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WARNING!
This story contains subject matter which may be offensive to some readers. I will try to post a warning before each chapter if I feel there is a need, but the story in general deals with mature themes.
I don't know you
but I know what you did to her
She told me and I happen to believe her too
They will be three steps behind
You will not know what's got you
Oh, so you're sorry now
All is not well, it's not ended
-The Fray
Charlie left, deciding to stay at a hotel for the night, instead of making the long drive to Seattle. Carlisle and Esme have gone to bed. Seth is passed out in his room here, leaving the five of us are sitting around the fire pit outside, not quite ready to go to bed. The fire crackles loudly, the only noise besides our voices filling the night. Bella has a blanket wrapped around us and is curled into my side. My arm is tight around her, and I can feel her body shake as she laughs at Rose's story about her class.
"Then, after all that," Rose says, shaking her head. She starts laughing, trying to speak, "then... the little shit - he asks me out!"
"No!" Bella gasps.
"What did you do?" Alice chimes in.
"What could I do?" she laughs.
"Kick him in the balls," Emmett grumbles. He's had a little too much to drink, but it's made him ten times more entertaining.
"He's fifteen." Rose rolls her eyes.
"I don't care; he's still a hormonal little fuck," Emmett laughs.
"He's only fifteen," Bella insists in defense of this boy. I notice she has shied away from Emmett and has glued herself to my side since we've been around the fire.
"Only fifteen!" He springs up from his chair and stumbles. Bella jumps a little, and her grip around my waist tightens. "Edward, what were you like at fifteen?" Emmett asks.
"A hormonal little fuck," I reply laughing.
Alice and Rose throw their arms up in the air, giving up, and laugh. I run my hand through Bella's hair and feel her relax into my side again.
"See. Point made." He claps his hands together and places a sloppy kiss on the side of his wife's face.
"Anyway." Rose grabs the arm of Emmett's shirt and wipes her face."He thought asking me out would get him out of detention. It only got him a week more."
The stories continue into the night. It's after two a.m. when Emmett and Rose decide to leave.
"Wait, are you busy tomorrow, Rose?"
"I'm going to my mom's, for my cousins baby shower."
"Darn. I think it's Aaron's last weekend in town. I wanted everyone to meet up for coffee or something."
"I'll be around. Edward will be, too," Bella speaks up.
I look down at her. "Do you really need me to go?" I ask, not having any desire to meet Alice's new boy crush.
"No, it's cool. I have papers you need to sign before you start work next week, so I'll tag along. Then you won't be the only guy there."
"He won't be alone; Aaron will be there," Alice speaks up, looking offended at the thought of Emmett already forgetting about her new crush.
Emmett drunkenly rolls his eyes. "Yes, but you tend to date douches. I'll have to be there with all my awesomeness to balance out the douchey-ness. Simple math, Alice."
"I'm not dating him, and you are so fucking annoying when you're drunk."
"I'm not drunk," he insists, with a very drunk giggle. "See you tomorrow?" he asks me.
"Sounds good," I reply.
He walks over to me, and I reach my hand out ready to shake his, assuming that's what he wants. I'm appalled when he lightly pushes Bella out of the way and wraps his arms around me hugging me tight. "Love you, man," he says loud and drunkenly.
"Ugh, Emmett, get the fuck off me," I laugh, shoving him.
"Let's go, Lover-boy," Rose says, pulling his hand toward the door.
"Keys," she demands lightly with her hand out.
"Sure thing, mom." He rolls his eyes and drops the keys into her hand.
"Text me when you get home," Alice says as they disappear into the dark. "I don't know how she deals with him when he's like that," she laughs, shaking her head.
I look over at Bella and see a look of worry on her face. She's chewing on her nail and looks a mile away. When she notices me staring she smiles and places her hand at her side.
We clean up the mess we made and put the fire out. Alice decides to crash here instead of waking her son up and goes up to Seth's room.
When we get into our room, I pull Bella down to the bed.
"That was a fun night. Did you have a good time?"
She nods her head. "Did you?"
I nod. "I did. I think I like drunk Emmett." I laugh.
"He's funny," she agrees. "I'm glad you don't drink too much though," she says quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm glad you don't get drunk."
I've never heard her talk about this before. I roll over and face her. "Do you not like it when I have a beer?"
"No, I don't mind when you have a beer."
"Why are you worried I'll get drunk?"
She shrugs and scoots into my chest.
