((Chapter 11))
She reached her truck and jumped in as fast as she was able. Turned the keys, that were still in the ignition over, and heard the engine
grumble angrily at her. She drove the road home as fast as she could coax her truck, speeding when she knew she could.
One of the perks of being Charlie Swan Police Chief's daughter, you always knew where the cops were lurking.
Her stomach felt like it was literally turning inside out, and for the first time since she had met him, she dreaded seeing Edward.
Bella
didn't have to dread for too long, because as she approached the
boundary line, there they were. Edward and Emmett.
Standing
practically in the middle of the road as she slowed down.
She thought gravely "I should have known the rest of them wouldn't support him in what could result in imminent injury or death for either species, but
Emmett was always up for a fight."
She pulled over on the shoulder of the road, in front of the enormous Jeep and cut the truck off, throwing it into park.
He rushed over to her, yanking the door open, eying her from head to toe, taking in her disheveled appearance,
her arm in a sling, and his eyes burned with rage.
He went to cup her face in his hands, like always, she jerked away from him.
"Love?" He asked, in what she used to think was such a beautiful velvety voice.
"Bella."
She answered, not taking her eyes from him.
She couldn't believe
it, she felt nothing. NOTHING.
"Okay, Bella it is then. What happened? Are you alright? I'll rip all of their heads off for this." He ranted, pointing to her arm.
"Would you stop, please Edward. There is no sense in that. I did it to MYSELF okay?"
"Oh, you broke your own arm did you? And how did you manage to do that?"
"Which version do you want?" She asked coolly
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Well, I can tell you I fell, and leave it at that. Or I can go into the long drawn out reason that I fell. Which do you want Edward? Do you have time
for the second one, because really, I don't have all night."
Emmett looked over at him and raised his eyebrows in question.
Edward shook his head no at him, so he waved to Bella, and climbed into his Jeep cranking loud music.
"What is all of this about?" He asked, trying to coax her over so he could sit in the drivers seat.
"I'm comfortable where I am, Edward." She told him, rubbing the creases on her forehead.
"Okay then." He sighed. "Just spit it out Bella. What is going on?"
"Short version: You made me feel as if I didn't matter, and I had no life so I went out and got one. You won't have to deal with me any longer,
you can move on and do whatever you like."
"You're angry with me." He said simply. "I can explain."
"You don't have to, Edward." She said softly "I don't need your explanation. Believe me. You always say the best way to deal with things is straight on, right?
Okay, so here goes. Remember the imprinting stories we've heard about the wolves?"
"Yes, but I don't see what that has to do with.."
"I've been imprinted upon, Edward. I'm sorry."
"Like HELL you have. By whom? I'll kill him. I swear to god, I will rip him limb from limb myself."
"You'll break the treaty like that, will you? Ruin everything your family has worked so hard for, all of this time?"
"For you, I'd fight Satan himself, so yes."
"It's ridiculous, Edward. I am not worth fighting for, if I'm not fighting for the same thing you are. And I'm not. You hadn't even seen me in quite a while before
this even happened. I was worthy of two whole phone calls. Don't you see, this all happened for a reason. I'm not your eternity. You never wanted to change me,
and now, you don't have to. I've already been altered permanently." She said, smiling softly, thinking of Seth.
"WHO.? JUST TELL ME WHO?" He demanded.
"I'm not going to do that. I'll ask one thing of you, just one. For me, please leave the wolves, and my family in peace. You said I could go on without you if I chose to do so.
I'm choosing to do so. Can we leave it at that?" Hope apparent on her face.
He gripped her left upper arm, causing her to cringe as pain shot through her entire body.
"GET
YOUR DAMNED HANDS OFF OF MY GIRLFRIEND YOU FILTHY LEECH, NOW!"
was the next thing she heard.
Edward released her almost
immediately, hissing. In a split second he and Emmett were both
standing on one side of the boundary line, her best friend, and her
entire soul were on the other side.
All she could do was look on in horror and pray.
