A/N: Sorry it took a little longer to update again this time... chapter seemed to need longer to be finished and then work was busy and it was Thanksgiving! But there's flasback! And you can't go wrong with those. Enjoy!
Chapter 10
Edward stared into his cup of coffee watching the steam curl into the air in thin wisps. It was his third one this morning and it was barely ten o'clock. Edward had classified his previous night's sleep as the positively worst one of his life. After he realized Bella had moved all of her things into the unfinished guestroom he had gone to her in hopes of working everything out before they had to sleep in separate beds. Edward had already had enough nights without Bella in his bed and now that he knew what it was like to have her laying within his arms, he couldn't stand to be without her. But when she didn't answer his knocks on her door and he entered to see that she was fast asleep, he didn't have the heart to wake her. She had been through a truly awful night and while he didn't understand why she had become so upset with him, Emmett, and Alice he did have enough sense not to wake her up to discuss things further.
Edward tossed and turned all night in his empty bed. He didn't think that he slept for even an hour. When he met Bella in the kitchen in the morning, she was eating breakfast with Esme and they stopped talking once he entered the room. Bella had looked at Edward intently while he fixed himself a cup of coffee but Edward didn't quite catch on that she was waiting for an apology for his behaviour the night before. Instead he said good morning and leaned towards her intending to plant a kiss on her cheek. She jerked away and huffed loudly. Edward was rather shocked and could only stare at Bella as she placed her dishes in the sink and left the kitchen altogether. Esme gave him a disapproving look.
"I don't understand." Edward sat next to his mother at their kitchen table.
"Bella told me what happened last night, Edward. The three of you reacted quite poorly." Esme patted her son's forearm. "She needs an apology from you, I think you've really hurt her feelings."
"Did she tell you about James and the bruises on her arms? Did she tell you that she didn't let any of us know how hard he had been holding on to her?" Edward could feel all his anger from the night before returning.
But Esme wasn't going to change her stance on the issue.
"It doesn't matter, Edward. Bella needs the three of you to be there for her. Did you forget that all of this happened directly after she had been visiting her only parent in the hospital? Bella doesn't need to feel guilty about making all of you upset over these unfortunate incidents on top of already being scared for herself and worried for Charlie. Think things through, Edward."
Edward thought of Esme's words all morning. Bella sat in the backseat of the car on the way to work and had not spoken to him or Alice at all. She hurried from the car into the building and disappeared up the stairs and into her office immediately without bothering to say goodbye to Alice or to make plans for lunch. Alice had felt quite hurt so Edward relayed their mother's wisdom. They made plans to take Bella out for lunch to talk. Alice promised to find a way to make Bella agree.
Since then Bella had been in her office with the door closed and Edward had been in his, alternating staring at the same piece of paper or his coffee cup for over an hour. He couldn't stop thinking about Bella and how upset she must be with him. Unfortunately for Edward he couldn't quite empathize with Bella's feelings – if he could, they never would have had their disagreement in the first place.
James hadn't come in to the newsroom today; Edward assumed it was because he didn't want to show off his broken nose, which suited him just fine. A day without James in the building was a good day for everyone.
A soft knocking on his doorframe pulled Edward out of his reverie of staring. His head snapped up with the hope of seeing Bella in his doorway. He tried not to show his disappointment when it was Miss Webber.
"Hey boss." Angela casually strolled into Edward's office and sat down in one of the chairs facing his desk.
"Good morning, Miss Webber." Edward said tonelessly.
Angela raised her eyebrows in question. "Did you and Bella have a spat?"
Edward tried to keep his face neutral as he studied Angela's. Would Bella have confided in her about their disagreement? For some reason Edward was jealous that Bella had spoken to Angela about their current predicament and he had still yet to hear her voice today.
"What makes you say that?"
Angela smiled. "Bella's in quite a temper this morning it seems and I haven't noticed you two speak since either of you came in." She shrugged and dropped a pile of papers into the "in" box on Edward's desk.
Edward focused on his coffee cup yet again. Angela didn't need to know how much the tiff between him and Bella was bothering him. He changed the subject instead.
"What's this?" He picked up the papers and began leafing through them carefully. He knew what they were before Angela spoke.
"Bella's articles for the next few issues. They're really good, boss. Her column is going to get us a whole new type of reader." Angela lowered her voice before continuing. "I never much liked Mrs. Stanley's column. Bella's writing is a whole 'nother league."
Edward nodded his head absently. He was lost in Bella's writing. He had always known she was good – but her articles were outstanding. She had provided him with three fully completed pieces. The one she intended to be run this week was about a new group of artists in Harlem, New York. Edward had heard about the phenomenon; it was being referred to as a renaissance of sorts. Edward felt certain that Angela was correct: Bella's column would generate a new sort of readership for them.
"Mr. Cullen?"
