Chapter 3- Perceptions
"I have to go," I said to Emmett as I took off running at top speed without waiting for his reply. I had mere minutes to stop her. Fury and terror consumed my every step like fire; I needed to catch her before she could leave Charlie's. If I had to chase her down in the truck it would make things more difficult. Either way, she would not make it out of Forks tonight.
Ninety seconds later I was in Charlie's driveway. I quickly dismantled her truck's starter and climbed into the cab to wait for her. She was going to be upset with me, but I'd warned her that I would thwart her if she attempted to go to La Push. She knew me well enough to know that I meant every word of that. My mind ran through the day's events as I sat their twirling the disassembled piece of machinery in my hand. It seemed that she and I were destined to fight today about one thing or another. Less than two minutes later, my racing thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a jacket zipper and Bella's footsteps coming down the stairs.
Charlie looked up at her, and his thoughts were wary as he took in her appearance.
Where does she think she's going at this hour? It's nearly eleven o'clock! He mused wordlessly.
"Do you care if I go see Jake tonight? I won't be long." Bella panted urgently. I could see her through his eyes, and there was an excited and eager flush on her cheeks that made me feel sick.
No, she wouldn't be gone long. She had no idea that this was going to be the shortest trip she'd ever taken.
HA! Well that didn't take long. I knew she'd come around soon. She misses Jake; I'm glad I brought it up again after Edward dropped her off. He thought happily. I growled thunderously at his persistence.
"Sure, kid," Charlie replied eagerly. "Stay as long as you'd like." I'll have to call Billy when she leaves so he'll be waiting for her. He was really upset when I told him about her trip. Leave it to Cullen to mess things up for us…
"Thanks Dad," Bella replied, interrupting his thoughts as she headed for the door.
Seconds later, I heard the front door slam as Bella rushed to her truck. She kept shooting furtive glances over her shoulder as she walked. She was looking for me. I smiled humorlessly to myself at the way she fumbled for the door handle in the dark. She couldn't see anything, so she had no idea I was waiting, still as a statue, for her here. What if I were some sort of predator who meant her harm? She was so vulnerable here in the dark, her weak eyes unseeing! She climbed in to the driver's seat and stuck the keys into the ignition quickly. She frowned when the starter clicked ineffectively once, twice....
I shifted deliberately in my seat then and she gasped in fright at the sudden movement.
"Gah!" she cried, her heart racing fearfully as her breath caught in her throat.
I didn't move again as she took in my appearance. I felt bad for scaring her, but I was too angry to apologize, or to even meet her eyes. She had done this to herself after all.
"Alice called," I muttered coolly as I played with the missing piece of her truck again. I heard Bella groan softly with understanding as she slumped into her seat and her heart rate returned to normal. "She got nervous when your future rather abruptly disappeared five minutes ago." I glanced at Bella out of the corner of my eye for a split second and I saw that her eyes were widened in shock.
"Because, she can't see the wolves, you know. Had you forgotten that?" I asked, not pausing for an answer.
"When you decide to mingle your fate with theirs, you disappear, too. You couldn't know that part, I realize that. But can you understand why that might make me a little..." I paused for a brief second as a thousand words for how upset I was ran through my mind.
Crazy
Terrified
Furious
"anxious?" I finished inadequately. Anxious. That was an understatement, but if I started talking in detail about how scared I was, Bella would start a diatribe about how my concerns were unfounded. Then the conversation might turn into a full blown argument that I wasn't capable of handling at the moment. I was too upset.
"We don't know why that is," I continued, still unable to meet her gaze as I sensed her surprise mutating into anger. I focused on the missing piece of her truck while I talked to keep from losing my own temper. "Some natural defense they're born with?" I mused, mostly to myself as I pondered the reasons for Alice's blind spot.
"That doesn't seem entirely likely since I haven't had any trouble reading their thoughts…the Blacks, at least." I amended. I hadn't been around any of the other members of this new pack, but since Bella was the only exception to my talents that I had ever encountered, I was confident that I could hear the rest of the wolves as well.
"Carlisle theorizes that it's because their lives are so ruled by their transformations," I continued, speaking more to Bella now.
"It's more an involuntary reaction than a decision." I shuddered internally, hoping pointlessly that hearing Carlisle's conjectures would make her understand the volatile nature of the wolves. "In that instant when they shift from one form to the other, they don't really even exist. The future can't hold them…" I broke off in mid-sentence, unwilling to finish my thoughts aloud.
Based on Alice's visions, or lack thereof, the future of anyone around them was also uncertain. And I had no future without Bella. The feeling of instinctive terror that surged through me at the potential threat the wolves presented was more powerful than any other biological tendency my impermeable body had. It was as though the trauma of thinking she was dead had evolved me to have enough survival instincts for both of us. Her continued existence was essential to mine.
The silence in the truck was absolute except for the natural rhythms of her body, and I could feel the heat of her anger permeating the space between us now. Bella rarely ever got upset with me for anything, and as the quiet persisted, I realized that her rage was beyond words. I tried to recall another occasion where I had infuriated her this way, and I couldn't. I hazarded a glance at her and saw that her mouth was set in a thin line of fury. My insides writhed in pain when I thought about the reason for the intensity of her reaction.
Jacob Black.
"I'll put your truck back together in time for school, in case you'd like to drive yourself," I said in a falsely calm voice when I could no longer tolerate the crushing absence of sound.
I expected my words to ignite some kind of verbal response; an angry retort, a grumbled 'fine' or even an irritable 'you'd better because I'm not riding with you tomorrow,' but they didn't. Instead, Bella jerked the keys out of the ignition and got out of the rusty old truck without a word.
"Shut your window if you want me to stay away tonight. I'll understand." I whispered sadly. She slammed the truck door shut with a resounding thud that echoed her wordless anger.
I wanted to run after her and tell her how much I loved her and beg her to understand why I'd gone to such extreme measures to keep her at home, but I knew from our conversation last night that it would be pointless. She closed the front door forcefully to reiterate how livid she was. I followed her footsteps lithely, unable to sit still any longer.
Charlie was still sitting on the couch, but the clatter of the slamming door had startled him. He'd been listening for the sound of the truck's engine so he could go call Billy.
What the…. He spluttered mentally. I thought she was going to La Push.
"What's wrong?" Charlie asked forcefully.
"Truck won't start," Bella snarled furiously.
Damn it! That's weird; she's never had a second's trouble out of it. Jake did a perfect job when he rebuilt it...Charlie thought irritably.
Ah yes, Jacob the wonder mutt was the mechanical genius behind her resurrected truck as well. I'd nearly forgotten. I suddenly wanted to set the damn thing on fire.
"Want to use my car?" He offered impulsively. She's not really allowed to drive it, but desperate times call for desperate measures…
"No, I'm tired," Bella answered in a defeated grumble. "Night."
