Wow, a reviewer told me my…told me my-she told me my story is better than…than-is better than Twilight! Okay, that, along with being a successful, famous author one day, has to be one of the highest complements I've ever gotten. Thank you, gorgus818 for that. And .Poisoned Scarlet., it wasn't a stupid review; it was long and made me smile. :) Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. You guys are the best readers from around the world! (USA, New Zealand, Australia, England…is there anyone from Canada or somewhere else? Let me know!) This chapter is for all of you, and Ale – the best sister/ (she's really my friend but it feels like we're related)/friend I could ever ask for – and Bernie – an amazing friend who reviews, but her computer broke. I still love you! And for the best review form the last chapter: SimoneCullen-x, a reader who made me feel extraordinary. :) Thank you!
Quotes from friends used in this chapter:
Whoa, you and Omar…who'da think? – Sofia
Missing Piece of the Puzzle
Chapter 21: Old Friends
B.P.O.V.
"Hurry!" I rushed, sitting impatiently.
"Bella," Edward's voice was showered with calmness, but obviously shampooed with annoyance. "I'm going 90 miles an hour." He was practically conditioned with irritation, too. "That's 40 miles over the speed limit."
My finger pointed the speed meter on his car. "But you always go 50 miles over the limit! Why ease up now?"
Edward scoffed. "You're always saying I drive like a lunatic – endangering your life – but now you want me to raise you chances of an accident?"
I rolled my eyes, clearly unwanting his side of defense. "Please, you're always the one that's like, 'Bella, please, I've never gotten a ticket in my life.'" I tried to mimic his deeper voice. "'Bella, please, I know what I'm doing.' 'Bella, please, give me a little trust.' 'Bella, please, humor me.' 'Bella, please-"
"Do I really say Bella, please, that much?" Edward asked, horror glowing off his face.
I ignored him and shifted in my seat so that my body was towards him. "What I meant is that you're always driving at an incredibly insane speed every day, why not now?"
Edward's foot barely pressed down on the gas pedal. A light jolt carried the car a bit faster. "Better?" He looked at me.
I gazed at the speed meter and saw we only gained five miles. "Edward," I groaned and threw my head back. "Can you please, just this once, go faster than your usual rate?"
I heard his harmonious voice give in. "Fine," His foot stomped on the pedal, and we were going at 110 miles an hour.
My head flat against the head rest, I smiled triumphal. "Thank you," I sang.
Edward shook his head. "I must be crazy." He muttered.
"But we already knew that." I said casually. Edward glared at me playfully before returning his attention to the road.
I bit my lip as we raced through numerous cars and multiple buildings, hoping he wouldn't get a ticket. Edward noticed my anguished expression and reached for my hand. His enveloped mine completely, perfectly. "Don't worry; cops don't come around here that often." He verified.
"Keep your eyes on the road!" I demanded. He let go of my hand – sadly – and focused on getting to the hospital, where Sarah's at.
"Why did she want you to go? Sarah, I mean." Edward questioned, his eyebrows narrowing in thought.
I shrugged and wished we could get there sooner. "I don't know. All she said was that she wanted to see me. She wouldn't tell me anything else," a heavy sigh coming out of my lips as I finished my statement.
Edward sucked both of his lips in his mouth, seeming to think hard on a subject. This time, I grabbed his hand in mine. "Edward?"
He released his lips and brought our entwined – is this considered holding hands? – hands to my lap. "What are you thinking about?"
Edward smiled sheepishly. "Aren't I usually the one who asks you that?"
"You didn't answer my question." I retorted.
He sighed. "Well, I've been wanting to introduce you to someone at the hospital. She's…she's kind of special to me, and, I just want you to meet her." He smiled, genuinely elated. "I know you'll love her, too."
As he spoke, I randomly traced the figure of his fingers with my thumb. Trying to shoo away the cloud of sadness hovering over my head, I nodded. With my head lowered, looking at our mashed hands, I bit my lip again. I let go of a shaky breath and closed my eyes, wanting to dry my new tears.
