Chapter Four
Bella
I don't know if he believed me but as the taxi drove away I saw a lone figure at an upstairs window, blond hair glowing in the moonlight. Charlie was curious but elated that Edward and I had fought which only annoyed me more so I went up to bed shutting and locking my window before sliding into bed alone and angry. I used to dream of Edward but tonight there was someone else there. Jasper stood in the centre of a clearing surrounded by Edward, Alice, Emmett, Carlisle, Rose, and Esme. They were looking for an opening, ready to attack and he was alone, spinning round to cover himself. I tried to run forward, to stop them, but my feet seemed stuck to the ground, I tried to scream but Edward turned and silenced me.
Waking up in the dark I saw him sitting on my bed.
"What are you doing here? I locked my window." I hissed.
I came in through Charlie's of course. I knew you'd realize how silly you'd been earlier. I should have made sure Jasper was out of the house before the party. Still he's gone now so it's over. Tomorrow we'll go to our place and you'll see you're safe."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I'd forced Jasper out altogether now when all I wanted to do was to show the others I didn't blame him for anything."
"What about Alice?"
"Alice? She's still there. She was disgusted with his behaviour too."
Not only was he gone but he was alone!
"Go away Edward. I'm tired and I want to sleep."
"OK, I'll pick you up after lunch Bella"
He kissed me gently then opened my window and was gone.
I had to do something, I really didn't want to be anywhere near Edward for a while. Getting up and packing as quietly as I could I left Charlie a note slipped under his door just in case Edward came snooping and went out to my truck. I'd explained I couldn't stay in Forks any longer, that I was headed out on my own but I'd ring him so he knew I was safe. He would read between the lines and know I was running away from Edward which would suit him just fine! Luckily his window was at the back so he might not hear it start up.
I headed South but I had little idea where I was going. I was running from Edward as he had run from me once before. I didn't feel upset or torn just relieved to be getting out. I knew I didn't have the money to get far but I could get a job and live in my truck if necessary. I drove for ten straight hours before deciding to go on any further would be dangerous, I was so tired. I got a motel room and crashed out, sleeping for twelve straight hours.
Deciding I should eat before I went on I called in at the diner and as I ate I saw a help wanted sign. Speaking to the manager I got myself a job waiting tables, the pay wasn't brilliant but it would pay for my room, I got free meals and I could save a little so I could eventually move on. The next six months passed in much the same way, I moved on, got a job, saved some money, and moved again. I rang Charlie and Renee once a week at first but once they knew I was happy and safe they stopped wasting their breath encouraging me to go home and I cut the calls to fortnightly. Every day I expected to see Edward but as the days turned to weeks I began to feel a little less worried.
I was in South Dakota now with no idea why but something was tugging me in this direction, a pull from deep within me, perhaps fate had something in store for me. By this time I had enough saved for a small room in a house shared with several other girls, all working at the same place, a restaurant on the outskirts of the town. It was a good place to work, the girls were fun and the manager/owner fair if strict. He didn't allow any fraternizing with the customers which suited me. I'd had enough of men to last me a long time. The other girls were all running from something too, an abusive husband, a boyfriend who wouldn't take no for n answer, a fist happy father. We looked out for each other and it worked well. The work was hard on the feet but at least I could sleep without dreaming too often.
The odd nightmare I did experience frightened the others but Abby, the girl in the next room, had come to sit with me and we'd talked most of the night, I told her enough about Edward to explain the nightmare without really telling her anything and she in turn told me about her step father who wanted more than a good night kiss. She'd run away when her mum had accused her of leading him on. Two months into working here the girls decided to have an evening out, Sunday evening the restaurant was closed so we got dressed up and went to a nearby bar where there was live country music, not my favourite but it was a nice change.
We sat together and soon got hit on by a couple of cowboys who wouldn't take no for an answer, big mistake with this group of girls. After one got a stiletto heel in his foot they finally cleared off and we relaxed. The music was pretty good and we danced a few times with different fellas who were happy to dance then say goodbye. At the end of the evening we were just slightly tipsy and decided that rather than get a taxi we'd walk home together. The streets were deserted but not dark and we chatted amongst ourselves about the band and the guys we'd danced with when I saw trouble up ahead.
The two cowboys we'd sent packing had been joined by three others and they were looking for trouble, us. I fumbled my phone out and hit 911 telling the dispatcher where we were. She promised to send a cruiser and I shouted to let the guys know what I'd done. They cursed and two of them disappeared but the others headed straight for me. The other girls tried to protect me but they were punched and kicked to the floor while the two we'd had trouble in the bar with dragged me into a dark alley and I knew what they planned on doing. I fought them tooth and nail but they were much stronger and as one held me down the other started to unzip his pants. They'd stuffed a rag in my mouth to stop me screaming and it was choking me. I closed my eyes as the guy positioned himself ready to rape me but the feeling I expected never came.
I heard a grunt and a wet thud and opened my eyes to see the guy who'd been holding me down laying with his head at a strange angle while the other lay on the ground beside me holding his groin, blood pumping out between his hands. Sitting up and pulling my clothes to cover myself as best I could I looked round but there was no one there, the alley was empty or so I first thought but as I looked closer I saw a shadow at the far end and as it turned the corner onto the street I saw a flash of white. I thought I knew that silhouette, if I was right then the last time I'd seen it had been in an upstairs window at the Cullen house.
