There was a sparkle in his dark eyes as he waited for my answer. The sun streamed in through the kitchen window, casting a bright light on both of us after the heavy rain. Edward's hand still rested on my cheek, the cased one held as much of my hand as possible. I couldn't make words come out of my mouth, so I nodded.
His eyes completely lit up. His dazzling crooked smile only held for a minute until a huge grin showing all his teeth took its place. My face and body relaxed completely, making me feel like a noodle. Edward pulled me into a tight hug very quickly and buried his head in my neck.
"I love you Bella." He whispered against my skin, making a shiver run down my spine. I answered by tightening my grip around his waist.
We didn't do much for the rest of the day but talk. I worked on cleaning up little things in the kitchen while talking too. Around 5 I laid out ingredients' for dinner, I was making stroganoff. During one of our comfortable silences within our conversation the phone rang.
"Hello?" I heard Edward ask, I turned from mixing everything together to look at him sitting back down from getting the phone. I threw him a smile when he looked at me while putting his cased foot on the chair across from him.
"Yea she's here," He held the phone to his chest, which I ogled at for a second. "Bella, phone…?" He asked suggestively. I laughed and walked over to him and the grabbed the phone.
"Hello?" I asked. Edward grabbed my waist and pulled me down to sit on his lap. I just silently chuckled.
"Hey Bella, uh, Charlie is down here now, he said he got off work early and wanted to give us a ride up to yours to eat dinner and watch the game." Jacob's husky deep voice sounded from the receiver.
"Hey Jake, yea come on down dinners about ready. Tell Charlie that a bit of forewarning next time would help out, thanks." I hung up as now I was in a hurry to make double the amount of dinner for twice as many bodies. And Jacob ate twice as much as everyone put together. I tried to stand up, but Edward held me down.
"Who is Jake?" Edward asked me, his chin resting on my shoulder.
"Can I explain while I cook? I have to make twice as much now." I asked, trying to stand up again. Edward let me go.
While pulling out more noodles and meat to make I began explaining, "Jacob is the son of Billy Black. They live down on the reservation, La Push. Jake is 15 and ever since I moved here after my mom…passed, I guess we became friends. He's really great, one of the reasons I survived in Forks after the incident." I didn't look up at him to see what his expression was.
Edward paused a minute before saying something, "So why is your father picking them up?"
I grinned at the choice of his question, but frowned at the answer, "Billy and his wife, whom I have never met, were in a car accident when Jacob and his two sisters; Rachel and Rebecca, were really young. His wife lost her life, and Billy was paralyzed by the waist down."
"Wow that must have been hard." Edward sighed. I nodded and looked at him with saddened eyes.
"You should know…." I whispered, not wanting to hurt him. He motioned for me to come over to him, which I did.
"And you don't love?" He softly asked as a rhetorical question. I was too preoccupied with what he called me, 'love'. I sat down on his lap again and hugged his waist. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head. Edward started humming some tune I didn't know, it was very soothing, it made me calm. I felt dazed and light, like I could float on clouds. I couldn't believe that this amazing angel loved me.
Someone cleared their throat and it wasn't Edward. My eyes shot open and searched, though I didn't have to search long. Jacob stood in the doorway of the kitchen, arms folded across his chest. He looked stuck between amused and irritated.
I stood up abruptly, while Jacob laughed, probably at my expression.
"Charlie is helping Billy get the usual 'game stuff'; he'll be in here in a minute, just warning you. By the way, the water is overflowing…so…" I whipped around to the stove and turned the temperature off and mixed the new ingredients' in with the first batch. Jacob went to sit in Charlie's chair and raised his eyebrow.
"Oh, um, Jacob this is Edward, Edward this is Jake." I introduced quickly while pulling the bread out of the oven.
"So when did he move here Bells, I thought I knew everyone," he laughed, "such a small town…" Jake muttered under his breath.
"Edward moved here about a week ago to live with his cousins." I answered Jacob, glaring at him. He looked at Edward then, totally unaware of his situation.
"Why didn't you stay with your parents? Are you being punished or something?" Jacob asked crudely.
"Jacob!" I yelled at him, "Stop it!" I walked over to Edward, glaring at Jacob, why is he being so cruel? Edward was looking down, jaw tight. I turned back to Jacob with what I hoped was an angry expression. He shrugged and his eyes widened, then he rose from his chair and left the room. I immediately pulled Edward into a hug, as he pulled me to sit on his lap again. He took deep breaths while he buried his head in my hair. As if hiding. God I could kill Jacob right now, I thought. I didn't care that Jake didn't know Edward's past, he shouldn't be that crude anyway.
