He carried me to the loveseat in the living area and helped me sit with my leg on the ottoman. He then went inside and came out with a tray. It contained apple cinnamon juice along with a cheesecake.
"Really, Edward. It isn't necessary."
"Bella, Esme won't like if this food is wasted." He knew how to use the guilt card on me. And I couldn't help but concede to his request, and especially his pleading eyes. I ate the cake and drank almost whole juice in a sip, not realising how thirsty I was.
"Where is Esme?" I wondered. She was no where to be seen and so was Carlisle. I looked around again.
"They are in Carlisle's room, chatting. They were just trying to be subtle by not disturbing us." He grinned. I grinned back.
He sat beside me and draped his hand over my shoulder. I leaned my head on his shoulder. He kissed my head. I sighed in contentment.
"You seem to be very tired."
"I'm out of practice of walking, remember."
"Yeah. But I wasn't referring to that. More about people in school. Mike, Jessica, Alice?"
I chuckled. "True. And especially all those questions. It was tiring repeating the same thing again and again."
"I'm glad they didn't trouble you much."
"I didn't even notice it. My mind was elsewhere." I pointed out, grinning at him.
"So was mine." He mumbled.
I could feel his cold breath on my face, dazzling me.
"Want to guess where?" He murmured, his lips just an inch away from my mine. If I wasn't dazzled already by his close proximity, he surely did now.
"I think I have a pretty good idea." He chuckled and kissed me then.
I wrapped my hand around his neck, not caring that his parents may come down any time. Because it was very hard to think about any other thing when his icy lips were doing magic against mine.
When he parted our lips, I chuckled. "Just like I told, electrifying."
He laughed too and kissed my brow. "True. But I am shocked you told her all that. I thought I'll never get any answer to those questions."
"I just showed pity on you, Mr. Cullen."
He laughed and kissed me again.
After a few minutes Esme came down with her smile, looking as young as ever.
"Hello, Bella. I hope you liked it." She motioned towards the tray.
"It was scrumptious, Esme. Thanks. I'll ask you to make it for me once again, if you don't mind."
"Of course not, dear. But for now Carlisle is expecting you."
"You mean Dr. Cullen." I joked. She mumbled a yeah and laughed along with me.
Edward too laughed and helped me climb the stairs to Carlisle's office.
Carlisle performed my physiotherapy then. He made me exercise a little, checked my legs and also my forehead – as I was desperate to wash my hair – it had been near about a two weeks since the chase and stitches. I informed them that my hair was stinking, pouting when he declined the proposal, but Edward made it up to me.
He said, "You smell perfect. Don't worry about that."
"My hair is stinking." I repeated with a pout. Both the men chuckled.
"Really Bella." Carlisle explained slowly. "Just a few days more. Your wounds were deep, and now that they have started to recover I don't want you to mess anything up."
Edward hugged me from behind and kissed my temple. "You still smell amazing to me."
"You are biased, you know."
"He is." Carlisle agreed too, to which I laughed. Edward ran his hand through his hair but he was happy that I wasn't sulking.
When Carlisle allowed me to go, for which I was waiting eagerly from the past one hour, Edward again lifted me easily in his arms.
"You should stop doing that you know." I muttered. He just shrugged.
He laid me down again, but this time on his black couch in his room. He himself sat on the floor so that I could lie down properly on the couch.
"You can lie down with me." I proposed, shifting a little bit to make space for him.
But he declined the offer. "I'd love to, but you should sleep now. You are very much tired."
Now that he mentioned again, I realized I was indeed very much tired and my legs were aching with exhaustion. I yawned involuntarily.
He smiled. "You should rest. What should I bring? Blanket?"
"I don't want to sleep. Can't we do something else?"
"What do you have in mind?"
"Nothing significant."
"What would you like to do?"
I was out of ideas. "Anything you decide." I suggested.
He thought about it for a moment when something sparked him.
"You rest, I'll arrange it for you." And he was gone in a flash before I could ask him what he had in his mind.
He first arranged blanket and pillow for me, explaining "This is the first time someone is really going to sleep here." Then he arranged water along with some chocolates. Finally he came with a card wrapped in a gift paper.
My friends from school had gifted me this and I had all but forgotten about it.
"I had all but forgotten about it."
He smiled. "You're welcome." He laid down beside me and I adjusted a little so that we both could lie down properly. The small space wasn't enough for two people, but the small confined place made it more amazing to cuddle with him. I laid my head on his chest and he wrapped me in his long arms, kissing my hair ever so lightly.
