring right back at me with a swollen cheek that was beginning to turn black and blue. In a few more hours it would be a deep purple and blue. Opening up the bottom drawer where I kept different items for such an occasion, and took out a jar of cream that would help keep the swelling to a minimum. A knock on the bedroom door startled me and I cringed in pain as my fingers pressed into the sensitive skin harshly.
"Bella?" Edward call into the room.
My heart beat picking up, hands trembling as I sat the jar down and watched as the bedroom door opened. My eyes never blinked, focused on his figure till he was standing behind me with his hands placed on my shoulders.
"I'm headed out, I wanted to say goodbye before I left." His voice soft, bending to place light kissed along my neck. "Will you cook roasted lamb for dinner? No one can make a mint sauce that compares to yours."
I was still holding my breath, making it difficult to answer right away, his finger tips digging into my skin slightly.
"Of course, Edward." Trying to give him a small smile though it ended up looking more like a grimace.
"I love you." If I didn't know better I would have called his smile warm. "I'm sorry I lost my temper, are you angry with me?"
"Of course not, I know you didn't mean it." I replied on auto pilot. "I love you too." These last few sentences were ones we repeated more often than not.
"Have a good day at work."
"Thank you." He brushed his lips against mine gently, though it still made a ripple of pain as they brushed against the spot that was split open.
I didn't move, didn't breath, till I heard the front door close behind him and his car start. I finished rubbing on the cream and applied my foundation that I bought a shade darker for this very reason. Once I was covered up I went to my dresser to get dressed. As I pulled on a pair of jeans as I stared at the picture that sat on top of the dresser. A picture of Edward and I on our wedding day. It felt like I was looking at someone else as I stared at myself. Much like I would at stranger. The look of pure love and trust that was on my face as I gazed up at Edward, a proud smile and confident face as he stared into the camera lens. I looked like a dotting wife that couldn't look away from her husband even for a picture. I thought back to the first day I had met Edward, it felt like a lifetime ago.
X
It was my first day at a new school and I tried to pretend I didn't see all the curious looks on the other students faces as I walked through the halls. Finally I had me last class of the day, eager to make my escape as soon as the bell rang to dismiss us. There was only one seat empty, and beside it sat one of the most handsome boys I had ever seen.
"Ms. Swan, please take the empty chair." The teacher said after signing my slip. "Edward, please get Isabella a book from the self."
He looked up as his name was called and his facial expression chilled me. He glared slightly as if he was furious at being put out, but only nodded to acknowledge he heard.
I wondered if this was the same Edward Jessica had told me about.
Jessica was one of the few girls who tried to be friendly and invited me to sit with her during lunch. She proceeded to informing me of the student body's social lives. There was Mike, who I had noticed staring the most at me, whom she was secretly in love with but didn't have the courage to tell him. Lauren was stuck up, Angela sweet but kind of a nerd. Tyler was a stoner, and that left Edward Cullen. She spoke his name with a twitch of her nose, as if it left her with a bitter taste in her mouth.
"He moved here last year and still doesn't talk to anyone, he thinks he's to good for us or something." She said with disdain. "There family is loaded. His older brother, Emmett, graduated the year before and was friendly enough even though his girlfriend was a totally bitch. Her family is as rich as theirs and she thinks that makes her above everyone else. She is beautiful though, so of course Emmett is in love with her." She sighed.
I couldn't help but stare at him longer than was socially polite. He slouched in his seat, his long legs hanging out from under the best with obviously no interest in being in class as he fiddled with a pen.
I was so focused on studying him that I ended up stumbling into the seat, mentally cursing my clumsiness.
He watched as I sat, realizing I had been staring at him. Blushing I turned to the front of the room, hoping the teacher would begin so that he would forget my rudeness. I glanced occasionally out of the corner of my eye, seeing that he was staring at me openly. I tried to hide my blush with my hair and refused to look at him again.
