The drive to Forks was just about the most loneliest but painless trip I'd ever made in my life. As soon as I crossed over into the city limits of Forks, a series of murky memories flooded my mind. Some were pleasant, actually most were. And I laughed at all of the ones involving Mike and some of my friends from the school. God so much has happened since my first trip to Forks that it seemed an unbelievable journey.
Most of the colleges would have started their classes by now, so I knew there was no chance I'd run into any of my friends. This was probably for the best. I smiled as I thought of my original thoughts of Forks while driving to Charlie's house first; it was too green.
I listened inside the house and didn't hear anyone, so I took a quick look at the house I used to call home. I inhaled the scents that lingered, mainly Charlie's and various foods that he cooked. Mostly, eggs. This wasn't the first time that I'd smelled human food, especially with Gianna at the castle, but she didn't like eggs, and I found this smell to be truly revolting. I ran upstairs, hoping to escape the smell, and first went into my old bedroom. I had tidied up as I packed my things for my return trip to Italy, but it seemed that Charlie cleaned up a little more. The old computer that I never used was gone, along with the desk that it used to sit on. My rocking chair was still in the corner and I couldn't help but smile as I thought of the many times I'd wake up to find Edward sitting in that chair.
I'd spent a great deal of time in Charlie's room. I wanted to get his scent in my head. I knew there was never any way that I would even find my father appetizing, especially since all of the Volturi remarked at how well my self control was, but I didn't want to take any chances. At that thought, I decided it was time to visit Charlie, only after I hunted some of the local wildlife.
It didn't take me long to find a few deer to drain, and I was back in the Vanquish driving to the hospital in no time. It was only a little after ten in the morning when I parked in the hospital parking lot.
"Ahhh, Bella. It's been a while since I've seen you in the hospital. How are you doing today?" Dr. Gerandy asked me when I walked into the hospital.
"I'm doing fine doctor. I came to visit my father. Would you happen to know what room he's in?"
"Actually I just came from his room. He'll probably be released tomorrow. He's in 347."
"Thank you so much! Take care." I waved back to Dr. Gerandy and headed towards the elevator. I considered running up the stairs to the third floor, but I noticed there was a camera that was placed looking into the stairwell. I couldn't take the chance that there were cameras that were actually in the stairwell. Whatever my uncles were going to plan on doing with me, I had to make sure that everything now was completely by the book. Not that I ever had any problems with that in the past.
The elevator was excruciating slow, but I bid my time and walked silently to my father's room. Charlie was sleeping peacefully, so I sat in the ugly brown leather chair and picked up the closest magazine. I flipped through the same magazine about three times before Charlie's eyes started to flutter open.
"Daddy?"
"Well now, it's been a while since I heard that. What are you doing here Bella?" Charlie's voice was rough and suddenly I worried that he would detect that my voice was considerably different.
"I could ask you the same thing, dad." I offered him a small, warm smile. "I was actually thinking of moving back home. Well, sort of."
"That's crazy Bella! You got a scholarship to a school that you assured me was tough to get into. I won't allow it." He stopped berating me for all of two seconds before asking, "How do you sort of move back home?"
"First of all, Charlie, I got a scholarship to a number of other schools here in the U.S. I've already looked into it already and Syracuse University is willing to accept my late registration. And second of all, I am over the age of eighteen, and whether you allow it or not is not the issue." I raised my eyebrow so that he'd know I meant business.
"Did you do something to your eyes Bells?" Ok, maybe I shouldn't have brought his attention to my eyes. I forgot that my eyes would be a strange mixture of red and gold.
"They're contacts, I'd thought I'd give them a try. You know they have ones that make your eyes look like a cat's eye? Or even a snake? They're crazy hot over in Italy. But you're trying to distract me, and it won't work, mister." I held my breath unnoticeably from Charlie as he chewed on my words. A small sigh of relief was exhaled when his next question had absolutely nothing to do with my eyes.
"Well how is Syracuse closer to home? I mean I get that it's on the same continent, but you'd still need to hop a plane to see your old man."
