This is a new story that has been bouncing around in my head.
I usually go for the canon pairings but I ship these two
It's going to be a bit angsty for a while before we reach the romance part, but I hope you stick with it.
I always knew I was different. I remember watching re-runs of Baywatch at thirteen with some friends. While they couldn't stop staring at Pam Anderson and Carmen Electra, I was staring at David Hasselhoff. He held more appeal to me. I didn't understand it.
I tried talking to my mom but she told me it was a phase and I'd soon grow out of it.
Except I didn't. It only grew stronger.
It wasn't until I was fifteen that the other boys started noticing I wasn't like them.
I hung around with the girls but never dated any of them. I didn't want any of them.
The boys who used to be my friends became my tormentors.
I ended up in the ER a lot.
Doctor Cullen became my confidante.
"This is the fifth time this month you've been in my emergency room, Mister Masen. Is everything okay?" He asked softly, as he fixed my broken nose.
"The boys at school don't like me." I replied, wincing as he straightened the cartilage.
"Has your mother not said anything to the school?"
"She doesn't know."
"Edward, son, you need to tell her. Because you're still underage all of your visits here are being notified by CPS. Can you tell me why the boys pick on you?"
"It's because I - I don't like girls...the way they do." I finished off in a whisper, looking down at my sneakers.
"Edward, look at me." I glanced up at Doctor Cullen and he had a look of understanding on his features. "What do you know about homosexuality?" He continued when I met his gaze.
"My- my mom says it's a sin. That anyone who thinks that way will be punished. I tried. I did. I really tried." I cried, my cheeks burning red as hot tears streamed down my face. He pulled me into a hug and I wept on his shoulder.
Finally an adult understood me.
"I take it your mother doesn't know about this, as well as the bullying?" He asked, handing me a glass of water a nurse brought in.
I shook my head in the negative as I sipped the cool liquid. "She's really religious."
"It would appear religion has a lot to answer for." He muttered. "Edward, you must understand that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being gay. It's not a disease. It's not a lifestyle choice. It's completely natural. Love is love. It's not like you woke up one morning and suddenly decided you liked one sex more than the other. And it is most certainly not a sin."
"Are you..." I trailed off.
"No, I'm not." He chuckled.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to assume anything."
"It's quite alright Edward. My wife and I are foster parents. We've dealt with many a situation like this before."
I glanced at the clock and saw it was past four. I had been here for almost two hours.
"I should get going. Thank you for everything Doctor Cullen." I sat the glass of water down on his desk and stood to leave. "Sorry to keep you from your other patients."
"You didn't keep me from anything son. You were the last one of my shift."
"Oh. Have I stopped you from going home?"
"It's fine. Esme understands." We left his office together and parted ways at the nurses station. I exited the hospital feeling lighter than I had in months.
"Mom?" I called out, leaving my book bag by the front door. "I'm home. Do we have any Tylenol?"
I found her sitting t the kitchen table, her bible and rosary beads under her folded hands. Father Carnegie was sitting with her.
"Oh, hello Father. Is something wrong?"
"Please, sit down Edward. We'll find out if something is wrong once you answer our questions." He replied in his Irish lilt.
I sat across from them, my hands twisting nervously in my lap.
"Your mother tells me you've been seen with various girls." He continued.
"They're my friends."
"And you're not becoming too friendly with them, are you lad?"
"I've never kissed any of them if that's what you mean."
"Good, good lad. And what about laying with them in any way? You haven't given in to the carnal urges of the flesh?"
"You mean sex?" I asked as my mother winced. "I'm still a virgin if that's what you're implying. I haven't has sex or kissed anyone. When I do it will be for love, not some random fling." I glared at my mother, bringing up how I was conceived.
She was a secretary of a married man, with whom she carried on a sordid affair until she became pregnant with me. I never knew my father. I just know I was given his name.
"And what about boys Edward?"
"What about them?"
"The same question applies."
"No, I haven't kissed a boy either. I already told you this."
"But you want to though, don't you?"
I hesitated. I've always been told to tell the truth to the Father, but doing so would get me in trouble with them.
I took too long to answer and my mother was quick to start her verbal attack. "See! I told you. He's let the devil in. Turning his head towards sin. It's disgusting. Get out of my house you filthy little cock sucker!"
"Elizabeth, please." Father Carnegie tried to calm her, but it didn't work as she chased me from the room with her screaming.
I ran out of the front door thinking that a public audience would stop her, but I was wrong.
