Disclaimer: I am NOT Stephenie Meyer and I don't own any of the Twilight series' characters or stories. I borrowed the dialogue and storyline from Eclipse, but the rest is my own take on the story, as seen through Edward's eyes.
Chapter 11
Visitor
"Mmm," Bella sighed as she nuzzled closer to me. She smiled as I kissed her lightly on the forehead.
"Good morning," I whispered.
"Good morning," she replied, leaning up to press her lips on the underside of my jaw.
I pulled her closer to my chest and buried my face in her soft curls, inhaling the faint aroma of strawberries that still lingered in her hair. "I wish we could wake up like this every morning," I sighed.
She sat up with a confused expression on her face. "Edward, we do wake up like this every morning."
"Not exactly," I said, reaching up to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. "This is the first morning that I have been able to spend completely focused on you, without worrying about your father asleep in the next room."
"But what about…?" she began.
"You don't have to worry about my family," I assured her. "They respect our privacy. They won't bother us."
I spoke too soon. The moment the words left my lips, I heard my sister's lithe footsteps growing louder in the hallway. I ran my hand down my face and shook my head.
"What is it?" Bella asked. Her eyebrows knit together in confusion at the sudden change in my mood.
"Rise and shine, Sleepyhead!" Alice trilled just outside the door.
"There's an exception to every rule," I mumbled, rolling my eyes and motioning to the door.
"Bella, I know you're awake."
"Alice," I warned.
"Oh, don't throw a hissy fit, Edward," she teased. Although the door was closed, I could visualize Alice standing on the other side with her hands on her hips and a smirk on her face. "I just wanted to remind Bella that I'll be taking her home later this morning. Charlie's expecting her home before lunch."
"Fine, Alice," I said. "Thank you."
"Okay, okay, I can take a hint."
I turned back to Bella as Alice's footsteps faded. Her lips were set in a pout and her arms were crossed. "You don't have to be mean to her," she chided.
"I'm not," I insisted, "but Alice should know that I want you all to myself. Besides, she had you for two whole days while I was away."
A slight smile curved on her lips as her irritation dissolved. "I missed you, too," she sighed, cupping my cheek in her palm. "But Alice is right. I do need to get ready to go home soon."
She edged away from me and eased herself onto the side of the bed. Before her feet could touch the floor, I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back to me. She tumbled onto the bed and I leaned over her, running my fingers along her ribcage. She flinched slightly and bit her lip. Is she ticklish? I wondered.
I slid a single finger along her arm and down her side. Her eyes widened as she began to squirm. Aha, she is! Her hands pressed against my chest as she saw the mischievous glint in my eyes.
I began trailing my fingers along her sides, gliding along her smooth skin like the keys of my piano, and sending her into a fit of giggles. She writhed and squirmed under me as the laughter pealed from her lips.
"Edward," she breathed. "Stop."
I ignored her half-hearted protests and continued to tickle her mercilessly. She tried futilely to push me away and I found myself laughing along with her. We could never be this carefree in her bedroom – not unless I wanted to be on the receiving end of Charlie's rifle.
Changing tactics, she began drumming her fingers along my sides, searching for a weak spot. My eyes narrowed as her hands neared my hip joints, and as her fingers stroked the sensitive skin there, I recoiled, giving myself away. A wicked smile spread on her lips as she playfully poked her fingers into that spot, causing me to laugh as she had been just moments ago.
The tides had turned, it seemed. Suddenly, she was empowered and I was powerless as she continued to pay back the treatment I had given her. I rolled onto my back to escape and she perched herself over me, refusing to relent. She hesitated only briefly and that was enough. I wrapped my fingers firmly around her arms, pinning them to her sides, and rolled her off of me.
"Truce?" she smirked.
"Truce," I agreed, wrapping my arms around her. She sighed, her warm breath fanning out across my chest. "I had to do something to keep you here," I reasoned.
"All you had to do was ask."
"If I had my way, I would keep you here in this bed with me all day."
"Whatever would we do in a bed for an entire day?" she teased, leaning up to kiss the tip of my nose.
"I'm sure we could think of something."
Her hand reached up and gripped my hair as she pressed her petal soft lips to mine. So soft, so warm. I could spend an eternity kissing Bella. My arms wrapped around her waist, bringing her closer so our bodies pressed against one another. A small moan escaped her lips at the contact, and with that, I broke the kiss. We would not be having a repeat of last night, no matter how tempting that might be.