I heard her furious footsteps echoing all around the house as I climbed effortlessly into the tree outside her window. The bedroom door clattered shut a moment later and I watched her march purposefully to the large window. She glared blackly out at the night for a split second, and I knew what she'd decided.
My heart nearly broke into two worthless pieces of stone as I watched her slam the window shut with a resounding crash. She'd never been this angry with me before. I would not go against her wishes and impose upon her if she didn't want me in her room, but the idea of spending the entire night in the tree, unable to touch her was nearly unbearable. It was almost as terrible as the idea of her remaining angry at me; that would be so unlike her.
Just when I was about to call Alice for help, I heard Bella sigh softly from the other side of the glass as she threw the window wide open. I let out a sigh of relief and waited for Charlie to go to bed.
"Are you ready?" I asked Bella from the threshold of her bedroom door as I watched her close the zipper on her little suitcase.
"All set," Bella replied with a wide smile. "But, we still have plenty of time. Our flight doesn't leave until 1:00."
I'd scheduled our flight to Jacksonville so that we would land after sunset; I couldn't be out in the brightness of a Florida afternoon. So, our plane didn't leave for another five hours.
I was almost as excited about our trip as Bella was, not to mention relieved to be getting her out of harm's way. Alice hadn't been able to see anything concrete since Monday, so we still had no idea what the outcome of Victoria's return would be. The others assured me that they would do whatever it took to catch her, and I believed them.
"We do have plenty of time," I agreed jovially. "However, I can't wait to be alone with you, Ms. Swan. I was thinking it might be nice to have a little time to enjoy each other's company before our plane leaves, that is, if you are agreeable."
"I'm agreeable," Bella repeated formally. I laughed as I walked forward to wrap my arm around her waist.
"Allow me, please," I said as she started to pick up her bag. She rolled her eyes and handed it to me.
Charlie was waiting for us in the living room. His thoughts were irritable. He was still upset about this trip and he'd been trying to find ways to prevent us from leaving all week long. He was also annoyed at Renee for talking to Mr. Greene about Bella missing school today. When she found out about our pending visit, she was so thrilled she'd called the principal personally to arrange for Bella's absence.
Bella tensed at the frown on Charlie's face as he followed us silently to the front door.
"Umm, bye Dad," Bella said uncomfortably. I shifted the weight of her suitcase in a human sort of way while I waited for them to exchange goodbyes.
"Be good," Charlie grumbled curtly as he gave her a hug. He glared at me over her shoulder.
I've already told Renee to keep an eye on the boy. He's hiding something, I just know it. He added mentally.
"And make sure your school work is caught up." He added.
"I will," Bella replied in a muffled voice. Her face was pressed against Charlie's shoulder. "I love you."
"You too kid," Charlie grumbled, still eyeing me suspiciously. He was wishing that she would be going to the Blacks with him this weekend instead of leaving the state with me.
"See you soon, Charlie," I said evenly as we stepped outside. It took a lot of effort to keep the irritation out of my voice.
"Right," Charlie retorted, closing the door behind us.
Renee had better keep her promise about making him sleep on the couch. If he hurts my baby again I'll strangle him, He added silently.
I chuckled to myself at Charlie's unfounded concerns as I wondered if he would feel better knowing that I was a vampire who couldn't be intimate with his daughter. Somehow, I actually thought he might.
"Why don't you take a nap, love," I suggested once the plane was in the air. "We've got a three hour flight ahead of us and it might help you avoid jet lag."
"I'm fine," Bella replied, stifling a yawn. I rolled my eyes at her, moved the armrest that separated our seats and pulled her close to me. She sighed and pressed her warm cheek against my chest. Two minutes later, she was asleep.
Once Bella's breathing became deep and even, I reached into my pocket, pulled out my cell phone and dialed a familiar number. Alice answered on the first ring.
"There's nothing going on yet, Edward," Alice said as soon as she picked up. I heard the faint rustling of pine needles beneath her swiftly moving feet through the phone.
"Nothing," I echoed in disappointment. I really wanted them to dispose of Victoria while Bella was safely on the other side of the country.
"Not even a hint of a scent trail," Alice answered flatly.
"Where is everyone?" I asked her in a whisper, careful not to disturb Bella's rest.
"Carlisle and I are about 3 miles east of the house," she replied. Rosalie's watching the Hoh forest and canvassing the area near the ranger station, Emmett and Jasper are taking care of territory closer to the line, and Esme is in Forks keeping an eye on Charlie."
"Good," I said lamely. "It sounds like you're covering all the bases. Have you seen anything more?"
Alice sighed heavily, and I got the gist of what her answer would be even though she was too far away for me to read her mind.
"Just vague flashes," she answered reluctantly. I could hear the frustration in her voice. "Since that means we're probably going to cross paths with the wolves, I can infer that we'll likely encounter her somewhere close to the line. So I've been trying to avoid going too near their land in the hope that I will see something helpful." She didn't sound optimistic about the chances of that happening.
"Edward," Bella murmured into my chest as she shifted her position. I stroked her hair soothingly and her sleep talking continued. "I love you." I kissed the top of her head and held her tighter in response.
"Find her, Alice," I begged as I watched my Bella sleep in safe, peaceful unawareness.
"We will. I'll let you know if there's any news." She promised a half second before the line went dead.
"Bella!" Renee squealed from the waiting area outside of our terminal as she ran to greet us.
"Mom!" Bella cried in response as she started to increase her own pace and I braced myself for her inevitable clumsiness. She stumbled once over her own feet, but I steadied her before anyone besides Renee had time to notice and she continued to race toward her mother.
"Hey, baby," Renee said joyfully as she threw her arms around her daughter. I stepped aside so as not to intrude upon their reunion.
"I'm so glad you're here!" Renee crowed as she pulled away from Bella and studied her appearance for a brief moment. "You look great." Charlie was right; looks like herself again. Thank God, she thought.
It was very difficult for me to keep my expression neutral as Renee thought of the last time she'd seen Bella. It was just days after I'd left Forks. Her thoughts about what had happened in Phoenix and last fall caused her gaze to focus on me, and there was a strange intensity in her eyes. Her thoughts were surprisingly non-judgmental but they were determined to see the truth. Charlie had been ranting and raving about me for months, but she'd decided to make up her own mind about my relationship with Bella. I could only hope that she would see a fraction of the love I had for her daughter and forgive me for being such a fool.
"Hello, Edward," Renee said politely, removing one of her arms from around Bella's waist and reaching over to shake my hand.
Bella tensed as I took her mother's hand reluctantly, and to my surprise Renee didn't flinch away from the feel of my skin. Bella must have inherited her mother's survival instincts, or lack thereof.
