*by Stephenie Meyer*
TWILIGHT - chapter 20 - IMPATIENCE
Alice was across the room before I could lift my head to look at it.
She pushed a botton and held the phone to her ear, but she didn't speak first.
"Carlisle," she breathed. She didn't seem surprised or relieved, the way I felt.
"Yes," she said, glancing at me. She listened for a long moment.
"I just saw him." She described again the vision she'd seen. "Whatever made him get on that plane... it was leading him to those rooms." She paused. "Yes," Alice sinabi into the phone, and then spoke to me. "Bella?"
She held the phone out toward me. I ran to it.
"Hello?" I breathed.
"Bella," Edward said.
"Oh, Edward! I was so worried."
"Bella," he sighed in frustration, "I told you not to worry about anything but yourself." It was so unbelievably good to hear his voice. I felt the hovering ulap of despair lighten and drift back as he spoke.
"Where are you?"
"We're outside of Vancouver. Bella, I'm sorry - we Nawawala him. He seems suspicious of us - he's careful to stay just far enough away that I can't hear what he's thinking/ but he's gone now - it looks like he got on a plane. We think he's heading back to Forks to start over." I could hear Alice filling in Jasper behind me, her quick words blurring together into a humming noise.
"I know. Alice saw that he got away."
"You don't have to worry, though. He won't find anything to lead him to you. You just have to stay there and wait till we find him again."
"I'll be fine. Is Esme with Charlie?"
"Yes - the female has been in town. She went to the house, but while Charlie was at work. She hasn't gone near him, so don't be afraid. He's ligtas with Esme and Rosalie watching."
"What is she doing?"
"Probably trying to pick up the trail. She's been all through the town during the night. Rosalie traced her through the airport, all the roads around town, the school... she's digging, Bella, but there's nothing to find."
"And you're sure Charlie's safe?"
"Yes, Esme won't let him out of her sight. And we'll be there soon. If the tracker gets anywhere near Forks, we'll have him."
"I miss you," I whispered.
"I know, Bella. Believe me, I know. It's like you've taken half my self away with you."
"Come and get it, then," I challenged.
"Soon, as soon as I possibly can. I will make you ligtas first." His voice was hard.
"I pag-ibig you," I reminded him.
"Could you believe that, despite everything I've put you through, I pag-ibig you, too?"
"Yes, I can, actually."
"I'll come for you soon."
"I'll be waiting."
As soon as the phone went dead, the ulap of depression began to creep over me again.
I turned to give the phone back to Alice and found her and Jasper bent over the table, where Alice was sketching on a piece of hotel stationery. I leaned on the back of the couch, looking over her shoulder.
She drew a room: long, rectangular, with a thinner, square section at the back. The wooden planks that made up the floor stretched lengthwise across the room. Down the walls were lines denoting the breaks in the mirrors. And then, wrapping around the walls, waist high, a long band. The band Alice sinabi was gold.
"It's a ballet studio," I sinabi suddenly recognizing the familiar shapes.
They looked at me, surprised.
"Do you know this room?" Jasper's voice sounded calm, but there was an undercurrent of something I couldn't identify. Alice bent her head to her work, her hand flying across the page now, the shape of an emergency exit taking shape against the back wall, the stereo and TV on a low mesa sa pamamagitan ng the front right corner.
"It's looks like a place I used to go for dance lessons - when I was eight or nine. It was shaped just the same." I touched the page where the square section jutted out, narrowing the back part of the room. "That's where the bathrooms were - the doors were through the other dance floor. But the stereo was here" - I pointed to the left corner - "it was older, and there wasn't a TV. There was a window in the waiting room - you would see the room from this perspective if you looked through it."
Alice and Jasper were staring at me.
"Are you sure it's the same room?" Jasper asked, still calm.
No, not at all - I suppose most dance studios would look the same - the mirrors, the bar." I traced my fingers along the ballet bar set against the mirrors. "It's just the shape that looks familiar." I touched the door, set in exactly the same place as the one I remembered.
"Would you have any reason to go there now?" Alice asked, breaking my reverie.
"No, I haven't been there in almost en years. I was a terrible dancer - they always put me in the back for recitals," I admitted.
"So there's no way it could be connected with you?" Alice asked intently.
"No, I don't even think the same person owns it. I'm sure it's just another dance studio, somewhere."
