Chapter 4:

highway to hell

The next day was both better and worse as Bella had thought in the book.

Better because I had probably spent the most critical moments yesterday. More relaxed also because Jessica had decided that I was going to be her new best friend and strangely I didn't find her unpleasant to hang out with. His light spirit allowed me for some time to forget the somewhat precarious situation in which I found myself.

Worse, because Mike was sticking to me like a pot of glue and although I was getting more and more disagreeable with him, that didn't seem to discourage him. Even Jessica ended up pointing out to him that his behavior was quite heavy to bear. Worse, because Edward AND Alice weren't there. In fact, the whole family had deserted the campus and that worried me to no end.

The math went pretty well oddly. I was no better than Bella but at least the material didn't put me off and Jessica helped me a lot by explaining everything clearly. I also gained a point of complicity, for the occasion. A new tab had appeared on my status window, I could follow in real time the evolution of my relationships with others. It was also the only thing that allowed me not to panic entirely, because I could see that my complicity with Alice, Emmett and even Edward was still stable.

Yes, strangely, despite the glare he gave me the last time I saw him, I noticed that my complicity with him had increased by one point in the last 24 hours. Unlike Bella I don't fear his reappearance but his pure and simple disappearance... because I know that this idiot is perfectly capable of it, if he thinks to protect me...

The next day, still not seeing the Volvo, I begin to revise my shopping plans. I thought I'd talk to Charlie about it after setting a schedule with Alice, but not having seen her again since, I'm thinking of postponing this relatively distant destination to a later date and settling for Port Angeles alone. I know I could ask Jessica, but I'm starting to miss my lonely moments. Well, I know there's a gang of rapists around here, but if I stick to the busier streets, there won't be a problem, right?

So I tell Charlie that I'm going to go shopping in Port Angeles on Friday after school, just to fill out my meager winter wardrobe. I'm getting seriously tired of being able to choose only shapeless, dark t-shirts and faded jeans in the morning. I want color and fantasy. The fashion of 2005 is not my favorite but there have been worse times.

Charlie offers to come with me. I bugger, looking at him with wide eyes. I mean, what dad would suggest his 17-year-old daughter go shopping with him?! I blink several times, but before I can answer him, he realizes the problem and tells me to forget what he just said.

"But are you sure the tank will be enough?"

Please dad. We are in the United States, not in the depths of Siberia. I will meet a gas station on the way.

Alright Alright. By the way, I brought you back what you asked for last night.

It's true ? All ? I exclaim, all excited.

Yes all ! Charlie has fun. »

It must be said that I jumped in the direction of the bag he pointed out to me. I quickly check and noticing that nothing is missing, I rush over to give him a hug.

" Thank you dad ! You're the best ! »

He blushes peony.

"Charlie Complicity +2"

I give him a kiss and go to my room, carrying several plastic bottles and a gas lighter.

"Complicity Charlie +1"

"Don't set the house on fire! I hear Charlie shout at me.

In my room, I empty the bag on my bed and start creating my bouquet of flowers. Using a pair of sharp scissors I cut circles 5 cm in diameter, or about 2 inches on my ruler. I knew my years of scrapbooking wouldn't be wasted! I am a converting pro. I then cut out ovals, then trim the edges of the circles and ovals in such a way as to make jagged petals and leaves. I pierce them with a punch.

I then cut out a 30.5 cm (12 inch) piece of aluminum wire, which I fold in half after placing a bead in the center. I then slip the wire into the hole in the center of the circles, then twist the aluminum wire before adding two sheets. I proceed in the same way for all the circles and the ovals.

After 5 or 6 wounds (note to myself: remember to leave disinfectant and bandages close at hand as soon as I tinker with this body), I take the flowers to the window and light the lighter. I pass it over each of the petals and leaves, swirling evenly. The plastic shrinks and the true shape of the flowers appears. I gather these in a bouquet and secure it with a ribbon.

Proud of myself, I'm about to show it to Charlie when I see the time. Thin ! Midnight ! Charlie must be asleep already and I better do the same. I put my bouquet on my desk, lower the gas lighter in the kitchen (You never know with my clumsiness) and open my statistics window before going to bed. I wanted to see if my dexterity had increased. Concretely, I wanted to know if the statistics could be improved.

"Player Features:

STRENGTH: 50

DEXTERITY: 20 (+5)

SMART: 150

FOCUS: 200 (+10)

SHAPE: 50"

I smile at the numbers that appear… Bella… It's time to give your body a proper workout. I close my eyes and wake up to the shrill sound of my alarm clock. Barely my eyelids lifted, I jump. Alice looks at me disapprovingly with her hands on her hips next to my bed.

"Alice! I exclaim.

Bella, you won't escape the trip to Seattle on Saturday, she replies implacably.

I didn't count on escaping it, but I hadn't heard from you. I didn't even know if I would see you again!

