3. Pandemonium
I was in the middle of a wonderful dream starring Emmett Cullen. He has been the recurring star in my dreams since we first met. I know after what Paul did I should have my guard up at all times, but I just can't. When we're talking and laughing it feels so right. It's like I was missing something and he's filled that completely. Maybe I shouldn't get ahead of myself. In my dream we were hiking up the trails and the sun was hidden behind the clouds. He was just about to explain everything to me like he promised when I felt myself being shaken awake.
"Penny"
I heard my name being called over and over again. I started to lose the dream and become more alert. I opened my eyes and Bella was standing over me with the most worried, frantic expression on her face.
"This house better be on fire."
She looked toward the window. I followed her gaze and that's when I noticed that it was light. Like a grey-green light on a cloudy day but somehow clearer. There was no fog veiling my window. I got out of bed and walked over to the window. A fine layer of snow covered the yard, dusted the top of Jesse and Bella's truck and the roads were covered in a deadly ice slick from the rain last night. I turned and looked at Bella. This day is going to be a complete nightmare for her. We dressed in an akward silence and went down for breakfast. The Chief was already gone for work. In a lot of ways living with Charlie is like having our own place. Unlike our peers, Bella and myself find ourselves reveling in the lonliness instead of being lonely.
We both quickly ate a bowl of cereal, I was excited to get to school to see Emmett. I knew Bella was anxious to see Edward and she was berating herself probably thinking it was stupid. We climbed into her truck and she slowly set off toward the school. I however felt Emmett was anxious to see me too. I felt my phone vibrate signaling that I have a text message. I opened my phone and saw it was from Emmett.
"Good Morning Beautiful. :D"
I smiled and felt my heart leap. I noticed Bella looking at me.
"What"
"What's got you smiling?" I showed her my text from Emmett. She glanced at it before returning her eyes to the road.
"You and Emmett have been talking a lot lately." she said
"Yeah we have." We lasped back into a comfortable silence. I was thinking about the boys here compared to the boys back home. I snorted back a laugh at the difference. We arrived at school. I stepped out of the truck and walked around to the drivers side. I saw Bella looking down at the tires. I noticed that Chief put snow chains on her tires.
"Aww the Chief loves us, and wanted to make sure we were safe. You have a great dad Bells, I hope you know that."
"I'm starting too."
That's when I heard a loud screeching noise. I looked up and noticed Edward, who was standing by his Volvo, four cars down. He and all of our peers had the same mask of horror on his or her face. I saw Tyler Crowley's dark blue van skidding across the parking lot headed straight for Bella and me. I was about to react and pull Bella out of the way when I suddenly felt a pair of strong arms wrap around my waist and pull me into the bed of Bella's truck. I already knew who is was because of the electric volts I felt radiating all over my body. The van hit the very back end of Bella's truck but didn't stop. Emmett cursed under his breath as the van continued to spin out of control. I looked up from underneath Emmett over the edge of the truck I saw Edward's hands shoot out protectively in front of Bella, and the van shuddered to a stop a foot from Bella's face. His large hands left fitting providentially into a deep dent in the side of the van's body.
His hands moved so fast they blurred. One was suddenly gripping under the body of the van, and something was dragging Bella, swinging her legs around like a damn rag doll. Her legs hit the tires of the tan car she'd park next too. A metallic thud hurt my ears, and Edward dropped the van down, glass popping, onto the asphalt exactly where, a second ago, Bella's legs had been.
It was absolutely silent for what seemed like a long ass time but it was only a brief second before all hell broke loose. In the frantic pandemonium I could here more than one person shouting Bella's and my name. But more clearly above all the chaotic yell came Emmett's low frantic voice.
"Penny are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Bella...How's Bella?" As I began to sit up Emmett slowly moved his body off mine. I missed the closeness immediately. I heard Edward trying to convince Bella that he was standing right next to her. Good luck with that buddy.
"Emmett, how did you get to me so fast?" He looked down at me and I got lost in his golden eyes that I could stare into all day.
"I was walking over here to see if you wanted to have lunch with my family again and if I can walk you to class. When I saw what was happening I jumped in the bed of the truck and pulled you under me."
