Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Spy Games

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 03:

So the first day of school was a success. Found target, moved in on target, target thought I stunk so badly he ran out of classroom and tried to change classes. Plus, I am supposed to seduce him and he is most likely gayer than I am.

On the bright side…

Nope, fuck it. No bright side.

Charlie called when I returned to my home base and informed me that we would be sharing a lovely home cooked meal at the Forks Diner. Nothing says father daughter bonding time like eating in a grease pit surrounded by everyone else in town who couldn’t cook or was too damn drunk too.

Not that I could judge. Renee and I lived off food prepared by others since she couldn’t cook and I didn’t want to. Still, we had a lovely delivery service that brought us organic foods, specialty salads and fish platters, low carb, high protein sandwiches, and tofu was always good to have on hand. Not very tasty but filing and added nothing to my thighs. Sushi was also a must have.

Walking into the diner I was unsurprised when every conversation stopped and all heads turned towards me. I had walked into an episode of Lumberjack Games or Ax Men of that show about hermits living in Alaska. Everyone had some sort of wool cap on and flannel shirt. Full beards were also a must have. I’m surprised Jack didn’t make me wear a fake beard. It would match the outfits I had been forced to wear.

I gave a slight smile, dropped my eyes to the floor and like magic the conversations started up once more.

“You must be Bella Swan. The Chief’s daughter?” A waitress asked.

She looked nice enough. Kind of tall, around 5’10 but she carried it well. Looked like a 34 B if I had to guess. Once I reached her face, I wasn’t too disappointed. Pretty enough especially for this area. Her hair was in a very tight bun though. Strangle it why don’t you? I bet she didn’t shave either, least not where it counted. I hated hair on my food.

“Yes ma’am. That’s me. Bella.” I said quietly, barely meeting her eyes.

“Let me show you to your Daddy’s table. He should be here any moment.”

Charlie had a table? Jesus how often did he come here? He should be thankful I am going to pretend to cook for him.

Instead of perusing the menu I observed the people in the diner. Most were old men and looked like loggers. I knew there were a lot of mills around here, or tree murderers as I called them. They should live in Phoenix for a while and maybe they would learn to appreciate trees.

Florida has beautiful palm trees. I saw it on the second postcard that bitch Renee sent me.

Every now and then, one of the old men would sneak a look at me but once I caught their eye, they turned away. I suppose they were afraid of Daddy. Speaking of…

“Hey Bells. Sorry I’m late. You been here long?”

“Hi Dad. Nope, just got here.”

The waitress handed him a menu before his ass hit the seat. If this had been a five star restaurant, I would have been impressed with how he was treated.

“Great. You are going to love the food here.”

I opened the menu and found exactly what I expected to find.

Dead cow fried dead cow, deader cow, t bone from a dead cow, dead cow ribeye… oh look we have dead pig. Yum yum.

“Teri, I think I’ll have the usual.”

“Ribeye and loaded baked potato. What about you honey?”

“Salad.”

“And what else?”

“Uh, I think I’m good with just a salad.”

“Come on Bells, you can’t live on just vegetables.”

Yes you can, walking clogged artery. I’m no vegetarian but if its a choice between this food and straight veggies I’m going with the veggies every time, lack of protein be damned.

“Not really hungry, Dad. I would hate to waste food. It would be sinful.” I added.

Jack laughed in my ear.

“Okay Honey. I’ll get a chef salad for you. Get a little meat on it for you.” the waitress told me with a placating tone.

Gee thanks bitch. I said a salad, not lettuce topped with five thousand calories and dead pig.

“So how was the first day of school? Nobody gave you a hard time, did they?”

“No Dad, everybody was very welcoming.”

And in heat. Except for the one guy I was here for. He thought I stunk.

“Glad to hear it.” he said, smiling like he won the lottery. I love my Dad. I do. I love my Dad.

“Uh, I heard what you said about sinful and all that. Is there some sort of church we should be attending? I will take you to whatever church you want to go to, if you want.”

“No, I’m good Dad.”

Most churches think my kind will burn in hell. I’m good. Being judged brings out the bitch in me. Okay, it makes me bitchier.

“Alright, if you are sure. I know Renee is sort of spiritual.”

