BPOV
"I can't just leave him," I shook out. The thought terrified me, yet kindled a fierce flame of hope in my heart. My body trembled and I squeezed my eyes shut. "It would never work." Edward's arm anchored me to the couch, but I struggled to get up anyway. "I need some air," I wheezed. It was just starting to rain when I stepped out onto the porch. It was set, but sank down onto the front steps and rested against the raining.
Moments later, I heard something break inside the house. I chewed my lip nervously and waited to hear the front door open. As expected, it swung open seconds later and Alice joined me on my wet porch step.
"Bella," she said quietly, "I know you're afraid."
"What about Charlie?" I asked. "What would happen to him if I left? And Ian? I'm his nanny. I can't leave him. Angela and Ben can't afford child care right now, I'm all they have."
"Leaving Dan doesn't mean leaving everything you have here behind. It means saving your life," Alice argued. She was just as stubborn as I remembered. "And you know that Charlie would be okay with you leaving if he knew what was really going on. At least tell him the truth, Bella."
"The truth would kill him. I swear, Charlie would have a heart attack, or a stroke, and it would be my fault." Panic bubbled up in my chest again. Alice growled next to me. I had obviously frustrated her.
"If you stay for much longer he's going to kill you. Don't you understand that? I've seen it so many times now, and all of them happen because you stayed just long enough for him to get angry." There was a long, painful silence. I heard her draw in a shaky breath next to me, unusual for any of the Cullens. Her voice sounded almost as broken as mine did. "I keep seeing it happen differently, but one way or another, it does. The only way it won't is if you leave Dan before it's too late. I can't stop it from happening."
"I know," I whispered. I rested my head against Alice's shoulder and closed my eyes, exhausted. "I just need a few days. At least let me wait until the banquet, Charlie's been preparing it for months now. Do I have that long?" I asked.
"I honestly don't know, but I don't think anything would happen between then and now. Let's just pray that I'm not wrong." The wind had picked up slightly, blowing raindrops into my now damp hair.
"He's inside, pacing the front door," she said half-heartedly. "I hope you know how sorry we all are," she said, reaching up to stroke my head.
"Alice?" I asked, tentatively. She made a small sound of acknowledgement and ran her fingers through my wet hair. She was mothering me, trying to comfort me. "If I left Dan, would Edward and I be together? I mean, does he really want to be with me?"
"Of course he does. Edward loves you more than anything else on this earth. You're more to him than his own life, and that's how it's always been." She sighed and looked at me. "You two are meant to be together."
"I need you guys to help me leave. I can't do it alone. I can't get divorce papers, either. Word would get back to Dan, I know it. I…I just need help." Alice rubbed soothing circles on my back until my breathing calmed down.
"You know we will always protect you, Bella," Alice murmured. I knew it was true. After an awkward pause, I sniffed and tried desperately to clear my head.
"How about that makeover?" I asked. She squeaked happily and dashed into the house. I couldn't help but laugh at her eagerness. It was adorable, like a small child who gets to stay up past their bed time.
I pushed the front door open hesitantly, expecting to see Edward waiting. I found him in the living room with his head in his hands. He wasn't moving, which usually was a bad sign. I gently placed my shaking hand on his knee and hoped it would elicit some response from him. Thankfully, it did. He placed his cool, God-crafted hand on top of mine and slowly looked up at me.
His eyes were pleading. I knew what he was going to ask me, and I knew he'd heard my conversation with Alice.
"Yes, Edward. I'll do it. I just need…I need a plan, or something that won't get anyone hurt." His eyes narrowed.
"Bella, you're the only one who's getting hurt here," he argued. I sighed. Defeated, I shifted my body and rested against him. I focused on the sound of his breathing and felt myself beginning to fall asleep. Physically and emotionally, I was exhausted. Just before I dozed off, a piercing shriek echoed through the house.
"ISABELLA SWAN! IT'S BEEN TEN MINUTES! I'M WAITING!" I jumped slightly and laughed nervously. Edward smirked and raised his hands helplessly.