"Oh okay." That would explain why I felt his presence before I saw him. A crowd of people with tears streaming down their faces surrounded us. They were shouting at each other, shouting at us.
"Don't move," someone yelled
"Get Tyler out of the van!" someone else yelled.
I saw the tan car Edward leaned against to stop the van. There were deep dents that fit the contours of his shoulders and back in the metal frame. I looked over to his family. Outrage that's all I saw on Rosalie and Jasper's face. Alice looked more distant than angry.
It took six EMT's, Coach Clapp and Mr Varner to move the van far enough to bring in the strechers. I saw Bella being strapped to one and judging by how red her face is, she's not a happy camper. Emmett helped me down out of the back of the truck. Chief Swan arrived before they could exit and saw Bella being loaded into the back of the ambulance.
"Bella!" He yelled.
"I'm fine, Char- Dad." she sighed. "There's nothing wrong with me."
He, of course turned to the closest EMT for a second opinion. I chuckled at Charlie's reaction to Bella's statement. I climbed into the back with Bella. I looked out of the little window on the side of the ambulance and saw that Emmett was discreetly using his foot to rearrange the metal frame on the tan car. He fixed it back to the way it was before the impact. He looked around making sure no one was paying attention to what he was doing and of course our classmates weren't. They looked as if they were arranging carpools to come to the hospital. I hoped not for Bella's sake, she would hate the unneccessary attention. Emmett caught my eye. I pointed to the car and mouth "How the fuck?" He looked around again to see if he's being overheard and mouthed "Later" back. I mouthed back "Promise" He just nodded his head and walked back toward his siblings.
I noticed we were getting ready to take off. I muttered to the EMT checking Bella's vitals that the boy in the front passager seat isn't family. He poked his head through the partition. "Son, I'm going to need you to get out. Only family can ride with the patient." He tried to argue. The EMT said, "The only way you're leaving with us is if you're family to the patients or you're strapped down like the rest of them."
"My father is the doctor on call, I need to speak with him about the accident"
"Well, one I'm sure Ms Swan and Mr Crowley can do that and two I suggest you go get into your car and drive to the hospital if you really need to speak with your father." He was about to argue again that when I snapped at him.
"GET YOUR ASS OUT OF THIS BUS NOW! DON'T MAKE ME CALL EMMETT TO COME DRAG YOU OUT!" I dared him to speak again. He got out with a furious look on his face. Like I cared.
Naturally, the ambulance got the police escort to the hospital. Precious cargo is in the back, Chief probably called Renee and she's probably going frantic. They put Bella in the emergency room, a long room with a line of beds separated by pastel-patterned curtains. A nurse put a pressure cuff on Bella's arm and a thermometer under her tongue. She looked around before pulling off her velcro neck brace. I looked at her with concern.
"Bella, you shouldn't have done that, what if you have a spinal injury."
"I'll risk it, but for the last time I'm fine. Speaking of which how come you're not strapped to a bed like Tyler and me."
"Emmett was walking up behind me and he once he saw what was happening he jumped into the bed of your truck and pulled me in."
"Oh, I didn't see him." she frowned
"That's because you were only focused on Edward." I teased. She blushed and turned her head in the opposite direction. She mumbled "Shut up."
There was another flurry of hospital personnel, another stretcher brought to the bed next to Bella. We both recognized Tyler Crowley from Bella's Government class beneath the bloodstained bandages wrapped around his head. He looked a hundred times worse than I thought. He was staring anxiously at Bella.
"Bella, I'm so sorry!"
"I'm fine Tyler, you look awful, are you alright?" She stated.
As they spoke the nurses began unwinding his soiled bandages, exposing a shit load of shallow cuts all over his forehead and left cheek. He ignored Bella "I thought I was going to kill you! I was going so fast and I hit the ice wrong..." He droned on and on
"Don't worry about it; you missed me." she replied
"How'd you get out of the way so fast? You were there and then you were gone..."
"Edward pushed me out of the way." He looked hella lost and confused.
"Who?"