"It's nice to see you again, Renee," I answered with a genuine smile as I broke the brief contact carefully. Bella relaxed. "Thank you for agreeing to allow me to come with Bella this weekend."
"No problem," Renee replied sincerely. "It's the least I could do considering your parents were nice enough to give Bella the tickets. Please thank them again for me."
"I will," I assured her. Renee had already sent them a thank you card in the mail, which pleased my mother greatly.
"Where's Phil?" Bella asked a moment later as we went to get our luggage.
"He's busy with his boys," Renee said, her blue eyes dancing as she thought fondly of her husband. "His high school team made it to the playoffs, so he won't be home until tomorrow evening. He's in Orlando."
"Good for him," Bella said cheerfully as I grabbed our bags from the carousel.
I listened in silence as Renee and Bella chattered happily on the way to the house. They spent several minutes catching up, but when most of the routine subjects had been exhausted, Renee decided to pull me into the conversation.
"So, Edward," Renee began. "Charlie tells me you've been accepted to several different colleges. Have you decided where you want to go yet?"
"Not yet," I said. I could tell from her thoughts that she was hoping I would give her a more definitive answer than the one I'd given Charlie. I debated for a moment and then I determined that it would be best to be a little more direct with her.
"Bella is still waiting for responses from a few more schools, so I've decided to wait until all of her options are on the table before I decide." I continued.
"I see," Renee replied as Bella shot a surprised glance at me from the front seat.
Charlie said he suspected they were planning to go to school together. I guess he was right. But, Charlie also said Edward's been accepted to some Ivy League schools. I know Bella's smart, but surely he wouldn't give up Harvard to go to Alaska with her if that's the only place she can go… She thought.
I could tell her that the only thing that mattered to me was to be where ever Bella was, but she wouldn't like that answer. She wasn't exactly pleased with the idea of her daughter being in a serious relationship at 18.
Renee asked me a few more polite questions before we pulled into the driveway of the quaint little beach house she shared with Phil. She was eager to show us around, and proud of the fact that she had decorated the spare bedroom just for Bella. I could see in her thoughts that she was hoping Bella would come and spend the summer with her. I felt awful that Renee's hopes were in vain. She missed Bella terribly, and she had no idea that someday soon her daughter intended to remove herself from her life completely by choosing to give up her humanity.
Bella offered to cook that evening, but Renee insisted on taking us out to her favorite seafood restaurant for dinner. I knew it was going to be impossible for me to get away with not eating tonight. Ugh.
The restaurant was quite crowded when we arrived, and the hostess apologized repeatedly when we had to wait for a table. Apparently, Renee and Phil were regulars here thanks to her abysmal cooking skills.
"You'll like the poached salmon, Bells," Renee was saying as we took our seats.
"Actually, I think I'll eat something besides fish tonight," Bella quipped. "Charlie catches so much that I have to cook it at least 3 nights a week, and I'm sort of tired of it."
"Hello Renee," A young woman with red hair and a lot of freckles said as she approached our table with a pad and pen. "Who are your new friends?" Her eyes lingered on me for a moment longer than was necessary and I saw Bella's forehead crease as she correctly interpreted the girl's thoughts.
"This is my daughter, Bella and her boyfriend, Edward," Renee answered. "They're here visiting me from Washington for the weekend."
"Well, it's nice to meet you," The girl replied, her eyes focused intently on my face. Her thoughts were slightly disappointed at Renee's introduction. She'd been hoping I was available. Renee noticed her reaction this time, and she was seriously annoyed at the girl's behavior. She scrutinized me for any sign that I was interested in our server, and was satisfied with what she saw.
When our food arrived, I shifted my position a little to allow Bella a little more room for her plate, but she responded by moving in the same direction almost instantaneously. This gesture seemed interesting to Renee, and I thought it was an odd thing for her to notice. She'd been watching us both very carefully all evening, and I could see that no little detail about our interaction was escaping her attention. It seemed that Bella got her acute observation talent from her mother.
The conversation was casual as we ate and I did my best not to betray my disgust as I choked down my meal. Bella shot me an apologetic look when Renee was poring over the dessert menu.
We watched a movie when we got back that night since Bella wasn't tired thanks to her nap and the three hour time difference. I was careful not to touch Bella too often, though it was hard to resist the urge, especially when my thoughts drifted from the television to the situation with Victoria. Renee continued to scrutinize us, and I was shocked when she started thinking about the way Bella seemed to move whenever I did. I'd never thought much about our body language, but seeing it through Renee's eyes made me realize that the strange magnetic pull Bella and I felt for each other was physically visible; not that any other human had noticed. I knew then that if Renee spent enough time around my family, she would probably figure out what we were with little difficulty.
"What do you two think about sightseeing tomorrow?" Renee asked us as she made a bed on the sofa for me.
"Actually, Renee, I have a paper to finish for our English Literature class," I said apologetically. "So, if you don't mind, I was planning to stay in and work on it tomorrow. And that will give you and Bella some time to yourselves."
"That's fine," Renee said, smiling at me as she tucked a cotton sheet into the couch cushions.
I'd like to spend some time alone with Bella. He's being very considerate. I think I'll tell Charlie to give him a break. She thought.
"That sounds great, mom," Bella replied, winking at me from behind Renee's back. I smiled. I knew she would enjoy the nice weather with her mother.
Once Renee had gone to sleep, (and after I had "disposed" of my human meal) I crept into Bella's room and curled up in the bed beside her the same way I always did at Charlie's. We talked for a bit about the day's events before she fell asleep in my arms. I was watching Bella dream a few hours later when I felt the phone in my pocket vibrate. I moved too quickly to even jostle Bella and answered the phone from my sofa bed in the living room.
"Did you catch her Carlisle," I whispered urgently.
"Not yet," he replied wearily. "But we do know she's in the area and she's been hunting."
I grimaced and dropped my head into my hands. "Did you find a body?"
"Alice had a vision of her chasing two hikers, but we didn't make it in time. A ranger found the corpses about a mile from the resort," Carlisle explained sadly. "We picked up her scent, but the trail went cold near the hot springs. Jasper thinks we've got a good shot at catching up with her tomorrow. Esme is still watching Charlie's place in case she decides to show up there."
I sighed, thankful that Charlie was safe at least. Bella would never forgive me if something happened to her father and she found out what I was hiding.
"Keep me posted," I said.
"I will," Carlisle answered. "Just take care of Bella and try not to worry about anything else."
Renee and Bella headed out early the next morning after a quick breakfast. I watched Bella leave with that familiar feeling of anxiety that always persisted any time I was forced to let her out of my sight. I knew she should be safe enough here, but I called Alice and asked her to look for Bella's future for the day anyway. She was slightly annoyed with me for distracting her under the circumstances, but because of the desperation in my voice she did as I asked.