I opened the gift wrapper – pink paper with small hearts drawn on it – impatiently to see what they had gifted me. Inside it was a big size get well soon red coloured card, with a big 'Get Well Soon' written on it. Small hearts and bandages and stitches and medicines and flowers were drawn on it. It also had a small jute like cloth attached to the front page which was tied with a knot and a flower pin.
"Nice card." He approved.
"Yes. It seems quite lavish with all the decorations and drawings."
I opened the knot and flipped the page. Inside it was written a big Get Well Soon with some images of injections and medicines and plasters. All of their signatures were done below it.
"Seems like no one wants to forget it." I muttered to which he chuckled.
On the other page, there were some messages written by everyone. I read it loud for him.
"Jessica – Finally you are back! Get well soon so that we could plan our girls night out." I exclaimed with horror. "She is going to make me spill out some gossips again."
"It isn't that bad. At least there is someone who can make you spill out everything."
I glared at him. He just laughed at that.
I huphed and read further. "Angela – I am so happy you are fine. You don't know how much you had scared us. Get well soon."
"She is a nice girl." Edward appraised. "Sweet and kind."
"Yeah. She is. Remember how she invited you to sit with us. It was totally unexpected."
"Yeah. Alice too didn't see that coming till the last moment."
"Looks like ever since me, everyone is upto making Alice uncomfortable with last minute decisions."
He laughed too. "No wonder she throws her decisions at you. After all you are the culprit."
"Edward!" I again smacked his arm, hurting myself a little.
He shook his head disapprovingly and kissed my wrist, keeping it between his hands like between icepacks.
I looked at him again and leaned up so that I could kiss him.
After that, I resumed reading again.
"Lauren – Get well soon." I read with shock as I wasn't expecting her message. "I didn't expect she'll write. She's always so tough around me, giving me cold looks, even when I did nothing to hurt her."
"She hates that I chose you over anyone." He explained. "But it's nothing." He shrugged it off so easily. I too decided to not think about it after a while and moved on to next one.
"Eric – Prom is near, and this time we don't want you to skip it. Get well soon, Bella."
"Ugh! I can't believe he's still thinking I'll go with him."
He laughed loudly. "It's not his fault. You should've seen your face that day." He laughed again.
I snacked his chest hard, forgetting that I'll hurt myself. "I'm still mad at you for that, remember." I muttered with a devilish smile. He rolled his eyes at me.
I read the next one. "Tyler – I didn't know you really wanted to get injured that after escaping from my van you threw yourself out of the window. Just kidding. Get well soon."
I huphed and Edward chuckled again.
"Ben – I am getting fed up with Ang's girly things. She badly needs you. I hope after you get well, Ang would spare me. Get well soon."
"He is a good boy. And he and Angela looks so happy together." I looked at him. He had a smile on his lips, recalling something. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing, except that you're right. They both like each other very much. I'm happy for Angela that she found someone as good as Ben."
"True."
The next two were from one's whom I didn't know that well.
"Austin – I hope to get to know you better. Get well soon."
"Conner – Get well soon, Bella. We all hope you get free of your cast soon."
"Mike – Prom is getting near. I want one dance with you. Get well soon, so that I could get my dance. With love, Mike."
"That boy has quite a nerve for writing that." He almost growled.
"I know. He is persistent and resilient. But he is with Jessica now."
"You wish. He still thinks that he has one chance with you. You should read his mind – actually never."
"That bad?"
"You have no idea!"
"But it doesn't matter. I am with you, and he is out of the list. Also I won't be going to the prom."
"But why? It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience." I thought by now he knew that.
"Seriously? Do you really think my plaster will allow me?"
"I can carry you there."
"Not interested." I objected.
"But still, you shouldn't say no to prom."
"That's what I'm doing. I'm denying the offer to prom."
We both looked at each other, trying to convince the other first.
He gave up easily. "Prom is far away." He mused.
"I'm not going." I declared.
He smiled devilishly. "We'll see."
"Humph."
He chuckled and kissed my forehead. I sighed and cuddled more with him. He slowly ran his hands through my tresses in a rhythmic motion, singing a melody which I had difficulty recognizing. I recalled it after a long time – he was singing 'Darling' by the Beach Boys.
"I love this song." I murmured and sang along with him. Though I wasn't that melodious like him, I still managed to not ruin the song.
He chuckled at my pathetic attempt – I guess.
"I ruined it, didn't I."
"No. If anything, you made it more wonderful."
I felt his gaze on me. I looked up and asked 'What?' but he just shook his head and gave a small peck on my lips. "What?" I asked, wondering what was he thinking that he was in such a jovial mood.
He just smiled his brilliant crooked smile and said, "Nothing. Just thinking about some stuff."
