A/N – I'm feeling like I need a new story, I will continue to write While Forks is Sleeping but I wanted something new and fresh to write so I give you The Runaway Found.
Chapter 1 - The Return
Bella POV
My heart ached. Every second of every day for the past one year, three months and six days. Here I sit, plain old Bella Swan, aged twenty. It's hard to explain what I'm feeling, I'd been separated from the person who had captivated my heart, my Jacob. After the fight with Victoria and the kiss we had shared, I had visited him because of his injury, I told him I loved him and said I wanted the future he had described, I could picture it and I desperately craved it, In that moment my heart had told me the choice I had made, I just had to end things with Edward.
"You know I want nothing more than for you to end it and come back to me", Jake sighed.I looked out at the passing tree's as I sat on bus, I was finally coming home, thank god. I could feel the anxiety fill me at the prospect of seeing Charlie again...and of course, Jacob. I was worried though, I'd been gone for a significant amount of time, would Jacob have moved on? The bus came to a stop, I was in Port Angeles. My stop. I stood and climbed down the steps and off of the bus, luggage was being unloaded from the bus and the man called out my name, handing me my bag. As I headed off down the streets of this town, I felt sick with worry, I had made everyone worry for this past year and few months, I hoped that they'd all forgive me, especially Jacob. I came to a small café and decided on having some breakfast before going home...where I hoped Charlie would be waiting. As I took a seat at a table, a young waitress came forward and stood in front of me, her name tag read Lucy.
"But?", I asked.
"But...I don't want you going there alone, he'll flip out", Jake's voice was filled with worry.
"I promise he won't, I'll be back...", I replied, jumping up and rushing for the door.
"Bella!", Jake called after me.
I hopped into the truck, I had told Billy I'd be back in an hour or so, he had simply nodded and said he'd calm Jake down while I was gone. I sped off to the Cullen house, my whole body was shaking, I was anxious. I pulled up outside of the house and climbed out of the truck and burst through their front door. Esme and Carlisle were sitting but stood immediately, sensing my discomfort.
"Bella? Are you alright, dear?", Esme asked me.
"I'm fine, I need to see Edward", I spoke, my voice shaky.
"He's upstairs", Carlisle replied.
I didn't wait another second, rushing to the staircase, willing my feet not to let me fall. I reached Edward's bedroom and there he was, standing, waiting for me. Obviously he'd already heard me rushing upstairs.
"Edward...", I exhaled deeply.
"Bella! Thank god, I've been so worried", He spoke.
He gathered me in his arms and pressed me to his cold, hard chest. I wrapped my arms around me, allowing his scent to spill over me, Oh I loved how he smelt...wait, no! Don't get all dazzled. He flashed me his crooked grin as I pulled back to stare at his face.
"There's something we need to talk about", I began.
"Ssh, love, we have all the time in the world to talk about it but right now you reek of dog", He chuckled.
"Edward, please, I have to say this.", I spoke carefully, tears threatening to spill from my eyes.
"Bella? Are you okay, did he hurt you?", Edward asked, worry in his own golden eyes.
"No, no, it's nothing like that...we just...talked", I replied.
He smiled and nodded for me to continue.
"And he fought to make me see that I love him", I cringed as pain filled his eyes, his body was tense.
"Stupid mutt, can't he see that you don't...?", He replied, I remained quiet.
We stood there in silence before it dawned on him.
"You...love him?", He asked.
I didn't reply.
"Bella? DO. YOU. LOVE. HIM?", His voice grew louder.
"Yes.", I spoke, my voice barely audible. "And...I want to..uhm...choose him"
Edward's face twisted to show unimaginable pain, I hated that I was doing this to him but I couldn't deny my feeling for Jacob any longer. I removed the ring form my finger and walked steadily towards him.
"I'm sorry.", I spoke, handing him the ring.
He remained still, not speaking a word, I turned to face the door and walked away. Suddenly a hand grasped my arm.
"Bella?", He spoke hesitantly.
"Yes, Edward?", I replied, my eyes closed.
