Close My Eyes (Twilight Fan-fiction)

Chapter 7 - Concede

(Bella's P.O.V)

"I'm beating you, Bella." Emmett boasted. It was just after dinner and we were playing a video game. It was a car racing one and Emmett was slaughtering me.

"I've never played this game before." I said, defending myself. I was catching up to Emmett though.

"Ignore him Bella." Edward said quietly. "You're doing great."

"C'mon Bella!" Alice encouraged. The whole of the Cullen family was crowded around the TV, desperate to see who would win between me and Emmett. My car was catching up even more.

"Ha! Take that Emmett!" Rose laughed. "Bella is catching up to you!"

"Hey Rose!" Emmett yelled, never taking his eyes off the screen. "You're supposed to be my girlfriend not my enemy!"

I let out a laugh at the banter, slightly loosing focus on the game. It felt so great to laugh. I felt like I belonged here, like I was part of this family. I was happier, momentarily forgetting my aching body caused from Phil's beating.

"C'mon Bella." Edward murmured close to my face. His sweet breath caressed my face, stunning me for a second. I managed to regain my focus, but not without effort.

"Stop flirting with her Eddie. You're distracting her from the game." Emmett laughed, glad he was still winning.

"I'm not flirting!" Edward laughed lightly.

"That didn't stop her pupils dilating though. And she blushed. All signs of attraction." Alice smiled.

I paused the game abruptly, throwing the control in my lap.

"Hey!" Emmett cursed. "Unpause it!"

"Alice!" I yelled, ignoring Emmett. "Please don't." Embarrassment rose to the surface inside me. I felt my cheeks flush. 

"Don't do what?" She smiled shyly, I turned to notice Edward blushing.

"You know what." I muttered, grabbing my control and unpausing the game. My new found anger at being embarrassed caused me to play with more aggressiveness.

"Wow!" Esme laughed. "Look at her go!"

I sped my car up, hand-braking at the corners. I was speeding up to Emmett quickly. I could see his car close in front of mine.

"Not so big and badass anymore are you Emmett?" I smiled, I was inches away from his rear end. I hit turbo, speeding past Emmett's car and straight through the finishing line. The Cullen crowd around the sofa starting cheering.

"Oh Emmett! You were crushed!" Jasper laughed. "She got you right before the finishing line!"

I smiled as I received praise from every Cullen but sulking Emmett. I rose off the sofa, having too much fun; forgetting my sore body, to rub my victory in Emmett's face even more, but then fell; hitting the floor harshly. Pain shocked through me. My legs were too achey and bruised to stand properly on my own. The laughter faded.

"Edward." I called for my saviour.

"I'm here," He said, lifting me up gently. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine, I just forgot about my legs that's all." He grabbed me around my waist, lifting me back onto the sofa. Everyone was eying me warily, concern in everyone's expressions.

"In your face Emmett!!" I yelled, laughing, trying to take the attention from me.

Emmett's concerned expression quickly turned sour from his loss. I smiled, glad that the attention had already focused back on the game and away from me. I didn't want anyone worrying about me.  I definitely didn't want anyone finding out the true cause of my battered body.