I'm Sorry: Chapter 13
AN: Sorry, I just can't get in the habit of updating often…:( But anyways, since I last updated, my drama with Zoe was fixed, flared up again last week, and fixed again…permanently this time. Anyways, so I feel really bad about writing her as evil now, but I'm pretty sure you guys don't want ANOTHER plot twist, so instead I'm going to come up with a good reason for her actions. She…oh well, you'll see. Please review though, my goal is 100 reviews (hopefully) sometime soon.
BPOV:
I nodded as Natty told me the plan, liking it even though, it was indeed not much for me to do. The fact that this was all I could do was saddening, especially since it may not even work, but a girl can wish, right?
"I'm willing to try, Natty." I said solemnly. She eyed me cautiously,
"And you understand that it still may not even get through to her even if you do try?" she reminded me.
"Yes, I know. But I still want to do SOMETHING…so I'll do it." I said. She nodded and I looked over at Edward, who seemed extremely worried about me. Of course he would only be thinking of my reaction to my sister's kidnapping, that's just Edward for you. Natalye nodded, her sympathy showing.
Zoey's POV:
(AN: This will describe the events leading up to, during, and after the kidnapping through her point of view.)
I was already finished with my nursing shift for the day, and I'd just gone to a doctor's appointment that broke my heart into pieces. I had just learned that I would never be able to have children. Ever. I walked through the halls in a numb silence, ignoring cheerful goodbyes from my friends and co-workers.
I felt as though I was on auto-pilot as I made my way through the hospital doors, through the parking lot, and to my car. My eyes did not see what was in front of me, they only saw the doctor saying the words that broke me. My ears did not hear what was supposed to be heard, they kept replaying the four words that tortured me most. But still I had not cried.
No, it was not until I'd reached my car, unlocked it, and gotten inside that I finally burst into tears. Devin and I wanted to start a family…how could I tell him this? How could I give him this news and break his hopes and dreams?
I did know one thing though, I wouldn't be able to handle it as well as he would. He would tell me it will be alright. He will put his arms around me and assure me that everything will be okay, whether or not he or I actually believed it. There were only a few things I was sure of now…the love that Devin and I shared, and that my sister Kayla cares so much about me, and she didn't seem to trust Devin at all.
I barely noticed as I coasted through the not-so-crowded roads of Forks to my house…the house that used to belong to my parents. My dad took off when I was little and I hadn't seen him since, and my mom and her fiancé passed away 2 years ago…no one knows what happened, they just…disappeared.
So as I stepped out of the car, wiping away the remainder of tears that had stayed on my face. And if I barely noticed the drive home, then of course I would've missed the sure sign of a strange car, parked across the street.
I silently walked up, unlocking the door to the house I'd grown up in. I stepped inside, about to call my boyfriend's name, when my breath caught in my throat at the scene before me.
There, in my own living room, my boyfriend was making out with a girl I distantly recognized to be Rhaena Dawson, a girl I'd met a couple of times…and utterly despised. I stood there for a moment, blinking, stunned into silence.
They didn't stop…they were too into…what they were doing…to even notice me. As tears started to fall from my face for the second time today, I just backed out of my own house in silence. No point in disturbing them.
I got back into my car, knowing immediately where I could stay for the night. As I was more aware of my surroundings this time, I noticed the old black Honda parked across the street and began to cry harder. Tears blurring my vision, I hurried to get to my destination.
I was hysterical as the sense of betrayal finally sunk in. Devin-my sweet, precious, good-guy boyfriend Devin, had been cheating on me. The person that I trusted so completely with every fiber of my being, the person I always thought I'd be able to rely on, had so utterly and completely betrayed me…and I'd found out about it in the worst possible way.
Witnessing it happen…was worse than a humiliating slap to the face. I could still picture it in my mind…every detail of it…was imprinted there. And it rang in my mind that in the time I needed him the most, he had, unknowingly, showed me that I cannot count on him, and I never should have. I also knew that I never would again.
I was now parked in my sister's driveway, and I instantly got out and slammed the door. I walked up the front porch steps and was about to knock when Kayla opened the door wide. She scanned my face, and upon seeing it streaked with tears, pulled me inside and into her arms, shutting the door behind her. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, sobbing against my sister's shoulder.