"Can I know?"
"Do you have to guess? My all thoughts revolve around you." He said like he was telling a common fact. I snorted. He rolled his eyes. I chuckled and nuzzled more with him.
When it was near to four, I announced that I wanted to study. He agreed easily and tutored me Trig. I wasn't good at that, I had to solve a few sums again and again to get the correct answer but he was patient with me. He also helped me in school homework, doing a little for me. And I had to compliment him for imitating my handwriting just accurately – no one could say I hadn't written it.
When I was tired with all the studying, we decided to go downstairs. There Carlisle was reading a book while Esme was working on a blueprint. They both greeted me and asked what I wanted to do. Alice made the decision for me – knowing what I wanted better than me – and together we watched some music videos.
When it was near to six thirty – time for Charlie to come home – he dropped me home. But not without the meal Esme had made for Charlie and me. I had tried to deny her offer, but she was good at convincing me and at the last made me take it.
"Esme is very pushy." I told Edward on the way home. "Now I'm feeling bad for troubling her with all the food. Yesterday, today and now, even when it smells so much revolting to you."
He laughed at my complaints. "Bella, she loves to do it. And now that she actually have gotten a person whom she can take care of, she is enjoying that. Let her have her fun."
"Fine." I surrendered with a sigh. "But that doesn't mean she'll cook for us everytime." I warned him, also telling him to pass the message. I didn't want to trouble Esme anymore that I was already going or the Cullens fir that matter. They had already done so much for me.
He looked at me like I was missing something. And I gasped as I understood what he had in mind. "She's not going to stop, isn't she."
"Nope." He murmured sweetly. "She likes to do all these things for us, and now she has a reason too."
"But I don't want to trouble her – or any of you for that matter. You all have already done enough for me."
"Not again that Bella. You know they – we – think that way. So why should you? Anyway, you'll get used to it. My parents already look at you like a part of the family." His eyes softened as he looked at me with his golden butterscotch eyes. "You are a part of family that was missing since the past long time."
My cheeks started to get in fire. He smiled and ran his knuckles over my cheeks. My blush deepened.
"Look at the road, Edward." I muttered, trying to escape from the scrutiny of his dazzling eyes. He laughed and twined our fingers on my lap, driving one-handily.
We reached house just when Charlie pulled his car in the curb.
"He seems in a very jovial mood." I commented watching dad smile from ear to ear.
"He is." He agreed and got out of the car after giving my hand a squeeze.
Before Edward could help me out, Charlie jumped in and helped me get out of the car.
Edward smiled at him and in return Charlie nodded at him formally. He didn't invite him inside or anything, but Edward remained calm and was out after saying me a goodbye.
"What happen that you're so happy?" I asked him watching him smiling constantly. I didn't want to spoil his mood by talking anything about Edward that he won't agree to.
"Oh, nothing. There wasn't any work to do so we played some cards, had our own fun. Nothing major. What did you guys do?"
"Nothing exciting." I answered him honestly. "After school I had my physio, some rest, and Edward and I studied together a little." He didn't say anything, just nodded.
"What's this?" He observed the card and a small tiffin in my hands.
I pointed at the card. "My friends at school gave me this as a Get Well Soon gift. And as of this," I pointed at the tiffin, "Esme had packed dinner for us. I tried to tell her not to do this, but she didn't listen."
"It's so generous of her to do this, but she shouldn't have done that."
"Yeah." I totally agreed.
Together we ate the dinner – casserole along with salad.
Charlie did the smell chores which were left, sweeping of the floor, dusting of some areas, dishes...
"I feel so bad that I am not able to help you." I mumbled when he finally sat beside me after doing all the chores. I wanted to help him but wasn't in the condition to do so.
"You don't have to. I was out of practice, anyway. You were spoiling me."
"I like to spoil you." I joked. He laughed too. "But I really don't like it. Sitting while you do all the work."
"It isn't your fault, Bella." He murmured gently. "Also you had been doing all this since January. You ought to get some rest."
He again concentrated on the sports he was watching.
"Why didn't you invite Edward in?" I finally asked him. I knew that Charlie was still mad at Edward and he thought I ran away because of him, but shouldn't he at least treat a guest properly.
"He was in a hurry, I thought." I knew this wasn't why and he also knew that. Just like me, he was wasn't a good liar.
"Dad!" I fumed.
"So what should I have done?" He too almost yelled, His sharp noise making me flinch. "Invited the person inside due to whom you ran off?"
"You said you were going to be easy on him." I reminded him, making sure I do not let my temper enslave me.
"And I didn't complain about you staying with him over his house for the whole day. So we're even."
"Dad?!"
