I do not own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
CH 21: Pills
(3rd POV)
It was late in the evening and the gang stopped at a convince store to get some snacks. They were going to travel late into the night to reach their next location after Renée insisted on keeping them for dinner. None of them wanted to rush Bella away from her mom since she saw her so infrequently after she got remarried.
"Bella, no caffeine. You know how it affects you. You will be up all night." Edward took the bottle away from her.
"I will be fine. I want to stay up so you're not driving while everyone else is asleep in the car." Bella reached for the bottle but Edward tossed it into the back to Emmett. Bella didn't stand a chance getting it away from him.
"Em, please give it back to me." Bella asked politely.
"I don't think so, little sister." Emmett refused. Bella turned in her seat pouting.
"It's just one soda. I'm still allowed to have caffeine." She rolled her eyes.
"Not this late at night." Edward refused to back down.
"Sorry, darlin' Bells, we are just looking out for you. We don't want what happened to you to happen again." Jasper spoke up.
"I certainly don't like to have that happen again. It scared me enough the first time." Rose said softly.
(RPOV, age 18)
School was fairly boring with Emmett gone. I especially missed him during lunch. I was the odd person out at the table. I rolled my eyes as I looked away from my brother and Alice as they stared into each others eyes all gooey eyed, it was enough to make anyone want to vomit.
I turned my gaze to the other couple, who were most low keyed about PDA out of the rest of the group. Bella was looking at a text book with a frustrated glance. She kept scribbling and erasing the hell out of a piece of paper in front of her. Edward was playing with a strand of her hair trying to get her attention, which was making her even more annoyed than anything else.
"Edward, quit it. I'm trying to study." She finally snapped smacking him away as if he were a bug.
"All you have been doing the past few days is having your nose in that book. You should pay more attention to your wonderful boyfriend." Edward pouted playfully and I rolled my eyes about to turn away thinking they were about to get all lovey-dovey. I stopped when Bella's head shot up giving Edward a glare that made him retract his hand fast, as if she was about to bite him.
"I wouldn't use wonderful to describe him right now. If he was being wonderful, he would be more understanding that I'm stressing out over this class and need to study harder to get an A." Bella snapped. I sensed my brother and Alice turn in their seats in surprise. Bella hardly ever got this upset, let alone at Edward. Edward looking put out and snapped back.
"God, forbid you get a B. The world might end." Apparently Edward had the same verbal filter as Emmett. I watched as Bella's eyes tear up and her face crumbled. She grabbed her stuff and left fast, tripping on the way. Edward immediately looked guilty and started to chase after her.
"Wow, what just happened?" Jasper exchanged a look with me. I shrugged because I wasn't sure.
"Shoot, she left before I could talk to you both." Alice pouted.
"About what?" I was unsure about the gleam in her eyes.
"About the talent show. I think us girls should sign up. It will be great." Alice bounced in her seat.
"Ick. I don't know, it sounds kind of lame." I answered.
"Please, Rose. It will be fun. We could win, especially with Bella as lead singer." Alice pouted.
"Fine." I reluctantly groaned.
"Sweet," Alice shot out of her seat. "I will go sign us up."
"Alice," I stopped her in mid-step. "Don't you think you should talk to Bella first?"
"She never tells me no." Alice ran off with my brother following her.
"Yeah, she also never snaps at Edward either." I mumbled, deciding to head to my locker before my next class.
I turned down the corridor and saw Edward leaning against the wall across from the women's bathroom. He turned slightly when he heard my footsteps. He looked concerned.
"Rose, can you check on Bella for me? She went in the bathroom and won't come out." He asked me. I nodded and headed into the bathroom. Bella was at the counter and she had a bottle in her hands. She quickly popped something in her mouth before shoving the bottle back into her bag. I assumed she had a headache, maybe that was why she was irritable. I knew she could get bad migraines at times.
"Are you okay?" I leaned on the counter next to her. Her eyes were still red from crying.
"I'm fine, I'm just really stressed." Bella fumbled with her zipper. Her hands were shaking.
