SONG: Collective Soul - Tremble for my beloved

Chapter 36

The Signs

EPOV

I woke up at around noon.

I sat up and stretched, then regretted it, wincing at the sharp ache in my side, not to mention my head pounding away relentlessly. I got out of bed slowly and went over to the mirror to assess the damage.

I grimaced at myself.

"Fuck."

I had checked out my injuries when I had gotten home earlier, at around four in the morning, and they had looked bad, but in the daylight they looked awful. My left side had a huge multicoloured bruise staining it. It started at the bottom of my ribcage and ran all the way down to my hip. I pressed on it lightly and winced.

"Fucking asshole." I muttered with clenched teeth.

I looked over my face, checking for any bruises there but there weren't any, though my bottom lip had a cut on it, and was slightly swollen.

"Shit."

I reached up and pressed on it too. It didn't hurt too badly. Then I spotted my hand in the mirror and groaned. I looked at it, at my swollen fingers, at the purplish bruises along my knuckles. I clenched and unclenched my fist slowly a few times and cringed at the pain. I could barely move my fingers. It looked like I'd sprained a couple of them.

I made my way to my bathroom and showered, lathering up my body gently and using my left hand instead of my right. After I had showered I remembered that I needed to call Bella. I called her but her phone was still switched off like it had been earlier, when I'd called her after I'd gotten home from the party. I lay on my bed a while, calling her a few more times after that, but her phone was still switched off. I still couldn't fathom what she had told me. Her stepdad beating up her mom was just...fucked up, especially when her mom was pregnant. I had felt so helpless on the phone to her, not being able to do anything to console her when she was crying.

My phone rang and I picked it up quickly thinking it might be her. It was Luke.

"Luke." I answered.

"Ed! What the fuck happened last night man? Jared and Scott said you completely flipped out and fucked up some college guy."

I sighed. "It's a long story man."

"I've got time. There's no way I'm stepping out of the house today. I feel like shit. Remind me to never drink again."

I chuckled. "You say that every time you have a hangover."

"Well this time I mean it. Seriously."

I shook my head, rolling my eyes.

"So? Who was that guy and why did you mess him up?" He asked.

"He's some asshole that kind of dated my girl before I did. He still wants her though, even though she's with me now. Anyway, he said some fucked up things to me so I thumped him, then we started fighting."

"What did he say?"

I grimaced. I really didn't want to tell Luke what he said.

"He just...said some bullshit about how Bella could do better. Plus, he thought I was cheating on her with Stacey."

"Wait, hold up. What? How the hell did Stacey get into the equation?" Luke asked.

I sighed and muttered, "She tried to come on to me."

Luke chuckled loudly, and then winced, probably at his headache.

"No fucking shit. I knew she was still hot for you. No wonder she's been so quiet when you've been around. So what happened, did you fuck her for old time's sake?"

My eyebrows furrowed a little at that.

"No I didn't Luke, what the fuck do you take me for?" I said tersely.

He laughed. "Whoa, sorry dude, I was only kidding. I know that Bella chick has got you whipped. I mean, you're even fighting epic battles over her, that's got to mean something."

I was silent.

He continued. "Anyway Jared and Scott said they found you out in the hall, on top of the guy, pummelling the living shit out of him. There was a crowd of people around you watching, and you didn't even seem to give a fuck. They said they literally had to drag you away from the guy."

"Yeah, I was pretty mad."

"Pretty mad? Dude you must have been fucking livid."

"He messed me up pretty bad too though, the fucking prick, I'm all bruised and shit." I said, touching my bruised hip again tenderly.

I realised that I was cursing a lot more than I usually did. It was no doubt, Luke's influence.

"Oh Yeah? Well you should see the other guy. I saw him when we were leaving and his face was virtually a bloody pulp."

I shuddered at the image. "Ugh, that sounds gross man." I said, making a face.

He snickered.

"Well, maybe my drunken self might have exaggerated the image a little, but he did look messed up."

"So, how'd it go with that girl you were talking to?" I asked him, changing the subject to try and erase the image of a bloodied pulp of a face in my mind.

"Dude! That girl was the shit! I swear she gave me the best head I've ever had."

I chuckled, shaking my head, as he continued telling me about his time with the 'incredibly freaky college chick'.

