Chapter 4 – Unspoken Truths

BELLA

I cleaned up my hands and scrapped knees and re-taped my glasses. God, I was the classic nerd. All I needed was a pocket protector. And the only reason I didn't have one was because I couldn't afford one. I put new bandages on my chin and hands and got to work on dinner.

My dad came home a little early, looking worriedly at me. I wondered if he was going to have to cancel his fishing trip. "Bella?" he asked gently, and I looked at him, worried that something bad had happened. "Can you tell me how you hurt yourself?" he asked.

I looked down at my bandaged hands and cringed, holding back tears. "I'm just clumsy, Dad," I said turning away from him. I felt him touch my shoulder, and I winced a little. Tyler had shoved me really hard today.

"Did you hurt your shoulder?" he asked.

"Yeah, Dad, but it's no big deal," I said moving back to the counter.

"How did you hurt the back of your shoulder and the palms of your hands at the same time?" He had me there. He usually didn't question me on my clumsiness. I shrugged and winced.

"Is someone hurting you, Isabella?" he asked, and I could see him swallow hard.

I didn't want him upset. I just gave him a smile. "I'm fine, Dad, nothing to worry about."

"Bella, Edward Cullen was nearly arrested for assault for beating Tyler Crowley, Eric Yorkie and Ben…"

"What?" I cut him off.

"He said they were hurting you," he said swallowing hard, "That he was doing what I should be."

My father looked at the ground ashamed.

"Dad," I pleaded.

"Did they hurt you? Or was this guy just trying to get off?" he asked.

I didn't want Edward to get in trouble, but I didn't want my dad to feel like a bad father, either. I was still in shock that Edward had done what he had, and I thought maybe he was just trying to get off.

I shrugged. "I don't know Edward very well, Dad," I said.

He shook his head, taking a few steps away from me, and then walked back over. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I realized for some reason he believed Edward, and I was a little embarrassed.

"Emmett McCarty said he went on a rant, telling them to leave you alone, and then when they laughed at him for defending you, he beat them up, or down. They were all on the ground and moaning in pain when I drove up."

I covered my face. I couldn't believe he had done that. They were going to kill me when I got to school on Monday. What the hell had he been thinking?

EDWARD

Dinner that night was tense. Word had spread like wildfire that the three boys brought into the ER had been beaten by an unknown assailant. It was being kept under wraps, but Carlisle kept looking at my battered knuckles. I think he had figured out who it was, but without proof, he couldn't say anything. Alice, bless her heart, was doing her best to distract everyone. She kept talking about the spring dance coming up. Of course, this led to Esme asking if I would be attending.

"No, I don't know any girls," I blurted out. Truth was I didn't know any girls I wanted to go with.

"What about Bella?" Alice bounced at her suggestion.

I looked at her like she was nuts, and even Esme dropped her fork in shock at the very idea, and that kind of pissed me off. There was nothing wrong with Bella.

"Alice, dear, I'm sure Edward could do better than Bella Swan, he isn't desperate, and she's…out of his league. I'm sure Angela or Lauren would be more interesting to him. More to his taste," she said smiling at me, which just pissed me the hell off even more.

"Fuck that, they're bitches. I'd rather take Bella than any of them. At least she has a fucking brain in her head!" I shouted.

"Edward!" Carlisle threatened.

Alice interrupted his scolding with a squeal. "Wonderful! I'll let her know you'll be taking her. I can help her get dressed. She's going to look so beautiful. I can see it now." Alice went off on a tangent, explaining the dress she wanted for Bella and how my tie should match.

"Wait a second!" I shouted at her.

"Edward," she scolded, "You have to take her. She'll be just heartbroken if you break it off."

"Break it off? I haven't even asked her yet!"

I looked over at Carlisle and Esme, and both of them looked completely amused by the mess I had gotten myself into. "She's right, gentlemen don't break things off," Carlisle added smirking.

Well, fuck that, I was taking her then, and I was having a fuck awesome time. This wasn't a punishment. I wouldn't let it be. I would show them. Bella was going to have a hell of a good time, too.

"Can I take my bike?" I asked suddenly.

"What? Of course not!" Alice screamed. "She'll be wearing a dress."

I rolled my eyes. "Make sure she has a coat!" I said in a duh voice. "I want to take her on my bike," I said with a smirk and then looked to Carlisle with questioning eyes. He looked to Esme, and she let out a sigh. "I don't know if Chief Swan will approve of her riding on that thing."

"Helmet hair!" Alice screamed. "You can't take her with helmet hair, Edward! That's horrible."

I shrugged. "Look, I think she looks fine the way she is, helmet hair is not going to hurt anything," I said and looked to Carlisle.

He face palmed himself and then sighed. "If her father says it's alright…"

"Cool. Chief will be down with it. I'll bring his girl home in one piece."

"And a virgin!" Esme shouted after.

"I'm not making any promises!" I teased. I wouldn't fuck Bella, because she was a nice girl. That and the chief could totally throw me in lockup for bogus shit. I had seen how he worked when it came to his daughter. I should have totally been in lockup now. It was cool of him to let me go. I hoped he was working those assholes over.