"What happened? Izzy asked. "Is someone hurt?
Paul sighed. "Did you read that article on TMZ this morning?"
TMZ? Paul had given her the scare of a lifetime over a trashy gossip magazine? She knew Paul could be a jerk at times, but this was extreme even for him.
"What are those clowns saying about us this time," Izzy asked, walking back towards Edward's room. "Am I back on heroin or is Sam having another steamy affair?"
She didn't have time for pointless drama. Not when Edward was waiting for her on the other end of the hall.
"It's about the concert last night," Paul said. "I'm sending you the link. You should probably take a look."
Jake would have mentioned if something newsworthy happened at the show, right? Wrong. Izzy's blood pressure rose with each snarky sentence.
Wolf Pack's Last Howl?
"In Seattle, stage fright seems to have gotten the best of the Wolves."
Izzy took a deep breath and hit play on the video. Brady was sitting still as a statue behind the drums. Jake put his hand on Brandy's shoulder. Jake said something, but his voice was drowned out by the booing crowd. Brady shook Jake off and bolted off the stage.
Izzy clenched her fist. Poor Brady. She should never have agreed to let him take her place. A sold-out show was a far cry from a high school band concert.
"People aren't happy about this," Paul said. "They're demanding that the venue refund their tickets."
As a teenager, Izzy would have been horrified by the idea of an entire stadium being upset with her. Now, she couldn't bring herself to care. If the last few years had taught her anything it was that trying to keep everyone happy was a waste of time. No matter what she did, there would always be someone who disagreed. It was best to just stick to her morals and do what she felt was right regardless of what other people thought. While it was unfortunate that the fans were upset, choosing Edward over the concert was the right decision.
"Jake promised you'd be back for the next show," Paul said.
That was what she told Jake. At the time, it seemed like a good idea. One missed show in exchange for a weekend of relaxing on Esme's dollar. If only Izzy knew back then what she was getting herself into.
"You will be back for the next show, right?" Paul asked
The next show. It was hard to think about events days away when she'd been surviving one hour at a time.
"Of course," Izzy replied. "I'll fly down to the show and head back up to Alaska afterward."
"What about Miami?" Paul asked. "You'll be able to spend three, maybe four days in Alaska before you have to leave again. For time's sake, it would probably be better to just stay here between shows."
While Izzy hated to admit it, Paul was probably right. No same person would fly thousands of miles just to spend two days in a hospital room.
"After that, you guys play Huston, Austin, and the East coast." Paul continued. "Going back to Alaska isn't worth the hassle."
Paul had a point. It would be a hassle. She'd have to learn to sleep on planes and compose lyrics in waiting rooms. Any person with half a brain could see it would never work.
Izzy leaned against the wall. "At least I'll earn a lot of air miles."
For Edward, the hassle was worth it. She'd find a way to make it work even if it killed her.
"It's Alaska," Paul said. "What if there's a storm and you get stuck up there?"
Izzy didn't have a witty response. While the last few days had been relatively clear, she knew that wouldn't always be the case. Winter was coming and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
"You can't miss any more events," Paul said. "The label is already angry enough with you guys."
"What is new?" Izzy said, rolling her eyes.
The label wasn't happy about the riot. The label wasn't happy about them taking so many pro bono gigs. The label wasn't happy about a lot of things. If the label wanted a band to be happy about then maybe they should have picked a group that cared about more than making money.
"They're threatening to drop you," Paul said.
"Again?" Izzy huffed.
The label threatened to drop them at least twice a year. Nothing had ever come of it. A new album and a sold-out show had always been enough to smooth things over.
"This isn't just going to blow over," Paul said. "Peter showed up at the house. He says there will be consequences if any of you screw up again."
It was hard to imagine Peter anywhere but in his fancy office. Things must be serious if he was willing to leave LA to yell at them.
"Why didn't Jake mention this to me?" Izzy asked.
Izzy was a member of the band too. She had the right to know if there was a problem.
