Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Stephenie Meyer created it all.

Chapter 4: Bella-Spotted

I was doing a thorough job of wearing down the carpet in the hotel room. I paced and paced after Laurent left. I really should be sleeping. As if I could! Laurent said he felt brotherly towards me. What does that even mean? My mind would not shut off. Although I did have things I really needed to sort out, I decided to put it out of my mind and order room service.

I called the front desk to request a menu but was informed that the kitchens closed at eight.

It was about ten o'clock at night.

"There's a Waffle House next to the hotel and they offer a discount to guests," said the man from the front desk.

I wanted to shower before going out, it had been days. It was embarrassing that I had dirt behind my ears. What is it about hotel showers and their weak water pressure? I rebuked myself, I should be grateful for the things I have. The hot water was a stark contrast with being so close to Laurent in the past few days. In my relaxed state, I could see what he meant. I felt quite protected around him. There was a certain comfort in being close. I suspect it was just as simple as the temperature of his skin. But we had such easy conversations and we teased one another... like brother and sister.

I laughed out loud as I remembered him sliding one finger into my left shoe and tickling the sole of my foot this morning.

It felt weird to laugh so freely. I always felt like I couldn't relate to humans and but things were so easy with them. Maybe it was a vampire thing. Maybe it was a sign that I should give more thought to becoming a vampire. I should at least consider it. Was love the only reason to live forever? What about love for friends? It's not like Edward wont be around and I'd be fast enough to follow him.

I nearly talked myself into it by the time I finished getting ready to go to the Waffle House.

I finished by pulling my wet hair into a messy bun and was on my way to dinner.

"Hi honey, have a seat where ever you'd like," the older waitress said while she showed me to her section. She had short curly brown hair and a thick southern accent that seemed out of place for Indiana.

"Thanks. Could I please have a milk."

"Isn't it a little late to be out on a school night?" She asked as she looked at my face with scrutiny.

"Uh," I said, not sure what to say, "I'm just hungry, my dad isn't much of a cook." There, that wasn't a lie.

She returned with my milk and I ordered a large platter with the intention of taking some back for breakfast.

As my food was cooking I thought more. I wondered what Laurent was up to. It was a little intense earlier, sometimes I forget how difficult it is for him to be near me, especially when his diet isn't nearly as controlled. I really don't have a death wish. I would talk to him about trying to live off of animals.

That was another thing. If Laurent changed me, would he help me with my control around humans? That was one part of being a vampire I wanted no part of. Would he help me be committed to my choices? We would have to talk about that.

"Can I get you anything else, dear?" The waitress asked, breaking me from my train of thought. It was times like this that I was happy that other people couldn't hear my thoughts. How crazy would that sound? Debating on whether or not to become a vampire.

Maybe it was just that: crazy.

Back to square one. Who knew what I would tell Laurent. Well, I didn't have to tell him anything right now, anyways.

"Could I get a to-go box?"

"Sure, be right back."

I was just finishing my eggs and hash browns when I saw someone from across the restaurant point at the television.

"Hey, turn that up," the patron said.

My waitress climbed up onto a chair and punched the buttons a few times until the T.V. was blaring.

"...she's been missing for a few days now, her father said she left a note and disappeared. Her truck still sits at her family's home behind me," the reporter motioned to my dad's house in Forks, "Police dogs have been searching for her, but aren't picking up a trace. She's just disappeared."

By this time, I was already putting enough money on the table so that I could just bolt.

"Her father, the Chief of Police here in Forks, Washington, spoke at a press conference earlier today," the image cut to a split-screen of my last yearbook photo on the left and my father speaking on the right of the screen, "If anyone knows the whereabouts of Bella Swan, please call the F.P.D. Hot line. You can leave anonymous tips. Bella, if you're seeing this, please come home... just please!" and then he broke down crying and couldn't continue.

I wanted to cry, but I didn't have the luxury of being upset at this time. My waitress was staring at me, comparing me to the old yearbook photo. Then she was approaching me, her eyes darting back and forth between my face and the T.V. She was shaking.

"B...Bella?" She asked.

"Um, no," my eyes were wide as I shook me head slowly. I needed to get out of here. I grabbed my toast and ran out the door.

"Wait!" The waitress called, "What about your father?" Then she turned to a coworker as the door was closing, "Hey, call that number, it's her!"