Then I felt Kayla letting go of me and I shook with sobs as she grabbed my hand, leading me into the living room and onto the couch. My eyes were open now, my vision still impaired by the salty liquid still flowing from them. I hadn't cried so much since Mom and her fiancée had disappeared.
Kayla sat beside me and rubbed my back soothingly. Finally, she said, "Honey, what's wrong? What happened?"
"I-I…Ican'thavekids…" I choked out. She let her carefully composed expression go upon hearing my heartbreaking news.
"Why do I feel like there's more to this? Where's uh…your boyfriend, does he know? Surely, he'd be comforting you if he did." she said distraught.
"B-Be-Because he…doesn't know…I was g-gonna tell him…b-but…" and I found I could not go on.
"But what, sweetie?" Kayla soothed, but I could already tell that her mind was reeling with all of the ways Devin might have hurt me or would have reacted in a bad way when I told him I had bad news, but she was never expecting what came out of my mouth next.
"I caught him cheating." I said, my voice un-waveringly clear and sounding so calm that it scared even me, because moments ago I was shaking with sobs and now…well, you know.
"You what?" she asked, nostrils flaring in anger and shock.
"With that bitch we met in high school, Rhaena Dawson." I said, still "calm"…or whatever I was.
"You're kidding…" she said softly, continuing in an angry tone, "I'll go over and get them both right now. Wow…and oh my God, with what you just went through and then had to witness…it was no wonder you are such a wreck."
"Um, Zoey, why don't we get you some clothes and and some other stuff you'll need tonight. You're staying here. Come on, hon, let's go." Kayla said, sending me a look that I knew meant she wanted to talk to me some more, but that I should just go along with it. I nodded, getting up with a heavy sigh of pure agony. She grabbed my hand and pulled me up the stairs with her.
As soon as we stepped foot into her room, she closed the door in a flash of motion and she finally allowed herself to cry. She rushed into my arms and held me tight, and I was crying too. My big sister, the stronger one of us, was crying...for me. She was crying for my pain, because I put it on her shoulders...I'm horrible. I am a completely terrible sister...I put all of my problems on her...I depend on her and I don't know how much more she can take.
I was ripped from my thoughts when she spoke. "Zo, I love you. You're my little sister, and I'd do anything for you. I always knew Devin Martin was bad news...ever since he broke my heart back in high school. And I think he saw another opportunity with you, because you gave him a chance, even though he hurt me...more than once. You tried to see good in him, and as long as he played nice, he could get away with cheating. He took advantage of your naivity, and that's not fair." she told me, wiping her eyes.
"Kayla, I'm so sorry. I'm so stupid for giving him a chance..." I said, crying. She gawked at me.
"Zoey, no you're not! You're NOT stupid. You didn't KNOW he was going to hurt you like this...you couldn't have. You loved him...and even if you might've seen it coming, love blinds you. It blinded me in the same way. So there was no way for you to have known he would do that. Do NOT blame yourself for this Zo, just don't." she told me. I nodded, knowing that defying her was useless...out loud anyways. I still KNEW I was to blame, but I wasn't stupid enough to tell her that.
As my mind started to wonder, I suddenly remembered that I couldn't spend the night with my sister after all. Why? Because I was signed on for the night shift at the hospital. Damn. I was in no shape to work, but they were short-staffed and they needed me tonight.
"Shit..." I muttered with a sigh. Kayla locked her concerned brown gaze on me once again as she asked, "What?"
"I can't stay with you tonight...I have to work the night shift at the hospital." I explained dejectedly.
"What? Why can't you just call in and tell them you can't come in tonight?" she asked.
"Because, Kayla, they're short on staff and they need me. Besides, if I called in now, it'd be such short notcie that they wouldn't be able to get anyone to take my shift anyways. I have to go." I sighed.
"But you shouldn't have to go to work after a day like this. It's not fair, Zo." she said, hugging me.
"I know, but life isn't fair, and the world doesn't revolve around me." I said, wishing that I didn't have to go either. "Well, I better get going then, Kayla. I don't want to be late." She nodded and hugged me tighter, before letting go.
"If you need anything, you just call me. I don't care how late it is. Got it?" she said seriously. I nodded, ducking out of the room as my eyes filled with tears once again. As I trudged down the stairs, I tried not to let my silent tears blur my vision too much. With each of my heavy footsteps, another painful memory from happier times would come to mind.
By the time I got to my car, I was rippling with agony. As I started driving, another one hit me.
