I woke to an active house. I only slept for 4 hours; I'm pretty sure they don't need to sleep; yet another thing to add to my growing assumptions about vampires.
Esme had prepared me some breakfast. Shock horror, everyone else had already eaten!
I rode to school with Edward. The others rode in Rosalie's red BMW. Edward was so quiet but it wasn't the comfortable silences we normally have. He was civil, answering if I spoke to him but something was off. I wonder how much trouble he got into for his attempted rescue? I hope I was the only one to notice anything.
The whispers at school were different today. Mike was the first to come over and give me the third degree about how I was? How I had managed to jump out of the way? I put it down to martial arts training. They then started questions about what belt was I? Which martial arts I did? Where did I train? I kept my answers as brief as possible. I spent most time practicing my karate katas I learnt down in Phoenix but I never bothered with the grading. I made no mention of my current training with Howie or all the different martial arts I had trained in. Renee had started so many, as usual she had dropped out but sometimes she lasted a few months. The longest was the karate for nearly two years while she dated her way through the class.
At lunch Alice tried to persuade me to go shopping with her after school. She can be so pushy but I stuck to my guns. The media had got hold of the story about my brush with death so I wanted to avoid public places until things settled down again. When I told Alice this I made the mistake of saying 'when things die down' which Emmett though highly amusing.
I intended getting Red straightened out. The accident had done some serious damage to the back but Red was still drivable. A few hours with a big hammer, a bit of welding and some new lights would have Red back.
The others could hardly hold in their guffaws at Alice's face when I turned her down. Alice's face got even more pinched when Rose offered to come and help me work on Red. I had to bite my tongue so I didn't offer to make it up to Alice by going shopping with her another day. Shopping is a necessary chore not a fun hobby; I can think of many other things I would prefer to do. I wonder if Emmett's laugher had more to do with anticipation of Alice's reaction to me declining her offer; they really do treat Alice's word as law.
The rest of the day trudged by with nothing but glances and whispers. P.E. was no fun when I couldn't swim. I had allowed access to the facilities again but with yesterday's near miss they had decided to stay on site if the road conditions weren't good. I didn't cause too much damage with the badminton racquet but I'm sure the rest of the class will be glad when I can be back in the water.
Rose told me she would nip home to change and pick up her overalls. I nursed Red home pulling him over the pit to check the extent of the damage. I had only just started when Rose and Emmett arrived. It was so much fun working with Rose and Emmett. Emmett was amazing on the body work but Rose was so much better it put him to shame. Doing work I love with people that have enthusiasm takes me back to my childhood working with Gramps; my happiest, most content memories are the time I spent in his workshop working at his side.
"So what is Edward's problem? Does he always run hot and cold like this?" I asked them as we worked.
They both gave me curious looks. "I have never seen him as social as he is with you," Rose told me.
"But he shuts me out without any warning. I never know if I'll be dealing with Jekyll or Hyde," if he is social with me that doesn't say much about how he treats everyone else.
Emmett broke down in hysterics. Mmm maybe my analogy was a bit to accurate considering what they are. Oops!
"Until now he has shut everyone out, he claimed he didn't need anyone else. We have all been amazed and envious that you have got him out of his shell as far as you have," as unlikely as Rose's words sounded I could see they were heartfelt.
"Envious?" why would they be envious?
"We have all tried to break through to him; you have removed walls while we couldn't even chip out a single brick." Rose then said so quietly I almost missed it, "What makes you so special compared to me?" I looked in shock at Rose, she felt jealous of me? I had no words, could he really be so introvert?
She became contemplative, "Do you like him?"
I blushed, "Yes, very much, but I don't suppose anything can come of it." It hurt to think I felt such a connection with him but I could have no future with Aro looming on my horizon.
Rose looked at me speculatively but gave no response.
We all worked in silence for a while. I was lost in my thoughts.
Emmett's clowning had us laughing and chatting again before we finished up. I invited them in for dinner but unsurprisingly they declined and headed home.
