Chapter 2
Bella pulls into the driveway and sees Edward standing there. She climbs out, heads toward the house but stops, relief washing over her, "Edward. You're here."
He stands by the house. Bella hurries toward him, but slows when she sees his cold, distant face; an unreadable mask.
"Walk with me?" He asks as he gently takes her hand. Dread fills her, but she lets him guide her toward the woods...
He stops by a fallen tree and turns to Bella, "We need to leave Forks."
"What? Why?" she asked.
"It's time. Carlisle's supposed to be ten years older than he looks; people will start noticing."
"But... when?" she asks.
"Now." was his response.
Bella reels, trying to take this in, "I'll have to think of something to tell Charlie, but I can be ready -"
"Not you. Us." Edward told her.
Bella was stunned, he was leaving without her, "What? First my sister and now you - no - Edward, what happened with Jasper - that was nothing."
"Nothing compared to what could happen if your sister also lost control. You don't belong in my world." Edward said.
"- I belong with you -" Bella retorted.
"- You don't -" he interrupted her.
"- I'm coming -" Bella tried to tell him.
"I don't want you to come!" he said harshly.
Bella was stung, as if slapped, "You don't... want me."
"No." was all Edward said as Bella steps back trying to understand this as he continued, " I'd like to ask one favor though."
Bella looks up at him, hopeful, "Anything."
"Don't do anything stupid or reckless - do you understand?... for Charlie's sake. Just... take care of yourself."
"I... yes... I will." she responded.
He softens ever-so-slightly, "Don't worry. You're human. Time heals all wounds for your kind. Particularly if you're not reminded."
Desperation wells up in her, overwhelming dignity, "No, this is - don't do this. Please."
He sees she won't let go easily. Takes a breath. His face turns cold again, "Try to understand. Every second with you is about restraint. You're too fragile. I'm tired of pretending to be something I'm not. Reining myself in so I can be with a human."
"Then take my soul. I don't care! I don't want it without you -" Bella pleaded.
"- You're not good for me, Bella." He told her. Bella looks at him. His hard face. His resolve.
"I've let it go on too long. I'm sorry."
Tears sting Bella's eyes. This can't be happening. He steps forward... kisses her forehead. She closes her eyes.
"I promise, it will be like I never existed. Goodbye, Bella." He said even though it agonized him.
By the time she opens her eyes - he's gone.
She spins around, "- Wait -" she sees a leaf flittering to the ground where he grazed a branch; the only indication of his direction. She hurries down the path, then runs, "Edward?!" she calls out as she keeps running, going deeper into the woods.
She runs through the woods, searching, reminiscent of her opening dream. It gets darker and darker. Bella then tripped, falling to the damp forest floor. She looks up at the trees spinning around her.
BELLA TRIPS. Falls to the damp forest floor. She looks up,
the trees spinning around her...
She remains on the ground. Curls into a ball. Darkness shrouding her. Devastation paralyzing her. She could hear the faint sound of her name being called in the distance. A search party but she is too wrecked to respond. Rain begins to pour; she doesn't register it...
Bella's eyes open to find herself floating several feet above the ground. Trees pass by. She's being carried...
Half the town is gathered - a tired rescue party that includes Mike Newton and Jacob Black.
Charlie, beside himself with worry, pores over a map with Bill Black Harry Clearwater.
"I wish Ellie was here, I'll call the Cullens again. Her note said she and Edward went for a walk." Charlie suggested.
"They left town, Charlie." Billy told him.
"Hospital said Doc Cullen got a big job somewhere else." Harry said as he puts a reassuing hand on Charlie's shoulder.
"We'll find her, Charlie." Harry told him. Charlie is glad for the comfort of his two friends.
"Charlie!" Jacob said making Charlie spin around to where he was pointing.
Sam Uley, one of Ellie's best friends emerges from the forest, cropped hair and a fierce expression. He's carrying Bella.
"It's Sam Uley. He found her." Billy said.
Charlie bolts to her; he's never moved faster in his life. He wraps his arms around Bella, lifting her from Sam's arms, "Thank you, Sam. Thank God."
Charlie carries Bella to the house, cradling her. Harry and Billy give Sam a nod of praise and gratitude. But Sam backs away, avoiding any accolades.
Jacob was jogging alongside Charlie, peering at Bella with worry. Then Jacob slows, feeling eyes on his back... he turns to see Sam Uley staring at him. Jacob, uncomfortable, quickly looks away.
Charlie carried Bella up the stairs to the house, "What were you thinking, Baby? Why were you out there?" he asked her.
"He's... gone." Was all she said as Charlie carried her inside.
Bella spent the next few months in her room, blank and just watching the world go by outside of her window. Nothing could break her out of her trance as the months went by.
Alice faces off with Carlisle as the others watch on. Esme desolate; Michael blank. He sits next to Rosalie who seems almost irritated. Jasper isolates himself in a corner. And Ellie paced, unable to sit still as she worried for her sister. Emmett with her trying to keep her focused.
