End of Chapter 6
"You know nothing about me, Edward Cullen!" She yelled. "You think you are so fucking smart, and have it all figured out. You stand there in all your self-rightiousness, and dare judge me! You said you wanted to be my friend. If this is what your friendship looks like, then I don't want it! We will finish this project, and then I will ask Mr. Banner to allow us to switch lab partners."
"That's the smartest idea to come out of your mouth in weeks!" I yelled at her retreating form.
Luckily, my phone rang just then so I couldn't dwell on what just happened. Esme was done with her meeting, so I hopped back into my car, and drove to pick her up.
Chapter 7: Making Amends (BPOV)
"Cocky...jackass...tell ME about self-sacrofice...arrogant son-of-a-bitch."
I was muttering to myself as I stomped my way back up to get Charlie. I was still fuming as I entered into the waiting room. I went up to the desk to ask how much longer Charlie was going to be when I heard my name being called behind me.
"Mrs. Conner," I smiled and went to sit down next to her.
I had run into Mrs. Conner, our school librarian, two weeks ago when her mother started coming in during the same time I was here with Charlie on Wednesdays. Her mother was much worse off than Charlie with advanced colon cancer. She was also 77 years old, but I couldn't help but picture Charlie that frail and weak every time I saw the old woman being wheeled out into the waiting room.
"How is your mother?" I asked.
"As well as can be expected," she gave a half-hearted smile.
"How are you?" She asked. "You look a little...wild eyed."
"Edward," I growled.
"Mr. Cullen?" She asked shocked.
I sighed, and told her all about what happened outside. I told her what I said, and what he said. I told her about the slap. She sat there patiently listening, and by the end she was shaking her head.
"Bella," she chided. "What is going on with the two of you, because this is sounding out of character for both of you. I would expect a bit more empathy from the son of a cancer physician, and a bit less violence from you."
"He doesn't know," I said quietly.
"Bella," she said, "why didn't you just tell Edward what is going on? He would understand that you had to take Charlie to his appointment. Cancer is something that effects most families. No one would think less of someone who has it and is fighting."
"I can't do that to Charlie," I said. "He's a very private person. He doesn't want anyone to know."
"You are a seventeen year old girl," she said. I tried to interrupt her, but she held up her hand. "A very capable, seventeen year old girl, granted, but one that is all alone at the moment dealing with things no one should ever have to deal with. You are putting yourself out on an island, because you aren't willing to trust anyone. I am not saying that it has to be Edward, but Bella...we all need a friend. Think about it."
"I know. I know," I said. "It's just hard. I don't want pity. I don't want sympathy. I am glad I have found you to talk to, because you are in it, and understand what I am going through. I just don't know how anyone else could understand."
"Have a little faith in people," she offered patting my knee and standing up, as they wheeled her mother out. "Sympathy is not a four letter word, either. It means someone cares. I will see you in school tomorrow, Bella."
"See ya, Mrs. Connor," I said. "Thanks again for listening to me."
"Anytime, dear," and with that she waved and left.
Maybe she was right. Maybe I should give a little where Edward was concerned. He was an jerk for jumping to conclusions, but what choice have I given him? I don't know if I am ready for him to know the truth about our situation, but I could at least make a gesture towards peace. I would offer to practice our presentation tomorrow after school. If he was still willing.
On the way home, I decided to run my plan past my dad.
"Dad, I have a presentation on Friday in biology. It is 40% of our grade, and it is with my lab partner, Edward Cullen. Anyways, you know how nervous I get when I have to talk in front of people. Edward's family has offered to be an audience to a test run of our presentation. You know, to help me work some of my nerves out. I was thinking, if you are feeling OK tomorrow, we could do it after school, if that is OK with you." I waited for his reply.
"Sounds like a smart idea, Bells," he answered. His voice was so much gruffer these days. Raw from the bile that poured through his throat regularly.
"I can come home and make you dinner first, and get you settled before going over," I quickly offered.
"You can always just order me a pizza," he said. "You deserve an evening off with your friends."
"They aren't exactly my friends, dad," I said sadly. "This is just a school project. I mean, I have classes with Alice and Edward. They are both nice. I just haven't really had time to get to know many people."
"Damn it," Charlie muttered. "I'm sorry, Bells. You should be hanging out with kids your age. Going to football games and movies. Laughing and having fun. Being a teenager. Not some nursemaid to an invalid father."
"Don't say that, dad!" I yelled. "I do the things I do, because I want to. You would do this all for me, what makes you think that I don't want to be doing this for you! You are my dad! I love you!"
"OK, Bells, OK," he said quietly wiping the tear that started to run down my cheek. "I love you too, kid. I don't know how I am ever going to make this all up to you."
"By getting well," I said turning to look him in the eye. He gave me a small smile and a pat on my leg, and we spent the rest of the ride home in silence.
The next day, I got to school a little early. I was nervous about leaving Charlie before I absolutely had to, but he seemed to be having a good morning. The doctor had given Charlie a new powered supplement called Defience PhytoTherapy. It was supposed to aid in detoxification, enhance immunity, and he had told us that some patients state that it gives them more energy. He even gave me a weak smile before leaving for school, so maybe it was helping.
