Here it is! I'm sorry for this late update but school is so busy these days. We've got a lot to do since the school year is almost up. Thanks for all the patience. And I'd like to thank all those who have been recently adding this story to their alerts. Thanks especially to someoneyoudon'tknowprobably for everything. Thank you: EdwardsLily, for always believing in me and for all the long reviews. Can you believe it? We have exactly the same birthday! Hehe... Anyways I won't hold you guys anymore.
And some of you might not be able to post reviews but I understand because it's due to the fact that I've been doing some organizing with this story. Here it is!
Dusk and Dawn: Chapter 19
Commitments
EPOV
"Do you guys mind if we take her home?" Alice chimed. The girl named Angela opened the glove compartment of her Coupe and took out a small first-aid kit. It wouldn't help, seeing as how much blood slowly flowed from the back of Bella's head. I didn't want to look. It looked horrible. I was hitting those two men just mere minutes ago. One of them already held Bella's arm. My instinct seemed to take control over me and my hand was clenched into a fist.
He let go of Bella's arm once I knocked my hand in his face. I didn't expect Bella's hit to be so hard. She bumped to the hood of a car, but I didn't know it would cause a gash. It all fell back to being my fault again. It all fell back to as too how much my action would always injure her.
"It's my fault," I replied looking the other way and quickly speed-dialing Dad for him to send an ambulance over. I waited for him to answer his phone when Alice walked to me saying, "It's not, Edward."
"It is," I sternly replied. "I mean, maybe if I took a different course of action, none of this would have happened to her. None of this would have ever happened to her."
"What are you talking about, Edward?" she said.
"Her head wouldn't be bleeding if it weren't for me. She could have broken her spinal cord for all we know and--," I stopped as I heard Dad answer the phone. "Dad, we need an ambulance here right away. A house just beside Forks National Park."
"I'll send for one right away", he replied without any hesitation.
"Will you guys stop arguing and just try to stop the bleeding?" Jessica, I believe that was her name, suddenly spoke.
"Yes," I tucked the phone back into my pocket and held both Bella's shoulders for them. "I'm truly sorry about the incident."
"It's fine," Angela shrugged. "I mean, you did chase them away."
"Yeah," Jessica gave an assuring smile. "Not much harm done."
"Ohmygosh," Alice gaped while she pointed to Jessica's wristwatch. I rolled my eyes. "I love you watch, it's so vintage. Where did you get it?"
"Alice—,"
"Hey", she interjected. "It's not my fault I have a keen eye for accessories."
I felt Bella's warm breath. I forgot that I was holding her up until I noticed the proximity between her face and mine. She mumbled, and then she started groaning. Some strands of her brown hair were in her face as she winced in pain.
"Mhmm," she started to say and then looked at me with her beautiful brown eyes. "E-E-Ed-wa-ward," she muttered slowly before closing her eyes again. It looked like she was ready to faint.
"Bella," I lightly shook her should hers but her head dropped down and I could see the wet blood in her hair. "Bella."
"She fainted!" Angela pointed out.
Alice began to let out a scream. The ambulance soon arrived and I stepped in once they lifted Bella in. Alice went with Jasper and the girls decided to take another car.
An hour later, Bella was laying fast asleep on her bed. She was fine after the doctors had stopped the bleeding and put a few stitches. I stood outside, talking to Dad while Alice and Jasper were inside, waiting for Bella to wake up.
"So, I've checked her tests," Dad said as he flipped through the papers on his clipboard. I looked at him intently, anxious to hear the results.
"Everything seems to be fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, son," he said as he placed one hand on my shoulder. "And, this must be strange for you." I perfectly understood what he meant. This is Bella's second time to be in a hospital because of me. "But don't blame yourself again," he added while patting my shoulder.
I nodded although just for him to let the subject pass. He walked into the next room and I walked in to see Jasper asleep on the couch. Alice kept her hands on her lap while waiting patiently. She looked up at me.
"What did Dad say?"
"He says she's fine," I replied.
"She seems okay", she shrugged her shoulders.
"Because of me," I mumbled to myself.
"Not this again, Edward," she stood from the couch. "I mean, you can't take all the credit. You're being selfish."
"Me?" I looked at her. "It was clearly my fault and none the less, it's always been my fault when she gets into these types of accidents."
"So," she walked to me. "You're saying you're jinxed then? You're saying you're a bad luck magnet?"
"Are you that oblivious for me to point it out?"
