HE LEFT ME!!

meet the cullens

Bella

The drive to the Cullen's house was very quick, much to Allie's delight. As soon as Allie agreed to meet the rest of the Cullens, Jasper had raced off to retrieve Edward's Volvo. Allie, so young and innocent, didn't find it odd that Jasper took only a few minutes to get the car. In fact, she was too busy admiring the shiny car that she hardly noticed how fast we were going.

Edward drove at his regular speeds and for once I didn't complain. I was entirely too anxious to get as far away from that house as possible. My mind was racing with thoughts and I was silent the entire ride.

How could Allie have known that Mike was violent this whole time? I had done my very best to keep the fights as quiet as possible, always fearing that Allie would find out the awful truth of her family. I didn't want to expose her to the violence of her father. And yet, she knew. She had heard him screaming. She had heard him beat me. She couldn't sleep at night because of the pain that Mike had continually inflicted on me. On my family.

"Grandpa Charlie would yell at you!" Allie scolded Edward, laughing with each word. He threw her a crooked grin and revved the engine. Allie squealed in delight.

I pulled Allie closer, enclosing her in my arms. I pressed kiss after kiss into her soft hair, fearing the time when I would have to fight Mike to keep her. What if he took her away from me? What if the courts sided with him? I couldn't lose Allie to him. After what he said... the horrible things he said. I couldn't let him hurt her.

"Mommy!" Allie squirmed in my arms, attempting to get away, "We're here!"

I was roused from my thoughts, looking around my surroundings in surprise. I shot a glare at Edward, ready to lecture him on his speed, but my glare faded into a look of love the moment my eyes met his.

"Mommy!" Allie continued to wiggle around, trying to get away, "I want to see the house!"

"Oops!" I released Allie and she slid out of the car, jumping up and down in the soggy grass as she waited for us. I slid out of the car and scooped her into my arms, "Sorry about that, Allie."

"Well, let's hurry," Edward spoke from my side, running his hand throw Allie's hair, messing it up, "They might leave if they have to wait too long."

Allie giggled at the joke in his voice.

We walked up to the house, Allie and Edward continuing their jokes back and forth. I was still silent, still wrapped in the thoughts of the past two days. So much had happened and yet I felt as though I had spent an eternity like this. It was perfect. It felt so right, like this was the way it had always been and would always be.

I set Allie down after walking up the stairs. She ran to the front door, knocking on it twice before stepping back and waiting. She was polite for such a young girl. She reminded me of myself. My mother had always joked that I was born thirty five and I became more middle aged each day. Allie was the same way. She was so mature for being so young.

"Allie!" Esme greeted her in a warm voice, a bright smile on her face as she opened the door. Allie looked back at me with wide eyes.

"She knows my name!" she gasped. I threw a mock gasp on my face, but my smile quickly erased it.

"Yes, of course she does, Allie," I walked up to Esme and she enveloped me in a hug. I returned the gesture, missing the embrace of my true family. I turned back to Allie, "She's Alice's mom."

"So she's my grandma?" Allie asked, her eyes growing even wider. I looked at Esme, worried that the term might be offensive in some way. I was silly to worry. Esme smiled down in prideful joy at Allie, "But she's so pretty! She's not old at all!"