TWILIGHT, THOR, AND WONDER WOMAN BELONG TO THEIR REPECTIVE OWNERS, I AM ONLY BORROWING THEM.
The next day, Astrid noticed that the discreet watching had stopped, but she was still on guard. It was her nature, she was always ready for any type of confrontation so during lunch she notices when Bella got up to use the restroom Rosalie and Alice got up as well, Astrid followed.
Bella had come out of the stall and washes her hands, then looks up at the mirror, startled to find Rosalie and Alice behind her. They study Bella, Rosalie with chillingly cold eyes, Alice with curiosity. Bella, uneasy hurries for the door, but its slammed open by Astrid. Bella sighs at seeing her younger sister.
"Is there a problem here," Astrid asks looking right at Rosalie, hoping the tall blonde will make a move.
"No, not at all, Astrid, Rose and I were just leaving," Alice says as she pulls her sister by the arm past Astrid.
"Are you okay, Bells?"
"Yeah, they just startled me, I didn't hear them come in."
"Okay if that's all it was, let's go back to the cafeteria."
After that incident nothing else happened, the days passed by uneventful. Edward had yet to return to school, and it was causing Bella to become anxious. Astrid continued to have little to no contact with the Cullens, she couldn't understand what the big deal about them was. Yeah, they were beautiful but so what? So far she had discovered that Rosalie was a bitch, Edward was a douche, Emmett was annoying, the only ones Astrid could mildly stand were Alice and Jasper and that was because Jasper barely spoke.
That Friday was a miserable morning, it was cold and raining with puddles in the front yard, many of them frozen. When Bella and Astrid walk out of the house Bella slips on some of the ice, but Astrid catches her. Charlie had just pulled into the driveway and rushes out of Bella truck to help Astrid with Bella.
"Are you alright Bella," Charlie asks.
"Yeah, ice doesn't help the uncoordinated, lucky for me Astrid caught me, Thanks."
"No problem, Sis."
"Yeah that's why I got your truck new tires, The other ones were nearly bald."
"Thanks, Dad," Bella says getting a little emotional.
Charlie looks at her confused but shrugs it off, "I'll be late for dinner. I'm heading down to Mason County. A security guard at the Grisham Mill got killed by some kind of animal..."
"An animal," Astrid questions.
"You're not in Phoenix anymore, honey. They've been hunting it for a week with no luck. Thought I'd lend a hand," Charlie tells his girls.
"Be careful," they chorus.
"Always am."
With that Charlie gets in his cruiser and heads off while the girls get in the truck and head off for school. When they get to school, Astrid notices the Silver Volvo is back but doesn't say anything to Bella. She'll find out sooner or later. The day progresses as normal, Astrid doesn't bother to acknowledge the Cullens in class, she goes to lunch, where she continues her reading on Norse Mythology. Then she heads off to anatomy class. When she walks into class she sees that Emmett has this dejected look on his face. She goes and sits down next to him and takes out her book and notebook.
"So, I see your douchebag of a brother is back," Astrid tells Emmett without looking at him.
"How do you know that?"
"I saw his car in the parking lot, and my promise still holds true, he says anything to Bella I'm kicking the shit out of him."
Emmett chuckles then became quiet. He sighs and turns in his chair to look at Astrid. "Why don't you like me?"
"What makes you think I don't like you?" Astrid asks.
"Well, you don't talk to me and when you do your hostile and I heard that you said you think I'm an ass."
"Oh that, that was just the impression you gave me when I first saw you. I don't think you're an ass anymore. Maybe a little annoying, but not an ass."
"Gee thanks a lot."
"You're welcome, " Astrid said smiling brightly.
"So can we start having civil conversations," Emmett asks.
"If we must, how are you, Emmett?"
Emmett chuckles, I'm good, Astrid, how about you?"
"Oh, I'm perfect."
"How are you liking the weather?"
"Oh, I love it, the rain the clouds, the cold. My sister on the other hand, not so much. Bella prefers the dry heat and sunshine, she and I are complete opposites."
"So if your sister doesn't like this type of weather, why did you guys move out here," Emmett asks.
"Our mom recently remarried and she wants to spend time with her husband who's a minor league baseball player, and go on the road with him. But she couldn't because she had to stay home with us. So Bella got the idea of moving out here with our dad so that our mom can be with Phil."
"Well, that was very nice of you."
"Yeah, well, it was no big deal for me, I spend all my summers here with dad, it's a big sacrifice for Bella. So I saw that your brother is here today."
"Yeah, he got into town yesterday."
"Where was he?"
"He was dealing with some family stuff."
Astrid raised an eyebrow, "Or was he avoiding my sister?"
"No, it was family stuff," Emmett tells her.
"Sure it was."
Astrid and Emmett continue to talk as they do their work in class, once the class is over, Astrid says goodbye to Emmett and heads off to her language arts class. When her last class finally ends, Astrid makes her way down to the parking lot. She's not in any particular hurry, she knows that Bella will be waiting for her when she gets there.
As Astrid enters the parking lot she notices that all of the Cullens are standing around the silver Volvo on the other side of the parking lot. Emmett turns and smiles at her, she nods her head in acknowledgment and continues to walk towards Bella. Suddenly Astrid hears the screeching of tires as Tyler Crowley's van goes skidding out of control towards an unsuspecting Bella.
"Bella!" Astrid screams as she runs towards her older sister. But before she can reach her, Astrid feels strong arms wrap around her and lift her off the ground. Astrid defenses kick in and she throws her weight forward causing her to land on her feet, she grabs the arm that's around her waist, twist and throws whoever grabbed her over her shoulder. There's a loud thud as the person who grabbed her hits the pavement, Astrid looks down to see that it's Emmett lying on the ground.
