CHAPTER TWELVE– ROAD TRIP
EDWARD POV
I didn't know why I went to Bella's house yesterday, I didn't lie I was bored at home but I couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness whenever she wasn't around, I did truly miss her. I was glad that I went there yesterday because I had a good time. The way we acted around each other was nice and it was like we fit perfectly. Look at me I must sound like such a fucking girl.
My watch indicated it was 8.26am I already had a quick shower as usual and now I was getting dressed. I pulled on a pair of black jeans and slipped into my army boots. I put on a short sleeved, dark blue, v-neck top and put my leather jacket over top. I pulled out my schedule from my back pocket and went over the plan in my head.
Today I had gym, free period, history then chemistry but I only planned to go to one lesson today. The plan was to go to Mr Harding's house so I could look for Eric's chain and whatever else that could help take that fucker down. I didn't plan to tell Bella yet because I had the feeling that she never cut class in her life. If she wanted to come with me then so be it but I couldn't go anywhere until I found out where Mr Harding lived so that's where Bella came in to it. If she could somehow distract her farther or a member of staff at reception then I could somehow find an address book or some information.
I looked at my watch again and it was now 8.31 I put my schedule back in my pocket as well as my smokes, lighter and twenty dollars. I left my room and walked down the hallway. I descended the stairs and waved to Jasper who was sitting on the sofa. Jasper had no idea about my sudden fixation with Bella in fact Jasper didn't take the time to notice or even care about anything past the end of nose. I closed the door and climbed on my bike. I revved it up before I took off towards school.
It took me less than fifteen minutes to get to school even though I did 70mph up the main road. I pulled up in the parking lot and parked up next to Bella's car. I climbed of my bike and put my keys in my pocket before I walked across the parking lot. I ascended the steps and for the first time ever I set the detectors off.
"Please remove all you belonging" the guard told me.
I complied but I wasn't listening to him because I was concentrating on the conversation on the other side of the brick wall.
"Here's the thing sweetness, I don't take orders I give them" I heard a familiar voice.
I knew it was Jacob straight away but what the fuck was he talking about? I knew the courtyard was on the other side of there so he must have been talking to someone in there.
"Step back through" the guard told me.
I walked back and was about to step back through.
"I figured that if you could fuck a worthless piece of shit like Edward then I could maybe have a chance with you" Jacob shouted.
It only took a split second to realise who he must have been speaking to. Instead of walking back through the detectors I ran through them.
"Stop!" The guards shouted.
I bolted through the entrance and ran as fast as I could through the hallways. I knocked everybody down who was in my path sending them crashing into lockers and to the floor. I circled round to the other hallway and nearly smashed through the side access. My jaw locked and my fist clenched into balls as I heard her scream. The courtyard was empty but I could still hear her cries. I ran past the shelters and froze as Jacob had Bella pinned up against the wall. I sucked in all the air around me and I let out a huge growl as I lunged for him. I charged at him and crashed into him using my shoulder. He flew backwards and travelled a few feet in the air before crashing to the ground. I had that much rage in me I couldn't think straight all I wanted to do as kill him. I mounted him and began to punch his fucking teeth out letting out growls with every punch.
"Never!" I punch him in the face. "Ever!" I punched him again "Touch" and again "Her again!" I growled between punches. I stood up and began to kick him in his stomach and I made sure to stomp right on his manhood. He screamed out and cried in pain as he curled up into the foetus position.
I looked away from him and sin Bella on the floor. Her sweater was ripped but there were no other signs that it went any further. I had made it just in time.
"Bella" I whispered.
I walked over and knelt down beside her and carefully pulled her up. She flinched at my touch so I held her even more gently.
"Shh, Bella it's me" I whispered.
She looked up with watery eyes, she was petrified and she was shaking which caused me to shake as well. I wasn't shaking because she was shaking, I was shaking with anger as I sin the red mark across her cheek. My fists clenched up again and I turned back towards Jacob.
"Edward stop" Bella pleaded with me.
I couldn't stop, I didn't want to stop. If I was going back to prison for this now then I would make sure that I would be going down for murder not for self defence.
I mounted him again and used all my adrenaline to pick him up by the collar.
"Get up you sick fuck!" I shouted letting him go.
He swayed in front of me as he held his face. I had punched him that much there was blood pouring out his head, nose and mouth. I could easily carry on until his face slit in fucking two.
"Hit me mother fucker!" I snarled.
He hissed and took a swing at me. I ducked and punch him in the gut causing him to fall to his knees. I took his head between my hands and brought my knee up to his face. He collapsed back to the floor letting out an agonizing scream. As I was about to kick him again I was slammed hard into the wall against the building causing the side of my face to hit the brick wall.
