Bella: Age 14
I looked up when I heard a car pulling into the driveway, the impatient honking of the horn grabbing my attention at once. Rolling my eyes as I noticed that it was Renee's new 'boyfriend,' I lowered my head again and slid my bare feet through the wet mud. Up and down, up and down, I tapped...smiling a little bit as mud splattered over my calves. She won't like that at all.
But, I don't care what she thinks. I can't believe her. It hasn't even been a year yet and here Renee is, inviting him over to our house and having him spend the night in their bed and eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Swan's kitchen table.
More than welcomed to sit on his chair.
I shook my head, wiping away the single tear that slipped out of one of my eyes.
I shook my head, wiping away the single tear that slipped out of one of my eyes.
God, I missed him.
I missed the man's laughter, the way that it came so naturally for him, practically shaking the walls with the rumble. I loved the way that my head would lift slightly from the movements of it when I would lay my cheek against his chest.
I longed for the times when I would press my ear over his heart.
I missed the man's laughter, the way that it came so naturally for him, practically shaking the walls with the rumble. I loved the way that my head would lift slightly from the movements of it when I would lay my cheek against his chest.
I longed for the times when I would press my ear over his heart.
Bump bump…bump bump. I would tap my fingers along with it.
I miss our Friday nights of laying down on the living room couch, where Pop would always nudge me awake when he saw that my mom had finally drifted off to sleep, keeping his eyes on her while the woman snored away. "Kiddo, come on!" he would whisper/yell, "We don't have that much time!"
I grinned, remembering how terrified he was of her when 'sneakiness was in session.' If she caught him letting me watch scary movies...let alone accompany me, she would flip!
I grinned, remembering how terrified he was of her when 'sneakiness was in session.' If she caught him letting me watch scary movies...let alone accompany me, she would flip!
I miss his obvious awkwardness, the way that he would come home from a long day at work, exhausted but happy. How he always looked forward to dinner, his phone calls an hour into work, asking mom what meal she had planned. His expression when he would walk through the kitchen door as soon as he saw me in front of the stove instead of her those few nights. How I was prepared with an apron on, pan in hand.
His face, how I wish that I could describe it.
Priceless.
He was absolutely terrified of my cooking.
I don't understand it.
Okay.
Maybe I do.
I may have, on many occasions, burned the kitchen cabinets that were positioned above the stove as I tried to saute chicken. But, give me a break! They make it look so easy on TV, don't they?
His face, how I wish that I could describe it.
Priceless.
He was absolutely terrified of my cooking.
I don't understand it.
Okay.
Maybe I do.
I may have, on many occasions, burned the kitchen cabinets that were positioned above the stove as I tried to saute chicken. But, give me a break! They make it look so easy on TV, don't they?
Whatever, it wasn't my fault.
The damn cabinets got in my way.
But, my Pop would force a smile over his face.
And, I would return the gratitude, hiding my smirk.
My mom's laughter as she hid on the other side of the kitchen...
She was killing my mojo, man!
I couldn't look at her without grinning.
His pause, looking for the right word. "Pumpkin, it smells…inspiring."
My pout as I looked at him from under my eyelashes. "You don't like it, daddy?"
My pout as I looked at him from under my eyelashes. "You don't like it, daddy?"
His denial and blatant lies. "Nonsense, baby. It smells so...good."
My grin when he sat down at the kitchen table and gulped at the visual of the monstrosity that I placed in front of him, which was obviously burned and completely inedible. "Well then, I'll give you the bigger plate."
Pop's jokes. "Hmm. Well done, I see."
My shoulders that were shaking from trying to hold onto my laughter as my mom came out from her hiding spot, only to walk up to where he sat down. Standing in front of the sink and looking at their interaction from the window as she eyed the plate that was in front of him with a smile. "It looks so yummy, doesn't it, honey?"
The reflection of Pop looking at her as if she was crazy before he placed his pointer finger into his mouth and gagged. The expression of his face turning from horror to mock happiness when I turned around to face them, I'll never forget . Taking a seat across from him, I grinned. "You first, daddy."
His poorly hidden grimace as he twisted the knife from the pressure of cutting up the chicken, and the helplessness of the snort escaping me as I broke out of the facade. "Really? You were actually going to eat that?" I laughed, "You'd break a tooth!"
His exhale of relief when he realized that I was joking. "Oh, thank God..."
Mom's laughter as she flipped the solid chicken around in the plate, shaking her head at her husband. "I don't know how you expected to actually eat this, Charlie."
His careless shrug and easy explanation. "My pumpkin made it for me."
But most of all, I missed how he gave me his time.
His undivided attention.
I was his life.
And Pop never failed to mention or show it to me, every single day.
I remember the times when I was scared of taking a shower alone. For some reason, every time that I would close my eyes to duck underneath the water and rinse off my hair, I was fearful of opening them up again. I would freak myself out, my imagination running high. Terrified that things would pop out of nowhere, like blood running out of the drain, or a scary face appearing in front of my eyes, or an unknown person hiding behind the curtain, stuff like that.
I blame it on the horror movies that my Pop would sneak me to watch.
The memories of him spending about twenty minutes or so trying to get the water temperature just right for me. "Pumpkin, how about now?" he asked, leaning out of my way.
I reached towards the water that was falling out of the faucet before running my fingertips underneath it. My grimace as I snatched my hand away, wiping it over the towel that was covering up my body. "No, daddy."
His mustache twitches of trying to contain his amusement.
His try, again, of adjusting the knobs. "How about now?"
My quick shake of the head. "I'll just wait for mommy."
"Baby, you're a big girl now, you don't need mommy."
My grunt of disapproval before I sneaked a peek at the watch that was wrapped around his wrist, and my delight of seeing that she would be home in about fifteen minutes. My brilliant plan to delay the situation. "Well, it's still cold."
After he took a seat on the edge of the tub, I jumped onto his lap, more than happy to kill time. His laughter as he brought my face up to his own with his fingers underneath my chin, knowing my intent. "I saw you looking at my watch, Kiddo, don't try to sneak one past your old man. You didn't even test the water out this time."
My grunt of disapproval before I sneaked a peek at the watch that was wrapped around his wrist, and my delight of seeing that she would be home in about fifteen minutes. My brilliant plan to delay the situation. "Well, it's still cold."
After he took a seat on the edge of the tub, I jumped onto his lap, more than happy to kill time. His laughter as he brought my face up to his own with his fingers underneath my chin, knowing my intent. "I saw you looking at my watch, Kiddo, don't try to sneak one past your old man. You didn't even test the water out this time."
My stalling. "What are you talking about?"
His deadpan. "You're trying to kill time. Test out the water, pumpkin, come on."
My growl as I touched the water. "Fine. The water is perfect."
His teasing. "Are you sure? Because I can stand here some more, Goldilocks."
My reaction to his sarcasm as I rolled my eyes at him while I jumped off of his lap. My confidence as I 'pulled' him up to his feet and pushed him towards the bathroom door. My sudden insecurity as I held onto him with a con-fu grip when he went to leave me alone. The questions that were found within his eyes. My hesitance of actually going through with this as I looked away from him. My embarrassment of being afraid of this one stupid thing as I let him go. My reassurance as I forced a smile, letting him know that everything was okay. My fear as he left. The terror that was dominating my blood as my attention went to the running water.
His patience on the other side. "Kiddo, I'm right here. Relax."
My exhale. "You'll stay there the whole time, right?"
"Even when the tent that I set up blows over, I'll be here."
With a nod and a whispered "Okay," I turned around to conquer my fears. Closing my eyes, I stepped into the tub and kept the shower curtain open as I mumbled to no one but myself, letting the water hit the back of my neck as I lowered my head. "Small steps, Bella. Small steps."
After rubbing shampoo over my dry hair, I opened my eyes and clenched them shut again before I quickly submerged myself underneath the running water. "Oh God, oh God, oh God..."
I opened my eyes after rinsing the strawberry out and saw nothing.
There were no scary faces, or blood coming out of the faucets.
Nothing that was interfering with the calm that surrounded me.
"Daddy, I'm done!" I yelled, refusing to try my luck by using conditioner.
His adorable daddy ways. "Did you wrap yourself up?"
"Yep!"
My too late warning of informing him that the tiled floor was practically flooded from me leaving the shower curtain open as he walked into the bathroom with a smile. His two legs swinging out from underneath him, and the thud as his back landed on the hard surface a second later. "What the..."
My shout of "Daddy, watch out!" after the matter as I quickly stepped out of the tub. My try of easing his pain as I kneeled down a bit to rub his back. "Are you okay? Is it...broken?"
His pursed lips. "Kiddo, why is the bathroom floor flooded?"
My narrowed eyes. "Don't push it, old man. One step at a time."
His deadpan. "You're trying to kill time. Test out the water, pumpkin, come on."
My growl as I touched the water. "Fine. The water is perfect."
His teasing. "Are you sure? Because I can stand here some more, Goldilocks."
My reaction to his sarcasm as I rolled my eyes at him while I jumped off of his lap. My confidence as I 'pulled' him up to his feet and pushed him towards the bathroom door. My sudden insecurity as I held onto him with a con-fu grip when he went to leave me alone. The questions that were found within his eyes. My hesitance of actually going through with this as I looked away from him. My embarrassment of being afraid of this one stupid thing as I let him go. My reassurance as I forced a smile, letting him know that everything was okay. My fear as he left. The terror that was dominating my blood as my attention went to the running water.
His patience on the other side. "Kiddo, I'm right here. Relax."
My exhale. "You'll stay there the whole time, right?"
"Even when the tent that I set up blows over, I'll be here."
With a nod and a whispered "Okay," I turned around to conquer my fears. Closing my eyes, I stepped into the tub and kept the shower curtain open as I mumbled to no one but myself, letting the water hit the back of my neck as I lowered my head. "Small steps, Bella. Small steps."
