I do not own any of the characters presented in this story other than Terry. No copyright infringement is intended. All other characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

21. COERCION

"You're what?" Edward looked really confused. I think it was the first time I had ever taken him off guard.

I smiled. "I'm going to Phoenix."

"What? When? Why? I don't…" Edward's loss for words was a very entertaining thing. I never thought it would happen.

"Look. I need to see Terry. It'll refresh me. Make me able to handle not being with him for a while longer." I sat on the couch next to Edward.

He shook his head. "I don't know. This seems like a bad idea to me."

I tried to remain focused. I needed to see Terry. That's what I felt in my heart. I recalled what Emmett had told me earlier. 'Look, just whatever you think is best, probably is. I always trust my first instinct and it has never failed me. Go with what's in here.'

"Emmett…" Edward shook his head again.

"I won't… I won't talk to him. I won't even let him know I'm there. I just need to see him. To know that him being away is really helping." I felt like I could handle that.

He looked at me. "You don't even know where he is in Phoenix."

I tried to suppress a smile. He wasn't saying I couldn't go. "I'll find him. Wolf senses. You know."

He look dubious. "You're going to walk around Phoenix, Arizona as a giant wolf…?"

Damn… "I uhh… I-I-I-I…" I had nothing.

"You…" He raised his eyebrows.

It hit me then. A smile slowly crossed my lips.

"No."

"Oh come on!" I stood up. "It'll work!"

He shook his head, crossing his arms. "No."

"You didn't even let me explain…" My shoulders slumped.

"I don't need to. I can read your mind." As he looked at my face, his eyes widened.

Gotcha… "Exactly. You come with me, and you can read people's minds. You can see if Terry is in any of their thoughts until we find where he is." I crossed my arms, victoriously.

Edward stared back at me, completely confused. He shook his head, and looked thoughtful for a few minutes. "I… How am I supposed to walk around looking for Terry in the sun?"

He had me. I racked my brain for the answer. He looked back at me, waiting patiently for my rebuttal. This had become a game. "Alright, how's this? We only go out when the sun has set?"

There it was, the dumbfounded face I rarely saw. He stared at me for a while. "Fine. We'll go."

I smiled, truly victorious this time. "Thank you, Edward."

"When did you plan on going?"

"Today." I shook my head. "I can't wait anymore."

"Alright." He looked at the ground. "Jacob, how did you… How did you trick me? No one other than Bella can get me like that…"

I laughed. "Well you can only read my thoughts when I think them. I found out how to beat that. You gotta be spontaneous."

A crooked smile crossed his lips. "You're an interesting one alright… Ok, so let me get this straight. We're going to go to Phoenix, spend who knows how long looking for Terry, and then what? You're going to look at him and we're going to leave?"

"Maybe we'll catch him leaving for the therapist or something. I just need to see that him being away is truly helping, not making it worse or anything…" I didn't know if it could be making it worse for him, but it was making it worse for me.

"But you talk to him on the phone. Doesn't that… get the message across?"

I shook my head. "He sounds happier, but that could just be an act to make me think he's getting better. The only way to know for sure is to see him without him knowing I'm there. That way I'm getting an unbiased view."

He took a deep breath. "Alright. I'm going to go tell Bella I'm leaving for Phoenix…" He still looked shocked as to how he got coerced into my plans.

I smiled again. "Thanks."

Edward got off the couch and left. I had a big smile on my face as I walked into my bedroom and got out my backpack. I dumped out the school stuff and started packing for the big trip.

I just hoped I could actually see Terry and leave, without running up to him and kissing him wildly. Just the thought of kissing him got me excited.

I looked at my bed. Terry's pajamas were still laid out on half of the mattress. I picked them up and held them to my face. They still smelled like him, but as time went on the smell was getting fainter and fainter.

I smiled meekly and put the pajamas in my backpack. Soon… He'll be home soon…

I picked up the cell phone and looked at it. A new text message from Terry. How's your day going?

I smiled as I texted back. Much better than it started. I'll see you soon.

If only he knew how soon that was.

I closed the phone and laid back on my bed. I let my mind wander. I got lost in my thoughts of when Terry finally comes home. There would be hugging. There would be kissing. There would be sex.

I smiled at the idea of having sex with Terry again. There was just something about it. The intensity of his stare. The feeling of his skin on mine. I sensation of his lips gliding over my own. The electricity of the moment when our bodies became one.

I needed Terry so badly. I needed him emotionally and physically.

When we get to Phoenix, all I can allow myself is a brief look. Nothing more or I will lose myself in him. I sat up and decided to cross that bridge when I got to it.