After I got off the phone to him, I tried calling Bella again, and when I found her phone was still switched off, I went to the kitchen to make myself something to eat. I avoided my mom in the living room, not wanting to face her questions about my swollen lip and bruised fingers for a bit. Whilst I was eating, Bella finally called me back. She told me that she was going back to Forks with her dad. I missed her, and wanted to be there to comfort her, so I asked her if she wanted me to go back too. I mean, I could come back and visit my mom on the weekends anyway; it was no big deal if I left early, but she told me to stay.

I spent the rest of the day just lounging around the house, feeling bored. I tried to do a little working out and soon found that it was a terrible idea in the state I was in. My side hurt even more afterwards. I couldn't even practice my guitar seeing as my right fingers were injured, I couldn't write either, so there was no point doing any homework, so I just ended up lying on my bed as usual, thinking of Bella.

I went downstairs in the evening, to go and watch TV in the living room, bracing myself for the scolding I was going to get from my mom for fighting. I sat down next to her and she looked over and smiled at me.

"Edward honey." She ruffled my hair, "And how is my baby boy today? Seems like I haven't seen you all day."

She was looking right at me, yet she didn't seem to notice my lip.

I frowned at her questioningly. Something was up with her, she was even acting strange.

"Why are you looking at me like that honey?" She said, laughing. She reached out and patted my cheek. "Cheer up!"

Then I realised, as I smelt the alcohol on her breath.

"Are you drunk?" I asked her incredulously.

She laughed again.

"No darling, I just had a few glasses of wine. That's all."

My jaw tightened.

"You're not supposed to be drinking alcohol while you're taking medication." I said through clenched teeth.

"Pfftt! C'mon, who really pays attention to that rule? I mean, I've got to have a little fun now and again right?" She leaned forward to pinch my cheek.

I shrugged away from her, my nose wrinkled in disgust, and stood up from the couch.

"You're drunk." I said, and walked out of the living room and into the kitchen.

I checked the trash to find an empty bottle of red wine in there. There was another, half filled, on the counter. I shook my head and took it, searching the cupboards for any more alcohol and carrying it all up to my room.

This was not good. My mom drinking again was definitely not good.

When I went back downstairs a few hours later, I found her asleep on the couch, and I got a blanket and covered her with it. She stirred as I propped her head up with a pillow.

"Edward," She mumbled thickly, "You're a very good boy. Just like your father..."

The next few days were pretty much spent the same way, me staying home, being bored, and my mom getting drunk and passing out on the couch. Where she got the alcohol from was a mystery to me. I went out a few times after she had fallen asleep, either just driving around or going to Luke's to chill for a bit. I spoke to Bella every day and was missing her more and more.

I was relieved when Friday finally came, and I had to go back to Forks. Sure, I would miss my friends again, and my mom. And I was worried about her drinking, but to be honest, I felt like I needed a break from her. It had always felt like I was the parent with her. I always had to look after her and myself when she was acting up, and ok, she was manic depressive, but I was tired of it. Why couldn't she at least try, for me? My Spring Break had essentially been ruined because I was afraid to leave her in the state she was in, and go out.

Why should I be the one to worry about her all the time? She was the parent. I had wanted her to tell me off for fighting, wanted her to be worried about my bruised knuckles like any other mother would be. But she hadn't. She hadn't even noticed any of it. She was too busy being in a drunken stupor, or lying in her room the morning afterwards, nursing her hangover. I didn't even bother saying goodbye to her as I left, ignoring her apologies as I slammed the front door behind me.

I got back to Forks in record time on Friday afternoon, only rushing home to leave my suitcase and say a quick hello to aunt E and uncle C, before rushing back out of the door and flying over to Bella's house. My heart pounded with anticipation, as I took the few steps up the driveway to her front door and knocked.

Her dad opened the door.

Why was he home?

"Hey Chief Swan, is Bella home?"

He gave me his usual look of disdain before saying,

"She's up in her room."

I made to walk past him in the doorway but he stopped me with a hand on my chest.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?"

I blinked at him, confused.

"Um, well, didn't you just say that Bella was in her room?"

"I did. However, I don't recall saying that you could go up there. What do you think I am? Crazy?"

I fought the smile on my lips.

If only you knew how many times I'd already been up there, Charlie.

"Oh. Right." I replied, "Well, can you call her down please?"