"Because Jake is Jake," Paul said. "He thought he could handle things himself."
When would Jake learn? He didn't need to protect her anymore.
"Please don't be too upset with him, Bella," Paul said. "He wasn't trying to hurt you. He just didn't want to put anything more on your plate."
Bella. None of them had called her that in a while. Not since the dark days.
"I can handle bad news," Izzy said. "I'm not some weak little girl anymore."
"No one is saying you are," Paul said. "Your ex-fiance came back from the dead. That would be a lot for anyone to handle."
Ex-Fiance.Izzy had never thought of Edward as her ex. There hadn't been any fighting, betrayal, or falling out of love. There was a last kiss, but it was meant to be followed by another at the altar. Izzy thought she'd have to spend the rest of her life wondering what if. Now, what could have been was what could still be.
"I have no idea what I'd do in your shoes," Paul said. "I'd probably be a mess if it were Lucy who'd come back."
Lucy. Izzy had never heard him say her name out loud. Like the Cullens, Lucy was on the list of taboo conversation topics in their house. They all knew better than to talk about the freak accident that claimed the life of Paul's high school girlfriend. If any of them ever forgot, the bump on Quil's nose served as a reminder.
"I don't know how I'd tell her I'd moved on," Paul said.
A week ago, Izzy would have said she'd moved on. While losing Edward had left a gaping hole in her chest, time had faded the scar. Sometimes, days passed without Izzy thinking about him. She had become a strong, confident, person capable of letting other people in. Edward coming back had ripped those old wounds back open. Maybe they'd never healed in the first place. Outgoing, brave Izzy had been replaced by broken Bella and she wasn't leaving anytime soon.
"I don't envy you," Paul said. "I have no idea how I'd tell Lucy that I'm dating someone new."
"Jake and I aren't dating," Izzy said.
They worked together. They shared a bedroom. They'd spend more than a few nights talking about their innermost thoughts. Izzy and Jake cared for each other deeply, but they weren't dating. They'd flirted with that line but never crossed it.
"But you do love him," Paul said.
"Of course," Izzy said without hesitation. "He's my best friend."
Izzy loved rescuing dogs and making music with Jake. She loved it when they worked on engines or went cliff diving together. She loved it when they laughed until they cried. She loved being his friend.
"Do you want to be more than friends?" Paul asked.
Could their friendship blossom into something more? Something deep, true, and forever? Izzy didn't know. Esme interrupted what would have been their first kiss.
"You're going to have to decide eventually," Paul said when Izzy didn't answer. "Maybe not now but soon. It's not fair to leave him in limbo."
It wasn't fair that Jake's parents died. It wasn't fair that he lost his house. It wasn't fair that he always had to be the strong one. It wasn't fair that the woman he loved couldn't definitively say she loved him back. Nothing about Jake's life was fair.
Instead of confessing her inner conflict to Paul, Izzy changed the subject. "Is there anything else I should know about?"
"Angel got loose again," Paul said.
What happened?"
They took precautions when it came to Angel's care. Volunteers weren't allowed to feed her. She wore a muzzle and harness outside while on walks. Her pen, dubbed doggy Alcatraz, had extra high fencing and triple locks. How on earth had she managed to get out?
"She got away from Jake on a walk," Paul answered. "Apparently she saw a squirrel and took off."
Izzy thought of the churning ocean water and speeding cars. "Did you catch her?"
In spite of everything she'd put them through, Izzy still believed there was hope for Angel. She just had to figure out a way to reach her. That couldn't happen if she was lying dead in a ditch.
"Leah found her sniffing around the school playground," Paul said.
The playground? Why would Angel go there? Shel hated loud noises and grabby hands, both of which were never in short supply at La Push Elementary.
"We were incredibly lucky," Paul said. "Someone could have been seriously hurt had it been recess time."
Izzy wanted to say Angel would never bite a child, but she knew that wasn't true. Both Angel and children could be unpredictable. Putting them together was just asking for trouble.
