A/N: Life has been crazy for me. So, sorry for the slow pace that the chapters have been coming at lately, but chapter 11 is here now! Thank you all for the reviews.
No one said anything for the longest time, and I couldn't look at anyone that was sitting less then an arms reach from me.
Though, as we were pulling up in front of Charlie's unlit house, I looked back to Alice, "Are you going to be okay?" my voice shattering as I even spoke. I could see the silvery venom trickling down one side of her gash.
"It is just a small slash, nothing more. I'll be fine." Alice insured me with a warm smile. No one was visibly angry with me for jeopardizing their lives along with my own.
Edward stood on my side of the car looking in at me from the open door. "Bella, we need to get you inside." I just nodded my head gently, but then rested it against the head rest of the seat. Edward's face moved into a heavy frown; Jasper and Alice were out of the backseat now and looked down at me as well. Jasper's cold hand touched my shoulder the overwhelming calmness about knocked me out cold. My head dropped down along with my eyes.
NO! I don't want to go to sleep! My voice only screamed inside my head as I fought against Jasper's unfair power. Through the fine little slits my droopy eyes formed, I silently scolded Jasper before I slid sideways out of the car in a dreamless slumber.
Hours later I rolled over, yawning and stretching my arms up above my head, with welded shut eyes into a laughing wall. I opened my sleep filled eyes and groggily glared into Edward's humorous darkening eyes.
"Go hunt," I murmured pushing my head into the pillow a bit more, still facing him.
"Wake up, Bella, or you're going to be running late for graduation practice and school." Edward jumped up from his horizontal position next to me, and took the covers with him.
I whimpered, "Can't I just stay he-…" The memories of last night came back in a flash; I thought I just had had one hell of a nightmare. "How is Alice?" I asked suddenly fully awake.
The light humor in Edward's face blew out the window. "She is Alice. Also, she happens to be a little anxious to get to school and talk with Angela. So come on, love, get up already. Or Alice will come up here and dress you herself." He crossed his arms with the last part of his speech.
I flew out of my bed –luckily not getting tangled up in the sheets- and into my closet to get the clothes I wanted to wear. Then in the same burst of propelling energy into the bathroom to deal with the human habits. I was ready in ten minutes, quick but it worked - I didn't look like a slob of any fashion. So, hopefully no need for Alice to flip out over my simple unglamorous look.
"Well, now I know how to get you motivated and unklutzyfied."
I ignored him. "Let's go already." I mumbled stifling a yawn and going down the stairs outside. The rain was pouring down on the little world around us outside. I snatched my jacket and looked to see Edward holding the door open for me.
"Ready?" he asked, but didn't wait for me to answer before taking me to the car and then speeding on the slick roads. To occupy the short time between my house and the parking lot I looked back to peek at Alice's arm.
It was healed over completely! "Bu-b-but how?" I stammered in a broken weak voice.
"We don't gain scars in this life. The only scars you will see on a vampire are ones sustained in their human life. We heal quickly." Alice answered in her sweet musical tone and a smile that didn't touch her lighter eyes.
I wondered if all of the Cullens had gone hunting, besides Edward, to heal over quickly. I downcast my eyes and thought, Should I call off the wedding?
I saw Alice stiffen from the corner of my peripheral vision and at the same time Edward and her eyes locked on me. I shared a wide eyed look between the two glares. "What?" the words was like the wind that cease to whip by the parked car.
"Don't you dare decide that; Rosalie will strangle you and I would help if you think of calling off the wedding!" She screeched, and then added in a joking tone with dry humor, "Plus, think of Edward. His ego needs your support to go on as it is now."
I would have laughed, slightly, but I just couldn't find it in my heart to. Edward looked away from me and in a low throaty snarl, "I'll kill those dogs."
My brow furrowed at his words, "I haven't called anything off. So don't start thinking I have. They won't win this, even though I'm still alive and attracting more danger by the day!" I snapped getting out of the car.
