HEY GUYS, I'M BACK! It's been a minute, but I'm so happy to be back in my writing. I am also happy to announce that I have just finished "The Semester From Hell" this past week. It may have just been by the skin of my teeth, but I did it! Now, I'm on break and wanting to focus on my writing before I have to go back to class.

So let's go ahead and get on into it...


Chapter 9

I simply stood there in the middle of the room. Fear and adrenaline ran through my body, holding me in place. I could feel my muscles coil and flex as if I was preparing for a fight. I saw Bella drop to her knees and scoop up Isaac who was playing on the floor. She then started making hastily steps to the back door, ready to make a break for it. I knew then, that if Bella and Isaac were in danger, I would fight.

"Edward Anthony Mason Cullen, open this door right now!" A spritely and angry voice called out from the vicinity of the front porch along with three more loud bangs.

I felt the breath I had been holding finally expelled from my lungs and my heart started to beat again. I recognized the high pitched annoying voice.

"It's okay, it's okay," I said as I approached a still frightened Bella. "It's just my sister," I turned and went to answer the door.

"Open up!" Alice called, still banging relentlessly on my front door.

"Alright, alright!" I called to her, as I went to unlock the deadbolt and chain. "Alice what the hell?!" I said to her as I opened the door.

"Hey bro, nice to see you too." She greeted me in her sweet, yet sarcastic voice. She then grabbed three large shopping bags laying next to her and proceeded to push her way through the front door.

"What are those?" I asked her as she shoved me out of the way, almost too aggressively.

"Just a few things for your house guests," She told me. "Oh, help Jasper carry that in, will you."

I turned out to the front yard and saw Jasper walking up the driveway, struggling with what looked to be a large, heavy cardboard box. Before he could drop the thing, I went to grab the other end of the box and help carry it the rest of the way.

"Sorry man," Jasper grunted as we made our way to the front porch.

I knew he was and as much as I tried to put off this moment, I knew it was only a matter of time before Alice would make her introduction.

We walked through the front door and as gently put the heavy box against the hallway wall. I was about to ask Alice what the hell she had in there when I heard her voice in the living room.

"Hi!" I heard my sister's voice cheer out. I quickly made my way over to them, I was a little anxious. I had yet to warn Bella about Alice and her effervescent nature.

"I'm Edward's sister, Alice," She introduced herself as she laid her shopping bags on the couch then taking a few steps in Bella's direction.

Still standing by the back door, with Isaac in her arms, Bella seemed a little bit taken back by Alice as she held her hand out for Bella to shake. I stood there and watched Bella look back and forth between Alice's hand and face; probably contemplating if this very extraverted, very loud pixie of a girl was trusting. Eventually, Bella responded to Alice and shook her hand.

"Bella," She addressed herself.

"I know," Alice told her. "I am so happy to finally meet you, we are going to be such great friends." She then looked down at Isaac, secured in Bella's arms.

"This little guy must be Isaac," Alice identified in a childish voice. I was half expecting Isaac to stay hidden in her mother's blouse, but when hearing Alice say his name, he quickly looked over at her with such joy in his eyes.

"Hello," My sister gave a little wave to the toddler.

"Hi," Isaac responded, returning her wave with his own. I found this to be somewhat strange; It usually took a while for Isaac to warm up to anyone. He wouldn't even utter a word to Leah the first few days in the hospital. Yet, he seemed real friendly with Alice.

"I have some toys here for you, Isaac, you wanna see?" Alice asked him.

"Toys!" Isaac exclaimed in agreement. He then jumped from Bella's arms to Alice, surprising us all. Alice brought Isaac over to the couch and started going through the bags. While her back was turned, Bella looked over in my direction as I still stood in the kitchen, with a wide-eyed, "What-the fuck?" expression on her face.

"Don't blame Edward, Bella," Alice replied to her facial expression, never looking up from her bags. "He didn't mention a word to me."

Shocked by both replies, Bella spoke up. "Then how did you know my name? Or my son's?"

The sudden clearing of a throat had us all turn towards Jasper's direction as he took a sip of water he had poured himself. He nonchalantly turned his gaze away from us and up to the ceiling. I gave a quick roll of the eyes, groaning inwardly.

"If Jasper told, then he also should have told you to give me some time before you showed up," I explained to Alice, but never taking my eyes off Jasper.

