Edward's POV
My head is full of noise as I speed down the off ramp and onto a dark highway. There's about a hundred different things I'm trying to avoid.
There's trouble on one hand and a girl on the other. Life just seems like a riddle, and I'm stuck in the middle trying to figure out what to do.
Feeling troubled, I exhale. I wish things went differently, but they didn't.
The sky is dark, and the moon is bright. It's after midnight and I broke my phone long ago, crumbled it up and left it in the forest where we began our senseless journey, while her phone was tossed in the river with the fishes. I flung it there, in sheer panic when her father called, a couple hours after I bit her. That was after I made the hasty decision we couldn't stay in Washington.
That decision came about before I stole a car.
Never did I intend on those choices or any other I have made tonight. But the thought of borrowing a car without permission happened when I came upon a cabin in the woods, high up on a mountain top where the occupants of the house were sleeping. All the lights were out, and they were too unconscious to hear Bella's muffled cries. That was the first stroke of luck in our luckless night. The second stroke of luck was obtaining a vehicle with enough gas to get us somewhere.
There were four vehicles parked out on the gravel driveway. Three of which were not drivable, in one way or another. There was a Dodge truck with the engine completely gone, a Pontiac with all four wheels missing, not to mention the seats were gone too. The second car, a '56 Buick had definitely seen better days with its rag top sliced and steering wheel and gear shift detached, and nowhere in sight. Which meant none of those would be our getaway ride.
What those people did to those cars should be a crime. It was a terrible sight to see.
At least there was one car that was drivable, complete with keys in the ignition. That was not something I had been expecting but I thanked my lucky stars when I found it by pure luck.
Of course, my luck ran out then.
The car I would have never picked to drive in normal circumstances was parked behind an old metal shed, away from the other vehicles, and out of sight from the road. The way the car was kind of hidden made me question why these car murderers were hiding it. But I quickly shrugged that thought off.
With the only vehicle being available to me was a '72 Beetle, I was not very thrilled. It had to be a bright pink one, with hot-pink interior that makes it look like one of those power wheel cars for small children to ride in.
Well, beggars can't be choosers, was the phrase that came to my mind when Bella thrashed about in my arms, and I made the split second-decision to jump in the car and go. After all, it was more for her benefit than mine. Being in the car to get her dry after our swim in the river to cover our scents, would do her some good since humans are often uncountable in wet clothing.
Placing her in the car was the least I could do after everything that already had taken place. Luckily the heating works in this tiny contraption, even though my dignity is gone.
I shake my head. "When you need stolen transportation, of course, the shittiest damn thing is the only one that exists." I mumble to myself as I speed up. "This is a damn Barbie car." I scoff.
Soon I'll stop and switch out the Barbie car for something else. Hopefully something a bit less pink. Because I figure a car will come in handy since she and I are more or less on the run now. Heading deeper into Canada while I drive down the highway and she's going through the pain of the change in the backseat. My dead heart breaks for her. There are no words to describe how bad I feel about everything.
Bella thrashes as a new wave of pain shoots through her. Her body hurts and her leg twists and turns, hitting the back of my head. She howls in agony and I'm not sure if it's from the venom running through her veins, or from her leg connecting with my hard head.
But does it truly matter? Either way I look at it I brought harm to the girl I love.
She kicks me and cries again.
With one hand on the wheel, I use the other hand to move her leg, and rub the pain away, or at least I try. Her leg comes to kick my arm but I block it. Being kicked by her doesn't hurt, it's just distracting while I'm driving. Which is something I'm currently not supposed to do since I'm playing the role of a fifteen-year-old.
But does that rule really apply to me anymore? I don't think so.
"Edward!" Bella screams at the top of her lungs.
"I'm right here." I say, stepping on the accelerator.
As everyone is, she's loud as she goes through the transformation. And for that reason, I'm glad there's not a single car on this highway. No one to hear her.
"Fire!" Bella yells.
"I know. There will be fire for a while. I'm sorry, love." My voice breaks as I drive with a full tank of gas. Where we're going, I don't know.
There's no destination in my mind. There never has been since we emerged from the river, leaving our scents behind. My thoughts are bleak, making split-second decisions as I go, playing with the blind spots in my sister's vision, to be more accurate.
