Hey people! Here's chapter 9. Sorry for keeping you all waiting so long. I couldn't get the computer until late so...yeah. I got a whooping 27 reviews for the last chapter! You guys make me happy.
Disclaimer: "She doesn't own anything, people. I'm not going to sue her. And whoever threatened to lock her in her house so she couldn't buy my book, don't even think about trying it. You'd make me lose money! Just kidding. No, seriously." S.M.
Chapter 9
BPOV
I looked into his eyes and I heard him suck in a breath waiting for my answer. I shuddered and shook my head, not trusting my voice. It was the truth. Right when Mike (I shivered remembering his name) slipped his hand under my dress, I faintly remembered Edward throwing the door open and grabbing Mike (shiver) off of me.
Edward hugged me to his chest so tightly; I thought he was going to crush me. He breathed in my hair.
"Hmm…strawberries," he murmured. He tilted my head up to reach my neck. He breathed in again, "Freesia."
My breathing was labored and I gripped his arms for support. He chuckled.
"Alice and Rose," I whispered.
"Figures," he muttered. "Bella, you have to let Carlisle see you, to make sure everything is okay," he pleaded. He reached in front of me to the foot of the bed and grabbed the hospital gown Carlisle had left there. "The bathroom is right there," he pointed to a door in the corner of the room. "You can change in there and I'll be right out here."
I shook my head before he even finished what he was saying.
"No, no, no, no, no. I can't. I don't want to be alone. Not now." Edward gripped my shoulders.
"Bella, I'll be right here. I'm not going anywhere," he told me.
"Can y-you h-help me c-change?" Edward's brows rose higher than the clouds in the sky. I figured I sounded desperate. But the truth of the matter was that I scared that if he wasn't near me, if he wasn't with me, that Mike would come and try to get me again. I didn't feel safe anywhere he wasn't. "You don't have to look or anything. I just . . . I'm scared that if you leave me now, that more than one person will be after me."
He looked at me, stared into my eyes for what felt like eternity before he stood, taking me with him. He unbuttoned the blazer, but turned me around so he couldn't see my bare chest. He grabbed the gown off the bed and unraveled it. I felt him pull the zipper down on the back of my dress and let the dress fall to the floor. I was standing there clad in my black lacey underwear.
"Hold out your arms," he said shakily.
I held my arms out and he slipped the gown over my shoulders and he tied it behind my back. Edward's fingers lingered on back for a minute before he ran them down my spine through the little spaces where he tied the robe. I shivered. Sparks were exploding everywhere and my skin burned where he touched.
He turned me around and I stepped out of the dress. When I looked in his emerald eyes I saw desire and lust burning in them. They grew darker the longer he stared at me. He was leaning in again, but he stopped and I jumped when there was a knock on the glass door. I instinctively grabbed Edward's hand and squeezed it. He kissed my forehead as Carlisle came back in. Why do we always get interrupted when we're about to kiss, I grumbled in my head. Carlisle had a clipboard in his hands this time.
"Bella, how are you feeling?" What a stupid question I thought.
"My wrists hurt, my face hurts, my head hurts and basically my whole body hurts," I said.
"Hmmm . . . Can I have your wrists?"
I nodded and held my arms out, my palms up. I grimaced a little. It hurt.
He gently took my wrists and turned them around. He felt around them and I winced when he touched certain points. I had purple marks on them, too. His hands felt up my arms and I jerked away when he reached my left elbow. That was the arm he gripped the most. Carlisle then put my arms down and looked at my face. He lightly put two fingers on the side of my face where he slapped me. I winced again, but it didn't hurt as much as my wrists and arm did.
I saw Edward move away a little and my mind automatically jumped into thinking he was leaving, but he looked at me and shook his head. Carlisle moved closer to me as Edward moved away. I missed the contact even though he was only inches away.
"Bella," I heard Carlisle call me. I reluctantly tore me eyes away from Edward to look at him. "Can you lift up your head so I can see your neck?" I obliged.
I lifted it up as far as it could go without it hurting too much. Carlisle took the necklace and the earrings off and handed them to Edward. His hands were warm as they ran around my neck. It was tender here and there. I heard him sigh.
"Can you lift up your legs as far as they can go without any pain," he asked.
I did. I didn't have much bruising on my legs accept for the faint marks left by Charlie. My right ankle was sore, though.
As soon as Carlisle took a few steps back, Edward was by my side. His hand rubbed circles on my back.
Carlisle grabbed the clipboard and the pen from his doctor's coat and began writing. He then looked up at us, "Both your wrists are sprained and so is your left elbow. The necklace you were wearing didn't really do any damage to you, but it is swollen, so I suggest you take it easy on moving your head too much. I'll give you some bandages for those minor injuries after we take your x-rays. Your face is fine, but I suggest you eat slowly when you chew on that side of your mouth. Other than that, everything's fine. Um . . . do I need to do a rape kit?" he asked hesitantly.
"No. I wasn't raped, but it was too close for comfort," I said. I looked up at Edward and he smiled warmly.