She pushed out her bottom lip in a pout and I laughed, pecking her once more on the cheek before rising from the bed. "Keeping you in the bed for a day appears to be too much of a temptation," I said with a smirk.
"For me or for you?" she asked.
I chuckled and shook my head. "Bella, you have no idea what you do to me." Her mouth dropped open as I turned with a smug smile and left the bedroom.
I leaned against the door and closed my eyes briefly, taking a moment to catch my breath. That girl was going to be the death of me one day. Every intimate moment with her was more difficult than the last. Instead of becoming desensitized to the temptation, the desire only grew stronger with each passing moment.
My eyes opened when I heard the distinct sounds of water coming from the bathroom. I could hear the subtle changes in pitch as the water went from hitting the hard tile walls to hitting her soft skin. Judging by the varying tones, I could almost generate a vision of what she must look like while she stood under the spray, the water cascading down her…stop.
I squeezed my eyes shut and took another deep breath. When I opened them, Jasper was standing in front of me and I could hear him analyzing my emotional state. He quirked an eyebrow at me and grinned slightly before turning to go downstairs.
I walked down the stairs and was greeted with a variety of scents coming from the kitchen. Esme and Carlisle stood shoulder to shoulder at the kitchen counter. Esme was wearing a white apron, looking more like June Cleaver than a vampire. She was busily whipping a batter while Carlisle was slicing strawberries.
"Good morning."
They both looked up. "Good morning, Edward. Did Bella sleep well?" Esme asked. He's smiling. That's a good sign.
"Yes, she slept quite peacefully."
"And how are things between the two of you?" Carlisle asked, a trace of concern tingeing his voice.
"You didn't hear?" I asked, wondering why the entire family hadn't heard our conversation last night. It wasn't as though the walls separating us would have muffled the sound enough to keep any one of them from listening.
"We went for a run after you went to your room last night. We thought you would appreciate the privacy." It was a wonder I didn't notice the sounds of my family departing or the absence of their thoughts, but I must have been too wrapped up in Bella to notice.
"Everything's fine, Carlisle. I took your advice and told Bella that I trusted her to make her own decisions. She seemed pleased."
Esme's answering smile was brilliant. "I'm proud of you," she said.
If I had the ability, I would have been blushing. I sat on a stool and leaned my elbows on the kitchen counter. "What's on the menu this morning?" I asked, eager to divert the conversation to a more neutral topic.
"Belgian waffles with strawberries," Esme replied, flourishing her whisk.
"Bella will like that," I smiled.
"Bella will like what?" Emmett asked as he plopped onto the stool next to mine.
"Her breakfast."
He wrinkled his nose and made a face. "Better her than me."
"Well, I don't think grizzly bear would sound very appetizing to her, either," Rosalie taunted as she came up behind Emmett and wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning her chin on his shoulder.
Just as Esme flipped a waffle out of the iron and onto a plate, Bella peeked around the corner. Her cheeks flushed with color as all eyes turned in her direction. She swiftly padded over to me. Her hair was still wet and I could see a light sheen of liquid glistening on her skin. The moisture created an even more alluring scent, making my mind fog with desire. Why did she have to torture me so?
My thoughts were interrupted when I saw the panic in her eyes as she realized that walking on the slick tile in socks may not have been the best idea. She began to slip, but I was there to steady her before her feet could go out from under her. She blew out a breath and smiled feebly as I led her to the seat I had been occupying. I shot Emmett a warning glare before he could make any jokes about Bella's near tumble.
"It smells wonderful," she said. "You really shouldn't have gone to all this trouble."
"It's no trouble at all," Esme smiled, setting the plate in front of her. Bella took no time at all, picking up her fork and popping a plump strawberry into her mouth.
Comfortable conversation followed and I had to take a moment to marvel at how perfectly Bella fit into our family – as though she was always meant to be here. She was not only the missing piece of my puzzle, but to my family as well. She rounded us out perfectly.
Following breakfast, Alice hurried Bella along to get her home, insisting that I stay put. I kissed her goodbye, promising that I would see her again soon, and watched as Alice sped away.
"Aww, you look like a lovesick puppy," Emmett teased.
"Well, I think it's endearing," Esme defended, smacking Emmett firmly on the arm. "Don't tease your brother. I seem to remember a time not too long ago when you couldn't keep your eyes off a certain daughter of mine."
"What? Don't like getting a taste of your own medicine?" Jasper snickered as Emmett stared down at his feet.
