The airplane couldn't land quickly enough. It couldn't unload quickly enough. In fact, nothing in my immediate vision was able to move quickly enough to satisfy me. Unfortunately, I could not allow myself to run, for I was surrounded by countless humans on both sides. I exhaled slowly, trying to calm my nerves. I noticed a young teenage girl with bushy brown hair gazing up at me; her eyes were glazed over. A gust of wind blew throughout the confined space as the pilot opened the door, and the girl shook her head, blushing slightly. My lips involuntarily rose to a small smirk. It seemed Bella wasn't the only human my scent worked its charm on.
Finally, we were disembarking at a snail's pace. The thoughts of those around me were disgruntled as we walked through the Port Angeles airport—I was the only passenger who seemed to be ecstatic at my point of destination. The crowd thinned quickly. The less people I saw, the faster I began to walk. I was only a few yards away from exiting through the doors and into the pouring rain when I heard it.
"Edward."
My feet stopped dead in their tracks, my eyes growing wide. Who had said that? I allowed my black eyes to scan the scarce amount of people in this side of the building. Every human was absorbed in their own doings. Suddenly it struck me that I was acting grossly conceited. There are other Edwards in the world besides me. I continued walking.
"Edward, come here."
The breath shot through my mouth in a quick huff as I glanced around once again. No one was speaking these words; they were thinking them. It was if they knew, somehow…
"For goodness' sake, Edward!" The thoughts sounded annoyed.
The last time my eyes searched the walls, they spotted something. Or rather, someone.
"Alice." I spoke calmly and quietly; I knew she could hear me.
"Hello, Edward" Alice sang. Her quick feet brought her springing into my arms, almost knocking me down.
"What are you doing here?" I asked her, giving in and hugging her back.
"I saw you," she informed me simply as she drew back. Her eyes twinkled in light of her joyous mood that day. Seemingly out of nowhere, a tall, blond, wonderfully handsome man passed out of the rain and through the doors, heading straight towards us. His white teeth flashed as he smiled at me.
"Hello, Jasper," I grinned. No matter how much I would have liked to be annoyed at Alice for following me here, my mood stayed pleased; I believed it may have had something to do with Jasper's presence. I couldn't be annoyed with him, however. I was positive he was only tagging along for the ride.
"Good afternoon, Edward. It's nice to see you," he said smoothly. When he reached where my sister and I stood, he grabbed Alice's tiny hand. I turned my gaze to the glass doors as they entwined their icy fingers. Just outside, I was able to see a small car sitting in the rain, its lights still on.
"I'm assuming that's for us?" I asked. Alice smiled lightly and nodded, scooting closer to Jasper. "Then I suppose we should go," I told them.
They followed me out the doors, through the puddles, and into the car. I automatically slid into the driver's seat, prepared to rebut any complaints from Alice of Jasper. When all I heard was silence, my mood brightened slightly.
Alice and Jasper both crawled gracefully into the back seat of the Lexus that Jasper had gotten for us. They sat on opposite sides of the car, hands meeting in the middle. I glanced in the rearview mirror and was slightly surprised by what I saw there.
"What are you so happy about?" I asked, my voice conveying my curiosity. Alice's teeth emitted a bright shine in the otherwise darkness of the car as she smiled widely. I started the car and quickly slid into traffic—not that there was much.
"You're here," Alice answered me, speaking aloud to allow Jasper to join in our conversation. Her smile widened as she continued. "And there would only be one reason you would ever return here."
"What's that?" I asked dully, sounding completely uninterested. I knew otherwise. My hands became reacquainted with the steering wheel and gearshift as I led us quickly—too quickly for some humans—away from Port Angeles.
"Like you don't know," she scoffed, but the smile stayed on her beautiful face. Alice's merry condition rubbed off onto Jasper, in turn rubbing off onto me. "Bella!" Alice cried, her grin showing more teeth than ever as she said the name aloud.
"Bella," I repeated softly, her lovely name rolling off my tongue smoothly. "Yes, Bella," I smiled. It was the first time I had allowed myself to speak her name, to let my lips make the motions of my favorite word, since I had left her that day, nearly six months ago.
"I've missed her," Alice mused. "It's as though our family hasn't been whole without her with us." Alice's smile faded, but only the tiniest bit.
I realized the implications behind her words—I had let our family crumble under my weakness, my sadness, after I left Forks. I couldn't blame Alice for being sad—or even bitter—about the situation. But that was all about to change. "I know," I whispered. Our eyes met through the rearview mirror. Alice's held sadness, sympathy, and—oddly enough—a bit of curiosity as I gazed into their light amber color.
"Will you change her?" The question came so softly, so quickly that I wasn't even sure that I'd heard it. But when I glanced once again to the back of the car, I found that same curiosity in Alice's eyes growing stronger.
"Yes," I answered her softly and truthfully. I had never been so completely resolute about a decision before. "If she'll still have me."
Jasper and Alice laughed, the angelic noise filling the car like music. "Of course she'll still have you!" Jasper told me happily. His smile was apparent in his voice.
"Are you sure?" I questioned. After what I'd done to her—left her, would she—could she forgive me? My thought process increased as I spotted a sign through the rain announcing that we were speedily approaching Forks.