Tyler, when he returned, became a thorn in my side at school; trying to 'make it up to me'. No amount of telling him that I had been unhurt made a difference. I lost count of the number of dinners or movie trips I declined. Mike and Eric both continued to harass me in the same way. You would think they would take a hint but it didn't happen.
Edward remained an enigma to me. He was polite with me but never attempted to make conversation. On the Fun nights he joined in but kept his distance. Yet his eyes always followed me. I could see him clench his fists each time I was approached for another date only to relax when I declined. He acted jealous of the attention I received but never gave any other indication that he liked me.
The girls choice dance should have been easy to avoid, but no. I was approached by not only Mike, Eric and Tyler but also some seniors I don't even know the names of. I was ready to scream if they didn't back off. What part of girl's choice didn't they get? I had no intention of attending so just used the excuse I would be out of town, not that they took the hint.
Angela asked if I would help her buying a dress for the dance, she wanted a friend's opinion. Even with my aversion to shopping I looked forward to going to help out a friend. We agreed to go after school. Alice would be so mad to miss out on a shopping trip but she was 'camping' with the family again, funny how they always happened to be camping whenever the sun happened to show its face. I rang her to tease her just a little bit. She said she would come down if they were back in time. If it clouds over I expect Alice to turn up minutes later!
Jessica was in a better mood with me since I sent Mike in her direction when I turned him down, not that I let her know he asked me. She was coming with us for a dress. I offered to drive but Jessica wanted to so I let her for a quiet life.
I actually had fun trying to find dresses for them both. It's so different than trying to find dresses for myself. They each found dresses that suited them to a tee. I managed to get to check out and have a word with the manager; she let me pay most of the balance telling Ang and Jess the dresses were in the 70% sale but for some reason weren't marked up properly. They were both overjoyed at their good fortune; I wanted to treat Ang but knew she wouldn't let me. I think it was a good compromise even if it was a bit underhand of me. We searched out shoes and accessories to go with the dress. The whole process took much less time than any of us expected. Jess and Ang both wanted to keep shopping for clothes but I really wanted to get myself some more books. You can never have too many books!
They gave me directions to a book store and we arranged to meet for dinner later. The book store was a new age store, not what I was looking for. I set off in search of a more mainstream book store. I was in dreamland enjoying the weak sunshine. The dreams centered on the bronze haired one as usual. Shadows and the rundown area knocked me back into the present. I had wandered out of the retail district into a much rougher area.
My spidey sense was tingling, well my nerves were ragged and every noise was causing me to jump. How stupid could I be, wandering into an area like this? I hadn't even paid enough attention to find my way back again. Eyes down I walked as fast as I could back in the direction I thought would lead me back to the main thoroughfare.
I walked past four men casually dressed. They laughed and joked raucously with each other. They all spoke to me as I passed but I tried to keep my eyes down and keep going. They cat called after me causing me to walk even faster.
The street I headed down looked worse than were I came from. I didn't want to bump into those men again so I turned down another street hoping for more luck. When I reached the end of the block I looked about to try and get my bearings; I turned again hoping this would take me back onto the front. I heard footfalls behind me; my heart was beating out of my chest. I dare not turn, walking flat out now I hoped against hope that I would find a busy street.
Stepping out at the next corner I nearly bumped into two of the men I walked past earlier. I stepped back turning only to see the other two men closing behind me.
"Fancy meeting you here," the biggest drawled.
"Stay away," I tried to sound confident but I was shaking.
I took a deep breath trying to calm myself and remember everything Howie had been teaching me.
"Don't be like that sugar," the big one leered at me.
He stepped forward and reached for me. My adrenaline kicked into gear and I blocked his arm, twisting and pushing him away from me.
"Get her," he snarled to his companions.
I felt fingers reaching for me and I just reacted. I can't even remember exactly what I did. Every dirty fighting technique I had been shown, every trick came into full force.
