Disclaimer: Yes...I am stephenie meyer in disguise of course. :P
LOVE YOU GUYS, as always, THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart. And the top. And the middle. And the sides...
MeyaRose: It's not so hard really. My dad taught me. The government just wants you to think it is. Lol. You'll see. :D
Euphoriafalls: Phillip says he'll never forgive you! But I will. Hugsies? Haha. No, really nothing can beat that porsche...cept maybe a ferhhari 330 gt 2 plus 2...ah, but im getting carried away. Good idea. Considered it for a while, wrote it in actually, then decided that I really wanted to see Bella hotwire something. But thanks for that tidbit. DUMB ON THE PART OF THE FORD COMPANY. Lol. THANK YOU my newly refound friend.
Tatiana: Thank you very much. I like your name. Reminds me of shakespeare.
Alexa: Well, I'm glad you think so. My mom thinks its a waste of my young life. :D Thank you.
Xxsocialdistortionistxx: MEANIE! Go on and leave again! Do it! No not really. I luv you just too gosh darned much. HAHAHA to the people eater. What's that from? I can't remember... I know ive sang that at some point in my life. But anyway, Im happy if your happy. Thanks (and what i mean by thanks is that if you leave again ill set the people eater on you) :D Come again. :D
XD: Yes i know. My fantasies came crashing back down too. Tragic really...wat they make us suffer through. I know I go through that problem...every second. If it weren't for spellcheck, you'd think i was writing in another language I swear. Lol. Dont warn them...Spring your imagination on them at unexpected moments. That's what I do. It's rather fun if i do say so myself. THANK YOU!! Ur the greatest.
Hibiscusqt: awwwwww( blushes, tear) AWWWW!! Here, have some of my mostly nonexistent amazingness. Key word: nonexistent. But hey, Awwwww... ily. And hibiscuses. And THANKKKKKK YOUUUUU!! (imagine an echo in a giant cave)
Hypernessisavirtue: New emoticon. So exciting. Can't breathe. OKAY!
Albnal33: This is one of them right now! :D lol. Poor jakey wakey. I hear those mexican convicts can be rather scruffy and brutal. And thnx, my friend.
EnderACullen: All is revealed! And by hotwiring of course! Haha, thank u.
Supernaturalgirl: oooooo...i see...it does make it rather exciting to look at. I did slow down from my usual pace. I hope this one picks it back up, although i did try to describe a lot. Hmmm... anyway, thanks and bon apetit!
Minimeyer: good, mwuhahahaha, a partner in crime! Your talk of Lambhorginis inspired a part in this chapter. Commited? Hmmm...sounds foreboding. Im commited...to chocolate! Lol. I really dont know what im saying. Antonia made me a tequila... thank you.
Clumsy318: aw, thanks, my friend. Need? Well, since it is now officially a neccesscity, I give you (drum roll plz), chapter twenty eight.
Angelfromhell: THAT WAS THE SWEETEST THING EVER!! That thing that you pmed me. You singlehandedly made the world a brighter place. CONGRATS! Haha. errrrr...it's right before Edward takes Bella to his house to eat the dinner Esme cooked for her, after they watch the clouds. Good luck with that novel thing. I keep trying, but none of my plots seem good enough, so I have parts of about twenty nine novels. Literally. Twen.ty.Nine. lol. Maybe I'll finish one one day, when ms. Muse comes aknockin. Glad my hags gave you an idea. And thank YOU!
Silly Ella: Yes, you were. I love that coincidence! It's like it was meant to be or something. Ahhh... but, coming back to earth now, tragic really...that you can't change colors at will. My chameleon can...which makes him better than your AT&T and fancy smancy Spanish COMBINED! His name is Jefferey, and he'll eat you! He's a vicious guard chameleon! :D thank you.
Jalice: Why thank you very much. The family of the girl who was mutilated by shampoo was very grateful, then asked what a Jalice was. It was a long night... o, and good news: I passed!!
