Thirteen-year-old Bella huddled under the table. Phil and Renee were fighting again. From experience, she knew it was better to hide, to pretend she wasn't here, than to stand up to them. She had learnt that the painful way, and as she drew her knees to her chest under the table, she felt her back ache from the bruises.
"I can't be bothered with this anymore! -" Renee was screaming, and a crash echoed from the tiny bathroom.
"Its hurting Bella!" She continued and Bella felt a flare of affection for her mother.
It was usually like this. Renee found Phil beating her, and tried to get him away. She'd tell Bella to hide, to run, and Bella obeyed. Renee would yell and threaten and Phil pretended he was sorry, and whenever Renee turned her back, the abuse began again. It hardly got to physical anymore. Most of it was verbal, emotional. Renee stepped in at the exact right times, like some knight in shining armour.
Bella, as a little girl, often imagined her mother rushing in on a beautiful white horse, with beautiful, white gold armour that glinted in the sunlight. Sunlight. It was something Bella didn't see much of, even though she lived in the hot, sprawling city of Phoenix.
The house was always dark, though when Phil was gone, Bella and Renee would run around the house, opening blinds and letting the light in, painting things bright colours to ward of the dark, the evil.
Bella also imagined she was in a fantasy tale, with Phil as an evil warlock, her mother as a beautiful princess, and her as the lonely maiden. She had no friends; she was often teased in class. She was poor, and poor was bad in Phoenix. She wasn't beautiful, or tan, or sporty or even likable apparently, to her classmates.
School was rare. Usually, she was too hurt to go to school. But Renee used to work as a kindergarten teacher, and everyday since Bella was born, she took her to her job. Bella grew up with crayons and bright pictures; it was a solace away from home. As she grew older, she helped her mother with the children, delighting them with her pretty pictures and enchanting fairytales.
The kids moved on, and yet she stayed, welcoming the next group of toddlers. Her mother was a helping hand; she gave half her income to shelters and donated amounts to rescue centres, youth centres, hospitals, and any place that was not as better off as many people.
Footsteps sounded and Renee appeared in the tiny doorway of the tiny lounge room.
"Bella?" She asked softly, and Bella crawled out from beneath the table and engulfed her mum in a big hug.
They stayed like that for a while, before Renee smiled softly at her beautiful daughter, "Come on, we are going to go for a shift at the hospital. Do you want to come?"
Bella nodded her head, as always. She loved to see the smiles bright up hospitals when they went to visit.
Renee sent a glare at the stationary Phil, glaring at them from the tiny shoebox kitchen. He sent Bella a murderous glare that made her hurry along in her mother's wake.
The Dwyer's had no car, no way of transport. Bella and her mother caught the bus instead, just managing to make it before the driver shut the doors.
He remembered them, and gave them a welcoming smile, "Hospital?" He asked.
Renee smiled warmly, nodding as she purchased tickets, and then led Bella to a seat. Bella was at home on the bus, she knew when she could expect a bump in the road, she knew where the traffic was bad, and at what time was the worst time to go on a bus ride.
She often just rode the bus after school, climbing on and not getting off till darkness fell. She liked to watch the passengers come aboard, and study their personality. She was very good at picking up moods now, and what expressions meant what. Once, a young lady, about twenty-two years old came aboard with a still posture and expression. Bella watched her with curious eyes. She picked up that the lady was sad, mourning something…a loss perhaps.
She had gotten up out of her seat and sat next to her, smiling warmly.
"Hello," She had asked, "My name's Bella. What's your name?"
The lady had looked surprised, and responded, "Mary"
Bella had talked to Mary animatedly for the rest of the trip, and when the lady got off, she was happier and seemed to have a spring in her step. Bella liked when she could help other people.
"Come on Bella, we're here." Renee's voice came and a soft hand enveloped her own.
Bella smiled at her mother and followed her off the bus, both thanking the driver and entering the impressive hospital.
Renee immediately went to the front desk, and Bella lingered behind.
"Hello Roxanne, Rachelle" Renee chirped, "Bella and I are here for my shift"
Roxanne, a pretty young lady, smiled warmly at Bella while Rachelle immediately started dishing out the gossip to Renee.
"Hello Roxanne" Bella waved shyly.
"Hello Bella, how are you?" Roxanne smiled.
"Good thank you. How about you? Not too boring around the hospital?" Bella joked.
"No, not with Rachelle always daydreaming about that new doctor" Roxanne caught Bella's confused look and smiled, "Dr Cullen accepted a job here, and ever since, every female in the hospital have been drooling over him!"
Bella shook her head, laughing, "But not you?"
Roxanne smiled a secretive smile, "No. I'm taken."
Bella smiled widely, "Did Greg finally ask you out?"
Roxanne looked smug, but very happy, "Yes! Finally! We're going out on Friday night, then," She dropped her voice to a whisper, "We're going to meet his parents"
Bella smiled, "So it's official?"
Roxanne nodded, and a phone rang.
"Excuse me Bella," She chimed and then answered the call.
Bella turned her attention to her mother who was patiently listening to the gossip that Rachelle divulged.
