Ch 3
Bella's diary
Holy shit! I almost died today!
But let's start at the beginning. I'm so confused and messed up that I really have to put this in writing or I'll go insane.
It was very quiet this morning when I woke up, and when I opened the window, I found out why: it had been snowing in the night and everywhere was covered with a thin layer of white flakes. Charlie was already out when I came downstairs – he definitely works too much. So I had a quick breakfast of a granola bar and a swig of orange juice straight from the box before getting my stuff and setting out for school. After a quick encounter of my butt with the pavement I drove to school very carefully, hoping that as the truck had been living in Washington State all its long life it would be up to this weather, and indeed – it was! While everybody around me had problems, my big orange monster sailed right through to school without a single mishap. I almost couldn't believe my luck!
I parked and automatically turned my head to where Edward usually parked his Volvo, and yes, he and his family were already standing there, chatting. Eager to get to him, I got my book bag, and gave my truck a quick pat on the wing, when I noticed something on the tires. I bent down to check, and yes, there were chains on all my tires. I felt a lump in my throat: Charlie was such a good dad. He must have gotten up very early to get my truck ready. I swear the man lives only for other people, and earns their thanks without ever noticing his own worth. It might be a rotten thing to think about one's mom, but I doubt Renee would have done the same. It is just… heart-warming to be the one who is taken care of for once!
When I looked up again, a catastrophe was about to unfold: Tyler had taken the turn for the parking lot too fast, and his van was now slithering towards me, completely out of control. It was only a matter of seconds before I would be squashed between the high-powered van and my very solid truck. Things were happening so fast that I didn't even have time to cry for help. I saw the van coming at me as if in slow motion, when suddenly something else came between me and the lot of metal very fast. I closed my eyes, confused, and when I opened them again I was in Edward's arm, and he was pushing the van away with his other hand. The screeching noise though didn't stop, and only a second later I realised that the van had set another vehicle in motion which was now taking course for my legs. Edward cursed and pushed that car too, leaving a hand-shaped dent in its wing. After all the noise of the cars had died down, all hell broke loose on the lot: everybody dashed towards the place of the accident. Somebody had already called 911, the sirens could be hard in the distance. Tyler looked out of the van's window, all bloody from the glass of the windshield. That must have been when I passed out, but before I did that I saw Edward quietly disappearing from where he had been holding me up.
The next thing I knew was that I was in the ER and Dr. Cullen was checking me through. It was so annoying – why did I always end up in the hospital bed? Edward's father/adoptive father looks just gorgeous, too, blond and very young for a doctor. He was very gentle and reassuring, and his accents had a bit of a British tinge to it I thought, but I might be mistaken there. Five minutes later Charlie dashed in, looking all worried and upset. Dr. Cullen calmed him down, assuring him that there would be no lasting injuries, and I should just take it easy for a while. The way I felt I certainly agreed with that, and nodded to the idea of going home. "I don't think I would be here, if it hadn't been for Edward", I told the kind doctor. He seemed surprised at that and I thought I detected a note of worry in his golden eyes – hmm, were they related as well as adopted? Edward's eyes had the same unusual colour. "I think you hit your head rather hard", he said, and when Charlie asked how his son had been involved, he ignored the question at first, so I said. "Edward got in the way."
"Oh, is he hurt too?" Charlie worried at once, but Dr Cullen shook his head, and bustled on.
"You have to call your mother", Charlie said, guilt written all over his face, revealing that it had been him who had called Renee. "I'll go and deal with the paperwork." He seized my book bag and disappeared.
Great! I thought at first, but then I smiled to myself: he had taken my cell along with him. I got up, and put on my shoes to get ready to leave, but when I rounded a corner to get to the main entrance I saw Edward and his sister Rosalie lurking there. Before I got to them, their father reached them, and they had a whispered discussion in a tone so quiet that the only thing I could hear was Jasper's name. They must have sensed my presence though and looked up, so I cleared my throat and asked Edward to come and talk to me for a second.
When he arrived he was extremely tense and bad-tempered. "Yes?" very clipped.
"Thank you for saving my life!"
"You're welcome", turning to leave.
"Wait! How did you get there so quickly?"
"I didn't need to, I was next to you when the whole thing happened." Big golden eyes bored into mine.
I blinked. If there is one thing I don't like it's being patronised and lied to. "Nonsense!" I said rather harshly. "I saw you, you were with your car and the others."
"Bella, don't be ridiculous, how should I have gotten to you from there in time? I think you better get some rest." He turned up his perfect nose and left me standing.
That had me speechless and I was still struggling to think about a reaction when Charlie dropped me back at the house.
What the hell happened? I'm not stupid, I know what I saw, so why is he lying to me? And why was his sister looking at me as if she wanted to tear me apart? Above all, why was the doctor behaving so strangely?