“Yes, I think Wicca is her religion this month. She tends to cycle through them.”

“I see. Okay then, you should really look over the menu a bit more. I tend to eat here a lot, unless you cook?”

I love my father. I love my father.

“Yeah, I was going to talk to you about that. I think I will take over kitchen duty, if that is alright. I think you are probably tired of the same thing.”

He smiled. Of course he did. He thinks he scored a Betty Crocker.

“That would be great Bella. That would be really great.”

“No problem. As a matter of fact if you give me a hundred dollars, I can probably get enough groceries for the week. It would be cheaper than what you are spending here every week.”

“Sounds reasonable. I can give you that much.”

“I’m having meals delivered to your house Bella. There is no reason for him to pay a hundred dollars a week.” Jack added, like I didn’t know.

“I know.” I whispered. As if I wasn’t going to pocket that cash. Jack isn’t paying me. A girl has to make a living. Besides, if I was really buying groceries that would be about how much they would cost. I think. I’ve never actually bought groceries in bulk. That’s what restaurants are for.

“You say something, Bella?”

“I was just saying I can go tomorrow after school.”

“Great. So what are you gonna cook tomorrow night?”

“I’m not sure. I’m thinking…”

“Spaghetti.” Jack informed me

“Lobster.”

“I am not bringing you lobster.”

“Yes, I am definitely going to boil lobster. I am sure that can happen if I try hard enough. Maybe some nice corn on the cob and some fresh spinach greens.”

“Wow. I didn’t know you could do all that. It sounds delicious. Healthy too.”

“Believe me Dad, I can make it happen. I would hate to disappoint you with the first meal I cook. I’m quite the homemaker. I took care of the cooking and cleaning at our house in Phoenix.”

I opened the door for the maid and let her in. I also ordered takeout and tipped the delivery guy.

“That’s very responsible of you Bella. I am proud of you.”

“Oh don’t mention it, Dad. It’s the least I can do, especially since you have opened your home to me. We are going to start eating much healthier. Nothing is too good for you.”

“You know how much work it is going to be to find a place to deliver lobster?” Jack whined. I wonder if he knows how hard it is to do my hair.

“Bella, I am so glad to have you here. I know we haven’t really spent much time together while you were growing up but I plan to make up for that.”

“I’m glad we have the chance also, Dad.”

I really did. Did it suck to live here? Absolutely, but it would be nice to find out who this man is who helped create me. I could tell he was more responsible than Renee. I still missed that bitch though. I missed Arial. I missed my school. I missed Florida even though I never made it. I missed my bootie call Tanya. I missed the clubs in Phoenix. I missed the sun. I really missed the sun.

We ate dinner in silence. Once we arrived home, I saw another box by our door. It was pretty heavy so Charlie offered to carry it.

“Those are your books. Enjoy.” Jack informed me. Thank God.

“These must be my books Dad. I was afraid they got lost in the mail.”

“Oh great. I’m glad you have them. I’ll be watching TV downstairs if you want to join me later.”

“Wouldn’t miss it, Dad.”

I tore into that box. I had a great collection of Harper Bliss to keep me warm at night. I loved to read erotica.

What the fuck?

“Jack, where are my fucking books?”‘

“Yeah I didn’t think lesbian erotica was quite appropriate for your cover so I changed things up a bit.”

“Jane Austen? Romeo and Juliet? That play is horrible. Its everything wrong with heterosexuals. They have sex once and are ready to die over it. Both of them were idiots. Wuthering Heights? Have you ever read this book? I did in once in school. I was forced to and it was horrible. It was very, very obsessive fucked up scary. Every character in that book was horrible.”

“There is a book of poetry.”

“Fuck poetry! You ever tried to get off on poetry? I want my books. My fucking books.”

“Look at it as a chance to expand your mind. You don’t have to read it, just leave them lying around.”

“You suck, Jack. You really suck.”

I said nothing else to Uncle Dodo. He was just being an asshole now. Romeo and Juliet? Seriously?

I needed to work out some frustration. I changed into these fucking boy shorts and started one arm pushups. Once I finished with those, I did Tai Chi. I needed to find a dojo here. Maybe I could set something up in the woods.

