For Your Eyes Only

Chapter Eight – When They Talked

I was too shocked to say anything for quite a few moments, but not shocked for the reasons I expected.

It was obvious that I used to really like Jasper Whitlock, and Rose knew that. That explained a lot about why she was so reluctant to tell me before; she thought I'd be hurt, betrayed...

But I felt none of that.

I was surprised to discover that I didn't really mind... it wasn't much of a big deal to me at all. It felt as though she'd just told me something normal, something gossipy, and that it shouldn't have affected me.

My thoughts whirled around for reasons why.

"Bella? Are you there? I really am sorry, I didn't know... I didn't think!"

"Rose, it's alright," I replied calmly. "I really don't mind."

She paused. "But Bella-"

"I honestly don't mind. I'm quite surprised myself..."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah," I lowered my voice. "I guess I'm not really that interested in Jasper anymore."

I could practically hear the cogs in her brain ticking away. "So... that must mean you're interested in somebody else..."

This took me by surprise and I frowned heavily. I'd regularly thought that Dr Cullen was quite attractive, but that meant nothing... that was just a harmless crush or whatever you wanted to call it. Besides, he was probably twice my age.

But Edward, on the other hand...

I nearly dropped the phone in surprise. "W-Well that's for me to know and for you to find out," I replied quickly to save myself. After clearing my throat, I added, "What's gonna happen with you and Emmett, though?"

She didn't buy my change of subject. "Bella, who is this person? Tell me!"

"There isn't anybody," I lied. "I'm just trying to annoy you."

"Well you've certainly done that," she grumbled. "I will find out, even if it kills me."

I snorted. "Ever the dramatist."

"That's me in a nutshell. Anyway, Bells, I've rung around about your truck and I'll be able to pick it up from the police station and drop it off for you, if that's alright. I won't disturb you, I'll just leave it outside your house."

Those words reminded me of what I had to talk to Edward about, and a feeling of dread overcame me. "Thanks, Rose," I managed. "That's really kind of you."

"No problem. Are you coming in on Monday?"

School was the last thing on my mind, but I had no other choice. "I think so."

"Good. I'll see you in the parking lot, then."

"Will do. Bye, Rose."

She hung up and I slowly placed down the phone, wanting to prolong the inevitable.

Of course, that was impossible.

"Bella?"

Edward was by my side, looking down at me seriously. I wanted to scowl at him but knew that wasn't appropriate, so I smiled; something I do when feeling nervous.

"Edward," was my clever reply.

"I don't mean to pressure you, but-"

"Let's just talk about it," I interrupted. "Get it over with... it's just not... pleasant."

He frowned. "You must have had a pretty bad experience with the police before to make you so reluctant." I sat back down and felt his eyes on me the whole way. It wasn't a positive feeling this time; his gaze felt as though it was making my skin tingle.

"My Mom." I couldn't really manage saying much more, but tried, for Edward's sake. "She... s-she was arrested when I was five." I paused. "They took her away from me and s-she didn't tell the social workers about my father still being alive. She pretended he'd died and that I had nobody. She didn't want to give me up."

The silence around us caused my ears to start ringing and I tried to ignore the images that were starting to appear in my mind.

"The workers eventually found out and contacted my father. I had to move to Forks because... well, my Mom was going to be in prison for a long time. She's still in there."

I walked into the horrible grey building that I'd gotten to know over the months and edged past the rows of people wearing strange orange clothing. A tall man was holding onto my hand a little too tightly, but I didn't say anything. I'd learnt not to complain.

In the distance I could see somebody I barely recognised anymore. We visited her every week, the same time, but each visit I was forgetting more. Her eyes looked a lot like mine, so I assumed she was a relative of some sort.

We reached the table and she immediately hugged me while I just stood there limply. After a few minutes, we all sat down, and the man who'd accompanied me immediately started talking.

"Miss Swan, we've recently discovered that Isabella's father is in fact alive and living in the town of Forks, a few miles away from here," he said, sounding distant and professional. "We don't know exactly why you lied to us, but we've contacted Mr Swan and Isabella will immediately be moved over there to live with her only available relative."

I remember clearly how this person's face crumpled, how she screamed and shouted as I was taken away. No matter how many times I waved or smiled, it didn't seem to make her feel better.

"No, Bella!" she yelled, her voice echoing around and attracting sympathetic or curious stares. "Please don't go!"

As we walked outside, I remembered that she was my Mom, and cried unstoppably when we drove off. Me and the complete stranger.

"Bella?"

Edward's voice brought me back to the present and I ran my hands through my hair in surprise, then rubbed at my eyes. For some strange reason they were damp, and I only then realised that I'd been crying.

"Sorry," I whispered. "This is stupid of me."

