Hello readers! Thanks for checking in! Please let me know what you think about chapter 3. Your thoughts and opinions help me improve the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, I am only playing with them.
This story is rated M for mature for mild sexual themes and language.
Over the next couple of weeks, Esme and Carlisle Cullen finished moving into the house next door. I had been so busy in my studio, I had not seen them much. I was working on a new piece for the local artist art show I was hosting. Once a year, I host a show in the gallery highlighting other local artists. This year, I was allowing high school students to submit work. I gave Bree a form, and she was ecstatic.
I was sorting through the applications when I received a call.
"Bella!" Angela squealed. "Guess what?" Angela, one of the first friends I made when I moved here, was one of the sweetest people I have ever met. She and I grew close over the past year.
"Hi, Ange, what's going on?" I laughed at her excitement.
"Ben proposed!" Angela gushed. Ben and Angela had been dating for three years. They were perfect together. Ben is quiet and reserved, while Angela loved to speak her mind. Ben balances Angela out.
"Angela, I am so happy for you!" I replied enthusiastically.
"Thank you, Bella! I am so excited! I've been waiting so long for him to finally propose. It was a complete surprise." She laughed.
"You will have to tell me all about next time we get together." I could picture her now, seeming to vibrate in her seat with excitement.
"There's another reason I'm calling too."
"Yes?" I questioned.
"I want you to be my maid of honor! Will you do it?" I nearly dropped the phone.
"Of course, Angela! It would be such an honor!" I beamed.
"I'm so glad you said yes! The girls and I are meeting at The Cove tonight for some drinks to celebrate. You need to be there!"
"I think I can manage to get away from the studio early tonight," I replied thoughtfully.
"Great! We are meeting there at seven! See you then!" She was filled with so much excitement, she forgot to say "bye" before she hung up.
I managed to finish sorting the applications earlier than expected, so I went home to change. I changed from my paint-splattered t-shirt and leggings into a black, cotton halter neck sundress. I braided my long brown hair into a simple french braid. Heading over to the vanity, possibly my favorite piece of furniture from Aunt Irina, I grabbed the few makeup products I owned.
The Cove, one of the local bars, is conveniently located across the street from my neighborhood. I decided to walk to the bar since it is difficult to ride a bike in a dress. I know I would manage to look ridicules.
Classic Bella, making a fool of myself one moment at a time.
From the outside, the bar looked packed. It was a Friday night in the summer, so I wasn't surprised. Searching around on the front deck, thankfully I spotted Angela quickly. She sat on a barstool with Lauren, Jessica, and Kate huddled around her. Wading through the crowd proved to be difficult.
"Hey girls! Congratulations, Ange!" I pulled the bride-to-be into a quick hug. The other girls greeted me as well. "It's nice to see you all! I really needed a break from the studio. Now, I need a drink!" Stepping up to the bar island, I ordered a frozen margarita. The Cove was known for their killer margaritas.
Jessica and Kate were teachers at the same elementary school as Angela, and Lauren was a hairdresser at the salon in town. Lauren was a bit overdressed and already tipsy. As I waited for my drink she giggled to Jessica.
"Fuck, I need to get laid." groaned Lauren. "I've been so fucking stressed at work." Jessica threw her head back and laughed.
"Join the fucking club." She slapped Lauren on the shoulder.
I rolled my eyes and picked up my drink and took a sip. "Oh, that's strong!" I gulped. "Just how I like it!"
"About time you let a little loose Bella, we haven't seen you in a couple of weeks. Why have you been MIA?" Kate frowned.
"I've been super busy working on the art show. And I just finished an order from Mrs. Newton. I haven't had time to just chill."
"Well, I'm glad you could join us this time!" Angela said, cheeks flushed. Yup, she was already tipsy as well.
"Fuck me, look at that piece of meat over there by the door." Lauren breathed. "He's so fucking hot."
We all turned our heads to look.