After twenty minutes of that, I was ready for Yoga.

Then it was sit ups. On my hundredth sit up my abs were burning. My feet were planted under my bed for support and they hit the ground hard.

Footsteps up the stairs. Running quickly.

Door slams open.

“Bella are you okay? I heard something hit the… why are you on the ground?”

“Uh… I was sitting on the bed and fell off. You know how clumsy I am.”

“Oh right. Why are you sweating?”

“I uh… am having hot flashes. Most women get them…” during menopause. I was willing to bet he didn’t know that though.

“Oh right. I knew that. You need some pills or something? Advil maybe?”

“No Dad, I’m not having my per…”

“Bella…”

Damn, Jack is no fun.

“I’m feeling fine. It will pass.”

“Okay. Just be careful huh? Don’t want you hurting yourself. Renee would never…”

Give a shit.

“… let me live it down.”

“I’m fine Dad. No worries. Let me take a shower and I will watch some TV with you.”

“Great. What about homework?”

Yeah, the curriculum here leaves quite a bit to be desired. I passed this shit when I was in fourth grade. Something tells me no Harvard alumnus has ever walked through the hallowed halls of Forks High School.

“Already did it in school, Dad.”

“Great. I’ll see you downstairs.”

Okay.

“Way to blame the clumsiness.”

“Why am I lying to my father again, Dodo?”

“You need to stay in character at all times. You probably shouldn’t be working out. We don’t know what kind of skills these targets have.”

“I’m not sacrificing my figure for this mission. The Cullens will have to get over it.”

After my shower where I had a little self-gratification warning Jack and pretending Sasha was listening, I finished off the night watching the news with Charlie. He seemed to be worried about some animal killings on the other side of the state. I really didn’t see the big deal since it wasn’t near us.

“Bella just be careful in the woods. You aren’t in Phoenix anymore.”

No shit.

“There are animals that can kill you in the forest. Never go alone. Always let me know when you are going. If you really want to go hiking, I will go with you.”

“Or you could give me a gun.” I suggested.

Charlie laughed. He fucking laughed. I swear if you put me on a range with him, I would out shoot him any day.

“Bella you just fell out of your bed. I doubt you could handle a gun.”

“Yeah, you are probably right Dad.”

I loved my father. I loved my father.

“I might get you some pepper spray though. Let me see what I can find at the station.”

“Sounds good. I need to get to bed.” I kissed his cheek because I did love him.

I did.

The next day at school was the same as the first until lunch. At lunch I heard the best and worst news since I arrived.

“Edward isn’t here.” Jessica informed me. She would be the one who keeps track of all the penises in the school.

“Yeah, what did you do to him yesterday Bella? He looked like he wanted to kill you.” Mike asked.

Maybe he did. I need to get a knife if I’m not going to have a gun, just in case I needed to gut that fucker when he came back. If he came back. His family was here and they weren’t trying to hide the fact that they were staring at me. The hot blonde was sneering, the big guy looked amused, the little one kept spacing out and the blonde dude looked like he was constipated. Nothing different than yesterday. If that blonde girl would relax, I could wipe that sneer off her face.

Stay in character. You are straight Bella. Straight and shy so don’t shoot the finger at these rude fuckers.

Looking a bit closer, I noticed they all had food on their plate but not one was eating. They were moving food around their trays but not one had taken a bite.

“I have no idea what I did. Maybe he just didn’t want a lab partner.”

I texted Jack that these fuckers didn’t eat. Yeah, they are aliens.

I arrived home at 4 PM. Charlie worked till 6. At 4:15, a knock on the kitchen door was right on time. My maid walked in and quickly cleaned the house, placing the wash in the machine and putting the clothes in the dryer before she left. At 5:15 she was leaving and the delivery man arrived, with lobster and corn, instructing me to place it in warm water in a large pot on the stove.

I looked at him like he was stupid and reminded him that wasn’t what he was paid for.

He put the lobster in the pot and ran out the back door just as Charlie was walking in the front. Jack is going to have to send the guy earlier. I also need to remind him that I promised spinach and I hate to not follow through on my promises.

“Wow Bells, this place looks great. Did you dust?”

“I think so.” I told him. I suppose that was what the maid was doing with that rag that smelled lemony.

