Disclaimer: As much as I'd love to own these characters, they are the works of Stephenie Meyer, except Alexander, he's mine.
Chapter Eight: Truth
I woke up screaming. It wasn't because I was scared. It was because I felt someone close to me. Like some mysterious presence was right in my face, mocking me somehow. Maybe it was Alexander, watching over me as I slept. He was such a good friend.
I pulled myself out of bed to get ready for school. Charlie already left, so I didn't have to face him with his warnings. Not that they were bad, just that I had heard them before.
I wore a blue blouse that I thought was rather pretty on me, and a pair of blue jeans. I looked pretty simple, but it was good enough for today, and tonight, when I went to Port Angeles.
I walked downstairs to make myself some food. I walked outside after grabbing my school bag and dance bag. I pulled out in my beetle and drove to school.
When I arrived, Jessica came running up to me, giddy and excited looking.
"Bella! I thought I'd tell you right now instead of later. Mike kissed me! Can you believe it? I was just on a date with him in town and he just randomly did it! Jessica was bubbly and practically screeching in my ear, she was so loud.
"Wow! That's great, Jess!" I faked enthusiasm.
"Oh, yeah. I also meant to tell you that me and Angela are going to pick you up at about 5:00 today. Is that okay?" she asked.
"Sure." I muttered.
"Oh, excellent! Well, okay. I will see you at lunch later." She smiled.
"See ya." I told her quietly.
She ran off towards that one bitchy girl that was at La Push. The one that was the hotel owner's daughter. I learned, from Jessica's loud mouth, that her name was Lauren. She wasn't that pretty, unless you considered being orange and fake beautiful. She gave me a smirk and payed attention to Jessica again. Well, not everyone was nice.
I walked off to first period. Earlier on in the day, I noticed Edward was not here again. I certainly hoped this was his last day being absent. There was a reason why he was always absent on sunny days. For all I knew, he would get burned by the sun.
Something was telling me that Edward was the type of vampire that didn't burn in the sun, actually showed up in mirrors, didn't have fangs, didn't turn into a bat, and didn't try to stay resistant to garlic. Those were myths. If vampires were actually real, I thought it would be more realistic more than fantasy.
I tried to figure out what vampires, possibly like Edward, could be like. They'd be cold and hard, like Edward. They'd be fast, also like Edward. They would have different colored eyes, as well as changing eyes, from color to color. They'd have inhuman strength. That sounds more realistic than the myths on vampires I've been hearing on television and the internet.
Most of my morning was spent thinking about what I knew about Edward. I found myself falling a few times out of such thoughts. Yes, I was definitely lost in thinking.
Jessica and Angela met me at lunchtime, and we sat down at our normal table. Mike was staring at me, as well as Eric and Tyler. They were giving me a knowing and blaming look.
"What?" I asked.
"Why are you dating Edward Cullen?" asked Mike, his tone fueled with rage. Much to Jessica's displeasure.
I was confused.
"I'm not going out with Edward..?" I told them. It sounded like a question.
"Everyone says you are.." trailed Eric.
"Well, I'm not." I told them, my tone final.
I looked at Lauren and she had a huge smirk on her face, giving away that she started the "rumor" about me. Some rumor. She could've done better. If she was going to start rumors about me, she should at least cover up that she did it.
That made me irate. Could she honestly be so pathetic as in to make some silly rumor about me that didn't even seem so bad? Or did she just get enjoyment out of my anger? That thought was hilarious and irritating.
"Hey, Lauren. No, your little rumor is not true. It is quite shameful of you to come up a rumor that pathetic. Well, at least your rumors describe you: pathetic." I told her, confidently.
Her jaw dropped. I don't think I'd ever said anything like that before. Maybe it was just out of defending Edward. Haha, I got defensive over something I didn't even own. But the look on her face was priceless. It seemed the bitch just got bitched out. I laughed, as well as anyone who was in hearing distance. Lauren's face turned red as a tomato, one that would put my blush to shame.