"Do I look oblivious to you?" she raised one eyebrow and cleared her throat. "This is another proof that you have Bella Paranoia, Edward."
"Stop it!" I raised my voice.
"Please keep it down," the nurse walked inside.
"Sorry, miss," Alice whispered and shot me a glare before taking a seat beside Jasper. "Is she okay?"
The nurse checked Bella's pulse, and then her heartbeat. She nodded once before leaving.
"When do you plan on disappearing from here again?" Alice suddenly said. "She might wake up any minute, Edward."
"I…" I sighed and took her hand in mine. "Don't know."
"So, don't plan on it," my sister curtly replied. "Her Dad's probably on his way now and such, so you can get acquainted by then, my dear brother," she raised her voice once she mentioned Bella's father.
"And then he can lock me up or file a case against me," I said sarcastically.
"And I'll have to keep sending you bottles of hair gel," Alice giggled. There was a short silence before Alice spoke up again. "You don't have to leave, Edward," she said after seeing me stroke Bella's cheeks. Her complexion was beginning to be back to normal now. So, this might be a good time for me to leave.
"It's not easy for me to," I wanted to say.
"It's best if I just leave, Dad wanted me to head home once he does as well. Some important discussion that he plans to bring up."
"Some gentleman you are, Edward," Alice shook her head. "Mom will not be pleased."
"Is that for mom's behalf or for your own pertinacious opinion, you sly cupid?"
"Sly," she smiled. "Cupid. I love that name."
"I'm sure you do," I rolled my eyes.
I looked out the small eyehole. It was Charlie, having a conversation with Dad. I'm definitely going to be sued. I looked at Charlie who turned to opened the door and stepped back to stand beside Alice.
"Thanks, Edward," he rested a hand on my shoulder before taking a glance at Bella. "For… saving her life."
I nodded and smiled politely. I turned to Alice. "Maybe I'll be back later. I plan on heading home," I headed for the door. "Maybe."
BPOV
My head ached. I opened my eyes to see Alice.
Alice?
"Hi, Bella," she said.
"A-Alice?" I felt my throat dry. I suddenly realized my head was aching and remembered the wound I had on my head. "Wha-what are you doing here?"
"I brought you here, silly," she replied with a smile of triumph. "You were had a huge bleeding wound last night." I just looked at her. "Don't you remember? You actually bumped your head last night, and then you passed out."
I saw Angela walking to my side. "Hey, Bells."
"Hi," I replied.
"How's the head?"
I gave her a small smile. "I think it's better. Did they give me stitches?" She nodded her head once.
I looked around. I could see Jasper taking a nap on the couch. Jess just arrived with a plastic bag and walked to the right side of my bed. I was in a hospital room, with the plain, white walls and there was dextrose beside my bed.
"I hit my head to a car?"
"Not exactly," Jess said. "You were more off drunk, so you kind of out-balanced and we couldn't hold you up that time. We're really sorry, Bella."
"'S okay."
"And we tried to stop the bleeding with a first-aid kit, only it didn't do much work." Angela continued.
"Oh, Bells," Jess sighed. "I thought you needed a blood donor or something."
"Yes," nodded Alice. "You looked like you were loosing so much blood back there. It was a good thing Edward called for an ambulance." I had a feeling she emphasized Edward's name.
"Right," Jessica's face lightened. "Bells, you were right, he is gorgeous." I looked at her with a panic-stricken expression which she still didn't seem to notice. "I mean, you weren't joking about the amazingly crooked smile."
I looked at Alice. She was probably having a giggle fit inside her. The grin on her face said it all. "So, does that mean Bella is still in love with my brother?"
"Only Bella doesn't seem to be convinced enough to think it's like that. She prefers to think of it as a small detail she wants to ignore."
"It is," I managed to say. "And shouldn't we be discussing something else? Maybe about… what the doctor said or if my Dad's coming?"
"Of course," Alice lowered her tone. "Well, the doctor said you were fine and Charlie's just went off to grab some stuff"
"Bells," I heard Charlie as he opened the door. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. I think I got a little carried away," I said as he walked to the foot of my bed. "With all the chugging and the being completely drunk thing."
"Just promised me you're not going to get drunk again."
"Yes," I replied.
"Well, I can't completely ban you from parties, now can I? You'd loose your social status, according to Jess and Alice here."
"Yeah, but I think I'm better of not going to any at all next time. You know, I can save myself from all the make up and dresses I'm forced into."