"Don't make it so fucking obvious you guys." Lauren sneered. We all laughed. By the door stood a tall man with the most peculiar shade of hair I have ever seen. The color reminded me of a paint shade I had, burnt umber. He ran his hand through his hair and looked around. Thankfully he didn't catch our eye contact. That would have been so awkward.
Lauren licked her lips, "Well I know who I'm fucking tonight." The group laughed and continued to down our drinks.
"Shit, I have to pee." I mumbled to Angela and stumbled through the mass of people. The bathroom was across the room and around the corner. Once done, I headed back towards the girls. After rounding the corner, someone grabbed my arm and slid it around my waist.
"Hey there pretty thing, are you here alone?" The guy slurred. I looked up at him. He had long sandy blonde hair, flat grey eyes, and a lanky build. He wore a band t-shirt and a pair of grungy jeans.
"Yes..I..uh..mean no." I stuttered, attempting to remove his arm from my waist.
"I've been watching you, and you seem to have been watching me. That's fucking hot." He grabbed my waist tighter and licked his lips. Fear electrified through me.
"I'm here with my friends, and I wasn't looking at you. Please leave me alone."
"And miss out on a quick bathroom fuck? No thanks." He pushed me against the wall and pinned me with his body. He made sure to press his hard-on against me.
"Get off of me!" I attempted to push him away as he began kissing my neck. He hitched up my leg and slid his hand up my thigh. As much as I resisted, he was stronger than me. He was sucking on my neck with his hand over my mouth, my hands were trapped between our bodies. "Stop!" I yelled forcefully.
"Stop playing hard to get and enjoy yourself." His hand roamed over my breasts. My eyes darted around, looking for help. Nobody would hear me over the loud crowd and music. I closed my eyes, and tears fell down my face.
Suddenly, the guy's lips were off of me, his hand off my leg. I opened my eyes. The copper-haired stranger pulled back his fist and punched my attacker in the face. His green eyes burned with fury.
"FUCKING SHIT" The blonde haired man cried, hand cradling his profusely bleeding nose. "What the fuck?!" He spat at my defender.
"No means no, you fucker." The green-eyed man growled. I looked at him and back to the blood. My stomach lurched and my sight faded to black.
"Bella Marie!" Aunt Irina called out. "What happened to you?" Her strawberry blonde hair was tied into a bun atop her head. Her blue eyes were bright with tears. My navy blue sailor dress was saturated with water, it was almost black. I had cuts and scrapes on my arms and legs. She rushed toward me. The man in the orange life vest picked me up from the life raft and set me on the sand. Aunt Irina pulled me into her. "Where's the boy? Riley?" She asked the man.
"We couldn't find him among the wreckage, ma'am. There is a search crew out in the water looking for him now." My eight-year-old brain couldn't grasp the man's words. I shivered, and Aunt Irina draped a towel around my shoulders.
"What do you mean?" Aunt Irina pled, tears freely flowing. I've only ever seen Auntie cry twice. Once at Uncle Laurent's funeral, but everybody was crying then. The second time was when she and I were watching a funny movie, so it almost didn't count.
"It means the boy is lost at sea."
Aunt Irina hugged me tighter and buried her head in my hair.
I felt crisp sheets beneath me, almost scratching against my body. My eyes were closed, but my eyelids could not filter the harsh light. I heard the quiet beeping of a machine nearby.
My eyes slowly fluttered open and immediately closed.
So bright.
Then my head began aching. I opened my eyes again more cautiously.
The light isn't helping with my headache.
I sat up and looked around. Puke green walls, generic artwork (I inwardly cringed at the improper balance of color), and machines surrounded me.
Why am I in the hospital?
I swung my legs off the bed and tried to stand up. The door whirled open, revealing Carlisle Cullen.
"Hold on there, Ms. Swan," he began, "I'm glad to see you are awake." He said smoothly.
