Chapter 6
Closer
BPOV
We arrived home and my aunt and uncle greeted us at the door.
They let us know that Jasper and Rosalie would be bringing all our homework with them this afternoon and Emmett and Alice would be bringing my clothes and they'd be staying the weekend as well.
My aunt and uncle were going to take a long deserved vacation, they hadn't been a way alone in almost 10 years, but know all would be fine and they'd see us next Saturday night.
They hugged and kissed me goodbye and gave Edward a hug and he promised to take care of me this weekend. They told us were the money was for any goods we needed and Jasper had the emergency credit card, incase we wanted to go to the movies or something.
"Well, we've got 4 hours before everyone comes and the circus starts, what do you want to do?" Edward asked.
"We could go for a swim or watch movies or both…" I suggested.
"Let's swim first and then watch movies." Edward smiled.
"I'll go change and then we can go ." I stated.
"Um, yeah and what about me?" Edward smiled.
"Oh, shit, sorry.. I'll grab a suit from Jasper's room, follow me." I grabbed his hand and led him upstairs.
I found a sexy black pair of swim trunks for him and told him to change in Jasper's bathroom and where the towels were, I ran into my room and found my black 2 piece, hoping he wouldn't be freaked out by my scars or the fading bruise on my ribs and back. I'd told him everything and was trying not to be self conscious around him and this would be a good start.
I grabbed a towel from my bathroom, threw my hair up in a loose ponytail and ran down stairs, I saw him threw the glass wall, he was already in the pool, looking like a Greek God. I watched him swim and saw his muscles flex every time he swam, my heart started to beat faster. I got up the nerve to make it out to the pool, dropped my towel and walked into the pool.
"Hey you!" he smiled as I swam towards him.
"Hey" I smiled back.
"I didn't even get to admire you in your suit, you snuck up on me." he smiled a goofy crooked smile and my breath caught.
"Sorry, I'll show you when we get out, o.k.?" I smiled at him.
"O.K., I can live with that." he smiled again.
We swam and played around for about an hour and then he mentioned he was getting hungry.
"O.K., lets go get cleaned up and I'll make lunch." I smiled.
"Sounds good, but first, you said you'd model for me. Remember?" he smiled that crooked smile again.
"Oh yeah, I forgot." I smiled and blushed.
We got out of the pool and he handed me a towel, we dried off, when he was finished, he turned his attention to me, "well?" he said lifting an eyebrow.
I dropped my towel and he stiffened and hissed,
"What? What's the matter Edward?" I stammered and looked around nervously.
He walked slowly towards me and lifted his hand cautiously, placed it on my side and said "Did he do this to you too?" with anger towards him in his words.
I shook my head yes and a tear rolled down, he gently wiped it away and pulled me into a hug, soon followed by another hiss, he turned me around and looked at the scar that ran from my shoulder to my hip.
"What? How did he?" he couldn't finish the words.
I took a deep breath and started, as he touched it lightly.
"It was after I got back from my last summer I was allowed to visit Charlie, my dad. I had told him what Phil was doing to me and mom and even showed him some of the small bruises and scars I had, he told me he'd take it up with Phil, I begged him to drop it and forget it, but he didn't listen. That night, he called Phil and asked what was going on with me, Phil told him I was a slut and had been sneaking out of the house and sleeping with a few people and that I was out getting drunk and doing drugs. I begged my dad to give me a drug test right then and there, but he told me to quit lying, if I hated Phil so much, to just stay out of his way, I'd be out of there in a couple of years. So, when I got home from Forks, Phil called my dad the following day and told him I'd snuck out and got into a fight, because I was so drunk and told Charlie it was better if I didn't come to Forks anymore, my dad fucking agreed, I couldn't believe it, shortly after that, that's when Charlie went to work with the U.S. Marshall's, anyway, back to my scar, when I got home that weekend, of course Phil had been drinking and my mom was beaten a lying in the kitchen, crying, Phil walked up to the shower, where I was and I was trying to rape me, he was drunk, lost his footing and fell in the shower. I laughed and called him a loser, as I was stepping over him, he smashed his beer bottle against the tub, pulled my foot, I fell on the floor and he proceeded to drag the broken bottle from my shoulder to my hip.
I screamed bloody murder, it hurt so bad.
He actually had to take me to the ER, well, he dropped me off, he was too drunk to go inside.
I was to tell them I fell into a glass door. I told the doctors and they kind of looked at me strange, but I wouldn't budge, so they could do nothing about it. They kept me overnight, I think it was the best nights sleep I'd ever had, I didn't have to worry about be raped or touched while I slept. It was the best, until the night you stayed with me, I felt totally safe." I smiled and blushed.