"Where was the studio you went to?" Jasper asked in a casual voice.
"It was just around the corner from my mom's house. I used to walk there after school...," I said, my voice trailing off. I didn't miss the look they exchanged.
"Here in Phoenix, then?" His voice was still casual.
"Yes," I whispered. "Fifty-eighth Stree and Cactus."
We all sat in silence, staring at the drawing.
"Alice, is that phone safe?"
"Yes," she reassured me. "The number would just trace back to Washington."
"Then I can use it to call my mom."
"I thought she was in Florida."
"She is - but she's coming tahanan soon, and she can't come back to that house while..." My voice trembled. I was thinking about something Edward had said, about the red-haired female at Charlie's house, at the school, where my records would be.
"How will you reach her?"
"They don't have a permanent number except at the house - she's supposed to check her messages regularly."
"Jasper?" Alice asked.
He though about it. "I don't think there's any way it could hurt - be sure you don't say where you are, of course."
I reached eagerly for the phone and dialed the familiar number. It rang four times, and then I heard my mom's breezy voice telling me to leave a message.
"Mom," I sinabi after the beep, "it's me. Listen, I need you to do something. It's important. As soon as you get this message, call me at this number." Alice was already at my side, Pagsulat the number for me on the bottom of her picture. I read it carefully, twice. "Please don't go anywhere until you talk to me. Don't worry, I'm okay, but I have to talk to you right away, no matter how late you get this call, all right? I pag-ibig you, Mom. Bye." I closed my eyes and prayed with all my might that no unforeseen change of plans would bring her tahanan before she got my message.
I settled into the sofa, nibbling on a plate of leftover fruit, anticipating a long evening. I though about calling Charlie, but I wasn't sure if I should be tahanan sa pamamagitan ng now or not. I concentrated on the news, watching out for stories about Florida, or about spring training - strikes or hurricanes or terrorist attacks - anything that might send them tahanan early.
Immortality must grant endless patience. Neither Jasper nor Alice seemed to feel the need to do anything at all. For a while, Alice sketched the vague outline of the dark room from her vision, as much as she could see in the light from the TV. But when she was done, she simply sat, looking at the blank walls with her timeless eyes. Jasper, too, seemed to have no urge to pace, or peek through the curtains, or run screaming out the door, the way I did.
I must have fallen asleep on the couch, waiting for the phone to ring again. The touch of Alice's cold hands woke me briefly as she carried me to the bed, but I was unconscious agan before my head hit the pillow.
TWILIGHT - chapter 20 - IMPATIENCE
Alice was across the room before I could lift my head to look at it.
She pushed a botton and held the phone to her ear, but she didn't speak first.
"Carlisle," she breathed. She didn't seem surprised or relieved, the way I felt.
"Yes," she said, glancing at me. She listened for a long moment.
"I just saw him." She described again the vision she'd seen. "Whatever made him get on that plane... it was leading him to those rooms." She paused. "Yes," Alice sinabi into the phone, and then spoke to me. "Bella?"
She held the phone out toward me. I ran to it.
"Hello?" I breathed.
"Bella," Edward said.
"Oh, Edward! I was so worried."
"Bella," he sighed in frustration, "I told you not to worry about anything but yourself." It was so unbelievably good to hear his voice. I felt the hovering ulap of despair lighten and drift back as he spoke.
"Where are you?"
"We're outside of Vancouver. Bella, I'm sorry - we Nawawala him. He seems suspicious of us - he's careful to stay just far enough away that I can't hear what he's thinking/ but he's gone now - it looks like he got on a plane. We think he's heading back to Forks to start over." I could hear Alice filling in Jasper behind me, her quick words blurring together into a humming noise.
"I know. Alice saw that he got away."
"You don't have to worry, though. He won't find anything to lead him to you. You just have to stay there and wait till we find him again."
"I'll be fine. Is Esme with Charlie?"
"Yes - the female has been in town. She went to the house, but while Charlie was at work. She hasn't gone near him, so don't be afraid. He's ligtas with Esme and Rosalie watching."
"What is she doing?"
"Probably trying to pick up the trail. She's been all through the town during the night. Rosalie traced her through the airport, all the roads around town, the school... she's digging, Bella, but there's nothing to find."
"And you're sure Charlie's safe?"