Great, now I'd have to really run!

I ran through the lobby of the hotel and up to my room. I was vaguely aware that I was probably on video camera somewhere. That can't be good. I rushed into my room. Once I was in the room, I closed the door behind me and let my tears fall. My father was in serious pain. Charlie was not a man to cry.

Guilt consumed me. How could I run away? How was this the best case scenario?

And where was Alice? Shouldn't she have seen any of this? Maybe she just didn't care after all.

"Why are you crying?" a voice asked in the darkness making me nearly jump out of my skin. Quickly, the lights flicked on and it was Laurent.

"I didn't think you'd be back so soon," I said through my tears. "We need to go, I saw my face on the news, and my father, too. So did the employees at the Waffle House next door. They're calling the authorities." I started to throw my things back into my bag.

I looked at him for the first time since entering the room and was shocked at what I saw: bright burgundy eyes.

I gasped.

"Laurent, you didn't! I thought you were trying to live off animals! Was it a slip?"

I needed to get out of here, but did I want to go with a vampire who was suseptible to slipping?

"No... I... it wasn't a slip, Bella, I was so thirsty! Please understand!" He pleaded.

I didn't know what to think. Although part of me was relieved that he hadn't slipped, as I said before, it wouldn't work out so well for me. What was the right thing to do?

"You killed someone! If you were so thirsty, how did you resist me? You know how?

Because you wanted to! That person had a family!" I yelled at him.

He opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it. His head snapped to the door and he started pulling back the curtains in the room.

"Come on, the authorities are on their way," he jerked his thumb towards the door.

Just then there was pounding on the door.

"Bella Swan, open up! The hotel staff is opening the door," the voice boomed through the door. Fear struck me, where were going to go now? The door would be blocked.

Laurent already had other ideas...

He grabbed my bag and threw it over his back and scooped me up. He kicked the window out, breaking the glass. I ducked my head into his chest as he jumped through the fifth story window. Right as we cleared the window I looked up and saw the police were opening up the door. They must have seen us.

"You can't just expose us!" I screeched when we landed at the bottom.

"I had to jump! You're a runaway, and I'm a murderer."

"Yeah, I noticed," I said with a scathing tone.

~o~x~o~x~o~

We ran for a few hours. He would occasionally look down at me, but would look right back up again with he saw that I noticed. I wondered what he was thinking.

"I really tried, you know," he finally said.

"Hmpf."

"How would you feel is someone told you that you could have all the salty food you wanted, but nothing sweet; no dessert?" He asked.

"I don't really like sweets," I replied.

"You're being difficult!" He looked frustrated. "What about chocolate? What's your favorite food?"

Why was I bickering with the only person that's stood by me recently. He could have just as easily jumped out that window and left me behind.

I considered forgiving just this once, after all I had forgiven Edward easily when I found out about his "rebellious years" and not only that, I never judged him.

"I like fruit." I said finally, showing my concession.

"Well, suppose someone told you eating fruit was wrong, what if someone asked you never to eat it again?" He challenged.

I really did have sympathy for him and at the moment he did seem remorseful. Furthermore, I knew that it was painful for him to be close.

"How about this, as long as your with me, I wont eat fruit if you don't hunt humans." I bargained.

"When you become a vampire, you'll see how hard it is. I've been drinking human blood for 250 years, it's hard to stop." He seemed lost in a thought. It hadn't escaped me that he didn't really acknowledge my agreement. It also didn't escape my notice that he assumed I would one day be a vampire.

"I thought about the whole vampire thing..." I trailed off not sure what to say next. I mulled it over for a few minutes.

"I don't want to be a killer. That's what I'm most worried about," I confided my fears in him. "If this is something I decide that I want, will you help me with not killing humans?"

"Yes," he answered simply.

I didn't know whether to feel relieved or to feel wary of his quick agreement.

"Have you ever bitten anyone before?" He knew what I meant.

"No, but I've never met anyone that I liked enough to commit to hanging around with during their newborn years. I'm usually more of a loner."

"Why do you want me to become a vampire so badly for anyways?" I still wanted to know.

"Because you're so pure, so innocent, understanding, funny, and accepting," he winked at me, "most of the time."

He poked me in my ribs and with that I think we were back to normal.