Chapter 10

…...I hid in my room whole evening, even when Sue requested me to come to dinner, I couldn't go out. First I don't want to face Jessica after what happened, Sue told me she was crying when she came out of Edward's office and second I have Exam tomorrow, I have a lot to study. So after begging pleading and using 'please' weapon Sue agreed to give me dinner in my room.

Emmett taught me for two hour then took two different tests in which I got A+ and A++. He said my Trigonometry will improve with time and I don't need to study for tomorrow exams but still I am worried so I studied. Edward came to my room at 10:45 and told me to sleep by 11 because I have to wake up early in morning.

So at 11 I got under blanket and tried to sleep, but I couldn't. All I can think about is my paper and the result. What will happen if I failed? How mad he will be? I need to study Trigonometry or I will surly fail. So I put alarm of 3am on my new mobile and decided that I will study early in morning. It worked, it soothed me a little but only for few minutes, after tossing and turning half an hour I gave up. I am studying now. So I took my book and torch and got under blanket again.

Trigonometry is never been my favorite and I never thought I would study it like this for hours. It's around 1 am when I stopped doing Trigonometry and started revision of history for 4th time because I can't remember a single thing. I was about to finish for 5th time when I heard something, so I paused and then I heard him.

"I think I told you to sleep" Shit. His voice is angry and has hard edge to it; I know his expression must be the same

I can't believe he caught me. I didn't even put the light on, didn't even made a single sound. How the hell he found out? I put the torch off and waited. May be he leave thinking I am already asleep but that didn't happened.

He put the light on and came inside.

"Come out Bella." His voice still held anger but he said it so softly that it feels soothing.

I pulled my blanket down but I can't look at him.

"What time is it?"

I looked at clock its 1:55am. I know he knows the time. I look up at him in hope that may be he would understand my pleading eyes but no, his eyes are angry I have no hope now. I am in deep shit.

"Its 2 am" I mumbled to my hands.

"Emmett told you not to study any more in evening, I told you to stop studying and to sleep by 11. Do you remember that?"

I nodded my head.

"I didn't hear you" His high pitched voice send shiver through me.

"Yes I know. I am so…"

"No. You don't apologies for something you did intentionally. Do you think I don't know how worried you are? Or do you think my telling you to sleep is not the right decision for you? Do you know how bad it is to read like that? You can't get oxygen inside a blanket, it will affect you eye sites and most important if you study whole night you will fall asleep in exam. Then what hmm?" I know he is right. There is huge chance that I fall asleep in exam. "Give me your books and torch." He asked by extending his hand. I handed him both things without a thought but I just wish he will let me study once in morning.

"You didn't even change your evening dress yet. Go change into your sleeping attire" He said and put the torch and books in bedside table. I took my pajamas and headed to bathroom.

"What the…..What's that?" I looked back and….. Oh shit. I was so busy in study I forgot to have dinner. It's still on table where Sue left it.

He shakes his head and pulled out his phone.

"Sue to Bella's room now." He looks more irritated then angry now. All I can hope is he won't be angry on her. Its because of my pleading Sue left the food on table. I won't let Sue take the blame, No matter how angry he is.

Sue entered the room with sleepy eyes and I feel guiltier now. Why do I always put some one else in trouble?

"Sue we agreed we won't serve dinner in her room." He said as soon as she entered. I know I should say something to save Sue but he is way too angry. If he is talking to Sue like this god knows what he will do to me.

"But sir once in a while…"

"No Sue. You know how important it is for her to be around us. She needs to socialize. Even for some reason you considered to do it at least you should have stayed with her to make sure she eats. Look she didn't even touched it. How could you be so irresponsible Sue?" He is scolding her. I know I don't have courage to face his anger but I have to do this.

"It's not her fault" my voice very low but they heard it. They both looked at me like they didn't even know I was in same room with them. But Edward narrowed his eyes at me.

"Will you please do as you're told before I lose my temper with you?"

