Chapter 42
Ed's POV
Oh yes! There Will Be Tears!
I awoke early; just to stare at her flawless face. Her hair fell in soft waves along her neck and shoulders. The dark chestnut color illuminating her smooth pale skin. Her face lost its indents. When she slept, the fear, stress, and tension in her face, she lost it all when she slept. The slight pout in her plump red lips was tempting enough. I wanted more than anything to wake her up with a soft kiss; to feel them against mine. I felt her soft heartbeat, beating along with my own, her side pressed against mine.
Gently, I wrapped my arms around her waist, bringing her closer, wanting her warmth to wrap itself around. I sighed quietly and stroked the strands of chocolate from her throat. I found myself wondering if she was dreaming. And if she was, what was it about? Who was it about? Was it about her past? Stephen? Alex? Phil? Renee? Amber? Me? Me and her?
I sighed once again and glanced at the digital clock on our nightstand; 10:48. "Time to wake up…"
With great resistance, I nuzzled my face into her soft neck. She smelt like freshly cut strawberries. I smiled and gently kissed her flesh. "Bella?" I murmured softly kissing behind her ear. She snuggled even closer to my side as she woke up. I grinned and gently took her earlobe in between my teeth. I felt the shiver run through her body; I smirked and pulled her closer. Gently, I bit down on the fuzzy piece of skin. She rolled away from me, groaning and stuffing her head underneath her pillow. But I wasn't having that. "Bella..." I sang into her ear.
Bella...Bella...time to get up...Bella..." Placing soft kisses up and down her neck between each pause.
Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open. Her deep dark golden brown orbs stared back into my bright green ones. Her soft red lips pulled into a soft smile, and I was reminded why I fell in love with her, all over again.
She yawned. "Morning!" Kissing my cheek, before bouncing up and grabbing her toiletry bag. "Do you want to shower first?"
I shook my head, standing up, and stretching. She choked on a gasp. I smirked knowingly. Intentionally, I got up out of the bed and played with the hem of my shirt; lifting it up above my navel and then down.
Bella cleared her throat, grasped the door jam that led to the bathroom. I swallowed my chuckle and turned to her. "Problem love?" I asked innocently.
Bella's POV
I tried to keep the droll from seeping between my lips, that were mashed together in a hard line. The sight of his tone stomach and luscious 'V' was enough to make me want to scream, "To hell with it!" and jump him.
"Problem love?" he asked in a smug voice.
Right then I knew I had been played. I glared at him. "No. None at all." I answered then slowly turned, tossed my toiletry bag on the bathroom counter, and walked into the small bathroom. Without shutting the door behind me, I pulled my shirt off. The scars that were scattered across my torso, chest, and back were visible in the fluorescent lights above me. My black and red striped bra glared off my pale skin.
I heard the breath leave his lungs. I smirked and bent over to turn on the hot water knob. The chair that was beside the small table, scraped against the floor. I bit my lip and turned to look at him. "Problem love?" I asked slyly before slowly shutting the door.
After my shower, I pulled on a pair of white shredded skinny jeans, a dark purple tank top, and a black lace shrug. I straightened my hair while Edward was in the shower . I left my face clear, cause there was going to be tears. Definitely tears will be shed.
I smiled faintly at the girl that I saw in the mirror. She looked different from the girl that was young and innocent; before the Renee and Phil incident. Different from the girl that was bloody, bruised, and tearful; during the Renee and Phil incident. She somehow looked different from the girl who was just recovering, getting fixed, and beginning to trust again. The girl that stared back at me, was a girl who looked like she was coming to terms, and becoming determined. Determined to let all this go. To make it all disappear. To forget...and forgive.
"You ready?" Edward asked as I slid om my chucks.
I nodded and slipped my hand into his warm one. "As long as you're with me."
He smiled. "Always." and kissed the back of my hands.
Once we were inside the safe Volvo, and sheltered from the outside world, I relaxed. Letting my shoulders roll out, my toes and fingers uncurled their knuckles, my neck was moveable, and my back lost its tension, making me slouch in my seat.
Edward smiled at my visible relaxation, and entwined out fingers on the center console. "Where are we heading?" he asked once we pulled our way into on coming traffic.