It may seem extreme, but I see it as necessary.
I don't want to be on the run with Bella changing into a newborn. Though that's what's happening. There's literally nothing I can do to change any of this now. What's done is done.
My only hope is that she forgives me.
It was an accident and I hope she will realize that one day. I love her too much to have done this on purpose. I never planned for this when we made plans for our date.
Hoping she'll eventually pardon my immature behavior, I let out a shaky breath.
Truly I didn't plan for anything I have done in the last five hours. Since then, I'm acting on instinct…and fear, as it seems.
More than anything, I don't want my family to be mad at me. But with her changing so unexpectedly with no time to prepare, they will be. At least three of my siblings will not hide their irritation with me about having to move, again, when we just settled in Forks a few months ago. My parents – though less irritated – wouldn't be too thrilled with me either, I don't believe. Not just about biting her but about everything I have done.
Which is why it is best for her and me to embark on a journey, all of our own. After all, we are mates and will be together for the end of time. It's us against the world now.
She screams and my thoughts spin out of control. I speak comforting words to her, yet it's not enough. She's in pain and will be for a while. I can't change that.
Venom tears that will never fall, weld up in my eyes.
Our night had started out so sweet, innocent, and fun. With a game of mini-golf and the possibilities of what lay ahead. Little did I know then what would happen next.
My eyes stay fixed out the window, looking at the dark empty highway ahead of me. My foot stays on the accelerator as I remember how the night was.
I was told a game of putt putt was the safest of dates. Even small children can manage to play without injury. But stick Bella on a mini golf course and that thought about it being safe goes out the window. Because balls flew and ricocheted in all directions. People screamed and ran for cover, in fear for their lives when her putter took off like a jet plane.
Bella was embarrassed. I, however, thought it was a hoot.
From the minds of bystanders, they found it strange to watch the sight. No one had seen anything like it before tonight. My still heart crumbles at the realization that no one will see anything like it again. Because once Bella wakes up to her new life, she will no longer be clumsy.
My mind goes to dark places, and I begin to loathe myself. For what else is there to do but brood?
I am the cause of this mess. If it weren't for me, Bella would be fine. She would be human, home in her bed with me by her side talking till she falls asleep as we had done the night before. Instead of laying in the backseat of this pink tuna can, experiencing the worst pain that any human can imagine. The pain that seems to last forever and stays with you for all of eternity. Reminding you of your own personal purgatory and misery when you think of it.
A tiny part of my mind that's not consumed by darkness wonders if anyone is looking for us, while other parts of my mind drift back to earlier tonight. To when everything changed in the blink of an eye because of a careless kiss.
The combination of her breath on my cold lips and her hands in my hair was too much to bear.
The touch of her soft, warm skin underneath my cold fingertips, the smell of her hair and mouth-watering arousal filling my nostrils was heavenly. It was so overwhelming I couldn't think straight. I wanted more of her, all of her. Which made me lose my mind and become greedy.
I was completely ungentlemanly, being ruled by my overactive hormones, kissing her and touching her underneath her skirt. Wanting to feel her soft skin I never felt before. The ones that were covered by clothes and would be for my eyes if we were married.
For a long second, I imagined her with me in the back of Emmett's jeep, since I'm not playing a role that's old enough to drive. I know he wouldn't object to me borrowing his car to go to the Drive In and maybe park at one of the pullouts on the highway afterwards. Where she and I would be wrapped around each other in the back of the Jeep, her hands and mine over and under various articles of clothing. Acting like normal teenagers from this century, more or less.
But I'm not normal.
Wish I would have realized that before I threw caution to the wind.
It was then I saw how fragile a human life truly was. How easily a healthy human can be taken away. Having to be replaced with a vampire, forever frozen in time, all because of a stupid mistake.
I shut my eyes for a split second as everything hits me like a ton of bricks. My eyes snap open, and I can hear the last coherent thing she said.
"You bit me." She had said to me. Her eyes were as big as saucers.
"I…I…I didn't mean to." I stammered.
Blood so red and too sweet for me, ran down her mouth and mine. It danced on my tongue, clouding my brain, making me question everything my parents taught me.