"Can I...at least have a goodbye kiss? I promise I'll step aside for you and...him to be together but at least grant me this one last thing", He spoke.
I nodded and turned to face him, clenching my eyes closed, my hands in fists at my side, I didn't want to do this but I still loved Edward so much and I could grant him this. I felt his cold marble lips press over my own and soon the same dizziness I always felt when we kissed consumed me, the next thing I felt was a sharp pain in the back of my head and then everything was black.
"Hi, what can I get you?", She asked.
I ordered some scrambled eggs with bacon, toast and sausages, I wasn't much for breakfast but I was feeling very hungry this morning, she left with a smile plastered on her face, returning a few minutes later with a glass of water, The sound of the small bell ringing above the door alerted me and I looked up, there stood a beautiful woman with dark brown curls. My eyes widened as did hers.
"Oh my god...Bella...Bella Swan?", she asked.
"Yeah...gosh, Angela is that you?", I replied with my own question.
"It is, how are you? Where have you been this past year or so?", She replied.
I cringed at the second part and chose to just answer the first.
"I'm good, how about you?", I asked.
"I'm great, I'm sort of...pregnant.", She gushed, smiling and flashing a small bump.
"Ben's?", I asked.
She nodded and held out her left hand to flash a sparkling diamond ring. I smiled and glanced at it, it looked like the one that he gave me...no! No thinking about him, he's gone, stop it!
"Well congratulations, wanna join me?", I asked.
"You sure?", She replied hesitantly.
"Of course, I've missed you", I smiled.
"Good coz I've missed you too!", She grinned back.
She took the seat opposite me as Lucy returned with my breakfast, taking Angela's order and rushing off again. We chatted for a few minutes, catching up, I casually asked what was going on with everyone, she told me that Lauren moved away not long after I vanished, I choked on my water when she said the word 'vanished', she continued, saying Jessica was off at college with Mike, they had rekindled their relationship, she told me Ben obviously stayed with her and their unborn child, going to a community college, Tyler had gone off to college too and Eric had a job at the supermarket, apparently he was depressed and couldn't find it in himself to leave.
"Everyone has been so worried, when did you get back?", She pressed on.
"I've only been here about ten, maybe fifteen minutes, literally!", I replied.
"We all thought you had run off to marry...Edward", She spoke carefully.
I cringed and shook my head.
"No, it wasn't like that at all", I spoke. "I haven't seen him in at least eight months"
"Oh...I see, well where are staying? With your dad?", She asked.
"I'm not sure, I haven't been in contact with anyone, I'm kind of gonna go home...to his house and wait for him after this", I spoke.
"Oh. Well I'm sure he'll be thrilled to have you home", Angela sighed, looking confused by my sudden we had finished our breakfast, I headed out, getting her number since I now had a new cell phone, thanks Edward! I thought, stupid vampire stole mine. No! What did I say, don't think about him! After taking a bus half way I decided to walk, I don't know what possessed me but I walked to Charlie's house, It took a good hour or so. I walked up the familiar street and soon Charlie's white house came into view, my home...well it used to be. My breath caught in my throat at the next sight I saw, Jacob's rabbit was parked out front. Uh oh! No, I wasn't ready to see him! Lucky enough for me, I walked up onto the porch to find the door was locked, no one was here!
"Thank god", I muttered under my breath.
I found the spare key, still in the same place as it always had been, as I pushed the small key into the lock I heard a gasp. I turned and standing at the edge of the woods by the house...Alice.
"Alice?", I asked.
She was in front of me in half a second, pulling me into an embrace. I stood there, shocked for a moment before returning the hug and pulling back.
"Bella, you're alive? You're human? We thought Edward had...", She squealed.
"Alice, what are you...how did you...what are you doing here?", I asked.
She smiled. "I had a vision, I saw you return, I had to come see for myself", She grinned again.
"Oh, well I'm so glad to see you, are the rest of you...still here...in Forks?", I asked.
"Yes, they'll be so thrilled to see you, come on!", She squealed again and took my hand.
