hey guys, a shorter chapter this time, but the next one will be back in bella's POV...enjoi!
I should have known how Alice and Esme would react.
When we entered the house, they were waiting for us ready to pounce. Esme was the closet to the door.
“What happened?” her voice was thick with worry. My head was still spinning from what Bella said to reply to her.
She took in my expression and I could hear the panic running through her mind.
What happened?
Carlisle answered her calmly, but with a sad edge to his voice.
“Seth was filling us in on what happened while we were away…” he hesitated looking at me with cautious eyes. I met his glance and nodded.
He sighed. “And Bella showed up unexpectedly. She saw us there and ran away.” He was editing, but I had no idea why.
“We followed her, and heard her on the phone. She was worried about us being back…” he hesitated again swapping a glance with Jasper and Emmet, and they all looked uncertainly at me.
“Tell them.” I said hoarsely, my mind still numb.
Carlisle sighed again. “And Bella…” he sucked in a deep breath. “Bella…told Edward…to… let her go.”
Alice and Esme gasped silently. I looked up at Esme’s face and saw the pained look, which is what vampires look like when they should be crying. Her eyes were pinched up, and she was sobbing dryly. Alice moved to my side and put her hand on my shoulder.
“Edward I…I’m…” she couldn’t speak, she was still shocked.
I’m so sorry.
It was not the person thinking which I thought it would be.
Rosalie was walking down the staircase, her face looking as shocked as Alice’s. She moved to my other side and placed a feather like hand on my shoulder.
School…Carlisle’s thought was insightful.
I looked at him questioningly. He met my numb gaze animatedly.
“Carlisle, what are you on about?” I asked, my voice was still hoarse, but a hint of my irritation seeped through.
“School.” He said aloud this time, so everyone could hear. Now I wasn’t the only one with a confused expression.
A look of knowing look came to Emmet’s face.
“Oh!” his voice was starting to sound enthusiastic. “I get it!”
The look on everyone’s face was incredulous now; Emmet rarely got anything before the mind reader and the psychic.
Alice’s eyes became unfocused and I caught a glimpse of what they were talking about.
I saw the school, and my biology classroom; but Mr. Varner wasn’t the only one at the front of the room teaching. Jasper was standing silently behind him, holding a picture of the exam being explained, with another boy pointing to different things on the exam paper. Another flash showed my gym class with Emmet teaching with Coach Clapp and another, talking about dodge ball.
Their plan was suddenly clear to me.
“You guys want to go under-cover at the school?” my voice sounded dubious.
Carlisle nodded.
“Emmet and Jasper-” he cut off looking questioningly at Rosalie, before he started again. “And…maybe Rosalie…could go to the school as if you’re doing it for part of your schooling course…” his voice was excitedly energetic. “And keep an eye out for any suspicious actions from Bella. We could ask Sam to do it as well...” he trailed off thoughtfully. “He’d want to help. But it will help us get information on Bella’s actions.” He was looking at me vigilantly.
Alice muttered. “It’s a good idea.”
“Yes it is…” Emmet agreed, “It couldn’t hurt Edward.”
Everyone’s thoughts were enthusiastic at this new plan.
Everyone but Esme.
They don’t have to do it if you don’t want to Edward. Her thoughts were full of concern. Just say it, and we can think of something else.
I shook my head, and smiled wryly at her.
“It is a good idea.” I said to her alone. Everyone looked at me and then at her, wondering what plan we had just silently discussed.
I looked at Carlisle, my eagerness suddenly aroused.
“I’ll call Sam and Jacob, and inform them of the plan…” I was in full strategy mode now. “Carlisle you call the school and organize everything…Jasper, you’ll be teaching science with Varner, Emmet you’ll be teaching gym with Clapp…Rosalie, I didn’t see what you were doing-” Alice cut me off.
“Because you haven’t decided what you’re doing yet. As soon as you make up your mind, I’ll see what area you’ll do.” Alice was staring at me disbelievingly. “Edward, don’t you have a call to make?”
