"So...explain this to me again. You want to carry me to where your family plays baseball...piggy back...and your really not kidding?"
"Yes, yes, and no," I replied. We had already had this conversation three times and I was seriously beginning to consider just grabbing her and running.
"You know I'm not disabled. Quite capable of walking in fact," Bella pointed out helpfully.
"I know you can walk," I replied patiently. "Really slowly," I added under my breath.
Bella scowled at me. Had she heard that? "Why are you in such a hurry anyway?" she asked.
"The field is thirty miles away from this point. If we travel at human speed we won't get their until tomorrow, and I have to go to school tomorrow."
"Oh...well thats different then, we can't have you missing school," Bella replied with mock horror.
I laughed and switched tactics, clearly logic was not going to work. "Please Bella?" I asked throwing my very best dazzle humans into submission smile. I had been practicing this for close to a century now, and except for Charlie I had an almost perfect success rate.
Bella blinked "Wh..what?" she asked.
I smiled wider. This was going to work. "Please let me carry you to the baseball field," I replied, softly blowing my breath in her face.
"Hmmm...," she replied.
I decided to take that as a yes and moved before she could change her mind--or make a more coherent statement. Lightning fast I carefully threw her on my back and started running.
"Wait!" Bella cried coming out of her daze quickly. I ignored her and kept running.
"Your a big cheater," Bella told me huffily in my ear after about a minute of running. Her arms were wound around my neck and she was holding on with what I imagined was a death grip for a human. I had a feeling that if I were human she would be strangling me. We came to a small stream and without thinking I jumped. Bella's grip tightened convulsively around me but then relaxed some when I effortlessly cleared the water without even jolting her. "I have to admit this is pretty amazing," she said speaking into my ear again. "If all else fails in life you can become Edward Cullen, the undead roller coaster."
I laughed at that. I was doing a pretty gentle lope through the forest and for a moment I wondered what she would think if I really let loose. On the other hand there was a good chance if I were running full out then it would be Bella that would come loose. I should probably tell her that she didn't need to speak directly into my ear. It wasn't as though I wouldn't be able to hear her. The sensation of her breath on my neck was pleasant, but unfortunately the scent that accompanied the breath made me want to devour her.
"Are we there yet?" Bella asked me in a fake whiny voice, but then she ruined the effect by laughing with sheer elation at our speed.
I smiled, pleased beyond expression that she was enjoying the one thing about my nature I took unstinting joy in. "Yes," I answered coming to a stop just outside the baseball field.
Bella began to extract herself from my back. Apparently it had been a while since she had ridden piggy-back because she was rather ungraceful about it. I tried to help, but ended up only hindering, and the end result was that Bella landed flat on her backside in the dirt. I froze anticipating her anger but then she surprised me again. Bella burst into laughter. A light, ringing laugh that made me want to laugh too.
I offered a hand to help her up. Still chuckling at herself she took it and gracefully this time rose to her feet. Grinning like idiots we walked into the clearing where my family was waiting for us.
Alice ran over to us. Her first instinct had been to hug Bella but instead she hung back unsure of Bella's reaction. Alice flashed Bella a tentative, almost guilty smile subtly asking for forgiveness for last months brushoff. Their was something very surreal about Alice acting tentative. She was usually so sure of herself and the future. Bella seemed a little amused but she smiled back genuinely. Their was a knowing look in her eye and she did seem to take some amusement in Alice's predicament, but their was also acceptance in the smile. This made sense. From what I had seen Bella was not the type to hold grudges. Without words Alice and Bella came to an understanding. They were friends again and my family drew a collective sigh of relief. While trying not to be too obvious about it, my family had been paying very close attention to this small reunion. They had hope that Bella's easy forgiveness would extend to them as well.
Alice handed me my baseball jersey. She had tried to make me wear it earlier to pick Bella up, but I had refused. I had not wanted to make Bella feel like she had no choice in our activity, or put any undue pressure on her to accept the baseball plan. My refusal to wear the jersey had doubly offended Alice. Once because I wasn't dressed appropriately, and secondly because I had the nerve to doubt her vision (or lack of vision as the case may be.)
Alice then surprised me by producing another jersey for Bella. She had overnighted a Diamond-Backs jersey from Phoenix Arizona with the intention to use it as a peace offering in case Bella had been less inclined to forgive her. Generally my family wore jerseys that either reminded us of our human lives or a favorite place where we had lived during our second life. Mine of course was a Chicago Cubs uniform.
While Bella and I pulled on our jerseys lightning lit the sky and a huge roar of thunder sounded. Bella jumped a little "Lets play ball," Emmet bellowed from across the field.
