For Your Eyes Only
Chapter Fifteen - When There Was More Waiting
Even though we'd just had really exciting news, all we could realistically do was just wait. It was annoying and I was naturally incredibly impatient, but there was nothing else we could do.
To keep myself occupied, I kept teasing Edward a lot, asking him if he could possibly wake up faster. He usually just smiled it off and muttered something inaudible; in fact he actually looked a bit preoccupied a lot of the time, almost as though my voice had brought him inconveniently out of his thoughts. When I looked closely, I could see that he sometimes moved his lips quietly, speaking silently to himself. It was a little strange and I wasn't sure if he realised that he was doing it. I decided to leave him to it, though, and didn't question him.
He continued in the same way for a while and on a Wednesday evening I just had to do something about it, growing increasingly frustrated.
"Are you secretly a philosopher?" I asked him while we watched something stupid on TV. Edward turned slowly towards me with such a look of confusion on his face that I just had to laugh. "Explain," he murmured, raising an eyebrow.
"It's just that you always seem to be thinking about things," I shrugged. "It sounds a bit silly now."
He smiled. "That's probably because I always am thinking about things."
"Oh." Fair answer. "Would it be annoying of me to ask exactly what you think about?"
"Uh... well, it's normally just things," he shrugged, almost as though he really didn't want to tell me.
"Helpful," I mumbled. "And don't make a comment about the sarcasm, please."
It looked as though he was having a hard time because his lips began twitching, but he remained quiet, staring ahead once more and folding his hands in his lap. I decided to watch him for a little while. He was just always so stoic... so beautiful.
No, I'm definitely not going down that trail of thought again. It's not healthy.
I shook my head to remind myself and, just as I was considering getting a book to read, Edward spoke up.
"Bella?"
I turned around to face him and he suddenly looked a little hesitant. I nodded to prompt him. "Um, what's gonna happen if I wake up?"
A frown automatically appeared on my face. "I don't quite understand what you mean... when you wake up, you'll just... well," I shrugged. "Hopefully you'll get better."
He looked at me for a long time. I couldn't hold his gaze during that time, mainly because it was so intense and just strange. He looked so tortured.
"I meant..." he trailed off, seeming uncomfortable and awkward. "I meant what would happen between... us."
A weird noise escaped from my mouth and I felt the heat flood my cheeks. Us? Blimey, this wasn't what I'd anticipated.
"Uh... well, I presume you'd go back to wherever it is that you live and get on with your life." Speaking these words made me feel a little sick because it was the last thing I wanted, but it was also the most likely thing to happen, so I just had to accept it.
The thought of Edward leaving me made me just want to cry, though.
He stared at me with his mouth hanging open. After a while, he nodded slowly and whispered, "Okay."
I nodded too, trying to ignore the tightness in my throat. Keep strong, don't cry in front of him... "I'm, uh, just gonna get a drink," I told him, jerking my thumb in a random direction and heading towards the kitchen, where I somehow managed to compose myself. I leant over the sink, feeling the cool marble against the palms of my hands, and I took a few deep breaths.
While I was doing so, though, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was being watched and just prayed that Edward hadn't sneaked in and seen me.
The following morning meant another day at school, another day of unbearable waiting. I was a little panicky that the one ridiculous member of the cafeteria staff still had my mobile; I felt lost and vulnerable without it. Something could happen to Edward and I wouldn't know.
Despite this, Carlisle had promised that he'd tell me as soon as something happened and that thought comforted me a little. I wanted to be there right at the moment when Edward woke up. I wanted to be the first person his eyes focused on and who his brain registered.
I wanted him to remember me.
That thought had been plaguing me a lot more lately; there wasn't really any reason why he should forget me but, if he did, I wouldn't be able to handle it. It would be like a loss. A death.
So I tried to avoid that thought path.
As a substitute, I often found myself thinking about Edward's looks. It was shallow of me, and I was fully aware of it, but I just couldn't help wondering, again, if he'd had any girlfriends before. I was becoming so pathetic and cringed when I realised what I was thinking, but just couldn't stop myself.
I'd really be worried if I started becoming possessive. Was I already?
I found myself thinking what these girlfriends would look like, if they were anything like me...
"Bella?"
I recognised the voice immediately and turned towards Edward, raising my eyebrows to let him continue.
"You looked pretty deep in your thoughts then," he commented. "I must be an influence."
"I've told you that before," I teased, causing a brief chuckle from him.
