I don't own Twilight, Prada, GI Joe's, Fort Casey, or anything else I may mention. But I do use S. Meyer's characters to do my bidding. Muahahahahah.
Oh a side note, my computer crashed…I lost everything….the funeral was yesterday…I was sad…because among all my music, movies, and photos, every writing project was lost as well. Cue angry eyes. Errrrgh….Anyways, here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy. And can I just say, I love my readers! I love my reviewers! Ya'll are beyond awesome, beyond amazing, beyond cool. You're my reader/reviewers and can I just say, ya'll rock. Oh, and we've reached 65 reviews. In just four chapters! I'm told (as this is my first fanfic) that that is pretty freakin' awesome. I'm just happy someone out there is reading and not trying to send me therapy bills for any and all unintended mental stress this fanfic may have caused. I heart ya'll. Readers and reviewers alike! THANK YOU!!
Edward's POV
Jasper sat low in the center of the couch. Behind him stood Alice, her arms crossed, glowering at the back of his head. She spoke low into her cell phone. Across from Jasper, in an armchair sat Rosalie. Her legs were crossed and she sat tall. I could hear her thoughts, as shallow as a puddle as she mulled over her own perfection. Esme sat perched on the chair's arm. Her thoughts were colored with worry, and something I couldn't quite identify, as she glanced from each of her children's faces.
"Rose, where is she?" I asked again, for the last time. I knew it was futile. She didn't know where Emmett was. But maybe, if I kept asking, she'd get annoyed enough and let something slip. Something that may not seem important to her. Like background noise from her phone conversations, or some off hand remarks made by Emmett. Hell, just the name of the wolf she got involved in this mess would help. We knew that is where she went, it was the only known reason Alice could not see.
"Sorry Edward," she sighed. The self-examination of her own perfection didn't break once. I turned to Alice. She slammed the phone shut and tossed it at the back of Jasper's head. It shattered into small, silver pieces.
"Nothing. No one is answering their phones!" she ranted. "They have phones! Why won't they answer!?" Jasper visible flinched as a wave of desperation and frustration hit him from behind.
"Its ok dear," Esme said encouragingly. She gave me a sympathetic look. We'll find her. Emmett won't let anything happen to her, dear. I gave her a simple nod, but I could not completely trust her judgment of Emmett's abilities to keep my Bella safe….my Bella….
Again, Jasper cringed. Edward…. He sighed in his head.
"Don't ask me any favors right now, Jazz." I spat. He gripped the edge of the couch as he tried to maintain control.
This gave me an idea. We could not do anything until someone in La Push was contacted. Then and only then could we call off the wolf who was involved. But if we were stuck here, waiting, why not
get a little justice. Jasper cringed, probably from the feeling of utter glee emanating off me. Alice gasped audibly. She leaned down low beside Jasper's ear.
"If you ever wish to set foot in my bedroom again, you won't move an inch off this couch." She grinned at me.
What was that human phrase I kept hearing at school…Payback's a bitch.
Oh Bella….
Bella's POV
We were stopped at a camping supply store off of highway 20. Emmett had a permanent fool's grin on his face as he slung me over his shoulder and carried me inside the store. He didn't care what other people thought. He wasn't letting me any chance of escape. Once inside he dumped me into one trolley, grabbed a second,and took off towards the camping gear. He started throwing supplies on top of me, and into the second trolley.
"Emmett, why do we need sleeping bags?" I asked as he debated, actually debated between a red sleeping bag and a blue. Finally he threw the blue into the trolley beside me and took off down the aisle towards a giant display of canteens.
"Because Bella, I don't think Edward would be pleased if I returned you colder than us. Nope, you don't get that privilege till after your wedding." Emmett smirked at me. I cringed.
"Don't remind me," I grumbled.
Emmett continued his joyful shopping spree, reminding me a lot of Alice when she dragged me to Seattle last time. Emmett had a plan, and it was not looking good for me. There was no way I could escape and try to call anyone. He wasn't letting me out of his sight.
That's when genius hit me. Something Emmett had once said to me. He had called be diabolical. He had no idea.
If I could get away from Emmett, then I could try to call someone. Nearly everyone has cell phones these days. And most people would gladly let you use them in case of an emergency. And if this wasn't an emergency, then what was?
And I had the perfect reason to be alone. I was human.
"Emmett?"I said quietly, "I need a human minute."
"Huh?" Emmett asked distractedly. He had found the paintball aisle and was too distracted to pay attention.
"A human minute. You know, humans aren't as indestructible as you guys. We have needs, like the need for a bathroom."
"Oh," he said. "Ok." He scooped dozens of packages into the second trolley and headed towards the back of the store.
"Emmett, why do you havepaintballs, but no paintball guns?" I was momentarily distracted by this thought.
His fool's grin got wider. Was that even possible?
"Oh Bella. Unlike weak, fragile humans, we don't need guns to send things flying thru the air fast and hard." The trolley stopped and he picked me up, throwing me over his shoulder and began pushing open the women's bathroom door.
"Emmett!" I yelled. "You can't go in here! Other women use this bathroom! I need to use this bathroom! Put me down!"
Emmett looked murderous at the thought of letting me out of sight for a minute, but he caved.
