Chapter 17: Game
I got out of my outfit and changed. I wore a white long-sleeved shirt with a red t-shirt on top. I wore blue jeans and rubber shoes and topped everything off with a blue cap as I tied my hair into a ponytail. I was going to watch the Cullens play baseball, and I needed to dress accordingly. I went downstairs.
"Where are you going, kiddo?" Uncle Charlie asked.
"Edward's taking me to watch baseball," I smiled.
"Really?" his voice showed his concern, "Are you sure it's alright for you to…?"
"I'm only going to watch the game, so I'll be far away from the equipment," I reassured.
"So, Edward Cullen, huh?"
"Yeah, he's a really nice guy."
Then the doorbell rang.
"That's got to be him!" excitement showed in my voice.
"I'll get the door," Uncle Charlie offered. What would happen next?
Uncle Charlie opened the door. Edward came in.
"Good evening, sir," Edward greeted.
"Hello, Edward," Uncle Charlie greeted back, "Oh, and just call me Charlie." This made me a little nervous. I had no idea why, though. "So, you have my girl watching baseball?"
"Yes, sir… Umm, Charlie."
"Just make sure she isn't home too late. And don't let her near any of the equipment," Uncle Charlie warned.
"Sure," Edward promised. He turned his attention to me, "Are you ready to go?" I nodded. We walked out the door.
"Put on your seatbelts!" Uncle Charlie choked out after us.
I was surprised when I looked at the driveway. It wasn't Edward's silver Volvo this time. It was a monster truck. We were obviously going somewhere off-road then.
I climbed in. Edward was in his seat before I even hoisted myself up. When I got to the seat, I was baffled by a set of seatbelts. It took a little longer than it should have for me to buckle myself in.
"You look nice tonight," Edward commented as he began to drive.
"Thanks," I blushed, "So where is the field?"
"Somewhere in the woods."
"I don't think this truck can maneuver between trees…"
"Once we get to the wood, we'll travel on foot."
"More hiking, excellent," I said sarcastically.
"No, we'll run," he corrected. Run? I hadn't forgotten about last time.
"I think I'm going to be sick…"
"Don't worry. You just have to close your eyes."
"I guess so…"
Once again, the vehicle stopped. Well, he did like to drive fast. Before I could even blink, Edward already unbuckled himself. He leaned over to help me.
"I'll get those," I said weakly –the memory made me sick; "You go ahead."
He sighed, "Looks like I'm going to have to tamper with your memory."
"Tamper with my memory?" I repeated as I undid my seatbelts.
"Something like that," he said.
I jumped down. Before I even knew it, Edward was standing in front of me. He placed his hand against the jeep, on either side of my head, and he stood close to me, leaving no room for escape. My back met with the metal.
"Tell me what you're worried about," he said. His breath was already disturbing my thought process. His scent was another matter as well. They both desensitized me.
"Of hitting a tree… and getting sick…" I replied. Edward fought back his laughter.
I felt his breath on my neck as kisses ran up and down it.
"Are you still worried now?"
"Yes… About hitting trees… and getting sick." His nose drew a line up my neck.
"And now?"
"Hitting trees… motion sickness…" I was losing coherency.
"Would I hit a tree?" his voice was in my ear. It echoed in my mind. It was as if he was literally inside my mind. I closed my eyes.
"No… but I might…" It took everything I had to just to say one sentence. He kissed the base of my jaw.
"Would I let a tree hurt you?"
"N-no…" I breathed. He smelled an easy victory.
"Then there's no reason to be worried, is there?" His lips were at the corner of mine.
"No…" I gave up. I lost myself. Edward's lips crushed mine. I gave in to my senses. My arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. My lips parted.
Edward abruptly pulled away, throwing me off balance. I grabbed onto the jeep for support.
"Damn it, Bella! You'll be the death of me, I swear you will!" he was gasping at the air as if he just suffocated. I did the same.
"I'm sorry…" I breathed.
