Bella
"Cut it out," I mumbled as I swiped at something tickling my nose. I heard a low chuckle and the tickling started again. "Go away." I rolled over onto my side and burrowed under my covers.
"Hmmm…" a low voice murmured near my ear. "I guess I'll have to call Alice and tell her not to pick us up this morning. That you want another day off…though I'm sure Charlie will come looking for you if you don't show up in class…" I frowned as that thought wormed into my half-conscious mind.
"Although, I wouldn't be disagreeable to a little more alone time…" The voice was a seductive purr and I felt my body being drawn up against a hard, cold chest. Lips roamed slowly along my jaw and my heart skipped a beat or two as my eyes fluttered open.
"There you are," Edward said with my favorite crooked smile. "Even with Alice driving, we're going to be late if you don't get up soon."
"Okay, okay," I grumbled, grabbing up a pair of jeans and long-sleeved top. I rushed through a shower and dressed quickly. Stepping from the bathroom, I heard two sharp bursts of a car horn. Alice.
Edward scooped me up and hurried down the stairs. He set me down in the middle of the kitchen floor. "Got anything quick for breakfast?"
"I think," I said, moving to the pantry and scouring the shelves. "Yep…pop tarts."
"You want to heat them up?"
"No, I can eat them cold." It was then that I noticed he already had my backpack and he took my hand in his as we rushed toward the door. He opened the back door of the Volvo for me and climbed in beside me.
"Good morning, Alice." He said genially, smiling at his favorite sister. The arm about my waist drew me against his side and he murmured into my hair, "If I could, I would hold you like this all day."
"I-I think the teachers might object," I replied shakily, blushing again. It seemed I barely had time to blink before we were at the school – Alice drove as recklessly as her brother it seemed.
Alice bounded from the car with a grace that ballerinas would kill for and made me feel even clumsier in comparison. Edward stepped from the car just as smoothly, turning and offering me a hand. I took it and he slung my backpack effortlessly over his shoulder as he helped me from the car. Releasing my hand, his arm slid around my waist and drew me up against his side; I heard a soft chuckle rumble in his chest as my heart did a few somersaults at his touch.
"Is it wrong that it pleases me that I affect you this way?" he murmured into the hair above my ear.
"Feeling a little smug this morning?" I couldn't help but tease. His lips hovered behind my ear, his cool breath sending shivers down my spine that had nothing to do with temperature.
"That isn't smugness, Isabella," he breathed, "What you hear is unquantifiable relief."
I pulled back and stared at him quizzically, puzzled by the fervency of his tone. His words made no sense to me, though they thrilled me to no end. "Relief?"
"That you chose me, love," he whispered as he leaned back in, his nose nuzzling behind my earlobe. "I will never cease to be amazed that, given this…second chance, you still chose me." His cool, hard lips pressed to the side of my neck and I was helpless to stop the sigh of contentment that escaped me.
"No." Alice said suddenly, her tone sour. Edward stiffened at the same second the word passed her lips and I looked from one to the other in confusion.
"What…?" The question was answered before I could ask it, and not by them. A voice called out from across the parking lot, panicked…and angry.
"Bella!"
"Oh crap," I sighed, realizing in that instant that I had completely forgotten my promise to call Jacob this morning before school. He ambled over quickly, shooting daggers at Edward and his sister from his dark eyes. Why be angry with them when I was the one who had forgotten?
"Bella, why didn't you call me? You promised…" Jacob scolded as he approached us, still throwing malicious looks in Edward's direction. Edward, for his part, had stepped half between us, as if blocking me from Jake or him from me. I moved from behind him so I could see Jake more clearly.
"Edward please…" I put a hand gently on his arm. His gaze shifted from Jacob to me and back before he nodded and he took Alice's arm and moved a few feet away, though still close enough to hear every word.
"I'm sorry, Jake," I replied remorsefully. "It slipped my mind, honest." I ducked my head, embarrassed.