He closed his eyes like he was counting to hundred backwards.
"Bella! Can't we please try to not talk about it?"
"But dad?!"
"Okay, Bella. You tell me then. You spend your day with him, in the school, at his home, then you also want him here in the evening. Why don't we allow him to stay here at the nights too?"
I had to take a few breaths before saying, "Where is this coming from?"
"You didn't like the idea? I think it is brilliant!" Why was he taunting me like that.
"Dad, what happen?" I asked softly, worried why was he making such snide comments. Something wasn't right.
He sighed. "Nothing."
I didn't accept it. And he knew that.
He exhaled loudly. "I just... I know you'll say it's irrational... But... I leave you alone too much. At first I thought that it was why you left me. But now that I got you back, here, I don't think I'll able to take it if anything happens to you ever again, or you flip out for another reason. What if he breaks up with you? What if you two had another big fight and you again need some time to think... Bella, I lost you once to Renee, and I can't lose you again to some another guy. I just can't. I can't see you so hurt again."
"Oh, dad!" I hugged him tightly. I had no idea he had so much in his mind. Now I felt foolish to question him. As a father, he was right. "You aren't being irrational. And I'll always be sorry for doing that to you."
"I love you, Bells. More than anything."
"I know it dad. And I love you too." I leaned back a little. There I saw that his eyes were wet with unshed tears and so were mine.
"I am sorry." I apologised again. I would do it another thousand times to take his misery away. "But you have to stop acting irrational, or childish. Please don't be so hard on Edward." I requested in a whisper.
"Oh, how can I say no to you when you make face like this!"
"Please!" I pleaded again.
"Fine. He can come home, but he has to leave by ten. And he cannot take you anywhere without asking my permission."
"Thank you." I really meant it. Though I felt a little uneasy by the concept of rules and deadlines and curfews – I never had any if these before.
Well, good things come with a sacrifice.
"But remember, the next time he hurts you, or you come in trouble because of him, I'll kill him."
I laughed nervously. "I'll pass on the message to him."
"I'm sure you'll do."
But in the other part of my mind I was cursing myself for hiding things from him. I will hurt him again, I knew that, if I had to be with Edward. This thought crushed my heart. Edward was right. I wasn't ready yet to leave my parents. I have to let them have their proper goodbye before I take any major step. But that doesn't mean I am not ready for my life with Edward. I was more than ready.
The thought of what to do and what not kept me busy for the whole time while Charlie watched sports.
Alice stopped by to help me in my routine by ten. Charlie talked with her for a little time now that he was no more shy around her. He In fact was getting used to her, like I had. He also told her, "Alice, please tell Esme that she don't have to make dinner for us. I can do it."
"It's nothing Charlie. She already prepares dinner for seven of us and also some extra – thanks to the boys' diet – so there is nothing you have to worry about. And these are her orders – not mine – that Bella has to rest properly until she gets rid of the cast, so till then she is more than happy to help her with dinner. She was also thinking about inviting you to dinner tomorrow." Before he could shake his head, Alice continued. "She'll call you formally tomorrow and then you can directly talk to her. For now we have to go upstairs and make your daughter look a little girlish."
"Alice!" I hissed. But Charlie laughed and said "You girls have fun."
But she caught me red-handed that today my mind was somewhere else and I wasn't interested in her version of play time. "What happen, Bella?" She asked me while she combed my hair. "You and Edward didn't have a fight – I know that. Then why are you so sad?"
I knew she will make me answer it, so I answered her.
"Nothing. It's just that Charlie still fears that I'll leave him or run off again. It's not like I didn't earn it, but still..."
"He needs time." She assured me. "But he'll learn this soon that you aren't going anywhere."
"Will he? What if you all leave? I will be coming with you – no matter where you go – then what will happen. I don't want to break his heart again."
"Bella, you're being obnoxious. Thinking of way too far."
"But it will happen one day, won't it?" I retorted in a whisper, shuddering thinking of those possibilities. "You will not stay here forever. And I am not going to leave you." I won't be able to do that.
"I can't deny that." She replied, her voice uncertain – which was new.
"But?"
"There's no but." She announced after a moment's silence. "Every piece will fall in its place at the proper time. Charlie will come around too. I don't need a vision to say that – I know it will happen."
"Thanks." I mumbled, not wire myself.
"Anytime." She grinned.
"Can I ask you one more thing?" I had been meaning to ask her this since a long time.
"Yes. Edward is hiding that from you."
I smiled slightly but slowly my smile turned to a small line. "What did you see that he don't want me to know?"
"I don't know if I should tell you that, Bella. He was pretty bummed last time I told you more about us and he made me promise that I'll never tell you any stuff like that ever again."
