Bella sat in her bed, wrapped in her comforter; her journal in her lap and the small lamp beside her bed switched on. She glanced toward Ryan, who was sleeping peacefully in his crib as she thought about how to possibly explain her day. Her thoughts were filled with the events that had transpired throughout the day as she attempt to wrap her brain around them.
Bella awoke to the sound of her alarm as usual. Today would be her first day back to school after the accident and Bella was not looking forward to it; she was sure that her peers would be curious about what happened. Bella was not excited at the prospect of being questioned about the accident, especially when she still had so many unanswered questions herself. As grateful as Bella had been that she was still alive, she had no idea how it was possible. The unsurety of the situation was not helping with Bella's anxiety over her almost-demise.
Getting herself and Ryan ready for the day proved to be more difficult than Bella had anticipated. Somehow it had been much more of a challenge for Bella to get ready for the day than it had been the day before. Her entire body was sore and aching, the prominent bruise on her abdomen causing the majority of her pain. Bella had never been aware of how often Ryan's little feet jabbed into her stomach in excitement while she held him until she had had the accident. It wasn't the infants fault that it hurt her, he was purely expressing his happiness.
By the time Bella had finally gotten herself and the baby out the door they were running behind schedule. She sighed as she accepted the fact that she should have agreed to let Charlie help her get ready before he left for work. Instead she had stubbornly insisted that she could do it on her own, resulting in her and Ryan leaving the house late. The pair were running so late that by the time they arrived at the Clearwater's house Bella was not able to have her normal chat with Sue. Bella apologized profusely as she rushed out of the house after dropping off the infant, Sue giving her an understanding smile in response.
As Bella sat in her car on her ride back to Forks she could not help but feel her mind wander, her half-brother dominated her thoughts. It took every ounce of Bella's self control to keep from turning around and driving back to retrieve the infant. Bella wasn't sure if it was because of the accident, but she found herself terrified to leave the infant. This confused Bella as she hadn't been worried at all when Charlie brought Ryan to spend the day with Sue the day before. It wasn't until Bella had pulled into one of the last parking spots available in the parking lot of the high school did she realize where her insecurities were stemming from. She had not been worried about leaving Ryan the day before as she had been fully able to get into contact with him if and when she had needed to. She could have called Sue to check up on the infant if she felt the need, she could have even driven to her house to gather the infant if the urge had been strong enough. However, stuck at Forks high for the day Bella was not able to do either.
Bella glanced around the parking lot as she exited her car. She was so behind schedule that it was completely empty, leaving Bella having to practically run in order to make it to her first class in time. She swung the door open just as the bell signalling the start of class rang. Bella received a pointed glare from Mr. Mason as she made her way to her seat, clutching the strap to her backpack in her hands. Bella had been correct about her peers being curious, glances and whispers reaching her as she attempted to ignore them and focus on the english lesson.
Bella found Mike beside the door outside of her english class. He gave her a half smile as she exited the classroom. She returned the small smile given to her by Mike and entertained his effort to walk her to class, seeing as they were both in the same room next period.
"So, how are you feeling?" Mike asked as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket.
"I'm feeling okay. Thanks for asking Mike." Bella nodded along with her words.
"I was worried about you, especially when you didn't come in yesterday. Some of us were worried you had gotten really hurt." Bella could see that Mike's eyes were genuinely full of concern.
"My dad just wanted me to take a day to relax. I would have come in yesterday if it had been my choice," Bella attempted to joke.
"Well, that's good to hear," Mike nodded once before he continued. "So, Jessica asked me to the dance."
Bella feigned shock at Mikes words. "Oh really? That's great Mike!" Bella put as much enthusiasm into her voice as she could muster.
"I guess." Mike rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. "I told her I had to think about it."
"Why would you do that?" Bella was genuinely shocked at Mike's words.
"Honestly," Mike paused, "I was kind of hoping that you were going to ask me." Mike gave Bella a hopeful glance as they stood outside of building six.
A frown found its way onto Bella's face. "Sorry Mike. I'm not going to the dance, I think you should take Jessica up on her offer." Bella turned from Mike and made her way to her seat which was thankfully across the classroom from his. The bell rang as Bella was taking her seat, Mike still standing in the doorway with his mouth open. Much like the class before, Bella tried her best to ignore the curiosity from her peers and focus on her classwork.
