Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight and am not Stephenie Meyer.
Sunrise
Chapter Fifteen: Port Angeles
The next day passed through a haze of boredom. There was nothing for me to do besides listen to music and try to tune out the thoughts of my family. With the sun shining brightly outside the window, none of us would risk leaving the house unless we were heading out to hunt.
My couch was just out of reach of the direct rays of sunlight during the middle of the day, but the light reflected off the carpet to glimmer across my skin. It wasn't the full effect that the sun would have had upon direct contact, but it was enough to make me look brighter.
This always happened to us whenever there was sun outside. It was a bit tiring after a hundred years to see your skin never look normal in the sunlight. But I loved the heat despite the embedded mirrors in my skin.
I hadn't gone out to the meadow today, but that was more out of concern for my family's sanity than my want to leave the house. I would have left and spent my time there until the end of school and Bella's departure to Port Angeles if not for what had transpired just the day before.
Everyone was much calmer now, even though there were lingering thoughts of me possibly lying about what I had said. But those thoughts were always pushed out when the person in question rationalized that I wouldn't lie to them.
It went in a cycle, however, for I had indeed lied to my family before – there was no real way of knowing whether I was lying or not. The best reasoning that was thought of was Alice's visions.
She hadn't seen me hurting myself and therefore, everyone trusted what I had told him or her and let it be, at least on the surface of everything. She had told everyone that she hadn't seen anything to do with me attempting suicide or something of that sort, so they trusted that I wouldn't.
Did I feel guilty about lying? Intensely so, it seemed, for Jasper constantly told me that I didn't need to feel guilty about my words anymore. Yet I couldn't help but rationalize my own decisions – they didn't need to know, they were better off not knowing in case I tried to go through with it, it was better this way…
I was not a person to show my emotions, which was why my revelation was a surprise to even I. Letting my anger get the better of me had turned a relatively simple task of convincing my family that Bella was better of human into a web of convoluted lies and truths.
Quite simply, it was agonizing.
My music reflected my need for calm and peace for the time I spent inside while the sun was bright outdoors. CD after CD of light classical music and a few random modern artists consisted of the array of choices for today, and none of them ventured into anything even remotely hinting at dark or depressed.
It was more of a show than anything. I was subtly planting an illusion of happiness and content within the minds of my family by playing this music – none of them suspected anything about my music choices except for Jasper.
Then again, he was only concerned that I was beating myself up too much about letting my temper reign for a brief moment of time. He believed that my choice in music was to try and help myself let go of the guilt that was embedded deep inside me.
Of course he was a little bit right about that. I was trying to make myself let go of the certainty that I shouldn't have revealed anything – it was done with, over now. I couldn't change the fact that they all knew even if they didn't know, and had to stop this here.
My eyes were closed as I reclined on the sofa, waiting for the right time to head off to Bella's house. School was going to let out soon, maybe ten minutes from now – I would know if I bothered to open my eyes and look at the clock on the wall.
I didn't, however, and let myself relax into the warmth I could feel radiating from the sun outside my bedroom window. Sprawled across the couch, my legs dangled over the armrest so my head could lie flat on the cushions. It was so peaceful right then that I didn't want to move an inch, no matter that I wanted to see Bella.
Edward! Edward, you should head out! Alice called to me, a flash of the clock playing through her mind. School had been out for a few short minutes, but it was enough that Bella might be leaving by the time I reached her house.
Leaping off of my couch, I raced down the stairs, grabbing my keys and throwing on my jacket. Emmett and Rosalie were in the garage – Rosalie working on her car, Emmett talking with her – and Jasper and Alice were in the living room with Esme watching TV. Carlisle was in his study, looking in a few medical texts.
Esme had stood as I entered the room via the staircase and now watched me carefully from her closer proximity. I gazed back into her eyes, trying to project innocence and confidence. Be careful for the both of you, Edward. "You'll be all right, and she'll be all right even if you aren't there."
"I hope so," I answered as I slid my cell phone into my pocket, "but I don't plan on letting her out of my sight or mind's range for a second."
Jasper frowned. Mind range? "You can't hear her thoughts, though."