She began to lead me away but I stopped and she turned, her face sad.
"You don't want to see them?", She asked me.
"No, No! It's not that, it's just, I have to see Char-my dad", I spoke.
"Oh right, of course!", She smiled. "You better hurry, I can hear his car coming".
She waved and rushed off as I ran to the porch and opened the door, dragging my bag inside and closing the door, locking it and quickly setting myself down on the couch, nothing had changed, the house looked the same, the only thing different was that there was more photographs around the room, a few of me and Jacob, me and Charlie, practically all of them had me in them. I rushed over to pick one up, it was us with the Black's, we all looked so happy, I grasped the photo in my hand, the turning of a key in the lock not even registering in my ears, the door opened and in strode Charlie, placing his jacket on the holder and turning to the living room, he gasped. I froze but slowly turned to face him. He was shocked.
"Bells?", He croaked. "Is..is that you?".
"It's me dad.", I smiled weakly.
"Am I dreaming?", Charlie spoke. "Are you really here?"
"I'm here, dad.", I smiled again.
He walked across the room and soon I was in his warm embrace, he held on tightly, probably thinking I was going to disappear, he kissed the top of my head and then sobbed. I wrapped my arms around his waist and tried my best not to cry with him, I failed. He pulled back and held onto my shoulders, glancing over me.
"Let me look at you...", He smiled. "Oh gosh, you've changed, where the hell have you been?"
"Can we...not talk about that right now?", I asked. "I just want to enjoy being home."
"Home?", Charlie grinned. "Does that mean you're back for good?".
I nodded and he sobbed more, pulling me into another embrace, I'd never seen Charlie so emotional, he held on tighter than before.
"I've missed you so much, you have no idea", He spoke.
After ten minutes of awkward silence, he finally let me go and told me to go unpack, I think he wanted to make sure I was for real, I headed upstairs and emptied my clothes from the bag, placing them in drawers, glancing over clothes I hadn't seen in over a year, my room wasn't different. It was exactly the way I'd left it. I decided to take a shower.
"Dad, I'm gonna have a quick shower, okay?", I shouted down the staircase.
"Sure thing, Bells, I'll just be down here.", His reply came seconds later.
I didn't take too long, possibly about ten minutes, I let the warm water envelope my body, washed my hair and then climbed out, towelling off and then heading back to my room to change, I heard Charlie's voice from the hallway, he was talking to someone, obviously on the phone.
"No, Billy, It's not a joke, I just came home and there she was, standing there", He spoke, I could tell he would be smiling.
"I know, she hasn't told me and I know not to push her, she'll tell me eventually, I hope", He sighed, obviously talking about where I'd been this past year.
"I'll still be there, I'll ask her if she wants to come with me, I'm not sure she will" He continued. "Yeah, I'll see you in about a half hour."
I heard the click of the phone and then I rushed to me room, I was ready in five minutes, I had brushed through my hair quickly and now I headed downstairs, Charlie sat at the kitchen table, I walked in and smiled.
"Hey, Bells...", He began.
"Yeah?", I replied.
"I'm going to the Black's for a party, you wanna go?", He asked me.
"Oh..uh..who's the party for?", I asked.
"Emily and Sam, they're having a baby", He grinned.
"Wow, uhm...", I spoke, trailing off.
"You don't have to if you don't want to, I know it would be awkward for you", He sighed.
"No, uhm...sure, I'll go", I smiled.
He grinned back at me. I sat opposite him and we just sat there in silence, this time it didn't feel awkward, I just let myself take in my surroundings, glad to be home. Not long after that we were heading for the door, my heart beating faster and faster. As we headed down the driveway I noticed Jake's rabbit was no longer there, had he been?
"Hey dad, how come Jake's car was here before?", I asked.
"Oh, uhm...he sometimes leaves it there when he goes...for a run.", He replied.
"a run?", I asked.
"Yeah, with the uhm..pack.", He cringed.
"You know?", I pressed on.
"Yeah, I found out not long after you...left. Jacob "phased" in front of me when he found out you were missing", He spoke, practically whispering.
