CHAPTER ELEVEN – CONTESTANT
BELLA POV
"Bella!" I heard my dad scream.
My eyes snapped open and I bolted out my bed and to my bedroom door. I hesitated on the door handle and waited for my heart beat to return back to me because I had left it in bed. My hand made no movement to open the door as I was petrified to find out what was on the other side. I heard another scream which made me pull the door open.
I walked out and froze on the porch outside. It was dark outside the moon looked cracked and greasy like an old dinner plate and I could hear the wind whistling as it wrapped around the trees naked branches. A dark figure appeared in the distance as the moonlight shone down. The silhouette was kneeling on the grass facing the other way.
"Dad" I whispered.
I slowly crept down the steps and felt a thousand eyes on me from the shadows as I approached the figure.
"Dad" I whispered again.
Still he didn't reply. As I got closer his outline got clearer and I could see the messy spikes stand up on the top of his head. It was then I realized that it was not my farther but it was Edward. He was on his knees and his head was bowed down as his arms were extended by his side with his palms facing upwards.
"Edward" I whispered.
As I spoke I jumped as a flock of crows flew out from the tree line and danced in synchronisation in the sky. My heart plummeted into my stomach and it was like I was paralyzed with fear on the spot. I knew it wasn't safe here I had to get myself and Edward away.
"Run" came a faint whisper.
I looked down to Edward who was still frozen in place.
"Edward" I whispered.
"They're coming" He said lifting his head up.
I followed his gaze to the open field towards the tree line.
"Who's coming?" I asked seeing nothing.
"Bella, run" he said more panicking this time.
"Come with me" I said kneeling down to him.
I tried to pull on his arm but it was like he was cemented in place.
"Edward, please come with me" I begged.
He didn't reply as I followed his gaze back to nothing. I removed my hand from his arm and the moonlight made my hand flash crimson red. My gaze dropped on his bare arms and there were tiny rivers of blood flowing down his arms which dripped off his finger tips.
"Edwa,"
"Please, Bella, run" He interrupted me.
He began to weep but instead of water his tears were red. Blood trickled out his tear ducts and rolled down his cheeks.
"I'm, not leaving you" I hissed.
I pulled on his arm again and tried to pull him up but it was like pulling a ton weight. I pleaded with him again and pulled that hard my fingers unclasped and I fell to the ground. I rolled back onto my knees and knelt beside him again. Not a moment too soon he began smirking and quietly laughing.
"To late" he smirked.
His laugh was quiet which became louder. I followed his gaze again and three dark figures appeared from the shadows and out the tree line.
"Bella!" Edward shouted.
I looked to the side of me and in Edward's place was the boy from my Chemistry class laughing. I turned on my knee and sin Edward now behind me running towards me in slow motion, all trace of blood gone. I looked back around and the three dark figures were moving at an incredible speed as they pasted the opening.
"RUN!" Edward shouted again.
Panic started to set in, I was that petrified my first instinct was to run but my whole body felt like jelly. I somehow managed to stand up from the boy who I think his name was Jacob who was still laughing on the floor. I spun around and ran towards Edward but the more I tried to run the slower I became. I felt like I was running for ages but I was getting nowhere, I was still in the same spot as I started off in. I heard a growl erupt which made me spin around, the three figures and Jacob had vanished and I spun back around to find that the growl had come from Edward. The three figures stood around him and I watched in horror as they devoured him piece by piece.
"No!" I screamed.
I tried to run again but failed as a pair of strong arms pulled me back. Jacobs's laughter rung in my ears as he held me in place. I watched the three figures destroy my love before my eyes and then I started to shake.
"Bella, Bella, wake up!" I heard a familiar voice.
My eyes snapped open as my dad was shaking me.
"Dad" I barely whispered.
"For god sake Bella, I've been tiring to wake you up for ages"
"What's happening" I said sitting up.
I was back in my bedroom, the covers were dripping wet from the amount of sweat that poured off me. My eyes felt puffy and my throat was red raw.
"You were having a nightmare, you were crying and screaming" he told me.
