A/N I'm SO sorry. It was definitely not my intention to leave you with that cliffhanger for more than a couple days, but I overestimated my ability to finish the next chapter before vacation. Anyway, I know this one is pretty short, but at least it will relieve some tension.
Chapter 12
I clutched my chest, stumbling at the sheer force of Rose's words. My stomach dropped and my breath hitched. This couldn't be happening. There's no way… Not Alice.
"Bella? Are you there?" Rose asked anxiously through the phone, snapping me out of my mild heart attack.
"Where?" She didn't need anything else. She knew what I was asking.
"The Downtown Hospital. Esme's already there."
"Thanks." I muttered quickly already racing around my room to grab my purse and shoes. I didn't even acknowledge the sliding glass door to the balcony opening, but I had little choice but to stop when a strong hand grabbed my arm as I made to leave.
"Where the hell are you going?" Edward asked, anger and hurt still flashing in his eyes. I didn't have the time or patience for this, so any tact I might have had was gone.
"I'm going into the city." His eyes widened.
"What? You can't be serious!" He scowled, running his free hand through his hair as the other one remained firmly around my arm. "First you tell me you're sleeping around like some common whore, then you demand a divorce out of nowhere, and now you're running off into the city at night for God only knows what! Who the hell are you, and what the fuck happened to my wife?" He yelled, glaring down at me. Edward rarely swore so heavily, so it only went to show just how upset he truly was, but I couldn't be bothered. The only thing I could comprehend at the moment was that Alice was hurt and I wasn't there.
"Damn it, Edward! Let me go!" I shouted, struggling more fiercely against him.
"Why?" He growled, now holding me by both arms. "Why should I let you do anything…"
"Because she needs me!" I screamed, cutting him off so fiercely that he actually stumbled back a step, releasing me so suddenly that I fell backwards onto the floor.
"She?" He sputtered, looking at me in shock.
"I don't have time for this, Edward. Please, I have to go." I pleaded, heaving myself off the floor and moving once more towards the door, but he was faster, blocking my exit.
"You'll have to make time, Bella, because I'm not just letting you walk out with no explanation." He growled again. My temper flared.
"You want a reason. Fine. I love Alice and she needs me. There's your reason. Now move the fuck out of my way!" I snarled right back at him, trying to shove my way through the door.
"Who? Alice? Alice Brandon? Christ, Bella! She's a fucking child! You're leaving me for her!" He yelled, his anger reaching a new peak, but then again so had mine. He'd kept me too long already, and I'd had it.
"Look, Edward. Do whatever you want okay. Burn all my shit if it makes you feel better, but for God's sake, MOVE NOW!" I yelled, bowling my way through him, with no concern for what happened, but he didn't say another word and I sprinted down the stairs, grabbing my keys on the way out the door.
I have never driven as fast as I was driving tonight. Weaving my way through cars, and ignoring the annoyed honks and flipped fingers, all I could think about was Alice.
I skidded to a stop at the hospital, not caring that my car was between two spots. They could tow me for all I cared. I ran into the hospital and saw a pacing Esme by the doors as I entered.
"Where is she? What happened?" I asked, never ceasing my hurried walk as the older woman fell into step next to me.
"She's upstairs, I'll take you there." She said, leading me down the hallways.
"What happened?" I repeated, harsher than I'd meant to, but my tone didn't faze Esme in the slightest.
"Margot's husband, Dan, assaulted her in the subway." She explained bluntly.
"WHAT!" I shrieked, whipping around to face Esme, ignorant of the annoyed nurses staring at me. Esme took me by the arm gently, hurrying us to the elevators. Once she had pressed the button, she turned to me, her voice low.
"When I arrived, the police were still here questioning Alice. According to them, Daniel recognized her going into the subway when he was leaving work. It was just coincidence that he had been informed, not an hour before, that his company was letting him go. The police think seeing her just pushed him over the edge and he followed her underground. The witnesses said…" Esme stopped briefly as the elevator opened and people flowed out, leaving it empty for us to quickly move inside, and my mother in law to finish her story. "They said he started yelling and blaming her for everything. He slapped her in the face. Alice started to run but he chased after her and knocked her to the ground. He had begun choking her before two men pulled him away." Esme's voice broke, her face full of hatred like I'd never seen before, though I suspected my expression was much the same.
"I'm going to kill him." I snarled murderously.
"I'll help." Esme agreed.
We both stood silently seething as the floors ticked slowly by, until at last we arrived on the seventh.
With a short ding, we were out and moving again, Esme hastily leading me once more through a maze of hallways. I decided I'd use this time to find out more, in particular, how Esme found out, a question which had been at the back of my mind since I hung up with Rose.
"Why are you here, Esme? Did Alice call you?" I asked, a little jealous that she had gotten a call over me.
Strangely, a small smile broke out on Esme's face, her furious features from before relaxing slightly and leaving her with a content expression.
"Well that's a funny story, actually. Apparently, Alice has me listed under 'mom' on her phone, so the doctor called me, thinking I was her parent. I said I was on my way and hung up as soon as he told me where he was, so they didn't find out I wasn't Alice's mother until I arrived." Esme explained, obviously happy to be given the title of Alice's honorary mom.
