Summary: Edward and Bella have grown up hating each other. Can being forced to
spend one HOT Spring Break together change all of that?
Disclaimer: I took inspiration from Stephenie Meyer, but I do not own anything of Twilight.
Enemy Mine
Chapter 21: "Too Little, Too Late"
"You won't ever lose me." Edward promised, as he titled her chin up. "Look at me, Bella. I want to tell you something. Do you remember what you said earlier in our meadow? You told me it had always been me. Remember?"
Bella gave him a shy smile as he trailed his fingers down her cheek. "I remember."
"Up on the mountain when you were lost and I couldn't find you… And when I was holding you in the dark and it was so cold and you were so still…." Edward stopped to take a shuttering breath. "I remembered what you had said and it was so ridiculously clear to me. I knew exactly what you meant. And it is the same for me. Nothing matters to me more than you. Nothing ever will. It's always been you. It's like you are a part of me. And there is nothing I wouldn't do for you. I'd die for you, Bella."
"Edward…"she breathed, reaching up to touch his cheek.
"It's true, Bella," Edward held her face in his hands. "We may have been enemies a week ago… But I have loved you all of my life."
"Edward…" Bella sighed again, placing her hand over his where it held her cheek. "Oh, Edward…You know, you can be such an asshole sometimes."
"That really wasn't the reaction I was expecting," Edward stated as he pulled back and squinted to see if she was serious.
"You know I'm right," she insisted, grabbing the back of his neck and pulling his face close to hers. "You are such an asshole. You have tried to drive me crazy since we were little kids. You always challenged me at anything you could. You've fought with me. You've tested my patience. No one can infuriate me the way you can…. And I have loved you in every moment of it." Bella smiled as emotions welled in her eyes. "I don't know how not to love you, Edward. I just love you so much!"
Edward grinned at her like his face might burst. "You're such a shrew," he said adoringly.
"And you love me for it."
"I really, really do…" Edward brought his mouth down to hers in a soft kiss.
Bella sighed, pulling on his hair to deepen the kiss and parting her lips beneath his. Her mouth was so warm and Edward savored the sweet taste of her as he slowly moved his tongue inside. Bella stroked his tongue with hers before sucking it further into her mouth. Edward groaned and moved his hands into her hair to bring her even closer. Bella squeezed her eyes tightly as her head started to spin.
"You're mine," she murmured against his lips, breaking apart before sagging into his chest.
"Yes," Edward agreed, catching his breath as he held her. "And you're exhausted."
"Mmm, hmmm…." Bella replied. "So are you."
"But I don't have a head injury."
"Fine," she conceded, nestling against him deeper. "But you have to rest with me. You nearly froze to death too."
"Don't worry about me. You just go to sleep."
"You won't go anywhere, right?"
"I'm not going anywhere without you, Bella. We are stuck with each other for good."
"Damn right…" she mumbled as she began to breathe evenly.
In less than a minute she drifted off to sleep and Edward turned them both to lean against the pillows so she could cuddle up on her side. He carefully tucked her injured arm between them and Bella twisted in her sleep so she could throw her other arm across his body and lay her cheek over his heart.
They lay like that for the next hour. Edward knew it was exactly one hour because he watched the clock the entire time. She looked so peaceful resting on his chest; more calm than he'd seen her in ages. He hated the thought of waking her when the hour was up, but he was so damn scared about her concussion that it took all his strength just to let her stay asleep even that long.
"Bella," he whispered lightly, rubbing the side of her face with his thumb. "Bella, wake up for just a minute, sweetheart. OK? You can go right back to sleep, but I need you to open your eyes and look at me for a second."
His voice roused her and she nuzzled his chest with her cheek. Her nose twitched as she started to open her eyes and Edward thought that was probably the cutest damn thing in the whole fucking world.
"Are you awake, baby?"
"Mmm.. hmmm…I think so," she said in a sleepy voice as she stared up at him and smiled. "I'm still tired though."
"That's OK. You still need a lot of rest. I was just checking on you," Edward told her. "Go ahead and close your eyes so you can go back to sleep."
Bella gave a tiny nod but fought to keep her drowsy eyes opened, looking up at him expectantly.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Did you have a bad dream?"
