Disclaimer: I own a hookah straight from Israel (interesting gift, ain't it?) but sadly, all I own of this is the plot. Blah.
"Bella! Come Quick!" Emmett's voice called from the ground floor. I had been lying down on the bed in Edward's room. Oh no. No way was I falling for that one again. Last night, Emmett had lit a small fire in the kitchen to make me smell the smoke and run downstairs. Of course I tripped, and of course he was there to watch it. Well, he was mistaken if he thought that I could fall for the same joke twice. So I walked slowly down the stairs, not noticing the fishing wire right at the last step.
Unfortunately for me, I wasn't as lucky as I was the first time. My face made contact with the floor before the rest of me did, and I could smell the blood coming out of my nose. "Oh Shit!"
Emmett ran into the living room and turned to look at me. He licked his lips and made his way, slouching, towards me. His eyes were coal black and he looked ready to kill. "Emmett, it's me, Bella. Please don't…" I didn't know what to say. But I could see Emmett's chest stop expanding and deflating, and knew he was holding his breath. He looked away from me, and closed his eyes. When they opened, they were back to their topaz luster, and he smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry, Bella. Look, I'm going to come closer to you to pick you up, ok? I'll just put you in Edward's room and clean this mess up. Take a shower, and you can just put on one of Edwards shirts. If you leave the bloody clothes by the door, I'll get rid of them. Just make sure you clean all of…it… off of you." I nodded. I trusted him; I knew he would never intentionally hurt me. So, still holding his breath, I let the vampire carry my bloody self upstairs and set me down. "I'll wait for you to get into the shower before I take the clothes. "I just nodded again, not bothering trying to speak. My nose hurt, and I felt dizzy and nauseous.
Holding the wall for support, I walked over to the shower and undressed. I threw the clothes into a pile by the door and turned the water on, immediately jumping in and letting the warm water run over me. I heard the door open and close, and drew in deep breaths. I was getting dizzier; I couldn't handle the sight of blood, much less have it pouring out of my nose. I had to sit down on the floor of the shower, keeping my eyes closed and drawing in as much air as I possibly could.
"Bella?" I heard the voice of my angel. Edward! Should he be in here? I was bleeding! "No… Edward, you need to…" I felt a towel being draped over me and the sensation of being picked up.
"Carlisle. Come quick please." I felt cool hands on my forehead and felt comforted. "No, Edward, it's fine." All I could think of at this point was that Edward was getting what he wanted. Not only was I taking his stupid vitamins, I was getting a check up from his father. Stupid vampire.
Another set of hands felt my forehead, and I heard my future father-in-law speak. "Edward, you should leave. I'm going to take blood." I felt Edward's lips on mine and heard his get up to leave. "And please, don't destroy your brother. He's been apologizing since we walked in here, he looks terrified and worried half to…well, death, actually." Edward simply grunted and I heard the door close.
And then I passed out.
Waking up, I saw it was getting dark outside. Shit! I had to be home at Charlie's soon. I jumped out of bed, but immediately fell back down from the dizzy sensation in my head. There was movement in my peripheral vision, and I looked over to the couch, where Emmett was sitting. "You fall down even when you don't try." He said quietly, standing and brushing the creases out of his jeans. "I'll take you home." Picking me up, he carried me slowly down the stairs, putting me in Carlisle's Mercedes. "The rest of the family, sans Edward and Carlisle, are still hunting." He explained. I nodded.
"Where is Edward?" I asked. He looked at me and smiled. "He's just hunting. He left early when Alice saw what was going to happen." Oh. Okay. "Bella, I'm really, really sorry. I didn't know that that would happen, I just thought you'd land on your butt and we could both laugh at it together."
"Emmett, it's fine. I've gotten used to you treating me like I'm your sister, with the joking and the teasing and all that. I haven't died and I haven't broken any major bones, so what is there to worry about?" I tried consoling him. Night had fallen by now and I hoped Charlie had ordered a pizza, I was ravenous. "No harm, no foul, brother." He smiled and leaned across the seat, hugging me gently and then retuning his attention to the road. I leaned back and studied him.
