AN: I totally had something to say before I uploaded this chapter, and now I can't remember what it was. Poop. Hm...oh well. Couldn't have been very important LOL. ENJOY!
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of its characters...but I do own some of the embarrassing moments in this chapter. Can you figure out which ones? LMAO
Humiliating Disasters
BPOV
Edward and I split ways as he went off to his staff quarters to grab his swimsuit while I headed back to the villa to change into mine. As soon as I was done changing, I headed down to the pool to meet up with everyone. Alice and Rose were the only ones there when I tossed my towel onto one of the chairs.
"So, what are the plans for while the guys are gone?" I asked as I sat down at the edge of the pool and let my legs hang down in the water.
"We were just talking about that. We figured Monday, we could just relax at the beach or the pool. Tuesday we really wanted to head back into town and check out some of the shops that we didn't venture into while we were there the last time, and hopefully they'll be back on Wednesday," Alice said and I nodded.
"Can you guys believe we've been here almost a week already?" Alice asked and we both shook our heads.
"I'll tell you what I can't believe. I can't believe we haven't had to pry her ass out of the bed once since we've been here," Rose laughed and I splashed water at her with my foot.
"Really, Bella. I swore we were going to have to wrestle you out of the bed every day for at least the first two weeks before you came around. I'm happy to see that I was wrong," she said and I looked down as I shrugged and nodded.
"What's gonna happen when we leave here in three weeks?" I asked gloomily. I knew out of the three of us, I'd have it the hardest with Edward actually living here, but Portland wasn't all that close to us, and Emmett probably wouldn't be going back to Seattle for another couple of months after we left.
"Have you and Edward talked about it?" Alice asked and I shrugged.
"He said we'll find a way to make it work. How exactly, I'm not sure," I replied sincerely.
"Jasper and I talked about it last night during the storm. It helped take my focus off of the weather...you know how I am with storms. Anyway, we decided that with my business being centered in Seattle, and him having the ability to freelance, he'd move up to Seattle when our relationship came to that," she said and I smiled at her, genuinely happy that they had it all worked out already.
"What about you and Emmett?" I asked Rose.
"We haven't really talked about it at all. I think we just don't feel the need to because he lives near Seattle. Our biggest hurdle will be the time between when we leave and when he returns home," she said and I nodded.
"Don't worry, Bells...it'll work out. I know it," Alice said as she tapped her temple. I chuckled and shook my head as I slipped into the water with them. We relaxed in the cool water for a few more minutes before we spotted the guys approaching. Edward made a gesture with his hand, asking if I wanted anything to drink. I smiled and nodded and he pointed to Alice and Rose.
"Do you guys want anything to drink? Edward's making a bar run," I said and they nodded to him and yelled out what they wanted. He laughed and veered away from Jasper and Emmett as he made his way down to the tiki bar.
"So what do you ladies want to do tomorrow?" Emmett asked as he hopped into the water right beside Rosalie.
"What are our choices?" Rose asked as she wrapped her arms around him. He lowered himself down into the water to her level and chuckled as he kissed her cheek.
"Your choices are endless...it's whatever you all want to do," he replied.
"Hm...well we've already done water skiing, and snorkeling...what do you girls think about parasailing?" Alice asked and I paled.
"Ali...you know I'm terrified of heights," I said as I shook my head.
"It'll be fine...we can do doubles that way you're not alone," Jasper offered and I shook my head vehemently as my heart began to pound in my chest.
"I'll go for the ride...but I'm not getting strapped to a kite and dragged through the air six hundred feet above shark infested waters," I said as I forced myself to chuckle, but it came out sounding as though I were gagging.
"Don't you mean barracuda infested waters, Bella?" Alice chortled and I stuck my tongue out at her.
"If you're seeing barracuda in the pool...I'm really going to have to drag you to that optometrist," Edward laughed as he approached with a tray full of drinks.
"I'm not seeing any barracuda in the pool, Edward. I haven't had enough to drink to hallucinate that creatively," I laughed and they all snickered.
"Just making sure," he chuckled as he put the tray down on the edge of the pool and handed me my glass.
"Thanks," I said gratefully, and he winked in return.
He slipped into the water and dunked himself under quickly before standing. Once again I found myself ogling him as the water droplets ran down his skin.
"Planning on catching some flies?" he chuckled as he gently pushed his finger against my drooping jaw. I closed it quickly and blushed.
"I can't help it," I muttered to the water. "You're too beautiful." He chuckled and knelt down in the water, looking up at me.
"I think it's cute that you ogle me unconsciously. I'm fairly certain I broke my jaw on the bar counter the first time I saw you," he chuckled and I scoffed as I shook my head.