She stood up and walked off, bumping into me in the process. I was not going to stand for that.
"You should watch where you're going. If you layed off the alcohol, then maybe you would've walked straight." I said a little bit louder.
Her face was as red at a brick wall. I smiled mockingly.
She turned around and stomped off, like the child she was. More people heard what I said and were howling at my words. I smiled just a little bit.
I sat back down at the table and Angela was laughing so hard I thought she would burst. Jessica was staring at me open-mouthed. I could tell she was trying to hide her laughter behind shock, maybe out of the courtesy of her friend.
"Nice one, Bella! Someone finally put her in her place after the way she's been acting!" Angela giggled.
"Thank you." I smiled at her. Jessica was still staring at me, but ignored the recent verbal attack and changed the subject.
"So Bella, I mean, are you? I know you said that you weren't, but I am curious. Were you just saying no to keep it a secret? Or what?" Jessica asked, sounding enthused.
"No, I am not dating him. He is just going to be my dance partner next weekend." I told her.
"Still! That's beyond! No one had ever gotten Edward to do anything that didn't involve his family. And you said he asked you!" She was nearly screaming.
"I know, but I think he was just being polite. He seems like that kind of person, and everyone knows about Alexander," I winced, "So, maybe he was just cutting me a break."
"Yes, I know, but for him to go out of his way to help you, of all people. He has never done anything like that before." She told me, eagerly.
I did admit that Edward treated me over other students, besides his family, but I didn't think it was anything more. Even though my feelings for him were very deep already, I had no idea whether Edward had the same feelings for me. Oh, how I wished he did, regardless of what he was.
"If he liked me, I would know about it by now." I told her quietly.
"You never know." She winked.
She didn't try to continue the conversation, for which I was grateful. I needed some time to think about what she just said. What if he did like me like I liked him? I would be enthused, I know. How could I be with someone of a different species, well sort of.
Lunch ended and the rest of the day was quite boring.
After school, Jessica followed me to my house so I could drop my truck off and leave a note for Charlie.
Dear Dad, went with Jess and Ang to Port Angeles so we could buy some dresses. I won't be home for dinner. Don't worry about me, but I left some supplies for cold cut sandwiches on the top shelf of the refrigerator. See you later, Bella.
P.S. I won't be out too late. :)
I left the note on the counter for him to see when he got home. I hopped into Jessica's SUV, and we were off.
The first store we tried was a department store called Ame's. There was not many dresses there, but it was a start. There were other shops besides this one, so we didn't worry too much.
Jessica was trying on a blue dress. She was debating on that one and the black one she tried on earlier. The blue one was electric colored, a little shorter than the knee, and spaghetti strapped. The black one was long and elegant looking, strapless, which was ruffled at the midriff. I liked the black one better, but Jessica seemed to like the blue one. I suggested the black one for her, but she protested that the blue one was better. It did not look flattering on her. I didn't want to tell her this, because I didn't want to be on her bad side.
Angela had on a champagne colored evening gown. It really fit with her tall figure, and her black hair.
"Bella? Do you think this looks good?" asked Angela.
"Yes, it really fits your tall figure and your black hair." I told her, speaking my thoughts, the last part anyway.
Jessica smirked at me, like she didn't think the same thing as me.
I was looking around for dance dresses, but found none. They were all long and elegant. I needed a dress that was shorter and more flow-y. Ame's wasn't a good department store to find these dresses.
Angela ended up buying the champagne dress, along with a silver choker, and silver flats, for the dress already covered her feet. Jessica ended up buying the blue dress. I didn't know why, but she insisted that it matched her eyes.
And also makes you look huge, I thought.
We headed off to another dress shop, which looked pretty promising. We stopped inside and I bought a midnight blue spaghetti strapped dress. It had rhinestones in the front and it skirted to about my knee. Perfect. I bought some gold shoes to go with it, and a golden colored necklace.
Angela and Jessica were looking at other things, like flowers and stuff. They wanted to go to a store that sold antiques. We started to walk there, but then I just remembered that I wanted to go to the bookshop to get some books to keep me busy.