You think I'm going to scroll when I'm offered a shopping day! »

I give him a sidelong look and a smirk.

" No ! Definitely not! But why didn't you come to school yesterday? »

She takes a serious look and sits on the bed putting clothes on my bed, new and definitely not to this body. I start to dress in front of her. No, I'm not embarrassed and she doesn't seem to be either. She answers me after a long sigh.

"Edward was prevented from doing anything.

Hold on ! I don't understand. He didn't go to Alaska to see the Denali? »

She looks at me, surprised.

"Do you know about them?" Well no. When we returned on Tuesday, he took refuge in his meadow and did not move for hours. I went to find him when I had a vision of him coming to visit you in the middle of the night. »

I am surprised. In the book, he goes to Alaska all week, only to finally decide he's stronger than his murderous compulsion. So why didn't he leave?

"I can see your confusion Bella. He wasn't supposed to be here Tuesday night, was he? Alice asks.

He was supposed to leave all week and not return until Sunday evening.

It's strange… By the way, do you know why he holds that handkerchief to his nose all the time? »

It's my turn to be surprised.

" A tissue ? No, I don't see..."

I stop and pout, remembering that moment of weakness.

"Well yes, obviously, you know it, she says, amused.

I wiped away my tears with Tuesday.

He made you cry! she exclaims, getting angry.

No ! I was just thinking about...

to… she said, curious.

Can we save that for our time in Seattle? Honestly, I don't have the time or the strength to discuss this with you before going to class.

You are right, you have to prepare. We have so little time. »

She drags me to the office chair, sits me down and pulls out some makeup from her purse.

"So are you coming too?

I promised Edward to keep you safe and Jasper to watch you.

I think I figured out who wants to kill me more between the two.

Don't blame Jasper too much. You really scared him on Tuesday!

I imagine that without your message, I would have ended up emptied in the forest.

… Do you really want the answer? »

I sighed.

"Not really… But why did Edward ask you to keep me safe?"

He saw the scene with Mike outside your house.

Did you have a vision of that?

No, no, he saw it first hand and believe me, it stirred him. »

I was shaking with fear. So he was there waiting for me. I came closer to my death than I imagined. I feel Alice's hand on mine.

"Bella, it's not what you imagine." After seeing you cry for no apparent reason in biology, then smiling at him an hour later, despite his rudeness, he was completely lost and followed you.

He knows that I know? I ask, feeling the panic rising.

He knows you're different, but no, he doesn't know you know about vampires. I didn't even tell Jasper.

For what ?

Because he would do anything to protect me, including telling Edward that our family is in danger.

I'm beginning to believe that ignorance is a blessing, I say with a grimace. »

Alice smiles at me and I return her smile, losing it as soon as she talks to me about buying high heels…Alice remains Alice obviously.

Alice walks home and I set off, dressed in a gorgeous dark blue peplum top with lace trim showcasing my cleavage. I felt sexy and good about myself, until I realized that Mike took this choice of clothing for an invitation to flirt. As if a girl couldn't just dress well for her own good!

This Mike is a Cro-Magnon man. I can't believe no girl kicked him in the parts. I mean, if a quest that involves 'dumping Mike before he puts his hand on your cleavage' pops up, that boy has serious self-control issues! You do not believe ?

My day was summed up in a gigantic hide-and-seek and I couldn't even eat my baby carrots and my broccoli without receiving a lustful look from Mike… I would have taken refuge on a sandwich, but the American bread was depressing… I miss my Tradition baguette. I would pay a lot for a good ham and butter in a fresh and crispy baguette right out of the oven… I wonder if we can buy your sourdough here… because I'm going to ask for a bread machine for my birthday… If I manage to survive until then… Dammit! My life has become complicated!

As I was leaving high school, Alice slipped a prehistoric, but probably state-of-the-art for 2005, laptop into my hand.

"I pre-registered my number and those of the family. Call me when you're ready on Saturday.

Thank you Alice. »

I smile at him gratefully and leave for Port Angeles. I don't know if Alice saw me there, but she must have understood that I needed this alone time to find myself… Two hours later, I regretted not having asked her to come with me… Four men stand around me, one of them with a knife. I know they're not after my wallet, but I hold my purse tightly against me. I remember the gestures of self-defense Hoping Alice took my call for help.

I concentrate on the most dangerous, the man with the knife. He takes the first step and my body moves on its own, less well than my previous body, but enough to throw it off balance and disarm it. I retrieve the knife and plant it in his leg. He screams and tries to grab me when a car bursts into the alley. I feel a cool little hand pull me towards the car and hear an ominous rumble, followed by screams and creaks. When I look up at the alley, a horror vision overwhelms me. The men, like disjointed puppets, are spread out on the sidewalk. Ironically, an ACDC song plays on the car radio: Highway to Hell. I look up at Alice, then Edward and start crying.