"Bella, why are you worried about me getting drunk?" I ask softly.
She pauses a while before she speaks. I've learned to wait quietly while she works through whatever she needs to.
"It was always worse... when he drank. Or when... others were visiting. They always drank."
That explains it. It explains why she went from laughing and being fairly independent tonight, talking to Charlie, making dinner then got so clingy to me after Emmett had a few too many. It explains why she always asks me how many I've had when I'm drinking beer. Every day is so hard for her; there are so many challenges she has to face because of what was done to her.
"It wouldn't matter how drunk I got. I would never do anything to hurt you."
She doesn't respond.
"Bella," I say, placing my hand under her chin, making her look at me. "It doesn't matter if I'm sober, drunk, high, tired, angry... you name it, I would never hurt you. Don't you know that?"
She nods. "I just don't like drunk men." The look on her face almost breaks me. Her eyes are watering, and her bottom lip trembles.
I pull her tightly to my chest. "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't know it upset you. I won't drink anymore. I had no idea." I had never been anywhere close to drunk around her, but if it upsets her I won't drink at all. It's not important to me.
"That's why I didn't want to say anything. I don't mind if you have a beer, Edward. I trust you not to have too much. Just like in the kitchen earlier... don't censor yourself. Dr. Carmen says I need to adjust to the world around me. I can't do that if you conform to me. You already do everything you can to make me comfortable - to make me feel safe - and I love you for it. But I have to learn to... adjust." Her eyes close and she sounds like she's in pain when she says it. She's already made so many adjustments, and they were all painful for her.
I nod, I get it. "I love you," I say. "I don't think Emmett would do anything, even when drunk, but I wouldn't have let him. You were safe tonight."
"I know," she sighs. "I know. When you're there that's something I never worry about." She places a kiss on my chest.
We barely get out of our clothes we're so tired. We fall asleep as soon as the light is off.
~*E&B*~
Emmett left me books to read about brewing. At first I laughed at him but as I read on, I realize how over my head I am. I had no idea how much science and math went into brewing. I'm grateful for the job, but I'm starting to doubt if I'm capable of doing it. He said he would start me off delivering kegs and cleaning; that makes me feel better.
"Ready?" Bella asks as she and Alice come down the stairs.
"Do you really need me to go?" I ask again. I still have no desire to meet this guy, and I feel like I need all the time studying I can get.
"I guess if you don't want to go, you don't have to..." Bella trails off in a way that tells me she feels the exact opposite of what she says.
"Oh, c'mon, it won't be that bad," Alice insists. "Mom's going to watch Seth for a couple hours, and besides, Emmett's coming. Someone needs to make sure he behaves." She laughs, picking up her car keys.
"I'm not sure when I became the official Emmett baby sitter and meet and greet specialist," I grumble, following the girls outside.
"I'm sorry. I wouldn't go, if it weren't so important to Alice," Bella says, wrapping her arm around my waist. "I'm just not comfortable meeting new people alone yet." It's a whisper, and I can tell she feels guilty for asking me to come.
"No, it's okay. I'm sure we'll have a good time," I assure her, kissing the top of her head. I open the passenger door for her and close it when she slips in.
"Thanks for coming, guys," Alice says as we pull out of the driveway.
"We're happy to," Bella insists.
"I just don't want him to think it's a date, you know? He's... kinda intense, and I just thought it would be better as a group thing."
"Of course," Bella agrees.
Listening to Alice talk about this guy makes me glad I came. As we drive further down the road my unease grows. Something doesn't feel right, but I can't explain it. When we pull into the parking lot the hairs on the back of my neck raise. I survey the parking lot and the people standing around the coffee shop. I feel myself slip back in the suspicious, cautious person I was while living on the streets. The girls are laughing and talking, completely at ease.
"I don't see Emmett's car yet, but he's always late. We can just wait inside for him."
"Okay," Bella says, opening her car door.
I jump out and wrap my arm around Bella's shoulder.
"You okay?" she asks quietly, aware of my change in behavior.
"Yeah," I smile, not wanting her to worry.
"You sure?" She's obviously suspicious.
"Yep."
I open the door letting the girls walk in.
"Hmm, I don't see Aaron yet. Want to go ahead and order drinks?"
"Sounds good," Bella says.
I give her a five-dollar bill and ask her to just get me a black coffee. Sitting at a table large enough for all of us, I wait while they order their drinks. My stomach is tight - something's not right. I look closely at every person in the shop. It's mostly women talking to each other and a few people typing away on laptops or reading.