"Charlie, that's why I really wanted to talk to you about. You see, I'd always wanted to go to university in Italy, I mean I lived there for seventeen years, ya know? It was practically expected. But what I never could expect, was how much I missed you while I was over there. And then to hear that you were in the hospital while I was gone, was extremely heart wrenching. Apart from you, I don't have any living relatives, at least none that I know of. I need you in my life daddy. I want you to move to New York at the very least for only four years. You'll love it out there. Syracuse is upstate, so it's pretty much like Forks, only on the other side of the country."
"Bella, that's crazy. What about my job? I can't just take off for four years. And besides, Billy's here, I can't leave him and the rest of my friends. If you're so serious about moving back to the states, move back home here."
"But dad -," I started but he abruptly interrupted me.
"Now Bella, that's final." I mentally cursed my father for being so stubborn. Of course I felt guilty as soon as I thought it.
"Alright dad. Maybe I'll look into community college out here. After all, the important thing is that you're taken care of." Even as the words came out of my mouth, I was contemplating the idea of being separated from the Cullen's. It wouldn't make sense for them to move back out this way. I could protect Charlie, maybe with the additional help of the wolves.
But that line of thinking was wrong also. It was leaving the Cullen's vulnerable to a mental attack from the Volturi. And I only just reunited with Edward, the thought of being away after our very brief encounter was almost unbearable.
"How about you get your rest." I said sweetly to him.
"Bells, I just woke up. I'm not tired in the least bit. You on the other hand, you must have travelled all night to get here so soon. You must be exhausted."
I rolled my eyes knowing I was going to have to play human even longer than I'd planned. I didn't want to leave his side though.
Faking a yawn, that I hoped that he couldn't tell was fake, I replied, "I am actually. Maybe I'll get some sleep now. Do you need anything?"
"No baby doll. If I need help with something I'll page a nurse, but I'm not paralyzed." Charlie retorted.
I pretended to curl up in the chair, closed my eyes and forced air out of my mouth. Why did Charlie have to be so stubborn. There was no way I could see Charlie leaving Forks willingly. Unless I told him absolutely everything, including of where I've really been since my mother left with me eighteen years ago. That was not an option.
And then an idea hit me. "You know what dad, I'm just gonna go back to the house. This chair isn't exactly the most comfortable thing for a nap." I walked over to his bed and gave him a kiss on his cheek. He was flipping through the channels on the t.v. and he looked as if I had startled him.
"I'll be back in the morning. Hopefully you'll be able to be released." He nodded his head and I turned to leave. Unfortunately, one quick glance out of the window showed the sun making a rare appearance over Forks. However, lucky for me, I remembered Carlisle's office had a window that was just a few yards from the woods. I'd never make it to the Vanquish, but it didn't matter. For where I was going, the first place I needed to stop was in the woods anyway.
I made my way to the doctor's offices on the east wing. I stood outside of Carlisle's former door, and since I didn't hear any heartbeats, I forced the doorknob to open. I was shocked though that there weren't any camera's situated on these offices. But I was lucky Forks was so trusting. I opened the window and jumped from the fourth floor with ease and made a quick dash for the cover of the trees.
I loved the run, it was nothing like when I had to run when I was human. This experience was completely different. This was exhilarating.
I kept running but even as I ran, I knew I was technically still on the Cullen's hunting territory I smelled the wolves too soon. I couldn't be near the line just this soon. Just as I stopped in my tracks, I heard the growls of the wolves.
"I'm not violating the treaty. I'm still on Cullen land. But I need to speak with Billy Black." I held up my hands in surrender, and noticed with my peripheral that I was surrounded by five wolves.
The chocolate wolf that stood before me turned and ran into a thicket of some trees. After a few seconds I heard the air move with the magic of a wolf phasing back into a human. And moments later, I was staring in Jacob's face.
"Jake!" I ran to him but he held up his hand that signaled me to stay at bay.
"You're a bloodsucker now." It wasn't a question.
"No. I'm Bella, and you're Jacob. Nothing's changed between us."
"Everything's changed between us. And your eyes aren't even the color of the Cullen's. Why should I trust you?" Jacob demanded forcefully.
"Because I'm still Bella, and I need an incredible favor from the entire tribe, but I need to speak with Billy first. It can only come from Billy."
I didn't move one iota as Jacob looked over everyone of the wolves that surrounded me. I couldn't figure out what he was doing since I knew he couldn't know what they were thinking while he was in human form. And like me, they didn't move either.
