Starting Anew

Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognize
Author's Note: Okay, I thought I was going to get this up last Wednesday, but I was too anxious about getting my wisdom teeth pulled out to really concentrate on it sooo after not really feeling like sitting upright for a while and unable to really focus on anything here's the next chapter. I'd actually like to dedicate this chapter to TWILIGHTreader1 who's really expressed a lot of interest in this story and I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. Anyways read on, and if there's any questions go ahead and ask and I'll do my best to clear up any confusion.

Chapter 8: Comfort Offered and Recieved

"Okay boys, the air mattresses are already inflated but you'll have to go get them from the basement, Alice and I have to go get changed," I smiled gratefully at Rosalie as she quickly got everyone's attention off of me and she flashed me a small smile of her own.

Emmett and Jasper stood up and helped their girlfriends up as well and watched as they headed upstairs. Edward stood up as well, and I instinctively tightened my hold on his hand.

"C'mon Bella, it's safer for you to come with us," Emmett laughed, pushing Edward away and picking me up the same way as before, me resting on his hip like a small child.

Jasper laughed, "It's true, they'll probably just end up playing dress-up, with you as their unwilling subject."

Edward just shook his head as he and Jasper walked ahead and opened the door that lead to the basement. The two of them started down the stairs, and I realized that Emmett was planning on doing the same thing with me still in his arms.

"Emmett…could you put me down for the stairs? I don't think you'll drop me it's just…" I bit my lip, hoping he would listen. I had a slight fear of heights, and the thought of being carried down the stairs made me really uncomfortable.

The other two stopped in the middle of the staircase and looked back up at us. I saw Edward giving Emmett a look that he probably thought I couldn't see, but either way I was grateful for it as Emmett gently put me down on my own two feet at the top of the staircase and grandly gestured for me to go in front of him.

Walking into the basement I saw that the Cullens had turned what is usually used for storage had been turned into a games room. Each of the guys grabbed what looked like a camp air mattress the size of a double bed and Edward told me to go up the stairs first. His reasoning being that I would keep them from banging into anything and that if my clumsiness kicked in at least one of them would be able to stop me from falling down the stairs.

Once we got back to the living room Edward and Emmett began moving around the furniture so that they were able to place all three air mattresses side by side in the middle of the room. Jasper and I stood off to the side and out of their way.

"So Bella, what grade are you going into?" Jasper asked, leaning against the wall.

"12th actually, what about you?" I asked, looking over at him.

"Same, Alice is the only one out of the bunch of us that isn't in any of our classes," Jasper smiled softly and I saw love shining through his eyes and I knew that the two of them would last a long time, if not forever.

We continued our short conversation as the two brothers argued about where to put what piece of furniture. A loud thud caught our attention, however, and we both started laughing as we saw Edward sprawled on the ground with Emmett flopped on top of him.

"What happened?" I asked in concern, Jasper didn't look like he would be talking or breathing properly for the time being.

"Edward didn't move out of the way in time," Emmett actually pouted as he got off of Edward and helped him up.

Edward just rolled his eyes at his brother and walked over to where I was standing, Jasper was lying on the floor he was laughing so hard, "It's fine Bella, it's something that happens more often than I would like to admit, I'm so used to it that it doesn't hurt anymore I promise."

I nodded as Edward stepped over Jasper who had stopped laughing but was still lying on the ground, "Okay…if you're sure?"

He only nodded, "Positive," he put his hand on my back and lead me into the kitchen, "We'll leave Emmett to finish up in there and we can grab drinks and whatnot instead."

I nodded, "Would it be possible for me to use the phone first? I promised my dad I'd call him tonight and I don't want him to worry about me."

"Yeah, of course, there's a phone in the kitchen that you can use," Edward showed me where there was a phone hanging on the wall right by the entrance to the kitchen.

I quickly dialled my dad's number, and waited for him to pick up on the other line and felt myself relax once he did, "Hi dad, it's me."

"Bells, is everything okay?" he asked, and I could hear him starting to panic.

"Yeah dad, everything's fine. Um…I actually told Edward everything," I bit my lip, wondering how my dad would react.

"Why? Did something happen Bella? How did he take it?" I could hear my dad shuffling around the house and what sounded like a door open.

"I think I had a panic attack, but Edward stayed with me until I was calmer, he even brought me away from everyone else so not everyone saw how bad it got. I just started thinking of Phil, and I just couldn't get him out of my head. Talking to Edward helped though, I think. I just felt that I could really trust him dad," at this point I know I heard a car start in the background, "Dad, are you in your car?"

I saw Edward turn from the fridge and give me a confused look as I heard my dad's answer, "Yes, I am Bella. I should have known that it wasn't that great of an idea for you to spend the night somewhere else right away. I'll come pick you up and bring you home, tell that Edward boy he can come by the house tomorrow. You should have called me earlier."

"Dad, I'm fine now. Edward had suggested calling you earlier, but I told him I was fine, and I am. Edward's made sure I'm comfortable and hasn't left my side all night," I tried to reassure him, but I could still hear the car in the background.

"I don't know Bells," I could hear the hesitation in his voice, "Is Edward there with you now?"

"Yeah, he's right here, why?" I looked to where Edward had put the bottles of soda on the counter beside three large bags of chips, and had gotten out bowls and glasses.

