Flight of the Phoenix
Chapter Ten – Emotions
I looked over to Bella, tears still streaming down her rosy cheeks as she packed up her laptop and notebook. She closed her eyes for a moment, and suddenly there was the loud shrill of a fire alarm outside the building.
"Class, we need to leave. Please exit in an orderly fashion, using both exits. See you all Wednesday," Professor Blake said while gesturing to the exit behind him. The students all around us started getting up and filing out of the room.
"Edward, hold on to me. I feel the pull again," Bella warned me. I grabbed her by her waist and threw her bag over my shoulder along with my own. The pull was stronger than it had ever been. We managed to make it outside, but the pull became even stronger. I had to act fast. I was aware that she was wearing a short skirt that Alice had forced on her. No one was looking at us, so I carried Bella bridal style and ran to a vacant classroom.
I ran to each door with Bella locked within my grasp and locked them both. "Are you okay, Bella?"
"I need a distraction," Bella gasped, her head resting in the crook of my neck. The pull was very powerful, and I started to feel that I was not strong enough to hold on to her. I did the only I could think of to distract her.
I put Bella's bare legs around my waist, and she let out a little gasp, surprised at my quick movements. I smirked, looking at her eyes, her face level with my own. She wrapped her arms around my neck, my own wrapped around her waist.
"How this for a distraction?" I asked, giving her a smile.
"Hmm…nope, it's not working. I can still feel the pull." Bella shrugged her shoulders.
"Oh, really?" I said, playing along with her. "How's this?" I kissed the corner of her lips, working my way to the middle before pressing my lips to hers with a little more pressure. Bella's hands intertwined in my hair. I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensations that her warm, soft lips brought forth. I knew I had to stop.
The last time I'd gone too far had almost caused me to kill her. I started to pull away, but Bella decided to lick my bottom lip, sending me into a frenzy. I met her tongue with my own and sucked on it slightly. God, the taste is amazing. Bella moaned softly as a sound escaped from me. Bella pulled away quickly, looking at me intently.
"Did you just purr?" Bella asked, barely containing her laughter.
"Did I?" Bella nodded, smiling somewhat smugly.
"I've never done that before." If I could blush, I was sure I would have at this moment. Bella's laughter filled the room, but her movements were doing things to me that were undermining my control. Her laughter was causing her hips to grind against me. Bella stopped abruptly. Her eyes widened, and she unlocked her legs from around my waist.
"Sorry." Bella blushed, and her eyes were downcast.
"You have nothing to apologize for, Bella. This is all new for both of us," I whispered to her, placing my finger on her chin so that she would look at me. I gave her a chaste kiss.
"At least I'm not flying. How late are we for our next class?" Bella inquired.
"We're not late yet." I winked, pulling her up in my arms, and I dashed out of the classroom to our next class, stopping behind a large bush. It was a good thing it was dark already – no one was able to see us coming.
We found seats in the middle of the classroom, and Bella opted not to use her laptop and settled for the old-fashioned pen and paper. Bella crossed her beautiful legs at her ankles, lady-like. Then she started rubbing her thighs with her hands.
Is she trying to kill me? My fists clenched against my sides, trying not to think about what she was doing.
"I'm cold. Alice just had to put me in a skirt," Bella grumbled, still trying to warm up. I noticed someone at the door with his thoughts suddenly on Bella.
Damn! Those are some nice pair of legs. I bet she has an ass to match. Wonder if the guy sitting beside her is her boyfriend? Only one way to find out…
The boy started to come towards our row of desks. I leaned in to Bella's ear. "I love you," I whispered, my lips grazing her ear, and then I kissed her down to her neck.
Shit, typical. All the hot ones are taken.
I smiled, but Bella cocked one of her eyebrows. I just smirked and shrugged my shoulders.
Edward, you know better than to be jealous. No one will ever claim my heart but you. Now, stop distracting me before I give out that "feeling" to everyone in the room.
I stifled a laugh at the thought of a room full of love-induced students.
That's not the "feeling" I was referring to. I shuddered at her innuendo. I was going to have to have a talk with Alice, as she was obviously influencing my sweet Bella.
No, she's not. Bella whispered her thought.
I had to be mindful of my thoughts around Bella, especially when we kissed. I did not want her to know just how badly I wanted her. I didn't want her know just what I wanted to do to her. This train of thought was not helping, noticing the small smile on Bella's lips.
The class went on without incident, and no one else was thinking of my Bella inappropriately. We both had one more class each, but not together. I was worried that something might happen when I could not be there.
