So I took one girl outside with me,
Her name was Londy, she went to Junior High with me,
I said, "Why you up in there dancing for cash?
I guess a whole lot's changed since I seen you last."
Days went by with no word from Bella. Alice yelled at me, telling me I should just reach out to her. I thought she was wrong, if Bella needed anything she would call and if she isn't calling then she doesn't want my help and I should respect that. Also it's not like I had her number anyway I would have to go back to the club.
My life was pretty monotonous at the moment, a steady flow of children in need of care always came through the hospital. Heading to work I was reminded off the first patient that died under my care.
Michael. That was his name. He succumbed to cancer a few months after admitted to our hospital after transferring from the outskirts of New York. He had been under weeks of his fourth chemo treatment and his body was slowly declining. He was too young for the high pressure of the drugs and there was nothing I could do. Of course it hurt, losing a patient but I tried to remind myself of how many I help and there wasn't much I could do for Michael.
"Dr. Cullen, nurses just stepped out for lunch so can you take a look at a lady and her toddler that just came in? Flu symptoms, nothing major," Jessica called to me from her desk, I nodded and headed towards the room she gestured to. I paused and the door, seeing the kid but that wasn't what I was looking at.
It was Bella.
She was there her back was still towards me nonetheless I could tell it was her. Her brown curls cascading down her back were clear. The little boy was small, probably only three at most. He was laughing about something then he turned to look at me.
"Mom, mom the doctor is here," He giggled in his kid-like voice, missing out a few pronunciations. Bella turned towards me, her eyes shocked as well.
"Edward?" I took a step into the room now, sliding the door shut behind me. "I didn't know you were a doctor," She said simply, I could tell she was going to say something else but she didn't.
"Yeah I followed after my dad I guess. Paediatric though not surgery," I smiled trying to soften the situation. She seemed to relax a little, maybe she thought I would be mad that she was at my work, I tried to keep it professional. "Now who is this?" I smiled at the boy, he gave a me a huge grin back.
"I'm Ben!" He exclaimed to me giggling giving a couple bad sounding coughs out. "Mommy thinks I have a cold,"
"He's been coughing for days now and a running a little fever," Bella said concerned as she stroked his head softly. I nodded grabbing the stethoscope from the drawer, I went to check his heart-rate.
"Okay Ben, take a deep breath for me," I took him, he did as he was told, a grin still plastered on his face. His heart sounded normal, in range for a young boy. "Has he been sniffling or sneezing at all?" I asked Bella, she nodded so I check his nose for an infection of some sort and re-took his temperature.
"Ben here is having a little bit of a fever and his nose is a bit stuffed so we can put him on some low grade antibiotics that shouldn't have any negative affect on him at all," I said finally, I wrote the prescription for her while she was just looking at me now. "Have any questions just come back and I'll check him again," She stayed silent still and I didn't know what to do. She had a sad look in her eyes.
"I'm sorry I came, I really didn't know you worked here," She said after a while, I turned to look at her now.
"It really is okay Bella, I don't why you think it wouldn't be," I really didn't know what else to say.
"I'm sorry I didn't call," She said but before she could continue I waved her off.
"I told you to call me if you needed me, I wasn't going to pressure you to call me. Honestly it is all fine Bella," I smiled at her, I really didn't understand where she was coming from. She stood up and went to grab Ben's toys that he dropped on the floor, when her sleeve rolled up bruises were visible on her arm. Where could she have got them from? I didn't say anything. "Are you sure you are okay?"
"I'm leaving now," She stated then, and I didn't know what to do. Ben was waiting at the door for his mother and there were about to leave, I had to say something.
"Please Bella," I begged her, she turned to look at me, broken from her urgency. "Meet me for coffee one day, I want to make sure you are okay,"
"Wednesday at 11am, Baker's Shop," That was all she said before she disappeared out my hospital and I was left staring after her. I left the room dejectedly, not really knowing what happened to Bella. The bruises of her arms were recent, a deep purple which meant they were deep. Now I was really worried for her, what if someone had pushed her around at the club? What if someone had forced her into something? I didn't know how I could help her or what I could do to make her open up to me. I just wanted to make sure she was okay and with those bruises I knew she wasn't.
I saw my little sister round the corner and looked at me. I looked confused back because I honestly have no idea why she was looking at me that strangely.
"Was that Bella I saw?" She asked, and now I understand the look. "Who was the boy?" I went to reorganise my papers as she was talking to me.
"Her son," Alice seemed shocked. She stayed quiet then, sitting on one of my couches. "Alice, what do I do?" I said finally, she smiled sadly.
