Authors Note: God damn computer. Had whole chapter written. Everything was ready. When I went upstairs before posting it, my sister came and started messing with the computer. I had to restart it, and this wasn't saved. If you want to blame anybody for my lateness of posting this chapter, blame her.
Where to Now?
Was that really what I thought it was? Or more specifically, who I thought it was? I couldn't decide which answer would make me more thrilled.
When I had walked into the gas station, a flash of golden bronze hair had turned into around the corner into the washrooms. Actually, it wasn't just any flash of golden bronze hair. It was the golden bronze hair. My golden bronze hair. My Edward. And he was right there. Where I could easily access him.
This felt like a life or death situation. No matter which decision I choose, it would ruin at least one person's life. If I choose to ask Edward to bring me home, my plans would be ruined. But, if I stayed out here, I could ruin Edward.
Wait, why am I thinking I would ruin Edward's life if I did this? How could I be so selfish? It would only make his life less stressful, because to him I was just a pain in the ass. Sure, he didn't show it, but that was obviously because he felt bad for me. And I had believed that crap?
Knowing Edward was going to return soon, I quickly went in between the aisles where he would be unable to see me. Even though I doubted he wouldn't seem me in this empty story. Really, there was only one other person here, and that person was running the till.
I was guessing that Edward worked here. Why else would he be at a gas station god knows how from from town in the middle of the night? Well, maybe not the middle of the night. More like the middle of the evening, if that makes any sense at all.
I sunk to the ground, suddenly feeling more tired than I had all day, which I didn't think was even possible. But than again, what did I know? Apparently not much, judging how many problems had already happened today.
As I thought back to Renee showing up at the front door, I couldn't believe that had been today. Was I imagining it, or had it really happened just this morning, or more like afternoon? I couldn't believe time flew by that fast, especially when you were ' on the run ' .
I liked the sounding of that. On the run. Like I had broken into some huge bank and stolen sacks and sacks of money..... hehehe. Like I would do something like that....
Or on the run, like I was training for a marathon. Another thing Bella wouldn't do. I couldn't run a marathon. I would kill myself while running it. It would be like Alice not going shopping for a month. Yeah, impossible.
Sitting on the ground, I felt the tears once again flood effortlessly out of my eyes, streaming down my face. It got even worse once I heard Edward come out of wherever he had gone, and just open his mouth to speak.
"Hey Mike, can you handle the store for the rest of the night? I know I'm supposed to be staying for another hour, but I was going over to see Bella and Emmett tonight, and I have to pick up Alice first. And to be honest, I've been dying to see her all day long." I so badly longed to just walk out of the aisle and be protected by Edward's strong arms. To be taken away by how great he smelled. It wasn't something I could name, or something I had ever smelled before. But I just needed it now.
GET A GRIP BELLA! I couldn't get distracted. I needed to stay on my 'plan', or at least my attempt of a plan. If I wanted to call something a plan, I was guessing you actually had to plan something.
"You've been dying to see Alice all day? Hmmm. Interesting." Mike said, with a hint of humor creeping into his voice while he said it.
"No Mike, I've been dying to see Bella all day. Not Alice. I really don't give a damn if I see Alice today, as long as I get to see my Bella." I felt even more tears flood out of my eyes when I heard him emphasize my name so much.
"Whoa Edward, don't get too angry." Mike said, almost bursting into hysterics. Obviously, Mike easily laughed.
"I'm sorry Mike, it's just that...." Edward sighed in frustration, as if he couldn't find the right words to describe what he wanted to say. "I was so surprised at how she reacted when I told her. I mean, I'm absolutely thrilled to to bits that she felt the same way for me, but I'm so happy she didn't just leave. I think it's a miracle that she felt the same way. Especially since she's so perfect, and I'm just-"
It seemed like Edward was going to continue, but Mike cut him off. "Whoa, whoa, whoa Edward. Why don't you tell that crap to somebody else, somebody who actually cares?" Mike said in a joking tone. "Not that I don't care that you're happy- I do. But I think that instead of wasting your breath on me, you should be telling Bella this stuff. I'm sure she would be thrilled if you told her. Why don't you go see her now? I will be fine here by myself."
I almost started laughing, because Edward didn't have to say everything again – I had already heard it.
I didn't know whether to be thrilled to bits with what Mike said, or want to tear his limbs apart. This meant Edward was leaving.
Edward was leaving.
As I kept repeating those words in my head, I kept feeling worse and worse. I felt as if I was the one leaving. Which I should feel, because I had been the one who had left the house, and who hadn't even told Edward where I was going. Not like I knew, but I'm sure it would have been nicer to just let him know.
"Okay Mike. Thanks, I totally owe you big time. But Bella's really important to me..." Edward trailed off, not needing to finish that thought.
I heard the front door open and close. Edward was gone.
Obviously, I had been wrong. Edward did love me. More than I thought.
I stood up, trying to think of what I needed to do now.
First, I really needed to use the washroom.
When I looked into the mirror, I noticed that my face was a mess. Actually, not just my face. My head as well. My hair looked like a birds nest, minus the twigs. My face was all sweaty, from walking all day in the hot sun. On top of that, my makeup had been ruined from me crying moments ago.
Instead of trying to fix everything up, I just decided to wash my face and quickly comb my hair with my fingers, to at least make me presentable.
After I had finally made it so somebody wouldn't scream when they saw me, I walked out of the washroom and started heading up and down the aisles.
I had to be very wise with the food I picked. I might still need to walk a long ways, so I didn't want to pack too much food, or anything too heavy.
After I decided I had gotten enough food to last me a day, I went up to the till. I didn't want to buy too much, I would easily be able to find another store somewhere else soon.
"Hello!" Said the person I know knew as Mike. He scanned my food, put it into a bag, and put my money in the till and gave me some change back. "Have a good day!" He said while I left.
Yeah right. Good day? Sure. I would have a good day. Eventually I knew I would. But not now.
As I continued walking along the empty highway, I couldn't keep my mind on one subject. It would go from Mike being overly cheerful, to the highway being a scary place to be walking alone in the nighttime.
Even though my brain was thinking so hard about everything that had happened today, last week, or even last year, one question never left my head.
Where was I going to go now?
I was so close to whipping out my cell phone that was conveniently located in m pocket and calling Edward, right than and there, to ask him to come pick me up. I even started to bring it out a few times, about to click my only number on speed dial. But instead of stopping whatever he was currently doing so he could come help me, I would always stop myself.
I couldn't quit now. I had to follow through with this. And get as far away from here as possible.
Authors Note: Like it? Unfortunately, if I don't post tomorrow I won't be able to until Wednesday. I will try to post tomorrow – if I get lots of reviews, that is. Else, you will have a long wait, because I am leaving Monday morning and not coming back until Wednesday. Without any time to write.....
I have the idea for the next chapter ready in my head, but I am a ridiculously slow writer with actually writing stories. After I write a sentence or paragraph, I always reread it twice. And I've been drowning in homework lately....... But I still write in all my spare time :)
Review? It's not a question, it's a command. If I get lots of reviews I will post earlier! YOUR REVIEWS MATTER TO ME! I READ EACH ONE! Lol, not like there are many to read. :)
-Emma - :)