Sorry it took so long! Something was going on with my computer. But it is a long chapter, so!
So, who went to see Remember Me!?
When Edward dropped us off I thought Emma was going to kill me.
As she watched him drive away, tears filled her eyes and her face went beat-red. She wasn't impressed. I tried to comfort her when we were all inside, tried to pick her up, but she ran away, flapping her hand at me and shouting "no." Emma was too attached to Edward, I was sure of it, and I could tell by the look on her face that she was probably infatuated with this guy she didn't know.
It was one of those afternoons that we all just relaxed. The twins didn't rest well upstairs so I brought them back down to the living room. Caitlyn was tending to homework in the kitchen again while I sat surrounded by little sleeping girls. Sophie fell asleep almost instantly and Emma slowly drifted in and out during the duration of The Cooking Show. I lay on the loveseat with Melly right in front of me, her back to my chest, as she slept.
Things seemed to be much more boring now. Usually I had something on my mind or something to do to keep my occupied, but the house seemed too quiet. It seemed too...awkward. Maybe it was because nearly everyone was sleeping, but I really was curious if maybe it seemed more exotic with Edward around.
God! He was here for one night!
But I talked – or thought – like he'd spent days on end, and the way Emma acted you'd swear he spent 24/7 at that house. I found it somewhat amusing that Sophie barely gave Edward even a second glance.
"Bella? Can you come here?" Caitlyn's voice was quiet but loud enough to hear through the wall separating the kitchen and living room. Her voice sounded hesitant, cautious.
I quietly shifted myself away from Melly and crawled over her without touching her, and headed for the kitchen.
"What's up?" I asked as I pulled out a chair and sat down next to Caitlyn. "You look sad," I observed. She shifted in the wood chair and pointed to the small book in front of her. I looked over her shoulder at the page. "Oh," I said blankly. "Your already learning about that?"
She nodded. "Yeah, just how babies are made. My teacher wants us to know with today's soc-society," she stuttered.
"Okay, what do you need?" I asked wearily. Seriously, did I have to talk to my little sister about sex?
"Well, it doesn't say in here," Caitlyn said slowly, "but I was wondering if you can, um, have a baby if someone touches you?"
I stared at her for a moment, than down at the book again where it showed the diagram of the female reproductive system. If she wasn't learning this in school I wouldn't have even touched on this subject. "Well, it has to be a man," I said carefully, "but what do you mean, 'touch?'"
Her eyes shifted back down to the book, idling on the pages. She fiddled with the corner of one page.
"Caitlyn?" I asked. "Caitlyn, what's wrong?" I could feel anxiety creeping up on me, followed by overwhelming alarm and pain. I grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her to look at me. "What are you talking about?" I demanded stiffly.
She whipped her head to the side, my hand slipping off her face. "Its nothing," she mumbled, pushing out her chair. But I grabbed her wrist before she could get too far.
"No, Caitlyn, I want an answer now," I told her, struggling to keep my voice level. "Why did you ask me that? Did someone touch you?" My thoughts went to Edward, the last person through that threshold.
"No!" she sobbed, pulling her arm out of my reach and turning around.
"Caitlyn!" I called as she ran. I pushed out my chair quickly and lurched to my feet, jogging after her. "Caitlyn, stop, please!" I stopped at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at her pleadingly. "Let's just—"
In the dim lighting of the hallway I could see her shapely cheeks glistening with wetness. "I don't want to talk about it!" She turned around and I heard her footsteps become more distant. I stared at the spot she'd been, completely numb and shocked.
What happened? That was the only question on my mind. I had my own thoughts, what I thought she meant by "touching", but she elaborated. She could mean that someone hit her, maybe slightly too low for her liking, and being a child she didn't know what to think of that. But I had one of those feelings – I guess ones mother's have—mother's instinct—that it wasn't a mistake or conservative touch: Someone meant to touch her, if not hurt her.
And my heart was leaning toward the guy I invited into my parent's house.
I thought Edward had more morals that this, but I had a gut feeling. Edward touched my little sister inappropriately. I shook my head to fight back tears. This was one thing that I could hardly take, but that I faced nearly every day. The pain of betrayal. The marks being left of people that don't need it. But I thought I was doing the right thing when I allowed this stranger to socialize with the girls, even in my house and hope for the best – of course it would blow up in m face. Why would I even think that I could just do that?
I looked back at the girls sleeping on couch, all spread out and breathing so heavily that I could hear them all the way out there. With a sudden burst of resolve, I hurriedly slipped on my running shoes and pulled my sweater on as I ran out the door and across the lawn.
"Please, please, please..." I mumbled, biting my lip as I tapped my foot. "Please." I let out a sigh as the door opened.