"You don't seem to have a slack jaw issue any longer," I retorted as I rolled my eyes at him.
"On the contrary, it comes unhinged multiple times daily...you just never catch me before I put it back in place," he laughed and I chuckled.
"Great so not only do I have jaw issues, but I'm slow too. All I need to do now is start drooling to complete the picture of the village idiot," I joked and he laughed.
"Drool and all, you'll still be my village idiot," he chuckled as he pulled me toward him and kissed my belly.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his previous amusement vanished from his tone as he looked up to my troubled expression.
"Nothing," I said as I shook my head and forced myself to smile.
"It's not nothing. What is it?" he asked and I sighed as I placed my drink on the edge of the pool and sank down in the water.
"I'm just worried, that's all," I admitted as he pulled me toward him. I wrapped my legs around his waist under the water and ran my hands over his arms to his shoulders.
"What are you worried about?" he asked and then kissed my chin.
"I'm worried about how hard it's going to be when I leave. We aren't like Rosalie and Emmett who both live in Seattle, or Jasper and Alice who even though they don't live in the same state, they don't live worlds away either the way you and I do," I confided and he nodded, placing a kiss on my collarbone.
"So let's discuss it," he said and I nodded. "In three weeks, you'll be going back to Seattle. The way I see it, we have two options. Either we try to maintain a long distance relationship, and visit each other as often as possible, or one of us relocates," he said, completely at ease as if the decision were as easy as choosing between strawberry or grape jelly on your breakfast toast. At least with toast you can chuck it and make a fresh batch in a few minutes if you change your mind. Relocating your place of residence to an entirely different part of the world isn't anywhere near that easy.
"Edward, you can't leave here. You work here, your family is here, everything you've known for the last eight years is here, and I can't leave Seattle. My family is there, and Rosalie and Alice will be there," I said as I shook my head, realizing just how messed up our situation really is.
"Bella, first of all, I don't really work here, you know that. As far as my family goes, it's just my aunts and uncles who live here year round, but they're gone more than they're here anyway, well not Diane and Marcus but they aren't really family. Once this place was up and running, Esme decided to start traveling with Carlisle whenever he left to do his volunteer work. If, at the end of your stay here, you wanted me to go with you, I'd pack up in a heart beat and go. There's really nothing tying me to this place," he replied quickly.
"But what about all you do around here? You can't just pick up and leave. They need you," I argued and he shook his head.
"They can hire someone else to do what I do around here. Look at Emmett and Jasper. They only come here during the summer because they want to, not because they have to. It's the same for me. I've stayed here because I've wanted to. I can leave any time I want to."
"Would you want to leave though?" I asked nervously.
"Honestly...if leaving meant that I was able to be with you, yes," he said confidently as he gazed into my eyes. I bit my lip as my eyes darted between his as they burned into me.
"Bella, look," he sighed, "I love my aunt and uncle like there's no tomorrow, but I haven't felt at home since I lived with my parents. That feeling of being complete, safe, and secure...that feeling of being home...is something that I haven't felt until being with you. Wherever you are is where I feel at home. It doesn't matter to me where you go or where you live. If you want me there with you, I'll be there because you're home to me," he said as happy tears welled up in my eyes.
"So, hypothetically speaking, if I were to say I wanted you to come live in Seattle…what would you say?"
"I'd say… am I renting or moving in?" he said as he placed kisses around my face. I bit the inside of my lip to fight off the mother whopper of all goofy grins.
"What would your answer be?" he asked as he pulled his lips back from my skin.
"Hypothetically?" I asked, as a slight bit of my shit eatin' grin escaped my control barrier and he smirked.
"Of course," he replied as he nodded.
"I'd say… get your own damn place cause you snore and hog the blankets," I laughed and his lips pressed together as his eyes narrowed at me.
"I snore? I had a hard time telling if it was the shutters shaking in the wind or if it was actually possible that something that loud could come from something so small and beautiful," he joked, at least I think he was joking…either way I gasped and slapped his arm as his beautiful laughter surrounded me.
"I don't really snore, do I?" I asked self consciously. He chuckled and shook his head.
"No…but you do have a habit of tossing the covers off yourself in your sleep. I gave up on pulling them back up after about the fifth time you kicked them to the bottom of the bed," he said and I blushed.
"Sorry…it was kind of hot in the room with the power being out and all," I mumbled embarrassedly.
"No need to be sorry...It was rather enjoyable once the power came back on...and so did your lamp," he chuckled and I swatted his arm.
"Perv," I mumbled and he laughed.
