JPOV
I saw red.
My li'l darlin's arms were covered with black and blue and every other color in between. The bruises and…fingerprints…only were fittin' to make her pale arms paler.
I gently brushed my fingers over her arms. She winced, and a soft gasp escaped her lips. I felt myself calm down. No doubt, I was still mad as hell, but lookin' into her bottomless eyes…they held so much fear. It reminded me of Rose.
Yes, I was still angry, very angry, but my girl was more important.
I pulled her into my arms, bein' careful of her bruises. Her eyes were cast down, and she was gnawin' on her lip. Normally, that'd have my mind off with all sorts of fantasies, but as always, she was more important.
"Talk to me Baby. Are you hurt anywhere else?"
Bella hid her face in my neck. I felt the tears on my skin just as I heard her breath hitch, but she shook her head.
I cradled her to me, whisperin' sweet nothin's in her ear to calm her down.
Surprisin'ly, it was only a minute later that she had moved her head to rest on my shoulder, and her eyes were dry. If my neck wasn't damp with her tears, I'd have never known she'd been cryin'.
I pressed kisses along the length of her scar, and rubbed her back.
"He was shorter than you, maybe 5'7, 5'8. He had light brown hair. It was spiked, and he reeked of hair gel. His eyes were a dull blue. He was skinny and dressed like a jock. He and his pals ambushed me in the bathroom. How the hell do five jocks slip into the girl's bathroom, and no one noticed?" Bella grumbled.
"I'll kill them!"
I peered over my shoulder. Oh, Rose and Emmett hadn't gone inside like I thought they had. Man, I am really not very aware of my surroundings.
Rose came up behind me and leaned her head against my shoulder. Bella shifted slightly so her eyes connected with Rose's. Here I had both of my girls leanin' on me, and I wasn't sure which of the two was in more pain over what had happened.
"I know who did it," Rose whispered.
Our eyes snapped to Rose. I felt Bella quiver slightly, and I pulled her tighter against me.
"Mike Newton."
"That's him," Bella breathed.
Rose cocked her head to the side. "I thought you didn't know who he was."
"I didn't. But they kept saying 'Mike' whenever they deferred to him. Not that they needed to; they were just there to guard the door and jeer him on," she mumbled.
I didn't really hear Bella's explanation. My mind had stuck to one thought. Mike Newton. And judging from the expression Emmett was wearin', his had too.
I forced myself to focus on Bella. "Darlin', I'll take you home if you're not up to meeting Carlisle and Esme right now. Would you prefer that?"
She deliberated a moment, gnawin' on her lower lip. She straightened up and squared her shoulders.
"Let's go meet them," she decided, lacing her fingers through mine.
I grinned, and led her out of the garage and over to the house. I was so proud of her. Rose and Emmett trailed behind us, but eventually Rose dragged Emmett over and hooked her arm through Bella's.
During our li'l walk down memory lane, Edward and Alice had come home. Somethin' was definitely up with those two; I'd never seen them so tense around each other. Edward sat at his piano, fiddling with some papers, and Alice was sprawled out on the couch, flippin' through a magazine.
"Hello Bella."
I looked up at the entrance from the kitchen. Carlisle and Esme stood there, smiling at my beautiful girl.
The corner of Bella's mouth hitched up. "Hello," she responded quietly.
Esme, of course, came forward first. She was ecstatic at the knowledge that Bella and I had hit it off. On top of that, she was hoping to be a mother figure for Bella. After hearing stories from both Charlie and Emmett, she wanted to help Bella.
"Darlin', this is Esme."
She extended her hand to Bella. "It's very nice to know you, Bella."
Bella's smile was more genuine when she answered, "Thank you. I'm happy to meet you as well."
"Hello Bella." Carlisle stepped up next with his hand out. "Welcome to our home."
"Thank you for having me, Dr. and Mrs. Cullen."
"Oh please, dear. It's Carlisle and Esme," Esme admonished her, but she was smiling.
Bella grinned back.
So far, so good.
"Hello Bella," Alice's nasally voice permeated the air.
And there went my good mood.
I had yet to find the humor in Alice's behavior towards Bella yesterday. Bella had more or less brushed it off, and had told me to do the same. But hey, that only proved she was too good for me.
Eh. She's mine. I'm happy.
Bella turned to face her. Alice had abandoned her magazine, and her sprawled position on the couch, and she was now makin' her way towards us. Her expression was sickly sweet and completely nauseating.
"Alice," was Bella's cordial response.
"So…did you have fun at school today?" she smirked.
Bella blinked, I blinked, hell everybody blinked. Edward was the one to finally speak up.
"Alice, what did you do?"
She looked at him in mock surprise.
"Me?" So fake. "I didn't do anything."
"Bull! You were running your mouth to Mike Newton; you're the reason he and his goons attacked Bella!" Rose accused.
"Attacked? Bella was attacked?" Edward.
The girl in question pulled up her sleeves to reveal those bruises. Her arms looked broken, for Christ's sakes!
"What happened?" Carlisle was in doctor mode, and had already begun examining Bella's arms.
Rose relayed Bella's explanation. At the end, Bella added a few details she'd omitted earlier.
"They kept going on and on about Tray's being gay. And somehow they knew I was bi. Eventually, they told me they didn't need any lesbians here, and to go back where I came from. That pissed me off, simply because there is one hell of a distinction between being lesbian and being bisexual."
Alice snorted, rolling her eyes.
Bella cocked her head at her. "You got something to say?"
"No, I…"
"Then can it."
Alice's eyes narrowed, but to everyone's shock, she kept her mouth shut.
"As I was saying…the only people who could possibly have known all of that belong to this family. I know Rose, Emmett, and Jasper didn't. Esme and Carlisle obviously didn't. And Edward… he wouldn't."
Alice chose now to break her code of silence. "And just what makes you so certain that Edward would respect your privacy?"
Bella smirked. "Two things. One being you don't."
Alice waited. "And the second?" she snapped.
"Is none of your business."
Alice's eyes narrowed, and Edward's expression was both uncertain and relieved.
Weird combo.
"None of my business? Edward is my boyfriend! Whatever concerns him, concerns me."
"Was," Edward announced. "I was your boyfriend Alice. Not anymore. And no, my business does not concern you in the slightest."
Alice gaped. Funny, because the rest of us had certainly seen this comin'.
He continued. "But I suppose I can spare you one more piece of information."
Bella interrupted, "Edward, are you sure?"
What the hell? She knows what's goin' on?
Edward smiled wryly. "Yes, Bella. I'm sure."
"I'm gay."
IMPORTANT A/N:
First off, apologies for the delay. First it was the holidays, then school, then a DBQ. And on top of that, I have exams in three days! It's amazing I can still think!
Second, I have a new story idea. I have the summary, the pairing, and the beginning.
All I need is a title.
That is where you, my readers, come in.
I am offering up a chance for all of you to decide the title of my next story. If you send me a review (and I mean an awesome review!) I will send you my rough draft of the summary, and you can send me your title ideas.
I will select my favorite ones, and then set up a poll, so then everyone can vote on it.
If one of the people voting would like to see the summary so as to get a feeling for the story, all they have to do is ask. But that is not an option until after the poll is up.
However, I will not be starting this new story (at least not on fanfic) until after I've completed REDO and Sweet B. so the more you encourage me on these two, the sooner you'll get to see my new one.
Until next time, my darlings.