"Goodbye" never sounded so good

Bella woke to the sun bleeding in through an unfamiliar window. She turned to her side in search of a clock. Great. It was three a.m. She didn't hear Charlie's muffled snore because Toto, I don't think she's in Kansas anymore. I mean Forks. Also, no one in this house sleeps. It registered with her that she was in Denali, Alaska. Shit. She looked at what else was on the side table. Someone had placed her phone on it. She flipped it open. She looked at the tiny LCD screen. It read: 28 missed calls. 20 new voice messages. 109 missed text messages.

She checked the first text she had received just for grins. It said: Bella where r u? call! Obviously, everything was from Charlie. And the next which read: get home now it's dinner time! She skipped ahead to the one she had just received. She could just imagine Charlie freaking out about her whereabouts while fiddling with the little keys on the phone. u r going 2 jcksnvll as soon as I hear from u whch bttr b soon!!!!!! Bella didn't dare listen to the voice messages. She spotted a pitcher of water across the room. She held down the "end" button and chucked it clear across the room into the pitcher. Ten points!

You might need that later when a certain you-know-who breaks your wittle heart!

She felt something on the spot next to her. Do not look for me. Talk to Emmett and he will tell you everything. If you are lucky you will not ever see me again. From, Edward

Oh really? That handwriting looks awfully familiar. Is it Edward's? Gosh, it could be anybody! Maybe even mine?

Forget Emmett, Bella was going to a source she could trust. A source like Alice. She needed to get dressed to look presentable. She crept across the room in the darkness to look for the light switch. Once the room was illuminated, she started to rifle through the pink suitcase with little L's and V's all over it. Just your typical designer six-hundred-dollar-per-piece luggage set. It was obviously Alice's. Or Rosalie's. It could even be Esme's but it was totally not Bella's style. She slipped on a navy lace camisole and a gray sweatshirt with matching sweatpants. She looked at the price tag and sighed. Never deny Alice Cullen the chance to shop, even in a dire emergency. Her eyes widened. Who in their right mind would pay one hundred dollars for a sweatshirt with a little "J" charm on it when she could get the same thing at the local Wal-Mart for twenty bucks? This did feel better than the Wal-Mart clothes. For now. Maybe she would be one of those designer brand-loyal girls?

And maybe vampires will be in my math class! Oops. There are. My bad.

She shuffled through the contents of the luggage. Her hand landed on a fluffy jacket folded neatly at the bottom. Her eyes widened as she examined this price tag. One hundred eighty dollars! That's more than she made in four months at Newton's! Also in the suitcase was another sweatshirt and matching sweatpants in bubblegum pink. Um, no thanks. There was a pair of expensive-looking light distressed jeans in a Bergdorf's bag. There was a Barney's bag with a sheer shirt and another cami. A pair of dark boots in a Nordstrom bag and some flip-flops with "C's" all over them. Louis Vuitton? Juicy? North Face? Ugg? Coach? Seven jeans? Bergdorf? Barney's? Nordstrom? It was like a different language to Bella.

"Alice, Alice, Alice…" Bella muttered, fingering the foreign materials.

"Yes, yes, yes?" Alice chimed in the door.

"Oh, I was just going through my suitcase," Bella murmured.

"Never deny Alice Cullen the chance to shop!"

"You stole my words," Bella yawned. "What's up with the note?"

"What note?"

"The whole 'don't find me I'll find you' thing? Ring a bell?" Bella asked, wide-eyed.

"Um, Edward's kind of in a…funk right now."

"You talk about him so nicely. He is being a total drama queen!!" Jasper growled.

"Woah, and I thought you were the mellow one," Bella whispered to herself.

"Head that," Jasper winked and left the room.

"So…I'm kind of looking for a pale-looking, bronze-haired seventeen-year-old about ye high?" She put her hand up about five inches higher than herself. "Seen anyone around that would match that description?" She chuckled.

"Emmett, get in here," Alice whispered.

"No, Alice. Edward!" Her voice broke at his name.

"He's gone to take care of things, Bella. Want the truth? He's on the phone with Carlisle. And guess where Carlisle is? He is at the police station. He's going to be charged with kidnapping, Bella. Your kidnapping."

"But I'm eighteen! I'm an adult!"

"Just call Charlie and try to convince him you're fine."

"He's going to ask where I am! What do I say? 'Um, dad? To tell you the truth, Edward killed Jacob because Jacob was going to tell you that he was in a vampire? I'm in the Lost City of Atlantis? Don't try to find me?'"

Alice's face was twisted in a way that Bella had never seen it before. "Is this what this is to you? We are just imaginary creatures? That we have unicorns in our backyards?" Alice sighed. "Sorry. I lost it. I'm just so stressed out, Bells." She walked over and sat on Bella's bed. "I see you like your new clothes! Shopping mission accomplished!" She laughed weakly. Bella smiled the same in return.

