Chapter 23: What Now?

Chapter 23: What Now?

 BPOV

            I knew that I shouldn’t have believed her so readily being that she was coked-up and had attempted to attack me minutes before, but Victoria’s conviction in what she said had scared me. I instantly felt her words to be true. Suddenly, being in the Ambulance loading bay of the hospital didn’t feel like a safe enough area to be standing out in the open. Victoria was in good hands with the paramedics and soon to be with the doctors, so I slunk away into the shadows to a scarcely trafficked area with dumpsters and fumbled for my cell phone. Crouching on the ground, eyes wildly scanning around me for any sign of suspicion, I prayed the seconds away until Edward answered my call.

            “Bella?” he answered.

            “Edward,” I whispered into my phone, “We have to get out of here. Victoria said someone is after me.”

            “I’m parking the car, I’ll come in to get you,” he rushed.

            “No, I’m by the dumpsters. Come get me. We could have been followed here.”

            “Stay where you are, I’m coming to get you.”

            “E? I’m scared,” as I whispered this, a stray tear drifted down my cheek.

            “It’s ok, Sugar. It’ll all be ok. We’ll make everything alright. Trust me.”

            “I’ll always trust you. Please hurry,” my voice cracked as I hung up.

            So, this was my life now. Its pattern was starting to discern itself: go through a little trauma, have someone make me feel safe and comfortable, have the rug ripped out from under me again, and repeat. I knew that no one said life was easy and that the one certainty is that one day we will all die, but I never realized how much suffering could be attributed to one lifetime. Yes, I was only seventeen and seemingly prone to dramatics, but I still couldn’t comprehend all of the traumas I had thus far endured in my young life. Victoria, for example, appeared to have just as messed up a time as I have. She was, after all, addicted to cocaine, in a relationship with a nutcase drug dealer, and came from a crappy past much more so than I knew, apparently.

            I heard a car pull up nearby and began to panic. A door opened and slammed and footsteps approached me. My panic rose like water boiling in a pot and was just as unruly.

            “Bella?” Edward whispered into the night air, “It’s me, Edward… I brought the car.”

            I rose from my place of hiding and spotted Edward immediately. If I hadn’t been so afraid of drawing attention to myself, I would have run to him screaming and crying, but I controlled myself with a brisk walk. Edward put his arms around me immediately, kissed my forehead, and opened the car door for me. Once we were both inside, Edward locked the doors and took off.

            “What exactly did she say?” Edward questioned after we had pulled out of the hospital parking lot.

            “She said that James’ boss, this Aro guy, thought that I was the one that got James arrested and that she thought he would come after me. Victoria said that he was very dangerous… sort of in a Mob way, but she didn’t say Mob… just guns and ‘illicit activity’. I’m really scared Edward. She said she came to warn me, that’s why she was at the party!” Edward was pensively silent for a moment. All I wanted was him to offer some sort of explanation of why this was a gross overreaction and that everything would be ok and that he and I could go back to his place and get naked in his bed… or something like that. It was incredibly naive and too hopeful, but it was all I could do to keep from panicking.  

            “This is what I was afraid of happening,” he said after a while. I looked out the car window and didn’t recognize what I saw.

            “Edward! Where are we going?”

            “We need to get away from town and reassess.” And then what he said about his fears clicked.

            “You were afraid of this happening? What aren’t you telling me?”  I demanded to know. Edward’s phone began ringing, effectively stalling our conversation.

            “Hello?” he answered. “What?!... Well apparently that’s why Victoria came, Bella said she warned her of some Aro guy coming after Bella… Did they come up to the house?... You sure?.... Stay there, keep an eye out. Bella and I are heading to a hotel. We’ll call you when we’re settled… Yea, she’s ok… Bye.” He hung up.

            “Who was that?”

            “Emmett. They stayed to clean up and apparently they saw some rough-looking guys were checking the house out on the security cameras after Jasper turned them on again. That would probably be Aro’s guys. And to answer your previous question, nothing really. Bella,” he paused. Fear trickled through my veins like a paralyzing ice-water. Edward exhaled forcefully before continuing, “I think the James thing runs so much deeper than Victoria getting pissed… I think James was involved in some sort of gang shit and that Aro guy Victoria warned you about?” He paused to look at me, “I think he’s one scary motherfucker whose out for some revenge on getting a chunk of his product into the evidence locker at Forks’ Police Station… So I don’t think it’s such a good idea for us to be fucking sitting ducks in town tonight.”

Edward was reacting as he saw fit and out of fear. I took a few calming breaths while processing what Edward was saying. Obviously it was shocking to me learn of possible gang-related activity in the tiny town of Forks, but in some small way, maybe I wasn’t surprised. Trouble seemed to follow me. It would be just my luck that I somehow would have manage to poke the sleeping drug-related gang bear in Forks… It was so damn ridiculous, that I almost felt like an idiot for not seeing it from the beginning. And then I inwardly laughed at myself for the ridiculous thought of “drug-related gang bear.” My metaphors needed help, even if I was in a state of panic. After a few moments of contemplation I came to a realization.