He smiled and said thank you.
"Well, let's go get changed, so we can eat." I grabbed my towel and headed inside,
He stopped me and said "Does it still hurt, the scar?" he was looking at my back, he touched over it again lightly and then without warning, he leaned down and kissed the top of my shoulder where the scar started, I jumped. "S-Sorry" he said and looked devastated.
"No, it's nothing bad. No one has ever touched it before, except for the doctors, Rose and Jasper just gasped, as did my aunt and uncle." I smiled and turned to face him.
His hand was still on my shoulder, he rubbed his hand down my arm and smiled.
I smiled and turned and walked upstairs.
I ran into the bathroom, took a quick hot shower, cried, thinking no one would ever want me, especially Edward, he was just taking pity on me. I put on a pair of blue capri sweats and a white camisole, blow dried my hair and walked downstairs.
He was sitting on the couch, watching T.V.
"I'm going to make lunch, back in a few." I smiled and he just stared while I walked by.
I looked threw the pantry to see what there was. I settled on vegetable soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.
I finished and called him to the kitchen, we sat at the island, in silence and ate, finally he spoke "sorry for earlier, I didn't mean to offend you when I kissed your scar." he frowned.
"No problem, really, it just shocked me, that's all." I smiled and put my hand over his, "it-it." I trailed off.
He looked at me curiously and then asked what move I wanted to watch, I asked if we could watch Romeo and Juliet and to my surprise, he didn't flinch, instead, he said it was secretly one of his favorite movies, but if I told anyone, I would get tickle torture and he'd deny it, and then threw me that dazzling crooked smile.
We finished lunch and as I was getting ready to clear the table, he stopped me and told me I'd cooked, he'd clean and to go get the movie ready.
I walked into the living room and put the DVD in and waited for him.
He brought out a plate of cookies and a huge glass of milk, "Do you mind sharing?" he asked with his smile.
I shook my head no and he patted the seat beside him.
He dunked a cookie and fed it to me and then I did the same to him.
We giggle and fed each other cookies and drank the milk together.
Then we settled down and finished the movie.
When it was over, we decided on Indian Jones, he motioned for me to get more comfy and so I laid between his legs, put my head on his chest and he covered me the blanket, he was running his fingers through my hair and I must have drifted asleep, as did he.
We were awoke by a gasp and a growl.
"What the HELL are you doing Edward?" Jasper growled and pulled me off of him.
"Jasper? What the hell???" I questioned.
"He had his hands on you Bells." Jasper yelled.
"Oh my goodness Jazz, we fell asleep watching T.V., nothing else." I got up and ran to my room, crying the entire way.
There was a knock at my door, I told who ever it was to go away.
"Bella, I'm not going away until we talk sweetie." It was Rosalie.
"Rose, come in." I said.
"What were you and Edward doing Bella? You know Jazz is way overprotective of you, especially with everything you've went through." Rose sighed.
"Rose, I told Edward everything. He knows everything and he's even seen my scar and bruises." I smiled.
"WHAT? HOW DID HE SEE THEM! DID HE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU!!!" Rose was turning purple, I think.
"Rose, no, it was nothing like that, we went swimming today and of course he's see them, I don't want to hide, I want to get it out, I want to be normal, I don't want people protecting me all the time, I don't want him to have that control anymore. Edward is a perfect gentleman, really and your parents said he could stay the entire weekend and stay in the room with me, if I want, as long as the doors stay open, of course, but he doesn't want me like that, who would after what happened. Any way, I'm grateful Jasper wants to protect me, but he doesn't need to, from Edward, especially." I smiled.
"You like him don't you?" Rose smirked.
"Like who?" A little pixie voice came from behind, I jumped.
"No one" I blushed.
Alice closed the door and smiled. "You like Edward, huh?" He likes you too.
I calmed Jasper down, so he doesn't kill him.
I rolled my eyes and headed down stairs.
"Jasper, can I talk to you, please." I asked and walked into the kitchen.
"Look, Edward was just being a friend, we watched a movie and fell asleep, nothing else. I swear." I grabbed Jasper hand and squeezed it.
"I believe you, I just feel overprotective of you, because of everything that's happened." He said.
"Jasper, Edward knows everything. We started talking about our parents passing and everything else and I just let it come out and he also saw my bruises and scars when we went swimming this afternoon." I smiled.
Jasper's face was red.
"Bella, why? What were you thinking?" Jasper spat at me.