I chuckled to myself as I strolled out the door. I sat on the front steps, my phone in my hands, anxiously awaiting Alice's call. I was eager to get back to Bella – to continue our conversation from last night. We seemed to have reached a new level of trust in our relationship and I could feel the anticipation growing. There was so much I wanted to share with her, so much I wanted her to share with me. I felt closer to her, if that was even possible. I was filled with a new sense of hope.
I was in the car the moment my phone began to vibrate.
Why wait? Alice only needed to take Bella home to validate the sleepover story. It didn't matter if I arrived home from camping at nearly the same time. The trees blurred past and, before I knew it, I was pulling up in front of Bella's home.
I yanked open the door and, in a fraction of a second, my hopes were dashed once again. Something was not right. A vampire had been here. There was a scent I did not recognize that was too near Bella's house for my comfort.
I sprinted to the door, anxious to have her in my arms, to make sure everything was safe. I pressed the doorbell, listening intently for any thoughts other than Charlie's.
"Door," I hear Charlie yell from inside.
"Don't strain yourself, Dad," Bella chuckled.
I breathed a sigh of relief as I heard her voice. She pulled the door open and I was greeted with her brilliant smile, but the strength of the scent that hit me sent my head reeling. Not only had a vampire been in the area, but they had been in her house…and recently!
"Edward?" Bella asked, confused by the predatory look in my eyes. "What – ?"
I silenced her by placing a finger on her lips. "Give me two seconds," I whispered. "Don't move."
I flew through the house in a panic, checking every room. How could a vampire have been here? Why here? And why hadn't Alice seen it? Had Aro or Caius sent someone to check on Bella so soon? A million questions ricocheted around my brain as I darted from room to room before finally returning to Bella.
She stood flustered in the doorway, just as I had left her. I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into the kitchen, wrapping her in my arms. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her eyes were searching my face for the cause of my sudden distress.
"Someone's been here," I hissed.
"I swear that no werewolves – "
"Not one of them," I shook my head. "One of us."
Her eyes stared blankly and her breathing hitched. "Victoria?" she stammered.
"It's not a scent I recognize."
"One of the Volturi?"
"Probably," I admitted. It was a logical conclusion.
What are those two whispering about in there? Are they having an argument?
"When?" she demanded.
"That's why I think it must have been them – it wasn't long ago, early this morning while Charlie was sleeping. And whoever it was didn't touch him, so there must have been another purpose."
"Looking for me," she whispered in a daze.
The chair springs groaned in the next room, signaling Charlie's approach. I took a tentative step back from Bella and ran my fingers through my hair. I glanced nervously around the room and my eyes fell upon a note on the counter. Jacob had called and apparently sounded upset. After what he said to her, I certainly hoped he was upset. He had no right to be so hurtful.
"What are you two hissing about in here?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at Bella who still looked completely terrified. Her wide eyes panned between me and her father as she struggled for composure.
Maybe they are having a fight. Could be Jacob's lucky day.
"If you two are having a fight…well, don't let my interrupt," he grinned as he strolled back out of the room.
I had to get Bella out. I had to figure out who had been here and why. "Let's go," I whispered, tugging her arm toward the door.
She hesitated and gaped at me. "But Charlie!"
She was right. They could come back, and with Charlie awake, it would be a complication. Bella would never forgive me if I let something happen to her father. I pulled out my phone and called the house.
"What's up, Bro?" Emmett answered.
"Emmett," I hissed. "Listen closely. Someone's been here."
"What do you mean?"
"A vampire, someone I don't know, has been in Bella's house."
"Are you serious? What – ?"
"Emmett, just listen! I don't have time for a lengthy explanation. I don't know who it was or why they were here, and that's what I need to figure out. I'm bringing Bella back to the house. Tell Carlisle and Alice that I need to speak to them right away, but we can't leave Bella's father unprotected. I need you and Jasper to get here as quickly as possible and patrol the area around Bella's house. Can you do that?"
"Whatever you need. I'll grab Jasper and we'll be there in a few minutes."
I closed the phone and continued to pull Bella toward the door. I could hear her heels digging into the floor as she held back. "Emmett and Jasper are on their way," I assured her. "They'll sweep the woods. Charlie is fine."
Her resistance eased, but she looked stunned as I led her out of the house and to the car. "Where are we going?" she whispered as I started the ignition.
"We're going to talk to Alice."
"You think maybe she saw something?"
Or didn't see something and I wanted to know why, but I didn't want to terrify Bella any further. "Maybe," I reluctantly answered.
