[Oh yeah, it's been a hot minute since this has been updated. I won't promise any kind of regular schedule, but i'll be back with more.]
[Forks Health & Care Center, two weeks after the attack.]
"You've made wonderful progress since your Father contacted me, Bella. It's rare to see someone around your age so willing to seek help. I'm very proud of you, as is Charlie. Is there anything else you want to talk about? We've got roughly twenty minutes or so left of our session." Calm, reassuring, pleasant, and focused. These qualities were cemented quickly with the woman whom Bella had come to see several times since she'd been attacked in Port Angeles. An acquaintance of Carlisle it turned out, she was given the full run down on why Bella had come to see her.
"Thank you, Dr. Powell. My friends have kept me in check too, and the mental exercises you explained to me helped a lot with the nightmares those first few nights. I'm still a little squeamish about going out after dark, but hopefully I can work through that too."
"There's no need to rush that at all. Confronting the attempt and understanding that you did absolutely nothing wrong, or deserving of something so cruel is what matters right now. There are so many victims who are too afraid to confront it at all, let alone to the degree you have. Did they ever find out who it was that caught your attackers?"
For the first time in quite a few days in this office, hesitation hit Bella rather hard. Conversations about the Cullens potentially being involved had been circling her friend group endlessly ever since she was allowed out of Charlie's sight. But bringing them into this didn't seem fair. Especially without any proper proof aside from a half-decent photo of Edward's SUV.
Why yes, Doctor Powell! Edward Cullen flew in like Superman, beat them up, told them to straighten up and be good little members of society, then took me home!... Yeah, no.
"No. My dad has been stalking the station endlessly for any reports, but even those...assholes don't remember what happened beyond trying to hurt me." She'd begun to fidget in her seat abit as the topic came up. She'd done incredible work to get past it, but no one could fully recover that quickly. Seeing this, Dr. Powell made sure to steer the topic away if Bella wasn't completely comfortable staying on it. Being a local herself, she asked a few standard questions about the dance. Decorations, music, possible dates, and before long Bella was able to compose herself and the twenty minutes flew by.
Wishing her well, the good doctor signed off on Bella's next appointment before going back to her office. Bella hopping into her truck and closing the door quickly before locking it. Rolling her eyes at herself for the nervous habit, but like she said to Dr. Powell, it was all a work in progress. Out came the phone not too long after so she could check what she'd missed during the session. A few texts from her friends, more so from Jessica, and one from Alice. Over the two weeks or so that had passed, Alice suddenly became far closer than Bella would have really imagined possible. Practically super-glued to her side when the opportunity presented itself. Quickly reading through the message and laughing to herself at the absurd length.
Well played, Alice. Keep this up and you'll give Charlie a run for his money on who is worrying more about me over the whole thing. BUT, if I don't come to the house like you asked, you'll just come make mine an unbearable beacon of sunlight and damn rainbow barfing unicorns. Soooo here I come.
That hulking beast of a truck roaring to life in the cold Fall air, Bella turned the wheel hard to get it moving and off she went to the Cullens. Torturing poor Jess and Angela with vague texts that she was headed to the illustrious home and couldn't say more. She'd pay horribly for it someday, but not today!
[Cullen Household, after school let out.]
The one and only time Bella felt ashamed of her amazing rust colored tank was when she pulled into the parking space which had been basically given to her by Alice. Beside it sat two sparkling Jeep Wranglers. Washed, buffed, and somehow flawless among the dreary rain drops and snowflakes that constantly battered Forks. Edward's SUV was absent, as was Dr. Carlisle's white Volvo. Likely that he was still tied up in the Hospital with work, which meant one less set of headlights to stare at during the walk of shame towards the house. Not that it took long considering Alice stood in the doorway like a spastic dog happy to see it's owner. Bouncing in place on her heels before shooing Bella inside.
Despite how often she'd been inside lately, the beauty of the Cullen home never ceased to amaze Bella. In the daylight it possessed an entirely different aura of sophistication. Being so well cared for and put together by the family, it was more like a museum. Shoes kicked off by the door and bag thrown onto the nearest couch which sat not too far past the stairwell, she waited for Alice to return while admiring a new painting on the wall.
