Bella
"Hey, Bella," Mike shouts, running to catch up with me in the parking lot after school.
Rolling my eyes, I slow my walking and turn to face him. When he sees my face, he hesitates, but then steadies himself and continues closer.
"You alright?" he asks, smiling widely at me in a way that makes me want to cringe. "I know there's a lot been going on and all, so I wanted to check in."
"I'm fine, Mike, thanks," I go to turn my back, but when he continues, I pause.
"Cullens have been gone for a while," he says, trying to be nonchalant but missing the mark completely. "Are they, you know… they coming back?"
The words stab at me and I grab at my chest with the sudden pain I feel there.
Mike must realise he's said something wrong because he moves to wrap an arm around me, but I quickly duck out of his way.
It has now been three days with Edward missing, Alice having been gone even longer. In that time, I've not heard from him once. In passing, Esme has told me about the updates, but the lack of contact has been hurting.
"I think so, excuse me," I say, covering the remaining short distance to my truck.
Mike just stands there. I can't understand why he keeps trying. Surely after all this time and the numerous rejections, he'd have given up, but apparently not.
Uncomfortable watching his hurt puppy dog expression, I start the engine and head out back home.
Really, I'm feeling terrible. While the beta blocker is working really well to help me manage everything, the other medication is rough. Carlisle hadn't been kidding about the side effects and I'm just glad that there's no one watching me.
This morning, the nausea started, and over the course of the day it's continued to worsen. I haven't been sick yet, but the rolling in my stomach has been really uncomfortable.
When I pull in at my house, I go immediately up to bed, placing a bucket within reach just in case, and try to relax so the blankets can warm me through.
As the evening progresses, I begin to feel even worse.
A headache starts to blossom and quickly dizziness joins in with it.
Even though I haven't eaten anything today, the feeling in my stomach just makes me so miserable.
I consider inviting Esme inside, for I know she's outside watching the house, but something holds me back. This is my fight. A fight that I know Edward would panic over, leading to him coming home early. That's something I can't consider.
They've not managed to find Victoria yet, but murphy's law would say that if he came home they'd find her the next day, so he has to stay.
My stomach rolls again and this time I feel pressure elsewhere. Rushing to the bathroom, I feel hot tears run down my cheeks.
"I can't do this," I cry into the empty room.
Charlie won't be home until late as he's helping with the sudden increased number of missing person cases, likely related to Victoria being in town. So, I'm home alone for the foreseeable future.
Making myself comfortable by rolling up a towel between my head and the wall, I settle in for a long few days.
Thankfully, tomorrow is Saturday so I can spend the day resting.
I let my mind go blank as the headache continues to rampage through my skull.
As expected, the feeling of being slowly tortured to death continues throughout the night and into the next day. Charlie had been worried when he came home, but a quick explanation of a stomach bug settled his concerns and, at my request, he's mostly left me to it.
While Charlie had been at work, Esme had come in for some time and sat with me, but I spent the whole time feeling too unwell to properly appreciate her presence.
It's not until Wednesday that everything starts to settle enough for me to get up out of bed and go downstairs.
Wrapped in a big fluffy dressing gown and fuzzy slippers, I'm hunched on the couch sipping at a mug of warm tea that Esme had given to me.
We, or I should say she, is watching some absolute rubbish on the TV. The meaningless squabbles of the average human mind that has nothing more pressing to worry about than the fact that their next door neighbour was playing music too early in the morning.
I'm broken from my mindlessness by the phone ringing. I make a move to stand up and get it, but before I can even get one foot on the floor, Esme is in front of me, handing over the phone.
Blinking in surprise, I take it and push the green button. "Hello," I rasp, not being able to do more right now.
"Hi Bella, it's Sam."
That shocks me into alertness. While I'm sure that the Cullens have been keeping in contact with the wolves, I've not heard anything from them in some time.
"What's happened?" I ask, suspicious and worried about what he might be phoning to say.
