Chapter 11

It was a bitterly cold night. The freezing ice was starting to settle on the ground as Edward drove through the streets of Forks to get to his house. The entire week had been too much stressful for him. Edward had enormous respect for most of the doctors he worked with. They were brilliant, skilled surgeons. There were only a few doctors who gave him a hard time like Dr Irina Hunter. My God! If that name didn't suit her. Aro Volturi, the owner of the hospital was friends with Dr Irina Hunter who was originally from Mexico and a very successful cardiologist. Therefore he had asked her to spend some of her time in Forks General and teach the new doctors. That had been a very bad idea. That woman was a witch. It was like she had some kind of enmity with Edward. She was constantly humiliating him. During their rounds, if he was right she never complemented him, but when he was wrong she never passed the opportunity to shout at him. Sometimes she would look at him in disgust and yell "Jesus! Who made you a doctor?" If he could strangle that woman, he would gladly do it.

Due to the rounds in the hospital, he was often left utterly exhausted. Therefore visiting Chelsea was no more an option. But he would sometimes see her in the hospital. During weekends when the hospital was less packed Chelsea made a point to come and visit her sick father. But what Edward didn't know was that Chelsea didn't always come for her father, she came for him too. She had worked nights to compose a song for him and the day she wanted to dedicate it to him, he never showed up. She was hurt but she didn't loose hope. She waited for her next show instead, but when he did not show up again, she was crushed. She missed him. She missed his presence in the big auditorium and in her life.

A thunderstorm was coming. Edward could feel it in the air and so he drove faster to reach his house. Suddenly like a flash someone came in front of his car. He pressed on the brake before the impact and jerked out of his car.

Chelsea was sitting on the ground looking fragile as a deer. Her heart wrenching sobs made him gasp. He fell to the floor and shook her "Chelsea why are you here...what's wrong?" She was trembling and panting icy breathes. He took hold of her hands in attempt to stop the violent shakes.

"Oh God! You are freezing" He removed the jacket from his body and wrapped it around her.

"Tell me what's wrong...please"

She pointed her finger behind her and wailed "He is...after me...Please helppp me!"

Edward looked behind her but he could see no one. "Who? Who is after you?"

"Paul" she cried. "Paul Jeffery"

It was early morning and Bella lay in bed with sunlight streaming through the window. Usually she was woken by the awful beep of the pager or by Alice singing down in the kitchen. Today though, there was no noise except of the sound of her breathing. It was too early in the morning. She turned her head on the pillow and sighed. She hadn't been in this room ever since Alice had left. There wasn't much except of some of the belongings that she had left behind yet Bella felt her presence strongly. Her eyes traveled down to the big dressing mirror and she smiled remembering the countless times Alice had forced her into a new makeover. She missed her cheery laugh and bouncing energy. She missed her friend.

Where had they gone wrong? Was their friendship this fragile that anyone could enter and break it easily? She knew that they were unlike each other in so many ways-they fought constantly, but then made up instantly too. Though Bella knew that this time it had went far...too far for her to control. It was easier for Jasper to make up a story but how was it easier for Alice to believe it? Didn't she trust her friend? Did she ever think that Bella could have her own reasons too? It wasn't like it had been Alice's fault altogether because Bella had played a part in it as well. If she had told Alice about the operation, about meeting Edward, then she believed none of this would have happened. She wouldn't have to go through the trauma of watching her friend being controlled by that bastard. She could never forgive herself for it.

She sighed and pushed back the sheets, swinging her legs out of the bed. The morning sunlight kissed her naked body as she stretched her arms above her head. She reached for the white silky wrap, pushed her arms through its sleeve and tied the belt loosely around her. She padded across the kitchen barefoot and opened the refrigerator. Suddenly images from the night flashed through her mind and she gasped. She wasn't alone in the apartment. Edward was here too. She smiled as she poured herself a glass of cold water and fresh orange juice for him. She decided to make their breakfast while he drank his orange juice in bed.