"Yes, Esme won't let him out of her sight. And we'll be there soon. If the tracker gets anywhere near Forks, we'll have him."
"I miss you," I whispered.
"I know, Bella. Believe me, I know. It's like you've taken half my self away with you."
"Come and get it, then," I challenged.
"Soon, as soon as I possibly can. I will make you ligtas first." His voice was hard.
"I pag-ibig you," I reminded him.
"Could you believe that, despite everything I've put you through, I pag-ibig you, too?"
"Yes, I can, actually."
"I'll come for you soon."
"I'll be waiting."
As soon as the phone went dead, the ulap of depression began to creep over me again.
I turned to give the phone back to Alice and found her and Jasper bent over the table, where Alice was sketching on a piece of hotel stationery. I leaned on the back of the couch, looking over her shoulder.
She drew a room: long, rectangular, with a thinner, square section at the back. The wooden planks that made up the floor stretched lengthwise across the room. Down the walls were lines denoting the breaks in the mirrors. And then, wrapping around the walls, waist high, a long band. The band Alice sinabi was gold.
"It's a ballet studio," I sinabi suddenly recognizing the familiar shapes.
They looked at me, surprised.
"Do you know this room?" Jasper's voice sounded calm, but there was an undercurrent of something I couldn't identify. Alice bent her head to her work, her hand flying across the page now, the shape of an emergency exit taking shape against the back wall, the stereo and TV on a low mesa sa pamamagitan ng the front right corner.
"It's looks like a place I used to go for dance lessons - when I was eight or nine. It was shaped just the same." I touched the page where the square section jutted out, narrowing the back part of the room. "That's where the bathrooms were - the doors were through the other dance floor. But the stereo was here" - I pointed to the left corner - "it was older, and there wasn't a TV. There was a window in the waiting room - you would see the room from this perspective if you looked through it."
Alice and Jasper were staring at me.
"Are you sure it's the same room?" Jasper asked, still calm.
No, not at all - I suppose most dance studios would look the same - the mirrors, the bar." I traced my fingers along the ballet bar set against the mirrors. "It's just the shape that looks familiar." I touched the door, set in exactly the same place as the one I remembered.
"Would you have any reason to go there now?" Alice asked, breaking my reverie.
"No, I haven't been there in almost en years. I was a terrible dancer - they always put me in the back for recitals," I admitted.
"So there's no way it could be connected with you?" Alice asked intently.
"No, I don't even think the same person owns it. I'm sure it's just another dance studio, somewhere."
"Where was the studio you went to?" Jasper asked in a casual voice.
"It was just around the corner from my mom's house. I used to walk there after school...," I said, my voice trailing off. I didn't miss the look they exchanged.
"Here in Phoenix, then?" His voice was still casual.
"Yes," I whispered. "Fifty-eighth Stree and Cactus."
We all sat in silence, staring at the drawing.
"Alice, is that phone safe?"
"Yes," she reassured me. "The number would just trace back to Washington."
"Then I can use it to call my mom."
"I thought she was in Florida."
"She is - but she's coming tahanan soon, and she can't come back to that house while..." My voice trembled. I was thinking about something Edward had said, about the red-haired female at Charlie's house, at the school, where my records would be.
"How will you reach her?"
"They don't have a permanent number except at the house - she's supposed to check her messages regularly."
"Jasper?" Alice asked.
He though about it. "I don't think there's any way it could hurt - be sure you don't say where you are, of course."
I reached eagerly for the phone and dialed the familiar number. It rang four times, and then I heard my mom's breezy voice telling me to leave a message.
"Mom," I sinabi after the beep, "it's me. Listen, I need you to do something. It's important. As soon as you get this message, call me at this number." Alice was already at my side, Pagsulat the number for me on the bottom of her picture. I read it carefully, twice. "Please don't go anywhere until you talk to me. Don't worry, I'm okay, but I have to talk to you right away, no matter how late you get this call, all right? I pag-ibig you, Mom. Bye." I closed my eyes and prayed with all my might that no unforeseen change of plans would bring her tahanan before she got my message.
I settled into the sofa, nibbling on a plate of leftover fruit, anticipating a long evening. I though about calling Charlie, but I wasn't sure if I should be tahanan sa pamamagitan ng now or not. I concentrated on the news, watching out for stories about Florida, or about spring training - strikes or hurricanes or terrorist attacks - anything that might send them tahanan early.
