Chapter Five.

I walked out of Emmett's office with a frown. I couldn't believe that I lied to him. I kept telling myself that it was for Rosalie's sake, hoping that maybe I could justify it to myself, but it only made me feel worse. My gut was telling me to tell Emmett. The only thing stopping me was my stubborn sister.

I silently took my seat behind the front counter, and buried my face inside my hands. I sucked in a deep ragged breath, and squeezed my eyes shut. I massaged my face with the palm of my hands, letting out the breath I was holding.

I moved my hands away from my face, and rested my forehead on the edge of the counter. I flipped open my phone, and groaned. I had texted Rosalie twenty minutes ago, and she still hasn't replied. I quickly dialed her number, and held the phone up to my ear. I figured that I was probably overdoing it a bit, but I didn't care too much.

It rang five times, and went to voice mail. I groaned, I bit my lip anxiously. "Hey Bella!" Renesmee shouted. The sound of her voice made me jump. She laughed, and sauntered over to me.

"What's wrong?" She asked her voice laced with concern. I shook my head at her. "Nothing."

"Are you sure?" she pressed. I sighed deeply through my nose. "It's complicated," I told her.

Just as Renesmee opened her mouth to say something my phone rang loudly, and Carlisle's popped up. I wryly pressed the green button.

"Hello?" I breathed into the speaker.

"Bella, you need to come to the hospital immediately." He said, his voice was firm but still laced with concern.

"Why? What's wrong?" I asked. I had a feeling that I already knew the answer.

"It's Rosalie,-" I cut him off. "I'll be there in 10." I closed the phone, and tossed it into my bag.

I got up, and headed for the door. "Bella! What's wrong?" Renesmee called out. She grabbed my arm, and I turned to face her.

"Where are you going?" she demanded. "Tell Emmett I'll make up the hours." I told her, and pulled out of her grip. I rushed out of the shop and ran over to my truck. My hands shook as I put the key into the ignition. I could barely think, let alone drive.

I should have listened to my instincs, and called the police last night. I banged my head on the steering wheel, as angry tears rolled down my cheeks. How could I be so stupid? I shouldn't have listened to Rose. The tears blurred my vision, making it almost if not impossible to see the road.

I was pulling into the hospital's parking lot when I finally noticed that Emmett's jeep was pulling in right next to me. He glared at me, as he stepped out of the Jeep. The fury in his eyes sent a shiver from the back of my head all the way down my spine.

"You fucking lied to me!" He spat. I cringed at his tone. I had never seen Emmett this angry, and knowing I was at fault made me feel even worse.

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"I cannot believe you!" He roared, and took a step towards me. I rushed into the building, as I fought the urge to curl up in a ball. I rushed over to the nurse's station.

"Can I help you?" The woman sneered, and removed a red lollipop from her mouth. She was short, overweight, and her dark roots were easy to spot, under her bleach blonde hair.

"What room is Rosalie Swan in?" I asked urgently. She placed the lollipop back in her mouth, and took her time looking up my sister's room. I groaned in frustration. She glared at me, but I ignored her. "Can you hurry please?" I asked as politely as I could.

"She's in room 26C." She spat. I nodded once, and took off. I rushed into the room, and a broken sob escaped my lips. I slowly walked over to her, stopping at the foot of the bed.

Her right eye was purple and almost swollen shut. She had sutures in her bottom lip, and just above her eyebrow. But that wasn't the worst of it. Her left leg was wrapped securely in a pasteurized cast. My jaw dropped, and I gasped. I dropped my bag on the ground, and I cautiously made my way over to her.

"Rose," I croaked. Hot wet tears spilled from my eyes. I grasped her hand lightly. When she tightened her hand around mine, a loud in human noise escaped me. I struggled to control my breathing, as sobs racked through me.

"I'm so sorry!" I managed to choke out between cries. "It's all... all m-my f-f-fault," I hiccupped. She pulled at my arm, silently telling me to get in bed with her. It was only then that I realized I was shaking, shaking hard, my entire frame vibrating until my teeth chattered, and the room around me seemed to wobble and blur in my eyes.

I crawled onto the bed, and curled into a tight ball at her right side. She wrapped her arm around me, and I carefully snuggled into her embrace. I heard a sound that didn't make sense, a strange, ripping noise. Distracted by the shaking, I couldn't tell where it was coming from.

"Shh, baby, shh," Rosalie whispered as she rubbed somewhat soothing circles on my back. "It's okay," she cooed. Then I understood. The noise was me. The ripping sound I was hearing was the sobs coming from my chest. That's what was shaking me.

"It's alright, I'm fine, I'll be okay," she chanted again and again.

"It could've been worse," I sobbed.

"I know," she whispered.

"You should've let me call someone last night."

"I know."

I rested my head against her shoulder, using the sleeve of my hoodie to wipe my eyes. I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself.

"Is everything alright in here?" A voice asked politely. It was a Carlisle, leaning on the frame of the door with a look that was both concerned, yet sill professional and detached at the same time.

"Yes, everything's fine." Rose answered politely.

"How are you feeling?" He asked coming closer to the bed.

"Um, I've been better." She laughed half-heartedly.

"Emmett's here to see you, if you want to see him." He informed her.

"I'd like that." She whispered I could hear the smile in her voice.

He nodded, smiled sadly at me, and then disappeared.

I waited until he was out of hearing range. "Does he know the truth about what happened?" I demanded my voice low and hoarse. I was finally getting control of myself, my breathing evening out.

"Yes, he knows everything." Rose told me.

"I'm guessing he called the police?"

"He said that they're out looking for him," she said.

"You mean he ran?"

She nodded once, watching my face for my reaction. I shuddered. "That's a bit scary." I whispered more to myself, than to her. "Are you okay with people knowing? What are we gonna do?"

She didn't answer, her expression twisted in response to something I had said.

As I stared at her battered, but still beautiful face, trying to understand the change, it suddenly struck me that I was here, in Rosalie's arms, lying in a hospital bed, and that she could've died.

"Oh, Rosalie," I cried, and I was sobbing again. I hated that I had this kind of reaction. A part of me wanted to be strong for Rosalie, and protect her. However, I couldn't help that this scared me more than anything. The tears were too thick for me to see her face.

I was vaguely aware of Emmett entering the room. I gripped her hospital gown in my fist, and cried harder into her shoulder when I felt his weight on the opposite side of the bed. All the crying was beginning to wear me out as I found myself slowly drifting in and out of sleep.

I struggled to stay awake, but I was almost too exhausted to try. Emmett whispering "Rosie," was the last thing I heard, before everything went black, and I fell into a dreamless sleep.