Bella noticed that Jessica was more reserved than normal while they sat in trigonometry class. She figured it was because of Mike's indefinite answer to her invitation to the dance. Bella's assumption was confirmed as she and Jessica walked together to spanish class.
"So you know how I called you last night," Jessica started as soon as the pair exited Mr. Varner's class.
"I remember," Bella nodded.
"So this morning I asked Mike if he wanted to go to the dance with me, and he said no. Can you believe that?" Jessica returned a wave to a passing group of peers as she spoke.
"He did?" Bella questioned, pretending as though she hadn't already heard the other side of the interaction.
"Well, I guess not technically. He said he had to 'think about it'," Jessica made air quotes with her fingers as she spoke. "So that's pretty much a no."
"I'm sorry Jess," Bella patted her shoulder lightly before returning her arm back to her side. Jessica was still not completely back to herself as she and Bella took their seats in spanish, however she was not as quiet as she had been in the previous class. After spanish Bella and Jessica walked to the lunch room together.
Tyler was waiting for Bella as she made her way to the lunch table with her tray of food. He pulled out her chair for her as she drew closer, and even pushed it back in for her after she sat. Bella noticed that Tyler's face looked much better than it had the last time she had seen it. In the hospital his face had looked so gruesome, however now that it had been cleaned and the blood had been removed, Bella saw that it had all come from small and superficial cuts. It was true that head wounds always seemed worse than they actually were.
"Um, thanks Tyler," Bella gave Tyler a tight smile. He nodded to her as he moved around the table to sit next to Angela, across from Bella.
"Bella how can I ever make it up to you?" Tyler pleaded. Bella sighed.
"Tyler. I told, it's fine. Stop worrying about it." Bella picked at her lunch, eyes cast down to her tray as she spoke.
"I'm going to find some way to fix it somehow," Tyler assured her.
"I wish you wouldn't," Bella sighed again. Tyler shook his head at her before he turned away from Bella and began a conversation with Ben.
Bella's stomach was in knots as she stood outside the biology room. She sucked in a deep breath of air before opening the door and stepping inside. She was nervous to see how Edward would act towards her, seeing as their last interaction had not been very good. Just as she had reached her and Edward's shared lab table she stumbled on her feet. Edwards hand shot out to stabilize her.
"Could you try not to endanger yourself?" Edward hissed out. He quickly removed his hand from Bella's arm and turned his attention to the whiteboard at the front of the room. Bella sighed as she sat down in her seat.
"Sorry, I can't help that I have no coordination." Edward did not acknowledge her apology, choosing to ignore her for the entirety of the class. He sat extremely still, if Bella had not known any better she would have said he wasn't even breathing. That was not realistic though, it was in no way medically possible for a person to hold their breath for an entire hour.
When the Bell rang to signal the end of Biology, Bella figured that Edward would storm out of the room as he had on her first day of school. He did not, instead he paused for a brief moment after he stood and Bella began to wonder if he would wait for her to leave as he had on Monday. He did not do that either. He glanced at Bella briefly as if he had something that he wanted to say to her before turning and leaving the classroom.
Bella was sat on the sidelines once again during gym class that day. Due to the doctors note given to her at the hospital by Dr. Cullen she would not be participating in gym until the next week. As Bella sat on the bleachers, watching her peers as they played badminton she almost wished she could join them, a thought Bella would have never guessed she would have. At least if Bella was out there on the court her mind would be preoccupied with keeping herself from falling over. She would have more to think about than just counting down the minutes until she could leave and pick up Ryan.
When the last bell of the day rang Bella was so thankful that she had not had to participate in the class as it meant she could leave the school faster. Bella had already reversed out of her parking spot and was headed to the exit of the lot before most of her peers had even exited their classrooms. She slammed on her breaks as the shiny silver volvo she had grown to be wary of pulled out in front of her. Bella sighed as she waited for Edward, the owner of the volvo, to lead the way out of the parking lot, but he didn't. She noticed, as his break lights went out, that he had put his car into park in the middle of the parking lot. Bella had absolutely no idea what in the world he was doing, these actions were not normal.
It was not until Bella honked her horn at the car in front of her did she take the time to look into the car. The first thing she noticed when she looked into the car was that Edward was staring at her through his rearview mirror, an amused look on his face. Bella glared back at him before taking in the fact that the rest of his siblings were not yet in his car. This confused Bella; why would he pull out of his parking spot when he still had to wait for his siblings. Bella sighed as she glanced into her own rearview mirror and noticed a small line of cars forming behind her.
