TW: this is probably the heaviest and darkest chapter of the story so far, so please read with caution!
THIRTY-FIVE
Saturday evening
Leah and Ben are watching some football game on the TV, and Edward sits on the adjacent sofa, a can of beer in his hand. It isn't open. His two friends are both excited, glued to the play before them, but he isn't watching.
His mind is elsewhere.
Checking the screen of his phone, he sighs. He hasn't heard from Bella today. It is odd for her. The fact that it is Saturday night makes Edward feel uneasy.
His stomach bubbles and an acidic taste fills his mouth.
"Hey, Eddie, she'll message when she's good, okay?"
Edward shoots Leah a look.
"She usually messages me at least once."
"Just chill. She's her own person. Leave her be."
Suddenly, the device begins to vibrate in his hand. His heart swells, eager to know that she is okay, but his eyebrows furrow when he spots an unknown number on the screen. Usually, he wouldn't answer, but every nerve in his body is urging him to.
Sliding the green button across the screen, he brings the device to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Edward, is that you?" The voice on the other end of the call is shaky, panicked. He can just about make out a couple of other voices in the distance.
"Angela? What's up?"
"It's Bella, I don't- I don't know-"
"Take a deep breath. What's happened to her?"
"Her eyes keep rolling and she won't stop vomiting. I think she's taken something, but no one will tell me what it is. I'm really scared. Could you come and help me?"
"I'm on my way."
Turning on the ignition, Bella's face punctures Edward's thoughts.
He was already in the driver's seat the minute Angela said her name.
Luckily, the front door is already open when Edward arrives, and he barges into Bella's flat. Takeaway boxes litter the floor of the hallway and a pungent scent of weed assaults his nose.
His heart is pounding.
He spots a ginger girl lounging across Bella's sofa. She has a joint in one hand and a slice of pizza in the other.
"Where is she?" He demands.
Taking a drag from the joint, the girl gestures in the direction of the bathroom. Edward's hands ball into fists and he clenches his jaw.
The anger that bubbles inside of him is vivid, commanding, suffocating. He has an urge to shout at the girl on the couch, but the thought of Bella was overpowering.
He needed to find her.
Quickly.
He is brisk, messy in his stride.
In the bathroom, he finds them.
Lying on her back, Bella's skin is deathly pale, and her eyes are closed. Angela hovers above her, straddling her waist. The tension is palpable, sweltering.
Edward feels like he is about to pass out.
"Fuck…"
Angela whips her head around. Her eyes are wild, teary.
"Edward, she's not breathing properly."
"Have you called an ambulance?"
"No, when I got here, she was choking on her vomit. I was just trying to save her. No one else was fucking paying attention."
The anger spikes within Edward; he tries to calm his breathing.
"Okay, you need to put her in the recovery position. Do you know how to do that?"
Angela looks panicked.
"No…I'm not sure. Can you do it?"
Edward nods and passes his phone to Angela.
As he kneels next to her, his heart aches at Bella's appearance. Specks of vomit have hardened around her mouth and the bags underneath her eyes protrude against her almost-translucent skin. She looks sunken, shallow, a shell of who she once was.
"Bella? Bella?"
Rolling her onto her side, he places a hand beneath her chin, lifting her head slightly.
"Come on, Bells, please wake up."
A tear spills down his cheek.
"Please…don't leave me."
Thank you to everyone for being patient with me - Edward and Bella will get their happy ending soon, I promise!
Just remember, they are very stupid young adults at the moment!
Happy reading :D