She's…she's kind of special to me, and, I just want you to meet her. I know you'll love her, too. Edward wanted me to meet a girl – a nurse, no doubt – who's probably his girlfriend, or maybe someone he likes. The possibilities could be endless, but they all followed the path that ended to one conclusion at the end of the road: he wanted me to meet a girl he loves.
I know you'll love her, too. That one, last word, changed it all. Too; as in, I do, so you'll, as well.
Why did it come as such a shock to me? I've always known in the past Edward's with older, more mature – most likely, someone who doesn't need a psychologist – girls than me. It's only natural for him to feel that way for them, and not me. It's not like we ever had anything…anything that could be real; last long. Though, in the back of my head, where dreams and desires run free, I thought we did.
I'm the crazy one.
It's tyrannical, really, thinking he'd give up on all the women on Earth for me. Okay, that's exaggerating the truth, but it's honest. I know he wouldn't really give up on other attractive girls for me. In fact, I don't think anyone from the male species could; with the exception of Emmett and Jasper, of course. Those two are so whipped – so passionately in love. And knowing Jasper made Alice the person she is now is…it's the evidence of his kindness and adoration towards, and for, her.
I tried to forget – dismiss, disremember, obliterate – the girl Edward's probably crazy about, and fixate on the fact I had no idea how, or when, Emmett and Rosalie met.
"Edward, could you, maybe, slow down?" I requested nervously.
His head snapped back, surprised, but a glittering smile played on his lips. "Sure; how slow?"
"Oh, just go with the regular speed limit."
His foot slipped from the gas pedal and my head made contact with head rest dramatically. The unmoving, frozen car started up again. I released Edward's hand rub my throbbing head.
"Sorry," Edward apologized, gaining another hand on the steering wheel. "But first you tell me to go 110 miles an hour, and then you say to follow the 50 miles an hour speed limit?" He asked incredulously.
I stopped soothing the back of my head and shrugged. "I just wanted to ask you something."
Carefully, fluently, his foot eased off the pedal and our speed steadily decreased. "Okay…go for it."
I sat up straight and looked out my window. What was once a blur of movement outside, was now a slow passing of building and trees. "It's about Rosalie and Emmett." I informed him. "How did they meet? When did they fall in love?"
After a moment of silence, I turned back to Edward. He was radiating my smile, and he was shaking his head. "I never knew you were much of the romantic story type." Edward confirmed, still grinning.
A blush bloomed to life in my cheeks as I stared at his perfection expectantly. I never thought of myself as the romantic story type, either. "Rose and Emmett are an exception."
Edward smiled happily and nodded. "So, from the beginning, or should I skip to the juicy present they're in now?" He joked.
I smiled, glad he wasn't disturbed by my curiosity, and answered, "From the beginning…please."
Edward took a dramatically long breath and began telling my Teddy Bear's love story. "Well, you know how I told you Jasper and I go way back – with the baseball, and all? And how Rose and him moved here from Texas starting high school year? They helped Alice with her…problem."
I nodded, reminiscing Alice's story. "I remember."
He grinned. "Luckily, their story is much happier, and easier for me to tell." Edward paused quickly at a stop sign before continuing to drive at his 'slow pace'.
"Jasper and I met Emmett by football. Me and Jazz, we tried out for the team when we were sophomores. At our first practice for try outs, to prepare us and show us how to play correctly, Coach introduced us to Emmett. He was smaller than he is now, but just as intimidating; he was the biggest one there. Actually," Edward laughed lightly. "I thought he was another coach. Coach told us Emmett was a sophomore, but played varsity football when he was a freshman. He was there to 'mentor' us."
Edward smiled and shook his head. "The big goon scared half the boys out of their wits! Most ran off saying their grades weren't good enough…which was probably true." I smiled jubilantly, picturing a very big, young, Emmett scaring guys who were older. "Emmett was a very good student coach, or assistant coach, if you want to call it. He helped us out a lot. He knew how to get in our heads and teach us new things in different ways our coach didn't. Not only that, but he had a hell of a brain. He could make up a game plan within seconds by knowing the distance of the field, the weight of each team member, and who knows what else. Jasper and I ended up getting tutoring from Emmett for math. We were hopeless and he was our beacon of light to stay on the team. After that Jazz, Em and I were good buddies. Jasper and I got so good, we made varsity. After training, studying, having classes and hanging out with Emmett, the three of us became best pals."
