Okay, as you all have probably noticed I changed it from Bella/Paul to just Bella. If this confused anybody, my bad. I guess. -shrug-
Remember to give me your opinion on what Izzy should name her son in a review, please choose from the options in chapter 7. Thanks. :-)
chapter 9.
I'm 20 weeks pregnant now. Joy. My stomach just keeps getting bigger and bigger and I'm starting to run out of baggy shirts and how the hell do you wear jeans when your pregnant? It's ridiculous!
We've made our way more half way through Wyoming, due to Paul's insane driving and Baillie somehow knowing which street has cops on it. Paul drives during the day and Baillie and I take turns driving at night but its usually Baillie; I've just been so tired lately and its not like she's been sleeping anyway.
We don't know exactly where we are going which is something we'll probably have to talk about later.
My mouth decides different though and apparently want to talk about it now. "Where are we going exactly?"
Nobody says anything for a few minutes and my hormones kick in. "Well? Where the fuck are we going?" I half ask half demand.
"Uh ... not sure." Paul says his laid back attitude, usually calming, makes me wanna slap him. Damn hormones.
Baillie fidgets in her passenger seat, next to Paul, and turns around to shoot me an apologetic ... almost completely sincere ... smile. "I think we should try and find the Cullens."
I gawk at her. She can't be serious! Can she?
Paul starts shaking, moving the van with him. "What?" His voice is a deadly monotone.
"They have control so we won't need to worry about Izzy or her baby. And Carlisle might be able to help us, you know, figure out what I am." Baillie sounds completely calm. I think I might actually hit her! "Really, Izzy you trust them! And Paul I know you don't and you don't have to but I think they could really help us out."
"No." I say. I don't have to make my voice sound harsh and flat now. "No. I refuse to go see them."
I have too many cracks in my glass doll body for them to just add more. I won't be able to live. Hell, I barely can now!
"I'm with Izzy on this. I don't think its a good idea. No way in hell am I lettin' a fuckin' blood-sucker get anywhere near you, B!" Paul says, the edges of his form shaking, vibrating uncontrollably. He better not break the van.
"It is a good idea though!" Baillie said, trying to persuade us. Or more like persuade Paul. I'm too stubborn for this. "Listen, they've all been around a long time maybe they've seen something like me before. And all we have to do is ask, its not like we're gonna live with them or anything. Please. I really, really wanna figure myself out."
My jaw in a firm, stubborn line. My arms crossed over my chest.
"Izzy, come on. Please. You need this. You need closure. How will you ever be able to move on if you don't confront them about this." I'm surprised because she really does seem genuinely concerned and worried for me.
"No." Is all I say. I won't see them. I won't and they can't make me!
"I still don't like this Baillie." Paul's voice is grim because he knows it could really help his Imprint and he can't say no. And I suppose this could help Baillie, maybe Carlisle will know what she is. But I don't see how it could possibly, in any way, help me and my already shredded heart.
I sigh. I should've known this was coming. My bad luck just keeps gettin' worse and worse.
"Izzy? Please?" Baillie asks and I see Paul looking at me in the rear view mirror.
"No. I c-can't." I stammer through my sadness. I think about saying sorry but decide they would probably see through the lie anyway.
"So what now?" Paul asks, obviously hoping that Baillie will choose not to go after the Cullens without me and since I refuse to go after them at all...
Baillie pouts while she thinks. Her face looks conflicted. She brushes some golden tresses behind her small ear and says,"Izzy, I have to do this. I'm sorry, but if you won't come then I still gotta go."
Paul's back stiffens.
I take a deep breath and let it out with a huff!
"Alright, well ... um ... I-I guess you all should drop me off next t-time we stop." I blink away my tears and wrap my arms around my swollen belly. Looks like it's just you and me, kiddo, I think to myself and my little son.
"Wait, Izzy are you sure?" Paul asks. Aw, he is such the annoying, protective, big bro type! He runs a hand through his crow black hair.