I told Angela and Jess this, and Jessica told me where the bookshop was.
I told them I would meet them at the restaurant we were going to that night, and started to walk in the direction that Jessica had told me the bookshop was in.
By the time I reached the bookshop, it was 30 minutes later, and getting dark. I walked inside the bookshop to see an old, grey haired lady. It seemed like no one really came into the store. All the books looked uninteresting and inexpensive. I left the bookshop as quickly as I entered it. Now, I only had one problem.
I was lost.
I started by trying to go back the way I came, but that only made me more missing than before. I walked up a few streets, but none of the shops looked familiar.
I figured if I just kept walking from place to place, I would eventually find a store that looked familiar, or better, Jessica and Angela.
I had been walking for 30 minutes, and much to no avail, was still lost. I decided to go down an alley way to find a better route back. I looked down the closest alley and was about to walk down it but I saw four men loitering there, and drinking.
They spotted me before I had a chance to get away. But, much to my luck, they didn't follow me. Yet.
I started to walk faster just in case they did decide to follow me. I passed shops and shops looking for a spark of something familiar. I started to panic, thinking I would never find my way back.
It was more vacant here than anywhere else I had ever been in my life. Now, my main priority was to find a populated area so I could call Jessica.
I looked through alley way to alley way. What I saw at the other end was either dead ends or other vacant areas.
I turned around once to see if I could see anyone, and saw two of the four men that were drinking. They were looking right at me and following me. They had dark, evil looks on their faces. It was almost as if they were possessed. Their looks gave me chills and made me feel so eerie.
I started to walk even faster, bag dangling, trying not to trip. That was the last thing I wanted to happen. I made sure I had my pepper spray in my purse. Good, it was there.
I started to look for some more alley ways with people present. There were none. Occasionally, I would look behind me to see if the men were still following me. They were.
I looked down one alley way to see people and cars going by. I sighed in relief and started down the alley way. Right before I got to the end, though, the other two drunk men came from around the corner. They smiled viciously at me. I backed up towards the other side of the alley way, just to see the men that were following me, black eyes staring down at me, bottle of vodka in the hand of the one in a trench coat.
I tried to run away from them, but they were too fast for me. They caught me and pushed me against the wall.
"And where might you be going, precious?" The one in the trench coat asked me in a poor seductive voice.
My throat closed, and my voice caught in my throat, unable to escape.
"No answer, eh? Well, we like girls who have loud voices. What do you say, guys? Should we make this girl scream? Show her what we're made of?" The trench coated guy asked his friends.
His response was a chorus of laughing and yeses. I gulped.
Two of the other guys, one that looked like a farmer, and the other looking like he hadn't shaved in months, pinned me against the wall. The trench coated one started to touch me through my clothing, groping my arms, my neck, my breasts, and some other areas of my anatomy that I was more innocent about. The trench coated guy started to kiss my neck, leaving slobbery kisses against my throat. He smelled greatly of marijuana an liquor. He started to push up my blouse and grope my breasts through my bra. I whimpered, much like a puppy being kicked.
"So she can make noises!" shouted trench coat guy.
I whimpered again.
"Not good enough, precious, we wanna hear you scream!" he reprimanded.
He took off my shirt and my bra, so I was left in the open. I felt so violated, like my innocence was being taken away, and not even with my consent. He grabbed my breasts and started touch them in ways I didn't enjoy. While he was doing this, he unbuttoned my pants and I was left standing there in my panties. He started to pull on them, just as he was unbuttoning his pants. I knew clearly what he wanted to do. I had never faced anything like this in Phoenix, and I was truly terrified. As one of the guys was distracted, I pulled out my pepper spray and shot the trench guy in the eye. He went staggering back, but it was not enough to totally disorient him. He looked up at me with one of the scariest looks on a human face I had ever seen.
