Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight
Chapter 9
The relatives from Denali didn't seem all that bad, especially not at first look. Laughing, smiling, hugging people and talking to everyone. It was nice to be a part of this, something I enjoyed experiencing that I hadn't experienced since I was about five. Of coarse that's all thanks to Charlie. As we were walking towards the northern relatives my brain stopped for a moment, as if time had frozen. Suddenly my brain was pumping ideas double-time. I didn't want to go back to Charlie today, but I knew I had to.
Suddenly I got an idea, a way to make my life much easier, in a place I would be much more comfortable. I could run away this Monday, when Charlie thinks I'm going to school. I could run into the forest and stage my 'death'. I could take scraps of one of my shirts and some of my jean scraps and put them on the forest floor while messing up some leaves around it, then put some blood on it. I could ask Carlisle if he'd lend me some blood from the hospital; it'd be perfect. Charlie would never find me; I'd be free.
The thought made me smile, and I rejoiced mentally.
By now Edward and I were walking up to the visitors, saying our hello's. Edward greeted them all by name, as did I since the names were so easy for me to remember. Eleazer reminded me so much of Carlisle when you saw the sparkle in his eyes from him getting an idea. Now that I thought about it, he and Carlisle had the same hair style, though they were of opposite colors.
I was guessing this is where the relationship in the family brought us all together; they were brothers. Twins possibly, though Eleazer might be a little older. Carmen was a lot like Esme too, except slightly curvier and with shiny black hair. The both hugged me, saying hello, even before asking who I was. I knew I'd grow to like these people, and I might be able to trust them all with my secret, Carmen, Eleazer, Garrett, Laurant, and Kate maybe, but I wasn't sure about Irina or Tanya. I kept that thought in place for now since I needed to deal with the present.
"And who might this beautiful young lady be? " Eleazer asked politely to Edward, while kissing my hand in a very gentlemanly fashion. I smiled lightly and looked over in Edward's direction. When he caught my eye he smiled at me and I automatically smiled back.
"This is Bella, my girlfriend. " Edward told them simply, though apparently it was enough. I could feel the emotions of everybody much stronger right now, for it seemed they were all listening, though they were pretending not to. The boys all high-fived, feeling elated, but I could feel huge amounts of jealousy and hate coming from someone.
I glanced quickly out of my eye towards Tanya and knew it had easily come from her. She had a fake smile plastered on her face, it was so fake that Mister Harris could've seen through it easily, and that was saying something. Rosalie and Alice were glancing nervously at Tanya, as if afraid she would lash out at them. I rolled my eyes quickly and turned my attention back to Carmen and Eleazer.
"Well that already makes her part of the family then, now doesn't it?" Carmen asked excitedly. We all laughed at her, but Carlisle, Esme, and Edward nodded their heads at her. She was so excited she ran over to give me yet another hug, sounding so happy. I was wondering why for a moment, until they walked away to go inside for refreshments at Esme's request when Edward whispered in my ear "She's a little sensitive about family members like that, feels like the world is full of her friends and her family is anyone she comes in contact with. However, what I meant was true; you are part of this family, now and forever. " He smiled at me and I stared deep into his eyes, though I found no lie.
I was so overcome with emotions of love and happiness I just reached up and kissed him. He returned the kiss full force and pulled me against him, holding his arms firmly around my waist. Possessively even. It made me feel very desirable and very loved. He opened his mouth to allow me entrance and we kissed like that for several minutes, savoring each other's sweet taste and love. When we finally pulled back we were panting slightly.
Edward smiled that dazzling crooked smile of his at me, and I felt like I melted into a puddle right there. He was so unfair, teasing me like that. When he saw the effect that had on me he laughed loudly, yet it sounded like chiming bells; the perfect melody. I loved hearing his laugh, it lit me up inside. He put his arm back around my waist snugly as we walked inside where everyone else had already gathered.
As soon as we came in however, Alice came up to me with a smile that probably would look genuine to anyone else; except me. She couldn't put anything past me. I put my hand over Edward arm that was around my waist and he looked down at me with questioning eyes. He looked into my eyes and there were no need for words; he understood. He loosened his arm and put it back at his side and I smiled slightly at him before letting Alice grab my hand and drag me away.
