Author's Note - Hey, readers! I think it's time to talk a little bit about Cliff's Edge. The first volume of the (hopefully) trilogy is Cliff's Edge. It's separated into three parts. Part One, Beginnings. Part Two, Changes. Part Three, Flight. This chapter is the end of Part One. I'm really excited for Changes and all the surprises it will bring for you guys. Beginnings was really just to set up the story, now is where it gets good. Can't wait to hear your feedback and see where this takes us. XO, Eli.
Chapter Eight - Adrenaline
Juliet POV
"Harper took Jules' phone, we think it's in his house. Can we get it?" Renesmee gave them her best puppydog eyes.
"Hell to the yeah we can," Emmett grinned evilly. Rosalie paced back and forth, fuming.
"That evil little boy - I'm going to have a word with his mother! That's what I'm going to do," Rosalie snarled.
"He's got a few of my things, things I can't trust in my foster homes," I said. "He keeps them in a wooden box under his desk."
"Everyone get suited up!" Emmett suddenly was a commander. "Ness, you are Wolf 1. Jules, you're Wolf 2. Go find tight, dark clothing. Like Catwoman. Rosalie, put on your most innocent looking outfit. You're Flying Angel. As for me, I'm Papa Bear. Meet back here in ten minutes - damn, we're lucky your parents are out hunting!"
We dissipated, thundering up the stairs with laughter. In my room, I checked out what Alice had stocked my closet with.
After sifting through some stuff, I put on a pair of tight black combat boots, black knee-high socks, a black skirt with built-in shorts, and a black tank top tucked in. I wound my hair into a high ponytail, leaving the side bangs to frame my face. In the bathroom, I met up with Nessie. She was wearing knee-high lace up black boots, black overalls and a black bandeau under the overalls. Her hair was in a similar ponytail to mine. She also wore a thick black leather cuff on her wrist.
We smudged dark eyeliner around our eyes and on our cheeks. It was go-time. We had no idea what Emmett's plan was, but it was bound to be illegal and exciting.
Downstairs, Emmett was wearing tight black pants and a black t-shirt. He was holding a box and standing next to Rosalie, who wore a light pink tunic over grey tights and low-cut brown boots.
"In this box is microphones and earpieces," Emmett said. "Like walkie-talkies, a gift from Jasper. Everyone take a set and put them in."
We each got a set. The earpiece was like a headphone earbud, but wireless. The microphones we attached somewhere on our chests. They were sensitive to pick up a whisper, but not too much background noise or static. We tested them out and told Esme we'd be back later.
She gave us a slightly disapproving look as we left. She knew we were up to something. But she trusted Rose to keep us in line.
We took the black Mercedes and I gave Rosalie directions to Harper's house. We pulled up on the suburban block, rolling past the identical blue and white houses until we got to Harper's, 1022.
I motioned for silence and directed Renesmee and Emmett to the back of the house. We crouched under the kitchen window and saw Mrs. Moran sitting at the table, writing something down. A knock rang through the house. We waited for Mrs. Moran to sit Rosalie down and start the conversation.
"Has your son, Harper been acting oddly this weekend, or recently?" Rosalie feigned the perfect concern.
Emmett hoisted me onto his back when I pointed out Harper's bedroom window. We leapt up to the roof alongside it. Nessie expertly writhed up the side of the house to join us. I slunk forward and peered through his window.
Harper's room was exactly like it had been - bed in the middle of the room, desk against the wall opposite the bed, closet next to the bed and door in the corner. Everything in the same navy blue and black color scheme.
Harper was curled up on the bed, holding something. I squinted hard. It was my phone! It looked like he was going through it again. We waited, listening to Rosalie's conversation.
"We believe he was having relationship problems," Harper's mom sighed. "He seemed so angry."
"Flying Angel, this is Papa Bear," Emmett said lowly into the microphone. "Target sighted, the phone is located. Here's your signal, get him outta there."
A few moments later, Mrs. Moran's voice echoed from downstairs. "Harper! Come down here please!"
Harper rolled his eyes, tossing the phone onto his bedside table and walking out of the room. Emmett waited three heartbeats before springing into action.
"Wolf 1 and 2, locate the goods while I keep watch. Ready? Now!" Emmett forced the window open. Renesmee sprang through lithely. I followed a little less gracefully. Emmett was last, moving out to the hallway at the top of the stairs to keep watch.
"I have your phone," Renesmee grabbed the phone. I went to the desk, leaning into it as I reached for my box of things. The motion jostled the mouse on Harper's desktop computer. The screen flashed to life, showing an open IM thread between Harper and Lewis. I couldn't help it, I scanned it.
Harper: She's a dirty whore, that's what she is.
Lewis: Dude, I promise she never cheated on you.
Harper: Ever since that weird family got to town she's been different. She was the only one who cared about me and now she's screwing around with some guy who doesn't even care about her.
Lewis: U know that's not true.
Harper: I don't care she's just a slut and a freak. I'm burning her stuff. It probably all has aids.
Lewis: Wtf, man.
Lewis: Harper? Just give it back to her at school. Be mature.
Lewis: Dude?
I glared at the chat log. I bent down to grab my box, but a new IM popped up. I recognized the user's handle immediately.
Harper: You don't like me, I don't like you. But I know u hate Juliet more.
Amber: And ur messaging me y?
Harper: Juliet is a dirty whore. I found texts w. her and half the Cullen family on her phone. And nudes. She's trying 2 screw the entire family even the dad.
Amber: Wtf, aren't u 2 dating?
Harper: Not anymore. She's a cheater and a skank.
Amber: Perfect. Thx for telling me. Can U send screenshots?
Harper: Will do tonight.
