CHAPTER 4

Bella decided to talk to her mom first. Queen Renee was a bit more compassionate than her dad. She found her mother in the kitchen, discussing something with the head chef.

"Hi mom." She said. I was wondering..."

"Just a minute hon." Her mom told her. "So, you're sure you can do that? There'll be around 400 guests... And everyone here of course." She turned to Bella. "Is your favorite color still red?"

Bella nodded. "Wait... Why?"

"Oh, we're just discussing the plans for your wedding."

"My-" Bella felt a bit faint again. "M-Mom? That's what I wanted to talk about. Can we go somewhere to talk?"

"So, you see... I really don't want to marry Jacob. Do you think dad'll understand?" Bella concluded as they walked.

Renee shook her head. I don't know. Your father's convinced this'll be good for everyone. Especially for the people of Forkette and Quilion. You could talk to him, but I doubt it would do any good.

Bella sighed. "Thanks anyway mom." She hugged her mom and walked off to look for king Charlie.

Bella stalked to her room. Her conversation with Charlie hadn't gone well. He had insisted that she give prince Jacob a chance. That she barely knew him. Which of course raised the question "How am I supposed to marry someone I don't know?"

She sighed. He could be so stubborn sometimes! 'Well,' she thought, 'we'll see how he likes it when he wakes up and his little Isabella's gone!'

Of course, it was all part of "plan 'B' which as of around 2:00 this afternoon, was officially in effect. She would get mad and "run away". Someone working with her and Alice would "find her" and bring her back. Alice was supposed to go into town and buy some average looking clothes for her to sneak out in.

15 minutes later, Alice returned. "Just promise me that you'll be careful, ok? Don't talk to anyone. The city's pretty mean if you don't know it." Her face revealed a concerned expression.

"I've been out in the city before Alice." Bella reminded her.

"Yes, but never alone!" Alice replied worriedly. "Now, I got you a map, please, please use it! And by all means, if you run into any trouble, call me!" She took a blue cell phone from a shopping bag and handed it to Bella. Then, she pulled out a bright pink one. I've already programed our numbers and a few emergency numbers on yours."

"This really isn't nessi..."

"For an average person." Alice interrupted. "But you're still Forkette's only princess. And you do tend to have an air of ... shall we say "clumsiness" about you."

"I don't think..."

"Just take it." Alice pleaded. "You never know. It could come in handy."

"Ok." Bella relented. "I need to get dressed up... er um down."

Alice giggled.

Bella went into her bathroom and came out a few minutes later. "How do I look?" She asked.

"Normal." Alice answered.

"Perfect! Now, how do I get outta here?"

Bella had been alone in the city for an hour. She liked how it felt to be outside in the cool night air, to be independant, to feel free. Though she knew she would "found" and taken back in a few more hours, she let her mind wander. What would it be like to truly be normal?

She wandered in and out of shops. She passed the park and the the theater. Soon, she found herself in an alleyway. She saw a group of guys up ahead and debated if she should turn and go back the way she'd come. She decided against it. If she got into trouble, she'd just call Alice, she reasoned. Alice wouldn't let anything happen. Besides, she was sending someone to pick her up soon, right?

She walked on. She was getting nervous. The group of four hadn't broken up. There was no way she could fight four big guys if they tried somethng. She decided to call Alice then, just to be safe. She took her phone out and dialed.

"Hello. Bella?" She heard on the other end after 4 rings. "Are you ok? What's going on? Where are you?"

"I'm ok at the moment." She answered. Right now I'm in an alleyway. The one by the pizza place. I called because there's a group of four guys..."

"Bella honey, how far away are they?"

"A-about 50 yards."

"Ok. Ok, stay right there. I'll have someone there in two minutes. Promise."

"Hurry Al, they're starting this way." Bella could hear her heart pounding in her chest now. She had a really bad feeling about these guys. They were getting closer every second. She didn't know how long it would take for them to reach her. She tried to swallow a lump forming in her throat.

'Calm down.' She told herself. 'They're probably not even interested in you. Th-They probably just want to pass.' She couldn't convince herself though. Every second she waited seemed like an hour.

She turned around. She began to run back the way she'd come. The group began to run too. She slid in a small puddle of water and fell, dropping her phone in the process. She could still hear Alice's voice on the line, practially shouting at her to answer.

She could feel the presence of the men looming over her now. They started to laugh. She could smell the vile stench of alcohol on their breath, and saw the faint orange glow as one of them lit a cigarette.

"Hey honey," another one spoke. "Now just calm down, and we won't have to hurt you."

"Much." One of them sneered. A howling chorus of laughter broke out among the men then.

Bella brought herself back up on her knees, ready to start running again at the men's slightest distraction.

"Aw, doll, we just wanna play a bit is all." A voice said from behind her.

Suddenly, lights shone brightly in the dark alleyway, temporarily blinding everyone.

"Alice!" Bella remembered suddenly. She forced herself to her feet quickly. As the driver opened the door for her, she jumped in, closing the door behind her as fast as she could.

Once she heard the clink of the door lock into place, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you sooo much! I thought those- those..." She searched for the right word.

The driver glanced momentarily at her. "Thugs." He supplied helpfully.

"Yes, thank you. I thought those thugs were going to..." She looked over at him then. "Hey, you aren't the guy Alice told me she'd send... Are you new?"

The driver stopped the car and turned to look at her then. "What are you talking about? Who's Alice?"

"Alice? She sent you after me, right?"

"No," he said, laughing. "I came on my own."

"But- How-how did you know I was here?"

He grined. A very cute grin, Bella noticed. "I'm a bit psychic." he admitted. "I've been keeping an eye on those guys for awhile now."

"Phychic?" Bella looked doubtful. "Prove it. What number am I thinking."

"Ok," the driver told her. "But when I get it right, I expect something in return."

"W-what?" Bella asked him nervously.

"Oh, it's nothing. I just expect you to let me take you to dinner."

Bella was speechless. She hadn't expected anything like that. No one had ever asked her to dinner before.

"I'll take that as a yes." he said, grinning again. "Go ahead and think of that number."

"Um, okay. I've got it."

"Hmm, let's see... What!"

"What is it?"

"I-I can't read your mind!" Now it was his turn to be speechless.

"I knew you weren't phychic!" Bella looked at him pointedly.

"I don't understand. I am phychic! This has never happened. I-I don't know what's happening!"

"It's ok. No one's perfect. Besides...," I flashed him a smile...you did just ask me to dinner, right?"