"Edward is outside and he looks worried about you. I'm sure he's sorry. I think he picked up Emmett's habit of not thinking before speaking." I tried to lighten the situation.
"I shouldn't have snapped at him. I will go apologize to him." Bella's eyes welled up again.
"Are you sure you're okay. I know Edward said it wrong, but will it be a really bad thing to get a B." I asked softly.
"It would be for me. I need to keep my straight A's and do well on the AP tests. Not only if I want to get into Dartmouth, but if I want a scholarship. If I don't get a full scholarship I can't afford to go. All of you're going to be on the East Coast. I don't want to be stuck here, especially so far from Edward. Between working part time at Newton's, studying and Edward, I feel like there isn't enough time. I'm completely stressed out. Edward keeps complaining for alone time, which we hardly seem to get and he continuously whines about Newton's because of Mike. But what am I suppose to do? Forks doesn't have a lot of job opportunities." She ranted upset again. Before I could respond the door flew open with a bang and Alice came in. Shit! Bella didn't need this right now.
"Alice, wa…" I started but she interrupted
"I did it. We all signed up. This will be great. I will start the costumes as soon as we choose a song." Alice was some how oblivious that Bella was upset.
"Signed up who… for what?" Bella narrowed her eyes at Alice.
"The three of us for the talent show." Alice was beaming.
"Alice…" I started, but Bella beat me to it.
"No. No way. I can't handle anything more right now." Bella said sharply. Alice immediately started to pout.
"But, Bella, we need you. You have to take the lead so we can win." Alice whined.
"Alice, stop. She doesn't have to do it, if she doesn't want to." I spoke up.
"But I already signed us up. It will look bad if we quit. Think how it would look on a college application if we not only do this but win." Alice wasn't giving up.
Bella was pinching the bridge of her nose, a habit she picked up from Edward.
"Fine. I will do it." Bella said in exasperation. Alice squealed as the first bell rang. Bella grabbed her bag and hurried out of the bathroom. I followed behind her to see her go up to Edward and said something to him. He said something back before hugging her to him and kissing the top of her head.
I walked with Jasper to our next class as Alice headed in the other direction.
Once we were seated I turned to him.
"Hey, Jazz, I need to ask you a favor?" I asked him. He glanced at me curiously.
"You're in Honors Calculus with Mr. Varner, right?" I questioned.
"I'm not doing your homework and I doubt we could pass for a twin switch-a-roo." He teased. His smirk fell when he saw the expression on my face. "What is going on, Rosie?" he asked in more concern.
"Bella is really struggling with the class. Do you think you could help her by studying with her or something?" I pleaded with him. He scratched the back of his neck before answering.
"Why is she so upset if she gets a B? She's in the top of our class." He asked. I quickly explained her situation as he nodded.
"Did she ask for my help?" He glanced at the teacher then back at me.
"No, but she's so stressed out. You know her as well as I do. She's not going to speak up and ask for help." I gave him puppy dog eyes like Alice and I watched him cave.
"I will try, but I can only do so much if she doesn't want the help." Jasper agreed.
"Thank you, Jazzy." I smiled. I knew he would be helpful since he was a great guy.
The week passed and we were busy with rehearsals and studying for midterms. Jasper offered to study with Bella for Calculus, which she eagerly accepted any help he would give her. I thought she would look less stress, but as time went on she would go from looking more hyper than Alice one minute to worn out the next. She had big bags under her eyes from lack of sleep. She even wore her glasses a few times to school.
We were at the Cullen's house two days before show to practice when I walked into Alice's bathroom startling her. She dropped her bottle of pills and it rolled towards me.
"Sorry, I should've knocked." I apologized. I bent to pick up the bottle and looked at it before handing back to her.
"Bella, what are you doing with these?" I asked worriedly. She snatched them out of my hand.
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it." She tossed them back into her bag.
"Why are you taking caffeine pills?" I hissed.
"Shh. They aren't harmful. They sell them over the counter. I needed something to help keep me awake to study at night and sometimes during the day." She whispered looking over my shoulder.