I thought for a moment. I wasn't going to the cemetery yet. Not just yet. I wasn't ready to sell my good-byes to my parents. "My house?" I asked blinking back the hot tears that threatened to escape my eyelids.
I felt his fingers tightened around mine. "Hey..." I looked up at him," its going to be fine. I'll be there throughout the entire thing." A small tear fell. "I promise. I promise you, Bella." That was the first tear, the first of many that were sure to come. I nodded and slowly brought the back of his hand to my lips.
Ed's POV
She was so scared. Terrified even. We pulled up and her muscles tensed up immediately! She became ridged and stone hard. This was going to be a long day! "Bells?" She looked over at me, her face stricken. "Are you scared?" she nodded gulping deeply. "Just remember, I'm here for you, no matter what. Come on."
She didn't move till I got to the other side of the car. Her fingers clenched at the sides of her seat, her back straight against the seat! I sighed and began to unbuckle her seat belt. I could feel the muscles, clenched in her stomach, grow even more taunt as my fingers grazed it after pulling the belt away from her. As the belt rolled into place, she grew more and more pale. I began to rethink the decision of her doing this. Maybe she wasn't ready?
As the thought crossed my mind, she silently slipped out the passenger leather and sauntered toward the mailbox. "Trash, trash," she muttered flipping through the uneven collage of white, orange, blue, and brown paper. "Bill, trash, bill, bill, trash, trash-oh look at that!- more trash!" I bit the inside of the cheek, keeping the snickers at bay. "And...Mrs. Dwyer and HRS..." she dropped everything else but the two envelopes, the others fluttered to the ground; littering their green lawn with multicolored scraps of trash.
"Mrs. Dwyer? Meaning who?" I asked curiously, maybe just to get her speaking so I could know how she was taking it. Her eyes were telling me nothing. Neither was her body language.
"Phils' mother. She's the one that told me that our family isn't the first that Phil had screwed with." She sighed and looked up at me as if this Mrs. Dwyer had said something that concerned me.
"Do you want to read it now or do you want to go through the house first?" I asked knowing if this was going to go as I thought it was; very bad and frightening. Then she was going to need something to cheer her up, maybe the letter from Mrs. Dwyer would do it.
"The house. Put these in the car would you, please?" She asked passing them to me.
B's POV
I watched his back as he walked to the Volvo. Focused on the shirt, the way it 's fabric strained against the muscles in his shoulder blades and back. I focused on that, instead of looking at the haunting memories that loomed around me. I knew this wasn't going to be an easy task, but I remembered the way Amber looked yesterday; when she strolled into the room without a care. The way she wrapped her arms around Edward so recklessly! I'd missed that about myself. I hoped this worked on me as well as it did on Amber.
I jumped five feet in the air when a hand clamped down on my shoulder. The scream got stuck in my throat! I clenched my eyes shut and waited.
"Um...excuse me?" a female voice asked gently. "Excuse me? Miss?"
I peeked one eye open and glanced to my side. A young woman, about 23, stood with a sleeping infant in her arms. Her dark brown eyes showed confusion and curiosity.
I sighed when I felt Edward's hand slipped into mine. "Can we help you?" He asked glaring at the offending hand on my shoulder. I guess she saw the look, understood, and took her hand away, I sighed gratefully and nearly collapsed where I stood.
The young woman cleared her throat, readjusted the sleeping little one on her hip and spoke with a strong voice. "Actually, I was hoping I could help you. I own this house and the property you are standing on. Do...do I know you? Or where you familiar with the family that use to live here?"
I looked at her appalled. " Y-you live here?" she nodded and the last of my hope fell to my legs. "Oh God!" I felt my eyes start to water, my only chance to redeem my future and I'm too late! I hid my face into Edward's chest; feeling more lost and alone than I had in a very long time.
The young woman noticed my distress and invited us in for some coffee or something to cool our throats in the heat of the day. We hesitantly obliged; a cool drink sounded great about now.
"So...I'm guessing you that you were hoping that the last owners were still here?" She spoke gently laying her keys on the foyer table.
