Chapter 8: Originally Chapters 34- 37

BPOV:

Alice stayed the night with me at the hospital and she insisted on helping me settle into my apartment once I was discharged. Jasper and Edward promised to come over soon to work through some practice exams once finals got closer so that I would feel prepared. Thank goodness for them.

Monday around 11 AM I was discharged from the hospital. Alice drove me back to my house.

I took the elevator up and started walking toward my door then slowed my pace. Shit. "Um... Ali, I am locked out. I am really sorry but could you drive me to the gym so I can get the stuff in my locker?"

"Of course Bella! I completely forgot."

We rushed over to the gym. I went into the locker room and the aroma of chlorine started giving me a panic attack as a rush of horrible memories flooded my mind. I fumbled with the lock, missing the combination time and time again until I was shaking too hard to even try.

"Bella?" Alice was in the locker room with me but had stopped to use the bathroom and expected me to meet her out in the hall as soon as I had grabbed my things.

I looked up at her trying to anchor myself to the present time. A place filled with oxygen.

"Oh!" She ran over to me and helped me sit on a bench and gave me a light hug trying to be careful with my ribs. She seemed to know somehow exactly how anxious I was feeling.

"Ali, I died in this place." Suddenly I stood up with wobbly knees. I threw my hand over my mouth and took determined steps until I was hanging over a toilet.

I puked.

Alice had come over to me and was holding my hair back. I didn't even notice she was with me.

"It will get better Bella. You are safe now. So safe. You are okay." Alice spoke gently to me like she was handling a wild animal.

I was starting to feel better. She was rubbing small circles on my back. I looked at her curiously, wondering how she knew exactly what I needed.

She offered me a small smile but it was haunted and I realized she probably saw how to deal with panic attacks and trauma after being institutionalized for three years. For being so tiny she is so fucking strong.

I pulled myself together and hugged Alice. "Thanks Ali." I walked back to the lockers, spun my combo and emptied out the locker. "I'm am seriously ready to go home."

We returned again to my apartment and I saw Charlie and my sexy best friend leaning against the wall of the hallway. They looked unsure of where to go.

"Dad! Jake!"

They turned and looked at me like I made the world go round. Then they took in my haggard appearance and ushered me toward the apartment.

"Kiddo, we just left the hospital, they said you had already been discharged. We were surprised that you weren't home." Charlie's eyes were bloodshot and welled up with tears. "Bella, if anything ever happened to you..." He gave me a hug like he never wanted to let me go. It hurt. A lot. But I didn't want to cry out in pain so I silently cringed and sucked up the ache in my ribs.

Jake noticed. "Chief, take it easy on Bells she's already a little china doll but we don't know what's wrong with her yet."

Charlie pulled back to look at me. "Kiddo, what happened, are you okay?"

"I am fine, just had a rebellious organ cause me some trouble during a swim. No harm done. I got my revenge, the untrustworthy appendix is now in a bio hazard bag somewhere." I smiled at them. "Now I want my sexy best friend to give me a hug too."

Jake's bright white smile lit up the hallway. He reached down to give me a big hug. I thought he was going to pick me up and I frantically whispered in his ear. "Go easy on me please." His smile faltered and he gave me a wimpy hug and kissed the top of my head.

"I am so happy you guys are here, you didn't have to come but I am so so happy." I unlocked the door and pushed it open for all of us to go inside. "Oh and you get to meet Alice!" I put my arm around her and we walked through the door together. "She is one of my best friends here. She has been with my since she learned that I was in the hospital and was going to help me get settled."

"It's really nice to meet Bella's family. She talks about you two a lot!" She immediately hugged Charlie and Jake.

Alice turned to me. "Bella why don't you catch them up on everything that happened and I will just quickly get your place in order and then head out." I knew she was urging me to just come clean and tell my dad and Jake was happened but I didn't want poor Charlie to know my heart stopped.

"Okay?" Alice implored.

"Yeah, okay. Thanks Ali."

She smiled at me and got to work organizing all kinds of things and picking the place up. Bless her.

I told them about the appendix and drowning. Bla bla bla. I cried. Charlie cried. Jake looked like he was going to be sick. And then we were fine and before I knew it we had changed topics to what their lives have been like recently.

Turns out Dad was dating Sue Clearwater. Good for him. He needs a caring lady in this life and Sue was one of my favorite Mom's from the Reservation.

Jake was single.

He threw me a look that tried to convey it was my fault he was single. Alice caught it and her tinkling laughter could be heard around the house. He looked toward me curiously to see if I had told her the whole story. I nodded sheepishly. He just shook his head. Charlie luckily wasn't paying that much attention to us.

