Old Habits
"Who are you? Get off of her!"
"Who am I? Who are YOU?"
"B, are you okay?" I heard Mitch's voice through a fog. Edward grabbed me closer, shielding me from him. I was starting to get it together. The fog was lifting from my brain. I shook my head back and forth and put my hands over my eyes.
"Edward?" I said through the haze.
"Bella?" he whispered tenderly. I opened my eyes, and stared into his like he was the only one here. I felt a tear fall from my eyes. I'm overcome with emotions. Before I knew it I was sobbing.
"Something's wrong!" Mitch exclaimed. "Bella who is this?" he said worriedly.
"I'm her boyfriend." Edward hissed in Mitch's direction.
I felt Edward wiping the tears from my eyes. I tried to control the sobs. Turning them into harsh breaths. Hearing Edward say he was my boyfriend?
"Don't." was all I could get out. I can't go back to these Old Habits. I'm not the same Little Bella anymore.
I was panting. I fought through the fog, and through the pain. Trying to compose myself I struggled to get out of Edward's lap. Edward's arms didn't want to let go of me. I gathered the strength force them away. And I was brought to the ground on my knees. I was shaking.
"Mitch, please take me home." I said staring at the ground.
"No Bella, I'll take you home. I'll take care of you." Edward insisted.
"Not this time." I said simply, while my teeth chattered.
"Please, just let me come with you so I know you're safe." he nearly begged.
Mitch was coming to my side. His hands were so warm. I felt them on my shoulders. I instantly felt relief. I was realizing I was so cold because i was next to Edward for so long.
"You're too cold."
Mitch helped me into his car. I saw Edward stay in the spot where I left him. Speechless. Heart broken.
Mitch got into the driver seat, closed his door, and started the car.
"Mitch, "I croaked. "I'm sorry."
"What?"
"I ruined our date."
"Today was a date?" he questioned.
I tried to smile his way. But being possessed, drowning and then coming back to life makes it hard to smile.
I felt his hand go over mine. And I held his hand back. Our fingers laced together. It felt right, but I can't do this now. I feel like i'm betraying him. I let go and I shook my head.
"I can't. I'm sorry." I said.
"You still love him?" he asked calmly, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Yes." I sighed. After a few moments of silence. "But I can't be with him anymore."
His hand touched mine again. "Let me hold your hand, just to keep it warm. B, you're freezing."
I allowed this. And I closed my eyes, reaching my other hand and putting it on top his, keeping my hands warm.
The night was still young. Carmen was still at the dance, most likely. I feel like tonight has been so long, but the dance hasn't even ended yet. And Carmen knows she doesn't have to worry about me. She probably saw me leave with Mitch and didn't think anything of it. Honestly, she probably thought me and Mitch we're going to go make out or something. I can see Carmen mentally thinking something like, "Get it, Bella. Bow chicka wow wow." As I left the Gymnasium. But I would have to tell her about tonight.
"It was Kitch iti-Kapi," I spoke aloud. "He came to me earlier today. He gave me this dress. But I don't know why he wanted me to drown."
"Are you serious?" Mitch asked confused. "I thought for sure that legend was fake."
What a minute, "What legend?"
He sighed. "I swear, I thought the elders just made this story up to attract more tourists." He sighed again.
"Mitch, tell me!" I said to him.
"Okay, okay…" He started. "Kitch iti-kapi was this Native American Chief and he had the hots for this girl. And asked her to go to the - Well, for lack of a better word a 'ball' like a dance, a gathering, et cetera, you get the point. And This girl was very selfish, and vain. Very beautiful, but she was also pretty vicious. She was like, okay, if you want to go to this ball with me, you have to be able to catch me when i jump from this waterfall. And Kitch iti-kapi was super brave, and very noble, so he was like 'hell yeah, when and where?' And it was supposedly at the waterfall that we were just at, and she wanted this all to happen before the gathering."
He stopped for a second and sighed again. "That's it Bella. He needed to recreate his ending. He knew you wouldn't die. Because you're so strong. It's a miracle you're still with us. "
"He dies?" I asked.
"Yes, in the story, he drowns." Said Mitch calmly.
"What about the girl?" i asked.
"Oh, she was fine. She stood him up. She went to the gathering alone, and told all of her friends about what she said to him, and her and her friends all laughed, and had a great night out."
"He got into the canoe, and he waited for her all night…" I said slowly.
"Until the waves crashed so hard, that he drowned." He finished. We pulled up to my house. Carmen wasn't home yet. I didn't see her car.
Mitch stopped the car and unbuckled his seat belt. "How did Edward know where you were? Does he have you microchipped or something."
I gave a weak laugh, "I wouldn't be surprised. But no, his sister can predict the future. I'm sure she clued him in." I said as he got out of the car, he was already on the passenger side, helping me out of the car.