"Hey...I'm not the one that had an orgy with your clothing, or did you forget about that?" he chuckled and my head tipped back as I laughed.
"No I didn't forget, and I'd be lying if I said it would never happen again," I snickered.
"What am I going to do with you?" he chuckled as he shook his head. I thought about my response to the last time he had said that, and found it to be just as suiting now as it was then.
"Keep me," I said as I grinned at him.
"Always," he murmured against my lips and then closed the distance, pressing our lips together firmly. My fingers thread into his wet hair as I pulled him closer to me, and I felt him harden against me as my nails scratched lightly against his scalp.
"I swear you'll be the death of me one day," he muttered as we broke apart and I laughed.
"Bella!" Rose yelled and Edward spun us in the water in the direction of her voice.
"Yeah?" I called back across the pool.
"Change of plans for tomorrow! There's too many guests going parasailing! We're going fishing!" she yelled and I laughed as I nodded.
"Okay!" I yelled back.
"Great...I could use a few new ear piercings," I chuckled as I shook my head.
"Note to self...forbid anyone from actually casting a line tomorrow," Edward chuckled and I laughed.
"You're going to be too worried about me to help on that supply run," I joked and he shook his head.
"Nope...because I'm going to fit you with a bullet proof suit and roll you up in bubble wrap and duct tape it to you. I'm even going to put a brain bowl on you just to be safe," he laughed and I gasped as I slapped his arm.
"Edward!" I wailed and he laughed harder. "That's not funny! I'd look like the Marshmallow Stay Puft Man!"
"But you'd be safe," he chuckled and I snorted as I shook my head.
"The way you talk you'd think I was a walking catastrophe. I may be close, but a catastrophe I am not... I'm more like a calamity," I retorted and his head fell back as he laughed. I'd never get tired of that sound as long as I lived.
"What are you guys laughing so much about?" Alice chuckled as she swam up to us.
"My apparent need to be wrapped in bubble wrap while they're gone because I'm accident prone," I said and she giggled.
"That probably wouldn't be a bad idea. Wish I would have thought about that before that science fair in high school," she smirked as she stood up next to us.
"Ali..don't...please. That was beyond embarrassing," I pleaded.
"Bella..it wasn't that bad. Besides..it was years ago. You're not quite as uncoordinated as you were back then," she chuckled and I shook my head as I tried to hide my face in Edward's chest.
"What happened at the science fair? I have to hear this," he chuckled just as everyone else came up to join us.
"Oh God...you're going to tell him the story aren't you?" Rose asked and Alice nodded.
"In ninth grade, we partnered up for a science fair. Our project had something to do with chemical reactions, I don't remember exactly what it was anymore though. Anyway, we had to mix chemicals in a test tube and then put them over a Bunsen burner for them to react and then explain what the reaction was or something. Well, Bella went to light the burner and before I could stop her, she singed off one of her eyebrows because her head was too close to the damn thing. She stumbled backwards, falling into someone else's table, knocking it over and ended up getting covered in different types of oils. When she tried to stand, she kept slipping on the oil and falling back down. She finally gave up and ended up crawling away, still sliding all over the floor on her hands and knees mind you, as I trailed after her trying not to slip and fall on the oil streaks she was leaving behind her," Alice chuckled.
"The worst part was how long it took for her to grow that damn eyebrow back. She tried to pencil it in once but good God that was a scary sight. She never tried that again, she just plopped a bandage over it until it grew back," Rosalie chortled.
"Jesus! Why in the hell did you have your face so close to that thing?!" Emmett bellowed and I tried to shrink within myself.
"I don't know. I always hated science, and being around all those damn people and judges made me nervous," I grumbled.
"Love, I really think you need to rethink that distinction between calamity and catastrophe because that was definitely catastrophic," Edward chuckled and I laughed sardonically.
"Oh that wasn't the worst of them all. You need the Holy Grail story if you want to call one of her embarrassing moments catastrophic," Rose chuckled.
"Why do you call it the Holy Grail story?" Jasper asked and I wanted to die right there.
"Because you'd have to travel and search for eons to find an embarrassing moment of this magnitude," she replied as she chuckled.
"So help me God, Rose...if you tell that story I'll drown you happily," I warned.
"Whatever, Bella. You'll probably trip and drown before you can catch me," she smirked and I huffed angrily.
"The Holy Grail story comes from our senior prom. She was so nervous that night, and it was making her more uncoordinated than usual with all the fidgeting she was doing. So Ms. Disgraceful here, trips and falls down the stairs as she goes down to meet her date. As if that wasn't bad enough, we get to the prom, and she's still red as a tomato as she walks in, trips over the threshold, and falls into the arch where we were supposed to take pictures. The whole thing comes crashing down and hit multiple people on its way, ruining the hair of a few girls, and even manages to cause Kevin Brenner to need seven stitches right above his left eyebrow."
