Hey, sorry I forgot to update yesterday! You get another long chapter instead :) This is one of my favorites so far, let me know what you think! Plus check out You Don't Know Me by Ben Folds and Regina Spektor :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight
Charlie was already in the parking lot of the hospital when we pulled up. It wasn't hard to imagine what kind of laws he had broken to be there waiting for me.
"What are you doing, Bells?" Charlie asked worriedly, helping me out of the ambulance, "I thought you said you were okay?"
A couple of nurses wheeled Tyler away and I was glad all over again that I had refused a stretcher.
"I am. I'm fine. They just want to check me out just in case. But I'm fine, I swear."
He sighed loudly before nodding reluctantly. "Okay. But I'm coming with you for whatever they're checking you for."
I familiar voice from behind us cut me off before I could try to dissuade him.
"I'm sorry, Chief."
For the first time I was actually glad to see the familiar dark-haired paramedic. "They want to get her into the ER and you're going to have to wait for her out front."
I gave Charlie a reassuring smile and a nurse led me away.
As an afterthought I turned back, "Do me a favor and don't call Renée. She'll just worry and I'm fine. Promise me you won't call her?"
Charlie frowned and I could tell that's exactly what he had been about to do.
"Please?"
"Fine," he grumbled. "I won't call her. But you should when we get home."
I nodded, deciding to save that argument for later.
Inside, a nurse told me to lie down in a bed, and wait for another nurse to come and get me. I complied, but as soon as she walked away I sat up and looked around for Tyler. I couldn't find him but I figured he was getting x-rays.
I shucked off my jacket and threw it on the end of the bed.
A little while later, they brought Tyler back and put him in the bed next to mine. As soon as the nurses left, I got up and sat down by his feet.
"How're you feeling?" I asked.
"A little banged up, but mostly okay." He smiled at me and I noticed he had a split lip.
"I'm so sorry Tyler, I didn't mean for—"
He sat up in his bed, cutting me off. "Isabella, stop. If anything I should be apologizing to you. I almost killed you."
"But I—"
"No, really." He said guiltily. "How did you get out of the way so fast anyway? I thought I was going to hit you for sure."
"Edward pulled me out of the way."
Tyler looked at me quizzically. "Who?"
"Cullen," I added. "He pulled me back."
"Cullen? I didn't see him. It was all so fast, I guess. Is he okay?"
"Oh he's fine," I said. "He's back at the school."
I was glad about that. I was determined not to say anything to Edward about the accident. I may have wanted to keep a space between us, but also I didn't to fight with him.
Just then a nurse came and told me it was my turn. I once again refused a stretcher, and ended up being begrudgingly persuaded into a wheelchair instead. I got scolded by the nurses for not sitting still while I was being X-rayed. I was impatient to go back to Tyler and apologize properly.
Tyler was staring off into space when I got back and settled down cross-legged on my own bed. He looked over when I sat down.
"Isabella! How did it go? I'm so sorry you…"
I tried to cut him off but he plowed through anyway. He had apparently done some thinking while I was gone and now seemed guiltier than ever. He kept up a steady stream of apologies and that made me feel worse and worse.
"Tyler, please. It was my—"
It was no use. He just cut me off again. I groaned in frustration fought the urge to burry my face into my hands.
I laid down in the bed and closed my eyes, my guilt washing over me. I curled up on my side and tried to take steady even breaths. Like I hoped, Tyler's apologies turned to quiet mutterings under his breath.
"So, Miss Swan, how are you feeling?" My eyes snapped open and I sat up sharply. The newcomer's voice wasn't familiar to me, but the smooth and musical way he spoke was.
I found myself looking into one of the most strikingly handsome faces I had ever seen. He had impeccably sculpted blonde hair, pale skin, and bright gold eyes. He was smiling gently, completely at ease, with straight and even white teeth. He looked younger than I had expected, but I knew who it was.
"Carlisle," I said, surprising even myself. His smile faltered the tiniest of fractions.
"I'm sorry. Have we met?" His smile was very friendly, but I knew, that with his perfect vampire memory, he was certain we never had.
"I'm so sorry, Dr. Cullen," I managed to squeak out. "Charlie mentioned you to me. He thinks very highly of you."
"Ah," he said, smiling widely again. "In that case, it is very good to meet you Miss Swan."
"Likewise," I said. I had thought about meeting Carlisle ever since I had first read Twilight, but, now that I was face to face with him, I had no idea what to say.
"Well," Carlisle said, picking up a clipboard at the foot of the bed, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. I feel totally fine." I said quickly.
Carlisle clipped my x-ray up to the lightboard between my and Tyler's beds. "You're X-rays look good. Does your head hurt? I hear you hit it pretty hard."
"It's fine. Barely hurts."
