Chapter Five
Bella
I looked at the house and taking a deep breath walked up to the door and knocked. It was opened by Emmett, my favourite big brother.
"Bells hey what you doing here? I thought Edward was taking you out to pick up your new car, very flashy but I never took you for a Mercedes type of girl."
"A what?"
"And red, I thought it might remind you of the old truck, sorry to hear you scrapped it. Rose is red hot with engines, she might have been able to save it for you."
I took his arm and pushed him back in the house.
"Emmett I need to speak to Carlisle is he here?"
He looked out
"Where's Edward?"
"He's not with me. Where's Carlisle?"
"Why not?"
"Emmett concentrate please, where's Carlisle?"
"He's at the hospital on shift why?"
"I need to talk to someone, who else is here? Esme?"
"No, shopping."
"Rose?"
"With Esme."
"Shit, is no one here?"
"Will I do?"
I turned to see Jasper at the top of the stairs.
"I don't know. Can I talk to you Jasper?"
He nodded,
"Are you trying to stay ahead of Edward?"
I nodded,
"OK, come on"
He ran down and took my hand,
"Em if Edward turns up Bella went home."
"OK but what's going on?"
"I'll fill you in later."
Jasper pulled me through to the garage and threw me a crash helmet.
"We'll use the bike, its more manoeuvrable. Keep us away from roads and possible cars."
"Thanks Jasper, I know you've got problems of your own but I am desperate."
He smiled,
"Well its good to know I'm a last resort."
"I didn't mean it like that."
"I know, come on."
I climbed on behind him and he took off through the trees and away from Forks towards the Reservation. I heard Jaspers voice in my ear,
"Press the mic button with your chin and you can speak to me."
I did as he said,
"You can't go onto the Reservation, you'll break the treaty."
"I have no intention of breaking the treaty but I want you to have the option of getting to Jake if Edward turns up. The wolves will protect you."
He pulled up a short time later and we dismounted to sit on the grass.
"So Bella what's up? You looked scared and annoyed at the same time. By the way I heard about the engagement, congratulations. Have you told Charlie yet?"
I shook my head.
"I thought not, Edward's been bitching about it whenever we see him, which incidentally isn't often."
"No, he's busy keeping me under house arrest."
Jasper looked at me a little oddly.
"Bella what's the problem?"
"I don't know where to start."
"The beginning is a pretty good place usually."
I nodded,
"I can't breathe Jasper, Edward is suffocating me. Ever since I said I'd marry him he's been at my side dictating where I go, who I see, who I speak to."
"Yeah, he's a little intense."
"Intense? I can't even speak to my friends. You know he's sabotaged our phones? "
"No I didn't."
"He junked my truck today."
"Sorry?"
"He sent my truck to the junk yard and told me he's got me a new car, a red Merc for Gods sake."
Jasper grinned,
"Wow bad move, I'd have got you a newish Dodge truck probably."
I couldn't help a smile.
"Well it would be better than a bloody Merc. Why is he doing this to me?"
"I don't know Bella, but if he's scaring you, or bullying, you need to tell Charlie or Carlisle."
"I tried telling Carlisle today but he's not here."
"True. Would you like me to talk to Edward? I don't suppose he'll listen but I'm happy to try."
"Thanks Jasper. I just need to get away from him for a little while, I need to think."
"Why don't you go to the Res for the weekend?"
"How exactly? Edward will be waiting if I go home. He'll stop me and I don't have any transport."
"Would you like to go to the Res? Would you feel safer?"
I nodded as the tears started to fall and he put an arm around me comfortingly.
"OK, I'll take you there. Jake can clear it with Charlie I'm sure."
"Thanks Jasper."
Emmett
When Rose got home I told her about Bella's visit,
"And she went off with Jasper?"
"Yeah he got his bike out and took off for the Res I think. I heard something about her truck being junked."
"Why? I thought it was in pretty good nick."
"It wasn't good enough for Edward's fiancée I guess."
She shook her head in exasperation,
"He is a total idiot. Is he trying to push her away? Besides its her truck not his."
"I think the word you're looking for is 'was'. Its been scrapped."
"So why is she going to the Res? Edward will have a fit when he finds out"
"I think that's the general idea, Bella is really pissed at him. I noticed since he proposed and she accepted he's been acting a little overbearing. Maybe this will teach him to ease off a little but I'd say Jazz will be in the shit when Edward catches up with him"
"Serves him right for getting involved."
Bella
I used Jaspers cell phone to ring Jake and when we got to the treaty line my friend was waiting. Jake looked at Jasper,
"Why are you with him?"
"Jake please, he helped me. I'll explain later."
I turned back,
"Thank you Jasper."
He nodded then turned the bike round and rode away. Jake looked after him,
"Nice bike, shame about the rider."
"Jake" I hit his arm.
"Sorry, sorry."
I climbed into his truck and he drove me to Billy's.
"Dads told Charlie you're staying for the weekend. No probs and Emily will lend you some stuff, I don't suppose you packed?"
I shook my head,
"Come on in the garage and tell me what's going on."
I explained as best I could between strangled sobs.
"You still want to marry him?"
"I don't know any more Jake. I'm so confused."
"So how did his brother Jasper get involved?"
I went to the house to speak to Carlisle but he wasn't there so Jasper offered to help me."
"That was good of him" it was grudging but given never the less.
We walked back to the house for dinner and Billy was sitting waiting for us,
"Bella, I've had your fiancé ringing here. You want to speak to him? "
I shook my head.
"OK. I'll get it if it rings again"
Jake was spoiling for a fight and that was something I didn't want to happen, he'd already been badly hurt looking after me. Charlie turned up soon after and he wasn't happy either.
"Bella why didn't you tell Edward you were coming here? He's been pestering me for hours and where's your truck?"
I explained about the truck and he was livid.
"He had no right to do that and why is he buying you a car anyway?"
Jake looked at me and I shook my head in warning so he didn't say anything. After dinner Charlie sat moaning about Edward to Billy while Jake dragged me back to the garage.
"He doesn't know you're engaged?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because...because I'm not sure I want to be engaged, not any more. I'm tired of being controlled. I've made such a mess of things Jake."
He put his arm around me but I pulled away.
"Hey I'm not looking for a replacement Jake."
"Hey its just a friendly hug."
"OK".
It felt nice and safe here in the garage with Jake. The one place I'd felt good when Edward left me before, only this time I was leaving him wasn't I? When we went back to the house Billy and Charlie were watching sport on TV with a beer to help concentration. Billy wheeled himself out to meet us,
"Bella" he said low so Charlie wouldn't hear. "Edward rang again and insists on speaking to you. He says you are here under duress. You're going to have to speak to him I'm afraid."
I nodded and picked up the phone while Jake sat opposite arms folded and looking grim.