"Now let's go before I do something stupid again," he growled. I was suddenly on his back. Then the forest became a blur. I immediately closed my eyes. It seemed like we weren't even moving.
"Bella, you can open your eyes now," he said. I did so. Edward set me down gently. I landed butt first into a pile of ferns. Edward just laughed. I tried to get up, but ended back into the bush. He laughed harder, making it echo into the forest.
I got up and began to stomp away.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"I'm going to watch a baseball game," my voice came out more severe than I intended.
"You're going the wrong way," he pointed out.
"Well, seeing as someone isn't interested, I'm on my own."
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"'Bella, you'll be the death of me,'" I quoted, imitating the angry tone that he had used.
"It's not your fault."
"Then what was that about?"
"I easily get angry at myself. I've got a bad temper, you see."
"I'll say."
Edward laughed as he led me to the field. I saw everyone –Carlisle, Esme, Alice, Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie. We walked up to them.
"Hey, I'm Emmett," he smiled, "Nice to meet ya."
"I'm Bella," I said, "It's nice to meet you, too."
"And this is Rosalie," he introduced.
"Hi." I greeted. She looked away harshly.
"Was that you, Edward?" Esme asked.
"Yes," he smiled.
"OK, let's start!" Emmett was enthusiastic.
Edward, Carlisle, and Alice went up against Emmett, Jasper, and Rosalie. Esme was the referee –I went to stand with her.
"Esme, you aren't playing?" I asked.
"I'm the referee," she explained, "I just want to keep it honest."
"Do they cheat?"
"Oh, you should see the arguments they get into," she laughed. Then stopped, "Actually, never mind what I said. You shouldn't."
"OK."
I didn't really understand that much about baseball. But I could see that Alice was pitching, and Emmett was batting. I must have blinked because Alice wasn't holding the ball anymore. I heard loud thunder as Emmett swung. I guess this was why they needed a thunderstorm to play. I saw a stream of white fly into the woods as Edward chased after it.
"Homerun?" I asked.
"Wait," Esme said. Then she must have seen something that I didn't. "Safe!" she announced as Edward came out from the forest, ball in hand. "You see," she explained, "Emmett is the strongest, but Edward is the fastest."
"Go Edward!" I cheered. As long as I was watching, might as well do something productive.
Then Alice gasped aloud. We all turned our attention to her.
"What is it, Alice?" Rosalie asked.
"Someone's coming," Edward answered when Alice couldn't.
"How many?" Emmett started cracking his knuckles.
"Three," Alice said, "But it doesn't have to turn into a fight."
"What do we do, then?" Jasper asked. They all turned to Carlisle.
He deliberated for a moment, "Let's just continue the game. Since Alice sees them as no threat."
Just then, my eyes flashed to the forest. There were three of them. One was blonde, one was a redhead, and the one in the middle –obviously the leader –had black hair. They approached the Cullen family, and the Cullens did the same. They met halfway.
"Hello," Carlisle greeted.
"Hello," the leader said, "We just heard you playing, and we were wondering if we could join in."
"Actually we were just about to finish up."
"I am Laurent," he introduced, "And these are James and Victoria."
"I am Carlisle. These are Esme, Alice and Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie, and Edward and Bella."
The one named James sniffed the air. Would he be able to tell that I was human? He soon answered my question,
"So, you brought a snack."
I stiffened. Edward ran in front of me, arms spread out defensively. James snarled. Edward growled. Both looked like they were ready to pounce –to fight to the death.
"Edward," Carlisle said.
"James," Laurent called, "We will not hunt in this territory."
James relaxed his position, but kept his crimson-red eyes. Edward still kept his defensive position.
"Perhaps we could discuss this in a more proper setting," Carlisle offered.
"Of course," Laurent agreed.
"We'll meet at the house," Carlisle faced Edward.
"Bella," Edward called, "Let's go." And I was on his back again. I closed my eyes. This trip wasn't as smooth as before. He was tense –fuming.
Then I was sitting in the back of the jeep, all buckled in, and beside Emmett. Alice sat in front, beside Edward. He drove away furiously, and he didn't seem intent on bringing me back home.
