Get ready for a twist or two, things are going to get really interesting now.
Chapter 5
Angela and I pack up our things and leave together to head for home.
"Bella," Angela says softly as we make our way back into our apartment, "this is starting to freak me out."
"Me, too, Ang, me, too," I say with a sigh.
I jump a little when there's a heavy knock on the door. I check the peephole and see it's Angela's brothers.
"Hi, you two," I say hugging them as I let them in. "I take it you're here to stay the night?" I ask seeing they both have backpacks with them.
"Just for the night, if that's okay?"
"Sure, that's fine with me. I'll go and stay with Sam, it's been a little while since we've had alone time. One of you can sleep in my room, and the other can have the sofa." I walk out and into my room. I pack an overnight bag and head right to Sam's.
As I pass Edward's house, I stop and look. There's a part of me that wants to go and check on him, but the other part knows I'm becoming too attached to him.
Using the key Sam gave me, I let myself into his house. I decide to make myself useful and set about making dinner for us. When six o'clock comes and goes without him showing up, I send him a text saying I'm here. I set my phone down and step away just as it rings.
"Hey, Sam," I say trying to sound upbeat.
"Miss me, slut?"
I swallow closing my eyes; this is my new phone, how did they get my number. "Who are you, and how did you get my number?"
"I got your number because your bitchy little friend gave it to me."
I shake my head, knowing the friends I gave my number to would never give my number out.
"Don't shake your head at me you BITCH!"
I swallow as I look out the kitchen window.
"That's right, I can see you, and you're going to look so good tied and gagged to my bed. You're going to serve me, be my cock slut."
I hang up and run to the front door – I open it running right into someone. I scream, and start to slap the person in front of me.
"Bella, baby, what's wrong?"
I pull back seeing Sam. "He just called again; he's out on the back side of the house."
Sam looks angry and moves me back into the house.
"Stay in here and lock the door."
I shake my head at him knowing he's going to have a look.
"Yes, I'll be right back," he says kissing my head.
He walks out the back door and I lock it like he said to. I can feel my heart pounding hard in my chest and my breathing is more of a pant now.
My cell rings again and I pick it up.
"You really don't love him, do you? Sending him out to me, means you can't love him much. You're so unworthy of him."
There is a moment of silence, except for the caller's breathing.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing on my property?" I hear Sam yell.
"I am going to have some fun with lover boy now, bye."
The call gets cut off and I run out of the house in time to see a dark figure running down the street. I run into the backyard seeing Sam lying on the ground.
"Sam," I scream on a sob as I kneel next to him.
"I'm okay, baby, I think it was a homeless man."
I shake my head at him. "He called me, I heard you yelling at him," I say and Sam sighs.
"I am sorry that I let him get away."
I hug Sam, thankful he's okay.
"Come on, baby, let's get inside."
I agree, helping Sam to stand. We slowly make our way into the house. I sit him on the couch and run back into the kitchen getting some ice and the first aid kit. I tend to bump on his head, and he hums softly.
"I am sorry," he says out of the blue and I look at him.
"For what?" I ask him
"For how I behaved in Port Angeles when I took you out. You know, flirting with the waitress, being a jerk."
I shake my head and he clasps my face making me look at him. "You know I love you, right?"
"I know," I say not feeling the same for him.
"It was ... I just felt a little hurt and unloved. I know that you care for me, but it would be nice to hear you say you love me, too."
I go to tell him again I'm sorry, but he carries on.
"I know, baby, and I hope one day you will feel for me what I feel for you. I guess I let it get to me. When Jane gave me attention I lapped it up, more so because you got jealous. I was angry at myself, not you."
He gives me his sad boy face and keeps blinking his eyes at me. "Do you forgive me?"
I nod at him and he leans forward kissing me. All too soon I'm lying flat on my back with him between my legs on top of me. I feel his hand run under my shirt.
"Fuck, baby, I need you now," he pants as he starts to pull my clothes off.
I jump when I hear the loud banging on the door.
"Leave it," he says and keeps kissing my neck.
"Sam, we need to answer it," I say pushing him back a little.
"Fuck, do I ever get a break?" Sam screams and the banging happens again.
"I'll get rid of them and we can take this upstairs?" Sam nods and starts to stroke himself.
The door is again being banged on.
"Hurry up, baby, and get rid of whoever it is," he says huskily.
I nod and go to the door, checking out the peephole I see that it's Jasper and Emmett.
"Sam, it's the police," I say.
"Why in the heck did you call them?"
"No, I didn't call them," I say back as I open the door.
"Hi?" I say when I open the door.
