7
Edward wasn't about to let me scurry into the middle of a storm. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the cave. I tried to struggle but his hold only tightened. "Bella, it's dangerous out there. Please don't go. God, you could fall off the ridge to your death."
"So we're close to the ridge?" I asked, wondering how far I would have to go to find Jake.
He realized why I wanted to know and let go of my arm. He moved away from me and nodded as he said, "Oh, I see."
His word barely registered as my mind was trying to decide what to do. Surely Jake couldn't have a raft built so soon, but would he go to our meeting spot and think I had changed my mind? I could see the water making the dirt into mud and knew I wouldn't get far in the storm. I finally sighed and looked back at Edward. He had his head down but his posture told me he was angry.
I was ready to be a bit more honest with him and let him know I planned on being rescued so his whole plan of life beginning with the wreck wasn't going to work. I never got the chance. Just as I opened my mouth someone came running into the cave. "Jasper," Edward exclaimed.
"Hey, man it is a hurricane out there," he said, as he tried to shake off some water.
"What are you doing in the middle of it?" Edward asked.
Jasper glanced at me as if to pose the same question to us, but he said, "I was putting out marker ribbons. It will be easier for everyone to find their way around. Your group is green," he informed us.
"Find our way to the other groups?" I asked, and he nodded as if I was silly to think anything else.
"Bella wants to see Jake," Edward said angrily.
Jasper tuned to look at me and then said, "He's taking care of his father. Billy isn't doing well."
I was relieved to hear he wasn't waiting for me on the east side of the island but news of Billy health decline had me worried. Jake would never leave if his father was sick. I was stuck in my own thoughts and didn't realize Jasper and Edward were whispering to each other. I didn't care what secrets they had, my concern was for my own dilemma.
We eventually all sat down and waited out the storm. When it was only a slight drizzle we ventured out and made our way back to our own groups. Edward didn't speak and I didn't try to engage him. It would be easier if we grew to dislike each other and forget about our burning passion from the cave.
When I entered my hut Tanya looked me up and down and said, "What happened to you?"
I was suddenly very jealous of her and her hook up with the guy I had denied. I smiled and said, "I was in a cave with Edward."
Her eyes narrowed and she was either too angry or too jealous to reply. She simply left. I laughed and Alice shook her head. "You shouldn't upset Tanya. She isn't one to forgive and forget."
I now turned to face Alice. She was next in line for my need for revenge regarding my feelings for Edward. "I'm sure he'll tell you nothing happened. You are his 'confidant' after all." I even used air quotes to get my point across.
Instead of growing angry and having an all out bitch fight she let her head fall to the side and she said sympathetically. "I'm so sorry, Bella. I know this is hard for you."
I wasn't sure how to respond. She knocked me off my game and I felt badly for being so awful to her. Rosalie walked in at that moment and announced, "We are all going to the beach for dinner. The Cullens want to talk to everyone."
Alice jumped up and down as if being summoned to an audience with the queen. I began to worry about what news they were going to dump on us now. Maybe they found James and Victoria's bodies. I got some clean clothes and went to the pond to clean off and try to look decent for the gathering.
We walked as a group and followed the blue ribbons tied along a trail. When we got to the beach Jasper's group was already there but Jake wasn't with them. I knew Billy must be very ill. I found my way to Angela and she gave me a big hug. "How is the medication helping?"
I shrugged because I had only taken it a couple of times. "Okay, I guess. Have you heard Billy is sick?"
"Yes, Ben will go there tomorrow and see what is going on. I'm sure it is just from exhaustion."
I saw an opportunity and asked if I could go with Ben. Angela looked a little flustered by my suggestion but finally assured me Ben would pick me up on his way.
I felt a bit better and asked her to make sure to let Ben know I would accompany him. She agreed. Carlisle called us all to gather and we sat along the shore. He passed out the updates I had compiled and I felt my face redden at my obvious lack of skill. "As you can see," he began, "Jasper's group has begun having church meetings. I think anyone who wants to attend should be able to. There is a schedule on the report."
I looked over at them in awe. They were obviously progressing further than our group, too. We would have to come up with something to offer, since we didn't have a hospital or a church. Edward let his head fall in shame. I wanted to defend him and point out he was given the difficult people. But I remained quiet.
Jasper and Emmett spoke for a few minutes and when it was Edward's turn you could tell he was not in the mood to be positive. He said everything was fine with our group and then he sat down. A few heads turned and glanced at me. I was shocked and wondered just how much Edward was sharing with people.