"So where did everyone else go? I know your parents are working, probably, but it's kind of hard to miss four more teenagers. Especially when their cars are parked right outside." Calling out loudly as her host returned with a massive bowl of organic cheese puffs and hauntingly clear spring water, Alice dropped them off on the coffee table.
"They beat me home, but not by much. The boys ran off into the woods to a clearing we play baseball in to weed it out before everything dies off and retreats into the ground. Rosalie hates that kind of work, but she'll never miss a chance to bark orders at them that they're doing it wrong. So it's just you and me!" That final line had way too much pep in it for Bella's liking, but that basically defined Alice down to a tee.
"Baseball, you guys play Baseball? How the heck do you even divide up the teams with only... seven of you, if your parents play?" Turning away from the painting, Bella flopped onto the couch before snagging a handful of snacks to munch on. Staring down Alice with a bewildered look on her face while trying to imagine the Cullen clan sprinting from base to base while playing.
"We make it work! Besides it's not like we get the chance to play all the time like we did at our old house, so it's pretty exciting when we can. You should join us on the next game!" Alice was dead serious by her tone despite how happy it was. But Bella had to hold back tears of laughter while imagining herself being cracked in the head by an arrant pitch or swing before surrendering herself to the cold hard ground.
"Oh HELL no. Did you not witness my unbelievable athleticism during the first week I got here. The nurse became very familiar with my entire jawline from the swelling, and bruising, and my eye popping out." What followed was a ridiculous train of pleading and insisting for Bella to play before she could finally get Alice to drop the subject. Going on about the usual banter and a bit involving the dance, Bella finally settled in and wanted to drop a more serious topic on the bubbly Cullen clan member. Stiffening up abit before grabbing a pillow to absentmindedly hug close. A habit she'd started during her therapy session when tension got a little high.
"So... A couple of weeks ago when Jess Angela and I were dress shopping, you know, during that whole thing. Uhm... did Edward have any reason to be up there too?" Not a single flinch or blink gave anything away. Bella was watching Alice as carefully as she could while asking her.
"Hmm, not that I know of. He and Emmett like to hang around home close to the weekends. Why?"
"Well when Jess and Angela came to get me, they're pretty sure they saw Edward's SUV close by." Grabbing her phone, Bella found the picture that had been sent to her, which to their group absolutely looked like a dead ringer for his car. And before Alice could come up with some kind of excuse, she pointed to just below the passenger side door. "See? There's even a Fork's Highschool mascot sticker plastered near the door. And he's the only one who drives anything like that around here."
Brief as it was, an eerie silence fell over the living room. Alice staring at the phone with a rather stiff expression on her face. Likely attempting to process the picture and find a chance to explain it away.
"You weren't too far away from the movie theater, they were probably just parked there to go inside. Emmett is always going on about the newest and goriest movies coming out to go watch." The back and forth continued, and Alice was doing her best not to sound overly defensive or offended by the sudden allegations.
"Well it's just... NO ONE was around except for those freaks. Jess said they heard me yelling when they got closer, but they were the only ones that came running. And when they got there... all of those guys looked like they had been run through a brick wall face first. One of them somehow ended up inside the dumpster. And what I don't get is that... Edward's cars wasn't there when I turned down the alley, Alice. I heard someone stop really hard not too far away."
Again her heart thundered in her chest while waiting for Alice to respond. Terrified that her newly found friend would suddenly turn on her for making it sound like her own brothers had done something completely wild. But instead her expression softened a bit as Alice took a closer seat to Bella. Simply waiting for her to go on.
"... Alice... I think Edward is the one who saved me that night."
The pause which followed could have suffocated the poor young woman sitting in the Cullen's home. Staring at Alice with widened eyes, waiting for any response at all. Bella would have started chewing through her fingers from sheer nervous behavior. Thankfully after a brief moment to herself, Alice finally had an answer. Hands cupping the now shaking pair which belonged to her guest.
"Bella. I love my brother dearly, and I have a lot of faith in him. But, with all due respect to him, I have to ask. And I promise i'm not mocking you, or gas-lighting you, or anything of the sort. But you've seen him for yourself, do you think Edward could have honestly taken all three of them, alone, and done that kind of harm?" The words tasted like bile to Alice, hating to even try and emulate the modern way of shooing things under the rug. Especially given the recent trauma, but it was the only thing she could think of.