Putting her own car into park, Bella removed her seat belt as she prepared to get out of her car and confront Edward. As her hand reached for the handle to her car door there was a knock on her window. The sound made her jump, startling Bella out of her thoughts. Bella turned towards the window, coming face to face with Tyler. He motioned for Bella to roll down the window which she did grudgingly.
"Hey Tyler, sorry about this. Cullen decided to park in the middle of the road for some reason." Bella motioned to the car in front of her with her right hand.
"Don't worry about it Bella," Tyler laughed. "Actually. I wanted to ask you if you wanted to go to the dance with me." Tyler gave Bella a hopeful look.
"I thought it was a girls choice dance," Bella attempted to brush his question off.
"Well it is, but, I was really hoping you would go with me." Tyler sucked his bottom lip into his mouth. The look of hope was slowly starting to leave his face.
"Sorry Tyler, I'm not even going to the dance at all." Bella shrugged her shoulders slightly.
Tyler's face fell for a moment before he was able to reestablish his large grin. "Well I still have prom I guess." Tyler started laughing as he turned from her car. "Have a good night Bella!" he called over his shoulder. Bella sighed.
Bella had nearly forgotten about the car parked in front of her after the interaction with Tyler. Once she had gotten her window rolled back up and turned her face back to the windshield she noticed that the volvo was gone. She shook her head as she shifted her car back into drive and left the school parking lot. Bella imagined herself confronting Edward during class the next day, thought of telling him that he had made her late to pick up Ryan to make him feel bad even though she knew Sue didn't mind if she was a few minutes late. She shook the thoughts from her head, knowing that she would never actually do it.
As Bella pulled into the driveway at the Clearwater's house she was so excited. At the same time Bella was also frustrated. She had been doing so well with being away from Ryan during the day, however the accident had apparently set her back quite a bit. She hoped that she would get over her new insecurities soon. Bella really trusted that Ryan was in good hands with Sue. If anything, the problem was that Bella did not believe that she was in goods hands on her own. She would be beside herself if anything were to happen to her and in return to the infant. As Bella entered Sue's house she was greeted by a very happy Ryan.
"Bella, he is so close to crawling it isn't even funny," Sue spoke from her spot on the floor next to the infant.
"Oh really? You think so?" Bella nealt down next to the pair, caressing Ryan's head lovingly.
"Definitely." Sue nodded before adding, "how was your first day back to school?"
"It was okay. I missed this little guy so much," Bella's tone became very loving as she lifted the infant onto her lap. Sue patted Bella's shoulder as she watched the siblings with a fond smile. Bella and Sue sat and chatted as Bella had wanted to that morning, before Bella took Ryan home to Charlie's house.
Bella groaned as she sat the infant seat containing Ryan down onto the floor in the living room. The baby was getting heavy and Bella was not sure how much longer she would be able to carry him while he was in his carseat. She made a mental note that she'd need to go to Port Angeles soon to buy him a bigger car seat, the kind that would stay strapped into the car permanently. Bella sat her backpack and the diaper bag on floor along with the mail she had grabbed from the mailbox on her way into the house as she unbuckled Ryan from his seat. She sat on the floor with him, waving a colorful rattle in front of his face, while she sorted out the mail. The majority of the mail was for Charlie of course, however there was one envelope addressed to Bella as well as Charlie. Bella glanced at the manila envelope curiously. She's wait for Charlie to get home before opening the envelope, sure that it was something pertaining to her mother.
Bella lifted the infant into her arms along with the mail before making her way into the kitchen. She set Ryan onto the floor and the mail onto the table before she started on dinner. Although Bella knew that Charlie was more fond of red meat she had decided to make chicken for her and her father's meal. She knew that it wasn't his favorite but they couldn't eat steak all of the time, and she had yet to look for any recipes for the fish that filled the freezer. Bella sat Ryan into his high chair and fed him his veggie puree while the chicken baked in the oven.
As Bella fed her half-brother it reminded her of just how much she did not know about raising a child. At what point should she start feeding him regular food instead of puree's, she had no clue. His bottom front two teeth had already grown in, did that matter? Bella made a second mental note to call the hospital soon to ask for a recommendation for a pediatrician for Ryan.
