AN: I'm back and have been typing madly ever since! Thanks to all who reviewed!
I sat alone, brooding in my anger, for a few minutes until my phone rang. Even as I reached for the phone the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I was instantly reminded of my dream. I fought back a shiver as I put the receiver to my ear.
"Hello?" I said angrily into the phone; if this was Edward he would have to come down and talk to me in person. It wasn't like it would take him a while or that he didn't have time to. He had all the time in the world, while my own time here was slipping away. Faster then I thought.
"Aw, babe, don't be like that." Said an amused voice that, like Edward's, was impossible not to recognize, but for vastly different reasons.
"Keith?" I spat furiously. My fading anger now replenished. I should have known it wasn't Edward.
"Who else? Did you think it was your boyfriend, Edmund?" he laughed mockingly at his "mistake."
"I wish it had been. In fact, I think it would've been better if it was anyone. Even a telemarketer or a heavy breather." I was so angry I was seeing red.
"Well, I can do that too, if you'd like?" he suggested coyly.
"No. How on earth did you get this number anyways." I demanded, talking louder than I intended.
"Don't you remember? You gave it to me." he chuckled and m jaw dropped. There was no way I had given him my number. I hated him, besides, even if I had given him my number I wouldn't have given him this number. I felt confusion growing as I tried to remember ever having said my phone number anywhere where he could overhear it.
Apparently he took my pause as defeat and, before he hung up, he left me even more confused and concerned.
"Now that that's settled, I have something to say. It concerns your boyfriend, Edward. Meet me at The Lucky Tavern in twenty minutes." I stood for a full minute holding the receiver in my hand before the squawking noise reminded me to put it down. Did I imagine the emphasis on the word "boy" or did Keith find something out about Edward? No. That couldn't be it. Could it? Edward did duck his punch pretty fast, maybe too fast. Or maybe Keith emphasized the whole word and I need to check my hearing. Either way, I knew I would be going to The Lucky Tavern. I cringed inwardly at the thought of meeting Keith, but at the same time I grabbed my keys, and threw on an unnecessary jacket. I stuffed my cell phone into my pocket and ran out the door.
Half-way through the drive, during which I nearly went crazy with anxiety, I realized something. How did he know that I knew where The Lucky Tavern was? Then I remembered, and I realized how he had known everything about me so far. Brandy. I outwardly winced even thinking her name. At this realization I almost turned around, but I had to go. For Edward. I would do anything for him, and if Keith knew, or even suspected, about him then things were going to get complicated, fast. I pulled into the parking lot in front of the tavern and got out quickly. I looked around and saw a few dark figures near the front door, all seemed drunk and shady. I grew even more nervous and walked faster towards the front door.
The tavern was a small building out in the middle of nowhere almost. It was out pretty distant. Even so, I remembered knowing that all the high school students – well, all but me – went here for beer from the owner who never checked ID's. The building itself was small, made of brick, and covered in graffiti. It had two windows in front that were covered up and one door served as the main entrance and exit. I had never been inside before, but I had driven by it before, even with Brandy.
However, when I reached the door and pushed against it, it didn't move. I pushed a little harder, only to find the door didn't budge and was jammed. I was struggling with the door when I heard a drunken laugh from nearby and realized that I had not seen the sign above the handle the read in clear bold letters "PULL" My face turned red and I yanked the door open; slightly harder then I intended and fell backwards from the force of the door and landed hard on my behind. I scrambled up, ignoring the now full-blown drunken laughter and rushing inside. Apparently few inside had witnessed my epic battle with the door and as I brushed past them I saw Keith seated in a private booth in the corner.
Inside the tavern was dark and dimly lit. It smelled of alcohol and stall air. I almost sneezed from the offending scent. People seemed crowded into any and every seat possible. It was full, and I understood why the owner didn't turn away the high school crowd. The walls were covered in picture frames, some new some old. I saw a few with some famous faces the I was able to recognize. I also noted some jersey's and even two old, broken televisions sitting in the corners of the room. There were a million old ad's littering the spaces on the wall between the frames and the jersey's. I saw pictures of women with short curly hair and the famous I-Love-Lucy-type dresses holding a plate of cookies and proclaiming Kerner's Old Time Flour to be the best flour out there.
I rushed over and sat down. He smiled widely at me and I returned with an angry glare.
Above our table was a large picture of a coke bottle and a handsome man was holding it and winking eternally at the crowded room.
"Well, hello." He said as if surprised to see me. I was about to yell at him, when he held up one finger and made a soft shushing sound "Wait, the waitress is heading here with our drinks." Then a second later, the waitress, a tall leggy blonde wearing a scowl, plopped our drinks down with a thud and walked away. I looked to see that Keith had ordered us both beers. I shook my head angrily and pushed mine away.