"Oh Edward, just be there for her, she'll tell you what you want to know eventually," My sister was always wiser than me, then I remembered something.
"Alice! I'm such a bad person. How is the business going?" Alice for as long as even I could remember, and I was 5 years older than her, wanted to be a fashion designer but Carlisle made sure to make her go through business school, when she graduated that two years ago she worked for mom with the interior designing, now she was finally starting her own business. She broke into a huge grin and I was glad I asked.
"It's been great! I've all these old designs that I've made over the years that are coming to life and Jasper promised to photograph for me, I still don't have a model yet though," She said a bit sadly, I then thought about anyone I knew that could do it, but came up with a blank.
"What about Rose? You could also ask her, she might say no but worth a try," Rosalie is Emmett's fiancee, however I could admit she was stunning but not my type at all. With long blonde hair and quite thin, she was most definitely Emmett's type. She was a bit distant and cold, but I tried to be nice and it seemed to be hard for her so I understood.
From what I gathered from Emmett she had a bad childhood and had a hard time trusting people. She's met the whole family of course but just never bonded with any of us, not that we had a problem with that. She could tell any of us what happened in her own time and for now she had Emmett and that seemed to work out for her. She was going to marry Emmett not all of us, she didn't need us to love her, but we surely did anyway. And yes Emmett was getting married before I even had a 'proper' long term girlfriend, there was Tanya but I tend to want to forget her, considering she turned out to be a bit of psycho.
"That's actually a great idea, I've been meaning to find something to do with her," Alice was hyped now but I was glad I could help. Finally Alice left so I could finish the rest of my paper work, but bringing up Tanya did bring down my mood quite a bit. Her controlling attitude and possessiveness was all that I really remember about my high school 'sweetheart' and that term is way exaggerating. We dated for two years about but it turned sour less than 6 months in, I should've just taken Emmett's advice and break it off but I never did and I regret it. She tried pressuring me into sleeping with her and I just wasn't ready for that, she made me feel incompetent and not good enough and it really just brought me down for my last years of high school. Then when I finally got the nerve to break it off she refused to let go saying we were 'made' for each other, and we were soul-mates, despite me telling her many times I didn't believe in that sort of thing. It was a destructive relationship and I hadn't have one since, I went on a few dates during University but never anyone that stuck around all nice girls just not for me I guess.
I finally finished up and headed home, yet still thoughts of Bella's dark bruises plagued me. The thought of someone hurting her kept me up and I knew Wednesday couldn't come soon enough.
I checked myself in the mirror again, casual jeans and a hoodie. I was going for the relaxed look, I wanted Bella to trust me and look uptight was not going to work. I still hadn't gotten a confirming text or anything to make sure she was actually going to show but if I wanted her to trust me I had to trust her first. I grabbed my car-keys and headed off towards the cafe that she had said last week.
Everyone around me knew I was distracted, but I couldn't help it. Someone was hurting Bella and badly, they were not easy bruise it would've had to be a hard grip. I needed to help her, I don't know why but I felt responsible and I needed it to make it right. I found the small cafe and a parking spot was available around the corner.
The cafe was nice, quite small but traditional, with nice wood tables and chairs. It had a good feel to it and I was glad this is where Bella picked. There were only one other table taken up so when I entered the barista greeted me and asked me if she could help me in any way. I polite declined, not bothering to ask her if she knew Bella. I was waiting for ten minutes before I began to wonder if Bella wasn't coming, surely she wouldn't forget would she. I doubted it. Then the bell at the door clinked and I turned to look and Bella was there. Her hair was messy and she was wearing long sleeves again and a jacket from the cold wear. Jeans covered up her lower half, polar opposite to what she wore that first night I saw her, a scene I wish I didn't see. Her eyes landed on me and soften, almost a glad look crossed her face, maybe she thought I wouldn't come either.
"Thanks for meeting me Bella," She nodded as she sat down but didn't speak. "How is Ben feeling?" I asked trying to keep the conversation light.
"He feels great, still a little worn out but the energy is coming back," She smiled as she spoke about her son, it was good to see her smile. She looked a lot better than the other day, more healthy I guess. "Why did you really ask me here Edward? Honestly," I didn't know what to say, I cared about her? I wanted to make sure she was okay? So I decided to be as honest as I could be.
"When you were at the hospital your sleeve got raised up and I saw the bruises Bella, they are deep and new," Her eyes widened drastically and I continued, waiting for her to stop me. "Is someone hurting you? I will help you if anyone is, I swear I will help," She looked at me, blankly.
