BPOV
I was stunned at the sight of this boy who had shown up at the side of my truck but nothing could have prepared me for the soft velvet sound of his voice when he spoke to me. " Bella, Are you allright?" Not being able to talk I nodded slowly, wishing I could find something to say.
He stood there looking at me, with some effort I managed to close my eyes so I could be free from whatever this was that was happening. When I opened my eyes again he had moved slightly closer and I could see the perfect flawless face close to mine.
"Are you sure you're all right, my sister would kill me if I left you here not feeling safe to drive home" His golden eyes showed his concern and his face seemed tense, as if he was holding his breath.
"Do I know you?" the words had slipped out without me knowing why I had said them. I had short term memory loss, so probably I did know him. His answer surprised me even more.
"Yes you do know me...." I wanted to tell him I couldn't remember but before I could open my mouth he had stepped back and continued talking.
" You know me....but you don't like me, we don't get a long" He stood there waiting for my response but I couldn't make up my mind what to say first so he continued. His voice still soft like velvet but this time a sharper edge on his words as if it cost him a lot of effort to say them
"I'm just being nice because you are friends with my sister Alice" His eyes looked cold as he said the last words, all the concern gone, replaced by…anger it seemed.
I flinched at his words and wanted to say something, explain I couldn't remember…couldn't imagine not liking him. But before I could he leaned over and reached for the keys. He turned the key of my truck and this time the engine roared to life.
"Drive home safely" and at that he turned around and disappeared into the now dark parking lot. Watching him disappear I couldn't help but feel confused at the feelings because of the emotions going through my body. No other person I had met since the accident had reacted like this.... almost like he had regretted talking to me just now.
Not sure what had just happened I tried to go over the conversation, or more over the guy who had just talked to me. His mood had gone from concerned to almost hatefull in a few minutes. Did I really annoy people that much with my stupid blank mind? I couldn't really believe that but didn't have a clue whatelse could have made him angry.
With a sigh I pulled out of my parking spot and on the main road. As I left I could see another car turn on his lights and drive off. Did he wait for me to leave? That was even more weird. Driving home I remembered Alice was coming over after dinner so I stopped at the store, got some snacks and made my way to the frozen food section to choose a quick dinner. Today would have to be pizza for dinner I decided, not feeling like cooking for just me.
When I got home my dad was just leaving. " Your late Bells, everything OK at school today?" after the accident Charlie had been very worried about me. He stood next to his cruiser ready to go to work. Dressed for work in his police jacket and already a thermos with coffee in his hand to get him through the first few hours at work.
"Sure Charlie I'm fine, I met Alice Cullen at school today. Do you remember her, I understand we were friends in the past. She's coming over later tonight to hang out..... You don't need to worry about me, if something is wrong I can call you at the station" I added with a smile to reassure him he didn't have to stay home for me.
For a moment he stood there thinking about the information I had given him. "Alice? Sure she is Dr Cullens daughter, nice girl."
His eyes looked surprised but he tried to hide something else also. "You girls have a nice evening, don't stay up too late" He walked over to me and gave me a quick hug before getting in his cruiser and driving off to work.
EPOV
How could I have been so stupid and broken my promises already, it had taken me only 1 day to be completely reckless. As I walked in the front door I was forcefully brought to a halt by Alice.
"How could you do that to her Edward! I saw everything in my vision but couldn't reach you in time to stop you and after that tried calling you"
Her mental attack on me was brutal, yelling her thoughts at me she continued blocking the door, making me stand still in front of my own living room. Then after a few minutes she realised that I myself had been doing the same and she flung her arms around me.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realise it was so tough on you also." She stepped back and let me pass without putting up a fight.
Esme was in the kitchen baking something that looked like cookies. I stopped and pulled up an eyebrow in a crooked frown. "Vampires don't eat, or have you forgotten" I halve mocked her while smiling at her. She looked so happy being busy in the kitchen.
Out of all of us Esme was the most human, she loved us all with all her heart, and then some more. She never got angry when I told them that I had to leave Bella and none of us could stay in touch with her.
Silently she had started packing all our belongings and the only random thought she allowed was one of worry. No anger or doubt just honest concern about my well-being and the effect my choice would have it turned out to be the wrong choice. Sadly now I knew it had been the wrong choice.
" Oh god didn't Alice tell him she is going over to see Bella?" Esme looked at me not knowing what to expect but I heard movement behind me so I turned around to see Alice skipping into the kitchen, a full bag with clothes in 1 hand a giant stack of DVD's in the other.
"You're going to visit Bella?" I couldn't help but sound a little bit angry at her as she collected her stuff.