The telephone ringing woke Bella from her thoughts. She sat the bowl of baby food down on the tray of Ryan's high chair before crossing the kitchen to the phone that was hanging on the wall. Bella paused for a moment after placing the phone to her ear, taking a breath before answering.
"Hello, Swan Residence." Bella wondered who could be calling.
"Hey Bella, it's Jess." Jessica sounded much happier than when she and Bella had talked at school.
"Oh hey Jess, what's up?" Bella heard Ryan whine impatiently as he waited for her to continue feeding him.
"I just wanted to let you know that Mike gave me an answer. He said yes! We're going to the dance together," Jessica enthused. Bella heard a small crash behind her and a belly laugh from Ryan. Upon turning around Bella found Ryan completely covered in baby food, his bowl on the floor along with the rest of his puree splattered around it.
"So sorry to cut you off Jess, but I really have to let you go. Talk to you tomorrow." Bella all but slammed the telephone onto the receiver before turning to face the infant. She shook her head at the baby but couldn't keep the small smile from finding its way to her lips. Bella was pulling the food covered clothes off of Ryan as Charlie walked into the kitchen.
"What in the world happened here?" Charlie asked with a laugh. Bella blushed.
"The phone rang and he got a hold of his bowl of food while I was answering it," Bella explained. Charlie laughed again as Bella wiped Ryan's face and highchair down with a wet cloth. Bella placed Ryan back in the highchair, dressed in only a diaper and socks, so that her and her father could eat their dinner. Charlie ate the chicken, although a little bit grudgingly, and even remarked on it well. After dinner Charlie took Ryan into the living room as he normally did while Bella washed the dishes, she was nearly done when Charlie called for her.
"Watch out Bells, you have a little visitor coming." Charlie's voice was fond.
"What do you mean dad?" Bella dried her hands before peeking out into the hallway. Charlie stood in the doorway to the living room, and there was Ryan, crawling down the hallway. Bella scooped the infant into her arms and kissed his chubby cheeks. Sue had been right, of course she had; here was her tiny baby brother, crawling.
Bella looked down to her journal once again. She hadn't even realized she had been writing until now. Remembering the manila envelope that she had gotten in the mail that day Bella got out of bed and headed down the stairs. She stopped in the kitchen to grab the envelope before making her way into the living room.
"Hey dad, I got this in the mail today." Bella handed Charlie the envelope. "I think it's something for mom," she continued. Charlie opened the envelope, reading over it's contents before nodding.
"They divided the money that was left for you and Ry and put it into two trust funds. You'll each have access to them once you turn eighteen." Bella nodded as her father spoke. "Did you want to read this?" Charlie questioned.
"Not right now, but definitely later. Thanks dad." Bella hugged her father before making her way back up to her bedroom. She left the paperwork on her desk, before moving to stand in front of Ryan's crib. Bella placed her hand on the infants back lightly, sighing as she watched him sleep peacefully.
Bella turned from the infant and climbed back into her bed. She switched off her lamp before she snuggled down into her comforter. The tears that flowed from her eyes could not be stopped, still falling when she eventually fell asleep.
The alarm clock on Bella's night stand woke her up once again the next morning. She felt the puffiness in her eyes that she knew all too well. Bella's crying must have continued into her sleep. She sighed as she stretched her arms above her head, wincing at the stretch of her sore muscles.
Unlike the day before Bella had managed to make it to both the Clearwater's and to school on time. Before she knew it Bella found herself sitting at her lunch table, talking to Angela. She was interrupted mid-sentence by an elbow jab from Jessica. Bella glanced toward her friend, as she had obviously wanted her attention.
"I don't mean to alarm you," Jessica began, "but Edward Cullen has been staring at you since lunch started." She giggled a little bit despite the words she had said.
Bella glanced toward the lunch table where the Cullen's sat daily. She saw all of the Cullen children besides the one that she was looking for.
"He's not there," Jess corrected and pointed in the opposite direction. Edward sat alone at a table off to the side of the lunch room. He locked eyes with Bella as she glanced in his direction and motioned for her to join him. Bella glanced down to her lunch tray.
"What does he want?" Jessica questioned Bella intensely.
"I have no clue." Bella shrugged.
"Well you should go see," Jess encouraged. Bella looked at her as if she had sprouted three extra heads. "Seriously, he looks like he really needs to talk to you."
