Chapter 32: Ditch the bitch act


Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing." Rick Riordan~


Outside the house, the sky was dark and ominous and thunder crackled overhead. It was an irony that the weather was horrible and cold when my heart and head was threatening to burst from over loaded happiness.

"I don't see how you can grin like an idiot when I'm screaming at you!" screamed mom.

I twirled the long-stemmed daisy, which I had stolen from the beautiful bouquet Edward had given me, and smiled angelically at her.

"Sorry." I mumbled, although there was no trace of apology in my voice.

Mom scowled, her sharp gaze scrutinizing my face. I widened my eyes for effect and batted my eyelashes at her.

She frowned. "Hereafter, when Edward drops in for a 'visit', you will leave your door open. Understand?"

"Yes," I rolled my eyes, "mother."

She held up a finger. "I'm not finished yet. Edward is not allowed here whenever your dad and I are not here. Okay?"

"Yeah, God." I stood up. "Can I go?"

"What's your urgency?" she snapped. "Do you have a test tomorrow?"

"No. I just...I'm waiting for a call." I turned and went back to my room before she could start asking whom that "call" was from.

I knew she was worried that Edward and I would do something that was meant for people beyond our years. She used to reeked of suspiciousness when I first started dating Edward, so when she finally caught me kissing him in my bed, it was the last straw.

But, come on. Did she seriously think that Edward and I would get hot and heavy in my bedroom when she was just downstairs? Sometimes, parents were really lame.

I sat on the pink ottoman in my room and fiddled with my cell phone. Edward had left to his house just minutes ago, as soon as mom rudely barged in our makeup / make out session.

It was such a relief that I now knew Edward had nothing to do with James and his followers. This led to another set of questions, however.

Why did Alice lie to me?

On cue, my cell phone rang and the screen read 'Unknown'. I clicked the answer button and pressed the cell to my ear, while my whole body boiled in confusion and anger.

"Bella! Where are you?" Alice's urgent voice reached me.

"That's a good question," I crossed my legs. "Why don't you tell me?"

"What?" Her voice crackled. "What in the world are you talking about? I'm waiting for you near that place and it's raining. They are here...Edward's here too."

"Edward? He's there?" I glared at my nails and shook my head.

"Yes, why are you asking me all these silly questions? Are you on your way?" she demanded.

"Alice," my voice dropped dangerously low. "I know it's a trap. What the hell is wrong with you anyway? Edward was just with me!"

"Oh! What...t-that cannot be right "

"Please, cut the crap. Whatever that your sick troubled mind is planning, it's never gonna work. Game's over, Alice." I snapped.

"Bella!" she cried out. "I have no choice but to warn you beforehand. You have to listen to me -"

"Haven't you heard the story about the boy who cried wolf, Alice?" My voice trembled. "Well, you're that boy here."

"Please, please," she was gasping now.

"And Alice?" I growled lowly. "I don't want to be rude but...fuck off."

When I clicked the end button, for some reason, I started crying. Maybe I was crying for my lost friendship with Alice, maybe I was crying for doubting Edward's undying honesty, maybe I was crying for the limited number of days Edward had more.

I didn't know. I didn't know anything anymore.


I stood in front of the calendar the next day, glaring at the date. It was February 21st. Edward had a mere eight more days left to find a strong reason for his living. If he failed, then...I couldn't even think about it.

When I woke up that morning, it was raining like it had never rained before, with the wind howling in the background and all the trees swaying dangerously along with it.

The news declared that a hurricane was forming over Washington and the next thing I knew, school had declared a holiday and I was standing gloomily in front of the calendar.

I had begun to love school these days because I got to see Edward there. Now, that possibility was also gone. My parents were home and so I couldn't even invite Edward home.

Well, we could sit together with the door open and talk innocently, but I wanted more. Ever since we made love on that fateful night, my body longed for Edward in more than one way.

Mom knocked on my door suddenly and came in.

"Heidi and Sasha are downstairs waiting for you. Do you want me to send them up or are you going to come down?" She folded my bed sheet as she spoke.

I backed away from the calendar and nodded at her. "Send them up."

She went downstairs and seconds later, my best friends stood at the foot of my bed.

"Hey, Bella," Heidi greeted me softly with a peck on my cheek.

Sasha hugged me and kissed me on the other cheek, a little excitedly.

"What's going on?" I laughed as she pulled back.

Heidi grinned and sat on my bed. "I've been thinking very much recently. And you guys know I hardly think. So, you want to know the redemption to Edward's future?"

My eyes widened. "What?"

"Seeing his future," Sasha burst in, "Heidi has practiced a spell that helps us to see the future."

"No kidding!" I bounced excitedly. "How?"

"Alice taught me, obviously," she smiled. "Anyway, do you want to do the spell or not?"