"I know. She's going with two friends – Angela Weber and," I wrinkled my nose in distaste, still knowing that the second girl wasn't truly Bella's friend "Jessica Stanley."
Jessica Stanley? "I can't believe she's pretending to be friends with Bella – she's among the most shallow humans there are!" Alice's eyebrows were arched in frustration. Bella deserves better friends than her!
Her thoughts were journeying dangerously into the territory of Bella becoming a sister and best friend to both of my current 'sisters' – I had to fight to control my anger. "Indeed. I should go, however – you're the one who told me I should hurry, Alice. Am I allowed to go now?"
She smiled and laughed, waving her hands at me from where she still sat at Jasper's side. "Go, go! Have fun!" I can't see anything happening tonight, but a crucial decision hasn't been made yet – the future is foggy. You have your cell phone, though, so I can call you just in case.
"Yes, Alice," I sighed. I had wanted to have some assurance that Bella would be all right after this trip into Port Angeles, but now it looked as if I'd have to live it out without knowing what my choices would bring. "My cell phone is on. Don't hesitate to call."
With a last fleeting grin – which startled all three of them, much to my annoyance – I darted out of the house and to my car, parked in the driveway and ready to go. The Volvo was clean as always – courtesy of the constant rain in Forks – and dry thanks to the sunlight that was, even now, beating down.
My skin began to sparkle as I walked out into the beams being cast down to the ground; I quickly darted inside my car, safe in the shade it provided. My long sleeves and jeans covered most of my skin; I pulled on a pair of plain leather gloves to cover my hands on the steering wheel, which was still in the sunlight.
As I pulled out of the driveway, I heard Rosalie's venomous thoughts from the garage where Emmett was trying to occupy her in conversation. What does he think he's doing? That girl will be fine for the time she's out of town! It's only for an evening and she's with two friends! He's stupid this is insane…
Sighing, I ignored her to the best of my ability as I drove along the road towards her house. Rosalie was becoming increasingly annoyed about my interest in Bella – and more jealous by the day.
Rosalie wanted nothing more than to be human, even though she was glad she had Emmett and our family. But by me being interested in a human, she was scared of our family being discovered and furious that I would endanger us by tempting the possibility of killing Bella.
She wasn't worth worrying over right now, however. I reached Bella's house and parked my car a little ways down the street so I could watch her driveway. Soon, her red truck drove up and behind it followed a white Mercury with Jessica at the wheel.
Jessica pulled to a stall in front of Bella's house. I watched the sweet-scented human girl dash to her door, afraid that she might trip on her own two feet, and she disappeared into the house. Jessica was left drumming her fingers on the wheel.
I got my date with Mike and Bella obviously doesn't like him – she's still on about Edward Cullen. Her lips curled into a sneer that I could see from behind the windshield of my own car. Whatever he sees in her, I don't care – I like Mike. But he better be prepared for Tyler, because Ty's been spreading around all over school that he and Bella are going to prom together. Lucky slut – three different guys going after her.
My throat felt tight at the thought of Tyler. Had Bella accepted him this time? When had he asked her to prom? Of course – it had been sunny for the past two days of school. He had plenty of time to talk to her then, when I was not around.
My hands clenched into fists involuntarily. I was risking a lot to try and pursue this…thing, between us. Why did a mere human male have to pick away at the very loose presence I had around Bella?
Quickly, I tried to make myself calm down. A rumor wasn't solid fact – I shouldn't believe everything I hear from a person's mind and believe it automatically true. Nevertheless, a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach threatened to overcome the rationalizing I was putting myself through.
Bella came out of her house then with a purse slung over her shoulder, school backpack left inside. I quietly shifted gears in my car and watched intently as Jessica did the same and began to drive off down the street.
I tailed them from a distance, never even in range of the car's sight. However, I was able to hear every thought in the car as I followed and focused my mind t where I knew they were driving.
Jessica had pulled up to Angela Weber's house and now all three girls seemed to be driving to Port Angeles. My car followed them there – I was thankful that the road wasn't too crowded, or else I would have had trouble trying to concentrate on solely their minds.