"Is there anything wrong, though?" he asked, his face turning serious. In fact, ever since our talk last night, he'd been looking pretty glum and was quieter than usual. I felt a little guilty; if I'd told him the truth and begged him to stay with me once he'd woken up, perhaps he'd be a bit more cheerful. Then again, maybe he'd be quite scared and would run a mile to save himself.
Maybe he was sad because of a completely different reason. Gee, there was so much mystery with Edward.
"I was just thinking."
"About what?" he asked.
"About things," I answered, echoing his earlier reply. He smiled briefly and murmured, "Okay." It was practically a repeat of yesterday.
We were silent for a while and things felt a bit more tense than usual. I decided to make a light hearted remark. "So, are you planning on waking up today?"
"It's weird, I keep trying to, like... willing myself to. I concentrate really hard, but it just ends up taking most of my energy. So I have no idea, sorry."
"It's fine," I replied, but it wasn't. Or was it? When Edward wakes up, maybe I'd lose him. It looked like that was gonna happen. Then again, the fact I'd be able to see him was enough to keep me going, and I continued looking forward optimistically, anxiously anticipating the moment.
The morning dragged by unbearably and lunch was the normal boring affair. I spent most of my time staring ahead at the wall looking at some of the posters, mainly because Edward was being so quiet. I didn't have my usual way of disguising our conversation via mobile phone, so I presumed it was because of that and not because of something I'd done.
By the time when there was five minutes left, I'd almost fallen asleep on the table and what I completely wasn't unexpecting was an urgent outburst from Edward.
"Bella?" he called. "Bella, you see that girl over there with the bright red hair?"
I frowned and squinted over to the other side of the room, surely seeing a girl with such a shade of dyed red hair that it actually hurt my eyes. "Yeah?" I muttered.
"I was watching her as she walked by and she was wearing a necklace that was really, really similar to one of my mother's."
My eyes widened. "Wow, really?" He nodded. "Are you sure?"
"I'll go and take a closer look."
Before I could blink he was right over there, directly in front of her. She didn't seemed fazed and continued talking to her friends, laughing and occasionally throwing her head back. It was quite comical watching Edward inspecting her and I would have laughed if the situation wasn't so serious.
He was soon back by my side, looking both grave and slightly excited. "I'm nearly one hundred percent positive it's my mother's necklace," he told me. "It's got the same patterns, the same marks and damage... it looks so much like it."
Chewing on my lip, I asked, "But it could just be another similar one of the necklaces made."
"You'd be able to tell if you checked for the picture inside. It's a locket, just like yours."
My eyes widened. "God, I didn't think of that."
"You could go over and ask her about it."
"Edward, I can't do that... she'd protest."
"I can't see any other way, though," he pondered.
I thought to myself for a moment, realising how important and potentially vital this could be. There seemed to be no other way, like Edward had said, so I suddenly stood up with determination. "I'm gonna go over there and just ask her... I'll say... I dunno, I'll think of something."
I didn't sound too confident with myself, but Edward smiled regardless, always grateful. "Thanks Bella. Uh... good luck."
"She's probably gonna think I'm really weird," I sighed, my voice turning high pitched at the end.
The walk across the cafeteria seemed to last forever and, when I eventually reached her, she still had her back to me, and I didn't know what to do. I couldn't just tap on her shoulder; that seemed like a childish thing to do, but I couldn't just stand there hovering either. I just had to take a deep breath and speak up...
"Um, excuse me?"
Her two friends who she was talking to both frowned, but she turned around curiously, meeting my eyes with her piercing blue ones. I automatically glanced down at her necklace.
"Sorry to bother you, I just couldn't help noticing your necklace," I stumbled, praying that she wouldn't take this the wrong way. "It's l-lovely."
She stared at me for a moment that seemed to last forever, probably wondering what was happening, but she then smiled. "Thank you." It appeared as though she was the type of person who just adored compliments, even from random strangers. "It was pretty expensive." She toyed with it between her long fingers and I suddenly felt quite angry. If this was Edward's necklace...
"Where did you get it, if you wouldn't mind me asking?" I continued shakily, apparently still on her good side. I fiddled with my own locket. "I'd like to get another one."
"Oh, I wouldn't know," she replied breezily. "My boyfriend gave it to me."
"Is it a locket?" I asked. "Does it open up?"
I was afraid that I was throwing too many questions at her, but she pulled her over-plucked eyebrows together again, seeming to consider this. "I'm not sure actually... I never tried it. It just looked pretty so I put it straight on."