"Remember that I told you Rosalie's mom was upset because Rose was the one behind the camera – knowing fashion around the world and keeping up with the latest…whatever there is in clothes – and not in front of the camera, being a model?" He continued without me answering. "Back then, Rose's mom made her, dragged her – quite literally – to cheer leading tryouts. Rosalie hated it with all her life, but she did it to make her mom happy. Jasper and Rosalie's parents got divorced when they were finishing up middle school – that's why they moved here. Rose went easy on her mom and tried out. Of course Rose made the team without even trying. She hated the uniform and the cheering with so much passion…" Edward laughed again and shook his head once more.
"When the varsity team practiced, so did the cheerleaders. That's how Emmett and Rose met. He hit on her and, since she was in a bad mood just being there, Rose slapped him."
I laughed.
My sides hurt, but…I couldn't stop. Everything was falling into place in my mind. Emmett with the padding on, Rose with short shorts and pom-poms while an annoyed look was plastered on her pretty face. Then, just when she couldn't take anything any longer, Emmett goes and tries to 'sweet talk' her. And, wham!, she slaps him like no tomorrow. Wow, and with that arm she has…wow.
Edward grinned lively at me, pleased this was an upbeat story. "Shall I continue, or do you want to laugh at Emmett some more?"
I muffled my giggles by shutting my mouth closed. I pretending to zip my mouth with a faux key and tossed it to the back.
Edward chuckled and proceeded. "After that, Rosalie hated Emmett as much as she hated cheer leading. Emmett never had a girl stand up to him like that, so at every game, he would try to be a gentleman to her. Sometimes, I would overhear him try to tell jokes to her…she didn't fine them very amusing. Emmett wanted to get to know Rose so bad; he would spend the night with Jasper just to sneak up to her bedroom. One night, when all three of us were there and Alice was out of town with my mom at another hospital to donate some stuff, Emmett sneaked up to Rosalie's room. I remember him telling me how he loved watching her sleep. I never understood why he enjoyed that night. I mean, seriously, all she did was sleep. But now…" Edward's smile dropped and he cautiously looked over to my position. "But know I understand where he's coming from."
There was a silence.
I couldn't even gather my thoughts to his words. Before anything made sense to me, Edward abided. "So," He looked back at the pavement. "Emmett was practically Rose's personal stalker. Without realizing it himself, he fell for her. Jasper didn't have anything against it since he knew Emmett was a good guy; at times, Jazz would even say good things about Emmett in front of Rose to help her like him. Though…we might as well've told her he was watching her sleep. Rosalie goes off with first impressions and it takes a lot to change them. Emmett knew Rosalie hated him, but he didn't care. Junior year rolled by and Emmett had accepted that fact. He left her alone, stopped watching her sleep, stopped sending her notes, and kept his distance. Rose never hung out with us if Em was coming along. Poor guy, he was heart broken, but moved on….Technically, he never moved on, but acquired to the fact Rose would never love him back."
"It was Valentines Day, I believe, when Rose ran into the cafeteria crying. Alice had been zoning out all day and we finally knew why. She, Jasper, Em and I were already seated as she made her grand entrance. Unfortunately, so was every one else in school. A guy she was going out with, James, rushed into the building after her. He grabbed her by the arm and said something harshly into her ear. She shouted and tried to pull away. Emmett immediately got up and walked to Rose. Basically, he was her savior. Long story short, Emmett beat up James and got suspended. Em got a black eye, bleeding lip, and spent the rest of the day with the nurse. Rosalie stayed with him, but she claimed she had it under control. Emmett tried to talk to Rose about breaking up with James, but then Rosalie got mad and yelled at him, shouting he shouldn't tell her what to do."