They were talking – as females do – about other human males and clothing. For a while they seemed to be singing along to some music that was playing – I recognized it instantly as a rock band. It wasn't something I'd prefer, but then again I listened to almost any type. I had eternity to hear music.
There was nothing particularly interesting going on with them, and it was second nature for me to drive – but I couldn't drift into my own thoughts. Every time I grew a little bit lax in my watch over the car they were traveling in, the thoughts of everyone else – however scarce – on the road drifted in.
I had to concentrate to block them out, and so the car ride was spent as I focused and refocused. I also had to make sure that my speed was low enough to stay behind them – and that was quite a bit lower than my usual speed.
I felt like I was moving at a snail's pace. Their car reached Port Angeles before I and by the time I made it where they had gone, I had to search out a parking spot for my Volvo in a most shaded area.
Knowing that they had gone inside the department store, I parked as close to the place as I could at one of the two entrances. I could just barely get the feel of Angela and Jessica's thoughts – and of course, nothing from Bella.
My intent concentration on the girl's minds helped me block nearly everything else out so I could concentrate on what was happening inside the department store. They just had to be too far away for me to hear easily, I griped as my fingers drummed on the steering wheel.
I knew, however, that even if I parked on the other side of the department store I still wouldn't be close enough to hear their minds that well. I had to settle for keeping the faint tenor in my head by concentrating on them again.
I couldn't pick out words that they were saying, and my concentration made the other minds of people in the department store nearly scream in my head. That didn't help with me trying to hear those voices in particular, but it did allow me much practice in concentration.
Several men were obviously in there – I caught many images of various women's body parts from some especially rude-minded 'men' – and the women were mostly thinking about clothes and images of various garments flew by my mind at a dizzying speed.
It was nearly five and the sky was darkening – it was still early in the year, nearer to winter than summer. I could see clouds starting to come in and pulled out my cell phone to ask Alice if the weather was going to be good or bad – that could make listening in and watching the three females difficult.
My eyebrows creased when I noticed that I had flipped it open, but no light had turned on. Pressing the power button, I was startled when I received the message 'No Power'. Thinking back, I realized that I hadn't plugged the thing in – nearly four nights ago.
Heaving a heavy sigh, I turned my head back to look at the large building. I had lost track of the minds I was searching for while looking to my cell phone, and now found them again – the thoughts were much clearer. Jessica, Angela and Bella were taking the clothes out to the car, on the other side of the building.
I didn't want them to see me, so I kept in the same spot as I listened to the idle chitchat between the three girls. I could hear them much better now, even though the other voices were still loud in my mind.
Nothing popped out at me for several minutes until I heard from Jessica, I hope Bella likes that bookstore I sent her to. The idiot would have known better than to go to that mumbo-jumbo place if she was from around here. They don't sell any actual books there – only junk. An image accompanied the words.
Instantly on guard, I turned my car on and pulled out of my parking spot quickly. If what Jessica was thinking was real, then she had deliberately sent Bella off on her own when she asked about a bookstore.
I feared the worst as I turned the corner and my fears were confirmed as I saw only Jessica and Angela, side by side and walking away from the car with their purchases unloaded in the vehicle. Bella wasn't with them.
Feeling a bit anxious, I turned the car down the street and began thinking about the bookstore I had seen. It didn't seem familiar; I would have to search for it. She would probably be safe – as long as she stayed in populated areas.
Despite how long I had been in existence, this was the first time I had been to Port Angeles myself. I didn't know where I was going, but I did know how I could find the bookstore. Bella had headed that way – and I could follow Bella, despite the twisting in my gut that I felt for considering this.
Rolling down the window just a fraction of the way, I inhaled deeply from the air as I sped along the street. Almost immediately I caught a whiff of her scent and turned down a road according to it.
My twisting path took be around a block back to the store. I glanced in the window once and sniffed the air experimentally – and Bella's scent stayed outside on the air. It didn't go into the store at all – I could smell human scent from the air conditioning that blew air out to the street.
Her scent led south, away from the main part of Port Angeles; I could smell the path from where I sat because of the light changes in the wind. Growling low in my throat, I parked the car in front of the bookstore to wait for her to return.
