Chapter 19: Death is Cruel: it hurts people around you

-Charlie's POV-

I watched the baseball game, waiting for Edward to call about Bella. Last I heard was Carlisle was going to treat her at their house. Renée postponed her trip back, afraid that Bella would need her. The phone rang.

"Hello," I answered.

"Chief Swan, there's a report of a car crash. It's on fire," a male's voice informed me.
"Okay, I'll be right there," I replied.

"I called to tell you that it's Bella Cullen's truck. She's dead." My heart stopped, and tears began to well up in my eyes.

"She- she can't be dead. Dr. Cullen said she would live…," I choked out.

"Bella was on her way home. Nobody saw it coming."

"Do you need my help?"
"We got it, Sir." I heard Renée walk down the stairs.

"Who was that?" she asked. I didn't, couldn't, answer. She came closer, and took one look at my expression.

"Charlie?! What happened?"

"Her truck crashed on her way home," I choked out. Renée gasped, and started weeping in her hands.

"She was so young," Renée whispered.

-Bella's POV-

I sat in my room, listening to my parents weep. I wanted to go down there, and tell them it would be okay. 'Mom, Dad, it's okay, I'm not dead,' I would have said. Edward wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and I hid my face in his chest.

"Let's go home," he whispered. "Alice will come back for your things later, if you want." I smiled weakly, and silently jumped out my window.

"Race you home," I shouted, as I took off. I liked the way the wind whipped my hair around, and bit my arms and legs. Edward was behind me, laughing. I saw the house ahead, and pushed myself to go faster. I touched the house, and stopped.

"That was hardly fair," Edward scolded. "You got a head start."
"Did not."
"Did too," he retorted. We laughed together, and embraced. At that moment something miraculous happened. I heard Edward's thoughts. "I'm glad to see her smiling. I didn't think it was the right choice to see Renée and Charlie like that."

"Why didn't you just stop me then?" I wanted to ask.

"What did you say?" he asked.
"I didn't say anything."

"You said something."
"I heard your thoughts."
"And I must have heard yours. That's your gift."

"What?"
"Your gift is to hear the thoughts around you."
"Then why did you hear my thoughts?"
"We're meant to be together, we're each half of one person."

"Darn. I thought my gift was going to be blocking other gifts."

"I think it is," he replied.

"How do you know?" I asked.
"Alice is coming this way, a little scared. Our future just disappeared."
"That means-"

"Yes, you can block other powers."