The door opens, making me jump a little. A couple walks in and goes right to the counter to order. I shake my head and try to get rid of this weird feeling. The trip back home must have gotten to me more than I realized.
Alice is waiting at the bar for their drinks when Bella walks over to me.
"Here's your coffee," she says with a smile, setting it down.
"Thank you."
"Alice is waiting for my drink; I'm going to run to the bathroom."
"Okay," I say, watching her walk away.
The door opens again, and I turn to see a guy my age, maybe a little older, walk in. He's wearing what I would think someone would wear to go golfing. His hair looks greasy with gel and the slimy smile he has on his face immediately makes me despise him.
"Alice," he says softly to get her attention. Of course, this would be the guy Alice is meeting. Emmett's right - she's a douche magnet.
I stand, wanting to be up there before Bella gets back. I can already tell this guy's presence will make her uncomfortable.
"Aaron, hi," Alice says brightly. They hug, and I can see Alice pull back, seemingly uncomfortable at how tightly this man tries to wrap his arms around her. When the guy pulls back his shirtsleeve moves up, and I can see old and fresh track marks running up his arm.
He steps back and looks at me. I square my shoulders and give him a no bullshit look. This guy is a junkie and a loser. I've been seen many of them. The Cullens have been good to Bella and me, and I'm not going to let some dip-shit take advantage of Alice because she's a little naive. Alice immediately notices a change in my demeanor.
"Uh... Edward, this is Aaron," she says looking at me oddly. "Edward's a... family friend," Alice explains.
"Hey, man." He reaches his hand out to shake mine, but I just take a step back, with my hands in my pockets until he puts his hand back down.
"Okay..." he says with an awkward laugh, throwing me a dirty look.
"Edward," Alice hisses.
"Two caramel mochas!" the barista unnecessarily shouts.
"Thank you," Alice says, taking the drinks.
"Well... should we sit?" Aaron asks Alice as he steps in front of me. He obviously thinks I have something for Alice and am acting jealous. It will be entertaining to see what happens when Emmett gets here.
"Sure," Alice says, obviously uncomfortable with the sudden tension in the room. Aaron walks with his hand on her back, and she turns and mouths "knock it off" to me.
We sit and conversation is stilted. Aaron is fidgety, and his eyes move around the room - he's paranoid and obviously on something. I hope Emmett gets here soon, because I don't want to be the one to give Alice a reality check.
"I wonder where Emmett is?" Alice says filling the silence.
I see Bella come out of the bathroom and head our way. When she sees the back of Alice's head, and that she is now sitting next to a man, her movement slows. She looks at me, and I give her a soft smile. I want to take her hand and walk out of this shop. I know this slimy fucker is going to make her uncomfortable. Even though she's been out in public more, she's never forced to interact with strangers. This is a big step for her.
She takes a deep breath then continues to walk our way. Alice spins around to look at her.
"Oh, there's Bella," she says, standing up.
Aaron does the same, and I stand, ready to keep him away from her, but before any of that can happen, Bella gasps loudly, stops walking and takes a large step back.
"Bella?" Alice asks confused.
I look over at Aaron, and his mouth is hanging open in shock. He quickly moves around his chair and walks toward Bella whose mouth is trembling. She lifts her arms out straight in front of her in an effort to keep space between them, and she backs herself up. Her eyes are glued on Aaron, and she looks like a frozen, terrified statue.
Alice looks between the two confused. I stand, not taking my eyes off the two of them and walk past Aaron trying to get to Bella.
Aaron snaps out of his shock and speaks, "Marie? Oh, Marie, we've been looking everywhere for you!"
I freeze my movements and look back at Aaron, who's giving Bella a deadly warning look. His lips are in a thin line, and his eyes are staring her down. Bella is looking at him and shrinking down more every second, as if his eyes have the power to turn her into dust.
"Excuse me?" I ask, stepping up to him. He turns his attention on me, and his eyes go from threatening to wild and panicked.
"What are you talking about?" Alice asks, stepping up behind me.
"Uh..." he stumbles. "Marie, my sister." His hands move through his hair, and he starts to stammer. "I've been looking for - the one I've told you about, Alice. Remember?"
"I know... that's why you said you were in town... Her name isn't Marie, though," Alice says, looking confused.
"Marie, come here," he demands, snapping his fingers, taking a step towards her.
"You better back the fuck up," I demand, pushing him back. I have a good six inches on him, and he's stupid if he thinks he can get through me.
