I had become accustomed; better yet emotionally attached to wearing Edward's grey tee shirt for the past week.
It was a Saturday morning-only a week since the fire, and I woke up to the record player. I rolled over and opened my eyes gradually to see Edward sitting on the wood floor and examining the record collection. He casually looked my way and got up to sit on the edge of the bed.
"you really like that shirt, I've noticed" he commented
"It's got a nice feel to it" I smirked.
"It suites you. That's one of the only things that I kept from my mom." He stated blankly. I suddenly felt horrible, like I was tainting the memory of his mother. I frantically tugged the shirt off and threw it at him, then covered my head with the comforter.
"I'm sorry!" I said, but it was muffled because of the covers.
"What the hell Bella?" In a shocked tone and then- hysterical laughter. I grumbled loudly.
"Don't laugh at me!" I yelled through the blanket. The laughter trailed off but I could still hear it faintly through the door even after it closed.
I rolled the covers down and realized that my chest was bare and I was suddenly panic stricken. What if he'd seen me? But I brushed the feeling off- the maneuver was too quick to have anything to worry about I repeated over in my head.
I put on a bathrobe and walked across the hall to shower. When I opened the door to my room Alice started screaming about how I couldn't come in yet because my outfit wasn't planned out, so I stood in the hallway, wrapped in a towel with my wet hair sticking to my back.
I heard a whiney voice "Edward you just have to see it, it looks like, just so natural on me"
What a valley girl.
I leaned onto the wall and tried to tune them out. I didn't know who the girl was and frankly I didn't care. I tried to convince myself that the only reason Edward was hanging out with this girl was because he was tutoring her or something charitable like that, but I shouldn't judge.
They reached the top of the steps, and I saw the girl- who else than Tanya Denali, with her long strawberry blonde hair down the her butt and a bright pink belly shirt with a Minnie Mouse decal.
She looked like she was and over-grown toddler. When she saw me she stopped in her tracks, Edward bumping into her because of the abrupt stop.
"Oh, Bella Swan- right?"
I nodded quickly. I was dreading one of those "oh I'm so sorry about your dad and your house" speeches, but she surprised me with something even better.
"Where'd you get your outfit? Bed, Bath and Beyond?" She smirked to herself , she clearly thought that she was the keenest person ever for coming up with such a snarky comment.
I didn't have anything to say back to that because it was a towel- and the tag said Bed, Bath and Beyond. I looked to Edward and he was staring at the situation like it was I ticking time bomb and was ready to explode at any second.
"Yup." I replied before I spun around and went into the piano room. I closed the door behind me and pressed my back against it.
"What's wrong?" Chirped Alice while she was smoothing the outfit she had laid out on my bed.
"Tanya Denali Just tried to insult me."
"Ew. I think Edward hangs out with her for the free sex, totally degrading- I know," She went on " But I don't blame him- he's the only one of us that doesn't have constant affection from someone, so I guess it's nice to feel like he's important to a girl that's not a family member" Alice explained.
All the information hit me like a brick and I suddenly felt awful for Edward. He must feel so jealous of everyone in his own house has a significant other. But, what if that's not what he wants- if he's mindlessly fucking Tanya, then maybe he doesn't want monogamy.
"She's just bitter- don't worry about it, sweetie" She gave me a comforting smile "Now get dressed we have a lot to do today"
"Like what?" I mumbled- no trace of excitement in my voice- I knew it was going to have something to do with shopping and cosmetics.
"Well I can't let you live off of target and thrift store clothes anymore, so check shopping on your to do list. And my tweezers can only do so much so I'm thinking we'll hit the spa as well."
"Alice, Target, thrift shops, and your tweezers are all I can afford " I said- kind of ashamed because I wasn't as well-off as the Cullens'.
She laughed.
"Bella, you seriously think that my parents aren't fully supporting you, now? You're part of our family!" She chuckled again.
It made me uncomfortable that they were so welcoming to have a random stranger join their family. I couldn't get a grip on the sheer generosity and love that oozed from the Cullens, and it made me uneasy.
Thankfully the outfit wasn't to high fashion for my taste- just skinny jeans and a band tee-shirt that Alice had made slits through the back. She weaved my hair into a long fish-tail braid and slicked my lashes with some mascara.
As I sat in the leather seats of Alice's sports car I realized that I hadn't thought about Charlie or Renee or the fire and even though it was just noon I was having fun- listening to whatever Alice was rambling about.