Alice took me up the two gorgeous oak staircases and halfway down the hall to her bedroom. When we got in there I saw Rosalie, Kate, and Irina already there, sitting in a semicircle on Alice's bed. Alice sat next to Kate and left me the spot between her and Rosalie. I sat between them and looked around with questioning eyes, wondering what exactly they all wanted me up here for. Before I could ask Alice spoke to everyone.
"Okay, so we have a serious problem, and we have to make sure nothing comes out of it, and we need Bella's permission for this." she told everyone. She then turned my way and said "Bella, Rosalie and I need your permission to tell these two everything. They don't know any of it yet, but they need to. It's for you Bella, this could help you a lot." she said.
I considered it for a moment, taking it deep into thought. I had the greatest feeling I could trust Kate with my life if it depended on her. I still wasn't sure about Irina though. I knew this was a perfect time to practice my abilities, so I called out to a bird in the woods nearby, a robin as it happened. I asked the robin if he would be able to tell if Irina was trustworthy or not, and he said yes. However, he said that was only something certain creatures could do, so he warned me to be careful what I ask of other animals. I obliged and asked him if he could fly in here. I told him we'd have the window open.
It actually was quite cool in here whereas it was nice and warm outside, so I asked Alice if I could open up the window to let a warm breeze in, since it was a little chilly. She nodded her head at me and I stood from the bed and walked over to Alice's balcony doors, opening them wide to let in the summer breeze. As I did a little robin flew in, the one I had spoken to.
He flew around the girls' heads and they all laughed; it was an entertaning sight. Yet still, the robin had done what I had asked. He told me she was trustworthy enough for what I needed, and that she would not betray me. I thanked the robin and walked out onto the patio and grabbed some bird seed that Alice had out and gave it to the robin from the palm of my hand. Thanking me, he flew away again, off into the gorgeous green woods.
I re-entered the room and sat back on the bed. Alice glanced my way for confirmation, and I nodded my head at her. I decided I'd make things easier though, so instead of explaining everything I'd show them everything. I'd pass them my memories, so they would understand it all in a some minutes time. I instructed everyone to hold hands, and we created a circle with our arms. I gathered up all the memories I needed and passed them through to everybody. Like the flow of a river.
All four girls gasped, but I just thought through one memory and another, telling them everything they needed to know. When they had seen just about everything one of my more horrid memories accidently leaked in; it was Charlie pulling a knife down my arm, and me screaming in pain. The horrid image lasted for less than a second, merely a flash like the light of a camera, but it was long enough. Everybody caught onto the image. It seemed to hang in the forefront of their minds.
We all opened our eyes and they all immediately focused on me. There was something painful in all their eyes, something deeper than normal pain, and it greatly worry me. Little Alice looked like she might cry, but she also looked fearful. Wait, fearful? Like she didn't want to believe it was true, like she wanted to believe it was a nightmare. I couldn't look at her, or anyone else. It was too powerful to see.
"B. . Bella? " Alice asked in a very small and scared voice. She kept glancing between my eyes and my arm, back and forth constantly. I sighed and told them "That was an accident, I hadn't meant for you to have to see that. "I told them sadly, sighing at the end and looking down at the patterns on the bedspread. Alice touched my arm and I looked up at her.
She was asking to know, she wanted to know what happened. But I knew that if I were to tell her one thing I would have to tell her it all. And having a perfect memory wasn't going to help my holding back for her sake. She held out her hand towards my arm, half wanting to check and half not it seemed. Too scared to want to know the truth.
I sighed once more and pulled back my sleeve all the way to my biceps so they could see that arm. It had its nine scars on it running up and down and was still covered in bruises. I rolled up my other sleeve and my pant legs up to my knees so they could see the black bruise on my left leg and the purple bruises on my other leg.
I then quickly stood up and closed the balcony doors and curtains on all the windows, including the window wall and went over and locked the door. I pulled off my shirt and stepped out of my jeans so they could see everything there was to see. They all gasped in horror and I thought I heard Alice give a tiny sob. She had tears running down her face, as did Rosalie. Kate and Irina were both staring in pain, shock, and sympathy. I guess it was quite a shock.