After rubbing shampoo over my dry hair, I opened my eyes and clenched them shut again before I quickly submerged myself underneath the running water. "Oh God, oh God, oh God..."
I opened my eyes after rinsing the strawberry out and saw nothing.
There were no scary faces, or blood coming out of the faucets.
Nothing that was interfering with the calm that surrounded me.
"Daddy, I'm done!" I yelled, refusing to try my luck by using conditioner.
His adorable daddy ways. "Did you wrap yourself up?"
"Yep!"
My too late warning of informing him that the tiled floor was practically flooded from me leaving the shower curtain open as he walked into the bathroom with a smile. His two legs swinging out from underneath him, and the thud as his back landed on the hard surface a second later. "What the..."
My shout of "Daddy, watch out!" after the matter as I quickly stepped out of the tub. My try of easing his pain as I kneeled down a bit to rub his back. "Are you okay? Is it...broken?"
His pursed lips. "Kiddo, why is the bathroom floor flooded?"
My narrowed eyes. "Don't push it, old man. One step at a time."
His broken threat. "No more scary movies for you, baby."
I nodded even though I knew that it wouldn't keep. "Sure, daddy."
Hearing my mom yelling my name as she stepped out onto the back porch, I rolled my eyes and ignored her. I didn't want to go inside, and I sure as hell didn't want to greet her Phil. I'd rather be by myself, like I always am. When I was with her, she would act as if it never happened, or that he never even existed. I wanted, so desperately, to talk about the times when Pop was around, but she would always change the subject when it was brought up.
I didn't want to forget him.
I never wanted to forget him.
After a few quiet yet serene minutes of being alone, I felt someone's hands over my shoulders and tensed up a bit before I looked behind me.
The first thing that I noticed were his dimples.
Not returning any kind of greeting, I turned around again and lowered my head as my feet continued with their playing in the mud.
After a few quiet yet serene minutes of being alone, I felt someone's hands over my shoulders and tensed up a bit before I looked behind me.
The first thing that I noticed were his dimples.
Not returning any kind of greeting, I turned around again and lowered my head as my feet continued with their playing in the mud.
His hands went down to my lower back, and as the swing beneath me started swinging, I lifted my head with a raised eyebrow, kind of surprised that every time that he touched me to push me, it wasn't gentle, yet it wasn't rough either. I couldn't really explain it, but I was thankful for some reason, because the kid didn't treat me like I was breakable.
After a few more pushes, I lifted my legs and contributed.
And when he left his spot and stood in front of me, leaning against one of the trees that were nearby, I kept up with the swing's movements as my eyes remained on his crystal blue ones. "I'm Emmett."
I nodded, returning his smile with my own.
And he nodded back, not expecting anything more from me.
My Emmett bear.
How something so simple, turned into a friendship.
No. Not a friendship. A family.
No. Not a friendship. A family.
Bella: Age 16
"Emmett!" I shouted, swinging his bedroom door open, "Come on!"
Finding him laying down in bed, passed out, with a blanket thrown over his head as he kept his feet uncovered, I grimaced before I started heading towards him. "How the hell do you sleep like that, Em?" I asked, "Why use a blanket if it's just going to cover up your head and not the coldest part of your body, your fee—"
He lifted his head a bit from underneath, interrupting me as I reached the bed. "Kiddo?"
"Yeah?"
"Please..." he groaned, letting his face drop back down onto the pillow that he was probably slobbering on top of, "Shut the hell up," he finished, his voice muffled, "Thank you."
"Wake up, man!" I shouted, ignoring him as I climbed onto his bed. Placing my feet on either sides of his shoulders, I looked down at him with my arms across my chest. "You promised me that you were going to take me out driving today. I woke up uber early for it, so come on!"
"Five more minutes," he mumbled.
"No," I growled as I started jumping up and down on his bed, "Get up, get up, get up, get up, ge—" I yelped as he interrupted me when he tripped my ass by throwing both of his arms out. "Emmett," I whined, sitting on his back, "Come on, dude. You promised..."
Tossing me off of his back as he abruptly sat up, he laughed at my pout before he yawned, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "Alright, B. Give me five minutes."
"Please..." he groaned, letting his face drop back down onto the pillow that he was probably slobbering on top of, "Shut the hell up," he finished, his voice muffled, "Thank you."
"Wake up, man!" I shouted, ignoring him as I climbed onto his bed. Placing my feet on either sides of his shoulders, I looked down at him with my arms across my chest. "You promised me that you were going to take me out driving today. I woke up uber early for it, so come on!"
"Five more minutes," he mumbled.
"No," I growled as I started jumping up and down on his bed, "Get up, get up, get up, get up, ge—" I yelped as he interrupted me when he tripped my ass by throwing both of his arms out. "Emmett," I whined, sitting on his back, "Come on, dude. You promised..."
Tossing me off of his back as he abruptly sat up, he laughed at my pout before he yawned, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "Alright, B. Give me five minutes."
Grabbing a hold of my arm before I was able to rip the driver's side door open, Emmett turned me around so that I could face him. "Kiddo, I want you to listen to me for a minute."
I pursed my lips in amusement at the beyond serious expression that was written all over my brother's face as he placed his arms across his chest. "Alright, I'm listening. Go ahead."
Tapping the roof of his jeep, his eyes twinkled something that had me grinning. "This...is my baby." I nodded, placing my arms across my chest. "And, I want you to keep in mind that she is not a toy."
God.
I just want to fucking drive already.
"Em, come on, seriously. Can we go?"
"Oh God, no," he whispered as I threw my hands up in the air, shaking his head at me while he ran one of his palms down his clammy forehead, "No, no, no. You need to calm down, you're too excited. I want you to take a couple of deep breaths."
I laughed. "I think that you are the one who needs to calm down."
"I'm serious, Bella! This is a serious situation right now!"
I just want to fucking drive already.
"Em, come on, seriously. Can we go?"
"Oh God, no," he whispered as I threw my hands up in the air, shaking his head at me while he ran one of his palms down his clammy forehead, "No, no, no. You need to calm down, you're too excited. I want you to take a couple of deep breaths."
I laughed. "I think that you are the one who needs to calm down."
"I'm serious, Bella! This is a serious situation right now!"
"Emmett?" He raised an eyebrow. "Shut up."
"This jeep is like my first born, B! I can't just —"
"You're acting like a chick right now."
He narrowed his eyes at me. "No, I'm not."
"This jeep is like my first born, B! I can't just —"
"You're acting like a chick right now."
He narrowed his eyes at me. "No, I'm not."
"You are."
"Whatever," he growled.
"Whatever," I mocked.
He grimaced. "I just said whatever."
He grimaced. "I just said whatever."
"You did," I nodded.
"Ewe," he groaned.
I snorted. "You also just said ewe."
"Shit."
I shrugged. "Eh."
"Fuck," he tried again.
"Better."
He raised an eyebrow. "Motherfucker?"
"Better."
He raised an eyebrow. "Motherfucker?"
I smiled, completely satisfied. "Now that, is what I'm talking about."
"You motherfucking shit, cock-bag son of a bitch's bastard, fucking ass-jacker piece of a damn—" I interrupted the kid as I grabbed a hold of his arms and stopped them from flailing around in their over the top excitement. "Too much?" he asked, panting.
"Too much," I confirmed with scrunched together brows. "Ass-jacker, though?"
He shrugged as he started walking over towards the passenger's side of his precious jeep. "Yeah, I dunno."
As soon as I sat down and started readjusting everything, I looked over at my brother and rolled my eyes at him as he looked at me like it was the end of the world. "Emmett, relax." He nodded, turning his attention to the dashboard. Lowering my own down to my feet, I scrunched my eyebrows together. "Okay, so which one is the brake again?"
His head whipped in my direction, and I raised a brow at his wide eyes. "Please don't tell me that you're serious right now." I grinned and he exhaled in relief. "Jesus Christ, B! Don't do that!"
Placing my hand over the gear stick, I put it on reverse with my foot on the brake. Pressing on the gas a bit, I eased us out of the spot that he had the jeep parked in, and he in return to the smoothness of it relaxed some, leaning back into his seat.
"You motherfucking shit, cock-bag son of a bitch's bastard, fucking ass-jacker piece of a damn—" I interrupted the kid as I grabbed a hold of his arms and stopped them from flailing around in their over the top excitement. "Too much?" he asked, panting.
"Too much," I confirmed with scrunched together brows. "Ass-jacker, though?"
He shrugged as he started walking over towards the passenger's side of his precious jeep. "Yeah, I dunno."
As soon as I sat down and started readjusting everything, I looked over at my brother and rolled my eyes at him as he looked at me like it was the end of the world. "Emmett, relax." He nodded, turning his attention to the dashboard. Lowering my own down to my feet, I scrunched my eyebrows together. "Okay, so which one is the brake again?"
His head whipped in my direction, and I raised a brow at his wide eyes. "Please don't tell me that you're serious right now." I grinned and he exhaled in relief. "Jesus Christ, B! Don't do that!"
Placing my hand over the gear stick, I put it on reverse with my foot on the brake. Pressing on the gas a bit, I eased us out of the spot that he had the jeep parked in, and he in return to the smoothness of it relaxed some, leaning back into his seat.
He directed me around the whole cemetery.
And around.
And fucking around.
I was getting...bored.
"Bella, what are you doing?" he shouted, his voice frantic as I pressed down on the gas pedal, making the car jerk forward. "Holy hell, are you out of your goddamn mind!"
"I'm still young, Emmett!" I growled, making a sharp turn that had him screaming like a little bitch. I grinned, keeping one of my hands against the wheel while my other one started searching for my seat belt. "You need to just chill the hell ou—"
"Both hands on the wheel!" he shouted, interrupting me as he placed his hand against the spot that I left open, his other fingers desperately grasping for his own seat belt, "Oh God, we're going to die."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh relax, you big baby."
