Chapter Four

Bella is adjusting to the school and everyone has still not gotten used to her being in the school. I am still not completely used to her being here and my friends are taking a bigger liking to her. Edward seems to be a little more interested in her now that they are stuck in the same class and I am not sure how I like that either. But, his adopted brother keeps bugging me about us hanging out to the point that I am stuck watching my surroundings just to avoid him. I make it to my locker after my last class to see Bella waiting for me with a small smile.

"Hey," Bella says.

"Hey, ready for the weekend once more?" I joke with a small smile. Bella and I are better at getting along when no one else is around, well except for dad of course. I put my unneeded books in my locker, close it, and turn to see Jasper and Edward lurking not too far behind us. "Is there something we have done to the Cullen boys to get their stares?"

"I dunno, but Edward has been super nice as of late after being so cold to me," Bella whispers. I hook my arm with Bella's and we walk together to our car. "So, what time am I meeting Jessica and Angela to head to Port Angeles?"

"Umm, I believe she said something about meeting them around nine or something. I am not exactly sure," I say. Bella releases my arm to walk around the truck. I sense eyes on us and turn to see Edward staring at my sister like he really is going to eat her, which causes something inside my head flick on. With in seconds, I am marching over to Edward with my hands balled up in fists.

"Jules?" Bella calls from the truck.

"You got a problem with my sister, Cullen? If you do, we can have at it right here and now because no one stares at my sister like she is about to be food!" I shout. Suddenly a van is coming at me just as I step out between the rows of parked cars and Bella is shouting my name while running to me. In seconds, I am on the ground with Bella holding me along with Edward above us with his hand out like he stopped the van from crushing us.

"You need to be more careful, Swans," Edward hisses before leaving us. The driver window rolls down and I see Tyler with a gashed head and a dazed look in his eyes.

"I am so sorry," Tyler says. Bella looks me over while I try to recollect what just happened exactly and notice there is a few wounds on Bella.

"Bells," I exclaim. She looks at herself, but shrugs it off.


Dad is furious in the waiting room when I am sure he was told to wait for Bella and I to be released. Bella rolls her eyes when I hear his arguments get closer to us and he punches the doors open to the ER. He is unsure who to check first when he sees Bella and I holding each other up in the bed. I see tears threatening to fall as he looks at the two of us, the most precious things in his life, hurt.

"Hey dad," I grumble. Dad runs over to hug us both and then do his inspection after pushing a nurse to the side.

"Are you two alright? Anything broken?" dad panics.

"Could you not do this right now?" I hiss. Suddenly, Dr. Cullen walks in with charts in hand and a large, white smile on his face.

"I heard Chief Swan's girls were here and had to look at them myself," Dr. Cullen says.

"Nice to see you, Dr. Cullen," dad says with a small sigh. "These are my girls, Julia and Bella."

"Pleasure to meet you both," Dr. Cullen says with a slight bow.

"You are the infamous Dr. Cullen," I blurt out. Bella snickers a little and then nudges me a little.

"Yes, I am sure you know my children since you two seem to be there age," Dr. Cullen chuckles. "From what I can see is only a few bumps and bruises, nothing to serious to keep them overnight. Well, maybe Julia since she has some signs of a concussion and a small cut on the back of her head."

"What, no way?! I am not staying here," I protest.

"Jules, it might be good for you," dad says sternly.

"No, I am not staying here!" I exclaim.

"It is alright, I was only suggesting it and I can give you some things to read so you know the signs and symptoms," Dr. Cullen says.

"Good thing you are staying home tomorrow," dad sighs.

"No, she is going with me and our friends to Port Angeles to pick out dresses," Bella interjects quickly. I grab her hand to give it a small squeeze as a thank you and we wait for a response.

"Keeping her busy and around many people might be good for her after today. I will get your discharge papers ready to go and I will see you three later," Dr. Cullen says. Dad turns to us to see we are smiling at him like when we were little.

"Anything you wish to share with me?" dad asks.

"Our friends want us to help them pick out a dress for the dance coming up," Bella says.

"So, we decided to go and help them out," I finished for her.

"Alright, we will talk more about this later when I get home. Get your things and go home, I mean it," dad says. Bella and I get off the bed, gather our stuff, give him a hug, and then head off to the truck together to get home.