"Bella?" Jasper says in return, clearly surprised that I'm here.
"We're looking for Sam Uley?"
"He's right here, inside," I say letting them in.
"Sam, the police are here to see you," I say hoping he has had time to fix himself.
As we walk into the living room I'm happy to see that he not only fixed himself but is off the couch, too.
"Can I help you with something?" he asks politely.
"We're here to talk to you about your wife, Leah Clearwater."
I close my eyes falling to the couch.
"What the hell has she done now?" Sam says harshly. "You know that not only were we only married for six months, but we've been divorced for five years, now."
"She was found dead, earlier this morning," I hear Jasper say.
"What, let me guess, was it an overdose?" Sam asks.
"No, actually she was murdered," Emmett says, "and I think maybe we should take this downtown."
"No! What – why?" Sam yells.
"We need to remove you as a person of interest; it's all part of the normal procedures."
"I haven't done anything," Sam's voice is raised very high now and I know he's becoming angry.
"Then there should be no problem in speaking with us for a short time."
"I'm not stupid; you have to have a reason to take me downtown. I'm not some low life off the fucking street."
I jump up as Sam moves forward toward Jasper. "Sam, calm down and just go with them," I say softly placing my hand on his shoulder.
He bats my hand away and in my normal gracefulness, I trip and the movement of his elbow and my face connect, making me fall to the ground.
"HEY!" Emmett yells grabbing Sam.
"Bella, are you okay?" Jasper asks gently and I nod covering my cheek.
"Yes, I'm fine, I tripped."
I look up at Sam to see him glaring at me.
"We do have reasons to question you. There are the six counts of assault on file that Leah Clearwater made against you. There's also the fact she has a five-year-old son that allegedly belongs to you, who's missing," Emmett says pulling Sam out of his house.
"You should call him a lawyer, he may need one," Jasper says walking out leaving me alone.
I switch on Sam's computer and sigh out that it requires a password. I pick up my cell calling Angela's brother Isaac. I know he just finished working on his law degree. I'm happy and relieved when he says he'll go down and find out if he is needed. Angela and her other brother Joshua ask me if I want to come home. I told them I want to stay here so I was here for him when he came home.
I walk into the kitchen and get a glass of water. I look up at the window. I am in shock that it's now dark outside and the window is open slightly. I stretch forward to close the window, as my hand touches the latch something jumps up onto the window ledge. I jump in the air, covering my pounding heart with my hands.
"Shit, cat," I say moving forward. I pick up the cat and close the window, making sure it's latched.
"Wait, aren't you the cat from Forks?" I say petting her. "What are you doing here?" I ask a little worried.
I pet it as I walk back into the living room. The television is off, so I flip it on for background noise. The news is on and again they're talking about Leah and her missing son. They show a family photo and I look to the cat on my lap. I look back to the news and I am in shock. Right there on the screen is Leah and a small boy, who's holding a cat. A cat that looks a lot like the one in my arms.
"Oh my God!" I say. I put the cat down and pick up my cell.
"Meow," the cat yowls at me. I look to the cat, and it runs to the kitchen. I dial Jasper and I follow her.
"Bella, we're still talking to Sam," Jasper says instead of saying hello.
"How did you know that it was me?"
"Caller ID," Jasper chuckles and I walk after the cat who is scratching at the back door like a dog who wants out does.
"I just found a cat ... well, I actually found it the first time in Forks, when it came into my bedroom one night," I say picking the cat up with my other hand.
"Okay," Jasper says impatiently.
"Jasper, it wants me to open the back door and it's scratching at it like a dog does. The oddest thing of all is it looks just like the cat that Leah's son was holding in the picture on the news. It's here at Sam's; it came in the kitchen window a few minutes ago. I'm not sure, but I think it may be Leah's cat," I say opening the curtain on the backdoor
"Molly," I hear a young voice yell out.
I look up and I see a little boy next to a tree in the backyard. I open the door and run closer to the tree, bending down to look at the child.
I can hear Jasper talking to me, but I'm too shocked to hear him as I'm looking into the face of Seth.
"Molly," Seth calls out again and I move to the boy quickly. When I'm beside him, he takes the cat from me.
"Jasper, you should get here now – Seth is here, too. He wasn't here earlier, but he is now," I say cutting whatever Jasper was saying off.
"What?" he says.
"I was holding the cat and I heard someone call it. I saw a little boy, and it's Seth, I'm almost positive. He was in the backyard under the tree, but he wasn't here earlier. There was someone here earlier though, watching me."
"Get him and go inside, now," Jasper says.