Bella nodded before picking up her backpack and lunch tray. She made her way to where Edward sat alone. She sat her lunch tray onto the table but remained standing, across the table from where Edward sat. She crossed her arms over her chest, her backpack hanging from one shoulder. Edward raised an eyebrow to Bella, a crooked smile on his face.
"Aren't you going to sit?" Edward's tone was amused as he questioned Bella.
"Do you want me to sit?" Bella was confused.
Edward nodded. "Well yes, I did invite you over here."
Bella sat down and remained quiet as she attempted to gather her thoughts. Edward raised both eyebrows at her in question. "But why?" Bella finally managed to ask.
"Bella, we shouldn't be friends," Edward explained. Bella sighed in response.
"Then why are we doing this?" Bella questioned.
"We shouldn't me friends," Edward repeated. "But maybe I'm tired of doing what I'm supposed to. I want to be your friend Bella," Edward amended.
"You know, your mood swings give me whiplash." Bella snorted in amusement.
"I apologize for that, but now that we're friends they shouldn't be so bad." Edwards tone had become amused.
"Now that we're friends can you tell me how you saved me the other day?" Bella's face filled with hope as she questioned Edward.
"No, probably not." Edward shook his head. The pair sat in silence, Bella picking at a granola bar on her lunch tray. Eventually she looked up Edward, a scowl on her face.
The amused look remained on Edward's. "Would you like to skip class with me?"
"Ah, no thanks, I think I'm good." Bella had already missed more than enough school for the week.
"Well then you should probably get to class Bella. I'll see you next week, would you like to sit with me again?" Edward raised from his seat, picking up his lunch tray as well as Bella's.
Bella was shocked to see that the lunch room was nearly empty. She nodded her head in response to Edward's question and thanked him for taking her tray. With a wave to Edward she left the cafeteria in route to biology. Bella made it to class just as the bell rang, a bad habit she was falling into in most of her classes, and walked to her seat with a blush. Luckily for Bella Mr. Banner had not yet made it to class from his own lunch break.
When Mr. Banner did enter the classroom his arms were full of small cardboard boxes. The teacher set up the boxes on the center desk in the front row of student desks. Bella could not tell what was in the boxes until Mr. Banner started to take the objects. She began to feel queasy just at the thought of the use of the objects alone. At the front of the room Mr. Banner clapped his hands together.
"Today we're going to be blood typing!" The teacher began to pass the boxes around the room. "Everybody take one of everything, everyone should have a typing card, an alcohol wipe packet, a lancet, and a four-pronged applicator. I'll give further instructions once everyone has all their materials." Mr. Banner turned his back to the class as he took a stack of papers form his desk.
"I thought that today would be a great day to do this activity because there is going to be a blood drive in Port Angeles this weekend." The teacher began to pass out the stack of papers he held amongst the class. "These are permission slips for the blood drive if anyone is interested. Once the materials were successfully distributed throughout the class Mr. Banner called for a volunteer. Mike Newton, of all people, stepped up to the front of the class.
"So here's what we're going to do." Mr. Banner gestured for Mike's hand, which the student gave willingly. "Firstly, your going to want to clean one of your fingers with the alcohol wipe." As he talked the teacher wiped Mike's right index finger with an alcohol wipe. "Then take your lancet," Mr. Banner raised the lancet so that the rest of the students could be sure of what he was talking about, "and use it to prick your finger."
"Ow," Mike whined in protest as his finger was jabbed by the lancet. Bella could see her vision start to swim. She closed her eyes in attempt to calm the nausea and keep herself from passing out.
Mr. Banner held up the blood typing card. "If you'll notice the typing cards are divided into four sections. After I'm finished with Mike I'll come around and put water droplets in each box of your card, please wait for the water to begin." Mr. Banner put four water droplets onto Mike's card before he continued. "Coat each of the four prongs of your applicator in the blood from your finger." The teacher demonstrated his words as he spoke. "Place a droplet of blood onto each of the water droplets on your card. It will become clear which blood type you have." Mike was no longer as excited as he had been when he first volunteered at the beginning of class.
Bella folded her arms onto the lab table in front of her before laying her head down onto them. Her eyes were still shut tightly, and she attempted to breathe only through her mouth. She could feel sweat dewing on her forehead. A light touch to her shoulder made Bella jump.
