Chapter 6
Halloween actually came faster than I anticipated. Each day faded into the next with surprising velocity. I went to school, came home, hung out with Edward, slept, and then the cycle started again. It amazed me how I could do this almost every day for over a decade and not be bored with it.
On Friday morning, I hopped out of bed wide-awake. I danced around my room as I got dressed, thinking about everything I was going to do today. Well… tonight. I went through the usual morning ritual, Charlie still asleep. I popped some bagels in the toaster and got out some cream cheese. I saved my mom's special bagel breakfasts for special occasions. Today certainly was one.
Charlie came down the stairs with his uniform on while I was eating. I could feel him watching me as he stepped into his boots, but on his belt, and patted his gun. "Bella, you gonna be alright?" he finally said.
"Yeah, Dad." I looked up at him while chewing.
"Call me if you need anything." I held up my cell phone. After a minute of silence, he said, "I see you made bagels."
"Yep."
"What's so special about today?"
"It's Halloween."
"And…?"
"I like Halloween."
"Oh."
That was pretty much the extent of our morning conversation. Charlie was always very hard to talk to on the boy front. Give a single dad a gun, mention a boy, and watch the fireworks. That's mostly why I miss mom. I lost a really important outlet while growing up.
"Bella?" he addressed me again. I looked up at him. "Just be careful."
"I will, Dad," I reassured him. He kissed me on the forehead goodbye, and then left. When the front door closed, my house was silent. The sound of rain outside in the background seemed to match the rhythm of my heart. I finished my bagel, picked up my backpack, and headed out the door like every other morning.
Walking along the wet road on the way to Edward's house, I could have sworn I heard someone yelling. It sounded deep and menacing. And then it all of a sudden changed pitches… it changed to a more high-pitched voice. And weirder yet, it sounded like it was coming from the direction of Edward's house. Edward's family never fought once. I pretty much live with the Cullens 75% of the time, and they never fight. Ever. I rushed up the road a little quicker.
When I got to the house, I swore I was dreaming. Edward and Esme were yelling at each other. Screaming. Fighting. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but it was definitely heated. I was a little scared, and I pondered turning around and waiting for the bus on my own porch. But when I took one step closer to the house a few seconds upon hearing the fight, everything hushed. I froze in place, wondering how on earth Esme and Edward could hear me.
Exactly 45 seconds later, Edward came out the door ready for school, but with a pissed experession on his face. "Hi, Bella," he grumbled.
"What's wrong?" I instinctively asked. Edward looked away. "You can tell me," I said gently.
"I just had a fight with Esme, that's all."
I bit my lip. "About what?"
"It's not important," he said back coldly.
This hit me harder than anything anyone had ever said to me. Edward and I were best friends. We told each other everything. That annoying gut feeling I got earlier in the week that told me Edward was hiding something was unfortunately back.