I'll just let you read this chapter without my introduction commentary LOL ;) Enjoy!
(Haven't done a disclaimer for a while…oops!) - I don't own Twilight (Big surprise huh?) :D Btw, this is the longest Chapter yet! 2731 words! Did I write that? :O
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Chapter 9 - Bella POV
Edward, of course, got to the bathroom before me. Well, he did have a head-start and very long legs. The big cheater. I found him in the bathroom sitting on the counter by the sink, grinning like a kid with candy. I gave him the evil eyes as I walked in.
"You big cheat," I accused him and folded my arms pointedly. He threw his head back and laughed, giving me a perfect view of his Adam's apple as it bobbed in time with his laughter.
He was a beautiful sight sitting on the counter. So carefree and happy. I wish I could be like that…I continued to glare at him while he chortled happily at his win.
He eventually calmed down and jumped lithely off his winners perch. A predatory look came into his green eyes once more and I knew if I didn't move - I'd be in trouble. He grinned wickedly and crouched down, ready to spring like a lion.
Something squealed then, and it took me a second to realize it was me. I was off like a shot down the hall, frantically searching for somewhere to hide.
I could faintly hear Edward's evil chuckles as I rounded the corner of the hall and sped into the kitchen. It was a stunning room.
It had dusty grey tiles framing the walls and white marble counter-tops along with an island-breakfast bar in the middle. My head snapped back into adrenaline mode and I needed to find a place to hide. Now.
The island was hollow underneath to make room for the stools that accompanied it. I squeezed myself in underneath as quietly as I could and tried to calm my breathing.
Edward's predatory footsteps came into the kitchen then. I clamped my hand over my mouth to stifle the gasps and remained statue-still.
"Where are you Bella?" He called out in a playful way. I kept quiet. I couldn't see him but I could hear him. He shuffled around the large kitchen for a moment.
"I guess your not in here," He murmured under his breath. I heard his loud retreating footsteps and finally allowed my self to breathe with a loud huff.
Suddenly I was yanked by my legs out from underneath the island. I squeaked and wriggled in Edwards tight grip. He laughed wickedly and growled playfully.
He slid my body underneath his and leaned over me like a predator trapping his prey playful green eyes bored into mine. I was helpless. And a goner. My breathing was still heavy. He chuckled and bent down to position his hands on either side of my head and his lips went to my neck. I gasped.
"You ass!" I slapped him playfully and he chuckled again "You frightened the shit out of me!" I breathed. This made him smirk against my skin. It made goosebumps rise on my heated skin. "How…How did you get back in here without me hearing you?" I asked, barely coherent with his lips on my skin.
He lifted his head to look at me, his eyes full of mirth.
"I walked out loudly then crept back in and climbed on top of the island," He grinned "I knew you were under there - I could hear your heavy breathing," He smirked and leaned back down to my neck. Damn! I hadn't fooled him one bit…Well, he was a wolf. He must have super senses…
"Oh," I replied at last. His bronze hair was tickling my nose so I curled some of it round my fingers and stroked his head gently. He seemed to enjoy it as he let out a small, muffled moan.
"So…Can we eat breakfast now?" I asked hopefully. I was starving and didn't need to be nervous around Edward. He looked up again and his eyes were softer.
"Of course, love," He said and sat up "I forgot you haven't eaten since yesterday," He shook his head and stood up, offering me his hand in assistance.
I took it gratefully and we walked to the fridge to choose ingredients for breakfast. Pancakes - brilliant!
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After breakfast Edward took on a serious look and led me to the living room silently, all playfulness forgotten. I knew what was coming. The Big Talk. I internally groaned about it but kept a poker face.
Edward pulled me down onto his lightly coloured fabric sofa and curled me up into his lap without question. He clicked the TV remote on to a news channel and turned it down low. Then he turned to me.
"Now," He started. I gulped. "Let's talk about yesterday," He told me with an air of command in his voice.
"Okay…" I whispered. Would he throw me out now? Would he be like Charlie and hurt me every day? Would he be disgusted once he heard my story and past? He waited expectantly for me to talk. "Um…okay, well…how about you start?" I said quietly, silently praying he would agree. He sighed gently.
