8. Threat

I push myself from the door moving into the living room. Charlie sits in the recliner staring at the TV. I sigh moving to the couch deciding to stay down here with Charlie for a little bit. I need a little time around Charlie today with everything that has taken place lately.

Charlie smiles at me as I lounge out on the couch. I glance toward the TV but I can't make out faces. My eyes blur for a moment as I quickly rub them dry. I sigh shaking my head as I try to concentrate on the game playing across the screen.

It suddenly crosses my mind that I never completed the rest of my homework as Mike and Charlie showed up. I mentally groan shaking my head at the revelation that I won't be getting that done tonight.

"So, how was studying with Edward today, Bells?"

I smile shrugging my shoulders, "It was fine, dad."

Charlie smiles but it quickly falls from his face, "Bells, I understand that you like Mike and everything, but there's something about that I don't like."

I nod, "He gets like that a little bit. He's really sweet most of the time though, dad."

Something sparks within Charlie's eyes as if he knows I'm lying through my teeth. I'm thankful for the dim lighting here in the living room so that Charlie can't see my red face. I've trying to sharpen my lying skills, but it doesn't work out the way I want it to.

Charlie sighs shaking his head, "I just don't like Mike, Bella. Just do me a favor, after you get better and go back to school stay away from him for a little while. I don't feel comfortable with you around him while he's getting angry with everyone."

I frown nodding my head not really paying attention to the words he said. I don't think Mike will take that very well. He doesn't ever usually listen when I tell him Charlie has put me in chains for the weekend. I remember even before Mike began to change that he talked me into leaving my room one weekend when Charlie was still asleep. I remember going out into the dark forest scared out of my mind with Mike holding my hand pulling me into an open wide space. We laid watching the beautiful night sky falling asleep accidentally and I had been very thankful when I found out Charlie didn't have time to wake me that morning.

I glance up toward Charlie nodding my head but in reality, I know there won't be much chance I'll be following Charlie's demands.

"Of course, dad. I'll stay away from Mike until he calms down a bit."

Charlie smiles, nodding his head as he returns to watching TV. Something hangs in the air as if Charlie has something else on his mind. I sigh shaking my head, "Dad, was there something else you wanted to say?"

Charlie bites his lips nodding before lowering the volume on the TV, "Bella, first I want you to stay out of the forest anytime soon. There have been a few attacks recently and it hasn't been good. I need you to tell the rest of your friends this as well because we don't want any injuries from anyone else."

My eyes widen nodding my head, "Sure thing, dad. I heard something about that from some of the students. I believe it was some hikers or something."

Dad nodding sighing, "Yeah, sometimes I wish the Newton Outfitters hadn't gone out of business. We didn't have as many attacks with hikers because they always told the tourists where to go and where not to go. It's such a shame."

I nod trying to block out the events happening after that moment. Charlie nods wiping his chin, "Second, I was wondering since you have some new found freedom away from Mike, please try to see Jacob. He hasn't been having such a good time on the reservation lately."

I nod already having thought this was about Jacob on the reservation. I haven't seen Jacob very much since the trip to La Push with Mike and friends. Mike wasn't very fond of Jake's flirting and conquest with me that day and made it his mission to come in between Jacob and me. I know I'll have to promise Charlie to visit Jake soon even if it means getting hurt at Mike's hand.

I smile forcing down the butterflies from stomach, "I promise, dad. I'll visit Jacob soon."

Charlie smiles nodding, "Just try is all I ask, Bells."

I try smiling pleasant toward Charlie but the feelings missing throughout dinner are now resurfacing completely. The emotions and everything dealing with Mike has really gotten to me again. I push myself to my feet smiling at Charlie, "I'm going to out the rest of the dishes away and then go up to me room. I'm kind of tired from today."

Charlie sighs, nodding, "Sure thing, Bells. I'll probably be going to bed soon too."

I smile at him moving into the kitchen. My arm throbs as I glance down at the fabric around my flesh shaking my head. I push the pain to the back of my mind moving toward the dish rack. I open the cabinet grabbing plates and placing them inside the cabinet my mind a thousand miles away.

I'll probably have to email Renee back. She wanted to know what Mike planed for my birthday. I have my reasons for not messaging her back yesterday or this morning. I'm just not ready to deal with her overdramatic opinion of my injury. She doesn't like Mike for obvious reasons. She came to visit me over summer and met Mike then but it wasn't the fondest meeting ever.

She only stayed about three days before she started missing Phil and went back to Florida. I still hear from her emails complaining about Mike's behavior when she met him. Renee always had a bizarre feeling where she could tell someone's deepest secrets just by that first meeting.

I wonder what she might think of Edward…

Whoa, where did that come from? I shake my head hoping to get rid of the strange thoughts. I quickly finish with the dishes in the cabinet before grabbing a small glass filling it with water. I make sure it's enough for my medicine.

