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"This is illegal, Bella."
I sighed. "Caitlyn, just be quiet," I said, resigned as I shifted in my seat. Melly was curled up in my lap, asleep and breathing evenly into my stomach. She was positioned on my lap horizontally in a way that no one would be able to see through the windshield, the felony I was committing. And Caitlyn just wouldn't let me forget it.
"But Bella! We could get in a lots of trouble, and Dad's not here to get us out of it."
"Caitlyn, would you let it go? I'm the adult here," I reminded her, briefly wondering if I was right with that statement. "Just sit back and wait." I looked at Edward and said quietly, "She likes to worry."
He smiled and nodded, but before he could respond Caitlyn objected. "I don't worry! Its not my fault if we could get in a lot of trouble for this!" Looking behind me, I could see she was pouting.
"Caitlyn, what did I say about pouting?"
"Sorry," she muttered, avoiding my eyes and looking out the window, a scowl taking over the pout. I ignored it, though, knowing Caitlyn was a stubborn girl. It was her nature, and I just had to accept that.
Edward parked as close as possible to the hospital doors. I thought we were going to the ER, but he insisted taking the front entryway. Melly sat in my lap silently, still clutching her teddy bear, something she did when she was nervous; sometimes she took the bear to school with her. When we were parked and she sat in the passenger seat, I unloaded the girls from the back. The stroller was a loss for the small trunk of Edward's Volvo.
"Caitlyn, can you hold their hands?" I asked as I set Emma on the ground, grabbing her hand before she could run off. Sophie was the good girl and stood there, head to toe in pink.
Caitlyn's left hand held Emma's right and I gently guided Sophie over to hold onto Caitlyn's other hand. Once satisfied I went back to the passenger's seat where Melly sat, kicking the seat with her feet as she swung her legs back and forth.
"Are you ready?" I asked, holding out my hand to her. She shook her head, fast and jerky, holding the bear over her face. I've always been a patient person, a go-with-flow girl, but some things just pressed me from the wrong angle. Like this little girl's resistance. "Okay," I said simply, grabbing her wrist and pulling her from the car. Maybe it was slightly rough, but it was enough to get her on her feet.
"I don't...don't want to go!" she wailed, stomping her feet on the slick pavement.
I frowned. "Melinda Ann Swan, you are going to see a doctor either way. We can do this the hard way or the easy way. Its your choice."
She shook her head, her dark hair swinging around her face. "I—I don't...like doctors," Melly said. I noticed she was panting, her chest heaving like she just ran a mile.
"I know that, but you really need to get checked out if your sick." I held out my hand to her, which she took reluctantly. "I promise I won't leave you for a second," I added as she stuck her thumb in her mouth biting rather sucking. "Okay?"
Melly swallowed thickly. "Yeah," she said quietly, sniffling though there were no tears.
"Okay," I mumbled, glancing over at the other three; Caitlyn was struggling to hold onto the two girls hands. Finally, I looked up at Edward. He leaned against the hood of the shiny silver car, arms crossed and face basking in the sun. I stared at him for a moment, completely transfixed by him.
This was the first contact I'd had with anyone my age in years. I hadn't talked to anyone. I was like a ghost, coming and going as I please, not bothering to make myself known to others. But his guy actually made me feel known. It was a feeling I wasn't used to and honestly, it scared me. I wanted to shy away from him, away from his generosity and kindness, and though I was worried to lose his attention, I wondered if he would let me go back to being the background to everyone's life. I was always just there, never there for a reason.
The feelings of acceptation were scary.
"Everything okay?" Edward waved a hand on front of my face.
I shook my head fast, forcing a smile through my newly burning, stiff cheeks. "Um, yeah, let's go," I stuttered.
Edward led us up the front doors slowly, taking a pace that wouldn't wear out a couple of fifteen month-olds.
"You know...you didn't have to bring us here. You may not know this, but I am just as capable of driving as the next," I said teasingly, yet still curious of what provoked him to drive us.
