wow! i can't believe the respone the last chapter got - thank you guys, your reviews make it all worth while. :]
okay so, i'm not entirely happy about this chapter so the next chapter could go either way.. little cliffy for you all. ;]
i'm still trying to reply to everyone's reviews so if i haven't replied to yours yet, i'm sorry & i'll be getting onto it right away. :]
without much further ado.. chapter eleven.
Edward's POV.
"Why would you do something like that to Bella?" Esme asked, staring at me as if I suddenly become some disgusting creature.
"I don't know." I replied, glaring at the floor. Thank you so much Alice, this is possibly one of the worst ideas you have ever had.
"Wait." Alice gasped, her eyes clouding over slightly. My head snapped up as everyone turned to watch her, gripping onto Jasper's arm, staring out into the forest.
"Well, she's told him." she finally spoke, patting Jasper's forearm as she walked towards Esme, without so much as glancing at me. Have I become invisible now? She spun on her heel, leaning back against the wall and for one second I was absolutely sure she'd become a mind reader.
"I couldn't see everything, obviously being with Jacob still clouds my visions," she stated, sounding distinctly irked "But I saw enough."
"What are we dealing with Alice?" Esme asked, staring at me. I began to fidget uncomfortably.
"Jacob is, of course, baying for your blood," she stated, crossing her arms over her chest "Embry - yes, I think I remember Bella calling him that - is more than willing to kill you too," she turned, holding up a hand to Jasper "Enough, Jas, I won't lose my temper," he hesitated before nodding and she turned back to Esme "Sam and Bella have managed to calm them down enough now, but the pack have assembled and are heading this way."
"Do you think they're coming to fight?" Rosalie asked, sweeping over to the window to stare out. I watched her squint at her own reflection, glistening in the sun, searching the forest.
"No," she shook her head, glancing up at me "Lucky for you." Idiot. She mentally screamed at me. I rubbed a hand over my face, sighing. This is my own personal brand of nightmare.
"Lucky for all of us." Esme stated calmly, walking towards the kitchen "Someone please get Carlisle and Emmett home now."
--
Jake's POV.
"Simple," Leah smiled, shrugging "Because you love her."
I glanced down at Bella, hands planted firmly on my chest, staring up at me with pleading eyes.
"Fine," I sighed, watching her face light up "I'll leave him alone."
"Thank you." she smiled, reaching up on her tiptoes to plant a row of kisses on my jaw.
"Sure, sure," I mumbled, trying to fight the smile that was tugging at the corners of my mouth.
"Aw, man," Embry whined, snatching his t-shirt from the ground "I was looking forward to taking a piece outta Deadward."
"Me too, bro." I grinned, winking at Bella.
"We still have to go and talk to him," Sam stated, returning to his former calm and quiet tone "He can't be allowed to think that what he did is going to go unnoticed or unpunished."
"What, like, now?" Leah asked through gritted teeth, without turning to look at him.
"No time like the present." he shrugged, talking to the back of her head.
Leah hesitated, moving towards me and Bella. Her gaze flicked up to mine as she smiled down at Bella.
"Are you okay with that?" she asked. She's actually genuinely concerned for Bella.
"I think so," Bella whispered back, turning to glance at me before nodding confidently "Yeah, I'm okay, let's go."
That's my girl. I smiled to myself as she reached for my hand, confidently striding back out into the sunlight.
--
Bella's POV.
"Okay, so, lemme get this straight," Paul said, staring at Sam like he'd gone mad "Jeepers Creepers tries it on with our girl here and we're, what, gunna put him on the naughty step?"
"Tell him he's been a bad, bad boy but not do anything about it?" Quil asked, eyes blazing.
"No, of course, we're going to do something." Sam sighed, rolling his eyes "We're going to talk to him, not everything has to be solved with your fists, you two."
"Cause he's so gunna learn his lesson if we talk to him, huh Sam." Embry said, staring at him pointedly.
"Hey, this is what Bella wants, so just stop it okay." Leah sighed, breezing past the boys. I wish I could walk like that. I smiled.
"Sorry Bells." Embry said, looking a little sheepish.
"Yeah, sorry, Bella." Paul said, offering me a sympathetic smile.
"It's fine, guys, really," I smiled widely, turning to face them all "Thank you though."
"For what?" Paul called out over his shoulder.
"Well, for doing this, y'know, you didn't have to do anything.. but I'm grateful that you are." I smiled.
"Are you kidding me?" Embry chuckled, slinging a heavy arm around my shoulders "You're one of us now Bella, if anyone messes with you then they've gotta answer to us."
"Damn right," Quil grinned, glancing at me over his shoulder "You're a wolf girl now."
"Well in that case," I grinned at Embry then at Jake "Awoooooooooooooo!"
--
It's funny, I thought as we walked, how nothing - even a situation like this - seems so bad when you're laughing and joking. I noticed how the laughter died down and the jokes just didn't seem to flow so easily anymore. The heat stifling our happy little atmosphere. I noticed how the boys began flexing subconsciously. Preparing themselves for a fight. I noticed how Leah kept glancing back at me every time Sam tried to talk to her or even looked in her direction; her jaw tight like she was clenching her teeth really hard. I can't imagine what she must feel, having to see him with Emily everyday.
