Chapter Nineteen

Toxic Masculinity

Kelsey

Today marks one of the only times I can remember my sister asking me for help. Turns out that she wants to go see Jacob at the Res, but Edward removed a truck part to keep her from going. Which, typical Edward.

I agree to drive her because I need a break from math problems. So that's how we wind up heading out to my car, only to find Edward leaning against the driver's side door.

"Can I help you?" I ask, pinching the bridge of my nose. I do not feel like dealing with this shit right now.

Edward doesn't say anything, which annoys the hell out of me. And he's turning a piece of metal over and over in his hands like he doesn't have a care in the world. "And did you seriously remove a piece from my car? I'm not your precious little Bella. Put it back before I hurt you." And Edward just smiles at me like a creep.

Bella finally decides to step in. Except that she makes things worse, and ends up admitting defeat and slumping back toward the house with her tail between her legs. Coward. I stay behind, staring Edward down.

"You gonna fix the damage you inflicted on my car? Or am I gonna have to borrow the piece from your precious Volvo?" I know threatening the car would work; Edward loves that thing more than Bella.

"You cannot go to the Reservation." Edward says.

"And who are you to try ordering me around? We're not dating. I have no interest in you whatsoever. We're not friends. We have barely exchanged 100 words since we met. And last time I checked, I am a responsible person who is capable of looking after myself. I don't need or want your interference in my life. If I did want someone ordering me around, I'd become a maid."

"You cannot go to the Reservation because it might hurt Bella." Edward says, which makes me even angrier.

"Everything I do, in your eyes, has the potential to hurt Bella. If I check my blood sugar, you panic because she might pass out because she can't handle the medical task her sister has to do to stay alive. Same if I give myself a shot. If I make dinner, you inspect it to make sure I won't give her food poisoning. If I listen to loud music, you worry it'll give her a headache. If I hang out at the Res, you're worried that the people who I associate with will automatically come back to finish off Bella for some illogical reason. I call bullshit on that. You're just looking for more ways to control her. If I looked up toxic masculinity in the dictionary, the definition would be your fucking face!"

It takes grabbing my softball bat and taking a swing at his Volvo for him to fix my car. And I still threaten to run him over with it because he acted like he was doing a huge favor for a spoiled whiny child. Like, I'm sorry for asking you to fix the damage you inflicted on my car. Oh wait, no I'm not. It's your own damn fault.

I jump in the car and go for a drive. And, just to spite Edward, I go to the Res and drive around with music blaring, eating a brownie I made, which ow take a shot for. That's right, Edward. Go fuck yourself.

I wave to Paul as he's patrolling. I've gotten to the point where I can recognize the pack when in wolf form. They make better company than my sister and her asshole. Oops, I mean boyfriend.

I notice Edward following me as soon as I cross back over the treaty line. Clearly this dude has no concept of personal boundaries. By the time I pull up to my house, I'm prepared for a confrontation. And Edward doesn't disappoint.

"I told you not to go to the Reservation."

"Breaking news, Edward: If I was meant to be controlled, I'd come with a remote. Now shut the fuck off my property before I ensure your ass can never come back here."

"You'll hurt Bella."

"Oh for fuck's sake! THERE are other members of this family, Edward. And I don't have a problem with you as long as you're not trying to stick your nose in my business. That's where I draw the line. I am a responsible person who can make responsible decisions. You, on the other hand, are so insecure that you have to control other people to make yourself feel good. That's just pathetic. I feel kind of sorry for you, actually; you must have a miserable life." With that, I head inside.

I pull Bella aside the next day. She's moping because she can't see Jacob, and I can't believe I'm about to add to the drama, but I am. After all, what kind of sister would I be if I don't at least try to warn her that her boyfriend is a narcissistic emotional abuser and manipulator?

"Bella, I'm worried about you." I say, which is an outright lie. I'M just trying to soften the blow a bit, and make her possibly take me a tad more seriously.

"Why?" Bella asks.

"It's your relationship with Edward. I don't like he tries to control you. How he tries to tell you who you can and can't hang out with. How you feel the need to sneak around to see Jacob. It's a little concerning. It's not healthy, Bella." There. Now all my cards are out on the table. For Bella to ignore, of course.

"He's just trying to protect me. I know he's not going about it the right way, but he loves me. I love him. And besides, I think you're just obsessing again. You know how you get, with your OCD. You freak out about everything." I take a steady breath, trying to calm my temper. If I get pissed and blow up on her ass, it won't make life any easier. "I'm just saying, I don't think it's healthy. You can do whatever you want with that information. I just thought you should know. Oh, and tell him that if he tries to control me again, I'll file a restraining order."

"You wouldn't. He's my boyfriend. He's just trying to look out for you for me."

"Bullshit, Bella. If he cared about me, he'd stop freaking out every time I check my CGM or disconnect or reconnect to my insulin pump. He'd want me to stick around, yeah? Well, he hates it, even when there's no blood involved. And I will file a restraining order; I don't want him around me if that's how he's going to act. This isn't 1919; it's time he grows up." And I leave her sitting at the table, staring after me dumbfounded. I absolutely cannot with this conversation anymore. I really don't want it to go to blows, which is where I think it might be headed. So instead, I go get a caramel apple latte; I need one.

A/n: Hey, y'all. I'm updating late because I've been crazy busy. So if I get to 65 reviews, I'll update Wednesday. If not, it'll be sometime next week. Later!

Lauren.

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Twilightfanjm: I'll send you a PM with the Aurora Cycle series info. Also, you'll have to see whether Paul researches OCD.