Stephene Meyers owns character names

Chapter 11- Seth' room

It was early Friday evening. Edward gazed at the flickering shadows on his ceiling. He heard his mother puttering around in the kitchen downstairs. Tonight was another bingo night.

She loses more than she wins every-time but it doesn't faze her. She seemed to love sitting among the throngs of other women and brave men wasting hours and money in a haze of smoke and idle gossip. Her shrill call broke his thoughts.

"Edward! I'm leaving! Wash the dishes and take out the trash!"

The door slammed shut, as usual there were no "good-byes," no "see ya laters," no "I love you's."

Yeah, what the fuck ever.

Edward rolled off the bed, dragging his sheets to the floor. The house was as silent as a tomb and he hated it.

He untangled himself and lumbered to the stairs. When he passed Seths' room, a shiver went through him. Since his mother's nervous breakdown, she had kept the room exactly as it was.

For Edward, seeing it everyday was a nightmare. Seths' clothes still hung in the closet and were folded neatly in the drawers. His bed remained unmade because he always hated making it. Cd's were strewn around the floor near a slight brownish stain on the blue rug.

It was Seth' blood.

Edward hastened toward the kitchen area. He collected the few dishes that lay on the table, remnants of his mother's breakfast, burnt toast ends and hardboiled eggshells.

A black mug with bitter coffee and cigarette ashes sat nearby. He sighed and scraped it all away. As the hot water and suds rose, Edward thought of how she had lost all her diligence for real housework.

Edward tried to help out, but it was never enough or appreciated. The wind rattled the windows and howled as the sky darkened for a storm. A fear began to seize him as he dried his hands.

He closed his eyes to recollect himself. On nights like this he and Seth would hang in either of their rooms, shut down the lights, and tell scary stories. They pigged out on Dorito's or pizza. Edward lost his taste for any horror since Seth' death. Reality proved far worse.

A loud slam from upstairs made Edward jump back and knock into the table. The noise came from Seth' room. He heard movement and froze. His heart thudded violently and small beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

"What the fuck was that!"

Edward crept to the stairway. The soft light from Seth' room illuminated the hallway.

He didn't realize he had left it on. Edward couldn't go up. He grasped the wall and screamed in his mind.

Nightmares had plagued him about Seth for a long time. The doorbell's loud chime startled him more. He ran and peeked through the window shade.

Bella! He had almost forgotten their plan to do the project. He opened the door wide.

Bella yelped as the door flung open. She stepped in, Edward's face looked pale and his eyes were widened with fear. She took his arm.

"Edward, what happened? You don't look well."

"Bella...Shit..I'm fine...I'm sorry, I almost forgot you were coming, come inside, sit down."

Edward moved stiffly and he led her to the kitchen table. His hands shook as he pulled out her chair. She slid her book-bag off and felt his hands, they were cold and he clenched his fists tightly.

He kept stealing glances at the staircase; suddenly glass broke from inside Seth' room.

Bella jumped up and rushed toward the stairs. Edward followed close behind.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Edward, something fell, we should see what it is."

Bella climbed the steps, gently shaking her arm from his grip. She stopped by Seth' room. When she opened the door she immediately saw why Edward was upset.

This was his dead brother's room, but it looked like he would walk in at any moment.

Edward was gazing at the floor with disdain. A picture had fallen from the shelf and cracked. It was a Junior High portrait of Seth. His large, familiar smile shone through the glass.

The picture was taken a few days before the accident. Bella picked it up and went to hand it to him. Edward backed into the doorframe and a stifling claustrophobic feeling seized him.

A flash of black and white fur skidded past Bella's feet; it was Seth' cat 'Jackal.' His tail stood on end and he hissed at them, baring his sharp little teeth. Bella gingerly put the picture face down on the desk.

A loud crack of thunder followed by a bolt of lightning made them both jump and all the lights flickered. Edward couldn't take the overwhelming stress.

Leaving Bella, he flew down the stairs and caught himself by the bookshelf in the living room. Tears blurred his eyes, he squeezed them shut and wiped them away. He looked up and his mother's grotesque cross only mocked him.

Edward snarled and knocked it down feeling no regret. The fake icon was not Jesus at all; just a rotting hunk of chipped wood and rusted metal.

Bella had followed, but stood at a distance, giving him time to compose himself. She looked up sadly at the empty room. She imagined it was stressful for Edward to see it everyday and know his brother was never coming back.

Edward had told her about his mother's behavior since Seth died. It was depressing, and she knew it pained him. She crept forward, swallowing the large lump in her throat.

Since she met Edward Cullen she had always depended on him, and he never failed her.

Now, he needed her. She put a hand on his shoulder, gently stroking it. His body was wracking with sobs that she felt through her own being. He spun around and silently embraced her in hug.

He buried his head in her shoulder and they sank to the rug. She softly ran her fingers through his crazy hair, and then hugged him just as tight in return. She cried silently with him.

"I'm here for you, Edward, you can talk to me, I want to help you if I can."

Edward held onto her as if he had never held anyone in his life. It had been a long time since he felt the comfort of someone's arms, not even a friendly embrace.

He mumbled things about his mother and father and kept apologizing over and over. She gently rocked him back and forth, for what may have been ten minutes.

When his body relaxed and his tears subsided, He refocused himself and rested his head on her shoulder.

"Bella...don't leave me alone, please help me."

Bella sighed inwardly. Her stomach danced and her heart broke. She smiled tenderly.

"I won't leave you Edward, I'll always help you, just like you've always helped me, I promise."

Edward managed to smile back. "Thanks, I think I'm okay now."

With his arm around her, he led her to the table. The incident wasn't mentioned the rest of the evening and Bella certainly didn't bring it up. They completed the project and ordered pizza.

By the time Mrs. Cullen returned home they were chatting about nonsense in school. Bella realized that Edward wasn't always serious. He was actually goofy and she loved it.

Tonight Edward had opened up and laughed loudly and freely, the first time in over a year.

This chapter was not much but just wanted to get some of Edward and his home life out there. Coming up next is the dinner party at Bella's.

Thanks for reading and please review!

CharmedHeart