39
"Bella, did you hear me?" asked Carlisle, standing up.
I looked down at her. She was standing there with her eyes closed tight and her mouth in a tight, thin line. I could tell she was struggling with what she was going to say, or do. Her parents had to be the biggest fucking pair of assholes I had ever met. Did they really think any judge would give them custody of her after they abandoned her and lied about being dead for two fucking years? Completely fucking mental.
"Bell," said Emmett, standing up. Bella snapped her eyes opened and looked around at everyone like she just realized they were all in the room with us.
"We'll be in my room," she muttered, pulling me toward her bedroom. "Don't bother us."
"Bella," said Jasper, standing next to this brothers.
Bella ignored her brothers as she pulled me down the short hallway and pushed me into her bedroom. She shut the door behind her and took a deep, shaky breath. She looked up at me and I saw the tears building in her eyes. I could feel the fear and despair dripping off of her. I held my hands out to her. She choked on the sob that bubbled out of her mouth as she took my hands and let me pull her into my arms.
"It's ok, love," I whispered, lifting her up.
I carried her over to her bed and laid her down, climbing on next to her. Bella nestled herself up against me as close as she could get. She was pressing her body to mine like she was afraid that I was going to suddenly leave her. It was completely ridiculous, of course. I couldn't live without her.
"Marry me," she whispered.
I fucking froze. Those two little words caused me to freeze up. Bella had just asked me to marry her. I closed my eyes as I pulled away from her and sat on the side of the bed. I mean, fuck, Bella had just asked me marry her. I shook my head in complete disbelief.
"Edward-"
"No," I whispered.
"Edward, marry me," she said, again. She moved up behind me and wrapped her arms around my torso. "Please, marry me."
"No," I repeated.
"Why not?" asked Bella, removing her arms from around me. I stood up and looked down at her.
"Because we aren't ready for marriage," I said. "You're scared and you think this is the only way to keep them from getting you but it's not."
"I love you, Edward." Bella moved off her bed and stood in front of me. She reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling it up to her chest. "I want to marry you because I love you."
"Baby, I love you, too," I said, "but we aren't ready for marriage."
"Edward, please," she cried, clutching onto me hand.
"No," I whispered, closing my eyes.
"Then get the fuck out of here," snapped Bella, dropping my hand. I snapped eyes open. She was pissed.
"Baby-"
"Don't fucking baby me, Edward," she sneered. "Just leave. You've made your fucking point and I get it, ok?"
"Bella-"
"FUCKING GET OUT!" screamed Bella.
"FINE!" I yelled back. I turned and went over to the door, throwing it open. I looked back at her. "Just because you don't get your fucking way is no reason to act like a little bitch."
"Fuck you, Edward," she snapped.
I slammed the door behind me as I stormed out of her bedroom. I walked into the living room where her brothers, my sister, and my parents were standing, looking completely and utterly shocked. I turned from them. They would never understand.
"I'm going home," I muttered, heading over to the door.
"Edward-"
"I'M FUCKING GOING HOME!" I yelled, interrupting Carlisle.
I slammed the door behind me and ran down the backstairs, taking them three at a time. I climbed into my car and peeled out but I couldn't go home. The pain radiating in my chest hurt too bad. I wasn't even paying much attention to where I was driving until I found myself pulling up into the parking lot down at First Beach.
I stumbled out of my car and down to the beach. I fell to my knees in the sand and screamed. I wanted nothing more than to marry her, have babies, and live happily ever after but we weren't ready for that. We were fucking kids for crying out loud. We were supposed to be thinking about college, not about how her parents were destroying her.
"IT'S NOT FUCKING FAIR!" I screamed, beating my fists into the sand.
I curled myself up in the sand and let my tears go. Life wasn't supposed to be this hard. Bella and I were supposed to be thinking about homecoming and where I was going to take her on a date Friday night. She was supposed to be able to smile without it hurting. I was supposed to be able to hold her, love her, touch her without worrying about pushing her too far. They've ruined it all.
All because they had to be selfish. All they've done since they came back into her life was try to make themselves feel better. They didn't give a flying fuck about Bella, Carlisle, Emmett, or Jasper's feelings. They felt guilty and the only reason they were doing what they were to her was because somewhere inside their fucking heads, this made them think they were doing right by her. What a couple of mother fucking assholes.
Before I realized it, the sun was coming up and I had spent the entire night on the beach, crying like fucking baby. I stood up and dusted myself off as much as I could and headed back over to my car. I climbed in and drove straight to school. I was sure that I would have to explain to my parents where I had been and what had happened but right now, I just didn't know what to say to them. I parked my car in the parking lot and headed inside.
Because I was so early, there wasn't really anyone here yet. I stopped at my locker and shoved my books inside before trekking down the hallway to my first period class. I slid into my seat and laid my head down on my folded arms. I heard everyone come into the room, laughing and joking about the party they went to, the fun they had over the weekend. How nice it must be to be able to be so fucking carefree all the time?
Like I could feel her, I snapped my head up and saw Bella standing in the doorway to our classroom. She was just standing there, watching me. I could feel the fucking traitorous tears building in my eyes again as I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile. I loved her with all my heart and soul.
She pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth like she did every time she was nervous or scared and slowly walked over and took her seat. Her eyes never left mine. For several minutes, we just stared at each other. Perhaps, neither of us knew what to say or do in this moment. Then Bella reached out, grabbed my hand, and slowly brought it up to her chest, covering her heart.