“Did you do the windows?”

“I guess, I mean yeah, of course. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Of course not. This place looks great. Wow, you weren’t kidding. That lobster looks amazing.”

“Hey, only the best for you Dad. I worked pretty hard today, but I think it turned out nicely.”

“It did.” he kissed me on the forehead and sat down at the table.

“Dad?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t fix plates.”

“Oh! I’m sorry Bella. I’m so used to eating at the diner, I forgot.”

“It’s really no problem. Do you think you could do the dishes after dinner? I am tired from cooking and cleaning all afternoon and I have homework that I need to get done.”

May as well set the ground rules now. I certainly am not doing dishes after I faked cooked dinner.

“Absolutely. It’s the least I can do in appreciation of your hard work.”

While Charlie did the dishes, I snuck into his room on a clandestine mission.

“Bella, what are you doing?”

“Nothing involving the mission Dodo, so shut up or put your wife on.”

I checked the drawers and had no luck.

Under the bed?

Nope, just dust. I would have to talk to the maid about that.

I gently opened the closet. Nothing on the floor. For a single guy who lives by himself till recently, he certainly goes to great lengths to hide his reading material.

Top of the closet.

There is a God and he has blessed me.

The man has every Playboy for the past three years. I took the bottom two issues and walked quietly to my room. Surely, he wouldn’t miss those.

“Hey love bird, you there?”

“Yes Phoenix. How can I help you tonight? Do you need privacy?”

“No, just wanted to hear your sexy voice.”

“I’ll give you privacy Bella. Have fun and get some sleep.”

“Night Sasha.”

“Good night, Bella.”

I would pretend she was still listening.

The rest of the week was uneventful. I did manage to ‘cook’ a Chicken Carbonara one night and a slightly seared salmon with my damn spinach greens and baby carrots along with simpler but healthy meals the rest of the week. It turned out I am an amazing cook. At least I am amazing at promising Charlie meals and Jack is amazing at finding them. The maid came once more and I talked to her about dusting under the beds. All in all I would have to say I was a great house keeper.

Edward never showed back up but Jack would not let me leave, insisting I sat where I could keep an eye on the Cullens all week. True to form, every day they filled their trays with disgusting cafeteria food and moved it around on the plate rather than taking a bite.

I also noticed one other little interesting tidbit. The one who looked constipated, Jasper, was often not breathing. His chest did not move and he didn’t even attempt to take a breath. He also didn’t blink.

The Cullens were definitely becoming more interesting. I would think even aliens needed to breathe. Maybe they were androids? Terminators sent back to kill Jessica before she reproduced some type of offspring with Mike. One could only hope.

The weekend was uneventful. Jack debated having me drive out near the Cullen mansion and trying to get a few photos using the surrounding trees as cover and then decided it was too risky. Instead I would continue to do as I was doing. Watch a weird family of albinos not eat or breathe at high school. Fun, fun, fun.

Monday, things got interesting.

The day started off bad. There was some sort of white cold substance falling from the sky. I believe people who live in cold areas called it snow. Kidding. I knew it was snow. Jack reminded me to be clumsy and slide around a bit. Kiss my ass Jack.

I also noticed Charlie had placed chains on my tires. At first, I thought he was pulling a prank until Jack explained these chains were necessary to drive in the snow. I was touched that he would do this for me. He really was a sweet man.

Once I arrived at school, I found the children throwing snowballs at each other. The Cullen ‘children’ were also throwing snowballs but only at each other. If one hit me, I would be practicing a spin kick on the motherfucker that threw it, cover be damned. For once I was very glad I had ten layers of clothes on. Now I just needed a burning trash can and my disguise would be complete.

I was hit by a snowball.

I growled and prepared to improve Eric by turning him into a woman.

“Bella!”

Fucking Jack. Fucking spy satellites.

At lunch things got better though. Edward Cullen was back and I definitely had his attention. He wasn’t looking at me like I kicked his favorite puppy, but he was definitely looking.

Maybe I could seduce this fucker, but I would hang back this time. Play a little hard to get and make him speak to me.

It didn’t take long. I walked into biology and saw him sitting at our little table. I did my best to sniff my armpits without being noticed and satisfied, I sat next to him, turning my head away from him.