I stared at her stunned. She was kicking me out of report mode.
Call Sam and Jacob…then go for a run…you need to be alone right now…her head was full of sadness.
I nodded and grabbed my cell from my pocket and headed for the door.
Jacob answered after three rings.
“Hello?” his voice was expectant, as if he were waiting for the call.
“Jacob,” my voice was still containing some enthusiasm.
“Oh, hey bloodsucker, to what do I owe this dubious pleasure?” his voice turned acidic in a record breaking amount of time.
“Carlisle had an idea on how to keep and eye on Bella, without us looking like stalkers…”
I chuckled darkly, that was exactly what we were, but we have to change that.
Jacob was silent for a moment.
“I’m listening…” he was paying attention intently now.
“We’ll need Sam’s help…” I explained to him the plan and he ‘hmmed’ and ‘hahed’ at the appropriate times, ad by the end he was as excited at this plan as I was.
“Sam will agree…I’d ask him, but he’s asleep right now…” he shuffled the receiver which made me think he was looking over his shoulder.
“Ah, so he is staying there huh? Emily hasn’t called him back?” my voice was full of pity for Sam. His one true love, kicked him out – for good reason – and won’t answer his calls, even though he now knows that she’s pregnant.
“No…she answered the phone when I called her, but as soon as I put him on the phone, she hung up.”
I felt a great swell of sympathy for Sam now. Avoiding calls; never a good sign.
I should know.
“Uh, Jacob, you should get some sleep for tomorrow…and I’m going to go and get everything ready for tomorrow, so I’ll see you at school okay?”
He yawned loudly.
“Yeah…see you then bloodsucker.” He muttered tiredly.
As the line disconnected, I ran.
I let my instincts take over me as I ran, and I caught Bella’s scent in an instant.
I ran to her house, and hesitated in the shadows. The lights were still on, and there was another car in Bella’s usually spot.
I hesitantly scaled her wall, and peeked through her window.
There was a little girl sitting on the bed, about 7 or 8, it looked like she was crying. I heard Charlie and another female voice talking quietly downstairs.
“I just don’t know what to do Charlie…” the ladies voice sounded stressed and frantic. “He won’t talk to me, or Josephine…when I told his roommate we were moving here, he freaked out…he insisted that we move in here, and Bella move in with him…and I just don’t get it…” I could hear her crying softly, and soft patting on her back, as Charlie comforted her.
“It’s okay…everything’s going to be okay Lennie…I’ll take care of you…” he shushed her gently. “You girls can stay as long as you need to…I’ll take care of you…” it was quiet downstairs then except for the sobbing and Charlie’s soothing.
“B-Bella?” a quiet voice whispered miserably. My eyes refocused to the little girl in Bella’s room. “Why can’t we stay with Nate? I want to see him…I miss him…and I miss you…” she was crying now, almost silently. I could hear the buzz on the receiver as Bella answered.
“Don’t cry Jo…Nate is coming to see you tomorrow after school, and I’m coming as well…we’ll both be there and we’ll figure something out then okay?”
Bella’s voice was wonderful to hear, even muted as it was.
“O-o-kay…” she sobbed into the phone. The sound of feet climbing the stairs was suddenly loud to me, and Josephine heard it too.
“I have to go…” she whispered urgently. “Cya tomorrow Bells.” She hung up the phone and flicked out the light simultaneously. She jumped under the sheets at an astonishing speed, and pretended to be asleep.
The door opened a fraction and a ladies head appeared. This had to be the Lennie that was crying downstairs. She moved into the room and fumbled around looking for something.
I climbed down the window and started running again, trying to waste time before it was time to head to school.
As I ran, I pictured the new Bella compared to the old Bella and tried to determine which one I liked more.
The old Bella had been kind, brave and warm.
This new Bella seemed to be guarded, brave and sad.
I pushed myself faster and watched the sun rise over the Golden Gate bridge before running back to Forks.
