A/N HI guys! Oh my god has it been a while! I am so sorry but school just started and I already have homework so I can't write, and I was freaking out...it was a big mess. Any way, here is the next chapter, I hope you like it, it was kind of written in a rush just to get something out. But enjoy.
I woke up the next morning and I felt like a rock. A very, very, heavy rock. It hurt to move, to breathe, to blink, every movement caused me pain. Somehow I managed to get out of bed, and walked into the bathroom. When I undressed to shower I gasped, my body was covered in purple and black blotches. "Dear god, please tell me somebody snuck into my apartment while I was asleep, and those are hickies." I poked one and winced at the pain. I don't know why I do that. I see a bruise and the first thing I want to do is poke it. Ignoring my dalmation resembling body, I stepped into the shower and turned on the hot water.
Stepping into headquarters, I mentally prepared myself for the physical pain I was about to experience. If yesterday hurt, today would be hell. I wore workout leggings today to hide my bruises. It was easier to move when I wasn't constantly reminded by them, out of sight out of mind. Well not really, but still, I didn't want to see that maniac enjoy my pain and take reward in leaving his mark.
"Hey Bella." Alice greeted with a smile.
"Hi." I smiled at her and set my bag down in a chair at the table.
"Aren't you supposed to be in the gym?" Rose asked as she exited the office we were in a couple days ago.
"Is Edward here yet?" I questioned.
"No." She answered.
"Then no, not yet." I answered.
"So how'd it go?" Alice asked, typing away at a computer.
"How it was expected. He tried to beat me to pulp and make me leave, I refused to and he made my lungs burst." I shrugged standing by the table.
"So how are you feeling?" Rose asked softly.
"Hated, but alive."
"I'm really sorry Bella, I'll try to talk to him." Alice sighed.
"No, I don't want him to think that I can't take it." I said shaking my head. Wow that hurt.
"But Bella, he could really hur-" Rose started speaking.
"No, I can take it. I'm okay guys I swear." I said smiling, trying to calm them.
Alice sighed and went back to typing. "Hey guys is Be-" I turned around and saw Edward walking in, his face hardened "I mean there you are, I've been waiting, lets go." He snapped.
"No I've been waiting, you're late." I snapped at him and grabbed my stuff, walking past him to the gym.
I heard him growl and then it was silent. I got to the gym doors and turned around, only to find him centimeters away from me. "Holy crap!" I said stumbling back and through the doors. I looked up at him and glared, "Do you have to do that?!" I said proping myself up on my elbows.
"Do what?" He asked trying not to laugh.
"A. laugh at me and B. Sneak up on me like that."
"Hey in this job, silent steps are deadly steps. And deadly is the goal." He extended his hand out to me. I eyed it cautiously, "I'm guessing giving your coworkers a heart attack is the goal as well." He shrugged, "In special cases." and did something I never thought he would. He smiled...and he looked gorgeous. Silly little me just about melted into a puddle right there on the floor. His smile illuminated his eyes, and they were no longer hard gems, but precious shining emeralds. "My arm is getting kind of tired." He said snapping me out of my daze. I shook my head and looked at his hand. "It seems like a trap, isn't there a rule of not trusting the enemy?" I asked.
He sighed, "Sometimes a enemy is the only person you can trust, at least you know they are against you." I looked at his hand again, and slowly put mine in it. He tugged it at first, and then pulled me up, only he used too much force and I ended up crashing into him. He caught me before I could fall again. My skin was tingling from where his arms were around me, and if he didn't let go anytime soon I was going to start sizzling.
"Ahem." Said a voice behind us. I looked behind him and saw a tall strawberry blonde standing behind us, tapping her foot with crossed arms. I pushed myself away from him, grabbed my stuff, and walked to the center of the room shaking my head. "What the hell was that?" I whispered to myself. "I have to stop landing on my head, my nerves are all messed up." I said sitting on the mat and stretching.
"Tanya." I heard Edward say and I looked up to see him walking to the blonde.
