Chapter 8 - Confrontation

BPOV

'You should have left her alone from the beginning.' I heard Rosalie snap at Edward. I swallowed hard. A life without having known Edward? It hurt just to think about.

'I know.' I heard his soft reply and it felt as if the world had been pulled out from under me. Jasper had assured me he loved me. Yet here he was admitting that he would rather never have met me at all. I sucked in a sharp breath. Pain overwhelmed me. Anger too. Why had they all persuaded me to stay here? It was obvious they were just covering for him. He didn't love me. He regretted ever knowing me! I grit my teeth. I tried to think through the pain, but it was impossible. I felt a snaking calm try to creep up to me, but I fought it.

My gaze settled on the window and before I knew what I was doing I was flying through it. My only thought was escape. Escape from the pain, from the hurt he had inflicted. I burst through the glass, the shards falling down around me, but not hurting my new tough skin. I landed on my feet a few yards from the house and as soon as my feet touched the ground I set off. I ran from the house as fast as I could. I pushed myself faster and faster hoping it would distract me from the pain. But it didn't. I was dimly aware of someone shouting my name. And then of being chased. But I couldn't focus on that. The pain was all encompassing. The pain finally overwhelmed me and I came to a sudden stop. I clutched my arms around myself, trying to hold myself together through the pain racking through my body.

Something flew past me at great speed. Then I heard footsteps coming back to where I was standing. They finally stopped a little ways away from me. I couldn't look up to see who it was. The pain was too intense.

'Bella?' I heard his voice. I sucked in a gasp. No! Why did it have to be him? Why couldn't Jasper have been following me? He could have helped with the pain. No, I couldn't do this right now. I couldn't face him yet. I wasn't ready.

'Bella.' He pleaded. His voice sounded pained. That snapped me out of my spiral. Why would he be in pain? I opened my eyes slowly and looked at him. He was standing across from me his hands held in the air. His face was contorted in anguish. His hair was a mess, his clothes were rumpled and dishevelled. I had never seen him so rumpled.

'What's wrong?' He asked in a whisper. I just stared at him for a moment. Was he serious right now? What was wrong? I'd just heard him admit that he never loved me!

'Wrong?' I choked out through the blinding fury that was building in my chest. 'Wrong?!'

He looked confused as he looked at me.

'What do you think is wrong?!' I screeched at him. The anger suddenly overwhelmed me and my vision turned red. I couldn't fight it. I couldn't think through this all consuming rage. I couldn't do anything, but lunge at him. I screeched like a banshee from hell as I launched myself across the clearing. The impact of my body against his thundered through the woods around us, startling the birds from their trees with loud cries. I screamed and slammed him into the ground – hard. His breath left him in a woosh as we landed. His arms came around me in a protective circle, but I shook them off roughly. I slammed his arms down above his head and snarled at him. He looked up at me with wide eyes. I pulled back my arm and my fist connected with the side of his jaw harshly. His head snapped sideways with a loud crunch. It was satisfying at least to be able to finally do this and not break my own hand. I pulled my arm back to do it again when I was suddenly pulled away from Edward by four strong hands. I thrashed against their hold wildly.

'Careful!' Jasper's voice cut through my haze. 'She's not in control!'

'Stay away, Rosalie!' I heard Emmett grunt. His voice was strained, like it was costing him a lot of effort to keep me in place. My eyes remained fixed on Edward though. I still battled the enormous fury that was in my chest.

'Stay down! Edward, please stay there!' Carlisle yelled, he sounded further away. Edward had moved to sit up, but now fell back on his elbows, he was staring at me with caution. His mouth was still slightly ajar from shock.

'Stop staring at her!' Jasper commanded him. His head turned away but I could see a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. I let out a growl. How dare he think this was funny?! Jasper and Emmett pulled on my arms, struggling to drag me away from my object of obsession. Finally they hauled me far enough away that I couldn't see Edward anymore. I snarled and thrashed against their hold still. But I couldn't seem to help it.

'Help me' I finally mustered through the blinding fury. Jasper appeared in front of me then and put both of his hands on my face.

'Calm down, now Bella.' He said gently. Calm flooded through me in such waves that it knocked the breath from me for a moment.

Then I sank down to the floor gratefully. The fury was gone. I felt like myself again. I sighed in relief and jasper nodded to Emmett to let go of my arms.

'thank you.' I whispered. Jasper nodded. We sat for a moment in silence and I was grateful they were allowing me this time to collect my thoughts. I had actually struck him. Shame was creeping up on me. I had hurt Edward. I had knocked him down and punched him in the jaw. That wasn't right. I shouldn't have done that. After a few moment Jasper removed his hands and sat back as well.

