Bella
I have never felt this free before. Wind blowing through my hair, my legs caring me effortlessly across the Earth, everything was perfect – well, almost perfect. There was one exception to my perfect happiness and he happened to be standing across from me at this very moment, blocking my path. I came to a halt.
"Bella, for Christ's sake just push him aside and run!" Jasper yelled running towards me. Edward quickly moved aside as I glared in his direction and continued to run as fast as I could to the diamond shaped base. I effortlessly reached my destination in no time and was welcomed by Alice high-fiving me as I stepped gingerly on the dingy plate.
"10-3! We totally just won! Suck it Emmett!" Alice yelled as her short yet graceful body danced around home base. I laughed at the little pixie – she loved gloating, especially when it came to Emmett losing.
"Don't be too harsh on poor Emmett, Alice. He and the others didn't have a chance between you, me and Jasper." I said, smiling softly.
"It doesn't help either when you have Princess and Mr. I'm-really-a-chick-living-in-a-man's-body-and-on-my-time-of-month on your team either." Emmett's voice said sarcastically, motioning towards Rosalie and Edward. I just shook my head and laughed, he did have a good point. Baseball was not one of Rose's favorite things to do par say, but I believe she put on the effort for her beloved Emmett. Edward on the other hand was a whole different story. He loved baseball and loved coming out here to play, but lately, he's been more distant with us, especially with me. Of course, I've tried to ask him what's wrong, but he just shakes his head, refusing to tell anyone anything.
I sighed picking up a few of the strewn bats and looked up to glance upon the others. Of course Rose and Emmett were tangled up with one another while Alice and Jasper were whispering softly to one another. They were the type of couple that made other couples sick, the type of couple that I hoped one day could be me and my chosen lover. Unknowingly, I shifted my glance towards the right and found Edward leaning against a dingy fence, staring nonchalantly out into the woods. I walked slowly towards him.
"A penny for your thoughts?" I asked, standing a few feet from him. He shrugged as he turned his glance downwards.
"It's nothing Bella." I sighed. It was always nothing.
"You always say that Edward. And you know what? I don't buy it. Your too complicated to be thinking of absolutely nothing." He stared at me intently and then almost immediately looked back towards the uninteresting woods. It would be foolish of me to say that I wasn't hurt – he had always been there for me, comforting me, telling me how things were going to be okay; how this life wasn't going to punish me, how he wouldn't let anyone hurt me. Yet here I was hurt, trying with all my heart to return the favor by comforting him, to tell him that things were going to be okay and that I was here for him. But, he wouldn't let me. He was pushing me away, and I didn't know what to do.
"Bella! Edward! Were heading back now!" I looked around just in time to see Alice's spiky black hair bounce out of sight. I sighed, catching a small glance of Edward once again. He was still staring off in space out into those stupid damn woods once again.
"I'll see you at home, Edward." I simply stated as I secured the bats in my arms and took off towards home. There was nothing more to say.
"Kids!" Esme cried happily as she welcomed us back from our game. She got up from the sofa and gave each of us a personal welcome.
"Emmett, you must of lost son. You have a look like someone just took you down a notch." Jasper laughed at Esme's comment.
"Bella did actually, she got 6 out of our 10 runs." I beamed slightly. It's not every day I can say that I kicked Emmett's butt at something.
Esme came to face me and a sadness took to her features. She leaned, cupping my cheek and spoke in a whispered tone.
"Your sad dear, it's Edward again isn't it?" I sighed softly and looked down. She knew me all too well and it only took her three years.
"You know the answer Esme. He's…" I started as I heard his footsteps near the door. "We'll talk later Esme, I promise." She nodded softly, letting go of my cheek. I turned around to meet with the all to familiar somber ochre eyes, the same ones that use to shine with endless promise and hope. Now they were permanently dulled with a sadness within that no one knew of. Esme greeted him quickly and sweetly, how a mother would. I heard him softly respond with a simple, "Hello Mother". I looked towards the ground, I didn't want to intrude.
I counted my soft steps as I casually made my way towards my bedroom. It was across the hall from Edward's, I had made sure it was relatively close to his. In the first few days that I arrived here, he was the one who I depended on, the one who I told my secrets to. Well, all my secrets but one. But, really it was silly because the one secret that he didn't know was the most obvious. Hell, I'm sure everyone in this household knew - knew that I loved him. Utterly and uncontrollably loved him. However, he didn't seem to care.
"Um, Edward?"
"Yes my dear Bella?" I looked at him shyly. We were laying down on the soft grass in the meadow. I flipped over on my stomach, propping myself up on my elbows, looking into his bright, golden eyes.