"I don't want you ever near this house again. You're disgusting and full of sin! Filthy boy! You'll be punished in hell for this!" She yelled, as I backed down the garden path. "You let the devil in. You let him turn your head towards boys. He's making you want that cock in your mouth!"
All of the neighbours, that were outside at the time, stopped what they were doing to stare at us. She had just publicly outed me in front of everyone, when I had only just admitted to myself a few hours ago that I was gay.
I looked up in time to see her hardback bible come flying towards my face, but I wasn't quick enough to dodge it. The spine connected with my already broken nose.
I sank to me knees on the path as blood, once again, began gushing from my face. It still didn't stop her tirade. According to her I was all types of wrong.
The police were called and so was CPS.
I was fifteen, homeless and everyone at school tomorrow would know what had happened. All of a sudden I couldn't breathe.
I must have passed out because when I opened my eyes I was in the back of an ambulance.
"What-" I tried to sit up but an EMT put a warm hand on my shoulder, holding me in place.
"Easy mate. You had a panic attack and the blood loss isn't doing you many favours either." He said in a thick English accent.
I settled back down on the bench and noticed a woman in a suit taking notes.
"Hello."
She looked at me over the top of her clipboard. "Hello Mr Masen. May I call you Edward?"
I nodded, but then groaned as everything started spinning.
"Add concussion to that list will you." She said to the EMT before turning back to me. "Edward, my name is Victoria Hunter and I've been assigned to your case. I'm from Child Protective Services. We're going to find you a new place to stay."
I didn't hear the rest of what was said as I passed out again.
I woke the next morning in a hospital room by myself. I was in my t-shirt and boxers and my face radiated in pain.
I climbed out of bed but was tugged back by an IV line in my hand. I pulled it out and padded to the bathroom.
I was hardly recognisable in the mirror. My face was varying shades of purple and my nose and eyes were swollen. The strips Doctor Cullen had put on my nose yesterday had been removed and replaced with something a bit more heavy duty. Dried blood caked my lips and chin.
I wet a towel and cleaned my face as best as I could without wincing.
After a few minutes I gave up and went back to my room. Victoria and Doctor Cullen were waiting for me. "Edward, I'm not sure how much you remember from yesterday, but Doctor Cullen was able to fill in some blanks for me. As a minor, it is his job to fill me in on all of your hospital visits and what was discussed."
My eyes flickered between the two of them.
"It's alright. Everything that was said is completely confidential. Now, I'm sorry to say but your mother is refusing to have you back under her roof and judging by what happened, I doubt you want to go back."
I looked down at the floor and nodded. "What about my stuff? School?"
"Your belongings have been collected and due to the level of bullying you received, you have been removed from the school for your own safety."
I sighed as tears pricked my eyes. Everything I knew is changing.
"Because of the level of trust myself, CPS and yourself have in Doctor Cullen you have been placed under his care with immediate effect." Victoria continued. "Mrs Cullen will be here shortly to pick you up and Doctor Cullen has your belongings in his possession. Do you understand?"
I swallowed and nodded as a knock sounded on the door. We all looked round as a woman came in with a bag and a smile.
"Ah Esme." Doctor Cullen beamed, bending down to kiss her cheek. "This is Edward. Edward, this is my wife Esme."
I smiled, but I'm pretty sure it didn't meet my eyes. That didn't stop her from fussing over me though.
She's a petite woman with caramel coloured hair that fell in waves past her shoulders. She couldn't have been much older than thirty.
Doctor Cullen and Victoria left the room to discuss my care, while Esme handed me some clean clothes to change into. "You can have a decent shower when we get home." She said, pushing me toward the bathroom. I changed quickly and met her outside in the corridor.
Victoria joined us once more. "Edward are you okay going with Esme this morning? If you need more time I can send you to a youth group nearby."
"No, I'm okay."
"Have you eaten sweetheart?" Esme asked kindly.
"No ma'am. I'm alright."
"It's going to be a long drive. Are you sure?"
I nodded my head, grimacing at the throbbing pain and followed them out to the parking lot.
Victoria turned to me. "Edward, I have to return to my office in the city. I shall visit in a week to see how things are going and to review your situation from there. Goodbye for now Mister Masen." She shook my hand and walked away.
The drive to Forks was quiet. I had never really left Port Angeles as I had no need to.
I let out a sob as we passed the county line.
Everything I knew was going to change.
What I didn't know, is that it was going to be for the better.
As always let me know what you think. Chapter 2 is in the works already.