Chapter 6

… while the wolf isn't there…

When I open my eyes, I find myself in the same position that I had adopted the previous evening. I exclaim:

"It's the first time since I arrived here that I haven't turned the bed during my sleep.

I confirm that you have very restless nights, Edward answers, with his smirk. All your dreams seem to revolve around survival. »

I raise an eyebrow.

"You talk in your sleep… he tells me.

Oh ! I exclaim, remembering this detail. And I said interesting things?

You blamed someone for lying, you probably don't like animals that shed, and you seemed to relive an assault…-

He paused briefly, before adding with a sigh:

"But you never asked for help. »

I get up on my elbows to get a better look at him.

"One is never better served than by oneself, it seems… And then, I learned that it is better not to expect anything from people, than to be disappointed.

Thirty two…

I beg your pardon ?! I answer, surprised.

I add you two years, because what you just said is decidedly not your age. »

I pat him on the thigh. Mmmm… Nice quadriceps, but a little too hard. I wince at the impact, luckily I didn't put too much force into it and there's no damage. Of course, Edward notices and takes my hand to examine it. I take the lead, assuring him that everything is fine and removing my hand from his.

"In any case, I would like my squats to give as many results as yours. »

It's his turn to be surprised. I point to her thighs.

"Your quadriceps are solid… I envy you. »

He frowns.

"You shouldn't envy me, I'm not who you think.

Because we all seek to hide what seems most questionable in us. We all wear a mask.

Thirty-three years…

Good ! I think I'm going to have lunch before I reach retirement age, I say as I sit down.

You don't ask me why Alice didn't come? he asks me, curious.

If it was important, you would have told me. I just hope you were comfortable all night.

I had a good night, he told me with a smirk.

So that's the main thing! »

I get up, eat the gargantuan breakfast Esme had prepared and get ready to go on the shopping spree of the century. Whatever I imagined, nothing could match the actual experience. Alice overwhelmed me with…well just about everything, from the ultra-cocooning winter coat to the almost panty-showing necklines.

"Alice do you realize that if I put those heels on I'm going to get dizzy just wearing them?"

Bella, she pleads with her puppy eyes.

No ! I veto anything over 3 inches tall.

Hmph! she grumbles. »

"Hidden quest completed…Requirement: Resist Alice's Persuasiveness 10 times…Reward granted: One free purchase…Your reward will be available soon."

"New Skill Gained: Pressure Resistance +10"

I discreetly close the blue window. There really are quests for all situations… I sigh, closing my eyes, then Alice pulls my arm and I'm about to follow her when my gaze is caught by a window. I walk towards her, as if hypnotized.

"Do you play guitar Bella?" asks Alice.

In another life, yes… I whisper. »

Then I pull myself together and say louder:

"I mean, I couldn't take my guitar to Forks. »

She then enters the shop, pulling me with her. She points to the guitar I had looked at in the window. I'm still in a daze. I hadn't realized that I missed music that much. A week without strumming my acoustic guitar. We went out and I was on autopilot. I had just realized that there was a good chance that this world would be my life from now on. Until now I had only been riding the wave so as not to drown, not taking the time to even realize what had happened to me. The absence of my guitar triggered an electric shock in me.

The trip back to Forks was like a dream. Alice realized I was somewhere else and didn't ask me questions or I didn't hear them. When she pulls up in front of Charlie's, her car isn't in the driveway. She helps me take the packages up to my room. She hands me my phone with a mischievous smile. I blink and look at him questioningly. She whispers to me:

" You will see… "

I hear Charlie park in front of the house. We go down to greet him. After having made the introductions between Charlie and Alice and reassuring my father about the state of my shoulder, she kisses me saying to me:

"See you tomorrow, I'll pick you up, since you left your car at home. Don't forget to put on one of your new outfits. »

She is near Charlie:

"Thank you so much Chief Swan for allowing Bella to spend time with my family. We had a lot of fun with the girls. Esme has invited Bella to come back whenever she wants and I thought it would be nice if we did our homework once in a while together here or at home.

Well, that's a good idea, Charlie replies, already under his spell.

Thank you sir.

