Chapter Eighteen

Bella

When I went up to bed, the napkin in my jeans pocket, Edward was perched on the window sill waiting. He put a hand to the glass begging for entry and with a huge sigh I opened the window far enough for him to talk.

"You're not getting the message Edward. It's over so you may as well go home"

"Bella, I realize how stupid and hurtful my little stunt was and I apologise. Please don't do this, I love you and I know you love me. Please let me make it up to you."

I shook my head,

"Edward I'm too tired to argue with you any more. It's over and if you don't stop haunting me I'll be forced to speak to Carlisle."

He looked stunned at my threat.

"You don't mean that Bella. Just let me in, let me talk to you, explain my behaviour"

"There's no point Edward. I just don't feel the same way any longer. You smothered me and then the stunt with the DVD, what did you expect to gain by that Edward? Other than to make me physically sick."

"Its him isn't it?"

"Who Edward?"

"Jacob Black. He's talked you round, he's the one chasing you"

"No one is chasing me and Jake and I aren't talking either so no Edward something else you got wrong. Not doing very well are you? Now I'm going to bed and you are going home."

He crossed his arms, sitting there stubbornly.

"Suit yourself Edward"

I slammed the window shut and drew the curtains going to shower as he started tapping on the glass. When I came back he was still tapping and in exasperation I grabbed my cell phone and dialled the Cullen house.

"Cullen residence Dr Cullen speaking"

"Carlisle its Bella"

"Oh Hello Bella."

I could tell he was upset about Alice and I lying about the weekend,

"I'm sorry for last weekend but I need to ask you to do something for me"

"Yes Bella?"

"Edward's outside my bedroom on the window sill and he wont leave although I keep asking him to do so"

"You don't want him there? I know he did something stupid, although I don't know what, and you are obviously very angry with him but won't you give him a chance to explain?"

"Carlisle, it's over and I want Edward to leave me alone."

"Very well Bella, if that's your final decision. I'll speak to him"

"If he doesn't go I'm going to have to ask Charlie to speak to him"

"I see you are serious. Very well Bella."

"Thank you Carlisle"

I heard Edward's cell phone ring soon after and then an audible curse but the tapping stopped and when I looked out a few minutes later he was gone.

The next week went past much too slowly and it wasn't made any easier by Edward who was now sulking. He didn't speak to me or walk with me to class for which I was thankful but he sat in the cafeteria looking over at our table and everyone noticed. I was asked about the break up but just shrugged. Alice still spoke, as did Emmett who was only upset because I didn't visit the house any more.

"I miss you sis"

"I miss you too Em but I can't come over, not now"

Rosalie was her usual haughty self so I wasn't missing anything there, but Garrett who still picked Alice up from school each day would always speak. In all I would be glad to get away from Forks for a while.

On the Wednesday night I got myself psyched up to ring Jasper's friends when Charlie shouted up the stairs,

"Company Bella."

Groaning I went down to find Jake in the hall with a bunch of flowers in his hand,

"Very nice, they go with the colour of your eyes Jake"

He grimaced at my sarcastic tone.

I went past him into the kitchen to make coffee putting out a third mug begrudgingly. He followed me and held out the flowers,

"Sorry Bella"

I looked at them then turned away,

"That's all I hear these days but it doesn't make things right."

"Don't be like that Bella. I was wrong, I overreacted."

"Everyone's saying that too and I'll give you the same answer I gave Edward. I'm not interested so go home"

"So you and Cullen broken up for real? Did he throw a hissy fit about us going to Seattle?"

I flapped my hands to shut him up and he remembered Charlie didn't know. I waited but no remark floated in from the lounge so I heaved a sigh of relief.

"So, you want to go again?"

"No"

"I thought you enjoyed it?"

"Most of it Jake but I didn't appreciate being dragged back here like a naughty child"

"Yeah well I said I overreacted. There's another one on over recess. You want to come?"

"I already have plans"

"With who?"

I didn't answer,

"Who with? Edward?"

"I think I must be speaking in Esperanto or something because neither you or Edward seem to understand what I'm saying. I have finished with both of you so go home."

Charlie came through then to pick up the coffee that was still on the counter top slowly cooling. He looked from Jake to me,

"You two OK?"

"Yes,, I'm going up to do my homework and Jake was just leaving."

"Oh, you two not going out?"

"No, not now, not ever."

He looked somewhat taken aback by my tone and raised his eyebrow at Jake.

"You upset her too? Not a good idea. Well the game's on in a minute so I'll leave you two"

"Not me, I'm off "

I went upstairs and left Jake standing in the kitchen, I'd had more than enough, and if Edward started his tapping tonight he was likely to get the contents of my coffee mug in his face!

I didn't feel calm enough to call the Whitlocks that evening but I was running out of time if I expected them to meet me next week so straight after school the next day I went home and rang their number, fingers crossed they would answer. It went straight to voice mail so I left a message asking them to ring me as soon as possible and then started the wait. I took my phone to the kitchen hoping they wouldn't ring during dinner and then in the shower but still it remained silent. When I went to bed I put it on vibrate and held it in my hand under the pillow, the fingers of my other hand crossed for luck. I must have fallen asleep because the vibration woke me up and for a second I couldn't remember why I was holding on to my cell phone in the middle of the night. When I did remember I pulled it out quickly and answered, hoping I wasn't too late, praying they wouldn't give up too quickly.

"Hello?"

"Is that Bella Swan?"

"Yes, is that Peter Whitlock?"

"Last time I looked at my passport, yes. What do you want Bella Swan? And how did you get my number?"