"Bella, I was worried sick! How could you…?" He broke off suddenly with a gasp as his eyes focused solely on me. He took a step forward, grabbing my arms and staring down at me. "What is that?" he growled; one hand released my arm to trace the teeth marks on my neck. The other hand tightened around my bicep until it bordered on painful.
"Jake…" I whimpered, trying to release myself from his grip. Edward was suddenly at our side, his hand gripping Jacob's wrist and he growled, low enough that no one but the four of us could hear. Still, we were starting to draw attention.
"Let her go now, Jacob, or I will tear your hand off at the wrist," Edward warned; my eyes widened at the thought.
"Edward, no!" I whispered fiercely, my free hand grasping his arm. Jacob dropped his hand from my arm and I winced at the pain of the blood rushing to the new bruise. He stood there, glaring at Edward; it seemed as if his whole body was shaking violently, his hands clenched in fists at his sides.
"You son of a…" he snarled, taking a step closer to Edward.
"Bella, go inside with Alice," Edward said with an eerily calm voice. He shook my hand off his arm and gave me a gentle push toward his sister.
"No!" I argued, taking a step back toward the two glowering men. "Edward…Jake…please…"
"Alice," Edward commanded, his eyes never leaving Jacob as he spoke.
"No," Alice said calmly; she surprised me by not immediately complying with her brother's request. She stepped between the two, her gaze moving back and forth between them.
"Bella is right," she said to Edward. "Now is not the time nor is it the place for this. Too many witnesses," she added, motioning toward the growing crowd.
"Jacob Black, you need to get yourself under control," she continued, focusing completely on him and turning her back on her brother. "As you can plainly see, Bella is perfectly fine. If you wish to discuss this later, that can be arranged."
"Alice, no…" I pleaded, knowing that any private confrontation between Edward and Jacob would be perilous for Jake. Edward was so much stronger than he was.
"Unless you intend to do some explaining of your own," she continued, ignoring me, "I suggest you leave now and find some place to calm yourself. We'll be studying at Bella's house this evening, if you need to take this further."
"Come on, Bella," Edward said, tugging me toward the building that held our first class. Leaving his sister to continue to reason with Jacob.
"Edward…" I tried to break free though I knew it was fruitless. He put his arm around my shoulder and turned me away from my two best friends. He led me into the building without another word; not allowing me one glance back at Jacob. Once inside, he turned me to face him, his eyes filled with concern.
"Are you all right?" he asked gently, drawing me into a half-hidden space in the hallway. His hand moved over the bruise on my arm, his eyes darkening with fury that he quickly concealed. At the cool touch of his fingers, I drew in a sharp breath. "I'm sorry."
"No. That feels good, actually." I said quickly. It was true, the cold helped soothe the fire underneath my skin. "Better than an ice pack – cold, but not all wet."
Edward laughed at that and I sighed, relieved that, for the moment at least, the storm was over. He stroked my cheek with his hand and leaned in for a quick, but still breathtaking kiss.
"Come on, we'll be late."
"But Alice…"
"Alice convinced Jacob to leave," he replied, leading me to our English class. "She's already in her classroom. And we need to get to ours before Mr. Berty realizes we're missing."
We settled into our desk as Mr. Berty came in the classroom. He was taking a page from Mr. Banner's lesson curriculum – showing us the movie version of Animal Farm as a way of review, rather than going over every minute detail of the story. You could tell the school year was winding down. And finals were looming ahead – growing larger every day in my mind. How would I ever get through them and be able to graduate?
At the moment though, final exams were the furthest thing from my mind. All I could see – all I could think about – were the startling and terrifying expressions of hostility that passed between Edward and Jacob in the parking lot moments ago.
To the untrained eye I'm sure it appeared that Jacob – by way of his size – had the upper hand if the two resorted to fighting. But I knew Edward's strengths – and Jake was only human. I cringed at the thought of his anger getting the better of him.
