WARNING: GRAPHIC MENTIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE, NONCON, SELF HARM, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, MENTAL ILLNESS, PANIC ATTACKS, ABLEISM, VIOLENCE, GORE, SEXUAL SITUATIONS, GRAPHIC LANGUAGE, UNDERAGE SEXUAL SITUATIONS, ABUSE, STALKING, MANIPULATION, AGE GAP, AND TRIGGERING IMAGERY. IF YOU ARE TRIGGERED BY THIS OR DO NOT ENJOY IT, DO NOT READ.
Chapter Twenty-Four.
Bella's POV:
"You know that it's okay to be sad, right? I know you're in love with Embry now, but you loved Jacob at one point too. It's normal to be upset in this situation." Rachel exclaims to me before shoving a handful of popcorn into her mouth. It was the day after the bonfire and my heart still felt tender from the news, so Rachel had pulled me to Paul's for a girl's night and barred him from the premises. Of course, I was so happy for them. But I also felt pain from when I used to imagine us with a future.
"I just feel stupid for feeling this way. I love Embry, I'd like to have his baby one day. But the two of them just really know how to dig it in, you know?"
"And with the Cullens back, it probably feels like it's just piling up again."
Sipping her soda, Bella nods haggardly. "Exactly! I can't believe they tried to talk to me after what they did."
"I wanted to rip that little pixie's off so and, but that would have sucked for our alliance right now. But who knows, maybe after all of this is over I'll get the chance." Rachel chuckles and I laugh back weakly. If only that would make me feel any better. But even with my anger at them, I didn't wish them pain or death. And I liked Brandon well enough and I wouldn't want him to end up like me with his heart broken.
Seems like Edward's doing that all by himself, I think to myself, and eat more popcorn. Once a little boy, always a little boy.
"Oh no, Kim is coming," Rachel says, shoveling more popcorn into her mouth. "Hide the snacks or she'll eat them all up."
The door to Paul's opens and Kim steps in, eyes alert as she peers around. Like a shark on the hunt, she zeroes in on my popcorn bowl and closes the door as she heads for me.
"Can I-" I hand her my bowl with a sigh.
"Go nuts." Like a hungry animal, she dives in and Rachel and I share an amused look. Our previous conversation hangs in the air, and I'm unsure what to say until Kim speaks.
Swallowing, she asks with wide, dark eyes, "So, whatcha talkin' about?" Rachel snorts.
"My stupid brother and his baby momma," I send her a look and she shrugs. "Well, it's true! He is stupid. And she is his baby momma."
"I think it's a little more than that, Rach."
"Teen dropout knocks up on and off again graduate girlfriend."
"On and off again? Aren't they imprinted?"
"Yeah, but Jake is an idiot, remember?"
Kim nods and grins. "Oh yeah, that's right." She eats another handful of popcorn. "What did you ever even see in Jake, Bee?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like, what made you fall in love with him?" I pursed my lips as a phantom clenched my heart. Ever fading but still very much there. Hopefully, time would heal and seal up this wound.
"He… he helped me when no one else did. He was so patient and caring and didn't push me to be more when I wasn't ready. He was my sun."
"If he was your Sun, then Edward was your moon-"
Kim squeals and bounces in her seat. "And Embry is your star!"
"Kim, that doesn't make sense," Rachel says with an eye roll.
"What else would he be then?" Kim demands, throwing a handful of popcorn at Rachel. Rachel ducks and growls, and I can't help but start laughing at them.
"Maybe a planet or something? What does a star do?"
"A lot, actually! The earth revolves around the sun, basking in its warmth. The moon orbits the Earth, controlling its waves. And a star twinkles and shows people the way home! Like the three wise men or Mary and Joseph. Embry is Bella's star, and he's her home."
"Whatever you say, Kimmy."
Kim threw down the now-empty popcorn bowl in indignation. "Hey! It's a great analogy!"
"And what am I in this analogy?" Both of the girls looked at me like I had grown a second head.
"Earth, duh, Bells."
"Holy crow, sorry, I didn't know!"
"Weren't you listening to her before? You're of course the earth!"
"If we're talking about Embry and Bella as a whole, though, Bella would be Embry's sun and he would be her moon. Like yin and yang, you know?"
I shook my head and sighed, "I'm getting confused." They both looked down at me guiltily and I couldn't help but laugh at my friend's shenanigans, smiling genuinely for the first time all day.
"So, Embry is my star and I'm his earth? I don't think that sounds right," I chuckle, and Kim squawks in irritation.
"You're his… something! I don't have a good analogy yet, okay? I need to consult some good romance novels."
Rachel rolls her eyes. "You mean those trashy ones your mom gave you?"
"Hey, they aren't trashy!" Kim turns to me with a grin. "You haven't lived until you've read a good romance, Bella!"
"I've read plenty of romance novels."
Rachel rolls her eyes and shakes her head at me, "Not from this century, sweet cheeks. When was the last time you read something that came out this year?
Kim screeched in shock, "What a snore fest! You need my help desperately, dear. Next time you come over, we're going to go through my collection and I'm going to set you up good."
"Oh no," Rachel slaps a hand over her face. "The little perv is at it again."