When Bella shook her head and tilted her face up searchingly, Edward finally caught on and leaned down to press his lips to hers.
"Mmm… I needed that," Bella murmured, pulling away with her eyes still closed and burrowing into him again.
"Any time," Edward joked. "It's one of the best perks in the Good Boyfriend Handbook."
"Shut up…" Bella tried to smack his chest, but she was so weak that it only felt like a tap.
"I needed that too, baby," Edward whispered to her. "I always will."
It only took a few seconds for Bella to fall completely under again. Just a couple of minutes later Carlisle came quietly into the room. He noticed Bella sleeping deeply against Edward, and closed the door gently behind him.
"How is she doing?" he whispered to his son.
Edward stroked Bella's hair back from her face before looking at his father. "She's worn out, but she's OK."
"We need to wake her up for a bit. It's not good to let her sleep too much."
"I know. I just woke her up a minute ago. She's fine."
"Good. That's good, but I'll need to have a nurse come in here and check her vitals."
"She just went back to sleep," Edward protested. "Can't it wait?"
Instead of replying, Carlisle stood at the foot of the bed and cocked his head in thought. "Edward…. Charlie and Rene really want to see her."
"No."
"Son," he sighed. "They are her parents…"
"She said she didn't want to see them. You know that."
"Yes, but it isn't entirely up to her."
"So you are going to let them in here even if she doesn't want it?" Edward hissed in anger, trying to keep his voice down. "Doesn't she have any rights at all?"
"I don't want Bella upset. That is the last thing I want," Carlisle assured him. "But Charlie and Rene are frantic out there. Rene hasn't stopped crying. They just want to see their daughter."
"Too little, too late!" Edward snapped, instinctively holding Bella closer.
"I don't know what's happened between Bella and her parent," Carlisle sighed as he gestured towards the bed in frustration. "And I certainly have no idea what is going on between the two of you…"
Edward said nothing.
"All right," Carlisle went on. "Maybe Charlie and Rene could just peek in on her while she is sleeping?"
"Dad, that's not right. She at least deserves to know if they are visiting her. I'm not going to let you take her control away like that!"
"Edward, calm down. It was just a thought. But, yes, I see your point."
"Just tell them that if they really care about Bella they will do what is best for her and not what is best for them. Tell them that she needs them to leave her alone until she wants to see them."
Carlisle didn't respond to Edward's ranting, but continued to watch him inquisitively. "How are you feeling, son?" he finally asked, walking around the side of the bed.
"I'm fine."
"Your brother told me what you did; that you found her and stayed with her. And I spoke to the doctors who saw you when you were brought in. Are your fingers still numb?"
Edward shrugged. "They're getting better."
"I'm proud of you, Edward," Carlisle said, smiling for the first time.
"Why?" he asked, genuinely confused.
"You saved her life, son."
"You don't need to be proud of me for that," Edward said with a slight smile, shaking his head. "I don't know if I actually saved her life or not… but no one could have stopped me from trying."
"I'm still proud of you," Carlisle grinned, raising his eyebrow. "And… I realize you're the one Bella wants here right now, which I get the feeling is about more than just you rescuing her..?"
Edward tried to think of a response, but Bella took that moment to start whimpering fitfully. She moved her head back and forth a few time, clenching and unclenching her fist where it rested on Edward's abs. She was mostly incoherent except for mumbling "yes" and "no" several times.
"Is she all right?' Carlisle asked in concern. "We can't give her anything to help her sleep in her condition, unfortunately."
"She's OK, dad," Edward said, taking hold of her hand. "Bella always talks in her sleep."
Stoking the back of her hand with his thumb, Edward watched as she settled again before looking back up at his dad. It was only after seeing the expression on Carlisle's face that Edward realized what he had said.
"Dad!" he gasped, starting to blush. "Give me a break! She's slept over like a thousand times!"
Shit! That actually didn't help at all. His father's eyebrows looked like they might literally disappear if he raised them anymore.
"I mean with Alice! I mean their little sleepovers! I mean… damn it, dad! You know what I mean!"
Carlisle chuckled at his son's floundering, but shook his head to indicate the conversation wasn't entirely humorous. "I think a talk is in our future, son," he said pointedly. "I'd like to ask if Bella has ever spent the night in someone's room other than your sister's during one of her stays…"
"Dad..."
