Chapter 7B - To the Rescue.
Enjoy and feel free to review. Your words put a smile on this girl's face.
Outside, I walked through the puddles that never seemed to disappear as I made the way to my car.
Mostly, I kept my CD player free from anything because this car was used for school transport meaning that Rose and Emmett would override my head with complaints until I broke into their demands and turned it off. Now however, seated and alone I pushed a CD into place, allowing the calm melody to float over my marble skin.
I replayed the last hour in my head focusing on Bella's hair, her voice, her stubbornness. Okay, so Bella hadn't completely guessed what I was but her determination would lead her to the answer eventually.
In my coat pocket I held the bottle lid tightly as if it represented the woman herself, mentally wishing that this could all possibly work out somehow.
Oh wow, I'm touching her. Better make the most of this while bodyguard Cullen isn't here. I need to start working out…
Escalating panic and fear shot through me as Mike Newton's thoughts penetrated my brain while he lowered a lifeless Bella down to the ground.
Immediately I was outside, reaching for my phone to call Carlisle and slamming the car door shut with such a force that the glass vibrated in it's frame. I was too anxious to keep a human pace and my desperation to find her grew with each step.
If he had hurt her in anyway, I would kill him. I'd peel the flesh off his body until Mike Newton was just a bundle of nerves.
"Wow, you're green, Bella," I heard him say.
I slowed down at the sound of his voice and rounded a corner to find Bella slumped against the building with her eyes closed.
"Bella?" Please don't be dead. Please, please, please.
Mike's worry quickly became irritation. What is he doing here? This is my job. I won't leave Bella without a fight.
However as I drew nearer, now at a snails pace, I could see and hear her heart beating through her chest. Bella was alive. Upon realising this, I caught the slight pang of Mike's blood and stopped breathing - I'd skipped class to avoid this situation. His blood did nothing for me but if Bella was bleeding, well that would be a different story. Still, I needed to know if the girl was okay.
"What's wrong - is she hurt?"
Come on beautiful, open your eyes for me - let me know that you're fine.
"I think she's fainted. I don't know what happened, she didn't even stick her finger." Mike's annoyance seeped in through his voice. I ignored him, glad though that only his blood had been spilt. I crouched down and suddenly my desperation and anxiety disappeared. Now that I was inches from Bella, her scent cascaded over me bringing back the burn from lunch. I lapped it up like a thirsty dog.
"Bella. Can you hear me?" Her heartbeat stuttered as I said her name.
"No, go away."
I chuckled and stood up. Understanding that this wasn't a life or death situation, I put my phone away.
I'd already forgotten about Mike until he spoke again.
"I was taking her to the nurse but she wouldn't go any farther."
"I'll take her." I said leaving no room for arguments. "You can go back to class." I dismissed him.
What? No! Who do you think you are?! I hate you. Michael's anger portrayed through his thoughts and face. I held my laugh in, it would only aggravate the child further.
"No, I'm supposed to do it." His protest was ignored.
I looked at Bella and came to the conclusion that she wasn't going to move herself. She looked so weak and fragile like a newborn baby, barely able to raise it's head but Mike was right - Bella needed the nurse, her skin had taken on a tinge of green beneath the cold sweat that covered her face.
My muscles tightened in excitement as I bent down slowly and slid my arms under Bella picking her up - it was like lifting a pencil. I was careful though not to touch her skin with mine knowing that ice to fire would most likely to cause her to jump in shock. With this close proximity I was swimming in her scent and my deadly reflexes were working double time.
As Bella's body left the ground her eyes popped open in surprise.
"Put me down!"
That would be a no. In response, I smiled at her. I began walking in the direction of the first aid room leaving the blank minded boy behind us.
"Hey!" Once more I ignored him.
I watched Bella in my arms, she was so pale - I couldn't help but find the whole thing laughable. Slowly, the girls warmth seeped through both hers and mine's clothing onto my skin. It was blissful knowing that it was her warmth.
"You look awful." I stated.
"Put me back on the sidewalk." The greenness became more prominent, a sign that she was nauseous, to help I stretched my arms out and the tinge lessened.
"So you faint at the sight of blood?"
It was a rhetorical question. I already knew the answer.
"And not even your own blood." I found it amusing somehow that Bella was my perfect opposite.
Up the slope, I pushed open the door into the administration and first aid building. The inside warmth engulfed us and Bella relaxed ever so slightly more.
Across the room, Ms Cope's head looked up, her eyes widening in shock.
"Oh my" gosh…
"She fainted in Biology." I didn't stop walking, wanting both Bella to remain in my arms and to get her out of them.
The receptionist soon understood the direction I was heading to and jumped up quickly to hold open the door to the first aid room. Inside, the nurse looked up from her novel of Pride and Prejudice before letting out a small sigh, standing up and placing her book on the now unoccupied chair.
Case 6 of today. A little more of a dramatic entrance than normal but lets see…ah this must be Isabella Swan.
I placed Bella upon the empty bed, instantly missing the contact as I stepped back against the wall however in this little enclosed space Bella's fragrance overtook everything.
In the last ten minutes I realised that I had overcome my highest goal - I had touched her and was still able to contain myself.
"She's just a little faint, they're blood typing in Biology."
Of course. "There's always one."
A snicker burst through my lips before I could stop it - trust Bella to be that one.