"Bella, stop being so absurd!" his voice ice through his teeth, there was no musical or velvety tone in those spoken words. I shuddered.
"Edward. Bella, finish this later. You two will work it out. Also, please don't decide against the wedding, Bells. It will go perfect, that I can promise." Alice draped a delicate arm over my shoulders and hugged me with the one arm.
Then we moved towards the gym doors where all current seniors were suppose to go for the all-day full-blown graduation practice.
Edward escorted me to the door; we didn't hold hands and Mike noticed the detachment between us, just like everyone else. A low whisper ran through our class, "Wonder what happened to them?" was the first one.
"The ring is still there, but they're not making eye contact."
"Bet Bella didn't put out," I heard Lauren murmur to the girl next to her in a snicker. Ohhh…the audacity of that girl! It caused a whole load of new rumors to start up about the sudden coldness between Edward and myself. It wasn't that bad though, I was mad at myself and Edward was upset that he didn't know what was going on in my head.
I inwardly groaned the third time through the speech Angela was practicing; I balled my fist up and stood up from my seat. I was leaving the practice, and didn't care what anyone said. Edward was right at my heels as I stumbled down the stage steps. I heard someone else's snicker; if I wasn't so angry I would have blushed, but it took everything I had not to bite their head off. I did, however, glared at my fellow classmate, who was a preppy little blonde cheerleader, as Edward pulled my feet up and swept me out of the gym.
"Bella, what are you doing?" his tone defensive.
"Putting space between me and those…those…" I puffed out my check and let out a deep sigh, "classmates. They don't know anything." I accused pointing my finger to the door and pacing away from Edward.
"That's right. What is up with the chagrin today?" Edward searched my face with analytical eyes as I spun around to face him. "Don't tell me, still about last night? Let it go Bella. You're dropping into the masochist category with me."
I threw up my hands and my cap flipped off my head, into the air. Then I hollered, "No, not at all Edward!"
He racked a hand through his bronze hair. "You didn't even take jumping off a cliff this bad! What is going on in your head?!?" he hissed stepping towards me to close the gap some.
"I don't know." I sunk down to the damp sidewalk. Defeated. My head dropped onto my knees as I drew them up.
Mr. Banner walked outside of the gym doors. "Is everything alright, Ms. Swan and Mr. Cullen? Or do we have to call everything off inside just for the two of you? Everyone is waiting to finish this practice and go home." Mr. Banner really had no idea what kind of argument he had stumbled into.
"We were just about to come back into the gym, Sir." Edward turned on the calm and collected façade he could project with his persuasive/dazzling side in mere moments.
"Well hurry it up. The mob is going to skin me alive in there." Mr. Banner retorted. Finally taking in my sunken form, the question was unasked but it was clear. Why is Bella sitting on the ground?
"Actually, Mr. Banner, can we just came and practice once tomorrow before hand. I'm not feeling too well." The statement was weak and hoarse –from screaming- with my voice and I gave him my most pathetic look. I didn't care if he bought it or not, I wasn't going back inside that gym. Not today at least.
Mr. Banner looked at my face closely. Then he resigned and gave us his thoughts, "Edward, since you are Bella's ride, I'll send Alice on out and tell everyone to be here tomorrow an hour before graduation. We have practiced enough. Get feeling better Bella." He turned his back on us and went back through the metal doors.
Neither Edward nor I moved an inched while we waited for Alice to come out. My temper had calmed down and I was feeling like a child that broke something in a China shop that was until the door opened.
"Okay, we'll be here, Mr. Banner. Don't worry about it. She will be just fine." Alice was cheerfully saying her good-byes and skipped happily out of the gym with a large smile, they just didn't hear the hidden message in her voice that I had.
"Ah-a-Alice, what was that just about?" I pondered out loud as Edward helped me stand up from my placement on the ground. The class was filing out past us; Mike glared at Edward as he walked out to the parking lot with Jessica gibbering on about something pointless.
