Chapter 35
Do you feel cold and lost in desperation?
You build up hope, but failure's all you've known
Remember all the sadness and frustration
And let it go. Let it go.
~Iridescent- Linkin Park
Feet pounded against the tiled school floor, echoing in the empty hallway. Bella felt her heart beat faster to accommodate her speed. Her breath came out in short gasps and sweat began to dribble down her forehead.
"You're fired!" The words that seized their way from Aro's lips continued on an endless loop inside of her head. "You're fired!"
Her feet led her down the hall and she followed them robotically. Everything blurred around her as she passed by several classrooms and lockers. Her arms reached out blindly as she slammed through the double doors.
"You're fired!" The look Aro gave her sent chills down her spine, much like Edward used to during their relationship. "You're fired!"
The pregnant teacher stood in the doorway to the school and looked up at the darkening sky with a mixture of emotions. Stopping allowed her mind to catch up with her actions and she felt a rush of emotions flood through her. Bella's eyes welled with tears and her shoulders began to shake from the ordeal.
"You're fired!" Aro had stripped her teacher title from her in front of her students. The two words had broken her heart and caused her such grief. Bella loved her students and providing them an education. "You're fired!" Two simple words but enough to ruin her completely.
"I can't blame Edward for this one." She spoke aloud and couldn't help collapsing on the pavement in front of the school's doors. "Why is my life falling apart?"
Bella massaged her cheek and followed behind Edward obediently. They had gone to the store, but Bella had gotten absorbed with window shopping and wasted Edward's time. He hadn't wanted to spend more than fifteen minutes inside the establishment. All he was there for ws a quick meeting with the owner to establish a business connection. But Bella had been engrossed with the numerous trinkets and knick knacks. She had even made conversation with the cashiers which had delayed their departure another ten minutes. Before they had left, he slapped her harshly to remind her of the consequences of her actions.
"You first, I don't like sliding into cars." Edward motioned for Bella to enter the vehicle. "I'm sorry for hitting you." Edward murmured once they were sitting beside each other in the backseat. "I'm just running behind schedule now and it was a heat of the moment action. Forgive me?"
Bella nodded slowly and looked into Edward's eyes sweetly. "I know that ever since your father died last week, you've been quick to anger. I'm sorry if I made you late."
Edward smiled faintly and leaned forward to give her a quick kiss. "I love you. But when we're out, lets keep the chitchat limited with random workers ok?"
"He was just so interesting to talk to. But next time I'll..." Bella's smile slowly fell from her face when she noticed the expression on Edward's face. "What's wrong?"
Edward looked forward at their driver and scowled. "What the fuck are you looking at, Aro?"
The driver averted his eyes and looked away to focused on driving while Edward turned his rage onto his girlfriend.
"You interested in that man?" He asked darkly. "Is that why you were talking to him so much?" Edward grabbed her roughly by the hair and drew her closer to his face. "You going to leave me for some fucking cashier?"
Bella's roots screamed for release. Paid soared through her head and she reached up to grasp feebly at Edward's hands. "No! Please let me go. I'm not interested in him. I only love you. I promise!" Bella felt blood rushing to her face from the struggle and gasped in relief when Edward released her.
"I'm sorry Bella." Edward fixed her hair and kissed her forehead tenderly. "The thought of you leaving me just…" He clenched his fists at his side and looked out of the window angrily.
"I would never leave you." Bella reached out tentatively and grabbed his hand in her own. "I told you, I only love you. No one else. I'm sorry if I worried you."
They pulled into the long driveway of Cullen Inc. and Aro parked in front of the building. "We have arrived sir." He exited the car and came around to open the door.
"Are you sure you're ok?" Edward asked again looking over her with hints of worry.
Bella nodded and winced as tingles of pain spiraled through her head. "No worries. Now head to your meeting before you're really late."
"Alright. I'll meet you back at the house in a couple hours. Make curry for dinner."
Bella's cocked her head to the side and she made a face. "Again? We've had it for two nights in row. I'm starting to get sick of it."
"It's my favorite." Edward closed the car door before Bella could respond and headed inside.
Once he was gone, Aro returned to the car and began to drive Bella back to the house. "Curry everyday." She mumbled while massaging her scalp. When she pulled her hand away she noticed flecks of blood on a couple of her fingers and felt a twisting in her gut. Had he really pulled her hair that hard?