"Edward Cullen, he was standing next to me and pushed me out of the way." she responded. I snorted when she said that. She's lying for him. Aww how sweet. NOT! She wasn't convincing at all.
"Cullen? I didn't see him...wow, it was all so fast. Is he okay?"
"I think so. He's here somewhere, but they didn't make him use a stretcher." She fumed.
They wheeled her away for lab work and x-ray on her head. I chatted a little with Tyler until he started to annoy me by asking how can he make it up to Bella.
"You can do that by forgetting the incident ever happened. She wasn't hurt and you didn't cause any serious damage to her truck so just drop it."
"I feel as if..." I cut him off.
"Tyler just drop it okay. You're starting to piss me off, Bella wants you to forget about it, just like she plans to. Don't delude yourself into thinking taking her out will solve this because it isn't going to do anything but irritate her, she's just too nice to say what she really feels. LET IT GO NOW!"
He became silent and I took that opportunity to close the curtains around her section. After about twenty minutes, they wheeled Bella back into the ER. I looked at her, she was biting her lip. She was anxious for this day to be over.
"So what's the verdict?"
"There's nothing wrong, not even a concussion but they won't let me leave." she said.
"That sucks, maybe they just want the doctor to check your head over himself then he'll discharge you."
Tyler was still mumbling under his breath. I poked my head over to his side and gave him a pointed look. He shut up and rolled to his other side. Bella close her eyes for a minute. I looked to my left and noticed Edward walking up. He turned to look at me and he spoke.
"Is she sleeping?" Bella's eyes flew open. She saw him standing at the foot of her bed, smirking. She glared at him but it looked more like an ogle to me.
Hey, Edward, I'm really sorry-" Tyler began. Edward lifted his hand to stop him.
"No Blood, No Foul," He said. I looked at him with a shocked look. I snorted
"Orginal much?" Bella looked at me confused. I turned toward her.
"Remember, I went jogging Friday morning. I went jogging through the school." She nodded and I continued.
"I was running back past the school and Eddie boy over here nearly turned me into roadkill." She looked back and forth between Edward and myself.
"Yes, I met the Cullens before we started school. Anyway, after briefly talking with them I turned to Eddie and said 'No Blood, No Foul.'" She nodded. I turned at looked at Edward. I don't see the fascination with him. He looks like the profile for a creepy stalker. He looks like he's a controlling, manipulating, over bearing asshole.
"My name is Edward, not Eddie."
"Do I look like I give a fuck what your name is?" He just rolled his eyes and turned toward Bella.
"So what's the verdict?" I rolled my eyes.
"Another line you stole from me." He ignored me and focused on Bella.
"There's nothing wrong, but they won't let me leave," she complained. "How come you aren't strapped to a gurney like the rest of us?"
"It's all about who you know," he answered. "But don't worry, I came to spring you."
I looked to my left and a doctor walked around the corner, and my jaw dropped. He was young, blonde and hotter than any movie star I've ever seen. Hot Damn! He was pale amd tired-looking, with circles under his eyes. From Charlie's description, this was Dr. Cullen or should I say Dr. Hottie.
"So, Miss Swan," Dr Cullen said in a surprisingly appealing voice. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," she said
He walked to the light board on the wall over her head, and turned it on.
"Your X-rays look good," he said. "Does your head hurt? Edward said you hit it pretty hard." Uh oh she isn't going to like that.
"It's fine." she repeated with a sigh, she threw a scowl at Eddie boy. Dr. Hottie then probed lightly along her skull. He caught it when she winced.
"Tender?" He asked.
"Not really." she responded.
I know she's had worse than this. I spent as much time in the hospital with her because she can't walk across a flat surface without finding something to trip on. If we're together then she usually brings me down with her.
"Well your father is in the waiting room, you can go home with him now. But please come back if you feel dizzy or have trouble with your vision." He turned to look at me.
"I'm sorry, are you on my patient list as well." I smiled
"No Dr. Hottie, I wasn't involved, just a spectator. I'm Penny."
I reached out and shook his hand. I noticed it was cold and hard like Emmett's. Bella looked at me shocked. I looked back at her.