"Alright," he set me down and pushed me gently through the door. "No funny business, Bella."
The door closed and I leaned against the sink. The far stall was occupied. A purse sat on the floor, and I could see a pink cell phone laying in the open bag. Perfect.
A moment later I heard a toilet flush and a tall blonde girl, no more than twenty, come out and wash her hands.
"Excuse me," I said. "I was wondering if you have a cell phone on you? I forgot mine, and my brother is being a real pain not letting me use his. He's on this whole family-bonding trip right now and I really need to call our parents. They're going to freak not knowing where we are. We left kind of spur of the moment to go camping."I smiled as warmly as I could.
It must have worked because she smiled."Sure, I know what a pain brothers can be. My older brother Gideon tried taking me camping once. After the tent went up in flames, well…." She trailed off as she handed me the ridiculously pink phone. "that's why I'm here. I owe him a new tent."
"Thanks," I muttered as I flipped the phone open started dialing. That's when the bathroom doors burst open.
The girl beside me froze out of shock. Whether it was from the fact that a random man was standing in the doorway with a fool's grin on his face, or the fact that the random man was a completely gorgeous vampire, I couldn't tell. Emmett stared at me, and his fool's grin turned evil.
"Bella," he closed the distance between us in two strides and plucked, yes plucked, the phone from my hands. He threw me over his shoulder and tossed the phone at the blonde.
I didn't get the chance to hear the first ring.
Alice POV
My Jasper was clutching his head. His eyes were wide and wild. Every emotion Edward and I were sending at him was causing him to spiral into a panic. He had curled up, much like Edward had, on the couch in the fetal position. Whoa, did he just twitch?
That's when Edward's phone rang.
Just one simple ring, and Edward had the tiny silver phone to his ear. We could all hear the voice on the other end of the phone. It was just a second, and then nothing. But in that second we had what we needed.
We heard Emmett.
We had a number.
We had a lead.
Edward and I stopped throwing emotions at Jasper as Edward hit send. The phone on the other end rang twice before a woman's voice came over the line.
Edward spoke quickly. I heard a female describe Bella asking to use her phone. Something about reaching her parents because her brother had kidnapped her for some random family bonding camping trip. Edward asked where they were, and she replied Mt. Vernon. He shut the phone quickly and smiled at me. Jasper sat up.
"We're going to Mt. Vernon." He said.
Rosalie's POV
No,I thought internally as I exchanged a glance with Jasper. Damn it, Bella! Edward cast me a murderous glare. I stared at Jasper. They couldn't get her back this quickly. We had to beat them.
Jasper must have felt the determination coming from me, because he barely nodded and glanced out the window towards the garage. I made sure to keep the silent agreement out off the forefront of my mind. Instead I thought of Emmett, three weeks ago…
"Rosalie!" that was what I needed, Edward was distracted. "Stay. here. Esme, please."Edward sent her a pleading look, asking her to keep us here. He and Alice took off to the Volvo and raced down the drive.
When I was sure he was out of ear shot I looked at Jasper.
"So?" I said. "Your already in trouble…." I let the words trail off.
"Rosalie, please dear," Esme said, but there was no fight in her words. She hated to see us fight, but I think she secretly was enjoying this. Jasper gave her a strange look. As if to confirm my suspicions
she gave us a disapproving glance and said, "I'm going upstairs. Don't torment your siblings too much." And she was gone.
" She feels...joyful,'' he said incredulously. Jasper stared for a moment before continuing, " I think she's enjoying this…why?"
I stood up. "Who cares why, we need to get to Emmett before they do. Lets go."
Emmett's POV
"I think that's everything," I said as I started the jeep and headed west on Highway 20. Bella sat fuming in her seat, glaring between me, the windshield, and the overflowing back seat. We had stopped at GI Joe's for camping gear and defense weapons. Bella had said she needed a 'human minute' so I walked to the bathrooms. Inside I heard her try to talk a woman into letting her use her phone before I burst through the door. Bella was fighting dirty. I could not be more proud.
I drove fast, speeding down the highway towards the fort. Wkidde had had a war game at Fort Casey a few months back, and it was perfect for defending a frail human.
We made the drive in record time.
"What. Is. That?" Bella asked slowly, staring out at the Fort.
The three story, massive green structure lay before us. It was located on Whidbey Island, overlooking the ocean. It was isolated, deserted, and was perfect. With three guard towers that gave optimal views of all access points, there would be no way they could sneak up on us. Bella would be protected. And there was no coverage from enemy paintballs for the vampires below.
"This…" I said slowly, "Is perfect."
A/N- Ok, here's the next chapter. Tell me what you think. My mind keeps wandering ahead to the fight scene, so forgive me if it isn't the best. There's just sooo much I wanted to put in. So, like I've said before, please, discuss and review. I like reviews. They make me happy. And I need all the happy I can get in this time of mourning….my poor laptop….all my music….my writing PROJECTS…. Ugh. Le sigh. Anyways, if you review, you get not only another chapter, but you get pie. Really good pie. If you don't, then I feed your pie to Loca. And she likes pie. (No joke, that's my mum's nickname after this last road trip. We also have a Paco and Le Weirdo.) So review and you get pie! Enjoy kiddies! Cheers!