"A few hours later, she went to the bathroom, and got her damn dress caught up in her skivvies, and Lord knows how long she walked around like that before Alice and I saw it. To top the night off, she decided to take her heels off and do the electric slide with us, where she slid on the hardwood floor and busted her ass while trying to turn. When she went down, the entire dance floor got a glimpse of her knickers as well as the piece of TP stuck between her stockings and underwear," she ranted as they all burst out laughing hysterically and I about died of embarrassment right there, plum purple face and all.
"I'm sorry," Edward chuckled as everyone else was laughing hysterically. "I wish I would have known you in high school, I wouldn't have let any of that happen."
"Just laugh, Edward. I know you want to...it's impossible not to if you aren't me," I grumbled as I crossed my arms in front of my chest. I could tell how much effort he was putting into stifling his amusement. He was shaking for Christ's sake.
"I don't want to laugh at you when it clearly still bothers you," he said, his voice strained as he continued to fight off his amusement.
"It was years ago. I'm over it...I just hate that they brought that crap up. Go ahead and laugh before you have an aneurysm or some shit," I said as I poked him in the chest and forced myself to chuckle. Thankfully it came out decently believable. I'm not sure if it was my permission for him to laugh at me, or Jasper and Emmett's continuous booming laughter that finally caused him to crack, but his sudden guffaw nearly startled me.
"I'm sorry," he chuckled when his laughter finally died down. "It's just the visuals of all of that are too vivid not to laugh." I continued to glare down at the water, chewing on the inside of my cheek with my arms folded across my chest as I nodded slightly.
"I'm sorry. Really," he said, his tone devoid of any remaining amusement.
"It's fine," I grumbled and he curled a finger under my chin and guided my gaze to meet his.
"No...it's not. It clearly still bothers you, and I shouldn't have laughed," he said remorsefully as the echoing laughter of his brother and his cousin, as well as my best friends, continued to reverberate through the air.
"Emmett, Jasper...shut the fuck up! It isn't that goddamn funny," he said angrily as I tucked my head into his chest. He quickly stood in the water and started moving away from them. Their laughter ceased almost immediately, the only sounds remaining belonging to the dying chuckles of my best friends.
"Oh shit..." I heard Emmett mutter, followed by rapid sloshing of water as Edward continued to move away from them and rubbed my back in an attempt to comfort me.
"Baby girl...I'm sorry. I didn't know it still bothered you," he said frantically as he tried to step around Edward, but he kept twisting away.
"Dude, just back the fuck off for a minute," Edward growled and I tried to take deep calming breaths to stop the tears that wanted to pour from my eyes.
Oh how I hated my best friends at the moment. I don't think it was possible for them to make me look like any more of a giant ass than I already appeared during any given moment on a normal day. For the first time in my life, I wished I had some type of Ace in my pocket to throw out and make them look like the shits they were in that moment, but of course, unlike me they were goddamn perfect.
"Bells?" Rosalie asked warily and I gritted my teeth together.
"Can you guys all just leave me alone for like five goddamn minutes? If you're going to toss me into the fiery pits of mortification without my permission, at least grant me the decency of being able to recover without looking like even more of a fucking ass," I grumbled as I continued to hide my face from everyone.
If a tsunami was going to hit at any given moment, I prayed to God it was this one, because I didn't think I'd ever be able to look at a single one of them in the face again. What was worse than that, was that their reactions to my being upset were making it completely impossible for me to stop the tears from coming, simply because it's one thing to be simply mortified, but it's quite another to be mortified and then humiliated yet again by having people notice how upset it made you to be embarrassed in the first place.
"Edward...put me down on the ledge please," I said quietly, trying to stop my voice from quivering.
"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly as he moved toward the edge of the pool.
"I'll be fine...I just need to be alone for a few minutes," I said as calmly as I could.
"Okay...I love you, Bella," he said softly and I nodded into his chest.
"I know," I replied, unable to say it back at the moment, even though it wouldn't have been any less true if I had said it in that moment than if I had replied in kind hours before. He sighed and placed me down on the ledge of the pool, kissing the top of my head before unwrapping his arms from around me.