Emmett gasped something fearful when he saw me heading towards the gate that would lead us out into the neighborhood. "What are you — no." He looked over at me with narrowed eyes. "Turn back around right this second!"
I slapped his hands away from grabbing me. "Don't you boss me around!"
"I'm warning —" His threat was cut short when I looked over at him with a glare. "Eyes on the road, Bella!"
"When did you grow a vagina?" I asked, looking both ways when I reached the gate.
He hissed a quick "Shit!" and threw one of his arms across my chest so that I wouldn't fly forward as I slammed on the gas pedal, seeing that the road was clear. "God!" he growled as we landed, "We were just on two goddamn wheels, Bella!"
I grinned, giving some old douche-bag the middle finger when he had the audaciousness to beep his horn at me. "Well," I sang, "You know what they say."
He shook his head, looking around in some frantic kind of a way as I hightailed it down the road. "No, I don't know what they say. What do they say?"
Giving him a quick glance, I grimaced before I returned my full attention back to the road. "Yeah, I dunno." I laughed as Emmett stuck his head out of the window and yelled for people to go save themselves. "Oh, take it easy, dude! This is like...a once in a lifetime chance that we have on our hands right now! Hey, why don't we hit the city, yeah?"
"Are you out of your goddamn mind, Kiddo?" he shouted in some incredulous manner before he furiously started shaking his head at me, "Pull over! Pull over right this instant!"
"No way!" I yelled, making a sharp turn into some unknown neighborhood. Looking over at him when I heard the click of his belt being unbuckled, I narrowed my eyes as he lifted his feet up and placed them on top of his seat, a mission behind his demeanor as he faced me, crouching. "Emmett, I will kill your baby, right now," I threatened.
"Bella, what are you doing?" he shouted, his voice frantic as I pressed down on the gas pedal, making the car jerk forward. "Holy hell, are you out of your goddamn mind!"
"I'm still young, Emmett!" I growled, making a sharp turn that had him screaming like a little bitch. I grinned, keeping one of my hands against the wheel while my other one started searching for my seat belt. "You need to just chill the hell ou—"
"Both hands on the wheel!" he shouted, interrupting me as he placed his hand against the spot that I left open, his other fingers desperately grasping for his own seat belt, "Oh God, we're going to die."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh relax, you big baby."
Emmett gasped something fearful when he saw me heading towards the gate that would lead us out into the neighborhood. "What are you — no." He looked over at me with narrowed eyes. "Turn back around right this second!"
I slapped his hands away from grabbing me. "Don't you boss me around!"
"I'm warning —" His threat was cut short when I looked over at him with a glare. "Eyes on the road, Bella!"
"When did you grow a vagina?" I asked, looking both ways when I reached the gate.
He hissed a quick "Shit!" and threw one of his arms across my chest so that I wouldn't fly forward as I slammed on the gas pedal, seeing that the road was clear. "God!" he growled as we landed, "We were just on two goddamn wheels, Bella!"
I grinned, giving some old douche-bag the middle finger when he had the audaciousness to beep his horn at me. "Well," I sang, "You know what they say."
He shook his head, looking around in some frantic kind of a way as I hightailed it down the road. "No, I don't know what they say. What do they say?"
Giving him a quick glance, I grimaced before I returned my full attention back to the road. "Yeah, I dunno." I laughed as Emmett stuck his head out of the window and yelled for people to go save themselves. "Oh, take it easy, dude! This is like...a once in a lifetime chance that we have on our hands right now! Hey, why don't we hit the city, yeah?"
"Are you out of your goddamn mind, Kiddo?" he shouted in some incredulous manner before he furiously started shaking his head at me, "Pull over! Pull over right this instant!"
"No way!" I yelled, making a sharp turn into some unknown neighborhood. Looking over at him when I heard the click of his belt being unbuckled, I narrowed my eyes as he lifted his feet up and placed them on top of his seat, a mission behind his demeanor as he faced me, crouching. "Emmett, I will kill your baby, right now," I threatened.
"If you don't stop this car, I am going to jump on your ass."
"Jump on my ass?" Both of my feet pressed on the gas pedal harder, my laugh turning a little wild as the kid lost his balance and slammed into his seat, sideways, "I'll show you jump!"
"Bella! I swear to God!" he screamed, clutching whatever he could get his hands on, "I'm never going to let you drive the jeep again! This is the last goddamn time that you will ever be behind this wheel!"
I scoffed, turning into another street. "Oh quit your shit, cry baby!" Some old geezer gave me the middle finger after she pushed the kids that she was walking out of my way, "Oh take it easy, you hag!" I yelled out of my driver's side window.
"Oh God!" Emmett whispered with closed eyes, "You almost ran someone over."
"Are you kidding?" I spat, mad that he wasn't on my side, "They were in my way!"
"Bella, please! Just...please stop the car, I'm begging you."
Immediately, I slowed down and pulled up to the curb. Placing the jeep in park, I looked over at him and shrugged at his shock-filled eyes. "You said please," I explained, opening my door.
"Jump on my ass?" Both of my feet pressed on the gas pedal harder, my laugh turning a little wild as the kid lost his balance and slammed into his seat, sideways, "I'll show you jump!"
"Bella! I swear to God!" he screamed, clutching whatever he could get his hands on, "I'm never going to let you drive the jeep again! This is the last goddamn time that you will ever be behind this wheel!"
I scoffed, turning into another street. "Oh quit your shit, cry baby!" Some old geezer gave me the middle finger after she pushed the kids that she was walking out of my way, "Oh take it easy, you hag!" I yelled out of my driver's side window.
"Oh God!" Emmett whispered with closed eyes, "You almost ran someone over."
"Are you kidding?" I spat, mad that he wasn't on my side, "They were in my way!"
"Bella, please! Just...please stop the car, I'm begging you."
Immediately, I slowed down and pulled up to the curb. Placing the jeep in park, I looked over at him and shrugged at his shock-filled eyes. "You said please," I explained, opening my door.
He remained paralyzed.
I rolled my eyes, stepping out of the kid's jeep. After following suit, he lowered himself down to the pavement and kissed the concrete in reverence. "Thank you, Jesus!" he murmured as I shook my head, walking over to him, "We're alive! I can't believe it, but we're alive!"
Nudging him with my foot, I snorted. "You're such a drama queen."
I rolled my eyes, stepping out of the kid's jeep. After following suit, he lowered himself down to the pavement and kissed the concrete in reverence. "Thank you, Jesus!" he murmured as I shook my head, walking over to him, "We're alive! I can't believe it, but we're alive!"
Nudging him with my foot, I snorted. "You're such a drama queen."
Bella: Age 17
"Kiddo, open up!" I heard Emmett yell through my bedroom door.
Today was one of those days.
It's been exactly four years, two weeks, four days...
I looked over at my alarm clock...and seven hours.
"Em, not today!" I yelled back, cringing at the sound of my voice.
Ignoring me, he pushed my door open and I turned my head away from the light that came from the hallway, brightening up my goddamn room. His footsteps were the only sounds that I heard as he made his way over to the window, where I groaned as I saw him pulling the blinds up. "Yes, today. God, Kiddo. A little sun won't do you harm, you know."
Climbing out of my bed, I rolled my eyes. After walking over to him, I went to pull down the irritating happiness that the outside world was shining my room with, but he grabbed a hold of my arm and stopped me as soon as my fingers took a hold of the strings. "Emme—"
I looked over at my alarm clock...and seven hours.
"Em, not today!" I yelled back, cringing at the sound of my voice.
Ignoring me, he pushed my door open and I turned my head away from the light that came from the hallway, brightening up my goddamn room. His footsteps were the only sounds that I heard as he made his way over to the window, where I groaned as I saw him pulling the blinds up. "Yes, today. God, Kiddo. A little sun won't do you harm, you know."
Climbing out of my bed, I rolled my eyes. After walking over to him, I went to pull down the irritating happiness that the outside world was shining my room with, but he grabbed a hold of my arm and stopped me as soon as my fingers took a hold of the strings. "Emme—"
"No."
"I really, really, don't feel like dealing with this tod—"
"Stop," he interrupted me once again. "We're going to play some ball, and you're coming."
"I really, really, don't feel like dealing with this tod—"
"Stop," he interrupted me once again. "We're going to play some ball, and you're coming."
"Who's we?"
"The guys from the Rez," he answered. Pulling me towards my bathroom, he shook his head as he saw that I was about to refuse the invitation. "Now, go and take a goddamn shower. You smell like death."
I couldn't help the grin from escaping me as he pushed me into the small room, standing in front of the doorway as he blocked my means of escape. "I do not smell, and especially not like death, you dick."
He kissed the skin that was found in between my eyebrows before he started heading towards the door. "I'll see you in thirty minutes."
Stepping into the shower, I let the hot water that was running from above wash over my — sore from staying in bed all day long — body, taking a hold of my puff ball before I started roughly scrubbing my skin, loving and hating the rawness that it brought me. After I was done, I got out and wrapped a towel underneath my arms as I walked over to the counter. Running one of my hands along the mirror when I reached it, I wiped away that steam that built over it and when I saw my reflection, I gritted my teeth.
I was nothing but disgusting.
The heavy bags that were underneath my lower eyelids...
The paleness of my skin that was covering up my body...
Fucking...everything. Everything was disgusting.
I lowered my head as I placed my trembling palms on top of the counter, trying to take a couple of deep breaths while I willed the ringing that was overtaking my ears to go the hell away. "You okay, Kiddo?"
Hearing Emmett's soft whisper on the other side of the door, I turned the sink on and rinsed my face off with the intention of trying to appear a bit more normal. "I'll be right out, just give me a minute, Em."