"But I'm honestly not sure I could handle the answer right now." Carlisle averted his eyes and shook his head again as he moved towards the door. "I'll be back with a nurse in about 45 minutes," he said as he left, closely the door behind him.
"You'd better hope he doesn't ask if you've ever stayed all night in my room," Bella murmured against Edward's shirt.
"You're supposed to be sleeping," Edward told her, looking down to see her eyes were still closed.
"And miss that entertaining conversation?"
"How much did you hear?"
"I tuned in at 'Bella always talks in her sleep."
"Why didn't you say something?"
Bella finally opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Because I was having way too much fun listening to you squirm."
"Thanks a lot."
"Just don't plan on a career as a defense attorney. OK?"
"He caught me off guard, that's all."
Bella titled her head back thoughtfully. "So… do they all know now?"
"About us?" Edward blinked a few times. "I'm not sure. I haven't really had a chance to think about it. I've just been worried about you."
"You can stop worrying about me, I'm fine now," Bella told him, pulling her hand out of his so she could rub his chest soothingly. "But Carlisle certainly has some idea that something is going on between us."
"Oh, he definitely has an idea. I mean, everyone does."
"How?"
"Well, you did make my dad tell your parents that I was the only person you wanted to see." Edward couldn't quite stop his smug grin as her reminded her of that.
"I did?"
Edward's grin fell a bit. "You don't remember?"
"Oh, no, I remember! I mean, I remember being confused and not knowing where you were," Bella rested her head on his chest again. "And I remember seeing your dad and asking him to get you for me. We argued about it, I think. He tried to talk me into seeing my parents and I started to cry… I think I was crying for you… I was really out of it when I first woke up."
"I'm sorry I wasn't here, baby. I tried to be. I was going crazy being kept away from you."
"You were with me when I needed you the most," Bella told him, placing a kiss on his neck. "But, what did you mean 'everyone' has an idea now. Who else was there?"
"Pretty much the whole school."
"What?"
Bella tried to sit up but Edward wrapped his arms around her to pull her back to him.
"Not entirely the whole school," he said, trying to calm her. "Probably no more than 20 or 25 people."
"What? Why?"
"Why do you think? Because they were worried about you."
"They were here for me? Who were they?"
"Mostly who you'd expect. Jessica, Angela, Ben, Eric …. Mike," he choked out the last name with a grimace.
"But why did they all come here? How did they know?"
"Alice."
"Alice? Alice got them here?"
"You're really surprised by that?"
"I don't understand," Bella admitted, scrunching up her eyes before leaning into him.
"You're tired, baby. I can explain later."
"No, please explain now. I want to know what happened."
Edward sighed and rested his cheek on the top of her hair. He rubbed her shoulder and braced himself for the memories.
"When Alice found out you were missing, she grabbed Jessica and Angela and got Mike to drive them up the mountain."
"How did Alice find out?"
"She was talking to Charlie when Leah called the station."
"Leah called the station?"
"Baby," Edward said slowly. "If you try to get every detail right now you are really going to exhaust yourself."
"Fine," Bella sighed. "I'll quit interrupting."
Edward kissed her forehead. "When the search was called off for the night, I guess Alice just started calling everyone she could; waking them up and telling them to be ready to help search as soon as the sun rose."
"She did that?"
"And when you were brought to the hospital before morning, most of them came here to see if you were OK."
"Wow…"
"Don't be so stunned. A lot of people love you."
Bella was silent for a moment, trying to take it all in. Alice had come through for her. She'd been there when she really needed help and did all she could. That brought a sense of warmth to her heart that Bella hadn't even realized was missing. Alice really was there for her. Alice and…
"Emmett," Bella finally spoke. "Emmett was there too, wasn't he?"
"Emmett saved both our asses, baby."
"But… you said the search was called off for the night. How did you find me?"
Edward brushed her hair back as she looked up at him. "Bella, do you really think anything could have made me stop searching for you?" he asked soberly. "No one could have made me leave that mountain last night. Not without you."
Bella held his gaze and fought the tightening in her throat. "You are going to make me cry again," she whispered, blinking back the tears.
