Sorry everyone for taking so long to update! I was honestly hitting some writers block with this story. I ended the last chapter differently than I planned and didn't know how to get out of it. Hopefully this will be a sufficient follow-up chapter :) Let me know what you think!
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It was Carlisle this time who decided to step in. "Well Bella, this part falls completely on you. Fortunately, the way you left gives the upper advantage. Your car has been missing, and there's no trace of you anywhere. For all anyone knows, you may be on the bottom of a river somewhere. It doesn't make any of us look suspicious in any way. It looks like a possible kidnapping. However, I've talked with Jasper and Edward about your uneasiness leaving your parents in the dark. I don't think you're ready for it yet, but we have come up with a solution if you'd like to hear it?"
Chapter 7
EPOV
All ears were intently listening in on Carlisle as I watched his plan unfold in his mind. I wondered profusely how on earth it would work. My family was near meticulous, OCD even when it came to making a family plan. Every time we moved, our house was scoured clean leaving no trace of us behind. Not only were we able to convince our neighbors that our human tirade was true, but we gave them no reason to question it otherwise after we had left.
The plan Carlisle had just concocted in his head was the complete opposite of all these things. In fact, it was near careless. However, humans were so obtuse and willing to accept what they wanted to see that it just might work.
Bella nodded for Carlisle to continue with his thoughts and so he started to explain. "This plan is going to heavily reflect on your strength Bella. Right now, the confusion and anger you feel are all the traits of a newborn. You are skittish, worried, and highly unstable." I looked at my darling love as she nodded her head in agreement.
"Technically, you could fall out of control any minute, and we have to be prepared to suppress any outbursts you feel coming. Don't be frightened, because this feeling will fade soon enough. For the next year, you'll be testing your abilities. Your newborn strength will start to wane, and your ability to be in proximity to humans will become easier. Your eyes will fade to a golden color like ours. We all know that right now, the most important thing to concentrate on is everyone's safety. Victoria is still out there; possibly seeking revenge, so extra precautions will be made for you and Charlie. I doubt she would go to the trouble of traveling to Phoenix and Florida for Renee, as her chances of being caught are much more possible. Plus, she'll want to stay close to you."
My anger seethed through me and I hissed with displeasure at the thought of Victoria hurting my Bella even more. She would be ripped apart and burned alive before she could do more harm. Bella stroked my arm in comfort, and I stole a glance at her. Her bright, ruby eyes showed worry and anxiety, but more importantly, a reassurance. She kept me grounded to the little amount of humanity I had left. This woman was truly my savior! What I felt for her could not be expressed in any words or action. I felt so foolish. I was acting rashly over something she had the right to be angry for, and here she was, sitting on the couch next to me calmly and coolly, being my support.
I bent down to kiss her forehead, and she snuggled in closer to me.
Carlisle continued. "For the bit that includes heavily on you Bella, we know you want to keep Charlie and Renee in your life. This part will all depend on how you can handle this next year. I figure, that for now, we can continue on with your story to be a runaway. No doubt Charlie will be searching for you as long as it takes, so we need to keep the trail fresh. I realize that this action is terribly out of your character and very irresponsible, but we'll need to make sure we do it right; make it believable. We can have letters post marked and sent to your parents telling them that you're fine, and that you will come home when you're ready. If we have the letters mailed from different areas of the country, they'll suspect you aren't staying in one place for too long. This will buy yourself some time to learn how to be human again. Hopefully the year-long separation will distract people from the changes to your physical appearance enough that they won't think it too odd. I'm sure Alice could also contribute to a vampire disguise."
Alice nearly jumped in her seat at the opportunity of a makeover. It wasn't the makeup and clothes that were getting her excited, but her chance to be a part of Bella's adjustment. She loved her like a sister, and although she had a hard time showing it, loved her deeper than she'd ever know.
"She's ruthless isn't she," Bella whispered quietly with a small smile on her lips. It was the most genuine one I had seen today, and it lifted my spirits in the slightest.
"Wait till you let her get going," I chuckled. "She's a force of nature, that one."
I can hear you two Edward, I'm not stupid. And you don't have to worry, I'm not going to use Bella as my new fashion guinea pig. I just want to try and help her be happy.
I smirked at her and nodded once so she understood. But then my least favorite part of the plan was brought to discussion.
Carlisle looked intently at me for his next words while I contemplated if it were even possible for me to do. "The hardest part of this whole thing, however will be yours Edward. Police will be searching our home in most likely a few days time, and you will have to continue on with your life as if Bella had indeed left. The whole family will continue their schooling, and I will continue to work. Edward, you can under no circumstance drop out of school, it makes us all the more suspicious. Bella, you will stay home with Esme during the day. If you wish, you can homeschool to keep up with your studies."
A state of shock crossed Bella's beautiful features as she snapped her head in my direction. I understood every look she was giving me. How on earth could I leave her now, when I just thought a few days ago that I would lose her forever? High school was indeed my own personal purgatory and the school days looming ahead were already starting to taunt me. But I would do it for Bella. I could never be selfish from her, so I nodded to her and whispered "it'll be okay Bella. We can make this work. Summer vacation is just around the corner anyways." It was the only thing that could keep me going.