"I love you," she whispered. "I'm sorry. I…I'm just sorry."
"I love you, too," I whispered, bringing our joined hands up to my lips. "I'm sorry for what I said."
"You're right, though," she said, softly. "I'm scared to death that they are going to take me away from you, my brothers…"
"It's never going to happen," I murmured, pulling her desk up next to mine. I slipped my arm around her waist and leaned my forehead down on hers. "I will never let them take you from me, Bella. I will marry you one day, when we are both ready. I love you so much."
"I love you, too," whispered Bella, leaning in and pressing her lips onto mine.
"Ugh, get a room already," snapped Jessica, coming into the classroom.
"Get a life and butt the fuck out of ours," I said, snapping back at her.
Jessica just glared as the two of us as she moved over and took her seat on the other side of the room. I was getting really sick and goddamn tired of that bitch and her fucking mouth. One day, I'm going to let Bella beat the shit out of her. Mrs. Owens came rushing into the room, looking exhausted and completely worn out. Her eyes fell on me and I swear she growled.
"Mr. Masen, get to the office," she snapped. "Now."
There was an undertone laced in under her already forceful tone that made it clear that today would not be a good day to argue with her. I pressed my lips against Bella's once more before I stood up and stalked out of the classroom, ignoring the snickers coming from everyone in the classroom. Oh, it's so funny to get called to the principals office.
Honestly, I should have expected it. I was so wrapped up in all the drama with Bella, that I hadn't even thought about the fact that Esme would call me down to her office to rip my head off. I pulled open the door to the office. Mrs. Cope just looked at me, snorted, and motioned for me to go on back to Esme's office. I pursed my lips together and headed back there. The door was cracked open so I reached out and pushed it open the rest of the way.
Esme was sitting behind her desk. My parents were sitting in front of her desk. All three of them looked up at me and glared. Yeah, this wasn't going to go well.
"Shut the door and sit down," ordered my father.
I didn't say anything as I pushed the door shut and took the empty seat next to my mother. For a moment, no one said anything. The air was thick with tension and anticipation. I folded my arms across my chest, unsure of what to say or do right now. I didn't want to make the situation worse by saying something stupid.
"Where the hell were you?" asked Ed. His tone was firm, yet soft at the same time. "You told us you were going home but when we got there, you weren't there. We were worried sick about you, Edward."
"I'm sorry," I muttered. "I went down to First Beach and did some thinking."
"And you couldn't call and tell us where you were?" asked Elizabeth. Her voice was shaky and guilt washed over me. I had scared them.
"I'm sorry," I said, sincerely. "I just…I had…I needed to think and scream and…"
"What happened with you and Bella?" asked my mother. "She refused to talk to us last night."
"She got scared and…we fought," I muttered. I wasn't sure I wanted to tell them the details. "She told me to leave and I said something mean to her…"
"Are you ok?" asked Elizabeth, placing her hand on my shoulder. I nodded my head and she raised her hand and smacked me in the back of my head.
"What the hell, Mom?" I asked, scooting my chair from her.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again, Edward Anthony Masen," snapped Elizabeth. "I was up all damn night thinking you were laying in a ditch somewhere dead or bleeding!"
"I'm sorry," I exclaimed. "You didn't have to hit me."
"You had better be glad I didn't bend your ass over my knee and give you a proper whoopin," snapped Ed, glaring at me. "After everything this family has been through over the last few weeks, I can't believe you would do that to us. I'm very disappointed in you, Edward."
"I know," I muttered. "I'm sorry. I'm doing the best I can. I don't know how to deal with this any better than you do or Bella does. Everyone…"
"We know, son," sighed Ed.
"I'm trying to be strong for her because she needs me," I whispered, fighting to stop the tears that sprang up in my eyes. "I can't lose her now, Dad. I can't….If they take her from me…."
"No one is taking that girl from you, Edward," said Elizabeth, moving over and kneeling down in front of me.
"I love her so much, Mom," I cried. I ran my hands over my face and through my hair. "She's the only person who really understand me. All of me. I can't…"
"Edward, listen to me," said Elizabeth. I looked up at her. "I promise you that I will not let those people take her from you or us. I give you my word."
"You can't promise me that," I whispered.
"If I have to kidnap that child and take the two of you to fucking Switzerland to keep you together, I will do that." I chuckled through my tears causing my mother to smile. "I give you my word, Edward."
"I believe you, Mom," I whispered. "I really am sorry that I didn't call."
"If you ever do that again, I will beat your ass," she said, seriously. "You are not too big for me to whoop."
"Yes, ma'am," I muttered, nodding my head.
"Edward, is Bella ok?" asked Esme. I looked over at her.
"No," I said. "She's terrified. I don't know how to help her."
"None of us do." Esme frowned. "You had better get back to class."
I nodded my head and hugged them all before heading out of the office. The bell rang ending first period so I headed down to Marcus' classroom. Bella was already there, tapping her fingers on her desk nervously. I went over and took my seat next to her. She sighed in relief and pulled her desk over so that it was right next to mine.
"Everything ok?" she asked. I smiled as I leaned my forehead down onto hers.
"Everything's fine," I lied, knowing that as long as her parents were pushing her like this that nothing was ok.
