It's nice to have a crush on someone. It feels like you're alive, you know?
Scarlett Johansson
EDWARD'S POVCharlie was surprised to see us when we arrived at the shuttle dock.
"I didn't think you two would be here for another half hour," he said, hugging Bella and then shaking my hand.
"I wanted to spend some time with you before leaving," Bella replied. "I hardly get to see you anymore."
There was sadness in her voice, and I felt as if I was intruding.
"Why don't I give you and your godfather some time alone," I suggested, walking away.
I had wondered why Alice insisted on me taking my iPod.
"Trust me, you'll need it," Alice had said.
I shook my head, putting in the ear buds and pressed play.
BELLA'S POVMy eyes didn't leave Edward as he walked away. I wanted to call him back, but at the same time, was glad he left.
"I don't really know how to say this, Isabella," Charlie said, drawing my attention to him.
"Say what?" I asked, giving him my full attention.
Charlie was never really forthcoming with his feelings, but I had a feeling about what he was going to say. He looked over at Edward and then back at me.
"I wish I could go with you," he said. "I just can't leave when Jacob is still out there somewhere."
Massaging the bridge of my nose, I said, "I understand, Charlie. I believe Edward knows how you feel."
He gave me another hug, not commenting. "I'm not sure what I would do if I lost you."
Was he trying to telling me something? I thought.
Stepping out of his arms, I peered at Charlie. He had a haunted look in his eyes.
"There's something else on your mind," I said.
He glanced down at me with what seemed like fatherly concern and love. "I hope the pictures Malcolm showed me are enough for the council to break the promise of marriage."
I cringed at the mere thought of those pictures. Grandfather had kept them, but I could still see the damning images. Garrett caressing the naked flesh of another girl would be forever burned in my memory. I felt betrayed and knew he would pay for it.
"I meet with the council tomorrow morning. There's no way to know how they'll react, but I won't stand down this time." I would get my way even if I end the council.
"Good. Fight them until you get what you want. Garret clearly violated your conditions. He needs to pay the consequences."
Charlie's gaze moved from me to Edward.
"So you are prepared. Malcolm told me he requested the Gillpatrick's be summoned to provide an explanation," he said, turning his gaze back to me.
I stiffened at the thought of seeing Garret.
"No!" my mind screamed.
Closing my eyes, I felt my knees give out a moment before I collapsed.
Arms went around my waist. When I opened my eyes, Charlie stood above me but was starting to kneel.
Then who caught me?
I glanced over my shoulder and saw I was nestled against Edward's chest. My face heated, and I wondered how Edward got to me so fast. Wasn't he near the shuttle? I couldn't recall and sat there staring into Edward's eyes not hearing anything.
"Bella, Charlie is waiting for an answer?" Edward said.
I looked from Edward to Charlie. "I didn't go to bed last night. I guess I'm even more tired than I thought," I lied, though not a full out lie. I was tired but didn't want to worry Charlie about what was really bothering me.
Charlie's forehead furrowed and his lips pursed, probably seeing through my lie, but he didn't call me out.
"The shuttle is ready, if you want to leave now," Charlie said.
"I think that would be a good idea, Bella," Edward said, helping me up.
We started toward the shuttle with Charlie following.
"Wait," I said, stopping short of the stairs heading up into the shuttle. "My camera?"
"I gave it to the co-pilot," Charlie answered. "Go ahead, Bells. I want to talk to Edward for a minute."
I gave Charlie one last hug before boarding.
EDWARD'S POVI swallowed… hard. Charlie wanted to talk to me. Yikes! That could be good or bad. I was suddenly nervous, and his thoughts weren't portraying anything.
"Edward, take care of her," he said, turning to face me once Bella was out of sight.
"I will, sir," I said, take note of his worried tone. "And for the record, I'm concerned about her, too." I let my gaze drift toward the shuttle. There were no windows, so I couldn't see Bella.
"You really like her, don't you?" he asked.
My eyes snapped back to his. "Sir?" I asked dumbstruck.
"Please, it's Charlie. No sir for me. I believe, she likes you, too. With the arranged marriage still in her future, I think she's afraid to admit or act on her feelings."
"She'll meet with the council, won't she?" I asked.
"Tomorrow morning," he replied, shaking his head and pressing his lips together in a hard line. "I wish I could be there. You know she lied to both of us about why she collapsed."
I nodded. Bella was so easy to read, even if I couldn't break into her thoughts.
"The Gillpatrick's have been summoned, and I don't think she will be able to handle seeing the idiot Garrett."
"Will I be able to go in with her?" I asked.
Edward, you don't know how much I wish you could.
"I'm afraid not. Not even her grandfather will be allowed to go in. I want you to be prepared for her reaction in case she runs, like she did at the embassy. There is the possibility the council won't dissolve the contract," he said, his gaze drifting to the shuttle again.
"Where would she go?" I asked, wanting as much information as I could get.
"There are two places she might go: either the cliffs on the western edge of the lands or the library."
If she chooses the library, you won't be able to get in.
"If she does run and I can't find her, I'll be waiting for her when she returns," I said, in an attempt to ease his mind.
A call to Alice was in order.
"That makes me feel a little better. You had best be going," he said, slapping me on the shoulder.
We had talked for five minutes, and when I entered the shuttle, I found Bella strapped in and sound asleep. The pilot instructed me on how to strap in before moving into the cockpit. We were the only ones on the shuttle, and the pilot announced we would be landing in six hours.
It amazed me that in the last one hundred years of air travel, technological advancements have cut flight time in half. Not that I traveled by air that often.
Glancing around, I saw a button with a wing symbol and pushed it. The pilot answered, and I asked him if it was safe for me to use my phone.
"Go right ahead, Mr. Cullen. Your signal will not interfere with anything. Thanks for asking. Oh, before I forget. The galley is fully stocked, including peanuts."
Pulling out my phone, I called Alice.
"Hello, Edward," she said.
"I need you to keep an eye out for Bella's future," I said before going into what I had learned from Charlie.
"I don't see anything yet. I can tell that something will happen but not what. I'll call you when I see anything," she said, hanging up.