A/N: Wow. Quite a few months... So much for updating every week! So, the beginning is the best part. Its mostly planning, thus the name of the chapter.
9. Planning
Edward interrupted me as I was changing out of the store's blouse and into my long sleeved black shirt. After a swift knock, Edward was standing in the small square room with me, his face only inches from mine. I hastily pulled the shirt down over my pale, flat stomach, embarrassed that he had seen so much skin, though it was hardly any, seeing as my jeans still hugged my hips and my shirt was now on. But either way, it was so embarrassing, seeing how perfect he was, next to my flawed form. A slight tingle ran down my spine as he leaned in to whisper in my ear.
"We need to get home," He said quietly, his arms momentarily wrapping around my waist. The blouse, which was still in my hands, fluttered to the ground. Edward rolled his eyes and grabbed the shirt before it could touch the dirty floor. "Are you okay?" He asked me quietly, his head ducked to meet my gaze, his liquid topaz eyes so beautiful, so wondrous, so-
"Bella?" Edward asked, shaking my frail shoulder in his big, strong hands. I started back into reality.
"I-I'm ready when you are," I told him quickly, a flush flaring over my cheeks, singeing the very skin. That was always embarrassing: getting lost in those wonderful eyes. Edward nodded, planted a quick kiss on my lips, and pulled open the dressing room door. Outside stood a line of women, all looking at me and Edward, all with their mouths wide open. One old lady seemed to be muttering something about 'untrustworthy teenagers,' and quite a few girls were sending glares my direction. Only then did I realized what they thought had happened back there, and I thought my face was going to burn off, it was so flushed.
Edward, on the other hand, paid them no mind. Instead, he just took my hand and started out of the dressing rooms and into the department store. "What about the blouse?" I mumbled lamely. We'd left it in the dressing room.
Edward looked at me as if I were crazy. "What does a blouse matter when your life is in danger?" He asked lightly, in an almost teasing matter. And yet, his voice was underlain with a harder, more serious edge. I had to give him credit, he did have a point.
With steps faster than I could keep up with, Edward raced to the rental car and hurriedly started it up. I jumped into the passenger's side, my eyes wide at Edward's sudden swiftness, and hurriedly buckled up. "Why are you in such a rush?" I hissed, my eyes locked on my hands. If I were to even look at Edward, I might just melt like butter.
"Jasper, Emmett and Carlisle have reached the house," Edward informed me crisply. By now we were speeding along the interstate over 100 mph.
"Oh." It explained everything; the others reaching the house meant that Victoria and Felix would soon find us, and we still didn't have a plan. But I was quite trusting when it came to the Cullens. They were absolutely trustworthy, and none of them wanted me harmed, not even Rosalie, even if she did still act frosty towards me at times. That triggered another question in my head. "Why didn't Alice, Esme and Rosalie come?" I asked curiously, my eyes meeting Edward's, and then skittering down to my pale hands, folded in my lap.
"Some one has to keep a watch over the house," Edward informed me smoothly, his eyes never leaving the road, his face never dropping that wary expression. He was like a watch-dog on duty, always watching for anything strange, out of the ordinary, or vampiric. I snorted at the idea. Some one had to watch the house? Okay, I could accept that.
"So it will only be you, Jasper, Emmett and Carlisle?" I asked in a quiet, frightened voice. I didn't know what they were planning on doing to Felix and Victoria, but I didn't think it would be anything good.
"You're forgetting some one," Edward added, the smallest hint of a smirk on his thin lips. I just stared incredulously. My mind had immediately jumped to Alex, but I didn't think she would fight for my life. Edward took in my expression, and found the mood light enough to laugh quietly. "Other than Alex," He told me with a small glint in his eye.
Understanding flooded through me, and my mouth formed a small 'o'. "Oh." I said quietly, feeling rather stupid for not thinking of him. "Logan…" I noted the obvious, my voice full of a slight shame. How could I have forgotten Logan? The poor guy, I added quietly. I wondered momentarily if he and Alex had worked anything out, but before I could, the car had stopped, and I glanced up, shocked. We had made it back in half the time it had taken; I had hardly been paying attention to Edward's ridiculous driving. He had already parked the car, and was now pulling open my door. With out permission, his cool hands pulled me from the car, causing me to sigh. "I can walk, thanks," I said in exasperation. Her only offered a small smile and set me down, holding on to my own pale hand with his ghostly pale hand.