"And I gave you time," Alice said. "I gave you three days. I would have been over here the first day after they arrived, but Jazz said I should wait a little longer before I came over."

Jasper then looked in my direction and gave a quick wink.

Praise for small victories.

"Anyway, back to business," Alice says, bringing attention back to her actions. She then pulled out several different toys; everything from a few racing cars with a spiraling track. A little zoo set, complete with animals and even a little toolbox with his name painted on the side. Isaac's eyes widened in joy, he probably thought it was Christmas. As Alice continued to pull more toys out, she looked over to see Bella happy, but still unsure.

"I didn't forget about you, Bella," Alice says looking through another bag. She pulled out a few t-shirts and a set of jeans and held them in front of Bella.

"I hope I got your size right," Alice says hopefully as Bella walked over and took the clothes. She then looked at the tags and got a surprised look on her face.

"This is my size exactly," She told her hesitantly. "How did you…," She started saying, looking over at me and Jasper. Knowing there is no way that either I or Jasper would know her exact size.

"I just had a feeling," Alice said slyly.

"But how did-"

"Trust me, Bella," I cut in this time. "It's best not to question how Alices' ways of knowing."

Bella then looked over from me and back to Alice, who just gave a cheerful smile and side nod.

"I just figured you would have probably run out of clothes by now" Alice explained, and she was right. Bella was just on her last pair of sweatpants and sweatshirt Leah gave her. Alice then continued to go through the bags of gifts.

"I also brought a bag of clothes for Isaac and some toiletries and soaps for the both of you. I'm sure you're tired of smelling like a hospital and I wouldn't recommend using my brother's shampoo slash conditioner. Jasper can you bring those two bags in from the car and also that little toddler bike". She instructed Jasper. He rolled his eyes and put down his coffee before heading out the door.

"Toddler bike?" Bella questioned.

"Yeah, just something for him to do outside. Which reminds me, I also have little basketball and soccer for him as well." Alice pulled out two miniature basket and soccer balls and handed them to Isaac, who started making a growing pile of his toys.

"Alice, where did you get all this stuff?" I asked her.

"Don't worry about it. I only bought what I thought was essential" She told me.

That's what I'm afraid of, little sis. I thought to myself

"Did you guys bring in that box?" She asked me, as she was still sorting out the items from the bags.

"Yeah, what the he-heck is in there?" I asked, remembering there was a child in the room.

"It's just a toddler bed. I'm sure Bella wouldn't mind having the bed to herself." She looked over at Bella. She smiled in response, but it never reached her eyes. "Could you actually bring in the mattress as well? It's in plastic and strapped to the roof of the car. Have Jasper help you carry it when he comes in."

I simply nodded and made my way to the car. Grabbing Jasper as he put down his cargo on the front porch we unstrapped the mattress and brought it in. As we walked into the house, I noticed Bella carrying Isaac in her arms and making a beeline straight to the stairs, running into Jasper in the process while he carried the other end of the mattress.
"Sorry," She muttered and then headed upstairs. I was suddenly filled with worry, I put the mattress against the box and went to confront my sister.

"Alice, what did you do?" I asked her angrily as I entered the living room.

"Nothing," Alice says looking as shocked as I was by Bella's behavior.

"Then why did Bella just fly out up those stairs like a bat out of hell?" Jasper questioned.

"Hey! You're supposed to be on my side, buddy," Alice says, full force looking at Japer then turning her attention back at me. "And I don't know. I was just showing her a few more things I had bought for her and Isaac and suddenly she dropped the clothes in her hands and just said 'excuse me' and took Isaac and left."

"Alice.." I groaned at my little sister as I rubbed the bridge of my nose.

"What?" She asked.

"Alice, Bella is extremely delicate right now," I explained to her. "She has just been through hell and needs some time to adjust. You can't just come in and be all...Alice with her."

"I was just trying to help," Alice explained.

"I know that," I clarified. Although she may have her own way of going about it, my dear sister is nothing, if not caring and kind-hearted. "But I think it is all just a little too much at once."

Alice just stood there for a moment, evaluating how her behavior and actions may have come across to someone as fragile as Bella. Jasper then took the opportunity to come to Alice's side and wrap his arm around her shoulder.

"Go check on Bella," he told me and with that, I made my way upstairs. I found Bella in her room, sitting on the bed and crying while Isaac stood on the bed and leaned against her to hug her. I quietly walked into her room and took a seat next to Bella.

