Previously…
"So I was thinking Mr. Cullen now that I have you pinned you are at my mercy." I grinned down at him. I felt him shift and his hands rest on my thighs, "Really what will you do with me Miss. Swan?"
"I don't know. Make you answer a few questions maybe." I really didn't know what to do but questions sounded good.
"Ask away snow bunny."
"What do you want to be to me?" I asked and could see by his immediate frown he didn't want to answer this question. Hey, he did say ask away and guess what? I wanted an answer and he was going to give it to me.
"I'll bet your dinner is ready and waiting. It will be nice and warm." He was trying to distract me, leave it to him to avoid my question. Did I mention how good he looks lying on his back? Wait again… too fast I am going way too fast. I don't even know what he thinks of me and here I am fawning. Nope that stops right now.
I leaned closer, "You know I am going to let you win this one, I think you want me too right?" I could smell him and I have no idea how he could possible smell this good. He suddenly rolled us and I was pinned by him. I wasn't sure what he was going to do but he surprised me by standing.
"Come on you should eat." His voice was monotone. Here comes the mood swings again. We went inside and I could smell the wonderful soup I am assuming Alice made, that is until I saw the woman with the light brown hair at the stove. She turned, "Hello dear, I'm Esme Edward's mother."
I smiled. She was beautiful. "Nice to meet you." I can't believe this entire family is so beautiful. Sucks to be me I guess. She set a bowl on the table. "Here you go, I know you must be famished." Edward slipped off his jacket and smiled over his shoulder, "Enjoy dinner." I watched as he disappeared from view. Alice bounced in sitting across from me. "Want to watch movies later?"
"Sure."
"Did you have fun Bella? I hope my brother wasn't too annoying. He can be a little intense at times, but he really is sweet."
"He seems nice, and yes I had a wonderful time. I was scared at first but then it was so much fun!" I got excited and we both chuckled.
"Bella would you like a drink?" Esme asked holding the refrigerator open.
"Yes, a coke is fine. Thank you." She set the coke on the table and smiled kindly, "You enjoy it sweetheart. I have to go speak with Carlisle." I figured that must be their dad. She left and I sighed, "Your family are all so pretty. How do you do it?" My eyes fell on Alice for an answer.
"We eat our veges?" She said in a question but laughed. I completed the soup and rinsed my bowl. I took my time allowing my eyes to roam over the huge kitchen. It was spotless, not to mention nice.
"Come on Bells! Movies!" I looked up and Emmett smiled, "Hurry, hurry." He said again. I laughed and set the bowl in the dishwasher following him and Alice. They mostly sat on the floor with huge pillows but I chose to sit further back on the couch. I am still not extremely comfortable although they have all been nice to me.
Emmett pushed start and turned to me grinning, "Iron Man. Have you seen it?"
"No, can't say I have."
"It is so awesome, this guy he…"Rosalie hit him, "Let her watch mouth." I had to smile they were too cute. Funny I would not have taken him as her type but he seems to balance her in a good way. I noticed Edward was not present but I didn't look for him. I curled up in the corner of the couch and after about twenty minutes I felt a blanket tossed over the couch and turned to see Edward walking around.
"You looked cold."
"Thanks." I said as he sat beside me. We watched the movie and then they put in another one but by now my eyes were drifting shut. My body jerked but it was nothing new I always slept restless. It never woke me up. I felt a cool hand on my forehead, "Bella move up." I opened my eyes barely but I did notice the television was off and it was quiet. I felt myself being scooted forward and then something move behind me.
My covers were moved a little to enclose me then I felt an arm on my waist. "Sleep." I heard softly in my ear. I was too tired to care who moved me all I knew is I wanted to sleep and that was exactly what I did. I awoke later the next morning alone on the couch. I could hear them talking in the kitchen, well more like arguing.
"Edward you are overacting." Alice pleaded. I heard Edward groan, "I am not, you are pushing the limit Alice, you are pushing me I told you this was a bad idea. It is something she should have to handle like a normal person and not with you trying to soften the blow."
"It was the right thing to do." She said back. I then heard something like a brick hitting a wall. "For who? She is a child. You are dragging her into something dangerous!" I knew it was Edward though I have never heard him angry.
"You are just mad because for once your cold heart actually cares. You can't hide forever Romeo, you are bound to break sometime and she will need you." Alice said back with slight irritation in her voice.
"Guys this isn't helping, let's calm down and…" I heard a male voice but I was unsure who it was, I figured it out when I heard two people say shut up Jasper at the same time.
"You made a mistake Alice, she shouldn't be around us. She should not be here. You know if the timing is right it can be avoided."