After drying myself off and shoving some clothes on, I walked over to the door and pulled it open with a forced smile, instantly noticing the frown that he tried to hide from me. "Bella, I know that today is har—"
Interrupting him, I shook my head as I walked past him, heading for the bedroom door to get this shit over and done with so that he wouldn't feel bad. "Em, I'm really trying to not think about 'today' right now." Looking over my shoulder when I reached the hallway, I groaned at the worry that I saw within his eyes. "I'm good."
He nodded, reaching me. "I just...wish that I could take it away for you, Kiddo."
Wrapping my arms around his waist when he wrapped his own around my shoulders, I closed my eyes as he started rubbing my back. "I know, and I appreciate your wish, nonetheless, but...it's just not going to happen, you know?" I felt his chin over the top of my head move a bit as he nodded, remaining silent with comforting me in the only possible way that I could have been comforted. "I'll be okay, no worries."
"The guys from the Rez," he answered. Pulling me towards my bathroom, he shook his head as he saw that I was about to refuse the invitation. "Now, go and take a goddamn shower. You smell like death."
I couldn't help the grin from escaping me as he pushed me into the small room, standing in front of the doorway as he blocked my means of escape. "I do not smell, and especially not like death, you dick."
He kissed the skin that was found in between my eyebrows before he started heading towards the door. "I'll see you in thirty minutes."
Stepping into the shower, I let the hot water that was running from above wash over my — sore from staying in bed all day long — body, taking a hold of my puff ball before I started roughly scrubbing my skin, loving and hating the rawness that it brought me. After I was done, I got out and wrapped a towel underneath my arms as I walked over to the counter. Running one of my hands along the mirror when I reached it, I wiped away that steam that built over it and when I saw my reflection, I gritted my teeth.
I was nothing but disgusting.
The heavy bags that were underneath my lower eyelids...
The paleness of my skin that was covering up my body...
Fucking...everything. Everything was disgusting.
I lowered my head as I placed my trembling palms on top of the counter, trying to take a couple of deep breaths while I willed the ringing that was overtaking my ears to go the hell away. "You okay, Kiddo?"
Hearing Emmett's soft whisper on the other side of the door, I turned the sink on and rinsed my face off with the intention of trying to appear a bit more normal. "I'll be right out, just give me a minute, Em."
After drying myself off and shoving some clothes on, I walked over to the door and pulled it open with a forced smile, instantly noticing the frown that he tried to hide from me. "Bella, I know that today is har—"
Interrupting him, I shook my head as I walked past him, heading for the bedroom door to get this shit over and done with so that he wouldn't feel bad. "Em, I'm really trying to not think about 'today' right now." Looking over my shoulder when I reached the hallway, I groaned at the worry that I saw within his eyes. "I'm good."
He nodded, reaching me. "I just...wish that I could take it away for you, Kiddo."
Wrapping my arms around his waist when he wrapped his own around my shoulders, I closed my eyes as he started rubbing my back. "I know, and I appreciate your wish, nonetheless, but...it's just not going to happen, you know?" I felt his chin over the top of my head move a bit as he nodded, remaining silent with comforting me in the only possible way that I could have been comforted. "I'll be okay, no worries."
When Em and I pulled up to the field, I immediately spotted Jake from his spot on the grass as he sat around with Paul and Seth, chit chatting about whatever they were chit chatting about. Lowering my head with an internal groan, I pushed my door open and stepped out of the jeep before my brother did the same after giving my shoulder a couple of 'hang in there' pats that had me rolling my eyes at him.
"Well lookie here!" Seth shouted as soon as he noticed me walking behind Emmett, "Little Swan coming to play with the big boys!" Tossing the football over his shoulder as I grinned, he pushed himself off of the grass before he started jogging towards us, his attention on Em. "Where have you been hiding this one, man? You know how depressed I get when you keep her away from me for too long."
I smiled as the crazy kid — who I missed more than anything — pushed Em to the side in some rough as all hell manner to lift me up into the air for a big hug. Laughing at his eagerness as my brother growled, I gave his lips a quick peck when he set me back down on my feet. "Sethie Poo, tell me. Where have you been all my life?"
"Give me a specific date on when you're going to honor me the goddamn chance of rocking your world, and I'll tell you where I have been in return," he replied, teasing me as he ran one of his fingers through my hair. "It's a fair trade in my opinion, B."
I snorted as Em turned around with a glare. "Stop that shit, Seth."
Ignoring my brother, the kid quickly lifted me up into the air and threw me over his shoulder before he started leading us towards Jake and Paul, laughing at my growling that was caused by his caveman behavior. "Em, man, let's be realistic," he started, "I can't deny the shit. Bella is going to get tired of my begging one of these days, and when she gives me a chance, I'll be the happiest motherfucker in town."
"Put me down, you idiot!" I laughed, slapping his ass as Em mumbled something underneath his breath.
When the three of us reached the other two boys, Seth slapped the shit out of my ass before lowering me down onto the ground, winking at Em when he groaned, looking at his buddy in some 'I can't believe that I am your friend' type of a way that had me grinning like mad. "Rough," Seth murmured in what was meant to be a whisper but wasn't, "I like it."
Shaking my head at the kid and all of his — 'A date with you is worth me getting my ass kicked by your brother' — antics, I turned my attention over to Jake and gave him a short nod as a greeting. He rolled his eyes at me in return before we both quickly looked away from each other.
J and I haven't talked, or even seen each other ever since my Pop died.
He called and called, but I just...ignored him.
I felt awful about the shit, I really did, but sometimes, when I would look into the kid's eyes, I was reminded of the days and nights of when the two of us were younger, following Charlie and Billy around everywhere.
It just hurt too much.
"Alright, this is touch football, you shit-heads," Em started, breaking me out of my thoughts as I rolled my eyes at the glare that was directed at the three boys who were standing in front of us. "Don't be all fucking serious with how you play, or I'll get serious by kicking whoever's ass if I find one goddamn scratch on Bella."
"Emmett," I groaned, "I can handle myself, shut up."
He shook his head, completely not listening to a word that I said. "Yeah, I hear you," he told me in a blatant lie before returning his attention back to the boys and pointing at them. "And you three fuckers heard me, so keep that shit in mind, cause it's nothing but the goddamn truth. One scratch, and you're all dead."
At the middle of mocking his words, Paul quickly shut up and lifted his hands up into the air in surrender as my brother played like he was going to 'go at him.' Laughing, he nodded as he started backing away. "Alright, Em, I got it, not one scratch. But, you weren't specific, so you keep in mind that if your sister receives two scratches, I'm a living man."
I grinned as Emmett ran after Paul's 'specific' ass.
The boys, excluding Jake, tried to teach me how to play the game the 'right' way, but if I'm being completely honest right now? Holy hell, I was lost beyond the sauce. I just...didn't get it. The shit flew over my goddamn head. I couldn't blame their over the top explanations, though, because half the time, I wasn't really paying any attention, too caught up with my own thoughts.
Every single time that I would catch Jake's wondering eyes that were filled with nothing but avoidance, the kid's whole body would tense up, showing me exactly how uncomfortable he was in my presence. To say that I was getting tired of the shit was an understatement.
Emmett bent his knees a bit and placed his hands on top of them while he tried to catch his breath, the slight panting that I heard coming from him causing my appreciative attention to leave the mud marks that were over my chucks as I narrowed my eyes at him, acting as if the game that we were losing was his fault. "Alright, Kiddo, listen up, change of plans. I'll catch the ball and give it to you, instead of the other way around, seeing as to how your fingers are invisibly slathered in soap. When I tell you to take the hell off, you run as fucking fast as you can, away from Jake and Seth, not towards them. And, Paul? He's on our team, so kneeing the dude when he catches my throws is not appropriate, although...pretty goddamn funny."
"Alright, fine," I grinned, getting into position, "I'm in it to win it. Let's go."
As the football went flying through the air after Paul kicked it, I stood in my spot and waited for Emmett to catch it in boredom. Looking over at Jake and Seth, I scrunched my eyebrows together, wondering what they were talking about as they faced each other, not paying any attention to the game whatsoever.
Feeling the football getting shoved into my open arms, I didn't have any time to question their suspicious exchange as Emmett shouted a "Go!" pointing over his shoulder. Taking off, I narrowed my eyes at Jake when I saw that he was the only one who was running after me, Seth standing at the sidelines.
The wind got knocked out of me as soon as he slammed his chest up against my back. While in the air, he quickly wrapped his arms around my waist and turned his body so that when we hit the ground, he took the majority of the impact. I growled, smacking his hands off of me before rolling away from him. "What the hell is your problem, man?"
He narrowed his eyes at me, sitting up. "Why are you ignoring my phone calls?"
Shaking my head as I stood up, I brushed the grass off of me before I bent down a bit to shove him back down onto the ground when he went to follow suit. "Christ, Jake! I didn't do anything to you to deserve the way that you've been treating me ever since I stepped a foot onto this goddamn field! What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I have been trying to call you, nonstop, and you have been igno—"
Emmett's growl as he stomped over to us interrupted his words. "Hey, man!" he shouted, taking a hold of J's arms as he quickly pulled him up to his feet, "What the hell did I tell you before this game started? Touch goddamn football, motherfucker!"
Jake rolled his eyes as he returned his attention back to me, ignoring my brother's anger. "If you don't want to talk to me, then that's fine, don't fucking talk to me," he spat, "But give me the goddamn decency to tell me that you don't want to be my friend anymore, B. Don't just ignore me and pretend that I'll go away, because I won't."
"You don't understand."
"Bullshit!" he shouted as he went to step up to me. Emmett stopped him with a hand over his chest, warning him with his eyes that his closeness was not appreciated after what just went down. "You're not the only one who is affected by his death, Bella. He was a big part of my Pop's life, and he was a big goddamn part of my life, too."
"Yeah well, he's not a part of anyone's life anymore!" I snapped, throwing my hands up into the air. His jaw dropped at my declaration, along with Emmett's, and I shrugged as I turned around and walked away. "What the hell ever," I mumbled, "I'm over it."