“Edward, I don’t think we need to go to a hotel,” I stated in complete sincerity.

“What!? Of course we do. We need to get you out-of-fucking-town. Those fuckers will be looking for you,” he answered, pissed off at the suggestion. He took my safety incredibly seriously, apparently. Good thing I hadn’t been conscious when I was drugged, otherwise I probably would have made him lash out at me then too.

“Well, think about it. They were coming to abduct me from a party… where I, and everyone else, would have most likely been so drunk that it’s almost possible to think I would have gone willingly. They were looking for an easy pick-up. Not some covert-op mission… I don’t think they would ever try to grab me from my father’s house, being that he’s Chief of Police, or even attempt to try to get past your home’s security system. I think I’d be safe with you at your house. We should go back,” I rationalized. When he looked at me for a brief second, his eyes conveyed warring emotions: his intense need to keep me from any harm, and his logical side trying to see reason.

“I don’t know…” Edward was still trying to resist my logic. Secretly I think he was enjoying the idea of him and me at the hotel a little too much for this particular situation.

“We could all be together and form a plan. Six brains are better than two… Edward, you know I’m right. Please don’t over-react and take me to a hotel so far away.” That did it, he sighed and nodded, unable to say the words “you’re right” even though he knew them to be true.

“Fine, but if something seems fishy, I’m taking you away to a safe distance from those fuckers, got it?” He demanded. “I can’t lose you,” he added a little less forcefully.

“You won’t ever have to. We’ll figure it out, E.” He reached for my hand and held it as he turned around and drove back to his house.

.::.

            The six of us sat around a circle in the basement, security feed streaming through the TV, giving it the feeling of a sort of bomb-shelter/hostage scenario. The first thing Edward had done when we arrived back at the Cullen’s was go around and make sure that every entrance, window, and balcony to the house was locked up more secure than “Queen Elizabeth I’s vagina,” as he so eloquently put it. I tried my best not to laugh at him, knowing he wouldn’t be able to move onto any sort of discussion until he felt that we were safe enough to do so. All the while he dragged me along, holding my hand, as he did his security ministrations.

            Once satisfied with the state of the house, he went into Carlisle’s office to check the security camera feed, to play back the footage of Aro’s men. There were only two of them. One was a very tall giant-like man with broad features, dark hair, and a dark complexion. The other was slimmer, but still muscular with sandy hair and quick steps. No one recognized or knew the names of the two, but we had agreed that no one could forget the enforcers’ faces after this. Edward printed out the stills of each guy’s face, if only to save it as evidence later. Usually when something was on the security tapes that Edward didn’t like, he would have Jasper—a seemingly apt computer genius—delete it for him, but tonight he left the footage of the two guys on there just in case we needed it for something in the future. I was glad Edward was thinking rationally about it all.

            Soon we all ended in the basement. Hours seemed to tick by as miscalculated plan after miscalculated plan was thrown into the ring, only to be beaten into submission by the other five present. No one could agree on one single course of action. Everything seemed unlikely, too complicated, or even down-right dangerous. If danger was involved, Edward was the first to veto my involvement all-together.

            “I think one thing that is for certain,” I started, “no more house parties. They seem to get us no-where good.” Everyone nodded or mm-hmmed with their agreement. At least one thing came to a consensus.

            “I’m pissed at myself for getting us into this mess. I wish we had just called the cops when James drugged Bella, then no one’s life would be in danger now… So what if we all would have gotten grounded or in trouble for underage drinking, at least we’d all be safe. If I only knew then…” Edward admitted, defeat coloring his very presence. My hand tightened in his, giving it a squeeze.

            “Edward, shut. Up. We’re all responsible for that. We all agreed. It seemed like a great plan. None of us could have known that James’ shit went way deeper than just being a dealer. So don’t fucking bring that up anymore. I’m sick of it,” Emmett boomed with finality.

            “I still say we ask Charlie what to do, hypothetically of course,” Alice chimed for the fourth time. Emmett and Edward rolled their eyes collectively while Rosalie just shrugged and Jasper looked conflicted. Me, I was tired. Tired and confused, not a good combination for decision-making.

            “Fuck. No. Alice! That will seem way too weird. There’s no covert way of doing that. So for the millionth time, drop it!” Edward huffed.

            “Well I don’t hear you making any clever suggestions, Edward!” Alice pointedly retorted.

            “Cut it out you two,” chided Rosalie. She had been quiet for a while, making me worry about what she was thinking. “Do any of you really think that we can solve this shit in one night? Most likely not. So bitching and moaning at each other for not thinking of something ingenious is ridiculous. I, for one, am going to bed because I’m fucking tired, and it’s three a.m.” With that, she got up and made for the stairs.

            “I’m coming with you, baby,” Emmett called after her.

