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Chapter Six: Mary Alice
My mother had come home late, as predicted, and Mary Alice and I had told her together. She was certainly angry with me, but her gratefulness towards Mary Alice overshadowed it. I was glad she had been there. I did not tell her about Edward, but instead decided to let the chips fall where they may. I knew eventually she would have to find out about him, as he was going to be helping around the house often. Edward had picked up on the many needs of the house in the short amount of time that he had been there. He was already making plans for fixing loose floorboards, painting walls, helping us really make the most of what we had been given. I was immensely grateful.
After a week of both Edward and Mary Alice coming to help us out, our small home was beginning to feel like one. The paint was no longer chipped, the floors were redone, and there wasn't a speck of dirt or grime anywhere. The apartment was one story, with one bedroom, one bathroom, a depressingly tiny kitchen, and a sitting area in the front that was bigger than any other room. It was deceiving, it gave the impression of vastness, when really it wasn't in the slightest. Mary Alice had kept her promise of bringing us meals, and Edward did the same. They ended up working out a schedule, alternating every day. My mother and I cried tears of happiness every time they showed up at the door.
Sometimes I wondered if Edward ever spent time with his family. It seemed ever since he arrived in Chicago, he was always around us, helping us out or spending time with me. I never once complained, but I worried. I didn't want Edward to have a hard life at home, and it pained me to think I was his way of getting away from it. One day, about a week after he had agreed to help me, I sat down on the couch after a day of cleaning and patted the spot next to me.
Edward and I were very close, we had talked nonstop this week, and knew almost everything about each other. Some days we would play games of asking each other random questions, and we had to answer, no matter what. Luckily, Edward was a gentleman, so he didn't often take advantage of such rules.
He was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, a dish rag slung over his shoulder when he noticed me gesturing for him. He smiled his signature smirk, and it surprised me how after seemingly getting used to his looks, it still took my breath away when he did such simple things, such as smiling. He walked over, exaggerating fatigue, and plopped down next to me, his head resting against the back of the couch.
"I wanted to thank you again," I started, "for helping so much this week, it has truly been a blessing. My mother's paycheck comes tomorrow, and then we won't be in this slump anymore," I beamed, realizing the truth of that statement as I said it.
He grinned lazily, "There is no need to thank me, Bella, I am happy that we got through it," he took my hand, and I realized that this was the first time we had touched each other in a week. We had kept our distance, and just talked as friends. I had been certain that he felt nothing for me because of that fact. Calm down, he's just holding your hand, that is perfectly friendly. I tried to calm myself down. How silly I could get so flustered at such a simple gesture.
"I am happy too," I pulled myself together and remembered my reason for bringing him to the couch, "Edward, can I ask you a question," I was afraid to ask it, as it was entirely too personal.
"Sure, anything," he responded
"Why do you never seem to go back home," I asked bluntly, I internally slapped myself in the face, Nice. Subtle. Way to ease into it, Swan. I admonished myself even more as I registered the look on his face. "I apologize, I don't mean to pry, it's just that you only arrived in town a week ago, and you've been here almost every day of it. Don't you ever spend time with your family," I finished with another rude question. Ugh.
He almost smiled, "Really, it is fine, Bella. I understand your curiosity and concern. I thank you for both," he paused, almost seeming unsure if he should continue, "I suppose I owe you an explanation for it. Yes, you've deduced correctly that I do not have the best relationship with my parents. I've somewhat used you, and I apologize for that," he paused again, breaking eye contact with me before continuing, "However, I truly do cherish spending time with you, Bella, there is no where I would rather spend my time," he finished, causing another round of blushing to appear on my neck and face.
"Edward, I cherish our time too," I wanted to tell him, I remember thinking.
I wanted to tell him that I loved him. "And,-" I began.
"AAAHH!" An ear-splitting scream suddenly ripped through the air and my heart stopped. Mary Alice was the only other person here.
"MARY ALICE," I cried as I flew myself off the couch and into the kitchen. What I witnessed there was something I had never been able to forget. Mary Alice stood in the middle of the kitchen, her face contorted into a heartbreaking expression of pain and agony. She held her head in her hands as if willing whatever was causing her pain to stop. Her eyes were wild, she looked every which way, and almost looked like she was reading something in the air. I rushed forward and tried to determine the source of the injury, I felt utterly useless as she screamed again, crumpling to the floor. "Mary Alice, tell me, what is it," I plead desperately as I followed her to the floor, she didn't seem to be able to hear me. As she screamed again I hugged her forcefully and held her head to my chest, wanting to know what was happening.
"Mother… look out," was all she said before she fainted.
"Mary Alice," I tried to shake her awake, "Mary Alice!"
"Bella," Edward's soft voice was calm in this moment, I wish I knew how he had achieved that. "Let's bring her to the couch," he said as he walked forward and picked her up. "I don't know what happened, but we need to call the doctor and let her rest until he gets here." I nodded, slowly getting back up on my feet as I watched him carefully place her on the couch we had been moments ago. I turned around with shaking hands and quick movements, still in shock over what happened. I didn't know how to calm down after witnessing such an ordeal. I watched as my shaking hands grabbed a towel and dipped it in a bowl of cold water. I rung it out and put it back in, then folded it to make for a cold compress and brought it over to Mary Alice.
"What will you use that for," he asked, his voice still calm. However, I had a feeling he was just staying strong for me, and he was just as confused and terrified as I was underneath the surface.
"It's a cold compress for her forehead," my voice coming out more even than I expected it would. I carefully placed it on her forehead and lowered myself to my knees beside her. "What just happened," I found myself asking, knowing full well Edward had no better idea than I.
"I wish I knew," was all he said before coming over to me and lowering himself to his knees beside me. "Are you okay," he asked, taking my hand.
"I will be, once she wakes up," I sighed heavily and found myself resting my head against his shoulder. "Can you please go find the doctor," I raised my head and looked up to him. He smiled a small, sad smile and nodded, probably trying to ease me somehow.
"Yes, I will go retrieve him," he said, standing up.
"I'll wait with her," I announced, no one would be able to take me from her side.