I felt a hand grab each arm. I automatically twisted each arm towards their thumbs forcing their grip to loosen. Grabbing their arms I threw myself back snapping their arms behind their backs and their bodies forward. Their heads crashed together stunning them momentarily. A bear grip from behind was accompanied by an eye watering stench of sweat. I leaned forward to try and escape but the grip was already too tight. I thrust my head backwards with as much force as I could, smashing into his face. I'm not sure if I felt or heard the crunch, but his grip relaxed.
At the same time the burly dark hair man in front advanced as the man behind grabbed me. As the crunch dawned on me I was already raising my legs using the crushing bear hug to my advantage. I kicked out into the face of the advancing man. The combination of the force of my feet impacting on the other man and my head bashing the restraining attacker allowed me roll free and find my feet in a fighting stance.
One of the men made to grab me from the left. I kicked out sideways at his shin allowing the momentum of my foot to drag down his leg. The sickening crack and lurch registered for an instant before I was fending off the next attack. An elbow back into the centre of a chest, a well aimed foot between the legs, a finger into an eye, the heal of my hand into a nose, even a chop to the throat were some of the dirty tricks I tried to evade capture. I was numb to the cracks and crunches. I could smell blood. I couldn't feel, didn't have time to feel or think; I was just reacting. I couldn't tell you if I had a single injury or if the blood was all theirs.
Somehow I had knocked all of them into the ground. I set off and ran as hard as I could.
A silver car fishtailed in front of me. The door flew open and I heard the most welcome voice, "In." Relief hit with the very sound of his voice, his very presence gave me the feeling of security.
I leapt in the car, slamming the door. Edward set off as soon as I hit the seat. "Fasten your belt, now."
"What were you thinking," he yelled at me.
I was panting in exertion, my brain hadn't quite reach speech mode. When I calmed enough to talk and think, I panted out a broken, "Thank you for rescuing me. I got lost. I was trying to find a book store."
I looked at him. His eyes were black and his fists were clenched on the steering wheel, "Are you okay?" I asked him. He looked furious; I just wanted to calm him down.
"No." he growled.
"What is wrong, can I do anything to help you?" I questioned worried about him rather than me.
"I have a problem with my temper. I want to go back and finish what you started on that filth," he snarled in response. "Why didn't you just run?"
"They'd already surrounded me. I was lost and didn't know what direction to run. I thought if I took them down first it would give me more time if I did my normal tripping routine," I told him calmly, I had a logical reason for standing my ground
He was calming slowly. He looked at me quizzically, "How did you manage to take out all four of them by yourself?"
"I'm not quite as fragile as I look. Charlie made sure I could look after myself if push came to shove. He knows how smoothly my luck runs," I laughed at myself. I'm getting better but I have managed to break so many bones and had so many accidents, I knew all the staff in the Emergency department down in Phoenix. Touch wood, I have not had any major injuries in Forks, near misses but no hospital worthy damage!
"Are you sure you are alright?" he quizzed.
I had calmed enough to do a mental inventory or any injuries. I would have a few bruises but I had escaped anything major. "I'm fine," I dismissed.
Thinking back to the incident, I needed to phone Charlie and see if he could round them up. "I'm going to phone Charlie and get him to sort out the more tradition justice. That is if you can cope with not going back?"
"That might be the preferred course of action rather than me going back and ripping their heads off, as tempting as that sounds," from anyone else I would assume his words were meant in jest but no hint of humour coloured his voice. The vampire in him would carry out his sentence with ease.
By some miracle I managed to keep track of my purse. I pulled my phone out and made a quick call. I first told him I was alright them told him what happened. I could imagine his face; almost see the veins popping in stress. He promised to contact Port Angeles police to round them up. I wanted to try and ensure they wouldn't be able to attack anyone else.
In a panic I remembered Jessica and Angela would be waiting for me. I rang Angela on her mobile and apologised telling her an emergency had come up. They had just finished eating. I told her I had a lift back, apologising again.
