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Chapter 6

First Words

Alice's eyes widened. "How did you know?"

I shrugged. "Lucky guess. Besides I'm a Psychology student, silly."

Alice rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right."

I grabbed my fresh clothes from the cupboard and took my toiletries bag. "Hold your story until I have finished my shower."

Alice raised her hands. "Whatever you say."

I grinned and quickly went in into the bathroom. I had a very nice shower which relaxed my tense body. I tried very hard not to remember my conversation with James and I was just trying to remember my moments with Margaret to erase the bad memory. I finished my shower and changed my clothes. Alice was still waiting patiently for me on her bed, drawing a sketch on her sketch pad.

She lifted her head and smiled at me. I sat next to her. "So, what's the story?"

Her eyes lit up and she put her notes on the bed. "I was taking a short shopping trip this evening-"

I smiled coyly. "A short shopping trip?"

Alice rolled her eyes. "Will you please listen to me?"

I chuckled lightly.

She cleared her throat. "OK, let's continue. So, I was taking this short trip and I met with Jasper in one of the stores there. We talked casually and then his twin sister, Rosalie, came up to us with a big guy."

I looked at her in disbelief. "A big guy?" Honestly, I couldn't even imagine what kind of man who could stand next to Rosalie.

Alice nodded and pursed her lips. "He is a football player at his college."

"Ah, I see," I smirked. "The blond one always gets a football player."

Alice laughed lightly upon hearing my joke. "Anyway….." she changed the subject, "The big guy introduced himself and I was surprised when I knew his family name. I immediately remembered you and then I asked him about 'Our Hearts'. He told me that Dr. Cullen is his father."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "And this Emmett…what is his relationship with Rosalie Hale?"

Alice shrugged. "From what I saw, I think they are lovers. They always stick together."

"Uh-huh. But, she was alone the first time we saw her," I stated.

"Emmett said he had a big game, therefore he couldn't give Rosalie company last time," Alice answered me.

I nodded thoughtfully. "Dr. Cullen and Emmett are father and son. So, that means they are Edward's relatives."

Alice's eyebrows shot up. "Edward?"

I grimaced. "I kind of had an encounter with him at lunch."

"Oh!" Alice looked at me curiously. "What happened?"

I sighed and lay on the bed. "One of the permanent volunteers asked me to give some papers to Dr. Cullen on the second floor. I said no at first because from the briefing at the first day, we've been told that the second and the third floor were forbidden for the volunteers. But, she said everyone was busy and I was the only one she could ask for help."

I paused. My memory wandered to the event at lunch.

"Of course, I couldn't say no. I had just hoped I could see Dr. Cullen soon so I didn't have to be on the floor for too long. But, I think I always attract trouble. When I turned around and wanted to go back to the first floor, Edward was already there behind me."

Alice's eyes widened. "Really?"

I nodded slowly. "Nothing happened, if that's what you want to ask me. He just helped me not to fall on my own feet. And then Dr. Cullen was there and asked Edward to return to his room."

"And what do you think of him? Now that you met him? Well, not exactly met, but let's say you saw him more closely," My best friend said slowly.

I still remember his eyes. He looked at me deeply, but there was a trace of loneliness there. He shut himself from the others. Either it was because of he did it for himself or because Dr. Cullen asked him to. I still could feel the charming boy inside.

"He seems….lonely."

Alice snorted. "Seriously, Bella. I can imagine that. You are trapped in that place with no one to keep you company except for the doctors or the professionals. It's a miracle if he could still have his sanity."

"I know that," I said to her. "Besides that place is not a jail. He still allowed go to the first floor, but under supervision, that is."

"So," Alice asked me cautiously. "You still want to volunteer in that place after what just happened to you?"

I took a deep breath. I repressed the shudder when I remembered James and his glinted eyes, but I didn't want to tell that to Alice. I was sure I could handle him by myself. I nodded. "Yes, I do. I just started the draft for my project."

Alice's eyes lit up. "Oh, you already found your subject?"

I smiled slightly. As much as my curiosity over Edward kept nagging in my mind, I needed to deal with the truth. He was beyond my reach. "You can say so. Margaret is a great kid."

Alice laughed. "So, is it true that she has an IQ of 160?"

I smiled and answered her question cautiously. It was not ethical for me to tell the others, including my best friend, about my subject. Besides, I was thinking of what Dr. Cullen said earlier. It will be nice if I could treat Margaret both as my subject and as my friend. I've never done that before, but I could try. Alice told me about the rest of her short shopping trip until we both fell asleep.

After the scene with Edward, I never met him again at the lunch room nor did he appear with Dr. Cullen in the same room with the other kids. The week passed in a blur with my work as a volunteer. It looked like Kate trusted me more other than other volunteers. James still gave me the shivers and I avoiding him as best as I could. Again, I was asking myself why he even here in the first place. My relationship with Margaret was getting closer and finally she found out that I was a Psychology student. At first I was afraid she will avoid me when she knew that she became my subject, but Margaret seemed doesn't bother at all with the truth. She said that she was enjoying all the time she spent with me because this was the first time someone had actually listened to her.