"Bella?" Carlisle asked. "I realize this plan is far-fetched and near impossible, but I think we could make it work. If you don't want to go through the trouble, we can give your parents a clean break and move on. The choice is yours."
I listened around to the thoughts of my family. None of them wanted to leave this town. It was our home. In the many places we had lived over the years, none of them made us feel comfortable and even human like Forks did. The most surprising comment I heard however, was Rosalie's.
Poor girl. I know exactly how she feels. To leave her family behind while she lives on in agony? Hmmph, maybe we will actually get along now that we have something in common.
This stray thought was far from a compliment, but coming from Rosalie was a pure miracle. Rose found it hard to accept anyone outside our established family, and I knew she had held ill-will towards Bella when we first met, but her understanding and willingness to bond was alien to her. I'd have to be careful letting them spend too much time together though. The last thing I wanted was Bella living the rest of her existence in angst towards her new life because Rose had steered her in that direction.
"I want to do it," Bella blurted. "I know right now my parent's will be worried, but it's far less agonizing them letting them think I'm dead. I don't know if I could live with that."
Sighs of relief from everyone surfaced.
"Okay Bella. Well then everyone? We better get to work if we want this plan to be fool proof. Jasper, Emmett, Edward? Could you come help me in my study for a while?"
My two brothers rose up and left their wives sitting on the sofa. I on the other hand, remained seated, clinging to Bella.
"Go," she said. "I'll be fine." I sighed just a little at the thought of leaving her behind and stood. I raised her palm to my lips and kissed it softly.
"I'll be right back, promise." And so I left her. The dark haired beauty remained sitting as I left to fix our future.
BPOV
I watched Edward turn his back to mine and run off upstairs in a blink. I looked across from me at two beautiful vampires smiling lightly in my direction, and I wondered what I should say during this awkward silence. Apparently I wouldn't have to wait for long because Alice was already headed in my direction.
"Oh Bella, can I just say how sorry I am about earlier? I was so stupid and careless." She embraced me in a hug stronger than any 5'2" sprite-like girl should be able to.
"It's fine Alice, really."
The next motion left me rendered speechless. "Bella, I know how hard this all is for you. I've been there too. If there's anything I can help you with I'm here for you." Rosalie's comment seemed sincere, but all the hazy memories surfacing I remembered about her was her icy nature towards me. She had never even been kind. Had she ever spoken to me directly before?
"Why are you being nice to me?" I didn't realize how awful that sounded till it had already left my mouth.
She smiled and took in a deep breath. "Bella, regardless of my behavior in the past, I've never hated you. I was jealous of what you had."
Jealous? Why on earth would she be jealous of me? She had everything any woman would want.
"Let me continue. You had a life I could never have Bella. The opportunity to grow older, get married and have a family. There was always the possibility of getting hurt, making mistakes, making accidents. The whole reality of it all made me completely envious Bella. None of that really affects you after you're immortal. My humanity was taken from me against my will, as was yours. I'm just trying to explain to you that I know what it feels like to hate what you've become; to know that you've hurt people. I just want you to know that I'm here for you."
A heartfelt talk with Rose? I never thought in a million years we would connect on this level. Maybe she did understand what was happening to me. Maybe somehow, we were more alike than I would have ever thought possible.
"Thanks Rose. I really do appreciate it."
"Now, about those clothes you're wearing…" Alice raised her eyebrows at me and my stomach did flip flops. Was that possible? I felt sick at the possibility of a fashion show.
"No Alice, I'm not playing Barbie with you today."
"Oh relax, I'm not in the mood anyways. I just thought you'd like to freshen up. You haven't showered since our hotel room in Phoenix, and you're still wearing that blood stained outfit. I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of borrowing some of your clothes for you from your bedroom."
She skipped into the other room and returned with a large duffel bag.
"Why you prefer these to the pretty silk pajamas your mom gave you, I'll never know." She said tossing me some tattered pieces of fabric. I lifted it up, sifting through memories and finally noticed them as my favorite pair of bedtime sweats. I broke out into a huge grin, she knew me too well.
"Thanks Alice, these are just what I needed."
"You're welcome. I had to wash them like seven times to get your scent out of them. I don't think you'd be too comfortable wearing clothes reeking of human tonight."
I couldn't have asked for a better present. I momentarily lost control as I hurdled towards my new sister in a frenzy, embracing her in a hug.
"Jeesh! Ouch Bella, let up a little!"
"Oops."
Alice giggled. "Now about that shower…no offense Bella but you kind of smell like you've been roaming with the deer for weeks, not just a day. Let's go get that started for you." I had been wearing the same clothes for nearly four days. My hair was in tatters from my earlier hunting trip, and blood was stained up and down my body.
She took my hand and led me towards Edward's bathroom. She started the water, and left out a few towels. The steam rose from the curtain and started fogging up the mirror. The mirror. I wasn't sure I could face that yet, so at all costs, I avoided any type of reflection. I was just about to close the door and climb in when she yelled out "catch Bella!" and I held out my hand retrieving my own bottle of strawberry shampoo.
