Edward's Point of View
Bella was so hurt after her confrontation with Lauren Mallory. Then the principle decides he needs to talk to us all about teen pregnancy. He knew Bella was pregnant too, could this be why he planned on a school assembly? Who knew, but who also knew that Bella's wall would come back up because of this?
It hurt my family to see her like this. Although, we had seen her wall come up before, but this was just worst than all those times put together.
She did seem to be comforted when I had my arms around her. I wanted to protect her from all that hurt her and I think she felt that. She has to protect her baby, but no one is there to protect her like she needs. I could be that one and I think she wants me to be that.
Bella's Point of View
We continued walking until we got into the library. It was smaller than my old school's library in Arizona and a little more outdated.
Edward walked me over to a table near the window while the others waited by the door. He pulled out the chair for me. I sat down and put my bag on the table to pull out my homework.
As I was pulling my things out of my bag, Edward leaned down to give me a small kiss on my head. I turned to face him and felt the need to do something crazy. After all that he had given me, I felt the need to give back.
I sat up higher and lightly grabbed his face, drawing him closer to me. Our lips met for only a brief moment, but we felt the shock go through our lips. For him, he looked exhilarated; but for me, I didn't know what I was feeling so I turned my head to start working on my homework. I was just too confused by it all. My stupid wall was pushing everything away, but I couldn't put it down even if I tried.
"Well pick you up at 4:30, Bella." He said sounding a little disappointed. I couldn't blame him, but I myself was disappointed.
Disappointment, fear, hatred, sadness, despair was all I could feel. My wall that I created was to protect me and my baby from outside emotions, but not the emotions on the inside.
I didn't hear him walk away as I opened up my algebra book. It was already quarter to three and by the time I finished it was quarter after three.
As I was getting out my French homework, Angela came running up to me. I tried to smile, but she wasn't buying it.
"Bella, are you okay?" She asked sitting down in the seat beside me.
I wished she hadn't ask that question because I couldn't tell if I was or not, so I answered truthfully. "I don't know."
"What happened? Did someone treat you badly?" She asked.
Yes, I was hurt so many times in my life and today took the cake.
"Everyone always does. I don't know why I deal with anymore?" She was speechless and looked worried.
"Bella, what can't you deal with anymore?" She asked slowly.
I sighed, not really wanting to tell her, but right now I was feeling anger just thinking about the people who had hurt me today. Lauren, Jessica, Mike, and the principle. Who was the worst was anyone's guess.
"It's ok Bella; you don't have to tell me now. Just promise me that you will tell somebody; at least your family because it looks like you trust them more than anyone else." She said taking a seat next to me.
I didn't respond and she looked like she wasn't asking for a response. I did anyways, "Thanks." I whispered.
She smiled at me then pulled open her own bag.
"Want to see some of the shots I got of the principle from the assembly. There's only a few, but we need at least one of the feature." She asked pulling out her camera.
I gave her a weak smile as an answer even though; I really didn't want to be reminded of what that idiot said. However, we had a job to do and I never backed away from a job before.
She hesitated probably sensing my discomfort, but she pulled up her pictures for me to see.
I had to laugh at them because they made the principle look like a gold fish gapping his mouth.
"Those are really good, Angela, but would we be too mean to use this one?" I joked pointing to the last one that had the principle sticking his tongue out slightly looking like a lizard.
"It would be hilarious, but I think I could sneak it in with the spoof pictures to put in the year book." Angela laughed.
"Please don't." I said making the laughter stop abruptly.
"Did he insult you?" She was catching on quick. Could I trust her to still be my friend or will she think I'm a worthless slut like the others had at my old school? The baby answered by giving me two small kicks that sent out love throughout my body. He/she wanted me to learn to trust again.
I rubbed my stomach while looking down at it.
"He did insult me. He insulted both me and my baby." I said quietly not looking at her.
After a minute of silence, I looked up to see Angela totally speechless.
