I blinked, slowly waking up. My head felt fuzzy and my vison was blurred. Once the fog had cleared I found myself face-to-face with a pair of bright golden eyes.
My body froze as I was mesmerized, staring into deep pools of topaz. I couldn't move, I couldn't think, I couldn't feel. I was simply lost . . .
Suddenly, I became aware of who own those hypnotizing eyes. Edward Cullen. Some girl had told me about him on my first day at Forks Highschool. There was also something shockingly familiar about his stunningly beautiful face. He was the angel. He had saved me from Brent . . .
I sat up so quickly that it made my head spin. My breathing turned into hyperventilation. My eyes darted around a spacious livingroom. Everything was light, airy and gave off a calming sensation. However, I was too panicked to notice or care.
"What– ahh," I tried to speak but I gasped aloud as a sharp pain shot through my jaw.
"Shhh," a soothing, velvety voice said from beside me. "I'll explain everything. I promise. Just lay down. You're safe here.
A gentle pair of hands were placed on my shoulders and they pushed me back down onto a mound of soft pillows. My breathing and heart however, refused to slow.
"Clam down," he demanded. But I just couldn't. "Please . . ."
His cool fingers traced my face and I began to relax under his touch. "That's better," he said. "Don't strain yourself. Do you remember what happened?"
I nodded. I could picture the scene in my head. Brent kissing me. Me biting him. Him punching me. I winced at the memories. Not just those but everything. Brent and my mother and my stepfather. Everything they had done to me. A single tear escaped from the corner of my eye. I wiped at it angrily, furious with myself for showing that they had hurt me.
"Well he broke your jaw when he punched you." Edward said. He ignored my sign of weakness for which I was grateful. "I was driving by and I saw him– so I . . ."
My eyes grew wide. I spoke softly yet menacingly so that I wouldn't harm my broken jaw. "What did you do to him?"
As much as I hated that boy, I still loved him. I loved im with all my heart. If anything had happened to him . . . it was too painful to think about. What was wrong with me? He had hurt me more than once. He had made it clear that he didn't love me and yet I couldn't stop caring for him. Why does it hurt so much to love?
"He's still alive," Edward stated. He was clearly confused as to why I cared so much. And frankly, so was I. "He was knocked out when I pushed him away from you. Don't worry, he's not going to remember anything when he wakes up. To everyone else it will look like he smashed his car into a tree.
"So then I took you back here to my house. My father is a doctor. He had to stabilize your jaw with little metal plates. You are exceptionally lucky. The break was very clean so he didn't have to wire your mouth shut. Just don't strain yourself and you should heal quickly."
"Why are you here?" I questioned, keeping my voice low.
"Well, this is my house." Edward teased.
"No," my throat was sore but I had to know. "I mean why did you stay with me?"
"I knew you would be scared and confused." His words were gentle and he gazed down at me with soft, sad eyes. "I didn't want you to be alone when you woke up."
I couldn't speak anymore. No sound could make its way past the lump that had formed in my throat. He didn't know what those few simple words meant to me. Even coming from a complete stranger. Brent had let me wake up alone. But Edward hadn't . . .
I choked back the tears that were threatening to spill over. "Thank you." I forced out.
"It was nothing, really." Edward said modestly.
Oh god, what was wrong with me? A normal person would have been freaking out. I was in someone's house and I didn't know them or trust them. Anything could happen to me right now. And yet here I was, being comforted by a complete stranger.
I had prided myself on never needing anyone. I got through life on my own because loving was too hard. To let people into your heart and have them betray you only caused pain.
First, was my mother. I had never had a chance too really know Charlie because of her. And Renee had never wanted me. I was never good enough for her. Then my first step father, Steve. He was the perfect dad, for a while . . .
"Crap," I shouted hoarsely. "Charlie!"
I had jumped up from the couch again. Naturally, the klutz in me picked that moment to kick in. My 'graceful' leap of the couch had caused me to collide with the leg of the coffee table. As I tumbled to the ground, two strong arms encircled my waist. They lifted my body up into the air. I was pulled against Edward's chest in one quick, breathtaking moment.
"You're going to get yourself killed if you keep doing things like this," There was a hint of a smile in Edward's perfect voice. He still held me recklessly close. "It's really not good for you."
"Put me down," I demanded, squirming in his grasp.
"I'm sorry," he whispered softly. I was gently placed back onto the mound of pillows.
It wasn't really that I minded him holding me. Honestly, it was the nicest thing I had felt in a very long time. But I couldn't afford to get close to anyone right now. Physically or emotionally.
"I took care of everything," he continued. "Charlie just thinks that you tripped when running and Alice, my sister, was driving past and saw you. Then she took you back to our house to take care of you. He won't expect you back until after school."
"I just want to go home now," I said quietly.
"If you're sure," he replied. He was slightly confused but he complied nevertheless. Instantly, I was scooped up into his arms again and carried out of the room.
"Hey," I said as I had the breath knocked out of me once more. "I can walk."
"Sorry," he said again. The corners of his beautiful mouth were turned up into a grin. "You're not supposed to strain yourself. Doctor's orders."
He carried me outside into a large, grassy field. It was still dark outside.
"What time is it?" I asked, still angry that he held me like this.
"It's only about 5'oclock in the morning, so we still have about three hours until school." Edward answered.
I had completely forgotten about school. "I'm sorry," I said, ashamed. "You should be asleep. You didn't have to stay up with me."
"I wanted to stay up with you." He insisted. "Besides, I don't really need that much sleep."
We continued in silence. The night was peaceful and perfect. It was almost surreal. He reached a huge building and he pushed open the door while still managing to hold onto me. Once inside, he carried me up to a shiny car. Its outline was barely visible through gloom. He opened the car door and slid me into the passenger seat all in one swift movement.
The ride home was filled with a tense, awkward silence. Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore.
"Thank you," I repeated.
"I told you already," he said, exasperated. "It was nothing."
"No," I was stubborn. "It really wasn't. If you hadn't been there . . ."
We lapsed back into silence again. I was so confused. Why wasn't I scared? Anyone else in my position would never have calmed down. It was something about Edward's mere presence that kept my nerves under control. No, it couldn't be him. I didn't need him. I didn't need anyone. It was just that I simply didn't care anymore. Nothing mattered to me anymore.
The look on Renee's face when I had awoken in the hospital was heartbreaking. She had never cared, never stared at me with that much compassion in her eyes. I knew that never would be able to try anything like that again. I couldn't take knowing that I had hurt her, let her down. However, if something wanted to kill me, I wasn't going to put up a fight. This life just wasn't worth living anymore.
We had reached my house, don't ask me how he knew the way, and he pulled the car gracefully into the driveway. Suddenly, I remembered something.
"You weren't driving when you took me to your house," I stated.
"What," his eyebrows turned down and his forehead creased.
"When you saved be from Brent," I repeated. "You were running. You were carrying me."
"You must have been imagining things Bella." Edward said. Something about his face told me that he was lying.
"Was I really?" I was still suspicious.
"Drop it please," he pleaded.
Now I was even more lost than before. And curious, so curious. I wanted to know more about Edward. He was perfect and mysterious. Everything about him drew me closer.
Cue warning from the little voice I had implanted long ago to keep myself safe. I couldn't get closer to Edward. It was dangerous to let myself care so much.
Personally I don't like this chapter that much but it would be great to know how I did!! REVIEW!!