One problem: so my momma won't let me tell you where I live, (and you really don't need to know) so I can't exactly do this PERFECTLY, so we're going to use some aliases, if you will, to describe the landmarks. Here's a little key for it:

Hicktown, Washington: My town. Tiny. Population is less than five thousand.

Mt. Landmark: A volcano. Big. Been active for many years but hasn't gone kablooey for a while.

Muddy River: A river. Not big. Like a stream compared to the Mississippi. Though I haven't been to the Mississippi, so I'm not sure.

Alrighty, so here we go!!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, New Moon or Eclipse.

Minutes to Midnight

Chapter One

Leaving

Bella POV

"He's coming for her," Alice said. It had been meant for both of our ears – Edward and me – but Alice had directed it at Edward. Edward lifted me off my feet and flung me over his shoulder so fast, I wasn't aware of what was going on until I was in his car, buckled and already speeding away from the Cullens' house.

I looked out the back window of Edward's car after two minutes of driving and immediately wished I hadn't. Two blood red eyes peered in the window, staring at me as if he were a starving wolf and I was the tempting rabbit lying before him. I cringed away in my seat and tried to make myself invisible. Edward noticed and growled. The pace climbed again.

Edward pushed hard on the gas peddle of his Volvo and it revved louder. I took a deep breath and tried to relax. I glanced quickly over to the speedometer and tried not to think too hard on the fact that he was going over 150 mph.

I glanced over to the stereo in a desperate attempt to distract myself. Relief flooded over me as I realized the CD had ended. I took it out and put in another, thankful for the distraction. The starting song started up and helped to relax me a little but all of my nerves were still wound tight.

Should I have a taste of this
Start and crush your nails
And start all over again
Could this all just be a dream
If I should fall to stormy weather
Wake Me, Wake Me
Yeah

Edward's cell phone rang, but he didn't seem to notice. After five or so rings, I lifted the phone from its place in the drink holder and answered it.

"Bella?" the voice seemed slightly surprised to hear my voice, which surprised me as I recognized who it was.

"Yeah. Um, hi Alice," I said, feeling uneasy. Edward's speedy departure could not have rested well with Alice.

"Where are you?" she asked, her beautiful voice coated with worry.

"I…don't know," I answered. I glanced at Edward, who was no longer watching the road as I wished he would, but watching me. Suddenly, he pulled over to the side of the road and motioned for me to give him the phone. I handed it to him and then glued my eyes to him.

"We're driving south on US-101," Edward replied to Alice's question. Suddenly he looked kind of annoyed and said quietly, "No." I took a deep breath and waited for Edward to say more, but he didn't. He just nodded. After a long pause, he said, "Bye, Alice," and hung up the phone, staring at the wheel. I concentrated on the words on the CD. The first song was long over and we were now on the fourth. This song I knew a little better, so I mouthed along with the words.

Here we go for the hundredth time,
Hand grenade pins in every line,
Throw 'em up and let something shine.
Going out of my fucking mind.
Filthy mouth, no excuse.
Find a new place to hang this noose.
String me up from atop these roofs.
Knot it tight so I won't get loose.

Finally, he spoke, "You have no idea how much it annoys me to not know what you're thinking."

I didn't say anything. I kind of shrugged and continued to stare blankly into space.

He heaved a sigh impatiently. "What I mean by that is," he corrected, "what are you thinking, Bella?"

I took a moment to take a deep breath. "I wish I knew where he was," I said quietly.

Edward looked at me with a pained expression and said, "Me, too, love." Then, anticipating my question, he said, "We're waiting for Alice."

"Where is she?" I asked.

"Near a little town called Humptulips," he replied quietly.

Humptulips? Where the hell was that? Worry crept in as I quietly asked, "Edward? Where are we?"

"We passed Hoquiam five minutes ago."

I would've been shocked, maybe even angry, if I weren't so scared. Hoquiam was far away from Forks ((A/N: Mapquest it if you need a visual.)), thus far away from Drake.

Drake wasn't vegetarian. He had been passing through Forks for a visit with Carlisle when he'd sniffed me out. Carlisle wasn't home that night; he'd volunteered to work overnight at the hospital. In fact, no one had been home. Esme, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett had all gone away to Alaska for some bigger game to hunt. Alice had seen my future suddenly disappear just before she left for hunting, and, just in case, had decided to just hunt around the Olympic National Park. So, when Drake broke into the house, Edward was prepared.