But Astrid doesn't give him a second glance she takes off running towards the van that is about to hit her sister, then suddenly she sees the van bounce harmlessly off of Edward Cullen's shoulder as the van hits him full force. It ends up crashing into the back of Bella's truck but missed her entirely.
Astrid leaps onto the back of the truck and jumps in between the two vehicles, she shoves Edward out of the way and gets closer to her sister.
"Bella, Bella, are you okay," Astrid asks frantically.
Bella slowly sits holding her head, "Yeah, I think so, my head hurts a little bit. Where's Edward?"
Astrid turns around and notices that Edward is gone, "He took off, Bella, but don't worry I'm here."
"Thanks, Astrid."
By that time the ambulance arrives and between the teachers and some of the students, they're able to pry the van away from Bella's truck enough to get her and Astrid out safely. The paramedics notice that Bella is holding her head so the carefully place her on the gurney and strap her in. She's then placed in the back of the ambulance and Astrid gets in the front and they head off towards the hospital.
While all that is going on, Edward makes it back to his car where Emmett is waiting for him, "Why didn't you restrain Astrid," Edward asks.
"I did, but she tossed me over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes."
Edward looks at his brother, surprised, "She did?"
"Yeah, she threw her weight forward and sent me flying. She didn't even look at me when I hit the pavement. She was totally focused on her sister."
"How the hell did she do that?" Edward asked
"I don't know, but I', gonna find out," Emmett tells his brother.
"I'm going to head out to the hospital, care to tag along," Edward asks.
"Yeah, let's go."
Emmett and Edward got in the Volvo and drove off to the hospital.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Tyler Crowley is lying down the hospital bed with a mild head wound apologizing over and over again to Bella, while Bella is sitting there waiting for the doctor to come in and examine her. At that moment the doors burst open and Charlies walks in making a beeline for his girls.
"Bells, are you alright," Charlie asks.
"I'm fine, Dad, calm down."
"Bella, I'm so sorry, I tried to stop," Tyler keeps telling Bella.
"Its okay, Tyler," Bella tells him.
"It sure as hell is not okay."
"Dad, it's not his fault-"
"We nearly lost you."
"But you didn't."
Charlie would hug her if that was who he, or ho she was. Instead, he glares at Tyler.
"You can kiss your license goodbye."
Tyler keeps apologizing until Astrid has had enough, and closes the curtain. At this point, they hear a voice outside the curtain,
"I heard that one of the Chief's daughters was here."
The curtain opens and there stands Carlisle Cullen.
"Good, Dr. Cullen," Charlie says.
Carlisle picks up Bella's chart then examines her head, "You have a nice knot growing back there, but your x-rays show no indication of a concussion."
"It would have been a lot worse if Edward hadn't knocked Bella out of the way." Astrid comments.
"Edward, your boy?" Charlie asks.
Carlisle doesn't say anything, just continues to make notes in Bella's chart.
"Yeah it was amazing he got to me so fast. He was nowhere near me."
Carlisle smiles, "As long as you're safe that's the important thing. I think that we can go ahead and release you if you're having any pain go ahead and take some Tylenol for it, but if you feel any other symptoms like dizziness or blurred vision come back to the hospital. Now if you'll excuse me.
Carlisle turns to Tyler, "You, young man, were not so lucky…"
Charlie, Astrid, and Bella start leaving the ER when Charlie tells his girls that he's got to sign some paperwork first.
"Oh, and you better call your mom."
"You told her! She's probably worried sick." Bella says with a frustrated sigh.
Bella and Astrid walk away and Bella pulls out her cell phone to call their mother when she sees Rosalie, Edward, and Carlisle in the hallway, it looks like they're arguing.
"This isn't about you, this is about all of us-" Rosalie says, but Carlisle cuts her off when he sees Bella and Astrid.
"Why don't we continue this in my office, Rosalie."
Bella looks at Astrid, "Go talk to the douche, I'll call Mom."
Bella smiles at her sister and heads off to talk to Edward, while Astrid calls her mother, "Yes, Mom, Bella's alright, it's just a little bump on the head. No, I wasn't involved in the accident, I was barely making my way over to the truck when everything happened. Where's Bella now? She's in the bathroom."
Astrid has her back turned but she suddenly feels a presence behind her, she whirls around to find Emmett standing behind her. Astrid holds up a finger for him to wait while she finishes talking to her mom.
"Yeah, Mom, yeah yeah, I'll tell Bella to call you tonight. I have to go now, I love you, say hi to Phil for me. Bye, Mom."
Astrid puts her phone away and looks at Emmett, "Is there something that you needed, Emmett?"
"How did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Flip me over your shoulder like that."
Astrid smirks, "You're not the first big guy I've done that too."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that I've fought bigger guys than you and won, so flipping you was no big deal. Oh and by the way, don't ever grab me like that again. Next time I won't be so easy on you."
Emmett smirks and crosses his arms, "Is that so?"
"Yes, it is."
Emmett is about to say something else when Bella comes around the corner, "You ready to go, Astrid?"
"Yep, I think we're done here, don't you Emmett?"
"Not really-"
"Yeah, we're done, see you around, Big Guy," Astrid says as she pats his cheek and walks off with Bella.
Emmett stands there and watches Astrid and Bella meet up with Charlie and leave the hospital. He places his hand where Astrid touched him, its still warm from her touch.
"What a woman," Emmett says with a smile.