Alice headed out giving all of us a kiss on the cheek. Charlie looked quite taken with her. She seems to have that effect on most people.

I called out for Chinese delivery for dinner and we all tucked in as soon as it arrived. When it came time to go to bed we were stuck. I had a couch and my queen size bed. That was it. No one wanted to kick the girl with the broken ribs out of her own bed and on to the couch so I got to stay in my bed. But it became uncomfortable when we had to discuss where Charlie and Jake would crash.

"I will take the couch. I have been doing lots of night shifts lately so I will likely end up watching TV until the early hours when I will finally get to fall asleep. Jacob I would make you stay out here with me but I feel guilty keeping you awake. Why don't you sleep on the floor in Bella's room?"

The floor? Really Charlie?

"Dad he can sleep next to me in bed. It's a pretty big bed. I won't even notice."

Jake's face remained neutral.

"Well if you don't think your boy Edward would mind. At least I know with Jake in there you two will be well behaved."

Jake glanced at me. Wondering if I had a boyfriend, his eyes gave me a look like he was questioning why I didn't mention in when we were all catching up.

"Edward has a girlfriend. But regardless Jake and I will be well behaved we aren't teens anymore."

Charlie looked at me with his eyebrows scrunched in concern then look at Jake distrustfully. "Okay but Jake, even though I couldn't fly over here with my gun doesn't mean I won't shoot you or cause bodily harm if you bother my little girl."

Jake laughed. "Don't worry Chief, I know you would if it came to that."

Charlie grumbled. "You didn't always know that..."

I pretended not to hear that but blushed a little in embarrassment.

By 9 PM I was exhausted. I wanted to take a quick shower and shave my legs before bed because sheets and stubbly legs are the pits, plus the little sponge baths I had at the hospital weren't cutting it.

I undressed in the bathroom and unwrapped the bandages around my chest. I had to keep the little piece of plastic taped over my appendix wound. I glanced in the mirror and was disgusted by the green yellow and purplish bruises in the center of my chest reaching up toward my neck. There were also faint burn lines from the AED patches. My reflection reminded me of grotesque dead people who underwent autopsies. I quickly stopped that thought process. I am alive. I am safe. I chanted over and over again in my head.

As I tried to forget about my reflection, I turned on the warm water and stepped underneath the soothing shower. I imagined it washing away all of nonsense I have been going through recently, while I soaped up and rinsed off and shaved.

Within 10 minutes I had dried off and put my robe on, now hyper conscious of the fact that it was a little indecent according to Alice. I poked my head into the hallway and walked back to my room.

Charlie had his full attention on something on TV and Jake was apparently getting ready for bed too. He was standing in a white undershirt and dark grey boxer briefs.

Yup, he is still sexy.

He smiled at me and let out a quiet whistle.

I rolled my eyes and walked past him to grab some PJs.

"Jake turn around."

He laughed "Bells, come on it's nothing I've never seen before..."

"That was a long time ago. Turn around."

"Okay okay." His voice held a little disappointment.

I quickly dressed in some sleep shorts and was pulling on my t-shirt when I remembered that I would need to re-wrap my ribs. The nurses showed Alice and I how to do it and it was really a two person job because the ace bandage had to go so high under my armpits.

I held my shirt up in front of my chest and turned to face Jake.

"Hey Jake..." I whispered.

He turned to face me again. He looked like he was going to say something but stopped. His eyebrows went up in surprise and confusion and a smile was spreading over his face.

"I need your help... can you wrap my ribs? I will try to explain how, but I don't want to mess it up and I can't do it by myself."

He stepped toward me hesitantly. "Okay Bella, sure..."

I walked over to my dresser and grabbed the big rolled up ace bandage, dropping it into his large mitt.

"I am going to hold it in the beginning so it can stay in place and you just wrap it around me, keep it pretty snug. It starts at the bottom under my boobs then you wrap your way up and across my shoulders then all the way back down before securing it on the side." I put my arm across my chest trying to cover my nipples and dropped my shirt on the bed.

Jake was silent. He approached me cautiously. He held out a foot long length of the bandage along the front of my stomach. I picked it up and held it tightly about 4 inches under my boobs.

"Bella..." His voice was gravely and unnerving to me. "This would be easier if you would lift your arms while I wrap. Plus in a second you are going to have to let go of your boobs so I can wrap over them..."

He was right. He was trying to be a gentleman. Jake acted like he was some tough guy or a bad boy but he wasn't. He was just my sweet Jacob. I shouldn't be making this more difficult for him or me. Plus he was correct earlier when he said he had seen them before.