His head swung back with a deep laugh. "You should think of this as a privilege. No one gets to ride in my Volvo at the drop of a hat."
"Mmm, we're special," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes.
"Its possible," he shrugged nonchalantly. Then laughed once, casting a smile over at me. "But on serious note, not even my siblings are allowed to drive, much less ride, in my Volvo. Plus I was on my way here anyway, so." He shrugged again.
"What would you have to do with a hospital, exactly?" I asked. "Didn't you mention that your father works here?"
"Yeah, he transferred here. I...tend to hang out here," he admitted slowly, with a reluctant edge. Edward's head was ducked, like he was ashamed of this fact. I, however, found it oddly interesting.
From the TV shows I have watched Edward seemed like the kind of guy that would be the most popular in school. The kind that had plans every weekend, that didn't waste time with people below him, or was one of those super-popular guys that are nice to the ones below him and still he doesn't want anything to do with them.
But that wasn't Edward Cullen. Even though I didn't know him, I did know that. It was like a puzzle I didn't know was near me, waiting to be figured out and completed. This was just one piece to the mystery Cullen boy.
"And what do you do?" I asked curiously as he ushered Caitlyn and the twins inside, followed by Melly and I.
Edward stuffed his hands in his pockets, walking beside me while Caitlyn trailed behind us. "I follow, I learn. Just boring stuff. Well, boring to you," he added with a slight joking edge.
I thought for a second. "You want to be a doctor." It wasn't a question but a statement of fact.
This time he paused for a second. "Yes," he said, and I visibly saw him brace himself for my response. Edward didn't stop at the receptionist, though that was my first idea, and continued down the hall of Forks General. I followed, occasionally glancing back to make sure we didn't lose anyone, not saying anything to interrupt the silence, like his confirmation was a time bomb ticking.
We continued walking and as Edward started to slow his pace outside a door, I gripped Melly's hand tighter. She responded by clinging to my legs. Caitlyn tried to keep the girls in close quarters, but they were on the go, squealing and babbling. I was proud of Caitlyn. She was so strong, something I wish I could have been. Maybe this wouldn't be so hard.
Edward knocked on the door once and turned the knob. "Come with me," he said over his shoulder, holding the door wide. I first ushered in the younger of the four and when I tried to slip my fingers from Melly's hand, she gripped tighter and pulled up to my side.
I just accepted it without fault.
Before we were all filed into the room I heard an unfamiliar male voice, laced with the slightest of surprise. "Well, Edward, its wonderful for you to make an appearance. You may want to call your mother – she's worried sick."
Edward laughed. And I'd get slapped if that happened to me, I thought, gently shoving Melly through the doorway as she clung to my legs in a new burst of apprehension. "I will, Dad," Edward said simply. Then he stepped back and made room for Caitlyn to hustle to twins inside, and quietly closed the door behind us all. Even with the very little noise it made, Melly jumped, hugging her arms further around my legs and making it difficult to stand straight.
The office was neat and tidy, fairly plain, but I guess that made sense. The Cullens just moved here. Sitting behind the long dark-wooded desk was a young man with sandy hair and electric green eyes, much like Edward's. I saw the resemblance immediately. I also noticed they had similar build – not wrestler-muscles but not skinny either. Somewhere between.
Those familiar eyes roamed over every little girl, confused and interested, before they landed on me. I instinctively placed my hand on the back of Melly's head, trying to calm us both under the intensity of his stare.
"Dad," Edward finally said, breaking the silence, "this is Bella Swan. We were working on out project when we feel asleep." Not the total truth but not a lie either. We feel asleep when we started o watch TV, after the project was done, but I was in no mood to add that little fact in.
