Thank you for the support. I now publish my story 'City of the dead' on booknet so you may check it out if you want to. As always, enjoy or not. If you don't, you can click on the red 'x' button. Thank you. Cheers.

Quote: "What a beautiful thing it is to be able to stand tall and say, 'I fell apart but I survived…' "-

Disclaimer: All characters of Twilight belong Stephenie Meyer. In no way do I own them. Only the character that I invented, Adaline, belongs to me.

Chapter 16

I was in the school parking lot, waiting for the Cullens to come. It was really cold this morning. It had rained yesterday night and now it was frozen. It was a big hazard for a clutz like Bella, and she proved it by slipping on the ice earlier.

She was currently with her friends and I was in my car listening to some music with the heater on. I once again glanced at the message I got before falling asleep yesterday.

It was from, surprise surprise, creepy Eddy. In it he expressed that he was sorry about his behaviour and that he greatly regretted it. Oh and that he was also sorry for having scared me.

I looked at those words sceptically, 'Really? Isn't it regret for getting caught?I am sure that you would have continued if you weren't caught in the act. And it took you two days to write those few words? What a pathetic excuse. And scared? Oh boy, I am far from scared. Really far from it… Who even gave him my number?'

I promptly deleted the message, it was irritating me. I was trying to reach my zen state when someone knocked on the car window. I opened my eyes to find Jasper and Alice. I rolled down my windows, "Morning to you. Where is that dunderhead?" I asked as I scanned the parking lot.

Jasper grimaced and Alice's smile froze on her face.

"He didn't come today." Jasper said frankly.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" I drawled as Rosalie and Emmett approached my car. I turned to her and asked directly, "did you punch him?"

Rosalie replied with a smirk, "I did. It was quite satisfying."

Adaline: "And the other one?"

Rosalie outright smiled, "did that one too. I didn't even get scolded. That was a happy day I will remember for years to come."

Adaline: "Good. Did he squeal? Could you see the pain on his face?"

Emmett, Jasper and Alice watched our exchange with dumb looks on their faces.

Emmett suddenly covered his privates, "that was your idea?! You bet he squealed like a dying squirrel and even rolled on the ground. You couldn't mistake the look on his face for anything else than pain! Damn, even I felt pain from just watching! You are evil Addy! I must never make you that angry!"

Jasper fidgeted in place with an expression of agony on his face, "believe me, it hurt. Really hurt. Like Emmett said, I felt it just from watching. Really felt it."

Alice giggled a little, "even Carlisle had a pained expression on his face and reflexively covered his private region. I have to admit it was a little funny to watch. And he deserved it."

Rosalie threw her hair back like a queen, "a little funny? It was the most hilarious thing I had seen in years. Thank you for that opportunity Adaline. If you ever need my services again, all you have to do is ask. I'm always ready and eager to help you punch Edward."

I wore a satisfied look on my face, "no thank YOU. And okay, I'll keep your offer in mind. Now his pathetic message no longer irritates me. I may even give him a smile next time I see him. Pity, I wished I could have seen it. I am sure it would have been extremely satisfying. I may even have forgiven him immediately. That is a big 'may', of course. I thought today was going to be a bad day but it seems like it'll be a good one."

I then gave them all a big smile, rolled the windows back up and got out of the car. I hoisted my back higher on my shoulders, "so talk to you later. Cheers~" I then proceeded to walk to my locker with a bounce in my steps.

From behind me I heard Emmett say, "Really scary!"

That made me smile wider. I turned to show him my wide smile and made a peace sign with my fingers. I laughed at his dumfounded look and continued my way inside for a wonderful day of learning.

Scratch that it was the worst day ever. Eddy came to school mid-afternoon and Bella nearly got killed by a car. Let me rewind a bit. So like I said Edward came to school after lunch. Don't ask me how or why, I don't know. So at the end of school I walked outside to find him leaning casually against his car with his siblings surrounding him.

I squinted my eyes as I saw him giving sneaky looks to my sister, who had her earphones in her ears and was also awkwardly sneaking looks. I hoisted my bag and made my way towards him to give him a few…good…words.

I had nearly reached him with my mouth open when things went to hell, quickly. Alice froze, Edward's head snapped to her then quickly turned to look at Bella and then a screeching sound was heard.

I could feel all the blood drain from my face as I saw a van skidding towards my sister who was frozen in fear. My bag fell with a thud as I started running while crying out, "MOVE BELLA!"

I logically knew that I wouldn't reach her in time but I had to try damn it! That was my sister! I had not even reached half-way and could only watch in horror as the van reached Bella. It was like I was in a dream as I heard a big impact. I quickly skidded to a stop near the van and crouched down to look under it regardless of all the broken glass.

From the back of my mind I could register all the screaming and panicked yells, but I could only focus on making sure that Bella was safe. I let out a breath of relief as I saw Bella whole and no blood. A few minutes later I registered Edward's presence near her. I could hear him telling Bella, who looked dazed, not to move.

