Chapter Thirty Five

Bella

I knew Edward had been angry at my words but I had only spoken the truth, I liked him very much but we just weren't cut out to be dating. There was a lot about Edward to admire but at the same time there were some things I was not so enamored of, he could be overbearing, thoughtless and even unkind at times although he was also sweet and affectionate when things were going well which usually meant his way.

For all that I didn't want to lose contact with the family, I was very fond of Carlisle and Esme not to mention Alice and Emmett. The fact they were vampires just didn't seem to matter, I never felt uncomfortable or in danger. Carlisle had warned me that if I broke things off with Edward he would probably want the family to leave Forks even though the school year wasn't over. I certainly hoped not and I could tell that Esme was certainly not happy at that thought.

Esme

I hated the idea of leaving Forks although I knew Carlisle was right. Edward would not want to remain here if Bella broke it off with him so I decided to get in first with Carlisle and cornered him in his study when the others went into school on the Monday morning.

" Esme, you have something on your mind?"

"Yes, moving."

"But we only got here a couple of years ago, are you bored with Forks already? I thought you wanted to stay."

"I do and you well know it Carlisle. You also know that if Bella does finish with Edward which is very much on the cards he will be wanting to leave Forks."

"Well I can see how difficult it will be for him, he'll lose face."

"He'll have to do what every other young guy does and suck it up. I am not leaving, Certainly not because Edward throws a tantrum."

"Esme I think you are being a little selfish."

"You know something Carlisle, you're right. I am, just as Edward is so very often. I like Forks, I like the house and I like Bella. Which means I am not going to let Edward ruin it all for me. I happen to agree with Bella too, Edward is self centered but among us it didn't really matter, among humans and especially with his girlfriend it does. I'm just warning you that if Edward comes demanding we leave, I for one will be voting against him."

I left Carlisle with that to think about and went back to my workshop, I had a commission just come in that I needed to work on but the problem of Edward's possible actions kept niggling at me.

Edward

I called for Bella in the morning as always to find her car gone, so she wanted to play games? Well two of us could do that. I drove into the parking lot maneuvering my car so as to make it impossible for Bella to get out of her space before me. Emmett and Alice scowled over but Rose was deliberately ignoring me as she would ignore Bella when she saw her. When I got inside I found Bella talking to Mike, Eric, and Jessica, and walked over to join them,

"Bella, I need to talk to you."

She turned to me slightly flushed whether from embarrassment or anger I couldn't tell but whatever emotions she carried inside her they didn't help me read her thoughts. Deciding to get in first and hard I shrugged,

"Very well have it your way. I've been thinking and you know my sister Rose was right, you aren't good enough for me so I guess you'd better find yourself another schmuck to take you out."

With that I walked off grinning to myself only to be confronted by Rose of all people.

"Don't you ever do that again Edward."

"Do what?"

"You know what, don't put words into my mouth or I'll stuff yours full of oily rags and set light to them."

I knew she meant it, Rose never threatened anything she wasn't willing to go through with and I escaped from here as quickly as I could. I had expected Bella to be annoyed and embarrassed by my words but it seemed her friends were closing around her in support and I finally understood I had underestimated her friendships here. Despite being the best looking guy in the school there were those who wouldn't touch me with a ten foot pole, something of their contempt washing over me in the cafeteria during lunch.

Now I needed to get out of Forks, I'd made a fool of myself and I wished I'd just drained the bitch when I first met her as Rose had suggested. I skipped my last class leaving my car blocking her in and ran back to the house in order to catch Carlisle before he left for his shift at the hospital. I found him in his study as usual but unlike every other time I had found him here he didn't have a book in his hands, He looked up as I knocked and invited me in but his usual warm greeting had dropped several temperatures.

"Edward, what can I do for you?"

I sat down but I could read his thoughts, or at least enough before he brought his own barriers down, Esme had got to him first and it wasn't going to be as easy as I thought.

"I have told you before about snooping in peoples heads Edward."

"I have no control over it."

"Unless you want to have. So you know Esme has already spoken to me about moving."

"Its all right for her, she doesn't have Bella there in front of her every day ignoring her."

"I seriously doubt Bella has ignored you, she just doesn't feel you two are right together and that's a very mature way of seeing things Edward. You can still be friends."

"No, I can't. Its embarrassing and after I saved her life."

"I'm sorry did I miss something?"

I flushed, I hadn't meant to say that but now it was out in the open I just went ahead.

"You heard what Nathaniel said, Bella is my singer but I controlled my thirst. I knew it could be done even when Emmett said it was impossible. I proved it to him, to all of you."

"And at the same time put a young girl's life in jeopardy just to prove how strong you were? I hoped I'd taught you better Edward, well we aren't leaving Forks but if you feel so strongly about it then I suggest you go visit Eleazar for a while. The rest of us are staying here a little longer, you know how much Esme wanted to come back here, I won't disappoint her. I'm sorry son, the choice is yours."

"'You'd let me leave alone?"

"If that's what you want son, I can't make up your mind for you but we won't be pressured into leaving Forks and Bella."

I left Carlisle seething at his attitude, I would have expected him to back me and the fact he wasn't was down to Esme and Bella Swan. Well I wouldn't be pushed around by anyone, not a human girl and certainly not Esme Cullen who was nothing to me, an interloper who came along later in the day. Well I wouldn't stay here to be a laughing stock but I wouldn't be going to Denali either. I knew somewhere I would be more appreciated and I went upstairs to pack a bag. Of course I ran into Rose at the top of the stairs.

"I take it you heard?"

"Of course and you're leaving I take it?"

"Yes I am and you'll do the same if you know what's good for you. Weren't you the one always whining about how dangerous it was to have Bella Swan in on our secret?"

"I was but she seems to be keeping her promise."

"And you think that makes everything fine? Well just keep your eyes open so you see trouble when it comes knocking."