A/N: You guys rock my world. I felt the need to say that AGAIN due to the excess of reviews that you gave for the last chapter. I hope you don't hate me after this chapter… it's a songfic… sorry if you don't like that, but I found a song I wanted… (It helps the effect if you listen to the song while you read. Preferably really, really loud. ( : ) It's Simple Plan.
Thirteen
Save You
BELLA
" So… let me get this straight," Emmett was saying. "You are not going to tell Charlie about Edward because of a dream?"
Alright, I'll admit that it sounded stupid, even to me. But he hadn't experienced the vivid detail of that nightmare. Dream-Charlie's ghastly face flashed through my mind as I nodded slowly. "Yes, Emmett. I don't think I can handle it…"
"But how can you be so sure that the real Charlie will be as bad as the Dream-Charlie?" he wanted to know. I glanced at the floor.
"Emmett," I whispered. "I've been coming home to the same angry, abusive 'father' for long enough to know that he'd kill me. If not because he knew that you guys are… vampires… then for dating an employee. This is a perfect excuse for him to hurt me one way or another."
Edward's ice-cold arm was around my shoulder then, and he supported my failing left side. I leaned into him, taking a deep breath. Emmett rolled his eyes.
"I still say he's going to find out sooner or later," he huffed.
"Emmett, you tell him, and I swear…" Edward threatened, a low growl escaping his throat.
"I'm not saying I'll tell him anything," Emmett shot back, holding his hands in the air in a defensive stance. "Bella's like a little sister to me. But there's Mike… and then there's the Volturi… he'll know soon enough, Edward."
"The… the Vol-what?" I wanted to know, frightened by the idea that there was still so much about vampire life that I knew nothing about.
"Nothing, Bella," Edward answered hurriedly, glaring at Emmett.
"Edward, I think I have a right to know," I protested, groaning as another family entered the restaurant. "I'm gonna take this table, Edward, but now it's your turn to make me a promise. I want you to explain this Volturi thing to me."
"Tonight," he promised, kissing my forehead lightly.
"Good luck, Buddy," I heard Emmett say, patting Edward on the back.
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EDWARD
I couldn't hate Emmett entirely. He's my brother, in a way. I did, however, want to rip him apart and bury the pieces. Let him have the time of his life reassembling himself. What was he thinking, mentioning the Volturi? He knew how curious Bella was!
"Wait for me upstairs," she ordered, kissing my cheek lightly before stepping out of my car. I nodded, deciding that I'd better hurry and get the Volvo home. I turned around swiftly and began the descent down the narrow road to our family's mansion. Forks was turning out to be fairly dramatic.
But I couldn't blame Bella for wanting to know more about me. I would blame her if she ran screaming in terror when I'd first told her, but she was so set in her ways. Then, I couldn't blame her for that, either. She was just… Bella. the Bella that I loved.
It was true. I was three hundred percent sure that I loved Bella Swan. But out of all the things I'd confessed to her, I was almost positive that this would be the one to scare her away. I'd wait to tell her until she was ready. That was my resolve.
"Hi, Edward, going to visit Bella?" Esme inquired sweetly as I all but knocked the front door off its hinges.
"Yeah," I answered, a bit less enthusiastically. "I'll be back in the morning."
"Something bothering you, Edward?" she asked knowingly. I sighed. Telling Esme was my best bet. I knew that Carlisle was biased, and Emmett would probably tell me that she needed to know.
"Well… Emmett sort of mentioned the… the Volturi at work today… and I promised Bella I'd tell her what that meant… but…"
"Having second thoughts?" I nodded. "Do you want Bella to know, Edward?"
"Yes, I think so. I mean… I want her to know… but I don't want her to be afraid…"
"Tell her. It's the best way. I'm sure you can make her feel safe," she told me. I sighed again, hugging her.
"Thanks, Esme. That really helped. Well, I guess I'd better get back to Bella… She-"
I was cut off mid sentence by the familiar ring tone, the one I'd assigned to Bella's contact. Why would Bella be calling me… unless it was an emergency? I pulled out my phone and quickly flipped it open, waving goodbye to Esme as I pulled the door shut behind me.