I quickly got up and climbed on the hood of the van to see Bella better, "Bella don't move! The others already called an ambulance." I then turned to Edward, "is she seriously hurt anywhere?"

He blinked at me and replied, "no. She may have a concussion and her wrist may be hurt from landing on it wrongly."

I let out a breath of relief, 'I can deal with that.'

I turned to look at Bella who was looking at Edward in a confused manner, "how did you get here so fast?" She slurred out.

I quickly turned to Edward and whispered, "Thank you for saving my sister. Now quickly go and erase your evidence behind. I'll take care of the rest." I said while pointedly looking at the clear hand print on the van.

I called to Bella's name to distract her and Edward took that chance to discreetly remove the dent. He then got up and said to me, "your hands are bleeding."

"Nevermind that. Quickly walk away while you still have the chance." I said as I heard the ambulance behind me.

"It's too late." He replied as he bent down to prevent Bella from getting up. "Don't move Bella. You hit your head pretty hard."

'Is it too late or do you just not want to go! Here I am trying to help you keep your secret as a thank you for saving my sister and you are totally rejecting my efforts! Didn't Carlisle give you my warning about Bella?'

I got down from the hood as the firefighters came to move the van. I stood to the side and watched as Bella stood up as soon as the van was moved away.

I took the opportunity to walk closer to her, "Bella you shouldn't be standing up. At least sit down."

Edward, "your sister is right."

At the same time, the paramedics approached and asked Bella and Edward where they were hurt.

Bella: "It's ok. I'm fine."

Edward quickly denied her statement and diverted all the attention to Bella and me, "I am okay. Anyway I can have my father check me. He is a doctor. On the other hand Bella hit her head hard when she fell down and her sister's hands are bleeding."

My jaw dropped as I looked at him incredulously, 'oh the audacity! How dare he use me to escape attention when I clearly gave him the opportunity to escape earlier?!'

I could only watch dumbly as the paramedics put a neck brace on my sister and put her on a stretcher despite all her protests. A paramedic then approached, checked my hands and calmly loaded me in the same ambulance as Bella after confirming that I was her sister.

Bella looked at me blankly and I did the same with her. I took the opportunity to ask, "how frantic is dad going to be?"

Bella covered her eyes with her hands and groaned, "ugh I don't even want to think about it."

I asked with a dead voice, "…..do you think he already called mom to tell her?"

Bella was silent for a moment before sitting up suddenly. The paramedic quickly pushed her back down and told her not to get up gain. My sister stayed lying down obediently and turned to me with big eyes, "quickly call dad and tell him not to tell mom!"

I pointedly glanced at my hands and then looked at her with a deadpan look, "even if I could, I can't. My mobile is in my bag….which I left in the parking lot. My purse is in it too….the house keys and car keys too…."

Bella looked at the roof of the ambulance and said calmly, "we are screwed."

We reached the hospital pretty quickly and were quickly herded into a room. A nurse quickly looked at Bella then came to look at my hands. She tsked and said in a motherly tone, "there are still some glass embedded in your hands dear. Such beautiful hands too. Sit down, I'll quickly remove them." She then turned to Bella, "as for you dear, you will be taken for an x-ray then a doctor will look at you."

Just as she finished saying that, another nurse came in, "Hello. I am here to take Isabella Swan for her x-ray."

The nurse taking care of my hand quickly pointed her to Bella and said to me, "that's your sister, right? Don't worry, the x-ray is just to make sure that nothing is wrong."

I nodded my head at her and watched with pity in my eyes as Bella got pushed out of the room in a chair. I then concentrated on watching the nurse remove the pieces of glass in my hand. She quickly got that done and bandaged my hands.

"Here you go dearie. Are you hurt anywhere else?" the nurse asked as she tidied up.

I shook my head, "no that's all. Thank you very much."

The nurse smiled and said, "you are welcome dear."

A few minutes later the guy who lost control of his van got rolled in. I have to say that he was in worst shape than Bella. The nurse quickly went to his side and busied herself with him. The guy, Tyler I think his name was, caught sight of me and started apologising like a mad man.

The nurse quickly got annoyed, "young man I am trying to heal you so stay still! You can apologise later."

I gave the nurse a grateful look as I leaned against the pillow. Alas, the peace only lasted for a small while. The guy opened his mouth again as soon as Bella was brought back into the room. I gave her a commiserating look before leaning my head back and closing my eyes.

'I don't have the patience to deal with that fool right now.'

I could hear Bella tell Tyler that it was okay as she got into the bed next to mine.

' It was not bloody okay!'

After a while Bella stopped responding to him and he gradually fell silent. I opened my eyes to peek at her and saw that she was faking sleeping just like me. At some point she had also taken off the neck brace and thrown it away somewhere. A laugh bubbled in my throat but I quickly stopped it.