"Don't cry, sweetheart," he said, kissing the corner of her mouth. "Just relax and sleep now."
Bella yawned. "Why bother now? Carlisle will be in here with a nurse in just a little while."
Edward sat up and started to slip out from behind her. "Maybe we should ask him to come back in now, so you can rest longer."
"OK," Bella agreed, settling against her pillows as he stood up and pressed the call button. "But one more question. Who called off the search?"
"What do you mean?"
"You said the search was called off but no one could make you go, right?"
Edward looked away from her. "It was just normal pro... uh... practice to stop searching at night. To make sure no one else got lost."
"Normal practice? Who called it off, Edward?" When he didn't answer her, Bella knew. "My dad. Charlie called off the search, didn't he?"
Edward turned to sit back down on the side of the bed. "Bella," he began gently. "You know I'm not a big fan of your dad's, but I can tell you that Charlie was very worried about you."
"So worried that he tried to get you to stop looking for me?"
"He probably thought I'd get myself mauled by a bear," Edward said, trying to get her to smile. "And… Charlie's been trained in search and rescue so he knows the procedure."
"Why are you defending him?"
"Defending your dad? Baby, that is the last fucking thing I ever thought you'd accuse me of doing." Edward put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her gently back onto the pillows again. "I just don't want you to feel like your dad doesn't care about you."
"What makes you think he does?"
Edward groaned. Damn it, he was NOT going to be Charlie Swan's fucking champion here! But Bella needed to know how much she was loved… even by a father who didn't deserve her.
"Look," Edward started, "I am seriously pissed off at the man right now and I don't have one nice thing to say about him… except that maybe he was trying to find you the best way he knew how. Like a cop."
"For once I just wish he could be less of a cop and more of a father."
"He was worried about you. I saw it. And… you know… of course he loves you and stuff."
"Too little, too late," Bella scowled.
Edward smiled. "That is exactly what I said when Carlisle was telling me how badly your parents want to see you."
"Really? Are they still waiting?"
"I'm sure they are," Edward stroked the hair back from her forehead. "Do you want to see them, sweetheart?"
Bella shook her head. "But I feel like I should want to see them."
"Why the hell should you want to see them?"
"I guess I could have died and they are my parents. I feel like if I were a better person I'd let bygones be bygones, or whatever. But I'm just so angry with them that I can't!"
"Fuck 'bygone' or whatever!" Edward exclaimed. "You have every right to be angry with them. I know I am!"
"But you just said…"
"I said they love you and they are worried about you. And it's about damn time that they realized they should be! But that doesn't make up for everything else all at once. It doesn't mean that you should just forgive and get over it right now."
"Too little, too late?" Bella asked.
"Exactly!" Edward slid his hand under her hair to rub her neck. "Baby, we all want our parents to love us, no matter what. I just want you to understand that your parents do love you. It doesn't mean you shouldn't be pissed off at them." Edward leaned closer to run his lips over her forehead and down to her cheek. "It just means you are totally loveable."
"Oh really?" Bella smiled. "I am?"
"Oh hell yeah," Edward insisted, giving her a quick, firm kiss.
"So are you," she whispered, kissing him in return and leaning her forehead against his. "Thank you for saying all that. It's not like I don't love my mom and dad. I just don't think I could keep my temper in check if I had to see them right now. Just thinking about them acting all concerned now when I don't need their help anymore… it just makes me want to scream!"
"Well, that settles it then," Edward told her. "You are supposed to be resting and staying calm, not having your temper boil over. So, it wouldn't be good for you to see them right now and that's the end of it."
"Are you sure you're not just giving me an excuse so I don't have to feel guilty?"
"No fucking way! You have nothing to feel guilty about. This is all on them, sweetheart."
"I'm surprised Charlie hasn't just barged in already, to tell you the truth. I was almost scared he would try to keep you from seeing me."
"He did try?"
"He did?" Bella sat back up quickly. "Are you fucking kidding me? After all this, he still tried to keep you away from me?"
"Baby, calmed down," Edward pleaded. "I wasn't about to let that happen and, in the end, your mom backed me up."
"That fucking bastard!" Bella continued to rant. "I can't believe him! And to think that I started to feel guilty for being mad in the first place! How dare he try that shit again!"