"Alice, Jasper and I planned something after that. We invited Emmett and Rose – it was Emmett's first time – to play ball with us. They gladly agreed but soon all hell broke out when they saw each other. Jasper and I picked teams, purposely getting both of them to play together. Without knowing it, they were cheering for each other, encouraging. When Jazz and I…honored Em with his personal baseball cap, Rosalie hugged him. And – this is going to sound so cheesy, so corny – but they she looked up at him, arms still around his huge waist, looked deeply into each others eyes, and they kissed. The rest, as they say, is history." Edward beamed ecstatically at me.
I was still in a daze; in another world where they went to school in Port Angeles years ago. Where the stars came out in daylight; where thorns appear on Dandelions; where rain falls in the desert; where the sun stops heating; where birds stop chirping; where true love, even for those who always wanted it but never got it, comes true.
"Ready to go?" Edward delayed my thoughts.
Frozen from a love story that belongs to my Teddy Bear, I nodded. When I looked out the window, I saw we were outside of the hospital. "Oh," I shook my head to clear my thoughts and reached for my seatbelt.
Just as I was about to open my door, it flung open. Edward's hand loomed from thin air. I looked up and smiled back at his angelic face. Taking his hand, we quietly walked to the hospital.
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"Sarah…uh," Edward looked at me.
I stopped visualizing Rose and Emmett's first kiss and snapped my head up. "What? Oh, Johnson."
"The room for Sarah Johnson, please." Edward asked politely, a smiled finishing off his gorgeous face.
The receptionist – who was young with bold glasses, red, curled hair, and a smile that showed she was dazzled – shook her head. "What?" She asked light-headedly, the goofy grin still attached to her swooned face.
Edward licked his lips – this time I my heart thumped along side with the receptionists. "Can you please advise us to where Sarah Johnson is staying at?"
"Oh," She giggled nervously as she fumbled with her computer. Occasionally, her eyes would dart back and forth from the screen to Edward's posture. "Third floor, room 347. That way." Her head rested on her fist as the other pointed east.
"Thank you," Edward nodded once, making his wind-blown hair bounce. "Do you know if my dad's with her?"
The receptionist shook her head, which was still resting on her hand. Dreamily, and probably what she thought was seductively, she questioned, "Who's your daddy?"
I bellowed with a hard laugh. The lunatic, mad, maniacal configuration that just arose was too much for me. My laugh hollowed throughout the halls, echoing off every wall. Edward snorted but lowered hid head, smuggling his amused face from the girl. I clutched my sides, feeling upper body lowering to the ground; something you do when you're laughing as impenetrable as I am. Edward, with a smile glimmering off his face, playfully and gently pushed my head back, making my body filled with hysteria back away from the receptionist desk.
"Dr. Carlisle Cullen." Edward reported to her, humor dense in his amazing green eyes, and a round of laughter making its way to his shaking body. But he didn't let it come out through his lips, which he was biting down on.
The receptionist, clearly unaware I was laughing at her, gasped – a manicured hand dramatically over her glossy lips. "Dr. Dreamy Cullen? Dr. Handsome Cullen? Dr. Macho Cullen? Dr. Sex God Cu-"
"Yes! Yes, that Dr. Cullen." Edward discontinued her analysis quickly. His eyes were now revolted by the thought of people calling his father a Sex God.
But his face!
That made me fall onto my knees, my face bright red, with laughter.
The girl shrugged and clicked her mouse that was on a navy blue pad. "I don't know. Maybe." She shrugged.
Edward backed away, "Thank you", escaping his lips and reached down to get me. My jelly-like body was being carried up and in Edward's embrace. Once I had tranquility, I noted he was walking.
"Where-where…" I breathed, a small laugh liberating from my mouth. I swallowed it back. "Where are we going, again?"
"We're on the third floor now-" I don't remember taking an elevator "-so we're going to room 347." Edward said, aloof painting his voice.
I giggled. "Oh, right."
"Are you able to walk, or should I continue carrying you?" Edward asked, looking straight ahead.
