Blurry Lines: Chapter Eight

Edward

Christmas was approaching fast, and I was at a lost on what to get Tanya. I knew exactly three things the gift couldn't be; cheep, fake, or plastic, which kinds of fall under the fake category. Those were the only classifications on Tanya's wish list. If it were up to me her gift would be simple, intimate, and something personal, but she didn't like those things. She likes flashy, things that are eye-catching. A 16karat diamond is more what she's asking for.

Why can't she be simple? Why can't she like greeting cards with old tunes, or funny pictures? Why can't an antique make her smile? Why can't a photo of us make her shed tears? Why can't she have simple taste, but make it seem like the most expensive thing in the world to her? Why can't she be Isabella?

No, stop.

I rebuked myself. Ever since Isabella displayed her heart for me, I've just been completely lost. She's the only thing on my mind night or day and it's scaring me. Five years of thinking she gave up on us to find out she didn't, but I had…. I've been so lost; comparing Tanya's every move, word, anything to what I've seen in Bella. And when I put them next to each other like that I feel sick knowing that Bella always comes out on top.

I feel sick because I know what I should do, what I was supposed to do, but I can't. Something inside of me is still that fourteen-year-old boy that knows if I get close to her again someone is going to come and take her away from me. And I won't survive it, not again. So I'm staying with Tanya, because I do love her, and she's who I promised myself to now. She's my fiancée, she deserves her happiness.

-~~'\\%/'~~-

"Are you ready babe?" Tanya asked as I packed the last of the things from my room at the frat house.

"Yeah, just let me run to Jaspers room. He has my iPod."

"Sure, hurry back." She said as she kissed my neck.

I walked out of the room, my feet bringing me down the hall and around the corner to Jaspers room that was tucked away in the left corner as soon as you turned. As I neared I heard Jasper talking, the person in the room talking back to him sounding like James.

"So she's gone, where?" James asked begging for knowledge.

"Her and Alice packed up and headed north-west." I didn't hear anymore, I just opened the door, letting myself in.

"Isabella's gone?" I asked dejectedly, my heart squeezing a bit.

Jasper sighed, sitting on the edge of his bed. "Close the door Edward."

I closed the door and walked further into the room. I felt rather then saw James's glare into my back as I crossed the room to Jaspers computer chair. I just sighed miserably and took a seat.

"What's going on Jasper? Where are they? Where is Isabella?"

"Why do you care Cullen? I bet she left because of you, you bastard." James snipped accusingly. I didn't pay him any attention, my focus solely on finding Bella

"Where are they Jasper?" I asked once more.

"Alice didn't tell me much. She just told me they had some business to attend to up north for Christmas and that they'd be picking one of the schools they applied to soon and going there to finish out their degree. They left yesterday after Bella's last class."

"So they're moving away?"

"Try again 'daddies boy,' they're gone already. Their place is totally empty, all ready for moving in."

"Why didn't she tell me? She couldn't have been that selfish to just leave."

"Edward?" Jasper murmured. "Keep your voice down."

"No," I yelled standing up. "She can't just leave Jasper. I just got her back."

"Edward," Jasper tried again.

"Call Alice Jasper." I demanded.

"Why?"

"I want to talk to Isabella. Please call her Jasper, please." I begged.

"And what makes you think she wants to talk to you?" James asked, standing from his seat as well. "She left because of you."

"You don't know a thing, so just back off."

"I don't know a thing? The girl I love just walked out of my life forever because of you Cullen and I don't know a thing? I should beat your ass Cullen."

"See, you don't know a thing." I mocked my voice poisonous. "The girl you love just left because she's in love with me, Hunters. Yeah, did you really think she loved you? She may have had feelings for you, but she left you because you couldn't compare to me. Isabella and I could never love anyone like we love each other, so the possibility of her ever loving you is very, very slim."

"Bastard!" He roared, coming at me with a cocked fist. I side stepped him and Jasper grabbed him by the shirt, slinging him on the bed. The door opened, and in came Emmett and a very pissed looking Tanya.

"What the hells going on?" Emmett demanded.

"Nothing." I said fast, my eyes glued to Tanya.

"Well it didn't sound like nothing." he said, crossing his arms. "In fact everyone out there heard every word you two said, and Edward," He called looking at Tanya then me. "boy are you fucked."

