Chapter 14: A Match?
When I arrived home, I parked my Volvo in the garage and then walked into the house. I only had to wait a minute for Alice to arrive.
"Okay," she said, "Let's go." I nodded before we started to run. We didn't run very far away, the further I was from Bella, the more anxious I became. When we found a good place to hunt, we waited for our perfect prey. Once we had caught three elks each, we were full, but we didn't leave straight away.
Edward? she asked in her thoughts.
"Yes?"
"What are your plans for tomorrow?" I sighed. I didn't really want to tell her exactly what I was planning, so I had kept thinking of different things to do tomorrow – trying to avoid Alice finding out. But I figured that she was going to figure it out eventually.
"I was going to show Bella something," I started.
Yes…I got that part, but what were you going to show her?
I sighed again, I wanted her to figure it out, "Well…tomorrow's weather is meant to be sunny," I said. At first her thoughts lingered on her confusion, and then suddenly; she understood. Her mouth formed an 'O' shape.
Edward…
"I know, I know its risky…But I need to Alice. I need to show her what I am. Maybe then she'll…" my voice trailed off.
"She'll what? She'll become frightened of you and stop talking to you?" she asked sarcastically.
"I can only hope," I said.
"You know only a small part of you wants that. You really want her to accept you for what you are; exactly what you are." I knew this, but I also knew it wasn't a good thing. Bella shouldn't accept me, or like me, or love me…She shouldn't have any feelings for me besides fear and revulsion. Suddenly Alice smiled, so I listened to her thoughts.
She's going to be shocked; when she sees you in the sun. At least, for the first time…This stumped me, was she going to see me in the sun more than once?
"Alice…what do you mean the first time? You mean, you've seen it happen?" I asked.
"Well…yes, just glimpses here and there. But of course, every time you change your mind, what I see changes…" she started to frown, and I suddenly knew why. She had been receiving glimpses of Bella seeing me in the sun – sometimes on more than one occasion – but every time my mind lingers too much on the possibility of killing Bella because of the potent smell of her blood, Alice's visions change. I knew how easy it would be; just one slip and her life – my life - would be over. I couldn't let that happen; surely my love for this beautiful, unique, human girl would be strong enough not to hurt her, wouldn't it? And combined with my curiosity of her…
"Ah," I said. Though suddenly, once I'd started to think more intently on Bella, I ached to be closer to her; I needed to make sure she was safe. "You ready?" I asked. As soon as she nodded we headed off, and - as Alice must have sensed my need to be with Bella – we sprinted the whole way home.
When we arrived at the house, the first thing I noticed was Emmett, Jasper and Rosalie on the couch. This time, Emmett and Rosalie were actually playing chess, and Jasper watched intently; until of course, he realised Alice was back.
"Alice," he sighed before gliding quickly to her side. Instead of embracing each other, they simply stared into each other's eyes before sitting down on the couch. I decided to do the same; until everyone's thoughts were distracting me from my own.
I am NOT going to let her beat me, how embarrassing would it be to lose to a girl? Maybe if I move my castle next to her horse… Yes! Emmett exclaimed in his head.
Rosalie was laughing in her head, He is so…dumb. I set a trap for him and he goes for it! I know he's going to put that castle there, get me in check, and then I can simply move my bishop for a check mate! Oh Emmett darling…you are going to be so embarrassed; losing to girl! She thought.
At least Alice is back, that's all that matters. But why is there a hint of anxiety? Why would she feel nervous? Jasper wondered.
Maybe I should tell the family what Edward is going to do tomorrow…Alice considered before glancing at Jasper. She smiled sweetly at him, maybe…not; at least not yet. No need to worry them as well.
I decided I wouldn't be able to think properly unless I was at least in my room. But before running up the stairs, I leaned in close to Alice so that I could whisper a thankyou. As I walked away, she gave me a guilty expression before a nod. I was so grateful to Alice; she made it easier for me. If the whole family knew what I was planning to do tomorrow; let Bella see what I look like in the sun, there would be a mass of anxiety, and Jasper didn't need that. He didn't need to feel everyone's worries, only mine and Alice's; at least for now. I walked into my room and quickly changed my t-shirt, I didn't know why I felt the need to, but I did it anyway. After that, I ran downstairs and out the door; but not before hearing a few thoughts on the way.
My God, I can not believe I lost to a girl! This sucks, I want to play aga- Oh, See ya Edward! Emmett shouted mentally.
Oh, sweet justice. That makes all of the times he's said girls aren't better than guys, just…disappear, Rosalie sighed with joy.
