VII. The Fallout

Summary: Isabella catches Edward in her room and reacts accordingly. [Part II]

"Edward, what the fuck is wrong with you?"

I grimaced, shifting awkwardly in my chair, unable to acknowledge Emmett or meet anyone's eye.

Across the cafeteria, Isabella continued her march, until she disappeared from the lunch room altogether.

Despite the sinking pit of shame growing in my stomach and the icy sensation of venom spreading across my face, hardly anyone appeared to have noticed the short exchange. For this moment, Jessica Stanley, still frozen at the end of the lunch line, remained the only human witness.

Rosalie's sudden grip around my wrist was unyielding.

Without a word, she yanked me to my feet and dragged me through the back exit, across the concrete pathways, and into the forest encroaching the campus.

As soon as we were free of witnesses, Rosalie gripped me by the collar of my shirt and hurled me against the nearest tree, branches snapping against my back, her lips curling into a violent snarl.

"In what world, do you think it's okay to break into a girl's bedroom?!" she demanded, the fabric of my shirt tearing under her grip. "You of all people should understand how depraved that is! What the hell is your problem?!"

When I didn't immediately respond, Rosalie shoved me harder against the splintered bark of the tree. "Explain yourself, before I tear every single one of your damn limbs off!"

"She…" I hesitated, remorse a heavy and ugly thing which threatened to collapse my chest. "She sleep-talks."

My confession served to momentarily short-circuit her wrathful thoughts. Behind her, our siblings edged closer, now more curious about my admittance, than concerned with possibly needing to extract me from Rosalie's deadly grip.

"What," she said flatly.

"I didn't intend to break into her bedroom," I continued, shamefully casting my gaze aside. "But I needed to see her face, and then…I heard her. Since I can't read her mind, I thought…"

"You thought," Rosalie picked up where I trailed off, "That you would observe her at her most vulnerable, for the sake satiating your own curiosity."

Rosalie's thoughts weren't quite so thunderous any more.

Instead, they were edged with a sharp and frigid resentment.

Despite our grievances with one another, Rosalie and I had always had a mutual understanding. Our common hatred of male depravity had been what once united us, when I had helped her plan the successful murder of her rapists. And she, of course, knew of my own past.

While she hadn't assumed the worst of me in the face of Isabella's accusations, my mere actions still galled her. Why I would do something that could so easily cross the line of perversion, was unthinkable to her.

It was doubtful she would ever forgive me for this transgression.

Rosalie dropped her hold on me and stepped back. "Go home, Edward," she said coldly.

I didn't stick around to face judgement from the rest of my siblings. I vanished.

I wallowed in my shame and guilt, all the while wondering how I could rectify my mistakes. Rose, I knew, would hardly be convinced by my remorse. Carlisle and Esme would be disappointed―a much more cutting reaction than any one of Rosalie's tirades. And while I knew the rest would not hold it against me for long, if at all, I couldn't help but wonder where Isabella fell in all this. Would she be the type to forgive, or would she remain furious? I would not blame her if she did.

"Edward?"

Reluctantly, I sat up from where I'd lain sprawled on the black leather couch and watched as Esme ventured into my room, pausing by my stereo to switch off the violent rock music blasting from the speakers.

"What's going on?" she asked, thoughts soft with concern.

When I was unable to formulate an appropriate answer, she drew closer and sat beside me, curling her fingers around my forearm in a gentle grasp. "Edward?"

For a moment, I deliberated keeping silent and allowing the others to explain on my behalf. Without a doubt, Rosalie still had plenty to say regarding my untoward actions. And I hardly wanted to defend myself, especially to my own mother. I deserved their criticism and contempt.

But the longer I was faced with Esme's troubled eyes, the less I could stand to sit around and allow Rosalie to possibly cause her more grief.

"I did something wrong," I said quietly, heaving a small sigh.

Despite the doubt coloring her thoughts, Esme pushed forward. "What did you do?"

So, I told her.

As factually as I was able, I told her of my draw towards the human girl and how I'd allowed myself to venture near her home, because I couldn't keep myself from seeing her. How I'd heard her voice and subsequently snuck into her bedroom.

And then, I told her of how I'd been discovered, how Isabella had confronted me in school, and how Rosalie had been both angered and hurt by my actions.

Throughout it all, Esme never once became critical or upset, though she had every right to be. Instead, she attempted to be understanding of my own thoughts and the reasons for my actions.

But of course, like everyone else, she was unable to excuse my behavior.

"I know," I responded to her thoughts. "I know it was wrong of me."

Esme nodded, her features belaying her unease. "You need to apologize to that girl, Edward."

I winced at the idea of having to confront Isabella once again, but knew there was no getting around it. She deserved my utmost regret. "I will."

Esme paused, her thoughts a whirlwind of uncertainty. Her and Carlisle were accustomed to punishing my siblings and I for all sorts of rowdiness―property damage, practical jokes that went too far, nearly exposing our secrets, etc. Short of killing a human, it was never anything this serious. At least, killing someone could be blamed on our nature. Acting like a sick peeping tom had been deliberate on my part.

"We'll discuss this with your father once he gets home," she decided.

I sunk further into the couch, expression miserable. "Okay."

The situation grew worse.

Before the school day could end, Carlisle returned home. While he sometimes did this on his lunch break in order to spend time with Esme, the alarmed fluctuation of his thoughts told a completely different story for why he had made an urgent return.

Esme and I were at the threshold of the front door to greet him. My alarmed expression had clued Esme in that there was more going on, but I couldn't find it in me to explain.

"Edward," Carlisle greeted me once he'd swept Esme into a brief embrace and ushered us into the front hall. "I assume you know what this is all about?"

I grimaced. "Yes."

I went on to explain everything I had shared with Esme mere moments ago.

Despite his disapproval, Carlisle's shoulders loosened with relief. "All things considered, I suppose it could've been worse."

"Did something else happen?" Esme asked.

With a frown, he explained, "Chief Swan dropped by my office today and requested that I keep Edward away from his daughter. Although it doesn't appear that he knows of the break-in, Isabella shared with him that Edward has made her very uncomfortable."

The shame that rippled through me was nauseating.

"You understand what this means, right?" Carlisle asked, voice gentler than it had any right to be.

"Yes," I said with wretched contrition. "I've drawn too much attention to our family. We have to leave Forks."

Carlisle nodded and clasped a hand to my shoulder. "I suggest you start packing, son."

A/N: Hey look, consequences for Edward's actions. Isn't that neat?

Idea credited to AnimeLover229! :3