I raised the arm that had been holding my chest up and out of the way. The other one stayed in place to hold the bandage for now.

His stayed on task but his eyes kept wandering to my boobs and I knew that there was no way we could pretend we weren't still attracted to each other.

After the first three wraps around my body the bandage was covering half of my nipples and squeezing my boobs against me so it appeared that they would touch my chin if I were to bend my neck down.

"God...Bells." His eyes were glazed and he was staring distractedly at my chest.

"Shhh I don't want Charlie to think we are up to no good."

His chest rumbled in a heavy groan but he nodded and kept wrapping while I directed him to pull it harder or higher or to lay it more gently. We were done in no time and I reached for my shirt on the bed, dropping it over my body.

Jake's briefs were pitching a tent, but he didn't look embarrassed he just got under the covers and patted a spot next to him. I hit the lights and called goodnight to Charlie then got into bed carefully.

"Bells, I know I said I have seen that before, you naked, but there is no comparison to you now and the girl I dated when I was 16."

I laugh quietly. What do I say to that? I don't want to lead him on. I also think he is sexy but we already know that we don't work.

"I guess I've grown up some." That seemed safe enough.. I muttered uncomfortably, "Good night Jake." I shifted some to get more comfortable and felt the heat radiating from his body.

He was lying on this stomach now with his face toward me and he rested his hand on top of my stomach, patting softly almost like a caress. "Good night Bells." Then he removed his hand.

I missed it a little. His warmth. And his strong touch. His embraces are always so comforting to me.

I work up the next morning and we were spooning. He straining erection was angled up and snuggled in the crevice where my legs met my ass. When I moved he seemed to wake up right away and take notice of his current position. He stuck his hand out to find his dick but found my butt cheek. He then reached his other hand around and slowed palmed my ass through the thin fabric of my sleep shorts before pulling his hard cock away and rolling onto his back.

"God Bells.." He looked over at me. "Maybe I will need to sleep on the floor so I don't take advantage of you in my sleep.

I looked at him unsure. "No Jake, it's fine. I slept well."

He shot me another bright smile; "I am going to take a cold shower before the Chief sees me and so I don't just take you right this second, I don't think you could handle it with all of your injuries."

Again I didn't know how I should be responding. But still as carefree as ever, he hopped out of bed and started walking across the room. His white shirt clung tightly to all of his muscles and his briefs showed off his great ass and did nothing to hide his huge boner.

Why is it that I never ended up having sex with him?... hm...Maybe I need to be rethinking that decision.

EPOV

After I left Bella's hospital room I tried to get straight back into studying for finals. I felt a little guilty for shamelessly flirting with Bella, but it isn't like I was cheating on Tanya. It also isn't like Tanya would give a shit if I was cheating on her, she wouldn't even consider it cheating she would say it was just "scratching an itch". Still I checked my phone and didn't have any missed calls from her, no texts. I haven't heard from her since I dropped her off at home Friday.

I did get a text message from Seth, saying that his cute neighbor returned home with a small welcoming party. He was referring to Bella. It is almost laughable how this stranger Seth is more reliable than Tanya.

I should probably check in with Tanya anyways... I decided to just send a text.

"Hi, hope you had a good long weekend. I'm studying for finals now so if you want to join me or meet up for dinner some time this week lemme know."

Sent.

I went to my kitchen to make a cup of coffee and when I saw some hot chocolate mix I decided to make a "dunkaccino" instead. Bella has changed my entire perspective of hot chocolate. No longer do I associate it with memories of warming up after playing in the snow, but I think of tension and entrancing brown doe eyes and pouty willing warm lips and how responsive Bella is to my touch. Damn it, I'm hard again.

I should see how Bella is doing. I typed out a text message.

"Hey Bella. How are you feeling today? Do you need anything? I was thinking about coming by between today and Thurs so we could do some practice exams together. Didn't want to call in case you were resting, but feel free to text or call me back, any time."

Sent.

I settled down in a cozy chair and sipped on my dunkaccino and tried to focus on my outlines again. In about two minutes my phone started playing a song...

I looked at it curiously. It wasn't a song that I had ever heard on my phone before.

I then realized it was ringing and the person had set it to a Queen song.

"I want to ride my bicycle... I want to ride my bike..."

The name flashed up "Bella Clumsy Swan". I couldn't stop the smile that formed on my face. When Bella programmed her name she must have made this song her ring tone.

"Hi Bella"

I couldn't hold in my chuckle at the ring tone.

