DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc., are the intellectual property of the respective author. The original characters and plot are the property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.

-Chapter Twenty-Two-

Zero to sixty in a second flat accurately described my relationship with Edward. Everything was whipping past me, chaotic and disorienting, and I couldn't stop it. The danger had this undeniable appeal, and it sucked me in. By all accounts, I was crazy and foolish, and these rash decisions of mine would probably take me down a road of destruction. I was well aware of the consequences of my actions, but the problem was I didn't care.

I'd been the good girl all my life, doing what was right and always following the rules, but where did that straight-laced belief ever lead me? I lived in a damaged home with a mother who neglected her only daughter and a stepfather who tried to rape me on more than one occasion. These were respected people in the community. Everyone knew them to be kind and generous. They were never arrested for a crime or even issued a single parking ticket, but they were terrible people. Under all those Christian-like pretenses lay the devil beneath.

It wasn't until I stumbled into the hands of criminals that I found my family.

Speaking of my new family, they were all staring at Edward and me with shock and disbelief, convinced that we'd just lost our damn minds.

"Can somebody please explain to me where our sane and level-headed Edward went?" Emmett asked, glancing around the room.

Jasper was sitting back in his chair, shaking his head and staring at the ceiling. Rose was avoiding her boyfriend's eyes, and Alice bounced in her seat excitedly. At least someone shared my enthusiasm.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Edward asked, slightly pulling away from our bubble and glaring at Emmett.

"You're not acting like yourself, man," he answered, throwing his hands up in frustration and nearly knocking Rose in the head. She dodged his flailing arms and scowled at him. "You guys are going to pack up and ride off into the sunset because of, what?" He pointed at the television. "A petty charge?"

"This is exactly what I've been telling you, Em. He's not thinking anymore," Jasper said, sitting up and resting his elbows on his knees. His light hazel eyes landed on me. "It's like he's got blinders on and his perspective is narrowed."

Suddenly, I felt like the problem. It was hard for me to see the change in Edward because he'd always been the same when he was with me. But judging from the reactions of the people who've known him for years, the change was startling.

"Yeah, I can see that shit now," Emmett chuckled. "He's got a one track mind—and Jesus Christ, he's such a fucking hot-head now. You can't even joke around with him, anymore."

"You fuckers need to stop talking about me like I'm not here," Edward growled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Emmett grinned, nudging Rose with his elbow. "See what I mean?"

"You're an idiot." She laughed, pushing away from him.

"Look, all we're saying is that you need to stop and think for a minute," Jasper said. "You've made a big fucking mess of things already, Edward, don't go flying off the handle and make shit worse."

Edward took a deep breath and let his friend's advice sink in. He looked at me again, searching my eyes for the answer. It was my word that mattered. It was a heavy feeling to have so much power over a person's decisions, and I wondered why he trusted me so much. He'd taken me off the streets and given me a home and a family, but exactly did I give to him?

Ultimately, I smiled weakly at him, letting him know I didn't have the answers.

"Fine, maybe you guys are right," Edward sighed, rising to his feet. "But what am I supposed to do now? Stay here and wait for them to come and arrest us? Do you honestly think that they would've showed that fucking propaganda on the television if they weren't gunning for us? They want our faces known to the world, Jazz. Did you ever stop and ask yourself why that is? On a petty fucking assault charge?"

"Because it's Arizona and the media is fucking bored," Emmet said.

"No, that's bullshit," Edward said, pacing the room again. "All those fucking cameras in that entire police station and they only catch me holding a gun to that asshole's head? Doesn't that seem a little suspicious to you?"

"Oh, please," Rose said, rolling her eyes. "Now the whole police station is after you? You think way too highly of your worth."

The room was skeptical of his theory, which seemed far-fetched, but he raised an interesting point. Why was it only Edward who got caught on camera? Why hadn't the police noticed how Phil dragged me out of the building? Were they all turning a blind eye, just like Renee? It didn't make sense for them to do that, but it didn't make sense for them to focus solely on Edward.

"Fine, fucking mock me, but I know there's something more to this," he said, glancing over at me. "Regardless if they come for us or not, we're leaving."

I nodded. "You just tell me when."

"Man," Emmett groaned, "you're leaving us no fucking choice and I hate when you do that shit."

Edward snapped his head in Emmett's direction as he lifted Rose off his lap and stood up.

"What?" Edward asked, confused.

"We're coming with you," Emmett said with a simple shrug of his shoulders.

Alice's eyes widened, looking at me with a huge smile. "Oh, I love these road trips of ours."

"No, fuck that," Edward said, shaking his head. "This isn't a group thing we're doing here, alright? It's just me and Bella getting out of town. I don't need you fuckers making shit more complicated."

"But someone has gotta keep you guys in check," Emmett said. "Otherwise, you'll fucking blow up a building or some shit."

"That's precisely why I don't fucking want you guys to come. I don't want you all policing our activities," Edward said.

Alice wasn't even listening to Edward anymore. In her mind, it was a done deal. All she wanted to do was talk about the places where we could stop and eat and places we could sightsee. It was exhausting just watching her, but she seemed like a lot of fun. This group trip was a good idea. It only inhibited my alone time with Edward.

"It's not like we'll be driving in the same car, man," Emmett said. "We can be like a gang."

Edward stared at him with a blank expression. "Are you fucking serious?"

"What?" Emmett asked.

"Never mind," Edward said, walking back over to me and grabbing my hand. "We're going back to bed. If the police knock on the door looking for us, tell them that we're not here."

"We'll do that, Eddie," Emmett snorted.

Walking back to our room, Edward locked the door behind us. He rubbed his face with his hands, wanting to scream at the top of his lungs. But, instead, he looked up at me, eyes weary but resolute.

"We're leaving tomorrow," he said, "and they're not coming. It's just going to be you and me."

The intensity of his words was powerful and convincing, and I wanted it to be just him and me, but I felt guilty. It was my pure selfishness to have him all to myself. I couldn't deny how the rashness of his actions aroused me. I fed off it and, unknowingly, encouraged it. But now, things were so out of control, and I caused all this bad stuff to happen to him. If it weren't for me and my problems, Edward wouldn't be planning to leave his family.

"Edward," I said, taking a step back from him and choosing my words carefully, "I don't want you ditching your family for me. It's obvious by the way they talk that you're not the same person. I just…I don't want you to put all of your faith in me."

He took a step towards me, closing the short distance, and placed his hands on the sides of my face, completely overwhelming me in their warmth. "I admit it, I get crazy around you. I can't think straight and I just fucking react, no thought about the consequences. All this bullshit around us could've been avoided if I wasn't always consumed with you and trying to figure out what you're thinking all of the time. I was stupid and fucked up. It's my fault we're in this fucking predicament."

"No, it's not just you," I said, wrapping my arms around him. "I'm just as much blame for everything as you are. I'm not some innocent bystander in all this."

He rested his chin on my head and sighed. "I know it sounds risky and it might be a fucking mistake, but I don't see any other way, kid."

"We're both runaways, Edward," I said, closing my eyes and breathing him in. "Staying here and facing our problems would be out of character for us."

"That's very true." He laughed, hugging me tighter. "So, it's settled then. You and me, we take as little as possible and hit the road."

"And we take Emmett's entire supply of weed with us," I added, imagining his face when he realized his whole stash was gone.

I am a vindictive bitch sometimes.

Edward pulled back, getting a good look at me, and raised his eyebrow questioningly.

I smiled, shrugging my shoulders. "That'll teach that asshole for always cock-blocking us."