"Yes I'm going to visit Bella, Carlisle met with Charlie yesterday and he told me Carlisle that he is worried about Bella. She hardly goes out and he worries she is lonely when he works nights at the station. So after meeting with her at school today I offered to come over tonight, Carlisle said it was a good idea for Bella. Besides it will keep you away, seeing as you need help to stick to your own stalker plans"
Before I could reply and comment on the stalker remark she had already left the kitchen so I grabbed a chair and sat down at the table. Esme still stood there looking at me. "Should I ask Carlisle to talk to Alice about seeing Bella?"
"It's fine Esme, there is no stopping Alice, she is after all a force of nature. I'm sure Bella and Charlie will love your homemade biscuits. Besides I can't blame Alice, I didn't do that good with my own plan. It took me 1 day in school to meet her again, and the circumstances weren't that good either. "
I tried my best to give a flashing smile at Esme, knowing she missed Bella like a daughter. A daughter I had taken away from the most loving person in the world because of my own failure to be strong enough to battle my fears and keep faith in my own strength to resist her delicate scent. Thoughtless I ran my hands through my hair, knowing it was a very human thing to do but taking great comfort in it nevertheless.
Esme stood looking at me with worried eyes, I could easily read what she was thinking but that didn't stop her. She pulled a chair back and sat opposite me at the table as she had finished cleaning the work areas in the kitchen. Her hands were folded and lying in her lap. Before speaking she took a big breath as if oi steady her nerves. Her mind was jumbled, so I sat and waited for her to speak.
"Edward you are the first son I had when I entered this family.... Perhaps I came to this family later than you but still I think of you as my first son. For decades I was worried about how you would manage with all of us together and you being alone" Esme looked up and I could see in her eyes how much she loved me, a mothers love.
"Last year when Bella first was brought to this house I could see your love for her and it was so strong. After that first meeting it made me love her instantly. Like you I can't stop loving Bella and I know that you can't do that either. Have you thought about your intentions to stay away from her. Perhaps trying to stay away from her will make her safe for the moment, but don't forget she is your mate. You might believe that we have no soul but after seeing you and Bella together I know your souls connected. Have you considered that even with her memories lost it is possible for her soul to recognise yours?"
She grabbed my hand as if trying to comfort me as she looked me in the eyes with a loving smile. I felt my body going rigid and tried to hold back the anger as the truth of her words hit me.
"And your soul to feel lost without hers" she added silently to her words.
"This afternoon when I had gone to Bella in my stupid overprotective rampage she hadn't recognised me. Instead of being a friend to her I had done the opposite out of my own fear and left her feeling confused by being mean to her and telling the biggest lie possible"
I tried to talk slowly, thinking back about my actions this afternoon.
"The words.... the lie I had told Bella made so angry. I had felt my eyes go dark when talking to her and I couldn't help but glare as these words had flown from my mouth with a harsh voice."
Telling Esme what had happened this afternoon made me rethink my actions. I had done nothing but add insult and pain to her confusion. It was difficult for me to come to terms that trying to make her believe in a lie had perhaps only made her hurt more on the inside.
Looking at Esme I could feel her love radiate towards me, they showed nothing but support.
I got up from the table and giving Esme a quick hug to acknowledge how much I appreciated her help I grabbed my keys and started heading for the door. As I passed the counter my eyes noticed the neat package, I grabbed the biscuits, Alice had forgotten them. Or hadn't she?
Walking out of the house towards my car I realised that running there would probably be faster. I slid the keys in my pocket and started of, leaving imprints where I had pushed myself away with force into a full speed vampire sprint.
The green forests of Forks had always been great to run in, so many shades of green flashed past me, standing still as I moved at full speeds. After a few minutes I had reached the last hundreds meters until coming to Bella's house. To be safe I slowed down my pace to a jog, just in case there would be people out this evening.
As I approached her house from the yard I stopped at the sight in front of me. Bella was standing in front of the window; her eyes closed… her lips perched up in a soft smile. It was breathtaking how beautiful she looked.
She was moving her arms in a flowing movement around her body, the slow rhythmic rise and fall of her chest. Every breath she took I could see her upper body slowly rising and falling as she exhaled again. This was by far the most coordinated I had ever seen her and i couldn't help smiling at the thought of her less coordinated moves.
Knowing she wouldn't see me from her room, not with her eyes closed and the last of the sunlight disappearing fast. I stood there for a while.
"She looks happy like that doesn't she?" At my side Alice had turned up holding out her hands. "The cookies please?" I hesitated for a moment, thinking they were my only excuse to see her but was shortly interrupted by the laughing of my sister.
So maybe this wasn't my excuse, i'd get another one. A half smile reached my face, making it grin crooked. I turned towards Alice and handed her the little parcel Esmee had made. "Your sure?" I asked her and she replied with a nod.
Taking one last look at Bella I sighed then I turned around and disappeared in the forest, leaving Alice and Bella to have a girlsnight.