Was she insane, to go off alone in an unfamiliar place? As far as I knew, Bella had never been here before – Jessica's thoughts had made it clear she thought Bella was incompetent because this was her first trip here.
Sitting in my car and fuming, I wondered why Angela hadn't insisted they go with her, or why Jessica didn't see that if Bella got lost, Chief Swan would blame her because Bella went on the trip with them. It was the kind of thing I'd think a shallow girl like Jessica, only having self-interest at heart, would consider.
Obviously, she wasn't as smart as she tried to seem. Well, that was obvious – she was angry with Bella for taking Mike's attention even though it was plainly obvious that Bella had no interest in the boy.
The protectiveness I felt over Bella had to be causing this unexpected anger towards those girls. Normally, I wouldn't consider stooping to their level to rant about something or another that I felt was their fault, but in this case I found myself criticizing their every action.
I was glad they were no longer close by, however, as I would have been all too distracted to listen to the minds around me. If I were to know where Bella was, I would have to listen in on people's thoughts.
Letting Bella go off alone was definitely not the best decision anyone could make. I wanted nothing more than to leap out of my car and chase after her, but that wouldn't be helpful at all. I would sparkle in the sunlight, glitter like some strange demon.
Having to wait behind and find at least her location was the best I could do right now. Listening in on the thoughts of various people proved to be a waste of time, however – no one had seen her pass by.
My fingers began drumming incessantly on the wheel as the sun began to sink beyond the horizon. I couldn't sit still here – I had to move, do something to make me feel like I was going after her. Clouds began to drift closer to blocking the sun as I pulled my car out onto the streets again.
With my windows rolled completely up, I cruised down the street in the same direction that Bella's scent had led. I couldn't leave the window open right now and actually follow her scent – the sun was so low that I had no idea when an accidental ray of light might manage to go through the glass to hit me.
At least if the pane of glass was up, anyone who saw sun touching my skin might think it was an illusion, the window itself being the thing to sparkle so brightly. With no solid destination point and no way of knowing where Bella had disappeared to, I was almost as lost as she probably was.
There was a street up ahead cutting across the one I drove on; one turn led to the abandoned warehouses, and the other led to the more populated, touristy areas of Port Angeles. I immediately turned toward the populated area – there was no way she actually wandered into the deserted warehouses. That was suicidal – everyone knew what could happen there.
And even though she was new to the town, it wasn't a very far leap from 'abandoned warehouses' to 'rape and murder'.
For a long time, I was stuck driving around in circles throughout Port Angeles. I passed by a small Italian restaurant; Jessica and Angela were inside, just getting a table. Where is she? She was supposed to meet us here. Angela was worried about Bella. I hope she's all right.
Jessica, however, was not so sympathetic. I should have known that stupid girl would get herself lost. If I get in trouble with Chief Swan for this I'll make certain she pays – she may be on the rise in school, but her popularity is only going to get me up there too, not earn let her earn my respect.
Resisting the urge to storm in and give the female a piece of my mind, I drove away back towards the bookstore. If she was supposed to meet them there for dinner and hadn't yet shown up, something had to be wrong.
Now that the sun was setting, I could leave my car – and I was going to track her down by scent, and on foot. My plan had only formulated so far as finding her – what I would do once I found her, I wasn't certain of.
I could tell her that her friends were waiting for her at the restaurant and that I had seen her earlier in the day with them. But would she be suspicious of that, of me consciously knowing that she was in Port Angeles and with her friends? What would she think of that?
Once again I came to the turn I had passed before – this time however, I paused. Would Bella have gone down this way? She didn't know the city, that was true – but surely even she wouldn't be foolhardy enough to let herself go down into a deserted area alone.
Nevertheless, I turned in that direction, knowing that there was a quick way to the bookstore once I had passed through this place. I was halfway through the section of the town when I caught an image of Bella's face in someone's mind.
She looked scared but strong, determined and worried. Her face was so beautiful I nearly missed the words in the mind that came with the sight.
Well, won't tonight be fun? She can't be more than seventeen – probably still virgin, too. I hope I get to go first this time around, but even last would be fine for this one.
