Chapter Five – Goodnight or Goodbye?
Amy exited her condo and jogged down her wooden stairs on Sunday morning carrying a bulky trash bag. If Jacob and his friends were coming over to help her sort through and move her disorganized maze of boxes, the rest of her condo required some tidying.
And she required some caffeine. After her stimulating and thought-provoking dream from early this morning, she had struggled to return to a peaceful slumber. She had been up since 6 a.m. and already spoke with Jacob about 30 minutes ago. As if he knew her dream was still fresh in her mind, he inquired about her disappearance the night before. She lied on the spot and said she wasn't feeling well and left early, deciding it was too uncomfortable to discuss what she had seen and how it had made her feel.
And now, so many items cluttered her mind when she needed a clear head and diligent focus to attempt to restart her life in an unfamiliar place.
But her newfound fascination with Edward Cullen was now controlling her mind. Snapshots of his features would flash into her vision: his thin, moistened lips, his statuesque jaw line, his amber eyes, his black eyes … welcome distractions at an inconvenient time.
The cool, late April morning air glided over her bare arms. The temperature was already near 50 degrees, and she chose black workout pants and a purple v-neck t-shirt as her outfit for the day. Her sneakers crunched on the pebble pathway leading to the trash receptacles. Besides the chirping of birds and insects, her footsteps were the only nearby sound.
The trash got heavier as she rounded the side of the building, and her muscles were graciously relieved when she deposited the bag in the dumpster. On her way back, she heard a cheerful voice from the balcony of the complex beside hers.
"Morning, Amy! You're up early."
She looked up to see her new neighbor, Andrea Richmann, leaning over her balcony ledge and enjoying a cup of hot tea. Her husband, Alan, was sitting on a chair behind her reading a newspaper.
"I am, and not by choice." She put her hands on her hips and flashed her neighbor a grin. "Some friends are helping me get organized in there," she added, pointing a thumb at her condo.
"Good for you. Come over for tea later if you need a break —"
"Just be sure I make it. This American likes her tea a little too bitter," Alan joked, pinching his wife's calf. The suaveness of his British accent made Amy smile.
"I'll keep that in mind. See you later!"
"Good luck!" Andrea called back as she watched the young woman jog up her stairs and enter her condo, her blonde hair bouncing on her shoulders with each quick step.
Amy inhaled as she entered her new home. New to her and new to the community. The complex had been under construction since last year, and the final building – hers – had been completed just months ago. The excitement of owning a new property was one of the many reasons that lured her to Winthrop, but until her belongings were unpacked and her life was more organized, it wouldn't feel like her home. She still had to paint, which was the primary reason that she was still living out of boxes—
Ding!
Her doorbell chimed throughout her condo sooner than she had expected. She glanced at her wall clock. 8:44 a.m.
"Coming!" Amy shouted from the kitchen, fully expecting to see Jacob's warm smile on the other side of her door. She jogged to the door and opened it. "Hi Charlie."
"Morning," he responded quietly, a smile appearing from underneath his dark mustache. He leaned against her railing, dressed in a dark flannel shirt and jeans, an outfit dwarfed by his standard police uniform. Chief Charlie Swan also lived in the condominium complex – a new girl in town couldn't feel much safer with the Chief of Police as her neighbor.
"I'm sorry to come by so early, but I saw you were out before." His deep voice rumbled in her stomach. "I don't want to scare you, but I thought you should know a man came by asking for you very early this morning."
Amy felt her smile fade and her muscles tighten. "Do you, um, do you know who he was?" She shifted her weight.
"No. I know everyone in this town, and I didn't know him. Very polite guy, even if he was a little strange. He asked if I knew you. I said I did – you were new in town. A photographer for the paper. But I told him nothing else. He didn't stick around." Charlie stopped when he sensed her concern. "Look, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. But it's in my nature to be cautious. So I just wanted to let you know."
