Author's Note: Hello! This is the second chapter of A Way Out. Thank all of you who suggested turning this into a story. I decided to take your advice, so...yeah.
Previously:
My arm fell limp to the side of my body and I took my last breath, preparing to go home. Edward's cries faded and all I heard, saw, and felt…was nothing.
Now:
Darkness engulfed me. I couldn't see my hand in front of face. Whether that was from the fact that I was dead or I just couldn't see, was unknown to me. Suddenly, I felt a faint beating coming down onto my torso. It was like my heart was beating from the outside of my chest. A small speckle of light shined in the distance but I knew to stay away from it. It wasn't the light of heaven. It was the light of someone shining light onto my face. I knew only one place where people did that and I did my best to stay away from it. I didn't want to live. Isn't that the purpose of suicide, anyway? The light had gotten brighter and brighter until it was nearly blinding. The beatings on my heart were consistent and rapid with frustration. With one last blow, my back arched against whatever flat surface that I was lying on and inhaled reluctantly. For a moment, I considered not even breathing and hopefully I'd suffocate. I clamped my mouth and eyes closed and didn't let any air through my nose. I was going to die one way or another.
"Bella, breathe!" someone shouted right next to my ear. And it hurt. That's when I realized that I hadn't died because someone decided to say me. Were my handprints on the knife not enough proof to them that I was committing suicide? If I do live, the first thing that I'm going to do is buy my "savior" a dictionary with the word suicide highlighted in every possible color. It was then that I noticed that my heart was, indeed, beating. I opened my eyes and mouth at the same time with a massive inhalation of air. My breaths were short and erratic. After some time, my brain finally received the oxygen that it had been deprived of and I looked around the room. Every single Cullen was in the room staring at me. If I hadn't lost so much blood, I'm sure I'd be blushing uncontrollably right now. They all looked heartbroken and slightly disappointed. Rosalie looked just plain bored with a hint of concern. I did my best to not even look in her direction. Since no one made any notions to speak, I figured I'd be the first to say something.
"Why did you save me?" I kept my eyes glued to my hands in my lap as I sat up. I was doing my best to hide the tears that always come when I get emotional and angry.
"Why wouldn't we? We lo—"Carlisle began, but I couldn't bear to hear him claimed to love me and then leave again.
"No." I said simply and, for the first time, looked into his eyes. He flinched at the pain in my eyes. I guess he regrets saving me now that he has seen how I feel every day.
"No? What do you mean 'no'?" I looked at him in disbelief. He really didn't know? I quickly lost my shocked expression and replaced it with the one that I wore before. My signature look.
"You mean you don't know?' I asked. When they understood that I expected an answer, everyone with the exception of Edward shook their heads. Edward just stared at the ground.
"Edward told me the truth." I informed them and they all looked confused for a second before they turned towards Edward in suspicion.
"What did he say?" It was Rosalie that spoke this time.
"Well?" I prompted, looking at Edward. He seemed like he snapped out of a trance but eventually got the hint of what everyone wanted to know.
"Tell them what you told me, Edward." He hesitated before going into the tale of how he broke my heart.
"I didn't mean to—"he began but I wasn't having any of that.
"Just…tell them exactly what you told me in the forest. Don't leave anything out and don't add anything in." I instructed very carefully.
"I said that…you weren't good enough for me. And that our family doesn't love you." He whispered but just loud enough for me to hear.
"And…" I urged as tears began to leak from my eyes. The memory of that day was tearing me apart.
"And…that we were leaving. And never coming back." It was dead silent as they tried to process what he had just said. No one spoke, so I decided to break the ice…again.
"He confirmed all of my uncertainties since the day that I met you all." I began, before I reminded myself of my promise.
"Does anyone know where I could get a dictionary and some highlighters?" I asked, without looking up. This must've brought them all out of their trance because they all began screaming at once. I could barely make out the conversation but I did hear a few words spoken towards Edward. Bastard. Idiot. Dumb—
"It isn't his fault." They all stopped talking when I spoke so calmly. "He just reinforced everything that I had already known. His methods literally killed me but…what else is there to ask for? You guys don't owe me anything." I said as I wipe vigorously at the tears that stained my face. But every one that was wiped away only caused another to fall. Eventually I gave up.
"Bella, I'm so sorry. I only told you those things because I knew you wouldn't have let me leave otherwise." Edward explained but I was beyond his excuses. But that doesn't mean that I wasn't curious.
"Why did you have to leave, Edward?" I didn't bother covering up my sobs.
"Because this world isn't for you. It's too dangerous for a human to be around vampires on the daily basis. You'd need protection from the Volturi, Victoria and not to mention the way I couldn't kiss you without worrying about your safety. I only wanted what was best for you." I looked up at his fearful eyes and wondered what he was so afraid of.
"I think changing me would've solved each and every problem that you've been so worried about. Why was that never an option?" I could see anger rising in his eyes. Why would our eternity together upset him so much? Oh, yeah. I remember now.
"Because you would've hated me for it! I'd never damn you to the life that I wouldn't have chosen for myself. You would've resented me forever." His tone was sad, yet determined. He wasn't going to changed me, even now. After all that we'd been through. At this moment, I realized that he really didn't love me. Even the thought of it broke my heart and the heart monitor began beeping like crazy at my sudden changed of rate. Everyone began to panic and Edward raced to my side.
"What's wrong? Are you in pain?" I shut my eyes and reminded myself of the peaceful darkness that I experienced before I was revived. I heard the heart monitor slow to a steady rhythm and with a sigh, I opened my eyes. They were all staring again. I looked Edward in the eyes when I spoke.
"I'm always in pain."
He looked as if those four words killed him. I just turned to the entire family, ignoring Edward who sat on my bed.
"You need to leave." I addressed their family, keeping my head turned towards the wall where no one stood.
"Bella, please just—"
"Please…" I turned towards Edward after interrupting him and showed him the same thing that Carlisle had seen. Pain. Wordlessly, his family filed out one by one. Emmett came and pulled Edward towards the door. But before they were completely out of my room, Emmett softly said something to Edward.
"You should've just changed her, man. Alice saw it, so it was going to happen anyway."
"She would've despised me, Emmett." Edward responded in a fierce growl.
"How do you think I feel now?" I said softly and looked up to see that Edward's expression was filled with heartbreak. He quickly stumbled through the doorway and Emmett followed close behind him, knowing that he was going to do something dramatically stupid. I laid my head back on the soft pillow and close my eyes. My sudden epiphany make my eyes snap open in shock. I wasn't in the hospital. I thought as I looked at the wall covered with CDs and the black couch sitting against the wall. I was in the Cullens' home.
Author's Note: So, how do you like it? Review and let me know! Also, check out my other story called The New Isabella. I've been told that it as great. And before I forget. Can anybody recognize Bella's unusual requested in this chapter and tell me why she asked for it. Hint: It was said at the beginning of this chapter.