I smile and turn my face to hide the one tear I couldn't stop from sliding down my flushed cheek.
"Yeah most definitely. You both need to do this and maybe when you all done we'll meet up. Make a date or something." I say with a strangled laugh and I try to hold my smile. I fail.
"There's a motel coming up in a few miles. You want us to drop you off there? I mean, we can take you wherever you want..." Baillie babbles on. I stop listening and try to conjure up some memory of the last time I felt truly peaceful.
-flashback-
Hesitantly, always afraid, even nor, that he would disappear like a mirage, too beautiful to be real ... hesitantly, I reached out one finger and stroked the back of his shimmering hand, where it lay within my reach. I marveled again at the perfect texture, satin smooth, cool as stone. When I looked up again, his eyes were open, watching me. Butterscotch today, lighter, warmer after hunting. His quick smile turned up the corners of his flawless lips.
"I don't scare you?" he asked playfully, but I could hear the real curiosity in his soft voice.
"No more than usual."
He smiled wider; his teeth flashed in the sun.
-flashback-
I stop immediately, shaking my head of the painful memory. But I had to admit. I was truly, utterly, and amazingly peaceful in that past moment. If I could, I would replay time and live in those few minutes over and over again for all eternity.
Looking out the window, I realize that I must've fallen asleep. The sun has completely set and I'm staring at a night sky.
The moon in high up in the sky, we must've passed by my motel. Baillie had said it was just a few miles away before.
"We wanted to let you sleep." Baillie's voice rings in the van. She is driving now, Paul's head is slumped on his shoulder deep in slumber.
"Thanks." I say and I am grateful. I needed the rest.
"There's a hotel coming up in the next town. I've booked you a reservation there for as long as you like. They'll give you the room key at the front desk. We also put all the money in your bag, on top of all you clothes in some envelopes, we only kept enough for gas and food but we'll probably sell the van and just run everywhere we go from now on. Maybe." Baillie's words sound rehearsed, she's probably been thinking about what to say when I woke up. "You could try and get some more sleep. It'll be about 45 minutes." Great, I must look as tired as I feel.
The low hum of our vehicle slowly lullaby's me to a thankfully dreamless sleep as I struggle not to remember my lullaby...
When I wake, the moon is slowly crawling down the sky and we're just now pulling into the parking lot of an enormous hotel. How did she pay for this?
"I, uh, persuaded them to let you stay here for free. But you have to work though. They said they'd have a job picked out for you by the time you arrive. So ... good luck okay." Baillie gives me a smile that seems almost as sincere as her old smiles looked. I force a shy smile back, my heart is pounding in my ears.
"Okay." My voice sounds nervous, even to me.
"Izzy, you'll be fine, just do your job and you won't have to worry about paying for anything! And the suit is big enough for you and the baby. And ... did you ever decide on a name?" I hear the attempt at kindness in her voice but it's ruined from the bitter and sadness in her exotic eyes.
"Um ... no, not yet at least."
Paul moves slightly in his sleep, a soft snore, almost like a lullaby, creeps from his mouth.
"Okay then well. Do you want me to wake Paul so you can say goodbye?" Baillie asks.
I shake my head no. A clean break, that's what we need right now. Just like with my old, former vampire family.
"Do you want me to come in with you? I could help you carry your bags."
"No thanks." I clear my voice and try to swallow the hard rock in my throat. "I'm pretty sure they'll have someone to carry my bags for me anyway."
"Well, okay." We don't say anything for awhile now.
I gulp, and open my door, undoing my seat belt. Grabbing my duffel bag I shuffle to the main entrance.
Don't look back Izzy, I think to myself. Don't look back, it'll only make this that much harder.