As Charlie finished his sentence, Amy saw a red car pull up to the curb in front of the complex, followed immediately by a black car. Jacob, Quil, and another tall male emerged from the vehicles. Amy assumed the third unknown male was Embry. Jacob was carrying a large bakery box, and Quil was balancing a carton holding four coffees.
"It's Chief Swan! Hide the doughnuts!" Quil shouted, purposely loud enough for Charlie to hear.
The Chief chuckled in response, shaking his head at the antics. The three young men jogged up the stairs and exchanged warm greetings with Charlie.
"Hi guys." Amy smiled at the three males. "Come on in."
"Wow, Quil, you're right. She is pretty …" Embry's teasing voice trailed off as he wandered into the house.
"I'll try and keep them under control, I promise." Jacob winked at Amy and nudged her with his elbow as he passed her. His chocolate eyes twinkled in the morning light.
"All of you be good. Help her out," Charlie shouted over Amy's shoulder into the condo.
"Sure thing, Chief!" Jacob's voice rang through the open door.
"They're good guys," Charlie told her. "Known 'em since they were babies." Amy showed the slightest of smiles in response, her mind still focused on Charlie's earlier warning. "Don't dwell on it." His tone softened. "And remember, I'm only a few steps away." Charlie looked down as he said this, a protective, fatherly tone sneaking into his last sentence. With a final nod, he turned around and left her porch.
*****
Amy dropped a collapsed box onto the giant pile of crumpled cardboard near her front door. She was exhausted after more than six hours of work, but the carpet of her living room was actually visible, her entire kitchen was unpacked, and her new bedroom was absolutely perfect.
"Have I told you guys how awesome you are?" Amy shouted to the three busy males throughout her condo.
"Not in the last five minutes, no," Embry shouted back at her from the kitchen.
"Yea, I thought you were on two minute intervals with that?" Quil chimed in from the upstairs landing. Jacob laughed from his crouched position a few feet from Amy. He was busy assembling a TV stand, surrounded by tools and parts, the instructions crumpled at his side.
"I wish I could be more eloquent, but I just want you guys to know that there's no way in hell I could have done this all by myself."
"Aw, c'mon. Even if you could, you couldn't keep all of us away from here," Embry replied, emerging from the kitchen chewing on an eggroll leftover from the Chinese food Amy had had delivered earlier that afternoon. "Pretty new girl in the awesome new Winthop condos? You couldn't fight us off." Embry grinned at Amy who could only grin back in response.
"Yea, especially when we get this flatscreen set up," Jacob responded, sprawling his long legs on the floor, carefully avoiding the sporadic piles of TV stand parts.
Amy had made fast friends with the three Quileutes. Considering Quil and Embry were so similar to Jacob, their easy-going personalities meshed well with Amy's. She could keep up with their jokes, and the sweet girl from New York intrigued them all. When the foursome took a break for lunch, Amy only had a few bites of food between laughs. Since Quil, Embry and Jacob all knew each other since birth, they had a lot of stories to share now that they had reached their mid-20s.
Embry was the oldest of the three at 25, but only by a few months. He was the most outspoken of the three and towered above Amy, his straight black hair tied back in a ponytail. His arms bulged out of his t-shirts, his massive, muscular frame most likely formed from years of working out.
Quil followed in age, also at 25, his black hair short and spiked. He was thinner than Embry, but still toned and fit. His laugh was high-pitched, almost like a girly giggle, and it always elicited laughter from Amy.
Jacob was the youngest of the group, his 25th birthday approaching in less than a week. He was the most subdued of the three males, which was perhaps why he was the most appealing to Amy. In her opinion, he was also the most attractive; the only feature brighter than his dark chocolate eyes was his smile. Each time the two features combined, the sensation in her chest made Amy feel a little more at home.
After another two hours of unpacking, trudging up and down stairs, the muscle-bound Embry and formerly energetic Quil looked close to collapsing.