"What?"
"You just call him Dr. Hottie?" she said
"Yea so?" She looked utterly embarrassed. I don't know why. She knows me by now. I say whatever's on my mind
"Bella, you've known me how long? I don't hold back. I say exactly what I'm thinking. This isn't new."
"He's married." She stated
"I can see his wedding ring, I don't mean any harm by what I said. He is gorgeous, so is the rest of the family, except him." I pointed at Edward. I saw out of the corner of my eye, Edward rolling his eyes at my comment.
"Hell, I know for a fact that Mrs. Cullen is a beautiful woman." She again looked at me agaped. I turned to Dr. Hottie.
"I mean no harm, I just speak my mind. You're an attractive man and I'm not a threat to your happy home." He chuckled
"I know, you kind of remind me of Emmett. He says whatever on his mind too. Wait, Penelope Rosas." he asked
"The one and only, I take it Emmett's mentioned me."
He chuckled again. "A few times."
I smiled and blushed.'What the fuck? Rosas get a grip. I know eventually I'm going to fall for Emmett. I can't help it. I also couldn't help being scared. He's so perfect and we fit well together, but he's still a man who has the ablilty to break hearts. Why is he still single? Did his last relationship end badly? I can't help but feel like we're made for each other. Stop It.' I was having a serious internal battle.
"Can't I go back to school?" Bella asked. I know why she was trying to imagine Charlie being attentive. I snorted a laugh.
"Maybe you should take it easy today?"
She glanced at Edward. "Does he get to go back to school?"
"Someone has to spread the good news that we survived," Edward said smugly.
"Actually," Dr Cullen said, "most of the school seems to be in the waiting room." Uh Oh she's not going to like that.
"Oh no," She moaned, covering her face with her hands.
Dr Hottie raised his eyesbrows. "Do you want to stay?"
"No, No." She insisted, throwing her legs over the side of the bed and jumping up too quickly. She staggered and Dr Hottie caught her. He looked concerned.
"She's fine Dr. Cullen. That has nothing to do with the accident. My Bellabear is a certified klutz. I'm sure you'll see her again for something else." I laughed as Bella glowered at me.
"Take some Tylenol for the pain." Dr. Cullen suggested.
"It doesn't hurt that bad." She insisted
"It sounds like you were extremely lucky." Dr. Cullen stated, smiling as he signed her chart with a flourish.
"Lucky Edward happened to be standing next to me," She amended with a hard glance at her savior.
"Oh, well, yes," Dr Cullen agreed, suddenly occupied with the papers in front of him. Then he walked over to Tyler's bed.
"I'm afraid that you'll have to stay with us for a little bit longer." He said. He began checking his cuts. As soon as Dr Hotties back was turned she turned to me and gave me the look.
"I'm going to find Charlie, see if he had one of the deputies drive your truck back home or not." I left her alone with Edward and went to track down the Chief. I ran into him once I rounded the corner. He was standing there looking sullen.
"Cheer up Chief, she's fine, not even a concussion. Is the tank still at school." He perked up a bit.
"That's great. No, I had Deputy Mark drive it back to the house after he had the taillight replaced. I'll go sign her papers." We walked to the discharged counter. He looked around "Where's Bella?"
"She's talking to Edward, he pushed her out of the way."
"Edward? Dr. Cullen's boy?" He asked
"Yup" I popped the 'p.' We waited for about ten minutes before Bella walked around the corner toward us. Charlie signed the papers and we made our way toward the exit. The waiting was filled with every face we know in Forks. Charlie steered her to the exit. I walked up to everyone else.
"She's fine, and Tyler's good too just a few scrapes but all in all, they're in perfect health. You all can return to school now. Move it along, nothing to see here. These nurses have enough on their plate without you lot crowding up the waiting room." I walked out to the cruiser and we set off for home.
"I'm glad you drove Bella."
"Why?"
"Because, I would've been very pissed off if Crowley had hit Jesse. I would've kick his ass." Bella laughed. Even the Chief chuckled a little.
