Disclaimer- I don't own Twilight.
Again… I got high off of reviews and now look what happened…
Reviewer(s) of the chapter-
Princess Shurubie- I totally am going to hype up the romance. Itll come full force soon, I promise! And Jacob is actually coming in the form of an actual dog… so he doesn't get a woman… sorry… and I totally would become a writer, but I'm 14… haha, which might be a minor setback, huh? Thanks though! I'm flattered! Oh I'm being completely selfish… I'm not dedicated, I'm addicted, big difference… and I hope you understand that I couldn't update due to an essay… I apologize, but you should get an account so I can reply to you…
MsWhiteChristmas- for loving the chapter and making her mother smile like that on mother's day!
XO. Soleil Moon- for explaining to me her pen name and loving the chapter as well!
ElspethGordie- I love how everyone was so happy with me for updating so soon and then I have to do an essay and take a break… haha oh well? And (advertising for you haha) read her fic Untouchable.
Tw1l1ght4ev3r- for leaving me that long ass review and loving the chapter!
29Amytheshortbusrider29- for blowing off her homework for the chapter!
Emmettluver5191995- okay… so is your pen name your birthday, because if it is, you're 6 days older than me haha.
Aly- for reading the chapters over and over and over again… I honestly didn't think my story was interesting enough for that but hey, that's a good thing!
Vampirelizgurl- for laughing so hard and suggesting that I become a mystery/science/law and order author… I'm glad that you thought my court case wasn't completely stupid…
I wanted to include more of you, all of you actually… but I figured you'd want the chapter out sooner more than being on this silly little author's note list…
And special thanks to (in no particular order)- HighCentaur-LordChironIII, missFANPIRE1, Carlisle's-nose-extension, edwardandjakeloverr, EverlastingMuse, TwiDi, ObsessedReaderAlert, Bella-Darko, Screams-At-Midnight, matyandelia, amazingragdoll, Anon x, BubblyBookz31, AnchorsAweigh13, puglover770, Godschildtweety, Lecia, Mz-Star, SaraHellen, sanders61584, sweetcrimefighter, MidnightTulip, twilightgirl80, andii Cullen pattinson, Kayla1013, lynne0731, IGOTEAMEDWARD, StormRain0904, VoltActionSniper, snusa, jessieclow3, Ms. Jessica Cullen's BIGGEST FAN, and my epic beta, Pix.
VOTE FOR PEDRO-
LAST ON SILENCE-
Rose blocked my view by stepping in front of me and holding her hand out. "You must be Bella. I'm Edward's-"
Dad cut her off, "overprotective, lovely mother, Rosalie." He chuckled and Bella laughed nervously, her small body now enveloped into dad's powerful bear hug.
The three conversed for a while and soon, I saw Bella go easy with them. They excused themselves later to go and see their own parents.
Bella jumped up to me. "Did I do okay?" she asked me eagerly.
I hugged her, "Yes, you did perfect. Did you see that jury, you have this, girl." I winked.
She let out a breath, "Good, you know… your parents are really super nice." She smiled.
I smiled too, "I know. You did it, love; you won't have to deal with him again…"
She gulped, "Well, we don't know the verdict yet."
I levelled my face with hers and her breath hitched slightly. I felt a yearning to pull her closer and taste her.
Stop.
I told myself and smiled, "What's say we take everyone out for lunch?"
CURRENTLY ON SILENCE-
B.P.O.V.
Damn it, kiss me you jerk.
That's what my mind said, in actuality, I said, "Great, let's round everyone up!" In an excited manner.
It was really starting to irritate me; it was like he knew what to hang in front of my face and when. Like leaning down and staring at my lips, and then making stupid suggestions about where to eat lunch… ugh…
But on the upside of things, the court case is through, and at the next hearing, we'd get to find out what the verdict is. Truth be told, I was more than a little bit nervous about that, but it wasn't like I could go and eavesdrop on the jury. I wanted to though…
I sighed; I guess the best thing to do was try to distract myself with this lunch. Everyone there…
Once we got everyone together we took a couple of cars and drove to one of the trusty restaurants nearby, Billigan's.