"No. We promised Edward." Carlisle told her.
"But she won't do well without us. I get flashes of her, but they're unclear - And look at Ellie. That's her sister and she feels helpless because of what Edward has asked of us all." Alice explains.
"Knowing my sister, she won't let this go easily.. Or move on at all. We are doing her more harm than good and I have said that from the beginning. I can feel her thoughts from here." Ellie said.
"Forget her, let's drag Edward home." Rosalie said.
"He'll come back when he's ready. After Bella moves on." Esme said.
"Yes. When she's living her life, safe from danger -"
"You mean safe from us." Jasper said with self contempt, Alice wraps an arm around Jasper, soothingly.
"And when will that be?" Rosalie said as she pointed at Alice.
"Can you see him, Alice?" Emmett asked.
They all turn to Alice... She closes her eyes, trying to get a lock on Edward - "The only decision he has made…" she pauses as she sees what he wanted, "... is to be alone…"
"Well too bad he didn't let Bella have a say in that" Ellie said harshly as she stormed out of the room as a vase flew across the room and smashed as it collided with a wall.
Emmett was about to go after her but Carlisle stopped him, "Allow me" he said as Emmett hesitated but nodded and sat back down.
Carlisle found Ellie in her and Emmett's room, looking out over the snow.
"Ellie, I know this is hard for you. But we have to stick together as a family."
Ellie turned to him, "Right. And what about my sister? She is still my family. My Dad is barely able to cope. He needs my help and I can't do anything." she started getting emotional.
"I know it's hard. I am sorry for all of this." Carlisle apologised and there was silence as they sat there.
"I believe my gift is strong with my family. I can hear my father's thoughts more clearly, but not so much Bella's. I can feel the emotion of her thoughts. Not what she thinks."
"We don't know why that is. But we do know that it has been an emotional time for you, and that your powers are fueled by your emotions"
"That vase wasnt priceless, was it?" she asked.
Carlisle smiled, "No it wasn't." he told her, "But it will take practice. Maybe that is something you can do to distract yourself with. Obtain control of your gift. I'm sure Kate could help you"
Ellie sighed, "That might be a good idea. Thanks." she said as Carlisle stood up and went to leave the room.
"Ellie, if you ever need to talk, you are more than welcome to come to me." he told her.
She gave him a small smile, "Thank you Carlisle." she said as he returned the smile and left the room.
All she could hear in her head was Charlie's thoughts saying, 'I need Ellie. She can help. I can't do this on my own anymore.' and she could feel the pain of the heartbreak from Bella.
Just then she saw Emmett standing at the door, leaning against it, "You ok?" he asked.
Ellie slightly nodded at him, "For now. I need a distraction. Carlisle suggested to practice my powers." she said as Emmett sat down next to her.
"That could do it" he agreed.
She looked at Emmett with love in her eyes, "First I need a different distraction" she said as she quickly closed the door and went back to Emmett, kissing him with everything she had.
He returned the kiss as his hands roamed her back under her top and then settled on her hips. He pulled away and looked at her, "You sure you want to do this?" he asked, "I don't want to take advantage of you if your emotional."
"Emmett, I am the one who jumped you. I think I am pretty sure."
"If you say so" Emmett said as they kissed each other again with more passion. He laid her down on the bed and took off his shirt.
"Now that's what I am talking about" she said as she pulled him back down to her as they continued to ravish each other. Emmett doing his best to distract his mate.
Bella exits to find Charlie out by the street, stuffing trash into the bins. He talks with neighbor, Bob Marks, who also attends to his trash: two old, beat up motorcycles.
"It's about time you got rid of those, Bob. Seen one too many bikers smeared on the highway." Charlie comments.
"Save the lecture, Chief. Soon as the garbage truck hauls `em off, you and my wife can rest easy." he starts, but then he stops, "Oh, hey, what's the word on that bear problem? Folks are saying they're huge."
Charlie got distracted, "That's just... talk…" he said as he watched Bella walk to her truck, head down. Bob sees her, too -
"How you doin' there, Bella?" Bob asked her.
Bella, in her own world, doesn't respond. Bob gives Charlie an understanding shrug and heads off.
Bella opened her truck door. Suddenly, it gets slammed shut again by Charlie. "That's it." Charlie said.
"That's what?" Bella asked, surprised.
"You're going to Jacksonville to live with your mother." Charlie told her.
"What? Why?" she asked.
"I just - don't know what to do any more. You don't act like someone left you; more like someone died."
She looks away. That's how it feels to her, "I'm not leaving Forks."
"Bells, the bastard's not coming back." Charlie told her and she nods. Knowing this all too well.
"It's not normal, this behavior. And frankly, it's scaring the hell outta me, and your mother.
Go to Jacksonville, Baby. Make some new friends."
"I like my old friends." Bella told him.
"You never even see them anymore." he stated.
"I do, too. In fact, I'm... um… Jessica and I are going to Port Angeles tomorrow. Shopping."
Charlie gave her a suspicious look, "You hate shopping."
