Lacuna Coil
I do not own them.
I dreaded the moments waiting for the phone call. The call that would be her, my Bella. I didn't know what I would say or do. I came up with several different scenarios and I even made up several little scripts in my mind but none of them seemed to have the distinct finesse that was Bella.
I drummed my fingers over the high school standard fake wooden desk waiting for the bell to ring knowing that I was slipping into the same pattern as the rest of the Forks High student body. Dreading each class, each boring lecture, and each assignment. They all meant nothing to me.
Even the teach who absent mindedly scribbled across the board wanting for this day to be over with so that he could indulge in the family life made things worse. I'd never be able to offer Bella that life…but then again would she even want a half charade of that life with me?
I attempted to move my thoughts elsewhere, venturing into other classrooms until I saw Alice gazing at the board but thinking about the future. She was really good at appearing to be in the present but not ever really being in the present. She took her steps four steps in front of people knowing how she would land on her feet each and every time. I wish she could see Bella, it would all make things that much easier. But instead when she searched there was nothing.
As soon as the bell rang I stood up sliding my books from the desk I occupied, ignoring the murmurs of selfish self absorb preteen adolescent girls who were begging for the opportunity to speak with me and headed out of the class room door. This school day was over and I would only be starting another one tomorrow.
I moved through the crowd enjoying the light rain as it prickled against my skin while I headed to my car. I sat there waiting for my family to arrive and when they were all finally settled in, I sped off without a care in the world of the thoughts surrounding me. I should have been paying attention because the uproar of emotion coming from Alice's thoughts was enough to put Jasper on edge and force me to sink further into my seat. I didn't even want to ask. But her thoughts where telling me anyways.
Bella; Jacobs Bella got the message and while we are presently driving back home from school Esme is waiting at home to deliver a not so good message. My Bella, wouldn't have done this…my Bella was an angel…whoever showed up at the house this afternoon was not my Bella. I knew it in my heart, but I didn't have any way of explaining that to Alice.
"Edward, don't you even argue, this is done."
"Alice, I have no intentions of arguing…it wasn't her though."
"Oh and how do you know that?"
"I just do."
Alice rolled her eyes as I felt Emmett's gaze and Rose's unsure hiss through the car. Jasper maintained his silent posture in the back seat with his arm wrapped around Alice until we reached the house. A fowl smell that the rain had not washed away tickled my nose forcing me to hold my breath telling me that someone from the tribe had in fact been here. But it was not my Bella.
I moved quickly into the house finding Esme waiting for me but still preoccupied. Her thoughts told me to sit, but her body language told me not to sit in the area she was presently redecorating. I moved into the living room and took a seat on my piano bench and turned towards her waiting to discuss my opinion on the conversation she was brewing up in her mind.
"Edward, a young girl named Bella stopped by today and asked that all of you quite prank calling the town looking for her. She claims that if she wanted to speak to any of you for any purpose at all she would."
Esme frowned slightly but as she replayed the message in her mind a young woman with long black hair and dark beady eyes appeared. Her skin was a tan color despite the lack on sun in the area and it was not my Bella who delivered the message. That was someone else entirely. But instead of interrupting I let her continue with her message. The one person I could never be rude to was Esme, she was too kind to all of us for me to berate her that way.
"That wasn't Bella. The girl who you were just thinking about."
"I can only tell you what she told me. Are you sure that the Bella you are looking for is here Edward? I'd hate to have to rent this place out and move if you're wrong."
"I don't know Esme…but we didn't break the treaty with anything we did…and the phone calls were all harmless. I don't think Emmett even tried to scare anyone."
"You let Emmett call?"
"He didn't give anyone else a choice in the matter, something about a refrigerator. It won't happen again, I apologize."
"Don't apologize Edward, I want you to find love and happiness; just be careful where you go looking for it."
"I promise Esme, I just wish there was a way to go over there and see for myself."
"Maybe there is a way. They have come to our home twice now. I don't see why you can't go to there borders and request an audience. Maybe tell them that you would like to apologize for the phone calls? Surely they can not be too upset with an apology."
"Maybe, I'll see what the rest of the family thinks."
"You don't need there permission, but I do not think it would be safe to go alone."
"Maybe."
I left it at that and stood up before moving over to her and giving her a brief hug with a short simple kiss on the forehead. She smiled as I moved toward the stairs and up to my room where I knew Alice and Jasper where waiting for me. As soon as I would enter Rose and Emmett would also appear and then they would all be back to debating my sanity.
I made a stop in front of Rose and Emmett's door tapping lightly knowing that they weren't busy doing anything in particular before heading to my room and opening the door where Alice's fingers moved over my music and Jasper sat on my couch watching her.
"You can't have any healthy obsessions can you Edward?"
My eye brows scrunched together as I looked at Alice and then rolled my eyes looking over to Jasper. My music was not an obsession, but I knew that argument would have to wait another day. Alice's mind was presently brewing with ideas and possibilities to convince me to just 'drop' the whole thing. But I wasn't budging I had to find a way to get over there, and Esme was right…I can go…I just can't cross there borders.