"Jasper I am not a child and I appreciate you wanting to protect me, but I need to learn to stand up for myself, it's the only way I can get past this nightmare." I hissed.
"Bells, I don't want to fight with you, I love you, you're like a little sister, I just want you to be safe, I feel guilty I wasn't there to protect you from everything." Jasper frowned.
I hugged him and told him it wasn't his fault and I don't want him to mess up his friendship with Edward because of me either, I know they were both on the baseball team together and were really close, I'd feel horrible if I caused a rift.
He hugged me back and said "If he means that much, I'll let it go, but I swear he better not hurt you Bells, or else." he smiled. "I'm sure everything will be fine, we're just friends, he wouldn't want damaged goods, Jazz." I smiled weakly.
"Bella, you don't see yourself clearly, there is nothing wrong with you, you're beautiful, smart, funny and you sure as hell know how to cook, any man would be crazy not to want you." Jasper smiled.
He pulled me out to the living room were Rosalie was talking with the others.
"What are we doing tonight, it has to involve food, because I'm starving!" Emmett boomed.
We all laughed.
"Let's go change, we can go to Port Angeles for dinner and movie." Alice chimed in.
Everyone agreed and upstairs we all went.
Alice changed into a black skirt with black leggings, a pink v-neck sweater and black flats.
Rosalie changed into a pair of red leather pants, black heels and a daring black halter top, that barely covered anything.
I changed into a pair of low rise jeans, a sapphire blue v-neck sweater and blue flats.
The guys all had jeans on and Jasper had a grey sweater with a white shirt underneath, Emmett had on a black sweater and Edward had on a blue button down shirt, rolled up to his elbows and grabbed his leather jacket.
They all smiled when we came downstairs. Emmett's mouth dropped open and I could see drool pooling in the corners of his mouth, I giggled and everyone looked at me, I just blushed and looked at the floor.
We all piled into Emmett's Jeep, I ended up sitting on Edwards lap, he was grinning like the Cheshire cat.
I was blushing a lot.
We went to dinner at a little diner and then we went to see The Proposal, we all laughed so hard, when they showed Ryan Reynolds almost naked. All of us girls sighed really loud. Edward leaned down and asked if I though he (Ryan) was hot, I said duh! He stuck out his lip and pouted.
I reached over and grabbed his had and squeezed it, he held on to it for the rest of the movie and all the way home.
We had a great weekend, we finished all our homework, we swam, although I wore a t-shirt and a 1 piece swimsuit, because Emmett and Alice didn't know and hadn't seen them yet.
Monday came and I wasn't looking forward to it.
I walked into school and Edward found me immediately, he stayed by my side all day, except for the one class we didn't have together, but no one bother me. I got all kinds of looks and stares and I know people were whispering about me, but I ignored them.
The rest of the week went pretty smoothly.
EPOV
These last 2 months have been great, Bella has really come out of her shell, I spent almost every weekend over there and her nightmares were less and less, Rosalie and Jasper told me they were almost gone through out the week as well. She had more confidence and self worth, she smiled and it really reached her eyes and her brown eyes sparkled now, as well.
Baseball season was starting, which meant the Spring Dance and I was planning on asking Bella this weekend.
"Bella, would you like to stay after and watch practice, then we can go get ice cream afterwards." I asked during Science.
"Sure, that sounds great, I'll text Rose and let her know, so her and Emmett don't wait for me." I smiled at her.
She pulled out her phone and text her under the desk, so she didn't get busted. She text back with a smiley face and said (go 4 it!).
Bella smiled and I gave her a questioning look.
We walked to P.E. and Bella told me everything was a go for this afternoon, I smiled and went to the boys locker room. Bella went to the girls.
Bella came out a few minutes later.
"Bella, want to be on my team today?" I asked her.
"What are we playing?" Bella asked.
"Today is basketball. It'll be Alice, you and me, we're playing against Mike, Jessica and Tyler." I responded.
Bella gave me a weak smile and walked over to the court, where we would be playing.
She seemed very nervous.
BPOV
I went to the girls locker room to change.
"What's up Alice?" I asked. "Your cousin is so damn sweet. He just asked me to the Spring Dance! We've got to go shopping, all the dresses will be gone, if we wait too long!" Alice exclaimed.
"I'll go with you this weekend and help you pick one out." I said.
"What? You've got to get one too." Alice gasped.
"No, I'm not going.' I replied.
"What? What do you mean you're not going!" Alice was furious.
"No one has asked me Alice and I really don't like dances anyway." I replied.
