Chapter Twenty Nine
Carlisle
Emmett followed Rose on foot and stationed himself opposite Bella's house just to make sure she didn't try anything stupid although I doubted it. If she hadn't done anything by morning I thought she would be safe enough and if she took my advice she and her father would be OK. Rose came back in and sat down opposite me with a sigh.
"What a mess. Where do we go from here Carlisle?"
"I think it would be best if we left Forks as soon as possible."
"Do you think Bella will be OK?"
"If she heeds the warning then yes I think so."
"And Jasper? Will he come back for her?"
"I don't know Rose, I think he's fond of her but he has a fight on his hands to free Peter and if Maria does get her hands on him chances are she might kill him."
"I thought so. I hate leaving like this. Where will we go? Are you going to look for Esme and Edward?"
I shook my head wearily, for the first time in my vampire life I felt old and tired.
"What would be the point Rose? Esme doesn't want me, she's made that perfectly clear, she's made her choice, I just hope she can live with it. I think we'll go to Denali for a while, it will be good to be among friends and Eleazer is the one person I can really talk to. If you want to come with me I'd be delighted but if you and Emmett want to make it on your own I will understand."
Rose came across and put her arms around me,
"Carlisle, we love you, why would we leave? We're still a family aren't we? And who knows, you might find someone else in time, Esme wasn't worthy of your love if she could go off with Edward and he just proved that he can't be trusted either."
I felt a little better for Roses words and I knew what she decided Emmett would go along with. I would miss Edward but he had finally shown his true colours.
Emmett
I hung around until day break then returned to the house to find everything packed up and all Esme and Edwards things on the bonfire along with what looked like pieces of his piano. Someone had vented their anger in a really creative way! Rose came out to meet me,
"Is Bella OK?"
"Well she's still there but she had a really rough night, I heard her crying and then she had a nightmare. Where are we going Rose?"
"Denali with Carlisle. He needs to get away from here. He's already rung the hospital and told them he has a family crisis and he's written to the school, we'll send it as we leave."
"Are we just abandoning Bella?"
"What do you expect Emmett? She's a human with her own life. She'll get over this, they always do and its safer for her this way. I trust her not to tell anyone about us."
"It just seems cold that's all."
"It's the best way Emmett, trust me. Now come on and finish loading the car."
Charlie
The house was very quiet when I got in at breakfast time so I guess Bella had a good time and was sleeping in. I was as quiet as I could be getting myself something to eat then went to bed myself for a few hours. I wanted to plan Christmas with Bella later, I had no idea what she wanted to do or if a certain Jasper Whitlock might have plans for her! I listened at her door when I went upstairs and heard her breathing so she was in then grabbed a quick shower and took a nap. When I woke up I could smell lunch and went downstairs to find Bella busy in the kitchen. She didn't turn round to greet me, just said hi and carried on so maybe last night hadn't been as good as she expected,
"Was the dance good?"
"It was OK"
OK, I didn't need a house to fall on me to recognise that tone of voice!
"I got some news from Mexico. I was saving it till after the dance but you were right, there have been a lot of accidents in that area, more than is normal."
I waited expecting a response but not the one I got,
"I'm giving up on that dad. Mum died and I can't bring her back, maybe it was just an accident."
"What's the matter Bella? You were all for doing some detective work yesterday."
"I changed my mind."
"OK then, what about Christmas? Do you have any plans with Jasper?"
"No. I really don't feel much like Christmas can we just pretend it doesn't happen this year?"
I went over to her turning her round and looking at her red eyes,
"Did Jasper hurt you?"
"No. He brought me home and then left."
I wasn't sure what to say next, was she upset because he didn't ask to see her again?
"So are you two seeing each other again?"
"No. He's left Forks with friends. It was just a convenience us going to the dance together, there was nothing in it."
"So why are you so upset?"
"I was thinking of Christmas and mum."
I couldn't argue with that although I thought she might be lying to me. After dinner she went to her room to listen to music so I rang the Cullen house but got no reply, thinking Carlisle might be at work I rang the clinic in Port Angeles but they said he'd had a family crisis and left.
"So where did he go?"
"He didn't say."
"Will he be back?"
"Not as far as I'm aware. Was there something you needed Chief Swan?"
"No, it doesn't matter."
So Bella was right but not only Jasper had left, they'd all gone which was strange. Why would they leave with no warning? It couldn't be because of Bella. I gave up trying to work things out and put the TV on only to hear a knock on the door. Opening it I found Jake standing there and boy had he shot up suddenly and not just up but out too, his muscles seemed like those of a body builder.
"You been eating plant food Jake?"
He smiled,
"No Chief just a growth spurt. Is Bella in?"
I nodded and called her,
"Bella, Jake's here, I'll send him up."
He bounded up the stairs before she even answered me and I heard him tap on her door before going back to my TV, this time with a beer.
I hadn't sat down long when I heard raised voices then a door slam and Jake came bounding back down the stairs.
"What the hell is going on?"
I shouted through the open door and Jake came in looking upset,
"Sorry Chief, Bella is in a really bad mood, she threw me out."
I looked at him amazed,
"Bella threw you out?"
"Well she told me to get out and stay out so I guess it amounts to the same thing really."
"That doesn't sound like Bella. I thought you two got on well."
"We did until the Cullens showed an interest in her".
"Well they've gone Jake so give her time to settle down again, she'll be apologising soon enough."
He nodded and said goodbye, letting himself out while I sat worrying about Bella, whatever happened had changed her completely, she'd never have kicked Jake out before and why was she so unwilling to pursue the thing about Mexico after being so keen? Teenagers! Who understood them anyway?
