A/N: Hi there. If you're reading this, a very big thank you to you. You haven't given up on me. I could bore you with all of the details of my months long absence, but let's just get to the chapter. I'm back now, and I expect Mondays to be my update days.
I should also mention one of the reasons for the delay was the crashing of my computer. And because I'm too cool for backing up, I'm kind of winging it as I work out the plans for this story. So please let me hear your input, because I am still (re) figuring out the direction of the story.
Also, I have a Jasper/Bella story I wrote awhile ago, sans beta. I would really like to continue it, but first I want to go back and edit/rework the chapters I have. If anyone would be interesting in being a retroactive beta, I'm in the market. The story is Searching to Forget, and can be found in my profile. Send me a line. Thanks.
Also, also, a big thank you to owlsarebirdstoo and darcysmom who were the betas on this chapter. I own nothing but the storyline.
"Excuse me, I think I must have misheard you. You're what?" Garrett knew there was no way he could have misheard the strange human standing in front of him. It was impossible with his heightened vampire senses. Yet the words he heard made him temporarily doubt himself.
"I'm coming with you," Bella repeated calmly.
With a disbelieving shake of his head, Garrett laughed and continued walking the path he was on before she stopped him. Bella continued to follow, but it was a few minutes before he spoke again. "You sure have a weird sense of humour there, sweetheart."
She struggled to keep up with him as he continued, at what he found, an agonizingly slow pace. Bella, however, found herself slightly out of breath as she replied, "I'm serious."
He looked at her with a smirk but continued his strides. "I don't doubt you for a second. That's the part that worries me."
He didn't acknowledge her request, but he also didn't stop. Finding herself nearing exhaustion at the heightened pace, Bella called out. "Well, wait up already."
Instead of slowing, Garrett came to a complete standstill, bewildered by the panting girl in front of him. "You're mad." He shook his head, waiting for her denial or argument. When she remained quiet he continued, "I don't know if it's those drugs they've put you on or if it's just you, but you're mad. You want to follow me? Me; a nomadic, human-drinking vampire?"
Bella nodded in agreement, smiling slightly at the seemingly crazy, albeit accurate, description of her plan. The vampire and the human stood at odds for a great deal of time, numerous unspoken questions hanging in the air.
For the first time in centuries, Garrett found himself at a loss for words. Instead of speaking he started walking his path once again, this time a bit slower.
The walking continued for upwards of an hour, Bella hobbling to keep up with her booted foot, even at the slower pace.
As if he finally came to some decision, Garrett turned 180 degrees at vampire speed and stopped in his tracks. The movements, too quick for Bella to register, caused her to crash right into him and would have fallen over if he hadn't reached out to catch her.
"And if I just walk away and leave you here in the woods?" Garrett asked once she regained her composure, not sure himself how serious his question was.
Bella looked up with a coy smile, but there was a hidden pain behind it that Garrett couldn't quite place. "Wouldn't be the first time," she replied.
He cocked his head. She was a strange girl, this one. Though he saw the cockiness she portrayed, there was something behind her answer. As he tried to figure it out she continued, "Besides, you haven't yet. If you were going to, you would have done it already."
He had to smile at her confidence. "Oh, you perceptive little thing. Is that the case? "
Bella nodded, trying her best to look sure of herself.
"You absurd child." He shook his head, but Bella thought she could see a crack in his façade. "I thought you were done with the supernatural."
"That was the plan," Bella replied, honestly. "But it's obviously not done with me."
"I think you have a death wish, cupcake." Bella was happy to see Garrett's normal attitude back, replacing the bewildered vampire that had been in his place.
"The opposite, actually. Maybe before you could have thought that. But I'm taking back control in my life. The supernatural is coming for me either way. I can just sit at home and wait for it, or choose my own path." Garrett wondered why he felt pleased hearing her say that she chose him.
"And If I entertained the idea?" Garrett asked, not sure if he was actually considering it. "You think I want to babysit a human while she lives out her rebellious period. Help her get over her small-town itch?" The idea didn't actually sound all that unappealing to him.
Bella didn't get a chance to answer as he turned at vampire speed and walked backwards. "What do you think; that we'll have a road trip, maybe hike across the country. You can have a coming of age experience while I, the more experienced, handsome, and out of reach stud, plays your love interest on the journey to your new self?"
Bella almost stopped her feet in anger, contradicting what she was about to say. "I can assure you I am already of age, thank you very-"
Garrett interrupted her. "And what, we'll camp under the stars, you roasting marshmallows and me roasting a cup of A positive?"
Bella shook her head at the vampire. "I hadn't thought through all that yet. Sorry I didn't come with an itinerary." She was getting a little cranky.
Garrett seemed cocky, like he could take on any challenge. Hell it seemed as if he would be someone to seek them out. Now he was giving her all of this trouble. She knew it was something the old Bella, Edward's Bella, would think but she couldn't help the temporary track her mind took. He didn't want her to come. He didn't want to be tied down by some pestilent human.
