CHAPTER FOUR

FATAL ENCOUNTERS

After class ended I walked over to where Bella was leaning against her truck with her ear buds in. the rain had stopped, but the parking lot was full of water a patches of black ice. I said, "Hi." But Bella didn't seem to hear me. She was staring at something on the other side of the lot. I looked behind me to see Edward Cullen standing by a silver Volvo with his siblings.

I saw Jasper talking to Alice. I forgot they were together. He looked over and smiled at me. I just nodded a greeting to him.

My attention was ripped away when I saw Jasper's face go blank and heard a screech of tires off to the side. I saw a van skidding on the ice, losing control, heading directly for me and Bella.

I didn't register anything that happened in the next minute after that. I just know that I was in Jasper's arms a good ten feet away from the collision. I looked up at Jasper and he looked down at me, scared. Then I remembered Bella.

I ripped myself out of his arms and sprinted over to the crash. Tyler's van dented the truck's butt. There was a crowd of people around the cars, yelling, shouting. I heard someone calling for an ambulance. Tyler was bleeding from his head. I tried to get through the people, I yelled at them to move, but they didn't budge. They were all selfish and curious and wanted to see what was going on.

Jasper came up behind me and took my arms in his hands, "We should go to the hospital. She'll be getting there anyway."

I shook my head violently, I couldn't go to the hospital. I didn't want to go to another one. "No!"

Jasper just looked at me. He didn't look surprised or alarmed that I didn't want to go to the hospital with my sister who has been in an accident.

But I explained anyway, "I don't like hospitals. Take me home."

So he did. His siblings piled into the big one's jeep and he took me in some red car. We drove in silence. He didn't ask me how I felt about what happened. And I didn't offer any answers. I just stared out the window at the greens and browns blurred together and whizzed passed.

The car pulled up into our driveway and as soon as it stopped I got out of the car. I peeked into the open window and looked at the honey blonde Cullen, "Thanks for the ride."

He smiled kindly at me, "Anytime." With that I watched as he pulled out of the driveway and drove down the street.

I went into the house and was met with nothing to do. I thought of maybe cooking dinner before Bella and my Dad came home but it wasn't even noon yet. I didn't want to go back to school. Everyone would be asking about Bella and the accident.

I went into my room and sat on my bed. I stared at the blue comforter and moved my finger on it, making swirly designs. I looked out the window, looking for the cruiser. But it hadn't come yet. I suspected that Bella was just squirming on the hospital bed, begging to be let out.

I laid back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Did you know that if you stare long enough, the whites turn black and blurry? No? Maybe it's just me...

I fiddled with the edge of my sleeve, feeling the scars. I was glad that I'm passed that now. But not over it yet. But I tried to stay optimistic and believe that I would be.

I was filled with thoughts of the Cullens. And consumed with unanswered questions. Like how did Jasper get over to me and then pulled me away from the accident so fast? I saw him on the other side of the lot, by his car. It seemed like he used super speed or something. And then I thought about that dent in the van. It looked like a hand print. But that couldn't have been Jasper. He was with me.

So who was it?

The next morning, after scolding Bella for parking in the exact same spot as the accident, I went to walk around the campus. Bella and the other bio kids had a field trip. Boring.

I walked around until I was at the back of campus by the football fields. The grass seemed endless until it met the woods. There were a few basketball courts, a football/soccer/track field and then there was a plain grass field. In the middle of the grass field was a giant tree. The branches reached out all around the large trunk with new green leaves clinging to the wood and others falling to the ground.

I walked over slowly and set my bag down on the grass. I took a seat on the ground and leaned against the trunk. I let my eyes slip closed as I just let the entirety of life slip away from me. I felt the breath whoosh out of me as I just... sat there. It was nice to just...be.

That relaxation only lasted until Bella got home. She threw down her book bag and coat, angrily. She started to walk up stairs when my Dad walked over from inside the kitchen. "Your mother called. Again."

Bella sighed, "Your fault, for telling her about the accident."

My dad looked sad as he said, "She always did know how to worry. But... she's changed, too. She seems happy. Phil sounds all right."

"He is," Bella said shortly before she continued upstairs.

My dad looked somewhat put off by her swift departure and dismissal. Lately she'd been dismissive of both of us. Or anyone that didn't have anything to do with Edward.

"Dad." I called.

He came into the living room and sighed when he sat me curled up on the corner, having heard their entire conversation. "Hey honey." He quietly came over to sit by me and put his arm around my shoulder. He was never a very affectionate man and I'd like to blame my affliction for his special show of affection with me but he'd always been that way.

I sighed as I laid my head on his shoulder, "I wish you were happy too, Dad."

He looked down at me shocked and pulled slightly away so I would look him in the face, "I am happy, sweetheart. I am."

I looked at him sarcastically, "Dad, I of all people know how to tell when a person isn't happy. And you're not."

He sighed and rubbed his hand up and down my arm like a father does, "It'll get better. I promise." He kissed me on the top of my head.

I stood up, "I'm going for a walk."

My dad sighed, "Okay."

I found myself wandering the woods until I lost track of time and it was dark. I could get lost in these woods and not care. It had peace and quiet. It had piece of mind.

Someone once said, "Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

Unfortunately, I didn't have that ability. I had to seek peace out elsewhere. I had to attempt to create peace. But it wasn't easy. And without peace, is only chaos and desolation. And I couldn't live that way forever. One way or the other, I wasn't going to live that way forever.

Suddenly there was a snap of a twig to my right. I whipped my head to look over and I saw two big black eyes floating in the darkness. I thought I heard a growl but I also thought I saw two big black eyes floating in the darkness but when I blinked, they weren't there anymore.

I rubbed my eyes and looked again. No. Nothing.

Uh oh! What did she see? But just to let you know, I've written this series up through Eclipse and am currently writing the first part of Breaking Dawn. So all the major stuff is set in stone but don't be afraid to let me know if I should change little things or add little things. I welcome constructive critisism, NOT FLAMES! And I love reviews so...

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RegalGirl94