Edward hadn't realized Angela was trying to get his attention. Bella's writing had distracted him considerably.
"Sorry Miss Webber. What else can I do for you?"
Angela smiled as she stood up to leave his office. "You can maybe apologize and make up with Bella, boss. She sure isn't herself. Maybe you should let her know how much you love her writing."
Edward was about to ask Angela how she knew he felt that way about Bella's writing when she threw him a friendly wink and disappeared out of his office. Edward lost himself in Bella's writing for the next few hours. He corrected some minor errors here and there and rearranged a few paragraphs but overall didn't need to edit much of Bella's work at all. He was about to bring the articles to his secretary to have her drop them over to Bella when Alice flitted into his office, ready for lunch.
"Is it noon already? I completely lost track of time, Alice. Let me get these to Tanya and we can head over for lunch."
"Not quite noon yet, brother. We need to get to the restaurant a little early. Jasper is going to get Bella and bring her over around noon. The earlier we get there, the better for us." Alice smiled mischievously.
Edward hesitated. "Jasper is bringing her? She won't know we're all having lunch together? I'm not sure this will smooth things over, Alice."
"It will be okay, Edward. Trust your sister. Get your hat and coat and let's go before Jasper makes it in here."
Edward grabbed his hat and coat from his coat rack and handed Tanya the articles on his way past her desk.
"Can you bring these over to Miss Webber, please? I'll be out for lunch with Alice for about an hour. Please leave any messages on my desk for when I return."
Tanya smiled a little too widely at Edward as she reached out. She purposely slid her hand along his as they exchanged the papers.
"Certainly Mr. Cullen, anything you want."
Alice cleared her throat loudly. "Edward. Lunch." She shot Tanya a dirty look.
Tanya smiled sweetly in return. "Have a wonderful lunch, Mr. Cullen."
Alice rolled her eyes at her brother and hooked her arm within his, pulling him out of the newsroom, down the stairs and onto the street. She chatted about her day while they walked around the corner to the same small restaurant they had all ate in the other day. Edward paid minimal attention to his sister as they walked, his mind automatically thinking of what he would say to Bella when she arrived. He was sure she would be upset that Jasper was bringing her to eat with him and Alice without her knowledge. But he couldn't help feeling excited that they would be able to spend time together.
They sat and ordered iced tea while they waited for Jasper and Bella to arrive.
--
Jasper hurried down the stairs to the Tribune newsroom to pick up Bella for lunch. He was feeling apprehensive about lying to her but he also knew that Alice was right and this may be the easiest way for them to apologize to Bella and set everything right again.
"Say, Angela. Is Bella still in her office?" Jasper slowed to a halt in front of Bella's secretary's desk. He knew Angela through Ben, who also worked upstairs at the magazine with him.
Angela smiled and nodded. "Are you taking her to lunch, Jasper? I notice Alice and Mr. Cullen already left."
She lowered her voice to a whisper and leaned over her desk before continuing. "Are you taking Bella to meet them? I think her and Mr. Cullen have had a little spat today. She hasn't been out of her office all morning and they haven't spoken once!"
Jasper grinned at Angela's good-natured thoughts. She was upset that Bella and Edward were obviously on the outs with each other and was eager to do what she could to help.
"I'm not sure what you mean, Angela. I'm just here to take Bella to lunch." Jasper winked and rapped on the door quickly.
"Come in." Bella said shortly from inside her office.
"Whaddya say, Bells! Are you ready for some lunch with your pal?" Jasper waggled his eyebrows playfully and got a small smile from Bella in return.
Bella stopped typing on her typewriter and stared at Jasper. He had his coat on and was spinning his hat quickly between his hands. Bella wondered where Alice was and why Edward hadn't tried to take her out for lunch. Then she remembered how she had treated them in the morning and knew why Jasper was the only one speaking to her. She felt guilty and angry at the same time and incredibly lonely.
Jasper picked up on her mood quickly as was always the case.
"We can try to find Edward and Alice for lunch if you'd like, Bella. Don't be upset that they aren't here to pick you up." Jasper strode over to stand in front of Bella's desk quickly and fixed her with a serious and sympathetic look.
Bella didn't think she would be good company for Jasper for lunch today and didn't feel right taking him away from Alice just because they were having a small spat.
"No, Jasper that's okay. Why don't you go on without me, you can find them and eat with them. I think I feel like visiting Charlie for lunch today." Bella lifted her coat off the back of her desk chair and quickly shrugged into it, doing up the buttons as she made her way towards the door.
Jasper knew Alice wouldn't be happy about this turn of events, but he couldn't stop Bella from going to see her father. He had a feeling that going to see Charlie was what she really needed to do today.
"Sure thing Bells. But I insist on driving you over." Jasper passed Bella her red felt hat with a small brown bow on the side and she pulled it down over her hair.