"Do you guys wanna hear this story too? " I asked them very quietly, in a very small and childlike voice, like a small child who once seemed happy and now seemed to have a dark secret she wasn't supposed to share. Alice nodded her head as did Rosalie. Kate nodded her head slowly, still looking over my broken ribs and bruised shoulders warily. Irina was looking unsure, but nodded her head too.
I pulled my jeans back on and was about to put my shirt back on when Alice got off the bed and walked over to me, stopping me. She turned me around to look at my back and I heard her tiny little gasp. She could see half of the thick scar running down my back, but not all because of my large wraparound bandages on my waist for the stab.
I unwrapped the bandages so she could see the full scar and turned around again so she could see the stab mark. Irina put her head in her hands, crying softly, while Kate comforted her. Rosalie too got off the bed to come over to me and look at the stab wound. She looked at it and then looked into my eyes. She hugged me then, slightly fiercely but carefully, being wary of my bruises and scars.
I had to thank her for that. Alice hugged me too, and I felt Kate and Irina join in the group hug, me in the middle. One by one the all let go and went to sit back on the bed. I rewrapped my stomach again and put my shirt back on and joined them on the bed.
Wordlessly, we joined hands in a circle again and I started when I was five, the day my mother left. The beginning of the worst days of my life. I showed them every horrid image that showed Charlie's cruelty, and it was a lot to take in for them. It had been a lot for me at the time too.
I showed him throwing me into walls, down the stairs, bashing my head against things, stepping on me, cutting me, whipping me, beating me with everything in him. Horrid image after horrid image rolled by through us all, and everyone had tears streaming down their faces and were sobbing, but they kept their eyes closed and continued to watch as I grew up and got hurt more and more, went to the hospital more and more, told lies about my injuries more and more. It was horrible. After about half an hour of sitting there we had gotten as far as last week, where they saw where all the more recent scars came from. They saw him stabbing me and fully cutting my arms and back. They saw him step on my leg and slap me and punch me. They saw it ALL.
After a good thirty-five minutes or more, the images ended, and we all opened our eyes, looking at one another. All eyes again turned to me and suddenly everyone was hugging me at once. We all sat and cried and sobbed in each other's arms for a long while, hugging and holding onto each other. So this was what true friends were like. Finally after what seemed like forever of sadness, we all wiped our eyes clean and tried to relax.
I didn't want the boys or Tanya to see our puffy eyes, so I pulled everyone into Alice's bathroom and turned on some hot water, putting some oils on a sponge and making the room smell good in the process. I wasn't sure exactly what I was doing, but it felt right. I pressed the sponge with the stuff on it over my eyes one at a time and the redness, puffiness, and strain was gone immediately. The others did the same and when we all looked as we should, we reopened the curtains, balcony doors, and unlocked the door again.
We all sat on Alice's bed again, however, to discuss the original point; my secret. We went over all the details again and they all swore it would only stay between us. I then told them about the plan I had for getting away from Charlie on Monday, and I hoped it worked. They all agreed it was a good plan and that settles the matter. Kate volunteered that we go and eat a snack since we were all so hungry. How right she was.
I glanced at the clock on Alice's nightstand and saw it had only been and hour and fifteen minutes since I arrived at the Cullen's; I still had time. Before we made it downstairs, however, Alice stopped me and whispered in my ear "You have to tell Edward. Everything. He must know or nothing is going to work. You must tell a soul mate everything there is to know. "she told me. I would have argued the point, but she was right, and nothing I could say would change that. I nodded my head solemnly at her and we continued down the stairs.
When we entered the kitchen we found a bowl of fruit on the table with five water bottles. Esme must have left them out for us. We each took a bottle and a piece of fruit and went out into the sunshine to relax.
The boys were already all outside tossing a football back and forth and trying to steal it from each other. I laughed at them and then whispered in Kate's ear "Are Garrett and Laurant trustworthy? Could we trust them with the secret? "I asked her quietly. She nodded her head at me. "I'll tell them all later." I told her. She, again, nodded her head.
