Here you go!
This is the first of the two chapters I'm updating today. If you don't like two updates in one day - thank patz13 *hahahaha*
Katie: You have to tell me what exactly the one-shot should be about. Right now, I only have ideas for this story, but not for a one-shot, sorry! It's up to you! Or maybe someone could help?
Elenielrain: A trampoline? Awesome! Yeah, I never got one of those either. But Maddie might like it ;-) I know it seems unfair that everybody can leave the house whenever they want, and Maddie cannot. But they think she is still too young. I'm not telling you more now because I don't wanna spoil anything (still have more chapters and a new story on my laptop for you to read)!
Maddie was sitting on Edward's couch, waiting for him to come home. She swung her legs back and forth like she was bored, even though she was actually quite tensed up.
Esme had hugged and kissed and pampered her so much during the last couple of hours that Maddie just couldn't take it anymore. Well, the pain had faded a lot, only a little burning sensation remained at the base of her index finger. Esme's gentle words and hugs had helped to soothe Maddie's pain, but she still felt ... bad. She had upset her mother, maybe even insulted her by not telling her immediately that she got hurt. That's why she asked to be allowed to withdraw half an hour ago.
So now Maddie sat here, alone - waiting.
Of course she already told Edward that they were busted; therefore he knew what to expect when he would come home from school. But what exactly had leaked through? - Not so much.
The moment her siblings arrived, Maddie sat up straight. Edward barged into his own room mere seconds later, looking at his sister.
"Esme send me to my room as soon as I set foot in the kitchen," he said. When he got a good look at his sister, he gasped and exclaimed, "Your hand! It still wasn't healed this morning?" He warily eyed the thick bandage around her hand and waited for her to answer.
"No." She shook her head. "It looked disgusting, and Carlisle took my finger off again to patch me up."
Edward winced when he saw the memories Maddie had of this morning. But, he noticed, Carlisle didn't look particularly angry, just concerned.
"I'm genuinely sorry. About everything," he said and sat down next to her.
"I'm sorry," Maddie murmured, feeling like she fucked up big time.
"Don't be stupid, you have nothing to apologise for. I hurt you and then we tried to hide it," he remarked unhappily, then asked, "How are you feeling anyways? Is your hand better?"
"It is. But we're in trouble, aren't we?"
"Well, I know I am. You might be fine," Edward answered and nudged her playfully in the ribs, just to lighten the mood.
"You think so?" Maddie looked up at Edward, biting her lip lightly.
"Why not? You didn't do anything wrong. Except for ... the lying, the hiding ... you're in trouble, too, all right," he confirmed.
Maddie whimpered. Why did everything have to suck so bad?
Then she spoke again. "Carlisle wasn't even mad about the lying this morning. He just went nuts when he saw my hand."
"I can imagine."
"Yeah ...," Maddie breathed out. She had told her brother everything she needed to, her job was done now.
So she stood up from the couch, but faced her brother once more.
"Well, I need to go and get my book now. It'll be another two hours until Carlisle comes home and I don't wanna wait downstairs." Maddie made a face and left the room.
She jumped down the stairs, then walked into the living room and found her book where she left it - lying on the coffee table.
Maddie picked it up and turned around swiftly to head back upstairs, when all of a sudden she was stopped by Rose's voice.
"Is that a bandage?" Rose asked and squinted at the white gauze that was wound around her sister's hand. "Maddie, what happened?"
"It's okay, really," Maddie answered casually and walked on.
But Rose was obviously not satisfied with that answer. She rushed towards her sister and seized her by the forearm, effectively stopping her from walking away. "It is not 'okay'. Who did that?" She sounded worried, while she looked Maddie's hand over.
Then Esme answered. "Maddie and Edward had a little fight yesterday and then he accidentally took her finger off. Carlisle will talk to him about it, Rose, please don't get involved."
Rosalie's eyes bulged. She opened her mouth as if wanting to say something, but no sound came out.
So instead of talking, she settled for narrowing her eyes and huffing, before noisily stomping up the stairs in her black high heels.
Edward's head shot up and he looked towards the door just in time.
Rosalie stalked into his room, fuming.
"You hurt her!" she accused and pointed a finger at Edward, accompanied by a glare that could have killed. "Manhandling a little girl, are you?"
"Hey!" Maddie shouted and hurried past Rosalie into the room, only to be the one being yelled at by Rose now. "You better keep quiet! How dare you not tell me that he hurt you?"
Maddie took a step backwards - Rose was being scary again, Maddie didn't like that.
But she just wanted to tell her that she wasn't a little girl, for fuck's sake!
"Rosalie, this is none of your business," Edward said, trying to remain calm.