"Don't drink? How…cute." He smiled and mimicked me by pushing his away too. This gesture might have been even touching had I not hated his guts.
"What do you know?" I spat out quickly. To my dismay he sighed and winked at me.
"What is it?" I repeated, throwing my hands up in a gesture of anger. I wanted more then anything to hit him now.
He shook his head, "There's something about him. That you should know, as his girlfriend."
"Then I probably already know it. We don't hide things from each other." Now I was challenging him and he knew it.
"Okay, then. But, trust me, this would have made a difference. I guess I'll have to go to the police with my," he paused contemplating the right word, "findings." He finished and pulled a twenty out of his pocket and started to stand up.
"No." I gasped. How did he know?
He sat down slowly and left the twenty on the table.
"Yes?" he asked innocently.
"You can't prove it." I challenged angrily, if he had proof, I could have Edward get it from him without Keith even knowing it was missing.
"No? What can't I prove Bella?" he folded his tan hands neatly in front of his mouth, waiting for a reply.
"Show me." I whispered; my voice now strained.
"The proof?" he laughed. "Why would I show you the evidence I have. You already know about Edward's…" he paused wickedly thinking about how to phrase it.
"Condition." I prompted quickly. I didn't want anyone to overhear this. One person knowing was bad enough.
He raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you'd call it?"
I shook my head. "Then what do you call it." he asked
I shook my head again. "Then I guess the police it is." He said and stood up again.
"Fine." I relented and he settled down in his seat again. "But if I tell you, you can't go to the police." I bargained.
"Deal." He said simply enough.
I took a deep breath and leaned forward. As I began to speak something dark moved into my peripheral vision and I jumped as if caught drug dealing, or something else sinister, which I basically was.
"We're leaving now, Bella." I heard Edward's musical voice speak to me. He was angry, but it didn't seem like he was angry at me.
I got up and Keith narrowed his eyes at Edward. I was about to explain what had happened between me and Keith when Edward yanked me out the door.
"What? Edward. Stop! What is happening?" I asked him slightly frightened. Unfortunately, Keith ran out after us and grabbed my other arm. Edward looked at his grasp and then at me. I knew what he was thinking, if he tried to pull me from Keith's hold, he would undoubtedly break my arm, or rip it off. He let go of me and walked towards Keith, who also released me. I stepped back and looked around. The figures outside the bar seemed farther away then before and I knew that they probably couldn't see us in the dark. I began to curse the owner of the tavern for not lighting the parking lot.
"Leave Keith." Edward's voice was trembling with anger and his fists were clenched at his side.
"Not without Bella. Besides I know all about your," he winked at me, "'condition'."
Edward didn't even glance at me just stood statue-like still. He rust colored hair trembled slightly in the wind, or maybe it was his whole body. I couldn't be sure. I was frozen with fear and my thoughts raced.
Just when I thought that it couldn't get tenser, Keith took a step forward and with a small smile – that I'm sure Brandy would've loved – he swung at Edward. Edward ducked it easily and his fists clenched tighter. I thought my heart was going to explode. I wanted to call out to him and tell him to stop but my voice caught in my throat.
"Your small," Keith said, amazing me, Edward was 6' 3'. "but fast, don't worry though. I'll have this over fast."
Then he took a swing with his right and instantly followed with the left. Edward ducked both, Keith seemed surprised, but instantly raised his leg and kicked him. Edward hadn't expected that and Keith kicked him in the knee. I'm sure he put all his weight in it, however, because Edward was stronger then steel, Keith ended up falling backward. Edward was over him in a second. In a flash, he had raised Keith up by his shirt collar, something I'd only seen done in movies, and throw him nearly half-way across the parking lot. Keith sat still for a second before jumping to his feet, his face red with fury. However, that second was all Edward needed to rush – faster than human speed – to me and start to push me towards the car.
"But-B…H-h…W-what?" I was incoherent with fear and just kept stammering random words as Edward's iron strength pushed me towards the car. I stumbled over the curb and in that millisecond I realized that Edward had pulled away and I fell face first into dirt. I got up quickly and saw Keith punch Edwards face. Only, Keith brought back his fist with a yelp and I knew he had probably broken his fist; it must have been like punching the wall of the tavern. Edward's perfect face was unharmed, and he seemed not to have noticed the punch in the face, he shoved Keith down and ran – now full-on vampire speed – at me.