"I am pregnant," I continued still whispering, "But not by any of the Cullen boys. Dr. Cullen met me when I was in a foster home in Arizona and decided to adopt me. He and his family wanted to care for me like I care for my baby. I'm not letting him/her go, ever."
Her face softened into a smile in understanding. "I can see the love you give your baby, and how your family treats you. But do you really think you can handle this?" She asked.
I use to say 'absolutely' when anyone had asked that in the past, but there was a spec of doubt that I allowed no one to see. After meeting the Cullens I had no shred of that doubt in me whatsoever.
"Absolutely, my baby and I feel so loved by those who adopted us that any other doubt that I had felt is completely gone." I answered matching her smile.
"That's so wonderful, Bella." She replied embracing me in a hug.
I couldn't help the tears that started to fall down my face and I didn't care about them. I finally told a stranger the truth and they had accepted me instead of judging me.
"What's wrong?" She asked when we finally pulled away.
"Um, nothing; the hormones get away from me all the time nowadays." I laughed.
"Are they really as bad as they sound?" She joked whispering.
"Oh yeah, and much more." I replied laughing.
"The cravings are the worst of it." A familiar voice said.
We looked to see my brothers and sisters smiling at us. I rolled my eyes at Emmett.
"Yeah, but they taste good." I joked back.
We all laughed at my joke as Angela and I got up. I made my way to my siblings while she took off in front of us—she looked shy to be around them for some reason. I waved at her while we walked to the other door on the other side of the library.
"So how was practice?" I asked on our way to the cars.
"Exhausting, the coach would not go easy on us today." Emmett whined sounding like a two year old.
"When does he ever go easy on us?" Jasper asked.
I looked back at Edward who was looking back at me with confusion and some frustration written all over his face. He was probably thinking about why I had kissed him and then turned away from him like it never happened. Personally, I did not really know what I was thinking at the time. It was either my hormones running wild again or they pushed me into trying something that I wouldn't have done in the first place.
I felt bad for leading him on like that, but I don't really have much control over my emotions. I started to blush at my mistake which made him smile slightly. I hate it when I blush, but he seems to like it.
After we came out of the office for me to drop off my signed slip, we headed to the nearly deserted parking lot. The girls piled into Rosalie's car while the guys took Edward's. I felt a little better being away from him and not feeling much of the tension between us.
The ride home was pretty quiet, except for Alice who wouldn't stop singing with the radio. She really had too many sweets.
Not surprisingly, the boys made it home before us and were waiting to open our doors. Edward literally ran up to the door when the car stopped, but still hadn't been put into park or the engine shut off. I rolled my eyes at him, but allowed him to do what he pleased.
He didn't seem as frustrated as before when we entered the parking lot. Maybe he was getting tired of me and decided I'm only a new sister to him who will ultimately make him an uncle in the near future. I would like to be with in as more than a sister, but I'm too confused and hurt at the moment to figure out where we stand.
Edward's Point of View
Bella was starting to confuse me. First, she was practically clinging to my body when I'm holding her after our confrontation with the two school sluts. I didn't mind holding her like I did, though. I've been feeling the need to protect her since I first met her and she seems to want the same thing from me.
Second, she kisses me on the lips after I gave her a small kiss on the head when I was about to leave. I don't know why I've been doing that, but it feels so natural to not do it.
Finally, after she kisses me, she turns away from me. I felt so alive when we did kiss like that. My whole body was ignited with electricity when we were briefly joined, and yet, she dismisses me as if what she did was a mistake. I sincerely hope that she didn't think it was a mistake.
Maybe, she's just as confused as I am. Maybe, she doesn't fully realize what she's feeling and that someone can return those feelings back to her. Could that have happened to her in the past?
Did the father of her child tell her that he loved her only to rip her heart out after he used her for his own sick game? If so, I shouldn't expect anything from her. 'Let her take the lead, Edward.' I reminded myself for she needs to trust me with her feelings. I admit this now to myself and to no other that I am truly in love with Isabella Swan.