"Thanks, Jasper." She smiled and led the way out of the office.
Jasper dropped Bella off in front of the stairs to the hospital and didn't accompany her inside at her insistence that she was fine and he go eat lunch with Edward and Alice. Jasper had reluctantly agreed and Bella found herself alone, her shoes clacking along the hospital floor as she made her way to the now familiar nurses' station on Charlie's floor.
There was a woman at the desk seemingly engaged in a rather serious conversation with two of the nurses. Her male companion looked very uncomfortable and was standing slightly apart from the desk, listening without having to be involved in the conversation.
Bella waved when one of the nurses caught her eye but stopped when the nurse frowned deeply. Bella's heart nearly stopped as she took in the nurse's expression – she immediately thought something had happened to Charlie and rushed towards the desk.
"What happened?" She demanded immediately, ignoring the woman to her right who had previously been engaged in the heated conversation with the nurse Bella now addressed.
The nurses exchanged an uncomfortable look and the first one drew in a sharp breath while she nervously eyed the other woman currently standing at the desk.
Bella did not have the patience to try and decipher the young nurse's expression. She simply wished to see Charlie.
"I said what happened? Is Charlie alright?"
The woman beside Bella inhaled sharply, but Bella paid her no attention. She was only interested in the well being of her father. The second nurse smiled a weak smile and patted Bella's hand reassuringly.
"Your father is just fine, dear. Doing better than yesterday in fact. He'll be mighty glad you were able to stop by during your lunch hour. Why don't you head on back there? There's nothing to worry about here." The nurse came around the side of the desk and ushered Bella down the hallway her father's bed was at the end of.
"Maryanne!" The other nurse at the station admonished the older woman as she pushed Bella away. Maryanne didn't turn away from Bella's side and continued to push her down the hall.
"Is everything alright today?" Bella asked, turning her head to catch a glimpse of the other nurse with her arms folded angrily across her chest. Maryanne tugged gently but firmly on Bella's arm as she continued down the hallway.
"Everything's fine dear. There was a minor mix up with your dear father's insurance papers, but we're going to get them straightened out right quick. Don't you worry about anything."
Bella turned around again just before they reached the end of the hallway and Charlie's bed. The nurse had moved out from behind the nurse's station desk and was continuing to have an animated conversation with the woman who had been at the desk when Bella arrived. Only now their positions were reversed so that Bella had a clear view of the woman's face.
Bella stopped dead in her tracks and ignored Nurse Maryanne's insistent tug on her arm to continue forward. Bella couldn't have moved even if she wanted to. Her legs felt as though they had been encased in cement and she suddenly found breathing to be difficult. The nurse wrapped a strong arm around Bella's shoulders and grabbed onto one of her hands.
"It's okay dear. Just take a few deep breaths. Everything is going to be just fine."
The woman seemed to have noticed that Bella and Maryanne were staring at her – she halted her conversation with the younger nurse and seemed rooted to her spot as well.
Bella's heart went cold as the young nurse moved completely out of the way and Bella could take in the entire appearance of the woman.
Renee was standing twenty feet down the hall from her.
--
"What do you mean she didn't want to come with you, Jasper?" Alice was livid when Jasper came into the small diner alone.
But Jasper had been prepared for Alice's disappointment. He wasted no time letting them know where Bella had gone instead.
"She wanted to visit Charlie for lunch today instead. I gave her a ride to the hospital." Jasper picked up his menu and quickly scanned the items for something that sounded good.
"Oh." Alice took a long drink from her iced tea. "I guess we can't be upset about that. But I do wish you had stopped here first, Jasper."
Jasper rolled his eyes behind the cover of his menu.
Edward was suddenly standing and leaving some bills on their table.
"Atta boy, Edward. She'll be glad to see you there for certain." Jasper smiled as he lowered his menu.
"One can only hope, Jas. Sorry Alice, but I can't let Bella be alone after she sees Charlie in the hospital. Have a good lunch, I'll see you two later on."
Alice sighed as she watched her brother leave the diner. The waitress came by and dropped off Alice's soup and Edward's B.L.T, which Jasper scooped up and started to eat.
--
Edward jogged briskly the few blocks to the hospital and hurried up the stairs to Charlie's floor. He quickly passed the nearly empty waiting room and headed towards the nurse's station where he could clearly see Carlisle speaking with a patient's family. He nodded in his direction and headed down the hallway towards Charlie's bed at the end.
"Edward!"
Edward turned and saw Carlisle heading towards him quickly.
"She's not with Charlie right now, Edward." Carlisle looked rather grim. Edward was concerned.
"What happened? It's not Charlie?"
Carlisle smoothly shook his head.
"No, Edward. Come with me this way for a moment, would you? I'd like to introduce you to someone."
Edward looked at Carlisle strangely.