The closer we neared the house, the angrier I became. How could Alice have missed something like this? A vampire with the intention of going to Bella's house, for whatever reason, certainly should have come up on her radar. What if Bella had been there? What if something had happened to her? Or to Charlie? I shuddered as I considered the consequences if such a thing had happened.
Bella's hands were shaking by the time I pulled the car into the garage. She trembled like a leaf as I helped her from her seat and led her into the house.
Oh, dear, Emmett said he sounded very upset.
I don't understand it. Why didn't I see?
I certainly hope this wasn't the work of the Volturi. Aro's my friend. I don't see why he would take such drastic measures. Does he not trust me or my family?
The thoughts went silent as we entered the room and all eyes were on me. Carlisle and Esme were sitting hand in hand with matching expressions of worry, Rosalie was leaning against the window gazing at nothing, and Alice stood at the foot of the stairs with her arms crossed.
My gaze honed in on Alice and the anger that had been building came billowing forth.
"What happened?" I demanded.
"I have no idea. I didn't see anything."
"How is that possible?"
"Edward," Bella whispered, tugging on my arm.
"It's not an exact science, Edward," Carlisle interjected.
I would not be dissuaded. This was unacceptable. "He was in her room, Alice. He could have still been there – waiting for her."
"I would have seen that," she said smugly, nearly rolling her eyes.
"Really?" I asked, throwing my hands up in the air. "You're sure?" I was beginning to wonder just how many holes were in my sister's sight. Perhaps it wasn't the wolves at all, maybe it was her.
"You've already got me watching the Volturi's decisions, watching for Victoria's return, watching Bella's every step. You want to add another?" she hissed. "Do I just have to watch Charlie, or Bella's room, or the house, or the whole street, too? Edward, if I try to do too much, things are going to start slipping through the cracks."
"It looks like they already are."
She narrowed her eyes and her lips were set in a firm line. "She was never in any danger. There was nothing to see."
Nothing to see? A vampire in Bella's home certainly could not have been random – if it had been, Charlie would be dead. Why was she taking this so lightly? Why wasn't everyone as concerned about this as I was? It had to be the Volturi. It was the only logical explanation.
"If you're watching Italy, why didn't you see them
send – "
"I don't think it's them," she lifted her chin defiantly. "I would have seen that."
"Who else would leave Charlie alive?"
"I don't know."
"Helpful." This conversation wasn't getting us any closer to figuring out who was in Bella's house – only increasing the probability that I would try to severely maim my sister.
"Oh, I hate it when they fight like this," Esme whispered to Carlisle.
"Stop it, Edward," Bella scolded beside me. I paused for a moment, still seething, and turned to face her. I could still see the fear in her eyes, but more dominant was the fierce determination. She wanted more than anything to be a part of my family and keep that family in harmony. Arguing wasn't going to solve anything. Getting angry with Alice wasn't going to improve her visions or give us any answers.
I breathed out a sigh and reached up to touch her cheek. "You're right, Bella. I'm sorry." I turned to Alice. "Forgive me, Alice. I shouldn't be taking this out on you. That was inexcusable."
It was, but also to be expected. "I understand," she said. "I'm not happy about it, either." You act like you're the only one who cares about her. You know that's not true.
"Okay," I sighed. "Let's look at this logically. What are the possibilities?"
Thank heavens.
But what could this mean? Who could have been in her house?
Carlisle began pacing and I led Bella over to the couch. Bella took the seat Carlisle had been occupying and Esme wrapped a reassuring arm around her.
"Victoria?" Carlisle asked. Please let there be an easy explanation…
"No," I shook my head. "I didn't know the scent. He might have been from the Volturi, someone I've never met…"
I already told you, it's not them. Alice was shaking her head in frustration. "Aro hasn't asked anyone to look for her yet. I will see that. I'm waiting for it."
Oh, you have got to be joking! "You're watching for an official command." I could name several members of the guard who would come to check on Bella, even without Aro's permission. They would love to catch us unawares and in defiance of their supposed laws.
"You think someone's acting on their own? Why?" she questioned.
"Caius's idea."
"Or Jane's…" she added. "They both have the resources to send an unfamiliar face…"
"And the motivation," I concluded.
"It doesn't make sense, though," Esme chimed in. "If whoever it was meant to wait for Bella, Alice would have seen that. He – or she – had no intention of hurting Bella. Or Charlie, for that matter."
I felt Bella's hand clench around my own and I rubbed it reassuringly. We would protect her and her father. Her heart began fluttering in her chest and I could see the fear rising in her eyes once more.