We got one of those long tables. At one end, I was sitting next to my Grandma and Edward, at my opposite, Edward's parents were sitting next to Alice and Esme and Carlisle . I smiled. I hadn't eaten with more than one person in three years…
Once we all had ordered, I got pelted with questions, the first bluntly stated by Rosalie, "So Bella… are you dating my son?" She asked, as if trying to go for nonchalant and failing.
I briefly choked on my soda, "Uh… no, Edward and I are," the tone of my voice suddenly dimmed, "just friends…"
Edward looked at me oddly, as if sensing my inner sadness and wondering at it. He narrowed his eyes at me and then responded as well.
"Mom," he said disapprovingly, "just because I offered Bella help doesn't mean we're dating. We're happy how we are… for now."
When the 'for now' was added, my breath stopped and my face turned beat red, and I'm pretty sure my eyes looked a bit excited. What had 'for now' meant. He couldn't feel the same way about me, could he?
I felt Edward looking at me again and when I met his gaze, he looked at me for a while, and finally settled for a lazy smirk on his face as he apparently judged my words and actions.
I quickly looked away and shot a thankful glance at Alice for interrupting.
"So, Mrs. Swan," she aimed at my grandma, but she was cut off.
"Please, lil' Alice , call me Betty." Alice giggled and continued.
"Did you knit that scarf?"
At that, they went into this big conversation and I smiled at Alice 's ability to be personable. I knew for a fact that she didn't knit and here she was, charming my grandma to death. I smiled and turned again to find Edward's smirk still firmly planted in my direction.
He quirked an eyebrow when my face turned red again and I looked down.
Did he know what I was thinking? Because that embarrassment wouldn't ever end.
I hesitantly looked up again to find his eyes lazily trailing over my body. I felt my blood race, what was he doing?
I fiddled with my thumbs on my lap and fidgeted.
E.P.O.V.
It was kind of amusing, actually, to know that she was squirming under my gaze. I smiled evilly at her, winking slightly.
She chewed on her lip and turned red again.
God, what did that mean? Was it good or was it bad? Honestly, I didn't understand her at all, but the more I looked at her, the more she seemed to fall apart.
Mm, and imagine how beautiful that would be?
I shook my head of those thoughts; she had just gone through a trial and what? It's time for mental rape? No thanks…
I conversed with dad a bit longer about how his job was going and mom about her unfortunate failure at trying to have kids.
The doctor had told her she was infertile and Emmett had to take her from the restaurant while she let her tears flow.
I felt Bella's caring eyes frown at her retreating form.
It also worked as a benefit, Bella and I could hold our own conversation, now at the very end of the table.
"Bella." I said, simply and she snapped her head up to mine obediently.
I licked my lips, I liked obedience. I smirked at my own private joke and looked at her again.
She was sucking that damn lip into her mouth.
When was the last time you had that pill, Edward?
The back of my mind asked me and I countered with it that I'd taken it earlier this morning.
Maybe I could double dose when dealing with Bella. It probably wasn't the worst of ideas.
"Y-yes, Edward?" She answered, and I almost forgot that I had said her name.
"Mm, why do you look so sad?" I cocked my head to the side.
She groaned, "I-I'm not sad-"
I leaned down so that my lips were close to her ear.
I cut her off, "But you are a horrid liar."
I felt her pulse race as my fingers traced her neck. I moved further…
"Edward." Alice said as what I knew was a warning and I snapped out of it.
I nodded to Alice and shot up from my chair, every chair at the table looking at me in an odd way.
I said a quick sorry and fast walked away.
B.P.O.V.
Alice rolled her eyes, "Somebody forgot to take his pill today."
Carlisle and Esme shot her warning glances, my grandma looked confused, "What pill?"
Alice smiled charmingly again, "Oh nothing." And she easily broached back onto the topic of knitting.
I stood as well, wanting to go and find Edward.
I felt my neck on fire from where he had traced his fingers and I almost felt his breath still on my ear.
