16
After a few hours of trying to sleep but not succeeding, I slipped out of my bed and out of the hotel room I was sharing with Carlisle. I found Bella sitting out in the hall with her iPod on. I went over and sat down next to her. She smiled and looked up at me but her smile didn't reach her eyes. She pulled the ear buds from her ear as she laid her head on my shoulder.
"Why aren't you sleeping?" she asked.
"Couldn't," I muttered. "Why aren't you sleeping?"
"Nightmare," she barely whispered, looping her arm in with mine. She was clinging to me tightly. "I managed not to wake Esme up but decided not to attempt anymore sleep. I figured I would just sit out here and listen to some music."
"You should have come and gotten me," I frowned.
"I'm ok," she sighed.
"I think Carlisle knows about us," I whispered. Bella looked up at me with wide eyes.
"What?" she asked.
"He told me last night before we went to bed that when kissing you in the elevator to try not to let the alarm go off," I explained. "He told me to be smoother."
"Did he try to hurt you?" she asked.
"No," I laughed, weaving my fingers in with hers. "I think he is ok with us."
"Hmm, imagine that," mumbled Bella, shaking her head. She rested her head back on my shoulder. "Maybe it's cause he's secretly hoping to get your approval to start seeing Esme, officially."
"Maybe," I mused.
"I think Esme knows, too," smiled Bella. I cocked my eyebrow at her. "She was nice to me last night, like really nice. It was kind of creepy but now, I think it's cause she knows."
"Hmm, I guess we weren't very secretive, were we?" I chuckled.
"Apparently not," laughed Bella.
Bella placed one of her ear buds in my ear while putting the other one in her ear. We spent the next hour or so sitting on the floor outside of our rooms listening to her music. I thought it was kind of funny that she had the Glee soundtrack on her iPod but I didn't say anything. Who knew Bella was a closet Gleek?
Eventually, we heard Carlisle and Esme moving around inside our rooms. I stood up and pulled Bella to her feet. I leaned in and kissed her softly before she went back into the room she was sharing with Esme while I went into the room I was sharing with Carlisle. He was just coming out of the bathroom when I came in.
"Where have you been?" he asked.
"Out in the hall with Bella," I shrugged.
"Why?" he asked, concerned about her. "Is she ok?"
"She's fine," I said, pulling out my boxing shorts and a t-shirt. "She had a nightmare and opted not to go back to sleep. I couldn't sleep so I went out into the hall. We sat out there and listened to music."
"Did…Esme hear her?" asked Carlisle.
"I don't think so," I said, looking up at him. "When are you going to man up and ask my sister out?"
"When were you and Bella planning on telling us that you two are whatever you are?" he countered.
"When Bella was ready," I answered, honestly.
"Do you like my sister?" he asked.
"Very much," I said. "Do you like my sister?"
"Very much," he repeated, throwing my words back at me.
"Don't hurt her," I said, looking him straight in the eye. "I love Esme, Carlisle. She likes you and I don't want her to get hurt."
"I won't hurt her," he replied. He took a deep breath and sat down on his bed. "Has Bella told you about our parents?"
"Yes," I said.
"Then you know just how hard it is for her to trust anyone," sighed Carlisle.
"Yep," I muttered.
"But she trusts you," said Carlisle. I sat down on my bed and looked over at him. "There is something about you that makes her feel…better. I don't know what that is and, honestly, I don't know that I like it, Edward, but she needs you. Jasper, Emmett, and I do what we can to make her feel safe. Renee likes to cause drama, in case you can't tell. The last thing Bella needs is for you to break her heart."
"When I was seven, we lived in Texas," I said, looking at my feet. "I had just started first grade and was so excited because my best friend, Dalton, was in my class. He and I were like brothers. Then my Dad got transferred to a base in California. I had to leave the only friend I had ever had. I learned that day that you don't let people in. You don't take that chance again. For ten years, I didn't, Carlisle. I was fine with that because I always had my Mom and Dad. I always had Esme. Then one day, my parents told me that we were moving to the other side of the world. I was so fucking pissed. They gave me the choice; go with them and leave my sister here alone or stay with her and let them go. How was I supposed to make that choice? How was I supposed to give one of them up for the other? But I did. In the end, I chose to stay with Esme because at least this way, she wouldn't be alone and I wouldn't have to lose the only friend I had. When I first met Bella, I…"
"You what?" asked Carlisle. I shook my head softly.
"I saw myself in her, Carlisle," I whispered. "Scared, lonely, afraid to let anyone get too close. I'm not saying that I know the pain she feels with what she went through with your parents, but I know what it feels like to be alone. It's not a nice feeling to feel alone in a room full of people, to feel like nobody really sees you for who you are. Bella makes me feel better, Carlisle. I care about her deeply. I will not break her heart."