"Thirty minutes at borderline at the road; meet us there." Jacob turned and ran, with the wolves following behind him, I stood there for a moment, realizing how lucky I was that I had a relationship with Jacob, even if it was for Charlie's sake. That encounter could have gone either way.
I didn't want to waste any time and ran straight towards the road. I didn't have to wait too long because apparently the wolves decided they wanted to run recon around the impromptu meeting site before Jacob arrived with Billy. For the second time today, I found myself surrounded by wolves.
In exactly 360 seconds after I was flanked by approximately twelve wolves, more than double the previous time, Jacob rounded the corner, pushing Billy in his wheelchair. Billy tensed up visibly when he saw me and without meaning to, I felt guilty for even involving Billy or any of the wolves.
"Bella, I see you've changed. Not for the better I'm afraid. Jacob here tells me that you wanted to speak with me."
"Billy I can assure you that while at some point I did entertain the idea of becoming a vampire because of Edward, how you see me today was not my decision. I was changed by some very bad vampires, and they are the reason why I am here today begging for your help." I looked into Billy's deep brown eyes, trying to visibly cue him on the desperation I was feeling. And when he nodded his head, I continued:
"First I must tell you that before I was changed these bad vampires that I spoke of threatened to kill everyone in Forks if I did not go through the transformation peacefully. You knew me, I didn't see a choice. All this time, I've lived with them, learning and training. However now, that I've rebelled against them, I'm afraid they will retaliate and do something to Charlie. And that's where you come in. I need you to convince Charlie that he needs to move to the East Coast so that I can protect him."
"The tribe can protect your father. He can stay here with us-," Billy started.
"Billy you know good and well Charlie will not let you babysit him. The bad vampires that I speak of, the Volturi, are the governing body of the vampires. The three leaders, well, two now, have almost 60 vampires in their employ. I know Aro. He will be thorough and send an overkill of the guard to collect Charlie to use him against me. And while I appreciate your gesture to guard him, I can't allow the Volturi to come anywhere near Forks or your people. I can't do this alone, and the Cullen's can't come back. It would be too suspicious around town if they did." I hadn't planned on speaking so long, but the desperation needed to be heard. It was the only way I knew to convey the need to Billy.
"What exactly are you up against? How do you know so much about this Volturi, as you called them." Billy's eyes squinted at me as he leaned closer into his chair. I was a little shocked that Jacob never mentioned this fact to his father.
"The family that I lived with before coming here, is the Volturi. For all intent and purposes, I have been a member of the Volturi family since before I could remember. The leaders are my uncles and the members are my siblings. I was only recently officially inducted into the family though, as you can see."
Billy sat back into his chair and closed his eyes. With his hands folded together at his chest, he didn't make a sound. If it wasn't for his strong heart beating I would have wondered if he was alive.
After several minutes, Billy snapped out of whatever he was doing and finally spoke.
"Charlie is more than my best friend. He is my brother. He will always be a friend of the tribe, as will his daughter." My head snapped up at his final words. First I looked at him, trying to decipher if I heard him correctly. Billy gave a simple nod of his head and scanned the faces of the other wolves. All of them seemed just as surprised as me. "I will do what I can to convince Charlie to go with you."
I nodded my head back down to him. "Thank you Billy."
"Bella, could you indulge me a bit more?" I waited for him to continue and he took my silence as permission to do so. "I meant what I said about you and Charlie. When you see Doctor Cullen can you express the same to him and his family. They have worked in the past to preserve human life, treaty or no treaty. But we have been set in the old ways, and for that I am truly sorry." Billy's crinkly old eyes were wrinkled with the smile that he offered me.
"I will express your words to Carlisle. Thank you Billy and your tribe. I'm sure somewhere in the future The Cullens' will return. And the relinquished animosity between the two families will be appreciated on their part."
"Will you not be joining the Cullen's once whatever this is, is over? I thought you and Edward were a packaged deal."
I needlessly took a breath and released the air slowly. "I'm not sure yet. All I see right now is Charlie safe."
"We'll make it happen Bella."
I had enough of saying thanks to Billy for his kind words so I just turned and ran for the hospital.