"Relax, there's nothing urgent. I just, umm, wanted to ask a favour. It's Jake, he won't come home."
When I'd been told that the pack were all returning to protect the reservation, I'd have thought that Jake would have come with them too. It's not a good idea to assume, I remind myself.
"Oh, where is he?" I ask, trying to work out where else he could have gone.
"We're not sure. He's not phased so we can't hear him and he, umm, he's stopped answering his phone. We.." there's a shout down the phone. "I mean I... thought maybe you could try to get hold of him?"
Clearly this phone call hasn't been unanimously agreed to. "I mean, I can try, but I doubt he'll listen anymore to me than he has to you."
"Just… Could you try? I can't send anyone out looking for him with the current threat, but I'm worried he's got himself involved with something."
"Sure," I say, forcing a smile into my voice. "I'll let you know if I hear anything."
We exchange brief goodbyes and then hang up.
Not wasting any time, I dial Jacob's cell number and hold the phone up to my ear.
The phone rings for several seconds and then I hear Jake's voice inviting me to leave a message.
"Jake, it's Bella. Can you call me?"
I hang up the phone and hold it in my hands. While I'm not surprised that Jacob has gone MIA given everything that's happened, the idea of him struggling with this alone fills me with guilt.
"Do you know where they last were?" Esme asks in a soft voice.
"Somewhere further south, I don't know. He's probably long gone from there now anyway."
Placing the phone on the table beside me, I let my head fall into my hands. How has everything gone quite so wrong?
The evening passes without further events. The phone stays, not making a sound.
Late in the evening, the lock turns in the door and I look over to see Charlie stumbling into the room, stripping off various sodden clothes.
"Charlie, it's nice to see you," Esme says standing up, "There's some dinner left in the oven for you, I'll just make sure it's warmed through."
He looks slightly stunned at the homely woman bustling around after him, but his face lights up when he looks over to see me sat on the couch.
"You're looking better," he says, finishing hanging up his wet outer jacket. "You are better, right?"
"Much, how was work?" I ask, nervous of the answer.
"You don't want to know," he responds, throwing himself down into his armchair. His face is looking haggard. In the last week, he's been working long hours with no day off, and it's starting to take its toll.
When Esme returns with a large bowl of warm soup, chicken noodle, he grabs at it and digs straight in. Chuckling to try and disguise my worry, I tease him, "No lunch today?"
Looking sheepish, he shakes his head. "Was on scene most of the day, no time for food. That poor girl."
I know that the ever increasing number of missing people is worrying him, but the fact that every missing person has shown up with a body apart from Billy is worrying him even more.
"Someone else?" Esme asks, "Close to home?"
"Please, don't worry, we'll catch them. Just, you know, make sure the kids are home safe." He puts another spoon of soup in his mouth, "And that includes you, young lady. No more running off, not right now."
Feeling my face flush, I duck my head, but I'm saved from answering when a large yawn creeps up on me.
"You look beat still," Charlie says. "Need me to phone the school again?" He'd been phoning in, explaining that I've been unwell. While I appreciate the effort, my attendance is so low at this point I have to wonder if, regardless of how much work I catch up on, they'll even let me graduate.
"No, I can't miss anymore. Though my bed is calling for me. Sorry." I say starting to uncurl myself from the blankets.
"I'll help," Esme says, taking my hand to steady me on my feet. Both adults send me a look that says they don't believe I should be going tomorrow, but truly, I can't stand another day in this house and, realistically, this is likely to continue for some time. I can't just permanently leave school.
Finally finding my balance, I wish everyone a good night and stumble up the stairs.
Not long later, I hear Esme leave the house and drive away, though I know she's likely just parking the car around the corner for someone else to move later on.
I shiver when I change into my pyjamas and the cool sheets don't help.
As I fall asleep, I mutter to myself, this had better be worth it.
The next morning, I'm sat in the cruiser being driven to school.
