The first thing I noticed when I got out of bed was a text on my phone. I checked it out, and it was from jake.
'Hi. ;-)' He had sent it sometime after midnight. I couldn't leave him hanging.
'Hi. Call you after work.' I hit send and got myself dressed with a smug smile on my face. I didn't know what I was going to say after work, but I was going to call him and that was for certain.
As I walked down the stairs I could hear the voices of the TV news. I stuck my head into the living room to see Jess sat on the sofa, a half eaten bowl of cereal in one hand, the remote in the other. Her face was very pale, and her eyes were fixed on the local news report.
"They found her." She said in a robotic voice. "They found Leigh."
I had to sit before I fell. I couldn't speak, I just fixed my eyes on the TV where the reporter was discussing the events of the evening. Leigh had been found by the river and police were looking for information on the killer. They wanted to speak to anyone who had seen Leigh. Then it cut to a pre recorded interview with Charlie who looked very tired. He also looked really uncomfortable in front of the camera. He shifted nervously and coughed a lot, but he made a strong appeal for calm, and for anyone with any information to come forward. I felt for him. Most of his career had been simple public duty, but now the shit was hitting the fan he was being asked to step up. I hoped he was up to it.
I talked Jess into getting dressed and we left the house, seeing the silver Merc sitting kerbside waiting for me. When I looked at Jess I didn't think she should be driving, so I told her to come with me. I opened the passenger door and pulled the seat forward, motioning for her to get in.
"Morning Edward. Jess is coming with us today, hope you don't mind." I said as I climbed into the car. He was simply looking at me with a bemused expression on his face. I slammed the door shut and held out my hand. "Drive?"
"Uh, ok..." He muttered as he put the car in drive and pulled away from the house. "So you heard the news?" His face was neutral, unreadable.
"Yes Edward, we heard the news." Jess was silent in the back. I turned to check on her. She had her hands in her lap and her eyes were wide like saucers.
"Well it's being investigated." He said, in a flat tone. I guessed he didn't want Jess to pick up on what he was telling me.
"I hope so. As you can see it has us pretty freaked out. It's too close."
He looked at me, the caramel eyes were hypnotic again. "You know you should stay close to me." He said. I didn't like the way he said that. "There are all kinds of people around."
"Yes, I get that. Is this person...?" I asked, trying to be subtle.
"Kind of." That was about as much of an answer I was going to get out of him.
"What do you mean I should stay close?" I asked, starting to stress.
"I mean you seem to have trouble looking after yourself, and you would be wise to keep me close by." Now I really wasn't happy with him. He really knew how to push my buttons.
"Really?" I asked, raising my voice. "Are you trying to say you want to get me alone?"
"Well that's kind of the idea." In retrospect he was probably just messing with me, but in my fragile mental state I took it totally the wrong way. We had just pulled into the parking lot at work.
"My god Edward, really!" I was getting madder by the minute.
It was then that he fixed me with a stare and a wicked smile played on his lips. What the hell was wrong with him. I got out and all but pulled Jess out after me, slamming the door. Had that been what I had thought it was? Had he really just confessed to killing my friend? I mean, I knew what he was and what he was capable of, it certainly wasn't beyond the realm of possibility and I was shocked that I had only just put the pieces together.
I marched Jess to our office without looking back at Edward, but I could feel his eyes on me as I walked. Jess was too shell shocked to notice anything.
The office was silent, and the mood was sombre. Nervous glances were shared amongst everyone, but nobody wanted to talk about the situation. Then I spotted Carlisle speaking to Esme at the other end of the office. Their pasty white complexions matched Edwards, their eyes the same golden honey. Click, another piece fell into place. I had to get the hell out of there.
I sent a text to Jake. 'Hey, you busy?'
A few moments passed with me worrying about a plan B. Then my phone pinged. "Nah, sup?'
Cool. I replied quickly, my fingers stumbling over the words so the text took twice as long to type. 'Any chance of a Ride?'
'Sure. Where y'at?'
'Work.'
'See you in twenty.'
I hated to use him like this, but I honestly didn't want to spend another moment in the office and he was the only one I could think of. There was no way I was troubling Charlie with this, he had enough to worry about.
Fifteen minutes passed and I closed down my PC, walking up to Esme's office. I poked my head in and she looked up. "Oh Hi Bella.:
"Um is it ok if I take a personal day, I'm not feeling well." I said in my best ill person voice.
"Sure. You go look after yourself." Just as I was about to leave she said "be safe." It was in a strange tone, almost cold. I felt a chill run down my spine.
I told Jess I was leaving and she said she would get a ride with Mike who seemed very keen on that idea.
After a few moments waiting in reception I heard the roar of an old engine as a dirt bike came rolling into the yard. Jake jumped off the back as I went out to meet him. "Here." He said, tossing me a helmet. "Fastest mode of transport I could find. Built it myself." It was impressive for a self build, all shiny chrome. I guessed it had been a while since he had ridden it on mud.
I climbed on and gripped his waist as he gunned the engine. The greenery of Forks flashed past as we ripped along the road, the wind blowing my hair behind me. I wished I had bothered to tie it up before we set off.