I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah" I pushed out through my parched throat.
I glanced at my alarm clock and it indicated it was 8.37am.
"I'm sorry dad go back to sleep"
"No it's alright, I was up anyway" he said standing up. "I've got to go to Port Angeles today so can I pick you up anything?"
"No thanks"
"Alright, be good" he said leaving the room.
I sat there for a minuet tiring to wrap my head around my stupid dreams. I have had weird dreams before by nothing this random. I didn't know why I was so scared, not knowing who those dark figures were or fearing for Edwards's safety. I didn't want to leave him and seeing him there helpless against the dark figures nearly killed me, but why? Why the hell did I refer to him as my love Edward was far from that?
Instead of tiring to figure out the randomness in my head I stood up and stripped my bed. I threw the dirty covers and pillow cases into the hamper and walked into my on-suit. I ran the shower and I peeled my clothes off me. I threw them in the hamper then stepped into the hot water. I lathered myself in strawberries and let my dreams wash away down the plughole.
Today was Sunday I had gone shopping in Port Angeles yesterday so we were alright for food. I couldn't wait till tomorrow because I was fascinated to learn what Edward had planned. Why he didn't just tell me on Friday was beyond me. I was debating with myself for ages wither or not to invite Edward over to my house. I figured that there would have been a lot of paperwork to look through so it was either me looking through a pile crap for hours or inviting Edward to look through a pile of crap with me at least I would have someone to talk to. I must admit Edward hiding in my house away from my father was funny but it was risky at the same time. I didn't even want to think about what would have happened if my farther would have caught him.
I had felt a connection with Edward, on several occasions in fact. If we would stand still and take the time to look at each other for a moment I had the urge to get closer to him and do other things so I had to keep myself occupied with everything around me. I would steal a few peeks now and then, and then I would blush and feel embarrassed because he would be looking at me the same time. I knew that I was attracted to Edward and even if in a million years there was a slight possibility that he was attracted to me then I couldn't let anything happen between us, ever!
After spending over an hour in the shower I walked out and wrapped the towel around myself. My whole body was beetroot red. I stumbled back into my room and I had to sit down on my bed to regain focus. My heart was racing and my head was killing me, I was so hot I felt like I was going to faint. I closed my eyes and concentrated on my thoughts so I wouldn't pass out.
Edward and I were from completely different worlds. Edward was a gang member for god's sake he used to be the leader from what I was told. I didn't really know much about gang paraphernalia but I was pretty sure that you couldn't just leave on your own free will. Even if I looked past the exterior and sin him as just a nice ordinary guy it still wouldn't work out. I would always have the thought at the back of my mind telling me that he would go back to his old ways of violence, drugs, drinking, and ganging. Besides even if I wanted a relationship with him my father would never allow it. I am only seventeen and I am in no position to leave on my own free will because I have no money, no job or even fished my education. I mean exactly what I say when I say that my father is wealthy because he is. How much wealth I didn't know but I knew it was a lot. My father has always been tight with his money and only spends what he has to. He only did up this place so I would feel comfortable in it. I never needed money because if I needed anything depends on what it was, he would buy it for me so I rarely even held a note let alone any coins.
As much as I loved my father I was stuck, stuck in this house, stuck in this town and stuck from having a social and private life. I knew that if I ever brought Edward home holding hands than he would blow his lid. I wouldn't hear the end of it until I lay in my coffin, he would either somehow send Edward back to prison or fly me across the other side of the world. I knew I probably sounded dramatic but my assumptions were so very close to the truth that the idea of even having a relationship with Edward scared me now more than ever.
I opened my eyes and took a deep breath I had cooled down now so I continued to quickly dry myself. I walked into my wardrobe I had no plans for today except do chores so I just grabbed a pair of sweats and a baggy top. I got dressed and let the sleeve from my top drape over my shoulder exposing my neck, shoulder blade and bra strap. I didn't really like exposing my body even little things like bra straps but who cares no one's here except for me. I half dried my hair then threw the towel in the hamper. I pulled my hair up into a messy ponytail letting stands fall down my face.
