Isabella
I was called down to the office. I was in class, the phone rang, and the next thing I hear is that the principal wanted to speak to me. I went through my mind, trying to think of anything I had done but drew a blank.
I was quiet for the most part. I stayed to myself and took the constant abuse. I didn't fight back. I didn't engage. What did they want from me?
I keep my head bowed and stare at the carpeted rug. People pass by but don't spare me a glance. My leg wouldn't stop trembling. I clenched my sweaty hands into fists and tried to take deep breaths. Rose said to do that. She said to focus on your breathing and tune everything else out then it'd help me concentrate. So that's what I'm doing. I'm concentrating on my breathing.
"Isabella?" My head shoots up as Principal Greene opens the door of his office. He gave a small smile and gestures inside. "I was hoping to speak with you."
I try to gulp down the nerves. Did I appear nervous? Nobody pays me a second glance as I force myself up from the chair and take small hesitant steps towards his office. He didn't appear angry. His expression was more… neutral. I didn't know what he was thinking. I step into his room and take a seat in the chair. The door closes behind us and he sits down in front of me. There wasn't much in the room. The walls were painted a boring beige and there were just a couple of pictures of his family on the desk.
"Do you know why you are here today?" he folded his hands in his lap and leaned back in the chair. His mouth formed into a frown as he stared at me.
"N-no." my voice shook. I don't know why I was here and I'd appreciate if someone would tell me.
"I was made aware of an incident that occurred yesterday in the lunch room." he sighed.
My face turns a pale white and I stutter, trying to come up with an explanation. "It- it was nothing. Someone accidentally spilt food on me and I got embarrassed and ran out. It was really nothing, Mr. Greene-"
"Isabella." he stopped me. "We have security cameras around the school. I've spoken with several teachers who've witnessed the incident and a student. You don't have to worry, you are not in any trouble."
He didn't understand. This idiot man didn't understand everything. They were going to crucify me. They were all going to burn me alive at the stake. I tugged at my hair and tasted blood in my mouth. I bit through my lip.
"You don't understand…"
"You can't let them do this to you, Isabella. They're all going to be punished severely for their actions. I promise that this is the last time they're going to hurt you like this. There have been previous incidents with the students that I've been made aware of. It's not only you who they've hurt."
"Please…" I whimpered. "This is only going to make it worse. I can handle it fine on my own." I pleaded with him to understand. Tears welled up in my eyes. They were going to think I told on them. All he does is stare at me in pity. He couldn't have cared less. If he cared then he would drop all of this bullshit.
"I'm just trying to help, Isabella." he leans forward in his chair. "I know that you've been through a lot and I just want to help."
"Can you tell me one thing?" I whisper. I look down at my trembling hands. "Who was the student who told?"
It's quiet for a moment. I don't think that he's going to respond. "Angela Webber." he says.
His eyes are on my face as it contorts into an expression of fury. I don't listen to anything else he says. Twenty minutes pass and he lets me go when the bell rings. Without thinking, I storm out of his office, aware of the audience I had gained. I don't even bother going back to get my bag. I run into the parking lot and around the corner. It's pouring rain and I collapse against the wall. My tears mixed into drops of rain, blurring together. I let out a scream and my fists pound against the ground. I couldn't take this anymore. I couldn't stay here. I pulled out my phone and dialed the first number I could think of.
"Bella?" Carlisle's voice sounded after a few rings. I couldn't speak. I couldn't say much of anything. I let out another cry and heard movement in the background. "What's wrong? Where are you?"
"Sss-school. CarlisleIcantstayhere." I breathed. "Please. Pleasecome"
"I'll be there in twenty minutes." is all he said.
ooOoo
It was less than twenty minutes. Probably more like fifteen. He pulls up to the front of the loop and steps out of his car with an umbrella. It only takes a moment for him to notice me as I sprint to his side. I find myself in his arms, holding onto him with all my strength. His arms secure around my waist and we don't let go.
"Get in the car, Bella." he whispers. "You're freezing."
I untangle my arms from around him and allow him to lead me to the passenger side. I slide into the car and welcome the hot air blasting in my face. I lean my head against the window, the fight having left my body, and watch him walk into the school. Ten minutes later he comes out with my backpack and jacket.
We don't say anything on the ride back to the house. I close my eyes and listen to the soft hum of the radio. We finally arrive and he comes around to open the door for me.
"I can take that." I gesture towards my bag and jacket that he's holding.
All he does is shake his head. "You need to rest, Isabella. Let's go inside." his voice is firm and unwavering. I don't question him and I follow him up the stairs and into the house. He places my stuff in the kitchen and I collapse on the couch. I was exhausted, mentally and physically.
The cushion beside me dips down as Carlisle sits beside me and a wool blanket is placed over my shivering body. He pulls my feet up onto his lap and I snuggle deeper into the pillow. It's a comfortable silence for a few moments. I watch the fire place go. I can hear the patter of the rain against the window.
"Do you wanna talk about it?"
I whisper "no." I wanted to sleep. I wanted to fall into a deep sleep where all of my worries went away.