I'd argued for some time about being well enough to go, and he'd finally relented, but only if I agreed not to drive myself. Really, I'm still feeling jittery and unbalanced, so not having the responsibility of driving is a relief.
Again, the day drags.
I manage to make some reasonably good notes during the morning classes, but by lunchtime, I'm so tired that all I can do is stare and force my eyes to remain open.
I've been given even more homework, mostly catch-up work, but the mountain is starting to get so high that I wonder if it's even worth continuing to try. The thought causes tears to prickle in my eyes as I pick at my sandwich, ignoring everyone around me in the canteen.
"Bella," Jessica says, "What's wrong?"
This draws the entire table's notice towards me.
Sighing, I say, "Yeah, just a little under the weather."
"Eww," Jessica immediately replies, "don't spread it."
Angela pushes her shoulder and says, "Shut up. Are you sure you're alright? You're looking real pale."
"I'll survive, and don't worry, you can't catch this."
As I stand up and walk away, I hear Jessica's proud proclamation. "She's pregnant, that's why he's run off again."
Not bothering to respond, I keep walking out of the canteen and towards the parking lot. Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, I sit heavily on one of the benches.
"Bella," a familiar voice says from not far away.
Wrenching my eyes open, I look over to see the tense form of Jacob Black.
"You idiot," I say, launching myself towards him. "We've been worried about you. Where've you been? You alright? Why're you back?"
He laughs softly, but the humour doesn't reach his eyes. "I'm not sure. Just around I suppose. More importantly, what's wrong with you? You're looking like death warmed over…" he drops his voice conspiratorially. "Where is Mr Death?"
Shaking my head, I say, "I'm fine. Edward," I emphasise his name, "is…" I trail off realising that he might not know the most recent developments. "Have you been to the res yet?"
"No, I was passing through and thought I'd see you first." His face darkens, "Has something happened?"
"Yes, the red-headed vampire, Victoria, she's back. Were you not listening when the pack returned?"
A mixture of worry and sheepishness comes over his face, "I kinda went off on my own. Needed some space, ya know. But, I'd probably better get over there."
"Yes, you should. They're working with the Cullens to try and track them, but they've not had much luck so far."
"Working with the leeches?" he snarls. "How could Sam?!"
"It meant that the pack could stay guarding the reservation. They're not bad people Jake," I say defending my family but feeling my head start to swim more.
"Ha," Jake laughs sarcastically, "People. Good one. I ain't helping them."
"They're out there risking their lives," I say, my voice getting louder. "While you've been doing what, sunning yourself?"
Jacob's lips curl up into a snarl and, just as I think he's going to launch himself at me, he takes a step back. "Maybe it would help everyone if they just got themselves killed. Let me guess, the red head is searching for you again?" I nod. "Because those idiots brought you into their lives with no regard to your safety."
"You know it wasn't like that. Edward, he couldn't…"
"Sure he could, everyone has a choice. You couldn't have known the risk before getting involved, but they sure as hell did." I can't argue with that, it's true. "See, you know this is wrong."
"I've made my decision, Jacob," I say, venom in my voice. "I'm going to spend the rest of forever with Edward, if he'll have me."
Blind fury floods over Jake's face. "He's going to change you. You're voluntarily becoming a monster too. I thought I knew you." He spits on the floor and storms off towards a truck I don't recognise.
In his anger, he isn't careful with the door and it warps out of shape with a sickening bang.
Watching after him, I try to work out what went wrong, when a small voice behind me causes me to startle. "Bella?" It's Angela, she's followed me outside… how much did she hear?. "Did you have a fight?"
Letting out a woosh of air, I try to put a smile on my face. She didn't hear. "Sort of. It doesn't matter, I'll sort it another time."
Even if Angela hadn't heard, I know that the Cullen watching me would have done, and they'd have witnessed my outburst. My cheeks flaming, I follow Angela back into the school and resolve myself for a long afternoon.