            “Gross,” I muttered under my breath, and suddenly everyone that remained around the circle started laughing. I guess I was louder than I meant to be. The tension diffused as the rest of us decide to call it a night as well, two by two going to our separate bedrooms. Edward held my hand the entire way. In fact, since I had convinced him to turn around he had been holding onto me in some sort of way or another whether it was holding my hand, having me sit in his lap, or putting his arm across my shoulders. Not a moment had gone by, save for the minute I spent in the bathroom, that he was not touching me in some way. It was as if he was afraid I would be taken or disappear if he didn’t have a hold on me.

            When Edward and I had reached his door, he scooped me up into his arms and carried me to the bed after closing the door. I yanked off my flannel shirt-dress and leggings while Edward removed the remnants of his costume too. Had it only been one day? Had all of this craziness only occurred within the past four hours or so? The Halloween party seemed like weeks ago, years even. My accident felt like centuries ago. We had been stuck living in this uncertain day for far too long and all I wanted to do was close my eyes and end it. I shimmied myself back against the headboard and pulled up the comforter so it was over me, not under.

 Edward stood at the foot of the bed, watching me with his ever-startling green eyes. There was pain in them mixed with fear. I understood it, but I wanted it to go away. I lifted my hand out to him, a gesture calling him to my side. He climbed across the bed, got under the covers, and I reached up to his face. It was contorted in such pain that I wanted to smooth it away with the brush of my fingers. My touch seemed to work, but I needed more assurances. I lifted my face to meet his, our lips meeting in perfect symmetry. It was the first time I realized how perfectly matched they were. Out of all the boys I had kissed (all two of them, excluding Edward), nothing and no one could compare to kissing Edward. At first our kiss was soft and reassuring, the in-sync movement melting all memories of the day away. It soon became more urgent, backed with other emotions. Love and desire. At least, those are what I felt. My love for Edward came bursting forth like a geyser, steamy and strong. Tonight, however, was not the night to act on such compulsions. I had only told him once before, but I was struck by the strong desire to do so again. I broke the kiss, only to be met by his vibrant green eyes again, filled with need. Oh, those eyes. They could get me to agree to anything under the right circumstances.

“I love you, Bella. So very much,” Edward said, breaking the silence. He beat me to it, but it was beyond comforting to know that he was very much of the same thought patter as I was in that moment.

“I love you too, Edward,” I reassured him. “So fucking much,” I added, bringing a hint of a smile to the corner of his lips.

“If I ever lost you, if anything ever happened to you…” he attempted, but couldn’t finish. His throat closed on his words.

“Nothing will. As long as I have you, I’m safe.”

He nodded at this, and I knew that it was the reassurance he was looking for. I knew he had been feeling guilty for all of this, thinking that it was his fault that he had overlooked the Aro side of things when such a short time ago he had overlooked the Victoria element as well, though he never admitted his guilt to me. I could see it in his eyes and feel it in his every movement. Nothing would be solved tonight, and I knew he wanted it to end just as badly as I did.

“Hold me,” I told him. Without question, he wrapped his arms around me and brought our heads to the pillows, my head cradled to his chest, our fingers entwined and resting next to my head. Every so often I felt his kisses on the top of my head, as if he felt he was atoning for a sin that was not his to claim. His other hand traced small circles on my shoulder as I drifted off to sleep in his arms. Nothing could compare to sense of security I got from sleeping in Edwards capable arms.

.::.

            I awoke to being shaken, somewhat. Sitting bolt-right up in bed, I looked for Edward only to find him about a foot away from me on his bed. Apparently sometime between us falling asleep and now, he had released me and I rolled away. Before I could contemplate why the heck I had been awoken in the first place, Edward started shaking again.

“Mm… meh… no, mom…I-I…mmm” he huffed in his sleep. It took less than a second for me to realize that he was having a nightmare. “Mmm, Bella… please,” was all he got out again before I had to put a stop to this. It was a painful thing to witness. He looked so… scared and fragile. Two things that Edward-Fucking-Cullen never looked. Ever.  I loved him so much that it almost hurt, and it hurt me that he was having such a terrible dream.

I scooted back towards him, to where I had fallen asleep on him. I started placing feather-light kisses over his chest, reverently kissing the pair of angel wings on his left peck, giving them the extra attention they deserved. I made my way with my kisses to his neck, cheeks, forehead, and finally stopped after I had kissed his lips a few times. He had been calmed since the first kiss, but I continued on with all of them as if to seal-in my protection from his nightmares. I resumed my earlier sleeping position again and traced my fingers over the angle wings as I thought about the fact that in his nightmare-state, Edward had both mentioned his mother and me. I didn’t know what to make of it. As I touched each wing, over and over, I couldn’t help but think of his mother. One day I would make him tell me all about her, perhaps talking about her would make it easier for him? I didn’t want him to hurt like this ever, even if it was in his dreams. Soon enough, I fell back to sleep in his arms while thinking about the angel that watched over him.

.::.