Chapter 15

"Slip slidin' away, Slip slidin' away, You know the nearer your destination, the more you're slip slidin' away" – Paul Simon, "Slip Slidin' Away", Peaked on Billboard Hot 100 at #5 in January, 1978

The next day I'm looking at the pool through the fingers of one hand. I don't see anything weird floating on the surface, but I think I'll wait until Carlos comes to give it a thorough once-over before going for a swim.

I sit on the end of the chaise and fall under the hypnotic spell of the waterfall cascading into the pool while I daydream about Edward.

After he decided I was too dangerous to have alone in his room (holymolyholymoly) we took my skates to the pier and he proceeded to hold my hands while walking backwards so he could guide me around, making me squeal when he'd run too fast and let go. At one point, he put his arm around my waist and we do-si-doed to the music coming from the speakers, and I finally had my roller-skating date fantasy fulfilled minus the mirrored disco ball hanging overhead.

The hundreds of Edward-induced twinkling stars in my eyes sufficed.

He led me to the railing where we ate ice cream, my chocolate running down my hand in usual Bella spaz fashion while he kept his pistachio nice and neat.

"So, they're premiering the films on Friday night. There's a cocktail hour and everything." I was mid-lick when he continued, asking me maybe the most exciting question I'd ever been asked. "I thought you might want to go with me?"

My eyes went wide. "The premiere is a really big deal," I said, giddy with the idea he wanted to share it with me.

"It is. I'm a little nervous, I thought it might be nice to have someone there that's seen it so at least one person will clap."

Oh.

"Don't worry. I'll be your planted fan for the night. I'll be the one with the stellar wolf-whistle."

He flicked his hair out of his eyes and smirked. "Bella, I'd want you to go whether you'd seen it or not. I just want you there. With me." He took another lick of his cone and threw it in the can. "I unfortunately have to sit with my partners, but my folks and yours will be there so you can sit with them. I'll pick you up at seven."

I fidgeted nervously with the napkin holding my melting cone. "I can get a ride with my parents."

"Is that what you want? Are we still hiding the fact we're… hanging out?"

"I was just trying to make it easier for you if you have to go early, but yeah," I said, nodding my head and taking a deep breath. "I want you to pick me up."

He grabbed my hand and started wheeling me along to the strains of Donna Summer. "Good. Because I wasn't going to have it any other way."

I'm broken from my memories and scrutiny of the Playboy grotto when I hear shouting coming from the kitchen. I've heard Rosalie and Renee have disagreements, but there is no mistaking what's going on right now. This is a blowout.

I'm torn between wanting to let them have privacy and squishing my nose up against the screen to get a front-row view.

Front-row view wins and I sidle up to the house, not peeking in but getting better volume control as I stand by the side of the screen.

"I am an adult, stop treating me like a child," Rosalie spits out at Renee and I'm a little taken aback by how venomous she sounds.

"Nineteen is barely an adult, young lady. You live under my roof, you live by my rules."

"You're seriously going to try to be my mother now? Now? Where were you when you drove dad away, and I had no one but a parent that cried all day? Where were you when I'd have to watch you get slapped around by that asshole you married after that?"

I can hear Renee take a deep, pained breath. "Your father left us both, you know. I didn't choose for him to have an affair. Where's he been, anyway? Hmm?" Her voice gets softer, almost belittled. "I know I've made mistakes, Rosalie, but I've always done my best to protect you. As for Tony, I got us out of there as soon as I could."

"I think you didn't try hard enough."

I can almost see through the wall the visible recoil from Rosalie's words as they land on Renee's face like a slap. "What is going on with you, Rosalie? I don't like how this guy you're hanging out with is influencing you. Talk to me, please."

Angela comes up beside me as I'm eavesdropping. "What's going on in there?" she whispers.

"Not sure exactly how it started, but Rosalie is getting into it with Renee." We both shut our traps to continue listening to Rosalie rant.

"I stayed out late, what's the big freakin' deal?"

"Late? It's been two days! Where were you?"

"Not your concern, that's where."

"I asked you where've you been, and you will answer me right now!"

There's a crash, I'm not sure what it is. "None of your fucking business!"

"Get back here, I'm not done with you!"

"Jesus Christ, just leave me alone! Do you want me to leave and not come back? Like Dad? Is that it?"

"Rosalie, honey, no. No one wants you to leave." I can hear the sorrow and pleading in Renee's voice and it makes me sad for her and Rosalie both.

"You know, someday I will and you'll have no idea where I am."

"I am afraid for you. I have no idea what's gotten into you. The attitude, the secrecy… what kind of guy takes a girl out and doesn't bring her back for two days?"

"Someone that cares for me a lot more than any of you do!"

With that, I can hear Rosalie's door slam and my whole body stings with unease. A lot of what Rosalie just said to Renee is the same as what she said during our fight. I contemplate going inside, but when I hear Renee sob, I feel it best to just leave her be.

When Angela rubs my arm in comfort, I turn to her. "You ready to go to Alice's?" I defer talking about what we just heard and lead her towards the back yard gate.

"No. But I guess we have to since she's not answering the phone. I'm a little freaked out. What if her parents are back from the church thing and start yelling at us that we aren't good, protective Christian friends?"

We get into her mom's station wagon. "Maybe we aren't. I mean, if she felt like she could've confided in us, maybe we would've been able to talk some sense into her."

"It's not our fault, B."

"No, I know. But Angela, come on. It's Alice."

She sighs. "She's going to have the baby."

I nod in agreement. "And we have to be there for her when Mr. Whitlock skips town."

I look out the window at the familiar scenery and can't help the knot in my stomach from forming. If it's possible for a person to have aged in a month, that would be me. My life has been so upside down lately, I don't know how to feel. Exhilarated for me, sad for Renee, horribly afraid for Alice and Rosalie.

I feel like a happy, helium filled balloon that's hurtling towards the pointy end of a very sharp knife.

Somehow the air around Alice's house seems more oppressive the closer we get. In hindsight, it was stupid to agree to her request of giving her time to figure out a plan. That ends today.

The house is closed up tighter than Fort Knox. There's one car is in the driveway, but the door is closed and all the shades are down.

"This isn't too creepy," Angela quips as we get out and stare at the house, waiting for movement.

"What if they haven't let her out or have sunshine or anything for days?" I worry, regretting we agreed to let her talk to her parents alone. Images of Alice held captive while their priest performs an exorcism comes to mind.

"They've been away. I'm sure she's fine."

We pass the wood cross lawn decoration and I rub the top a little for good luck. Knocking on the door, I'm surprised when it flings open not two seconds later.

Mrs. Brandon is standing behind the screen, Bible and tissue in one hand and a piece of paper in the other. I don't think she ever really liked either of us, and it's confirmed when she looks at us like we're the devil. "Hello, Mrs. Brandon. We were just coming to visit Alice." I smile, trying to be as polite as possible.

"What have you girls done?" she barks, staring daggers at us. She holds up the paper and I recognize Alice's neat, bubble-letter writing.

"She's gone."

PB Fun Fact: Bella's pool is based on one I swam at often as a kid. Our neighbors had rich cousins and when they'd go away for the whole summer to Europe or whatever, our neighbors stayed at their house to keep an eye on things. My family spent many many days hanging out there and swimming in the awesome pool complete with slide and grotto. Good times.

LayAtHomeMom and CarrieZM are two people that if they left without a word, I'd be devastated. If I thank them enough, maybe they won't abandon me.