Usual disclaimer applies.
May, 2012
~77~
"Uh…Yeah?" Is my eloquent reply.
I wonder if I could sound any less intelligent.
"You're okay? Where are you?" Edward practically shouts into the phone, making me quickly pull mine away from my ear. Ow.
He still sounds so angry, so hostile. But I am almost positive I detected some worry, some concern, in his tone.
Why does he want to know if I'm okay?
"Edward, I'm fine. What's going on?" My voice is low and measured. My words are a falsehood. I know exactly what's wrong.
My dad just arrested his mom.
"You-you're not at school?" And he's nervous suddenly. Ashamed? Horrified? I can't tell. I need more than just a disembodied voice over a cheap cell phone.
"Umm, I have a spare now. So no. I'm not at school. I mean, I will be going back soon." I'm stuttering, and rambling. I'm shaking. I take a deep breath.
Come on, Edward. Just tell me. Let me know how upset you are. Tell me how my dad is making a mistake, that I'm making a mistake. Tell me that you've forgiven your mom, that you chose her over me. Why wouldn't you choose her, Edward? She's your mother. Your flesh and blood. Who am I, after all?
My swirling thoughts are broken by his reply.
"Don't go back there Bella. Not today. The shit everyone is saying—it's not a good place right now. I-I heard so many threats, so much bullshit. I don't know why they all blame you, I don't."
His words are spoken so hurriedly, so rushed. I can barely understand what he is saying. I just need him to stop.
"Edward!"
My exclamation quiets him.
"I figured when Dad told me what he was doing this morning—" I pause. Letting Edward take in the fact that we both know what went down at his house roughly fifteen minutes ago. "—that things might become a bit dicey at school. So…I'm not in school. But I need to go back. No matter what they are saying. I'm not running from this, Edward."
Edward rushes in, barely letting me finish my last sentence. "But they are threatening you, Bella! And tell me, what am I supposed to say? I'm so fucking angry, because they don't know shit. But can I really tell them that yes, my mother is crazy? That she actually deserves to be arrested? Fuck, I can barely admit it to myself. I hate that they make it their business. It's not their business!"
Well, hell. He sounds just about ready to lose it.
"I know it's not, Edward. I don't like it either." And it's like I'm talking to child who is prone to tantrums. Slow, calm, controlled. "But we just have to push through. Only two weeks until graduation."
I'm not going to admit to him that my greatest reason for needing to be at school is his parent's scholarship. That without money from his family, my hopes of leaving Forks anytime soon will be extinguished.
"Okay. Bella, okay. But just…be careful. Watch your back?"
And the concern is definitely there. His voice is more measured, and I'm relieved that he isn't panicking anymore. I was moments away from leaving the safety of my truck to go to him. To help him.
"Yeah. Okay. I can do that."
"Good."
We hang up without saying anything further and I toss my phone aside, leaning my head back and closing my eyes.
She deserves to be arrested.
That's really what he said? About Esme? Could he possibly mean that?
Because…as angry and hurt as I am over Renee, and her choices, could I ever really condemn her to that? To prison?
I'm just not sure.
And I don't think I can be sure about Edward, either.
A/N: Hey everyone! I'm sorry for updating so late, it's just been a bit hectic here. I will honestly try to get better :)
Some things have happened this past weekend that has affected my sister's good friend for the rest of her life as well as a little boy at my school who no longer has a Dad. Please, when you chose to drink, don't drive. Follow road laws because they are there for a reason. Please, stay safe. Thanks.