I spent most of the day indoors in a state of boredom and impatience. I missed Bella terribly. How I hated being confined this way due to the sun. I wondered if Bella had seriously considered how restrictive being a vampire really was.
Bella and Renee returned home in excellent spirits just before sunset that evening, and I could tell that both of them had thoroughly enjoyed their time together. Bella insisted on cooking this evening (she knew it was easier for me to get away with hiding my uneaten food here than it would have been in a restaurant). Phil made it in just in time for dinner, tired and glad to be home. I could tell from his thoughts that he loved Renee just as much as she loved him, and it pleased me. As he ate the meal Bella had prepared, he commented more than once on how much he missed her cooking.
However, he was also secretly relieved that Bella decided not to move in with them here, and hopeful that Renee wouldn't be able to talk her into changing her mind about her living arrangements. He'd always felt awkward about sharing a house with his new wife and a teenaged girl, and he'd been happier than he cared to admit when Bella decided to move to Forks. His deceptive attitude bothered me a little, especially since someone as innocently naïve as Renee would never think he was capable of feeling that way. But Bella's choice had made me far happier than it had him, so I couldn't complain.
After dinner we spent a pleasant evening on the beach. Renee was somewhat distracted by her husband's presence, but she still managed watch Bella and me carefully as we walked in the surf.
I think Charlie's judging him too harshly, but he was right; they are close. He's so protective! I don't know how he managed to leave her last fall and stay in one piece. He looks sad when she just walks out of the room. And the way they move together! I've never seen anything like it! She thought.
Renee's thoughts were increasingly concerned and uncannily accurate as the evening wore on. She marveled at the intensity she sensed in our relationship and worried that we were too serious about each other. She made up her mind to have a heart-to heart talk with Bella before we left tomorrow evening.
I tried to think of something to do to alleviate her fears, but nothing seemed possible. She was far too insightful for her own good. Fortunately, Phil was able to persuade her to accompany him back inside to watch TV and leave Bella and I alone on the beach for awhile.
"So, how's your bogus term paper coming along?" Bella teased as we strolled along the water's edge in the moonlight. She was wearing a pale blue sundress with a light cream colored sweater wrapped over her shoulders, and her long wavy hair rippled behind her in the slight ocean breeze. I had never seen her look more beautiful.
"Slow, but manageable," I laughed as I pulled her closer to my side. "I missed you."
"I missed you too," she replied as she rested her head on my shoulder. "But I had a lot of fun with my mom."
"I'm very pleased that you're having a good time," I smiled.
"Thank you," she murmured, turning her head to kiss my shoulder through the cotton of my shirt.
"Why are you thanking me?" I asked as I stopped walking and turned to face her curiously.
"For talking me into coming here this weekend; it was a great idea," she replied as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek.
I sighed softly. I would never get tired of the feeling of her warm lips on my skin. I pushed her hair back over her shoulders, placed my hand under her chin and lifted her face up to mine.
"I would do anything for you," I said fervently, gazing into her eyes as the image of Victoria's feral face and flaming hair intruded on my thoughts. "You are my whole life."
"Edward," she whispered thickly, and I could see that her deep brown eyes were brighter than usual. "I love you so much more than I could ever say."
I pulled her to me again and wrapped my arms around her as tightly as it was safe for me to do. The twinges of guilt that I had felt for lying to her about Victoria dissipated into nothingness as I savored the peace and love of the moment.
The air began to cool considerably after a time, and so we decided to go back to the house. We were walking up the steps that led to the back door when my phone beeped. I had a text message.
Found what we were looking for; work in progress close to the line, update later.
Alice.
This was it.
My phone finally buzzed in my anxious pocket at half past 4 in the morning, long after Bella, Renee and Phil had gone to sleep. I'd been sitting on my useless sofa bed for hours, waiting for news.
"We lost her," Carlisle said bleakly as soon as I'd answered.
A stream of whispered profanities slid from between my teeth as I resisted the urge to break Renee's living room.
"How?" I snarled furiously.
"She used the treaty boundaries to her advantage. There was a…confrontation...with the wolves," Carlisle answered carefully.
I froze as still as a stone, horrified.
"No one was hurt and the treaty is still intact," Carlisle went on reassuringly. "But it was really close. If it weren't for Jasper's help, I'm prepared to say that there would have been a different outcome."
"Tell me everything," I whispered urgently.
"We caught her scent about 6 miles from the river," Carlisle explained. "We gave chase, but she headed west toward the border. She was sprinting right along the line and our path intersected with the pack. She slowed down, and Emmett tried to attack. He was still in the neutral territory between the borders as far as I could tell when he made his move, but one of the wolves reacted."
I shuddered. I knew that the wolves were one of the only things that had the potential to be lethal to us.
"Go on," I prodded, stepping out the back door to give myself room to pace. It was a nervous habit left over from my human days.
"Emmett dodged him, but by then we were all on the defensive," Carlisle went on. "Rosalie started toward the wolf and two of the others, including the pack leader started to retaliate. Jasper calmed the situation down and I managed to convince them that we should be looking for Victoria, not fighting among ourselves. I consented to give the wolves the line so we could cover more ground. But her little plan to pit us against each other had worked; it gave her enough time to get a good head start, and by the time we caught up to her, she'd gone into the water. "
"She must be a fast swimmer to beat all of you in the water," I said darkly.
"Well," Carlisle hesitated for a moment. "We didn't go after her there. We wanted to, but the wolves weren't willing to allow us to cross onto their territory, no matter how briefly."
The growl that escaped my chest was thunderous. If I had been in the house, it would have woken everyone inside.
"Those bastards!" I cried. "You gave them the line and rather than return the favor they just let her go! Those filthy, hypocritical worthless beasts! I hope her next meal is right in the middle of their fu-"
"Calm down Edward," Carlisle interjected. "There's nothing to be done about it now. Losing your temper isn't going to help anyone, least of all Bella."
Bella.
My Bella was sleeping inside the little beach house in front of me, blissfully unaware that her traitorous friends had chosen to put her life at risk by allowing Victoria to escape. A red haze brighter than her vivid hair clouded my vision and I wanted to rip all of them apart.
"The wolves aren't entirely at fault here," Carlisle continued diplomatically. "If we had pulled back when we crossed their scents they might have caught her themselves. We both got in each other's way tonight. Victoria's manipulation of the situation had to be deliberate. This is about her, not them."
I sighed deeply and attempted to calm myself. Carlisle had a point. The wolves could have taken Victoria just as easily as they had Laurent when he'd tried to attack Bella. I reminded myself that I would be eternally in their debt for the protection they'd given her then. My anger subsided.
"You're right," I conceded in a much more calm voice after a long pause. Carlisle was almost always right. "I know she'll come back; we just have to be vigilant and prepared when she does."