"I spoke to your father after you called. He's at the station and can't get out early and Emmett's busy with football." he said. "So I decided to call Sue. She's working at the reservation but said that if you want, she can pick you up."
"No." I'm adamant. I didn't want to see Sue. She meant well but at the moment, she is the last thing I needed.
"Alright." Carlisle says. He knows that I'm not going to budge. Everyone always said that I was too stubborn.
"Where's Esme?" I ask. I thought she would be the one to pick up the phone. Her job required that she work from home most days with the exception of going out and meeting clients once in a while. Carlisle was supposed to be at the hospital so when I heard his voice on the phone, I was momentarily surprised.
"She's at the office in Seattle. I was going to go into work today but Alice called, acting awfully suspicious, and suggested that I stay home."
Alice has this weird eerie talent. She has premonitions and most often than not, they've come true. It's almost as if she can see the future, which I know, is crazy to believe. It's either that or Rosalie told her what happened.
"I called her. She'll be home around two o' clock." he said. That's three hours away.
"Did the principal tell you what happened?" I sigh. He was staring at me like he wanted to say something. I've gotten used to that look by now.
He nods his head. "The lunch incident. I don't blame you for running out."
"I hate school." I scoff. "I don't understand how people have it so easy. How come I can't be liked. Do they think I chose to be raped?" I push myself up into a sitting position and stand up. "I hope they all go to hell. I hope they suffer and I hope they never find any happiness in their lives! I jus- I just can't deal with this anymore!" I paced back and forth, screaming at Carlisle and myself. My face was red. I tugged at the ends of my hair wanting- no- needing something to stop the pain. I'm supposed to be doing better. I have Emmett and Victoria and Rose and Esme and Carlisle and everyone I could possibly want. Except Edward. He was my rock. He was my everything. I can't function without him. I can't breathe.
"Isabella." I bury my face in Carlisle's chest. He's hugging me. I'm crying. My chest hurts and sob harder. "It's ok honey," he pats my head, soothingly. His voice was calm and collected. I hug him tighter. "Nobody expects you to be normal. You went through a traumatic event, it's understandable that you're upset."
His shirt is all wet with my tears. I mumble an apology. He cracks a pained smile and softly laughs. "You have nothing to be sorry for, sweetie. What can I do to make this better? I'll do anything you want."
"Don't make me go back to school." I blurt. I pull away and stare at him with unshed tears in my eyes. "I'll do anything. I can't go back there."
Three hours later a car pulls up to the front of the house. "Esme!" I cried. As soon as she stepped through the door, I ran into her arms. She smelt like honey. Her hair was slightly damp from the rain and I just breathed a sigh of relief. Esme was here. She wouldn't leave me.
"Oh, sweet girl." she breathed. She gently kissed my forehead and we just stood there for a moment. She clutched her purse in her hand and mumbled something in my ear. We pulled apart, reluctantly, and I almost started crying again. She was almost crying.
"You look pale." Esme put the back of her hand against my forehead. "Have you eaten?" She looks between me and Carlisle. I nod my head.
"I gave her food about an hour ago." Carlisle tried to reassure her.
"Did you-?"
"Yes, I checked her temperature and she's not sick." Carlisle laughed. "I think you're forgetting who's the doctor."
Esme sighs and looks between the two of us. "I'm just making sure." She cupped my face in my hands and smoothed the strands of hair that had fallen in my face. "You look exhausted, sweetie."
I slept for about an hour and Carlisle sat by my side the entire time. He never left. He stayed with me the entire time.
"I'm not tired." I argue. "I'm fine. I don't want to go back to sleep."
Please don't make me.
"Besides, Sue is driving over here as we speak. She called a few minutes ago." Carlisle said.
"What?" I turn to him. "I don't want her to come. I don't need her."
"Well she's on her way right now. Lunch is made and I've invited her to stay."
I huff in annoyance and turn to Esme. "I'm actually not feeling well. I think I wanna take a nap."
"Isabella!" Her voice rings throughout the room. I pause at the stairs and reluctantly turn around. "I know that you have your differences with Sue BUT-"
I grumble out loud.
"I'm not going to allow you to hole yourself up in your room. Sue is a guest in our house and she's technically part of your family."
"She is not a part of my family." I bark a laugh. "She's with my father and that is all."
"Well she's coming here specifically for you, so we expect you to be polite." Carlisle says. I clench my jaw and don't argue. "How about you set the table? She should be here any minute."
ooOoo
"You have a beautiful home." Sue said. We're all seated around the table. She just came from the Rez. I hated that fucking place. They all supported Jacob.
"Thank you" Esme smiled. "You are always welcome here. It gets so lonely sometimes with all the kids gone." She passes me the pasta and I dump some on my plate. I nibbled at the plain bread roll and internally role my eyes. How much more of this painfully awkward small talk will I have to sit through?
"Yeah, I know how that feels. After my past husband's death, the house felt bigger and lonelier than ever before. It wasn't until I met Charlie and everyone that I didn't feel so alone anymore." her voice was nostalgic as she spoke. She wasn't sad… just reminiscent. I look away, feeling slightly bad.
