"Where are we heading?" Bella asked leaning against the bike as I filled up the tank. I didn't plan out where we were heading, we'd turn and Bella would guide us in the right direction out of the state but we didn't think about any stops.
"I'm not sure. I'll drive for as long as I can. Just tell me when you want to pull over" I replied and finished up filling the gas. We hopped back onto the bike and drove into the freeway. Bella was squeezing my waist tightly and hummed to her iPod. I chuckled to myself and looked out onto the freeway in front of me. I felt the freedom the road gave me and that I had no one to answer to or pull over and meet. I was it just Bella and I together. We were in this together.
When I get Bella's head get heavy on my shoulder I knew it was time to pull over. We've been driving for most of the night and I'm not surprised she fell asleep. I pulled over into a Marriot Hotel and I saw on the front the location and even though we weren't out of the state we were pretty close.
In our room there were two beds for which I could tell Bella was thankful for much to my dismay. We were handed our room keys and we went up the elevator to set up fort. The room wasn't bad, and it wasn't too expensive.
"I'm going to take a shower real quick" Bella informed and walked into the bathroom. I sighed and leaned against the bed to watch TV. I settled for MTV's Punk'D and watched Snooki get punked by Hayden Panettiere. My show was disturbed when my phone rang and I picked it up without looking.
"What?" I asked. I heard silence then a throat clearing.
"Is this Edward Cullen?" A man asked. I sat up a little higher and stared at the bedspread interested in this call.
"Yes, who is this?" I asked. The guy sighed on the other line and stayed quiet.
"It's Caius. I arrived here in Forks and I can see your missing. Where are you?" He demanded and I snorted. I'm all the way across the state old man, good luck catching up to me.
"Hey it's nice to meet you too Caidick." I said giving him a nickname, "I'm in Washington don't worry but I'm afraid I'm not coming home so good luck finding me" I said with a smile. I heard his hiss from the other line.
"I'm tracking this phone right now Edward" He said threateningly and hung up. Oh well, I can always leave it here. Lead him off a little bit.
"The showers free" Bella said in her black sweat yoga pants.
"Yeah I'll take one in a little while. Caius called me and is tracking my phone so we better move when we wake up" I said and she sat on my bed across from me Indian style.
"Edward, do you mind if I ask you something?" She asked playing with the hem of her pants. I nodded and she bit her lip, something I've noticed she's done when she's nervous.
"I want the truth. I came here with you and I don't like or want to be lied to" She said bluntly and I nodded. I agreed. I knew she wouldn't tell anyone because honestly, who was there to tell? I trusted her.
"What do you want to know?" I asked. She nibbled on her lip.
"Everything, from the very beginning" She answered.
"My real name is Anthony Carlisle Edward Masen and when I was 11 my parents were stolen from me and held hostage. My dad, Carlisle Masen, has something Dove wants. Dove is the one that was sending me letters. I guess I had a little stalker in Forks. Dove was sending me pictures of me in Forks and a lot of them were recent, very recent. I know this because in the letter Dove sent me it had a picture of my parents where ever they were. They held two pictures of me at school with Jasper and Emmett in front of my locker, and that scared the shit out of me. The second picture was from my last birthday with them; I turned 11. I guess they were comparing me from the time I was with them to today" I said playing with the bed spread. Bella had her elbow on my knee and her hand supporting her head with her face mixed with different emotions.
"The reason my family was taken from me was because my father supposedly had something another guy wanted. I don't know what he has but I know its really important and the guy tried to take my dad out permanently and my mom. That's why I was placed into Witness Protection Program, WPP for short. Carmen and Eleazar weren't my parents or godparents or whatever everyone likes to call them, they were my agents and legal guardians. Aro, Demetri, and Felix they aren't my uncles they're agents hired to protect me when Carmen and Eleazar left to go to WPP headquarters and never made it nor were ever found. As of right now, they're missing and they're cover is that they're in Brazil visiting Carmen's mom. Bella we have to go to Chicago and find whatever leads we possibly can so we can set things right. I don't care about getting tracked or followed, it helps us to where we want to go and right now Chicago and Maine are all we have; we need to go" I said. She looked up and her face was sad. Her small hand reached out and palmed my cheek softly rubbing the stubbly edge with a sad smile.