"So are her parent's here?" I asked. I didn't know what I'd do if they were. I hadn't met them yet, after all, and I'm not sure acting the part of the panicked girlfriend in front of them would be a good idea. We finally stopped in front of a closed door and Esme turned to me, a scowl back in place on her face.
"They are at a house party on Long Island tonight and thought it would be rude to leave so suddenly, but her mother said she would come in the morning." Esme spat out the words with disgust, and I had to agree. What kind of parents chooses to stay at a party when their child is in the hospital? "I'll give you two some time." Esme said, pushing open the door to the room and gesturing me inside.
With a deep breath, I moved into the room, trying to prepare myself for some horribly mangled and bleeding Alice. The sight that greeted me was thankfully much different.
"Hey you." Alice's soft voice whispered hoarsely to me from where she lay on the only bed in the room. She looked tired, but besides the bandages on her neck and a large bruise on the side of her face, she looked fine and I nearly sank to the floor in relief.
"Oh my God, Alice! I thought…I was so worried!" I breathed, moving quickly to her bed and collapsing into a chair that had been left beside it. I took her closest hand gently in mine as I gazed at her, trying to convince my mind that she was still alive and in front of me, relatively unharmed.
"Shhh, Bella. I'm okay." She whispered, patting my hands with her other one and smiling at me. She tried to cover up the wince when she turned her head to face me, but I had already seen it.
"What's wrong? What's hurts? Should I get the nurse?" I asked, jumping up and looking around wildly for the call button, until I felt a pull on my hand. I looked down to see Alice watching me in exasperation and amusement.
"Please relax, Bella. I'm really fine, honest. I just hit my head when I fell and it's a little tender still." She said, wincing again when she adjusted herself on the pillow. This time, I didn't bother with the chair, but moved to sit on the bed, letting my fingers brush lightly over the bruise on her face. My eyes were blurry with unshed tears as my frantic heart began to settle.
"Mmm, that feels good." Alice said softly, turning her face into my hand as it cupped her cheek. "Come closer, please." She whispered, turning on her side so I could lie behind her, curling my body around her small fragile one. For a while I just held her, carefully resting my head next to hers so that my lips were just behind her ear.
"I was so scared for you, baby." I murmured nuzzling my nose into her hair gently. My arms tightened slightly and I pulled her closer to me, wanting to protect her from the world. "Are you sure you're okay?" I couldn't help but ask again. Alice didn't respond, but instead squirmed in my hold until I finally allowed her to turn in my arms, so her face was mere centimeters from mine.
Her blue eyes peered into mine and I was happy to see nothing but love in them. She blinked once before leaning in and placing a sweet kiss on my lips. "Any fear I had, left as soon as I saw you come through that door." She said softly, glancing toward the entrance to her room. "You make me feel safe, Bella. And the bruises…" she placed a small hand over the bandage on her neck, "they'll heal." Alice finished with another kiss to the lines of worry creasing my forehead and smiled at me warmly, lovingly. It amazed me how she was so young, yet so sure of her feelings. Whereas I, who was ten years her senior couldn't seem to get my emotions in order…until now.
When that shock went through me at Rose's words, and I thought I might have lost her, I knew. Sure, I knew I loved her before then. I wouldn't have left my husband if I hadn't, but in that moment, I knew my feelings were so much deeper than I'd ever realized. My love for her was beyond anything I could have comprehended. And now that I had her in my arms, safe, I realized that I might have never gotten the chance to tell her how incredibly much she meant to me, how deeply I cared for her. That was something I needed to rectify immediately. I needed to tell her.
"Alice, baby." I whispered, and melted when she looked up at me with a dazzling smile, her blue eyes shining happily. I decided she wasn't nearly close enough and pulled her to me until our foreheads touched and we were tangled together completely. As I took the breath that would release in the words I knew she longed to hear as much as I longed to say them, I wasn't nervous, but rather, oddly content. For once I was completely sure of myself and knew what I wanted…that being Alice.
"I love you." I said softly, gazing into her eyes adoringly. The blue orbs started to tear as she pulled me into her lips fiercely, all but forgetting her injuries. Our mouths clashed and tongues danced passionately around each other. I wanted to continue kissing her forever, but my body began to rebel. Apparently, my lack of sleep and emotional rollercoaster of a day was catching up with me. We broke apart reluctantly and after a few more sweetly placed kisses, I pulled away to get off the bed.
"No, don't go." Alice pleaded, her hands grabbing at me and trying to pull me back, eyes wide with fear. "Please, stay."
I didn't bother responding. I wouldn't deny her my comfort, nor would I deny myself hers. So, silently, I slipped back into the bed behind her, pulling the sheets over the both of us and snuggling into her. "I'll never leave you, Alice. I'm all yours." I whispered to her, kissing her neck lovingly, just beneath her ear. I felt her small body shiver in my arms and I smiled into her shoulder.
"Really?" She breathed, hopeful excitement lacing her tone. I nodded against her, placing another lingering kiss to her exposed shoulder.
"It's just you and me now, baby, no matter what happens." I softly assured, humming happily when her warm little body cuddled closer into mine and she sighed contently. Soon enough, my eyes began to droop and I fell asleep, wrapped around my sweet girl.
A/N I hope you aren't too mad at me to review : /