"But we're all going, you and Edward need to go together, I'll tell him." she started to walk towards her cousin.
"No Alice! If he wanted to ask me, he would have asked me." I sighed.
"Bella, you like my cousin, right?" Alice inquired.
"Yeah, he's almost my best friend." I smiled.
"No, I mean you like my cousin, don't you." Alice smiled and raised her eyebrows.
"No and he doesn't like me either in that way, we're just friends." I sighed and walked away.
Edward would never like me like that, I'd told him everything and now he wanted nothing from me in that way.
He was my Prince Charming, I just couldn't tell him.
Edward waited for me after P.E., so I could walk with him to practice.
We walked to the field and it was actually sunny, so I took off my hoodie and then I remembered I had only a tank on, I quickly put it back on, hoping no one had seen my scar.
Edward looked at me questionably and I sighed, he understood, he took off his button down shirt and told me I could wear it, it'd be cooler than the hoodie. I smiled and blushed, thanked him and he made sure no one was around to see the scar while I traded shirts.
He gave me a quick peck on the cheek and jogged off to practice.
About 10 minutes later, Jasper and Edward came out on the field, waved at me and started practice.
Jasper was a senior, so he was captain and Edward was co-captain.
I pulled out my laptop and pulled up my journal page and started to write:
It has been a crazy couple of months.
I've made really good friends and feel at home here.
I have one friend that I wish was more, he's fantastic.
Like I wrote in an earlier entry, I want my Prince Charming, well, I think I've found him, the
problem is he doesn't know it. We're just good friends, I know he doesn't want the damaged package, that is me…
He is so incredibly sweet and considerate.
I think he still misses his stupid bitchy ex sometimes, even though she tried to kill me, I see him staring off into space and I think he's thinking of her…
R & J have been great and with all this support, my nightmares have mostly stopped. Only if I've had a very bad day, so they come.
My new friend A thinks he likes me, I told her she was crazy. She's pretty pissed at him, because he didn't ask me to this stupid dance. I told her I didn't want to go anyway, even though deep down, I would love to be wrapped in his arms. It's been a couple of weeks, since we've had a reason to touch and it drives me nuts. His arms feel like home and safety. And oh, his smell…
I have his shirt on right now and it's amazing, I think I'll forget to give it back to him, I want to sleep in it tonight, I'll feel much safer.
Oh shit, he's jogging this way, I'll write more later….
"Bells, whatcha doing?" Edward came and asked.
"Oh, just researching stuff for class." I smiled.
"I'll be out in about 10 minutes, you'll be o.k.?" Edward asked.
I shook my head yes and put my laptop up.
I walked down to the field and waited for him, I had my iPod in waited.
All of a sudden I was being lifted off the ground and I panicked and started kicking and screaming.
"Whoa, it's o.k." Jasper was smiling.
"Sorry Bells, I didn't mean to scare you." Japer apologized.
I sank to the ground and was crying, Jasper was trying to soothe me, I just shrugged him away.
Edward ran up to me and asked what happened, I was crying to hard to say anything. Jasper filled him in on what happened, Edward wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to his chest.
"I don't feel like ice cream Edward, I just want to go home, id that o.k.?" I sobbed.
"Yes, anything for you Bella." He whispered and stroked my hair.
He led me to the car and I must have fallen asleep, he brought me in and carried me upstairs.
"What happened to her?" Rose snapped at Edward.
"Whoa! I didn't do it." Edward threw up his hands and ran his fingers through his hair.
"I'm going home to change and shower, tell her I'll be back later" Edward said to Rose.
I slept for a few hours, when I awoke, it was pitch black in my room.
I switched on the light next to my bed and realized someone had drawn my curtains, I looked at my clock and it read 8:30. My stomach instantly growled.
I walked downstairs and everyone one was watching T.V., Rose, Jasper and my aunt and uncle.
Jasper wouldn't look at me.
Rose followed me into the kitchen. "You O.K. sweets?"
"Yeah, just hungry and confused." I sighed.
"Confused? About what." Rose asked, deeply concerned.
"Well, I though Edward would be here when I woke up. That's all" I started crying.
"Shhh, it'll be fine, really. He's called here and asked how you were, every 30 minutes. He didn't want to disturb you while you slept." Rose replied.
She guided me to the chair and I sat down, she made me some hot tea and then reheated dinner for me.
I drank my tea and ate my dinner, telling her I was fine, I just needed to lye down some more.
I went to my dresser and grabbed my cell phone, there were several missed messages from Edward, he must of tried to call me, before the house each time.