"I am laughing at the choice of your personalized ring tone...interesting choice

I haven't heard that song in years..."

Wait...

No, I just heard that song the other day... where...?

Fuuuck that was the song Bella had playing in the background when she climaxed in the tub while thinking about me.

"Actually, now I remember where I heard that"

I had to clear my voice because it was getting all gravely.

"You never cease to surprise me.

Yeah I will come over today to meet your dad.

I can come over in 30?

Great

See you soon."

I hung up the phone and immediately walked into the bathroom to shower. I needed a release. I never used to be so dick driven but this year that changed for some reason. The last thing I needed was to see Bella, get a huge boner, and then be introduced to her father. That would be an impossible situation to explain away. I cringed at the thought.

I stepped into the rushing water and grabbed my cock. I put some soap on my hand to keep the friction at a minimum and slowly started pumping. I tilted my head back under the water and closed my eyes. Focusing on all of the sensations. Thinking of everything I wanted to do to Bella when I heard her fucking herself in the tub, cumming to thoughts of me while the bicycle song played in the background...

A few more minutes and I came with a satisfied groan and then finished showering.

I got dressed in some dark jeans and a red hoodie and tossed on a pair of sneakers. Then I grabbed a travel mug and made another cup of the duncaccino and printed out a couple of practice exams for Torts and Con law.

I showed up at Bella's apartment and knocked on the door. Reminiscing on how much it sucked to be knocking on her door the other day and receiving no response. I sighed. Bella is home now- she is okay.

"Coming!"

I smiled.

The door opened and Bella was in that glorious silk robe peeking her head around into the hallway

"Edward!" A smile lit up her face but her eyes revealed that she was a little nervous and shocked to see me.

"Yeah, hey, were you expecting someone else?" I joked.

"Um... well I thought Charlie was going to be back. He went to grab Billy Black from the airport really early this morning. So I thought it was my dad and Billy. But you are right on time too! It is me that is running late. I just got out of the shower. Come on inside."

I followed the beauty through her door and she directed me to the couch. I was transfixed by the way that thin little robe billowed and snuggled around her body. Then I heard a guy's voice coming from her bathroom.

"Bells, come back to the bathroom and take your robe off. Lets get this done before the Chief gets home."

"Sorry Edward, I will be right back." Her skin was pink in embarrassment. And she carefully turned away from me and walked to the bathroom

My jaw dropped and I fought the feelings of disappointment and jealously. Who ever this guy is in the bathroom just commanded her to get naked and she agreed, with company over!

A few minutes went by and a huge tan guy with a hulk like figure stepped out of the bathroom. He looked satisfied and I could tell he was trying to stifle a boner. He looked like he had recently taken a shower and was only wearing boxers and an undershirt.

"Hey man, I'm Jake." He smiled brightly at me.

I nodded and tried to look friendly but I was fighting the urge to knee him in the groin. I responded in a bored tone "I'm Edward...nice to meet you."

"You too, I am going to finish getting dressed. Can't miss any opportunity to see Bells in various states of undress. Be back in a minute." He laughed and left the living room and headed straight back to Bella's bedroom.

Bella came out of the bathroom now. She glanced up at me holding tightly to her robe and apologized. "Sorry Edward two more minutes."

She should be fucking sorry. Why didn't she tell me to wait an hour so that she could fuck the tanned hulk? I don't want to see this. I was getting mad and jealous but that made me mad too. I have no right to be jealous.

Jake came out first and sat down across from me and started talking lowly about Bella. I wanted to punch him but I also wanted to learn what was going on between those two.

"That girl is the worlds biggest tease. I have been trying to tuck my boner away all week so her old man wouldn't see it. Seeing her practically naked everyday is exhausting. It is making me reconsider having her as my back up plan and to make her plan A instead." Jake smiled again and shook his head.

I could see that Bella had heard the very end of that as she entered the hallway but she didn't make her presence known to Jake.

I looked at him to continue. Secretly I was trying to put an end to their love affair ASAP. "What kind of plans?"

"Plan A is to fuck around until I find someone worth keeping around. If that doesn't work then Plan B is to marry Bella once no one else wants to fuck me." He laughed so loudly the room's polarization flipped and it contrasted sharply with my silence and Bella's little gasp.

She looked furious. "What the hell Jake?" I could see the hurt in her eyes and instantly felt bad that I had hoped and intended for her to overhear this.

Jake turned to Bella and pulled her onto his lap. "Chill Bells, I started off this conversation saying that maybe you could be the whole plan." He ran his big hands up her thighs.