Oh great, even she thinks i'm fucking insane. I know what I saw, I just know it! But... maybe i'll have to ask Edward himself. This has been driving me nuts!
"I know, Alice, I know. You're not the kind of person to say stuff like that without having some actual meaning behind it. But if it was Edward, I just need to thank him. He would have literally saved my life. And that's not exactly something that should go unannounced!"
"Well... they'll all be home in a few hours. Why don't you stay for dinner, and when you have a second, ask him yourself?" Now Alice had begun gambling with a pretty stacked hand. Wagering that the thought of being surrounded by ever member of her family at once might help deter the inquisitive Swan for at least a little longer. Until the time was right, that is. And from the sudden change in facial features, heartbeat, and fidgeting, the gamble was paying off.
"Sure! Besides i've never actually been given the chance to meet your parents, except at the hospital. If they don't mind, of course."
And just like that, Alice lost.
[Cullen Household, several hours later.]
Suddenly the lavish home had become alight with activity as the Cullen family prepared for their unexpected guest. Turning the one pristine kitchen into a den of pleasant aromas and flavors. With Alice and Esme entertaining Bella upstairs, the remaining Cullens had taken up duties to prepare a fantastic meal. Which, unbeknownst to Bella, was basically for her benefit. As their diets consisted of something far different. From corner to corner utensils had been set out while nearly every piece of cookware they actually owned was currently in use. Every so often the videos playing on two separate tablets being rewound to make sure they were following the instructions. Heading the operation was of course, Carlisle.
Calm as he always was while making sure his "children" were handling their tasks. They decided to replicate her favorite dishes which could be found in the Diner which her and Charlie frequented several times a week. Giving them a bit up an "upgrade." Not to say that they were poorly prepared, but the quality of ingredients that were available to the Cullens was a decent step above the humble diner. The idea brought about by Alice and Carlisle initially to help Bella feel welcome in their home, as if she hadn't felt that way already. Every so often, Carlisle could check on Edward who was helping them prepare the meal. Assuring him that the night would go well, and he would have a perfect handle on his "cravings." Emmett more than ready to pile-drive his brother through the dining room table itself if it came to that.
"You'll be perfectly fine, I promise you. Give yourself a little more credit, she's been here all day. You can hear her from anywhere in the house, and you've yet to make even the slightest mistake. We'll have dinner, spend some time getting to know her, and that'll be that, for now." Offering an apathetic pat on the shoulder, Carlisle returned to the stove top as Edward continued on working.
Esme had already been given the pleasure of having a headstart when it came to talking with their guest for the evening. Extremely curious about her time in Arizona and what kind of life she had left behind before returning to the admittedly dreary atmosphere of Forks. Bella more than happy to indulge the motherly figure of the house. Preparing herself mentally before being surrounded by the entire family.
No big deal, right? Nope, no problem. Easy. You're not in the most luxurious house in Forks, with probably the most popular family that's ever been here. They don't live in some fantastical castle surrounded by gold and jewels. They're just... people? Probably. Probably not aliens or some kind of model-esque cult that lures in unsuspecting victims to drain their blood for youthful looks... Jesus what is wrong with me? Whatever, i'll be fine. Besides, it's either confront Edward tonight, or chicken out and lose the chance. Right? Right! Good! SHIT, what was she asking me?
Before long, Carlisle called up through the hallway and beckoned the three missing women to join the rest for dinner. Happy to put a stop on the bombardment of questions, Bella awkwardly made her way down the staircase and towards the dining room.
And what greeted Bella was something that probably didn't help to confirm her suspicions that the Cullens were some kind of magical cult who had drawn her in to be sacrificed. Standing in a perfect row just near the entrance to the room, dressed to the absolute nines, her hosts were waiting. Bella had been instructed very clearly by Alice to dress however she wanted. Comfort being the theme of the night, and that her family simply enjoyed putting on a show. As if the massive party not too long wasn't perfect evidence of that. Catching Edward's eye for a moment longer than anyone else, they both had an inquisitive and serious look in that brief exchange. Perhaps Edward knew what was coming? Time would tell once dinner was over, and she had her shot. Distracted for a moment as Carlisle warm, inviting voice rang out across the room.
"Welcome to our home, Bella. Thank you so much for coming tonight."
