Back to the Start

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Humiliation

They put Bella in the emergency room, a long room with a line of beds separated by pastel-patterned curtains. A nurse put a pressure cuff on her arm and a thermometer under her tongue, effectively silencing her protests when she once again tried to tell everyone she was perfectly fine.

Since no one had bothered pulling the curtains around her to give her some privacy, an aggravated Bella decided she wasn't obligated to wear the stupid looking neck brace anymore. As soon as the nurse walked away, she pulled at the Velcro strapping and threw it under the bed.

That was better! She didn't feel so ridiculous now.

Bella looked around for Jacob, wondering where they had taken him. He had walked into the hospital under his own steam, so maybe they left him in the waiting room.

Lucky guy, she thought sourly, to escape so much scrutiny, while she was placed in such a prominent position under everyone's watchful eye.

There was another flurry of hospital personnel, another stretcher brought to the bed next to her. Bella recognized Tyler Crowley from her Government class, (and the reason for the ritual humiliation she was being forced to undergo right now), beneath the blood-soaked bandages wrapped tightly around his head. He looked a million times worse than she did, but he was staring anxiously at her.

"Bella, I am so sorry!"

Bella wanted to feel pity for him. She knew it was an accident. It wasn't like he deliberately wanted to ram his van into her and Jacob, however, if he hadn't been driving so recklessly and hit that patch of black ice, she wouldn't be here now. She had been trying so hard to stay under the radar, to keep herself out of the public gaze, and now here she was, front and center.

"I'm fine, Tyler." Bella decided to be magnanimous. "You look awful, though." She couldn't help adding a little spitefully. He had nearly killed her after all. "Let's hope you didn't damage what was left of your brain."

"That's a very unhelpful comment, young lady." One of the nurses treating Tyler scolded her. She began unwinding his soiled bandages, murmuring words of comfort, while occasionally throwing annoyed looks Bella's way.

"It is all my fault." Tyler tried to explain to the nurse in Bella's defense. "I thought I was going to kill her. I was going too fast, and I hit the ice wrong…" He winced as the nurse clucked at him to be quiet as she started dabbing at his face.

"Lucky for you, you missed me." Bella sniffed.

"How did you get out of the way so fast?" Tyler poked his head around the nurse to ask.

"Jacob threw me in the back of my truck like an old sack of potatoes." Bella revealed with a smirk.

Tyler looked confused. "Huh? Who's Jacob? I didn't see anyone else. Just you."

Bella shook her head in disbelief. If he hadn't seen Jacob-who even at fifteen towered over her-no wonder he had lost control of his stupid van. Perhaps he needed glasses. "Maybe you should retake your driving test and get your eyes tested at the same time." She suggested.

"Another very unhelpful comment, young lady." The nurse threw at her again. "If you have nothing nice to say, then perhaps you should just be quiet and let me patch up this poor young man in peace."

Bella glared at the nurse-she was the victim. Not Tyler!

Bella slipped off the bed and yanked the curtain across that divided the two beds, then sat fuming to herself until they wheeled her off to X-ray her head. Once again, she put up a heated protest, telling them that nothing was wrong, that she was perfectly fine. Not even a concussion, despite what that sneak Edward Cullen had implied.

Bella asked if she could leave, but the nurse said she had to talk to a doctor first. So, she remained trapped in the ER, waiting, harassed by Tyler's constant apologies and pointless promises to make it up to her. No matter how many times she snapped at him that she was fine, he continued to torment himself. In a way making it all about him.

Finally, she closed her eyes and ignored his remorseful mumbling, while wondering where the hell Jacob had gotten too. He had promised to keep her company during this embarrassing ordeal.

"Is she sleeping?" A musical voice woke her up just as she was beginning to doze.

Bella's eyes flew open and she groaned. It was Edward freaking Cullen. What did he want now?

"So, what's the verdict?" He asked her.

Bella stared at him, wondering why he was so invested in her welfare suddenly after treating her like crap for weeks. He had been plain rude since the first day she had clapped eyes on him, convincing her that he hated her guts for some unknown reason. Then, he disappeared for about a week, and then came back with a new personality installed. Now, he seemed obsessed with finding everything out about her. He was like a damned itch she couldn't scratch. Wherever she went, there he was, like an annoying tik.