The car ride was quiet, thankfully. I really didn't need Emmett making jokes about my kissing skills. Thanks to my speedy driving, we made it home before the girls. As we were getting out of the car, we heard Rosalie's car coming down the long driveway. She must have tuned it up recently to try to match my speed.
When they pulled up into the empty parking space next to us, I rushed up to open the door for Bella before Rosalie turned off the engine. I remembered how Bella doesn't like to be given so much attention, but I knew she deserved it for being who she was, nonetheless.
She rolled her eyes at me, but didn't say anything whatsoever. Maybe she was warming up to me after all.
We walked inside. I went into the dining room to get started on my homework. My Spanish teacher loves to assign hours of homework for us. The others followed my lead as well, except for Emmett who was still in the kitchen making a couple of sandwiches.
Bella, on the other hand, grabbed an apple when we walked in then went out of the room entirely. She didn't say a word to anyone on her way out.
"Alright, mom and dad have to work late and told us we can go out for dinner." Emmett exclaimed pointing to a note stuck onto the refrigerator door.
"Great, cause I'm craving Chinese." Alice answered.
"That does sound like a good idea." Rosalie agreed.
Jasper and I just nodded our heads.
"But let's get some homework done first. I don't want to be staying up all night working on this." I replied.
"How about in an hour we get ready to leave?" Jasper proposed.
Again, we nodded our heads in agreement.
"Oh wait, we haven't asked Bella if she would want some Chinese." Alice said after a few minutes of silence.
"I heard you guys and Chinese sounds fine to me." Bella called out to us still out of the room.
"You sure, Bella?" Rosalie asked.
"Yeah, no problem." She answered.
We all went back to being quiet, but I was curious as to what Bella was up to.
Finally, the hour was up and my Spanish homework was finished. Emmett and I were taking the class together so it got done faster with us working together. Emmett maybe a mindless, beef-head, but he was pretty smart when it came to school work like the rest of us.
The rest of my homework could be done in a short amount of time after we come home from dinner, so I left it until then. Besides, I was really inching to see what Bella was up to.
"Done." Alice announced while slamming her math book closed.
"You know Ali; I honestly can't wait for volleyball season to start up again so that you can wear out some of that energy you have stocked up." Rosalie said looking slightly annoyed.
"Well, mom and dad are supposed to be home late tonight, so maybe Jazzy here can help me with that problem." She replied running her fingers up and down Jasper's arm.
Jasper was looking at her as if he agreed.
"If you two are going to do that then please do it in Jasper's room." I suggested remembering the last time they had fun in Alice's room.
The two still didn't take their eyes off each other which was kind of sickening, now Rosalie and Emmett were doing the same thing.
I got up with my stuff and no one noticed me. They were off in their little worlds dreaming about tonight. This was going to be a long, loud night.
I started to go up the stairs when I heard someone typing quickly on the computer. So that's where Bella was. Probably working on her article. I decided to let her work while I put my things away in my room.
I put on a new shirt because my old one was covered in remnants of my sweat from practice. The guys and I didn't shower for too long because we heard Newton and Crowley talking again in the shower room.
When I made it back downstairs, I heard more typing going on so I decided to see if everyone else was ready to go; giving Bella a few more minutes to finish. Everyone was in the kitchen, but still making googily eyes at their partners. I grabbed my coat from the hook besides the door and Bella's too.
Shaking my head at the lovers while walking out of the kitchen not really seeing where I was going until I ran into something softer than the wall. It only took me a second to realize who it was.
Luckily, I caught Bella by her arms as she was starting to fall backwards.
"Oh my god, Bella; are you alright? Did I hurt the baby?" I was panicking.
"We'll be fine, don't worry. I've grown a second skin over the years to protect myself from my clumsiness." She replied rubbing her stomach caringly.
My fingers grazed the side of her stomach. "Sorry baby." I cooed quietly.
I was rewarded with a hard nudge from the baby and a little laugh from the mother.
