Chapter 7 Breakthrough
E POV
Months had past now, but I could tell that there was something wrong today. Something terribly wrong. As we all meet up with the others this morning I could tell that something wasn't right. But the thing was, it wasn't everyone. It was just Bella and Lec who were off. I couldn't exactly put my finger on it, especially since I couldn't read their mind, but I could just sense it. Lec and Bella seemed to be… avoiding us. Lec was as talkative as she usually was, and she wouldn't talk to Jasper. She just seemed to ignore everything he was saying, and it was the same for Bella. All morning to lunch Bella never said a word to me. Every time I did ask her, she'd ignore me or tell me she was just thinking. I didn't by it like I had before. Every time I'd ask about it, she'd give me that same death glare she gave me that first day I meet her. I was so terrified of her and I felt truthfully ashamed of it.
As we walked into Biology, I decided I would ask her about it again. But this time, I wouldn't stop till I received a decent answer. We sat down in our seat and I turned towards her. I was about to begin interrogating her, until I got a good look at her. She looked so much different than before. Her hair had a odd red shad to it and it seemed to dominate her usual brown hair. She seemed more tense and frustrated. As if she was trying to focus on something that was only visible to her. Her face was paler than usual for some reason, as if she was straining herself. I shook my head slightly and remembered what I was to be doing.
"Bella" I said. She sat up and turned almost unwillingly in her seat.
"Yes, Edward" she said roughly. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat
"what's going on" I asked
"What are you talking about" she said through clenched teeth
"I mean that the fact that you've been ignoring my family and I" I said "Mostly me though. What's the matter"
"Nothing" she hissed "And I haven't been ignoring you. I'm talking to you now, aren't I"
"Barely" I scoffed "And you wouldn't be saying anything if I didn't"
"Listen, Edward" she growled and I tried to hold my ground "I'm really dealing with a lot right now and I can't deal with your little crap right now, kay"
"Oh, so now I'm crap" I asked "Gee, that's wonderful to know Bella" I felt so hurt to hear her say that. Over the last month, I though Bella and I were really becoming close. We talked about everything about each other. I had thought that I had really gotten to understand Bella. To see and understand the real Bella, that I thought no one had ever seen. Well, except for the fact that about that she's not really human and have no possible idea what she is. But I never let that get in the way before. But some much for that.
"What" she shrieked "how could you think that? You know me better than that"
"I thought I knew you better than that, but I'm having second thoughts" I said. I watched as she go from anger to disbelief to hurt. She turned away from me and I could have sworn she looked as if she was going to cry. "Bella, I'm sorry. That was rude and-"
"No. maybe your right. Maybe we don't really know each other" she whispered
"Bella-"
"do we" she asked turning towards me "Do we really know each other like we think we do". I looked into her chocolate brown eyes and just got lost in them. I couldn't bear to tear my eyes away from her. She was so beautiful. She broke our gaze as Mr. Banner walked in, and I cursed him for the interruption. I sighed as he brought out the TV again, signaling the fact that we were going to watch another movie. I watched as Bella laid her head on her desk and groaned.
"Bella" I said worried touching her shoulder.
"Is there something wrong Ms. Swan" Mr. Banner asked
"I don't feel too well" she said "can I go to the nurse, please"
"sure of course" he said "Edward, can you take her to the nurse'. I nodded my head and grabbed our backpacks. Bella was standing up and started limping towards the door, then was out before I could say something. I walked up to her and grabbed her arm.
"Bella, are you okay" I asked
"I'm fine. Go back to class and I'll see you tomorrow" she grumbled trying to escape my grasp. I sighed slinging our backpacks and picked Bella up in my arms bridal-style. "Put me down Edward" I ignored her struggles and protest and continued to Ms. Cope's office. As soon as we reached the office I kicked the door lightly causing Ms. Cope to jump. She stared up at us and gasped. Bella stared at Ms. Cope then glared at me. I rolled my eyes and huffed. I was officially annoyed with Bella.
"What happened" Ms. Cope asked
"She wasn't feeling too well in Biology and Mr. Banner asked me to bring her here" I said beating her to whatever lie she was going to feed Ms. Cope.
"Oh dear, why don't you take her in the back and I'll go get the nurse" she said walking away. I walked back to where she pointed and dropped Bella not so gracefully on the small cot.
"oh no, Edward. I have no problem being dropped on to this small cot where I possibly could have fallen on the floor" she hissed
"you're welcome" I hissed right back. She seemed surprised not hearing this type of tone from me, but I didn't care at this point. If Bella wanted to play this game, I'd play it right along with her. She turned her face away from me and this time I didn't apologize. Simply because she was bringing this upon herself. All she had to do was talk to me or at least have the decency to kindly explain that she didn't want to talk about it. If she did that, maybe we wouldn't be in this predicament. But I refuse to take the blame on this one.
"here's a cold compress for you, dearie" the nurse said walking in
"no thank you. It's just a little head ache" she said "I get them every so often, is all. It's nothing"
"well, maybe we should send you home, just in case" the nurse said
"Okay. I'll drive home-"
"Actually, I'll drive you Bella" I interrupted. There was no way she was escaping me that easily.
"No, it's fine" she said through clenched teeth
"No really. It's no problem for me" I said "Unless you have a problem with it" I smiled victoriously. There was no possible way Bella could say no without it looking like a scene or explaining why she doesn't want me to take her. Either way, I was winning this round and there was nothing she could do about it.