'Now is not the time to laugh Adaline. Take a deep breath and slowly let it out. Inhale. Exhale. And repeat.' I thought as I tried to keep from laughing.

I heard the door open and Edward's voice ask , "Are you sleeping?"

Suddenly, I didn't want to laugh anymore, 'note to self : think about Edward to stop laughter at inappropriate times. It works really well.'

Bella responded to him, "I am not. Why are you not in a bed like us?"

Edward: "Depends on who you know."

I was going to open my eyes when I heard Tyler start apologising again, 'Nevermind. I'll stay with my eyes closed. That guy is starting to get annoying with his constant apologising.'

So I stayed with my eyes closed, feeling like a third wheel, as my sister and Edward talked. A few minutes later, the door opened again and I heard my dad call our names. I opened my eyes to find him with a frantic look on his face, "Bella! Adaline! Are you both okay?"

Bella quickly reassured him, "dad don't worry. It's nothing serious. We are both okay. They insisted on all this even though I told them I didn't need it."

I quickly said, "yes we are okay dad. I just hurt my hand on broken glass when I crouched down to check on Bella." From the corner of my eyes I saw Edward discreetly leaving the room.

Dad let out a breath of relief then turned to Tyler, "you can kiss your license goodbye!"

He then proceeded to rudely close the separation curtain as Tyler started apologising again. I couldn't hold the snort of laughter that came out as I saw this. Two pairs of eyes turned to me and I quickly displayed an innocent look on my face.

I nearly lost it again as I saw my dad's mustache quiver. I pressed my lips together and thought to myself, "hold it in Adaline. You can do it. But anyway, thumbs up for your level of savageness dad. I am proud."

I was still trying to hold in my laughter when the good doctor walked into the room. Others would have said that he looked like a runway model but all I could think of as I saw his flying coat behind him was Professor Snape.

I couldn't hold in any longer and burrowed my face into the hospital pillow to laugh, ' oh dear merlin I can't! My mind is so weird! So instead of bat of the dungeons, is it bat of the hospital?'

That thought made me laugh even more. Dad asked with a cautious voice, "are you okay Adaline?"

I waved my hand at him, took a deep breath and said, "don't mind me. Just some funny thoughts in my head."

I heard my dad say blandly, "doctor please check her head too. I think something may be wrong with it."

His statement was funny to me and didn't help me with my laughter, so I just gave up and started laughing freely. Carlisle approached my bed and checked the chart hanging from it.

Carlisle: "Your daughter's head is okay Chief Swan. It may just be the adrenaline. How are your hands Miss Swan? Do they hurt?"

My laughter had calmed down so I shook my head, "no they don't. Just a little discomfort that's all. The nurse already removed all the pieces of glass. You better check Bella."

I gave him a smile to reassure him and he quirked his lips back at me before going to check Bella. The peanut gallery watched as the good doctor read Bella's chart and then tell her to follow his finger.

"You have a slight concussion. But apart from that, everything's okay Miss Swan. You can go home. You just have to avoid falling asleep in the next few hours." Carlisle said as he wrote something on Bella's chart.

Dad let out another sigh of relief next to me. I sat up to give him a small pat on his back before awkwardly freezing as I heard Bella's next words.

Bella: "I was lucky that Edward was next to me and got me out of the way."

I gave her a 'what the bloody hell do you think you are doing?' look. Carlisle smoothly continued on as if there was nothing wrong.

Dad looked at Carlisle and asked, "Your son?"

Carlisle just gave him a small smile. Bella was going to open her mouth again so I quickly interjected, "Yes a big thank you to Eddie. Anyway dad, how bad is the situation outside this room and please tell me you did not call mom?"

Dad blinked and had a guilty look on his face, "uhhh I already called her."

Carlisle gave me a look of gratitude for diverting the attention and helpfully informed me, "many of your schoolmates are in the waiting room."

Bella groaned in her hands and dad quickly went to placate her.

I put my feet on the floor and stood up, "oh lordy." I took the opportunity where dad was occupied to softly ask the good doctor, " Do we have to go back to school? And I need to ask where my bag is."

Carlsile stood a little closer to me and answered, "no need to go back to school. I'll write you both a note. As for your bag, Alice has it. Don't worry."

I made sure that both my sister and dad were not looking before whispering, " I am thankful to Edward for saving my sister, but that doesn't change the fact that he is a big dunderhead. I tried to help your situation by telling him to go away while Bella was still dazed. But he did not listen."

Carlisle glanced at my dad before softly replying, " I am aware of that. Thank you for trying Adaline."

I looked at him worriedly, "is your family going to be okay? Bella knows that something is amiss and is curious. She is already starting to poke her nose on your business. I'll try to talk to her but I don't know if it'll help."

He didn't have the time to reply as my dad turned to look at us. Both the good doctor and I quickly pasted a casual look on our faces. I gave Carlise a 'we'll talk later' look as my dad turned his back and he nodded slightly.

'Merlin give me strength. This already looks like a spy movie or a drama.'