Monkey: sry. Jeeze...i just can't live up to your expectations, monkey! I just can't! (goes away to cry). Nah, jk. Lol to the tinkerbell thing. Unfortunately, I seem to be slightly anti-crossover. The only way Peter Pan is getting into my story is on the side of a peanut butter jar. Lol. Even though it does contain salmonella. THANKS FOR REVIEWING i sure hope to god i don't get writer's block.
Nobodyparticular: thanks for the love!! I feel it right here, in the depths of my soul. Over dramatic much? Why, yes, I am.
Yan niao: THANK YOU! U people know how i love specification. Just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. And yes, you did spy references... tehehehe...WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?? THe CIA? The FBI? WHO? You're entirely too perceptive to be normal... but thanks anyways.
Thefuturemrsedwardcullen: Pandy found it...but then he ate it before i could stop it...and then the smirfs took us hostage. Beep, beep, beep...im trying to SOS you in morse code...is it working? Well, while im being a bored prisoner of war and all... I might as well respond, no not bad. Sometimes they make me want to puke. Last night, however, we played rockband till the wee hours of the morning. I think that was my inspiration for this chapter actually...hmmm... lol, alright, no FF fangirl gladiator showdown. And I was SOOOO looking forward to it. I LOVE YOU TOO...and thanks for the capital letters. And your welcome. THANK YOU, though. P.S. Lemon. Just lemon.
Kerssica: Those crazy friend people. Cant live with em. Cant live without em. Ah, i wish i could just leave. Unfortunately, my family would disown me. No really. They would. Haha, true love needs to be tested. Does this mean that we're like truerrrrr love now? Truesstttt love? Eh, who cares? Thanks for the review, and as for the chocolate, your welcome...hypothetically of course.
Emberwillow: that was a lot of YAYAYAYAY's. But i read and loved every one of them. :D hmmmm...which team am I on? Not even I know the answer to that one, my friend. Not even I. Good grief am I dramatic today...that would explain this chapter. Thanks as always!
Allyg1990: I think Im going to go read some of your xmen stuff. It looks awesome. Neways, glad you liked it. Can't wait to write Jacob's reaction!! So excited. The end... the end... that's so sad now that I think about it. This is my favorite story I've ever written...I guess all good things must come to an end though. (sigh) Thanks.
Chapter 28
I was about to become a criminal. I'd grabbed a map of the West Coast inside, Alice had taught me the basics of hot-wiring, and I'd already set my mind to it half an hour ago. It went against everything I stood for, everything Charlie had engraved into my moral code. My dad would have a fit if he saw me now.
Nervous anticipation set the adrenaline racing through my veins, so it didn't matter that I had two measly hours of sleep under my belt. It was exciting, I had to admit, getting ready to do something this insanely illegal, but it was also frightening. If I got caught, I'd never reach Edward in time, not to mention be locked up for a lifetime or two. Then, Jacob and I would be in the same boat.
I made a promise to myself then and there, that if Jacob wasn't out of prison by the time I was finished with...whatever I was going to do, I'd force Edward to bail him out...if we both were still alive by then. I cringed, and wondered for the umpteenth time today if this was all just a rouse.
However, I really couldn't take that chance if it wasn't.
I ambled down the sidewalk, blending right in with the mobile throng. No one even gave me a second glance. That was good. Staying inconspicuous was a key part of the plan.
There was a parking lot above me, above the level of the main building up on a small hill, reserved for people that had opted to drive here instead of just getting dropped off. I couldn't see it from here, but could only hope that it was full of cars to hide behind, and that guards weren't patrolling it quite so vigorously.
I couldn't use the main entrance obviously. The guards might ask questions. I had a better chance of them asking questions on my way out and then making a run for it than if I was stopped from the get-go.
I let my feet follow the path of the thin strip of concrete for a while. Eventually, it took me around the side of the building. No one was here.