"Yes," Carlisle agreed. "We'll catch Victoria eventually, and Bella will be safe."
"She is safe," I growled forcefully, more to convince myself than Carlisle. "No one will harm a hair on her head."
The sky was getting lighter, and I knew I needed to get inside.
"I need to go," I told Carlisle as I looked at my watch and discovered it was nearly 5 in the morning.
"We'll talk more when you get back," Carlisle replied before he said goodbye.
Phil woke up a half hour after I got off the phone with Carlisle. After drinking some coffee and making small talk he informed me that he was going to the gym. I told him I'd tell Renee where he'd gone and went to change clothes and pack our things for the flight home later that day.
"Good morning," Bella said a short while later as she walked into the living room, tousle haired and looking well rested. "I missed waking up with you."
I laughed before I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her cheek. "I missed you too, but Phil's an early riser, and it wouldn't have been a good idea for him to catch me in your bed, no matter how innocent we are." I teased.
"I wouldn't mind if you wanted to be less innocent," Bella murmured at she pressed her lips to my chest. I sighed heavily as I tried not to let my imagination get the better of me.
"You're mother is stirring," I grumbled as I pulled away from her. "I can hear her."
I followed Bella into the kitchen to keep her company while she prepared breakfast. Renee joined us just as Bella was finishing the scrambled eggs.
"Are you still working on your term paper, Edward?" Renee asked me in a not so subtle way as she set the table.
I hope he isn't finished yet; I really want to talk to Bella alone this morning. I've got to find out how serious they are about each other. Bella's face will give her away even if she doesn't want to tell me the truth. She thought.
"I'm afraid so," I said, feigning disappointment. "It shouldn't take me too much longer though."
"That's too bad," Renee replied. She tried to sound regretful but I knew she was relieved. "I guess Bella and I are on our own again today."
"What do you want to do today?" Bella asked before taking a bite of toast. I hid a bite of egg in my napkin while Renee's attention was focused on Bella.
Renee looked thoughtful for a moment as she tried to decide how best to bring up the subject of Bella's feelings for me.
"Why don't we start with a walk on the beach," Renee suggested finally. Bella agreed and the two of them dressed quickly.
I hadn't initially planned to try to eavesdrop on their discussion, but curiosity got the better of me. I really wanted to know how Bella would respond to her mother's questions. So I focused on Renee's thoughts and followed the conversation through her eyes. They walked for nearly a half hour before Renee was able to gather the courage to broach the subject.
"Bella," she said finally during a lull in their light banter. She stared out at the water, unable to meet her daughter's eyes.
How do I do this? I'm not used to acting like the concerned mom. She thought anxiously.
"What is it mom?" Bella prompted when Renee didn't speak.
"I'm worried," Renee replied with a sigh as she continued to focus on the ebbing waves.
"What's wrong?" Bell asked urgently. "What can I do?"
Renee sighed again at Bella's tone.
Typical Bella. She's used to taking care of me. She thinks I've got a problem. She thought.
"It's not me," Renee replied, shaking her head. "I'm worried about you…and Edward."
There. I said it and it wasn't too hard. She added silently as she gave Bella a remorseful look.
"Oh," Bella whispered, averting her eyes from her mother nervously. She bit her lip, as was her habit when she was uncomfortable.
"You two are more serious than I'd been thinking," Renee continued, trying to keep from sounding accusatory.
Bella's forehead creased as she looked thoughtfully at the sand. I knew she must be trying to figure out what to say next.
"There's something…strange about the way you two are together," Renee persisted when Bella didn't respond to her statement. "The way he watches you; it's so…protective. Like he's about to throw himself in front of a bullet to save you or something."
Wow! I thought to myself. Renee's assessment was more accurate than I could have predicted even after two days of reading her mind.
Bella laughed nervously without meeting her mother's eyes.
"That's a bad thing?" Bella asked rhetorically as they continued to walk on the edge of the foamy water.
"No," Renee replied thoughtfully.
How can I say this without sounding crazy? There's something about this situation that bothers me a little but I can't put my finger on it. She mused.
"He's very intense about you," Renee continued. "And very careful; I feel like I don't really understand your relationship. Like there's some secret I'm missing."
God, I sound like a crazy person, She thought worriedly.
Every nerve in my body pulsed with tension and fear. An extended visit with Renee would be a really bad idea. It was a good thing we were going home today. She was one Sookie Stackhouse novel away from figuring out the truth.
"I think you're imagining things, mom," Bella replied with a shaky unconvincing laugh.
I don't think so, Renee thought. I can see the changes in her when she looks at him. She loves him more than any teenager should love any boy. It's not normal.
I felt my still heart swell a little at her interpretation of Bella's love for me. As her mother, Renee would sense her feelings better than anyone else could.
"It's not just him," Renee argued. "I wish you could see the way you move around him."
"What do you mean?" Bella asked, confusion crossing her lovely face.
"The way you move," Renee repeated obstinately as Bella met her eyes at last. "You orient yourself around him without even thinking about it. When he moves, even a little bit, you adjust your position at the same time. Like magnets…or gravity. You're like a…satellite or something. I've never seen anything like it."
Here was yet another absolute truth that Renee had seen; the uniqueness of my relationship with Bella. Humans didn't fall in love with vampires. And her comparing us to magnets was an apt description. The pull I felt toward Bella was physical force of nature; impossible to resist or contain. I shuddered at Renee's succinct impression.
Bella looked down again, and I couldn't see the expression on her face now, but I was sure it was anxious.
"Don't tell me," Bella managed finally in a humorous tone. "You're reading mysteries again aren't you? Or is it sci-fi this time?"
I noticed that Bella didn't mention horror novels.
Renee blushed as she remembered a science fiction story she'd just finished three days ago. "That's beside the point," she retorted defensively as she avoided Bella's gaze again.
Am I being paranoid? I probably sound crazy. She mused doubtfully.
Bella smirked at this piece of information. She could use it to her advantage.
"You should stick to romances, Mom," Bella replied lightly. "You know how you freak yourself out."
Bella's right. This is so stupid. God, I am crazy. Renee thought. I breathed a sigh of relief as she smiled at Bella.
"I'm being silly aren't I," Renee said in a much more relaxed voice.
Bella hesitated for a moment, and I knew she must feel guilty for making her mother doubt her excellent instincts.
"Not silly," Bella said finally in a soothing tone. "Just being a mom."
The conversation reverted back to lighter topics, and my attention waned. I had just started skimming through Phil's newspaper when my phone rang.
"What's going on Emmett," I said as I answered at once.
"Hello to you too kid," he said with a booming laugh.
"What's up, Em," I said in a more cheerful voice when I realized nothing was wrong.
"Well, I've got a favor to ask you," he said in an odd voice.