"Zoey, when are they coming over?" My boyfriend's voice called from across the house. Sitting on my bed, going through the photo album, I called back,
"They'll be here at 2:00 Devin, just be patient." Then I saw a picture of us at the park of me laughing because I popped Devin's bubblegum and it got all over his face. i started giggling and Devin walked in to see what happened.
"What are you laughing about Zo?" he asked, smiling. I held up the album and pointed to the picture, watching as his blue-ish hazel eyes went from curious to laughingas he ran into the room and plopped down beside me. We started laughing at the picture again until I remembered that some friends of ours were supposed to be here for lunch in 30 minutes and the food wasn't done. I poked his side, making him jump (he's always been ticklish) and said,
"Hey, we actually have food to finish cooking before our friends get here." He pouted a little before jumping up and grabbing my hands and pulling me to the kitchen. I finished up the potato salad and made some crinkle cut french fries, while he whipped up some hamburgers and hotdogs. Then, as I went to grab the condiments from the fridge, he stopped me, pulling me in for a quick kiss.
Unfortunately, our friends had REALLY "great" timing and decided to forget common courtesy and barge in the front door. So in came Chris, Jeffrey, Mohamad, Kasey, Savannah, Brittany, and my sister Kayla interrupting us at the worst possible moment.
"Well...that's not something I wanted to see right before I eat. Thanks for the show, sis." Kayla remarked drily, pretending to gag. We pulled away laughing from embarrassment and I watched Kayla shoot Devin a dirty look that he didn't catch. She never did trust him...
I came back from the memory with my chest heaving from terrible sobs. I looked to the road and realized with a shock that I was driving into the hospital parking lot, and had driven the whole way without any problems...despite the fact that I hadn't been paying attention at all. I drove into a space and quickly got out, running to the hospital's entrance.
I saw Dot as she was leaving, and asked who I'd be relieving tonight. The middle-aged woman smiled at me, her kind green eyes tiredly focusing on me.
"Honey, I'm afraid you'll be relieving me on the maternity floor again. Wanda was gonna take that floor, but one of the cancer patients that remembers her asked specifically for her, and she didn't want to let her down. She traded with you." she said.
"Oh okay, thanks Dot. Have a good night." I said weakly, continuing on to the elevator. It was empty, and normally I would have enjoyed the peace and quiet of a solitary elevator ride, but in this moment all I wanted was the distraction of other voices to drown out the pain. The elevator dinged and the doors opened, revealing my designated floor.
I walked by Lauren, the intern, as she waved, but I didn't acknowledge her. I put my purse by a seat behind the counter and grabbed the chart. I looked at it, studying the names and I recognized one that I had taken care of earlier in the week. Renee D. Swan. I decided to check on her first, then and eased her door open.
The lights were off, and she was asleep. Her husband, Charlie (as he preferred me to call him) was passed out on the cot, as well. But as I went to look into the incubator, thinking their little girl was sleeping, I was met with big eyes. I picked her up, hoping to put her back to sleep, but I was struck with a wild idea. An opportunity...a chance that I had to take. And with that, I grabbed her blanket, bundled her up, and stole out of the room. I snatched up my purse and snuck to the elevator, extremely grateful that Lauren had gone to the bathroom.
When I got back to the Lobby, there were a few people on duty, including a cop, but they were just chatting quietly and no one was paying attention when I stole out of the hospital doors with a child that wasn't mine. As I got to the car, I put the now sleeping baby girl in the car-seat I had conveniently in my backseat. Thank God I had babysat my cousin's infant son 2 days ago and had forgotten to take the extra car-seat out of my car.
I raced to buckle her and myself in before peeling out of the parking lot, my car sreeching in protest. Before I knew it, we were coasting down the interstate back towards my sister's house and I realized something. My blood pumping with adrenaline, I realized I couldn't bring Kayla into this. It was a crime, and I couldn't pull her, an innocent person, into my mess. But if I can't have my own child, why not take one?
Oh my God...did I seriously just think that? What is wrong with me? Well...there was no one around to stop me...Ahh! There goes my psychotic inner voice again! I'm terrible!
I looked up just in time to see the exit I'm supposed to turn on to get to Kayla's house, but I shook my head, passing it up. I turned around to look at that angelic sleeping face in my backseat and sighed. I turned around and kept driving, no real destination in mind. All I knew is that I had to get away. Before they found out it was me. And I had to get away from my heartbreak.