I picked up the phone and called him back, nervous as hell.
"Hello?" he answered impatiently.
"Hey Edward. I see you called." I smiled.
"Bella! Oh my are you o.k.?" He screamed.
I giggled.
"Yeah, I was kinda hurt when you weren't here, when I woke up." I said truthfully.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Really, I just thought that you'd sleep through the night. Are you o.k.? Do you need me now?" He sounded stressed.
"Well, it would be nice, but it's late and we've got school tomorrow, I don't want to bother you." I sighed.
"Are you sure? I can come, It's not a problem." Edward said.
"No, I'll be fine. I'm going back to sleep now anyway. I'll see you tomorrow in school?" I asked.
"Of course. Can I pick you up tomorrow?" Edward asked.
"Yeah, that would be nice." I smiled.
"Night then, see you in the morning." Edward said.
"Night" and then the line was dead.
I picked up my laptop and went to my journal site.
Today was a long day.
After my first entry, I went to wait for my cousin and friend, my cousin came up behind
me and swung me around, it scared the shit out of me, I dropped in the middle of
the field and had a nervous breakdown my Prince Charming was there in a matter of minutes.
He soothed me and carried me to his car and them carried me upstairs to my room.
He call several times to check on me and then I just got off the phone with him, I called
him back to let him know I was o.k.
He offered to come over and be with me, but I said it was too late, he doesn't
Want to hear me cry all night long, like I know I will be, for several reasons.
I'm tired, I'll write more later.
I fell asleep shortly after posting my journal.
I had another nightmare.
I was screaming and screaming and I couldn't stop, no one was there to help me.
I finally sat up in my bed, tears falling down my face, Rose ran in and looked frazzled.
"Bells, are you o.k.?" she asked.
I shook my head no, I wasn't.
I drew my knees up to my chest and was crying, I was rocking myself back and forth, too frazzled to sleep, I got up, pushed passed Rosalie, told her she could go back to sleep.
I went to the kitchen and made some hot tea and sat on the couch and watched T.V., I had the volume so low, you couldn't hear it though.
I must have fallen asleep again, because when I woke up, I was in my bed again.
I jumped up and looked at the clock, it was 7:00a.m., Edward would be here in a few minutes, but I felt like shit, my body hurt from crying and shaking all night.
I heard voices down stairs and then my aunt was at my door.
"Bella dear, I called school and told them you wouldn't be in today, Rosalie will bring your work home today, do you need anything else? I have a meeting for a restoration and your uncle will be in closed meetings all day, neither of us reachable." My aunt explained.
"It would be nice to have someone with me today, I just feel really scared." I picked at the hem of my jacket.
Just then, I heard Edward, he was running up the stairs and looked panicked.
"Bella, are you all right? Rosalie just told me what had happened. I knew I should have come over last night." Edward looked pained.
'Edward, would you like to stay with Bella today? I don't want to leave her alone and I've got pressing meetings as does her uncle. I can call Carlisle and ask him, if you're interested." My aunt sighed.
"Yes, that would be fine." Edward said in a broken and shaky breath.
Edward sat on the bed across form me and just stared, for what seemed like hours.
My aunt came in and said everything was fine, Carlisle approved and Rosalie would bring his work home as well.
Everyone left and Edward was still staring at me.
'Edward? Did you lose something?" I asked.
"Yes, I did." He responded.
"Well, what is it? Can I help you find it? I really need to keep my mind busy." I stated.
He slid closer to me and took my hand and stared deeper into my eyes.
"My heart, I lost my heart and you've got it." He smiled.
He crushed his lips to mine and gave me a sweet kiss on the lips.
I blushed.
"Bella, I like you a lot and I know you're probable not ready for a relationship with everything you've been through, but I want you to know I will wait until you are ready, I want you to be my girlfriend, I want to be here for you always." Edward exclaimed.
"Yes." I said.
"Yes? What Bella?" Edward looked puzzled.
"Yes, I want to be with you, I want to be your girlfriend. If you're willing to take someone damaged and broken and you're willing to put up with my freak outs, then yes I want to be with you." I smiled.
"Bella! You've just made me the happiest guy in the world." Edward smiled.
I leaned over and gave him a quick kiss.
"Can you just lay here and hold me please, I'm still so tired, last nights nightmare was the worst yet." I cringed when I thought of it.
"It's O.k. love, I'm here." Edward kissed my head and I was out.
A/N: I know, a really long chapter, I just couldn't end it… Hope you enjoy it…
Review please….
**I own nothing!!!**