"Oh, come on," I smiled, trying to cheer up his dull mood. "You know what happened back there was hilarious."
"Yes, but having to hear your dad is being called a Sex God is really disturbing."
I laughed joyfully once more. "Okay, okay, you have a point." I would never give in so quickly without my own share of humor. "You can put me down now, Sex God Jr."
Edward's head automatically snapped to me, his eyes tightening and eyebrows narrowing at my trying-to-look-innocent face. "You're not as funny as you think you are." He remarked, but settled my feet to the tile ground.
I chuckled quietly and walked ahead. "This coming from the son of a Sex God."
"You know what!" Edward playfully grabbed me by the waist from behind and lifted me into the air abruptly. I squealed and he laughed loudly. My eyes tight shut, a huge smile breaking my face, I slapped his arms that were over my torso.
"Put me down!" I ordered giggling.
"What's the magic word?"
"Please!" I begged.
"Nope, that's not it." He chuckled.
I racked through my brain to find another magic word, but my laughter disturbed the process. "I love you!" I shouted, hoping it was the right answer.
Edward's gleeful laughs ended and he stayed still, keeping me off the ground. "What?" He asked quietly.
"I love you…is that the magic word?" I questioned, wondering what made him change to sudden seriousness.
"Oh," Edward sounded truly surprised…and a bit…disappointed…? "No, no – that's not it. Abracadabra." He placed me easily on my feet and stalked off.
I was a statue, watching him leave. "Edward!" I raced after him, catching up after a short jog. "Edward, what's wrong? Did I say something?"
His face was hard as he took long strides. "You know, Bella, next time let's just go with please." Edward's voice broke at the end.
My eyebrows tied, I nodded, wanting to see his famous smile again. My smile.
He stiffly stopped in front of a door, a cubby with folders to the side of it. "Room 347. After you." Edward's strained eyes focused on the floor as his hand gestured the door handle.
Confused, I nodded and knocked. "Sarah?" I asked through the blue door.
No answer.
I pressed my ear against the cold door. Surprised, I stepped back. "There's someone else in there. A boy." I told Edward.
He got over whatever was bothering him and furrowed his eyebrows. "A boy?" I nodded.
Both of us held our ears against the door and heard two things coming from the other side – a girl, Sarah, giggling and a boy chuckling. "I'll get the door," said the boy's voice. It sounded awfully familiar.
Edward and I staggered back as the door jammed open. It was Omar. What's he…?
"Oh! Hi, Bella and…" His smile dropped as he cautiously looked at Edward's narrowed face. "Hi-hi Mr. Cullen, sir."
Edward grunted.
"Hey, Omar." I said wearily. "Umm, is Sarah in there?" I tried to pop my head into the room.
Omar looked back at me. "Oh, yeah, she's in there." He smiled widely. "Actually, we were just waiting for you to get here. I'm out." He walked back in and whispered something into Sarah's ear.
She giggled, "Okay," He smiled down at her brightly and kissed the top of her head. My eyed widened, shocked.
Omar turned and walked out. Smiling at me and giving a quick nod to Edward.
Sarah, who was wearing the same hospital gown I once wore and sitting up under the thin white covers, blushed and smiled sheepishly. Edward and I exchanged a confused look and walked in at the same time.
"So," I stopped in front of her bed as Edward closed the door with a satisfying click. "You and Omar…who'da think?"
She gave me a tight-lipped grin. "You and Mr. Cullen…who'da think?" My cheeks lit into flames, and Sarah looked back at Edward, who was frozen at my side. "Hello, Mr. Cullen."
"Uh…" Edward's eyes locked onto her, not knowing what to say.
Sarah smiled happily. "Don't worry, I won't tell." She promised.
Edward's expression loosed into a casual smile. "Thanks. And…" He grinned at me then back at her. "Fair enough."
Sarah laughed. "So Bella, when were you gonna tell me about your new beau?"
My eye bulged and I walked to sit at the edge of her bed. "First, he's not my boyfriend." I turned to Edward. He sat down on a chair at the other side of the room and winked.