"Oh.", Was all I could say back.
I hadn't even noticed that we were now in La Push, we pulled up on the gravel driveway to the small red house that belonged to the Black's. I noticed the rabbit was now there and cringed. Jacob was here. This is going to awkward, very awkward. Charlie stopped the car and undid his seat belt, climbing out the car, I sat, frozen in my seat. He turned back and bent his head down to look in the car.
"You coming?", He asked.
"In a minute, I just...need a minute", I took a deep breath.
"Okay, I'll be inside if you need me", He closed the door and headed inside.
Crap! I couldn't do this, I couldn't face him, He'd hate me. I had a good excuse of why I'd disappeared but I wasn't sure he'd want to hear it. I knew that Charlie would be telling people I was here, they'd come out to get me if I didn't go in soon. I hesitantly opened the door and stepped outside, my legs felt weak, I slammed the car door closed and leaned against the side of the car, breathing in. You can do this Bella, you can do this!"Bella?", a deep voice caught me off guard.
I looked towards the house to find Embry, Quil and Seth standing on the porch. Oh god, I can't do this! I turned and ran. It's the only thing I could of doing, I could heard them calling out to me. The sound of footsteps chasing after me, I reached the end of the driveway stopped, staring at my feet.
"Hey, where you gong? You just got here!", Embry spoke.
I turned and they were standing before me, all smiling. I was confused, why didn't they hate me? Embry bounded forward and crushed me into a big bear hug, he was so warm...like Jake. Crap, crap, crap!, if I couldn't even face them, how could I face Jacob?
"Hey there", Quil spoke as he hugged me. "We've missed you."
I nodded. Seth hugged me and kept his arm around my shoulder as they walked me towards the house.
"You gonna speak anytime soon?", Quil teased.
"Sorry, I missed you guys too.", I smiled very weakly.
"Good. If you didn't miss us, we'd certainly feel insulted", Embry laughed.
"Bet you missed me the most!", Seth chuckled.
"Nahh, it would be me.", Quil punched Seth's arm.
We reached the porch and I hoped to god Jake wouldn't be in the room when we entered, I was praying that Embry or Quil wouldn't bring up my very recent escape attempt, Seth wouldn't, I knew he wouldn't, but them two, very hard to trust with things like that.
"Look who we found outside!", Embry spoke.
Everyone looked up and instantly smiled, some smiles were genuine (like Billy and Emily), while others were definitely forced (Paul, Sam, Jared and Leah). I noticed Charlie was talking to Sue Clearwater, she smiled at me and waved. Another girl stood by Billy, I couldn't recognise her but she approached me.
"Bella Swan, never thought I'd see you here", She spoke.
"Well...uh...neither did I", I choked.
"You don't remember me, Its me, Rachel.", She smiled.
Jacob's sister. She didn't seem angry with me, even her smile was genuine, maybe she was like Jacob, he could never hold a grudge against me, not for too long but I was sure if he had one now, it would be hard to move.
"You can breathe, he's not here, yet.", She laughed and guided me to the back yard.
I felt suffocated, everyone was talking to me, well besides a few of them, I was dreading talking to a certain few, but my luck wasn't set to last as Leah approached me.
"Swan", She spoke bitterly.
I remained silent.
"Cat got your tongue?", She growled.
"Leah, please, can we not do this now?", I spoke up, trying to hide my emotions.
"Why not, isn't it better to get it over with now?", She smiled smugly at me.
I shook my head and walked away, I didn't get far before her hand grasped my arm and turned me to face her again.
"No, you don't walk away again!", She growled. "You just up and left and now you think you can just come back?", she shouted.
Everyone stopped and looked at us, Sam walked forward and pulled Leah back.
"Sorry Bella", He spoke calmly, looking genuinely sorry, at least he was beginning to forgive me.
I stared awkwardly at my feet before I turned and walked around to the front of the house, sitting on the porch. Rachel followed not long after and took a seat next to me.
"Sorry about Leah", She spoke. "Wanna go for a walk?"
