Alice couldn't look at Marie. Edward couldn't stop looking at Marie. And Emmett? He was indifferent.
"How is the food?" Esme asks, breaking the silence in the room. Marie picked at the eggs and toast. The smell of the eggs made her nauseous but she didn't want to be impolite. Some people had no food. She knew what it was like to have no food. Marie would never forget the feeling of being hungry. Of not knowing if you'd survive until the next day. That's why despite her repulsion she would eat breakfast.
Everyone is now staring at Marie, waiting for her to say something. "I-It's fine," she stammered. She forces herself to take a big mouthful of eggs, trying to keep it down. She takes a second and a third, praying that she doesn't throw it up.
"What are your plans for today?" Carlisle asks everybody after a few moments of uncomfortable silence.
"I'm going to Jasper's," Edward mumbled. Carlisle gives him a look. A look that says, no you are not. Edward grumbles to himself, stabbing the egg with his fork. "May I go to Jasper's?" He all but growls.
His late night out didn't go unnoticed by his parents. The stench of throw up in his room could be smelt from the hallway. Plus it didn't help that he was hungover. He earned a stern talking to about appropriate behavior. Bella was in a fragile state and anything they did could trigger something for her. That's why everyone had paused their lives so they could make Marie comfortable. Edward didn't understand how she could get better if they tiptoed around her all the time.
"We'll talk about this later," is all Carlisle says. With a loud sigh, Edward pushes his plate away and loudly walks out of the room. Stomp may be the better word.
"I was wondering if Rose could come over? I know she really wants to see Bella."
Marie's stomach lurched at the thought of another person. Rose had been there the day Bella disappeared. The three of them had been best friends. What would she think of her? She was sure to see right through her.
"Alice, I don't know-" Esme says.
"Especially after yesterday-"
"Emmett!" Carlisle says sharply.
All eyes shift to Marie but quickly look away. An intense blush spreads across her face. "P-please," she whispers. "Please don't pause everything for me. I'm f-fine. I'd really like to meet your friends, A-Alice." She lies through her teeth. Marie felt bad that they had to basically give up their social life because of her. She didn't want to be the cause of their frustrations. She felt bad enough for conning this family.
"They are your friends too, remember," Alice says. "They were our best friends."
"We don't want to make you uncomfortable-" Carlisle says.
"But shouldn't we try to be getting back to our normal lives. Try to make everything as normal as possible for her?"
"Alice that is enough! Remember what we talked about last night?"
She sits back with a rather loud sigh. She bites her tongue knowing that she shouldn't say anything else. Carlisle and Esme had made it clear that they weren't to ask her any questions about her captivity and she ignored them. She ignored them and caused Bella to have a full panic attack. Her parents gave her the ultimatum: apologize to Bella or they would send her to live with her aunt Elizabeth in Chicago until she learned to behave.
"P-please, don't fight," Marie anxiously whispers watching Carlisle and Alice. She was always taught to be seen but not heard. Always respect those superior to yourself. That way you wouldn't get hurt. Why didn't Alice understand?
"Sweetie-" Esme starts.
"I- I want to see Rose. I'll be f-fine."
Marie's heart thumps against her chest. She was terrified. She didn't know what Rose would be like and that terrified her. But Marie had to try. She couldn't hide away forever.
Ice queen. That is was came to Marie's mind when she first saw Rose. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back in ocean waves. Her narrowed ice blue eyes were sharp like razors when saw through Marie, cutting through her soul. Everything about her from her impeccable style to beauty queen looks was perfect.
"Hey babe," Emmett says as he comes down the stairs. She turns her attention to him. With no shame, they make out at the door, not caring who's watching. Marie stands to the side awkwardly trying not to stare at them. Alice, the only one bold enough, clears her throat, alerting them to break apart.
"Jeez Ali," Emmett grumbles. "Chill out a little."
"Well how about next time a little less PDA. You've got an audience," she gestures to Marie. Emmett just grins while Rose awkwardly looks her over.
When Rose pictured Bella, she imagined a skinny, scared, shy girl. She imagined that Bella would come running and envelope her in a big hug. Bella and she would cry, laugh, and then cry some more.
Rose was always the oldest of the three of them. She took her role as a best friend, sister, and a person for guidance seriously. When Bella disappeared, she blamed herself for not staying with her. She was the older one so she naturally felt responsible for Bella and Alice.