"It's going to be fine, Bella," Esme soothed.
"But what's the point then?" Carlisle asked.
"Checking to see if I'm still human?" Bella whispered.
"Possible," he agreed with a slight nod.
Bella trembled as my mind struggled to focus, trying to connect the dots in a puzzle that made no sense to me. The pieces just didn't fit right. And the answers I was hoping for seemed extraordinarily out of reach when the thoughts of my brothers reached my ears.
A car, that was a brilliant strategy. Whoever was there must have known that Bella was being protected by vampires already – they were smart to cover their tracks.
Man, I was really hoping for some action.
Rosalie, who had remained silent through our dialogue, turned expectantly to face the kitchen. She always worried when Emmett was put in harm's way. Seconds later, the door opened.
"Long gone, hours ago," Emmett said. "The trail went East, then South, and disappeared on a side road. Had a car waiting."
"That's bad luck," I replied. "If he'd gone west…well, it would be nice for those dogs to make themselves useful…"...instead of just getting in our way.
I saw Bella shrink back at my comment, no doubt to my use of the term dog. If she wanted to be friends with them, I could honor that, but I never made any indication that I would do the same.
"Neither of us recognized him," Jasper said, "but here…" He held a branch out to Carlisle. I could smell the faint odor still clinging to the foliage from across the room. Being the oldest and the one with the most interaction with the Volturi, Carlisle would have the best chances of recognizing the scent.
He held it up to his nose and his nostrils flared, but there was no change in his eyes or his thoughts, nothing I had been hoping for.
"No," Carlisle said, bowing his head. "Not familiar. No one I've ever met."
"Perhaps we're looking at this the wrong way. Maybe it's a coincidence…"Esme began.
A coincidence? Highly unlikely – entry was made when Bella was away, Charlie was not harmed, and an escape was made by car to erase a scent trail. No, it was premeditated – not coincidence.
And Charlie didn't become a snack in the process? Doubtful.
Esme seemed to sense the thoughts in the room as clearly as I did. "I don't mean a coincidence that a stranger happened to pick Bella's house to visit at random. I meant that maybe someone was just curious. Our scent is all around her. Was he wondering what draws us there?"
"Why wouldn't he just come here then?" Emmett asked. "If he was curious?"
"You would," Esme smiled. My fearless son. "The rest of us aren't always so direct. Our family is very large – he or she might be frightened. But Charlie wasn't harmed. This doesn't have to be an enemy."
It is possible. If I were a stranger in a new town and sensed a large coven, I, too, would be curious about the human that attracted them. And she's right, we are territorial by nature. It makes sense that they would investigate from a distance, keeping themselves out of harm's way.
A keen strategy, but not likely. That still doesn't explain the car. And with the car comes the other question – did they have an accomplice. Did they leave the car themselves or did they arrange for someone to meet them?
I still can't understand why I didn't see this. It couldn't have been the Volturi – I would have seen it. Maybe I should start watching Charlie, just in case, but if anything happened to him, it would affect Bella and I would see it. If they intended to be there while Bella was away and didn't intend to harm Charlie, that may explain the hole in my vision – it didn't directly affect her future. Unless…
I lowered my head into my hands, struggling to process the varied theories that were now flowing from all members of my family.
"I don't think so," Alice broke the silence. "The timing of it was too perfect…This visitor was so careful to make no contact. Almost like he or she knew that I would see…"
"He could have other reasons for not making contact," Esme reminded her. I could hear in her voice the quiet desperation that her theory was true – the hope that it was merely a curious visitor. The thought of any of her children in danger, Bella included, terrified her.
I glanced up and looked to Bella. The fear in her eyes had dissolved into determination. I had seen that look before.
"Does it really matter who it was?" she asked. "Just the chance that someone was looking for me…isn't that reason enough? We shouldn't wait for graduation."
"No, Bella," I said, grasping her hand. This wasn't the way it was supposed to be. I needed more time. She shouldn't be forced into this decision out of fear. "It's not that bad. If you're really in danger, we'll know."
"Think of Charlie," Carlisle added. "Think of how it would hurt him if you disappeared."
"I am thinking of Charlie!" she shrieked, the panic seeping into her voice again. "He's the one I'm worried about! What if my little guest had happened to be thirsty last night? As long as I'm around Charlie, he's a target, too. If anything happened to him, it would be all my fault!"
Her entire frame was shaking and her heart was hammering in her chest. I shot a wary glance at Carlisle and he shook his head. I let out a breath, thankful that, for once, my father and I were in agreement about Bella's transformation.