I didn't answer. I wasn't being rude. I just couldn't. Images flashed through my mind. The wedding reception; how beautiful my mother looked in her wedding gown, and how happy she looked. Not to mentioned how exhausted I was that I didn't even notice that every time I was near them or walked toward them, Phil was ogling my ass! The times I'd run out of the house with Phil on my heels, threatening my life. Threatening to kill my friends and mother! I'd believe him and come back to the house. He's tell me how stupid I was. Then another of Renee, chasing me out the front door with a knife. She'd scream, "You rotten bitch! Don't you ever come back! Or I'll skin you alive!"
Eventually, she'd call or text me, begging me to come home and make them dinner. I'd come back from the park or the high or middle school gym, and get beat for taking so long!
"Bella? Bella?" Edward called nudging me softly in my side with his elbow.
"Huh?" I jerked back into the present. "What?" I looked at the woman, she looked and me with the previous curiosity, confusion, then I was confused to see a new emotion, amusement? "I'm sorry what did you say?" She smiled kindly and asked her question again. I blushed. "Um...yeah sorta." I looked down at my shoes embarrassed.
"Oh! Where are my manners? My name is Marianne Brine. And yours are?" She inquired walking us toward the kitchen.
"Oh...I'm Bella Swan and this is my friend, Edward Cullen," I pointed to a still concerned looking Edward.
"Its very nice to meet you both." She said kindly before shifting the baby again on her hip. "If you'll excuse me, I ought to be getting Gracie here to her crib." With that, she cautiously walked down the hall and up the stairs.
Edward turned to me when he was a hundred percent sure, she was out of hearing range. "Are you okay?" he asked, his hands framing my face carefully. His eyes roaming my face sweetly and in a worrying fashion. "What did you see? What did you relive? Something horrible?"
I smiled to ease his tension. "Don't worry so much! You're going to be gray in the hair by time you turn twenty! I'm fine. Just a few 'learning' flashes. I'll be f-fine." I stuttered out the last word, as my eyes roamed over the spotless kitchen.
More images, and 'videos' played before my eyes. I saw Phil pull a newly heated frying pan off the stove, pull my shirt above my chest, and slam it into my stomach over and over again.
I chocked on a new watery gasp as another image ran through my mind. Renee hollered in my face about something. I tried to reason with her! That rewarded me with a newly sharpened knife stabbed between my shoulder and collar bone. I felt my fingers pull the material of the shrug pull away from the spot, and trace the white thick scar.
I felt something warm and soft rub over where my fingers had traced. Hot air came over that part of my shoulder and then, the warm, soft thing rubbed over my scar again.
I sighed before trailing my eyes over to the dining room. The large cherry oak wood held me on one end; no plate or drink. Phil and Renee on the opposite; their plates full of the meal I had just finished, and wine and beer littered the middle of their area. I was starving and dieing of thirst; I hadn't had anything to eat in four days time and hadn't had anything to drink since the morning before. It was a Saturday night! I didn't have school till another twenty-four hours! I wouldn't eat or drink for another twenty-nine hours! My eyes teared up at the thought. Quickly, I pushed them back, praying, begging, that they hadn't seen. Knowing my luck they did.
Next thing I know, I'm covered in food, chunks of glass, blood, and their wine and liquor. As the wine and beer seeped into the deep gashes and slices, I bit my lips and tongue; muffling my screams in pain and misery. Then Phil walked over, grabbed a certain chunk of glass and began a slow jagged pull down my back to my hip, twice. Leaving the X that haunted me forever.
I gasped as I came back. Edward held me in his chest as I cried out my terror. Marianne was just setting our cups in front of us. "Are you okay, dear?" she seemed truly concerned for my health.
I nodded into Edward's chest trying my hardest to sober up enough to talk to this woman. After a few minutes, I gathered my senses and simply sipped the ice tea she sat in front of me. I cleared my throat. "Thank you. Can I asked you a question?" Marianne shrugged pouring herself a large cup of coffee. "What do you know of the family that use to live here?" I was hoping she didn't know anything, so I wouldn't have to explain why I had to look around her house with a horror-stricken face.
