CHAPTER TWO: RUNNING AWAY

Bella POV

I heard the door click behind me but didn't pay that much attention to it. Charlie must have forgotten something or he decided to fuss over me some more.

I had never seen my dad act this way. He had barely left my side all day. Between trying to force feed me left over pizza and aspirin he was almost starting to get on my nerves. The only thing I hated more than being the center of attention was feeling like a baby and that was exactly what Charlie was doing. It didn't help that I was already in a bad mood anyway. Stupid attractive superhero.

I hadn't been able to stop thinking about Edward since we left the hospital. How had he gotten to me so fast and what was the big secret behind it? More important why was I lying for him? Oh yeah, because when he looked at me with those ridiculously beautiful topaz eyes I couldn't help but do whatever he wanted. Even if he was pissing me off in the process.

But I didn't understand why he wouldn't just tell me. It wasn't like I was going to blab whatever it was to the whole school. I wasn't even planning on telling Charlie but I just needed to know. Couldn't he understand that? I mean he had asked me all those questions yesterday about why I was in Forks and clearly none of those had been anything that could have been important to him. None of my answers had any effect on him but I had answered them. So why then couldn't he see that I would want the answers to my questions when those answers did affect me?

I turned at the light sound of a throat clearing and my breath caught in mine. There standing in my living room was the object of my recent obsession. What was he doing here? How did he get in? Charlie normally locked the door but apparently that made no difference to someone that could run across a parking lot in the blink of an eye or push moving cars aside with a flick of his wrist. Maybe he was Superman or Spiderman or some other fictitious hero.

"How did you get in?" I knew that shouldn't be the first question that I asked but it seemed the most important right now.

"Bella, you have to listen to me. We have to….."

"No" I faced him head on. "I don't have to listen to you until you start answering my questions." How dare he come here, break into my house and then not answer the simplest question I had ever asked him.

"Bella we don't have time for this." He looked really nervous and I wanted to back down and listen to whatever it was that he had to say but I just couldn't until I got some answers.

"How did you get in here?" I asked again.

He closed his eyes and looked for a moment like he was about to take a deep breath but then stopped himself. "The extra key in the awning."

My eyes widened. "How did you know about that?"

"It's just common knowledge that everyone has a key hidden somewhere by the front door." He opened his eyes looking behind him for a spit second and then turned back to me. "Since you don't have a rock or plant near the door the awning was the safe bet."

It made sense and still it sounded like it was something he had rehearsed. Just like so many of his answers did but I decided to let it go. I sat there staring at him while he did the same to me. My next question burning on my tongue but I needed to know what he would do first.

"Bella, this isn't going to make a lot of sense to you but I need to get you out of here." He didn't blink or turn his head from me then but continued to stare into my eyes.

"Why?" I couldn't look away. It was like he had me trapped by the force of his gaze.

"Because it's not safe for you here" His expression changed then and it looked as though he was in pain. I started thinking that maybe he had been hurt during his rescue attempt and had just been to proud to say anything. I rose to go help but he put up his hand to stop me. I shook my head. Just like a man to not want to admit when they need help.

"Maybe you should sit down for a minute and explain." If I could get my answers then I would forget all about the breaking and entering and Charlie would never have to know. Not that I was planning on telling him anyway.

"There's no time for that." He moved quickly up the stairs. I followed completely confused. Especially when he went into my room and opened my closet.

"What are you doing?" I yelled running to stop him.

"I told you" He backed away swiftly. "I need to get you out of here as fast as I can and you probably want some clothes for the road."

"Are you insane?" I looked him up and down. "I'm not going anywhere with you. Least of all somewhere that I would need to pack."

"Bella…."

"Don't Bella me Edward." I realized that I had never really said his name directly to him and I felt a little charge of energy as it came out. "You haven't told me anything and you expect me to just pack a bag and jump in a car with you. For Pete's sake I don't even know where you want to take me."

"Arizona" He answered walking to my window and raising it up.

"Arizona?" I repeated. Why in the world would he want to take me back to Arizona?

"Back to your mother where you will be safe" He was speaking to me but he kept his body facing the window.

"My mother isn't even in Arizona" I told him. Last time we had spoken she and Phil where in Wisconsin.

"But you could call her and she could come back and then you could travel with her and Phil until he gets picked up."

I was surprised that he remembered almost everything from our conversation yesterday. True I remembered everything but I had been positive that had more to do with my ever growing obsession with finding out what made Edward Cullen tick.

"Even if I could call her and even if she could come back why the sudden urgency for me to head back to Arizona?" This was one question he was going to have to answer. "Why are you in such a hurry to get rid of me?"

He spun around at that. "I'm trying to protect you."

"From who?" I asked softly.

He closed his eyes again and this time pinched the bridge of his nose. I could tell that he still didn't want to tell me but there were just some things I needed to know.

"Edward, who are you trying to protect me from?"

"My family" He finally said.

I had not been expecting that. What did his family have to do with this? Did he think they would start treating me meanly because he had risked his life to save mine?

"Why would your family hurt me?" I laughed softly. "They don't even know me."

"Bella" He still hadn't looked at me and that same flash of pain from downstairs went across his face again. "We aren't like other people."

"Are you talking about the way you stopped the van?" Would I finally get my answers?

"Partly" he finally looked at me. "Listen, my family is very upset that I acted to save you and there is ever possibility that they will try to do something to….reverse….what I did."

I was sure that I didn't understand what he was trying to tell me. Even if they were livid how could they reverse what was done? It wasn't like they could go back in time and make sure that I was crushed by the van.

