Chapter 20 - Into the Night

BELLA

It was well past three o'clock in the morning, when Demetri came stumbling out of the building with his arm around the girl he had been with. As much as I wished the rest of the night had been spent with me in Edward's arms, it wasn't. Once he knew I was safe from the likes of Tyler and then Demetri, he spent the rest of the night annoying the hell out of his sister, who was trying to flirt with Jasper. Jasper, of course, found the whole mess amusing, as he sat back and watched Edward freak out about his little sister falling in love with what Edward later called a narcissistic military freak from Jesus Land. Yeah, not quite sure where Jesus Land came in, but I was guessing it meant he was from the south, not Jerusalem.

Anyway, as much as I would have liked to have done some experimenting, doing it on prom night seemed a bit cliché. Not that it was an option mind you. Okay, who was I kidding, if Edward hadn't been totally preoccupied with keeping his baby sister a virtuous woman, I would so have been up for doing the dirty.

The night ended with us dropping off Tracy first, the girl that was, as Demetri put it, his reward. Edward was sitting between Jasper and Alice. Alice looked pissed, and Jasper looked amused. I think he had underestimated Edward's love for him, because it looked like Edward was going to beat the shit out of Jasper any minute.

Emmett was next to go. He stretched when he got out and looked over at us, like he was about to say something serious. "Man, I'm starving. Edward, I could really go for some more of your mother's anus right now."

"It's anas," I corrected, and he laughed.

"Right, that's sooo much better," he said snickering. "I had fun. Rosie baby, call me," he said with a wink, and he was finally gone.

When we pulled up in front of my house, Alice asked Edward if he was going to walk me to the door.

He looked torn. "It's fine, Edward. I understand your need to protect your sister," I said with a soft smile. I would never make him feel guilty for looking out for her.

Alice huffed, and then Jasper spoke up. "You know, man, the chief was cool with us tonight, no need to make him think otherwise."

Edward actually growled, and it was really hot. "Fine, but you're walking her to the door with me!" he said pulling on Jasper's arm.

"Sorry, love, I tried," Jasper said to Alice with a shrug and followed Edward out of the car.

The three of us stood awkwardly at the doorstep. "So, thank you for asking me to the dance. I had a great time," I said nervously. I was supposed to say that stuff, right? They did it on TV, you said thank you and that you had a good time, right?

"Yeah, it was an interesting date. Thanks for letting me get Tyler for you."

"Yeah, no problem."

"Oh, for heaven sakes, if you're not going to kiss the girl, at least hug her and feel up the breasts you've been ogling all night," Jasper snapped.

I looked at him shocked, and Edward looked even more pissed at him.

"Good evening, Bella," Edward said sharply and turned to leave.

Jasper must have seen my disappointment, because he pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly. "Yes, that's the stuff, if he won't feel you up, I'm more than happy to," he said as he rubbed my back.

Was it strange that I found his offense comforting?

I didn't really have time to think this through, though, as Edward spun on his heels. He saw Jasper hugging me, and I had just enough time to push Jasper out of the way, as Edward swung at him. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to move myself out of the way, and he punched me right in the eye with what felt like all his might, sending me flying backwards into Jasper's arms, making me see stars.

"Holy shit!" Jasper cried. "What the fuck are you doing, man?"

"Oh no! Oh, my god, Bella! Shit, Bella, are you okay? Fuck, baby, I'm so sorry, I wasn't aiming for you."

Damn, the boy could hit, he had really rang my bell.

"Let's get her inside," Jasper finally said, and I felt him lift me up and carry me inside. I kept my eyes closed, because it hurt to try and open them right now. I felt something cold on my face, and that helped. I was carefully laid on the couch.

I heard the footsteps of my father, and I knew this was not going to go down well.

"Bella?" my dad's worried voice called to me. "What happened?"

"I hit her, but I swear it was an accident," Edward started, but my dad lost it.

"What the hell? You hit my baby girl?" My dad was furious. I was thinking Edward should run, and I hoped my dad didn't have his gun on him.

"Stop shouting!" I hissed at them. "Damn it my head hurts."

"Let me see it, honey." I felt my dad pulling away the cold compress.

