Edward dashed through the school faster than he ever had, desperate to get away from the sickeningly sweet scent that is Isabella Swan.
Though he was at the school – a place where The Cullens remained as inconspicuous as divinely beautiful immortal beings could – Edward dashed through the corridors with inhuman speed.
A few eyes did manage to catch a glimpse of his shadow, but, like always, the humans convinced themselves that they didn’t just see what they had precisely seen.
It was a convenient quirk that had saved the Cullens more than once.
By the time the blur of speed manifested into Edward Cullen, the immortal vampire was already a few feet away from his Volvo. Alice and the others were already seated in the car, merely waiting for the driver.
The driver is Edward.
For the first time since leaving class, Edward sucked a breath of fresh air, flushing the taste of Bella from his venom-soaked mouth and lungs.
Vampires didn’t need to breathe, but scent came in handy for the hunt – it had now become a curse.
“Edward?” Alice was alarmed, switching her vision from Jasper for the first time in half a day.
Edward shook his head, begging Alice not to look too deeply, but it was too late – she saw, as she did, everything.
“What the hell happened to you?” Emmett was interested wherever he smelt a fight.
Edward didn’t have the time to reply to Emmett’s question, instead reversing the car out of the school, and pressing the pedal to shoot across the road.
The car hit forty by the time Edward had exited the school, and seventy by the time he passed the first house on the road. Then, the car disappeared across two stoplights.
By the time Edward had the presence of mind to ease his foot from the accelerator, the Cullens had already entered the familiar woods of their home.
Alice’s visions had reached a conclusion at that time – it took her a bit longer due to Edward’s chaotic mind, but when the hint of a decision was made, she could see the branching paths.
“Oh…” She murmured.
Edward linked his mind to Alice's, watching the visions as she did – visions of Bella’s death, visions of a field of snow, visions of Charlie Swan’s death, and visions of Edward departing Forks.
“You’re leaving?” Alice asked.
“Am I?” Edward growled, genuinely wondering if he would spin back around to taste the sweet blood bag that is Isabella Swan.
Rosalie and Emmett were confused – as they always were when Edward and Alice had a conversation of no words. Jasper was similarly confused, but he was always patient.
“I’ll miss you,” Alice said, noticing they were almost home. “Drop us off here,” She instructed. “Carlisle isn’t at home. You need to go to the hospital to tell him yourself.”
Alice, Emmett, Jasper, and Rosalie exited the car as it came to a stop. Edward’s hands clung to the steering wheel as if afraid releasing his hands would bring about dire consequences.
“You will do the right thing,” Alice’s last words were more an order than a vision. “Bella is Charlie’s daughter. Killing her would be like killing him too.”
‘I know!’ Edward’s mind raged. ‘That’s why I am trying not to do it!’
When Alice took a step back, Edward pressed the gas once more, disappearing in the fastest burst of speed his Volvo could handle.
“What happened?” Rosalie finally couldn’t suppress the urge to know. “Why is Edward leaving?”
“Because there is a singer at the High School,” Alice replied.
“What’s a singer?” Rosalie further inquired.
Alice internally frowned since she had once again lost sight of the present, using a term that they would not learn until Carlisle got home later.
“Emmett should know…” Alice whispered. “He encountered a woman whose blood sang to him before.”
Rosalie’s eyes narrowed in understanding – more than once Emmett had told her about that particular incident, and while she didn’t believe any blood could be so enticing, she could put her pride to rest from time to time.
“And she lived?” Jasper’s eyes narrowed, assessing the danger.
“That’s why he has to leave,” Alice replied curtly. “It’s Isabella Swan, the new girl. It would be bad if she died – it would break Charlie’s heart, and I am not sure we would live through the incident.”
“Why?” Emmett shrugged his shoulders, reminiscing about the time he met a singer and attacked immediately. “I say Edward juice the girl and we move along. From my experience, that type of blood is hard to resist.”
“Because Isabella Swan is protected by Xavier Aionios,” Alice replied.
“A human?” Rosalie snorted in disdain.
“I was meaning to ask,” Jasper reflected on his memories, pinpointing the moment Xavier pulled Alice from her seat during his confession to Angela. “You resisted when Xavier pulled you from your seat, did you not?”
“I did… quite weakly, but I did,” Alice confirmed.
“Then—”
“This is not a conversation meant for now,” Alice interrupted her mate. “We will discuss this with Carlisle later and he will explain everything. For now, we should be cautious.”
Rosalie was unsatisfied but did not inquire further.