"Like I have been telling everyone else around here." Bella stated in a loud voice for the nursing staff's benefit. "There is not a thing wrong with me." She narrowed her eyes at Edward, irritated by the amused expression on his bone white face. "This is all your fault, you told them I hit my head, and started all the fuss. You're the reason I'm still trapped here."

Edward just smiled. "Its all about who you know." He answered calmly, ignoring her yelling. "But don't worry I came to spring you."

"I don't want your he – "

Just then a doctor walked around the corner, and Bella's mouth fell open. He was young, blonde, and handsomer than any movie star she had ever seen. He was pale, though, as pale as Edward, tired looking with dark circles under his eyes.

"Hello, Miss Swan." He introduced himself. "I'm Dr. Cullen."

Bella stared up at him in disbelief, suddenly unable to form a coherent sentence. So, this was Edward's father?

"How are you feeling?" Dr. Cullen said in his remarkably appealing voice.

"I'm fine." Bella managed to say, for the last time, she hoped.

Bella watched as Dr. Cullen walked to the lightboard on the wall over her head, and turned it on.

"Your X-rays look good." He declared. "Does your head hurt? Edward said you hit it pretty hard."

"For the last time, I did not hit my head." Bella grumbled, shooting Edward a dark look.

The doctor's cold fingers made Bella flinch as he probed lightly along her skull. He noticed when she winced.

"Tender?"

"No." Bella grimaced. "Your hands are freezing."

She heard a chuckle, and looked over to see Edward's patronizing smile. Her eyes narrowed again, he was such an arrogant ass, and he was getting on her last nerve. Why he insisted on inserting himself into every aspect of her life, she could not imagine.

"Well, your father is in the waiting room-you can go home with him now. But come back if you feel dizzy or have trouble with your eyesight at all."

"Finally." Bella swung her legs off the bed, avoiding Edward's proffered hand as he tried to help her. "Thanks, Doc. I think I might just head on back to school. See you around."

"Actually." Dr. Cullen said. "Most of the school seems to be in the waiting room. Perhaps it would be better if you went home and rested up for the remainder of the day."

Bella couldn't believe it. The whole school? This was the exact scenario she had been dreading. And it was all Edward Cullen's fault for making out that her injuries were way more than they were. She gave him one last glare, before stalking over to the exit at the end of the hallway.

She had only taken two steps when she found that Edward was following her. "What do you want now?" She demanded, swinging back around to face him. "Can't you just leave me alone?"

"I was just going to suggest you take some Tylenol for the pain." Edward replied cuttingly, then he turned his back on her and walked away.

The waiting room was more unpleasant than Bella feared. It seemed like every face she knew in Forks was there, gleefully waiting for the grisly details of her near-death experience.

"Ghouls." She muttered under her breath.

As soon as he saw her Charlie rushed over to her side, and lo and behold, Jacob Black was right there with him. Even though Jacob had saved her life, Bella couldn't help but feel piqued that he had gotten away lightly with barely any attention at all, while she had to suffer under the parade of watchful eyes.

Life was just not fair. Bella knew she was going to have to suffer pointless questions for days about the insignificant role she had played in the whole affair. Eric would probably want to interview her for the dumb school paper. Angela would take her picture. Jessica would attach herself like a limpet, while she tried to draw out as many details from Bella as possible, so she could broadcast it to the rest of the school. Mike Newton would become even more obsessive about following her around like some god damn Labrador.

Ugh, it didn't bear thinking about!

And there was Jacob Black, grinning at her like he could read every irritated thought that passed through her mind, like he was getting special enjoyment out of seeing her suffer.

Well, damn him, too!

Aloud, Bella said grudgingly. "Thanks for saving me."

"You're welcome, I think?" Jacob laughed at her sullen expression. "How's the head?"

"For one last time my head is fine." Bella scowled.

"It's a shame about your manners." Jacob muttered, digging his hands deep in the pockets of his jeans.