"Oh...hi, Bella," Amber said awkwardly, shifting from one foot to the other. Amber was the next door neighbour, a thirty-seven-year-old housewife. Sometimes I wondered if she suspected something of our family, perhaps the abuse, but she never questioned, only looked. "Can I help you with something?" she asked when I didn't respond.
I cleared my throat in apology. "Sorry about the inconvenience, but I was wondered if you could watch my sisters for a few minutes," I said quickly, biting my lip shyly. Of course I didn't want to put pressure on her or anything, but I needed to get this done now. "I'm only going to be about twenty minutes," I added.
"Um...do I have to do anything?" Amber asked, still having that awkward edge.
I could feel it too. This was an awkward situation. "No, everyone's asleep but Caitlyn. She's in her room, and I'm sure she won't be down for a while," I assured her tightly. But as soon as this was figured out, I would drag her out if I had to. "Please, Amber, I'm desperate," I begged, forgetting about the positive happiness I was faking when she didn't seem too convinced.
She moved to glance over her shoulder for a second. "Okay, but hurry," she complied. "I'll be over in a second; they'll be fine till then, right?" Her eyes were hot on my face.
"Absolutely," I agreed quickly, nodding jerkily. "Thank you so much, Amber!" I called as I dashed back over the lawn, shaking the keys from my pocket as I hopped in the car. Amber closed her door with a look of confusion, but I couldn't see too well as I was already flying down the road.
It was stupid to have to pay a fee even though I would only be in there for a few minutes, just long enough to assault a...well, I didn't know what he qualified as. A pervert? A pedophile? All of the above?
As I was unlocked my door I noticed who stood by the entrance to the hospital. It was two people I guessed were Edward's siblings, his brother and sister. They both stood against the wall, leaning casually and talking blandly. The guy was big with dark curly hair. I wondered if I even had the courage to even go up to him, he looked so scary. The girl was much smaller in every way and kind of resembled a pixie in an odd way. Their hair was equally dark, which didn't quite match Edward's.
But I didn't take a second thought as I jumped out and crossed over the entrance. They looked over, an instant reaction, and I gave them a simple bland smile. The girl returned it briefly. But mine faded as soon as I was out of sight, and I scowled at the floor. Maybe they moved here because Edward had some kind of history with touching children, I thought, anger burning. Poor new kids.
I didn't stop at the front desk – I continued on the Carlisle's office. If he was there he could direct me to Edward. Or even better Edward would be there with him, so his father could hear this. This hospital may have been all twists and turns, but I had that feeling when I knew I was getting close.
I turned the final corner when I hit into someone, and by the flash of white I knew it was doctor. "Oh – sorry, I'm so sorry..." I sputtered, looking up at the person that held me upright.
"Bella? What are you still doing here?" Carlisle asked, a little shocked and confused.
Straightening myself I fixed the twist in my shirt. "Um, where's Edward? I really need to speak with him."
Carlisle looked over his shoulder and gesturing with the clipboard he held. "In my office," he said. "Just go on in. He's filing papers."
"Thanks," I said quickly, moving around him and heading for the door, while feeling his eyes on my back. Gripping the door handle, I took a deep breath and opened it.
His voice was there automatically. "Um, Dad, I was wondering if—"
I watched as he looked up and his sentence cut off instantly. Knowing this wouldn't go well I closed the door behind me. Before he could say a thing, I dove for it and felt myself slip instantly. I always had this hold on myself, one that kept me from slipping in front of the girls and put up with everything. But now it just crashed. Burned.
"What did you do to my sister?" I demanded evenly, crossing my arms to convey that I was serious.
He eyebrows knit as he set down a pale folder. "What are you talking about?" he asked. I think he was confused but it was hard to tell with the lollipop in his mouth.
There was about a twenty foot distance between us, so I walked up the stand right in front of the desk. "I'm talking about you touching my little sister," I clarified.
Edward nearly choked on his lollipop.
"What?" he coughed. "You think I touched Emma? Bella, that's sick."
"Exactly, but I meant Caitlyn," I snapped, my voice radiating fury.
This time, his golden eyebrows shot up. "You think I inappropriately touched a seven-year-old?"
I laughed sarcastically. "No, Edward, I know you did. You touched my fucking little sister!" I snapped, clenching my hand to prevent it from hitting him.
"Bella, do you really think I would do that?" he asked seriously, seeming somewhat hurt. I didn't let the way his green eyes pleaded get to me; I wouldn't believe him. You'd think he would be angry.
"Well, Edward, your obviously not who I thought you were," I said steadily. I turned around before emotions could hit me, shaking my head to clear the blurriness. The sadness didn't come from losing a possible friend – even though I knew it was best to stay away in the beginning – but it was the fact of the betrayal. The lies. It hurt to know someone I thought was a Godsend would do something so repulsive. "Don't ever talk to me again, or my sisters. Don't even come around."
That was amazing! Haha, I totally came up with that on the spot. What do you think? Review!