"You're over it?" J asked incredulously as he started following me with heavy footsteps, "Running away from everything is the only way that you deal with shit, Bella!" I gave him the middle finger, not looking back as I continued walking. "Oh, look at this!" he yelled, capturing everyone's attention, "Bella is running away! What a fucking surprise!"
I turned around and glared at him as Emmett took a hold of his shoulders, trying to hold him back. "Let it go, man," he whispered as the rest of the guys joined them, "Today is not the day to do this shit, so stop."
"No," he growled, pushing him away, "Your sister needs to deal with —"
"Deal with this," I hissed, running over to him before slamming my body into his, knocking him down onto the ground as he didn't expect it. Quickly straddling the idiot who was pissing me off beyond belief, I pinched the shit out of his chest before I leaned down a bit to take a bite out of his arm, causing him to yelp.
"Kiddo, let go," Em laughed, trying to tug me away as I continued my assault.
Now.
Did I want to punch him? Yes.
Did I want to hurt him? Absolutely.
Did I want the pain that was suddenly shooting up my arm? Nope.
I cried out, clutching onto my throbbing hand. "Oh, you piece of —"
Emmett pulled me off of him when I went to punch the kid again, not caring that my entire arm was practically burning. Carefully taking a hold of my hand, he frowned. "Kiddo, shit, I think that it's broken. What were you thinking, hitting that goddamn gorilla?"
"Can you take me home, Em?"
"No way, I need to take you to the hospital."
I snatched my hand away from his tight hold, hiding my grimace from doing so. "No, I don't do hospitals. It's not broken, anyway, it's just sprained. Trust me, I would know."
"Kiddo, just let me take you to the goddamn hos—"
"Emmett," I gritted in interruption, "It's not happening."
He narrowed his eyes at me and I returned the gesture. After sensing that I wasn't going to back down at any time soon, he shook his head, turning his attention over to Jake. "You better fix this," he told him in an angry whisper, backing away from the two of us.
I turned around to walk away from whatever he had to say, but Jake called my name and stopped me from the tone of his voice. "Bells..." he paused to clear his throat and at the sound, I looked over my shoulder and frowned at the expression of desolation that was written all over his face, "Bella, I'm...sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, you know that."
I nodded as I turned around, and when I started heading towards him, he moved from the spot that was holding his frozen form to meet me halfway. Wrapping my arms around him as he wrapped his own around me, I gripped onto the back of his tee shirt as I placed my forehead against his chest. "I just...miss him."
"I miss him, too," he whispered, tightening his hold around me. "Bells?"
I hummed, closing my eyes. "Yeah?"
"Bells, please open your eyes for me?"
Lifting my head, I raised an eyebrow at him. "What?"
"Bella, come on, babe." My brows scrunched together, because I heard his voice, but his lips weren't moving. "Wake up, for me, please wake up."
I closed my eyes and rubbed them, but when I opened them up again...
I was someplace else.
"God," Jake exhaled as his fingers started running along my cheeks while I looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings, not understanding where I was, "It's about fucking time. You scared the shit out of me, Bells."
"What..." I cleared my throat, meeting his eyes again, "Where are we, exactly?"
"We're in Mom and Pop's room," he whispered, taking a hold of my hands as I sat up, noticing a frame that held a picture of Esme and Carlisle sitting on top of the table that was placed next to the bed that I was laying on. "You uh, were sleeping for a hell of a long time, Bella."
Studying Jake's face, I noticed that he looked tired and more than run down. The kid was wearing the same exact clothes as last night, which was kind of weird, only because he was real anal about switching up his style, and every single goddamn day...
Holy shit.
"Emmett," I whispered, "Where's Emmett?"
He pushed me back down when I went to jump out of bed, and I narrowed my eyes at him. "I need to go and get Pop, I think that he's still downstairs. Just...hold on for a couple of seconds while I do that, alright? Don't move, or anything."
I grabbed a hold of his arm when he went to walk away. "J, where is Em?"
"He's okay," he replied, not answering my question as he avoided my eyes. "I'll be back."
I nodded like sure thing, man, do what you have to do.
As soon as he left the room, I climbed out of bed and followed suit, making sure that he was a couple of steps before me so that he wouldn't know of my presence. When I reached the bottom step, he pulled the front door open and as I went to follow him outside, I started hearing voices from the kitchen so I stopped, deciding to investigate.
Pushing the door open, I froze, instantly noticing Rose, whose head was laying on top of her arms that were spread out over the kitchen table as Esme and Pixie stood behind her, running their hands along her shoulders and hair. Turning my attention over to the counter, I saw Edward leaning against it with his back facing me, his palms holding his face while his elbows that were laying on top of the marble supported his stance. Jasper was next to him, looking out of the window, his eyes in deep thought.
Letting the door close behind me, I got their attention. "Where's Emmett?"
"Bambina," Esme whispered, heading towards me as Rose and Pix shared nervous glances with each other. I looked around the room and narrowed my eyes, noticing that everyone was avoiding the goddamn question that they were asked. "We didn't know that you were awake. Why don't you come and sit do—"
I pulled my hands away before she could grab a hold of them. "Where is he?"
"B," Rose started, standing up, "Just...come and sit down for a little bit, okay?"
My jaw dropped down to the floor as I actually took my time to notice her appearance. Rose's tangled hair was all over the goddamn place, and there was dried mascara and makeup smeared down the woman's cheeks. Her clothes on the other hand, had blood splattered across the dark and light fabric.
I turned around and went to step out of the kitchen to get away from whatever the fuck was going on, but Edward grabbed a hold of my hand and stopped me as he interlaced our fingers together, pulling me back into the room. "Bae, let's just relax for a couple of seconds before you up and leave, yeah?"
Snatching my hand out off his, I glared at him. "Christ, is he fucking dead, or something?"
Esme whispered my name, stepping in between Edward and I. "He's perfectly fine, and he's with Carlisle."
"Alright, so, tell me where they are then," I asked, placing my arms across my chest. Receiving nothing but silence, motherfucking again, I snapped as I threw my hands up into the air. "Jesus Christ, people! Why the hell is everyone avoiding my goddamn question?"
Stepping in front of his mother, Edward placed his hands over my hips and started pushing me towards the kitchen door, shaking his head at Esme when she went to follow the two of us before returning his attention back to me with a raised eyebrow. "Come take a walk with me, yeah?" I nodded, grinding my teeth together as I smacked his arms away from me and turned around. "We'll be right back," I heard him tell everyone behind me, his words already annoying me as I rolled my eyes.
As soon as we stepped outside, Edward bent down and grabbed a hold of the pack of Marlboro's that were sitting on top of the porch's first step, and as he pulled two cigarettes out and handed one to me before he placed the other one in between his lips, I raised an eyebrow at the kid. "You started smoking again?" He nodded in answer before he nodded at the cancer stick that my fingers were wrapped around as he held the flame of his lighter in front of my mouth. "Can I ask why the hell you gave me one knowing how I feel about dying while coughing my lungs out?"
Rolling his eyes, he lit the cigarette that was hanging from his lips before he shoved the same stick into my own mouth, catching the Marlboro that I threw at him in response before repeating the act with it. "You'll need the nicotine, trust me," he whispered after taking a long drag.
I narrowed my eyes at him, tossing the cigarette over his shoulder. "I'll need it?"
"Holy shit, man," he whispered to himself as he lowered his head, dropping the stick to the ground as he forbid his lungs the second drag that they wanted, "I don't even know where to fucking begin, or how to tell you that..."
"Edward, what is going on?" I asked at his pause.
Meeting my eyes again, he groaned. "Last night shouldn't have went down the way that it went down." I looked at him like tell me something that I don't fucking know, you idiot. "Emmett shot his goddamn Pop, Bella. Not even that, the kid fucking shot someone. Not even that, your brother fucking killed a motherfucker. This is some serious shit."
"I fucking know that, Edward."
"It's just that...shit. I don't know what...fuck!"
My eyes widened a little bit as he pulled another cigarette out of his pack. "No," I whispered in some unreal type of a way that immediately caught his attention, stopping him from lighting the stick up. "Don't tell me that Emmett's going to get in trouble for this shit! It wasn't his goddamn fault!"
"I know that it wasn't McCarty's fault, Bae...but, it's just not..."
I was someplace else.
"God," Jake exhaled as his fingers started running along my cheeks while I looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings, not understanding where I was, "It's about fucking time. You scared the shit out of me, Bells."
"What..." I cleared my throat, meeting his eyes again, "Where are we, exactly?"
"We're in Mom and Pop's room," he whispered, taking a hold of my hands as I sat up, noticing a frame that held a picture of Esme and Carlisle sitting on top of the table that was placed next to the bed that I was laying on. "You uh, were sleeping for a hell of a long time, Bella."
Studying Jake's face, I noticed that he looked tired and more than run down. The kid was wearing the same exact clothes as last night, which was kind of weird, only because he was real anal about switching up his style, and every single goddamn day...
Holy shit.
"Emmett," I whispered, "Where's Emmett?"
He pushed me back down when I went to jump out of bed, and I narrowed my eyes at him. "I need to go and get Pop, I think that he's still downstairs. Just...hold on for a couple of seconds while I do that, alright? Don't move, or anything."
I grabbed a hold of his arm when he went to walk away. "J, where is Em?"
"He's okay," he replied, not answering my question as he avoided my eyes. "I'll be back."
I nodded like sure thing, man, do what you have to do.
As soon as he left the room, I climbed out of bed and followed suit, making sure that he was a couple of steps before me so that he wouldn't know of my presence. When I reached the bottom step, he pulled the front door open and as I went to follow him outside, I started hearing voices from the kitchen so I stopped, deciding to investigate.