"I'm off now Bells see you tonight" My dad shouted.
"Bye" I shouted back before the front door shut.
I left my bedroom and walked to the closet at the end of the hall. I pulled out some fresh clean bed sheets, blankets and pillow cases then walked back to my room. I cleaned up my room and the bathroom making it look organized. As I finished making my bed I was about to put the last pillow case on but I stuffed the pillow in the case that hard that the pillow came apart at the seams and exploded sending feathers swirly around the room. I groaned inwards and stormed out my room and fetched the vacuum. After a few minutes of vacuuming it took me a few seconds to realize that the door bell was ringing. I switch the vacuum off and headed down the stairs to the front door. I opened the door and was greeted by the invisible man.
I peered outside but there was no trace of anybody. I closed the door and headed back upstairs and continued with the vacuuming. When I finished I rolled it back out the hallway and put it back into the closet. As I entered my room a noise from downstairs startled me making me spin around. I crept back to the door and peered out the hallway and listened for more noise. There was nothing so I continued with my cleaning until a loud thud sent me spinning back around. My heart plummeted to my stomach as I quickly manoeuvred to my door and peek out the hallway again. The flashing light from the control panel caught my attention.
It was telling me that the window in the pantry was open then I though back to when Edward went out of it on Friday. Then it dawned on me that I had forgotten to shut it. Shit, shit, shit, SHIT, SHIT! Was all that was running through my mind. It only took the sound of a creak coming from the stairs that made me go running to my bed. I knew that creak came from the second step because I avoided it so many times before. I reached under my bed and grabbed the metallic baseball bat from underneath. I defiantly wasn't the sort for violence and I knew that I would lose every fight going but I was going to make sure that I wouldn't go down without a fight and whoever would be on the receiving end of this bat would feel my pretty good swing.
I quickly hurried to the side of my bedroom door and hugged the wall. I heard the fifth step creak as I raised the bat. I gripped it for dear life and waited for the culprit to come into view. I sin their shadow from the corner of my eye and waited for their foot to step into my room. I swung the bat as hard as I could sending the intruder crashing to the floor. Whoever they were growled out in pain, I raised the bat again and threw myself out the room to the hallway. I paused as relief washed over me as I melted into his eyes.
"Oh my god" I said dropping the bat.
"Nice swing Swan" Edward grunted in pain.
I knelt down beside him and looked at him with sympathetic eyes.
"Edward you scared the shit out of me" I said gripping at my chest.
"Sorry" he smirked.
"Oh god I'm so sorry are you alright?"
"Yeah, just a bit winded" he said gripping his stomach "Fuck man that was hard"
"I'm sorry" I apologized again.
"Apology accepted" he smiled.
I smiled with him then shook my head to the situation what the hell was I doing?
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I missed" he paused "Um, I was board at home" he quickly recovered himself.
"So you thought you would just break into my house" I said a bit too harshly.
I had every right to be harsh because he did in fact break in.
"I didn't break in" he defended himself "I climbed in" he smirked.
"Whatever same thing"
I tried to sound serious but he was making me laugh by the way he sarcastically went around the whole thing.
"You know you shouldn't leave windows open especially in this town, you never know what manic may try and break in" He smirked.
"Ha, see break in"
He rolled his eyes and smirked.
"Just help me up"
"I have got a front door you know" I said putting his arm around by arm.
"Yeah and your good at answering it when somebody rings the bell" he sarcastically said.
I rolled my eyes and pulled him up, and then the realization hit me. Edward could see right into my bedroom and half of my exposed chest and bra strap. I could help but blush as I let him go.
"Are you alright" I asked again.
"Bella, I'm fine and I'm sorry for coming into your house without permission it was rude of me. I sin your car parked outside so I knew you were in but you didn't answer. I thought something was wrong, if you want me to leave"
"No" I said a bit too eagerly. "Its, um" I paused and smiled. "It's fine"
He nodded which brought his gaze to my attire I could see the smile starting to escape his lips as he eyed me up and down.
"What?" I ordered blushing.
