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"When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew." - William Shakespeare

Chapter Two

Say Goodbye

I folded my arms tightly across my chest and glared at Edward.

"You know I'm mad at you, right?"

He concealed an amused grin as he continued to pack up my things. "Really? I had no idea."

"Well, I am." I huffed, lifting myself off the chair. I passed Edward one of my shirts, which he proceeded to fold neatly and stuff away in the depths of my suitcase. "Absolutely furious."

He looked up and raised an eyebrow at me curiously. "Bella, please don't be so stubborn."

I decided that it was in my best interest not to say anything more and continued to pass him more of my things to pack for the trip. We worked in silence, and finally, when all my things were packed, Edward zipped up the bag with finality. He glanced around my room once, and then looked at me, smiling.

"It looks like you're set then, Bella."

I grunted in response and dropped down on my bed indifferently, burying my nose inside of my novel. I heard Edward sigh and then felt him sit warily down beside me. I focused furiously on one single line on the page, not gaining an ounce of meaning from it. Edward gently removed the book from my fingers and turned my chin to look at him.

"Please don't be upset with me, love. This is much safer for you."

I continued to glare at him. His brow wrinkled.

"Please, Bella? We only have two hours before your flight. Do you really want to spend it mad at me?"

I supposed he was right. I sighed in defeat and took the book out of Edward's hand, throwing it atop my suitcase carelessly. "I just hate that you think you can make decisions for me, Edward. I swear, sometimes you act like you're my father."

He grimaced at the thought, and pulled me into his chest. "I'm sorry. Please don't be upset anymore."

I attempted to pull myself out of his hold, but fell against his chest when I couldn't escape his strength. "I'm not mad," I mumbled into his chest, "Just annoyed. What if you hadn't been able to convince me to go? Tell me the truth; would you have forced me?"

He allowed me to pull my head up from his embrace to look at him. He thought in silence for a moment, and then replied: "Most likely."

"So, against my will or not, I would be on that plane in two hours?"

He chuckled. "Yes, you would."

I didn't understand what he found so amusing. "Great." I mumbled, dispirited.

"Bella," He said, the smile on his face faltering, "I always have your best interests at heart. You and I both know that being as far as possible from Victoria is the best option for you right now. Besides, don't you want to go to Paris? I know you'll have an excellent time."

I ran an agitated hand through my hair, feeling as though he was missing my point completely.

"Edward," I said, frustrated, "It's not about whether I'll have a good time or not. It's about the fact that you feel like you can decide things for me, as if I'm not capable of making my own choices."

"Bella, you know I-"

"Yes, you have my best interests at heart!" I said heatedly, "But, you could have at least asked me what I thought of the plan first. Instead of choosing for me, you could have included me, and whether I refused to go or not, I would have at least been able to see your side of it."

Edward went silent at my outburst and watched me unhappily as I collected myself. I got up from the bed and walked to window, feeling suddenly quite hot. I could hear him get up to follow, but I didn't turn when he stood himself directly behind me.

"Bella," He said quietly into my ear, "I didn't think of it that way. I'm sorry I didn't ask you first. Sometimes I just feel like I need to decide these things for you because otherwise I won't have any sort of control over your safety. I really only want to keep you safe."

I closed my eyes and put my burning face against the cool window. "I know, Edward."

The truth was that I did know that he was telling the complete truth, but somehow I was still a little angry with him. I couldn't understand why his best intentions always seemed to come off the wrong way, but I sighed, and decided to forget it all for today. After all, in two hours, I would be leaving him behind in Forks, and that would be hard enough on him without my being angry with him as well.

I turned to face him, and let him envelop me in his arms. "I know."

He smiled into my shoulder. "I love you infinitely."

I gazed over his shoulder blankly at the wall behind him. "Love you too."

There was something about airports and all the people bustling about importantly that always put a nervous excitement in my stomach. The whooshing planes preparing for takeoff, the infinite number of destinations, the tourists with their colorful bags and wide eyes: it was all so thrilling. Something about flying, being suspended in mid-air in a huge metal bird, and soaring over land and water, heading to some distant place, was all so nerve-wracking and breathtaking at the same time. I loved to fly.

The only plane ride I remember dreading and thoroughly loathing was the trip to Forks, when I had grieved over leaving sunny Phoenix for this damp and virtually non-existent town.

I checked the flashing board again; the plane was due to board in thirty minutes.