Pushing the door open, I froze, instantly noticing Rose, whose head was laying on top of her arms that were spread out over the kitchen table as Esme and Pixie stood behind her, running their hands along her shoulders and hair. Turning my attention over to the counter, I saw Edward leaning against it with his back facing me, his palms holding his face while his elbows that were laying on top of the marble supported his stance. Jasper was next to him, looking out of the window, his eyes in deep thought.
Letting the door close behind me, I got their attention. "Where's Emmett?"
"Bambina," Esme whispered, heading towards me as Rose and Pix shared nervous glances with each other. I looked around the room and narrowed my eyes, noticing that everyone was avoiding the goddamn question that they were asked. "We didn't know that you were awake. Why don't you come and sit do—"
I pulled my hands away before she could grab a hold of them. "Where is he?"
"B," Rose started, standing up, "Just...come and sit down for a little bit, okay?"
My jaw dropped down to the floor as I actually took my time to notice her appearance. Rose's tangled hair was all over the goddamn place, and there was dried mascara and makeup smeared down the woman's cheeks. Her clothes on the other hand, had blood splattered across the dark and light fabric.
I turned around and went to step out of the kitchen to get away from whatever the fuck was going on, but Edward grabbed a hold of my hand and stopped me as he interlaced our fingers together, pulling me back into the room. "Bae, let's just relax for a couple of seconds before you up and leave, yeah?"
Snatching my hand out off his, I glared at him. "Christ, is he fucking dead, or something?"
Esme whispered my name, stepping in between Edward and I. "He's perfectly fine, and he's with Carlisle."
"Alright, so, tell me where they are then," I asked, placing my arms across my chest. Receiving nothing but silence, motherfucking again, I snapped as I threw my hands up into the air. "Jesus Christ, people! Why the hell is everyone avoiding my goddamn question?"
Stepping in front of his mother, Edward placed his hands over my hips and started pushing me towards the kitchen door, shaking his head at Esme when she went to follow the two of us before returning his attention back to me with a raised eyebrow. "Come take a walk with me, yeah?" I nodded, grinding my teeth together as I smacked his arms away from me and turned around. "We'll be right back," I heard him tell everyone behind me, his words already annoying me as I rolled my eyes.
As soon as we stepped outside, Edward bent down and grabbed a hold of the pack of Marlboro's that were sitting on top of the porch's first step, and as he pulled two cigarettes out and handed one to me before he placed the other one in between his lips, I raised an eyebrow at the kid. "You started smoking again?" He nodded in answer before he nodded at the cancer stick that my fingers were wrapped around as he held the flame of his lighter in front of my mouth. "Can I ask why the hell you gave me one knowing how I feel about dying while coughing my lungs out?"
Rolling his eyes, he lit the cigarette that was hanging from his lips before he shoved the same stick into my own mouth, catching the Marlboro that I threw at him in response before repeating the act with it. "You'll need the nicotine, trust me," he whispered after taking a long drag.
I narrowed my eyes at him, tossing the cigarette over his shoulder. "I'll need it?"
"Holy shit, man," he whispered to himself as he lowered his head, dropping the stick to the ground as he forbid his lungs the second drag that they wanted, "I don't even know where to fucking begin, or how to tell you that..."
"Edward, what is going on?" I asked at his pause.
Meeting my eyes again, he groaned. "Last night shouldn't have went down the way that it went down." I looked at him like tell me something that I don't fucking know, you idiot. "Emmett shot his goddamn Pop, Bella. Not even that, the kid fucking shot someone. Not even that, your brother fucking killed a motherfucker. This is some serious shit."
"I fucking know that, Edward."
"It's just that...shit. I don't know what...fuck!"
My eyes widened a little bit as he pulled another cigarette out of his pack. "No," I whispered in some unreal type of a way that immediately caught his attention, stopping him from lighting the stick up. "Don't tell me that Emmett's going to get in trouble for this shit! It wasn't his goddamn fault!"
"I know that it wasn't McCarty's fault, Bae...but, it's just not..."
"What?" I hissed at his pause. "It's just not what, Edward?"
Lowering his head again, he shook it as he tossed the unused cigarette over his shoulder. "It's just not looking that good right now," he whispered, "I wish that I could tell you something else, give you some good news, but I don't have any."
"What does that even mean?"
"It means that Emmett is looking at five to ten years, Bae."
"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" I shouted in disbelief. He lifted his head at my tone and was met with my enraged eyes before he closed his own, shoving his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. "You see, man...this was the shit that I was talking about! I told you motherfuckers that he was going to kill him, and no one fucking listened! Now, his life? It's fucking done! Just like that, it's over!"
"Bella, wait up," he whispered behind me after I turned around and walked away. I ignored him up until I felt one of his arms wrap around my waist. Quickly turning around, I pushed the kid's hold off of me, grinding my teeth together from the anger that was taking rapid control of the blood that was running through my entire system. "Stop for a goddamn second and let me think, alright?" I placed my arms across my chest, impatiently waiting for him to continue. "All of us, we're going to fix this whole thing. Or at least, we're going to think of how we can better the outcome. You can't lie to me, because I can see it in your eyes, the insane ideas that are boiling within that brain of yours of how you can go about this...but I'm telling you right now, that the only thing that can ruin our efforts is you getting in the way of them. I just need you to relax."
"Relax?" I shouted, "How can you even tell me to relax right now, Edward? This is...more than crazy!"
"We're doing all that we can," he whispered with a tense jaw, trying to mask the impatience that I could spot from a mile away, "Just...chill out."
"Edward, what the hell can you do to 'fix' this, or even 'better' the outcome?" I asked, "Seriously, you're not God, so stop acting like you fucking are!"
"Can't you just trust me?"
I laughed, looking at him incredulously. "Tell me, Cullen. What do you do?" He rolled his eyes at my question and walked past me. "Yeah, sure. Trust you, my ass," I started as I turned around to follow him. "You can't even tell me what you do for a living, and you want my goddamn trust? That's nothing but bullshit!"
Fuck this, I thought, I'm going to the goddamn police station, the place where Emmett and Carlisle were most likely at right now. I don't care what I have to do, but my brother isn't spending a single day behind bars for taking the blame. The blame that wasn't even his alone to begin with.
"Bella, stop."
Breaking out of the numerous ideas that started formatting themselves within that brilliant brain that I call mine, I raised a brow at the kid as he started walking over to me with narrowed eyes. "Stop what, Edward?"
Lowering his head again, he shook it as he tossed the unused cigarette over his shoulder. "It's just not looking that good right now," he whispered, "I wish that I could tell you something else, give you some good news, but I don't have any."
"What does that even mean?"
"It means that Emmett is looking at five to ten years, Bae."
"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" I shouted in disbelief. He lifted his head at my tone and was met with my enraged eyes before he closed his own, shoving his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. "You see, man...this was the shit that I was talking about! I told you motherfuckers that he was going to kill him, and no one fucking listened! Now, his life? It's fucking done! Just like that, it's over!"
"Bella, wait up," he whispered behind me after I turned around and walked away. I ignored him up until I felt one of his arms wrap around my waist. Quickly turning around, I pushed the kid's hold off of me, grinding my teeth together from the anger that was taking rapid control of the blood that was running through my entire system. "Stop for a goddamn second and let me think, alright?" I placed my arms across my chest, impatiently waiting for him to continue. "All of us, we're going to fix this whole thing. Or at least, we're going to think of how we can better the outcome. You can't lie to me, because I can see it in your eyes, the insane ideas that are boiling within that brain of yours of how you can go about this...but I'm telling you right now, that the only thing that can ruin our efforts is you getting in the way of them. I just need you to relax."
"Relax?" I shouted, "How can you even tell me to relax right now, Edward? This is...more than crazy!"
"We're doing all that we can," he whispered with a tense jaw, trying to mask the impatience that I could spot from a mile away, "Just...chill out."
"Edward, what the hell can you do to 'fix' this, or even 'better' the outcome?" I asked, "Seriously, you're not God, so stop acting like you fucking are!"
"Can't you just trust me?"
I laughed, looking at him incredulously. "Tell me, Cullen. What do you do?" He rolled his eyes at my question and walked past me. "Yeah, sure. Trust you, my ass," I started as I turned around to follow him. "You can't even tell me what you do for a living, and you want my goddamn trust? That's nothing but bullshit!"
Fuck this, I thought, I'm going to the goddamn police station, the place where Emmett and Carlisle were most likely at right now. I don't care what I have to do, but my brother isn't spending a single day behind bars for taking the blame. The blame that wasn't even his alone to begin with.
"Bella, stop."
Breaking out of the numerous ideas that started formatting themselves within that brilliant brain that I call mine, I raised a brow at the kid as he started walking over to me with narrowed eyes. "Stop what, Edward?"
"Whatever you're planning in that goddamn head of yours, stop."
I walked past him with a shrug and headed towards the house, catching a quick glimpse of Emmett's jeep that was parked in the Cullen's driveway before I went inside. Stepping into the kitchen with Edward following behind me like the goddamn stalker that he was, I took a seat next to Rose, who raised an eyebrow at me as the kid joined his cousin by the counter. "Hey, give me your car keys, yeah?" I asked her in a whisper.
I walked past him with a shrug and headed towards the house, catching a quick glimpse of Emmett's jeep that was parked in the Cullen's driveway before I went inside. Stepping into the kitchen with Edward following behind me like the goddamn stalker that he was, I took a seat next to Rose, who raised an eyebrow at me as the kid joined his cousin by the counter. "Hey, give me your car keys, yeah?" I asked her in a whisper.
"Why?"
"I need to go and get something from my apartment," I lied.
Giving me a small smile, she leaned back a bit to get what I asked for as I kept my eyes on the two boys who were now discussing something that I couldn't quite hear. "You've always been a bad liar, bitch," she whispered into my ear, pretending to give me a hug as she dropped the set of keys on top of my lap, "Just, be careful and try to detain yourself from doing something stupid, alright?"