"Stupid bitch! You're going to pay for that!" he yelled just as he delivered a painful blow to stomach. I doubled over in pain, whimpering and grunting loudly. One of the guys that was pinning me down punched me directly in the face. The other guy that stood in the back watching came up to me and threw me on the ground. All four men started to kick me with painful hits. I would surely bruise, and maybe be unable to move around for the next few days, if I even came to see that time of day. After a series of punching and kicking me, they quit. They were laughing at my open and wounded figure. I was sobbing, for the pain was excruciating. I've never felt such pain. Why me? What did I do?
They left me there, as well as my clothes and other belongings. I slowly and painfully reached for my clothes and slipped them on. If anyone found me, I wouldn't want them to find me nude. I couldn't make myself move just yet, I was in too much pain.
I was crying and sobbing for what felt like hours, when I heard someone coming down the alley way, at a fast speed.
"Bella!?" The voice was frantic. I couldn't look up, afraid of being hurt again.
"Oh my God, what happened to you?" The voice beseeched again.
I looked up to see Edward's tall frame crouched over, a look of concern on his face. His sat me up, looking me over, possibly for bruises or other injuries. Or, he could be trying to figure out what happened to me.
"Bella? Please answer me! I need you to answer me! Please, Bella!" He voice was edging on hysteria.
"Edward?" I croaked.
"Oh, thank God." he muttered.
"What are you doing here, it's dangerous." I told him.
"I could say the same thing. What were you doing out here anyway?" He looked angry.
"I got lost." I admitted.
"Well, you certainly got in enough trouble for one night. Come on, let's go. I need to take you to a hospital to make sure you are okay." He told me.
"Okay," I mumbled.
He picked me up and carried me like a small child. His touch was gentle but firm. I leaned my head against his shoulder as he swiftly glided towards his car. He put me in the passenger seat, and pulled out a blanket he had in the back, draping it over me.
He started the car and started to drive off towards the hospital.
"Oh, Jessica and Angela! I bet they are looking for me. I was supposed to meet them." I told him.
"Where are they meeting you at?" he probed.
"La Bella Italia." I uttered.
"Okay, I will take you there so they know you are here with me," he told me.
He drove to the restaurant and we saw Jessica and Angela waiting outside. Edward pulled up beside the restaurant and rolled down his window. Jessica and Angela looked at his Volvo and their eyes widened in shock and surprise.
"Excuse me, would you mind if I took Bella to the hospital? I found her a few minutes ago and she had some injuried, and I just want to make sure she is well. You wouldn't mind, would you?" he asked politely.
Both Jessica and Angela shook their heads while looking at me and my injuries.
"I hope you feel better Bella!" Angela honestly looked worried.
"Um.. Okay. Bye, Bella." She said while eyeing Edward, not looking like she cared about me at all.
Edward took off in the Volvo, but said nothing. I closed my eyes and waited for the pain to go away, or at least numb a little bit.
"Okay, Bella. What exactly happened to you? I want to know what those men did to you." He pleaded.
"I don't know if I should say anything.." I went on before he interrupted me.
"Bella, please. I need to know this so I can tell my father so he can help you." He sounded so concerned.
"Um, o-okay." I told him the story of how I got lost, and how the men found me and started to touch me. I told him about the pepper spray and how after I sprayed the one guy, they beat me up and left me, undressed.
By the time I was done, I noticed Edward's jaw was clenched, his hands were gripping the steering wheel with great strength, his eyes were black again. I guess you could expect that out of a vampire, them trying to control their temper, if they had one.
"I'm sorry, Bella. I should've got there sooner." He told me sadly, yet somewhat angrily.
"Why would you be sorry? You weren't apart of this. And, how did you know where I was anyway?" I inquired.
"I saw your face in his min-." He cut himself off.
"You saw my face in his what?" I asked.
"Nothing, never mind. Forget what I said, please Bella. Please." He seemed truly terrified of something.
I let it go. Obviously, he was hiding this from me. Maybe vampires like him were not only amplified in senses, maybe they were also amplified in select things. He seemed like he was going to say mind. Maybe, he was a mind reader? That would explain a lot.
