As we all know, I am, unfortunately, no Stephenie Meyer – All Twilight Characters belong to her.
Chapter 3: EPOV
"Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark."
~ George Iles
.
I wake up around nine on Saturday. Em and Rose are away for the weekend visiting Rose's parents and I am glad to have some time to myself.
Bella is the first thing I think about.
Her abrupt disappearance last night was as unsettling as her sudden appearance was. But her effect on me was what was the most disturbing.
Her vacant eyes are not lost on me, her fear is not lost on me.
Try as I might I cannot push away those chocolate orbs that tell a completely different story to the one she tries to portray.
She is not okay.
She is broken; damaged in ways I cannot understand.
I slam my fist down on the mattress as I get out of bed. I can't help the frustration that consumes me whenever I think of what that bastard does to her. I get into the shower and concentrate on our conversation last night. I feel slightly better knowing that I at least got to tell her that I am here for her.
Progress.
xxxxxx
.
It's 10 o' clock and I am on the way to the pub. We open a little later on Saturday's but I like to get there earlier to get things set up.
When I drive into the parking lot, I notice a red Chevy truck.
My heart beat increases.
Bella.
I park my Volvo, get out and approach the car slowly. I can see her in there, her head lain back against the headrest. Her breathing slow.
I am scared to frighten her. My knock is soft on the window. She jumps and looks at me. Her face is the picture of confusion and it takes all my strength not to hit something when I see her smudged make-up and the slight discolouration on her left cheek.
She winds down the window.
"Edward?" Her voice shaky and her eyes are wide.
She looks around.
"Open the door, Bella."
She looks back at me and her eyes are no longer confused, they are terrified.
"I-I can't be here."
"No, Bella. Don't run! You don't have to tell me anything. Just come inside and sit down for a while. I'll get you some coffee or something." I speed through the words, scared to let her go.
Her eyes close as she exhales slowly. It feels like time has stopped as I wait for her to say something.
Her eyes open slowly. She looks a lot less terrified.
"O-okay" She whispers her resignation.
She unlocks the door and I open it for her. I sweep my arm out dramatically with a little bow, gesturing for her to step out. She looks up at me and I can see a hint of a smile. The mood lightens infinitesimally. I want to ease the tension - for her to feel comfortable.
I close her car door and follow her slow steps toward the wide wooden doors which mark the entrance into the pub. I dig in my pockets and take out my bunch of keys. I search for the right one before shoving it into the hole and turning.
I push the door open. "Just wait a second," I ask as I run to punch in the alarm code.
As the alarm beeps to signal my success at disarming it, she walks in and looks around. The room is dark with all the lights off and curtains drawn.
"Just take a seat and I'll get you something to drink. Coffee, Tea, hot chocolate? Hell, I'll whip up a milkshake if that's what you feel like." I ask, hoping that she'll want something non-alcoholic.
"Um, actually, a milkshake sounds really, really good." She says, the hint of a smile growing wider.
"Sure." I grin at her. "I am actually quite the milk shake extraordinaire. What's your flavour?"
She tries to wipe her eyes as she answers, "Extraordinaire? Really? I'll have to be the judge of that. Um... let's go for something universal so I can really test your skills – Chocolate?"
"Oh you'll see. Chocolate it is." I hand her a few serviettes so she can wipe her tear streaked face, and walk through the door on the left of the bar and into the kitchen.
I take out all the things I need, including my secret stash of Belgian chocolate. There is nothing better than chocolate milk made with real chocolate.
For the first time since I noticed her 'situation', I feel hopeful.
I get some water boiling while I grate the chocolate into a bowl. Once the water starts to bubble uncontrollably, I place the bowl with the gratings on top of it to melt. I scoop some vanilla ice-cream into the blender and add some milk.
I add the melted chocolate to the mixture and turn the switch, watching it swirl into perfection.
I pour the contents into two glasses because there is no way I am missing out on my own chocolate milkshake.
I grab the whipped cream out the fridge and add it to the top.
Now for the final touch. I grab the grater and the chocolate and add a few delicate wisps to Bella's Milkshake. Perfect.
Just as I am about to grate some for my own, I hear a throat clear behind me. I look up and see Bella standing in the doorway. She looks a little nervous but her smile is still there.
"Is this going to take a while?" She teases.
My answering smile is huge. "You can't rush art, Bella."
She giggles and it is music to my ears. I am not usually one for the melodramatics or the sappy shit, but really, Bella's laugh, knowing that I am the one that caused it, warms my heart and makes my chest swell with hope.
xxxxxx
.
We sit at the bar and quietly drink our milkshakes. There are so many questions I want to ask.
Why are you with him? How did you get into this situation? What happened last night? Why did I find you sitting in your car outside the bar at 10 o' clock on a Saturday morning?
But I don't ask. I keep the mood light and just enjoy the moment with her. I will not push her because if I do, I know that she will just run. The act of approaching a wild animal forms in my mind – quietly with no sudden movements. Bella is the wild animal, scared and confused, and at any point, anything I say can send her running for the hills.
Eventually the bar is filled with the sounds of Bella slurping the last of her milkshake and I look at her expectantly.
"Hmmm. Okay, Edward. I have to give it to you. That was one of the best milkshakes I have ever had!" She says, as she smiles shyly at me through her lashes.
Her smile and my name rolling off her lips are a deadly combination.
"Anytime, Bella." I try to put as much meaning into my words as possible. I am here for you, Bella. Whenever you need me.
I grab our glasses and take them to the back. When I re-emerge I move straight to the windows to let some light in. I need to get ready to open up the bar.