I enter the living room once again. Charlie is chugging back a beer causing me to mentally wince. I'm really thankful that Charlie's a peaceful drinker. He doesn't do anything but sit around and watch TV while drinking. There are no wild nights or crazy drunken stupors where he might beat me. Things are the same every day he drinks as it makes him incredibly tired and sleepy so that he can get a decent night's sleep before work the next day. I'm grateful that Charlie's isn't like Mike in that situation.

I smile toward Charlie my fingers tightening around the glass in my hands, "Good night, dad. I'm just going to my room for the night."

Charlie smiles nodding his head, "Night, Bells."

I sigh quickening my pace toward the staircase. I take the stairs two at a time attempting to get to my room faster. I manage to make to the top unscathed as I dash toward my room the pain in my arm becoming too much to bare. I'm a serious pain wimp. One would think I wouldn't be so upset at pain that tends to happen most of the time to the uncoordinated.

I've lost count on how many bruises or cuts appear on my skin on a daily bases, the ones not caused at Mike's hands.

I quickly step into my room closing the door behind me and turning the lock as usual. I've locked the back of the knob so many times in the past months that it's become a habit to lock the door.

I flip the light on realizing I haven't been up here since this morning when I went into the living room. I move across the floor to the bedside table quickly putting the glass down. I grab the bottles of medication Carlisle prescribed me locating the pain medicine first.

I manage to get the top securely off before shaking out two simple antibiotics/pain medicine. I pop them in my mouth swallowing them down my throat with the water. I place the bottle back on the table bypassing the sleep medicine.

I'm a teenager so when do I really get into the bed at a decent hour.

I move toward the old rusty computer in at my desk hitting the power button located on the base. I drum my fingers along the desk waiting for the old decrypted computer to wake up. I close my eyes and immediately Edward's face comes to my mind.

My eyes snap open as I push myself up from the chair careful of the clothes littering the floor. I spot the trashcan beside my bed grabbing it from the floor. In times like this, I appreciate the fact that I don't use this trashcan nearly as much.

Unfortunately, I forgot that I ripped the note from my admirer in the trash. I sigh quickly grabbing the small pieces from the trash sliding them on the bedside table beside my medication. I make sure I find every single piece before attempting to put them back together.

It takes me a few minutes to put them close to looking like the original note. My eyes peer over the note attempting to see something familiar. I sigh as nothing comes across but suddenly my eyes glance from another angle. The lettering at the bottom at Secret Admirer seems familiar but for the life of me, I can't figure it out.

Suddenly an image of the Valentine's day notes comes to mind. Angela had begged me to help her with the Valentine's day table. Basically people would spend a few dollars to send a note and candy to anyone they choose. I thought it was ridiculous until I was in class on Valentine's day watching the girl's faces when a boy had sent them something. There were only a few boys that received anything but they kept it hush-hush.

I remember the day because I was sitting at the table when Alice Cullen came by. Angela had taken a bathroom break when Alice had come over. She had only bought a card signing her message but putting in the same Secret Admirer. I remember the day because it was all everyone was talking about as Jasper received a message from her. All ever heard was Jasper's smirk and the fact that Alice and Jasper weren't seen at the end of the day and the smirks from their siblings didn't help the matter.

Angela had come back placing her card in the basket but not before commenting on her penmanship. The letters match up exactly but the question is why would Alice Cullen send me this gift and not to mention how would a girl her size and statue get up the side of my house to put the box on my bed. It just doesn't make any sense why she would write the note and send the dress.

I bite my lip sweeping the pieces of paper back into the trash before also dropping in discarded typing paper and coke cans. Can't risk the chance of Mike finding these scraps of the note.

I return the trashcan to its place before moving to the computer chair once again. I quickly connect to Internet and then open my email.

2 unread emails from Renee.

I roll my eyes before quickly opening the first message.

Bella,

So, how was the party? Charlie told me earlier in the week about Mike's party. I bet it was super fun. Send me pics. Message me back, young lady.

-Mom

I sigh shaking my head. Leave it to Charlie to tell my hair brain mother about that stupid party. Telling her about my stitched up arm won't help matter either. I glance toward the clock my only salvation is the fact that she's a few hours ahead of me won't read the message until morning.

I bypass her other message knowing it's probably because I didn't message her in time.

Mom,

I'm fine, first off. Don't panic. The party wasn't really a super party. Long story short, I fell into a glass case and some of my friends had to take me to the hospital. Mike had to clean up the mess and explain something to his mother. Dr. Cullen stitched me up and his son drove me home. I can't remember if we manage to take any pictures. I'll have to check. Anyway, the pain meds are beginning to take affect so I'll talk later. Don't worry because I'm perfectly fine and it's nothing but a simple trip and fall.