I knew her better by now. "But?"
"I'll tell you anyway. But don't let him know you know it." I nodded obediently. "I saw that we are best friends."
"Which have come true."
She smiled. "In one vision we were just like now, you were a human, but it another one you were like us too."
I gasped in surprise. "You mean you saw me changed."
She nodded. "Yeah! And he is very much opposed to that." She rolled her eyes
"Why?" I guessed I knew the answer.
"Haven't he told you that already?" She rolled her eyes. "It's because of his strange belief that we are soulless and he don't want to risk you soul."
"Are you sure there's no other reason." A stupid reason like his fear he may lose his interest in me after a short time.
"Why would you think that?"
"I don't know." I lied. "It just popped up in my mind."
"Well, so you know, there is nothing like that. So you can relax."
"I don't know how I can relax." Now not only Charlie's thought, but also Edward's opposition to my wish troubled me.
"Try." She murmured. "And Edward will be here in just a few minutes. You should talk with him."
"Do you see him answering me?" I knew the answer to that will be no.
She didn't disappoint me. "No. He'll not answer you. If anything he will divert the topic."
"I know. He is pretty good at that."
"You can be too." She teased and took a nightdress for me. It was a black – almost see through – tank top along with red colour shorts – although they shouldn't be classified as shorts.
I looked at her in disbelief. "I am not going to wear that!"
"Oh, I know. In none of my vision you were wearing it. But I just brought it for, you know, further use." She teased with a wink and put that stupid dress in my wardrobe. She picked out a decent dress for me then, pink top along with blue pants which reached my knees. I approved of them. She helped me get in those and then departed after telling a bye to me and Charlie.
I was sitting on my desk, still mulling over those thoughts, when I felt a gush of wind in the room. It was a sign that Edward was here. I looked around to see him leaning against the wall, studying me.
"Hey." I greeted.
He smiled slightly. "Hello. Can I ask what were you so just thinking about?"
What did he know about it? "Nothing. Just some random thoughts."
"About?"
I sighed. He would make me say it. But I didn't want to tell him. I don't want him to be sulking over some things which weren't even in his hands. And he'll blame himself for that.
"I'll tell you, but not just now. Please?"
He looked at me in the eyes, trying to guess something. He finally inhaled and exhaled loudly. "Wouldn't it be much more easier if I were able to read your mind?"
"Where would be the fun in keeping things from you then?" I teased.
He chuckled and kneeled down in front of me, taking my hand in his. "You can tell me whatever you have in mind, always remember that."
I put my hand on his cheek, caressing him. "I know."
He put his hand on mine and kissed my palm. "Is it has to do something with my sister. I can kill her if you want to..."
I smiled involuntarily and snacked his shoulder hard. He laughed and kissed the tip of my nose.
I leaned my head down on his chest. He sighed lovingly and kissed my head.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything?"
"Even with Carlisle and Esme, do you ever miss your parents?"
He didn't say anything for a minute, lost in his thoughts. I peeked a little at him and found his eyes to be distant away, in his memories.
"Yes." He answered in a murmur after a long minute. "There are sometimes when I do miss them. Like when I first found you. I would've liked –been impatient – to share this news with them."
"Really?" I couldn't help but ask. "You would've taken me to your parents." I wondered what it would be like to meet his real parents. Would they have loved me? Would they have accepted me for their Edward.
"Of course." He said like it was an obvious thing. "You have no idea how impatient my parents would have been to meet you if I would have told them about you. They would have begged me to bring you." I laughed nervously thinking what it would have been like. "But I have Esme and Carlisle for that now. And I think that they were just the same excited about you." I laughed nervously again.
I felt the soft, cool touch of his lips against my forehead. "What brought this question on?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking."
"Okay. As you say. For now let's settle on the bed?"
"Please! My back's been paining now due to sitting of all day."
"What? And you're telling me now? Why didn't you tell anything to Carlisle?" and he bombarded some more questions on me. I was glad that I too knew how to distract him. And I spent the rest of the time assuring him that it was nothing.
.
.
The next day – Friday – was again the same.
School was just as yesterday, except for the gossip and questioning. As the other Cullens were not with us again, this time Jessica invited Edward and Alice to sit with us and they both again sat with me for lunch. After school I again had my physiotherapy, where I also got the news that my physiotherapy will continue for another week. I was sad by the news but Edward cheered me up then. Esme had informed me that I and Charlie were having dinner over here. I had told her that she shouldn't trouble herself for me but she shook me off saying she is doing all this for Edward, and that she and Carlisle would really enjoy a dinner with Charlie. So I had surrendered with pity for both Edward and Alice as they both have to eat human food today.