"We can only play when there is thunder," I told Bella.
"Your that loud?" she teased understanding immediately.
Esme came running up smiling excitedly at Bella. "Esme is going to referee this game," I explained to Bella. "She would like to keep you company while you watch."
"What? Your not going to let me play?" she asked teasing again.
"Probably not a good idea," I replied.
"C'mon Eddie," Emmet called again. "Your up."
The game progressed quickly. Bella and Esme chatted amicably and I did my best to not show-off. I couldn't help trying a little harder then usual though, which amused my family to no end. Fortunately they kept their amusement to themselves. I couldn't help wondering what Bella thought of vampire baseball so during a lull I ran up to Bella and Esme to ask. "So what do you think?" I enquired.
"Pretty cool," she answered. "But, I could totally play," she added teasing...but also a bit smug.
Rosalie had wandered up with Emmet who wanted to talk to Bella again. She snorted in derision at Bella's claim. "Don't make me laugh. You would be a complete waste of a position. You couldn't even play outfield. The only way you would ever catch a ball is if it knocked you out."
"Oh, I think I could catch it just fine," Bella replied coolly.
"Thats ridiculous," Rosalie taunted. "How?"
"Because the ball loves me," Bella replied easily.
"What?" Rosalie questioned. She snorted again, almost laughing with contempt. Esme was frowning at Rosalie's rudeness even though she thought Bella's claims were a bit fantastic as well.
"May I see the ball?" Bella asked politely.
Jasper lobed the ball to me and I gently handed it to Bella. He was amused by the entire conversation and a little intrigued by the certainty he could feel radiating from Bella.
"This ball," Bella told us, "loves me." She held the ball intently with both hands cupped firmly around it. Her arms were elevated, benediction like, in front of her. "It will do anything to find me," she added. "It wants to be in my hand, and it would never-ever hurt me."
None of us really knew how to react to this. Edwards dating a loony Emmet was thinking. "Isn't it your turn to bat?" Bella asked Rosalie "I'll play outfield," she added walking off unhurriedly towards the trees bordering the edge of the clearing.
Emmet shrugged. "Why not humor the lunatic?" he asked softly.
"That ball better get no-where near her." I told Rosalie quietly and at my most threatening.
"How can I help it Edward?" Rosalie replied snottily. "Weren't you paying attention? The ball loves her."
I ground my teeth while Rosalie sashayed up to bat. Alice, who was pitching, was seriously considering balling her out on purpose for the first time in vampire baseball history. Everyone but Rose and Bella were tense as Alice reluctantly wound up for the pitch.
Rosalie put more power into her swing than I had ever seen her do before. The resounding crack echoed throughout the forest. The ball flew high and fast, and fortunately for Rosalie's well being, in the complete opposite direction that Bella was standing. I tensed to run after it mentally calculating the trajectory.
I was about to dash after the pop fly when the ball unexpectedly changed directions and hit a tree on the edge of the clearing hard. The ball ricocheted wildly from tree to tree quickly loosing momentum. Any of my family could probably have caught the ball at this point, but instead we all stood transfixed watching the bizarre show. The ball had moved steadily to where Bella stood calmly watching. It hit a tree directly over Bella's head, the final ricochet as the force behind Rosalie's hit was entirely gone now. Bella extended her hand never taking her eye off the ball and we all watched in fascination as the ball fell limply into Bella's outstretched palm. Bella smiled at Rosalie. "Your out," she said softly.
Normally I would have heard their minds long before they broke the clearing, but I had been too intent on the drama happening before my eyes. Three nomadic vampires entered the ball field from left field only a few feet from where Bella was standing. Their original intent had been to ask if they could play ball with us. They had heard Rosalie's booming hit. The leader smelt Bella instantly. Some part of his mind recognized that their must be some mistake, and that it was humans who were playing here, not vampires, but mostly he didn't care what the story was. His only true concern was that he was smelling the most delectable human blood he had encountered in his entire existence. Before my horrified eyes he lunged for Bella. Simultaneously, I roared in outrage, and ran with everything that was in me to intercept him. I knew that I would never make it on time.
I feel kind of mean. First this is a short half chapter and second huge cliffie. I will try to get the next chapter out as soon as possible, I just wanted to write this one despite lack of time because I have been kind of looking forward to it. I've had it imagined out for awhile. Kind of what I wrote the rest to lead up to. Anyway lots of action and answers in the next chapter so stay tuned. Also please let me know what you think. I really love all of your reviews.