Don't make any money from this, and don't own own anything.
He was chasing me again, the man with the bleeding red eyes. I was running through our apartment, but once I got to my bedroom, it wasn't home anymore. The carpet had turned into red wood, and the blue walls turned to a soft brown. I tried screaming, but nothing came out. It was hot. Too hot. I could hear him at the door. I started running again. My bear feet hitting against the hardwood. Help me please! Anyone!
"Bella, over here!" I turned my head to the familiar voice.
Carlisle! I was running toward him, my arms out stretched. The tears making my face wet.
It felt safe in his arms. The coolness felt good against my over heated skin.
"You're safe. I've got you." He whispered in my ear. The way Mommy did when it was words only meant for me to hear.
Digging my self further into his arms, I tried to stop the tears. Until I felt another pair of cool arms encircle me. Tugging me away from my protector.
I was screaming. Screaming when I woke up. The lights were turned on, reflecting off the green and purple walls. Somebody was touching me. Their hands soft against my body. Instinctively I jolted from their arms, toward Max. Auntie hated it when I woke her up screaming.
Squeezing Max, I kept my eyes from the figure or figures in my room. They were talking, but their words were mashed together and I couldn't understand what they were saying.
I could feel the footsteps coming from the other side of the bed, walking toward me. It was Carlisle. I could see the short blonde hair from the corner of my eye.
My mind screamed to run to him, as I had in my dreams. But I didn't. I clung to Max harder. Squishing his insides out until both sides of his fabric body meant in the middle.
In through the nose, out through the mouth. Just like mommy said.
I could feel Max being moved from in front of my face. A gentle but firm pull until he was down by my side. Carlisle was sitting in front of me, Esme to his side.
"You're safe here Isabella. Nobody is going to hurt you." I hate being called Isabella. Esme's hand was at my cheek, wiping the wetness away. I leaned in, cursing myself for seeking comfort. I pulled away.
Don't touch me. Don't like me. Don't love me. It will only get you hurted too.
"Is everything alright in here?" The voice shocked me, my body jumping ten feet in the air. At least what I thought was ten feet. Maybe ten of Max's feet but not ten of mine, or mommy's. It was Rosalie's voice that shocked me. Her body leaning against the door frame, one pale hand against the door knob.
I locked eyes with her for a brief moment. Long enough for a small smile to grace Rosalie's lips.
I quickly turned my eyes away. Cuddling closer to Max, I tried to regain some of my dignity. I could hear Carlisle and Esme talking, to themselves or to me, I wasn't sure. Instead of trying to figure it out, I scooted my bottom down until I was laying back on the bed. Making eye contact with Esme briefly, I turned my head, burying it into the pillow, closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep.
I felt a hand touch my hair, I felt as it stroked my hair flat. And I took comfort in it. Through my eyelids I could see the light turn off, and hear the footsteps leave the green and purple room, the sound of the door shutting behind it.
Thinking that I was alone, I let myself open my eyes. The room was dark again, except for the stars projected on to the ceiling by the night light. Glancing around, I almost screamed at what I saw. A figure sitting in the armchair in the corner. The figure must have seen my fear because it stood up and came walking toward me, a calm voice saying, "It's just me, Esme." As she walked closer I couldn't help but feel safer. "Sometimes I'm afraid of the dark, but I found out that sometimes if I'm with someone, the dark doesn't seem as scary. Do you mind if I stay in here tonight?"
Yes, Please! Don't leave me alone with him!
But I didn't say that. I didn't say anything. Instead I turned around and grabbed a fistful of the extra pillow on my big bed and held it out to her.
The next time I woke up it was morning. The sun was shining through the blinds and I was alone. The chair still had the pillow on it, and a blanket too. Crinkled and messy like someone had stayed the night in it. I smiled to myself. She stayed with me.
It was morning now? I turned to the clock on the end table it had the number 8:37. I wish I knew how to tell time. Was it to early to get out of bed?
I listened. Was anybody else up? Straining my ears up, I waited for the sound of something. Then I heard it. Voices, and footsteps. And then the smell of bacon, and maybe eggs?
My tummy rumbled like Winnie the Pooh when he was in search of hunny. I patted my belly, like I always saw him do, before I decided it was safe to get out of bed and follow the sound of voices.
The carpet was soft underneath my bare feet. Keeping Max close by my side, I opened the door and peeked out. To my side, I saw one of the boys, Edward walking down the hall toward me. When I meant his eyes he was smiling. I couldn't help but smile back. I liked him. He was pretty…. Like flowers.
"Hi Isabella, how'd you sleep?" I didn't answer him as he walked up to me and knelt down, so we were face to face. Not like a lot of grown-ups were you have to tilt your head all the way back just to see their faces. "How about you and I go see what Esme is making downstairs? Smells good?" It sounded like a question, but doesn't bacon smell good to everyone?
He held out his hand, waiting for me to take it. At first I wasn't so sure. Wasn't he still a stranger? No. He lives here, and you're staying here, so…. Placing my hand in his, I let him lead me down the stairs and into the kitchen where the rest of the people were.
Being in a room full of people who all stop what they're doing and look at you is… what's the word… oh yeah, unnerving. So obviously that is how I felt, unnerved, when Edward and I walked into the room and every single person, all six, because I could count thank you very much, stopped what they were doing and stared. Well not stared exactly but looked and well, they were smiling.
It was Esme who spoke first. "Good morning, Isabella, Edward." She looked at each of us as she said our name. "Bella would you like some breakfast?"
I tilted my head to the side. Never take food from strangers. But I took some last night. So they must not be strangers. I nodded and moved over to where the place setting at the counter was. Climbing up I put Max on the seat next to me.
"I hope you like scrambled eggs." Esme said as she scraped some on to my plate. "And bacon." Doesn't everybody?
The food was yummy. Like really, really yummy. Like best ever.
Thankfully only Carlisle, Esme and Edward stayed in the kitchen with me. They must have already ate breakfast though because nobody but me ate.
But that was okay. I wish I had ketchup. I love ketchup, but none was out and I didn't wanna ask.
"Hey Bella." Edward said, "It snowed last night? Do you wanna go sledding after you're done with breakfast.
I loved sledding, mostly, except for when the hills were real, real big. I nodded, and hoped down from the stool. If I were at home I would be running towards my dresser by now. But I don't think the dresser here has my clothes in it.
Esme held out her hand. I watched it for a minute then looked at her face. She was waiting for me to take it. Slowly, I put my hand in hers and she led me up the the purple and green room.
Sorry about the time gap. I getting married in a month and a half and been focusing all my attention on that. Not to mention rebuilding an apartment and working full time. I hardly every even make it to my office these days. I hope you enjoyed this.
Next time some family bonding moments, and Bella starts to allow just a little bit more comfort from our favorite family.