That is why she was so distant. So cold. She hid her emotions, letting very few see and watched everyone live their lives from the outside. She was on the outskirts, never really there. She couldn't let herself become distracted again for the fear of someone else getting hurt. She would always be here for Alice as Alice would for her. But now Bella was back and everything changed.
She wanted to be the best friend she used to be but couldn't bring herself to speak. The look in Bella's eyes held years of pain and sorrow. How could she be a friend when Marie couldn't even bare a simple touch?
"Why don't we go to the kitchen? My mom is making pasta for lunch!" Alice exclaims, trying to diffuse the tension.
As if on cue, Emmett's stomach grumble causing everyone to smile. "I'm starving!" His voice booms throughout the room.
The four of them sit around the dining room table. They talked about sports or school or some party they went to. Marie quietly listened, knowing her voice didn't need to be heard. Emmett was laughing about some kid named, Mike Newton. Marie kept her head down, feeling out of place.
Alice sat beside her and Emmett and Rose sat across from them. This all felt weird for her. Casually hanging out with others eating lunch on a Saturday. Marie didn't know how to act normal. Her life had never been normal. She couldn't just casually hang around. She should be helping Esme in the kitchen. She should be on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor clean from all the food that they've dropped. Marie didn't know how to relax.
"Are you going coming to school on Monday, Bella?" Rose suddenly asks.
Marie doesn't know how to respond. She had forgotten about school. Everyone was on April break right now. School started again in two days. The thought caused her anxiety. How was she expected to keep up in high school when she could barely read. She would be the laughing stock of the school.
"We're thinking of having Bella stay at home for a while. Perhaps get a tutor to get her caught up with her school work," Esme walks into the room. She collects everyone's dishes, giving Marie a comforting smile.
"Oh…" Rose whispers. "I didn't really think about how much school you missed."
"I wish we could stay home with you," Alice sighs. "It'll be boring not seeing you every day."
Marie had to disagree with her. No more prodding questions and uncomfortable stares. Maybe she could actually relax.
"Well, at least you don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn."
Marie's lips curve up, unable to hide her amusement. Rose and her giggle, like school girls gossiping over a boy. For a moment, everything is normal. It's like it used to be. This was the Bella, Rose remembered.
"Do you all want some ice cream?" Esme asks coming back with bowls. A series of yeses come from around the table.
"I don't like Oreo ice cream!" Alice complains.
"Well it's Bella's favorite so you're going to have to deal with it." Esme walks away, annoyed with Alice's constant complaints. She had been spoiled too much. Alice needed a good dose of reality. She had to learn that she wouldn't get everything she wanted in life.
Marie lets the cold ice cream melt in her mouth, savoring the chocolate creamy taste. Now, this was good. She eats another spoonful and then another, finishing before everyone else. There was pure bliss on her face. She didn't know anything could taste this heavenly.
"That looks good," a voice said. Marie opens her eyes to see a disgruntled Edward staring right at her.
"Hello to you too," Rose snorts. Edward smirks and comes to sit down beside her. He shoves her playfully and she flicks him on the back of the head.
"Bitch," he glares at her.
"What crawled up your ass?"
"He's just upset that he couldn't see Jasper today," Alice says.
"Shut up," he growls.
"Speaking of Jazzy, where is he?" Alice has a look in her eyes that screams love. Her heart beats faster and she couldn't feel happier. Everyone could tell that she was in love.
"He's practice. He'll probably be there all day," says Rose.
"What does he play?" Mare quietly speaks.
Everyone's eyes flashed to hers, surprised that she spoke. Marie barely speaks in groups. It makes her too nervous.
"He plays lacrosse," Alice exclaims. "He's really good too. You should come to the game next weekend! They are playing against Henderson."
"Oh, I-I, um, I don't know," she stutters, looking down at her shaky hands.
"Please, Bella! You could meet some of my other friends and we could get ice cream after and maybe we can go shopping-"
"Alice!" Edward stops her. He gestures to Marie who's currently on the verge of a panic attack. Labored breaths escape her mouth and her eyes are as wide as saucers. This was all too much. Everything was moving so fast and Marie didn't know what to think.
"Bella, I'm sorry…" Alice whispers. She reaches her hand out to her but Marie pulls away. She gathers her dishes and brings them to the kitchen. Marie needed to be alone. She needed time to herself.
"Are you ok, honey?" Carlisle is immediately alert when she walks into the kitchen. Her hands shake as she places the dirty plates in the sink.
"I-I'm fine," she breathes. She leans against the counter trying to breathe. One, two, three, four. One, two, three four. She counts in her head, trying to focus. "Where is Esme?"