"Was that an elbow?" I asked. It felt sharp.
"Yeah, he/she will alternate which body part they move. I swear it has no room in there." She replied still adoring her little one.
"Hey you two, we're hungry. Let's go." Emmett said.
I looked over at my siblings who all were smiling maybe because they were seeing what I hope they were seeing.
"You're not the only one." Bella joked.
I laughed with her as I remembered that I dropped our coats in order to catch Bella. I reached down to get them just as she was except when we came back up; she lost her balance and fell over.
"I swear being pregnant has worsened my klutziness." She grumbled trying to pick herself up.
I held back a laugh as I reached down to offer her help. She looked like she was about to refuse, but we both knew that it would be harder for her to get up without any help so she accepted.
"Let's get out of here before you have any more accidents, Bella." Alice joked.
Bella made a small growl that I'm sure Alice didn't hear, but it sounded cute coming from her. She slipped on her coat and shoes on then followed the group out the door.
"Hey, I'm dying to try out those knew upgrades Rose installed for me so let's take my car." Emmett proposed as we made our way into the garage.
"Emmett, that's not a good idea with Bella…"
"Why not Rosalie?" Bella fumed. My little kitten was angry again.
"Bella…" She tried again, but this time I stopped her.
"Rosalie, let Bella do what she wants." I'm sure Bella has had enough of everyone turning on her to protect her. That was my job now.
Bella looked at me shocked at what I did, but quickly composed her face to glare back at Rosalie who knew she wasn't going to win this fight.
"It's ok Rosalie, I'll sit on Jasper's lap in the back with Edward and Bella. You sit in the front with Emmett." Alice said.
"Alright." She said.
Bella's glare softened a bit.
Emmett's car was kind of far away from the ground. Rosalie usually has no problem getting in because she's already tall and wears high heels. Alice—being the shortest—always needed help, but I think she just likes it when Jasper has his arms around her.
I put my arm around Bella's waist as she attempted to climb in. Using me for support she was able to almost get up on her own. I could see that she was happy to find some compromise on doing something herself without relying so much on others.
I climbed in after her. When I closed my door and Jasper's his, Emmett started the Jeep and sped out of the garage. My entire family loves the thrill of speeding down the road.
"So Bella, what were you working on?" Jasper asked when we got onto the main road.
"My article, I have to turn that in tomorrow before 1st period. I'm trying to make sure I do a good job on it." She answered.
"Did you finish it?" I asked.
"Yeah. Thank God." She said the last part quietly as if to herself.
I did not think she would like to have been reminded of what happened today, but I'm glad she got through it alright.
"Can we read it?" Alice asked jumping on Jasper's lap. I swear I heard him moan.
"No Alice." She answered glumly. Alice looked disappointed. "You can read it when it comes out in print though."
Alice looked somewhat happy, but still disappointed at the same time. I knew the Bella would rather not see her article again just because of how she felt about it.
The ride to Port Angeles took only half an hour, thanks to Emmett's driving. We pulled up to the only Chinese restaurant in town. Surprisingly, Bella didn't fall asleep this time. I was sort of disappointed that she wasn't laying on me, but she didn't object when I slipped my arm on the back of her seat. I noticed she relaxed when I did, but I dared not go any further unless she encourages it.
Like getting in, I helped Bella get out without her relying too much on my help. As we were walking up to the restaurant, the others and I—except Bella—noticed a familiar car in the restaurant's parking lot.
I took a protective stance near Bella, lightly wrapping my arm around her waist, but avoiding bringing her too close for her discomfort. Still, I don't think that was much of a problem. I just hope she doesn't realize that Mike Newton and probably his idiot friends were here or worst, one of his girlfriends.
"Table for six." Rosalie said to the host when we entered.
He wasted no time getting the menus and directing us to a large corner booth near the back next to a window. On our way to the table, I took the time to look around, and there they were just as loud and obnoxious as can be, Mike Newton and Tyler Crowley. They and some of our teammates were laughing and joking around. Luckily, they hadn't spotted us, yet.