Esme told us to enjoy the evening and pointed out a volleyball net and some chess boards. I shook my head and knew any explanation would be taking them to Patagonia so I didn't ask. I headed toward the aircraft to get some more notebooks and then sat and watched everyone through the windows. Edward was talking with the Cullens and I noticed Rosalie was sneaking away with Emmett. He must have been the man she had met with.
Alice and Jasper were talking with Angela and Ben. It made me wonder if Alice took the antidepressants too. Maybe it was why she was so happy all the time. A group began a game of volleyball and I knew I would steer as far from that torture as possible. I let my head fall back on the seat and I was soon drifting off to sleep. A loud voice woke me up. I could hear someone coming up the stairs so I jumped up and hid in the cockpit.
"I'm not having this discussion with you," Edward said.
I looked around for a better place to hide but I was stuck. I quickly reached for the cabinet so I could pretend to be getting a notebook. Luckily, he didn't come inside my place of refuge.
"She wasn't even supposed to be on this flight," Tanya yelled back at him.
I realized their discussion was about me. I moved to the door so I could hear better. "Do you think you were on this flight for me?" he gasped in surprise. "I can assure you that is not the case."
"Your father made promises to me," she said as tears broke out.
"Take it up with him, not me," Edward yelled. His voice did not soften to her tears and it made me a bit proud of him. I also realized he was still lying to me. He said he was alone in the world when obviously his father was still alive.
Loud sobs broke out but I could hear someone leaving the plane. I looked out to see Edward storming off. It was only a few moments longer when I saw Tanya run after him. I decided to save the poor guy. Liars should protect each other, I rationalized.
I left the plane and walked to where he was standing as Tanya continued to berate him. I took hold of his arm and pulled him toward me. "Can I talk to you in private?"
He looked relieved and we both left Tanya there crying. After a few steps I said softly, "I don't really need to talk to you, but you looked like you needed some help."
He laughed and put his arm around my shoulder as he said, "You have no idea how much you just helped me."
"I think I do," I said cryptically.
We walked for a moment before he pointed out, "Jake isn't here."
"Yeah, he stayed with Billy."
We continued in silence until I came clean. "Look Edward, Jake is a nice kid. I think of him as a friend….or more like a little brother."
He stopped walking and turned to face me. I noticed we were far from the group so there was no need to whisper. "So you feel the need to run from me in the middle of a storm just to see a brother?"
"I wasn't running from you," I said emphatically. "But I also think we got carried away."
"I agree," he said to shock me. "I moved way to fast. We should slow down a bit."
It wasn't what I meant. I had hooked up with guys before without feeling the need to acquire promises from their fathers. I didn't want to tell him it was not the lust I was regretting but the possibility of a relationship. I smiled and made a risky suggestion. "Why don't we try being friends and see how that goes?"
He groaned in frustration and threw his hands in the air. "I'm always going to be your friend. I think you're interesting. I don't have to 'try' to be your friend."
"I guess I mean, let's see if things progress naturally. I don't want to feel like I am beholding to you or anything."
We stood a foot apart and stared into each other's face. If we were in the real world saying those words would have meant I never planned on seeing him again. But in our situation it meant I didn't want to feel guilty for running off with Jake. He finally gave me a gentle smile and I realized I was lying to myself, not just him. I didn't want to have a reason to stay here. He could very easily become a reason and I couldn't take the chance.
I smiled back and teased him by saying, "But if you ever need to make Tanya jealous, I'm your girl."
His smile faded and he looked back at the crowd further down the beach. When he turned back to me his expression was serious. "I wouldn't mess with Tanya if I were you."
I wasn't afraid of girls like Tanya. They were all about the drama and would break down before getting into an actual scuffle. I had been trained in self-defense by my father so nobody intimidated me. "Thanks for the warning," I chuckled. "I think Tanya would worry more about breaking a nail than getting into a fight."
He began to explain his warning but suddenly stopped. "You would fight her over me?" He looked a little surprised but then gave me a panty dropping grin.
Now I laughed loudly. His confidence was bold to be sure. But his face was so handsome that it sent a shiver down my spine. I headed back to the group as I said, "Yes, I probably would."
Edward gave a fist pump into the air and then ran to catch up with me. Tanya glared at us both as we made our way through the food line.