"You're coming with me Cullen" Mr Bryans said locking my arms behind the back of my head.
He picked me up effortlessly flinging me around and walked me out the courtyard.
"Get the fuck off me!" I growled as the guards held the side doors open.
His grip tightened around my arms as he led me through the hallways and to the main office. He carried me past the reception and pinned me up against the metal fence and waited for the receptionist to open the gate. The gate slid open and he threw me inside the holding cell causing me to hit the brick wall at the far side of the room.
"Stay in here and cool off" he smirked.
"Fuck you!" I spat.
My blood was boiling as he walked off. I was so pumped with adrenaline I couldn't sit down or stay still.
"Fuck!" I shouted gripping at my hair.
About twenty minutes later Mr. Bryans came back and the gate slid open.
"Were going to see the principle" he told me.
"Good!" I spat.
I was going to give him a piece of my fucking mind. Mr Bryans grabbed my arm and guided me back out.
"Don't touch me!" I spat pulling my arm away.
He locked my arms around my head again and led me to another metal fence. He waited for it to slide open then we walked through and waited for the opposite gate to slid open. We walked through a carpeted hallway past a few doors and came to a halt outside the last door.
Mr Bryans let my arms go and opened the door. He shoved me inside and walked me over the room and sat me in a chair opposite a desk. He stood next to my chair like he was some sort of fucking body guard. A few minutes later Charlie, I mean the principle walked in.
"Mr Bryans" Charlie said nodded to him.
He sat down behind his desk and scanned through a folder that had my name on the front.
"Mr Cullen you are on parole are you not?"
"Yes" I said through clenched teeth.
"You have only been released for six days and you have already broke the terms of your parole"
"That fucker deserved everything he got!" I spat
"Mr Cullen you put that boy in the hospital" he scolded me.
"That boy nearly raped your daughter!" I growled.
He was silence for a moment.
"I appreciate what you tried to do" he said more calmly.
"Are you fucking kidding me" I snarled standing up "This fucker nearly broke my arm" I spat to Mr Bryans.
He grabbed my arm and forced me back into the chair.
"Alright Mr Bryans that's enough" he told him. "Look Edward, because of what you did for my daughter I won't put this on your record but this is your last warning, any more fights or gang activity then you will be going back to prison" he warned me.
I rolled my eyes and huffed, I should have gotten a fucking medal or an Oscar award for fuck sake.
"Here are your things" he said passing me a little bag.
I opened it and retrieved my schedule, keys, lighter, smokes and money.
"Right I'm excusing you from your first class which is" he paused.
"Gym, I believe" Mr Bryans perked up.
"Thank you Mr Bryans" The principle said.
Yeah thank the giant fuck who nearly broke my arm and threw me in the holding cell. Not the kid sitting in front of you who saved your daughter from a fucking perverted animal.
"Go and get yourself cleaned up then continue with your day" he told me.
I stood up without another word and walked out of his office. I walked down the hallway and waited for the two gates to open. Once back in the reception I though that maybe I could kill two birds with one stone. I walked to the receptionist and scanned the desk.
"What can I help you with?" The receptionist asked.
"I need another print out of my schedule" I lied.
She swirled around on her computer chair and went to work on the pc. I scanned the desk and sin a folder marked staff.
"Last name and serial number" she asked.
"Cullen 24687"
She typed it in the computer and brought up my documents. I waited for an opportunity then as she bent down to the printer. I quickly opened the folder and luck was on my side as I swiped the address book. I quickly closed the folder and used my other hand to pocket the address book.
"There you go" she swivelled back around and handed me the print out.
I took it from her without a thank you and stalked back out to the main hallway. I screwed up the print out and shoved it in the bin as I headed back out to the courtyard. Bella and Jacob were gone the only person who was out here was the janitor that was cleaning the blood up off the floor. I turned on my heels and went back inside. I walked through the hallways and into the restroom. I washed my bloody hands in the sink causing the water to run bright red. My injuries from the rave had eased up and the bruises on my face had turned a light shade of purple. My left arm was getting better but it ached now because of the incident with Jacob and Mr Bryans dragging me around like a fucking ragdoll.
I finished and used the toilet before I retreated back out through the hallways and back out to the courtyard. I lit up a smoke as soon as I got outside and walked to the lunch shelters. I sat on the top of the table and balanced my feet on the seats. At least that fucker was in the hospital and away from me and Bella now. I had two cigarettes which helped take the stress away a little, but all I all kept seeing was Bella's face. She was so scared and I sin the hopelessness in her eyes, it was like she was in a different world all together. Not one student, guard or teacher came to her aid when she screamed. Has the town and everybody in it sunk that low that nobody even gave a fucking shit to even notice someone's cry for help.
