Chapter Eighteen

Bella

I never saw Charlotte although I assumed she was somewhere watching me, I thought she might introduce herself at some point during the day but there was no sign of her and I stopped looking. There had been a number of looks today when my friends noticed Jaspers absence but no one said anything. At lunch I understood why, when Angie spoke to me,

"I told everyone you two had a row at the beach because he had to leave, I thought it would stop the gossip"

"Thanks Angie now everyone just feels sorry for me"

"Well I tried, what did happen anyway?"

"Nothing really, he did have to go away and I guess I was a bit of fun for his last few days."

"It looked like more than fun to me. He seemed really keen on you"

"Yeah, so keen he couldn't wait to get away Angie. Lets not talk about it please."

She smiled and touched my arm

"Sure Bella, sorry."

I was really glad when the day was over and I could get away from the pitying looks and Alice's attempts to corner me. I walked to my truck and saw two figures, Peter and Charlotte, waiting. He held out his hand to detain me,

"Bella, this is Charlotte, she's your new protector"

I looked at her angrily,

"I don't need protection but thanks anyway"

She smiled,

"I know I'm not your first choice but I am quite capable"

"Good for you. Just report back that I don't need a guardian angel after all. If the bogey man comes for me I guess I'll deal with him myself"

"Why so hostile Bella?"

"I just hate being passed around like a parcel"

"I'm sorry you feel that way but you wont be passed any more. I'll be with you as long as it takes"

"What if I don't want you around?"

"I can be invisible if you prefer, but I thought it might be nice if we could become friends"

"Yeah well, I have enough friends thanks. I have to get home and cook dinner"

I got in my truck and slammed the doors aware that the two if them were staring at me, but I didn't care.

I'd decided that if the whole story were true then there was little I could do but wait and watch. If my real father wanted me so badly then he could have me. I was tired of all the games, Renee had played them for years while he killed her slowly. I'd like the opportunity to tell him what I thought, though I didn't imagine it would make any difference, she was beyond his reach now. As I drove home I could feel the rage building in me and I couldn't do anything to stop it. How dare they tell me all this and then push me from pillar to post, I was beginning to think they didn't care much for any of us. Stopping this Volturi was just a way to make their own lives easier after all.

Up in my room I threw my bag on the bed and sat in the chair by the window looking out at the trees. Why was I so angry? These people were supposed to be helping me and I'd been so rude to Peters wife who had only just arrived. There was a buzzing in my pocket and I fished out the tiny phone Jasper had bought for me. The screen was lit up and I saw I had a message waiting. I flicked the screen and the message came up,

"Bella will you talk to me please?"

I shut it and put it back in my pocket suddenly knowing why I was so angry but not wanting to acknowledge it. He'd gone without any real explanation and I hated him for it. Within a few days he'd found a way into my life and then walked away and left me feeling abandoned. It buzzed again and I sighed pulling it back out.

"Please Bella. J"

I scrolled through to contacts and pressed call against his name, hating the thought of hearing his voice, because I knew I'd miss him more,

"Bella thank you for calling"

"What did you want?"

"You are angry with me"

"No I'm fine, what did you want Jasper?"

"Charlotte tells me that you don't want her around"

"I don't want anyone around."

"I want you to be safe Bella"

"Do you? I think you all like playing Superman to the human, well this one wants to be left alone."

"Is that really how you feel?"

"Yes, whatever is going to happen will happen. He's already killed my mother and now I know Charlie isn't my real father I don't have anyone to worry about."

"Do you think you can keep yourself safe?"

"You're the one who said I had Super Powers, maybe they'll keep me safe."

"I didn't say that Bella, and I'm worried about you"

"Why? What am I to you? Only a job, like Alice and Shaun."

He sighed heavily,

"You're very angry right now Bella. Can I ring you again later when you've had chance to cool off?"

"I don't care. Do what you like, I have to go"

I disconnected then ran into the bathroom and threw up.

At dinner Charlie made the fatal mistake of mentioning Jasper and I lost my temper,

"I don't want to talk about him. He's gone and good riddance"

"What did he do Bella? Did he try it on?"

"No Dad. He didn't try anything, we just had an argument."

Charlie sat back and held his hands out stretched

"Whoa Bells, I'm on your side. If he upset you that much then I'm glad he's gone. You'll find someone else"

"Yeah sure Dad. I don't want anyone else, I don't want anyone, full stop"

I cleared up and went upstairs to do my homework. As I sat trying to remember what the English assignment was I heard a buzz from my phone again. I ignored it and eventually it went silent so I went back to my books. I couldn't bear to hear his voice again, I had no idea why but it ripped into me like a knife. Had I really fallen for him so quickly? It was my own fault, he'd set the rules out quite clearly at the very beginning. The boyfriend thing was just cover but no one had warned my heart and it had attached itself to him. I turned the phone off and put it in the desk drawer before going to get a shower.

When I came back into the bedroom I almost let out a scream, Charlotte was sitting in the chair by the window.

"What are you doing here?" I hissed

"I needed to speak to you Bella. You are being very irrational and you are worrying The Major."

"Who? What are you talking about and if I'm being irrational then the whole situation is a bit irrational don't you think?"

"I'm sorry you feel this way, we do want to help you."

"Well I don't want helping. I already told Jasper that when we spoke earlier so just toddle off and get some new orders. There must be someone else who needs your help."

"You need our help"

"Well guess what, I don't want it. I want my life back. I want to believe that vampires only exist in films, that monsters are only in fairy tales and the world is the way I always thought it was."

"Yes we'd all like to believe that but you know it isn't true and you have to deal with the ugly reality"

"No I don't, I can ignore it all. I've been around long enough for the evil father to find me if he wanted. He obviously doesn't care any more than you do, so go help some one who cares."

"I can't do that Bella. You are my assignment so couldn't we try to get along?"

"If you want to get along with me then disappear. If you want to guard me or whatever it is you intend doing then do it so I can't see you. I tried getting along with my guardian angel but it didn't work out."

"Is this about Jasper or Peter?"

"Does it matter?"

"If its Peter it does, he's my husband."

"So go and take him with you. I'm sure he'd enjoy the holiday."

She looked at me shrewdly,

"This isn't about what you learned, its much more basic than that."

"Sorry?"

"We both know why you are so angry and it has nothing to do with what's happening to you."

"Really! Well you believe what you like but I 'd appreciate it if you got the hell out of my bedroom and didn't come back until you are invited."

"Very well. It will make my job harder but I'll do as you ask"

"My heart bleeds for you."