"I think we're going to split," Quil said, his words close to slurring together as he stifled a yawn. He and Embry were standing behind the couch, leaning against the cushy material. Amy glanced at her watch – 5:53. She and Jacob looked up at the weary pair from their seated positions on the sofa.
"You guys gonna make it home?" she asked with a grin, looking from Quil to Embry as they swayed under the weight of their tired bodies.
"With Quil next to me, I could never fall asleep," Embry said seductively. Quil playfully winked in reply, eliciting chuckles from Amy and Jacob.
"Well, I can't thank you guys enough for all of your help." Amy sat up on her knees and turned around to face the two men. She hoped her smile was genuine and that perhaps her words could demonstrate her appreciation. They had helped bring her home to life. "I promise I'll have you over for a game or dinner or something when I'm all set up."
"We'll hold you to it. Big hug," Embry replied with a genuine smile, as he extended his arms for an embrace. His burly arms wrapped tightly around her for a friendly hug. His muscles made her feel fragile, yet protected.
"Me next!" Quil said, pulling Amy to his chest for a gentler embrace. His right hand glided up and down her back a few times, sending rapid waves of goose bumps fluttering down her arms to her fingertips.
"See you later, gang," Embry said, clapping Jacob on the shoulder as Amy and Quil released each other.
Amy started to get up from her comfortable seat on the couch. "I'll walk you guys out—"
"No, no. Stay where you are. We'll show ourselves out," Embry said, motioning for Amy to stay seated. "Jacob, hands to yourself." Embry clapped Jacob's shoulder as he passed him.
Quil's high-pitched giggle rang through the doorway as he and Embry exited Amy's condo; Jacob shook his head and rolled his eyes from the couch. Silence took over after the door shut behind them. Amy turned around and plopped down on the sofa beside Jacob. The cushions seemed to sigh under her weight.
"If you tell me you hate them, I'll understand." Jacob turned his head to face her, his bright eyes softened from the fatigue.
"I love them." She nudged his arm for emphasis. "I can't believe how much you guys did. I owe all of you. Big time."
"Something tells me we'll be around enough for you to make it up to us." His smile made an appearance when she laughed in response. "So are we testing out this TV?"
"I'd love to, if my cable were set up. But we could try a movie."
"Even better." Jacob stood up and walked over to a storage bin overflowing with DVD movies. "So what'll it be?" He held up two options: 'Fight Club' and 'Love Actually.' "Gratuitous violence or British romantic comedy?" He gave the 'Fight Club' DVD an extra shake to demonstrate his preference.
"Well, given my present company, I suppose I'd have to choose the gratuitous violence."
"Good girl." Jacob crouched down in front of the entertainment center he had so patiently assembled earlier that afternoon and inserted the DVD into the player. He skipped ahead to the menu and played the movie before returning to the couch. Unlike before, he seated himself a few inches closer to Amy, and she could feel the warmth from his body radiating beside her.
As the opening credits rolled, Amy reached behind the couch for her favorite blanket, snuggling underneath the soft material. Her eyes began to roll back as Tyler Durden made his first appearance
Outside, a billowy cloud cover darkened the late afternoon sky, and a light drizzle pattered against the windows. The soothing sound helped the fatigue take over her body, and her head drooped closer to Jacob. She gave in to the weight of her eyelids and drifted into a relaxed sleep, her head coming to rest on Jacob's shoulder. Next to her, a pleased smile crept across Jacob's face.
*****
Nearly two hours later, Amy's eyelids fluttered open. She blinked a few times for her pupils to adjust to the lack of light, then raised her head from Jacob's shoulder and stretched her arms. He was in a deep sleep, his heavy breathing competing with the volume of the movie. Amy smiled and carefully rose from the couch to not disturb her friend. Natural light was fading fast, and her feet had difficulty navigating in her darkened, still somewhat unfamiliar, new home.