We got to Alice's favorite department store, and it was as if she owned the place. Everyone knew her name and all she had to do was say the word and a group of women in black suits were crowding me with swatches of fabrics and patterns. Fortunately, Alice did all the talking and choosing, all I had to do was try things on and twirl around to see what kind of feedback I would get.
Alice snapped a picture of me from her iphone in a slinky floral dress.
"I'm sending you a picture of yourself so you can show off to all your relatives" She smiled.
"Alice- I don't have a cell phone" I said, mildly embarrassed that I wasn't so caught up with technology. "I mean, I used to but it's probably a melted pile of plastic now" I looked down to my feet.
"Add that to our to do list!" She shouted as if someone slapped her in the face. I laughed quietly.
We headed to the apple store, where Alice once again whipped out her black credit card and paid in full for my new iphone.
We pulled into the driveway and I saw the familiar black station wagon in the driveway.
"Alice" I whispered "I can't go in the house right now"
"Why, what's wrong?" She looked confused
"That's Phil's car" I motioned to the car in the drive way.
"So your Mom is here!" she said with excitement "let's go say hi!" and before I could protest she pulled me out of the car and into the big white house where Esme was serving Phil and my Mother tea.
I looked all around the room, trying to find an escape before they would see me, but it was too late and Renee rushed over towards me, practically dumping her plate of cookies in Phil's lap.
"Bella! I was so worried when I heard- why didn't you call?" She went on seeming genuinely concerned to my surprise.
She started crying and I saw the look on Phil's face over her shoulder and my blood instantly chilled. He hated when she cried, and he knew it was because of me.
Of course Esme had already invited them to stay for dinner, being her hospitable self. And then it dawned on me that this could be it; The Cullen's might want me to go to Jacksonville with My mother and Phil- I tried to keep from shuttering.
We had already tried that before they got married.
"Phil, please- she's the only thing I have" Renee pleaded from where she sat, crumpled on the floor- Phil standing over her.
"That's pathetic- she's a ten year old slut, Renee- are you stupid? You don't even know your own daughter" He yelled from an inch away from her face. She started to cry. "Call her in here" he said more quietly.
"Isabella, come here sweetie" She called, but I already know what was coming.
I came into the living room and stood in the doorway not wanting to stay to close. Renee's hair was even more frazzled than ever and her cheeks were streaked with tear stains. Phil was fuming, literally red with rage. He grabbed me by the wrist and flung me across the room- luckily onto the couch.
"Phil!" She gasped.
"Shut up, you bitch" He spat his acidic words. "Now say it Renee- tell her what you chose. Tell her where she's going" He sounded much calmer at that, probably because he knew he was getting his way.
"Bella, you're going to go and live with your Dad, in Seattle" She didn't even look me in the eyes.
"But, Mommy-" I whined before Phil ran over to the couch and slapped me, hard, across the jaw. I heard Renee's quiet sobs in the back round.
"Do you see what you do you little fuck? You did this!" He bellowed at me, using me as a scapegoat for her sorrow.
"You're not finished Renee, tell her what else." I could tell he was winding down, but not nearly done with his fit.
"I'm sorry Bella, but I love Phil more than I love you" She said frankly, choking out a sob.
"Bella, why don't we take a little walk?" Phil- to my surprise, asked. I wanted to refuse but I couldn't in such a public setting, it would just make matters worse. I nodded curtly.
We walked to the edge of the front lawn when he started with me.
"I can't believe we have to have this conversation again Isabella. She already told you the first time that I'm her top priority; can't you get that through your fucking head?" He got in my face. I immediately panicked and slammed my foot on top of his. He let out a guttural scream and I turned to run away. I heard the front door open, but I guessed that when he reached out and grabbed my hair and threw me to the wet grassy ground. I screamed loudly and bit him in the shoulder so hard that he almost rolled off of me but like a revolving door, he snapped back and punched me in the eye.
My body was numb and everything around me felt like I was wrapped in a fur coat, all fuzzy and warm, especially in my face. Then, I was lifted; Floating like a feather, and like a wave crashing in reality returned to me- loud noises and people screaming.
"Edward- stop it!" Carlisle's voice was so scary I shuddered. I tried to turn my head to see the commotion but Alice repositioned my head so Esme could dab at my eyelid, which was tingling and starting to burn. It swelled so large that I couldn't see out of my left eye.
I sat up and instantly regretted it for my head was throbbing ten times worse that it was when I was laying down, but finally I could see.
Edward was sitting on top of Phil and literally beating th shit out of him and he definitely did some damage before Jasper and Emmett pulled him off of my stepfather.