We have already tested our abilities to "talk" great distances. I'll be able to call for help if there is a need. Stop being all protective. I'll be fine.
I'm still carrying you to class. That ankle looks worse, I thought, looking over at her.
I suppose I can let you. She sighed internally and externally.
Like I would give you have a choice, I scoffed.
Edward, you're pushing your luck, Bella thought, rolling her eyes.
Well, at least one of us has luck.
She turned to glare at me, and then her eyes glazed over. She was having a vision of Alice glancing at a clock on the wall – nine-forty-five pm – and then opening the front door of Bella's house, a look of confusion apparent on her face. Then it went blank.
"What the hell does that mean?" I growled, fearing for the life of my sister and brother.
"It means that in exactly one hour and twelve minutes, the wolves will be paying her and Jasper a visit," Bella whispered, her voice barely audible.
I balked, my eyes widening. "How many?" I growled. I had to get Bella out of here. The thought of the volatile creatures within a mile of her was making my blood boil.
"I don't know, I can't see them. I'm giving Jasper and Alice a warning," Bella said, her eyes closed to concentrate for several minutes.
Jasper said that they will not leave. It would cause the wolves to follow their trail, Bella thought. Her thoughts were confused and scared for my family.
They'll be fine, Bella. We'll go back to your place once class is over. I tried to assure her. I looked over to her, and she nodded.
It was obvious Bella was going to have to be present if we wanted to make sure the situation didn't escalate. They were coming to see her, likely looking for something that would trigger a war.
For the last ten minutes of class, we both were reading thoughts randomly to see if we could pick up the minds of the wolves. Bella gave me a memory of one of her last encounter of Jacob Black.
Memory of Thanksgiving vacation in Charlie's backyard
"Bella, I'm sorry if I scared you."
"You didn't scare me, Jacob, more like surprised." Jacob was at the edge of the forest, watching Bella intently.
"I just don't understand why you won't come live with your father." Jacob said as he trembled in place. "I thought you liked me.'
"I told you why, Jacob. I have a chance for a full scholarship if I continue with the program I'm currently in. They don't have anything like that here."
"Please tell me you have some of the same feelings, Bella."
"I won't lie to you, Jacob."
The memory ended there, though I was sure there was more.
Sorry, I wanted you to be able to hear his voice to help you find him. He told me once that he and his brothers share their thoughts together.
I nodded in response, trying to keep myself calm. He was coming because he was jealous. That was the only thing that was bothering him, and I was a vampire.
We waited patiently until class was over and made our way to the car. I raced to her house and parked the car in the garage and carried Bella inside her house. Jasper and Alice were already alert. This would be their first encounter with these werewolves. Jasper had plenty of training and experience in battle, but not against this type of creature.
"Do we know how many are coming?" Jasper asked, his stance in front of Alice protective. Alice looked annoyed.
"Neither Alice nor Bella can see them coming, which means we're blind," I said.
"Relax, everyone, they just want to check up on me. I'm friends with mostly all of them," Bella said, sitting on the sofa and putting her ankle on top of a pillow.
"Edward, can you please be my icepack?" She smiled over at me. I laughed and sat with her, placing my hands gently on her ankle. She sighed as I soother her pain. I was happy to be of some comfort to her.
"Just act like you normally do when you have human company. Try to stay calm. I hear them already." Bella closed her eyes in concentration.
"Interesting…five them are coming. Sam the Alpha, Jacob, Quil, Embry and…Leah."
"Leah?" I questioned, one of my hands rubbing circles on her calf. I loved the silkiness and warmth of her skin.
"Yes, it looks like it's not just men, but women too." Bella shook her head in disbelief.
"Strange, I thought the transformation only occurred in the male descendants," Jasper expressed, taking a seat with Alice on his lap in a chair across from us.
"Apparently, so did they. She was a shock to the pack." Bella winced slightly in pain.
"What is it, Bella?" I asked, worried that she may need pain medication.
"Let's just say that none of their memories are private." Bella stiffened slightly. "Okay, they should be here soon. Let me take the lead with this. If there is a threat, you'll be the first to know."
Jasper shook his head and looked at Bella. She shrugged her shoulders. It was obvious that they were having a silent conversation. Jasper laughed before cocking an eyebrow in my direction.
"What?"
"I asked Bella how your first night in school was," Jasper explained, shaking his head slightly.
"It was good until Bella's vision," I said while still caressing Bella's calf.
"Well, I can tell you this, I'm quite impressed with Bella's range. Her mind reading and telepathic abilities have increased dramatically. She's surpassed you." I nodded in agreement.
