A/N: I didn't realize till this morning that this chapter needed to be posted at the same time as the one before it. Sorry for leaving you hanging. Hope you enjoy this chapter. :)
~New York Country
Chapter Twenty Nine: Ping Pong
"Now you Leah." I said turning to her. She was looking down at the ground probably ashamed. I could imagine the thoughts going through her head and picture what caused Harry's heart attack.
"First of all. Stop that damn pity train." I said crossing my arms back over my chest and giving her a stern look. Leah's head snapped up to look at me.
"That's right. I know you. You're probably blaming yourself for everything when it is not your fault. So stop the damn pity train and listen up." I said and took a deep breath.
"Picture when you and I went to Seattle with my grandmother and she left us in the hotel room by ourselves while she went to get us all dinner. Remember the pillow fight I started, how the pillow broke and we found out that they actually made pillows with feathers inside. How our arms hurt from all the swinging and how our ears hurt after grandma dragged us into the bathroom and how she lectured us for an hour after she got back." I kept telling the story and after a while she calmed down and the guys walked into the trees to give us some privacy. Once she shifted back I gave her the sundress and she put it on and hugged me as the tears fell.
"I was mad because I had asked for next weekend off at the diner to go visit Rachel. Dad and mom told me no that they couldn't get coverage this weekend. But this was the only weekend Rachel could get off from her job in Seattle and we were going to go shopping." She sobbed into my shoulder and I hugged and petted her hair as she let it all out.
"Suddenly I felt like I was going to explode and then I did and dad was on the floor and Seth exploded into a wolf and dad clutched his chest. My phasing shocked him into his heart attack. How am I supposed to live with this knowledge Anna?" She asked as I shifted us till we sat on the wet forest floor.
"Fate decided that it was time for you and Seth to join the pack and your dad to join our ancestors over the veil and to be healthy again and to prepare a spot for the rest of us when our time comes. There is nothing to be guilty about. His life was not in your hands. Am I supposed to feel guilty that my parents were on their way to pick me up late that night after Adian's ball game because I wanted to sleep in my own bed?" I finished giving her something think about other than her guilt.
"No that wasn't your fault." She sniffled.
"It was that bastard drunk that had had too many drink and decided to drive home." She said with a little more vigor.
"Exactly, except this time the bastard drunk is fate and no one can throw him in jail. Blaming yourself will get us nowhere. You ready to head back to the house?" I asked. She nodded and we both got up from the ground and started walking back. I could see Embry and Jared following us and nodded them ahead.
"Anna?" Leah asked as we walked with her head on my shoulder, even though I was a lot shorter.
"Yeah?" I replied.
"How did you deal with the loss of your family?" She asked.
"Leah I was only five, so I didn't fully understand what was going on. All I knew was mommy and daddy didn't show up to take me home like they promised with Adian and I was mad till Uncle Charlie showed up and explained to me that they weren't going to show up. He explained that my parents ad Adian had been called to heaven for an important job. That I was going to live with grandma until the job was done. I was basically forced to realize it on my own, what it meant as I grew up. The kids that didn't understand and made fun of the fact that I didn't have parents and the people who didn't care and wanted to overlook me for my misfortune. You got the shitty end of the stick you have to be there and help with the funeral and act happy to see all the people that come calling to say they're sorry." I said and took a deep breath.
"You know what? Let's join kick boxing or something. It will help you cope with everything and give you a reason to kick my ass." I said with a chuckle. She snorted.
"That's funny but it actually sounds like a good idea." She said as we emerged from the trees and started towards the back door.
"Go be with your mom and Seth. It should help you somewhat." I said and lightly pushed her towards the door. Once she was inside I went to Embry and sat on his lap.
"You're amazing, you know that?" Embry asked as he kissed my forehead.
"Whatever you say. As long as you don't expect it too much." I said and put my down on his shoulder and snuggled closer to his heat. He wrapped his arms around me and held me close. I was emotionally drained from today. Going from worried, to shock, to sorrow, to rage, back to worry and shock. My emotions were like watching a ping pong game, back and forth, back and forth. All while trying to keep composure was tiring. I knew I had to get up or I would fall asleep here laying on Embry. I got up and dragged Embry inside to help me cook some meals for Sue.
That was how most of the night was spent. I spent that night at the Clearwaters' with Leah. Leah and Seth asked about things they could do to cope and I gave them suggestions that I had used with the loss of my grandmother. I slept on the roll away bed and borrowed Leah's clothes.
I didn't get home until supper time the next day. Uncle Charlie had come down to Sue's and spent most of the day. I had left a couple minutes after. I walked in the door and put my coat on the peg and walked into the living room. The room was empty of life and the TV wasn't on.
"Uncle Charlie?" I called and got no answer. I walked into the kitchen and saw Uncle Charlie with his head in his hands.
"She's gone." He said as he pulled his head out of his hands and wiped the tears out of his eyes.
"Who's gone?" I asked as I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around him.
"Bella. Alice showed up yesterday and apparently she got a call today and Alice and Bella ran off to go to stop Edward. Supposedly he's in some sort of dangerous trouble." Uncle Charlie said as he returned my hug and set his head on mine.
"Did she say what type of trouble he was in?" I asked. Uncle Charlie shook his head.
"I wasn't home when they left. She just left this note." He said picking up a piece of paper off the table and handing it to me.
Dad,
I'm with Alice. Edward's in trouble.
You can ground me when I get back.
I know it's a bad time. So sorry.
Love you so much.
Bella
She loves him so much that she runs off to save the jack ass that broke her heart when her father needs her most? Of course Edward would be more important than her grieving father. What could possibly be trouble to a vampire that Bella would be able to get him out of? I put the note back on the table and hugged Uncle Charlie again. This poor man just couldn't get a break. His daughter was more trouble than she was worth and she was taking people down with her and she wouldn't be happy until she took us all down with us. If she comes back there is going to be a price to pay for the damage she has done to Uncle Charlie.