Garrett could see the change in her expression, and he found that he didn't like it. He sighed, something he had not done in a very long time. He didn't know why he gave so much thought to this human's feelings. "Well, keep up then. My trip, my time."
He began to walk faster, thinking of all the counter points he could give her. What about his diet, his lack of sleep? He loved a challenge and that's what she was, but this was ludicrous.
"Listen sweetheart, why don't you just run back home and experiment with drugs or something else to get your kicks and save us both the trou-"
Garrett was interrupted by a soft thud. He turned around to see the girl hunched over. She was holding her hand close to herself. She had clearly tripped on the tree root sticking out of the ground in her haste to keep up.
He almost laughed at her clumsiness but thought it was maybe not an appropriate time. He hadn't spent much time around humans in a long time but he remembered them to be sensitive and quick to embarrass.
"I'm sorry." Bella apologized. But before Garrett could fully consider why she was apologizing, he smelled it. It was about a half second before she did. Warm, delicious, sweet.
Then Bella was looking down at her hand as it started to drip out. As her lungs filled with oxygen, she was overwhelmed by salt and iron. Blood. And before a full second could pass her head was spinning and black spots appeared behind her eyes.
When Bella awoke, she was laying on a park bench with a McDonald's bag and a Coke sitting next to her.
She slowly sat up, trying to figure out what was happening. She heard a chuckle from behind her and the events of the afternoon suddenly came back to her. She jumped away from the noise, almost knocking herself off the bench. If Garrett hadn't have sped to the other side and braced her weight, she would have been sprawled on the grass.
"Whoa there, dollface. Take it easy." She looked up at Garrett who was suspending her mid-air and quickly sat back against the bench.
"I'm sorry. But you didn't-?" She didn't really know what to say. She knew what happens when she bled in front of vampires.
To her surprise he laughed. "Don't flatter yourself. I don't go after just anything that bleeds." To be completely honest, he wasn't sure why he didn't feel tempted to taste her. He had recently fed and was rather satiated. Besides, he just saved the girl. It would be pointless to drain her after that. Yeah, that had to be it.
He motioned to the bag sitting next to her. "Well, eat up then. Regain your strength."
Bella opened the bag and immediately started eating the Big Mac. She did still feel a bit woozy. Garrett watched as she ate the abhorrent hunk of meat smothered in a revolting white sauce. "I hope that's okay. I went to the closest eating establishment, the one with the golden arches at the door that I see popping up everywhere. And I asked for their most popular entrée. The girl looked at me as if I was completely mad."
Bella shook her head. She couldn't imagine not knowing what McDonalds was. This vampire really was out of the loop. She began to wonder about how old he really was, but was too focused on her eating to take it any further.
Garrett continued to watch her with an amused smirk as she ate thin sticks of potato. Finally, as she finished and took a sip of the Coke she had to know what he was thinking. "And exactly what is so funny?"
"I was just trying to wrap my mind around a girl that takes on wolves and vampires without a second thought, but passes out at the drop of blood." This girl was a walking contradiction.
Bella felt a small bit of déjà vu as she explained, "I don't like the smell."
"Such an unorthodox thing, you are." But he didn't press the question further.
When she was finished, Bella looked around at the desolate park. "Where are we?" She inquired. The last place she remembered being was in the woods in no discernible direction.
"Just outside of Port Angeles." That was it? They had been walking a long time and that's as far as they got? As if on the same thought process as her, Garrett spoke. "Now if we're going to do this, you're going to have to find a way to get around."
Bella perked up at his statement. She tried not to sound too eager, but she failed. "You mean it? I can really come along?"
Garrett shrugged nonchalantly. "I do owe you after all. Just don't give me time to change my mind." It had been a long time since he'd had real company. He still wasn't sure convinced it would work. But he thought it could prove to be quite interesting.
Bella smiled. "Well, let's just take your car then."
Garrett shook his head in response. "No, I don't have one." Bella was surprised. All of the Cullens had vehicles, and flashy ones at that. But Garrett had been on foot every time she saw him. She supposed that with the speed he could run, a car wasn't a necessity. He must only have one when he needed it.
Garrett's voice broke her out of her thoughts. "I guess we'll have to take that decomposing piece of metal I saw outside of your house. I'm assuming there are some other things you may need anyway? So we should probably take a trip back to Forks before continuing."
Bella faked hurt at the description of her truck but he was probably right. It may need some service along the way but it was a start. "Alright, but you'll have to drive, on account of the foot and all." She said as she pointed at the boot on her right foot.
Garrett immediately looked away and for the first time she saw him look nervous, uncomfortable even. She couldn't imagine what had brought it on. "What's the problem? Do you not want to drive? Wait a second… You can drive, can't you?"
"Well," Garrett started. He had never had any reason to drive. Cars were not around while he was human, and he had not needed them afterwards.
That was confirmation enough for Bella as she broke out into a fit of laughter. "This is going to be fun."
A/N: What'd you think? Hope I'm getting back in the flow. Let me know please and thanks