Edward suddenly noticed I was outside and threw the football in my direction. I caught it with ease and set down my green apple next to my water bottle and went out to join them. The other boys still looked wary about my skills, so I showed off a little. Just a little. Or a lot. I told Emmett to go long and he ran out a good hundred-fifty feet, holding his arms in the air and yelling "Throw it!" I threw the ball in a perfect spiral that made it all the way to him. He caught it and threw it back to me. I caught it again and tossed it to Garrett.
We continued to play for a while until I asked the time and found out I only had another hour and a half before Charlie would be home. I told them I needed to go home and the girls' eyes widened in fear and they all shook their heads. I mentally told them all Yes! If I don't he'll come looking for me, and then I won't be the only one getting hurt. I grimaced at the thought and the girls seemed to understand. Suddenly I noticed Tanya and the adults were no where to be seen.
"Hey Edward, where are Carlisle, Eleazer, Esme, Carmen, and Tanya at? " I asked him.
"Carmen and Esme went out to do some grocery shopping since the family is staying for a couple weeks, Carlisle and Eleazer are in Carlisle's study discussing things, and Tanya is in the restroom. " he told me, rolling his eyes. I almost laughed at him, until I thought about Tanya. She wouldn't have been in there very long. I searched out with my senses and found Tanya wasn't in the restroom, but in Edward's room.
"I'll be back in just a moment, kay? " I told him. He nodded his head at me and I mentally told him Stay here please, and try to make sure everyone else stays either out here or on the main floor. This won't take long. He eyes me conspicuously, but nodded his head all the same. I gave him a quick hug and ran inside, quickly but quietly. Nobody seemed to notice my departure.
When I reached the stairs I went into total stealth mode, slinking up the stairs and down the hall like a panther, not making a sound. I went up the second staircase and down the second hall the same way until I came to Edward's open door. I listened inside and heard someone walking around and throwing stuff in various directions. Hmm...
I heard things shattering and breaking and the sound of paper being ripped. I squeezed into the room to see Tanya ripping some paper in half and throwing it into the trashcan.
She didn't notice my presence at all, merely walking around and destroying Edward's room more. I decided to fully let my presence be known.
"Having fun? " I asked her casually, almost as if asking her how she thought the weather was. My eyes betrayed the fact that I was annoyed and angry. When Tanya heard me she practically had a heart attack. She spun around eyes wide and terrified for a moment. After she saw me her muscles bunched up and she looked furious. Apparently she hadn't been expecting me.
"Oh, it's you. Come to look for your boyfriend? " she asked me. I wasn't worried about her, I was worried about Edward and what he might try to do to her when he saw what she did to his room. I was completely relaxed in front of her with my hands at my sides, my eyes accusing, but nothing else out of place or suggesting she and I were enemies. A complete stranger could walk by and think we were friends that were simply arguing and have no idea.
"Actually, he's waiting for me downstairs, I just wanted to see what you were doing in his room. " I told her. She seemed slightly taken aback for a moment at my directness before she recovered her pose. She reminded me of Charlie in a way, how at work he was a sweet and helpful man, but at home he was a demon. Just like Tanya when she was around Edward. A wolf in sheep's clothing.
"How did you know I was up here? " she asked me in an annoyed tone.
"I just knew, let's leave it at that." I told her smugly, taunting her. "It doesn't matter, I've seen you and I know what you've done, and I can prove it to people too, into showing it was you." I told her, smiling menacingly. She didn't even look the least bit worried.
"You won't be able to prove anything! While you're up here cleaning they'll find you and say you did it! Then Edward will leave you and be mine like he should be. " she said seethingly, and much like the snake she was, before sprinting out of the room.
I knew she was right about what could happen if I didn't worry. I used my powers to call out to the woods for the help. Some birds and squirrels volunteered to help fix up the room with me. They all grabbed some clovers as I began putting broken things back together. One robin brought me an amazingly huge bundle of clovers for it's small size, before telling me why.
A clover can fix any injury or break, no matter how big. It just has to be there. I studied the clover confusedly for a moment before unsurely holding it between two ripped pieces of note paper.