And as bad as this sounds, I could feel the butterflies in my stomach because I was so overjoyed that Edward was so quick to come to my rescue. Yet, it occurred to me that I was acting like such a little schoolgirl, and that just made me mad at myself.
I lightly brought my finger up to my left eye and when I looked at it again it was covered in blood. I almost threw up right there but I held it in, because I didn't want everyone to have another thing to worry about and have to clean up.
Esme and Alice carted me inside and I could hear Rosalie's high pitched screech from inside.
Esme told Alice to go get the Medical kit from the laundry room so it would be set up for Carlisle, then she helped me hoist myself onto the island and laid me down, washing my face with a warm wash cloth. I don't know what hit me when I started to cry in the kitchen with Esme and Alice and I was embarrassed because on top of my real family trauma I was crying in front of them, yet again.
Alice took over the job of putting pressure on my eye and Esme kept murmuring how she was so sorry and everything is going to turn out just fine.
Maybe a half hour later, everyone filtered into the house and it was dusk. Carlisle put latex gloves on and started stitching my eyelid up. Everyone sat in the kitchen as this went on and Emmett was the first on to say something.
"Wow, Rose. I knew you were a tough bitch but I never thought you could throw such hell down." He looked at his girlfriend with pure admiration. She let a hint of a smirk show, but kept her serious expression in tact.
"I'm sorry." Edward broke another period of silence. Carlisle cut another set of stitches and slammed the surgical scissors on the marble counter top.
"For what, son? I think we all know that you were definitely justified in jumping, assaulting, and humiliating a grown man!" He said sarcastically, making the whole room tense.
"Dad, he was ready to kill Bella! Are you just going to sit around and watch that happen, like it was some kind of wrestling match?" He blurted, and even when he was mad his voice was soft as velvet.
"Let's leave your personal feeling out of this Edward. No I would never let that happen, I consider Bella one of my children- but I wasn't going to make a fool out of myself by stooping to his level of violence and disrespect." Carlisle dignified himself, then picked up the needle and scissors again.
"I'm right here you know." My voice came out shaky, and I didn't recognize myself.
"Sorry" They said simultaneously.
Carlisle finished the stitches and Alice and Rose took me upstairs and helped me into a bath.
"that was heavy, man" Rose whispered.
"I'm sorry you guys had to witness that. " I apologized.
"Are you kidding, it's not your fault your step-dad's an abusive ass-hole." Alice's voice raised and octave.
"What did Carlisle mean when he said for Edward to leave his personal feelings out of things?" I blurted unintentionally.
Rose and Alice looked at each other.
"What did you just say?" Alice asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Never mind, j-just don't dwell on it. I was just wondering." I stuttered before dunking under the warm water.
Finally, I was alone. Head on feathered pillows, body melting into my mattress- when I heard the shuffling of paper on wood. I switched the light on and saw a crumpled piece of paper resting on the floor, halfway under the connection door to me and Edward's room.
I slipped out of bed and tip toed over to the paper, crouching to pick it up.
You awake?
-E
I traced my finger over the neat script.
I think so…
I read it more than three times before I slid it back under the door and I sat criss-cross-apple-sauce and I felt like I was a twelve year old at summer camp again.
This time is came back faster than I expected.
Knock twice if I can come in
So I did, and the door creaked open. He closed the door behind himself and sat, with his legs sprawled out at both sides of me.
Without thinking I put my hands on his legs to steady myself, and I didn't think that such a small gesture could work him up so much that he lean in closer.
My heart rate picked up as his face slowly inched closer to mine and he whispered sweetly "I'm so sorry" (words I've heard before) and rested his head on my right shoulder.
I lifted my hand off of his leg and onto his neck to play with the hair there. He groaned.
"You should sleep" He whispered before he kissed my shoulder gingerly and lifted me into bed.
"Stay with me?" I whispered into the darkness after he shut the lights and was retreating to his room. I heard the floorboards creek when he turned around and crawled over me so that his back was against the wall and his legs were draped over mine so that I was laying down and he was sitting upright, using the bed as if it were a couch.
I sighed contently and was drifting away into a dream state before I heard his voice once more. "How I wish you were mine" and I could picture the look on his face, but I knew that there was a smile on mine.
Hello after a long writer's vacation. School's been a bitch as I was for most of you, but only fifteen more days.
It took me all weekend to write this and I'm actually really happy with how this story is going, if I may so myself.
Keep reading reviewing and dreaming- and thanks to all who voted for Plainview in the Vans custom culture competition- I owe my sanity to you.