"Are you hungry?" Edward asked me softly now.
"I should be starving but I haven't come back down from the adrenaline rush yet."
"I'm taking you to dinner," he stated as he spun the car back to Port Angeles. I didn't expect him to take me, knowing he doesn't eat.
I laughed at him, "Nice of you to give a lady a choice!"
"A lady would not have come out of that situation as well as you did, but you will go into shock soon. The food will help," he had a glint in his eye alongside the worry.
"Hmmf, so you don't think I'm a lady?" I asked him playfully.
"I don't think you fit any title, you are uniquely Bella. I wouldn't have it any other way. Now would you like to have dinner with me or not?" he came across as doubtful that I would want to spend time with him.
"Yes, I would love to go out with you," I told him with mischief in my eyes and a double meaning in my words.
He pulled up in front of the restaurant I was supposed to have met Jessica and Angela at. I had just undone my seatbelt and he was round the car opening the door for me. Always the gentleman!
The flirting with him started as soon as we walked in the door. I watched as he asked the hostess for a table for two, he obliviously missed her batting eye lashes. He kept looking at as if he expected me to breakdown at any time. She tried to seat us at a family table in the middle of the restaurant until he palmed some money to get a more private booth.
The waitress, when she arrived, also tried it on with him but he kept his eyes on me. I could see her getting more and more frustrated as her blatant approach was failing.
We fell into our easy conversation. I felt whole when I was with him. He would keep giving me an analytical glance. I assume to check if I was going into shock yet. I don't seem to go into shock like other people. It hits me but in a different way. I stay calm and logical when things get extreme. The cost for me is a fear hit each time I have a visual reminder of the incident; the fear reduces gradually each time but it takes years for me to shake it completely.
Charlie phoned while I was still eating. They had picked the men up in a nearby bar. They were all wanted in other states for a string of crimes. I would need to give a statement but he could do that with me. He said it had caused a huge amount of amusement amongst the officers when all four men needed medical attention but not one of they would admit how the damage had occurred. He checked I was okay and had company before hanging up. It was one of the rare occasions when he was happy I had male company, grr I proved today I can take care of myself but he still has the chauvinistic attitude that a man is better protection.
It was so frustrating when Edward had me go over the conversation I had with Charlie. I knew Edward had been able to hear every word but with him wanting to pretend to be human he asked anyhow.
"Just when I think I am starting to think I am getting to know you, you do something totally unexpected. I never know what you are thinking," he said with frustration and awe.
"Life would be boring if you know everything," I told him with a grin.
He reached across the table just touching his fingertips to mine. Watching my reaction we both moved our hands slowly together. "Life is anything but boring when you are around."
Every nerve in my hand was firing at the highest level. His butterfly touches searing a path to my soul. Our eyes locked, I lost all sense of everything but him.
The waitress asking if we had finished tore his eyes from mine. I felt like he had ripped me in half at the loss.
He asked for the bill. She had it in the front of her apron. He threw some money on the table without even looking at the bill telling her to keep the change. He stood and offered his hand to help me rise to my feet. I was elated when he kept hold of my hand as we exited the restaurant.
I didn't want to get in the car as I would have to release his hand. He chuckled at me, "You need to let go so I can get in the car."
I blushed furiously. I fastened in and waited for him to do the same. As soon as he started the car he reached over clasping my hand again. I couldn't hide the beaming smile that spread across my face.
The conversation on the journey home was light and easy. A daft simple one word questions and answers turned into full blown conversations as we each explained our non-standard answers. The laughter and embarrassment lightened the tense reason we were together on the journey home.
He didn't want to drop me back at my empty house but Charlie's opportune call wanting to come over and sort out my statement convinced him.
"Sometime you'll have to tell me what you were doing down in Port Angeles, when you said you were off camping," I teased him as I climbed out of the car.
"Err, we..." he started but I cut him off.