"Do you love her?" asked Carlisle. I choked a little as I looked up at him. "Do you?"
"I don't know," I said, honestly.
"You need to figure it out," said Carlisle, standing up. "I'm happy for you and Bella, Edward. My sister has changed a lot over the last few weeks and I know that is because of you."
"But," I said, cocking my eyebrow at him.
"But," he smiled, "my brothers may not share my sentiment and Renee certainly won't. I hope you and Bella are prepared to fight for each other because when they find out about the two of you, they are going to be a little pissed."
"Are you going to tell them?" I asked.
"Nope," he said, popping the 'p'. "When you and Bella are ready, I'll be there to support you but it's your choice. Just don't wait too long because they aren't that stupid."
Carlisle walked out of our room, letting the door close behind him. I sat there for a few minutes, replaying his words in my head. It was odd to know that he accepted our relationship but I was glad to have his approval. Bella and I would have to face the music of our relationship soon enough and we would do it together.
I quickly showered and changed for our tournament today. I was desperately trying not to think about what was going to happen today as I headed out into the hall. Bella was waiting for me outside of my room with her iPod on. I didn't say anything as I wrapped my arm around her waist and kissed her forehead. She was in the zone and I wouldn't disturb her.
Bella and I made our way down to the lobby where everyone was waiting for us. I reluctantly removed my arm from around her. She gave me a soft smile and I knew she hated it too. Maybe we should just tell them. Bella and I followed everyone out to our cars. Carlisle insisted that we ride with him and Esme to the arena. Perhaps, he was afraid that we would run away if we drove ourselves. Bella closed her eyes and focused on her music while I stared out the window.
"Edward, you have to protect yourself," instructed my father, bringing my arm up in front of my face. "Use your arms to block their throws then you can counter with your other arm."
"Like this?" I asked, throwing up my left arm and bringing my right up from the bottom.
"Exactly like that, Son," smiled my father.
"Dad, I don't want to move again," I grumbled. "It's not fair."
"I know it's not," sighed my father, kneeling down in front of me. "I'm sorry but we have to go. They need me in Florida."
"But Mom was going to let me sign up for baseball," I whined.
"Maybe we can find you a team in Florida," suggested my father.
"It wouldn't be the same," I whispered.
"Edward, I know it's hard to move so much. I'm sorry that I'm doing that to you but as long as we have each other, we'll be ok, right?" he asked.
"Right," I muttered.
"Come on, Edward," smiled Esme, from the doorway. She held out her hand to me. "Let's go get some ice cream."
"Chocolate chip?" I asked, smiling at my big sister.
"Duh," she laughed. I dropped my gloves in my father's hands and went over and grabbed Esme's hand. "It's going to be ok, kid. You and I will always be friends."
"Promise, Esme?" I asked. She knelt down in front of me.
"I promise, Edward. You and me are friends for life," she smiled.
"Edward, you ok?" asked Bella. I shook my head softly and looked over at her. She was staring at me with a worried look. We were parked in front of the Arena. Carlisle and Esme were waiting outside of the car.
"Yeah," I smiled. "I'm fine."
"You sure?" she asked. "Cause you kind of looked like you were ready to throw up."
"I was just thinking about my dad," I whispered.
"Oh," she whispered, looking away. "Do you think he would be proud of you for doing this?"
"Yes, I do," I said softly. "I'm sure your Mom and Dad would be proud of you, too."
"I know," whispered Bella, shakily. She took a deep breath and looked back at me. She was struggling not to let the tears fall from her eyes. "Are you ready?"
"I'm ready," I smiled softly. "Are you ready?"
"I'm ready," she smiled back at me. I looked around before I leaned in and kissed her.
"Let's go kick some ass," I whispered.
Bella blushed a soft pink as we climbed out of the car. Carlisle and Esme both pretended not to notice as we followed them to the front doors of the arena. Emmett, Jasper, Rose, Alice, Charlie, and Renee were waiting for the four of us. We were about halfway through the large lobby when Bella grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop.
"Bella, what's wrong?" I asked. She was shaking violently. Her eyes were wide, fearful, and full of tears.
"Bell?" asked Carlisle, as he and the others stopped and looked back at us. Bella was frozen as she stared across the lobby. I followed her eyes and saw her staring at a man with dark black hair. He was staring at her with a small smile on his face. I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her around to face me.
"Bella," I said, forcefully. She looked over at me with the most terrified expression. "Bella, what is it?"
"It's him," she barely whispered, shaking. Her knees buckled.
"BELLA!" cried out Renee, stepping toward Bella but I held my hand up as I pulled Bella to me.
"Bella, baby, who is that?" I whispered in her ear.
"Aro," she whispered, before she fell limp in my arms.