He moved his hand towards mine, hesitated, then withdrew it back. "I keep forgetting that I can't touch anything," he murmured, clearly in frustration. "But I'm sorry this has brought you so much pain... I didn't mean to-"

"Edward, it's f-fine. We need to do this." Taking a deep breath, I managed to smile at him and he did too, but only slightly. "What's the plan? I need to know everything."

Sunday, the following day, was fairly uneventful; Edward and myself mostly talked to each other and I didn't really get out of bed until the afternoon. I was feeling incredibly lazy to say the least.

"Are you gonna make a move some time today?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips. I couldn't help grinning back.

"Well, I haven't really got anything planned today so," I shrugged, snuggling back into the covers. He smiled, moving closer. "Although... I may actually have some homework or something due for tomorrow."

He frowned. "You've got an excuse."

"Not really. A few tiny cuts won't affect my ability to write essays."

"Just say that you had a bad headache or something-or-another."

I raised my eyebrows together. "A secret rebel, eh?"

"This is nothing new, really," he laughed. "When I last went to school, I spent most of my time writing music at the back of the class. The teachers always thought I was busily making notes and usually let me leave early."

"Cunning."

He winked. "Yeah... I sort of gave up with gym as well. I doubt my teacher even knew what I looked like."

A shudder escaped me. "That word is forbidden in this household! Ugh, gym is just torture."

"I totally agree with you there."

We were silent for a while, before Edward's eyes travelled to my bedside table. "What's that?" He was looking at my notebook.

"Oh... it's nothing really. Just some paper."

He raised an eyebrow this time. "Bella."

I sighed. "I just write things and draw... stuff. It's nothing really."

"Can I see one of your drawings?" he asked. "Please."

"Mmmph," I mumbled. Edward's reaction to my strange noise was quite comical but I managed to keep a straight face. "I'd really rather you didn't."

He pouted. "Please, Bella?"

All I could really focus onwas his bright green eyes staring into mine and I sighed, opening the book at the earliest drawing. "You shouldn't dazzle me like that, y'know. It's not fair, and I really hope you won't do it in the future." The picture I came to was of one I'd done ages ago, right after Charlie had gone to rehab. It showed one of the many forests here in Forks and Edward stared at it for a while, probably taking in the dark colours that I'd used.

"Were you quite upset when you drew this?" he asked softly.

"Yeah," I murmured. "Can you tell?"

He nodded. "Kind of. Can you show me another?"

I flicked towards a more colourful picture, this time of a beautiful meadow I'd found while out on a walk. A small smile crept onto Edward's face when he looked at it. "That's better. It's really beautiful. Like..." He trailed off, scrunching his eyebrows together. "One more?"

This time I showed him a picture I'd drawn of some fruit and he chuckled upon seeing it. "I was in a random mood that day," I explained. "And most artists seem to draw fruit all the time."

He smiled crookedly. "So what kind of things do you write?"

"Just poems and short stories."

He nodded thoughtfully. "So are Art and English your favourite subjects at school?"

"Yup," I smiled. "And I'm guessing yours was music. I mean, is music. Still is."

"Yeah," he said quietly.

"I'd like to draw you sometime." The words escaped my mouth before I could think and I automatically cringed. "I mean... if that's alright with you."

He smiled slowly. "I'm not exactly the most interesting model."

I almost snorted.

"But I guess it would be an experience... so I'll say yes," he finished. "But I can't guarantee that I'll be able to stay completely still. I'm naturally fidgety."

"You'd better. Right, I think I'm gonna get up now."

He pretended to clap and I poked my tongue out at him. "Now, please leave while I change. We wouldn't want you seeing any of that."

With a final laugh, he left the room.

We were sat together watching television later that day when I realised just how much I'd told Edward over our short time together. It sounded stupid, but I really felt as though I could confide in him already and that he was an old friend.

Then again, Rose had told me once before that it was one of my main problems; I trusted people too easily.

Thinking about it, I'd been incredibly worried when he'd left and now it felt almost normal having him around; the company was something that I was grateful for.

I had to keep reminding myself that it had been less than a week since he appeared...

Tomorrow was an important day, though, and I felt a little nervous about it all, but I didn't want to let Edward down; I'd just have to face my fear of police stations.

Another worry was getting through the school day - I just prayed that people wouldn't be asking too many questions... I knew what it would be like; people I'd never even spoken to before asking me what had happened.

I'd probably end up replying with a rude hand gesture and a few expletives.

Edward had offered to go to school with me, even though he hated places like that. He said he'd keep me company and help me through, and this small gesture touched my heart. Of course I accepted, a little too enthusiastically...

We met each other's eyes and exchanged a small smile. I knew then that we were probably thinking about the same thing.

"Everything will be fine, y'know," he murmured. "I'll be there."

I wanted to believe him. I really, really did.

"Yeah," I muttered. "It will be."

We'd just have to wait and see about that.