I didn't even think of answering him, I turned to bathroom with out second thought. I can't save Sue; I will apologies to her later.

As I locked bathroom door I heard Edward's voice again.

"I am sorry Sue I shouldn't have talked to you like that."

"It's ok Edward I know you are going through a lot and I know I should have made her eat in front of me."

"I just don't know what to do Sue, I want to be with her all the time but with business and all the security problems, I am not getting enough time for her. I am depending on you for everything"

"Edward, you have nothing to worry about her, you handle all these problems and I will handle her. I promise there will be no more laps from my side, you can trust me."

"Its not that Sue I trust you a lot but I want to be with her, to help her in everything and I can't…since Jacob knows she is with me, he started digging in my past….its not just a business rivalry anymore…and if he finds out things will go out of my hand."

I knew Edward and Jacob are business rivals but what is in his past that is making him so worried. I listen more carefully now

"Why don't you tell her…..it would be better then knowing it from Jacob?" Sue asked softly

Are they talking about me? I think its about me…..

"I can't Sue, she doesn't trust me. She is still scared of me. She talks to you, Emmett even with Eleazar but with me she is different." Now I know he is talking about me. "If I tell her and she decided to leave ….what would happen then…..i can't live without her…and you know she needs protection now with…"

"What did j…."

"Wait …."

I concentrate more and plastered my self to the bathroom door. I want to know why do I need protection, what is he hiding in his past, is there really a thing which will make me leave him? I doubt that part. But still his life is in storm because of me. It's all because of me. Jacob is giving him problem, who ever is after me is making him worried, then me my self making everything far much difficult for him, first school and milk and now not eating and sleeping. I feel like I am silly child throwing tantrums all over.

I was so much in my mind that as soon as door opened I fall on floor.

He closed his eyes in frustrated sigh and announced my fate.

"You are going to sleep in these cloths tonight" Edward said while I tried to get up from the floor. I looked at Sue who is trying to hide her grin. Edward saw it too.

"Sue please; don't encourage her and please bring some milk and snacks in my room."

"Yes Edward." Sue left room.

I thought about apologizing but before that Edward told be to go his room. On the door I looked back at my books and Edward is sitting on bed with head in his hand.

"Please Bella, you are trying my patience love. Go to my room…"

… …

I was waiting in his room when Sue and Edward came with my dinner. I am sure whatever conversation is been left because of me is completed in kitchen. Sue left the room after putting dinner and Edward told me to finish dinner. While he showered I did finish the dinner including milk because I know he have a lot to worry and also because Sue is not here to save me. I was laying on bed when he came to bed and pulled me up.

"Did you finish the dinner?"

I looked back at my plate again, I am sure he also have seen it on the way to bed then why is he asking me? I looked up at him questioning eyes again.

"I finished it Edward."

"And milk?"

I still don't understand why is he asking me?

"Yes…you can check the glass and plate."

"You didn't throw it away or anything?"

"Noooo….i didn't …..i sawre I finished it."

"Ok. I believe you." He said and then holds my face in his both hands "I want to you to know that I am not mad at you for anything. I know I should be but I am not. Tomorrow is a very important day for you so I want to you to relax and sleep. Can you do that for me?"

I nodded my head and he kissed my head.

"Come on lets sleep."

We did lie on bed but sleep is last thing in my mind. I know tomorrow is very important day, and I didn't study enough but still my mind goes to Jacob and whoever I need protection from. one thing I am sure about that there is no reason in this world that will make me leave Edward. I wish I could assure him that but I know it will only show how much I was eavesdropping in their conversation.

I wish Jacob stop bothering him, may be I can ask him but I am not sure he will do that for me or not, may be he'll get more angry toward Edward and I am not even sure I can talk to Jacob. We were friends in childhood but now after everything I am not sure…

"Bella Sleep love." Edward's voice interrupted my thoughts and I bit my lip in nervousness. I didn't know he is still up and can see me even in dark.

"Umm yes Edward."