I think what surprised me most was when he also introduced each of my sisters, one by one. His father didn't interrupt – in fact, he seemed somewhat like a statue. Eyes glassy green as they trailed over the little girls, over every asset that seemed to be a replica of mine. I wondered what he would think. Edward made the mistake that Sophie and Emma were mine, and I didn't have a doubt Dr. Cullen would do the same thing. An accident, a mistake, of course.
To my surprise, Dr. Cullen smiled when he's finished his once over and Edward's introductions were complete. I guess he was happy that his son was making friends. Friends with the wrong person, yes, but friends nonetheless. When he stood from his desk and made the short distance closer, Melly cringed to me like there was an actual threat in the room. I sighed but managed to shake his hand when he offered it.
"Its nice to meet you, Bella," he said, not seeming at all like he had before.
I pasted on that smile that I was so used to showing, the I'm-happy-believe-it-one. "Nice to meet you as well, Dr. Cullen."
"No sense in formal names, Bella," he waved me off. "Friends of Edward's may call me Carlisle."
The smile seemed less forced. "Carlisle," I repeated.
"So, what is it I can do for all of you?" Carlisle asked. His eyes swept over every little child, stopping at Melly, whose face was pressed into my thigh. He turned back to his son. "Everything all right, Edward?"
"Actually, we were hoping you could quickly check out Melly," Edward said coolly, like this was a favour you could randomly ask of a father.
I set my hand on her head. "But I understand if your busy," I said quickly, not wanting to put off the treatment of other patients for the flu Melly probably has.
"Oh, nonsense," Carlisle laughed. "Its very slow today, which I suppose is a good thing, in a sense. Now, this is..." He gesturing with an open hand to the little girl cowering into my leg.
"This is Melinda, but we call her Melly," I told him. "Melly, please say hi." She shook her head, dark curls bouncing around her covered face. "Um, she's scared of doctors," I said slowly, looking at Edward and silently apologizing. He had to drive me and a bunch of little girls to the hospital for no reason now. First the late start on the project, the over-nighter, and now this.
Carlisle nodded, smiling at me in a way I had never seen on anyone before. It was filled with more kindness than I could almost bear. I wondered, for a brief second, what of felt like to wake up every morning and see your father wearing that kind of smile. What would t be like to have someone who cared? What would it be like to feel taken care of? Things I would never know.
"Ah, I've got just the thing," he insisted, turning around, the white lab coat fanning out, as he went to his desk. When he turned back toward us, I noticed the new objects in his hands. He crouched down to Melly's level – I wondered if he was young enough that that motion didn't hurt his back – facing the back of her head. "Melly," he said softly, in the most enchanting voice. It was persuasive. So persuasive that Melly lifted her face ever so slightly, and I could just make out her brown eyes looking up at me and asking if it was okay.
I nodded in encouragement.
"Would you like a lollipop?" Carlisle asked in that voice that adults use with children, a complete switch from the persuasive tone.
"Yes, please," she squeaked. He handed her a little pink one, a little girl's favourite color, before being tackled with the candy-loving twins.
"Mmmm!" Emma squealed, ripped her little hand form Caitlyn's as she ran forward, wobbling lightly. Carlisle asked if she could have one, when Sophie wobbled forward too, smiling widely and showing her bare gums.
He dealt a sucker to each of them and in no time the room with filled with the sounds of slurping. I shifted at the memory of the girls hardly having experience with candy, like most children.
"Hey, Dad, what about us?" Edward teased, though he looked partly serious. "We're still kids."
Carlisle rolled his eyes but handed his son a green lollipop and blue one to me. I smiled my thanks as I felt Melly's free hand grip mine.
"So," Edward's father said, crossing his arms and leaning against the desk, "let's see what's wrong with Melly."
I have to say that I am very pleased by this chapter, very proud of it. Its so freakin' long! Longest in this story. Wasn't planned but I wanted the event out, plus there's more next Chapter. Reminder: Follow me on twitter. .com/MickeyAJHealey. Feel free to ask questions or anything about when chapters will be out.
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