"I know that their was a mother a father and a young teen daughter. I know their last name was Dwyer. I know that their was a sudden leave because everything was left here. A few scraps of clothing was missing from the teens closet but that's it." She paused, taking a sip of her beverage. Her dark brown eyes penetrating mine, and making me think twice about asking what she knew about my old house. "I also know that their was abuse in this family."
I chocked on my tea, inhaling deeply. "H-how do you figure?" I asked thinking of the times I'd left something that would scream abuse.
"My husband works in forensics," she said calmly still sipping at her coffee . "He and I found traces of blood in the girl's bathroom, on her bed, in her closet, on the stairs. All the doors had dried blood hand prints. In the master bedroom, we found crusted blood on metal chains, leather whips and other things that I hate to recite to you. Plus, in front of the girls' closet door, nail scratches are evidently engraved in the wood. More than likely she was dragged against her will and she was clawing to get away."
I felt Edward tighten his back. Felt his eyes on me. Felt his questioning stare. I turned to look at him. 'What?' I mouthed quietly. 'Chains?' he asked looking as he had been smacked hard in the face by one of those chains. 'Later...' I mouthed back quickly.
I thought I had cleaned all the blood up? Didn't they make me clean it so freaking clean then beat me with them chains again? I thought dumbfounded."That makes no sense. I was supposed to clean up every trace of evidence of what was going on!" I said unknowingly out loud.
"Why would you clean up the evidence?" she asked looking confused.
Shit! I spoke aloud! I thought and blushed deeply. "I...um...I use to live here. With that woman and that man" I sighed as she gasped. I looked down at the tea, not wanting her pitiful looks. "Phil was my step-dad. Renee was my mother. After she married him, they turned on me! Making me their slave, their punching bag, and...and making me live through it all for their own pleasure."
I felt Edward's hand claps on to my knee and rub it. Softly letting me know he was there for me. I smiled and placed my hand on top of his.
"I had a feeling when we first moved in, that I shouldn't change your room around. My husband thought I was crazy, but we didn't touch it! All your clothes are still there. um...everything that was in your parents room and all the other rooms that we didn't, you know, keep in the house, are in the storage garages a few miles down the street. If you want I can dig up the key and the lock combination, while you look around."
I nodded grateful to her understandable attitude. "Thank you, so very much. I'm just trying to heal. To get rid of the past." The tears pooled my eyes lids, and I tried my hardest to keep them back.
"Okay, so I'm sure you know where everything is. You free to look around." She took her cup as she left the room. "Oh and before I forget!" she called turning to look at me. "The basement!" she laughed as I blushed. "I love it! Best dance floor I've ever been on!" She smiled. "If you need me. I'll be in the office room, you know the one right after-"
"The stairs and before the guest bathroom! I know which one!" I interrupted her smiling softly. She did as well and left without another word. I turned to Edward, ready to say something crucial, but was cut off when I saw the moisture in his eyes. "What?" I asked cupping his cheek.
"Chains? Whips? Blood caked on them? What happened to you, Bella?" he asked upset in the wildest fashion I've seen him in. "You never let me in on that part."
"I'm sorry!" I said softly. "I didn't want you to know how bad off I was. People would ask how I can act the way I do after knowing of all the shit I've been through. I'd be a fake. I choose to ignore the details. Just the crucial facts. Abused. Emotionally. Physically. Mentally. Sexually." I swallowed leaning my brow against his. "Are still with me?"
"I'd be no where else." He breathed kissing my forehead, I shivered as I recognized the soft and warm texture of his lips. He had kissed me scar when I was in a flash attack! I thought giddily. He sighed and entwined our fingers. "You ready?" he asked placing our empty cups in the sink.
I shrugged, then nodded, pulling him towards the living area. "If I go to scream, slap me." I said dead serious.
"WHAT?" he asked incredulously stopping in his tracks and making me stop at his side.
"So I don't wake little Gracie! Or disturb Marianne." I said coming to the entrance to the living room. I smiled softly at the sweet, mother-daughter moments Renee and I had shared before Phil. "We were so happy!"
I saw Tina and Ethan curled on the recliner, and Robin and Ray entangled together on the love seat, and Adam and Emma sleeping on the large couch. All in love with one another, all happily together. I looked over at Edward in wonder. Would we ever look that happy? Was Anne Dwyer just pulling my leg when she said I would find my true one? I wondered to myself before looking back at the room.