Immortality must grant endless patience. Neither Jasper nor Alice seemed to feel the need to do anything at all. For a while, Alice sketched the vague outline of the dark room from her vision, as much as she could see in the light from the TV. But when she was done, she simply sat, looking at the blank walls with her timeless eyes. Jasper, too, seemed to have no urge to pace, or peek through the curtains, or run screaming out the door, the way I did.
I must have fallen asleep on the couch, waiting for the phone to ring again. The touch of Alice's cold hands woke me briefly as she carried me to the bed, but I was unconscious agan before my head hit the pillow.
Slow, we paddle through the lake
Straight to the very center of the darkest water
Where we can embrace the shadows on the surface
The eyes that look up lifeless from our twins below
And though your arms and legs are under
pag-ibig will be the echo in your ears when all is Nawawala and plundered
My pag-ibig will be there still
True, it's chilling to behold
Up close we stumble backwards laughing in our boat
Till the image sinks away to someplace far but certain
A land of mere suspension where someday we must go
And though your arms and legs are under
pag-ibig will be the echo in your ears when all is Nawawala and plundered
My pag-ibig will be there still
Though your arms and legs are under
pag-ibig will be the echo in your ears when all is Nawawala and plundered
My pag-ibig will be there still
Straight to the very center of the darkest water
Where we can embrace the shadows on the surface
The eyes that look up lifeless from our twins below
And though your arms and legs are under
pag-ibig will be the echo in your ears when all is Nawawala and plundered
My pag-ibig will be there still
True, it's chilling to behold
Up close we stumble backwards laughing in our boat
Till the image sinks away to someplace far but certain
A land of mere suspension where someday we must go
And though your arms and legs are under
pag-ibig will be the echo in your ears when all is Nawawala and plundered
My pag-ibig will be there still
Though your arms and legs are under
pag-ibig will be the echo in your ears when all is Nawawala and plundered
My pag-ibig will be there still
La, la, da, da, da
La, da, da
La, la, da, da, da
La, da, da
Life on earth is changing
Life on earth is ending
And time on earth is ending
And time on earth is changing
La, la, da, da, da
La, da, da
La, la, da, da, da
La, da, da
Life on earth is ending
Life on earth is changing
And time on earth is changing
And time on earth is ending
La, la, da, da, da
La, da, da
La, la, da, da, da
La, da, da
La, la, da, da, da
La, da, da
La, da, da
La, la, da, da, da
La, da, da
Life on earth is changing
Life on earth is ending
And time on earth is ending
And time on earth is changing
La, la, da, da, da
La, da, da
La, la, da, da, da
La, da, da
Life on earth is ending
Life on earth is changing
And time on earth is changing
And time on earth is ending
La, la, da, da, da
La, da, da
La, la, da, da, da
La, da, da
La, la, da, da, da
La, da, da
It's all hats off now, all drum rolls and applause
sa pamamagitan ng slight of the hand you will turn them into dust
A face to face you will lead them sa pamamagitan ng the fall
A track fiend and the saw dust
You're allowed to stare it out
It’s all good luck charms
All trying to understand
Indeed inside me will always hope for worse
You say you keep them close by
They're closer than you think
A track fiend and the saw dust
You're allowed to stare it out
susunod spring will bring you back again
You'll sigh and crack the whip for us
And maybe you will be the one
Who'll draw the line in the sand
For us to crawl
It's all past bats now
All painting gorgeous time
And maybe when the night comes
You'll open up the cage
You'll open up the cage
sa pamamagitan ng slight of the hand you will turn them into dust
A face to face you will lead them sa pamamagitan ng the fall
A track fiend and the saw dust
You're allowed to stare it out
It’s all good luck charms
All trying to understand
Indeed inside me will always hope for worse
You say you keep them close by
They're closer than you think
A track fiend and the saw dust
You're allowed to stare it out
susunod spring will bring you back again
You'll sigh and crack the whip for us
And maybe you will be the one
Who'll draw the line in the sand
For us to crawl
It's all past bats now
All painting gorgeous time
And maybe when the night comes
