Chapter Fifty Five

Jake

I knew they would come back to the house at some point if only to pick up Bella's things and I was proved right but I was too late to stop them leaving. I saw Edward standing in the road watching the car drive away and stepped out to talk to him.

"I see you had no more luck than me Cullen. She's blown us both off in favour of your brother."

He nodded still looking at the now empty road.

"You know something Jacob you're right. We lost and he won but I think it was our own fault."

"Do you think we'll ever see her again?"

"No, I think we've seen the last of Bella Jacob."

"Is it worth going after her?"

"To do what? Drag her back here to the Res or with me? The first chance she gets she'd be off again, if we don't get killed in the process. No, it's over."

I looked at him and I saw he really believed that. I thought that just maybe she would come back to see Charlie, after all he was all she had left now with Renee dead. I would wait and watch and hope, it was all that was left to me now, along with memories.

Edward

I went back to the house to find Emmett sitting on the front steps head in hands,

"What's up?"

"He looked up at me and scowled before getting up and walking out into the trees so I went inside, I wasn't having any luck with talking to people today. In the lounge Esme was sitting with her arms around Rose who looked extremely unhappy.

"Did you see her Edward?"

"Yes Esme I did but it didn't do any good. She didn't want to talk to me, she and Jasper drove off, he said something about Seattle as they left."

"They're going for good aren't they?"

"Looks like it Rose. What's up with Emmett? He looks like he just broke his computer and someone offered to play hangman with him."

"He and Rose had another row, he said some very hurtful things to her. It's not like Emmett to be so cold and harsh especially with Rose."

"Oh I don't know Esme. After all she did work with Alice and by her own admission she didn't care if Bella died. Emmett likes Bella, a little too much if you ask me, but then its none of my business."

"You're right there Edward,"

I spun round to find Emmett standing behind me, I'd been so busy thinking about Bella and feeling superior to Rose and her little household drama that I'd missed his thoughts but they crashed down on me now.

"I'm sick of your insinuations and holier than thou attitude Edward. You weren't exactly lily-white yourself were you? Who told Charlie where Jazz and Bella were? Good move there by the way, you really screwed things up between her and her dad with that little stunt. You know Jazz said one of the reasons for Alice's actions was to split up the Cullen coven because Caius was scared we would get too powerful and threaten the Volturi. She needn't of bothered because we tore ourselves apart without much provocation. I leaned loyalty and love from Carlisle and Esme but you didn't learn anything Edward did you? Or Rose or Alice. I can't believe the depths you were all prepared to go to destroy an innocent girl for no good reason. I'm sorry Esme but I can't stay, not any longer. I came back to make some kind of peace with Rose but it's just not going to work out. We've talked and talked and she's apologised to me for what she did. She went to see Bella and apologised at my insistence but there's one thing she won't do. She won't admit she was guilty of anything but fear and she always points out that Alice was the bad guy, Alice did the terrible deeds. She did sure, but if Rose had come to any of us about her fears, about Alice's plans we could have done something, worked something out or at least tried but she didn't. She didn't speak to me about it once, she didn't warn me that things were getting out of hand, she didn't tell me she knew what was going on when I rang to tell her I was going looking for Bella. She did nothing and I can't accept that, I believed you and Carlisle when you told me mating was for eternity but you're both wrong. There is something stronger, at least for me, a sense of justice, of what's right and wrong so I'm leaving, permanently this time."

Emmett

I said all I had to say and went upstairs to finish packing, taking the rest of my stuff and leaving behind anything that reminded me too strongly of my life with the Cullens, with Rose. When I came back down Edward was sitting with Esme who looked as if the bottom of her world had just dropped out and I felt sorry for her because she had done all she could once she knew what was going on and still lost her children. She looked up at me and I managed a wan smile,

"Thanks for everything Esme. I'll be in touch."

I ignored Edward and went through to the garage to find Rose sitting on the hood of my truck.

"Emmett please don't do this."

"Goodbye Rose."

She jumped down and walked towards me but I held a hand out to stop her,

"Just get out of my way Rose."

"I'll leave. I'll go to Denali. Its killing Esme all this anger and hatred. Its my fault so I'll go at least that way she gets to keep you and lets face it she's a lot happier with you than she is me these days."

I shook my head,

"I'm sorry about Esme but I can't stay."

"Where will you go? Join Bella and Jasper?"

"I don't know. I haven't thought much about it. Maybe up into the mountains for a while, get away from everyone and have peace to think about where I go from here."

"Will you at least keep in touch with Esme? Please."

"If I do it wont be because you've asked me Rose. Now get out of the way."

She hung her head but stepped aside so I could get to my truck. I threw my bag on the passenger seat then started the engine aware that she was watching me again. As I drove out of the garage she put a hand up whether in farewell or to try to stop me I have no idea but I just kept on driving, away from the family I had once been proud to be a part of and into the mountains and solitude.

Rose

I watched Emmett out of sight, my heart shattered by the terrible truths he had uttered, my world lay in ruins without my beloved mate and all through my own stupidity and spite. I couldn't go back inside to Esme's pain and Edward's complacency but I had nowhere else to go, nowhere I wanted to go except to follow Emmett but I wasn't welcome there. As Carlisle drove up I knew he'd seen Emmett leaving and he came to a stop beside me winding his window down.

"He's left hasn't he?"

"Yes and he's not coming back this time. What am I going to do Carlisle? I can't live without him it hurts too much."

"I'm sorry Rose but I think you're going to have to. Emmett has made his feelings well known and I suspect he's had more to say while I was out. Go back inside Rose. I'll be with you in a few minutes, perhaps we can work something out."

I shook my head watching as he drove the Mercedes into the garage. He couldn't do anything, he'd already tried and I knew he too was disappointed in me. I'd ruined everything and now even Alice was dead so I had no ally there, what was I going to do? I even hated myself, I loathed what I'd become, the very monster I feared I would be seen as if the humans discovered what we were. Well done girl talk about a home goal!