Sorry, sorry, sorry! You all are still in my thoughts!
Chapter Thirty-Six: A Push
"I really don't want to die." Bella whispered against my chest.
"I don't want you to die either, none of us do."
"I know, I know." She pushed away from me and I let her go. "I just need some time to think and calm down."
"Of course, anything you need is yours." I said, wishing she'd just be happy. Bella started walking away before turning back towards me. She gave me a small peck on the cheek.
"I'm sorry I put you through so much." Before I could respond she slipped out of the room.
I sat back down, feeling completely exhausted. She never wanted this life, yet I forced it upon her. Now she was suffering even more.
A few minutes later Alice walked into the room, a concerned look on her face.
"Hey Dad, how are you doing?"
"Not well, but it's nothing compared to how Bella's feeling." I paused, my mind still stuck on the look she had on her face. "Give Jasper my eternal thanks. He saved more than one life today." Alice seemed to hesitate. "What is it?"
"Nothing really, just don't get mad when Ryan goes to comfort Bella. She loves you."
The next few weeks felt like I was entering another circle of hell. I felt like everyone hated me even though I knew they didn't. Ryan glared at me every time we passed each other, Rosalie and Emmett seemed to retreat into each other, Jasper was down because of all the emotions in the house, which made Alice sad, Esme and Robert avoided me, which I was grateful for, and Bella stayed cooped up in her room. At least Edward still tried to make me more optimistic about the situation.
Alice's warning on Ryan comforting Bella didn't help. Every time he visited her I had to restrain myself from attacking him. He still tried flirting with her, but Bella gracefully turned him down and always directed him to do something else.
From what Edward told me whenever he visited Bella she was always on the computer, playing games with the Volturi.
I decided to go on a run in hopes of things being different when I got back. I was fifty miles out when my phone rang. I was excited and hopeful that it was Bella, but when I looked at the number it was unlisted.
"Carlisle! My one of five friends!" Aro's cheerful voice was not a welcomed intrusion. "I've been playing with your mate."
"Your wording…" I said, already tired of his teasing. He laughed.
"Cheer up! She loves you."
"I already know that, but it doesn't help me feel any better. I won't be happy until she's happy."
"May I give you some advice?"
"Are you asking, or are you just going to give me the advice regardless?"
"You already know the answer to that." He was right, I did. He would give his 'advice' regardless of what I said.
"Go ahead." I prompted, not that he needed it.
"Have Esme talk to Bella about all the volunteer work she does, how many lives she's helped in comparison to how many people she's accidentally killed."
"Bella hates Esme."
"True, but from what I've heard of Bella she's a creature of logic. Give her a reason to listen and she will."
"I'll try. Thank you, Aro."
"One more thing." Aro said before I could end the call. "If you don't resolve this matter soon I'll have to steal her away." I didn't know how to respond at first. I was surprised before anger made me growl at him.
"I thought we were friends." I said, barely holding back from smashing the phone.
"We are! But Marcus is a closer friend than you are. Bella made him grin. Marcus does not smile. I'll have some of my guards in the area to see how things are going in half a year. I'd hate to separate mates, but I will if you can't complete your bond by then." I knew I should have never contacted them.
"What, are you going to just kidnap her? I doubt she'd be too happy about that."
"No, she'd come willingly and happily. We have more subtle ways than that." Aro sighed. "You are my friend. That's the only reason Bella is still there. I'm giving you a chance. Be grateful for that."
I updated three stories today. Check out the other two.
So Aro... good guy or bad guy? What do you think of these new developments?