Aeipathy • Paul Lahote

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If her crossed arms weren't enough to show the world that she was angry, the glare covering her face and the tapping of her foot would. Her eyes refused to lift from the door, knowing that the subject of her anger would appear through it soon, if the message Charlie had received earlier was anything to go by. 

Charlie was also upset, but from his position behind the angry redhead, a light sigh could be heard. "Ella, maybe you shouldn't-" The door opening cut him off as Bella Swan walked through the door. Her eyes lifted sheepishly, but widened at the sight of Estrella standing in the house. Before she could make any comment about the girl suddenly appearing, Estrella's anger burst out. 

"Isabella Marie Swan," she hissed. "How. Dare. You. Running off across the world with no warning, leaving our poor father home anxious and afraid for you and whether or not you would even return while mom sat in a different state not knowing what was going on any more than dad? Everyone was at home worried out of their minds, Isabella Marie. Do you know how much trouble you're in right now? Do you know how frustrated I am with you? I flew all the way out here out of stress and anxiety because you disappeared with only a note in your wake, I swear to God you absolute nutcase." By the end of her rant, the girl's eyes were watery and her arms were crossed, less out of anger and more as a way of holding herself together. "We were so worried. I was so scared. After the last time you ran off I- we didn't know what would happen to you."

Instead of responding right away, Bella took two wide steps to wrap her sister tightly in her arms. "I'm sorry, Ella," she whispered once the girl was safe in her arms. "I don't always think things through before doing them and I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I just did it without stopping to think. I'm sorry, Ells." 

Now wrapped in comfort, Estrella let out the sob she was holding. "I've missed you so much, Bells," she cried, unwrapping her arms from her own body and moving to snake them around her sister. "And I've been so worried about you these past few months and with everything that just went on, I was so scared that you ran off and wouldn't return home."

"I'm sorry, Ells, I'm so sorry."

The two girls simply squeezed each other tightly, leaving the two men to watch, both feeling awkward and not knowing how to approach the situation. Estrella had been the only member of the family to really get Bella to show stronger emotions without closing up halfway through and Charlie knew that there was no way he could include himself in the conversation without making it uncomfortable. Edward, on the other hand, had never actually met the redhead and only heard about the girl through stories of Bella's childhood. 

It was a few moments before the girls pulled apart again, Estrella wiping the tears from her cheeks and Bella blinking away what had built up in her eyes. And then, Estrella turned to Edward and her expression turned into a glare once more. Bella only stepped back from her, knowing that no protest from her would stop the rampage she was on. 

"You," she whispered, anger turning her words into fire. "You need to stay the hell away from me and my sister. You left with no message or note or anything. You disappeared and broke Bella and ignored the damage you made. You completely wrecked her and didn't even care enough to check in or keep in contact or anything. And now you think you can step right back in to her life with no consequence? She was finally making steps towards healing and becoming her own person and learning how to stand and how to grow without you and you're back to- to what? To stomp on that progress? Who do you think you are?"

Edwards eyes cast downwards. "I know it will take a long while for anyone to forgive me," he began. "I couldn't apologize enough for what I put Bella through. At the time, I sincerely thought that no contact would be better and would make things easier once I left and I see now what a horrendous mistake that was. I want nothing more than to be here to support her while she heals and to help her grow independently. I love her more than anything and I hate having put her through any type of pain. I plan to work for your forgiveness, as well as Charlie's and Renee's, for everything I put your family through. I'm terribly sorry for the mess I've caused."

Estrella paused, looking at the boy in front of her, before nodding gently. "Your apology was adequate," she commented. "However, I still don't trust you. It's going to take a lot for you to build any sort of trust, but I sincerely hope you do manage to. Now, thank you for bringing Bella back home and we'd appreciate it if you left, please."

The boy nodded and gave a ghost of a smile to the family before stepping back out of the house. 

Charlie then finally turned to Bella. "You are so grounded."