"When you can tell me the truth, I'll listen. Until then, thank you so much. I have never been so grateful to see a friendly face," I smiled up at him as he walked me to the door.
He opened his mouth to give me some excuse but I stopped him. I smiled at him and gently brushed my finger along his jaw, "Thank you. Good night Edward."
He stood frozen as I turned and stepped inside closing the door behind me. Just before the door clicked shut I heard him whisper, "Good night Bella."
Shivering from my forwardness at touching him, I bought my finger to my mouth. Wishing the intense aftermath of feelings of memory of that touch could be transferred to my lips. A girl can dream.
I watched him leave on the monitor, touching the screen and whispering "Goodnight Edward," to the departing image of a car. I sighed in loss. Was it me he was holding back from or was it his secret holding him back?
Charlie arrived soon after Edward had left. He definitely had his business hat on rather than his Dad hat tonight. I think that was his way of dealing with my near miss. I closed my eyes to visualise every detail I could from the first encounter to the eventual get away. They intended trying to convict them on past offenses rather than bring me into things but all bases needed to be covered.
Charlie worried about me being alone but I brushed off his concerns, he was heading back to the station anyway.
I spent a long time in the gym that night trying to run off the adrenalin overdose I received. Much as the punch bag looked a tempting workout my hands were already wrapped with ice. I conveniently forgot to mention how much my hands hurt, to either Edward or Charlie. There was no point in worrying them when there was nothing they could do.
I had a hot shower to wash away the memory of the touch of those four men before crashing in exhaustion in my comfortable bed.
The following days and weeks Edward became more attentive. The distance he had imposed after the near miss snow accident totally disappeared. Our easy banter returned and more. He started walking me to class. He also started to physically be in contact with me. It started with seemingly accidental brushes; his arm grazing mine as we walked, his fingers brushing mine, his foot then knee in contact with me when we sat in class, a gentle, guiding hand on my lower back when the corridors were busy. Each touch, no matter how fleeting, sends electric shivers burning through my body. His body temperature may be cold but every touch put fire in my veins. These touches became more lingering when neither of us reacted badly. I was as likely to 'accidentally' brush into him as he was into me.
Angela noticed and gently teased me one afternoon when we sat doing homework at her house. I claimed we were just friends but she told me how his eyes never left me. We had already talked about how much I liked him and how I never thought anything would come of it. I wanted to hope for more but tried not to get up too much anticipation. I couldn't tell her that I was unsure about entering into a relationship with the threat of Aro in my future or that Edward may not want a relationship with a mere human, my life is rarely straightforward!
I turned it back on her pointing out how much Ben gazed at her. We both laughed at ourselves at our lack of confidence when it comes to men we like.
By the time he started holding my hand as we walked the gossip vine was going mad with rumours about us. Edward was picking me up most days for school. He stayed for hours at my house after school. We would sit in the same room whatever we happened to be doing; homework, reading, working, painting. Just his presence made me feel whole. Sometimes we would talk all night, others we would sit in companionable silence. If it was possible we tended to sit close, to the point that we would sit so we were touching even if it was just a foot under the table. We still claimed to be 'just good friends' but no-one believed us.
Friday nights now were more of a tease Edward and Bella night. Emmett relished in teasing us, especially when we got lost a bubble when we drowned in each other's eyes. Alice got quite territorial wanting to get her share of 'Bella time'. Even Rose roped me in to girls' night at least once a week to get me away from Edward. His pout each time I was dragged away made me smile; it was nice to know he would miss me as much as I missed him.
When Charlie started questioning about my boyfriend, Edward, I knew we must appear close to everyone that saw us. Charlie approved of Edward knowing it was him that rescued me in Port Angeles. I tried the 'just good friend' line but his eyes just glinted as he laughingly said "If you say so."
I was so content. I loved having time with friends, especially Edward. Work, I was loving, I just got to do the fun bits; I was overflowing with ideas and creativity. Life was good.