I didn't waste a fraction of a moment before getting up and darting off. It was bad enough that they all knew I was upset, but I'd be damned if I'd let them see me cry over it. Though some might say I was being melodramatic and completely overreacting, I'd dare them to have walked in my shoes throughout my life, experiencing each time I tripped, or made an ass out of myself, or was the butt of someone's joke, only to get laughed at and made fun of every single time someone that witnessed your most recent moment of disgrace passed you in the hallway or even out in public. If they could live through that their entire life, and still say I was being melodramatic, then and only then, would I somehow be able to agree with them.
I darted up the steps with tears flowing down my face, and burst through the front door, slamming it behind me. Not once did I ever stop to second guess why it wasn't locked as I stormed through the living room and straight into my bedroom, slamming that door behind me as well before tossing myself onto the bed face first and allowing my sobs to rip through me. I hadn't been there but maybe five minutes at the most when I felt the bed sink down next to me and a hand trail lightly over my back.
"Look...I already told you, I need to be alone," I said with as much strength as I could muster at that point.
"Awww...whatsa matter, beautiful? Did that shit Edward break your heart already? And after only a few rounds too," a male's voice said and I damn near choked as my breath caught in my throat. I scrambled to the other side of the bed and fell onto the floor.
"How the hell did you get in here?" I spat as I stood and shook with fear.
Adrenaline was coursing through my veins, my heart pounding against my chest, as he held up a key dangling from his finger. Tyler's sinister smile, and creepy eyes did absolutely nothing to calm my fears as I realized I was trapped on the absolute worst side of the room. All three of my possible routes to safety were behind him, the sliding glass doors, the bedroom door, and even the bathroom door...all behind him. I had nothing behind me but a goddamn wall with some landscape prints on it.
"I must say, he's got some damn good taste for a weekday flavor...damn good taste," he said as he stood off the bed and slowly started to walk toward me.
"You take one more fucking step and so help me God I will scream bloody fucking murder!" I warned severely.
Could I have picked a more perfect time to say I needed to be alone? Oh dear God please let this be one of the times that they don't listen to me...
"Aww, don't be like that, sugar. I'm into moaners...not screamers," he smirked and my heart just about shot through my throat as my eyes damn near popped out of my head.
He couldn't.... There's no way.... Please tell me he didn't...
"So what's it gonna be, sugar? Are you gonna play nice, or are you going to be a feisty one?" he asked and I felt the bile begin to creep up the back of my throat. I knew I had all of about thirty seconds to act at the pace he was moving.
I'm sorry Esme... I thought as I picked up the lamp on the nightstand next to me.
I ripped it from the wall and threw it at him as hard as I could, and the moment it left my fingertips, I scrambled across the bed, trying to make my way to any of the three doors on the other side of the room. Either my aim sucks worse than I thought, or he had been anticipating my action all along, because just as I was about to slide off the other side of the bed, he grabbed a hold of my ankle and tugged back hard. It hurt like hell, but I knew if I didn't fight with everything in me, I wasn't going to walk out of this room without becoming a victim of whatever the hell he had in mind.
"Mmm I like em feisty," he chuckled darkly as he righted himself, one of his hands still holding onto my ankle as the other ran down the length of my leg making my skin crawl.
"Don't fucking touch me," I spat as I pulled my leg back as far as I could, and thrust it right toward his face, catching him right at the bridge of his nose with my heel. His hand immediately released my ankle and I scurried off the bed limping, the pain in my ankle damn near unbearable, as I tried to run for the door, leaving him groaning and holding his face behind me. I had just made it to the front door and gotten my hand on the doorknob when he ran up behind me and grabbed a hold of my hair, pulling back so hard that I stumbled backward and fell on the floor.
Shit...SHIT!!...I'm really not going to get out of this!!...
"HELP!!!!!!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, only to have him roughly slap his hand over my mouth. I bit down into his flesh as hard as I could and screamed again. Instead of covering my mouth again, he grabbed me around the neck, tightening his hold hard enough to render me incapable of screaming.
As he continued to drag me backwards, no matter how much I clawed at his skin, he wouldn't let go, and I couldn't get my footing underneath of me quickly enough to actually make a move against him. My heart was ready to burst through my chest as he started pull me into the hallway and I desperately tried to cling to the sides of the walls. For a moment I swore I was hallucinating from the lack of oxygen when I started to hear my father's voice in my head.
Groin, kiddo...Groin. What did I always tell you to do if a guy attacked you?...
My feet scrambled beneath me, as I tried to put myself into a position where I could strike him. I closed my eyes and mustered up as much strength as I could, pulling my elbow out in front of me, and making it look like I was grabbing for his hand again before I thrust it backwards as hard as I could, hoping my blind aim hit him right where I needed to.