"Alright, I'll ask you questions and you answer as truthfully as you can, okay?" He said softly. "I won't pressure you Bella, but I can tell something is wrong," He said whilst frowning thoughtfully. "You wouldn't have came with me last night if you didn't absolutely need to, or you are completely reckless," He chuckled darkly. I swallowed bile and kept quiet. Edward softly took my hand in his and drew soothing circles on my knuckles. "Okay, first question," He began "Why were you in my meadow? I've never seen you there before," He asked, puzzled. I looked up at him slowly.
"I was there to get some air and some space," I answered truthfully.
Charlie's house could get very stuffy in summer. Edward nodded, deep in thought.
"And where do you live?" He asked, interested. Oh…should I tell him that?
"I live in a little white house with my father a few hundred yards from the meadow," I replied. My voice wobbled slightly on the word 'father' as mine was nothing of the sort. He was a monster for sure.
I swallowed another lump that had quickly formed in my throat.
"Who hurt you?" Edward asked outright.
"How?! I mean…how do you know someone hurts me, you don't know me!" I gasped. How did he know? He can't have seen Charlie hurting me…
"I can tell by the scars and bruises on your skin," He stroked my neck softly where a large scar had been created many years ago - at the hands of Charlie.
"Um…" I didn't know how to reply to this. No one had truly cared before.
I used to have a friend called Rosalie who lived in town for a few years. Those years of my life were the best. Rose was the only one who knew about Charlie and his evil ways. She was blonde, beautiful and could have been popular but she chose to be friends with me.
She comforted and supported me all through my ordeal. Charlie never let her over to the house - and I didn't want her there. Charlie might have started on her.
Rose's parents - Royce and Julie - forced her to move to New York when we were fifteen. I was devastated to say the least.
We had both cried for days and Rose considered running away and hiding but I pleaded her not to. It would be easier for her.
She promised to stay in touch via email, but Charlie destroyed my laptop that my mom had gotten for me for my ninth birthday to last me until I was older. I wasn't allowed it until I was ten, and even then Charlie reluctantly handed it over when Mom had died. It wasn't the most expensive or pretty, but it was a good laptop. Charlie was fed up with me emailing Rose so he broke it and chucked it.
I had never heard from her again. I didn't have her phone number or an address so I couldn't contact her anymore. She still was still on my mind every single day since then. I was now eighteen and it still hurt to think about her…
"Bella…Bella?…Bella?!" Edward's frantic voice snapped me out of my painful memories.
"What's wrong sweetness?" He whispered sadly, as he wiped at the traitor tears that were now pouring down my face unexpectedly. I fisted his t-shirt in my hands and slumped against his chest in a hysterical crying fit. Edward's hands rubbed up and down my back in calming movements.
As if trying to sooth a distressed baby. I was sure acting like one. He murmured sweet things in my ears as I slowly calmed down. When I had finally calmed down I told him everything.
I had to, if I wanted to stay with him. He had saved me from potentially the worst beating of my life.
"Charlie, my father, has been beating me since my mom died when I was ten," I began. Edward didn't scrunch his face in disgust or move away. He held me closer and kissed my hair. I swallowed and continued with my sad excuse for a life story.
"They were minor things at first - like a shove or a pull of my hair. But they got worse as he got more depressed about Mom's death and began drinking more," I mumbled and wiped at stray tears that had escaped. Edward stayed silent - offering his silent support to me.
"He started to punch me, hit me, kick me…He threw me down the stairs on one occasion," I shuddered harshly at the memory. I had broken three ribs that day and when Charlie took me to the hospital he lied and told the doctor I had tripped over my feet and fallen myself. I told Edward this and his eyes darkened considerably in what I assumed was anger, but he remained silent.
"He would take the belt to me when I was younger, but now I'm a teenager he would use anything to throw at me or hit me with," I explained painfully. The memories of Charlie's fist smashing into my face and any other part of my body he could access.
"Didn't anyone notice all this Bella?" He asked, horrified. I shook my head.
"Charlie made me wear make-up to cover the bruises and cuts and I had to wear long-sleeved shirts and long, baggy trousers, so know one ever knew. Except for…" I hesitated. Should I dare tell him about Rose? She was the only secret and friend I had left. "Except for Rose," I gulped out. Edward frowned slightly and rubbed my hip.
"Who's Rose?" He asked quietly, hesitantly. I took a well needed deep breath before telling him about my best friend and confidant.