"Okay," I replied warily. Emmett was never really subtle when he wanted something. This was why I didn't really care for phone conversations. My talents were useless at a distance.
"Will you go hunting with me this weekend?" Emmett asked in a strangely imploring way.
"I guess so," I replied in a noncommittal voice. "Why are you asking me now? Is there a reason that you couldn't wait until I get back to Forks this evening?"
"Well, yeah," Emmett said. "Alice told me Rose is getting ready to ask me to go to some kind of stupid movie festival with her in Seattle next weekend and I need an excuse to get out of it before she brings it up. Normally, I'd just tell her no, but she's already pissed at me for what happened last night."
I burst out laughing at his little revelation because I knew what his punishment would be if Rosalie got really angry with him.
"Go ahead and laugh," he grumbled. "It's easy for you to get a kick out of Rose cutting me off when you don't know what you're missing. And you've never been in the dog house with Bella either. She never gets mad at you."
"Speaking of canines," I answered tersely as I remembered Bella's furious reaction when I stopped her from going to the reservation the previous week. "Carlisle said you almost got a serious dog bite. No wonder Rose is mad at you."
"That mutt didn't touch me," Emmett growled defensively. "I could've taken him out with one hand tied behind my back."
"Be that as it may, we've got to be careful," I said urgently. My voice was a whisper; Renee and Bella would be back soon.
"The last thing we need on top of this mess with Victoria is a fight with the wolves." I shuddered at the thought of what it would do to Bella if it came to that.
"Yeah, I know," Emmett replied before changing the subject. "Are you going hunting with me or not?"
"If everything is okay with Bella, I'll go," I replied carefully. I hated leaving her, but she had her shift at Newton's and plans with Angela Weber to keep her busy.
"You should ask Jasper to go too. I'll see you when I get back." I added just before he hung up.
Bella was unusually pensive for most of our return trip and I wondered if she was reconsidering Renee's offer about spending the summer in Jacksonville. I watched her intently, trying in vain to decipher her thoughts from her facial expressions for a long time, but the silence became too much for me during the car ride back to Forks.
"You've been very quiet," I said as we drove through the evergreen forests toward home. I glanced at her and saw that she was paler than usual. I worried that she might be coming down with something. "Did the plane make you sick?"
"No, I'm okay," she said flatly. I couldn't tell if she meant it or not. If she was feeling ill she would try to hide it from me. I studied her more carefully for a moment and decided her health probably wasn't the issue.
"Are you sad to leave?" I persisted. She paused for a maddeningly long moment.
"More relieved than sad, I think," she answered finally.
I looked at her in surprise. I didn't expect her answer, nor did I understand it.
"Renee is so much more…perceptive than Charlie in some ways," she continued. "It was making me jumpy."
I laughed. Her response was a relief.
"Your mother has a very interesting mind," I agreed. "Almost childlike, but very insightful; she sees things differently than other people." Yes, Renee was too perceptive and yet innocently unaware all at the same time. She was unique.
Bella nodded absently. She seemed to be lost in her thoughts again. She closed her eyes and less than two minutes later her breathing was deep and even. Her musing had turned into dreams.
I watched her for the duration of the drive as I made my way down the familiar scenic roads, listening to her murmur her mother's name and my own in her sleep.
I stroked her cheek gently when I pulled into Charlie's driveway an hour later. Slowly, her eyelids fluttered and opened.
"We're home, sleeping beauty; time to awake." I murmured softly.
She looked at me in a bemused sort of way for a moment. The trip must have really worn her out. I hated that she would have to go to school in the morning. I saw her glance in the direction of the house, where Charlie was peering impatiently through an opening in the curtains of his living room window.
Finally! I missed her more than I thought I would, and I thought Jake was going to worry me to death calling here today. I wonder what he's so fired up about. He hasn't called Bella in months and all of a sudden he's ringing my phone off the hook. Charlie thought as he watched me get out of the car.
Jacob Black wanted to talk to Bella.
My insides were glacial in a half second. I was sure he wanted to talk to her about the events of the weekend. I couldn't let Bella find out, especially not from him. She'd been through enough in the last few months. I couldn't let him upset her! And she would be furious with me if she found out I was keeping secrets from her. What was I going to do now? Alice would be no help….
My thoughts were interrupted by a heavy sigh from Bella as I opened the car door for her.
"How bad?" she asked, misinterpreting the reason for my stiff demeanor. She thought Charlie was in a foul mood.
"Charlie's not going to be difficult," I assured her. Charlie was the least of my worries at the moment. I grabbed her suitcase to keep her from noticing the way my fists were clenched together. "He missed you."
Bella eyed me suspiciously, and I knew I needed to get a better handle on my anxiety. Not that she wouldn't understand what was bothering me as soon as Charlie delivered her phone messages.
"Welcome home, kid," Charlie greeted Bella enthusiastically as he held the door open. "How was Jacksonville?"
"Moist and buggy," Bella quipped. Charlie chuckled.
"So Renee didn't sell you on the University of Florida?" he asked.
I wish she'd go to U Dub or somewhere closer, but I'd rather she was in Florida than Alaska, He thought.
"She tried," Bella admitted. "But I'd rather drink water than inhale it."
Charlie smiled before reluctantly turning his attention to me. He was feeling slightly less hostile than usual toward me after having a phone conversation with Renee when she returned from the airport.
"Did you have a nice time?" He asked me cordially. Not that I really care, but I promised Renee I'd try to be nicer to him. He thought.
My amusement at Charlie's thoughts relaxed me a little, and I was able to answer him in a calm voice.
"Yes," I replied. "Renee was very hospitable."
"That's…good," Charlie managed. "Glad you had fun."
I hope that sounded polite. Renee says Bella's really serious about the boy and I'd better get used to him…thinks their relationship is permanent and Bella will marry him someday. Ugh. He thought bitterly.
Well, I hadn't seen that particular thought in Renee's mind. I was momentarily flabbergasted.
Charlie turned his attention back to Bella, and in a sudden wave of emotion, he scooped her into his arms.
"Impressive," Bella whispered as she hugged him back. I could tell that Charlie's improved attitude toward me pleased her. Charlie laughed.
"I really missed you," He said honestly before adding a lighter comment. "The food around here sucks when you're gone."
"I'll get on it," Bella replied as she released him.
I froze, cringing when I heard what Charlie was about to say.
"Would you call Jacob first? He's been bugging me every five minutes since six o'clock this morning. I promised I'd have you call him before you even unpacked."
"Jacob wants to talk to me?" Bella asked. She sounded incredulous and pleased at the same time. I gritted my teeth.
"Pretty bad, I'd say," Charlie replied. "He wouldn't tell me what it was about; just said it was important."
He sounded really upset when I told him she was gone with Edward. I wonder if Billy talked to him about telling Bella how he feels like he said he would.