"Edward." She cooed. Ooooh the girlfriend. I was surprised but I don't know why. It was expected for him to have a girlfriend, Isabella Swan start using your head before you make a major screw up, I told myself.
"I'm busy, what do you want?" He said sternly, sheesh what a boyfriend.
"Esme wants to meet her, she's in division two right now." She said smiling, she looked at me and scowled. I gave her the "what the fuck" look and she just looked away and back to Edward.
"So Eddie, I was thinking that maybe once you're done, we could-" she started saying and running her finger up and down his arm.
"No Tanya, I don't finish here until late and I'm not in the mood, also don't call me Eddie." He and looked to me. "Lets go." He ordered.
"Where?" I asked from the floor.
"Just get up and come." he snapped irritated. I quirked an eyebrow and crossed my arms, letting him know I didn't like his tone.
He walked over to me and hoisted me over his shoulder. "Hey what the hell? Put me down!" I shouted kicking and slapping his back.
He merely grunted and kept walking. He walked infront of Tanya, she walked behind him and glared at me the whole time. I merely smiled at her and winked at her. She crossed her arms and scowled deeper, at the moment Edward readjusted me and hit my stomach on his shoulder. "I can walk on my own you know." I said hitting his back again.
"We already saw what happens when you try walking on your own." He answered smugly. I could just see the smirk on his face, jerk.
"One time." I protested.
"twice." He corrected.
"Twice is still not a big deal." I said as we walked into the room that adjoined the two separate offices for the different divisions. This time instead of going to the right we went to the left. Tanya stepped around us and flipped her hair as she passed, then unlocked the door for us. He stepped in and I could hear a bunch of people talking.
"Edward what are you doing?" Asked a soft feminine voice.
"I'm bringing you Bella." He answered as a matter of factly.
"And this is the infamous Bella?" Asked a male voice, humor was apparent.
"No Bella is on this side of the jerk, what you're staring at is my ass, and I'll have to ask you to stop. Edward put me down now!" I said more forcefully.
he chuckled and lowered me down. "Asshole." I muttered.
I heard laughter and turned around, the room looked exactly the same as the other one but with different people in it. "So this is Bella?" asked the same male voice. I looked at the guy, he was tall and dark skinned. With huge brown eyes and short black hair, he was wearing a tank top, so the tattoo on his upper arm showed. It seemed to be some kind of native symbol.
"Yes. This is Bella." I answered. Was he not expecting me to be like this? Were the tales so different than the truth? He looked me up and down and nodded, as if he approved of what he saw. "Why am I here again?" I asked irritated.
"Oh I'm sorry, that would be me." A small brunette stepped forward and laughed lightly. "I took you out of your training and I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Esme Cullen. I over see the kids education, and our connections. I'm also the wife of Carlisle, I'm sure you met him already, but since you won't be going through my classes, I guess I'll have to meet you like everybody else." She said smiling at me and extending her hand to me, I shook it and felt comfortable around her. Everything about her said motherly.
"Hello, and don't worry, we hadn't really gotten started yet."
"Oh good." She said smiling. "If there is ever anything you need, you can always find me in Carlisle's office, my own, or in a class room. I'm always here to help." Her voice was so musical I was starting to want to lie down and sleep.
"Thank you." I nodded.
"Since you're here, Edward please introduce her to division 2. If you'll excuse me, I have things to do." She walked by us and left the room.
Edward sighed and rubbed his face. "Alright, this here is Jacob Black." he pointed at the young man who was talking earlier. "Leader of division 2." He said. Jacob nodded at me and smiled. I narrowed my eyes at him, and looked away.
"Okay, and his team consists of Tanya, Seth, Paul, Quill, Embry, Kate, Sam, Collin, Eleazar, Alec, Carmen, Kebi, and Irina." He said going around the room. "They are all part of division two, and at times will work with us when we have to deal with a case together." Edward explained.
"Pleasure to meet you all." I said nodding at them.