"Edward, can I have a word with you, outside?" Edward nodded without looking at him. Carlisle hung the clipboard on the end of the bed, walked out and stood outside the door.
I didn't want Edward to leave and I immediately became scared again. I heard Edward whisper comforting words and I was trying to figure out why I couldn't see him clearly. Then I felt his hands on my face, wiping away the tears that were falling down my face.
"Shh, Bella, shh. I'll be right outside the door. You'll be able to see me the whole time, okay?"
I nodded and he kissed my ear and didn't take his eyes off me until he closed the door. I lay back on the bed facing the door, watching him talk to his dad.
EPOV
I walked out of the room, not taking my eyes off Bella until I closed the door. She was so scared, so fragile. I hated seeing her that way. I turned to my father then and he had an inquisitive look on his face.
"Is that the young lady Alice has been telling me about for the past month?"
My eyebrows rose.
"She called you?"
"Yes. The night before school started. She said something like, 'They are unbelievably cute together.'" I shook my head. Only Alice, I thought. "She's very pretty. I'll give you that one."
We laughed.
"She's an angel to me."
"When were you going to tell your dear old parents about her?" I knew that was coming. I shifted me feet. Carlisle had to be the most patient and understanding person I've ever known. That might where I get it from.
"Well, I sort of planned on calling you tomorrow after her birthday party was over, but then this happened and —," He cut me off.
"Don't worry about it, Edward," he chuckled. "I'm going to do her x-rays. I'll be her doctor. I was told that she was in shock, though. Dr. Snow was none too happy that you broke the glass. You want to tell me what happened."
I sighed and ran my good hand through my hair.
"Alice threw her a birthday party and when I got there, everything was fine. I planned to ask Bella out after I gave her the ring and I'm guessing she told you about that as well," I paused and he nodded. "Well, after I gave her the ring I was about to kiss her, but then Mike Newton shoved me out of the way and I stumbled and fell. He kept Bella away from me and Lauren Mallory snuck up behind me. She tried to get me to dance with her, but I told her off and went to look for Bella and Mike. I caught a glimpse of them on the dance floor and Bella looked disgusted and dirty with the way he was touching her. But when I looked back, they were gone. I couldn't find them or Alice, Rose, Jasper, or Emmett.
"I started to panic and sat down and then I felt like she was calling me. I heard her voice, even through all the noise that was around. I followed it and I found them in the back of the club. He was—," I paused. It was hard controlling my anger in front of my father. All I wanted to do was rip him to shreds. He was lucky that I didn't do any more damage. Carlisle put a hand on my shoulder as I pinched the bridge of my nose to relive the pressure. I took a deep breath then continued.
"He was on top of her. He held her arms above her head and had torn her dress down the middle and her . . . chest was visible. She looked so broken. She could barely keep her eyes open. When I grabbed him and threw him across the room, he immediately attacked me, hitting me in the stomach and jaw. I punched him in the eye and he fell back. When he managed to stand up again, I don't think he was really paying attention because he ran right into a wall."
Carlisle frowned a bit. He didn't seem too happy about what had happened.
"I wrapped Bella in my blazer to cover her up. She gripped my shirt and cried into my chest. I called Alice to tell her call the police and the ambulance. She cleared out most of the club as well.
"Bella wouldn't let me go after that. I carried her to the entrance and told the police where Mike was. It took a minute before I could get her on the stretcher, but I did. She kept a hold on my hand and wouldn't tear her eyes away from mine. She wouldn't let the EMS guy put an IV in her. He did examine her, though.
"But when we arrived here, they closed the door in my face. When she realized that, she tried like mad to get to me. There were four nurses in there and Dr. Snow. He told them to sedate her, that she was in shock, but she wasn't. She just didn't want to be alone. I tried to get them, to let me in, but they wouldn't. They finally let me in after I broke the glass. She clung to me again."
I took a deep breath as I finished. Carlisle had a calculating look and then he sighed. He gave me a look of pure understanding and love. There was no other like him. I see why mom loves him so much.
"Well, then I guess it's a good thing you were there to save her."
I nodded.
"I saw the ring you gave her. It's nice. I hope they give this Mike Newton what he deserves. I'm glad you are okay. You might want to call your mother."
"I'm sure Alice has already done that."
"I'll be her doctor from now on. Anything she needs bring her to me."
I nodded.
"I'm going to do her x-rays now, but I'm going to need her to take the ring off. After that I'll just do a regular check up and wrap her up. She'd be able to go back to campus in the morning. I'll write a doctor's note for you both to take leave for the next week."
"Thank you," I breathed.
"You're quite welcome. Everyone will be able to see you two after her tests are done."
"Okay."
We walked back in the room and Bella looked like she was fast asleep. I wanted to just stand there and watch her, but she needed this. I walked over to her and whispered in her ear, "Love, it's time to get up." She stirred and opened her eyes slowly.
"Edward?" She looked around groggily. "Dr. Cullen?"
Carlisle chuckled and walked to the other side of the bed. "Please, call me Carlisle."
She smiled up at him. "Bella, I'm going to do your tests, now. I'll need you to take the ring off. No, metallic objects."