"Who could I possibly need to meet now? I'd like to find Bella instead if you don't mind." Edward tried to pull out of Carlisle's grip but Carlisle did not intend for his son to slip away just yet.
Carlisle smiled tightly at the woman and man he had been talking to when Edward first saw him.
"This is my son, Edward Cullen. Edward, I'd like to introduce you to-"
The woman stuck out her hand and spoke before Carlisle could finish.
"Renee. It's nice to meet you, Edward. This is my fiancée, Phil." The woman shook Edward's hand quickly and her fiancée did as well. Edward couldn't say for certain but he thought Phil looked as though he might be sick at any moment. It all happened rather quickly so Edward didn't quite process their names before Carlisle began speaking again.
"Edward, Renee and Phil are relatives of Bella's."
Edward looked back and forth between the two people standing across from him before meeting his father's eyes.
"I'm sorry," he said as politely as he was able to manage at that moment. "Did you say they were relatives of Bella's?" Edward stared at his father with an incredulous expression. They all knew Bella and Emmett had no other relatives aside from Charlie. The only family member that they had ever heard of was…
"Renee!" Edward couldn't prevent the hiss from escaping his lips. But once it had escaped he didn't much care about Renee and Phil anymore. He stared intently at Carlisle. "Where is she?"
Carlisle looked incredibly sad. "In my office."
Edward tore down the hallway and up one flight of stairs, continuing to run down the hallway until he reached the familiar wooden door of his father's office. He wrenched the door open causing it to slam against the wall and bounce back again. Bella was lying on her stomach on Carlisle's couch and didn't stir at all with the noise. Edward closed the door with more care than he opened it and kneeled on the floor beside Bella's head immediately.
Her head was turned towards the back of the couch, her mane of hair covering it completely. Edward gently stroked her back with one hand and lightly swept the hair off her face with the other. She had clearly been crying, there were streak marks across her cheeks. She had her eyes squeezed tightly closed as though she were in pain.
"Bella…" Edward whispered into her ear as he continued to stroke her back.
Bella let out a small sigh and relaxed her eyes but didn't try to move at all.
"Bella, love? It's Edward. Can you sit up for me?" It was taking every ounce of strength Edward possessed to stay calm and soothing for Bella when all he wanted to do was go back downstairs and yell at the people who had caused her to be this way.
Bella shifted slightly at Edward's words but didn't make an effort to sit up or turn over. Edward planted a soft kiss on her temple before sliding his arms under her torso and legs. He swept her up into his arms and held her there while he sat on the couch himself – then he set her directly atop his lap, cradling her close to his chest.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her cheek on his chest. He continued to stroke her back and hair.
"Bella…"
"I can't Edward." Her voice was rough and shaky from crying. Edward's heart nearly broke in two. "I can't go back down there. Not until they're gone."
Edward nodded. "We can wait here as long as you wish, love." He gently kissed the top of her head and she sighed a loud, frustrated sigh.
"Who do they think they are, Edward? Just showing up like this to see Charlie as though it makes any sort of difference to him. As though she even cares about him!" Bella's words were angry but her voice had no life to it; it came out tonelessly.
"I'm sorry, Bella. Can you explain what happened to me? I don't understand how they knew to be here." Edward kept his voice neutral and soothing. He was desperate to know why Renee was downstairs.
Bella hesitated briefly. She knew she could tell Edward about Renee and Phil, she had already told Alice and that was a big enough step to make this one a little easier. And she was quite certain that she had cried herself out of tears for the day, so she hoped she could get through it all without crying again.
She shifted her position slightly so that she was looking into Edward's eyes. His deep green eyes were full of concern and she felt herself relax instantly. She could do this: Edward was here.
"There was some sort of mistake with Charlie's insurance policy. Renee was never removed as his emergency contact. Since she is still working at the same office, the company was able to track her down. I don't know why she thought Charlie would want her here… and why Emmett and I would be okay with Phil being here… she has the common sense of a tea kettle." Bella huffed and laid her head onto Edward's shoulder.
Edward took a moment to process Bella's words. He needed more.
"Bella, love. You're going to have to tell me why Renee hasn't been with your family since you came to Chicago."
"Because she left us." Bella blurted it out in a matter-of-fact tone.
Edward began to understand. "She left you for Phil?"
Bella appreciated Edward's ability to quickly decipher things.
"She was working in Phil's law office as a secretary – he's some sort of lawyer. One night…" Bella was assaulted with the memory of sitting on the stairs with Emmett listening to Renee tell Charlie she was leaving him for another man. But she fought against the urge to cry. She bit her bottom lip as hard as she could until she tasted blood. She had already wasted too many tears over Renee; she wasn't going to give her anymore today.
Edward hadn't stopped rubbing Bella's back and now he reached behind his neck to bring Bella's hand down and intertwined it with his own. Bella squeezed his hand, drawing strength from his single gesture of support.