I sucked in a strangled breath as his wording hit me. They were upset that he saved me. So if they were going to reverse what he did then that would mean that….that…..I couldn't say it. Surely they wouldn't. I mean who were these people? What kind of secret required this type of action?

"I see you understand what I am telling you." Edward spoke calmly.

"NO I don't" My voice had risen to near hysteria levels. "You can't possibly think that your family would….would….." I couldn't say the words.

"Yes I do" He didn't blink or look away as he answered me.

"Who are you?" I questioned. "Who are you people that you would do such a thing? And why me?"

"It's my fault" The pain was back on his face. "But you have to know that no matter what they might try I wouldn't have changed what I did. I couldn't let you die Bella." He paused. "Not then and not now. That's why I have to get you out of here."

"What am I suppose to say to Charlie?"

"Tell him that you needed a little space to recover or that you missed your mom or whatever you think will keep him from coming after you and bringing you back." He moved a little closer to me. "At least until I can get them to calm down and see reason."

"And what if you can't?" I asked. "Am I just supposed to walk around for the rest of my life hoping that none of them jump out and attack?"

The pained look was worse this time but he quickly wiped it away. "I'll make this right Bella. I promise" He moved again this time stopping right in front of me and breathing deep. I saw his eyes flash with a hint of danger but then cool slowly. "Trust me."

How could I not when he was looking at me as if his very life depended on my survival. I nodded and turned to pull a small duffle bag out of my closet. I packed lightly knowing that most of my clothing was still in my old house. I moved around him to the desk and grabbed a few books and then went to my bed for the money that I had brought with me.

"Let me help you" Edward finally moved when he saw that I was lifting the mattress. I pulled out my worn sock as he held it up and smiled tightly toward him to let him know that I was finished. I reached over to my desk and pulled out a slip of paper from the notebook sitting on top and began to scribble a note for Charlie as Edward walked back over to the open window.

When all was done I went back down the stairs, Edward close but still distant behind me. I left the note propped up on the kitchen counter and turned toward him. "Okay" I swallowed the sudden fear of being alone with him and looked around the small house that hadn't even had a chance to feel like home.

I hadn't wanted to come here but somehow leaving like this didn't feel right either. I wasn't sure that Charlie would understand or forgive me and I knew that Renee would be over the top with worry as soon as he called her. Chances are that she would beat us back to Arizona provided she had enough money left to buy the ticket.

"Wait" I stopped Edward at the door. "My mom might not be able to come back right away." They had used so much of their savings moving from city to city in the hope of Phil being signed. What if they had used all of it?

"Why?"

"Renee and Phil don't have a lot of money" I filled him it. "She may not be able to afford a last minute ticket to Arizona. Those prices can be really high and that all depends on where they are."

"Don't worry about it." He smiled a crooked smile at me and I felt my heart pick up. His smile instantly chanced to a frown as if reacting to the sound but how could he have heard that? "I can pay for her ticket or yours if need be."

"Who are you people?" I had to ask again. What kind of family threatened lives and had money just lying around to buy last minute plane tickets?

He didn't answer and honestly I really wasn't expecting him to. Whatever the secret was didn't seem as important anymore. Not if knowing nothing lead to this. I hated to think what would have happened if he had actually told me the truth.

I walked quickly behind him as we headed down the street to a car that I had never seen the likes of before. It had to be the slickest car on the planet. The windows were all tinted a darker black than what had to legally acceptable but I was quickly learning that the Cullens weren't the most legal people in the world. The wheels on this car alone had to be worth more than Charlie's whole house. It looked like a rocket fresh out the gate.

Edward opened the passenger side door and put my back in the very limited backseat. He then pulled out two blankets and motioned for me to get in. I slid in easily despite the fact that I felt like I was sitting on the ground. "Put your seat belt on" His velvet voice ordered and I complied. He handed both blankets to me and shut the door. Before I could figure out why he was in his seat and had the car started. I hadn't even seen him move and he we were zooming down the road headed toward the freeway with the window on his side rolled all the way down.

"The blankets are for if you get cold" He informed me looking down toward the seat rest in between us. "And if you push this button here the seat will warm up."

Car's with seat warmers? I never thought to be in such a vehicle. "Who are you?" The question escaped my mouth before I could remember that asking questions seemed to be hazardous to my health.

He laughed lightly and looked over at me. "Aren't you getting a tired of asking that question?"

I found myself laughing with him. Yes, I was but mostly because I was getting tired of him not answering it. "So the plan is to take me to Arizona and drop me off and then what?"

"And then you live a happy, safe and normal life." He didn't take his eyes away from the road in front of us.

"And what about you?" I wanted to know.

"What about me?" He spared a confused look in my direction.

"Well, won't your family be upset that you kidnapped me and disappeared for a few days?"

"Yes they will" Again the pain written on his face made me want to reach out and help but I kept my distance. "But they will get over it."

"Are you sure?" He didn't answer nor did he look at me. I stared at his profile for a little longer but finally realized that there was no point. That was obviously one of those answers that I wasn't going to receive.

I turned to watch as the scenery passes by us way to fast but didn't say another word. I could tell that he was sacrificing a lot to make sure I was okay and I would respect that and let him be. I let my eyes close and leaned back into the seat. It was amazing how now that I couldn't see anything it felt as if we weren't moving at all. I let my mind wonder to all that I knew about Edward and his family.

They were amazingly beautiful. They were all adopted and not above taking the law into their own hands. They had extra money and cars that rode like the wind. He was incredibly fast and insanely secretive. If I took all that and added it up it only lend to one thing; they were not normal. But who was these days. The real question was how not normal were they and that was the one answer I was beginning to believe would cost me my life.

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