Esme was standing on the porch waiting for them when they arrived at the Cullen house.
Bella had gone with Edward in his Volvo with Jasper and Alice, and Rosalie had driven home alone as Emmett drove Bella's truck to the Cullen house. She had insisted on driving it herself but Edward wanted her to be careful with her foot.
Esme was smiling when Bella got out of the car. "Bella! What a lovely surprise."
Bella wanted to cry seeing Esme's warm eyes and her welcoming embrace as she held her arms out to her.
Bella hugged her quickly, trying to avoid any touch to her injuries. "I hope it's okay I came over, Esme."
"Of course, of course." Esme ushered her into the front room, still smiling. "I've been looking forward to seeing you again. How are you doing?"
"I'm good." Bella said. She followed Alice to the couch and sat down, trying to be careful. She had a quick sweep of the downstairs, but Carlisle didn't seem to be home which was good for her. She liked Carlisle, but she was worried he would pick up on something going on with her.
"Do you want to learn how to play a video game, Bells?" Emmett asked her as he turned on the TV and started getting controllers out of a box.
"Yes, sure." Bella smiled warmly at Emmett. She hoped she wouldn't be too bad at the game, considering she'd never tried before.
Before Emmett could walk Bella through the game, Esme drew Bella's attention. "Would you like some food dear? Some chicken noodle soup perhaps?"
Bella nodded, trying not to seem too enthusiastic. With Charlie grabbing pizza on his way home, Bella probably wouldn't eat tonight. "Yes please, I'd like that."
Esme beamed at her answer, and went off to the kitchen with Rosalie.
Edward joined Bella and Alice on the couch as Jasper and Emmett worked through the rules of the video game and tried to get Bella to understand the buttons on the controller.
Alice didn't seem very interested so started flipping through a fashion magazine, though she seemed too intrigued to leave them to it.
Edward offered his help next to Bella every so often with the buttons and in no time, she felt quite confident with the game.
She was having fun. Real fun. She felt so much more relaxed sitting here with these people and the reality of how hard the last 6 months had been was catching up with her. She was really struggling, and she really did want to get to know these people.
Esme and Rosalie came back to the front room not long after and watched them play the game for a few seconds.
"Your soup is just on the dining table, sweetheart." Esme smiled at her again.
Bella nodded, looking at just the one bowl sitting on the table. She moved over to it slowly so that her body didn't protest in pain. "Are you guys not having anything?"
"We will eat with Carlisle." Esme answered. "But I can sit with you if you'd like?" She hovered by the dining table, waiting for Bella's permission.
"Of course." Bella wouldn't mind the company, though she always felt uncomfortable when she was the only person eating.
Esme sat down next to her but she made an effort not to stare at Bella as she ate. She asked her about school, and about Charlie, about how she found Forks.
Bella started telling her about Phoenix and about Renée, and that she didn't mind Forks although it was very different to Phoenix. She tried to avoid much conversation about Charlie, but said he was the chief of police and worked long hours.
It was when Bella finished the bowl of soup that Esme asked a question. "Are you alright, dear?". She was frowning now, a small crease between her delicate eyebrows. She was staring at Bella's hand, which was shaking.
Bella moved her hands to her lap, under the dining table. "I'm okay." She tried to reassure Esme; she didn't like to see her frown. "I'm just in a bit of pain…with my foot." She trailed off, wondering why she had just openly brought her injured foot up like that.
Edward moved over to them at the dining table and helped Bella stand and move back to the couch. He settled her next to Rosalie and grabbed her bag from Alice's waiting hands. "Do you have pain meds, Bella?"
Bella opened her bag and found the pain meds at the bottom; the ones Carlisle had given her for her rib. She hadn't finished taking them, worried that Charlie would confiscate them. She grabbed two and carefully chugged them down with the water bottle that was in her backpack.
Everyone was staring at her when she was done, though she was grateful when Emmett and Jasper turned back to the TV.
"What's wrong with your foot?" Esme asked her, sitting down next to Alice who was also frowning at her.
"I just dropped something on it." Bella tried not to snap, but she hated attention being brought on her injuries. She started bringing her knees up to her chest but that movement caused a small amount of pain so she moved slowly but continued the movement to try and conceal the pain. "I'm just a danger magnet." She laughed off.
"Has it been looked at?" Edward asked her. "If you're in pain, it's best to make sure something isn't broken?"
"Carlisle will be home very shortly. He would be more than happy to look at it for you." Esme told her and Bella felt sick. Of course, Carlisle would be willing to look at the injury, but he'd also probably call CPS.
Bella tried to get up from the couch, but Rosalie grabbed her wrist quickly to stop her. Bella flinched just slightly at the movement, but settled back down on the couch. She felt tears stabbing at the corner of her eyes and tried to pull herself together. "I should probably be getting home." She didn't look at anyone in particular, but hoped someone would listen to her.
"I'd be obliged to take you to the hospital if Carlisle doesn't look at it." Esme said and although her voice was stern, her eyes swirled with concern. Esme softened when she noticed the tears pricking at Bella's eyes. "Boys, give us some space please."
Emmett and Jasper immediately headed towards the stairs, but Edward was more reluctant. He looked like he wanted to pull Bella into his arms, and a part of her wanted that badly.
