Prologue
You can tell by the way, she walks that she's my girl
You can tell by the way, she talks that she rules the world.
You can see in her eyes that no one is her chain.
She's my girl, my supergirl.
-Reamonn-Supergirl
"Yes, Alice, we really are doing this."
He could all but see his sister wrinkling her nose, furrowing her brow even as her honey-colored eyes clouded with confusion. He felt his grip tighten on his phone, and made an effort to relax his fingers.
"But why?" She asked, plaintively. "I mean, I know about the whole it's-the-right-thing-to-do rant you gave Carlisle, but why now? It's been months."
"And I regret not doing this sooner, but I was preoccupied." He knew his voice tightened, and found that he didn't care. Alice, of all people, should understand how he felt about this.
There was a silence. "Is that what this is about?" She asked, finally. "I'm sorry, Edward, but I'm just trying to understand. Is it about...you know."
Her fucking name is Bella!
He held the anger in, reigning it in because, after all, what good could it do? Again, he felt that surge of empathy. He couldn't imagine living in a world like this, constantly shirking around the subject. "No, it isn't about Bella. It's about the way everyone in our neighborhood found it perfectly alright to just forget, let her rot, let her be dead. How does Carlisle justify this?"
"He told you." He feels her frustration, even though her voice is even and controlled, just like his is. "We tried, and we couldn't find her, and then you divorced..."
"Whatever." He snapped. "We're doing this. Tell Carlisle you were unsuccessful." Just like the others. Every single member of his family had taken turns to deter him from this, with the surprising exception of Jasper. Alice's soul mate had quietly defended Edward, and had actually offered to join them.
He hung up, not willing to offer further patience. Edward's feelings towards his family were conflicted at best, made worse by their complete bewilderment at his actions.
He stood completely still, attempting to calm his inner turmoil. In moments like these, he felt he could sense the world inhale, the minute tremble of the aspen, the heady fragrance of scarlet roses somewhere far away.
He opened his eyes, and began striding towards the silver car parked by the side of the road.
*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)
"I don't give a shit, okay?" Jacob could feel his entire form shudder, seconds away from completely losing it and snapping his phone in half. "Just leave me the fuck alone!"
He saw Edward approaching out of the corner of his eye, and that made him get control over himself. Like hell he was flipping with the leech watching and smirking. Not that he actually seemed to smirk a lot lately. The wild goose chase across the state had been made almost tolerable by the knowledge Edward was going through the same sort of shit Jake was. It amused Jake, in a way, to know that the oh-so-benevolent nest of bloodsuckers were totally floored by Edward's decision.
Some part of him actually admired Edward's nerve, though all the vamps in the world threatening to kill him couldn't drag that fun fact out of Jacob. He went through hell over Bella, came out of his reclusive lifestyle to drag himself through court, had his heart pretty much torn out and stomped on, and yet, here he was, doing a tough thing that no one approved of.
Maybe it's a masochistic thing, Jake mused. Maybe he wanted to feel worse because he very possibly wasn't too upset over losing Bella anymore. Going on a frustrating road trip could be Edward's way of saying see? I'm still a brooding, pathetic loser because you left me, you bitch.
Jake snorted. Quil was right. His theories were bullshit. Well, he had no explanation as to why Edward was here, so he supposed he had to accept that and be glad for the help.
"You know that doesn't solve anything, just tell us why the fuck you're doing this!" Jared shrieked in his ear. The pack had to be going crazy, with no form of leadership. Well, it wasn't Jake's fault Sam had picked a crappy time to go on his honeymoon. Jared and the rest of them would just have to deal.
Edward swung open the door, and Jake said, quickly, "Talk later, Sanders."
"You better, Black." Jared growled.
Jake tossed his phone onto the dashboard. He noted that Edward was completely immobile, his eyes fixed on the road before him.
Jake inhaled deeply. No insults. "What next?"
His companion didn't so much blink. Jake bit back the urge to snap at him to cut it out, knowing he would only be confirming that the leech got to him. "Keep driving, I suppose, until we find another town."
Jake gnashed his teeth in frustration. It was the third day on the road, and he was already nearasthis to snapping and pulling out. He was beginning to wonder how long it would take. Despite his promise to himself, he knew that he had responsibilities and that he couldn't run forever.
He glanced at Edward, knowing he had to have the same problems. However, Jake refused to be the first to crack. Besides, he still had that nagging voice in his brain that told him don't give up, not when you're so close.