"Don't insult me," I told her in a soft whisper, grinning a bit against her cheek before giving it a quick kiss as I quietly stood up, trying like all hell to avoid Edward's attention. "I'll be back before you know it, so stay put."
As soon as I reached the kitchen door, I looked over my shoulder and groaned as I saw Edward push himself away from the counter that he was leaning against with his eyes on me while he patted Blue Eyes' shoulder, telling him that he would see him later before he started following me. "Of fucking course," I mumbled to myself, hearing the kid's goddamn footsteps behind me as I made my way through the house.
"Bae..." I ignored his persistent ass as I stepped outside, the front door slamming behind me not at all deterring Edward Cullen. "Bella." I ignored his beyond annoying being as I jumped off of the porch, placing my hoodie over my head at the same time. "Christ, would you stop for a second, man? We need to fucking talk about this shit!" he whispered in some angry and fed up type of a way that once again, was ignored as I pulled the door to Emmett's jeep open and got inside.
As soon as I started the truck up, the passenger's side door swung open with more than enough energy, and when the kid jumped inside the goddamn vehicle as if the invitation was given to him, a low growl left me before I looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Can I fucking help you, dude?"
"Get out of the car, Bella."
After putting the gear on park, I turned in my seat so that I could face the moron, placing my arms across my chest as I leaned against the door a bit to appear as if I wasn't losing it, when in reality, it was this close to happening. "Edward, judging from your goddamn behavior that mimics a person who is clearly out of their fucking mind, I think that right now is the perfect time to get some shit straight, yeah?" Getting more comfortable, he raised a brow, silently telling me to go ahead in that cocky as all hell demeanor that only he could accomplish. "Number one. Do I...in any way, shape, or form...listen to you when you order me around?" He remained silent, so I shook my head for him before I continued, "The answer to that question is a big no. No, I do not. Number two. Let me remind you that I am my own goddamn person. With that being said, I want you to keep in mind that I can do whatever I fucking please, with or without your permission." He smirked at the truth that I was spitting, and I glared at him in return as I pointed at his mouth. "Number three, its presence is not appropriate at this time, so put that thing away before I slap it away for you." Doing as I ordered, he rolled his eyes. "Number four..." Bored with my words already, he exhaled in some heavy type of a way that had me internally smiling, "I'm going back to the apartment so that I can take a shower and change my clothes. Get out."
"Bae, you know what I find pretty goddamn hilarious?" I raised an eyebrow at the slightly cocked to the side head that he was giving me. "How you actually think, for one second, that I'm going to sit here and honestly believe that bullshit that you're trying to feed me."
I exhaled, closing my eyes. "Leave me alone, Edward."
"No, Bella."
"I need to go and get something from my apartment," I lied.
Giving me a small smile, she leaned back a bit to get what I asked for as I kept my eyes on the two boys who were now discussing something that I couldn't quite hear. "You've always been a bad liar, bitch," she whispered into my ear, pretending to give me a hug as she dropped the set of keys on top of my lap, "Just, be careful and try to detain yourself from doing something stupid, alright?"
"Don't insult me," I told her in a soft whisper, grinning a bit against her cheek before giving it a quick kiss as I quietly stood up, trying like all hell to avoid Edward's attention. "I'll be back before you know it, so stay put."
As soon as I reached the kitchen door, I looked over my shoulder and groaned as I saw Edward push himself away from the counter that he was leaning against with his eyes on me while he patted Blue Eyes' shoulder, telling him that he would see him later before he started following me. "Of fucking course," I mumbled to myself, hearing the kid's goddamn footsteps behind me as I made my way through the house.
"Bae..." I ignored his persistent ass as I stepped outside, the front door slamming behind me not at all deterring Edward Cullen. "Bella." I ignored his beyond annoying being as I jumped off of the porch, placing my hoodie over my head at the same time. "Christ, would you stop for a second, man? We need to fucking talk about this shit!" he whispered in some angry and fed up type of a way that once again, was ignored as I pulled the door to Emmett's jeep open and got inside.
As soon as I started the truck up, the passenger's side door swung open with more than enough energy, and when the kid jumped inside the goddamn vehicle as if the invitation was given to him, a low growl left me before I looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Can I fucking help you, dude?"
"Get out of the car, Bella."
After putting the gear on park, I turned in my seat so that I could face the moron, placing my arms across my chest as I leaned against the door a bit to appear as if I wasn't losing it, when in reality, it was this close to happening. "Edward, judging from your goddamn behavior that mimics a person who is clearly out of their fucking mind, I think that right now is the perfect time to get some shit straight, yeah?" Getting more comfortable, he raised a brow, silently telling me to go ahead in that cocky as all hell demeanor that only he could accomplish. "Number one. Do I...in any way, shape, or form...listen to you when you order me around?" He remained silent, so I shook my head for him before I continued, "The answer to that question is a big no. No, I do not. Number two. Let me remind you that I am my own goddamn person. With that being said, I want you to keep in mind that I can do whatever I fucking please, with or without your permission." He smirked at the truth that I was spitting, and I glared at him in return as I pointed at his mouth. "Number three, its presence is not appropriate at this time, so put that thing away before I slap it away for you." Doing as I ordered, he rolled his eyes. "Number four..." Bored with my words already, he exhaled in some heavy type of a way that had me internally smiling, "I'm going back to the apartment so that I can take a shower and change my clothes. Get out."
"Bae, you know what I find pretty goddamn hilarious?" I raised an eyebrow at the slightly cocked to the side head that he was giving me. "How you actually think, for one second, that I'm going to sit here and honestly believe that bullshit that you're trying to feed me."
I exhaled, closing my eyes. "Leave me alone, Edward."
"No, Bella."
Facing the dashboard again with a growl, I put the car on drive with one of my hands while the other one gripped the leather out of the steering wheel. "The pure magnitude of the amount of hate that I have for you right now, is fucking epic."
"The pure magnitude of the amount of hate that I have for you right now, is fucking epic," the idiot mocked me in a feminine growl that had me purposely jerking the car forward as I quickly pulled out of the Cullen's driveway, returning his deadly glare with one of my own.
Turning onto the street that would lead us to the police station, I smiled something along the lines of 'how do you like me now, you fucking piece of shit?' when I at once, noticed the kid's jaw tense in nothing but irritation. "And this is why it's bullshit," he groaned, reaching towards me with the intention of taking control of the steering wheel that my fingers had a con-fu grip on, "Turn the fucking car around, Bella."
I nodded, slapping his hand away. "Sure fucking thing, Edward."
"You leave me no goddamn choice..."
Trying to pay attention so that I wouldn't crash into anything, or anyone...I gave him a couple of quick glances while I carefully drove into the parking lot. Noticing that he was now sitting up and cracking his knuckles as if he was getting ready to throw down, or something...I narrowed my eyes at him. "What the hell you doing?"
"We're not going in there," he stated as I pulled into a spot.
I snorted, putting the jeep in park. "You may not be going in there, but I am," I restated.
Before I even had the chance of taking the key out of the ignition, Edward was outside, standing in front of the driver's side door with his arms across his chest, mouthing a 'Try me.' I turned around in my seat with a roll of my eyes before I kicked the bitch open, stepping out of the car with a frown that was influenced by the metal not connecting with any part of his body, what with how he quickly backed away when he noticed my intention of causing him nothing but harm. "Well, I can see that I'm dealing with a fucking two year old."
I shrugged at the kid's hiss as he stepped up to me. "You need to move."
"And you need to learn how to fucking listen to me when I'm trying to talk to you," he gritted in return, preventing me from locking the jeep or moving away from it and him as he grabbed a hold of the door with one hand when I went to close it at the same time that the palm of his other hand slammed against the edge of the roof, above the left side of my head. "What I need, is for you to hear me out, Bella."
"Hear you out?" I laughed in some maniac kind of a way to which he nodded, looking at me as if I actually was — in fact — just that. Having enough of what he needed, I went to knee the kid but he quickly grabbed a hold of my leg, anticipating the shit, causing me to fall back a bit as I tried to keep my balance before my fingers found his shoulders. "Edward, I already heard what you had to say," I spat, shaking my hips a bit so that he could let go of me, "And I'm not for it." As my chuck hit the ground, I let my arms drop to my chest. "I mean, I get that Emmett did something that he wasn't supposed to do, but fuck that. He doesn't belong behind bars."
"We're going to do all that we can, Bae. Just let us handle it, please."
I shook my head, pushing him away from me so that I could close the door. "No way," I whispered, walking past him as I started heading towards the station's entrance, "This is my fault, not my brother's fault. His life will be fucking ruined, and I'm not going to just stand around and let that shit happen, because of me."
And, next thing that I know, as soon as my hand touched the glass of the front door with the idea of pushing it open, I'm over Edward's goddamn shoulder. "You know what irks me, Bae?" he asked in some calm as all hell kind of a voice — that honestly had me trying to talk myself down from murdering this motherfucking kid — as he turned around to lead us back towards the jeep, all the while ignoring my growling as his fingers found the keys that I tucked into one of my back pockets, "How goddamn stubborn you truly are. I have no patience, whatsoever, with people who think that 'their way' is the 'only way,' therefore...allow me the honor of giving you this magnificent chance of avoiding the appearance of the irritation that is practically boiling underneath my ski—"
"What's going on out here?"
At Pop's interruption, the fucker quickly turned around to face him, causing my thoughts of attack to stop with a yelp as I grabbed a hold of the back of his tee shirt to avoid getting tossed off of him from the rapid movement that he made and now, thought was hysterical...judging from the small snort that left his throat as he adjusted me. "Carlisle, tell your son to put me down!" I shouted, looking over my shoulder with narrowed eyes, "This manhandling that he probably learned from you, is unappreciated!"
"What's going on, Edward?" Pop asked, completely ignoring me.