"Seriously? What makes you think I would still be around and available after you sampled the entire female population until no one would want you any more? Am I that undesirable? That desperate?" Her face was flushed in anger.

"Bells...you were my back up plan cause I know you would love me no matter what. Just like I love you no matter what. We are safe together, comfortable. Don't be upset with me." He frowned at her but his expression was still a little jovial. Clearly not picked up on his insulted and upset Bella really was.

She sighed. "Whatever Jake." Then stood up off of his lap and sat on the couch next to me.

Her eyes still brimmed in disappointment, embarrassment and sadness.

It made my chest ache.

I wanted to fix it, make her realize just how perfect she is. But I didn't.

She picked through the papers I brought and held one silently. A Torts practice test.

I found my own copy to use. "Let's get started."

BPOV

Edward came over right before Jake was going to wrap my ribs. His eyes were full of lust when I came to the door in my robe that I felt my girly parts wet and start to tingle and I immediately regretted that I was going to have to get half naked in front of Jake again so that my stupid ribs would heal.

I wanted more than anything to have Edward take the robe off of me and then when he was done having his wicked way with me wrap up my ribs. Its unfortunate that my fantasy includes rib wrapping but they just hurt so fucking much that I am desperate to keep up with the doctors advice so that they heal as quickly as humanly possible.

I apologized to Edward and pointed him to the couch then sped into the bathroom so I could get this over with. Jake had been ogling at my boobs for the last two days and I didn't mind before... but now I just wished he would either hurry up or turn into Edward.

"Please Jake, will you hurry, we have company..." Jacob was taking his fucking time laying the bandage around my nipples, his fingertips reaching out to touch them.

"Okay Bells, sorry, one more minute." He threaded the bandage around me and it was a little tight but not too bad and as soon as he was done he kissed the top of my head and said he was going to get changed.

I carefully replaced my robe around my body and put on a touch of tinted moisturizer and mascara so that I wouldn't feel so stunted by Edward's beauty and made my way back to my bedroom to toss on a sweater dress and some ballet slippers. The sweater dress was made of teal cashmere, it had a cowbell neck line and long sleeves but the dress ended about three inches above my knees. It was so soft, I loved it.

Jake left a minute or two before I did. And I took that time to put on some deodorant and brush my hair, leaving it down deciding to let the damp waves air dry before walking back out to the living room.

"... Reconsider having her as my back up plan and to make her plan A instead."

Jake was talking to Edward, it sounded interesting and the way he was speaking so quietly made me curious so I naturally began eavesdropping.

His familiar voice continued on "Plan A is to fuck around until I find someone worth keeping around. If that doesn't work then Plan B is to marry Bella once no one else wants to fuck me."

Are You KIDDING Me? What a fucking shit nugget! I am Jacob fucking Black's plan B? Once his dick is too gross to stuff into an anonymous chick he thinks I am going to hop all over that second hand rod? He thought I was going to be single the entire time just waiting incase he didn't find Mrs. Right?

Any sexy thought I had about him flushed out of my system like a dead goldfish in the potty.

I made my presence known. I couldn't and didn't even attempt to hold back my anger and disgust at his "plan."

Calling him out didn't make me feel any better about myself though. I was left questioning what I must be like if one of the people who knows me best in this world, thinks I'm going to be an old maid.

Despite my mascara and cute sweater dress I felt extremely undesirable.

Jacob's revelation was disheartening so I focused on something else and turned my attention to the work Edward brought.

Edward and I moved into the dinning room while Jake watched TV on low volume. He was sitting across from me and we started the test. I was sitting with my elbows up on the table and my ankles were crossed and tucked under my chair, leaning over the exam. Edward's arms were in basically the same position but at one point he stretched back and scooted down in his chair, bringing the exam onto his stomach and writing on a piece of paper off to the right side of the table.

My dinning room table was barely three feet across and when his legs were stretched out they ended up on either side of mine. My uncovered bent knees were centimeters from the inside of his knees and I felt my body hum in anticipation of touching him.

I wonder if he can feel it too?

I glanced up at him but he was focused on the test question. I decided to see how close I could get to touching him and opened my legs a tiny bit more.

I raised my eyes to see if he noticed. Nothing yet.

I did it a little more, unlocking my ankles. I glanced up at him and he had a little smirk on his face but nothing else and I wasn't sure if that was related to what I was doing. Probably not.

For me, every millimeter closer I got to his body the more mine buzzed in anticipation and excitement.

I was asking to be caught I guess, because I knew it was a bad idea to spread my legs again but couldn't resist the urge.