"One night when Charlie came home late from work, Renee was waiting for him in the living room. Emmett and I could hear them arguing from our rooms… so we sat together on the stairs to listen." Bella shook her head sadly at the memory. "She left us to be with Phil that night. When we moved to Chicago, we never told her."
Edward was appalled. No wonder Bella and Emmett rarely spoke about their mother.
"She just left you and Emmett like that?"
"Well… no. She expected me to go with her, to live with her and Phil in his house. She thought I would leave Emmett and Charlie to live with her and some stranger. I refused… so the last time we spoke was me yelling at her. She used to write me letters… when we moved here and we didn't give her our new address, she couldn't write them anymore."
"What did she say in them?"
Bella looked at her and Edward's hands before she answered. Edward knew what she would say.
"I've never read them. I kept them all… but I've never been able to read them. Nothing she says can excuse what she did to her family. I don't know if I'll ever be able to read them." Bella's brow wrinkled in frustration and she nuzzled softly against Edward's neck. She had no idea what she was supposed to do about Renee and Phil being at the hospital let alone the fact that they were in Chicago at all. The only thing she found she could take solace in was the fact that Edward now knew the background to the absence of Renee and that this had obviously caused them both to forget about their spat.
Edward hugged Bella closer to his body and laid a gentle kiss on the top of her head. He couldn't imagine what she was feeling right now, what she had been feeling about Renee for years. He cherished the fact that Bella had confided in him about her mother and couldn't help but think about all the milestones she had missed in Bella's life the last several years. He thought about all the moments Esme had been present for him and his accomplishments and felt utterly horrible that Bella didn't have the same things to remember with her mother. Of course she had Emmett and Charlie, but Edward knew it couldn't be the same as having your mother there as well. He couldn't imagine how Alice would feel if she had had to experience the last several years without Esme.
Bella knew where his thoughts would head – another reason he was head over heels for her.
"Don't feel sorry for me, Edward. Things may have been different if Renee had been around for me for the last few years, but we would have never moved here. Emmett and I would never have met any of you. I would never have met you, Edward. I can't imagine trading that for anything."
Edward cupped Bella's face in both his hands.
"Neither can I, love. You're my life now."
Bella smiled and pulled him in for a deep kiss when there was a soft knock at the door. They pulled apart quickly but reluctantly and stood from the couch. Edward went to pull open the door. Bella held her breath in anticipation of who was on the other side. She had no idea what she would say if it were Renee.
Edward opened the door with hesitation but relaxed when it was Carlisle in the hallway.
"Is everything okay, Edward?"
Edward moved to the side to allow his father entry into his own office.
"Carlisle," Bella said his name with relief. "I'm so sorry I monopolized your office! I hope I didn't prevent you from working."
"Certainly not, Bella. You needn't worry about me right now; I think I should be worried about you. How are you feeling?"
"Well, everything's not jake, that's for sure. I don't know Carlisle… I don't know how I'm supposed to feel." Bella threw her hands up into the air in an exasperated expression and flopped back onto Carlisle's couch.
"You're supposed to feel whatever you're feeling, Bella. There's no right or wrong here." Edward leaned against the wall opposite Bella and kept his arms crossed over his chest.
"Edward is right, Bella. I imagine this is all quite a shock for you and at the most inopportune time as well. They've gone back to their hotel for now, but they asked that I pass along their information to you. They want to meet with you and Emmett before they head back to Washington."
Bella's mouth popped open incredulously and Carlisle held up his hands palms out in surrender.
"I told your mot- Renee that I wasn't sure you would be willing to speak with her, but that I would take their information in case you changed your mind. If you don't want to take it, I completely understand. I just want you to know that I have it and that we're all going to be here for you and Emmett if you need us." Carlisle took a seat beside Bella on the couch and held out a folded piece of paper to her.
Bella eyed it as though it might suddenly sprout legs and run around. A small part of her was urging her to reach out and take the paper… but her common sense was saying she should talk to Emmett first.
"Does Charlie know?"
Carlisle took that to mean she wasn't interested in the information quite yet, so he tucked the paper back into the pocket of his white doctor's coat.
"No he doesn't, Bella. When Renee and Phil arrived at the hospital today, the nurses tell me it was only a few minutes before you arrived yourself. They were able to prevent Renee from seeing Charlie and I was able to convince her and Phil that it wasn't in his best interest to have any such stress brought upon him right now. Charlie is recovering nicely but there's no telling what sort of shock this might bring to his system. Of course it will be up to you if you want him to know they are here. You would know the best how he might react and the amount of stress it could cause him. If you want to tell him, Bella, I won't stop you."
Bella stared at Carlisle's coffee table for several minutes before speaking. Thankfully, Edward and Carlisle both remained incredibly patient.