Well, even written down the whole thing does not provide any answers. I think I'll take some Advil and lie down as Edward's father suggested. In a thriller there would be sinister music and strange meetings now, but this is Forks, Washington and not Gotham.
Jasper's POV
Now what? That idiot has gone and put all of us in danger of being exposed by that… girl. I'm not sure she's really human, to my mind she looks more like a fury sent to haunt me with human memories, with bringing back my thirst for human blood and now with being threatened by the Volturi once again.
Acting normal for the rest of the school day was one of the hardest things any of us have done in our long lives, and in contrast to Rose and Edward I could not go to the hospital to check if she had already spilt the beans on her magical rescuer.
As soon as everybody was home, Carlisle convened a meeting at the dining table.
Trying to keep everybody in check he looked to me to calm the rest down, but for once I could not do him the favour and just shrugged my shoulders smiling sadly. He sighed and started by asking Edward the question all of us wanted answered. "Why did you do it?"
Edward was defensive at once. "What did you expect me to do? Should I just have let her die? I already told you at the hospital, I couldn't do that. Imagine what would have happened if her blood had been spilled?" He looked to me pointedly, and though I was mad at being singled out this way again when I had been good for more than fifty years, I had to agree with him. Had her blood been on the asphalt, everybody would have known what we are. My mouth was filling with venom at the mere idea of her blood flowing freely where I could reach it, so I did not give Edward the retort he deserved.
"What did she say about what happened?" Rosalie asked.
Carlisle sighed. "Well, the girl is no idiot, she noticed that Edward moved really fast, but she did not talk about you pushing the van etc, and as Emmett has already dealt with the dent, we could be alright, though I would agree with Rosalie, that it is not completely safe. Alice?" He turned to her, his eyebrows raised.
"I don't see a problem there, she doesn't plan on telling anyone else about what happened I think." Her answer came rather quickly, and I frowned at her. Had Edward got to her before the meeting? I was sure she was lying, probably didn't want her New York trip spoiled by complications here, selfish creature that she is.
I raised my eyebrows at Edward but he just ignored me. Now I lost my temper. "Edward, what exactly are you planning on doing here? Could you please remember that more than your precious self are affected if this whole thing blows?"
"Boys, please calm down, maybe there is a chance that something good can come from all this", Esme begged, and Carlisle also looked at me pleadingly. "What would you suggest we do, Jasper?" He asked me making plain that he respected my judgement and experience in these matters.
I felt torn apart. I just loved Carlisle and Esme, and they were the reason why I wanted to make sure nothing happened to the coven or - damn my weakness – why I didn't just leave as any self-respecting person would after breaking up with Alice. I couldn't face being on my own or returning to being a normal vampire again. However, considering my relation to Bella's blood, leaving would be the safest option, especially for Carlisle and Esme. "I think we should be proactive – Rosalie has a plan." I nodded to my blond sister to tell the others about the idea we had talked about earlier.
"No!" Edward objected before she could say a word.
Emmett cut in. "Do me a favour, bro, let her at least speak." He nodded encouragingly to his wife.
"Ok, I think maybe we should make sure Bella dies before she gets any ideas or before she starts talking. Humans are so fragile, she might develop… complications from hitting her head – poof, problem solved." Rosalie looked pleased with her idea, and while it sounded harsh, I could not argue against her.
"Oh yes, you're always so quick to shed human blood", Edward sneered.
"In contrast to you who would rather throw your whole family to the risk of being burned by the Volturi for the sake of your heroics?" Rosalie was definitely fed up with Edward too.
Emmett looked from one to the other with growing disquiet. "What about having a vote on the whole thing?"
"Fine by me", Edward said, and at that moment I knew I was beaten. If he agreed to a vote he knew he would win. I had to find another way to solve my problem.
The vote ended five to two, with Carlisle arguing against taking human lives and Emmett confident of withstanding the Volturi if trouble came about.
"Fine", I said sourly, "but please, we need to at least keep an eye on Bella, to know if she does start talking, so we can retreat before the whole thing explodes."
"No problem", Edward said slickly. I was planning on seeing her at the library tomorrow anyway."
Rosalie rolled her eyes and left the room while Esme beamed at her youngest son. "Why don't you invite her to the house?"
"So as to make sure that if we need to silence her, everybody knows she's been hanging out with you?" I asked sarcastically.
"Rubbish, I know what I'm doing", he said confidently and Esme nodded to me smiling.
That was the last straw. I left, banging the door. I had to be alone for a while to think, but deep within I was already sure what I needed to do. If I wanted any chance at sticking to this life – even if Alice and I definitely parted ways – I would have to solve the problem in the only way that worked. I had to kill the Swan girl – as soon as possible.
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