"If it's harmless why are you whispering?" I demanded crossing my arms in front of me.
"Because you met Edward. He overacts over everything. Last thing I need is a fight with him." She pointed out. I bit my lip still not convinced. "Look, once Midterms and this stupid talent show are over, I'm not going to take them. That's only two days away."
"Promise?" I looked her in the eyes since she couldn't lie. She nodded and I could tell she was telling me the truth.
"Just please, don't say anything to Edward." She pleaded.
"Okay," I agreed reluctantly.
That night I couldn't sleep. I tossed in turn in bed before getting up. I walked through the bathroom connecting mine and Jasper's room. I jumped on his bed and shoved his shoulder a bit.
"Wake up," I demanded. I needed to talk to him.
"Leave, me alone, Rose." He grumbled rolling over.
"I need to talk to you. Wake up." I shoved him again.
"Rose, it's two in the morning, can't it wait." He rubbed his eyes.
"No, I think I did the wrong thing and I can't sleep." I pulled my knees to my chest.
"Did Emmett knock you up, because I have no problem killing him for you," His voice sounded groggy, but more awake.
"No, it's not me." I shook my head.
"Edward knocked up Bells, because the same goes? It can't be Allie." He shifted so he was raised on one arm looking at me.
"I don't think they are doing anything like that, but it's Bella. What do you know about caffeine pills?" I asked him.
"They are over the counter uppers. Perfectly legal." He answered.
"So they can't harm her if she's taking them?" I asked.
"Not if she takes them as directed for a short period of time." He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "How long has she been taking them?"
"A week, I think. I saw her take one last week, but I assumed it was something for a headache. I saw the bottle today." I told him.
"I'm not a doctor, but a week, a week and a half doesn't sound that bad. How often and how much?" Jasper continued to ask.
"I don't now how much? But she said at night to study and sometimes during the day." I explained.
"Bella is a very smart girl, I doubt she would overdose or not take as directed. If we see her still taking them past this week we can approach it again." Jasper shrugged.
"It's her not wanting Edward to know that has me worried." I explained.
"Did she say why?" Jasper's eyebrows furrowed.
"She says because he would overact to them." I answered. Jasper snickered which I didn't expect.
"Yeah, he would. I was there where he gave her a hard time about taking over the counter migraine pills instead of her regular stuff. He would blow this out of proportion." He pointed out.
"So do you think I'm overacting?" I asked. Jasper sat up with a sigh and wrapped an arm around me.
"I think you're a good friend. But I don't think it's anything to worry about yet." He gave me a small hug.
Two nights later, we were back at school ready for the talent show. Alice had made us costumes out of army camo that looked cute and sexy. We worked our make up and hair to give a forties flare.
"Bella, you have such bags under your eyes. I'm going to have to use more make up than normal." Alice huffed. I glanced at Bella, she looked pale and tired. She just nodded to what Alice was saying. When Alice was done she moved on to herself. Bella reached in her bag and got herself some pills and took a swig of water to wash them down.
"You're done after tonight, right?" I asked softly. She looked up at me with wide eyes.
"Yes, here if you don't believe me." She handed me the bottle. I shook it and heard a few still rattling around.
"We are up next girls." Alice squealed. I dropped the bottle in my own bag and followed her and Bella to the curtain.
Our number went quick. We sang the Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. The lights from the stage were almost unbearable hot. The audience clapped loudly for us as we hurried of the stage after a quick bow.
"That was so fun. We have to do it again." Alice was jumping up and down. I rolled my eyes and glanced at Bella. She wasn't looking good, her face was red and sweaty. She lunged forward and threw up in a garbage bucket. She stumbled back and was clutching her chest and breathing hard. Her body was shaking all over.
"Bella, are you okay." She shook her head weakly.
"I can't….breathe….hurts…"she managed to gasp out.
"Alice, get your dad, now," I yelled at her. Alice was watching Bella with wide eyes, her eyes snapped to me before running out the room. I tried to support Bella the best I could.