"She's unstoppable with a hairbrush," he reasoned. I glared at him and got up to go upstairs. Alice immediately ushered me into her insanely large bathroom. I shuddered when I walked in and saw that it looked exactly the same as it had the last time I was there. The only thing different, really, was me.
Alice was unusually gentle with me, even though she practically landscaped my eyebrows and plumped my hair back to life. She attacked my cuticles and lathered them with softeners and lotions. I sat there for two hours and let her go to town. She was blow drying my hair when she stopped suddenly and closed her eyes.
"He's coming home early. You've gotta leave. Now." Edward was in the room in seconds, immediately scooping me up and racing out to the car. I didn't even have time to say bye to anyone.
We made it home moments before Dan did, as was becoming our regular routine; stay away from home as long as possible. When I ran into the kitchen, picking my brain for something to throw together for dinner, I was startled to see Esme already chopping up vegetables and preparing some chicken on a cutting board.
"Oh, Esme," I gasped. "Thank you so much, I was going to be in so much trouble…" I blew out in one breath.
"It's no problem, dear," she smiled. "He's just pulled into the driveway. I'll be leaving now," she said and darted for the window. I stared, wide eyed at the open frame and shook my head quickly. Apparently, vampires liked unconventional entrances and exits in one's home.
Dan wasn't in a very good mood. He ate Esme's meal and grabbed a six pack out of the fridge, parking himself in front of the TV. A basketball game was on. Thank God.
After I cleaned up the kitchen, I silently went upstairs and crept into the guest bedroom. He didn't notice. Once I closed the door behind me, I struggled to keep from hyperventilating, suddenly breathless. Tomorrow was the banquet. Charlie would get his award, and then everything would change. I might leave Forks, maybe start a new life with a different name. Maybe Edward would decide to turn me into a true member of the family? I shot down all of those possibilities with a sour curtain of doubt that seemed to live permanently in my mind. I honestly believed I wouldn't make it. I couldn't do it.
I heard the window click open. I looked up just in time to see Edward land silently on the floor. "He's passed out on the couch, drunk," he said quietly. I found that oddly amusing and stifled a laugh. He eyed me curiously.
"What's funny?" he asked.
"He's such a piece of trash. I kind of think it's funny…" I mumbled, trying to keep the volume to a minimum. His eyes softened and he sat next to me on the bed.
"You look exhausted," he said absentmindedly. "Sleep." It was more a demand than a request. Giving in, I shuffled over to the dresser where I kept the majority of my clothes and pulled out some pajamas.
"I'll be back," I whispered and darted into the bathroom to change. I pulled on an oversized t-shirt and some sweats – nothing new. Oddly enough, Edward grinned when he saw me and opened his arms wide. I fell into them and he cradled me.
"You still haven't gotten rid of those damn sweats," he muttered humorously. I nudged him playfully and crawled up the bed to rest on the pillows and pull myself under the blankets. He was by my side in less than a second, and I tossed my pillow to the side and replaced it with him. I sighed comfortably.
"I wouldn't get too comfortable," he said. My eyebrows furrowed.
"Why not?" I asked, confused.
"He's going to wake up sooner or later, and I'll have to leave in case he comes looking for you. I would hate to move and wake up." I nearly growled.
"I don't care. Wake me up then. I'm sleeping like this." Then I planted my cheek firmly against his chest and closed my eyes stubbornly. He chuckled once and rested his palm on my head.
"I love you, Bella," he said just before I fell into a deep slumber.
"I love you," I slurred and tried to grip him tighter. Then I fell into a darkness of comfort and pure bliss.
AN: Surprise! I'm sure everyone hates me because I hardly ever update. Like, HARDLY EVER, but I'm trying to change that. I absolutely love writing, especially fanfics that are Twilight related, but being an AP student in high school takes up a lot of time. My free time is spent working and sleeping. But...I'm coming up with some new ideas for stories, so hopefully everything will work out. Anywho, read and review if you want. The reviews really help me - they make me want to write more. So the more reviews, the better it is for you guys cuz I get chapters out faster. And I do read all of the PMs and reviews you guys send me, I'm trying to get better at responding to them...I used to be pretty good at it. Hope everyone's doing well!