The steering wheel cracked beneath my hands; the gas pedal was instantly pushed to the maximum. I could feel a harsh growl building up in my chest at the thoughts that still persevered. Now the images in their minds weren't just of Bella's face…my growl shook the interior of me car.
There was inescapable rage building in me at every second as I raced towards where Bella was, penned in by four of a type of human that was most despicable. I would get Bella out of there, certainly and without a doubt – and I would destroy those humans for this.
A part of me began to pull back from the burning anger, reminding me of myself when I had hunted humans – the red eyes, the monster inside myself that roared. Well, the monster was screaming inside me now and I had every intention of letting it free.
Bella…I had to get her to safety. The monster part of me growled; she would be safe in the car. The humans wouldn't be able to get anywhere near it if I didn't want them to.
But she would see. That was enough to cool my hotheadedness enough for me to think. If Bella saw, she wouldn't see the me I tried so hard to keep up – she'd see the me that I attempted to lock up, the one that was a bloodthirsty demon and murderer.
If I let that self free, Bella would see it – and undoubtedly be terrified to go anywhere near me. The mere thought that she would avoid me from this night on was unbearably painful – but at the same time, tolerable. Tolerable as long as I was able to rip those human males to shreds, of course.
My car nearly flipped over at the speed with which I turned the corner. There, in front of me, stood faces to accompany the thoughts of disturbed, disgusting males – and an innocent human girl whom I had to save at any cost.
Her face had turned to me the instant the headlights had flipped around the corner, but I had still had time to see her face before she saw my car. It was strangely determined, focused; she hadn't been trying to make a run for it.
The curiosity was swamped underneath the pure anger that still course throughout my body. I knew then that if we didn't leave, and leave quickly, there was no way I was going to be able to stop myself from feeding on these males right in front of Bella.
Fishtailing around between Bella and the males that had been trying to surround her, my hand stretched out and flung open the door too quickly for the human eye to see. I had to keep my gaze straight ahead as her scent slammed into me upon the door's opening.
The car light hadn't turned on – I never had it on; vampires could see in the dark and were hardly in danger from muggers or the like. Belatedly I realized that Bella might be more scared of me, a stranger in a dark car, than four human males attempting to rape her – especially if she couldn't see my face.
With much strength of will, I managed to stay in place as I drew in a breath and commanded her, "Get in." Her scent slammed into me once more, a wrecking ball to a flimsy paper dollhouse.
To my surprise, she leapt into the passenger seat beside me – I had expected her to be a little bit more cautious. Then again, she had wandered into several streets of abandoned warehouses – what was getting into a car with a stranger compared to that?
Of course, I wasn't truly a stranger; but how would she know that unless she recognized my voice? It was too much to think about all at once while this was happening. I had to leave now, or risk letting the monster inside of me loose.
My car took off with a screech of rubber against the asphalt. Turning around the head north, I couldn't resist letting the car nearly hit the men who dove to the sidewalk to avoid being hit. Vampires were slightly sadistic in playing with their prey; and this was the only outlet I could let that pleasure come into play with Bella near.
Their parting thoughts were of anger that they hadn't had their fun with Bella – that did nothing to help decrease my temper. Pushing the gas pedal down for all it was worth, I snapped, "Put on your seatbelt." She was clutching the seat with her hands, something that was not safe.
Then again, she seemed to like being 'not safe', I growled in my head. The car swayed dangerously as I took another sharp turn. No cars were coming, so I was allowed to blow through stop signs without pause, eager to put space between those men and me.
Even though the monster inside of me was roaring and trying to persuade me to turn back, to go drink from those men or even turn on this innocent girl beside me and drink that sweet blood…I couldn't. I would not give in to something that would make me that monster once more.
Because if I drank from a human, I would turn back to that nature that I had gone into with my rebellion. I couldn't do that.
My driving was almost reckless and speeding, but there were no police, no other people along the road I had chosen. It was selected because it was veritably empty, and no thoughts could be heard from anywhere along it. I had free reign to speed straight out of Port Angeles, with a safe Bella beside me.