She looked at me, then at Edward. In a quite voice she explained to us, "You two need a time out. Edward, you are going to talk to Emmett, Carlisle and Jasper; while Bella goes with Rosalie, Esme, and myself to the florist. No arguments from the two of you. Now let's get going." With such purpose she gracefully stepped over to the car.
"Can I switch you people?" I begged Edward with dread in every word.
"No, sorry, Alice is making sure to be secretive with her thoughts at this moment. I can't make them out at all." His eyes narrowed as he watched Alice leaning against the Volvo all angelic and innocent like.
"Sorry about earlier," I muttered. "I just hate seeing people injured or hurt over me."
"Don't sweat it Bella. Imagine what would have happened if your blood was spilled on the ground last night." His arm snaked around me waist and his voice was more gentle then it had been all day. Edward's lips met the side of my forehead as we walked across the chatter-filled parking lot.
Nobody had left, even though we were all released twenty minutes before the three o'clock bell. Conversations cut short as Edward and I passed a couple different groups, and then started back up once we were past them.
Halfway to the white house, I remembered something very important.
"Edward! Turn around!" I screeched. He looked startled and confused at my sudden out burst.
"Why?" He questioned, not slowing down just yet.
"My mother," I squeaked.
Alice suddenly beamed with a delighted expression knowing my mother was now a subject to try on her mother's gown. Sweat broke out in beads across my forehead with terror. I wanted to hide from Renee, Phil and their flight that was coming in. How was my mother going to react face-to-face with Edward and myself in strangling distance over the wedding?
"I'll wait at Bella's with Rosalie and Esme. Just drop them off in one piece Edward." Alice was now showcasing a large smile and jumped out of the car once Edward pulled over and stopped for her.
"See you there Alice." He acknowledged her words with this statement and flew to the airport. I had told him to drive back to my house doing the speed limit with my mother and Phil in the car. They would freak out more over the speeding issue then I ever had. Edward became slightly surly at the prospect of slow driving, but agreed after I threatened him with everything I could think of. Carlisle turning me after tomorrow night had led to his agreement, at last.
My mother was tanner, but looked exactly the same as she had when I left Arizona. Phil looked like a gold miner's mule with the bags strapped on him and two suitcases in his hands. I, somehow, succeeded in not gawking at the week's worth of clothing my mother had packed. I almost thought I was looking at bags Alice would bring on a short term trip.
"Bella," Renee exclaimed and wrapped her arms around me in a warm friendly loving hug. Phil nodded his greetings and Edward moved to assist with the load. I was taken aback from the change in my mother over a two week time frame, and what she really was like when she was awake.
"Why do you look so surprised?" She asked stepping back and looking my figure up and down.
"I'm in shock to actually see you…so….tan…and…happy," I tried to avoid possibly seeing Renee's face shift into the disappointed glare I had envisioned after the phone call.
"Florida sun does wonders. Though it is thick with humidity there, and why does it surprise you about me being so happy?" Her face was judging, not disappointed, just judging mine. Edward coughed on the driver's side of the car, trying to hide a snicker probably; I argued in my head not to glare at him, and successfully just blushed at the stupidity of my own words prior to Renee's answer.
"Nothing," I waved my hands in a dismissive gesture and looked at the car. "We came to give you a ride to your hotel." I switched the subject smoothly and the bait was taken.
"Oh, that was so sweet of you, Bella. Thank you. Oh, hello Edward," I listened to her voice, carefully, as we moved to sit in the car and Edward returned the awkward greeting from my mother.
A block from the hotel, my mother spoke the question I was anticipating. "So, where is the wedding?"
A/N2: I'm going to try and post another chapter before the end of the week. If I don't update for about a month, that is because my internet has been cut off. Though, if that happens, the updates that should have happened will pop up rather quickly.
Sorry to all those that are enjoying the story, and for the cliffy.
Hope to update soon,
BW