Mixed Emotions

Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you.

Roger Ebert

ALICE'S POV

I was proud of Edward and knew he really liked Bella, I just didn't imagine how much. With his decision, there were two, maybe three, possibilities of what could happen.

Bella opened the envelope, pulling out black and white photos. Confusion marred her features as she leafed through the stack. Dropping the photos and they scattered across a polished tabletop as a shriek left her. Tears glistened in her eyes, and she rushed from the room. Edward was in the foyer when she came down the stair. She went directly to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, wetting his shirt with her tears.

In that brief future, Bella became devastated, but sought solace in Edward's arms. The second was a little cloudy.

… Bella dropped to the floor, curling in on herself. An elderly looking gentleman in a kilt knelt down beside her, trying to comfort her. She batted his hand away. He stood and ran a rough hand down his face, saying something, maybe a curse, as he noticed the pictures. He again tried to comfort Bella to no avail.

Bella withdrew from whoever it was. The third was impossible to see.

I shared a look with Edward. "Edward, Bella is going to get hurt but how… I don't know."

Edward gave me a brief nod.

JASPER'S POV

When Edward had called me and asked me for help, I was confused. His not explaining then only added to my confusion. But being a good brother, I carried out his request and contacted an old friend in Scotland. Now, I was even more was puzzled and wished I had waited until I had the reason. With my gift, I could sense that his feelings for Bella were growing, but to hire a private investigator to tail a guy was… crazy.

"It's on your head, bro, if this goes to hell or we get caught."

Edward shrugged.

I hoped he knew what he was getting himself into. Hell, if I was being honest with myself I would do the same if it were Alice and me in the same situation.

ROSALIE'S POV

I was shocked, and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Bella was like a sister, even if I couldn't be a hundred percent myself with her staying with us, but what Edward was doing was outright wrong. Bella didn't ask him for help and yet he hired a private investigator to dig up dirt on Garret Gillpatrick. I didn't want to be around when Edward gave her the information.

"You like her, don't you?" I asked aloud for the benefit of the others. "As in, you have strong feelings in the let's be more than friends way."

It was obvious he did from the way he stared at her, but I wasn't sure if Bella felt the same way. Sure, she stole glances at him, and there seemed to be something between them.

Edward shrugged as he ran a rough hand through his hair. "What if I do? Would you like her any less?"

"Not at all," I replied. "Be careful. I don't want to see you or Bella get hurt."

Emmett's POV

Edward has completely lost his mind. Sure! I might be doing the same thing if it was Rose, but I would have at least asked her first.

Then Edward spoke again, almost to himself, "If looks could kill…"

I looked around and the other's faces mirrored my thoughts, save Alice and Jasper's.

"What can I do to help, Edward?" I asked.

He turned to me with a smile.

I put up my hand and added, "I'm not saying I believe what you're doing is right or wrong. I think you've lost your mind."

"I might have," Edward replied, dragging a hand through his hair again. "I'm not sure what else I can do. After talking with her and Charlie, it's clear to me that she doesn't want to marry the guy."

"Why exactly are you doing this, other than the reason you gave us?"

Again, Edward pushed a rough hand through his hair and looked toward the stairs. "There's something about her. I'm not sure what it is. Her blood calls to me… sings to me. But there's something else, something much deeper. I want to, no, I have to protect her. Then there is the fact that I can't read her thoughts."

"You can't hear her thoughts," I said shocked.

Edward nodded. "I have tried countless times and come up with nothing. She's a complete mystery to me."

"Ah, little brother, you really have met your match." I laughed.

EDWARD'S POV

I growled and took a step toward Emmett. He backed up.

Emmett raised his hands. "I was kidding. Any idea why you can't?" he asked.

"None. I've talked with Carlisle, and he has no idea either."

"Did you talk to Carlisle about hiring a private investigator?" Rosalie asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She sound a little peeved now that I spilled the beans about everything.

I grimaced. "No. He wouldn't have supported the decision," I responded, glad Carlisle and Esme were out hunting. I was in a world of hurt when they found out. They were all about letting humans make their own choices and asking for help if needed. I crossed a line tonight.

"Just be careful, Edward," Rosalie said again. "I have a feeling that if the information turns up something bad, Bella will withdraw from everyone."

"That's what one of the possibilities I see," Alice said. "Another leaves her devastated with only Edward being able to comfort her. Both and a third are fuzzy. So… there has to be another decision that needs to be made."

I grew quiet thinking about what both Alice and I saw, and what had been said. "Jasper, what do you think?"

"I might do the same if it were Alice instead of Bella. However, there's no real way to know what will come of this." He was quiet a moment. "Are you going to tell Carlisle and Esme?"

"I think it would be wise, Edward," Alice said as a vision of Bella running up a flight of stairs and falling several times played in my mind. "Bella might hurt herself and need Carlisle's medical knowledge."

I nodded. "I plan on telling him and Esme when they get home."

"They'll be home in ten minutes," Alice said.

I prepared myself for their reactions. I was not prepared for them to be proud of me.

When Esme hugged me, I was shocked.

"Don't hurt her. You're not the only one who cares about her. No matter the outcome, she'll need someone to be there for her," she said.

"I know," he said.

"You should have talked to me first, Edward," Carlisle said in his soft tone. "I don't like it that you are interfering in her life, but I'll help in any way I can."

"Thanks, Carlisle. If what Alice saw is true about Bella running off, you might be needed," I said.

"Alice, did you see anything else? How she will possibly hurt herself?" Carlisle asked, turning to face her.

"No. Her running is only one possibility."

"Let me know what more, if anything, you see. I want to be prepared but, if need be, I'll improvise." Carlisle looked around the room. "We'll take two cars. You'll need to come up with an explanation why you can't take the bus with the rest of your classmates."