Renee's POV:
(AN: this is picking up AFTER that conversation she had with Bella...not where I left off from Zoey's POV. Yes I know I'm skipping all over and I'm sorry...but at least I'm updating...right?)
I sighed, not believing what I was about to do. Everything had been hectic since 12:01 AM this morning...when I discovered my daughter had been stolen by my nurse. Charlie had called in an emergency to his co-workers...a.k.a. the Forks Police Force...and now...7 hours and 4 minutes later, I was taking drastic measures.
I found her number in the phone book reluctantly and dialed it on the hospital phone.
"Brooke J. Dwyer Attorney of Law, Hanna speaking." answered a cool voice.
"I need to speak with Mrs. Dwyer immediately." I said in the most calm voice I could muster.
"I'm sorry ma'am, she doesn't take many calls, but I'd be happy to schedule an appointment for you." she said agreeably.
"No. This is urgent, so I must speak with her now." I insisted.
"Um, I'm sor-" she was cut off by a voice in the back. Jesus Christ Hanna, if you can't get them to schedule an appointment then I'll take the damned call!
"Hello? Brooke J. Dwyer speaking." her familiar voice said, coming on the line. I heard Hanna's extension click and began speaking.
"Brooke, this is Renee D. Swan, and I need your help."
"Renee sounds somewhat familiar...WAIT! Are you my husband's ex-wife and you have the nerve to call and ask me for help?" she scoffed.
"Please listen, just don't hang up. I wouldn't have called you unless I was desperate, believe me." I said, my voice started to waver with tears I knew would soon be coming.
"Hmm...okay, I'm listening." she said, voice still laced with suspicion.
"A few days ago, I gave birth to a baby girl, and at midnight this morning I woke up to discover that she'd been stolen from our hospital room. I was advised by a reliable person to call you and get your help." I explained, my eyes welling with tears.
"Oh my God, someone stole your baby from the hospital? That is terrible, and I know you don't like me...frankly I'm not too fond of you either, but you came to the right place for help. Since my office is located in Seattle, I will be at Forks Hospital within 2 hours." she promised.
"It was my nurse, too. I know it." I said tiredly.
"You're kidding me right? I will be there directly...Mrs. Swan." she said, voice full of disbelief.
"No. And thank you." I mumbled, not even caring to ask when she and phil had moved to Seattle before I hung up.
Natty's POV:
"Okay, here is what you can do to help..." I started, looking at Bella's desperate face.
"Yes? Oh please just tell me Natalye..." she pleaded.
"Okay, okay...patience is a virtue, my dear." I said, "Anyways, besides keeping your mother as calm as possible by talking to her, you could also do something else. You could talk to Zoey as well."
"What do you mean I could talk to Zoey?" she asked, confused.
"I mean, get inside her head...pretend to be her conscience or something...just talk to her and maybe try to convince her to bring your sister back to her parents." I said calmly. Her eyes widened, as did Edward's...I guess they hadn't even considered that as an option.
"Oh my...oh my gosh...that's really weird! I never even imagined someone could do that..." she replied, taken back. I nodded, knowing how she felt. It was surprise mixed with the never-fading desperation to fix her family...even though they were seperated by so much more than miles.
"When can she do it?" Edward asked.
"Well, I'd say soon, but not right now. Let her get the chance to turn around on her own, and if she hasn't after a while, you can talk to her. For now, I think we should just watch and see what's going on..." I said rationally. Bella and Edward looked kind of disappointed, but they nodded, knowing what I'd said was best.
AN: Oh, dear God. I am so sorry readers...I keep leaving you guys hanging for months on end...I just can't get myself to update frequently but I promise I will TRY because it's Summer now. PLEASE leave a review...I need encouragement that this isn't just a waste of my time at this point. I swear that not even 20 people like this story...which makes me feel like a bad writer. :( Whatever, at least I wrote a long chapter for the long wait for the people who DO like this story. Dedicated to Natty, Christa, Lauren, and any other of my BFF's following and reviewing this story. Shoutie to Brittany Mae, as usual, because she inspired this lol. She is a fantastic writer and if you haven't read her stories then you really should. Her PN is anythingzombie, so check her out!
MUCH love and gratitude to those who didn't give up on me! ~I'mEdWaRd'SlAtUaCaNtAnTe