"Are you okay?" Her breathy whisper drew my mind back to the car. I couldn't glance at her, however – if I did, I would be unable to stop myself from diving toward her throat. With my anger so predominant, I had much less control over my instincts.
"No." I felt sorry for my snappy, short answer, but the anger in my voice must have clearly told her that I was not going to be able to talk like a civilized person. It was almost like agony to feel her gaze, startled and worried, upon my face – and for me to be unable to look back, and hear what she thought.
It was surprisingly quiet as we drove. With no one else out on our road, there was nothing for me to hear besides my own thoughts. It was slow going, trying to calm myself down, and I was having little success.
Staring straight ahead out of the windshield, I could tell that we were no longer in Port Angeles – indeed, hadn't for a short while – and were a relatively safe distance from those men that I wanted nothing more than to murder.
My foot slammed on the brakes when I was certain that I wouldn't immediately leap up and chase down those men far behind us in town. But that didn't help the feeling of thirst that was rising up in me inescapably from Bella sitting so close by.
I could hear her heart beating fast and strong, her lungs taking in air and releasing it. She turned her head to glance out the windows, trying to see where we were, and her scent was spread even further throughout the car because of her movements. It was hell.
"Bella?" I had trouble controlling myself. Desperately, I tried to calm myself down; she was a living, breathing person, with a life ahead of her. I couldn't kill her, and no matter how much I wanted to I could not chase after those other men.
Her voice was rough. "Yes?" Thankfully, she had been scared by her encounter – hopefully this meant she wouldn't do anything as foolish as running off into streets of abandoned warehouses again.
But it was those men who had scared her so. "Are you all right?" I couldn't quench the anger – I kept thinking of Bella as prey, and that did nothing to help calm my thirst for her blood. She had been prey to those men – and suddenly, I found myself angry with them for trying to take my rightful hunt.
No! That wasn't what Bella was. I struggled to concentrate as she croaked, "Yes."
The monster inside me was struggling violently to get to 'its' prey. "Distract me, please." It was the best bet I had – Alice's technique of dealing with her thirst: know that the 'prey' has a life, hopes, family…all those things that make one see them as 'not prey', but merely temptation.
"I'm sorry, what?" Of course; she didn't know what I was struggling with right now. Attempting to clear my head a bit, I released a huff of the air I had taken in, which carried her scent. I had to take in more air to speak, however.
"Just prattle on about something unimportant until I calm down." I had to squeeze my eyes shut so I couldn't inadvertently glance over at Bella. In addition, I pinched the bridge of my nose – a usual way of attempting to calm down the anger I felt, this time directed at myself.
I wasn't strong enough to so much as sit in a car beside Bella without wanting to sink my teeth into her throat, and it didn't help that those men were still on my mind – the ones that I could no pursue even after Bella was once more safe at home.
Her soft voice echoed into the car. "Um…I'm going to run over Tyler Crowley tomorrow before school?"
Well, that was unexpected. Had Jessica or Angela said anything about him spreading their presumed 'prom date' over school? Was it not true? The spike of happiness I felt was enough to help me begin to gain control over my anger. Lips twitching, I asked, "Why?"
"He's telling everyone he's taking me to prom – either he's insane or he's still trying to make up for almost killing me last…well, you remember it, and he thinks prom is somehow the correct way to do this. So I figure if I endanger his life, then we're even, and he can't keep trying to make amends. I don't need enemies and maybe Lauren would back off if he left me alone. I might have to total his Sentra, though. If he doesn't have a ride, he can't take anyone to prom…"
I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing as she babbled on. So she hadn't actually said yes to his question of asking her out – and she thought that he didn't like her. Well, he did imagine himself to love her, as most of the boys in school.
I couldn't resist teasing her about it in an attempt to keep my own mind from drifting back to the men I still wanted to murder. "I heard about that."
"You did?" I didn't know why she stressed 'you', but I couldn't help my amusement when she grumbled on, "If he's paralyzed from the neck down, he can't go to the prom, either."
It was strange how I wanted to smile in happiness at her obvious disdain for Tyler, but the anger wasn't an easy thing to get rid of. Letting my eyes open, I leaned my head back against the seat to stare at the ceiling. It was hard to keep myself from showing any emotion.
