Disclaimer: Characters owned by SM
A/N: I think you're gonna like this one. Also, thanks so much for all of the reviews. This is my first time writing anything besides academic essays and I am having a blast, all thanks to you!
March, 2012
~21~
Holding my breath so that I don't make a sound, I listen, both excitement and fear coursing through my blood. I'm not sure if I'm going to like what I am about to hear, but I know, based on the timing of their confrontation that whatever it is, it will have to do with me.
And I desperately, desperately want some answers.
"So," Edward begins, his voice deceptively calm despite his hard breathing. "You're not just going to torment her anymore? You're going to hurt her now too? Physically hurt her?"
"No Edward! It wasn't me, it wasn't…"
"Bullshit!" Edward roars, striking his fist on the desk nearest to him. "Bullshit! You were there before anyone else, you did that. When are you going to listen to me, huh? I've been telling you all year that she did nothing wrong, fucking nothing!"
In a flash, Edward has grabbed Jasper by his shirt collar, slightly lifting him up, and has his forearm pressed against Jasper's throat.
"I know man!" Jasper wheezes, panicked. "I know she didn't!"
What I am witnessing seems to be occurring in a bubble, or perhaps underwater, separate from me and distorted in appearance and sound. I can't help but think that I have never, in all of my years of knowing Jasper, seen him this vulnerable, this weak. Usually Jasper is the one holding the other guy down.
Edward relaxes slightly, giving Jasper enough breath to speak, albeit hurriedly.
"Listen, I talked to her the other day. She had no idea about Alice, I could tell by her face."
Jasper's voice turns more resolute, more powerful, as Edward's arm falls away. "And please, don't act so fucking innocent in all of this. Even though what I did was wrong, it's not like you stood up for her, you ignored her!"
"I know."
It's broken. His voice is broken.
"I can't stand to be in the same room with her. I can't stand to see her. That's why…"
Suddenly, I can feel a cool hand clasping my wrist.
Angela's voice whispers, "Bella. It's time to go. C'mon."
She pulls me away from the scene. Tears have pooled in my eyes, and I anxiously try to hide them from her, from myself. With only a few words from Edward's mouth, all the hurt that I thought I was over, that I had buried deep down in my soul, has come up to the surface.
I can't stand to be in the same room with her. I can't stand to see her.
I can't stand to be in the same room with her. I can't stand to see her.
I don`t realize that I am crying until I hear Angela shushing in my ear, her arms wrapped tightly around me. We are in the girls' bathroom, alone.
I have never felt so much gratitude towards anyone as I do right now towards Angela.