When the bell finally rang I stood up quickly, almost falling once again in my haste. A pair of strong arms grabbed me from behind, keeping me from landing on my face. Looking behind me I saw it was none other than Edward Cullen
"Are you alright?" He asked.
His voice was musical, making me wish he would speak again.
"Yes, thanks to you."
"I guess I am your prince charming." He smirked. "It usually helps if you place one foot down before lifting the other." He said, this time giving me a real smile.
"Yeah, I must have missed that memo." I replied with embarrassment.
"Edward Cullen." He introduced himself, letting go of my arms.
"Bella Swan." I said, barely managing not to stutter.
Something about him made my brain turn to mush, my body craving for his hands to return.
"May I walk you to your car?" He asked with a slight tilt of his head.
"No." I blurted out without thinking.
"Okay?" He said giving me a funny look and stepping to the side to walk past me. "See you tomorrow."
"What I mean is that I don't have one. I don't have a car."
Yup. My brain was officially mashed potatoes at this point.
"Well, would you walk me to mine?" he asked, his smirk reappearing.
I nodded, hoping I didn't look overly eager. Motioning for me to walk out of the room before him, he caught up and walked beside me through the hall.
"Where did you move from?" He asked as we walked out of the school, heading for the student parking lot.
If I thought I was getting stared at before, it was nothing compared to now. As I walked past Jessica, I saw her mouth hanging open. When she caught my eye's she mouthed 'oh my god!'
"Arizona." I said, looking away from Jessica before he noticed.
"That is a drastic change, sunny days to constant rain."
"Well, my Mom remarried and wanted to move around with her new husband. I decided to move in with my Dad."
"She didn't want you to tag along?"
"She offered, but I didn't want to intrude on what is still their honeymoon stage. It was beginning to be a bit much if I'm honest." I admitted with a grimace.
He chuckled at me, halting our steps once we were beside a silver car. The slight drizzle turning into a full blown rain storm. Groaning, I wondered if I would be able to wait it out and still get home before dark.
"Is your Dad picking you up?" He asked, looking like he was concerned about leaving me in the rain.
"No, he is at work for another two hours. I will just wait it out in the library." I grumbled.
"Would you like a ride? I know you just met me but I promise to bring you straight home." He said smiling down at me. He was so tall I thought my neck would hurt if we stood here talking much longer.
"You don't mind?"
"I wouldn't have offered if I did." He said, walking to the passenger side door and opening it for me before getting himself out of the ran.
"Thank you."
"Where to, Swan?" he asked starting his car.
I laughed and told him my address. He turned the heat up to take the chill out of the air caused by the rain.
"Does it always rain like this?" I asked, glaring out at the offending drops of water.
"Quite often it's just a drizzle, but it isn't surprising for it rain like this."
It was a short drive, not even ten minutes later we were parked in my driveway.
"Did you walk to school?"
"Yes, it isn't too far. My Dad leaves before I get up and I haven't had a chance to look for a car yet."
"Well, if you trust me now that you have arrived home safely, would you like me to pick you up tomorrow?"
"You don't have to go out of your way."
"As I said before, I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to."
Confidence radiating off of him.
He smiled slightly, reminding me of how handsome he was. His green eyes making my heart beat hard enough I was sure he could hear.
"I'd appreciate a ride to school, thank you" I finally said.
"Till tomorrow Ms. Swan."
I stood in my driveway, rain pouring down onto me, watching after his car till it was no longer visible.
X
I was halfway through with my dusting when I heard the doorbell ring. Pulling off my apron and smoothing my shirt, I walked to the front door hesitantly. I learned quickly that I wasn't to answer the door while looking untidy. What if a client of Edwards was to show up? It would embarrass him to have me look like a mess.
"Bells!" Emmett cried out cheerfully when I opened the door.
He walked through the doorway and enveloped me into his signature, overzealous hug. I winced slightly when he involuntary squeezed the healing bruise on my hip bone but tried to cover it up quickly. Emmett was nothing if not observant.
"Are you okay?" He asked noticing. "Did I hurt you?" It always shocked me over how well he knew my emotions without my having to voice them.