After using the restroom and changing into a pale yellow sweatshirt and jeans, her primary focus was food. Should I wake him? she thought, laughing quietly to herself at his lanky limbs draped over her couch and onto the floor. Instead of disturbing his slumber, she decided to let him sleep. She scribbled a note explaining that she'd made a quick trip into town for a pizza, and she'd be back in less than 30 minutes. With the swiftness and delicacy of a bird, she grabbed her keys and slipped her license and $20 into her pocket, then silently slipped out of her condo into the drizzle.
Her Prius got a fresh rain shower on the short drive to the downtown streets of Winthrop. It was now after 8:00 p.m., and thanks to the rain, the sky was now completely black. Even though the trip was only minutes away from her condo, her car was drenched as she pulled into a parking space a short block away from the Papa Murphy's Take and Bake Pizza place.
She exited her car and jogged to the entrance as if the raindrops would harm her if they penetrated her skin. The alluring aroma of freshly cooked pizza filled her nostrils, and her stomach dutifully rumbled in response.
"Hi." Her greeting was more of an exhale as she stepped up to the counter to order. She freed her long, layered blonde hair from the restraints of her yellow, hooded sweatshirt and rested her elbows on the counter. She ordered a large pizza for her and Jacob to share, most of which, she guessed, his fatigued body would devour.
After she paid, she left the counter and nearly collided with the next customer.
"Hi."
The voice made her freeze. Panic followed.
Her eyes met Wesley's strained expression, and her memories from last night flooded back through her head like a lightning storm. Wesley. Admitting he liked her. Flirting with her. How she was attracted to him. Then the woods. The other woman. The pleasure he was receiving from a complete stranger. How he could so easily toss her aside. How he could be so interested, then so thoughtless. What kind of person could do that? The anxiety of the lightning storm built up inside of her until the explosion of thunder erupted as pure fear.
"I was just walking by, and I saw you, so I thought—"
Without thinking, she bolted.
The door flew open under the force of her adrenaline, and she ran. The mist stung her face as her mind attempted to formulate an escape plan. But her rational thought was clouded in a thunderstorm of fear.
"No, Amy, wait!" Wesley's voice trailed after her from inside the establishment. She knew he'd be too persistent to give up easily. "Don't-I'm sorry!"
He was outside now, running after her. "Amy! Please, just give me a chance to explain! I know I was an ass hole. Please, just talk to me!"
My keys! Where are my keys?! Her car was ahead. She could see the light from a streetlamp reflecting off her rain-speckled windshield. She looked down at her jean pockets as she fumbled for the keys inside. At the moment she freed them, her toes caught an uneven strip of pavement. Her feet tangled, sending her tumbling harshly to the ground in the blink of an eye. Her keys shot from her hand, tinkling on the pavement as they rolled several feet away from her.
The sound of Wesley's footsteps increased and then slowed as he reached her. "Oh, Amy. Are you okay?" He crouched beside her and rested a hand on the small of her back. She flinched at his touch.
"Don't!" Still on her belly, she reached behind her and shoved his arm away.
"I'm not going to fucking hurt you, all right?!" His voice was suddenly harsh with frustration. Ignoring her request, he secured his hands around her waist and rolled her onto her back. A shooting pain in her left foot caused her to wince. "Just let me—"
"Don't touch her."
The soft, dangerous voice caused them both to look up. Amy stopped breathing when she saw Edward standing on the opposite side of Amy, his eyes narrow.
Wes removed his hands from Amy's waist and slowly rose to full height directly opposite Edward. Amy glanced from Wes to Edward, realizing the tension between them was quite literal: her.
"She tripped. I was just helping her up." Wes's voice was drenched with irritation.
Edward stared back in response, unblinking, unmoving. "She was running from you," he responded softly.
"I was trying to talk to her—"
"You scared her." Edward's eyes remained on Wes as he squatted to the ground beside Amy. She felt dizzy as his soft, masculine scent teased her nostrils. Droplets of mist made his hair glisten.