"Momma sad?" Isaac asked me when he saw me come in.

"I think so, bud," I told him. "Bella?" I questioned.

Her head was down, but I could still see the tears running down her face. She tried to brush them away, but each time she did, fresh ones would follow. I gave her a minute to compose herself.

"Edward," She finally said with anguish deep in her voice. "I am so sorry for my behavior."

Leave it to Bella to be the one to apologize for being sad and emotional.

"No Bella. I'm sorry," I told her as I gently placed my hand on her shoulder. "I know my sister can be a lot to handle. I should have tried to prepare you for that".

"It's not that," Bella explained, looking at me for the first time. Her eyes still carrying a few tears and her nose a little red. "Alice is great. I love her energy."

That was a novelty for me to hear. Aside from my family and Jasper, I've never heard of someone warming up to my sister's flamboyant personality so quickly.

"It's just… all of this," Bella went on to explain. "Everything everyone has done for me. Everything you've done for me. And now your sister comes in with clothes and toys for my son and me. It's just…" She trailed off as the emotion in voice began to overpower her. A new wave of tears began to make their appearance and Bella put her head in her hands as she let herself give in to the despair. I didn't know how else to help her at this moment except to just hold on to her shoulder as she cried while Isaac continued to hug her from the other side.

"It's all just too much," Bella finally looked up and said. "This shouldn't be yours or anyone else's burden to carry."

"It shouldn't be yours either," I told her matter of fact as I straightened her up to look at me. "You were put in such a horrible position that I'm not even sure how you were able to get through it, but you did. You did your part, you were strong and brave enough to get you and your son out. Now, it's time for you to take some time and let yourself be taken care of. Understand this, Bella, no one is doing anything they don't want to do. And we want to help you. Believe that."

Bella stayed quiet for a minute before she spoke again. "It's all just overwhelming," She told me.

"Do you want me to ask Alice to send all of it back?" I asked.

Bella then looked over at Isaac who was still holding onto his mother's side. She then picked him up and placed him in her lap.

"No," she told me. "That wouldn't be fair to Isaac, he's already seen the toys. Plus, as much as I hate to admit it, we really do need some of those things. You can only wear a sweatshirt for so long in the middle of August," She says lightheartedly.

"Oh, Bella," I said. I don't know what came over me then, but I wrapped both my arms around Bella and brought her in for a hug, the first real hug I ever gave her. At first, she didn't respond and I thought I had crossed a line. But, I guess I hadn't, because I felt one of Bella's arms make its way around my neck, while her other one held on to Isaac.

The two of us just sat there for a moment, embarrassed in our hug. Eventually, the appropriate hugging time had passed, and yet neither of us let go. We continued to just hold each other for what felt like forever, but also not long enough. At some point, I'm not sure who was the first to release, we both released one another a little, but our arms were still holding each other and we just stared into each other's eyes. It was a moment I could live in for the rest of my life if the universe allowed. But, apparently, the universe thought it was a good time for my little sister to come in.

"Sorry for the intrusion, guys," Alice said and we both turned to see the spikey pixie standing in the opened doorway. "I'm just wondering if you guys want me to leave all this stuff out, or if you will want any help with it?"

With that, the moment had passed and it was time to get back to reality. Bella was the first to let go of her hold. She stood up and placed Isaac on her hip while she walked out of the room.

"We're coming down now," Bella said to Alice. "And thank you Alice for all of this, I truly appreciate it."

"No problem," Alice said, nonchalantly. Alice then moved out of the way so I could make my exit and we walked back downstairs.

"Oh, by the way, Edward…?" Alice said from behind me as we walked downstairs.

"What?" I asked her and suddenly I felt the small but firm whack on the back of my head.

"OW!" I called it out. It really wouldn't have hurt that bad since Alice was a tiny girl, but the engagement ring she was rocking had a good force behind it.

"What was that for?"

"That was from mom," Alice told me. "She says that if you don't call her in two days, I am to come back here and finish the job," She told me.

I don't know if it was just my mom's natural humor or if it was the fact that her mother's family came from Italy. But, she also had a way of making her threats sound like she was part of the mafia or something. But, I knew she was right.

My mom deserved an answer as to why I had been MIA the past week and I had to tell her eventually. No more hiding, I had to talk to my parents.

And soon.


Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, let me know what you all think! I'm hoping to have another chapter up by this weekend and hopefully two more before the fall semester starts. Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!

Until next time...