"What am I doing, I should've taken you to the hospital." He scolded himself.
"And tell them what? I was possessed?" I rested my body against his. As we walked up to my house. "Nothing will heal me more than my nice warm bed." He opened the door and a rush of warmth covered my body. Home, sweet home, i thought.
He helped me up the stairs and we made it to my bedroom.
"I'm going to grab some new clothes and get out of this stupid dress. I'm thinking a bonfire tomorrow night? We'll burn the hell out of this dress? Yeah?" I tried to joke.
"I don't know, I think we should keep it." He said with a grin. I slowly made my way over to my dresser and grabbed some sweatpants and a big sweater.
"Do you uh…" Mitch Started awkwardly, "Need help getting dressed?"
I sighed. "Maybe...a little." I sighed again. "I'm not wearing a bra."
"You're not wearing a bra?" He practically exclaimed.
"I didn't need to with this dress!" I defended. "Nope, this is too weird. I'm taking my clothes to the bathroom. I'll just be really slow."
"Okay, but at least let me help you get to the bathroom." He grabbed the stack of clothes and I stood up by myself. Trying to compose myself. I felt myself gaining some of my strength back, but my legs were still a little wobbly. And my arms felt like they were 1000 pounds. I walked across the hall and he followed behind. He set my clothes on the counter.
"Mitch, I like you, but I only met you a few days ago. Not ready for you to see me naked." I said outgoing. Definitely not something Little Bella would say. "I'll shout if I need you. Go ahead and blast the heat on my thermostat."
"Alright. I'll just...hang out. Behind the door. Where's your thermostat?"
"Downstairs, between the living room and kitchen." I smiled at him. He departed closing the door behind him giving me a little nod.
I plopped myself on the toilet seat. Resting for a second. I scooped my fingers through my hair and sighed. Okay, I told myself. Bella, you can do this. I reached my heavy arms around my back trying to undo this devil zipper. After about two minutes of fiddling i was successful. I got the sweater over my body and then proceeded to take the rest of my dress off of me. I feel so helpless. I'm a vampire slayer dammit. Why am I so broken? I grabbed the pants and I sighed in exhaustion. Tears almost coming out of my eyes.
Getting dressed hasn't been this overwhelming since… Since James attacked me. I rolled up each pant leg and stuck my feet in one at a time. I pulled them up slowly and got them on.
Okay, I'm dressed. That didn't take too long, I applauded myself. In retrospect, I did a this a lot faster than I did with the broken leg. Bella, you did absolutely great. You are a rockstar.
Overall, I'm glad that I picked Mitch to bring me home. I do recognize that there was nothing I wanted more than to just curl up into Edward's lap and die. But I didn't. And I think now I know exactly how strong I am. I could've just left with Edward then. We could've ran off together.
And I'm sure this won't be the last time Edward tries to run in and rescue me. I'll see him again, and now I know I have the strength to let him go.
I stood up from the toilet. And looked at myself in the bathroom mirror. The bags underneath my eyes could be spotted from outer space. Ugh. I flopped my hair straight back. And I rubbed off my eye makeup.
Crash!
Thump!
Boom!
Oh no, I thought. What's going on? I steadied myself and started to head out of the bathroom. Wow, I can't leave Mitch alone for five seconds. I crossed over into my bedroom to see outside my window Mitch and Edward.
I didn't get to see what happened, but i did see Edward scrambling up from the ground, looking livid. Right as I was about to call from my window I heard Mitch speak.
"Look, man. I need to get back in there. She's going to be okay. She's just feeling weak."
Edward was panting with rage. "I'm going to see her. I need to know why she was trying to kill herself!"
I scoffed mentally. Of Course Edward thinks I'm some psychopath, mentally broken, little Bella that literally can't live without him. Hah.
Mitch tilted his head back, almost in amusement, "That's not what was going on. Trust me. Bella is a hell of a lot stronger than that."
Edward charged into Mitch, Mitch blocking the way to the front door. Mitch Shoved him away. It Echoed. Like rocks colliding down a mountain.
"You can't keep me from her!" Edward Exclaimed. I saw Edward's arm swing backwards and whip forward into Mitch's jaw.
Nope, I thought. Nope, Nope, Nope….
I swiftly, yet painfully climbed down through my room and down the stairs. This is a whole bunch of nope. Like 6 tons of nope. Finally made it through the front door of the house when I see Edward standing over Mitch.
"Edward! No!"
He turned to see me there, in the doorway. He immediately stopped what he was doing and got away from Mitch.
I scattered to my driveway to Mitch.
"Bella… He started it." Edward tried to say.
"Bella, I was winning, why did you make us stop?" Mitch said trying to get off the ground. He was able to compose himself pretty quickly, being half vampire. He then helped me to my feet.