She remembered the night clearly in her mind. She was driving home from the hospital, passing the alternate road that she drove rarely to home when she saw the Ashton Martin. Her face grew pale and her knuckles where white. The car had a huge dent on the bumper that she had once touched, the glasses were broken, and smoke was fuming. She cried out when she saw the lanky figure in the car. The door was swung open and his injured body was dangling from the seat. She immediately got out from her car and ran to him. She was shaking him, kissing him, slapping him to make him conscious. She was terrified; her hands were shaking as she cradled his face to her chest.

Every single day she was met with bloodied, injured patient but they meant nothing to her. They were just patients. But this was Edward she saw talking about. He meant too much to her. Even though he had broken her but she cared about him sincerely. Hell she loved him -truly, deeply and madly. She could be in his presence and act like she didn't give a shit, but the problem was she did. She would never admit to herself but she was afraid of Edward. Yes that's right. She was afraid of the power he had on her. All her life she was known to be the tough, the indestructible.

But with Edward, she felt vulnerable.

They were in a hot and cold war from the start, but what happened yesterday had changed things. Or has it? She wanted to believe him. For once in life, she didn't want to think about the consequences for her choice. But she could not let herself crumble again. The bet was like an eye opening experience for her. She wasn't sure anymore if the Edward she loved was actually like the real Edward. Therefore she gave him the chance—the chance to prove himself, the chance to buildup their wounded relationship.

But what relationship did they share? Was he her boyfriend?

She laughed at the craziness of her thoughts. It felt like High School all over again. She shook her head to keep her thoughts at bay and tiptoed towards her room.

Through the slightly ajar door of her room she tried to peek. Panic edged her voice when she found the room empty.

"Edward?"

The room was full of bright sunshine; the empty bed was unmade, tousled and tumbled. He obviously had a restless night. Bella felt guilty as she remembered his pleading voice asking for her to stay. Did he change his mind? Did he realize that she wasn't worth fighting for? Bella sat heavily on her bed and clenched her eyes shut. You are not going to cry...you just promised Isabella you are not going let him crumble you. She chanted the words like a mantra.

There was a sound of running water coming from the other side of the room beyond the door. She turned sharply towards the door. Relief flooded over her. He must be taking shower. He didn't leave. He fucking stayed...stop worrying Isabella...her inner voice scowled. Then she heard an irate voice "Oh Fucking Hell..." and a thud. She placed the orange juice on the small table and ran across the room. Putting her ear to the door, she listened. She could hear him muttering.

She called out softly, "Edward—Are you all right?"

"Bella…fuckk...I skidded on the floor" Edward groaned from the other side.

"I'm coming in" She shouted. She turned the knob and found the door open. He snatched at a towel from his weighed position between the bath and the shower cubicle. Bella had strictly reminded him to put less pressure on his arm and yet there he was with a frustrated look on his face scowling at his injured arm. Bella couldn't decide what was funnier—his scowling face or the image of her power puff girl's towel hiding his... She shook her head disapprovingly as he tried to bend his arm to get the leverage. She then couched beside him and raised his arm carefully on her shoulder.

"What are you doing?"

She slipped her hand around his naked waist and whispered "I'll push up"

Edward looked at her as if she was crazy.

"Do as I say Edward." Bella demanded. His eyes were dark and hooded as he looked at her. Her commanding tone was such a turn on for him. He sucked on his bottom lip and then leant forward to put the weight of his body on her. Her hold on his waist tightened as she helped him stand.

"You could have called me" Bella argued as she pushed him up and then walked him out of the bathroom. Edward nuzzled his face on her dark, wavy hair and whispered

"Why...did you want to shower with me?"

Bella froze as the goose bumps rose all over her skin. She was immediately greeted by the image of them together in Edward's shower. She looked at Edward and he was watching her with the same intensity. He was remembering it too. She couldn't help the moan that escaped her lips. Right at the same time his lips crashed on her. Her heart exploded and fire ran through her veins.

