Bella hated cars. She hated the speed and twists and turns. She hated the blurry images that made her head pound and stomach clench. She kept the red soaked wad of paper towel clutched to her forehead as she slumped in the passenger seat of Rosalie's red BMW.
Bella could hear Rosalie grumbling under her breath the entire drive to the hospital. She jerked the wheel first this way, then that, as they sped down the road. Bella caught snippets of names being thrown about and more metaphors that involved Edward and some form of animal.
It hurt Bella's head.
The cut on her forehead hadn't stopped bleeding yet. Rosalie had already warned her about getting blood on the upholstery, but Bella ignored her. Mainly because she couldn't fully understand her.
Was everything always so fuzzy looking?
Bella blinked furiously, trying to clear her vision. Her breathing slowed and deepened; lethargy seeping into her veins.
The brakes slammed the car to a stop, jolting Bella forward in her seat. Faster than seemed possible, Rose was at her door, unbuckling her and hauling her from the car.
Bella stumbled her way beside Rose, whose fast pace was making it nearly impossible for her to keep up. Strange voices and noises surrounded them, pale green and white walls enveloping them on all sides.
Rosalie's heels clicked with finality as she marched them down a long hallway, passing open doors and exam rooms. When they reached the end, she took them on a sharp turn to the right, pulling Bella along into a large, empty exam room. Nearly throwing her onto the exam table, Rosalie snapped at her to wait there and left.
Well. That had been nice while it lasted.
Bella's legs dangled off the end of the table, her elbows resting on her knees as she pressed the make shift compress firmer against her head. She groaned quietly. Her body ached everywhere.
Damn cheer leaders were the devil's creation.
Bella's eyes grew heavy, making it harder and harder for her to stay awake. What she wouldn't give for a nice, long nap right now.
"Miss Swan?"
Bella sat straight up at the man's voice. She blinked twice at the living sculpture before her. His hair was a golden yellow, his skin pale and flawless. He was tall and young, a stethoscope slung casually around his neck. He was wearing khaki colored pants under his white lab coat. His shoes looked like real leather.
Bella stared at the perfect teeth behind his kind smile. She let her eyes wander to his, noticing that they looked exactly like Edward's.
She shook herself internally. "Yeah?"
His smile never wavered as he took a few steps towards her. "I'm Dr. Cullen, Rosalie's father. She told me a little about what happened in school today." He gestured to her forehead. "Do you mind if I take a look?"
Bella sighed, removing the sticky paper from her wound. "You're the expert."
His smile never left his face, his eyes showing the slightest hint of amusement. His cold fingers pressed tenderly against the gash along her brow, prodding the area around it and checking the depth of it.
Bella watched a trickle of blood drip down the bridge of her nose.
Ew.
"Looks like you'll need a few stitches," he mused gently. Stepping away from her, he opened a cupboard above the sink against the far wall. He pulled out a plastic container, taking the lid off of it, and removing a few select items.
Bella gawked at the needle he unwrapped.
She kept her eyes locked on the tile, trying to ignore the careful poking and pulling of the needle she could feel against her numb forehead.
"Alice has told me a lot about you." Bella's eyes flickered up to his face for a moment. He was concentrating diligently on his handiwork. "I hear you're quite the artist."
Bella's lips quirked at the edges. "I have a certain knack for it."
"Nonsense," he said, the smile evident in his tone. "Alice showed me the portrait of her that you drew. Your talent holds a lot of promise."
Bella blushed at his compliment. "Thanks."
After a silent moment, Dr. Cullen pulled back, a satisfied smile on his lips. "That should heal without a problem. You're lucky it wasn't any deeper than this."
Bella grimaced. "Lucky's not the word I'd use right now."
"You're right," he agreed, his eyes appraising the rest of her body. "I'd like to do a full body exam, if you don't mind. I'll need you to-"
"What?" Bella squeaked, staring at the doctor in disbelief. "A full body exam? Why?"
Dr. Cullen nodded gently towards her arms. "You're bruising already."
Bella glanced down at herself and scowled. "I bruise easy. It's no big thing-"
The door to the small room burst open, banging harshly against the wall behind it. Bella flinched, halfway because of the noise, and the other half because of the occupant in the doorway.
Edward's grip on the door handle was tight, his arm shaking with anger. His topaz eyes were on fire, scorching everything in sight. His nostrils were flared, his jaw locked and teeth clenched tightly together. When his gaze landed on her, Bella felt two inches tall.
He was across the room in three long strides, stopping directly in front of her. His hands reached out and cupped both sides of her face, tilting it up slightly for him to see better. His words were spoken through his teeth. "What happened to you?"
Bella's pulse was slamming against her skin. Edward had never touched her like this, even if he was pissed off at the moment. And he was standing so close. Had he always smelled this good? Was it his cologne? And why were his hands always so cold?
"I got in a fight. No biggie."