He stepped closer and I braced myself as he gently felt the back of my head.
I managed not to flinch when he carefully felt the bump on my head. His cold hand actually eased my growing headache and I relaxed a little.
"Tender?" Carlisle asked.
"Not really." I answered. My headache throbbed painfully when he took his hand away.
"Well," Carlisle said, "you're going to be fine. Your father is in the waiting room—you can go home with him now. But come back if you feel dizzy or have trouble with your eyesight at all."
I nodded. "I will. I guess I'll go find him," I said. "Thanks for everything Dr. Cullen."
"You're welcome, Miss Swan," he answered.
I jumped off the bed, fighting a head rush. Carlisle held my elbow steadying me. I murmured my thanks and I grabbed my jacket off the end of the bed.
"It's just out that door and down the hall," he said, releasing my arm and pointing to the far side of the room.
I nodded. "Thanks," I said. "Will you thank Edward again when you see him? I really am very grateful."
"Of course. I look forward to seeing you again, Miss Swan."
"Likewise. See you at school, Tyler," I said, "Feel better."
"I'm so sorry—"
I just smiled and waved goodbye. "Thanks again, Dr. Cullen."
I weaved my way past the other beds and the bustling nurses and doctors and out the door Carlisle had directed me to. Despite the bustle of people back in the ER, the hallway was empty.
I looked right and left trying to decide if I wanted to go back and ask which way to go. I shrugged and went left, deciding to take my chances.
A door opened in front of me and none other than Edward walked out, looking serious. I stopped mid-step.
"What are you doing here?"
He looked up in surprise. He froze, hands clenching at his sides. He hadn't noticed me.
"I often visit my father at work," he said with a smile. "How's your head?"
"It's fine," I said for what felt like the umpteenth time. "You visit your dad in the morning on a school day?"
He grinned. "Your little accident caused quite the commotion back at the school. Most of the students have decided against returning to their classes and many of the teachers aren't bothering to teach the few students who stayed. I found that my time might be better suited spent here."
"You ditched school?"
He laughed. "Is that so surprising?"
"You don't seem the type to miss school unless they had to," I said shrugging.
"Do I?" he asked, surprised.
I nodded, trying to ignore the way he was now staring at me. "I'm trying to find Charlie. Do you know the way to the waiting room?"
"It's back the way you came," he said. "Just around the corner there."
"Of course it is," I muttered under my breath.
He surprised me by walking over. "Come on. I'll walk with you."
"Thanks."
Edward didn't say anything as we walked. I peeped at him out of the corner of my eye. He wasn't smiling anymore, his mouth a hard line. I wondered why he wanted to walk with me if he wasn't going to say anything.
"Thanks again, Edward," I said, breaking our silence.
"It was nothing," he tersely. "It was only lucky I was nearby."
I tried not to let his harsh tone bother me.
"It should have been a lot worse," I said quietly, giving up on the conversation. I was certain I would have been crushed earlier if it wasn't for him. I was eager to find Charlie and leave. I spotted him with relief as we turned to corner to the waiting room.
I walked a few more steps before I realized Edward had stopped. Curious, I walked back to him.
"What is it?"
"What do you mean by that?" His voice was skeptical when he spoke again.
"What do I mean by what?" I asked, confused.
"What did you mean should have been worse?"
"I only meant…it's nothing. I only meant it could have been worse," my voice felt pinched. "It would have been a lot worse if you hadn't been there."
He raised his eyebrows.
I flushed bright red and started to back away. "Umm…I have to go find Charlie. I'll...uhh…see you in school tomorrow. Thanks again."
I turned heel and tried to walk away quickly.
"What were you waiting for?" Startled, I turned around; Edward staring after me, looking thoughtful. His jaw was clenched so tight I could see the veins on his neck.
"What?" Confused, I walked back again. "What are you talking about?"
"In the parking lot at school, before the accident, you were waiting for something at your car. What was it?"
I opened and closed my mouth a couple times, but I didn't say anything. I couldn't believe he had noticed that. He wasn't even asking if I had been waiting for something; he knew. He was telling me.
I couldn't bring myself to look away from him. I was caught all of a sudden by the strange, but captivating, gold of his eyes.
"Nothing," I forced myself to smile, trying to make myself look assured and convincing. "I was just waiting for school to start..."
Edward walked forward, quirking his eyebrows still higher than before. "You know, I don't believe you at all."
He looked down at me, keeping his eyes even with mine. "Please tell me." His voice turned softer. My voice caught in my throat. "What were you waiting for, Bella?"
The name, so wrong, said so familiarly, brought me back to my senses. I shook my head, breaking my eyes away from his.
"I wasn't waiting for anything," I said stubbornly, still looking away.