"Bella, are you okay?" The concerned voice came from Mr. Banner.
"I already know my blood type Mr. Banner. I think I need some air," Bella was barely able to get the words out.
"Mike, since you've already done your testing why don't you bring Bella to the nurse." Bella felt herself be assisted into a standing position, her arm was slung over what she was assuming were Mike's shoulders. She could feel the straps to a backpack on the shoulders under her arm, she hoped it was her own as she really did not want to come back to this classroom again today. The pair slowly shuffled out of the classroom and eventually out of the building. As soon as the cool air hit her face Bella could feel the herself becoming slightly less dizzy, however her stomach was still doing flips. The motion of walking down the sidewalk with Mike was not helping.
"Mike we need to stop, just let me sit for a moment." Bella attempted to pull her arm from the boys shoulder. Mike assisted Bella down to the sidewalk with uncertainty. Bella sat slumped over on the sidewalk, her head between her knees. Before long she found herself laying on her side with her cheek pressed against the ground, not exactly sure how she had gotten there.
"Bella, are you sure your okay?" Mike's voice sounded almost scared.
"I'm fine, just trying not to puke," Bella explained to Mike. She was already feeling much better than she had in the classroom, although she still hadn't opened her eyes.
Out of nowhere a third voice joined their conversation. "Bella, are you alright?" Out of anyone in the entire school, of course Edward Cullen would find her laying on the ground on the verge of vomiting.
"I'm fine. Go away," Bella complained.
"Not to hurt your feelings, but you look like you're dead Bella." There was a hint of a laugh in Edwards tone. Before Bella knew what was happening she was being lifted up into a pair of strong arms. Bella's eyes flew open.
"What in the world are you doing? Put me down!" Bella flailed in Edwards arms. Edward's face remained calm despite Bella freaking out in his arms. Bella did not know how but it seemed effortless for Edward to be carrying her.
"I'm bringing you to the nurse, you seriously don't look good." Edward still sounded amused by the situation. It was then that Mike ran up beside them, he had obviously also been startled when Edward lifted Bella into his arms.
"What are you doing with her?" Mike protested.
"I'm taking her to the nurse," Edward replied.
"I'm supposed to be taking her to the nurse," Mike countered.
"So that's what you call what you were doing? I'm pretty sure you were just letting her lay on the ground." Edwards voice finally lost its amused tone, sounding slightly frustrated now. Bella had closed her eyes again, the boys arguing making her vision swirl once more.
"Can you guys shut up please? Before I puke all over you." Bella moaned quietly as Edward laughed.
"That would be unfortunate." Edwards tone was amused again. As the group neared the main office Mike stepped ahead and held the door open for Edward. Bella could hear the shocked gasp from Ms. Cope as she set eyes on the scene in front of her.
"She's okay, Ms. Cope. They were blood typing in biology and someone got a little queasy," Edward explained the situation. The receptionist led him behind her desk, opening the door to the small nurses office. Edward laid Bella on the paper-covered bed. Tension filled the room as Ms. Cope left the room to retrieve the nurse.
"I've got this Mike, why don't you go back to class," Edward reasoned.
"No really, it's fine. This was my job in the first place," Mike defended.
"I really think you should go back to class Mike," Edward pushed.
"Yeah Mike, really, I'm fine." Bella opened her eyes as she spoke to further back up her words.
Mike sighed in frustration before dropping Bella's backpack on the ground and storming out of the room. "See you in gym, Bella," Mike called over his shoulder as he left. Bella groaned.
"Are you feeling sick?" Edward worried.
"No, I have gym next period." Bella groaned again. Edward laughed.
"I'll take care of it," Edward assured Bella. Shortly after Ms. Hammond, the school nurse, entered the room with a damp cloth in her hands. She placed the damp cloth on Bella's head and had her explain what had happened during class. Edward sat quietly on a chair in the corner while Bella had explained how she gets queasy around blood. As nurse Hammond was fussing over Bella there was a commotion from the lobby of the office.
"We've got another one!" Ms. Cope called into the small nurses office. Ms. Hammond left the room to assist the student who had recently entered the office.
"Let's get you out of here so that whoever that is can lay down," Edward suggested. Bella agreed and allowed Edward to assist her off of the cot and into the lobby. The pair sat side by side on chairs in the lobby as their classmate was brought into the nurses office. Bella winced as she heard the other student, a boy named Lee, throwing up in the other room.
