CHAPTER 12

Taking a deep breath, I picked up my phone and automatically dialled Jacob's number, wanting to hear his voice.

"Hey, Bells," he said. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah, I'm good," I said, forcing some cheeriness into my voice. "How are things in Forks?"

"If you mean James, he's still holed up in your dad's place. I don't think he realised that it would become a prison for him when he shut himself in there. The boys have surrounded the place; he has no way out."

"So, theoretically, if I wanted to go out, would I be safe?" I asked, a little hesitantly.

"Sure, Bells. Where you thinking of going?"

"I just... Alice and Rosalie were thinking of us having a girls' night again..."

"That sounds great. Just do me a favour though, Bella."

"Of course."

"Tell me where you're heading so we can keep half an eye on you."

"Right. We're going to Bar Angelus again," I said, willing him to believe me, even as I crossed my fingers.

"What day? What time?" I could hear him tapping on his keyboard as he spoke.

"Are you typing this out?" I asked him.

"Just e-mailing the details to some of my boys in that area," he replied.

"Oh. Well, it'll be tomorrow night at nine," I said, glancing down at my crossed fingers a little guiltily.

"Great. I might even stop by myself," he said.

"That would be nice." I didn't question him about his boys. Jacob and I had established while I lived with him that he had a lot of contacts, but that side of his life was private. I had accepted that at the time, but now I felt a twinge of curiosity. "Jake, these boys of yours... they are safe aren't they?"

"Come on, Bells, of course they're not," he said, with a dry chuckle. "But they won't hurt you or your friends; they'll just protect you if necessary. You won't even know they are there. Ok?"

"Sure," I replied. I hated lying to him, but what I really had planned was not the kind of thing I wanted to tell my best friend;he would kill me. As I hung up, I sighed deeply. I had never really been impulsive before, but before I could over-think what I was doing, I grabbed my bag from under the bed and started stuffing the clothes and toiletries I had inside, feeling no qualms about taking them. Just as I had started to care about Edward and to believe he cared about me, he had betrayed me; treated me as James used to; instructing me to stay put while he disappeared without telling me where he was going. And I knew I couldn't stay here.

Leaving Twilight proved far easier than I had thought it would. Because all the girls had similar clothing, the baseball cap and sunglasses I had put on helped hide my features and I had bundled my hair into a rough bun so that it was hidden. With Edward away, no one else thought to check my identity as I passed security easily. Once outside, I noticed two dark haired young men standing a short distance away and turned on my heel to avoid them; they had a look of Jacob's friends and the last thing I wanted was to be followed by them.

It was a bright sunny day and the streets were crowded with people, which made it easy enough to blend in; to disappear as it were. My heart had stopped thudding so hard as I caught a bus to the next town, where I knew there was a small motel. My plan was to hide away there for a couple of nights and then move on; though where I would move on to was anyone's guess. After I had checked in as Laura Bird and been given a key, I headed up to the small room, which though a little dated, was at least clean. I switched on the old television set and lay down on the bed, focussing on the eighties sitcom rather than on what my next step would be.

The piercing ringtone of my phone brought me out of my daze and I flinched. Waiting for it to stop ringing, I took it out of my bag and then deliberately switched it off. I didn't want to speak to anyone and glancing at the caller ID told me it was Alice. She was the last person I needed to speak to, because I knew she would try to convince me to go back. And I couldn't; I never wanted to be in the position again where someone had power or control over me; where I was afraid to go out and equally afraid to stay in with that person. Edward had betrayed my trust in my eyes and the only way for me to get on with my life was to leave him. As much as it hurt me to do so.

"I thought I told you not to go out, Isabella."

"I... I just went to the store, to get some groceries. We had nothing in..."

"I didn't ask where you had been. I told you that you were not to leave the building. Which part of that was so difficult to comprehend?" He took a step towards me and I took a step back.

"I'm sorry. I tried calling you, but your cell was switched off," I said, softly. He glared at me, but then crossed the room and sat down on the sofa, rubbing his head as if it pained him. Concerned, I stepped towards him. "James, are you ok? Have you got a headache?"

"Nothing that you doing as you are told wouldn't cure," he replied. I flinched, but forced myself to stand still.

"Would you like me to get you some painkillers?" He looked across at me then, his eyes hidden behind the shades.

