Claiming a Swan

Chapter Eight

After Carlisle left.

It took many showers after - with a plastic bag over my injured hand, to quell the need that was rising within. Cursing at herself, and cursing at Carlisle for his ways of temptation.

She was different wasn't she? But the more she kept saying it, it was becoming untrue.

She was lying to herself. No matter what she did for a career - no matter how much she made or did for a living or acted. Carlisle made her feel different. And maybe the difference wasn't so horrible...

A knock sounded on the door... curving her thoughts. Bella answered it - it was Aster.

"Bella!" Aster greeted cheerfully. Then her eyes went to my hand - the happiness easily being overtaken by concern.

"What happened?"

And all she could say was how clumsy she was - and accidentally knocked her wine glass to the floor and tripped. It wasn't a full lie. It hurt lying to her girlfriend.

Girlfriend.

That's what Aster was to her. But the thought of hurting her and her finding out about what she did with Carlisle only a few hours ago...

It was enough for her blood to run cold.

The truth of the matter was that she needed to be honest with herself. To Aster, because she didn't deserve this. Aster doesn't deserve a girlfriend whose wavering feelings were in question.

Yet, she couldn't tell her. Not now.

Soon, Bella thought.

Aster wrapped her arms around Bella. Bella couldn't think of breaking Aster's heart. Not when Aster was showing her love. Showing how she cared for her.
So Bella wrapped her arms around Aster. Burrowing her head into the crook of Aster's neck, and just cuddled for the rest of the night. All while thinking how much of a traitor she is inside. And just how screwed up she is in the head.

***

The sun was bright today.

It made Bella quint when she walked into her office.

She had been gone too long. A sick day was enough for piles upon piles of manuscripts to be piled high on her desk. She gave a sigh of tiredness.

"Janine! Can you run to Starbucks and get my usual. I feel like it's going to be a long day." Janine nods, finishing what she was doing and grabbing her purse and running like her life depended on it. In which case, it very much was...

She headed towards her desk. Setting down her purse on the side table when she walked into her office. She had work to do. And it was a good thing to focus on.

She didn't want to focus on her feelings for Carlisle. She was here, at her business , her work... and there was no idle time to waste.

After a half hour, Janine returned with her Iced White Chocolate Mocha, "thank you, Janine. Please grab those manuscripts and send them out." Bella watched as Janine grabbed the pile she was pointing at and walked away.

With a big sip of espresso, sweet white chocolate, and milk - Bella continued her work till her thoughts zeroed out.
It was like it was in a blink of an eye - time changed. Day changed into night, and Bella was yawning when she closed the door to her office.

She walked down and headed towards where Aster's office was - no lights were on when she got there. It was strange. Usually Aster would come up to her office before she left.

Sending her a quick text to call her, she deposited her phone back into her purse, and walked out of the building.
It usually didn't take her too long to get back to her apartment.

Sometimes Bella would hail a taxi, but on nights she wanted to think - she walked. Even if it was dangerous at night. She was never one to run away from danger. Though maybe she needed to be the opposite.

After walking down the street, she got a creepy feeling, kind of on the same level as a spidey sense - chills ran along her arms, and the side of her neck. She looked behind her, the only sound was her breathing.

It was late at night, cars were sparse, everyone was either tucked inside in bed, which she should be doing right now.

There was no one behind her, to her relief, alas she knew better to hold onto that relief. She made sure to increase her walk and it somehow turned into a run filled with desperateness to be somewhere safe and warm.

She turned her head and spotted a single form in the dark.

A silhouette of darkness - a scream came out of her mouth the next moment.

When she ran around the corner, she knocked herself into something hard. Or rather, someone's hard chest..
which made her fall on her butt. Bella winced.

"Bella, are you okay?"

Carlisle's soothing voice calms her. Only a little, however, "someone is following me. I saw a dark figure back there. It was after me."

Carlisle suddenly looked in the distance - smelling the air for any enemies daring to harm her, and ushered her into his embrace. She didn't fight it.

Not tonight. Tonight she wanted to feel safe.

She felt safe with Carlisle.

"Can we go to your place?" Bella asks.

Carlisle smiles in a comforting way.

Picking her up from her feet, bridal style, Carlisle carried her.

As the sights of the city flash by - and Carlisle whisks her off into the wilderness.