Perfect. Now I had time to catch my breath and plot my next move.
First, I had to get to the parking lot without being seen. There was no forest in San Francisco unfortunately. There were, however, rows of wide metal sheds in front of me.
The edge of the first one was a few feet away from me and just slightly to my left. Quickly, I raced along it till I came to the backside of the building.
My eyes scanned the terrain I had to cross. There were a total of five sheds, with back doors on every one that someone could walk out of at any moment. I put a hand on my diaphragm to try to control my breathing, and tried to think stealthy thoughts. Clumsiness here could ruin my life.
I tiptoed past the first two sheds without incident. Then, I heard the most normal, yet terrifying sound I think I'd ever heard – the squeak of a door moving on its hinges.
As luck would have it, I was near the edge of the shed, so I ducked around the side, and listened.
While I was standing here, the people entering and exiting the airport had a clear view of me, and I could only hope that they didn't notice me.
The door squeaked again. I peeked around the corner to see if the coast was clear again and breathed a long sigh of relief.
This time, I sprinted as fast as my feet would carry me around the sheds, then hung a left and ran along the base of the embankment for a ways until it turned off. This was what I was looking for – a back, well hidden entrance. I crept up the knoll to the top. A sea of metallic cars greeted my eyes, light poles interspersed between them. Somewhere up around the middle of those poles, I noted with horror, were reflective black spheres I knew to be security cameras. I ducked behind the taillights of an SVU and tried to scout out the car I would be borrowing...secretly borrowing.
I needed something not too noticeable, but not too hard to break into either. A Camry? No, my mind chastised, it was too new, this year's model by the looks of it. Surely it was chocked full of alarm systems.
A green Range Rover sat on my left. It just looked too hard to get into.
I lifted my head to peek through the rear window. In front of this car, was a gray Tacoma. It was an older version, and smaller. Luckily though, it had a sliding back window that its owner had forgotten to slide it all the way shut. Getting in wouldn't be a problem. Starting the ignition might.
I crawled around the side of the SUV, climbed up on the Tacoma's back bumper, and crouched down in the truck bed, ready at any second for sirens to come blazing out of the loudspeakers. Cautiously, I slid open the window the rest of the way and wiggled my way in feet first.
I gasped once inside, realizing that I had just commited my first real offense of the day – breaking and entering, well, really just entering thanks to the careless owners.
Now came the hard part. Alice had told me that if there was a panel covering the ignition under the steering wheel, it was a lost cause, but if it was open, all I had to do was cross the red wires. Crimes were so temptingly simple.
This truck was an inferno, and the sweat beading on my forehead only added to my anxiety as I stretched myself across both front seats and looked under the steering wheel.
No panel. Ironically, I thanked God.
Now all I had to do was look for two red wires. Ah, found them, right beside a shiny metal box. The next procedure was to remove the rubber casings around them without damaging the wires. I looked around for a tool.
In the glove department, I found pair of pliers with a rubber handle. Carefully, I began to chip away pieces of the red rubber, until I finally saw the thin wires underneath.
I breathed in deeply. This was the moment of truth. Squinting my eyes together, I brought the copper parts of both the wires together. My hands jerked away when sparks landed on them, but the truck roared to life. Phase two complete. Why, then, was I more nervous now?
I hopped up into the driver's seat and tried to act like it was my Tacoma I was driving. After a few more deep breaths, I put it into drive and pressed the gas pedal. I drove across the lot and fell into line behind more cars trying to leave.
A guard was checking licenses and paperwork for each one. I'd have to lie again. When this was over, I vowed to go to church every single Sunday, and tithe like no one has ever tithed before.
More vehicles trickled out of the parking lot, and finally, it was my turn.
"Hello, Miss," said man in a policeman suit. He had a five o' clock shadow and bright blue eyes. He looked to be about mid-thirties.
"You know," he teased, "I like a woman in a truck."
