Words could only do so much.
My only thoughts as I drove home were in wonder as to what was going on.
If I could use a few words to describe my week, a few would be chaos, tension, and annoyance at having to still be here.
Edward had been acting weird since the whole birthday fiasco. Not to mention the lack of appearance from his supposed family.
Though I had the distinct impression that something would happen soon, I couldn't pinpoint what it was.
My suspicion was deemed correct when I got home from work and Edward was already there, waiting for me after my shift at Newton's Olympic Outfitters.
As I hopped out of the truck he slowly made his way towards me, before quietly asking to go for a walk behind my house.
We hadn't made it very far when he slowly turned to face me. His shoulders and jaw stiff, as he stared down at me.
"We need to leave Forks." He said, in a stoic tone.
I stared at him blankly, unable to comprehend why he would want us to leave.
"Leave, why?" I ask, perplexed.
As I deliberated the options as to why he wanted to leave so suddenly. It didn't make sense, a sudden disappearance would raise too many questions, wouldn't it?
"It's time. Carlisle's supposed to be ten years older than he looks; people have begun to notice, or will be soon." He explains, deliberately.
His tone making me feel like an utter moron for a moment.
"But... when?" I ask, beginning to make plans.
Maybe I could tell Charlie I wanted to travel
Now. I reel, trying to take this in. Finally —
"Alright, well, I'll have to think of something to tell Charlie, but I can be ready - " I sputter, distractedly.
"Not you. Us." He says.
Oh. Them. As in, not including you, as in me.
"What? - no - Edward, what happened with Jasper - that was - that was nothing." I attempted to argue.
Though by the way his eyes hardened, and his shoulders stiffened further, I could tell this was a losing battle.
"Nothing compared to what could happen. You don't belong in my world." He answers.
"I belong with you," I state firmly, as I could, though I can see it in his eyes.
He was leaving me, and I was powerless to stop him. Bound, and defenseless to stop him.
"No, you don't..." He counters, shaking his head vehemently.
Why is he always making the decision for me? What the hell is wrong with him?! I thought he said he loved me. You don't leave someone behind like they're Tuesday's trash on a curb ready for pick up.
"I'm coming with you!" My voice begins to rise.
"I don't want you to come!" He yells back.
I flinch, stepping back feeling as if I've just been struck physically.
"You don't... want me…" I repeat.
The words cut me deep, causing me to flinch as if he'd struck me.
"No." He says, firmly.
I step back. Trying to comprehend his words. This whole time. This whole time he has been doing this.
"I'd like to ask one favor, though." He says, his voice losing the edge it had before and reverting to the velvety softness it had before.
What more could he possibly want from me?
Perhaps a pint of blood in a bag as a to-go for the road?
No. I don't think he would ask, he'd kill me if that were the case pull. So, I wondered what favor would he ask for?
My heart hoped he would change his mind, but my mind knew it was useless, yet the hope fluttered.
I looked up, careful, "Anything." I breathed.
Only to get struck down once more by his words, instead, he says the opposite of what I thought he would say. Asshole.
"Don't do anything stupid or reckless, do you understand?" He says, then adds, " ... for Charlie's sake. Just... take care of yourself."
Did he seriously just tell me I'm not good enough for him and then ask me not to do anything stupid, adding insult to injury?
I feel anger replace the hurt as I silently seethed, glaring down at my boot-covered feet.
"I—yes— I will." I half promise.
I can see as his honey-colored eyes soften ever-so-slightly as he stands staring at me.
"Don't worry. You're human. Time heals all wounds for your kind." He states, confidently.
I find myself flinching as if he struck me as he carelessly rubs my humanity in my face. Once more.
"You don't need to do this… Don't do this…" I feebly plead.
I watch as his eyes harden, going from liquid honey gold to a hard sharp gold-tone, his shoulders, and jaw tensing as he looks at me.
"Try to understand. Every second with you is about restraint. You're too fragile. I'm tired of pretending to be something I'm not. Reigning myself in, so I can be with a human." He told me.
"Then take my soul. I don't care! I don't want it without you!" I declare.
Sounding more desperate than I did before. Even to my own ears, but I feel unable to control my mouth as I speak.
"You're not good for me, Bella." He states, harshly.