I had only seen Dr. Cullen from afar. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been coming home too late from the studio to have properly met my new neighbor. He was quite attractive, especially for an older man in his early forties. His blonde hair was combed back, revealing the start of graying hair at his temples. His dark blue eyes twinkled under the fluorescent lights. He had very few wrinkles, only having slight indentations between his brows and on his forehead. Esme lucked out with him.
"I haven't had the chance to meet you properly, Ms. Swan." His voice was as smooth as butter. "My name is Dr. Carlisle Cullen." He stuck out his hand. "Please call me Carlisle." He smiled warmly.
Do perfect looking parents make perfect looking children? I mean, Alice is gorgeous.
I slid my hand into his and gave it a small shake. "It's nice to finally meet you, Carlisle. Please call me Bella."
"I wish we were meeting under better circumstances," He smiled crookedly.
"What happened?" I questioned.
"You fainted, Bella." He furrowed his brow.
It all came rushing back. The long-haired blonde guy attacked me, my savior with the penny colored hair.
"Am I alright?"
"I need to do a couple more tests, it appears you've hit head as you fell."
Hence the headache. I absentmindedly rubbed the tender spot on my head.
"My head does hurt," I admitted.
"Let me complete a couple of tests, the results will determine when you can go home," Carlisle said, grabbing some tools from his pocket.
Carlisle finished the tests and determined I was able to go home. I didn't have a concussion, but I would develop a nasty bruise. He was finishing removing the heart rate monitor when a soft knock echoed throughout the room.
Angela pushed through the door looking worried and still tipsy.
"Bella! What happened? Are you alright?" She searched my eyes.
"I'm fine, Angela. Really." I took her hand. She pulled me into a short hug.
"I couldn't find you at the bar! I only found you when that guy carried you through the crowd towards us. I was so worried!"
"Angela, this is Dr. Carlisle Cullen, Carlisle, this is Angela Webber." I introduced them.
"Nice to meet you, Angela." Carlisle nodded.
"Same, Dr. Cullen," Angela replied. Her eyes were still on mine. "I thought you were seriously hurt."
"No, just a bump on the head. I can explain the rest to you later." Her eyes zeroed in on my neck and went wide.
"Bella, what is that," she asked while touching my neck. "Is that a hickey?" My hand flew to my throat. Angela pulled a mirror from her purse. In my reflection, I saw a bright red hickey glaring back at me. Angela shrugged her eyebrows suggestively.
Carlisle shifted his feet. "I am going to finish up some paperwork, and I'll come back to release you, Bella." He avoided my eyes. He left the room.
"Angela...I...uh…"
"Did you hook up with someone? Bella, I didn't know you were into-"
"Angela," I interrupted. "Something happened when I went to the bathroom. As I came out of the bathroom, a guy assaulted me. He kissed my neck, touched my boobs, and nearly raped me. I tried to fight, but he was stronger than me. I thought...I thought he wasn't going to stop." I trembled. "I can't believe he left a mark on me."
Angela's eyes filled with tears. "Oh Bella," she began "I'm so sorry I wasn't there to help you." She whispered. "I should have been there. I shouldn't have let you go to the bathroom by yourself."
My eyes filled with tears. "Angela, don't beat yourself over this." I hugged her tightly.
Angela smiled a watery smile, "I should be the one comforting you, not the other way around."
"Angela, thanks for coming." I wiped my eyes and smiled. "Thanks for always being there for me. Let's not tell the others what exactly happened yet." She nodded.
Carlisle came back into the room holding some papers.
"Looks like you are good to go, Bella. Here are your phone and wallet."
"Thank you, Carlisle."
"That guy with the red hair, I saw him outside the hospital Bella. The guy who brought you over to us when you had fainted." Angela said.
"He saved me," I breathed. "It could have been a lot worse. Did he have green eyes?"
"I think so," Angela replied.
"Oh," interrupted Carlisle, "You must have seen my son, Edward. He was the one to bring you in, Bella."
My jaw dropped.
My beautiful defender with the copper hair was Carlisle's son?
I guess beautiful people do make beautiful children.