If I let any emotion through right now, it would no doubt be a dizzying kaleidoscope. It was confusing even me, right now – anger, frustration, worry, relief…could there be a worse time for Jasper not to be around?
The dominating feeling, however, was undoubtedly the fury I felt on Bella's behalf. I couldn't believe it; I had followed her here to Port Angeles to protect her, and she was nearly raped because I lost concentration for one moment. Barely even that: it was my fault that I almost didn't get to her in time.
"What's wrong?" Her voice was barely a whisper. Oh, if only she knew what was wrong!
I settled for one truth of many as I transferred my gaze out the window. "Sometimes I have a problem with my temper, Bella." Eyes narrowing and hands clenching, I struggled with the next words. "But it wouldn't be helpful for me to turn around and hunt down those…at least, that's what I'm trying to convince myself."
"Oh."
If only I cold tell her how close I came to being too late to help her. If I had just gone down to the warehouses first, I could have spared her the terror of being nearly captured; I should have known she would do something stupid like that.
By the day, it was becoming easier to see Bella was independent and strong-willed. I should have seen that she'd go exploring in a town she'd never been in before – alone, nonetheless.
I was also furious with myself. If I had thought to charge my cell phone, then I would have been able to call Alice for help. Maybe she was even trying to call me and tell me, but had been unable to get through. If I had charged the phone, I could have found her before she was penned in.
Suddenly her voice broke the stillness. "Jessica and Angela will be worried. I was supposed to meet them."
I resisted the urge to tell her that Jessica would probably only be worried because she was afraid of being blamed for Bella becoming lost. Starting the engine wordlessly, I turned us around and took the streets to the Italian place I had seen the two girls in before.
With the speed I drove, it only took a few minutes for me to get us back to the Italian place. Parallel-parking, I heard the thoughts of both girls at the restaurant – they were just leaving, having finished moments ago.
Where could she be? I really hope Bella didn't get into trouble or something of the sort! Angela was worried for her friend with genuine concern, thinking that Jessica was the same.
If she's lost, Chief Swan will blame me for it. Did that girl do this on purpose? I don't want to get into trouble! Her thoughts were of herself, as always.
"How did you know where…?" Bella began to ask, then shook her head with a flash of something in her eyes. I wondered what she was thinking, knowing too late that she hadn't told me the name of the place she was going to meet her friends – or even that it was a restaurant. That was a mistake she would undoubtedly not let by.
Since they had already eaten, I opened my own door and began to get out. I didn't want Bella to go hungry – and I had to admit that I didn't want to be alone right now either. If I were, I'd probably run off to hunt down those men.
"What are you doing?" Turning back to her before fully stepping out of the car, I saw her eyebrows pulled together, creased in confusion.
It was a struggle to look straight at her and not attack, what with her scent so closely accessible and heartbeat audible. "I'm taking you to dinner." Yes, how ironic; the hunter feeding the prey. No, I couldn't think like that or she'd end up actually being the prey.
Smoothly stepping out of the car, I closed the door a little harder than necessary and moved to stand on the sidewalk. I could see her through the windshield fumbling with her seatbelt. Opening her own door, Bella hurried out and walked up to stand beside me.
"Go stop Jessica and Angela before I have to track them down, too." I knew where they were, but if I moved too much, I would probably be able to catch the scent of those four men, especially if they lived in Port Angeles. "I don't think I could restrain myself if I ran into your other friends again."
She shivered for a moment and I wondered if I had scared her, guilt starting up again. But she called out, "Jess! Angela!" and waved her arm as they turned, each recalling Bella's voice in their minds and turning to see if it was really her.
I looked at them as they hurried over, relief evident on both faces – Angela, for Bella and Jessica, for herself. Surprise flitted across both faces – naturally – when they caught sight of me.
Oh my – no wonder Bella was late if he was with her. Angela wondered, Bella and Edward – did they plan to meet here? Or did she get lost for real – yes, most likely she got lost. It's not that unusual for anyone from Forks to be here; besides, no one actually knows where the Cullens live.