He shoves me back and a look of rage glosses over his features. His face turns red, and he starts to shake. I shove him again - hard and he falls to the floor and screams.
"Bella!" he screams, malice and hate in is tone.
I take that second to look at Bella. She's trembling and cowering.
Alice is trying to help Aaron to his feet, asking him what's going on. I'm confused and wondering what the hell is wrong with this guy.
"Edward... Edward..." Bella's panicking and can't get the words out. She clings to me - I've never felt someone shake so hard. "No... no, no, no."
"Shh," I say, running my hand through her hair.
I'm pissed that this delusional, high fucker has triggered a panic attack for her. I look around, and we have the attention of every person in the shop. Great. I'm about to take her out of the store when she pushes my hand off her. Her eyes are wild, and she's trying to force words that won't come out. I look over my shoulder and see Aaron stand up and come toward us.
"It's him," Bella chokes out, grabbing my arm.
My eyes meet hers, and she nods frantically.
"It's Alec."
I let go of Bella and pull Alice's arm yanking her next to me, and she tumbles from the force.
"Edward! What the fuck!" Alice shouts.
I have no time to react because my fist connects with Alec's face. He stumbles backward blood leaking from his nose. Rage flows freely through my system. This is him. All the memories of Bella's pain, her cowering, the stories, the tears, therapy, doctors appointments... everything that's happened - all because of this piece of shit in front of me. I've dreamed about what I would do to him if I ever had the chance. Now that the chance has come I smile when I lunge after him again.
He swings to punch my face. I duck out of his way landing another punch to his stomach, causing him to fold in pain. We stumble to the ground, punches blindly being thrown. His fist connects with my right eye twice, and I can feel it swell. I get the upper hand and end up on top of him. With more force than I've ever used I punch his face, watching the blood pour out. I hear screaming all around me and then feel arms around my body pulling me off.
"Get the fuck off me!" I scream struggling to get away.
"Sarah, call the cops!" The guy holding me screams to the girl behind the counter.
People, having no clue what's going on, rush to Alec's side trying to help him. I look over and see Alice comforting Bella, both of them crying.
Alec is doing his best to assure people he's okay and trying to leave. Two men are now holding me back. I use all my strength to break free from them. I can't let him get away.
This needs to end now.
Alec is assuring the people fawning over him he's fine and scrambles out of the coffee shop. He runs right into Emmett's chest as he's coming into the shop.
"What the fuck?" Emmett asks, as Alec stumbles to the ground before taking off in a full run down the street. Emmett looks out the door and then surveys what's happening in the shop. I can tell he's about to attack the guys holding me down when one speaks up.
"He's gone, calm down," the guy says to me, tightening his hold on my arm that's twisted behind my back.
"Let me go!" I scream, struggling any way I can, trying to get away. "Emmett, stop him! He was just fucking here!"
One guy behind me jerks my arm up painfully causing me to scream out. "Calm down, the cops are on their way." The two slam my face hard into a table in front of me.
"Emmett, that guy - it's Alec!" I scream, struggling against hands holding my neck down.
"Alec?" He asks, his face full of alarm.
"Go!"
Emmett runs from the shop, and I see him go the direction Alec fled.
I take a couple deep breaths knowing I have to get out of this, or Alec will disappear.
I look over at Bella who's shaking on the ground. Alice's arms are wrapped around her and they are both in hysterics - Bella out of fear and Alice out of shock.
"Let me help her," I plead. My chest is rising and falling against the table heavily with breaths. I can feel blood pooling on the table and can't see out of the eye that was punched.
"No way, buddy. The cops are coming; we saw you start this."
"Please, he can help her," Alice begs, tears streaming down her face.
One man lets go of me, and the two look at each other. They look down at Bella and tell her paramedics are on the way. Alice begs them again saying I can help her.
"Please. I'm calm," I insist.
"You promise not to cause any trouble and wait for the cops?"
"Promise. Please just let me help her."
He pauses, but I feel him release my arms. I take one step away from them before I jump over the table and run out the door. I hear people screaming at me to stop and sirens down the street. They only make me run faster. I know if I don't get to him now and finish this, I won't have another chance.
Dun, dun dun... Will Edward catch him?
There's going to be 35 chapters probably, and I'm doing my best to have one each week for you until the end. The next chapter will be out within a week! When this is done I'll have a new story up, and I hope you guys will like it!
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Thanks for reading!