4. TOUR DE FORKS

Yesterday, I finally got to spend time with just Edward and Renesmee at our meadow. It had been abnormally sunny for a town that's famous for a constant cover of clouds. Tiny diamonds sparkled all over our skins. Although, Nessie's skin was less pronounce, it still had a shine to it other humans would be jealous of.

We raced a few times in the forest letting Nessie win. That was until she told us to actually start trying and then, Edward won every time. It was so care-freeing. Never in a million years when I was human would I consider doing any sort of marathon or sprint. Now, I loved running.

I had hardly thought at all about cookies, which was what the scent reminded me of. Edward and Nessie were good distractions.

Today, I would go into town and find the one person I wanted to kill. It seemed to make a whole lot of sense to Jasper. I thought it was crazy. However, I went ahead with it seeing that Jasper promised to take me out if I lunged at the guy.

Today was lighly drizzling. The sun hidden beneath the gray clouds. A dark overcast. The perfect opposite to yesterday's beauty.

Jasper, Edward, and I arrived in town early in the morning so we could catch the breakfast crowd at The Lodge. It was our first destination in hopes, we'd find the person there and that'd be it. We walked in and at first I only got whiffs of coffee, eggs, bacon, pancakes, and syrup. Someone close to me smelled like lavender and orchids but I tried to block it out.

"Concentrate." whispered Jasper as we sat down at a booth.

It was a female waitress that came to take our orders. I noticed her breathing quicken when she saw Jasper and Edward. It was typical behavior of any female who came into contact with the Cullen men. Her name tag read, Jamie. I couldn't remember, but she looked like a high school student I probably saw through the halls when I was a senior. Besides, she smelled like citrus. "Hi! What will you guys be having this morning?" She seemed cheery.

"Three bottles of water." Edward flashed his crooked smile; the one I fell in love with. Jamie's heart skipped a beat while she had listened to Edward speak.

"Is that all?" She asked, looking only at Edward.

"For now."

"Alright, I'll be right back!" Jamie ambled behind the counter and then disappeared.

Once I blocked out the aroma the food made, I was able to smell wood, leather, metal, rust, every single cleaning product imaginable, and even the dried, chipping paint on the walls. There were a few who smelled sickly sweet like honey and sugar, but nobody matched the fragrance from the time before. "It's not here."

"Are you sure?" Jasper inquired just as the waitress came back to the table with three cold water bottles. I watched condensation happen as tiny water droplets formed around the outside of the bottles.

"Is there anything else I can get you three? The breakfast specials are listed on the white board. There's---"

Jasper cut Jamie off. "No. The water is fine. Can we have the bill?"

She quickly nodded her head. "Sure--no problem." Jamie placed the tab on the table. She then sped away to another table in need of assistance and who were more friendly, I presume.

Edward was looking at Jasper. "How long do you think that will take?"

Jasper was silent. Whatever they were conversing about, they made sure I wasn't a part of it.

"There's no need." Edward paused, I'm guessing, for Jasper to anwser. "Don't you think I know that? Either way it wouldn't be helpful."

I looked at both of them. "Uh, I'm still here and I think I can handle whatever you're saying about me."

Edward finally broke his stare at Jasper and faced me. "Jasper thinks we should split up and ask around to see if anyone new has moved in recently. He thinks it's the only possible explanation to why this is happening now. However, I'm still hoping it's the hiker scenario."

"Edward," I paused, realizing something. "What if it's not someone I've never met, what if…it's someone I know? I haven't talked to anybody since I've changed. Sure, with the exceptions of Charlie and everyone down at the Reservation, but mostly, the town thinks I got married and went to Dartmouth."

"Hmm..." Jasper rubbed his chin. He looked directly at Edward.

"No." Edward simply put. He was reading Jasper's mind again.

"Fine." Jasper turned to me. "What do you think we should do?"

"We should split up. Honestly, if it's someone I know--even if it takes every fiber in my body-- I think I would be able to control myself. I think it would be smart to ask around if Fork's population has grown in size for the first time since I moved here."

Edward brushed his hand against my cheek as he faced me. We were sitting next to each other in the booth. "You have no idea how hard it was for me..."

"That's true...but you didn't kill me, did you?"

"Bella..."

"Well, in the sense of not existing." I smiled hoping that would lighten the air. "I can handle myself. I wouldn't put the family at risk like that."

Edward sighed, conceding. "So, the plan is to find out if there has been any new residents."

"I'll check some nearby outlets." With that, Jasper was up and out the doors.

After Jasper was out of sight, Edward and I left the diner, leaving the three unopened bottles in the trash. I faced him once we got on the sidewalk. It finally ceased to rain for the time being. "I'll stop at the sad building that calls itself a library." I gently kissed him. "I promise not to fall in love with the guy--if it is a guy, if you swear not to worry about me the whole time we're apart."

"I don't think I can't do that."

I kissed him once more, this time with a little bit more passion. "Care to make a retraction?"

"No, but, a compromise. You let me worry about you because I love you and you are my life." Edward violently pushed his lips to mine. At any given point, someone could walk out the diner and notice our little public display of affection, but I couldn't care less.

"Deal."

---

I glided up the steps to the library with ease. Dust and the old book smell filled the entire two rooms that made up the pathetic Fork's Library. There were three computers on the far left corner of the first room. The only three. The few shelves of books the library did offer were mainly classics I've read at least twice. There was only four people here with myself included. One librarian and two people reading books at a lopsided table. I went up to the Librarian who was sitting at her desk, staring off into space. Her glasses were halfway down her nose.

"Hi." I said once I got her attention.

"How may I help you dear?" Her smile was welcoming, but I could tell she was staring at my perfect features. Her eyes were full of jealousy.

"This is a strange question, but has anyone moved to Forks recently?"

"Honey, this is the library not the police station. Try there, Charlie probably knows something if there's anything to tell."

I sighed. "Thank you, anyways." I wanted to ask the two people who sat at the table, but they had left while I talked with the unhelpful Librarian. I hit my first dead end.

Walking at human speed through town was getting on my nerves. I could've easily gotten to every destination in half the time, but then there was the chance someone would notice. It felt like the Tour de France and I was without a bike.

The next placed I traveled to was the Post Office. It was completely empty except for the thirty-something clerk at the counter. He looked at me and his mouth dropped open. He shut it quickly and composed himself. "Hello Miss, anything I can do for--help you with?"

Hopefully, taking a different approach this time would get more information. "Uh, a pack of stamps is fine."

"Any kind in particular?"

"Surprise me."

The clerk got out a pack with different kinds lilies on them. "How are these?"

"Perfect." I handed him the cash and while he was figuring out the exact change, I asked, "So, any new residents? I'm just curious."

"Oh, um, I could check the mail orders. Any name I don't recognize might be someone who just moved here. Though sharing that info with you might get me in trouble."

I smiled. "I can keep a secret if you can."

His heart rate quickened. "I'll be right back." He turned around and went into the backroom behind the counter. A couple minutes later, he reappeared. "Nope. Sorry I couldn't be of more help." His eyes then lingered on my hand that was holding the bag with the stamps. He stared at my ring and immediately, his smiled vanished.

"Well, ah, thanks for the stamps." I turned around and left.

This was tougher than I imagined. I couldn't go to the police station in fear of Charlie asking too many questions. I knew if no one new moved to Forks recently, my true fear would come true. That the scent radiated off of someone I knew. The hiker probability was unlikely. I knew the scent, I just had no way of finding it without searching the town in its entirety.

I wouldn't give up just yet and I had a few more places I could go. My feet lead the way as I walked in the direction of Newton's Sporting Goods.

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