(A/N - THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS BELLAS SECRET....I marked it in the story if you don't want to read it, i'll include a summary at the end, read around the tabs that say start and end.)
Edward POV
"I'm scared as hell. It's about time that I tell you all the things that you should know. All the things I'm too scared to show." - Cauterize
"Alright, blue line shift on." I commanded from center ice. Emmett had to take practice off this morning so I was running the show. He said something about Bella needing to talk to him about something in New York. Apparently there was food promised and Emmett couldn't refuse his baby sister.
But than again who could. She had those amazing big brown eyes that you honestly swam in. They began to glow again as well as mine had. We had slowly started to rebuild our friendship, starting a fire deep inside my heart. I was about to get my Bella back.
"C'mon man, we've been running this drill for an hour." Kevin called from the end line.
"And we're not stopping til we get it right. Do you really want to lose Thursday?" I asked. I wasn't trying to be a hardass, I knew the boys could get it though if they really pushed for it.
We practiced a few more drills, making sure everything was crisp and solid for our big game. If we lost Thursday, we were almost guaranteed out of the play offs. I let everyone else shower before, taking last shift.
"What's eating away at you, bro?" Jasper asked, sitting in Emmett's seat in the captain's area. I looked up from my hands.
"Nothing, Emmett just seemed really worried about whatever Bella had to tell him this morning. Apparently she's been getting all sorts phone calls from New York that she refuses to take." I said quietly, making sure none of the other guys heard me. I especially didn't want Lochie to hear me.
"I'm sure its nothing, Ed. Don't let it nag you. If it's something huge, she'll tell us on her own time. We're her best friends, man. Just tough it out." Jasper said, clapping his hand on my shoulder. "Until then, I suggest you shower. You smell like shit."
I chuckled and walked over to the shower area with my towel in hand. The warm water felt good across my shoulders. I let myself get lost in the feeling, which was now unknotting my tense muscles.
"Yo Ed, doing anything hot with Lauren before the big game?" Henry asked from the other shower.
"Don't know man." I replied honestly. I would have to see if she wanted to go to dinner or something with me. Who knew with that girl though, she was always busy these days.
To: Edward
From: Emmett
Bro, tell the team to go straight to the hockey closet when you get to school. It's an emergency.
I felt my hands start to shake as I thought about his conversation this morning. I threw on my sweat pants and stood up on the bench.
"Listen up. Emmett said to go straight to the closet when we get to school. It's an emergency. Anyone who doesn't go there will have hell to pay." I shouted over everyone's side conversations. Suddenly the locker room was silent. "Don't ask me what it's about but apparently its important."
I put my headphones on and zoned out waiting anxiously to arrive at school. Every scenario ran through me head about Bella. I pictured her pink cheeks streaked with tears and felt my heart shatter. Her pouty lips were probably pulled down in a frown and every possibly way to make her smile danced through my thoughts.
After what felt like forever the bus pulled up to school and I stormed off. I grabbed my gear and made my way to the closet.
"Em, what's going on?" I asked, frantically shoving my stuff in the corner.
"Calm down, Eddie, I'll tell you when everyone gets here." Emmett said and I rested up against a wall while we silently waited for everyone else. As soon as they all got there Emmett cleared his throat.
"As you all know, I wasn't at practice this morning because my baby sister needed me. I need you guys to help me out, because unlike I wish, I can't be everywhere. I need you guys to keep an eye out for her. She told me some really disturbing news this morning and I really don't want anything happening to her. So please. if you could all just make sure she's not completely alone, it would be really appreciated." Emmett said. He just got up and left after he spoke, leaving us all shell shocked.
"What the hell was that all about?" Gray was the first to break the silence. A whole bunch of questions followed in a terribly disorganized manner. I stood up on the box Emmett had been standing on.
"Alright go to class." I said, kicking everyone out of the closet. I noticed that Lochie hadn't left and was being unusually quiet.
"Man, go to class. She'll be fine. She has all of us." I said, as I picked up my backpack to go to English.
"Why wouldn't she tell me? Why did she keep this a secret from me?" He asked, looking extremely pathetic.