"He wouldn't want her here. I don't want her here. She's selfish for coming. I know she isn't concerned about Charlie… the reason she's come is to make herself feel better. She wants to see how we're doing so she can ease her own mind." Bella spoke as calmly as she was able considering the situation and the anger she couldn't seem to shake. Suddenly she didn't want to be in the hospital anymore, she wanted to be back at work where she could be productive and keep her mind on other things.
"I think I'd like to head back to the Tribune now, Edward. Carlisle, don't tell Charlie I was here, I'll try to stop by after work instead."
Carlisle stood and offered Bella his hand to help her up from the couch. When she was standing, Carlisle couldn't help but pull her into a fatherly hug.
"You're being very calm about all of this Bella. Please don't be afraid to ask me for anything that you need."
Bella hugged Carlisle back and couldn't help the tears that welled up as she realized how much Carlisle really loved her like she was part of his family.
"Thank you, Carlisle." Bella whispered and then left Carlisle's office with Edward right behind her.
Edward helped Bella into her coat and hat once they were in the hallway and then slid his arm around her shoulders as they walked down the hallway, down the stairs and out of the hospital.
"You know, it would be alright if you wanted to take the rest of the afternoon off today, Bella. I think I could smooth things over with your boss." Edward winked at Bella and she gave him a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Edward knew a joke wasn't going to fix everything for her right now, but was glad to think he had given her mind a small break from thinking about Renee.
"Yes, I understand you and him have quite a close working relationship." Bella winked in return. "But I think I need to be busy doing something productive right now. Something that will wholly distract me from this awful mess." Bella slipped her arm around Edward's waist and squeezed.
She wasn't sure how she would be reacting to everything without Edward's support. Sure she had already had a minor breakdown in Carlisle's office earlier today, but the potential for something worse was looming over her and only Edward's love and patience was keeping it at bay. As they walked in companionable silence back to the Tribune building, Bella began wondering what she would say to Emmett when she went back to the Cullen's after work this afternoon.
"What are you thinking?" Edward brushed loose strands of hair from Bella's face and tucked them behind her ear as they walked.
"I'm trying to think of how to speak to Emmett about this. Do you think maybe I should not tell him that Renee and Phil are in Chicago? Maybe they will just leave if we don't contact them at all."
"You can't protect everyone from this, Bella. I think Emmett has a right to know and I think you and Emmett should discuss whether or not to tell Charlie as well. I know you want to protect them both, but you can't take all of this on by yourself, love." Edward pulled them both to a stop in the middle of the sidewalk and placed both his hands on Bella's shoulders so he could look straight into her eyes.
Bella knew he was right, but it didn't change her wish to keep everyone close to her safe from what would undoubtedly be pain when they found out Renee and Phil were in Chicago. She stretched up on her tiptoes to plant a small kiss on Edward's cheek. He smiled at her and his eyes smoldered so that Bella had to look away and force herself to remember they were in the middle of the sidewalk. Of course, remembering that only caused her to think of her and Edward's night on the sidewalk outside the Cullen's house. She almost found it hard to believe that it hadn't even been a week since that night.
Edward slipped his arm back around her shoulders and they continued walking back to the Tribune building.
"What are you thinking?" It was Bella's turn to ask Edward.
"I was just thinking how lucky I am to have someone as wonderful as you in my life. Actually, I was remembering the first time we met. Do you recall that day?" Edward smiled his beautifully crooked smile and Bella thought of the first day she had met Edward.
--
Bella walked into her third period history class and slid into the same seat she had been sitting in for the past few weeks; the seat her teacher had assigned her on her first day of high school in Chicago. A small, pixie-like dark haired girl sat directly behind her and had flashed her a brilliant smile the first day she sat down. But Bella wasn't ready for friends then so she had politely smiled back but never spoke or turned around in class. It turned out that the dark haired girl was in several of Bella's afternoon classes as well.
But today was the day she was ready to become Bella again – to be who she was and not whom she had turned into since their family had changed. Emmett had told her that he missed his sister and Bella had realized that night she missed herself as well.
So after she sat down and before their teacher began, she turned around in her desk and looked the small girl straight in the eyes.
"Hi, Alice." She had heard her name thousands of times in class and around the school, especially at lunch.
The Cullen kids were terribly popular, but didn't have a large group of friends from what Bella could tell. She knew Emmett hung around with Alice's older brother, Edward. She had heard that Edward was particularly popular with all the girls in the school, but Bella hadn't seen him herself yet. But she only imagined how handsome he must be since his sister was probably one of the most beautiful girls Bella had ever seen.
Alice flashed Bella her brilliant smile.
"Hi, Bella! I'm so glad you've finally said something!"
Bella was slightly confused. Alice sounded as though she already knew Bella would eventually say something. Bella supposed it might have been expected given how many classes they have together, but she was still surprised.
