Chapter Ten

The Escape Bella's POV

I have been driving now for five days, and have passed through Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota. I am exhausted, but am finally going to see Edward.

Oh, Edward. My emotions are so mixed when I think of that name. What is he doing right now? Or what has he been doing for the past three months? I hope he's been looking for me, and maybe he even got close to…or maybe he isn't even looking for me at all.

I had told him to go away the last time I saw him. What must he think of me? Does he even still love me? Well, I didn't do anything that horrible. Couples have fights. Granted, not about being turned into a vampire, but it could happen.

I came to the conclusion that he had to be looking for me. We loved each other too much to be mad for too long. But has he given up? It has been three long, hard months, and he doesn't know that I'm a werewolf. Oh God, what would he say when he finds out? I decided not to think about that as I passed a sign that said Idaho was 100 miles away. Finally, I would be able to change cars and stretch my legs.

My thoughts then drifted to Charlie, and if he was okay. Billy wouldn't do anything to him, because for all he knows, Charlie doesn't know about Edward and his family. I hope he's helping to find me, but I wouldn't be upset if he wasn't. He's not as capable to help, and can't run fast or smell things better than a bloodhound. He probably had enough of a job handling my mom, trying to make excuses for me as to why I couldn't answer the phone. Or maybe he finally caved in and told her the whole story. I was wishing and hoping for the first.

Being on the road really gets you thinking. Especially if no one was with you. That got me thinking about how Jacob could've gone with me. He had been so absorbed in helping me escape, that he forgot about himself. I even forgot about him. I felt stupid now, leaving him behind. What if they found out he helped me, which they probably did, and they did something to him? I couldn't live with myself if that happened. Jacob had done so much for me, and I owed him my life.

Was Jacob even on her side? He could have been working with the enemy this whole time, telling them what he planned to have me do. Now I really felt stupid. He kidnapped me for crying out loud. But I had seen him cry on my shoulder apologizing for everything. Either he had been taking acting classes, or he really did care about me and wanted me to get back to Edward. Ugh. This thinking was hurting my brain.

Just then I looked down to see how much gas I had left, which wasn't much. I looked up at the road to check for gas stops. There was one five miles away, so I stopped at that one. On a whim, I looked back at the cars behind me to see if I was being followed. Call me paranoid, but I had just been kidnapped. To my disbelief, someone about five cars back put their turn signals on to follow me into the exit. I decided to play it cool. I told myself that a lot of people turn onto exits at the same time; it was no big thing. However much I tried, I couldn't suppress the thought that someone was coming to get me and bring me back to Missouri.

I parked at the station and got out to fill up the tank. I noticed the car, which was a midnight blue, had parked to go into the store right next to the gas station. The man got out of the car, and I swore under my breath. I freaking recognized him! He was the boy, from the first time I went to La Push, that told me the Cullens aren't allowed on the reservation. I was screaming bloody murder in my mind, but my face gave away nothing. The guy was trying hard not to look my way, I could tell. He knew, I knew, we all knew that he had come after me. I looked around me. There were some trees off to my right that I could run into. I had to think, and move, fast because I could see him inside waiting for me to come in. I pulled the nuzzle out of the tank and didn't even think to pay as I walked away from the car. I put my hands in my pocket while walking to the forest, making it look like I was going there for a reason.

As soon as I had one foot in there, I started to take off my clothes and stuff them in my purse. I had to change into a werewolf. That was the only way to get at least a head start on this guy.

My wolf reflexes kicked in, and I didn't smell anyone trying to follow me, yet. I mentally made a plan as I ran. I would stay as close to the highway as I could to look at road signs, just to make sure I was going the right way.

That stupid question came into my mind again: Why are they doing this to me?

Edward's POV

We had searched for a week for Bella in the Missouri area. I smelled her a few times, but mostly near the border with Iowa. I told everyone to focus there, so we could narrow the search.

I had been running around the streets of a small town with Esme, when I smelled her again. I stopped and Esme did too. We had just passed a large house that could easily hold our whole family. I gave my mother a questioning look as we started to look around. Her scent was the strongest on the one side of the house, so I began to climb it. I didn't care if anyone was home; I could take them easily. I reached a window and got in. I walked over to the (empty) bed and touched it. It smelled so much of Bella that I laid down on it and inhaled. I would've cried at that very moment because we had actually found her. She had been in this room and laid on this bed, just as I was doing now. I grinned widely as I heard Esme climbing up the wall and into the room.

"Oh Edward, this is wonderful." My mood suddenly darkened as I remember what we were doing here.

"Esme, I just realized Bella isn't here…"

"But Edward, she was here at some point, so we can just follow her scent to wherever she goes. It can't be that hard." She was wrong. We had been searching for three months. I don't know why it took us this long, and no one seemed to be home.

I stopped in my thinking, as I smelled another smell. It was familiar, but only vaguely so. Jacob. I growled, as Esme smelled the air, imitating me as she realized why I was growling. We searched the house quickly and found him. He was actually tied up in a room off the kitchen. He was lying on a couch and his eyes were closed. He was the only one in the house.

"Jacob Black." I screamed. His eyes flew open and I almost laughed at the terror that filled him.

"Edward, let me explain."

"No. I will kill you for taking her, I swear."

"Edward, just listen to him." That was Esme. I stared at her in disbelief.

"You can't always trust people, Esme. That's you're only flaw." She looked at me with hurt in her eyes.

"Fine then, Edward. I'll go wait outside." That was the only time I can remember that she spoke to me that angrily.

I was still mad as Jacob blurted out, "I helped Bella escape and she's on her way Forks." Esme stopped in her tracks and thought I told you so. I didn't look at her but gritted my teeth. I hated to be wrong.

"Explain." I got out, trying not to force it out of him.

"She got away about a week ago, and should be home by now. Actually, the reason I'm tied up might be the reason you haven't found her yet. The people I was here with, the ones that helped me take her," I gave him a menacing look as he continued, "well they went looking for her. They somehow found out I helped her escape and went after her."

"Oh, well then I guess I'll be going." I said as I looked at him with disgust. I needed to find Bella immediately.

"Wait! Edward, I'm on your side now! I helped her escape, and I don't believe what the rest of them believe. You and your family are nice peop-well vampires, but anyway, you're good and I want to help you find her." He looked at me pleadingly as I read his mind. He probably didn't know I could do that, unless Bella told him. Please, oh please, I need to make sure she's okay! Why is he looking at me like that? Just get me out of these things.

I was starting to cave in. I reached for the ropes around his hands, but Esme was there first. She had been there this whole time, but I didn't want to acknowledge her presence. My pride was still hurting.

"I'll get that Edward. Why don't you go call the others and tell them to follow the highway up to Forks. Make use of yourself." She was laughing internally as I pulled out my cell phone.

The others would be ecstatic.