“Well, if Edward shows up… he’ll roast us alive. That sort of thing. He’s really into torture, actually.”

“Well in that case,” I pulled her mouth up to mine once more.

* * *

Bella’s house looked exactly the same. Her old red truck was parked in the driveway. Charlie’s cruiser wasn’t there yet. We crept around the back and found a point where we could see her window.

“How is she?” Alice whispered.

I opened myself to her emotions and was struck dumb by the mere force of them. I was overcome by her grief, mourning and terrible sadness.

Oh my God. How did she survive this?

I knelt down on the ground, afraid that if I didn’t, the overwhelming force of her feelings would crush me to the dirt like some extreme gravitational device.

Alice helped me. She sat down. “It’s bad isn’t it? It’s really bad.”

All I could do was nod my head. I desperately wanted to help her, but I didn’t, or she would surely know. And that made me feel even more useless, knowing that I was probably one of the only ones who could relieve that pain.

“Charlie’s home,” she murmured. She darted back into the shadows, I was too dazed to move, so she came back and dragged me. How degrading.

We heard them eating dinner. I could tell Charlie was trying to get Bella to talk, but she wasn’t responding. This was getting worse and worse.

“How was your day?” I heard him ask.

“Fine,” it shocked me how sullen and dull her voice was. I remembered Bella being full of life and joy. This was an extreme change. I felt her emotions and I was astounded she was even able to answer through all that agony.

“Anything interesting happen at school?” Charlie was trying really hard.

“No.”

“What have you got planned for the weekend?”

“Not sure…”

“Want to come fishing with me on Saturday morning?”

“Maybe. I don’t know.” She was giving no information at all. I felt sorry for Charlie. I sensed his sadness and his regret.

“I’m going to sleep. Goodnight.” There was a clatter as she washed her plate and I heard her begin to walk slowly up the stairs.