A half second later, the phone began to ring again.
"That's him again; I'd bet my next paycheck," Charlie said.
Kid sure is impatient when he makes up his mind about something. He added mentally.
"I got it," Bella said eagerly as she rushed to the kitchen. I groaned too softly for her to hear.
The jealousy and panic flared in my chest in a way that was becoming far too familiar. I followed Bella instinctively, unsure of what I would do if he mentioned the border confrontation with Victoria.
Bella snatched the phone up swiftly and turned away from me. My chest ached. Was she trying to hide the eager light I'd already seen in her face when Charlie told her Jacob was trying to reach her? Or was there something else? Did she suspect something?
"Hello," Bella breathed into the receiver, her voice full of an anticipation that made me feel sick.
"You're back," The deep voice on the other end of the phone replied. His tone was full of concern and relief. I waited on tenterhooks for the rest of the conversation as a multitude of different fears nearly choked me.
I could smell the salty tears that were pooling in Bella's eyes now, and the emotions that were emanating from her stabbed through me like hot knives, burning me more.
"Yes," Bella managed to say finally. I heard her swallow hard against the lump in her throat.
Was he going to tell her about Victoria? Declare his undying affection and love for her, or was he going to reveal both? Did he know somehow that I had kept the truth from her? I wanted to scream, or break something…
"Why didn't you call me?" he snapped unexpectedly.
What was he doing? I was completely confused now; his attitude made no sense.
Bella's eagerness turned to anger in a flash. "Because I've been in the house for exactly four seconds and your call interrupted Charlie telling me that you'd called," She retorted irritably. I felt better at once.
"Oh," he replied lamely. "Sorry."
"Sure," Bella replied curtly. "Now why are you harassing Charlie?"
Well, if this conversation was supposed to be a declaration of love, it certainly wasn't turning out that way.
"I need to talk to you," he answered urgently. My stomach clenched in horror. He was going to tell her about Victoria.
I would almost rather have him confess his love than reveal my deception. Almost.
"Yeah, I figured out that part all by myself," Bella replied sarcastically.
There was a maddening silence on the other end of the line for the moment.
"You going to school tomorrow?" He asked abruptly.
I glanced at Bella's profile and I saw her forehead creasing into a frown of confusion. I was even more baffled than she was, but I kept my face smooth and calm out of habit.
"Of course I am," she replied, clearly perplexed. "Why wouldn't I?"
"I dunno, just curious," he answered.
What the hell was going on here?!
"So what did you want to talk about Jake?" Bella asked urgently. Her anger was fading, and there was a hint of wistful sadness in her voice again.
"Nothing really," He replied softly.
I could hear a tender edge in his voice now, and I hated him for it; hated him for thinking that he loved her when he and his pack were all too willing to let Victoria go last night for the sake of their pride. I would protect her from the situation with Victoria if I had to rip him apart to do it. He didn't love her enough to keep her safe, to shield her the way that I did.
"Yeah, I know," Bella murmured with understanding.
It took every ounce of self restraint I had not to reach over and hang up the phone.
"I'm so glad you called me Jake…I…" she broke off in mid sentence, clearly at a loss for words.
I winced, my face betraying the hurt and terror I felt for a brief moment before I regained control.
"I have to go," he said unexpectedly. My confusion returned with a vengeance.
"What?" Bella asked in surprise, echoing my thoughts with one simple word.
"I'll talk to you soon, okay," Jacob replied.
"But Jake…" Bella stammered.
The line went dead an instant later.
"That was short," Bella grumbled irritably as she hung up the phone.
"Is everything all right?" I asked cautiously. Had she gleaned anything significant from his words? Was he trying to tell her something in a way that only she would understand? In spite of my blazing panic and curiosity, I made sure my expression was neutral before Bella could meet my gaze.
"I don't know," Bella replied, staring intently at me now. "I wonder what that was about," she mused.
She didn't understand what he was getting at either. I relaxed. Thank heaven she hadn't learned anything useful from their odd, brief exchange.
"Your guess is probably better than mine," I replied with a genuine smile as relief washed through me like cool water extinguishing the flames in my heart. That wasn't true, of course; I had the distinct feeling that he wanted to talk to her about the confrontation. Was he planning to call her back after I'd gone? Or was he going to come to Forks to see her? Forks was still neutral territory. If his pack leader was agreeable, he was perfectly free to visit here.
"Mmmm," Bella sighed noncommittally. She was still trying to decipher the meaning of his strange phone call, I was sure of it. I could only hope that she would continue to be baffled.
I lounged silently against the kitchen counter and watched Bella as she immersed herself in preparing dinner. I knew she was mentally reviewing her short and cryptic conversation with that mutt, trying to decipher some meaning from his words. I was doing the same thing of course while I studied her face for any signs that his words had made sense to her, hoping desperately that she didn't figure out what had happened this weekend.
I thought about what I'd witnessed in Alice's memories as Bella told her about Victoria's return to Forks after she'd jumped off the cliff. Alice had seen so much fear in her eyes.
And that fear was my fault. I'd left her broken and exposed, unprotected and in her mind, unloved. I would not make her vulnerable again. She would never feel that kind of terror and desperation again as long as I existed.
Suddenly, I heard Bella let out a soft gasp as she froze in the act of laying some prepackaged meat on the kitchen counter. Her face was chalk white and she went limp, the cold lump of beef dropping from her hands. I reached over instinctively and grabbed it before it could hit the floor. I tossed it onto the counter in a fraction of a second as I wrapped my arms around her.
"What's wrong?" I whispered urgently in her ear. She knew something, and from the look on her face, whatever it was terrified her. Had Jacob Black's strange words triggered some kind of understanding? Panic rippled through me as I took in the blank expression on her face. She was going into shock.
She had to know about Victoria! Somehow that worthless mutt had helped her figure it out. There was no other explanation. What else could make her react this way?
She shook her head infinitesimally, her eyes unseeing. Her mind was consumed by whatever it was that had occurred to her. I waited for her to respond to me for several agonizing seconds....
But she didn't.
"Bella!" I cried in an urgent whisper, jostling her gently as I spoke. I was going to lose my mind if she didn't tell me what was wrong. Damn that interfering mutt. What had he done to her?
"I think....I think he was checking," Bella muttered at last. "Checking to make sure..." she paused again, and my mind raced ahead to fill in the blanks of her unfinished thought. "That I'm human, I mean."
My body was rigid as I processed her words. I let out an hiss that was half relief and half fury.
Did Jacob Black think that I'd taken Bella away to change her? Was that why he kept calling? Surely even he wasn't that stupid! If I had done so, we wouldn't be any where near Forks now; the treaty would be broken and she would be a threat to everyone around her. Did he really think I'd bring her home and endanger Charlie?