“My name is Edward Cullen. You are Bella Swan, correct?”

I looked at him, almost in shock that he would speak to a lowly peasant such as myself.

“Yeah, that’s me. How did you know I liked to be called Bella?”

“I’ve heard the other students speaking of you. I apologize for being rude the last time we met. I wasn’t feeling well.”

“You were gone last week.” It must have been a hell of a cold.

“Yes, I had some personal business to attend to.”

“I see. Hey, what happened to your eyes?”

“Excuse me?”

“Your eyes? I could have sworn they were gold last week but in this class they were black. Now they are gold again.”

“I think it’s the lights of the school causing them to appear different colors.”

Bullshit. Lights changing eye color. He was never born to be a spy. I would have gone with emo contacts.

Mr. Biology, whatever the hell his name was, passed out our assignments.

I grabbed the microscope, accidentally brushing Edwards’s hand.

Ouch!

Fucking static electricity. I saw the fucker was wearing a wool sweater. Figures.

I also noticed that his hand was very, very cold.

“I’m sorry.”

“No problem.” I told him with my patented shy smile.

Taking the microscope, I took a split second to call out anaphase.

The bitch asked if he could check.

“Anaphase.”

“Yeah like I said.” I tried to hold the irritation in my voice back so Dodo didn’t scream in my ear.

He took the next one and called out prophase. I sarcastically asked if I could check. Dodo cleared his throat. Done with the assignment we waited for the other idiots to stumble through the lab. Mr. Biology walked up and asked the target why he didn’t let me do any of the work.

Pig.

To Cullen’s credit he gave me the props I deserved. Mr. asshole asked if I had done this lab before.

“Yes sir.”

I did it in fifth grade.

Walking out of class, to my happiness and joy Edward walked by my side and continued to carry on our vibrant conversation.

“So how do you like Forks?”

“I don’t.”

“Bella…”

Shut up, Jack.

“Why not?”

“Because I hate the cold and the rain.”

“Then why move to the wettest place in the United States?”

Damn, get up in my business why don’t you? Not like we haven’t known each other forever.

“My mom got married.”

“You didn’t like the guy?”

“He was nice enough.” for a screamer. Combined with Renee’s loud mouth in bed I spent a lot of time at the pool.

“Then why not stay?”

Wow. Let’s not get personal or anything.

“Because he is a baseball player and my mother wanted to travel with him. She was being held back by me so I moved.”

That fucking bitch isn’t traveling any farther than the beach. She is probably screwing a cabana boy while Phil is away. I could be screwing a cabana girl right now.

“So you moved to make her happy, even though it made you unhappy?”

No, I moved because of promises made by my uncle that he better follow through with or I would hunt him to the ends of the earth.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’m sorry if I am prying.”

Then why are you doing it? Sorry? You just asked if I liked step daddy. What the hell is his definition of not prying?

‘No problem. I’m an open book.”

“On the contrary, I find you very hard to read.”

Good to know. He definitely could not read my mind and as I suspected, I am a born liar… I mean spy.

“I guess I better go. I need to clean and cook dinner before my dad makes it home.”

The maid was scheduled to come fifteen minutes earlier today.

“You cook and clean for your father?”

“Of course.” I lied, once again. Being a spy is so much fun.

I walked across the parking lot and noticed the snow had turned to ice. Wonderful. Nothing like driving a one ton hunk of metal across ice.

That night I typed a report for Jack that he insisted on, even though he heard everything that went on. Tomorrow would be my turn to ask questions.

When I parked, I saw I was somehow early so I stood in the cold and put my earphones on. I found this annoyed Jack to no great end as he had to listen to my music blaring in whatever little listening device, he spied on me with.

I caught sight of the Cullen’s across the parking lot.

Eddie looked panicked.

A noise in front of me told me why.

A fucking van was sliding my direction sideways.

Son of a bitch idiot kids!

I dropped my backpack, hit the ground and rolled under my truck. The van would hit the truck and stop. With any luck my damn truck would be totaled. The gas tank was on the other side so I shouldn’t have to worry about sparks. I pressed myself in the ground keeping my hot ass from being hit by the axle when the van struck.