I stood there in the alley, in the shadows of the darkness looking like a true vampire, no doubt. The shock of what I had done rattled me to my core. I never met to bite her, only to kiss her. Though I did it by mistake when her head bumped into my face. I was startled by her quick movement while I was fondling her backside and without meaning to, my teeth clamped shut. Right onto her lip.
"It hurts!" She lets out a long piercing cry.
Once again, my memories fade and I am in the car with her screaming. My unbeating heart breaks in two while my mind feels very heavy as I'm overcome with guilt.
"I know, Bella, I know. Trust me, I know."
The pain, the memory of my own transformation, runs across my mind. For the first time since I met Bella, I am glad I cannot read her mind. For being able to do so, I would hear how much this hurts her, even when she doesn't speak or scream. I would hear how much this excruciating pain from my venom is causing her while it takes its course. Changing her from mortal to immortal.
I drive on, reaching in the backseat and holding her hand to comfort her.
There was never a thought in my mind about wanting to turn her on our first official date. Or ever. Though I didn't know what else to do except to bite her fully and start the change, after my venom entered her bloodstream and she wasn't acting right. She kept swaying this way and that as we stood there in the alley. She looked drunk and her face was quite green. She nearly fell to the concrete when her eyes shut.
Not about to let her get hurt any more than I already had. I scooped her up in my arms and held her protectively. Making a silent promise that I would keep her safe. Always.
It was then I realized, I had that protective bond to her that I have only heard about from the minds of my father and brothers. The same bond that ties them to their mates, making them take care of my mother and sisters at all costs. It's a very powerful emotion, one I never felt before.
Even though I felt it for the first time tonight and had an understanding of what it was, I felt this overwhelming fear.
Holding her in my arms then, feeling how fragile she was and soon wouldn't be. I was as scared as a little lost boy in a supermarket that couldn't find his parents.
I was scared for her safety.
Scared of what I had done to her.
Scared of what was happening.
Scared she would be angry at me.
Scared I had disappointed everyone.
I was also scared of what I had to do, and I knew I couldn't do it there. The alley was quite secluded for the moment. Though there were people in the nearby buildings that were sure to hear her scream in agony with the next step I had to do.
So, I ran, covering her mouth with my hand. Making sure no one would hear her and become suspicious of the crime I had committed. Her cries were shielded by my hand as I ran with her. I felt horrible doing such a thing. But it was necessary.
As was taking her deep into the forest and biting her neck. I hated that part and still do. But I had to do it. I had to sink my teeth into her neck, making sure enough of my venom was in her veins for her transformation to last the usual time. Instead of being agonizingly slow with the small amount of venom that was in her lip to begin with.
I had spit out her blood that was in my mouth, I didn't want to add to the long list of wrongdoings that were adding up. The last thing I wanted to have to confess was drinking her blood like she was a bottle of refreshing soda pop. Which was exactly why I spit out every last drop before I licked the wound on her neck, sealing it shut with my venom. The same way my father had done to Emmett, Rosalie, me, and before us, our mother.
I know the process of the conversion from human to vampire will take approximately three days. Three agonizing days, which is why I plan to ditch the car and hide somewhere in the woods with her, far away from humans, and very far from Washington while she changes. Somewhere no one will find us, at least for a little while.
"Burns!" Bella shouts, reminding me of her pain.
"The venom does burn." I agree, feeling like a parent talking to their small child and giving correct speech to what is going on.
She screams and let's go of my hand. I pat her leg, lovingly before retracting it and it back on the steering wheel. Now my hands are at ten and two while I speed past a gas station with one truck in the parking lot.
"Burns…bad." She struggles to speak then lets out a piercing cry.
"I know," I sigh. I don't know what else to say.
She cries some more, and words fail me.
I remembered the pain from my own transformation, remembered how I screamed and cried through the process. Then when it was finally over, I opened my eyes feeling confused with two beautiful strangers staring at me. Two very nice people who soothed me and taught me everything I needed to know.
Entering a small town with Bella's screams echoing in my ears, thoughts of my parents run through my mind. If I were to turn back now, go home, and ask for their help, what would they do? Greet me with open arms, except Bella as their own child, and offer me comfort and advice, on this matter no one in our family has ever dealt with? Or would they be too ashamed of me and turn me away? Leaving Bella and I to fend on our own.
