I came across a fallen tree Oh simple thing where have you gone? And if you have a minute why don't we go
I felt the branches of it looking at me
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?
Somewhere Only We Know- Keane
Emmett drove me home silently with a small smile on his lips making his dimples show. How did I know this? Because, I was being a creepy stalker type person, sitting sideways in the seat and watching him.
"What?" He laughed finally.
"Nothing just watching," I smiled a little embarrassed, "you watch me every night so I'm watching you now."
"Like what you see?" He smirked turning towards me.
"Always."
Just then his phone rang and in a flash it was up to his ear.
"Yeah." He answered to something.
"We're almost there why?" Quickly he became to rushed and low for me to hear and the car sped up as he hung up.
"What's wrong?" I asked worriedly as we pulled into my driveway.
"Stay close to me," He muttered wrapping an arm around my waist almost shielding me from something. Worried, we walked in the house and I heard my parents talking in my father's study.
"I'm got to tell them I'm back," I whispered and he guided me toward them.
"Say something to get out of the house," He rushed out before he disappeared.
"Umm I'm home you guys," I tried a smile.
"Oh good do you want to go see a movie, there's been one I'm dying to see," My mom smiled and I guess that mine looked sincere.
"Actually I think I'm going to study for finals with Alice," I quickly came up with an excuse. "I just came home to grab my books."
"Oh alright," she looked a little disappointed. Giving them a small wave I practically walked up to my room and Emmett quickly grabbed me.
"What's happening?"
"Someone has been here," He hissed looking out the window.
"Victoria?" I felt my face drain.
"No, it's not someone I recognize. We need to go…now." He practically picked me up and we rushed down the stairs. I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye as he pushed me out the door and into the car before shutting the door.
"What about my parents," I said and noticed how weak my voice had gotten.
"Jasper and Devan are already out there," he muttered just as he pulled out his phone.
oOo
When we walked in Edward was glaring hard at Alice and I noticed Emmett tense up from beside me.
"Stop it, Edward," Bella whispered and his glare turned on her before he relaxed.
"You're right, Bella. I'm sorry," His eyes flicked to Alice. "Forgive me, Alice. I shouldn't be taking this out on you. That was inexcusable."
"I understand," Alice assured. "I'm not happy about it, either."
Edward took a deep breath, "Okay, now that Emmett and Piper are here let's look at this logically. What are the possibilities?"
Just then I noticed how still everyone had been because they all suddenly relaxed. Slowly Emmett pushed me towards the couch where I sat down beside Edward and he took the arm balancing beside me. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Carlisle giving a comforting smile. Turning back around I heard him speak.
"Victoria?" He asked.
"No. I didn't know the scent. He might have been from the Volturi, someone I've never met…"
"Aro hasn't asked anyone to look for them yet. I will see that. I'm waiting for it." Alice spoke from behind me.
Edwards head snapped up, the sudden movement making me jump slightly. "You're watching for an official command."
"You think someone's acting on their own? Why?"
"Caius' idea," He suggested.
"Or Jane's…" Alice added. "They both have the resources to send an unfamiliar face…"
"And the motivation."
I looked down at the floor twiddling my fingers just to keep moving when Emmett reached down taking my hand.
"It doesn't make sense, though," Esme spoke up. "If whoever it was meant to wait for Piper and Bella, Alice would have seen that. He, or she, had no intention of hurting them, or their parents, for that matter." I shuddered slightly thinking of my parents and whoever. How my Dad would try to protect my mom but it would be useless. Both would be gone within seconds.
"It's going to be fine, Bella," Esme murmured and I realized she must have done the same thing.
"But what was the point then?" Carlisle mused.
"To see if we were still human," I guessed.
"Possible," He said.
Rose finally let out a sigh and moved from her place looking out the glass wall. Just then Devan and Jasper burst through the kitchen door.
"Long gone, hours ago," Devan said in disappointment. "The trail went East, then south, and disappeared on a side road. Had a car waiting."
"That's bad luck," Edward muttered.
"Yeah if he'd gone west those dogs could have made themselves useful," Emmett muttered.
Jasper looked over at Carlisle, "Neither of us recognized him. But here." He held out a broken fern frond, "Maybe you know the scent."
Carlisle took it and breathed in before giving a slight head shake. "No. Not familiar. Not one I've ever met."
"Perhaps we're looking at this the wrong way. Maybe it's a coincidence…" Esme began but stopped when everyone gave her disbelieving stares. "I don't mean a coincidence that a stranger happened to pick their houses to visit at random. I meant that maybe someone was just curious. Our scent is all around the both of them. Was he wondering what draws us there?"
"Why wouldn't he just come here then? If he was curious?" Emmett demanded.
"You would," Esme gave him a fond smile. "The rest of us aren't always so direct. Our family is very large, he or she might be frightened. But their parents weren't harmed. This doesn't have to be an enemy."