"Now that I can do. Take a seat boy." He motioned over to the living room.

"Thanks." I said, and went into the living room and sat on the couch.

I heard Charlie upstairs saying something to Bella, and then I distinctly heard her saying,

"Edward's here?"

I stood up from the couch as I heard her light footsteps hurrying down the stairs. She reached the living room door and stopped for a second, smiling at me before bounding over and basically leaping into my outstretched arms. I tried not to wince as she gripped my waist tightly, and my arms encircled her shoulders, stroking her hair, and I leaned into it, inhaling her sweet scent. It felt like I hadn't smelt her in ages.

We stood there a while, her face buried in my chest, my face buried in her hair, until there was a loud clearing of a throat by the door. We both glanced up quickly, to find Charlie looking at us, seemingly uncomfortable. He was now wearing his police uniform so I assumed he was leaving for work soon.

"Um, Bells? I'm leaving for work in a few minutes. You sure you're going to be ok?"

Bella nodded. "Yeah dad, I'll be fine. Besides, Edward's here to keep me company."

Charlie grimaced.

"Hmm, well, you know you're not really supposed to have boys around when I'm not here, but seeing as you haven't seen each other in a week, I'm going to make an exception. But..." He looked at me pointedly, "You are to stay downstairs; do you hear me? Upstairs is out of bounds for both of you."

Bella rolled her eyes. "God dad, what do you take us for? And what if we need to use the bathroom?" She asked, a smile playing on her lips.

"Don't get smart with me Bells, before I change my mind." Charlie said, "Anyway, I'm off, I'm doing the night shift so I'll be back in the morning." He pointed at me, "I want you out of here by nine at the latest."

He walked out, and we heard his car start up and drive away.

After he had left, Bella turned back to me.

"I missed you." She said; her skin reddening as she looked down at the floor.

Man, I had so missed that blush.

I lifted her head up, and our eyes met.

"Me too." I said softly.

We stood gazing at each other a moment, and then she frowned, looking at my lip.

I groaned inwardly.

"What happened to your lip?" She asked, reaching out and touching it lightly.

"I err, I cut it."

She rolled her eyes. "Obviously, but how?"

I sighed, looking down at the floor. I knew she wasn't going to be happy to hear what I had to say.

"I err, I got into a fight." I mumbled.

I ran my hand through my hair, and she gasped as she spotted my bruised knuckles. She took my hand in hers and examined it. I grimaced.

"What the hell Edward?" She said angrily, still holding my hand, "Fighting? Look at your hand! Who were you fighting with? And why?"

I groaned. "Does it matter?"

She looked at me suspiciously.

"No, it doesn't, but seeing as you're so unwilling to disclose any information on it, then I think you're hiding something from me. So therefore, I want to know everything."

"There's not much to tell, I had a fight, end of story."

She sighed. "With who? Where? Why?"

I sighed, defeated.

"With your 'best friend' Jake. At a party at his college. Because he's an asshole." I answered quickly.

Her jaw dropped in shock, then she quickly recovered, and her expression soon changed into anger. She glared at me with her signature pout, and I fought to hide my smile because she just looked so cute when she did that.

"Edward how could you?" She asked, "You beat up Jake?"

My brows creased at her words. "Why has it got to be me who beat him up? Who's to say he didn't beat me up?" I asked.

"Well, maybe because your knuckles are half broken from obviously smashing them in someone's face several times! Plus the fact that all you've got is a small cut on your lip!"

"Oh yeah?" I said angrily, lifting up my sweater, "Then explain how I got this."

She gasped at my bruised side, though it had already faded a lot. She stared at it, her mouth slightly open; then tentatively, she reached out a finger and pressed it softly. I winced a little and she pulled her hand back again quickly.

"Sorry." She mumbled, still staring at it.

I dropped my sweater and she looked up at me.

"Jake did that to you?" She asked softly.

I nodded.

She shook her head. "Wow. Can you just...tell me what happened? Please?"

I took a breath. "I was out with my old friends from Seattle, one of them heard about a party in the University of Washington. We decided to go. Anyway, when we were there..." I paused, and looked at her a moment. "One of the friends I was with in Seattle was...Stacey. You remember what I told you about Stacey right?"

Her brow furrowed a little in confusion; then realisation dawned on her.