"Fine." I said sourly. He relaxed.
He drove me all the way to the hospital without another word. When we pulled up, he parked his car and came over to the other side to retrieve me. He picked me up in his cold arms and carried me inside the hospital doors to the front desk.
"Oh my. What happened here?" The lady asked.
"She got into a little bit of trouble up in Port Angeles. Can I please see my father, Dr. Cullen? I'm his son." He told her.
Her eyes glazed over in awe, as if she was entranced by Edward's beauty, like I was.
"Of course, dear." She told him sincerely.
He nodded and walked down a hallway to what I supposed was his father's office. He walked inside an average sized office with a painting on the wall that looked pretty simple. It was an oil painting. Dr. Carlisle looked like Edward, gold eyes, pale skin, absolutely beautiful. Yes, a vampire like Edward.
"Hello, Edward. How can I help you and miss.." he trailed off, not knowing my name.
"Carlisle, this is Bella Swan, the girl who I am dancing with this weekend." He told his father.
"Oh, yes. Hello, Bella. Is there something I could do for you two?" he asked.
"Bella is pretty bruised up and looks as if she is in a lot of pain. Can you please check up on her? To make sure she is okay?" he asked sadly.
"It would be my pleasure." Carlisle said happily.
He led us to one of the hospital rooms and let me lay down on a paper covered hospital bed. Edward backed away and stood against the wall. He looked like he was longing to come back over to me. But, he just stood there, watching me.
Dr. Cullen started to check me out, making sure I was alright.
"Well, you seem to have some bruises, and possible a sprained ankle. But, I will just have to x-ray it to make sure." He told me.
He started to x-ray my ankle and left the room saying he would be right back with my results. I looked back at Edward. He stood unmoving, staring at me.
Before I had the chance to speak to him, Dr. Cullen walked back into the room with the results.
"Well, it seems you do have a sprained ankle, but in a week, you should be able to walk on it a little bit." He told me.
"A week!? I have to get well in about five days or I can't dance at the hotel this weekend!" I protested.
"I don't think you will be able to dance this weekend, due to your injury. But, let me get you a wrap and an ankle brace." He left the room again.
I sighed, "I guess that means we won't be able to dance together this weekend." I told Edward.
"That's fine, I suppose. I was going to ask you if you wanted to skip the hotel and just go somewhere to hang out that day." He smiled sheepishly.
"I'm okay with that." I told him.
"Okay, then. It's all settled." I thought I heard him say, "you really should stay away from me..," but I ignored it.
Dr. Cullen came back in and started to wrap my ankle up, making it extra tight. I smiled at him in appreciation. But, since I couldn't move around, Dr. Cullen gave me crutches. I took them gratefully and started to limp out of the room with Edward hot on my tail. I said a thank you to Dr. Cullen and walked out quietly.
Edward led me to his car and opened the door for me. He helped me in the car then got into his side.
"So, Edward, you saw my face in his what?" I probed him once more on the subject.
"I told you to forget about it!" he said rather loudly.
"His mind? You saw my face in his mind?" I inquired.
He stared right at me with a look of disbelief, horror, confusion, shock, and anger.
"How did you know about that?" he growled.
"You almost said it yourself." I told him.
"Yes, but what makes you think that's what I meant?" he questioned.
"Well, what else would it mean? I already have a theory on you." I told him, regretting the words. But it was too late to take them back.
"What do you mean you have a theory on me?" he asked, panicked.
"I know what you are." I told him simply.
He was quiet. His sped up his driving, which was now to 110 mph, his jaw clenched, his knuckles tightened, and his whole frame went rigid. He looked like he was made of stone. He was gorgeous.
"Why don't you tell me what you think I am." He said, his voice wavering on little control.
"Well, I'll explain how I found out. It all started at the beach, La Push. I met up with some of the Quileute tribe and we started talking. This was the day after Alexander's funeral, so I was very sad that day. Jacob Black, one of the Quileute's, wanted to make me feel better, so he started to tell me some ghost stories. There was one.." I trailed off.
