Remember Me (A Twilight fan fiction)

13. Hard to Swallow Part 2

"Who is James?"

Edward nearly flinched at her question. Her eyes were like tiny liquid pools of milk chocolate as she gazed at him with concern, and he was thankful that she could not hear the imperceptible whispers of his family's voices upstairs.

"Uh oh...." Esme's voice whispered.

"Oh no! What are you going to tell her?" Jasper asked.

"I think you should just tell her the truth, Edward," Alice's voice said.

"Son, think this over very carefully," Carlisle's voice warned.

"Do it! Do it! Do it!" Emmett chanted.

"Who cares?" Rosalie mumbled.

"Bella's waiting. You have to say something," Jasper added.

A whole second had passed as Edward considered the Cullens' input, but unexpectedly, Bella spoke again.

"In the hospital in Phoenix, you told me that James was gone. Edward, tell me. Who is he?"

"The result may not be favorable," Carlisle said.

"I think it'll be fine," Alice argued.

"Do it! Do it! Do it!" Emmett continued to chant.

Edward swallowed back the lump in his throat. "Right...well...Bella, I haven't been completely honest with you...."

"Oh no! He's going to do it!" Jasper gasped.

"Be careful, Edward," Carlisle warned again.

"Do it! Do it! Do it!" continued Emmett.

Bella waited in heightened suspense as his beautiful face remained contemplative.

"You see," Edward began. "You didn't leave Forks because you missed Renee," he confessed. "You left Forks because you were afraid of James."

Bella shook her head, trying to make sense of Edward's words. She found herself a little shocked by this admission. "But, who is he, and why was I afraid of him?" she asked.

"James was a ...a...."

Just say it, Emmett urged Edward in his thoughts. Vampire!

I don't know...

It may be better if you let her figure it out...

Who cares?

As always, the unwelcome thoughts of his siblings invaded his mind, and the courage that he had been summoning up crashed like a dive bomber with her anxious expression. She looked so vulnerable...so like a fragile deer – poor Bella, he mused, always seeming to have fallen into the role of prey.

"A stalker," Edward said finally.

Phew!

Bella's eyes widened, and her hand rose to her mouth in shock. She gasped aloud. "Oh my God!"

See? Can you imagine if he said vampire!

"What? Why?" Bella asked, panic entering in her voice.

Edward could hear the increase in her heart rate and see the lines in her forehead etched with worry.

Easy, Edward...Be careful now what you tell her.

"We were playing baseball, and a group of three approached us," he told her, cautious with his phrasing. "Anyhow, James had...taken a liking to you...and because I became a bit overprotective of you, he then became obsessed."

"With me?" Bella asked. Although she had to be curious why the obsession couldn't have been with the exquisite Rosalie or even sweet Alice, she sensed a certain familiarity to his words.