I should have known how Alice and Esme would react.
When we entered the house, they were waiting for us ready to pounce. Esme was the closet to the door.
“What happened?” her voice was thick with worry. My head was still spinning from what Bella said to reply to her.
She took in my expression and I could hear the panic running through her mind.
What happened?
Carlisle answered her calmly, but with a sad edge to his voice.
“Seth was filling us in on what happened while we were away…” he hesitated looking at me with cautious eyes. I met his glance and nodded.
He sighed. “And Bella showed up unexpectedly. She saw us there and ran away.” He was editing, but I had no idea why.
“We followed her, and heard her on the phone. She was worried about us being back…” he hesitated again swapping a glance with Jasper and Emmet, and they all looked uncertainly at me.
“Tell them.” I said hoarsely, my mind still numb.
Carlisle sighed again. “And Bella…” he sucked in a deep breath. “Bella…told Edward…to… let her go.”
Alice and Esme gasped silently. I looked up at Esme’s face and saw the pained look, which is what vampires look like when they should be crying. Her eyes were pinched up, and she was sobbing dryly. Alice moved to my side and put her hand on my shoulder.
“Edward I…I’m…” she couldn’t speak, she was still shocked.
I’m so sorry.
It was not the person thinking which I thought it would be.
Rosalie was walking down the staircase, her face looking as shocked as Alice’s. She moved to my other side and placed a feather like hand on my shoulder.
School…Carlisle’s thought was insightful.
I looked at him questioningly. He met my numb gaze animatedly.
“Carlisle, what are you on about?” I asked, my voice was still hoarse, but a hint of my irritation seeped through.
“School.” He said aloud this time, so everyone could hear. Now I wasn’t the only one with a confused expression.
A look of knowing look came to Emmet’s face.
“Oh!” his voice was starting to sound enthusiastic. “I get it!”
The look on everyone’s face was incredulous now; Emmet rarely got anything before the mind reader and the psychic.
Alice’s eyes became unfocused and I caught a glimpse of what they were talking about.
I saw the school, and my biology classroom; but Mr. Varner wasn’t the only one at the front of the room teaching. Jasper was standing silently behind him, holding a picture of the exam being explained, with another boy pointing to different things on the exam paper. Another flash showed my gym class with Emmet teaching with Coach Clapp and another, talking about dodge ball.
Their plan was suddenly clear to me.
“You guys want to go under-cover at the school?” my voice sounded dubious.
Carlisle nodded.
“Emmet and Jasper-” he cut off looking questioningly at Rosalie, before he started again. “And…maybe Rosalie…could go to the school as if you’re doing it for part of your schooling course…” his voice was excitedly energetic. “And keep an eye out for any suspicious actions from Bella. We could ask Sam to do it as well...” he trailed off thoughtfully. “He’d want to help. But it will help us get information on Bella’s actions.” He was looking at me vigilantly.
Alice muttered. “It’s a good idea.”
“Yes it is…” Emmet agreed, “It couldn’t hurt Edward.”
Everyone’s thoughts were enthusiastic at this new plan.
Everyone but Esme.
They don’t have to do it if you don’t want to Edward. Her thoughts were full of concern. Just say it, and we can think of something else.
I shook my head, and smiled wryly at her.
“It is a good idea.” I said to her alone. Everyone looked at me and then at her, wondering what plan we had just silently discussed.
I looked at Carlisle, my eagerness suddenly aroused.
“I’ll call Sam and Jacob, and inform them of the plan…” I was in full strategy mode now. “Carlisle you call the school and organize everything…Jasper, you’ll be teaching science with Varner, Emmet you’ll be teaching gym with Clapp…Rosalie, I didn’t see what you were doing-” Alice cut me off.
“Because you haven’t decided what you’re doing yet. As soon as you make up your mind, I’ll see what area you’ll do.” Alice was staring at me disbelievingly. “Edward, don’t you have a call to make?”