"We'll have to leave," Bella whispered sadly. "Before, so that it doesn't break the treaty."
I winced internally at the anxiety and pain on her face. The happiness she'd basked in like the Florida sun on our trip was gone now. Jacob Black had stolen her peace. I held her tighter in an effort to comfort her.
"I know," I said softly. I was just getting ready to tell her about the preparations I'd made for us to move when I heard Charlie's low, false cough coming from behind me. I'd been so consumed by our conversation that I hadn't heard his approaching footsteps or his thoughts.
"Ahem," Charlie grunted in annoyance. Bella jumped as though she'd been scalded with boiling water and pulled away from me. She gave me a brief but searching look and I knew she could see the worry and anger in my face. I tried to compose myself.
Well this is a nice welcome home present....making out over the kitchen sink...wish he'd go away... Charlie thought as he glowered at me.
"If you don't want to make dinner, I can call out for a pizza," Charlie said pointedly.
"No that's okay," Bella muttered as she blushed furiously. "I'm already started."
"Okay," Charlie replied as he leaned against the doorjamb and studied us carefully. But you won't be making more than dinner in my house tonight. He added silently as he watched Bella resume preparing the food.
I excused myself while Bella and Charlie ate dinner and walked into the living room. I needed to call Alice.
"I can see that you aren't coming home tonight," Alice said after we had exchanged hellos. "But I can't see why, so I'm assuming it has something to do with the wolves."
I launched into a detailed account of the situation, including the urgency of Jacob Black's attempts to contact Bella and their conversation verbatim.
"I don't understand it either," Alice said pensively after I'd finished. "It doesn't make any sense for him to try that hard to get in touch with her and then for him to not say anything. There's more to this than we're seeing."
"I agree," I muttered as the sound of small talk and forks scraping on glass plates continued from the kitchen. "But I can't make sense of it."
"Well, I convey the story to the others and see if they have any theories," Alice replied. "I'll call you back if we think of anything, but if you don't hear from me, I'll see you at school. I'm going to be running a little late in the morning, though. Jazz and I are going hunting."
I spent the rest of the evening replaying Bella's and Jacob's phone exchange over and over in my head, trying to focus on his words rather than the emotions Bella had displayed during their brief conversation. My mind was still racing long after Bella had drifted off into a peaceful sleep in my arms.
I couldn't help but feel as though I were missing some vital piece of information that would have made the whole encounter fit together like a puzzle, but I couldn't put it together. I even tried to recall all of the details of the border confrontation that Carlisle had relayed to me to see if there was some way Jacob Black could have figured out that I was keeping Victoria's return from Bella. But nothing seemed to make any sense.
The sound of Charlie's alarm clock blaring down the hall pulled me from my reverie a half an hour before the sun was set to rise. Reluctantly, I extricated myself from Bella's embrace. I needed to go home so I could get dressed for school. I sighed heavily as I watched her sleep, hating to leave her for the even the most necessary reasons. I walked over to her battered little desk and grabbed a pen and paper.
My Bella,
I've gone home to change. I'll be back very soon to pick you up. Thank you for this weekend. I love you so.
Yours forever,
E.
Bella was well rested and cheerful when I picked her up later that morning. Her attitude was infectious as usual; when she was happy so was I. We chatted animatedly all the way to school, and the events of last night seemed distant now. Perhaps Jacob Black's cryptic phone call was meaningless teenage angst.
The smell assailed my nostrils a half mile from the school. I froze. What the hell was he doing here? I gripped the steering while like a life preserver as I tried to resist the urge to crush the car. Venom pooled instinctively in my mouth as my whole body tensed automatically for a fight. I focused intently on the minds around me, tuning out the mundane teenage thoughts of my fellow students, listening for him.
Come on bloodsucker! I haven't got all day. I've got to get to school too. I can smell both of them together. He's with her just like I thought. At least he can't make a scene here. There's too many people around for that. God, I miss her. I wonder if he told her lies about what happened. Bet he's tried to poison her mind against us. Leech. Jacob Black thought as he took in the sight of my car driving slowly toward the school parking lot.
I had to keep him from Bella. She couldn't find out about Victoria. It would terrify her, and I couldn't stand to see that fear on her face again.
"If I asked you to do something, would you trust me?" I inquired softly, desperate for her to say yes without asking questions. I knew before the words left my mouth that it would be a futile request.
"That depends," she replied curiously, her heart racing in response to the tension she could feel emanating from every pore of my body.
"I was afraid you'd say that," I grumbled hopelessly.
I pulled the car into my usual parking space, defeated as Jacob Black stared a hole through my back window, his eyes focused on Bella.
She looks so pretty. I've missed her. I could tell she missed me too on the phone last night. I need to try to make things right with her.
But I can't think about that right now, I've got a job to do. Sam sent me here for a reason, and it wasn't to mend fences with Bella...Still, she needs to hear our side of the story. Bet he told her what happened was all our fault; she probably thinks we let that red haired leech get away. They were the ones who crossed the line. Paul thinks we should have attacked right there...He thought.
I growled too softly for her to hear. I hadn't told Bella anything, and now Jacob Black was going to ruin my painstaking efforts to shield her from this mess.
"What do you want me to do, Edward?" she asked warily. Her suspicion was intensifying. I sighed.
"I want you to stay in the car," I said bluntly as I put the Volvo in park and cut off the engine in one swift second. "I want you to wait here until I come back for you."
"But, why?" Bella asked, confused.
My eyes unwillingly flickered to the place where Jacob Black was standing, his considerable weight resting halfheartedly on his black Harley Davidson. Bella's eyes followed mine and her face was full of surprise and apprehension.
"Oh," Bella said a moment later.
This was going to be bad. But there was nothing I could do about it now. I might as well tell Bella what he was doing here. Perhaps a partial explanation would keep her from asking too many awkward questions.
"You jumped to the wrong conclusion last night," I said softly. My voice was even, but I was seething inside. "He asked you about school because he knew that I would be where you were. He was looking for a safe place to talk to me. A place with witnesses."
And he certainly had those. I listened to the plethora of anxious thoughts of the teenagers around us as they eyes Jacob with mingled curiosity and fear. Damn him for showing up here and making a scene.
Bella seemed to mull this over for a moment, and I could see from the intense expression on her face that she was trying to figure out why Jacob would need to talk to me.
"I'm not staying in the car," she said finally in a stubborn voice. Her chin jutted out in a silent challenge, daring me to argue with her.
I moaned softly, knowing that there was no way around this confrontation.
"Of course not," I said through gritted teeth. Why couldn't she ever just listen to me! Just trust my judgement for once and leave well enough alone!
"Well, let's get this over with," I continued in sad resignation.
He wanted to tell her the truth, and I had no idea how to stop him.