Walking through the revolving door, I see the lobby. And it is grand. Two wide red carpeted stair cases with black wood railing, lead up to the first main floor where I can see not one or two but four elevators. Between the two stair case's a lovely ivory sculpture of a woman that reminds me of a Greek god and behind the stair cases are several doors. Away from the stairs, are several plush read chairs, matching the stairs, around coffee tables, and a large fire place with burning flames helping the room appear cozy and warm. Various paintings and awards decorate the ivory wall. The floor is a made of shiny, interlacing stones that swirl around each other gracefully. From the ceiling hangs a great big chandelier of crystals and pearls.
I notice from my peripherals, a desk, also made with some type of black wood and a young woman standing behind it staring at the computer typing rapidly.
With a deep, shaky, breath I walk over to her trying to look confident.
The woman raises her over-cast gray eyes, reminding me of Forks, at my arrival and she moves a strand of auburn hair out of her face.
"Hello, can I help you?" Her voice sounds bored, like she's said the words so many time they haunt her in her sleep.
The overly fancy name-tag clipped to her elegant long-sleeved black shirt tells me her name is Ava.
"Um yes I-I'm supposed to start working here t-tonight." I stammer and keep my eyes down. I am so pathetically shy.
She looks skeptical but then a flash of recognition floods her over-cast eyes.
"Oh! Your Ella Swanson! I remember your face from the picture that other girl showed us." I blink at her. Did Baillie tell them my name was Ella?
"That other girl, did she have violet eyes?" I ask, wanting to be sure they mean me.
"Yeah it was creepy and I think they were glowing too. Did she have contacts or something?" Ava asks, genuinely curious. Thanks God for ignorant humans!
"Yeah. Um so I'm Ella and I need my room key and for someone to carry my bag please." Okay, I only have one large duffel bag but I'm suddenly feeling much better about all this. They don't even know my name ... where's the risk?
"Of course. Right away." Ava calls someone and speaks hastily into the phone.
Suddenly a tall man with a shaved head and glasses comes up behind me and asks for my bag.
"Sure." I say, handing it to him.
"I will escort you to your room Miss Swanson." His voice, like Ava's before, sounds extremely bored.
Ava gives me my room key and I climb the stairs with the bell-hop, who takes them two at a time with his long legs, up to one of the elevators. He pushes the button on the closest one and it opens immediately. The elevator music is the same as all the others, dull and annoying.
"What floor ma'am?" The bell-hop asks, his finger hovering near the key pad.
"Uh ... I'm not sure. Ava didn't tell me and it doesn't say on the key."
He takes my key and looks at it for a minute before pressing down on the top floor button. What in the world?
I blink and ask, "So, what's your name?"
"Jerry, ma'am." Jerry answers. His voice finally shows some emotion other than boredom.
"Jerry, my names Ella. I'll be working here from now on." I try to sound nice, burying my shyness at the bottom pit of my soul.
"I know, everyone here already knows who you are, Miss Swanson. Do you know what your job will be yet?"
"Please, call me Ella. Nope, I have no idea what my job will be." Nervousness seeps in my voice like ink.
Jerry just nods and says nothing more on the matter. Or any other matter that is.
When we finally reach my floor, the top floor, it's a short walk to my suit. I notice that the spaces between doors is surprisingly wide when it comes to my door.
"Enjoy the Royal Suit Ella." Jerry says after dropping my bag down next to the door and with that he's walking away, back to the elevators.
Royal Suit?
"Thanks Jerry!" I call just as the doors are closing.
I bite my lip as I use the key to open my door.
The door the my new home.
Sorry for the cliff hanger. I know I'm a bitch. :)
I'm a tad bit nervous about the major change in this chapter what with Izzy breaking away from Baillie and Paul so tell my what you think even if its bad their still reviews.
I chose the name Ella because it's another nick-name for Isabella.
Again, PLEASE tell me what Izzy (or Ella or Bella whatever) should name her son. There are name options in chapter 7. I know I've repeated this a lot but people I've only gotten a few reviews about what people think her son should be named.