Edward jumped up saying he would drive me home and I shook my head No. He said "Don't be silly Bella, of course I'll drive you. It's not safe to let you drive with one arm, you could have an accident". I just stared at him and so did Carlisle, he didn't stop Alice hurting me but felt he had to protect me from driving in case I got hurt, can he hear the crap he's saying. "Do you think the change can cause brain damage Carlisle?" I ask him.
"Oh I'm beginning to think so Bella dear" he sighed in return, Just then Esme came in and said she would take me and explain to Charlie that I'd had an accident playing about with Alice and the sling was just a precaution This brought Edward up short and he suddenly realised what a stupid assed comment he'd made in regards to my safety.
"Oh god, damn it all to hell, shit! shit! shit!" was all he mumbled as he fled the room, Esme's "Edward language" following him out. I was to tired and sore to care about his feelings at the moment and I was also more than a little mad at him still. As Esme drove my old beat up truck home for me I had to ask, "Why didn't he stop her?".
"I really don't know dear, it's usually a mate's first instinct to defend, even against family" she replied softly. "Are we not mates then? Could that be the reason? He just stared at her the whole time Esme, never once checking on me or anything. I know it's a bit melodramatic but what if she'd really hurt me would he have done anything, but sit there staring at her?" I huffed out exasperated.
"I wish I could give you an answer, but only Edward can do that. Carlisle will talk to him now and try to get to the bottom of this whole mess" she said patting my leg as we pulled up behind Charlie's cruiser. As she helped me out she told me how sorry she was about Alice's behaviour, she had thought she was getting a little pushy lately and had not addressed it with Alice and now wished she had.
After explaining everything to Charlie and him just accepting everything he was told, but then why would he think the Doctors wife was lying to him. Esme turned at the sound of Rose's car arriving to pick her up, Rose waved at Charlie from her front seat and he waved back. Once we were alone he said he'd order pizza as at least you could eat that one handed.
The next morning I awoke to the sound of little stones pinging off my window pane, oh yeah I'd shut that last night and pulled the drapes for the first time ever, since I met Edward. I stumbled to the window opening it and sticking my head out forgetting I probably look like something the cat dragged in.
"Hey darlin' you okay" came the sound of Jasper's voice from below, "Yeah, just a little sore" I replied yawning and he laughed. "I'm real sorry about what happened Bella, I've sent Ali to Alaska for some serious contemplation and I've kept all her credit cards here, includin' the one's she thinks I don't know about" he told me, well to Alice that was a punishment. "Hang on" I say "I'll come down, has my dad gone?" "Yeah fishin' by the looks of it" he replies. I grab my robe off the door and lumber down the stairs. Opening the front door I see Jasper and another vampire, a red eyed one I don't know. "This is Peter, my brother" he says and Peter holds out his hand for me to shake which I do immediately. "Hi guys come on in, I need coffee and a hair brush, In that order" I laugh and so do they. Once I've got some coffee in me I start to try and fix my hair, but one handed it's damn near impossible.
"Let me" says Peter "I used to do my little sister's when I was human" and he takes the brush, gently getting all the tugs and snarls out. "The Major's right, your unlike any human I've ever met" he says casually, I laugh and say it's not like I haven't heard that before, but who's the Major. Jasper waves his hand and tells me Peter was his Captain once upon a time. Peter continues by saying "Yeah but I've got red eyes and you never asked about them and you've relaxed totally as I'm doin' your hair that was amazin'ly kind of you, thanks" he said smiling at me.
"If you were a danger to me Jasper wouldn't have brought you and hells teeth everybody's got to eat, it's not my place to comment" I tell him. "Charlotte's gonna love you suga' your awesome" he laughs, "Charlotte?" I query, "My mate and wife" he tells me, then he told me all about her and that she's on her way just tying up some business first and doing some clothes shopping, so he came on ahead to see Jasper.
Jasper tells me Peter and Charlotte feed off hardened criminals, murderers, rapists and drug dealers etc. "Ah so you're in Law Enforcement too, just your way of cleaning up the streets is permanent" I say as I pour myself another coffee and take a couple of painkillers, they just look at me "What?" I say. "You sure don't react like we're used to honey, that's all" Peter answers.
"Yeah, I know but at least you're not giving me a lecture, 'You're a danger magnet Isabella' and 'For goodness sake don't you have any self-preservation at all, Isabella'." I say copying Edward's voice as I tell them this without realising it. They both burst out laughing and tell me I had him dead on. This really was nice just sitting chatting and having a laugh. That was something seriously missing from my life these days, Edward really was a old stick in the mud, about a lot of things. I just hadn't noticed before now, how we never have fun together, everything's always so serious with him. God he needed to lighten up.
A couple of hours later the boys left to go to the Cullens house and I decided I could use a shower, maybe it would loosen up my shoulder a bit. So I scooped up my hair in a bun awkwardly and trudged back up the stairs. By the time I was done I felt lots better and ready to do something for the dinner. I got out some pre-prepared steaks, potatoes for baking and salad ready for Charlie coming home. See not so hard, one handed, well hell it's not as if I hadn't had to do it all before. This has to be the third dislocated shoulder I've had in my lifetime.
I am well aware that I haven't heard anything from Edward today, but I will just let it slide for now. No doubt he's having a bout of self pity and then what with all of the self-flagellation, he'll be a bit busy at the moment to speak to me, 'You know me' the injured party in this scenario. I sometimes wonder why I love him, because damn it all to hell, he is ruddy hard work. Sheesh, and men think woman are high-maintenance.