LL Chapter 6

LL Chapter 6




Bad News/Good News



I overslept the next morning and was extremely late for school. I had a feeling that my parents orchestrated for my alarms to be turned off. I was late for biology by the time I finally made it to school.



I managed to slip into the room almost unnoticed. Dr. Banner just nodded and walked over to get my tardy slip. He managed to keep on with his lecture without losing a beat. I tried to take notes but I really could not concentrate. I was putting my book back in my bag when I felt someone touch my arm. I looked up and found Bella standing there, biting her lip.



"Um…I'm sorry to bother you. I know you don't like me. But I just need to know. Isaac…is he…did he…."



I sighed. "He didn't make it, Bella." And she started crying hysterically. Noticing that we were the only ones left in the room I grabbed my phone out and called my father's office. Luckily, Sue was on duty and was the one that answered the phone. After explaining about Isaac she told me that she was on her way. Bella was starting to calm down, so I started ushering her towards the office.



She was still sniffling when we arrived in the office, Mrs. Cope, the secretary, was shocked to see me bringing in the crying girl.



"What happened Edward?"



"A baby we both know in the NICU died last night. I've already called and her mom is on her way to get her." I'm not sure what it was about her Mom being on her way, but both women's eyes went wide and Bella slipped out of my arms and was on floor. She was sobbing so hard.



I bent down to help her up as Mrs. Cope flew around the desk and fell to the floor; grabbing onto Bella and soothing her.



"What…"



"Go to class, Edward. She'll be fine. Tell your teacher to talk to me later about a tardy slip." I sighed, turned, and left the office listened to Bella Swan sobbing her eyes out.



When I got to lunch, I found Rose and Angela waiting at the doors of the cafeteria for Bella.



"She went home after Biology."



"Why? Is Tanya alright?" Angela gasped.



"What do you know about Tanya?"



"She told us all about her Edward." Rose sighed, rolling her eyes. "What happened?"



"Last night one of the other babies was rushed out of the NICU to emergency surgery. Bella was there when it happened. She asked me what happened with him. He didn't make it. I called her mom to come and get her. Which, by the way, before she makes me out to be some huge asshole; I didn't mean upset her further. I'm…"



"What did you say to her?" Rose growled at me and I took an immediate step back.



"Nothing really. I just told Mrs. Cope that I already called Bella's mom to come get her and the girl collapsed on the floor in tears." Both of the girls looked at me as if I was crazy.



Then Angela gave me strange look and blurted out; "You don't know, do you?"



"Know what?"



"Edward, Bella's mom is dead."



"How?"



"Look. We shouldn't have even said what we did." Rose started, "It was discussed in group and what is talked about in the group stays there. You want to know? You need to ask her. And try being nice for once. She's been through a lot."



Bella Swan was on my mind for the rest of the day. So her mom was dead. That did explain a lot. That would be why Sue told me that Bella had had nowhere to go in Phoenix. But could that also explain the comments everyone was making that Bella had gone through a lot? And what about the nurse asking Leah how Bella was physically? By the time that I went to bed, I had convinced myself that Bella had not been on drugs, like I had originally thought. I had come to the conclusion, that there could only be only logical answer. That conclusion was that Bella and her mom had been in a bad car accident and where Bella had survived but went into premature labor; her mother had died. I really could figure out why I cared what happened but I was smart enough to know that if I wanted answers I was going to have to play nice.



The next day I was anxious to get to biology. I did owe her an apology for making her cry yesterday. There were some manners in me and I did make her cry with the Mom statement. Plus, I didn't want her step sister hunting me down. But she didn't show up for class. In fact, she didn't show up all day. I could not help but worry that something had happened to Tanya. I almost called the NICU at lunch but decided against it. It wasn't my business after all.



Bella returned to school on Thursday. When she walked into the biology class room she was so happy and smiling so much that it was literally radiating off her. But Dr. Banner started class before I could ask why she was so happy. Dr. Banner was assigning us our term projects today. We were going to have to work together as a team to come up with an idea and see it through and then we would present to the class. He gave us the second half of the class to get started.



"So, any thought on what you want to do?" I started.



"Not really, yet. But I was thinking that we could get together on Saturday and brainstorm. We can come over to your house. I'd invite you to mine, but the Dad and Seth have the guys from LaPush coming down to watch some game and we wouldn't be able to concentrate."



"We?" Who the hell was she thinking about bringing with her?



"Yep. Tanya is coming home tonight!" Bella was literally bouncing in her chair which made me laugh.



"Bella! That is great news! Are they having a going home celebration for her?"



"Yes. I wish that you could be there. I mean…after Isaac…and all…but I am leaving for the hospital right after this class." She stuttered.



"Well congratulations. That really is great news. I've unfortunately seen too many babies not win their fight and even more unfortunately I am starting to get used to the disappointment. By the way, I am sorry that I made you cry, it wasn't my intention."



She looked down and muttered something that sounded like 'which time', but she looked up at me and responded louder "That's ok. You didn't know." The bell rang signaling the end of class. " Maybe we could start talking things over at lunch tomorrow. You know do some brainstorming in the library?"



"I'm not going to be in class tomorrow morning. I'm attending Isaac's funeral."



"Oh."



"So, I guess it is going to be Saturday at my house?"



"Sounds good to me. Besides, it will give your mom a chance to meet Tanya before she starts watching her."



"What!" What did she say? What about mom watching Tanya?



"Didn't you know? Your mom volunteered to watch Tanya while I'm at school and Sue is at work."



"She did not say anything to me about that. But that's cool." She was headed out of the door, but there was one more question that I wanted to ask before she left.



"Bella, I have to know something." She paled visibly. Probably with the thoughts of all the questions that could be swimming through my head.



"Bella, how did you end up naming you daughter Tanya?"



"Oh," she sighed and smiled a little. "It was my mother's name." And with that she left the room.



A/N:



A couple of answers and Tanya gets to go home! But poor Isaac. NICU is not always the happiest place with happy endings. Come hang with me on twitter!