Alice spoke then, "I am trying to keep it from happening! I can't time it Edward I keep telling you that! She is exactly where she should be for now. Get over yourself! You know this as well as I, especially after seeing you laying beside her this morning. She should be here." I didn't have to guess who they were talking about. It could only be me.
"She was restless." He was trying to justify his actions, great I feel important now. I heard an odd growl then Alice again, "Why did you feel inclined to make her calm?"
I didn't hear a response but I heard the door slam. I sat up feeling terrible that I had started all of this. I felt like crap now, I thought he liked me that we could be friends and now I see he doesn't want me here. I suddenly wanted to go home and not be here anymore.
Alice walked into the living room then and her scowl quickly turned into a smile, "Morning Bella how did you sleep?"
"Fine until someone woke me up moving me around, kind of cut into my sleeping." I was angry and although I didn't mean what I said I would not let him think he was such a great couch companion. She chuckled, "Well I am sorry about that, are you hungry? Esme made pancakes for you."
"You sound like me." I said as I stood. She looked at me oddly, "What do you mean?"
"I call my dad Charlie like you call your parents by their first name." She realized what I meant and shrugged, "Habit I guess with him being a doctor we are always doing these stupid society things and the formal addressing just kind of stuck I guess."
I followed her to the kitchen and ate in silence stopping when I heard the door. I knew it was him. Alice shot him a dirty look from across the table and I tried to hide my smile, at least she wanted me here. He walked by stopping to lean on a free chair. "How are you this morning Snow bunny?"
"My name is Bella and I am quite good and you? You seem kind of uptight." I knew I sounded catty I meant to. He deserved no less after his little stunt. I have decided now after seeing his stupid handsome face that I want nothing to do with the little twit. He frowned obviously confused by my reaction, "I am fine, I went for walk."
"Good, I hope you were careful I wouldn't want you to slip and break your neck or anything." I saw the way his eyes narrowed and stood passing him, "Alice I was thinking of just staying in today, if it's ok." She was confused now by my attitude toward him but jumped up following me.
"Wait, we are going skiing again, don't you want to…"
"No." I cut her off. "I don't feel good and I'd prefer to stay in. When are we headed home?"
"Later tonight. "
"Good. I will be riding with you." I then stomped off to my room.
Alice turned to Edward, "You are such an Idiot! She heard you."
"Good, then she won't be a problem."
"You don't mean that! Edward you need her even if you are too much of an ass to admit it!" She turned walking out. He sighed, no use in arguing he was fighting a lost cause.
The trip back was uneventful. I rode with Alice and Rosalie they made the boys ride together. I knew Alice was aware I was upset but she didn't push me to answer why. Edward simply ignored me like before, he did ask me to carry my bag, which I allowed but other than that we didn't speak. I could see him occasionally glance at me when we were together but it made no sense to me especially since he didn't want me around.
I arrived home and thanked Alice. I then went inside greeted Charlie and informed him about the trip then took a shower and went to bed. I was so not looking forward to school tomorrow.
It was a typical Monday hearing all my friends talk about their weekends. I lied and said I stayed home. I was surprised Jen didn't comment when Emmett and Rosalie said hello. It was at lunch and I was sitting with Jen when my past came to haunt me. I looked up to find Alice and Jasper sitting down in front of me. She smiled, "Hey! I have one of your shirts, evidently you left it in the bathroom and Esme picked it up for you."
"Oh." I saw Jen glance at me and I smiled politely at her, "Great, I'll make sure to get it back sometime." I continued to eat and she began again, "How about this weekend? I was thinking about you and me and Rosalie having a girl's night out. It will give Edward a chance to get his head screwed on straight."
I was shocked she told me that but more shocked what I would say to Jen after this. She would be looking for dirt now. Jasper tossed a fry at me while I was lost in thought and I turned smirking, "Who knew you had good aim?"
"Actually Alice did." He pointed his thumb at Alice and she shrugged, "Occasionally but mine's usually better." She tossed a fry and it landed directly in my potatoes.
"See."
I frowned, "Ok hold off on the fry throwing here. I was trying to eat you know." I stopped my rant as soon as I saw Edward who was now walking by he stopped leaning to Jasper's ear and whispering then glanced at me for a moment before walking off."
"It would be a shame if he tripped over a chair or something." I thought before I realized I had said it out loud. Alice chuckled and quickly put her hand over her mouth. I noticed he had turned and looked at me with an unreadable expression.
Jasper let out a deep breath, "Ok extremely tense here." He stood kissing Alice, "Meet you outside." He winked at me and then walked off to a waiting Edward. I groaned as they left and Alice looked back and forth. "Bella, if it helps he feels bad." She was pretty much ignoring the fact Jen was sitting there pretending not to listen.