Call me Charlie Alice, he told her, smiling. »

She takes her leave and I cook while Charlie turns on the television. I ponder Alice's words. Is my truck really at the Cullens. I then receive an SMS… Alice…

"Edward and Emmett picked him up today. Emmett suggests you run instead of coming to class with your truck ;)"

I chuckle then type a response:

"If it freezes this week I will try to come by sliding on my buttocks, it will be just as fast and less dangerous…"

Writing this message reminds me of another major event in the book: Tyler's car accident… What should I do with him. The attempted attack, which should have taken place in several weeks, nevertheless took place. It was a major event that moved the plot forward… Are all the major events necessarily going to happen? I list the said events of the first book while mounting my mayonnaise.

I put down the bowl. Aside from the prairie, only near-death experiences. I'll have the opportunity to improve my luck in the coming weeks ... I take a breath, then continue my preparation of mixed salad. Charlie comes back into the kitchen and asks me if I mind Billy and Jacob coming over to eat during the week. I assure him that I will be delighted to see them again after all this time.

"By the way, Bella…

- Yes ?

- Where's the meat?

- It's bad for your kidneys to eat animal protein at night. From now on it will be a vegetarian dinner every other day. »

He frowns. I smile hugging her affectionately.

"I'm just taking care of my darling dad's health, so that he can be by my side as long as possible..."

Charlie blushes and stutters that it's okay and he won't be bitching anymore.

"Complicity with Charlie + 1"

"Complicity with Charlie 10/10"

"Quest completed...reward granted: weekday 10 p.m. outing permission"

"Bonus Quest: Charlie's Complicity Level 2... Earn 20 Complicity Points to get a reward."

I look at the blue window disillusioned… I hate being 17… Strongly independence… But at the same time, it's nice to have a father at home who takes care of me. At that age, it had been a long time since my sire had run off with a diamond digger.

The meal finished, I go up to my room and the problem of the accident comes back to me. I decide to ask Alice for help without going into details.

"Alice? What would you do if you knew something potentially dangerous could happen to you, but it was going to happen anyway, whatever you chose? »

Half a second after sending the message, the phone rings. Alice's panicked voice comes out of the device.

"What did you see that I didn't see Bella?" Are you in danger?

How do you know I'm talking about me? I could talk about someone else...

Beautiful…

Please, Alice, help me.

Tell me what's going to happen.

Edward listening I guess…"

There's a silence on the line, then I hear wind and branches cracking… Finally, Alice's voice reaches me.

"We are alone Bella, no one to listen to us.

Tyler is going to have a car accident.

What's that got to do with you? Are you in his car?

Not next to mine... Let's say I'm going to see his bumper up close..."

Alice gasps. Then I hear her walking and whispering to herself. I call him :

"Alice? Alice? Nothing happens to me… At least nothing happened to the Bella at the time when I had this vision…"

I hear Alice stop walking.

" What do you mean by that ?

- Well, it's been a while since I had this dream, but I did it before a lot of others and in the meantime the future has been changed...

- Concretely, you are in the dark, because you know that the accident is going to happen, but you don't know if the context hasn't changed too much to be sure that everything will be fine for you. That's right ?

- You summed it up pretty well… relieved that she understood without having to go further with my explanations.

- Alright, let's recap. You think the accident is inevitable.

- From what I observed from my visions of the future, yes.

- So we can't prevent it, but we can, perhaps, shelter you?

- Good idea Alice. I could just stay in my car. She would resist a tank.

- That's for sure ! This monstrosity shouldn't have been driven for decades!

- Hey! I protest. She deserves credit for doing her job: taking me to high school.

- It's also another solution… If we take you to school, no more accidents next to your car…

- I don't want Edward to have to buy another car.

- In case you haven't noticed yet, he has the means.

- I won't drag him into my shenanigans. Especially since if you were involved, it will expose you. I don't want to risk your safety. »

I hear her smile on the other side of the line when she nods.

"Okay Bella. We're gonna do things your way. But I'll keep an eye on your future.

- Thank you Alice.

- Friends are made for that. By the way, how do you like your new cell phone ringtone?

- You mean the music Interview with the Vampire? Very funny Alice! I say rolling my eyes.

- I also find. »

We start discussing our day and I hear him running, then slowing down.

"It's true that he made a funny face when you asked him to try on all the coats in the row, I say, laughing...

- You have to be sure that you have explored all the possibilities.

- I'm going to go to bed I think Alice.

- Good night Bella.

- Good night Alice. Oh ! By the way, don't worry if I don't come one evening during the week, dad invited his best friend and his son over to the house.

- How are they called ?

- Black. They are from the reserve. »

I hear several gasps through the handset. Whoops ! She must already be in the house. I guess that means the wolf is out of the woods.