"That's not important anymore. The only thing that should be going through your head right now is if Bella's okay or not. Not whether she told you specifically. That is no longer important." I snapped as I stormed out of the closet.
Sure Lochie was a nice guy and I'm sure he treated Bella with all sorts of respect and crap but something about him was off to me. I didn't like seeing his hands all over my best friend. I didn't like the thought of him kissing her. I just didn't like it.
"Hey Eddie!" Lauren cooed as I walked through the hallway. She latched on to my hand and kept rambling about her day so far, which had only been about 3 hours long.
"Uh- I need to go check up on something, Laur. I'll see you at lunch?" I said, bending down to kiss her cheek before she ran off. As soon as she was out of eye sight and turned down the math wing and looked for her.
I saw Bella out of the corner of my eye. She was walking with some girl, Angela I think her name was. My fears were confirmed when I saw her cheeks stained with tears and her eyes downcast and gloomy. I willed myself to go to her and hug her but I couldn't move my legs. She looked up and caught my eye and gave me a small smile and nod, before turning into class. I knew Jasper was in that class so I wouldn't have to worry.
The bell rang and I ran back to English. The rest of my day passed swiftly. I was swimming in my thoughts though and barely retained anything taught to me toady. Lunch was the only part of my day where I truly focused, only because I was trying so hard to read Bella that I gave myself a headache.
I was walking back to my car when I noticed something was off. Lauren wasn't waiting for me to drive her home. I went back into the school to look and see if she was at my locker. When she wasn't there I began to panic. First Bella, now Lauren I was going to go grey within a matter of months at this rate.
I got in my car and sped off to her house to make sure she was okay. I pulled into her driveway and practically jumped out of my car when I noticed the front door was wide open.
"LAUREN!" I shouted from the front hallway. "HELLO?" I called out again after no answer. I heard music playing from upstairs and followed the sound. I walked to the end of the hallway where Lauren's room was and slowly pushed open the door.
I nearly puked. Lauren was on her knees in front of Todd, this greasy senior. I grabbed my varsity jacket off her desk chair and turned around.
"Lauren, it's done. For good this time." I said as I slammed the door shut and ran out of the house. I got in my car and just started to drive. I didn't know where I was going and hell, I really didn't care.
I felt dirty all of a sudden. I felt like I had kissed her and truly cared about her and then to see what she was actually doing. I was fuming. I couldn't have been angrier. I suddenly realized where I was. Outside the rink. I grabbed my skates and stick, slamming every door in my path.
"Vinny, which rink is open?" I asked the kid at the front desk.
"3, I think there's only one other person on the ice." He said, looking at his sheet of paper. "Want me to sign you in for it?"
"Yeah." I said, walking towards the ice. I saw the other person on the end of the ice shooting around and figured we wouldn't bother each other. I laced up my skates pulling tighter than necessary, just needing to get some of my pain out.
I watched the other person shoot and made a mental note not to piss whoever it was off. Their shot was insane. Suddenly I heard the phone next to me ring over the music and I tried to ignore it. As soon as the ringing stopped it started again and I figured it was something important.
"Bro, your phone's ringing." I said, skating onto the ice. "Bro?" I asked again. Suddenly the person was done on their back in a swift movement. "Whoa, are you okay? I didn't mean to scare you."
"Yeah, I was just startled, that's all." A girls voice. I turned so I was facing her.
"Bella?" I asked, putting my hand out to help her up.
"Edward? What are you doing here? Did Emmett put you up to this?" Bella asked, grasping my hand.
"No." I said, shortly, remembering my true reason for coming here.
"Well, that's a relief. Emmett's had the whole team following me today. I appreciate it, but really I just need to breath. You know?" She said, spinning around on her skates.
"Yeah, just needed to clear my head." I said, looking down at the ground.
"Won't Lauren be mad you're not hanging out with her?" Bella asked, nudging my shoulder with hers. That's what we did these days, we had witty banter that truly meant more than sounded.
"That's why I'm here." I said, slowly looking up. "I just found her in a very ungirlfriend-like position with Todd." I felt my voice crack as I finally said it out loud. "It's over between us."