Sarah snorted. "Right. Bella, don't worry, I won't tell – besides, you're 18, no longer a minor."
"That's what Emmett said." Edward muttered to himself.
"Emmett?" Sarah asked, her head cocked to the side and her eyes showed demoralization of the unknown name.
I shook my head. "A friend." Time to change the subject. "So how you feeling?"
She waved her hand in the air, dismissing the question, and rolled her dark brown eyes. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Doctor Cullen said I'll be healed in no time. And I trust Dr. Cullen…" She beamed.
Edward made a disgusted noise in the back of his mouth. "Why does every female on Earth have to hit or get the hots for my dad?" He demanded theoretically.
Sarah blushed a dark red. "He's your dad?" 'Unbelievable' dripped her voice.
Edward nodded. "Oh," Sarah giggled nervously and gazed at her fingers.
"Did he bandage you up?" I asked, switching things around.
She nodded and bit her lip. I smiled. "Yeah, he did that to me, too. My legs and thighs." I sighed.
Sarah grimaced. "If my shoulder burns I can't imagine how much it stung you."
I nodded, my eyes probably agreeing with her. She laughed and looked between me and Edward. "So...is there a back story with you guys?"
Edward answered that for me. "What about you and him?" He nodded to the door. Omar.
I smiled at Edward, grateful, and raised an eyebrow at Sarah. She seemed surprised by Edward's reaction to her question. Honestly, that's Edward's normal behavior.
"I guess no one knows the famous Mr. Cullen better than you, eh, Bella?" She grinned.
Rolling my eyes, I focused back on her and Omar. "Well, come on, you and Omar?"
She sighed…merrily. "Well, he told me he was dancing with you at Halloween. Omar said he only did that to get info from you about me. And, well, I've always had the craziest crush on him, and-"
"Why didn't you tell me?" I screamed, excited she has someone to take care of her. She deserves the best.
Sarah giggled. "Can I tell my story? So, as I was saying, when he found out about me getting shot, he rushed-" A knock came from the door.
Edward rose fluently and opened the door. Nurse Bernie was smiling. "Hey, Edward!" She gave him a one armed hug, holding towels with her other.
"Bella!" She squealed. I got up and slammed into her, wrapping my arms around her tiny waist.
We pulled away and she wiggled her fingers at Sarah. "Sorry you two, but I need to help Sarah with her bath." I shuddered at the memory.
Edward and Nurse Bernie laughed.
"I'll see you later…?" Sarah asked.
I nodded. Edward placed his hand on my lower back and led us to the door. He grabbed me by the hand and started jogging. "Where are we going?" I asked.
He smiled blissfully at me. "You'll see."
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"And this-" He opened the door. We were on the children's section of the hospital. "-is Kelsey's room."
Wrinkling my eyebrows, I looked up at him. Kelsey – is that the girl he loves? Why would she need a room?
Holding my hand, Edward walked in. It was vacant. There were drawings of a little girl with something green on her head holding hands with an older woman covering the wall above the bed that was against the right wall. "What's this?"
There was an old nurse making the bed. She smiled and continued fixing the sheets.
"This-" Edward pointed to the little girl in the drawings. "-is Kelsey. And that's her mom. And that's me." He said proudly, pointing to another picture with the green thing in a guy's hand.
"She's this little girl." He chuckled sadly. "Poor thing, she probably moved into another room – that happens a lot with kids who have cancer."
"Cancer?" I repeated.
"Excuse me," Edward called to the elderly nurse, who looked up. "Where's Kelsey? She was the patient who stayed here."
The lady sighed. "She's gone."
Edward smiled. "I know. Do you think you can tell us which room they switched her to?"
"She left."
"She got better?" Edward shouted, a huge smile on his glorious face. He laughed. "This is so great. Bella, we have to find her! I'm so happy she got better." Edward's eyes were glowing.
The nurse smiled and picked up the old sheets from the floor. "She past away last night."
Long chapter, I hope you like it. Reviews make chapters longer!
Love, Mayface!