Emmett was as careless as ever.
Jasper started mental preparations for the threats to come.
۞۞۞
JANUARY 19th 2005 - WEDNESDAY
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FORKS, WASHINGTON – EARLY MORNING
Xavier awakened with a headache the following day.
It took a minute for his pounding mind to offer clear memories, but as soon as it did, he couldn’t help but wince at the fight that had taken place.
It was more or less the same opponents, only this time Xavier was the one to lose instead of the football team.
“They’re definitely on steroids,” The Eternal grumbled, then gloated. “Still took two metal bats to the head to get me down though.”
GROAN
GROAN
Two more groans came from the right, and Xavier turned to be greeted by Jessie’s bruised cheek, and Ron’s hand in a cast. Finally, Xavier reflected on the fight in its entirety.
Brandon, Jimmy, Ned, Clem, Jean, Sed…
Tables were tossed, spoons broke, bodies slammed…
Jessie jumped into the fight with no hesitation – she was a brave warrior, but ultimately lost to two guys. Ron joined next – he always had a heroic heart, but he was knocked out in three seconds flat.
In the end, all Xavier could remember was the kicking, hitting with bats, and throwing punches rather wildly. Cops came, phones caught video, and now, he was in a cell.
“You up?” Xzavier inquired.
“Damn, I will never have your back in a fight again!” Jessie complained, nursing her bruised cheek. “I would be dead in Brandon hadn’t changed his fist into a slap at the last second.”
“I didn’t even get to hit someone,” Ron awoke and seemed on the verge of a breakdown. “I wanted to help… but, I tripped on my feet and leaned into a knockout punch.”
“Haha…” Jessie and Xavier couldn’t help but giggle.
Ron was nervous, but Jessie and Xavier had been to jail enough times to know what came next. Still, they were somewhat worried – a fight like that would have dire consequences for everyone.
Yet, they were the only three in the cell.
Where were Brandon and the rest of the football team?
“You’re wondering where the rest of the guys are?” Charlie’s voice came from outside the cell. “They were processed out yesterday, but you guys needed to sleep off the ass whooping you took.”
“Hey!” Jessie complained. “We won that fight.”
“It isn’t about winning…” Charlie groaned. “What do I have to do to get you guys out of trouble? Another incident like this and you’re off to juvey!”
“Please, officer!” Ron burst into tears. “I can’t go to Juvey! Who will take care of my little sister? Please, I promise never to fight for Delinquents ever again!”
Xavier and Jessie frowned, both having the same thought – Ron would sell them out the first chance he got. Luckily, this wasn’t a situation of murder.
“Relax, Ron!” Xavier placed his forehead in his palm. “We aren’t going anywhere. Give a statement, and we are free to leave.”
“Normally…” Charlie stretched his words. “That would be the case, but you know Brandon’s parents are lawyers and it would seem they are looking for blood this time.”
“My blood?” Xavier quirked a brow.
“Jessie’s blood,” Charlie clarified, rubbing the back of his head. “And a bit of your blood on the side. The mansion is a good deterrence to keep people guessing about your parents, but they did find something out.”
“I can’t afford a lawyer…” Jessie panicked.
“Relax, you won’t need one,” Xavier comforted. “But why would the Shaw’s – lawyer family Extraordinaires – want with you, Jessie?”
“You don’t remember?”
“Remember what?” Xavier frowned.
“You and Jessie totally boned Mrs. Shaw’s daughter in the bathroom at school the week you started…” Ron blushed when everybody’s eyes concentrated on him. “Or, so the rumors say. Honestly, I was outside the bathroom peeking inside so I know what happened.”
“Knowing what happened makes it worse,” Jessie growled.
Xavier was similarly upset at the time – it seemed Jessie had yet to let the anger go, while Ron developed a hero complex because of the incident.
As for sex in the bathroom with Brittney, Jessie, and Xavier – of course, nothing like that happened, though it would be better than the truth, hence why Xavier never addressed it.
The Shaw’s took advantage of that flaw to create a narrative – clearly, they wanted to discount the truth when it inevitably made landfall.
“What happened?” Charlie frowned, feeling an ache at the back of his mind – the same ache he felt dealing with abused children down in Mason.
“Not something you should be concerned about,” Xavier kept the silence Brittney had begged so desperately for, but now, he had to consider if The Shaws should still exist. “What do they want? An apology?”
“Yeah…”
Xavier sighed. “Then, let’s just get it done.” He turned to Jessie and Ron. “Look as miserable as possible when Charlie takes us out of here, and make sure your clothing looks chaotic. Ron, you’re good at shedding tears so do that…”
Ron and Jessie nodded.