"Nothing" he smirked tearing his gaze away.
I did what he did to me and scanned his attire. Black jeans, grey v-neck top, black army boots and his leather black jacket. Did he even own any colours? I must admit I have loads of colours but I didn't like wearing them because I didn't want to be too flamboyant in a town where everybody wore dark colours. I picked up the bat and quickly returned to my room and put it back under my bed.
"Would you like a drink?" I asked waking back out.
"Please" he smirked as I signalled for him down the hallway.
"Could I have something cold, I've gone hot all of a sudden" he smirked walking down the stairs.
"Funny" I spat crossing my arms.
He laughed and made his way into the kitchen. I should have changed my top but I didn't want to leave my so called intruder, now guest alone.
"What do you want?"
"Coffee" he said taking a seat by the island.
I pulled the coffee beans out the cupboard and turned the coffee maker on.
"Do you mind" he asked looking at the folded up paper in front of him.
"Go ahead"
He opened the paper and began to scan through the pages. I had brought it yesterday in Port Angeles so it was a day old.
"So what's your secret plan then?" I asked grinding the coffee beans.
"It isn't Monday yet" he smirked still looking down at his paper.
"Why can't you just tell me?" I pouted.
"Why can't you just wait?" he smirked looking up.
I had the urge to stick my tongue out at him and I didn't hold back.
"You did not just stick your tongue out at me?" he chuckled.
"So what if I did" I countered.
He rolled his eyes and looked down at the paper again.
"Child" he smirked.
I giggled slightly as I finished off making the coffee. I couldn't believe how easy it was for me to talk to him it felt like I had known him for years not just a couple of days. I poured the coffee and froze as I felt his presences behind me. I spun around and was just inches from his face. My breathing accelerated as his hand came up to my face. I was about to speak but his hand continued to the top of my head. I felt his fingers gently pull my hair and he smirked bringing a feather into my view.
"You're moulting" he smiled.
I began to breathe again as he turned to pick the cup up from the side. He returned back to the island and left me blushing the brightest shade of red possible. I spun around and picked up my cup and stayed there hoping that the blush would fade.
"So, what plans did I rudely interrupt of your today" he asked.
"Not much, cleaning, chores, you know" I shrugged.
I sat down opposite him and scanned the paper upside down.
"I suppose you won't say no to breakfast"
"I suppose your right" he smirked looking up.
I stood back up and opening the fridge then I pulled out some eggs and bacon.
"Here let me" he said coming up behind me.
He took the food from me as I pulled out some pancake mix.
"What do you want?" I asked
"Anything"
"Ok, well I'm a pig because I have everything so"
I paused and blushed. What the hell did I say that for? I was beginning to hate being around him because my words and actions didn't have any control, they just flowed out and I couldn't stop them.
"I like your style" he smiled "Although I did think that you were one of these girls who just orders a salad and a mineral water" he laughed.
"God no, I do eat a lot of fruit but that about it" I admitted.
"Good, well in that case I guess I will have to have whatever you have because it won't look good for a man like myself to be eaten under the table but a tiny girl like yourself."
"Excuse me, hey I'm not a tiny girl and yes I probably could eat you under the table"
I held my tongue and tried not to blush because that statement sounded so wrong in so many different ways.
"Prove it Swan" he challenged me.
"Get them eggs on now" I laughed.
I made the pancakes as Edward cooked the bacon and eggs. He upped the stakes by throwing a few sausages into the mix. I wasn't standing for any of it so I poured us a pint of orange juice each to wash it down with. Whoever ate and drank all the breakfast was the winner. The plates were mounted high and I must admit I was actually forced to admit to myself that I wouldn't be able to finish it.
"Come on then" he said grabbing his plate and drink.
I followed him to the back of the kitchen and he placed he food on the floor.
"What are you doing?"
"Doing exactly what you said" he smirked crawling under the breakfast table.
I laughed and proceeded to follow him underneath.
"I didn't mean literally under the table" I protested.
"You should be more careful with what you say" he laughed.
We sat crossed legged under the table with our plates balanced on our laps.