Edward's hands held her face softly, even as his glare hardened. " 'No biggie'?" His fingers twitched against her cheeks. "If you haven't noticed, Bella, you are currently in a hospital, with stitches across your face and bruises covering every inch of your body. You lost who knows how many gallons of blood before Rosalie could get you here, not to mention the internal damage we have yet to-"
"Edward." Dr. Cullen clamped a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder, effectively cutting off his tirade.
Edward's gaze flashed to his father's calm face. When his eyes met her wide, brown eyed gaze, he took a deep breath to calm himself. His cold fingers ghosted across her fresh stitches. Edward's voice was softer, taking on its regular, velvety cadence when next he spoke. "Look at what they did to you Bella."
His soft voice and caressing fingers had Bella's cheeks on fire.
Dr. Cullen cleared his throat behind them. Edward turned to his father, still keeping his hold on Bella's face.
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave the room, Edward." Dr. Cullen held his hands up, palms faced outwards in surrender at the fierce defiance on Edward's face. "She'll need to change into a hospital gown, and you're not allowed to be in the room for that."
Just the thought of Edward seeing her in a hospital gown had Bella flushing all the way down to her toes. Why was the world so cruel?
"I don't need a physical," she grumbled, gripping the edge of the table.
Edward's eyes shot down the length of her body, lingering on the exposed skin of her arms. He turned back to the doctor. "Let me know the second you're done. I'll be waiting in your office."
Bella glared at the side of his face. Stupid, presuming idiot.
Dr. Cullen aimed his smile at Bella. "We'll be done before you know it."
She pulled her face out of Edward's hands, her cheeks tingling at the loss. "I'm sure."
Edward sighed, letting his arms drop to his sides. "Don't give Carlisle a hard time, Bella. You need this."
"You don't know what I need," Bella argued, wincing slightly as she crossed her arms. He ignored the remark, turning instead to his father. "The second you're done, Carlisle."
Dr. Cullen smiled. "Of course, Edward."
Bella felt like a kid who just got caught with her hand in the cookie jar when Edward turned back to her. "You can explain everything to me when you're finished here."
Bella's mouth hung slightly a jar at the threat in his tone. Explain everything my ass. "I don't owe you anything."
Edward glared down at her, his hands in tight fists. "Bella, you don't seem to understand the situation you find yourself in at the moment-"
"I understand perfectly, Edward." She hopped down from the table, only needing a quick moment to catch her balance. Standing toe to toe with Edward, Bella returned his bone chilling glare. "You're not Mr. Omniscient; if I don't feel like you need to know something, then you can bet your bottom dollar that you will not find out."
Edward's chest rose slowly with the deep, calming breaths he took. "When the subject of your self preservation is put into account, Bella, there will be no question that I will know about every minute detail. You can stake your life on that."
Bella scrunched up her nose. "Your dramatics disgust me."
The rage in Edward's eyes flared up, his calming breaths forgotten. He opened his mouth with every intention of giving Bella a piece of his mind and then some, when the kindly doctor interrupted their bickering.
Clearing his throat, the two teenager's attention fixed once again on Dr. Cullen. "Perhaps you two can continue your conversation at a later time? The hospital is not the place to have an argument."
Bella opened her mouth to agree, but Edward beat her to the punch. "You're right Carlisle. I apologize." He turned his gaze back to a fuming Bella. "And no, this does not mean you are free to leave. You still need a physical and medical attention for your bruising."
"I already told you I don't need-"
"I'll be waiting for you when you're done. We can talk about everything then." Not waiting for her response, he strode to the door, shutting it behind him with slightly more force than necessary.
Bella huffed at the closed door. "Your son's intolerable."
Dr. Cullen tried to hide his laughter behind a badly timed cough. "Edward always was a stubborn boy. He tends to see his way as the right way in most situations."
"Your son needs to get that stick out of his ass," Bella grumbled under her breath, knowing her remark was said to silently for him to hear.
When she turned back around to look at him, Dr. Cullen had his back turned to her, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
Bella's eyebrows furrowed in concern, the stitching along her brow pulling uncomfortably at her skin. "You alright, Doc?"
He waved off her concern. "I'm fine." He strode over to the door, an unmistakable smile on his face. "I left the gown on the counter for you. I'll give you some time to change."
"Thanks so much," Bella griped, snatching up the ugly green piece of clothing.
When the door closed behind the doctor, Bella kicked off her shoes, letting them hit the wall with a loud thud. A sick feeling clawed up her gut, clenching around her heart. Bella blinked furiously at the sting in her eyes. "I hate hospitals."
That was a cruel cliff hanger, I know, and I apologize for that. And no, Edward has not let Bella off the hook yet; next chapter he's going to let her have it :)
Thanks so much everyone for your reviews! I can't believe we reached a hundred reviews already! It's mind blowing and I'm so completely grateful to have such wonderful readers! Again, thank you!
-GrumpySunshine