"Maybe we should have gotten a table for seven." Bella joked as we looked over our menus. She was still self-conscious when it came to talking about the baby in public, but she still loved to as I loved how devoted and loving she was to it.
"Bella, you're not that big." Alice whispered.
Bella rolled her eyes then went back to looking at her menu. A minute later, our waitress came up and gave us some tea and water for our meals.
My family loves the tea here so much that we don't order any other drinks besides water.
Rosalie poured the tea for everyone. Bella hesitated a bit before she grabbed it from Rose.
"Don't worry Bella, a snake isn't going to pop out of it. Maybe a worm or two." Emmett joked which earned him another head smacking from Rosalie.
"I know, I've never had tea before." She answered smiling weakly.
"It's not bad, trust me." I whispered in her ear.
She shivered slightly from my breath, but took a slow sip as if she were drinking poison.
We all tried to hold our laugh because of how funny she looked, but for me I thought her facial expression was cute.
From the way her face changed, one could tell that she enjoyed the drink.
"Told you it wasn't going to hurt you." Emmett laughed making everyone else laugh including Bella. This was a bad idea.
As our laughter died down, I heard the voices of the ones we were trying to avoid. Mike and the others were looking at us—mostly at Bella—with perverted lust in their eyes. The other guys knew to keep their distance of me and my family because my brothers and I were the toughest on the team. They both feared and respected my family. Mike and Tyler never have. They've always watched over my sisters waiting for them to dump Jasper and Emmett, so that they could make their move. I knew my sisters, and they were as tough as me and my brothers, they would never give those guys a second thought—or a first for that matter.
Unfortunately, my family noticed the guys and so did Bella. She ducked down behind her menu as they whistled for her like calling a dog. Protectively, I put my arm around her shoulders. She flinched for a second, but I didn't move knowing she would relax which she did after a few seconds.
My family had murder in their eyes eyeing the idiots from across the room. The rest of the jocks stopped and looked back down at their plates, but Mike and Tyler didn't back down like the others.
"Don't worry about them, Bella; I won't let them come near you two." I whispered in her hair.
She took another deep breath that seemed to almost calm her down entirely.
I looked back at Mike once more, but my vision became blocked when our waitress came back asking for our orders. Bella perked up a bit while I looked over her shoulder at the menu—she didn't seem to mind.
After we placed our orders, we soon forgot about the idiots on the other side of the room. Thanks to Emmett we were all laughing our heads off from the jokes he was telling. I gave him a wink because I'm sure he was mostly being this funny for our little sister. He winked back confirming my thoughts.
Soon our dinner showed up and that's when the idiots got up to leave.
"Hey Edward, can you move I need to head to the ladies room?" Bella blushed.
"Of course." I replied sliding out of the booth then turned to help her out.
"Thanks." She said before walking towards the restrooms.
I sat back down feeling lonely that the one person I wanted to sit next to was not with me.
Bella's Point of View
I swear this baby loves to kick my bladder around to torture me. I opened the door to leave the restroom, but immediately regretting that I did.
"Hello pet." Mike said blocking the small hallway that was my only exit. "You haven't talked to me since our last encounter. That is disappointing."
I turned around to head back into the bathroom, but he caught my arm the same way he did the first night we met.
"Oh no you don't, you're not getting away from me again so easily." He snarled in my ear.
I lost my voice at that moment while tears started to come down my face. I could feel the anger in his body; that's how close he was holding me.
One hand was holding my hip while the other was holding my neck. I couldn't move, my body stopped listening to me. I feared of what he would do to me and my baby. My baby seemed to be frightened too for he/she was kicking more than usual.
"Hmm, you smell good." He said smelling my hair.
This brought back bad memories from my past; from the night that I thought was going to be the best night of my life.
"Oh baby, you smell so good that I don't think I can hold back anymore."