The bell rang dismissing everyone from the school, and it startled Bella back to reality. Jacob had the car, so she usually caught a ride with Alice. She found the art teacher's car in the lot and hurried to it before the students flooded the parking lot. The thought of seeing her last period class caused her such sadness. They had witnessed her firing and she didn't know how to face them, nor did she want to. Thankfully Alice had a habit of leaving her car doors unlocked, so Bella was able to slide into the car without much trouble. She waited for her friend and took the time to calm her emotions.
It didn't take Alice long to exit the building. She hurried to her car with the brightest smile on her face. When she opened the door, she spotted Bella and jumped. "Bella! You scared me!" Alice climbed into the car and threw her belongings into the backseat. "I am so excited! I have been thinking about Jazz all day. I'm sure my students thought I was crazy today." She paused and giggled to herself. "Well, I'm sure they already think that. But today probably took the cake. I let them do whatever. I just couldn't concentrate. So today was a free draw. How fun is that?" Alice didn't wait for Bella to respond but instead continued talking her ear off while she drove. "Jazz says he's picking me up at 8, so I have enough time to raid my sister's closet for accessories and get my hair done. Should I stop by and get a manicure? A wax?" Alice paused and looked down at her lap. "Maybe a wax." She muttered under her breath. "But then it would be painful if we-Oh we're here!" Alice pulled into Charlie's driveway and looked at Bella with a gleam in her eye. "I'll tell you about it Monday!" Alice put the car in park and unlocked the door. "Hey, you ok?"
Bella opened her mouth and felt everything building up inside of her. All of her troubles and issues of the last couple of months that she had kept hidden from her friend, threatened to spew from her mouth. She truly felt like everything was spiraling out of control. She had lost her car, home and job. Nothing good seemed to be happening in her life and she just wanted some peace and happiness. Her hand fell into her lap and she felt the small bulge of her baby bump. Instantly her worries quelled and she drew in a calming breath. "I'm fine. I can't wait to hear about your weekend on Monday." Bella couldn't bear to burden Alice before her long awaited date. What kind of friend would she be to ruin her weekend? "Have fun, but not too much fun." Bella winked at Alice and scooted out of the car.
Once Bella closed the door, the pixie haired woman rolled down the window and pointed at Bella's stomach. "Tell me how he responds to the good news!" Alice waved goodbye then wasted no time in backing out of the driveway and speeding away.
The brunette patted her belly fondly and entered her empty home. She kicked off her shoes by the door and climbed the creaky stairs to the bathroom. In desperate need of comfort, she drew a hot bath and used the hot water to wash away the anguish from the day. Too much was happening and she was not going to let it overwhelm her. As she calmed her body, she thought about Aro firing her. He had caught the class ganging up on his daughter. Any parent would want to see an adult punished for allowing such actions to happen to their child. She thought about what Jane had done, digging up her past and sharing it with the class. "Karma." Bella whispered to the the bubbles fading into the cooling water.
Her bath lasted much longer than she had expected and by the time she had dried off and dressed in some casual clothes, the sun was setting. Bella descended the stairs and shuffled into the kitchen. She noticed her ultrasound still peeking out at her from the top of the fridge, and picked it up gingerly. She looked down at the picture while rubbing her stomach absentmindedly.
A jingling could be heard as the door opened and closed. Bella hid the ultrasound behind her back and went to greet her husband who locked the door and hung up his coat. "Welcome home honey." Bella leaned up and kissed Jacob's cheek sweetly. "I have something to tell you." Bella paused and looked around Jacob. "Where's Renesmee?"
"What?" Jacob gave Bella a funny look and looked behind her. "You picked her up didn't you? She wasn't at the school so I assumed…"
Bella felt a jolt go through her as all of the blood leave her body. The ultrasound fell from her hands and floated to the floor behind her while her arms hung limply at her sides. "Jacob, where is our daughter?"
A/N: Sorry to end this on such a cliffhanger, please don't egg my house! Or go for it as I am moving (insert meme where sunglasses come down over my eyes). The time has come, the walrus said, to MOVE OUT OF MY PARENTS HOUSE! I moved back home after graduating college, but I just found a beautiful apartment so I'll be moving in a couple weeks. I also picked up a couple of weekend shifts, so I'll be working 7 days consecutively for a couple weeks as well...Unfortunately this means a delay in the next update. Next update will be before or by September 16th! Stay tuned!