"I'm not a pervert!" Kim screams before leaning over and putting an arm over me. "You're gonna love these books, Bee. And if they give you a great orgasm, that's just a plus!"
Blushing furiously, I start laughing again. Kim joins me and soon we're cracking up so hard our stomachs hurt. My whole body feels warm and full of love. I can't believe I never had friendships like this before. I was seriously missing out.
Suddenly, Rachel's phone rings. Our laughter cuts off as she holds up a finger and answers the call. Kim and I cover our mouths as we try not to laugh, faces red and smiles wide. But then Rachel's face grows serious.
"She's asking for Bella?" My eyes widen, hands falling into my lap as I try to hear whoever is on the other side of the phone. "We'll be there soon. You and Seth stay there and stand guard okay? And don't scare anyone!" She hangs up and looks at me apologetically.
"What's going on? Who's asking for Bee?"
"Quil found some girl on the side of the road and now she's woken up and started asking for you. She said you would help her."
My stomach sinks as I realize what's probably happened. "Victoria, of course."
Rachel nods. "She was covered in her scent. And she was severely injured, worse than Riley."
Shuddering, I stood to my feet and headed to slip my shoes on. Better to rip the bandaid off instead of letting it fall off on its own. The girls follow quickly behind, and we leave the house and get into Rachel's car.
The rain falling does little to calm my nerves and by the time we step into Forks Hospital, I'm on the brink of an anxiety attack. Kim must have noticed because she pulled me into a chair and sat beside me.
"It's going to be okay. This is just another hurdle but just like everything else, you will overcome it." She runs a comforting hand in my hair, and I swallow a few gulps of air and will myself to calm. Thankfully, it only takes a few minutes and then I'm slowly standing to my feet. Hesitantly, I grab her hand tightly as we walk into the room.
Rachel is conversing with Paul in the corner while Seth is all smiles next to a meek girl in a hospital bed. As I enter the room, hands clasped tightly with Kim's, her eyes snap to mine. Brown eyes, so similar to mine, and thick brown hair that lay on her pillow. One arm was in a pink cast and her leg seemed to be also by how much it bulked up in the hospital blanket.
"Isabella?" She croaked and I hesitantly nodded. She couldn't be any older than Seth. "I've come a long way to find you." She paused and licked her lips, which were dry and looked painful. "My name is Bree Tanner. I know my father is on his way to get me, so I don't have much time."
Kim gave me a small smile as she let go of my hand and led me to the other chair that sat next to the bed. I sit, hands shaking. I don't want to deal with this at all, but I know I have to. If not only to protect this girl who was pulled into something she should have never been a part of.
"What did you want to talk to me about?"
"I ran away from home a few months ago and after I ran out of money, I was starving on the street. This kind woman stopped and helped me, and took me home. She fed me and clothed me and told me she was going to be my new mom." Her eyes are pained and a tear trails down her cheek. "But she lied and she hurt me and now I'm here and I'm so confused."
"Who was… who was this woman?"
"She told me to call her Vicky," Bree sobbed and Bella's heart broke. "She was so nice and then she dragged me down to the basement and there were rotting bodies down there and she tried to bite me. But then some guy with red eyes pushed her off me and told me to run. And then I came here to see you."
Bella stood and leaned over and pulled Bree into her arms gently as she cried. And then she was crying too. For Bree, for Riley, for all of her victims, and even herself.
It just wasn't fair. Why did they all have to suffer because of her horrible mate? The thought of James made Bella's skin crawl. She could still see his crazed eyes, his smirk. The way he snapped her bones like twigs.
And Victoria had done the same thing to little Bree Tanner.
Bella couldn't let Bree's father come and get her, couldn't let her leave unprotected. She would die, that much was clear.
Turning her head to meet Rachel's eyes, she said, "We can't let him take her. We need to protect her."
"Of course, Bells. She's family now."
Seth's POV:
Bella is ushered out of the room by Kim and Rachel to contact Chief Swan and again it's just Paul and I sitting with the new girl. She looks at me and smiles and I grin back, even though looking at her makes my stomach hurt.
If we had just taken care of that leech, this girl would be safe, a voice says but I shake it away.
"Jay is bringing us lunch," Paul says as he puts away his phone. A blush covers his cheeks and I fight the urge to poke fun at him. "She made enough for you too, Bree. You don't want this shit hospital food any more than you have to."
"Hospital food is better than no food at all, but I appreciate good food as much as the next guy."
Bree turns to me and smiles softly, and I feel a warmth spread through me.
"I can tell. You must eat well to be so big."
I smiled, feeling suddenly bashful. "And good genetics help. You must know a lot about that."
"Are you saying I'm pretty?"
"I call it like I see it." My heart stuttered as we shared a look, and suddenly I was getting lost in her eyes. So many different shades of brown, I felt like I was melting.
"Are you seriously flirting with the new girl, Seth?" Paul's voice rang out, breaking the moment. Guiltily, I rubbed the back of my neck and averted my eyes. I had a boyfriend.
My head snaps to Paul and I glare. "I'm just stating the obvious."
"Easy there, Casanova. Let her heal up first before putting the moves on her."
