Chapter 2: Blissful Midnight

Another week had passed, and still no sign of Bella. The longer she was gone, the more numb I became. The only time I felt anything at all, was on the runs I made with Leah; it seemed, now, that they were as much mine as they were hers. Nothing had really changed, I did as she had requested and kept my distance. A couple of times she'd looked in the direction of my car and smirked. At first, I thought it was because she pitied me, but then I realized she found comfort in having me around.

It was just about midnight; time for me to make a break for it. Usually this was easily done, because by this time of night my family was coupled up and separated, but tonight this was not the case. Everyone was sitting in the living room when I came down to make my escape. The scene might have appeared more normal if anyone had been talking, or at the very least, the television had been on, but they were all silent. I descended the last of the stairs, and edging around the room, scanned Alice's thoughts. I rolled my eyes; this was about me, and I wasn't about to have this conversation. I reached for the front doorknob and prepared to be stopped by Esme. Of course they would use Esme, she may not be my real mother, but our mother/son bond was genuine.

"Edward," halting me with her hand outstretched. "We need to talk, sweetheart." She said as she placed her hand on my shoulder.

"I don't want to talk about Bella," I hissed, turning around; they all stared at me.

"This isn't about Bella," Alice chimed in, rising and approaching Esme and me. "We're concerned about where you go to at night. You're future is becoming really unclear, and I want to know why." They all waited for me to answer.

"I don't know, Alice! Maybe you're losing your abilities or something." I murmured blandly.

"No, that's not it; I see everyone clearly except for you," she replied.

"Are you planning to leave us, Edward?" Esme blurted out, with hurt in her eyes. She hated when I left, and to be honest she and Carlisle were the main reason I stayed.

"No, Esme, I have no plans for leaving. I just need to escape at night and run away from my thoughts." I explained, only because I wanted Esme to stop looking that way.

"I told them to let you be. The only time your emotions resemble happiness is during the night." Jasper now joined his wife, who was frowning at me.

"So what are you doing that is making you so happy, Edward?" I thought about Leah, last night we'd gone to a poetry dive that I had really enjoyed. So much so, that I inched my way inside the building; the artists were really good. Leah had immediately noticed my presence and issued me an amused, yet kind expression. I had hoped to find, somewhere in her thoughts, that she would deem it okay for me to sit near her; however, I never got that invitation. "Edward?" Alice snapped her fingers a couple time redirecting my focus to her.

"I attend different little events to get my mind off your best friend," I said bluntly, and her eyes widened. I only said it for shock value; the hurt and sadness was merely a mild disappointment now. "You're about to make me late, so if you'll excuse me." I successfully made it out of my house and quickly bolted to my car. Now it was time to find Leah, I'd have to take in her scent and try to track her. Usually I would wait for her a couple miles from her house, but it was after midnight, I knew she'd already taken off into the night.

I only travelled about ten miles outside of Forks, when I saw Leah, sitting on the trunk of her car, on the side of the road. I pulled off the road to check on her. I got out and approached her cautiously because her thoughts were so loud. She was angry about her flat tire, but what mainly had her upset was everything that was going on at home. She was tired of everyone expecting her to just deal with everything, and fit in where she could. She didn't want to fit in there, at all anymore. I glanced in her backseat and saw her suitcases; tonight she'd planned to disappear forever, only to be stopped by technology.

"You're late," she said blandly.

"I know," I spoke softly. I knew that lower tones had the tendency to calm people, and even though Leah didn't look like it right now, she was extremely on edge. "Do you have a spare?" She shook her head.

"Would I be sitting here if I did? I know how to change a flat, Edward. I'm not dumb." She fumed.

"Even if you didn't know how to change a flat you wouldn't be dumb," I commented as I inched my way closer to her. She was thinking of how Sam had come to her, today, and told her that he loved her; that he missed being able to just talk to her, because she knew him so well. He had begged her for her friendship, and she denied him. She felt that she'd be holding on to some form of hope if she did. She was furious at him for making her to make that sort of decision. She was angry because he wouldn't let her heal. Leah took a deep breath, then peered at me from under drawn brows.

"Are you getting all this? I'd hate to actually have to say anything out loud." She forced a little smile to her lips.

"Yeah, point blank; your ex is a bit of a jerk."

She laughed at my statement. "Point blank; imprinting sucks ass!" She hopped down and began removing her stuff from her back seat. "I guess you're driving tonight! It's probably better that we use one car to cut down on gas anyway."

