Chapter Thirty One
Bella
I ran for the door hoping to get to Em or Rose before they left but the truck had already gone. Alice was getting in her little sports car and waved. "Would you like a lift home Bella?" I shook my head, "No thanks Alice" I turned away. Her car reversed quickly cutting off my path to the truck, "Bella please don't act all huffy. What's done is done, so let's try to be civilized shall we? I'm going to the house if you want a lift. If I wanted to hurt you I'd hardly have bothered telling you where to look for Jazz now would I?" I turned on her, leaning in the car to get right in her face, "Alice, I don't know what you'd do. All I know is that I don't trust you and I certainly don't like you. I think you are a malicious manipulating bitch. So get your car out of my way before I kick the door panel in". Her eyes were wide with shock at my words, then she smiled again, "Well, well, little Bella Swan has teeth. Good, you'll need them if you tie yourself to Jasper. I like a girl with spunk. Sure you won't accept a lift?" I stepped back ready to make good on my threat and she pushed her sunglasses down and drove slowly out of the car park with a cheery wave.
I couldn't believe her, it was as if the last year hadn't happened, as if we were friends. But I had to believe what she'd told me, it was our only clue. I raced home as fast as my poor old truck could go and grabbed the phone jabbing the numbers too fast and having to start over. Emmett answered and I gabbled what Alice had told me. He called Rose and we arranged to leave graduation evening. They'd get Carlisle to ring Charlie with the slight change in plans and I started packing immediately.
The last couple of days went too slowly and Jess and Angie gave up trying to get any sense out of me. I just mumbled, watching the hours crawl by. On Friday I picked up my cap and gown before calling in the dry cleaners to pick up Charlie's suit. He was as proud as punch and insisted on taking me to dinner after the ceremony. I struggled to eat something, glad that he was on duty later. Promising to ring him regularly I said goodbye and went upstairs to get my bag. I watched anxiously until Emmett rolled up, and raced out flinging myself in the cab. "Whoa Bells we'll get there in time. Calm down, we've got a long drive". Rose smiled, "I've packed some supplies for you in the cooler. I wasn't sure what you liked so its pot luck I'm afraid". I smiled my thanks but I was so strung up I couldn't speak, let alone eat. After the first few hours on the road Em changed places with Rose and pulled me into a hug. "Bells we've got a long way to go and you need to be rested if you're going to be any use so try to calm down". He kept his arm around me and chatted on and on until I started to nod. I was so tired that I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer and I realized that's why they had swapped over. It was like having a big brother and sister looking out for me.
Rose
I looked over and saw Bella, eyes closed and snoring softly, her head on Em's shoulder. I smiled, "Looks like you worked your magic". He chuckled quietly "Yeah, lets just hope she can work some magic of her own when we find him. We will find him won't we Rose?" I shrugged, "We'll give it our best shot Em. Peter's going to come to the caverns with us. He was going to see of he could find Jazz alone but Char talked him out of it in case he spooked Jazz into moving early. We're depending on Alice's word anyway so how lucky we'll be I don't know, but I do know she'll do all she can" I nodded at Bella. "That girl is as committed to Jazz as he is to her. We just need to get the two of them together. If we can, then we stand a good chance". I looked back at the road. It was dark now but that made no difference to me.
I hoped Bella would stay asleep for a few hours cos she looked like shit. Em was happy sitting there with her, he made a great big brother and had a heart of gold, once you got past his brash exterior. I was proud of my man, sitting with a human so close and not a twinge of thirst showing. I knew we'd have to feed before we got to Peter's especially with her so close to us but we'd manage as long as we could. After all lives depended on it.
Bella
When I woke up I was stiff but there was a huge arm around my shoulder and I realized Em had been cuddling me. I sat up with thanks and saw it was getting light. "How far?" I asked. "Another eighteen hours at least but Em and I need to hunt, so we're going to park up somewhere you can eat and freshen up, that way it wont take so long. OK?" I knew she was right and I needed a comfort break desperately. It was with a sigh of relief that we parked up and I went into the restaurant. They'd promised not to be long so I washed up and cleaned my teeth before ordering breakfast. As we were getting closer I felt a little better and managed to eat most of my meal. As I went to pay I saw Rose and Em coming back and they waved. When I got back in the truck their eyes were a soft gold again. "Good hunting?" I asked and Em laughed loudly, "Only our Bells would ask a vampire if he'd had a good hunt! Yeah, deer mainly but it will do for now. At least you don't smell quite as tasty as you did". Rose smacked his arm but I leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Thanks brother". He beamed, "Yeah Little Sis". Rose smiled, "Now Little Sis do you have a plan?" she asked. I shook my head, "I'm going to go on instinct". "Works for me" said Em nodding. Rose opened her mouth to answer when her phone went off.
She flipped it open "Yes Alice" she said sounding bored. There was a sound of fast talking and then Rose flipped it shut with a curse. "What?" I asked panicking. "Its Alice. She's seen Jazz and he's changing his mind. He'll be going by this evening. I'm not sure we'll make it Bella but we'll give it our best shot". Em thumped the steering wheel in frustration. "We'll do it Bella if I have to pick the fucking truck up and carry it". He looked at Rose and then at me. "Bella, I've got a suggestion for you. We could run cross-country quicker but it means you'd have to hitch a ride on my back, or Rose's if you prefer". "How much quicker?" I asked anxiously. Rose looked at the map, maybe four or five hours, cross-country". "Then Go Go" I shouted.
Em drove onto the side of the highway and parked up. "I'll ring Carlisle to get it picked up later. Right Bells up you get". He crouched for me to climb on his back. "Hold on tight girl. You might want to shut your eyes too. I'll be going fast". I closed my eyes. "Go Em please go" The sensation was like being on a motorbike, the wind whipped my hair back and I clutched Em's neck for all I was worth. Luckily he didn't need to breath, I don't think I'd crushed his windpipe but I seriously dented it. We stopped a few times for me to get a drink or something to eat and a rest stop in the nearest trees. Rose carried my bag on her shoulders but they had no luggage. I wondered but I didn't ask, breathing was hard enough when the air was moving past my mouth and nose so quickly.