"Would you like some milk and a cookie?" I say sweetly to the child.
He nods at me. "Yes, the boogeyman wouldn't let me eat much."
I nod at him holding out my hand and he takes it holding Molly the cat in the other.
"Come on, we'll get cleaned up, too."
"No, don't clean him up, he may have some evidence on him," Jasper says. "We're on our way, sit tight."
I sigh and agree. I get inside the house and lock the door. I sit Seth down at the table and Molly lies on the chair next to him going to sleep.
"Hey, is the boogeyman going to come back for me?" Seth asks me.
I shake my head at him. "I don't think so; Jasper and Emmett will keep you safe."
"That's good, I don't like the boogeyman."
"Neither do I." I smile and clear my throat. "I'm Bella," I say holding out my hand.
"Seth," he says sadly. "Can I have my milk and cookie now?"
"Yes, you can," I say. "Do you want your milk warm or cold?"
"Warm," he says with a nod.
I work on heating up some milk, as Seth just sits at the table.
"Will I have to stay with my daddy now?"
"I'm not sure," I tell him as I sit the warm milk and cookie down.
"My daddy is nice most of the time."
"What's your dad's name?" I ask and I can feel my heart racing.
"Daddy," Seth says giving me one of those are you stupid looks.
"What did your mom call him?" I ask, swallowing and closing my eyes.
"Paul, but I only see him a little bit."
I nod again and we sit in silence for a short time as he eats his cookie.
There is a knock on the front door and Seth jumps and starts to shake. "The boogeyman is back."
I shake my head at him as another knock on the door comes. "No, sweetheart, that will be Jasper and Emmett," I say moving to the door.
Seth clasps my wrist and gives me a pleading look.
"Don't worry Seth – I won't let him hurt you."
He holds out his arms and I pick him up walking to the door. I check to see who's outside and breathe out in relief when I see Jasper there. I open the door just as he draws out his gun.
"Bella, Seth," he says and I move to let him in and Seth tries hard to hide himself under my hair.
The next few hours pass; Emmett wanted to take Seth to the hospital as Jasper takes my statement, but Seth refuses to let me go. In the end, we all went to the hospital, and as Seth was looked over while sitting on my knee, I give my statement. I was very glad when Seth was given the all clear.
It was not until I was leaving that I remembered my call and being watched earlier. I tell Jasper and Emmett and I could see them becoming more worried that I may not just have the normal everyday kind of stalker.
It's well into the morning hours when Jasper drops me back off at Sam's and informs me that Sam was allowed home a few hours ago. He had an alibi for the times in question.
I walk into the house trying to be quiet.
"So—"
I jump hearing Sam's voice coming from the darkness.
"You're only here because Angela's brothers needed your room?"
I switch on the light seeing Sam sitting on the couch with a beer in his hand and many more empties around him.
"No, I was happier at leaving her alone knowing she had someone looking after her," I say moving to him.
I start to pick up the empty bottles and Sam catches my arm pulling me to him.
Before I can get a word out he is kissing me hard.
"Sam," I say pulling back when I feel his erection.
"What?" he asks harshly.
"You're drunk."
"That's not going to stop me from fucking you."
"You know I don't like to have sex when you have been drinking."
"When do you like to have sex? I mean, really, Bella, it feels like you're pulling away from me all the time. I can feel it, I'm losing you."
"You're not," I tell him.
"Prove it," he says kissing me again.
"Sam," I say and he sighs.
"Marry me?"
I swallow and look at him.
"Marry me, please, baby." As the words slip out of his mouth he falls asleep or passes out.
I blow out a breath and lay him down on the couch.
I clean up and put a blanket over him. I close my eyes hating that deep inside I'm glad he fell asleep. I'm not sure he could handle the disappointment right now, when I turn him down.
I wipe the tear that drops down my face. I don't want to break up with him. I need him and his guidance. Why can't I just love him the way he loves me?
~*IT*~
"Bella…"
I wake up and see Sam on the side of the bed. I look around seeing the sun shining so I know that it's now morning.
"Hey, baby," he says softly kissing my lips.
"I made breakfast."
I sit up to get out of bed, but he puts a tray in front of me. I look down seeing eggs and toast, orange juice and a single white rose.
"You didn't have to," I say and he sighs.
"I did. I never meant to hurt you," he says as he rubs the side of my face."
"I know," I tell him.
"Leah was important to me more than I would ever tell anyone including admitting it to myself. I was in shock. I was expecting them to say she was whoring herself on the street again or was found buying shit on the street."
He sighs and I watch as the tears run down his face.