"It's silly, actually. Really, really silly." He chuckled softly, putting a random piece of hair that the wind caught behind my ear. "Nothing you have to say is silly, my Bella." I blushed. His words were so poetic, so enduring. I breathed in heavily.
"Edward, do you think we could ever be like Alice and Jasper or Emmett and Rose?" Edward froze slightly, his hand dropping from my hair. He said nothing, his eyes becoming distant from mine. I panicked. I knew that I should've never ask the question, how could he love me like I love him? I was just some poor, stupid idiotic girl and he was Adonis. A god of all gods. He still wasn't looking at me, his mind was elsewhere, that was easy to tell. I reached to touch him, to get a taste of what he was thinking. He almost instantly pulled back.
"Don't Bella." I looked at him shocked, stunned and hurt.
"I…I don't understand Edward, did I say something wrong?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly.
"You shouldn't ask silly questions, Bella." He said in barely a whisper.
A soft knock took me out of my reverie.
"Bella! Carsile would like to talk to all of us in the living room." Alice's singsong voice chimed through my bedroom door.
"Sure Alice, I'll be right down." I stepped slowly from my oversized bed and opened the door, I was greeted by excited voices.
"Bella! Come down, I've got some exciting news!" Carsile's voice excitedly projected. "Sit, sit." Everyone sat down on the few furniture pieces strewn across the oversized living area. I was seated between Esme and Alice, Edward of course was in a chair by the corner sulking to himself he must already heard Carsile's surprise.
"Of course, as you guys know here in Forks, I'm reaching my 34th birthday. These days I can barely pass for 30, so Esme and I had made the decision that it's time for us to move on."
"Move on?" I asked.
"They want to move to Alaska, Bella." Edward said blankly. I whipped my head in his direction. Those were the most words he had said to me since we had that conversation in the meadow. I chose to ignore him and instead directed my attention towards Carslie.
"I'm sorry, Alaska?" I asked questioningly.
"Yes, Bella. You see every few years we have to migrate somewhere else. Us being vampires, we never age and if we tell people were are getting older but show no signs of it, they starting getting suspicious and asking question, therefore putting our kind in danger." I nodded, trying to take all of this in. We would be moving, severing all ties we had with Forks. Before I continue with anymore thought, Carsile spoke again.
"Also Bella, I think it's time you begin schooling again." He stated, holding a pamphlet out to me. I took it gingerly, my long place fingers sliding over the glossy cover. College. Carsile continued.
"I've seen you read basically every book in this house and I think I would be good for you to take part in schooling again as well as civilization." I inhaled sharply. Schooling. Civilization. Humans.
I…I don't know if that's a good idea, Carsile." I stuttered. Carsile seem to shake off my worry almost instantly.
"Bella, I have utter confidence in you as well as the rest of us. It's been over three years since you've been with us and nothing's happened. Besides, Edward will be there to protect you, like before Bella." I snorted. He didn't want anything to do with me and yet Carsile thought he would willingly watch over me - protect me.
"I don't need Edward, Carsile." I stated coldly. Saying that statement I realized I had meant that in more ways than one. An uncomfortable silence fell over the family. I knew my below the gut insult towards Edward might have been slightly inappropriate, but honestly I didn't care. He was a jackass and he needed to know it.
"Okay, I'll go on one condition though." I said, breaking the building tension.
"Yes?" Carsile asked.
"I want to see my father." Edward opened his mouth, to probably disagree.
"Don't be sil.." Carsile hushed Edward.
"I think that would be perfectly fine Bella, Alice?"
Alice looked at me, her eyes smiling. "Yes, I'm sure that everything will be okay."
Carsile smiled and clapped his hands. "Great! Emmett, mind going with her tomorrow?"
"And spend time with the most annoying little sister in the world? Hell yes." I laughed, high-fiving Emmett. I just adored him, he was so relaxed and easygoing a breath of fresh air from the other one.
"So, it's settled then. We will leave tomorrow around twilight, after Bella says goodbye to her father. We will discuss other matters once were settled in Alaska, such as the start of your college education Bella." I nodded. Everything had become so exciting in such a small amount of time. Moving, going to school, living once again in society. New changes in my life were just around the corner; however, despite my high from the buzz of excitement a little part of me knew that nothing would change things between Edward and I. I sighed wondering if I could ever truly be happy once again.
Damn him - damn him for ruining my chance at any happiness.
Author's Note: I know there is a ton of you who read and don't review – this makes me sad. Reviews are my brand of heroin. Please take a moment and let me know if your enjoy the story. Thanks.