I saw him sitting next to a squirrel on a rock pillar outside.
I hopped up next to him, bumping his hip. He groaned.
"Bella, can you leave me alone? I'm trying to deal with something."
I frowned, he shouldn't be worried about his… err… problem, it was actually pretty hot. I wonder what his-
My thoughts were cut off, "You don't understand, Bella-"
I cut him off this time, "Yes I do, and it's actually pretty damn sexy." I said before thinking and I slapped my hands over my face, sliding down off of the pillar.
I felt a hand grab my elbow and hold me in place.
"What?" Edward's voice came, shocked.
"Oh, damn… uh… I wasn't talking about you… I was talking about my… celebrity crush?" I said , but I blushed.
I went back inside before he could respond.
BASBASBASBASBAS
"Uh… I guess I basically told him that his addiction to sex was hot. Alice , what am I supposed to tell him now?" I said, throwing my palms on my face again.
Alice laughed, "Bella… it really isn't that big of a deal, knowing Edward, he'll try to figure out why you said it, and for him, that's going to take a while… so you have about… three years before he confronts you about it." She snorted.
I groaned, "I'm being serious."
Alice sighed, "And so am I, well… maybe not about the three years part… but Edward will kill me for telling you this… but he's never had anything close to a girlfriend." She leaned in, "I don't even think the poor guy has even had his first kiss yet…"
I was thoroughly confused, "But girls follow him around all the time at school."
Alice sighed again, thinking about how to word her next words. "Bella… Edward isn't all fun and games and hypersexuality. Has Edward talked to you about what happened with his real parents?" She asked lightly.
I nodded, "Yeah, they disowned him." I said lowly.
She nodded, "Well… as you know… parents usually wouldn't disown their child… they'd give him up for adoption. They didn't want Edward in their lives at all. They didn't want his birth certificate to say Edward Masen. And there were other reasons, but I don't want you looking at Edward with pity in your eyes… he's had a ton of shit happen to him, and it'll take him a while to make a move on you. He has a huge fear of being rejected."
And now I felt judgmental. At the beginning of this whole mess, I'd pegged Edward for the perfect guy, but I guess you didn't know anyone unless you actually know them. And I felt guilty.
My makeshift bully was a broken hearted hypersexual.
I sighed, "What parents would do that? I just can't understand why it happened to him… and what am I supposed to do? Just go up and 'make a move'."
Alice rolled her eyes, "Well, duh, Bella. Look at the guy, he's absolutely got it for you, and you're too shy to make the first move. Bella, he likes you, trust me. The next time you call him sexy, go with it."
I bit my lip, "Thanks Alice." I said after a while.
Alice nodded and I saw her phone vibrate against the bed. She squealed. She left the room. I assumed it was Jasper.
Now, Edward and Emmett and Rosalie and Carlisle and Esme were downstairs talking. I had complained that I hadn't felt very well and needed to take a nap.
Edward had been looking at me oddly the whole entire day. I think he was catching on to what I said and that worried me.
But what worried me more were the intense problems he had.
I wanted to figure out why anyone would disown Edward. The whole thing just didn't sit well with me. It was almost as if there was more to the story than just, "oh, they disowned him because they didn't want him."
If they didn't want him, they had adoption for that sort of stuff… it just felt like there was more.
And that thought brought me to thinking other things. Could I help Edward with the problems he had? Could I really be the one to fix him?
I didn't know.
I heard a knock on the door.
"Bella?" Edward asked.
"Yeah?" I called out shakily, I'd have to deal with this sometime.
He came in slowly, throwing me a tiny smile. He handed me a slice of pie and I took it warily.
"Whenever you give me something sugary and sweet, we always end up talking about something difficult…" I observed.
He nodded, fiddling with his fingers.
"Yeah… uh, first I wanted to talk about tomorrow. Carlisle got the jury to agree to make a quick verdict with some spiel about constitutional rights about a quick and speedy trial."
I nodded, shovelling a piece of pie into my mouth as I waited for him to continue.
"I… uh… also wanted to talk about what happened today."