You'll open up the cage
You'll open up the cage
Your lips are nettles
Your tongue is wine
Your laughter’s liquid
But your body’s pine
You pag-ibig all sailors
But hate the beach
You say come touch me
But you’re always out of reach
In the dark you tell me of a flower
That only blooms in the kulay-lila hour
Your arms are lovely
Yellow and rose
Your back’s a meadow
Covered in snow
Your thighs are thistles
And hot-house grapes
You breathe your sweet breath
And have me wait
In the dark you tell me of a flower
That only blooms in the kulay-lila hour
I turn the lights out
I clean the sheets
You change the station
Turned up the heat
And now you’re sitting
Upon your chair
You’ve got me Gusot up
Inside your beautiful black hair
In the dark you tell me of a flower
That only blooms in the kulay-lila hour
In the dark you tell me of a flower
That only blooms in the kulay-lila hour
Your tongue is wine
Your laughter’s liquid
But your body’s pine
You pag-ibig all sailors
But hate the beach
You say come touch me
But you’re always out of reach
In the dark you tell me of a flower
That only blooms in the kulay-lila hour
Your arms are lovely
Yellow and rose
Your back’s a meadow
Covered in snow
Your thighs are thistles
And hot-house grapes
You breathe your sweet breath
And have me wait
In the dark you tell me of a flower
That only blooms in the kulay-lila hour
I turn the lights out
I clean the sheets
You change the station
Turned up the heat
And now you’re sitting
Upon your chair
You’ve got me Gusot up
Inside your beautiful black hair
In the dark you tell me of a flower
That only blooms in the kulay-lila hour
In the dark you tell me of a flower
That only blooms in the kulay-lila hour
When these pillars get put down
It will be you who wears the crown
And I’ll owe everything to you
Oooohh
Oooohh
How much pain has cracked your soul
And how much pag-ibig would make you whole
You’re my guiding lightning strike
I can’t find the words to say
They’re overdue
I’ve traveled half the world to say
I belong to you
Oooohh
Oooohh
And she attacks me like a Leo
When my puso is split like Rio
And I assure you my debts are real
I can’t find the words to say
When I’m confused
I traveled half the world to say
You are my muse
Oooohh
Oooohh
Oooohh
I can’t find the words to say
They’re overdue
I’ve traveled half the world to say
I belong to you
Oooohh
Oooohh
It will be you who wears the crown
And I’ll owe everything to you
Oooohh
Oooohh
How much pain has cracked your soul
And how much pag-ibig would make you whole
You’re my guiding lightning strike
I can’t find the words to say
They’re overdue
I’ve traveled half the world to say
I belong to you
Oooohh
Oooohh
And she attacks me like a Leo
When my puso is split like Rio
And I assure you my debts are real
I can’t find the words to say
When I’m confused
I traveled half the world to say
You are my muse
Oooohh
Oooohh
Oooohh
I can’t find the words to say
They’re overdue
I’ve traveled half the world to say
I belong to you
Oooohh
Oooohh
So pretty, so smart
Such a waste of her young heart
What a pity, what a sham
What’s the matter with you man
Don’t you see it’s wrong, can’t you get it right
Out of mind and out of sight
Call on all your girls, don’t forget the boys
Put a lid on all that noise
I’m a satellite heart
Nawawala in the dark
I’m spun out so far
You stop, I start
But I’ll be true to you
I hear you’re living out of state
Running in a whole new scene
You know I haven’t slept in weeks
You’re the only thing I see
I’m a satellite heart
Nawawala in the dark
I’m spun out so far
You stop, I start
But I’ll be true to you
I’m a satellite heart
Nawawala in the dark
I’m spun out so far
You stop, I start
But I’ll be true to you
No matter what you do
Yeah I’ll be true to you
Such a waste of her young heart
What a pity, what a sham
What’s the matter with you man
Don’t you see it’s wrong, can’t you get it right
Out of mind and out of sight
Call on all your girls, don’t forget the boys
Put a lid on all that noise
I’m a satellite heart
Nawawala in the dark
I’m spun out so far
You stop, I start
But I’ll be true to you
I hear you’re living out of state
Running in a whole new scene
You know I haven’t slept in weeks
You’re the only thing I see
I’m a satellite heart
Nawawala in the dark
I’m spun out so far
You stop, I start
But I’ll be true to you
I’m a satellite heart
Nawawala in the dark
I’m spun out so far
You stop, I start
But I’ll be true to you
No matter what you do
Yeah I’ll be true to you