"You too." Seth said from the back with a huge grin, I smiled at him. He was so cute, he reminded me of the little kid brother I always wanted.
"So how's training?" Asked Jacob.
"Manageable." I shrugged.
"Don't go to hard on her Cullen, remember, newbies are friends not food." Jacob said chuckling.
I glared at him, "I can do fine on my own, thank you very much." I snapped.
He quirked an eyebrow, "Sweetie no offense, but I could snap you in two. But I'm nice enough not to, this guy however, won't hesitate to do so." He said eyeing me, and I felt like slapping him.
I opened my mouth to retort but Edward beat me to it. "Actually Black, she actually could beat your ass." Edward said staring stonily at him.
"Please, next to you I'm the best this agency has. You want me to believe she can beat me? I don't think so Cullen." He said and I sensed a long history of rivalry between them.
"Guys, I'm right here. Don't talk about me like I'm not here."
"I wish she wasn't" I heard a mumble from the group. I glared at Tanya and smiled at her afterwards.
"Well I'm sorry Black, but's that's how things are. Whether you like it or not." Edward shrugged.
Jacob rolled his eyes and stared at me. I quirked and eyebrow at him, "If that is all, I'd like to return to my training please." I said softly and emotionless.
"What's wrong Bella? Intimidated? Scared I might ask you to prove Edward wrong?" He taunted me.
"No, unlike other idiots, I like getting my job done and not stand around doing nothing. I'd be pleased to prove you wrong, but time is wasting, and you're obviously sooo busy sticking your head up your ass. It's best I get back to my own thing." I said turning around and walking away.
"I'd like to stick my head up that ass." He said as I walked away. I stopped at the door and turned around.
"Black! Enough, she's right, we all have stuff to do and are wasting time standing here." Edward said taking the tone of command, we turned and walked toward the door.
"If you're not afraid, I propose a wager." Jacob taunted.
"What wager?" Edward asked hand on the handle.
"I go against her, if I beat her you admit you were wrong and hand over your silver Volvo. An you, " He said pointing at me, "if I beat you, you have to apologize and go out on a date with me." He said smiling smugly.
"No way!" Edward and I shouted in unison.
"Scared?" He asked.
"No, but I will not submit myself to such objectification, I am not a prize to be won." I said glaring at him.
"And gambling a student is irresponsible, and childish, I will not give in to such games." He said sternly and glared at him.
"Coward." Jacob taunted.
"Fine. I'll do it." I said crossing my arms and glaring at the jerk.
"What?" Edward asked looking down at me, surprised.
"Very well, should we head to the gym?" He asked rubbing his hands together.
"No, you will not I did not agree to this." He said and grabbed my shoulder making me look at him.
"You are not doing this and we are leaving." He ordered.
"Give me one minute." I told Jacob and his witnesses. We both stepped outside and spoke.
"Bella, you can't go through with this. You are better than him, but today you are starting to recover from yesterday." He said urgently.
"Recovering?" I asked trying to fool him.
He simply sighed and pulled up my shirt revealing my stomach, and the large bruise on it. I quickly pulled it back down.
"Okay listen, if I I'm prepared to go back to training for you, I'm obviously prepared for the worst. That asshole will be a cinch." I explained.
"Bella, listen to me-"
"No you listen, you may be many things, but you're not a coward. I don't know you that well, but from what I've heard and what I've seen, you do what you must. Yes you're a jerk, a douche, an inconsiderate moron," He cleared his throat telling me to get to the point, "but you are good at what you do, and you're smart. I'm not going to stand here and let that guy insult you, and call you a coward, cause I still have to work with you after this. It'll make it easier if that guy isn't nagging at me all the time. So I'm going to do this." I said crossing my arms and walked back to the door.
"Bella but-" He said trying to stop me.
"Quit worrying, I think I preferred it when you couldn't even look at me." I said entering the room.
"Alright let's go."
A/N So what'd you think? It wasn't too bad was it? Again I am so sorry but I will make an effort to speed things up. Anyway see you guys soon and let me know what you think.