That little slut! Jessica fumed in her mind as she kept her façade up for Bella. Isn't it bad enough that normal boys go after her – now she sets up something in Port Angeles with one of the Cullens – the one that doesn't date, much less – and ditches us? How am I going to get popularity if she doesn't think me a friend?
"Where have you been?" Oh, we know where you've been, Bella. Just try and lie to us. Jessica let suspicion creep into her tone as she asked her question.
"I got lost," Bella replied, a light pink staining her cheeks. "And then I ran into Edward," she added, gesturing towards me.
I picked up my cue. "Would it be all right if I joined you?" Knowing that I was, I let my eyes bore into theirs and my scent drift out with my breath a little further than necessary. The two main weapons of a vampire when capturing human prey without suspicion: breath and eyes.
The appealing scent of venom in combination with a vampire's 'hypnotizing' eyes was enough to make almost any human bend to our will. Angela wasn't as badly affected and her mind didn't drift into the usual hormone-induced thoughts.
Jessica, however, was going full out with her thoughts and I felt like running away in disgust. And I thought that those 'men' were bad… "Er…sure."
Angela saved me. "Um, actually, Bella, we already ate while we were waiting – sorry." I appreciated her truthfulness; now I had the ability to offer my own plan for the evening.
"That's fine – I'm not hungry." Except, of course, Bella's own actions and words contradicted that.
"I think you should eat something," I told her. Looking at Jessica – and suppressing a quiver of disgust – I asked, "Do you mind if I drive Bella home tonight? That way you won't have to wait while she eats."
"Um, no problem, I guess…" She looked at Bella. Does she want us to leave? I'd have no problem with ditching her, but that would be bad if she gets mad and doesn't like me after that – that would ruin my popularity.
I barely caught a glimpse of her eyelashes as she winked; I was trying not to look at her, afraid that I'd loose control if I did. Apparently she had no qualms with being alone with me. I was glad that at least two people knew whom she was with – that gave me another reason to fight my instincts and keep her alive.
With people knowing I was the last person she was with, that would place me in deep suspicion if she disappeared. That would place my family in intense danger of being discovered and was something that I knew no one would be happy about at all.
Angela understood much quicker than Jessica that Bella was all right with being alone with me. "Okay. See you tomorrow Bella…Edward." Taking Jessica's hand, she turned around and led the way to their car. I hope Bella has fun with him – he seems very nice and he'll take care of her.
My insides felt like shrinking at her unwitting trust that I would be able to control myself. I knew better than to think Bella would be undeniably safe with me – but there was no way for them to know what I was, and what I could do to her if I lost control.
Jessica was predictably annoyed. I can't believe her! She obviously ditched us for him! Well, I'll just deal with it; she can get me into the popular crowds at school and keep me there. What are they going to do, I wonder? She looked back and waved.
Bella waved back before they drove away, then turned to me. I wondered how she could not know that Jessica wasn't as nice person as she seemed – and then how her scent could be so strong as another wave of it hit me head-on. "Honestly, I'm not hungry."
Looking at her innocent face, I took in how pale she was, how tired she tried not to look. "Humor me." She needed food, or she'd go into shock. I'd expected her to already, but she was surprisingly resilient.
Walking to the door of the restaurant, I opened the door and waited as I watched her stand still for a moment. Then, with a short sigh, she walked into the restaurant through the door I held open for her.
It was yet another form of torture for me as she walked past, her warm body filled with blood passing right under my nose. I held my breath for the short time it took for her to pass by.
I followed her into the restaurant and prayed that I would be able to keep my control intact.
A/N – I think that this update is the closest to another update that I've ever managed. Wow, I think I'm on a roll:) Also, I have decided that me 'New Moon' in Edward's POV will be 'Blood Moon', but I'm having a bit of trouble about 'Eclipse'. I'll think of something, don't worry:)
The number of reviews I've gotten for 'Sunrise' telling me it's great is mind-boggling. I thank all of you, all reviewers out there, for telling me what you really think of this story! I erased the long rant that was here because I decided it was stupid and pointless. Anyway, thank you for reading!