"Okay." I frowned slightly. Anything that Alice taught was dangerous but I didn't tell her that.

"We need candles, a piece of chalk and a bowl of water. Oh, and a focused mind." Heidi folded herself down on the carpet.

I crept down quietly and got the two things. A few minutes later, we sat in a circle on the floor with a weird star shaped diagram drawn in the middle with the chalk I'd found in the cabinet. Heidi placed the white bowl of water on the star and lit a single candle.

"Right," Heidi rubbed her hands together. "I want you guys to stare at the flame and think about Edward. Never, ever take your eyes off it till something appears on the water and do not think of his days during his previous life. I will tell you when to look at the image, so no side peeking. I am the medium here, connecting the present and the future."

I took a deep breath and stared at the dancing flame of the candle. I imagined Edward's face before my eyes, his tousled auburn hair, his forest green eyes under a fringe of dark long eyelashes, his rosy curved mouth, his high cheekbones, the sculpted lines of his jaw.

"I invoke the powerful spirits of the future, bestow upon us the future of Edward Anthony Masen. Give us the answer to his second chance at life..." Heidi continued in Latin.

I imagined Edward walking towards me, his face radiant with a smile as he dropped his head for a kiss.

Suddenly, the rain outside doubled its amount and the electricity went out. I started shivering uncontrollably. Sasha's hand found mine.

"There, look." Heidi whispered in awe.

I squinted at the bowl of water and several gasps filled the room. An image was forming on the surface of the water, floating and flickering dimly.

Slowly, I realized that the image was showing a small adorable boy. He had dark hair with startling green eyes and he was smiling, with two dimples evident on his cheeks.

"Is that Edward's past?" I whispered in confusion.

"No, look closely." Sasha frowned. "He's wearing modern clothes."

"What...?" Then my eyes widened. "Is this his past and his future?"

"That cannot be...How can this be his future? How is this the answer?" She shook her head dizzily. "Heidi?"

I froze. "Heidi?"

Heidi sat still, her vacant gaze still fixed on the fading water image. Suddenly, she started trembling and when she spoke, her voice was low and lifeless.

"Death. Death is the answer."

My window wrenched open automatically and banged against the wall. Icy wind swooped inside the room and raindrops started hitting the room.

I slapped Heidi on the shoulder and with a shriek; she blinked and came back out of the trance.

"What the hell?" Sasha got up and ran to the window, closing it roughly.

"Oh my God," Heidi was breathing loudly. "Someone...someone was controlling me!"

Alice, my mind whispered softly. Or James.


I ran down the stairs as I buttoned up my purple trench coat.

"Why did your friends leave so quickly?" asked mom. She had her back to me and was fiddling with a candle.

"They had something to do." I mumbled softly.

She turned to face me and her eyebrows rose. "Where are you going in the heavy rain?"

I bit my lip. "Edward's house."

"Edward?" Her voice was disapproving. "Why? Can't you just call ?"

"Mom!" I snapped, shaking. "I'm going just to see him, not to make little babies! I'm sure his parents are home."

I bolted out of the house, without giving her chance to speak and opened my umbrella. I made my way to his house and slightly faltered when I noticed the empty driveway. The garage door was closed but I wondered if Carlisle and Esme were there or not.

As soon as I rang the bell, Edward opened the door.

"Bella," he grinned widely, "what a lovely visit in the middle of a torrential downpour and the end of the world."

I laughed as he stepped aside to let me in. I glanced around the quiet and empty house and frowned.

"Where is everyone?" I asked.

"In Seattle," he answered easily, "they left yesterday night."

My heart started to beat swiftly and I hoped he didn't catch my reaction. He didn't and I wondered how guys could be so dense sometimes.

"I'm glad you dropped by. Rosalie wanted to give you something." Edward stroked the inside of my wrist enticingly.

"What is it?" My jaw dropped.

Rosalie wanted to give me something? It was definitely the end of the world then.

He led me up the spiral wooden staircase and into his room. I hesitated a little but followed him anyway. It was chilly inside and I realized it was because the window was open.

"Oh no," Edward muttered as he raced to close the window.

I leaned against the antique wooden table and stared at him. The maroon T-shirt and black sweatpants he had on looked comfortable and homely. It also made me want to tear them open.

"I'm sorry, Bella. I'm such an idiot." He apologized. "Are you very cold? I'll start the fire."

"I'm fine." I shook my head. I watched in awe as he squatted down and lit the logs in the fireplace anyway.

"Better?" He closed the door and turned to face me.

"Yeah, I'm good." I shrugged out of my coat and placed it on the hanger, along with Edward's.

Edward disappeared inside his walk-in closet and came out a few seconds later.

"Here," he pressed a baby pink color plastic shopping bag in my hands. "Rosalie said this was an apology gift for wrecking the dinner that night."