"Rosalie Hale was my best friend for two years at Fork's High School," I started shakily. It hurt to talk about her. "She was the only person I could trust with my secret and she kept it all those years…" I trailed off, sniffling.
"What happened to her?" Edward asked gently. I loved the way he nudged me with his simple words - it made me feel in control for once.
"Rose's parents made her move to New York when we were fifteen so they could earn a bigger salary in Building Developments," I replied, my voice wobbling. Edward nodded in understanding. "Her parents weren't very concerned about our feelings, even though they could have paid for a full time carer to live here in Forks with her," I told him.
Royce and Julie were very greedy for money and selfish in their ways of getting it - no matter how much it affected Rose or anyone else.
"Did you keep in touch?" Edward prodded gently. I nodded.
"For a short time yes. But Charlie broke my laptop that mom had gave me and didn't bother to fix it," I gulped sadly. "I didn't have her new address or phone number so we never heard or saw each other again," I mumbled and my eyes welled up with tears again.
Edward pulled me even closer and wrapped his arms around me tightly. I felt so safe in the cocoon of his warm, strong arms and snuggled against his chest. He sighed in contentment and I did the same.
"You've had some life, my brave Bella," He whispered softly, sadly "But you are safe now, and that…that bastard of a man isn't ever going to lay a hand on you again," He whispered in a deadly, icy tone and I shivered. "While your in my care, he won't get near you," He said in a softer tone and I nodded numbly. He truly cared for me.
"You can have a new life with me Bella - a home. A safe home," He held my hands in his and nuzzled my hair with his nose. "We can even try and track down Rosalie if you'd like?" He asked me. As if I needed to be asked twice!
"Really?" I squealed hopefully and snapped my head up to look him in the eye.
"Of course. Anything to make you happy," He laughed softly. My arms were around his neck in an embrace before I could stop them. He chuckled and hugged me back with as much enthusiasm. Then something dawned on me.
"But…Won't that cost…money?" I said in a small voice. Money was something I did not have in my possession. Edward shook his head at me.
"I have plenty Bella," He frowned "I may not work, but my parents left me a large estate when they passed over - enough to last me for well over my life span," He explained gently. I could only nod. His parents were dead. To me Charlie was dead in how he had treated me.
"Besides," He shrugged "I may have a close friend who could help us out in the tracking down department," He winked at me.
"You have friends?" I gasped out before I could help myself and clapped my hand over my mouth in horror. I was so embarrassed. How rude! He simply chuckled and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, Bella you make me laugh. Of course I have a few friends. I'm totally in control of my…wolfy form. No one knows except you my love" He added and kissed my flaming cheeks which caused them to darken to a deeper shade of red. I nodded, still mortified at how rude I had been.
"Don't worry Bella, I'm not offended. I can understand why you would think that, but this friend lives in Seattle," He explained whilst grinning at my blushing and embarrassment.
"Okay," I said in a small voice. I was internally jumping for joy at the thought of maybe, just maybe seeing or hearing from Rose once more. Would she still remember me? Still like me? I pushed those thoughts away and snuggled closer to Edward.
"How about we start tomorrow?" He suggested. I was going to burst with excitement.
"No way!" I asked but I saw the seriousness in his face "Can we?" I added in hope. He laughed once more and I swear I could hear the sound on a loop forever.
"Of course Bella, I want to do this for you," He said seriously "It would also make me happy to see Emmett again," He told me. So, Emmett was his tracker friend?
"Is Emmett your friend who can maybe track her down?" I asked, Edward nodded a silent answer.
I was so excited I swear my butt had grown springs. Edward decided he would deal with Charlie when the time came. In the back of my mind I still worried, but shoved unpleasant thoughts aside.
Edward was the centre of my world now. He suggested we should do something fun and went to the cupboard and brought out a box of old, cheesy board games.
I laughed and we settled on the fluffy, white rug on the hardwood floor, with the dusty box between us.
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Hehe! So what did you think? I worked my ass off to get this up tonight. I didn't want to leave it until tomorrow because I have school (sadly!) :(
Who do you think Rosalie will be connected to? Leave your guesses in a review! Though, it's pretty obvious!
Board game fun in the next chapter *wiggles eyebrows* We might even get the first LEMON! Woop! Who would like one? You have to leave me a review to get one! *evil laugh*
As always, REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!