I felt physical sick when I thought about what more could have happened if I didn't make it in time. What could have happened if I decided to speak to Jasper this morning, if I had driven slower or if I didn't get stopped at the detectors then I could have prevented even a little bit happening? Mind you if I didn't get stopped at the detectors I wouldn't have over heard the conversation then I would have just continued to walk into school and in the opposite direction to gym.
I shook my head and lit up my third smoke. The bell rung shortly after and I waited impatiently bouncing my knee up and down on the seat. It only took a slit second to see a flow of brown hair for me to drop my smoke and bolt off the table. Bella walked out the side access hugging herself, her grey sweater was gone and it had been replaced with a black long sleeved top. Without thinking about my actions I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into a hug. She didn't hesitate to return my hug so I knew she was ok with it.
"I'm so sorry Bella" I whispered in her hair.
"Don't be, it wasn't your fault" she told me.
I pulled away from her but kept my arm wrapped around her waist and I guided her to the lunch shelters.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
Great question dumb shit she was assaulted and you're asking her if she's alright. I scolded myself.
"Yeah" she whispered.
She sat on the table and I sat next to her. She looked relieved and she managed to smile in spite of today's events.
"Thank you" she smiled.
I brought my hand up to her face and gently brushed the red mark on her cheekbone with my thumb.
"Anytime Bella" I smiled back.
"So what's your master plan then" She whispered looking down then I pulled my hand away.
"Were going on a road trip"
"What now?" she asked a bit too loudly.
"No after free period"
I wanted to make sure that the teachers were in lesson before we left. So that gave us a little over two hours before school finished.
"What, you mean cut class?"
"Yeah, you never cut class before?" I smirked.
She smiled and jumped off the table.
"Well there's a first time for everything" she smiled.
"Where are you going?"
"Food" she grinned.
I shook my head and laughed, only Bella could think about food at a time like this.
"What?"
"Nothing" I laughed standing up.
We walked through the hallways and back out to the other side of the building. We walked into the cafeteria and grabbed some food before we retreated back to the courtyard. We made small talk while we ate and I lit up a smoke when I was finished. I looked at my watch and we have had a little over five minuets until the bell rang.
"Follow me" I told her throwing my smoke away.
We walked out the courtyard and through the main hallway.
"You go out first and say that your fathers sent you home, I'll wait back and join you in the parking lot" I told her.
"Ok, what you going to say?"
"I'll think of something"
I hung back by the main entrance and waited a few minutes before I took off out the entrance.
"Where are you going?" The guard stopped me.
"I have to report to my parole office" I lied.
"Last name and serial number"
"Cullen 24687"
He ran my name through the scanning device around his neck.
"Cullen, Edward released on parole 21-01. Proceed" he said signalling me through the detectors.
I walked through the detectors and down the steps. Bella was waiting for me by the side of her car as I jogged through the parking lot.
"Climb on" I said mounting my bike.
"What?" she asked with her mouth hanging open.
"Don't worry I'm a good driver" I smirked.
She stood there for a second then opened her car door. She threw her bag inside and pulled out a black jacket from the black seat. She put it on and flicked her hair out from the back. She climbed on the back and wrapped her hands around my waist.
"Shouldn't we be wearing helmets or something?"
I couldn't help the laugh that exploded out of me.
"Only you Bella, only you" I smirked driving off.
I pulled out of the parking lot and took off down the street.
"Reach down the back of my pants" I asked.
"What?"
"Come on live dangerously" I teased her.
I felt her hand slip into my back pocket as I carefully swerved on the road.
"The faculty address book, Edward where did you get this?"
"I took it from reception, look up the address of Mr Harding" I told her.
I waited a few seconds for her to speak.
"Hey this is really weird"
"What?"
"Bryans and Harding share the same address"
Ok so, maybe a gay couple came to mind nothing really weird about that.
"Really"
"Yeah, hey guess what? Mr. Conner's lives there too"
Ok so that was even weirder, and right now I was actually a bit scared as to what we might find there. Either the teachers were on a very low salary and they couldn't afford their own places or they were like some sort of gangbanging threesome.
"What's the address?"
"Quileute Heights, La Push. Apartment 3D" she informed me.
I throttled the bike up and took off up the 101 then I turned onto the 110 La Push road.
I did 70mph up the long winding road and smiled as Bella nestled her head in-between my shoulder blades and gripped my waist tighter. It felt nice her being this close to me.
