DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS FROM TWILIGHT. THEY ALL BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER.
BPOV
I woke up is a state of confusion. I didn't know if I'd slept for days or just hours. I thought about opening my eyes but I didn't know if I was ready for that. I'm sure as soon as they new I was awake they would send in the police, and I hadn't made up my mind yet.
I knew that I should press charges. But then I would have to tell the police what happened, then a lawyer, and then a whole courtroom. Everyone in the world would know I got all dressed up like a common trollop and figure I just cried wolf when I got caught. And of course I had to get saved by Mr. Wonderful himself.
I had time to think about Alice and Edward's conversation. I knew I misunderstood what he meant about not wanting to talk about it right now. Of course he didn't have feelings for me, he just didn't want to tell Alice how much he truly despised me. I really didn't know how I even thought he could care for me.
Unfortunately I did think I cared for him, at least more than I was telling myself. I mean, he's gorgeous that's just a given, but he's also intelligent and caring. I saw how he was with Alice and Emmett, family was everything to him. Part of me knew that he would treat any girl he was with, with the same respect. How could that not be attractive? I had to get this out of my mind, it wasn't happening, he hates me.
Just then I felt I hand touch mine. I wasn't aware anyone was still in the room. I was glad I hadn't opened my eyes yet. I have to say I was a little curious as to who was touching me. Then the door opened.
" Hey, little bro, you stay here all night?" It was Emmett. I had such good friends. Of course that meant it was Edward in the room., holding my hand.
"Yeah, in case she woke up, didn't want her freaking out or anything. How's Alice?"
" Better. She cried a good part of the night, but Jasper stayed with her. He's a pretty good guy. A lot of guys would have gone running if this happened on their second date."
I felt suddenly sad thinking about Alice. She was the very best friend a person could ask for. I'd have to let her play dress up with me more often. I'm really glad she found Jasper, he seemed to be the yin to her yang. He was so calm and collected, while Alice was Tinkerball on crack. Perfect for each other.
" How much longer you stayin" Emmett asked him.
" I don't know. I was going to try to convince her to make a statement to the police. She says she's not going to. I don't know what to do, Em. If nothing happens to this guy, I don't know what I'd do if I saw him around campus." He actually sounded concerned. My mind couldn't grasp this. I started to move so they new I was waking up. I didn't want them knowing I'd listened to their conversation. " Bella? You up?"
"Yeah" My throat felt like it was on fire. It hurt to talk.
" Say as little as possible, keep it to yes and no's." Edward said to me. Both Emmett and I looked at him in confusion. " One of the only things the doctors would tell me is that you've got some extreme bruising done to your throat area, due to being strangled, so it might hurt to talk for awhile. Also don't' be shocked if you look in a mirror, the blood vessels in your eyes burst for the same reason. Your eyes are a little on the red side."
I just nodded. I didn't know how to comprehend this information. How could I ever walk around campus again. By now it's got to be riddled with rumors. For the next four years people would avoid me like the plague. This was suppose to be the best experience of my life. Now I was a social leper.
" Do you want some water?"
" Yeah, thanks." Edward turned around in his chair and produced a mug of water. I took a sip and my throat felt marginally better. " Thanks you guys, for being here for me"
" No prob Bells." It was Emmett that said this and I smiled at his use of fathers nickname. It made me feel like I belonged.
Just then the door creaked open and from behind Emmett I could see Alice and Jasper walking in. I couldn't hold the tears in any longer, I let them flow. I felt a small pair of arms embrace me. She was crying just as much as I was. It killed me that it was over me.
" Alice, be careful, she's still really sore." I realized that I still had a hold of Edwards and hand and I must have tightened my grip when Alice hugged me. In truth it hurt, but I wasn't going to tell her, the hug felt good.
" Shut up Edward, not all of us can keep our feelings in check like you" With that Alice stuck her tongue out. I felt Edward's hand falter slightly but stayed put. Probably not wanting to be bested by Alice. The whole family was competitive like that.
" It's ok, it feels nice. You guys are too good to me. You should be out having fun, not sitting here. I'll be fine." I took another drink of water, the more I talked the easier it got.
They all skeptically looked at each other. They didn't believe me. Hell I didn't believe me. Having them here was great. I wanted to be left alone, but was afraid to be alone. My head was all out of whack. I hoped I'd be back to normal soon.
A nurse popped her head in just then.
" Ms. Swan, the police are here, they really need to talk to you"
I started to breathe faster, and I could feel my head getting lighter. Then I felt Edward's hand grip mine a little tighter. Amazingly it calmed me down.