"Wes." Carlisle had appeared next to Wesley, the sudden appearance of a friendly hand on his shoulder making Wes jump. His head whipped to the left, and his eyes expressed shock at the sight of his boss. "Why don't you head home." Carlisle's statement was more of a request than a question. "Edward and I will take care of her."
"Yea …" Wes backed away from the three of them, his expression livid. "Whatever."
When Wes was far enough away for Edward's comfort, he turned his attention to Amy. "Are you okay?" His soft voice transitioned from dangerous to concerned. Amy's eyes were wide with fascination and confusion. Her eyes closed as Edward's hand briefly stroked her cheek, his thumb wiping away a stray tear. It wasn't until that moment that she realized she had been crying.
"Can you get up?" As Edward asked, he slipped his arms under her knees and around her back as she started to lean forward. The sharp pain in her foot returned with fury, eliciting a loud moan. Her muscles went limp in response to the pain, but Edward's arm was around her to prevent her head from hitting the pavement. Her hand tightly gripped his shirt at the chest.
"Just a sprained ankle, Amy. I know it hurts, but it's nothing to worry about," Carlisle said from his crouched position opposite his son. "Edward, please help her up."
With no more effort than lifting a feather, Edward rose to his feet with his arms supporting Amy. Her arms were locked tightly around his neck, and she groaned even with the slightest movement of her foot.
"We'll take you home," Carlisle said, answering her unspoken question as he retrieved her keys from the sidewalk. "I'll drive you in Edward's car, and he'll follow us back in yours, if that's okay with you."
"That's fine," she responded, her eyes focused on Edward's perfectly smooth, pale skin. Even though her ankle was throbbing with pain, she wouldn't have traded it for the comfort of being in his arms. Edward glanced down at her, then back up at Carlisle as they walked toward Edward's silver Volvo.
Carlisle opened the passenger door, and Edward gently lowered Amy into the seat. She was finally out of the rain, but she already missed the comfort of Edward's touch. "How did you … how did you know where I was?" she asked softly before Edward could back away from the door. He glanced at Carlisle.
"We were next door in the drug store and saw you run by," Carlisle answered for him.
Edward suddenly inhaled sharply and backed away from the door. Carlisle's body replaced his, and he reached for Amy's hands.
"Are you bleeding?" he asked softly, turning over her hands to reveal the scraped wrists that had broken her fall. A thin strip of blood was oozing from her left hand.
"Just a little. I'm okay."
Carlisle gave her a reassuring smile, then rose to full height outside the Volvo. "Edward, go." He handed him the keys and nodded his head toward Amy's Prius.
"I can't," he said softly. "I can't resist. I need—"
"Go!"
In a flash, he was gone.
In less than ten minutes, Carlisle pulled into the driveway of the condominium complex under the direction of Amy.
"How are you doing, kid?" Carlisle asked as he parked the Volvo.
"It's swelling, I can tell." She winced, as if merely talking about her ankle caused it to hurt.
"That's normal." Carlisle tried another reassuring smile. "Once I get you inside, I want you to elevate your leg and put ice on it. Immediately, okay?" Amy nodded in response. "How's your hand? Still bleeding?" Amy held out her hand for Carlisle to inspect the cut. It had already clotted, and only a strip of dried blood remained. "Okay. Let's get you inside."
Carlisle exited the car and circled around the front to help Amy out of the passenger seat. But as soon as Carlisle opened the door, he immediately shut it.
"No, Edward." Carlisle's voice was full of warning. That single statement was all Amy heard, and the door didn't open again for another several seconds. "Ready?" Carlisle asked. Amy nodded in response. With most of her weight supported by Carlisle, Amy exited the car. She steadied herself with her right arm around Carlisle's waist and all of her remaining weight on her right leg.
Edward was facing her, only a step in front of her, his hands stuffed in his pockets. Unlike before, his face looked pained and remorseful, as if the happiness had been yanked from his soul.
