Disclaimer: Not mine. Go figure.
Chapter 6
Distrust
I stared at Edward for a moment. We were sitting across from each other in the waiting room. "You leave me one more time," I said slowly. "And we're done. I mean it. I won't take you back."
A wide smile of relief spread across his face and he was in front of me, pulling me up and wrapping his arms around my waist faster than any human reflexes would allow. Over his shoulder, I saw Demetri standing in the hall with my laptop under his arm.
I pulled back from Edward. "What the hell took you so long?" I asked, directing my words towards him. Edward turned around to look at Demetri. Demetri eyed him for a moment before turning to me. "I was speaking with Aro," he said shortly.
"And what did Aro have to say?" I asked, striding up to him and taking my laptop.
"He'll talk to you tomorrow when you get out. He really shouldn't be in the hospital," he explained shortly. He glanced over my shoulder at Edward. "He's back then?" I nodded. "Wonderful. Just bloody wonderful."
I slapped him on the arm. "Be nice." I sighed. "I should get back to my room before Carlisle comes looking for me."
Edward and Demetri nodded and followed me back to my room. I walked in and plopped down on my bed while Carlisle went about hooking me back up to the heart monitor.
"Angela," I greeted kindly.
Edward
Angela looked at me skeptically. If he leaves her one more time…Angela had always been a sweet girl. She was obviously very protective of Bella. I glanced at Ben, who had his arm wrapped around Angela's waist.That, right there; that thing who thinks he's a man, is the reason that Angela chose to turn down Princeton. He is the reason I didn't go to Princeton. Because we were so worried about Bella.
Yeah, Ben was pretty much inwardly seething. I must admit, however that he has excellent control. If I were human, I'd have no idea that he was so angry with me.
"Bella!" Angela squealed. "What happened to you?" She looked suspiciously in my direction. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Angela," Bella assured her. "I was in Olympia and some random guy just jumped me. Nothing big. I was only out for a little while."
"And your hand?" she pried.
Bella grinned. "Oh, that one was my fault. I got pissed at Demetri and tried to hit him, but he ducked and I hit a brick wall full force instead."
"What's Cullen doing here?" Ben asked. I held in my grin; he had been dying to ask.
"He goes to U of A," Mike responded.
I spun around to face him. "How did you know that?"
He shrugged. "You're in my literature class." Oh wow, I didn't realize that.
"Ok, let me specify… What is he doing here? As in, in your hospital room?" Ben replied.
"Um… Carlisle," Bella said, pointing to him, as though this was explanation enough.
Still doesn't give him a reason to be here. Wow, Ben was really pissed at me. But then I saw the memories flash through his mind, and I was grateful that he hated me. Grateful, he hated me because I hurt Bella. He cared about Bella, and for that, I was grateful.
Bella sat up in bed and looked at Charlie and Jake. "You guys should get back home," she told them. "I'll be fine." Charlie nodded and reached out and hugged Bella. He walked towards the door and paused, shooting me a cautious glance, before exiting. "Jake, watch over him," she whispered, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek. I forced myself to calm down. Jacob nodded and hugged Bella, kissing the top of her head before turning to leave.
You hurt her, Cullen, and I swear, treaty or no treaty, I'll kill you. I simply nodded to him and he walked out of the room. The room was still overly crowded. Mike stood next to the door, and Angela and Ben were at Bella's bedside. Demetri stood, leaning against a wall at the foot of her bed. Carlisle was looking at me.
So, how'd it go? I nodded and mouthed 'good'. So, she took you back then? I nodded again and he smiled.
After an hour of talking, Mike, Angela, and Ben finally decided to leave. Carlisle checked in periodically, but also tended to other patients. I could see Bella holding in her laughter as Demetri and I stared at each other.
Finally, he rose and beckoned me out the door. Bella laughed as I winked at her and followed him out.
"You're not going to scare me away," I said quietly as he closed the door. "I'm not leaving, and there's no way in hell you can make me."
"Good. I don't want you to. Even if it's only been for the past hour or so, I don't think I've ever seen her so happy," Demetri replied, actually surprising me. "No, I wanted to warn you. She refuses to take him seriously, but she's being naïve about it."
"What?" I asked anxiously.
"Nathan," Demetri replied. "Bella plays him off like it's no big deal, but it is. Edward, the Volturi have been after him for decades, and still haven't managed to kill him. This man is like the supreme bad ass of evil vampires."
"And he's in love with Bella," I said.
He nodded. "Irrevocably so," he replied. "Just… Now that you're back, she's not going to want me around nonstop. I don't deny that she is extremely powerful, but I honestly don't believe she could take Nathan down. He's positively lethal."
"I'd never let anything happen to her. Whoever this Nathan character is, he won't touch her when I'm here. I can promise you that."
Bella
I tried to hear what they were saying outside the room, but my hearing wasn't that enhanced. They knew I'd be listening, and they were purposely whispering so that I couldn't hear them. Bastards.
Carlisle, as if knowing what was running through my head, chuckled. I glared at him and he tried to hold it in, hiding behind a small smile. "I think it's cute how Demetri is so protective of you," he commented.
I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest. "I don't," I muttered. "I don't need to give Edward another reason to leave me."
Carlisle walked slowly over to me and perched himself on the edge of my bed. "Bella, look at me." I, of course, refused, looking anywhere but at him. I felt his hand on my chin, forcing my face towards him. "Edward is not going to leave you."
"Yeah, that's what he told you," I grumbled. "Funny, he told me that too before he left last time."
He sighed, his topaz eyes staring into mine. "Bella, Edward was miserable," he said, emphasizing miserable. "He won't leave you again."
I shrugged and forced myself to look away. Carlisle started to speak again, but he was cut off. "It's fine, Carlisle. Can we have a minute?" I heard Edward say from the doorway. Damn it, he must have heard everything I said. Carlisle nodded and walked out of the room, pulling the door closed behind him.
I felt the bed shift under Edward's weight as he sat down. "Bella, sweetheart, please look at me," he said, his voice low and pleading. I remained unresponsive. He sighed. "Bella, please believe me, I'm not goinganywhere without you."
"I hear what you're saying, Edward," I said, sighing. "But I've heard them all before. You promised to be here with me, forever. And yet you left, drew out my heart and smashed it, and then left. Forgive me for not immediately believing you." My voice was weak, and if it were possible, I would be crying.
"Oh God, Bella," he whispered. I felt his hands wrap around my waist, pulling me to sit in his lap. My head stayed down, staring at my hands. I felt his chest mold around my back as he pulled me tight against him and kissed the top of my head. "I'm so sorry, Bella."
Edward
She was shaking in my arms, crying silent sobs. How could I have ever done this to her? How could I have ever harmed my precious Bella in anyway? What is the matter with me? I had this one good thing in life, and I had to ruin it. Who knows how long it's going to take to get her to trust me again. It's okay though; we've got all of eternity.
Yeah, I know it's kind of short. Sorry. Also, sorry it took so long to update. I was out of town for a while. Also, be warned. I've got about half of chapter 7 done and I'm going completely writers-blocky. I don't know when the next chapter will be up, but I'll try to make it ASAP. I'm writing like five stories at once.
Love it, hate it, feel free to flame it.
Whitelight72