The One That Got Away
Chapter 7
Everything Twilight belongs to the amazing Stephenie Meyer.
Thanks again for all the alerts and favorites, and special thanks to all the people who sent reviews – you are all amazing. It's great that you are enjoying the story!
Before we see how Bree's "research project" is going, let's check in on Edward.
Edward climbed out of the car and ran his hand through his already messy bronze hair as he straightened up to his full 6 foot 2 and looked at his new surroundings. He was very grateful that Emmett sent a car service to pick him up at the airport after the long flight. He rolled the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows and thanked the driver.
It took him a little longer than he thought it would to arrange everything so he could get to Ireland before Emmett was scheduled to leave on his trip. Edward's clinic was very important to him, and each "patient" was very important to him, from the puppy that needed shots – he smiled as he thought about little Angela and Pumpkin - to the most complex surgical case. He finally managed to get three of his best veterinary students to cover the clinic while he was gone, and made them promise to keep him up to date on his favorite patients by email. Fortunately, he had no big cases to deal with right now, and the truth was that he really needed a break. As much as he loved his work, his clinic, his students, and his patients, it could get quite….lonely. A quick image of chestnut hair and brown eyes filled his head, and just as quickly he pushed it away.
By the time he'd gotten everything set, he had just enough time to throw some clothes into a suitcase before racing to the airport. Emmett warned him that things were very informal in his adopted town, and no one would expect to see him in his doctor's white coat. In fact, since the patients were just as likely to be cows and goats as cats and dogs, blue jeans and some sturdy work boots would be the best choice.
Edward looked around at the little town. Since leaving the airport, he'd watched as town after town rolled past, each more beautiful than the one before. The road followed the twists and turns of a wide and gentle river, then wrapped around the ruins of an ancient church before dividing into two streets. The street to the left had a small grocery store, a gas station, and a few shops. The street to the right had two pubs, one on each side, sandwiched in among a dozen or so townhouses.
He green eyes lit with amusement at the sign on the storefront window: "Veterinary Clinic, E. Cullen, DVM." He didn't see the appreciative glances he was getting from the teenage girls across the street, but turned around to look when he heard their giggles. The next thing he knew, a pair of strong arms grabbed him from behind and lifted him off his feet.
"Hey, little brother! You made it."
"Em, can't breathe…put me down."
Emmett set Edward back down, spun him around, and grabbed him by both shoulders. The brothers had matching grins. "I can't even tell you how glad I am to see you. "
"Yeah, it's been too long. Mom wants to know if you're coming home for a visit – or to stay – anytime soon."
"I don't know, Ed. I really like it here. The people are great, there's a whole lot less bullshit to put up with, and look around. It's beautiful here." Emmett grabbed the suitcase. "Come on in, I'll give you a quick tour of the clinic and I'll show you your room before we hit the pub for supper."
Emmett opened the door, and Edward followed him in. He instantly felt at home amidst the distinctive smells and noises of the clinic. He heard barking coming from another room, and a beautiful girl with long red hair walked out holding a small dog with a set of stitches visible on its shaved hind leg.
"Oh, Dr. Cullen, would you take a quick look at this little one? Mrs. Hartman wants to come and take him home if she can."
"Sure" Emmett said, quickly noting the way the girl's eyes widened when she saw Edward. "Tanya, this is my little brother Edward. He'll be taking care of the practice while I'm away. Edward, this is Tanya. She helps out around the clinic, scheduling appointments and stuff and sometimes, if I'm really good, she'll even bring me dinner."
Tanya smiled at Edward. "Sorry I can't shake your hand, but I'm glad to know you."
Edward returned the smile. "It's nice to meet you too." He followed Emmett back through the clinic and narrowed his eyes at his brother's stupid grin. "Don't even start, Emmett. I'm here to help you out, and that's it."
-TOTGA—
"Oh my God, Bree, you are brilliant!" Claire whooped from her seat at Bree's desk. "We've got somebody!"
Bree did a little fist pump. She knew it would work! After contacting all 33 Alpha Delta Epsilon sorority chapters, they had, just as she predicted, found a sorority sister at the University of Nebraska, who had a cousin who went to Forks High School and graduated in 2004, two years after the soon to be famous Isabella Swan. "Ok, do we have the email address for the cousin?"
"Yup, here it is. Her name is Rebecca. " Claire slid out of the desk chair and sat on the bed after giving a high five to Kim and Rachel.
"Ok" Bree said. "Here's what we're going to say." She said the words out loud as she typed.