Bella knew she was being a bitch. Its just that she hated hospitals so much. For someone who tried to avoid them, she was almost a permanent resident. She smiled to soften the blow of her words. "Hey, I mean it, thanks. I just hate…this!" She waved at all the curious onlookers.

Jacob's expression turned sympathetic. "I know. I get it." He said, his tone softer. "I was going to come see you, but I had to get home to give my dad his meds. His insulin shot was due. Charlie kindly gave me a lift, then brought me back here again afterwards."

"Oh." Bella felt ashamed of her former bitterness now. "I wondered where you went."

"Well, now you know." Jacob said, shrugging.

Charlie had remained quiet during this little exchange. When they were finished talking, he put his arm behind Bella's back, not quite touching her, and led her and Jacob to the glass doors of the exit. Bella turned and waved at her friends, putting on a fake smile for their benefit, pretending it was no big deal that they were all staring at her. It was a huge relief when she finally made it outside. It didn't even bother her that she had to ride home in the cruiser as Jacob kept up a constant stream of chatter the whole ride home, which made up for Charlie's grim silence.

Charlie dropped Jacob home first, with Jacob extracting a promise from Bella that she was still going to come up on Saturday to hang out.

"You owe me, remember?" He reminded her.

Bella found herself smiling at his earnest expression. Why he would still want to spend time with her after the way she had acted today amazed her. "I'll be there." She assured him.

Jacob smiled at her like she was his most favorite person in the world. Bella felt the usual heat kissing her cheeks and ducked her head to avoid him noticing.

Hadn't she already endured enough humiliation for today? Stupid skin!

"Thanks for the lift, Charlie." Jacob said cheerfully as he climbed out of the cruiser.

"Anytime, kid." Charlie replied congenially. "Say hi to your old man for me."

"Will do."

"See you Saturday, Bella."

"Yeah." Bella mumbled, now hiding behind a swathe of her long, brunette hair. The last thing she heard was Jacob's amused laughter as Charlie pulled away.

So, he had noticed her blush after all! Great! Just great!

Bella had never been so glad to be home in her life. As she climbed out of the cruiser, Charlie finally spoke. "Um… you'll need to call Renee."

Bella was appalled. So that explained his grim silence on the journey back. He had ratted her out to her flighty mother. Renee was probably having a meltdown right about now. This day was just getting worse by the minute.

"I can't believe you told Mom!" She slammed the cruiser's door a little harder than necessary on her way out.

"I'm sorry, kiddo. I wasn't thinking." Charlie apologized. "I was just so worried."

Bella took a deep breath, feeling her former guilt setting in. She had to stop letting her mouth run away with her when she got frustrated. She remembered the snow chains Charlie had so thoughtfully put on her truck. He really cared; it was something she was going to have let herself get used to.

"I'm sorry, too, Dad." She said, gentling her tone. "It's been a long day."

"I get it, kiddo." Charlie smiled, touched by the sincerity behind her words. "Come on. Let's get you inside." He placed his hand gently on her back as he carefully steered her toward the house.

It took a while for Bella to calm Renee's hysterics, but eventually she was able to convince her mom that she was perfectly fine. Renee begged her to come home-forgetting that home was empty at the moment-but her pleas fell on deaf ears. Bella was resolved to staying in Forks-at least for the foreseeable future.

Anyway, she couldn't leave Charlie to fend for himself, he needed her to cook for him. Left to his own devices, his diet was horrifying.

When she put down the phone, Bella finally realized how tired she felt. She avoided Charlie's anxious gaze, telling him she was going to bed early. He patted her awkwardly on the shoulder before retiring to the front room to watch a sports show.

On the way to the bathroom, she stopped to grab some Tylenol to help her drift off easier, than she remembered it was Edward Cullen who had advised her to take some, almost as if he had inserted the idea in her mind. Bella threw the pills back in the bottle in disgust, knowing that she was going to have to face his smirking face tomorrow at school.

Great! Just freaking great! More agony she didn't need! Ugh!

When she reached her bed, Bella flopped on top of the quilt, folding her arms across her body. Her brain was still so busy despite her exhaustion, that she thought it would take her a while to go to sleep. But to her surprise, she drifted off almost right away.

That was the first night she dreamed of Jacob Black.

A/N-thanks for reading!