Amy watched him search her eyes from orb to orb in silence, as if he was searching for some hidden secret in her pupils. Her heart suddenly ached for him, longed to touch him one last time before he disappeared from her life again.
In an uncharacteristically graceful motion, she took a small, hobbled step forward and gripped his bicep, the muscle shielded by the protective material of his pea coat. With her heart pounding inside her chest and Carlisle holding tightly to her other forearm, she extended her neck and softly kissed the cool skin of his cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered. Edward remained frozen, his amber eyes glowing with shock. The feel of the wool under her hand was invigorating, but the sensation ended abruptly as Carlisle gently guided her away from Edward and retrieved her keys. As he met his son's eyes, Amy swore she saw the slightest of smiles on Carlisle's face.
"Carlisle!" Charlie was walking swiftly toward the group wearing the same outfit Amy remembered from earlier that morning.
"Charlie." A smile spread across Carlisle's face as his friend approached. Carlisle looked at Edward then let go of Amy to shake the Chief's hand. Edward replaced Carlisle, and Amy was instantly comforted by his sudden presence.
"Edward." Charlie nodded his head in greeting.
"Chief Swan."
"Everything okay here?" Charlie asked Amy, his police training peeking through his tone.
"I'm okay. I fell and sprained my ankle, so Carlisle and Edward are just helping me inside."
"Get some rest, then. Holler if you need help with anything."
"Will do. Thanks, Chief."
Carlisle turned to return to Amy and his son, but Charlie stopped him.
"Carlisle, before you go, I have a few questions for you." Charlie's voice lowered as he finished his statement.
"Of course. Um, Edward, why don't you help Amy upstairs?"
Edward nodded and placed his hand on the small of Amy's back, a shudder of pleasure running up and down her spine in response to his delicate touch. She hobbled to turn around, quickly grabbing his waist to prevent her body from crumbling to the ground.
"I won't let you fall," he told her. She realized she was squeezing the bottom of his shirt so tightly that it was stretching the material.
"I need to … try to do this … on my own." Her words were strained with each limp toward her steps.
"You'll make it worse before it can even start to heal." As they reached the bottom step, he lifted her into his arms with as much ease as before, her legs dangling over her forearm. Carrying her up the stairs seemed just as effortless.
Her front door opened before they reached the summit, Jacob's face showing a combination of concern, confusion and jealousy.
"Amy—"
"She fell," Edward said quickly. "Sprained her ankle. I'm just helping her up the stairs." Edward dodged Jacob to enter Amy's condo, tightening his grip as he passed the other male. "Can you get some ice?"
"Yea, sure." Jacob's reply wasn't as courteous as he normally was, but he complied and jogged to the kitchen.
Edward continued carrying her upstairs to her room and rested her gently on her comforter. She exhaled as her muscles were finally able to relax, but she winced as she readjusted her position.
"You were really scared before, weren't you?" Edward asked, adjusting the swarm of pillows around her. His tone suggested he already knew the answer.
"Yes." She paused and froze as he sat beside her on the bed, the comforter giving in to his weight. "I can't really explain it … I haven't felt that scared in a long time."
"Can you do something for me?" His gentle voice snuggled into her eardrum. She heard his intake of breath as his lips parted in preparation for his next statement. "Just, um, stay away from him. From Wes."
"No problem there—"
"He's going to keep trying to see you." Edward reached up to her face to brush a few stray blonde hairs away from her eyes, just as he had when they parted the night before. She was too confused to respond, and she didn't get a chance to reply once Jacob entered the room carrying a Ziploc baggie filled with ice.
"Goodnight, Amy." Edward stood up from her bed and walked to the door, glancing over his shoulder to look into her cerulean eyes as Jacob rested the ice on her ankle.
Her stomach twisted. And it wasn't from the incident with Wes or the pain in her ankle. It was a reaction to the emotion pouring from Edward's eyes. And how his 'goodnight' sounded more like a final goodbye.
