Chapter Thirty Nine

Bella

It took me a long time to calm down enough to look at what had happened objectively and then I felt ashamed of myself. True Charlotte provoked me by kissing Jazz but it wasn't meant as anything sinister, just a gesture of friendship and I'd almost killed her. This side of being a vampire I didn't like, I couldn't control my jealousy as well as I should and it could be disastrous. We were a family and we needed each other. Jazz held my hand and I felt him trying to send me calm thoughts while he was angry himself so it wasn't working. Eventually I pulled him down to sit beside me and lay my head on his shoulder.

"I was wrong Jazz. I over reacted."

"So did Peter."

"That doesn't make me feel any better."

He lifted my head and I saw he was smiling,

"What's so funny?"

"Not funny but flattering. You were willing to kill Charlotte because she kissed me."

"I wish I didn't feel so jealous of her. Rose doesn't bother me so why does Charlotte?"

"Maybe because you see Rose as my sister but you see Charlotte as a rival female."

"What am I going to do Jazz? We need each other and I have to find a way through this."

He stroked my face,

"For now just relax, we'll worry about the others in a while"

As his lips met mine I forgot about everything except how much I needed him, how much he meant to me and greedily I took all I could from the closeness of our bodies.

Garrett

Charlie and I sat together on the porch while Peter and Char talked in the cabin,

"You think they'll leave?"

"Who knows, but if they do they're leaving themselves open to the Volturi, or the guardians, or both."

"I thought Peter and Jasper were as close as brothers."

"They are but Charlotte and Bella aren't sisters and we vampires can be very possessive."

"Yeah so I saw. Did you never find a mate Garrett?"

"Not yet but I'm always open to suggestions. There was a girl once, a vampire girl I mean, in Boston. We got close then I had to leave her to help The Major and when I got back she was gone. She found someone else while I was away so I guess it wasn't to be."

"Did you ever see her again?"

"Nope, but then I never looked. I worked on the principal that she wasn't worth the hunt. How about you Charlie? After Bella's mum I mean."

"No, after Renee left with Bella I guess I was too scared to try again and then there just wasn't anyone in Forks that interested me. I've been on my own too long Garrett, too old for new tricks."

"Remember that now you have eternity, and that's a long time alone, trust me, I know"

He nodded looking thoughtful,

"We'll see."

Peter

Charlotte had more or less recovered from her wound and calmed down somewhat but I was still fuming.

"There's no excuse for what Bella did and as for The Major standing up for that bitch."

"Peter, it wasn't her fault entirely. I shouldn't have thrown myself on him. I know how jealous she is."

"Jealous? She's fucking crazy. We should leave, get away from here before they get back."

"And go where? Peter we aren't safe if we split up."

"Hey I can keep us safe. We managed OK on our own before he came back on the scene. In fact since then there's been nothing but grief."

"Peter he didn't force us to help him with Maria."

"No true, but he didn't help matters by getting us tangled up with the Volturi did he?"

"Peter please."

"No way. You want to stay here, be my guest."

"Where will you go?"

"Anywhere away from those two."

"And what happens when the Volturi or the guardians find you?"

"I'll fight the same as I always do. What's the matter Charlotte? Don't you trust me to keep you safe any longer? Maybe you do have the hots for The Major, does he get the old juices flowing? Trust him more than me do you?"

"Don't be ridiculous Peter. You know very well I love you and of course I trust you. I just think it would be stupid to leave now."

"Oh so I'm stupid too? Great. Well I know where I fucking stand don't I?"

I got up fuming,

"I'm leaving now, come with me or stay, its your choice and at this very minute I don't really care which way you jump."

Charlotte

I watched Peter stomp out of the cabin and I knew he meant what he said, that was the one thing about Peter, he meant everything he said and it was difficult if not impossible to change his mind once he'd made it up but he was wrong this time. I got up stiffly, wincing at the pain of my still healing wound and followed him out. He was sitting in the truck, his jaw muscle jumping, looking up the track and I walked over opening the door,

"Peter come back into the cabin. This is madness, we need each other. Bella and I had a falling out and we'll sort it out but I'm not leaving over it. Please."

He turned black and hurt eyes to me,

"Suit yourself."

Then he wrenched the door from my hand and slammed it shut gunning the engine and taking off with a wheel spin that threw dust up and he was gone. I stood looking after him and wondering if I would ever see him again. Peter was hot-headed and impetuous but he had never gone off without me in all the years we had known each other and I wondered if it was final.

Charlie

Garrett and I watched as Peter left Charlotte standing there in a cloud of dust then I went over to her and put my arm around her comfortingly,

"He'll be back Charlotte. He couldn't possibly leave you, he loves you."

"Does he Charlie? I'm not so sure any longer. He wouldn't have driven off leaving me if he loved me would he?"

"Like you said he's impetuous. Come in and rest, you're still shaky."

I led her inside and sat with her on the couch as she closed her eyes and got lost in her thoughts. It was the same in the vampire world as it was in the human one as far as men and women were concerned. A good half the calls I'd attended as a cop were domestic disputes of one kind or another!

"She all right Charlie?"

Garrett appeared,

"I followed Peter to the end of the track just to see which direction he took and he headed for the border. My guess is if he doesn't come back he'll go to the ranch. Do you want me to follow him Char?"

She opened her eyes and shook her head,

"No, it's too dangerous for us to split up. If the Volturi found out they'd be on us like ants over a sugar mound. Peter knows the score, he's made his decision. Leave him be Garrett but thanks for the offer."

As she sat back once more Garrett and I left her, walking outside again,

"You know the Volturi much better than me. Does he stand a chance?"

"If they find out? On his own? No. He'll fight but he'll lose. They might keep him alive as a bargaining chip but The Major wont give up, not even to save Peters life."