Glaring down at my lap, I ignore him and look down at my lap. I feel a hand touch me and I look up meeting Bree's eyes.
I smile hesitantly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"No, you didn't. Not at all," She pauses, licking her chapped lips. "You guys are the first people I've felt safe with in a long time." We shared another look and my breath caught in my throat. There was just something about her, and those eyes that looked deep into my soul… it was almost as if she understood me better than anyone else had.
The door to the hospital room opened and I jumped, running a hand through my hair to calm myself. What was wrong with me?
"Special delivery," Jayden smiles, eyes looking past us as she enters the room. Her red hair is pulled into a low braid, which swings back and forth as she carries takeout from the diner. My mouth salivates as I smell the fried chicken. Paul stands and takes food from her and places it on a free counter. Together, they both pull out the food and serve us. As we all begin eating, I watch the new couple from the corner of my eye.
"Jay… can I see you in the hallway?" He whispers lips pressed into a nervous line. She looks up, eyes widened as she takes in his question.
"Of course! We'll be back in a second, okay? Eat up, little chickadees." She exclaims with a small smile before following Paul into the hallway. I can hear their footsteps head towards the elevator and disappear from my ears.
Digging into my food, I look up and see Bree staring at me. I swallow and give her my full attention, trying not to get lost in her again.
"What's up?"
"Is he… cheating on that other girl or…?"
"Oh! No, they're all dating. Rachel and Paul got together first, and they both just started dating Jayden."
"Wow, I've never heard of something like that before." Bree softly smiles, looking past me at the door where the happy couple left. "That's sweet."
I gaze down at her, taking in her cuteness underneath the bruises and wounds and my stomach is suddenly filled with butterflies.
She's cute…
My eyes widened and I was suddenly confused. Did this mean I was bisexual? I had only ever liked Adam, but here I was having an attraction for the second time in my life. Well, it didn't matter anyway. I had a boyfriend. My phone started to buzz and I took it out of my pocket and looked at the messages being sent. Adam's name filled the screen, over and over, until I switched my phone off and shoved it into my pocket.
Greedily, I ate the rest of my food and eyed Bree from my spot.
Her eyes never left mine and I couldn't help but feel at home in her presence.
"Where were you?" Adam demands as we enter his bedroom, eyes hard. I'm taken aback. Hands grip my biceps and shake me and my stomach drops. "Fucking answer me!"
"I was at the hospital visiting a friend! Geesh, what's wrong with you?" I yank his hands off and push him backward. "Don't put your hands on me, Adam." Eyes widening, he stands there shocked before pulling me into a hug. I shrug him off, facing away from him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean… I just got so worried."
I swallow back a growl. "That's not an excuse."
"Can't you just let me apologize?"
Sitting down on his bed, I roll my eyes. "Fine, I accept your apology." I was so tired of arguing with him. We used to be best friends but now… I felt stuck where I was. He sat down next to me, trying to grab my hand in his but failing.
"God, Seth. I mean I was worried sick about you but thanks for doing the bare minimum and apologizing."
I shrug, eyes looking down at my lap as my will to fight against him leaves me. With double patrols, school, and him I'm so exhausted all of the time. "I didn't mean to worry you."
"Well, you did. Anything could have happened to you."
Unlikely, with me being a werewolf and all! "But I'm fine-"
"Yeah, thankfully. God, you don't even think about my feelings!"
"You know that's not true. I love you."
"Then prove it," Adam presses a kiss to my neck and I shiver. I lean away but he holds me close to him, and I suddenly feel powerless as he sucks a bruise into my neck. "I've been missing you."
"I don't… I don't want to do anything tonight."
"You want to make it up to me, don't you?" I nod, not daring to meet his eyes. I love him, don't I? This is what people do when they love each other.
"Come on, let's get in bed."
When I returned home that night, my mouth tasted funny and my heart was in my stomach. The first time they had been together had been nice, but…
I sigh, standing in the kitchen staring into nothing. Something just… didn't feel right. Not at all.
"Sethy, is that you?" Leah rounds the counter, hair pulled into a lazy bun. She's wearing her cleaning gloves and has a sponge in her hand. She's smiling but when she sees me it drops. Do I look as bad as I feel? "What's wrong?"
I shrug, rubbing my eyes to feign exhaustion. "Nothings wrong, I'm just tired."
But she presses further. "Are you sure?" Digging my nails into my hands, I sigh.
"Yeah, I was up early this morning for tutoring and then I lost track of time over there, so I'm pretty beat."
"Well, alright. Why don't you head up to bed and get some rest." Leah kisses my forehead hugs me tight, and I breathe in her lavender scent. My big sister, always my protector. She steered me towards the stairs, giving me a gentle smile. "Love you, Sethy."
"Love you too, Lee," I said back before heading upstairs, head swimming. I wish I could stay in my big sister's embrace, never letting anything hurt me, but I am almost an adult now. I fought vampires, for goodness sake. I could deal with… whatever these weird, suffocating feelings were.
When my bedroom door closed, I crawled into bed and covered my head with my pillow. But still, my thoughts and feelings persisted.
I didn't get much sleep that night.