"Something like this can't happen again," Paul said. "I know you love Angel, but we can't keep a dog who puts the tribe at risk."
While the Black Pack brought new jobs and tourist dollars to La Push, not everyone supported them. There were some, including Kim's mother, who believed the rescue was a danger to the tribe. With up to 300 dogs at a time, some feared it was only a matter of time until one got out and mauled someone. While petitions to exile the rescue had gone nowhere, Izzy knew Angel getting out again could change that.
"It won't," Izzy said. "I'll double down on her training."
"I thought you already doubled down on her training after she tried to take a chunk out of Jared," Paul said.
Izzy shuttered at the memory of blood rolling down Jared's arm.
"And she'd come a long way since then," Izzy said. "She's okay with me."
While it might not seem that way, Angel had come a long way with her training. Six months ago she wouldn't have bothered with the squirrel. Why bother with a snack when there was far bigger prey on the other side of the leash?
"That's the problem," Paul said. "She likes you and tries to eat everyone else. She's a nightmare whenever you're gone."
"Then I'll take her with me when I go back to Alaska," Izzy said.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why?"
Because it was a stupid idea? Even if by some miracle she got Angel to Alaska, what then? She couldn't bring her to the hospital. Jasper would be terrified of her. Edward would probably end up in anaphylactic shock. Emmett, with his booming laugh and love of all things fluffy, would probably end up getting bit.
"You should finish reading the article," Paul said.
After last night's disappointing show, fans were left wondering, "Where is Izzy?" TMZ reporters caught up with Swan thousands of miles away in Alaska. She was spotted leaving a hotel with a male companion. Izzy's latest hook-up is said to be a member of the infamous Denali Family Cult.
The accompanying image made Izzy grind her teeth. Had they no shame? Emmett wasn't a rock star or corrupt politician. He was just a man who'd been through the unimaginable. He didn't deserve to have a picture of his emaciated body posted online for all to see. While the paparazzi had not captured any clear images of Emmett's face, Izzy knew it wouldn't be long until someone found out his true identity.
The FBI was unwilling to comment on Swan's involvement in the recent raid of the Denali compound but urged Alaskan citizens to be cautious. Cult leader Eleazar is still at large and should be considered armed and dangerous.
Izzy ran a hand through her tangled hair. This was all her fault. She should have been more careful about keeping her true identity a secret. Now the Cullens were going to have to worry about being tried in the court of public.
"That was Emmett in the picture with you, right?" Paul asked.
"Yes," Izzy replied.
Izzy knew it wouldn't be long before someone with looser lips identified Emmett. From there, it wouldn't be long until people learned about his brothers. The fine folks at TMZ would have a field day when they found out about her past with Edward. Late fiance back from the dead? It was like a crappy romance movie come to life.
"How's Emmett doing?" Paul asked
Surprisingly, Izzy detected no venom in his voice.
"About as well as you'd expect," Izzy said.
"It's a shame," Paul said. "Emmett always seemed like such a nice guy."
He was still a nice guy. He didn't deserve any of what happened to him. He didn't deserve to be kidnapped. He didn't deserve to be tortured. He didn't deserve to be mobbed by the paparazzi.
"Those photographers will follow me wherever I go, won't they? Izzy said.
"Yes," Paul replied.
They followed her to rescues and concerts. They showed up at the grocery store and the doctor's office. How long would it be until one of them got inside the hospital? Calling the police wouldn't erase Edward's trauma if he woke up with a camera in his face.
"Me being here will make things worse for them, won't it," Izzy said.
"It's not easy getting caught in the crossfire," Paul said. "I would know."
Paul would know. The epic fight when Jacob found out about Paul and Rachel was posted online for all to see. It was weeks before Paul and Rachel could leave the house without being mobbed.
"I know this isn't what you want to hear, but it's time for you to come home," Paul said. "It's best for everyone involved."