"Well, we're happy that you're apart of the family now, isn't that right, Bella?" said Carlisle. I mutter, yes under my breathe.
Sue is nervous. Her fingers tap against her leg and her breathing is slightly labored. She was dressed in simple jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt. Compared to Esme's blouse and pencil skirt and Carlisle's cardigan, she was underdressed. I don't think that I've ever seen Esme wear jeans in her life nor would she want to.
"I'm-" she pauses. "I'm sorry that I couldn't come sooner. I had work to do on the rez and there wasn't anyone available to take over for me."
I open my mouth but Esme silences me with a look. I scowl and stab the pasta with my fork. I didn't care about her fucking job or the fucking rez.
"What do you do for work?" asks Carlisle.
"I'm a personal care aide." there's a hint of embarrassment in her voice. "I help take care of older and disabled people."
"I imagine it can be a tough job." Carlisle said. I internally scoff. How hard could it be? Especially compared to being a surgeon!
"Oh, it's nothing being compared to a surgeon!" she awkwardly brushed away the comment and her cheeks turned pink. "It helps pay the bills and I love the people I work with."
"Even if they support a rapist?" I snort. The fork falls from my hand and there's a loud clang in the now silent room. Everyone is staring at me.
I almost feel bad for what I said. Almost.
"Isabella!" Esme gasps. Her look screams- apologize this instant!- but I don't. She'll never be apart of this family. No matter how hard she tries. Sue froze and I knew I was in a deep shit of trouble.
"May I be excused?" I stare down at my plate. "I'm feeling a bit light headed all of a sudden."
"Yes, you may." Carlisle's voice is clipped. I stand up, take my plate and place it in the sink. I don't stick around to hear whatever else they have to say.
ooOoo
"I'm not sure what's gotten into her." Esme apologizes. "I'm so sorry, Bella isn't usually like this."
"She's had a rough few days," Carlisle tries to reason. "Not that it makes up for anything she said but she's going through a lot."
"It's, uhm, it's alright." Sue breathed. "I knew that there would be differences. I knew Bella wouldn't take to me to kindly from what her father told me about her. It's been tough, getting to know her. Every step forward feels like another step back. Of course, I don't condone or support anything Jacob did as well as the majority of the tribe. Everyone is sickened by what happened."
"We understand, Sue. We're not judging you or anyone else for that matter. It's been tough on all of us." said Carlisle. Esme nodded her head and placed her hand on top of Sue's. It was a small but comforting gesture.
"I know that I could never replace her mother or well… you." she looks up at Esme. The bond between her and Bella was so strong that no one would ever be able to break it. Sue wanted that kind of relationship with her but knew it was a far cry from reality. "Would you mind telling me what happened today? How come Bella had to leave school early?"
Carlisle was hesitant to say. He and Esme shared a glance. He was hoping that he could at least tell Emmett or Charlie- somebody that Bella trusted more. He wanted her to open up, not push away.
"Carlisle, please tell me." her voice hardened. "I want to be able to help Bella. I'm not the bad guy here."
"She's being bullied at school." he finally says. "I don't know how long it's been going on for but she called me today in a panic. Apparently, the other day there was an incident at lunch and some kids threw food at her. The principal found out and is punishing the students. Bella's terrified of retaliation."
"I thought it had stopped…" Sue was speechless. Everyone was. Bella had become a master at hiding her emotions. Nobody would have guessed any of this was still happening. She didn't want anyone to know.
"I can tell how much she's hurting and it's been going on for years. I was hoping to talk to both you and Charlie about this but I don't think this can wait."
"What is it, Carlisle?"
"I think Bella should be homeschooled." he sighed."I wouldn't say this if I thought there were other options to help her at school. She's being terrorized. We all know how cruel kids can be and this has been going on for several years now. It's not going to get any better."
"Homeschooling?" Sue is taken aback. "I know nothing about homeschooling and besides Charlie and I both have jobs. Neither of us would be able to do that."
"I could do it myself." said Esme. "I used to be a teacher and have the certification and qualifications."
"But isn't it the child's parents that usually do the homeschooling? How does that work?"
"It is typically the parents but you're allowed to have other people homeschool your children. They just have to have the right qualification and have to be approved by the local superintendent. I work from home most days and we can set up a school schedule that works for all of us."
"Do you really think this is the only option?" Sue whispers. Nobody wanted to pull Bella out of school if it wasn't absolutely necessary.
"I really believe it is." Carlisle nodded his head. "This if from a professional opinion. I don't know how much longer Bella can cope with all of this stress and anxiety."
"I'll talk to Charlie about it and see what he has to say." Sue had to agree with Esme and Carlisle. The girl was falling apart all over again right in front of their eyes. Nobody wanted her to suffer any longer. "Let's just not mention this to her yet. At least until Charlie agrees to it."
ooOoo
Authors Note:
Hey everyone! Thank y'all so much for reading and reviewing! Your support means so much to me! My school is shut down all next week because of Corona, so I'm going to try to write more and possibly update another chapter! I hope y'all are having a great week and stay safe!