Edward's eyes travelled down to the silky wrap on her body and he moaned softly. His hand ran from the small of her back to her ass and he squeezed her gently, and then pressed her flush to his body to kiss her exposed collarbone. Rivers of water trickled down his forehead and over his shoulder, getting caught up in the dusting hair on his chest and then reached down to the towel. His fingers traced her swollen lips while his forehead pressed against hers.

She opened her eyes slowly and was met with his emerald green ones. He took her face in his hands and pushed a brown lock behind her ear.

"Good Morning" he whispered.

Bella smiled at him "Good Morning to you too"

And then they laughed. "We are so fucking lame" Bella muttered as she walked towards the table to fetch him the orange juice. But then something else caught her eye and she stopped dead in her way.

"Whatt did you do to my frame?" She cried out. She couched down on the floor and slowly gathered the broken pieces of the frame that once held the picture of her and Paul.

"What the hell Edward? Where is the picture...and why did you break this?" She looked at him angrily asking him for an explanation.

"I tore it to pieces and then threw it out of the window" Edward said calmly. Bella looked at him incredulously.

He fucking tore the photo and then had the audacity to be so calm.

"Why?" she screamed. "What did that picture do to you?"

"I know him" Edward stated. "I know Paul Jeffery..."

There was a sudden silence in the room.

"He is after you" His voice wavered slightly and as he spoke his mind flew back to a very hazy memory.

"Who is Paul Jeffery?" Edward asked as he hushed Chelsea inside the backseat of his car.

"I work for him at the music store. I thought he was a kind man...he has been nice to me all this time...but he is not." She wrapped her arms around his neck and cried in his shoulder. "He tried to touch me Edward"

"What?I am going to kill him" Edward was fuming with anger.

"Please..." she clutched on his shirt tightly "Please don't leave me...He will hurt you...please"

"Did he..." His stomach churned, he could not complete the word.

"No...I ran Edward but he is running after me...please don't leave me"

"What are you talking about? Why Paul will be after me?"

"If you trust me then listen to what I say Bella...STAY AWAY FROM HIM" Edward stated.

"You know what Edward...I think I was right about one thing...you really are a manipulator." Bella seethed. "I am going to do no such things."

She was about to storm out of the room but Edward held her wrist and stopped her.

"Please" he pleaded with her. "You said you want to give me a chance"

"Paul is not stalking me...He is my friend. He has been nothing but nice to me Edward...I cannot...I will not...ignore him"

He cupped her cheeks tenderly and kissed her cheeks "Okay...sshh its okay...I am not forcing you Bella...please stop staying things like that. I just want you to be safe...nothing else matters to me."

He kissed her forehead and then her nose. "Just for today...just stay away from him today" he begged. He was already plotting ways to get to this Paul Jeffery. He had to know what was happening. Why was he after Bella now?

"Alice...are you happy?"

Alice had a far away look in her face. In the duration of a week she and Jasper had somehow managed to get into a fight more than thrice. All of it involved about Jasper disappearing in the middle of the night. She had immediately accused him of cheating her but then he had looked at her with so much affection in his eyes that she felt guilty even thinking about it. Jasper wanted her she knew that much. Even though he only showed it through hot, raunchy sex. Maybe that was his way of showing? Alice had never been in relationship so she had no idea how things were supposed to work.

She scoffed at Rosalie "Of course I am."

"Jasper is everything I ever dreamt of. It feels like a dream sometimes...you know? I can't believe this is happening...me and Jasper"

Rosalie smiled, she had never seen Alice this much happy. Jasper was indeed perfect for her. She shrugged off the irrational thought that has been haunting her for days. She sipped on the diet coke and instead remembered the happy times that the three of them used to share at the Bistro.

How did they fall apart?