"I'll manage." Edward had said confidently when I passed on the information he already knew about dinner.
I laughed loudly. "Of course you will." I joked and laughed again remembering his cringe when he had eaten pizza in the cafeteria.
It was the reaction of Alice which was comical. She cringed visibly. "I hate you Bella!"
Edward laughed loudly this time while I smirked. "So much for your version of 'Barbie time with Bella', isn't it."
She huphed showing her disapproval at the whole scenario and resumed her magazine reading while I cuddled with Edward on the loveseat in the living area.
Together we watched 'Momento' for the rest of the time.
When Esme went inside the kitchen to prepare the food, I proposed to help her. She finally complied to my request and asked me to chop the vegetables for the salad. Edward also wanted to help but when he started to mess things in the kitchen Esme asked him to instead arrange the table.
I got time to talk with Esme while we together worked in the kitchen. She told me some things of Edward's past which I had no idea about, like how he used to dance with Esme whenever she missed her human child, or how protective Edward was of Alice when she walked in their lives. "At first Jasper was not comfortable with their growing bond, but then Edward confronted him that he looked at Alice like his sister." She told me. "And Jasper was right to worry. They both – Edward and Alice – soon became inseparable."
"They both still seem to share the same bond." I wasn't jealous about that.
"Yes. They do. And due to their gifts, they both get along so well. As they both say, a freak is always there for a freak."
"I can't deny that." I smiled imagining how supportive Alice had been about my relationship with Edward since the starting.
When it was near to seven Charlie showed himself in his new clothes which he usually saved for big occasions. He was greeted by Edward who invited him in.
I was expecting some sort of grimace on his face but he was wearing a big smile instead. I wondered what Edward might have said to him. Whatever it was, I was happy to see that Edward was trying to make Charlie soft towards him, and Charlie too listened to me.
"Hey, dad." I greeted from the loveseat.
He saw me sitting over there, in nothing fancy but my regular skirt which I had wore today. He sat beside me on the loveseat.
"You look handsome." I complimented.
He took it all wrong. "You should have warned me that I shouldn't wear anything fancy."
"Really, chief. You are looking good. Don't worry about that." He just huphed.
Esme and Carlisle came then and greeted him.
"Thanks for calling me here, Esme, Carlisle." He said as a greeting. "I hope Bella isn't troubling you here."
"Of course not, Charlie. We love her here." Esme broke in.
"You don't worry about that Charlie." Carlisle said further. "She anyway has her physiotherapies."
"About that, how is she doing now?" And they all talked about my health as if I wasn't seating right in front of them. They – more specifically Charlie – teased me about my clumsiness, adding she got it from me. And I got my revenge then by disclosing one of Charlie's mishap of clumsiness. He was more than happy to close the topic then.
"Where are the others?" He wondered when he saw only two of Cullen kids in the room.
"They all went for trekking as they wanted a small vacation." Alice answered as she joined us beside Edward. "They'll be back by today midnight."
"Hiking. It's great." Charlie enthused. "You must take care of them though. Grizzlies are on the lose during this time of the year."
Everyone, including me and excluding Charlie, smiled thinking of Emmett.
"Don't worry, Charlie." Edward mused with a light chuckle. "They take care."
Charlie was confused seeing all this but let it go. "You have a lovely house by the way, but why did you choose one in the outskirts of the city. I mean no offense but there are plenty of real estate in the city as well."
"We know that, Charlie," Carlisle agreed in his elderly tone, "but living here we feel more attached, connected to the nature. And we always wanted a house away from all the rush of the city and could find no other finer place than this one."
"Well, you are right. This place has a charm of it's own."
"I know dad. I told them the same thing." I jumped in, eager to be a part of the conversation. They all grinned at me and nodded slightly.
Silence followed then. Charlie seemed to be taking in the beauty of the house, Carlisle and Esme looking at each other and talking in hushed voices, laughing in between. It was so amazing to see them together. They both were perfect for each other, incomplete without each other. I looked at Edward then. He was already looking at me. I asked with my eyes what and he mouthed nothing shaking his head. But his eyes held mine, not leaving mine.
"Come on folks." The high pitched voice of Alice made me jump slightly. I glared at her and she stuck her tongue slightly at me. "Let's eat. I'm starving."
I rolled my eyes at her words. She couldn't have chosen any other words to make it more comical, when I knew it was the exact opposite of what she dreaded.
Charlie nodded and together we moved to the dining area. Both the fathers sat on the two ends of the table with Esme and Edward beside Carlisle, I beside Edward and Alice on the other side of Charlie.