" I think we should all give her a little time to talk to the officers alone." Edward said and started to get up. I grabbed his hand tighter. He looked down at me confused. I couldn't' explain it, but I needed him here. He was the only one who had seen me at my absolute worst.
I needed him.
EPOV
Everyone in the room looked at me as they walked out the door. I didn't know what to say. Bella wanted me to stay. I don't know why. But I was beyond the point of denying her anything she wanted. I had to try to see why though.
" Bella don't you think this is something you should do by yourself? Do you really want me to hear this?"
" You walked in on the worst of it. I just need your strength. You always have it so together, I need that" She rasped. " But if you don't want to stay I'd understand."
Yeah right.
" No if that's what you want I'll stay. Just let me know if you get uncomfortable. I'll leave."
" Thanks"
" For what?"
" For putting up with me. I know I'm the last person you want to be with right now. I promise I'll try harder not to get on your nerves."
" Bella..."
The cops interrupted my sentence. I didn't know what I was going to say to her anyway. I really didn't think now was a good time to tell her I'd stay by her for as long as she wanted me around. No, something told me it might be inappropriate.
" Now Ms Swan we need you to start at the beginning. How did you meet Todd ?"
" Um, that night at the party. He stopped me and asked my name. We talked for a few moments and then he suggested we go upstairs where it was quieter."
" Why did you go with him?" the cop gave her a look that doubted what she was saying.
" Hey , hey, wait now. This is about what he did. Why do I feel like your interrogating her?"
" Sir, we need to know what her state of mind was. If you can't control yourself you'll have to leave."
I saw Bella's chest start to heave. This obviously stressed her out. I squeezed her hand again, that seemed to work the last time I did it. Slowly her breathing became normal again.
"So, what made you think it was a good idea to go upstairs with him?" He asked it a little cockier this time.
" Honestly it made sense. We were having a hard time hearing each other downstairs."
" Did you have anything to drink." I opened my mouth to say something, but was shot down by the look he gave me.
" I had a few shot of Tequila. But I was just tipsy, I wasn't drunk, I swear." She sounded like she was trying to convince her parents not talking to a cop about some pervert.
" Explain what happened after you got upstairs"
" Well we got to a room and it started off fine, just kissing. Then he got more aggressive. He pushed me down on the bed and started sliding his hand up my skirt." She stopped to take a breathe and a drink of her water. " I started to feel uncomfortable so I asked him to stop. That's when he said " you can't be a cock tease" or something like that. Then he took off his belt and tied me to the bed with that. " She started to tear up. I felt helpless." Then we ripped of my underwear. I tried to fight him off but that's when he started hitting me and he eventually just pinned me to the bed by my neck. Once he had me pinned down, that's when he.."She was stuck. I knew what she wanted to say, but I couldn't say it either.
" Did he penetrate you?" The cop asked. He said it in a way that was void of feeling. Like this was something that happened everyday. Well of course it was, but not in our world.
" Yes" With that she began to sob uncontrollable again. I just kept squeezing her hand, hoping I was helping.
" When did he stop?"
" When I came in and got his ass off her" I was finally to able to talk.
" Ok, well, I think that's enough for today. But you both will have to come down and finish this up. This is enough to get things rolling."
With that both officers walked out of the room. I got up to follow them out, but again my hand was gripped tighter.
" I'll be right back I promise" I squeezed her hand back, letting her know I wasn't lying.
I ran out the door and chased the officers down.
" Excuse me, officer, can I have your card please?"
" Card? This kids watched to many Law and Order episodes. I'm just here to get a statement, not lead up the investigation. They don't give us cards. Why?"
"Don't you think you were a little harsh. After what she's been through, I think you could have saved your skepticism for another day."
" Look kid, have you ever had to deal with this kind of thing before? " He waited for my answer, I didn't have one." I didn't think so. You say you stopped this guy? Well I think you might just have to come to terms with the fact that all you saw was your girlfriend cheating on you. This happens all the time, convince her to tell the truth, before it goes to far. Then we won't be back filing calling in a false report charges."
" You can look at her face and say that she wanted this to happen? That she's just upset she got caught?" I was the end of my rope.
" For all we know you did that, after you caught her steppin out on you."
I lunged at him but was stopped by the other officer.
" Stop before I have to handcuff you" then he leaned closer to my ear " Officer Mc Miller his supervisor is Captain Fowler. "
I took a step back and gave him one last stare. He was unbelievable, but not worth my time. So I turned around and went back to Bella's room.
" Everything ok?" She asked, her eyes red from the recent crying.
" Yeah, just wanted to clear up some things."
With that I went back to my chair and reclaimed my position of holding her hand. If anything it at least made me feel better. I really hoped she got better soon. My feelings were getting hard to hide.
From Bella and myself.
