Disclaimer: I own zip.
I watched her for a few minutes, still contemplating my epiphany. It amazed me that my thoughts were so conflicted and she could still be asleep at a time like this, when I just realized that I loved her. I finally drifted into my own fitful sleep. My last thought was that maybe, just maybe, she could love me back.
BPOV
I woke up and it was still light out, well, as light as it can be in Forks. My watch said it was a little after 4 o' clock, so I'd been sleeping for nearly three hours, man it was going to be a difficult to get to sleep later tonight. I looked around and smiled slightly when I saw Edward asleep in the chair, he was starting to fall out of it and his hair was even more messed up than it usually was. I got up and went into the bathroom. I looked into the mirror and sighed sadly, I still didn't look very good. A huge bruise the size and shape of a hand covered most of the left side of my face and there was a shallow cut in my forehead that hopefully wouldn't scar. I didn't even want to think of what my legs looked like; just walking hurt and the shower I'd taken before had burned a lot, but I felt like I'd washed away all the filth. I left the bathroom and winced when I sat on the bed. I was going to read again but I didn't really want to fall back asleep, so I just lay there, thinking.
I wanted to tell someone who did this so he could be thrown in jail but I couldn't even think his name, let alone say it. He'd caused me so much pain and I didn't want the same fate for someone else because I was too scared of him to even say his name, afraid he'd find me and this time he wouldn't let me live. There was a groan from a couple feet away and I turned to see Edward stretching. He looked around and his expression lit up with a smile when he saw me "How long were we asleep?" his still looked really groggy and his hair stood up in every direction, making me smile.
"A couple hours, it's almost five."He nodded and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"You want some dinner?" He stood up and stretched again.
"Sure, just get whatever, I'm not a picky eater." I said.
"Okay, I'll be back soon." I nodded and he left to go get dinner.
I sat back and picked my book back up. I was only reading for about ten minutes when the door opened again. This time it was Emmett and Jasper. I was happy to see them but at the same time, I was more wary of Jasper than anyone else. His blond hair and blue eyes reminded me of my attacker more than anyone else's features even though there was a difference. Jasper's eyes were calm and familiar while my attacker's had been hectic and only very faintly familiar and Jasper's blonde hair was neat and clean while his had been dirty and mussed up. I shook the thoughts from my head before I started freaking out. "Hey, Bells." Emmett greeted as he and Jasper moved to the farthest corner of the room. Jasper smiled and waved, but didn't say anything, always quiet.
I waved back "Hey."
For once Emmett wasn't in the joking mood, he was completely serious as he spoke. "Bella, as soon as you're ready you need to tell us who did this, okay? I want this scum to be in jail and off the streets… I want my little sister back and I don't want her to be afraid anymore." He looked so sad and tears welled up in my eyes. I wanted to hug him so much and I wanted his comfort, but I was afraid, just like he'd said, of what would happen if I did. Emmett started to get up and walk towards me but Jasper put a hand on his shoulder and pulled him back. Emmett glared at him menacingly and practically glared at him, but Jasper didn't back down and shook his head. He said something to quiet for me to hear and Emmett's shoulders slumped as he dropped back into the chair. We all watched each other for a second before Japer spoke.
"You can wait until you're ready, we're not going to push you into it but we all, my family, the Cullens, and Charlie, want you to know that none of us think any less of you and that we all still love you like a sister and the parents still think of you as their daughter."The tears that Emmett had brought to my eyes now spilled over and this time when Emmett tried to come over to me Jasper seemed to have difficulty not going himself and he barely got Emmett to take his seat again.
I wiped the tears off my face "Thank you, for being there."I said to both of them and the sorrow in their eyes was almost too much to handle. They just smiled sadly and then we tried to turn the topic of conversation to a lighter subject and they told me in detail, about the wrestling match that had gotten Emmett grounded. They opened the door to leave and Edward was standing right outside the door.
"Hey."He said slowly as he entered the room with an Arby's bag. "What's going on in here?"
"We just wanted to see Bella." Jasper answered and after the guys all exchanged a few pleasantries, Jasper and Emmett left, with one last farewell.
As soon as Edward closed the door, I let the tears I'd hid for the past half hour loose. Edward rushed over to me and put the food on the table before wrapping his arms around me. He didn't say anything, just held me until I finished crying and then he asked what was wrong.
I told him about Emmett and Jasper's visit and he listened patiently to my story. When I started to tear up again he wiped them away and then handed me the food that was getting pretty cold now. We ate quickly and talked about a bunch of things, all were meaningless but it kept the mood light. After talking late into the night I started to get tired and asked Edward if he was ready to go to bed, he said yes and we both changed before lying down side by side in the bed, well, actually I was halfway on top of him because of the size of the bed.
For once, Edward fell asleep before I did and I just watched him sleep as I began to think again. This time I didn't think of bad things though, but of Edward. I'd caught him watching me a couple times today, but something about his expression made me think it wasn't the same as it used to be. There was something in his eyes that seemed familiar but I couldn't place where I'd seen it…
Maybe it was just me but I didn't think so, I lifted up my hand and played with his hair a little bit. His eyes flickered open just long enough to smile drowsily at me and then he'd fallen back asleep. His
crooked smile always made my heart speed up and it brightened my world considerably, I couldn't help but give him whatever he wanted when he smiled at me like that. I thought about how easy it was to be around him, even after this and how he soothed all my fears and worries just by being in my presence, making my world seem right with just a glance or a smile. He probably had no idea how he effected me by doing and saying the simplest things.
Before I fell asleep I had one last thought: I did recognize that look, it was how Rosalie and Emmett looked at each other, the same as Alice and Jasper or Carlisle and Esme. But that could only mean one thing… and then I was dragged down into a fitful sleep.
A/N: The Breaking Dawn party is today!! Whoo!! I want to thank you guys for all the hits and reviews and all that jazz! I want to give shout outs to BellaxMariexCullen, KSRF (who didn't have messaging so I settled for this), and again a shout out to all-hail-the-jello, go check out her story because she is an AMAZING writer and I loved her story (you can find her in my fav authors)!! Okay, I think that's about it, so go and review and I'll update in a couple days!