Fated

Chapter 13

A/N: Sorry for the long break everyone. I wish you a delayed Happy Easter!

I'm back now and am looking forward to continuing my story. I am working on Chapter 14 now and hope to have it up in a couple days.

I hope you enjoy!

"It feels like it's been forever since we've spent time alone chatting at home. Why don't we do this more often?" Patty says.

"Because we are both busy studying and with our free time you always want to go out drinking and picking up guys," I reply. Patty looks lost in thought for a moment.

"You're right. I do!" Patty says. We both laugh.

I turn myself in my seat on the couch to face Patty, my legs crossed, hands resting on my knees. Patty is in the same position facing me. We have been sitting on the couch chatting for over an hour.

"Tell me more about your feelings for Edward, Bella. You really care about him, don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

"But how do you know he's the one for you, when you haven't had any experience with other guys?"

"I just know. I feel like I've been waiting for him my entire life. I know this sounds weird, but I think I was meant to be a virgin and to save myself just for him. It's like we're fated to be together forever."

"That's so romantic, like a fairy tale. I'm happy that you've found someone who is your soulmate. Do you think he feels the same way about you?"

I nod my head sheepishly. "I know he does."

"He certainly is sexy. I don't know how you keep your hands off of him, Bella. You two have not had sex yet?"

I frown and shake my head gloomily. "No. It's not from my lack of trying. He won't."

"Are you kidding? Why?" Patty leaves her mouth drop open as she turns her palms up towards the sky. "I have never heard of such a thing. A guy not wanting sex. What's wrong with him?" She snickers.

"I think he's being chivalrous. He said he's not ready to deflower me. I think it's bothering him that I'm a virgin."

"Deflower you? Who uses that type of language in today's times?" Patty laughs as she shakes her head. "It sounds like he's old fashioned."

"Yes. I think he is." I roll my eyes and shake my head along with Patty.

"You should have never told him you were a virgin, Bella. Now you're stuck dealing with him feeling guilty about wanting to have sex with you."

"You're right," I say. I can't tell Patty that I tried her tactic and lied to him about being a virgin but he was able to tell I was a virgin anyway.

"Well, there is only one course of action for you now," Patty says with determination in her voice.

I'm half afraid to ask. "What's that?" I ask as I push my eyebrows together and crinkle up my nose, waiting for Patty's answer.

"You're going to have to be a dick tease and get him so horny that he can't resist you. He can deal with the guilt afterward," Patty says with an evil grin on her face.

"Oh, Patty. You're the worst!" We both laugh loudly.

"So what else is new with you, Bella?"

"Well, let's see...There is something kind of odd that happened to me. I'm not even sure I completely understand it but it's something I think I've always known, or at least always had..."

"Bella! Stop teasing me and tell me what already!"

"Okay. I found out that...I don't know how to say this. I think I may be psychic." I cringe waiting to hear Patty laugh at me. I'm expecting to become humiliated, but sometimes I underestimate how good of a person Patty is. She never laughs at or makes fun of anyone. For how reckless she gets and drunken and even obnoxious, deep down inside she is a good person.

"Really, Bella? That's amazing! What exactly do you mean by psychic? How do you know? Tell me everything!"

"I went with Edward and Alice on an investigation..."

"They let you go on an investigation with them? That's so cool!"

"Well, we were on our way home from Alice's house and Edward got a call to meet Alice at a nearby site where there was a murder so he let me go along with. He knew I would be safe with him. We found a dead body and Alice retrieved this matchstick from it. She handed it to me and when I touched it, I saw visions. It was really amazing but at the same time, it felt completely normal to me. I wasn't really shocked by it."

"That doesn't surprise me. You have dreams that come true sometimes, right?"

I think about it for a moment. "Yes I do but I never thought much about that. Doesn't everyone have that happen?"

Patty raises an eyebrow and shakes her head. "No, Bella. Most people do not have that happen. I always knew you had psychic dreams, but getting visions is amazing. I think you get it from your dad. He always seems to call when something unusual is happening with you and he asks you if something is wrong. I've noticed that for a while now."

"Really? I don't know why I never thought much about it before, but after this happened to me I realized Charlie may be psychic also."

"So, what visions did you get?"

"They were images of one of the people responsible for this man's murder. It was someone in a biker gang. I think I was able to give Edward and Alice some good clues as to where to look for the killer."

"Bella! Do you realize what you could do? You could consult for the police department and help them find murderers!"

"I do have to admit, it felt great being able to give Edward help on his case. He even asked me to do it a second time. I was able to pick up on the bar where I believe this gang hangs out. It was in Athens but there are lots of bars in that area and I don't know which one it is. That's where Edward and Alice went to follow up on my lead."

"Wow! They are actually following a psychic tip from you! Why didn't you go with them today?"

I lower my head and voice. "Because Edward wouldn't let me. He said it was too dangerous and refused to let me go. I really wanted to go too. If I got in the nearby area, I just may be able to lead them to the correct bar."

