A/N: Okay, guys. Thank you buckets and buckets for all of your wonderful reviews. Cheesecake for ALL of you beautiful people. You're my very favorite. This chapter is for you, because I would never be motivated to update without your supportive words and constructive criticism. Here goes…
Part Eight
Anything for You
"I… cannot believe… Jake would… do that… to you," I stuttered, stroking Edward's freezing cheek absentmindedly. "I'm so, so very sorry Edward and Alice. This is all my fault."
"No, it isn't," Edward said comfortingly, brushing a few stray pieces of hair out of my mud-brown eyes. "It's my fault. I should never have agreed to meet you. It was just too… suspicious, I suppose."
This was outrageous! I could not believe that he was defending Jake and his stupid power-crazy friends. After all they had done to him; he should have been just about ready to take their heads off. I know I was.
"Edward," I said, catching his breathtaking topaz stare with my own. "This. Is. My. Fault." He and I both knew it was true. So why was he trying so hard to deny it?
"Listen, Bells," he ordered, his expression melting as he recalled Charlie's nickname for me. "No one blames you. But you have to leave. You see what he's done to me. Who knows what he'll do once he realizes you're here with me." It was about time he thought about himself ahead of me. He was, after all, the one at risk here.
"But where will I go?" I knew this was the question we were all avoiding, but it had to be asked eventually.
Alice squirmed uncomfortably beside me, reaching out to place her tiny hand on my shoulder in a comforting gesture. "I don't know, Bella. But one thing I do know is that they're looking for you. Jacob, Quil, Embry, and Sam, I mean. And when they find you…" She let her sentence go unfinished, looking at the shag carpet uneasily.
"We won't worry about that now," Edward said quickly. "We've got to get you out of here. I'm not gonna let them hurt you, Bella." He grabbed my warm, clammy hand with his cool, pale one and led me out the front door, looking both ways as if he were a little kid crossing the street alone.
"Edward, this is ridiculo-"
"Shh!," he whispered, mashing his index finger against his perfect lips. I reluctantly obliged.
"Bella, listen carefully," Alice stated as we descended down the gravel driveway and Edward opened the driver's side of my old Ford pickup for me. "I don't care who you go to, but you must not go home."
Edward vigorously nodded his agreement, and I thought I saw something- worry- flicker across his ideal features. "Get as far away from Jacob Black and his stupid friends as you can for right now. I'll call you as soon as I can."
"But where will I go?" I tried again, finding this to be the opportune moment. Of course, a chorus of "Shh!"s and "Quiet!"s followed from the two of them.
"It doesn't really matter," Edward answered, kissing me on the cheek. "Angela's, Jessica's, anyone, really. Just get away for a while, all right?" He shut the door behind me, ignoring any further attempt I could have at questioning his brilliant, heat-of-the-moment plan.
Still, I had to try. "But what about my clothes?" "How am I going to explain to Charlie when he calls?" and "Why do I have to leave home, anyway? It's just Jake," were among the first aimless questions to fly out of my mouth, but each one was disregarded.
"Go, Bella," Edward whispered semi-harshly. "You have to go. This might seem absurd, but Jacob can't find you. I'll see you in a couple of days."
Finally, against my will, I surrendered. "Fine. I will go. Under one condition," I said, unable to resist. I held my finger up, pushing it closer and closer to Edward's face, earning at least a slight chuckle from him, though I must admit it was a bit strained.
"And what might that be, Ms. Swan?" he asked charmingly, reaching through the window and taking one of my hands in his. As always, I was rendered speechless momentarily by his spectacular… charisma.
"I… umm…" No! Don't stutter. Spit it out, Isabella! "All right. As soon as I get back, you and I are going to sit down and talk. and I mean really talk. if I drop everything and leave, so help me, you are going to give me a few answers."
"Sure," he agreed, releasing my hands.
Suddenly, before I could open my mouth again, I felt a sharp pain singe the back of my neck. Edward sunk to his knees, and everything snapped into slow motion before my blurry eyes. "EDWARD! Wh-where are you?" Disgusted, I touched the back of my neck tenderly with my fingertips, feeling the sticky blood that was soiling the back of my shirt, no doubt.
"BELLA!" was the last thing I heard from Edward before surrendering to the darkness that clouded my vision.
This could not be good.
A/N: Okay, if you want to know what happens to Bella and Edward, then REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW. Like, no kidding. Click on that bluish purplish button and leave a two-word review, if you must, but just make sure you leave something. Love you guys,
C.J.