"What were you thinking?" he asked softly

Oh shit, I don't want to tell him and if I lie, he is going to be mad.

"It's ok Bella. You have nothing to worry about. Emmett took tests, you got A's and you will do well in school too. I know you will but even for some reason you don't, its not going to change anything love." I know he is trying to comfort me but I am not even thinking about tomorrow.

"Look at me love" He turned my face toward him and hold my chin his hand. I looked in his eyes and I know in real that I have nothing to worry about, his eyes are so deep, I can see his every emotion in it.

"If this doesn't work, we will try some where else or I can get you in any school you want, even with out any exam's but you have to face real exam one day love."

He is really worried about me; in his live it's just me that matter, I can see it in his eyes. My cold, milk, dinner, Jessica, school everything, he knows I am scared of failing in exams and he comforts me for all of it, no matter how silly my worries are. I wish I was a better person, I wish it was me who is worried about him and his needs, I wish I can give my self to him the way I always wanted, I wish he will let me become his slave.

His eyes narrowed at me.

"Turn around." Before I could process his words his hands made me turn away from his beautiful eyes. I don't know what happened all of a sudden.

He put a hand on my shoulder and I thought may be my wish come true.

"Count" he ordered

"What…..?" I didn't under understand. I heard this word only when I get beaten by my old masters but the gesture and order here doesn't match. I seriously don't know what am I suppose to do.

"He pointed at the glass wall in front of me toward the sky.

"Start counting the stars"

What? …my first instinct was that it's a trick; if there is any impossible task given to you, it means they want to punish you but I know it's Edward. He only punished me ones and that too because I call my self a whore. So I don't understand again. It was much better to look in his eyes instead of stars and why I need to count them. It's an impossible task.

"Bella Start counting"

"O..ok"

And I did start counting. His hand moved in my hair softly just light massage and I understand he is making me sleep. By count stars there is not way my mind can think about anything else and by his massage all the tension my body feel will go away. So I closed my eyes and continue counting.

….

Edward wakes me in morning to get ready. He even allowed me to read ones but he have to come again to force me to put them back and to take me to his car.

Eleazar is going with us, that not a surprise since I know the reason now. But Edward is not driving that is something new. He sits beside me and holds my hand. I know he is trying to comfort me but it's not working. I am getting worried by every minute. As school came to view, I started trembling. Edward squeezes my hand and made me look at him.

"Its ok, I am here with you, I promise you have nothing to fear for."

I nodded my head and tried to keep my tears at bay, my throat is chocking from them.

"Can….can I have water?"

Edward handed me bottle and I finished it without pause.

"Take a deep breath" I followed his order as car came to stop in parking.

Edward came to open my door but he didn't reach for my hand, he just waited for my response and I know then that it's my choice now, if I told him I can't do this he will take me back but do I want to go back? At this point I am failing either way; even if I go back it will be a failure of everything and everyone's effort. Emmett, Sue, Edward every one did everything for this moment and now it's my turn even if I fail in exam at least it would be that I did tried and failed.

I stepped down from car and took Edward' hand. Only that will keep me from falling to ground. We fallowed behind Eleazar and two other men; I don't know where they came from. I turned and saw two more following behind us and 5 or 6 are near our car. This is beyond my thinking right now. I look ahead again.

As we reach my exam room, where a men and women are waiting on door, I lost my control, I stopped in tracks. I started hypervalenting and suddenly I couldn't get enough air. Its Edward's hands that kept me from falling.

"Shhh….It's ok…take deep breath" I obeyed his order "…..Eleazar water please" it took me 15 minutes to get back to normal; Edward made me sit, which is inside my exam room. I drink water and waited for my fate. Soon teacher said Edward to leave so they can start exam.

I know I have to alone, there is not even any other student, I am special entry. I lookup at Edward and he hold my face again.

"I don't care about results and I won't throw you out ever. I am really happy that you atleast trying. If you get scared or uncomfortable, you can come out side without finishing exam…ok?"

I nodded my head and thanked him for his understanding.