My aim may have been off with the lamp, but it hit dead center with my elbow as he fell to the floor, knocking me over and pinning me beneath him as his hand came off of my neck. I took in frantic breaths as I pushed and kicked at him and tried to move away. Over the sounds of his pained groans, I heard footsteps coming up the front steps of the villa and knock on the door. My throat was bone dry and throbbing, my body drained of strength, but my safety was relying solely on whoever was on the opposite side of that door.
"Help," I croaked as I sobbed and slid across the floor. The person knocked again, and I sobbed harder knowing that they hadn't heard me.
"Bella? Please open the door. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," Edward's voice emanated from the other side. Panic shot through me as Tyler lunged forward, grabbing a hold of my injured ankle and painfully jerking me back toward him across the wooden threshold separating the carpeted living room from the hardwood flooring in the hallway.
"You stupid bitch. You're gonna pay for that," Tyler growled low and menacingly as he struggled to slam his hand down over my mouth.
"Edward help!" I cried out hoarsely, twisting my head from side to side as I tried to kick and push my way out of his grasp.
The front door burst open, sending parts of the door frame flying just as Tyler's hand came down upon my mouth harshly, banging my head against the hard wooden floor. I sobbed into the palm of his hand as I clawed at it, trying to get it away from my face, the floor beneath me shaking with Edward's rapid heavy footsteps. Tyler's eyes shot wide open in fear as his hand flew from my mouth and he tried to scramble backwards.
"You fucking piece of shit!" Edward roared as he sidestepped my curled up sobbing form. He grabbed a hold of the front of Tyler's shirt, lifting him easily off the floor and slamming him into the wall. I tried to slide myself away from them, but I just didn't have the strength to do so.
"I warned you to stay away from her," he growled menacingly as his fist connected with the side of Tyler's face.
"Ed, come on... She said she wa...Oh Jesus," Emmett muttered. I looked up just in time to see him bounding over the front steps and into the doorway. He ran through the room, sliding down onto the floor next to me, his eyes filled with sheer panic as his shaking hands flitted frantically around me.
"Baby girl...Oh God, what did he do to you?" he asked in a strained voice as I sobbed. He gently hooked his arms under my knees and back and carefully lifted me off the floor, cradling me to his chest as sounds of Tyler's struggle continued from behind us.
"Get her out of here," Edward's enraged voice called, followed by a loud thud that shook the wall so violently that one of Esme's paintings crashed down to the floor. Emmett nodded as he stood with me in his arms.
"Not too hard, bro. It needs to look like she did it in the struggle," Emmett said quickly before carrying my sobbing form out of the house.
"I'm so sorry, little one. He won't ever touch you again, I swear it," he muttered and then kissed the top of my head as I sniffled into his chest and clutched at his shirt. My body was a trembling mess, my head hurt like hell, my throat was sore, and my ankle and knee were throbbing horribly. I had no idea where he was going, but at the moment, I couldn't have cared as long as it was away from Tyler.
"Bella? Bella!" Alice's voice screeched, followed by multiple sets of pounding footsteps on the wooden walkway.
"What the fuck happened?" Jasper asked, sounding winded. Alice was crying hysterically next to him as Rosalie gently moved my hair away from my face, allowing me to look into her terrified eyes.
"Crowley somehow got into their villa and assaulted her. Go with Edward and get him the fuck out of here before I kill him," Emmett growled as he pulled me in tighter to his chest.
"Are you okay?" Rose whispered as her chin trembled and tears spilled from her eyes. I sobbed and tried to nod to her.
"I want to know how the fuck he got in there, and how the hell he got back on this island," he said, his voice trembling with his rage. Jasper nodded quickly as he looked at me worriedly and took off toward the villa just as Emmett started walking off.
"Key...I..He..was in...there...," I spluttered.
"Shhh, baby girl. Calm down," he said soothingly.
"He was in... even when...when Edward and I...oh God," I sobbed as Alice and Rosalie gasped.
"What?" Emmett asked as his step faltered slightly, and I tried to compose myself enough to speak clearly.
"He had the key...the missing...spare key," I choked out, hiccuping as I tried to hold back my sobs.
"Jesus Christ...Bella...I'm so sorry," he breathed as he pressed his cheek against my forehead.
"EMMETT! STOP!" I heard Edward holler followed by footsteps coming quick and heavy down the wooden walkway. He stopped and spun around quickly.
"Gimme her. You go with Jasper. I can't go out on the water with that prick. I'll throw his ass overboard with the anchor tied to him for ever daring to touch her that way," Edward growled as he took me from Emmett's arms easily.
I felt like a damn rag doll being passed around, but I knew I didn't have the strength at the moment to stand on my own. I didn't hear his reply, but Edward quickly spun back around and kept walking in the direction Emmett had been.