Amber: I'm waiting…
I felt like I couldn't breathe. Amber always picked on me, ever since I got here. I had a feeling it was about to get worse. A lot worse.
"Wolf 2, what's taking so long?" Emmett hissed. "We're running out of time!"
I bent down and grabbed the box, switching off the screen. And then we heard footsteps. In a flash, Emmett grabbed me and Renesmee. He zipped faster than a cheetah out into the hall, across from Harper's room and into the linen closet.
"Why didn't we go out the window?" Nessie hissed, kicking Emmett.
"Too small for the three of us to have gotten out in time," Emmett breathed back. "Stay still."
I clutched the box. I should have left it - now he'd know something was up. There were things in this box, however, that I couldn't stand to lose. If he made good on his threat of burning them, I'd be crushed.
"Harper Moran!" Mrs. Moran stomped into the room. "I am shocked. You tell me the truth this instant. Did you take that girl's phone?"
"You don't understand," Harper said. "She was cheating on me, Mom!"
"Her older sister had to come ask for it!" Mrs. Moran screamed. "Where is it! Where is it?!"
"I- it's in my locker at school," Harper protested. "I was gonna give it back! I just had to know, Mom."
"You're grounded," Mrs. Moran shook her head. "Just wait until your father comes home. No going out with Lewis or any of your little friends for two weeks! You're lucky I don't take your internet off that computer!"
"You don't even know how," Harper muttered.
Mrs. Moran's footsteps indicated that she'd gone back downstairs.
"We have to get out of here," Renesmee whispered. I thought hard.
"There's a window in the bathroom we can climb through if we're silent," I said. We shared a grim look in the darkness.
"Shit!" Nessie said suddenly. "He noticed. I can hear him tearing through his room looking for the stuff."
"We have to move, now," Emmett said, sliding opened the closet door. They followed me into the bathroom.
Renesmee POV
"Juliet goes first," Emmett said. "No offense, you're the highest risk here."
"Right, out goes the human," She mumbled, stepping into the shower. It was one of those old showers that doubled as a bath tub. There was a window, for some reason, on the wall next to the bath. I wrinkled my nose at a little mold that had formed on the wood from the shower water.
There was no time to be disgusted. Juliet cracked the window open and let Emmett boost her through. He struggled a bit getting through, but managed to wriggle all the way. I was just turning toward them, standing in the tub when the light flicked on.
I froze. There was no shout of surprise, no angry questions. Slowly, I turned back towards the door. The curtain was concealing me just enough. Harper didn't know there was someone standing behind his shower curtain. He stood over the sink, breathing heavily. I watched as he washed his face, his skin red and blotchy and his black hair sticking out in all directions.
He straightened, looking at himself in the mirror. My heart stopped when he turned to face me. He stared at the curtain for a moment before turning away and shutting off the light. Once I heard his bed creak, I launched myself out the window.
Emmett caught me deftly. He leapt down from the roof and into the backyard. Praying that no one could see us, we sprinted across the yard and into the Mercedes parked on the street.
"Rosalie, floor it!" Emmett yelled. The car launched forward instantly, flying down the long road.
Juliet didn't stop clutching the box while we laughed with exhilaration. She didn't let go until we were back in the house, flopped down on the couch.
"My dad is gonna kill us," I laughed, throwing my arm over my face.
"Correction, I'm going to kill Emmett," Edward strode out from the kitchen. I shot up.
"Dad! You're home early," I yelped.
"We cut our trip short when Alice saw the police come to our door," Edward explained. "That could have gone very bad, very quickly if that boy had seen you! I'm disappointed in you, I thought you knew better. What was so important that you had to commit a B and E?"
"It was my fault," Juliet stood up. "If anyone gets in trouble it should be me. Harper had a box of my personal things and my phone. He was going to destroy them."
Edward softened visibly. "I understand. Emmett was stupid to bring you girls along and put you in danger like that."
"I'm glad he did," Juliet said. "I got some information when Harper's computer turned on."
"Like what?" I curled back up on the couch now that we weren't in trouble. Juliet bit her lip and sat down as well.
"It's my problem, I'm not going to involve you," she looked at me. I folded my arms across my chest.
"We just broke into a house together, I think it's pretty clear we're in this together," I pointed out to her, lifting a brow.
"Juliet, please forgive my intrusion but I think you should tell her," Edward bent and softly spoke to Juliet. She nodded after a long pause.
"I saw Harper talking about me to Lewis when his computer lit up," she explained to me. "He was saying that I'm a dirty cheating whore and that he wanted to burn my stuff because I have sexually transmitted diseases. And if that wasn't bad enough, an instant message thread popped up from Amber. He went to her and told her that he had found texts and dirty pictures on my phone between me and the whole Cullen family… Even Carlisle. Amber's bullying is about to get worse."
A fire started in my stomach and spread to my throat. I realized the snarling sound I heard was me.
"I'm going to snap both of their scrawny little necks," I growled, sinking my nails into the couch.
"Holy, Ness, you look like a vampire," Juliet paled. I snapped back to reality, blushing hard. I'd obviously just scared her.
"Sorry."
"It's fine," she chuckled. "That was actually kinda cool."
"You're so much like Bella," Edward said incredulously, rubbing his forehead. "You see something that should terrify you and your reaction is 'that's so cool'?"
"Nessie's never going to hurt me," Juliet lifted her chin confidently. I smiled at her.
"Never," I patted her hand. Jake may have been my soulmate, and Seth may have been hers, but in a way we were each other's soulmates.
"You are such a Cullen," Edward laughed. "Now excuse me while I go kill my brother."
Juliet beamed. This is who she was and where she belonged. She was such a Cullen.