'Are you okay?' he asked softly. I nodded.

'I'm fine.' I assured him. Well, I was back in control at least. Fine was another thing.

'What happened?' Emmett asked, I was sure he had been desperate to ask me that this entire time. 'not that my brother didn't deserve a good ass kicking.' He quickly added.

'Plus you're probably the only one who could surprise him like that.' Jasper added grinning at me. I gave a small smile back but then hung my head in my hands.

'He asked me what was wrong and I just lost it.' I confessed in shame. 'I couldn't think anymore. I just… saw red. I had tackled him before I knew what I was doing. Then I had punched him the next.' I drew in a shaky breath. 'I can't believe I did that.'

'It's not your fault, Bella.' Jasper assured me.

'I wish I had been there from the beginning though.' Emmett said, chuckling to himself. Jasper shot him a quick glare, to which he just shrugged. 'what? It's true.'
I couldn't help but chuckle at that.

'How you felt Bella, is how most newborns feel all the time. You were ruled by your emotions. Your new emotions are stronger than you are used to, so they can overrule a new vampire. I'm guessing you've not really have had cause to get angry before so this was entirely new for you. it's completely understandable Bella. I'm impressed you didn't take a bite out of him.'

I stared at him horrified. I would never bite him! Emmett chuckled. 'I'm rather impressed as well, little sis, I wasn't sure you had it in you to actually punch him.'

'I wasn't sure either.' I mumbled. Jasper and Emmett laughed for a moment and I smiled as well. 'Thank you both for stopping me.' I said after a moment.

'no problem.' Emmett said. 'that's what family is for.'

'We help each other through the rough patches.' Jasper continued.

I smiled at them. 'what now?' I asked.

'Well, I'm guessing you and Edward should talk.' Jasper said.

'what if I hurt him again?' I said in a small voice.

'Then he deserved it, probably.' Emmett said with a shrug. 'you only punched him once, he definitely deserves way more.' Then he grinned at me slyly. 'perhaps a good kick in the balls?' I snorted before I could stop myself and Jasper was laughing as well.

'Fine Emmett, if I lose it again, I'll try to aim for the balls, alright?' I said chuckling. Emmett smiled and gave me a thumbs up.

'Do invite me if you think you're going to lose control, though. Because that is definitely something I don't want to miss.'

Jasper shook his head and then turned back to me. 'I'm guessing he said something to set you off. I'll talk to him and make sure he knows to avoid upsetting you.' I nodded. 'I'm sure you'll be able to handle yourself Bella.' Jasper assured me. 'you've been so great at everything else. This shouldn't bring down your faith in yourself. You're an amazing vampire. Just because you let your nature take over once, doesn't make you a bad person, or an unstable one.'

'nope.' Emmett assured me. 'it makes you the best person. Edward deserved a good ass kicking. So don't beat yourself up over this.'

'what if he hates me now?' I asked in a small voice.

'Then he definitely deserves a good kick in the balls.' Emmett all but growled. 'and in the face, and in the head…'

'Alright' Jasper cut in. 'we get it.' He gave Emmett a glare. Then he turned to me with kind eyes. 'he's not going to hate you Bella. He knows what being a newborn is. He knows it's hard and he knows emotions can overwhelm you. he's probably out there feeling bad for setting you off, trust me.'

'so he won't mind?'

'that you punched him?' Jasper asked. I nodded. 'probably not. Perhaps he's a bit miffed that you caught him off guard. It's been a while since he's actually gotten thrown on the floor. But other than that… I'm sure he still loves you Bella.'

EPOV

Suddenly I was airborn. I felt something solid against my chest and my arms wrapped around it insitinctively as we crashed down to the ground again. A snarl made me tense up and worry for a moment we were being attacked by another vampire. But then my arms were thrown away and pinned above my head and Bella's angry snarl appeared a few inches from my face. I stared up at her in bewilderment. So she'd been the one to throw me down? I mulled that over for a moment stunned. My sweet, lovely, soft, breakable Bella had thrown me down. She was on top of me, holding my arms above my head as she stared down at me.

I opened my mouth to say something to her, when one of her arms pulled back and suddenly shot back out. My head snapped sideways, my muscles straining to stay in one piece. I blinked. She had punched me? I slowly turned my head back to face her again, and saw her hand drawing back to go for round two. I stared at her, not making any moves to stop her. Then Jasper appeared on her left and Emmett on her right and they both grabbed hold of her arms and yanked her up. They hauled her away from me and I laid there for a moment in complete and utter shock and confusion.

'Careful!' Jasper's voice cut through my haze. 'She's not in control!'

