Sunrise, for the First Time
Disclaimer: You know the drill. I'm not S. Meyer and I don't own Twilight or its all-too-addicting world of awesomeness.
Chapter 8: Ultimatum
"Edward, you're driving so fast! Please, slow down." The speedometer read 85 mph, and I'd had enough experience tempting death for one lifetime.
Edward chuckled. "All right, I'll slow down." He immediately let off the accelerator, allowing the Volvo to slow gradually. He didn't hit the gas again until the needle pointed to 25 mph. "How's that, Miss Harley Davidson?"
"When are you going to let that go?" I asked, rolling my eyes. "Besides, I barely ever went 25 on my motorcycle."
"And Imaginary Me berated you for that? Are you sure I wasn't just nagging you about ruining a perfectly good transmission?"
"Maybe that was it. I guess I'll just have to ride it again and see, so I can be sure."
"Don't you dare."
"Then stop making fun of me." I started to pout, and he laughed at me until we arrived at the Cullen household.
Alice was waiting for us on the porch. "Bella, you're going to have to let my brother drive a normal speed," she said when we got out of the car, "Because I really get tired of waiting on the both of you."
I snorted. 85 mph was not a normal speed for a curvy two-lane highway.
Alice ignored my sarcastic expression and dragged me into the house, letting Edward trail behind us.
The evening with the Cullens was wonderful, especially compared to my more emotionally trying last few days. Hell, my emotionally trying last year or so. Everyone seemed to share my sentiment, though; even Jasper, who began the evening carefully watching the activities of the rest of us, seemed to assess my forgiveness of him for the last time we interacted. He began participating in the conversation.
And, with Edward's arm around me as we watched Emmett and Jasper wrestle -- until Esme stopped them, at least -- I realized suddenly how much I had always hoped to one day become part of the Cullen family.
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Edward took me home around 7:30, enough time to make sure Charlie had eaten and to take a shower before he returned later. I kissed him goodbye, positively jubilant that he seemed to have shed his "brooding vampire" persona for the time being. I had almost forgotten about the possible trouble with the Quileutes.
My happiness was, however, only temporary.
When I walked in the house, Charlie came from the living room. "Bella?" He asked.
"Yes, Dad, I'm here. Have you eaten?"
"Bella, come into the kitchen."
I pulled my brows together. He sounded angry, but I didn't know why he would be. I walked into the kitchen, and he was, indeed, a bit miffed; his face seemed contorted, and the skin of his cheeks and neck had broken into red splotches.
"Sit down, Isabella."
Uh-oh. I sat down at the kitchen table, staring at my hands.
Charlie took in a deep breath, speaking very deliberately. "Bella, is it true that you have been riding a motorcycle?"
I opened my mouth, staring at him. "How… Did…"
"Never mind how I know. How could you do that, Bella?! After as many times as I've warned you! -- the mortality rate! -- I can't even --" Charlie sputtered, angry beyond words.
Oh God. I was going to kill him. "Jake," I said, furious.
"He did the right thing by telling me! Jake wants what's best for you, unlike that Cullen boy!"
"What does Edward have to do with this?!" Had Jake said something about Edward? I calmed myself, reorganizing my battle plan. "Dad, I'm sorry about the motorcycle, okay? I haven't ridden it in forever; it was stupid, I know --"
"Damn right it was stupid."
I clenched my teeth but remained calm. "I know, Dad, and I'm sorry. I already gave it to Jake, though; I don't want anything to do with it anymore."
"You're grounded."
Fine, let this be over so I can go upstairs and wait for Edward. "For how long?"
"I don't know. A long time." Charlie pursed his lips. "And you're not allowed to date Cullen."
So much for my self-control. I stood up, knocking the chair over behind me, and glared impetuously at my father. "You can't do that! You can't tell me who to date, Charlie!"
"I am your father and I will tell you! That boy is no good for you; he hurt you once, he'll do it again!"