I stared at her stunned. She was kicking me out of report mode.
Call Sam and Jacob…then go for a run…you need to be alone right now…her head was full of sadness.
I nodded and grabbed my cell from my pocket and headed for the door.
Jacob answered after three rings.
“Hello?” his voice was expectant, as if he were waiting for the call.
“Jacob,” my voice was still containing some enthusiasm.
“Oh, hey bloodsucker, to what do I owe this dubious pleasure?” his voice turned acidic in a record breaking amount of time.
“Carlisle had an idea on how to keep and eye on Bella, without us looking like stalkers…”
I chuckled darkly, that was exactly what we were, but we have to change that.
Jacob was silent for a moment.
“I’m listening…” he was paying attention intently now.
“We’ll need Sam’s help…” I explained to him the plan and he ‘hmmed’ and ‘hahed’ at the appropriate times, ad by the end he was as excited at this plan as I was.
“Sam will agree…I’d ask him, but he’s asleep right now…” he shuffled the receiver which made me think he was looking over his shoulder.
“Ah, so he is staying there huh? Emily hasn’t called him back?” my voice was full of pity for Sam. His one true love, kicked him out – for good reason – and won’t answer his calls, even though he now knows that she’s pregnant.
“No…she answered the phone when I called her, but as soon as I put him on the phone, she hung up.”
I felt a great swell of sympathy for Sam now. Avoiding calls; never a good sign.
I should know.
“Uh, Jacob, you should get some sleep for tomorrow…and I’m going to go and get everything ready for tomorrow, so I’ll see you at school okay?”
He yawned loudly.
“Yeah…see you then bloodsucker.” He muttered tiredly.
As the line disconnected, I ran.
I let my instincts take over me as I ran, and I caught Bella’s scent in an instant.
I ran to her house, and hesitated in the shadows. The lights were still on, and there was another car in Bella’s usually spot.
I hesitantly scaled her wall, and peeked through her window.
There was a little girl sitting on the bed, about 7 or 8, it looked like she was crying. I heard Charlie and another female voice talking quietly downstairs.
“I just don’t know what to do Charlie…” the ladies voice sounded stressed and frantic. “He won’t talk to me, or Josephine…when I told his roommate we were moving here, he freaked out…he insisted that we move in here, and Bella move in with him…and I just don’t get it…” I could hear her crying softly, and soft patting on her back, as Charlie comforted her.
“It’s okay…everything’s going to be okay Lennie…I’ll take care of you…” he shushed her gently. “You girls can stay as long as you need to…I’ll take care of you…” it was quiet downstairs then except for the sobbing and Charlie’s soothing.
“B-Bella?” a quiet voice whispered miserably. My eyes refocused to the little girl in Bella’s room. “Why can’t we stay with Nate? I want to see him…I miss him…and I miss you…” she was crying now, almost silently. I could hear the buzz on the receiver as Bella answered.
“Don’t cry Jo…Nate is coming to see you tomorrow after school, and I’m coming as well…we’ll both be there and we’ll figure something out then okay?”
Bella’s voice was wonderful to hear, even muted as it was.
“O-o-kay…” she sobbed into the phone. The sound of feet climbing the stairs was suddenly loud to me, and Josephine heard it too.
“I have to go…” she whispered urgently. “Cya tomorrow Bells.” She hung up the phone and flicked out the light simultaneously. She jumped under the sheets at an astonishing speed, and pretended to be asleep.
The door opened a fraction and a ladies head appeared. This had to be the Lennie that was crying downstairs. She moved into the room and fumbled around looking for something.
I climbed down the window and started running again, trying to waste time before it was time to head to school.
As I ran, I pictured the new Bella compared to the old Bella and tried to determine which one I liked more.
The old Bella had been kind, brave and warm.
This new Bella seemed to be guarded, brave and sad.
I pushed myself faster and watched the sun rise over the Golden Gate bridge before running back to Forks.
