Chapter Song: I Know You Care by Ellie Goulding
Bella started speech therapy ASAP, because she was extremely embarrassed by her lisp and stutter.
She'd found Mrs. Victoria Weber through Google and called her immediately. Hearing Bella's story through Charlie trying to fight through tears, Victoria had agreed to help the next day. She was a nice woman, very personal, understanding, and patient. She went twice a week to Vicky's—that's what she'd told Bella to call her—nice, two-story house she shared with her husband, James, and three children: Angela, their oldest daughter who was Bella's age, and Joshua and Isaac who were three years younger.
Bella made quick friends with Angela, who was home schooled because she'd suffered from bullying as well. (She lived just out of district to go to Bella's school, so she'd been enrolled in a smaller private one.) The only difference between their expressions was Angela had been both bullied on the internet and at school. At least Bella had peace at home. She felt bad for the meek girl who was rather pretty but just didn't realize it. She rocked old fashion glasses and fringe bangs while her lips were pouty in a way lipstick couldn't create. The trauma she went through completely drained her spirit, which had Bella's heart breaking for her.
Her identical twin brothers still went to the same school and had yet to suffer the same fate. But they were boys and united front. Not that boys didn't get bullied as well, but they were already a head taller than most children their age and were surely intimidating enough to where Bella was certain they never had to worry. She only hoped that they didn't bully in return.
Angela had assured her that they wouldn't because their father had promise great punishment if they did. James wasn't cruel by any means, just effectively tough. He expected certain things out of his children and anything less was just not tolerated. He also obviously loved his family very much. Vicky was the softy. Allowing her children to get away with more than she should. Thank goodness James was around to counteract things because if not, Bella was sure it would've been a madhouse.
Bella'd stay behind after her therapy sessions multiple times to hang out with Angela. She was also happy to see that weeks of therapy was helping greatly, she only still had trouble with the stuttering when she was upset or nervous. Edward was excited to see her become more comfortable speaking as well, along with Charlie and the rest of Edward's family.
They'd gone to Emmett, Jasper, and Rose's graduation a couple of weeks ago together. All the women cried, especially Charlotte. Emmett's mother was never around and Charlotte had taken to him immediately. Peter often joked and said that if it hadn't been for Emmett, he wasn't sure if she'd ever agree to marry him.
Emmett had smiled and brought a dozen of yellow roses to Charlotte, Esme, Rose and Rose's mom after they'd found their caps. Jasper did the same with light pink roses, giving them to his mother, Alice, Charlotte and Esme instead.
Now they were in the middle of summer enjoying the warmth. Bella didn't get to see Edward as much as she'd wished she could, because he had to start summer training for football. Meaning, she wasn't able to spend every waking moment with him. She made herself let the fact that she missed him almost all the time go because it made her feel needy and that annoyed the crap out of her. It was a lot harder than it should've been.
Angie was great and mostly happy, until she met Edward one day. He'd come to meet them at Sonic one afternoon and Angie had froze right up, being clipped and frankly rude to Edward the whole time. Bella frowned but waited to confront her new friend until later.
"Why did you act like that yesterday?" Bella asked her now that they were in the privacy of Angie's room filled with posters of The Big Bang Theory and different posters of paintings, including Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Henri Matisse's The Dance, and Monte's Water Lilies. Bella loved Angie's taste in art and shows but she wasn't too fond of how she treated her boyfriend.
