A/N: Sorry this took so long. I had things to take care of and a bit of writer's block. Moving on…
There are ten of us. Alice. Jasper. Charlie. Renee. Rosalie. Emmett. Carlisle. Edward. Myself and Kelsi.
Everyone is quiet as we wait for the news. My heart beats rapidly. There are tears streaming down not only my face, but Alice's, Rosalie's, and just about everyone else's. I imagined that the first time I would see Edward tear up would be at our wedding I let myself dream up a couple weeks ago. He would be crying consistent tears of joy, with a smile on his face out of love filled eyes. I see nothing remotely close to that.
He's sitting about six chairs away from me, cradling his bandaged head. I can't imagine what Jared could've said to him before knocking him out. With a man in my house that he'd never heard of before, so many misconceptions could've been placed.
He regained consciousness on the way to the hospital, and hasn't said one word to me; hasn't sent one look my way. I'm sure he blames me for Jared shooting his mom, and I can't be angry at him for that. I wasn't the one to shoot and fire, but I feel as though I held the gun. It could've been anyone, but Jared shot Esme. If only I had said something sooner.
Esme.
The kindest, sweetest person I've ever met. My boyfriend's mother. The woman I had imagined as my future mother-in-law. I'll never forgive myself. The only thing keeping me from wishing that the bullet had swept through me, is the angelic baby dozing in my arms. If she was up, she'd be so mad at me right now. Somehow, she'd know that it was my fault her Edward is so far away.
She'd know that I'm the reason he may never speak to us again. She would hate me nearly as much as I already hate myself. I unintentionally got my boyfriend's mother shot, and that thought alone breaks my heart.
"Cullen Family?" a blonde doctor makes his way over to us, and shakes Carlisle's hand. His eyes rake over my body, and I glance over at Edward. He's still bent over; he doesn't care.
"How's my wife?" Carlisle asks, his voice wavering a bit.
"The bullet collided with her ribs, but never made its way to her heart. She's fine Carlisle," the doctor says, and everyone lets out a collective sigh of relief.
"However," he continues, "Esme's body was not prepared for that amount of pain, and stress. She's fallen into a coma. Now, don't get too worried, or discouraged. Her body didn't suffer too many injuries, and she could possibly wake up in a couple of days. In the meantime, two of you may visit at a time. She's in room 203."
He walks away and Carlisle motions for Edward to follow him. Edward stands up, and walks away from me. I open my mouth to call after him, but nothing comes out. The tears begin to flow out as I silently weep for my broken relationship and his broken mother.
"Bella," I look up to see Alice standing over me, "What the hell happened? Was that the same guy from the bar?"
I nod through my tears, as Rose sidles over.
"Were you seeing them both Bella" she asks, and I look up at her with fire in my eyes.
"How dare you accuse me of that Rose! I would never, ever, cheat on Edward." In my head I know that they have no right to accuse me of this, but with the impression Jared gave them at the bar; pressed against me so, I can imagine. But instead of voicing understanding, I just shout in anger.
"Then what the fuck happened?" she asks but I have no more words for her. I can't seem to get them out. My mother comes over to me as Rose moves away. Everyone I've ever cared for is slowly, but surely, leaving me.
"Tell us Bella," she says, "You have to. I have a feeling you've wanted to."
"Tell us what?" Rose shouts, "That my brother-in-law wasn't enough for her and her jealous other boyfriend got his own mother shot by her stupid one night stand? Oh," she raises a finger and chuckles, "after he knocked him unconscious."
"Tone it down Rosalie," Charlie steps in, and Emmett steps closer behind his beloved bride.
"Easy there Rose," Charlie steps in.
I look over at Alice, who is teary-eyed in the crook of Jaspers arm. He looks up, but it's only to glare at me.
"I'm looking for Esme Cullen's room!" Tanya's voice bellows from down the hall. She quickly turns and makes a beeline for Rose. After a whispered discussion, and a few glances in my direction, Tanya comes straight for me.
"If you didn't have that baby in your arms Bella," she says with mascara smudged under her tear-filled eyes. I've never seen her so mad, and the first time I do, the anger is because of me.
"Hold on," my mother says, "We don't know what Bella's role in tonight was. If you all would just listen—" she is cut short by Kelsi's sudden cries. She looks up at me, her eyes wondering what is going on, and where she is, but I could barely answer that first question if I wanted to.
The smell of her stinky diaper makes its way up to my nose, and I panic. I have nothing for her to change into; not even new diapers. I look up at my mom, and her face turns to sorrow. The battle is lost, and I guess she's realized that there is nothing either of us can say right now that they would listen to.
I stand up, and make my way to the exit, with my mom and dad on my heels.
"Bella!" I hear Alice call for me, "I'll keep you posted."
I shoot her a weak smile, and Edward slowly returns.
"Alice and Emmett. You guys should go next". He takes his seat.
I stare at the side of his head, willing him to take one look in my direction. He doesn't. Kelsi peeks up and spots him. She extends her arms toward him, and begins to cry for him. His body twitches, and his hands ball up at his sides.
I beg him to turn in my mind. To give me some sign of signal that although someone I obviously know caused everyone a great deal of pain tonight, we're still okay. We'll be okay. He doesn't.
I turn my back on the Cullen's, as they've just done to me, and make my way down the hall. Kelsi has tears streaming down her face and so do I.
Alice sends me a text later in the night.
Mom is fine. How are you doing? - A
I curl up against my pillow, and look up at the ceiling. How am I? Horrible. I've calmed down a bit since this afternoon, but I'm still hurting. So many thoughts are swimming through my head right now. Will Esme forgive me? Will Edward? Will he ever speak to me again? I don't think I'll know the answer until Esme wakes up. I flip over onto my stomach and text back Alice.
Miserable-B
Like the speedy Alice I used to know, her text back is quick.
You have to tell me what happened Bella. It doesn't have to be in front of everyone, but we all have to know. I think, right now, I'm the only willing to listen-A
She's right. I need a least one Cullen in my corner.
Time and Place-B
Tomorrow at 9am? Starbucks? -A
I'll see you then-B
The next morning, I am a nervous wreck. Once I get to Starbucks, I easily spot Alice in the back and go over to sit with her.
"Hi," I say a little awkwardly.
"What happened?"
I will myself not be offended by her quick response and her lets-just-get-down-to-business attitude. If I were in her position, I would be the exact same way.
I lean forward in my seat with my hands in my lap and tell her everything. Who Jared is, how I hadn't seen him since James, how unexpected it was to see him in my house and everywhere else, the two bouquets and the gun/
When I'm finally done, Alice, who remained quiet through it all hops up from her seat. I brace myself against the table, as a tear rolls down my cheek at the thought of her leaving. She surprises me by pulling me in for a tight hug, and I can feel her own tears seeping through my t-shirt.
"Oh Bella!" she cries, "I knew it! I knew it wasn't your fault. I'm so glad you're okay."
I reach up to pat her back and smile the first one I've smiled in days. When she pulls back, I look around to see if we've created a scene. No one seems to be looking our way, except for a man that was thoroughly impressed with our hug and has a hand in his lap.
"Oops," Alice says and I look up at her, "I ruined your shirt. Shopping trip!" She squeals. I'm happy to see a part of the old Alice back, and can slowly feel the old me returning too.