"Were… were you waiting for me to talk to you?" Bella couldn't help but ask, no matter how strange it sounded.
Alice's eyes glinted mysteriously as her smile grew. Bella thought it only made her look more stunning.
"Of course I was. We have practically every class together, doll. It was only a matter of time before we became friends."
Bella decided it didn't matter how strange Alice sounded, she knew she liked her already and was happy to know that Alice wanted to be friends.
They had their lunch period after history class and walked to the cafeteria together. Alice chatted nonstop the entire time about everything from school to her family to fashion and books. Bella found that they had quite a bit in common and that it was easier to talk to Alice than it had ever been for Bella to talk to anyone.
Usually Bella sat at a table by herself at lunch and read, or sat outside and also read. So when Alice steered them towards a table that Bella recognized was filled with seniors, Bella was apprehensive.
"Oh, Alice. I don't know about sitting there… couldn't we just sit at the empty table over there?" Bella slowed down and Alice slipped her arm inside Bella's and urged her forward.
"No dice, Bella. Your days of sitting alone at lunch are over, doll. Besides, your brother is here! Everything's jake."
Alice pulled Bella along the final few steps and they came to a halt at the head of a table packed with seniors, just as Bella feared. She saw Emmett giving her a curious but happy look and relaxed slightly, but was still nervous meeting so many new people. So many new seniors.
"Ladies and gents, this is Bella Swan, Emmett's little sister. She's one of us now; shove over and make some room." Alice slammed her tray of food down onto the table and everyone on that side of the bench slid down so her and Bella could sit.
"Bella, this is Rosalie Hale, Jasper Hale – they're twins – you already know your brother of course and that one over there is my pain of a brother, Edward Cullen." Alice introduced Edward with a wink and Bella couldn't help but smile, they obviously had a good relationship.
Bella slowly scanned around the table and it suddenly seemed less intimidating. Rosalie gave her a guarded but polite smile, Jasper threw her a wink, Emmett beamed and Edward smiled a smile that nearly made Bella choke on the juice she was drinking.
He was the most beautiful boy Bella had ever seen in her life. No wonder so many girls at the school were crazy about him. She couldn't help but stare at him while everyone else resumed regular conversations. He had the most beautiful shade of green eyes Bella could imagine anyone having. They lit up every time he laughed or smiled and Bella noticed that his smile was absolutely crooked. As she watched him talk with Emmett and Jasper, she noticed that his hair was the strangest shade of bronze and was horribly untidy. It looked as though he had tried to wrestle it into submission, but it had fought back and won, sticking up all over his head. Bella couldn't believe how perfect his unruly hair and crooked smile seemed to her. How could one person possess so much beauty?
"Uh oh, Alice. It looks like Edward Cullen has a new victim."
Bella was broken out of her stare by a poke in the ribs from Alice. When she looked forward she realized that Rosalie was staring at her expectedly.
"I'm sorry… were you speaking to me, Rosalie? I must have been daydreaming." Bella was flustered. Had they just caught her staring at Alice's brother?
"Daydreaming about a certain Cullen boy?" Rosalie smirked and flipped her impossibly blonde hair over her shoulder.
"Rosalie, be kind! Bella has only just met everyone." Alice patted Bella's hand reassuringly. "It's okay, Bella. Everyone seems to have a crush on Edward when they first meet him. It's one of his most annoying qualities."
Rosalie laughed softly. "Is it the fact that they all have crushes or the fact that Edward is too dense to notice that's annoying?"
Alice laughed in return. "I think it's a tie."
Bella was horribly uncomfortable. Had she really been staring that hard?
"But I don't have a crush! I haven't even spoken to him, Alice. I was just…" Bella trailed off, not sure she wanted to tell them how beautiful she seemed to think he was.
"Noticing how handsome Edward is? It's okay, Bella. We've all been there. Well, except Alice of course. It doesn't help that he's a star football player and one of the smartest seniors, either. They've already chosen him for valedictorian this year. Usually the brains aren't the most attractive catches, but it seems to work for all the girls here." Rosalie pointed out into the rest of the cafeteria to solidify her point.
Bella turned to look and noticed that almost every girl in the room was either staring at their table or occasionally sneaking looks.
"Oh brother," Bella said turning back to Rosalie. "That must get a little tiresome."
"You said it!" Rosalie practically shouted. "But it helps that a lot of the boys look this way once in a while, too."
Alice snorted and coughed to cover a laugh. "Rosalie loves attention more than air, doll. You'll get used to it."
Bella nodded, not sure how to comment.
"Well Bella, welcome to the group." Alice said, standing up and grabbing Bella's tray. "Let's get to class."
Bella stood up and followed Alice and Rosalie out of the cafeteria. Rose left for her senior English class and Bella and Alice headed for their science class. But before they made it to their seats, their science teacher asked Bella to step into the hall with him.
