BPOV
When I woke up the next day, I was excited for two reasons. One, it was Friday. Two, I got to see Emmett again. And I couldn't wait. I almost skipped to the bathroom. I have never been so happy for it to be morning. Usually I'm still reliving my nightmares. Today, I couldn't stop smiling. I showered quickly and dried my hair. I put on a pair of dark jeans and a black and blue low-cut sweater. I put on a black camisole underneath and grabbed my black ballet-toed shoes.
Charlie was already gone by the time I got downstairs. I grabbed a banana and my keys then hurried out. I got to school about twenty minutes early. The silver Volvo was nowhere to be seen. I really didn't feel like running into anybody, so I decided to sit in the car for a few minutes. I turned the music up and pulled my history book out of my bag deciding to study for the test I had later that day. I had only been studying for five minutes when I heard a knock on my window. I jumped a little and heard a booming laugh in response. A smile appeared on my face as I looked up at Emmett. Playfully glaring, I opened the door and took the keys out of the ignition.
"That was mean." I stated as I got out.
"No, it wasn't. The look on your face was priceless." He chuckled.
"Stop laughing at me." I pouted at him. He instantly straightened up, but the smile on his face did not falter.
"What are you doing out here all alone in your car?"
"Avoiding people." I sighed. "Mike is nice and all, but he's always everywhere and being overly nice. And Jessica doesn't stop talking, and she's a little mad that Mike is not so subtle with hitting on me."
"Newton doesn't know when to back off." A voice said. I looked over to see Rosalie standing next to us. I hadn't noticed her walk up. Alice was hurrying over as well as Jasper and Edward got out of the car. "When we moved here he kept hitting on me and Alice even though it was obvious that we were Edward and Jasper."
"He's like a golden retriever. He follows me around everywhere." I complained.
"He'll back off eventually… maybe." Alice said.
"I hope so." I sighed.
"Are you going to go to Port Angeles this weekend?" Alice asked.
"Um, probably. I haven't decided yet."
"You should come with us. Me and Rosalie are going shopping, and the guys are going to an arcade down there." Alice offered.
I couldn't help but smile at the thought of spending all day with Emmett. "Yeah, sure."
Alice squealed with excitement as she jumped around. "We're going to have so much fun!"
"Calm down, Alice." Jasper said in a calming tone as he walked over to us. "Good morning, Bella."
"Hey." I smiled at him. My phone started to ring. Who was calling me this early? Maybe it was Charlie. I glanced at the caller id and cringed a little. Why does Phil always have to ruin my good time? "I better answer this." I mumbled to them. "See you guys later." I hurried away out of earshot. "Hello?"
"Bella."
"Hi Phil."
"Have you thought about what I talk to you about?"
"I told you already. I'm not going back there. My mom is going to be fine without me."
"But she's not." He yelled. "I don't know why she spends her time worry about a bitch like you, but she does."
"I'll call her tonight and reassure her everything is fine." I tried to keep the pain out of my voice.
"That isn't good enough! I want you on a plane back here, now!"
"No." I argued.
"Don't argue with me, bitch."
"Please, stop. I've kept your dirty little secret. My mom is still with you. Can't you just leave me alone?" Tears were not gathering in my eyes. I wanted to go back to my car and leave, but Emmett and his family were still standing near it. I didn't want them to see me like this.
He laughed mockingly. "Oh, Bella. Stupid, little Bella. Like anyone would believe what you say when I deny everything."
"I have proof." I said quietly.
"Anyone who knows you would believe you got those being the clumsy person you are. Nobody is going to believe you. And when they send you back to me, you'll be right back where you started."
I reached up and wiped a tear away. "Please leave me alone, Phil."
"You have until the end of the month. Think about it. Don't you want your mother to be happy? Do you really want me to have to come and get you myself? It's really in your best interest to come willingly. Goodbye, Bella." I hung up fighting hard to keep my tears at bay. I hoped that when I turned around Emmett and his family wouldn't be waiting for me any longer. I couldn't stand being in school today. Not after that. I took a deep breath and turned around. Damn. Much to my dismay, they were standing by my car. Damn. I took another deep breath before walking over with all the confidence I could muster up. As I got closer, I could tell by the concern on their faces that I wasn't fooling anybody.
"Bella, what's wrong?" Emmett asked as I approached.
"Nothing." I mumbled and tried to move past them to get to my car.
"You're upset. What's wrong?"
"I'm fine." I opened the door to my car and felt a hand grab mine. I turned to look at him. His concern filled eyes searched mine. For what? I don't know, and I wasn't about to stick around to find out.
"Where are you going?"
"Skipping school is healthy every once in awhile." I told him before trying to pull my arm away. "Emmett, let go of me."
"No, something's wrong. What is it?"
"I told you I'm fine." I yelled. "Just let me go home. I need to go before a teacher sees me."
"Bella, you're upset. Tell me what's wrong so I can help fix it."
"I'm past fixing, Emmett. You shouldn't want to try. It'll just end with your disappointment." I said quietly. I could feel the tears building in my eyes. I was too damaged for him. I shouldn't be around him. He's happy and gorgeous and amazing and so many other things a weak, messed up person like me doesn't deserve.
After a second, I found myself in his arms. I tried to break free, but he wouldn't let me. Defeated, I laid my head down on his chest. I felt tears gathering in my eyes tenfold. It was becoming hard to keep them at bay, but I didn't want to cry in front of him and his family. They didn't need to see my broken. But I felt so comfortable, so safe in his arms. It didn't take long for tears to begin to cascade down my cheeks at full force. My body shook with sobs as he rubbed circles on my back. I could feel him kiss the top of my head as he whispered comforting words to me. After a few minutes, I started to calm down a little.