"Then don't"
His mouth left my lips to taste the bare skin of my neck. His hands on my back moved down to the hem of my shirt. Without warning, he ripped my shirt forcibly over my head. I barely could gather what happened as he roughly pushed me onto his bed with him falling on top of me.
"I love you, and I promise the pain will be worth it."
I couldn't reply as his mouth found mine once more. His tongue asking my mouth for permission for entrance.
I granted it, hesitating a bit because of the nerves which made him force his tongue into my partially open mouth.
"Trust me."
I trusted him not to hurt me and he did. I don't trust this guy who I know is going to hurt me and my baby. I don't need that again.
I stomped on Mike's foot which made him bend slightly to the injured side. Then I rammed my fist low into his family jewels. He released me to grab his injured member. I took the opportunity to make a run for it. Only looking back when I was at the end of the hallway with my family in sight; I knew that if I could see them then I would be protected.
Mike was curled on his side trying to breathe. I couldn't believe I did that or how I could do that when just a few days ago when we first met, I was so scared and he had such control over me. Well, I guess not anymore.
I walked over to my family who were still eating, but stopped when they saw me.
I was grinning widely at what I had just done which brought confusion to their facial expressions.
Edward got up to allow me to sit down again. I did so when my smile plastered on my face.
"Why are you so happy, Bella?" Jasper asked me as I picked up my fork to eat my food.
"Mood swings." I replied. I didn't want them to know what almost happened outside the bathrooms because they would have created an unnecessary fuss.
I think they got the message of what happened when Mike staggered back into the main eating area. I looked at him straight in the eye giving him a little smirk. He did not look happy, but at the moment I didn't care—although, it would be a lie to say I had no fear of him whatsoever.
I looked back at my family who were confuse, but Edward's, on the other hand, was a mixture of pride and amusement.
"I'm proud of you." He whispered as I was taking another bite of my sweet and sour chicken.
I smiled as I ate.
"So am I." I whispered back looking in his eyes and stealing a bit of his sesame chicken. He didn't even try to stop me.
The rest of dinner went well. Mike and his goons left when he reached them by the door. He and Tyler glared at me while the other guys looked wary at me. Once we were finished, the waitress brought out our bill and the fortune cookies. Looking at the cookies made another craving come on. I groaned trying to ignore what my taste buds wanted.
"What's the matter Bella. Chinese not agreeing with you?" Alice asked grabbing her fortune cookie.
"No, it was wonderful. I just um…"
"Have another craving?" Rosalie smirked quietly.
I nodded my head a little.
"Please tell me it's not worst than your smoothie from the other morning." Emmett groaned.
I laughed and shook my head. Then grabbed Jasper's plate which still had rice on it.
"You want more rice?" He asked.
I raised my eyebrow at him.
"I'm guessing it's only part of it." Alice giggled.
I giggled with her and grabbed a fortune cookie.
"Wait." Emmett boomed which made half the restaurant look in our direction. "We have a tradition that we need to teach you, little sis."
I was still blushing from the attention we just got, but tried to ignore it.
"First, we all take one at the same time then open it at the same time. Then we read them quietly to ourselves before passing them around for everyone to look at. Finally, we eat the cookie." He continued.
"Ok, just hurry up." I said which made everyone laugh.
"Alright, one, two…three." Emmett said.
We each grabbed our cookie and broke them open. I was careful to not smash it into little crumbs like Emmett did with his fist.
'Accept love with your heart, not your mind.' Mine said.
What a stupid fortune. The last time I trusted my heart, it didn't turn out so well, but if it didn't then I wouldn't be where I am right now. Here, with the Cullens. Here, with Edward sitting by my side who protects me while I protect my baby. 'Accept love with your heart.' That's what he's been doing; Edward hasn't been thinking about it, he's only using his heart as a guide to mine. I can see that every time he looks at me, but is my heart so trustworthy as his?
"Ok, rotate." Alice announced.
Edward passed his to me as I passed mine to Jasper.