I never asked about Edward anymore to Margaret and I didn't ask about him to Kate and Garrett yet. It seemed after what happened to me at the beginning of the week, they were forbidden to talk about that matter. As much as I was busy with my volunteer program, sometimes I was thinking about Edward. How was he? Was he alright? Did the doctors or the professionals treat him well after Dr. Cullen caught me with him? And if Alice was telling me the truth about Dr. Cullen's son, I've never see him in 'Our Hearts' since my first day. And the most important thing was, I've never seen any of Edward's family apart from Dr. Cullen himself. My heart twisted at that thought.

Today marked a week after the last time I saw Edward, Kate asked me to help her again. She asked me to give some files to Garrett who was in the lunch room. I walked through the hall carrying a pile of papers when I felt my shoulders were being wrapped by someone. I quickly turned my head to see the person and I shuddered when I saw that it was James.

"Hey, Bella. Are you busy?" He asked me in low voice. He leaned in too close to my liking.

I unwrapped his arms from my shoulder and walked faster, but of course he could follow easily. "Yes, I am and now, please leave me alone."

Suddenly James grabbed my arm and pulled me to his body. I gasped and clutched my papers tightly. It was the only thing that separated our bodies from touching and believe me, touching him was the last thing on my mind.

"What's the hurry? This is lunch time. We could have our lunch together," he said again and raised his hand to stroke my hair.

I shivered. "James, we are in public place. Don't so anything stupid or-"

He chuckled darkly. "Do you see anyone besides the both of us, baby?"

I gulped and nervously looking around. I've spent my time a lot in this place and I didn't know why this was the first time I found this hall to be….empty. I was starting to hyperventilate.

James smirked. "All of them are already in the lunch room. I've been watching them for a while and I've been watching you, of course. I know you are avoiding me."

I swallowed hard and James suddenly pinned me to the wall. My eyes widened. My heart beat turned erratic. "Please….don't…" I pleaded.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Bella," he said again and started to caress my cheek. "You know….I like you. You are different from other girls that I've met. Innocent, pure…." And his hand started to rub my arm and I began to tremble. He smirked again and tilted my chin so I was looking straight into his wicked blue eyes.

"Don't worry. I'll be quick," he said again and leaned closer to my face.

I watched him with horror and I started to push him away, but apparently my movements only encouraged him to get close to me. I whimpered as I tried to get away from him and prayed someone could help me until I felt someone push James from me. Between my shock, I could see James was already lying several feet from me and then I slowly turned my head to see Edward standing in front of me. He didn't look at me, but I could tell that his eyes were full with anger. His jaw clenched and he balled his fists.

"You son of a-"

James couldn't finish his words because suddenly Edward launched forward and hit James on his face with his fist. For a moment I was standing there in a daze watching the two men fighting against each other until I could smell a faint of blood. My head was spinning slightly. I've never liked the smell of blood in my entire life and I leaned again to the wall to keep myself from fainting.

I shook my head and I could see both James and Edward's faces were bleeding and my conscious part kicked in. As much as I didn't like James, I couldn't just let him suffer like that and Edward….mostly Edward. He has been through so much. I couldn't let this happen to both of them.

I put my papers hastily on the floor and quickly approached both of them. "Stop it! Edward! James! Stop!"

Without thinking, I held Edward's arm with all my strength and suddenly he stopped hitting James. My breathing was turned shallow and my body squirmed when I realized I was half-hugging Edward. He turned his head slowly to look at me and my heart flipped when I saw his eyes. He looked at me curiously and I could see that one of his eyebrows was bleeding.

"What's going on here?"

I heard a man's voice and turned my head to see a big guy with dark hair half-running in our direction followed with Carlisle. I almost breathed the sigh of relief. I didn't think I could hold Edward any longer if he wanted to punch James again.

The big guy helped James to stand while Carlisle held Edward's free arm. Both of their faces were covered with bruises and blood. I winced slightly.

"I really shouldn't let you out from your room," I heard Dr. Cullen hiss to Edward.

I quickly turned my head to see him staring at Edward intensely. Edward did the same, but he didn't say anything. And then Carlisle turned to me. "Bella, are you alright?"

I snapped from my daze mode and nodded my head slowly.

Carlisle turned back to Edward. "Come with me." And he looked at the big guy. "Take him to Garrett, Emmett. He'll know what to do."

I gasped slightly.

Emmett?

I turned again to see the big guy and he winked at me. "It's nice to meet you, Bella. Let me take this man to Garrett and we can talk. Meanwhile, why don't you wait for me in the employee's room?"

I took a deep breath and nodded. Emmett started to take James away and I quickly gathered the papers back off the floor. I walked to the employee's room at the end of the first floor. I knocked on the half-opened door, but no one was there. I slowly opened the door and entered. I put my papers on one of the employees' desks and sat on the couch. The room was quiet and I could hear the kids' voice in the lunch room from the distance. I couldn't imagine what kind of rumor was going to be spread around this time. I grimaced when I thought what kind of questions that Margaret will ask me.