Dear Rebecca,
Hi! I know you don't know us, but me (I'm Bree) and my friends (Claire, Kim, and Rachel – they say hi!) are in the same sorority as your cousin Sue at the University of Nebraska. I mean, we aren't at the University of Nebraska, we are at the University of Maryland, but we are all Alpha Delta Epsilon sisters and she gave us your email address. We are looking for a Forks High School yearbook from 2002. Do you have one, and if you do, can you help us with some research we are doing? Please write back as soon as possible. Thanks! Bree, Kim, Claire, and Rachel.
She looked at each of the girls and they nodded. She hit the send button. All they had to do now was wait.
Within a few minutes, they got a response.
"Read it!" Kim said.
"Ok, here goes.
Dear Bree,
Hi! Sue told me you'd be writing me. I do have a Forks High 2002 yearbook, and I'd be happy to help you. What do you need?
Rebecca
Bree wasted no time responding.
Hey Rebecca, this might be easier by Skype. Can I call you?
Within a few minutes, they'd connected. Bree sat in front of the computer screen with the girls around her.
"Hey, Rebecca, thanks for letting us call you."
"No problem, Bree. What do you guys need?"
"Do you have the yearbook with you?"
Rebecca held the precious book up for them to see. "Yeah, right here."
Bree grinned. "Here's what I need you to do. Can you look at the senior pictures, and find a girl named Isabella Swan?"
"Sure, hold on a minute." They could see Rebecca turn to the back of the yearbook and skip through the pages. "I sort of remember her, but she was a senior and I was a sophomore, so we didn't really know each other. Isn't she like a famous writer now? Here she is." Rebecca held up the yearbook so they could see Bella's senior picture with her yellow cap and gown and a fake diploma in her hand. Her smile was wide and genuine.
"That's her! Wow" Kim said, comparing the yearbook picture to the picture on the back cover of the novel she held in her hands. "She looks so young in that picture."
"Of course she does" said Bree. "She's younger in that picture than we are. And she looks so happy." She turned back to Rebecca. "Do you remember if she had a boyfriend?"
"No" Rebecca answered "I didn't know her that well."
"What now?" Claire whispered in Bree's ear.
"I've got it covered." Bree smiled at Rebecca. "Can you look through the yearbook, and see if you can find any other pictures of her, maybe with a boy? We're trying to find out who her boyfriend was, if she had one."
"OK, do you want to hold on while I look or should I call you back?"
"We'll just wait while you look, if that's OK."
Fifteen minutes later, they waited patiently as Rebecca looked page by page through the yearbook. Thirty minutes later, they were still waiting, but now they were having trouble being patient.
Bree grumbled. "Who knew such a tiny school could have so many pictures in their yearbook?" So far, Rebecca had found pictures of Bella in posed group shots for the Great Books Club, the Forks Literary Magazine staff, and the Spanish club.
"She's not in any of the sports team pictures" Rebecca said. "Now I'm looking through the pictures for the senior class trip."
"Rebecca, if you want to take a break for a while, we can call you later…"
"I found one!" Rebecca held up the yearbook but she was bouncing in her chair and they couldn't see the picture. "There's no way to know for sure, but there's this guy and he's got his arms around her and she's laughing. Oh wow, is he gorgeous!"
"Rebecca, hold still! We can't see the picture!" Bree felt a rush of excitement go through her. This had to be it. She and the girls crowded around the computer to see the picture when Rebecca finally – finally! – held it still.
"Oh man!" Claire sighed. "He's beautiful. And she's beautiful. And they're beautiful together!"
Rachel reached out to touch the screen. "We need to find out who he is!"
"How are we going to do that?" Kim brought everyone back to reality. "What if he doesn't even go to that school?"
"There's one way to find out." Bree was confident. "Rebecca, can you go through the senior class pictures, and see if you can find this guy?"
Rebecca was just as into this as they were now. "Of course! Bree, you're amazing. Senior class pictures, here we go."
They all but held their breath as she scanned the first page of senior pictures. "Not here. Going to the next page."
They watched as she turned the page, running her finger over every picture. She didn't get very far before letting out a screech. "There he is! It's him!"
Claire and Kim hugged each other, jumping up and down, while Rachel flopped down on the bed and kicked her feet.
Bree just smiled. "Ok, Rebecca, who is he?"
"His name is Edward Cullen."
"Edward Cullen." Bree let the name roll around in her head for a minute. "Edward Cullen."
"Hey Bree" Rebecca said. "Why am I looking him up?"
Bree's smile grew. "It's all for love, Rebecca. It's like the best love story ever!"