VICTORIA'S SECRET, it screamed in huge glittery dark pink letters. Heat crept into my face.

I peeked inside and saw a beautiful red slip folded neatly. It was gauzy and lace hemmed. If I took it out, I knew it would be short and would have a drooping neckline. That was because I had seen this exact piece in the mall last week in the lingerie section.

"What is it?" Edward asked curiously.

"Nothing, um..." I stuttered and pulled the bag behind me.

"Come on, Bella," he whined playfully. "If you don't want to show me, the least you can do is put it on and show me."

"Edward!" I squealed and stepped back.

"Fine, have it your way." He frowned and tugged at a strand of my hair.

"Fine, I'll wear it. But don't say I didn't warn you." I opened the bathroom door and went inside.

The main reason why I came here was because I wanted to tell Edward about what my friends and I saw. But being with him, with no one around, I kind of felt selfish.

The future image could wait, I thought stubbornly.

I got out of my clothes and pulled the satin slip over my body. It stopped in mid thigh, had a plunging neckline and showed off a little more than what I had been expecting. I shrugged and braced myself to go outside. It was Edward, who wanted to see me in this.

"Wow, you didn't take even five minutes, Rosalie usu " Edward paused, wide-eyed.

"So...how do I look?" I smiled nervously, heat creeping into my neck and face.

He averted his gaze and his cheeks turned pink. "Beautiful as always but...why would Rosalie buy you that?"

"How do I know?" I ran a hand through my sleek brown hair.

"You must be cold in that," Edward chuckled. "You can put on your clothes. I don't want you to catch your death."

He took a step forward and touched my bare neck. Steeling myself, I placed my hands on his chest and kissed him. When he responded, my body started tingling in all places imaginable. However, he pulled back after a few hearted minutes.

"Bella " His green eyes was conflicted.

"Mmmmm?" I murmured absent mindedly, as I pressed kisses on his neck.

"Do you...do you want to...?" Edward's face glowed with longing.

I glanced around and shivered. The window and the door were shut. There was no one in the house. The logs crackled in the fireplace and his huge bed looked very inviting.

"Why the hell not?" A surprised giggle escaped me when his lips immediately found mine.

He carried me to his bed, placed me in the middle gently, and climbed on top of me. Our clothes were quickly shed and when our bare skin touched again for the second time, I melted into a puddle of goo.

Edward was very soft and patient in making love to me. Finally, stars and planets exploded and confetti rained down on me. I slumped in the bed and he settled next to me, pulling me close to his warm chest.

"What happened with Alice?" he asked hesitantly after sometime. "Did you find her inte?"

On cue, we were interrupted. My cell phone rang lowly from where it was nestled inside my coat pocket.

"Hold that thought," I got up reluctantly and slipped into Edward's T-shirt.

I padded across the room and dug my cell out. I pressed the answer button without checking the caller ID.

"Bella, it's me. Please listen," Alice shrieked unexpectedly. "I only lied to you because they had Jasperour History teacherwith them. They drugged and kidnapped him. I know you don't understand but I love him. James threatened that he would let Jasper go only if I lied to you and lured you to that place."

"Alice," I interrupted harshly, "how can you expect me to believe you?"

Edward's head snapped up to stare at me.

"I know, I know. When the lie worked, Jasper was freed from their clutches. Now, you...you found out. Bella, James wanted you away from Edward not because he was going to harm you. I...I" Her voice wasn't sad. It was angry and firm.

I sighed roughly. "What?"

"One of the most powerful steps in the spell book was...was to kill another Undead. The prolonged time would be doubled. When Edward rejected his offer, James decided to use...Edward for that step. You are the only one who is always with Edward. James knew you would be the first one to look for Edward if he disappeared. He had seen me with Jasper a few times. So, he used Jasper as a bait and forced me to lie to you, so that you would get angry with Edward and develop hate for him." Alice's voice was hard.

"Instead, it backfired at him." I realized angrily.

I had learnt my lesson when I trusted Alice but there was something about the way she spoke. She didn't sound as melodramatic as before, but fierce and determined. It was then when I realized something else too. Alice went overboard in acting when she was being fake. Now, it was almost like she was genuine.

"Yes," she whispered. "I want to help you both. I know you don't trust me but it is the truth. Jasper himself would like to talk to you if you want."

"Bella, love? What is it?" Edward asked, his eyes alert when I switched off the cell.

I got inside the sheets and placed my head on his chest. Tears started blurring my vision. Edward's life was at stake. He had to leave before James killed him. I made my decision right then and there.

"Edward?" I stared straight into his beautiful eyes. "Run away with me."


Hey guys,

So...what do you all think about this chapter? What do you think will happen in the next chapter? Will Edward agree? Or will Bella change her mind? Review and tell me what you think!

-BEJL