(A/N): Hey everyone!! Thanks for being awesomely patient for this next chapter!! I'm so sorry I haven't gotten to update. I actually tried over spring break, but I was just too busy. I just finished writing this chapter a couple of days ago, and I don't have anything else to post [yet]. I am going to do my best to make this past semester up to you guys by really updating this summer with really long chapters!! This one here is over 2,000 words. It took up like 8 pages lol! you guys rock!!
And at the end of chapter 11 or 12, there was some confusion on who was talking in the conversation. I am dreadfully sorry about this, as I was going off what I originally wrote in my notebook than what I actually typed...but anyways it was supposed to be Bella who said everything that Alice and Rosalie were meant to have said. I'm sorry for the confusion :P
Disclaimer: I do not own aything but the plot of this story!
Saturday and Sunday went by in a blur. I could barely focus on anything in the present, but I wasn't thinking about other stuff either. I just felt really paranoid, but other than that, everything was fine. Edward and Alice somehow managed to convince my parents to let me stay over through the entire weekend, and Sunday was the same as Saturday. All I knew was that Edward and Alice kept me busy so that I was exhausted enough to sleep. I don't even remember what we talked about or what we did, but I'm sure that it was pretty uneventful. I lay down next to Alice on Sunday night, ready for another decent night of sleep.
Suddenly, I was being thrown out of my bed and James was standing hungrily over me. He looked quite menacing, and I was screaming for help, but no one came. All I could feel was fear and loathing toward this troubled person. He just stared into my eyes, smirking his confident little smile, saying something along the lines of how weak and stupid I was. I kept yelling for anyone to help me, but not one person came. Something was shaking me back and forth when something wet poured on my face. I opened my eyes and saw Alice and Edward standing near me, looking very worried. I began to sob because of how relieved I was that it was only a dream. It had seemed incredibly real at the time.
"Bella? Bella, love? Sh, it's okay." Edward climbed onto the bed and rocked me in his arms, which made me feel a little better.
"Sorry," I said as I wiped the tears away from my eyes. Edward helped by wiping my tears away with his thumb as he held me close to him.
"No need to be sorry. What were you dreaming about, anyways?" Edward looked remorseful as he asked me this.
"Well…what did I say?" This time Alice spoke with a shaky voice.
"You said, "Get off! Go away! Then you kept screaming 'Alice! Edward! Emmett! Jasper!' over and over again, but you were scared. Then you said, 'No one's coming,' very hopelessly." She gave me a sad look before she turned away.
"Oh." I didn't want to tell them what the dream was about, and have them worry about me. Why waste their energy? Suddenly, Edward glared at me.
"What did you dream, Bella?" I could tell he was exasperated.
"Well…James was here, and I didn't know what to do, and-"
"Oh, Bella! I'm so sorry." Edward wrapped his arms even tighter around me while we sat on the bed.
"You didn't do anything. I'm the one that caused all of this. You should probably stay away from me. I'm just a hazard. But thanks, guys." I lay back down on the bed as Edward whispered, "You are everything to me. I can't stay away from you…now that would be a hazard." He went back to his room as Alice slid next to me again.
"Bella? We are right here. There is nothing for you to fear."
"Thanks, Alice," I yawned sleepily. I thrashed around the bed the rest of the night, getting no sleep, of course. I couldn't close my eyes; all that I could see was James' menacing face. I was careful, though, not to wake up Alice. When it was late enough to get out of bed, I took a shower and got ready as I waited for Alice and Edward to awaken. It was around five-thirty AM when I got out of the shower, and Alice didn't even wake up until six forty-five, so I read more of Inkheart, a wonderful book about a girl and her father on a crazy adventure that all started when her dad began to read out loud to her long lost mother. It was quite intriguing, and I knew it would keep my interest until we could finally leave for school. Edward didn't get up until seven twenty, and we still got to school by seven fifty, when it started at eight. I was exhausted, and I couldn't help but worry that James would find me, or someone else, in a class or a corner when Edward wasn't around. I only had one class with him, so this was a common part of my day. I was quiet all day, as I couldn't think of anything to talk about, and I was trying to stay awake. I ended up falling asleep in math and biology. Edward was very concerned about me, but I told him that I just needed rest and I was fine. A few of the teachers noticed that I wouldn't even respond to Alice during class because of how zoned out I was.
"Everything will be okay, Bella." Alice was trying to comfort me as I walked to Emmett's Jeep Wrangler.
"Yeah, let's hope, Alice. I've at least gotten through the day without dying." She smiled, but it wasn't all there. I could tell that she was worried about me.
"Bella, what's wrong?" Lauren Mallory noticed that I looked "off" earlier in class.
"Nothing, Lauren. I'm okay." I didn't want to bother her with my problems, and I didn't want Jacob to get in trouble with her, either. He was completely innocent, and I knew he tried to stop James by the look he had on his face in the gift shop.
"Jacob told me everything, Bella. I'm so sorry that James tried to do that to you. Jakey tried to change his mind and stop him!" She patted my shoulder. Weird.
"Yeah, I know he did. No worries. I just don't want anyone else getting hurt on account of me."
"Don't worry, Bella. James' girlfriend was really upset and dumped him. He's such a low-life."
"Thanks Lauren. I can't believe he had a girlfriend. It was only for like three days though, right?"