For a split second warm, cozy sweatpants embraced the outside of my knees and the little contact with him sent a volt of electricity straight to my girly bits.

Apparently I had scared the living shit out of Edward though because after that split second he raised his knees up so fast that they slammed into the underside of the table and his feet smacked back down to the ground.

My hands flew over my mouth in shock and surprise. He looked super embarrassed and confused and sat up in his chair immediately.

"Wow sorry Bella didn't realize we were so close, startled me." He rubbed his hands over his face and gave me a crooked sheepish smile.

I wanted to kiss the corner of his mouth that rose up a little higher at me for the great things it was doing to my nether regions. Then I realized I was staring at his mouth and I quickly waived off his apology.

"What happened in there, you party animals better not trash the place before the Chief gets home."

I ignored Jake and mentally told him to fuck off again. He is not yet forgiven for deeming me plan B. But Edward chuckled a sexy little chuckle at Jake's comment that made me want to act like a party animal and trash the place.

I stole a look up at Edward, dirty thoughts ambushing my mind and his eyes caught mine. He stopped chucking and swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing in what could be interpreted as nerves.

Within the first half hour we finished answering Essay number 1. So we began to read through the model answer and compared it to our own answers then started asking each other questions about issue we spotted that the other didn't or rules that needed clarification.

At one point he moved to the seat next to me and put his hand on the back of my chair, leaning over a treatise, aka a fancy and expensive study guide, to help explain why I had applied the rule incorrectly.

I wasn't listening I was staring at his mouth again and not following his finger on the page like I should have been.

"You understand now, you just need to make sure it is the 'but for' cause of the injury before you can conclude if the person deserves damages..." His honey like voice flowed to my ear drums and his handsome mouth pronounced each with such ease and precision I felt like I was watching Van Gogh's paint brush sweep across a masterpiece.

I nodded dumbly and gave a breathy "yeah".

His mouth formed into a crooked smirk and the change brought my eyes up to his. His immediately became hooded and I moved my face closer to his and sat a little straighter in my seat. He turned his head down to mine, and although we were not touching yet I could feel the heat of his lips in the air between us. I would have to do so little to kiss him right now, barely turn my chin up.

I licked my lip and was about to pull my tongue back into my mouth when it slid against something pliant that tasted of mint and hot cocoa with a hint of the outdoors. I sucked in a breath and bit my lip.

Shit shit shit... I just licked Edward's lip.

He pulled back to look at me and licked his own lip and gulped again for the second time today. He took his hand off of the back of my chair and the back of his hand brushed the side of my face. "Concentrate Bella..."

I nodded and felt myself lick my lip again like a stupid fucking twitch. Edward's eyes starred at my mouth again and he groaned a little.

"Bella!"

Also for the second time today Edward's knees slammed into the underside of the table, the resounding sound scared me again and my heart clenched and then thundered against my chest.

I turned to look to the door and my dad was there with Billy.

"How are you feeling sweetie? Your dad told me everything that had happened and I just listened to your voicemail. I am so sorry I wasn't in New Hampshire, I just got back from that week long conference in Orlando about Fourth Amendment changes."

Billy's long explanation gave Edward time to readjust and look like he wasn't just about to make out with me. He and I both stood up so that I could introduce him to Charlie.

"All is well now Billy, thanks!" I turned to Charlie. "Dad this is Edward, Billy you know Edward from Con Law. He is the one who pieced everything together and found me at the hospital." I looked to Edward and I felt overwhelmed with love for the guy, again. I shook it away and watched Charlie shake Edward's hand then pull him in for a hug.

"Thanks for making my Bella feel safe and taken care of Edward. I am glad there is someone way out here to watch over her when I can't"

"It was nothing. She has at least five of us here that she can always count on to take care of her, just needs to memorize our phone numbers." Edward was saying this to my dad but he glanced over at me when he said "always" and my heart fluttered unnaturally.

"Well my boy, I came back with some local brews after picking up Billy, you want a cold one?" Charlie walked toward the kitchen with a 24 pack of Redhook Ale.

"Sure." He followed Charlie into the kitchen and everyone got a beer except for me.

Charlie toasted. "To Bella's good health" and all of the men raised their beers and drank, but Edward kept his eyes on me the whole time.

I was sure my eyes were sparkling with my emotions. I have some good people in my life even if there are none in my love life. I smiled at them and gave my dad and Billy a hug.

It's Friday already and I am in my Victoria's Secret jersey PJs trying to start my day. Edward hasn't come back over since he was here Tuesday taking the torts practice tests with me but he promised he would come by if I asked. Jasper came over yesterday and Wednesday to do some property and criminal law practice tests.