But Drake had escaped. He'd seen that Edward was protecting me rather than trying to kill me, so after a long fight, he ran into the woods and away into the night.

Not to my surprise, Edward's protection level had risen since then. He followed me everywhere, which I was thankful for. But tonight Alice had seen a vision of Drake coming back for me. I didn't know what all that vision had entailed, but I was sure I wouldn't want to find out.

Edward's phone rang again, startling me out of my daydream. This time Edward answered it. "He…" was all he got out. I listened as the one-sided conversation progressed. After a minute or so, Edward said, "Alice, slow down. I can't understand you. Now, start over." I studied Edward's face as Alice started her story over again. It started out as focused, turned into shock and then, finally, a mix of anger and relief. "That's all?" he said finally, "Well, OK, tell me if it changes." He hung up the phone and stared at the radio as the song progressed.

Finally I had to ask. "What? What changed?"

"He's not coming after you tonight," Edward said, "He's decided to see what we do with you. Toy with you and strike at an unexpected moment. We need to be prepared."

"So, back to Forks?" I asked, immediately wishing I hadn't asked.

Edward laughed, but it was solemn. "No, Bella. Not back to Forks. We need a safe place to hide you," he said, "We'll decide where to go when Alice gets here."

"Oh" was all I could think to say.

Headlights flashed behind us and then a car parked in front of us on the shoulder of the road. The car door opened and the next thing I knew, Alice was sitting in the backseat of Edward's Volvo. No one spoke for the longest time, until Edward finally broke the silence.

"How long until he comes, Alice?" he asked.

"I don't know," Alice replied. Her voice was the slightest bit annoyed but still considerate, "He hasn't made a choice yet. Until he does, I have no way of knowing what will happen."

Edward went silent.

"So," I said, hoping to break the tension in the air, "where to?"

"How about Portland?" Alice suggested.

Edward scoffed, "Portland? A big city? Full of lots of other humans that when he finds her he can also kill? Yes, Alice, good logic."

I'm betting Alice would've blushed if she could. I piped up, feeling sorry for Alice but understanding Edward's sharpness, "Why don't just keep driving? Please? We can discuss this as we drive."

Edward looked at me, sympathizing with his eyes. He put his car into drive and continued to drive down the road. We were quiet for the longest time, but I suspected Edward was examining Alice's thoughts, and using the quiet tongue vampires had to talk about what to do when my head was turned. Finally, Edward turned on his right blinker and turned onto a new road.

"We're going to Portland after all?" I asked.

"No," Edward answered. But that was all he said.

"So…where, then?" I asked.

"I saw a vision of us in a small town off this road," Alice replied. She was very focused and suddenly she pointed and cried, "Edward! Get to the right lane! There! That's it!"

Edward hit the brake and swerved, nearly hitting two people, and exited.

"Hicktown?" I asked, "You're hiding me in a town called Hicktown?"

Edward smiled my favorite half-smile. Just this made my heart pound. "Are you hungry?" he asked. He suddenly seemed relaxed and calm.

"How are you so calm when I'm looking around myself like an idiot?" I asked, a little miffed.

"Because, Bella," Edward replied, "I cannot smell werewolves, I cannot smell Drake and I cannot hear Jessica's thoughts, so I am happy. Now, are you hungry?"

"Well, yeah," I answered, "But I can wait until we get set…"

"Bella, it's a beautiful cloudy day!" Alice interrupted, "We can go anywhere you want. Let's see. There's Burger King, Subway, a pizza place, and some Mexican restaurant. Your choice."

I sighed. They weren't going to back down on this. "Fine. Subway," I answered.

"Thank you," Alice sighed. Edward made a left and parked in the parking lot. We got out and went inside. I placed my order and since there was no one else in the restaurant, we sat down to eat. Edward and Alice were staring at me. Both of them seemed to be holding their breath.

"What?" I asked.

"This place smells disgusting," Alice whispered.

I breathed in the smell of Subway. I'd always thought Subway was the best-smelling fast food place. But then I remembered Alice and Edward were repulsed even by my food. It must be even more so when we were surrounded by a great-smelling restaurant. "Oh, sorry," I said, "Um, let's go. I'll eat in the car."

But suddenly both Edward and Alice were staring at the door. "Something's coming," I heard Alice whisper. I checked to see that their eyes were bronze, which they were. So what could be coming that was so bad.

I hope you liked it! Review and I shall update!

-Peace Out-

-Alyson May-