Over there we all talked and ate the French fries and Lasagne along with salad Esme had prepared. The dinner was delicious but not for the vampires. They now and then tried to stuff their dinner in their napkins, in which they were mostly successful as Charlie was not a good observant when food was in the mix. He too appraised Esme for her cooking and shared some of his disaster experiences when asked for.
After dinner we all again sat, but this time the elders sat making their own group while we three sat together on a loveseat. I sat proudly beside Edward on the loveseat with my legs in his lap – he had insisted on that – and Alice on the ottoman with us, talking about nothing in particular. Charlie saw us sitting together, and especially his eyes were on I and Edward, but he didn't speak anything then – let it go for the moment.
"Tomorrow is going to be boring as well, stupid weekend!" I muttered in a small. voice.
They both laughed at my expense.
"What do you want to do tomorrow?" Edward asked me with a smile. "Watch a movie? Visit a library?"
"Like I'll be able to do anything with this stupid cast?" I muttered with a growl. It was already hard to stay with a cast on, in that to not able to do anything on a whole day off. It was disgusting.
"We can go to Seattle?" Edward offered politely. "I am, anyway, due to take you to Seattle. Remember?"
"No. I don't want to go anywhere out of Forks now."
"I can carry you."
"No need."
"Okay. But I'm going tomorrow, if it's fine by you."
"Where to?"
"Carlisle and I are going for a hunting trip tomorrow night. We'll be back by the next morning, if it's fine by you." I was happy to see him saying the word hunting without any hesitation now, but not for his hunting trip. It was bad enough he was trying to delay his plans because of me. I didn't want to hinder any more of his plans than I already had.
"You should definitely go. It has been a long time since you had a good trip."
He searched my eyes and I tried to keep a brave face and smiled at him assuringly.
"Okay."
"I know!" Alice, who was till now sitting silent, jumped like a child. "We can have a night over at your house – as this house is off the limits, I can see that – thanks to Charlie."
"Alice!"
"What? I'm just speaking. Anyway, we can have a night stay at your house. Have some parlour time for you, do some online shopping, play games..."
"I am already dreading your version of nightover, Alice."
"Come on, Bella. Be a good sport. It'll be fun."
I looked at Edward for an answer, though the idea of sleeping alone, after spending all these nights with Edward, was little terrible.
He smiled as an answer. "It's all up to you. Though I must tell you again, it's almost impossible to convince her not to."
"I know that. And that's why I'm going to regret it. But okay, Alice."
"Yay! So we have manicures, pedicures, massages, face spa..."
I looked at Edward and frowned. "She's not going to stop, isn't she?"
"I warned you." He sang with a smile. I too smiled back, resuming to listen the stupid list of Alice and her horrifying plans of playtime.
When it was near to ten, Charlie announced that we should go and I agreed.
The Cullens greeted us a goodbye. Edward walked with me to the car while Carlisle walked with Charlie.
"I'll see you in a few." He promised as he stopped by my car, his body too close to me for Charlie's dislike, too far from me for my liking.
"Okay. Be soon." I yawned again. I had been feeling sleepy since the past half hour.
He chuckled. "Get some sleep."
"No. I'll wait." I involuntarily yawned again.
He kissed my forehead, much to Charlie's chagrin, and opened the gate for me. I heard Charlie humph as he sat in the car. He waved a last time to Carlisle and drove off.
I could feel the small tension in Charlie's shoulders as he drove.
"The Cullens are very nice, and their house." He spoke after a time.
I smiled as he was true. It was a beauty in itself. "I know. You must see it in the daylight. It looks splendid."
He nodded, thinking of something deeply.
"You seem to get very fond of them." He murmured, concerned and eager to know.
"They are amazing. Very nice."
"More specifically of one." He further added.
I now understood what was going on in his mind and where this conversation was going.
"You already knew I and Edward were a thing." I murmured gently.
"But that doesn't mean I'm ready to accept him."
"Dad!"
"Fine! As you say." He surrendered and then exhaled loudly. "But I don't want you to take any rash decision which you'll regret later. You can talk to me about it whenever you want to."
"I know that, dad. And trust me, we both are being careful."
"I hope so, else I won't hesitate in using my police authority." He wanted me to pass on this information to him. I rolled my eyes mentally.
"Sure, chief."
This time he rolled his eyes and smiled. "He is nice kid, though. Very mature."
"I know that, dad. It was not his fault that day too. If anything, he was the one who successfully made me understand that I was thinking rashly."
"That doesn't mean my opinion for him will change. He hurts you once and then he will be the one dealing with the police chief."
"Hey, now you are being objectionable."