Bella looked up at me and then down at the ring. She ran her fingers over it. I picked her hand up and kissed it, then the ring.
"It'll be okay," I said against her fingers. She looked in my eyes and nodded. I pulled the ring off and Carlisle proceeded to take her to do her tests. I kissed her forehead as she was wheeled out of the room. "I'm going to talk to Alice. Carlisle will take care of you."
She nodded.
I watched Carlisle wheel her to the elevator and I went to the waiting room outside the ER. Alice ran to me at once, her little arms wrapping around my waist.
"Oh, Edward, I was so worried! They said you guys were rushed to the ER and they wouldn't let any of us in. Are you okay?" she said.
Everyone was there, Rose, Emmett, Jasper, and even my mother, Esme. I wasn't expecting her to be here. They all walked up to me.
"I just messed up my hand from punching through a glass door. My jaw is a little swollen from being punched by Mike, but other than that I'm fine." I kissed her forehead.
"Edward, come here." Esme engulfed me into her warm embrace. She kissed my cheek and asked if I was okay as did everyone else. I assured them that everything was fine. They me told that the incident was all over the news and that they weren't releasing any names.
I was grateful. Bella didn't need all that attention right now and frankly, neither did I. We sat down in the waiting area. Esme went to get me something to drink from the cafeteria. In the blue seats across from me, Rose was curled up in Emmett's lap as was Alice in Jasper's.
I sighed. I envied them. Even though Bella had clung to me many times in the past (for several hours, in fact), I still wasn't sure if she'd want to be mine. She loved the ring, though and I did follow through on my promise tonight, which had to count for something. I ran a hand through my already messy hair. I won't push her. I'll still be there for her, no matter what she decides to do.
Esme came back with a cup of coffee.
"Here you are, sweetie," she said as she sat down next to me.
"Thanks, Mom," I said as I took a sip.
"So, how are you?"
"I'm fine, I guess." I took another sip of the coffee.
"Alice and Rosalie told me about her." I laughed.
"I knew they would. Dad said the same thing."
"You really care about her, don't you?" I turned and looked into her loving grey eyes. She smiled at me.
"I'd give my life for her. I'd do anything and everything for her. I don't think she knows that yet, but she does know that I care about her." Esme placed her hand on my back and rubbed it soothingly.
"I can see it in your eyes. I'm happy that you've finally found someone you truly care about."
I sighed remembering what happened the first night I met her.
"What's wrong?" Esme's voice was laced with concern.
"She's hiding something from me."
"How do you know?"
"I asked her about it when I saw the marks all over her skin, when I changed her clothes one night. Alice and Rose didn't come back to the room and Bella basically had a panic attack. We sort of talked about it the next day, but she wouldn't tell me what happened to her before she came here."
"Marks?" Her brows furrowed.
"Yes. They're mostly gone now, but if you look closely enough you could still see them. I want to know what happened."
"Don't push her, Edward. You have to let her go at her own pace." I stood up.
"I know that, mom. It's just that I wish she would tell me. I know she's already told Alice and Rose what happened. They would've found out anyway because she lives with them, but still."
Esme sighed and stood up in front of me. She took my wrapped up hand in hers and held it to her chest.
"Be patient for a little while longer, okay, Edward? I went through the same thing with your father when he wouldn't tell me what happened between him and his father. They haven't spoken to each other in over ten years."
Carlisle's dad didn't take it too well when he switched from being a Catholic to Christian. He wanted Carlisle to follow in his footsteps and take over his church, but Carlisle didn't want to. He became a surgeon instead and Grandpa Cullen refused to speak to him.
Esme wrapped her arms around me and she rubbed my back again. I loved her. She was just as understanding as Carlisle. She had more compassion than the entire world could hold.
"I love you, Mom." I tightened my arms around her.
"I love you, too, Edward." She kissed my cheek and sat down in one of the seats next to Jasper and Alice.
I sat down and pulled out my phone. It read 3:50 a.m. I'd been here for a little over four hours. I leaned my head back against the seat and closed my eyes.
It felt like seconds later when someone gently shook my shoulder.
"Edward? Wake up." It was Carlisle.
I opened my eyes slowly and sat up. He was standing in front of me.
"Hey, Dad, what is it? Is Bella alright?"
"She's fine. She's sleeping, now. She was really tired and fell asleep a few minutes after the last test. But I want to show you something before you go see her." I nodded and followed him after he kissed Esme on the forehead. She was sleeping in the chair next to Jasper and Alice. He led me to his office. I looked at the clock on the wall. It read 5 a.m.
Carlisle turned on a light on the wall and placed some x-rays in front of it.
"Look at these. Tell me what you see."
I walked closer to it to get a better look and gasped, realizing what I saw.
Sorry about the cliffy, guys but I had to do it. It's fun. There's a poll on my profile that you guys need to see. I'm not sure what to do what Mike so you have to help me. I'll be closing the poll after the next chapter comes out so you have until...wednesday or thurday at the most to vote. All I need is 21 more reviews to get to a hundred so review on!
Reader4Lyfe, peace!