"So where's everyone?"

"Oh, Rose called them and told them there would be a human here so they went on a precautionary hunting trip. What did your phone do to you?" Alice asked, noticing the missing phone from the nightstand.

"I kind of chucked it."

"Kind of?" Alice eyed her skeptically. "That's okay. I had a vision that you would do it and I didn't want to wake you up so I got you another one. Same number."

"For once I gotta say, you really are a lifesaver, Alice." Bella took the phone. It was an iPhone. "Touch screen? Nice."

"Finally! It feels good to have you actually accept and appreciate gifts! More to come!" Alice trilled and walked out the door, leaving Bella to receive the kiss of death. Calling Charlie.

The kiss of death…intresting choice of words.

Bella ran her fingers through her hair. She applied a touch-up coat of mascara. Anything to stall this conversation. Bella huffed and typed in Charlie's number at the station. Good thing caller ID wasn't so popular in Forks. This first call would be a test to check Charlie's mood.

"Forks Police Department, Chief Swan speaking." Charlie answered gruffly.

"Chip, chip cherrio, my dear lad. Do you know where I can get a decent room in these parts?" Bella faked. If she ever moved to anywhere in England, she'd need to work on her accent.

Wayyyy much.

"Who is speaking?"

"Be-" Bella needed to think of a name, and quick. "Betsy Stanson?"

"Well listen, Betsy. This is the police station. Call Forks' Information Center for room & board info. 'Kay?"

"My sincerest apologies, Chief. Have a bloody good day." She heard the line click meaning he hung up. Bloody good day? Bloody. Good. Day. Seriously? Could that be more fake?

I'm offended. Being a true Brit, nobody says "bloody" unless they want to be made fun of. For the rest of their lives. And Bella, hun? Keep your day job. PLEASE.

Ok, now it was time to be Bella Swan.

"Forks PD, Chief Swan Speaking," Charlie seemed more relaxed than he did for the "Besty" call.

Not for long.

"Yeah, this is Bella." She said, blandly.

"Isabella Marie Swan! Where are you?"

"Atlantis," Bella blurted.

"Atlanta? Why are you in Atlanta?!" Atlantis, Atlanta. Whatever Charlie was happy with.

"Exactly why Carlisle told you." She hoped Carlisle gave a good story. Or a story at least.

"I don't care that Jupiter and Allie are at the hospital there. You never asked my permission. Carlisle knew before I did and that's not okay, Bella."

"Jasper and Alice, Dad. Jasper and Alice. I'm sorry. Now you know. I'll be home soon. I can't tell you when, but soon."

"I'm trusting you, Bells. Remember that." Charlie reminded and then hung up.

"Have a bloody good day," Bella whispered before hitting the "End Call" button on the phone. She looked in her contacts. There was Emmett, Alice, Carlisle, Esme, Jasper, Edward, Charlie and even Renée and Phil. She really was missing Renée lately.

No, Charlie didn't forget. You'll see Renée soon enough when you go to Jacksonville.

She tapped on the button for a new text message. Where r u?? + wats the deal w/ the note? She was feeling too lazy to go up and investigate for herself. She hit send and then waited for a reply. Shortly after she sent it, her phone started to beep. Patio. Come and I will explain. Hopefully this would clear up most of the confusion. She walked out of the room clutching the phone. This is bad. This is really, really bad she thought.

Too true. Too true.

"Edward!" She sighed with relief. He was sitting away from her. His head was in his hands. Bella opened the screen door and flip-flopped onto the patio. "I missed you," she said flirtatiously. He stared back at her, his face twisted in agony.

"Leave, Bella. I don't want to hurt you,"

"But your message said-"

"No. Leave Denali. I could kill you, Bella!"

"Um, so could Alice, but you see me with her all the time. I don't get it."

"What's not to get? Didn't you see me kill Jacob with my bare hands? And injure you?"

"'What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger'," Bella quoted.

"Hilarious," Edward said dryly. "I'm just afraid…it would kill me if I ever hurt you again. Do you know what I was going through when you were unconscious on the ground? We just don't belong together."

"Don't be afraid. We belong together."

"And now, because of me, you have to go to Jacksonville. You have to just dump your life. Because of me! You're going to miss Charlie so much, right?" Edward looked so ashamed. Bella thought of a way to lighten the mood.

"I'll miss my friends, too. Especially Mike. Oh, Mike! How will I go on?" Bella tried to lighten the conversation. Edward smiled weakly.

"I'll never forgive myself for what I'm about to do. Not if I live a hundred thousand years. I know this is what I need to do, though. Right and wrong."

"Wait- you're serious, aren't you?! Is this what they were talking about?"