"Edward, I had no idea. I'm so sorry." Bella said, wrapping her arms around me. I inhaled her scent and felt at home. But Bella had a boyfriend and I needed to respect that. I pulled away and shrugged.
"I guess, I wont be getting slapped anymore at lunch." I said, trying to make a joke but still feeling the stinging pain of betrayal in my heart. I grabbed a puck from her collection shot it with all my might towards the end of the rink.
I started to skate to the other end when I heard Bells call out from her side.
(THIS IS WHERE THE SECRET STARTS)
"His name was Danny." She started. "I thought he was the one. I thought he was perfect. I thought I loved him." I turned around to see her sitting in the middle of the ice, staring at her feet.
I moved to sit down next to her, but then I had a better idea. I pulled her up and towards the bench, so we wouldn't be soaked when we stood up.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." I said, making sure she was okay with this.
"No it's okay. He was something. He used to pull me around a lot at first. I never really thought much of it, just figured I was in the wrong spot. Then it started to get a little worse when we would drink. Which we did a lot. We always drank. It was our escape and we were both running. He began shoving me and kicking me. I just figured he was an angry drunk.
It never really went through my mind that he was abusing me. It's just who we were. It would go on like that for weeks. But then he would be the sweet Danny I remember falling for. Everything would be peaceful again." She took a breath and I wiped away her tear.
"The night is still so clear in my mind. Pieces of it still are foggy though. But majority of it is there haunting me." She said, more tears falling.
"What happened, Bells?" I asked rubbing her shoulder sweetly.
"He was really drunk and we started talking about you and how you didn't care anymore. I slapped him hard across the face. You could almost see the anger boil under his skin. So I ran. And I drank a lot while I was running. Eventually I felt his hands grab my shoulders. He threw me up against the wall and then he pinned me thereā¦.
"'You'll never be good enough for anyone, you dirty slut' Danny said to me. The alcohol had taken over my body at this point and I kicked him in the groin.
'Stupid, bitch.' He spat at me as I made my way out the door. Holly ran into us as she was making her way upstairs. She smiled sweetly at us, knowing what was happening. It made me hate her. She always knew but never helped me.
Eventually he caught up to me, dragging me into the park, it was close to midnight so the cover of darkness hid us. He threw me against a rock and watched as I slid to the ground in pain. 'Not even good enough for her friends, lame little Bella Swan' he whispered into my ear. He shoved his hand in my mouth so I couldn't yell. I tried so hard to bite him and get away but he just kept holding my throat up to the wall.
Everything started to go black but not enough that I totally lost it. I still felt the pain as he shredded me of all my clothes. I was completely helpless as he took me. I couldn't fight him off and the city was asleep. I remember when he was done with me he hit my back against the park bench and left me, laughing to himself.
I was alone, and scared. I knew my apartment wasn't far from the park but I had no idea where Danny had dragged me. I lay there crying, screaming hoping someone was out there. I guess someone eventually found me because next thing I knew I woke up in my bed. That's when I told Renee I needed help.
So she got me on the next flight out here. But she couldn't take me to the airport so I got a cab. As I was leaving my apartment though there was a note left for me at the front desk. I'll make you're life living hell, I swear to God. You can't run from me.
That's why Emmett's making you guys stay with me. He's afraid Danny's going to put it together one of these days because he's been calling the house phone." Bella finished, tears freely falling now.
(THIS IS WHERE THE SECRET ENDS)
"Shh, it's going to be okay, Bells. You have us now. He won't get anywhere near you." I cooed to her, hoping to calm her down. The friendship thing between us was new again and fragile. But she trusted me, so I went with it.
"I'm so scared, Eddie." She whispered, leaning her head against my chest.
"Does Lochie know?" I asked, thinking about what my next move would be to make her safe.
"No. I don't want him to know. My past is my past, I only trust you guys to know." She said, sniffling.
"Have you at least seen a doctor Bella?" I asked, concerned that she was hurt, or worse pregnant.
"No, but I know I'm not pregnant. I took an at home test one day while Charlie was at work." She said, surpressing one of my fears. "Please don't tell anyone."
"I promise."