"That's very nice Rachelle. Excuse me, but Bella and I have to get going. See you soon." Renee smiled and then gestured to Bella to follow her. Bella obliged, sending a small wave at Roxanne on the way, who smiled and waved back, still talking on the phone.
Renee and Bella walked along the sterile, white halls of the hospital until Renee pushed open the door of one of the wards. She immediately reversed, shutting the door tightly and turning to Bella with a grim smile.
"I'm sorry Bella, but I don't think you should go in this one." Renee explained.
Bella knew that her mother would only keep her out if there was blood, and Bella grew nauseous around it anyway. She usually fainted. So she smiled understandingly and gestured down the hall.
"Can I go for a little bit of a walk?" She asked and her mother looked happier.
"Yes, but remember the rules." She said sternly, then smiled, hugged Bella, and turned back and went into the ward. The door shut behind her, relieving Bella of the rusty smell of the blood and the sharp yelling of its owner.
Bella wandered along the halls, smiling at people as they passed. She stopped to talk with the maintenance staff, nurses, patients, anyone.
She passed a door that she hadn't noticed before, and looked up at the nameplate. Doctor Cullen, it read. Bella's curiosity leaped and she knocked on the door shyly.
"Come in." Came a soft, attractive male voice.
Bella opened the door hesitantly. A handsome man with golden eyes and blonde hair sat at the desk. He looked up in surprise when she entered, but gestured at the armchair on the door side of his desk.
Bella sat down quietly, studying him.
"Hello there. Are you one of my patients?" Dr Cullen asked gently.
"No. My name's Bella."
"Are you related to a patient? Maybe an employee?" Dr Cullen was confused. Why was this thirteen-year-old girl sitting at his desk?
"Sort of. My mother volunteers here. I heard some gossip about you from one of the receptionists." Bella hoped she wasn't sounding rude, "It wasn't bad though…"
Dr Cullen laughed, a musical noise that made Bella feel at ease.
"Well, in that case, I am Dr Carlisle Cullen, and I just joined the staff here at his hospital. You can call me Carlisle."
Bella nodded, smiling warmly, "Hello Carlisle. Do you have a wife?"
Carlisle smiled gently, and pointed to a photo on a shelf.
Bella got up and gazed at it with interest, shocked at the perfect people in the photo. There was a caramel haired lady, who the doctor, Carlisle, had his arm around. Next to him was a blonde teen; about eighteen perhaps, next to her was a strong looking guy the same age, with black hair. Next to the doctor's wife was a pixie-like girl, probably seventeen or so, with her hand intertwined with a blonde haired guy, slightly less strong looking than the other guy. Off to the side, perhaps trying to hide out of view was a boy, about seventeen, that made Bella gasp. He had bronze hair, untidy, though just…perfect.
They all were very pale, with bright golden eyes.
"You're all very beautiful. Perfect." Bella muttered and the doctor heard her.
He tilted his head as he looked at the girl. She had straight, long brown hair and adorable brown eyes. Her lips were full and red, and her skin was an ivory pale. She was a very pretty young girl.
But when she looked over and smiled shyly at him, Carlisle knew there was something behind that. Some kind of trouble, or anguish. He couldn't put his finger on it.
She started to walk over to the armchair, but tripped and went headfirst into it before Carlisle could realise what happened. As soon as he did, he stood up worried.
"Are you okay?" He asked quickly.
Bella just righted herself and smiled, a warm blush stirring across her pale cheeks.
"Happens all the time. I'm unnaturally clumsy."
Carlisle raised an eyebrow, but nodded and sat down again. He stared down at the papers, reading through some information. When he looked up, he saw the girl had fallen asleep, eyes closed and mouth slightly open.
He raised an eyebrow. She looked more peaceful asleep than awake.
"Bella? Bella?" Came the anxious voice of a woman in the halls.
Carlisle remembered that this girl's name was Bella, and he hurried out to see a woman anxiously looking around.
"Are you Bella's mother?" He asked her.
The lady nodded, "Have you seen her? I didn't want to take her into the ward; there was blood."
Carlisle nodded understandingly and gestured into his office, "She fell asleep after introducing herself."
Usually, a mother would freak out; their daughter was in some strange man's office. But this lady just smiled and shook her head, following him into his office and laughing when she saw her daughter.
"I'm sorry, she has a thing for trouble." The lady turned to Carlisle, "I'm Renee Dwyer, Bella's mother."
"Hello Renee, I'm Dr Cullen, but please, call me Carlisle." Carlisle shook her hand with a smile and sat at his desk as Renee went over to her daughter and gently shook her.
"Bella, come on. Wake up, we have to go home." Renee said gently and Bella's eyes fluttered open.
"I don't want to. Can I stay here?" Bella asked hopefully and Carlisle saw Renee's eyes reflect pain.
"I'm sorry Bella, but we must go home" Renee said quietly and Bella nodded, getting up and stretching.
She reached over the desk, her hand out, "Nice to meet you Carlisle." She smiled when she shook his hand.
"Likewise Bella. Goodbye Renee" Carlisle waved slightly.
Renee smiled, waving, and held Bella's hand, leading her out of the office and to the bus stop.