"Okay." Sam stated, moving in front of us before stopping, just as the Cullen's house came into view "Let's go in there and show a united front. The Cullen's have to know that what Edward did won't be tolerated ever again.. and remember, no fighting-"
"Unless they start it." Quil smirked, spinning around to face us before he laughed. I watched Sam glared at the back of his head, his jaw clenching now.
"Enough." he stated, hesitating before turning to Leah "I want you to stay with Bella."
She nodded, without looking at him, then turned to me with a smile.
"Guess I'm playing gooseberry today, huh." she whispered, winking at me.
--
Edward's POV.
"They're here." Alice perked up, moving over to grasp Jasper's hand "We may need you now, Jas."
"Just remember, they are our guests." Esme said, turning to face us before she walked outside. Carlisle held the door open and I watched as they filed out, waiting for our 'guests' on the porch.
"Edward," he said, beckoning me towards him "Let's go."
"I thought maybe it would be better if I waited in-"
"Outside. Now." he stated, gripping the doorjamb tightly "You caused this mess and you will help us fix it."
I sighed, pushing myself off the table I was leaning against, and joined my family on the porch.
--
Bella's POV.
I grasped onto Leah's hand, mostly to keep from falling over, as the boys arranged themselves in front of us. I watched them carefully, chewing my bottom lip.
"What are you looking so worried about Bells?" Leah smiled down at me, head tilting to one side.
"Nothing." I lied, forcing a smile that I knew she could see right through. She gave me one of her 'don't-kid-a-kidder' looks but smiled. I took a deep breath and wished I was anywhere but here as we stepped out into the small clearing that surrounded the Cullen's house.
"Hello Sam." Carlisle spoke first, stepping forward and offering a small but sincere smile.
"Carlisle." Sam replied. I couldn't actually see the smile on his face but I assumed it was there. Sam's too respectable to be mean to Carlisle.
"I'm guessing you already know why we're here." Sam said, turning his head slightly in Edward's direction. Edward just stared at the ground, fidgeting a little.
"Yes, of course." Carlisle nodded slowly, taking a few steps towards me, causing Paul to growl a little.
"Knock it off." I heard Sam hiss at him. I smiled at Carlisle. This isn't his fault. I looked over his shoulder at Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper and Alice. This isn't their fault either. My gaze rested on Edward, still staring at the ground like it held the all the answers. Coward.
"Perhaps we should discuss this now." Carlisle said, eyes darting over me. Checking for any damage.
"Yes," Esme nodded, motioning towards a large table, with just enough chairs for all of us, to the left of the porch "Please, everyone, take a seat."
"Thank you." Sam nodded quickly, turning slightly to survey the others. I had to admit that I was proud of them, not one of them - with the exception of Paul and his little outburst - had lost their temper. Yet.
--
"So, what you are proposing is a ban?" Carlisle asked, slowly tapping his chin with his index finger thoughtfully.
"Of sorts." Sam nodded, surveying the rest of the Cullens. Carlisle looked back at him with a small nod, silently offering him the chance to explain. Jake cleared his throat and everyone turned to him, waiting patiently for him to speak.
"Basically, if Bella doesn't actually invite Edward inside, then he's banned from the house." Jake stated as I squeezed his hand under the table.
"But, that's not-" Edward tried, staring wide-eyed at Carlisle.
"I quite agree." Carlisle nodded, cutting him off completely. He glanced at Edward, patting his shoulder. "If she does not want you there anymore then you have no business being there, Edward."
"I am trying to-" Edward choked out, turning to face me for the first time.
"Don't say 'protect her' Edward." I hissed, glaring at him "Jus'.. don't." His mouth opened like he was going to say something - I glared at him, silently daring him to test my patience - but he snapped it closed instead.
"You have to let her go now Edward." Rosalie sighed, stroking her brother's hair with something akin to affection in her eyes.
"What if I don't want to let her go?" Edward asked with a voice so small and sad that it almost made me feel sorry for him. Almost.
"Tough." Jake muttered, tensing up beside me. I patted his thigh gently, lacing our fingers together again.
"You have no choice," Alice said, her voice soft and quiet - lacking its usual enthusiasm - watching me "Bella has made her choice Edward, you can't change someone else's destiny."
"But," Alice said, looking slightly sheepish "Does this ban include all of us.. or just Edward?"
Sam looked to me, then Jake and finally back at Alice. "Just Edward."
I smiled at her, a genuine smile that had her flashing that dazzling smile of hers in mere seconds. Maybe, just maybe I'll be able to salvage my relationship with Alice after all of this is over.
"So," Sam finally spoke, glancing between Esme and Carlisle "Do we have an agreement?"
Carlisle glanced at Edward then at Esme, who looked at me with a smile before nodded slowly.
"Yes." Edward sighed without looking up "We have an agreement."
--
"Thank you for your hospitality, Esme." Sam called as we prepared to go our separate ways.
"And thank you for being such pleasant guests." she called back with a smile, waving from the doorway of the house.
Alice loitered around the porch, waiting for Carlisle to leave us at the edge of the forest. I waved to her as we passed and I pretended not to see the look in her eyes when she saw my hand in Leah's. It made me feel guilty and I wasn't quite comfortable with being made to feel guilty for having another friend.
"Bella, please-" Edward mumbled and I felt Jake freeze, trembling already.
"Don't push me, dude." Jake warned, turning to glare over his shoulder.
"It's about to get ugly." I heard Quil hiss. Ohshitohshitohshitohshit.
you know the drill by now, right? ;] xx