"I've let it go on for too long. I'm sorry." He says apologetically.
I knew now what I suspected all along. He had never been mine, and he was only toying with me like I was part of some sick joke.
As he stepped forward to kiss my forehead, I shook my head wordlessly stepping away from him.
The things my Gran once said now bouncing in my head as I stared him down.
See, my gran always believed in the supernatural, along with fate, and more importantly, karma. She always spoke of things she believed could protect us.
One of those things was that in order for someone to be able to come into our house, we had to verbally invite them in.
Something I found quite odd because Edward had come and gone into my house without even asking. Later I discovered Alice had seen me inviting them all in.
I decided it would be a great opportunity to see if my Gran spoke the truth or if it was all bs. So, l looked up at him and spoke.
"No, I do understand, don't worry, Edward. You won't have to worry about me, ever again. Have a nice life, and don't come back. I will move on as you want me to. I will live a happy life, but you, you will burn in hell. Just like those people you slaughtered during those years you regret. Just know, from this day forward you and your family are no longer welcome in my home. Your invitation to the Swan home is hereby rescinded. Have a nice existence. Asshole." I said, as I turned and walked back towards my house.
Just like that, I was free. The bindings my mother had instated just before I came to Forks were now gone. Allowing me to feel the swift and fierce power of all that was locked away before.
I could feel the impact of my words begin to weigh down heavily on my shoulders as I watched him. The physical shields I had once removed while I was with him, despite the danger I ran, that my mother warned me of doing so, snapped firmly back in place as I did so.
I turned and left without another word, feeling his stare as I walked away, the wind began to blow around me, for the first time since moving to Forks, I felt peace.
My mind quickly went through the scenarios of the possibilities as I walked through the last few steps to my house.
The fine hairs on my neck stood as I made it to the side of the house, slowly walking towards my truck and reaching for my bookbag, taking a slow calming breath as I shut the door behind myself.
"Bella…"
The fact that he was here now, only seemed to solidify the impressions I had of them. Fake falling loosely when describing them.
In all the time I had known them, he always had to be in control of everything, never allowed me to make any decisions of my own accord, and always had to know where I was.
This was getting old, pretty fast, and this moment had been a long time coming.
"No, you said it would be as if you never existed, so leave," I say, sharply cutting him off, feeling as he rushed forward only to be stopped by an invisible force.
I turned to see him on the ground, groaning as he held onto his stomach. Eyes wide as he laid on the damp ground.
"Bella, listen to me. I lied to you. I love you..." He told me.
"If that statement were true, you would have seen how uncomfortable a lot of things that have happened between us, have made me… you would have reined in Alice with her pushy tendencies, or Rosalie with her bitchy comments every time I was in the room, but you didn't. You have let them walk all over me and stood aside letting it happen, that isn't love. So, stop saying love when you mean obsession." I said, staring down at him, allowing that shield to press down onto him, causing him to gasp.
"How are you doing this?" He rasped, wide-eyed.
"You weren't the only one with secrets…" I replied, staring down at him, with narrowed eyes.
"But you are human…" he gasped.
"That I am… but just because I am human, it doesn't necessarily mean I am weak. I could literally kill you without even blinking." I replied, watching as he became paler than before. "You'll do well to listen to what I just said. Stay away from me and my family. Goodbye, Edward Cullen." I said, before turning away.
I felt the deepest satisfaction as I left him there as I slowly made my way into the house, slamming the door behind me before releasing him.
Upon entering the house my eyes scanned the room, in curiosity, as I recalled my beloved Grans' words before she died.
As my eyes intently searched the rooms of the house, I realized my dad had indeed secured the house.
As I walked through the house, I slowly began to notice the unfamiliar symbols carved on the wood above the doorways, and windows along with a small, thin, pale white line of what looked to be salt.
Even as I stepped on the welcome mat laid on the other side of the doorway, I noticed a thin white film under the mat that I surely would have noticed before.
Yet, I couldn't be sure.
When had my father done this, and how had I not noticed it before?
I could feel the thin hairs on my arms stand as I felt a sudden wave of vertigo hit me.
The last thing I remember is the sound of the phone ringing as I fell heavily into the couch.
I hope enjoyed the one-shot!
