Chapter Sixteen

Bella

When Alice told me what Edward had done I was horrified, now she was in trouble too and I had no doubt whatever that my turn was next but would Edward tell Charlie? If he did I was toast for the rest of my school life. He didn't speak all afternoon just sat with me and gave me dark looks every now and then and I began to feel like a naughty little girl waiting to see the headmaster. At the end of the day he was waiting outside the gym for me so with a resigned groan I went out to meet him. His arm around my shoulder was tighter than usual as if he thought I might try to run for it, I considered it, but what was the point? Lets get the lecture over with and try to avoid him telling my dad anything. We drove home in silence and as usual he opened my door for me and carried my bag.

Once inside I waited and sure enough he started,

"Would you like to tell me where you really were over the weekend and why you felt it necessary to lie to me?"

"It wasn't Alice's fault, she did it for me"

"Very noble of you, trying to take all the blame but Alice and I have already spoken about it and now she can explain to our parents why she did it."

"You shouldn't have done that Edward, it was mean"

"I'm still waiting Bella"

"You already know where I was but I went to Seattle with Jake and some of his friends"

"Why did you feel the need to disobey me? You know how dangerous the wolves are"

"Well I'm still here Edward so they aren't that dangerous. And as you also already know we went to a fight."

"Fighting? Do you think that's suitable viewing for a young lady?"

"I found it fun Edward, in fact the whole weekend was fun, we talked, we went shopping, and we watched the fights. I even had a few bets with Jake which I won. Fun is something you don't seem to want me to have any longer."

"I want to keep you safe"

"Well maybe I don't want to be safe Edward, maybe I want a little excitement, and I didn't tell you because you wouldn't have let me go."

"No I wouldn't, but if you really want to see some action I can help you".

He pulled a DVD out of his pocket and put it in the player turning the TV on as he did so, then he pulled me onto the couch and sat beside me with the remote, holding my hand tightly.

"Ready Bella?"

I had no idea what he was doing until the DVD started. There was a set up much like the one in Seattle, an arena surrounded by tiered seating and the place was packed but I couldn't tell if they were human or vampire. The film was very grainy but it showed enough, two fighters came in. One was quite obviously a vampire and his entrance was accompanied by shouts of encouragement while the other opponent was as obviously a human and a terrified one at that even though he'd been armed with a long metal bar, his entrance was received in an expectant silence and then the fight started. It was obvious in seconds that this was nothing like the fights I'd seen. The human didn't stand a chance even armed as he was, displayed graphically by the spurt of blood as his arm was ripped off to assorted screams and shouts of delight by the audience. Covering my mouth with my hand I pulled free of him and ran from the room and up to the bathroom just in time to throw up. I couldn't stop the pictures running in my head, the human being torn limb from limb by the vampire. Eventually the heaving stopped and I rinsed out my mouth then gargled with mouth wash and brushed my teeth.

I'd gone from shock and disgust to cold fury while I was up here and stormed back down to the lounge where Edward still sat but now looking guilty, the TV now switched off thankfully. He held the DVD up,

"Was that exciting enough for you Bella?"

I was so angry I couldn't speak but I snatched the DVD from him and threw it in his face making him flinch.

"How dare you bring that into my house. How could you Edward? That was barbaric and sick! Get out of here"

He smiled a little,

"I see, you can watch things like that with your other friends but not with me"

"Jake would never have taken me to a fight like that. He wouldn't have let me stay if things got too violent. How dare you."

"So the fight you went to wasn't anything like that?"

"No it wasn't, now get out"

My voice was getting louder and more high-pitched and he realized he had really upset me. Coming close he tried to put his arms around me murmuring apologies but I was sick of him and his moods, not to mention this latest stunt so I pulled free and walked to the front door wrenching it open to find Garrett standing there.

"What do you want?"

He stepped back at my snapped question, putting his hands up in surrender

"I come in peace Bella. Alice asked me to check on you. She's having problems of her own at home thanks to Edward."

"Well if you want to help get him out of my house."

I pointed a shaking finger at Edward who now looked guilty.

"Bella I'm sorry, that was thoughtless of me. Please let me explain"

"Thoughtless? It was more than thoughtless Edward it was sick and depraved. How dare you show me filth like that? Its something no one else would ever do, especially Jake!"

"Would someone like to fill me in? Bella seems very upset by whatever you did Edward"

"He bought me a film to watch, thought it would teach me a lesson, vampires and humans fighting in an arena."

"You did what? Where the hell did you get that from, they're banned even in our world. And you thought it was a good idea to show it to Bella? You are seriously sick in the head Edward."

Garrett stepped in, keeping his distance from me as if I might bite him, and took Edwards arm,

"I think you'd better leave Edward, Bella's obviously very upset."

Edward shrugged him off angrily,

"Bella this is ridiculous, you're over reacting."

"Overreacting? You show me a DVD of a vampire dismembering a live human and I'm overreacting?"

I was screaming by now and Garrett looked at me worried.

"No Edward it's over, period. I want you to leave this house and my life and never come back. Is that clear enough for you? Garrett would you please take Edward away from me"

Garrett grabbed Edward again but this time Edward couldn't shrug him off, Garrett was angry too.

"Edward you can leave the easy way or the hard way but you are leaving"

He hesitated then walked to the door with Garrett, stopping in the porch,

"I'm sorry Bella, I didn't think it through I was so angry with you. I'll come back later when you're feeling better"

"I wont be feeling better Edward so don't bother and by the way my window will be closed to you from now on. Goodbye, and thank you Garrett"

I shut the door on the pair of them thankful that Alice had sent Garrett, she must have seen what Edward was going to do and my reaction.

When Charlie got home I was still upset but tried to hide it asking him if his new hat had brought him any luck.

"It sure did Bells. I've put the catch in the freezer for now. You OK?"

I nodded, dishing up his dinner as the phone rang, I tensed but he went to answer it then called me,

"Bella, its Edward"

His voice as always was disapproving but even he was taken aback by my reaction. I took the phone from him and put the receiver firmly down.

"So Edward's in the dog house is he?"

"No dad, Edward is history, I don't want to see him or speak to him ever again."

"Well I can't say I'm sorry but what did he do?"

"Let's just say he upset me and leave it at that can we dad?"

"Sure Bella if there's nothing I can do"

"No dad really I'm fine. I'm feeling a bit sick, I think I might have an early night."

I could feel his eyes on me as I climbed the stairs but I really did feel sick, and angry, and confused. I grabbed a quick shower then climbed into bed with a book, making sure the windows were shut and locked and the curtains drawn. I heard a tapping on the window in the night but ignored it, rolling over and putting my head under the pillow. The next morning he was waiting to take me to school, on the front steps a bunch of flowers in his hand but I walked past them and him as Alice screeched to a halt and called me. I couldn't avoid him in class but I didn't speak or look at him and at lunchtime I went into the library with Angela to do some homework so he couldn't try to talk to me. He waited at the end of the day but I walked out with Alice and she dropped me home promising to come back later with news about Chicago.