"I am fine and if that is all you wanted you should leave," She said firmly, I was impressed with her forceful voice.
"Bella, I saw the bruises," I reminded her, I wasn't going to raise my voice or get angry, that wasn't going to help.
"I don't know what you are talking about," She whispered, practically confirming my suspicions. She was getting hurt, and however it was she was protecting and that needed to stop. This wasn't the way I was going to get it out of her so I stopped.
"I must've been mistaken then, I'm sorry Bella. What would you like to drink?" I could see how off guard she was by the change of topic but she did tell me what drink she wanted so I ordered for her. We fell into a silence but I could tell if it was bad or good. She was sipping at her flavoured tea while I did the same to mine. I also got us a few pastries which she and I nibbled at.
"You pity me and don't pretend you don't," I sighed at her statement. It wasn't like that but I didn't know how to explain it, I was never the best at talking.
"It's not like that. I was lucky in life, amazing family and amazing opportunities. I sometimes forget people weren't as lucky as me. But Bella you were so smart, top of our grade if I remember correctly. You were destine for greatness," I said trying not to sound pretentious I'm not sure if it worked or not.
"You are curious on how I failed," She declared, I cringed at the word but decided to let it go and just nod. "Where to start. High school wasn't great for me, not a lot of people got along with me and I stayed quiet and I disappeared. I still got good grades but my school valued social skills which I didn't excel at. My dad could never had paid for college but we were hoping for a scholarship but one never came. So I had to make do with community college, I got by with a cafe job and odd jobs here and there. Then Jacob came along and it was all going to get better. He had an auto car business with his father one of the best in the state. We were going to get married and just get by with the money we each made. Jacob's dad got into an accident at the shop, leaving him unable to walk which ruined the business. I got pregnant, which don't get me wrong Ben was one of the best things but it wasn't the right time, we had no money. So that's how I got here," I knew she missed a ton of stuff out, like why Jacob didn't find another job but I was glad she told me that much.
"Thank you for trusting me," I said, she smiled gently like telling me had made her feel better. Her phone went off, she looked worried as she read the message, her face looking worse as she kept reading. "Is something wrong?" She looked up like she had forgotten I was there.
"Yeah I have to go home. I'm sorry, here's some money for the tea," I waved off her money and she ran out the door as quickly as she could go. Then I realised the other emotion that crossed her face was fear, and then I was worried. She had left so suddenly and as quickly as she could, what if the person who was hurting her was the one who texted her. Why did I let her go without asking what was wrong? The barista came to help me clean up the cups and plates.
"Are you friends with Bella?" She asked me curiously, I guess she did know her.
"Yeah I guess. Do you know her?" I asked back, the lady shook her head in indecisiveness.
"She used to come here with her husband before they got married. They were so happy and cheerful, then she stopped coming for almost 6 months and when she appeared again she was always alone. A lot thinner and unhealthier than she used to be. She was wasting away in her own skin," The lady told me, why did Bella no longer come her with Jacob, what happened to her?
"She just ran off, after she got a text. She seemed scared, any ideas on who it could be?" The lady shook her head, and I was stuck. I thanked her and left the cafe myself and headed to my car. I couldn't guess who was hurting her, she needed to tell me before it would be too late.
I had dinner at home, Esme taught me how to cook and I took after her in that department, Emmett not so much. I was honestly getting a bit lonely, with my meals either at home or at work I never went out with people, other than our monthly family lunches which were always a blasted. I got a call from Rosalie which made me smile.
"Hello, how are you Rose?" I asked, I wondered what this could be about but Rosalie calling me was a bit of a step up from ignoring me.
"I'm good Edward," Her smooth voice answered. "I met up with Alice about her modelling and agreed to do that with her," I stayed silent knowing that wasn't why she called. "She told me about Bella, do you think someone is abusing her?" I felt bad for telling people about Bella, surely she didn't want people to know however she didn't tell me nor did she tell me when I confronted her about it.
"She had bruises all over her arms, they were bad too. I'm worried about her and when I confronted her she denied it. Not like that surprised me," I admitted to my soon-to-be sister in law.
"No it isn't surprising, but you have to get her to open up. Bad things could happen to her if no one knows," Rose said it almost like a warning and her wisdom seemed to travel through this conversation.
"I know, I'm trying," I reminded her gently, I didn't know how to go about these things, I wasn't an expert.
"Good, I just called to make sure," Rosie replied, she seemed ever as calm as normal. I wasn't going to ask her but I was curious on her situation.
"I'm glad you make my brother happy," I said before we bid each other farewell.