Before I finish with the first set, I hear her chair scraping and I turn to look at her.
"Well, I better be going. I'm sure there are some paying customers dying for one of those milkshakes, or a drink or whatever people come in for on a Saturday morning." She smiles, but it's not the one from earlier. It's the one from the last time she was here.
"You don't have to go." I say, even though I know that it's pointless.
"Thanks for the milkshake, Edward." She says as she walks to the door. I want to beg her to stay/ I want to beg her to talk to me. But I know better – One step at a time, Edward.
xxxxxx
.
I spend the rest of the day trying not to think of her. I fail miserably. My mind is consumed with her. All I see are her chocolate eyes, her silky hair, her tear streaked face and all I have are thoughts on how I can get her to talk to me and what I can do to somehow fix it.
I wonder how she got into this situation. And those thoughts take me back in time. Back to a time where I was just as confused and helpless.
.
She's in the bathroom staring at the mirror. Her face is tear streaked and her eyes are swollen from sobbing in the shower.
She doesn't know that I can hear her, that I always hear her.
Her lip is cut. Her eye is blue and I know that she must be sporting a few broken ribs.
She brings her hand to her lip and feels the wound there. Another sob rips out and she steps back and sits down on the edge of the bath tub.
I open the door wider and take a tentative step inside, making my presence known.
She looks at me. We are almost eye level and the look in her eyes makes my heart clench painfully.
"Oh baby," her voice is shaky with emotion or the pain, I'm not sure which.
"Mommy?" I ask. My voice is only a whisper and my own tears are building.
"Shhh, baby. I'm fine. Mommy is fine."
"I hate him." I state once she gets up and pulls me toward her, wincing as she bends.
"No, baby. It's not his fault. Your dad just gets angry sometimes. Mommy needs to be more careful."
Even at such a young age her words confused me.
.
"Edward!"
I look to the voice and see Alice at the bar, her eyes questioning.
I realise she must have been trying to talk to me while I was stuck in my head.
"Sorry, Alice." I start as I walk toward her. "What can I get you?"
"Are you okay?" She asks.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I was just thinking." I smile at her to punctuate my words.
She smiles in response. "Okay. Can I get the usual for me and some water for Bella?"
I look toward their usual spot as discreetly as possible. Bella is sitting, well swaying, in her seat. Her head on her arms.
I look back at Alice and lift my eyebrow in question.
She gives a little giggle in response. "I think Bella has had enough."
I begin to wonder how long I had been reveling in the past.
"Have you guys been here for a while?" I ask, while I get her order ready.
"No, we just got here."
I look back to Bella, this time less discreetly.
"Oh, she was out before this. She obviously had a bit too much fun." Another giggle.
My stomach turns while I place their drinks down in front of her.
"Just put it on my tab," she says, before grabbing the drinks and walking back to their table.
I watch Bella look up as Alice sits down across from her. She grabs the water and downs it, looking disappointed. Alice doesn't seem to notice as she looks to the door, where Jasper has appeared.
He walks over to their table and gives her a kiss before coming over to the bar and I turn to serve another customer before Jasper can catch me staring.
xxxxxx
.
The night goes on without incident. I keep an eye on Bella but it is a fairly busy night so distraction is easy to find.
By midnight Bella appears sober and is getting ready to leave with Jasper and Alice. They come to the bar to say their goodbyes, but Bella remains at the table, looking through her purse, stalling.
"Well, we're calling it a night," Jasper says.
"Enjoy the rest of it, guys. Get home safe" I smile at them but my mind is with Bella, in the corner with the bruises she doesn't want anyone to see.
I wonder whether everyone else is oblivious. Besides the obvious, why does it seem that I am the only one who sees her?
"Is Bella alright?" I ask as I make a point of looking at her in the corner.
She is watching us now.
"Yip. She's fine. But don't worry, were driving her home. " She smiles at me as she turns toward the door.
Bella gets up to meet her there, while Jasper gives me a knowing look before turning to join them.
Yeah, maybe they are not as oblivious as they seem.
I spend the rest of the night wondering what had happened between the Bella from this morning and the Bella from tonight.
xxxxxx
.
Sunday is slow but it's fine because I am getting off early to go fetch Rose and Em from the airport.
I am exhausted. The night was filled with nightmares, or memories. I can't tell anymore. They all end the same though – blaring sirens, red and blue lights - all seen through the teary eyes of the boy I once was.
Garret arrives 30 minutes before I have to leave.
"Hey, man." He says.
"Hey." We shake hands. "How was the holiday?"
"It was fantastic." His smile is genuine.
"Can't wait til we're there permanently."
"I bet."
"Yeah, the boys are so excited. It was a mission to get them to leave, but it's not long now."
I chuckle. Garrett and Kate have 3 sons, 2 of which have ADHD and are complete little terrorists.
"Did you find a place?"
"Yip." He pops the 'p'. "Kate found an awesome spot. As soon as we saw it we just knew it was the one."
"That's great, man. So you all set?"
"Yeah, we've got a month to sort everything out here and then that's that."
"Well you've been planning long enough." Garrett has been dreaming to open up his own little restaurant in LA the entire time I've known him.
He laughs. "You can say that again!" He takes a look around the bar. "Yeah, one more month and she's all yours." He says as he pats the bar counter.
Mine.
I look around, letting it sink in. I want to feel the happiness I have been working toward but I just can't put the sight of Bella swaying in her seat, head down, out of my mind. I take a moment to try and replace it with the image of Bella standing in the bar's kitchen doorway, smiling at me.
One step at a time, Edward.
One step at a time.
A/N: I love reviews like a fat boy loves cake ;)