"Is there a problem here?" Carlisle interrupted Bella's tirade as he walked in the room. "What's going on?"
Edward stood up as his dad came to stand beside the bed. "She's just a little upset," he explained. "I pressed the call button so you could check on her before she went back to sleep."
Carlisle gave his son a concerned look before turning his attention to Bella. "Is everything all right?"
"Are you going to make me see my parents?" Bella blurted out. "I mean, can they force me to see them even if I don't want to? Can they keep Edward from seeing me?"
"Bella, no one is making you do anything," Carlisle assured her, looking at Edward knowingly before moving closer to the bed. "Try not to upset yourself."
"I'm sorry," she took a deep breath. "I'm not trying to cause any problems. Edward just mentioned they were still waiting out there and…I don't want to see them."
"Did something happen with your parents, Bella?" Carlisle asked gently. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to but this doesn't sound like you. And your mother and father are extremely anxious."
"Dad!" Edward exclaimed in a warning tone.
"It's OK," Bella told him. "I know I'm not acting like myself, Carlisle. I know you are just trying to help. But it's just… it's complicated."
"And really not something she needs to go into right now," Edward added insistently. "Just tell her she doesn't have to see her parents, dad, so she can rest."
Carlisle didn't show any offense at his son's tone and reached out to put a gentle hand on Bella's arm. "You are my main concern. Not Charlie or Rene, but you. And I don't think it would be good for you, medically, to see your parents right now. Not if it is going to upset you so much."
"Thank you, Carlisle."
"Why don't we get the nurse in here to check a few things and then you can go back to sleep. Does that sound all right?"
"Edward can still stay with me, right?"
"I'm not going anywhere," Edward said firmly, stepping forward to take Bella's hand.
Carlisle stared at their joined hands for a moment. "Of course Edward can stay with you if you want him to, Bella. Let's just have him step out for a moment when the nurse comes in."
"He doesn't have to go," Bella said, intertwining her fingers more tightly with his. "I don't mind if he stays in here."
"You don't mind if Edward is in the room while you are examined?"
"No," Bella shrugged. "It's fine with me." In truth, she couldn't imagine why it would bother her for him to be there. She was more comfortable with Edward that with most people anyway.
"Well," Carlisle cleared his throat. "I suppose it is all right, then. But, Edward, perhaps you could step out and have a few words with your brother and sister. They don't want to leave the hospital until they've had a chance to check on Bella. Maybe you could suggest they come back later this afternoon when she is more rested."
"Where is mom?"
"She's with Rene right now," Carlisle explained, looking at both of them. "And Charlie. I think she convinced them to go with her to get some food downstairs."
"Edward you should eat something too," Bella realized and suddenly looked panicked. "Have you eaten anything at all?"
"I'm fine, baby," he said, bending down quickly to give her a reassuring kiss. "Don't worry about me."
Carlisle's eyebrows reached his hairline again.
Oops! Did he really just kiss Bella in front of his dad?
"Um… Do you think you could talk to Emmett and Alice for me when you go get the nurse?" Edward asked, pretending not to notice the look his father was giving him. "Just so I don't have to leave her…?"
"I suppose I could do that, son," Carlisle said slowly, his eyebrows still raised. "It would probably be best if you didn't risk running into Charlie anyway."
"Do you think I could see them for a minute?" Bella asked. "Alice and Emmett, I mean."
Carlisle looked at Bella's tired eyes that were still rimmed in shadow. "I would really prefer you get some rest right now, young lady," he told her with a caring smile.
"Do I look that bad?" she joked.
"You actually do look a little paler than I'd like," he observed. "I'm going to go get the nurse."
Carlisle exited the room and immediately sent the nurse in to check on Bella. After that it didn't take him long to track down his other two children. They were sitting in the main lounge area watching the early show run the weather forecast for the sixth time that morning. Rosalie's father had shown up just before dawn with threats of eternal grounding if she didn't come home and stay there. Jasper was still sitting with Alice, though, offering his support. The rest of Forks High School had dissipated with the news that Bella was recovering, leaving the waiting area relatively empty.
When they saw their father approaching, Emmett and Alice slowly rose to their feet, as if they were looking for a reason to stretch but not planning to leave.