"Hmph," Jess crossed her arms.
"I agree with Jessica," Alice grinned. "I mean it's fun to play dress-up once in a while, Bella." She pointed to Jessica's feet, "I love those Jimmy Choos, by the way. I mean, plum in so in these days."
Pure torture: Alice and Jessica have fashion in common. I felt sick to my stomach. I don't plan on having both of them to team up against me anytime soon.
"Yes," agreed Jess who was smiling.
"Edward had to leave though," Alice turned to me. "Dad called him home."
EPOV
"Mom?" I walked in and headed to the kitchen. Mom was usually around, especially at this time since it's almost lunch.
"In the kitchen," I heard her reply. "You father is waiting for you in his study."
"Thanks," I said and walked off. I walked past the stairs and the entertainment room, which was next to my father's study. Dad never calls me to his study unless it's something important.
"Come in, Edward," Dad said. I walked into his study that had about six shelves of book around it and a large mahogany desk. The study was lightened not by white fluorescents, but yellow lights, the ones that look so bright. The lamp on his desk was on while Dad flipped through some papers.
"Take a seat," he said while putting the papers away. "This won't take long, a few minutes of your time, I'm sure."
"Okay," I sat.
"I just want to ask for your assistance," he stood from his desk and started walking.
"In?"
"I've talked to your mother about opening a new hospital in L.A. Since you plan on spending college in UCLA, I want you to take some time to be able to see how things will be running there. Not much necessary things since you're not a licensed doctor yet, but you'll only have to see how smooth things are there."
"You want a hospital in L.A.?"
"Yes. I might be able to see you from time to time as well since I will be flying from Forks to L.A. to run things."
I nodded.
"So, what do you say?"
I nodded my head twice and Dad patted my knee. "Great," he walked back to his desk. "That's all, Edward," I stood from the chair and headed out the door. Dad knew that I was going to take up courses in medicine. He believes that it would be a good training ground for me if I start observing his job.
I walked upstairs to my room. Once I opened the door, I dropped on the bed and sighed. I still have a lot of time left for today. So I could go to the bookstore. My phone rang and I looked at the I.D., Alice.
"Yes, Alice?"
"Hi, Edward. Bella's awake now. Do you want to talk to her?" Alice was trying to kill me.
"And that's why you called?" I replied, making me sound like I was in tedium.
"No. I was wondering if you could come since I need a ride home. And Jasper said he would join us in lunch. Can we eat out, please?"
"Okay," I replied and was ready to hang up.
"Wait."
I sighed. "Yes?"
"Can we stop by the new Denny and George store that opened in Lerris Street?"
"No."
"But I just want to—" I hung up the phone and grabbed my car keys.
APOV
I followed my brother into the house. He was trying to avoid me. So, he probably knew what I was prepared to throw at him.
"Don't you want to go see Bella?" I said to him as he opened the door and we walked in. Dad was probably going to head back to the hospital any minute while Mom just left a message that she left for grocery shopping today.
"I think actually taking her to the hospital is enough for one day," I heard him mumble. "Besides, I still have other important things to do. I don't have time."
"Really?" I gave him a smug look and crossed my arms.
He kept walking towards the kitchen and took a glass while I stood behind the counter, fiddling with Mom's pasta figurine.
"I have colleges to apply for and I promised Dad I would help out at the hospital."
"That's what you guys talked about? You're just making more excuses."
"More or less."
"Ugh! Ugh, you're not telling me anything, Edward!"
"And I don't plan on it, Alice," he put the glass in the sink after drinking some water.
"Fine, then. But just so you know, I'm still going to get it all out of you—your college plans, everything!"
"I'm going to UCLA, Alice," he sighed. "I've already clarified that with you a few days ago."
"No, you didn't. You said that you weren't sure of either UCLA or Harvard. But you never mentioned which one you chose. And, I, apparently, have already signed up in UCLA." I clapped my hands. "I did it a few days ago. I'm going with you, Edward! Isn't that great?"
Edward looked phlegmatic as he slammed his door in front of me. Ugh! He did not just do that! Anyways, I will get everything out of him.
My phone vibrated and I smiled once I saw the caller I.D. With a loud voice, I answered it. "Hi, Bella," I said, practically squealing because I knew Edward would be able to hear me from inside his room.
"Uh, hi, Alice."
"How's the head?" I said even louder.
"It's fine," she quickly replied. "I was planning to talk to you about that place where you wanted to meet me."