See you when you get back, Alice thought.
Off again? He must really like this Bella girl…Jasper noted.
I smiled as I continued running through the forest, up until I jumped in through her bedroom window. When I noticed a tan sweater on her rocking chair, I decided I'd wear my tan sweater tomorrow. I beamed at the thought of us wearing the same clothes item.
That night, Bella slept almost silently. Although she only said my name once this time, I felt happy; she hadn't slept so peacefully before. Maybe my spending nights in her room subconsciously made her feel safer… No. I pushed that hopeful thought out of my head as I got changed the next morning. I quickly found my tan sweater before deciding to just wear it with my white collar shirt with blue jeans. I said a brief goodbye to Carlisle and Alice – the rest were out hunting – before I ran to her house. I noticed that Charlie's car was gone, before detecting footsteps walking down the stairs. I walked up to the door and knocked. After a couple of rapid footsteps and movements with the locks, she opened the door at last; allowing me to see her. She looked so beautiful as I assessed her. I didn't know what my face looked like, but after I noticed it, I felt myself smile and heard my laugh. We were wearing exactly the same clothes. She was also wearing a white collar shirt and blue jeans. The word 'coincidence' was an understatement. I thought I'd better say something, she looked worried.
"Good morning," I chuckled.
"What's wrong?" she asked as she glanced down at herself. I started to laugh again.
"We match." I said. I watched her as she looked at what I was wearing; the realisation flitted across her face before she laughed with me. She turned around to lock the door, so I walked over to her truck. Why did I promise that she could drive us? Maybe I could persuade her from not driving…
"We made a deal." She reminded me in a smug tone as she climbed into the front seat and then unlocked the passenger's side. "Where to?" she asked. I was already worried as I sat down and shut the door. I didn't trust this truck at all.
"Put your seatbelt on – I'm nervous already." I said. She made a face before obeying.
"Where to?" she asked again with a sigh.
"Take the one-oh-one north," I said. While she drove I probably should have paid more attention to the road, but instead my attention was on Bella. However, I did notice how slowly we were moving. "Were you planning to make it out of Forks before nightfall?" I teased.
"This truck is old enough to be your car's grandfather – have some respect," she replied. Eventually, we were out of the town's limits, much to my surprise. She was about to say something, I could tell from her intake in breath, so I quickly spoke.
"Turn right on the one-ten." She did as was told without saying anything. "Now we drive until the pavement ends." I smiled. She seemed like she wanted to look over, but was hesitant to remove her eyes from the road.
"And what's there, at the pavement's end?" she wondered.
"A trail," I answered her, not mentioning the fact that we're not using it.
"We're hiking?" she asked. Suddenly I worried if she wouldn't like that.
"Is that a problem?" I asked.
"No." she said. She seemed a little anxious about something.
"Don't worry," I said, "it's only five miles or so, and we're in no hurry." She didn't answer me after that. All I had to hear was her breathing and her heartbeat change in speed. Why couldn't I hear her thoughts? What was she thinking right now? Did she still want to do this? Eventually, I gave up trying to figure it out by myself.
"What are you thinking?" I asked impatiently.
"Just wondering where we're going," she answered. I smiled.
"It's a place I like to go when the weather is nice." I said before we both glanced out the windows at the thinning clouds, allowing the sun to show.
"Charlie said it would be warm today." She said.
"And did you tell Charlie what you were up to?" I asked, feeling nervous.
"Nope." She said, but I'd expected that, at least Jessica knew she was with me; that made me feel better.
"But Jessica thinks we're going to Seattle together?" I asked to check.
"No, I told her that you cancelled on me – which is true." She said. What? Jessica didn't know? No one knew?!
"No one knows you're with me?" I asked, feeling my anger rise.
"That depends…I assume you told Alice?" she asked. Oh great! Another vampire knows! Like that would stop me from killing her! I needed a human to know, why was she doing this to me?
"That's very helpful, Bella." I snapped at her. She seemed to ignore it. Why wouldn't she listen to me? "Are you so depressed by Forks that it's made you suicidal?" I asked her.
"You said it might cause trouble for you…us being together publicly." She said, although I was surprised, it didn't distract the anger I felt.
"So you're worried about the trouble it might cause me – if you don't come home?" I asked with angry sarcasm. She just nodded, keeping her eyes on the road.
"You must be suicidal." I muttered, too quickly and too low for her ears. Neither of us spoke for the rest of the drive. I was too angry to speak; she was making it so much easier for the monster inside of me to kill her. Why? Why did she do this to me?