Edward was speechless. And ashamed, I'm sure.
"Okay, so here is what's going to happen. Mitch, you're going to go for a ten minute drive. No longer than ten minutes. I'm going to go sit in the living room, and snuggle up with my blanket. And Edwards going to start some boiling water. Because I need some chamomille hardcore."
"I can't leave you here with him," Mitch said.
"Just ten minutes. You can set a timer and everything. It'll be fine. If Edward tries to brawl with me, he's going down, you know that." I said playfully. "Now go. Get in your car. And be back in ten minutes."
"Call me if you need me I can be back in a split second." He said. He leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. I was taken aback by this gesture. Little Bella might've freaked, but new Bella, is just going to play along.
He got into his car without another word, and Edward followed behind me into the house silently.
"The kettle is on the stove," I told him. Lightning fast he got the water in the kettle and had it going on the stove.
I took a deep seat into my couch and wrapped my blanket around me. Edward took a seat in a chair across from me.
"Where would you like to start?" I began.
"How are you?" He asked quietly.
"A little broken, but healing quickly." I answered.
"Is he your boyfriend?"
"No, but I do care about him. And I don't appreciate you trying to rip him to shreds at my home." I said matter-of-factly.
"How long have you known him?"
"A few days, but A lot has happened."
"Such as?"
"Well, I killed a Baykok, A.K.A Mr. Skully, Drank some booze, Mitch taught me how to dance, We went to a dumb fall ball, and then we left because I was being possessed by some Indian Chief looking for revenge. Then he forced me to jump out of a car, and run all the way to a waterfall to meet certain death."
"What happened to you Bella? I feel like you used to be able to talk to me without completely lying to my face."
I laughed. "Oh my god. Well, Edward, I'm the Vampire Slayer. I'm afraid this is just some regular stuff that happens to me."
"Vampire Slayer?" He questioned.
I sighed and shook my head. "Let's arm wrestle." I said
"Bella! That's absurd!" he said almost offendedly.
"You're right, I'm too weak for that right now. Okay, Just give me your hand."
He hesitantly bended over and reached out his hand. I formed his hand into a fist, and then i placed my hand over his and squeezed it, Cracking his Vampire knuckles. So I basically just bended rocks with my hand strength alone. No big deal.
"Bella!" he stood up from his chair and stared at his hand and moved his fingers. If he was any percentage human, I'm sure all the blood would've rushed to his face causing him to blush.
"I know, cracking your knuckles give your arthritis, I promise I won't do it again."
"You're strong!" he shouted.
"Yeah…" The kettle began whistling and Edward went to grab tea. He came back very quickly with a mug full of hot water and chamomile tea.
"Bella, how in the world?"
"I'll spare you the details." Since it's completely your fault, I thought. "Edward, I didn't get into that canoe because I was committing suicide. And I think part of you knew that. You just needed a reason to come back and be my hero again."
"That's not all. And why would that be so awful? To be your hero. What if I was ready to beg for you back? What if I was ready to get over my selfishness, and change you. This life isn't even worth existing without you, Bella."
"I would say no, Edward."
"Don't you still love me?" He pleaded.
"I will love you forever. But I don't know who I am when I'm not with you. And that's a problem. What's my favorite Band? My favorite color? What do I want to be when I grow up? What college do I want to go to? All things that didn't even matter when I was with you. And now that I'm forced to be just me, I'm somebody."
"You can be somebody with me."
"Edward, I don't know if it's because you're also mentally seventeen forever, but this has to stop."
"I don't want to stop loving you, Bella." Edward said, his voice cracking.
"Don't worry about me Edward, I'm going to be fine. Mitch is going to take really good care of me. And I'm going to get back on my feet. And kill some nasty vampires."
He said nothing.
"This is hard for me too, Edward."
"It doesn't seem like it."
We heard two quick knocks on the door and Mitch bursted through.
"I'm back, I'm back!" He said quickly.
"Edward and I were finishing up. Good bye, Edward. I'll come find you if I need you. You can count on it."
He just got up slowly from his chair. And walked toward me. I stood up from my spot. We didn't touch. We didn't hug. We just looked at each other in the eyes one last time.
"Goodbye, Bella." He said intensely. And he walked out of my living room closing my front door quietly behind him.
Ugh, I have so much to tell Carmen.
AN: This chapter was so much fun, I stayed up until after 5am to finish it!I appreciate all of my readers, but i'd love to see a few reviews? Thank you! Edward will be back, don't you worry. When i started this fanfiction, I definitely wanted The main pairing in this fic to be Bella and Herself. Just like Buffy season five. After Riley left, Buffy just focused on herself, and I think that is what Bella needs right now. Be ready to be shocked for the next chapter! I promise I'm going to start updating a little bit more frequently :) :)