Yesterday afternoon Jake and Charlie had to fly back to Washington. I was going to be joining them in just less than two more weeks for winter break. I felt a little rejuvenated after being doted on by them for the last couple of days despite my sore ribs and the incision on my side.

I took some time with my morning routine and finally decided that I had to shower, which meant that I would need someone to help me wrap my ribs. I would try to do it myself if A. I trusted myself to do it right. B, I didn't think I would fall in the process and cause more injuries. Or C. if it wasn't physically impossible considering the strange way it is supposed to cross up and around my body.

I tried calling Alice but her phone went to voicemail. I tried calling Rose but she said that she and Emmett had taken the weekend down to Boston to see the Blue Man group and to ice skate on the frog pond. It was weird to ask Jasper to do it, I didn't want to make Alice upset or make Jasper uncomfortable.

I showered and debated.

I got out and put on a pair of skinny jeans and remained barefoot in the steamy bathroom. I decided to go for it and try to do this on my own. I got some tape and stuck a piece of the ace bandage on the ribs under my boobs and started to wrap it around. It wasn't so hard but it was about to get tricky when I had to take the bandage from behind my back, bring it up and over my shoulder like a seatbelt then wrap it down again.

With my arm behind my back I tried to toss the bandage over my shoulder so I could catch the roll in front of my body and continue.

Knock Knock Knock...

"Bella you home?"

Knock Knock Knock.

My concentration broke at the loud voice at my front door. I was just about to try attempt number two in bringing my arm behind me when I heard the knocking. The loud sound disrupted the silence of the apartment and made me jump in surprise. And a jumping Bella is never a good thing.

My foot slipped on the damp tile floor and with one arm behind my back I failed to catch myself. Instead I spilled forward face first into the sink. I slammed my tooth and lip on the edge of the sink and the underside of my left eye banged into the long faucet.

"Fucking, ouch! Goddamnit!" I wanted to slap the sink in frustration but I was scared I would hurt my hand so I found my grip on the edges and slowly rose up.

"Bella? Did you just yell? You okay? Will you let me in?"

I was angry. I picked up the hanging rolled up ace bandage and walked to the front door. Opening the door a little to see who it was although I was pretty sure it sounded like Edward.

"Yes?" I growled at him. I know it's not his fault this happened but I don't think I would have fallen if he didn't startle me.

He put his hands up trying to say he was innocent of any wrongdoing. "Hey is now a bad time? Rose texted me and said you needed some help with something... Is your lip bleeding? Are you okay?" He pushed his way into the apartment and was inspecting my lip and I just sighed and slowly back up so he could enter.

"You scared me, banging the door down like that. I got startled and hit my face." No need to give him details, he didn't need to imagery of my head stuck in a sink.

"Sorry Bella..." Edward now glanced at the rest of me. The ace bandage was precariously covering my chest but was loosely unraveling. "Why aren't your dressed?"

I heated up under his stare, both is want and in anger. "I am fucking trying to get dress but you, barbarian, knocked my door down and ended my shitty attempt at wrapping my ribs."

"Um your lip is bleeding pretty heavily, lets get you some paper towels. Did you hit your eye...? You have an egg forming..." Edward's face twisted into disgust.

"I blame you for my Quasimodo face." I pointed at him and tried to glare but that eye was really sore so I stopped attempting to squint at him.

"Come on we will get you a cold pack for that eye." He directed me to the dining room and sat me down.

I huffed in annoyance and put the extra ace bandage on the table. Edward came over with the paper towels to hold against my mouth and a bag of peas for my eye.

"I look like a poster child for domestic violence. Everyone is going to think Charlie beat the shit out of me while he was here." I grumbled.

Edward laughed. "It's not that bad Bella...plus not very many people know Charlie visited you and the people who do know- know that Charlie wouldn't lay a finger to harm you."

"Good." I sighed and started fidgeting with the rolled up ace bandage that I had rested on the table top.

We sat in silence while he held the peas to my face and I held the paper towel to my mouth. The throbbing in my eye let up a little but I could feel that the unnatural bump had pushed my lower eyelid up above my iris, the lid was starting to block my vision.

At least the taste of blood in my mouth had been replaced with the dry dusty taste of the paper towel.

I am a mess. A walking fucking accident. I looked at the ace bandage and knew that if I tried to do this on my own again, now with just one eye working properly I was asking to be put in a body cast. I knew what I should do…

"Edward?" I asked hesitantly.