"I like how brave you are heading into this and just know that I'll be by your side no matter what. Now go take your shower, your all grimy" She smiled and released my cheek. It burned from her touch and I floated happily to the bathroom.
~*My Teenage Delinquent*~
"After breakfast we'll take on the road again and get out of the state. We'll pull over for lunch around noon and hopefully be on schedule or ahead" I said to Bella after we ordered our breakfast at a small diner. She smiled at me and drank her juice.
"I'm excited. For once I feel free and able to do what I want and not what everyone expects the chief's daughter to do. Chicago will be the best adventure" She giggled and ate her French toast. She was so cute the way she talked about being free from Forks and our adventures.
"It'll be the best adventure yet" I grinned. Her eyes widened and her head nodded in excited. She was too damn cute for her own good.
We were back on the road earlier than we expected and it was good for the ride along. Bella had her iPod ear bud in each of our ears and rocking out to Led Zeppelin. The drove was around six hours with two pit stops when Bella announced she was hungry. I was starting to feel the hunger too so we waited to arrive in the next town and find a small restaurant or diner.
"Edward look! There's a small Harley Davidson themed diner we should so go there" Bella shouted from behind me. I laughed and the memories from the same motorcycle themed diner in Port Angeles flooded my mind and I began to miss Emmett. I regret not asking him to tell me from when I began to think of going to Chicago and Maine and finding my parents from the small leads I'll find.
"That seems like a nice little bite to eat" I said and pulled up to the diner to park. We walked inside and ordered waters and skimmed the menu.
"This place is so cool" Bella breathed and looked around. It was a guy's dream diner and there was Guns 'N' Roses playing loudly.
"There's another one like this in Port Angeles. I went there all the time with Emmett and Jasper." I smiled and sighed. Bella put her hand on mine and leaned forward.
"I'm sorry. You probably miss them a lot" She said. I nodded looked to her.
"I do. Emmett was my best friend, he was like my brother of course I miss him." I said. She smiled sadly. She removed her hand right as the waiter walked up in jeans and a black tight shirt. He looked like a biker and blended in perfectly. Bella ordered a burger and I did too. Right after the waiter left Bella's phone rang and I noticed when she answered it she didn't check the caller ID. Big mistake on her part.
"Hello?" She asked cheerfully. Her expression dropped and I could hear yelling on the other end.
Oh shits going down with the chief.
"Hi Daddy" Bella said and she started bouncing her leg anxiously. She turned her phone onto speaker phone and she lowered the volume so she wouldn't disturb the other people in the restaurant.
"Isabelle Marie Swan! Where the fuck are you?" Charlie fumed and Bella chuckled nervously.
"I'm at Rosalie's with Alice. We're listening to music and hanging out" She said trying to sound convincing.
"Bullshit, Isabella, I called Cynthia Brandon and asked her if she was with you at Rose's and she said she wasn't even at Rose's. I called Lillian Hale to ask if you were there and she said Rose wasn't even home either. Now I'm going to as one more time. Where are you?" He asked seething. Bella took big gulps of her water.
"Daddy, I'm with Edward. In Idaho" She said truthfully. We were in the diner right around the border between Idaho and Washington. Hopefully we'd be in the middle of the Idaho by tomorrow. Riding on a bike is way better than a regular car because it is fan-fucking-tastic be able to drive faster than all the other cars.
"You are where?" Charlie boomed. I knew I shouldn't have taken her here.
"In Idaho with Edward" Bella said boldly. I almost dropped my fork.