'Patience will always be rewarded.' His said.
I didn't want to think about what his meant. Was he really waiting? No, it's a stupid cookie fortune that doesn't have any magic.
I quickly passed the fortune to Jasper and grabbed the one in Edward's hand. He gave me a confused look, but I shrugged it off.
The rest of the fortunes didn't take very long to read, we then paid the bill—the boys split it up—and left.
"So Bella, what was your latest craving?" Alice asked when we got back in the car.
Ugh, Emmett's tradition distracted me from my craving. Luckily, it's gone now.
"Nothing you would have liked." I replied settling back in my seat.
Edward's arm was slung over the back of my seat, but I didn't mind it. I laid my head on his arm for I was getting a little sleepy.
I shot up as my eyelids were drooping know that if I fell asleep now the rest of my homework wouldn't get finished.
"Quit fighting it, Bella. Go to sleep." Alice said.
But I didn't want to listen so I glared at her. Edward wrapped his arm around me protectively, pulling me away from a scolding little pixie.
"You don't have to if you don't want to." He whispered. "By the way, I can't believe what you did to Mike."
I blushed thinking about what I did.
Edward's Point of View
"What did you do, Bella? He looked like he was in pain." Emmett asked.
I tried to hold back my laugh. I thought it was obvious for any guy to know what happened.
"He was being an ass, so I um…punched him in the…uh." She was embarrassed to finish, but she did not need to.
Everyone turned to gawk at Bella including Emmett who had abruptly stopped the car in the middle of the road. Jasper and I grabbed onto our women before they went flying.
Were they really surprised at what she did? I for one was a little because she does the unexpected, but knew that she was a fighter.
"You did?" Rosalie asked after a minute of silence.
Bella hid her face in her hands. "Yes." She whispered.
They continued to stare at her.
"You should be proud as I am." I whispered to her so low the others couldn't hear.
"Thanks." She whispered back her face still in her hands.
"Emmett, pick up your jaw and let's go home." I said pulling everyone out of their trances.
Emmett hesitated, but shook it off and turned back around. Luckily, there was no one behind us; but I didn't think we should wait to make a line.
After Emmett moved, so did everyone else, except for Bella. I decided to comfort her thinking that everyone scared her a bit. I put my arm over her shoulders and felt her relax instantly. I smiled at the fact that I had that affect on her. Then I pulled her slowly towards my body. She laid her head on my chest with her hands still covering her face.
Carefully, I pulled her hands away which she dropped to her lap. Then I ran my fingers through her hair relaxing her further.
We stayed like this until Emmett pulled into the garage right next to dad's car.
"Aw man. They're home early." Emmett yelled making Bella jump. I guess she fell asleep again.
"Well, that killed the mood." Jasper complained.
Thank you mom and dad for saving me.
"What's going on?" Bella asked. She sounded so cute disoriented.
"Mom and dad are just home. It killed the other's night time activities." I answered.
She looked at me confused then realization hit her causing her face to turn to disgust.
"Thank you mom and dad." She whispered.
"Amen to that." I whispered to her.
She smiled as she pushed herself up. I hated the feeling of her not touching me until I held my hand out to help her down. She took it without hesitation. Probably because she was so tired, and it was only 8:30. Didn't she say she still needed to do her homework?
We walked into the kitchen, Emmett was still grumbling about our parents messing up his plans. Bella continued to hold onto my hand as we entered the living room which was strangely dark.
I found the switch and wished that I hadn't for mom and dad were taking advantage of being alone until now.
"My eyes." Emmett yelled covering his eyes.
Mom quickly slid off of dad grabbing her shirt and dad's pants tossing them to him.
"Uh hello. Enjoy yourselves?" Mom asked after she quickly pulled her shirt over her head. Dad was still working on his pants.
We were all snickering. I looked at Bella whose eyes were still wide with surprise. I waved my hand in front of her face which woke her up. Now instead of staring at our parents, she was looking at the floor and blushing like the other day when we had our confrontation outside the bathroom.