"No you didn't hurt me. What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to deflect his scrutiny.
"Do I need a reason to see my favorite girl?" He asked with a huge grin, making his dimples even more prominent.
"Aren't you suppose to be at work?"
"I took off early, perks of being one of the bosses." He said with a wink.
He and Edward ran a law office together, inherited from their father who retired two years ago.
"I came to whisk you away for lunch? Rosie is spending the day with her girlfriends and I don't want to eat alone. Don't make me look pathetic, eating all along in a restaurant!" He teased.
He and Rosalie married a year after Edward and I. I was surprised when Emmett told us, they were so different. I didn't expect them to actually marry, let alone last as long as they have. Then again, who am I to judge anyone's marriage?
"I would love to Em, but I still need to vacuum and mop and I promised Edward roasted lamb for dinner."
He looked at with a grim expression, to polite to say what he was really thinking.
"You need to make Edward hire a maid. He was the one who insisted on this huge house, he shouldn't expect you to all yourself. You spoil him."
"Please, don't say anything to Edward. I don't mind, honest!" I pleaded desperately.
Edward would think I was criticizing him in front of his brother.
"I wont if you let me vacuum while you go get ready, I'm starving!"
"You are always starving." I teased. "I cant let you do that though, Edward would be furious."
"Then we wont tell him." He smiled.
I tried give him one in return but his eyes darkened, informing me that I had failed.
He cupped my chin with his hand and gently turned my face to the side.
"You need to reapply your makeup Isabella." He said in a flat voice. I could feel his breath tickling my ear as he inspecting the damage. "Want to tell me what happened?"
"You know how clumsy I am Emmett." I snapped harshly, hoping he would let it drop.
"The truth." He hissed between his teeth.
"Emmett..." I protested weekly.
He sighed, letting go of my face and taking a step back.
"Go put on your make up, I will finish up here." He said walking away before I could protest.
Sighing, I did as he requested and walked up the stairs.
I stood in front of the mirror, makeup brush in hand and wondered how I didn't realize before that this was going to be the life I lived.
X
Edward was there every morning after the first day of driving me to school. He walked me to my classes, always standing outside of the classroom when the bell rang. I saw the envious faces glare my way and I wasn't ashamed to admit to myself that I felt important with Edward beside me. After he dropped me home in the afternoons, I would hurry through my homework and wait for his call. We talked for hours every night, neither of us growing tired of what the other had to say.
Two months later we were still spending as much time as possible together at school and talking on the phone till there were no secrets left between us.
"My brother is having a party tonight at the house. Pick you up at seven?" He asked when dropping me off after school one Friday.
"Like a date?" I blurted out before I could stop myself, blushing immediately.
"You're my girl aren't you? Who else would I ask?" He teased with the smirk I loved.
"Seven." I answered, giving him a huge smile.
I had to force myself not to skip into the house as he waited for me to go through the front door. I loved that he made sure I was inside with the door locked safely behind me before leaving.
"Dad I am going over to Edward's house tonight." I announced, giving my father a kiss on his cheek.
"The Cullen's are good people, I'm glad he has been looking out for you. His parents be there, right?"
"Yes."
I figured it wasn't a lie. I wasn't sure if they were or not, so they could be.
"Don't be late Bells, give me a call if you are going to be out past twelve."
"Thanks Dad."
X
A knock at the door sounded exactly at seven. My father walked over to answer it leaving me to look after him nervously.
"Edward Cullen, Sir." Edward greeted, holding out a hand.
"Pleasure." My dad said, shaking hands with him. "Look out for my little girl, understand?"
"Yes Sir." Edward said seriously.
As always he opened the door for me before getting into the car himself. Fifteen minutes after leaving my house, he made a left onto a small dirt road just outside of town. It was narrow and lined with trees before clearing out to reveal a huge house. It was a buttercup yellow color with huge windows making it easy to see the entire inside of their house from the outside.
"Your home is beautiful." I said in awe as I stepped out of the car, still gazing around. There were many flower gardens and we could hear music playing and people talking from the back yard.
