Chapter Four
Peter
Char and I were going hunting, a long trip we'd been talking about for months up into the mountains. Now was the best tine, hunting season was over and there was too much bad weather for humans to be wandering about much. We'd been waiting for The Major to visit so we could all go together but we hadn't seen him in over two years and hadn't spoken to him in almost as long. Alice Cullen and I didn't really get on so it was best we didn't meet any more, it only caused ill feelings all round. Admittedly I'd said some less than flattereing things about her but they were all true! As we got ready to leave I got the strangest feeling that something was coming, just out of sight for now but close and it made my skin crawl. Char noticed me scanning the surroundings
"Whats up Peter?"
I don't know but things don't feel right. I can't explain any better than that"
"Should we stay here?"
"I don't know"
"Is it trouble?"
"I'm not sure"
"Is it imminent?"
"Listen, what part of "I don't know" don't you get Char?"
"Hey time out Captain"
"Sorry Char I just feel uncomfortable"
"About leaving?"
"I think so. Fuck I don't have the faintest idea what I'm talking about. Lets go"
If we'd left that second we'd have missed the call but Char had to do something delaying us just long enough for the phone to ring. I seriously considered ignoring it but something made me answer.
"Hello?"
"Peter?"
"What the fuck do you want?"
"Is Jasper with you?"
"Why? You two had a row?"
"Is he there?"
"Fuck off Alice."
I put the phone down as Char appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Was that Alice Cullen?"
"Yeah"
"What did she want?"
"No idea, I told her to fuck off"
"I know, I heard you"
"Well why ask then? Come on Char"
"What did she want?"
"Whats with all the questions? She wanted to know if The Major was here"
"Why?"
I gave her the 'if you ask one more question I'm not going to be responsible for my actions' look, but as usual she ignored it.
"Why would she think he might be here?"
"I don't know Char, if you like I'll consult my crystal ball now get a move on."
She walked to the phone,
"What are you doing?"
"Ringing her back"
"Why for fuck sake?"
"Because she wouldn't ring here unless it was important"
"Yeah but important to who Char?"
She waved a hand to silence me and that always pissed me off so I walked over to listen.
"Charlotte? Thank you for ringing back"
Well all sweetness and light now!
"What did you want Alice?"
"Is Jasper with you?"
"No, why?"
"I can't see him any more Char and I'm worried"
"I'll bet. Got off his leash did he?"
Char gave me her "shut up or else" look and I subsided. I knew what happened if I ignored that one!
"Whats happened Alice?"
"A lot but I'm mainly concerned about where he's gone. We had a terrible row after Bella's party and he just upped and left."
I sniggered,
"But why would he come here?"
"Well where else! You're his only friends"
Gee great!
But why are you worried?"
"It's complicated"
"It always fucking is with you" I murmured.
"If he turns up will you tell him he needs to find Bella"
"Leave a message on his phone, we're not a fucking answering service."
"How long has he been gone Alice?"
There was a lengthy silence and my ears pricked up,
"How long Alice?"
"About two years"
Two years!
"And you only now start worrying about him?"
"Yes because he didn't come back to Forks like he should have"
"Oh he didn't crawl back with his tail between his legs begging forgiveness. Life's a bitch Alice and then you marry one"
"Look I know how you feel about me Peter so why don't you shut up. This is serious. After he left I tried watching him for a while but he just vanished. He was supposed to come back to Forks but he didn't, something happened, something prevented him from coming back and he has to"
"Oh why? So you can kick him in the bollocks again?"
"Charlotte, his mate is in Forks, she's had a real hard time and she doesn't know. Neither does he because I didn't' see it until Edward made up his mind to leave after Jasper and I argued"
"Oh, I might have known Golden Boy would be involved."
"Whatever happened it changed the future, Jasper's future, Bella's future. They need each other and someone is manipulating them both."
"Why are you playing matchmaker? Found yourself another man and want your freedom?"
"Peter, I can't see Jasper's future but I can see some of Bella's and its a disaster. If she doesn't find him or him find her she wont live out her days. She has to find him but their future is connected to The Cullens in some way. I can't see any of their futures now, something's interfering with my visions. Everything to do with Jasper is foggy. I'm not sure Carlisle isn't involved with Jasper's disappearance"
"You just said you were responsible for that"
"I mean long-term. Listen its up to you but you're his friends so I'm telling you. What you do about it is your business. Shes going to need serious help before long and if Bella dies, he dies."
"Fucking Drama Queen!"
"Would you live if Char died Peter?"
I didn't answer.
"I rest my case."
"OK 'Miss I can see your future'. What do you expect us to do? Go hunting for him?"
"No, I'm hoping he'll find you but if he hasn't realized Bella is his mate yet then he's going to be in a bad way and she's not much better but I think she's looking for him but she doesn't know why?"
"Tell me something Alice, why does everything with you have to be a fucking Chinese Puzzle? Why can't you come out with a simple sentence an ignorant farm boy like me can understand?"
"OK Peter just for you. Find Jazz and Bella and get them together before they get killed. Simple enough for you farm boy?"
"Fuck you Alice"
"You wish. Bye Char."
Char looked at me as she put the phone down,
"What?"
"Peter why do you have to make every thing so difficult? You can't help antagonizing Alice can you?"
I thought about this for a moment,
"No."
She smiled at me,
"What am I going to do with you?"
"Not much honey because according to the Demented Pixie we have a man and woman hunt on our hands"
"So you believe her?"
"Do I have a choice? What I want to know is what the fuck he's been doing for the last two years and what happened at this Bella's birthday party. Who the fuck is she anyway? Hey you think he flipped out and tried to get her into bed?"
"Peter, come back to earth please, Jasper trying to get a girl other than Alice in bed in the Cullens house?"
"Well he's a dark horse, you never know."
I looked at her expression,
"Well you don't. He's a man and you must admit Alice led him round like a fucking lap dog, maybe this Bella made him feel like a man again"
"Enough with the "I hate Alice Cullen" speech."
"Where do we start?"
We had no idea and my radar wasn't giving away any clues, so we rang round everyone we could think of all over the world just in case he'd spread his wings. All reports came back negative. No one, not even the Nomads we caught up with had seen or heard anything about him.
"Apparently he's pulled a Houdini. If so there's nothing we can do, just wait and hope someone bumps into our little wanderer."
Char looked unhappy at this.
"Char what do you suggest? We can't just go wandering around the country shouting "come out, come out, wherever you are." If he wants to contact us he will, maybe this Bella is already pulling him towards her, if they are meant to be together it will happen."
"Two years Peter and not a sighting anywhere?"
"So he's good at staying off the radar, we already knew that. Look Char, leave a message on his cell phone and lets go."
She rang his cell and her face darkened further.
"Now what?"
"His messaging service is full, I can't even leave voice mail and it means he hasn't been picking them up for some time."
"Char, maybe he lost his cell, maybe he broke it, or mislaid it, and forgot to let us know his new number. Maybe he doesn't want to talk to us, who knows."
"And none of this bothers you Peter? Our friend disappears from the face of the planet for two years and that doesn't worry you at all?"
I shrugged,
"What can I do? Tell me and I'll do it, but I'm at a loss Char."