I slowed down about ten minutes later and dropped the speed to 50 then eventually 40 because she gripped me that tight my sides started to hurt. She relaxed a little so I didn't go above 40 for her sake. It took me over an hour to reach La Push because I had gone so slowly. Now we had to find Quileute Heights.
I have never been to La Push or in the Reservations before so I didn't no what to expect. I thought this place would be just as worse as Fork, a place where the burnouts and riff raff's lived, but as I pulled up near the first beach it was actually quite nice.
"Why isn't there any sign posts?" Bella asked.
"Good question" I grunted.
I turned left off the main road and continued driving around for another fourty five minuets. If we spent any more time looking then it would have been pointless because school finished in fifteen minutes so I hoped that the teachers followed the speed limits.
"There" Bella pointed.
She pointed to a block of apartments that were just peeking through the top of the trees on a hill.
"Nice find" I smirked.
I turned off up a dirt road and continued up until the road turned into turf. We pasted a street sign that told us that we were in the right place. We continued up the hill then we came into an opening. There were a few cars here so people must have occupied the apartments. I parked up and Bella and I both climbed off.
There were two huge apartment blocks covered in white bricks. There were three levels on either side with stairs that led up to the balconies.
"Which block is it?" I asked.
Bella pulled out the address book again and scanned through the pages.
"It doesn't say, it just says apartment 3D"
"Alright so we know it's on the 3rd floor apartment D so you check that block and ill check this block"
"Alright" she said walking off.
"Bella" I called and she turned around.
"Be careful"
She nodded and continued up the stairs of the other block as I took off up the stairs to this block. I walked up to the third floor and followed it around to the last apartment. I looked through the window but all I could see was three plastic chairs in the living room. It looked like nobody even lived here so I figured that the apartment I had was wrong. I retreated back around and sin Bella over the other side talking to a woman at a door. I couldn't make out there conversation but Bella soon smiled and left. She walked down the stairs and made her way acorss the grass then up the stairs on this side.
"What was that about?" I asked when she was halfway up the stairs.
"That was the occupant in apartment 3D. I had to pretend I knocked the wrong door" she half laughed "Any luck this side?"
"I don't know it looks like nobody even lives here" I told her.
We walked around the balcony to the last door again. She peered through the window as I tried the door handle. No surprise it was locked.
"Wait here" I told her walking around to the other side of the balcony.
I came to a halt by a small narrow flap window that was slightly open. I squeezed my hand in and unclasped the safety catch letting the window extend outwards.
"Bella" I called in a low voice.
She quickly walked over as I scanned the floor for something to use. I walked around and finally found a piece of broken wood.
"Hold this" I said.
She held the window upwards as I jumped up and climbed in head first. I slid onto the floor then stood back up.
"Pass me the wood?"
The piece of wood came swirling through the air and I grabbed it. I wedge it in the corner of the window so it permanently stayed open.
"Can you reach?"
"Yeah" She shouted.
She jumped and grabbed the windowsill. I grabbed her arms and gently pulled her through. She slid down the side of my body and planted her feet on the ground.
"Thanks"
I nodded and let her go.
"Alright, Eric's necklace was a gold chain and it had a pendent on it" I informed her.
"Well I hope we can find amongst all this clutter" she sarcastically laughed looking around.
I followed her gaze and if she hadn't pointed it out then I would have. We were in a living room but there was nothing in here except three plastic chairs. We both gave each other the same confusing looks and took off into the kitchen. Bella opened the fridge as I opened the cupboards. Cans of WD40 and other metal cans were stacked up high.
"Talk about your lean cuisine" Bella said.
I closed the cupboards and looked into the fridge. There were metal gas canisters of some sort and they had serial numbers on. I shook my head and continued back out to the living room. Bella took off up the hallway and disappeared into a room. I took the other room and was greeted by nothing again. What the fuck man didn't these teachers sleep, eat or socialize? What the fuck was going on? Did we have the wrong address?
"I think this is Ms Conner's room" Bella shouted.
I followed her voice and walked into a bedroom which was also empty except for a few cardboard boxes that Bella was rummaging through.
"Unless Harding and Bryans were weirder than you thought?" she said holding up a lacy bra.
I smirked and scanned the room again.
"This is really weird, I mean women don't have just one lacy bra they have panties to match" She informed me and blushed.
"Oh, yeah" I smirked crossing my arms.
"Well yeah, they have stuff, lots of personal stuff" she blushed even more.
"Were talking about a chemistry teacher here"
"Yeah well, she's still a woman"
I smirked and walked out the room. I continued down the hallway and scanned the contents of another room. There was a plastic table with piles of paperwork on it. Bella followed me in the room and we both rummaged through the paperwork until I found what I was looking for.