"I've got a great idea, Bella. Why don't we go? I'll drive while you concentrate and tell me where to turn. Wouldn't that be fun?"

I look at Patty and think for a second, considering it. I shake my head. What am I doing? I can't drag Patty into this. This could be dangerous. It's bad enough I keep endangering myself, I can't endanger Patty too. "I don't know, Patty. It could be really dangerous. These are killers. I don't think we should."

Patty looks disappointed. "Okay, Bella. You're right. It does sound dangerous. It's a shame Edward didn't let you go with them though. He could keep you safe and use your help."

"I know," I say sullenly.

"So, did you do something particular to bring on your visions?"

"I just touched the matchstick. It was an odd wooden matchstick with a green head. When I touched it, I automatically received visions."

"A wooden matchstick with a green head," Patty repeats. She gets up and walks into the kitchen and picks something up off of the island and holds it in the air. "Do you mean this matchstick?"

I get up and walk over to the island and look at it. It's the wooden matchstick with a green head. "Yes. That's it! Alice must have left it here."

"So, do you want to try to get more visions? If you get anything useful you could call Edward and tell him."

"Good idea, Patty. I'll give it a try."

I close my eyes and take several slow, deep breaths trying to clear my mind. I open my eyes and nod to Patty. She hands me the matchstick and I close my eyes. My vision goes blurry as a sharp pain builds over my eyes. Slowly a vision forms and details emerge. I see the same biker with the odd symbol tattooed on his finger, sitting in a bar. I cannot tell what he looks like because the details of his face are lost, but I can tell it's the same man as before by the shape of his body. I can tell the bar is along the river but there is nothing discerning it from the other bars.

"It's the same thing that I got before. I can see a biker with a tattoo and he is sitting in a bar that sits along the Hudson River, but there are lots of bars in that area along the river. I need to see something new to tell me which bar it is."

Patty and I are quiet for a few moments, thinking.

"Edward had me look at a map to see if I could pinpoint the exact bar. I couldn't do it but maybe if I held the matchstick while looking at the map. Do we have a printed map anywhere of New York?"

Patty's eyes light up with excitement. "Yes! I have a street and road map in my car. My GPS screws up all the time so I have my map as a backup. I'll be right back," Patty says as she scrambles out the front door. She comes back in with a map in her hand and unfolds the map on the kitchen island. She points to Athens. I bend over the map staring at Athens while holding the matchstick in my hand. All I receive is the same vision as before.

"Nothing new."

"At least you tried. I'm going to jump in the shower, but if you get any visions let me know. I don't want to miss anything cool!"

"I'm done trying. I get a headache if I try too long," I tell Patty as she is trotting up the stairs.

While I'm standing quietly in the kitchen, an odd idea pops into my head. I grab a piece of paper, rip a corner off of it, grab a pen, and onto the piece of paper I draw the sign I saw tattooed on the finger of the biker in my vision. I place the piece of paper onto the map near Athens and drop the matchstick on top of the paper. As I stare at the matchstick, it slowly begins to spin. The matchstick turns clockwise very slowly, spinning in circles. After two full turns, it stops with the green head facing 2 bars that lie along the river. I raise my arms above my head and wave my hands around in quiet celebration. I grab the matchstick and place it in my jeans pocket and throw the paper in the trash.

I grab my phone, walk into the living room, sit down on the couch, and stare at Edward's number on fast dial. I begin to think about how boring and lonely my life was before Edward came into it and before all this excitement started happening. I don't know how I ever got by without it. I didn't really. I was bored and sad all the time. I realize now I need excitement in my life. I was meant for something more, and this ability to see visions was given to me for a reason. I believe I was meant to help Edward with his cases. But there's more I can do besides sit home and get visions. There's more I can do, but should I...

I jump up and race upstairs, stopping at the closed bathroom door. "Patty, I'm going to go over and visit with Charlie for a little while today. He called and sounds lonely. Do you have something to do if I leave for a while?"

"Sure, Bella. I can call Jacob and see if he wants to do something with me. Are you going to be gone all day?"

"No. I should be back in a few hours, by dinner time for sure."

"Okay, Bella. See you then."

"Bye."

I run down the stairs, grab my keys off of the kitchen island, grab a jacket from the closet, and race out the front door, slamming it shut behind me. As I race down the steps towards my car I say to myself. "I must be out of my mind."

The drive to Athens is a nice, peaceful drive. I keep myself entertained by thinking about my visions and how my abilities improve when Edward is touching me. So many new, marvelous things have happened in my life recently. I am excited to see what is coming up next.

I'm keeping track of my mileage as I drive. I am coming up on 38 miles, the distance the map said from my home to the bars. I make a left and drive down a long, dirt road in a heavily wooded area. My tires crunching the gravel underneath them spoils my plan of arriving unnoticed. The road dead ends into the parking lot of the first bar, The Pine Nut. There is only one other car and two motorcycles in the parking lot.