He shook his head, trying to force the voice out. He was long past the stage where he trusted his own mind.
As he slid the gears smoothly, he couldn't help whispering, "Dammit, Leah, where the fuck are you?"
*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)
A familiar song caught Edward's attention, arousing him from the open-eyed state of unconsciousness he always went into when driving. He and Jake had switched places a few hours ago when Edward observed the other supernatural almost dropping off, and had taken over driving. Jacob had expressed his disapproval of this by changing channels on the radio to the point where Edward was ready to wrench the damn thing out.
However, Jake had fallen asleep while Edward had slipped out of immediate consciousness. All things considered, Edward considered this a small favor. Not that the shape shifter hadn't grown more tolerable over the hours, but he had an irritating way of being supremely impatient. It was a wonder, really, that Jake hadn't pulled out from this seemingly never-ending mission of theirs.
The truth was that the entire journey had been tinged with a slight incredulity. Why was Jake here? Why didn't he leave? Was the bond between an Alpha and his second-in-command strong enough to override all other instincts? Or was it because Jake and Leah shared something unique? It wasn't a far cry to assume that the two shifters were lovers, even though their past behavior suggested nothing of the sort.
He recognized the look in Jake's eyes when he woke up and saw Edward-the same disbelief. Neither man understood the other, or his motives.
Come to that, Edward wasn't completely certain he himself understood his own motives. He had told himself and everyone else he was searching for Leah because even though it was the right thing to do, no one else was doing it. But he wasn't sure, not anymore. He knew that everyone else had searched the best they could only to come up with nothing. Would he really abandon his family to go on some futile mission just because it was right?
So maybe he was running. Running from the heartbreak, the memories, the disappointment of all those he loved. But why this way? Why running towards a missing woman with his mortal enemy by his side?
Maybe I'm just a good person, Edward thought dryly. Why does no one ever consider that?
His reflections were cut short-as, incidentally, was his brief moment of peace- when Jacob yawned, and stretched.
"Where are we?" He inquired, rubbing at his face.
Edward shrugged. "We could stop and ask."
Jake nodded vigorously. "From a diner. I'm starved."
Edward resisted the urge to roll his eyes, and parked smoothly in the parking lot of a building that said MERLOTTE'S DINER in neon lettering.
Jake scrambled out of the car. Edward paused long enough to check the time. Eleven pm.
*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)
Jake leaped on to a chair at a suitably dark corner. He was wondering whether Edward would join him or not when he saw the vampire enter the diner, scan the room and head towards him.
Wonder what he plans to eat, Jake thought idly, scanning the menu. The waitress?
The menu was filled with the regulars. Jacob couldn't even pretend to read it anymore, so he tossed it aside and hoped someone would show up and take their orders.
The diner was uncrowded. Except for himself and his parasitical companion, there was a college kid with a laptop open, and a lone girl sitting by herself at the far corner of the room. Jake squinted automatically to check the girl's features, but she was blonde.
He slumped back in his seat. "So, we ask around?"
Edward nodded, his eyes fixed on the map he'd spread out on the table. "According to the sign outside, we're in Clyde Hill." He bit his lower lip, and Jake watched in a sick sort of fascination. Would his fangs cut his own lip? If so, what would come out?
Jake shook his head. Adult, remember?
"We're still within range of the Olympic Mountains, so that means we're not all that far from the reservation." Edward pointed out, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"No shit, Sherlock." Jake said, impressed despite himself. "So you're saying that there's a fair chance of Leah being here?"
Edward nodded, a trace of emotion in his freaky vampire eyes. Jake wondered if Edward felt the way Jake did: insanely hopeful, even though they had been searching long enough to give up hope.
It'd be nice to have this off our shoulders. Besides, Jake suspected he actually missed his bitch of a pack mate. Fuck it, he wanted to see Leah again.
Edward seemed to sense his glee, and he smiled, too. Jake shook off the worry that they were-God forbid- bonding when a waitress finally appeared.
"What'll it be?"
Jake scanned the menu once again as Edward made an excuse not to eat. He looked sharply at Edward when he trailed off mid-sentence.
"Um. Should I come back when you're ready to order?"
Fuck. The voice registered, and Jake nearly snapped his neck when he looked at the waitress.
He couldn't help it. He grinned.
Of all the fucking coincidences.
"Oh, we're ready to order, alright."
Author's note: So, whadduya think? Ooh, and I'm having a poll, go vote who you want Leah to end up with. I'm not updating until I decide.
Love,
Evil's Sidekick