He smiled, and I too was happy that the hard part was over now. I knew that he will slowly ease onto Edward.
"Alice asked if I could sleep over their house, tomorrow." I told him then, changing the topic.
"Of course not!" He roared.
"Edward will be out for hun... trekking." Oops! I almost slipped.
I heard him sigh a little with relaxation hearing this.
"It's not that." He explained his outburst, forgetting that just like me he too couldn't tell a lie, "I trust Esme and Carlisle. It's just that you already sort of stay there whole day, and tomorrow is a weekend day. I don't won't you to go their and hijack any of their other plans."
Alice was right. He was not going to let this go.
"You're right." I agreed anyway. "Can Alice come at our place then for the night."
"She's more than welcome, honey."
"I'll call her tomorrow."
"But what about your other friends? Don't you think you spend most of your time with Edward and Alice now. You should make plans with them."
What was he getting upto? And why did every one tend to forget that I wasn't in any condition to do anything without injuring myself anymore.
"Are you forgetting it?" I pointed at my leg. "I can't even if I want to."
"I know honey, I was talking about your other friends coming over for a night stay."
"Oh. Sure." He had made a valid point. It's important I do that else I will soon forget what real world is like, thanks to my obsession of spending every minute with Edward or his vampire family. "I'll talk to them."
"Okay."
We drove the rest in silence, the topic of Cullens not rising up again. Though my mind was still on him. I wondered what it will be like to spend a night without him, instead with Alice...
We reached the house in no time. Charlie busied himself in watching news and sports while I busied myself in preparing for the upcoming exams, studying history. Though it was difficult to learn it, I managed to do a average job at that.
When it was past eleven, Charlie decided to sleep. He looked at me, asking if I needed anything. I denied. "Are you sure you'll manage today on your own." According to him Alice would not come today to help me as she was busy in her personal work. But little did he know that she wanted to be there to welcome jasper and that was why she didn't want to come then. "I can call anyone else if you want to."
"It's fine, dad. Really. You should rest."
"Okay." He helped me up the stairs and in my bed. When he was happy with his work he said a goodnight and walked out of the room.
I wondered, while I was lying on the bed, what it will be for me when Edward would come back from his long hunts, not his small hunts while I was sleeping. I was so accustomed to his presence around me that I seldom forget that I live in the real world. It's still just like a fantasy for me. I would also greet him a good welcome, with few laughs, few kisses, asking him what he had for his hunt, how was his time over there...
I was sitting on a bark of a tree, the canopy of the trees helping me escape the heavy rain. The winds blowing were stirring the leaves creating a crunching and whistling sound in the background. I was waiting over there to see Edward, who would be back from his hunt within a few minutes.
He was right in front of me in a blink, his hair disarranged due to his recent run, his eyes lightest shade of gold. He kissed me a Hii and told me about his time away from me. But then suddenly he said, "I liked being away from you. It was a good change and I liked it. So I decided that maybe I should go away from you." I was staring at him in utter disbelief and silence, not able to comprehend the meaning of his words. "Bye, Bella. See you later." Was all he said and was gone in a blink.
"No!" I moaned, asking him to stop. But two hands were stopping me. I looked around and saw Billy holding me tightly, not letting me go. Edward was standing a few feet away from me, asking me to come with him, his stretched hand waiting for mine, but Billy wasn't ready to leave me. "It's all for the best, Bella. You'll thank me later." He said.
"No!" I roared this time, trying to shake the hands off
"Bella! Bella!"
I opened my eyes to see that it were the hands of Edward holding me, his face concerned, looking at me with worry in his ochre eye.
"What happen Bella?"
I looked at my surroundings once again to confirm that I was dreaming. There was no sign of Billy or trees around me, assuring me that I was actually dreaming.
"Nothing. Just a bad dream."
He searched my eyes for any sign of lie or worry. "Are you sure? Because it didn't sound like 'nothing'."
"Very much sure." I affirmed, looking at him. He nodded minutely, still not believing me. I looked over the clock to see it was past two, and my skirt was replaced by red shorts – which reached my middle thighs. Alice must have came and changed me into it.
I cuddled with him, both of us sleeping sideways, my face hidden in his chest as he wrapped me in his arms, a layer of blanket between us.
"Edward?"
"Yes."
"I love you."
I felt him smile against my hair and the soft, cold touch of his lips on my temple. "I love you too, Bella. Even more. Sleep now." And he ran his long fingers through my hair as a trick to lull me to sleep, singing the melody of my lullaby.
I slowly succumbed to my sleep, trying to forget the bad dream and just thinking that he was with me here right now, loved me and wanted to be with me.