Alice stood from the couch, grabbing Edward's hand and towing him to the stairs. "Come on, Edward." He moved slowly with Alice, offering Bella an apologetic smile as they left.
With the room cleared aside from Rosalie, who had her arm around Bella's shaking form, Esme approached them and sat down. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"
Bella shook her head, swiping the tears from her eyes before they could fall down her face. "I just get so anxious with anything medical. I've never been good with doctors; I'd rather just deal with the pain and injuries myself. I've always been so clumsy; I'm just used to it."
"Carlisle is very gentle and won't do anything to hurt you." Esme gave Bella's hand a soft squeeze.
Bella knew that of course. She weighed the situation up carefully in her head. If she kept her leggings and jeans on, Carlisle would only be able to see part of her ankle and foot. Her entire foot was bruised, but Bella thought it would pass off as something heavy falling on it rather than the fact Charlie pulled her along by her ankle and then crushed her foot between his work boot and the floor when she tried to get away. Carlisle wouldn't be able to tell that just by looking at her foot.
"Deep breaths, Bella." Rosalie reminded her, and she let out a shaky breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Rosalie gave her a gentle squeeze, which still hurt, but Bella didn't show that it did.
Before Bella could gather her thoughts anymore, the front door opened and Carlisle hurried in.
He froze in the doorway, noticing Bella on the couch. It was a surprise to him that she was here. He carefully slid off his jacket and looked at the situation in front of him.
He noticed Rosalie and Esme comforting her on the couch and tilted his head curiously, noticing Bella was upset. "Hello, Bella." He greeted her.
He moved towards them and Bella clocked that he hadn't put his work bag down yet. He set it at the end of the couch, standing in front of her now.
"Would you mind looking at Bella's foot?" Esme asked him. She was holding Bella's other hand, and although both her and Rosalie were being gentle, she knew she wouldn't be able to escape from the couch.
Bella tried to stop her shaking and tried to draw in small steady breaths. Everything would be okay; it was just her foot.
"Of course." Carlisle bent down onto the floor, waiting for Bella's permission.
"Left foot." She managed to choke out and Rosalie squeezed her shoulder.
She barely felt Carlisle removing her shoe and sock. He was very gentle with her but he paused when her skin was exposed.
She looked down, following Rosalie and Esme's gaze to her foot. The bruises were darker now and encased the whole top of her foot, creeping up to her ankle. Her foot was swollen compared to the other too.
"How did you do this, Bella?" Carlisle asked her as he carefully took her foot in his hands and began prodding.
Although Carlisle was very gentle, she winced in pain and tried not to pull her foot away from him. "I dropped something on it."
"Something?" He questioned, and she yelped as he prodded an area on the top. "Sorry."
"A few cans fell when I was sorting the cabinets." Bella didn't meet his gaze as he continued his examination.
Carlisle didn't say anything for a few moments as he moved her foot around. She winced but the pain wasn't unbearable. "I don't think anything is broken." He told her. "Just very bruised. But you'll need an x-ray just to make sure. I need you to put ice on it to bring down the swelling. Have you got enough pain meds?"
Esme was already moving to the kitchen as Carlisle spoke, and Bella assumed she was going to get some ice. Bella nodded at Carlisle's question.
"I could get you in for an x-ray appointment tomorrow so you don't have to sit there and wait." Carlisle took the ice wrapped in a towel from Esme as she came back to the couch and then bent down to hold it against Bella's foot.
The coldness of the ice felt good, and Bella was annoyed she hadn't thought about using ice herself.
"During school?" Bella asked Carlisle. She was trying to figure out how to get an x-ray on her foot without Charlie finding out. Forks was a small town and she knew he'd find out eventually.
Carlisle nodded. "The hospital will be quieter then; you'll be in and out. I can ring you once we get the results so you can get back to school sooner."
"Okay." Bella didn't know what else to say. She tried to take over holding the ice but Carlisle brushed her hand away.
"I'll collect you from school and drop you back off, Bella." Esme sat back down. "It's not a good idea to be driving if you've broken anything."
"I guess not." Bella sighed. How had she even gotten into this mess. She wondered what she would be doing in that moment if she were still in Phoenix.
Carlisle stood to pull the small table next to the couch. He lifted Bella's foot up onto it gently. "Just rest it now." He instructed, taking away the ice.
Esme got up from the couch and followed Carlisle to the kitchen, leaving Bella with Rosalie.
"You look tired." Rosalie commented. "Why don't you have a little nap?"
"I need to be getting home." Bella felt slightly panicked. Charlie hadn't phoned, but she was sure he was home by now. He would want her home soon.
Rosalie rested her hand on Bella's briefly to ease the shaking. "Just half an hour or so, and then Edward can drive you home. Give you a chance to rest that foot."
"Alright." Bella felt a small prick of tears in her eyes again but Rosalie didn't say anything if she noticed. She just sat back against the sofa next to Bella, turning her attention to the TV and flicking through the channels.
Bella was tired. Her sleep wasn't great at the moment, especially now it was plagued by nightmares, and she didn't feel entirely safe in her bedroom. She was worried Charlie would have an outburst during the night or do something to her as she slept.
She felt safe on the couch next to Rosalie, and found the TV blurring as her body succumbed to sleep.