'Stay away, Rosalie!' I heard Emmett grunt. I moved to sit up and took in the scene before me. Jasper and Emmett were grappling with Bella, whose ferocious eyes were still locked on me. Rosalie was off to the side staring at Bella with pity.

What did you do? She directed angrily towards me.

Oh Bella. Esme thought with concern.

'Stay down! Edward, please stay there!' Carlisle yelled from behind Emmett. Let her calm down! He added in his mind. I nodded almost imperceptibly and fell back onto my elbows.

Sorry, we came as soon as I saw Alice thought at me, she was standing on the other side of Bella, well out of range from her snapping teeth.

'Stop staring at her!' Jasper commanded me This isn't exactly as easy as it looks. Stop challenging her! He screamed at me in his head.

I averted my gaze and turned my head to the side as a small smile turned up the corners of my mouth. Who had ever thought that my sweet little Bella could be such a ferocious beast? I was impressed, no… amazed… no turned on! Her growl cut through the forest then and I shuddered. Seeing her like this did something to me… something I had never felt before in my existence. The way she had domineerd my body was out of this world. Gone was the timid and shy girl who was so breakable. She had turned into a wonderful woman who knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to show it. I was so proud of her.

'You can get up now.' Rosalie said after another minute. Her voice laced with irritation. I got to my feet and stared at the spot bella had just stood and tried to take a snap at me.

'What did you do to set her off?' Alice inquired curiously.

'Yes, please explain how you could be such an idiot to upset a newborn?' Rosalie snapped.

I thought it over for a moment. 'I'm not exactly sure… I asked her what was wrong… and she seemed to snap after that.'

Esme's brow furrowed. 'Poor girl. We should have been with her, we shouldn't have left her alone in her room.' She said.

'She wanted to be alone.' Rosalie gently reminded Esme.

'Are you okay?' Esme said turning to me.

I nodded. 'Yes, she didn't do any permanent damage. Just a good punch to the face.' I rubbed my jaw absentmindedly.

Alice giggled then. She was replaying her vision of me being punched in the face over and over in her head. I groaned.

'DO you have to, Alice?' I sighed. She just laughed harder and stuck her tongue out at me as she repeated it for another five times.

'What are you doing to him?' Carlisle asked Alice.

'Just showing him how stupid he looked getting his ass handed to him.' Alice said. I shook my head at her but couldn't help but smile a little as well.

You should talk to her when she's calmed down.' Alice said after a moment.

'Are you sure that's wise?' Esme asked.

'he shouldn't do anything.' Rosalie cut in before I could answer. 'She shouldn't have to deal with this if she doesn't want to. You shouldn't have chased after her. She'd made it clear she wasn't ready for you yet.'

I frowned at Rosalie for a moment. Why was she so protective suddenly of Bella? Then Rosalie's control of her thoughts slipped. Everything suddenly became clear. While she had resented Bella as a human for what she was throwing away. She felt amazingly close to her as a vampire. Bella had been turned after a violent episode that almost ended her life, her life had been ripped from her suddenly and violently and Rosalie empathized with that immensely. She had struck up a kinship with Bella through that and she admired the way Bella was dealing with everything. She was brave and courageous and courteous and a simply amazing person. Rosalie felt fiercely protective of her as a new sister. She wanted Bella to feel safe in this new life and she would do anything to make sure of that. I smiled at Rosalie then.

'I'm sorry Rosalie.' I said. 'I'm sorry I didn't wait for you guys to go after her. I should have respected her wishes.'

Rosalie was taken aback for a moment, before she nodded. 'Her control's been taken away Edward.' She said in a much gentler tone. 'You need to give her space to regain it.'

I nodded. 'Yes. I won't look for her now. I'll wait until she is ready to talk to me.' I assured Rose, who nodded gratefully.

'Well, you won't have to wait long.' Alice piped up.

'What do you mean?' I asked her. Alice motioned her head to the left and I followed her gaze. Three people were coming towards us. Jasper stepped through the trees first.

'Alright, let's give these two some privacy.' He announced. He quirked an eyebrow at me. Don't set her off again, man. She's really upset she hurt you.

Hey moron! Emmett shouted at me. Don't hurt her, or I'll give you a good beating down! He threatened. I smiled and nodded at him.

Then Bella appeared from the treeline. She was timid and her eyes darted around the clearing as she took everyone in.

'Alright let's go back to the house.' Alice announced. She gave me one pointed look, but she was covering her thoughts from me carefully. Give her time was all I got from her. I frowned at that. Bella bit her lip and nodded in encouragement to Rose. Everyone retreated then. First slowly, but then they started running back towards the house. I turned to Bella and waited patiently for her to speak first. She was staring at her feet silently.

'I think we should talk.' She finally said, looking up to meet my gaze. I gulped and nodded.