"Just lie down for a minute, honey; it'll pass."
"I know." Bella mumbled, her eyes travelling around the room locating a poster on first aid necessities.
The nurse smiled. "Does this happen a lot?"
"Sometimes." The girl admitted. I coughed maybe not discreetly enough as Bella turned her eyes on me. I also attracted the attention of the school nurse.
"You can go back to class now." Or I could stay here.
"I'm supposed to stay with her." I objected looking into her kind yet firm eyes.
Hmm…oh fine, he can stay.
"I'll go get you some ice for your forehead, dear," she said looking from me to Bella before exiting the room.
"You were right," Bella whispered. Right about what? A thousand questions burst into my head as to what see meant. The van accident? About Mike? About her staying away from me? My heart stopped for a millisecond at the thought of her leaving me now.
"I usually am - but what in particular this time?"
"Ditching is healthy." She clarified and I could breathe once again.
"You scared me for a minute there," I paused and frowned, wondering what was wrong with the words I'd just spoken. "I thought Newton was dragging your dead body off to bury it in the woods."
A huff of laughter escaped Bella's lips.
"Honestly - I've seen corpses with better colour." Rosalie in particular. "I was concerned that I might have to avenge your murder." Which I would of.
"Poor Mike. I'll bet he's mad." Anger struck me hard at the mention of him but Bella was merely being thoughtful of her friend, I internally shook off the anger.
"He absolutely loathes me," I smiled knowing that the loath was tripled in return.
"You can't know that."
"I saw his face - I could tell." True, Mike certainly didn't know what a poker face was.
Bella lay there with her eyes closed, only her chest and mouth moved through the conversation and she was beautiful.
"How did you see me? I thought you were ditching." Bella asked and I was now glad for her closed eyes as it made it easier for me to avoid the true answer.
"I was in my car, listening to a CD."
Heels against cement and the nurse was back, Bella's eyes popped open. There was an exchange between the two before Bella sat up and the receptionist appeared in the doorway.
"We've got another one." She announced. I'd been too focused on Bella to notice the other voices outside.
He weighs a ton! If that stupid idiot had just stayed away…it could have been me looking after Bella.
Mike's internal voice entered my head again for the second time in an hour.
Bella jumped down and immediately I wanted to reach for her, pull her close but instead I just watched as she handed back the cold compress.
Into the little medical room then came Mike supporting Lee Stephens. Bella stood beside me to let them past and through a new wave of her scent came the slightest tang of blood.
I was surprised that I wasn't ready to attack before then quickly remembered why we were here in the first place.
"Oh no, go out to the office, Bella."
She looked up at me, confusion in her face.
"Trust me - go." I have her back a nudge towards the door and she obeyed swiftly walking through the door back into the now empty reception.
"You actually listened to me."
"I smelled the blood." That stopped me in my tracks. She smelled it? What was she? I stared at Bella as she scrunched her nose in disgust.
I studied her for a moment. She looked human but then again so did I.
"People can't smell blood."
"Well I can - it's what makes me sick. It smells like rust…and salt."
There was silence. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Perhaps a call to Carlisle was necessary, a head scan with a detailed analysis of her brain.
"What?"
"It's nothing." I shook my head, knowing that this new information would occupy my thoughts tonight.
My eyes didn't leave Bella as we were interrupted by Mike who appeared through the door. I listened to his footsteps as he approached us.
There he is again, why can't he just DISAPPEAR?
"You look better." Mike snapped and instantly I wanted to backhand him across the room for being so rude. Instead he earned a hateful glare.
"Just keep your hand in your pocket," And for a split moment I thought Bella could read my mind until I realised that she wasn't talking to me.
"It's not bleeding anymore. Are you going back to class?"
"Are you kidding? I'd just have to turn around and come back." I held my smile back, knowing that possibly this would mean more time with her.
Look at him just standing there, uh, I hate him.
"Yeah, I guess…So are you going this weekend? To the beach?" Something flooded through me though I couldn't put a name to the feeling. But they had made plans. Did that mean she liked him? Did she want to be his girlfriend or was it simply another friendly gesture?
I hoped for the latter. The girl was kind, that was all.
"Sure, I said I was in." Bella shrugged. I took note that she didn't seem over excited.
"We're meeting at my dads store, at ten." And Cullen best not be there!
"I'll be there." She replied. Ms Cope had by now returned to her seat.
My eyes were trained on Mike's back as he walked to the main door before turning back towards Bella. "I'll see you in Gym, then."
Bella said her goodbyes and watched as he disappeared.
I couldn't stand the distance between us any more so I stepped towards her, as Bella verbally remembered her last class of the day. I didn't need to be able to read her mind now, it showed clear as glass upon her facial features: distaste.
My insides knotted up as I bent down to whisper in her ear. "I can take care of that. Go sit down and look pale."
Once more Bella followed my instructions and once more it left a residue of shock in me.
I approached the reception counter and leaned against it in a sloppy human pose. My overcast shadow, alerted the sitting woman to my presence.
"Ms. Cope?" I asked, keeping eye contact.
"Yes?"
"Bella has Gym next hour, and I don't think she feels well enough. Actually, I was thinking I should take her home now. Do you think you could excuse her from class?"
She was silent for a moment before breaking out of my gaze.
Thirty six seconds later, we were excused and I was holding the door open for Bella with a triumph smile on my face.