We had hardly entered the house before two shadows popped up in the dimly lit halls. My whole body tensed, and I looked up, expecting to see the wild appearance of Victoria and the suave Felix. But instead, two other vampires stood before me, and a wave of great relief swept through my body. My shoulders immediately sagged as Emmett and Jasper flanked us, one on each side of me and Edward.
"I can't believe you managed to scare off Alex, Edward," Emmett chortled from beside me, his muscular frame shaking with silent laughter. "I thought she liked you more than that; plus, I didn't think that you were that scary!" He continued on, still shaking with the laughter that now emitted from his lips. Jasper only rolled his eyes, not commenting on the topic. I followed his lead, pressing my lips firmly shut. I had many comments I could make on that topic, but decided against it, since Edward's face was livid. I thought he was going to put his fist in Emmett's face, but he restrained, tersely replying.
"Oh, I thought you would have guessed that…" he said quietly, his eyebrows rising, as if challenging Emmett to go on. It was obvious his brother had accepted the challenge, for Emmett's mouth opened in reply, but he was cut off by another voice, one that was calmer, flowing with authority.
"No point in arguing, Emmett," Carlisle cut in conversationally, his voice light and breezy. I craned my neck around to catch a glance of the blonde doctor walking behind us. He looked serene, as they all did, as if nothing was happening, and this was a stroll in the park. For a split second, I wished I could be as calm as they were. And as if that weren't enough, another voice piped up as we rounded a corner.
"Took you long enough," Alice snorted from her seat at the dining room table. The sight of her filled me with relief. I had definitely missed Alice most of the other Cullens, beside Edward, of course. I trusted her more than any one else (once again besides Edward) and was completely relieved to see her here.
"I thought you weren't coming?" I asked her breathlessly as Edward seated himself beside Alice and pulled me onto his lap. My eyes stared at Alice blankly, then turned to Edward, a slight scoff on my face. "You said she wasn't coming," I dully accused him. I always lacked the right authority when I talked to Edward; he left me completely breathless, making it hard for me to show any emotion besides being dazzled. Even my scoff, carefully composed, sagged as that crooked smile overtook his lips.
"I didn't know Alice was coming," he told me, honesty ringing through every word and even sparkling in his eyes. I examined his immaculately angelic face for a moment, searching for any hint of a lie, but found none, to my own satisfaction.
"She insisted on coming," Jasper said quietly, sarcastically, I noted, from his perch beside Alice. The spiky haired vampire only smiled, flaunting glistening teeth that were razor sharp.
It was then that Carlisle took a seat at the head of the table, and Logan sat to his left, Emmett to his right. Obviously, Carlisle was to head our meeting. He brought all of us to order by clearing his throat. "We need a plan," He stated obviously, his eyes scanning over his sons and daughter, then Logan and me. I, personally, had no ideas, but I was sure that the others were chalk full of them. Instantaneously, five perfect voices all started up, with the exception of Logan. He just sat there, hands folded, eyes downcast, contemplating. I was enchanted as I watched him, his brow puckered, every muscle tensed.
"Chasing them is not an option, Emmett," Carlisle broke through the rumbling and ranting with his calm voice. "But it might end something like you hinted at," He said quietly, his slim, pale fingers forming a steeple on top of the table. "If we cannot work something out, death might be our only choice.
"We can hold them back," Logan informed Carlisle calmly. "I can get us another ally," He informed us quietly. With an approving nod from Carlisle, Logan was off, speeding through hallways. In a few minutes, he returned, some one with him. And not just any some one, Alex. All eyes were fixed on her as she took a seat on the other side of Jasper, and looked to Carlisle, her eyes barely skimming over me. So she was still upset about this mortal thing. Then how had Logan talked her into coming down here? I shook it off as Edward spoke.
"They aren't going to get near Bella if they smell us around," He said quietly, his voice reverberating off of the walls. It was true, I noted quietly, a frown creasing my brow. "So, we need her to be alone, and still set a trap for them," he said confidently. He was right; the idea was so simple, and yet it could easily be over-looked by hunters intent on finding their prey.
"He's right," Jasper piped up, his eyes focused on Carlisle. The others nodded in agreement.