"Can you put him on the phone please Bells?" I could tell he wasn't sure if he should leave me here or come and pick me up.

"Sure thing," I tapped Edward on the shoulder, "Um, Edward, my dad wants to talk to you?"

"Okay, can you just put the chips in the bowls then?" when I nodded Edward took the phone from me and the two of us switched places.

I didn't bother listening to Edward's end of the conversation as I concentrated on not dropping or knocking anything over as I emptied the bags of chips into the three bowls that Edward had already gotten out. I finished that then stacked the glasses inside one another to make them easier to carry out, then leaned back against the counter and waited for Edward to get off the phone.

"Bella, he wants to talk to you again," Edward smiled at me and after handing me the phone carried out the bottles of pop to the living room.

"Hi dad?" I asked, wondering if he was actually going to come pick me up or not.

"Okay sweetie, Edward promised me he'd keep an eye on you, and drive you home himself if he thinks something's wrong. I still want you to call me first thing in the morning, I'm working the day shift tomorrow so you'll have a better chance of getting me at the station. Get some sleep Bella, love you kiddo," My dad actually sounded like he was still thinking of getting back in his car and coming down here.

"Thank you daddy, I love you too. I promise I'll call you as soon as I get up," I hung up the phone and jumped as I heard Edward chuckling behind me.

"So he's not going to turn on the siren to come pick you up?" he asked, laughing slightly as I stuck my tongue out at him.

Edward grabbed two of the bowls and asked me to carry the other bowl and the glasses. I followed and put them down on the table that was pushed back against the sofa Edward and I had been sitting on not that long ago.

Looking around the room I saw that both Alice and Rosalie had changed into rather short nightgowns and they were both going over a stack of DVDs, Emmett was sprawled out on the center air mattress and Jasper was on the one closest to the window facing the backyard, both of the guys had also gotten changed into sleep pants and t-shirts. Edward brought me over to the last air mattress which was closest to the entranceway and pulled me down to sit down beside him. I jumped when I heard Alice squeal quickly looked up and saw her bouncing over to the TV where she put a disk in the DVD player before skipping back to where Jasper was sitting and put her head in his lap. Rosalie walked gracefully over where Emmett was laying and curled up beside him.

"Did you guys want a drink, since you've all gotten so comfortable?" Edward asked, throwing a pillow at Emmett's head, being careful not to hit Rosalie.

"That'd be great bro," Emmet tucked the pillow under his head, "I'll have some coke."

"Oooooh, Edward's getting drinks?" Alice perked right up, and Jasper chuckled as he pulled her into a sitting position between his legs and resting against his chest, "I'll have some sprite please…since I'm not supposed to have too much caffeine."

"I'll have some cream soda please, Edward," Rosalie said, playing with the TV remote, flicking through the channels, not starting the movie until everyone was settled.

"Sprite for me, Edward, if you don't mind that is?" Jasper looked over at Edward and laughed as he saw shock frozen on Edward's face.

Edward rolled his eyes and turned to face the table that was right behind the air mattresses and poured everyone's drinks before turning to me, "What would you like Bella?"

"Cream soda please, Edward," I said quietly, watching as he poured my drink and another coke for himself and turned back around. He handed me my drink and sat back down beside me.

"What movie did you girls pick anyway?" Edward asked, looking over at his sister and friend.

"Disturbia of course," Alice said, "Shia LaBeouf is soooo cute!"

I bit my lip and closed my eyes. Another horror movie, I was still trying not to think about the gruesome movie that Edward and I had watched earlier at my house. Edward must have either noticed what I was doing or had remembered that I didn't like horror movies because he took my drink and placed both mine and his on the table behind us and pulled be closer to him.

Rosalie was about to start the movie when we all heard the front door open, and I bit my lip, imagining whatever could be coming around the corner to get us, pulling myself closer to Edward. When I saw Dr. Cullen come walking around and into the living room, I couldn't help but breathe a small sigh of relief as I moved away from Edward, even as he laughed quietly under his breath.

"Ah, I see you've all met Bella, hello again Bella. Edward wasn't a bother was he?" Dr. Cullen asked, after saying hello to everyone else.

"Hello Dr. Cullen, and no, Edward wasn't a bother at all…I had fun today," I said, smiling up at him.

"That's good, and I'm glad to see you all getting along," He said goodnight to everyone as he turned to go upstairs where Esme was, but turned before he was completely out of the room, "Oh and Bella? Call me Carlisle, the other kids do," he smiled at all of us as he turned and left the room.

Rosalie immediately turned the movie on once Carlisle left the room, and Alice danced over to the light switch and turned off the lights and walked back over to sit with Jasper, surprisingly not tripping over anything like I would have.

Edward pulled me closer to his side again once the movie started, and I smiled up at him gratefully before hiding my face against his shirt. He gently pulled the blanket up around me as I tried my hardest to once again not pay attention to what was playing on the screen. Edward watched the movie, but every now and then he would pass me my drink so I wouldn't have to move, and I could feel myself slowly falling asleep, leaning against someone who I barely knew, yet I knew would be a good friend and, as a part of me hoped, much more.

Author's Note: I hope everone liked this chapter and don't be shy to ask questions or just let me know what you think. Hopefully the next chapter will be up soon so I'll see you all soon so to speak :)