The night Alice and Bella quarreled, she had stood there listening to their conversation. She didn't know whom to believe. Alice accused Bella and Bella accused Jasper. Choosing either side would mean hurting her friends. Though from the circumstances, she was forced to believe Alice was right. Rosalie had seen the glow in Bella's face that morning and when she asked about it, she did sense hesitance and nervousness on Bella's part. It was the look that you hardly saw on Bella's face. Bella never hid anything from them because she was an open minded person. That's was the reason that Rosalie Hale was friends with her in the first place. That night when Alice blamed her, Bella did not speak one word. She bowed her head and listened to her and never tried to defend her honor. If Alice was wrong then Bella would have stood up for herself.

She never thought a day would come when she had to choose between her friends but she had to nonetheless. Bella's silence spoke louder than words and she knew right then she had betrayed their friendship.

"Oh Jasper!I can't believe we are finally on a date" Alice swooned as the waiter came and placed her favorite dishes on the table.

Alice had been whining for like forever to get him to ask her on a date. She felt it was quite strange that they were living under the same roof, sleeping together and he had not once asked her on a date once. Jasper obviously had his reasons. First, he never took any girls out for dinner. He thought it was wastage of money considering girls were always too uptight on their diet to nibble on any oily food. Secondly, he wasn't dating Alice. He was fucking her. And third, she was utterly irritating. Once she started talking, she never stopped...So fucking annoying. Just like she was doing now...

Jasper plastered a wide smile on his face as he looked at Alice. Eat it bitch...he cursed in his head. She smiled back at him and then held his hand. Right at that moment Jasper's phone buzzed and he immediately removed his hand from her hold to look for his phone. Alice looked at her empty hands and then to a cozy couple sitting on the right side of their booth. They were sitting together, not across from each other like her and Jasper. The girl was talking about something and the boy was looking at her with so much love and showering her with attention. She looked at her empty hand again and then to the couple. She didn't know why but it stung her so hard.

Jasper looked at the name flashing on his phone and then to Alice. He held one finger to her to say the call wouldn't take much time and then pressed on the button.

"Baby...why didn't you come...I um coming so harrdd righttt now" Tanya slurred on the phone. Jasper's eyes bulged out of his sockets. He looked at Alice and then answered the phone "Hello...Hello...I can't hear you"

"Oh God baby...Yess! I am cumming"

"I am not getting the network here...I will get the call and will be back in a minute, okay?" He explained Alice. Alice nodded at him and he instantly ran to the men's washroom.

Alice was forgotten completely.

"Fuck!Are you touching yourself?" Jasper groaned.

"Yepp baby...I am thinking of you and touching myself...do you want to see how hot I am for you baby?"

"Hell yeah" He moaned. Immediately there was a message on his phone and it had the picture of a naked Tanya spread eagled in her bed with the pink vibrator inside her. Jasper groaned. He was already so hard. He didn't think twice before opening his fly and releasing his cock thinking about ways of fucking Tanya.

Needless to say, when he finally came around it was more than 30 minutes later. Alice sat on the table all by herself nibbling on the salad silently. Jasper cursed...Oh why the hell did he bring her on a date? He was in no mood to play house with her so he clutched on his stomach and feigned.

"Baby...I am so sorry...I feel so sick...please can we go home" He panted breathlessly. Alice jumped up from her seat quickly and ran to him with concern written all over her face.

"Jazz...Oh God! You look so flushed..."

"I just threw up...I think I have stomach flu" Jasper groaned and then snickered inwardly.

"Oh my God! Lets take you home honey...I don't want you to get sick" Alice hugged his arm and then drew him towards the parking lot.

"I am sorry about the date Alice" he pouted as she helped him to his car. Alice kissed his forehead and answered "No date is important than your health Jasper"

She smiled at him and then jogged to the other side to get inside the car.

"Damn...I am so motherfucking good" Jasper muttered and then grinned at himself.