Chapter Nineteen

Bella

Alice didn't even bother taking me back to school, once I finished throwing up she drove me home.

"Bella just breath. Only a few more hours and he'll be here"

I nodded, "OK Alice I'll try but its going to be a long few hours."

"Can I make a suggestion Bella?"

"What?"

"I suggest you write a letter for Charlie telling him what you are doing and pack up your belongings because you wont have much time to make your escape."

"What do you see Alice?"

"Jasper will get here just after Charlie leaves for his shift. You need to leave straight away and disappear for a while because he's going to be really pissed Bella. You could avoid it all by staying here of course"

I glared, "Alice"

"OK Bella I was just giving you your options."

"You already said I didn't have any options. I want to be with Jasper. I have to be with him Alice, I can't live like this any longer, it's just too painful."

She dropped me off with a "Good luck Bella."

I went straight upstairs and picked up my flight bag. I didn't have much I wanted to take with me but a few belongings. I emptied my drawers and added my favorite books and CD's. As I was checking under the bed there was a loud knock at the front door. I groaned looking out the window and seeing Jake's truck parked at the kerb. I ran downstairs and opened the door.

"What are you doing here Jake? Why aren't you at school?"

"I could ask you the same thing. I saw your truck parked up and thought I'd check up on you. Are you OK?"

I nodded, "I was sick so I came home"

"Can I do anything for you? You look flushed Bella."

"I'm feeling sick Jake, I have an excuse for looking flushed"

"Oh yeah sure. I just wondered if you wanted to go out again at the weekend?"

"Sure Jake but I'm feeling sick again"

"Can I do anything for you?"

"No Jake I just want to go to bed".

He went and I closed the door with a sigh of relief. I went back upstairs and sat to write Charlie a letter. It was difficult but I tried to explain what I was doing as best I could. It wasn't good enough but it was the best I could do. As I finished it I heard the cell phone buzz. I grabbed it and looked at the number, it was him, "Jasper?"

He laughed, "Yeah its me darlin' I was just checking that you haven't changed your mind only I'm coming into Washington State soon. My friends are pretty pissed that I left without an explanation so you might have some explaining to do."

I felt the pain in my chest ease as I heard his voice and I knew I'd made the right decision.

"You keep coming Major. I'm happy to explain everything later."

He laughed again. "See you soon. Where do you want me to wait for you?"

"You better come to my room after dark tomorrow night"

"OK I'll be there. Love you Bella"

"Love you too Jasper".

When he disconnected the pain came back but I could work through it. I made dinner for Charlie although I couldn't eat anything myself. Charlie understood when I told him I'd been sick all day. When he looked in on me when he went to bed I feigned sleep. I felt bad about what I was going to do but I had to be with Jasper. Alice was right, being without him caused me physical pain. It was as if he were a part of my body and without it my body didn't work right. I couldn't wait to see him again, to be out of pain at last. I rang him in the middle of the night after trying to sleep for a few hours. He answered straight away,

"Hello darlin' you OK?"

"No" I said, almost crying again.

"What's the matter?" he sounded concerned.

"I miss you and it hurts".

"Yeah, I know what you mean, it's a bitch. I'll be with you soon. I miss you too".

There was a long silence but I felt better because he was there in a way.

"Jasper can I keep the phone on? I can't sleep but I feel better knowing you are at the other end".

"Sure Bella. Its nice knowing you're there too. I'll tell you what I've been doing, that's sure to send you to sleep".

Listening to his voice, deep but so sexy, lulled me to sleep in the middle of a description of putting the roof on the new house with his friend Peter. When I woke up the sun was shining through my window so I knew Edward and the rest of the Cullens wouldn't be at school. It was then I realized the phone was still connected.

"Have you been there all night?" I asked.

"Yeah. Just in case you woke up".

"Did I talk in my sleep?" I asked suddenly hoping I hadn't embarrassed myself.

"Only my name. That was nice to hear".

"Where are you now?"

"Only a few miles out. I'll stop to hunt before I get to Forks. What time do you want me to come over?"

"I'm not going to school I've been sick so I have an excuse. Could you get here as soon as Charlie leaves for work?"

There was a pause, "If I don't stop to hunt I can be with you in about three hours".

"Then don't stop Jasper. Please".

"I hear you darlin', see you soon". I heard the engine of his truck rev as he disconnected. He was speeding towards me and he'd be here soon.

Charlie looked in on me. "You OK? Do you want me to get the Dr?"

"No I'll be OK just a stomach bug. Love you Dad".

He looked at me a little oddly, I hardly ever said that to him.

"Love you too Bells. I'm going to Billy's from work, fishing. You want to meet me there?"

I shook my head "Think I'll just rest".

"OK, see you".

Things just got better Charlie wouldn't know I was missing probably until tomorrow morning, giving us a good head start. Once he'd gone I got up and showered before cooking myself a meal. I wasn't sure how long it would be before I got to eat again. I packed some sandwiches and sodas and then started the wait. I sat by the window looking out every few minutes. After an hour I couldn't wait any longer so I rang him.

"Bella you OK?"

"Yes, just waiting for you. How long?"

He laughed and the pain in my chest eased, in fact it continued to ease.

"You're close" I said suddenly.

"Why do you say that?"

"I just know. I can feel it".

"How do you feel?"

"The pain has almost gone".

"That could be because I'm closer than you thought".