"I was never in love with her, and I know I should never have asked her to marry me, but she ... I thought I could save her and it felt good to be needed."
I move the tray and hug him close to me allowing him to cry.
"I'm sorry," I tell him, not knowing what else to say. "I'm calling into work and we can talk more in a few."
I call Alice and ask if I could come in later on in the afternoon today. I'm so relieved when she tells me that she's decided to close for the day in light of everything going on. She informs me of her plans to have everyone come in for a half-day on Saturday. After hanging up, I turn back to Sam and decide it's best to just fire away.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were married?"
"I'm not married," Sam retorts.
"But you have been married and you never told me."
"It's in the past, Bella. I didn't want to go through it all again. Can we not talk about it?"
I nod at him, knowing that Sam will just get upset if I push for more information. However, one thing is clear in my mind, there is no way it was okay for him to omit this from me, he should've told me about being married previously.
"What about Seth, do you know about his dad, who his father is?"
Sam rubs his face with the palm of his hand. "No, he's not mine! It'll be proven in no time, since they MADE me take a DNA test," he says matter-of-factly.
I watch as he yawns again and I know I need a break from his attitude. "Why don't you get some more sleep and I'll wake you up for lunch?"
He grins and nods at me. "I love it when you take care of me, baby."
I lean down kissing his forehead before walking out to the living room.
Once I have the place cleaned up, I walk out and down to the local grocery store. I'm walking around the store, trying to decide what I want to pick up. I'm taken aback when my eyes land on Edward. I walk over to where he's standing, and I can tell without seeing his face he is very upset.
"Hi," I say softly and he turns around. His eyes are bloodshot and you can tell from the puffiness and dark circles he's not slept.
"Hi," he says back to me in a broken voice. "Look at all these cards to choose from. There is a card for just about everything, but what do you get for a young boy that tells him you're sorry that he'll never see his mommy again?" Edward stops talking and shakes his head, and I rest my hand on his shoulder.
"I don't know how to help him, Alice or you. Then there's Rose, she ..." Edward stops and kneels down, and drops all the cards he had in his hands.
I kneel on the floor hugging him as his body shakes.
"I can't imagine the brutality of things like what happened to Leah—well, I have when I'm writing but ..." Again he stops talking and I can see people are now looking our way.
"Come on, Edward, let's go and have a cup of coffee or something," I say putting all the cards that Edward dropped back up.
I help him home and into his house. I'm very surprised as to the way the inside of his house looks verses the exterior. The outside looks run down and ragged, but the inside is fresh, beautiful and well maintained.
"Oh wow, it's amazing in here," I say in surprise.
"You're not the first person to say that, but for me my house symbolizes people in general."
"Huh," I say turning and looking at him with my brow raised.
"You know how people in general see someone as ugly, but really they're beautiful inside. How many times have you come across a house that stops you in your tracks, but when you went inside, your reaction was not as pleasant as you expected?"
I nod knowing I've met some people that have questionable taste in decor.
"I like watching people, and more often than not, the ones people think are truly beautiful on the outside are not that nice on the inside. Then you have these people that don't get a second glance, but inside, those are the people who are truly beautiful." He chuckles a little.
"You seem to be one of the only ones that are able to stop people with your outer beauty as well as your inner," I say and feel my face heat up.
"I'm sorry about breaking down."
I wave him off. "She was your friend – it's okay," I sigh out biting my lip as Seth and Molly come to mind.
"Have your heard anything about Seth; how are he and Molly doing?"
Edward tilts his head at me. "How do you know who Molly is?"
"I found him outside last night, by the tree, didn't you know?"
He shakes his head picking up his cell and switching it on. I watch him press some buttons and then I hear ringing over the speaker.
"Edward, thank God, I've been trying to reach you all night and morning." Alice says, sobbing and clearly in a bit of panic.
"I just got back," Edward says and clears his throat.
"Bella found Seth and Molly; they were in Sam's backyard. That asshole better not has had anything to do with this," Alice rants and Edward looks at me frowning at little.
"Alice, Bella is here with me and you're on speaker."
"Edward," Alice scolds. "Sorry, Bella, I don't know Sam, and I'm basing my anger for him on what Leah told us about him. Anyway, thank you for finding Seth – he's been talking about you most of the morning."
"He's with you?" I ask in shock.
"No ... yes ... I mean, I'm at Rose's house and he's here. Rose is Leah's cousin and she only just moved back to Washington six months ago. The social services worker has left Seth with Rose until they're able to confirm who his father is."
"Seth said something last night about Paul being his daddy. Do you know Paul?"
I hear Alice chuckle.