"No. What I would like for you to do is go through to the bedroom, remove your top and lay down on the bed." The order was given crisply. Automatically, my hands came down to cover my stomach and a chill ran through me.

"Please, James. I'm sorry I went out. It won't happen again. Please..."

I broke off, as he got to his feet and crossed the room to me quickly. He grabbed my arm so tightly that I knew it would be bruised and then yanked me into the bedroom...

I sat up with a cry and for a moment wondered where I was. As my mind focussed, I slumped down, tears in my eyes. Edward would be on his way back to the club now. He would know that I was gone. A million questions filled my head. Would he come after me? Or would he be relieved to find that I was no longer his problem? Nobody wants a girl with a past; I should have realised that. Stiffly, I got up from the bed and headed into the en-suite. A quick shower and then I would hit the road. My money wouldn't last too long and I needed to put some distance between myself and Twilight.

With my mind made up that I would head for the nearest highway and hitch-hike to save some cash, I headed out as soon as I was showered and dressed, covering my face and head again with the baseball cap and shades. As I headed for the reception area to hand my key in though, I saw the two young men who had been outside Twilight when I left. Stepping back, I dropped the key into a box by the door and fled.

My phone had been ringing non-stop for the last hour; Alice, Rosalie, the Twilight main line, Jacob and a couple of numbers I didn't recognise all flashed across the screen, but I ignored it. The only reason I kept the phone was so I could contact Jacob when I had found a new place. The woman in the driver's seat glanced across at me, as I took the phone out and switched it off.

"You not answering that?" she asked.

"No, it's just a cold call," I replied. Marti smiled and nodded.

"They drive me mad as well," she said and launched into a tirade about cold call centres. Marti had picked me up on the edge of the highway, where I had been standing, sticking my thumb out, hoping for a lift to the next city. She had pulled over, let me in and then given me a lecture about the dangers of hitch hiking; detailing how she would feel if she caught her granddaughter doing it.

"I've never done this before," I had said, a little shyly and she had nodded brusquely, but didn't ask me any questions. Instead she told me all about her grandchildren, who she was immensely proud of and her life as a newly retired teacher. She had apparently taken to gardening and had been on her way to a new store at the other end of the highway.

"You mind if we stop at the next service station?" she suddenly asked. I blinked, rapidly. I hadn't really been listening to her.

"Sure," I said. Marti pulled in and I got out with her, stretching. "I might go get a bottle of water from the shop. You want anything?"

"No, dear, I'm fine. I'll meet you back here in five."

I wandered round the shop, looking for water, when someone suddenly grabbed my arm. I twisted around and saw a woman with blonde hair standing beside me, her eyes hidden behind a pair of over-sized sunglasses. Her fingers pinched into my flesh and I yelped.

"I'll give you something to squeak about if you don't shut up," she said, angrily.

"R... Rosalie?" I stammered. She squeezed my arm a little harder.

"I told the lady you were with that I was your sister and I would take care of you from here. What the hell are you playing at? It's been a week; you just vanished!"

"How did you find me?" I asked.

"How did I find you? How did I find you?" she hissed, angrily. I pulled away from her.

"I'm not coming back," I said, moving back from her and folding my arms across my chest; trying very hard to look assertive.

"I don't think you'll have much of a choice," replied Rosalie, glaring at me, as she whipped away her sunglasses.

"You can't force me to go back..."

"Bella! Where have you been? God I was so worried!" Suddenly Alice appeared and threw herself at me, wrapping her arms round my neck. I didn't respond, still looking at Rosalie.

"She says she isn't coming back," said Rosalie. Alice stepped back and gave me a calculating look.

"I don't think you have a choice, Bella," she said, quietly. "You are under contract after all."

"Contract?" I echoed. "Alice, I don't care about a contract! I'm leaving... no I've left."

"What about Edward?" she asked. I stiffened at his name, my heart leaping uncomfortably in my chest.

"I'm sure Mr Cullen will understand," I replied.

"I'm sure he won't," retorted Rosalie. She fell silent, as Jasper suddenly appeared in the entrance of the shop. His face was like thunder and I felt a shiver of apprehension run through me.

"Follow me, please, Isabella," he said, formally, turning away from me, clearly expecting me to obey.