"That's how good a friend I am." she said.
Charlie is somewhat pleased, "Alright. Shopping."
Bella went shopping and then to the movies with Jessica and Angela. Alice had seen her decision and Ellie had felt her nervousness of she was about to do something stupid and dangerous.
She had jumped on a strange man's bike and went for a ride with him, so Ellie had used her powers to project an image to her sister to get her to stop. Edward suggested to use his image as it was more of a chance to get her to stop.
But she still did it anyway, which drove Ellie crazy to the point Emmett had to calm her down.
Bella pulls up in her truck, a tarp covering something big in the back. Jacob comes out of the house. A huge grin, "Bella!"
Bella hops out, Jacob gives her a hug. Bella's surprised by his affection, but doesn't mind.
"`Bout time you came by." he told her.
"I brought you something." she said as she pulled the tarp back, revealing - her neighbor's two
dilapidated, rusting MOTORCYCLES.
"Scrap metal. You shouldn't have." he sarcastically said.
"I rescued them from the dump. They'd cost more than they're worth to fix… unless one had a mechanic-type friend." he said.
"Me, being the mechanic-type friend?" he said as she shrugged, "Since when are you into motorcycles?" he asked.
"Recently." she answered as Jacob studied the bikes.
"The parts alone will be pricey."
"I have a college fund I can dig into." she told him.
"Charlie's gonna love that." he said sarcastically.
"Charlie won't know."
"Wow. Lying to Dad. Blowing through college money. Repairing dangerous machines - that I'm guessing you'll want to ride?" he asked.
"I really get it if you think this is stupid and reckless." she said.
"Oh it's totally stupid and reckless.' he said as he leans in and grins, "When do we start?"
Bella face spreads into something we haven't seen in a while... a wide smile. As they pull the bikes off the truck, they laugh and joke; it's as though Jacob has brought Bella back to life. But they are unaware that Sam, Jared and Paul are watching.
-Forest Edge-
"I doubt she knows where her sister is Sam." Jared told him.
"The leech broke up with her and this is the first time she is out of the house. I doubt she would know" Paul said agreeing with Jared.
"Ellie left the same time the Cullen's did, and I will find her." he growled.
"Look, I know she was one of your best friends growing up. But she may be one of them" Jared said.
Sam snarled, "Just keep an eye on Bella. Call me if she makes contact" he said as he phased and ran into the forest.
-Back to the shed-
Motorcycle parts are spread out on blankets. Jacob moves among them excitedly, piecing them together. Bella watches.
"If we're going to be working on this every day, we should probably include some homework. Don't want the Dads to think I'm a bad influence on you." she joked.
"You influence me? Please." he said.
"I am older than you." she said.
"Age ain't nothin' but a number." he stated.
"And I convinced you to secretly build us two-wheeled death machines."
Jacob mocked a sudden horror face, "God, you're right, you're like Satan -"
A few days later, the pair were in the shed with Jacob working on the bikes. While Bella 'helped'
"Yo, Jake, you in there?" Quil yelled out from outside the door.
Bella abruptly sits up, starts to pull a tarp over the bikes.
"It's cool, it's just my boys." Jacob told her.
Quil Ateara and Embry Call both enter. Quil is short, stocky and feisty, with short hair. Embry is tall, thin and laid back, with chin-length black hair.
"Hey, Jake -" Quil said but the both stop when they see Bella and the both smile at her.
"Hey. This is Bella. Bella, that's Quil and Embry." Jacob introduced them.
"So the bike building story is true."
"Taught him everything he knows." Bella joked.
"What about the part where you're his girlfriend?" Quil asked.
"Oh, we're just friends." she said.
"Ooh. Burn." Embry said.
Jacob panicked and scrambled, "I said she's a girl and a friend."
"Embry, you remember him making that distinction?" Quil asked.
"Nope." Embry replied.
Bella rescues Jacob - "So I guess you guys have girlfriends." Bella asked making Jacob laugh.
"Right. Quil took his cousin to prom." Jacob asked while laughing and Embry chuckles as well.
"Yeah, that's still a riot. You want funny, Black? I'll give you funny." Quil said as he makes a run at him, he dodges; a playful scuffle ensues. Embry, amused, saunters over to Bella.
"I got five bucks on Quil."
"You're on." Bella replies as the scuffle continues.
As the days go on, the bikes begin to take shape, the parts on the blanket thin
out.
Jacob clowns for Bella's amusement, pretends to skewer himself with a pipe. She laughs.
He constantly touches her, playful, affectionate. It's effortless in contrast to Edward's intense restraint.
Bella and Jacob exit the garage and make their way across the yard to her truck. Bella seems lighter, happier than before.
"Quil keeps asking to come over. I think he likes you a little too much." Jacob said.
"Tell him I'm not into the cougar thing."
"What is it with you and age? I mean, that Cullen guy was young, didn't seem to... bother you." Jacob said but he instantly regrets saying Edward's name as he sees it crush her spirits.
End chapter 2