Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Jasper PoV

Bella had been in the hospital for a few days before I went to visit her. I'm not sure why it took me so long to go, but I'm sure it had to go with the emotions my family members come home with. Such worry…I've never felt so much from anyone before, let alone four people. Edward refuses to come home and Carlisle spends almost all of his time at the hospital. Alice was radiating worry and disappointment. The latter confused me a bit, and when I asked her about it, she replied and said that this was partly her fault. That she should've seen it before it happened. I sighed and puller her close to me.

"Alice, it's not your fault. No one could've seen this coming."

I was desperate to have the old, happy, bubbly Alice back. But I knew she wasn't coming back until Bella was better.

"I know, but I can't help but feel this way." She sighed. "And I don't see Bella's future changing. Every time I look, I see…" she didn't finish her sentence. She just buried her head in my chest.

"Jasper? Alice?" Rosalie poked her head in the room. "We're ready to go."

I nodded and Alice broke away from me, taking my hand.

The emotions in the car on the way to the hospital were almost too much for me to handle. The sadness and worry filled the air and made it hard to breathe, though I didn't necessarily need to. I couldn't even try to calm everyone down. I couldn't find the feeling in myself to send it to them. I felt what they felt – worried and sad.

Only two people were allowed Bella's room, but with Edward not likely to leave her side soon, it meant that only one of us could go in at a time. Esme, Emmett, Rosalie, and Alice all went in before me, each coming out more depresses than before. I knew that they would all be crying if they could.

I sighed and walked into the room, not really sure what to do. Edward was sitting next to Bella's bed, holding her hand. I was worried about what I would feel coming from Edward. I was sure that whatever he was feeling, it would be a thousand times stronger than what the others felt. But the overwhelming emotion in the room was anger. Anger? Confusion washed through me. Was he mad at Bella? Having heard my thoughts, Edward sighed and looked up at me.

"I'm not mad at her, Jasper." Regret crashed over me as the waves rolled off Edward. "I could've stopped this from happening."

"You can't protect her from everything, Edw-"

"LOOK AT HER! I COULD'VE STOPPED THIS!" He sighed and turned back to Bella. "I'm sorry, Jasper. I should've have yelled like that. It's just…"

"It's okay. I get it."

We were silent for a few minutes. I walked around Bella's bed and stood opposite Edward.

"Bella, come on. Wake up." I whispered. "Everyone is miserable right now. You have to wake up and make us feel better. Alice misses playing dress-up." I smiled weakly. I didn't know why, but I kept talking to Bella, even though I was almost certain that she couldn't hear me. Edward looked at me, confused, for a moment. Then he sighed and smiled weakly.

"And Emmett misses your clumsiness." He added.

A few hours later, Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, and Alice joined Edward and I in Bella's room, despite the limit on people in her room. We talked among ourselves for a bit. The talking soon turned into joking, thanks to Emmett telling us to lighten up because "Bella's not dead yet!" before nudging Edward.

"Bella, come on! I have a bunch of new clothes for you to try! And a TON of make-up that I haven't opened yet."

"Yeah, Bella. You're my main source of entertainment. None of us fall down like you do.

Edward jokingly glared at Emmett before leaving his spot at the window and moving back to the side of Bella's bed. He took her hand and brought it to his lips.

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Edward PoV

I had been listening to Bella's constant heartbeat for so long that it almost became just background noise. The slight jump in her heartbeat was so small that I almost missed it. I knew that the rest of the family had missed it – they hadn't been in the room long enough to notice anything. I sat frozen, my mouth open slightly.

"Edward? Are you okay?" Esme asked, concern etched on her face.

"I'm fine. It's just…her heartbeat jumped a bit when I kissed her."

Carlisle went over to the monitor.

"Hmm…There was a slight change, but it's so small. It could've been anything, Edward."

"No. I'm sure it was me."

"Bella? Wake up already!! Edward's getting a big head. You're not gonna let that happen, are you? Wake up and put him in his place." Emmett laughed.

Another slight jump in her heartbeat.

I kissed her hand again.

Another jump.

"She's waking up!" Alice bounced where she stood. "Bella! I know you can hear me! Come on! The faster you wake up, the faster we can go shopping again! Oh, I've seen some stuff that would look amazing on you!" Any human walking past wouldn't have been able to hear what she was saying with the speed she was using.

I swear I saw Bella's lips twitch a bit.