"I'm sorry, baby. This was all my fault. I'm so sorry," he said frantically, kissing every place his lips could reach.
"It's not your...fault," I hiccuped as I sniffled. He sighed and shook his head, probably warring with himself on whether or not to argue with me on the matter at the moment.
"Edward, where are we going?" Alice asked, her voice thick from her tears.
"We're going to the house. Listen, when they get back, I need you both to go with them and pack a bag for all of you. None of you are staying there until we can make sure it's safe," he replied as he slowed his steps.
He tossed the door of a massive pick up truck open and gently placed me down on the passenger seat as Rosalie and Alice scurried around to the rear doors of the crew cab and hopped in. I leaned against the window as Edward jogged around the other side of the truck.
"Come here, angel," he said softly once he was in and he had started the truck.
I lethargically moved across the seat and tucked myself into his side. He sighed as he nuzzled his face into my hair and kissed the top of my head before putting the truck in gear and pulling away from the resort. The ride across the island was silent, with the exception of the truck's beastly diesel rumble. He pulled the truck through a set of iron gates after pressing a button on a remote attached to the sun visor, and drove up the windy path.
The foliage was incredibly dense against the path, only clearing once the house was in view. The path split once we emerged from the forestry, the right side of the path providing access to the front of the house, the left going slightly down hill and toward a triple set of garage doors situated underneath the house. He hit a second button on the remote, and pulled the truck into the the far right spot in the garage and killed the engine.
"The garage door should be open. Go ahead and make yourselves at home. If either of you need to lay down or anything, there's a guest room on the second floor, first door on the left. Rosalie, you already know where Emmett's room is. We'll be up in a minute," Edward said as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Come on, Ali...I'll show you around," Rose said quietly and they slipped out of the cab of the truck to make their way inside. As soon as they closed the doors to the truck, he crushed me to his chest, his breathing hitched momentarily and a strained and aggravated noise erupted from his throat.
"How bad did he hurt you?" he murmured as I felt a tear hit my shoulder. I sniffled and shook my head.
"I'm fine," I sighed as I curled further into his embrace.
"I'm sorry...I should have walked you back and made sure you were okay," he said, his voice quivering.
"It wasn't your fault," I sighed as I nuzzled my forehead into his neck, tears still leaking from my eyes. "I'm just glad you didn't listen to me."
"I was worried about you. I hated seeing you so upset," he said as he held me tighter. I shuddered as I thought of what would have happened if he hadn't of shown up when he had.
"Come on, let's get you inside," he said after a few minutes of calming silence. I nodded and he placed a kiss against my forehead as I pulled back to shift myself off of him. He slid out of the truck and I followed, grimacing when I placed weight down on my right leg.
"Ow," I muttered as I wobbled slightly.
"What hurts?" he asked, his eyes filled with worry as they scanned me for any obvious injuries.
"My right ankle and knee. I think he came down on my leg when I elbowed him in the jewels," I replied, smiling slightly at his ghostly chuckle.
"I can only hope you did some permanent damage. Unfortunately he'll recover from whatever damage I inflicted," he grumbled as he knelt down and gently inspected my leg.
"I don't think anything's broken, love, but maybe we should take you to a hospital to be sure," he sighed as he stood and I shook my head.
"No...it's just sore. I've had enough injuries to know the difference," I replied as my face scrunched up slightly.
"If it gets worse we're going," he said, his expression telling me he wasn't going to take no for an answer. I sighed and nodded as he gently lifted me into his arms and bumped the door to the truck closed with his foot.
"Hit that third button up there for me," he said as he nodded to a panel on the wall just beside the door leading into the house. I reached out and pressed it, and the garage door behind the truck began closing as he opened the door.
He climbed the steps, bringing us up into an open foyer at the front of the house. The house was bright with all of the natural light floating in from the giant wall of windows in the back. He walked quickly to a separate staircase and began to ascend the stairs. I was exhausted so I rested my head in the crook of his neck, figuring I could tour the house later on when I felt more up to it.
"Are you locking me up in the tower or something?" I snickered. I didn't think it was possible to have this many steps in a house.
"Ah, my fair maiden," he chuckled slightly, "you have discovered my evil plans."
"You know, my hair's not long enough for you to ascend when you come back with your white horse and armor. That would only work if you left me on the first floor and the window was only a few feet off the ground," I joked and he laughed.
"I'll never understand you. How you can be joking after what just happened confounds me," he said as he shook his head.
"I'm good at repressing unpleasant things when I need to," I replied as I shrugged and he finally started walking forward instead of climbing more steps. He placed me down gently on a giant iron bed covered in soft golden bedding and ornately decorated pillows.