He was a much more conscientious driver, fast, but still keeping the speed limit under light speed. Both hands were hardly taken off the wheel, and when he spoke to me, he only glanced over before bringing his gaze back to the asphalt. We arrived home shortly after he had apologized, smiling and telling me he would see me soon. "Will you tell Edward to come by tonight?" I asked.
"Sure, sure." He said, wiggling his thumb and pinky like a stoned surfer. I giggled and walked up to the front door, letting myself in. I sniffed the air. No pizza smells. Damn. Walking in to the kitchen I saw a note sitting on the table. Picking it up, I was informed that Charlie was with Billy in La Push, watching the game.
I sighed as I turned to the stove, putting a pot to boil on it and turning it on. Might as well go put my things away. Turning to the stairs, I ignored the growling in my stomach and walked the short distance to my bedroom, where I found Edward sitting in the rocking chair, barely visible by the lack of light from the window.
"Edward!" I said happily, going over to meet him. "You really didn't have to leave your trip because I fell, really." But I didn't say any more. I could see his face now, see the unshed tears in his eyes and see the pain that created a mask over his normally smooth features. "Edward? What's wrong?" he stood.
Taking my hands gently and pulling me to the bed, he did not sit with me as I had expected to. Instead he just stood there, looking at me with hope and sadness rolled into one. I could barely breathe, and he was breathing a bit more heavily. "Bella. Carlisle told me. Please, just tell me who you were with." What? What was he going on about?
"What are you talking about?" I tugged on his arm, trying to make him sit with me, but he gently took my hand off of his arm and went to sit on the rocking chair. "Bella, it's okay. I know now. You don't have to pretend anymore." Pretend what?
"Edward. Explain. What did Carlisle tell you?" I was getting anxious and upset, and a little angry. I stood up and walked over to him, grabbing his face with my hands and turning it so he was facing me. He responded by closing his eyes.
"You're pregnant." He whispered, and I could practically hear his heart breaking inside his stone chest. I, on the other hand, could feel my heart begin beating wildly. Pregnant? And he… he thought it was someone else's? I felt the tears streaming down my face.
"You think I would be with someone else?" I whimpered, pulling away and running to the bathroom, locking the door. Edward was too much of a gentleman to intrude, but I felt better turning the lock. I let the tears flow freely here, knowing he could hear me.
"Bella. Please. Can we talk about this?" I could hear him on the other side of the door. Something hit the door and I assumed he knocked, so I opened it and he fell slightly backwards. Turned out he was sitting against it. "Sure, Edward. We can talk. We can talk all about how you think I would cheat on you. And with the wedding so close, too." I sobbed, and he reached forward, about to put his arms around me, when he sniffed. "Bella, is your stove on?"
"Shit!" I yelled, running down the stairs. I completely forgot that running is not a smart idea when it comes to me, and tripped on my way down, to be caught by cold arms. They straightened me and let me go quickly, and I realized that he didn't want to touch me. He thought I was dirty, that I was with other men. I walked over to the stove and turned it off, then turned to face him. "Edward, if that is what you truly believe, then leave. Because I don't think I could take your distrust in our relationship. But just know that I would never, ever, cheat on you. I love you too much for that. There is no other man in my life, only you." His smooth façade crumpled and I couldn't stand seeing it anymore. Turning away, I leaned with my palms against the counter and heard the front door quietly close.
I waited a few minutes, and then, for the second time that day, I collapsed.
Okay, I'm going to stick with my favorite rule of all. Five reviews and I post a new chapter. Woo hoo
On a sadder note, I meant to post this with my other story days ago, but I never did. It's Randy Pausch's last lecture, a completely inspirational man I happen to have met (My aunt was a student of his). Watch it, I know it's long, but it is one of the most profound speeches I have ever listened to. His fight with Liver cancer ended on Friday, and he is someone we will all sorely miss.
/watch?vji5MqicxSo
Peace unto you, and unto others be peace.