"Good, he should." I grabbed my tray. "I'll see you in class. I have a few things I need to do before then." I left both of them and quickly exited trying to think of the excuse I would tell Jennifer because now I was in so deep it would have to be a good lie to get me out of this.
I made a stop at the bathroom then outside immediately seeing the Cullen's tossing something around playfully. Rosalie waved and I smiled but it turned into a frown when Edward looked. He could rot for all I care. He didn't want me around so be it. I would ignore him just like I had been. I convinced Jen I would call her later and tell her the story but it was too long to go in to at school. That would delay her and give me time to think of a really good story. The day was long and I was glad when I was finally be home. Charlie went to bed early and I did the usual cleaning and went to bed myself. I was awakened to an awful smell. For a while I tossed until finally awakening with a cough.
I sat up seeing the dark smoke that filled my room. Oh my god! My body was so in shock it wasn't reacting. I finally got up looking to the door and saw the fire blazing outside. My god! Charlie. I ran to the door but the doorknob burned my hand. I coughed again. I heard glass shattering and turned as I struggled to breathe. I saw a shadow moving closer in the darkness and then finally it was in front of me lifting me in strong arms.
"My father."
"I'm sorry Bella, it is too late. His room is engulfed I couldn't get to him." I knew that voice but in the panic it took me a moment to focus. "Please we have to try." I began to struggle against him and he gripped harder as he carried me out the window and perched on the tree outside.
"I am sorry, you can't go inside. The firemen will be here soon." I looked up and realized it was Edward. His face was full of concern but my focus was my dad. I didn't question how he knew or why he was there, but I was glad he was. He jumped from the tree and landed on his feet like it was a simple thing to do. I barely even felt the impact. He ran and finally set me down close to the curb.
I turned gasping as my house my life went up into flames. I went to move and he grabbed my arm, "No Bella, please I tried. It's too late." It sunk in what he was saying and I felt my knees weaken. He caught me as I broke down in between coughs.
"Shh…it's ok love. I'm sorry." I head him whispering to me as he stroked my back gently. I heard the sirens and they asked Edward who I was and if he knew about anyone else being in the house. He told them what he had told me. I heard him talking to someone else and glanced up seeing Alice. She pushed my hair back, "Oh Bella. I tried I'm sorry, I couldn't tell when. I'm sorry." She kept apologizing over and over. I had no idea what she was talking about but it didn't matter.
The paramedics tried to pull me away from Edward but I fought, I can't lose someone else not now. He lifted my chin, "It's ok Bella, it's ok. I'll go with you." I was hysterical and he knew it. He continued to say calming words and gently touch me when he could. I don't remember the ride to the hospital. I remember the stupid mask they kept on my face and the bright lights of the ER. I didn't like the IV in my arm either but they insisted, the fluids only made me cold.
They were drawing blood, taking x-rays and all kind of things before I could even blink. I continued to shake crying without sound when Edward returned to my bedside. "My dad will be in shortly he had to look at your x-ray."
"Your dad?" Then I remembered he was a physician I just didn't get to meet him on the trip. He was busy with something but I have no idea what. He took my hand leaning on the bed railing, "How do you feel." His thumb brushed the tear that fell.
"Scared. I don't know what to do. I don't want to go to live with my mom."
"Don't worry about that now, I meant physically. Do you hurt?"
I thought a minute, "My lungs are sore but other than that no." I saw a handsome blonde man walk in verbally directing the nurse as he looked at the chart in his hands and then he looked at me. "Hello Bella, I'm Dr. Cullen how are you feeling?"
"Ok." I answered gripping the sheet nervously. He smiled he had a very friendly face. "I am going to listen to you for a minute ok? I need to hear your heart and lungs."
"Ok."
The nurse returned with a syringe and started to lift my tubing. She then eyed me, "No allergies correct?"
"Yes, no allergies." She injected the tube and I looked at Dr. Cullen who was writing. "What is she giving me?" I asked tasting the weirdest flavor in my mouth. He patted my hand, "I'm sorry some of the medications you can taste. It's ativan a medication to help you relax."
"I don't need to relax." I argued. "I have to figure things out."
"In time Bella, in time. Your lungs got smoke in them and I need you to rest and allow them to heal. You will need to stay over night for observation and we will see how you are tomorrow ok?"
I felt a sudden weight come over me and it was making me sleepy.
"Stay with her Edward, we'll have her in a room soon. She doesn't need to be alone." I heard him agree but then I closed my eyes feeling only his cool hand drift to my head for a minute and then it all disappeared.