My Compass and my Sea
The sound of someone clearing their throat makes Edward and I slowly pull away from each other. We look sheepishly at Mr Banner and, despite his disapproving look, Edward and I smile as he tells us it's time to get to class.
"Yes, sir," Edward replies happily.
With a quick peck goodbye, Edward and I walk to our own classes.
While sitting in class I listen in on the Brittanys discussing my "sluttish" behaviour in the hall. Of course, according to them, he only kissed me because he feels sorry for me. Surprisingly, their words don't upset me a single bit. The kiss was very real. I felt it. Plus, remembering Edward's words about always having liked me, and even telling Alice so, has me smiling to myself in amusement at their trash talk.
The trash talk and stares don't let up through the rest of the day and it proves a great source of amusement for all. At lunch the usual group sit in the quarry and we swap stories about what we've learned through the rumour mill.
"I heard that you still don't know who the father is, you're just saying it's Edward because his family are well off," Jasper chimes in.
"I heard that you're not even pregnant. That your bump is a prosthetic," Eric's sister pipes up. I look at her, dumbfounded. It's the first time I've heard her speak. She smiles at me shyly.
I don't know what comes over me, but I stand and lift up my shirt to bare my rounded belly. I run my hand over it and mumble, "Nope, it's real."
Just as I put my shirt back down, Edward surprises me by leaning over and cupping his hands around my belly. "Baby! I am your father," he says in a gruff voice.
"You dork!" I laugh, and push him playfully, before sitting back down.
The whole table is still in hysterics from all the silliness when the bell rings.
On the way to our next class Angela tells me the story about how Jasper had ignored her suspension and went to her house to speak with her dad. She found out later from Jasper that he and her dad had been talking for almost an hour before she was called down from her room.
She then goes on to explain that her awesome moves on Chelsea was thanks to a few self-defence classes she took at her church.
I look at my friend's smiling face and realise that she truly is such a happier person nowadays. It makes me happy, too. So happy in fact, that Chelsea's jibe as we walk past her doesn't even break my stride.
The rest of Tuesday is simply amazing and my new found confidence and smile doesn't go unnoticed when mum picks me up.
"You look like you've had a good day," she comments.
"The best," I beam.
She lets me bathe in my happiness in peace.
When I get home, I spend an hour with Alice in her room, telling her all the finer details of my incredible day.
Wednesday morning comes after a sound sleep and I feel so refreshed that I practically skip down to breakfast and, again, out the door to mum's car. She smiles at me, but doesn't say a word.
My morning is spent laughing over Jasper and Angela's continuous banter. They are so happy, it's infectious.
Lunch is spent in the quarry again and I am laughing at Eric's impersonation of one of the teachers when I feel a gush. A mixture of worry and embarrassment over possibly pissing my pants literally, sets in.
I stand and grab Angela's arm. "Come with me?" I ask, trying to hint with my eyes that I urgently need her to come with me.
She looks at me, wide eyed, and nods. Edward clicks on that something isn't right and he asks me lowly if I'm okay.
"Yeah, just girl stuff," I assure him with a smile, and drag Angela away.
Once we're out of earshot Angela asks if everything's all right.
"I'm not sure. I think I may have just peed my pants, in the literal sense. Either that, or it's another heavy bleed."
"You're still bleeding?" she asks astonished.
"A little, but Esme said that's normal with these things. It's just a matter of keeping an eye on it and baby was happy in the last ultrasound." I try to assure her.
"Oh, Izzy! I never thought I'd say this, but I sure hope you've just peed your pants."
I smile at my friend, amazed at how she always manages to make me laugh when my anxiety is threatening to send me into a spin.
"Me too," I agree, before opening the door into the ladies toilet.
Once in the cubicle I pull my pants down and sit on the toilet in one swift movement. I count to three and look down.
Red. Everything is red.
My heart feels as though it has instantaneously shattered into a million pieces. I take a deep breath and try to swallow the lump in my throat before calling out to Angela. I barely get her name out when I feel something fall into the toilet. I look in to see a lump of blood the size of my palm.
"Oh my God,"
"Izzy! Let me in!" Angela bangs on the door.
Somehow, through the blinding panic and constant tears, I manage to let Angela in. She pulls my phone from my pocket and calls Edward.
"Edward, it's Angela. Edward, it's happening again. It's bad, oh my god it's everywhere, it's bad …. Hurry!"
The panic in my friends voice brings me back from the brink of a black out and I look around to see that there's blood all over my thighs. I start to grab handfuls of toilet paper and wipe at my legs. I shove some into my pants and pull them up, but instantly feel dizzy and sit back down again.
"Bella?" Edward's panicked voice echoes loudly around the bathroom.
"In here!" My friend calls out for me.
Angela opens the door and Edward bursts in nearly bowling her over in the process. He squats down in front of me and I hear Angela warning him about blood. He looks down and I follow. There's blood on the floor. Not a lot, but it's horrible to look at.
"Sorry!" I sob.
Edward pulls me up and holds me. "Oh, Bella," he murmurs into my ear as he grips onto me, and I onto him in return. A few moments later I feel him stiffen and hear him whisper, "Oh my God." I can only guess he's seen what's in the toilet and I sob harder at the thought of it.
He pushes the lid down and tells me to sit, squatting back in front of me again.
"An ambulance is on the way. Mrs O'Hare's waiting for it and is going to bring them here."
I look up to see Jasper standing outside the cubicle, his phone still in his hand. He looks flustered and his face is deeply etched with concern when our eyes meet.
Edward half turns toward him and hands him his phone. "Thanks, mate. Here, can you call my mum?"
Jasper simply nods and then walks out to make the call.
Time seems to pass in slow motion and I hold onto Edward while we wait. When the door opens again it's Jasper to tell us that the ambulance is here. I move to get up, but Edward stops me and leans down to pick me up. I wrap my arms around his neck and bury my face into his shoulder as he carries me out. He places me gently onto a gurney that is just outside the bathroom. A small group of people have gathered to see what's going on, despite a few teachers telling them all to move on. I close my eyes and try to block out their pitiful stares.
They open again when I hear one of the medics introduce himself and assure me that we'll be at the hospital real soon.
"Is my baby okay?" I ask anxiously.
"We'll find out real soon, okay?" His words give me no hope. I close my eyes again and weep.
Inside the ambulance, Edward sits by me in silence, as the medic puts a cannula into my hand. Once he's done, I reach out for Edward. He grabs my hand and puts it up to his lips.
The sound of the siren feeds the dread rising within me. I am broken; lost beyond description. I can still feel my body losing blood and my heart aches for my baby. Weak and incapable of doing anything else, I roll onto my side and wail into the pillow.
I know, I know. You want my head. But I'm getting some help at home this weekend, so an update should come within 24hrs. I will do my very best to not leave you hanging.
The last two chapters had the craziest amount of readers! I'm a little gobsmacked! I hope you're all enjoying this story.
Thanks to all the lovely reviewers. You keep me going...you got this chapter written.
BDB x