The paper reconnected and reformed the way it was before Tanya had ripped it almost immediately. I smiled and some of the squirrels and I began quickly fixing everything and putting it back where it went. Suprisingly, it didn't take quite as long as I thought it would. BUt then again, I had a lot of help from my friends. After the room look clean and as it should be I dismissed my very helpful friends, thanking each of them in turn. But as usual, they said they were honored to have been chosen and accepted no thanks nor offerings, saying that merely speaking with me was reward enough. I wished I could give them something anyway.
It seemed unfair to me, but I wouldn't judge. I closed the window they came in through and turned away from it to leave. As I stepped into the hallway and closed the door with a soft click, I heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
I turned around to see Edward following an eager looking Tanya with a very confused-looking expression on his face. I waved to him and reopened the door I had just closed to allow them entry. When Tanya walked in she looked smug and so sure of herself before she saw how spotless the room was, in spite of the mess she had made only minuted earlier.
She stood there speechless for a moment before rounding on me, screaming "YOU!" She ran at me and tried to punch me with her perfectly manicured nails and flimsy hands, but I easily dodged her. She swung at me again, wider and harder this time. I grabbed her arm and spun her around, locking her arms together behind her back. She struggled for a moment before she kicked backwards into my knees, and hitting the bruise still in place below my left one. Crap.
I knelt down in pain, and Tanya thought it was all because she kicked me. It might've made me laugh had I not been in considerable pain. Stupid Charlie and his long-lasting bruises.
Tanya sauntered over to Edward, swaying her hips as she walked and looking at him with lusty, greedy eyes. The bitch actually thought she had won. What a slut. I thought to myself. But Edward had eyes only for me, and I was thankful for that a thousand times over. I rolled over onto my side so there was no pressure on my left leg, and tried to slowly sit up without really moving it that much. I pulled up my pant leg up to my knee and surveyed the damage.
The bruise had just been tackled, which meant it would probably take even longer to heal, but it wasn't too bad. It still looked horrible and hurt like hell, but at least Tanya didn't make it worse. I surveyed the dark black bruise that covered the entire length of my left shin, and I heard Edward's quiet gasp. Suddenly he was at my side, holding me up and looking at my bruise carefully, as if afraid by going near it in case he could make it worse. As if that was possible for him to do.
Tanya was still standing in the doorway, frozen with her mouth open, staring at the bruise like an imbecile. If she thought she had cause this, she was in for a nice little bruise of her own.
"Okay, there's no way I could have done that. "she said, as if trying to defend herself. I glanced over at her and just looking at her made me feel sick. She sounded like she was trying to be innocent and caring, but there was an undertone in her voice that suggested she liked the idea of me having bruises like that from her. Her eyes looked smug, like she thought Edward would go running to her if I got hurt. As if.
Edward helped me stand up and limp over towards the doorway. We stopped in front of it since Tanya was still in the way. She refused to move. This girl was really starting to push my temper. Big mistake.
"Tanya, " I told her in a very deadly and quiet voice that would send shivers down even Emmett's spine, "get out of my way before I beat you down the hall and out that window over there. " I pointed over her shoulder. She glanced back and swallowed hard, shivering at the thought. She turned her now-scared eyes back on me. "Now move. " I commanded her sternly. She shivered a little once more and stepped out of the way and backed towards the opposite wall and away from my murderous gaze. And the window.
Edward glanced into my eyes and told me Your eyes go pitch black when you're mad like that, did you know that? It really is quite intimidating. he informed me. I shook my head at him and made the anger fade away and focused on making all my steps gentle.
Edward helped me down all the stairs and into the living room on the main floor. He led me out the front door, slowly but surely. Edward helped me into the car and we sped off down the long driveway. I was sad to watch the house vanish from sight, but why?
I glanced at the clock on the dashboard and sighed in frustration. Tanya's little stunt had cost me twenty minutes, and that was twenty minutes I needed to spend making Charlie's dinner. When Edward pulled up I gave him a quick kiss goodbye and hurried inside as fast as my injured leg would allow. For the next hour I sped around the house, cleaning up and making dinner in a hurry. I hope I didn't mess anything up!