The scene changed. I watched from the small white leather recliner, as Renee waved over her shoulder, murmuring a soft "I'll be back late tonight." and left. No "I love you!" or "Goodnight, Bella!" I was always left behind as she went on dates with random guys. Then there was only one guy she was seeing; Phillip Dwyer.
The scene changed again. Alex and I before he turned on me. When he was all I had, other than Amber. We were on the love seat, my feet propped up on the coffee table, my arm around his waist, and my head on his chest. He had his hand running through the strands of my hair as he slowly recited my favorite scene from Romeo and Juliet. I smiled into his chest and traced three words into his stomach. His voice trailed off and I felt his finger underneath my chin. "Bella..." he whispered, his lips grazing mine softly," I love you too."
The scene, once again, changed. I was a bit skinnier and the bruises were evident on the skin of my neck. I was yelling at Alex. Hot tears flashed down my face. "Do you even care what I have to go through! Do you!" I sobbed yanking up my shirt and showing him the bruises, scars, scabs, and obvious broken bones. "Do you have any idea what its like? At all? Any? Huh?" That's when his hand flashed out, and hit me square in the face. I gaped as hurt tears leaked out and mixed with the angered ones. "Get out! Get out of my living room. Get out of my house. Get and STAY out of my LIFE!" I screamed, trying to not show my hurt through my tear thick voice.
The scene changed once more. I was sitting alone on the long couch. Homework piled beside me. Phil and Renee were asleep upstairs in their room. I had my I-Pod plugged in my ears, just so I could have an excuse to why I couldn't hear them request for something. With my legs tucked underneath me, I pulled another worksheet from the pile. A few minutes later, I felt a warm hand creep up my legs. Phil had his hand on my shin, his lips moving; but I couldn't hear what he was saying. I pulled my head phones off. "What was that?" his eyes narrowed. "I love your legs. So smooth and soft and long. Leading up to that tight unused ass of yours." His hand moved to my calf. "Way longer than your mothers." His hands moved to my thigh. "What do you think? You, me, your room, for ten minutes?" his hand was completely underneath my shorts, playing, toying with my boxer shorts.
"N-no! Hell no! You're with my mother! Unfortunately, married to her! You're supposedly my step-dad. I hate you! You're an asshole! And, apparently, a fucking pervert all at the same time!" That's when my nose collided with the coffee table, shattering the glass and shattering the light in my vision.
I gasped as I came back to the present. Edward was kneeling beside me, my arms wrapped around my knees. "W-what happened?" I asked breathing deeply.
"You and I walked inside the living room and you started shaking. Started off by saying that you missed the times with your mom. Then something about Alex." Seeing the look in his, I could see that I had said that I loved him. "Then you were screaming about not understanding. Then telling someone to go the hell away for good. Lastly, I would think you were calling Phil an asshole and a fucking pervert and not me!" Gently, his fingers curled around my chin, his deep eyes probing mine. "Are you okay?" he asked giving me the option to quit and go home, even if it was just for the day.
"I'm fine. I mean I've got to be. Right?" I didn't want to go home still broken. I wanted to be able to see my father be proud of me. To prove Renee and Phil that they couldn't break me. Prove that, even though it may have looked like it and felt like it, they didn't break a damn thing in me. I wasn't giving up. I wasn't giving them that satisfaction. I wasn't giving in. I shook my head. "No. Let's continue." I slowly got up, letting the room tilt back to normal. Edward slipped his fingers into mine. "Lets go upstairs."
Holy hell! Please don't kill me! I am so so so so so sorry! This is what happened...I was babysitting some little three year old girl, she liked my laptop cord, she chewed on it while I was cooking her some dinner. That night after I drove her back to her parents place, I got on to upload this, it wouldn't come on! Damn little biter chewed on the cord till it snapped in half.
So I had to wait til I got payed three more times, and since its summer everyone's either working or everyone has left the damn state, it took way longer than I wished it had! But if your still loyal to Unexpected, I have a brand new cord and a full folder of paper that needs to be typed. I'll be updating many times for now on. I sorta have a deadline. I got to finish before August 20th. So lets hope I can do it!