Bella could be a force to be reckoned with. Someone outside of my family was bound to notice.
If that happened…then heaven help us.
Bella sighed and tried to stifle a yawn. She raised her hand, and the TV remote came to her hand. We'd been exploring her telekinesis, but it was still strange to watch. We sat, not really watching what was on the TV screen, just waiting. It felt like an eternity.
"They're here…" Bella giggled. I rolled my eyes at her.
The layout of Bella's house, the front door led straight to the living room, where we were all sitting. Jasper pulled Alice closer to her.
"Jasper, will you stop acting like I can't take care of myself?" Alice hissed.
"You are at a disadvantage, Alice," Jasper said calmly. "You can't use your visions to help you against them." Jasper gave her a small smile to which Alice just rolled her eyes.
We heard them approach. Bella didn't wait for them to knock. The door flew open with a wave of her hand. There before us were four russet-skinned males and one female. All the males were in nothing but shorts, and the female in a small top and shorts.
"Oh jeez, Jacob! Can't you at least put a shirt on?" Bella screamed, clapping a hand over her eyes.
"What, Bells, does my being half-naked bother you?" Jacob said with humor behind every word. I growled and glared at him.
"That's enough," Bella said, looking at me and then returning her attention to the pack.
"Everyone, this is Jasper Whitlock, Alice Cullen and Edward Cullen." Bella gestured to each of us.
"Everyone, this is Sam, Jacob, Quil, Embry and Leah. Five of the… wow…sixteen members of their pack," Bella said with a smile. The pack stiffened when she disclosed that she knew how many members they had.
"How…did you know?" Jacob asked, his voice cracking with apprehension.
"Edward here can read minds…" Bella trailed off. "So can I."
The pack stances changed, and trembling could be seen in their bodies.
"Relax," Bella said softly. "As you can see, I'm still human. The crash did something to my head. I was already different, since Edward can't read my mind unless I let him."
"Are you planning on letting them change you?" Jacob asked, his tone cold. "Charlie said that you and that…leech are together."
"I have something in my head that could kill me at any moment. If –"
"That doesn't change the fact they are not allowed to bite any humans," Jacob yelled, trying to step closer but was prevented to do so when Bella raised her hand.
"I didn't say that they were going to bite me, Jacob. Right now the transformation would kill me before it was complete."
"What the hell are you doing to us?" Sam said in confusion, since he was unable to move against Bella's invisible restraints.
"I also have other gifts. Are you willing to listen? If you are, I will release you. But I warn you, one move against me or Edward, and his family and I will act." Bella's tone was firm and strong, a confidence I had never seen in her before.
"Ha, like you can do anything to hurt us," Leah scoffed. Bella jumped up from the sofa, as did the others. I crouched in front of her protectively, Alice and Jasper beside me instantly. We looked at each other and then at the wolves. They couldn't move any longer.
Bella raised her other hand towards Leah, and she flew up to the ceiling. Leah's eyes were wide with fright.
"I will not hurt you unless you give me reason to," Bella said firmly and looked at Sam.
"Put her down and we will listen," Sam indicated, his eyes still on Leah's body on the ceiling. Bella placed Leah gently on her feet and nodded.
"The crash was indeed caused by a fight between Edward and another vampire. James was after me. Edward stopped him. If it weren't for him, I'd be dead and so would all the other passengers. He pulled me out of a burning plane and saved me. His family has managed to keep James from attacking again. I need your help."
"What can you possibly need from us?" Jacob said in disgust towards me and my family.
"James may try to get to Charlie," Bella's tone was pleading as she looked at Jacob.
"I won't let him get near him, Bella," Jacob said, his face softening when he saw the look on Bella's face.
"There's more. He may have others working with him – a female and another male."
"That will not pose a problem for us," Sam said with confidence in every word.
"Please coordinate your efforts on keeping my father safe in Forks with Carlisle until the rest of the Cullen family moves here." Bella said taking a step with her bad ankle, she winced. I was at her side in an instant. She raised her hand to stop me.
"Jacob, Sam, I know I'm probably scaring you with my powers, even though I'm human. Trust me, I'm scared too. But if it weren't for Edward, I would've floated in front of a room full of students. Stop thinking that they are going to hurt me. They are here to protect me."
Bet you he's living here with her. Jacob's thoughts betrayed him.
"I do not live with her, Jacob," I spat and glared at him. "Not that it's any of your business."
"But you admit you're with her," Jacob sneered in disgust, looking from Bella's eyes to mine.
"Yes, he is," Bella said. "And he's here to stay."
AN: beta'd by lisa89. Please review.