A/N
I lied!
I gave the girls in my Facebook group a teaser of this chapter ... the reception was ... interesting? hilarious?
May kicked off. And now I'm posting ONE MORE before bed.
They're my guinea pigs and I love them for it!
Jemster23 helps me stir the pot, because she's the only other person who knows what's about to go down.
On that note ... enjoy!
—
Everything about him is aggressive tonight —more aggressive.
I can't swallow this feeling of trepidation and though it's clear I'm nothing to Edward now, I still keep Mike at arms length -for his own sake.
I keep my distance from Edward, leaving the room when he enters, keeping as many people as possible between us. Every now and again when I look up, his eyes are on me -black and sinister.
"You're quiet tonight."
I turn, smiling softly at Tyler as he hands me a beer. "Yeah, recovering from a headache," I lie. He doesn't question me, choosing instead to accept my explanation, nodding as he rests his hip against the counter I'm leaning on.
"You're not hung up on Cullen, are you?" he asks, raising a brow.
I chuckle, shaking my head. "Nothing to be hung up on."
"Isn't he gay anyways?" he snorts, shivering, as though the thought disgusts him.
I want to roll my eyes and leave. But I don't. "I think he's bi."
He barks a laugh, his head thrown back. "So he's just fucking greedy. Go figure."
I narrow my eyes. There's so much I want to say to him right now, call him out on, but I don't, because I'm sure Edward is perfectly capable of defending himself. Besides, Edward clearly is greedy, it just has nothing at all to do with his sexuality.
"You're too good for him anyway," Tyler adds, taking a drink of his beer, watching me carefully as he scoots closer.
Shit.
Part of me wants to feel the lips of another against mine; to banish the feel of his. Another part —and I don't know how big that part is— relishes the thought that the last lips to touch mine were Edward's. It's all I have of him, of what was. Of what will never be.
Tyler's face moves closer and closer to my own. The whole time, I'm watching him curiously. I don't know what I want.
Just as I open my mouth to stop his advances, his head is pulled back harshly, his eyes widening. I scream as he's shoved past me with force. A sickening crunch, and his face is slammed against the kitchen wall.
He splutters blood as it pours from his nose, his body falling to the floor in a heap.
Eyes wide in fear, I look up. Edward's standing over Tyler, breathing heavily, fists clenched tightly at his side.
"I told you," he spits, pointing at me, seething. "I fucking warned you, Bella!" His eyes are black, gaping -a raging storm of fury. "If you let anyone else touch you, I'll fucking kill them."
"Stop it," I whimper, my breathing choked. "Don't."
He doesn't move, looking back down at Tyler, his beautiful face contorted in a snarl. Everyone around us watches, no one moving a muscle.
"Stop it?" he laughs -his voice menacing. "You stop it." Crouching, he grabs Tyler by the back of his head, a fist-full of hair, forcing his face closer. Tyler flinches, blood continuing to pour from his nose into his mouth. "Touch her again," he warns, "and I'll snap your legs."
"You don't own her," Tyler growls through clenched teeth and I flinch, wishing he'd kept his mouth shut.
Edward's answering smile is viscous and I feel useless. Looking around, I beg someone silently to step in.
No one moves.
"Edward, stop." It's all I can do. I can't physically overpower him. I need to tread carefully. He ignores me, standing to his full height, throwing Tyler's head back as he loosens his grip.
I take a tentative step forward, holding my arm out, palm towards him, trying to push him back without touching him. He looks at my hand, his dilated pupils reflecting the room and his fury. Whatever trance he seems to be in doesn't last long. Snapping himself out of it with a shake of his head, he turns back to Tyler and with a powerful blow, his foot hits him square in the jaw, knocking him out.
"Stop it!" I scream as Tyler's head hits the floor, his body limp.
Silence descends. Deadly, eerie silence. Edward's chest heaves, his hands twitching -aching for a fight. Rose and Alice are across the room, their eyes wide, both of them terrified to move. I shake my head surreptitiously in their direction, begging them to stay where they are.
All around, people watch, standing far back as the scene unfolds.
"Edward?" My voice is quiet, dependent. I need to get him away from Tyler. "Come on, let's go."
His head whips in my direction, his eyes narrow slits. "I'm not finished with him."
"Yes you are," I plead desperately. "You've made your point, let's go."
"Have I?" He looks at me incredulously. I nod my head, motioning for him to step away. "Because you never fucking listen."
"I'm listening now."
He laughs, shaking his head. "Bit late, don't you think?"
I sigh, dropping my hand, running out of ideas. He hasn't really ever talked to me; he throws demands around but that's besides the point ...
Realising now isn't the time to call him out, I take a deep breath and approach him slowly, hoping Tyler doesn't start to wake before I get Edward out of here.
"Please come with me." I keep my voice low and quiet, as steady as I can manage. It feels like trying to talk a hungry lion down from killing a zebra.
Surprisingly, he takes one final long look at Tyler before turning back to me and nodding. My whole body visibly relaxes as I take his hand gently and lead him away from the scene.
Rose follows, her whole body radiating rage. I try to keep Edward with me, focused solely on me —I need to get him out here.
People part as we walk through the house, not a sound now the music has been silenced.
I don't know what I'm doing, but Rose decides to rock the boat anyway -so much for trying to keep Edward calm.
—-
A/N
Bella trying to keep Edward calm ... did she do the right thing?
And OOP! Here comes Rose!
Until next time —TOMORROW— thank you for reading!