I could hear the frustration in his voice, "I saved your life. You at least owe me the truth."
I lifted my face back up to his, indignant. "I owe you the truth!? I haven't asked you to explain yourself for what you did in the parking lot today. You could at least give me the same courtesy."
He froze, and I blanched when I realized what I had said.
"Forget that. I didn't mean—"
"What exactly should I be explaining?" he said, his tone deadly even. He leaned against the wall on his shoulder in front of me, unobtrusively blocking me from leaving.
"Nothing," I said, gritting my teeth. "Forget it."
"I would, but it almost sounds as though you are accusing me of something."
"I wasn't. Forget I said anything."
"Bella, you hit your head your head pretty hard, are you confused about something?"
I snapped. "You know my head is fine. And we both know you weren't next to me when Tyler came through."
Neither of us moved, staring each other down.
"What exactly are you saying, Bella?"
"You weren't standing next to me when I fell," I said angrily, abandoning all reason in my frustration. "You were next to Alice and you ran over to me and you pulled me back after I fell."
"Alice? You think I could run over and pull you back all in about five seconds?" Edward asked sarcastically.
"I think you could do it in less," I said, staring him straight in the eye.
When he spoke again his voice was mocking, "Nobody will believe that, you know." I bristled at his words.
"Of course I know that!" My voice came out harsher then I meant it to. "But it doesn't matter because I'm not going to tell anyone. I'm not an idiot, Edward."
Surprise flitted across his face but it was gone in an instant.
I sighed. "Look, Edward. I won't say anything and I'm not asking for an explanation so can we just drop it." I grimaced at how backwards the situation was.
He nodded— his face all serious and unconcerned. "Maybe you should go home and get some rest. Get yourself sorted out. I think your head might be worse than you think."
I felt a heavy weight on my chest. His words reminded me of Rosalie. And Jasper. The blood drained from my face.
"I'm not going to say anything to anyone," I said fervently, looking him strait in the eye. "Please remember I said that."
He stood up away from the wall, eyes wide, and I took it as his agreement I nodded and walked around him. "Thank you, Edward."
Charlie spotted me right as I walked into the waiting room and immediately walked over.
"Bella!" he said, his relief plain to see, "They came out and told me! I'm so glad you're okay. Are you ready to go home?"
"Actually, can you take me back to the school?" I asked, heading for the door. "I have something to do afterwards and I'll need the car."
"No way, Bells" he said, crossing his arms, "You were in the hospital. We're going home. Whatever you needed to do you can do tomorrow."
He looked resolved, and I was pretty sure he wouldn't change his mind. "Charlie…"
"Please," he said. "Indulge your old man. Just take the rest of the day off to rest."
I reluctantly agreed and we left the hospital.
As we drove away from the hospital, I thought about Jasper and Rosalie again. I was wound up tighter than a spring. Distracting myself, I noticed that Charlie was shifting around uncomfortably behind the wheel.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Listen, Bella…I know you asked me not to, but—"
My eyes snapped over to him but he was determinately not looking at me. "You didn't…"
"I feel like I had to." His ears were turning pink. "She's your mother and she deserves—"
I groaned loudly and closed my eyes, tilting my head against the head rest.
"You promised." Calling Renée about the accident was really was the last thing I wanted to do.
"I know and I'm sorry. But, just call her when we get to the house…please?" Now he glanced over at me, silently pleading.
"Okay," I sighed. "I'll call her."
"Thank you."
After pulling up to the curb in front of the house, Charlie turned off the engine and started to get out of the car. I held on to his arm to stop him.
"I'm fine, Charlie," I told him. "You don't have to stay with me. Go back to work."
He shook his head. "Please," I said. "I'm just going to do school stuff. I'll call you if something's wrong."
He didn't look like he wanted to agree to my request.
"Please?" I asked again.
He nodded reluctantly. "Fine, but I'll be home in a couple hours. I'll grab us a pizza on my way home or something."
"How about I cook for us instead?" I said, remembering. "I bought some things at the store over the weekend. I don't mind."
"Sure," he said with a small smile, not bothering to hide his surprise. "Sounds good."
"Good," I said, climbing out of the car. "I'll see you later then."
Charlie waited until I unlocked the door and opened it before he pulled away. I waved as he drove off, closing and locking the door behind me.
I made my way to the kitchen, dropping my bag by the door with a thunk as I went. The noise was startlingly loud in the quiet house.
Just then, the phone rang. I picked it up thinking it was Charlie.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Bella. This is Nancy Newton," a brisk woman's voice said. "I heard about what happened at the school. How are you?"
"I'm okay, I wasn't hurt," I told her, worried that I knew the reason behind her call.
"I'm glad to hear it, but I couldn't possibly ask you to come in today after what you went through. We can try again tomorrow."