"No!" I cried. Jasper whipped round so quickly that I gasped.

"You will follow me, or I will drag you," he said, coldly. Knowing I had no choice, I followed him outside to a stretch limousine, which was parked across the entrance to the service station. I saw Marti getting into her car and she gave me a cheery wave.

"I'm so glad your sister caught up with you, dear!" she called, not waiting for me to respond. Jasper held the door for me and when I had climbed in, he followed, sitting opposite me.

"I am not sure what your understanding of your contract is, Isabella, but I can tell you it does not include moonlight flits or vanishing for the better part of a week without a word to anyone," he said, in a deceptively quiet voice.

"I'm sorry, Mr Hale, but I needed to get out of there, for... for personal reasons. It was not my intention to cause a problem to you..."

"And how did you think I would cover you with no indication of where you were or if you were coming back? Not to mention the fact that I have been overrun by Black's dogs since you disappeared." His eyes narrowed a little.

"I'm sorry, Mr Hale."

"We will discuss just how sorry you are back at Twilight, Miss Swann," he replied, coldly. I shivered at his tone.

"How did you find me, Mr Hale?" I asked, after a long, uncomfortable silence.

"One of the mutts caught your scent," he replied. "They tracked you to the highway and got the plate of the car. It didn't take much of an effort for Rosalie to follow the car into the services."

"Oh." I remembered the two men at the motel and flushed, ducking my head.

"And Miss Swann, you might be worried about my being angry with you, but I would be more concerned about Rosalie and Alice."

I didn't reply. His gaze swept over my face and then he smiled, but it was not a reassuring sight.

"Not to mention Mr Cullen. I don't think I have ever seen him quite so... emotional."

I stiffened, but didn't give a verbal response. Jasper leaned back in his seat and took out his phone, his eyes fixed on me the whole time.

"We have apprehended her. Yes, we are on our way back. You wish to deal with this personally? Are you sure that is wise? Fine, it is your decision." He hung up and gave me another cold smile. I shivered and pulled myself as far away from him as I could, staring blankly out of the window.

When we got back to Twilight, Alice opened my door and led me swiftly away from Jasper, leaning in close to whisper frantically in my ear.

"Look, I don't know what happened with you, why you left, but it would probably go down as the stupidest thing you could possibly have done..."

"Without doubt," said Rosalie, appearing on my other side. I glanced between them both and bowed my head.

"I didn't realise it would cause such a fuss," I started to say. Alice grabbed my arm and stopped me.

"A fuss? Bella, you're our friend! Surely you could have told us where you were going; why you were going? We could have helped you..."

"No offence, Alice, but help would have meant Edward and I don't really want to be around him anymore," I said.

"Like you'll get a choice with that," offered Rosalie. Alice glared at her.

"Rose, not helping," she said, then looked back at me, hurt anger in her eyes. "Bella, I thought you liked it here. I thought you cared about us..."

"I do!" I protested.

"Then why run?"

"I... I had my reasons," I said, softly. "I was intending to call you guys when I was settled."

"You mean when you were far enough away we couldn't come after you," retorted Rosalie.

"You should know, Bella, he would have come after you how ever far you ran," said Alice, softly.

"Who?" I asked, though I knew perfectly well whom she meant.

"Edward of course," said Alice, as we turned onto the corridor that led down to the office area. Jasper was behind us now.

"So why didn't he come after me with the rest of you then? If he cares so much, why did he go off for three days and not tell me where he was going?"

"He is not the one with a dysfunctional, murdering ex after him," said Jasper. Rosalie and Alice stared at me open-mouthed at this comment and I flushed.

"Jake has that covered," I said.

"Yes, he's had this place covered too," snarled Jasper. "Damned wolves!"

"Wolves?" I echoed, having no clue what he was talking about.

"Jazz, leave it," said Alice, sounding a little nervous. I couldn't figure out why until I turned and saw Edward standing behind me, his eyes black as coal, jaw line set and body stiff with fury. Part of me wanted to run into his arms and beg him to forgive me, but another part (maybe the sane part) wanted to run like hell as far away from him and this club as I could get.

Oh dear. I'm with Bella, would you run to him or from him? Please let me know what you think of the story so far and I will get the next chapter posted asap...