This time instead of attempting to push me he picked me up and ran me to the car. I felt slightly dizzy as the door slammed shut and we pulled out. Keith was still sitting on the ground, only this time he was nursing his fist. We pulled out and Edward raced towards my home.
"What…" I paused again, suddenly remembering how to breathe, and took a deep breath.
"What, what?" Edward whispered in a strained voice. I knew that it was taking almost all the control he had not to turn around and beat Keith up – or to death.
"Why would he fight you?" I asked confounded.
"He thought he would beat me up and take you." Then he called Keith a string of bad names under his breath. I waited for him to finish before I started again.
"But, he knew about you. Why would he fight you?" I asked, still confused.
"He didn't know!" Edward yelled and slammed his fist into the steering wheel, bending a fist sized loop in it. Quickly he bent the metal back and cursed himself.
"Didn't know?" I asked, astonished at my stupidity.
"No. He thought that if he hinted around a lot, you would outright tell him that I was a con man or something and he could go to the police."
"Why did he think that?"
"Bella, you know I heard your entire phone conversation with him?"
"What? Why? You eavesdropped on me!" his topaz eyes looked at me and I felt my body tingle, I wanted to touch him. To run my fingers over his face and make sure Keith left no damage.
"Of course. I'd come back to see you and you were on the phone. You went like sheep to the slaughter. He tricked you." He shook his head, in a disappointed way.
"I couldn't help it! I was angry and scared!" now he fully faced me.
"Why? Why were you angry and scared?" he asked sincerely.
"You! You made me angry and then…the phone…I don't know. It scared me." he looked incredulous.
"The phone scared you?"
"Never mind. It doesn't matter."
"Anyway," Edward continued upon seeing that I would not elaborate on my seemingly unreasonable fear. "he asked you about me and made you think he knew about me. Why do you think he left that question open? You just jumped to fill it in – "
"No, I thought he knew and I didn't want anyone else to overhear it." I explained, almost wishing that for that conversation he had been able to read my thoughts, just so that he understood that everything there was for him. No matter how bad it had turned out.
"Well, he just used that to get you to tell him. That's why I went in. To stop you." He said he voice getting deep with annoyance, as if I should've known about it all.
He finished just as we pulled into my driveway and I practically ran out, I was near tears. I was angry and upset and slightly in shock. The tears boiled over as I yanked the door open. I wiped them away and collapsed face down on the couch. I heard the door slam shut and hoped that Edward would come and hold me. Nothing happened; I just sat there for about five minutes, each minute bringing new tears to my eyes. Finally I sat up to find that he was sitting in the armchair watching me. I knew I looked pathetic so I buried my head again.
Fine, if he didn't want to be near me then I didn't want to be near him.
I got up and walked into my room, fighting back tears as I felt his gaze searing into my back. Once again, I collapsed on my bed. I couldn't think of anything other than the fact the Edward didn't follow me. That he didn't care to comfort me at all. I felt my muscles aching from falling into the dirt earlier and I also felt disgusting from falling into the dirt, so I decided to take a shower. After turning on the shower faucet I was starting to take off my jacket when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I nearly jumped out of my skin and fumbled to answer it.
"Hello?" my voice was a harsh whisper, sometime in the car I must've lost it.
"Bella." It was Keith, I had the strong urge to throw the cell phone out the window for all the trouble it had caused. Instead, I lowered my voice – so Edward wouldn't hear me – and replied.
"What now?"
"Now that I really know about Edward." He said angrily. "You are going to meet me again, while we straighten things out." I wasn't falling for his stupid game again. How dumb did he think I was?
"What do you know?" I whispered.
"The he's super-strong, like steel. That he's super-fast, like the-speed-of-light-fast. And has amazing reflexes." He didn't hesitate.
"You just lost a fight, don't be sour."
"A fight in which he threw me across the parking lot and then the next second was half-way across the parking lot. Really? The police would be interested to know this. Or maybe even your parents too." He threatened.
"Don't you think I could just get Edward to hunt you down." I challenged him, wondering if he knew how little I actually wanted to do that.
"No you won't. You were against us fighting in the movie lot, and besides, you're whispering now so he won't hear this conversation."
I was dead silent. He was smarter then I'd thought.
"Meet me at the mall. The entrance. You'll have to sneak away. Or else the video tape I have will be going to the police."
"Video tape?" I whispered unbelieving.