"I'll be right back," he said as he placed a chaste kiss against my lips and wandered off through a door in the massive room.
The entire wall on my right was made of glass, providing me with an exquisite view of the ocean and the sun beginning to set on the horizon. My brow furrowed as I heard water running from behind the door he had disappeared behind. I guessed maybe he was taking a quick shower, so I took a few minutes to let my eyes wander through the room. On the nightstand next to me, was a framed photograph of a couple. It didn't take much for me to see that it was of his parents. His mother had the same odd shade of bronze hair only slightly lighter, and looking at his father's eyes was like looking right into Edward's.
Aside from that one photograph, there wasn't much else in the room besides an incredibly expensive looking stereo system. It wasn't until my gaze drifted to his other nightstand that I found myself blushing and feeling somewhat self conscious, for sitting atop that small piece of furniture, was his aunt's tattered and torn copy of 'Beneath the Surface'.
"I was curious," he said, startling me and my hand flew to my chest as I gasped.
"Sorry," he chuckled as he sat down on the bed next to me.
"When did you have time to read that? You've been at the resort all week," I said as my brow furrowed and I pointed to the book. He smiled slightly and shook his head.
"The morning after our all-nighter with our dear friend Jose, I came back to the house to grab a few things, and Emmett had left it sitting on the kitchen counter. I was curious so I came up here and read a little bit of it before hopping in the shower," he said and I nodded.
"You don't give yourself enough credit, you know," he said suddenly and my eyes shot to his.
"What?" I asked, confused at what would give him that idea.
"You don't. It's hard for anyone to chase after their dreams, but to have people constantly tell you that it will never happen, and that you aren't good enough... well that takes an amount of determination that few people possess to overcome," he said and tears pricked at my eyes.
"How much of that did you read?" I asked as I pointed in the direction of the book. He shrugged, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Almost all of it," he sighed and then tilted his head to look at me. "I couldn't sleep that morning. I gave up after about two hours and came here. I sat down with it around eight, and before I knew it, it was after one."
"I can't believe you read that," I muttered and then bit my lip. He chuckled and scooted closer to me.
"Don't go all self conscious on me now," he chuckled. "I can see why you're my aunt's favorite author. If it wasn't any good I wouldn't have lost track of time reading it."
"What were you doing in that other room?" I asked, hoping to divert his attention. His eyes shot open and he hopped off the bed as he cursed under his breath. He came back out a minute later chuckling and shaking his head.
"Thanks for that. I would have had one hell of a mess to clean up," he said and I bit my lip as I smiled.
"What were you doing?" I asked curiously.
"You'll see," he said as he lifted me up in his arms and walked toward the room he had just exited. He kicked the door open and I gasped as I saw the bathtub filled with bubbles and lit candles surrounding the edges of it.
"Can you stand for a minute?" he asked and I nodded as tears filled my eyes. He set me down and I balanced most of my weight on one leg as I kept my hands on his shoulders to steady myself.
"Are you really okay?" he asked as his hands trailed over the skin of my face, neck, and shoulders. I nodded and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling his head down to mine.
His lips and tongue were gentle against my own as his hands caressed my back and pulled at the string to my bikini top. With both strings undone, he pulled it away from me and tossed it to the side. I shivered as his thumbs hooked under the sides of my bottoms and his mouth broke away from mine to shower my neck and chest with tender kisses. He looked up at me and placed a kiss against my belly as he slid the bottoms down my legs and helped me step out of them before standing again.
"I love you," he sighed as he pressed his forehead against mine and rubbed our noses together. "I'm sorry he hurt you."
"I love you too. It's over, Edward...I don't want to think about it anymore," I sighed, moving my head to press my face against his chest as his hands gently caressed my back.
"I need to check on Alice and Rosalie, and call Emmett. Let me help you into the tub and then you can relax for a while," he murmured after a few moments. I nodded and turned, allowing him to help me in without putting too much weight down on my right leg.
"I'll be back in a little bit," he said as the back of his hand trailed from my temple to my cheek and he leaned forward, kissing my lips sweetly.
I sighed as he shut the light off on his way out and closed the door, cloaking me in the soft flickering light of the candles around the tub. Sliding further down into the water, I closed my eyes and rested my head back, allowing the hot water and fragrance of the bubbles and candles to soothe me. As I laid in the water trying to forget all about what had happened in that villa, only one thing was clear to me.
A few short weeks just wasn't going to be enough.
AN: Reviews feed my addiction so I can feed yours! Leave me some! Much love to you all! ~Jersey~