"The problem is, how do we do this?" Alice asked quickly, her words fluid, yet hardly slow enough for me to catch. "I mean, we can't leave Bella alone, but we have to! They could strike faster than they could taunt her and play around with her…" Alice muttered tightly.
"But they won't," I added on. All eyes were on me. "C'mon; I was the reason James is dead. She's not gonna let me off the hook with a sharp pain, then death's sweet embrace," I said with a roll of my eyes. I watched cautiously as a few glances were exchanged. I thought I saw Alex's lips move, but it was too fast for my horrid eyesight to catch. Instead I shrugged it off and waited for a response.
"You can't be sure about that," Edward said, his voice low and twisted with a hint of frustration. "What if they don't draw it out and we can't be her in seconds? What will you do then?" He asked me vehemently, his eyes scorching as they looked down into my own eyes. For a few seconds, I let myself get lost in the depths of his miraculous eyes. They were perfect, like every inch of him. It was only when Carlisle cleared his throat, calling all the attention back to him, did I look up.
"Alice?" Carlisle asked calmly, his face emotionless, his voice nearly monotone. Obviously he had no say in this as of right now.
Alice's eyes took on a blank expression, and her lips drew tight. Her pale face grew incredibly still, and she looked like a perfect statue for a few moments. "They still aren't sure what we are going to do," She said with a sigh.
Carlisle then looked to Edward. He only sat still, his eyes glowering and fixed upon his hands, which were clasped lovingly in mine. He immediately glanced back up again and shook his head. "I can't hear them yet," He said after inhaling deeply.
Carlisle nodded swiftly. "Good," He said quietly, almost darkly. "We have time to prepare."
Those words scared me. "Prepare?" I asked, the panic flaring up in my stomach. Carlisle only nodded.
"If this plan is going to work, we must leave you; that is what they are waiting for, of course."
"B-but… why would you be leaving me?" I heard myself stutter. That was when Alex piped up for the first time.
"I'll tip them off." All eyes turned to her.
"What?" Logan asked incredulously.
"I said, I'll tip them off. I'll tell them I told all of you it was safe to go out for a while, to go hunting. And you all went, of course. They'll believe it," She added breathlessly in a wispy undertone. She was getting many curious looks, from me included. Inhaling deeply, Alex continued on. "I was mad," She explained, her words flowing together, making it hard for me to understand. "I knew how to contact Victoria, so I did. I told her you all were here, and…" She let her head fall into her hands, a gesture that looked so human.
A growl emitted from Edward's throat, and Logan stared amazed at his wife. No one bothered to ask why, for we all knew the answer. She'd wanted me dead.
"But I regret it now," She immediately responded, almost in desperation. "I… I never intended to hurt any one. I guess I was just so caught up in the moment…"
"You could have killed her!" Edward raged, his voice silent but deadly. I cringed away, afraid of what might happen if he got any more upset.
"I know…" Alex whispered quietly, her eyes wide and staring at her hands. "But… but it will work out; I am sure they will trust me," She said confidently. I looked up at Edward, who seemed to be caught between two decisions: trusting her, or not. Finally, the first won.
"Fine," Edward hissed, obviously outraged. "You tell them, we leave, but stay close enough to hear their thoughts. When its time, we spring on them," He announced the plan to every one, who nodded in approval. A relieved smile spread over Alex's full lips, and before any one could say another word, she was up and ready to run.
"I'll go talk to them now, just to speed things up," She informed us, her voice high with excitement. We all nodded, and Edward stood, gently pushing me off of his lap. I sighed quietly, and glanced up at him.
"Going separate ways again," I noted bitterly, my eyes widening as I looked up at his perfect face once more. He only nodded. "I love you…" I whispered quietly, noticing that the room had emptied in half a second.
Edward inhaled deeply. "Bella, I know we will be back to help you but please, try and be careful. I love you too much to loose you." He pulled me into a tight embrace, and I immediately buried my face in his shirt. Inhaling, his scent flared through my body, momentarily cleansing my mind. Oh, I hated him for being so perfect, yet loved him for the exact same reason.
Sighing, Edward broke the embrace. With a swiftness that left me breathless, he leaned down to press his own cold, hard lips against my warmer ones. And then he was off, leaving me alone with Alex.