Last night, Charlie and I had even shared a laugh. He came to me around bed time with his clippers in his hand and a frustrated look on his face. He said he was tired of shedding like a dog, and wanted me to just shave his hair off. So, we had set up shop in the bathroom. We used an upturned trash can as our barber chair. I had started with the #2 attachment to get off most of Charlie's thick hair. It had laid at my feet in deep brown piles. When it was time for the actual shaving part, I was so nervous, but Charlie talked me through it, and I even joked about taking care of that mustache from the 70s for him while I was at it, and he practically screamed 'No!'. I smiled to myself as the silver Volvo I had been waiting for came speeding into the lot.
I am certain that Edward saw me there, because he chose the spot the furthest from my truck as possible in the busy lot. I sighed, grabbed my bag from the hood of my truck, and started walking towards the Cullen car. As I got closer, I saw that Edward had his eyes closed, and jaw locked. His knuckles were turning white from the death grip he had on his steering wheel. Crap...this was not going to go well. Alice bound out of the car at that moment and over to me.
"Morning, Bella," she chimed. "I heard you had an interesting evening last night. I'm sorry I missed that!"
"Yeah," I muttered looking over at Edward who was glaring at me from inside his car, "I was coming over to apologize for that. I was having a rough day, and he just pressed the wrong buttons."
"I don't know about apologizing, Bella," she said turning towards her brother and leering back at him. "I know that Edward can be a know-it-all ass when he wants to be. I think karma just paid him a visit yesterday."
"Anyways, I wanted to smooth things over, in the very least," I finished.
"Good luck with that," she said. Then she walked over to the driver's window of his car, tapped on the glass, and said, 'Be nice', and then sauntered over to where Jasper was standing waiting for her in the distance.
I took a deep breath and walked over to the driver side of Edward's car. He was still refusing to emerge. Probably hoping I would just go away. He was refusing to meet my gaze as I stood there, so I lightly tapped on the glass with the tip of my index finger.
"Can I talk to you?" I asked softly, though I knew he could hear me. He looked up at me, and then forward again. "Please, Edward."
"Talk," he muttered, still not looking at me.
"Can you come out here, please?" I pleaded.
"I think I am safer inside the confines of my car," he said, and with that he hit his locks, and turned towards me with a smirk.
"I promise no physical harm will come to you, if you exit the vehicle," I said trying hard not to smile.
"Take five paces backward, and I might consider it," he retorted.
I smiled, and turned and walked back up onto the sidewalk. He grabbed his messenger bag from the backseat, and came out of the car, but just leaned up against the driver's door. I decided to just dive into it.
"I'm sorry I slapped you yesterday," I said looking sheepishly up at him. He sighed and looked down at his hands.
"I'm sorry for the things I said and for jumping to conclusions," he muttered.
"Can we get a do over?" I asked. He looked up, and his eyes began to crease, and then he started laughing. Full and loud laughing. I couldn't help it. It was infectious, and I started laughing too.
"I haven't heard anyone ask for a do over since grade school kickball!" He said through his laughter.
"I was digging deep over here," I said starting to calm down.
"OK, Bella," he said finally, "we can have our do over."
"I would like to start by accepting your offer," I said.
"Which offer?" He asked.
"Doing a test run of our presentation in front of your family, if they are available," I said.
"I assume you mean tonight, since the presentation is tomorrow," he concluded.
"Yes," I said meekly, "if that is alright with you. After school."
"Sure," he said. "I'll call Esme now."
Edward pulled out his phone and dialed. I listened to him talk to his mom and tell her the plan. There was such tenderness in the way he talked to her. They must have a great relationship. I couldn't wait to meet her. Hopefully Edward hadn't told her about the slap. Not many mom's take well to their baby boys getting hurt.
"Bella," Edward turned to me, "my mom wants to know if you want to stay for dinner."
"I think that will be OK," I said. "I'll need to swing by the house and make sure my dad has dinner before coming over."
"I can follow you home, if you like, and then give you a ride to my house," Edward added.
"Couldn't have the beast tarnishing your drive, huh?" I asked playfully.
"No! No!" Edward started to protest, thinking he was misunderstood once again. "I didn't mean..."
"I was kidding, Edward," I said holding up my hands and laughing now. "That would be fine. We'll work out the details later. It's almost time for the bell."
Edward finished his conversation with his mom, and then put his phone into his pocket. We walked together to class talking about our project, and how we might split up the presentation. We said our good-byes, and made plans to meet up in the library for study hall. I waved good-bye as I walked into homeroom. I felt like a great weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. Maybe today was going to be a good day.
The rest of the day went without incident. Edward and I started making our notes during study hall. Our conversation flowed easily, with the minor hiccup when Mrs. Conner stopped by our table and commented on the fact we were able to get past our differences of yesterday. Edward had asked how she knew, but I wasn't ready to tell him everything yet, but I didn't want to lie. I told him that I had run into her after our incident yesterday, and she had wheedled it out of me, and how she was the one who had convinced me that we were better than what we allowed ourselves to be. He smiled and told me to remind him to thank Mrs. Conner.
Mr. Banner had given us our biology period to work on our projects. Edward and I finalized our notes, and which parts of our report we wanted to print out as our display for our report. Edward was going to stop of to get the presentation board before meeting me at my house after school. His shopping should give me enough time to help Charlie with anything he needs and get him some dinner. We said our good-byes after class, and Edward said he would send me a text when he was on his way to my house.
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A/N: I am so sorry this is late. It was my birthday Friday, and there was some celebrating Thursday for that, so I totally didn't finish. It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to. ;-)
I was going to take this chapter through the Cullen's house, but I thought it might be more interesting to do that part from EPOV. You can tell me if you think I am wrong.
Thanks for sticking with me! Reviews are the best belated birthday presents, ever!