"And?" he asked quietly.
"About vampires." I squeaked.
"And you automatically thought of me?" he challenged.
"No, he mentioned your family. He said that you guys lived here long ago, and now that you live here again. Jacob didn't think much of it. He thought it was a made up story. He didn't think it was real. He also said that you were not dangerous." I said, defending Jacob a little.
"The Blacks have a long memory." He mumbled, mostly to himself.
"But, I thought about it for a little while, and.." I went on.
"And what?" he asked.
"I decided that it didn't matter anymore." I told him my ultimatum.
"It doesn't.. matter!?" he asked, confused and shocked.
"No, it doesn't matter to me what you are." I told him sheepishly.
"It doesn't matter to you if I am not human, if I am a monster!" he started to yell.
"Shh, no. It's already too late, so no, it doesn't matter." I said quietly.
He said nothing. He was fuming silently. I thought he was going to break the steering wheel his hands were clenched so tightly.
"Are you mad at me?" I asked him, hoping he wasn't.
"Yes." He growled.
I didn't say anything else the whole rest of the way back to my house. He didn't say anything either. He was still debating things in his mind, at least I thought.
"Bella?" he whispered.
"..Yes?" I answered him.
"I'm sorry I growled at you. And, I'm sorry you had to find out that way. I wanted to tell you myself." He muttered.
"Tell me what?" I asked.
"What I am. Yes, you are right. I am a vampire." He said so quietly I almost didn't hear him.
"But, not dangerous?" I asked.
"No, we are still dangerous. But, we try really hard not to be. For one, allowing myself to be alone with you is dangerous. A mistake." He told me.
"This is a mistake?" I asked him, the tears starting to form in my eyes.
"Yes." He said.
One of the traitor tears fell over. He hadn't noticed yet, but I tried to wipe them away before he could see them. See how much I cared for him, no matter what he was.
"Are you crying?" he probed.
"No." I sniffled.
He lifted his hand to my face and stroke the tears away. I looked over at him to see a tender look on his beautiful face. He looked like he would be crying too. He continued to stroke my cheek in a soothing manner, until I stopped crying. He pulled his hand away and smiled at me. He chuckled.
"What is it?" I asked him.
"Um, your father is on the verge of coming and looking for you. I think you better go inside." He smiled.
"Okay." I started to get out of the car, but Edward was already there, lifting me in his arms, assisting me to the door.
"Thank you." I said earnestly. He smiled in reply. He stood there to make sure I was okay carrying my bag and purse along with my crutches. He smiled again.
"Sleep well tonight, Bella." He said as he walked back to his car. His musical voice sent me into a dazed state. I limped inside my house as his car pulled away. I looked up to see Charlie sitting in the living room watching the game.
"Hey, Bella. What happened?" he asked me.
"I fell down and Jessica and Angela took me to the hospital." I lied.
"And how did you pay for it?" he inquired.
"The doctor that helped me was Dr. Cullen. He didn't charge me anything, for which I was grateful." I lied again. I hated lying to him. But, better lying to him than telling him about the almost rape and Edward Cullen.
He bought by lie surprisingly.
"You don't need to make dinner, Bella. I already had pizza." He said, burping. I peered around his shoulder to see a half empty pizza box.
"I think I am going to bed. I don't need help, I think I got these down.." I glanced down at the crutches and smiled.
"Well, okay. Goodnight Bella." He said.
"Night, Dad." I mumbled.
I made my way up the stairs and collapsed on my bed, falling asleep quickly. I knew one thing for certain. I loved Edward Cullen. Unconditionally, and heartbreakingly in love with him, despite his dark nature. He was the one I wanted.
AN: I don't like this chapter very much. I didn't like writing Port Angeles. Sorry the update took so long!! The next one will probably be this weekend. Review everyone!! I would love to hear some suggestions so I know how you would like it to progress. I AM making this up as I go along. :D Hehe. REVIEWWWW!!!!