She then began fiddling with the clasp and eventually took it off. Then, with her painted nails, she began attempting to pry open the locket, and I stood there awkwardly with my breath held. Finally, after what felt like hours of trying, she opened it, and a tiny piece of paper fluttered out and onto the ground. With lightning speed, I bent down and picked it up before she could reach it. It lay face down in my palm and I was terrified to look at it.
"Oh, it's blank," I lied, trying to distract her. "How strange." Turning to the side and out of her view while she put the necklace back on, I took my own look at the picture and, sure enough, there was an old tattered image of a bronze haired lady and her son on her knee, who also had the same shade of hair. My eyes widened and my heart hammered even faster.
"It's the necklace. It's my mother's."
Edward's voice was in my ear and I almost jumped, but managed to contain myself, realising I still had company who was probably looking at me strangely. He sounded so angry, and I couldn't really blame him. We were so close... but we had to tread carefully.
"Sorry about that," I said, laughing nervously. "I'm just stupidly curious. You said your boyfriend gave it to you..."
Her eyes glazed over. "Yeah... Jacob."
"Oh," I attempted nonchalance. "Jacob who?"
She was oblivious to my harsh questioning; it seemed as though she was perfectly content talking about herself all the time. She was a little thick too, because she gave his full name, even though we barely knew her. Surely she was suspicious? "Jacob Black," she answered. "He's a bit rough sometimes, but that's how I like them."
She added a wink and I suddenly felt quite sick. Maybe he was the person who'd hit over Edward. Or maybe he'd been sold the necklace by someone else... either way he had information and my heart hammered with the possibilities. This had all happened so quickly. "Well it's... it's l-lovely," I managed. "I might have to ask him to get me one, too."
"Oh, he was quite cagey when I asked him about it actually. Maybe it's one of a kind..."
I resisted the urge to grab the necklace and run away. At the same time I could see Edward grinding his teeth together. "Well, sorry to bother you. T-thank you."
We headed back towards the table and I felt the need to run straight to the police station. It seemed as though Edward was considering something similar and I met his gaze. "I could skip the rest of the day. This is important after all."
He smiled. "Thank you, Bella. I can't believe it... what a lucky coincidence."
"Yup," I said, reaching for my coat. "If they catch him now, though, she's probably gonna be quite angry with me."
"She'll have me to answer to, then," he replied, and I tried to figure out the meaning of that when I started up my truck. Maybe he was planning on sticking around after all...
"Wow," I murmured to myself.
We were heading home in my truck after giving evidence in the police station and I suddenly felt very excited. They had a name of the suspect which meant that they could consult his criminal record; apparently he'd committed several crimes before like stealing and causing bodily harm and had previously served a sentence in jail. I felt angry that he'd been let out because Edward wouldn't have had to suffer all he'd been through if he had just stayed in there.
Despite this, we'd definitely made another breakthrough and things were looking up. Edward was smiling broadly on the way home and I did the same. The thoughts of any consequences flew out of my mind.
"Soon we'll have your necklaces back," I said, turning to glance at him in the passenger seat.
He wasn't there.
He wasn't there.
I immediately started panicking and had to pull over to control my breathing. The sound of my heart pounding was loud in my ears and I rested my head on the steering wheel, remembering exactly what had happened the last time he vanished.
Keep calm...
I needed to get home to ring Carlisle.
The trees passed by in a blur as I raced home, the fastest speed I'd ever travelled. I knew Dr Cullen might be on his shift but I needed to hear his voice right now.
I needed to hear that Edward was okay.
I parked my truck and sprinted up to the front door, fumbling with my keys. Without wasting a moment, I grabbed the phone and dialled Carlisle's number. An unfamiliar woman answered first time and I apologised shakily, clearly having dialled the number incorrectly. Taking a deep breath, I tried again, and this time I got through.
"Bella? Bella, is that you?"
His frantic voice answered almost immediately. "Yeah, it is." I suddenly trailed off, realising that my phone call would probably seem pretty random to him. He didn't know that his nephew had disappeared... he didn't expect him to be a ghost. I'd kept all that from him, naturally.
Luckily he didn't seem to notice my silence, because he spoke quickly. "Bella, you need to get to the hospital now."
My voice shook. "W-Why? What's h-happened to him?"
He took a deep breath. "Bella, Edward's waking up. He's waking up right now."