"Breathe." I rubbed her back looking around for a chair but couldn't see one. "Bella, you got to calm down." I tried to remain calm as her breaths seemed more panicked. I could feel her heart thundering in her chest. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and I caught her before she hit the ground.
"Bella," I looked up as Edward shouted pushing others out the way to get to her. He looked alarmed to see her on the ground.
"What happened?" he demanded. Before I could open my mouth Dr. C. was pushing his way towards us.
"Edward…Rose…you need to move." I backed up right away.
"I'm not leaving her," Edward snapped guarding her. Dr. C. sighed as he looked up.
"Emmett, if you could." Emmett reached for Edward. Edward fought him and Jasper helped him pull him back.
"Bro, you got to let dad help her. He can't help her if you're hovering over her." Emmett said calmly before Edward relaxed in his arms.
"What happened?" Dr. C. was checking her pulse.
"We got off stage and she threw up. She was red in the face and sweaty. She complained that she couldn't breathe and it hurt. She was holding her chest and shaking all over. I could feel her heart racing when I was trying to support her. I couldn't get her to calm down and she passed out." I told him tearfully.
"Did she hit her head?" Dr. C. asked, he started to check the back of her head.
"No, I caught her and laid her down the best I could." Mom came to me and wrapped an arm around me.
"Is she on any kind of medication?" Dr. C. looked passed me. I turned to see Chief there looking pale. Esme was next him.
"Not that I know of. Her mom put her on birth control years ago." He answered. I felt a twinge in my stomach and looked at Jasper he nodded looking a little sick himself.
"She has been taking caffeine pills." I whispered. Dr. C. whipped around to look at me.
"How long?" he looked unhappy.
"I don't know. At least a week and a half. She claimed she was using it to help her study at night and a few times during the day. She said she would be done after today. She gave me the bottle, after she took two pills, right before going out to perform.
"Let me see it." Dr. C. held his hand out. I went for my bag and got him the bottle.
"Why didn't you stop her or come and tell me?" Edward looked furious.
"I…" I started to cry.
"She came to me. She promised Bella not say anything to you because you overreact. I told her as long as Bella was taking them as directed and would stop after today then I didn't think it was too much to worry about." Jasper spoke up.
"Neither one of you are doctors, you had no right to assume that." Edward still looked mad.
"Edward, calm down. Your flipping out isn't going to help anything. But he's right, you should've come to me or Charlie, if you were concerned. These pills can have bad side effects, even when taking normally. I don't see signs of an overdose. She most likely had an anxiety attack and passed out from exhaustion. I can run some tests at the hospital." Dr. C. lectured. He shifted to scoop up Bella. Edward pulled forward to kneel beside them.
"Please, let me," Edward begged. Dr. C. looked and Chief Swan who nodded and Edward picked her up easily.
"Edward," Bella mumbled, stirring slightly.
"I'm right here, love. Just relax, we are going to get you some help." Edward kissed the top of her head.
"How are you feeling?" Dr. C. asked her.
"Tired. Very tired." She mumbled not opening her eyes still.
"Does your chest hurt still?" Bella shook her head and snuggled into Edward.
An hour and a half later, we were still in the waiting room. Edward was pacing while the rest of us were sitting.
"Edward, come sit." Esme patted the chair next to her. He shook his head and kept walking.
"Does anyone know why Bella has been so stressed?" my mother asked from beside me.
I told her about Bella and Calculus and how she was desperate to get a scholarship to get into Dartmouth. Mom and dad exchanged a look.
The door opened and Dr. C. and the Chief came out.
"How is she? Is she going to be okay?" Edward attacked them immediately.
"She's going to be fine. With some rest and rehydration she should be good as new. I'm going to have sedate her to help her get some sleep tonight. She can go home tomorrow." Dr. C. explained to us all.
"Can I see her first, please?" Edward pleaded.
"Me too," Alice begged.
"For only a minute. No one is to upset her, understand. She doesn't need anymore stress." Dr. C. looked at all of us, eyes landing on Emmett. I hoped he kept his comments to himself.