"Would you like me to check?" Alice asked me. I couldn't decide—would I want to know of her joyous acceptance and have the surprise be ruined? Or would I wish to know of her decision to reject returning to me, so that I wouldn't actually have to go through with it? I could save myself a little more heartbreak and turn back now if that was how the vision would play out. I decided the latter would be more humiliating.
"Yes." I closed my eyes for a small moment as I drove, breathing in and out deeply. What would I do if she rejected me? Would I spend my life courting her? She loved me once, I had faith she could love me again. Or maybe I would need to just respect Bella's decision and head to Rome—the Volterra would know what to do with me.
Alice let out a small frustrated sound from the back seat. I glanced at the mirror—her reflection showed agitation oh her perfect features.
"Alice, what?" I asked impatiently. I knew that if I'd had a beating heart, it would be working furiously at this point.
"I… I can't see her," Alice informed me and Jasper. There was a trace of disappointment, confusion, and agitation in her quiet voice.
"Not at all?" I asked, unbelieving. Why wouldn't Alice be able to see Bella? Was my love alright? I could never forgive myself if something happened to her. I wouldn't forgive myself.
"No," Alice sighed, resigned. Her small face dropped in sadness and she allowed her head to rest on Jasper's strong shoulder. As he reached up to stroke her short, dark hair, she went on. "This is very curious; it's never happened before. I've never not been able to look for a specific person in my mind." Alice's musings definitely weren't reassuring my ever-growing doubt.
"So—what does it mean?" I asked impatiently. Jasper quickly touched my tense shoulder, turning my agitation into quiet wonder.
"I'm not sure," Alice said calmly, slowly. Her fingers fidgeting within Jasper's hand didn't escape my notice.
"Something bad?" I asked just as slowly. Glancing once again out the dark window, I noticed a sign welcoming me to the great town of Forks. Suddenly I wasn't so ecstatic to be there.
"Edward, stop assuming the worst," Jasper scolded me. I slowed my breathing in attempt to do the same for my racing mind.
"Alice—didn't you ever look for Bella before? When I was gone?" I wondered.
"You told me not to," Alice answered simply. Damn her and her moral values. "I don't know why I could see her before, though, before we left Forks. It's as though she's disappeared altogether." Jasper felt my mood tense immensely. I knew without looking that he was squeezing Alice's hand, warning her of my "fragile condition," or so his mind thought. I scoffed at the description.
"Sorry, Edward," Alice apologized softly. I heard their thoughts of mixed worry for me and for Bella. They wondered what would happen if she was no longer in Forks, if she refused me, if she didn't remember our family. Their last thought hit me the hardest, figuratively knocking the wind from my lungs.
"We're here," I told them grimly. I blocked out their minds; they were becoming too strong for me to handle. "I'll drop you two off at home." I didn't want Alice and Jasper to accompany me on my quest to revive old love. I could only see them nodding their heads slowly in the back seat.
I led the car through the overgrown branches and shrubs blocking out our old driveway. Slowly—for me, at least—we cleared the pass and the white house came into view. I refused to allow any memories to flood in, for I knew they would only be of Bella and the times we'd shared there. The car stopped short, more distance than usual between me and the beautiful old home. Alice and Jasper didn't ask questions, only slid from the back seat quietly.
"Be safe, Edward."
The words I heard coming from Alice's thoughts struck me in the chest, squeezing my cold heart of its feeling. My face crumpled in sadness as Jasper shut the car door quietly, but my posture stayed strong. I drove away quickly, kicking up gravel behind the wheels. Suddenly the world was suffocating; everything in this old familiar town let Bella slowly creep back into my thoughts. I couldn't breathe until I knew she was safe.
The trees flew by as fast as ever—I needn't think about where or when my hands turned the wheel. I could drive the route to my love's house blindfolded if I desired. I almost did.
The familiar two-story came into view quicker than I'd hoped. This was it—the decision that would ultimately determine my life. If she would have me—there were no words to describe the joy, the ecstasy I would feel throughout my body, my soul. Bella's existence had convinced me that I possessed one, no matter how small. I knew by simply seeing her once again my soul would grow twice its size in pure jubilation and emotion. It had been dwindling away each day I'd been away from her.
I parked the Lexus on the street across from her driveway and turned the keys. I heard the engine slowly die. I hoped that wasn't a sign of what I would soon be going through. I stepped from the car and closed my door as quietly as I could, not bothering to lock it. As I neared the house, I realized something was different; something was wrong. The old plant sitting on the doorstep was gone. The curtains were no longer hanging in Bella's old bedroom window. To top it all off, the cab was nowhere to be seen.
My mind raced at the possibilities: Bella had moved. She'd gone back to stay with her mother. She'd fell from a cliff. The longer I thought the more ridiculous my imagination became. Soon I was convinced that Bella had met a new, more handsome vampire and had run off to marry him. It was then that I once again heard it.
"Edward."
Sorry I had to end it like that! I've started Chapter 3, though, so hopefully it will be up soon. Thank you all for your great reviews, I appreciate them so much!! They really inspire me to keep writing, so keep them coming if you please. And I promise you will get to see Bella in the next chapter!