Summary: Edward and Bella's relationship is tested when Edward fails to protect Bella from the most disgusting human crime possible: rape.
Disclaimer: Only the plot is mine.
..::Bella's POV::..
I slammed the door to my truck shut thanking the nonexistent gods that the parking lot was still relatively empty. I was tired of hearing the hushed whispers whenever I walked by a crowd of people. By now the small town had been buzzing about what had gone down that one Saturday night. Charlie had gone over to the Newton's residence the second after the words "rape" and "Mike Newton" left Carlisle's mouth. Apparently Charlie had promised the full extent of the law would be brought down on Mike.
"Hey!" Alice's voice broke through my thoughts as she jumped out of Edward's car, which was conveniently parked next to mine.
"Hi," I sighed out.
"How are you doing Bella?" Jasper asked stepping out from the back seat.
I shook my head. "Not good," I responded truthfully.
Edward got out from the driver's side and without a word gracefully climbed onto the hood of the truck to sit next to me, wrapping his arms protectively around my shoulder. He gave me a small peck on the cheek. I flinched.
"I'm sorry Bella," Edward quickly apologized forgetting about our newfound boundaries.
"It's ok," I reassured feeling stupid at once. "It's not you, it's me."
Edward shook his head. "No, it's not, it's that stupid Newton boy."
"Can I kill him yet?" Emmett asked with genuine longing.
"No, you cannot kill Mike Newton," I said rolling my eyes at him.
I wish you could kill Mike Newton. I thought foolishly. I was thankful that Edward could not read my thoughts because I knew that he would be more than willing to make my wish be his command.
No one at school knew what happened between Mike and me. All they knew was that the entire Cullen clan had taken a sudden public disliking to him. He tried approaching me once at lunch to talk about Saturday only to be met with three very murderous glares coming from Emmett, Jasper, and Edward. He stuttered through a greeting before asking if we could talk in private only to have Emmett stand from his seat and issue him a warning.
::flashback::
"I'm not hungry Edward," I groaned frustrated, pushing the full tray towards my boyfriend.
I could feel Mike staring at me from across the cafeteria. The old table where I used to sit at was full of whispers as they tried to figure out why all of a sudden I had ditched them and took to sitting with the Cullen clan completely. Usually Edward and I traded off who moved where during lunch, but after three days of just sitting with the Cullen kids people were starting to wonder. It didn't help that Mike had always tried unsuccessfully to get me alone only to find that I was always with one of the Cullen boys at all times.
"Try to eat something," Edward urged pushing an apple into my hand. "You haven't eaten in three days."
"Someone will mistake you for one of us if you don't eat soon," Emmett said trying to lighten the mood.
"If I were one of you I would have been able to fight off Mike," I muttered.
The table was quiet again and I knew they all heard me perfectly well. Edward shook with repressed anger, or maybe guilt, before yanking his tray and standing to throw it out. I could hear him trying to even out his breathing.
Alice gave me a hug when she saw me flinch under Edward's sudden movement. He knew better than to move at vampire speed around me. "Don't mind my brother Bella."
I nodded concentrating on the apple in my hand. Why did I have to be human and have to eat to survive? I attempted to eat on Sunday only to have it come back up just minutes later when the image of Mike on top of me flashed in my head. Edward wanted me to eat. I had to do at least try.
I took a bite allowing the crunching sound to deafen my hearing momentarily as I half chewed on the stupid apple. Edward was back his hand slipping into my free one his eyes willing me to take another bite.
"You're doing good, love," he encouraged.
I took another bite before my stomach churned dangerously. I nearly gagged trying to swallow the second bite. "I'm done," I said placing the apple into Edward's hand.
Edward got up reluctantly to throw away the apple. He knew better than to push me more than he already had.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mike stand from his chair. He slipped his hands through his hair before letting out a loud sigh. He shoved his hands into his pocket slowly making his way towards my table. I let out an involuntary gasp wishing that I could become invisible. I felt my heart starting to race, a sound I thought the entire cafeteria could hear.
Edward was by my side in a flash, pushing human speed. I heard a low growl escape from deep inside his throat; his teeth exposed as the vampire venom made them shine an unnatural white color.
He had his arm over me and I struggled with the desire to hide my face within his chest.
"He wants to talk to you," Edward snarled out, disbelief evident in his voice.
"Please don't make me!" I let out, my voice wild and uncontrolled. I felt a half strangled sob escape from within my lips. In response, Edward pulled me closer towards him.
Emmett and Jasper had stopped talking and were now staring at Mike assessing the entire situation in their head. I could feel Jasper trying to throw waves of calmness towards me but I felt the fear inside batting it away.
"Bella?" Mike's voice pierced through my own labored breathing.
"What do you want Mike?" Edward's voice was the coldest I've ever heard in my life.
I shivered for Mike. "Hi," I said unable to push the fear from my voice.
"Bella, can we please talk?" Mike started eyeing my boyfriend and his siblings wearily.
"If you're going to say something to her, it will be in front of us," the warning didn't come from Edward, but rather from Emmett who was now eyeing Mike down.