"Bella?" I answered on the first ring.
"E-Edward," she coughed, sobbing gently. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to… to…"
"Forget it, Bella," I said softly. "What's wrong?"
"I… I'll tell you… I need you to…"
"I'll be right there," I said, hanging up the phone and sprinting, faster than I ever had, back to her.
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BELLA
"What is it, Bella?" Edward inquired, slipping gracefully through the open window.
"It's Charlie," I whispered, burying my tearstained face in his chest.
"What about him?" he asked, rubbing soothing circles on my back with his thumb.
"He-he…"
FLASHBACK (About twenty minutes ago)…
"Bella, is that you?" Charlie shouted, never moving from his seat on the couch.
"Yeah, Dad." I rolled my eyes. "Were you expecting someone else?"
"I wouldn't get smart with me right now," he seethed, finally getting up to face me. "Not after what I just heard."
"W-w-what did you just hear? And… from whom?" I asked, hoping against hope that it wasn't what I was expecting.
"I heard about your new boyfriend, Bella!" he yelled, gripping my shoulders.
"W-what new… b-b-b-boyfriend?" I covered. "I don't know what you're talking ab-bout."
"That employee, the one we hired, he's your boyfriend, is he not?" he inquired, shaking me violently.
"Yes, Dad!" I was sobbing, relieved that he only knew of part of Edward. "I-I'm sorry… I meant to tell you I just…"
"Get to bed, Bella," he commanded with such finality that I fell back a few steps. "I'll deal with you in the morning," he said, smashing his bottle into the wall behind me. I flinched and ran up the stairs faster than I'd ever thought possible.
"He threw a glass bottle at you?" Edward asked incredulously.
"The bottle missed, Edward," I reminded him, crying a little quieter now. "The scary thing was it was exactly like my dream."
He stroked my back again, tucking the black-and-white striped afghan around my back as he lay in the bed gently. "What can I do to help, Bells?"
"Sing to me?" I asked hopefully. He nodded, kissing my hair.
Take a breath
I
pull myself together
Just another step until I reach the door
You'll never know the way it
tears me up inside to see you
I wish that I could tell you something
and take it all away
He was singing just above a whisper, but the melody flooded my ears as he crashed into the chorus, and eventually, I the tears stopped flowing.
Sometimes I wish I
could save you
And there's so many things
that I want you
to know
I won't give up till it's over
If it takes you
forever I want you to know
The second verse was even more soothing, the lyrics whistling through my ears and settling in my heart.
When I hear your
voice
It's drowning into whispers
You're just skin and bones
There's nothing left to take
No matter what I do I
can't
make you feel better
If only I could find the answer
To help
me understand
This time he began the chorus a bit louder, with more determination, but still equally as sweet and soothing as the first.
Sometimes
I wish I could save you
And there's so many things
that I
want you to know
I won't give up till it's over
If it
takes you forever I want you to know
The bridge of the song was my favorite part. The words were synchronous, symbolic of our strong relationship. They were a promise I would not soon forget.
That
if you fall, stumble down
I'll pick you up off the ground
If
you lose faith in you
I'll give you strength to pull through
Tell me you won't give up cause
I'll be waiting if you fall
Oh you know I'll be there for you
If only I could find
the answer
To take it all away
I was in tears again when he finished with the final chorus, but I assured Edward that it was only because the song was so beautiful.
Sometimes
I wish I could save you
And there's so many things
that I
want you to know
I wont give up till it's over
If it takes
you forever I want you to know
I wish I could save you
I want
you to know
I wish I could save you
I smiled to myself, locking the memory of my personal serenade in my mind and throwing away the key. "Edward?" I mumbled, my consciousness dwindling.
"Yes, Bella?"
"I haven't… for-forgotten about the Volturi," I warned drowsily.
He chuckled. "Tomorrow, Bella, tomorrow."
I nodded. "Okay. Night night."
And then, I could have sworn he whispered, "Goodnight, my love."
A/N: Okay, you have to let me know what you think about this chapter! I think it was a bit overdone… The good news is, this is officially the longest chapter in this story so far! Sorry it took me so long to update, but this chapter was fairly difficult to finish. REVIEW!
C.J.