"None of my ...? Are you insane? You ripped her finger off!"
"It was an accident!" He snarled at his blonde sister, obviously failing at trying to remain calm.
"I don't care! You haven't been careful enough with her!"
"I'm not fragile!" Maddie huffed and crossed her arms.
Rose glared at her, then continued to yell at her brother. "And then you don't even have the guts to admit to us straightaway what you did!"
Edward stood there with clenched fists and yelled back, "She didn't want me to tell!"
Rose turned slightly to the side, closed her eyes for a brief moment and held a hand to her forehead, hoping it would calm her before she would run the risk of ripping Edward's throat out. But when she started yelling again, she didn't sound calm at all. "And you listen to her because ...? She is a child, you fool!"
"Hey!" Maddie shouted again at her sister. Little girl, child, ...?
"It is her hand, therefore it is her choice whom she tells!"
"No, it is not! You caused her pain, so it was your job to make sure she is well cared for, no matter what she thinks!" Rosalie countered.
"I am not like you, Rose! I don't patronise her and watch her every step! She is not your daughter, do you get that?"
If it had been possible, smoke would be streaming out of Rose's ears and nose by then. Yes, she was that livid.
"I am well aware of the fact that she is my sister, but you obviously are not! How many times have you injured her already, huh? Did you beat her to make her submit to your will so she wouldn't tell on you? !"
"Could anyone get this madwoman out of my room? Now!" Edward shouted angrily.
As if it couldn't get any worse, Emmett suddenly stepped into the room.
"What's wrong?" he looked between his two siblings and his wife.
Rose pointed at Maddie's bound hand.
"Tiny, what happened?" he gasped and closed the distance between him and her in two long strides, then knelt in front of her, taking her bandaged hand in his and looking at her with worry in his eyes. He then realised what must have happened ... the only way to hurt a vampire so badly that it needed medical attention was when a part of the body had been ripped off.
"Who did that to her?" he demanded, looking at his wife.
"He did," Rose spat and shot Edward a glare.
Emmett stood back up and took a step towards his brother, while shoving Maddie protectively behind himself. "Seriously, bro? Why would you ever hurt her? And why did nobody tell us?"
"She. didn't. want. me. to. tell!" Edward pressed out angrily.
"Why do you listen to her when she's in pain? When did it happen anyways?" His brother's behaviour did not make any sense to Emmett.
"Yesterday," Rose answered now.
"No no, I would have noticed if there was a bandage around her hand."
"Dad put it on in the car this morning," Maddie said meekly.
Emmett turned around quickly and looked at his little sister. "So you haven't told him before? Why?"
"Is no one even listening? She didn't want him to know!" Edward again.
Emmett raised his voice now. "She is young and inexperienced, how could you hurt her and not even help her afterwards? It was your duty to tell Carlisle immediately, for heaven's sake!"
"Hey!" Maddie whined. She didn't like how they were talking about her.
It seemed like they were determined to give Edward a hard time, and insult Maddie at the same time.
"And why did you injure her? I hope you have a damn good explanation, Eddie." Emmett had his arms folded in front of his chest and glared at Edward.
"It doesn't concern you, so stay out of it, all right?" Edward was fed up and annoyed, that much was clearly recognisable.
"This is my baby sister you hurt, so it damn well concerns me! Don't you ever lay hands on her again!"
"Stop talking about me like I'm not even here!" Maddie complained angrily and stomped her foot. Yeah, it was a childish thing to do, but Maddie couldn't help herself right then. How dare they!
"Shush, sweetie, it's all right." Esme had entered the room and came to a stop next to Maddie, then put an arm around her shoulders and patted her hair with her other hand in order to calm her down a little.
She then looked up at her other children and said, "All of you: It's enough. Leave Edward alone."
"Leave Edward alone? Is that all you have to say?" Rose demanded and turned around so she could face Esme completely.
"Rosalie, calm yourself. Edward is confined to his room until your father comes home from work. Leave it to him."
Rose stood there, her eyes flashing angrily.
"I do hope Carlisle will beat the living daylights out of you. It's the least you deserve," she snarled while shooting Edward a murderous look, then stalked from the room, Emmett following behind.
The mood in the house changed noticeable then. Everyone got calmer, less aggressive - Jasper.
He didn't think it would be beneficial to join in the argument that took place in Edward's room. Esme diffused the situation easily enough and so he just soothed the mood now, hoping it would keep his siblings from attacking each other.
Like it? Then go ahead and read the next one now!
No, wait! Review this chapter first! Okay? Thx.
It's for your own benefit, you'll get your next wish when we hit 200 :-D