"How is she? Did you check on her again?" Alice asked.
"She's all right," Carlisle answered as they came to stand in front of him. "She's awake now so I'm having the nurse do a more thorough check-up. Did your mother take Charlie and Rene to the cafeteria?"
"Yeah," Emmett replied. "She had to practically drag them down there. I think they were afraid they'd miss it if Bella asked to see them."
"I'm afraid that's not very likely."
"You're right, dad. It's NOT," Emmett insisted with a hint of anger.
Carlisle narrowed his eyes at both of them. "You know what is going on with Bella and her parents?"
Emmett shrugged and Alice looked at her feet.
Carlisle sighed in frustration. "Well, in any case, it would be a bad idea for them to see her now."
"Can we see her?" Alice asked hopefully.
"No. I'm sorry, but not yet."
"Why?"
"Because she needs her rest," he explained. "The only reason your brother is in there is because it would upset Bella too much if we made him leave."
"Like you could make him leave," Emmett chuckled under his breath.
Carlisle heard Emmett's comment and through his hands up in frustration. "I don't have the energy to be patient any longer, so will one of you please just tell me what the hell is going on between Edward and Bella?"
Alice and Emmett both stared blankly at their father and kept silent.
"Um…" Alice finally began when she couldn't take the tension anymore. "Well, what do you think is going on between them?"
Carlisle rolled his eyes. "How long?" he asked. "Is this a new thing? Because, from what I've seen, it doesn't look like a new development?"
Alice and Emmett exchanged glances before shrugging their shoulders in unison. They really weren't sure how to answer that question.
"All right, I'm not going to ask you to break any confidences here," Carlisle said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Bella really does want to see both of you, by the way?"
"She asked for me?" Alice said hopefully "Me specifically?"
"Yes, you specifically. You and Emmett both. She asked if she could see you before she went back to sleep, but I convinced her to let you come back this afternoon. She needs to rest."
Alice was beaming and her eyes were wet. "Dad, I really, really, need to talk to her."
"Then why don't you go home and get some sleep so you both can be awake to talk?"
"OK, OK… just tell her I didn't want to leave without seeing her. Tell her I'll come back the second she is ready for me."
"Alice, I'm sure she knows that…"
"It's important, dad! Please, promise you'll tell her?"
"Yes, Alice, I'll tell her. Emmett, will you please take your sister home so you can both rest. Bella is going to feel better knowing that you aren't just out here waiting on her."
"Yeah, that does sound like her," Emmett agreed. "Come on, brat."
Carlisle watched the two of them leave and hurried back toward Bella's room, wondering if all his children were losing their minds.
"Dr. Cullen?" a young woman behind the nurses' station called out to him. "These gentlemen need to talk to you."
Two uniformed police officers were standing off to the side looking stoic to the point of boredom.
Carlisle looked at them in confusion. "Is there something I can do for you?"
The larger of the two men stepped forward with a slow swagger. "We just need to ask Ms. Swan a few questions about what happened to her. Would now be an all right time?"
"Chief Swan is here in the hospital. I imagine he would be the one…"
"The chief told us to check with you, Dr. Cullen," the second officer replied, with a more polite tone than his partner had used. "He doesn't want his daughter questioned until you think she is ready."
"In that case, I don't think now is a good time," Carlisle replied. "Although I don't know what about getting lost and injuring herself would require being questioned by the police…?"
The two officers exchanged glances that told Carlisle that, yet again, he didn't know everything that was going on. What the hell did the police need to question Bella for?
"We'll check back again later today and see how she is feeling then," the second officer said. "Thanks for your time."
"Dr. Cullen?" the nurse behind the counter called to him again before the officers had even turned to leave.
"Yes?"
"They need you in the patient's room."
Carlisle realized the nurse was gesturing towards Bella's room and the instant worry he felt pushed all other thoughts away. He went to the door immediately and walked in without even pausing to knock.
Edward had moved to the far side of the bed, where he sat perched on the edge of a vinyl chair holding Bella's hand. Bella was lying on her back with her eyes closed and Carlisle noticed again how pale she was looked, especially against the white cotton of the pillow cases. The nurse walked over the Carlisle as soon as he had closed the door and presented him with Bella's chart. He took a few moments to look it over, his eyes tightening as he frowned over what he read. When he finally looked up he realized Edward and Bella were both watching him in silent concern.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, trying to brighten the tone of his voice.