"That's not true!" I glared at him. "You can keep him from coming here," or so he thought, "But you can't tell me who to date. You can't keep me from seeing him."
Charlie looked away from me. "Go to your room, Isabella."
"Finally. Good night." I stomped up the stairs. I was going to kill Jake. And now I had to sit in my room for at least an hour until Edward showed up. I slammed my door shut behind me and tossed myself onto my bed.
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After a little less than an hour, there was a knock on my door. "Bella?" Charlie asked, and opened the door. He was visibly calmer. "You have a visitor downstairs."
Why would Edward come in through the front door, I thought mildly, but without looking at Charlie, I muttered, "Be right down." Charlie went to his room, and I headed downstairs.
Unfortunately, Edward was not the one who greeted me. "Hey, Bells," Jake said. He smiled, but kept his distance.
I took in his appearance. "So do all werewolves heal that fast, or just the traitorous ones?"
Jake moved forward. "I'm sorry, Bells, I really am; I just had to think of a way to make sure you'd have some time alone to think about… things."
I glared at him. "Well if you're referring to my decision to be with Edward, you're too late."
"Not just that, Bella." He walked forward again and tried to take my hand. I slapped him away, and he looked hurt. Good. "Bella, I love you, and I know you love me too; I think you should take that into account before you go running back to the bloodsucker."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Jake, I'm not in love with you, and you'll be lucky if after today I even like you."
"I'm better for you than he'll ever be," he declared.
I rolled my eyes. "I'm going upstairs. Good night, Jacob."
I turned from me, but before my hand even touched the banister, he grabbed my arm. "Look, Charlie agrees with me: he thinks Edward's no good for you, and he doesn't even know the guy's a freaking monster."
"Edward is wonderful to me, Jake; you're the only one who's ever hit me." I knew it was cruel to throw it in his face, but the traitorous dog deserved it.
I reconsidered my actions, however, when I saw his face: he looked like I had punched him. "Bells, I'm sorry about that. I'm… I know, I can't ever fix that, but I'm so, so sorry." He tried to pull me toward him, but I shrank away. "Ugh! You didn't even see me -- you don't know -- I had over 30 broken bones after your boyfriend attacked me."
"You deserved it."
"I know; that's why I didn't fight him back."
That surprised me, but I wasn't about to relinquish my argument. "You told on me for nothing; I'm not going to reconsider being with Edward because he and I belong together. I'll still see him as much as I want."
"Not after tonight, you won't." He said quietly.
I huffed and bit the inside of my cheek in frustration. "What does that mean?" I said impatiently.
"The tribe agreed that they wouldn't start a war only if Edward left Forks. He agreed."
I started to panic, but contained myself. He must be lying; Edward would never leave me, not again, not without saying goodbye or taking me with him. "You filthy, lying mutt," I said angrily, hatefully, "Take it back! Admit you're lying, you --"
"I'm not lying, Bells."
I stared at him, shaking my head. "No, you're lying, no…."
"Sorry, but that's the way it is. Can't break the treaty and not suffer consequences."
Charlie came downstairs then, asking if everything was alright. He had heard us yelling.
"No, it's not, Dad. I'm going to Edward's." I said, grabbing my car keys from the post by the door.
Charlie walked to me. "No you're not, Isabella Swan! You are grounded and you will STAY IN THIS HOUSE!" He grabbed my arm, but I ripped it from his grasp.
"I am going, Charlie; I'm an adult, and I have to see him." I felt horrible for hurting him; I could see the pain in his face, but my sympathy disappeared when his mouth became a thin line and his eyes narrowed.
"If you leave this house, young lady," he sputtered, gaining determination, "If you walk out that door, you no longer live here, do you hear me? We're through here."
I had no choice. "Fine," I said, pushing back tears that threatened to surface, then pushed past Jake and out the door, starting my car while Charlie called after me.
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I drove to the Cullen household in a blind rage, frightened and incoherent thoughts running through my mind. He can't have left, he can't have left, I'll kill Jake; he can't have left, was all I could think. I pushed the accelerator to tip the speedometer up to the old Chevy's maximum speed, silently cursing GM.