I get out and look around at my surroundings. This place is so isolated, no one would ever find me here. As I walk towards the bar, goosebumps begin to rise on my arms. I've come too far to chicken out now. Besides, I'm not going to confront anyone. I just want to have a look around and see if I can determine which bar the biker gang is at. As soon as I do that, I will leave and call Edward and tell him which bar to focus on. They are not vampires who go crazy over the smell of my blood, they are just bikers, so I have nothing to worry about. I take a deep breath and pull open the heavy, wooden front doors of the bar.

I can only see shapes as my eyes need to adjust to the dimly lit bar. I blink several times. As my vision adjusts I walk towards the bar, taking a look around. There are only two middle-aged men in the bar and one younger bartender. One man is sitting slumped over at a corner table, leaning his head on his crossed arms, looking half asleep. Another man is sitting at the bar. I take a seat two chairs down from him. Both men are wearing similar worn-down leather jackets and jeans. They are dressed similar to the man in my vision.

"You looking for directions? The bartender asks as he walks over towards me." Obviously, they don't get too many strangers in this bar. I've learned as long as you portray confidence, most bartenders will not card you.

"Just passing through and thought this place looked like a nice place to stop for a drink. I'll take a Heineken." I sit up straight and look the bartender directly in the eyes while ordering. Another trick of portraying confidence. He pauses for a moment as if he is about to say something and then grabs a Heineken out of the refrigerator, pops it open and sets it in front of me.

"Thank you."

"We don't get many non-regulars here. Where you say you're heading?" I look to my right and see the man sitting two seats down waiting for me to answer him.

"I'm traveling to visit relatives. I smile friendly at him. The man gets up and disappears down a hall to the right, towards the restrooms I assume.

The bartender is standing in front of me, across the bar cleaning glasses. He watches the man disappear down the hall, then glances at the man who looks half asleep sitting at the table and then speaks in a low voice.

"This isn't the friendliest of places to be visiting by yourself." He warns.

"Do you mean not friendly, or not safe?"

"The people are not the best at being hospitable, especially to strangers. I'm sure you can find a much friendlier bar to visit." Goosebumps ripple up my spine as he speaks. Maybe coming here alone isn't the best idea.

"I'm just finishing this beer and then will be on my way." The bartender nods his approval.

I pull out a $5 bill from my wallet and leave it on the bar, then spin myself around in my seat to face the front door. The man that was sleeping on the table is now standing up, leaning against the front door with his arms folded across his chest, blocking my exit. He looks like he is being casual, but I have a feeling he is not there innocently. I notice an odd blue light coming from his right hand, which is holding onto his left arm.

I stand up and begin to walk toward the door, hoping he plans on moving out of my way when I get there. As I get closer to the man, I see the glowing blue light is coming from a tattoo on his finger. It's the tattoo I saw in my vision. This is not the same man in my vision but he has the same tattoo and it is now glowing deep blue. He must be from the same biker gang. Looks like I've found the bar. Now it's time to get out of here before anything bad happens. My goosebumps are only getting worse. I don't think he is going to let me leave and I certainly can't fight him so I have to come up with another plan quick.

"Could you tell me where the restrooms are?" I ask him. He points toward the hall that the other man disappeared down. I walk down the hall, hoping to find another exit. There is one door ahead of me and two on the right. The noises coming out of the door ahead of me tell me it must be the kitchen. The doors to my right must be the restrooms. One is marked Men and one is marked Women. I open the women's restroom door and go inside.

The restroom is dirty and the paint on the walls and stalls are old and fading. One of the toilets is leaking water onto the floor and it is making it's way out of the stall. I quickly check under the two stalls to make sure I'm alone and then stand silently for a moment thinking while I look around. There's a small window just above the sink. I place my purse around my right shoulder and climb up on the sink, unlock the window and push it open slowly, trying to lessen the creaking sounds of the rusty hinges.

I throw my purse out of the window and then pull my body through the window's narrow opening. My shirt catches on a rusty nail on the bottom of the windowsill and tears as I slide through. I land on the grass on my hands and knees. With no time to look around, I grab my purse and stand up straight into the face of another biker. He is rubbing his chin between his forefinger and thumb. He has the tattoo symbol of the biker gang on his finger, glowing a deep blue color.

He smiles wickedly at me. "Goodnight."

"Huh?" I say just before I feel a cloth being pressed against my mouth from someone standing behind me. One hand is holding a cloth against my mouth and nose, the other is holding my head in a strong headlock. I struggle uselessly to free myself. My hands are grasping at the hand pressing the cloth against my nose and mouth. My fingernails biting into his flesh. He keeps a firm hold. My legs are kicking wildly backward hitting him in the shins. The sweet smell of the Chloroform is overpowering me as I feel myself drifting asleep.