"I'm sorry; he is really never like that…I don't know why…" I whispered softly into his shoulder. He didn't say anything, but he didn't have to.
"What in the world is going on Bella?" Charlie's voice bellowed near. I sighed and pulled away from Edward, but not like I did when I heard Jacob, I was past the point of caring right now.
"Nothing dad, Jacob was being extremely rude to Edward, especially for just meeting him." I told him in a hard voice, angry at him for now accusing us for doing something to him.
"That's not what Jacob said to me Isabella. Now tell me the truth, what happened?" Charlie's face was becoming a dark red color, his angry face. His voice rose and got louder with each passing word.
"What did Jacob tell you?" I asked, infuriated.
"He came out to Billy and me and told us that Edward was over here and you were being all territorial and yelling at him for no reason what-so-ever!" Now he was shouting. I was fighting back tears for several different emotions.
"She was doing none of that Charlie, Jacob is lying to you. Bella introduced us and he asked if I was here because I was being punished; if my parents sent me away. Bella stood up for me and he left. End of story." Edward stood, looking Charlie straight in the eyes. Tears fell from my eyes now, but from the emotion of love for him, not anger. Charlie took one step towards him, but I took a quicker step and jumped in-between them. I couldn't let Charlie hurt Edward.
"Dad stop…please." I begged. My voice was all crackly, mostly from the tears, mostly from my emotions, mainly fear. He continued on taking steps towards us. Edward grabbed my waist from behind and started to pull me behind him. I just shook my head and fought him, trying to stand my ground. When Charlie was about a foot away from us he stopped.
"I want him out. Now." Charlie half whispered half yelled. His voice was tight, showing his impatient, authority side. I couldn't stop my tears as they fell. Charlie stormed into the living room, fists clenched. Only then did I see Billy in his wheel chair watching us. He didn't look mad, he looked confused. Taking a deep breath and ignoring Billy's watchful eyes, I turned to face Edward. He was looking straight ahead, tears running over his cheeks too. I lifted my hands to wipe them away, stepping closer to him as I did. When our skin touched he looked down at me and copied my movements. As neither of us could stop the tears, we let it go. Edward then leaning his forehead onto mine and sighed.
"I am going to pack a bag, and then we will go home. Stay here or go on out to the truck if you want." This wasn't my home anymore. I don't think it ever was. Besides, Edward is my home now, wherever he goes, I go. He nodded, but what he did next took me off guard. As I was turning to run up the stairs, his hand grabbed my waist and cupped my cheek and then he smashed his lips on mine. I responded immediately to his kiss. Feelings of love and fear leaked out of him, his soft lips loved with mine easily. I wanted to continue, as it felt like pure bliss, but he pulled away and smiled his crooked smile.
"I love you Bella," he whispered, looking in my eyes.
I smiled back and whispered, "Forever Edward." Then I ran for the stairs, right past Billy, as his hands let me loose.
Quickly I threw a bundle of shirts, pants, underwear and my bathroom bag into a large duffle, not caring if anything matched. Taking the stairs at a fast speed for me, I finally reached the front door.
"Where do you think your going?" I heard Charlie shout at me. Fine, if that's the way he is going to play.
"What you told me to do!" I shouted back, throwing my hands up in exasperation. "If you don't remember clearly Edward has been abused and is in a leg cast and arm cast! He has dealt with enough and shouldn't have to deal with this crap too Charlie! Neither should I for that matter!"
I started for the door again before I felt a hard slap against my face. I wasn't prepared for that, emotionally or physically, so my body flew to the wall then crashed to the floor. I was still conscious though, so I quickly got up, staring wide eyed at Charlie. He looked back without emotion. Before I turned and fled this place I looked past him to where Billy and Jacob were sitting. Jacob looked a little ashamed, Billy looked surprised. I just shook my head, only to feel it throb, then ran out the door. My eyes were flooding with moisture and I could hardly see, but I had to get us out of here. Climbing into the truck and putting it in gear then going over the speed limit. I felt a warm, gentle hand on my arm that pulled me from my to-be panic-attack.
"Pull over." Two words put my mind into present setting, I did as Edward said, turned the engine off and cried. He pulled me into his embrace and let me silently cry. He said little, but his presence was enough to get me back to my mind set. I leaned up and kissed his warm, wet lips. He had been crying too.
"I'm so, so sorry." I whispered.