He didn't respond but wrapped a arm around me, guiding us toward the sounds.
"Hey Ed, who's the chick?" Someone asked when we entered the overcrowded yard.
He was the same height as Edward but with a much bigger build, his muscles bulging as he brought a cup to his lips.
"Forget your manners at college?" Edward asked sharply. "Bella, this is my older brother Emmett. Emmett, this is my Bella."
My heart fluttered over his sentiment.
"It's nice to meet you." I smiled at Emmett.
I turned toward Edward and saw that he was scowling deeply at me.
"Are you alright?" I asked quietly, hoping his brother wouldn't over hear me.
Instead of answering her returned his attention to Emmett.
"Wheres Rosalie?" He asked.
"She's in the pool." Emmett said, tilting his head toward the in ground pool.
I looked over to see a beautiful blonde sitting on the edge, letting her legs dangle in the water.
I was shocked Emmett was so laid back about leaving her alone, surrounded by males who were staring at her blatantly.
"Lets get a drink." Edward said with a shake of his head.
Taking a small sip of the soda he handed me, I couldn't hold in the gasp of shock as it burned my throat.
"Whiskey." He informed me, finishing his in a single gulp.
When he saw I was frowning at my cup without taking another drink, he grabbed it from my hands and drank it himself just as quickly. He handed me a can of soda instead and refilled his own cup.
"Edward, you still have to drive me home." I said softly, watching him worriedly.
"Are you trying to tell me what to do?" He asked with his smirk and hint of malice in his voice.
I felt pained at the sound of his voice but when I saw the small smile on his face I quickly forgot it and figured he would stop drinking within plenty of time to take return me home.
"Ed, come on! We need another player!" Emmett called, throwing a football at him which Edward caught easily.
"I will be right back." He said, giving me a kiss on the cheek before leaving me to stand there alone.
It was the first time he had kissed me and I couldn't help but wish it hadn't been tainted with the smell liquor. I walked over to where Rosalie sat, not knowing where else to go. I didn't know anyone and thought I should introduce myself since she was Emmett's girlfriend.
"Hi, I'm Bella." I smiled as I sat beside her, crossing my legs instead of hanging them into the water like she was.
"I care because?" She didn't even turn her head to look at me, her sharp words shocking me into a moment of silence.
"Sorry, you don't know me... I'm dating Edward." I blushed, extremely embarrassed now.
"Lucky you." She muttered, returning her attention to a boy handing her a drink.
Taken back by her rudeness I got up and walked away, sitting on a chair in a empty corner; hoping Edward would be back soon. An hour passed and I was extremely bored as I still sat alone watching the rest of the guests drink. Their conversations and laughter flowing around the yard. I decided to look for Edward, wondering what was taking him so long. I was near tears when almost another hour passed and I still couldn't find him. Emmett had already returned to Rosalie's side but after her treatment of me I didn't want to go over and ask him if he knew where Edward was. With tears in my eyes I decided I'd rather walk home than sit by myself any longer waiting for Edward to return.
Walking on the side of the dark road, my arms crossed trying to keep myself warm I was half way home when a car pulled up behind me. I turned and shaded my eyes from the bright headlights. When there was no movement from the occupant or greeting, my fear grew, beginning to regret my decision to walk home.
I turned back around and dug out my phone to call my father, quickening my pace.
"Bella!"
It was Edward's voice calling out into the night for me. I sighed in relief and turned to see him rushing from the car toward me.
"What do you think you are doing?" He yelled, grabbing my upper arms in a tight grip, pulling me to him. I yelped in pain from his fingers digging into my flesh.
"Edward, you're hurting me!" I whimpered when he didn't release me.
"I asked you what you were thinking, Bella? I have been looking everywhere for you!" He screamed, shaking me roughly.
"Edward,let me go!"
My teeth were rattling, the pain caused by his hands digging into me moving down my arms.
"Answer me!"
I just wanted him to let me go, to stop hurting me so I answered him.