I thought I saw Mike shrink under Emmett's intense glare, but he stuttered through another sentence. "Puh…puh…pl…ease Bella, it's important."
"If you are to apologize Mike, the apology is not accepted," Edward's voice responded.
"Can I just have a minute with Bella," Mike snapped.
The cold glares got even colder, and Mike paled a little under the intense gazes. Even Alice had a look that could kill plastered on her usually happy go lucky face.
"You will have no more minutes with Bella. You will not come near this table ever again. You will leave Bella alone. My brother may be too much of a gentlemen to beat you to a pulp, but I have no problem doing it for him," Emmett growled out, standing so by the time he was done with his rant he was his full grizzle size.
::end of flashback::
Mike hasn't attempted to even look at me in the cafeteria since that day. He still tried to talk to me in some of my classes, but Charlie called a couple of days later and ordered that he be moved from all my classes.
"Hey Bella!" Jessica's voice broke through my thoughts as she practically skipped on over towards my truck.
I looked behind her to see the entire group curiously watching our interaction. Rose rolled her eyes at the girl pulling Emmett to stand besides her next to Edward's car. Alice and Jasper walked away to the other side of the parking lot, but I knew they were listening in on the conversation. I tried to push Edward away, but he only held on to me tighter.
"Hey Jessica," I greeted jumping down from my hood. "What's up?"
Edward followed suit before leaning against my car and pulling me to lean against him. I knew he could hear my heart racing within as I struggled to keep my face calm and my tone of voice light. From behind Jessica conversation had completely stopped as everyone struggled to eavesdrop without being noticed. They were failing.
"I was wondering if we could talk for a moment." She eyed Edward who in turn just held on tighter.
"Sure," I forced out, though my heart was pounding. Did she know? Did Mike tell her? What did she think of me?
I pushed off against Edward much to his disliking. "I'll be right here," Edward reassured.
I nodded my eyes searching his for any sort of strength he could muster for me. For weeks on end now I've been surrounding myself with the Cullens avoiding any sort of exchange with anyone else in school.
"What's up Jess?" I asked walking underneath a tree.
"I wanted to talk to you about Mike," She started.
I nodded taking a deep breath, my lungs suddenly in massive need as if she had punched me in the stomach with that sentence. Of course the topic would be Mike. I expected that much, but then why do I feel the need to suddenly throw up the empty contents of my stomach?
"What about Mike?" I said nonchalantly.
"Mike's really depressed Bella. I haven't seen him like this ever. His mom called me this morning. She said that he was really upset about the whole thing. I know something happened at Eric's party, but Bella please, talk to him," Jess said her words rushing out towards the end so it came out more like "butBellapleasetalktohim."
"Talk to him?" I squeaked out.
"Talk to him Bella. Whatever he did, I know Mike, he's sorry for it. I've never seen him more sorry about anything in his entire life," Jess offered.
I nodded, unable to trust my voice for the moment. I wondered foolishly how many times Mike had done something remotely close to this before.
"He wasn't himself that night, Bella. He's just been having a rough couple of months. I know Mike though, whatever it is he's sorry. Please Bella, promise me you'll talk to him. If not for him, then do it for me." She waited, searching my eyes. I nodded, not because I wanted to do it, but because I knew that I couldn't stand on my own much longer.
I heard the bell ring, but I made no motion of walking towards the school. My feet were buckling from under me as my stomach churned in protest. The world was starting to spin and I was starting to feel light headed. Mike was sorry? He WAS SORRY?! I could feel myself shaking having to lean against the tree for support.
Edward was there in an instant, taking me into his arms allowing me to sob against his cold chest. I let the tears saturate his shirt without guilt knowing that he wouldn't even notice.
"You don't have to talk to him," Edward said wiping the tears from my eyes.
He waited patiently as I hiccupped a response, "Yes…yes I do…I promised Jess…"
"Never mind Jessica, love. She doesn't know what she is asking of you."
"I hurt him," I whispered in realization.
Edward's snort was so loud that it made me flinch from under his arms. "You hurt him?" his voice raising two octaves.
I nodded locking eyes with Edward. He shook his head vigorously taking me by the shoulder and making sure I didn't look away. "Bella, my angel, he hurt you. You did nothing to him that he didn't deserve."
"I hurt him…it's my fault..."
"No. No! NO!" Edward said shaking his head in disbelief. "You must not believe that lie, Bella. Please, you must not!"
"This is my fault." I said, realization striking me.
I heard a frustrated growl escape from Edward and I turned away scared to see such anger in his eyes. "Bella, I love you so much. Oh sweet heavens I love you so much. Believe me when I say none of this is your fault. That is something I will not stand for. Do you understand what I'm saying, Bella? None of this is your fault."
I nodded, but even as I did so, with each movement of my head, I realized that Edward was lying through his teeth. This. Was. Entirely all my fault.
A/N: Reviews are very much appreciated. Thanks to all those who have added this to their story alert list or favorite story list.
-Liz