When I arrived at the huge white house, Alice ran out to meet me, the rest of her family trailing behind. "WHERE IS HE?" I said as I got out of the car and ran toward her. "WHERE IS HE? WHY WOULD HE--?" I started crying and stopped running, feeling my lungs or legs might collapse in just a moment. I searched the group of vampires and then searched their faces. He wasn't here.
"Bella," Alice wrapped me in her arms. "Bella, he had to; the Quileutes -- they all came here, I didn't even see it; it's my fault, something's wrong with my visions --"
"I have to go to him, I have to find him," I repeated, slipping into hysteria. "Please, Alice, take me to him! We have to bring him back!"
Alice looked at me, sympathy and sadness filling her eyes. "I'm not sure where he went, Bella; he hasn't made a decision yet."
I looked at the rest of the Cullens. They seemed sad, but otherwise immobile. I screamed at them, "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ALL OF YOU?? HOW COULD YOU JUST LET HIM LEAVE? HOW COULD YOU LET HIM AGREE AND NOT GO AFTER HIM??" My mind and heart both threatened to explode.
Just then, a wave of calm that I tried to ignore washed over me. Jasper stepped forward. "I can guess where he might be headed, Bella," he said. "I'll take you to find him."
"Jasper," Carlisle said, "That is not a good idea. Bella belongs here; Edward would not want her to relinquish her life for his mistake. We will find another way."
Jasper just looked at me, at my determined eyes and my set mouth and my tear-stained face. "I owe her, Carlisle," he said simply. "I owe them both."
"I'm coming with you," Alice declared, nodding. Jasper disappeared but drove up a moment later in a beautiful black sports car that even I recognized as a Corvette. Alice and I squeezed into the front seat, and we were off.
"We'll go to Seattle, the airport. Alice, keep an eye on him," Jasper said, and Alice gritted her teeth but said nothing. "We'll catch him, Bella."
I sat silently, trying to ignore the calm that Jasper kept sending my way. I didn't want to be calm; I wanted to be angry; I was angry. How could Edward just leave me, after everything? He wasn't going to get away with this again.
And now, I couldn't go back to Charlie. Would I be able to get my things? Could I find somewhere to live in Forks? Maybe the Cullens would take me in. Unless Edward didn't return…
Maybe, then, my banishment was a blessing in disguise. Maybe I could just go with Edward, and we could travel the world. Unless Edward had seized the opportunity to escape because he had changed his mind about us again….
My heart almost stopped. I couldn't believe that.
Alice and Jasper didn't seem too motivated to break my contemplation; they both sat in marble silence, Jasper only moving to change gears.
After 45 minutes, I was the first to speak. "Alice, do you know where he's going yet?" I asked quietly.
She sighed. "No, I gave up half an hour ago. I don't know what's wrong with me!" She hit the dashboard in frustration, creating a massive dent in the finish.
I stared at her. I had never seen Alice angry. I felt another wave of calm.
"Stop doing that, Jasper!" We yelled in unison. He sighed, but seemed to concede.
"I don'tknow what's wrong with me!" Alice growled. "My visions have been on the fritz ever since before we came back, and lately there are just blank spots! I can hardly stand it, not being any help."
Jasper put a hand on her arm. "You're always a help, darling," he said quietly.
She growled again. "It's not as if anyone else's ability ever fails. Edward's ability never falters; he can always read --" She stopped suddenly, her eyes glazing over. I watched her. Could she finally be having a vision?
"Turn the car around, Jasper," she said in a low voice.
"What?!" I was outraged. "NO! We have to find him, you can't just --"
"He's in Forks, Bella. I just saw him. He's decided to go to La Push, across the boundary line." She looked at me, shocked and more frightened than I'd ever seen her. "They're going to kill him."
Jasper slammed on the breaks and shoved the steering wheel to the right as the tires squealed back toward the west.