Everyone seemed to ponder her words.
"I don't think so." Alice spoke, "The timing of it was too perfect… This visitor was so careful to make no contact. Almost like he or she knew that I would see…"
"He could have other reasons for not making contact," Esme reminded her.
"Does it really matter who it was?" Bella spoke. "Just the chance that someone was looking for us…isn't that reason enough? We shouldn't wait for graduation."
For the first time I thought that maybe it was a good idea, this was getting way to close for comfort.
"No, Bella," Edward said quickly. "It's not that bad. If you're really in danger, we'll know."
"Think of Charlie," Carlisle reminded her. "Think of how it would hurt him if you disappeared."
"I am thinking of Charlie! He's the one I'm worried about! What if my little guest had happened to be thirsty last night? As long as I'm around Charlie he's a target, too. If anything happened to him, it would be all my fault!"
"Hardly, Bella," Esme said. "And nothing will happen to Charlie. We're just going to have to be more careful."
"More careful?" Bella repeated.
"It's all going to be fine, Bella," Alice promised.
I sat there silently thinking of what it would have been like to walk into a house with both of my parents dead. I thought of their fear of some human looking creature coming up to them in their own house. A house they were supposed to be safe in, that's why we moved here.
'Was nowhere safe,' I shook my head and got up walking out of the room tearing my hand out of Emmett's.
Going out onto the porch I took in a huge gulp of fresh air then let it all out in a sigh. I hopped up onto the railing and turned around so I was looking out into the back yard.
"I really wish you wouldn't do that," Emmett spoke from behind me.
"What?" I asked taking in the atmosphere, it was so much better out here not as stuffy.
"Sit like that…I'm afraid you're going to fall."
"I'm perfectly fine Em," I frowned and looked down at the ground. It was only about 10 feet down, I definitely wouldn't die maybe just a bit hurt.
"I'm sorry," He sighed.
"For what?" I asked softly but still curious.
"Bringing this all into your life," At that I turned my head and looked at him seeing his pained expression, "I didn't want any of this to happen to you."
Raising my hand I signaled for him to come closer. Once he was in reach I grabbed his arm and wrapped it around my waist. Getting what I wanted, he did it with the other arm.
"If I get you in the end it's all worth it," I whispered and turned back around leaning into his chest.
oOo
There was a constant watch on Bella and I's houses most of the time is was of course Edward and Emmett but sometimes I'd look out the window and see a slight blur of blonde.
Sunday I was studying for my math final with Emmett casually tossing a ball up and down while lying back on my bed when his phone buzzed.
"Edward wants to know if you've noticed any of your things missing." He sat up on my bed and I turned biting my lip.
"Now that I think about it I couldn't find a couple of my scarves the other day and I thought that my hamper was full but it's not anymore."
He snapped his phone shut and walked over to the desk and opened my laptop.
"What's going on?"
"We think the vampire took some of your things to get your scent and Edward wanted me to look up something." He already had the internet up and was typing.
Glancing over I caught that he had pulled up the Seattle Times and was looking under the story 'Murder Epidemic Continues-Police Have No New Leads.'
"It's getting a lot worse," I murmured more to myself that him.
"They are out of control, it can't possibly be just one newborn. They aren't sticking to the rules at all."
"They wouldn't come here to stop it would they?" I frowned knowing this is something the Volturi do.
"They normally don't even let it get this bad."
"What are you guys thinking?"
"We don't want the Volturi coming here to stop it so maybe we can go over there and fix it. If we do have to it's good that we have Jasper."
I shuddered slightly thinking about Jasper's past.
Later that night I actually got a call from Edward asking me to go with Bella to the bonfire in La Push.
"Edward I wasn't exactly invited, and why? I thought you trusted Bella's judgement."
"I do trust Bella I just don't trust him."
"You want me to spy basically."
"Basically."
"Bonfires aren't typically something that normal people can go to but I'll try." I sighed.
"Good Emmett will be over tonight."
Rolling my eyes I decided to try and phone Jacob to see if I could come.
They phone rang a couple times before he picked up.
"Yup?"
"Uh hey Jacob," I winced slightly hoping that he wouldn't just hang up.
"Piper?" He questioned.
"Yeah, um, well oh this is ridiculous." I huffed. "I'm only a mere human and I don't know how he thinks I'll be of any benefit but Edward would like me to go with Bella tonight."
"I'm not surprised," He said after he got done chuckling, "Of course you can come Piper; Paul, Embry and Jared will be happy to see you."
"Yeah this should be interesting," I groaned getting another laugh, "I'll see you at the treaty line."
"You're going with them?" He sounded a bit surprised.
"No I'm definitely going to drive myself," I was firm on that I'm not going to be stuck in an uncomfortable car if I have to do this.
"Well, see you tonight…"He paused, "and umm Piper I'm sorry about what I said at school."
"It's alright Jake, all is forgotten." I said and we both hung up.