I fought back the urge to puke. Then, the tears came. I could bring them up easily thinking about Edward.
His smile disappeared, and he backpedaled. "Oh, I didn't mean it like that...I...erm...don't cry. You won't tell my boss, will you?" He looked uncomfortable.
This couldn't have worked out better if I planned it. "You know, I just might," I yelled. "After all the trouble you put us through at these stupid checks, and then you have to hit on poor lonely girls! You should be ashamed of yourself!"
The man looked stricken. "No, I uhh...I didn't mean anything by it. Please don't tell him. Here," he gestured to the road in front of me, "I won't bother you anymore. Go ahead."
I sniffed and gave him a scalding glare, before putting the truck in drive and pulling away.
"Miss!" I heard him call. My face muscles contracted in an automatic reaction to being found out.
"What?" I snapped, tapping my breaks.
"I don't mean to be rude or anything, but..."
I waited for it, the accusation.
He continued, "Your parking brake is on."
I looked beside me. Sure enough, the lever was pulled up.
"Oh...thanks," I mumbled.
He nodded and turned away. I put my parking brake down and tried to drive away again.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
The full impact of my actions hit me somewhere along Interstate 5 North. I, Isabella Marie Cullen, klutz and danger magnet extraordinaire, had just pulled off a full-fledged criminal act without a hitch. Sure, Lady Luck had been on my side, but I couldn't help but being a little proud of myself. After the pride though, came revulsion for feeling proud about breaking the law. It just wasn't in my nature.
After leaving the airport, I had consulted my map and navigated correctly through the city and onto the interstate that would get me to Oregon at least. I was going twenty over the speed limit, and it was two o' clock in the afternoon, so I was already more than halfway there. I still threw regular glances over my shoulder to check for cops.
A police cruiser pulled up beside me once. I got so nervous that I fell on my steering wheel and beeped the horn. He just looked over and smiled though.
The radio was turned up as loud as it would go to distract my mind from thoughts that revolved around Edward dying and prison blocks. I was changing location so fast though, that I had find new stations frequently.
My heart skipped a few beats in panic when I realized that the pointer in my gas gage was on the red line. I'd have to stop for gas at the next exit.
I turned off onto the first ramp I saw, and crossed the highway at the bottom to pull into a BP station.
The first thing I noticed, while I was pumping gas into my car, was a bright yellow Porsche 911 Turbo occupying a parking space on the curb. It looked exactly like the one from Volterra, the one Edward had gotten Alice for Christmas. The door opened, and out of it stepped the last person I would've expected.
Alice Cullen, in all her glory, pointed across the top to the passenger's side.
"Get in," she commanded. Her usually exuberant, carefree voice had a different edge to it today.
Out of shock, I did exactly what I was told. I walked over to the Porsche, opened the door, and sat in the seat.
In silence, she sped out of the gas station and back up onto the interstate, and I soon learned that Bella Swan speeding was nothing compared to Alice Cullen speeding.
Finally she spoke. "First of all, you are the stupidest girl I've ever met. Second, I am going to kill you if Edward doesn't first. And third, Bella what's wrong with you?" she wailed. "There was a Lambhorgini in that parking lot! Out of all the cars there, you pick a Tacoma? Have I taught you nothing!"
It felt good to laugh.
"It's not funny," Alice said, but a twitch of her lips gave her away. "It's dangerous up there Bella."
"Edward's in trouble."
She didn't say anything, and her mouth hardened in a straight line.
"Don't try to pretend like he isn't Alice. You wouldn't have come gotten me if he wasn't."
Again, she remained speechless.
"How bad is it?" I whispered.
"He got hit."
"Hit?"
She took a deep, unnecessary breath. "You really want to know?"
"Yes."
"These...Unseely," she started, "They've got the best weapon you could possibly have because it's invisible."
My brows pulled together.
