Edward's POV:
Jessica's rumor had gone around the school six times in three and a half weeks. Each time I heard someone think it, something else was added. The most recent twist came from Jessica herself. She was talking to Mike; still hoping what they once had could be recovered.
"She rode home with him yesterday. I saw her getting into his Volvo. They went to his house, because his Mom is always working and Emmett and Rosalie are gone. I bet Alice left to give them their privacy. Alice hates Bella, so she would have left willingly. Poor Ben, he's heard the story multiple times, he just won't believe any of it. Mike? Are you listening to me?"
And then Bella and I can play Guitar Hero. I think she would really enjoy that game. She loves music. I will be her knight in shining armor... "Huh? Yes, you were telling me some new lie about Angela and Edward. You know, Angela is a nice girl and she's Bella's best friend, I really don't believe anything you're telling me and I'm glad Ben doesn't either."
The shock on Jessica's face was the funniest thing I had seen in decades.
Since that time when Emmett jumped off the roof right after he'd been changed, to see if vampires could fly; Rosalie's face was absolutely priceless. I couldn't even suppress the laughter; I laughed until my sides hurt, which was a while later. Jessica stared at me with hate and thought some pretty nasty thoughts about me, but they only made me laugh harder.
Thankfully, Alice heard the conversation and had apparently seen a vision of torture that Jessica had settled on, and was laughing along with me.
I was actually amazed at how long talk of Bella had still floated around. Almost all of it had died down, except when Jessica would bring something new into it. Like Alice hating Bella. Alice and Bella were best friends. Anyone with eyes knew that. Knew. I was using past tense to describe Alice and Bella's relationship.
Bella is still alive. She's alive. She's fine! I had to tell myself over and over again. I didn't have to fake loneliness or pain to my classmates, I really felt it. I hated having to break my promise to never leave her again, but I just couldn't let Caius even prepare to kill her. I made sure Alice was looking after Bella at least two days ahead. This way, if Alice saw something happening, I would have time to get to Italy before it actually did happen.
What a pathetic excuse for a boyfriend. I would be out there looking for Bella right now. I know you know, you leech. I know you can hear me. I know you know exactly where she is. Jacob was coming across the parking lot towards me.
"Why the hell would I be here right now if I knew where she is? My father is missing too. I love them both with everything inside me. If you think you are so much better, why are coming here to talk to me? Why not go look for her yourself?"
I have been looking for her. And I know where she is. And I know your father set this whole thing up so that he could change her. Because if you had been the one to go missing with her, people would get suspicious. I know where she is. You've got her locked up in your house. Don't you? You go home to her every night, don't you? You've changed her into a leech and that's why you won't let her come out, isn't it?
"No. She's not there. The police have been to my house dozens of times to talk about Carlisle and she hasn't been there once. Ask Charlie."
"Just because you are sneaky enough to get her out for a little while, doesn't mean she's not hiding out there. I sent my pack over about ten minutes ago and they're going to find her. You'll see."
"Ha. Sure. Excuse me now; I would like to have a word with Charlie." I slid into my car and sped off to Charlie's house. Jacob was running beside me, probably to prove to himself that I was really going to Charlie's and not home.
When Charlie opened the door, Jacob turned and ran the other direction. "Hi, Charlie. No news?" Even looking at his face I knew the answer.
"It's been almost four weeks now. I don't know how much longer I can handle this. She's my daughter. How long am I supposed to go without seeing her?"
"Charlie, we're leaving."
"What? Who's leaving? What are you talking about?"
"We. My family. We can't stand being here surrounded by the memories of Carlisle and Bella all the time. We miss them both terribly. Esme found a house in Alaska last night. She called a realtor and it's ours by this weekend. We're leaving tomorrow. I just can't be here all the time with kids asking me how I'm doing. It's torture."
Charlie stayed silent for a minute, soaking in what I had said. "So, what happens when they come back? How will Carlisle know where you are? I can't have Bella come back and not be able to find you. She'll go back into that... trance." He looked at me, but he wasn't really looking at me. More looking into the past. When Bella was stuck all those months without me. Like I had been without her. Like I was now.
"I know. Carlisle has our cell numbers. He'll be able to find us right away. Bella knows my cell number. She'll call. If not, you can tell her I have it and she'll call whenever she's ready. I'll come back as soon as I hear her voice on the other line."
"Okay. I guess so. You sure, though? Your family could go; you could stay in Bella's room until..." His voice trailed as soon as he realized what he had said. I liked that Charlie had grown to like me. It made me feel better about lying to him. Sort of.
"So I guess I'll be seeing you whenever Bella comes home." Why leave now? I need you here. You know Bella better than I do… He hugged me for the second time. He was really getting used to me.