I took a seat on the edge of my couch next to Jasper as he scooted over an inch to make room for Emmett's massive form. Alice must have warned him that they would be joining us. Like clock work the door reopened and the other happy couple moved swiftly into the room leaving the door wide open, not that I had secrets but something always felt more secure about a closed door.
Emmett plopped down onto my couch possibly causing one of the springs in the cushion to make its best attempt at popping out as Rose moved closer to the window crossing her arms and studying the outside. She didn't like the fact they had been so close to the house without anyone but Esme here.
I felt regret instantly not realizing that I had not even thought of that. What if something had happened while we were all gone? Was Alice watching the house during school or did I have her to preoccupied searching for Bella? I couldn't bare the guilt that was brewing and I was thankful when I felt Jasper wrap a calmer more approachable emotion around me.
"You can not be serious Edward…are you really considering going to the borders and fake apologizing? What if they see right through you? Are you trying to piss them off?"
"No Alice, I'm not…and how can they tell whether I am lying or not. I don't even have to mention her name, I could just read there minds."
"It's not fair."
"And please tell me Alice what's not fair."
"I can't see, but you can still hear them."
Alice made a fake pouting gesture as Rose turned and gave me a very disgusted look. I knew she didn't want any part of it, but that wasn't what the look was for. She was mad because she feels that I had dragged Emmett in, and he was more than willing to offer a fake apology just to get closer to there borders.
Jasper was another story, he wanted to go only to make Alice happy; his plan was that if he went and offered his 'help' she would stay behind with Rose. I admired him for wanting to keep my sister safe, but whatever happened to him being my best friend? I remember saving his life many years ago, didn't he owe me at least one?
"Rose, I promise I will drop it after this, well if nothing comes of this I will drop it. But Esme has a good point and it wouldn't hurt anything to go and apologize."
"Edward, we have no business over there. I agree with Alice, why can't you let things be and why can't you find a healthy obsession."
"Rose can you even define obsession?"
Her glare was enough to tell me that she could in fact define the word and plenty of other words that she was presently throwing in my direction. Emmett snorted but looked over to his defiant wife with a weird mix of admiration in his eyes. Though rarely did they actually agree he always trusted her decisions and was completely content with how feisty she was.
"Edward, you know I'll go, but you also know my reasons. I agree with the women…you really should let this go."
I peered down at Jasper and stood up from the couch making my way to stand on the other side of the room. I wanted a good look at the family that stood before me. I felt torn, the only person who actually agreed that we should go was Emmett, and it was just an exciting joke to him. He was of course planning on staying on his best behavior but not really looking at my interest in the matter, if so he'd probably side with Rose and the rest of them.
"Rose you and Alice both know that she was there in the woods when you handed over the treaty. And you know that the girl that came her today was not her."
"No Edward, I don't know what the girl who showed up while we were all at school looked like. I do know that it doesn't matter if it was Bella or not because the fact of the matter is that Esme could have been hurt and what if that girl the one you claim isn't Bella was delivering a message for her?"
"It wasn't her. I've seen the images, the memories; I know it wasn't her Rose."
"It doesn't matter Edward, what if something goes wrong?"
"I won't let anything happen."
"And you do not know what they are capable of, we've never encountered these people before…the only things we know is that they stink and look like over grown mutts."
I was getting no where with her, I knew I wouldn't…her mind was set in stone and rarely did Rosalie ever change her mind based upon my opinions. It always took Carlisle or a very quiet discussion with Emmett to get her to lighten up. I had no idea how he was capable of doing it…but he did occasionally change her opinion on things.
"Rose would you feel more comfortable if you came with us? So that you can see with your own eyes that it will be a simple apology and nothing else will happen?"
"Hold on, if I can't go…Rose can't go!"
I glanced over at Alice as Jasper shot me a speak and you die look. I didn't tell Alice she couldn't go, Jasper told Alice she couldn't go. But I wasn't going to test his already over protective foul mood. That was a problem she was going to need to take up with Jasper and I could already see the arguments between them and this matter building. Each time Jasper thought of how to 'put it nicely.' Alice's vision flared and her glare increased until she stood up looked down at Jasper and placed her small little hands over her hips as she used to do when she stood up to me.
"Jasper, I love that you are protective of me but I am going. If you really think one of should stay behind and watch the house then you can do that…obviously you think you are more capable than I am anyways."
"I did not say that."
"But you were going to."
He didn't have a rebuttal ready for that one; you can't argue with Alice…she is always right. Instead he let out a hefty sigh and turned his gaze back to me where his thoughts trailed over the several different things I would probably let him to do to me if something happened to her. I simply nodded my head in agreement and turned my focus back to Rose waiting for her response. Whether they agreed with me or not she was the only one not on board with going out there so far and the very balance of my existence was somehow teetering on her decision.
"Fine, we'll all go."