"What, my car is a classic, I'll be damned if some moron who was born and raised here, who can't drive on ice slick roads properly damaged my pride and joy. Fuck that shit."
"Language, young lady." Charlie spoke sternly
"Chief, you've known me how long. When do I ever watch my tongue?" He muttered something that sounded like 'unlady like' under his breath.
"I don't care if it is or isn't, I speak my mind and don't bite my tongue for no one. Sorry" We rode the rest of the way home in silence. Charlie spoke again.
"Um...you'll need to call Renee." He hung his head, guilty. Uh Oh
"You told Mom!" She was appalled
"Sorry" She slammed the crusier's door so hard I was shocked the windows didn't shatter. I went up to my room and jumped in the shower. When I got out Bella was sitting on my bed.
"What's up Bells?" She told me everything Edward told her and now I understood the look on her face. I'd be angry too if he broke his promise to me. After our girl chat, she showered and went to go make dinner. I pulled out my phone and decided to text Emmett.
'Hey Mr. Hero. How was Government class without me' I heard my phone chime 45 seconds later. I read his reply
'Very boring :('
'I met your father today.'
'Oh yea, What did he say? How's Bella?'
'She's fine, No Blood No Foul'
'That's good. What are you doing now?'
'Texting you LOL ;p, your fuckface brother stole two of my lines :('
'LOL. which lines are these'
'No Blood, No Foul and What's the verdict?'
'Yea, Eddie boy has never been original.'
'Bella's a bit angry with him, he promised to tell her the truth and he backed out, the pussy. :('
'Ha Ha, yea well, he probably had good reason. I mean Rosie isn't very happy with Edward right now, so I doubt he'll tell her the truth right now.'
'She only wants to know, because she hates lying and she terrible at it btw, so she needs a valid reason to cover for him.'
'I get it, but in time. I'm pretty sure he'll reveal everything to her."
'Will you keep your promise to me and tell me the truth. What the hell did I see today?'
'I made you a promise and unlike my brother, I plan on keeping my word. Rosalie isn't as mad at me as she is with Edward.'
'Because you were walking up behind me and he was four cars down by Jasper and Alice.'
'You my lady, are correct. Bravo you're so smart. ;)'
'Bite me. :P'
'Don't tempt me babe. I'll bite you all over that sexy body, no scratch that, I'll bite you in places where only I'll be able to see it. ;p'
I felt myself get a little hot. I'm sure my face was red..
'Who says I'll let you get that close?'
'Trust me, I have ways to get you right where I want you. ;)'
'Ooh Mr Cullen, being naughty are we? ;O'
'Babe, naughty is my middle name. :)'
'We'll see Mr Tough Guy. Babe?' ;)
'Yea, you didn't know you're MINE! Yes we shall ;p'
'Okay, whatever you say. When are you going to explain everything to me?'
'Oh you don't believe me. Don't make me come over there and this weekend, you'll come over. Meet our mom. :)'
'Oooh, I don't think the Chief would appreciate that. LOL Sounds like a plan. I can't wait. :P'
'I'm not scared of the Chief, I'm a real man not a pussy. Only pussies are scared of their girl's father. Me either. ;)' Bella called up to me to let me know dinner was ready. I sent him one last text.
'Your girl? got to go. Food's ready and I'm hungry. I'll call you later.'
'I guess I'm going to have to make you see that you're MINE! okay, I'll be waiting ;D'
I went downstairs just as Bella was serving the food. We ate in a comfortable silence and after the dishes were done. I decided to catch the game with Charlie. Bella decided to turn in early and we bid her a goodnight. After nine Charlie and I decided to call it a night.
"Goodnight Charlie."
"Goodnight Penny."
I walked into my room and plopped onto my bed. I picked up my cell phone and called Emmett. We talked until I fell asleep on the phone. Of course I dreamed of Emmett Cullen. Hopefully, it'll pick up where it left off...
AN: There you have it a little flirting between Emmett and Penny. Will Emmett tell all or will he make a guessing game of it? I might skip over some parts to move the story along. Stay Tuned. R R.
*Should I continue all the way to Breaking Dawn or not? Let me know. Smooches :)