...

The Fair

Two weeks.

It had been two weeks since that incident. Father never came back after that day. I reported a missing file at the police station but still no reports of him.

I remembered how my father's face went extremely pale in fear that night. I remembered every single detail of that horrifying night.

But as far as I know, there was no one around except me and him.

'Whom was he afraid of so much?'

The more shocking thing was that the next morning I found myself in my bed.

'Didn't I faint in the living room?'

'Who brought me to my room, then?'

All the time I got the creepy feeling of someone staring at me. As if someone was watching my every move, my every deed. Whoever he was, he was messing with my mind. I felt so scared to live all alone in this house.

Sighing I headed towards my shop only to see Ed hadn't come yet. I started taking orders from my customers and stopped near a table where a group of boys were sitting.

"What do you like to order, sir?" I politely ask them as their eyes snapped back at me as I watched lust swirled into them for a few seconds then came back to normal.

"Five Espresso, please, beautiful," noting it down I hurriedly left them, not at all feeling comfortable in their intimidating presence.

After serving some of them I finally made it to their table and carefully put the orders down.

"Anything else, sirs?"

"Umm... What about... you, beautiful?" I saw one of their hands crept up to touch my bare thigh and I flinched back abruptly.

'Not again.'

"Don't be scared, little girl. We'll have some fun only." they again tried to catch me just when a hard punch landed across his jaw and I watched in horror as the boy fell to the floor with a loud thud, groaning.

I looked up as Ed's muscular body covered me from their hungry stare and took a fighting stance.

"How. Dare. You. Touch. Her." He gritted his teeth in anger and pounced on the guy, beating him like a madman when his friends rushed to stop him.

By then, everyone's attention flew back towards our table as they seemed to enjoy the drama.

"ED! STOP IT! YOU'LL KILL HIM!" I tried to yank his arm back but he kept punching his gut repeatedly. I had never seen Edward so angry in my whole life.

'I had to do something or else he would kill him!'

Seeing no other options left I fake cried in pain and the act succeeded when his head snapped at me. He took no time to crouch down in front of me and started examining for any injuries.

I saw as the boys ran out of the café to save their dear lives.

"You lied." Ed frowned at me and got up, "You know Isabella, I beat them for your safety so they don't repeat their filthy actions on you or any other girl. And you helped them rescue?"

"Ed, I-"

"Just stop it, Isabella. You always act like that. They're harassing you for God's sake!" He shook his head in disbelief while throwing me a disappointed look.

"But they didn't succeed at it, right?"

"Just because I arrived at the right moment." Glared Ed and headed towards the kitchen.

I heard everyone murmuring and followed him to the kitchen. I decided to keep my mouth shut for a while as it was needed for him to calm down.

After about an hour when I saw he was ignoring me I called his name softly,

"Ed?"

"I don't want to talk with you, Isabella."

"Ed please," I squeezed his arm and pleaded with my eyes and he finally decided to pull me in a tight hug, taking me in by surprise.

"I feel so scared if anything bad happens to you, Isabella. Sorry for my behavior but I won't apologize to you for what I did to those boys." I smiled at his angry words which sounded too cute for me at that moment. 

Breaking the hug he spoke excitedly,  "There's a big fair going on here. Wanna join?"

"Sorry Ed, but you've to understand I can't leave the house alone. Police can come anytime to inspect since father had been missing."

"Okay, I understand. I'll go alone then. Thought if you could give me some company." I felt bad to see his smile dropped. I didn't want to see him upset so I said,

"Fine. I'll come." his eyes widened in excitement like a five-year-old kid as he embraced me happily, "Thank you, thank you so much."

I laughed at his childishness and after clearing up everything in the shop we moved towards the fair in Ed's car.