And he had been angry – more than angry, he was furious – when he'd glimpsed the bruise on my neck. He seemed to know far more than I'd realized. Why? Why did he now believe the stories he had once told me as merely foolish old legends handed down by his ancestors? What had changed?
Jacob knew what Edward was and still he willingly, almost eagerly, confronted him. And Edward seemed more than ready to oblige him in his quest for a fight.
Why? Why would Jake go after Edward, knowing what he was – knowing he was indestructible? And how could Edward even consider fighting Jacob – knowing how easily he could…kill him. I had trouble even thinking the word. How could Edward think of…knowing how much it would hurt me.
I was vaguely aware of a coldness seeping through me and a velvet voice softly but urgently calling my name. I glanced at my arm to see Edward's hand there as he gently shook me. My gaze rose to find his eyes worriedly scanning my face.
"Bella? What is it? Are you all right?"
I sighed heavily; it was growing very frustrating having everyone hovering over me constantly as if I were about to collapse any second. Both Carlisle and Dr. Gerandy had said I was improving – getting stronger every day (though even Carlisle often eyed me with the same worried expression I now saw on Edward's face). Besides, my own health was not what concerned me at the moment. Keeping Jake healthy was weighing on my mind.
And that was another confusing issue. Why was I so concerned? Was it merely the fear I would have for any human being about to foolish jump into a fight where he was clearly overmatched? I mean, I barely knew Jacob…right?
"Bella, please," Edward pleaded. "You're about to worry a hole through your bottom lip. What is it?"
"It's nothing," I said automatically, rolling my eyes when his narrowed. "I'm fine."
"Mr. Cullen, is there a problem?"
"I don't think Bella is feeling well," Edward replied smoothly as I gaped at him in horror. "Maybe I should take her to the nurse," he suggested helpfully.
"I'm fine," I said a bit too loudly as I glared at him.
"Are you sure, Miss Swan?" Mr. Berty asked thoughtfully as he scrutinized my face in the darkness. "You do look a bit pale."
I felt every eye in the room on me, the light from the movie projection screen focused on my face like a spotlight on a stage. I felt the tears threaten behind my eyes and knew I needed to escape.
"I…May I be excused? I need to use the restroom." My face was surely no longer pale, I thought, flushing hotly at the thought of everyone eavesdropping.
"Certainly, Bella."
I was out of the chair before he finished. From the corner of my eye, I spotted Edward rising as well. "I don't need an escort," I hissed angrily, stumbling over my backpack in my haste. I felt a small sense of satisfaction when Edward sank back into his seat, though I knew I couldn't avoid him for long.
I pushed the lavatory door open with more force than I thought myself capable of and it banged loudly as it smacked against the wall. The harsh lights in the room hurt my eyes and I flicked the switch to the off position rather than face the image that would stare back at me from the mirrors.
Shrouded in darkness, I made my way across the room toward the only remaining light source. Dim, gray, the light filtered even more by the rivulets of rain that ran down the outside of the window. My back against the wall, I sank down to the floor, wrapping my arms around my knees and I tucked my head against them. Only a few minutes perhaps had passed before the door opened, as I'd expected it would.
"Bella?"
The high lilting voice surprised me and I raised my eyes to gaze up at the slight figure standing over me. Though the room was dark I could make out the pale features and spiky hair.
"Alice," I said, unable to keep the surprise out of my voice. "I half expected Edward to come in after me," I admitted.
"That was his original intention. But I managed to convince him that that may not be the best course of action." Alice grinned and I couldn't help but chuckle a little at her expression. "He's waiting outside."
"And listening in on every word, I'm sure."
"I could send him away…" Alice turned toward the door, but I stopped her.
"No matter where he went, he wouldn't be far enough that he couldn't hear us," I retorted glumly.
"You're angry with him," Alice said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"I…well…yes," I admitted.
"Good for you," she replied with a laugh. Her expression turned thoughtful. "But why are you angry?"