"No! Paul is definitely not his father," Edward says.
I frown looking at Edward not sure how he would have known that.
"Paul is gay and married to his long-term partner, Jacob Black. Paul just likes playing the part of being a Dad to Seth. Paul and Leah were the best of friends," Alice explains.
I nod understanding a little better, and then I take a deep breath closing my eyes. "Is Sam Seth's dad?"
I open my eyes and look to Edward. He's looking at the ground and Alice is quiet, too.
"Edward?" I say questionably and he looks at me.
"Leah has always said that Seth was Sam's son. I'm sorry."
I sit down on the couch rubbing my head. I'm not sure if Sam knew or not, but this all feels like too much at once for me.
"I'll call you later, DSP," Edward says and hits end call. He moves and sits down beside me.
"Why do you not like Sam?" I ask turning to face Edward, as he rubs his neck.
"I was around when it all happened."
I raise my eyebrow at him.
"Leah left home after fighting with her mom; she was only seventeen. She found herself working on the streets to make money and was taking things to forget about sleeping with men. When she was eighteen she got a new client ..." He stops and looks at me, and I can see that he is being honest and the truth is hard for him to say. "Sam was her new client."
"Wow," I say shaking my head in confusion and stress of the situation.
"Anyway, ten months later they were married. Leah said at first he was kind and helped her. He showered her with love and made her feel wanted. I'm not sure what changed and Leah was vague when talking about all that took place. All I do know is she claimed that he hit her, more than once. She left him after only six months of marriage, begging for a divorce. The divorce was granted a year later, when Seth was just a few months old. She would've turned twenty-five the day after her death."
Edward looks right at me. "If he was to hurt you, you would leave wouldn't you?"
All I can is nod affirmatively that I would leave. "He wouldn't hit me, though, not on purpose," I say.
Edward gives me a look to say he doesn't believe me as he cups my face. "Edward, I don't know what all happened with Leah and Sam, but to only take her word for it, without asking him, is not fair. Yes, we have our ups and downs and he has been a shitty boyfriend, but I've been a shitty girlfriend, too. He has not purposely laid a hand on me; if he does then, yes, I'd leave right away."
Edward just looks at me as he rubs my chin with his thumb. Before I can stop him he leans forward and kisses me. The kiss is soft and without thinking, I move my arms up and around his neck threading fingers through his hair. Edward's hands move to my side as he pulls me closer to him and his tongue enters my mouth. I moan into the kiss and suddenly the light in my head clicks on and I realize what I am doing. I pull back looking at him in shock.
"I need to go," I say standing up disgusted with myself.
"Bello, wait, I'm sorry," Edward says pulling at his hair.
"No, Edward, this one's, on me, I'm the one with the boyfriend," I say trying hard not to cry again.
"He doesn't need to know, it was mistake. We just fell into it."
I know he's trying to help me not feel guilty, but I do, and I have a feeling it meant something to Edward. He doesn't seem to be the kind of guy that goes around kissing girls.
"Edward, I'm really sorry if I've led you on, but I am with Sam."
I hear Edward sigh and I walk backwards bumping into a table. I turn seeing papers fall and I bend down picking them up. I'm shocked to see that there are pictures of me in the papers.
I look up to see Edward blushing. "I have those pictures, because I have liked you since I first saw you at The Coffee Shoppe. You were the reason I started to come there every day. I just wanted to see you. It's why I call you Bello, because you're lovely."
I start to feel even guiltier about the kiss, knowing I've led him on.
"It's okay, and it's nice to have a crush on someone. I've never had someone have one on me before. I feel honored, and I don't want to lead you on or make you feel something I can't act on." I clasp his face and look in his eyes. "I can be your friend, Edward. I'm not sure if this will help, but if Sam was not in my life, I would date you in a heartbeat. You're such a nice guy."
I watch as Edward pulls my hand away from his cheek. He kisses my hand and gives me a smile and wink.
"Still friends?" he asks and I nod.
He sighs in what seems to be relief. "You should go before I lock you up for a few weeks—well, at least until you fall in love with me, you know the whole Stockholm syndrome?"
I chuckle a little walking backward again as Edward follows me. With my back against the door, Edward moves forward. I watch his eyes go from my lips to my eyes. His hand moves out like he's going to wrap it around me only he pulls the handle to the door instead.
"I'll see you tomorrow at work, Bello."
I nod and walk out the open door, letting out a long breath I didn't realize I was holding.
A/N: Now what are your thoughts on things? I have the feeling that this may change a few minds on who is who and who is doing what in the story. Any new ideas?