Stolen
This story takes place during Eclipse, a couple of weeks after Edward returns in New Moon. The Cullens and Bella know there is a newborn vampire in Seattle, but they don't know it's a full army of vampires.
Disclaimer: Twilight and the characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. Some of the ideas and phrases I have used in this story are also from Stephenie's books.
Bella's POV:
I sat at the table with a mix of blissful and anxious emotions running through me. It was only a few more minutes until Edward was allowed to come over. Ever since my little disappearing act last spring and the months of depression previous to it, which Charlie blamed on Edward, he had only been allowed around the house from 7 to 9:30 and I wasn't allowed out. That meant I always spent the hours between when I arrived home from school and when Edward arrived in agitation, anxious for his presence. At that moment there was a knock on the door and I nearly ran to get it. I opened it and there stood my own personal god. He had the same look of relief in his eyes as I felt, as though the last couple of hours away had been painful for him too, which they probably had been.
"Good evening", he said to me politely, in a manner that could only be picked up in an early twentieth century.
"Hi", I replied breathlessly as he pulled me into his cool arms and kissed me softly on the forehead. He then stood back and dropped his arms, so I knew Charlie must be coming. I took his hand and entwined our fingers; Charlie could deal with this much.
"Good evening, Charlie", Edward said in the same polite tone. He was always better mannered than Charlie deserved. Charlie just grunted in ascent and stomped off to the TV. Edward smiled my favourite crooked smile, but something was off. I couldn't put my finger on it as to why, and there was no chance to ask with Charlie's prying ears so nearby. As always, time passed too quickly and he officially left for the night, though I knew he would return later when Charlie was snoring. When he did return through my second story window he smiled again, and once again something was off.
"What's wrong?" I asked, starting to get worried now.
"Nothing", he replied, but he couldn't completely meet me eyes.
"Edward, I know there's something wrong, what is it?" I repeated.
"Nothing's really wrong, it's just…" he hesitated for half a second, "the others are planning a big hunting trip next week, but I didn't want to go, I'd rather stay here with you". He shrugged trying to seem nonchalant, but I knew him so well that I could tell he wanted to go, probably just worried that I would get upset when he left. In truth, I most likely would be. His absence always brought back the gaping hole in my chest from when he'd left last summer, though I tried not to let him see this.
"No, you should go, it'll be fun and it will give me a chance to get out and about. Charlie ungrounded me today, just after you left this evening", I ended, beaming.
"That's excellent Bella, but I could stay and we could do something together", he offered, always trying to please me.
"Well, actually, there were conditions. Charlie wants me to spend my time with other friends, especially Jake", I said a bit reluctantly. Jacob hadn't been answering my calls since Edward got back and this upset me. I tried not to let Edward see this as he had issues with me being best friends with a werewolf.
"Okay", Edward agreed and I knew he was trying to hide his joy at the fact he could join his family on the hunting trip.
"So, how long are you going for?" I asked, trying to sound offhand.
"Well, Emmett and Jasper wanted to get further out so we could hunt new animals, so we'll be gone for about 5 days." He sounded wary as he said this.
"Alright", I said trying to sound as though this didn't matter, but not quite pulling it off.
"I can stay if you want", he suggested, sounding slightly worried.
"No, you should go, spend some time with your family, I'll be fine. I'll make plans to get out of Forks for a day".
"Not Seattle". He injected quickly. Seattle was supposedly being stalked by one of the worst serial killers in the history of the state at the moment, though I knew that it was actually a newborn vampire ravaging the city.
"Of course not, I was thinking maybe Port Angeles, and maybe I could catch up with Angela as well", I added as an afterthought.
"That sounds good Bella, thank you".