I ignored her question and asked one of my own. "You're glad I'm angry with your brother?"
"Of course." I squinted in the direction of her laughter, trying to get a good look at her face when the lights flickered on. I blinked at the sudden brightness, marveling again at her speed. I hadn't seen her move in the darkness; in all fairness I doubt I would have seen her had the lights been on.
"Oh I don't mean I'm happy the two of you are at odds," she clarified, plopping down on the floor next to me. "Only…things have been rather confusing and frightening for you lately, I know. And it's nice to see – now that your memory is returning – it's nice to see a little of that fiery temper we know and love."
"Alice, I realize my head is a little fuzzy…but I don't recall being that much of a shrew."
"You weren't, silly," Alice laughed again and impulsively threw her arms around me. "I only mean that you've been deferring to Edward more than usual of late. And it's nice to see that Swan backbone resurface." She grinned.
"As it is you give Edward far too much leeway." She added, sticking her tongue out at the door behind which her brother undoubtedly lurked, taking in every word, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Now, what's upsetting you?"
"It's Edward. And Jake." I blurted the words out, needing to speak to someone, though I suspected Alice would take her brother's side. "Why do they hate each other so? And how could Edward even think of fighting Jacob, knowing what…" I broke off, unable to continue.
"Bella, Jacob Black is not the first…male Edward has contemplated fighting in order to protect you. Surely you know that."
"Yes, of course. But the others were different. Jake is just…Jake." I didn't know how to put my feelings into words. How could I explain something like my connection to Jacob when I didn't even understand it myself?
"I don't believe Edward would actually fight Jacob," Alice said thoughtfully. "Unless he thought Jacob was hurting you."
"You don't think? C'mon Alice, you know exactly what's happening at all times," I scoffed.
"Not all the time," she interjected softly. "And Bella, you know Edward is prone to overreaction when it comes to you."
She leapt gracefully to her feet and held a hand out for me. "We have a few minutes until the bell. So…you feel up to tackling your next class?" Her topaz eyes took on a mischievous glint. "Or we could go shopping – a girl's day out – and leave Edward behind to make our excuses…"
I briefly considered her offer, then realized such an excursion would surely involve Alice spending money on me to supplement what she felt was my sorely lacking wardrobe. And, if I were honest with myself, what I wanted most right now was to see her brother's face and feel his cool hand in mine.
"I think I should stay, Alice. I've already missed too much time as it is."
"Fine." She pouted and bounded out of the door, sparing her brother a fleeting glance before heading down the hall toward her next class.
He stood across the hall, head down, leaning against the bank of lockers looking like he was posing for a photo shoot. He looked up as I took a step toward him and my heart gave its usual lurch in response. I crossed to stand in front of him and took his hand in mine. "Hi."
He opened his mouth once or twice to speak, closing it again without uttering a word. I could almost see the battle waging within him, between the desire to give me the space Alice surely told him I needed, and the nearly overwhelming need to make certain I was okay. I understood that need – I felt it whenever we were apart.
"I'm fine," I whispered and I heard him sigh in relief. His free hand stroked my cheek tenderly, his eyes never leaving mine.
"I'm sorry," I began and his fingers pressed to my lips, silencing me.
"No Bella. You don't need to apologize. If anything, I…"
"Can we just forget that this morning ever happened?" I interrupted, wanting desperately to erase the pained expression from his face. He nodded and pulled me into an embrace. Our arms wrapped around each other and I could feel his cool breath in my hair as I leaned my head against his shoulder.
"I love you," he said softly as the bell rang and the nearby classrooms emptied.
"Me too," I replied. "We'd better move," I added, reluctantly pulling away from him. Edward wound one arm about my waist and led me to our next class.
I knew it wasn't that simple. Just because we weren't talking about it would not make it disappear. We would have to revisit the subject some time – and I knew Jacob would be on my doorstep sometime this evening to continue their 'discussion'. But for now, at least, we could pretend.