Love you and talk later,

-Bella

I quickly hit the send button before signing out of the email completely. My mind is whirlwind of thoughts. Maybe I can get something out of Alice tomorrow since she's the one coming over to give me my homework. I wonder what Edward's doing that he can't come instead.

I sigh hitting the exit for the page at the top corner. I turn around in my chair wondering why Alice might do what she did. Could it be for Edward? I mean he did say that Alice is the fashion police in his family and that dress was very nice and looked highly expensive.

I know his other sister Rose would do it. Every time I saw her last year, she sneered at me as if my presence revolted her. The boys were something different entirely. Emmett and Jasper are nice and friendly but Emmett especially is a little intimidating while Jasper avoids any contact with anyone.

I shake my head pushing myself to my feet. I move toward my backpack hoping to find my camera and hopefully one of the girls took something pictures. I manage to locate my camera quickly hitting the power button.

I turn through the images seeing photos from the party. I gave the camera to Angie and let her take pictures of everyone. She even got Jessica and Lauren to pose for a picture; no doubt, she lied about who or what the picture was for. Then again, Jessica and Lauren both look drunk of their butts.

I sigh placing my camera on the table. I walk toward my window leaning against the sill looking outside up at the moon. I smile sadly seeing the half moon shining brightly. There's something about the moon that makes me feel different. I feel as if my life as been altered in some way as if someone is having fun at me expense.

I shake my head moving away from the window back toward my bed. I grab my camera from the bedside table scrolling through the images. I suddenly stop noticing someone took a photo of the Cullen's at school on my birthday. I don't recall taking any picture of them at all. I know Mike didn't take any because he didn't know about my camera yet.

Who could have taken the photo? Maybe I'm imagining things and Angie or Jessica took the photo at lunch in the cafeteria. My mind was preoccupied so there's a possibility that the Cullen's were somewhere in the cafeteria that I didn't notice.

I zoom in the picture toward Edward's face. He looks impassive but something sparks in his eyes showing something I've never seen before. He looks troubled by something that I wish I could help with. I sigh quickly getting out of the photo and turning off my camera.

I lean against my headboard my mind drifting off yet again. Ever since I got with Mike, I'm constantly daydreaming about things. It must be the fact that Mike has altered my view on life since I've been with him. It's not very nice being with him most of the time.

I pull on the covers just as the sound of my cell phone goes off. My eyebrows rise as I push myself up grabbing my backpack from the floor. Most of the time I keep my phone off so that Charlie doesn't know about it. Mike bought me a cell phone soon after he changed into what he is now. It's a simple pay as you go phone that he buys cards for every month. This way he can call without being stopped by Charlie on the house phone that happened plenty of times before that made him even more angry.

I grab the phone hoping that maybe it's Angela or Ben. I gave them the number a few months back during summer shortly after Mike gave me the phone. No one else has the number not even Charlie considering he doesn't know about the phone.

I check the ID my eyes widening and my voice falls into my stomach.

Mike Newton

I swallow down the nerves slowly sliding my finger toward the send button.

"Hello?"

I heard something slam on the other end of the phone. I cringe wincing against the bed as I lower myself toward the floor.

"Bella…"

He says quietly. Mike always has a hard time controlling his anger so when he's really angry he talks quietly. He has force himself not to scream and yell to alert trouble or attention.

"Are you alone?"

I gulp down muttering, "Y-yes."

He sighs before I hear his voice pick up, "WHAT THE HELL WAS EDWARD CULLEN DOING AT YOUR FUCKING HOUSE?!"

I wince at the loudness of his voice and the anger he portrays, "I-I'm sa-sorry…Ch-Charlie ha-had hi-him c-come t-to gi-give me my homework."

Mike groans from the other end, "I don't understand, Bella! Why did he stay for dinner? Chief never lets me stay!"

I cringe again sighing, "Ed-Edward stayed because Charlie asked and I needed help cooking…My arm has stitches."

I can hear Mike shaking his head by the wind whipping around the talking point of the phone, "How did you get the stitches, Bella? Don't dare fucking lie to me because you and I both know that I'll go to do much worse to Tyler or maybe I'll just get Cullen out of the damn way!"

I wince swallowing once again pulling my knees into my chest. Tears have started streaming down my cheeks but I keep the fear out of my voice as I reply to his question, "I-I cu-cut my finger on a gift when someone pushed against me. I fe-fell into the glass case in the kitchen. I'm so incredibly sorry, Mike, I didn't mean to do that."

Mike groans, "Bella, Tyler pushed you, right?"

I close my eyes shrugging my shoulders, "I didn't see anyone, Mike. You have to believe me."

Mike shakes his head again on the other end, "The next time I see you we are going to talk about this. Until then, you need to convince your dad that I can come and bring your work to you. Cullen is nothing but a waste and can't give you all your work form class. I don't care what you have to do, Bella, you will get Charlie to understand and allow me to bring your work."