"Yeah, it was crazy. Can we talk about something else? It's hard enough hearing how angry Jake is at James and how remorseful he is about the whole situation every day."
"Oh, right. Sorry! By the way, can you tell Jacob that I said thanks?"
"Will do. Well, I gotta go…ttyl!" It felt strange associating with Lauren Mallory. We weren't really close friends or anything, but she was a totally different person than she was in middle school. Jake seemed to be a decent guy, but I knew he wouldn't be able to stop James from ever hurting me again. I needed to sever all ties with everyone until I knew that they were safe from harm, and I hated weighing them down with my problem. My friends shouldn't have to deal with that. They have their own stuff to worry about. I didn't want to hurt anyone, but I'd rather them not be in danger or anything. If my suffering saved them, then it would be worth it in the end. I decided that I would stay in my room and read as much as I could. I just couldn't handle the stress of worrying about them or the situation anymore. I needed to chill out and calm down, but I didn't know how that could happen with people around me all the time. I barely even noticed the ride home and somehow I ended up alone in my room, blasting "Cartel", which always seemed to lift my mood, even when I was already happy. Music is just…magical. I knew it didn't make much sense to stay by myself, but that's what I wanted at the moment. I needed to be alone to just sit and listen to my music while I could think about things. My cell phone went off as I felt it vibrate in my pocket (my music was up too loud to hear the ringtone).
"Hey, Alice." I quickly lowered the volume of my stereo so I could hear her talk.
"Bella! Girl, what are you doing?"
"Listening to music in my room... Why?"
"Bella, you are giving my brother a heart attack."
"I'm sorry, but I really just need to be alone right now. I'm about to go to bed, anyways." I hope she didn't notice the way my voice cracked during that last sentence. I was in no state to even try to sleep at the moment.
"Bella-don't lie. You're no good at it. Just come over here."
"Look, I can't just keep depending on you guys. I'm sorry, but I have Emmett and Jasper here with me." Emmett burst into my room the second I said his name.
"Bella!" He was obnoxiously loud.
"Shhh! I'm on the phone!" He gave me a concerned and frustrated look.
"Uhh…Alice, I think I have to go."
"Okay, but do whatever Emmett says. Love you, Bella."
"Love you too, Alice. Tell Edward that I love him and goodnight for me?"
"Will do, girlie. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." I looked up at my brother as I hung up the phone.
"What is it, Em?"
"Bella- are you going to sleep alone in here? Edward said you had a rough weekend, and you've barely spoken all day."
"Well, it is my bedroom, Em."
"Yes, I know, but I think you should sleep in mine and Jasper's room tonight."
"I think I'll be okay." I hoped he didn't catch my lie.
"It's your call, Bells, but we are always here for you."
"Thanks, Em." With that, he rose and walked out of the room.
"Bella!!" What did Jasper want?
"What, Jazz? Emmett just talked to me." He walked over to me and sat down beside me.
"Bella, I've picked up on what you're doing. You think that you need to protect us, but in reality, you are the one who needs protection. Bella, don't put yourself through this. None of this is your fault. I promise."
"Thanks, Jazz, but it is my fault. If I would have never-"
"Stop, Bells. You're torturing yourself for no reason. It's not healthy, mind you. Now, if you need anything, Em and I are here. Goodnight."
"Goodnight. Love you," I whispered in reply. I knew I wouldn't sleep even though I was uber tired, so I lay down on my bed playing my iPod until I felt relaxed and suddenly, I was asleep.
"Shut up!" You're gonna wake her, you idiot!" I instantly woke up to a voice whisper beside my bed, and I was frozen in fear. I felt a hand on my arm, and I screamed bloody murder as I heard, "Don't Stay" by Linkin Park on my iPod. Emmett and Jasper rushed in and were soon followed by my parents as I was thrown across the room.
"You little brat! Next time I'll gag you first," James stated menacingly.
"Get out of here, you perve!" Em sucker-punched James out of the window while Charlie went downstairs to handle James and to call in some more cops to help him out. Jasper was holding James down outside while the rest of the cops arrived onto the scene. James kept trying to fight them back as one of his comrades just stood there, letting all of this happen. I couldn't stand to watch it anymore, so I turned away from the window and began to leave my room when my mom said, "Bella, please stay here."
"Okay, mom." I couldn't look at her as I said, "I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I should leave and never come back."
"Bella, honey, that isn't the solution and it is NOT your fault. Do you hear me? This has nothing to do with who you are, but James, and his troubled life, dear. You are a bright, beautiful young lady in love with a boy named Edward, who loves you very much, and would do anything for you to be happy." I sighed as the cops wrapped things up and I had to go outside to give them a statement about what happened. He was charged and put into prison until the day of his trial. Edward and Alice came over as soon as they could, and they did their best to comfort me. Much to my dismay, they had to go home and sleep, so I lay back down on my floor staring at the ceiling while listening to "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts. I was too keyed up to sleep, so I decided to read, A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks until I fell asleep with the book half open on my bed.
Edward didn't leave me alone all day after I woke up, so it was extremely hard to concentrate. I still felt uneasy, even if James was in prison. It was like this for the next week until Christmas Day, when us Swans and the Cullens celebrated together at my house.
(A/N): Did you enjoy it? Yes? No? I want to know!! And I have some happy things planned for this story in the future!
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