Worth the Fight

Chapter Eighteen

"I could show you around, Bree. Rose and I would love to spend some time with you, Bree," Emmett said, his voice taking on hard tone. "Masen, do you need another drink? I think there's a cooler near the beach."

Edward blinked to his friend, who was glowering at him over the brunette's head. "Um, yeah. Here, Emmett. Do any of you need anything?" he asked.

"We're good, Edward," Carlisle responded.

With a nod, Edward left the awkward introduction and followed Bella down to the beach. The terrain was uneven, and a terrified yelp made Edward run down the rocky shore. The curses that followed indicated that whoever fell was injured. Hopping down, he found Bella on the ground with one leg bent funny and torn to shreds. Her eyes were filled with tears as she lost it. "Bella?"

"Great," she spat, wiping at her tears, smearing her face with mud. "When I thought my luck couldn't get any worse ..."

"Look, I know I'm not your favorite person," he said.

"I never said that," she argued, trying to shift to stand up only to yell out in pain. "God damn it!"

"I think you broke your leg, Bella. Will you let me help you?" he asked. She pouted, but nodded curtly. Edward got to her, gently lifting her out of the mess of rocks, shrubbery, and sand. He sat down on a fallen tree with Bella on his lap, examining her. That's when he saw the bandage on her finger. "What happened?"

"Nothing," she answered stubbornly.

"Nothing like breaking your leg trying to get away from me?" Edward retorted, arching a brow.

"I wasn't getting away from you. I was trying to ignore that girl flirting with you," she sneered. "Not like I have any right to care about that ..."

"Yes, she was flirting with me, but she reminded me too much of my ex-girlfriend. All fluff, no substance, only seeing what she wanted to see and not who I really am," Edward sighed. "I'm not interested in her. Not in the least. I'm interested in you, but you ghosted me. If you don't want to do anything with me, fine. But, at least give me the common courtesy of a goodbye."

"I'm sorry," she sniffled. "I should have ..."

"Bella, I know you were hurt. What Jacob did to you was abhorrent, but not everyone is like him. Now, I need to get you back up to the party and you need to go the hospital. This leg is broken. I'm not a doctor, but it's bent at an angle that is not natural," he sighed with a weary voice. "Arms around my neck. Hold tight."

Bella did as he requested, and she felt the tension in his body as he carefully maneuvered back up to the top of the embankment. When they crested the hill, Edward strode across the yard. Charlie jumped up, running to them. "Little Bell, what the hell happened?"

"My own stupidity," she muttered. "Edward thinks it's broken."

Carlisle came over, inspecting Bella's injury. "I agree with his assessment. You missed your calling, Edward. You should have become a doctor," he quipped. "Edward, can you put her in my car? I'll take her to Harborview."

"I'll go with you, Little Bell," Charlie said.

"No, stay ... my problem, I'll deal with it," Bella sighed.

"I'll come with you," Edward grumbled. "I'm parked behind you, Carlisle. You're blocked in."

"Follow me to the hospital. I've got an in," Carlisle snickered.

They left Charlie's home, driving to Harborview Medical Center. Bella was quiet, whimpering in pain. Edward gave her some water, focused on the road as he followed Carlisle. "I'm a bitch," she whispered. "I was hurt, and I lashed out, cutting you down. Cutting you out of my life."

"Bella, I'm fully aware of how you feel about me," Edward sighed, shaking his head. "Can we not?"

"If you didn't want to hear me out, why did you volunteer to come to the hospital?" she asked. "And, you have no idea how I feel about you, Edward."

"Actions speak louder than words. I know I shouldn't be this angry, but I thought we had something growing," he snapped. "I was happy for a new friend, someone who got me ... but, you shut me out."

Bella's eyes welled with tears, from the pain in her leg and pain in her heart for hearing how much her actions had hurt him. He came to Seattle to start fresh. She'd helped him acclimate to the new city and after one moment, she pushed him away. Shoving him away as far she could. "I'm sorry," she whispered brokenly. Edward didn't respond, parking in the ambulance bay and getting out. He got an orderly and wheelchair, helping Bella into it. She reached his hand, jumping when the shimmering jolt traveled through their palms. "Will you stay?"

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "I'm certain Carlisle can drive you back to your home." The slightly panicked look in her eyes broke him. "I'll stay, but this doesn't mean we're okay, Bella. I was hurt by how you ghosted me. Not everyone who fights is like your douchebag ex. I'll see you inside."

Climbing back into the car, Edward parked his Volvo in the parking garage. Walking back to the emergency room, he was ushered back into the room where Bella was staying until she could have her leg x-rayed. Her face was red and splotchy, a clear indication that she'd been crying. However, Edward wasn't sure if it was due to her being in pain or for how she treated him. He flagged down a nurse, getting some more water for her along with a fresh box of tissues.

"Thank you," Bella sniffled when he handed her the items. "I know you don't want to hear it, but I am sorry for disappearing. You scare me."

"Explain that, please," Edward sighed. He promised Emmett and Jasper that he'd had an open mind, but seeing her at the barbecue along with her cold reception in the house? It made him prickly.

Yes, he was attracted to her. Extremely so, but was that attraction worth getting shit on?

He was also protective of her and felt more for Bella than he felt for Victoria. Again, was that worth being ghosted?

All because of his choice of occupation?

"You scare me because what I feel for you is ten times what I felt for Jacob," Bella whispered, fat tears slipping down her dirty face. "That scares me more than anything ..."

A/N: So, Bella's in a pickle. She essentially cut off all communication with Edward. He has feelings. She has feelings. Bella ghosted him and he honestly didn't want to deal with it. Coupled with Bree's advances?

Can you say clusterfuck?

Now, what will happen? Leave me your thoughts.

Not many pictures with this one ... but the few I do have are on my blog. The link is in my profile. I'm also on FB: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation. Twitter, too: tufano79.

Thank you for reading!