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Bella POV
My secret was out. Two people in the small town of Forks now knew my secret. I was scared though. I felt someone needed to know, that I was going to need help one of these days. Luckily it had been a few days and nothing had happened. Edward and I hadn't said much to each other in the past few days, but occasionally caught each others attention from across the room.
"Bella, you better stop staring at my brother before Lochie gets jealous." Alice hissed into my ear bringing my back to reality.
We were sitting on the bleaches watching the big game everyone had been practicing for. I merely chuckled to myself and felt my cheeks stain with red.
"You know if Lochie wasn't in the picture, I would say you're totally in love with Edward." Alice said in hushed tones. I turned to her, my eyes wide.
"You're absurd. We're just becoming friends again." I said, scoffing at the idea of being in love with Edward. Then he looked up from the ice with his crooked grin and pointed at us. I felt my heart pound and put my head down. I could see Alice smirk out of the corner of my eye. "Shut up. I'm really happy with Lochie."
"Uhhuh." Alice said. I just rolled me eyes at her and turned to face the game again.
It ended up being an amazing game. It went to a shoot out and had everyone on the edge of their seats. Emmett went first, scoring for us. The opposing team returned the gesture, scoring their own goal. Then we sent out Will, who scored as well. The other team chocked and it was down to us to score the last goal. I watched as #10 EDWARD CULLEN flashed across the screen.
"They're putting Edward out there?" I asked Alice, not remembering that he had that good of shot.
"Just you wait, Bells." She said, with a smug smile on her face. I watched as Edward weaved towards the goal throwing the puck to the top corner completely passing the goalies shoulder.
Both Alice and I jumped out of sheer thrill. We were officially an official place holder of this years championship games. We sat in our seats until everyone else had left and waited for our players to come out of the locker room.
"You were fantastic, Jaz." I said as Jasper left. He nodded his head and walked straight to Alice to swing her around in his arms. Suddenly I felt myself being lifted into the air.
"We did it, Squirt!" Emmett hollered, squeezing my guts out.
"Em, I can't breath." I hissed. He put me down and I could see the cheer radiating from his eyes. I patted him on the shoulder and kissed his cheek.
"Oh hey, Squirt, can you take Puck out later? Rosie and me are going out to dinner." He said. I nodded my head and turned back around waiting for Lochie.
"Oh, look. It's our number one fan." A velvety, smooth voice said from behind me. I turned to see Edward standing there his shirt half buttoned and his tie draped around his neck.
"Why do you look so upset?" I asked, buttoning up the rest of his shirt. He shrugged. "Don't give me that, I know something's wrong."
"It's just kinda a bummer, you know? This is the type of moment you just want to go to your girlfriend and celebrate. I guess it just hurts knowing what Lauren would be doing right now if we were still dating." He said, not taking his eyes off the floor once. I wrapped my arms around him tightly.
"You can hug me. I won't hurt you." I said, breathing in his scent. He only released me when we heard a cough from beside us. I turned to see Lochie and immediately dropped my arms from Edward.
"Lochie! You did great!" I said, wrapping my arms around him now. I pressed my lips to his in a sweet manner, not wanting to get carried away. I looked him straight in the eye and noticed something off. "Not you too. What's wrong?"
"Nothing." He said, in a short answer. I grabbed his hand as he began walking towards the door.
"Want to go get dinner or something? We could always go watch a movie?" I said, trying to get him to stop walking.
"Yeah, okay." He said, kissing my forehead and leading me over to his car. I had gotten a ride with Alice today and didn't have to worry about my car staying there overnight.
We got to my house with not much said between us. We walked in and he set his coat on the table, moving towards the couch.
"Where's Charlie?" He asked, laying down on the couch, playing with Puck.
"Working late." I said, grabbing some movies before joining him. "I think he's just avoiding Emmett. They got into a fight over Puck. But who could hate this face?" I said, taking Puck's face in my hands and kissing his forehead. I shooed him off the couch before laying with my head on Lochie's chest.
"You're not happy." I finally said, after a few minutes of awkward silence. "Tell me what's got you acting like this. Please?"
"It's nothing, really." He said, pulling me tighter to his chest and kissing the top of my head. "I'm just being silly."
"Obviously it's something. You haven't said more than five words in every sentence you've said to me." I said, propping my self up so I could face him eye to eye.
