Edward POV
I just wanted to protect them from it, the pain, the sadness, the endless hurt inside. Keeping them as far away from mom and dad seemed the only way possible. The park was the only place children could be without adults questioning where their parents were. No worries, no problems just swings, slides, sand and sunshine, what else could a 4 year old possibly want? As we trudged to the park a heavy silence sank over the three of us. It was no surprise, what was there to talk about? Who on earth casually chatted about abusive parents? Mute uneasiness began to feel normal when we approached the playground. It came into view and the laughter of children automatically lit the faces of Alice and Emmet with smiles.
I watched as they sprinted towards the teeter totter, slightly pointless if you ask me. Emmet has about 30 pounds on Alice, then again no one was really asking. They laughed easily, Emmet launching the weightless Alice into the air. I sat down on a swing, just to observe the on going business of the park. Glancing to my left I noticed a girl about my age doing the same on the swing next to me. Eyes glued to my siblings I barely noticed her…that's right barely noticed her chestnut hair, rosy cheeks, and chocolate brown eyes never moving from the ground. Because I was so focused on keeping my siblings safe I was hardly aware that from time to time she would glance at me, or that she was reading Wuthering Heights, extremely advanced for a nine year old but I've read it a few times myself. When your soul purpose in life is to protect your brother and sister you can't waste time noticing a girl.
Alice's friend Jasper from the day before arrived accompanied by Rose- I think it was more than that but Emmet had left her name at Rose. Jasper carefully watched Alice making sure nothing happened to her, Emmet gazed adoringly at Rosalie (I had heard him shouting her name as he chased her up the rope ladder) like she was the only thing on the planet. I don't believe in fate, I knew there was a one in a million chance that these pairings would last more than a week but I didn't dare crush their hopes. Despite my best efforts I felt my eyes slipping back over to see what the mysterious girls was up too. She was gone. One moment there the next missing, I had just heard a page turn I could swear to it. Jumping up and swiftly doing a 360 I noticed a flicker of moment at the edge of the park. An older looking boy, about 11 was holding the girls book right out of her reach. Infuriating as this was I kept my walk cool and collected as I made my way over to them.
"What on earth are you doing with this poor girl's book?" I questioned casually as if nothing else could concern me less.
Glaring with eyes of steel the boy turned towards me, "Whatever I feel like doing with it, you got that you little punk? What do you think you're going to do about go tell your mommy on me?"
I felt my eyes light with fire and I launched myself at him throwing him to the ground, several good punches to the face had him screaming at me to lay off that it was just a joke. With a bloody lip and nose he handed the book back to the mystery girl looking at her with horror. "Keep you're boyfriend away from here he's going to hurt somebody!" Ending on that note he took of running away from the park, raising my hands to my face I called after him "I would've told my mom but she would've done more damage than that!" The girl was staring at me curiously. "Thank you…I guess. That was just Jacob he's only eight you know." I stared back in astonishment.
"He has to be older than that he looks to be about 12!" She just looked solemn and picked her book from where Jacob had dropped it dusting off the cover.
"I'm Bella by the way. Some people just ask for their things back."
Smiling I answered "Edward, sorry for being so rash. Are you here on your own?"
"Wouldn't you like to know? My father is the chief of police he could have you arrested for just asking that." Despite her serious tone a grin started to break on her lips. "You wanna go to the snow cone place down the street?" Hesitation laced my voice, "I don't know I have a younger brother and sister and not very much money. The truth was I didn't have any money but if I turned down her invitation how would she ever find out?
Question filled her expression, "didn't anybody tell you? Free snow cones today it's their 5th anniversary since opening. Get your brother and sister and let's go!" I nodded and sprinted off to gather up my siblings.