I never heard the collision. I peeked my head out under my truck and saw Edward Cullen, with his hand on the van. The van was dented around his hand. He stopped that fucker.

Impressive. Super strength? Definitely an alien, probably from Krypton.

He was looked at me with a face I couldn’t describe. It was definitely strange.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just rolled under my truck. No big deal. Hey did you just…”

Eddie jumped onto the bed of my truck. I pulled myself out from under in time to see the population of the school running towards me. All except the Cullens. They looked extremely pissed.

Fuck you guys, too.

“Bella, I am so sorry.”

Huh?

Oh yeah, Tyler.

“Bella, are you okay?” Jack asked. I guess my head phones fell out during my roll.

Oh shit. I checked the ground quickly and found it on the pavement under the car bomb.

Okay, my phone was good. There is a God and she loves me.

“Yep, perfect.” My phone was okay. It’s a miracle the screen wasn’t cracked.

So Tyler was the asshole who can’t control a van on ice. Way to almost flatten someone dumbass. If I hadn’t been trained to react quickly to any situation, I could have been crushed.

Within a few minutes an ambulance and Charlie had shown up.

That lying fucking bitch Edward told everyone he knocked me out of the way but I had sustained a head injury. Of course Charlie bought it and insisted I be taken to the hospital.

In the ER room I did my best to convince Charlie I was fine while he threatened Tyler in the next bed, separated by a hanging sheet.

Then I saw him. Once of the two targets I had not yet seen in person. Dr. Carlisle Cullen.

Yep, he’s an alien. How the hell has no one in this town found it weird that they all have the same eye color and were incredibly pretty?

“I heard the Chief’s daughter was here.” he said with a condescending smile.

I have a name motherfucker. It’s Bella, not the Chief’s daughter.

“I feel fine,” I argued and he shined a light in my eye regardless. I thought I had to consent to treatment.

“Looks like just a slight bump. I am sure you will be fine but let me know if you feel any pain or have any dizziness or disorientation.”

“Mention Edward saving you.” Jack told me.

That fucker didn’t save me. I would have been fine without… fuck it.

“Yeah, I would have been seriously injured if Edward hadn’t saved me. He got there so fast. He was across the parking lot one moment and then in front of me the next.”

“Your son Edward, Carlisle?” Charlie asked.

“Yes, I’m sure you were very lucky. I think she is able to go home now, Chief.”

“Thank you, Dr. Cullen.”

I walked outside and saw Edward at the end of the hall arguing with his sister, the fine as hell blonde that I could teach so much to. I still can’t believe she is letting that ape plow her. She looked pissed. Dr Alien walked over and joined the silent conversation. All three looked at me and Rosalie and Carlisle walked off.

“Bella, you should probably call your Mom.” Charlie said shyly.

“You called her?”

She gave a damn? Wow, maybe she felt a little guilt about packing my bags before my offer to move to Forks was completely out of my mouth.

Probably not.

“Yeah.”

“Okay, I need to talk to Edward first though. Thank him for saving me and all. I’ll be right out.”

“Sounds good, Bella.”

As soon as he turned away, I turned my back on Cullen and whispered to Jack to cancel dinner and the maid today. I suppose pizza and extra cardio it would be.

Edward was waiting for me in the hall.

“Thanks for… you know… whatever. How did you get to me so fast?”

“I was right next to you, Bella.”

“No, you weren’t.”

“Yes, I was.”

“No, you weren’t. I saw you across the parking lot.”

“That isn’t true. You hit your head and must be confused.”

“You stopped the van with your hands.”

“You believe I stopped a van with my hands? No one will believe you.”

No shit, asshole. You don’t exactly look like a superhero.

“I wasn’t going to tell anyone. I just want to know how you did it.”

“Like I said, you had a head injury. You must be confused.”

“I want to know!” I pressed.

“You can’t just say thank you and move on?”

Thank you for what? I was fine.

“Thank you.”

“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“No.”

“Get used to disappointment.”

He turned to walk away then stopped.

“How were you able to react so quickly? You hit the ground and rolled under your truck the moment you saw the van sliding towards you. Not many people have quick reflexes when faced with a large van sliding towards them at a high rate of speed.”