"I have to go." I mumbled as I reluctantly pulled away from him.
"I'll drive you." Emmett said quietly.
"No, you don't have to. You can go to class."
He shook his head. "I'm driving you home." I didn't have the strength to argue any further. I glanced at his family. They were awestruck and sympathetic towards me. I dropped my head in embarrassment as he led me to the passenger side, opened the door, and helped me in. I laid my head against the window and sighed. I knew questions that I wasn't ready to answer would eventually be asked. And I found that scaring me.
--
EmPOV
One minute we're joking and talking about Mike Newton. The next Bella is across the parking lot on the phone visibly pained by the conversation she was having with this Phil guy. The same Phil who was always in her nightmares as far as I could tell.
"Hi Phil." I didn't have to be Jasper to hear the pain in her voice.
"She's scared and really upset." Jasper said.
"I told you already. I'm not going back there. My mom is going to be fine without me… I'll call her tonight and reassure her everything is fine." It was becoming increasingly painful to watch as the pain in her voice only got more and more evident. "No… Please, stop. I've kept your dirty little secret. My mom is still with you. Can't you just leave me alone?" I heard Jasper groan in pain. "I have proof." She mumbled.
"I've never felt anything this intense from a human before. There's so much pain and fear now."
I watched as she reached up and wiped a tear away from her face. I wanted to kill whoever this Phil person for causing her so much pain.
"Please leave me alone, Phil." She pleaded. After a moment, she shut her phone slowly. It took her a few minutes to turn, and I could tell she was trying to keep composure in front of us. It didn't fool anybody. Her pain was written all over her face as she walked over. Even if I were human and had not heard her end of her conversation, I'd be able to tell something was wrong.
"Bella, what's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing." Yeah right.
"You're upset. What's wrong?"
"I'm fine." She opened the door of her car, but I grabbed her arm before she could get in. When she turned towards me, my eyes searched hers for any clue to what was making her so upset.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"Skipping school is healthy every once in awhile." She tried to pull her arm away, but I wouldn't let her. "Emmett, let go of me."
"No, something's the matter. What is it?"
"I told you I'm fine." She yelled. "Just let me go home. I need to go before a teacher sees me."
"Bella, you're upset. Tell me what's wrong so I can help fix it."
"I'm past fixing, Emmett. You shouldn't want to try. It'll just end with your disappointment." I felt a pang of disappointment. She didn't trust me enough to tell me. I didn't think much of it. She was in pain, and it wasn't the time to begin feeling insecure about our relationship, whatever type of relationship it was. I don't know what she meant by she's 'past fixing.' There was nothing wrong with her. She was perfect in every way. Yet, I could see the pain in her eyes. The demons of the past that haunted her.
I didn't say anything else. I just pulled her into my arms. She struggled against me for a moment before collapsing against me. She stayed completely still. Her breathing was quick, though. Her heart was racing. Then, it all came out. Tears rolled off her cheeks as her body shook with sobs. I held her tighter against me rubbing her back in comforting circles. I rested my head against hers and placed a kiss on the top of her head.
"It's going to be okay." I whispered. We stayed like this in full view of everyone for a few more minutes until I felt her pull back. I didn't want to let her go yet. I wanted to hold her longer. I wanted to comfort her and make her feel safe in my arms.
"I have to go." She mumbled.
"I'll drive you." I said quietly.
"No, you don't have to. You can go to class."
I shook his head. "I'm driving you home." She didn't fight with me any longer on the subject. I noticed her eyes move to my family. I glanced over my shoulder at them. Shock and concern was written all over their face. When I looked back at her, she was looking at the ground trying to avoid everyone's eyes. I wordlessly led her to the passenger side and help her in. I walked to the driver's side and stopped to talk to my family. "I'm going to ditch today." I said at vampire speed.
"What's wrong with her?" Rosalie asked.
"This Phil guy did something to her. I don't know what, but she has nightmares about him every night. I don't even know who he is." I sighed.
"Don't push her too hard. She's hurting really bad, Emmett." Jasper told me.
I nodded and glanced in the car at her. She was leaning against the window with her eyes closed. "I'm going to stay with her if I can."
"Okay. We'll see you at home." Alice smiled sadly at me. I nodded and got into the driver's seat. She looked at me. She looked physically drained by the whole ordeal.
"Thank you, Emmett." She whispered.
"You're welcome, Bella." I smiled at her before backing out of the parking space.
"Do you know where I live?" I nodded. "Okay."
I stole glances at her the entire time. She was leaning up against the window with her eyes shut. A few tears escaped every once in awhile. I wanted to hold her again, but since I was driving I couldn't. After a few minutes of contemplation, I reached over and took her hand within mine. She opened her eyes and glanced at our intertwined hands then at me. I gave her a reassuring smile. She returned a sad one then close her eyes again. I purposely kept my speed below ninety, which is very slow for me, so it wouldn't scare her and I could spend a little more time with her. When we pulled up in front of her house, neither of us moved to get out. She sighed heavily and opened her eyes. She looked hesitant about something like she wanted to ask me something but couldn't decide if she should.
"You should go back to school." She mumbled.
"Nah, I might as well stay out for the rest of the day." I shrugged.
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing. Just hang out."
She bit her lip contemplating something. "Would you stay with me for awhile?"
I smiled at her and nodded. "Anything you want."
"Thank you."