"It wasn't his fault," I whispered.

"You never deserve to be hit, honey, no matter what you say or do."

"I know that, Daddy. He wasn't trying to hit me. He was trying to hit Jasper for feeling me up, but I got in the way when I pushed Jasper out of the way."

"What?" my dad croaked.

"Jasper was just hugging me and razzing Edward about feeling me up. He wasn't doing anything wrong; he didn't deserve to be hit, so I pushed him out of the way," I explained.

I cracked my eyes open and saw Edward sitting across the room with his head in his hands. "I'm so, so sorry. I swear, I wasn't trying to hit you, I was just trying to hit that stupid bastard for touching you."

My dad took a deep breath and looked over at him. "I'll take care of her from here, Edward. You go on home. I'm sure your family is worried about you."

"Yes, Sir." He sounded so defeated.

Edward left, and I sat in silence with my dad for a moment. "You weren't covering for him were you Bells? I mean I know what kind of record he has. I should've arrested him when he assaulted…"

I didn't let him finish. "Jasper's been pissing him off all night flirting with his little sister. He spent most the night sitting between them, and when it came time to walk me to the door, Edward didn't want to leave Alice with Jasper alone in the backseat. He made Jasper come to say goodbye to me.

"Edward was a perfect gentleman, Dad. I told him thank you for the night, and Jasper was teasing him about not kissing me goodnight and said he should at least feel me up.

"Edward was pissed at him for being crude and was heading back to the car, when Jasper pulled me into a hug to taunt him. He wasn't feeling me up, but he told Edward he was, and then Edward just snapped and went to hit him.

"I pushed Jasper out of the way, because he didn't deserve to be hit. He wasn't feeling me up, Dad, just hugging me," I finished closing my eyes when my dad let out a sigh and leaned back.

I was pretty sure I had saved Edward's butt from being thrown in jail, but I knew my dad would be watching him like a hawk from now on.

I spent Sunday in bed switching out my ice packs. Edward really knew how to hit. I made a note to myself never to piss him off.

By Monday, my face was not as swollen, but I was definitely black, blue and a few shades of purple. I let out a huff, as I gently pulled my hair back into my usual ponytail, but it hurt too much, so I brushed out my frizz and looked like the damn Bride of Frankenstein.

I was surprised when I heard a knock at the door so early. My dad answered it, and I heard Alice talking rapidly. "Oh, my god, Chief, I'm so sorry, Jasper told me what happened. He's so sorry, too. He didn't know my brother really had a thing for Bella and would defend her like that. He wasn't really groping her, just hugging her, I swear."

Of course, I was stuck on "had a thing." Edward had a thing for me? And what kind of thing was that?

Alice surprised me by popping into my room suddenly. "Hey, Bella! Oh man, that does look bad. Edward must've been really pissed."

"Yeah, thanks," I said wishing I could roll my eyes, but it hurt too much.

"Just sit down, and I'll get to work fixing this."

"You have magical healing powers?" I asked obnoxiously.

"No, but I have makeup that'll cover it up," she said ignoring my attitude, sitting a large bag of cosmetics and stuff on my bed.

She applied the makeup to my face as gently as possible, but it still hurt like a bitch. I finally let out a relieved sigh, when she took a step back and smiled. "There, that looks better, now what are you doing with your hair?"

"I already did it. It hurts to pull it back."

"Hmm," she said, and I closed my eyes, resting my face. Next thing I knew, I felt her behind me running her finger through my hair. I didn't know what she had put in it, but it smelled good.

"Okay, all done. Let's go," she said and headed for the door.

I clomped downstairs to find my dad holding out some toast for me. "Is everything alright, Bella?" I still didn't think he believed it had been an accident.

"I'm fine, Dad." I leaned up and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you tonight."

When I walked out of the house, my dad followed. I saw Edward with his head down on the steering wheel. When he heard us coming, he quickly got out, opening the doors for Alice and me. He didn't say a word, just looked at the ground sadly.

I looked up to see my dad with a tight smile, as he waved goodbye to me. I hoped he saw that Edward really hadn't meant it. It was obvious he was sorry.

There was nothing really to forgive, but it didn't look like Edward was going to forgive himself anytime soon.