"Yeah...the girl you had your...your first...everything with." She muttered, and I cringed as I detected the slight bitterness in her tone.

"Um...Yeah, her. Well, at the party she tried to come on to me."

Her eyes widened and she stared at me, shaking her head, as if saying, 'You didn't?'

I shook my head quickly.

"No, no way. There's no way that I'd ever...do that." She relaxed a little and I continued. "Well Jake saw us standing together, and jumped to conclusions." I looked down at the floor scowling, and mumbled, "And he said that...that you could do better than me, and that I wasn't good enough. So I hit him, and then we had a fight."

She stood looking at me for a moment, and then sighed and moved forward, her arms going around my neck in a gentle embrace. I put my own arms around her waist and pulled her close.

"Of course you're good enough." She whispered, "But please, don't get into a fight again, I can't stand to see people I love getting hurt."

I froze at her words.

People I love? Did that mean she loved me?

But I didn't have time to ponder it, because when she pulled back from my neck, her eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

"Your mom?" I asked gently.

She nodded silently, the tears spilling over.

I moved over to the couch and we sat down on it, her sitting curled up on my lap, her face buried in my shoulder as she cried. I stroked her hair, and rubbed her back, and whispered soothing words to her until she was done crying.

After that we watched TV in silence, her still sitting on my lap; her head on my chest as I continued caressing her hair. It felt so good to have her in my arms again, and I kept thinking about what she had just said, 'I can't stand to see people I love getting hurt.'

After a while she turned to me,

"You hungry?"

"A little." I replied.

"Let's go find something to eat." She said, she stood up from my lap and pulled at my bruised hand. I flinched and she froze, looking my hand in horror.

"Oh no. I hurt it didn't I? I'm so sorry." She held my hand in her own small ones again, and inspected it. Then she lifted it to her mouth and kissed each knuckle slowly. I just stood staring at her, and totally could not help getting turned on by it. I mean, the way she did it was just so...sensual. She glanced up at me, smirking, and tugged me along into the kitchen.

She heated up some leftover macaroni-cheese, and we ate it. Afterwards, as I went to go and sit back in the living room, she grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the stairs.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "You know we're not allowed upstairs Bella. Your dad would shoot a bullet up my ass if he found me in your room."

She rolled her eyes. "You've been in my room tons of times already Edward. And you weren't allowed in it those times either, but I don't remember that ever stopping you." She grinned at me.

I grinned back and followed her up the stairs.

We went into her bedroom and locked the door. She stood in front of me, gazing into my eyes, her face burning red.

I smiled and reached out to stroke her hot cheek. "Damn, I really missed this. Why are you blushing anyway?"

Her eyes left mine and she looked at the floor.

"I was...I was thinking about something." Her face went impossibly redder.

I lifted her chin with my finger, forcing her to look at me. She still kept her eyes averted from mine.

"Thinking about what?"

She swallowed. "Well, you know that night...when you and I...were on the phone together..." She glanced at me, her face burning under my fingers. I was puzzled for a moment and then I realised what she meant. The Phone Sex.

Why did she feel the need to bring that up and torture me? I could already feel myself hardening in my pants at the thought of it.

"What about it?" My voice came out in a whisper.

"Well...I've just been wondering why...why you called me Isabella when you..." She sighed, "When you wanted me to cum for you."

And just like that, I was fully hard. Hearing the words, 'you wanted me to cum for you' just sounded so damn hot coming from her mouth.

I smirked. "I don't know, I think your name's sexy. There's something...passionate about it." I moved my hands down to her waist and pulled her body tight against me. My hands continued down her back until I was holding her ass; then I bent down and whispered in her ear, "Why? Did you like it?"

She took a deep raggedy breath, and nodded slowly.

"Really?" I whispered, still smirking.

I moved one hand off her ass and held her face, my thumb stroking her cheekbone, and I looked into her eyes. She gazed back, her eyes slightly hooded, her breathing deepened, her lips parted, and I felt my dick twitch.

God, she was sexy.

"Isabella," I whispered huskily, "I want you to kiss me."

Her breathing sped up, and she leaned up towards me, her full lips pouting a little. She pressed her body to mine and a small whimper escaped her lips as she brushed against my erection.

I closed my eyes and leaned forward slowly, pressing my lips to hers.