"I tried talking with Rosalie while you were gone, she wanted nothing to do with me and when I couldn't find you later I just wanted to go home! No one was talking to me, I was all alone for two hours!"
He blinked and took a deep breath, finally letting up on his harsh grip only to wrap his arms around me and pull me against his chest. I could feel his heart hammering and his breathing coming out harshly.
"You scared me, all I could think about was what could happen to you while walking in the dark like this."
He really was worried about me, his heart calming slightly and began rocking gently. "I'm sorry I left you alone, Emmett wouldn't let me leave till the game was finished, and Rose is a bitch. Stay away from her." He said, rubbing my back.
I decided not to mention that Emmett had already returned and that I was still unable to find him. I didn't want to make him angry now that he was calming down.
He brought his hand up to where he had gripped my arms, bending to kiss each spot.
"I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just so scared, forgive me?" He pleaded, his eyes searching mine.
"Of course I do. I shouldn't have walked off like that, I didn't mean to scare you."
He smiled down at me, his teeth gleaming from the light of his car, his eyes sparkling.
"I knew you were the perfect girl for me." He whispered, lowering his head slowly till he was kissing my lips softly. "Get in the car, I will drive you home." He said after a few moments, his lips leaving mine.
We were silent for most of the ride, one of his hands holding mine.
"I really am sorry, I wasn't trying to make you worry." I apologized once the car was parked in the driveway.
"Don't ever leave me, Bella." He pleaded, his eyes searching mine.
"I'm sorry." I repeated, feeling terrible that I had made him so upset. It was a stupid move on my part.
"I will always find you." he said, kissing my cheek softly.
I walked into the house smiling, feeling protected and safe.
X
The vacuum turned off as I walked down the last steps, finding Emmett putting the cord back in it's place.
"Ready to go?" He asked after putting the vacuum in the closet where it belonged.
"I think so." Biting my lip and looking around, making sure everything was in it's place. That the vacuum had left even lines in the carpet, going in the same direction.
We walked out of the house and to his car once I made sure the doors were locked and the code was set. Silently he opened the passenger side door for me, just like Edward always does though that was where their similarities ended. I buckled while he ran around to get into the drivers seat. I stayed silent, knowing what was going to come next.
"What was it this time?" He finally asked.
"What do you mean?" I tried to play dumb though I knew what he was asking.
"Bella... it's me." His voice breaking.
We were at a red like and he turned to look at me with his sad blue eyes. The worry I saw made me feel guilty, he shouldn't be worrying so much over my well being. He had his own wife and life to worry about.
"It was nothing Em, stop worrying about me." I said with a flip of my wrist, hoping that would be the end of the conversation.
"How can I not worry? Please, talk me..." He pleaded.
Sighing, I looked out the window. Emmett wasn't there every day, he didn't see every mark. All to often though that it was becoming impossible to hide the truth from him any longer.
"I wasn't paying attention while ironing this morning. He has an important meeting today and I burned his shirt."
"So he hit you for ruining a shirt?" He asked me uncertainty.
He knew what was happening, putting two and two together on his own. I had never admitted anything to him though, never told him how I gained each new mark marring my skin.
"It was his Armani one, you know that it's his favorite. I should have been paying attention." I was still looking out the window, unable to look at him. To see the anger I knew he was feeling toward his brother.
It was all my fault.
"Bella, you need to leave him. It's only going to get worse."
"I can't Em. I love him, he loves me. He doesn't mean to hurt me."
"Bella, this isn't love! You living in fear and pain, it's breaking my heart. I'm so scared of walking into your house to find out he finally killed you."
"What do you know about love? Your wife is in love with your credit card, not you!" I snapped, instantly feeling guilty for saying such things to him. The fear threatened to consume of over speaking in such a way til I reminded myself that this was Emmett, he would reprimand me in the ways Edward did when I spoke of out turn.
A slap on the cheek when I interrupted, a shove into a wall when I dared to speak an opposing opinion him. An occasional punch when I failed to have the house up to his standards or dinner not ready when he got home.