We walked down the hall to her room. She was in bed with an I.V. attached and a different monitor. Edward hurried to her side.
"Edward, I'm so sorry." Bella's voice sounded so broken.
"Shhh. It's okay." Edward took her hand as we gathered around.
"But it isn't. I swear I followed directions and didn't overdose," Bella was still trying to explain. The monitor started to beep fast and I realized it was her heart rate.
"Brown-eyes, I know. You don't have to apologize to me or anyone. Calm down." Edward crawled on top of the bed and cuddled with her being careful of the IV. Her heart rate slowed down.
"Bella, I'm sorry. I should've told someone when I was concerned." I apologized to her.
"Not your fault, Rose. You couldn't have known this was going to happen." Bella told me. She looked exhausted.
"She's right, it's not your fault." Edward told me. I nodded tearfully.
"How are you feeling now?" Jasper asked her.
"Better, but I'm so tired and I can't get to sleep." Bella answered.
"Close your eyes. I can hum for you." Edward pulled her close and she laid her head on his chest. He was humming very lightly.
"Bella, before we go, we won at the talent show. I'm sorry I pushed you into it. You can keep the trophy." Alice told her. I glanced back and Bella's breath had evened out.
"I think she's asleep," Jasper whispered.
Dr. C. and Chief entered the room. "Time for everyone to get out."
"Can I stay, please? I promise not to be in the way." Edward whispered. Dr. C. looked ready to argue, but stopped when he looked at Bella.
"Is she asleep?" he asked softly. Edward nodded.
"Wouldn't it be better if you didn't have to sedate her? I could just keep her in my arms." Edward asked. Dr. C. looked at the Chief who shrugged.
"Alright we can try it." Dr. C. agreed "The rest of you out."
(3rd POV)
The car was silent as Rose finished the story. She looked around and caught Edward's eye in the review mirror.
"Did I just put everyone to sleep?" she asked with a huff.
"Looks like it." Edward chuckled. "It wasn't your fault, Rose," Edward told her softly.
"I was the only one who knew I should have said something." Rose looked out the window into the darkness.
"I should've noticed something, I'm her boyfriend. I knew she was stressed out and I didn't help matters. I didn't press her because I didn't want to fight with her." Edward replied back. "Bella took them on her own. We are lucky you did catch her. If she had that reaction to them and we didn't know, things could've been worse." Edward pointed out.
"I forget sometimes that Bella doesn't have the advantages like we do. That she has to work harder and her parents can't help her like ours can for college." Rose admitted.
"I guess that is a good thing she got that scholarship from the Whitlock foundation." Edward mentioned hiding his smirk.
"Yes, it is," Rose nodded biting her lip slightly, hoping not to give anything away.
"She knows, Rose," Edward chuckled.
"What?" Rose looked up in surprise.
"She figured it out when Jasper's middle name was called at graduation. She knows that it came from your family. I convinced her to keep it." Edward told the blonde girl who blushed.
"My parents just wanted to help her. They felt she deserves to go to college and since they don't have to pay for Jasper, they were more than willing. Your parents contributed too since they don't have you and Emmett to worry about." Rose answered.
Edward glanced at his sleeping girlfriend fondly. The scholarship meant less stress and pressure for her and he was glad.
"Do you want to switch? I'm not tired." Rose spoke up.
"I'm fine, we are about an hour away so I can handle it, thank you." Edward nodded.
"You're welcome. I will take first a shift tomorrow." Rose promised.
A/N:
I got the idea from this from an episode of Save By the Bell. Edward and Carlisle were right Rose and Jasper weren't doctors and couldn't decide Bella will be fine.
If you're curious about the boys' situation they are not only joining the ROTC program at Norwich University, but the service as well. This will give them full rides. My younger sister had a friend in college( not Norwich) who did that. My husband who help me research it said that was usually the deal they offer. An outtake I'm posting tonight Outtake 4 has Edward and Bella conversation about it. Sorry it's not a lemon, but a sweet moment between the two.
Thank You For All Reviews.