"Hardly, Bella," Esme pacified, trying her best to calm her. "And nothing will happen to Charlie. We're just going to have to be more careful."
"More careful?" Bella asked as her shoulders began to slump in defeat.
"It's all going to be fine, Bella," Alice promised.
I squeezed her hand as she sunk back into the couch cushions. She gave me a half-hearted smile. I wished there were more I could do to alleviate her fears.
Bella sat in a silent daze as we continued to discuss strategy and rotations. Until the danger passed, we all agreed that it was best that we not leave Bella or Charlie without protection, especially taking into account the recently discovered holes in Alice's visions.
Bella barely fluttered an eyelid until I grasped her hands and told her it was time to go. She reluctantly followed me to the car and I could see the frustration burning just underneath the surface of her stoic façade.
"You won't be alone for a second," I assured her, reaching over to caress her cheek. "Someone will always be there. Emmett, Alice, Jasper…"
"This is ridiculous," she sighed in exasperation. "They'll get so bored, they'll have to kill me themselves, just for something to do."
"Hilarious, Bella," I groaned.
She huffed and crossed her arms. It seemed that no matter how much we grew in our relationship, we always seemed to come back to this. She was the proverbial damsel in distress and I was her hero – but that's not how she wanted it to be. And as much as I wished we could be on equal footing, that just wasn't the case for now. She was still fragile, still human, and still required protection. I knew she understood the dangers and the necessity for our protection, but just as I felt about the wolves, she didn't have to like it.
She wrenched the door open when I pulled the car to a stop and started toward the house.
"Bella, please – " I pleaded, clutching her wrist to stop her advance.
She turned to me with that same look of disappointment and irritation on her face, but breathed out a sigh. "I'm not mad, I'm just…frustrated. I appreciate everything you and your family are doing. I really do. I just hate feeling so powerless and I hate putting Charlie in the crosshairs."
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "We'll figure this all out soon. I promise." She gave me a weak smile before opening the door and going into the house.
Ooh, she does not look happy and from the looks of it…neither does he. Trouble in paradise?
She went straight for the kitchen and began preparations for dinner. Charlie sauntered into the kitchen and leaned against the wall, smiling smugly at the obvious tension between us. Bella chose to ignore him and immersed herself in her task.
"I'm just going to step out to my car for a moment," I said, nodding to Charlie as I excused myself.
If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Charlie chuckled lightly at his own musings. I shook my head, ignoring his thoughts, and instead turned my attention to securing the perimeter.
I quickly dashed to the tree line and circled the property, sensing no new trails from our recent visitor. I reached in my pocket to pull out my phone and it began vibrating as soon as my hand touched it.
"Hello, Alice."
"I'm volunteering for the first shift," she said.
I figured as much. "I've checked the perimeter and everything is secure. Bella will be having dinner with her father shortly, and after that, I will have to leave. We will need someone here to keep watch until I can come back. Can you do that?"
"Already ahead of you," she laughed. A moment later she was standing at my side. "I'll keep an eye on things from now until you come back," she smiled.
"Thank you, Alice."
"Not a problem. She's my friend too, you know."
"Yes, Alice, I know."
She leapt up into the trees and perched herself on a high branch overlooking the property. I could still hear her light laughter as I walked back into the house. Bella was just setting out the plates when I walked in.
"Get what you needed?" Charlie asked. Fresh air, right?
"Yes, thank you. I just needed to make a phone call."
"Speaking of phone calls," Charlie turned to Bella, "Jacob called again."
"Is that a fact?" she asked.
"Don't be petty, Bella. He sounded really low." You shouldn't be so hard on him. You're supposed to be his friend, remember?
Bella rolled her eyes. "Is Jacob paying you for the P.R., or are you a volunteer?"
Charlie huffed and began eating his dinner. They continued in silence. I could see Bella's face from where I stood in the living room. Her countenance was melancholy and distressed. Her father had apparently struck a chord. I wanted so much to go in there and give her father a piece of my mind – to tell him exactly the kind of friend Jacob was to her, but I held my tongue. I promised Bella that I wouldn't interfere with their friendship and I would stick to that promise if it killed me.
A/N: We hit 400 reviews with the last chapter! **throwing confetti in the air** Thank you all so much for your reviews, alerts, favorites, PMs, etc. You are all AWESOME!
Thanks to my beta NellyBear85 for keeping me straight on those nitty gritty details. Love ya girl!
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