"Like hell you are! Where exactly are you? I'm coming to get you and when Edward gets back you can tell him to get his shit and leave! I will not put up with this. I'm booking the next flight to Idaho now tell me where you are" He growled. Bella drained her water and leaned back in her chair glaring at her phone.
"No" She said lowly. I froze.
"No?" Charlie asked very quietly. I saw Bella start to get a slight tremor but she took some deep breaths to calm that.
"No Dad I'm not telling you where I am. For once in my life I feel free and have the option to do what I want to do and not do what has been expected of me. No more listening to what I should be doing and more doing what I do because it's convenient and easy. For once I'm doing something for me and what makes me happy. I'm out of that goddamned town and I'm free to live my life how I choose. I chose to come here with Edward, I chose to run away. Dad I know I scared you without leaving a note or anything but if you love me and want what's best for me than you would let me go. Let me travel and experience life. If I get unhappy and want to come home I'll book the next flight out to Port Angeles and you can take me home to yell at me all you want but right now I'm happy. I'm 100 percent happy." She said with her voice cracking.
"As for money, I have my own bank account and ATM card and I have enough to get me through. If something happens Edward told me he would lend me some money from him. But other than that, we're very good on money. Now I'm going to hang up and when your done being an asshole and yelling at me call me. But until then, think about what I've said. I really do want this Daddy, and I love you. A lot. I just need my space away from a town where I feel claustrophobic. I need to be my own person and I guess find myself and see where I fit best, because you know what? Forks isn't it. I love you Daddy and I'll check in. Call me soon" she finished and hung up before going back to her food. I stared at her and wondered how after all she said she could go back to what she was doing. She wasn't moping, or not eating, she was being her same old self.
"Bella? You okay?" I asked. She looked up and nodded.
"I'm okay. You know that wasn't the first time he's heard that. My mother is a free spirit too. When she left Forks with me as a three year old, he heard the same thing from her. I'm a lot like her. After a while in Forks it becomes a lot. I like it in Forks I grew up with those kids as a child, and then I grew up with them more in the summer before junior year. But by the time senior year came the whole Forks, small town, cops daughter act got really old. You know I was expected to be safe and responsible because I as a cop's daughter and be this flawless teenager. I was expected to get good grades and be popular, and you know just be Bella Swan, Chief Swan's daughter and the golden student with all AP classes and you know just be the person everyone expected me to be. I settled for everything. This is the first time I'm actually doing something for me. And I have you thank for that, so thank you" She said softly and put her small warm hand on top of mine. I stared at it. I liked it. It scared me.
"It was no problem" I chuckled and she smiled before finishing the rest of her juice. Just for kicks, I turned her hand over in mine and held it a moment before I let go. It was nice and warm, and soft. It looked tiny compared my huge hand but it looked like it belonged there. It felt like it belonged there.
"We should get moving if we're going to get to Chicago on time" Bella smiled putting a few bills in the check folder the waitress left. She stood up, still holding my hand, and leading me out of the small diner without letting go.
"I'm super excited!" Bella squealed putting the helmet on and handing me mine.
"Me too" I smiled and hopped on the back. I hopped on the bike revving it up and Bella slid in behind me gripping my waist tightly and holding on for dear life when I sped off. We were on the road for a good twenty minutes before Bella had me pull over at the nearest exit. Why I didn't know yet, but she sounded pretty frantic. We got off at the next exit and she had me pull into a parking lot where she commanded I drive slowly.
"Edward I think we're being followed" She whispered into my ear.
"Who?" I asked harshly. She nodded behind her.
"Blue Lexus" She said and I remember seeing that when we left the diner.
"What the fuck do they want?" I asked and started to exit the parking lot. Bella nudged me telling me they were still following me. I finally had enough of this and I harshly stopped the bike at a slant. Bella nearly fell over and took me with her when I did. The Lexus came to a slow halt. We got off the bike and I held Bella behind me with my arms.
