~Edward's POV: ~
I drop my hand and wait for Angelo to uncurl from his frozen shell. His big hazel eyes star bewilderingly up at me.
"I'll leave you for Marcel." My words spit acid. Leaving them to recollect themselves, I put my shades on and begin my walk home.
I light a cigarette along the way, the glow from the cherry standing out from the now evening sun. As I approach the house I begin my reasoning. I will traing Marcel for this one fight only. But only when he's ready. Taking my last drag, I flick the butt of my cigarette into the bushes.
"Edward! What happened? Are you hurt?" Isabella rushes to my aid the instant I walk through the door.
"I'm fine, where's Marcel," I shrug her off. Her eyes glaze over as she tries to fight the tears.
"He says he's okay. He doesn't want to see me though." She mumbles, looking down at her nervous hands.
"She's taking it the wrong way." Niall walks in followed by Liam and Louis.
"He doesn't want her to see him," Louis rolls his eyes.
"He only wants to see you; He says we're okay but she's not allowed." Liam glances behind him at Marcel's door.
Harry, my other baby brother walks past, never removing his glossy eyes from the ground. He slumps into a chair in the corner, silently drifting off into another world.
Liam steps aside for me to enter Marcel's room where he lay awaiting in his crippled state. As I pass them I catch sight of a puffy red eyed Harry I was supposed to always protect my family. Today I let them down.
The sight of an all bruised up Marcel nearly kills me. I can now understand why he doesn't want Isabella to see.
"I think it's best that when you recover we begin training." I say trying not to lose my voice.
"What's you go do? Did you teach him a lesson?" His innocent voice barely audible.
I shake my head, a lump swelling up in my throat. His vulnerable condition is tearing me apart.
"I showed his friends but I didn't touch him. Scared the living crap out of him though," I chuckle. "But I think it's best you show him. I can't protect you all the time. I can try though, but today I failed you and I'm sorry." I can barely look at him. "You're my baby brother, you and Harry," I mumble.
A long silence passes and I can't stand to be in this room any longer.
"I'm sorry," I mutter quickly, rushing from the room.
I rush out into the back garden. Air. I need air! Huffing and puffing, my lungs don't feel like they're breathing. My chest! Oh God my chest! It feels like it's been ripped out! What is this feeling? My throat feels bubbled up, suffocated.
My thoughts are interrupted by a quiet voice.
"Edward?" She mumbles. "Are you alright? You look like you're about to cry." Isabella walks up beside me as I clutch the railing.
"You know, I'm glad I scared the crap out of Angelo. Damn glad! He best be ready because when I'm done with Marcel, he's going to be a whole new person! He's going to be a fighter!" I punch the rail as my shouted words echo off into the darkness.
"You scared Angelo?" I had almost forgotten she was there. Almost.
"Yeah you shoulda seen him," I grin. "He was frozen, curled up and petrified, cowardly I say! And I didn't even lay a finger on him!" I find myself smiling. "Why?"
She shrugs casually, "He's never been scared before. Just like you've never cried before," She glances up at me. "I guess he's not the only one experiencing a new and foreign feeling tonight." She walks away and back into the house without another word.
The silence consumes me but her words are left echoing in my head. So that's what that feeling was. But... How'd she know?