I simply nodded and she walked off, I tried to keep up. We ended up on the beach where we sat on the warm sand, it was oddly sunny today. I rested my head against my knees as Rachel sighed.
"I know you obviously don't want to talk about it but...", She trailed off as I looked up.
I opened my mouth to speak but closed it again.
"Where have you been?", She asked. "You can tell me, I swear I won't tell anyone, if you don't want me to"
I simply nodded and considered for a second before I opened my mouth and explain all that happened to me over this past year, Rachel listened intently, speaking occasionally, asking questions.
"Well, that's quite a story.", She smiled.
"Yeah.", I muttered.
"You know they don't hate you.", She spoke up. "They're just trying to forgive you, well all except Leah but she's...well...Leah".
We laughed and I nodded.
"I expected this, I know I've had everyone worried.", I sighed.
"Well now I understand that you couldn't exactly come back right away", She nodded.
I exhaled quickly before dreading what the answer would be to my next question.
"How...how has Jake been?", I asked.
She tensed but turned to me, smiling warmly.
"He didn't take it well, he got kind of depressed for about seven months, it wasn't pretty", she spoke.
I nodded for her to continue.
"But then he met someone.", She smiled. I flinched, he had met someone.Rachel noticed and touched my arm lightly.
"Not like that, they're just friends but Anna...she's good for him", She smiled.
I nodded and stood quickly, not wanting to hear anymore, I couldn't handle it, She said they were just friends but if this Anna was "good for him", then it obviously meant that something would be going on with them. We arrived back at the Black's and Rachel headed outside, I told her I was going to the bathroom and would meet her outside in a minute.
"You can't do this Bella", I spoke to my reflection in the bathroom mirror.
I hesitantly opened the bathroom door and walked down the hallway, crashing straight into a warm chest. I looked up and was greeted by the shocked face of Jacob Black.
Jacob POV
I couldn't believe it when dad told me, Bella was back! He told me she'd be here at the party but I was sad to see she wasn't when I arrived, Emily reassured me that she'd just went for a walk and explained the confrontation she'd had with Leah. I tried my best to hide the slight excitement I felt at knowing she was here, in La Push. Rachel appeared in the doorway and walked over to me, I looked at her, my face obviously asking the question I tried to say out loud.
"She's inside, she's using the bathroom", She smiled, patting my back.
She walked off and I was left alone. Anna was at my side a second later. She rubbed my arm and smiled at me.
"You sure you really want to see her?", She spoke.
"Of course.", I replied immediately.
She nodded and walked off as I raced inside, colliding with the one person I wanted to see more than anything, Bella. She gasped and stared at me as I couldn't hide the shock I felt at actually seeing her in person, alive and human, I thought for sure she was a bloodsucker when she went missing. We stood for a moment in silence before I grabbed her hand and dragged her into my bedroom, locking the door and sitting us on the bed.
"Bells?", I asked, my voice was quite shaky.
"Yeah, it's me Jake", She spoke, her own voice weak.
"I can't believe it!", I smiled weakly.
She took a deep breath before I grabbed her and pulled her too me, wrapping my arms around her and hugging her close, tears brimming in my eyes as I buried my face in her hair.
"I've missed you so much", I spoke.
"I know, You have no idea how much I've missed you!", She cried.
We sat there for what felt like hours, just hugging each other, I wanted desperately to ask her where she'd been but I thought that would be best saved for another time. Once the party was over, Charlie knocked on the door and told us that it was time for him and Bella to leave, I hugged her more tightly.
"I don't want you to go, I just got you back.", I sighed.
"I know", She muttered. "But, I'll...come see you tomorrow?"
I nodded and pulled back, for a brief second I thought about leaning in to kiss her, it looked like that thought crossed her mind too as she stared down at my lips, I chose to kiss her forehead instead and after a moment, she stood and left the room, My heart clenched at the memory of the last time that happened...she didn't come back.
"Jacob?", A small voice asked me.
I looked up to see who it was.
"Can I come in?", the voice asked.
"Sure.", I replied.