"May the best contestant win" he smirked before taking the first bite.
I was proud of myself for making it half way through my plate as Edward was nearly finished. My stomach felt like I had swallowed a beach ball. I couldn't eat anymore I though I was going to explode. It surprised me that he actually finished all of it and his juice.
"I win" he grinned.
"Yes you do"
He crawled out from under the table and took my plate from me. He held his hand out for me and I took it too eagerly. He pulled me up then he grabbed the plates and went over to the sink.
"Just leave them ill do them later" I told him.
I needed to sit down I felt sick and tired. I walked into the living room and slumped down in the corner of the sofa. Edward joined me a few seconds after and sat down on the far side of the sofa. I put my legs up and curled then around me as I slid down so I was half lying down.
"Are you alright" Edward looked at me with sympathetic eyes.
"No" I laughed.
"Eyes are bigger than your belly" he laughed.
"Yeah" I pouted. "The remotes there put whatever you want on"
He reached forward and grabbed the remote. He pressed the button and the curtains closed.
"What the fuck" he said staring at the remote.
I burst into laughter as he pressed another button making the stereo come on.
"What the fuck" he said louder this time.
I laughed even harder when he turned the fireplace on that made fake flames.
"Give it here" I laughed.
I sat up and crawled to the end of the sofa.
"No ill figure it out" he protested.
He pressed another button that made the lights flicker on and off.
"Give it here" I laughed reaching for it.
He pulled it away making me lose my balance. I fell into his lap and started to roll off backwards. The remote dropped to the floor as his hands wrapped around me to stop me from falling but it was too late. I rolled off onto the floor taking him down with me. He landed on top of me with a soft thud and we both burst out into laughter. I blushed bright red and laughed into his chest as he made no movement to get off. I was scared to look up at him but when I did he was just smiling. There was a slightly pause before my head dropped back onto the remote causing the TV to come on.
"Now why didn't I think on that" he smirked.
I laughed and cleared my throat. He stood up and took my hand to pull me up. He sat back in his spot and I sunk back into the corner again. We made small talk as we watched day time TV for a while. Why the hell everybody including my farther paid for a TV license was beyond me because all you got to see was garbage and crappy reruns. We decided just to watch a DVD in the end. Edward picked one called Skyline and I picked one called Grown Ups. I hadn't seen either so we watched Edward's one first. I must admit I didn't know any of the actors in it except for the black guy out of Scrubs but the film was really good.
Half way through my film I began to feel tired. It wasn't until I heard the sounds of light snoring that I realized that Edward had fallen asleep. I didn't have the heart to wake him, he looked so peaceful. I knew it was risky for him to be here because my dad could have walked in any minuet. I managed to pull myself off the sofa and walk to the front door. I set the alarm and put the security chain on so if my dad was to walk in then at least Edward had time to escape. I walked back to the sofa and collected a blanket from the cupboard. I draped it over Edward's sleeping form and sank back down in the corner. My eyes drooped and it wasn't long before the darkness took over.
The sound of howling woke me from my slumber.
"Bella!" my dad shouted.
My eyes snapped open and I shot up from my, bed.
"Ok" I said to myself.
I walked out my room and down the stairs. Charlie was half hanging in the front door.
"What are you playing at?" He asked.
I ignored him and went into the living room. It was empty and everything was off even the blanket I put around Edward was neatly folded up.
"Bella!" Charlie shouted again.
I snapped out of it and turned and walked back to the door. He pulled his arm out the door and I closed it, unhooked the chain and opened the door.
"What the hell Bells are you sleep walking" He said coming in and turning the alarm off.
"Sorry , I was, um"
I shook my head and headed back upstairs without another word. He must of though I was on drugs or something by the way I was acting. He was right about one thing though I was so tired it did feel like I was sleep walking. I dragged my feet back to my bed and sin a hand written note on my bedside table. I opened it and scanned over the elegant hand writing.
Bella,
Thank you for the fun day hope we can do it again some time
You fell asleep so I took you to bed.
