Word Prompt: Dismiss

To describe being in the hospital in one word, I would say it sucks.

I was thankful that my surgery went without complication and that I was finally cleared to walk with crutches, but I felt like a fumbling mess. More than once did someone have to reach out and catch me as I attempted to tumble out of bed.

The biggest perk of the cast though, was finally being able to take a shower. They gave me a special bag to wrap around the cast and then placed a seat inside the shower. I had never been more thankful for hot running water, though seeing myself naked in the small hospital mirror was a shock. I had dark bruises across my chest from where my seatbelt had been and it made me even more thankful that nothing happened to my ribs. My face looked like I'd gotten into a fist fight with a wrestler, but the gash on my forehead was healing pretty well. I had already started using lotion to help lessen the scar even though my hair would cover a good chunk of it.

Edward had spent most of his time during the day keeping me company as had my parents, though I tried to shoo them all away as much as I could; Edward, because he had more to worry about than just me, though we were given time to work on our debate together, but my parents because hospital rooms were boring.

All of my professor's had e-mailed me back pretty quickly and just told me to catch up on my reading, my math professor sent over the file from his power point that week so I didn't fall behind. Most of the Tri-Delta sister's had started taking turns coming to visit me as well though Rosalie was definitely here the most alongside Alice. On one of Rosalie's many trips to visit me she explained that Stephanie, her, and me would be sitting down to talk about my pledging hours once I was out of the hospital. Some modifications were already being planned out since I obviously couldn't partake in everything I had wanted to and being a sober sister was out of the question. I didn't blame the Tri-Delta sorority for me being on the road that night, but it seemed like some of them did. And, that is why I hated to say it but Alice's constant apologizes were driving me insane. She had no way of knowing some drunk idiot would be on the roads at the exact second I was, and wishing she had gone instead of me just meant she could have been where I was. In hindsight, things would have been done differently but I refused to think of the worst. I had let myself the day after the accident, but I hated that feeling so I did my best to remain strong.

Dr. Cullen had been up to visit me every day even though he explained that he wasn't my actual doctor, though it made no sense to me because I rarely saw anyone else outside of nurses. He also told me tomorrow would be bust out day and I couldn't wait. I had asked what I was going to do about my dorm room, but everyone seemed to brush me off so I wondered if they had already started working that kink out. I knew my parents had been on the phone with the dean's office almost immediately so I was sure something was happening though it seemed to be kept a secret.

When my mom walked in with lunch I smiled and sat up thankful that I had yet to touch any of the hospital food delivered to me.

"I got Subway," she informed and brought over a bag and drink. I was a little more excited than I should have been for a sub, but I started ripping the plastic away anyway.

"Thanks," I replied as I started to set up my tray.

"Someone sure cleaned up in here," she remarked as she came to sit next to me and eat.

I looked around the room and nothing seemed overly clean. Edward had come before his classes today to check on me, but I was still tired so I wasn't fully awake through his visit. I knew he'd be back tonight at some point but I knew it would be later since he had a fraternity thing he couldn't miss. Edward being Edward he tried to apologize, but I brushed him off. Life didn't stop just because I was stuck in a hospital bed and he had neglected himself enough since the weekend and with me leaving tomorrow, I knew he'd probably start hovering over my dorm room next. I loved him, I really, really did, but we both needed time to breathe. I figured I'd give him another week before I staged an intervention and made Emmett take him out or throw him in a lake or something.

"Edward came over this morning," I told her. "He brought breakfast before class so he probably did it. I fell back asleep."

"He sure is something," my mom remarked offhandedly, but there was something in her tone that clued me in to the lecture I was about to endure. She always had that tone when I was growing up, when I had done something she didn't approve of or wanted me to think about something differently, so it was always my warning signal. Unlike then, I couldn't just up and walk away now.

"Yes he is," I acknowledged and took another bite of my teriyaki chicken sub.

"Bella," she started and I tried my hardest not to grown. "There is some stuff I've wanted to talk to you about and now seems as good as any. So, I'll start simple, your father and I really like Edward. He's proven himself in a lot of ways, but we're also a bit concerned. Or well, I'm concerned that things are just a little too serious."

When I opened my mouth to interrupt her, she raised her hand to signal that she wasn't done so I shut my mouth and kept eating.

"I know, I know, you're an adult, but let me finish. I'm not sure you realize the full scope of what he has done just in the past few days. There are some husbands in this country that wouldn't go to such lengths for their wives as Edward has for you, which is amazing in its own right. He was obviously raised to care and show respect towards others, but what I don't want to see is you losing yourself in the middle." She took a breathe and I knew trying to say anything, yet was just going to get me silenced again so I continued to listen as I reached for my drink.

"Obviously, I'm the last person in the world to be talking to you about rushing into things, but just remember that your father and I were much older. There is nothing wrong with finding your soul mate at a young age, in fact, I'm not sure I could have picked a more perfect man for you had I tried to write one down. But, please just be cautious because this is so new. You've yet to have time to figure out the bad side and trust me, something will pop up that is going to drive you insane and it may be small and it won't matter, but it can also be really big and it does. I guess what I'm saying is please stay level headed as you always have. And, don't think your father and I don't approve because we do, but you're nineteen and if your relationship goes more serious than you're prepared to, please speak up."

When she stopped talking and took a bite of her sandwich I knew I had my own opening to talk.

"First, I appreciate your concern," I began to list. "Second, I appreciate your approval. Third, I refuse to sell my soul to the devil just because a good looking guy took interest in me. Fourth, I don't think Edward is perfect, he has his quirks but so far they're small and manageable. And, fifth, I know I'm young but you absolutely have no room to talk."

"At long as you know I'm here to talk to, I'll leave Seattle happy, okay?" she questioned, and I nodded.

"I know, mom. Though, you're really okay with the whole pledging thing?" I asked even though she had taken the time to explain her past ordeal finally and even though she told me to thank my father for my bank account still being left intact, I still wondered how much of her calmness was related to me being in a hospital bed.

"I'm still not thrilled that you hid it, but watching the community rally around you this past week has helped me see that maybe it's a different world now," she explained. "I also have faith that you'll walk away if you one day realize it's not for you."

I nodded my head as I stuffed another chip into my mouth.

"Speaking of faith, I know we've done the whole birds and bees talk, but you are being safe, right? You know the rules about antibiotics and all that," she went on to remind me as I tried not to choke on the food in my mouth.

"Mom, we're not…" I froze before I finished that sentence.

"Okay," she drew out, "But, when it happens."

"If it happens," I corrected before I even realized what I was saying. My head was starting to hurt again and I knew my thoughts were going to start getting cloudy soon.

"Bella you're in college, I don't assume," she tried to explain, but this time I held up my hand.

"Edward is a little old fashioned, mom," I told her bluntly because I figured she'd get what I was saying without me having to spell it out.

"Of course he is," she remarked though her entire facial expression changed. "I don't even know what to say to that, just remember the whole he's not perfect mantra, stuff will pop up, skeletons or something, maybe. I'm not even sure, are you sure he's not going for sainthood?"

"Mom, that's a little extreme," I dismissed though her reaction made me laugh. What mother on Earth would be saddened that her teenage daughter in college wasn't having sex? I mean, we hadn't even really talked about any of that and it did remind me of one skeleton that I knew Edward had…Kara.

Back to Bella, and this time it's just her and her mom.