"What about my repulsive stench?" I teased as I grabbed the rest of her stuff and assisted her in moving it into my car.

"I'll survive, I'm sure." She retorted as she opened the passenger side door and let herself in. I followed suit and sat in the driver's seat and then waited for her to tell me where to go.

"Just drive." She said. "I don't care where we end up. I just don't want to be in Forks." I nodded, started my car and took off. She marveled at how fast I drove. I think she liked that it was a bit reckless. She rolled downed her window and let the wind whip around her hand for a while. Sam's words were blaring in her head. I wished I could just tell her to let it go, but if I did I would be a hypocrite. She blew out a sigh, then glanced at me. "What type of music do you listen to?" She played with my CD player and cut it on before I could stop her. I was having a chick moment and Adele had been on full blast. Leah snickered a little.

"You're a punk Edward, you know that don't you?" She looked out the window again and began to sing along to the song. "I heard that you're settled down. That you found a girl and you're married now. I heard that your dreams came true. Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you …" She was singing low but I heard her perfectly. Leah was musical like I was. I could appreciate her talent, but the words to the song were hurting her. I reached to change the track and her hand touched mine, blocking me from my endeavor. It was the first time that we made physical contact. The heat of her skin tingled against mine. Pop rocks, was how she described the sensation. The feeling was intriguingly odd.

"Don't change it," she ordered. "Sometimes… I need to be a little sad. I'm pretty sure you get where I'm coming from." I nodded.

"Of course I understand. I also like the piano in this song, the artist is really talented." I pulled over; I wasn't exactly sure which city we'd ended up in, but I'd noticed a park and decided to stop there.

"Yeah, I like Adele too, not many guys I know do. That's what makes you a punk." She giggled as she got out of the car. "Nice pick by the way. The park, I mean, it seems peaceful." I was now at her side as we walked the paths, listened the birds' sounds, and enjoyed just … being. "Really nice pick," she murmured and then sighed.

"Thank you." I looked up at the sky. My conversation with my family ran through my head. It was understandable that they are concerned about me, but I was starting to feel like my every move was monitored. I needed to get over this Bella thing alone and unless I asked for help they should just give me space. Then another thing crossed my mind, Jasper claimed that I was happier the closer the hour neared to midnight. Did these outings genuinely make me happy? I shook my head and observed Leah, who like me was deep in thought. She walked away from me toward the fountain. She pulled a coin out of her pocket to make a wish.

I just want to be happy again.

Again, I related to her and felt her pain and frustration. More thoughts of her family, mainly her father ran through her head. Her mother was strong woman, but had focused herself on issues with the tribe, instead of the emotional scars her family was healing from. Leah was having trouble staying in their house because the presence of her father was so strong. His scent was everywhere and she couldn't heal… she couldn't let go.

"I can't go back to that house," she whispered to the fountain. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to." She looked back at me and a single tear lingered on her cheek. This Leah was soft and broken. She was showing me a side of herself that she hadn't let anyone witness.

"So what are you going to do, Leah? Are you going to run away for good? People will miss you," I stated. "As weird as it may seem. I'll miss you."

"Trust me, you'll find someone else to stalk." She rolled her eyes and looked back at the fountain. I stood beside her again and we watched as the different colored lights lit the water.

"I could run with you," I offered, and she frowned at me, confused.

"Why? You're family cares whether you live or die. Why would you leave them?" She asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

"There's being concerned, and there's smothering." I murmured.

"I wished someone would smother me." She huffed and then shook her head. "I think you should stay, but I can't make any decisions for you. I know I have to go back at least one more time."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Because my car is there," she giggled. "I think I'm going to need some transportation."

"Very true," I smirked. "So, did you want to head back?" She shook her head.

"Not tonight. Maybe I could get a hotel room or something. I'm just not ready to face anyone." She stuck her hands in her pockets and I pulled out my phone to search for nearby hotels.

"There's a hotel fifteen miles out." She nodded and started walking back towards the car.

"Okay," she said as she entered the vehicle. After a few moments on the road, she laughed.

"What?"

"Nothing… it's just… I never would've thought I'd be going to a hotel with a vampire." We laughed together a little; I cut the music back on and the melodies took over, sparing us from the awkward attempts at conversing. We both focused on the night and the odd twists and turns our lives were taking.