"You're room, now!" Tanya demanded. I nodded, following her as she walked out. God help me.

-~~'\\%/'~~-

"What were you thinking; getting into a fight over another woman, Edward? Do you even care about what I say, or ask of you Edward? One simple favor, stay away from Isabella Swan and you can't even do that for me."

"That's-"

"No, I heard you. I heard every word Edward. Tell me this, if you and she could never love anyone like you love each other, then why are you with me? If she loves you better than I could than why aren't you with her?"

There was nothing I could say. I love Tanya, god I love her, but she just, she's not the one, and I know that now. It took Isabella leaving me, again, to know for sure.

"I'll tell you what Edward, when you can answer that question you join me at my parents house for Christmas. Until then I hope you have a nice trip back to your parents place."

She collected her things and left quickly, her sniffles still hearable from here. As soon as I was sure she was gone, I ran out of my room, back to Jaspers. I needed to find my girl, now.

-~~'\\%/'~~-

"Hello?" Alice's spunky voice answered.

"Alice?" I called. "Alice this is Edward, where is she, where's Isabella?"

"Oh, Edward, um, look Edward I'm really sorry, but she doesn't want to talk to you, I'm so sorry, but I have to go. Tell Jazz-"

"No Alice just listen to me, please."

"I can't Edward. I'm sorry, but she wants nothing to do with you. I have to go, bye." The phone went dead, and so did my heart. She wants nothing to do with me? Fuck that, she doesn't get a choice.

"Where are you going Edward?" Jasper yelled down the hall at me as I ran from his room.

"I need to talk to my dad. I'm going home."

I finished my packing in a rush, things disorganized. I just didn't give a damn, I needed to get home, I needed help.

"Hey, I took the liberty of changing your flight information, and adding another ticket or three." Jasper informed me as he stepped into my room.

"What do you mean three?"

"Um, well I was suppose to spend Christmas with Emmett and Rose since he finally got her to agree to meet his parents, and mine are gong to Hawaii. But if you're going on a mission to get your girl, then I'm coming with, and when Rose and Emmett found out, well lets just say we're all in."

"Thanks man." I said graciously "Thanks a lot."

"Hey, we still have to find them, then we have to convince B. that you aren't a total ass. Lets go Ed. The plane boards in less then an hour, and it's almost rush time."

"Where's Rosalie and Em?" I asked as we rushed out of the room.

"We're right here Eddie." Emmett called from the front door of the frat house. "Now let's go, we have a plane to catch."

-~~'\\%/'~~-

By the time we reached the airport we were cutting it close. We had to make it to gate ten in less then twelve minutes. Gate ten was at the end of the terminal so we had to run. Have you ever ran a race with leg weights? No, good, me neither. I have something heavier though, suitcases, two of them and a carry on. And the others weren't in any better of a shape. Jasper dropped his bags, twice. Emmett, big broad Emmett fell and Rose, well she's Rose, she mostly speed walked complaining about sweating.

So only god knows how we made it with exactly two minutes on the clock. We boarded the plane and took our seats immediately; all four of us out of breath, panting for air. I sure as hell am one lucky son of a bitch.

-~~'\\%/'~~-

My father agreed to pick us up from Seattle airport, saving us money and time on a rental car. I was forever grateful and it also gave me time to bring up Bella without my mother around.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to bring up Bella as I'd hoped. My father had an important phone meeting that he couldn't reschedule. So the car ride was spent listing to my father argue with the board of the hospital about new equipment needed for the emergency room.

An hour later we were turning the familiar curves to my parents' house in the woods, my father still on his phone; Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie, listening to their iPods in the back seat. I was about to inform them that we'd arrived when my father said something about a U-haul. He ended his call, pulling on side of the big truck in the driveway.

"What's going on dad, are you guys moving or something?" He smiled, shaking his head.

"Not that I know of; maybe your mother brought new furniture without telling me and was trying to dispose of the evidence before I got back." I laughed nodding my head.

"That sounds like mom."

We walked up to the house, my father going in first. "Es, you want to tell me why we have a- My god." My father said, stopping in the door way.

"Hi dad, how you been?"

The moment I heard her voice I froze, my bags falling out of my hands and hitting the floor, or so I thought. "Shit Edward, that hurt!" Emmett exclaimed from beside me.

"Isabella?" My father whispered.