"Really, Mrs. Newton. That's not necessary," I pleaded. "I can still—"
"I insist," she said. "See you tomorrow!" She hung up.
I slammed the receiver down and groaned out loud in frustration. At this rate, I'd never be able to start saving anything at all.
I ended up reading the rest of the afternoon. I finally finished For Whom the Bell Tolls and started in on Wuthering Heights. I'd read it before but I definitely needed a refresher.
At around five, I pulled a couple chicken breast out of the fridge and put them in baggies; tossing them into the sink with hot water to defrost.
I took my time cutting up lettuce for a salad and washing and wrapping a few potatoes in foil before I resigned myself to the inevitable.
I found the crumpled slip of paper with Renée's number on it tacked up on a cork board by the front door.
Taking a deep breath, I punched in the numbers and sat down at the kitchen table, listening to the ring tone.
"Hello?"
"M—mo…?" I was could hardly understand myself and I wasn't all that surprised that she didn't answer. I cleared my throat and tried again. "Mom, you there?"
All of a sudden a voice rushed out on the other end. "Bella! Bella, honey is that you? Oh my God, what happened? Charlie said you were in an accident! I knew sending you to Forks was a bad idea. I should have never had let you gone! You could have died—"
"I'm fine. Nothing happened; you and Charlie are both overreacting."
"Nothing happened? Charlie said it was a car accident!" I could almost hear tears in her voice now. "We'll get you on the first plane back to Phoenix. I knew this was a bad idea—"
"Really," I said. "I'm fine. And there's no one at the house for me to go to. I'm better off just staying here."
"Are you sure? I can start heading home tonight." she said, hopefully. "I can meet you there tomorrow!"
"I'm okay," I said, softening. I may not know or care about this woman in a personal way, but she definitely felt that way about me. I liked it more than I had a right to.
After a few more minutes of careful reassurance, Renée agreed that it didn't make sense for me to go to Phoenix.
"Just be careful, Bella," she said. "I love you so much."
My heart jumped into my throat. "I…you too."
"Bye, honey."
"Bye."
I hung up the phone and picked up the kitchen timer off the counter. I headed into the living room and sat down in the love seat, pulling the blue quilt hanging off the back with me.
I turned on the TV and found a football game. I watched it for a while, but I couldn't focus on it. Every little noise I heard made me jump, each one sounding like Rosalie or Jasper sneaking into the house.
After the second car backfired in front of the house, making me jump so badly I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood, I gave up on sitting still and went into the kitchen to finish dinner.
"Bella, I'm home!"
I started, spilling half of the salad I was tossing on the floor. I didn't hear Charlie come in.
"In the kitchen!" I shouted, stooping down to pick up the mess.
"Smells good, Bells," he said as he came in. He saw me scooping part of our dinner off the floor and bent down to help.
"Thanks," I said. "I'm almost done. Why don't you go catch the end of the game and I'll bring dinner over when it's ready."
He threw handfuls of lettuce into the trash. "Sounds great," he said. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and went and sat down.
He offered to do the dishes again after we ate so, after putting my dish in the sink, I went upstairs and grabbed the forms Mrs. Newton had given me. I had already looked them over, and not only was I going to need Charlie's signature, but I needed his help with almost all of the personal information too.
I sat down at the kitchen table. "Hey, Charlie? Could you help me with something?"
"Sure, what is it?" he asked, stepping away from the sink and drying his hands on a towel.
"I got a job at the Newton's camping store last week. Will you help me fill some of this stuff out?"
Charlie dropped the towel onto the table in surprise, but thankfully he didn't seem upset.
"You got a job?"
"Yeah, with the Newtons," I said. "It's super part time. It won't interfere with my school work or anything."
"Uh, okay…sure," he said, somewhat confusedly. "What do you need me to do?"
I sighed in relief and showed him where he needed to sign. He seemed surprised I needed help putting in the address and other personal information, but he helped anyway and didn't comment on it.
I smiled gratefully when we were done. "Thanks."
"No problem, Bells," he said, going back to the dishes. "When do you start?"
"Tomorrow hopefully," I said clipping the papers back together. "I'm going to go upstairs and caught up some more on school if that's okay."
"Sure thing, 'night."
When I got into the bedroom, I changed and settled myself in for a long night. I put the rocking chair up against the closed door and balanced a stack of book on the top of the window frame. I knew they were useless as barricades, but hopefully they would fall over and wake me up if I dozed off and someone tried to come in.
Pulling out enough schoolwork to last me through the night, I sat on the bed with the quilt pulled up to my chin. Then I waited. Hours passed but I didn't move from my vigil, glancing up from my work every once in a while to glance over at the window.
If someone was coming for me, there was no way I was going to lie in bed asleep and make it easy on them.
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