"She had to go out to the store," Carlisle sighs. "Why don't you sit down?"
Marie lets him guide her to the chair and takes her hand. She doesn't flinch away from his warm touch. She finds his presence soothing.
"Did one of the kids say something?" His lips are pressed into a thin line.
"N-no," she stammers. "Alice just talks a- a lot."
Carlisle can't help but laugh. That was just who she was.
"S-she wants me to go to some lacrosse game next week. She was talking about shopping and ice cream and other people and everything is just moving so fast and I-" Her chest heaved up and down. She clenched Carlisle's hand tightly, wanting to calm down.
"Bella, listen to me." She heard him say. "Just listen to my voice."
That is what she focuses on. His calm voice.
"Everything is going to be alright. You are going to be alright." His voice is firm.
Marie wants to believe him. She wants to believe him but can't bring herself too.
"Bella?" Alice's soprano voice sounds from the other side of the door. "Can I come in?"
Marie is curled up on the floor inside of the closet. She has her pillow, blanket, and a perfect view of the door.
Carlisle had calmed her down. He had calmed her down and helped her upstairs. She took a shower an hour ago and went to take a nap. But with all the people downstairs, it scared her. So instead, she went into the tiny cramped closet and created a little bed on the ground. It reminded her of the attic. The tightly cramped attic which she hated but strangely missed at the same time. She felt safer in the tiny closet. Being in the open left her vulnerable and open to danger. She felt more at home.
"Bella?"
Sniffling, Bella says, "C-come, in."
Alice opens the door to step into a pitch black room. The shades were drawn and lights were out. Marie's bed was made which left Alice confused but suddenly from the corner of her eye she sees something move from the closet. It's Bella.
She stands up with the blanket wrapped around her body and turns on the light. Alice looks as if she's just seen a murder. Marie's hair is messy like a haystack and her eyes are red and puffy.
"Are you okay?"
Marie nods her head, trying to wipe away the tears. God. this was embarrassing.
"I'm sorry," Alice whispers. Her eyes gleamed with tears.
What did she have to be sorry about?
"I know that coming home is really hard for you and I haven't been helping much," she sighs. "I'm just so happy that you're home. I keep forgetting that we're not going to be like we used to be. I just want things to be the same-"
"Well, it'll never be the same!" Marie hissed. "We will never be the same. I will never be the same as the girl before James took me."
"I'm sorry-"
"Don't you dare say you are sorry," she exhales. "Do you want to know what he did to me? He raped me every single day. I lived in an attic locked in a cage for the past eight years. That was my life. He beat me if I disobeyed him but sometimes he just liked to hurt me for fun. He'd let me starve for days. He kept me gagged most of the time because he was afraid I'd scream for help. He changed my name, trying to force me to forget my old life. He'd whip my back raw with his belt and made me suck his dick as I choked-"
"Stop!" Alice cries. "Please stop!" Gut-wrenching sobs escaped her mouth. Her body shook in terror and anger.
"Is that what you wanted to know? That has been my life for the past eight years! The fucked up part is that I miss it! I want to be back in that cramped cage. I want the rules and punishments. That attic became my home and I don't know how to survive in the real world. I don't know a fucking thing about high school or makeup or girls our age."
"I can help-"
"I don't even know how to fucking read! I'm as smart as a five-year-old! Don't you dare say that you can help! You know nothing about me."
"You are right," she says quietly. I don't know anything about you. We've both changed so much. You're kidnapping took a toll on our family. Everything changed after you went missing. My life completely changed-"
"At least you had a family! You had a family that loved with a roof over your head. You didn't have to worry about when the next time you would eat or wonder how hard your captor would come and beat you. You had everything." Marie's voice is raw as she glares at Alice in anger.
"You think that I had it easy," Alice snorts. "Edward is a complete manwhore. He drinks and parties all night. Brings different girls home every day, fucks them, and then dumps them the next day. He doesn't give a shit about other people's feelings," she said. "But don't even get me started on my parents. They act all sweet and loving now, but this past week was the first time in probably three years that we sat down fully as a family to have dinner together. They've thrown themselves so much into work and helping to find you that they've forgotten all about their real children. Every school event, sports event, birthday, was usually missed because a new lead would come up about you and they'd go rushing off. It's like we aren't even apart of the family. You are the golden child."
Marie couldn't contain her anger anymore. "Get out!" she screamed. Her eyes were wild and her blanket dropped to the ground. Alice, terrified, runs out of her room, knowing that she wouldn't be welcomed back anytime soon.