"I'll come by tomorrow to make sure you're okay." I had kind of taken on Bella's responsibilities. I had been cooking for Charlie for the last two weeks. I realized that he doesn't know how to cook in the least bit. Reading all those cook books paid off, he loved everything I placed in front of him.
Once he released me, I walked out the door and sped home. I wanted to pack everything. It gave me the hope of seeing her sooner. The faster things get done, the sooner we can leave.
When I got to my house, I realized that Jacob hadn't been lying. His pack was outside my front door conspiring as my family watched them from the windows. I walked up the stairs and stood there for a minute before they realized I was there.
"Get off my porch and go home, now."
"Where did you hide her?" Jacob spoke up first.
"Do you smell her scent anywhere inside that house?"
"Not really. Only a faint distant smell."
"That's because she hasn't been here in a month. She's not here and we're leaving. You may go home and celebrate like you did last time. I'm not sure if we'll ever be coming back."
"Really?" Sam chimed in trying to hide the excitement in his voice, but I could hear it all the same.
"Please leave, now."
"Can we sign the new treaty, first?" Sam held out a piece of thick paper. "All the Cullens have to sign. Carlisle isn't here. We are not signing the Treaty until Carlisle is able to sign it. We won't be back until after you've died anyway, so what's the big deal? We'll just make a new one with the next generation of you all, if we ever come back."
"Fine." Sam and Jacob spoke together this time. At that, they all turned and walked away. Finally, the dogs seemed to be house-trained.
I went inside and walked straight up to my room. I started packing the minute I got inside. I closed my door and started with my CD collection. This took eight boxes, one per decade. Alice slipped in the door and sat on my couch.
"Yes?" I didn't even bother looking at her. I started on my closet.
"She's fine, Edward. You worry too much. You handled four months last time. You've barely made it four weeks this time."
I stopped cold. Why did she have to bring that up now? "Last time… I was barely alive. I couldn't hold myself together. This time has been worse because I've been counting down the days. Two, Alice. Two more days. I hate being away from her; you should know that better than anyone."
"I know. But I've been watching her, and she's fine. Nothing out of the ordinary. She's a good hunter, I've seen her. And she has three powers; that we know of."
"Wait, what? Why haven't you told me that? She has three powers? What are they?"
"She only knows of two of them. But she wants to show you herself about the two she knows of. She told Carlisle that. You'll both find out about her third power when you get there. I've already seen it. I couldn't tell you about that one when I first saw it because I knew you'd leave on the next flight out. But there are not other flights to Italy between now and ours, so I'm not worried."
"Then tell me."
"No. You'll still be angry and work with what you can."
"Now, I'm going to be angrier when this happens because I'll know you've known all along, you do realize this, right?"
"Yes. But I also saw what happens when you deal with this anger. I'm safe. I have nothing to worry about."
"Fine. Is everyone else packed?"
"Mostly. Esme is having a little trouble getting all Carlisle's things together. This month has been torture for her like it has been for you. I'm going to help her now. I just want you to calm down. You'll see her soon. Don't pack too fast or you'll have too much extra time to think about it when you're done."
"Thanks."
I slowed down, considering the torture free time has had on me the past month. I couldn't bear leaving like this. By the end of the night, we had everything in a U-haul and everyone left to bring everything to Alaska. They would get there the next morning and leave on their flight from there. I stayed home so that I could check up on Charlie once more. We would meet up in New York City and join up on the flight to Italy.
I didn't have much to do except hunt. I stayed local and only went after small prey. When morning came, I bode Charlie goodbye and got on my flight to New York.
I mostly listened to my iPod on the flight and didn't even realize that we'd landed until the flight attendant woke me from my "nap" and asked that I leave unless I wished to travel on to Miami with them. It was definitely not a good idea for me to go to Miami, so I got up and went to wait at the next gate for an hour and a half until the flight left for Rome. Both the flight to Rome and the drive to Volterra were horrible. I couldn't sit still and I kept asking Alice how things looked. She was getting annoyed with me.
We walked to the front entrance of the castle and knocked; it was past midnight and the front entrance was faster than any back alley.
A guard answered and told us Aro would be with us momentarily.
"How wonderful! The Cullen family has decided to grace us with their presence yet again!" Aro was his cheery self.
"May I please see Bella?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Oh, and Carlisle, please Aro, I miss him so." Esme pleaded and Aro just smiled at the two of us.
"Follow." He walked on, blocking me from his mind. I tried over and over to tell what he was thinking and continuously got nothing.
"Carlisle is in there. Bella is just down the hall a little further." Aro pointed at a door and Esme, Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper walked through. I decided to see Bella first.
I want to see this in person. A vision of it is wonderful, but being there will be so much better. Oh, your face. She smirked and blocked me from seeing her vision of what was about to happen.
Aro knocked lightly once and opened the door to Bella's room and as soon as I could see in, I charged, growling as loudly as I possibly could.