I don't know. There's no answer I have to offer myself.
Bella yells in pain again, her cries last longer than before. Bringing to my attention that I need to find somewhere to hide far away from civilization. Though it's late, there's still people awake in this one church town and that's what worries me. Someone is bound to hear her cries and misinterpret her transformation for an abduction.
With that thought, my breathing picks up. That would definitely complicate things.
At once I soothe Bella, trying with all my might to get her to quiet down. It works. She's quiet though still thrashing about while I drive, having no idea where we are going.
With only the sound of the loud engine and her whimpers, I begin to think about my parents once more. I wonder if I'll ever see them again. Well, more accurately, would they want to see me?
I did things I'm not proud of, for starters I took a human life without meaning to. Would they understand it was a mistake? Would they forgive me?
I don't know. Once again, I have no answers to offer myself and I'm not linking my head space.
With my parents on my mind, I start thinking of all the things I should have and could have done differently. More than anything I wish to be the Edward, they expect me to be. The boy that I was before meeting Bella and feeling out of control in ways I never experience.
But I can't think of all of the useless what if's now. I must focus on the future that lays ahead. The things I have to do in preparation for Bella's new life. She is my number one priority, now and forever.
First thing first, I must find somewhere safe for us to stay. Preferably an abandoned house with no people around for miles. Because a hotel is out of the question.
Second thing will be stocking up on clothes for her. Because she will need many sets of clothing after each hunt. I know I did and there's no doubt she will too.
Driving out of town, with a white sandy beach on my mind, to throw my spiky haired sister off my trail. Just in case she is checking my whereabouts. I quickly take a mental note of the few clothing stores there are in this small, small town.
I plan to find a temporary house for us, to make her as comfortable as can be. Leave her there, for a little bit and come back here later on to grab some items for her.
But in order to remain unseen, everything will have to be closed. I'll disarm the security systems and sneak in after dark. Taking the items, I absolutely need and leaving everything else just as it was.
I don't like being a thief, but I don't see another way.
I'm sure Charlie and my parents will eventually come looking for us if they aren't already. I have no plans on being found. No need to leave a paper trail behind or be seen during the day on security cam footage. Therefore, I will take the necessary measures to be inconspicuous.
Bella yells in agony as we drive farther from town. No words follow her cries and I know her pain is getting worse, as it will as time goes on. Until my venom replaces her blood, changing her in ways I never planned for.
Over her cries and the sound of the tires on the pavement, I hear her heart. It drums loudly, wildly as venom courses through her veins, pushing her heart into overdrive.
I let out a deep sigh.
That's definitely a sound I will miss. Another thing about her humanity I know I will long for and wish to see when she's like me, is her blush. It was the most beautiful thing in the world to me. Just as her deep chocolate brown eyes were.
She screams and I want to cry. I screwed up so badly. There's no way to fix this but I wish there were.
My hands stay on the steering wheel as her crying continues. It's safe to say I don't know what to do. I wish my father was here to administer morphine to her. Maybe that would ease the pain during this horrible time.
Suddenly a choking sound followed by a loud shriek comes from the back seat. It doesn't sound like Bella, but I know it's her. She howls, her body jerks and twists every which way. Her foot springs forward, connecting with the outdated radio. At once her involuntary movement turns the radio on, playing the song on the A-track tape, which of course happens to be Barbie Girl.
I groan and shut off the sound system.
That song really does emphasize that this in fact, is a Barbie car.
Bella screams loud and shrill, twisting in pain. A window breaks in the back seat as her shoes connect with the glass, and I'm concerned.
Wanting to make sure she's okay and feeling the need to comfort her, to make sure she knows she's not alone. I pull off on the side of the dark road, driving off road into the forest. All the while, I'm fighting the urge to go back home. That is something I don't know if I should do.
I'm conflicted. Should I get my parents involved in the mess I created? Or deal with this on my own? That right there is a tough decision and I'm not sure what to do.
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Thanks for reading.
Poor Edward, he made a mistake when his teeth nicked Bella's lip, and he had to turn her. Now feels like he has to run away. I'm curious, do you think Edward will get in contact with his parents? Or will his parents find them first?
Please leave a review. :)