"Based on your latest test scores, Miss Swan, the principal and I have decided it's in your best academic interests to be transferred to the senior level biology course for the rest of the semester. The curriculum in your last school seems to have been more advanced."
Bella smiled. She had been rather bored in class and had easily aced the pop quiz. She took her new schedule from her teacher and slipped inside to let Alice know where she was headed. Alice had a strange smile on her face when she said good luck. Bella looked at her strangely, but hurried to her new room not wanting to be late.
She made it before the classroom had filled up and went up to her new teacher, Mr. Banner.
"Ah, Miss Swan, I've been expecting you. I look forward to your contributions in class."
Bella blushed and turned to find a seat, only to see that the class was now full and she wasn't sure where to go.
"You may take the empty seat at the back, Miss Swan, beside Mr. Cullen."
Bella immediately looked to the back of the room and spotted a puff of unruly bronze hair and the beautiful boy it belonged to. He flashed her his crooked smile and she had to remind herself to breathe. She managed not to trip over anything on her way to her new seat, but did drop all of her books on the floor while trying to sit down.
Edward scooped them up effortlessly and placed them on her desk.
"T-thanks," Bella muttered.
"Anything for Emmett Swan's little sister." Edward flashed her another smile.
Bella found that sitting next to Edward for an entire class made it a little easier to relax around him. When they were partnered together for an exercise out of their textbook, Bella found out that he really was extraordinarily smart. But so was she.
"No wonder they put you into this class, Bella. You must have been terribly bored in the junior level."
Bella blushed furiously and was horribly upset with herself for having done so.
"We had covered all of what they were doing at my high school in Washington already. This is all new though. It's a little strange to be in a senior level class."
Edward smiled again. Bella tried to concentrate.
"Don't worry, I'll look after you. You can borrow my notes to catch up with this unit."
They finished this exercise before the rest of the class and spent the remainder of the time finding out about each other. They were both rather surprised at how comfortable they were together and how much they had in common. But the more Bella learned about Edward, the more she found things to like about him. By the end of the period, Bella was sure she had an enormous crush on her new friend's older brother, the heartthrob of the entire school. When the bell rang to signal the end of the period, Edward offered to walk Bella to her next class so they could continue their conversation about E.E Cummings' The Enormous Room - which they had both just finished reading. When they reached Bella's next class they stood outside the doors, talking. Bella tried not to notice the strange looks everyone moving about the hallway was giving them. Edward didn't seem concerned at all. When the second bell rang, Bella was reluctant to move inside her classroom.
"Don't worry Bella Swan, we'll have plenty of time to talk later. I'm glad Alice brought you to our table today." Edward hurried down the hall to his own class. "I'll see you later, okay?" He shouted at her before rounding the corner out of sight.
Bella snuck inside her classroom and was thankful their teacher had yet to begin their lesson. Alice turned around to face her from her seat directly in front of Bella.
"Was that you my brother was yelling at across the hallway?" Alice kept her face neutral as she asked Bella.
Bella blushed again and was instantly angry that she had. "Yes. I'm in his senior science class. But you must have already known that. Why didn't you tell me I was being moved to Edward's class?"
Alice smiled the same smile she had given Bella before she left for science. The one that made Bella consider whether or not Alice knew more than most people.
"It wouldn't have been as much fun if I had, Bella! Did you sit together?"
"Yes and we were partnered for an exercise. He really is quite brilliant, Alice."
"Yes I know, brilliant and beautiful." Alice rolled her eyes. Bella blushed again. "So you hit it off then?"
"I suppose we did. We seem to have found a lot of things in common."
Alice raised her eyebrows. "Really?"
Bella nodded. "He just finished reading Cummings' The Enormous Room too and we're both admirers of Keats' work as well as John Donne. We talked a lot about wanting to be writers."
Alice's eyebrows shot up further. "You did? He told you he was interested in writing?"
Bella was surprised at Alice's reaction. "He said that he was more interested in composing – do you play an instrument, too Alice?"
"Wow, doll. Edward doesn't usually tell people about his composing. Or his writing. You two must really have hit it off. Hmmm…" Alice trailed off and focused on a spot behind Bella's head. But before Bella could ask her what that meant, their class began. But Bella was certain she was in trouble – she had more than just a crush on Edward Cullen and it seemed his sister knew that too.
--
"Of course I remember, Edward. You're not easily forgotten." Bella smiled at the memory of her first day in class with Edward. They became good friends after that day though Edward never knew Bella's true feelings until only a few short days ago.
She was about to ask Edward what his memory of their first meeting was when she realized they had returned to the Tribune building already. As they climbed the stairs to the newsroom, Bella began to wonder exactly what she was going to tell Emmett when they went back to the Cullen's after work. She couldn't decide if he would blow his top or want to ignore Renee and Phil.
She didn't have long to find out.