Chapter Ten

Jasper

Once outside the airport I checked my phone for messages, there was one from Peter, Bella was still en route for Jacksonville and had made her first change of coach. Char was waiting at the next stop off to check everything was still OK. Feeling very relieved I got a cab into the centre of Jacksonville and booked into a hotel close to the Greyhound depot then went shopping for some clothes having brought nothing with me except my wallet and papers. As I got back to my room and took a shower I realized my problems weren't over. I had no idea where Bella's mother lived, nor her surname, so I couldn't trace her. That meant waiting around at the Greyhound depot for her coach to arrive and they were pretty hot on young guys who just hung around, too many were looking for young runaways and I didn't want to be picked up so I needed a way of hanging around without causing any one in authority to notice me. I could have found a perch opposite on a roof but then I had to get down and follow her, especially if her mother were waiting for her. I hoped she would be, Greyhound depots weren't the kind of place young women were safe hanging around in, especially as her coach wasn't due in until late evening two days from now. I dressed again and went out to check the depot and saw something that gave me an idea, a way of being almost invisible to those in authority and I did some more shopping in rather different stores to fit my disguise.

The next morning having checked with Char that Bella was still on her way I went into the depot and chose my spot, paying off its usual occupant for the next few days, then I sat down on the floor with my guitar and started strumming some old tunes I remembered from my human days. Before long I had coins in the open guitar case and a small audience. One old guy told me he remembered his father playing one of the tunes that his own father had taught him and asked me to play it again. From monster to busker in a few hours! I stayed until late evening then put the money in a charity bucket as I left for the hotel, changing my clothes in an abandoned building doorway before going back to the hotel. The next day I did the same and again made a fair amount of money, the old guy bringing two of his buddies to hear the old songs then a youngster asked if I could play anything more recent so I did a few which he enjoyed nodding with a smile as I finished. I'd been asked if I sang too but I just shook my head. I only sang a few songs and those only to Alice, love songs that I couldn't bring myself to sing again. I didn't want to draw attention to myself and I wasn't sure I could sing badly enough to sound like the other buskers! Again I gave the money to charity and went back to the hotel but this time I felt my nerves tightening. Butterflies in the pit of my stomach and a tremor in my hands. Bella's coach would be in tomorrow and I would see her again. If she was alone I decided I would speak to her but if her mother met her at the depot I would just follow them so I knew where she was and contact her later when I could get her alone. I couldn't ignore the fact that I felt excited at the thought of finally seeing her again and knowing she was fine. Would she want to speak to me or would she be angry that I'd followed her? It was a chance I had to take.

I was a bit later to my position the next day and the old guy was there waiting so I played his favourite first, putting a smile on his face. The day went too slowly but I'd heard nothing that led me to suppose she wouldn't be on the bus and my mouth was dry as the hours ticked closer. As the time for the coach to arrive got close I packed up taking my time and watching for people coming in to collect passengers. There were various women who could be Bella's mother so I sat back down, deciding it would be better if I carried on with my busking until I was sure someone was there for her.

When the bus came in my eyes scanned the seats until I saw her. She looked weary and hot and glanced around. She was looking for someone so obviously she was expected. I kept my head down and carried on playing as she got off the coach and looked around, her eyes passing over me, just another busker among many she must have seen over the past few days. I heard her name called and looked up to see a woman run to her, taking her in a hug and followed by a guy who must be the step father. I hurriedly packed up and turned to leave when she stopped speaking and looked directly at the space I had occupied before shaking her head and looking round at all the people. She had felt me and now she was looking for the reason for that feeling. I hurried out dropping the money in a charity bucket as I did so and ran to the car I'd rented and left parked on a dark side street. I waited impatiently until I saw a car driven by the guy go past then I eased into the traffic and followed at a distance until the car parked up on a driveway in the suburbs.

I watched the guy get Bella's bag from the trunk while the two women walked hand in hand to the house and disappear inside. At least I knew where she was and that she was safe so I drove around until I knew the layout of the surrounding streets. To the back of the house was a lane running to old warehouses only some of which were still in use so I parked the car in an empty one and walked round to see the front of the house. I couldn't watch from here, it would be too obvious so I would have to observe from the back of the house. Going back round I found a perch that let me see over the back fence into the house, the blinds hadn't been drawn so I could see into the kitchen where Bella and her mother were sitting with mugs of coffee talking.

"I rang your father, he's livid Bella. What happened? I thought you were happy in Forks and getting over Edward Cullen."

"I was but dad decided I should go out with Jake."

"Jake?"

"Jacob Black. He wanted me to agree to marry Jake."

"Marry Billy's boy? You liked him though didn't you? I thought he was helping you"

"He was but I don't love him. Dad got really annoyed"

"Did he touch you?"

"No, I wouldn't let him, we only held hands a few times"

"What? Not Jacob, I mean Charlie?"

Bella hung her head and at that moment if Charlie Swan had been anywhere near I would have ripped his heart out.

"Bella, did your father touch you?"

"A couple of times. He slapped me once and I fell down the stairs. It was me being clumsy. The other time he knocked me into the dresser and I hurt my ribs. Why did you ask? Did he hit you? If you knew he was violent why did you let me go there?"

"Your father isn't violent Bella, he only lashes out when he gets really frustrated and he has never hit you, he loves you too much. Don't say anything to Phil or he'll start trouble. You're here now so lets just forget about it. Please Bella, for me."

"Mum, did dad hit you? Is that why you left with me?"

"Not really no. Charlie's a good man he just gets wound up sometimes."

I couldn't believe I was hearing this woman excuse her ex husbands actions to her daughter. A daughter he had hit!

"I take it you don't want anything to do with Jacob Black?"

"No."

"Have you heard from Edward or Alice Cullen?"

"No, why?"

"Charlie thinks he's back and that's why you wouldn't look at Jacob"

"You spoke to dad about it?"

"Of course. I had to let him know where you were, he was worried but he thought you might head to our house. I promised to let him know when you arrived and get you to speak to him. He's worried about you Bella. He's only doing what he thinks is in your best interest"

If she caves in and feels sorry for that bastard I will probably smash something!

"Mum, he tried to tell me who I should marry, he hit me, I don't care if he's worried about me."

"Bella, for my sake please don't upset him"

"Why? He's miles away."

"He's a police officer Bella. He could make things very difficult if he contacted the local cops."

"He's threatened you?"

"Well no, not really, he just wanted to make sure I let him know you were here. I think he's hoping you'll go back"

"Go back? No never, go back? Why would I want to do that? I'm nobody's punch bag mum."

"Punch bag Bella? That's a little OTT don't you think?"

"No I don't mum and I'm not going back to Forks."

"OK Bella, there's no need to get all wound up. We'll sort something out."