"Well, it looks like you finally caught on" The man smirked walking out of the car.
"What the fuck do you want?" I hissed at him. Bella cowered into me and I held her tighter.
"Look I'm not the bad guy I swear. I've known you since you were a little tyke, do you remember me?" He asked and I glared at him.
"No" I growled. He chuckled and leaned against his car.
"You can trust me, don't worry. I've been watching you since I heard James and his crew sent you some pretty bad stuff. I'm Riley Biers I was a close friend of your dad's. I promise you I'm not the bad guy I hate James and if you follow me I'll explain what the hell happened." He said calmly. I didn't move.
"Okay Anthony I know this is very fishy I understand that but you have to trust me," Riley said before moving closer.
"It damn right does. How am I supposed to-" I started but a bullet flew right next to me paralyzing me. Bella screamed and Riley shot at the men in their cars.
"Duck!" He yelled at us and I took Bella and brought her around Rileys car. We crouched down and I put her against my chest shediling her from any possible bullets. I looked in the car mirrors. Riley was behind my bike and there were two men behind their car. One of them looked around the car and Riley shot him straight in the head. He fell straight on the ground with a puddle of blood around him. The other man growled as he came around the car and came charging at Riley. The man was stupid for standing up and Riley came around the bike and shot at him. The man shifted away from the bullet and attacked Riley. He pushed him to the ground and Riley lifted his knee and hit him in the elbow, causing the man to drop his gun. In turn, the man placed his knee on Riley's arm and Riley leaned up and knocked his forehead to man's forehead that was in his face. The man got knocked back and Riley took his gun and shot the man's shoulder. They guy yelled in pain and Riley knocked him flat on the ground before shooting him in the chest a few times. The two men lay there dead and I felt my self freeze . My eyes widened as I saw Riley cleaning off his gun with no flinch or have any reaction to what he had done.
Bella sensing the end of the shooting lifted her head from my chest and looked around. She saw the two dead bodies and gave a shrill cry. I winced and Riley looked over to us.
"Bella it's okay, they can't hurt you anymore" Riley assured as he put his gun away.
"He just killed two men. He shot them and killed them." Bella stammered breathing in shaky breaths form her crying. I brought her to my chest again and she soaked my shirt with her tears as I held her close. I surprisingly wasn't as effected as I thought. Of course I was scared out of my mind, but it didn't effect me as harshly as it did Bella. The shock held me stable and still at the moment.
"I'm sorry you had to see that, but those two were from James's crew sent to take you both to him where I know he wouldn't be very pleasant to you. It's my job to keep you guys safe." He said tucking his gun in his belt.
"Look what you did dickwad, you scared her" I yelled at Riley. Bella was shaking in my arms and had a death grip on me.
"As I said, I'm sorry but if you follow me I can answer all your questions" He said. I didn't want to follow him, but he had answers which I needed desperately.
"Okay I'll follow you" I said sourly. He nodded and went back to his car as I turned Bella in my arms.
"Are you okay?" I asked her softly and brushed her hair out of her face. She took a shaky breath and nodded.
"I'll be fine" She said shakily. I wiped the tears that kept coming out of her red eyes and cradled her cheeks in my hands. She looked so scared, so helpless. It was my fault. I shouldn't have let her come with me through this, but I was selfish and didn't want to do this on my own and if the girl I had potentially liked more than friends could come than who was I to deny her. But look where that got us.
"I promise Edward, I'll be fine. You need to stop worrying about me, I'm telling you I'll be okay" She said softly putting her hand on top of mine and leaned her face into it. I smiled at her and kissed her forehead and she still hugged me tightly.
"Come on, we better go" I said to her and she nodded and we got onto the bike and followed Riley back onto the freeway to get some answers.
I fucking love writing. I fucking hate life interruptions that keep me from writing. I fucking love getting this chapter to you.
XOXO Lizzy