"How was your first day at school, Bella?" Dad asked now working on his belt.
Bella looked so embarrassed that she couldn't bring herself to look up. I decided to intervene.
"It went well. She and Angela Weber are now partners on the school paper." I said.
"Really, sounds like you had an exciting day." Mom said sounding excited.
Sure was, if you count in getting harassed by the school sluts and the biggest dick—no pun intended—in school, and the principle giving negative opinions on a certain topic that he was made aware of.
"Um yeah, it was exciting." She said. Apparently, I wasn't the only one thinking about the details. "Um…I'm going to go work on my homework."
Before anyone else could say anything, she left to go into the den where her stuff must still be.
"Anyone going to tell us what really happened?" Mom said to us in a hushed tone that was also stern.
"She did meet the school bullies, but we'll keep an eye on her." Jasper replied.
Mom raised her eyebrow for she knew there was more.
"We had an assembly today. The principle lectured to us about teen pregnancy." Alice continued looking down at her feet.
Mom's face flushed, and dad's didn't look so surprised.
I gave him a questioning look.
"I got on the computer when I came home and accidentally opened Bella's article about the assembly." He replied.
"You what?" Bella yelled. None of us knew that she came back into the room with her book-bag in hand. She looked like she was about to cry.
"Bella, I'm…" Before dad could finish his sentence, Bella ran up the stairs dropping her bag on the way.
Dad hung his head in shame. "I should go talk to her." He whispered.
"No, let me. I can calm her down." I said.
Dad nodded in agreement then I walked up the stairs to the third floor. Once I got to Bella's room, the door was closed and I could hear her sobbing on the other side.
I knocked on the door. "Bella, it's me. Please open the door." I wasn't sure if it was locked or not.
The sobbing continued so I thought I should try to open the door. I didn't want her to be alone and it didn't feel right.
Surprisingly, the door was unlocked. I poked my head through to see Bella lying on her side, curled into a ball with her head in her arms. I closed the door after coming all the way in. From the way she didn't move, she obviously hasn't heard me yet.
I walked a little heavier than normal to try to tell her that she wasn't alone. She picked her head up with fear in her eyes. I guess my plan didn't work out to well. However, her face softened a bit when she saw me and held out her arms. That was all the invitation I needed.
I took off my shoes and scooped up the sad young woman then leaned against her headboard with her in my lap. She continued to cry in my shirt, but I didn't care that she was ruining it. The only thing that mattered was this beautiful, sad angel in my arms. I held her close trying to keep her together as best as I could. How much I wanted to take away her pain so that she wouldn't have to bear it, or at least bear it alone.
Bella's Point of View
I didn't know how long Edward had been with me nor did I care. I was hurt and embarrassed by what happened. The fact that my new dad had read my article without my permission made me angry, or was it just my hormones going wild like they had been all day today?
Finally, after God knows how long, I stopped crying; but I didn't move. I had no energy left.
Edward continued to hold me; one hand stroking my hair while the thumb on his other hand was rubbing soft circles on my small sprout. It was the most comforting feeling I had ever felt.
The image from my locket popped into my head. So this is what it feels like to feel loved and protected. I cannot recall the last time I truly felt like this. My mother must have felt the same way with my dad's arms around her like Edward's are around me and my baby. How I wish this was his baby that way we would feel more complete. He wouldn't really want me because I'm already claimed by someone else who hated me, and yet here he is holding me like a father should do with the mother of his baby. My sprout's father wouldn't do this, care for me like this man is doing; therefore, he is not my sprout's father. He is only the man who shares the same DNA, but did not give the love or the protection that is needed.
As I pondered this, my eyes started to droop. My energy was weakening and I could feel sleep starting to take me.
I raised my hand off Edward's chest and laid it on top of his hand that is resting on my swollen stomach where my baby is.
I couldn't be sure, but I thought I heard Edward speak. It sounded like "Goodnight my angels."