The door finally opened and I saw Emmett smiling at me. He sat on the couch and extended his hand. "Hi, Bella. I wish we could meet in a better situation. I'm Emmett Cullen."

I gingerly shook his hand. "Bella Swan."

He smiled warmly. "It's a beautiful name."

I laughed nervously. "Thank you."

"I hope what happened earlier didn't turn you into shock mode. My dad already had planned to take James out from this place and I guess what happened earlier was his final decision," he said to me.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "I don't mean to pry, but I don't like him. He's just creepy."

Emmett laughed. "Actually James was guilty for a harassment case and apparently his lawyer was a good one so he was sentenced to attend social service. Why he even here I have no idea."

Yeah, same here.

"I told my dad not to accept him. But, my dad, being my dad, didn't listen to me," he continued and his eyes flashed with sadness.

I looked at him curiously. "I've never see you since my first day here. Are you here to see Edward?"

Emmett smiled glumly. "Yes, I missed him. I missed his jokes, his caring…."

"Are you both close?" I asked cautiously. For cousins, their relationship was too close and there was something that I couldn't put my finger on it.

Emmett chuckled lightly. "Of course we are close, Miss Swan." His eyes glinted with humor. "He's my brother."

I froze and I almost stopped breathing.

A what?

I blinked. "He is your brother," I repeated his words earlier.

He nodded.

"Seriously?"

Emmett laughed again. "What? You don't trust me?"

"Oh…no…I didn't mean that. It's just you both are…different." My voice was faltered in the end.

He smiled genuinely. "He is three years younger than me. Edward is more compassionate than me. He cares about others while I sometimes don't care much. That was why what happened with our mom affected him so much."

"What happened to your family?" I asked in low voice.

Emmett sighed and leaned to the couch. "We were a happy family at first. Dad was a doctor and mom was an architect. And then after my dad was too busy, he barely spent his time with us again. I was off to college and I left Edward to deal with it."

He paused.

"Our parents were slowly growing apart and Edward caught our mom trying to kill herself someday. He blamed our dad and suddenly turned violent. He didn't trust anyone else and our dad finally put him into therapy here in this place."

I took deep breaths. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Emmett chuckled. "Nah….I was getting used to having that kind of treatment." And then he looked at me. "But, to be honest, I saw something in Edward's eyes today. He seemed…alive…even for just a moment and I guessed it was because of you."

I blinked several times. "Huh?"

Emmett smiled. "Again, I'm sorry to cause so much trouble for you. You can have your lunch now."

I nodded slowly. Honestly, I felt the same way as Emmett did. I did feel something from Edward when his eyes met mine.

"Bella?"

I looked at Emmett. "Can I see him?" At least I wanted to know if he was alright. He helped me after all.

Emmett looked at me in disbelief. "I don't think that is the best idea, Bella."

"Please," I said to him pleadingly. "He helped me, Emmett. At least I want to say thank you to him."

Emmett's eyes tightened. "You already saw him losing his temper and you still want to see him?"

I gulped. "He won't hurt me."

His eyebrows shot up. "Are you sure about that? You don't know him, Bella."

"Do you?" I pointed back. If he really knows Edward, he must know that Edward already had had chances to hurt me.

Emmett narrowed his eyes and I stared back at him. He shook his head and muttered, "Damn Psychology student."

I grinned victoriously and he rolled his eyes. "Alright. Follow me."

I smiled widely and rose from the couch. I followed Emmett through the halls, out the main building and headed to the medic room. He stopped at the door and turned to me, "Wait here."

I nodded and he got in into the room. I fidgeted in my feet for a moment before the door opened and Emmett came out with Carlisle. I smiled to both men. I swore I see Carlisle almost rolled his eyes. "We'll be at the end of the hall if you needed us," he said to me.

I nodded again and he walked passed me with Emmett in his tow. The big guy just gave me a slight wink and I smiled at him. I took a deep breath and turned my attention back to the half opened door. I slowly opened the door and my heart twisted when I saw Edward was sitting on the bed with his back on me. It looked like he was staring at the window and watched the kids playing outside.

I walked into the room and clamped my hands together. My heart turned erratic again and I just wish I didn't say anything that could make him snap again. I stood next to him, but he didn't look at me.

I swallowed hard. "Hey," My voice cracked.

No answer.

I smiled slightly. "I just want to say thank you for helping me." I looked over to his bleeding eyebrows. There was a trace of dry blood and I forced myself not to think about that. "I'm sorry if you're getting hurt. That was not my intention. I guess I always attract trouble." I chuckled to myself.

Still, no answer.

I sighed. His silence didn't offend me. I was getting used to get this kind of treatment from being a Psychology student. I looked over to the desk next to the table and saw a washcloth and a basin there. Well, at least I could show him my gratitude. I took the wet washcloth and twisted it so the water fell into the basin. I gingerly cleaned his wound and I was too concentrated on my work until I heard a velvet voice speaking to me.

"You're beautiful."

My hand stilled and I slowly looked at Edward's face. His green eyes were staring at me and all I could do was stare back.

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