"Edward, where are you taking me?" I asked gently.
"Somewhere faraway and safe."
I began to panic. This couldn't be happening.
"Edward," Alice said.
"I've seen his mind, Alice. He isn't going to stop until he gets what he wants." I stiffened. I was being hunted.
All I could think about was Uncle Charlie and Aunt Cathy, and what it would do to them if I suddenly disappeared. I needed to get away. I started to undo the first buckle as silently as possible. But when I finished, it made a clicking sound. I was sure they all heard it.
"Emmett," Edward said meaningfully. He obeyed, holding me down so I couldn't move.
"You can't do this, Edward!" I panicked, "Uncle Charlie might call the FBI on you or something!"
"We've been in that position before."
"You don't understand! I'm his only niece, Edward! And think about my aunt! It would kill both of them!"
"She's right, Edward," Alice said, "There must be another way."
"There are no other options," he hissed through his teeth. No other options, huh? I felt challenged.
"Well, I have an idea," my voice became cold, severe, "Does anyone want to hear it?"
"No!" Edward shouted. This time, I didn't flinch. I was doing this for him; he had no reason to be mad at me.
"Alice gets off this car right now and runs to my house. She'll go into my room and stuff my bag with some clothes or something. Then she puts the bag in the passenger seat of my car."
"Go on," Alice said.
"OK, you guys drop me off near my house, and I run home crying. Uncle Charlie will hear me, get worried, and come outside. I ignore him and run to my car and drive away. Edward comes to my house and tells Uncle Charlie that Emmett accidentally swung his bat near me and I freaked out and ran away. Obviously, Uncle Charlie will understand why and get worried, so Edward tells him that he'll look for me and talk some sense into me. That way, Uncle Charlie doesn't get the police involved, and we can disappear for as long as you want."
"That's a good idea," Emmett remarked, "It might just work."
"Fine," Edward finally agreed, stopping the car, "Alice, you've got one minute."
"OK," she said and disappeared. Edward kept driving until we were at the end of the street.
"Emmett, you can let go now," I reminded.
"Sorry," he released me.
"Bella," Edward called, "You have five minutes before I storm in and take you myself. Understand?"
"Yes," I said as I jumped out of the car.
I ran as fast as I could, working at the tears. I needed to think of something that would definitely make me lose control. Anything.
I thought about my dark past, and it worked. I found myself crying at the top of my lungs as I approached my house.
"Bella?" I heard Uncle Charlie as he ran out the door. I cried harder, knowing that I had to ignore him. "Bella, what's wrong?" his voice became more urgent.
I ran to my car, slamming the door. I noticed the bag on the passenger seat. With a heavy heart, I stomped onto the gas pedal, speeding away as fast as possible.
"Bella!"
That made me cry even more, hearing his pained voice as I drove away heartlessly. The tears streamed miserably down my face.
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO LET HER NEAR THE EQUIPMENT!"
It was soft, but I could still hear it loud and clear. It broke my heart to lie to him.
"YOU'D BETTER BRING HER BACK OR ELSE!"
"BELLA!" I heard Edward shout after me. I continued driving away.
I stopped at the mouth of the woods –I was intoxicated. I leaned my head against the steering wheel and bawled my eyes out.
"Bella?" Edward asked. I didn't notice him open the passenger door and come in. I ignored him and continued to cry. "I think I should drive," he said quietly.
"No!" I cried. His arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me from the seat. He carefully placed me on the passenger's seat, as he sat on the driver's seat. He began to drive.
My vision was blurred by my tears. I couldn't really tell what was happening anymore. I felt myself being carried in Edward's stone cold arms.
Before I became unconscious, I felt Edward's cold, rushed lips on mine for the last time.
**
As Bella slept, everyone was in distress.
"I'll do whatever it takes to make you safe again. I promise that I'll return to you as soon as possible, my love." –Edward.
"I have to keep her safe, for Edward." –Cullens.
"Let the games begin." –James.