"Don't shrink away from me You only spoke the truth." He sighed. "I wish I had seen it before and hadn't been so blinded by her beauty. It seems everyone else saw what I didn't. I don't know, maybe I did but refused to accept it."
We were silent again, Emmett brooding while I stared out the window in sadness. Once we were parked in front of the cafe we frequented at least once a week, he smiled at me warmly and brushed his fingers over my uninjured cheek.
"Chin up, Bella. It's our weekly date, no long faces."
The best part of marrying Edward was that I got Emmett for a best friend.
"Are you ever going to try something new?" He asked, laughing when I ordered the club sandwich, the same thing I always ordered.
"I love them, no where else makes them like here. Why order something I may not like when I know I like this?"
"I like trying everything on the menu at least once." Emmett said as he shoved in a mouthful of homemade chips we had ordered as an appetizer.
His table manors always made Edward cringe, complaining about them for at least an hour after having Sunday dinners at his fathers house.
I grew thoughtful as I chews, thinking of how much Emmett loved life. He never failed to find the positive in anything life threw his way, always smiling and never harsh toward anyone.
"Thank you for taking me out today." My eyes focused on the plate in front of me.
"Thank you for coming."
I peaked at him from behind my lashes to see him giving me a warm smile.
It was almost like he had a sixth sense. The days he showed up for our weekly outing were never planned beforehand, but they tended to happen after a particularly bad fight between Edward and I. Emmett had been the one that found me on one of the worst days of my life. I wince slightly over the memory and pushed it back, doing my best to ignoring it. Emmett must have noticed my inner turmoil because he reached over and squeezed my hand lightly.
"I'm planning a fishing trip for this weekend, I was hoping would want to come along."
"I don't think I can this weekend." I blushed, trying not to admit that I would need Edwards permission before telling him yes or no.
He knew I wanted to, that I loved to fish. He also knew his brother would be making the final decision on the matter though it didn't stop him from asking me first.
"I'll talk to Edward when I get back to the office, we'll leave early Saturday morning." He said smiling again, as if his plans were already confirmed.
"No!" I gasped out, louder than I had intended. "Please don't, I will talk to him Em."
Edward would be furious if he thought I sent his brother to ask for me.
Emmett gazed at me, his expression unreadable. I looked at my hands as I twirled my water glass between them. I loved spending time with Emmett, it let me forget if only for a short amount of time. Even if I was allowed to have friends outside of the home and family, I knew he would still be my best. My rock in my own personal nightmare of a life.
"Did you talk to Rosalie about what we mentioned last week?" I asked, wanting to change the subject off of me and my marital problems.
Last week he had told me about about wanting to start a family. Emmett loved kids and would make a wonderful father. We both knew Rosalie had no desire to have children. Ever.
Sighing he brought his hands up and rubbed at his face.
"Yeah, we talked about it. If you can even call it talking. I tried but she wouldn't even listen." His voice full of disappointment.
I felt terrible for him. We were both stuck with people who fooled us, tricked us into thinking we had found love, our happily every after. Me with Edwards ready slaps, Emmett with Rosalie's cold heart. In a way it was what made us so close, one unit in two shitty lives. We could comfort each other in the knowledge that neither of us was truly happy.
He laughed over my enthusiastic cheer when the food arrived. I was quick to grab my sandwich and start eating as soon as it was placed in front of me.
"Hungry?" He asked, his voice full of humor.
"This is so good!" I moaned.
I hadn't realized how hungry I truly was till I began eating. He chuckled and took a bite out of his hamburger. I slapped his hand away as he tried to steal my fries and stole one of his onion rings in retaliation.
Edward and I were never playful while eating, with it not being proper and all.
"Ugh, I love fattening food!" I sighed with happiness as we polished off our plates.
"You and me both, Babe."
He paid the check and it was time to leave. I felt the happiness seep out of me over the knowledge it was time to go back home.
I had dinner to prepare after all.