“I had an adrenalin rush. You can Google it.” He won’t tell me his secrets and I sure as hell am not telling him mine.

I walked off since it was obvious this bitch wasn’t going to tell me anything. That was fine. Add super strength to the list of super hearing and speed. Throw in the mind reading and I don’t understand what is keeping me from Florida. Obviously aliens.

“Nice job. Adrenalin rush?”

“You would prefer I would be flattened, Uncle Jack?”

‘No! Couldn’t you have said you slipped though?”

“Sorry, my lying wasn’t up to speed. What about the information I just got? Plan on giving me any credit for that?”

“Yeah, you did okay. You should see the satellite footage of that fucker. He moved so damn fast not one person in the parking lot noticed. Of course they were all looking at you, but damn this fucker can move.”

“Good to know. I need to go home and relax. I have had a traumatic day.”

Jack left me alone and I reached the house in relative peace riding with Charlie. Apparently one of his deputies dropped my still intact piece of shit off at our house. I was beginning to suspect not even a car bomb could take this thing out.

I called Renee at Charlie’s prodding.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Mom.”

“Bella! I heard you were almost turned into a pancake.”

“Yep.”

“I told you not to move to Forks.”

“No, you didn’t! No you did not! You did not say one word except bye at the airport!”

“I didn’t? Oh well. You should see this place. I thought of you yesterday. Our neighbors have a daughter who goes to the local junior college. Blonde hair, the prettiest blue eyes. She wears the smallest bikinis and she has the body to pull it off. I swear I see her taking long walks on the beach with a different girl every day. I thought, my God, Bella would really love to get to know her. Such a cute little perky body and obviously into women. So other than nearly getting flattened, how has life been?”

“I hate you, mother.”

“I know. sweetie. I love you too. Please ask Charlie not to call me unless you are actually dead. My massage was disturbed by what he considered an emergency.”

“I hate you, mother.”

“I love you too,dear. Come visit me sometime. Maybe you can meet Candy.”

“Her name is Candy?”

“Yes, cute isn’t it?”

“I hate you, mother.”

I hung up the phone and stomped to my room.

“You hear that, Jack? I’m missing meaningless sex with my hot neighbor. How much more information do you need?”

“We don’t know what they are Bella. You have a lot more work to do.”

“I hate you, Jack.”

That night I slept peacefully dreaming of a girl I would never meet named Candy. She was nude and just out of my reach. She was giggling. She really did have perky breasts with the sweetest pink nipples dying to be licked.

I was woken from my dream by a sound. The window opened. No, it was impossible.

I cracked my eyes open and screamed. Edward Cullen was at the foot of my bed. Grabbing my lamp on the night stand, I threw it at him.

The lamp hit the wall and shattered.

I looked at the window and saw it was closed.

Was that a nightmare? How would he have moved that silently?

Charlie ran inside without knocking. I was glad I had broken my habit of sleeping naked.

“Bella, what the hell happened?”

Good question.

“I had a nightmare. I thought there was a man in my room.”

‘What happened to your lamp?”

“What do you think? I thought a man was in my room. I threw something at him.”

“Bella, nobody could have been in here. I locked the front and back doors before I came to bed.”

My eyes went to the window once again.

“You are probably having nightmares because of what happened today.”

“Yeah, that must be it, Dad. Sorry about the lamp.”

‘No problem. I can pick you up another one. Hey, when you were cleaning did you go into my closet?”

‘No, why?”

“I was just missing a couple magazines and I wasn’t sure if you might have thrown them away.”

“What kind of magazines, Daddy?”

“Uh… just some Sports Illustrated. Not a big deal. Night Bells.”

“Good night.”

As soon as he was gone, I ran to the window. I didn’t see anything unusual but I knew that fucker had been here.

“Bella?”

“Yes, Sasha?”

“What was that?”

“I’m pretty sure Edward Cullen was just in my room. Are you or Jack using satellites to watch my window?”

“No, at night the satellite we use is out of position. We would have to use another NSA satellite to watch your home.”

“I don’t care what you do Sasha but watch my window. That fucker was here. He was quiet and he moved faster than I could see.”

“I’m on it, Bella.”

What is your game Edward?

I definitely needed a gun.