A/N: Short, I know. But shut up.
Pepper: I didn't really understand your review but um... thanks!
Vampire's Love: Oh shit, it da po po! Get da dope & let's roll! I mean.. Umm... Bella. Edward. Love. Yay. Story. Yay. Me. Yay. You. Yay. ...don't call da po po!
Jaspersgirl: I'm the leading auther? Haha whoo hoo! Thanks so much! I can't wait to read your story!
Midnight Walker: hehe keep reading & you will find out!
Welchers (juice): I know right? Thanks a lot Carlisle! Haha I could just see Charlie driving up & Edward & bella are making out on the porch... maybe Carlisle is smarter than we give him credit for hehe.
Love Higgins: haha thank you so much! Updating! Now!
Lizziemcclure: thank you! Yeah, it's fun to torture my readers with cliffies hehe.
Wishingedwardwasreal13: haha thanks. Now? Ok, now.
Just then, Carlisle burst through the door.
"We have to get out of here. The police are on their way."
Chapter 12
"Wha-Why?" was all that Bella managed to stammer, pushing herself away from Edward's iron grip.
"They've been out looking for you since you've been gone Charlie just spoke with Mike Newton. Apparently, he saw the two of you walking into the parking lot of the high school last week. They're coming to search the house - soon. Alice just saw." Edward let out a string of profanities under his breath.
"Let's pack," he said curtly, before running into the house. Carlisle gave Bella's shoulder a comforting pat & then made his exit, to tell the others. Bella ran inside & found Edward, who was already throwing clothes into a duffel bag.
"Edward, stop it," she sighed. He looked up at her, bit didn't stop packing.
"This is exactly what I was talking about, Bella. One stupid mistake, & now we all have to be on the run for decades. I'm a fucking monster."
"Cut it out, Edward. We don't have time for this. Just listen to me." Something about the authority in her voice made him stop packing, & he gave her his full attention.
"Charlie & the rest of the police don't have to be all over your family. Running will only make them suspicious. I'll go. You stay here."
"No," he interrupted sharply, but she continued.
"I'll go. They can search your house, but there won't be anything to find. Everyone else can follow after a couple of weeks." Edward sighed, unconvinced, so Bella decided to cheat a little bit, for the good of everyone.
Let her go. It will work.
"Fine. But you cannot go alone. I'll go with you, everyone else can stay."
"Edward, you know that won't work. They saw me walk off with you." He sighed, resigned. She didn't need to use her power for him to see that she was right. It would be way too suspicious.
"At least let Alice go with you. She cares about you - she'll take good care of you." Right on cue, Alice walked in the room.
"We're going to Phoenix, Bella. You can call Charlie from your mom's house, he'll see her number & know you're there."
Without another thought, the three of them went into Alice's room & started packing her things, since Bella had literally nothing of her own, but the ill-fitting clothes she came in. As they packed, they planned. Well, Edward planned mostly.
"You hate Forks. You're homesick. Whatever. You ran away. All of your clothes here are too heavy for Phoenix. You're staying at your mother's house until you can get one of your own. From there, we can move anywhere else. Our story is that we moved back to Alaska. We'll decide where to actually go when the time comes. But we can't stay here much longer, it's too risky for her to be seen."
Alice ran down the stairs & threw the bags into the trunk of Rosalie's convertible - it was the fastest. She hopped in the driver's seat without even opening the door. Bella & Edward stood in the doorway.
"Tell everyone I say goodbye, please. I wish there was more time."
"Not goodbye. I'll see you soon, Bella. Be safe." Their eyes were locked. He took her face in his hands, bringing her close to him. His cool breath made her dizzy, & her entire body tingled.
"I'll s-see you soon, Edward," she stammered, unable to process thought with him this close to her. He stoked her cheekbones with the pads of his thumbs, & moved his face closer to his. Their trance was broken by Alice, who revved the engine, indicating that the police were close. Without another word, Bella raced up to the car & jumped in. Alice sped off & she was watching him watching her until both he & the house were out of sight.