Edward sat tranquilly on a seat in front of me in the waiting area, reading a newspaper as I drew his concentrated face on my sketchpad. I shaded his hair as he turned a page calmly; it didn't seem to bother either of us that the rest of his family still had not arrived. After five minutes of fruitless sketching that did Edward no justice, my eyes drifted upwards as a group of graceful people drifted towards us.

Alice reached us first.

"Bella!" She sighed, hugging me desperately. I patted her back in an odd comforting manner, not understanding the dramatics.

"Alice…"

She peeled herself off of me and held me firmly at an arm's distance. There was something wrong in her face; she looked at me as if she had seen death.

"Alice?" I inquired, "What-?"

"I need to talk to you." She said through clenched teeth, evidently trying not to attract her family's attention. "Alone."

She hurried me off to side, behind a stand selling Washington souvenirs, and I looked at her expectantly. Alice examined me worriedly, and ran a small hand through her hair.

"You love me, right?"

"Alice," I said shocked, "you know I do. Of course, yes."

"Then," She sighed, "you would never ever go anywhere or do anything stupid without telling me first, right?"

I glanced worriedly at the Cullens, sensing Edward's eyes. I pulled Alice further behind the stand for additional concealment.

"Alice, what's this about?"

"Bella," She said, in a tone of desperation, "I had a vision. It wasn't like anything I've seen before. Something…something is going to change. Drastically. I don't know what, I couldn't tell, but something is going to happen to us…to you. For some reason, I get the premonition that I'm going to lose you soon. That Edward's going to lose you."

"Alice," I whispered hurriedly, "What did you see? Exactly?"

She groaned, and rubbed her eyes in exasperation. "I- I don't know. I told you, Bella, I couldn't see anything for sure. It was so confusing… all I know for certain is that something is going to change and that we may lose you because of it. I don't mean you're going to die, Bella…I just feel like you'll leave me…Edward."

I took Alice's hand reassuringly. "I won't leave you, Alice, ever. You're probably just worrying about Victoria and us going away…because other than Paris, I'm not going anywhere. I'll always stay with you. And as for something changing…it might just be the fact that you'll finally be able to kill Victoria now. Don't over think it, okay?"

She looked like she wanted to believe me, but something seemed to be holding her back. "Alright, Bella, I'll take your word for it."

"Good," I smiled.

We walked back to the family, Alice pretending to wipe fake tears of an emotional goodbye, as I said my own goodbyes to Esme, Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper.

"Be safe, Bella." Esme said, pulling out of our hug.

"I will," I promised, "You know me, I always stay far from trouble."

She laughed in irony as I hugged Alice again, and in the noise of the commotion, Alice whispered in my ear, too low for any of the others to hear.

"What I told you, Bella, will do well to stay between us."

I squeezed her arm, to acknowledge that I agreed, and she kissed my cheek, pulling away and smiling as though nothing had been said. I turned, with finality, to Edward. He eyed Alice suspiciously, and realizing that she was trying to conceal her thoughts, I pulled him away to distract him and say our final farewell.

Clearly diverted in his attention, Edward wrapped his arms tightly around me, whispering a long, drawling goodbye that I barely heard. I caught eyes with Alice frantically over his shoulder, and like fiends, we looked away hurriedly as though hiding more than a simple conversation between friends.

"…take care of yourself, and please listen to Carlisle. I'll call you tomorrow. I love you more than the world, Bella, have a safe-"

I kissed his cheek quickly, cutting him off. "Goodbye, Edward. I love you."

He smiled, a little mollified in my assurance of love. "Goodbye, Bella."

I turned to pick up my bag once had Edward released me, but before I could wrap my fingers around the strap, another hand had easily lifted it away. Looking upwards, I noticed for the first time, Carlisle, smiling serenely and fondly at me. It placated me to know that I would at least have good company on this trip, if nothing else.

"Hello, Bella," He said warmly. His voice was familiar, like an old friend. I smiled affectionately at him.

"Carlisle," I greeted.

He shifted both our belongings to one hand easily, saying his own quiet goodbye to Edward, and then offered me his free arm. "I daresay we should board now. I think it's time we say goodbye to Forks."

I looked at Edward once more with something like reassurance in my expression, then wound my arm around Carlisle's and looked into his excited eyes, realizing that these next few weeks seemed to be appearing brighter and brighter.

"And time to say hello to a new adventure." I whispered excitedly, soft enough for only Carlisle's ears.

Carlisle grinned at the prospect of it, and the both of us, daring not to look back on what, or rather, who, we were leaving behind, marched forwards with hopes and anticipation of what we would find once we arrived in the city of Paris.


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