Damn Alice . She was wrong. I blushed a deep crimson, but made no other response.
"And I just wanted to know if you really knew what I was referring to…" he asked, and he was the one to look embarrassed.
"Well… yes… I do, I guess. But Alice didn't tell me, I swear, I found the pill bottle on the hotel room floor and then I looked it up on Wikipedia and then decided that you didn't have prostate cancer and that you had to have had hypersexuality and oh, I'll just shut the hell up now." I said too much.
I heard Edward groan, "I'm sorry, Bella… I know it's weird. I can sleep in another room if you feel-"
I smiled at him beneath my blush, "Edward, I couldn't care less about this. I don't want anything to change. Besides, and I quote, 'It's pretty damn sexy.'"
I blushed even more and I saw Edward shift awkwardly on the ground. I looked down and licked my lips. Either Edward carried a gun in his pocket or he was just happy to see me.
And if Alice was here, she'd tell me to jump him or kiss him, but I found myself drowning in the awkward silence.
Edward nodded and just stood to leave. He paused at the doorway, as if to talk once more, but hurriedly left.
I fell back on the bed and groaned. I just missed a perfect opportunity, didn't I? I messed up. We would always be awkward about this now.
BASBASBASBAS
Charlie was staring me out. I could feel it. His gaze was intense, boring into my back. I just held my grandma's hand as she hummed a lullaby in my ear. I leaned against her shoulder. She was like my rock right now.
I heard whispers going about the room from the students of Forks high. This was the verdict. This would make me or break me. I just couldn't lose faith in what I knew could be done. I could do this… I knew I could… I had a rock solid testimony and Charlie would get what was coming to him… right?
"Don't listen to them, Izzy bear, you're grandmamma is here and everything's okay. We're going to put my son in jail."
She was oddly blasé about this whole ordeal. She seemed un-phased when I'd told her what happened; only saying things like, 'I knew it.' And being only a bit angry.
She touched my heart though, I didn't have any other live relatives and I was glad to have this one around.
We saw the jury file in and the judge as well. I grew completely nervous. The jury seemed to be mocking me. They all knew what my life was going to be like from now on and it was like they weren't even giving anything away with their eyes. I was restless.
I heard the clashing sound of the gavel and we rose automatically. I gulped and bit my lip. On my other side, Edward rubbed my back with one of his hands and I leaned into him for both moral and physical support.
The judge nodded to one of the jurors and he stood, taking a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolding it. He spoke into a microphone and started to read from the prearranged speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the court, we have heard the testimonies of both Isabella Swan and Charlie Swan, and have reviewed the case. After years of abuse, fear, and a planned murder, we convict the accused was with life in prison without the possibility of parole."
I had to slam my hand over my mouth to refrain from screaming. I buried my head in my grandma's comforting arms and she patted my hair. I heard murmurs arise from around me and, with my eyes violating my set rules, looked at Charlie.
He looked crazed. He was looking at me with a look that said, 'You will pay', he even mouthed the words to me and I had to look away to keep the scream in.
The juror kept talking and the room grew silent.
"Also, we feel that since she is underage at 17, she will be put into the custody of her grandmother, Betty Swan. And as for the abuse that Isabella Swan, the accuser has suffered, the grand jury feels it necessary for her to attend weekly therapy sessions for one year, starting Wednesday of next week."
Now who expected that? Hopefully none of you! I'm sorry I didn't have the technical terms for this one… I was online all day searching abuse charges and all I got were specific cases that didn't help me at all, and if that upsets you, then go cry in a corner.
Anyways! I wrote that essay and I'll get an A, so thanks for being understanding about the past couple days!
Get me high for another update. It works.
Pix- I got to say the review thing is working for Jess because I have been getting the chapter the next day after her posting. Wow awesome chappy. GO REVIEW (and get Jess high)
Chapter question- WHAT'S THE SONG THAT DESCIBES YOU AND MAKES YOU HAPPIEST? Mine is You Make my Dreams Come True by Hall and Oates. Yeah, I'm a weird 14 year old, I know…
REVIEW!