"It's not your fault love, you don't need to apologize." He whispered to me softly. I didn't agree, he shouldn't have been put through that. I gently scooted back into the drivers' side and finished the drive to his house. I held his hand the entire way there. My face stung, and I think I tasted blood, but I was too focused on other things, so my stomach didn't react and make me sick. When we pulled up Edward spoke again.
"I'm sorry I couldn't stop him from hurting you Bella, I feel awful. Sick, to not be able to move fast enough or warn you of him." He was looking down at our hands, brow furrowed, breathing uneven.
"Edward, I know it's hard, and it's not your fault either. Charlie is trained and knows defense well. Even if you could have, you wouldn't have been able to. Don't be hard on yourself…please, it makes me feel bad." I pleaded, looking up in his eyes.
He cracked a small smile, "We are a messed up couple." He told me while brushing my now bruised cheek.
"We are, perfect match…" I murmured before walking around to help him out.
After he was standing, he pulled me into a kiss, sweet, but filled with urgency.
"I need to get you inside so Carlisle can look at this…" Edward trailed off, starting to pull me towards the house.
"Oh my!" Esme's voice cried out as we walked through the front door.
"What happened dear?" She was frantic now, "Carlisle?" She called. He came rushing into the room at her panicked voice.
"Esme dear what's-"then his eyes saw me.
"What happened Bella?" Carlisle asked in his doctored voice.
"Charlie hit her…" Edward's voice started to say before Emmet's booming "WHAT?" was heard. He looked like he saw a ghost. I sighed; it wasn't that big a deal.
"I'm fine. It's just a bruise…" I trailed off as I saw Carlisle shake his head.
"Bella you need stitches." Carlisle told me, "Have you seen it?" I just shook my head. He led me towards the mirror on the wall in the front room. I gasped softly. My right cheek bone was a dark purple with a several thin cuts along my skin, it almost looked as if my cheek with rip open with the wrong movement. My lip was bleeding and cut in several places. How did Edward kiss me and not be bothered this? Carlisle nodded and led me to the kitchen, Edward following. Esme went upstairs but came back down just as fast with a black bag, which she handed to her husband and Edward's crutches, which he didn't need now, seeing as he was sitting next to me. Emmet was standing in the doorframe of the kitchen, watching with wide eyes.
"Have either of you two eaten?" Esme asked softly. Edward shakes his head no, but never drops eye contact with me. Nor does he let go of my hand, but I'm not complaining. I hated needles, so focusing on him seemed to make it better. I assumed that, because Carlisle didn't ask what happened, he would call Charlie and get information that way, I just hope that Charlie had figured out exactly what happened, and that Jacob was lying.
Jacob, how could I have trusted him? Had he always been this way behind my back or something? Why did he lie? Why was he so cruel to Edward, to me? So many questions ran through my head. About 10 minutes later Carlisle announced he was done, Esme told us that she put dinner on the table for us. Everyone else had apparently eaten already. I was supposed to be careful and not scratch my cheek. I assured Carlisle that he didn't have to worry; I have had so many stitches that I could say the rules in my sleep. He seemed worried by this.
"I'm clumsy, don't worry. Charlie has never done this before, promise." I looked at him; I was an awful liar, so he could tell. After Carlisle and Esme left the room, Emmet came up and hugged me, and then Edward, then what seemed on second thought hugged us at the same time. I felt so small. He gave us a smile before walking out of the room.
Dinner was very good to my empty stomach, it warmed me up. Edward and I ate slowly, savoring each bite. Esme was in the kitchen doing dishes when we were finished, so she took the plates from us and told us to go and get some sleep. I didn't have to be told twice. I walked next to Edward, because he was using his crutches, much to his dislike. I went to grab my duffel on the way up, but it was gone. I turned to see Emmet looking at me, "Already up there lil' sis." He told me with a smile on his face. I grinned back, "Thanks Em." He nodded then turned back to the T.V. I chuckled and turned back to catch up with Edward on the stairs.
"Eventful day," Edward mentioned as we turned for his 'before' room.
"Yes…" I replied; sleep creeping into my body and voice. "I'm going to change, be right back." I told him as I grabbed night clothes and went to the bathroom. I didn't spend much time in there; I didn't want to see the damage. When I came back to Edward's room he was laying in bed, I couldn't tell if he was awake or not. I climbed in bed without a sound. He was awake though, as he drew me into his arms after throwing the covers over us.
"I love you, never forget that." Edward whispered in my ear before kissing my nose, and then softly on my lips. "Sleep love."
He began humming that tune again, which brought me closer and closer to sleep.
"I love you too Edward…" I think I whispered back before shutting my eyes and drifting to sleep.