Chapter 7
Bella's POV
"Edward!" I gasped.
"I'm here, Bella." He said, looking at me with his beautiful, troubled eyes. "I'm so sorry, Bella. I never thought this would get out of hand like that, but James is gone now. Jasper and Alice took care of him. Are you ok?" He asked. I looked around before I answered him, trying to figure out where I was. I was sitting on Edward's lap in the back seat of Carlisle's Mercedes, and Emmett was grinning at me from Edward's side. I almost laughed seeing his legs practically crammed against his chest, his body too big for the small space. Carlisle was next to Emmett, looking out the window, probably trying to give us some privacy.
"I'm ok now Edward, I just got so scared back there. I thought I would be killed and never see you again. I think that's what scared me most," I admitted. Edward pulled me close to his chest at my words.
I saw Alice's face appear from the front seat. "Oh Bella, did you really think James could get past the both of us? I mean there really was no doubt, I would know." She said, glancing at Jasper, who I noticed was driving. Edward frowned at her words, causing her to turn around. I chose not to respond to Alice, I could tell Edward was already upset with both her and Jasper.
I needed to ease the tension between the three of them. "Edward," I began carefully, "it was my decision to come to the ballet studio. I thought I could help, but I was wrong. Please don't be angry with Alice and Jasper, this wasn't their fault." Edward gave me a small smile.
"We won't discuss this now Bella, let's just get you home first. Don't worry, right now I'm just happy you are safe. Alice and Jasper may have done wrong in bringing you with to the fight, but it could have been a lot worse had Jasper not caught you back at the airport." He frowned at his words, probably thinking of the very different situation we would be in right now had I gone alone to meet James. I felt the color drain from my cheeks as I thought of that possibility too. "It's ok Bella, you're fine," Edward said, noticing my distress and pulling my head onto his shoulder. He was right. I was more than fine, I still had Edward. By some miracle, we had all made it out of this terrible situation.
I suddenly felt tired as I recounted the day's events in my head. This had truly been the longest day of my life, and it wasn't over yet. I still had to face Charlie when we got back to Forks, but I wouldn't think about that just yet. I laid against Edward's chest for a few minutes and let the smooth motion of the car lull me to sleep. Before I was completely gone, I suddenly realized that I needed to say one more thing. "Jasper?" I asked softly.
It took Jasper a couple seconds to respond, but then I heard his calm voice from the driver's seat, "Yes, Bella?"
"Thanks…for everything. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." That sounded lame after everything Jasper had done for me today, but it was the best I could do in my exhausted state. I didn't wait for a reply, I just let myself fall asleep.
Jasper's POV
Bella's words were somewhat comforting, but I didn't expect her words to completely ease my troubled mind. I was relieved that she wasn't angry with me for putting her in this situation, but I knew Bella well enough to know she wasn't going to feel that way. The person I really needed to talk to was Edward. Perhaps he wouldn't want to talk to me right away, I could still sense his anger beneath his feelings of relief for Bella's safety, but when he was ready I needed to explain myself. I also needed his forgiveness.
As I drove, I listened to Carlisle and Emmett quietly talking to Esme and Rosalie in the back seat, telling them what happened. We were all grateful to come out of the fight unscathed. I turned to Alice and we shared one of our looks. She reached out and brushed my cheek with her tiny fingers. I smiled at her and reached for her hand as we made our way back home.
________________________________________________________
Author's Note:
Ok…one more chapter.