"Fine" she hissed. She hopped up off the table and stalked out the room. I kept pace with her easily all the way to the parking lot when she stopped at the passenger seat of my car.
"Well" she said impatiently
"impatiently are we" I murmured
"yeah. Maybe if I didn't have you on my case" she hissed
"you know, maybe I wouldn't have to if you'd just let me in on whatever's bothering you" I suggested sarcastically
"you know what" she started then must have thought better of it "just open your car and take me home". I sighed unable to argue with her and did as she asked. I turned on the heaters and music up. She laid her head back on the head rest and sighed. She rubbed her temples vigorously.
"are you okay" I asked
"I'm fine" she said strained. I turned to look at her and started to see Bella again. Her hair was back to its normal brown, the redness fading. Her skin wasn't as pale as before and she seemed a little more relaxed. "you can take me to Charlie's place" I nodded and headed in the direction to Charlie's. She didn't question the fact that I knew where her father's house was which saved me some pain of having to come up a lie. I parked my car in front of her house and turned towards her.
"Bella" I sighed
"thank you for the ride Edward and I'll see you tomorrow" she said turning to get out
"Bella can you please just wait" I pleaded grabbing her arm turning her back towards me
"what" she groaned "listen Edward, I'm sorry. Really I am. I- I just can't deal with whatever the problem is right now"
"Just listen, okay" I asked "I'm sorry, about earlier. I was just worried up about you, that's all. I didn't mean to be so overbearing"
"it's okay, Edward. I think we're just having a bad day is all" she sighed
"I suppose" I said. She sighed and half-smiled
"Thanks, Edward. I'll see you tomorrow" she said and turned to get out of the car again. I struggled the inner conflict with myself to stop her again and to let her go.
"Bella" I said. She turned around and raised her eyebrows. I hesitated, not sure what to say so I shook my head.
"You sure" she asked curiously.
"Yes, I'll see you tomorrow" I said sighing. She opened the door and turned to leave again. She caught me off guard as she reached over and hugged me.
"I'm sorry Edward. I really wish I could explain, but I can't right now. I don't know when, but I am sorry. Really and truly Edward' she said "You're right, Edward. WE don't really know each other. You don't really know me"
"When can I really know you" I asked her pulling her back towards to face me "Bella, I want to know you. The real you"
"I know. And I want you to know the real me" she whispered looking down "but not now, Edward. It's complicated right now. I'm complicated right now. I just can't"
"Well, when" I asked
"I don't know"
"Bella-"
"Edward, please I'm begging you. I'm trying to work on being able to tell you. Let me just get something out of the way" she asked "Please"
"I will give you time, but I need to know what is going to be happening" I said
"I know, I know. I just let me settle some things and I swear I will let you know everything. But for now, please bear with me" she begged. I lifted her chin with my index finger so she could look at me.
"Bella" I said
"Yes" she whispered. She was so close that her breath fanned on my face. I was intoxicated by the smell. Her smell. I was losing. I didn't know how it happened, but the next thing I know our lips connected and couldn't break away. I cupped her face in one hand and moved my other to her hair. She locked her arms around my neck pulling her closer. Several minutes must have passed, hell at this rate the whole world could have been flooded and we wouldn't have noticed. Then all to soon she pulled back and gasped.
"Oh… kay" she said though it sounded like a question.
"Ummm…"
"I'd better go" she said. I hadn't realized until she started moving that somehow she ended up on my lap. All I could do was sit there shell shocked. And then I realized what had happened.
"Whoa, wait a minute Bella" I said grabbing her arm
"Edward, I seriously gotta go, okay. I'll see you tomorrow" she said
"Why are you trying to run away from me' I asked afraid of the answer I'd get. Could she have figured out that I was a vampire. That she'd kissed a vile disgusting monster.
"I'm not trying to run away from you. I just need some time to think about what's happening and what's going to happen, that's all" she sighed "But I am not running away from you or running away from you, kay"
"Okay" I said looking away
"hey" she said. I turned around to her and she smiled. She leaned forward and kissed me on my mouth. I leaned forward, trying to deepen it but she pulled away "Didn't I ask for some time to think"
"Yes but" I said leaning forward to steal another kiss.
"You're pushing your luck Cullen' she said getting out. This time I let her and she got all the way out.
"Hey" she turned around and leaned towards the window "I have no luck. This is simply just nature working its course" she laughed and shook her head
"I didn't know you were into the whole nature makes it course" she joked
"I'm not, but there's always a first for everything" I said. She laughed. The sound was so beautiful, it was like music to my ears.
"I suppose there is" she suggested
"In that case" I said leaning forward and stole one more kiss.
"Pressing your luck, Cullen" she murmured
"I don't have luck" I said. She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"I'll see you tomorrow" she said
"Tomorrow then" I said
"You say it like it's forever" she asked cocking her head to the side
"It feels like it" I murmured. She leaned forward and kissed my cheek.
"It won't be so long, I promise" she said then smiled "I'll see you later"
"Bye Bella" I sighed. She gave me one last smile and then walked towards the door. She turned around and waved once more before going inside. I sighed. I had to admit the truth, I loved Bella Swan. I really and truly did. How she felt about me, I'm not sure. But there's only one way to find out and I would find out.