"Yes." As soon as Edward uttered the word, her vision started to get blotchy. "You're not supposed to be the one crying, Bella." Her expression was astonished. What should she be doing? Cartwheels and handstands?

Or something to that effect.

"I can do anything I want! Butt out!" Bella yelled.

"Bella, we're through! Go!" Edward hollered.

"Is it because what I said because-"

"No! Just make my life easier and leave!"

Bella whimpered and ran away, with the steady beat of her flip-flops being the only sound. There was a slight pause and then a groan.

Is incoodination a disease?!

"Ohmygod!" She lied down on the sofa in the living room and sobbed. When she woke up she was in her room. Someone must have moved her while she was crying. She glanced at the time displayed on her iPhone. It had only been three hours but it felt like three years. At least. She stared at the ceiling.

"I need some keys or an airplane ticket or a taxi or some way out!" Bella's voice cracked on the last phrase. She looked at the nightstand for answers. Surprisingly, she spotted a plane ticket on the table. She examined it closer. It was headed straight for Jacksonville but it left tomorrow so she'd have to suffer to one more day. And it was in coach. These are astronomically rich vampires but when he breaks up with you, you get sent home coach.

She's fretting about where she's going to sit in her plane? Rosalie is rubbing off on her way too much. Bella has so much more to worry about than this.

Bella searched the halls for the bathroom. When she found it she closed the door and turned on the sink. Running water usually calmed her, but today it was making her more infuriated.

Remember the last time someone lost their temper? Be careful, Bella!

She studied herself in the mirror. Her eyes were puffy and red. She looked horrible. She ran her fingers through her knotted hair. Even though they probably couldn't hear her, she muttered," What do those idiotic vamps not know about staying on the continental United Stated of freaking America? Those vile, stupid, freak low-life Cullen's. That's all they are to me now." She needed to vent and no one was here to vent to so she vented to herself. "They only hurt, not help," she recited to herself so she would cool off. When she reached the guest room again she sat on her bed and took her pillow to muffle the screams.

Alice couldn't take this. Even when she heard all of the comments Bella made about them she still loved her. If Edward didn't break up with Bella then Bella would never even dream of saying those things about them.

Wait- who's controlling the story? Last time I checked-which was right now- I was.

She knew she would never let Bella go as long as she lived. Edward just kept getting Bella's hopes up and then hurting her and the least Alice could do is help Bella when she needed it. They could possibly be guilty indirectly for Bella taking her own life because she was known for her bizarre choice in recreational activities…she just hoped Bella didn't hate her.

Bella collected her suitcase without a word. Today was the big day. She was in a thin blue sweater, her purposely ripped Seven jeans, and Coach flip-flops. In her frame of mind, she would be lucky if she'd died of hypothermia because every time she saw Edward through the glass wall, she died a little inside. She put her bags by the door and did her best to saunter into the kitchen with a smug smile on her face.

Not working too well.

At the kitchen table the Cullen family was engrossed in conversation. They heard her enter but didn't acknowledge her. She pulled out the yellow pages to order a taxi to the airport. She noticed a page was doggie-eared. It was the list of the taxi services with a note:

Your taxi comes at ten. Please take the contents of the envelope. Good luck in Jacksonville, Bella. I will miss you. We all will.

Love, Alice

P.S. Keep the phone, suitcase and clothes, please. Look at them and think of me. This is not easy and I know you know that.

She opened the manilla envelope. Inside was a Chanel wristlet with twenty crisp twenty dollar bills. Oh, god.

She scanned the table. There was Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, Edward, Tanya, Carmen, Elezar and Irina. No Alice. She didn't want to say this if Alice was there, because she was the only one trying to help.

"Thanks, everyone. My life is ruined." She picked up her bag and stumbled onto the porch to wait for the taxi.

On the plane, Bella was going insane. She was the only one in her row besides this little thirteen-year-old with freakish pale skin. Her auburn hair was clipped back with not one hair out of place with what looked like a diamond-studded barrette. Was everyone in Jacksonville loaded? The girl's perfect features reminded Bella of a certain family. Bella shuddered.

Just because a little girl is pale doesn't mean she's a vampire, Bella. You might hurt someone's feelings in the future with false accusations. It just so happened that the thirteen-year-old was a vampire, who also just so happened to be me.

Edward huffed and shook his head. "No, Alice. You will not interfere in Bella's life!" He shouted into the receiver. What was with the note? 'If you need me, give me a call?'" Edward impersonated Alice flawlessly.

"That's not what I said. I just said I'd miss her. Is that against the law? You aren't the boss of me, Edward. Not anymore." And the line went dead. Bella was going to make her his whole family hate him. Maybe she already did. Would he find peace when she died? It was all her fault. And she must pay. Soon.

It's not like I have a problem with that.