"Got cha" I said holding up the chain.
It was soaked in blood and it only took one glace to see the words Janette engraved on to know that it was Eric's.
"His mom gave this to him, he would never give it up" I said holding it out in front of her.
She shook her head and started to walk out.
"I can't, I don't understand any of it"
I put the chain into my pocket and walked out.
"Are you alright?" I asked as she hugged herself.
"Yeah, it's just" she paused and ran her fingers through her hair and exhaled.
"What?"
"It's just that, it was easier to believe it when you first told me because there was a possibility that it wasn't true, but now I've sin that then it must be true, why else would Harding's even have it for?"
I could see that she was getting upset about the whole thing.
"Bella, it's alright"
"How is it alright?" she snapped "There killing people and if's thats true then my farther must know, how can he just sit there and let it happen"
I could see that she was on the verge of tears.
"Come here" I said.
I pulled her into a hug and wrapped my arms around her waist. Her arms snaked around my neck and I pulled her close so that her feet were almost tiptoeing from the floor. The smell of strawberries swirled up my nose as my face dropped just by the top of her ear. I held her for ages and I shivered as her fingers started to drawn circles around the back of my neck. They started to creep up to the back of my hair and she started pulling at it. I pulled away from her slightly but I held my arms locked in pace.
Her eyes were full of wonder and curiosity and I could have only guessed that mine were as well. My stomach was in knots and eclectic volts shot through my veins as I leant my head down to her face. My bottom lip almost brushed past hers when a sudden car horn sent both of us spinning around to the front door.
"What the hell?" Bella finally spoke after a moment of silence.
I looked at my watch and it had only been twenty minutes since school finished. I ran back into the kitchen and looked out the window.
"Fuck!" I shouted.
All three teachers were in the parking lot. Ms Conner's was the last one out the car. They must have driven at least 100mph to get here that quick.
"Time to go!" I ordered.
I ran back through the kitchen and without thinking I lifted Bella up to the window.
"Go!" I ordered.
She slid out then I heard a loud thud. I didn't waste any time, I literally ran up the wall and drove out the window head first. Bella was already back on her feet and she held her arm out for me. I leaned on her and she pulled me through.
"Follow me!" I whispered taking her hand.
I lead her across the balcony and hugged the wall and peered out. Bryans and Harding were nearly at the door. Harding's tumbled with the keys then eventually they entered closing the door behind them. I took the opportunity and ducked with her below the window and began to run. Once past the door we both stood up and I ran with her to the end of the balcony.
"Where the hell was Ms. Conner's?" Bella suddenly asked as we turned the corner.
I stopped dead in my track and pulled Bella to my side.
"I'm right here sweetheart" Ms Conner's smiled right in front of us. "Going somewhere?"
"Get out the way bitch!" I growled.
She grabbed Bella arm and pulled her towards her. She yelped and let go of my hand. I bared my teeth and slammed into Conner's. It felt like I had just run right into a brick wall. That manoeuvre should have sent her flying but she just stumbled backwards. It worked to the extent that she dropped Bella's arm.
"Run!" I shouted to her.
She paused for a moment then started running. Ms Conner's grabbed me by the throat and pinned me up against the wall. Her grip was that tight I couldn't breath. She started lifting her arm up and my feet lifted off the floor as I slid up the wall.
"What the fuck are you" I spat out through little breaths.
Her eyelids fluttered fast then returned to normal. The lack of oxygen started to take affect and my eyes started to slowly close.
"Get off him!" I heard Bella shout.
My eyes snapped back open then Bella came into view. She jumped on Ms Conner's back and snaked her hands around her face and neck. Conner's grip became looser then eventually she let go causing me to fall to the ground. I coughed and tried to get my breath back. Bella landed next to me on the floor with a loud thud so I could have only guessed that she lost her grip. I knew that I was no match with Conner's, so I knew I would have even stood a chance against all three of them. It was time to get the fuck out of here and fast!
I grabbed Bella's hand and pulled her off the floor with myself. I ran with her along the balcony and down the stairs. I looked back up as I descended the stairs and Conner's had gone.
"I told you to run" I scolded her.
"I wasn't going to leave you" she snapped back.
I ran through the parking lot and climbed on my bike. All three teachers came into view again on the third floor. Harding and Conner's ran down the stairs as Mr Bryans hopped over the railing and freefell the three stories then landed on his feet.
"What the..."
"Go, go ,go !" Bella Interrupted me.
I revved the bike up and took off down the road. I heard the sounds of a car engine close behind us as I hit the main road.