Yeah ok that sounded wrong but you know what I mean
See you tomorrow
P.S. don't forget to shut the window
Your friend. E
I smiled as I re-read it over and over again. He did consider me as his friend, and for that I was happy. I would be his friend, the friend that would not betray him, and the friend that would be there for him. The kind of friend that I wanted him to be to me, but that would take a long time for me to believe. I folded up the note and put it in my draw. I quickly ran back down the stairs and into the kitchen then to the pantry. I closed the window and headed back into the kitchen.
"Bells why are there two plates in the sink?"
I stalled for a moment.
"Um, breakfast and dinner dad" I said walking off.
"You had the same food for both?" he said eyeing up the leftover food.
"Yeah, why is that illegal?"
"No" he said shaking his head.
I was getting good with these quick come backs and recoveries. I ascended the stairs and went back into my bedroom. I dove under the covers and let the darkness devour me once again.
My alarm woke me up and I jumped out of bed fully refreshed and literally bouncing off the walls. I ran into my on-suit and had a quick shower. I wrapped the towel around me as I walked back out to my wardrobe. I pulled out a pair of black skinny jeans and a black long sleeved top. I threw a long sleeved grey cashmere sweater over the top which came past my waist to the top of my thighs. I accompanied my outfit with little grey ankle boots with a little heel. I quickly blow dried my hair and let it fall down my back. I grabbed my bag and flung it over my shoulder then grabbed my keys.
I had history, free period, Math then Chemistry. I was pretty sure that Edward shared my free period so I could have only guessed that he would let me in on his plan then unless he waited till last lesson to do whatever he wanted to do. I skipped making lunch because I was already running late. I ran down the stairs and set the alarm before I left.
The drive took me the same amount of time as usual and I got to school at 8.37. The students were slowly starting to gather as I enter the parking lot. Edwards's bike wasn't here yet so I parked up and climbed out. I hugged myself as I walked through the parking lot and up the steps. I stepped through the detectors and into the entrance. I headed straight out to the courtyard without acknowledging anybody. The courtyard was empty as usual so I made my way to the lunch shelters. I sat on top of the table and pulled out pride and prejudice again.
Before I could read half the page I heard somebody clear there through. I had déjà vu, not again I groaned inwards. I looked up into the same pair of lustful eyes I did on Friday. I huffed to myself and put my book away. This guy was truly pissing me off couldn't he take no for an answer?
"I told you to leave me alone" I spat.
"Here's the thing sweetness" Jacob smiled "I don't take orders I give them"
I rolled my eyes and climbed off the other side of the table remembering that he blocked me in last time from the other side. It didn't help because the only place I could run was around the side of the building to where Edward and I had our first chat and that was a more secluded then where I was standing now.
"I figured that if you could fuck a worthless piece of shit like Edward then I could maybe have a chance with you" He grinned.
I tensed up and all my unwanted memories came flooding back to me as I back away from him. He walked towards me and my back touched the brick wall preventing me from moving anymore. I wasn't going to let this happen, I wouldn't go down with fight. I wasn't just going to stand here and let him abuse me, I have been through this once before in Jacksonville and I will not let it happen again!
I used all my adrenaline to push him backwards. He lost his footing and stumbled to the floor giving me a clear path to the door. I sprinted towards it and didn't look back. As I got an inch away from the door I felt his arms wrap around me and he pulled me back. It reminded me of the nightmare I had yesterday as he started laughing. I couldn't use my body to defend myself so I used the only thing I could, my voice. I screamed to the top of my lungs as he pulled me backwards. I kicked my legs out and tried to shuffle my way out his grip but he only held me tighter. He carried me around the side of the building and planted me up against the wall. I felt a sharp sting across the side of my face as his hand connected with my cheekbone. My eyes started to water from the pain as he started to grope my body. I heard and felt my sweater rip at the seams as he pulled on it.
My worst nightmare had become reality once before and now it was becoming reality again. I had escaped from Jacob last time because somebody intervened but this time there was no students, no teachers, no guards and no hope. I closed my eyes and went to my happy place, the place where just Edward and I shared.