"The security camera from the owner, only cost a hundred bucks to get. He installed it recently to stop the grafitti. See you in twenty." He hung up. I would have to go this time. I eyed the small window over the toilet, it led to the backyard and I thought I could sqeeze through. I made a show of loudly opening the shower curtains and sliding them shut. Knowing that if he heard the shower and it didn't sound like anyone was in it he would come looking, I threw a small rag over the top of the shower head so it sounded like someone was in the shower. And I silently pushed open the window and shimmied out. Then I carefully replaced the window and ran around to the side of the gate. I noiselessly unhinged it and pulled it open. I didn't bother to shut it, knowing it would make a noise. I couldn't start the car, even if I'd had the keys. So I quickly walked down the street, the whole time I was tense, thinking that every sound was Edward catching up to me. Eventually, I had made it a block away and I called 411 and asked for a 24 hour taxi company. And then called them and gave the address of the house I was standing in front of.
Ten minutes later a yellow cab pulled in front of me. I had no money but I got in anyways. I told him to take me to the mall.
"It's closed ya know?" though he seemed almost bored by my response.
"I know." I replied lamely and with that he drove to the mall. He kept quiet, never trying to make small talk – maybe he sensed how tense I was – and I was grateful. However, as we drove by my house I could see that the living room light was on and he hadn't caught on. I congratulated myself silently and slumped against the seat.
Twenty minutes later, we were at the mall.
Keith seemed annoyed by my lateness when I stepped out. When I explained I'd had to walk a block away and then call a taxi he seemed amused. Then, sheepishly, I had to ask if he could cover the tab of the taxi. He grinned and threw a fifty at the driver who seemed instantly awake.
"Thanks ma'm" he said and drove off.
Keith shook his head and grinned, "Come on." He led me to his car. I cautiously sat inside and then he began the questions.
"What is wrong with him?" he asked good-naturedly, as if we were talking about sports, not the man I loved.
"Nothing." I protested. "He is perfect." I emphasized perfect.
"Fine, then what is he? Alien. Is his real name Clark Kent." I recalled my conversation with Edward about radioactive spiders and kryptonite and shook my head lazily, as if trying to clear the fog.
"No."
"Monster?" he asked raising his eyebrows.
"No." I answered too quickly. He laughed loudly.
"What kind of monster?" he seemed to think this was a joke.
"Werewolf? Vampire? Frankenstein?" he watched me carefully as he suggested these creatures. I am ashamed to say the when he said vampires, I tensed, ever so slightly. However, he noticed.
"Really? Blood-sucking?" This thought seemed to worry him a little. And I thought maybe I could reverse the damage I had just done.
"Oh yeah," I rolled my eyes mockingly, "vampire. And I'm Vampira, his dutiful wife!" I teased him.
"Really?" he was battling to keep his cool, apparently my sarcasm flew past him.
"No!" I sighed exasperatedly, hoping that he would buy it. He seemed to.
For a minute he looked at his hands, trying to recapture he aloof attitude. Finally he looked up at me. I raised my eyebrows.
"Do you want something to eat or drink?" his voice was surprisingly deep. He seemed scared.
"Why? Do you want to see if I can eat human food?" I said placing slight emphasis on the word human. His eyes widened slightly and I shrugged. He reached forward to the glove compartment, watching me to make sure I didn't attack him. I nearly laughed. He pulled out a power bar and a water bottle. I took a bite of the power bar – which seemed a little too moist – and drank from the water. He smiled a little and instantly his attitude was back.
"Now, let's go." He was beaming now as I took another sip of the water, realizing just how thirsty and hungry I was.
"No. We're not leaving this parking lot." I protested.
"Fine." He raised his hands in surrender and watched me devour the power bar and water bottle.
"Hungry?" he asked innocently.
"I guess, it's been a stressful night." I said looking pointedly at him.
"Now, the video." I said and fought back a yawn though I could feel adrenalin pulsing through my veins.
"There isn't one. Even if there had been, it would've been too dark." He shrugged his smile widening.
"What!" my jaw dropped and I had to close my eyes because the car started to spin.
"Now buckle up." Keith said as he reached across my seat and started to place to seat belt on me. I attempted to raise my hands however they suddenly seemed to be a hundred pounds each.
"What?" I said lazily and took a deep breath, even breathing seemed harder.
"Didn't you ever hear not to take food from strangers? Though I guess we're not strangers." He smiled and as the fog closed in on me, I tried to fight it. He had drugged the water.
Through the fog, I felt Keith's hand on my headrest as he backed up. I slumped against the window, trying to fight sleep. The car moved forward and the fog took me.
AN: Told you this was getting somewhere didn't I? And I made sure it was at least nine pages! Ha!
Read & Review!
(My perfect Twilight song: MakeDamnSure by Taking Back Sunday! Though not all lyrics fit right, the chorus works perfectly!)