"I need to go before I start puking too," Bella whispered to Edward who jumped into action. He walked to the receptionists desk to speak to Ms. Cope.
"Ms. Cope, I hate to bother you, but Bella hear has gym next period and I don't think it would be wise for her to attend after her fainting spell. I was wondering if we could both be dismissed so that I could take her home. Poor Lee getting sick in there is making Bella queasy again." Edward gave the woman a breathtaking smile.
"That is very kind of you dear," Ms. Cope smiled back at Edward. "Yes, I suppose I can do that."
"Thank you so very much Ms. Cope," Edward gave the woman one last smile before turning back to Bella. He lifted her backpack onto his shoulder before offering his hand to Bella to help her out of her chair. Edward led Bella out to the parking lot with a hand lightly on the small of her back. As the pair reached Bella's car she stopped.
Edward continued on for a few steps before stopping and turning on his heel. "Why are you stopping?" Edward raised an eyebrow as he questioned her.
"This is my car." Bella motioned to her car.
"So? I said I was going to bring you home, so I'm going to bring you home. Am I going to have to carry you again?" Edward walked back to stand beside Bella once more.
"You can't bring me home, I have to get Ryan. Can I have my backpack?" Bella attempted to take her backpack from his shoulder.
"At least come listen to a CD or something with me until the end of last period. Take some time to relax before you have to drive," Edward reasoned.
"I don't know…" Bella trailed off. She crossed her arms over her chest. Edward fixed her with a pointed look.
"Come on, let's go." Edward motioned for Bella to follow him to his volvo. Bella sighed but complied.
As the pair reached his car Edward opened the passenger door for Bella. She rolled her eyes at Edward before climbing into the volvo. Edward couldn't help but laugh at Bella as he shut the door. After Edward had situated himself in the driver's seat he turned on the car temporarily so that he could turn the radio on. Bella reached over to raise the volume.
"What are you listening to?" Bella questioned as she listened to the music. "Clair de Lune is great," she amended.
"You know Debussy?" Edward seemed shocked at Bella's knowledge of classical music. Bella nodded to him.
"My mom would play classical music for Ryan all of the time. She said it was good for brain development," Bella explained. She stared straight ahead as she thought of her mother.
"What was your mother like?" Edward asked Bella innocently. Bella gave him a sad smile.
"I don't want to cry right now," Bella attempted to joke. Both teens became silent, the only sound in the car being the classical music playing.
Bella did not know how long they had been sitting silently before she decided to break the silence. "I thought you were skipping, what were still doing here?" Bella questioned her new friend.
"I was just sitting here listening to music. I guess I could have went home but I need to bring my siblings home so why not just wait here for them," Edward explained.
"I guess that makes sense," Bella agreed, nodding.
Edward got a peculiar look on his face. "What's Ryan like?" Edward asked, smiling as Bella's face lit up.
"He's the best baby, he really is. I know he isn't mine, but I was basically thrown into single-parenthood with him and I honestly don't know how I would be able to handle it if he wasn't such a good little boy." Bella gushed over her half-brother, he was one of the few things that brought her joy.
"What does he look like?" Edward continued. Bella was quiet for a moment, thoroughly thinking over her answer.
"He looks a lot like me I guess, we both look a lot like our mom. His hair is lighter though, and he has his dad's nose." Bella was thoughtful as she thought about the infant. "Oh! And he has blue eyes, like mom." It was a daily struggle for Bella not to let the blue eyes that had once belonged to her mother bother her.
"Maybe I could bring a picture on Monday so you could see?" Bella suggested.
"Sure, I think I'd like that," Edward agreed. Bella was brought out of her thoughts by a knock on the passenger window. She found Alice Cullen standing beside the door, a kind smile on her face.
"I guess school's over," Edward gathered.
"I guess so," Bella agreed. She pulled her backpack from the backseat where Edward had placed it. "I'll see you on Monday." Bella gave an awkward wave as she exited the car.
"See you," Edward replied.
"Have a good weekend Bella," Alice called as she replaced Bella in the passenger seat.
"Oh, um, thanks. You too," Bella reciprocated the kind words given to her by Edward's sister. Bella sighed as she sat in her own car, wondering how long Edward would be nice to her for. She pushed the thoughts out of her head, a large smile growing on her face at the prospect of being able to pick up her little brother after their day apart.