Just as I was pulling Charlie's dinner out of the oven I heard his cruiser pull into the driveway. I quickly set out his dinner and two beer bottles and straightened the pillows on the couch before running upstairs. I tripped on the last step and fell on the floor, though the sound made was very quiet. Thank God. If it had been loud he would have gotten mad again, and I did NOT need another bruise.
I quickly got up and dashed silently into my room and sat on the floor in my usual spot next to my closet door. I grabbed my sketchbook and a pencil and spent the time sketching a squirrel. I put a label at the bottom of the picture called "A Helpful Tree-Rat" I liked the name, it brought laughter bubbling to my lips, though I stayed silent. I'd never done animals before, merely people and places.
It took longer than I thought, but in the end I'd finally sketched the perfect squirrel. He had a nice bushy tail and tiny little hands, holding a few clovers in his grip. HE had been one of the squirrels that had helped clean Edward's room with me. I put down my notebook with a smile and listened to what Charlie was doing. He was almost to the sofa when the doorbell rang. My face went white and I dashed to the window and looked out onto the front porch. Standing there and smiling brightly was, guess who? None other than famous Tanya. And she was holding my jacket. Oh crap.
I could hear Charlie get up off the sofa and walk over to the door grumpily. After a moment he opened it and in his friendly voice that he uses on people other than me, said "Hello miss, what can I do for ya? " He sounded like any dad and police officer should, but I knew this was only a sugar-sweet coating. Nobody would notice the difference except people that had seen his real side. Namely me.
"I was just bringing Bella's jacket over, she left it at my cousin's house. " Tanya said just as sugary sweetly, holding my jacket out and feigning innocence of any kind. But I knew what she was doing. Playing up for Edward and trying to get me in trouble. She must have guessed I wasn't supposed to be at the Cullen's, or she was just guessing lucky. For her anyways. She wouldn't be so lucky the next time I saw her face.
"Well thank you very much. What was Bella doing over at your cousin's house? " Charlie asked politely, taking my jacket from her as he did so. I knew I was in deep trouble now. All my instincts were suddenly screaming run!
"Oh, you didn't know? Bella and my cousin Edward are dating, she came over with him and spent the whole afternoon there with him and the girls. " She told him, acting as if she had no idea he didn't know where I was. Maybe she overheard some of the girls talking. Damnit, I am sooo dead.
I had two options. I could stay here and face it head on, or I could run. I felt like running, as my instincts continued to scream at me, but I'd only have one minute tops to pack silently and then sprint out of the house. and I wouldn't make it all the way downstairs anyways. Maybe the window...
As insane as it seemed, I figured I'd see how far I got with plan B. I grabbed my schoolbag and my empty gym bag. I put my schoolbag in there and opened my closet. I put lots of fruits and water in the bag, and my entire medical kit. I also put my only clothes in there, and a thin blanket in case I needed it for something. You never know I thought.
It only took me about thirty seconds to pack all this. I was so pleased with myself for being ready for anything at a moment's notice. I put the duffle over my shoulder's and heard Charlie thanking Tanya and saying goodbye. He closed the front door and I opened my window, silently thanking God for my window's silence, and sprinted out stealthily onto the lower roof.
I climbed up to the top roof and stared at the nearby forest. The trees weren't that far away... I had the sudden thought that I could jump it. I felt my muscles stretch a bit, and I backed up to the other edge of the house, with the palms of my feet on the very extreme edge. I thought of how little kids always jumpedoff of things, thinking they could fly. Would that happen to me, only to have me fall down to the ground?
Something felt wrong though. I looked at my feet and thought about my shoes. They felt at the wrong angle. I took them off and put them in my bag for when I was back out in the public eye. I walked slowly to the edge of the roof facing the forest and slipped my duffel off my shoulders.
I began swinging my arm, further and further back, until with a great burst of strength, my duffel flew out of my hands and into the woods, where with my enhanced sight I could see it caught on a nice looking tree branch. Conveneint. I went back to the opposite side of the roof and noticed that Tanya's car was just going around the corner. I listened and felt the vibration beneath my toes of Charlie stomping up the stairs. Here goes nothing. And everything.