"Tired," Bella replied softly, fiddling with Edward's fingers absentmindedly.
Carlisle nodded. "I want to put you on oxygen for a little while. That should help you feel better."
"Why?" Edward asked, but his dad was already sending the nurse out of the room with instructions and avoiding his question. When the nurse was gone, he still hesitated longer than Edward liked.
"This is really something I ought to discuss with your parents, Bella," Carlisle finally started explaining. "But, I'm a little concerned that your oxygen levels are so low. It could be nothing, but we do need to monitor it."
Bella listened to Carlisle's words, but looked to Edward for his reassuring nod before she relaxed.
"OK. But does that mean I can have this IV out now?"
"It's not a trade, Bella," Carlisle smiled.
"Can't we negotiate?"
"No, you need both, young lady. You're still dehydrated too."
"How come Edward doesn't have to be all hooked up to tubes and get needles stuck in him?" Bella sighed.
"Because I wasn't the injured one," Edward piped in. "And I actually did have an IV when I first got to the hospital."
"You did?" Bella's teasing turned to concern. "You didn't tell me that. Are you OK?"
Edward nodded, "It was nothing."
"From what I heard Edward nearly ripped the IV out himself," Carlisle said.
"Come on, dad, I wasn't going to stay in that bed when Bella was waking up."
"Edward!" Bella rolled her eyes. "What if you still need the IV?"
"I don't. I'm fine."
"You don't know that. Why would they bother if you didn't need it?"
"Dad, tell Bella I'm fine."
"Carlisle, tell Edward that he hasn't been to medical school and should listen to the doctors."
"Dad, tell Bella that…"
. "I didn't get in the middle of your bickering when you were little, and I'm certainly not going to now," Carlisle laughed in spite of himself.
"Will you at least make him eat something?"
"I'll bring something back from the cafeteria after I've spoken with your parent, Bella."
"My parents? Why?"
"Well, I still need to discuss any treatment you have with them. You're a minor."
Bella felt Edward stiffen beside her and she released his fingers to stroke his arm. "It's OK," she told him soothingly. "They'll go along with whatever your dad suggests."
"You know, Bella," Carlisle spoke carefully. "They might be willing to go home for awhile if they could just peek in and see you. Do you think that would upset you too much?"
Edward wanted to snap at his dad for bringing this up again, but he let Bella speak for herself.
"Yes it would," Bella confirmed. "I'm not ready to see them. Anything they say or do right now is going to upset me. I know this won't make sense to you but even hearing them tell me they love me would just make me so angry…" Bella clenched her fists and took a deep breath.
"I didn't realize it was so bad, Bella," Carlisle said with sincere sadness. "I'm really sorry."
Edward rubbed Bella's shoulder comfortingly, hating to see her so obviously torn up inside. He knew she was going to have to face her parents eventually, but she couldn't do it right now. Didn't his dad see that?
"The nurse will be back soon and then you can rest again," Carlisle said turning towards the door. As he started to open it, he stopped himself and turned back. "I almost forgot. Bella, I have a message from Alice that she made me promise to give you."
Bella opened her eyes again with interest. "What is it?"
"She and Emmett did agree to go home and rest but she wanted to be sure you knew that she didn't want to leave and she will be back as soon as you are ready to see her."
Bella smiled at that. Alice was really trying to be a better friend. "If you speak to her, will you give her a message from me? Tell her that I'm really looking forward to a long visit with my BFF."
Carlisle nodded, silently deciding that he should just give up trying to understand his children's behavior anymore. "Is there anything you want me to say to your parents, Bella?" he asked gently as he went to open the door again. "Do you have a message for them?"
Bella's face fell as she sat silent for a moment. "Yes, I do have a message for them," she finally spoke, reaching out to squeeze Edward's hand. "Tell them this, Carlisle. Tell them Bella said…. 'Too little, too late."
The drama is not over yet... and neither is their HOT Spring Break. More to come soon!
As always, thank you so much for reading!
~Alexanya