Meeting

I'd just closed the door to the ballroom when I saw Alex walking down the hallway towards me. I gasped and scrambled back into the room, shutting the doors firmly behind me again. I flipped the lock and leaned my back against the door as if it would actually prevent Alexander's entrance. Why now?

"Bella, are you okay?" I looked up and saw Edward a few inches in front of me, a puzzled expression on his face. I opened my mouth to speak, but a knock at the door interrupted me.

"Bella, are you in there?" Alexander's voice rang out. Edward took his eyes off me and looked over my shoulder at the door. I felt utterly trapped. I couldn't figure out how to get out of this mess. "Bella, let me in."

Edward reached out to grab my arm, trying to pull me away from the door. I refused to move, and after several attempts, he got frustrated and simply grabbed my waist and lifted me out of the way. He wouldn't have been able to do that if my powers weren't bound, but, since I was in the house, I could do nothing to stop him. I let out a groan as he set me down and pulled the doors open. They both stared at each other for a moment and then turned to look at me.

"Bella, who is this?" They both asked. I bit my bottom lip and tried to remain calm so that my voice wouldn't break once I began to speak.

"Alexander, this is Edward. Edward is a friend of mine, he's staying here for a while as my guest," I began, my voice higher than usual. "Edward, this is Alexander. He's an old friend of mine and he'll be staying until the party." I stopped the gush of words and watched for their reactions.

Edward kept his face blank, but his eyes were harsh. Alex's expression was indescribable. The silence stretched between them like a dark cloud and I was afraid I'd be the witness to a murder if the storm didn't break soon. The longer the silence lasted the more the tension built. I had to do something.

"Um...Alex, you were looking for me?"

It worked. Both of them stopped glaring at each other and turned their attention back to me. I didn't look either of them in the eye; I knew that paying special attention to one would only be taken as a slight to the other. I wanted to curl up into a ball and hide. This can't be happening!

"I was going to give you your birthday present," Alex informed me, glancing at Edward from the corner of his eye.

"What is it?" I was not really in the mood for presents.

"A jet ski," he announced proudly. My mouth dropped open. I can't drive a car and he wants me to drive a jet ski?

"Bella cannot drive a jet ski," Edward cut in coldly.

"I will be happy to teach to you how to drive it." Alex said, completely ignoring Edward's presence. "Your father has already agreed that we should take a trip to the islands for a week." The islands? My father owned a few small islands in the Caribbean, but didn't use them without a good reason. Typical Alex, I thought to myself. He has everything planned so perfectly that there's no way out. "We leave tomorrow morning."

I kept my head was down, staring at the floor and wishing this was a dream. I suddenly saw Alexander's feet in front of mine and felt his hand underneath my chin. He pulled my face up to meet his and kissed me one the lips swiftly before turning on his heels and leaving the room.

When I regained control of my mind, I turned to look at Edward. He was livid. I hated the fact that he felt like that because of me, because I was too slow to make a decision. He posture was rigid and it looked like he was carved out of stone. There was no trace of laughter or kindness in his charcoal black eyes. He looked like he was struggling to control his temper.

"Edward," I asked quietly. "Are you okay?" I stepped toward him and he shuddered and backed away from me.

"Please, don't, Isabella," he chocked. "I want to be alone for a while."

He didn't sound anything like the Edward I had known. His voice was cold and hardly a whisper. Did I do this to him?

"Edward," I began, wanting to explain.

"Bella, just go!" he screamed.

I was shocked. He had actually screamed at me. I choked back the sobs that threatened to overwhelm me. I refused to let him see me break down. I turned and ran out of the room as fast as I could.

My surroundings became a blur and I thought I was halfway to my room when I was pulled backwards into the arms of someone. I didn't have the strength to resist. I closed my eyes and sobbed tearlessly into my captor's cold chest.

"Sweetheart, everything's okay. The world hasn't ended yet. I'm here for you," my father's said, his voice soft and comforting but with a hard edge I couldn't place.

I dug my face deeper into his chest and he bent slightly to pick me up.

"Isabella, you haven't cried in years, and now you cry over a boy?" I pitied myself for this new weakness. My father carried me into my room and set me down on the bed gently. He had to pry my fingers from his shirt to get me to let go. He ran his fingers through my hair while I stared blankly at the ceiling.

"Dad, am I really stupid?" I asked.

"No," he whispered. "Just because you cried doesn't mean you are stupid. It is alright to show weakness once in a while," he told me, his voice earnest and fatherly. In a split second, though, that hardness was back. "But I will not allow the person that made you cry go without punishment." My breath caught in my throat and I grabbed onto my father's sleeve.

"No, it isn't his fault," I protested. My own words surprised me. Why am I defending him? My father's eyes softened and he patted my hand gently.

"Alright, I won't punish him," he promised, "but you must calm down."

I released his sleeve and laid back down. He waited until my erratic breathing calmed before he spoke again.

"I must tend to some things. Are you going to be alright by yourself?" I nodded absently.

He sighed and got up to leave. I heard the faint click of the door and then silence. I flipped around on my stomach, dug my head into the pillow and screamed.

What is wrong with me? Why did I defend Edward after he'd made me cry? I didn't enjoy crying and no one who had ever made me cry had gotten away with it unscathed. My father's punishment would've been physically painful, but that wouldn't have done me any good. I wasn't going to let him off that easily. I would get even.

I was going to invite him to the island.