The ride didn't take long and he followed me up the drive to the house. Neither of us spoke as I unlocked and let us in, immediately brewing a fresh pot of coffee and placing a mug in front of him. He smiled that wide smile that seemed to light up the room. Maybe the sun didn't make many appearances in forks, but his smile was bright enough to compensate.
"So, you gonna tell me whats up?" He said, still smiling only not quite so broadly.
"They found Leigh." I said softly. I could feel tears starting to form.
"Oh, she was one of your friends, wasn't she?"
"Yes. I liked her. She was nice." I was shaking a little and he moved from the chair to the sofa next to me, putting an arm around my shoulders. It was thick and warm, and instantly I felt better.
"But that's not all?" He could evidently read me well.
"Ed Cullen gave me a ride to work today. I know what he is Jacob, I think he did it. Him and his family." Now there were hot tears streaking down my cheeks. I was a mess, but he didn't let go. If anything his grip was tighter.
"You know what they are then?" Oh come on, you all but told me.
"Yes." I sniffed.
"Well let me put that one to bed for you." I could tell he didn't really want to tell me this, but he was going to anyway. "It isn't the Cullen's. Hey wouldn't violate the treaty, and they dont eat humans anyway." He smiled his wonderful warm smile.
"What?" I asked, confused.
"The treaty with my people states that if they feed off any human then the whole thing is void. But that's just a safety net. They only hunt animals. Trust me, we've observed them for years.
I was suddenly calm and relaxed. "So who's doing this Jake?"
"Don't know. It's a hot topic, but we don't seem to be turning anything up."
I put my head on his chest and he lay back on the sofa stroking my hair. We stayed like that for a long time and I was really glad he didn't try and push for anything more. It was mid afternoon when he moved. I think I had nodded off, because the time had passed too quickly.
"Holy shit, sorry Izzy, I have to go. I should be over at the town hall right now." He picked up his helmets and headed for the door. "Text me, call me. Anything." And he was gone.
I found something to eat and sat staring at the TV again. Most of my worry had gone now, and I was starting to analyse Edwards behaviour from this morning. It struck me that he was actually trying to be light hearted.
Just as I was about to get a new cup of coffee there was a gentle knock on the door. It was still and hour before quitting time so I was naturally cautious. I went to the door and looked through the spy hole, Even distorted by the circular glass, Edward was still a thing of beauty. I opened the door and ushered him in.
"How are you?" He asked. " Esme said you weren't well.
"Feeling much better now." I was. I had washed my face earlier and it helped me feel more fresh.
"Good. I was worried." His face was painted with concern. "The way you were this morning was scary."
"Well you're a fine one to talk. The way you were in the car, I thought it was you." He looked at me confused. He was only sitting a few feet away, in the chair where Jake had been earlier.
"I was trying to help." He said thoughtfully. Then he laughed, the sound of a summer stream. "But thinking back I can see how that maybe wasn't the best approach.
I laughed too and he took my hand in his cold stone grip. We sat like that for a little while, me telling him how I had thought his whole family were responsible for the killings, him telling me how he had worried when Esme told him I had left early. Then there was a knock at the door and he winced. Before I could react he was on his feet and in the hallway. I heard the door open and then soft voices. Then the sound of heels.
I was surprised to see his sister Alice come walking into the room, a big sympathetic smile on her face. Edward did not look pleased, but he had evidently lost the argument. She looked around the room, which I suddenly realised was in no state for visitors, then she looked at me.
"Bella, how are you? We were worried."
"I told you, she's fine." Growled Edward.
"I told you I wanted to see for myself." She growled back.
"She thinks you were talking to someone earlier." He muttered. " Someone who could be a danger."
I laughed. "Jake? Dangerous? Fuck no, he is so very cool." The words tumbled out and I saw Alice trying hard not to laugh.
"Sweetie, I, er, thought I saw something..." Alice stammered. Edward put a hand on her arm.
"She knows about mine, she may as well know yours too." He told her firmly. Alice nodded. "Alice can see the future. It changes, but she gets visions." Alice nodded as he spoke. I just sat there, stunned. Finally I summoned some words.
"Don't call me sweetie, I'm older than you... kind of." We all laughed, and the tension was broken.
For a long time they sat and told me about Alice and her visions, explaining that sometimes they were difficult to interpret. I explained that I spoke with Jake and they exchanged a knowing glance. I could't coax a response out of them. Then Alice fell silent, a strange expression on her beautiful, elfin face. Then she spoke, her face a picture of seriousness.
"Monday. We'll meet them."
"That's all?" He asked.
"Yes. For now. Three of them."
"Ok, then we'll see what happens." He stood. "We should go. Your room mate is here."
I looked at the clock and it was late. There was a clattering at the door and I could hear a tittering. Then it opened and Jess came pouring into the room with Mike in tow. The latter saw my guests and gave Edward a frosty nod, who returned the favour. Alice broke the temporary silence.
"Glad you're feeling ok Bella, see you Monday."
Edward followed her to the door, leading me by the hand. "I'll come see you tomorrow." he said, and I nodded. Suddenly I couldn't bear the thought of a weekend without him.
Jess took Mike upstairs shortly after, and I decided I should get to bed. I slept in headphones that night. Yet another breakfast to dread.