--------------
Charlie brought the three troublemakers into the complaint’s office where Brandon stood with his parents – Sean and Emily. Xavier saw the football players flinch when their eyes met.
‘Good, the fear is still there.’
Jessie and Ron, for their part, took Xavier’s advice to heart, appearing as miserable and reluctant as they possibly could – that brought a smile to the faces of Brandon’s parents.
“The three of them have agreed to an apology,” Charlie reported. “Again, these are kids' matters, so the charges would be dropped either way. We are here to resolve this conflict before it can escalate.”
“Can’t you see, Chief?” Sean’s eyes were concentrated, but also infinitely pondering. “This incident has already escalated. Brandon doesn’t feel safe at school anymore.”
Brandon – the person being referred to – merely dipped his head, not daring to meet anyone’s eyes, especially his father whom he feared the most.
“We apologize,” Ron sunk to his knees – the pressure was too much for him.
“I apologize as well. I was merely backing up my best friends,” Jessie’s admittance gained nods of approval from Charlie and the two cops in the complaint’s room.
“And you?” Emily inquired, the slightest hint of guilt between her brows. “Are you sorry as well?” She almost seemed hopeful that Xavier would do anything but yield.
“I am…” Xavier stated, having no fight left in him – the incident with Angela really struck his psyche hard. “I got jealous because I loved the girl – did something stupid. Who has never done something stupid for what they thought was love?”
Sean and Emily nodded, sharing a glance.
Charlie then shared a glance with both parents, Brandon, Jessie, Xavier, and finally, Ron – everything was settled.
“You kids can leave after giving your statements,” He instructed. “Just head over to Obrien’s desk on the left and please don’t offer him tickets to any more baseball games to skip reports.”
Xavier and Jessie cursed beneath their breaths.
The trio of troublemakers – Xavier, Jessie, and Ron – started their walk of shame to the desk twenty feet away, but a snide remark from Sean froze the police station.
“Honestly, Mr. Swan,” Sean gave an exaggerated sigh. “I don’t know why you allow your daughter to hang around with someone who sexually assaulted his classmate back in New York City.”
It was a snide comment, but everyone heard it.
Xavier’s walking paused for a split-second, as did Jessie’s and Ron’s, but Jessie recovered a second later, interlocking her fingers with Xavier’s, and pulling him out of a potential warzone.
She understood enough of his tendencies to know what would have happened should he remained at the station. In the end, only Ron stayed to give a report while Jessie and Xavier departed.
۞۞۞
XAVIER’S HOUSE
As the taxi stopped in front of Xavier’s home, Jessie also exited the cab, and they made their way through the fortified gates – it, like most things in the house, opened automatically.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to—”
“Jessie, we’ve been through this…” Xavier was barely containing the rampage inside of him – it was not safe for anyone to be around him. “My home is my sanctuary. You have a room in my home whenever I can offer it, but there must be boundaries.”
“I know, I know… I just don’t think—”
“I’ve been alone most of my life, believe it or not,” Xavier glanced over Jessie’s shoulder, noting the Bugatti parked in the driveway. “You can get the Bugatti keys from Jacob – just drop him home after. You can keep the car for a while too – I shouldn’t drive when I am like this.”
Without hearing Jessie’s confirmation, Xavier spun and walked as fast as he could, disappearing through the doors in a few seconds.
------------
Jacob made his way over with the keys in his hands.
“What’s up with Xavier?” He inquired.
“Something happened at the station…” Jessie replied vaguely. “Besides, I haven’t seen you in a while – wanted to get some time alone.”
“Psh…” Jacob snorted. “I’m not a kid anymore, I won’t blush. Especially since I know you like girls.”
“You were cuter when you were younger,” Jessie voiced.
“So, are we going to go in, or?”
“He’s going through some stuff. I am gonna drop you home and take the car for a while.”
“I thought you were staying here?” Jacob asked, confused. “It’s been a week since your parents kicked you out, right? Where have you been staying?”
Jessie gestured to the keys in Jacob’s outstretched palm – a partial lie.
“Don’t tell Xavier, I don’t want him feeling sorry for me.”
“Hey…” Jacob shrugged his shoulders. “I sleep in the Bugatti as much as I can too – it’s more comfortable than my bed. You won’t get any sympathy from me.”
Jessie smiled and hooked an arm around Jacob’s neck, pulling the boy along as they departed.