I frown shaking my head, "That's not going to be possible, Mike. Charlie heard about the confrontation with Tyler in the cafeteria."

Mike curses under his breath from the other end, "WHO FUCKING TOLD HIM, BELLA?"

I lower my voice whispering, "I did. I heard from someone from school that called here."

I don't know why I lied to Mike and told him it was me. I knew that if Mike knew the truth, Edward wouldn't be safe. I refuse to be selfish and risk his life because I didn't want to get hurt. Edward doesn't deserve to suffer for something highly stupid.

"We'll talk about this. If you don't convince Charlie, Bella, something just might happen to Charlie or Edward. Maybe both."

I close my eyes, "Edward's not coming tomorrow. Alice, his sister is supposed to come, Mike."

Mike suddenly screeches into the phone, "I DON'T GIVE A FUCK WHO'S COMING, BELLA! I NEED TO BE THERE AND IF I DON'T IT WON'T BE PRETTY ONCE YOU GET BETTER!"

Tears stream down my face harder than before as I force myself to get a grip of my emotions, "I-I'll see what I can do at convincing Charlie into letting you come over."

Mike sighs, "That's better, Bella. So when will you be back in school?"

I mentally groan as I sigh aloud, "I'm not sure, Mike. Whenever I get the stitches out, I guess."

Mike groans, "It better be soon. You need to get back in school. They suspended me for a few weeks so I need someone to get a view of things going on the inside."

I roll my eyes figuring that Mike was about this. There was something else about Mike that made him even worse. Charlie has no idea that some students at Forks High are dealers in hardcore drugs. Mike is only on weed now and he has some intense withdrawals that make things even worse.

I nod sighing, "I'll do my best to get back in school shortly."

Mike groans nodding and I hear doors slamming on his end, "I'll call you later, Bella. Mom's home."

I nod attempting a smile, "Later, Mike."

Unfortunately, he doesn't hear my reply as the dial tone sounds in my ear. I sigh shaking my head and hitting the end button. I shake my head wiping my face from the tears that prove me a coward.

Suddenly my phone begins ringing again causing my eyes to widen as I quickly grab it. I can only hope and pray that it's not Mike once again.

Unknown Number

My eyebrows wrinkle in confusion but I shrug it off. Maybe it's Angie or Ben calling to explain about earlier today.

"Hello?"

I hear laughter in the background that doesn't sound anything close to Angela or Ben's houses. If I'm not mistaken, I hear the familiar laughter of Emmett Cullen and the sounds of a game system.

"Bella, it's Edward Cullen. Alice got your number from Angela earlier today for me. We explained that I was bringing your homework to you."

My eyes widen, "Yeah, alright. What's up?"

I manage to push myself up from the floor sitting on the bed. I suck in a deep breath calming my nerves since it's no longer Mike on the phone.

"I was calling because Alice and I found a movie on at the theater in Port Angeles. I'm going to see the movie and Alice needs a shopping partner before the film. We were wondering if you would want to join us tomorrow after school. If I need to talk with Charlie, I can do that and explain that we'll keep you perfectly safe and unharmed. If you decide that you don't want to go shopping, you can accompany me to the theater if you so choose, Bella."

My eyes widen and for the first time in months, excitement fills my body. I haven't been excited about anything in such a long time. I don't even remember the last time Mike and I went to Port Angeles just to have some fun like normal teenagers. The last time we went to Port Angeles, Mike had to locate his mother and her friend as she likes to call him. Not only that but Mike needed to find his dealer and smoked while I drove us home.

"Th-That sounds like fun, Edward. I'll have to ask Charlie in the morning, but I'm sure he'll agree to it. I haven't been out having any fun lately. It might do me some good."

I shove Mike's threats to the back of my mind as Edward's voice sounds from the other end.

"That's good, Bella. Alice and I will be at your house tomorrow afternoon to pick you up. Alice also heard that you were given a gift card for a shop in Port Angeles. She thought maybe you would like to go with her to the store."

I smile nodding my head, "I would like that actually. I hope this isn't an inconvenience or anything."

I hear chuckles in the background followed by a woman's shushing of the kids. Edward chuckles next, "It's no problem, Bella. I'll let you go and get some sleep. See you tomorrow, Bella."

I smile nodding my head, "See you tomorrow, Edward."

I hear the click of the phone cutting off as I pull the phone back hitting the end button. Mike will be angry with me tomorrow but I want to have some fun. I just hope my decision doesn't come back to bite me in the butt. There's just something about Edward and his family that invites me toward them. They don't seem dangerous as I once thought but more nice than anything and I can't wait for tomorrow.

Maybe I can figure out who sent the dress and why.