Using both of my hands when I noticed the roll of his eyes as he nodded towards me, I gritted my teeth as I took a hold of his hair and pulled it, smiling at the hiss of pain that left him before his fingers quickly wrapped themselves around my wrists to stop the short and sharp tugs from creating bald spots. "Bella here wants to talk to the person who is in charge of the upcoming case that involves her brother," he whispered angrily before clarifying, seeing as to how Pop raised a brow, "If I let her down right now, she's just going to go in there and try to convince the detective that she is the one who is responsible for last night."
Placing his arms across his chest, Carlisle rolled his eyes. "Sweetheart, just take a second and think about how ridiculous that sounds. We're in the middle of trying to build a case for your brother, who by the way, already told his side of the story. If you come inside and tell the detective that Phil's death was your fault and not his, it will only make Emmett appear as if he's a liar, which will do nothing but harm our efforts, not help them. I'm sorry but, I can't let that happen." Lowering his head, his placed his arms across his chest as he avoided my gaze by keeping his own on the ground. "With that being said, I think that my son should take you back to the house, Bella."
"Pop, can you please tell Edward to put...me...down?"
Not lifting his head, he shook it. "Son, go ahead and take her back to the house."
After I saw him giving his Pop a small nod, I closed my eyes in defeat as he carried me over to the jeep, keeping his words to himself as he pulled the door open and placed me inside. Taking a hold of the handle, I shut my own self in, glaring at his hand when it went to do just that, for me. After the prick took a seat behind the steering wheel that I had control of before my plan went to shit, I lifted one of my legs and kicked the dashboard in nothing but aggravation, placing my arms across my chest as I turned my attention to the right and looked out of the window.
The everlasting energy that I felt at the beginning of the day suddenly ended as soon as we pulled out of the parking lot, and when I sensed the kid's gaze on me as my own remained on the trees that we were passing by as he drove down the street, my eyes closed before they quickly opened, beating the exhaustion that was trying to take over me. "Edward?" I started in a whisper after a few seconds of silence, wanting his voice to keep me awake.
"Hmm?"
"Please tell me that Emmett isn't going to jail."
Not hearing anything, I turned my head to the left so that I could meet his eyes, only to be disappointed as he kept them on the road, avoiding my plea and attention. Returning my own back to the trees again, I placed my hoodie over my head and let the tears that I kept hidden escape, not bothering to wipe them away as they continued to silently fall down my cheeks.
Feeling Edward's hand on top of my thigh after a minute or so, I immediately reached for it before I let him interlace our fingers together, welcoming the comfort that the act gave me with no argument. "I'll do everything that I can to prevent that from happening, Bae. We'll figure something out, alright?"
I nodded, not knowing or caring if he saw me or not as I avoided removing my attention away from where it had to stay. The rough texture of his thumbs running along my knuckles relaxed me after some time, to the point where my desire to keep my eyes open failed with absolutely no fight against the temptation that his touch provided me.
Just wanting this whole day to disappear, I let go.
"The pure magnitude of the amount of hate that I have for you right now, is fucking epic," the idiot mocked me in a feminine growl that had me purposely jerking the car forward as I quickly pulled out of the Cullen's driveway, returning his deadly glare with one of my own.
Turning onto the street that would lead us to the police station, I smiled something along the lines of 'how do you like me now, you fucking piece of shit?' when I at once, noticed the kid's jaw tense in nothing but irritation. "And this is why it's bullshit," he groaned, reaching towards me with the intention of taking control of the steering wheel that my fingers had a con-fu grip on, "Turn the fucking car around, Bella."
I nodded, slapping his hand away. "Sure fucking thing, Edward."
"You leave me no goddamn choice..."
Trying to pay attention so that I wouldn't crash into anything, or anyone...I gave him a couple of quick glances while I carefully drove into the parking lot. Noticing that he was now sitting up and cracking his knuckles as if he was getting ready to throw down, or something...I narrowed my eyes at him. "What the hell you doing?"
"We're not going in there," he stated as I pulled into a spot.
I snorted, putting the jeep in park. "You may not be going in there, but I am," I restated.
Before I even had the chance of taking the key out of the ignition, Edward was outside, standing in front of the driver's side door with his arms across his chest, mouthing a 'Try me.' I turned around in my seat with a roll of my eyes before I kicked the bitch open, stepping out of the car with a frown that was influenced by the metal not connecting with any part of his body, what with how he quickly backed away when he noticed my intention of causing him nothing but harm. "Well, I can see that I'm dealing with a fucking two year old."
I shrugged at the kid's hiss as he stepped up to me. "You need to move."
"And you need to learn how to fucking listen to me when I'm trying to talk to you," he gritted in return, preventing me from locking the jeep or moving away from it and him as he grabbed a hold of the door with one hand when I went to close it at the same time that the palm of his other hand slammed against the edge of the roof, above the left side of my head. "What I need, is for you to hear me out, Bella."
"Hear you out?" I laughed in some maniac kind of a way to which he nodded, looking at me as if I actually was — in fact — just that. Having enough of what he needed, I went to knee the kid but he quickly grabbed a hold of my leg, anticipating the shit, causing me to fall back a bit as I tried to keep my balance before my fingers found his shoulders. "Edward, I already heard what you had to say," I spat, shaking my hips a bit so that he could let go of me, "And I'm not for it." As my chuck hit the ground, I let my arms drop to my chest. "I mean, I get that Emmett did something that he wasn't supposed to do, but fuck that. He doesn't belong behind bars."
"We're going to do all that we can, Bae. Just let us handle it, please."
I shook my head, pushing him away from me so that I could close the door. "No way," I whispered, walking past him as I started heading towards the station's entrance, "This is my fault, not my brother's fault. His life will be fucking ruined, and I'm not going to just stand around and let that shit happen, because of me."
And, next thing that I know, as soon as my hand touched the glass of the front door with the idea of pushing it open, I'm over Edward's goddamn shoulder. "You know what irks me, Bae?" he asked in some calm as all hell kind of a voice — that honestly had me trying to talk myself down from murdering this motherfucking kid — as he turned around to lead us back towards the jeep, all the while ignoring my growling as his fingers found the keys that I tucked into one of my back pockets, "How goddamn stubborn you truly are. I have no patience, whatsoever, with people who think that 'their way' is the 'only way,' therefore...allow me the honor of giving you this magnificent chance of avoiding the appearance of the irritation that is practically boiling underneath my ski—"
"What's going on out here?"
At Pop's interruption, the fucker quickly turned around to face him, causing my thoughts of attack to stop with a yelp as I grabbed a hold of the back of his tee shirt to avoid getting tossed off of him from the rapid movement that he made and now, thought was hysterical...judging from the small snort that left his throat as he adjusted me. "Carlisle, tell your son to put me down!" I shouted, looking over my shoulder with narrowed eyes, "This manhandling that he probably learned from you, is unappreciated!"
"What's going on, Edward?" Pop asked, completely ignoring me.
Using both of my hands when I noticed the roll of his eyes as he nodded towards me, I gritted my teeth as I took a hold of his hair and pulled it, smiling at the hiss of pain that left him before his fingers quickly wrapped themselves around my wrists to stop the short and sharp tugs from creating bald spots. "Bella here wants to talk to the person who is in charge of the upcoming case that involves her brother," he whispered angrily before clarifying, seeing as to how Pop raised a brow, "If I let her down right now, she's just going to go in there and try to convince the detective that she is the one who is responsible for last night."
Placing his arms across his chest, Carlisle rolled his eyes. "Sweetheart, just take a second and think about how ridiculous that sounds. We're in the middle of trying to build a case for your brother, who by the way, already told his side of the story. If you come inside and tell the detective that Phil's death was your fault and not his, it will only make Emmett appear as if he's a liar, which will do nothing but harm our efforts, not help them. I'm sorry but, I can't let that happen." Lowering his head, his placed his arms across his chest as he avoided my gaze by keeping his own on the ground. "With that being said, I think that my son should take you back to the house, Bella."
"Pop, can you please tell Edward to put...me...down?"
Not lifting his head, he shook it. "Son, go ahead and take her back to the house."
After I saw him giving his Pop a small nod, I closed my eyes in defeat as he carried me over to the jeep, keeping his words to himself as he pulled the door open and placed me inside. Taking a hold of the handle, I shut my own self in, glaring at his hand when it went to do just that, for me. After the prick took a seat behind the steering wheel that I had control of before my plan went to shit, I lifted one of my legs and kicked the dashboard in nothing but aggravation, placing my arms across my chest as I turned my attention to the right and looked out of the window.
The everlasting energy that I felt at the beginning of the day suddenly ended as soon as we pulled out of the parking lot, and when I sensed the kid's gaze on me as my own remained on the trees that we were passing by as he drove down the street, my eyes closed before they quickly opened, beating the exhaustion that was trying to take over me. "Edward?" I started in a whisper after a few seconds of silence, wanting his voice to keep me awake.
"Hmm?"
"Please tell me that Emmett isn't going to jail."
Not hearing anything, I turned my head to the left so that I could meet his eyes, only to be disappointed as he kept them on the road, avoiding my plea and attention. Returning my own back to the trees again, I placed my hoodie over my head and let the tears that I kept hidden escape, not bothering to wipe them away as they continued to silently fall down my cheeks.
Feeling Edward's hand on top of my thigh after a minute or so, I immediately reached for it before I let him interlace our fingers together, welcoming the comfort that the act gave me with no argument. "I'll do everything that I can to prevent that from happening, Bae. We'll figure something out, alright?"
I nodded, not knowing or caring if he saw me or not as I avoided removing my attention away from where it had to stay. The rough texture of his thumbs running along my knuckles relaxed me after some time, to the point where my desire to keep my eyes open failed with absolutely no fight against the temptation that his touch provided me.
Just wanting this whole day to disappear, I let go.
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