He looked toward me.

"I did call Rose because I needed some help...?" I looked down at the table.

"I know, she said you did, what can I help you with Bella?" His charming voice was coaxing out my response.

"Would it be okay for you to wrap my ribs? I can't do it. And now that Jake's gone, I need someone else to help me..." I looked up to him...this would be weird for both of us. I was going to like it too much and he was going to feel the need to explain to his girlfriend why he saw my tits.

Edward didn't respond just looked stricken.

"Never mind. It's okay. I will just walk to Alice's bar and see if she wouldn't mind doing it in the bathroom. Rose shouldn't have called you to come by, she knew that I would have to be topless for someone to help me." He still remained silent and I couldn't wait for his response any longer.

It was too uncomfortable.

I shouldn't have even asked. I stood up abruptly and walked into my bedroom and shut the door. Then I began carefully removing the remaining ace bandage that I had taped on and threw a sweatshirt over my body, preparing myself for the walk to the bar.

"Bella?" Edward knocked gently on my door, slowly pushing it open. "It's no problem, I used to help Carlisle in the clinic when I was doing summer internships in college. I will help you." His face looked determined.

I stood there dumbly and whispered, "Okay".

I raised the sweatshirt back over my head and held it in front of my body. Then I pointed at the bandage that was on my bed.

Edward picked up the bandage and stood behind me. "Put down your sweatshirt. I can do this from here and won't be able to see much. I promise to be respectful Bella."

I had no doubt he would be. I dropped the sweatshirt to the floor.

He had one cool hand on the left side of my waist and he held a piece of the bandage flatly to my skin. "Bella, could you move your arms from your sides, just lift them out in front of you or straight up." He spoke calmly but his voice was gravely.

I lifted them out so I wouldn't bop him in the head.

With his left hand secured to my side, he used his right arm to wrap the bandage around my body, passing the material through his left hand every time. I felt like I was being embraced over and over again lovingly and really wanted to turn around and kiss him, but that would be totally inappropriate.

As soon as the wrap was secured to my side he started using both of his hands to aid in the process. He brought the bandage over my shoulders and began wrapping back down my body. The whole time his left hand stayed on the bandage to make sure it was free of wrinkles and followed its path down. I shuddered.

"Sorry are you cold? I am almost done." His voice was laced in concern.

"No it's okay. I'm not cold." Once again my voice had dropped an octave and I sounded like a two-dollar whore. I blushed in embarrassment realizing how obviously turned on I was.

Edward tied off the bandage and walked around to the front of me. He crouched down and retrieved my sweatshirt, opening it up widely and helping me to stick my arms and head through it. The hood was over my eyes and he chuckled and gently pushed it off of me and patted it down flatly on my back.

"Your dad's patients must have loved their summer appointments if you were the one helping them." I bit my lip. Ohhh where is my filter? I probably should have kept that to myself.

Edward's eyebrows furrowed. "I helped with the filing and making sure the charts were up to date...I never actually worked with Carlisle's patients, sorry I misled you... I just wanted you to feel comfortable with asking for my help... sorry Bella."

I smiled at him "Then his patients were definitely missing out. Thank you Edward."

A bright smile spread over his face and he looked relaxed and happy and I really really wanted to kiss him again. His eyes found mine and he started to look uncomfortable.

"Bella, I should probably go, now that you are all set." He must have registered what I wanted to do in that moment and wanted to escape... his face now showed his desire to avoid me and leave. His eyes were nervously darting away from me.

I am an idiot. Why am I falling for him when I know he has a gorgeous girlfriend? I couldn't look at him I just agreed and walked past him toward the front door.

"Yeah, it is best if you leave. Thanks again." Best for him and best for Tanya but not for me.

I could feel him looking at me but I didn't want him to see how disappointed and crest fallen I truly was. Standing in front of him with a busted lip and a lumpy half opened eye I felt a little like a troll and decided I couldn't wait for him to leave now, no one should be able to see me like this.

He hesitated a little in the threshold and I encouraged him to get out of my presence by starting to close the door. He left silently and I shut the door, turned the dead bolt and leaned against it.

I needed to find someone to love who was actually available. My heart can't take much more of the blatantly un-available hot Eddie.

.

Poor sexually frustrated Bella =o(

I promise that this is an Edward Bella story. It is coming, promise!

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PS: Exams are creeping up on me so I might need to slow my updates if I am going to pass on the first try. Only thing that will possibly encourage me enough to update quicker will be your reviews! Lots of love to you guys, thanks for all of the support so far! ~XoXo~ 2012bos