She continued, "They can...how to explain it... All right, I'll use something you can understand. It's like a microwave. You can't see the waves, but they still cook the food." She gave a sigh. "The Unseely control energy somehow, and when they direct it toward you, it feels like slamming into a wall or something, but when they tag team and direct their collective energy towards one person, it can be..." she paused here.
"What?"
"Deadly. So we try to keep them separated if we can. But Edward... well, he got cornered."
"He's still alive though, right?" I asked frantically. "Right?"
"Barely," she whispered. "I've seen it though, Bella. I saw you saving him. We just have to get there in time."
I nodded. "Thanks, Alice."
"Hey," she smiled, "you're family now."
We didn't talk much the rest of the time. Alice was busy scanning her family's futures, and I was worrying too much. I watched the landscape outside my window transform, from barren scrubland, to the sharp peeks of mountains, to the Oregon coastline sprinkled with red and yellow wildflowers. All the while, the clock was ticking louder, the Sun was sinking lower, and Alice was driving faster.
I knew though, that we had hit the Washington peninsula when rain suddenly descended upon the car and dark green trees began flying by. Finally, we reached familiar streets. Up ahead was a fork in the road. One would take us straight into town. The other would take us closer to the school and out to the suburbs.
Alice stopped before it and closed her eyes, before deciding to take the road on the right.
"What would've happened if we went the other way?" I asked.
"You got eaten." She didn't even take her eyes off the road.
"Oh...thanks."
"No problem."
The city was a ghost town, not a soul in sight.
Alice drove till we reached that well-known hidden entrance that would take me to the Cullen's house. Her eyes stayed glassy the whole way. I assumed she thought this was too risky to take her black orbs off my future for even a single second. We got out of the car, and my ears were met with an eerie silence. Usually there were the sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling. The only sounds now though were the rainy drizzle lightly pattering the treetops and thunder-like booms in the distance.
Beside me, I heard Alice gasp.
"Jasper!"
"What's wrong?"
She shook her head. "Edward's in his room. Carlisle's with him." And with that, she disappeared into the forest.
As soon as the fact that Edward was in a twenty-yard radius from me sank in, I kicked up my heels and sprinted towards the door, flung it open, and dashed up the stairs.
I stopped at his door though. Quiet sobs were issuing from within. Looking into the room, I saw Carlisle, back facing me, sitting in a chair by the bed Edward had bought, his head bowed and his back heaving with tearless sobs.
He spoke. "I've worked for over three-hundred years to cure people. Three hundred years! And now I can't even save my own son." His voice was hoarse, and it broke my heart to see him like this.
I entered the room and moved around Carlisle. The vision I saw on the bed there sent shocks through my body like I had been electrocuted.
My father-in-law looked up at me through tortured eyes. I was sure my expression was similar. I glanced back down at my husband.
A gash tore his shirt down the middle. The skin under it, normally so milky white, was black and raised. Various holes and gashes were ripped in his jeans as well.
But that's not what shocked me. What shocked me was the expression on his face. It was an expression of infinite, bottomless peace.
Bronze wisps framing his closed eyes, hands loosely resting down at his sides, Edward looked like he was sleeping –entirely too prosaic of an action for him.
I hadn't expected this. I expected pain and agony, to see him writhing somewhere, not this utter tranquillity he seemed to be held in.
I walked over and stroked his unresponsive face, then thought of the vow he made me when he said he would not get hurt.
My fingers brushed stray hairs away from his forehead. "You promised you wouldn't..."
A/N: All right, so when I promised that you'd love this chapter...I lied. Errr... sorry? So...how about that weather? And hot-wiring a car is actually incredibly simple. I did it with my own car just to see if it would work. So, it isn't entirely unrealistic. Read and review. I fully expect death threats. Bring. Them. On. :D Feel free to get creative! O and whoever wrote that thing about me on that twilightsaga website, I LOVE YOU! Thanks. That meant so much. (wipes tear out of eye)