"Oh! Yes, of course," I said loud and clear. Edward didn't know that I talked Bella into meeting me somewhere and Bella seemed okay with meeting me. I'm glad she didn't decide to make up some weird reason that she was busy or anything. "I can't wait 'til I meet up with you, Bella!"
"Well," she seemed stunned by my loud replies. "I was planning to ask the time since you forgot to mention it before you left."
"This afternoon, at two. Can you make it?"
"Yes," she said but seemed unsure.
"Alright. Bye, Bella," I hung up just as Edward opened his door. His eyes looked like they were surprised.
"Since when?" he looked at me.
"What?" I knew exactly what he was talking about but playing with Edward was such fun.
"She got out of the hospital," he stated.
"I am aware of that, yes," I turned towards my room. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready to meet Bella in an hour." Yes! One point for Alice.
I finally got changed into this new khaki trench coat I bought from Dolce and Gabbana that reached my knees and I had new boots from Jimmy Choo on as well. Edward was leaning against the frame of my door while I carefully applied mascara to my eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me she was out?" he asked all of a sudden.
"You never asked," I said and closed the mascara, and then I took out my lip gloss.
"You should have said something."
"Why should I have said something, Edward?" I turned to him. "And plus, why should you even care?" I raised one eyebrow at him.
He stood there in silence. I grabbed my purse from my bed. His eyebrows were fixed as he walked to his room.
BPOV
I waited inside Starbucks with my Cappuccino. A yellow Porsche was parked outside and I recognized Alice as she stepped out. Her face brightened when she walked in and saw me.
"Hi, Bella," she greeted and lifted her shades to the top of her head.
"Hi, Alice."
"How's everything?"
I touched the scarf on my head. I decided to cover the back of my head so people didn't have to see the bandage. Dr. Cullen said that it would be best if I kept the huge bandage on. "It's fine. I'm glad they let me out so quickly. I thought I was going to be in the hospital for a while.
"What did you want to talk about?"
"Everything," she chirped. "I didn't get a chance to talk to you properly back at the hospital. I've heard that you're the salutatorian. Where are you headed off for college?"
I didn't feel so comfortable with Alice yet but she was being friendly so I could try to be as well.
"I'm not so sure yet," I replied.
"Oh, I see. What are your options?"
"Harvard, Princeton and UCLA."
Alice suddenly grinned with pleasure.
"Those are great, Bella," she smiled.
"Thanks"
"Well, I hope you get to decide soon and let me know, okay?"
"Okay," I replied curtly.
"Now let's talk about wardrobe," she suddenly said. I looked at her with a clueless reaction.
"Like shopping?"
"It's like you read my mind," she clapped her hands and pulled my wrist. I didn't get to finish my drink because Alice quickly dragged me to her Porsche a let my take the front seat. She started the car and drove out of Starbucks.
"Do you have other appointments?"
"No," I replied. Alice was driving her Porsche and we were on our way to the mall. "But you don't have to take me shopping."
"Are you kidding me? We haven't hung out in a long time and I missed hanging out with you."
"It has been two years," I agreed. Shopping was never my definition of hanging out with someone who I haven't seen in two year, but this is Alice. She has her own world.
"Exactly."
*:o:*
"Try this on, Bella," Alice giggled as she handed me a halter top in deep royal purple. I didn't get a change to reply because Alice pushed me towards the dressing room and closed the door shut for me. It's been about an hour since we've been roaming around the mall. Alice gets so hyper when we are only feet away from a clothes store.
I put on the halter and looked in the mirror. The purple color was in contrast with my skin and I was relieved since the back wasn't too low for me.
"It's perfect," she said and handed me a blue halter.
"I don't think I'll need two of these."
"Of course you do. You never know which will best fit an occasion."
I sighed and walked back in the dressing room. After putting it on, I stepped out.
"Those pants definitely go with this shirt, Bella," complimented Alice as she nodded her head. "Wear them with this top next time."
"I'll try to keep that in mind…" I said until I saw a familiarly tall figure walk into the store. His bronze hair was better than the last time and his green eyes looked ethereal.
There was a girl.
There was a girl holding on to his arm and they were only a fair distance from me.
How was it? Who was Edward with? :O (I'm no expert with head surgery and stitching things.)
Thanks for reading and send me a review if you guys can and have the time to.
*What would you do if you were in Bella's place?* Don't forget to R&R on this one as well.
-Kar