"You haven't noticed it, have you?" He asked, sitting up so I was straddling his hips.
"Noticed what?" I asked, cocking my head to the side.
"I see the way you look at him, Bella. I'm not dumb. And I know you're best friends or whatever it is you are now. But the looks you two give each other, the way you guys finish each others sentences. I don't want to have to fight to be your world, Bella. I want you to want to be with me, like I want to be with you." He said, his hands rubbing up and down my sides. I got up and moved towards the stairs. "Bella!"
"Honestly? You honestly question my feelings for you?" I said, not turning around to face him again. "I have never, EVER felt the way about Edward that I feel for you. Sure he's my best friend. You're being absurd."
"Bella! Stop, running for one minute!" He shouted at me as I walked up the stairs. I turned around with my tear stained cheeks.
"What?" I asked in a defeated tone.
"I'm not angry at you, I just wanted you to know. I don't want to have to fight Edward for you. I can't find the bond you have, no matter how long we date. He took that spot in your heart long before I even came here. I'm willing to take whatever part of your heart I can have, but just know, I'm not oblivious. I know he holds the majority of your heart." Lochie said, before shutting the door, leaving me sobbing on the floor.
I must have fallen asleep on the floor because next thing I knew Emmett was hollering my name.
"Squirt?" I could hear him shout. "BELLA!" He finally yelled. I was just rubbing the sleep out of my eyes when he found me. "Bella, what's wrong? Did he come here? Is he here?"
"No. Calm down. Lochie and I got into a fight about Edward." I said, stretching. I could see Emmett's shoulders tense. "He didn't hurt me, well not physically at least." I said, sitting on the stool in the kitchen.
"What happened, Squirt? Should I kick his ass?" Emmett asked, hopping up onto the counter.
"He just started accusing me of loving Edward and having a bigger spot in my heart for Edward than for him. Em, it's ridiculous. Edward and I have been talking for like 3 weeks now, not even! Lochie's being ridiculous!" I said out of frustration.
"But Edward knows about Danny." Emmett said, grabbing an apple out of the bowl. "You can't bring yourself to tell Lochie." He said as if he had stated the greatest point ever.
"I don't get it, what's Danny got to do with this?" I said, looking at my brother like he was an idiot.
"Think about it, Squirt. You felt okay telling Edward. You felt safe, even though you're right, you've only been talking for a few weeks. You can't even face Lochie when he tries to get you to talk."
"That's because I just want to talk when I'm with Edward. It's like he makes me feel better about myself, so I want to tell him every flaw. He makes me feel whole again." I said, sighing.
"Point and case, Squirt." Emmett said just as the door was opening. It was Charlie, Edward, Alice, Jasper, Rose, Esme, and Carlisle. "Just think about it."
"Well it's quite the party in here now, huh?" I said, standing up to go greet everyone.
"We're all going out to dinner to celebrate the big win." Carlisle said, clapping his hand on Emmett's shoulder.
"I looked at the clock and realized it was only 8. I shrugged my shoulders in agreement, realizing just how hungry I was. Lochie and I never ate because he stormed out.
"Bells, why don't you call Lochie?" Charlie suggested, hanging up his holster and grabbing his regular coat.
"Not tonight, Dad." I said, walking over to where Edward stood. I watched his eyes light up. "Alright, well, lets go!" I said, quickly changing the subject.
The kids all piled up in Emmett's jeep, all four of us squished in the back. Emmett was making a lame joke when all of a sudden my phone started to ring. I pulled out my phone and looked at the 1 NEW MESSAGE screen. The phone dropped out of my hand. Edward grabbed it. The horror flashed across his face before fury took him over. Emmett tensed in the front seat.
"Isabella, what is it?" Emmett asked in his parental voice.
"He knows."
A/N -- Hope you guys enjoyed!! Sorry it's been a while since I updated, Lochie is studying for his SAT's and Kyle asked if I could help him with the english portion and the essay stuff. But anyways, I really liked this chapter. But i need your opinions on a few things
-Do I change the rating to M?
-Do I have Lochie and Bella break up soon (this doesnt ensure B&E right away)?
thanks so much! Review away please!!!
